EXT. STREET OUTSIDE GUN STORE - DAY
Carlton passes by a gun store and sees a gun in the window.
CARLTON BANKS: I’d like to buy the gun in the window.
STORE OWNER: Which one? The Glock?
The store owner picks up the gun and shows it to Carlton
CARLTON BANKS: Yes that one
STORE OWNER: If I throw in sixty bullets that will come to eighty dollars. I really don’t care what you use it for.
CARLTON BANKS: I’m only going to use if for shooting cans off of wooden fences.
STORE OWNER: I really don’t care man.
CARLTON BANKS: Would you say that if I was a mass killer?
STORE OWNER: Don’t judge me. You’re the one buying the gun.
Carlton hands over the money.
STORE OWNER: Have you ever used one of these before?
CARLTON BANKS No
STORE OWNER: Ok. I’ll just fill it with blanks
The store owner proceeds to enter bullets into the gun
Ok, so. You just, release the catch here and pull the trigger.
The store owner hands him the gun.
Ok. Aim for the light there.
Carlton shoots the light out.
Sorry about that. I always get confused by the real ones and the blanks.
INT. LOCAL CAFE - MORNING
Carlton is sipping on a coffee when Detective Plummer enters the cafe and sits opposite him.
CARLTON BANKS: If this is another of your pep talks you can save it.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Carlton, I’m just here to talk. Nobody should be alone at a time like this. Are you a Mets fan? I’m a Mets fan.
CARLTON BANKS: I’m not much of a sports lover and right now I don’t really have much love for anything.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: You couldn’t have done anything Carlton. There were three of them and they were armed. Running was a sensible thing to do. It’s the reason why you’re alive. Otherwise they would have killed you both
CARLTON BANKS: Running may have been the realistic thing to do but it wasn’t the most honourable. I should have died with my wife. I should have died saving her. She would have done the same for me.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: She would have wanted you to survive.
CARLTON BANKS: The truth is. She probably thinks I’m a coward. A chicken. Maybe her Father was right. Maybe I am just a parasite. I didn’t do anything to save her.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: The fact is Carlton, you don’t even recall. Maybe you did more than you can remember
CARLTON BANKS: I thought I said I didn’t want a pep talk
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: You need to talk Carlton. It’s a proven fact that talking helps. You don’t want it to eat you up inside
CARLTON BANKS: Maybe it should haunt me. Maybe I deserve to suffer.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Pain is normal but in most cases it is curable.
CARLTON BANKS: Lets just change the subject.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: What do you like to talk about Carlton?
CARLTON BANKS: Nothing. Andrea was my favourite subject. Now please go away and leave me alone.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: If you won’t talk to me at least go talk to a professional. Somebody who knows what they are doing.
CARLTON BANKS: I’m not going to see a goddamn shrink
Carlton slams the table, knocking what’s left of his coffee cup over.
INT. SCHOOL BUS - MORNING (FOUR YEARS EARLIER)
A thirteen year old boy, is seated on a school bus by himself. A girl of similar age gets on the bus and sits beside him.
RENO: 13, Five Feet nine inches tall, Hispanic, Dark Hair, Hazel eyes, Slim.
NATASHA: 13, Five Feet tall, Caucasian, Shoulder length Brown hair, Dark Blue eyes, slim, attractive.
NATASHA: So what’s your name?
RENO: Reno
NATASHA: I hope we’re in the same class, I’m Natasha
RENO: You do know that you’re not supposed to sit here?
NATASHA: Why? Do you bite?
RENO: You’re a rich girl. You dress well and wear perfume. We’re opposites.
NATASHA: I’m not rich
RENO: By comparison to me you are.
NATASHA: Maybe I like bad boys. Maybe you shouldn’t be sitting beside me. I got a 38 in my last Maths exam.
RENO: There’s a seat over there that’s unoccupied next to Ronnie Undertow. You should probably sit beside him.
NATASHA: He seems alright but you .....
RENO: Like I said, I’m not nice. You’ll probably grow up and be like super qualified. I don’t....
NATASHA: Aren’t thirteen year olds meant to dream of a million possibilities. Don’t they dream of playing soccer or baseball. You sound like an old man already.
RENO: Like I said, there’s a seat next to Ronnie Undertow. You should sit next to him
NATASHA: Reno, I like it here. I have the feeling we’re going to become best friends. I’ll wear you down. You’ll see.
