Switchin Lanes

The Simon's Basement.

[ Jai joins his brother on the

couch as he's counting out a

stack of cash. ]

"New shoe time.  Already?"

CHAIS: Not today bro. This is for rent.

[ He puts it away, changing the

subject. ]

CHAIS: Since when do you work

on Saturdays anyway?

JAI: Since today.  How's the auto

repair going?

[ Chais just looks at him. ]

CHAIS: I mean.  Have you seen

any business here lately?

[ Jai shakes his head. ]

JAI: Why don't you just come

work for Dad?

CHAIS: Nah.  I'll figure it out.

JAI: Alright. I gotta go. Ride's

here.

[ They hear a car horn. ]

CHAIS: Who is that?

JAI: A'myan. I got him a job.

CHAIS: You got a meth head

a job with kids?

JAI: He's clean now.  We both are.

So stop judging. Later.

[ Minutes go by, Chais is sitting

alone & texting on his phone. ]

CHAIS: They're gone.

Go ahead and bring it.

Local Jail, Magic Springs.

[ Stuu sees his Dad being led

into the room.  Hesistant, he

sits down.  Picking up the phone. ]

STUUsDAD: Can you look at me?

[ Stuu bring his head up. Staring

him eye to eye. ]

STUU: I can't believe you  did this.

And for what, just to get some

attention from us.  An obvious

fail.

STUUsDAD: You wouldn't begin

to understand son.

STUU: Oh come off it.  Change

for once and maybe you get

some different results.

[ Stuu notices the guard's expression

& lowers his voice. ]

STUUsDAD: You mean, like you did.

STUU: My relationship and child

have nothing to do with this.  

STUUsDAD: At least the family you

created won't abandon you like my

real one has.  

[ He attempts to hang up the phone

but Stuu gives him a stern look,

tapping lightly on the glass. ]

STUU: This isn't about that. But of

course your selfish ass isn't even

thinking of the people that were

hurt.  I'm done.

And don't bother calling Mac. He's

not coming.

Back in the basement.

[ Chais walks down the steps, removing

a large sized plastic bag from underneath

his shirt full of plump, light green buds.

He goes in his room, locking the door 

behind him. ]

"Where should I hide this?"

[ Before he can think too long, he hears

a knock on his door. 

Chais throws the bag in the closet. ]

"It's me!"

CHAIS: Damn.  You couldn't of text.

Who let you in?

BILLY: Ski's home.  What's your

problem?

CHAIS: I finally did it.  Look in the

closet.

BILLY: Holy

CHAIS: Yeah.

BILLY: Better not let Ski see any of

that.

CHAIS: I'm not worried. They don't

come down here but I might need

your help.

Getting connects and shit.

BILLY: I knew that you would

one day need my expertise.

CHAIS: You sold for a week and

got caught by the principal.

BILLY: True but at least I got

out of being expelled due to

my "mental problems".

[ They are interrupted by Chais'

cell ringing. ]

"Jenni."

[ He sends her to voicemail. ]


Stuu & Weis' apartment.

[ After a long drive, Stuu returns
home to see baby Mila sleeping
and Tiesun in the living room. ]

"Has Weis been around?"

TIESUN: Nope but sit.  I wanna
hear how everything went 
down.

[ She listens for awhile to him
retelling the conversation. ]

STUU: Ever since he did this. Weis
has been staying out more.  Larrie's
been calling off work.

Ski is worried about him spiraling.
And I don't want my Dad's dumb
decisions to ruin anyone's life.

TIESUN: That's not going to happen.
Those two have plenty of support.
And we're not going to let it.

I'll keep an eye on Larrie.  And
you watch Weis.  

STUU: Okay.

[ She gets up, gathering her stuff. ]

TIESUN: I'm going to head over to
Larrie's now.  A little surprise
visit.

Find your man.

[ She exits out the front door. ]


Near close, the Salon.

"Long day?"

TILA: Something like that.
Ready to head home.

LORENZO: Oh yeah? Think
maybe you're finally ready
to take me up on the double
date offer.
TILA: No.  My man is not really
the double date type.

LORENZO: I see. What type is
this mystery man?

TILA: My type.

[ She gives him an evil look. ]

LORENZO: Well. Can I at least meet
him.

TILA: He's here.

[ They walk outside & Lorenzo is shock
to see a limo parked. A professional
older gentleman gets out, removing
his sun glasses. ]

LORENZO: He must be lost.

[ Lorenzo starts to walk over but
Tila passes him.  Giving the man
a kiss on the cheek, she looks
at Lorenzo before getting into
the car. ]

At The Start ( Part 2 )

After hours. | TheAisles

　

"What do you want from us?"

　

[ Weis coughs out trying to

keep his cool while Larrie &

Tiesun sit on either side. He

can feel them both shaking

as they stare at the wall. ]

　

"You! Check out girl. Get the

cash from the register."

　

[ She stands & turns as the

man follows her to self check.

Gun firmly placed in Tiesun's

back. They walk on.

　

Meanwhile, in his back office. ]

　

SKI: What is taking Weis so long

with those apps?

　

Let me see.

　

[ He shakes his computer awake

& brings up the security camera.

