DO THE TIME

By Richard Silvester

EXT. STREET -- DAY

A lone van sits by itself in the distance, distorted by the heat haze rising from the blacktop. It is stiflingly hot, the middle of summer. The road is quiet and strangely empty, there should be kids playing, but there's not even a sound on this suburban street. A young man walks into view wearing ripped jeans and a white singlet. JACOB, squinting in the suns powerful glare, stops and stares up at one of the houses. Slowly he starts to move toward it, his shoes melting into the road, sticking with every step.

INT. STATE HOUSE -- DAY

A ceiling fan whines as it pushes through a layer of smoke in a futile effort to cool the air. Below in the dull living room sits RAY. A fifty year old man in good shape shown off by the fact he's wearing really short running shorts and a white singlet. He wipes the sweat from his forehead and yells at the TV.

RAY
Come on seven, get up there!

RAY is watching greyhound races. Engrossed he rides his money toward the finish line, whipping his leg with a rolled up betting guide.

RAY (CONT'D)
That's it, get inside

As he bucks up and down on the couch a sawn-off shotgun falls on to the floor, taking no notice RAY carries on.

RAY (CONT'D)
Out of the way two!

RAY's spirited actions are interrupted by a loud knock on the front door. With his focus still on the race he picks up the gun, pauses, then stuffs it under one of the pillows on the couch. Continuing to watch the TV he walks backwards to the front door and with the security chain still attached he slowly opens it. Distracted by his dogs poor performance RAY doesn't look at his visitor, but continues to trash the race.

RAY (CONT'D)
C'mon ya mongrel. For fucks sake.  What!

JACOB stands calmly, not even looking through the gap in the door. RAY finally turns and peers suspiciously outside. He see's JACOB and can't believe his eyes

JACOB
Hey

RAY starts to hurriedly undo the chain as he speaks, unimpressed by JACOB's lack luster greeting.

RAY
Hey? That's all I get

The door opens, and JACOB stays quite subdued.

JACOB
That's all I got

RAY pulls JACOB into the doorway, looking over his shoulder he scans the street, but sees nothing out of place. The door slams shut. RAY has his arm around JACOB leads him into the lounge. Still in disbelief RAY tries to say too many things at once.

RAY
Shit....When....how....you hurt?

JACOB
I'm fine

RAY
Need a drink?

Ray walks into the kitchen, JACOB calls out.

JACOB
Anything cold

JACOB studies the unkempt state house.

RAY re-enters carrying a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.  He hands JACOB a glass containing a very quickly melting ice cube, then pours him a good measure.

RAY
Geeze I can't believe it.

RAY pours himself a drink then takes his well worn spot on the couch. JACOB sits in the only other chair, a well worn lazy boy.

RAY (CONT'D)
You know I tried it once.  Thought it was bloody impossible. One guy made it to the outer fence, the beating he got, shit.

They sit in awkward silence for a few seconds, JACOB watches RAY take a large gulp of warm liquor, wishing for a cold beer.

RAY (CONT'D)
How are the old boys, easy stretch with them looking out for ya. The old mans good for something ay boy

JACOB
Yeah, easy time

FLASH BACK:

INT. PRISON SHOWERS -- DAY

In the corner of a large communal shower, JASON is cowering naked, balled up in the foetal position whimpering. The wall behind him is splattered with blood.

INT. STATE HOUSE -- DAY

JACOB takes a hit of whiskey.

RAY
Damn right, knew they would look after you.

JACOB
That why you never visited

RAY
I couldn't go back. Thirteen years that place took from me.  You understand.  Look I'll help you get back on your feet

RAY purposefully gets up and leaves the room.

JACOB stares at the ceiling fan slowly spinning.

RAY returns with a shoe box full of cash and drops it on the coffee table.

RAY (CONT'D)
There ya go

JACOB
So things haven't changed

RAY
I've gone straight

JACOB
You don't know anything else

FLASH BACK:

INT. BED ROOM -- DAY

JACOB aged four is standing in the doorway to his bedroom. He is watching RAY stuff a gun into the back of an old teddy bear.

JACOB
What are you doing?

RAY spins around with a guilty look on his face.

RAY
Um nothing.. just playing a game

JACOB
Can I play

RAY
Not now, when your older

INT. STATE HOUSE -- DAY

JACOB
Some fucking game

RAY
Steady on, your were what? Four, give me a break

JACOB
Probably lucky you got busted.

RAY
Yeah. Thirteen years I got

JACOB
So you keep saying, but you still managed to drag me down with you

RAY
You new the deal and you made your choice

JACOB
C'mon, you turn up, your my dad, I  would have done anything for you. And you knew it

RAY
What ever you want to believe, look, I'm sorry.... It wasn't meant to go down like that

JACOB
Tell me about it. You shoot a cop take the cash and drive off, leaving me to the dogs. I was lucky they took me alive!

RAY
We were set up, I panicked...  Look I kept your cut,

Ray points down at the money on the coffee table thinking this would make up for it all.

RAY (CONT'D)
Incriminating that is. You should be grateful.

JACOB
Shouldn't you be thanking me

FLASH BACK:

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY

JACOB is sitting at a table inside a small sterile room. Two plain clothed detectives are leaning over him.

DETECTIVE ONE
Who is he!

JACOB is stoic in his silence. The second detective slams his fist onto the table in frustration.

INT. STATE HOUSE -- DAY

JACOB
Just one word, that's all it would have taken, one word and I'm out in a year. Just cut a deal.

RAY
Your out now, you've got a chance. There's enough there for a new life

JACOB
You sat there in that court room and you said nothing, you watched as they dragged me away, and you said nothing. Why couldn't you have just....

RAY
...What confess, dig my own grave they would have never let me out.

JACOB
But you would let them take me!

RAY
Then why didn't you nark you pussy!

JACOB
Because I wanted to give you a chance. I gave you one year, one year to be a man. One year for you to think, to prove me wrong. So I made my deal and I gave you one fucking year you pussy!

RAY is speechless, is mind is racing.  He looks up at a biker calendar.  He mouths One Year.  He drops the glass in his hand.

RAY
How could you, you fucking little shit, I'm so stupid.

RAY jumps to his feet and lunges toward JACOB and rips at his singlet, revealing a wire. JACOB stands petrified.

RAY (CONT'D)
I don't like surprise, how about you.

Ray makes a move for the couch, rummaging under the pillows. Just as he gets his hand to the shotgun the front door bursts open and ARMED POLICE fly into the room. Two of them wrestle RAY to the floor, a pillow falls off the couch revealing the shotgun RAY was searching for.

RAY is quickly dragged out the front door, and as quickly as the police arrived they are gone, ignoring the gun and the money, they got their man.

JACOB sits down on the couch, the gun at his feet and the money on the table, taking in what has just happened. He finally skulls back his glass of whiskey and reaches for the money.

FADE OUT: