ZR-X ROUND 1 - SHAKEDOWN

PART TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. SERVICE PARK - DAY

A SIREN RINGS.

RACE CONTROL (V.O.)
(Via outdoor speakers)
Shakedown is live. All ZRX contestant to make their way to the start zone. I repeat. All contestant to the start zone.

GROUPS OF SPECTATORS swarm up against the barricades from all entrances. They weren’t prepared for the CHORUS OF --

INT. AQUILA-16 - DAY

-- THE ENGINE GROWLS. The cabin shakes and RATTLES. Tero tightens the belts by giving them another tug.

AYAME (V.O.)
A reminder to set the hydraulic resistance to your preferences.

TERO
I’m on it.

Tero rolls the dials on the steering wheel.

TERO (CONT'D)
Done.

Clutch in. First gear selected. He’s ready.

AYAME (V.O.)
Under ten seconds to go... Three... two... one--

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - DAY

-- AQUILA-22 - HISS.- hits the ground. It CHIRPS out of the garage - first. Cuts in front of the sister car.

AYAME
(Into the mic)
Stop!

AQUILA-16 jolts and stalls.

AYAME (CONT'D)
Fucking bastard!

Ayame stares daggers at her opposite. No apology given. She’s pissed.

AYAME (CONT'D)
(Into the mic)
Get it going! We’re not missing this next gap, Terry.

Aquila-16 FIRES UP once more.

EXT. SERVICE PARK - DAY

It’s buzzing with activity. The teams are on the move! Without missing a beat the

#9 LYR PHASE 1

from the Lyra Rally Team squeezes out. Sits bumper to bumper with AQUILA-22. Making it a trio is the

#8 VEGA PHASE 1

Of Red Pearl Motorsport, slotting in next. As it just sneaks past...

INT. AQUILA-16 - DAY

AYAME (V.O.)
Go! Go! Go!

On Ayame’s frantic hand movements, Tero lets off the clutch. Releases the handbrake. Steps on the gas.

EXT. SERVICE PARK - DAY

AQUILA-16 slips into the small gap ahead of the other Vega. It crawls past the crowd.

EXT. START ZONE - DAY

VROOM. AQUILA-22 officially starts shakedown. Launching away to begin its assault. The purple and white Lyr slots in next.

INT./EXT. AQUILA-16 - DAY

- A MARSHAL waves AQUILA-16 forward. Inching up to the start line. The vertical lights glow red.

AYAME (V.O.)
Set engine mode to three. We won’t use all the power to begin with. Lets build up to it.

A dial CLICKS into position.

AYAME (V.O.)
Please don’t bin it and bring it back in one piece.

TERO
When have I ever?

AYAME (V.O.)
I’m just sayin’... anyways, I’m putting you through to Dex.

There’s a CRACKLE OF STATIC.

DEX (V.O.)
Yo, Terry.

TERO
Yo.

DEX (V.O.)
Can I put in a request for you to run some snacks over?

TERO
I’m not your Uber.

DEX (V.O.)
What’s an ‘oo-bah’?

- The marshal holds up a flag and points to the vertical lights.

TERO
Dex... Shut it.

The visor shuts. Tero takes some deep breaths. Death grips the steering wheel and gearstick.

TERO (V.O.)
It’s just another day...

REVS SING AT 3500RPMS. ENGINE SNARLS HUNGRILY. THE EXHAUST POPS AND BANGS.

- The lights turn green from top to bottom... the flag drops!

EXT. START ZONE - DAY

VROOOM! AQUILA-16 shoots out of the block like a missile. Minimum wheel spin. The rear squats down the main straight.

DEX (V.O.)
The number nine Lyr is returning to the service park. The number eight Vega is coming into sector three.

INT./EXT. AQUILA-16 - MOVING - DAY

GEARS CLUNK. The harsh acceleration pushes Tero further into the seat. Speeds reaching over 150KM/H in seconds...

Suddenly, his left foot STOMPS HARD -

- Brake lights burn red. All-terrain tyres skid from tarmac to gravel. Front wheels locking up into

ACCEL HAIRPIN

Tero pumps down the gears to second. He tap dances on the pedals. Applying the slightest correction for -

- AQUILA-16 to power slide on through. Spraying the fans in the grandstand with dirt and debris. It charges towards:

EXT. SORA CORNER - DAY

AQUILA-16 monsters the quick right turn in full tilt. REV LIMITER BASHING OFF THIRD GEAR. Maintains that aggression to the:

EXT. JOKER SECTION - CONTINUOUS

- SQUEAL. - AQUILA-16 overshoots the corner... wide of the apex. Plows away from the corner, understeering on:

EXT. JOKER EXIT - CONTINUOUS

AQUILA-16 runs wide into the weeds. Scoops up grass and muck back on tarmac. The TURBO WHINES on the quick sprint to

EXT. THE HYDRA CHICANES - CONTINUOUS

AQUILA-16 lines up perfectly for the kerbs as -

INT./EXT. AQUILA-16 - MOVING - DAY

- it slithers between the hay bales. Door mirror gets a nudge. Beams of red... long and deep into -

FOREST CORNER

- AQUILA-16 hits the apex. The front tyres SCRUB from mid-corner. Tractors off the track limits.

