KISS KISS GOODBYE
Episode 5: “The Moment Everything Breaks”
FADE IN:
INT. HOTEL BALLROOM – NIGHT (FLASHFORWARD: 2 MONTHS INTO THE FUTURE)
The New Year’s Eve party is no longer vibrant.
The energy has shifted. The music plays on, but no one is dancing. No one is drinking. Instead—a stunned silence fills the room.
Near the balcony doors, Danny stands frozen, his eyes locked on something off-screen.
Ava pushes through the crowd, breathless. She stops when she sees it—
A group of people stand around a motionless body.
The victim.
We don’t see their face. Only an outstretched hand, limp against the polished floor.
Julian’s voice cuts through the silence.
JULIAN
(low, shaken)
Call someone. Now.
People move. Someone pulls out a phone.
Ava doesn’t. She just stares.
Then, ever so slightly, she shakes her head.
She knows.
A single champagne glass rolls across the floor.
CUT TO BLACK.
TITLE CARD: KISS KISS GOODBYE
INT. PRESTIGIOUS CONSULTING FIRM – DAY (PRESENT DAY)
The office moves like a well-oiled machine. Everyone looks busy, but beneath the surface—tension is thick.
Danny enters, stopping when he sees Ava and Julian in a heated conversation by her desk.
Julian’s voice is low but sharp.
JULIAN
(quiet, firm)
I need to know if you’re in or out.
Ava’s arms are crossed. Her face unreadable.
AVA
You still think this is a choice?
Julian exhales, looking away.
Danny steps forward.
DANNY
Am I missing something?
A beat. Then, Ava grabs a folder and hands it to him.
DANNY
(reading)
What am I looking at?
Julian’s jaw tightens.
AVA
A list of people who should be loyal to us. But someone isn’t.
Danny scans the names. His face shifts when he lands on one.
DANNY
(scoffs)
You have to be kidding me.
Julian doesn’t say anything.
Ava watches him carefully.
DANNY
(flat)
This just screams scandal.
No one disagrees.
INT. PARKING GARAGE – NIGHT
A car door slams shut.
Sophia walks toward the elevator, her phone in hand.
She dials a number. It rings. Once. Twice.
Then—someone answers.
SOPHIA
(quiet)
We have a problem.
A beat. She listens.
Her face doesn’t change, but her grip on the phone tightens.
SOPHIA
No. I don’t think you understand. It’s already unraveling.
Silence. Then—a voice responds, too low for us to hear.
Sophia exhales. Then—
SOPHIA
(low)
If this comes back to me, I’ll make sure it takes you down too.
She hangs up.
The elevator doors open.
Sophia steps inside, her expression unreadable.
INT. BAR – NIGHT
Danny and Ava sit across from each other, drinks untouched.
Danny shakes his head, running a hand through his hair.
DANNY
I still don’t buy it.
Ava watches him.
AVA
Doesn’t matter if we buy it. It’s happening.
Danny exhales, leaning back.
DANNY
(scoffs)
You think Julian’s clean in all this?
A beat.
AVA
I think nobody’s clean.
A heavy silence.
DANNY
(flat)
So what do we do?
Ava stirs her drink.
AVA
We wait.
Danny frowns.
DANNY
For what?
She looks up, her expression unreadable.
AVA
For the moment when everything breaks.
A pause.
Danny exhales, shaking his head.
DANNY
(smirks)
That just screams scandal.
Ava lifts her drink.
AVA
(toasts)
Welcome to the game.
They clink glasses.
EXT. CITY STREETS – NIGHT
Julian walks alone, phone in hand.
He types out a message:
"We need to talk. Tonight."
He hesitates. Then—deletes it.
He pockets his phone and keeps walking.
FADE TO BLACK.
FLASHFORWARD SCENE (FLASHFORWARD: 2 MONTHS INTO THE FUTURE)
The New Year’s Eve party is frozen in shock. The body lies motionless on the ballroom floor.
We finally see the victim’s face—
SOPHIA CALDWELL.
Her lifeless eyes stare at the ceiling. A thin trail of blood from a head wound. Her hand is still clutching a champagne glass.
Julian doesn’t move. Ava can’t breathe. Danny exhales sharply.
The firm’s queen is dead.
FADE TO BLACK.