Spray Em' Up Read online

Spray Em’ Up

  By Shawn James

  Copyright © 2012 Shawn James

  FAde In:

  ext. iraqI SHOPPING DISTRICT ROOFTOP - day

  Ruins of a shopping mall. Villagers scatter during-

  An intense firefight. BRRRRRRAP! BRRRRAP! IRAQI MILITANTS in headscarves and tunics above blast AK-47’s at a-

  TURNED OVER HUMVEE

  The smoldering remains of a military transport. Three soldiers are dead in the street. Pinned down and using the undercarriage of the wrecked vehicle as a shield are SGT. JOHN WILLIAMS, 29, a strong military trained brotha from the streets and-

  Private First Class JOSIE CARROL, 25, America’s blonde sweetheart in fatigues. She’s green and in way over her head. Panicked, she clutches the wounded body of AL SIMMONS 33, as she gets on a cell phone and calls-

  JoSIE

  MAYDAY! MAYDAY! WE HAVE THREE MEN DEAD AND WERE PINNED DOWN! WE NEED REINFORCEMENTS!

  SKKZZZZT! A staticked response to Jody’s call for help. She panics as-

  BRRRAP! RATTTTATTTATTAT! Machine gun fire rains down on the wreck. A terrified Josie screams as-

  JOSIE

  LORD, I DON’T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS!

  A calm John surveys the situation. BRRRAP! BRRRAP! Bullets continue to rain down from the rooftop as John confidently tells her-

  JOhn

  We’re not gonna die.

  He prys the M4 from Simmons’ hands and takes the Desert Eagle from his holster, and tells Simmons-

  JOHN

  Hang in there Al.

  JOSIE

  John, what are you doing with Simmons’ guns?

  John looks down at the wounded Simmons and-

  JOSIE

  It’s not like he’s gonna need em’.

  Comes up with a plan as he hands Josie the Desert Eagle.

  JOSIE

  Y-You’re gonna take em’ all on?

  John gives Josie a confident smile and tells her-

  JOHN

  We’re gonna take em’ all on. We’ve come too far to let Samhal Hussein get away again.

  JOSIE

  John-

  John

  Cover me.

  John surveys the situation from behind the corner of the wrecked Humvee-

  And darts into the firefight to draw their fire. BRRRRAP! BRRRRRAP! He fires twin M4s at the rooftop-

  And hits four militants. They fall off the roof and-

  CRASH! Fall into a fruit cart. His three companions-

  on the adjacent roof

  Take the bait and press on him as a target-

  AS JOSIE

  Has a bead on them from a distance with her Desert Eagle. Nervous as she lines up the targets-

  PUM! PUM! PUM PUM! PUM! She blasts the militants with bullets. They fall off the roof and-

  CRASH! Onto shells of burning cars. Several more militants rush from behind a building and have guns on her-

  AS JOHN

  Calls out to her-

  JoHN

  JOSIE!

  Josie ducks as John-

  Hurls a grenade at the militants. Surprised, their eyes grow wide as the short pineapple-

  Goes off with a bang. KA BOOOOOM! Bodies of militants fly in the air landing on-

  PArked CARS,

  And,

  A FRUIT CART

  John rushes up the street to a-

  supermarket

  as-

  JOSIE

  Catches up with him at the front door. Josie tries the door. Locked.

  JOSIE

  Looks like the candy store isn’t open.

  John cocks the M4 and-

  BRRRAP! John shoots the lock off the door telling Josie-

  JOHN

  I think I found the key.

  John and Josie walk into the-

  INT. Supermarket – AFTERNOON

  Rundown supermarket. Old dusty products on the shelves. No one is coming here for groceries.

  JOHN

  Just like recon told us, this ain’t no grocery store.

  JOSIE

  How can you tell?

  John

  See those products on the shelves? Must be at least five years old.

  josie

  Yeah, when’s the last time a cereal box had a Wacky Wallwaker in it?

  John

  I saw a lot of boxes like that in drug fronts in my neighborhood.

  Josie runs her finger over a dusty box of Froot Loops.

  JoSIE

  The only thing Hussein is selling here are drugs and guns.

  JOHN

  And we’re about to put him out of business.

  Before John and Josie can make a move-

  BEHIND THE DELI COUNTER

  KA-CHICK! A TERRORIST in a tunic and headscarf springs up from behind the counter, cocks his shotgun and asks-

  TERRORIST

  May I help you?

  BOOM! A bag of chips explodes a few inches away from Josie’s head. BRRRRAP! BRRRRAP! John is quick on the draw spraying a wave of bullets on the counterperson with the twin M4s. The dead terrorist slumps on the counter. John leans on the counter and tells him-

  John

  Let me get a large or order of Justice. To go.

