ACT 3, SCENE 1 INT: ASTRO CITY’S GANG UNIT HQ – INTERROGATION RM- AFTERNOON
LOCO sits with his hands uncuffed and folded neatly across a table. His head is tilt over the back of the chair and staring up at the halogen lights. From HIS POV, in the brightness is The Goatman.
Door opens, enters AMED and his partner, CHRISTOPHER O’SHAUGHNESSY, 30-40s, gym-rat body, nonchalant attitude, more worried about his pay check than his job.
CHRIS:
Afternoon, I’m Officer Christopher O’Shaughnessy, and this is my partner, Mohamed Butler.
LOCO:
I’ve been here for a grip. When y’all gonna offer me some water and snacks? I like them blue Doritos.
CHRIS:
In a minute. Let’s just get through this first.
AMED:
Or you could keep playing games and sit here all afternoon.
LOCO:
I ain’t playing no games, sir. But if you pull out some Monopoly, I’m a beast.
CHRIS:
Ah you got jokes.
LOCO:
I found out that it’s better to laugh than to cry. Or I could shut up and close my eyes and let people get away with it.
CHRIS:
Get away with what?
LOCO:
Fuckin with me.
AMED:
Tell us why you didn’t have your ID.
LOCO:
I didn’t know I needed my ID for walking.
CHRIS:
You could’ve at least given us your name. Even a fake one.
LOCO:
Now you got jokes! That’s false impersonation. I know my Rights. I didn’t have to give y’all shit. By the way, I still don’t even know why the hell I’m here. I know for a fact that’s imprisonment.
AMED opens a folder.
AMED:
I had to look you up Miguel Lozanne.
LOCO:
That must’ve been real hard for you.
AMED:
Someone with your past, it was easier than you think.
CHRIS:
Your PO had a lot to say about you, kid.
LOCO:
Ex-PO. I aged out at 19. I’m a new man now, and my record’s clean.
AMED:
Sealed, but definitely not clean.
CHRIS:
You got some ‘splaning to do.
AMED:
No amount of talk will get you out of this.
LOCO:
Y’all about to do a good cop-bad cop thing?
CHRIS:
You’re watching too much TV, Miguel.
LOCO:
No one calls me Miguel. And I can’t focus with this nigga grilling me. Like bro, what happened to your face?
AMED:
Damn, your mama didn’t teach you any manners, huh? She let you do whatever the hell you wanted. She’d probably let you get away with murder because you were her baby.
LOCO:
You got my record. You tell me.
CHRIS:
You had a joint on you, a box cutter, and failed to identify yourself. I think an officer said you punched him so add assault and resisting arrest. Kid, make this easy for yourself and answer our questions directly.
LOCO:
You can’t get me on a little pot, and like I told that cop, I work at a warehouse. Just give me my fine and a court date. Y’all don’t need to keep me here for this.
AMED:
Quit lying. Your boy Jamal is in as much trouble as you. You might want to beat him to a plea.
LOCO:
Now who’s lying? Me or you? Or him?
AMED is staring down LOCO, but LOCO doesn’t flinch. LOCO actually leans in closer. CHRIS pulls AMED back before something happens. LOCO laughs.
CHRIS:
Alright. Give each other some room. (Whispers to AMED) I don’t need IA on our asses. So keep it cool. You need a break?
LOCO:
Yea take a break and bring me my Doritos.
AMED (ignoring):
Miguel, were you in Downtown to sell drugs?
LOCO keeps laughing.
AMED:
Were you involved in the harming of Shaunice Woods in any way?
LOCO laughs harder. CHRIS looks uncomfortable.
AMED:
Do you hear voices that other people don’t hear?
LOCO stops laughing abruptly. AMED smiles in victory.
LOCO:
Who said that?
AMED:
Struck a nerve?
CHRIS:
Easy everyone. Let’s play nice.
LOCO:
Nah, who said that shit?
AMED:
You might want to get yourself checked out. I know firsthand that people like that end up destroying everything and everyone around them right up until someone kills them. Usually a cop.
