This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
EXT.DETROIT METRO AIRPORT-DAY/CLOUDY
A black male,(solid built, early 30s) stands outside the
airport in his army uniform. He looks at a piece of paper.
It says "TAXI 555-1267"
The man in uniform is sitting at a bench waiting for the
taxi.
The taxi pulls up.
The TAXI DRIVER (Arabic, Late 40s) gets out of the car.
TAXI DRIVER
How are you? Sorry it's a far
drive.
TAXI DRIVER puts out his hand.
TAXI DRIVER (CONTINUED)
Ahmed.
MAN IN UNIFORM
Mal.
They shake hands.
Grabs the bags from the man in uniform and sets them in the
trunk.
INT.TAXI-DAY
TAXI DRIVER
Where to?
MAL
5th and Telegraph.
The taxi takes off.
INT.TAXI-DAY
The TAXI DRIVER looks in the rear view mirror.
TAXI DRIVER
Where you coming from Mal?
MAL
Germany, well hospital in Germany.
TAXI DRIVER
Where were you fighting?
MAL
Iraq.
TAXI DRIVER
Ahh.. Beautiful country.
MAL
Never saw the beauty.
TAXI DRIVER
Well of course not, you think war
is beautiful? The basic human
necessities are gone, like clean
water, food, and shelter. And for
what?
MAL
Profits.
TAXI DRIVER
That's right. I left after the
first war, and it's the same reason
that they're in war again. Profits.
Make me sick to my stomach.
MAL stares out the window, as if he doesn't want to discuss
Iraq.
The taxi takes the exit.
MAL stares out the window, all the stores are abandoned, and
all the houses are burnt or/and abandoned.
A homeless man is sleeping on the ground.
Young teens harassing another homeless person. Than a shot
is fired, the teens disperse.
TAXI DRIVER
You know i don't usually drive
people here. Been robbed two times.
MAL
Why did you drive me?
TAXI DRIVER
Your the hero you know, you protect
us.
EXT.STREET-DAY
The taxi pulls up to a house and stops.
INT.TAXI-DAY
MAL hands him the money, the TAXI DRIVER holds up his hand.
TAXI DRIVER
Don't worry my friend, it's on me.
MAL
Thanks.
EXT.STREET-DAY
The taxi speeds off.
MAL starts to walk towards the front door. The front yard is
all brown grass and dirt, the bushes in front of the porch
are dead. He walks up the stairs to the door, the door opens
and his MOTHER steps out(late 40s strong black woman)
MOTHER
Welcome home ba...
then he's foot goes through one of the steps.
MOTHER
You alright baby? I'll get that
fixed.
MAL pulls his foot out and walks up the rest of the stairs.
MAL
How are you mama?
MAL gives his mother a big hug and a kiss.
INT.DINING ROOM-LATER
MAL is stuffing his face with home cooked food. His MOTHER
stares at him.
MOTHER
So glad to have you back. Maybe i
can get some help around here. You
know JAMALL has been running around
with a gang?
MAL (MUMBLES)
He has?
A young girl runs into the dining room.
YOUNG GIRL
HI MAL!!
MAL gets up from his seat, and hugs her.
MAL
Hi Janel. How are you?
JANEL
Good, I'm in the 3rd grade.
MAL
Oh wow you're a big girl.
Loud music blasting from the outside, WE HEAR a car door
close.
A young man, maybe 17 walks in. MAL looks at him and smiles.
They slap hands and hug.
INT.DINING ROOM-LATER
They are all sitting around the table eating. JAMALL is just
staring at his food.
JAMALL
Why are you back?
MAL
Discharge.
JAMALL
That means you were forced to come
home?
MOTHER
JAMALL eat your food.
JAMALL
Come on, you know he would never
come back if it wasn't for his
injury.
MOTHER
Boy you better shut that mouth.
MAL
It's fine. Listen no one wants to
be at a war, it was a blessing to
get injured. I really don't want to
discuss this, so can we have a nice
family dinner.
