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PARTYGOER#2

  OH MY LORD JESUS HE GONNA KILL HIM!

  Mama pleads for her son’s life as-

  MAMA

  LORD, JESUS DON’T HURT MY BABY!

  Charles rushes through the crowd with his nine drawn. With the red light of the laser scope between his eyes, Dex-

  CHARLES

  Dex you do it and I’ll drop you right here-

  DEX

  What? You trying to flex Blue Knight-

  Charles

  You do it and I’ma make sure you take a trip to Hell tonight-

  Puts the nine back in his waistband.

  DEX

  Next time nobody gonna save you from getting one right between the eyes Soldier boy.

  Dex glares at John’s Mama and tells her-

  DEX

  The party’s over. Shut it down or me and my boys shut it down for you.

  On Dex’s command-

  John’s Mama relents.

  Mama

  Okay, everybody, the party’s over. Thanks for coming out.

  The remaining guests file out of the room grousing as Dex shuts off the stereo-

  And his henches storm out slamming the door behind them. One of them takes the Sweet potato pie. Mama starts to take the rest of the food into the kitchen. John stops her-

  John

  Ma, what you doing?

  MAMA

  Cleaning up. The party’s over.

  JOHN

  So I’m not supposed to have a coming home party just because Dex says so?

  MAMA

  Ain’t nobody here to be partying with.

  JOhn

  That’s cause Dex drove everybody out-

  mama

  Boy don’t be starting no trouble with Dex-

  JOHN

  Who is Dex to tell us how to live and what to do? We didn’t elect him-

  MAma

  Boy he had a gun right to your head. That’s law enough for me-

  John

  And I’ve had guns pointed to my head in Iraq. I ain’t afraid of Dex-

  MAMA

  Boy this ain’t the army. Dex was gonna kill you-

  JOHN

  For dancing with Marcia. A girl I knew since High school. Since when was that against the law?

  CHarles

  Since she became Dex’s lady two years ago.

  JOHN

  How was I supposed to know that? Last time I saw Marcia she was checking groceries at the C-Town-

  CHARLES

  Look John, a lot has changed around here since you went into the military. It’s a whole different world with a bunch of different rules. You got to watch what you do.

  John

  Man, ya’ll got it sounding like it’s crazier here than in Iraq. I thought this was the land of the free-

  CHARLES

  You got freedom. You just got to watch how you practice it around here.

  John

  Is this what I fought for? Is this the country I fought to protect? I thought this was America-

  CHARLES

  It’s the America we have to live in.

  John’s Mama fixes him a plate. John digests more food for thought while-

  IN THE ELEVATOR

  Dex and his henches scarf down sweet potato pie on the ride up to the-

  16th Floor

  And get off and walks down the-

  HALLWAY

  to-

  HENCH#1

  Yo Dex, you was in full effect!

  Hench#2

  Had the nine to soldier boy’s head in a room full of people and you wasn’t scared to kill a nigga!

  HENCH #3

  That was some badass shit!

  DEX

  Yo, I had to send a message. You know, you can’t let niggers disrespect you on your turf.

  Hench #1

  Yo, I think the message was received. I think I smelled piss on that nigger.

  Apt 16L

  Dex gestures to his henches-

  DEX

  Wait right here. I got to handle some business with Marcia right quick.

  Dex unlocks the door of-

  INt. APT 16L – Night.

  A rundown project apartment decorated ghetto fabulous. Big screen TV, top of the line furniture, expensive rugs and drapes. A nervous Marcia paces about frantically as-

  SLAM! Dex storms into the apartment seething with anger. He charges at Marcia-

  DEX

  So you grinding on niggers when I’m not around-

  Marcia’s eyes well up with tears as she backs away-

  MARCIA

  Dex, John’s an old friend of mine from High School-

  Dex looks her up and down-

  DEX

  Since when you dressing up for niggers? You don’t’ even look this good for me-

  MARCIA

  I wanted to show John what he was missing-

  An enraged Dex grabs her violently and tells her-

  DEX

  What you showing niggers shit for! YOU MY WOMAN! YOU SHOW ME SOME RESPECT!

  WHAP! The back of his hand goes across her cheek and- THUD! Marcia tumbles to the carpeted floor. Dex glares down at Marcia-

  DEX

  You like grinding up on niggers so much, maybe I ought I’ll put you ass out on the stroll like the rest of my hoes. Make some money for me instead of spending it on all this shit in here.

