THE LAST DELIVERY
A Feature Screenplay
Written by Johnny Mahan
Genre: Thriller / Crime / Action
⸻
FADE IN:
EXT. INTERSTATE 81 — VIRGINIA — NIGHT
Rain lashes the highway.
A WHITE DELIVERY TRUCK moves through the darkness.
No markings.
No escort.
Just another truck among thousands.
INT. DELIVERY TRUCK — MOVING —...
Expand postTHE LAST DELIVERY
A Feature Screenplay
Written by Johnny Mahan
Genre: Thriller / Crime / Action
⸻
FADE IN:
EXT. INTERSTATE 81 — VIRGINIA — NIGHT
Rain lashes the highway.
A WHITE DELIVERY TRUCK moves through the darkness.
No markings.
No escort.
Just another truck among thousands.
INT. DELIVERY TRUCK — MOVING — NIGHT
DANNY MERCER, 39, drives.
Tired eyes.
Unshaven.
A man who looks like life has been charging him interest.
His phone vibrates.
He glances down.
BANK ALERT: PAYMENT DECLINED.
Danny closes it.
Another vibration.
RENT PAYMENT OVERDUE.
DANNY
Yeah. I know.
A warning light appears.
Danny looks at it.
DANNY
Don’t.
The light remains.
DANNY
I’m serious.
The truck shudders.
Danny grips the wheel.
His phone rings.
MOM.
He answers.
DANNY
Hey.
INTERCUT — INT. MARGARET MERCER’S KITCHEN — NIGHT
MARGARET MERCER, 67, sits at her kitchen table.
MARGARET
You’re driving?
DANNY
That’s usually how trucks work.
MARGARET
Smart mouth.
DANNY
Runs in the family.
She smiles.
MARGARET
You coming Sunday?
Danny hesitates.
DANNY
Yeah.
MARGARET
Promise?
DANNY
Promise.
MARGARET
You said that last Sunday.
DANNY
This time I mean it.
MARGARET
You always mean it.
Danny looks through the windshield.
The rain gets heavier.
MARGARET
You sound tired.
DANNY
I’m fine.
MARGARET
You’re always fine.
Danny smiles.
DANNY
I’ll see you Sunday.
They hang up.
Danny looks in his side mirror.
A BLACK SUV follows several car lengths behind.
Danny doesn’t notice.
The SUV’s headlights disappear behind a passing tractor-trailer.
⸻
EXT. INDUSTRIAL SHIPPING FACILITY — 4:03 A.M.
Danny’s truck approaches a security gate.
A CAMERA tracks it.
The gate opens.
Danny enters.
The gate closes behind him.
⸻
INT. SHIPPING FACILITY — CONTINUOUS
Huge.
Cold.
Almost empty.
A man waits beneath fluorescent lights.
WADE KELLER, 53.
Clean-cut.
Calm.
Forgettable.
Wade checks a tablet.
WADE
Mercer?
DANNY
That’s me.
WADE
You’re early.
DANNY
That’s generally preferred.
WADE
Not always.
Danny looks around.
DANNY
Where’s everybody?
WADE
Sleeping.
DANNY
Lucky them.
Wade hands him paperwork.
WADE
Sign here.
Danny reads.
DANNY
“Industrial equipment.”
WADE
Correct.
DANNY
What kind?
WADE
Equipment.
Danny looks up.
DANNY
You always this helpful?
WADE
Only before sunrise.
Danny signs.
A FORKLIFT approaches.
Several sealed containers are loaded.
Danny watches one pallet.
Its outer label has been covered by another.
DANNY
That one get relabeled?
The forklift operator, LEN, doesn’t look at him.
LEN
Probably.
DANNY
Probably?
LEN
You want it loaded?
Danny looks at Wade.
Wade nods.
Danny shrugs.
His phone vibrates.
He checks it.
BONUS PAYMENT: $1,800
Danny stares.
That’s enough to fix several problems.
DANNY
Let’s load it.
⸻
EXT. SHIPPING FACILITY — LATER
Danny climbs into the truck.
