EXEC.

PRODUCER: Oprah Winfrey

EXEC. PRODUCER: Ava DuVernay

QUEEN SUGAR

Written by
Ava DuVernay

"Far Too Long"

Based on Characters in
Natalie Baszile's novel
'Queen Sugar'

Forward Movement August 11. 2015

818.995.0050
 ACT ONE

INT. BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

A bedroom bathed in the blue light of early morning. Two

entangled lovers. One sleeps. The other, NOVA BORDELON, 37,
earthy and elegant, gazes out of the window into the dawn.

She looks to the man beside her, watches him with affection
for a moment. Then, rises and saunters across the modest
room, gathering her clothes.

The tattoos and piercings that adorn her are on full display.
As is her confidence. Even when no one’s watching.

The man, CALVIN, very attractive, 37, stirs awake. They smile
at each other. Their connection is deep. She sets her clothes
down. An invitation. He rises from bed and goes to her. What
looks like a long-held ritual begins.

He holds her skirt at her feet. She steps in. He slowly pulls
it on. Smoothing it in back. Lingering. He places her bra on
her, hooking it expertly. Places her blouse on her, and
buttons each button carefully. Their faces close. Intimate.

He sets a sweater across her shoulders. While his arms

encircle her, she reaches for him. He returns the embrace.

EXT. CALVIN’S APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Nova and Calvin walk to her car. Hand in hand. A quick kiss.

NOVA
Be good.

CALVIN
I won’t tell you the same.

NOVA
You know better.

All smiles. She hops in and drives off. He watches her go.

EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NEW ORLEANS - CONTINUOUS

Nova drives through the grand and tragic city of New Orleans.
From the ornate mansions of the French Quarter to the row
houses standing stout and proud. She maneuvers through the
streets with ease until they become less and less populated.
 2.

Soon, she turns onto what was once a residential neighborhood

now littered with ABANDONED STRUCTURES bearing the Katrina
tattoo: an “X” and number codes signifying a search for life.

She pulls into the driveway of the only house on the block
that’s not boarded up. Her place is a ray of sunshine with
potted plants hanging along the porch to welcome her home.

INT. BATHROOM - EARLY MORNING

We look into a mirror hazy with steam. A hand reaches to

clear the frame. A woman appears. Bespectacled and pretty
without make-up, she is CHARLEY BORDELON-WEST, 34.

She takes off her shower cap and stares into the mirror for a
long moment. In no hurry, she takes off her glasses. Then,
sighs as if she doesn’t want to do what comes next.

She gently lifts her finger to her eye and places a contact
lens on each pupil, blinking them into place.

We watch JUMP CUTS of this natural beauty transforming

herself into the kind of woman who rules music videos and
magazine covers. Concealer. Foundation. Eyeshadow. Eyeliner.
Lashes. Bronzer. Blush. Lipgloss.

She pulls her hair into a chic top-knot and leaves us while
calling out for...

CHARLEY (O.S.)
Davis! Micah! Time to go. Let’s go!

INT. WEST RESIDENCE, LOS ANGELES - MORNING

Charley winds down a floating staircase of the post-modern

architectural jewel that she calls home. The sophistication
of the place suits her. Glass walls showcase a breathtaking
view of Los Angeles as she enters the expansive living room.

CHARLEY
Davis! Micah!

DAVIS WEST, 35, enters. Six feet two inches of flat-out fine.

DAVIS
Micah! You heard your mother now.
Don’t make her call you twice.

All of a sudden, we hear FOOTSTEPS. Charley looks to Davis

and shakes her head. He smiles and shrugs as the teenager
enters.
 3.

MICAH, 15, is a cross between bookworm and bombshell. She

seems to have no clue that she’s inherited her parents’ good
looks.

MICAH
Sorry, Ma. I was on the phone.

DAVIS
Newsflash.

A good natured eye roll to her father who smiles back at her
as the close-knit threesome hurries out the door.

EXT. WEST RESIDENCE - CONTINUOUS

Their housekeeper RAQUEL “ROCKY” ORTIZ, 50 and efficient,

puts luggage in the back of Davis’ Range Rover as the family
crosses their circular driveway.

ROCKY
Have a good game, Mr. West.

DAVIS
Thanks, Rocky.

Micah goes to hug her Dad.

MICAH
Good game, Daddy.

He winks and slips her money, which she puts into her pocket
with stealth caution. She then heads over to a mini-van where
Rocky awaits her in the driver’s seat. They pull off as Micah
waves to her mom.

CHARLEY
See you tonight, pumpkin.

It’s just Charley and Davis now.

CHARLEY (CONT’D)
You gave her money.
(off his guilt)
How does that help prove my point?

DAVIS
What was the point again?

CHARLEY
That we can’t spoon feed her every
opportunity. She needs to work for
money. She’s 15. She’s gotta learn.
 4.

He swaggers over to his wife near her sleek convertible with

a twinkle in his eye. After all this time, she can’t get
enough of him.

DAVIS
She takes after her mother. Top of
her class. Smartest person in the
room. I think she’s learning fine.

CHARLEY
I mean learning real-life, Davis.

DAVIS
This is our real-life, baby.
(beat)
Ain’t it good? Just let it be good.

A moment between them. He runs his thumb along the bridge of

her nose to her lips. You can tell he always does that. A
slower kiss now as they embrace in the California sun.

A stunning couple with a stunning child in a stunning house.

The American dream on steroids.

He lets her go and they climb into their respective cars.

CHARLEY
Hit ‘em where it hurts, baby.

DAVIS
Always.

They drive off in separate directions. Hip hop blasting from

his car as he speeds down the road. She flicks on NPR.

EXT. BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - DAY

We watch a slender man with a deep fatigue in his eyes. RALPH

ANGEL BORDELON, 28, takes long swigs from a bottle of beer,
smoking a cigarette like it’s the last he’ll ever have.

We pull back to find him on a plaza park bench. A zydeco duo

plays nearby. His son BLUE, 6, runs over.

BLUE
We want another churro, Pop.

Ralph Angel flicks his cigarette, then grabs a churro from a

small wax paper bag. He hands it lovingly to the boy.

RALPH ANGEL
Four for a dollar. You got two
more, buddy.
 5.

BLUE
Those are yours though.

RALPH ANGEL
You have ‘em. But take it slow, k?

BLUE
‘Kay.

RALPH ANGEL
Now, every time these men finish
two songs, you and Zack have a
churro. Two songs, Blue. See if you
can be disciplined. ‘Member we
talked about discipline? Don’t
move.

Blue nods to his father and to Zack, his Power Ranger.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

How many songs?

BLUE
Two songs. Two songs, then churros.

Ralph Angel eyes a liquor store on the far end of the square.
He kisses Blue on the forehead. The boy holds up Zack for a
kiss too and the young father obliges with tenderness.

Then, Ralph Angel rises and crosses the plaza. Body language
casual. Eyes anxious. Just before he enters the sliding doors
of the store, he discreetly pats his hip. To make sure the
gun is right where it should be.

INT. SMART MART LIQUOR STORE - MOMENTS LATER

Ralph Angel surveys the convenience store. Besides the bored

young woman CASHIER behind the counter, the place is empty.

The cashier never looks up from her magazine as he walks to

the back of the store and grabs one soda can.

With his eyes trained on her, he turns back up the aisle

toward the register, plucking items off the shelf and dropped
them into his sweatpants. With a tinge of regret on his face
as he goes, there’s nothing petty to him about this crime.

At the counter, Ralph Angel holds up the soda and tosses two
dollars on the counter. Transaction complete.

As he turns to leave, the corner of a candy bar slips out of

his pants leg, the foil rustling on the tile. She looks up.
 6.

CASHIER
Dude! Are you boostin’?

Ralph Angel is caught off guard. Before he can think, the

girl picks up the phone. Oh no. It’s all going wrong. No, no,
no! In that split second, he makes a decision.

RALPH ANGEL
You know what’s best for you,
you’ll settle your ass down. This
ain’t a game. You ain’t the hero.
Open the gotdamn register and give
it to me.

He places his hand on THE GUN at his waistband so she can see
it. She takes her hand off the phone and stares at him.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

Bitch, right now. Or I swear...

He glares. She opens the register. He lunges forward, grabs

the cash in one smooth move, then BOLTS. Stolen food shaking
up and down against his leg. The cashier yelling after him.

He pushes through the glass doors, eyes the plaza where Blue
sits - and decides. He runs in the opposite direction.

TITLE CARD.

EXT. PLAZA RIOS - HOURS LATER

Ralph Angel watches Blue from behind a brick wall of an

adjoining store. The boy has been crying. But his tears have
dried now, along with crumbs from his churros. He lays on the
bench, whispering to his Power Ranger, Zack.

It takes everything inside Ralph Angel not to scream. At

himself. At his situation. No one is more disappointed in
him, than him. He gathers himself and walks to his boy.

RALPH ANGEL
Hi, Buddy.

BLUE
Hi, Pop.

RALPH ANGEL
You did good. You did so good.

BLUE
I was discipline.

He hugs the boy. Tight.

 7.

BLUE (CONT’D)
Me and Zack are ready to go.

