The Dominion (2) JASON Aye, you stay here, I'll take care of it. RAMIRA Aight, thanks J. (beat) INT. RAMIRA'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - night RAMIRA gets juice out of the fridge. She walks over to the beaten, filthy counter and pours herself a glass. She walks over and throws away the empty carton. CARMEN walks in from the bedroom, with a beer bottle in her hand. CARMEN How was your day baby? (beat) RAMIRA leans against the kitchen counter with her glass in her hands. She has her head down and seems depressed. RAMIRA Fine. Long day. You seem happy. (beat) Here comes a greasy man with his boxers on, wife beater. RICO, 30s, LATINO. Gold chain around his neck, hair dark black, neatly combed and greased. He puffs on a cigar. He has a stern look on his face, like he owns this place. (beat) CARMEN Oh, baby, this is Rico! (long beat) RAMIRA doesn't really pay any attention. She continues to drink her juice. She puts her glass in the sink. RICO looks at RAMIRA up and down in a seductive way. RAMIRA I'm 'bout to go to the game tonight. RAMIRA walks to her bedroom. CARMEN and RICO just stand there watching her go into the bedroom. CARMEN frowns. RICO just takes a big puff of cigar. INT. ramira's bedroom - night RAMIRA walks into her room quickly. She runs towards her bedroom lamp and turns it on and sits on her bed. She listens to her voicemail. She takes a deep breath as she picks up the phone and dials ENRIQUE's number. RAMIRA's face, eyes dart around as she holds the phone. CUT TO: INT. ENRIQUE's living room - night The phone rings. ENRIQUE is getting ready to leave and he turns around to pick up the phone. INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION enrique Uh, hello? RAMIRA (v.o) (nervous) Uh, hey babe, it's me. enrique (v.o) Oh, hey, what's goin' on? RAMIRA I saw that you called. enrique (V.O) Yea, thought you bailed out on me, 'bout to leave. RAMIRA (V.O) Yea, my fault been along day and just totally forgot. ENRIQUE Yea, kinda doesn't surprise me when you say that. RAMIRA Huh? What do you mean? ENRIQUE (sighs) Nothin', just be ready when I get there. CUT BACK TO: int. RAMIRA'S LIVING ROOM - night rico She don't like me do she? CARMEN She'll be fine, just give it time. CUT BACK TO: ENRIQUE hangs up the phone. Telephone conversation ends. INT. RAMIRA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT RAMIRA sits there confused and hangs up the phone slowly. She gets up and walks over and puts on her jacket and sneakers. She walks out of her room. INT. ramira's LIVING ROOM - night RAMIRA walks into the living room. CARMEN takes a hit of cigarette. RAMIRA I'm 'bout to leave. Be back later. CARMEN Ok baby, dinner will be on the stove when you get back. RAMIRA doesn't say anything. As she exits, RICO sits on the couch staring at RAMIRA's butt as she exits. cut to: EXT. Ramira's apartment building - night RAMIRA is running down the sidewalk and ENRIQUE is standing right there, they both hug. RAMIRA has a sad look on her face. Sounds of vehicles rushing by on the crisp Autumn day. ENRIQUE Whatchu' lookin' all sad for? (beat) RAMIRA (shrugs)(sighs) I'm aight, my mom got a new boyfriend and I already don't like him, got th-- ENRIQUE interrupts RAMIRA. ENRIQUE Oh yea, don't worry, prolly not as bad as you think? RAMIRA And the Cano Crew is gangin' up on me. ENRIQUE Yea, don't pay them any mind. RAMIRA Their the ones that be startin' shit, things were so much better back in the L.E.S. (beat) ENRIQUE Cheer up girl. RAMIRA I am. And-- ENRIQUE interrupts her again. ENRIQUE (interrupts) You should come kick it with me this weekend, get ya mind off things. RAMIRA (sigh) Yea, we'll see about it. ENRIQUE shakes his head. RAMIRA What? ENRIQUE Nothin', just always seem like an