INT. LOCAL PUBLIC HOUSE - NIGHT
Pete, Scott and Briana all take Carlton out for a drink in the local pub
PETE CALLAGHAN: Well, Carlton, you’re awfully quiet. We had been hoping that a night out with the boys and girls would get your mind off of things
CARLTON BANKS: Well, it isn’t just the chasm of loss, Pete, it’s also the guilt. She saved my life and in her hour of need, I ran away.
BRIANA JOHNSON: Most men would have run away Carlton.
CARLTON BANKS: Well, what a way to get to get my mind off things than to spend the night getting totally drunk
BRIANA JOHNSON: Well actually I have to get home in thirty minutes.
PETE CALLAGHAN: I have an early morning start
SCOTT DAVIS: I met a girl on Tinder but I can squeeze another forty minutes out of it.
CARLTON BANKS: Well at least I have Plummer. Who invited him anyway. He’s not even drinking.
PETE CALLAGHAN: Who’s Plummer?
SCOTT DAVIS: Pete, humour him.
CARLTON BANKS: Speak up Plummer. Nobody can hear you. Don’t worry Plummer, I’m buying. You could do with a drink, instead of looking all glum.
INT. PSYCHIATRISTS OFFICE - DAY
DR SKREIN: 56, Grey thinning hair, Five Feet Eleven inches tall, slightly overweight, light blue eyes, wearing chinos and an expensive jumper
DR SKREIN: Your brother tells me that you lost your wife. Is that correct?
CARLTON BANKS: I’m sure my brother told you everything.
DR SKREIN: Would you like to talk about it to me?
CARLTON BANKS: No
DR SKREIN: Why did you come here today Carlton?
CARLTON BANKS: I came because my brother and my mother insisted on it. It was the only thing I could do to stop the nagging.
DR SKREIN: So you came because they were concerned about you?
CARLTON BANKS: That’s not what I said
DR SKREIN: We have half an hour. What would you like to talk about?
CARLTON BANKS: If it’s ok with you Doctor, I’d like to bail. I’m sure my brother is paying you good money.
DR SKREIN: Actually, Carlton, your brother isn’t paying me. You are. It’s the same fee for three minutes as it is for thirty.
CARLTON BANKS: How much do you charge?
DR SKREIN: Two hundred dollars for the first session
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t think I’ll be coming back doctor. I don’t know which is more painful - Paying two hundred dollars for a three minute session with a shrink I don’t need or having nightmares for the rest of my life. Goodbye and thank you.
INT. CARLTON’S HOME - EVENING
Carlton enters his house and sits down on his couch. Detective Plummer appears.
CARLTON BANKS: How did you get in here?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: There is something I have to tell you Carlton. I’m not an ordinary Detective. You might say, I’m not real.
CARLTON BANKS: No, no this is not happening. It must be those vitamin pills. No wonder those waitresses in the cafe were looking at me all funny. Please leave me alone.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: I’m no qualified shrink, Carlton. I can’t offer you expert advice. But I can be here for you. I can be a friend to you.
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t want your help I just want to be left alone and miserable.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: You said, Andrea was your favourite subject. Would you like to talk to about her?
CARLTON BANKS: What’s in this for you Detective? Do you get wings? Do you get a promotion.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: No Carlton, I just get a friend.
CARLTON BANKS: Well I’m not in a friendly mood.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: If you won’t talk to me or talk to a shrink Carlton, maybe you should try a support group. You could meet people like you who have experienced what you’ve experienced.
CARLTON BANKS: Nobody knows what it’s like to be me.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Thursday at 8pm in the Amenity Hall. There will be a meeting with people who can share their experiences with you.
INT. RHINESTONE ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL, PRINCIPALS OFFICE - AFTERNOON (THREE YEARS EARLIER)
Mrs Henrietta Cortez, enters the principals office to see her son seated opposite the Principal, Mr Havers, with another boy beside him.
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: Mrs Cortez thank you for coming. As you can see, your boy was involved in a fight. Please sit down.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ:Thank you Mr Havers
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: Now, as I mentioned to Reno, if he isn’t going to apologise, I will be forced to take the matter further.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: What happens if the matter goes further Mr Havers?
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: It could mean your boy being detained in a detention centre for teenagers Mrs Cortez depending on how long the judge deems fit.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: What did you do Reno?
Reno doesn’t answer
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: He tried to steal Harvey’s bike and when Harvey objected, he struck him.
RENO: I only wanted to borrow it.
