THE CHI

PRELAP: Donny ”Going Down” EXT. ROYAL’S AC LOUNGE ~- NIGHT WE FIND CHARLES “COOGIE” JOHNSON (16) messy but cool Afro, rockin’ a purple T-shirt depicting Yoda wearing headphones, beats wrapped around his neck as he stares at a neon 0ld Style sign, the CHICAGO’'S BEST script flickers and buzzes. Moths dive as he looks in through the smoked glass to see folks at the bar. He ENTERS... INT. ROYAL’S AC LOUNGE ~~ NIGHT Coogie approaches a woman at the bar staring at a SCRATCH OFF lottery ticket, pile of dead ones on the bar next to her. A BEAT as he sees that she’s tuned, singing along to Donny Hathaway. This 1s LAVERNE (45), Coogie's mom. Pretty once, but you know how it is -- she’s here in this bar like she’s been a thousand nights before and is happy in her own fucked up way, now if she could just scratch some money outta of these tickets. She looks up and sees her son, Coogie ENTER. She picks up the last ticket, grabs her lucky quarter and scratches. Nothing. She gives Coogie a look, like maybe he fucked up her luck... COOGIE (re: the tickets) Anything? LAVERNE Nope... COOGIE You comin’ home? LAVERNE In a bit... The BARTENDER... BARTENDER He can’t be in here. LAVERNE You be nice RJ he leavin’ in a minute...

BARTENDER This is me bein‘’ nice. You pay your tab you can have all the underage visitors you want. LAVERNE (to Coogie) Never mind him. You got that money I gave you? COOGIE No. LAVERNE Come on and buy your momma a drink. COOGIE Spent it already. LAVERNE Spent it on what? COOGIE Stuff. LAVERNE Stuff? Now you lyin’. COOGIE No I‘m not. I don’t got any. LAVERNE So what you come in here for? Coogie looks over at the bartender witnessing this moment... COOGIE Just seein’ when you're comin’ home . Laverne comes off the stool, wraps him in a sloppy hug... LAVERNE You lookin’ out for me. (then) be back in a bit. Go on, you got school in the morning... Coogie palms his mother’s lucky quarter off the bar, kisses her and exits...

EXT. STREET -~ NIGHT On Coogie as he exits the bar, looks back one more time at the blinking sign. His mother in there. He drops his deck, lowers the beats, hits play and skates the fuck off, shutting out the sitch as we hear Avalanches "FRANKIE SINATRA" Coogie singing along... COOGIE I'm Frankie Sinatra, I'm Frankis Sinatra... EXT. STREET SOUTHSIDE, CHICAGO -~ NIGHT WE FIND Coogie on his skateboard sailing through the hood, goofy smile, singing along, the streets beautiful in a ruined way . A BEAT as he waits for a streetlight past some CORNER BOYS crowded around listening to some jams from a nearby Riviera, passing a bottle. Coogie notes the tilt of their hats -- knows these are crewed up dudes, best to avoid. But one of them catches Coogie staring... CORNER BOY Fuck you lookin’ at? Coogie skates down an alley... EXT. STREET NIGHT with Coogie as he kicks off down the block, past some rowhouse, some trying, some abandoned, weeds poking up, trash here and there... EXT. BASKETBALL COURT NIGHT Coogie SKATES around the empty court. He spots a half deflated ball up against the fence. He picks it up, tries to dribble. It does not dribble. He lobs a J at the hoop and it CLANGS off the backboard. He goes to pick it up and then hears the DULL POP of gunfire somewhere off in the distance. He shoots one last time and hits it...

EXT. STREET CORNER ~~ NIGHT PICK UP Coogie skates past some boarded up store fronts, arriving at the corner store as father and son, HABIB & AMIR sweep trash into the street. Coogle pulls up. Off in the distance we hear the whoop of POLICE SIRENS, a constant in this part of town. A BEAT as Habib blocks him from entering... HABIB Closed. COOGIE Lemme get a grape pop and some jerky. AMIR You got money? COOGIE C’'men Amir, you know I‘m good for it. AMIR Grape pop? COOGIE And jerky. I ain’t had nothin’ to eat yet.., Anir gives Habib a look, steps inside the store, grabs a GRAPE POP, TWOQ STICKS JERKY... HABIB Dollar for the pop and two dollar for the jerky. Coogie holds ocut a guarter, smiles... COOGIE How much the pop cost? HABIB Deollar. COOGIE How much it cost you? Wholesale? AMIR Seventeen cents... Habib shoots Amir a look, like give that info away.

Okay, I give you a quarter that’s like eight cents profit. How you lose on that? HABIB Everybody else pay a dollar. You pay quarter then everybody want that. AMIR Better than him stealing. A beat as Habib considers this logic. COOGIE I don't do that anymore... HABIB Bullshit. AMIR No it’s true. COOGIE C'mon Habib, quarter for the pop and I pay full price for the jerky and we good. HABIB Okay, but only this time. Amir gives him the grape pop, the jerky. Coogie hands Habib two dollars and the quarter he swiped from his mom. He skates away. .. EXT. ALLEY -- NIGHT Coogie turns down an alley, grabs his deck and walks past the overgrown backyards until he comes to a fence. He rattles the fence and then WHAM a DOG charges out, snarling. COOGIE Hey girl... Coogie takes out some jerky, tears off a pilece and pushes it through the fence. The dog scarfs it. He opens the grape pop, drinks... COOGIE You like that...

