EXT. LOCAL PARK - DAY
Carlton takes a walk in the park and sits down on a bench. Detective Plummer is seated beside him
DETECTIVE PLUMMER : Myself and my wife used to come here every second Sunday. We used to sit on this very bench
CARLTON BANKS: Myself and Andrea used to sit here for an hour or two. Sometimes we would just hold hands and take in everything around us. Sometimes we would have chats about everything and anything. She was a good listener. Other times she would count the birds on the ground or predict what others were going to do next. I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: I’m sorry man. I’m new to this gig. I’m sorry if I haven’t been the best ghost in the world. My wife always said I needed to work on my people skills.
CARLTON BANKS: I can’t say I’ve met a lot of ghosts but I’m sure there are a lot of shrinks with worse people skills than you
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: I guess I’ll take it as a compliment
CARLTON BANKS: You’ve been a friend and I guess that helps somewhat
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: You know friendship is your best route to happiness Carlton and I don’t just mean with ghosts. The more friendships you establish the happier you will become.
CARLTON BANKS: Is this in the ghostly guidebook?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Maybe out there, there is someone you can reach out to, someone who needs your help as much as you need theirs.
CARLTON BANKS: Dexter, that’s your name isn’t it? Dexter Plummer?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: No, it’s Horatio. Most people call me Horace.
CARLTON BANKS: Well, I was kind of close.
EXT. WALKING THROUGH THE PARK - DAY
Carlton notices Reno leaving a gang of his friends and walking away. He follows him as he leaves the park
EXT. NARROW WINDING AND WALLED STREET - DAY
Carlton rounds a corner only to discover Reno waiting for him.
RENO: What are you following me for rich boy?
CARLTON BANKS: I wanted to talk with you
RENO: What are we going to talk about? Wall Street?
CARLTON BANKS: I’d like to help you?
RENO: I don’t need your help. Nobody looks out for Reno and Reno looks out for nobody.
He punches Carlton in the stomach and walks away
RENO: Stay away from me. You cramp my style.
Carlton is winded momentarily
DETECTIVE PLUMMER : Is that what you call helping people, Carlton?
CARLTON BANKS: Your smart words of advice only brought me more pain. I think my stomach will never recover.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: He’s a tough kid, maybe the kind that doesn’t want your help.
CARLTON BANKS: You think? You could have raised this with me prior to me getting a punch in the gut.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: But, you can’t just give up Carlton. Not every person is reachable.
EXT. LOCAL BASKETBALL COURT - EVENING
Carlton is walking by a local basketball court. One half is occupied by a group of teenagers playing basketball and the other is occupied by a young small teenager playing on his own. Carlton approaches the kid on the basketball court.
CARLTON BANKS: Hey kid would you like to shoot some hoops, maybe a bit of one on one?
BRADLEY PARKER: Sure mister but do you think you’re up for it? You look old like you might collapse after five minutes.
CARLTON BANKS: I’m only being friendly kid. Who do you think you are? The next Michael Jordan?
CUT TO:
FIVE MINUTES LATER
Carlton is bent over and out of breath.
CARLTON BANKS: Hey kid lets take a short break
BRADLEY PARKER: I ain’t even broke sweat
CARLTON BANKS: What’s your name kid?
BRADLEY PARKER: Bradley Parker
CARLTON BANKS: I’ll be looking out for your name in ten years or so. You’re going to be a star some day.
BRADLEY PARKER: Mister, I’m Five Feet Four inches. I don’t even make the bench for the seconds at school.
CARLTON BANKS: Yeah well, you’d be a star if they like had a league for people under five feet six.
BRADLEY PARKER: Come on and play ball mister.
EXT. LOCAL BASKETBALL COURT - TWENTY MINUTES LATER
BRADLEY PARKER: I’d better go home now in case I get mugged or something. Are you sure you don’t need to visit a hospital? You look like you’re about to have a heart attack
CARLTON BANKS: Let me walk you home?
BRADLEY PARKER: If you walk me home that could spell more trouble. You look like you could drop. You wouldn’t last five seconds where I’m from.
EXT. STREET NEAR BRADLEY’S HOME - EVENING
Both Bradley and Carlton round a corner where they meet four rough looking adolescents
JACKO: Well look what we’ve got here. If it isn’t Bradders and his whiteboy friend.
BRADLEY PARKER: Can’t you let us through Jacko? All I have is ten bucks and you know that’s a lot of money for my parents.
JACKO: Unfortunately me and the boys aren’t in charitable mood. Now what has White boy got?
CARLTON BANKS: Wouldn’t you all prefer to have jobs and earn a living than preying on guys like Bradley? I can help with that?
