The Kidney Heist : Organ Harvesting Cult

The Kidney Heist

Shivers Anthology
Episode Three:
"The Kidney Heist: Organ Harvesting Cult"

Written by Marc Shawn Serrano
Co-Written by Marie Harris Katz

Setting: Manhattan, Regalia Plaza Hotel, NYC, 1999, podcast interview (present day)

Plot: Two NYU students attend an exclusive "Masquerade Ball" where prizes of a $10,000 scholarship are awarded, but after they arrive they realize that nothing is as it seems and it's much more than they might've bargained for.

Conflict: The two NYU students are struggling for money and need to win this prize. However, they are presented with another offer they can't refuse, so then they wake up in a tub full of ice and realize their kidneys are gone.

Years go by, they try to put the pieces of the puzzle together with the help of a doggedly determined NY City Detective James Scully to figure out who might be responsible for this heinous crime. But will it be too late?

Theme:
Be aware of your surroundings
Don't trust strangers
If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
It's never too late

Name of cult: The Organ-ization
The Fourth Call 📞 ☎️

Kidney Price: $99,999

Where is the cut: side of body

Note:
"You might want to call 911. We've taken your kidney, don't worry it's been professionally done. Don't worry your little head about us being caught, you're not the first and you won't be the last!
You're all stitched up
Here's $10,000. Congratulations!"

Main Character:
Strength - Open-mindness, Brave
Flaw - Gullibility, Greed

Payton Ziegler
Alias: Kaitlyn Miller
Australia Native
In 1999, 21 years old
Present Day, 44 years old
In 99 - NYU Student - Junior
Fine Arts - Dance
Present Day: Dance Professor and Dance Judge
Strength - Very well liked, Stern, Friendly, Gets what she wants
Flaw - Gullible, naive, Bad at finances and money management

Austin Brooks
Alias: Preston Cook
Houston Native
In 1999, 22 years old
Present Day, 45 years old
In 99: NYU Student - Senior
Computer Science - Engineering
Present Day: Cyber Security
Strength - Smart, Observant, Charming
Flaw - Easily influenced, Lazy, Forgetful, plays too many video games

James Scully
NYC Detective
35 years old (in 1999)
58 years old (present day)
Married with kids
Strength: Persistence
Weakness: Stubborn
Goes after the bad guys even if it means breaking the rules!

The Fourth Call
(previously known as "The Work" or "The Fourth Way"
Leaders: Sharon & Alfred Grims
Real Nanes: Wilfred Brims Karen Brims
Beliefs: End of Times, Immortality (use of rare blood/rare organs), cannibalism, mystical dark magic, Y2K
Multiple Locations (NYC, California, Texas)
Exclusive to The Elites and to The Rich

Timeline

Introduce Characters
Who they are, where they came from and how they got there
Payton
Austin
3rd Unknown - Detective 🕵️‍♀️

The invitation
Main character gets invited to a party to win some money or a scholarship

Flashback #1
Explaining the general, the Urban Legends, and the effects it had on their lives

The Day Of
Prep for the party, travel to the party, and embarking on new adventure. Character change. (End of Act 1)

The Party
New beginnings, new friendships, and dives deep into characters: wants, needs, desires, wishes, likes, dislikes, and ultimate goal.