She presses against the fence, begging for more. A beat as he puts hand through the fence and pets her, the whole time watching the back of the house... THE CAMERA PUSHES up to the back of the dimly lit house. We hear music thumping somewhere inside. COOGIE (CONT'D) (re: the house) What’s goin’ on in there? The dog stares at him, oblivious... COOGIE (CONT’D) Mesged up not feedin’ ya... I know how that is... A BEAT as a CAR DOOR SLAM 0.8 and then A BLACK SUV shoots out the other side of the alley, DISAPPEARING down the street. The dog growls... COOGIE (CONT'D) What’s a matter, girl? Coogie investigates, walking to the end of the alley. EXT. ALLEY/CORNER HOUSE -- NIGHT ON COOGIE as he sees a KID laying on the front walk, little drug baggies sprinkled all over the cracked pavement. COOGIE Yo... Nothing. He crosses over and sees the kid’s been shot, blood working out behind his head like a halo... COOGIE (CONT’D) Fuck... This is JASON, also (16) but we’'ll find out about him later. For now all we need to know is that he’s dead and wearing some TIGHT JORDANS and sporting a dope Lion of Judah CHAIN around his dead neck. Oh and he’s got a big old fucking gunshot wound in his chest, but he’s still kinda pretty, like he was on his way to being somebody before the bullets. Coogie looks around getting used to the dead kid and fuck yeah those are some nice Jordans and that chain... COOGIE (CONT’'D) Who you piss off? (then}) {MORE )

COOGIE Pretty muthafucka like you, prolly messin’ with the wrong dude’s girl, (then) Now what you gonna do with that chain... A BEAT as Coogie looks around, sees a YOUNG KID in a white t - - @& CORNER BOY watching him, let’s call him STICK (15) cuz he’s skinny as fuck and we will see him later. 8TICK takes a good hard look at Coogie, signals POLICE and then DASHES off. Coogie knows he needs to run the fuck out of there but instead he turns back to dead Jason and that chain. Fuck it, he GRABS the chain and in doing so gets some blood on his hands. 8hit, that's trippy and fucked up and he starts to gag at the sight of it as he tries to wipe it off. He steps back, chain in hand as a POLICE CRUISER rolls up across the street. Coogie ducks back against the wall out of sight. He's pinned there, listening to the crackle of the police two- way . ANGLE ON the COPS as they EXIT the car. A WOMAN APPEARS on a nearby stoop and points in Coogie’s direction, sayin’ somethin’ about hearin’ shots... BACK ON COOGIE as he slips the CHAIN out of his pocket and HIDES it behind a nearby TRASH CAN. LONG BEAT as he listens and sure enough here come the Cops on foot, radio’s crackling as they see dead Jason and then... POLICE (0.C.) Possible ten forty-five ... gonna need back-up... Coogie RUNS. The COPS REACT, quns drawn as they pull down on Coogie. Running, yelling into their two-ways. Ccop Stop! Nowl For a minute it looks like Coogie's about to catch one and join Jason staring up at the cold Southside sky. But the Cop LOWERS his gun... BACK ON Coogie as he HOPS the fence, DASHES through a vard, and breaks out into the street heading for a field by the El tracks as the WHOOP of sirens converge... ON COOGIE as he darts sprints along a house and then ducks behind some cars parked on the street as SQUAD CARS converge. A BEAT as Coogie has a little Butch and Sundance moment huddled down behind that car, cops up and down the street,

And so he pulls his hoodie up, stands and walks out into the street, trying to play it cool. BAnd it fucking works... He makes it past the first set of cops and is twenty feet from slipping into the crowd when BAM he's TACKLED by two officers... COOGIE I didn’t do nothin’... cop Shut up! With brutal efficiency they frisk him and find the last of the jerky as they KNEE, CUFF and SHOVE him into a squad car and we... INT. CAR -~ NIGHT ON Coogie in the silence of the car, watching the cops and flashers and the folks out in the streets, a few of them are recording his arrest on their phones, giving the cops shit. A BEAT as he lock eyes with the corner boy Stick we saw earlier. Stick pulls out his cell, fires off a text. END_OF TEASER INT. TRESTLE & CRANE RESTAURANT -- DAY Hip restaurant in the Fulton Market hood old brick machine shops reborn as trendy small plate joints catering to the beard and tattoo crowd. WE MOVE THROUGH the bustle of early morning prep to find BRANDON (20) at the sink with fellow prep cook LUIS (20s) as they sort fresh squid... LUIS Check this out, B... Luis shows him a large squid. A BEAT as he opens up the squid to reveal a small sand shark inside... BRANDON fucked up. LUIS Fish eatin’ fish. BRANDON Ain‘t a fish. a cephalopod.

