The Naughty List, the story of Pedro Negro

Are you tired of every holiday feel-good Santa Claus tale? Detective John Murphy is not out for promotion the way things are going, he’ll be lucky to keep his job. Lackluster performance, a soft spot for clickbait, and a trail of scorned women haunts him. Holly, a recluse psychology fellow, dwells on her failed thesis about adolescent ethos largely due to lack of practical experience. She revers for a time where her days were spent outdoors in adventure photographing exotic birds. The son of one of John’s ill-conceived flings mysteriously disappears. The mom is sure he was kidnapped but police find no evidence and believe the child, like countless other neglected kids, ran away. If they only believed in folklore. First, you should know that Santa Claus is real. The North Pole, the reindeer, the elves, are real too. Unfortunately, so is Pedro Negro, the keeper of the Naughty List. Every holiday season Pedro and his Conspiracy, (a flock of ravens) return to give a final and ominous warning to “Be Nice” to those naughty children and leave a memento of a cow femur carved burro (a donkey). Those who heed the warning return to Santa's List. For those not receptive, Pedro returns and forces them into a burlap sack and they disappear. A pack of hell-sent wolves seeks to end Pedro Negro’s decree and track him in search of an opportunity. John and Holly chase a disturbing trail of Missing Children which leads them from Texas to the caverns of Death Valley. In their pursuit, John learns the value of relationships and Holly discovers the innate evil of some children. In the 3rd act, John and Holly search the Death Valley caverns for answers. John comes upon Pedro Negro as he prepares to hibernate. Pedro reminds John his life corrected after Pedro paid him a visit. The wolf pack attacks and Pedro triumphs. Pedro settles to his burrow. Holly arrives and finds an injured John, gawking ravens. The last wolf attacks John and she shoots it and saves him. As they drive away John and Holly discuss the possibility that the world may be a better place with Pedro Negro. The vein of Chucky with the tone of Gremlins.