CobraCommander:Ashes &Venom Season 2; Episode 6 - Echo
INT.MONTGOMERYTRUSTBANK–EARLYMORNING
The sunlight breaks through the front windows of the bank, the wayit only does at the start of a clean, unpromised day. Quiet, empty.
“Landslide” byFleetwood Mac plays softlyover the bank’s sound system Doors unlock. We hear the hum of fluorescent lights.
INT. BANK OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
MR. HENDERSON, always in a good tie, adjusts his framed diploma slightlyas he hears the familiar sound of:
High heels. Clacking fast. Eager.
LAURALATTIMER,put-together but humble in her outfit, pokes her head into the open doorway.
LAURA
Morning! Sorry…. I didn’t know if Ishould come back here or
HENDERSON
You’refine.You’reearly.That’sneverabadwaytostart.
She smiles, nervously.
HENDERSON (CONT’D)
Yourdeskisready.Upstairs,notdownstairs. (smiles)
You’renotateller, Laura. Communications, remember?Weactuallywant you… communicating. I meant what I said in your interview. You’ve got a calm way. People trust you.
She’staken aback. Blinking, even. It's subtle, but it's everything.
LAURA
Thank you. I... I really needed this.
He nods, and gestures her toward the hallway.
HENDERSON
C’mon. Let’s get you started.
As she follows him toward her future
EXT. WHITECRESTMOTOR INN – JUST OUTSIDE SPRINGVILLE – SAME TIME
“Landslide” continues. Now it's scratchier, coming through a radio on the desk inside the motel lobby.
We're back in familiar territory.
This place is a dive. The kind of place where you don't ask for ice.
A black sedan pulls in and idles.
INT. MOTELLOBBY– CONTINUOUS
The clerk, perpetually uninterested in everything, wears a faded Pixies shirt and wipes his hands with a napkin before glancing toward the door.
CHRIS LATTIMER enters. No hat. No gloves. Same trenchcoat, collar turned up. He walks with a slight limp. He doesn't meet the clerk’s eye.
CHRIS
Extended stays.
The clerk shrugs. Still chewing.
CLERK
You’d have to talk to the manager about weeklies. Ithink
Chris peels off two hundred-dollar bills and lays them on the counter.
CHRIS
This’ll cover it.
Abeat. The clerk takes the money.
CLERK
Room 6. Out back. Don’t bleed on the sheets.
Christakesthekey.Doesn’trespond.Turns.Walks.
As the door swings shut behind him, “Landslide” hits the iconic line:
“…‘til a landslide brought me down… ”
INT.LATTIMER HOUSE –LIVING
ROOM– EARLYAFTERNOON
The sun is bright through the windows.A normal day.
MINDY, hair up, slippers on, lounges on the couch in yoga pants and a comfy tee, flipping through a People Magazine from about four months ago. She has a modest glass of rosé beside her, half-sipped and ignored.
Weglance at the pages. Onefeatures a celebrity familyon a beach vacation.Another, a “10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Home Office.” Mindy pauses. Scoffs. Turns the page.
Somewhereupstairs, faintly, thesounds of BillyandTommyplaying laughing, thumping, yelling like kids do. Harmless. Normal.
Mindystands, stretches, and makes her waytoward the kitchen. She opens the fridge, starts looking for lunch.
And then CRASH.
Followed by a high-pitched, furious scream from upstairs.
BILLY(O.S.)
YOU BROKE HIM!!!
And then
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP
TOMMYtumblesdown thestairs. It’s not cartoonish. It’s real. Ugly. Hehits the floor, groaning and stunned.
MINDY
Oh my god! Tommy!?
She rushes over. But just as she bends to check on him
BILLY appears at the top of the stairs. His face is red. Tears brimming in his eyes. Furyshaking in his small voice. Clutched in one hand: the broken General Savage figure, its torso separated from its legs. The rubber o-ring dangling like snapped tendons.
BILLY
IHATEYOU!!
TOMMY
I didn’t mean to !
BILLY
I’M GONNATELLMY DADDY!!
Thewordshitlikeaslap.
Mindy freezes.
Tommyis cryingnow. Billyturns and storms back into his room.
Mindy doesn't follow. Not yet.
