SCENE 1:
Next morning,
At TA. . .
[ Mark enters the store & is greeted
by the morning cashier. ]
“Hey, how was your vacation?”
MARK: Really good.
Thanks for asking. How
are things around here?
SYRIA: Oh, you know.
Same old, same old.
[ Suddenly Hahn approaches
Mark with a look of concern.
They walk into the assistant’s
office. ]
MARK: So, what’s up?
HAHN: Well, we lost $350 worth
of product the other day. Some
was stolen, the rest left out to
melt all over the floor.
[ Mark doesn’t answer. ]
HAHN: Hey boss.
Did you hear me?
MARK: Yes sorry.
You reported it to
Jim right?
HAHN: Yeah, he wants you to run
the cameras and try and figure
out what happened.
MARK: Alright, I will later. Thanks.
[ Hahn leaves.
Distracted, Mark
attempts to reach Ace but there’s
no response. ]
SCENE 2:
At a studio
downtown.
[ Markis is on the mic & Trey
Is sitting, running the boards. ]
TREY: Nice bro.
So, you seen
Michelle around?
She hasn’t hit me up in awhile.
MARKIS: Naw man.
Tie said
she’s been MIA.
But don’t
worry, I’m sure she’ll make
it back around to you.
[ Trey laughs & Markis comes
over, sitting down. ]
MARKIS: You heard from Weis
since he went mad crazy on you?
TREY: Nope.
[ Trey looks away from him. ]
MARKIS: Can’t believe he basically
pistol whipped your ass.
TREY: Shut up.
Anyway, you’re
wasting valuable time.
I suggest
you focus on your raps if we’re
ever gonna finish this mixtape.
MARKIS: Alright, alright.
I got you.
[ Trey sighs, turning the music
back up. . . ]
SCENE 3:
In Mark’s
office.
[ Mark is trying to concentrate
on some paper work but all
he can think about is why Ace
isn’t returning his call.
Frustrated, he dials the number
to the Salon. ]
“TA Salon, how can I help you?”
MARK: Hey Hithe, is Acer there?
HITHE: Nope. He called off today.
MARK: Okay, thanks.
[ Hithe hangs up & Mark makes
another call. ]
MARK: Sorry for waking you,
I just really need to talk to
someone.
SKI: You’re fine.
What’s
going on?
MARK: It’s about Ace.
He’s
really sick and he wants to
keep it a secret. Karie doesn’t
even know.
SKI: Wow, how bad is it?
MARK: Very. I feel like he’s slipping
away and there’s nothing I can
do about it.
SCENE 4:
Back at the
Studio. . .
[ Markis is wrapped up
& Trey is sitting in the
room alone. ]
“Ugh, why did Markis
have to mention him?”
[ Looking outside, he sees his
brother & Markis.
Now chilling
inside his car.
With no one around, he turns
the music back on & enters
the booth. ]
“You flew off the handle.
Rage deep in your eyes.
But even as things sit,
I still consider you a prize.”
DEONDRE: Whoa, what was
that about? I’ve never seen
you try to spit.
[ Trey comes out. ]
TREY: Nothing, just messing
around.
DEONDRE: Listen, I have to
tell you something.
It’s about Michelle.
SCENE 5:
Back at TA. .
.
[ Mark is in
his office, searching
through the security screens
from a couple days ago.
All of sudden he sees two
familiar young boys walk
right into the store. ]
MARK: Oh shit.
[ Minutes later, after he gets
off the phone with his boss
Jim, Hahn comes back ]
HAHN: Hey, did you figure
it out yet?
MARK: Yeah and you will
never guess who it was.
HAHN: Really, who?
MARK: My son Chais and his
friend Billy.
Thankfully Jim
doesn’t want to press charges.
But that boy better run when
I get home.
HAHN: At least now you know
who took your keys.
[ Hahn laughs. ]
MARK: Yup. I think I’m
gonna take off a little early.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
SCENE 6:
Outside the
Studio.
[ Trey and his brother DeOndre
are smoking in his car. ]
TREY: It’s puff, puff pass.
You’re babysitting it.
[ DeOndre laughs & hands it
to him. ]
TREY: Now what did you want
to tell me, bro.
DEONDRE: There’s a rumor going
around town that Shell is
pregnant.
TREY: So? It could be anyone’s.
DEONDRE: Right but I stopped
fucking with her a long time
ago.
That leaves you. . .
TREY: And Markis?
DEONDRE: Right.
So what are you gonna do?
[ Trey looks down at his phone,
hiding the pic he is looking at. ]
TREY: Nothing.
(Updated 10/24)
