THE WILL
by Marc Adrian Reyes
CHAPTER 1 - Episode 3: "SET UP"
---
INT. UNDERGROUND TUNNEL - NIGHT
The team is TRAPPED. Dust falls from the ceiling. The dim lights flicker. DRIPPING WATER echoes through the tunnel.
CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO scans the faces of his people-fear and tension written all over them. Footsteps and distant groans echo faintly.
MARC (V.O.)
In my team, there's Jerome, Arnel, Jeff, and Justine-we've all survived ambushes before.
Sophia joined just two weeks ago... she looks calm, but I don't know if she's ready for this.
Ella's still a rookie.
And Yna... she's pregnant. I can feel her fear.
Marc steels himself, then barks out orders.
MARC
(raising his voice)
EYES ON ME! We don't know who, and what we're dealing with, so stay sharp and stay calm.
(beat, turns to Jerome)
Jerome... if we got separated, I'm counting on you to keep everyone together.
JEROME
(nods firmly)
Understood.
Marc turns to Yna. She clutches her gun tightly, trembling.
MARC
Babe, stay with me. Okay?
YNA
(holding onto his arm, voice shaking)
O-okay...
MARC
Good. Let's keep moving.
(into radio, voice echoing in the tunnel)
Sir, do you copy?
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
Go ahead. Status report.
MARC
Not good, sir.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
(confused)
What happened?
MARC
We're stuck.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
Stuck? What do you mean stuck?
MARC
We went underground. Then we heard a loud crash above us. Something collapsed.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
(alarmed)
What?! Where's Kyla?!
MARC
I don't know, sir. I'm hoping she's okay...
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
I'll send reinforcements to find her. Your team keeps pushing forward. Copy?
MARC
Copy that. Thank you, sir.
(turns radio off)
Marc exhales, gripping his rifle tighter. The faint sound of falling debris echoes around them.
---
EXT. CRASH SITE - NIGHT
Wreckage smolders under a dark, smoky sky. Twisted metal and debris litter the area.
Crackling fires and distant metal groans fill the air. LIEUTENANT KYLA GERONIMO lies unconscious, partially covered in rubble. Blood and dirt smear her uniform. Her radio crackles violently.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
(shouting)
KYLA?! KYLA, DO YOU COPY?! ANSWER ME!! GOD DAMN IT, KYLA!!
Kyla's eyes flutter open. She groans, noticing a PIECE OF METAL embedded in her leg. She screams softly.
KYLA
(gritting her teeth)
Ahhh... damn it...
She reaches for her radio, voice strained.
KYLA
(into radio)
I'm here...
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
(relieved)
Thank God! You're alive.
KYLA
(strained, wincing)
Yeah... but... there's a piece of metal in my leg.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
(panicked)
What?! Hold on! I already sent reinforcements to your location!
KYLA
(shaking her head)
No. No need. I have to keep going.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
You're injured, Kyla!
KYLA
(breathing heavily, determined)
I have to help my team.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
Kyla... can you even walk?
KYLA
(weak chuckle, forcing herself upright)
What do you think? I'm your daughter.
(grimacing, clutching her leg)
I just... have to pull this thing out.
Kyla SCREAMS as she yanks the metal from her leg. Blood pours. She grits her teeth through the pain. The wind whistles through the wreckage.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
And the others... any survivors?
KYLA
(panting, tying a strip of uniform around the wound)
No... they didn't make it...
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O., RADIO)
(struggling with emotion)
Kyla...
KYLA
(picking up her SNIPER RIFLE, limping forward)
Don't worry, Dad. I'll make it. There's Geronimo blood running in my veins.
(to herself, determined)
This is gonna be a long night...
She disappears into the smoke and shadows, moving with painful determination. The sound of distant fire crackling and metal groaning follows her.
INT. UNDERGROUND TUNNEL - NIGHT
Captain Marc SanDiego's squad moves cautiously through the dark tunnel. Flashlights cut through the darkness. Suddenly, a massive wall looms ahead, dwarfing the squad.
JEROME
Sir... look at this.
MARC
(Looks where Jerome is pointing)
A wall...