INT.JAMALLS ROOM
JAMALL is sitting at a desk next to his bed. He pulls out a
bag of drugs, individually bagged up, and a pistol from his
waist side. Set it down on the desk. Grabs the money sitting
on the desk and rubber bands it.Â
MAL walks into the room.
JAMALL tries to hide it all.
MAL
I'm not gonna say anything to Mama.
MAL sits on the mattress.
MAL
Hey listen I'm sorry if i wasn't
there for you and Janel... and
Mama. It was either the Army or
what you are doing.
JAMALL
Which one was the right one?
MAL
None were, And I've learned from
it.
JAMALL
That's good.
MAL pulls out a necklace it's the Eye of Ra.
MAL
Here i got something for you.
MAL hands the necklace to JAMALL. JAMALL puts it on.
MAL
It's to keep away evil.
JAMALL
Thanks.
MAL
Yeah man, don't mention it.
JAMALL
What happened in Iraq?
MAL
War. That's all i can say is war
happened. I never agreed with it,
never helped anybody back home.
JAMALL
No difference back here. People are
losing their minds these days.
Robbins and shootin, no stability,
i have to walk Janel to school with
my pistol. Shit's crazy man.
MAL gets up from the bed, rubs JAMALL'S head.
MAL
It'll be alright, And you gotta
stop fuckin with these thugs out
here. Shit get you killed.
JAMALL doesn't say anything.
INT.BEDROOM-NIGHT
MAL takes off his pants, a wound is shown on his leg.
SOME TIME LATER-
MAL is having nightmares. (people screaming, voices, and
gunshots) Tossing back and forth on the bed. Than he hears
gun shots.
He wakes up from his nightmares. Walks up to the windows
looking into the neighbors backyard. A young male is running
across the backyard to the fence, another male is chasing
him, shooting. The young male falls onto the fence, and the
male chasing him stands over him.
MAL pulls the curtains shut and lays back on the bed.
INT.LIVING ROOM-MORNING
MAL is half asleep, he sits down on the couch.
MAL
HELLO!! (no answer) Damn where is
everyone?
Turns on the television, a old television with the rabbit
antenna's. The television is fuzzy and unwatchable. He gets
up.
INT.KITCHEN
Opens the fridge, nothing is in the fridge but condiments.
EXT.BACKYARD/GARDEN
MAL stands over the garden, a couple of dead tomato plants,
and some weeds.
He starts pulling the weeds and dead plants out. Throws them
to the side.
INT.SHED
He opens the shed, a couple of tools are laying on the
ground. A bucket for water, and a variety of vegetable
seeds.
Grabs the garden hoe.
EXT.BACKYARD/GARDEN
MAL starts to dig and chop up the hard ground. A 30x20 feet
section is dug up and ready for planting.
He walks down the line and throws the seeds into the holes.
Goes down each row, than he moves the dirt back into the
holes.
Stands up, looks at it.
Pulls the hoses to the garden, walks back to the handle to
turn it on, but nothing. A small amount of water sprays out.
INT.BASEMENT
MAL walks down the stairs, flips the light switch, no light.
MAL
Damn, nothing works in this house.
INT.HALLWAY-CLOSET
MAL is searching through the junk in the closet. No light
bulb.
INT.KITCHEN
MAL is searching through the draws, finally a light bulb.
BACK IN BASEMENT
MAL screws in the new light bulb.
Flips the switch again, nothing.
MAL
You gotta be kidding me!!
EXT.OUTSIDE A STORE
MAL stands in front of a store, which is abandoned and
burnt.
EXT.ANOTHER STORE
This one is open and running.
MAL pulls out his wallet, opens it, nothing but five
dollars.
MAL
Damn.
INT.STORE
MAL is looking at the light bulbs in this small convenience
store, they are all over 5 bucks. MAL is thinking about
stealing it. He looks left than right, he grabs it.
A gunshot goes off, BAM!!
MAL drops to the floor.
INT.FRONT COUNTER
A robber, wearing pantyhose points the gun at the Arabic
cashier.
ROBBER
Give me the money, sandbag. NOW!!!
CASHIER
Okay okay..(shaking and scared)
The CASHIER opens the drawer.