LUIS Whatever the fuck it is it ate a baby shark. BRANDON Yeah and now we gonna eat it. Circle of motherfuckin' life... CHEF STEVE (0.C.) The fuck you doin? They turn and see CHEF STEVE (30s) standing there, tattoos, plercings, impatient as fuck. Brandon shows him the shark... BRANDON It was inside the squid. CHEF STEVE Okay a shark. BRANDON Yes Chef... CHEF STEVE Yes Chef what? (then) Yes Chef I don‘t have the squid prepped because I'm fucking around with a shark? BRANDON Ne ... I mean yes... As he withers under the gaze, Chef Steve's wife, SARAH (28) catches Brandon‘s eye, signals him to shut the fuck up... CHEF STEVE We got eighty covers tonight. Clean the fucking squid. BRANDON Yes Chef. Sarah steps in, gets the Chef’s attention... SARAH Greens just came in... CHEF STEVE Yeah... SARAH Won‘t deliver without a signature. (then) (MORE )

10. SARAH (CONT'D) Your signature. And it's ninety covers now and I really need you to be nice. CHEF STEVE I am fucking nice. SARAH No you’re not. But that’s okay... She kisses him. He smiles, she’s got him. CHEF STEVE (then back to Brandon) If you're good you book through those in twenty. BRANDON Yes Chef... Chef Steve grabs the shark, tosses it to another PREP COOK CHEF STEVE Yo, Manny. Catch. A confused Manny looks at the shark as the kitchen busts out laughing and Chef Steve EXITS with Luis. A BEAT as Brandon gets busy cleaning the squid. Sarah comes over and watches him. Maybe we catch a spark between them as Brandon tries real hard to focus on the squid and not the way her hair falls across her face or that blouse one button too low. But yeah there’s something there... SARAH He's testing you. BRANDON I know. SARAH You want a shot at the line he needs to know you can take it. BRANDON Luis been prep for three years. How am I gonna get a shot? SARAH That’s all Luls wants to be. You don’t want it, fine... BRANDON No. I wanna get on the line,

il. SARAH Okay, Tahir’s leaving. Girl and the Goat... BRANDON For real? SARAH Fuck Tahir. You want the job I’1l tell Chef to give you a shot. BRANDON When? SARAH I'Ll let ya know, be ready. SARAH It’s what you want, right? BRANDON Yeah... SARAH Better if we don’t have to bring somebody in. A beat as Brandon absorbs this, goes back to squid... SARAH (CONT'D) You’re welcome... BRANDON My bad ~- thanks. S8he smiles, meets his gaze a beat too long. He looks away. BRANDON (CONT’D) Why you doin’ this? SARAH You’'re good enough to be on the line, so you should be on the line. (then) Just don’t fuck me like Tahir... BRANDON What if Chef says no? SARAH He won’‘t say no unless vyou fuck it up. So don’'t fuck it up.

12. BRANDON I won't. SARAH Better get those squid prepped. Brandon smiles. Sarah smiles and then EXITS when Luis arrives with produce to be broken down. LUIS She wanna throw you somma that PuUsSsy... BRANDON Naw. She’s just bein’ nice. LUIS Maybe they onna those fucked up swinger couples. You do her and Chef watches. Then they switch it up. You do him. He do you. White folks are into that shit. BRANDON She just helpin’ me, that’s all. LUIS Helpin’ you with what? BRANDON I wanna get on the line. LUIS The fuck you wanna be on the line for? BRANDON Cuz I got plans. (off look) Bust it out here and then me and my girl Jerrika are gonna open our own place. LUIS Your girl know about you fuckin’ Chef’s wife? BRANDON Yo shut up with that shit and we ain’t fuckin... Off Brandon as he across the restaurant, sees Sarah...

13. EXT. STREET SQUTHSIDE -- DAY CAMERA FINDS KEVIN GREEN (12) and his sister KIESHA (16) on their way to the bus stop for school. Kevin's got his walk- to-school face on -~ head down, backpack weighing him down. Kiesha’s 16 going on 20, face in her phone, texting away. They walk by the corner store. Kevin stops, stares at the line of kids lined up for their breakfast nachos, bags of chips, pop, etc... KEVIN Gimme a dollar. KIESHA Nope. KEVIN Okay then I tell mom you ditchin’. (off look) 1f she asks... KIESHA You ain’t gonna snitch. KEVIN Five dollars and I don’t say shit. KIESHA Whathcha gonna do with five bucks? KEVIN Not snitch. Kiesha rolls her eyes and hands him five bucks. Kevin heads to the corner store as Kiesha jets off and we... INT. MARCUS GARVEY ACADEMY, HALLWAY DAY THROUGH THE BUSTLE of kids letting loose from various classrooms. THE CAMERA FINDS Kevin EYEING a pretty girl, ANDREA(12) across the way with RHONESHA, one of her pack. Kevin’s wingman is PAPA, chubby, got a certain swagger but his clothes are all fucked up, like his mom buys his shit at discount stores. And then there is JAKE. Jake wants to be Kevin, but fronts junior gangster, instead and follows Kevin’s lead, sorta... PAPA Walk yo punk ass over there and talk to Andrea.

14, KEVIN Shut yo fat ass up, Papa. PAPA I'm husky not fat and I dunno why you trippin’ Talkin’ to girls ain’t nothin’, you just gotta tell ‘em what. JAKE Papa‘s right, the dance is tomorrow night. (then) You gonna ask Andrea or what? KEVIN What if she say no? JAKE Then she says no... PAPA This is some bullshit. Watch... Papa goes right up Andrea and Rhonesha, big smile... PAPA (CONT'D) Hey Andrea. (lesser) Rhonesha. .. ANDREA Yeah Papa... Rhonesha shoots Andrea a lock and they laugh -- a dagger to Papa’s chubby little heart. PAPA What you laughin’ about Rhonesha? ANDREA You gonna ask Rhonesha to the dance or what? Cuz she might say yes if you ask proper. PAPA What? ANDREA S0 you don’t wanna ask Rhonesha? PAPA I didn’t say that.