LOCO:
A voice is telling me this is the part where I ask for a lawyer. He might want your names. O’Shaughnessy and Butler, right? (BEAT) I know a Butler. Yea. Underneath that burnt hamburger you call a face, y’all kinda look alike.
CHRIS:
What’re you talking about?
LOCO:
Yea, Officer Butler’s brother and I go way back. Omar, right?
AMED:
You should shut the hell up now. I don’t want you incriminating yourself.
LOCO:
Or yourself. I understand how it is. It’s family first. You can tell Jamal I said that.
AMED can barely contain his rage.
LOCO:
Now can I please get some damn blue Doritos!
ACT 3, SCENE 2 INT: AC GANG UNIT OFFICES – CONT’D
JAMAL is seating at AMED’S desk, nervous. His eyes catch the attention of a photo on AMED’s desk.
CLOSE OF PHOTO: AMED and LINDA on their wedding day.
As JAMAL studies the happy photo, AMED comes back and slams a file on the desk. JAMAL is startled.
AMED:
What the hell was I thinking listening to you?
JAMAL:
What happened?
AMED:
You and dumbass brother put a lot of lives at risk is what happened.
JAMAL:
Loco did something to Shaunice. She helped me out like we was family. I had to do something to help her now.
AMED:
Loco said something about family too, but I believe it more when you say it. Will you and Loco be cool after this?
JAMAL:
Tell me you got him. On something.
AMED shakes his head.
JAMAL:
*Fuck.*
AMED:
He didn’t have anything on him that you said he would, but he’ll slip up soon enough I’m sure. The crazies always do.
JAMAL:
You letting him go?
AMED:
We have to. We can’t hold him on hearsay and a bit of contraband.
JAMAL:
Everybody in the Bricks knows he’s crazy. Ask them.
AMED:
I believe you. I can see it in his eyes he isn’t all there. I’d lock his ass up just for laughing the way he does, but as much as I want to, we can’t lock up people for being crazy.
JAMAL:
He’ll do something again. Maybe worse.
AMED:
I told you to stop before anything bad happened. No one cares about a dead girl or a psycho teenager anymore. It’s a media circus right now. A building exploded, people died and the rest are homeless. How long before they find something else more interesting?
JAMAL is stewing in his thoughts. He is about to panic.
JAMAL:
I thought all I had to do was come forward. You guys were supposed to fix things. Make things right. This is the exact opposite of all that. What am I gonna do now?
AMED:
I don’t know. Stay low. Avoid trouble.
JAMAL:
You got any kids?
AMED:
Why do you want to know about my kids?
JAMAL points at the desktop photo. AMED tilts it away.
JAMAL:
Because staying low and avoiding trouble sounds like some basic ass parenting advice right now. My problem is beyond basic.
AMED:
In all honesty, I’d tell my kid to come home.
JAMAL:
I can’t do that to my mom. She’s already on thin ice with the housing authority because of me. I can’t bring this heat to her. They’ll evict her and my brothers and sisters.
AMED:
Why don’t you talk to your PO?
JAMAL:
So she could lock my ass up? Nah. I like my freedom. (BEAT) If Loco’s out, I’m not safe. No one I’m with is safe. What the fuck was I thinking trusting yall?
AMED:
We’ll try to keep tabs on Loco for as long as we could, but if you can’t go home, you have to get the hell out of the AC. Here.
AMED gives JAMAL a card.
AMED:
That’s my number, and I put my brother’s on the back. Call him. He’s not always stupid. He could help get you out of the Crips.
JAMAL:
The only way out is to get jumped out.
AMED:
I’ve seen the aftermath of those jump outs. They cornered him, about 8 or so versus one. Left him for dead. It was so bad they destroyed the retina of his right eye. He was in a coma for a month. When he woke up, he was blind in one eye, and he still wouldn’t identify them. That’s what you want for yourself?
JAMAL:
Nobody wants that.
AMED:
Then get smart. You got this far on your brain.
OS DOOR to the interrogation room opens and LOCO files out uncuffed with CHRIS. LOCO stares menacingly at JAMAL and blows a kiss.
AMED (to JAMAL):
Get outta here. Now.
