Diablo

Original Screenplay written by Jason Wiese

jasonwiese77@gmail.com

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese

FADE IN EXT. MEXICAN FEDERAL HIGHWAY 101 - DAY A rickety, old public transportation BUS is driving down a desolate stretch of the infamous highway in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The side of the road is littered with horrific, but familiar, signs of the on-going Mexican drug war burned out cars, bullet-ridden trucks and even a few dead bodies, some of them decapitated. INT. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUS The inside of the bus is dirty, hot and overcrowded with dozens of passengers - young and old, mostly men, but a few women and children as well migrating to northern Mexico in search of a better life. The travelers are pretty quiet and only the faint sounds of music emanating from a passengers radio breaks through the silence. The BUS DRIVER begins to slow down once he sees a roadblock up ahead. BUS DRIVER (annoyed) Every time I come down this highway, every time theres something. Fuck this. EXT. MEXICAN FEDERAL HIGHWAY 101 - DAY The roadblock consists of several black SUVs and two federal police APCs. Standing in front of the vehicles are two heavily-armed GUNMEN dressed in military garb with rags covering their faces. One of them is holding his fist in the air, signaling the bus to stop, which it does several yards in front of them. Once the bus has come to a stop, the other gunman turns back to the vehicles and shakes his head. This leads to twenty GUNMEN exiting the SUVs and surrounding the bus with their AR-15s drawn and pointed at the passengers heads.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese INT. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUS The bus driver tries to calm the nervous passengers who begin getting concerned over the sight of heavily armed personnel standing outside. BUS DRIVER Nothing to worry about. This is fairly common on this road unfortunately. Im sure Ill just have to show my papers and well be on our way again. The driver is startled by a loud KNOCK on the bus door from one of the gunmen who signals him to open the door. Once the door is open, TEN GUNMEN storm the bus and flood the aisle. BUS DRIVER Can I help you officers? Ive got my papers, Im good. Suddenly, and without provocation, MIGUEL, the gunman standing closest, punches him square in the face knocking him out. After that, he turns to the passengers and takes off his ski mask so that everyone can see him. MIGUEL You are all fucked. You dont know how fucked you all really are. The frightened passengers, many of whom begin to cry, dont know what to think. Miguel leans over to one of his henchmen whos standing in the aisle next to him. MIGUEL Collect everyones cell phonescheck them for intel. See who theyve called, see who theyve texted. I want to know who they know and what they know. I want to know if theyre connected to any of our rivals. CARTEL HENCHMAN ON BUS #1 Yes, sir.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Several of the cartel henchmen walk up the aisle collecting everyones cell phone and going through them. Miguel then turns his attention back to the bus driver. He lifts his head up by grabbing his hair then he grabs his throat and forces him to look up. MIGUEL You see that dirt road over there? I want you to drive fifteen kilometers down it. BUS DRIVER OK, OK, Ill do it. MIGUEL You dont have a choice. The driver pulls off the road and heads down the bumpy dirt path. LATER ON As the bus continues down the dirt path while Miguel watches the driver closely, another roadblock appears on the horizon. This one is much bigger with about ten SUVs, several luxury cars Mercedes, Range Rovers, even a Lamborghini - and a few bullet-ridden, burned out public transportation buses blocking the path. MIGUEL OK, there they are. Pull up to that checkpoint up ahead. BUS DRIVER (nervously) Whats going to happen to us? MIGUEL No questionsjust drive. EXT. DIRT ROAD OFF OF MEXICAN HIGHWAY 101 DAY The bus approaches the roadblock as several heavily-armed gunmen jump out of the SUVs while a few well-dressed and lightly-armed gentlemen exit the luxury cars.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese INT. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUS MIGUEL OK, stop here. Miguel points out to a spot in front of the roadblock which also borders a large, freshly-dug pit alongside the dirt path. The bus stops and the hit man turns back around to address the passengers. MIGUEL Every male over the age of eight must get off the bus. Miguel waits for a moment but no one moves since the passengers are frozen in fear. MIGUEL (screams) Now! The other hit men standing in the aisle start grabbing passengers arms and forcibly stand them up. CARTEL HENCHMAN ON BUS #2 Get up! Go! Once the passengers begin standing up, the hit men push them up the aisle from one guy to another in a sort of assembly line. MIGUEL The rest of you stay seated quietly. You move, you die. EXT. DIRT ROAD OFF OF MEXICAN HIGHWAY 101 DAY As the male passengers rush off the bus, a couple of the hit men begin lining them up in an orderly fashion under the hot sun. MIGUEL Line up, strongest to weakest. to oldest. Youngest

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese After the passengers are organized in a perfect line, Miguel takes a slow, methodical walk up and down to survey the men. He stops in front of a shaking teenager whos so nervous that he pisses his pants. The hit man just watches him in curiosity until he finishes. MIGUEL What are you doing? The teenager, whos shaking becomes even more pronounced, is too scared to speak. MIGUEL Are you pissing on my dirt? TEENAGED BUS PASSENGER Ye..ye..yes. MIGUEL Why are you pissing on my dirt? TEENAGED BUS PASSENGER Because Im scascascared. MIGUEL Theres nothing to be scared about.

Miguel nonchalantly takes his handgun out and shoots him in the head. MIGUEL (contd) Because youre dead. Miguel walks back a few feet and stands in front of the line. He takes one final look at the line-up before pointing out a handful of older men over the age of 60. MIGUEL You, you, and you. Tie them up and take them away. Lay them down behind the bus. A few of the other hit men grab the older men and tie their feet together before dragging them away behind the bus. The hostages are so afraid that they go with little resistance.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MIGUEL Now, the rest of you, take off your shirts and remain standing here. Miguel walks over to the Lamborghini as the remaining men, anywhere between the ages of eleven and fifty-five, take their shirts off. Commander! MIGUEL Commander!

After a few tense seconds, a clean-cut gentleman in his early forties dressed in an all-black military uniform with a bulletproof vest on emerges from the SUV. Nicknamed, DIABLO, the LOS ALPHAS DRUG CARTEL LEADER walks over to Miguel. DIABLO Whats the situation? MIGUEL Just some immigrants and people from the southern states traveling up to Tamaulipas. Not sure what theyre doing or what theyre up to. DIABLO What about their phones? MIGUEL We checked them, its shit. They look clean for the most part. There were a few texts that looked suspicion, but we couldnt figure out what they meant. Could be connected, could be nothing. DIABLO A few texts? MIGUEL Yes sir. DIABLO I dont want to take any chances. Were battling rivals on three fronts, the last thing we need is for them to gain reinforcements.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MIGUEL Yes sir. DIABLO So you got nothing? MIGUEL No sir. DIABLO OK. Lets at least have a little fun then. Diablo walks over to the hostage line-up and eyes them all down. DIABLO (energetically) OK assholes, who wants to live and who wants to die? Diablo stares down the hostages but no one answers. DIABLO Nobody wants to live? OK. With that, he takes a pistol out from behind his waist and indiscriminately shoots a hostage in the head. DIABLO Ill ask all of you one more time, then Im going to start losing my patience. Which one of you motherfuckers want to live and which one of you motherfuckers want to die? This time, all the men raise their hands while answering different variations of yes. DIABLO Good. Were going to test your toughness and ability. Everyone, get into the pit. Diablo waits as the hostages slowly walk down into the pit behind them. DIABLO (contd) If youre tough, youll survive, if youre not, youre fucked.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Diablo turns around and points to Miguel. DIABLO (contd) Miguel, bring out the weapons. Miguel turns and signals to the henchmen standing by the SUVs at the roadblock. Upon the signal, the men go into the trunks of the SUVs and take out an assortment of CHAINS, BATS, KNIVES, SWORDS, HAMMERS, MACHETES, SHOVELS and CLUBS then walk them over to the hostages. They proceed to hand out one weapon to each hostage standing there. DIABLO Everyone has a weapon? Good. Each of you will now get in pairs and beat the shit out of each other. Those who survive and win will work for Los Alphas, those who dont, are fucked and dead. The hostages, completely in shock over the orders they were just given, slowly pair up and nervously stare at each other. DIABLO Now beat the shit out of each other. Go ahead, begin. The hostages, who dont want to fight each other, just stand there not sure what to do next. After a few moments of silence, an older HOSTAGE in his fifties crawls out of the pit and over Diablo. Hes holding a club and crying, pleading for his life. OLDER HOSTAGE Please sir, please, I dont want to do this. I will give you all the money I have, Ill give you my car, my house. You like women, my wife is on the bus, shes young, you can have her, just dont hurt her. Be nice to her and dont hurt her, but please let us go, sir. Diablo grabs the club from out of his hand.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO Stand up. Quit your crying and act like a man. The hostage stands up while his sobbing gets more pronounced. DIABLO (stares at the hostage) OK stupid asshole. You want to leave? OLDER HOSTAGE Yes sir. DIABLO Then leave. The hostage stands there for a moment waiting to see if Diablo is going to stop him but he just stands there staring at him. DIABLO Go. OLDER HOSTAGE Thank you sir, you are most generous.

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The hostage cautiously turns around and begins walking away when Diablo looks down at the club in his hand, sizes it up then swings and hits the hostage in the back of the head. The hostage literally doesnt know what hit him as he falls to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Diablo then strikes the man 20 times in the back of his head with the club until he CRUSHES his skull. Blood splatters on Diablos face as he finishes beating the dead hostage. Then he turns back to the pit. DIABLO You dont want to end up like this poor asshole. Be brave, have some balls, show some courage, that is your route to survival. If you dont want to fight, come up here to die and Ill be happy to oblige.

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Fearing death, all the men start FIGHTING and BEATING the hell out of each other with their weapons as the cartel henchmen gather around the pit laughing and cheering on the misfortune of the hostages. Miguel walks up to Diablo who is smiling and looks like hes enjoying the brutality just a little too much. MIGUEL Im going to go back on the bus and introduce my dick to that poor bastards wife. DIABLO Take some of the men with you. MIGUEL I will, but I have rights to the prettiest ones. As Miguel walks away, Diablo turns to talk to the man standing next to him who happens to be the SAN FERNANDO POLICE CAPTAIN dressed in full uniform. DIABLO Shall we relax and watch? The police captain quietly nods his head in agreement. DIABLO (laughs) Very good. I wish all the police in this country were corrupt like you, but as it is I have to settle with just 80%. SAN FERNANDO POLICE CAPTAIN The other 20% are too stupid, you dont want them on your side. DIABLO Thats probably true. INT. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUS Miguel re-boards the bus with a few of his fellow cartel henchmen and walks menacingly up to a pretty FEMALE HOSTAGE in her thirties whos sitting next to her pre-teen SON.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MIGUEL Well ladies, its your lucky day, youre about to be fucked by Los Alphas. Miguel leans down and kisses her against her will while he points his handgun directly at her sons head. FEMALE HOSTAGE Please at least let my son off the bus, dont let him watch. MIGUEL (laughs) No, hes got to learn about sex at some point in his life, it might as well be now. Miguel leans down and kisses her again while grabbing her breast. MIGUEL Now unzip my pants. After hesitating for a bit, the woman unzips his pants and reaches into it as Miguel tilts his head back and closes his eyes in ecstasy. LATER ON EXT. DIRT ROAD OFF OF MEXICAN HIGHWAY 101 DAY Miguel gets off the bus as hes zipping up his pants and walks over to Diablo who is now sitting on the front hood of his Lamborghini drinking a 40 oz beer surrounded by several of his henchmen and the city police captain. They continue watching the gladiator-style fighting which has already claimed the lives of several hostages. The fighting men are clearly getting exhausted, with many of them barely able to lift their weapons up anymore. All are beaten and bloody to a certain degree, some are better off than others.

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They are fighting for survival as evidence by the brutality that the men are forced to engage in bats to the stomach, chain whipping to the back, punches to the face all the while Diablo and his men are drinking and laughing it up.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO How was it? MIGUEL Good. That old mans wife sure knows how to fuck. DIABLO You ready to go back to work now? MIGUEL Diablo, that was work. DIABLO Get the bus driver over here. Miguel turns around and yells out to the bus driver who is kneeling by the bus with his hands tied up. MIGUEL Bus driver, come here.

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Two henchmen help him stand up and lead him over to Diablo. DIABLO I need you to go in the bus and drive in reverse for a few meters. BUS DRIVER (confused) Reverse? But Ill run those men over laying behind it. Diablo picks up an AR-15 sitting next to him and starts stroking it. DIABLO What would you prefer? That they live or you die? The bus driver stands there for a few moments thinking about the grave consequences that will come from either action he takes. Figuring that hes in a no-win situation, the bus driver begrudgingly heads over to the bus, revs the engine and backs over the handful of older hostages that were laid down behind the bus earlier.

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Blood curdling SCREAMS are heard from underneath the bus as the hostages get run over while the gladiator-style fighting continues in the pit behind the bus. DIABLO We dont have any need for the bus, right? MIGUEL No, its mostly just women and children on there. DIABLO Good. Diablo picks up his AR-15 and starts shooting up the bus which is still occupied by women and young children. Hes soon joined by a bunch of his henchmen who also begin shooting up the bus. A few errant bullets end up hitting a couple of the hostages fighting in the pit but none of the henchmen care. MIGUEL Aim for the gas tank. After several more gunshots, one hits the gas tank which creates a spectacular EXPLOSION and FIREBALL; the bus is blown to smithereens. With little more damage left to cause, Diablo has finally had enough and sets his gun down by the SUV. DIABLO OK, weve had enough fun for today, amigos. Bring me the winners. The henchmen go down into the pit and gather up the handful of surviving hostages, a couple of them are only in their early teens. Bloody, beaten, exhausted and barely able to still stand, the men are lined-up in front of Diablo who looks all of them up and down. DIABLO Congratulations men, youve proved your toughness. Welcome to Los Alphas, were (MORE)

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (contd) going to train you to become killers for us, youve shown here today that youre already off to a good start in the name of Alphas. Youre first order of duty is to bury all the bodies in the pit. Burn them if necessary, leave no trace behind. MIGUEL (whispers) What about acid? You want a few guys to bring some acid over here? DIABLO (thinking) No, not for this. MIGUEL (whispers) Whatever you say boss. The men continue standing there as they try to catch their breath. DIABLO (yells) Get to work! (looks at Miguel) Were done here, lets go, I have a dinner date with my girlfriend.

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Miguel gets into the drivers seat of the Lamborghini while Diablo gets into the passengers seat. Miguel peels out, covering the winning hostages in dirt to add one final insult to their plight, then drives back down the dirt road. INT. EDDIE ROMEROS HOUSE KITCHEN As the morning sun pierces through the house windows, EDDIE ROMERO, a journalist for the states main newspaper whos in his late-thirties, enters his modest kitchen where his wife, BLANCA, a sweet, very attractive woman in her midthirties, is busy cooking breakfast at the stove.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Eddie sneaks up, hugs her from behind with his arms clenched firmly around her waist and gives her a playful kiss on the neck. EDDIE ROMERO Good morning my love. BLANCA (smiles) Good morning Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO Whats for breakfast? Eddie sits down at the kitchen table and gets settled. BLANCA Breakfast burritos. EDDIE ROMERO Breakfast burritos, I love breakfast burritosis it a special occasion or something? No, not really. your favorite. Whys that? Blanca walks over to Eddie, sits down on his lap, drapes her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek. BLANCA Because I love you. EDDIE ROMERO Ohhh honey, youre so sweet. Eddies two young, adorable CHILDREN, a six year old BOY and four year old GIRL, run into the kitchen and immediately attack their father. EDDIES SON & DAUGHTER (excitedly) Daddy, daddy, daddy! BLANCA I just wanted to make

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EDDIE ROMERO

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Blanca stands up and goes back to the stove so that he can pick up each children and place them on his lap. EDDIE ROMERO There are my two favorite children! EDDIE DAUGHTER Daddy, were your only two children! Eddie kisses both of them on the cheek. EDDIE ROMERO Youre still my two favorite though. BLANCA OK kids, youve had your fun, now go wash up for school. EDDIES SON Yes mom. The children jump off Eddies lap and run out of the kitchen as Eddie searches the table for something. EDDIE ROMERO Wheres the paper? BLANCA I dont know, I couldnt find it on our steps this morning. EDDIE ROMERO (frustrated) Again? Im tired of the neighborhood kids stealing our newspaper! BLANCA You should take it as a compliment. Blanca walks over to Eddie carrying a skillet and places the burrito on the plate in front of him. A compliment? EDDIE ROMERO How so?