RALPH ANGEL
Yeah, let’s go.

EXT. VIOLET’S HOUSE, ST. JOSEPHINE’S PARISH - DAY

Sweltering heat. Ralph Angel takes a sleeping Blue out of his

beat-up pick up truck. He carries the boy toward an
immaculately kept cottage-style home. Vegetables grow here.
Flowers there. A large well-kept motor boat sits near a
colorful swing set. An eclectic yard filled with life.

And in the carport, Ralph Angel finds his aunt, VIOLET,

spunky and stylish at 60, sitting on a water cooler and
laughing up a storm. She wears cut-off denim shorts and looks
damn good for her age.

The younger man laughing with her certainly thinks so. He’s
HOLLYWOOD DESONIER, 40, the rugged, resourceful type.

They’re having a good ‘ol time as Hollywood works on VIOLET’s

gleaming white ‘72 Chrysler Imperial. They spot Ralph Angel
making his way closer.

HOLLYWOOD
Wassup, Ralph Angel.

VIOLET
(going to Blue)
Oh, look at that baby.

Ralph Angel gently passes Blue to Violet.

RALPH ANGEL
He knocked out around Route 13.
Missed most the ride.

VIOLET
Anything?

RALPH ANGEL
(defeated)
Said maybe they’d bring on new men
in fall, but not now.

Violet pats Ralph Angel on the arm with affection.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

(a hesitant beat)
I went picked up some money a
friend owed me though.
(MORE)
 8.
RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)
Take this lil’ bit, Auntie. Take
this. I owe you this, okay?

He hands her some folded bills. She looks from him to

Hollywood, who takes it all in with curiosity.

VIOLET
No, chere. You keep it. Or you know
what? Give it to your Daddy. He
needs it more than me. Hollywood
takes good care of me. Put that up.

RALPH ANGEL
But for keepin’ Blue and stuff.

HOLLYWOOD
That boy at home. Don’t fret that.

Violet smiles at Hollywood. Then, heads into the house.

Hollywood turns back to the car engine.

RALPH ANGEL
Thanks, man.

HOLLYWOOD
Ain’t nothin’.

RALPH ANGEL
When you hit the rig next?

HOLLYWOOD
Time’s up Tuesday. Trying to get
one last weekend in. But she’s
keeping me busy.
(beat)
Day and night.

RALPH ANGEL
Ah man! I don’t wanna hear that!

HOLLYWOOD
(laughing)
I’m just sayin’! Shoot, you need
to go on and get yourself a good
woman. Make life sweeter.

RALPH ANGEL
Everybody’s not like ya’ll.

Ralph Angel heads inside.

 9.

INT. VIOLET’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

He enters to find Blue still napping with his head on

Violet’s lap. Ralph Angel sits next to her. Down.

VIOLET
(softly)
It ain’t easy what you doin’. Folks
don’t wanna give you a second
chance. I know. They don’t believe
you can do it. But you can. You
can, Ralph Angel. You paid your
debt. You did your time. Just stay
the course, baby. Do right, so
right’ll be done by you.

Ralph Angel nods.

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - DAY

Charley zips through traffic, whizzing by BILLBOARDS of the

latest blockbusters and hottest fashion. She eyes one in
particular. Her husband looms large over the city hawking his
sneaker line with his moniker stenciled across his chest:
“DAVIS WEST: THE GENTLEMAN.”

She smiles and pulls into valet outside a SWANKY RESTAURANT.

Heads turn. She doesn’t notice.

INT. RESTAURANT - A SHORT TIME LATER

Charley sits at a prime table with her friends, RENEE and

LENA, 30s. Both heavily eyelashed and impeccably dressed.

CHARLEY
I mean, there’d be a camera here
right now filming. I don’t want my
life on TV. I love it like it is.

RENEE
Maybe that’s cause your man treats
you like a friggin’ queen.
Pedestal, crown, the whole nine.

Charley just smiles into her salad. There’s truth to that.

RENEE (CONT’D)
Ya’ll fancy and you know it. And
people need to see that positivity,
Charley. We’ll do the hair-pulling
and name-calling. You’ll bring the
class and the romance.
(MORE)
 10.
RENEE (CONT’D)
Like that story. You know. How you
and Davis met at the fraternity
thing.

CHARLEY
Phi Beta Kappa isn’t a fraternity,
T. It’s an academic...

LENA
Whatever it is, it ain’t the club
and it ain’t outside the arena.
Bottom line? Everybody doesn’t have
Davis West on their arm. Some of
us? Real talk? Some of us have to
play this game as hard as they play
on the court. We need you on this,
Charley. They really want you. You
know that.

Just as Charley is about to respond, all three women’s phones

ring, buzz and vibrate. One by one, they react to what they
read.

RENEE
What the -

LENA
No.

Its an alert from TMZ:

Player’s Dirty Ball! LA Gladiators Star Players Caught in

Away Game Sex Scandal.

All business, Charley quickly scans and doesn’t see Davis’

name. Her attention turns to her friends who are distraught.

CHARLEY
Let’s go. We gotta get out of here.

CUT TO:

The women exit the restaurant to find the PAPARAZZI already

swarming. Renee and Lena rush to their waiting cars like deer
in headlights. Tears fall as they dodge lewd questions.

Charley walks calmly to her car and hands a large bill to the
valet. Cool as a cucumber. As the photographers yell her
name, she adjusts her sunglasses and drives away.
 11.

INT. NOVA’S PLACE - DAY

The kitchen table is draped with a white cloth. Various jars

of SALTS and SHELLS and ROCKS adorn it. Plants all around.

Nova gently rubs oil on the tips of an ELDERLY WOMAN’S

trembling hands while mumbling in French. Nova slowly opens
her eyes when she’s done.

NOVA
Just two dabs. No more.

ELDERLY WOMAN
It real bad, Miss Nova. You don’t
expect I need more?

NOVA
Two dabs only, sister. Faith fills
in the rest.

When Nova releases her fingers, her hands stop trembling.

ELDERLY WOMAN
Mèsi, Jésus.

The Elderly Woman goes to pull out her pocketbook, but Nova
gently stops her.

NOVA
Mais non. I won’t take it.

Suddenly, there’s a strong KNOCK from the front of the house.

NOVA (CONT’D)
Stay here, sister.

Nova crosses her living room. A colorful and exuberant decor.

At the door is a white twenty-something COLLEGE STUDENT.

NOVA (CONT’D)
Listen. You knock like that again,
I’m callin’ somebody.

COLLEGE STUDENT
Yes, ma’am.

NOVA
What do you want?

COLLEGE STUDENT
Um, I heard you, um, sold... grass.

A long beat. Nova looks at him expressionless.

 12.

COLLEGE STUDENT (CONT’D)

I’m sorry. I mean, I’m supposed to
say, um... “I Am Deliberate And
Afraid of Nothing.”

NOVA
And where is that from?

COLLEGE STUDENT
From?

She shuts the door on him. And goes back to the kitchen.

NOVA
Okay, now, Mrs. Blange. Two dabs.
And also a few puffs on this when
you have pain.

Nova opens her cupboards and takes out a jar, wraps a joint
in a small piece of fabric and hands it to the woman.

ELDERLY WOMAN
It really helped me last time.

EXT. NOVA’S PLACE - LATER

Nova sits on her porch with her laptop. We see that she’s
writing an op-ed column about a recent incident of police
brutality. We see her full by-line. OP-ED COLUMNIST for the
New Orleans Picayune newspaper.

RID, 25 and street-wise, drives up the street in an old Honda

Accord with brand-new rims. He hops out and heads to her.

RID
What up, Nova?

NOVA
‘Sup, Rid.

RID
Need a half of capers.

NOVA
No halves. You know better.

RID
I’m low and I got hypes ready.

NOVA
How much you marking up these days?
 13.

RID
Twenty percent at the college.
Fifty in the business district
(off her disbelief)
Why not? They got it. Escalation
for risk.

NOVA
You’d make a killing on Wall
Street, brother. Third flowerpot.

He nods, lifts up the flowerpot, takes an ounce, leaves cash.

But, stops short of taking a flyer that’s there as well.

NOVA (CONT’D)
Take it.

RID
C’mon, Nova.

NOVA
We need you at the rally. Be in
solidarity with your brothers and
sisters.

RID
I went to the last one!

NOVA
Well, there’s another one. And I
swear, Rid, if I don’t see you and
your crew up there, I’m cutting
ya’ll off. And you know I got the
best. You’d want someone marching
for you. I can’t believe I even
have to ask you, brother.

RID
You right. It just messes with my
head, ya know.

NOVA
Yeah, I know.

He heads out, but calls over his shoulder.

RID
What your fine-ass sister say about
that Gladiator shake-down?

NOVA
What you mean?
 14.

RID
(almost to his car)
Her man’s team been having 5 on 1
parties on the road.
(off Nova’s confusion)
Five woes, one hoe. It’s all over
the news. You ain’t heard?

NOVA
Nah. We’re not close like that.

RID
Ain’t gotta be. It’s all over.

Off Nova, covering her concern.

