Act 1 – Beat Sheet
Opening Image / Set-up
#1 Family Restaurant (3–4 min)
The restaurant is still open late at night, packed with customers. Adrian’s parents rush back and forth, while Adrian helps out—taking orders, wiping tables, serving dishes.
Gradually the restaurant empties out, leaving only one or two tables. A couple of customers try to come in, but Adrian tells them: “We’re closed.”
Her parents begin the closing routine: wiping down tables, resetting silverware, refilling sauce bottles.
Before leaving, they tell Adrian to finish up and lock the door. Adrian nods, “Got it.”
Action: The restaurant is still open late at night, packed with customers. Adrian’s parents rush back and forth, while Adrian helps out—taking orders, wiping tables, serving dishes. Gradually the restaurant empties out, leaving only one or two tables. A couple of customers try to come in, but Adrian tells them: “We’re closed.” Her parents begin the closing routine, then tell Adrian to lock up. Adrian nods.
Function: Establish Adrian’s environment (family restaurant), contrast between ordinary daily life and the hidden criminal world. Shows Adrian’s dual role: dutiful daughter + secret hustler.
#2 Family Restaurant – After Hours (4–5 min)
Adrian flips the sign at the entrance from OPEN to CLOSED.
After finishing the closing work, she sits by the register, counting money.
The bell above the door jingles. A regular walks in, “getting the usual.” They clearly know each other. Quick handoff—cash for a small bag—then the customer leaves.
Another man enters, this one unfamiliar. He says: “I heard you got some MDMA?”
Adrian: “Where’d you hear that?”
Man: “Dominic.”
Adrian: “Alright. How much you want?”
Transaction proceeds. The guy lingers—flirts a little, pokes around. Adrian tries to keep it strictly business, but it’s obvious he’s angling to sleep with her.
Action: Adrian flips the sign from OPEN to CLOSED. She finishes cleaning and counts cash at the register. A regular walks in for “the usual” → quick handoff, cash for a bag. Then a new customer enters, asks for MDMA (mentioning Dominic). Transaction completed. He lingers, flirts, clearly wants more than drugs. Adrian brushes it off, staying cool.
Function: First reveal of Adrian’s double life. Builds tension between “business routine” vs. personal vulnerability (male gaze, danger).
First Turning Point – Dominic Enters
#3 Family Restaurant (5–6 min)
Dominic bursts in—charming, cocky, restless energy. He calls Adrian “baby.” Adrian isn’t particularly into him, but tolerates him. They’re partners in crime more than lovers, bonded by the fact that they’re both outsiders.
They chat, playful and physical—kissing, teasing, leaning on each other.
Dominic: “How’s business?”
Adrian: “Which one?”
Dominic shrugs: “Whichever.”
Adrian: “Good. Business is good. Both are good.”
Dominic dreams aloud: “I can’t wait till we retire. Just get in a car, drive wherever we want. Like Bonnie and Clyde…”
Adrian: “I want to make movies.”
Dominic: “You’re still into that art shit?”
Adrian: “It’s not shit. Just art.”
Dominic suddenly shifts tone: “There’s a big job tonight. We gotta run it.”
Adrian hesitates—she knows it’s dangerous. But she follows him anyway.
Action: Dominic bursts in—cocky, restless energy. Calls Adrian “baby.” They flirt half-seriously, mixing affection with cynicism.Dialogue exchange:“How’s business?”“Which one?”“Good. Both are good.”Dominic fantasizes about freedom: “Like Bonnie and Clyde…” Adrian admits: “I want to make movies.”Dominic mocks her: “Still into that art shit?” Adrian: “It’s not shit. Just art.” Then Dominic pivots: “There’s a big job tonight. We gotta run it.” Adrian hesitates, then follows.
Function: Introduce Dominic as foil to Adrian. Establish their partnership (criminal comradeship > romance). Transition from “small stakes” to “big job” → propels story into danger.
Transition
#4 Driving (3–4 min)
Night. The car rolls into a desolate industrial district.
On the way, Dominic brags excitedly, fantasizing about getting rich.
Adrian sits in the passenger seat, calm and detached, occasionally glancing at him but not responding.
(This section could be rewritten with a quirky dialogue exchange—something playful or absurd, like Jules and Vincent’s “Amsterdam hash” talk in Pulp Fiction.)
Action: Night. Car moves into desolate industrial zone. Dominic brags about getting rich, restless and animated. Adrian sits silent, detached, occasionally glancing at him.(Opportunity here for quirky, offbeat dialogue—darkly funny, à la Jules and Vincent in Pulp Fiction.)
Function: Shift in geography and tone. Juxtaposes Dominic’s recklessness with Adrian’s guarded stillness. Raises suspense: they’re entering a different world.
#5 Arriving Outside Warehouse (3 min)
A group of low-level thugs hang around outside: one smokes, another flips a knife, someone blasts heavy bass from a cheap speaker.
As soon as they see the car, they tense up.
Dominic steps out, greeting them with forced familiarity. They don’t recognize him. He explains why he’s here—who he is, that there’s supposed to be a deal.
Adrian steps out as well, scanning the scene coldly.
Action: Thugs loiter—smoking, flipping knives, blasting bass. They tense up as the car arrives.Dominic steps out, tries to act familiar, but they don’t recognize him. He explains he’s here for a deal. Adrian steps out, scanning coldly.
Function: First brush with the “real” underworld. Shows Dominic’s bravado vs Adrian’s observation. Sets up the imbalance of power.