DEX (V.O.)
The second Red Pearl Vega has entered the track.

EXT. UNITED CORNER - DAY

FLAMES ERUPT. AQUILA-16 snaps into oversteer, rear wheels locked up. It carves a perfect arc, snaking its way to the:

EXT. RIGHT HOOK - CONTINUOUS

And continues the drift from the previous corner. It whips left, weight shifting, into a Scandinavian flick. THROTTLE FLAT against the firewall for the run up hill.

INT./EXT. AQUILA-16 - MOVING - DAY

Tero short-shifts to fourth. Taps the brakes... more than needed. Gives the steering wheel a sharp left tug.

- AQUILA-16 leaps off the crest. All four wheels in the air... and lands without a skip of a beat. There’s only the

FINAL CORNER

Tero works the brake and throttle in unison. He gives the brakes a couple of kicks. The speed maintains...

- AQUILA-16 slingshots across to the concrete barrier - millimetres from kissing it - and crosses the finish line.

DEX (V.O.)
Your first lap time is a forty-seven-point-six. Shake off those nerves. You can do better.

Tero steers out of harms way.

TERO
I can’t do any better.

DEX (V.O.)
You’re giving up already?

TERO
No. I have a problem...

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - DAY

Ayame slides to the data hub. Her eyes darts around, scanning for errors.

AYAME
(Into the mic)
Problem? What’s the problem?

TERO (V.O.)
Brakes have gone to shits.
(Beat)
I’m coming back.

Ayame studies the brake traces, frowning. It’s not looking good.

AYAME
Copy.

She marches over to the main floor to find:

AYAME
Chouji!

The bulky and loping figure of

THE CHIEF MECHANIC

(Early 20’s, shaggy, orderly but parties way too hard) meets her halfway. Oil, coolant and grease stains his sleeves.

CHOUJI
I heard. Is it serious?

AYAME
Hard to say. Clear the floor and have everyone on standby. He’ll be here soon.

Chouji nods and hurries back to his crew. Passing on the order. They take to their position.

AYAME (CONT'D)
(Into the mic)
We’re ready for you, Terry.

TERO (V.O.)
... On my way.

EXT. SERVICE PARK - MOMENTS LATER

AQUILA-16 RUMBLES pass the other garages. Dodging VIP guests, race officials and mechanics. It swings into -

INT. APOLLO RACING GARAGE - DAY

- and parks right in the service bay. THE ENGINE CUTS. Hydraulic jacks - HISS. - pops AQUILA-16 up.

Tero slips out, as the mechanics get to work. He crosses to the

ENGINEERING STATION

And takes off his helmet and balaclava. Sets them on the bench. Ayame joins him.

TERO
That was a quick session...

AYAME
It’s not over yet. When did you notice the brakes weren’t working properly? Hold on...
(To a mechanic)
Katerina, come and join us.

A FEMALE MECHANIC

(19, slender, brake specialist and takes her job too seriously) drops the wheel gun. Stands and marches over. Dark veined hands covered in dirt.

KATERINA
Sure. What do you need?

AYAME
I’d like for you to listen and gives us your assessment or solution.
(To Tero)
Tell us when you first noticed the issue.

TERO
Can you bring up the data?

Ayame gathers the required graphs onto a monitor.

TERO (CONT'D)
Thanks.

Tero taps on multiple points on the brake trace.

TERO (CONT'D)
I couldn’t pull the car up entirely on turn one... Gave a few good pumps in the joker to stop the thing... turn nine, pedal went long and I overshot the corner... and then it went flat at the final corner. There’s brake pressure but not a lot.

KATERINA
So you can talk in sentences.

TERO
Only if I have to.

AYAME
What do you think, Katerina?

The brake specialist checks the clock.

KATERINA
We don’t have enough time to do a full diagnostic unless you want to end the session here.

AYAME
Not an option.

KATERINA
All we can do is bleed the system and eliminate any signs of air. Hopefully that’ll fix the problem and get us through the session.

AYAME
Then we’ll go with that. Please relay that to the rest of the team.

KATERINA
Anything else?

AYAME
No, that’s it. Thanks.

Katerina jogs back to her corner of the Aquila. Her wheel gun - CLACK. CLACK. CLACK - comes to life.

AYAME (CONT'D)
Now. Anything you want to change on the car?

Tero thinks.

TERO
A couple of things.

AYAME
Good.

Ayame hands Tero a Chronicle.

AYAME
Get to work.

FADE TO BLACK.