15. RHONESHA Say what you gonna say then. PAPA I ain‘t even talkin’ to you Rhenesha. .. ANDREA What'’s wrong with your shoes? PAPA They Classics... ANDREA They were Classics. They trash now. A BEAT as Papa looks at his shoes -~ dirty, scuffed up. Kevin arrives. Papa fades back to watch with Jake. RHONESHA Hey Kevin... KEVIN Rhonesha... (unnerved, to Andrea) Can we talk... ANDREA Youw’re talkin’ now. KEVIN I meant alone... ANDREA I'm gonna be late for health class, you can walk with me if you want. KEVIN I just wanna talk. ANDREA I said walk with me. You can walk and talk? Kevin nods, falls in alongside Andrea. Rhonesha peels off, ANDREA Bell about to ring... KEVIN History... (long beat) The test...

16. ANDREA Yeah. .. KEVIN It's next week... ANDREA Yeah... KEVIN I was thinkin’ of studyin’ for it... Andrea gives him a lock like he’s fucking retarded. ANDREA It’s a test, what else you gonna de? KEVIN Do you wanna maybe study ... Togethexr? Before she can answer the bell RINGS and they are at her classroom. ANDREA Okay -- if you tell Papa he should ask Rhonesha to the dance... This is his opening but he blows it... KEVIN Okay... Off a bewildered Kevin as he races to his room and we... EXT. ROWHOUSE, SOUTHSIDE -~ DAY Modest split duplex -- WE PUSH IN on the upper floor window and FIND A SHIRTLESS DUDE in the upstairs, moving... INT. ROWHOUSE, BEDROOM - DAY And we meet EMMETT (17) who is enjoying a little morning blow job from a girl. We only see the top of her head. We note dozens of SHOE BOXES stacked against the wall, more in the closet, his little side hustle. A BEAT as the girl stops, looks up at him and we see that it’s Kiesha and this is what she skipped school for...

17. EMMETT The fuck, girl? Kiesha rolls over onto his bed... KIESHA When I gonna get mine? EMMETT Told ya it have to be like cuz my mom’s gonna be home soon. She puts a hand up to her nipple, PINCHES it, slides her panties off and throws them at his feet... KIESHA You get those Curry's for my little brother? EMMETT Yeah, bright blue. (then) Now get back over here. KIESHA I ain’t finishin’ in front of the window. You wanna get done, come over here. He takes one last look out the window and then goes to her. While they do their thing the CAMERA MOVES to the wall above the bed where we see photos of two ATTRACTIVE TEENAGE GIRLS holding EMMETT'S illegitimate progeny on their laps. Both kids look just like Emmett. WE HEAR the familiar buzz of cell as the CAMERA MOVES and finds Emmett’s cell blowing up with a call. We see the CALLER’S PHOTO pop on the screen under her name, TIFFANY. Emmett, deftly grabs the phone sends call to VM... KIESHA (CONT’D) Damn, boy. Emmett lights up a black and mild, exhales... RIESHA (CONT'D) Who that? EMMETT My boy, Darryl. KIESHA Why you ain‘t pick up?

18. EMMETT How I look answering some call while I'm fuckin’ you? A BEAT as Emmett rises, goes to the window and FUCK ~- sees his mother, JADA (40s) coming through the gate. He turns and gees that Kiesha has his phone. EMMETT (CONT'D) Get under the bed. Kiesha just gives him a look, turns the phone around -- knows he’s lying, wantin’ to know who the fuck Tiffany ig... KEISHA Darryl? Fuck you. EMMETT Just get under the bed... Kiesha puts on a T-shirt, SCURRIEE under the bed. Emmett sprays Febreeze everywhere as Jada BANGS on the door. JADA What‘d I tell you about closing doors in my house? Emmett opens the door to reveal Jada standing there in her SCRUBS, fresh off work, tired and sussing he’s up to no good. JADA (CONT'D) What I say? EMMETT You said not to do it. JADA If all you're gonna do in here is fuck and get high the least you can do is start paying me some rent. EMMETT I’'m workin’ this friday... JADA You ask for more hours? EMMETT Yes... JADA Now you lyin’.

19. A BEAT as Jada looks past Emmett and sees Kiesha's PANTIES on the floor, a hand reach out to retrieve them. Jada crosses, STEPS ON THE PANTIES, looks under the bed... JADA (CONT'D) What’s your name, girl? KIESHA Kiesha. JADA Kiesha. You hungry, Kiesha? (off nod) Would you like to stay for dinner, Kiesha? (another nod) You like shrimp, Kiesha? KIESHA Yes. JADA Well, too bad the salmon was on sale. So, that's what we having. As Emmett tries to muster the lie, but she knows... EXT. STOOP -- DAY WE FIND THREE DUDES holding court talking shit and admiring all the PRETTY WOMEN making their way to work. They are RONNIE (36) he wears his struggles on his face as he accepts a bottle from CURTIS (30s) shirtless, still thinkin’ he looks badass but he’s half a bum. BARRY (30s) sips an orange juice. Ronnie offers him the bottle. Barry passes, holds forth the juice. BARRY Naw man I‘m on the juice. Purify the body, sharpen the mind. RONNIE Goln’ Nation on us and shit? BARRY Naw, it ain’t that... RONNIE Yo man, read the label, that all sugar. Got like ten percent juice... Barry checks, Ronnie’s right...