excuse. RAMIRA Excuse? Where we goin' to now? ENRIQUE I know, but other times. (beat) He puts his arm around her shoulder. ENRIQUE I'm sorry babe, I don't wanna argue, I'll read every rap you write, listen to ya freestyles everything, 'kay? RAMIRA (rolls eyes) Yea, yea, we'll see. They kiss and continue walking towards the bus stop. cut to: INT. school gym - night Camera is panning the crowd. Boisterous sounds of the crowd cheering and hollering in the gym. In this scene, music plays in the background (The Beatnuts - psycho dwarf). Some students are scurrying in late as well as RAMIRA. She looks around and hears someone shouting her name. OVER THE SHOULDER shot as she looks up and spots SHARICE and ANGELO at the top, they spot her. SHARICE is shouting, and waving her hands. SHARICE Ramira! Up here! CLOSE ON RAMIRA doing a half smile. She walks up the bleachers and accidentally steps on an OLD MAN's hotdog, and mustard squirts in the guys face. RAMIRA Oops, my bad! OLD MAN What the hell? God damnit! RAMIRA (blushes) Uh, sorry, didn't mean too! The OLD MAN IN BLEACHERS just grumbles loudly and shakes his head while wiping his face. Some girl above him just laughs. RAMIRA sits down in between ANGELO and SHARICE, she hugs him and her. SHARICE Aye, what's good? RAMIRA Not much, just came to see Enrique. Forgot all about it. ENRIQUE spots RAMIRA as he's dribbling the ball and waves to her. She waves back, with a smile. His smile fades away as she notices her sitting next to ANGELO. SHARICE Damn, what was all that about? RAMIRA I dunno. angelo He always seems to have a problem with me. RAMIRA Yea, it's Enrique, sure he's, he gets like that when things don't go he's stressed. SHARICE Mm, I see. Sounds of the gym fill with hollers and shouting. Different views of the gym with the ball being passed around, and of the scoreboard and buzzer. ENRIQUE's team loses by one point. After the game, the crowd leaves the stands and talk amongst themselves. Main music fades out. SHARICE Aye, I'ma see ya'll tommorow. RAMIRA Ok. ANGELO I'll be waitin' by the wall over here for you. ENRIQUE is sweaty amd pissed walking towards the locker room upset because his team lost the game. RAMIRA runs down quickly before he leaves, almost tripping over her own feet. RAMIRA grabs him by the arm. RAMIRA (out of breath) Hey. Babe, good game. ENRIQUE shrugs RAMIRA off, snatching his arm away from her. He doesn't turn around, just continues walking and ignores her. RAMIRA (angry) Oh, I see how it is. Can't even get a hug or nothin'. RAMIRA looks at ENRIQUE as he walks, just standing there and ANGELO witness' the whole thing, as he stands there against the wall. He shakes his head. CUT To: EXT. high school - night TWO-SHOT of ANGELO and RAMIRA walking outside. She looks a little down and pissed. Cars rushing by. Damp outside. ANGELO looks at RAMIRA. Not many people in the streets. (beat) ANGELO You okay? RAMIRA Yea. I'm fine. (beat) ANGELO You don't look like it. I've known you since we were little. Now I know when nothin's right. RAMIRA I dunno just-- ANGELO Can't believe he just shrugged you off like it's nothin'. RAMIRA I know, that's Enrique for ya. He'll be fine tommorow. I dunno why he's so agitated anymore, he used to be so cool when we first met. (beat) ANGELO shakes his head. RAMIRA looks at ANGELO. RAMIRA What? ANGELO Nothin', just-- RAMIRA Just what? Angelo (sigh) You stick up for him, even though he treats you like shit. I see how he talks to you sometimes and this ain't the first time either. (beat) RAMIRA (sigh) And besides, you don't see how he is when you're not there. ANGELO Jus' sayin'. RAMIRA Can't stand them Cano bitches. ANGELO Oh you mean Tamara? RAMIRA Yea. ANGELO What'd they say? RAMIRA Jus' talkin' mad shit about