EXT. RUINED CITY STREET – DUSK

Smoke drifts through shattered buildings. The air crackles with tension. JAMES steps out from behind a wrecked car, tuxedo torn but still somehow stylish. AVA emerges from the opposite alley, SCAR slung over her shoulder.

JAMES Well, well, Ava... what are YOU doing here?

AVA James? Is that YOU?

JAMES W-WHa—OF COURSE IT’S ME! WHO ELSE DRESSES LIKE THIS?

AVA Yeah, I forgot. You’re the only one who goes around a firefight in a cheap tuxedo.

JAMES You have insulted me for the last time.

He pulls out his gold-finish ACR with a suppressor barrel attachment. She raises her SCAR.

AVA Well, I got the power of STYLE on my side.

JAMES You look like you just crawled out of bed.

AVA Yeah, but I got BLING.

She pulls out a set of gold dog tags.

JAMES OH DUDE, that’s so fresh!

AVA Yah, it’s fresh!

JAMES Oh bro, is that solid gold in the tags?

AVA Yup.

AVA Besides, how do you know I won’t kick your butt like I have for your entire life?

JAMES Well, the odds of me getting a win at some point in life are high... so it might as well be now.

He pulls out his ACR. She pulls out her SCAR. They both fire two shots. All miss. They drop to one knee, panting.

KEVIN (off to the side) Uh... bro, you need some help?

JAMES How long have you been standing there?

KEVIN About a minute now.

JAMES So, Ava... you still have my Desert Eagle, right?

AVA (thinks about how she gave it to his OTHER ex) Uh... nope. Must’ve dropped it.

JAMES Oh no prob. I upgraded.

He pulls out his Uzi.

AVA Why an Uzi?

JAMES I say—why NOT an Uzi?

AVA Well, your selection isn’t totally terrible. I mean honestly, I would’ve gone with a Minebea 9 SMG with a muzzle break barrel attachment.

She pulls out a Minebea 9.

JAMES Oh please. All that fancy crap ain’t nothing compared to the cool classics.

KEVIN Actually... I agree with the chick on this one.

James immediately puts a round from his ACR in Kevin’s face. Kevin drops.

JAMES Besides, an SMG that weird has to be hard to hold.

AVA Nope. It’s got a good grip.

JAMES Oh, can I feel it?

AVA Sure.

She hands it to him.

JAMES Oh, that’s really—

He pitches it behind him and points his Uzi at her.

JAMES Who’s got the power now, chick?

AVA Well, uh—DIE YOU BIG... UGLY... BUG... UGLY... uh... UGLY... TROGLADYTE!

She fires two rounds from her Glock. Misses. She pulls out the mag.

AVA Those were my last rounds.

JAMES Why do you only have two bullets?

AVA I don’t have two bullets. I have zero bullets.

JAMES Sucks for you.

He puts three rounds into her with the Uzi. She flickers blue like a hologram and disappears under a drone—eliminated.

James walks over and grabs the gold tags from her loot drop.

JAMES Oh... that’s nice.

1 answer

He admires the gold tags, turning them over in his hands with a smirk.

KEVIN (groaning from the ground) Dude, you really didn’t have to do that!

JAMES Relax, Kevin. It’s just a game.

KEVIN Yeah, but you could’ve let her win for once.

JAMES (shrugging) Not my fault she picked a fight she couldn’t finish.

He slings his Uzi over his shoulder, feeling triumphant.

KEVIN Anyway, what's the plan now?

JAMES We're gonna take down the faction HQ down the street. And then hit up that pub around the corner.

KEVIN You mean that one with the crazy bouncer?

JAMES Yep. Heard he’s got a sweet stash of drinks left over.

KEVIN You sure that'll be our only problem?

JAMES (pausing) What do you mean?

KEVIN (nervously looking around) I mean, Ava’s not going to let this slide, right?

As if on cue, a distant explosion echoes through the street. Dust rains down from the buildings.

JAMES Maybe she’ll be too busy respawning.

KA-PLOOM! A massive figure bursts through the ruined wall—AVA, now towering and fully armed, with a mechanical exosuit enhancing her strength.

AVA (booming voice) Did you really think it would be that easy?

Her eyes glow, and a menacing grin spreads across her face.

JAMES (glancing at Kevin) Uh... you better think of a new plan.

KEVIN (sweating) I thought you said we were safe!

AVA (taking a step forward) Looks like I’m back for round two!

JAMES (sighing) Guess I’m going to have to crank it up a notch.

He flicks a switch on his Uzi, transforming it into a more powerful mode.

JAMES (smirking) Now we both have some bling.

AVA (laughs) Bling isn’t going to save you this time!

They both take a stance, readying their weapons as the air buzzes with energy.

KEVIN (voice shaking) Shouldn’t we be running?

JAMES (grinning) Nah, this is way too much fun!

They open fire simultaneously, the city street erupting in a hail of bullets as dusk falls into chaotic night.