JEROME
(Looks up, eyes wide)
Sir... (sees the wall's immense height) Oh... shit.
SOPHIA
It's huge...
MARC
Ella... (fixes his gaze on the wall)
I need confirmation. Any mountain around us?
ELLA
(Checks the map)
No, sir. Negative.
JEFF
Sir... do we need to worry about a mountain here?
YNA
(Glances at the wall, thoughtful)
Because... the size of it... you could compare it to a mountain.
MARC
(Looks at Yna, nods)
Right.
(Into radio)
Sir? ...Sir, you there?
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O.)
Yes, I'm here... sorry for the wait.
MARC
It's okay, sir... Have you reached Kyla?
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O.)
Yes. She's alive and moving toward your position now.
MARC
That's good news, sir.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O.)
Is that all?
MARC
(Deep breath)
No... Can you check the virtual world map? See if there's a mountain above us?
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O.)
(Pause)
Alright, Captain... the virtual map says yes. Why do you ask?
MARC
Thank you, sir. Because... our map shows no mountain here.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O.)
(Studying maps)
That's... strange.
MARC
(Stares at the wall, tense)
Yes... it is.
YNA
Any idea why?
MARC
(Looks at his squad)
The mountain...
YNA
(Realizes, looks at Marc)
Is the lab?
SQUAD
(In unison, shocked)
What?!
The squad panics slightly. Yna steps forward, scanning the wall. She notices a button.
YNA
(Curious, presses the button)
Let's see what you do...
A loud rumble echoes through the tunnel. The wall slowly opens.
YNA
Gotcha!
MARC & OTHERS
Staring in awe
MARC
(Into radio)
Sir... my wife just opened the wall. Requesting permission to move forward.
GENERAL ALVIN (V.O.)
Alright. Go ahead... and be careful.
MARC
Sir, yes, sir.
(Walks over to Yna, taps her shoulder)
Good work, babe.
YNA
(Smiles, winks)
Anytime, babe.
The team moves forward. The wall door closes behind them. Flashlights click on, cutting through the darkness of the lab corridor.
MARC
Everyone, listen up!
(Looks at his squad)
We've finally found the lab. Open your eyes, ears, and minds. UNDERSTAND?!
SQUAD
SIR, YES, SIR!!!
MARC
Good. Let's move.
The squad proceeds carefully, guns raised. Ella taps Marc on the shoulder.
ELLA
Sir... may I ask something?
MARC
What is it?
ELLA
You said the whole mountain is the lab... but how did they build this?
YNA
(Overhearing)
There are two possibilities.
(Everyone turns to her)
One: the lab was built long time ago and got covered. Two: they built it recently and they just modified the exterior to look like a mountain.
SOPHIA
Oh... that explains everything.
MARC
(Exchanges a proud look with Yna, smiles)
Let's go. We have a long way ahead.
The squad continues deeper into the lab, tense, alert, and ready for anything.
INT. LABS CORRIDOR - PRESENT
The squad advances cautiously through the dim, echoing corridor. Their boots thud softly against the concrete floor. Weapons up, eyes sharp. Yna grips her rifle tightly, her breathing controlled but still uneven. Marc notices. He adjusts his pace, walking alongside her. Without breaking his watch on the shadows, he speaks in a calm, grounding tone.
MARC
(quietly, almost like a steady anchor)
Do you remember how we met?
YNA
(eyes forward, scanning, but a faint smirk appears)
Why bring that up now?
MARC
(soft smile, never lowering his guard)
I don't know. It just came to me.
YNA
(takes a measured breath, keeping her weapon ready)
Alright...
You and Sir Alvin were talking that day.
I was a rookie. I looked up to you -
always seeing you on the news, always hearing your name in the reports.
So when I saw you sitting at the cafeteria with Sir Alvin,
I walked up and asked for an autograph.
(a rare softness in her tone)
A few weeks later, you asked me out.
And that was it.
MARC
(grins, teasing, low voice)
I thought you admired me because I'm cute.
YNA
(side glance, flat tone - but there's warmth beneath it)
Douchebag.
