ACT 1
EXT — Night Scene — A stranger in saunters down a street of row houses in a North Philadelphia neighborhood. He’s wearing a hoodie. He appears to pause, look back over his shoulder, across the street, as if looking for an address. We take this in through the lens of a camera. Someone is videotaping this person. We see the round mage of a viewfinder, with a flashing led.
The stranger spins quickly to his right and hops over a short chain-link fence at the edge of the sidewalk. It’s a private driveway. We him quickly walk up the side of the driveway, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. Through a faint outline we can see him pull a small object out of his pocket, kneel, reach under a motorcycle cover for a second or two and then tug the cover back in place. Just as quickly the stranger exits the driveway, puts his hand on the top bar of the fence, hops back out onto the sidewalk, and slips away down the street, moving fluidly, and a bit quicker this time.
He does not look back.
EXT. Day Scene — Overhead Drone Shot. Route 95. Philadelphia, PA
A Black Harley Davidson Roaring down the highway. Accreting up the on-ramp to Route 95.
Music is playing on the bike’s stereo. “Riders on the Storm” by the doors. It’s a Sunday and an overcast day. Both riders, a man and a woman are wearing headsets. They are smiling and talking occasionally to each other as they navigate the roadway. The driver, a man, is wearing an Eagles game jersey, partially visible under his leather jacket. There is a Philadelphia Eagles sticker on the side of his helmet as well. The passenger, a woman is also wearing an Eagles game jersey. We can’t tell the players number, but as with the driver, we can see that she also is wearing a Philadelphia Eagles shirt.
EXT. Day Scene — Overhead Drone Shot. Pullback — We see the cars all flowing down the road to the Eagles Midday — Route 95. Philadelphia, PA.
EXT. Day Scene — Eagles Stadium Parking Lot. Music is playing, it’s the Commodores “Brick House”. It’s Funky. There’s a tailgating scene going on in a big way.
We see Bobby tending the grill. We see Ish, “Ivory” and “Kevin playing catch with a football in and around the encampment. Ish is Persian. Ivory is black and Kevin is White.
Kevin walks over to where Bobby is grilling. A short pass hits him in the back,
Ish has hit him with the ball in the back between the shoulder blades. He stumbles slightly forward, picks up the dribbling ball.
He is smiling, he makes a fake move to throw the ball hard at Ish. He pump fakes it, checks his arm motion and throws a light underhand spiral to Ivory who is standing nearby10 feet away.
KEVIN (smiling, yelling)
I should have known you’d go for the back!
ISH
I don’t know man, it was right between the numbers, you made the cut too early!
Ivory takes the lateral pass Kevin has just thrown him and winks at him.
IVORY
This will shut him up!
Ivory turns and throws a tight spiral at Ish’s head. It is a rocket of a pass. It is a tight and hard and perfect pass. It whistles when it leaves his hand. Ish has his hands up and ready for the pass. but it is thrown so hard he has to duck his head. The pass screams right through his hands, wobbles a bit, deflected, and continues end over end and bounces towards a group tailgating in the next section. Ish looks at the tumbling ball and then back at Ivory.
ISH
(smiling, shaking his head, laughing)
Really? Really?
Ish is smiling, having a good time. He trots over to a couple of girls. One if the girls is wrangling the ball off the ground, lightly tossing it from hand to hand.
Ish is trotting over. Shaved head, tan coffee complexion, six feet tall, in obvious great shape… Ish is smiling wide with a beautiful smile.
Parking lot girl also has a beautiful smile, a light eyebrow arch.
PARKING LOT GIRL
Are you looking for this? Seems like that was a catchable ball don’t cha think?
Her statement / question over emphasis on the “K” sound at the end of the sentence.
Ish quickly shifts into slightly hurt, slightly offended mode. Impish, Puckish, a little hang dog in a funny fake way. …
PARKING LOT GIRL
(fake serious)
It must have hit you in a bad place…The hands!
ISH
(smiling)
To tell you the truth, it’s a concentration thing
He’s looking right at her now, breaking off eye contact after a quick walk up and down. She’s gorgeous.
PARKING LOT GIRL
Well maybe… maybe you’re just hungry?
Ish smiles, he looks directly into her eyes. A little less of a smile, but thoughtful, sincere.
ISH
Yeah, I’m a little hungry
She tosses the ball onto a camp chair, and reaches into a cooler
PARKING LOT GIRL
My name is Karen …
ISH
Ish …
As he says his name, Karen snaps the twist-off caps on two Twisted Teas and hands him one.
ISH
Cheers!
(smiling, nodding his head in appreciation)
KAREN
Cheers!
Karen spins in a half circle, a plate appears from nowhere, laden with ribs, beans and corn bread.
KAREN
There’s more where this came from…
Ish’s eyes widen, it looks delicious. The scene parts slightly behind Karen and a second plate appears, identical to the first.
KAREN
Here. Let’s sit here.
Karen aims at two chairs, one with the football on it. They move to the chairs and sit
and eat quietly. A little behind, there’s a front table with sides and condiments, and behind that there’s a grill with an older black man with a “Grill Master” apron on. Next to him is an older white woman spinning a bag of buns to put a twist on it. He looks over and back at his wife. His wife smiles, kind of a smirk, almost an eye roll. He mugs to her with a an open eyed “how’d that happen” look on his face. He then drops that mask for a sly devilish look followed with a slightly lascivious wink.