stuff in the bathroom, and my mom got a new boyfriend too. I got crazy vibes from him. ANGELO looks at RAMIRA being concerned, he stops her walking and looks at her dead in the eyes, and holds her arms. ANGELO You know, I'm here for ya, no matter what aight? Want you to know that. RAMIRA looks at ANGELO and smiles. RAMIRA Thanks Ang. ANGELO hugs RAMIRA and she smiles, then she giggles. They continue walking. RAMIRA (smiling) Remember when we were little and we would always play dress up in my room with rope chains and Kangol hats. I was Lyte and you was Slick Rick with the patch ova ya eye? ANGELO Yea, the Italian Slick Rick! RAMIRA Those days was so much fun man. Remember we would just sit in ya room and just freestyle and you would beatbox like Doug E. Fresh tryna breakdance? ANGELO (reminiscing) Yea, yea! And I spun on my head breakin' my mom's vase. RAMIRA Yea. ANGELO She still mad about it too. That was her favorite vase. RAMIRA We should do that again. ANGELO Yea. We should. RAMIRA puts her hand to her mouth pretending it's a microphone, goes in for a freestyle while JORGE beatboxes. They laugh and giggle. RAMIRA (sigh) Good times. ANGELo You should go to the Dominion this Saturday. They host battles, would be a good look. RAMIRA Nah, I'm good, Gooney said the same thing the otha night. Ain't tryna get a deal, just do it for fun. ANGELO Yea, I feel ya. cut TO: EXT. RAMIRA'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT ANGELO and RAMIRA stand there. RAMIRA Guess I'll see you tommorow then. ANGELO and RAMIRA are hugging. angelo Wait, let me walk you up. int. ramira's apartment building - night (cont) RAMIRA and ANGELO are walking up her stairs. Walking in the half lit hallway. Sounds of (Janet Jackson - that's the way love goes) coming from someone's room thumping. RAMIRA Well, thanks for walkin' me up to my door. ANGELO Oh, no problem, anytime. (beat) They both stand there and stare at each other like they want to kiss. They draw closer and closer to each other. Man smoking Well, kiss her if you're gonna kiss her. They both blush and look down. RAMIRA takes her key out and opens the door. RAMIRA I'll seeya. ANGELO Seeya. She waves bye and closes the door slowly. INT. ramira's living Room - night CARMEN is sitting in the arm chair watching tv. RAMIRA is smiling. The lights are off. RAMIRA Hey mom, I'm home. She goes over to the stove and looks in the pot. RAMIRA Ugh, how long this been sittin' out? RAMIRA turns on the light and CARMEN is laying on the couch, with RICO. CARMEN wakes up from the light. RAMIRA How's everything ma, you okay? She walks over and gives CARMEN a hug and kiss. CARMEN Hey baby. RAMIRA grabs the remote and turns to YO! MTV Raps. She then discovers CARMEN has marks on her arm. (beat) RAMIRA (passive) Mom! CARMEN What? RAMIRA Your arm. RAMIRA has a shocked look on her face. She grabs CARMEN's arm. CARMEN snatches her arm away. CARMEN The hell you lookin' at? (beat) CARMEN gets up and rages at RAMIRA. RAMIRA's face is stunned. RAMIRA What're you doin'? CARMEN You too busy hangin' with them damn friends a yours, you need to be home, doin' somethin' witcha life! 'Stead a bein' a damn hoodrat. RAMIRA is pissed and angry. RAMIRA (yelling) Everyday I go to fuckin' school and come home and all you do is sit on your ass all day and-- CARMEN smacks RAMIRA hard across the face. RICO awakens slowly, half sleep. CARMEN Don't you dare talk to me like that! If it wasn't for you, I coulda been-- RAMIRA has a stunned look on her face. RAMIRA So it's my fault you got pregnant when you were a teen? (beat) CARMEN trips over the pills and needles, falling on the floor. RAMIRA Fuck this shit! INT. RAMIRA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT RAMIRA slams her door, leaning