Character List:
ROBERT “BOBBY” RIDER – Early 20’s, African American, aspiring writer
JOSH – 40’s, white male, showrunner
STEVE – 30’s, white male, writer
MICHELLE – 30’s, white female, writer
EDDIE – 40, white male, writer
KELLI – 20’s, white female, social media personality, writer
JIMMY – 40’s, Bobby’s agent
ROBBER – 20-30, African American
JAY – mid 20’s, African American, the lead character of the script
MIA – mid 20’s, African American, Jay’s girlfriend
DENSE – mid 20’s, African American, Jay’s best friend/roommate
Synopsis:
An aspiring African American writer sells an urban TV pilot to a studio and is forced to rewrite the show alongside a team of studio-appointed white writers.
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RIDER’S ROOM
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INT. JAY’S BEDROOM – DAY
JAY, mid 20’s African American playboy type, and GREYSI, a mid 20’s racially ambiguous free spirit, kiss erratically as they undress in the bedroom. Greysi lowers out of view.
JAY (V.O.)
What’s up y’all. I’m Jay. Overall, I’d say I’m a pretty good guy. Got a job, a crib, I love my mom, even take her to church on Sundays. And, I love my girl too. Yeah, I’ll admit it. But I do have one problem. . .
CAMERA PANS down to Greysi swinging her hair wildly.
JAY (V.O.)
This is not my girl.
MIA, African American, mid-20’s, reserved, corporate type, bursts through the door. DENSE, mid-20’s, African American, lags behind her.
MIA
JAY! what the –
Screen FREEZES on Mia.
JAY (V.O.)
That’s my girl, Mia. Now I’ll admit, I’ve messed up in the past but I’ve never been caught in action. . . Until now.
The screen UNFREEZES. Mia reaches for a glass and throws it at Jay and Greysi. Jay turns around in shock. Greysi jumps up and quickly gets dressed.
Mia paces back and forth talking to herself and Jay in the process.
MIA
I knew you was up to something. You no good, lying, cheating, dirty dog. My girl told me not to trust your ass!
Mia’s sound fades as Jay’s voiceover comes in.
JAY (V.O.)
I’d always hoped her catching me cheat would end like this. . .
INT. JAY’S BEDROOM (FANTASY) – DAY
Jay and Greysi kiss erratically as they undress in the bedroom.
Mia bursts into the room angrily.
MIA
Jay, how could you… not invite me!
Mia lifts her shirt over her head and pounces towards the bed, they all embrace.
INT. JAY’S BEDROOM – DAY
Jay is watching Mia pack, her voice is muted.
JAY (V.O.)
Didn’t quite go according to plan…
Mia finishes gathering her things and storms out of the bedroom.
MIA
I bought this.
Mia snatches the Playstation off of the wall. Dense closes his eyes in pain.
DENSE
Mm, petty. . .
Jay follows her into the living room.
INT. JAY’S LIVING ROOM – DAY
Jay stands in the living room as Mia heads towards the door.
JAY
Mia, wait.
Mia continues out of the apartment without looking back. Greysi comes from the bedroom fully dressed.
Jay looks surprised.
JAY (CONT’D)
You leaving too?
Greysi continues walking. Dense is lying on the couch trying to mind his business.
JAY (CONT’D)
How you let my girl get all the way in the room like that?
DENSE
My bad dog, I was half sleep.
JAY
Half sleep bro?!
Jay pulls a gun from his waist, then points it at Dense. The scene FREEZES, we hear JOSH’S voice.
JOSH (O.S)
Gotta keep those ratings up!
WIPE TO:
INT. WRITERS ROOM – DAY
A table of writers sit in front of their computers. ROBERT “BOBBY” RIDER, early 20’s, African American American, looks confused.
BOBBY
Wait, why would he pull out a gun?
KELLI
Because he’s mad…
BOBBY
Do you pull out a gun every time you’re mad?
Everyone is silent for a BEAT.
JOSH
What I don’t think you get is that in “Urban Culture,” guns are a more common part of daily conflict resolution.
STEVE
Exactly.
STEVE, 30’s, White Male, slacker of the group, points and smiles at JOSH, 40’s, White male, and showrunner.
MICHELLE, 30’s, Caucasian female, notices that Bobby looks upset.
MICHELLE
I know you have a vision for this show, but when you sold your script to XXXXX, you exchanged control of that vision for cash.
Bobby looks down at his feet in frustration. EDDIE, 40 yr old, Caucasian male, gives an empathetic look to Bobby.
EDDIE
Maybe pulling a gun on his friend is a bit much though. What else could he do to express his frustration?
INT. JAY’S APARTMENT – DAY
Jay is frozen while pointing a gun at his roommate.
KELLI (O.S)
What if he’s holding an ax?
Jay’s gun is replaced with a massive medieval axe.
BOBBY (O.S)
Seriously, brothers don’t have axes.
JOSH (O.S)
He’s right. Typically, they don’t.
INT. WRITERS ROOM – DAY
Bobby looks annoyed at Josh. Josh gives him a wink as if to express he has his back.
