EXT. HOUSE – NIGHT
A quiet street. No movement. A single porch light flickers. A MAN stands at the door. He knocks sharply. No response. He knocks again. Louder. The door slowly creaks open.
A LITTLE GIRL stands there. Barefoot. Her eyes don't meet his.
MAN (annoyed)
What made you take so long?
She doesn't answer. He gently pushes the door wider and steps in.
MAN (CONT'D)
Move aside.
She steps back immediately.
INT. HOUSE – NIGHT
The house is neat. On the wall a framed photo: Mother. Father. Daughter. Smiling. The man glances at it briefly, then looks away.
The girl walks ahead. Slow. Her fingers brush against the wall as she walks. She reaches a closed door. Stops. Her hand hovers over the knob. She opens the door.
Darkness inside. She steps in.
INT. DARK ROOM – CONTINUOUS
From the hallway, the man follows, stopping at the entrance.
MAN
At least turn on the light.
Don't you know the rules?
Click. The light turns on. A sharp gasp. Then, the man scream. The sound fades into heavy breathing… scraping… choking.
INT ROOM
The man lies on the floor. Bare. His body twitches. His hands claw weakly at the ground.
On his torso, parts of his skin is ripped off, blood coming out that reads, "WHY ?"
The girl sitting near his head. Her small hand grips a razor blade tightly over his neck. Blood stains her fingers. Drops of it reach her face. She doesn't react. Just breathing.
He tries to speak, Nothing comes out.
Her lips move slightly.
GIRL (whisper)
Don't... make noise...
She presses the razor again over his neck.
CUT TO BLACK.
EXT. MALL – NIGHT
A large mall glows in the distance. Neon lights. Traffic hums. Cars pass. Headlights sweep across the road.
A LITTLE BOY walks alone along the edge of the street. His school bag hangs loosely from one shoulder. He keeps his eyes down. Counting steps.
He reaches the sidewalk near the mall entrance. Slows.
Behind him, Footsteps. Unhurried. An OLDER BOY appears. He closes the distance easily. Walks beside him.
A hand reaches out, pinches the little boy's cheek.
OLDER BOY (smiling)
Where are you going alone?
The little boy freezes. His eyes flick sideways.
The older boy leans in slightly closer to thelittle boy's face.
The little boy suddenly pulls back. And runs.
EXT. MALL PARKING – CONTINUOUS
The boy weaves through parked cars. The older boy follows. Not rushing.
EXT. EDGE OF FOREST – NIGHT
The mall lights fade behind. The little boy enters the tree line. Branches brush against him. He slows. Then stops. The boy stands near a tree.
Turn behind and smiles. The older boy pauses for a moment. Then smirks. Steps forward faster now.
They are now deep enough that the mall lights barely reach. The older boy stops in front of the tree. Close. The little boy steps toward him. The older boy shoves him hard against the tree trunk.
Then little boy starts to stab him. Fast. The little boy's clenched jaw. His hand moving repeatedly
The older boy tries to push him away, Fails.
The little boy stops. Breathing heavily. His hands tremble now. He steps back. He wipes his hands on his shirt.
In the distance, the mall lights flicker through the trees.
CUT TO BLACK.
INT. WHITE HOUSE – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
A long oak table dominates the room. Polished. Briefing folders lie open.
Wall mounted screens cycle through live feeds
PROTESTS. HEADLINES. DISTORTED BROADCASTS. Faces warp mid sentence.
At the head sits THUNDERBOLT ROSS as President of the United States. Back straight. Jaw set. A pen taps slowly.
Around him:
The SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, arms folded, eyes hard.
The SECRETARY OF STATE, fingers trembling as pages turn.
The DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, glasses low, eyes locked on the screens.
The HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF, leaning forward, palms flat.
Senior advisors scribble, whisper, avoid eye contact.
HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF (grim)
Mr. President, every broadcast we release, live or recorded, is being altered on air. Deepfakes override the signal in real time. Even official statements (beat)
are being rewritten. And people believe them.
Ross doesn't look up.
SECRETARY OF STATE (voice strained)
The streets are worse. Protests areescalating nationwide. We have confirmed abductions. Citizens vanishing. Minors among them.
She swallows.
SECRETARY OF STATE (CONT'D)
KIDNAPPINGS is trending on every platform.
The DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (DNI) snaps a folder shut.
DNI
We've identified hundreds ofcoordinated accounts amplifying this faster than our countermeasures.
Ross leans forward. His eyes sharpen.
ROSS
So we're not just losing the streets. (beat)
We're losing the narrative.
Silence.
ROSS (CONT'D)
And when people stop trusting us... they turn.
The SECRETARY OF DEFENSE exhales through clenched teeth.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
We don't have a solution yet, Mr. President.
Ross's pen taps hard against the table.
ROSS
Then why isn't law enforcementmoving? Where are my police chiefs? The National Guard?
The HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF hesitates.
HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF
Departments are stalling. Some refuse outright. Orders aren't landing. Trusted officials, people I've known for years, have gone dark. (quiet)
Sir… the chain of command feels compromised.
ROSS
Compromised?
He stands.
ROSS
Who put Gravik on live television?Who cleared that?
DNI (defensive)
That network is privately owned. Shell company, offshore accounts.
ROSS (leans in)
They even hijack our broadcasts,rewrite reality, abduct civilians and we can't trace a signal?
No one answers. Suddenly, ALERTS BLARE on Ross's tablet. He looks down.
ROSS (low)
Oh my
Ross rushes to the window. Others follow.
EXT. WHITE HOUSE – GARDEN – DAY
A HELICOPTER DESCENDS. It lands hard on the lawn. Four HUMAN LIKE FIGURES came out.
They OPEN FIRE. Service agents fall back. Chaos erupts. The gunfire stops.
Then from the chopper steps THARAN, AS CAPTAIN AMERICA.
Shield strapped to his arm. He walks forward calmly. Flanked by his commanders.
Some guards from White House hesitate. Then, THEY TURN. Green skin ripples. Skrulls reveal themselves. They join Tharan.
Tharan doesn't look back.
INT. WHITE HOUSE – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Ross turns to the DNI.
ROSS
Get us to a secure location.
The DNI steps forward, blocking the door.
DNI
I'm afraid... (smiles faintly)
I can't authorize that.
His body SHIFTS. Green skin. Skrull form.
Weapons snap up.
SKRULL DNI
Please. Don't make this worse.
Ross stares.
ROSS
Who are you?
The doors BURST OPEN. Tharan enters with his commanders.
THARAN
We are the future of this world.
They all TRANSFORM, FULL SKRULL FORM. Ross steps closer to Tharan.
ROSS
So Captain America didn't kill the mayor.
You did. (beat)
What do you want?
Weapons are stripped from the officers. Tharan chuckles.
THARAN
We're here to talk peacefully.
Ross reaches for his tablet.
ROSS
One push, every federal force in America
THARAN
Don't lie. (steps closer)
You know the streets are already burning.
Another HELICOPTER lands outside. Ross stiffens.
ROSS
Who's that?
Tharan gestures calmly.
THARAN
Patience.
The skrull commanders FORCE EVERYONE TO THEIR KNEES. Even Ross. Footsteps echo.
GRAVIK enters, Skrull form. Orange coat. Unarmed. He looks down at Ross.
GRAVIK
Hello, Mr. President.
Ross doesn't blink. Gravik TRANSFORMS INTO HUMAN FORM. Smiles. Bends slightly.
GRAVIK
Now you recognize me?
CUT TO BLACK.