　

Stunned to ice, he immediately finds

the robber & Tiesun being sat

back down. ]

　

[ Ski grabs his phone. Tapping his

fingers back to life, he nervously

starts to dial. ]

　

9-1-1

　

[ Back up front. ]

　

"Just stand there and shut up. I'll

be gone before you know it."

　

[ He keeps the gun aimed at them

until he is safely in his car. License

plate covered, he zooms passed

the front and out of the lot. ]



Same time. | The Simon's

[ Ace & Mark are settled in side-

by-side recliners. Drinking beer,

with the television on in the

background. ]

　

MARK: This is the longest you've

been single since I've known

you.

　

ACE: Dude I'm not single.

　

MARK: Oh excuse me. Being

someone's occasional office

hookup has to count for some-

thing. My bad.

　

[ He states, riling him a little. ]

　

ACE: Hey. She actually called

me the other day.

MARK: Really, for conversation?

　

[ Ace takes the last drink of his

bottle & heads for the kitchen. ]

　

ACE: Naw. Just to tell me not

to meet her in the morning.

　

Your phones going off.

　

[ Mark gets up. Taking it from

the table. ]

　

"We have to get to TA."

　

ACE: What's going on?

MARK: We we're robbed!

　

ACE: Is everyone okay?

MARK: I'm not sure yet. I just

got an ER text from Ski!

　

I'll wake up Chais. He can

drive us there.

All clear. | TheAisles

　

[ Outside is littered with cop cars &

entrances being blocked off. Inside,

the three witness are being questioned

one-by-one.

　

Ski stands off to the side. Larrie walks

up to him. ]

　

SKI: I'm so glad you guys are alright.

　

[ Larrie looks at him & they hug

onto each other. ]

　

LARRIE: He was just desperate. That

was all about the money.

SKI: I know. But it doesn't make it

any less frightening. I hope they

catch this guy fast.

　

[ Tiesun comes over. ]

　

SKI: Are you okay?

TIESUN: Yeah. Thanks.

　

[ She smiles. Mark comes in &

Ski meets him at the door.

　

Larrie is staring at Tiesun. ]

　

TIESUN: What?

LARRIE: Is there something

else you're not saying?

　

TIESUN: It was his voice. I heard

it before.

LARRIE: Are you sure?

　

TIESUN: Yes! I just can't remember

when.

　

LARRIE: Well think. You could be

stopping this from happening

all over again.

Downtown MS. | All Hours Fitness.

　[ Lorenzo is lifting weights, Pierre is

spotting him while Charles sits on

the bench across from them. ]

　

LORENZO: You're hair is so long now

I can barely see that beautiful face.

　

[ He smirks. Easily repping and placing

the bar down. ]

　

LORENZO: Ah. I'm getting stronger

and stronger.

　

[ He boast & Charles rolls his eyes. ]

　

PIERRE: Can you believe I wanted

to spend my night off with this

one?

CHARLES: Not anymore.

　

[ He leaves them for the treadmill. ]

　

LORENZO: So talk to me. How's the

business going?

PIERRE: Slowly but it's starting to

pick up. I have some bigger projects

starting this month so I'll be able to

get some more people on.

LORENZO: That's good. Remember that

day I attempted to substitute?

　

PIERRE: Yup. Stick to hair styling. 

I didn't realize you and Charles were

so close.

　

LORENZO: I'm kind of keeping an eye

on him. For Maxx. Don't say a word.

PIERRE: Oh yeah? Well you're doing

a poor job buddy cuz he's gone.

　

[ He points out the window at Charles

empty parking spot. ]

Living room. | Stuu & Weis'

 
[ The door opens. Weis embraces

Stuu & sees Mila.

　

Larrie & Tiesun come in. Sitting

down. ]

　

WEIS: What are you doing up

little girl? It's way past

your bed time.

　

STUU: Alright. Give him a kiss

and it's back to bed.

　

WEIS: I'll take her. Come on.

　

[ Stuu joins Tiesun & Larrie on

the couch. ]

　

STUU: I've been telling Ski

we need to have security

guards on that shift.

LARRIE: Yeah. We we're just

talking about that. He's

been working on it but you

know how upper management is.

　

[ Stuu looks at Tiesun. ]

　

STUU: You've been quiet. Are

you alright?

　

TIESUN: I know who it was.

LARRIE: You remembered?

　

[ She becomes sad & looks at Stuu. ]

　

Next Morning. | The Simon's

　

[ Ski walks outside on their back

patio. Bringing out a pitcher of

juice, he sits down to breakfast

with Mark. ]

　

SKI: Any word?

　

MARK: Yeah. We're looking into

the issue now. I demanded one

on every night shift.

SKI: Hopefully they listen. So

about the DM position, are you

thinking of taking it?

　

MARK: I thought about it but

no. I mean, especially not

now. With what just happened

I feel a responsibility.

　

Plus I love my employees and

being involved with Care.

SKI: I know you do.

　

So what's next?

　

MARK: Nothing. But me, you,

and this breakfast of champ-

ions.

　

[ They are interrupted by a

knock on the patio door.

　

It's Stuu. ]

　

STUU: Sorry to come over

so early.

　

We should talk.