Diamonds and Blood

Location: Jasmine's House, Seoul ; 2011

Harlan is cooking breakfast when he gets a call. He gets his phone and sees the name.

Unidentified Caller

Harlan gulps and looks around. Once he's sure no one's around, he picks up the phone.

Harlan: Hello?

Jasmine is walking in the room. Harlan turns and sees her coming.

Harlan: Yes understood sir. Thank you.

Harlan ends the call. Jas walks to him.

Harlan: Morning! Happy Birthday sweetie!

Jasmine: Thanks. Who was that?

Harlan: Nah nobody. Just work.

Jasmine walks and gives Harlan a kiss on the cheek. She sits on the table and Harlan serves her breakfast. Jasmine takes a bite.

Jasmine: So let's go over our plan again?

Harlan: I'll pick you up at seven for dinner. Afterwards, I have a little surprise for you. You sure you will just change in the clinic?

Jasmine: Yeah. Unless you want me to go in my clinic clothes.

Harlan: Whichever you want. You look beautiful either way anyways.

Jasmine laughs and takes another bite.

_.-

Location: St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Seoul

Harlan drives Jas to the hospital. As they reach it, they both look at each other and smile.

Jasmine: See you tonight Mister.

Harlan: Likewise Ma'am.

Jasmine and Harlan kiss. After their kiss, Jas smiles and walks out the car.

Harlan waits until Jas is nowhere to be seen. He then pulls out a bag from the floor. He takes out the content, which is a light brown envelope. Harlan takes out a sheet of paper inside which reads:

Director Forster,

I, Harlan Oxford Brandle, would like to turn in my intention to resign from The Human Endangerment Prevention Agency, effective immediately.

Harlan Brandle

Signature of Approval:

Director Martin Forster

Harlan reads the letter, then smiles. He takes out his laptop, and types it word per word, then sends it to Director Forster.

Harlan then scrolls through his email, and opens one with the subject "Target to Eliminate"

Harlan opens it to find a bald man with a beard by the name of Shaun Evans. Harlan closes it and puts his laptop back in the bag. He puts the letter back in the envelope and into the bag. Harlan then makes sure again that Jas isn't around as he opens a compartment to get a small box wrapped as a present. He slips the red box into his bag and drives off.

_.-

At 7pm, Harlan in a dark purple suit, red bowtie, and a bouquet of roses,  go up the stairs of St. Elizabeth's Hospital. He enters the waiting room to Jas' clinic, takes one last look in the mirror. The nurse wishes him good luck and Harlan gives her a rose. Jasmine then comes out of her office, hair fixed, lips with lipstick, make up on, and in a red dinner dress. The two greet each other with a kiss and walk off.

_.-

Location: Restaurant, Seoul

Harlan and Jas drive off to a restaurant. Harlan helps get Jas out the car and leads her into the restaurant.

The two take a seat and a waiter takes their order. Jas looks out to see it raining heavily outside.

Jasmine: So, what surprise do you have for me tonight?

Harlan laughs and takes a sip of champagne.

Harlan: If I tell you, I'd be spoiling the surprise.

Jasmine smiles. She then sees something behind Harlan. She gasps.

Jasmine: Oh my god! Shaun what are you doing here?

Jasmine stands and hugs the man. As Harlan turns, Jasmine introduces him.

Jasmine: Harlan, meet Shaun Evans.

Harlan looks at Shaun to see the same man he saw on the "Target to Eliminate" email. Harlan is shaken.

Shaun: Hello there!

Harlan goes to shakes his hand.

Shaun: And who might you be?

Harlan: The name's Brandle. Harlan Brandle.

Shaun: Brandle! Jas told me a lot about you!

Harlan: Did she?

Shaun (to Harlan): Of course she did.

Shaun (to Jasmine): Look Jas, this has been a wonderful surprise. I'll see you at work I guess?

Jasmine: Sure!

Jas hugs Shaun. Shaun greets Jas a happy birthday, then shakes Harlan's hand one more time.

Harlan: Hey Shaun.

Shaun: Yeah?

Harlan pats him on the shoulder.

Harlan: Nice to meet you.

Harlan gives him a fake smile. Shaun then walks out of the restaurant. Jasmine sits down, but Harlan stays still, eyeing Shaun.

Jasmine: Harlan, everything ok?

Harlan looks at Jas.

Harlan: I left something in the car. Be right back.

Harlan walks away from Jas. He walks out of the restaurant and into the stormy rainy night. Harlan gets out his phone and tracks a tracker he implanted on Shaun. Harlan goes in his car, opens his compartment to get a handgun and a silencer. Harlan places the gun in his belt. Harlan walks a few more blocks until he reaches an alley.

