CAL FIRE Pilot Revised Network Draft 1.22.22

CAL FIRE

"Pilot"

Story By Joan Rater, Tony Phelan and Max Thieriot

Teleplay By Joan Rater and Tony Phelan

Jerry Bruckheimer TV CBS Studios Midwest Livestock

Revised Network Draft 1.22.22

TEASER

INT. LOMPOC CORRECTIONS FACILITY - PAROLE HEARING - DAY 1 BODE DONOVAN (32, so much promise, then 5 years ago it all changed. Truly remorseful for his crimes, he dares to hope he has a chance), stands next to his court appointed lawyer ANA ALDUENDA (36, not yet cynical) and nervously reads his statement. In front of him are 3 members of the Parole Board. BODE (reading)

Um... thank you for considering my request for parole. First, I want to say I take full responsibility for my actions and am remorseful.

INT. LOMPOC CORRECTIONS FACILITY - HOLDING ROOM - DAY 2 Bode doodles on the paper his remarks were on. The drawing is haunting - a car on fire, the flames turning into angels and devils. The door opens and he looks up; it’s Ana. She shakes her head. A gut punch. She sits down across from him. ANA

I’m sorry. I really thought we had a chance. But if you do the program I told you about -- BODE No - ANA Bode, you can tell them that you can be a positive member of society, or you can show them.

She hands him a piece of paper. ANA (CONT'D)

Here’s the application. Cal Fire is hungry for inmates just like you --

As Bode considers the application --

EXT. ESTABLISHING - SONOMA COUNTY - DAY 3 Northern California’s showing off. The Pacific coastline gives way to redwood forests, lush valleys and majestic tree- covered mountains.

And above one of the mountains we see something white and wispy floating out from the tree line. It’s not a cloud. CAL FIRE DISPATCH (V.O.) Station 42, vegetation fire, Bodega Highway. 4 CHIEF VINCE LEONE (50s, a lovable pessimist, you see a beautiful tree, he sees a fire hazard) multitasks - doing paperwork, watching the ballgame and listening to calls. He picks up his radio transmitter. VINCE Battalion 1410 responding. INT. CAL FIRE FIREHOUSE - VINCE'S OFFICE - DAY INT. CAL FIRE FIREHOUSE - LOCKER ROOM - DAY 5 EVERLY OLIVER (30s, prides herself on being fearless, but regularly sobs at commercials) hustles into her gear. EVERLY (on phone) Also suiting up is her best friend JAKE CRAWFORD (30s, his happy-go-lucky charm masks a guilty conscience and a dark secret). JAKE No. Why? EVERLY Jake!! There’s a parade being held in her honor! JAKE We just got a call. I’m not gonna make it to lunch. I’m so sorry. (gets off phone) She’s mad. Did you tell Arabella?

Oh. Crap. The parade. It’s been such an insane shift I forgot. EVERLY We’re terrible people to date. JAKE So, why does she put up with me?

EVERLY You’re a firefighter. She’s basically dating Superman. They open the doors to the outside and start running towards - 6 Helicopter blades spin, IZZY HOGAN the female pilot (36, calm under pressure) running her last checklist, Vince hustling his team on the ship -- VINCE (yelling) Come on! Let’s go! EXT. CAL FIRE HELIPAD - DAY

EXT. HELICOPTER - DAY

The chopper lifts into the air --

EXT. HELICOPTER - DAY 8 And heads toward the billowy smoke that’s grown substantially from the wisp we saw earlier. 9 Vince sits next to Izzy, the rest of the team in back. Our team gets their first view of the fire which is quickly approaching an old farmhouse and barn. IZZY I’m gonna drop you guys on the west side of the house. VINCE (over the radio) Copter one-zero-four on scene. We INT. HELICOPTER - DAY

have a 200 by 200 spot in the grass; rapid spread; multiple structures threatened. In back, Jake and Everly are jittery and excited. EVERLY That’s Marsha Larkin’s farm. JAKE Who?

EVERLY Marsha Larkin. Glasses, purple hair. You cheated off her in bio. The helicopter lands a couple hundred feet away from the fire in a remote grassland. VINCE Okay guys, you know what to do. The team starts throwing gear out of the ship and getting to work. A well-oiled crew. Meanwhile ... 10 A bus with the insignia of the California Department of Corrections makes its way up the 101. EXT. HIGHWAY NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO - DAY INT. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BUS - DAY 11 CORY WALTERS (40s, the real deal, a corrections officer who gives a shit) sits shotgun playing Candy Crush on his phone. Behind him are 17 guys in blue prison garb, including Bode who doodles in a small notebook. His seat mate, FREDDY MILLS (25, stole a bunch of money from the church raffle. Bad choice, good guy) watches, interested. FREDDY Hey Bode, draw me. I’ll send it to my girlfriend. Bode flips the page and starts to draw. He’s fast. FREDDY (CONT'D)

She’s a chef. When I get out we’re gonna get a food truck. That’s why I’m doing this. At first I was like, “No thank you, I don’t wanna leave Lancaster,” that’s where I was. Where were you? BODE I told you like 3 times already. FREDDY I have ADD, dude -- BODE Lompoc. 2 years into a 3-5 year sentence.

FREDDY Right. So yeah. I heard there was this program where you get two days off your sentence for every day you fight wildfires which like, cool, but I didn’t want to leave LA because Cookie - that’s my girl - visits every weekend, but then I heard we get 5 bucks a day just for showing up? And if we’re actually on a fire, it’s an extra 2 bucks an hour. So that’s 53 bucks a day during fire season, so I can bank 3- 5K easy and me and Cookie can buy a truck when I’m out. BODE You talk a lot, Freddy. FREDDY It’s the ADD, bro. (re the drawing) I’m better looking than that.

Freddy grabs the notebook and jostles the guy in front of him, JULIO MEDINA (46, has 18 months left on a twenty year sentence. He’s determined not to fuck this up). FREDDY (CONT'D) Julio, that look like me? JULIO Nah. Your face is uglier. Freddy starts looking through the notebook. The drawings are surreal and beautiful. Freddy stops at one - it’s the same image we saw earlier of the car on fire. FREDDY Whoa. What’s this? BODE Gimme that. Bode reaches for it, but Freddy pulls away. JULIO We going to Middletown? Bode looks up startled to see the bus turning off at an exit to Middletown, California. CORY Looks that way doesn’t it?