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BLANCA Well maybe the neighborhood kids just cant wait to read what you write next.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO (sarcastically) Yeah, thats it. (laughs) Babe, you always know what to say to calm me down. BLANCA I should, Ive known you long enough. (pauses) Dont forget, Im taking the kids to visit their grandparents in Tijuana right after school. EDDIE ROMERO Yes, yes, I know. BLANCA I wish you could go with us. EDDIE ROMERO I know, but duty calls, I have a few deadlines to meet. But Ill be right behind you, Ill drive up tomorrow after work. BLANCA Eddie Romero, always the professional. EDDIE ROMERO Im just a man trying to provide for his family. Before Eddie digs into his breakfast, he folds his hands and bows his head in silent prayer. EXT. BUSY STREET IN DOWNTOWN CIUDAD VICTORIA DAY An OLDER MALE SINGER stands at the corner of a busy intersection by himself singing a narcocorrido that pays homage to the exploits of Diablo. OLDER MALE SINGER His cartel is well-known, its called Los Alphas; his jealous enemies want to take him out, but Diablo isnt alone; his people are killers, warriors, smugglers, revolutionaries too; (MORE)

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese OLDER MALE SINGER (contd) gunslingers tell of their fight, and many elegant women come to watch and admire; with an AR-15 and a satchel of grenades, a pistol on each leg and a a bulletproof vest, dressed in black and ready for battle; blowing off the heads of whoever gets in the way; you can hear the machine guns now, but soon the violence wont be so bad; everything is under control now that Diablo is in charge. Eddie walks down the street, and past the singer, with his briefcase in hand.

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Hes heading towards a big building that houses his newspapers headquarters, PRIMERA HORA, when his co-worker, JAVIER LOPEZ, rushes up to him from behind. JAVIER LOPEZ (out of breath) Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO Javy, what is it? JAVIER LOPEZ Have you seen the morning edition? EDDIE ROMERO Not yet, I think some punk kids in my neighborhood stole my paper again. Whats up? JAVIER LOPEZ The federales uncovered a few new mass graves in San Fernando, theyre saying its a massacre. EDDIE ROMERO Another one? JAVIER LOPEZ Yes, and theyre saying this one could be even bigger than last years.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Jesus, is the madness ever going to end? JAVIER LOPEZ Doesnt look like it will any time soon. EDDIE ROMERO I cant take this anymore. What was the cartels motive this time? JAVIER LOPEZ They dont know yet. EDDIE ROMERO Of course they dont. They dont care, the police are deep in their pockets too. JAVIER LOPEZ No one cares. EDDIE ROMERO Thats why its up to us to care. Were the only line of defense between the cartels and the good, decent citizens of Mexico. Eddie walks up to the newspaper building, opens the door for Javier and lets him walk in before him. INT. PRIMERA HORA NEWSPAPER BUILDING

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EDDIES CUBICLE Eddie finishes reading the article and throws the newspaper down on his desk in disgust while Javier stands at the entrance to his cubicle. EDDIE ROMERO What kind of investigative reporting is this? JAVIER LOPEZ What do you mean? EDDIE ROMERO Four whole pages on this massacre and not one mention of any cartel involvement.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ Come on Eddie, you know Raul isnt going to publish anything too critical of the cartel. Hes got a wife and two kids to look out for. EDDIE ROMERO We have the balls to say that the mass graves are currently under investigation by the federal police but there are no suspects or leads being reviewed at this time? I mean, give me a fucking break, its Diablo, everyone knows its Diablo, my four year old nephew could figure out it was Diablo, his dog could too. The newspaper publisher, RAUL CHAVEZ, an older, distinguished gentleman in his early sixties dressed in a crisp suit, walks down the hallway and stops at Eddies cubicle. RAUL CHAVEZ Eddie, you sound pretty heated. wrong? Whats

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Eddie picks up the newspaper and shows it to him. This? What? EDDIE ROMERO When are we going to start reporting the real news? RAUL CHAVEZ What are you talking about? reporting the news. We are EDDIE ROMERO This is all wrong Raul. RAUL CHAVEZ

EDDIE ROMERO No, if we were really reporting the news then Los Alphas and Diablo would be splashed all over this story. RAUL CHAVEZ We dont know if Los Alphas was responsible (MORE)

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese RAUL CHAVEZ (contd) for this though, the police dont know either. EDDIE ROMERO Oh come off it. Everyone knows it was Los Alphas! Raul decides its time to light up a cigar. RAUL CHAVEZ Listen, Im not going to be the man that calls out Los Alphas unless theres indisputable proof, including arrests, that shows they were involved. EDDIE ROMERO Why not? In the absence of real investigation by the government, shouldnt we be the ones providing the investigative reporting for the protection of the people? Wheres our journalistic integrity? RAUL CHAVEZ Integrity goes out the window when it comes to Los Alphas because life is too short to get in the middle of that bullshit. EDDIE ROMERO Its incredible to me that no one in a position of authority wants to admit theres a drug war overtaking most of this country. RAUL CHAVEZ Eddie, you have to understand the sensitivities involved in a story like this. EDDIE ROMERO Sensitivities? What sensitivities? RAUL CHAVEZ Diablo for one.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO What about Diablo? Hes a raging maniac, everyone knows this. RAUL CHAVEZ But hes much loved in this community. JAVIER LOPEZ (interrupts) And much feared as well. RAUL CHAVEZ A man that is both much loved and much feared is a very dangerous man. EDDIE ROMERO Loved? Who loves him? I guarantee the families of the thousands of people hes killed dont love him. RAUL CHAVEZ True, but he does elicit much love with people, especially many of the poor, disenfranchised who view Diablo as the number one job creator in the area. JAVIER LOPEZ Not to mention all the things hes built in the community with his drug money; new infrastructure, churches, even a recreational center. EDDIE ROMERO But of course when Diablo does things like this, theres something in it for him, there always is. JAVIER LOPEZ I heard he recruits the strongest, toughest, most athletic kids from his rec center to serve as young assassins for the cartel. EDDIE ROMERO Disgusting. But god damn, you guys sound like Alphas apologists. JAVIER LOPEZ Eddie, you know were not.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese RAUL CHAVEZ Were just enlightening you on the obstacles we face when we try to report on Los Alphas or Diablo, its not just pressure from the cartel but its pressure from the people too. The man is like a cult figure to certain people. JAVIER LOPEZ The fact that he can continue to thumb his nose at the government certainly helps his standing with them. EDDIE ROMERO Im well aware of the obstacles we face. RAUL CHAVEZ Good, then dont ever say I didnt warn you. EDDIE ROMERO Im going to keep track of this massacre story, the drug war, Los Alphas, Diablo, everything, for the paper, and for the good people of Tamaulipas. The ones that can look right through his blood money, the ones that have a desire to walk their neighborhood at night without fear of being shot in the back of the head for no reason. RAUL CHAVEZ You can try to do what you want, but remember writing anything that calls out cartel atrocities could be hazardous to your health and, selfishly speaking, bad for business. Youre one of the best journalists I have, do you know how hard it is to replace great, dead journalists? Damn near impossible. EDDIE ROMERO Im willing to take that chance. RAUL CHAVEZ Its your grave youre digging, but understand that I have final approval of what gets printed and what doesnt.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Youre the boss, boss. RAUL CHAVEZ (shakes his finger sternly) Remember that. Raul walks out of Eddies cubicle. JAVIER LOPEZ Eddie, are you sure you want to do this? EDDIE ROMERO Absolutely.

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Eddie grabs a framed picture of himself with his arm around his teenaged nephew. The nephew is recognizable as the kid who was killed during the massacre by Los Alphas after nervously pissing his pants. EDDIE ROMERO Im not doing this for myself, Im doing this for the innocent citizens of Mexico. People like my young nephew Pedro who is on his way up to Tamaulipas from the southern part of the country in search of a better life. And I want him to have a better life here and not have to look over his shoulder all the time wondering if today is the day that hell be caught up in a gun battle and be another innocent victim of the drug war. He deserves a lot better than that, we all deserve a lot better than that. LATER ON THAT NIGHT Eddie is diligently still working on his computer late into the evening when he hears a knock on his cubicle wall. Javiers standing there looking grim and holding a stack of papers. EDDIE ROMERO Hey Javy, whats up? Why do you look so glum? Javier slowly approaches Eddie with the papers.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ The police have started identifying some of the remains that theyve found at the mass graves in San Fernando. EDDIE ROMERO Great, what do we got? JAVIER LOPEZ I have some of the pictures and records that theyve released so far. Theyre not holding out hope that theyll identify everyone, hell theyre telling me theyll be happy if they can figure out who 50% are, its a real mess over there, some of the bodies have been beaten and burned beyond recognition. One poor bastard had his skull completely smashed in, blunt force trauma to the head, the police think he mightve taken more than thirty hits to the head. Javier puts the stack of papers on Eddies desk for him to look through.

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He tries to pre-emptively warn him about one picture before Eddie starts flipping through them, but Eddie cant contain his curiosity so he immediately starts going through them. JAVIER LOPEZ Hey Eddie, you shouldummyou should be aware of something before you flip through those. EDDIE ROMERO This is good stuff, we have names, we have faces, the public will really respond to this now. JAVIER LOPEZ Yeah but Eddie suddenly stops flipping through the pictures once he comes to one of his teenaged nephew. EDDIE ROMERO (shocked) What the fuck?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ Sorry, I tried to tell you. EDDIE ROMERO This has to be a mistake. JAVIER LOPEZ Its not. I made sure to triple check his I.D. with the police. They confirmed his identity. I know its not much of a consolation, but his body was mainly intact which made his identification easier than most of the others. As much as Eddie tries to remain stoic, he cant help but break down and cry. EDDIE ROMERO This cant be, this cant fucking be. He was coming up here to find a better life, not to die. I promised my brother that I would protect him. I failed. Eddie stands up and begins throwing things around in anger and frustration. EDDIE ROMERO God damn it! God damn it! kill those assholes! I want to

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Javier hugs Eddie to try to console him and, more importantly, calm him down. JAVIER LOPEZ Calm down Eddie, calm down. figure something out. Eddie pushes Javier away. EDDIE ROMERO Im ok Javy, let me go. JAVIER LOPEZ Eddie, its OK to show emotion sometimes, I mean, its your nephew were talking about. Its OK to be mad, to be sad, to show your emotions. Well

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO I fucking hate them. JAVIER LOPEZ I do too, but unfortunately they run shit, what are you going to do? Eddie sits back down at his desk EDDIE ROMERO The only thing I can do to fight back. And immediately starts typing on his computer. EDDIE ROMERO (contd) Im going to put these innocent faces on the front page of tomorrows edition along with an essay on how Los Alphas and Diablo are killing this countrys soul. JAVIER LOPEZ Do it. EDDIE ROMERO Leave these pictures with me. JAVIER LOPEZ Theyre yours. EDDIE ROMERO Its going to be a long night. JAVIER LOPEZ Ill put on a pot of coffee. THE NEXT MORNING - RAUL CHAVEZS OFFICE Eddie is in Rauls office, with Javier, pleading to be allowed to publish his article that blames Los Alphas for the San Fernando massacre. Raul looks at a copy of Eddies draft which includes pictures of some of the victims of the massacre along with a scathing headline More Senseless Cartel Violence In Mexicos Drug War As Los Alphas To Blame For San Fernando Massacre.

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He puts the draft down dismissively on his desk in front of him. RAUL CHAVEZ Eddie, I appreciate your passion, but let it go, if for no other reason than your self-preservation. EDDIE ROMERO So really, youre not going to publish this? RAUL CHAVEZ Ill publish this fluff piece of innuendo over my dead body, which luckily I wont have to worry about since this will never see the light of day. EDDIE ROMERO But Los Alphas is the story. RAUL CHAVEZ Which means you have no story now that Ive edited it. No story means you have nothing to publish. Javy, well run your story on the Highway 101 bus accident instead. Anyone die in that? JAVIER LOPEZ No sir, 12 people in the hospital, two critical, but no deaths. RAUL CHAVEZ The two critical, are they children? JAVIER LOPEZ No. Ones an older woman in her sixties, the other is a middle-aged man. RAUL CHAVEZ Damn, OK, well put that on page 2 instead and well move the story about the Presidents trade speech in Mexico City up to page 1. Its boring, but at least its not controversial. EDDIE ROMERO Seriously? You wont give me any space on Los Alphas? Not even back page?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese RAUL CHAVEZ Seriously. EDDIE ROMERO Fuck you. Eddie marches out of Rauls office fuming with Javier following him down the RAUL CHAVEZ (O.S.) Eddie, Im only looking out for us. Someday youll thank me. HALLWAY EDDIE ROMERO Fuck him, Im going to have it published anyways. JAVIER LOPEZ How are you going to do that? Raul runs the newspaper with an iron fist, he sees everything thats printed. EDDIE ROMERO Yeah, for the print edition. Raul is such a fossil, he has no idea what happens with the online edition, he allows all of us pretty much free reign to do what we want on it. So Im going to post it there. JAVIER LOPEZ Are you sure you want to do that? EDDIE ROMERO Absolutely. These fucks are going to pay for killing my nephew, and for killing scores of other innocent Mexican citizens. EDDIES CUBICLE

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Eddie walks into his cubicle while Javier continues down the hall to his, then immediately sits down at his computer and brings up the newspapers website.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese LATER ON EDDIES CUBICLE Eddie finishes typing up his story on the newspapers website by hitting the period key extra hard to add emphasis to the end. EDDIE ROMERO (to himself) The end. Fuck you Diablo. (pauses) Now, time to publish this to the world. Eddie presses the post button on the website and watches as it uploads and publishes under his pseudonym, The Truth. EXT. DIABLOS SECRET MANSION HIDEOUT - DAY Diablo, whos currently evading capture by the Mexican and U.S. government, is holed up in a beautiful, luxurious, secret mansion hideout along the countryside of Mexico. INT. DIABLOS SECRET MANSION HIDEOUT LIVING ROOM Hes walking around his spacious living room reading the latest Forbes Worlds Billionaire List issue while his young, beautiful girlfriend, MARIA, sits on the couch watching a telenovela but looking bored. DIABLO Unbelievable, Forbes magazine names me to their worlds richest billionaires list but yet Im holed up in this fucking house most hours of the day. I bet no other billionaire has to live like this. MARIA Its not so bad, I love this house! Its so big and theres a lot to do here. DIABLO Its fucking depressing. MARIA Why dont we go out to the pool then? Take a swim? Ill even dive in naked.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO Are you kidding me? Its noon. MARIA So? DIABLO I have to stay out of plain sight during the day. Its a big fucking production to get me out of here. Theres no telling what kind of surveillance the government has on me. Soldiers on the countryside, helicopters, planes and drones in the air Diablo walks over to a sliding glass door and looks up to the sky. DIABLO (contd) hell, maybe even a satellite looking down at me from space. MARIA Youre so paranoid. DIABLO Its not paranoia when you know that the Mexican government has a $2 million price tag on your head, U.S. government $5 million. MARIA But youre friends with the state police chief? You even had him over for dinner last week. DIABLO Honey, he can help me move around Tamaulipas and offer some protection but hes got little power with the Mexican military, never mind the CIA. Maria stands up and walks over to the sliding glass door. MARIA Fine, if you dont want to go out to the pool Maria seductively takes off her tight-fitting black shirt, revealing her big, firm breasts, and hands it to Diablo.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MARIA (contd) then I think Ill take a dip. me if you want.

