ACT 4, SCENE 1, INT: ASTRO CITY HIGH – AFTERNOON
LEIGH’S walking down the school hall during a change of periods. STUDENTS are going between lockers and classes. LEIGH spots SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS using bolt cutters to get into a locker.
LEIGH:
What the hell are you doing?
LEIGH slams the locker door close and stand between the ADMINS and the locker. The outside of this locker is decorated with photos and cards.
AMDIN 1:
Ma’am, you need to move out of the way.
LEIGH:
No, this is someone’s locker.
ADMIN 1:
This student is no longer at this school.
LEIGH:
This is Shaunice’s locker. You’re not getting in there.
ADMIN 2 whispers to the other.
ADMIN 1:
Shaunice’s death was a great loss to our community, but this locker can’t stay like this.
LEIGH:
Nope. You’re not touching it. Not gonna happen.
ADMIN 2:
We aren’t here to start anything. We just think it’s best to put her things in a box and mail them to her mother.
LEIGH:
Her mother didn’t care about her then. Why would she now?
ADMIN 1:
Refusing to follow a school administrator’s instructions is grounds for suspension. Your parents could be called.
LEIGH:
I don’t have any parents.
ADMIN 2:
Alright, Ms. Suarez, let’s talk about this.
DARLAH WOODS steps beside LEIGH.
DARLAH:
Sorry, sir, she’s right. This is my cousin’s stuff. We put these things here for a reason. We should have the option of what to do with it or when it should come down.
ADMINS notice a crowd developing around the locker. The ADMINS share a look.
ADMIN 2:
Whatever you do, just make sure to get to class on time.
ADMINS walk away.
LEIGH:
Who are you?
DARLAH:
Darlah. We’re in Studio together. It’s okay if you don’t know me.
LEIGH:
I don’t. What do you want?
DARLAH
I saw what was about to go down, and I wasn’t about to let that happen. I wasn’t going to let you fight that battle alone. I know you’ve been going through it.
LEIGH:
Why are people still talking about me? Tell Loco I don’t know where Jamal is! He can keep sending cars to scare me all he wants.
DARLAH:
Whoa. I just wanted to see if you were okay. Like I said, I see you in Studio all the time. You looked like you needed help.
LEIGH:
I’m fine. Thank you. Sorry. I’m not in the market for trusting people right now.
DARLAH:
I see that. Me and Nurse didn’t hang out all the time, but she was family. She had a solution for everything or at least she thought she did.
LEIGH just nods. She opens the locker and pulls things out with melancholy.
DARLAH:
Want some help?
After a moment, LEIGH lets her help.
ACT 4, SCENE 2, INT: THE HEIGHTS – STORE – DAY
JAMAL COLE is browsing through an electronic store. He is staring at an assortment of headphones. He picks them up to read the stats. He looks at the price and groans. As he puts it down, he notices a SECURITY GUARD at the end of the aisle.
JAMAL keeps walking and turns down another aisle. He spots a CD that he likes and as soon as he picks it up, the SECURITY GUARD is at the end of the aisle watching him.
JAMAL:
What’re you following me for?
GUARD speaks into a walkie-talkie.
JAMAL:
I’m not stealing shit!
JAMAL walks briskly out the store upset, but runs into another GUARD 2.
ACT 4, SCENE 3, EXT: THE HEIGHTS – CONT’D
GUARD 2:
Hold up.
GUARD 1 joins.
GUARD 1:
This the kid that been bouncing around from store to store?
GUARD 2:
Yea. Can we see your bag?
JAMAL:
Yo, don’t touch me, Cracka. I told you I wasn’t stealing shit.
GUARD 1:
Then why are you bouncing around here from store to store?
JAMAL:
Damn, you ain’t seen someone shop before? Ain’t this a free country?
GUARD 1:
We don’t normally see kids like you around here.
JAMAL:
That’s fucking racist.
GUARD 2:
We just need to check your bag, son.
JAMAL:
I told you. Don’t touch me.
GUARD 1 goes to grab JAMAL’S arm.
From the POV inside a car, JAMAL and the GUARDS have a tug-o-war with his bookbag.
CAR pulls to the curb and OMAR jumps out.