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: The fact is, you struck him. And the fact is you were in the wrong.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Well Reno, are you going to apologise?
Reno doesn’t respond
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: As you understand Mrs Cortez, the matter is quite serious. This is the fourth similar incident in less than eighteen months. If he doesn’t apologise, he’ll be expelled and a judge will have to deal with him.
RENO: I don’t care if I go to a detention centre or not.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Reno, don’t say that. Just apologise and we can all go home.
RENO: I just wanted to borrow it.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: Do you get into these fights because I can’t buy you bicycles and footballs and chocolate? Is that the real reason Reno?
RENO: No
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: For the last time Reno. Are you going to apologise?
RENO: No
PRINCIPAL HAVERS: I’m sorry Mrs Cortez but the matter is out of my control. I am left with no alternative than to report the matter to the authorities.
HENRIETTA CORTEZ: No, no, no. Reno apologise.
EXT. SYMONDS STREET, CITY - 11PM
Carlton goes to the scene of the crime at a similar time with a gun on his person. He walks back and forth nervously.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: This isn’t going to solve anything Carlton. It won’t bring you happiness. If you kill someone tonight you’ll have a whole set of new nightmares.
CARLTON BANKS: Oh yeah, well it might make me feel good. I might get justice instead of relying on you and your comrades. I didn’t kill her.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Killing someone in retribution won’t bring her back.
CARLTON BANKS: What would you know anyway?
INT. CARLTON’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Carlton has flashbacks, remembering the incident where his wife died
He wakes up in the middle of the night and sits on the couch and picks up the remote control.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: The best way of suppressing bad memories Carlton is by creating new ones
CARLTON BANKS: If it’s alright with you, I don’t feel much like moving on. I’ll never be that lucky again.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: You won’t know unless you try.
CARLTON BANKS: I don’t feel like trying
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Carlton, my Grandfather used to say that love isn’t the most important thing to survive this world.
CARLTON BANKS: Let me guess. Money? A wife and kids?
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: Spirit Carlton, spirit. Without spirit to motivate us, to get out of bed every morning and face the challenges that are set for us, we’d all go around like depressed zombies. Fight for your future Carlton.
CARLTON BANKS: Yeah well, my challenges are bigger than everyone else.
DETECTIVE PLUMMER: There is always today Carlton. The here and now. You’re still young enough to start a family. Your only obstacles are your attitude and that crooked nose of yours. You’ve got potential Carlton. No matter what life throws at you, spirit is the one thing you can control.
Carlton turns on the tv and turns up the volume.
INT. JUDO CLASS AT LOCAL GYMNASIUM - EVENING
JUDO TEACHER (MISS CARELINI): SHORT BLONDE HAIR, 36, FIVE FEET SIX INCHES, SLIM, ATTRACTIVE, BLUE EYES
MISS CARELINI: My name is Miss Carelini. Each of you have signed up for my twelve week Judo class. I go strictly on a surname basis. In twelve weeks time it is my hope that one of you could put me lying on my back
MR BRANSTON: SIX FEET FOUR INCHES, 29, STRONGLY BUILT, DARK HAIR, UNSHAVEN, BROWN EYES
MR BRANSTON: Why lady, I could do that right now.
MISS CARELINI: Ok, Mr...
MR BRANSTON: Branston
MISS CARELINI: Show me what you’ve got
Mr Branston stands on the mat and makes eye contact with the Judo teacher.
MISS CARELINI: We haven’t got all day Branston. Are you going to hit me or not?
Branston lunges for the judo teacher but she avoids him and uses his momentum to flip him onto his back. Mr Branston is in discomfort and slowly climbs to his feet.
MISS CARELINI: Does anyone else want to try?
MR BRANSTON: Hey lady, that was not what I had in mind about putting you on your back
MISS CARELINI: Okay, there are nine of you, so one of you guys will have to pair up with me. You there, what’s your name?
CARLTON BANKS: Banks
MISS CARELINI: Banks, you will pair up with me.
The Judo Teacher demonstrates a Judo move in slow motion with Carlton and then asks the rest of the class to follow suit.
MISS CARELINI: Now Mr Banks will you give me your best shot.
CARLTON BANKS: I should warn you Miss Carelini that I have a lot of pent up anger and don’t care whether you’re a woman or not.
MISS CARELINI: That’s perfectly alright Mr Banks. I don’t care if you’re Giant Haystacks, you’re going to end up on your butt each time.
CUT TO:
Carlton is repeatedly battered to the floor