INT. JUDO CLASS AT LOCAL GYMNASIUM - EVENING
Miss Carelini puts Carlton on his back.
CARLTON BANKS: Miss Carelini, do you think I’m ready to show my skills in the real world?
MISS CARELINI: Banks, you’re one of the worst students I’ve ever had. You’ve been in beginners class for a third term. You seem to be very slow to learn. I weigh a hundred and fifteen pounds and you can’t put me on my back, not once.
CARLTON BANKS: Well you are like a black belt or something and I have got a lot on my mind recently. Say would you like to meet up some time?
MISS CARELINI: There’s a reason why I call you Banks and not loverboy. Go figure.
CARLTON BANKS: So on a scale of one to ten what are my chances?
INT. 13 OAK AVENUE CAFE - EVENING
CARLTON BANKS: Ok Everybody, Reno has some ideas of how to improve our business.
MR BROADMAN: It would be a good start if the food was edible.
RENO: Why are you still glued to your seat?
MR BRANSTON: If I go home, I’ve nothing to complain about.
RENO: The first thing is that we are starting a suggestion box. No idea is too dumb or too weird. All suggestions are welcome.
MR BROADMAN: Maybe you should add some dolphins. That might attract customers and get peoples minds away from Dirk’s cottage pie.
DIRK: I know a lot of ex-cons who enjoyed my cottage pie
MR BROADMAN: They were just being nice Dirk
CARLTON BANKS: I’ve tried Dirks cottage pie. It’s perfectly fine
MR BROADMAN: Apart from the dead flies mixed in there.
RENO: The second thing is that we should analyse our strengths and weaknesses. Improve our weaknesses and capitalise on our strengths
CARLTON BANKS: Well, maybe we’ve got something here. There must be some reason Mr Broadman why you keep coming back for more. Why is that?
Mr Broadman is speechless
MILO: Mr Broadman, I’ve never seen you so quiet. I hope it wasn’t he Dessert.
INT. 13 OAK AVENUE CAFE - EVENING
Carlton approaches Reno with an invoice in his hand.
CARLTON BANKS: Reno, why do we need all this security equipment? As things stand, there’s barely enough cash to pay for us, never mind the thieves.
RENO: You can never be too careful Mr B. Stores get knocked off the whole time.
CARLTON BANKS: Only those that have money or an old lady behind the counter.
RENO: One day you’ll thank me for this Mr B.
Selina Plummer enters the cafe and sits down on a stool at the counter.
CARLTON BANKS: Does your mother know you’re here?
SELINA PLUMMER: Please Mr Banks, I’d just like one of your Ice Cream Sundaes. Sally Rivers said they are lovely.
RENO: An Ice Cream Sundae coming up
CARLTON BANKS: Wait. Your mother would not want you coming in here and talking to me. We could both get into trouble over this.
SELINA PLUMMER: Mr Banks, I’ll be gone in ten minutes. My mother won’t be home for another half an hour.
CARLTON BANKS: Ok ok
SELINA PLUMMER: Why does my mother hate you so much, Mr Banks?
CARLTON BANKS: Oh, I guess she doesn’t know me.
SELINA PLUMMER: Did you really see my Dad?
CARLTON BANKS: Not so loud. Your Father was the best friend I ever had. I wouldn’t be here without him.
SELINA PLUMMER: Did he ever mention me.
CARLTON BANKS: Why, yes. He said to tell Selina to always do her homework and stay clear of trouble.
CUT TO:
INT. 13 OAK AVENUE CAFE - EVENING (15 MINS LATER)
Carena Plummer walks into the cafe.
CARENA PLUMMER: I thought I might find you here. Come on Selina, lets go.
Carena gestures with her hand before turning to Carlton
Stay away from my daughter.
RENO: She heard about our Ice Cream Sundaes mam. You should try one.
CARENA PLUMMER: I wouldn’t be caught dead in this place.
SELINA PLUMMER: But Mom, he was so nice. We talked about Dad and everything.
CARENA PLUMMER: That man didn’t know your father. He’s just a fruitcake. Stay away from him.
Carena and Selina leave the cafe.
INT. AMENITY HALL - 8PM
MISS WAINTROP: Why, Carlton, you’ve been ever so quiet. Are you ok?
CARLTON BANKS: I guess I’m just stressed. That’s all. I may lose the cafe if a miracle doesn’t happen and I’m afraid of letting everyone down, especially Reno.
CHARLIE: I’d like to help you Carlton but I have to pay for my wife and kids. I barely have anything left over for me.
SYLVIA: I’m saving up for my wedding next year. I don’t even think I can afford it, but any time I feel like having a coffee, I’ll pop by
ELSA: I bought a new cat this week. I wish I could help you Carlton but I can barely feed Snuffles and myself.
MISS WAINTROP: I just wish there was something we could do. Dirk told us you were struggling, so we did have a whip around and it came to thirty dollars and eighty two cents. I know its not much
CARLTON BANKS: Well that’s very generous of you.
