When a U.S. Army Ranger is informed about his daughter’s death at the hands of a narcissistic terrorist, he is forced to make a life altering decision.

SYNOPSIS:

DARK SIDE

The evil and malevolent aspect of one’s personality or society.

CONCEPT

Based on actual events, Dark Side is war drama in the tradition of American Sniper and Lone Survivor. A soldier suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder whose love for family and country is pushed to the edge when rather than retiring, he deploys one last time. The reality — the world of Dark Side is dramatic, even more so than in Dunkirk or Hacksaw Ridge. Which present’s the question: Do lost souls even have a home? Every character is allowed to have a sense of disappointment, and the world itself is allowed to conspire to create drama. All the elements—plot, music, dialog, situations—are fair game to be played for a thought-provoking drama.

THEME

Dark Side is about courage, risk, and resilience: the courage to battle internal daemons, the resilience to stay alive and the acceptance of change. Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior. Those who never take risks can only see other people’s failures. Every victorious warrior draws his strength from the highest source, love.

SYNOPSIS

When a U.S. Army Ranger is informed about his daughter’s death at the hands of a narcissistic terrorist, he is forced to make a life altering decision.

Staff Sergeant Robert Russo is an Army Ranger. His duties include raiding houses, direct action against the enemy, and intelligence gathering. For as long as he can remember, he’s been a big, tough kid, and it’s been his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps just as his father followed in his. Robert was raised to be strong, confident, and fearless. His father taught him how to shoot and fight from an early age.

Robert is leading a team of Rangers on a patrol in Jalalabad, Afghanistan when suddenly a rocket propelled grenade destroys the last Humvee ejecting the turret gunner into the street like an unwanted toy during a child’s tantrum. All hell breaks loose when his team finds themselves in a costly complex attack.

One year later, Robert is woken up sweating profusely from his nightmare by a loud clap of thunder, an obvious indication that something is not right. Reminded by his wife Amy that he has an appointment with his psychologist Dr. Tanner. Robert asserts “There’s nothing wrong with me. Other soldiers who serve in combat have nightmares.” After relentless coaxing by his wife, Robert bows to her wishes and elects to keep the appointment.

While talking about the nightmare with Dr. Tanner, Robert affirms that he can’t remember what happened after seeing a girl with a move toward the convoy with a russian RPG-43 Anti-Tank Grenade. Dr. Tanner responds by telling him “You can’t remember because you’ve suppressed those memories in your dark side.”

We are introduced to his oldest daughter Celine when her and a friend are looking into the window of an Army recruiting office. Her friend ask’s her if she is going to follow in her father’s footsteps and Celine confidently says no. During a tender moment, Robert is teaching his daughters how to make an omelet.

In keeping his promise to his wife, Robert submits his retirement packet to his commander Major Don Warren. However, Don tells him “I’m not sure I can sign off on this due to the middle east unraveling because of Saddam acting like a complete fucking moron.” At Celine’s high school graduation party, Amy ask’s him about his packet. To try to keep the peace, Robert tells her that it’s submitted. She then ask’s him when his retirement date is. He tells her he doesn’t know. It’s time to play the waiting game. Not happy with his answer, she replies “I thought it was a done deal?”

In the kitchen, Celine reveals to her parents that rather than attending the University of Georgia she is considering enlisting believing that Russo will be proud of her. Not getting the support she was expecting, Celine storms out.

While on the rifle range in Iraq, Celine learns that Sergeant Rich Garrett served under her father. He and Celine form a romantic relationship.

While eating lunch with friends SPC Linda Fonseca and SGT Melissa Meadows, an Iraqi Soldier enters the chow hall and stands near the salad bar. Soldiers continue to eat and go through the chow line. Just as Garrett sits down to join Celine and her friends, there is a massive explosion.

Garrett and Celine fly across the room like rag dolls. Soldiers are lying all over with some slumped in their chairs. One soldier with a half dollar sized hole in the back of his head. There’s complete pandemonium in the chow hall as soldiers render first aid to the injured. Body parts everywhere, a foot under a table, a hand laying on a chair and blood spilled all over the walk way and salad bar. Garrett watches as SGT Meadows crawls on the floor toward Celine crying and asking for help.

Feeling guilty after notification of her death and hearing that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is responsible for Celine’s death, Russo withdraws his retirement packet after learning that. That night, he tells Amy “I withdrew my retirement packet. My team’s deploying and they need me.” Amy tells him that his family needs him too. After questioning him which he loves more, the army or his family, she tells him she doesn’t think she can be an army wife anymore. She also tells him “I have to look out for Sara. You’re not.”

In Iraq, Russo and his team learn that Zarqawi will be attending a secret shura. Their mission is to snatch and grab Zarqawi. The operation to capture Zarqawi (Operation Snakehead) is launched. Rather than capturing Zarqawi, Russo and his team capture his number spiritual advisor Abu Abdul Rachman. During his interrogation, Rachman refuses to answer any questions. Russo learns that they have orders to release Rachman. Through gathered intel, it is learned that Zarqawi has a safe house in Baquba. They are briefed about Operation Sunset. Upon arrival at the compound, Robert and the rangers

engage in a fierce firefight with Zarqawi’s men. Russo becomes separated from the rest of the Rangers.

Rather than being the hunter, Russo is now the hunted. The objective changes from a capture to a recovery mission.

In his quest to stay alive, Robert befriends Sheik al-Akeem. While hiding in al-Akeems’ house, Robert watches the execution of al-Akeem. After being seen in the house, Robert must run to escape. During his escape, Robert is shot in the leg. Hiding in an apartment building, Russo looks at a photo of his family and simply say’s “I’m sorry.” After seeing an explosion, Rafferty orders the rangers to Russos’ last known position.

Barely alive, Russo raises his fist from under an opening in the concrete. The rangers find him and recover him. In the process, Victor is killed by an Iraqi Sniper. While he is recovering, Robert is told about Victor’s death. Robert starts blaming himself. After a traditional ramp ceremony for soldier’s killed in action, Robert escorts Victor’s body back to the states.

Returning home, Robert finds an empty house. During a night of heavy drinking at his favorite bar, Russo gets into a fight. After convincing from 1st Sergeant Sowa, and a chance meeting on the street with Amy and Becky, he realizes that he needs to change. He decides to finally retire and focus on himself and his family.