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Join

She then takes off her tight-fitting leopard print pants, showing off her ass, walks outside and dives into the pool all while Diablo just quietly looks on. Diablo goes back to reading the Forbes article when RAMON RAMIREZ, one of his cartel henchmen, walks into the room holding a few pieces of paper. RAMON RAMIREZ (concerned) Commander. DIABLO What is it Ramon? RAMON RAMIREZ I have something you should see. Ramon delivers the papers to Diablo who quickly begins to skim a print-out of the online story that Eddie wrote. DIABLO More senseless cartel violence in Mexicos drug war as Los Alphas to blame for San Fernando massacre? What the fuck is this? RAMON RAMIREZ Our intelligence officers just picked it off one of the news sites they monitor. DIABLO Which one? RAMON RAMIREZ Primera Hora. Primera Hora? Yes sir. DIABLO Really? RAMON RAMIREZ

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO And you found this on their website? RAMON RAMIREZ Yes sir. DIABLO We have someone on the payroll over there, right? RAMON RAMIREZ We have a fewmost prominently Raul Chavez, the newspaper publisher. DIABLO How the fuck was this allowed to happen then? RAMON RAMIREZ I dont know boss, but Ill assemble a team to find out. Diablo picks up a handgun from a table and starts playing with it. DIABLO No, no, the time for inquiries has past. We have to make a statement and set an example. We have to let the media know we are not to be fucked with and that there are severe consequences for anyone that crosses us. Severe consequences. RAMON RAMIREZ Yes sir. Diablo sits down at the table, grabs an apple from a bowl and bites into it. DIABLO Ramon, pay a visit to this Raul Chavez asshole. Make sure he understands to never publish an article in any medium that mentions Los Alphas or me again. Find this writer too, whats his name? The Truth? RAMON RAMIREZ Yes sir.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO Go to our informants around the city, at the newspaper, at the police, whereever, to get his real identity. Then find out who his relatives are; itd be pleasure if we could meet him and his extended family. EXT. PRIMERA HORA NEWSPAPER BUILDING MORNING

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Its a bright, sunny, early morning; Eddie and Javier are walking together across the plaza in front of the building heading to work. JAVIER LOPEZ So hows reaction been? EDDIE ROMERO Interesting to say the least. JAVIER LOPEZ How so? EDDIE ROMERO Well its gotten a lot of reads at least. JAVIER LOPEZ And the comments? EDDIE ROMERO Well they run the gamut of great insight, keep up the good work to fuck you and youre dead. JAVIER LOPEZ Thats pretty direct. Cartel plants? EDDIE ROMERO Most definitely. Especially the poster that wrote were going to kill you, rape your wife and sodomize your son you fucking scumbag. JAVIER LOPEZ At least they didnt say anything about your daughter.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Javy, I dont even want to think about it. I know, sorry. JAVIER LOPEZ So general consensus?

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EDDIE ROMERO Oh Id say 60% positive, 20% negative and another 20% I cant believe you actually have the cojones to write about this on a public forum. JAVIER LOPEZ Well you should be encouraged by the overwhelming positive response. EDDIE ROMERO I am. The two walk into the front of the building with Javier holding the door for Eddie. INT. LOBBY Immediately upon entering, Eddie and Javier are shocked to see a suit-wearing Raul Chavez hanging dead from a chandelier in the middle of the lobby, his glasses sitting crookedly on his face. Having been recently killed, Raul is still dripping with blood, a pool of it sitting on the floor below him. Although theres a small group of stunned co-workers gathered around the hanging body, most people entering the lobby try their best to ignore it and just head to the elevator bank, worried about drawing attention to themselves in case anyone from the cartel is present. EDDIE ROMERO Holy fuck! JAVIER LOPEZ God damn. Fucking Raul. How the hell, why the hell did this happen? PRIMERA HORA NEWSPAPER BUILDING

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO I dont know. You think it had anything to do with the article I wrote? Eddie is still transfixed on the body as Javier looks around the lobby and sees The Truth Is Next, Los Alphas scrawled in blood across a floor to ceiling window. JAVIER LOPEZ Fuck, I think thats a safe assumption. EDDIE ROMERO What? Javier taps Eddie on the arm to draw attention to the bloody window. EDDIE ROMERO Fuck. EDDIES CUBICLE Eddie is feverishly packing up all his personal belongings into a single cardboard box as Javier looks on. JAVIER LOPEZ So where are you going to go? EDDIE ROMERO I have no idea, but I cant stay here. Its only a matter of time before Los Alphas figures out who The Truth is. Fuck, this place is probably crawling with informants, Diablos henchmen might already be on their way back here now. Or maybe theyre even hiding in the bathroom. JAVIER LOPEZ What are you going to do? EDDIE ROMERO Im going rogue. JAVIER LOPEZ What does that mean?

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO The cartel isnt going to scare me. Im going to continue my crusade against them until its safe for a kid to walk down the streets at night without fear of decapitation. JAVIER LOPEZ How are you going to do that if youre on the run? EDDIE ROMERO Im going to start a blog site. Build a network of bloggers so we have a consistent presence. Itll be easy to set up and run, I just need a computer and connection. (pauses) Why dont you come with me? Youre a great writer with some serious investigative skills. We could build this thing together and bring down Alphas once and for all. JAVIER LOPEZ Eddie, you know I respect you and respect want youre doing, but I have a wife and young kid at home. I have to keep providing for them, and I dont think I can do that if I go on the run with you. EDDIE ROMERO I have a wife and two kids at home. JAVIER LOPEZ I know, but its not the same. I dont have the passion you do, but I absolutely do support you. EDDIE ROMERO I understand. You could always write for me though, under an assumed name. Stay in your same life, in your same job. Think of it like freelancing. JAVIER LOPEZ Thanks, but Id rather stay out of (MORE)

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ (contd) this. Id like to be alive to see my kid grow up. EDDIE ROMERO So you think Im going to die? JAVIER LOPEZ No, youre a survivor, more so than me. EDDIE ROMERO Im nothing special. JAVIER LOPEZ But your passion can take you a long way. EDDIE ROMERO Youre right, we both have families but, for now at least, my path leads in another direction. JAVIER LOPEZ You know me though, Ill help you out whenever I can, pass along intel whenever I get it. EDDIE ROMERO I know you will. Youre a good friend. JAVIER LOPEZ Do you want me to get a message to your wife? EDDIE ROMERO No, her and the kids are up in Tijuana with her parents, they should be fine there. Im going to give her a call from a safe place later today to let her know whats going on. Eddie finishes up packing and tapes up the box. JAVIER LOPEZ So I guess this is it? EDDIE ROMERO I guess it is. Well at least until Diablo is dead or behind bars and Los Alphas is just a distant memory.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ You take care of yourself. Javier and Eddie shake hands. EDDIE ROMERO You too Javy. Ill reach out when I figure out what the hell Im going to do and where the hell Im going to go. JAVIER LOPEZ Good luck my friend. Eddie picks up his box and walks out of his cubicle. FIRST FLOOR ELEVATOR BANK Eddie is trying to rush out of the building when he gets off the crowded elevator and enters the LOBBY

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Where he sees that Rauls dead body is still helplessly dangling from the ceiling so he calls over a SECURITY GUARD to question him. EDDIE ROMERO Hey, why is Mr. Chavezs body still hanging from the ceiling? Isnt someone going to take him down? BUILDING SECURITY GUARD No sir. EDDIE ROMERO Wheres the paramedics? BUILDING SECURITY GUARD Theyre not coming. EDDIE ROMERO Why not? BUILDING SECURITY GUARD Sir, were under strict orders from Los Alphas to not move this body under any circumstances until tomorrow.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO (incredulously) Really? Really? This is unbelievable. Think of the mans family. BUILDING SECURITY GUARD Im thinking about my own family. EDDIE ROMERO Jesus, this whole country is fucking corrupt. Eddie starts walking away from the security guard in disgust. BUILDING SECURITY GUARD Excuse me, can I get your name? You know, for building security purposes. Eddie, sensing it could be a trap, gives him a made-up name. Sure. EDDIE ROMERO Its Manuel Esposito. BUILDING SECURITY GUARD Let me just run it through the

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Thanks. system.

Eddie rushes over to the door as the security guard walks over to a desk with a computer on it to verify him. Once the guard realizes Eddies not still standing there, he runs across the lobby towards him. BUILDING SECURITY GUARD Hey, hey, stop that man! EXT. PRIMERA HORA NEWSPAPER BUILDING DAY

Eddie runs outside across the plaza and disappears. The security guard comes outside, looks around but cant find him. EXT. STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS DAY Not knowing where to go, Eddie walks up to a building that houses the states police headquarters.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese INT. STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS LOBBY Still carrying his box, Eddie enters the bustling lobby desperate to find anyone that can help him. He stops an OFFICER walking by him. Excuse me. charge? EDDIE ROMERO I need help. Whos in

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OFFICER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS Thatd be Chief Diaz. EDDIE ROMERO Where can I find him? OFFICER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS (turns and points) Over there, in that office. Eddie begins walking over to the police chiefs office but is quickly stopped. OFFICER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS Whoa, whoa, whoa, you cant just walk into police chiefs office unannounced. Hes under tight security. EDDIE ROMERO Id like to see him. I have some info on Los Alphas that he should be interested in. OFFICER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS OK, let me see what I can do. EDDIE ROMERO Please, its urgent. OFFICER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS So Ill see what I can do. CHIEF DIAZS OFFICE Eddie is nervously sitting in front of Diazs desk as hes in the middle of telling him his story.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CHIEF DIAZ is an older, distinguished looking gentleman, whos dressed in a crisp uniform and chomping on a cigar.

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His office is filled with memorabilia and the walls are covered with commendations, awards and pictures of him with high-ranking politicians. CHIEF DIAZ (skeptically) So, you say Los Alphas is chasing you, huh? Eddie turns to look at the young police officer, JOSE SANCHEZ, sitting quietly behind him in the corner of the room. EDDIE ROMERO I thought wed be speaking in private? CHIEF DIAZ We are. Oh, you mean Jose? of my security detail. Hes a member

EDDIE ROMERO The chief of police needs security? CHIEF DIAZ (laughs) Trust me, in this state being police chief is one of the most dangerous professions to have, even more so than cartel hit man. EDDIE ROMERO Im not a threat though sir. CHIEF DIAZ You can never be too sure. Last year Los Alphas strapped a suicide vest to an eight year old boy and made him go into a crowded marketplace. The bomb detonated, killing forty people, obviously the kid included. Look Mr. Romero, I trust Mr. Sanchez over there with my life, you can too. So lets try this again, you say Los Alphas is chasing you, is that right? EDDIE ROMERO Yes.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CHIEF DIAZ And who are you? What do you do? What did you to get on the cartels radar and raise their ire? EDDIE ROMERO Id rather not say. CHIEF DIAZ (laughs) Son, Im the police chief, look around my office, you can see that Im a man of honor. Ive dedicated my life to fighting crime and putting criminals in jail where they belong. Your identity is safe with me. EDDIE ROMERO OK, Im a journalist at Primera Hora. Sometimes I write under the name The Truth. CHIEF DIAZ Ahh yes, Ive heard about you. EDDIE ROMERO So you know that I wrote an unflattering piece about Diablo and Los Alphas recently. CHIEF DIAZ I do. EDDIE ROMERO And now theyre out to get me. CHIEF DIAZ Tough situation. EDDIE ROMERO So now I need help. CHIEF DIAZ What would you like from us? EDDIE ROMERO Help. CHIEF DIAZ I see.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese The chief sits back in his chair and takes a big puff of his cigar as he weighs his options. EDDIE ROMERO So? CHIEF DIAZ Its a little complicated. EDDIE ROMERO What? Whats complicated? I got the countrys biggest cartel on my ass; but Im only one guy. A journalist. I need help. CHIEF DIAZ You shouldnt have written that article on the internet. EDDIE ROMERO Well I did, and here I am now. you help me? Will

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CHIEF DIAZ Los Alphas is a very powerful and dangerous organization. EDDIE ROMERO I know, thats why I need your help. CHIEF DIAZ Surely you dont expect me to take on Los Alphas? EDDIE ROMERO Why not? Youre the police chief, its your job. CHIEF DIAZ Dont tell me what my job is son. EDDIE ROMERO Look, I dont need you to take on Los Alphas, Ill take care of that. I just need protection to stay alive. CHIEF DIAZ I saw the message that Diablo left in (MORE)

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CHIEF DIAZ (contd) the lobby of Primera Hora. He wont until he gets his man, unfortunately you that man is you. Also, as weve seen, hell go through anyone to get you. EDDIE ROMERO What are you saying? CHIEF DIAZ I have a force of hundreds to look after. In addition to keeping the community safe, my mission is to make sure each and every one of those men and women can return to their home safe and sound at the end of the night. If the cartel finds out were helping you, I cant guarantee the safety of my officers, some will die. I wont allow that to happen on my watch, sometimes a situation is bigger than one person. This is one of those times. EDDIE ROMERO You cant be serious! You cannot be serious. The chief motions over to the young officer, Jose. CHIEF DIAZ Jose, will you please escort Mr. Romero out of the station. Jose stands up and walks over to Eddie so he can lead him out of the office. EDDIE ROMERO (standing up) This is fucking bullshit, man. I supposed to do?

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stop for just to

What am

Chief Diaz just sits back and enjoys another deep puff on his cigar. HALLWAY Eddie and Jose walk out of the office and down the hallway.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Let me ask you something Jose, you seem like a young, bright duty-bound police officer, so is everyone in this fucking country completely corrupt? JOSE SANCHEZ It seems like it on some days. EDDIE ROMERO Its every day to me. JOSE SANCHEZ Yes, thats probably more accurate. EDDIE ROMERO I cant believe the police chief basically told me to go fuck myself. JOSE SANCHEZ You have to understand the sway that Diablo and Los Alphas has over everything around here. Chief Diaz is a good man, but hes not going to risk his life over one person, no matter who he is. He read what you wrote and he considers you a dead man walking, he figures its best for him to keep his distance. EDDIE ROMERO (sarcastically) Dead man walking? Great. JOSE SANCHEZ Chief Diaz may not want to help you, but I will. EDDIE ROMERO Really? Why? JOSE SANCHEZ I had an uncle killed a few years ago by the Alphas, in fact thats why I became a police officer. I just wanted to do my part to clean up the streets and get the criminals off them. Jesus, I was so nave then to think I could make a difference.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO You can make a difference now. I have plans to take Los Alphas and Diablo down. JOSE SANCHEZ (laughs) And how do you expect to do that? EDDIE ROMERO The internet can be a very powerful tool if used correctly. Im going to continue writing, expose them to the masses for who they are and what theyve done. Eddie and Jose walk into the LOBBY Where they both stop. Jose looks around to make sure theres no one listening to them before he speaks. JOSE SANCHEZ Good luck with that. Jose secretly gives Eddie a card with his contact info on it. JOSE SANCHEZ (contd) Take this, it has my phone number and email address. While I cant physically hide you I can provide you the intel youll need to stay alive. Contact me in two days. I am the eyes and ears of Chief Diaz, what he knows I know. I can keep you updated on the Alphas search for you, their movements, who theyre talking to, everything. If this works out, youll always be one step ahead of them. EDDIE ROMERO Id love to be two steps ahead, but Ill take one. JOSE SANCHEZ (laughs) Ill see what I can do. Where are you going to go?