ELSA: Maybe you should try painting your cafe pink. I like pink I’m sure there are others that like pink. Cream is so yesterday.
CHARLIE: Or you could try having a bingo night
SYLVIA: Or you could have a dating game where a young woman gets to choose between three studmuffins
DIRK: I know a tattoo artist who lost his business, he could tattoo people in our cafe.
CARLTON BANKS: Thanks for your suggestions but I don’t think even they would help us now.
SYLVIA: You know Hetty’s husband did leave almost a million dollars in his will.
INT. 13 OAK AVENUE CAFE - 8PM
The cafe is being closed up for the evening. Milo who was not working arrives in the door.
RENO: What are you doing here?
MILO: Carlton asked me to come.
RENO: I hope this isn’t what I think it is Mr B.
CARLTON BANKS: Reno, I asked that you all be here because, the financial situation is getting worse.
RENO: So we’re going out of business? We’re quiting?
CARLTON BANKS: In a matter of days Reno, we’ll run out of money. We owe our creditors money we haven’t got. That can only last so long.
RENO: You’re a quitter. This place means everything to me. I’m no quitter, they’re going to have to drag me away from this place. I have nowhere else to go. What am I going to say? I ran a business that lasted for four months? I lose this, and I lose everything. You have your experience, your references. I have nothing.
CARLTON BANKS: Reno..
RENO: I thought you were different. You’re just the same as everyone else.
Reno, throws down a towel and leaves in an angry manner.
MILO: He’s just angry, Mr B. He knows that you gave it your best shot.
CARLTON BANKS: That shot wasn’t good enough.
DIRK: The last four months were the best of my life, Carlton. I know we failed, but it was like prison only I got paid.
CARLTON BANKS: That’s not exactly a high bar Dirk.
INT. RENO'S HOME - EVENING
Reno enters Alejandro’s room with a newly purchased football
RENO: Alejandro, I have something for you
ALEJANDRO: I thought you said football was for losers
RENO: This here football was handed down by Maradona himself
AlEJANDRO: Is that why its still all wrapped up?
RENO: So, do you want to play or not.
ALEJANDRO: I’m never going to be a professional footballer.
RENO: No Alejandro, but you can have fun trying. There aren’t many things more important than having fun.
INT. CARLTON'S NEW HOME - NIGHT
Carlton arrives in the front door with half a dozen cans of lager under his arm. He sits down on the couch and opens a can of lager. He turns on the television and feels sorry for himself.
CARLTON BANKS: Where are you now Detective Plummer?
INT. CARLTON’S NEW HOME BEDROOM - NIGHT
While asleep, Carlton has recurring nightmares. He pictures the thugs who attacked him a year previously and is haunted by their words. He recalls that things that Reno and his brother and his Father in Law had said to him. They haunt him over and over. He wakes up, at 1:15am. He hears a faint sound down the street. He gets out of bed and looks out the window.
He quickly gets dressed, leaves the house and walks down the street in the direction of Mrs Plummer’s home. It sounds like there is a disturbance as he gets closer.
INT. CARENA PLUMMERS HOME - NIGHT
He approaches the front door which is open and enters. He sees three men in the house bullying Mrs Plummer. They are the same three men who killed his wife
CARENA PLUMMER: Leave us alone. Look, if you want money, I have a hundred bucks in my purse
THUG ONE: Well, lookee here, if it isn’t loverboy.
CARLTON BANKS: (tentatively) Leave her alone.
THUG ONE: Or what? In case you haven’t noticed, there are three of us with one baseball bat and only one of you. Why don’t you run away like you did last time.
CARLTON BANKS: I have to warn you, I have been taking judo classes
THUG ONE: Oh yeah, what are you a yellow belt? Take him lads.
The other two thugs tackle Carlton but one by one he manages to throw them to the ground. Then the thug with the baseball bat whacks him across the upper left arm. Carlton shrieks in pain.
THUG ONE: Why I ought to batter you
As he says this he raises the baseball bat.
THUG TWO: Boss. You’d better see this
.
The thug relaxes his stance and goes to the door
Outside are about twenty people, some of whom are armed with baseball bats. In the distance police sirens can be heard.
THUG TWO: Boss, what are we going to do now.
There is a look of frustration and inevitability in the leader’s face.
EXT. OUTSIDE CARENA PLUMMERS HOUSE - NIGHT
Carlton is being tended to by a nurse as he sits down on the edge of an ambulance doorway. Carena approaches.
CARENA PLUMMER: Mr Banks, I don’t know how I could possibly repay you.
CARLTON BANKS: I was just returning the favour of an old friend.
CARENA PLUMMER: You really think you saw him don’t you? Did he ever talk about me?
CARLTON BANKS: He never shut up about you. It was Carena this and Carena that. He told me about your walks in the park and how you first met.