against it. Her head hitting the door hard. CLOSE ON her face, tears running down it. She swallows hard. CUT BACK TO: INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT RICO is laying on the couch, he's awake. CARMEN Nothin' baby, go back to sleep. CARMEN scurries and tries to pick up all the needles and pills. She's laying on the floor. CUT BACK TO: INT. RAMIRA's BEDROOM WIDE SHOT of RAMIRA taking her jacket off and throwing it. Kicking her dresser talking to herself, pacing back and forth. She collapses on the bed. fade out: int. record store - afternoon ANGELO is in the music store looking at some tapes and equipment, rummaging through some racks of videos. Sounds of music being played in the background. The song is MC Breed/DFC - ain't no future in yo frontin'. The store is filled with only but a few people and it's a little run down. The STORE CLERK is a tall BLACK guy, SKINNY, trucker hat backward. His eyes are red, he's high, he's standing behind the counter. STORE CLERK Aye bruh, find whatchu need? ANGELO (distracted) Nah...still lookin'. ANGELO is caught off guard hearing laughs and giggles from a girl on the other end of the record store. He looks up and notices ENRIQUE is flirting and kissing on another girl. ENRIQUE has his hands around the girl's waist and ass. Her hands on his face, kissinng. ANGELO (to himself) What the hell? Stunned look on ANGELO's face. ENRIQUE continues rubbing on her and laughing. They both turn around and almost notice ANGELO. ANGELO quickly hides behind a corner with tapes in his hands. STORE CLERK kneels down. (beat) STORE CLERK Whatchu doin' man? ANGELO SHHH!! STORE CLERK (whispers) Oh, my bad bruh! (beat) store clerk Why you hidin'? The STORE CLERK is young, 20s with a laid back personality. He hides behind the corner with ANGELO. ANGELO slowly turns his head and notices the STORE CLERK, next to him. STORE CLERK is humming the music. STORE CLERK Aye man, you ever notice how like when you be starin' at the wall and see things movin'? Your mind is up and comes way back down. ANGELO just stares at the STORE CLERK and getting irritated. (beat) ANGELO The hell you talkin' 'bout? You high as hel, smokin' too much grass. ANGELO notices they both exit the store, holding hands and turning the corner fast. cut to: EXT. music store sidewalk - afternoon RAMIRA walking down the street with her head low, not paying attention or noticing anything. ANGELO spots RAMIRA walking from out the window, hollers her name and runs to the door. ANGELO Aye...Ramira! RAMIRA looks around, caught off guard. RAMIRA Oh, hey Ang. He has her go into the store with him, he grabs her arm. RAMIRA What're you doin'? ANGELO (nervous) Nothin', get in here! RAMIRA looks around confused. RAMIRA What the--. Why you all sweaty for? You look nervous. (beat) ANGELO Yea, yea, I'm cool, I'm cool. So uh, what're you doin'? RAMIRA Uh, nothin'. Just takin' a walk. ANGELO (sensitive) What's wrong? She shakes her head in disbelief. ANGELO You wanna go somewhere? They both exit the store. STORE CLERK (yelling) Hey, man! You gotta pay for those! ANGELO Oh sorry, decided not to get these this time! I be back later. ANGELO walks back and puts the tapes back and the STORE CLERK just watches him. STORE CLERK Oh, aight. cut to: EXT. harlem park - later RAMIRA and ANGELO are in a park area, sitting on the grass across from each other close. Their legs are on top of each others legs. ANGELO So, what's been goin' on? You can tell me. RAMIRA's eyes start to water. RAMIRA Just me and...my mom. Just been goin' at it, arguin' and shit. Found out she's been pill poppin' and shootin' up. I cam home last night and she had marks on her arms. ANGELO's eyes widen and RAMIRA starts crying. He consoles her and hugs her. RAMIRA