TEASER
ACT 1, SCENE 1 INT: RISE: AME CHURCH – DAY
There is a funeral at RISE, and the service is packed. Peace lilies adorn the church, and a coffin sits before an altar. SISTER NETTA is standing in front of the congregation with a choir behind her. SISTER is singing a beautiful hymn passionately.
The lyrics are hitting members of the congregation hard. REV JOE MAC and his clergy sit in chairs beside the altar. He is nodding and taking in the moment.
SHAUNICE’S MOTHER is shaking in the arms of REV MAC’S WIFE – RACHEL MACCABEE, a woman in her 40-50s.
SISTER and CHOIR continue to sing, but this time it SISTER leads them in a call and response style.
LEIGH SUAREZ is in attendance. She tries to keep stoic, except for tears she wipes away angrily from her face. Suddenly, people start rising to their feet around her. She is confused.
SISTER (singing/preaching):
I command you to stand and declare that the chains are broken! The chains are broken! Yes they are! In the name of Jesus!
REV MAC is on his feet. RACHEL MACCABEE helps SHAUNICE’S MOTHER up. The whole church is on their feet. SISTER and CHOIR are at the height of the song.
FADE TO: ACT 1, SCENE 2 INT: RISE – SAME DAY
REV MAC on the pulpit delivering his eulogy. The congregation is seated again.
REV MAC:
Yet another victim. Another young soul taken before her time. She was a lost soul, a sheep that had wandered away from her flock, like many of us have done in our lives. But the Lord said the Shepard will leave His post to find even the stray and bring it home. The Great Shepard has called Shaunice home.
CONGREGATION ADLIBS
REV MAC:
But the Shepard’s work is not over yet. Shaunice’s death is a tragic reminder that our city is on the brink.
FOCUS ON LEIGH in the pew with SISTER, who nods in agreement with REV MAC. LEIGH has stopped crying, but there is a haunted expression on her face.
REV MAC (OS):
When beloved friends get calls from loved ones in distress…
FLASH CUT BETWEEN LEIGH’S expression and SHAUNICE’S final moments.
REV MAC (OS):
…cries pleading for help…in the very throes of death…
SHAUNICE defending herself futilely against a flurry of knife blows.
REV MAC:
…but police don’t respond, that’s a travesty. ‘There isn’t enough information,’ they said. ‘This isn’t a missing-persons. Call back in two days or when you get more information.’ ‘You’re in the wrong precinct. This girl is from the Bricks. Why don’t you call there?’
CONGREGATION ANGRY ADLIBS
REV MAC:
They wait, until it’s too late.
FLASH CUT TO – THE HEIGHTS – ALLEY
A garbage truck is dumping a large load loudly. Trash comes rolling out of the dumpster followed by SHAUNICE’S BLOODY BODY.
SISTER (OS):
Preach it, Rev Mac!
LEIGH flinches and comes back to reality.
REV MAC:
We can no longer afford to wait anymore. We can’t lose any more lives. A reckoning is upon us that will erase the intersections of our lives that divide us: young and old, black and white, man and woman. We will change Astro City…brick by brick, soul by soul, until these unjust systems buckle under our might. You heard me. Brick by brick!
CONGREGATION:
Brick by brick! Brick by brick! Brick by Brick!
SISTER jumps to her feet along with the rest of the congregation.
SISTER:
Brick by brick!
LEIGH remains seated, unsure what to do, frightened by the passion in the church.
REV MAC:
For Shaunice!
END OF TEASER
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2, SCENE 1 INT: NETTA’S HOME – LIVING ROOM – DAY
LEIGH stares at her reflection in the long living room mirror sadly. Behind her SISTER is kissing SHAUNICE’S MOTHER goodbye. OS SISTER promises to check in on her later and SHAUNICE’S MOTHER thanks her for everything.
SISTER walks into the living room and starts collecting tea cups and saucers.
LEIGH:
How could she act like that?
SISTER:
Like what?
LEIGH:
Her daughter was found dead, and she looks so peaceful. I didn’t even see her cry at the funeral. She just shouted and jumped out her seat like it was a concert. No one should be ok with any of this!
SISTER:
Well…
LEIGH:
Instead of preaching about Astro City, they should’ve been talking about Shaunice’s life. It’s like no one gives a damn about her. She died! I listened to her die!
SISTER stops what she’s doing and hugs LEIGH until she stops crying.
SISTER:
Would you like some tea?
CUT TO: ACT 2, SCENE 2 INT: OF NETTA’S HOME: KITCHEN – SIMULTANEOUS
LEIGH sips and cradles a cup of steaming tea at the kitchen table.