She sits down, hard, between the boys. Trying to breathe. Tryingto make sense of what just happened.
The silence that returns is thick. But it isn't peaceful anymore.
INT.LATTIMER HOUSE – NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
DISSOLVEfrom MindycradlingTommyto the glow of warm yellow light in the Lattimer living room the sound of clinking glasses, a record spinning softly, the low buzz of conversation.
This is the past.
The house is vibrant and full of life friends mingling, laughter echoing from the kitchen. Framedphotos haven’t yet been shattered.Atrayof deviled eggs sits untouched on the counter. Someone’s kid is hiding under the dining table.
CHRIS, younger and fresher faced, moves through the crowd with a half-drunk beer and that same practiced grin he’s worn most of his life.
LAURA, bright-eyed, chats with a group of women nearby, one of whom is MINDY, wealthy as always but a flashy ring tells us that this is pre-divorce.
Then we see him: DAN. Sharp haircut, dress shirt untucked. Confident but not cocky. The man of the hour.
And not surprisingly, he’s got LARRYLATTIMER, Good Ol’Double L himself, in his ear.
LARRY (booming)
Now this This fella is a real American hero. Headed toAfghanistan to make a difference.
Alight slap on Dan’s back. Chris is just a few feet away, catching every word. Larry raises a glass.
LARRY (CONT’D)
ToDan.
Everyone around raises their drinks. Even Laura. Chris forces a smile. He toasts with the rest.
CUTTO:
EXT.
LATTIMER
BACKYARD – LATER
The partyis still going inside, music now muffled. Dan is outside under the back porch light. He’s seated on the stoop, hunched forward, lighting up a joint
Theflame flares, then settles. He exhales slowly, savoring the moment. Then
LAURA(O.S.)
Are you... smoking pot?
Dan nearly jumps out of his skin.
DAN
Jesus!Youtryingto killmebeforetheTaliban gets ashot?
Laura steps into view, arms crossed but clearly amused.
LAURA
You’re unbelievable.
DAN
What’s the worst that happens? I get a dishonorable discharge before I get a chance to blow up in the desert?
Laura sits beside him with a sigh.
LAURA
Please... I don’t like hearing you talk like that.
DAN
What? Like it’s real? It is. Couple months from now I’ll be in the middle of a sandbox hoping the guy next to me doesn’t sneeze too loud.
Along pause. He takes another hit.
LAURA
Just...don’tgogettingyourselfkilled. (beat)
Youmeantoomuchtothisfamily. (then, softer) ToChris. To me.
Dan turns. For amoment, theyjust look at each other. The air shifts.
Then, with a slight smile
DAN
Youwant ahit?
LAURA
Don’t tempt me.
He holds it out. She hesitates, then takes it, and just as she lifts it to her lips
CHRIS (O.S.)
Well this is rich.
Theyboth whip around. There’s Chris, arms crossed, grinning like a sitcom dad walking in on his kids sneaking beer.
CHRIS (CONT’D)
My futurewar hero of a brother and my lovely new wife bonding over a little ganja in the backyard? What is this Woodstock?
Dan laughs. Laura rolls her eyes.
DAN
Hey, relax. I offered. She’s innocent.
CHRIS
Mmmhmm.
(grabbingthejoint)
YouknowDadwould lose it ifhesawthis.
He takes a hit himself.
Smiles all around. But when Chris looks away, his smile fades. His eyes linger just a second too long on Dan. On Laura.
DISSOLVE TO:
PRESENTDAY–BILLY’S BEDROOM–NIGHT
Billy, alone in bed. Abroken figure on the nightstand.
INT.BILLY’S BEDROOM –NIGHT
Billy lies curled in his bed, blanket tucked under his chin. His face is peaceful, his breathing slow. On the nightstand nearby: General Savage, snapped at the waist, head tilted to the side, his missile launcher resting awkwardly beside him like a fallen flag. We slowly pull back
INT. LATTIMERHOUSE –CONTINUOUS
Drifting out of Billy’s room, into the hallway. Down the stairs.The house is dim and quiet, but lived-in again.