INT. NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT - DAY

People from all walks of life rush through the terminal to

get to their gates. They all pass ERNEST BORDELON, 69, strong
and gray, as if he’s invisible. His back is straight and is
gaze focused as he pushes a trash can across the terminal.

INT. AIRPORT BREAK ROOM - A SHORT TIME LATER

Ernest opens his locker and takes off his uniform’s button-up
shirt. He puts on a well-worn cargo jacket and a faded Saints
baseball cap.

Nearby two YOUNGER MALE WORKERS are laughing and talking

smack as a commercial plays on TELEVISION. We see a SPOT
featuring Davis, as dashing and dynamic as ever.

YOUNG MALE WORKER 1

(watching TV)
Rings gleaming now, but it’s a wrap
for number four.

YOUNG MALE WORKER 2

(searching his cell phone)
The League postponed tonight. Here
it is... “In the wake of
allegations by a 23-year old woman
that members of the Gladiators
basketball team engaged in group
sex with her against her wishes on
several occasions...”

YOUNG MALE WORKER 1

(interrupting)
How’s it gonna be “against her
wishes on several occasions,” yo?
(MORE)
 15.
YOUNG MALE WORKER 1 (CONT'D)
If it’s against your wishes ain’t
gonna be another occasion. These
thots be thirsty, I’m sayin’.

Ernest listens discreetly. Brow furrowed. When he closes his

locker door and slowly makes his way to the door, he touches
the brim of his cap toward the young men.

ERNEST
Good night to you.

YOUNG WORKERS
(respectfully)
Night, Mr. Ernest.

EXT. ERNEST’S LAND, ST. JOSEPHINE’S PARISH - LATER

Waist-high stalks of slender, emerald leaves outline both

sides of a dirt road. Ernest pulls onto a side road that
leads to a small clapboard house with chipped white paint and
parks his pick-up truck.

He takes a small cooler out of the truck and walks slowly

past a tractor turned on its side. Tools are nearby.

When he reaches the porch, a LAZY DOG lifts her head to greet
him. He bends down to nuzzle her. Rising, he looks out on his
sugar cane field that stretches a quarter of a mile in one
direction.

He looks upon the unkept clotted grounds with green blades

battling the dark soil below. His expression filled with
regret.

INT. ERNEST’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Ernest dials the phone in his small, tidy kitchen. INTERCUT

CALL with the WEST RESIDENCE as housekeeper Rocky answers the
phone in the family’s state-of-the-art kitchen.

ROCKY
(on guard)
West Residence.

NOVA
Hi... um... hello, This is Ernest
Bordelon. Is my daughter there?

ROCKY
Mr. Bordelon, let me check and see
if she’s here.
 16.

We now see Charley and Micah sitting at the counter with

MIRIAM, 40ish red-head and in a suit, in their immaculate
chef’s kitchen. Charley nods and takes the phone from Rocky.

CHARLEY
Hi, Daddy.

ERNEST
Checking on my girl.

CHARLEY
I’m here. I’m okay.

ERNEST
What’s this all about?

CHARLEY
I feel so bad for him, Daddy.

ERNEST
Yep, it’s bad business.

CHARLEY
It’s these kids coming straight out
of high school. No home training.
No life skills. You hand ‘em
millions of dollars and say good
luck. They marry riff raff. They
live wild. And now they’re messing
up our livelihood, ya know?

Micah listens in.

ERNEST
Where’s Micah?

CHARLEY
(she turns on the speaker)
She’s right here. She’s fine.

MICAH
Hi, Grandpa.

ERNEST
Hi, Princess.

CHARLEY
Davis is on a flight back. It’s
just a disaster for the team.

MICAH
There goes another championship.
 17.

ERNEST
What happens next? I know you got a
plan going. You always have a plan.

CHARLEY
The talking points are that they
are innocent until that woman
proves otherwise. Apparently, she
didn’t go to the police right away
and there is no rape kit or
anything. The guys are saying they
never laid eyes on her. Idiots.
Someone should have said it was
consensual because if she has even
a shred of physical evidence, its a
wrap.

Micah listens closely, taking in Charley’s analysis like the

good student that she is.

CHARLEY (CONT’D)
In the end, these knuckleheads
probably did something they weren’t
supposed to do and the league is
probably going to institute some
kind of investigative suspension.
Then, Davis will have to start
again. Build and break in a whole
new team. I can’t even... Anyway,
there’s a press conference with the
owners, coach and Davis tomorrow to
properly position the whole thing.
We still have a few cards to play.

Miriam takes notes on everything Charley has said.

ERNEST
Sounds like you’re really involved.

CHARLEY
I’m helping a little with strategy.
Just a little. They asked.

Miriam smiles weakly at Micah.

ERNEST
I understand them asking.

Charley reacts to this. Embarrassed, she picks up the

receiver.

CHARLEY
I know, Daddy. I have plans to come
down soon.
(MORE)
 18.
CHARLEY (CONT'D)
I’m going to come help you with the
farm. I am. But things are so up in
the air right now. You understand.

Ernest nods. He’s a proud man in a tough situation.

ERNEST
I just wanted to make sure you all
were okay. That’s all I called for.

CHARLEY
I’m gonna come and I’ll fix
everything when I get there, okay?
I promise. Can I send you anything
in the meantime?

ERNEST
No ma’am. I’m making due just fine.

CHARLEY
You don’t have to make due, Daddy.
I can send you what you need.

ERNEST
(beat)
I just need advice. And time. I
need a little time.

CHARLEY
I’ll come soon and give you all my
time, okay? Let me just deal with
this, okay?

ERNEST
Of course. Yes.

CHARLEY
Okay, Daddy. I’ll talk to you in a
bit, okay? Bye, Daddy.

ERNEST
Bye, Charley.

END OF ACT ONE.

ACT TWO

INT. ST. JOSEPHINE’S ELEMENTARY - DAY

A semi-circle of chubby faced Black and Latino boys are in

the hallway of the elementary school. We spot a boy we know.
It’s Blue in the middle of a heated conversation.
 19.

BLUE
... I don’t know.

BOY #1
Well, what about a trampoline then?

BLUE
I don’t think so.

BOY #2
How about a clown?

BLUE
No.

BOY #3
We can’t make any promises.

The three interrogators walk away. Blue is shell-shocked. He

walks down the hall, hurt. Then, looks up to find TRIN PHAN,
27, a pretty and petite Vietnamese teacher with a mega-watt
smile. Judging from the attention from the students, she’s
clearly one of their favorites.

TRIN
Everything okay, Mr. Bordelon?

BLUE
Kris and Nick... Kris and Nick said
they might not come to my birthday.

TRIN
Well, why not?

BLUE
I don’t have a trampoline. We just
don’t have one.

That’s all the permission he needs to let the tears flow.

TRIN
Okay. It’s going to be okay.

She bends down to hug him.

INT. TRIN’S CLASSROOM - A SHORT TIME LATER

Desks are arranged in a circle with her swivel chair in the

middle. All of the kids raise their hands, totally engaged.

TRIN
Miss Sanchez?
 20.

SANCHEZ
9!

TRIN
Close, but no. Mr. Delacroix?

DELACROIX
10?

TRIN
No. Mr. Alvarez?

MR. ALVAREZ
14?

TRIN
Ladies and gentlemen, this was
homework two weeks ago. We’re not
here to regurgitate information.
We are here to learn. Miss Lacy,
the definition of ‘regurgitate’
please. We learned it in the
health lesson.

LACY
To throw up.

TRIN
Now place it in context please.

LACY
We are not here to just throw up
information and not, like, know
what it means and remember it?

TRIN
Very good. I’d like everyone to
research the answer tonight and
draw a picture of that number using
variations of the third primary
color. What color is that?

CLASS
Red!

She rises from her seat and the students begin to pack up.

TRIN
And Mr. Bordelon?

Blue looks up, wide-eyed.

BLUE
Ma’am?
 21.

TRIN
Thank you for the invitation to
your soiree this weekend. I’d be
more than happy to attend.

His smile can light up all 50 states. The kids are abuzz
with excitement.

EXT. ST. JOSEPHINE’S ELEMENTARY - MOMENTS LATER

A collage of grown-ups await their kids. The doors open,

emptying the children onto the lawn.

Blue runs to his grandfather, Ernest.

BLUE
Poppa! Guess what?

ERNEST
What, sir? Tell me everything.

Ernest lifts the boy into the truck as he sets up the story.

EXT. ERNEST’S LAND - LATER

Ralph Angel walks along a row of neglected sugarcane, towards

Ernest and his old pal, PROSPER DENTON, late 60s, in the
distance. The men are crouched low, measuring the rows of
cane and in discussion about the farm.

Blue, who plays nearby, spots his father. Ralph Angel opens
his arms wide for the boy, who runs and jumps into a hug.

BLUE
Pop, guess what? Ms. Phan is coming
to our house!

RALPH ANGEL
Who’s Ms. Phan?

BLUE
My teacher. These guys were being
mean about coming to the birthday
party, but then Ms. Phan said she’s
coming, so now everybody wants to
come now!

Ralph Angel looks to Ernest, who just chuckles.

