FADE IN:
EXT. LATE 70’S, CITY STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD, AUTUMN, DAYTIME.
The neighborhood is a gritty mix of brownstones and storefronts. It is weathered but not dilapidated. Empty
stores and idle people show it to be in economic decline.
Ethnically, it is a mixed neighborhood, older Italians and younger blacks. It is a neighborhood in transition.
People are out on the street. An ELDERLY ITALIAN WOMAN pulling groceries behind her passes a group of
young BLACK GIRLS on a stoop. WHITE MEN idling on a corner stop joking and watch as TWO BLACK MEN
pass. A passing car pulls their attention away.
The car is a late model Lincoln. It is clean and polished. It passes at a measured, unhurried pace.
EXT. SIDEWALK OUTSIDE ST. BONIFACE BOCCE CLUB
A MAN stands outside a doorway discreetly marked “St. Boniface Bocce Club” waiting for someone. Across the
street is a newsstand.
Behind him, several doors away, are two black teenagers, LORENZO D. and JERMAINE. Lorenzo (thirteen
years old, handsome, physically compact but strong) sits on the stoop of a brownstone. Jermaine (a lanky,
smooth looking and smooth acting fourteen year old) stands in front of him holding a worn basketball. He
bounces the ball, loudly, getting the Man to look his way. When he does Jermaine smiles. It is a beguiling smile
that endears him to most people.
Behind them, the Lincoln bounces through the intersection.
EXT. APARTMENT STOOP, NEAR THE BOCCE CLUB.
JERMAINE looks up the street, then to LORENZO, still sitting.
JERMAINE
Yo D. Look at this.
Lorenzo watches as the Lincoln pulls to a stop and the MAN outside goes into the club.
They watch as TWO HUSKY MEN get out of the car. One stands on the curb while the other opens the door for
a third, NICK MACHOL, who gets out of the back.
Jermaine begins dribbling the basketball from one hand to the other - left, right, left, right - and stops.
JERMAINE (CONT'D)
Watch this.
He turns and begins dribbling the ball toward the Men, showing some skills.
Lorenzo knows what his friend is up to.
LORENZO
No, they look serious.
(standing)
Yo, gimme the ball.
Jermaine pauses long enough for Lorenzo to step up to him then breaks away, dribbling the ball, playing keep
away.
Lorenzo follows and Jermaine does it again. This time when he breaks, he turns, expecting to dribble through
the Men. Instead he hits Machol, pushing him back into the Lincoln.
Jermaine falls to the sidewalk. The sound of the basketball bouncing away dominates the tense seconds that
follow.
One man rushes to Machol, the other stands over Jermaine.
Lorenzo stops.
MAN
Watch it ya’ damn...
Machol stops him, looking at him sharply but speaking calmly.
MACHOL
No need for that.
Lorenzo steps up. Ignoring the Men standing there he looks at Machol. Lorenzo and Machol appraise each
other.
LORENZO
Yeah, no need for that. It’s cool.
A shadow of a smirk passes over Machol’s face.
Lorenzo turns and helps Jermaine up. As he does, and unnoticed by them, Machol picks up the ball. He
bounces the ball twice then returns it with a sharp pass.
MACHOL
Have a good game Dr. J.
LORENZO
(laughing)
Dr. J. That’s funny.
JERMAINE
Yeah, funny shit.
Lorenzo and Jermaine leave.
Machol looks at the Men, who seems bewildered.
MACHOL
Always be nice the neighbors.
MAN
What? A couple a little moolies?
MACHOL
If it’s their neighborhood.
MAN
What are you talking about?
MACHOL
Look around. It’s their neighborhood now.
As they head into the St. Boniface Bocce Club the sound of the basketball being dribbled dominates.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
EXT. TEN YEARS LATER, SCHOOLYARD, BRIGHT AFTERNOON.
The sound of basketballs on blacktop, metal backboards and chain ‘nets’.