RENO: I think this guy thinks he’s Mother bloody Teresa.
JACKO: If you know me white boy, I prefer easy money. There won’t be a nine to five where I’m concerned. Now how much dough have you got on you?
CARLTON BANKS: Like I said, I think you could do better in life if you all had jobs. Otherwise you’d be in and out of jail like a revolving door or possibly dead by the time you hit 25.
JACKO: It beats working in some damn sweatshop. Now hand over your wallet
Carlton hands over his wallet and Bradley hands over his ten dollars
JACKO: Sixty dollars. Why we’re going to have a party tonight.
RENO: That’s split four ways Jacko
JACKO: Mr Carlton S Banks I do presume. Why he could get us jobs at his Daddy’s multi million business with a name like that.
CARLTON BANKS: Anytime you want someone to put in a good word for you Jacko you’ll know where to find me.
JACKO: As long as I live I’m never going to ask a White boy for a favour. You are free to go.
INT. AMENITY HALL - 8PM
MISS WAINTROP: Well I’d like to say that I speak for all of us in welcoming back Carlton. Now who would like to start tonight’s meeting.
SYLVIA: I would just like to inform Carlton that I’ve found a new man. He’s much better looking than Carlton. He’s younger and he’s trimmer.
CARLTON BANKS: Don’t you think I set a low bar? Besides, I was not in a good place a few weeks ago. I would like to apologise to everyone.
DIRK: You don’t need to apologise to me Carlton. I think someone needs a man-hug.
Dirk stands up and approaches Carlton
CARLTON BANKS: No, really I don’t need a man hug
MISS WAINTROP: Come on Carlton. It’s something men should do more often
Reluctantly Carlton accepts the hug
MISS WAINTROP: There now Carlton, doesn’t that feel better.
CARLTON BANKS: I’d rather receive a hug from Marilyn Monroe to be honest, but as man-hugs go that wasn’t too bad.
EXT. WALKWAY NEAR RIVER - NIGHT
Carlton leans over the wall near the rivers edge and removes the Glock pistol from his clothing and throws it in the river.
INT. CARLTON’S SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
Carlton is sitting down with a small meal in his sitting room and is about to reach for the remote when Detective Plummer appears.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Carlton I have something to tell you.
CARLTON BANKS: Did I leave the oven on again or did I leave suds in the sink?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: No, Carlton. I sense that I may be leaving you. Apparently my supervisor thinks that you are strong enough to handle things from here.
CARLTON BANKS: You can’t go. You're like my best friend.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: I have to go. I don’t have a choice.
CARLTON BANKS: Is there anything I can do for you, like maybe put in a letter of recommendation to your boss?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Help me. Help me.
Detective Plummer looks sad and he starts to fade.
CARLTON BANKS: How do you want me to help you Horace?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Help me.
Detective Plummer fades until he is no longer visible.
INT. AMENITY HALL - 8PM
CARLTON BANKS: Anyway, for the past few weeks, since my wife’s death I’ve been seeing this... ghost.
ELSA: That’s perfectly alright Carlton, I’ve had a number of imaginary friends since Cuddles died
DIRK: Male or Female?
CARLTON BANKS: A man. A Police Detective of sorts. Anyway he was quite helpful
CHARLIE: Did he do your laundry? I hate laundry.
CARLTON BANKS: He gave me some good advice. But he left.
SYLVIA: Sounds all too familiar. I have the same problem.
CARLTON BANKS: Anyway, his last words were “Help me”. So I don’t know what he meant by that
MR MCCLURE: I had a shrink once. He was able to analyse my dreams. Maybe he would know?
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t need to see a shrink. I’m not crazy.
SYLVIA: Sure Carlton. You just talk to ghosts.
Mr McClure goes back to sleep.
MISS WAINTROP: We’re here for you Carlton
CARLTON BANKS: Now he’s gone. I thought you of all people would understand.
CHARLIE: Did you find out about this guy? Who is he? Maybe then you might know how you can help him.
CARLTON BANKS: Thanks Charlie. That’s a good suggestion.
DIRK: I can help you Carlton. I can replace this ghost in your life, only I can be a real friend.
CARLTON BANKS: Thanks Dirk but no thanks. I can get through this on my own.
ELSA: Dirk is only saying that he is there for you Carlton, when you need him. Like a true friend. Don’t write off man hugs. They can be beneficial.
CARLTON BANKS: I get that Elsa
ELSA: No man is an island Carlton
EXT. STREET CORNER OF NEGLECTED NEIGHBOURHOOD - EVENING
An attractive young woman walks down the street. On the corner are Jacko, Reno and Milo. Reno recognises her as Natasha, a girl he knew in school before dropping out.