BLUE (CONT’D)
So Pop, maybe we need balloons!
 22.

RALPH ANGEL
Blue, I told you if we did this we
had to keep it under control. Pop
can’t spend a lot of money. And who
was mean to you?

BLUE
The balloons I saw at the store
with Poppa. Not the fancy ones. I
was meaning the kinds we blow up by
ourself. If those guys have
balloons then they’ll have more
fun, I think.

ERNEST
What color you want, sir?

Ralph Angel takes in how easily Ernest overrides him, but

says nothing.

BLUE
Red and purple! Oh, and maybe Mom
can come help!

A darkness comes over Ralph Angel’s face. His voice changes.

RALPH ANGEL
What I tell you, Blue?

Blue looks to his grandfather for help.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

No. Look at me. What did I say?

BLUE
Okay.

Ernest looks back toward his work. Prosper takes his cue.

PROSPER
I’ma get on.

ERNEST
Thanks for the measurements.

PROSPER
Ain’t nothing. It’s a good tractor.
Big as hell, but it’ll fit.

ERNEST
We’ll see about it.

Prosper gives Blue a high-five, tips his wide-brimmed hat to

Ralph Angel, then leaves them alone.
 23.

ERNEST (CONT’D)
Anything?

RALPH ANGEL
(down)
Um, next month maybe, they said.
(a beat)
Thanks for picking him up so I
could see about it.

Ernest shakes his head in disappointment.

ERNEST
Blue, go on in with your Daddy and
wash up.

Ralph Angel has been dismissed. Blue runs to the house. But
before Ralph Angel goes...

RALPH ANGEL
You getting a tractor, Pop?

ERNEST
Just talking about it. Gotta keep
appearances.

A loaded beat. Then, Ralph Angel digs into his pocket.

RALPH ANGEL
Some money owed me came in. Here.

Ralph Angel presents the wad of cash to his father.

ERNEST
Come in from where?

RALPH ANGEL
(without hesitation)
Craps a few months back. I been on
my dude over in the Ninth to pay
up. Finally did.

Ernest looks at the money suspiciously.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

Ain’t enough for nothin’. Just a
couple hundred. Help out around
here a little maybe.

He continues to hold it out. Desperate for his father to take

it. Ernest finally does. He puts it in his back pocket,
gathers his measuring equipment and begins to walk toward the
house with Ralph Angel, to the young man’s relief.
 24.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

(a beat)
I don’t understand why he still
asks for her. He knows how she is.

ERNEST
Every kid wants their mother.

Ralph Angel nods a little. Ernest looks out over his fields.

ERNEST (CONT’D)
You talk to Charley?

RALPH ANGEL
No. You?

ERNEST
Yeah. They’re fine.

RALPH ANGEL
You know she ain’t gonna let it be
nothing but fine.

ERNEST
That’s right.

They walk together through the green stalks toward the old
house. Far from fine themselves.

INT. WEST RESIDENCE - NIGHT

It’s late and Charley sits alone in her robe in the dark. The
only light comes from the city outside and the TELEVISION.
She watches a NEWS REPORT that recounts the day’s events.

NEWS ANCHOR
“The Houston woman says the
incident occurred three weeks ago
after a game against the The Oaks.
She claims to have gone to a hotel
willingly with LA Gladiator point
guard, Felix Evans, after a game
three weeks ago. And while she was
in his hotel room, three more
players came in and sexually
assaulted her.”

We see images of the PLAYERS. We see footage of their WIVES,

including Renee and Lena, caught out in public.

And we see a photo of the HOUSTON WOMAN, early twenties and

blond. The PHOTO they use is a candid shot of her in a bar
laughing and holding a beer.
 25.

SPORTS REPORTER
The Gladiator front office has
launched an internal investigation
along with the local authorities in
both Houston and Los Angeles. While
all players in question remain
active, the league has placed the
team under an ethics investigation.
In the meantime, three time MVP
Davis West faces an uphill battle
in his quest for a fourth title
with a team that is now in
shambles.

Charley shakes her head in disgust and looks out at the view
when we hear KEYS at the front door. She rises as Davis
enters the house, duffel bag in hand.

They go to each other. Silhouettes against the wall of glass.

He embraces her, tight. Then he kisses her, holding her face

in his hands. Her whole body responds, deepening the kiss.

When they come up for air, they look each other in the eye.
Questioning.

DAVIS
All the work, babe.

CHARLEY
I know. But it’s not over.

DAVIS
It is. I got what - maybe three
more good years. I need a great
team around me. I don’t want to
build this thing from scratch. Not
again.

CHARLEY
They’ll gut their contracts and
bring in new guys. Good guys.
You’ll be back next season.

DAVIS
I don’t know.

CHARLEY
You’re not ready to retire, Davis.

DAVIS
No, but I may be ready to move.
Oakland or Portland. Close enough
with strong teams.
(MORE)
 26.
DAVIS (CONT'D)
It’s the only way to get four. I
gotta have four, baby. You know the
plan.

CHARLEY
I know.

DAVIS
Maybe Atlanta or Charlotte. It’d be
nice to spend some time with your
family. Get a place in the south
just for two or three years, right?

Charley isn’t onboard, but puts her hand on his chest. He is

hopeful. Desperate even.

CHARLEY
Whatever we need to do, baby.

Her words seem to soothe him. He unties her robe and slides
it off her shoulders, then picks her up. Strong.

She wraps her legs around him, suspended against the glass.

A WIDE SHOT of the couple, intertwined against the CITYSCAPE.

INT./EXT. VIOLET’S HOUSE - DAY

Violet is on her porch shooting the breeze with the parents

of the TWO DOZEN CHILDREN who’ve overrun her lawn.

Ernest holds court on the deck of the motorboat doing card

tricks for a CUTE LITTLE GIRL. Blue watches along with the
other kids.

Hollywood is working some hot dogs on the grill.

But all in all, the little boy’s birthday party is a bust. No

games, a few amateur balloons, nothing fun. The kids are
restless.

Ralph Angel hurries out from the kitchen with a few things he
sets on the folding table in the yard.

RALPH ANGEL
Chips if anyone wants. Sodas are
right here.

A YOUNG MOTHER helps him set things down, flirting a bit.

Kids reach for liters of soda like life-vests on the Titanic.

YOUNG MOTHER
Is there anything I can do to help?
 27.

RALPH ANGEL
Nah, thanks. Hot dogs’ll be ready
soon.

He introduces himself to new people who’ve just entered. A

kid drinks a cup of soda then yells...

KID
This soda is hot!

YOUNG MOTHER
Do you have any ice?

RALPH ANGEL
Let me look.

He retreats to the kitchen, passing Violet on the way.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

(leaning in)
You’re the queen of partying. Can’t
you help me get this turnt up a
little?

VIOLET
They’re six. Ain’t no turnin’ up I
know appropriate for six. Just feed
‘em. Kids play. They’ll loosen up.

But these kids are used to trampolines and video games and
things that the Bordelons don’t have. Ralph Angel looks at
Blue who looks small and defeated around a group of rowdy and
restless boys in the yard.

Then, a RUCKUS. Cheers coming from the front gate.

CHILDREN
Ms. Phan! Hi, Ms. Phan! You came,
Ms. Phan!

Trin greets her students although her hands are filled with
TWO LARGE BOXES. Ralph Angel rushes to help her.

RALPH ANGEL
Let me get that.

He takes the boxes while she bends down to greet her kids and
wave to parents. Then, she follows him into the house.

TRIN
I don’t believe we’ve met.
 28.

RALPH ANGEL
Sorry. Ralph Angel Bordelon. My
aunt, Violet, usually picks Blue
up. Blue’s my boy. I’m his father.

TRIN
No apology needed. You go by Ralph
or Angel?

RALPH ANGEL
It’s Ralph Angel. All together.

TRIN
Okay. Well, can I help with
anything, Ralph Angel? I brought a
few things.

She reaches into the box and pulls out Cosco-size cases of
popsicles and Kettle Corn.

RALPH ANGEL
Wow.
(off her look)
I’m not good at this.

TRIN
What do you have going? Hot dogs.

RALPH ANGEL
Ready in about 5.

TRIN
And then a cake or...

RALPH ANGEL
I have a cake. I have a thing that
one of my father’s workers brought.
You’re supposed to hit it and candy
falls out, he said.

TRIN
A pinata! Oh, that’s perfect. Then
we’re going to be just fine.

A FATHER comes into the kitchen, covering irritation. His

DAUGHTER holds a hot cup of soda.

FATHER
Find that ice, bruh?

Ralph Angel is at a loss. There is no ice.

 29.

TRIN
We’re doing something a little more
fun for ice.

She unwraps a popsicle and drops it in the daughter’s plastic

cup. The little girl squeals as the cup FIZZLES.

Ralph Angel smiles at Trin with gratitude. She smiles back.

CUT TO:

Ralph Angel and Trin work together to pull off the party.
Kids happily drink soda with upside down popsicles while
munching hot dogs.

She coordinates an impromptu game with lanes made of shaving

cream on the lawn.