All of a sudden the ROBBER is tackled by MAL. The gun goes
flying across the floor.
The CASHIER runs around the counter and grabs the gun.
MAL gets up off of the ROBBER, who is moaning in pain.
CASHIER
Thank you friend. I've been robbed
four times this week. You take
anything you need. It's on me.
EXT.STREET
MAL is pushing a shopping cart full of items. From meat to
gardening supplies like soil and tools. MAL pulls out a pack
of light bulbs from his shirt pocket. Throws them in the
cart.
INT.BASEMENT
MAL screws in the new light bulb, and the lights goes on.
EXT.BACKYARD/GARDEN
MAL is watering the newly planted vegetables.
EXT.FRONT OF THE HOUSE
MAL is ripping the old stairs out.
A car pulls up in front of the house, JAMALL exits the car.
MAL looks at the car, The DRIVER looks back at MAL.
MAL
Where you been?
JAMALL
I was...
MAL
I don't care actually. Grab that
crowbar and help with taking these
nails out.
Both of them rip out all the old stairs.
JAMALL throws the new stairs onto the ground, and starts
handing MAL the new stairs.
MAL
I got it, i need you to remove all
these bushes here and plant these
new ones.
JAMALL and MAL are now painting the porch together.
LATER- MAL and JAMALL stand back and looks at the house, the
paint looks good, also the porch looks good and new fresh
bushes.
JAMALL
What about the grass?
They look down, dirt and barely any grass.
MAL
Oh damn, forgot about that. We'll
get it next time.
INT.DINING ROOM
The family is sitting around the table eating.
JAMALL cell phone rings, he answers it.
JAMALL
Yo..... WHAT!!!
MAL looks at him.
INT.CAR-NIGHT
A group of thugs are sitting in the car, JAMALL is sitting
in the back. They all got their guns ready.
A car pulls up in front of their car. MAL jumps out from the
car.
JAMALL
What the fuck??!
MAL rushes up to the car.
MAL
Get out of the car JAMALL.
THE DRIVER
Nigga you better back the fuck up
from this car.
MAL punches the DRIVER in the face. The DRIVER drops his gun
on to the ground. MAL picks it up, points it at the DRIVER.
MAL
Open the door. (looks at JAMALL)
JAMALL get the fuck out.
EXT.STREET-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are walking down the street.
MAL
What the fuck are you doing? What
did i tell you about these niggas?
JAMALL
They were there for me when i
needed them.
MAL
You don't need them now, what you
need is some god damn discipline.
JAMALL
You ain't my father.
MAL slaps JAMALL in the face. JAMALL looks up at him with
anger.
The car drives by, it's the thugs. The DRIVER is holding the
pistol outside the car, banging in on the door. The car
speeds off.
EXT.PORCH-DAY
MAL and JAMALL are sitting at a plastic table on the front
porch, smoking a blunt. JANEL is playing with dolls on the
porch as well. MOTHER walks out of the door, they hide the
blunt.
MAL
You working?
MOTHER
Mmmhmmm.. watch them will you? I'll
be back tonight.
MAL
Alright.
MOTHER
Oh and I'm not gonna pretend i
don't smell it.
As she walks away they pull the blunt back.
INT.CAR
The same car from the other night, the thugs have on
bandannas on, they cock their guns.
EXT.STREET
The car creeps down the street slowly, MAL and JAMALL look
over at the car. The car passes by.
Than the car turns around and speeds up to the house, MAL
and JAMALL jump up from their seats.
The thugs open fire on the house, MAL and JAMALL jump down
onto the ground. Glass falls down on them and debri.
The gunfire stops and the car is gone, MAL and JAMALL get
up. They look at each other than look down at JANEL, who's
lifeless body lays next to her toys. MAL falls to his knees,
and cries to the heavens.
INT.JAMALLS ROOM-AFTER FUNERAL
MAL and JAMALL are sitting on the mattress. Quiet as can be,
looking down on the floor.
JAMALL
What do you think?
MAL
I think we're gonna need weapons.
INT.CAR-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are sitting in the car, doing a surveillance
outside a strip club.
MAL
Who are we looking for?
JAMALL
Every gangster goes to him for
weapons. Just making sure that no
one i know is there.
INT.STRIP CLUB-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are walking through the strip club, girls are
on the stage dancing, some are giving lap dances.
They walk up to the back, a bodyguard steps in front of
them.
BODYGUARD
Yo??
JAMALL
I need talk to BISHOP.
BODYGUARD
He's not here.
JAMALL leans over and sees BISHOP sitting there.
JAMALL
Can you tell BISHOP I'm here to
talk to him?
BISHOP from the back.
BISHOP
Let him in.
INT.BACKROOM-STRIP CLUB
JAMALL and MAL are sitting with BISHOP.
BISHOP
I heard you got a green light.
JAMALL
I'm out of the gang.
BISHOP
Who's he? (points to MAL)
JAMALL
My brother.
BISHOP
What you need?
JAMALL hands him a list.
BISHOP snaps his fingers, hands the list to one of the
bodyguards.
Places them on the table. JAMALL grabs the UZI and looks at
it with excitement. MAL looks at him.
BISHOP
I need from you about 3gs.
JAMALL
We ain't got that kind of money.
BISHOP
Okay, i do alternatives, lay away
or payments too if you like. Or
just a small favor.
INT.CAR-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are getting ready, loading their guns.
MAL
You sure this is the house?
JAMALL
Positive.
EXT.OUTSIDE THE HOUSE-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are leaning against the house. MAL pulls the
pin of a flash bang, throws the flash bang through the
window. The windows explode.
MAL gets up and JAMALL follow.
EXT.BACKYARD
They both cock their guns. MAL has a MAC10, and JAMALL has a
UZI.
MAL
Follow my lead.
They head for the back door, a thugs jumps out of the door.
MAL shoots him while he's in the air.
They continue inside.
INT.BATHROOM
A thug is flushing drugs down the toilet, MAL comes up
behind him than fires his gun. Blood splats all over the
wall.
INT.HALLWAY
A thug jumps from the corner with his gun, JAMALL shoots the
thug's hand off. Than butts him with the gun, the thug goes
down.
INT.STAIRS
JAMALL and MAL are walking up the stairs slowly. JAMALL is
looking behind them, as they walk up the stairs. They get to
the door, the door explodes in a hail of gun fire. MAL and
JAMALL fall back down the stairs. MAL and JAMALL finally
stop rolling at the end of the stairs.
MAL
Ahh, shit
MAL stumbles up in pain. JAMALL is still laying on the
floor.
JAMALL
How we gonna get him out?
MAL looks at the burner that is still lit in the kitchen
from cooking drugs.
EXT.FRONT OF THE HOUSE
MAL is standing in the street, the house is on fire.
EXT.BACKYARD
JAMALL is standing in the backyard, than the thug jumps from
the windows.
JAMALL
EEEYYY!!!
MAL runs to the backyard.
JAMALL is pointing the gun at the thug as he tries to run
away with a broken leg. JAMALL shoots at him but he keeps
missing, the thugs is getting farther away even with his
injuries.
MAL points the gun at him, shoots and he goes down. MAL runs
to the thug, its the DRIVER.
MAL
Ohh ima shove this Mac so far up
your ass smoke clouds will fly out
your mouth.
THE DRIVER
I'm sorry for the death of your
sister but i was ordered to kill
you. It had nothing to do with
JAMALL leaving the gang.
MAL pulls out the Mac 10 and shoves it in his mouth.
MAL
Who?
The thug starts to talk but the Mac10 in his mouth makes him
mutter.
MAL pulls the gun away.
THE DRIVER
Someone higher up, I'm just the
street soldier.
MAL
Who told you this?
The thug points to the thug walking out of the burning
house, on fire, and a missing hand.
MAL
FUCK!!
Shoots the burning man, than shoves the gun back in and
shoots The DRIVER
INT.BEDROOM-NIGHT
WE HEAR a door opening.
MAL sits up from his bed, gun drawn.
It's JAMALL
JAMALL
I can't sleep.
MAL lowers his gun.
MAL
I'm used to it.
JAMALL sits down at the end of the bed.