He starts the engine.
The gate opens.
Danny pulls onto the road.
Wade watches.
He takes out another phone.
WADE
He’s moving.
VOICE (V.O.)
Does he know?
WADE
No.
VOICE (V.O.)
Keep it that way.
Wade watches the truck disappear.
VOICE (V.O.)
If he stops—
WADE
He won’t.
Wade hangs up.
His face changes.
For the first time, we see the man beneath the mask.
He’s afraid.
⸻
ACT ONE
INT. DELIVERY TRUCK — DAWN
Danny drives.
Coffee in one hand.
Manifest in the other.
Destination:
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Danny checks the listed cargo weight.
He looks at the truck’s gauges.
Then back at the paperwork.
DANNY
That’s not right.
He folds the manifest.
Keeps driving.
⸻
EXT. REST AREA — MORNING
Danny parks.
He steps out.
Opens the cargo doors.
Rows of sealed containers.
Nothing obviously unusual.
He notices one damaged seal.
Danny takes a photograph.
He doesn’t touch it.
His phone rings.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
Danny answers.
DANNY
Hello?
Silence.
DANNY
Who’s this?
VOICE (V.O.)
Close the doors.
Danny looks toward the cargo.
VOICE (V.O.)
And keep driving.
DANNY
Who is this?
CLICK.
The line dies.
Danny closes the cargo doors.
He gets back into the cab.
A text arrives.
DON’T CALL THE POLICE.
Danny stares.
Another text:
WE KNOW WHERE YOUR MOTHER LIVES.
Danny’s face goes pale.
⸻
INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE — WASHINGTON, D.C. — MORNING
A wall of monitors.
Maps.
Traffic cameras.
Federal databases.
SPECIAL AGENT ELENA VALE, 42, studies a photograph of Danny.
Beside her—
MARCUS REED, 31, analyst.
MARCUS
We have the truck.
VALE
Driver?
Danny’s information appears.
MARCUS
Danny Mercer. Thirty-nine. Independent contractor.
VALE
Criminal history?
MARCUS
Clean.
VALE
Military?
MARCUS
No.
VALE
Federal employment?
MARCUS
No.
Vale studies Danny’s photograph.
VALE
Then why is someone following him?
Marcus looks at another screen.
MARCUS
That’s what we’re trying to figure out.
VALE
Try harder.
⸻
EXT. HIGHWAY — MORNING
Danny drives.
The black SUV appears again.
Danny notices.
He changes lanes.
The SUV follows.
Danny takes an exit.
The SUV takes it.
Danny’s breathing changes.
His phone rings.
UNKNOWN.
He ignores it.
A text appears.
YOU WERE WARNED.
Danny looks in the mirror.
The SUV remains behind him.
⸻
EXT. GAS STATION — DAY
Danny pulls in.
He locks the truck.
Enters.
INT. GAS STATION — CONTINUOUS
A television plays.
NEWS ANCHOR (TV)
Federal officials have increased security around the Washington metropolitan area following what sources describe as a potential national-security concern—
Danny watches.
CASHIER
Coffee?
DANNY
Please.
The cashier pours.
Outside—
The black SUV arrives.
Danny sees it through the window.
Two men step out.
RAY HOLT, 45.
COLE, 34.
Ray enters.
RAY
Mr. Mercer?
Danny turns.
RAY
Federal investigators.
Ray displays credentials.
DANNY
What agency?
RAY
We need you to come with us.
DANNY
Why?
COLE
Sir, this is a national-security matter.
DANNY
What agency?
Ray steps closer.
RAY
Let’s not do this here.
Cole reaches inside his jacket.
Danny runs.
A GUNSHOT.
Glass explodes.
People scream.
Danny dives behind a display.
Ray shouts.
RAY
MERCER!
Danny crawls toward a rear door.
Another shot.
He bursts outside.
Cole catches him.
Danny slams the truck door into Cole.
Cole collapses.
Danny climbs inside.
Starts the engine.
The truck tears away.
