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written by
Anthony Pittore
©2021
EXT. PITTSBURGH, PA - NIGHT (DECEMBER 2003)
The Allegheny MERGES with the Ohio River and carries on toward--
We float with the river under a wide arch of gnarled steel above
the water.
FALLING MAN
You son of a--
The man BELLY FLOPS into the river with a wicked SPLASH. He
submerges for a moment.
BOY ON BRIDGE #1
Is he dead?
BOY ON BRIDGE #2
Who gives a fuck? Let’s go!
The man floats face down along the river. He wears a gold ring
with K.O.C. emblazoned over an intricate silver seal.
TITLES:
GUTSHOT
2.
INT. DACOSTA HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT
ALEX DACOSTA (16, White) shuffles the deck with a tight snap. He
flicks the cards across the table. Two sleepless eyes stare out
from an otherwise focused young face.
ELIJAH
Don’t start with that.
ALEX
Start with what? Dealing cards?
ELIJAH
That stare of yours.
ELIJAH
It’s like a shark trying to look
into my soul. I honestly feel a
little violated.
ALEX
Why are you so nervous? We haven’t
even looked at our cards.
ELIJAH
I’m not nervous. Why would you say
I’m nervous?
ALEX
Then let’s play the hand.
ELIJAH
Fine.
3.
ALEX
Fine.
ALEX
(instant)
Oof, that bad huh?
ELIJAH
You son of a bitch.
ELIJAH
How did you know?
ALEX
I was joking!
CHARLES
Alex, I’m leaving.
ELIJAH
Hey Mr. DaCosta.
CHARLES
Yeah, hi Elijah. You staying here
while I’m gone?
ELIJAH
That’s the plan if it’s cool.
CHARLES
Just don’t let Smokey the Bear burn
the house down. Don’t need any more
wiseass remarks from the fire
department at softball.
Alex keeps his eyes on the cards. Tension shimmers in the air
like a highway in summer.
4.
CHARLES
Money’s on the table with the hotel
number. And don’t stay up all night
playing cards or watching MTV or
whatever kids do. You two have school
in the morning.
ALEX
School. Got it.
ELIJAH
Roger dodger, Mr. D.
CHARLES
Right. Be back Saturday.
ALEX
Make it Sunday.
CHARLES (O.S.)
It’ll be Saturday.
The front door SLAMS shut. Elijah scrambles from his chair.
ELIJAH
I don’t know why you give your pops
such a hard time.
Alex stops at the wall of photos. His eyes find a family beach
photo. Alex (10), Charles (40s), his mother MARYANN (40s), and
older sister JOSEPHINE (13). All smiles.
ELIJAH
You ready?
ALEX
(refocuses)
Always.
Alex lifts his most recent framed yearbook picture. Same tired
eyes. He pulls out a wad of cash. Pockets it.
ELIJAH
You’re taking all of it?
ELIJAH
Weren’t you a Brownie?
ALEX
That’s for girls.
ELIJAH
I know.
ELIJAH
Fuck, it’s cold. We told him 7, right?
SADIE (TEXT)
Crew meeting 2nite?
ALEX
Shit.
ELIJAH
Your pops already?
ALEX
No, it’s Sadie. We forgot the meeting.
ELIJAH
Big deal, we’ll catch her in school
ELIJAH
There he is.
Elijah steps off the porch. Alex hesitates. Then texts back:
ALEX (TEXT)
Sry, dont feel good. tmrw?
ELIJAH
Alex!
ALEX
Alright!
Alex adds a sad face emoji to the end of the text and SENDS.
6.
EXT. FRONT LAWN - SAME
Elijah and Alex cross the snowy grass toward the street.
ALEX
Why’s he at your place?
ELIJAH
Because he’s Dylan and Dylan is an
idiot. You want shotgun?
ALEX
Hell no, it’s your turn.
ELIJAH
I’ll do your chem homework.
