INT. CARLTON'S KITCHEN - DAY
CARLTON BANKS: Won’t your Mother be worried sick about you? It’s been two weeks.
RENO: It’s better that she think I’ve left than been shot in the back. If she finds out I’ve been shot, I’ll never hear the end of it
CARLTON BANKS: Don’t you think she would be happier knowing that you are alive.
RENO: If you’re thinking of talking to her Mr B, you wouldn’t last two minutes in my neighbourhood. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.
INT. PLUMMER HOME - DAY
Carlton rings the doorbell of Mrs Plummer’s home
She answers
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: Yes?
CARLTON BANKS: Mrs Plummer, I’m a journalist with the Written Wall. I’d like to ask you questions about your late husband if you don’t mind
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: That happened over two years ago. What causes you to ask questions about it now?
CARLTON BANKS: Well Mrs Plummer, if there is a story there then we’re in the business of getting to the bottom of it. Aren’t you concerned that his death was never solved?
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: I have to go to work in less than an hour. I’ll give you twenty minutes of my time Mr Banks.
Carlton enters the house and is seated in the living room.
CARLTON BANKS: Firstly Mrs Plummer, do you remember anything peculiar about the night your husband was killed?
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: Nothing out of the ordinary. He was off duty and he was killed off duty. That in itself was a little peculiar
CARLTON BANKS: Did anyone ever threaten him or was there anything he mentioned he was afraid of?
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: My husband kept very much to himself. He rarely discussed work and was reluctant to share information that might make me feel unsafe.
CARLTON BANKS: What about now Mrs Plummer. Do you feel unsafe now?
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: What do you mean?
CARLTON BANKS: Nobody has threatened you or tried to intimidate you?
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: No, well there is.. Actually I don’t like where this conversation is going Mr eh...
CARLTON BANKS: Banks
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: I thought this would be about my husband and not just me. I’d rather you left. As I said. I don’t have much time, so please go.
CARLTON BANKS: I only want to help you Mrs Plummer
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: Help me? You’re a journalist. However are you going to help me?
CARLTON BANKS: Sometimes its good to talk. If you’re in danger you may need help.
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: Go. Please.
EXT. LOCAL BASKETBALL COURT
CARLTON BANKS: Say Bradley, would you do me a favour?
BRADLEY PARKER: That depends on what it is Mr B
CARLTON BANKS: Can you tell Reno’s mum that he’s ok and that he just left town.
BRADLEY PARKER: What’s in it for me?
CARLTON BANKS: Five bucks
BRADLEY PARKER: Five bucks wouldn’t buy an icepop. You better make it twenty
INT. CARLTON'S HOME - EVENING
Carlton searches the internet for news about Detective Plummer. Reno enters
RENO: What are you searching for?
CARLTON BANKS: I want to find out what happened to a particular officer that was killed.
RENO: Why are you interested in coppers? What have they ever done for you?
CARLTON BANKS: He fell off a roof and left behind a family.
RENO: And who is he to you?
CARLTON BANKS: It’s a long story
RENO: Come on Mr Banks, you can tell me.
CARLTON BANKS: After my wife died I saw the ghost of Detective Plummer and he helped me through it all
RENO: That’s weird shit. Now I don’t know if I can sleep safely wondering if you’re going to come into my room in the middle of the night with a knife in your hand. Thanks for sharing man
CARLTON BANKS: Don’t you think it’s strange that this ghost turns out to be a real person who I had never met before.
RENO: Maybe he was someone from your past that you forgot about. So what are you going to do next? Track down his wife and stalk the shit out of her.
CARLTON BANKS: Well I’ve got to talk to her. His last words were “help me”. Maybe she would know what it all means.
RENO: And how are you going to communicate that to her? I know your deceased husband after he became a ghost. Man, you should see a shrink and forget about Detective Plummer.
CARLTON BANKS: So now that you’re 90% recovered, what are you going to do with the rest of your life?
RENO: I don’t know? Hell, most of kids my age don’t know what they want to do, but my prospects don’t look good. I’m eighteen and haven’t been to school in three or four years. That kind of thing doesn’t look good if you want to get a steady job.
CARLTON BANKS: I could help you.
RENO: Man, you’re broke. You have to sell the house and will have damn all money left to buy a new one. What can you do for me?
CARLTON BANKS: I could give you references; tell them you’re a good kid...
