TEASER
BLACK SCREEN. HEAVY PANTING AND SNIFFLING. DIAL TONE and 3 LOUD BEEPS.
DISPATCHER (O.S.):
911, what’s your emergency?
A CHILD starts to cry. His voice is trembling. In the BACKGROUND, hysterical screaming and a crying baby.
DISPATCHER (O.S.):
Hello? 911, what’s your emergency?
BOY (O.S.):
Send help please. My mom hit my dad and now he’s not moving. I think he’s dead.
DISPATCHER (O.S.):
Okay. Your mom hit you dad with what?
SILENCE.
DISPATCHER (O.S.):
Hello?
The hysterical screaming turns into angry cursing.
VOICE (O.S.):
I hate you! I hate you! Where the fuck are you?
BOY (O.S):
There’s something wrong with my mom.
DISPATCHER (O.S.):
(sidebar) Yes I hear screaming in the background. Help’s on the way. You’re so brave. Just stay on the phone with me. My name’s Lisa. What’s your name?
BOY (O.S.):
Mohamed. M-O-H-A-M-E-D.
LISA (O.S.):
How old are you Mohamed? Where are you right now?
MOHAMED (O.S.):
I’m 7. I’m in the closet.
LISA (O.S.)
Help’s on the way, Mohamed. Is anybody else there with you?
MOHAMED (O.S):
I left my brother out there. Please be fast.
LISA (O.S.):
The police are on their way. Tell me when you hear the sirens, okay? I see you live in the Bricks. What apartment number?
DEAD SILENCE. There’s only faint baby cries. No more screams in the background however.
LISA (O.S.):
Mohamed?
A DOOR SLOWLY SWINGS OPEN splashing the screen fills with light. Standing in the threshold, sweaty and disheveled is MS LASHEENA BUTLER, a young mother. She’s smiling.
LASHEENA:
I found you.
Young MOHAMED BUTLER, no scars on his face, is cradled on the floor of a closet with a telephone in his ear.
MOHAMED:
Mommy, I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me!
LASHEENA screams and drags MOHAMED out the closet. She kicks MOHAMED out of the room and picks up the dropped telephone.
LISA (OS):
Mohamed? Can you hear me? I can’t hear him.
LASHEENA (into phone):
More blood.
BLACK TITLE CARD APPEARS: BUTLER HOME TRAGEDY – 1985
ACT 1, SCENE 1 INT: APARTMENT – THE BRICKS – NIGHT
In a small kitchenette, dinner is set at a table for four. Plates of food sit untouched. A highchair is empty. A MAN’S FACE is buried in his plate of food. Blood is spilling out from the side of his head and covering the plastic table cover.
PULL OUT: MOHAMED and his toddler-aged brother, OMAR, are sitting on a couch. OMAR is crying. AMED tries to keep it together and calm his brother down.
AMED:
Shush, it’s okay. Mommy? Mommy? Can I take Omar for a walk? He’s crying.
LASHEENA BUTLER is staring into a pot on the stove. She pours oil into it absentmindedly.
AMED:
Mommy? Talk to me.
LASHEENA:
Shut up and eat your food.
AMED:
I’m not hungry.
LASHEENA:
I SAID SHUT UP AND EAT YOUR FOOD!
OMAR wails more. AMED covers him up and muffles the cries. AMED spies the door, but it is bolted up tight and a chair is against the door knob and other objects blocking the congested hallway.
LASHEENA:
Your father and I don’t like you boys running around this late. Ain’t that right, Mister?
ECU of MR. BUTLER dead. His face buried in a plate of food is facing directly at the boys. HIS MOUTH is hung open and slack jawed.
OMAR is staring at his father with tears in his eyes.
AMED pulls OMAR close and away from the view, but AMED is the one now fixated on his deceased father.
LASHEENA turns to AMED and OMAR with crazed eyes.
LASHEENA:
Don’t cry. Everything’s gonna be alright, baby.
AMED:
I don’t believe you.
LASHEENA walks away from the stove as steam clouds up around her face.