(after a beat, voice steadier, stronger)
But you know what really makes you stand out?
MARC
(serious now, curious)
What?
YNA
(firm, no hesitation)
You're a good comrade.
A husband.
A leader.
It's not your looks.
It's not even your rank.
MARC
(low, steady)
Then what is it?
YNA
(meets his eyes briefly, her voice calm, resolute - a soldier's truth)
Your heart.
Your will to serve and protect lives.
Your willingness to sacrifice yourself - no matter the cost.
(beat)
That's what makes you stand out.
MARC
(holds her gaze a moment, then nods once, quietly smiling as they continue forward - her breathing steadier now.)
---
ANGLE ON - THE REST OF THE SQUAD
Walking a few steps behind, the team has overheard bits of the conversation. Sophia raises an eyebrow, curiosity burning. She quickens her pace, catching up to Jerome.
SOPHIA
(tapping his shoulder, half-grinning)
Hey, Sergeant Llaguno.
JEROME
(glances at her, guarded)
What?
SOPHIA
We just heard how Captain Marc and Ma'am Yna met.
JEROME
Yeah?
SOPHIA
So now I'm curious...
You've been working with the Captain for years.
How did you guys meet him?
She looks toward Arnel, Justine, and Jeff. They exchange glances, stifling a laugh.
JEROME
(thinking, then looks at Jeff)
Let's see...
SOPHIA & ELLA
(leaning in, eager)
Come on. Tell us.
The others chuckle. Jeff nudges Jerome.
JEFF
Go on.
JEROME
(sighs, then gives in)
Alright. Five years ago.
Me, Arnel, Jeff, and Justine were with another squad.
We were on a mission to capture a terrorist leader in Mindanao.
We were outnumbered. General Alvin tried to call reinforcements.
Before he could, Captain SanDiego showed up.
He'd just gotten off duty... but he and his team still joined us.
(a wry smile)
To be honest, Captain was a real hard-ass back then.
I still remember him saying, "Did you wear your diapers, kids?"
(Sophia and Ella laugh, covering their mouths)
And I thought - what a jerk.
But everything changed when we got ambushed.
His team fled... but Captain didn't.
(his tone grows heavier, more respectful)
He shouted, "ROOKIES, LISTEN! Don't mind those cowards! We've still got each other!"
That moment, my hate turned into respect.
I got shot - went down. The last thing I saw
was Captain carrying me out.
We were rescued, but I was badly wounded.
Months passed before I healed.
When I came back, I tried to find him.
General Alvin told me Captain was having a hard time...
still trying to accept that his own team had abandoned him.
ELLA
(leaning in)
So what did you do?
SOPHIA
Yeah. How'd you respond?
JEROME
I asked General Alvin if I could join Captain's squad.
He resisted at first... but eventually, he agreed.
JEFF
And after that, we followed.
We've been his biggest supporters since that ambush.
ARNEL & JUSTINE
(smiling, nodding in agreement)
Yeah.
ELLA
(impressed)
So that's how you all met him. Wow.
JEROME
(chuckles)
Funny thing is, Lieutenant Kyla overheard us.
She asked General Alvin if she could join too.
JUSTINE
Guess what he said.
SOPHIA & ELLA
What??
ARNEL
He said no.
Everyone breaks into quiet laughter, trying not to echo in the corridor.
JEFF
And look at her now - she's finally part of the squad.
SOPHIA
(teasing)
I think she's got a crush on Captain.
ELLA
She does.
JEROME
(raises a brow)
How do you know?
ELLA
She told me. And honestly... isn't it obvious?
JEFF
(grinning, nudges her)
How about you, Sophia? Didn't you just join us? Whose team were you with before?
SOPHIA
Major Santos.
JEROME
(shocked, almost shouting)
YOU were with him?!
SOPHIA
(taken aback, defensively)
What? You don't sound impressed.
ELLA
(half-smiling at Jerome, teasing)
He hates Major Santos's guts.
SOPHIA
Really?
ARNEL, JEFF, JUSTINE
(in unison, playful, nodding)
Yup.
SOPHIA
Why?