EXT. Day Scene — Cut to Kevin, ball toss is over. He’s now drinking with Bobby behind the BBQ grill. Ivory is now sitting in front. He reaches his arm up and back and Bobby snaps a beer into his hand. He pulls it pack, snaps the cap in a spinning motion, and takes at least five long gulps from it. When he sets it down, it is half gone.
Ivory takes a cigar from his pocket, sniffs it, snips it meticulously, quickly licks it, and lights it. Ivory wears an on Eagles hoodie sweatshirt, with an ATF pin near the lapel and aviator sunglasses. Ivory also looks like he could not be having a better time. He is bald, black, and has two gold earrings. Pregame is on a portable TV. There is no sound, but there are subtitles.
Kevin and Bobby are talking in the background. They are brothers, and they look very much alike. Bobby is much more outgoing, and does almost of the talking. Kevin does all the listening. Kevin provides a nod or a one word answer here and there for punctuation. A closer look shows Kevin is off in some way. He holds his head a bit tilted, as if he’s listening for something only he can hear, like he’s listening for important information. His glance is further away. Eye contact is difficult for Kevin. Not exactly a shoe gazer, but he does have a habit of looking away — slightly down and to the left.
Ivory blasts out a couple of cigar smoke rings. Kevin appears intrigued by the sheer density, size and perfection of the rings. He slides out from behind the grill area, and cautiously takes a seat on a large cooler across from Ivory. Kevin is young, maybe 24–25 years old.
KEVIN
Ha how the …
Kevin stutters. Ivory smiles at Kevin gives him the big eyebrow lift, takes a big inhale and continues snapping out thick beautiful smoke rings, firing the smoke rings to the right and just above Kevin’s head. Kevin is clearly enthralled, enthusiastic, almost childlike. At one point he holds his finger up high and to the right, like he’s pushing a doorbell. A ring connects, pauses, wavering circling his extended finger.
Kevin let’s out a boyish squeal of laughter. His hair is slightly disheveled from the football toss. But we can also see that there is normally a certain level of dishevelment with Kevin. Though he is smiling, there are darker crescents under his eyes. Kevin captures another ring and spins his finger, further hollowing out the ring, making it larger.
IVORY
My man…
Ivory’s voice sounds like a big cat, like Lou Rawls, like sand and Vaseline. Ivory inhales and fires off two more smoke rings in quick succession. These are fat, slow moving, thick rings. Nearby, someone puts on some R&B. The beat picks up to Al Green singing “Together”. Two black girls are dancing slowly together. They are very comfortable dancing in pubic at the pregame tailgate party. Kevin looks over and sees one of the girls looking at him, smiling. Kevin quickly looks away, shyly.
But this Kevin’s moment to show off. He somehow twists his body quickly and the second smoke ring bounces off his chest. He chest bumps it away like he’s superman, then looks shyly at the girl, still a little to the left and downward to where they are dancing.
The second ring come barreling in. This time Kevin dips his head like he’s donning a crown. Tilting his head back, the big ring widens, slides off Kevin’s ears and disappears. Kevin throws his head back and claps his hands in real laughter now. We see a hand reach over and turn up the music a bit more. The girls look over and back at Kevin, smile at each other and really start dancing in earnest.
Ivory turns sideways in his chair and double taps a big cigar ash into an ash tray. We hear the “Psfft” of the cap being loosened on another beverage. Ivory raises his hand again for the incoming bottle. Nothing comes for an additional beat. He looks up and over at Bobby, still behind the grill, who slowly passes the fresh soldier to Ivory. Bobby smiles, slowly nods his head, looks from Ivory over to Kevin and back, a look of absolute appreciation on his face. Ivory’s fresh bottle meets his hand and hangs for another beat. Bobby spins and taps it with his own.
BOBBY
Cheers mate…
Ivory taps back…
IVORY
Cheers man…
Ivory turns leans out to Kevin, who is already coming in to tap Ivory’s bottle with his. The music of AL Green swells again.
Cut Away and Up, a slow fade as the girls get even into their dancing. Ivory and Kevin nod their heads in time with the music, and Kevin gently sways to the beat.
INTERIOR — A Philadelphia row house.
A boy and girl come flying down the staircase. Lily is 5 years old and Brian is 6. Irish twins. Brian waits at the bottom of the stairs for Lily. They clearly love each other.
The front door slowly opens and in pokes a little girls head. Abbey is also five years old and coffee completed. In a swirl of movement, Michelle follows her kids into the front foyer and opens the door wider.
MICHELLE
Abbey!!! How are you? It’s so nice to see you!!! What a beautiful dress!!
ABBEY
Thank You Aunt Michelle.
Abbey pauses gracefully as Lily and Brian circle and hug her.
Michelle gives Abbey’s head a quick stroke, and the three kids on cue bolt through the house through the kitchen to the back door. Michelle follows, watching them open the back door.