MAL (CONTINUED)
When i was in Iraq we would fight
for 16 hours straight. We'd take
turns eating and using the
bathrooms. The barrels of our guns
were be melting but we'd still have
to stay there and defend ourselves.
I don't keep sleep as company.
JAMALL
What now?
MAL
You know people associated with the
gang. Just gotta start from the
bottom.
EXT.ABANDONED FIELD-NIGHT
JAMALL is shooting at a target with a pistol. MAL is behind
him, looking on.
JAMALL is shooting at a target with a UZI, the target rips
apart.
EXT.ABANDONED FIELD-DAY
A long table, with about 12 watermelons sit about 30 feet
from JAMALL. He takes off running, shooting at the
watermelons they explode.
(SAME)
MAL and JAMALL stand in front of each other.
MAL
Now this is the most basic form of
defense.
MAL punches JAMALL in the stomach hard. JAMALL goes to the
ground, coughing.
MAL
Get up!! Every second you don't get
up...
MAL kicks him in the stomach.
MAL (CONTINUED)
That happens.
MAL kicks him again. JAMALL frantically tries to crawl away.
MAL keeps kicking him. JAMALL grabs him feet and tackles him
down. Pulls out a pistol and shoots the ground next to MAL'S
head.
MAL gets up, slaps JAMALL across the face. JAMALL tackles
MAL again and they get into a scuffle. After a minute, they
both are laying on the ground, out of breath.
MAL
Well you got some balls. That's a
good start.
INT.CAR-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are sitting in the car, doing surveillance.
JAMALL
Just pull up to one of them.
The car pulls up to a prostitute. She walks up to the car.
PROSTITUTE
You niggas lookin for a good time?
JAMALL
Get in.
The PROSTITUTE sits in the passenger seat. MAL who is
sitting in the back puts a gun to the PROSTITUTES head.
INT.PIMPS OFFICE
The pimp is sitting at his desk, with two other guys sitting
in front of the desk.
PIMP
I got these hoes working man,
better get my money.. shit.
His phone rings.
PIMP
Jones. What? Alright let her up.
INT.HALLWAY
The PROSTITUTE opens the door, MAL and JAMALL follow. The
two guys sitting in the chairs get up and pull out their
guns. MAL shoots both of them, they fall over their chairs.
JONES
Oh bitch you set me up.
PROSTITUTE
I'm sorry, they were gonna kill me.
JAMALL hits the PROSTITUTE over the head with the gun.
JAMALL
Bitch shut up.
MAL and JAMALL sit at the two chairs in front of the desk.
They set their guns in their lap.
JONES
Who are yall?
MAL
Don't worry about that. Who you
working for?
JONES
What?
JAMALL
He said who you working for?
JONES
I never met him, only the
collector.
MAL
Looks like you're gonna make a
deposit.
SAME
JONES is pacing back and forth, on the phone.
JONES
In 15? Alright.
JONES hangs up the phone, and sits back down.
EXT.OUTSIDE THE PIMPS OFFICE
The COLLECTOR walks up to the door, he rings the doorbell.
A envelope slides through the mail slot.Â
The COLLECTOR looks up at the window. Than goes back to his
car, and takes off.
JAMALL and MAL turn on their car and follow.
EXT.BOSS HOUSE
The COLLECTOR pulls the car into the driveway. The house is
a big old Victorian house. All bars on the windows and
doors. A security guard sits in front of the door, with a
gun in his lap.
MAL and JAMALL park about five houses away.
The trunk opens, AK47s, grenades, pistols, and tons of
ammunition.
EXT.BOSS FRONT PORCH
JAMALL appear out of the darkness, aims his gun with a
silencer at the security guard. Shoots it once, hits him in
the arm, than again in the head. The security guard does
down.
JAMALL grabs a winch, runs it to the door and hooks it to
the bars. Runs to the side.
MAL puts the truck in reverse, the bars rip off.
INT.BOSS HOUSE/LIVING ROOM
The thugs jump from the couch. Run to the side of the front
door, waiting.
A flash bang flies through the window, BANG!! Than a smoke
grenade, fills the living room with smoke.