LASHEENA:
I don’t like liars either. You take after me.
AMED:
Mommy, just wait for help. Please.
LASHEENA:
Why? We gonna be alright, baby.
Sirens can finally be heard in the background.
AMED:
What are you doing?
LASHEENA:
We gonna be alright.
AMED:
Mommy, stop.
LASHEENA:
We all gonna be alright. We just need more blood.
AMED pushes a crying OMAR behind him protectively.
AMED:
Don’t. I love you. I won’t lie to you.
LASHEENA steps closer to the boys. Smiling.
ECU of what LASHEENA has been carrying around in her hands: a boiling pot of water with a film of grease.
AMED:
Mommy…
SIRENS are closer, but nowhere close to getting there in time.
AMED:
Mommy!
LASHEENA:
Shush. It’s all gonna be alright.
LASHEENA throws the pot in the boys’ direction.
OS AMED screams! OS OMAR screams! But LASHEENA is smiling.
CUT TO BLACK
END OF TEASER
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2, SCENE 1 INT: ASTRO CITY’S GANG UNIT HEADQUARTERS – GYM – MORNING
Present day MOHAMED BUTLER is working out aggressively. Sweat drips down the bridge of his nose. With a hoodie over his head and headphones in his ears, he is getting lost, reaching his zone where he is oblivious to everything and everyone.
INTERCUT with images of him doing push-ups, bench pressing weights and letting it slam with a clang, and boxing at a punching bag.
AMED punches the bag rapidly, building intensity, until all he can hear is screams of his haunted past.
CHRIS O’SHAUGHNESSY (O.S.):
Yo, Amed!
AMED rips off his headphones and hoodie.
AMED:
What!
CHRIS jumps as if spooked, but then he shakes his head in disgust.
CHRIS:
Relax man.
They aren’t alone in the gym. Other officers are there. Some are staring at AMED curiously. Others speed walk away in laughter.
AMED nods to himself and tries to calm himself down.
ACT 2, SCENE 2 INT: AC GANG UNIT HQ – LOCKER ROOM – SAME
CHRIS and AMED are getting changed. AMED looks up from tying his laces to see an OFFICER look away from them quickly.
AMED:
Why don’t you take my damn picture instead of just staring?
CHRIS:
Jesus Christ, Amed, did you forget to take your chill pill today?
OFFICER practically runs past them with his head down.
AMED:
Has everyone lost their minds? Why does it feel like I’m in high school all over again?
CHRIS:
I mean, c’mon. You know how you look. Don’t you?
AMED is speechless.
CHRIS:
What? There’s no sense in lying to you about it.
AMED:
Thanks Chris. You’re a stand-up partner.
CHRIS:
Yeah, I don’t need your jedi-truth psycho-babble to see that that was a lie. Take it as a compliment. You got this look that screams you could snap at any minute. It’s literally in your face, in your eyes. No one fucks with that, which means no one fucks with you, which means no one fucks with me. Do you know how many times I’ve seen people part like the Red Sea when I walk in with you?
AMED:
You’re also ridiculous and uncouth.
CHRIS:
At least, I got the balls to say it to your face.
AMED:
Muzzle it Chris.
CHRIS:
Then who else is gonna bring a smile to that ugly mug of yours?
As CHRIS laughs, AMED smirks.
ACT 2, SCENE 3 EXT: AC GANG UNIT GARAGE – SAME
CHRIS and AMED are walking towards their tinted, unmarked cop car.
AMED:
Let’s make another sweep of the Bricks.
CHRIS:
Might as well. Rumor has it that fire didn’t take out all the drugs. Someone’s pushing some new shit that’s making people go berserk.
AMED:
Seriously?
CHRIS:
It was on Channel 8. They said it took four orderlies to hold down a bum high out of his mind. Today could be our lucky day. Maybe your mug could scare up some leads and get us on the news as heroes. Are you ready for prime time?
AMED shakes his head, and as he gets into the car, the screen splits.