MICHELLE
Hey guys… be careful out there. I don’t believe Mrs. Lasky and Mrs. Perry are going to want to see you guys showing up at school on Monday all banged up!
Waits a beat…
MICHELLE
Again!!!
Michelle smiles, exhales a small sigh, chuckles. She opens the back door.
EXT — A camera lens looking down into the backyard, a blinking focus LED, coming out then back into focus, a bit of picket fence in the bottom of the circular view.
Through the camera lens, we see the beautiful Michelle at the backdoor as the children file past her down the porch stairs and out into a freshly sodded back yard with a newer swing set. Michelle hears her own front door open and close; she closes the back door and heads back into the house.
INT — Michelle’s front foyer. The door opens and in steps Margo.
MARGO
Wait! I’m here too!!
Michelle comes rushing to the front door.
MICHELLE
Margo!!! I know! I know!
MARGO
Always bringing up the rear!!
Margo turns, sticks out her ass and shakes it.
MICHELLE
Seriously Girl!? Your ass does look amazing in those…
Margo spins back…
MARGO
I know — and it gets me in all kinds of trouble.
Margo says it smiling, with a fake puzzled look on her face.
Michelle laughs out loud.
MARGO
Oh, and I brought two of my favorite snacks. Sausage …
Margo drops the bag to her crotch, runs her fingers through her hair, arches her back, and begins rhythmically grinding. Michelle is laughing so hard she has tears.
MARGO
And of course, booze…
She holds up a box of wine…
MARGO
Cardbordeaux!!!
She says it with only a half bad faux French accent.
Michelle is just shuddering with laughter now. Her hand to her lip, trying to not let on how cool and sexy her little sister is.
MICHELLE
C’mon !!…
Michelle reaches in to bearhug her little sister who continues writhing her hips and eye rolling as she succumbs to Michele’s clinch.
They part and walk into the kitchen arm in arm, Margo still half dance grinding a bit.
They separate, Margo looks around the kitchen a bit, the camera follows her gaze. She sees the exposed lathing in the wall, looks down to the table and sees the toaster oven with a blackened front.
MARGO
Soooo… what’s up??? …how’s the “This Old House” project coming
along?
Margo purses her lips, bucks out her front teeth at her older sister, like she’s some sort of project accountant, which, oddly enough, she is.
MICHELLE
Don’t give me that. You know this town, a 200-year-old house is considered an adolescent.
Margo sticks her finger in the wall and makes the face of someone being electrocuted,
her body twitching uncontrollably.
Margo shuddering again, laughing. Meg moves on to unbuttoning the wine. She cuts the plastic tube on the wine box, raises it to her nose and sniffs.
MARGO
Ah, Cardbordeaux — “Chateau Maison” — 200 years old… Let’s get
Preeti Fucked Up”
Cheers big sister! May all of your old house dreams come true.
MICHELLE
Cheers little sister! You horn dog!
Margo does another short lascivious dance. The two sit down at the kitchen table where they can see the kids playing on the swings.
MICHELLE
Does Abbey know that her mother is straight out of her fucking mind?
For real?
MARGO
Oh, I’m sure that there’s lots of things she’d like to know.
MICHELLE
What does she think of Ivory?
Margo gets a serious look on her face.
MARGO
Well she loves him. He’s incredible with her. (and then softly)
He’s the only man she’s ever known as a dad.
Margo fidgets quickly for a moment, tilts her head, collecting her thoughts.
MARGO
You know, Ivory is the man of the house. She clasps her hand to her hips,
throws her head back and does a quick gasp.
Michelle is smiling, laughing again, shaking her head. She leans forward touches Margo’s knee.
MICHELLE
Oh baby. Do I have something for you. But you must promise
NOT to repeat it.
MARGO
Oooh, in that case (slightly mocking — now interested)
MICHELLE
So, Brian as you know, is now riding the bus to school.
MARGO
Ah yes, the school bus… the great equalizer.
MICHELLE
Well apparently, Brian’s new buddy Jake let him in on a little secret.
MARGO
(eye’s widening) Yesss???
MICHELLE
Yeah, well Jake told Brian that another word for penis is cock…
MARGO
(eyes widening further, laughing) — ooh nooo …
MICHELLE
Oh yes… and Brian marches into the bathroom the other morning, just as Bobby is finishing his shower and toweling off. Brian announces as approaches the toilet. “I gotta use my cock”
MARGO
(covering her mouth)
ooh nooo!!
MICHELLE
Yup. And so, Bobby’s eyes nearly pop out of his head and he says “whoa whoa” …” hold on there buddy”. That’s not a word you can just throw around. That kind of talk WILL get you into trouble! Seriously Bud! “
MARGO
(turning red now from laughing and the wine)
MICHELLE
So, Brian thinks for a moment and says “Well Jake told me that a COCK
is a chicken, but COCK is also another word for PENIS.
MARGO
(shaking she’s laughing so hard. her hand to her mouth)
MICHELLE
So, Bobby says, “listen Brian. Jake IS right about the slang part.
But the teachers, the kids, ANYONE overhears you talking like that, you’re gonna be in some serious trouble.