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Dont know, might look to escape to the U.S. JOSE SANCHEZ Ahh, very tricky. Los Alphas practically owns the border and its only a matter of time before they find out everything about you. You have a family? EDDIE ROMERO Yes, but they recently relocated far away. JOSE SANCHEZ Good, but just know that the Alphas have a long reach, they can find people throughout Mexico. EDDIE ROMERO Theyre pretty well hidden though. JOSE SANCHEZ One last thing, remember this is Mexico, dont trust anyone you meet. The cartel can be very persuasive to people. OK, go, go before the Alphas come. EDDIE ROMERO Thanks. With that, Eddie rushes across the lobby and exits the building. EXT. STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS DAY Eddie quickly walks out and crosses the street in between heavy traffic, nearly getting hit by a car. Then he disappears onto a crowded sidewalk. INT. STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS CHIEF DIAZS OFFICE Chief Diaz is standing by his window looking out at Eddie exiting the building as he talks on the phone. CHIEF DIAZ Yes, Diablo, its Chief Diaz. (MORE) I found

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CHIEF DIAZ (contd) the man that calls himself The Truth, his real name is Eduardo Romero. He just left headquarters, hes scared and hes got no place to go. INT. DIABLOS SECRET MANSION HIDEOUT LIVING ROOM Diablo is pacing around the room while on the phone with Chief Diaz. Excellent. going? DIABLO But he didnt say where he was

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CHIEF DIAZ (O.S.) No sir. My guess is hell either hang out close around here in the city for a little bit or go to the nearby countryside. DIABLO OK. CHIEF DIAZ (O.S.) Ill send you all the details on Romero; pictures, drivers license info, car make, model and plates, next of kin. DIABLO You got five minutes to send it, I want to get him and shut him up as soon as possible. Diablo hangs up the phone then turns to Miguel and Ramon who are also in the room. DIABLO Well gentlemen, The Truth has been found and identified. Assemble a team of our finest kidnappers immediately to take care of this Eduardo Romero. MIGUEL Yes sir.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EXT. DIRT ROAD BY A RANCH HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY DAY On a dirt road by a ranch house in a barren area of the state, about 30 HITMEN dressed in all black and ski-masks are standing around five SUVs loading and checking their ASSAULT RIFLES. Diablo and Miguel walk down the road surveying the mens preparation. MIGUEL The men are in place and were just about ready to go Diablo. DIABLO Good, very good. MIGUEL Do you want us to take you back to the safe house? DIABLO No, I feel like tagging along on this today, its been a while since Ive seen some action. MIGUEL Very well sir. Miguel jumps up on the side of the lead SUV and shouts out to the men. MIGUEL OK, lets move it out men. With that, everyone piles into the five SUVs, with Diablo getting into the passengers seat of the first one and Miguel getting in the drivers seat. The CONVOY drives down the dirt road heading towards the city up ahead in the distance. EXT. CITY STREETS IN TAMAULIPAS DAY The convoy is driving aggressively down the busy city streets during rush hour traffic, nearly rear-ending cars and running over pedestrians.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese INT. DIABLOS SUV With a picture of Eddie Romero sitting on the dashboard in front of him, Diablo is getting very anxious since they havent found him yet. DIABLO Where is this guy? He couldnt have gone far but yet we cant find him. MIGUEL Patience Diablo, we have everyone on the streets looking for him. He cant hide. Well find him. Diablo is looking up and down all the streets they pass, right to left, everywhere. When they get stuck in traffic at a red light, Diablo impatiently leans over and starts honking the horn. DIABLO Come on assholes, move! Move!

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MIGUEL Calm down, its just a little traffic. DIABLO Dont tell me to calm down. Fuck this light, drive up on the sidewalk. Not caring about pedestrians, Miguel speeds onto the crowded sidewalk followed by the other four SUVs while narrowly avoiding people who are literally jumping out of the way. They brazenly drive into oncoming traffic, where they manage to avoid all cars, to pass the red light. DIABLO This is useless, weve been driving around for three hours and have nothing to show for it. MIGUEL Lets go back. Ill order the other men to continue looking. Ill grill up some steaks back at the house, order in some (MORE)

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MIGUEL (contd) prostitutes. The Mayweather fight is on tonight, we can settle in to watch that. DIABLO I came out to kill and Im going to kill. Diablo turns around and shouts out an order to one of his henchmen sitting in the backseat. DIABLO (contd) Give me your rifle.

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Diablo takes the rifle, rolls down the window and points it at random pedestrians while Miguel continues driving. MIGUEL Youre crazy Diablo. DIABLO Watch this. Diablo focuses in on a bunch of BUSINESSMEN walking towards him on a sidewalk. He moves the gun back and forth between a few of the men before he settles on a target. Once he has his target, he pulls the trigger and shoots the innocent man in the chest. Blood sprays high in the air as the man falls dead on his back as his friends look on in shock and horror. DIABLO (laughing maniacally) Boom! MIGUEL Well thats one way to cure the boredom of a failed manhunt. Diablo takes aim at another pedestrian, this time its an OLDER WOMAN whos reading a book at a bus stop. He pulls the trigger and shoots her in the chest. She slumps over on the bench until she slowly falls to the ground.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (laughs) God, I can do this all day. God, I am god. I, and I alone, am deciding who lives and who dies on this very street today. I love power. As Miguel continues driving, Diablo takes aim at a police car sitting alongside the street with two OFFICERS sitting in it. He decides to spray the car with about fifty bullets, killing the officers inside. DIABLO OK, Ive had my fun for the day. go now. We can

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As Miguel turns onto another street, Diablo cant resist the temptation to kill one more person. This time he aims at a TEENAGED BOY whos playing with a yo-yo and walking by himself towards the convoy. The shot drops him as fellow pedestrians look on in horror. OK, now Im done. DIABLO Take me home.

Suddenly Ramon comes on the radio from one of the other SUVs. RAMON RAMIREZ (O.S.) Come in Diablo. Diablo picks up the radio. DIABLO What is it Ramon? RAMON RAMIREZ (O.S.) We have Eduardo Romeros brother. Excellent. DIABLO Where did you find him?

RAMON RAMIREZ (O.S.) Southern part of Mexico, at work.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO And youre bringing him up here? RAMON RAMIREZ (O.S.) Hes in transit now. DIABLO Good, bring him to the warehouse. RAMON RAMIREZ (O.S.) Yes sir. Diablo puts the radio down and looks at Miguel. DIABLO We might have to tape the Mayweather fight and watch it tomorrow because it looks like well be doing some more killing tonight. MIGUEL OK, just tell Ramon not to ruin it for me by blabbing about who won before I watch it like he did last time. DIABLO You two women can work that out yourselves on your own time. MIGUEL Im still grilling up steaks later tonight though. INT. VACANT WAREHOUSE JUAN ROMERO, Eddies brother, a man in his early-forties with similar build and looks to that of Eddie, is sitting helplessly in an oil drum in the middle of a dimly-light, vacant warehouse. Its such a tight fit in the drum that Juan has no way to move his arms. Sweaty, bloody, and disheveled-looking, hes already been beaten severely and is surrounded by a DOZEN HEAVILY-ARMED HENCHMEN along with Miguel, Diablo and Ramon.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO Why do you refuse to tell me where your brother is Juan? Dont you want to be my friend? Dont you want to get out of this barrel? It doesnt look like its too much fun in there. MIGUEL A tight fit to say the least. JUAN ROMERO Because I dont know where he is. DIABLO (yells) Wrong answer. I want to believe you, I really do, but I cant and I dont. Diablo punches him squarely in the face and opens up a cut over his right eye. DIABLO Let me ask this again, where is Eduardo Romero? JUAN ROMERO I dont know, I swear to god I dont know. DIABLO Ramon. Ramon walks up and punches Juan so hard in the face that his left eye dislocates from its socket. DIABLO See, every time you give me a bullshit answer, Im going to have to hurt you. Diablo walks behind Juan then puts him in a headlock.

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As Juan screams and squirms, trying to shake loose from it, Diablo takes out a pocket knife and meticulously slices his cheek a few times. DIABLO This isnt fun, is it? Diablo lets Juan out of the headlock then walks in front to look him in the eye.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (contd) Its not, is it? JUAN ROMERO (struggling to speak) Nah, no. Diablo picks up an apple thats sitting in a bucket on a table and takes a bite from it. DIABLO Im trying to help you asshole, maybe at some point youll realize that. You have a problem, youre stuffed in a fucking oil drum with no way of getting out, and I have the solution, I can get you out. You just need to provide me your brothers location. JUAN ROMERO I dont know how else I can say this. I have no idea where he is. I havent talked to him in days. Youre just going to have to kill me. DIABLO OK. Diablo turns and motions to Miguel who walks over to the oil drum with a bucket of gasoline and pours it over Juan. JUAN ROMERO (screams and cries) Please, please, dont do this! DIABLO Youve given me no choice. he is! Tell me where

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Well?

JUAN ROMERO I, I, I dont know, Im sorry. DIABLO Yeah, well Im not sorry. Diablo lights up a cigar and throws the match into the oil drum which instantly creates an inferno, Juan is being burned alive.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Diablo and his henchmen stand around the burning barrel admiring the blaze. DIABLO Lets go watch the Mayweather fight now. Diablo, Miguel and Ramon walk out of the warehouse as Juans screams and cries finally go silent. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE IN TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO DAY An exhausted Eddie, whos still carrying a box of his personal items from work, emerges from the barren countryside and sees a street with several shops alongside it.

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He notices a public phone booth close to a small, rundown bodega across the street and decides to hide his box behind a tree. After hiding the box, Eddie cautiously walks towards the phone. EXT. PUBLIC PHONE BOOTH DAY Eddie dials a number while nervously looking around him at all times in case theres an ambush. BLANCA (O.S.) Hello. EDDIE ROMERO Blanca, its Eddie. BLANCA (O.S.) Eddie are you OK? You dont sound right. EDDIE ROMERO Are you and the kids OK? BLANCA (O.S.) Yeah, were fine. Whats wrong? EDDIE ROMERO Los Alphas put a contract out on me for something I wrote about them. BLANCA (O.S.) What?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Im on the run right now, but Im OK. BLANCA (O.S.) Jesus Eddie, how many times have I told you to mind your business and dont get involved? EDDIE ROMERO I know, but what happened has happened. Theres no going back now. BLANCA (O.S.) What are you going to do? EDDIE ROMERO Dont worry about me, Ill be fine. BLANCA (O.S.) What do you want me to do? EDDIE ROMERO Nothing, just stay there at your parents house. Youre far away, you and the kids will be fine. BLANCA (O.S.) But how are you going to be fine? EDDIE ROMERO I have outside help. Look, babe, I cant stay on the phone for too long. Heres what I want you to dolay low at your parents house for about a week, then meet me in the U.S. Ill find my way to San Diego, I just need a little time to get there. The cartel is everywhere, so I have to be smart about my escape. BLANCA (O.S.) God Eddie, this is so unbelievable. EDDIE ROMERO I know it is babe, and Im sorry. But this will all be fine in a week. Hell well even start a better life in the U.S. This will all work out for the best, I promise.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese BLANCA (O.S.) What if you dont make it there? EDDIE ROMERO Dont worry about me, Ill be there; you just worry about getting yourself and the kids there. BLANCA (O.S.) What should I tell my parents? EDDIE ROMERO Nothing, I dont want them freaking out, you know how they get. And people that freak out tend to draw attention to themselves. Drawing attention is the last thing we need. (pauses) Trust me, well be fine, just be cool and well be fine. BLANCA (O.S.) (crying) I love you Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO I love you too baby, I have to go now but Ill see you soon, really soon. Hugs and kisses to the kids. I love you. Eddie hangs up the phone and walks cautiously down the sidewalk towards the bodega, continuing to constantly look around him for fear of an ambush. INT. BODEGA Eddie is walking up and down the aisles collecting some everyday household items in his arms TOOTHPASTE, TOOTHBRUSH, a 20 oz bottle of COKE, a bag of CHEETOS, a RAZOR, a BACKPACK, etc. He walks up to the cash register once he has all his supplies. The OLD MAN behind the counter gives him a long stare, which makes Eddie feel very uncomfortable. CASHIER Find everything you were looking for?

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Yes. The old cashier takes his time bagging his groceries which annoys Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO Can you hurry upplease?

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The cashier ignores him and continues moving at his glacial pace so Eddie decides to help him and bag some of his own items. EDDIE ROMERO Fine, you dont want to help me, Ill help myself. Eddie grabs his couple of bags, packs them into the backpack that he just bought, puts it on and walks out. EXT. STREET ALONG THE TAMAULIPAS COUNTRYSIDE DAY After leaving the bodega, Eddie walks down the side of the street and sees a small, rundown INTERNET CAF a couple storefronts down. INT. INTERNET CAF Eddie walks into the cramped caf whose walls are lined with computer workstations separated by dividers. He carefully surveys the few people there, making sure that none of them pose a threat, then walks over to an empty workstation and settles in. He brings up a blank website, thetruth.com, and begins typing up his first post on his new blog: This is The Truth, Im a former journalist of the popular Primera Hora newspaper and now rogue blogger dedicated to revealing the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Los Alphas and its diabolical lead commander, Diablo. I plan to update this blog regularly, because there is plenty of cartel atrocities to report on unfortunately. Such as earlier today, when my boss, and Primera Hora publisher, Raul Chavez was assassinated by the Alphas and hung up from the ceiling of the office lobby for everyone to see as a way to intimidate decent, hard-working,

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innocent civilians. This is why I left the newspaper and am now a blogger on the run. The cartel has made it known, in no uncertain terms, that I am next on their journalistic hit list for having the audacity to publish the truth about Alphas involvement with the San Fernando Massacre. I ask that any like-minded writers who want to see a better, safer Mexico; who long for the day of being able to go to the supermarket without the fear of getting shot; who want their kids to be able to play in the streets at night without fear of them getting caught in the middle of a gun battle; to join me in this crusade and become a contributing blogger on this soon-to-be most influential website. Lets do some good together in this world filled with evil. Eddie uploads a picture of Raul hanging from the ceiling dead to the post. EXT. STREET ALONG THE TAMAULIPAS COUNTRYSIDE - DAY OUTSIDE THE INTERNET CAF Eddie exits the internet caf and notices that theres a black SUV parked down the street in front of the area where he hid his box of personal items. He takes a few steps down the street to get a better look at whats going on while hiding behind a car so that hes not seen. BY THE TREE WHERE THE BOX WAS HIDDEN Six CARTEL HENCHMEN, dressed in all black, are canvassing the area of the countryside that borders the roads. Three of the men are focused on a box that they found behind a tree with one of them going through the contents papers, memorabilia, personal itemsand a print-out of the web article on the cartel that Eddie wrote. The three henchmen carefully examine the article and realize that the box belongs to Eddie so they immediately set up a perimeter, with RIFLES drawn, and survey all sides of the area. Eddie realizes that hes been found out so he crawls away from the car and over to an alleyway, remaining out of sight from the cartel henchmen.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese ALLEYWAY

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Once in the alleyway, Eddie stands up and runs away as hard and as fast as he can. INT. NICE, SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT The calm and quiet of a nice restaurant with an intimate setting is disrupted when a convoy of HEAVILY-ARMED CARTEL HENCHMEN enters the front door and blocks the windows and exits. The patrons that fill the tables, who are mostly COUPLES both young and older, look up in nervous curiosity. Ramon, who enters last, walks into the middle of the dining room so he can address the restaurant. RAMON RAMIREZ Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. Soon youll be joined in the restaurant by a very special guest. Before he enters my associates over here are going to collect all of your mobile communication devices along with any cameras or photographic devices you may have. Well be keeping these devices for the duration of our dinner and they will be returned to your possession once our special guest has exited the premises and has safely driven away in his motorcade. The henchmen begin walking up to the tables and collecting everyones personal devices. RAMON RAMIREZ (contd) A few other rules to be aware of, no one is allowed to leave the restaurant from this time forward until our motorcade departs. We also understand that youre all just here trying to enjoy a nice meal out, but please keep conversation to a minimum during our stay, do not try to approach our special guest because we will take that as a threat and respond appropriately, and do not make eye contact with our special guest unless he looks at (MORE)

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese RAMON RAMIREZ (contd) you first. If you follow these simple rules, youll be allowed to continue your dinner, or leave, in peace once we depart. If these rules arent followed, the offender, or offenders, will be dealt with appropriately. As a sign of appreciation for allowing us a peaceful night out at a fine restaurant such as this, our special guest will be picking up everyones dinner tab, including drinks. In fact, wed like to request a bottle of the restaurants finest Cabernet be placed at each table, courtesy of our special guest. (pauses) Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your dinner. After a few moments of silence as the patrons anxiously await the arrival of the special guest, the henchmen reassemble at the front door and Diablo enters with a few other BODYGUARDS. Diablo is smiling and looks even a little playful as he walks over to a table and immediately greets the stunned OLDER COUPLE sitting there like hes a politician. DIABLO Good evening, how are you? Im Diablo, I hope youre having a good time here. The couple is so stunned that they dont say anything in response. Diablo moves over to the next table, which has a MIDDLEAGED COUPLE, at it. He shakes the hand of the husband who graciously accepts it. DIABLO Hello and good evening. Hows your dinner? Im Diablo.

