by Shawn James
Marcia talk over coffee.
John
So how’d you wind up involved with Dex?
MARCIA
A couple of months after you left for the service, he came into the C-Town buying groceries for a party he was having.
john
You always loved getting your groove on.
marcia
(laughing)
Yeah, you know how I love to party. And Dex throws the biggest bashes. Barbecues on the fourth of July, Turkeys on Thanksgiving, Christmas toys for the kids-
John
He’s a real hero.
Marcia
He was doing a lot more for me than the scrubs in the neighborhood could. He could take me to the movies, buy me nice clothes, jewelry, trips to Jamaica-.
jOHN
I take it you enjoyed getting the attention from a high roller-
marcia
I’ll admit it did feel good to be taken care of at first. I never got respect from people before I started dating Dex.
JOHN
Nobody respects a C-town checker?
MARCIA
Please. People wouldn’t even talk to me when I worked the register at C-Town. I can’t tell you how many times I got cursed out there-
john
But they step back when they know you’re Dex’s woman.
marcia
Yeah. They see me walking down the street and they treat me like I’m somebody. Like I matter.
john
You mattered to me back in the day-
marcia
But you left for the service.
john
Sometimes I wonder what could’ve been between us-
Marcia
Believe me I’d give all the designer clothes, jewelry and furniture back if I could get a chance with you-
John takes Marcia’s hand.
JOHN
I’m out of the service now.
MARcia
You must like to live dangerously. You know Dex is out to kill you-
John
And so was Samhal Hussein.
marcia
I don’t want you putting your life on the line for me-
john
You’ve been pining for me for years.
marcia
And now you’re making a move?
john
It seems like the right time.
Marcia gives John a look.
marcia
Is it? Neither of us has a job or a way to make a living-
John
You can do better than Dex.
Marcia
I never thought I’d get my chance with you-
john
We can make it together.
Marcia blushes. She’s flattered by the offer but-
marcia
Still, what about Dex?
John
I don’t see no rings on those fingers.
Marcia ponders John’s offer as-
Ronald walks into the Diner and approaches their booth.
Ronald
They told me you came in here.
John springs out of his seat.
john
Excuse me.
John and Ronald walk into a-
COrner of the diner
And John inquires-
john
What’s going on Ronald?
ronald
We’re gonna bring Dex down this afternoon. You want to ride with me?
john
I’m in. Just let me talk to Marcia for a minute.
John returns to the-
Booth
And tells Marcia-
john
Something came up. I gotta go.
marcia
I’ll talk to you later.
John and Ronald rush out of the diner. 30 minutes-
later
He’s riding shotgun in Ronald’s Lexus with a convoy of police squad cars and vans behind them to-
ext. Webster houses – afternoon.
Officers in bulletproof vests with guns drawn storm out of vehicles with guns drawn. John and Ronald lead the and charge on a-
Block party
With red white and blue ballons, a DJ spinning tracks, American flags and barbecue. Kids are playing and getting their faces painted while-
Dex is interviewed by a news crew. With the microphone pointed in his face and cameras on him, Dex smiles at the officers as-
dex
Well I’d like to think we’d all like to go out of our way to honor an American hero.
John and the officers approach. Dex looks directly at the camera and says-
dex
And here comes the guest of honor with his police escort.
Ronald gestures for the officers to put their guns down. Dex takes advantage of the situation to mock them.
DEX
Afternoon officers. Doesn’t look like you’re dressed to celebrate the man who took out Samhal Hussein-
John
We’re executing a warrant.
Ronald pulls John aside and whispers in his ear-
Ronald
Can’t do this now.
john
Why not?
ronald
There’s kids here and reporters. We do anything now and it’ll be a riot all over the news.
An exasperated John huffs a sigh as Dex-
Rubs it in.
Dex
Yo, soldier boy, I’m having a block party in your honor. Grab yourself a plate of barbecue.
John glares at Dex and tells him-
John
I’m not hungry.
Eager to get the story, the reporter asks-
Reporter
John how do you feel about the community honoring you-
John
No comment.
As John storms upstairs Dex heads over to-
a table in the courtyard
Where his henches are sitting scarving down plates.