MARGO
(eyes widening, she leans even further in. real serious now)
MICHELLE
So, Brian says “Yeah Dad, You’re right. I really gotta watch that”
MARGO
(smiling with raised eyebrows)
Wow! So, Bobby really handled it pretty, well right?
MICHELLE
Yeah, but um….
MARGO
(eye wide again) Wait… there’s more?
MICHELLE
Er… Ah, well. You know Nancy, right?
MARGO
Dustin? Nancy Dustin? Soccer Coach? PTA?
MICHELLE
Yup. The one. The same. And then yup, there’s my Lily standing next to her son Ryan at the soccer game, on the sideline, rocking on her heels, coyly batting her eyes whispering to Ryan… COCK! COCK! COCK!
At this point Margo slides out of her chair and onto the floor, laughing uncontrollably.
MICHELLE
I swear to God sister. KIDS!!!
Brian is just like Bobby. A straight arrow.
And is just like her aunt. Lily is just like you…
(Michelle starts to form word for a moment)
(she too is laughing … hoarse)
And by the way MARGS…what the hell did I get out of this deal?
Margo gets up off the floor and starts hugging Michelle, laughing hysterically.
Michelle putting her chin to the side of Margo’s head…rolling her eyes…smiling and shaking he head.
EXT — A Honda Goldwing merges onto Route 95. The rider checks his side mirror. Both riders wear helmets. Both riders are smiling, talking on headsets.
A gold Chevy Impala, approaching from the rear. The driver is slouched, driver’s window down, arm resting on the doorframe, cell phone up to his left ear.
Camera shot is dead on. Looking through the front windshield. The driver wears aviator shades, and a NY baseball cap. Slowly he eases into the middle lane.
We can see from our dead-on camera view that the Impala driver is now directly in front of the Goldwing motorcycle. He looks up into his rearview mirror.
All the sudden he slams on his breaks. He looks up again into his rearview mirror.
You can see him smiling. From our dead-on view of the front of the stopping car, we can see the big bike rising over the trunk of the Impala, the front wheel of the bike spinning freely as if it was going up a jump ramp.
EXT — Fast cut to the side. The bike is going down sideways, the riders stay on the tumbling bike. The driver of the Impala looks back, sees the crash, slams the gas and accelerates forward.
EXT -From behind, the driver of a huge tractor trailer frantically tries to avoid the downed motorcycle in his lane. His rig rumbles over the downed bike and the crash victims. All surrounding cars slow to a crawl, then a stop. There is nothing but smoke and fire and chaos and wreckage on the highway.
EXT — Inside of Eagles Stadium — Cut to the start of the Eagles football game.
We see the foursome of Ish, Ivory, Kevin and Bobby in their seats awaiting kickoff. Bobby’s cell phone rings.
He answers, one hand holds the phone the other covers his left ear so he can hear.
BOBBY
Hello?
EXT — Close shot of Bobby. He can’t hear. It’s the Eagles opening day. Just then two F15’s swoop down from overhead, stalling their engines a bit to prolong their pass over the stadium. The crowd explodes in a huge cheer.
Cut to two handers emerging from the football tunnel with live golden eagles on their gloves. The pull off the eagle’s hoods, release their jesses, and raise their forearms and the eagles take off. The crowd roars its approval.
Cut to the overhead play camera following the kicking team from behind as they race towards the ball. The kicker kicks off, the ball spins high, end over end towards the receiving team.
Cut to Bobby standing up with the entire team. A look of shock and disbelief on his face.
He takes the phone away from his face and stares at it in disbelief.
INT — Philadelphia Museum of Art — Two months later
Michelle and Margo enter the American Arts room. It’s a red walled room covered in 18th,19th and 20th century American paintings. The lighting is subdued, it’s a weekday afternoon and it’s quiet. In the middle of the room are short benches and miscellaneous standing sculptures.
MARGO
How are the kids doing?
MICHELLE
OK, I guess. I mean at that age, who’s to say what they know, what they retain. I only have like two memories of 1st grade. Each one is like two seconds long. I really don’t talk about it with them unless they bring it up. They just know that everything is different. Bobby is different. He’s hardly around, and when he is… (she fades off…)
MARGO
I know, same for me. They’re just babies.
MICHELLE (changing the subject)
Do you think they suffered?
MARGO
Who? Mom and Dad? No. I don’t. I don’t think they suffered. I think it was over quickly. (Margo is crying now) Of course! I don’t know. How do I know? Yes, it was horrendous. It was a horrible, horrible way to die. The worst.
Just then, a security guard slowly pacing nearby steps towards the painting they are looking at. She is a middle-ages black woman, a big lady, she has a beautiful face and a calm demeanor.
GUARD
Do you notice anything unusual about this painting?
MARGO (composing herself)
Well I think it looks like “Whistler’s Mother” but it’s not the same painting.
GUARD
Yes, it certainly does. Any no it’s not a Whistler painting.
MICHELLE
There’s something funny about the hand isn’t there?
GUARD (in quiet tones)
There is indeed. This work was painted by Henry Tanner, it is the Portrait of the Artist’s Mother and it was painted in 1897. If you look closely, yes, she is posed in the same way as Whistler posed his own mother, which he painted in 1873. But here’s an interesting detail. If you look at her left hand, it is inverted. It’s not painted as though it was her own hand. It’s painted as the artist’s own hand, as if it was the artist is reaching in to touch his own mother. Someone he greatly adored.