LEIGH:
I didn’t mean to yell at you. Shaunice was a good person. She didn’t deserve to die like that.
SISTER:
Everyone deals with death differently. You clearly get angry. At anyone.
LEIGH:
Well, what did you do when your son passed?
SISTER:
He was killed…and I went crazy…for a bit, until I dealt with my demons. (beat) Then I turned my loss into an opportunity. I realized I wasn’t alone. I became a foster mother and I formed a group for grieving parents just like me. We still meet twice a month in the soup kitchen. We’re hosting our annual march for peace rally soon. It might be the largest one yet.
LEIGH:
Shaunice’s mother should be more like you. She should be doing something. She should be out there demanding answers and finding the killer.
SISTER:
I agree with you, but Ms. Wood made peace with Shaunice long before this happened. She was ready.
LEIGH:
No one can be ready for that. I heard Shaunice breathing and screaming, but the police couldn’t do anything. I should’ve done more. I want to find the person that did this to her and show them how this feels.
SISTER watches as LEIGH stares into her tea.
SISTER:
That pain won’t go away, but it will heal over time and make you stronger.
LEIGH:
How so? I’m in class waiting for her to text me how bored she is. I lay awake at night and I still hear her screaming.
SISTER
That’s just the pipes not knowing when to leave good enough alone. (beat) Can I read your tea leaves?
LEIGH:
Why?
SISTER:
The best part about drinking this tea is that the answers you seek are always floating in your cup. If you know how to read them that is.
SISTER takes the cup away from LEIGH, who gives it up reluctantly. FOCUS IN on the INSIDE of the cup. SISTER turns and tilts the cup for a better view.
SISTER:
You have a light that the world needs.
LEIGH:
Oh my god, now you’re bulls-
SISTER:
Shush…I’m reading. Your light is beautiful, but it can be snuffed out by the evil of this world if you aren’t careful. It almost was. (Looks up) Lucky you found your way to me in time.
LEIGH (sarcastically):
Yay me.
SISTER:
I’m serious. You couldn’t be any safer than with me. I’ve told you about the dangers of Astro City. You must use your light to see your way out of the darkness. (Beat) It says so in your cup.
LEIGH:
This is why Shaunice told me everyone knows you’re crazy. (BEAT) You really see all that in my tea? What does it say I do now?
SISTER:
Use your light so it can shine through everyone and everything. You should attend one of my groups. Or maybe come and serve at the soup kitchen. Rev Mac will be there. You really should meet him. He’ll change your life.
LEIGH isn’t too sure.
SISTER:
Think about it. I also heard from a reliable source that the press and the Mayor will be there tomorrow too.
LEIGH:
So?
SISTER:
Back in my day, when we were upset about the way people treated us, we organized and gave um hell. We marched. We rioted. We voted. You want people to listen to you? Focus on the right target. But what do I know?
CU LEIGH is intrigued.
ACT 2, SCENE 3 EXT: CANIFF PARK – NIGHT
JAMAL COLE has made his way through CANIFF WOODS to the CROCS TRAP HOUSE. A few people hang outside drinking. As JAMAL walks over to them, RICKY GUERRA steps in front of him.
RICKY:
Where ya been at, Jay?
JAMAL:
Been busy. Loco inside?
RICKY:
Yeah, he’s in there. Needed his privacy and shit, but I mean, for real, where ya been?
JAMAL:
I told you.
JAMAL tries to step around RICKY, but RICKY steps in his way. The GANG around them exclaims in surprise.
JAMAL:
What the hell you doing?
RICKY:
I’ve been asking myself the same question. You’ve been acting mad sus lately, and then I see you walking up here like you haven’t been MIA in days, like people haven’t been trying to call ya ass.
JAMAL:
I thought cellphones didn’t work up here.
RICKY:
You know what I mean.
JAMAL:
Nah you tell me.
RICKY:
How the hell did this get turned on me?
JAMAL:
Back up off me, Ric.
GANG (Adlibs):
Oh! You gonna stand there and take that Ric?
RICKY:
Shaunice is dead.
RICKY pours a little of his brown paperbag drink on the ground next to JAMAL’S sneakers. FOCUS ON how it splashes up on JAMAL that he has to step back. RICKY downs some of his drink.
RICKY:
If ya ain’t careful, that could be you.
JAMAL:
What the hell you trying to say?
RICKY:
I’m speaking English. Be careful. Cuidado. Mas despacio.