  A sobbing Marcia jumps off the sofa and gets in Dex’s face-

  MARCIA

  You ain’t gonna turn into no trick-

  SMACK! Pimp hands her across the cheek. Marcia crashes into the sofa. Dex gives her an icy glare and tells her-

  DEX

  Bitch, whatever I want you to do, you’ll do. If I want to put yo ass out on the street I’ll put it out there.

  DEX

  You don’t seem to understand how good you got it. If it wasn’t for me you’d still be checking groceries at the C-Town down the street!

  Dex heads for the door and warns Marcia to-

  DEX

  Stay away from Soldier boy.

  A whimpering Marcia buries her head in the sofa as-

  SLAM! Dex leaves the apartment to go back into the-

  HALLWAY

  DEX

  We gonna have to do something about Soldier boy.

  Hench #2

  You gonna smoke that fool?

  DEX

  Nah, we gonna send that nigger a message.

  Dex comes up with a plan as the-

  NEXT DAY

  INT. JOHN’S BEDROOM - MORNING

  A small cramped room decorated with basic bedroom furniture, basketball posters and an American flag. John clad in dogtags, standard issue boxers and T-shirt is sprawled on the bed as the clock across from him reads-

  5:59.

  As the clock changes to-6.00- John hits the button before the buzzer turns on and-

  Springs out of bed and hurries over to get changed into Army issue sweats and sneakers. As he makes his way into the-

  KitchenETTE

  His mama in a robe and slippers shuffles out to greet him.

  MAMA

  Morning John. Thought you’d be sleeping in after two tours in Iraq.

  John

  Workouts have been part of my routine since Basic Training. I’d like to keep that going that is, if it’s not gonna interrupt Dex’s beauty sleep.

  MAMA

  I don’t think Dex and his boys are gonna be up at this hour.

  John gives his mama a kiss on the cheek and-

  JOHN

  I’ll be back in about an hour.

  Heads out the door downstairs to-

  EXT. WEBSTER HOUSES PLAYGROUND – Morning.

  Rundown children’s playground. John fresh off his morning run around the project pathways makes his way to the park-

  monkeybars

  And gets his chin ups on. Upstairs in-

  The window of APT 16L

  Marcia in a silk nightgown watches John working out. She turns away from the win
dow and hurries-

  DOWNSTAIRS to the WEBESTER HOUSES PLAYGROUND

  Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt-

  And approaches John from behind as he works out.

  john

  Living dangerously don’t you think Marcia?

  Marcia

  How’d you know-

  John

  I learned a lot of tricks in Iraq that kept me alive.

  Halfway through a chin up John lets Marcia know how he feels.

  John

  And I’m learning a few things here that’ll keep me from winding up in a body bag.

  John drops off the monkeybars and is about to walk away when-

  Marcia grabs his shoulder.

  MARCIA

  I just want to apologize for ruining your party last night.

  John gets a good look at Marcia’s bruised face.

  John

  Looks like Dex decided to put a mark on his stuff.

  MARCIA

  He wanted to send me a message-

  John

  The message is received.

  John is about to walk away again when Marcia blocks his way-

  MARCIA

  Dex doesn’t tell me what to do-

  JOHN

  I think you ought to listen to your man before you get yourself hurt-

  MARCIA

  Look, I come and go like I want-

  JOHN

  And you ran out of the apartment because you wanted to last night.

  MARCIA

  This is a free country-

  JOHN

  Not around here.

  MARCIA

  Are you still mad that Dex ruined your coming home party-

  JOHN

  It ain’t about Dex ruining my party. It’s about him ruining everybody’s life around here-

  MARCIA

  Dex ain’t ruining nobody’s life-

  JOHN

  Says who. Ya’ll worship Dex like a god and all he does is take from you-

  MARCIA

  At least he’s offering us something for what we give him. What are those politicians you serve in Washington doing for people around here?

  JOHN

  They represent us-

  MARCIA

  They ain’t representing shit! Dex is the one who protects us from the gangs, the police, and all the other crazy shit that goes on around here.

  JOHN

  You didn’t elect him-

  MARCIA

  So what? Those bastards who we voted for in Washington ain’t doing shit for nobody around here. They’re the ones who are taking from us. They took you from me-

  John sees tears in Marcia’s eyes and hangs his head down-

  JOHN

  Look I had to go. There weren’t any jobs around here when I graduated-

  Marcia takes John’s hand-

  MARCIA

  John, we could’ve made it together-

  JOHN

  Doing what? Me slinging rocks, hustling on the corner like a dozen other brothas who are dead or in jail-

  MARCIA

  I’m sure you would have found something at a store or somewhere-

  JOHN

  Look, the only way I could make a living was serving my country-

  MARCIA

  Well, you need to think about how your country is serving you-

  JOHN

  And Dex is serving the needs of the community-

  MARCIA

  He protects us from that government you serve-

  John brushes his hand against Marcia’s cheek and asks-

  JOHN

  So who’s protecting you from Dex?