Ernest looks on with pride as Blue opens his gifts in the

middle of a circle. Violet lights the candles on the cake.
They all watch with love as Blue makes a wish, then giggles.

CUT TO:

Kids and parents begin to leave. All smiles. On her way out,
the CUTE LITTLE GIRL approaches Ernest in a recliner.

CUTE LITTLE GIRL

Bye, bye.

No answer. She moves towards him, and we see him slumped

over in an unnatural position.

CUT TO:

Ralph Angel stands over his father, distraught. Ernest’s eyes

are closed. He isn’t responding.

Violet kneels, talking in his ears and holding his head.

Hollywood listens for breathing, preparing to perform CPR as

the remaining folks in the house crowd around.

Trin is on her cell phone with 911.

RALPH ANGEL
C’mon, Pops. Can you hear me?

Blue is on bended knee at his grandfather’s side, crying.

BLUE
Poppa! Wake up!
 30.

A parent tries to pull the boy away, but it’s no use. He

won’t budge. Then, Trin steps in and picks him up.

BLUE (CONT’D)
Poppa! No! Please!

While holding him, she ushers the other parents and kids away
from the family as Hollywood checks Ernest’s airway.

TRIN
Let’s take the children out of the
way. Let’s give some room here.

The parents and kids follow her orders while she tries to
sooth Blue and monitor the ambulance.

CUT TO:

Violet and Hollywood jump in his car to follow the PARAMEDICS

as Ernest is wheeled to the waiting ambulance. Ralph Angel
looks around frantically for Blue and finds him in Trin’s
arms, terrified.

Ralph Angel and Trin exchange a look. One pleading for help.
The other accepting with a nod.

RALPH ANGEL
Blue, I’ll be back. It’s gonna be
okay. You stay here with, Ms. Phan.

BLUE
Daddy! I want to go!

RALPH ANGEL
You can’t, son. I’ll be back.

BLUE
I want to go with Poppa! Daddy!

Ralph Angel jumps in the ambulance right before the medics

shut the doors. The sirens wail. Blue looks on, wailing
too.

END ACT TWO.

ACT THREE

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - EARLY MORNING

Ernest lies in bed conscious but unresponsive. He’s attached

to tubes. His breathing is labored.
 31.

Nova stands over him with the palms of her hands over his
ears. Her nose is touching his. She whispers to him with her
eyes closed as the family looks on. Then, she places several
seeds under his pillow.

Violet sits in a chair next to her brother’s bed, clutching

her rosary and praying as Hollywood stands behind her, his
hands on her shoulders for support. He bends down to talk to
her and speaks in low tones.

HOLLYWOOD
Where’d Nova learn her ways?

VIOLET
Her mother was into all that. It’s
real.

HOLLYWOOD
I don’t doubt it.

Ralph Angel is in the doorway, in pain while watching Ernest.

Hospital staffers walk back and forth in the hall, oblivious

to their heartache.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - A SHORT TIME LATER

Ralph Angel is alone in the bright artificial light. With

some difficulty, he decides to make a call. He presses a pre-
set button on his cell. The screen reads “Darla.” But the
call won’t connect. He finds a PAYPHONE and dials.

DARLA (O.S.)
Hello?

INTERCUT CALL with DARLA, 25, a dark-haired beauty. She holds

one ear closed to maximize her hearing.

DARLA (CONT’D)
Ralph Angel?

He strains to hear her.

RALPH ANGEL
(stern)
Where are you, Darla?

All he hears is laughter and loud voices. She’s clearly

having a ball wherever she is. He should have known. Pissed,
he hangs up on her.

DARLA
Ralph Angel?
 32.

We PULL BACK to find Darla, hurt by the lost call. She’s in

line at a supermarket with a gaggle of teenagers behind her.

At the hospital, Ralph Angel fumes. Then decides to make

another call.

INT. VIOLET’S HOUSE - SAME TIME

Trin wakes up in a strange house and takes a second to get

her bearings. She rises from the couch and goes to check in
on Blue, asleep in a back bedroom. She pulls a blanket over
him.

Making her way through the house, she begins to clean up from
the party. Taking down streamers, throwing away soda cans
and putting things back in order.

She stops for a moment at an OLD WEDDING PHOTO on the living

room wall. A YOUNG ERNEST is dashing in his military
uniform, arm in arm with his BRIDE.

Trin gets lost in the photo. The young woman from long ago
looks back at Trin with a hesitant gaze. The gaze of a woman
fluent in solitude even when next to her husband.

The PHONE RINGS. She walks around the room until she finds it
and answers. INTERCUT with Ralph Angel in the hospital.

TRIN
Hello?

RALPH ANGEL
Ms. Phan?

TRIN
Trin.

RALPH ANGEL
Trin. Hi. Is Blue okay?

TRIN
Sound asleep. How’s your father?

RALPH ANGEL
He’s got surgery in a few hours
after some tests. It’s a stroke.

TRIN
My God. I’m... I’m so sorry this is
happening. I’m sure he’s going to
pull through. He’s a strong man.
 33.

RALPH ANGEL
Yeah. Yeah, he is.
(beat)
I don’t have anyone right now to be
home with Blue. We’re all here...

TRIN
Don’t worry. I’ll take him to
school with me this morning.

RALPH ANGEL
Thank you. So much. I’ll be there
after school. When the bell rings.

TRIN
If you aren’t there, I’ll take him
home with me. I’ll text the
address.

RALPH ANGEL
I don’t know what to say. This is
good of you.

TRIN
It’s my pleasure.

They hang up. Trin sits alone in the dark.

Ralph Angel then dials again. It RINGS and RINGS.

INT. STAPLES CENTER/ MEETING ROOM - SAME TIME

Charley’s phone BUZZES. In a gray form-fitting designer suit,

she stands in front of SEVERAL OTHER WOMEN, including her
pals from the restaurant Renee and Lena. All of the women are
dressed conservatively.

They watch Charley’s every move as if she holds the keys to

the kingdom. She press a button on her phone to ignore the
call without giving it as much as a look.

INT. STAPLES CENTER/CORRIDOR - SAME TIME

Davis, tall and muscular, wears a bespoke tailored suit and a

serious expression. Hangers on, arena staff, team personnel
and other players seem to part waters as he walks through.

He makes his way to double doors leading to a large room. We

can see the PRESS assembled just beyond the doorway.

The HEAD COACH nods to him as if to say: “Ready?” Davis nods

back.
 34.

The coach and FIVE PLAYERS file in with Davis in the lead.

A clamor as the players arrive. But they don’t sit. The men
stay standing, And then we notice that next to each player is
an empty seat. The press are puzzled.

Then, in walks Charley. With determination, she heads

directly to the raised platform. She takes her husband’s
outstretched hand. Together, they drip money and
respectability. And they know it.

Behind Charley are the other wives, including Renee and Lena.
They’re all doing their best Charley impersonations, trying
to exude confidence and charisma.

FLASHBULBS go off in a frenzy to capture the spectacle.

As everyone sits, Miriam and other team executives watch from

the side of the room, observing with crossed fingers.

COACH
As you know, we’re here to make a
few statements. No questions today,
folks. I’ll begin by saying that I
stand behind this team. And my hope
is we can be allowed to play as a
team while the various inquiries
and investigations and what not are
done. Give these guys that room and
that respect as athletes please.
(a beat as the press yell
questions)
Now, our captain, Davis West, will
speak on behalf of the players.

Davis squeezes Charley’s hand then leans into the microphone.

DAVIS
I want to say I stand by my
teammates. I stand by these men.
Private lives, private activities
should be that - private. The fact
that an adult consensual
interaction has become a headline
is unfortunate, but it doesn’t
change what we’re here to do. We’re
here to play damn hard and win for
our fans. To win for this city. To
exhibit the best of athleticism for
the entertainment and empowerment
of those who love this game. I love
this game. I love my wife. I love
my teammates.
(MORE)
 35.
DAVIS (CONT'D)
And we are all going to let the
legal process play out while we do
what we came here to do. Now,
excuse us -- we’ve got a game to
win.

Davis is so suave and passionate in his statement that some

of the press actually CLAP. Miriam gasps in awe and looks to
Charley who is more weary.

Everyone on the stage rises to leave when a STRONG VOICE from

the middle of the room calls out.

STRONG VOICE
Charley! Charley Bordelon-West! Are
you okay with this? Are you okay
with supporting alleged rapists?

The accused players and their wives begin to YELL BACK at the
reporter who shouts them down. The room begins to spiral.
Neither the coach or the executives or Davis knows what to
do.

Until, we find Charley. Slowly tapping... tapping... tapping

on a microphone. Tap... tap... tap. With each one, the room
gets quieter as everyone starts to focus on her.

CHARLEY
I was asked a question. I’d like to
answer.

Everyone settles. The spotlight is hers.

CHARLEY (CONT’D)
Am I okay with this? No. No, I’m
not. I’m not okay with years of
sacrifice, of sweat, of trades, of
practices, of peptalks, of losses,
of roadtrips, of reporters, of
injuries, of time away from home in
the name of this game. I’m not okay
with it. But we -- all of these
women up here -- do it because we
love our husbands. And our husbands
love this game. Every family
represented here believes in this
team and in each other. And we will
stand by each other while the
investigation is underway. Davis
and I support these families while
we pray for the health and
emotional safety of their accuser.
We believe that we can all get past
this to a better place.
 36.