⸻
INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE — DAY
Vale watches security footage.
MARCUS
Those weren’t our people.
VALE
No.
MARCUS
Their credentials were authentic.
Vale looks at him.
VALE
Whose credentials?
Marcus hesitates.
MARCUS
That’s the problem.
⸻
INT. DELIVERY TRUCK — MOVING — DAY
Danny’s hands shake.
His phone rings.
He answers.
DANNY
Who are you?
VALE (V.O.)
Elena Vale. FBI.
DANNY
Somebody just tried to kill me.
VALE
I know.
DANNY
Then send the police.
VALE
Danny, listen.
DANNY
I’m listening.
VALE
We believe your cargo contains military-grade explosives.
Danny stops breathing.
DANNY
How much?
VALE
Enough to cause catastrophic damage.
DANNY
To what?
VALE
We don’t know.
Danny looks at the highway sign.
WASHINGTON — 72 MILES.
DANNY
You’re telling me I’m carrying enough explosives to destroy Washington?
VALE
I’m telling you we don’t know what the target is.
DANNY
That’s worse.
VALE
Yes.
Danny stares ahead.
DANNY
What do you want me to do?
VALE
Don’t stop.
DANNY
Why?
VALE
Because somebody wants you to.
Danny looks into the mirror.
The black SUV is gone.
⸻
ACT TWO
EXT. RURAL VIRGINIA DINER — AFTERNOON
Danny’s truck sits outside.
INT. DINER — AFTERNOON
Danny sits across from Vale.
He studies her.
DANNY
Show me again.
Vale produces credentials.
Danny examines them.
DANNY
Those can be fake.
VALE
Absolutely.
DANNY
That’s reassuring.
VALE
You don’t have to trust me.
DANNY
Then why am I here?
VALE
Because you have something the people behind this don’t.
DANNY
What?
VALE
A reason to survive.
Danny doesn’t understand.
VALE
They built this operation around people who don’t know each other.
DANNY
Why?
VALE
So nobody can tell the whole story.
Danny looks toward the window.
DANNY
The driver before me.
Vale’s expression changes.
VALE
You know about him?
DANNY
No.
VALE
He died six hours before your pickup.
Danny goes still.
VALE
You were inserted into his route.
DANNY
Why me?
VALE
Because you’re invisible.
Danny absorbs that.
DANNY
That’s a hell of a thing to hear.
VALE
It’s why they chose you.
⸻
INT. FBI COMMAND CENTER — NIGHT
Marcus works through records.
MARCUS
Three shell companies.
VALE
Owners?
MARCUS
Nominees.
VALE
Government connections?
MARCUS
Some.
VALE
How many?
MARCUS
Enough.
Vale watches the screen.
MARCUS
We also found something else.
He displays a security record.
MARCUS
Someone accessed a secure federal system using your credentials.
Vale freezes.
VALE
When?
MARCUS
Twenty-two minutes ago.
VALE
Where?
MARCUS
Washington.
Vale realizes.
VALE
They’re inside.
⸻
EXT. WOODED HIGHWAY — NIGHT
Danny drives.
Vale sits beside him.
Police lights appear ahead.
DANNY
Friend or enemy?
VALE
Don’t stop.
DANNY
That’s not an answer.
A vehicle RAMS the truck.
Danny loses control.
The truck crashes into a ditch.
Silence.
Airbag smoke.
Danny opens his eyes.
VALE
Danny!
DANNY
I’m here.
Gunfire erupts.
Vale pulls him down.
VALE
Get out.
They crawl through the passenger side.
Run into the woods.
⸻
EXT. WOODS — NIGHT
Danny and Vale run.
Flashlights behind them.
DANNY
Who are these people?
VALE
I don’t know.
DANNY
You keep saying that.
VALE
Because I don’t lie.
They reach a fallen tree.
Stop.
Vale listens.
Nothing.
DANNY
They’re not chasing us.
VALE
No.
DANNY
Why?
Vale looks back toward the road.
VALE
They’re chasing the truck.
Danny understands.