JAMAL grabs his stuff and leaves quickly.
ACT 3, SCENE 3 EXT: SISTER NETTA’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON
NEBTHET ENNEAD is pulling along her shining cart of metal and memorial pins. She stops and rummages through a recycling pin outside of SISTER NETTA’S HOME.
ACT 3, SCENE 4 INT: SISTER NETTA’S HOUSE – CONT’D
SISTER NETTA was in her living room reading, when she hears a clang of bottles and cans. She gets up to go outside.
ACT 3, SCENE 5 EXT: NETTA’S HOUSE – CONT’D
NEB is gathering her cans back into her overturned cart.
SISTER is standing out her front door.
SISTER:
That’s my property. Ain’t what you doing illegal?
NEB:
I’m sorry. I’m not here to hurt anyone. Sorry. I’ll be quick.
SISTER is stunned by the reflection of NEB’S GLASSES.
SISTER:
It’s alright. Take the cans. You could put it to better use than I could.
SISTER goes to help NEB collect all her fallen cans.
NEB:
I only take what I need for those that need remembering. It’s my livelihood. Sorry. I’ll be out of your way soon.
Once SISTER is closer, she stops mesmerized by NEB.
SISTER:
I know you.
NEB:
No…do you?
SISTER:
Yes, I’ve seen you before.
As NEB speaks she gets more confident.
NEB:
People see me around everywhere. They don’t say much to me, but they don’t know that I see them, or the things that I can do. I can do lots of things.
SISTER:
Nebthet Ennead. Neb, I haven’t seen you since I was a little girl. You haven’t aged a day. Who’s calling you now?
NEB:
A few, but there’s much to be done, much to make, much to do, and no time to do it all, but I have to finish before it’s too late.
SISTER:
No, please. Don’t leave me. Stay. (beat) Are you thirsty? Would you like some tea?
NEB clutches her cans to her chest.
NEB:
But…there’s much to be done.
SISTER:
Please. You can even bring your cans inside.
Through NEB’S LARGE GLASSES, her eyes look hawkish and bizarre.
ACT 3, SCENE 6 EXT: DOWNTOWN AC – LATE AFTERNOON
JAMAL is carrying around his bookbag walking back and forth briskly. He keeps looking at his cellphone.
CLOSE UP: 16 MISSED CALLS LOCO
JAMAL stuffs the cellphone in his pocket and keeps pacing.
LEIGH (O.S.):
Jamal!
JAMAL turns in fear at first, but softens when he realizes it is LEIGH. She runs to him and throws her arms around him. She starts squealing in excitement and he has to calm her down. He pulls her away into a private, whispered conversation under a bus terminal.
LEIGH:
Oh my god, I can’t believe you did it. You’re crazy.
JAMAL:
I feel like that now, yeah.
LEIGH:
To be brave you have to be a little crazy. I tried calling you all afternoon. I didn’t know what to think when you didn’t pick up. What happened? Tell me.
JAMAL:
They…
LEIGH:
Got him? Oh my god, did they?
JAMAL struggles for words, but then smiles.
LEIGH:
They did!
JAMAL tries to calm her down again, but to no avail.
LEIGH:
I can’t believe it. You did it. For Shaunice. Did he confess?
JAMAL:
Yea. I think they cornered him and he had nowhere else to go.
LEIGH:
I hope he dies in prison for what he did to her. She deserved better than what she got.
LEIGH cries. She hugs and sobs into JAMAL’S arms. He comforts her until his guilt shows on his face.
JAMAL:
Don’t cry. Wait. Listen. I can’t do this.
LEIGH:
No you listen. I had to fight for myself before I got here. Fight off uncles and weird foster parents. It feels weird to have someone actually fight with me. You’re a hero.
JAMAL wipes her tears away from her face.
JAMAL:
My mother called me a lot of things, but she ain’t ever called me a hero.
LEIGH:
You are.
They are so close it was impossible not for them to lean in and kiss each other. Their kiss builds into something passionate. She gropes him and he reciprocates until
JAMAL:
Wait. Wait.
LEIGH:
I don’t wanna wait.