  John and Josie rush through the store and-

  BEHIND THE AISLES

  Two more TERRORISTS, have guns on them. PUM! PUM! Josie takes them out with shots to the head from the Desert Eagles. As they slump to the floor in the aisle she quips-

  joSIE

  Looks like we’re gonna need a clean up on aisle five.

  John gives the rookie a quizzed look-

  JOHN

  Cleanup on aisle five?

  Josie smiles and tells him-

  JOSIE

  Couldn’t let you get all the good lines.

  The two soldiers see a-

  door

  And BOOM! Kick it in. It leads into a-

  STOCK ROOM

  Grocery boxes in the front, a drug factory in the back. Women in white burkhas package heroin in envelopes. John raises his guns-

  BRRAAAATTTT!!!! Blasts the ceiling and Lets everyone know-

  JOHN

  U.S. MILITARY! THIS IS A RAID!

  Not arguing with the guns-

  The women scramble out of the supermarket. John and Josie make their way into the-

  WALK IN FREEZER

  Where the only thing kept cold is the cash. Stacks of money and drugs are on a table. Flanked by terrorist guards each side, is SAMHAL HUSSEIN, 50, a big shot in a tailored white linen suit counting U.S. dollars next to a briefcase. John has his guns on Hussein-

  JOHN

  It’s over Hussein. Get your hands up!

  Who isn’t fazed. He continues to count his money-

  HUSSEIN

  No, I do not think so. Guards, kill these nuisances.

  Hussein gestures and-

  BRRRAP! BRRRRAP His soldiers open fire on John and Josie. They run for cover behind-

  SIDES OF BEEF

  BRRAP! BRRRAP! Bullets pound the carcasses. As soon as he sees an opening, BRRRARP! BRRRAP! BRAAT-!John blasts away with twin machine guns and soon-

  Finds he’s out of ammo. He drops them. Josie hands him the desert eagle. John lines up the laser scope on their headscaves and-

  BOOM! BOOM! Five of Hussein’s soldiers go down. KA-CHICK! Josie takes the combat shotgun out of her pack and-

  BLAM! BLAM! Three more of Hussein’s men go down with a blast of buckshot to the gut. Meanwhile-

  HUSSEIN

  Puts money into a briefcase. The last two militants charge in. and-

  BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! They go to meet the seven virgins in a barrage of bullets from John and Josie. When the smoke clears, John has his laser scope on-

&nb
sp; hussein

  And tells him-

  john

  Okay Hussein, this is the full power of the US military coming down on you. Get your hands up!

  Hussein isn’t fazed. He smiles nonchalantly at John and tells him-

  hussein

  I see no military. Just a man.

  JOHN

  A man who has come to take you down by order of the President of the United States of America. We’ve taken out your militants-

  Hussein

  And I will get more to wage jihad for me.

  John

  So you admit these Islamic fundamentalists are just pawns?

  Hussein smiles smugly as he puts money into the briefcase and tells John-

  hussein

  Why not? The jihad propaganda I employ keeps the masses busy fighting you while I enrich myself from my business transactions on the black market.

  JOSIE

  Selling drugs to children. You’re a monster.

  Hussein smiles proudly and tells Josie-

  Hussein

  I’m not a monster. I’m a capitalist.

  JOHN

  Opportunist is more like it. Your terrorist days are over. You’re coming with us.

  Hussein reaches under the stack of bills in his briefcase-

  Hussein

  No, you’re going. In a body bag.

  for a-

  PISTOL

  And squeezes off a shot that-

  POP! Gets Josie in the shoulder. As she goes down, John-

  Has the laser sight on him and-

  BLAM! Puts a bullet between his eyes. Hussein’s body falls on the stack of bills.

  John helps Josie up and asks her-

  JOHN

  Are you all right?

  JOsie

  Yeah. Just a flesh wound.

  John pulls a cell phone out of his fatigues punches in a number-

  JOHN

  Hello General? Mission Accomplished.

  John smiles as-

  dissolve TO:

  WEEKS LATER

  Patriotic music plays on a-

  EXT.U.S. MILITARY BASE RIYADH – AFTERNOON

  A big celebration on a stage. Soldiers in desert fatigues watch as-

  John and Josie in dress uniforms stand tall and proud waiting for the-

  CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHEIFS GENERAL JACKSON 60s, in dress uniform to pin medals on them both.

  GENERAl JACKSOn

  (Extending hand)

  A job well done.

  Josie

  (Shaking hand)

  Thank you sir.

  GENERAl JACKSON

  (extending hand)

  A job well done.

  JOHN

  (Shaking Hand)

  Thank you sir.