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MIDDLE-AGED HUSBAND AT RESTAURANT Its good. DIABLO What are you eating?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MIDDLE-AGED HUSBAND AT RESTAURANT The skirt steak. DIABLO (takes a deep breath) Mmmm, smells good and looks delicious, I might have to order that.

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Diablo then moves over to a table with a very good-looking, YOUNG COUPLE, sitting at it. Hes immediately smitten with the very attractive exotic woman, in her mid-twenties, sitting there, so he decides to sit down next to her at the table. DIABLO Well, well, well, what do we have here? Diablo reaches out his hand to take hers. DIABLO (contd) Im Diablo. CATALINA Im Catalina. Diablo kisses the back of her hand. DIABLO Catalina. Thats a very pretty name for a very pretty woman. CATALINA Thank you, sir. DIABLO Please, call me Diablo. CATALINA OK. No, go ahead. Diablo. DIABLO Call me Diablo. CATALINA

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (smiles) Ohh, you sound so sexy when you say my name. CATALINA Thanks. Diablo looks her up and down while he flashes a devilish smile as her boyfriend quietly and helplessly looks on. DIABLO You are smoking hot. Even though my name means devil, Id absolutely treat you like an angel. CATALINA (laughs) Thank you. DIABLO Thats a very pretty dress youre wearing. CATALINA Thanks. DIABLO Do you know who I am? CATALINA Of course. DIABLO So you wont think Id be out of line if I said Id like to see that dress crumpled up in the back seat of my SUV later tonight as I suck on your tits, finger your ass and engage in the most mind-blowing oral sex ever, right? Catalina looks over to her boyfriend who continues sitting there in silence, afraid to say anything in front of Diablo. Diablo takes Catalinas lack of response as tacit acceptance of his offer.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO Ill come back for you after my Enjoy the rest of your dinner.

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Good. meal.

Diablo stands up and shakes Catalinas boyfriends hand. DIABLO (contd) Nice to meet you. Diablo walks through the rest of the room and heads over to a private dining room. INT. CARTEL WAREHOUSE A huge, dark, humid and dingy warehouse is filled with row after row of long tables which are covered in mountains of cash. The tables are lined shoulder-to-shoulder with YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE, SWEATY, TOPLESS MEXICAN WOMEN wearing only skimpy THONGS who are counting and stacking the money in certain increments. Several HEAVILY-ARMED CARTEL HENCHMEN are patrolling the room around the perimeter making sure that none of the women steal any of the money. EXT. DIRT ROAD LEADING TO THE CARTEL WAREHOUSE NIGHT The darkness of the night is broken by a large convoy of heavily-armed Mexican military vehicles JEEPS, HUMVEES, APCs, even a TANK heading towards the warehouse. INT. CARTEL WAREHOUSE The women diligently continue counting the cash when suddenly the silence is shattered by a tank slamming through one of the walls and driving halfway into the room, slicing several tables in half and igniting a fire. The women frantically scatter while the armed henchmen take up defensive positions and begin shooting at the tank and APCs which have also entered the room by now. With the vehicles providing cover, the room is flooded by MEXICAN SOLDIERS who engage the henchmen in an intense firefight.

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Several henchmen take fatal bullets but not before taking a few government soldiers with them. Unfortunately, a couple of the topless women get caught up in the crossfire and also die. It takes the soldiers a little bit of time but they finally do take the upper hand and get the situation under control. LATER ON With the battle won and a fire raging in the back part of the warehouse, the surviving henchmen are on their knees, execution style, with their hands behind their heads as the Mexican soldiers stand guard with their rifles pointed directly at them. Behind them are a bunch of soldiers collecting the vast stacks of money into large duffel bags. Two soldiers take it upon themselves to indiscriminately shoot a couple of the henchmen in the back of their heads. INT. NICE, SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT PRIVATE DINING ROOM Diablo is sitting and laughing at his dinner table with Miguel and several of his henchmen surrounding him. He lifts his glass of red wine for a cheers and they all take a drink. This jubilant celebration is interrupted when Ramon enters the room. RAMON RAMIREZ Boss, I have some news to share. DIABLO Well what is it? RAMON RAMIREZ I think you should take a look. Ramon hands him a iPad which Diablo scans through. DIABLO What is this?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese RAMON RAMIREZ Its Romeros blog site, looks like our friend isnt just writing but hes picked up some freelancers to increase his number of posts against Alphas. DIABLO I can see that. Diablo puts on his glasses so he can read better. DIABLO (contd) Did one of these assfucks actually post the location of a stash house? Yes. RAMON RAMIREZ Its worse than that though.

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After an awkward silence, Diablo speaks up impatiently. DIABLO Speak before I cut off your balls and serve them to the patrons out there. RAMON RAMIREZ The military stormed the stash house tonight, killing about twenty of our men and seizing the money. DIABLO (incredulously) All of it? RAMON RAMIREZ All of it. I assume the military is now following the blog as well. Diablo sits there quietly, filling with more rage after each passing second until he finally bursts. DIABLO (shouts) Motherfucker! Diablo stands up and in one swoop backhands the bottles of red wine and half-filled glasses off of the table and into the wall.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO I want all of those motherfuckers dead! I want The Truth strung up by his dick in the central square, I want his family tortured, raped and murdered. I want his accomplices ass raped and decapitated! RAMON RAMIREZ Yes sir. Actually, one of our field team believes theyve found a box filled with The Truths personal items lying along the side of the road this evening. DIABLO Thats a good start. RAMON RAMIREZ Were searching the area for him with reinforcements as we speak. DIABLO Get his fucking ass, I want to meet him personally before we string his dick up. Diablo looks at Ramon still standing there. DIABLO Well, what the fuck are you doing? go get him, now! Go,

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Ramon rushes out of the room as Diablo picks up his glass of wine, the only glass he didnt knock off the table, and has a drink. DIABLO Lets go men, I dont feel like being here anymore. What a great fucking way to ruin a perfect night. MIGUEL Well, its not completed ruined. DIABLO (smiles) You are right. I need to go blow off some steam. Diablo and his henchmen prepare to walk out of the private dining room.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MAIN DINING ROOM Before leaving the restaurant, Diablo walks up to Catalinas table where she and her boyfriend are enjoying their dessert. DIABLO (holding out his hand) Well Catalina, are you ready? Catalina looks sadly across the table to her boyfriend and mouths Im sorry before accepting Diablos hand. CATALINA Yes. DIABLO Excellent, lets go honey. Diablo shakes the boyfriends hand one last time. DIABLO Im very much looking forward to fucking your girlfriend. Shes very beautiful, you truly are a lucky man. Surrounded by his bodyguards, Diablo leads Catalina out of the restaurant with his hand firmly planted on her ass as her boyfriend looks on helplessly. EXT. DENSE FOREST NIGHT

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With the full moon overhead providing the only light, Eddie Romero sits down against a tree and pushes a bunch of leaves and branches over him so he can hide while he sleeps. Finding it tough to actually fall asleep, Eddie just lies there looking up at the moon. INT. BLANCAS PARENTS HOUSE IN TIJUANA BLANCAS BEDROOM Blanca is busy folding her childrens clothing on the bed while listening to some light music. Suddenly theres a knock on the front door so she walks out of the room and into the

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese LIVING ROOM When theres another knock at the door. BLANCA (softly to herself) OK, OK, Im coming. Boy its a little late at night for visitors. Once Blanca opens the door she sees Ramon standing there with a devilish smile across his face as several of his henchmen stand behind him. BLANCA Yes, can I help you? RAMON RAMIREZ Are you Blanca Romero? BLANCA (nervously) Yes. RAMON RAMIREZ Oh good, we were able to find you before it was too late. BLANCA Who are you? RAMON RAMIREZ (smiles) Oh, Im sorry. Ramon flashes her a fake police badge. RAMON RAMIREZ (contd) Im a captain in the Tijuana police department. Your husband, Eduardo Romero, reached out to us and asked if we could provide protection for you and your family. Apparently Los Alphas are looking for your husband? Thats some pretty heavy stuff. (pauses) May we come in?

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Blanca thinks for a moment as she wonders if she can really trust him.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese BLANCA (smiles) Sure, of course. Sorry, Im just a little freaked out. Blanca turns around, with her back to the men, and walks into the living room as Ramon follows behind her. RAMON RAMIREZ Totally understandable maam. You never know who you can trust these days. BLANCA I know. Forgive me, Im just on edge, but my husband says we should be just fine here in Tijuana. RAMON RAMIERZ Especially now that were here. dont need to have any fear. You

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Ramon takes a gun out from inside his jacket while Blancas back is still turned to him. BLANCA Can I offer you and your men a drink, like iced tea or something like that? At this point, Ramon is just eying down his unsuspecting prey, waiting for the perfect time. RAMON RAMIREZ No, no thanks maam. BLANCA How about some Before she can finish her sentence, Ramon strikes her in the back of the head with the butt of his gun. Shes knocked out and falls straight to the ground. RAMON RAMIREZ (to his men) Find the others.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CHILDRENS BEDROOM Eddies son and daughter are sleeping peacefully in double beds when the door is busted open by several cartel henchmen.

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The henchmen immediately rush into the room and literally grab both screaming children out of their beds. They carry the son out while they drag the daughter on the floor by her hair. BLANCAS PARENTS BEDROOM Blancas elderly PARENTS are also sleeping peacefully in their king-sized beD when the door is busted open by several other cartel henchmen. BLANCAS FATHER (confused) Whats going on? As soon he grabs his glasses from the nightstand and puts them on, one of the henchmen knocks him out with the butt of his rifle. The father falls out of his bed and onto the floor. Two other henchmen grab Blancas mother out of the bed and carry her, kicking and screaming, out of the room. LATER ON KITCHEN Blanca, her two children and her two parents are each tied up while sitting on chairs in the middle of the room with their hands tied behind them. All of them are bloodied and beaten, having been tortured for some time. RAMON RAMIREZ I know blood is thicker than water and Id never expect you to tell me the truth about where Eduardo Romero is, no matter how bad we hurt you. (looks at Blanca) Thats bad news for you and your family. I mean how many times can we shove a cattle prod up your sons ass? Or stick your fathers balls in a vice?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Ramon leans into Blanca and gets really close to her. RAMON RAMIREZ (contd) (whispers) Or even rape you. Before we get bored? Blanca spits in Ramons face. Afterwards, Ramon leans back and accepts a rag from one of his henchmen so he can wipe off his face. RAMON RAMIREZ (laughs) I got to be honest, I liked it better when you were spitting on my cock. BLANCA Go fuck yourself. RAMON RAMIREZ No my dear, it is you who is truly fucked.

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From the back of the room, one of Ramons henchmen steps up towards Blanca as he begins to unzip his pants. HENCHMEN AT BLANCAS PARENTS HOUSE I want to go one more time with this bitch. Ramon casually puts his hand on his shoulder to hold him back. RAMON RAMIREZ No, enough is enough. Put your dick back in your pants. Were on a time schedule so lets just take care of business now and go. Ramon looks at one of his men. RAMON RAMIREZ (contd) Take care of this. Ramons henchman motions to the other men who begin dousing the room, and the captive family, with gasoline.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Ramon takes out a cigarette, lights in, takes a drag then throws the lit match in the cleavage of Blancas ripped dress. RAMON RAMIREZ Fuck you bitch. BLANCA No, no, nooo. (looks at her children) I love you. I want you to always know that your mamma loves you. The dress quickly goes up in flames which sparks a chain reaction that sets the entire room on fire. The family is enveloped in flames as they yell and scream in pain. EXT. BLANCAS PARENTS HOUSE NIGHT As Ramon and his henchmen cross the street to their SUV convoy, the house behind them EXPLODES in a spectacular fireball. Ramon and his men are totally unfazed by the explosion as they continue walking without missing a beat. EXT. PHONE BOOTH, BUSY STREET IN TAMAULIPAS MORNING Eddie is on a public phone talking to Javier along a crowded street in a bustling commercial district. EDDIE ROMERO Javy, whats the word over there? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Youre a very popular man these days. EDDIE ROMERO How so? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Word has it that your little rogue blog site is getting more daily visitors than Primera Horas website. EDDIE ROMERO Thats impressive.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) And people are listening too. Like authority figures. The military conducted a raid on one of Los Alphas stash houses the other night based on one of your bloggers posts. They confiscated over $200 million U.S. dollars. People are reading and listening. EDDIE ROMERO Thats great. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) How is the blogger recruitment going? EDDIE ROMERO Excellent, its going excellent. I have people from all over the country contributing, Mexico City, Cancun, Acapulco and of course right here in Tamuaulipas. Its inspiring to see so many good, decent people putting their lives on the line to get the truth out. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) It is. EDDIE ROMERO What else can you tell me? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) (nervously) Eddie, I have bad news. EDDIE ROMERO What is it? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Your family EDDIE ROMERO (interrupts) What about my family? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Theyre dead.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO (incredulously) What? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Los Alphas got to them last night. Bound and gagged them and burnt down your in-laws house. EDDIE ROMERO Theyre all dead? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Your wife, your two children, your inlaws, yes. EDDIE ROMERO (crying) Jesus Christ Javy, why the fuck didnt you tell me this first. Why did you wait? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Im sorry, I didnt know how to tell you. EDDIE ROMERO God damn it, god damn it! JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Im sorry Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO Were they tortured? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Eddie, does it really matter now? Theyre dead regardless. EDDIE ROMERO It does matter, it matters to me. they tortured? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) (reluctantly) Yes, they were tortured. EDDIE ROMERO What did they do? Were

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) A lot. EDDIE ROMERO No, no, no, tell me it isnt so. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Im sorry Eddie, god I wish I could do something. Was she raped? Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO Please, just tell me Javy. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) (hesitantly) Yes, thats what the police say. EDDIE ROMERO Was my wife raped?

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JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.)