Margo looks at Michelle, and then back at the security guard.
MARGO (forced smile)
Thank You. That’s a wonderful story…
Margo motions Michelle over to a small two-person bench in front of a beautiful standing sculpture of an angle. They sit. As they do, Michelle hands Margo a tissue. Margo has started to cry. Margo doesn’t make any noise, but there is a slow silent stream of tears rolling down her cheek. Behind them on the red wall and in the background, there is a painting “Two Ballet Girls” by Edgar Degas. Two dancers sit collapsed on a bench. Their legs turnout from the hips, their bent knees parted as they catch their breath.
INT — Longwood Gardens — Delaware. A male figure is seen through the lens of a camera, exiting a car. The driver walks in a slow circle around the rear of the car — a gold Impala — the rear end has a lot of damage, a huge dent. He then walks through the parking lot up and the garden path. Signs point towards the huge main exhibition hall. A glass green house filled with orchids and hundreds of exotic plants.
Inside we see the subject enter a beautiful garden. There are all kinds of plants — orchids, lush vines and many varieties. We see again the subject through the lens of a camera. A circular vision, the same LED blinking. Through the lens we see the subject recognize the photographer, and this is a fleeting look of disgust.
The photographer, an older man in his sixties is wearing a faded beige raincoat
He greets the entering driver.
EGGMAN
Ramsey it’s so good to see you again
RAMSEY (suppressing his disgust)
Nice to see you too Eggman
EGGMAN
Thank you so much for meeting me Ramsey. You found it alright?
RAMSEY
Yes, it wasn’t much trouble.
EGGMAN
(putting the camera to his eye — pivoting to find a new target)
This is one of my favorite places.
RAMSEY
(making a face)
What is that smell?
EGGMAN
That my dear boy is what you see behind me. The Amorphophallus titanum is a remarkable plant. Its scientific name means giant, misshapen phallus and it is not hard to see why. This giant column is called a spadix. It rises 7 feet into the air from the center of a pleated funnel. When the plant blooms (every decade or so), that spadix heats up to about 90 degrees. The stench that inspires its common name — the corpse flower — comes from a putrid blend of chemicals the bloom sends into the air. The odor has notes of old fish, unwashed feet and rotting cabbage.
This plant is pretending to be a dead animal.
RAMSEY
Whaa …???
EGGMAN
What? No…why. In the wild, when insects searching for carrion are tricked into entering the corpse flower, they become unwitting aides in the plant’s reproduction, carrying pollen from one corpse plant to another corpse plant nearby.
RAMSEY
I don’t understand the fascination really. It seems like evolution or whatever would have gotten rid of weird useless shit like that, like flying dinosaurs.
EGGMAN
(turning to face the plant)
Oh, my dear boy, there are many lessons for us to learn from nature… (pausing)…
You did what we talked about today…
RAMSEY
(sounding nervous)
Yes. I did. It worked exactly how you drew it up.
The Eggman is still facing the plant, occasional lifting the camera and snapping a photo. Ramsey is a few feet behind him, also viewing the plant.
EGGMAN
Yes, I heard about an accident on 95. Not many details… the Inquirer online. You realize what this means don’t you.
RAMSEY
(looking up at the ceiling then back)
I think it means that there’s no one to prosecute…
EGGMAN
That’s right Ramsey. There’s no one to prosecute us. Joseph Stalin … admittedly a little before your time, and mine I suppose… he used to say “…when we hang the capitalists, they will sell us the rope.” He also said “death solves all problems. eliminate the man, eliminate the problem… In this case McCain is the problem. My problem, your problem…
RAMSEY
He’s the prosecutor. Don’t they have other prosecutors? And what if they suspect? They’re not stupid.
EGGMAN
(turning towards Ramsey. A bit agitated)
What do you mean they’re not stupid? Of course, they’re stupid. And you (placing his finger of Ramsey’s chest) made it look like an accident, didn’t you? Yes, I’m going to wager that McCain is dead. And if he’s not dead, he’s almost certainly out of the picture. And no, I don’t believe that they don’t have other prosecutors like McCain.
He pauses, as redirecting his thoughts
EGGMAN
(cheerfully)
Anyway, I thought you might like this. Oh, and there’s, ah well… a little something extra. It’s a token of my appreciation.
It’s from the new shipment.
Eggman reaches into his lapel pocket and hands Ramsay’s a thick, unsealed yellow manila envelope. Ramsay purses it open.
He sees a stack of 100 dollar bills. He knows it’s 100 of them.
He also sees a small, plump zip lock baggie filled with white powder.
Ramsay looks away and back at the envelope. It’s been a long day.
He’s heard the EGGMAN rant before. It’s usually right before he gets paid.
Ramsay’s lip curls into a half smile.
The look on his face is dreamy glazed. The one he gets when all he can think about is getting high. He’s happy that he has remembered to be polite.
RAMSAY
(softly)
Thank You Eggman…
EXT — Lincoln Financial field stands moments after kickoff. Bobby, Ish, Ivory and Kevin.