  John and Josie salute the general and head off the stage. Josie inquires-

  JOsie

  So what are you gonna do when you get back to New York John?

  John

  Don’t know, maybe go see my family, get a slice of pizza, take it easy.

  JOsie

  Doesn’t sound like much of a plan for a man of action like you.

  JOHN

  I figure I’m due some R&R after two tours in Iraq. I’m gonna enjoy getting back to the South Bronx and hanging out with my friends for a while.

  A few days-

  LATER

  John in dress uniform smiles as he makes his way onto a-

  JET

  And lands at-

  INT. LAGUARDIA AIRPORT – AFTERNOON

  John carries his bags through the busy air transport hub. He’s greeted by-

  His best friend, OFFICER CHARLES JACKSON 30, a good cop in his NYPD blue uniform. Charles salutes John. John salutes back, then lights up and smiles as he gives him a pound.

  CHARLEs

  S’up Soldier?

  John

  S’up Officer? How’s life on the street treating a brotha?

  CHARLES

  Hanging in there soldier. Can’t be worse than anything you’ve seen in Iraq.

  John

  I thought Moms was coming to meet me-

  CHARLES

  Yo Mama is setting up a big party for you back at the house. She sent me to escort you back to the projects to ensure your safe return through this war zone.

  JOHN

  Police Escort? Ya’ll going all out for a brotha.

  CHARLES

  Least I could do for a soldier who served his country.

  John and Charles leave the airport and head out into the-

  EXT. PARKING LOT - AFTERNOON

  And get into-

  NYPD SQUAD CAR 3430

  Which leaves the airport and is-

  MOVING

  Into city traffic. While they head into the Bronx-

  INT. NYPD SQUAD CAR – AFTERNOON

  Charles inquires-

  CHARLES

  Heard you personally took out Samhal Hussein.

  John

  We lost four men to get him.

  Charles

  Still, I bet it felt really sweet to put the bullet between his eyes.

  john

  Had to do what I had to do.

  CHARLES

  Always being so modest. Man, I bet they gave you a medal for it taking out the world’s most dangerous terrorist.

  John smiles and takes a case out of his pocket and shows him his-

  MEDAL

  John

  Given to me by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs himself. Told me it was a job well done.

  The police cruiser heads across the bridge into the-

  BRONX

  John’s old neighborhood. As the squad car drives down

  Webster Avenue

  He spots-

  GIUSEPPe’S PIZZA SHOP

  And tells Charles to-

  John

  Stop right here. I wanna get a slice.

  charles

  Look, Mama gonna have a big dinner up there for you at the house-

  john

  Man, I’ve been in Iraq for two years. I need a slice of New York pizza to let me know I’m home.

  Charles relents.

  CHarles

  Least I can do for you man.

  John and Charles walk into a-

  INT. GIuseppe’s PIZZA SHOP - AFTERNOON

  Small local pizza joint. John orders-

  John

  Two slices Giuseppe.

  Eager to be back in the neighborhood and taking in the atmosphere, John walks around the cramped shop and accidentally bumps into a-

  BOOTH

  And soda spills on-

  DEX, 30, chatting on a cell phone. A neighborhood drug kingpin he’s dressed to the nines in a tailored suit, tie, and gators. He ends his call as John says-

  john

  Sorry.

  Dex looks John up and down, Dex jumps out of his booth and tells him-

  DEX

  I don’t think you are soldier boy.

  It’s a tense stand off. Dex’s HENCHES, 16, 17, and 18, young ambitious kids dressed in expensive sagging jeans, baggy designer T-shirts and sneakers. They stop scarving down pizza slices as they notice-

  John

  I said I was sorry-

  The aggressive stance John is taking. They jump out of their seats and get in John’s face-

  HENCH #1

  WHAT NIGGER? YOU FLEXIN’ ON DEX!

  HENCH #2

  Yo, this soldier boy must have been out in the hot desert sun for way too long! You know who this is son? THIS IS DEX SON! DEX!

  HENCH #3

  Yeaah Boy! DEX! His name is like sex! You want some you come get it from him! Respect that son!

  JOHN

  There are only three men I respect. God, My father, and the President of These United States.

  Dex’s henches laugh.

  HENCH#1

  Yo, listen to this nigger talkin’ that patriotic shit! Motherfucker must still think he’s in the military!

  Charles looks ner
vously at Dex who warns him-

  DEX

  Charles, you best school your boy here-

  CHARLES

  Look Dex, he just came back from Iraq-

  JOHN

  Charles, why you backing down to this chump?

  Dex glares at Charles and tells him-

  DEX

  Charles, handle your boy-

  CHARLES

  I got it Dex. I got it.

