TITLE of Script: SID

Author NAME: DAVID MINTZER
Type of screenplay: TV PILOT
Four years in the future, crime in the United States is at unprecedented levels. A new government is elected on the promise of putting an end to unrest. In a prison, a much-feared convict known as SID is summoned to the visiting room on his final day of a three-year sentence. He is met by two agents, the laid-back and unruly MAX and the clean-cut, highly anxious AGENT STONE, who inform the murderous brute that they know his history from his files; that his name is Ivan Drozdov, the he earned his nickname from dealing acid, that he has three black-belts, military training and has killed four people in prison during his time there. The agents tell Sid what they know about his family's links to criminal underworld in Russia and Colombia, prompting him to react furiously – or so it seems – by placing Agent Stone in a fierce headlock. This is just Sid's sense of humor, however, and he soon releases his victim's neck, allowing the flustered agents to continue with their pitch. They tell Sid that they are there on government orders to make Sid an unusual offer; many crimes in the state, from drug dealing to prostitution, are to be legalized and only violent crimes such as murder will be outlawed. With his links to criminal organizations, Sid is to act as a paid intermediary to enable the government to legalize organized crime, but on their terms. Sid baulks at the idea of being both a cop and a rat and declines their offer. The agents give him their contact details in the event that he changes his mind. Agent Stone suggests looking at other options, but Max remains confident that they will get Sid on board.

Sid is released from prison and is met at the gates by his wife, NIKKI. He tells Nikki of his encounter with the agents and she encourages him to go along with their offer, maybe even make more demands in return. Sid considers this. Nikki informs him that his uncle, CARLOS, is wanting to get in touch with him urgently. After visiting his disabled young son at home and seeing family, who tell Sid that his mother has organized a party for him, Sid meets with Carlos and is surprised that he already knows about the government offer made to him. Carlos tells Sid that he needs someone taking out; a man called ANGEL, Carlos' brother-in-law who has been working as an informer to the police and has gotten Carlos in trouble for tax evasion. Sid reluctantly agrees and must take Carlos' son JUNIOR with him, but first he must pay a visit to HECTOR, a Puerto Rican bar landlord who owes Sid $40,000 as a reward for killing three people in prison. When Hector refuses to pay up, Sid batters one of his henchmen and leaves him for dead. Hector gives him the money owed, but this doesn't stop Sid from killing a second henchman on his way out by stabbing him in the neck.

On the drive to the club where ANGEL is a DJ, Sid receives an angry call from his mother asking why he is not yet at the party. He promises that he and Junior will be there, but he knows that needs to kill Angel first. Arriving at the club, he shoots a security guard in the head before slaying Angel with a knife to the stomach and shooting a witness dead. Police arrive on scene and Sid is back in prison. He calls Agent Stone and he and Max agree to meet him to agree terms for their deal. Stone and Max have now arranged for Sid's family – Junior, sister MARY brother BENNY – to come on board to keep him in check. Sid is released from prison but cannot stop himself from murdering the prison guard on his way out.