BODE

(upset) My lawyer said we’d be going to a different camp. FREDDY Who cares where it is? It’s better than where we’ve been. Here you go, Picasso.

Freddy hands back the notebook, but Bode barely registers. He stares out the window, his expression haunted, as the bus passes a sign that says, “Middletown - 23 miles.”

EXT. MIDDLETOWN, CA - DAY 12 A ragtag parade makes its way down Main Street. Majorettes lead the Middletown High School Band who manage to play a decent version of “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and the Papas. Right behind the band is the parade’s main event - a vintage firetruck with a banner reading, “ARABELLA ROBLES, MIDDLETOWN’S OLYMPIAN”, driven by MANNY ROBLES (45, exudes the hard-earned wisdom of a guy whose life sucked before he turned it around). Riding on top of the truck and waving to the gathered crowds is ARABELLA ROBLES (24, Middletown’s reluctant golden girl and Manny’s daughter). Manny calls out to neighbors and friends as he drives by. MANNY Hey Julia!/ Tom, glad you could make it!/ Proud papa moment for sure./ Mr. Mayor ... The truck passes the corrections van, stuck in traffic, waiting for the parade to pass by.

INT. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS VAN - DAY

The inmates watch the parade pass -- CORY (explaining)

She got fourteenth place in the Olympics last summer in diving. She lives in Florida and is heading back so they wanted to give her a big send off. FREDDY (incredulous) You get a parade for 14th place in this town?

JULIO When you don’t even live here? CORY

Her dad lives here so we claim her as our own. He’s the guy driving the truck. He’s also your Fire Captain. FREDDY That dude? Bode makes his way up to where Cory is sitting. BODE

Hey Cory ... my lawyer said I was supposed to go to the camp in Eel River. It was the whole reason I agreed to do this. CORY Well, you’ll need to take it up with her and she’s not here. BODE Yeah, but ...

Cory's not in the mood for bullshit. CORY Take a seat, Bode. OFF Bode, quietly beginning to implode.

EXT. GRASSLAND - DAY 14 The Cal Fire team fights the fire. The crew of six has split into two teams, one on the left flank of the fire, one on the right. Each team has one guy dousing the flames with a back pump (backpacks of water with hoses) while the others use McLeods (sharp-edged hoes) to dig a perimeter in the grass so the fire has no fuel to burn. We’re with Jake, Everly and Vince who are fighting to protect the structure as the fire bears down on it. Everly comes out of the house and radios to the others -- EVERLY (into radio) Structure clear, homeowners vacated.

JAKE The fire keeps jumping the line. We need a water drop -- VINCE (to the pilot) Copter one-zero-four, this is Bodega IC, what’s your ETA on a water drop? JAKE

It’s like whack-a-mole. I get one fire out and an ember goes flying. EVERLY We have a minute, maybe two before the structure’s engaged -- VINCE Copter one-zero-four, this is Bodega IC, repeat: what’s your ETA on a water drop? IZZY (V.O.) Bodega IC this is Copter one-zero- four. Look up. Vince, Jake and Everly look up and on cue the helicopter is soaring over the tree line and is overhead. VINCE Water Drop!!! Everyone hits the deck as hundreds of gallons of water rain down on them from above. Drenched, filthy and smoky, they look at the fire. It’s mostly out. They look at the house. Still standing. They get up, grinning like idiots -- VINCE (CONT'D) God, I love this job. EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - DAY 15 The bus drives into the camp. Picture a bucolic setting in the middle of a redwood grove. Low slung wooden buildings surround a yard with a vegetable garden, a basketball court, and an outdoor weight room. If it weren’t for the groups of inmates in their prison orange milling around the yard, you’d think this was a summer camp.

INT. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BUS - DAY

Cory faces the men as the bus comes to a stop. CORY

This is Two Rock Con Camp. As you can see there are no fences. The dorms aren’t locked at night. You want to run, I can’t prevent you. Main road to town is a mile from here, right through the woods. I don’t say this to tempt you. I say this because I know you’ll be

tempted and I need you to know you won’t get far. When we catch you -- not if, but when -- it’s back to the concrete jungle with more time added to your sentence. (He lets that sink in.) You ready to see your new home? As the men start to get off the bus, Bode stops at Cory-- BODE Can I use the phone to call my lawyer? CORY Sure. You get phone privileges in 3 days. And we stay on Bode’s face, panicked as we -- 17 A beat up pickup pulls into the parking lot joining the other trucks that fill the lot. Jake and Everly, freshly showered and in street clothes, get out of the truck and walk in, past the big Smokey the Bear statue at the entrance. EXT. SMOKEY’S BAR AND GRILL - EVENING INT. SMOKEY’S BAR AND GRILL - EVENING 18 It’s a sea of Wrangler and Carhartt. This is a firefighter hangout. The jukebox plays something cool and country. They head to the bar where Arabella (our Olympic champion) is talking to the bartender MAYA THOMAS (40, a foodie transplant from San Francisco, Everly’s girlfriend). Jake kisses Arabella. JAKE How was the parade?

10.

ARABELLA

Mortifying.

MAYA How was the fire? EVERLY Hot. I need a beer. MAYA

How about some champagne instead? I was gonna surprise you at lunch. On the picnic. That you missed. It’s our anniversary. (OFF Everly’s face) You totally forgot. Maya’s mad. She walks away. HARLAN DENBO (50s), holds court here every night, raises an eyebrow. HARLAN You forgot your anniversary? EVERLY Of course I didn’t forget, Harlan -- HARLAN Don’t tell me, tell Maya. (Everly goes, Harlan yells after her) And tell her I need another drink. Jake turns to Arabella -- JAKE I’m sorry I wasn’t there today. ARABELLA

It’s okay. How long are we gonna celebrate the fact that I choked in Tokyo? JAKE You didn’t choke. You’re the 14th best diver in the world! Arabella take a sip of her beer and looks away. ARABELLA What are we doing? JAKE What do you mean?