At one end of the court six black men - all in their early twenties - play a friendly but competitive game.
Among them are LORENZO and JERMAINE. (Though ten years older the differences between them are much
the same. However, Jermaine looks edgier, harsher, more criminal.) They play on the same team, along with a
third player, Terrell. (Terrell is big, with a quiet intimidating presence.) Jermaine and Lorenzo dominate the
game, executing plays and scoring almost at will. They are enjoying themselves.
At the opposite end of the court a group of Hispanics of about the same age shoot ball. This group is led by a
serious looking young man (JULIUS). Julius has a rough complexion. He has only two expressions - suspicious
and angry.
The two groups are wary of each other.
Jermaine watches Julius take and miss a shot.
JERMAINE
Look who’s tryin’ to shoot hoops.
(loudly)
Yo, taco dog, here’s how.
Jermaine breaks to the basket, easily out maneuvering defenders and slamming the ball home.
As the ball drops FEMALE VOICES hoot from outside the fence.
Lorenzo’s sister, CELIA, her best friend ANNIE and few OTHER GIRLS are slowly walking by. (Celia is a
beautiful girl, with fine features, several years younger than her brother. Annie is a more common looking girl, a
year older than Celia.)
CELIA
Oh, Dr. J, that’s what I’m talking about.
JERMAINE
Yo Celia.
LORENZO
(teasing)
Lil’ sister, how many times do I have to tell you, stay away from this hood.
CELIA
How many times do I have to tell you, you don’t have to look out for me no more.
(to Jermaine)
Come here baby.
Terrell and the others laugh as Jermaine struts to Celia.
LORENZO
Alright. I see how it is. All those years walking you to school and makin’ sure you ate your greens... Now,
first fool to come along and you’re all in love.
TERRELL
Don’t be fightin’, ya’ all almost family.
Jermaine and Celia lean against each other’s hands on the fence, fingers intertwined, as they talk.
They separate and the girls begin to walk away.
ANNIE
Bye Lorenzo.
Someone at the other end of the court mimics this. Then, as they pass the Hispanics something is said to the
girls.
This gets some angry stares from Jermaine and the others.
LORENZO
(breaking it up)
Yo. It ain’t worth the time. Let’s play.
LATER
Jermaine stands, bouncing the ball from hand to hand. Behind him, a ball gets away from one of the Hispanic
players and rolls toward the black players. Seeing the ball, followed by the shadow of the PLAYER running after
it, Jermaine suddenly breaks in that direction. He bowls over the Player.
JERMAINE
Sorry. Didn’t know you was there.
The two groups move closer. Smiling, Jermaine turns and steps away from the Player he knocked down.
The Player stands and push passes the ball at Jermaine’s back, hitting him.
Instantly, and in one motion, Jermaine turns and hurls his ball at the Player’s face. It hits.
As the two groups rush at each other the sound of basketballs being thrown and dropped.
EXT. APARTMENT STOOP NEAR BOCCE CLUB, THAT NIGHT.
The sound of a basketball being bounced from hand to hand.
JERMAINE stands in front of the stoop, bouncing the ball.
LORENZO and ANNIE sit near the top of the steps, CELIA sits below them. TERRELL and a few others stand
above.
JERMAINE
That was the shit man - right in the face with the ball. His nose ‘bout exploded.
ANNIE
Well you’re lucky he didn’t stick you with a knife. That’s what those sneaky little fuckers do you know.
JERMAINE
Listen to you.
LORENZO
Yeah, listen to you.
Jermaine reaches to Celia. She hands him a 40oz. bottle. As he hands it back she stands and comes down the
steps. When she does she sees JULIUS and SEVERAL HISPANICS coming around the corner by the Bocce
Club. As she starts to react Julius pulls a gun from his waistband.
Jermaine takes several steps back as he reaches behind his back for his gun. This leaves Celia in the middle.
He seems to have trouble pulling his gun out. Before he can raise his gun the first shot is heard.