OMAR:
Hey, Cuz, what’s going on here?
JAMAL is momentarily surprised.
JAMAL:
Shopping while black. I told them I didn’t take anything.
GUARD 1:
This is a police matter sir. Please step back. This doesn’t concern you.
OMAR:
Oh this concerns me greatly. Is he under arrest?
GUARD 2:
We need to check his bag, sir. Get back in your vehicle.
OMAR:
If he’s not under arrest, I hope you have a warrant for this search at least. Otherwise, he doesn’t have to consent to anything.
JAMAL:
No, I don’t consent to shit.
OMAR:
As a matter of fact, I’m not even sure if this is a legal stop and frisk. Let me get your badge numbers, because I’ve got several questions.
GUARD 2:
Are you some kind of lawyer?
OMAR:
I shouldn’t matter who the hell I am. Jamal, would you say they were treating you fairly?
JAMAL:
Hell nah.
GUARD 1:
We could’ve called the cops on you kid.
OMAR:
You mean aren’t cops? I imagine that the Civil Rights Division will be really fascinated by this case then. What stores employ you? What’s your security company?
GUARD 2:
Just take this damn kid outta here.
OMAR:
So, are we free to leave Officers? Excuse me. You aren’t officers.
GUARDS walk away. OMAR and JAMAL dap it each other.
OMAR:
What are you doing here, kid? Shouldn’t you be a school?
JAMAL:
Shouldn’t you be at work?
OMAR:
Personal day. Now don’t change the subject.
JAMAL:
The Crips are after me. I was trying to lay low.
OMAR:
You’re doing a bang up job at it. Have you told my brother?
JAMAL:
Going to him made things worse. He can’t do anything. Don’t worry about me.
OMAR:
The way I see it you’re lucky I was here. Where are you staying?
JAMAL:
Anywhere that ain’t The Bricks.
OMAR:
Why didn’t you call me? There’s shelters…
JAMAL:
So I can worry about having my stuff stolen? I’m Gucci. I don’t need other people involved in my smoke.
OMAR:
A little too late for that now. You look like shit by the way. Do you need anything?
JAMAL:
I’m fine.
OMAR:
Are you sure? You know I’m here to help.
JAMAL:
I’m fine.
JAMAL walks away. Stops and then comes back.
JAMAL:
I don’t need shit from no one.
OMAR:
Anyone.
JAMAL:
Not everyone can do this, nah mean? I got this.
OMAR:
I know.
JAMAL:
I just needed headphones. I ripped mine. And food. I’ve been eating out of a vending machine. I’m out of quarters.
OMAR:
I got you.
ACT 4, SCENE 5, INT: SISTER HOME – SAME DAY
SISTER is in the kitchen sipping her tea when the house moans. The pipes echo through the hall as if someone is banging them. SISTER slams her tea mug down.
SISTER:
Shut up! No one wants to hear you.
SISTER gets up from her seat angry.
SISTER:
It’s stuff like this that makes me want to drink again.
ACT 4, SCENE 6, INT: SISTER HOME – CONT’D
From POV of the basement, SISTER opens the door. The moans get louder.
SISTER:
I said shut up. You too Sister. I know. I KNOW! I’ll call him.
ACT 4, SCENE 7, INT: AC HIGH – CLASSROOM
RICARDO “RICKY” GUERRA is sitting on a chair, while DARLAH is standing behind him braiding his hair into cornrows. Others are in the room with them, but not part of their interactions.
DARLAH:
Bobblehead, can you keep your head still? I don’t want to be here all day.
RICKY:
But you’re mad aggressive.
DARLAH:
It’s not my fault you’re tender headed. Just quit moving. You got somewhere else to be?
RICKY:
You were supposed to be done an hour ago. Loco and I got work.
DARLAH:
When did yall get a job?
RICKY:
If I tell you, I have to kill you.
DARLAH digs the comb into his scalp. Ricky whelps.
DARLAH:
Don’t say that shit, or you’ll leave here looking like Rachel Dolezal’s long lost brother.
RICKY:
Who?
DARLAH:
This is why your behind needs to stay in school. Why do you fuck with Loco anyway? He don’t act right.