JAMAL:
Ric, I ain’t up here for this.
RICKY:
If you ain’t here to celebrate, then I don’t know what you came for.
JAMAL:
What are we celebrating? Nurse is dead. Someone fucking killed her.
RICKY:
You would’ve known if you were here.
RICKY pokes JAMAL in the chest hard.
JAMAL:
Don’t touch me.
RICKY:
Too good to be touched now?
JAMAL:
I promise you won’t move on me.
RICKY:
Oh you promise?
They stare back and forth at each other hard, and then RICKY smiles.
RICKY:
I’m giving you shit, dawg, for not picking up that fuckin phone. You almost shit your pants, huh?
JAMAL is not amused. He looks down at RICKY’S hand and walks around it and into the trap house. RICKY face changes into a grimace.
ACT 2, SCENE 4 INT: TRAPHOUSE – SIMALTENEOUS
LOCO ZANE is sitting nearly in the dark save for a lantern and glow in the dark graffiti. He’s on discarded furniture, feet kicked back as he smokes. Room is gray with smoke.
JAMAL (OS):
Loco?
LOCO pulls hard on his blunt and inhales deeply. As he exhales, his head fall back onto the couch. FOCUS ON JAMAL entering the room. LOCO’S head is tilted back.
JAMAL:
Yo, you don’t hear me calling you?
FOCUS ON LOCO smiling and exhaling his smoke at something off screen and behind him. JAMAL keeps calling his name, but all LOCO seems to hear is wind. No matter how many times JAMAL calls him only wind is heard.
JAMAL (silently):
What the hell are you doing? Miguel?
LOCO:
No one calls me that except for my mother. And I hate that bitch.
JAMAL:
Shit, you weren’t answering to anything else.
LOCO:
Seriously, I hate that bitch. When she wasn’t shaking her ass, she was getting it beat. Dumb bitch.
LOCO laughs hysterically. JAMAL shakes his head. LOCO offers the blunt and JAMAL refuses.
LOCO:
Remember when your moms kicked you out? She was so gassed.
JAMAL:
Yea, bro, she stays gassed about something, but listen. I can’t stay long. I gotta meet up with shortie.
LOCO:
You got a shortie now, Bro?
JAMAL:
Nothing serious. Just Leigh.
LOCO (barely holding a smile):
My nigga. (Beat) You hear that?
JAMAL:
No.
LOCO:
Seriously, you don’t hear it?
JAMAL:
I don’t hear anything.
LOCO:
I hear it. I told them to leave me alone just to make sure.
JAMAL:
Loco, bro, we need to talk some real shit. I know you’re the last person to see Shaunice alive.
LOCO:
Who told you that? Shortie? She ain’t from the Bricks. Don’t trust her over me.
JAMAL:
This has nothing to do with Leigh or Uptown. I’m asking you about Nurse. She was family. Why weren’t you at the funeral? I felt like I was there all by myself.
LOCO:
Cause you should’ve been here with us.
JAMAL:
I’m trying to stay out of trouble. Keep mom dukes happy.
LOCO:
And you think going to church will fix that? They sin Monday through Saturday and get saved on Sunday. They ain’t no better than us.
JAMAL:
I’m keeping my head low. You should too.
LOCO:
I got this. Listen. Listen to me. *I’m the man now.*
LOCO laughs.
JAMAL:
Keep it a hundred. Did you hurt Nurse when she was with y’all?
LOCO (laughs):
Jay, you killing my vibe.
JAMAL:
Did you?
LOCO gets serious and gives JAMAL a red-eyed, blood shot stares that looks right through him. He almost looks rabid.
LOCO:
You spend a couple months locked up in kiddie jail, and you think you’re a saint? Playing D-Boy all of a sudden and chilling with new niggas. I know you. If you want out, just man up and say it. Quit acting pussy.
JAMAL is silent, unsure how to respond.
LOCO:
I didn’t know you were this soft. You do you, Jay. Like I said, I got this. I’ve always been dolo.
LOCO stares blankly ahead.
LOCO:
I was locked up way longer than you. You don’t know shit.
JAMAL finally looks behind him and notices the glowing mural of the GOATMAN stalking through the woods. The GOATMAN appears closer than before. This unnerves JAMAL, and LOCO laughs.
JAMAL (under his breath):
You’re cooked bro.
As JAMAL storms off, LOCO is overwhelmed by the sound of howling wind. FOCUS on the dark silhouette of the GOATMAN in the mural.
DISEMBODIED VOICE:
More…blood…
END OF ACT 2