Annie screams.
FADE TO BLACK.
(MORE GUNSHOTS.)
FADE IN:
INT. LATE 90’S, NURSING HOME, FRONT DOORS/FRONT DESK.
LORENZO D. - now in his mid-thirties - comes through the front doors. He is well dressed and confident. He
carries a small package in one hand. The SECURITY GUARD at the desk casually greets him. Lorenzo signs in
without being told. As he walks off down a hall:
SECURITY GUARD
Any word on them Nikes yet?
LORENZO
No. But don’t worry, they’re coming.
INT. NURSING HOME, HALLWAY
LORENZO walks along the hall, looking at the many seniors ‘parked’ there. Peeking in a room as he passes he
sees an old man strapped into his bed.
He stops at a door and knocks lightly before opening it.
INT. NURSING HOME, CELIA’S ROOM, DAY.
A heavy wheelchair sits facing a window. It has a high head support coming up from the seat back. CELIA sits
strapped into the chair. Outside are the nursing home grounds. They are a far cry from the city streets, though
not far removed. In the background is a suburban setting, including a clean playground. Beyond that the city
skyline looms.
A MOTHERLY NURSE sits next to Celia on a plain wood chair gently holding her head and brushing her hair.
Seeing Lorenzo she stops.
LORENZO
Hello. How’s she doing today?
NURSE
Good. Anxious to see you.
She stands, supporting the girl’s head all the while.
NURSE (CONT’D)
I swear, she always knows when her brother is coming. There’s that sparkle in her eyes.
As she is saying this the Nurse gently straps Celia’s head to the chair’s support.
LORENZO
That’s because you’re fussing with her hair like she was going to a prom.
Lorenzo stops her and offers the small package he carries.
Thank you.
NURSE
What’s this?
LORENZO
Nothing. Just that perfume you were asking about last week.
NURSE
(taking the package)
Oh. Let me get my purse.
LORENZO
No mam. That’s on me.
NURSE
I couldn’t do that.
LORENZO
Yes you can. You work hard and you deserve a little something.
NURSE
You’re too sweet. Thank you.
Lorenzo sits in the chair next to his sister and looks at her in the sunlight. He stares for quite a while. She looks
just as she did ten years earlier, as if time has stood still waiting for her to get out of the wheelchair. Finally;
LORENZO
Jermaine came back yesterday.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. LATE 90’S, CITY STREET/NEIGHBORHOOD, DAYTIME, SPRING.
It is a different street in the same neighborhood.
The neighborhood is now primarily black with a few Latino faces. Economically, little has changed.
Two BLACK MALES - mid and late twenties - (ROTTY, a simple, ugly looking thug and TY, the smarter, big-
brother type) stand talking to LORENZO. These two, who look like street dealers, treat Lorenzo with some
degree of deference.
One of the two nods to the street.
A tricked out Lexus with blacked out windows pulls to the curb. Lorenzo watches it expectantly.
The back door opens and out steps JERMAINE. (Ten years older, a little rougher, a little nervous.) He is
hesitant, almost wary, as if stepping into alien territory. He wears street clothes but they are a few years out of
style.
Terrell is in the driver’s seat.
LORENZO
Hey, it’s Dr. J.
JERMAINE
(finally smiling)
Lorenzo D. Hey yo’
They shake hands. Jermaine seems to be keeping his distance until Lorenzo pulls him close for a reassuring
hug.
LORENZO
You look good, been playin’ some ball?
JERMAINE
I had a little time, you know. Played some ball. Watched too much TV. But look at you - nevermind
me. You must be doin’ somethin’ all right. And the ride here...
LORENZO
It’s the shit now. If you got it you got to show it. You know what I’m saying?
JERMAINE
Yeah, ain’t no hoop-de-do like you was drivin’ that’s for sure.
LORENZO
It’s alright. You’ll see. Let’s walk.