INT. JAY’S APARTMENT – DAY
Jay is still frozen, holding the ax.
KELLI (O.S)
Ok, no ax. . . How about Axe. . . body spray and a lighter!
Jay is now holding a bottle of Axe body spray. He lights a lighter and sprays the flame, creating a makeshift flamethrower.
INT. WRITERS ROOM – DAY
JOSH
Guys, guys I got it. Check this. . . an African bow staff.
Josh leans back, looking menacing. Steve applauds him.
STEVE
Masterful!
INT. JAY’S APARTMENT – DAY
Jay is now holding a bow staff against the nape of his roommate’s neck.
INT. WRITER’S ROOM – DAY
Bobby is heated. Eddie looks over and sees Bobby about to blow up.
EDDIE
Ok, so. . .
INT. JAY’S APARTMENT – DAY
EDDIE (O.S)
What if it’s just a knife?
Jay’s staff switches out with a knife.
INT. WRITERS ROOM – DAY
Eddie gives a reassuring nod to Bobby. Bobby is bewildered.
JOSH
I dunno, doesn’t feel “urban” enough.
KELLI
Yeah. . . What about. . . a gun?
JOSH
Exactly!
STEVE
Nailed it.
JOSH
Who’s hungry! Celebratory lunch?
Bobby gives a look of disgust and walks out the door in disbelief.
INT. BOBBY’S CAR – NOON
Bobby is eating alone in his car. The car is an abomination of different car parts cobbled together. The floor is so filthy with fast food wrappers that you can’t see it.
BOBBY
Look at this. . . they’re whitewashing me in front of my very eyes.
Bobby looks in on the writer’s room through the window of his car.
BOBBY (CONT.D)
This ain’t it… this can’t be life. I gotta call my agent.
Bobby calls his agent, JIMMY, 40s.
JIMMY (O.S)
Bobby, my guy, what’s happening brother.
BOBBY
Hey, Jimmy what’s up man. Yeah, I’m not feeling this, bro. These people don’t get me. This show is not turning out to be what I envisioned. I think I want out.
JIMMY (O.S)
I thought I wanted out when a trip to the massage parlor had me taking a paternity test nine months later.
Bobby looks at the phone confused.
JIMMY (O.S)
Turns out my 3-year-old daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me.
BOBBY
I’m not thinking about kids right now.
JIMMY (O.S)
You’re not thinking long-term. You’re a Junior in college right now. You’re way ahead of the game. What are you gonna do if you walk out on your show?
BOBBY
I got time. I’ll write another script. I can barely recognize the script I wrote in there. This shows colonized.
JIMMY (O.S)
It’s not “this show”, it’s YOUR show. There would be no show without you. You created it. Don’t let anyone run you away from what you’ve created. Even if your vision is distorted right now, you never know what may happen down the line. It’s better than sitting in Biology Lab for 2 hours, right? I say, see it through.
Bobby contemplates.
BOBBY
Yeah, you’re probably right. I can’t let these people discourage me. I know I gotta finish what I started. . . but damn.
JIMMY (O.S)
One thing about life, Bobby, is that nothing ever goes perfectly according to plan. The people that are able to adjust, keep moving forward. The people that can’t, get stuck where they are. You, my friend, got the engine revved up and are just getting started.
BOBBY
Facts. I just pulled out the driveway.
JIMMY (O.S)
On your road to success. Now, go back in there and steer your project back in the right direction!
BOBBY
Thanks, Jim. I needed that.
JIMMY (O.S)
Don’t mention it, buddy, good luck, talk to ya later.
Bobby hangs up in better spirits.
INT. WRITERS ROOM – DAY
Bobby takes a seat among the rest of the writers.
JOSH
So, is everybody revitalized and ready to go?
Bobby gives Josh a confident nod.
JOSH (CONT.D)
Great! Let’s pick up where we left off.
INT. JAY’S BEDROOM – DAY
Jay’s knife gets switched back to a gun.
INT. WRITER’S ROOM – DAY
BOBBY
Seriously?!
Bobby slams his hands on the table and stands up.
BOBBY (CONT.D)
Do you think young Black men can’t reconcile a problem without weaponry?
The room goes silent.
BOBBY
Did it ever occur to any of you that two Black men could solve a problem with words?
Josh coughs and cleans his glasses with his handkerchief.
JOSH
Bobby, I think you’re not understanding that your Black experience isn’t THE Black experience.
Bobby slams his laptop shut and throws it in his bag.
BOBBY
It would help you guys to know that not all Black people have guns. . . Even the “URBAN ONES!” Bobby storms off and slams the door.
EXT. PARKING LOT – NIGHT
Bobby angrily walks to his car, muttering to himself. He starts fumbling with his keys. As he goes to open the door, he notices a large African American man standing behind him with a gun.
ROBBER
Don’t move. You know what this is.
Bobby closes his eyes, sighs, and shakes his head in defeat.
BOBBY
Son of a. . .
BLACKOUT