11.

ARABELLA Is this -- I mean, I’ve been here for 5 months. That’s the longest break I’ve taken from diving since I was like 10. Where I didn’t have to train or travel and I could just ... have fun. So I guess ... is this ... are we ... just fun? JAKE I’m gonna visit you in Florida. ARABELLA I don’t know if I want to go to Florida. JAKE But your coach is in Florida. ARABELLA But why am I chasing this thing I’m not even sure I want anymore? JAKE Because you can do something better than anyone else. ARABELLA Well, beside the other 13 people -- JAKE I’m in awe of you. ARABELLA I don’t want awe. I want ... I want ... JAKE What? ARABELLA More. A life. Every athlete gets to the point where they have to consider what’s next. JAKE Are you at that point? ARABELLA

I don’t know. Maybe? One thing I do know is that I love it here. This town. The people. You. Holy shit. She just said it. She looks at him, vulnerable --

12.

JAKE Don’t stay here for me. ARABELLA Seriously? JAKE What? ARABELLA I tell you ‘I love you’ and that’s how you respond? JAKE No, I ... wait -- EVERLY (O.S.) Can I have everyone’s attention! They turn and see Everly standing on the bar, Maya nearby. EVERLY (CONT'D)

Today is my two-year anniversary with Maya. You may know her as your friend or your boss or the vegetarian from San Francisco who tried to take chicken wings off the menu. But I know her as the person who taught me what love means. Who healed me after some pretty tough

years. And today ... she’s the person who thinks I forgot our anniversary. I didn’t forget. Everly pulls a ring out of pocket. Maya’s eyes get big. MAYA What are you ... Oh my God ... Everly pulls Maya on top of the bar with her. EVERLY

I wanted to wait until we got home tonight and do this in private but why wait? Why wait another year? Another month? Another day or minute to ask you to spend the rest of your life with me? Maya, will you marry me? MAYA (through tears) Yes. Yes. Of course. Yes.

13.

And she falls into Everly’s arms as the crowd cheers them on. JAKE Well, I’ll be damned. Jake turns to Arabella but all he sees is her back as she walks out of the bar. OFF Jake --

EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - YARD - LATER

Bode and Freddy hang in the yard. FREDDY This place is sweet.

Bode’s staring at a GUY unloading kitchen supplies from a van. Freddy’s looking at 10-15 FEMALE INMATES a hundred yards away who are in the middle of some kind of drill. FREDDY (CONT'D) They even got girls here. Cookie’s not gonna like that. The women, dressed in fire gear: gloves, hardhat and full pack, are holding a small bag. On command they open the bag and deploy its contents - a silver mylar fire shelter (about the size of a sleeping bag), step in it, sit down and roll over so they are completely covered by the shelter. It’s clumsy. Cory walks by Bode and Freddy. CORY Female con camp a couple miles down the road. They use the yard to train sometimes. FREDDY What’re they doing? CORY Fire shelters. Last resort. If you’re using it, it means you’re trapped by the fire. Gotta be able to get in that thing in 15-20 seconds. The inmates try again. It seems to take them forever. CORY (CONT'D) Too slow. They’re toast by now. Cory keeps walking.

14.

FREDDY We gonna burn up into little Krispies? Cookie’s really not gonna like that. BODE Do me a favor, Freddy. That guy unloading the truck? Put that ADD of yours to use and go talk to him. FREDDY About what? BODE He has access to town and I need to get my hands on a phone. FREDDY So you go talk to him. BODE I’m a white guy. I need you to vouch for me. FREDDY What’s your deal, dude? This place is like summer camp and you’re hustling a way out? I don’t get it.

Bode considers. Can he trust Freddy? BODE

I’m from here. And I left for a reason.

OFF this admission -- END TEASER

15.

ACT ONE

EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - YARD - DAWN 20 The new inmates each stand in front of a 50 pound backpack. Manny addresses them, Cory at his side. MANNY

My name is Manny Robles. I’m your Cal Fire Captain. You can call me Cap. When you’re here in camp, Cory here is in charge. When you’re out on the fire line, I’m in charge. You work hard - do what I tell you, when I tell you, you will reduce your sentence and go home to your friends and family sooner.

He hands out sheets of paper.

MANNY (CONT'D) These are your 10s and 18s. 10 standard firefighting orders and 18 fire watch out situations. Memorize them. They can save your life or the life of the guy next to you. Okay. Grab your packs. Let’s go. BODE Where we going?

Manny points to a mountain. MANNY Up there. OFF the stunned faces of the inmates.

EXT. CAL FIRE STATION - DAY - ESTABLISHING 21 Tucked up against the mountainside, and looking more like a ski lodge than a firehouse, sits the Cal Fire station. Waving in the wind is the Stars and Stripes, as well as the red and white California State Flag featuring the iconic grizzly bear. 22 Vince, dressed in a shirt and tie, is wiping a coffee stain off his shirt when Everly enters, nervous. INT. CAL FIRE FIREHOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

16.

EVERLY Hey Chief. You got a minute? VINCE

I’m going to Sacramento to beg them for a dozer and I spilled coffee on myself. EVERLY You need to run it under cold water. Take it off, let me do it. VINCE No, I got it -- EVERLY Sir -- VINCE Fine. Takes off his shirt (has a t-shirt underneath). She starts to wash it in the sink. VINCE (CONT'D) So what do you need? EVERLY

Right, yeah ... um, big news ... Maya and I are getting married. I proposed and she said yes. VINCE Everly. Congrats. That’s ... that’s terrific. EVERLY I know. And also ... I wanted to call her. I woke up this morning and I wanted to call Riley. We were gonna be each other’s maid of honor. We decided in I think 3rd grade. (laughter turns to tears) I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you sad, but I just miss her.

A beat. She’s a little emotional. EVERLY (CONT'D)

Vince pulls her into a hug.

17.