CARENA PLUMMER: I wish I had money to give you but I can barely support myself, never mind my daughter
RENO: Say, Mr Banks, that security equipment really came in handy.
CARLTON BANKS: Mrs Plummer, this is the man who deserves most of the credit.
RENO: Why I was just doing it for you Mr B. I know the cafe struggling wasn’t your fault.
CARLTON BANKS: Now, if we could only sell the security equipment for a good price.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: Well Banks, it looks like you’re off the hook. Don’t go expecting an apology. I was only doing my job.
INT. RENO'S HOME - MORNING
Reno walks into the kitchen wearing his uniform, which includes a pink t-shirt
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Are you sure you want to wear that uniform to work? You usually change at the cafe.
RENO: Not today mom. Not today.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: I just hope you don’t get into a fight. That’s all
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE RENO'S HOME - MORNING
Reno walks down the street wearing his uniform. His brother along with his friend sees him.
ALEJANDRO: That’s my brother
Reno sticks his chest out.
RENO: Have a good day Alejandro.
Suddenly Reno gets pelted with half a dozen eggs. Reno continues walking. He meets Milo who isn’t wearing a uniform.
RENO: Today, we’re taking the short cut
MILO: What happens if we bump into Terra? Are you sure you are ok?
RENO: Never been better
MILO: Well if it was me and I wanted to make a fashion statement. You know. I wouldn’t wear pink
Terra and two of his friends come into view.
TERRA:Well boy, am I glad that I got up early this morning to see this
Reno and Milo attempt to pass by without saying anything.
TERRA: Wearing a womans outfit are we to work for a white man.
RENO: I work for myself Terra
TERRA: Anybody, sissy or not has to pay taxes.
RENO: I’ve no money
Terra punches him on the chin. But Reno continues to try and pass by. Terra punches him again
CUT TO:
INT. 13 OAK AVENUE CAFE - MORNING
RENO WITH A BLOODY NOSE AND MILO ENTER THE CAFE.
CARLTON BANKS: Reno, are you sure you don’t want to take some time off? We’re overstaffed as it is.
RENO: Just you try and hold me back
CARLTON BANKS: Well you better get scrubbed up.
INT. 13 OAK AVENUE CAFE - MORNING
NATASHA: I heard a rumour that you saved a woman’s life last night. That’s not the Reno I know.
RENO: I’m sure it’s just an exaggeration
NATASHA: And here was me, hoping that you had turned a corner.
RENO: There will always be someone better than me Natasha. I could be out of work in a week. I just feel like I’m not good enough for you, like a ship without an engine.
NATASHA: You’re not helpless Reno. If you try hard enough you’ll get that engine revved up in no time. What are you doing on Saturday night?
RENO: Working
CARLTON BANKS: You do realise Reno that as an executive partner, you can take time off.
NATASHA: I’m not going to ask you twice Reno.
RENO: I just don’t want to let you down.
NATASHA: Every guy lets a woman down at some point. I just want to know if you are the guy who’s going to lift me up.
MR BROADMAN: Don’t worry sweetheart, every minute you are gone he’s talking about Natasha. It’s as if you’re the only woman in the world. His head is in the clouds
RENO : No it’s not
MR BROADMAN: Don’t waste your youth. Me and Mrs Broadman did it maybe a hundred times before we were married. We only did it five times since and had five children.
RENO: Thanks for the worldly advice Mr Broadman, but I think I can handle this on my own.
NATASHA: Is it true, that he can’t stop talking about me?
MR BROADMAN: Of course it is. I even recorded it one time. I have it all on tape.
RENO: You really know how to cramp my style Mr Broadman
NATASHA: In that case I’ll see you here at 8 loverboy. I don’t want to hear any ifs, buts or maybe’s or what my Dad would think.
RENO: The way, business is going I may need to rob a bank. Does that business still open at 9 on Thursdays?
NATASHA: You don’t need money to win me over Reno.
RENO: As long as Mr Broadman isn’t invited, I’ll be there.
Natasha leaves
Reno gives her a wolf whistle as she leaves.
CARLTON BANKS: Thanks Reno for last night. I really wish there was something I could do.
RENO: Mr B, you did plenty. You gave me a choice. Without that choice, I would be in and out of prison every ten minutes. It’s like I’ve been knocked down but I’ll get up again. You will too.
Carena Plummer enters the cafe with her daughter.
CARENA PLUMMER: Why, hello again, Mr Banks. I hope you don’t mind, I invited a number of my friends and work colleagues around for a coffee at your cafe.
She retreats back to the door and invites a number of people into the cafe. One after the other arrive in until the cafe is completely full.
CARLTON BANKS: Why I don’t know what to say Mrs Plummer
CARENA PLUMMER: One kind gesture deserves another Mr Banks and please call me Carena.
MR BROADMAN: I’m getting out of here. This place is getting way too popular for my liking.