ACT 2, SCENE 3 INT: SQUAD CAR – CONTINUED
AMED and CHRIS hop into the car. As they pull out of the garage, CHRIS turns on the radio and AMED complains about his taste in music (AD LIB) and CHRIS takes offense and defends it.
ACT 2, SCENE 3 EXT: CANIFF PARK – SAME DAY/MORNING.
Plays out in SILENCE.
A JOGGER runs down the stretch of track/walkway that wind around CANIFF PARK and the forest. She has her headphones on so she doesn’t hear movement in the bushes that suddenly BURST out of the forest behind her.
IT is BEZ – young crew member of the Crips last seen snorting drugs with a horrible side effect. BEZ’s clothes are torn and his eyes are blood shot. He looks as though he’s been rolling through mud. He snarls and chases at the JOGGER.
In the midst of their banter, AMED shuts off the radio in protest…
CHRIS shows off something on his phone. AMED isn’t that amused by it, which makes Chris laugh harder.
COMES ALVIE WITH SOUND.
The JOGGER is breathing rhythmically, until she is jumped from behind and attacked by BEZ. In their struggle, the JOGGER rolls to her back and is face to face
with BEZ, who snaps his bloody jaw at her. She punches, but BEZ bites her wherever he could.
JOGGER SCREAMS for help erupt into blood spurts as BEZ bites down on her neck.
ACT 2, SCENE 4a EXT: ASTRO CITY – THE BRICKS – SAME
AMED and CHRIS pull into a lot on the Bricks.
CU of a group of men posted on the front steps.
AMED and CHRIS hop out the car. The PORCH GROUP starts to slowly scatter.
AMED:
Sit down. We’re not here for all that.
Some in the GROUP stay seated.
CHRIS:
What’d I tell you? No one fucks with you.
AMED:
What’s up fellas?
ACT 2, SCENE 4b EXT: CANIFF FOREST – SAME
This scene is in SILENCE.
BEZ running through the woods, disoriented and lost. He is stripping off his clothes as he sweats profusely.
In a blur of jolting images of BEZ running through the forest, GOATMAN flashes on the screen briefly.
MAN #1: Make it quick, Officer Butler. We don’t need to be seen this long with you.
CHRIS: What do y’all know about this berserker drug?
MAN #1:
Never heard of it.
MAN #2:
Nah, bro. I think my aunt was on some shit like that. She was so high she scratched holes into her arm. CHRIS:
Yeah, it makes people do crazy shit like that and then some. Just watch Channel 8.
MAN #1:
Like we ain’t got enough to deal with already?
MAN #1: (Cont’d)
Whenever one drug dealer goes, another one takes his place.
AMED:
We’re trying to find the source and help the Bricks focus on rebuilding.
MAN #2:
No clue. I stay away from that shit.
MAN #1:
Bet you it’s some young punk selling bad drugs, and the fiends will suffer for it. And The Lord said, ‘Blest are the Fiends for they will be a scourge on thine Earth.’
CHRIS:
That’s morbid.
MAN #2:
Fo’real.
AMED:
But true. Keep in touch and stay out of trouble.
MAN #1:
Whatever, Officer Butler.
AMED and CHRIS shake hands with the GROUP.
As AMED AND CHRIS make their way back to the car (AD LIB SILENT conversation)
BEZ burst out the CANIFF FOREST and runs into the streets and dodges cars.
BEZ avoids getting hit by a bus. The BUS DRIVER reaches for her radio.
BEZ is tweaking and running nearly naked down the streets. People stay away from him as he clearly looks intoxicated. He keeps running in the direction of the Bricks.
When a PASSERBY attempts to help BEZ turns to him and growls a bloody smile.
BEZ attacks the PASSERBY violently. He beats him and jumps on top of him. BEZ gouges out the PASSERBY’S eyes before sinking his teeth into his face. ONLOOKERS run terrified.
ACT 2, SCENE 4C INT: SQUAD CAR
AMED AND CHRIS drive out of the BRICKS and notice people running.