DANNY
The truck isn’t the target.
VALE
I’m starting to believe it isn’t.
⸻
INT. ABANDONED HOUSE — NIGHT
Danny and Vale hide.
Marcus calls.
MARCUS (V.O.)
We found the route pattern.
VALE
Go.
MARCUS (V.O.)
Every stop on the manifest was within proximity of a federal communications facility.
Danny looks at Vale.
DANNY
They’re testing response times.
MARCUS (V.O.)
That’s our theory.
VALE
What about the explosives?
MARCUS (V.O.)
Could be the threat that forces the response.
Danny realizes.
DANNY
The bomb is bait.
Vale looks at him.
DANNY
The response is what they want.
⸻
INT. UNKNOWN COMMAND CENTER — NIGHT
A sophisticated operations room.
Maps.
Monitors.
Government feeds.
At the center stands ELIAS VOSS, 58.
Voss watches Danny’s image.
Wade stands nearby.
WADE
The driver survived.
VOSS
I know.
WADE
Vale found him.
VOSS
I know.
WADE
We should terminate the operation.
Voss looks at him.
VOSS
No.
WADE
Why?
VOSS
Because the operation isn’t the truck.
He points toward the screens.
VOSS
It’s the fear.
⸻
ACT TWO — SECOND HALF
INT. HOSPITAL — NIGHT
Margaret sits alone.
A nurse approaches.
NURSE
Mrs. Mercer?
MARGARET
Yes?
NURSE
Someone from the government asked to speak with you.
Margaret looks toward the hallway.
A man walks away.
Something feels wrong.
MARGARET
Who was that?
The nurse looks.
The hallway is empty.
⸻
EXT. HOSPITAL PARKING GARAGE — NIGHT
Margaret walks toward her car.
Her phone rings.
DANNY (V.O.)
Mom?
MARGARET
Danny?
DANNY (V.O.)
Are you safe?
MARGARET
Where are you?
DANNY (V.O.)
Don’t trust anybody.
MARGARET
Danny—
DANNY (V.O.)
I love you.
The call ends.
Margaret looks around.
A black sedan sits nearby.
Its engine starts.
Margaret steps back.
A hospital security officer approaches.
SECURITY OFFICER
Ma’am?
Margaret looks at him.
SECURITY OFFICER
Are you okay?
She nods.
MARGARET
No.
⸻
INT. ABANDONED HOUSE — NIGHT
Danny receives a message.
YOUR MOTHER IS SAFE.
He looks at Vale.
DANNY
How did they know I called her?
Vale doesn’t answer.
Danny realizes.
DANNY
They’re inside your system.
VALE
Yes.
DANNY
How deep?
VALE
Deep enough.
⸻
INT. FBI COMMAND CENTER — MORNING
Marcus pulls up the shipment’s digital history.
MARCUS
We traced the routing.
VALE
And?
MARCUS
The system wasn’t compromised.
VALE
What?
MARCUS
The credentials were legitimate.
Vale stares.
MARCUS
Somebody inside the authorized network created the entire operation.
VALE
So it’s an insider.
MARCUS
More than one.
Vale looks at the wall.
VALE
How many?
MARCUS
We don’t know.
⸻
EXT. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT — NIGHT
The white delivery truck moves through Washington.
Wade drives.
A convoy follows.
Police.
Federal vehicles.
Unmarked SUVs.
Voss watches remotely.
VOSS
They’re following.
TECHNICIAN
Exactly as predicted.
VOSS
Good.
The technician looks at another screen.
TECHNICIAN
Sir.
Voss turns.
TECHNICIAN
We’re losing control of the network.
VOSS
What?
TECHNICIAN
Someone is rerouting the surveillance feeds.
Voss watches.
A new image appears.
Danny.
Standing beside Vale.
Voss’s expression changes.
VOSS
Find him.
⸻
INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION — NIGHT
Danny sits at a computer terminal.
Vale stands beside him.
DANNY
I don’t know how to do this.
VALE
You don’t have to.
DANNY
Then why am I here?
