AN HONORABLE CRIME

It's a "short" that focuses on the drug war and just how damaging it can be.

INT. WALGREENS PHARMACY - UNKNOWN

               A young man maybe in his late teens to early twenties stands
               in an isle of a drug store. He's wearing a solid black jacket
               with no distinct characteristics, no noticeable insignias to
               speak of. The floors are white tiled seeming to shine
               brighter due to florescent lighting overhead. It is very
               quiet with a light piano instrumental playing over the
               intercom. The mood is calm and peaceful.



               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               A different young man stands right outside his apartment
               complex. He's wearing a hoody halfway zipped up. He pulls a
               lighter from his pocket and lights a cigarette. Moments later
               after a drag or two, he zips the hoody up all the way then
               throws on his hood.



               INT. WALGREENS PHARMACY - UNKNOWN

               The young man in the black jacket casually walks down the
               isle looking to his left and right, passing an array of over
               the counter drugs. The isle ends with a small open space,
               like a foyer to the pharmacy counter. The young man
               approaches the pharmacist standing behind the counter on a
               raised floor. He pulls from his pocket a small folded piece
               of paper. Opens it, and slides it over to the pharmacist. The
               pharmacist picks up the paper. He pulls out a pair of glasses
               and examines the note.

                                   PHARMACIST
                         Just one moment please.

               The pharmacist proceeds to walk to the back.



               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               The other young man paces outside his apartment complex. His
               cigarette nearly gone. He stops pacing and leans up against
               his building. He takes one last drag off his cigarette and
               flicks the butt, then pulls a cell phone from his pocket.



               INT. WALGREENS PHARMACY - UNKNOWN

               The pharmacist sits a small white paper bag on the counter.
               He folds the top over and staples it shut with the original
               note on the outside of the bag. Just as the young man reaches
               for the bag, we hear a vibration from inside his jacket
               pocket. He pauses and pulls out his cell phone.
               It reads "1 NEW TXT MSG". He slides the phone back in his
               pocket, never reading the message. He reaches for the bag a
               second time.

                                   PHARMACIST
                         Have a nice night.
                             (beat)

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Yea you too.

               He very quickly snatches the bag off the counter and heads
               for the door.



               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               The young man in the hoody now sits against his building,
               going through his phone. " SENT: LAST SENT MESSAGE: UNREAD".
               A couple with their dog casually walk by. As the dog passes
               the young man in the hoody he attempts to use him as a fire
               hydrant. The young man quickly rises to his feet.

                                   WOMAN
                         NO! BAD DOG!!

               She hits the dog over the head a few times.

                                   WOMAN (CONT'D)
                         I'm really sorry about that.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         It's fine don't worry about it.

               He continues to scroll through his phone.



               EXT. WALGREENS PARKING LOT - NIGHT

               The young man in the black jacket is speed walking back to
               his car, and then... his phone starts vibrating again. The
               vibrations dragged out signifying it was a "call" not a
               "text".

                                   CHARACTER B
                             (answering the phone)
                         Hello... Yea I'm on my way now.
                         Your my next stopping point.

               He fumbles with his keys while still trying to hold the
               conversation.

                                   CHARACTER B (CONT'D)
                         Yea, yea I heard you. Their
                         extended release this time. I'll be
                         there in like five minutes just
                         chill out.

               He sits in his car with his left leg hanging out of the open
               car door.

                                   CHARACTER B (CONT'D)
                             (very quickly)
                         Yea, alright by.

               He hangs up the phone.



               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               The young man in the hoody flips his phone closed and looks
               to his left, then his right. He lights another cigarette.



               INT. CHARACTER B'S CAR - NIGHT

               He drives down a main road going forty-four miles an hour,
               four miles just over the speed limit. He examines his
               surroundings almost to a paranoic degree. Making sure he
               would see police before they saw him.



               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               His cigarette is only a fourth finished. His phone vibrates.
               He flips open his phone and the screen reads "new txt message
               from mom". He opens it and it reads "Don't forget about your
               rehab class tomorrow". He closes his phone and takes a long
               drag from his cigarette.



               INT. CHARACTER B'S CAR - NIGHT

               He continues driving, passing retail stores and restaurants.
               His phone starts to vibrate, again. The phone reads "call
               from Stephanie". He answers...

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Hello..

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         When are you coming back?

               A crying baby can be heard in the background of Stephanie's
               call.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         It won't be long babe just hold on.

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         I can't get her to fall asleep.

               Stephanie's voice drags sounding tired and groggy.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Have you tried singing the song to
                         her?

               The baby's cries grow louder and significantly more
               overpowering.

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         Of course babe, it was the first
                         thing I did.. She only likes it
                         when you sing it.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Well I'm not there.

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         I know your not but could you at
                         least try to sing it over the
                         phone?

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Yea I guess just put me on speaker.

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         Okay.

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                             (using a soft tone)
                         Listen to daddy he's gonna sing you
                         the song.. Okay your on speaker.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Should I start from the beginning?

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         No, she only likes the chorus.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Okay..
                         We all live in a yellow submarine
                         Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
                         We all live in a yellow submarine
                         Yellow submarine, yellow submarine.

               The babies's crying slows as she hears the comforting sound
               of her father's voice..

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                             (in a whisper)
                         Oh my god, its working... one more
                         time.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         We all live in a yellow submarine
                         Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
                         We all live in a yellow submarine
                         Yellow submarine, yellow submarine.

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                             (softly)
                         She's closing her eyes... Thank you
                         so much babe I love you. I'm going
                         to bed so please come home soon.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         It won't be long babe I promise,
                         and I love you too.
                             (beat)

                                   STEPHANIE (O.S.)
                         Good night babe..

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Good night.



               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               Close-up of Character A's cigarette hanging from his lips,
               burning. The glowing ember slowly fades as it reaches the
               filter.

               Character B's car pulls up. The passenger side window rolls
               down.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Sorry I'm a little late I got here
                         as soon as I could.

               Character A opens the passenger side door and gets in.



               INT. CHARACTER B'S CAR - NIGHT

                                   CHARACTER A
                         Its straight man.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         So they gave me the X.R.'s this
                         time.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         Even better man. Did you even ask
                         them to do that?

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Nope, hardly said a word. That's
                         just what the guy gave me.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         Well that works out for all of us
                         now doesn't it?

               Character B opens the stapled bag and pulls out a small
               orange tented prescription bottle reading "Opana, narcotic.
               Take once daily." The shape of the pill is a very
               distinguishable, octagonal shape.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         You could say that...
                             (beat)

               Character B places his cell phone on the seat between his
               legs. He then pulls out a gun.

                                   CHARACTER B (CONT'D)
                         FREEZE!

               He points the gun directly at Character A.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         HOLY S**T! MAN! WHAT THE F**K!!

               Character A throws his arms up in surrender.

               Character B starts to laugh a little and lowers his gun.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         I'm sorry man I was just fucken
                         with you. I had to do it at least
                         once.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         With a real fucken gun!? What the
                         hell is wrong with you?

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Calm down its not even loaded.. In
                         fact I didn't even buy bullets for
                         it.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         So why even have it?

                                   CHARACTER B
                         I just got it last night. Just for
                         intimidation purposes, cause I'm
                         not lookin to get robbed and shot
                         out here doin this s**t. I gotta
                         protect my merchandise.

                                   CHARACTER A
                         Right, with no fucken bullets.

                                   CHARACTER B
                         I don't wanna kill anyone, so why
                         buy the bullets?

                                   CHARACTER A
                         With that kind of logic why even
                         buy the gun?
                             (beat)

                                   CHARACTER B
                         Well it looks cool doesn't it?

               Character B cuts the light on in his car. He holds the gun at
               around eye level between the both of them and then...

               Red and blue revolving lights overpower their view from all
               angles and then we hear..

                                   POLICE OFFICER 1
                         He's got a gun!

               As soon as the words left his mouth a rain of gunfire poured
               into the driver's side of the car. Character A is ducked down
               into the floor board of the car, trying to avoid the oncoming
               gunfire.

                                   POLICE OFFICER 1 (CONT'D)
                         GET OUT OF THE CAR WITH YOUR HANDS
                         WHERE WE CAN SEE EM!

               Character A lifts his head to see Character B dead in the
               driver's seat with multiple bullet holes all over his body.

               The passenger side door opens.

                                   POLICE OFFICER 1 (CONT'D)
                         I SAID OUT OF THE CAR NOW!

               The officer pulls character A out by his hood dragging him
               across the asphalt. Then pulls him up to his feet and slams
               his body over the hood of a cop car, handcuffing him.

               Another officer pulls Character B's body out of the driver's
               seat. A cell phone sits in a damp pool of blood.

               The police officer picks up the phone. Across the cell phone
               screen it reads "talking, time 2:20 (and counting),
               Stephanie." The officer hits "End call" hanging up the phone.

                     SMASH CUT TO:



               INT. STEPHANIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

               The bedroom is dark with the sound of a ceiling fan in the
               background. A figure sleeps in the bed. The camera pans
               across the room passing a small TV stand. The baby's crib is
               at the foot of the bed. The camera continues around the room
               until it reaches a night stand where a cell phone sits.
               P.O.V. Close-up of the phone. It reads "PHONE MODE: SILENT,
               ONE MISSED CALL,
                             (beat)

               ONE NEW VOICE-MAIL."

                     SMASH CUT TO:
                             BLACK

                                   THE CREDITS ROLL

Reviews

[White Joe White]

I like it but I wrote it lol