ALEX
You’re worse at chem than me.
ELIJAH
I can get you a date with Sadie.
ALEX
Gross, dude. I’m good.
ELIJAH
I thought you liked Sadie.
ALEX
It’s more I don’t like trading
dates like Pokémon cards.
DYLAN
You bitches gettin’ in or what?
DYLAN MCELHENNEY (17, White) leans across the seat. A year older
than the boys, but the same grad class. The wildest of wildcards.
ELIJAH
Suburban white boy bumpin’ 50 Cent?
Somehow this seems racist.
DYLAN
Fitty’s my shit. Fuck off.
7.
ELIJAH
Your shit? Really? Where’s your iPod?
DYLAN
What? Why?
Dylan tries for the iPod. Elijah SNATCHES it first. He hits the
back button. Michelle Branch’s “EVERYWHERE” comes on.
DYLAN
I share it with my sister. This shit’s
not mine. Did you guys bring any food?
ALEX
Why would we bring food?
DYLAN
I don’t know. I’m just hungry.
ALEX
How much further this place?
ELIJAH
The library game’s like 5 minutes
away from us.
DYLAN
Alex said he wanted to shake things
up this week.
ALEX
Those weren’t exactly my words. I just
said that game was a little soft. Even
you two were winning.
DYLAN
What’s that supposed to-- Oh shit,
that’s our exit!
DYLAN
That’s offensive. I’ll prove it.
DYLAN
Who’s going in?
ELIJAH
I took shotgun. Your turn.
ALEX
(groans)
Uuuggggg--
ALEX
--ggggghhhhh.
Alex smiles at TYSON CHISOLM (30s, Any), the clerk behind the
counter, who doesn’t return it.
ALEX
Want anything from in here?
Alex opens the cooler and pulls out an iced tea & Red Bull.
ALEX
(panics)
What the hell are you doing?
DYLAN
Don’t make it so obvious, dude.
9.
ALEX
I am not getting arrested for fucking
doughnuts!
TYSON
Two-fifteen.
ALEX
Uhh, how’s your night?
TYSON
I work at a gas station. How you
think my night’s going?
Alex reaches for his money roll in his pocket. He blindly pulls
out a $100 bill and hands it to Tyson.
TYSON
Man, I can’t break this.
ALEX
Right, sorry. Hang on.
TYSON
Hey!
TYSON
Hell no!
Tyson cuts him off at the exit with a mini baseball bat.
DYLAN
No no no, I’m a minor!
TYSON
You don’t look like a minor.
DYLAN
I am, man. Blame the HGH or
whatever. Check my ID.
TYSON
Thief’s a thief.
10.
He raises the bat again.
DYLAN
Could’ve had my back, dude.
ELIJAH
Shh, listen...
ELIJAH
That’s the crack of the whip finally
striking back at the white man.
DYLAN
Whatever.
DYLAN
They said it’s a red brick
building.
ALEX
You’ve never been here?
DYLAN
Nah. It’s my dad’s spot. He and his
buddies used to-- Shit! That was it.
DYLAN
Let’s rock & roll, boys!
ALEX
Hang on.
Alex unfolds a few bills from his bankroll. He hides the rest
under the floormat.
The boys cross the street to the squat brick building across the
street. A few DEGENERATES hang out in front of the entrance.
11.
ELIJAH
My standards were low as hell, but
even I was expecting more.
ALEX
What is this place?
DYLAN
Heaven.
ELIJAH
Neither of us know what that is.
DYLAN
(haughty)
They’re with me too.
ALEX
Holy shit.
The boys stare in awe. Elijah’s gaze more on the COCKTAIL SERVERS.
DYLAN
Told you to trust me.
Alex scans the room. His eyes stop at the poker tables. One in
particular has EVANGELINA “LINA” SAMUELE (17, Mixed-race) in the
dealer’s seat. A good soul born in and of this seedy world.
ALEX
Shit.