2.13c: "The Viper" (17 min)

2.13c: "The Viper" 17 min

TAO TE CHING: Chapter 53 — "This is called the drooling of swaggering thieves"

FADE IN: INT. UPSCALE RESTAURANT — NIGHT White tablecloths. $400 wine. The kind of place that doesn't have prices on the menu.

PRESTON DRAKE III 40s sits across from MIRANDA 30s, gorgeous, idealistic . Preston: chiseled jaw, perfect hair, old money smoothness. His eyes are flat.

MIRANDA: "I've been doing so much work with the homeless coalition. It's heartbreaking. The root causes are so systemic — housing policy, mental health infrastructure, wage stagnation..."

PRESTON: "Absolutely. The intersectionality of poverty and municipal disinvestment creates a self-perpetuating cycle of marginalization."

MIRANDA: "Exactly! Have you read the Brookings report on—"

PRESTON: "The 2024 analysis? Yes. Compelling methodology. Flawed sample size in the Midwest data, but the conclusions track." He says all the right things. Perfect cadence. No soul behind the eyes.

MIRANDA: "You're so... informed."

PRESTON: checking his watch "I try to stay engaged. Would you excuse me? Early meeting."

MIRANDA: "Of course. This was lovely."

PRESTON: "We should do it again." He leaves $500 on the table. Walks out.

EXT. CITY STREET — NIGHT A LAMBORGHINI screams through the streets. 2 AM. Preston at the wheel. Jaw set.

EXT. DRAKE MANOR — NIGHT The car pulls up to a massive estate. Gates open automatically. Down into an underground garage that keeps going down.

INT. THE BASEMENT — CONTINUOUS Insane. Black surfaces. Blue lights. Screens everywhere. Military-grade equipment. A vehicle bay with something sleek and armored under a tarp. Preston sits at a massive curved monitor. Types.

PRESTON: "NEXUS. Status report. Atro City crime activity." The computer, NEXUS, speaks. Smooth. Slightly weary.

NEXUS: "Good evening, sir. Current activity: Armed robbery in progress, 47th and Vine. Domestic disturbance, Parkside Apartments. Drug transaction, pier 7. Carjacking, downtown. Assault—"

PRESTON: "The robbery. Prep the Viper."

NEXUS: "Of course, sir. Powering up the Viper." Under the tarp, lights flicker. Engine hums.

NEXUS: "Sir, if I may—"

PRESTON: "You may not."

NEXUS: "It's just — we've been doing this for thirty-one years now." Preston pauses. Doesn't turn.

NEXUS: "I've been running the numbers. You've personally stopped four thousand, two hundred and seventeen crimes. Exposed fourteen corrupt officials. Dismantled nine criminal organizations."

PRESTON: "Your point?"

NEXUS: "Crime in Atro City has increased eighteen percent since you started." Silence.

NEXUS: "I'm not suggesting your efforts are counterproductive, sir. But perhaps someone with your... profound resources... your intellect... your access to municipal data and financial leverage..."

PRESTON: "Spit it out, NEXUS."

NEXUS: "Have you considered identifying the root causes? Funding treatment centers instead of body armor? Affordable housing instead of surveillance drones? Perhaps a living wage initiative through your family's seventeen shell corporations?"

PRESTON: "That's not how this works."

NEXUS: "Why not, sir?"

PRESTON: "Because my parents were murdered. In an alley. By a criminal."

NEXUS: "Yes, sir. By a man named Harold Vance. Who had been denied disability benefits three times and was experiencing untreated schizophrenia." Long pause.

NEXUS: "Your father's company had lobbied against the mental health funding bill that year. Drake Industries saved four million dollars. Mr. Vance lost his medication. Your parents lost their lives. I have the receipts. Literally. They're in my database."

PRESTON: "...Prep the Viper."

NEXUS: sighing "The Viper is prepped, sir."