VALE
Because you know the routes.
Danny looks at the maps.
DANNY
These roads.
VALE
Yes.
DANNY
They aren’t just roads.
He points.
DANNY
Every time they moved the truck, somebody moved emergency resources.
Vale sees it.
DANNY
They’re making everybody look in one direction.
VALE
Washington.
DANNY
Exactly.
Vale grabs her radio.
VALE
Marcus.
MARCUS (V.O.)
I’m here.
VALE
Stop following the truck.
MARCUS (V.O.)
What?
VALE
Pull everybody back.
MARCUS (V.O.)
We have a suspected catastrophic threat.
VALE
That’s what they want you to believe.
⸻
CLIMAX
EXT. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT — NIGHT
Federal vehicles suddenly peel away from the convoy.
Wade notices.
He slows.
The street empties.
He looks confused.
His phone rings.
WADE
Yes?
VOSS (V.O.)
What happened?
WADE
They stopped following.
Silence.
WADE
Elias?
VOSS (V.O.)
Find Mercer.
WADE
Why?
VOSS (V.O.)
Because he finally understood the game.
⸻
INT. WAREHOUSE — NIGHT
Danny enters.
Wade waits.
Danny stops.
DANNY
You.
WADE
I’m sorry.
DANNY
You keep saying that.
WADE
Because I mean it.
DANNY
You put me behind that wheel.
WADE
Yes.
DANNY
You threatened my mother.
WADE
No.
DANNY
Somebody did.
WADE
Yes.
DANNY
Who?
Wade looks at him.
WADE
The man who built all of this.
DANNY
Voss.
Wade’s eyes narrow.
WADE
You learned his name.
DANNY
You gave it to me.
WADE
I shouldn’t have.
Danny steps closer.
DANNY
Why me?
WADE
Because nobody notices the delivery driver.
DANNY
You were wrong.
WADE
I know.
Vale enters with agents.
VALE
Wade Keller.
Wade raises his hands.
VALE
Don’t move.
Wade looks at her.
WADE
He’s already gone.
VALE
Who?
WADE
Voss.
Vale’s phone rings.
She answers.
VOSS (V.O.)
Agent Vale.
VALE
Where are you?
VOSS (V.O.)
Somewhere you aren’t.
VALE
It’s over.
VOSS (V.O.)
No.
Beat.
VOSS (V.O.)
You only discovered the rehearsal.
The call ends.
⸻
EPILOGUE
EXT. WASHINGTON, D.C. — DAWN
The city wakes.
Buses.
Taxis.
Street cleaners.
People walking to work.
No explosion.
No catastrophe.
The public never understands how close it came.
⸻
INT. FBI OFFICE — MORNING
Marcus studies a wall of photographs.
Vale enters.
MARCUS
We found Voss.
VALE
Where?
MARCUS
Everywhere.
He shows her photographs.
Different identities.
Different passports.
Different companies.
Same man.
MARCUS
He’s been operating through shell organizations for years.
VALE
How long?
MARCUS
Long enough to build an infrastructure.
Vale looks at the photograph.
VALE
And Wade?
MARCUS
Cooperating.
VALE
Good.
MARCUS
Not really.
Vale turns.
MARCUS
He says Voss never works alone.
⸻
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM — DAY
Danny lies in bed.
Margaret sits beside him.
MARGARET
You scared ten years off my life.
DANNY
Only ten?
She hits his arm.
Danny winces.
MARGARET
Idiot.
Danny smiles.
A knock.
Vale enters.
MARGARET
You’re the FBI lady.
VALE
Yes, ma’am.
MARGARET
Thank you.
Vale nods.
Margaret leaves.
Danny looks at Vale.
DANNY
So?
VALE
The city is safe.
Danny exhales.
VALE
Your employer fired you.
DANNY
Naturally.
VALE
Your truck is destroyed.
DANNY
Of course.
VALE
Your insurance company denied the claim.
Danny looks at her.
DANNY
You’re getting really good at this.
Vale places an envelope on the table.
Danny opens it.