Bobby, holding his phone, leans in to the foursome, straining to be heard.
BOBBY
There’s been an accident. Randall says it’s bad. It’s mom and dad. They are being med-flighted to Jefferson.
Randall is coming down here to get me now.
IVORY
(standing up)
We’re coming with you.
ISH
Bobby, were coming with …
BOBBY
No meet me at Jefferson. Randall’s on a bike. He’s going to meet me in the tunnel. Take the car and meet me at the hospital.
Bobby looks down, and there’s two state cops are walking briskly along the sidelines They are looking up into the “home” stands in search of Bobby. Bobby stands with a quick wave. One of the staties waves and motions him down. Bobby gets up and runs up down the stairs, hops over the railing and drops to the field. All three begin running in the direction of the tunnel. Before they can get there, Randall meets them 1/2 way, driving up the sideline on a State Police Harley. He says nothing and looks straight ahead. Bobby jumps on the back and Randall spins the big bike around, heading back up the same sideline to the tunnel, all the bike lights are flashing. As he approaches the tunnel, he hits a burst on the siren, and as if on cue, the crowd parts, giving them a wider birth. Randall and Bobby accelerate through the tunnel. At the end two cops on either side of the tunnel hold back the crowds. Randall guns it, and lights and sirens blaring, he races forward through the parking lot and up to the 95 North onramp.
EXT — Randall’s bike taking the onramp, rapidly accelerating up the highway heading north. Lights and Sirens blaring. The traffic is completely stopped in both directions on the 95 North and South. They go about a mile and 1/2 north, pushing along between the cars, the cars nosing away left and right as best they can to give them space. Ahead there’s a small clearing. Randall stops the bike and Bobby dismounts. He is taking in all of the details. He walks slowly around in a circle, almost in a dreamlike trance. A med-flight helicopter parked, rotor turning slowly all of its lights flashing in the darkness. Nearby are ambulances and firetrucks, doors open and gear drawers open. Bandages and wrappings are strewn on the ground. On the median is a heavily damaged — jack-knifed tractor trailer. The truck driver is still at the wheel, looking dazed. He has a broken nose, blood streaming down his face. He is talking to a n EMT who is evaluating him in the cab. In the road is a Honda Goldwing. Its frame is broken in half. Pieces of the bike appear strewn all over the road.
Firemen and EMT’s are pushing two stretchers with victims towards the helicopter.
On one, a fireman is atop the gurney, straddling the victim and performing chest compressions. The scene is chaotic, yet strangely organized, as the firemen and EMT’s grimly perform their work.
EXT — Night — City Center — Streets of Philadelphia — Looking up from the street and overhead huge rumble of inbound of JeffSTAT helicopter, 10 stories up, landing on the Thomas Jefferson Hospital rooftop helipad. The belly of the aircraft is lit up with flashing lights, the landing fills Center City with the sound of a large helicopter landing.
Rooftop/Overhead shot — Chopper lands, orderlies appear out of an elevator, and begin extracting two patients on stretchers from the big bird. Last out of the side door is Bobby He follows along with the orderlies, holding the hand of one of the victims. Bobby glances up to the chopper pilot whose eyes are shielded by his helmet. The pilot nods his head slightly.
INT — Thomas Jefferson Hospital Emergency Department.
Bobby and in orderlies come rushing through the double doors. Bobby is still holding his mother’s hand.
Two doctors, a man and a woman rush forward to meet Bobby. They look past Bobby to the victims on the gurneys, their eyes averting Bobby’s eyes.
DR EVANS
Hi, I’m Dr. Evans, and this is Dr. Pierce, we’re are going to taking care of your folks. We’re going to have you wait right in our family room just down the hall) here (motioning to the lounge), and we will keep you updated on the situation.
A nurse appears. Her face is caring. She touches Bobby’s elbow. He let’s go of his mother’s hand. He is white. He has a wasted look on his face. The nurse walks Bobby the rest of the way down the hall to the family room and ushers him into the private room. We see the doctors and their teams wheel the gurneys into separate glass walled ER suites.
Fade out — the camera pulls back. Bobby sits in the half-light with the door open, his face in his hands.
INT — ER Suite — 3:00 AM — Bobby’s parents lie side by side in the ER suite. They are heavily sedated; their eyes are closed. They are surrounded by a myriad of machines which measure their 02 levels, track their pulse and BP. Both parents have been intubated, a metal pipe pushed down their throats to force oxygen into their bodies, to force them to breath. Death has come for them. He stands quietly in the corner of the room. The doctors and nurses who come and go with regularity cannot see him. He is dressed as a Harley Davidson Mechanic. In a one-piece mechanics suit. He has a nicely trimmed goatee and sideburns. He has a cursive name tag over his left breast. “Death”. He carries a clip board. He looks meticulous. He appears conscientious. He appears sincere. He appears as if he is going to conduct a multipoint inspection. He touches the clipboard with his pen as he ticks off his points.
DEATH
Hi Bob and June. Ah… As you know, you occupy quite a space in your children’s hearts. So, this is obviously a tough time for the family. Your passing(s) (Death takes care to pronounce the plural “s”) are going to set this family back for a generation. Members of current generation will likely not recover. But I can tell you there is a plan here. There are larger forces at work. I’m not supposed to say a lot more than that …non-competes/covenants etc. ect.
(he looks up and to the left his head rocks a bit)
INT — Hospital lounge Thomas Jefferson Hospital. Three of the siblings have arrived. Kevin and Bobby, Bobby’s sister Margot and his wife Michelle.
MARGOT
This doesn’t seem remotely real. This is impossible…
MICHELLE
Oh, It’s real. I’m afraid it’s all too real.
BOBBY
(to Michelle and Margot)
Who has the kids?
MICHELLE
When Ivory called, I called my mom and had her come over to watch the kids. She’s got Lily and Brian
MARGOT
And Abby is there too…
Ivory just called me, he’s coming here with Kevin and Ish.
Just at that instant Ish walked through the ER lounge door followed by Kevin and Ivory. Kevin is wide-eyed and appears nervous. Bobby reflexively moves to the center of the room and a circle of family forms around him.
BOBBY
I spoke with Dr. Clarke just before you all got here. Here’s what we know. Mom and Dad are in very bad shape. Mom has a ruptured spleen, two broken legs, and she has lost her right arm. Dad a fractured skull, he has broken both hips, and his back is also broken. I’m not going to lie here. Dr. Clarke said an hour ago that they’re not going to last the night … (waits a beat) That is why I called you all down here. You all will be able to see them in a moment or two. Dr. Clark is on his way back over here now.
Almost on cue, there’s a knock on the ER lounge door and Dr. Clark enters. He looks ashen. He has two other ER nurses with him. Their eyes are red, and they have been crying.
DR CLARK
Thank you all for coming down here. I am very sad to tell you that you parents passed away about 15 minutes ago. We worked very hard to revive them. We did everything we could do for them, however with their grievous bodily injuries, your father and your mother, Robert and his wife June, passed away within 5 minutes of each other. Robert’s heart stopped at 2:00 AM this morning, and his wife June’s heart stopped at 2:05.
Booby looks at the wall clock showing 2:20 AM. The camera sweeps the room for face to face close-up reactions.
DR CLARK
We will be bringing you all down to see them in a few minutes… we’re just removing tubes and monitors now… Are there any questions?
MARGOT (quietly)
Did they suffer? Did they know what was happening to them?
DR CLARK
We don’t think so. They never regained consciousness after the crash. And I know that they were medicated on-route to the hospital in the medSTAT chopper. Bobby’s look is far away and he nods his head almost imperceptibly.
DR CLARK
(responding to a knock at the door)
OK, they’re ready for us…
Dr. Clark leads the procession as a nurse holds the door open. Bobby exits in front, leading Kevin, Ish and Ivory. Margo and Michelle follow behind. As they enter the same darkened ER hallway, the walls are lined with doctors, nurses and EMT’s, lots of cops. Everyone seems to know Bobby. Ish and Ivory nod to several of the folks lined up against the wall. Margo and Michelle follow looking straight ahead, they look like zombies, and they are silently crying as the procession moves slowly forward. The procession stops outside of a two bed ER suite. They all file in. Half stand next to Robert. Michelle and Margo stand beside June. Through the door walks a Catholic priest, Father Medeiros, summoned to perform last rites. He takes a position between the beds, and looks at everyone directly in turn, and then Robert and June.
FATHER MEDEIROS
Robert and June, you have been summoned before God, and it is his wish to have you and welcome you into his Kingdom. We know that in this life we will all be tested in a way and at a time not to our liking.
The camera pulls back as Father Medeiros continues the holy sacrament. We can see him between the beds administering the sacrament of the Last Rights to Robert and June.
EXT — Jefferson Hospital. Death comes down the front stairs, the same motorcycle mechanic we saw at Robert’s and June’s bedside. As he moves forward down the front stairs and towards a bike in the foreground, we see his clothes morph into black motorcycle leathers. He looks briefly at his phone, and then places it on a holder on the handlebars. He straddles the bike, fires it up and pulls away, heading to meet his next customer.
Three weeks later…
Interior — a shot of Kevin sitting alone in the dark garage of the Philadelphia Police motor pool. In front of him on a large bench table in carefully organized parts, there are piles of metal really. An overhead camera shot shots the junk piled up, clearly the debris from a crash. In the background, we hear “Vincent”, a soft ballad, playing on a Amazon Echo. Fox News is on a small flatscreen on a nearby bench. The sound is turned off. There is a constant swirl or red shiny graphics. Like Transformers for adults.
Kevin is wearing thick glasses and head is cocked slightly up and to the right, is if he is listening
to the music, and maybe just thinking of something else. As the camera pans over the bench we can see that there is. Bobby enter the frame from behind Kevin, and puts his hand on Kevin’s shoulder.
BOBBY
The last few weeks, I wake up every day I grab myself a coffee, and I sit down in front of the TV. (Bobby points at the flat screen) I want to see what new stupid crap this government is up to…this election really… It’s just finding new ways to screw people is all it’s about. So I’m watching right and like within like 15 minutes, I feel this little trickle flowing out of my nose, and over my lip, like my nose is running, except it’s not running, it’s bleeding, and with 30 seconds, it’s gushing out of my face like a fountain. So, this asshole, pointing at the new president is giving me a fucking nose bleed.