20. BARRY Shit that’s ten percent good. RONNIE The fuck you talkin’ about? BARRY Gettin’ on the program so I don’t end up like Chivas Fred... He indicates an old DRUNK DUDE sitting on a milk crate against the fence, drunk and talking tc himself. RONNIE Program? You even got a job, nigga. BARRY And you do? RONNIE Fuck I need a job for? (then) 80 I can pay the government taxes -~ fuck that, shit. BARRY Naw man you can loan me some money. A BEAT as a fine looking girl walks toward them, looking right through the motley trio. Ronnie steps up, Curtis right behind shirtless while Barry hangs back. RONNIE Where you going? You got a man? Want one? RONNIE I know you like that Jodeci... (singing Jodeci) Baby won't you just stay Baby won't you just stay For a little while. She just keeps walking. As if they don’t exist. RONNIE (CONT’D) Man, fuck that ho. My girl loock better than her anyway.

21. BARRY Tracy ain’t your girl no more. RONNIE She got my baby, so she’ll always be my girl. CURTIS He ain’t even yours. RONNIE I raised him like he was mine. BARRY Try all you want you ain’'t gettin’ back with her. RONNIE Man, fuck both y‘all. A BEAT as an unmarked POLICE CAR rolls up on them. The window rolls down revealing, DETECTIVE RICK NATHAN(40s) lanky, half-assed goatee dribbling down his chin, rumpled shirt and jacket. Curtie and Barry SCATTER when they make him as police. RONNIE (CONT’D) The fuck you doin’? DETECTIVE NATHAN Need to talk, Ronnie. RONNIE Told you I don't got shit no more. Nathan lowers his shades... DETECTIVE NATHAN Just get in the fuckin’ car. Fuck it, he looks around, gets in as we... INT. POLICE STATION, HALLWAY ~- DAY WE FIND COOGIE being escorted down a long hallway by a large FEMALE OFFICER, hands cuffed behind his back. COOGIE When I gonna get my call? OFFICER You got your call.

22. COOGIE But I didn‘t get nobody. OFFICER And that's my problem? COOGIE I got rights. QFFICER And I got a head ache from you runnin’ your mouth... She keys open a door, shoves Coogie ingide. INT. POLICE STATION, INTERVIEW ROOM -~ DAY Coogie looks around. Bare white walls. CAMERA in the corner. Coogie sees that, smiles, plays to it... COOGIE Help me. Police brutality... The Officer is not amused... OFFICER You really wanna pull that shit with me, son? (Coogie obeys) My son talk to me like that, he knows what he gonna get. Coogie turns. She keys the cuffs off, motions to a chair bolted to the floor under a bare table. COOGIE Yes Maam... OFFICER Shut up and wait for the detective. She cuffs him to a ring on the table and exits as we... INT. NATHAN’S CAR (MOVING) -- DAY Nathan behind the wheel, Ronnie stares numb with grief... RONNIE Jason ... fuck ... {then) Where?

23. DETECTIVE NATHAN 79th, he was shot. Twice... Ronnie stares out the window at the Southside smearing by, trying to hold back tears... RONNIE The fuck he doin’ up there? DETECTIVE NATHAN He into somethin’ I should know about? RONNIE Naw. He’'s a good kid, made all city last year. I raised him, you know. DETECTIVE NATHAN You did right by him. (then) You in his life then? RONNIE Not really, just check in when his moms lets me. DETECTIVE NATHAN What about you? (cff look) Stayin’ outta trouble? RONNIE What are you sayin'? DETECTIVE NATHAN Just a question... RONNIE Naw, nothin’ like that. (then) This got nothin’ to do with me ... shit... Ronnie starts to lose it again... DETECTIVE NATHAN When was the last time you saw him? RONNIE Last week... DETECTIVE NATHAN He say anything?

24, RONNIE Naw. .. (long beat) Can I see him? Off this as we UP CUT TO: INT. MORGUE, HALLWAY -- DAY Nathan escorts Ronnie down a long tiled hallway. There are at least three new guests of the morgue in body bags atop gurneys awaiting a drawer and eternity. Nathan stops Ronnie at the door as we can hear distant SOBS coming from inside... DETECTIVE NATHAN His mom’s in there... (then) You good with that? Ronnie nods, opens the door... INT. MORGUE, IDENTIFICATION ROOM —— DAY Ronnie’s POV as he sees TRACY (30s) standing over the body of her son JASON (the pretty dead kid from the teaser) and she is glowing with grief, sobbing into the void ~- her sixteen year old baby boy is on a stainless steel table. Dead. TRACY He’s gone, my baby Jason’s gone no ... God please ... RONNIE Trac ... baby ... Ronnie tries to hug her. She steps away. TRACY What you doin’ here? RONNIE He was mine too, loved him like he was my blood. Tracy nods at this essential truth as she stares at Nathan, crosses to him. Angry, raw... TRACY I wanna know who did this to my boy.

25, DETECTIVE NATHAN We picked up a kid. He was seen standing over your son’s body, possible robbery. RONNIE Who? Nathan stands there a beat, realizes he mighta said tooc DETECTIVE NATHAN That’s all I can say... (then) Take as much time as you need. With that he exits and we... EXT. TRESTLE & CRANE, ALLEY -- DAY girlfriend JERRIKA (20s) pulls up in her car, dressed for work. BRANDON She didn’t say what she want? JERRIKA Nope. She triflin’ -~ telling me she don’t have your number. BRANDON 8o she still at our crib? JERRIKA Uh-huh. BRANDON Probably wants money. JERRIKA I don’t think sc... BRANDON I'1ll deal with it. JERRIKA Damn right you will. She’'s drunk too. BERANDON an alcoholic. Jerrika looks at him, this is clearly a topic.