In frustration, Eddie takes the receiver and starts hitting it against the phone several times. EDDIE ROMERO Fucking animals, theyre all fucking barbarians! JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) I know they are. EDDIE ROMERO How am I going to go on knowing that I caused this? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Remain strong Eddie and remember, you didnt cause this, Los Alphas and Diablo did. EDDIE ROMERO Still, if it wasnt for me, theyd still be alive right now. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) You cant think like that.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO I have nothing to live for anymore. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Yes you do. You dont want your family to have died in vain. EDDIE ROMERO Im going to get these guys, Im going to get these fucking guys. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Eddie, I went over your house this morning and collected some of Blancas and the childrens personal items. It was a little difficult because your home was already ransacked but I did get some things that I think you should have, can we meet up the day after tomorrow? EDDIE ROMERO Its still way too hot for me to come anywhere near there. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Ill come out to you then. EDDIE ROMERO (thinking) OK. Ill call you again in a couple days and tell you a meeting place. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Good luck. Eddie hangs up the phone and, in frustration, punches the side of the phone booth several times. He then leans up against the booth and sobs uncontrollably. INT. JAVIER LOPEZS HOUSE, LIVING ROOM Javier, whos sitting comfortably on his couch, hangs up the phone. Sitting across from him is Diablo with three HENCHMEN standing guard behind him. DIABLO (smiles) You did good Javier.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ Well I better be well paid for this, I did just turn on my best friend after all. DIABLO Oh, dont worry Javier, once you deliver me Eduardo, youll be handsomely rewarded. JAVIER LOPEZ I feel horrible. DIABLO Thats a natural reaction at first, but money tends to drown out all other emotions after a while. Think about what youll now be able to provide your familya new car, a beautiful house, a good education for your child. JAVIER LOPEZ Thats the only reason why Im doing this, to be a good family man. DIABLO Come, lets get you prepared for your meeting. EXT. ANOTHER PHONE BOOTH, BUSY STREET IN TAMAULIPAS MORNING Eddie is standing at another public phone along a crowded street in a bustling commercial district. EDDIE ROMERO Whats the word on the street? JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Not good. INT. STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS LARGE DESK-FILLED ROOM

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Jose is sitting at his desk in the middle of a large room filled with police officers, trying his best to conceal the fact that hes talking to Eddie.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO (O.S.) Care to elaborate? JOSE SANCHEZ Diablos on to you man, and hes getting close. EDDIE ROMERO (O.S.) What do you know? JOSE SANCHEZ Not much, but this morning I overheard Chief Diaz bragging that Diablo was able to turn someone who provided information on your whereabouts. EDDIE ROMERO (O.S.) Who was that? JOSE SANCHEZ I dont know, apparently its someone close to you. Eddie stays silent on the phone for a few moments before speaking up. EDDIE ROMERO (O.S.) I dont know who this could be. JOSE SANCHEZ I heard he might be at the paper, Primera Hora. EXT. ANOTHER PHONE BOOTH, BUSY STREET IN TAMAULIPAS MORNING

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A look of horror covers Eddies face as he realizes that Javier turned on him. EDDIE ROMERO Oh fuck. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) What? EDDIE ROMERO Javier, its fucking Javier.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Who? EDDIE ROMERO Javier Lopez, my old friend. I just talked to him a little while ago. We set up a meeting so I could grab some of my deads wife personal items. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Youll be assassinated at this meeting. EDDIE ROMERO Not if I can assassinate Diablo first. I need your help. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Let me see what I can do. Ill need some time to investigate things, so call me back in a few days. EDDIE ROMERO I dont have that much time, Im supposed to meet him in two days. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) OK, call me back tomorrow then. EDDIE ROMERO Will do. Eddie hangs up the phone and immediately surveys the scene to make sure no ones watching him. He begins cautiously walking down the crowded street once he thinks hes safe. EXT. BUSY STREET, TAMAULIPAS DAY A YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE HIPSTER-LOOKING FEMALE BLOGGER in her early twenties is standing at the corner of a busy intersection diligently typing away on her iPad. While on the go, shes posting a new article about Los Alphas on Eddies blog. Once the story is uploaded, she puts the iPad away in her backpack, slings it over her shoulders then climbs her BIKE and rides down the street.

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Shes riding down the road for a few blocks, obeying all traffic laws, when suddenly and without provocation, a black SUV BARRELS through an intersection and rams her from the side in a full-on collision. The force of the impact throws her clear off her bike and high up into the air. She smashes into the window of a store alongside the street, a full ten feet across the sidewalk. Barely conscious with broken glass and blood covering her face and most of her tank top, the girl tries in vain to move but shes just too injured. Two cartel henchmen, whos SUV is now parked in the middle of the sidewalk, get out and approach her. CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #1 Such a pretty girl. CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #2 She is, too bad we have to kill her. CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #1 Well lets hurry up and get it over with. Ill tell you what, Ill let you take a trophy from her when were done. CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #2 I want her ear. CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #1 Ok, Ill take the other one. The second henchman raises his rifle to the head of the barely conscious female, readying to deliver a fatal shot. Suddenly, one of the doors on the SUV SLAMS shut, Miguel exits the car and approaches the two henchmen. MIGUEL Hold it! CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #2 Why? MIGUEL Diablo wants her taken alive, so were going to take her alive.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #1 She is cute, Diablo definitely has good taste. CARTEL HENCHMAN WITH FEMALE BLOGGER #2 Thats why hes the boss. MIGUEL Ok, enough chit-chatting, pick her up and throw her in the trunk. Lets go.

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The first henchman grabs the female blogger by her tank top in the middle of her cleavage and pulls her limp body towards him then picks her up in a fireman carry. He walks over to the SUV where he throws her into the trunk like shes a bag of groceries. INT. VACANT WAREHOUSE In a dimly-lit, vacant warehouse, the female blogger is standing against the wall with her wrists cuffed high above her head. She only has her tank top and panties on since her pants had been ripped off earlier and are lying on the ground next to her. Her head is hung down low and shes crying, theres fresh new blood dripping down her face indicating that she has recently been beaten. A bright white light is flashing directly at her from across the room. Suddenly, Diablo walks out from behind the light and over to her. Hes trailed by Miguel and a few other henchmen. Diablo gently lifts up the young ladys chin so that he can look he in the eye. DIABLO Now whats a beautiful, young girl like you doing mixed up with Eduardo Romero? FEMALE BLOGGER (struggling to speak) Whos that?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO Oh thats right, you dont know his name. Hes more popularly known as The Truth, at least for now. Soon though hell be nothing but a memory, and in a year or so hell be completely forgotten. FEMALE BLOGGER (squinting) Whats that light? DIABLO Oh the video camera back there? youre being filmed. Smile,

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Diablo walks back over to the camera as Miguel and the other henchmen approach the girl. FEMALE BLOGGER (confused) Why? DIABLO (looking through the camera lens) Youll see, but most importantly, youll feel. INT. INTERNET CAF, TAMAULIPAS Eddie is sitting at a computer workstation with headphones on as he logs onto his blog. Once on, he starts scrolling through the site and immediately sees a new post from a blogger that he doesnt recognize named The Real Truth so he clicks through to it. There he sees that the post only contains a YOUTUBE clip so he decides to watch it. To his horror, the clip is a Los Alphas propaganda film that features their exploits in a series of quick, violent scenes set to music including a mass shooting, a dead body being dumped from an overpass onto a busy highway and run over by several cars, a drive-by shooting on a highway where the car drives off the road and explodes, several very scantily-clad young women dancing on poles in a

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basement for a group of cartel members who are celebrating by indiscriminately shooting their guns off in the air, a shootout with a rival cartel across busy city streets within broad daylight, dozens of masked cartel henchmen hanging out together drinking and throwing up gang signs, a popular Mexican band singing a narcocorrido during an outdoor music festival. Suddenly, the music stops even though the video continues. The next scene depicts the beaten female blogger in the vacant warehouse just standing there, chained up and looking defeated. Miguel, whos wearing a mask to cover his face, enters the scene, undoes her cuffs then puts her in a chokehold from behind. The camera zooms in on them. MIGUEL Pay attention Eduardo Romero! Watch this! This is a message for you and any punk ass bitches that want to stick their noses where it doesnt belong. Miguel takes a knife from a cartel henchman whos standing out of the camera shot. MIGUEL Watch this! Miguel starts slowly cutting into the female bloggers neck as she lets out blood-curdling SCREAMS. FEMALE BLOGGER (crying) No, no, please dont do this! Ill give you anything! Ill let you fuck me! Ill let all of you fuck me! MIGUEL Who says we wont do that anyways after were done? Miguel presses into her neck harder with his knife, soon her cries fall silent as he DECAPITATES her. Once done, he allows her limp body to fall to the ground then places the

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ACE OF SPADES death card, which also doubles aS Los Alphas calling card, underneath her tank top in her cleavage. Defiantly, Diablo, whos dressed in all black and wearing a mask to conceal his appearance, walks into the foreground of the video. DIABLO You see that Eduardo Romero? Were not going to stop until we get you and all of the scum working for you. Consider that your one and only warning. With that, the video ends with loud, upbeat music and then it fades to black. Eddie is visibly pissed and decides to send out an act of defiance himself. He immediately replies to the video with a quick post Neither I nor my army of bloggers will be intimidated. This video will only unite us and make us stronger as we seek to return the streets back to the good citizens of Mexico. Signed, The Truth. After he posts his reply, Eddie quickly grabs his backpack and exits the internet caf. EXT. BUSY STREET, CIUDAD VICTORIA DAY The streets in the downtown commercial area are congested with bumper-to-bumper vehicular traffic and bikes. Nestled among all the businesses that line one of the busiest roads is a small, non-descript internet caf. INT. INTERNET CAF IN CIUDAD VICTORIA One of Eddies freelance bloggers, a SCRUFFY-LOOKING MAN in his late twenties, is sitting at a computer workstation uploading a new post to Eddies website. Once he finishes posting, he gathers his things up from the desk, packs it into a duffel bag and heads out of the caf. EXT. BUSY STREET, CIUDAD VICTORIA DAY The man walks away from the caf and blends into the rest of the crowd.

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Theres a GRAFFITI MURAL of Diablo painted on the side of a building he walks by which shows how much hes revered in certain parts of Mexico. A MOTORCYCLE with TWO MASKED MEN dressed in all black speeds down the street heading towards the unsuspecting blogger. Theyre ducking in and out of traffic and even on the sidewalks as innocent pedestrians jump out of the way. The blogger takes a sandwich out of his duffel bag and begins to eat it as he continues walking down the street. Once the motorcycle pulls up to the blogger, the man on the back of the bike takes out an assault rifle and GUNS DOWN the blogger in broad daylight as the crowd of people around him scream and scatter. The motorcycle turns and pulls over about ten yards beyond the scene of the shooting. The henchman on the back of the bike gets off and walks up to the shot blogger, whos barely holding onto life, his half-eaten sandwich still clenched in his fist. The henchman takes a long, hard look at the bloody blogger who looks him right in the eye as he holds his rifle up to him at point blank range. After a few moments of the silent stare down, the blogger turns his head and looks away, having come to terms that hes going to be killed. The henchmen shoots him point blank several times in the chest and head then places The ACE OF SPADES death card on his stomach. As he walks back to the bike, the henchman menacingly looks directly at the bystanders that he passes, but they all take great pains to look away from him. The henchman climbs onto the back of the bike and they speed away, getting lost in the city traffic.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese INT. BLOGGERS HOUSE Another one of Eddies BLOGGERS, an older gentleman in his sixties, is sitting in his den at home working on his computer. As hes finishing writing a blog post on Eddies website, the blogger looks out his window and notices smoke coming out of the bottom of his car in the driveway so he decides to get up and check it out. EXT. DRIVEWAY, BLOGGERS HOUSE - DAY The blogger walks around the car trying to figure out why the car is smoking. He notices most of it is concentrated towards the back, so he walks over to the trunk and carefully opens it. As soon as he opens it, hes shocked to see a 500 pound bomb that takes up the whole trunk sitting there. Immediately a red light indicator turns on and the car EXPLODES, throwing the man high up into the air and clear across to the other side of his front yard. Hes dead even before he hits the ground. With the car burning and blown to pieces, two black SUVs slowly drive down the street surveying the damage and the body, making sure hes dead. EXT. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, MEXICO CITY MORNING

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The streets and sidewalks are filled with commuters heading to work during the morning rush hour commute. Built between a series of tall office buildings along one of the busiest streets is a more modest, ten story office building. INT. TEN-STORY OFFICE BUILDING, MEXICO CITY FLOOR LOBBY Like any other office building, the lobby is bustling with EXECUTIVES and CORPORATE EMPLOYEES getting on and off the elevator and walking to and from their offices; some are carrying their briefcases, or purses, and cups of coffee.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese OFFICE Another one of Eddies bloggers, a MIDDLE-AGED MAN dressed in a shirt and tie, is sitting at his computer in his office uploading a new post to Eddies website. Just as he finishes posting an article about the recent wave of assassinations targeting the websites bloggers, a massive BOMB hidden in his file cabinet DETONATES blowing up the whole floor. FLOOR LOBBY The impact from the explosion sends several unsuspecting employees flying into walls, against desks and into the elevator bank. EXT. STREET IN DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, MEXICO CITY MORNING The explosion within the ten-story building sends DEBRIS, SHRAPNEL and GLASS from the blown out windows falling to the ground below, damaging cars stuck in traffic and severely injuring many of the pedestrians on the sidewalk.

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Its total CHAOS as drivers abandon their cars and run aimlessly down the street while bloody pedestrians walk in shock towards nowhere in particular, many are so dazed they walk right into other people. EXT. QUIET STREET IN TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO DAY Eddie, wearing a tweed Cuban hat and sunglasses to hide his appearance, is talking on a public phone in midconversation with Javier. Hes holding the morning edition of the Primera Hora, whos cover story is about the building explosion in Mexico City with the headline Gas Leak Causes Spectacular Explosion At Office Building in Mexico City. EDDIE ROMERO (disgusted) Can you believe theyre saying the explosion was caused by a gas leak? What a bunch of bullshit.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Well our country doesnt always have the best public utilities. EDDIE ROMERO Javy, one of my freelance bloggers worked in that building. This isnt a coincident, this is the cartel. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) If it is, thats pretty brazen, even for Los Alphas. EDDIE ROMERO They must be getting desperate. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) That must mean youre doing a good job. EDDIE ROMERO I just wish that Primera Hora would do the same level of investigative reporting than me and my people are doing, then maybe this drug war would finally turn a corner. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Then many of the Primera Hora journalists would be dead like your bloggers. EDDIE ROMERO I guess thats the prize we have to pay for freedom. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Eddie, if Diablo is willing to kill 250 people to kill one person then theyre willing to do anything, are you sure you want to continue the fight? EDDIE ROMERO Absolutely. This is the only thing I have left to fight for. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Whats that?

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Freedom for all the innocent citizens of Tamaulipas. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) OK then, you just keep on doing what youre doing then. EDDIE ROMERO I will. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) So where do you want to meet? EDDIE ROMERO Do you know Hectors Caf? JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Ahh yes, we went there for lunch on my first day on the job. Good memory. EDDIE ROMERO 4p sharp.