And she been complainin' bout how I don't do shit, I need to do somethin' with my life and-- ANGELO Wow, I mean, you're only 15, you have plenty of time to think about your life. RAMIRA I know, I work, I go to school, she don't do anything but havin' that loser boyfriend layin' up in the house like he owns it. (beat) ANGELO (sigh) Sorry to hear that. RAMIRA It's cool. (beat) ANGELO starts rapping Main Source - fakin' the funk. ANGELO At the age of 19, heard the scene, a lot of M.C.'s that do not come clean, frontin' on dealin' hard times in rhymes... RAMIRA looks up and starts to smile. ANGELO There ya go, there's that smile I wanna see. RAMIRA adds in and starts rapping Main Source - fakin' the funk. RAMIRA ...you see him in the streets and you see no signs of the hell, and they get on stage and tell... They both join in. ANGELO ...some cornball war story, ring the bell (word) you're fakin' the funk... RAMIRA ...some cornball war story, ring the bell (word) you're fakin' the funk... They are both laughing. They stare at each other. RAMIRA Good times back than. ANGELO Yea, you know what I feel like doin'? RAMIRA What? cut to: INT. Angelo's Bedroom - evening CLOSE ON ANGELO's hand pressing the play button on his boombox radio and turning the volume up. You can see the sun setting through his curtains. This scene has a light reddish hue to it. ANGELO and RAMIRA are in his bedroom. Room is kind of messy, medium size, a piece of cardboard on his floor. A giant Italian flag hanging on his wall. DJ set on his desk. Bigger than RAMIRA's bedroom. Song is being played on the boombox and it's (Leaders of the new school - sobb story (instrumental)" RAMIRA is sitting on ANGELO's bed bobbing her head about to go in for a freestyle with the pretend mic in hand. ANGELO is on his cardboard and starts breakdancing. They both reminisce on when they first met. CLOSE ON A FREESTYLE 1. Life 2. Very lyrical 3. Up bringing ANGELO Aye, that was crazy. Remember when we used to go out and spray paint the trains? RAMIRA Thanks and we almost got caught by 5-0? ANGELO (laughs) Yea. You said Gooney told you about the Dominion right? RAMIRA Yea. ANGELO (serious) You need to do it! RAMIRA (sighs) If you say so Crazy Legs...but I dunno. RAMIRA nudges ANGELO in the shoulder, playfully. RAMIRA looks at the clock. CLOSEUP of clock. It reads 7:45pm. RAMIRA I betta get goin'. I'm mad hungry though, might head out with Sharice or somethin later. Gotta get home before mom starts trippin'. One minute she's up, next minute she's down. Knock. Knock. ANGELO's door opens and it's his dad, slim built, dark hair with a little bit of grey, looks a little young for his age, early 40s, LUCIANO RIZZO. Luciano Hey Ang...Oh hey, Ramira! Didn't know you two were here. RAMIRA Hey Mista Rizzo, how are you? LUCIANO (whispering) I'm good, I'm good, um, hey, could you guys keep it down a bit, ya motha's tryna sleep. ANGELO Oh yea, yea, we will, we will. LUCIANO closes the door but Angelo stops him before he does. ANGELO Hey Dad, uh, is it okay if I go out with Ramira tonight, I won't be out too late. CLOSE ON Ramira as she's looking at Angelo, she has a confused look. LUCIANO Yea, that's fine son. Don't be out too late, you have school in the mornin'. LUCIANO closes the door. (beat) RAMIRA Um, bigtime, I just said I have to get goin' and to be home before 11-- RAMIRA hits ANGELO over the head with a pillow softly. ANGELO Hey! ANGELO walks over to his radio and turns it off. ANGELO (nervous) I know, but uh, I just want to go with you, if you don't mind. RAMIRA looks at ANGELO confused. RAMIRA Oh, fine with me. Me and Sharice could use the extra protection. They both laugh. RAMIRA gets up and punches ANGELO in the arm. cut to:
Copyright © 2013 Melissa M Cook |