26. JERRIKA She’s your mother. BRANDON Said I‘d deal with her. Now you wanna hear some good news? (then) Might be a spot opening up on the line. JERRIKA For real? BRANDON They gonna give me a shot, I do good and it’s mine. He hops in, leans to give her a kiss. She pushes him away, drives... JERRIKA Uh, ubh -- you stink. He tries again and this time she lets him. They share a look as we Up CUT TO: INT. BRANDON'S APARTMENT -- DAY Brandon & Jerrika enter their apartment. Jerrika waits in the kitchen as Brandon ENTERS the living room and finds Laverne sitting on the couch staring angrily at some cut flowers on the table. don’t even look up. LAVERNE You still washin’ dishes or they let you sweep the floors now? BRANDON I'm not gettin’ into this with you. What’s so important you can’t just call me? LAVERNE Got a message. Coogie’s in jail. BRANDON Jail? (then concerned) What he do? LAVERNE Said it was a message. Now I need a ride to the police station.

27. Jerrika pokes her head in at the news Coogie’s been arrested. JERRIRA Is he okay? LAVERNE Don’t go pokin’ your nose into my business, girl. Brandon steps between them, gives his mother a hard look. BRANDON You don’t talk to her like that. LAVERNE I talk to her any damn way I please. Now are you gonna take me or do I gotta get a bus? JERRIKA You can use my car, I'll take the train. LAVERNE What kinda man don’t own a car? {then) You stop wastin’ money on shit like flowers and throw pillows maybe you get enough to buy your own car... BRANDON You wanna go or not? (off look) Then it don‘t matter who’s car it is... JERRIKA You want me to come with? BRANDON Naw... He indicates Laverne as she ENTERS. Stands there staring at Jerrika. LAVERNE You know you can get plastic flowers. Save money that way. Off that we...

INT. MARCUS GARVEY ACADEMY - DAY 28. CAMERA PUSHES through a noisy cafeteria. Kids are eating flaming hots and banging on tables. FIND Jake & Papa eating lunch as Kevin stares at Andrea across the way. KEVIN I fucked up. PAPA Yeah you did. KEVIN I'm gonna try again. PAPA You a gluten for punishment. KEVIN It’s glutton. PAPA Whatever. KEVIN If I can just get the words out, I think she’ll say yes. JAKE It ain‘t like you gone catch her alone. You know these pretty bitches run in packs. PAPA Yeah, but they need to kick Rhonesha’s ass out the group. Sitting over there looking like a fuckin’ sea donkey. A BEAT as Kevin rises and does the dead man’s walk. it to Andrea’s table and just stands there. ANDREA Can I help you? Long beat, then... KEVIN Can I borrow your ketchup? ANDREA I said we could study now you wanna borrow ketchup. What else you want? He makes

29. Andrea's pack bust out laughing as Kevin retreats and we... INT. POLICE STATION, INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY Coogie being interviewed by Nathan, drinking an ENERGY DRINK. DETECTIVE NATHAN You know about that corner? COQGIE I know a lotta things detective. DETECTIVE NATHAN Okay Charles why don’t you tell me what you know. COOGIE It’s Coogie, my brother named me that cuz I couldn’t say Cookie. Kept fuckin’ up the k. {then) And I know you ain‘t got shit to hold me on but that don’t matter cuz you’'re police and you just make shit up cuz you the police. Nathan takes a sip of his energy drink. DETECTIVE NATHAN Noted. (then) Now I still don’t know what you were doin’ standing over a body... COOQGIE Cuz you know shit about shoes... Coogle at Nathan’s shoes... COOGIE (CONT’D) You get those at Kmart? DETECTIVE NATHAN The mall. They’re Clarks... COOGIE They some ugly Church ass shoes. DETECTIVE NATHAN They’re comfortable. Now what the fuck were you doin' over that body?

30. COOGIE Told ya, saw them Jordans. DETECTIVE NATHAN You wanted them? COOGIE Didn’t say that. (then) You should get some Tims, detective. (off look) Timberlands. You could work those. DETECTIVE NATHAN I wanna get back to what you were doin’ on that corner. COOGIE I wasn‘t on the corner -- I was just walkin’ by when I see that kid layin’ there. First I thought he was sleepin’ but then I saw his shoes... DETECTIVE NATHAN Maybe you saw his shoes earlier, followed him in there... COOGIE Just cuz I'm thirsty for shoes mean I'm a killer. DETECTIVE NATHAN I seen people killed for less... COQGIE Man this is the Chi, people die every day... DETECTIVE NATHAN What’s that mean? COOGIE Just how it is detective... DETECTIVE NATHAN Don't have to be like that... COOGIE But it is... Nathan's impatient, ain’t gettin’ in to the fucked-upness of the place. It's just a job...

DETECTIVE NATHAN Okay, after you checked out the shoes you take anything else from the body? COOGIE I didn’t take nothin’. DETECTIVE NATHAN You had his blood on your hands... COOGIE Touched him to see if was still alive. DETECTIVE NATHAN Mayke you grabbed his phone... COOGIE What I want with a phone? They give you brain cancer ya know. Same with that shit you drinkin’. (indicates the energy drink) Cocaine for white folks. DETECTIVE NATHAN Answer my question. COOGIE We already established I ain’t a thief and I ain’t onna them baby shooters. A BEAT then... DETECTIVE NATHAN You know who runs that corner? COOGIE Everybody knows that so the only reason you askin’ is so you can fuck my shit up. Already told ya I didn’t do it. Nathan drains the last of his energy drink, stands. COOGIE (CONT'D) You believe me, right? DETECTIVE NATHAN huh?