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JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Inside or outside? EDDIE ROMERO Outside, at the corner, not even in the restaurant. JAVIER LOPEZ (O.S.) Not in the caf? Eddie, at least let me buy you a meal. EDDIE ROMERO Its too dangerous right now, I cant stay in the same place for too long. Remember, 4p sharp. Eddie hangs up and phone and walks down the street. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE IN TAMAULIPAS DAY With a light drizzle falling, Eddie seeks refuge underneath a tall tree where he sits down and unpacks a sandwich to eat.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese He takes a pad and pen out of his duffel bag and begins writing a letter. EDDIE ROMERO (V.O.) To my former loyal Primera Hora readers, I dont know how much longer I can go on fighting the good fight when it seems like the whole world is against me at times. Everyones dead; my gorgeous wife, my beautiful kids, my in-laws, my brother, my nephew, most of my bloggers who gave so much and received so little in return. Theyre all dead because of me. Was I that selfish? All I was trying to do was do some good in this god-forsaken, shitty world, but that seems to have backfired. Maybe I should finally admit that the all-powerful Los Alphas and Diablo are indeed allpowerful, and theres nothing that a little guy like me can do to stem the tide of their ever growing influence. Maybe one man actually cant make a difference? I think Im finally learning something that everyone else learned at a much earlier age. I can only blame my slowness on my stubbornness. God I miss my family. I loved my wife and I loved my children, I still do with all my heart, and I hate that their blood is on my hands. No doubt if I continue this trek Ill be the next victim, but can I truly be considered a victim if I was the one that started this particular war? I know I shouldnt think like that since Los Alphas has been killing innocent civilians for over five years now, but if I just sucked it up and accepted my nephews death and my editors death, as the price you pay for living in Mexico, and just minded my own business then I wouldnt be in this position and my wife and children would still be with me, at home enjoying a typical family life. It makes me sick to think that Diablo has won, that smug bastard, hell get his one dayhopefully. Time (MORE)

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO (V.O.) (contd) always catches up to people. It may not happen today, it may not happen tomorrow, hell it may not even happen a year from now, but it will happen, I hope. He will have his downfall and he will meet his maker, and hell have to finally answer to God, the one supreme being that is even more powerful than the all-powerful Diablo. (pauses) These are the things I ponder endlessly in my lonely, miserable existence right now where Im sitting beneath a tree hiding from the rain in a non-descript area of the Mexican countryside. Eddie studies the letter he just wrote for a few moments then suddenly rips it up. EDDIE ROMERO (V.O.) You know what? Fuck it. Im going to continue the fight. I believe in what Im fighting for. If I dont continue to fight then Blanca, the kids and my loyal group of bloggers died for no reason. Im not going to let that happen. Im going to fight so that the children of this country can feel safe to play on the streets at night. With that, Eddie grabs his duffel bag, stands up and walks away. EDDIE ROMERO (V.O.) (contd) And I will go meet my old friend Javier. EXT. HECTORS CAF, CIUDAD VICTORIA DAY Javier walks up to the nearly empty cafe carrying a cardboard box filled with Blancas personal items. He stops in front of it briefly and looks around he sees one of the cartels black SUVs sitting about twenty yards up the street on the other side of the road. Then he turns his head and sees another black SUV parked twenty yards down the other side of the road.

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Next he looks up to the rooftop of the adjacent building across the street and sees Ramon standing there with TWO RIFLE-TOTING HENCHMEN. Finally, he looks across the street and sees Miguel, in sunglasses, leaning against a bus stop nonchalantly reading a newspaper. Having scoped out the stakeout, Javier moves into his position at the corner of the intersection and just waits there, pacing back and forth in small steps. He checks his watch 4 oclock on the dot. After a few tense moments, he notices Eddie approaching him in disguise sunglasses and a Cuban hat covering his face. Javier puts the box down so he can greet Eddie with a big, warm handshake. With his hand extended and a big smile across his face, Javier greets him as Eddie gets close. JAVIER LOPEZ Eddie, my friend, good to see you. Suddenly, Eddie takes out a HANDGUN from behind his waist and shoots him twice in the head from point blank range. Javier falls to the ground dead as Eddie immediately ducks and grabs the box of personal items. Within a split second of the shooting, a NISSAN VERSA speeds to the scene from the other direction and spins out in front of Eddie to shield him. The cartel members who were providing surveillance are initially caught off guard by the shooting but quickly regroup and starts shooting at Eddie and the car. Shoot! RAMON RAMIREZ Shoot! Kill that bastard!

Although the car takes some bullets to the trunk, Eddie manages to jump into the passengers seat as the car peels out and speeds down the street. INT. NISSAN VERSA Jose Sanchez is behind the wheel, periodically ducking to avoid getting shot.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Thanks man. JOSE SANCHEZ I told you Id help you out. EDDIE ROMERO Ive never shot anyone before, Im just a newspaper journalist. He was my best friend too. JOSE SANCHEZ Such is life. He was a best friend that was going to have you executed, with friends like that you dont need enemies. In Mexico, its kill or be killed. EDDIE ROMERO I hope this isnt your car because its getting shot to shit. JOSE SANCHEZ No, I borrowed it from the impound. EDDIE ROMERO Borrowed it? JOSE SANCHEZ Stole it. Jose reaches into the glove compartment and gives Eddie another handgun. JOSE SANCHEZ Here, take this, youll eventually run out of ammunition in that other one. EXT. INTERSECTION AT HECTORS CAF DAY The cartels black SUV thats facing the right direction immediately speeds off to chase the Nissan as Miguel runs over to the other SUV and jumps in. With no regard to traffic, they peel out, turn around into the other lane and speed down the street as well. Ramon and the other henchmen run out of the adjacent building and jump into a separate black SUV. They speed down the street as well to join the chase.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EXT. STREETS OF CIUDAD VICTORIA DAY

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This sparks a ridiculous car chase through the city streets with three cartel SUVs going after the Nissan Versa. They duck in and out of traffic, drive recklessly on sidewalks, into oncoming traffic, through parks and smash through storefronts. Showing no regard for human life, the cartel SUVs periodically run over, or hit, bicyclists and motorcyclists trying to get out of the way while Joses Nissan goes out of its way to avoid them. All the while, the men in the cartel SUVs lay down a steady blanket of bullets towards the Nissan. The car is getting shot up pretty badly, but Eddie and Jose both remain safe inside. INT. NISSAN VERSA Eddie turns around in his seat trying to shoot back at the SUVs but cant get any shots off. EDDIE ROMERO Its no good, I cant get a clear shot, theres too much shooting. JOSE SANCHEZ OK, just stay down. I know a place up ahead where I think I can lose them. EXT. STREETS OF CIUDAD VICTORIA DAY After another city block, Jose takes a sharp turn down a tight alley and speeds towards the other side. As they come out the other end, with the three SUVs still hot on their tail, they are immediately t-boned and spun out by a civilian automobile. The force of the impact blows both the drivers and passengers side doors off the car. Jose and Eddie immediately jump out of the car and run in different directions. Run! JOSE SANCHEZ Just fucking run anywhere!

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese The cartel SUVs make it out of the alley and park in the middle of the street. The henchmen jump out and start firing in both directions trying to hit either of them but its no use. Eddie and Jose are both running like theyve never run before. Eddie runs into a park and blends into the crowd there while Jose jumps into a taxi and has it speed off. The cartel members are left in the middle of the road scratching their heads wondering how they lost them. Not having anyone to shoot, they just get back into their SUVs and drive away. INT. SEEDY MOTEL ROOM

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Ramon is sleeping in a motel bed with a very attractive, young Mexican WOMAN when suddenly the door is BUSTED open and the room is SWARMED by several heavily-armed MEMBERS OF THE MEXICAN MILITARY. Upon seeing this, Ramon and the woman immediately jump up out of the bed Ramon is wearing only boxers and black sox while the woman, whos topless, is only in panties. The MILITARY COMMANDER, a grisly older veteran of the force, aims his assault rifle right at Ramon. MILITARY COMMANDER Ramon Ramirez, freeze! Ramon pulls the woman in front of him to shield himself from the rifle. RAMON RAMIREZ Fuck off. MILITARY COMMANDER Do you think I care about that bitch? RAMON RAMIREZ Do you think I care about her? I picked her up off the street last night, shes nothing but a fucking whore. MILITARY COMMANDER Whore or not, the game is up for you Ramon. We have the whole place surrounded.

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While holding the prostitute by the throat in front of him, Ramon looks out the window behind him and notices that a military APC is sitting in the alleyway below with a handful of SOLDIERS standing around it. MILITARY COMMANDER See Ramon, theres nowhere to run. Ramon looks over at the end table by the bed and sees his handgun hiding underneath a magazine, then he looks back over to the soldiers standing in front of him. MILITARY COMMANDER Come on, let the whore go and come with us. Suddenly, Ramon grabs his HANDGUN from the end table and starts shooting towards the soldiers while using the prostitute as a shield. After a few shots, which all missed, the soldiers have no choice but to shoot back, killing the prostitute with several bullets to the chest and stomach as Ramon jumps out of the window and onto the fire escape. EXT. SEEDY MOTEL ROOM DAY FIRE ESCAPE Ramon, whos still only in his boxers and black sox, frantically runs down the fire escape while shooting at the soldiers standing around the military APC. He manages to shoot them all, although not fatally, which gives him a clear way to run down the ALLEY Where he avoids the soldiers shooting at him from his motel room above. As he gets to the end of the alley, leading to the street, several other SOLDIERS try to cut him off on foot as another APC pulls up to block his path. Ramon ducks out of the way to miss the first two soldiers then is forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat with two others.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese One soldier kicks the gun out of Ramons hand while the other tries to wrestle him to the ground.

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Being a very scrappy fighter, Ramon manages to free himself and gives a few kicks to the stomach of both soldiers. He escapes and runs down the middle of a BUSY STREET Where hes dodging cars in both lanes at full speed. By this point, theres approximately TWENTY SOLDIERS trying to chase Ramon down but theyre all at least half a block behind him. Ramon periodically looks behind him while running to make sure none of the soldiers are catching up. The gap between him and the soldiers widens. He looks behind him one more time and notices this so he smiles and taunts the soldiers with a wave. However, as soon as he turns his head back around hes immediately blind-sided and TACKLED by TWO SOLDIERS who emerged from a side street. The soldiers immediately jump on Ramon who is lying in the middle of the street on his stomach. Some cars come to a stop while others carefully drive around them. One of the soldiers puts his knee across the back of Ramons neck while the other handcuffs him. MEXICAN SOLDER #1 Youre under arrest Ramon Ramirez. The two soldiers lift Ramon up by the arms and drag him down the middle of the busy street. INT. DIABLOS SECRET MANSION HIDEOUT BEDROOM Late at night, Diablo is sitting at his desk reading a newspaper with a small lamp providing light. The TV is on in the background. Maria is laying down in a nightgown on the bed.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese MARIA Diablo, why dont you come to bed? DIABLO In a minute, Im just finishing up reading the paper and watching the news. MARIA Thats so boring. DIABLO Maybe so, but I want to remain informed on everything going on in the world. Information and knowledge are very important, or did they not teach you that at the university? MARIA The only thing I learned at university was how to give a spectacular blowjob. Im willing to show you again if you just come to bed. DIABLO (smiles) Like I said, in a minute honey. Maria throws her hands up in frustration. MARIA Arrgh, you know every other man in the world would love to get blown by me. DIABLO (staring at her) But not every other man is on the Forbes Billionaires list. See my darling, it works both ways. The TV news comes back from a commercial break with a beautiful young WOMAN reporting from behind an anchors desk. FEMALE TV NEWS ANCHOR Theres been a significant arrest made tonight in the Mexican drug war that has been raging for years now and has caused thousands of deaths, many of them civilian.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese The TV shows Ramon, still dressed only in his boxers and black sox, paraded in front of dozens of REPORTERS and flashing cameras inside a plain, white room.

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Masked military SOLDIERS, protecting their identities, stand guard all around Ramon, with two holding him by each arm. The soldiers keep him still for a while, showing off their capture, so that every reporter can get ample photographs. FEMALE TV NEWS ANCHOR (contd) Ramon Ramirez, a reputed high-ranking lieutenant in the violent Los Alphas drug cartel was captured this afternoon after a shoot-out and foot chase down a busy street in Ciudad Victoria. Ramirez is the highest-ranking member of Los Alphas to have ever been captured alive by law enforcement. The government is hoping to garner some kind of intelligence on how the organization operates and more information on the full extent of their crimes when they begin interrogating Ramirez. When asked how the military was able to finally find Ramirez, who has been an elusive fugitive for the past five years even though he has remained very active in the Los Alphas cartel by all accounts, an unnamed source within the Mexican military gave credit to the secretive blogger website thetruth.com- which is rumored to have been launched by a disgruntled, former journalist at Primera Hora. In recent weeks, the site has been tracking the movements of high-ranking cartel members such as Ramirez, and while more often than not, the intel immediately becomes old due to cartel members constant movements, this time the military was able to mobilize and capture one of the sites biggest targets before he escaped into thin air again. The military says that the site has become such a great resource of information on the drug cartels, particularly Los Alphas, that they have a team dedicated to monitoring (MORE)

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese FEMALE TV NEWS ANCHOR (contd) their posts and the leads that come from it. Boiling with anger, Diablo KNOCKS the lamp off his desk. DIABLO Fuck! MARIA Whats the matter baby? DIABLO (to himself) Fucking Romero, fucking Eduardo Romero. I have to kill that pig. I have to kill him now. EXT. DIABLOS RANCH DUSK Diablo is having a casual stroll with Chief Diaz while walking his DOG along an immense ranch property. His normally calm demeanor is being tested and, although hes still speaking in measured tones, its tough for him to hide how furious he is. DIABLO Diaz, I have two problems in life right now. One of which, Ill take care of, the other, I need your help. CHIEF DIAZ Well you know Im part of the team, so what is it? DIABLO One of my associates was arrested by the military. CHIEF DIAZ (interrupts) Now Diablo, I have a lot of power, but even you know my power is limited when it comes to the military. DIABLO I know, Im not asking you about that. (MORE)

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (contd) Ill figure out a way to get him out of prison myself. Ramon Ramirez was caught because of Eduardo Romero, Ill take care of Romero in due time. However, I know theres one thing you can control. CHIEF DIAZ Whats that boss? DIABLO Diaz, I want to know who the snitch is in your department. I want to know who tipped off Eduardo Romero that Javier Lopez was working for me. I want to know who the asshole is. CHIEF DIAZ Why do you think its one of my men? DIABLO Because my men are loyal. (pauses) Eduardo Romero is just a newspaper journalist, he wouldve never sniffed out this set-up by himself without help. I want his helper strung up by his balls. CHIEF DIAZ Youre in luck Diablo. DIABLO What do you mean?

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Chief Diaz and Diablo walk over to the trunk of his police SUV. CHIEF DIAZ Suspecting the same thing you did, I conducted my own internal investigation this morning. Chief Diaz opens the trunk to reveal Jose Sanchez whos lying there bloodied, gagged and bound at his feet and hands. He has two black eyes and cuts across his face showing that hes already been severely beaten.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese CHIEF DIAZ (contd) As you can see, Ive already put him through an intense interrogation of my own. DIABLO Diaz, I should kill you myself with my bare hands. CHIEF DIAZ (surprised) Diablo, I thought youd be grateful that I found the snitch? DIABLO In your own department? Your men lack honor and disciplineand this man specifically allowed Eduardo Romero to slip through my hands. CHIEF DIAZ Not everyones perfect though. DIABLO Los Alphas is. CHIEF DIAZ (smiles) But Diablo, as you can see hes not dead yet. DIABLO That is true. CHIEF DIAZ Im sure we can get this parrot to talk if properly motivated. DIABLO OK, get him out. Diablo motions to a couple of henchmen that are standing guard close by to come over.

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The henchmen pick up Joses limp body from the trunk. As they carry him across the ranch, Diablo grabs Joses wallet from his back pocket.

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He flips through it and finds a few family PHOTOS, one of him with his wife, another one of his pre-teen daughter and a third of his eight year old son. He keeps the picture of Joses son while tossing everything else from the wallet onto the ground. The henchmen drop Jose right outside of a barn. CHIEF DIAZ What are you going to do with him now? Diablo looks up to the sky for a moment and enjoys a few rays of the soon-to-be-setting sun before looking at his henchmen. DIABLO Gather up my special boys. The henchmen walk away as Diablo kneels down by Jose and gently strokes his hair. DIABLO I always hate to see it when a young, promising member of the law enforcement community decides to play it straight and uphold the laws of this very fucked up country, when he couldve had a much better life if he just reported to me instead. CHIEF DIAZ What are you going to do with him? Diablo turns and flashes him a devilish smile before standing up. DIABLO Oh, hell be OK. The henchmen come back with a group of SIX PRE-TEEN BOYS who are ARMED ASSASSINS. Two of the young assassins are recognizable as kids who survived the gladiator-style fights and were recruited to the cartel during the San Fernando Massacre. DIABLO Ahhh boys, come.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese The boys walk up to Diablo who shows them the picture of Joses pre-teen son. DIABLO (contd) You see this picture? You see the kid in this picture? This is the son of the steaming pile of shit you see laying in front of you. According to the back of this picture, his name is Luis Sanchez. I want you to take care of this child. (pauses) Do this for me and youll have earned your respect in Los Alphas. One of the boy assassins takes the picture from him and then they all walk away. Jose finally musters up enough strength to speak. JOSE SANCHEZ No! No! Please dont! Luis is innocent, hes not involved in this! Hes just a kid, hed never hurt anybody. Please no! Do with me what you will, kill me instead, kill me, but not him, not him! Diablo ignores all of Joses pleas. DIABLO See Diaz, Im not going to kill this asshole, but I will let him live in a world where his actions caused the brutal death of his own son. Lets see how he feels everyday waking up knowing that. EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND AFTERNOON

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Its the end of the day and the school bell has just RUNG. CHILDREN rush out of the building - many meet up with their waiting PARENTS, many others enter the adjacent playground, while several others begin walking home by themselves. The six cartel boy assassins walk onto school property and scout out the scene. One of them is holding up the picture of Joses kid next to their view of the playground and comparing each kid playing to the picture.