INT. LATTIMER LIVINGROOM– CONTINUOUS
On the couch, Tommy is asleep, curled up under a throw blanket. His face is still red from crying, but he’s unharmed. One leg hangs off the couch.Alittle bag of frozen peas has fallen to the floor.
Wemove through the room...
INT. DINING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Laura and Mindy are seated at the table.Abottle of wine, two mostlyfull glasses. Laura is hunched forward, fingers rubbing her forehead. Mindy leans on her elbows.
LAURA
Ijust hope he’s okay. Imean, that fall… Ididn’t know Billycould get like that.
MINDY
He’llbealright. (beat)
But Billy’s… He’s not usually like this.
LAURA
Hedoesn’thaveother friends. Hebarelyhad Tommy (sighs)
And now this?
There’s a long silence between them. Mindy looks at her wine glass, turns it slowly in her hand.
MINDY
Okay. Look. Ididn’t say anything before because… you were finallydoing better. Things were good. You were smiling again. (beat)
But... Ishould’ve told you weeks ago.
LAURA
Told mewhat?
MINDY
Billy’s been... talking about his dad. Not in dreams. Not memories. (beat)
Like visits. He says they’re secrets. He says Daddysays not to tell. Laura stares at her, frozen. Then:
LAURA
...You didn’t buyhim that toy, did you?
Before Mindy can answer, the women hear a persistent buzzing sound. VRMMMM. VRMMMM. VRMMMM. Amuffled vibration.
They both freeze. The buzz is faint but persistent.
LAURA
...That your phone?
MINDY
No, I’vegotmine. (checks) Right here.
LAURA
Mine’s in the kitchen...
VRMMMM. VRMMMM.
Theylook at each other. Something clicks.
MINDY
You think oneof thosekids that trashed the place left something behind? They get up, wine forgotten, and follow the sound.
INT.LATTIMERHOUSE–UPSTAIRSHALLWAY–NIGHT
The buzz leads them toward the master bedroom. Mindy checks behind her, uneasy.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM – MOMENTS LATER
The buzzing is louder now. Laura moves to the nightstand drawer and opens it.
BZZZZZ. BZZZZZ. BZZZZZ.
Ablackburner phone lies inside. It buzzes again, lights up.The screen reads: UNKNOWN CALLER.
Laura stares at it.
MINDY
...That’s not yours?
LAURA No.
MINDY
Well someone leftitinyourdrawer. It stops.
Abeat.
VRMMMM.
It lights up again. Another call. Same number.
Mindy picks it up.
LAURA
Wait.Don’t
Mindy answers. Hits SPEAKER.
ZARTAN(V.O.) (cold fury)
My, my. You certainly have a knack for stirring the pot, don’t you? You don’t know what you’ve gotten into. What you’ve associated me with. (beat)
One way or the other: you’re dead, Chris Lattimer. Rest in peace.
CLICK.
Silence.
The glow of the phone fades. Laura and Mindy just stare at it.
MINDY
...We need to call the cops.
LAURA
Yeah. Rightnow.
EXT.VESTACREDITUNION – DOWNTOWN LARKIN CITY– DAY
Abustlingurbanstreet several towns over from Springville.Astreetcar glides by. Food trucks. Pedestrians. Not the kind of place where anyone notices much of anything... or anyone.
Amodest brick building sits nestled between a smoothie bar and a Pilates studio.
INT.VESTACREDITUNION –MOMENTS LATER
We’reinside. Sunlight glints offpolished tilefloors. Soothinginstrumental musicplays. It's peaceful.
At the front desk, a smartlydressed MANAGER (50s, courteous but cautious) leans forward, his voice just above a whisper.
MANAGER
Ican’t lie, Mr. Callas. We’re... disappointed. This isn’t the kind of account weusuallysee closed. Especially not under such sudden circumstances.
Reveal: CHRIS.
Powder blue suit. Hair combed tight.You almost wouldn’t notice the sizable bandage on his face. Despite the bandage, we can still seeathin slice mark peeking out at the bottom. His smile is polite, disarming, but his eyes are glassy and calculating.
CHRIS (as “JOHNNY CALLAS”)
Believe me, Ididn’t come to this lightly. But after the wreck... let’s just say, you get one shot. One real shot to make something of yourself.
The Manager nods, sympathetic.