  DEX

  No. I’ma get it. Yo, Guiseppe, let me get a Coke.

  The nervous pizzeria owner slides a soda can down the counter. Dex pops the soda open and pours it all over John’s dress uniform.

  Dex

  Here you go soldier boy. The soda’s on me.

  Before Dex and his henches leave Dex tells him-.

  DEX

  Welcome back to America.

  Dex and his henches walk out. A seething John is left to brood as Charles cleans off John’s uniform.

  OFFICER JACKSON

  You all right?

  John

  No, I’m not all right. Why’d you back down to that chump?

  CHARLES

  To save your life.

  john

  My life?

  CHARLES

  Look, Dex runs the drug trade and all the other hustles around here-

  An exasperated John barks at Charles-

  John

  So he’s a drug dealer. Arrest him-

  CHARLES

  And he’ll be and gunning for me. It ain’t that simple out here.

  john

  But you’re a cop-

  CHARLES

  Yeah I’m a cop. But there’s only so much one brotha can do when a dude has the entire neighborhood on his side and cops in his pocket-

  JOHN

  No man should be above the law-

  CHARLES

  Look, this ain’t the military. I do what I can around here, but in The Bronx Dex is bigger than red, white, or NYPD blue.

  John

  You make him sound like Samhal Hussein.

  CHARLES

  Samhal Hussein ain’t got nothing on Dex. He runs the South Bronx like it’s his own country.

  JOHN

  Man, I fought to free people from oppression like this in Iraq. I can’t believe this is going on in America.

  CHARLES

  Believe it. You mess with Dex and you wind up wrecked.

  Charles gives John some food for thought as they head across the street to the-

  WEBSTER HOUSES

  A series of Housing projects in the South Bronx. John and Charles head up to the-

  INT. - FIFTH FLOOR HALLWAY – EVENING

  And approach the door of -

  APT 5A

  Charles opens the door to reveal-

  INT. LIVING ROOM– EVENING

  A large rundown apartment decorated for a party, big cake and soul food on the dinner table. John gives guests pounds as he makes his way through the apartment. He lights up as-

  His MAMA 60s, rushes up to him and gives him a big hug.

  MAMA

  Ooooh My baby’s home! My baby’s home!

  John smiles at his mama and looks at the-

  JOHN

  Glad to be back home Mama.

  MAMA

  I made all your favorites John. Fried Chicken, Biscuits, and a sweet potato pie.

  SPREAD ON THE TABLE

  And licks his lips in anticipation.

  JOHN

  M-M-MMMPH! Man, I can’t wait to get me some of that.

  John is ready to get a plate until he hears the sultry voice of-

  MARCIA

  Before you get a plate of that, you better get a look at all of this.

  MARCIA THOMAS 28, the neighborhood girl next door wearing a slinky low-cut black knit dress that hugs all her curves and shows them off struts down the hall. She gives John a big bug and a flirtatious smile. John smiles at her as he gets a good long look at all her sexiness.

  JOHN

  M-M-MMMPH! Looking sexy tonight Marcia!

  MArcia

  Wanted to welcome you home soldier.

  Marcia plant’s a kiss on John’s cheek. Everyone in the room reacts with hollers and wolf whistles. Across the room-

  Charles is worried. Marcia gives John a flirtatious smile and tells him-

  MARCIA

  Just something to remind you what you were fighting for over there.

  Music starts to play. Marcia puts her arms around John. Marcia takes John’s hand and requests-

  MARCIA

  Let’s dance baby.

  John and Marcia dance as-

  A concerned Charles makes his way through the crowd across the room as-

  John gets his groove on with Marcia. While-

  ACROSS THE ROOM

  DING DONG! The doorbell rings. Mama opens the door to-

  Dex and his henches. Dex is dressed casually in designer jeans and a expensive shirt. The henches rush for the door-

  HENCH#1

  Yo, we heard there was a party over here!

  HENCH #2

  Yo, where the food at! Nigga want to get his grub on!

  Hench #3

  I can’t wait to step to the honeys. Where the booty at?

  But Mama stands in their way and lays down the law.

  MAMA

  Ya’ll get on outta here! Ain’t no hoodlums coming up in my house starting no mess!

  HENCH #1

  What? We not invited to the party?

  Mama

  No, I don’t invite hoodlums in my house.

  The henches take offense.

  HENCH#2

  Yo, you know who we is old lady? We Dex’s boy’s! Dex! You need to respect that name!

  Hench#2

  That’s right, we Dex’s Boys! Step to me and I’ll spray you up and have your blood on the walls like graffiti!

  On the threat-

  The boys are about to rush the door-

  But Dex stands in their way.

  DEX

  Slow your rolls boys. Show an