AC METRO BUS pulls up to the stop. OS the doors of the bus swing open with a hiss. LEIGH tugs seductively at JAMAL’S shirt collar and leads him onto the bus.
LEIGH:
Ven aqui.
ACT 3, SCENE 7 INT: AC METRO BUS – CONT’D
The bus is mildly crowded. LEIGH leads JAMAL by his hand through the bus riders and all the way to the back of the bus where there’s more seats. By the time, they are in a seat, LEIGH is smiling sultrily. They speak to each other in conspiratory whispers.
JAMAL:
I’ve never seen this side of you.
She repeatedly pecks him on the lips and slides his bookbag off his shoulders.
JAMAL:
Shit. Is Sister Netta home? We can do this over there.
LEIGH says nothing and places his bookbag on his lap.
JAMAL:
Is she?
LEIGH checks to see if no one’s look and reached her hand under his bookbag.
JAMAL:
Here? No. NO. They can see. No.
LEIGH nods and bites her lips.
JAMAL:
No. No. (Pause for excited moan) Yes.
LEIGH covers his mouth, nibbles on his neck as his eyes roll to the back of his head.
ACT 3, SCENE 8 INT: NETTA’S HOME – KITCHEN – SAME
SISTER and NEB are drinking tea. They sit in silence staring at each other, until SISTER breaks the tension.
SISTER:
Do you like the tea?
NEB:
Yes, yes it’s good. What is it?
SISTER:
All natural ingredients. Fresh leaves and bits of fruit. My own special blend I concocted from my ancestors.
NEB:
Yes. Very good.
Back to silence.
SISTER:
How’ve you been?
NEB:
Same old, same old, but I’ve seen much better days and hopefully better tomorrows. Maybe just like you?
SISTER:
Every time I saw you, you always said strange shit like that. I never understood it. I still don’t.
NEB:
I remember. They think I forget, but I remember. You saw so much pain and death, and you kept calling. Your cries were the loudest.
SISTER:
Because you kept leaving me. I needed someone to make me believe it was all right.
NEB:
…Until you figured what our deal was.
SISTER:
It took me a while to figure out, but I see now, Neb. I’ve been able to see for a long time. The first time I saw my sister again, I cried. I wanted it gone sometimes, but I appreciate it now.
NEB:
It’s what you wanted. I just saw it happen. I see things others don’t see, you see?
SISTER:
Mama taught me to believe in angels. You came to me like Gabriel to Mary.
NEB:
Is that what I am? Are you sure? Take a look.
NEB passes her tea cup to SISTER across the table. It makes a LOUD hollow and wooden sound as it moves. SISTER looks down at the tea cup skeptically.
NEB:
Go on. What do you see?
SISTER looks back and forth from NEB to the cup, until she was able to focus on nothing by the dark contents into the cup.
SISTER:
A boy and girl making out…Is that…?
NEB:
Look deeper, Sister.
SISTER squints deeply into the cup.
CUT back and forth from close ups of SISTER’S EYES as they get wider and wider and a zooming out of the cup in SISTER’S hand.
SISTER (mesmerized):
I’m back in the beginning, where there were no buildings and civilizations, when the stars were falling from the sky like flaming chariots. One star smashes and explodes life and possibility everywhere, birthing nations and cities. Another fallen star brought with it a thirst for blood and hunt, causing war and chaos. These stars are pulled together like magnets that never touch, but the thirst… it’s getting stronger.
NEB (O.S.):
More blood.
The saucer underneath the cup in SISTER’S hand starts to sit in a pool of spreading blood, the circle gets larger and larger, SISTER’S EYES get wider and wider.
SISTER (O.S.):
It’s spreading. Flying like a bat in the night. It’ll latch on to anyone, but it will hurt everyone in the end. God, stop it. It’s…horns! Stop it, NEB. Stop it!
HARD CUT TO: ACT 3, SCENE 9 INT: SISTER’S KITCHEN – LATE NIGHT.
SISTER jumps from a nap. She has dozed off in a dark kitchen. She is alone, save for the two tea cups on the table.
End of ACT 3