EXT.FRONT DOOR
MAL is kicking the door down, than finally the door busts
open.
INT.BOSS HOUSE/LIVING ROOM
MAL walks through the door, with a gas mask on and MAC10s in
both hands. Starts firing at the thugs in the mist of the
smoke. JAMALL follows behind him with a AK47 in hand, also
fires a few rounds into the smoke.
INT.KITCHEN
Drugs are sitting on the table, manufacturing supplies also
all over the counter.
JAMALL opens fire at the thugs cooking drugs.
MAL points to upstairs. They split, JAMALL goes upstairs and
MAL goes down into the basement.
INT.BASEMENT
MAL opens the door to the basement.
FLASHBACK/IRAQ-BASEMENT
MAL is in his army gear, pointing his gun at a suspected
terrorist. Who is bruised and bloody.
SUSPECTED TERRORIST
Please leave her alone.
His COMMANDER is raping the SUSPECTED TERRORISTS daughter.
The DAUGHTER screams.
The SUSPECTED TERRORIST jumps up, MAL hits him with the butt
of the rifle.
The SUSPECTED TERRORIST has his hands tied, hanging from the
ceiling.
His DAUGHTER is being raped by MAL.
The SUSPECTED TERRORIST screams. The COMMANDER punches him
in the stomach. Than pulls out a gun, and shoots him in the
head.
The DAUGHTER screams. MAL is turned on by the scream. Than
he grabs the DAUGHTER by the neck, stabs her in the stomach.
FLASHBACK/IRAQ-HOUSE
MAL and the COMMANDER are walking up stairs, with their guns
drawn.
They bust through a door, the COMMANDER is the first through
the door. A man stabs the COMMANDER in the back. MAL shoots
the man in the head.
The mans kids scream, who are sitting against the wall with
their mother.
COMMANDER
Fucking sandniggers. FUCK!!
The COMMANDER pulls the knife out. Throws it on the floor.
COMMANDER
You ready?
The COMMANDER and MAL stand over the kids and mother. They
reload their guns. Start firing.
BACK TO BOSS BASEMENT
The COMMANDER is sitting in a chair.
COMMANDER
I had to watch my men get killed by
those people. Oh is revenge sweet.
You know we ain't that different
from each other.
MAL
I'm nothing like you.
COMMANDER
Oh really?
JAMALL walks up slowly from the darkness.
JAMALL
Is this true?
MAL
Don't listen to him, JAMALL.
Everything he says is a lie.
COMMANDER
Why were you so desperate to leave
the army?
MAL
Because i didn't want to be a part
of it anymore. The crimes that you
were committing. I couldn't sit
there and watch.
COMMANDER
(laughs) Join me.
MAL
Never.
COMMANDER
The niggers around here will do
anything for a bit of bread.
MAL shoots him in the arm. COMMANDER screams, than grabs his
arm.
COMMANDER
You know how you run a city? By
keeping it in despair. Bringing it
down so low, that any minor good is
welcoming. But you got in the way
with your brave acts and shit.
MAL shoots him in the other arm.
COMMANDER
Your past will always be with you.
You can never escape it.
MAL
I can do something about my future.
MAL shoots the COMMANDER in the forehead. COMMANDER slumps
over the chair.
FLASHBACK/IRAQ-ROOM
MAL is sitting on a cot, holding a pistol in his hands.
MAL puts the gun in his mouth, and closes his eyes. Pulls
the gun out and sighs heavily. His screams and puts it back
in his mouth, nothing again he pulls it out. He lays back
onto the cot. Looks at the fan spinning. Than sits up from
the cot, grabs the gun again. Aims at his leg and fires. He
screams and falls back on to the cot.
INT.CAR-NIGHT
MAL and JAMALL are driving on the highway.
MAL
I testified against him, he did two
years in prison. They let me go on
dishonorable discharge. War is hell
and this is my redemption.
EXT.STRIP CLUB-STREET
MAL and JAMALL stands in the middle of the street. Both have
a shotgun in hand, they pump it.
THE END.
Â
Return to Simply Scripts