VINCE So do I. God, so do I. And it doesn’t make me sad. It makes me happy that you miss her. EVERLY And God ... this might be the worst idea in the world but, you know ... um ... my dad died last year and I thought maybe you could ... walk me

down the aisle. I know it’s a ridiculous tradition, I can walk myself down the aisle, but it would also make me feel like Riley was there. VINCE That would be such an honor. They break the hug and now he’s tearing up. VINCE (CONT'D) Now get out of here, I need to go get us a bulldozer. She leaves. Vince puts his shirt back on. Stops. Sits down. Takes a deep breath. It never gets easier. 23 The new inmates hike led by Cap. It’s hot. The packs are heavy. FREDDY Why we doing this? How does this help me fight a fire? BODE Builds your stamina. JULIO Each step I take is one step closer to freedom. FREDDY Each step I take reminds me I gotta take a leak. (yelling to Manny) Cap, I need to take a leak. Manny stops. EXT. WOODS - DAY

18.

MANNY Alright. Everybody cubby up. Go one at a time. And don’t get any ideas about wandering off. Everyone drops their packs. Freddy heads into the woods. Bode and Julio sit next to one another. BODE How long you been in? JULIO 18 years. BODE What’d you do? JULIO Doesn’t matter. Gotta look forward not back. See beyond your mistakes. BODE I robbed a liquor store. JULIO Bad choice doesn’t make a bad man. Bode smiles. BODE Gramps, doling out the wisdom. Suddenly, Freddy runs out of the woods like a bat out of hell and down the mountain. In a shot, Cap takes off after him. MANNY Stop right now!!! Freddy’s no match, Cap catches him and tackles him. The other guys are excited and on their feet, gathering around where Freddy’s still trying to get away -- FREDDY Let me go man, let me go -- MANNY Where the hell do you think -- FREDDY

I was pissing and heard a bear. I’m telling you dude, there’s a bear right in there --

19.

He’s panicked and pointing and everyone looks and SEES -- A goat walk out of the woods. Munching on vegetation. MANNY It’s a goat, Freddy. Cal Fire uses them to help manage vegetation. Everyone’s laughing. VARIOUS INMATES Oh my God./Dude freaked at a goat./It’s a goat! BODE Hey, Freddy, I think you just got yourself a new nickname! 24 Vince makes his pitch to the Cal Fire Board, overseen by CHERYL (50s, smartest person in most rooms). 2-3 other CAL FIRE EXECS are in the room, taking notes, etc. A big screen dominates one wall where Vince is showing a Powerpoint. On the screen is a slide of a bulldozer. VINCE INT. CAL FIRE HQ - CONFERENCE ROOM - SACRAMENTO - DAY

With a Caterpillar D6N I can clear vegetation at a rate of eight miles an hour. Asking me to make do with a hand crew instead of a dozer is like asking me to cut down a tree with a butter knife. CHERYL No one’s asking you to make do. You have a dozer -- VINCE Glen Ellen has a dozer -- CHERYL That you share -- VINCE Glen Ellen’s 45 minutes away. By the time it comes to me, the fire’s out of control -- CHERYL Vince --

20.

VINCE You guys gotta stop being stupid and get more proactive about fuel removal -- CHERYL Vince! I’ll remind you that among the three of us on the board we have over 30 years in the field and several graduate degrees; I’d watch who you’re calling stupid.

Vince takes a breath. Regroups. VINCE

Sorry. I get passionate. Look, I’m third generation Cal Fire. You don’t remember the Hanley Fire, but I do. My dad was gone 6 months. He missed my high school graduation. 56,000 acres. 84 structures. 19 fatalities including 2

firefighters. That area hasn’t burned since then. Campaign fires historically follow the same path. This IS gonna happen. The question is what are we gonna do about it? His passion was clearly effective. OFF the Board members, considering -- 25 The pool is empty except for Arabella who’s on the edge of the springboard, facing backward, her face a mask of INT. MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL - POOL - DAY concentration. The stillness gives way to sudden movement, her body twirling through the air before it slips into the water with barely a splash. She emerges and hears clapping. She looks to the doorway and sees Jake. JAKE That was perfect. She swims over to the edge and gets out. JAKE (CONT'D)

I wanted to see you before I have to work tonight. I’m on for the next 24. ARABELLA I’m doing a shift at Smokey’s for Maya. One of her waitresses quit.

21.

JAKE Have Maya give you a ride home, your car’s a piece of crap. ARABELLA I can take care of myself, Jake -- JAKE Obviously you can’t because you keep driving that piece of junk -- ARABELLA Why are we talking about my car? Look ... I wanted to say, last night I -- ARABELLA You made my decision to quit diving all about you. I stand alone on that board and make dives happen. I imagine them a thousand times in my head before I do them. That’s how I work. I think things through. And last night I was thinking things through with you because I thought we were at that point -- JAKE We are. And when you told me you -- ARABELLA Don’t say it. I was drunk. I didn’t mean it. Or if I did I take it back because I don’t want that to be how I remember the first “I love you” I’ve ever said. JAKE Can I talk now? ARABELLA Fine. But I have to teach in a sec. JAKE This isn’t just fun. Maybe it started out like that but now ... I mean, ever since Riley I’ve been shut down.

He takes a breath. Here goes. JAKE

22.

ARABELLA I know. I can’t imagine how you got through it. And I’m sure you’re not over her or still in love with her -- JAKE Let me finish -- Last night watching those guys get engaged, watching Everly ... you know she and I went through that together and it was ... it was bad ... so, to see her happy ... I want that. And I am. When I’m with you. So, last night what I should have said was ‘I love you’, too.

This is hard, but he needs to say it. JAKE (CONT'D)

Wow. This was not how she expected this to go. She’s kind of speechless. Suddenly 2 little girls come in the pool area in swim suits. Fuck. ARABELLA I have a lesson. JAKE Yeah, go. She starts to, then -- JAKE (CONT'D) Hey. Get a ride home tonight. Seriously. She shakes her head. OFF Jake, watching her go. 26 Vince, now dressed in sweats and a t-shirt, chops garlic and adds it to a sizzling pan. He hears the front door open. He looks up and he sees: Cheryl standing in the doorway. INT. LEONE HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT Cheryl. Cheryl, the head of Cal Fire, comes over to him and kisses him. Cheryl, the head of Cal Fire, is his wife. CHERYL Something smells good. He looks at her warily. He knows.