MANAGER
Yes. I’m trulysorryabout your accident, sir. It’s a miracle you weren’t killed. (then, gently)
It’s just that... taking it all in cash, it’s highly irregular. Even for a man of your... standing.
CHRIS
Iknow. I get it. Ido. But I’m done playing games with myfuture.You want to build something real? You need capital. Clean, untraceable capital.
Hesays it casually, like he's talking about seed money for a startup.
MANAGER
You’resureaboutthis?
Chris just smiles.
CHRIS
Not a doubt in my mind.
EXT.VESTACREDITUNION
– MOMENTS LATER
The glass doors swing open. Chris steps into the sunlight. Still crisp in that powder blue suit. Still sporting those bandages. Still smiling faintly.
In his right hand: a slim black briefcase.
He moves slowly but deliberately toward the street. He stops at the curb, taking in the honking cars, the foot traffic, the buildings.
INT.
LATTIMER
HOUSE – LATEAFTERNOON
Aknock at the front door. Laura opens it to find OfficerHernandez and Detective Marcus, same uniforms, same serious looks. Mindy appears behind her, protective as ever.
MARCUS
Afternoon. So. You two ladies had an interesting evening?
LAURA
(annoyed)
Yeah.We found a phone. Hidden in the nightstand. It kept ringing, over and over.
HERNANDEZ
(stepping in)
That's convenient timing.
LAURA
You told me to call if anything turned up.
MARCUS
And you did. No complaints. Just funnyhow the guy’s gone for months, and now phones show up in drawers.Anonymous calls. Money in your account. You working for Montgomery Trust.
MINDY
That job had nothing to do with
MARCUS
Doesn’t mean it’s not a little curious.
HERNANDEZ
Especially considering your husband had connections to the man.
LAURA
I didn’t even know about those connections. I’m just trying to keep my house and raise my son.
MARCUS
Right.About that.
He kneels slightly and glances down the hall.
MARCUS
Heythere, Billy. Mind if I ask you something?
Billypeeks around the corner. He’s quiet...then nods.
MARCUS
You seen your daddylately?
BILLY
He
LAURA (interrupting,sharp)
Billy, go upstairs.
MINDY
It’sokay, honey, go play in your room.
Billyhesitates, then turns and disappears upstairs.
HERNANDEZ
You still want to stick to the storythat you haven’t seen Chris?
LAURA
It’s not a story. I. Have. Not. Seen. Him.
MARCUS (challenging)
Yousureabout that?
MINDY
Okay,this is ridiculous We’redone.Now.
MARCUS
We’renot trying to jam anyone up. But this? This doesn’t feel like a woman in the dark anymore.
HERNANDEZ
If there’ssomething you’renot saying, now’s thetime.
Laura stares them down. Calm, but cold.
LAURA
Youknow where Ilive.
MARCUS
Yeah.We do.
The two officers take their time leaving. The door closes behind them.
MINDY
They don’t believe you.
LAURA
Neither do I.
INT.
BILLY'S ROOM– EARLYEVENING
Tommystands just inside the room, awkward, rubbing his arm. Billyis sitting on the floor, cradling General Savage’s broken pieces like he’s holding a wounded soldier.
TOMMY
I didn’t mean to break it.
Billy doesn’t look up. Silent. Stiff.
TOMMY
Imean… I didn’t know he was, like… bendy like that.
Billystill doesn’t speak. He gentlytries to reattach the broken o-ring torso to the legs. It doesn’t hold.
TOMMY
Mymom says maybe she can glue it.
BILLY
My daddy can fix it.
Tommy flinches at the mention, glancing at the door.
TOMMY
Yeah,but… yourdaddy’snot supposedto behere, right?
Billy looks up now. Face blank, but his eyes go sharp.
BILLY
He is here.
TOMMY
Imean… Iknow. But. My mom said... people think he did bad stuff. Like… real bad. He could get in trouble.
Billystiffens. Tommy fumbles.
TOMMY
I’m not trying to be mean! Ijust mean… if you don’t want him to get caught, maybe don’t tell people you saw him.
Billynarrows his eyes.
BILLY
You’re just mad he gave me General Savage.
TOMMY (amused, a little)
GeneralSavage sucks
MINDY(O.S.)
Tommy!C’mon, baby, time to go!
Tommyturns to leave, then looks back one last time.
TOMMY
I didn’t mean to break him. For real.
Billydoesn't reply. Tommydarts out.
CUTTO:
INT.
LATTIMER
HOUSE – FOYER – MOMENTS LATER
Mindyand Tommy at the door. Tommy’s got his backpack, rubbing sleepily at one eye.
MINDY
You sure you don’t want me to stayanother night?
LAURA
You’vedone enough. I’vegotta learn to behere. Bymyself.
Mindy studies her. A beat.
MINDY
Ijust worry.About you. I mean… all this…
LAURA
I know how it looks.
MINDY
And when Iask, you don’t have answers. I’m not trying to accuse you. But you’re either lying… or someone else is.
LAURA
I wish I knew. I really do.
Mindysoftens, nods. She gives Laura a hug. Sincere, but lingering.
MINDY
You call me, okay? Anytime. Middle of the night, don’t care.
LAURA
I will. Promise.
Mindyand Tommy head out. Laura closes the door slowly, leans against it, and exhales.
CUTTO:
Thehallway. Dim. Quiet. We pan toward Billy’s room again, where he’s still sitting on the floor.
Still holding what’s left of General Savage. Heglancesatthewindow.
Just for a second. Then turns away.
INT. LATTIMER HOUSE – MORNING – KITCHEN
Light pours through the windows. The house is almost back to normal. Laura moves through her usual morning routine pouring coffee, packing a small lunch, dressed for work.
Billysits at the table, poking half-heartedly at a bowl of cereal.
LAURA
Alright, we need to get moving soon.
BILLY
Do I have to go to Tommy’s?
LAURA
He’s your friend, Billy. And Mindy’s doing me a favor watching you.
Billy crosses his arms, sullen.
BILLY
Tommysaid mydaddy’s bad.
Laura’s smile falters. She kneels beside him.
LAURA
Hey… (soft)
When Iget home from work tonight, you and Ineed to have a talk.About your daddy. Okay?
Billy gives her a confused look but nods.
EXT.LATTIMERHOUSE –FRONTYARD– MOMENTS LATER
Laura walks Billyout to the car. Something catches her eye: the red mailbox flag is raised.
She frowns, opens the box… and pulls out a bright, ridiculous postcard
INSERT – THE POSTCARD
Acartoon pineapple lounges in a hammock, sunglasses on, coconut drink in one hand, thumbs- up with the other. Avolcano explodes joyfully in the background while a tiki statue does finger guns.
Across the top, in obnoxious rainbow bubble letters: ALOHAFROMPARADISE,BRO!
BACK OF THE POSTCARD
Aquick scribble in blue ink:
"Fullrefund. Chuck. ”
Laura just stares at it.
BILLY(O.S.)
Mom?
She looks back at him.
BILLY
When’s daddy allowed to come back?
Lauradoesn’t answer right away. She just kneels down, touches his arm gently.
LAURA
Let’s talk on the way.
INT. LATTIMER HOUSE – NIGHT
The house is quiet.
POV SHOT – moving through the kitchen. Slow, deliberate. We open a cabinet. Pull down a glass. There’s already a bottle of cheap whiskey on the counter. We pour a generous splash.
We clink the ice from the freezer tray.
As we close the freezer, the camera lingers just a moment on the counter beside us.
Standing proud.
GENERAL SAVAGE, fully repaired, battle-ready once more, overlooking the kitchen like he owns the place.
Thefigureisspotless.Centered.Poised.
The drink is lifted.
Footsteps carryus into the living room. It’s dim. We flick on a standing lamp.
Just as the warm light fills the room
SOUND: Keys jingling. Thefront doorknobturning.
The POV shot ends. We cut to a wide
CHRIS LATTIMER stands alone in the center of the room, whiskey glass in hand. Dressed simply. Calm. Controlled. And smiling.
CHRIS
Door’sopen.
The door creaks open.
LAURAstepsin.
She freezes.
Anger.Shock. Grief. All wash overherat once.
Chris doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t speak.
He just raises his glass. That slight smile still on his face.
FADE TO BLACK
ENDOFEPISODE.