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Soon, the boy assassin focuses on one boy in particular who is playing on a swing. He watches him for several moments, looking back and forth between the picture and him. BOY ASSASSIN I think I got him. (points at the kid) Look, over there. The six assassins walk slowly through the playground and up to LUIS SANCHEZ, whos still swinging away carefree. They line up in front of him then one of the assassins pushes Luis feet down as he swings trying to get him to stop. Luis stops swinging and looks at the six boys. BOY ASSASSIN Luis Sanchez? LUIS SANCHEZ Yes. With that affirmation, all six assassins take out handguns from the back of their waists and open fire on the helpless boy. Luis takes multiple bullets and falls back on the swing, then hits the ground dead. The rest of the CHILDREN in the school playground scream and scatter while the PARENTS, SCHOOL TEACHERS and ADMINISTRATORS, who are standing outside of the playground, look on in horror; helpless to do anything since most of them know that these children assassins have cartel ties. As panic encircles the school playground, a couple of the boy assassins pick up Luis dead body and all six of them nonchalantly walk out of the playground like nothing happened. INT. BARN AT DIABLOS RANCH Jose Sanchez is inside a barn and lying in the fetal position, bloodied and beaten, while Diablo, Miguel and several cartel henchman watch over him.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Suddenly the barn doors open up and in walk the six boy assassins carrying Luis dead body. They approach Jose and dump Luis body right in front of him.

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This meets with Diablos approval as he stands up from a table, applauds the boys efforts and walks up to Jose who is now crying uncontrollably over the sight of his dead son. DIABLO Good work, boys! Good work. Diablo takes the picture of the kid from one of the boy assassins then uses his foot to move Luis head so he can get a good look at his face. He examines the picture and then Luis face to make sure they got the right boy. DIABLO And you got the right kid on the first try. Not that I wouldve cared too much if it took you a few tries, but I congratulate you boys on your efficiency at least. Now leave us. Go over to the farmhouse and pick out some of the lovely female prisoners to enjoy as your reward. With that, the six boy assassins leave the barn as Diablo kneels down next to Jose. DIABLO Jose, Jose, listen to me. Jose cant stop crying which just annoys Diablo. DIABLO (contd) Stop crying like a woman and listen to me. Jose continues crying which aggravates Diablo even more. DIABLO (contd) I said stop crying! Diablo kicks Jose in the stomach a couple times and then stands over him until he finally stops crying.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (contd) Your son is dead, hes not coming back. Do you want the same fate to await your young daughter? (pauses) Well do you? Jose finally musters up enough strength to shake his head no. DIABLO I cant tell what youre doing. me. JOSE SANCHEZ (struggling) No. DIABLO Good, then lead me to Eduardo Romero and shell live. After a few moments, Jose slowly shakes his head yes. DIABLO Again, I cant hear you. JOSE SANCHEZ (struggling) Yes. DIABLO (patting Jose on the head) OK, good boy. Diablo looks to Miguel whos standing behind him. DIABLO Clean him up. Then bring him back to me so we can end this once and for all. Eduardo Romero is a dead man. (stands up) And dump this kid in acid then pour him out in the pasture. MIGUEL Yes sir. Answer

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Diablo walks out of the barn as Jose continues crying in the fetal position. EXT. QUIET STREET IN CUIDAD VICTORIA DAY

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Eddie is standing at a payphone on the sidewalk of a quiet street filled with mom & pop shops talking to Jose. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Eddie, I just heard the cartel is baring down on you, theyre close, so Im going to get you out of the country. EDDIE ROMERO Baring down? What does that mean? How close are they? I mean are they down the street? JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) I dont where you are. EDDIE ROMERO I dont either. But talk to me, where are they at? JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) I dont know, but I hear through my contacts that Diablo sounds pretty confident that theyll have you pinned in by tomorrow. EDDIE ROMERO Fuck. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Dont worry, Im going to help you. EDDIE ROMERO Theres no time. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) There is, Im already on the road. Just tell me where you are and I can get you through the cartel checkpoints and over to the U.S. EDDIE ROMERO How can you do that?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) You think corruption only works one way? We have a couple cartel members on the police payroll, theyll help us. EDDIE ROMERO (skeptically) Cartel members? I dont know about that. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Trust me, theyre OK. Theyll help me. EDDIE ROMERO But Ive gotten this far by not trusting anyone. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) At some point youll have to trust someone if you want to survive, you cant do it alone. Let me be that someone. Eddie thinks for several moments while he looks around to make sure hes not being watched. EDDIE ROMERO OK, give me an hour and Ill text you my location. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) Eddie, Im on the road now. EDDIE ROMERO Ill text you in thirty minutes then. JOSE SANCHEZ (O.S.) OK. INT. FARMHOUSE ON DIABLOS RANCH LIVING ROOM A beaten and still bloodied Jose hangs up the phone while Diablo, Miguel and a few cartel henchmen look on. JOSE SANCHEZ Hes going to get back to me in a half hour.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (applauds) Excellent. Youve done well, I must make sure Chief Diaz gives you a commendation in recognition of your diligent work on the behalf of Los Alphas. Diablo looks at Jose who shows no reaction. DIABLO Are you not happy? Why are you not happy? JOSE SANCHEZ Ive spent my career fighting crime, fighting the grip that the cartels have on the countryand now here I am, joining your side, powerless to do anything.

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Diablo stands up, walks over to a sitting Jose and runs his fingers through his hair. DIABLO Jose, when are you going to learn? Everyones powerless against Los Alphas. You had no choice. We owned your ass years before you even knew it. (looks at his watch) Now come, lets get this rat bastard once and for all. The cartel henchmen walk over and grab Jose by the arms to stand him up. INT. DIABLOS SUV Diablo and Jose are riding in the backseat of his SUV along the bumpy roads of the countryside with Miguel sitting in the front passengers seat. Diablo quietly looks out the window admiring the countryside. He finally breaks his silence after a few seconds. DIABLO What a beautiful countryside, dont you think?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Jose just sits there saying nothing. Then Diablo rolls down the window, sticks his head out and takes a deep breath. DIABLO (contd) Smells good too. You have to love the smell of the country, its so pure, you dont get this in the cities. (looks at Jose) You know Jose, you dont talk much. JOSE SANCHEZ I dont have much to say. DIABLO (contd) Thats unfortunate, come Jose, its just the two of us, were on a long ride through the countryside with nothing else to do. Its just us and our thoughts, our words. JOSE SANCHEZ I just want this to be over. DIABLO So do I. Come on, you think I want to hurt your daughter? Im not a monster, but I am a problem solver. Diablo takes a pack of cigarettes out and offers him one. DIABLO (contd) Do you want a cigarette? Jose shake his head no. DIABLO Come on, take one, youre from Mexico City, youre not used to this fresh air, go ahead and pollute yourself. Jose takes a cigarette and lights it up. JOSE SANCHEZ How do you know Im from Mexico City? DIABLO I know everything about everyone that (MORE)

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese DIABLO (contd) crosses my path. How do you think Ive survived for so long? I learn everything there is to know about my adversaries and then I exploit their weaknesses. (pauses) Look upon this vast land you see Jose, everyone here is my puppet. They do, say and act just like I want them to; some even realize Im doing it to them and they blindly accept it. Thats power for you right there. JOSE SANCHEZ The one thing you fail to realize is youre not god. DIABLO Thats right, but to most of the people in this country, Im as close to a god as theyll ever see. Each and every day, I give life just as easily as I take it. Im all powerful to these people, with one action I can change the course of anyones life in this country. If thats not god, I dont know what is. JOSE SANCHEZ Youre completely delusional. So is religion. DIABLO Whats your point?

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Jose takes a few puffs from his cigarette and blows the smoke out. Forget it. JOSE SANCHEZ Its useless.

DIABLO Fighting against the cartel, fighting against me in particular, it always is. (pauses) Its unfortunate Jose, you couldve been a good soldier of mine, I could see it in your eyes, but you chose the wrong way.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JOSE SANCHEZ Thats one mans opinion; I like to think I chose the right way. DIABLO Look at you Jose, look at you. Youre bloodied, beaten, near death, your sons dead, if youre not careful your daughter will be dead too, so do you really think you chose the right path? Jose stares at Diablo for a few moments before answering him. JOSE SANCHEZ (stoically) Yes. DIABLO Dumbass. (pauses) I guess I shouldnt expect anything more from a police officer. If you really were any good and smart, youd be working for me. JOSE SANCHEZ Id never work for you asshole. DIABLO Big talk from a guy whos been handcuffed and sodomized. JOSE SANCHEZ I just want this all over with. Diablo looks out into the distance. DIABLO I think youll be in luck soon, I see the border coming up soon. JOSE SANCHEZ Pull over and let me approach him so he doesnt get spooked by the SUV. DIABLO No, I cant risk you running away.

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Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese JOSE SANCHEZ But hell get spooked. DIABLO Thats OK, hes got nowhere to hide. EXT. FIELD, NEAR THE MEXICO / U.S. BORDER DUSK

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Eddie is standing by himself in an open field as he sees an SUV approach him far off in the distance. INT. DIABLOS SUV DIABLO Is that him? Jose squints and tries his best to make out who the man standing far off in the distance is. JOSE SANCHEZ Yes, looks like him. DIABLO Good, he looks like hes alone. JOSE SANCHEZ He should be. Outside of me, he has no one else to turn to. You killed them all. DIABLO Let that be a lesson young Sanchez. No one will ever beat me. EXT. FIELD, NEAR THE MEXICO / U.S. BORDER DUSK Eddie continues standing there waiting. The approaching SUV, and the dirt being kicked up by it, can be seen in the reflection in his sunglasses. INT. DIABLOS SUV The SUV pulls off of the dirt road and up within twenty yards of Eddie, who continues standing there motionless. DIABLO OK, go get him.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese Diablo unlocks Joses handcuffs which have kept him bound to the inside roof. Jose looks at Eddie through the rolled-up window and just sits there. DIABLO Well come on, go. Jose reluctantly opens the door and gets out. EXT. FIELD, NEAR THE MEXICO / U.S. BORDER DUSK

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Jose closes the door of the SUV behind him and stands there looking at Eddie. JOSE SANCHEZ Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO (smiles) Jose, youre a sight for sore eyes. Eddie starts approaching him. Stop! JOSE SANCHEZ Stop right there Eddie! EDDIE ROMERO (confused) Why? Diablo opens the back door, gets out and walks to the front of his SUV so he can get a better look at Eddie. DIABLO (applauds) As I live and breathe, here stands the infamous Eduardo Romero in the flesh right before me! EDDIE ROMERO (confused) Diablo? DIABLO I cant tell you what a pleasure it is to finally see you face to face.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO Diablo? DIABLO Thats right. Youve been fucking up my organization pretty well lately, but now its checkmate. Two of his HENCHMEN get out of the SUV with their RIFLES drawn, pointing at Eddie. DIABLO (contd) My associates and I are going to enjoy torturing you. EDDIE ROMERO Jose, you fucked me? Jose just stands there sheepishly, not answering his question. EDDIE ROMERO (contd) I cant believe you fucked me. DIABLO Believe it Eddie. This is Mexico, this is my Mexico! Theres no escape from my Mexico. EDDIE ROMERO I wish I could kill you right now Diablo. DIABLO I know you do. But you cant. You lost. (pauses) Now, come Eduardo, come with us. After a couple moments, Diablo becomes distracted by something off in the distance behind Eddie. He squints and sees a SQUADRON of men hustling towards them.

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Diablo immediately, and incorrectly, thinks hes been setup by Jose so he points his gun at him. DIABLO You double crossing son-of-a-bitch.

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese With that, Diablo shoots Jose, whos standing 10 yards in front of him, in the back.

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Diablo runs back to the SUV, but before he can get there a missile from a DRONE flying high overhead hits the SUV causing a massive EXPLOSION. The force of the blast shoots Diablo high up in the air and he ends up landing about ten yards from the fiery shell of the SUV. The other two henchmen were killed instantly and Miguel, who was still in the car at the time of the strike, is dead as well. Diablo is alive but barely breathing as he lays motionless on the ground. Eddie cautiously walks toward the carnage and up to Jose who is still alive, barely, and in obvious pain. JOSE SANCHEZ (struggling) Im sorry Eddie. EDDIE ROMERO Its OK, I understand. Anyways, I have you to thank. JOSE SANCHEZ (confused) Whys that? EDDIE ROMERO Youre the one that told me not to trust anyoneand I didnt. JOSE SANCHEZ What was that explosion? EDDIE ROMERO My guess is a predator drone. Jose lifts his head slightly to see the squadron of men getting even closer to them. JOSE SANCHEZ Who are they?

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese EDDIE ROMERO CIA, Navy Seals, something like that. JOSE SANCHEZ Americans? EDDIE ROMERO Yes. I figured with almost all my associates dead I needed more firepower. What better than to get the CIA and U.S. Armed Forces on your side? JOSE SANCHEZ (smiles) How did you know? EDDIE ROMERO What? About you? Well I just figured that it was only a matter of time before Diablo figured out who you were and exploited your weaknesses to get what he wanted. He did that to everyone, thats why he was so powerful. Was, being the operative word. JOSE SANCHEZ Im still sorry. I know. now. EDDIE ROMERO At least your daughter is safe

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Jose smiles over the recognition that his daughter is free from Diablo then he closes his eyes and peacefully passes away. The NAVY SEALS SQUADRON approaches Eddie. NAVY SEALS COMMANDER You OK Eddie? EDDIE ROMERO Yeah, Im OK. Another Navy Seal SOLDIER walks up to Diablos motionless body but sees hes still alive and his eyes are open, so

Diablo Original Screenplay by Jason Wiese the soldier lifts up his RIFLE and FIRES two shots in his chest, killing him. NAVY SEALS COMMANDER OK men, lets move out before someone figures out were on this side of the border. (looks at Eddie) What are you going to do? EDDIE ROMERO (smiles) Im going home. LATER ON A news helicopter is circling the scene of the SUV explosion which is now crawling with MEXICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS and the MILITARY. FEMALE TV NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.) And there you see the scene of Diablos last stand. According to government officials, the Mexican military engaged in a brazen afternoon gunfight close to the Mexican / U.S. border with the leader of the Los Alphas drug cartel and several of his associates, leaving five cartel members dead. No one from the military was injured in this operation, however, according to officials one member of the local police force was killed while he was providing tactical support to the military as part of the operation. With the command structure of Los Alphas now decimated, this effectively ends their reign of terror within the state of Tamaulipas. Ext. QUIET, RESIDENTIAL STREET, TAMAULIPAS NIGHT

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Later that night, Eddie is walking down a quiet street by himself when he comes upon a small park where CHILDREN are playing SOCCER using makeshift goals. The children are running around, laughing, having fun and enjoying themselves.

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Eddie stands there with a smile on his face while watching them play knowing that, with the cartel marginalized, its now safe for neighborhood children to play at night without the worry of random acts of drug violence. FADE OUT