  John leaves Marcia with something to think about as he heads upstairs to-

  INT. APT 5A LIVING ROOM – MORNING

  A picture of Jesus in the background. John showered, shaved and dressed in civilian gear lounges on the sofa with his laptop surfing the net as his mother approaches-

  MAMA

  How long are you going to be on leave this time John?

  John smiles at his mother and tells her-

  JOHN

  I’m not going back Ma. I got honorably discharged. I’m gonna try to make it on my own from here on in.

  John’s mother is shocked.

  MAMA

  So what are you gonna do now that you’re out of the service?

  JOHN

  I might go into the NYPD with Charles, or I might take advantage of the G.I. Bill and go to school like I wanted to when I graduated.

  MAMA

  And what are you gonna major in?

  JOHN

  Criminal Justice or Business. I have about 60 credits from courses I took off and on in the military, so I’m halfway to a degree-

  The conversation is interrupted by-

  BRRRING! John’s cell phone. He slips it out of his pocket-

  JOHN

  Williams.

  To talk to-

  INt. Police cruiser 3430 – morning

  Charles sitting outside the entrance of the Webster Houses.

  CHARLES

  Yo, John, it’s Charles. Some of the brothers at the precinct want to meet the man who took out Samhal Hussein. You got a minute?

  JOHN

  Man, don’t tell me you’re telling stories about me-

  CHARLES

  It came up at Roll Call-

  JOHN

  You knowing me conveniently came up at Roll Call? Come on man-

  CHARLES

  Hey, it’s not every day you can say you know a real live American hero-

  JOHN

  Alright, I’ll meet you downstairs.

  As the call ends-

  Back to Apartment 5A

  John puts his phone in his pocket and smiles at his mother as he tells her-

  JOHN

  That was Charles. The guys at the precinct want to meet the man who took out Samhal Hussein. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.

  John gets a kiss from his smiling mother and heads out the door to the-

  ELEVATOR

  As-

  EXT. 169th STREET and WEBSTER AVENUE – MOrning

  Parked outside the Pioneer Supermarket. Dex and his henches are sitting in their-

  INT. GOLD LEXUS LS 450

  Watching as-

  POLICE CRUISER 3430

  Waits outside of the entrance of the Webster Houses across the street. Charles sitting in his cruiser watches the-

  Walkway

  As John heads down to meet him. It’s a busy weekend, kids are playing, parents on their way to and from the nearby market. Dex sees John approaching the cruiser and-

  SCREEEECH! The Lexus burns rubber to-

  Block the cruiser in and keep traffic out. Dex and his henches jump out the ride with an uzi and MAC-10’s. He looks directly at-

  John

  As Charles jumps out of the cruiser.

  Charles

  Yo, are you crazy?

  DEX

  You the crazy one Blue Knight. Trying to step to me like you so tough?

  Charles goes for his gun and-

  BRRRRAAAP! BRRRAP! BRRRAP! BRRRRAP! Is sprayed up in a hail of gunfire by Dex and his crew before he can reach it.

  People on the street scream and scramble for cover. John watches in horror as his best friend-

  Charles’

  Body is sent reeling from the impact of the bullets. He crashes into the hood of the cruiser.

  DEX

  Well, you look like a punk when I spray you up.

  John rushes over to his friend. He locks eyes with Dex as he tells him-

  DEX

  That’s what happens to heroes around here Soldier boy.

  HenCH#1

  Keep fuckin with us and that’s gonna be you next nigga!

  People react to Charles’ death as-

  Dex and his henches get in the Lexus and-

  SCREEECH! Speed down Webster Avenue.

  KID

  Yo, Dex just killed a cop in the street!

&nb
sp; GIRL

  Yo, he aint’ just kill a cop, he kilt a nigga in broad daylight!

  kid #2

  They wasn’t even afraid of the blue uniform! You see how Dex and his boys rolled up and sprayed that cop up like he was nothing!

  KID #1

  I think they was trying to send a message to somebody.

  GUY

  What message? Nigger Dex ain’t no joke! I ain’t gonna fuck with that nigger.

  The message is received as-

  John grabs the radio in Charles’ cruiser and reports-

  JOHN

  911! OFFICER DOWN! OFFICER DOWN! SEND A BUS TO WEBSTER AVENUE AND 168th STREET! OFFICER DOWN!