And with that, she looks lovingly to Davis who places her arm
through his, drawing her near. She leans in. It’s a picture
perfect moment. They dazzle. And in their glow all of the
couples seem to sparkle with confidence too.

Camera flashes galore capture this stunningly effective

demonstration of support and stagecraft.

EXT. SAINT JOSEPHINE - AFTERNOON

Blue stands outside the school building, staring up the

street for the truck he knows. The last of the kids are
exiting the pick-up area. All the children are gone now.

Trin leans against her car. She’s been patiently waiting for
him to decide when he is ready to go.

Finally, he gives up and walks over to her. She opens the

passenger door.

INT. TRIN’S CAR - A SHORT TIME LATER

Blue peers out of the window as they turn onto a side street
along a freeway barrier. Small houses dot the way. Not the
best area. A random shopping cart is in the street.

But as they drive, the view changes. The homes become

farther apart, on larger lots. The homes beam with pride of
ownership.

EXT. TRIN’S HOME - MOMENTS LATER

Blue steps out of the car, clearly impressed.

The house is small and sweet with a bright red door, but it’s
what’s behind it that has caught his fancy. The water. The
green waves of the Gulf coastline.

Blue looks to Trin and she nods. Then he takes off to the
shore lined with a row of boats anchored to a long dock.

We see what seems to be a small village with Laotian,

Cambodian and Vietnamese families working and living there.

INT. SWANKY HOTEL SUITE, LOS ANGELES - AFTERNOON

Micah lounges in the living room of a designer hotel suite

overlooking the STAPLES CENTER, flipping through channels.
 37.

Charley reads paperwork while talking on the phone at the

desk nearby. She looks gorgeous and in control as always.

Micah reviews her mother up and down. Then adjusts her own
blouse clumsily.

Davis enters from the bedroom with his game face on.

Charley and Micah look up and both smile.

MICAH
Aw shoot. They ain’t ready.

DAVIS
(laughing)
They ain’t never ready. What you
want tonight, love?

MICAH
Um... well, I’m going to need a
minimum 40 points.

DAVIS
C’mon, that’s a given.

MICAH
Oh? Okay, confident tonight are we?

Charley walks over to join the fun.

DAVIS
(hugging Charley)
Any requests?

CHARLEY
I’d love an overage of assists. So
we can drive home the whole
“supporting your teammates”
narrative.

DAVIS
Done.

Off all their smiles.

INT. STAPLES CENTER - LATER THAT NIGHT

It’s Game Time. And it’s a full house. MASSIVE CROWDS rock
out to the latest hit song as cheerleaders sway on the court.
It’s clear that the Gladiators have known many bright days,
their glory symbolized by banner after banner of championship
flags hanging from the rafters.
 38.

The scoreboard reveals that we’re in the midst of a good

game. Davis commands the center of a circle as PLAYERS gather
for a time-out.

Charley commands the center of the WIVES SECTION with Micah

nearby. These five rows are close to the court and are as
much a show as the game itself with seat after seat of the
most gorgeous women in town.

The music stops and the game is back in play as REFEREES take
to the court and the players set their formation. The buzzer
buzzes and the play begins with Davis controlling the tempo
and analyzing his opposition as he dribbles effortlessly down
the court.

He splits the defense and passes the ball out to ANOTHER

PLAYER then zigzags. When his teammate can’t make the shot,
Davis viciously yanks the ball out of the air for a rebound
then DUNKS the ball hard over a player who cowers under him.
The crowd goes nuts! Charley and Micah look at each other
with pride. All the wives cheer along with the fans.

As the game continues, a few women start to look at their

PHONES. Then we spy some fans looking too. And gasping. Many
share with the person next to them.

Charley observes as more and more people around her and even
on the other side of the stadium are distracted by their
phones.

CHARLEY
(to Micah)
Who died?

Micah pulls out her phone and scrolls to investigate. Then

freezes.

MICAH
Oh my God.

At the same time, people begin to BOO. Just a few at first.

So low in tone that the players don’t even notice. But as the
jeers become louder, both teams look around at each other to
figure it out. The booing gets louder. Then someone throws a
cup on the court. Then another. FANS ARE THROWING THEIR CUPS,
TRASH, CAPS AND SHIRTS AT THE PLAYERS. The refs call a time
out.

We see snatches of what people are watching on their phones.

GRAINY FOOTAGE of some sort. But we can’t make it out.

Davis looks around and then he sees her. Charley.

 39.

She walks down the few steps to the court. Somewhat

entranced. Laser focused on Davis. Her eyes are on fire. He’s
confused and upset.

She reaches the edge of the court but doesn’t stop. She
violates the sanctity of the sports world. She STEPS ONTO THE
COURT.

Fans continue to hurl things at the players. The stadium is

in TOTAL CHAOS.

Charley walks right up to Davis.

CHARLEY
(low, pained)
What did you do?

DAVIS
What the hell, Charley? What’s
going on?

She is all seething anger. It’s taking every ounce of her

restraint to hold back the tears. Her voice is indignant and
clear.

CHARLEY
(stronger)
What did you do?

DAVIS
What are you talking about? What’s
happening, Charley?

He looks around the stadium and the littered court and the
other players. And then he looks into the stands and sees
Micah. She has tears in her eyes. He takes an involuntary
step forward in concern for her. At this, Charley attacks
Davis, slapping and hitting him.

CHARLEY
What did you do, Davis!?

Security rushes in. They secure Davis and stand between him
and Charley.

CHARLEY (CONT’D)
You liar! You’re a liar! What did
you do? You’re a lie, Davis!

An agonizing scene. And it’s happening LIVE ON NATIONAL TV.

Off Micah, her hands covering her face in shame.

END OF ACT THREE.

 40.

ACT FOUR

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - EVENING

A nurse tends to Ernest who is groggy while the family

watches. He has deteriorated. Violet, Hollywood, Nova and
Ralph Angel look worn and less groomed.

When the nurse leaves, Ernest motions for a set of FLASHCARDS

sitting on the side table.

Ralph Angel obliges, then watches his father shuffle through

the cards with his one good hand. A slow and painful action.

Finally, Ernest holds up a card with an image of a baby.

RALPH ANGEL
He’s good. He’s fine, Pop.

Ernest is frustrated. He shuffles through the cards. Violet

goes to help him, but he doesn’t want help. He finds a
picture of a car. He holds it up. Ralph Angel and Nova try to
understand what he wants to say.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

The car is fine. The truck?

Ernest can’t find what he needs to express himself. His

loved ones are helpless. Ernest holds up the cards again.
Both the car and the baby. This time aggressively. He wants
more information.

NOVA
I think he wants to know where Blue
is.

Ernest nods.

RALPH ANGEL
Oh, his teacher, Ms. Phan. She
took him home from school to her
house. She’s very nice. I’m going
to get him I just wanted to be here
while you where in the procedure.

This calms Ernest. He nods in approval. To everyone’s relief.

Then waves Ralph away as if to say: go get him.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

I’ll see ya’ll later.

Ralph Angel exits the room and is heading down the hallway
through the visitor’s area when Nova comes after him.
 41.

NOVA
Rah, bring him here. I’ll watch
after him.

RALPH ANGEL
I don’t want him here. Nah.

NOVA
But, he wants to see him.

RALPH ANGEL
Yeah, but I don’t want Blue to see
him like this. The tubes and stuff
will scare him.

NOVA
He’ll be okay. I just think it’ll
help.

RALPH ANGEL
No, Nova.

And he leaves. She watches after him when the TELEVISION

playing nearby catches her eye. She steps closer to get a
better look and then reaches to turn up the volume.

It’s a NEWS REPORT recapping the release of the GRAINY

FOOTAGE that we saw briefly at the Gladiator game. This time
the whole tape plays.

We see SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE of a hotel room hallway. Two

players walk with a woman towards a guest room door. They
kiss her and fondle her. Then try to open the room door but
neither seems to have the key. They laugh and point up the
hallway toward someone OFF-CAMERA. Then, three other players
stumble into the frame -- led by Davis.

Davis grabs the woman by the waist, picks her up and puts her
over his shoulder in one quick move. The other players laugh
and give each other pounds.

Davis slaps the woman on the ass. Then leaves his hand there.
She’s laughing too. Someone produces the key and Davis
carries her inside with the other players following behind.

Next we see tape of CHARLEY CONFRONTING DAVIS on the court

amidst a barrage of sneers from fans.

Nova watches in disbelief. What a circus.

And then, a CLOSE-UP. Charley’s face fills the screen as she

screams: “What did you do?!” Tears welling in her eyes.
 42.

This view of Charley hits Nova in the gut. Her heart breaks
at the sight of her sister like this.

The screen freezes on this image of Charley as the report

ends. A WIDE-SHOT on Nova looking up to the TELEVISION,
stunned.

EXT. HOSPITAL PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Ralph Angel leaves the hospital. As he approaches his truck,

he hears his name. And, to his shock, there is Darla.