JACKO: Well what do we have here? Where are you going hot stuff?
Natasha does not respond but keeps walking towards them. She recognises Reno
NATASHA: Well hello Reno.
Jacko laughs
JACKO: Why, you two lovebirds know each other? That is funny? This rich girl and you Reno?
NATASHA: I’m not rich
JACKO: Compared to us you are. Now hand over some dough young lady.
NATASHA: Or what?
JACKO: Or I’ll mess up that pretty face of yours
NATASHA: All I have is forty bucks
JACKO: And that fancy jewellery
NATASHA: They’re knockoffs but you can have them anyway.
Reno is clearly uncomfortable.
RENO: Can’t you go easy on her Jacko?
JACKO: Ooh loverboy is getting sensitive. What are you going to do about it? Are you one of us or one of them?
RENO: You know I’ve got your back Jacko, but...
JACKO: Your either a gang member or a rat. Nobody likes rats. Now this lady has paid her taxes she can be on her way.
NATASHA: See you around Reno.
INT. STEAD FAMILY HOME - EVENING
NATASHA, HER FATHER, MOTHER AND YOUNGER BROTHER JOSH ARE SEATED AROUND A DINNER TABLE AT SUPPER TIME..
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: What happened to your jewellery Natasha?
NATASHA: Oh, a girl at the launderette, liked them so I let her borrow them for a while.
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: You were robbed, weren’t you?
NATASHA: No. Not at all?
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: Mr Albourne was telling me that the young kid you used to hang out with has been hanging around and robbing young kids and old ladies. He’s been in and out of detention centres.
NATASHA: I doubt that’s true.
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: It’s a fact. I don’t want you near him. He’s a low-life. No Stead family member get’s mixed up with low-lifes.
NATASHA: He’s just a kid who needs a break. We all need breaks.
ELENORE STEAD: Listen to your Father Natasha
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: He’s had plenty of chances. A kid like that will treat every opportunity you give him with a slap in the face. If you don’t listen to me now, I will have to take action young lady.
NATASHA: What are you going to do? Ground me?
ELENORE STEAD: You’re Father wants what is best for you honey. He is concerned for your future and your happiness. Nobody like Reno ever comes good.
EXT. OUTSIDE LAUDERETTE - EVENING
Reno waits for Natasha to leave the launderette.
RENO: Look Natasha
NATASHA: What? Do you want money Reno? Because I was cleaned out yesterday.
RENO: It’s not like that
NATASHA: What is it like Reno?
RENO: I’d just like to say...
NATASHA: Are you one of those conscientious felons Reno, who apologises after he mugs young and old ladies?
RENO: I told you before I was bad news. I told you I wasn’t worth it. I have nothing. No prospects. What is a guy like me to do?
NATASHA: Say, there’s a bank Reno. I hear they open at nine on Thursdays. Maybe you should rob it?
RENO: It’s not like that.
NATASHA: I’m sure you appreciate the intel but don’t tell anyone I told you.
RENO: You have me written off don’t you?
NATASHA: No Reno. There is always an opportunity if you work hard enough. Rats and gang members aren’t the only two kinds of people in this world Reno.
RENO: Well there is another kind. A loser. That’s how you see me, isn’t it?
NATASHA: You’ve got as much potential as anyone. You are young enough to make it in this world.
RENO: You don’t know what its like being me. You wouldn’t understand.
NATASHA: Unless you’re going to rob me, I’d like to make my way home.
INT. CARLTON'S HOME - DAY
Carlton answers the door to Detective Gruber
DETECTIVE GRUBER: Mr Banks, may I come in for a moment.
CARLTON BANKS: Yes of course
DETECTIVE GRUBER: I would like to update you on the current status of the investigation. It’s been almost two months now. We haven’t ruled out the possibility that you are implicated in all of this and we have also failed to locate any of the thugs you claim you saw attacked yourself and your wife. The case is still open but we have no strong leads.
CARLTON BANKS: Guys like this must be repeat offenders. There must be some similar case involving these thugs. There has to be something.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: We’ve looked into it Mr Banks
CARLTON BANKS: Detective Gruber, are you familiar with a Detective Plummer?
DETECTIVE GRUBER: He was a partner of mine up until two years ago. Why do you ask?
CARLTON BANKS: He did a favour for me one time and I would like to repay him and his family.
DETECTIVE GRUBER: Detective Plummer died two years ago. Let’s just leave it there shall we? The more you talk, the more you get under my skin Banks