Battle Lines Drawn

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Scene 1: De Luca Mansion – Late Night

(Everyone is startled by the sudden sound of gunshots echoing throughout the mansion. Panic ripples through the group as they quickly realize the severity of the situation.)

Cam: (urgently) Everyone, get to the basement. Now!

(The family and friends quickly gather, ushering each other toward the basement. In the confusion, Ebba’s eyes widen as she spots her young niece, Valentina, who has been visiting her grandmother M, wounded and clutching her side.)

Ebba: (screaming) Valentina! Oh my god, no!

(Ebba scoops up Valentina carefully and rushes her to a hidden underground room equipped for medical treatment for family emergencies. The tension thickens as she tries to stop the bleeding.)

---

Scene 2: Basement

(Taylor and Xander work quickly to gather the younger kids and usher them to safety. Taylor kneels beside Emily, Noelle, and Harper, his voice soothing as he tries to keep them calm.)

Taylor: (gently) Stay close to me, girls. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.

(Xander, meanwhile, rounds up the boys, Logan and Jayden, who cling to him as he shields them from the chaos.)

Xander: (firmly) You boys stick with me, alright? Uncle Xander’s got you.

(The children nod, trusting their protectors as they huddle together, fear evident in their small faces.)

---

Scene 3: Upstairs Hallway

(Cameron is pacing anxiously, putting the pieces together in his mind. The situation feels all too familiar, and his heart sinks as he realizes who may be behind the attack.)

Cameron: (grimly) It has to be them… Ethan and Jackson. They’ve come to take revenge for Archie.

(Sameer, Cameron’s boyfriend and Diana’s other father, arrives on the scene, his presence calming Cameron slightly. He gently places a hand on Cameron’s shoulder.)

Sameer: (softly) Cam, you need to keep calm. We’ve been through worse, remember? Diana needs you strong right now.

(Cameron takes a deep breath, letting Sameer’s calmness soothe him. Diana, standing nearby, tries to steady herself as well, repeating her father’s words in her mind.)

Sameer: (to Diana) Baby, just like Daddy taught you. Stay strong and focused. We’re here together.

(Diana nods, holding back tears as she steels herself for what’s to come.)

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Scene 4: Basement – Strategy Discussion

(Austin, Raven, Nathan, and Amelia gather in one corner of the basement. Austin’s face is set in anger, his fists clenched as he paces back and forth, struggling to control his rage.)

Austin: (furious) They hurt Valentina. I’m not going to let them get away with this.

(Raven, equally enraged, pulls out her gun, her eyes flashing with determination as she readies herself to fight back.)

Raven: Let’s end this. I’m not letting anyone hurt our family.

(Just as she’s about to move, Amelia steps in, placing a firm hand on Raven’s arm to hold her back.)

Amelia: (calmly) Raven, now’s not the time. Charging out there without a plan will only make things worse. We need to think this through.

(Nathan stands beside Austin, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.)

Nathan: (quietly) Aussie, I know how you feel, but we have to be smart about this. We’ll make them pay, but not like this.

(Austin grits his teeth, reluctantly nodding, his anger simmering beneath the surface.)

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Scene 5: Underground Room – Medical Treatment

(Ebba is doing her best to tend to Valentina’s wounds, her hands shaking slightly as she applies pressure to stop the bleeding. M is by her side, her face pale but focused as she tries to comfort Ebba.)

M: (whispering) She’s strong, Ebba. Just like her mom and dad. She’ll make it through this.

(Ebba nods, tears streaming down her face as she works to stabilize Valentina. Meanwhile, Valentina’s parents, Henry and Kate, have been informed of the situation. They’re scared but are too far away to make it in time. M stays strong for her family, offering a comforting presence amidst the chaos.)

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Scene 6: Basement – Group Huddles

(Delia and Bryan stand together, their faces tense as they try to make sense of the situation.)

Delia: (thinking out loud) We need to figure out why they’re doing this now. It doesn’t make sense unless…

Bryan: (nodding) Unless they’ve been planning this from the start. Everything leads back to Ethan and Jackson… they’ve been orchestrating this for revenge.

(Hunter paces nearby, his fists clenched as he tries to control the anger building inside him. He’s torn between staying with the group and charging upstairs to fight.)

Hunter: (muttering to himself) I swear, if they come anywhere near Diana or the kids...

(Kassie is visibly panicked, her hands shaking as she watches the chaos around her. Carmella moves to her side, placing a comforting hand on her aunt’s shoulder.)

Carmella: (softly) Don’t worry, Auntie Kass. Mr. Hernandez is going to take care of everything. We’ll all be safe.

(Kassie nods, trying to calm herself as she trusts in Cameron and the rest of the family.)

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Scene 7: Basement – Final Moments

(The group huddles together, everyone on edge as they await the next move. Sameer stays close to Cameron, his steady presence keeping him grounded, while Diana remains at her father’s side, determined but frightened.)

Cameron: (muttering) Ethan and Jackson won’t get away with this. They have no idea who they’re messing with.

Sameer: (firmly) We’ll stand our ground, Cam. Whatever they throw at us, we’re ready.

(As everyone prepares for the inevitable confrontation, the basement falls silent, a tense calm settling over them as they brace themselves for whatever comes next.)

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