  The sounds of police cruisers and ambulance sirens can be heard in the distance.

  hours LATER

  INT – 44th PRECINCT INTERVIEW ROOM – AFTERNOON

  John sits quietly grieving his friend as-

  INSERT

  A TV mounted on the wall broadcasts the TV News-

  REPORTER

  Police Officer Charles Jackson was gunned down in a hail of gunfire today outside of the Webster Houses in the Bronx. Witnesses say Jackson was sitting in his patrol car when he was ambushed by a group of three men. Police are still looking for the suspects.

  As-

  The District Attorney RONALD JOHNSON, 50, a dedicated civil servant approaches John to offer his condolences.

  RONALD

  I’m sorry about your friend.

  John still tries to make sense of it all.

  John

  It was like being in Iraq all over again.

  ronald

  That’s life in The South Bronx.

  JOHN

  The way those kids talked about Dex was the way people used to talk about Samhal Hussein.

  Ronald

  Some people will support anyone because they don’t have to anything around them to believe in.

  JOHN

  It was crazy. On one hand they were scared of him, and on the other they had respect for him.

  RONALD

  He’s their hero because they fear his violence. That fear is what gives him the power the people respect and admire-

  JOHN

  You make it sounds like he’s got their hearts and minds-

  ronald

  That’s the power of Dex. One part pimp, one part politican, one part terrorist. Even all the cops here are so scared of him that they just take his hush money-

  John

  No man should be above the law-

  RONALD

  Ronald Johnson, District Attorney for Bronx County.

  John remembers where he is when he see’s Ronald’s hand and shakes it.

  john

  John Williams. So you’re saying the department is dirty?

  Ronald

  Not dirty, but scared like Charles was. A lot of these men have families to take care of and I can’t blame them for not risking their lives to take on Dex-

  JOHN

  Yeah, they probably feel they have to look out for their own above all else-

  RONALD

  Unfortunately, I can’t get anything to stick to Dex or his boys. No one will testify against him-

  John

  Charles was a good man. He didn’t deserve to be shot up in the street like that-

  RONALD

  I want to help you get him justice.

  John’s eyes light up.

  John

  I’m with you.

  Ronald

  When men like Dex start killing cops, no one is safe.

  john

  All it takes is for good men to do nothing-

  Ronald

  And a fascist will come to power.

  John

  It’s only a matter of time before men like Dex start imposing their will on the people.

  ronald

  And that’s how terrorists become warlords like Samhal Hussein.

  John

  That’s what I try to get people in the neighborhood to understand. But everyone is so scared-

  Ronald

  They refuse to take a stand against the people who are oppressing them.

  john

  I went halfway across the world to stop a terrorist in Iraq only to come home to one oppressing people in my own country.

  ronald

  We have to stop him.

  John

  How? No one’s gonna testify-

  The District Attorney reveals his plan.

  RONALD

  We don’t need anyone to testify. We have video of Charles being killed from security cameras. I just want you to be there when me and my guys raid his apartment. It’ll let them know that the community is behind them.

  John gets up out of his seat and extends his hand-

  john

  I’ll be there.

  Ronald

  I’ll let you know when we’re ready.

  The deal is agreed to as the men shake hands. The

  NEXT DAY

  EXT. Woodlawn Cemetary - afternoon

  A somber ceremony. Police officers in dress blue and family dressed in black suits and dresses watch as-

  Officer Charles Jackson is laid to rest. In the distance John notices-

  MARCIA

  Dressed in a tasteful black sheath dress and heels. As the service ends, he excuses himself and approaches her-

  John

  This is a private funeral. Friends and family-

  Marcia

  Charles was my friend too.

  john

  And you’re just as responsible for his death as Dex is-

  marcia

  I didn’t have anything to do with Dex killing Charles-

  JOHN

  You reap the benefits of him oppressing our people-

  MARCIA

  And I pay the price for it too-

  JOhn

  Living large-

  Marcia

  I’m not your enemy John.

  The air is tense as John calms down. Marcia sighs frustrated at the impasse between them-

  MARCIA

  Look I’m sorry Charles is gone. But getting angry at me isn’t gonna bring him back-

  John

  You have a point.

  Marcia takes John’s hand.

  Marcia

  Look, let’s get out of here. There’s a coffee shop across the street.

  JOHN

  You sure that’s smart?

  Marcia

  Dex doesn’t have eyes all over the place.

  A reluctant John sighs and joins Marcia at the-

  Int. Coffee shop - Afternoon.

  A local diner in the South Bronx. John and