#6 Held Back – Waiting (3–4 min)
One thug blocks their way: “Wait. Boss hasn’t said you can go in.”
Dominic pulls out cigarettes, tries to chum up, talking nonstop.
Adrian stays silent, hands in her pockets, eyes fixed on the warehouse door.
A runner slips inside, the metal door creaking shut. From within, harsh white light spills out, along with muffled music.
Time stretches outside. The atmosphere tightens. A few of the thugs start eyeing Adrian with interest, not in a good way.
Action: Thug blocks them: “Wait. Boss hasn’t said you can go in.” Dominic pulls out cigarettes, talks nonstop, trying to charm. Adrian remains silent, eyes fixed on the door. A runner goes inside; white light and muffled music spill out. Time drags. Tension builds. Thugs start staring at Adrian in a threatening way.
Function: Suspense. Demonstrates danger of male-dominated environment; Adrian’s silence = survival instinct. Time stretch amplifies unease.
#7 Cleared to Enter (2–3 min)
The iron door screeches open. The runner returns, curt: “Boss says you can go in.”
Dominic flips his hair, smirking as he struts forward.
Adrian follows, posture rigid, steps measured.
Inside the warehouse → Cold white lights, metal table, neon splashes of blue, white, and red. Cash and bags of dope scattered across the table. A circle of enforcers stands around.
The Boss sits in the back, half-hidden in shadow.
Action: Runner returns: “Boss says you can go in.” Dominic smirks, struts inside. Adrian follows, rigid posture.Inside → cold lights, neon splashes, metal table stacked with drugs and cash, surrounded by enforcers. Boss sits in shadows at the back.
Function: Threshold moment. Adrian and Dominic fully cross into the “lion’s den.”
Climax
#8 The Goods on the Table
8-A:
Adrian and Dominic sit across from the Boss. Over-the-shoulder shot from behind the Boss: the two are tense but trying to stay composed.
The enforcer signals for Dominic to hand over the bag.
Dominic passes it over. The enforcer sets it on the table, slices it open, tastes a bit, then nods to the Boss.
Boss (calmly): “There’s a small problem though. Someone paid me a handsome amount to take care of you.”
The room tightens instantly.
Dominic: “You got the wrong guy, it can’t be me.”
Boss: “It’s you. I’m very sure.”
Adrian introjects, that must have been an mistake, etc. Details TBD.
There's a moment of escalation.
The enforcer suddenly pulls a gun on Dominic as a result of the escalation. (details of the escalation TBD)
Almost at the same time, Adrian draws on the Boss.
The room erupts in motion—every other enforcer draws and aims at Adrian.
Adrian stays sharp, body taut. It’s clear this isn’t her first time having guns pointed at her. Boss exhales smoke, unfazed.
Adrian: “Tell them to put the guns down.”
Boss: “I can’t do that. See? I already made a deal with someone.”
8-B:
Sweat beads on Adrian’s hands. She realizes this isn’t a deal she can talk her way out of.
Adrian: “I’m sure we can work something out. Keep the drugs, just let us out.”
Dominic: “No, we need the money.”
Adrian: “Shut up.”
Boss: “See, the drug is part of the deal. I get the drug, and I deliver this dead body in front of me.”
Adrian chambers her gun, finger steady. She’s not backing down.
Boss slowly raises his hands.
Boss: “Ok, you win. You guys, put down the gun.”
The men hesitate, then lower their weapons—but one still keeps his sights locked on Dominic.
Adrian doesn’t drop her aim. She edges forward, positioning herself in front of Dominic, shielding him. She grabs his hand and slowly backs them both toward the door.
Dominic glances longingly at the bag of drugs.
Dominic: “We are so fucked.”
Adrian: “Let’s just get out of this.”
They retreat step by step.
Suddenly— Boss whips out a hidden gun and fires. Dominic takes the hit. Adrian fires back immediately, but Boss ducks out of the way. In the chaos, Adrian is grazed in the arm. She manages to drag Dominic out to the car.
They scramble inside, slamming the doors shut. Tires screech—the car tears off.
Break into Act 2
#9 INT. CAR – MOVING – NIGHT
Dominic is bleeding everywhere, screaming in pain. Adrian drives frantically with one hand while trying to staunch the bleeding with the other. She snaps, cursing, voice breaking with panic:
Adrian (screaming):
“我操！我就知道这事不靠谱！
Fuck!!! Fuck!!! FUCKKKKKKKK!!!
Dominic, stay with me!!! Stay with me, keep talking, keep talking. We are gonna be okay, just don’t pass out on me. Dominic!!!!”
Action: Adrian and Dominic face the Boss. The deal turns deadly—Boss reveals he’s been paid to kill them. Guns drawn from all sides, tension reaches breaking point. Adrian shields Dominic and tries to retreat, but Boss shoots Dominic. Chaos erupts; Adrian is wounded but manages to drag him out and flee in the car. Inside, Dominic is bleeding out as Adrian drives, hysterical, screaming at him to stay alive.
Function: Climactic end to Act One. Confirms Dominic’s death sentence and Adrian’s isolation. Shows her toughness under fire but also the raw panic beneath. Establishes Boss as ruthless and sets up Adrian’s desperate survival arc.
Act One Runtime Breakdown (updated)
Family Restaurant (3–4 min)
Family Restaurant – After Hours (4–5 min)
Family Restaurant (5–6 min)
Driving (3–4 min)
Arriving Outside Warehouse (3 min)
Held Back – Waiting (3–4 min)
Cleared to Enter (2–3 min)
The Goods on the Table (8–10 min) ← climax extended