Harlan hides behind a garbage chute. He hears Shaun talking to another man.

Shaun: C'mon. I got the good stuff, now give me the money.

Harlan takes a peek and sees Shaun selling a pack of drugs. Harlan bites his lips as he takes out his gun. He screws in the silencer.

Harlan puts the silencer on the handgun and stands. He aims the gun at Shaun but Shaun notices him. Shaun then pulls the buyer to shield him as Harlan shoots at Shaun. The buyer takes the bullets. Shaun shoots at Harlan who ducks behind the chute again. Harlan takes off his watch and twists it. He slides it towards Shaun and smoke comes out of the watch. Shaun coughs and runs away for the smoke only to get punched by Harlan.

Harlan and Shaun get into a brutal brawl. Harlan punches him then kicks him in the guts. Shaun then punches Harlan and throws him to the wall. Shaun takes out a knife and tries to stab Harlan. But Harlan disarms Shaun with ease. Shaun however slams Harlan into a window, breaking the glass. Harlan falls and Shaun punches Harlan over and over again.

With each hit, Harlan just gets bloodier and bloodier. Harlan moves his arms around, finding something. He then finds a piece of glass, he grabs it and cuts the man's arm. Shaun screams and Harlan slams his fist into his face. Shaun sits down defeated. Harlan picks up the gun, aims it at Shaun and it about to pull the trigger when-

Jasmine: HARLAN!

Harlan turns and sees a scared Jasmine surrounded by cops. Harlan freezes in shock and fear, not at the cops, but at Jas seeing him. The true Harlan.

The cops turn to arrest Harlan but Harlan shows them his T.H.E.P.A. badge.

Harlan: Harlan Brandle, agent of T.H.E.P.A.

The cops back off, and arrest Shaun, leaving Harlan and Jasmine alone in the strong cold rainy night.

_.-

Location: Jasmine's House, South Korea ; Five Years Ago

Jasmine and Harlan go in. Harlan is really beaten up. Blood on his face, fist and clothes.

Harlan rushes to the kitchen, gets a glass of scotch and drinks.

Harlan notices Jasmine watching him, angrily. Harlan slams the glass on the table.

Harlan: God damn it Jas I already told you. HE WAS A-

Jasmine: SCREW WHAT HE WAS! REALLY HARLAN? REALLY? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN JUST KILL A MAN LIKE THAT? WHO ARE YOU?

Harlan is about to answer when his phone rings.

Jasmine: Put it down.

Harlan: I gotta-

Jasmine: PUT DOWN YOUR GOD DAMN PHONE OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL SMASH IT TO BITS.

Harlan drops his phone.

Jasmine: Who are you?

Harlan: That's classi-

Jasmine: OH STOP WITH THE BULLSHIT, ANSWER ME!

Harlan gulps.

Harlan: I am an agent of T.H.E.P.A., The Human Endangerment Prevention Agency. I was sent here one year ago to track, find and kill Shaun Evans. I was to use any means necessary to get to him.

Jasmine scoffs.

Jasmine: So what were you gonna do after? Once you kill him?

Harlan: My instructions were to leave immediately after his assassination.

Jasmine scoffs. She wipes a tear.

Jasmine: So is this what this was? Really? Was I just a means to an end?

Harlan: Jasmine I-

Jasmine: SHUT UP JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP HARLAN! EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF THAT MOUTH OF YOURS IS JUST BULLSHIT. EVERYTHING IS JUST BULLSHIT.

Jasmine starts crying.

Jasmine: I gave you EVERYTHING. I gave you everything I could have given you. I gave you my love. AND THIS IS HOW I'M REPAID?! BY BEING YOUR DRIVER TO YOUR NEXT TARGET? SO ALL THIS WAS FAKE? IT WAS FAKE YOU SON OF A BITCH? DID ALL OF THIS MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?!

Jasmine gets a glass and throws it at Harlan. She misses but a shard of glass cuts Harlan. Jas, who is overwhelmed with negative and depressing emotions, just breaks down. Harlan walks over to her but she pushes him away.

Jasmine: Get out.

Harlan: Jas I-

Jasmine: Harlan just get out.

Harlan: Jasmine I-

Jasmine: GET OUT!

Harlan nods. He walks away from Jas. Jas notices Buddy come out and follow Harlan. Jas wipes a tear and follows Harlan.

_.-

Jasmine runs out the door and sees Harlan opening the door to his car.

Jasmine: HARLAN!

Harlan just takes one look at her, then gets in the car and drives off. Jasmine runs towards Harlan but Harlan drives off immediately.

Jas watches as Harlan drives away, leaving Jas alone.

Jasmine sits down on her porch, alone, with only the barking sound of Buddy accompanying her on this heartbreaking night.