HENCH#1
Yo, you see the way soldier boy ran off! You punked him good Dex!
dex
Yeah I got him good. But with soldier boy getting serious it’s time to take care of some business. I can’t be having niggers like the District Attorney trying to step to me with armies of cops.
The henches are eager for some violence.
Hench #3
You want us to jump him?
dex
Nah. For this kind of work I’ma have to bring in the specialists.
Dex takes his cell phone out of his pocket punches in some numbers and calls-
dex
Hello Escobar? I got a job for you.
Dex lays out his plans as-
Int. Apt 5a living room – evening
John broods on the sofa. The TV broadcasts-
Insert
The 6’oclock news. A donut plays featuring-
REPORTER
(V.O.)
Local members of the community and law enforcement welcomed home Sgt. John Williams, the soldier who killed Iraqi warlord Samhal Hussein with a surprised block party-
CLICK! John shuts off the TV as-
Back to the living room
DING DONG! The doorbell rings. Mama opens the door to-
Ronald.
mama
May I help you?
RONald
I’m Ronald Johnson the District Attorney. I wanted to talk to John-
John jumps off the sofa.
john
I don’t want to talk-
RONALD
Look, I’m sorry we couldn’t arrest Dex but-
John
What are you sorry for? You folded to Dex like a $2 lawn chair.
ronald
I couldn’t arrest him there-
john
He kills a cop and you back off-
ronald
It wasn’t the right time.
john
When is it gonna be the right time for justice? Charles is dea
d-
ronald
Look, there were kids and the media there. If we went after him then, we wouldn’t have the community on our side-
john
I know. Hearts and minds. Someone in the department tipped him off-
ronald
I know. But I’m not gonna stop until I get Charles justice.
Ronald heads for the door and tells John-
ronald
I’ll call you when we’re ready to make another move on Dex.
As Ronald leaves-
Marcia enters. Mama warns her-
mama
He’s in a bad mood.
Mama heads for the kitchen as-
Marcia flops on the sofa and puts her arm around the frustrated John.
marcia
I heard about what Dex did to you-
john
Your man played his hand well.
marcia
Dex was always good at cards. He could always pull an ace out of nowhere-
john
I didn’t see that barbecue coming-
marcia
Well, life isn’t as black and white as they teach you in the military.
john
War is war. Dex is just like Samhal Hussein-
marcia
Guys like Dex don’t play by the army’s rules.
john
What rules do they play by then?
marcia
You’re used to following orders and doing what you’re told to complete your mission. On the street it doesn’t work that way.
john
I’m just using what I’ve been taught-
marcia
And you can’t fight a South Bronx Drug kingpin with an Iraq War strategy Sergeant.
John
So what am I supposed to do?
marcia
Adapt. Improvise. Get to know your environment and use it against your enemy.
john
Use my imagination-
marcia
Yeah. Sometimes it’s not about having the biggest gun, but how you use what you have.
John is impressed.
So my girl is smart and sexy?
Marcia smiles at John.
marcia
I learned a few things while you were gone.
John smiles slyly at Marcia.
john
And I got an A plus in sex ed.
John gives Marcia a coy look and-
Goes for a kiss. She doesn’t stop him-
Marcia
You know I still have a man-
john
Yeah, and he’s sitting right here.
Marcia giggles and-
The playful kisses turn into a hot and heavy makeout session which ends up in-
john’s Bedroom
Where John and Marcia passionately make love. They lie together in each other’s arms until the next-
morning.
Where John is woken up by BRRRING! His cell phone. John’s John stirs and takes his cell phone off the night table and answers it-
john
Williams.
ronald
It’s going down. Meet us on the 16th floor.
John jumps out of bed. Marcia stirs and asks-
marcia
Where are you off to?
john
To get justice for Charles.
John gets dressed in civilian gear and rushes upstairs to the-
16th floor hallway
Where he meets up with-
Ronald and a group of officers in bulletproof vests and heavy artillery in front of Apartment 16K.
Ronald
We’re ready to do this.
On Ronald’s cue the battering ram-
BOOM! Smashes down the door. John