They stand there for a beat, just looking at each other.

She’s nervous. He’s taken completely off guard.

DARLA
I need to talk to you.

RALPH ANGEL
Are you out your mind?

DARLA
You won’t call me back.

RALPH ANGEL
Have you actually lost it?

DARLA
I need to talk to you and you won’t
call me back. What am I supposed to
do? I wanna talk to Blue.

He walks past her toward his truck.

DARLA (CONT’D)
You have the right to be that way
to me. You do. But, please...

RALPH ANGEL
My father’s in there. He can’t
talk. Can’t move right. And you
want to talk about you.

DARLA
No. I wanna talk about Blue.

She summons all her courage to challenge him.

DARLA (CONT’D)
I took a test for a job, a better
job. The city is hiring.
 43.

RALPH ANGEL
Oh, the city’s hiring addicts now?

DARLA
There’s a program, and if you
finish it, you can apply for some
city jobs.

RALPH ANGEL
Why do I care?

DARLA
I did good. I applied for this
good job at City Hall. It’s in the
new parking structure. Taking money
and giving tickets. The booth is
before you drive in, so I’d get to
work outside. Its $15.75 an hour.
Full-time, with city benefits.

RALPH ANGEL
I don’t care what you do.

DARLA
You called me that day. I
thought...

RALPH ANGEL
You thought wrong. Whatever you
thought, you thought wrong. Okay?

DARLA
I could start giving you money for
him. Maybe I could start seeing
him. Supervised. You could be
there. Or somebody else.

RALPH ANGEL
Oh, I could be there?

DARLA
I just mean...

RALPH ANGEL
You think I’m weak right now and
you can take advantage.

DARLA
I don’t think that.

He climbs in and slams the door of the truck and starts the
ignition.
 44.

DARLA (CONT’D)
I want to see him. I have a right.

Wrong thing to say. He gets out of the truck.

He walks up to her close. His face almost touching hers.

From afar they’d be mistaken for lovers. But the tears
coming to her eyes tell a different story.

RALPH ANGEL
You’re forgetting things.

DARLA
All I can do is make amends and
move forward.

RALPH ANGEL
I’m not gonna let you come in and
then leave him again. I couldn’t
help it then, but I can now. You
know what I see when I look at you?

DARLA
Stop.

RALPH ANGEL
You know the picture in my head,
right?

DARLA
Stop it.

RALPH ANGEL
I think my life’s bad. Then, I
think about yours.

He gets in the truck and drives away from her.

INT./EXT. NOVA’S PLACE - NIGHT

It’s been a long emotional day. Heavy. We see it written all

over Nova’s face as she walks across her living room to
answer the door. She’s completely exhausted.

She looks through the peephole and rolls her eyes. When she
opens the door, the COLLEGE STUDENT greets her.

COLLEGE STUDENT
Uh, hi.

NOVA
Yes?
 45.

COLLEGE STUDENT
“I Am Deliberate And Afraid of
Nothing.” Audre Lorde.

We catch a glint of a smile in her eyes as she takes in two

things. His correct attribution. And the BLACK SEDAN over his
shoulder that has rolled up with the headlights off across
the street.

NOVA
Good. Come back tomorrow. I’m
closed for the night.

COLLEGE STUDENT
But I can buy from you direct? Not
from that guy. The mark-up is
crazy. You’re stuff is homegrown
and just... its just great...
and...

NOVA
Tomorrow.

He nods and turns away, startled to find a man approaching

out of the darkness. It is CALVIN, who gives a stern look to
the kid. The student stops in his tracks. Calvin takes out
his badge. He’s a cop. All the while, Nova stifles a chuckle.

CALVIN
You have thirty seconds to
disappear.

The kids runs to his car.

CALVIN (CONT’D)
(light)
At least you had the decency not to
sell it right in front of me.

NOVA
I’m offended. You know I respect
the badge.

CALVIN
Yeah right.

He drapes his arm over her as they go inside.

CUT TO:

He takes off his blazer in the living room revealing a

SHOULDER GUN HOLSTER. She pours wine in the kitchen.
 46.

NOVA
(calling out)
To what do I owe this visit,
Detective?

Calvin stands in the doorway and looks at her with concern.

CALVIN
Brew tea tonight.

At this, her shoulders slump. She covers her face with her
hands. He goes to her.

CALVIN (CONT’D)
Why didn’t you call?

Her face is buried in his chest.

CALVIN (CONT’D)
You can call, Nova.

A beat then she straightens herself up and wipes her face.

She tries to pull away, but he won’t let her go.

NOVA
I can’t and I don’t want to. That’s
my choice. Please respect it.

CALVIN
How many years have I been
respecting it?

She lowers her head and he holds her close.

INT. WEST RESIDENCE - NIGHT

The house is dark and quiet.

We find Micah sitting on her bed, scrolling through her

phone. She’s reading all the TWEETS about her parents.

All with a point of view that’s either supportive or

disparaging to one parent or the other. She watches the MEMES
and GIFS of people making fun. She’s hurting.

Then, her screen on her laptop comes alive with FACETIME.

It’s Violet.

INTERCUT with Violet on her cellphone via FaceTime.

MICAH
Hi, Auntie Vi.
 47.

VIOLET
Hey, baby. Why aren’t you all
answering the phone?

MICAH
Um... some things happened here
today. It’s really bad.

VIOLET
I heard. I’m very sorry. It’s
unthinkable... I don’t even know
what to say. We’re gonna talk it
all through. I want to know
everything. But I need you to
listen to me right now, okay?

MICAH
Okay.

VIOLET
I need you to take charge and get
your mother here by tomorrow.

CUT TO:

Micah stands at the doorway of her parent’s stately master

bedroom watching Charley sleep.

She walks in and sees a bottle of sleeping pills on her

mother’s night stand, alongside rumpled tissues and her
WEDDING RING. Micah takes it all in and then looks upon her
mother with sadness.

She climbs into bed with Charley. Laying next to her and
smoothing her hair in the dark.

INT./EXT. HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME TIME

Hollywood leans over Ernest as Violet watches. Hollywood

touches his hand carefully. Ernest’s breathing is labored. He
looks worse than before.

HOLLYWOOD
Gotta go make this money, man.

Ernest nods.

HOLLYWOOD (CONT’D)
You know I gotta keep everything
afloat or I’d be right here with
ya’ll. You know that.
 48.

Ernest knows. A look of tenderness passes between the two

men. Hollywood squeezes his hand then turns away before his
eyes give him away.

VIOLET
(to Ernest’s nod)
Be right back, okay?

Hollywood and Violet walk arm and arm down the hallway.

HOLLYWOOD
I’m sorry, Vi.

VIOLET
It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.

HOLLYWOOD
I put enough to cover a whole
week’s tips in the icebox.

VIOLET
Hollywood...

HOLLYWOOD
I don’t want you thinking about no
shifts and no kinda work right now.
Just focus on him, ya hear?

Just as she’s about to reply, THREE MEN approach them. One is

Prosper Denton, Ernest’s old pal who we met earlier at the
farm. The other two are younger. One Latino, ROMERO SALDANA,
43, tall and lean. The other White, REMY NEWELL, 35, strong
and blonde.

PROSPER
(tipping his cap)
Violet. Hollywood.

They greet him and all the men shake hands while Prosper
makes introductions.

PROSPER (CONT’D)
Violet, you know Romero. Was
working with Ernie and me season
before last with his men.

VIOLET
Of course. Hello. I haven’t seen
you for awhile. Hi.

PROSPER
And this here’s Remy Newell.
Manages the Landry farm over on the
Northside.
 49.

REMY
(shaking her hand)
We met briefly at the Yellow Bowl
for his birthday, ma’am.

VIOLET
Oh yes. Okay. Hello.

REMY
How’s he doing tonight?

Violet hesitates.

HOLLYWOOD
Touch and go. Good moments and bad.
Doctor just gave him some meds for
the night so...

PROSPER
Understood, understood. Just wanted
to make show our faces. And tell
you if you need anything at all,
you holler. You hear me, Violet?

VIOLET
It’d actually be a big help if you
all could just look after the farm
while the family is here for the
next little while. If you could?

The threesome look at each other uncomfortably.

PROSPER
Vi, you know he don’t have a crop
up this season, right?

VIOLET
What do you mean?

ROMERO
We haven’t planted for the last two
seasons.

HOLLYWOOD
Why not?

REMY
Crops have been paltry for the last
few cycles and the prices --
they’re dropping across the board.

PROSPER
He started last season but couldn’t
bring it in.
(MORE)
 50.
PROSPER (CONT'D)
And this season, the finances just
didn’t add up right for him to even
plant.

Violet is floored.

VIOLET
What’s he been doing out there
everyday then?

The men don’t want to answer.

ROMERO
(hesitantly)
He took a job somewhere. Wouldn’t
say where.

PROSPER
It’s not on a farm. We know
everybody. So.. I don’t know. I do
know it wasn’t easy and he didn’t
do any of it lightly.

REMY
He’s always working on a plan to
get back up and running. And he
will.

Off Violet, holding in her emotions.