RENO: That kind of thing doesn’t work. They want to have a good look at the likes of me. They see tattoos and piercings and they say no chance. Most people don’t get Hollywood endings Mr Banks. Maybe 10% and how many of those come from the hood. I’m probably destined to become a pimp or a junkie.
CARLTON BANKS: Life is unfair Reno.
RENO: Don’t get all soppy on my now man.
CARLTON BANKS: Everyone has their own difficulties to deal with. I lost my wife. I didn’t deserve her and now she is gone. You lost your Father but it shouldn’t stop you climbing back to your feet.
RENO: Says the man who has just quit his job and may be homeless soon. You don’t know what it’s like being me. Some people have bad stuff happen to them, but with you it’s probably ten percent and with me it’s closer to one hundred. I don’t have the choices that you have.
CARLTON BANKS: You do have a choice. You could try harder. What did you always want to do?
RENO: I don’t know. I’ve never found something I’m good at. Certainly not at school.
CARLTON BANKS: Well, Reno if you don’t try to find something you enjoy doing, you never will. Otherwise you might end up getting shot in the back again or worse. Who will you turn to then?
RENO: Nobody from my neighbourhood gets out. Nobody
CARLTON BANKS: You can be the first Reno. You can be their hero. You can set an example for your friends and neighbours. Break the chain, Reno. Break the chain. Who would you like most to feel proud? Your Mother or Jacko?
INT. DUNSTON DRY CLEANERS - DAY
Carlton approaches Mr Dunston. Carlton is wearing a suit and tie.
Mr Dunston: 42, Wearing a red and white chequered shirt and brown trousers, Brown hair, brown eyes, moustache
CARLTON BANKS: Mr Dunston, I know a young man who is eager to work and make a living. I see that you have a vacancy.
MR DUNSTON: Everyone knows you’ve been asking around town, trying to get Reno a job. You’re wasting your time.
Everyone knows Reno is a bad egg.
CARLTON BANKS: Don’t you think he deserves a break Mr Dunston? Don’t you think every kid needs a break
MR DUNSTON: I have a business to run. It’s not a charity. If he so badly wants to turn a corner why isn’t he here asking me for work. I know you care but you’re wasting your time.
CUT TO:
EXT. DOORWAY OF BUSINESS PREMISES - DAY
BUSINESS WOMAN: We do what we can to help the underprivileged in the area. What’s his name?
CARLTON BANKS: Reno Cortez
BUSINESS WOMAN: You must be crazy if you think I’m going to take him on.
Business woman closes the door
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET OF ANOTHER BUSINESS PREMISES - DAY
Door after door is closed in Carlton’s face.
INT. CARLTON'S HOME - DAY
Carlton arrives home to find Reno has gone. He sees a note.
It reads: Thanks Mr B for everything. I’m sorry for letting you down but I have to make my own way in life. I can’t abandon my roots. Thanks for the clothes. I hope to return them one day. Reno
There is some post on the table. One is marked “return to sender”. Carlton opens it to find a cheque returned from his Father in law.
INT. LOCAL STORE - EVENING
Reno approaches a counter with two cans of lager in his hand.
CASHIER: Are you sure, you’re old enough to buy that
RENO: Sure I am
CASHIER: That’ll be five bucks
Reno hands over the money
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: Where’d you get the money to pay for that? Did you rob a young girl?
RENO: I get by
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: Stay away from my daughter. You’ll never amount to anything and you’ll never be good enough for her.
Reno eyeballs Mr Stead in an angry manner
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: What are you going to do? Hit me?
RENO: One day, Mr Stead, I’m going to be the big shot and you’re going to go - I should have been nicer to him.
CHRISTOPHER STEAD: Once a loser always a loser Reno. The only way someone like you can get to the top is by bending the rules.
RENO: I don’t want your daughter. You’re right. She is too good for me but she’s too good for you too.
EXT. STREET NEAR BRADLEY'S HOME
BRADLEY PARKER: You know, Mr B, you don’t have to walk me home. Every time you do, we end up getting robbed. I can get by without you slowing me down.
CARLTON BANKS: Don’t worry Bradley, I left my wallet at home. Besides you cleaned me out on one on one.
BRADLEY PARKER: That’s what I’m afraid of. There’s no point in winning forty bucks off you if I have to end up handing it over to a few thugs.
They round the corner and meet three rough looking guys including Reno, Milo and Terra.
TERRA: My name is Terra and I am king of this here territory. Y’all have to contribute to taxes for walking my streets.
CARLTON BANKS: I didn’t bring any money with me.
