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Have At It

Logline: Last call. First shot. Four lives. No mercy. Javian loved him. Mateo used him. Isela betrayed him. Now Reyes is back in their Miami restaurant — sunglasses at midnight, bourbon on his breath — and ready to settle the score. He doesn’t beg. He doesn’t explain. He just says one thing: “Have at it.

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NOIR just went up a Notch...Hope Miami is ready...

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The Characters

JAVIAN: 42, Cuban. A brooding chef with a past as rich as his recipes. Proud, wounded, and still in love.

MATEO: 35, thick, tattooed Miami native with a Yankee edge. Rough, reactive, always looking for a fight—or a way out.

ISELA: 29, Colombian. Elegant, lethal, whispers of Escobar in her walk. High heels, higher stakes.

REYES: 40, the ghost that haunts them all. Charismatic, cold, and captivating. Sunglasses at midnight. Walks in like a bullet

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RAMON:36–42. Ethnicity: Latinx (Cuban/Caribbean ancestry preferred) You don't call Ramon, He shows up to collect.  Ramon doesn't chase.  He waits.

HAVE AT IT

LOGLINE: In the neon-lit underbelly of Miami, a grizzled cop, a rogue agent, and a ruthless cartel enforcer collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where loyalty is a currency and betrayal is the only constant.

 

SYNOPSIS: In the heart of Miami, Officer Marino, a seasoned cop with a cynical view of the city, finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and danger. The story unfolds with the mysterious Operation LOBO NEGRO, a covert mission involving the FBI's experimental surveillance AI, SN0W_WHT. As Marino patrols the streets, he crosses paths with a cast of characters embroiled in a high-stakes game of power and survival. At the center is Ramon, a former operative turned rogue, known as the Pitbull, who is on a mission to reclaim what he believes is his. As the night unfolds, alliances shift, and the true nature of each character is revealed. Isela, a cunning agent, navigates the treacherous waters of loyalty and ambition, while Reyes, a charismatic but dangerous figure, seeks to settle old scores. The tension escalates as the FBI closes in, led by the enigmatic Carlos, who has his own agenda. In a city where mirrors remember what men forget, the line between predator and prey blurs, leading to a climactic showdown where only the most cunning will survive. As dawn breaks, the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, each with their own scars and secrets, in a world where the past is never truly buried.

 

97 pages. 

 

-In the labyrinthine world of "HAVE AT IT," a screenplay penned by Dennis J Manning, the narrative unfolds with a complexity that mirrors the intricate web of deceit and power struggles within the underbelly of Miami's criminal underworld. The story is a tapestry woven with threads of betrayal, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of control, set against the backdrop of a city that never sleeps, but rather sweats under the weight of its own secrets.
 

-The script's structure is a masterclass in tension-building, with each scene meticulously crafted to heighten the stakes. The dialogue crackles with intensity, revealing the characters' motivations and fears with each exchange. The interplay between Ramon and Carlos is particularly compelling, as their shared history and mutual distrust create a dynamic that is both volatile and captivating.
 

-In summary, "HAVE AT IT" is a screenplay that masterfully blends elements of noir, thriller, and drama to create a narrative that is as complex as it is compelling. Dennis J Manning's deft hand at crafting dialogue and building tension ensures that the audience is kept on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The characters, each with their own motivations and secrets, are brought to life with a depth and nuance that elevates the script beyond a simple crime drama. In the end, "HAVE AT IT" is a story about the choices we make and the shadows we cast, set against the backdrop of a city that never forgets.

 

-The screenplay stands out primarily because it uniquely fuses the classic elements of film noir and underworld crime with cutting-edge digital motifs and surveillance technology. While themes of betrayal and gritty urban violence have been explored many times, the introduction of a computerized entity, SN0W_WHT.sys, as a quasi-character and narrative driver is both inventive and refreshing. The interplay between old-fashioned gangster rituals and modern procedural technology creates a landscape that feels both familiar and entirely new.
 

-The screenplay’s conflict is its beating heart, driving the narrative through explosive power struggles and simmering internal battles. At the external level, the script pits hardened law enforcement agents against a deadly international criminal network, creating a palpable tension that intensifies as each encounter unfolds. This classic confrontation between order and chaos is reinterpreted through a modern lens, with high-tech surveillance systems and covert digital communications adding layers of uncertainty and urgency. The violent clashes, set in gritty urban backdrops and dimly lit bars, are not merely physical altercations but are imbued with ideological and personal stakes.
 

-The dialogue in the script is one of its most striking features, serving as a vehicle for character definition, thematic exposition, and atmospheric immersion. Every spoken line is carefully crafted to reflect the gritty, stylized world the characters inhabit. The conversations oscillate between terse, hard-edged exchanges and longer, introspective monologues that reveal personal backstories and internal conflicts. In many scenes, the dialogue is used as a narrative shorthand, conveying complex ideas about loyalty, betrayal, and the inherent corruption of power in just a few sharply delivered sentences.

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