JEROME
(clenching his jaw, uneasy, serious)
I don't know... every time I see him, something just feels... off.
SOPHIA
(quiet, reflective, almost nodding in understanding)
Yeah... me too.
JEROME
Really? Why?
SOPHIA
(shrugs lightly, sharing a knowing smile with him)
I don't know... maybe we just have the same instincts.
JEFF
(smirks, teasing, provocative)
Or... maybe Major Santos's mother didn't love him enough.
The squad chuckles, shaking their heads as they continue down the corridor - weapons up, but spirits lifted by the shared story.
INT. LAB - NIGHT
A bank of monitors glows. FOOTSTEPS echo down metal corridors.
MEN
(urgent)
Sir - they've reached the lab.
HIGHER MEN
(into phone, calm)
Good. Everything's going according to plan. ...Yes, they're here.
MEN ON PHONE
(cold, filtered)
Good.
HIGHER MEN
(soft)
What's our next move?
MEN ON PHONE
(just business)
Wait. I'll give you the details.
HIGHER MEN
(brief)
Copy. hangs up
MEN
(curious, uneasy)
Sir - why are we doing this for one man? Why trap him?
HIGHER MEN
(smiles without warmth)
Trap? (a short, mirthless laugh) We're not just going to trap them.
MEN
(confused)
I don't- I don't understand.
HIGHER MEN
(voice hardening, quiet)
We're going to kill them.
MEN
(nervous)
May I ask why, sir?
HIGHER MEN
(looking at his men; respect tangled with bitterness)
The boss and I believe Captain Marc SanDiego will be a serious threat. Look at his record - his skill, his experience. He rose fast, fair. And his willingness to give up his life and his freedom for others... I respected him once. (beat, then dismissive) Now get back to work.
A PHONE RINGS. MEN answer.
MEN
(hushed)
Sir - the boss is calling.
HIGHER MEN
(takes phone; listens)
Copy. Understood. hangs up, (eyes flick to a monitor showing Marc's team) Seal Block 1.
MEN
(into radio, clipped)
RADIO: Seal Block 1. I repeat - SEAL BLOCK 1.
CUT TO:
INT. LAB CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Marc's squad moves through the darkness. FLASHLIGHTS cut through the fog. Every step is tense.
CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO'S SQUAD POV
INT. LAB - CORRIDOR - NIGHT
MARC'S SQUAD moves carefully through the dim corridor, rifles raised, flashlights cutting through the darkness. MARC and YNA lead the squad at the front. The others follow closely behind.
JEROME
(low, tense)
Sir... I see a large chamber up ahead.
MARC
(nods, focused)
Good. Keep it tight. Eyes sharp.
The corridor opens into a massive room - the Big Room. Pipes and machinery tower overhead. Dim emergency lights cast angular shadows across the floor, reflecting off metal surfaces. The air hums with electricity.
JEFF
(whistles softly)
This place is huge...
MARC
(urgent, panicking slightly)
Stay alert. Check every corner. Move slowly.
The squad fans out, entering the Big Room cautiously. Catwalks loom above, large vats of unknown substances line the sides, and machinery hums continuously. Every sound - footsteps, dripping pipes, clanging metal - echoes across the chamber.
MARC signals the squad to move forward. They advance a few steps when a low, mechanical whine rises from above.
SFX: DEEP METALLIC CLANK.
Without warning, a MASSIVE METAL DOOR above the corridor slams down toward the squad. The impact throws MARC slightly backward - but YNA, slightly ahead, jumps forward, narrowly avoiding the door.
The door lands behind YNA, separating her from the squad as the others move forward into the Big Room.
YNA
(shouting, determined)
Marc!
MARC
(panicking, shouting)
Stay there! I'll find you! Jerome - keep the team together! Jeff, Ella - come with me!
YNA presses against the metal door, rifle held tightly, eyes scanning for another route. MARC rushes toward the corridor, giving rapid orders, trying to maintain control despite the panic.
MARC
(to himself, anxious)
We have to get through... we have to find her.
The squad cautiously spreads out in the Big Room, flashlights cutting through the shadows, unaware of the danger YNA faces just behind the sealed door.