DISPATCHER (O.S.):
All available units. We’ve got several incoming calls about an assault and Battery in progress at Eugene and Poppo. Suspect is considered extremely dangerous.
CHRIS:
What the hell?
AMED:
That’s right here.
AMED turns on the sirens and drives away.
AMED AND CHRIS pull up to the scene to end split screen.
ACT 2, SCENE 5, EXT: ASTRO CITY – EUGENE AND POBBO – SAME
The scene is chaotic with onlookers and noise.
AMED and CHRIS step out the car with guns drawn.
CHRIS:
The fuck!
CU of BEZ’s face buried in PASSERBY’S NECK.
AMED:
Police! Stop!
CU on BEZ who lifts his head up from PASSERBY’S disfigured face and blood and flesh drips from BEZ’S mouth,
BEZ:
More blood.
AMED freezes.
CHRIS:
Hands up or I’ll shot.
BEZ charges at CHRIS first. CHRIS fires, but BEZ is unfazed and keeps going. BEZ jumps on CHRIS and knocks them off balance. CHRIS can’t fire his weapon properly, because BEZ has pinned his arms and is attempting to bite CHRIS in the face.
CHRIS:
Help!
AMED unfreezes.
AMED:
Stop!
BEZ snaps his teeth in CHRIS’ face. Saliva drips onto CHRIS.
CHRIS:
Shoot it!
AMED fires his gun, until it clicks. BEZ is riddled with bullets and topples over, twitching.
AMED lowers his gun and is staring at BEZ’s deceased body.
ECU BEZ’ mouth is hung open and bloody.
CHRIS crawls away in SLOW MO as the world spins around AMED.
AMED stands stationary, staring blankly ahead as the world moves/rotates behind him.
FIRST ROTATION: the crime scene is being set up, the body is being hauled away, media trucks are in the background, and EMTs are tending to CHRIS.
SECOND ROTATION: AMED being tended to in an ambulance truck as officers are interviewing him, and a camera crew is being held back from asking questions.
THIRD ROTATION: AMED in an office, his badge and gun on the table, and someone of seniority and rank at the other end talking to him.
FOURTH ROTATION: AMED is standing in his childhood living room/kitchenette. Everything is the same. His FATHER’S corpse collapsed at the table and His MOTHER standing and smiling with a steaming pot of hot water ready to pour on him
ACT 2, SCENE 6 INT: AMED’S CAR – TWILIGHT
AMED gasps as if emerging from out of water. He’s inside his car in front of his home. His cellphone’s ringing.
AMED (panicked):
Hello?
CHRIS (O.S.):
God damn it, Amed. When I asked if you were ready for prime time, you could’ve warned me first.
AMED:
Chris?
CHRIS (O.S):
Yes. I’m alright thanks for asking. But how are you?
AMED:
Where are you?
CHRIS (O.S.):
Doctors are holding me overnight for observation. At least whatever that kid had wasn’t contagious. He was just doped up on that bad patch.
AMED:
Chris, I’m sorry.
CHRIS (o.s.):
For what! You saved me! Man, just take care of yourself. Where’s Linda? Should I call her?
AMED:
I’m good, Chris.
CHRIS (O.S.):
Then, stop wasting your administrative leave by talking to me. Once they let me out of here, I’mma spend mine at a casino. I’m feeling lucky. (BEAT) Thanks for saving my life. That kid deserved it.
AMED:
Ok.
CHRIS (O.S.):
And when you watch the news, that viral video won’t do us any justice. You’re a damn hero.
ACT 2, SCENE 7 INT: AMED/LINDA HOME – CONTINUED.
AMED:
Linda.
Home is dark and empty. Amed turns to the living room with the plasma television.
JUMP CUT to the LIVING ROOM, where AMED –still in work clothes and on the edge of his couch- is flipping through the channels until he lands on Channel 8.
AMED raises the volume as the Top Story of the night plays. It’s a cellphone video of him and CHRIS attacked by BEZ, and AMED eventually emptying his clip into BEZ.
AMED stares at the television blankly.
END OF ACT 2