32. COOGIE Real ones, not those fake ass Chinese ones they sell on Maxwell Street... DETECTIVE NATHAN Ckay. COOGIE Now what? Nathan exits without answering... INT. POLICE STATION, HALLWAY OUTSIDE INTERVIEW ROOM ~- DAY Nathan finds DETECTIVE BILL WALLACE, (40s) fat, small eyes chopped into his head, waiting for him... DETECTIVE NATHAN Bill. WALLACE He give you anything? DETECTIVE NATHAN Attitude. Told me my shoe game was for shit. DETECTIVE WALLACE He's right. A beat as Wallace peeks in the observation window at Coogie. DETECTIVE WALLACE (CONT’D) Any connect to the victim? DETECTIVE NATHAN No gun, no priors except for some bullshit shoplifting. Waiting on GSR but that’ll come back negative. .. DETECTIVE WALLACE Body was in front of Price's stash house. DETECTIVE NATHAN So you think this touches your thing? DETECTIVE WALLACE You tell me...

33. DETECTIVE NATHAN Not this kid... DETECTIVE WALLACE Your CI? DETECTIVE NATHAN He’s not a CI, just a guy who knows what'’s what. I help him, he helps me., .. DETECTIVE WALLACE Maybe I could talk to him. DETECTIVE NATHAN He's got nothin’ to do with Trice. DETECTIVE WALLACE Okay. .. DETECTIVE WALLACE (CONT'D) So you gonna kick him? DETECTIVE NATHAN We got nothin’ to held him. DETECTIVE WALLACE Standin’ over the body, right? DETECTIVE NATHAN Yeah, but this kid... DETECTIVE WALLACE You're gettin’ soft Nathan. DETECTIVE NATHAN Maybe... Off Nathan, puzzled by Wallace’s interest in this as we... INT. FORD CITY MALL - FOOT LOCKER ~ AFTERNOON Emmett is trying on a pair of LeBron’s when Tiffany (the girl who’s call he ignored earlier) comes storming into the establishment with EMMETT JUNIOR (2) and locks like Emmett. Tiffany watches him lace up the shoes and walk over to a mirror, ignoring her. TIFFANY Really, Nigga?

34. EMMETT I'm not doin’ this with you today. TIFFANY I really don’t want my brothers to have to come fuck you up. I don’t. You need to take care of your responsibilities. EMMETT I do. Thelr names are Davante and Cassius and I can’t afford no more. TIFFANY Well, you gone have to start ‘cause Emmett Junior is your responsibility too. Just 'cause you named him after me, don’t make him mine. Emnmett grabs some Air Force Ones, shouts to a white EMPLOYEE. EMMETT (CONT‘D) Yo what sizes you got these in? TIFFANY Fuck you, Emmett! EMMETT Yeah, you did. You also fucked your way through the South Side of Chicago. She SLAPS him. Hard. Tiffany stands back, waits. Emmett thinks about it, but he’s not that guy. EMMETT (CONT’D) You lucky you did that shit to me. 'Cause a lesser dude would've punched you in yo fuckin’ mouth. SECURITY rushes over. SECURITY Take it outside. EMMETT I'm a paying customer. I ain’t goin’ nowhere. The White Dude backs down, then to Tiffany...

SECURITY Ma‘am, 1f you’re not gonna purchase anything I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. EMMETT She ain't got no money. TIFFANY I'd have some if you paid child support. I can’t do this by myself, I got things to do... EMMETT 8o do I... TIFFANY Like what? ain’t work enough to pay for YOUR son. EMMETT He ain’t my son. TIFFANY Fuck you talkin’ he look just like you. .. EMMETT So we get a paternity test. TIFFANY Really? EMMETT Yeah, now get the fuck outta my face. 35, She RAISES her hand to hit him again, but Security grabs her and escorts her out of the store. INT. TRACY’S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM —- NIGHT WE FIND Tracy sitting on the couch in her living room, the walls filled with pictures of Jason. She’s crying but there’s not much left as Ronnie ENTERS, lighting a JOINT. takes a big hit, sits next to Tracy and offers it to her. RONNIE Help you sleep... TRACY I wanna sleep. He

36. Ronnie sets the joint down and tries to put his arm around her, but she gets up and starts pacing back and forth. A BEAT as Ronnie studies Tracy. all he ever wanted but like all good things in his life he fucked it up and now this... TRACY It doesn’t make sense... RONNIE Where was he comin’ from? TRACY Texted me, said he was at a party. RONNIE Maybe somebody fucked with him there? TRACY No. He would’ve told me about it. RONNIE You sure? TRACY I know my son... RONNIE Your son? (off look) Taught that boy to pee straight. And that crossover he used to put up twenty on Simeon -~ we worked on that for weeks at the park. (then) He was mine too... TRACY You say you his father then act like it... RONNIE What? TRACY You need to find out who shot Jason. RONNIE Okay, I‘ll ask around.