23.

VINCE I’m not getting it, am I? CHERYL (sighs) No. VINCE I NEED A DOZER, CHERYL! You know I do! CHERYL I know! And we want you to have one, so -- VINCE So, why didn’t I get it? CHERYL The committee decided that you didn’t sufficiently do your due diligence looking for a used dozer - VINCE When do I have time to go to auctions - CHERYL Look, I agree with you, but we have 473 Cal Fire stations to manage and it’s the taxpayers money. After you left we did a quick search and were able to locate a used dozer in Utah $100,000 cheaper than the new Deere, so we’d like you to resubmit your request -- VINCE Oh, come on, I have to get in line again? How long’s that gonna take? And the money it’s gonna cost to get that here and we don’t even know what shape it’s in - CHERYL You want the new shiny thing! I get it! But you’re gonna have to settle for the perfectly fine old thing. (puts her arms around him and kisses him) Like me.

He’s softening.

24.

VINCE Just tell me one thing. Did you vote for me? CHERYL Would I ever vote against you? He stirs, resigned. Cheryl stands there watching. Then -- CHERYL (CONT'D) Just look at some used equipment and I’ll see what I can do to fast track it through the committee -- VINCE (interrupting) Everly's getting married. Another long beat. He looks up. She’s just staring at him. CHERYL She is? VINCE She wants me to walk her down the aisle. She sits. Grief is like this. It just hits you. Then -- CHERYL I bet Riley would be married by now. VINCE Yeah. He takes her hand. What else is there to say? 27 The inmates are asleep. Freddy quietly gets out of bed and wakes Bode. FREDDY (PRE LAP) INT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - BARRACKS - NIGHT

The guy who runs the kitchen woke me up and said Big Eddie’d be by at 11.

EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - WOODS - NIGHT 28 Freddy and Bode walk to the edge of the camp. There’s a road.

25.

BODE His name’s Big Eddie? FREDDY

Well, I suspect it’s not the name his mom calls him, but yeah. We’re supposed to wait by the road. They stand there and wait. It’s dark. It’s quiet. It’s creepy. FREDDY (CONT'D) Creepy as hell out here. BODE I like it. It’s quiet. FREDDY So, what’s the reason? Why’d you have to leave this place? BODE Long story. FREDDY Cause of Riley? (OFF Bode’s look)

You got the name Riley tattooed on your arm. Guy needs to leave town, it’s usually over a girl. I got ADD but I’m not an idiot.

Bode smiles. Hard not to like Freddy. FREDDY (CONT'D) Here he comes.

A car approaches. It’s an old beat up Mustang and it sputters to a stop. But it’s not the guy they were expecting - it’s Arabella. She tries restarting it. It sputters again then dies. FREDDY (CONT'D) That’s Cap’s daughter. From the parade.

INT. ARABELLA’S CAR - NIGHT

She tries restarting it again. Nothing. ARABELLA Dammit.

26.

EXT. ROAD - CONTINUOUS 30 Arabella gets out and opens the hood. Stares at the engine.

EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - WOODS - NIGHT

Bode and Freddy watch her, whispering to one another. FREDDY We gotta get out of here. BODE We can’t leave her stranded. What if some bad dude comes along? FREDDY We’re the bad dudes, bro. BODE (calling to her) Could be the ignition wire! She turns, frightened and sees Bode and Freddy in the trees. FREDDY I’m out of here. Freddy takes off running. Bode takes a step toward Arabella. BODE I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m out for a walk and I know a lot about cars. ARABELLA (scared) That’s okay, so does my boyfriend. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and walks back towards her car talking on the phone. ARABELLA (CONT'D) (into phone) Hey, yeah it’s me. I’m on Oak Highway behind the con camp. My car broke down, so.... Okay cool, you’re on your way? BODE There’s no way you have cell service here.

27.

He takes a step forward. She’s reached the car and grabbed her purse. She pulls a gun out of it and points it at Bode. ARABELLA Stop! Bode stops. Backs up, his hands in the air. BODE Whoa. Jeez! ARABELLA Just ... please ... I’m fine and you shouldn’t be here and ... BODE

I’m not gonna hurt you. How about I talk you through reconnecting the ignition wire. She’s shaking, nervous, but considering -- BODE (CONT'D) Or better yet, keep that trained on me while I do it. ARABELLA

You even step into the street and you’re off property. They consider that an escape. BODE You have a better idea? She’s looking around. It’s fucking dark, she has no cell service, her car is broken. Clearly, she doesn’t. On Bode: Weighing his options. He WANTS to succeed here. But he can’t leave her stranded. For better or worse, he’s

not that guy. So, here goes -- Bode takes a step onto the street. BODE (CONT'D) I guess I just escaped. OFF Bode slowly walking towards her, we ... END ACT ONE

28.

ACT TWO

EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - WOODS - NIGHT 32 Bode is working on the car engine. Arabella stands off to the side with the gun. BODE You from here? ARABELLA

I grew up in San Diego with my mom. I’d come summers to see my dad. Is it ... can you fix it? BODE Think so. (beat) We watch a lot of TV in prison. I saw you. In the Olympics. You were great. Must be cool to have that moment ... you can watch whenever you want ... ARABELLA I can’t watch it. All I see are mistakes. BODE

You gotta see beyond your mistakes. Or at least that’s what they tell me. (then) Try to start it. She gets in the car, it starts. He closes the hood and comes around to the window. BODE (CONT'D) You’re good to go. ARABELLA Thank you. (Looks at the gun still in her hand) Sorry about this. I just got scared, and I carry this in case my car breaks down ... BODE ... next to a prison and you run into an escaped felon?

29.

He smiles. It’s a joke. But -- ARABELLA

Is that what you’re doing out here? BODE Nope. Just out for a walk.

She reaches for her wallet -- ARABELLA

Let me give you some money for -- BODE No. Please --

She opens her wallet and a strip of pictures from a photo booth falls from it onto the ground. Bode picks it up. He looks at it. It’s her and Jake. He’s startled but covers. BODE (CONT'D) Your boyfriend? ARABELLA Yeah. He wasn’t on the phone, but he ... exists. Bode hands her back the pictures, starts to walk away. ARABELLA (CONT'D) (out the window) Don’t run. If that’s why you’re out here. It won’t work. There’s no escaping this place. She drives away. OFF Bode, the truth of that statement hitting him.

EXT. MIDDLETOWN - MORNING - ESTABLISHING

The sun rises over God’s country.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (PRE LAP)

The Giants took another beating last night against the Cubs --

INT. VINCE'S CAR - DAY 34 Vince and Cheryl drive. Vince turns off a sports radio talk show.

30.

VINCE (yelling at radio) Because we have a weak bullpen. CHERYL Vince! I wanted to hear the weather. VINCE

It’s hot, dry and windy. Anything else you want to know? Celebrity news? Everyone in Hollywood’s getting a divorce. CHERYL Maybe everyone in this car should get one, too. VINCE No chance. You’re stuck with me. He smiles at her, she smiles at him. This is their banter. The car turns into -- SONOMA CEMETERY. 35 A beautiful spot nestled by a hillside in a grove of mature trees. A simple headstone reads: RILEY LEONE - 1997-2017 - Our Sunshine Girl Cheryl and Vince kneel at a gravesite weeding and tending. CHERYL I googled him. Looking for him. EXT. SONOMA CEMETERY - GRAVESITE - DAY We hear the sound of a lawnmower and Vince looks up and sees BILLY NOONAN (61), the groundskeeper, on a riding mower. VINCE You kidding me? Billy’s mowing the lawn? In this weather? CHERYL

Vincent?! Did you hear me? I googled him, aren’t you curious what I found? VINCE We agreed. We were gonna try to move on.

31.

CHERYL Move on?? I can’t move on. VINCE I didn’t mean move on. I meant, there’s been so much pain. Maybe we should just ... try to find a measure of happiness.

They look at one another. Who’s he kidding? Is happiness even possible? He turns his attention back to the lawn mower. VINCE (CONT'D) (approaching Billy) Stop!! Billy stops the mower. BILLY Hey, Vince -- VINCE Billy, there’s a red flag warning -- BILLY I know, but -- VINCE You could catch a rock and throw a spark -- BILLY I know what I’m doing -- VINCE

Remember the Bear Fire? That guy thought he knew what he was doing, too. Mowing his lawn in a red flag warning. He ended up burning down 11,000 acres and got 4 years in state prison. You want 4 years in prison, Billy?

And Vince stomps away, rejoins Cheryl. CHERYL

That sweet man you just yelled at takes care of our daughter’s grave. VINCE It’s fire season.

32.

CHERYL You’re mad at the world, but you have to stop taking it out on the rest of us.

A beat.

VINCE What’d you find? On Google? CHERYL Nothing. It’s like he disappeared.

OFF Vince.

INT. CAL FIRE FIREHOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING

Jake’s eating cereal, talking to Everly. JAKE I told her I love her. EVERLY Wow. JAKE It’s your fault. Getting engaged like that. EVERLY Look at us. All grown up. JAKE

It feels weird though. I said it and now I’m like, ‘Ahhh, what does this mean?’ I’m not ready to, you know, get married -- EVERLY What it means is you love her. That’s it. JAKE I know, but ... you know how things go. One thing leads to the next and -- pretty soon I’ll be renting a hall and posing for pictures. EVERLY This is what you do. You fall for women and then freak out like your life is over and you break up.

33.

JAKE (rolling his eyes)

No I don’t --

EVERLY Laura, Siobhan, Cathy with a C, Kathy with a K -- JAKE I’m starting to think you have no faith in me. EVERLY Jake. Jakey Jake Jake. I have so much faith in you. What we’ve been through ... I’m yours for life. And

for what it’s worth? I didn’t think all the Cathy’s were worthy of you but Arabella is. JAKE Yeah. EVERLY Don’t run from it. Let yourself be happy. Suddenly at the firehouse the alarms start to go off. Jake and Everly are up and moving -- CAL FIRE DISPATCH (PRE-LAP) Middletown, vehicle accident with possible extrication -- 37 The rig speeds down the highway. There’s a crew of four including Jake and Everly. The truck turns off onto an old logging road. Alongside it runs a ravine. One hundred yards down the road and 50 feet down in the ravine THEY SEE: An SUV that’s skidded off road, plunged down the ravine and plowed into a tree. The tree is damaged, but hasn’t fallen. EVERLY (on radio) Engine 1477 on scene, we have one vehicle, unknown amount of patients, 50 feet down a ravine into a tree. We’ll be out investigating. INT. CAL FIRE FIRETRUCK - DAY

34.

While two of the firefighters run a hose line as a precaution, Jake and Everly make their way down the ravine --

EXT. RAVINE - DAY

Jake and Everly approach the SUV and FIND: A young mom, LINDSEY (27) and her baby son, PETER in a car seat. Lindsey is alert, if stunned. Peter is crying. LINDSEY (screaming) The door won’t open! Jake and Everly try the doors, but the car is too smashed. JAKE Try to cover yourself up, we’re gonna knock these windows out. OFF Everly swinging her Halligan toward the window, we -- 39 Manny swings a McLEOD (like a hoe) into the grass while the rag tag group of new inmates watch. MANNY Cutting line. What is it? JULIO It’s that. It’s what you’re doing. MANNY What am I doing? FREDDY Cutting line. MANNY Someone wanna not be a smartass and give me a real answer? Bode? BODE Cutting line is clearing the EXT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - YARD - MORNING

vegetation down to the mineral soil so that a fire has no fuel and will stop. FREDDY Teacher’s pet.

35.

MANNY I know you did a lot of this in

training before you got here, but I like it done a certain way. So -- head over to the tool room. I’ll need 7 Pulaskis, 8 McLeods, and 2 guys on chainsaw. As the inmates head toward the tool room, Freddy sidles up to Bode -- FREDDY How’d it go? BODE It was her ignition. FREDDY She cool? BODE I didn’t stand around getting to know her. FREDDY Big Eddie dropped the phone off at breakfast. I already called Cookie! BODE Where is it? FREDDY It’s hidden. BODE Where? I need it. MANNY (O.S.) Donovan! Mills! A word? Bode and Freddy turn and see Cory and Manny looking at them. 40 Jake has a Halligan (like a crow bar) and he’s prying the door open, while Everly is putting a C-collar on little Peter through an open window. The following dialogue is overlapping, disjointed and punctuated by the sounds of emergency vehicles arriving on scene -- EXT. RAVINE - DAY

36.