RICKY:
Dee, don’t talk about my man’s like that.
DARLAH:
I swear I saw him talking to that painting at the trap. His eyes were glued to it. He leaned his ear into it and everything. You don’t need that kind of mojo in your life right now.
RICKY:
Why you judging him? You don’t know him or the shit he’s been through. At the end of the day, he’s family. I got his back, and you’re just selling tickets.
DARLAH:
Tickets? This is more like a fine. Wake up!
RICKY:
Don’t worry. I’ve been woke!
DARLAH:
Let me ask you something. Were you and Loco the last ones to see my cousin alive?
RICKY:
Who told you that?
DARLAH:
I know how you get around Loco. Did he force you to do something? If he did…
RICKY:
Dee, shut up and do my hair.
DARLAH:
Ric…
RICKY:
OR DO YOU WANT ME TO SHUT YOU UP?!
People in the room stop moving.
RICKY:
Don’t worry about me or Loco. Just do my hair.
DARLAH frowns and continues to work.
ACT 4, SCENE 8, INT: OMAR APARTMENT – AFTERNOON
JAMAL is looking at a skyrise view of Astro City and the HEIGHTS. JAMAL is stuffing his face with a sandwich.
OMAR:
What are you staring at?
JAMAL:
What do you see?
OMAR:
Overpriced luxury apartments with crazy condo fees.
JAMAL:
You don’t see buildings filled with people who can hide away from the shit of the world? In big glass towers, they don’t have to even touch the ground, while the rest are stuck on the sidewalk looking up at them.
OMAR:
Don’t let the view fool you. There’s nothing but boutiques and luxury apartments in the Heights. Well, over there’s a parking garage. They love putting up garages instead of houses. It’s all about using money to build barriers.
JAMAL:
I wish the Bricks had those problems.
OMAR:
When people like you and me make it to the Heights, we don’t just knock down their barriers. We make a bridge for the invasion. (BEAT) Here you go, brother. I use these to workout. The sound quality’s amazing.
JAMAL takes the headphones.
JAMAL:
Thanks man. I’ll pay you back.
OMAR:
Nah, keep um.
JAMAL:
I was dying without my headphones. I don’t know how else to get through all this without my music.
OMAR:
So you got smoke with all the Crips?
JAMAL goes through his phone.
JAMAL:
I got dram with Loco especially. He got C-Brick people looking for me.
OMAR:
I don’t think a bunch of thugs…
JAMAL plays a message on speaker. On the phone is LOCO ZANE.
LOCO (V.O.)/COMPTUER VOICE:
‘Pickup, pickup, pickup!’ MESSAGE SKIPPPED. NEXT MESSAGE. ‘Yo Jay-Roc, your girlfriend’s pretty light on her feet. Remember to look both ways before you cross the street. That rhymes. I guess I got bars too.’ (LOCO laughs hysterically) MESSAGE SKIPPED. NEXT MESSAGE. (LOCO is still laughing gibberish.) MESSAGE SKIPPED. NEXT MESSAGE. (DEAD SILENCE) ‘more…blood!’
OMAR:
He sounds batshit crazy. You sure my brother couldn’t help?
JAMAL:
Hiding is all I got right now.
OMAR:
Alright I here. But don’t ever hesitate to call me. If you really want an escape, I could set you up with DJ Fyah.
OMAR’S phone rings.
OMAR:
I’ll set it up for you anyway. Just wait by your phone. Eat more if you need it. I got tons of stuff in the fridge.
JAMAL:
You trust me like that?
OMAR just gives him a knowing look and picks up the phone.
OMAR:
Hello?
JAMAL goes back to adoring the view.
ACT 4, SCENE 9, INT – HOME – CONT’D
SISTER opens the door. She throws her arms around OMAR.
SISTER:
Thank you for coming so quick.
OMAR:
It’s you. Why wouldn’t I?
SISTER:
It’s in the basement. You remember?
OMAR:
Yup. Where’s Leigh?
SISTER:
Hanging out after school with her music group. We need to be quick before she…
OMAR:
Yea, yea, but first.
OMAR kisses SISTER deeply.
END of ACT 4