KEVIN
Bobby, I found something …
BOBBY
Ok (pauses) What kind of something? Something about the bike?
KEVIN (softly)
Yeah. Something that doesn’t belong.
BOBBY
Whaddiya mean doesn’t belong?
KEVIN
Look at this.
Kevin holds up a small round disk. Like two heavy washers stuck together, with a hole in the middle.
BOBBY
What is that? Is that part of the bike?
KEVIN
(softly shaking his head)
No. No it’s not. It’s a tracking device. It’s a beacon of sorts. They’re new. They’re used to keep track of stuff online. Like bikes, cars, kind of like a “find my phone” on an iPhone or an iPad or whatever. Kind of like a LoJack. Remember those?
BOBBY
Why would they need that? Why would they even have that ?
KEVIN
(waits a beat)
They wouldn’t Bobby. There’s no reason for them to have this. None.
BOBBY
Then what’s it doing it here, or there (pointing at the wreckage) where exactly was it anyway ?
KEVIN (moving towards the wreck)
It was attached here. (Kevin points to an area under the front fork of the wrecked bike) And it was attached with this (Kevin picks a zip tie off of the edge of the bench) Just a plastic zip tie.
BOBBY
What the fuck are you talking about. Are you trying to tell me that someone put it there?
Kevin nods quietly.
BOBBY
That someone was tracking them. That someone knew where they were?
KEVIN
Bobby, this device works up to 30 miles.
BOBBY (with a ghostly stare)
They were being stalked. They were being followed. This wasn’t an accident.
Bobby’s eyes begin to water.
KEVIN
Mom and dad may have been hunted down and run over on the road.
Bobby picks up the tracking device absently and turns it through his fingers.
His face is a tragic mask.
EXT. / South Philadelphia Row House
Parked at the curb, Vincenzo Morel, real estate agent. He is very obese. In the back of his car is a young couple excitedly perusing a new condo listing. Their excitement is real. They are starting a new life together, and they are excited by the prospect of doing so in a brand new one bedroom condominium. Vincent’s phone rings. He looks at the cell number, and then up at the rear-view mirror. Leans back and hands off a key ring.
VINCENT
Excuse me for a moment guys, I gotta take this. And if you don’t mind, you guys go ahead and let yourselves in. The square key is the front door, and the round key is the unit.
Backseat Husband and Wife
Thanks!
The backseat husband and his bride bound out of the car, onto the sidewalk and up the stairs, smiling at each other at every turn.
Vincent
Bobby! What’s going on. It is so good to hear from you!!! Listen man I am so sorry about your folks. I really didn’t get to talk to you at the wake or the funeral…
BOBBY
I know man. It was bat shit crazy — honest to God I don’t know how we even got through it. Hey Vinnie. We’re still going through it.
VINCENT
Bobby — if there’s anything you need … Seriously anything, just say the word.
BOOBY
Vincent — there is something I need from you. I need to talk to your dad.
The line goes quiet of a few seconds. We see Vincent staring nervously out of his car window.
BOBBY
Vinnie — you there…
VINCENT
Yeah-Yeah-Sure Sure — I’m here. Ah sure yeah well, you know he’s really not Doing all that great… And lately I haven’t seen him all that much myself really.
BOBBY
Vinnie — I wouldn’t ask if there was another way.
VINCENT
I know Bobby I know. Yeah sure. I’ll set it up… When are you looking to do this?
BOBBY
Soon Vinnie Soon.
VINCENT
Ok Bobby — I’ll set it up. Then I’ll call you tomorrow.
BOBBY
OK Vinnie. Till Then. Later.
INT. South Philadelphia Row House
We see Ramsey and his girlfriend Tiffany sitting cross legged on the couch.
The living room is dimly lit, there’s a black light and some rock posters. There are cigarettes burning in the ashtray on the coffee table. Ramsey is cutting up drugs using a ceramic plate and a credit card.
Ramsey
(motioning to the plate and the coke)
This is what the Eggman came up with. It’s for helping him with some extra work.
Tiffany
(moving in closer to the drugs)
Extra work? Like what?
Ramsey
Well I really can’t get into all that. Sometimes they call it “wet works” (making air quotes as he says it and looks directly into Tiffany’s eyes)
The less you know…
(he trails off)
Tiffany
(with an eyeroll, waning attention span)
I get it I get it … no problem…
Ramsey leans over the plate with a short straw and begins snorting two of the four huge lines of cocaine. His facility with this activity indicates that this is not his first rodeo.
He finishes with loud snorting sounds and then hands Tiffany the plate with lines of cocaine. She also snorts her two lines.
Tiffany
(talking a mile, a minute)
Oh my God that’s such a rush. This stuff is so good. This came from Eggman right?
Ramsey
It sure did. His is the best. Always the best.
Suddenly Ramsey gets kind of a queer look on his face. Then a spasm.
Tiffany moves closer.
Tiffany
Ramsey ?