LINDSEY He was crying and I looked back, the next thing I know we hit a tree. EVERLY Hey little man, I know you don’t like this -- CAL FIRE DISPATCH (V.O.) Engine 1477, medics just arrived on scene -- LINDSEY Is he okay? JAKE Ma’am can you lean away from the door. I’ve almost got it off -- EVERLY (lifting baby out) Lindsey -- I’m gonna take your son up and he’ll be waiting for you.

Everly takes the screaming baby while Jake pries the door open and cuts Lindsey’s seat belt. Paramedics arrive with a backboard. JAKE (to paramedics) consciousness before or after the crash, denies any head or neck pain, I didn’t have time to get any vitals. He turns to go back up the ravine when he hears a loud crack and turns to see -- JAKE (CONT'D) The tree! Oh God -- Hey guys, this is Lindsey, she’s 27, hit a tree going about 30 miles an hour. She had no loss of The tree has cracked in two and fallen on a power line that flies through the air like a snapped whip, sparks flying, before landing in the dry grasses along the hillside and starting the grass on fire. Jake turns to paramedics -- JAKE (CONT'D) Guys, get her out of here!! (into radio) Engine 1477.

(MORE)

37.

JAKE (CONT'D)

New incident at Buckeye Road cross of Highway 175. Vegetation fire caused by power lines down, approximately 1 acre rapid rate of spread, in the brush running uphill. Multiple structures threatened. Potential for major incident. Start a full wildland response.

INT. TWO ROCK CON CAMP - MAIN OFFICE - DAY

Manny and Cory (and the other captains and detention officers) share this office. Manny and Cory sit behind their desks, Freddy and Bode stand in front of them. Manny places Freddy’s cellphone on the desk. MANNY Recognize this? Bode and Freddy don’t say anything. MANNY (CONT'D)

My daughter said a couple guys fitting your description were out walking last night. The road is a common drop off place for contraband, so we searched your lockers this morning, didn’t find anything. But then we searched the kitchen. People like to store things in the dry rice or the beans. FREDDY It’s not mine. CORY You sure? Cause I saw you talking to Big Eddie who does our deliveries -- FREDDY I was just conversing. I talk a lot. MANNY You can’t have a phone. That’s an extra 90 days on your sentence. BODE It’s mine.

38.

Everyone looks at Bode.

BODE (CONT'D) Goat has nothing to do with it. But the reason I have it is personal. If I could have a minute alone with you? Manny looks at Bode, what’s this guy’s deal? Turns to Cory. MANNY Take Mills outta here and give us a minute. Freddy gives Bode a look like “WTF” and leaves. MANNY (CONT'D) Okay. Talk. BODE I’m here because I robbed a guy at gunpoint. The owner of the liquor store. And he ...he stood up at my parole hearing and read a letter saying that he forgave me. That he hoped I could turn my life around. It’s the most generous thing anyone has ever done for me and I don’t deserve it. But I have to believe he knows something I don’t. And that you do, too. That the people who tell me if I work this program I can succeed. And I want to succeed. But I can’t do it here. This is my hometown. MANNY Why didn’t you tell me that on day one? BODE It’s ... it’s complicated. MANNY I can handle complicated. Bode looks pained. But he has to come clean if he wants to get out of here. But before he can say anything -- CAL FIRE DISPATCH (V.O.)

Two Rock, vegetation fire, rapid spread. Requesting all available crews --

39.

Manny is up and heading out the door. MANNY Let’s go. Bode stand there, uncertain. Manny looks back. MANNY (CONT'D)

You just gave me a whole speech on how you want to succeed. So, let’s go.

OFF them hustling out --

EXT. HIGHWAY OUTSIDE MIDDLETOWN - DAY 42 The Department of Corrections bus speeds down the pristine highway. On either side of the road is virgin forest, incredibly dry, that hasn’t burned in ages. Ahead ... a whole lot of smoke forming a thunderhead reaching up to the heavens.

INT. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BUS - DAY

Somber-faced inmates listen as -- MANNY

Alright guys, this a real baptism by fire. You listen to me and I’ll keep you safe. I need you to stay alert and keep your 10s and 18s in mind so risks can be mitigated. I don’t even know all your names yet, but by the end of the day I’m gonna know not only your name but what kind of man you are.

They turn the corner and see THE ENTIRE HILLSIDE on fire. The 100 x 100 area has grown to at least a thousand acres and spreading fast. At least 20 fire engines are converging onto the scene. MANNY (CONT'D) Your first fire already has a name. Welcome to the Buckeye. OFF the inmates staring at the hillside with fear and excitement we - END ACT TWO

40.

ACT THREE

EXT. INCIDENT BASE CAMP - BUCKEYE FIRE - DAY 44 On the side of the highway - a hub of activity. A temporary command post has formed. There are trucks parked up and down the road unloading hose line, crews with hand tools heading up to cut line, a tanker flies overhead on the way to a water drop. Amidst this buzzing hive is the Queen Bee, Cheryl, walking with her very worried husband Vince -- VINCE If this gets into Miller Canyon it’s gonna rip right into town -- CHERYL I have three tankers and 5 water tenders -- They’ve reached two men getting out of their truck. Cheryl takes out her iPad and brings up a map, pointing to neighborhoods -- CHERYL (CONT'D)

Chip, Adolfo, we need to issue mandatory evacuation orders for Divisions Yankee and Zulu. Vince’ll take point.

She starts to walk away, Vince follows. VINCE We need dozers. CHERYL

They’re coming from Glen Ellen and Santa Rosa. I have two crews cutting line along the ridge -- VINCE If this gets into Miller Canyon it’s gonna rip right into town -- CHERYL You mentioned that. (She walking towards another Battalion Chief) Markes! Update me on your strike team --

Vince turns to --

41.