TERRA: Empty your pockets
Carlton empties his pockets and there is evidently nothing in them
TERRA: And the boy?
CARLTON BANKS: The boy doesn’t have anything either
TERRA: Well if you don’t pay no taxes, then you are going to have to be tortured. Isn’t that right Reno.
CARLTON BANKS: I have a proposition for you.
TERRA: And what might that be?
CARLTON BANKS: I can offer all of you jobs in my new business.
Terra laughs and leans back his head while doing so
TERRA: So why would we all want to work for a living? We are kings in our own kingdom.
CARLTON BANKS: It might pay more than your taxes.
TERRA: Why Reno said you are selling your house. You’re broke white boy.
CARLTON BANKS: 9AM tomorrow. 13 Oak Avenue.
TERRA: You want some slaves to work in a white business. Why should kings like us give you everything to be slaves in a white boys kingdom
CARLTON BANKS: Not slaves. Business partners.
TERRA: You are one fucked up dude. Bradley, empty your pockets.
INT. CORTEZ FAMILY HOME - MORNING (10AM)
Reno wakes up as his mother enters the room
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Why don’t you get up you useless lazy layabout and get a real job.
RENO: Nobody will hire me
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Don’t you get tired of hanging on street corners and robbing people of their hard earned money?
RENO: You know I don’t do that anymore Mom.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Don’t lie to me Reno. All neighbours ever talk about is how you’re no good. A total layabout loser who’ll never do anything with his life.
RENO: I’ll make something of my life mom, you’ll see
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Drug dealers and criminals all end up in an early grave Reno or looking over their shoulder every second of the day. I hope and I pray that your brother doesn’t turn out like you. You won’t even play ball with him. He wants a big brother Reno. Someone he can look up to and spends time with him.
RENO: He’s like ten years old
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Does he cramp your style Reno? Most older brothers would be proud of their younger brother. He’s a good kid. I just hope...
She cries
RENO: Is there something wrong Mom?
Henrietta pauses for a moment
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: They’re cutting my hours. I can barely manage to pay the rent as it is.
RENO: I have eighty bucks in my wallet. You can have it mom.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: It’s dirty money Reno. I’m not taking it. Don’t you want to make me proud Reno? Don’t you want to become the man your Father wanted you to be?
EXT. 13 OAK AVENUE - DAY
Mr Toliso and Carlton are standing on the corner of the street outside 13 Oak Avenue.
MR TOLISO: 67, FIVE FEET TEN INCHES, FULL HEAD OF WHITE HAIR, OVERWEIGHT, DRESSED IN OLD CLOTHES, BLUE EYES, RED COMPLEXION
MR TOLISO: So Carlton, where are those hired hands you talked about.
CARLTON BANKS: Well it looks like they’re not coming
MR TOLISO: Well Carlton with just the two of us it’s going to take quite a while to get this place in order
They are looking at a virtually derelict old wooden building.
EXT. 13 OAK AVENUE - 11:30AM
Reno arrives on site while Carlton and Mr Toliso are working on the building.
RENO: Say Mr B, I hope you didn’t spend your life insurance income on this heap of junk
CARLTON BANKS: More hands make lighter work. Who is your friend?
RENO: This is Milo
CARLTON BANKS: Do you have any references Milo?
MILO: My longest job lasted two weeks.
CARLTON BANKS: That’s two weeks longer than Reno. You’re hired.
MILO: How much do I get paid?
CARLTON BANKS: We’ll work it out.
RENO: What are you building Mr B?
CARLTON BANKS: You’ll see. Now Mr Toliso will show you what to do.
INT. LOCAL SUPERMARKET - DAY
Mrs Plummer with her eight year old daughter Selina sees Carlton at the local supermarket.
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: I rang your employer, Mr Banks. He said you haven’t worked there in weeks. Now, I don’t know what you’re up to but I want you to leave me and my daughter alone.
CARLTON BANKS: Mrs Plummer, I can explain.
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: It better be a good one.
CARLTON BANKS: Several months ago my wife was killed and Mr Plummer helped me.
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: My husband is dead more than two years. You really are ...
CARLTON BANKS: He was a ghost
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: It just gets worse and worse. . Are you the man throwing stones at my house? Keep your distance Mr Banks or I will see you in court.
CARLTON BANKS: I only want to help you Mrs Plummer
MRS CARENA PLUMMER: You can help me by staying away from me. I have enough problems as it is.