Without a word to Rotty and Ty, Lorenzo walks off. They watch him go.
JERMAINE
Who’s that?
LORENZO
Don’t know. Some new boys.
JERMAINE
They okay?
LORENZO
We’ll see.
The Lexus pulls out, does a U-turn and follows them.
MOMENTS LATER
Jermaine is starting to loosen up. He’s getting a little strut back in his step. The Lexus still shadows them as
they walk. Both the car and Lorenzo turn heads.
JERMAINE
What it is when you’re in, it’s the stuff you miss. For me it was this.
LORENZO
What?
JERMAINE
This. The neighborhood. You miss a lot of stuff but I think I missed this most.
LORENZO
Shut up.
JERMAINE
No. I think so. You know it’s always been us here - Lorenzo and J. and the neighborhood.
(nods)
It feels good. It feels good to be back.
LORENZO
It’s good you’re back. It felt like half of me was missing while you was gone.
(serious/slows)
About you doin’ that time and all that stuff that went down back then. It’s all ‘back then’. It’s all behind us.
JERMAINE
Hey. You don’t have to say it. We been all over that before man.
LORENZO
I know we have but I just want to say it one more time - it was an accident, there’s no blame layin’
on anyone.
JERMAINE
(quietly)
There are no accidents.
LORENZO
What’s that?
JERMAINE
Just something the jailhouse shrink said.
LORENZO
Well he’s wrong. There are...
JERMAINE
She.
LORENZO
What?
JERMAINE
She. The shrink was a woman. A sweet little thing with the nicest little titties too. That the only
reason anyone was listening.
LORENZO
Oh man, you ain’t ever going to change.
From across the street some GIRLS watch them.
LORENZO (CONT'D)
How about it? I know you missed that?
JERMAINE
Oh dawg, my dick is twitchin’.
LORENZO
(laughing)
Listen to you.
He signals and as they walk on the Lexus stops by the Girls.
They walk a short distance in silence. While they walk several PEOPLE greet Lorenzo. Jermaine takes note.
JERMAINE
What you doin’ these days? People talking to you like you the mayor or something.
LORENZO
Just some buying and selling.
JERMAINE
Uh-huh.
LORENZO
No. Nothing like that. I keep it clean.
(leaning close)
No drugs. No whores. Just the stuff people really need.
JERMAINE
Like?
LORENZO
(pulling on his shirt)
Clothes. Some furniture and appliances, stuff like that. Perfume and all for the ladies, but mostly clothes.
JERMAINE
How’s that?
LORENZO
I got a sweet connection. No questions asked and we all make a nice dime.
JERMAINE
No wonder you look so good.
LORENZO
I don’t need the clothes to look good.
JERMAINE
Says you.
MOMENTS LATER
They turn a corner which puts them in front of the St. Boniface Bocce Club. It appears abandoned. They stop.
JERMAINE
Look at this. You remember this place.
LORENZO
Yeah.
JERMAINE
Some of the old cons know this place. They talked like it was some big Godfather thing ya’ know.
(pause)
Ever see The Godfather? It’s the funniest shit. They lock a bunch a thugs up then let ‘em watch shit
like that.
Lorenzo doesn’t seem to want to talk about it. Jermaine looks around. His eyes settle on the newsstand across
the street. He watches the old, white man (NICK MACHOL) working it.
JERMAINE (CONT’D)
Least they’re gone.
LORENZO
Who’s that?
JERMAINE
The guineas, them whops. Ain’t that what you called ‘em?
LORENZO
(reluctantly)
Guess so.
JERMAINE
Know what else I missed - Mickey D’s. How ‘bout it? You said you hook me up.
The Lexus pulls up.
LORENZO
Never mind that.
Lorenzo opens the car door. Inside the GIRLS grin lewdly, flashing Jermaine.
LORENZO (CONT'D)
You got some catching up to do.
JERMAINE
(climbing in)
Yo. I still want my Mickey D’s.
Cut To: