CLOSURE
By Oney Mendoza

FADE IN:
EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - SIDEWALK - DAY
DANO JENSEN, 14 and a "nervous" looking freshman, walks down the empty sidewalks of his rich neighborhood.
DANO (V.O.)
I don't know why I was always the easiest target for him. Ever since the sixth grade he always fucked with me.
(beat)
Beatings everyday, robbed me...when I told my parents what he was doing they confronted him and his parents...but that only made it worse.
(beat)
I got him suspended a few times and eventually he was expelled, but that didn't help me much...he was my neighbor...but at this point in time, I've had enough. 
Dano continues walking, he tugs on his backpack, as the strap is breaking.
Then -- 
A VOICE BREAKS THE SILENCE and Dano nearly jumps up with surprise. 
KEITH (O.S.)
Nerd alert! Nerd alert! Nerd alert!
Dano begins to walk faster. KEITH DAVIES, 15, his tormentor, whips past him with his bicycle, then blocks his path. 
Dano cringes.
KEITH
Hey fag --
DANO
Please, not today. 
KEITH
Some of the guys from the football team wanna get at you. 
(beat)
You don't like to play sports, do you queer? 
DANO
I don't particular care for running. 
Keith starts circling Dano with his bike, while lightly slapping him. Dano's BREATHING deepens.
DaNO
What do the football players want with me? 
KeITH
To kick your ass. I told them you were a fag and have the hots for them. 
DANO
Why do you tell lies about me? 
KEITH
Why do you tell lies about me to your parents? 
DANO
I don't lie...
KEITH
My name doesn't ever have to even come out of your mouth, fag-boy. 
Keith is still "hitting" at Dano.
DANO
You're right, Keith...your name shouldn't come out of my mouth.
(beat)
Please...stop...
Anger grows in Dano's face, but Keith doesn't stop the tormenting. 
KEITH
That's right, so keep your fucking mouth shut and stop telling your parents --
DANO
I wouldn't want to give you the satisfaction of even speaking about you. Now stop!
Oddly, Keith does. He looks confusingly over at Dano and GRUNTS. 
DANO
I'm tired of you always messing with me! I'm tired of you always beating me! I'm tired of you taking my money! I'm tired of you making me scared all the damn time! --
KEITH ELBOWS DANO RIGHT IN THE NOSE! Dano covers his nose as it bleeds immensely. Tears form in his eyes. 
Keith LAUGHS like there is no tomorrow. 
KEITH
Ha-ha...now you're gonna cry! 
(beat)
Everyone! Look at this little baby!
Keith leans down to Dano. 
KEITH
And I fucking swear if you tell a soul, you will die fag-boy.
Suddenly --
DANO SWINGS HIS BACKPACK, KNOCKING KEITH OFF HIS BIKE! 
Dano YELLS and dives for Keith, both land on the ground, hitting at each other. Keith SLAMS Dano's head against the concrete very hard. 
This stuns Dano and Keith takes advantage, PUNCHING continuously at Dano's face. 
Dano finally rolls over and goes unconscious, globs of blood cover his face. 
KEITH
Fucking freak! 
With that, Keith leaves. 
DANO (V.O.)
He was put in juvenile hall, but it wasn't long enough for him. As soon as he got out, my life was hell again. He kicked my ass all the way until the end of my junior year...I moved away...to a different part of town. 
INT. funeral home - basement - day
SUPER: 12 YEARS LATER
DANO (V.O.)
Now, I work here...with death. It's disgusting...I know it is. 
NORAH, a pretty woman of 24, is leaning over a body on a table. 
Norah
Dano! Come here...
DANO, now 26, slips on gloves as he enters. He looks more confident and brave, rather than the distraught boy he was. He reaches Norah and her corpse. 
His eyes bulge. 
DANO
Norah! What did you do!? 
NORAH
Doesn't she look great? 
Her corpse, an "ancient" woman, has masses of make-up on. 
DANO
She looks like a prostitute for God's sake! Why did you do this?
NORAH
You should've seen what she looked like when she came in! 
DANO
No...this is unacceptable. Her family will go insane when they see this.
NORAH
I like it! 
(beat)
Geeze Dano, have a sense of humor. I'm only kidding. 
DANO
Ha-ha...very funny. Your humor is just as stiff as some of these bodies. 
NORAH
Seriously? Was that supposed to be even remotely funny? 
Dano covers the old hag's face with the sheet. 
NORAH
Did you get the new one? 
DANO
No...
INT. PREP ROOM 
Norah leads him to a body covered in a sheet, placed on a table, in the back of the room. 
NORAH
Male. 27 years-old.  
Dano picks up a clipboard and scans the paper attached to it. 
NORAH
We don't have to focus much on making him pretty, most of the damage was done to the stomach. Multiple gunshots...died last night.  
Norah pulls the sheet down, an older "bags under the eyes and thinning hair" Keith lies at rest. 
Dano stares at Keith emotionless, he only stares hard and long. Norah notices. 
NORAH
You knew him or something? 
DANO
Yeah...I did. 
NORAH
Sorry about your loss...
(beat)
Well, I better get back to Mrs. Strode. 
As she leaves, he finally looks away and closes his eyes. A wide smile spreads across his face. 
A SERIES OF THE "STREET BEATING" FLASH BEFORE HIS EYES.  
Dano's eyes pop open and tears roll down his cheeks. He tugs at his head, trying not to remember. 
He looks over at Keith's body. 
DANO
You got what you deserved bastard. 
A long SILENCE passes...
DANO (V.O.)
I always thought that revenge should be left for God to handle...but the closure of my childhood needed to come. So...I played God...
EXT. STREETS - NIGHT
SUPER: THE NIGHT BEFORE KEITH'S BODY ARRIVED. 
KEITH exits a liquor store and drains a bottle of booze from his brown bag. He walks dumbly and very drunk. 
DANO (V.O.)
He caused too much trauma...too much pain...he was a disgusting excuse for a human being. 
As Keith walks by a parked truck, the passenger WINDOW ROLLS DOWN. He stops walking and looks over at the truck...at the person. 
Dano sits inside. 
Keith eyes Dano, looking dumbfounded.
KEITH
(slurring)
Hey...don't I know you? 
He moves closer to Dano's truck. Then --
DANO POINTS A GUN AT HIM! BAM! BAM! BAM! 
INT. FUNERAL HOME - PREP ROOM 
Dano still looks on at Keith's body. He starts to approach it. 
DaNO (V.O.)
An eye for an eye...
(beat)
Never will I forget what he did and the hell my youth was. My closure finally came.
He places the sheet over Keith's face.
DANO
Goodnight, you ass...
FADE OUT. 

THE END.