EXT/INT. TRIN’S HOME - EVENING

Ralph Angel walks up to Trin’s place, but stops short of the

door. He fixes the collar on his jacket unconsciously.

His exhaustion matched only by his fascination with the

neighborhood as he approaches her RED FRONT DOOR.

Trin answers with a genuine smile. Upon seeing her bare feet,
he reaches to remove his shoes.

RALPH ANGEL
Sorry about the time.

TRIN
Don’t be. Those hospitals. Hard to
go to. Hard to leave.

This gives him pause. Like she got something exactly right.

RALPH ANGEL
I want you to know how much I
appreciate this.
 51.

She heads to the back. He watches her walk away, then

catches himself and turns his attention to the room.

TRIN
Have a seat.

RALPH ANGEL
I’m... I stink.

TRIN
I’ve been warned.

RALPH ANGEL
(sitting tentatively)
I never been over here. Lived in
St. Josephine’s all my life.

TRIN
(beat)
How’s your father?

RALPH ANGEL
The surgery wasn’t as successful
as... we wanted it to be. There’s
blockages. Other problems. So... we
wait. See how he responds. That’s
all they said really. They act like
they know, but they don’t know
nothing more than us.

Both are lost in their own thoughts. Then, they exchange a

smile to cover.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

How was he today?

TRIN
Quiet. Definitely tired. He asked a
lot of questions. About his
grandfather. He really wants to see
him.

RALPH ANGEL
I keep thinking if that was the
right thing, you know? I didn’t
want him to see the ambulance, the
hospital. He’s already been through
a lot. Traumatic stuff. I just want
him to be a normal kid with normal
kid thoughts. No drama. But..
that’s not really working out.

TRIN
He’s gonna be just fine.
 52.

Off Ralph Angel’s worry.

RALPH ANGEL
(a beat)
You into feng shui?

He points to the red door.

TRIN
I was experimenting. Door’s the
only thing that stuck.

RALPH ANGEL
I was going to say... your
arrangement’s a little off.

TRIN
Ha! Ya think?

RALPH ANGEL
Awhile back when I was working,
um... I’m between jobs right now.
I was stripping this old lady’s
hardwood floors and she gave me an
earful about putting everything
back in its “balanced place.”

TRIN
Yeah, tried it. I felt like a
hypocrite when I found out it’s
banned in China.

RALPH ANGEL
Feng Shui’s banned in China? C’mon.

TRIN
They call it “a feudalistic
superstition adverse to the
communist party.” Arrested some
teachers of it there.

RALPH ANGEL
I thought it was a real thing, a
Chinese thing.
(beat)
You’re not Chinese right?

TRIN
Vietnamese.

RALPH ANGEL
Right. Whole ‘nother country.
Sorry.
 53.

TRIN
Don’t be. I know ya’ll think we all
look alike.

RALPH ANGEL
No! I meant...

TRIN
Ralph Angel, I’m kidding.

They chuckle, and then a quiet settles in.

RALPH ANGEL
We got a schedule worked out. I’m
gonna drop him off in the mornings
and my aunt Violet and my sister
Nova are trade on picking him up.

TRIN
Sounds good. He’s back here.

She heads the back of the house and he follows.

Down the hallway. Passing a bedroom where an OLD WOMAN

sleeps, they enter Trin’s cozy bedroom.

Blue is knocked out. They put on his shoes and sweater

together while the boy sleeps. Ralph Angel picks up his son.

RALPH ANGEL
(whispering)
Thank you.

EXT. WEST RESIDENCE - MORNING

The estate is surrounded by PRESS VANS and SATELLITE TRUCKS.

Journalists and photographers are camped outside the house.

INT. MICAH’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Inside, Micah is busy at her desk finalizing arrangements on

the phone as Rocky finishes packing.

ROCKY
Mija.

Micah covers the receiver and looks to her.

ROCKY (CONT’D)
Why you just booking to Atlanta?
You need a full trip into the New
Orleans airport.
 54.

MICAH
I’m gonna buy the second leg in
Atlanta so no one can trace where
we’re going from here. You know
those paparrazi have got people at
the airlines. And we’re flying out
of Orange County not LAX. They
won’t follow us all the way there,
I don’t think.

ROCKY
My smart girl. Very good.

INT. BATHROOM - SAME TIME

We look into a mirror hazy with steam. A hand reaches to

clear the frame. Charley has been crying.

She takes off her shower cap and stares into the mirror for a
long moment. She removes her glasses. Takes a good long look
at herself. Then, puts her glasses back on.

EXT. WEST RESIDENCE - A SHORT TIME LATER

TWO LARGE MEN exit the house and clear reporters from in
front of the estate gates just before they open.

Rocky drives a RANGE ROVER out of the driveway. Paparazzi

immediately follow behind.

Charley slumps in the back in a hoodie. Micah looks out the

window defiantly.

INT. RALPH ANGEL’S TRUCK - MORNING

Ralph Angel and Blue drive for a while in silence. Blue’s

bookbag is on his lap.

BLUE
Papa’s doing good?

RALPH ANGEL
He’s hanging in there, buddy.

Off the silence.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

I know you miss him. He’s trying to
get better.
 55.

BLUE
Is he passed away?

This stuns Ralph Angel.

RALPH ANGEL
No, he’s not passed away.

BLUE
He died.

Ralph Angel pulls over.

RALPH ANGEL
No, Blue, he didn’t die. He’s in
the hospital.

BLUE
His eyes were closed already when
the ambulance took him.

RALPH ANGEL
But he woke up. He’s in the
hospital trying to get better so he
can come home.

Ralph Angel realizes he never gave an adequate explanation of

things, so wrapped up in his own grief. He focuses.

RALPH ANGEL (CONT’D)

He had a stroke. When that happens
your brain is hurt and everything
gets fuzzy. So the doctors are
taking care of him.

BLUE
I miss him a lot.

Blue begins to cry quiet tears. Trying to hide them from his
father. Ralph Angels’ heart rips right in two.

INT. HOSPITAL - A SHORT TIME LATER

Ralph Angel walks Blue through the halls.

RALPH ANGEL (V.O.)

He’s going to be sleeping and we
don’t want to wake him up. He has
a machine next to him that helps
him breathe good. It puts the air
right in his nose with a special
tube.
(MORE)
 56.
RALPH ANGEL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
We have to stay very quiet or the
doctors will kick us out. Okay?

BLUE (V.O.)
‘Kay, Pop.

Outside Ernest’s room, Ralph Angel picks up Blue and enters.

Ernest sleeps with the blinds closed. He appears weak and

small. A single stream of morning light peeks through. CLOSE
on Blue as they approach him.

Blue, in his father’s arms, inspects Ernest. His eyes review

his chest rising and falling, the medical bracelet, the
machines. He leans further over toward his grandfather.

BLUE (CONT’D)
(whispering)
Poppa. It’s Blue.

Ernest opens his eyes slowly, and smiles. Blue smiles back.

Ralph Angel sits with Blue in his arms on the side of

Ernest’s bed. Ernest tries to move his hand. Ralph Angel
reaches for it first and holds on.

They all three sit quietly. Ernest gazing at Ralph Angel and
Blue with pride and sadness both.

Then, Blue crawls out of his father’s hold. Carefully, leans

over and lays his head on Ernest’s chest.

The old man can’t move his arm. Ralph Angel moves it for him.
Placing his father’s hand on his son’s cheek. The two men
meet each other’s eyes. And see love looking back.

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Charley and Micah with their luggage in hand walk through the
hospital halls with urgency when they see their WHOLE FAMILY
in the hallway, clearly in mourning.

Nova holds a devastated Violet up. Ralph Angel holds Blue in

his arms. The boy’s head is buried in his father’s chest.

Nova and Ralph Angel see Charley and Micah down the hall, and
their tears begin to fall.

The family walks toward each other from both ends of the
hall, meeting in the middle. They all reach out to hold each
other up.

We know that Ernest is gone.

 57.

INT./EXT. MONTAGE

- Violet pulls a blanket over Micah in her guest room. Then

walks through her house, turning off the lights. She goes to
reach for a lamp in the living room and sees something
THROUGH THE WINDOW. She opens the door and there is
Hollywood. He’s come back to be with her in this moment. He
walks straight up to her and holds her tight.

- Nova sits in her car, troubled and emotional. We PULL BACK

to find her car across the street from a large and lovely
home in the French Quarter. And through the window we catch a
glimpse of CALVIN and his CHILDREN, and a lovely woman who
comes up and kisses him. She’s clearly his WIFE. Domestic
bliss. Nova observes the scene, expressionless. Then drives
off.

- Ralph Angel puts Blue in bed. The little boy reaches for
him, scared. Ralph Angel climbs into bed with his son,
wrapping him in his arms. Comforting them both.

- Charley stands on the edge of her father’s unkept fields,

lit only by moonlight. She can’t believe her eyes. She can’t
believe her life. She can’t believe he’s gone. She looks up
to the heavens. Then, down at the soil. Then, across the
fields.

CHARLEY
I’m sorry, Daddy. I’ll fix it.

FADE TO BLACK.