VINCE Adolfo, take point on the evacuation orders, keep me updated - And heads toward his truck, pulling out his phone as he goes. 45 Copter one-four-zero, piloted by Izzy, flies over the fire, banks left, and dumps water on the -- EXT. BUCKEYE FIRE - DAY EXT. WOODS - DAY 46 Left Flank of the fire. The gallons of water seem to barely make a dent as the flames keep roaring. Two crews of inmates (about 35 in all) in their orange uniforms cut line, while Cal Fire, in their blue uniforms, run hose line alongside. Our con crew is in a line working, Manny walks alongside -- MANNY Keep your dime boys, 10 feet apart. Freddy and Bode work McLeods side by side. FREDDY Why you go belly up? “It’s mine!” Like some guilty white boy. BODE I did you a favor. FREDDY I told you to leave that girl alone and now she went to daddy and we got no phone. Stop doing people favors. Manny approaches, observes Freddy’s work. He’s cleared most of the vegetation but not all. MANNY Freddy, clear everything. FREDDY I did, that’s clean. MANNY What’s that root? FREDDY It’s underground.

42.

MANNY Yeah. And if it catches fire over there it can travel underground and start a fire over here. FREDDY

I’m trying to go fast. Either you want me to go fast or you want me to be thorough. MANNY (not taking bullshit) How about you give me both? Right then Jake walks by with Everly. Bode sees them. MANNY (CONT'D) Everly, Jake. You joining the fun? JAKE

Yeah. Gonna head up to the ridge and get eyes on the fire and a sense of the wind. MANNY Keep me posted. JAKE There’s gonna be a bunch of radio traffic so listen up. My identifier’s ‘C one-zero-four F- one’. MANNY Copy that. FREDDY (to Bode) Those guys take a little hike up the mountain while we do all the hard work. How’s this fair?

Jake walks right by Bode who pulls his face shroud around his face. Bode and Jake lock eyes and for a split second it’s tense. Is there recognition? But Jake keeps walking, Bode’s troubled gaze follows him. BODE Nothing fair about it. Manny approaches. MANNY Everything okay over here?

43.

FREDDY

Yes, sir.

MANNY

Bode?

BODE

Yes, sir.

MANNY Good. How ‘bout we talk less and work more? Cap continues on his way, Bode turns back to Jake, but now he and Everly are climbing up the ridge. 47 Arabella and Maya stand with 10-15 other people outside the bar looking up at the fire in the woods to the south. MAYA I’ve never seen it get this close to town. ARABELLA Jake and Everly are gonna be okay, right? MAYA (convincing herself) Totally. Vince drives up, parks, gets out and walks toward the entrance passing Arabella and Maya -- VINCE Harlan here? EXT. SMOKEY’S BAR AND GRILL - DAY INT. SMOKEY’S BAR AND GRILL - CONTINUOUS 48 Vince finds Harlan in his usual spot at the bar, well into his third drink. VINCE Harlan! Harlan turns, not happy to see Vince. VINCE (CONT'D) Pick up your damn phone!

44.

HARLAN I don’t want to talk to you. VINCE It was 10 years ago, let’s bury the hatchet. HARLAN What do you want? VINCE I need your dozers. HARLAN No. VINCE You were drunk on the job. I had to fire you. Now you own a construction company, you’re richer than I’ll ever be, so you won. Okay? I did you a favor. HARLAN Cal Fire has its own dozers. VINCE We have two for this whole region and I need more. I want to cut a line around the whole damn town. HARLAN Call Tyler. He handles day to day. VINCE I did. He won’t do anything without your okay. Cause he’s a good son. You got your kids all around you. You beat me there, too.

Harlan looks at Vince --

HARLAN If Tyler can round up his brothers and sister you can have five dozers. I got six, but I suppose you’d say I’m too drunk to operate. Text Tyler the meet up --

Vince spontaneously hugs Harlan -- HARLAN (CONT'D) Let’s not go crazy --

45.

Vince starts to walk away. Arabella, who’s been listening, walks with him -- ARABELLA

My dad was a logger before he joined Cal Fire. I spent all my summers with him. I tagged along on stuff that I probably shouldn’t have. VINCE What are you saying? ARABELLA I can drive a dozer.

OFF Vince, considering --

EXT. RIDGE - DAY 49 Jake and Everly push on to the ridge. The smoke is thick and embers from the nearby fire fly all around them. Everly pulls out her binoculars and looks. EVERLY This is getting bad. (into radio)

Command IC this is one-zero-four F- one. Spot fires surrounding left flank with heavy wind, rapid spread. JAKE Let me see --

He walks towards her, reaching out for the binoculars and he suddenly FALLS thigh deep into a STUMP HOLE. Flames engulf his leg. Suddenly Jake screams. JAKE (CONT'D) Owwww. Dammmit!! Everly starts to run towards him to get him out. JAKE (CONT'D) STOP. The ground is burning underneath, stay over there -- EVERLY I need to get you out -- Jake takes off his tool belt (including his small pack that has his fire shelter) ...

46.

JAKE Grab one end, pull me -- She pulls and manages to help him out of the hole. He rolls away from the burning ground. JAKE (CONT'D) Son of a ... my boot is melted -- She looks around. EVERLY If there are stump holes, this whole area is unstable. As if on cue they hear a crack and -- A large tree nearby them comes down. They both jump out of the way but a burning branch from the tree lands on Jake. Everly quickly puts out the small flame with a hand tool. EVERLY (CONT'D) We gotta get out of here. JAKE I can’t move ... His leg is stuck under the branch. They both try to move the tree. No luck. And their hand tools aren’t gonna cut it. OFF the two of them, trapped -- 50 Cheryl confers with other Captains and studies a computer image taken from above the fire. She points to an area with a few spot fires. CHERYL Division Charlie is getting hit EXT. INCIDENT BASE CAMP - BUCKEYE FIRE - DAY

hard chasing down spot fires in the Canyon. Let’s move everyone off the left flank, it’s not safe. (into radio) This is Buckeye IC. Request hand crew reinforcement on Right Flank. CAL FIRE DISPATCH Buckeye IC, copy that. Also, we have a report of a man down on Harrison Ridge --

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