His eyes widen.
DANNY
What’s this?
VALE
Compensation.
Danny looks at the check.
DANNY
That’s more money than I’ve seen in years.
VALE
Maybe your luck changed.
Danny smiles.
DANNY
Don’t say things like that.
Vale almost smiles.
She heads for the door.
DANNY
Agent Vale.
She stops.
DANNY
Why did you believe me?
Vale turns.
VALE
Because you were the only person in the room who didn’t have anything to gain.
She exits.
Danny looks out the window.
For the first time—
he looks peaceful.
⸻
EXT. HOSPITAL — DAY
Vale walks toward her car.
Her phone rings.
VALE
Vale.
MARCUS (V.O.)
We found another driver.
Vale stops.
VALE
Where?
MARCUS (V.O.)
Virginia.
Her expression changes.
MARCUS (V.O.)
Same contractor.
Beat.
MARCUS (V.O.)
Same routing system.
Vale looks back toward the hospital.
VALE
Is he alive?
MARCUS (V.O.)
Yes.
Beat.
MARCUS (V.O.)
He says he knows Danny Mercer.
Vale closes her eyes.
⸻
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
Danny’s phone vibrates.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
He looks at it.
Doesn’t answer.
It stops.
A text appears.
YOU DELIVERED THE WRONG PACKAGE.
Danny stares.
Another message appears.
NEXT TIME, DON’T LOOK INSIDE.
Danny slowly looks toward the door.
Three KNOCKS.
Danny freezes.
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
The handle begins turning.
Danny reaches for the call button.
The door opens—
CUT TO BLACK.
THE LAST DELIVERY
THE END
Written by Johnny Mahan
1 person likes this
Great premise, Johnny. The Last Delivery has a strong thriller setup, especially the way the ordinary delivery driver gets pulled into something much bigger than he realizes. The escalating tension, F...
Expand commentGreat premise, Johnny. The Last Delivery has a strong thriller setup, especially the way the ordinary delivery driver gets pulled into something much bigger than he realizes. The escalating tension, FBI angle, and final reveal create a solid sense of suspense. I also like the idea of Danny being “invisible” because of his job it gives the story an interesting central theme. Looking forward to seeing where this project goes.
This has real momentum, the cold open with Danny's mounting money problems intercut against the mystery cargo, plus the "invisible driver" reveal, gives the whole thing a strong hook and keeps tension...
Expand commentThis has real momentum, the cold open with Danny's mounting money problems intercut against the mystery cargo, plus the "invisible driver" reveal, gives the whole thing a strong hook and keeps tension escalating naturally into the conspiracy. Vale's arc from suspicious FBI handler to Danny's only ally works well too, and the "the fear is the operation" twist lands as a smart reframe rather than a cheap swerve.
The one thing that stands out reading it as a document is the formatting. Right now almost every line of action and dialogue sits on its own line with heavy spacing, which isn't how scripts are typically formatted for submission, readers and industry pros expect consolidated action blocks and standard slug line/dialogue spacing (Final Draft style). As written, it reads more like a treatment or a stylized excerpt than a submission-ready script, and that can work against you even when the story itself is strong, since readers often judge formatting before they judge story.
Happy to help if useful, want me to format this into proper industry-standard screenplay formatting and send it back to you as a PDF?
AAlex Recheal please do thanks. Mercy James thanks really appreciate you all taking time to read....
Expand commentAAlex Recheal please do thanks. Mercy James thanks really appreciate you all taking time to read.
Mercy James I have lots of material from books to sitcoms. Series of movies
Hi Johnny,
That's exciting! It sounds like you have a great collection of stories across books, sitcoms, and film series.
As a graphic designer, I love creating movie posters, pitch decks, and visual br...
Expand commentHi Johnny,
That's exciting! It sounds like you have a great collection of stories across books, sitcoms, and film series.
As a graphic designer, I love creating movie posters, pitch decks, and visual branding for creative projects. If you ever need design support for one of your projects, I'd be happy to collaborate.
Wishing you continued success with your writing!