37. TRACY I ain’'t asking you to ask around. (then) I'm sayin’ you need to set this right... RONNIE How I gonna do that? TRACY You know what I’m asking... RONNIE No, I don’t Tracy. Cops said they had somebody... TRACY Cops ain’t gonna do shit. I'm askin’ you to get the muthafuckas that killed him. That’s what you gonna do if you wanna do right by me. That’s what a real man would do. (off look) You supposed to be his father. Make it right... RONNIE Trac... TRACY You heard what I said. She rises, crosses to him and gives him a hug. Off Ronnie as we. .. INT. POLICE STATION, HOLDING CELL - NIGHT Detective Nathan escorts Coogie toward processing. They arrive at a COUNTER behind which a CLERK sits... DETECTIVE NATHAN (to Clerk) Charles Johnson... The Clerk nods. Coogile’s smiles offers Nathan some dap. Nathan doesn’t take it... COOGIE Thanks for seein’ that I got nothin’ to do with this...

38. DETECTIVE NATHAN You go to school? COOGIE You don’t gotta lecture me, I'm done fuckin’ with dead bodies. (then) You gonna do somethin’ about them shoes? DETECTIVE NATHAN Maybe. .. The Clerk passes a tub of Coogie’s belongings thru the grate. Nathan escorts him through a buzzing security door and to a busy waiting room filled with families, lawyers waiting... ON COOGIE as he sees his mother Laverne and Brandon over in the corner. They cross to meet him as Nathan hovers. Brandon gives Coogie a hug as Nathan approaches Laverne... DETECTIVE NATHAN (CONT'D) Detective Nathan, Ma’am. He offers his hand. She doesn’t take it. He swivels to Brandon and he does shake it. DETECTIVE NATHAN (CONT’D) You his brother? LAVERNE They half... (then) Let’'s go Charles, we don’'t talk to police, She grabs Coogie and drags him away, leaving Brandon there. DETECTIVE NATHAN You wanna krow what he did? look) Found him standing over a body. Kid was shot two times in the back. Lucky he’s getting released. BRANDON Well I'm sure he didn’t have nothin’ to do with that. A BEAT as Nathan hands him a card... BRANDON (CONT’D) What I need that for?

39. DETECTIVE NATHAN Body was on a known gang corner. Still don’t know what your brother wag doing there. Maybe somebody else figures that out, comes at him to settle... BRANDON He didn’t do nothin’ so he's got nothin’ to worry about. Off Nathan not so sure... EXT. POLICE STATION, PARKING LOT -- NIGHT As Brandon approaches his mother and Coogie he sees Coogie trying to hug her and Laverne pushing him away. LAVERNE Told you not to fuck around like that. COOGIE I ain’t done nothin’. I'm sorry, mama. . . LAVERNE That don’t matter to the police. Brandon arrives, interrupts this. She turns on him. LAVERNE (CONT’D) Better not of told them shit. BRANDON He just trying to do his job. LAVERNE I know what the police do. A BEAT... BRANDON Maybe Coogie could stay with me for awhile... LAVERNE What for? (then) You think you can do better, go on. BRANDON That’s not what I'm sayin’...

40, LAVERNE (to Coogie) You wanna stay with him? COOGIE Maybe for a little bit... LAVERNE Go on then. Laverne walks back to the car, leaving them. COOGIE You got room? BRANDON We got a couch. COOGIE Sure Jerrika’s cool with it? BRANDON Long as you pick up after yourself. Off Brandon as regards his mother staring daggers at him... INT. KEVIN’S APARTMENT -~ NIGHT Kevin finds Kiesha... KEVIN Need to borrow your phone. KIESHA If it’s pokemon go, forget it, KEVIN It ain’t that. Kiesha hands Kevin her phone. KIESHA Five minutes. KEVIN C’mon Kiesha, it’s private. Kevin waits for her to exit and then dials as we...

41, INT. APARTMENT, BEDROOM NIGHT Andrea is sitting on her bed doing homework her phone RINGS. INTERCUT AS NEEDED. KEVIN Andrea? It’'s Kevin... ANDREA How you get this number? KEVIN Rhonesha gave it to me. ANDREA She did? Okay... KEVIN Um, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me? ANDREA Yeah but Jake already asked me. KEVIN My friend Jake... ANDREA KEVIN What did you say? ANDREA I said yes... KEVIN Well, okay. That’s all I wanted to ask you. Bye. Kevin hangs up, gut punched as we... INT. EMMETT’'S BEDROOM - MORNING Emmett is still asleep when he hears BANGING on his door. JADA (0.C.) Emmett! Wake your ass up, right now! Get up! EMMETT I’'m coming!

He opens the door and sees his mother holding Emmett Jr. EMMETT (CONT’D) What the fuck? JADA She came by and just handed him to me -- sald you were expectin’ him, EMMETT That bitch is crazy, he ain’t mine. JADA Funny cuz he look just like you. This was in the diaper bag... She shows Emmett paternity test results. He has a look. JADA (CONT'D) That’s right ~~ says right there you his father. EMMETT Fuck! JADA That’s exactly what you did. And for some reason you keep doing it without a condom. Emmett tries to leave, but Jada blocks the doorway . JADA (CONT'D) Where do you think you’re going? EMMETT I'mma try to find her. JADA You're gonna take him with you. EMMETT I ain‘t got no car seat. JADA Then I suggest you go buy one. This boy is your responsibility now. Cause I'm done raising nappy- headed little boys. Now if you need a baby-sitter here and there I got you, but other than that you gone have to figure it out. 42,

43, EMMETT Ma, she can’t just leave the baby with me like that. JADA She didn’t leave him with a stranger, she left him with his father. Jada exits the room, leaving Emmett all alone with his son... EMMETT Where your mama at? Emmett Junior grabs a box of Emmett’s shoe collection. Emmett picks his son up, shows him the shoe. EMMETT (CONT’D) You like that? (nothing) You know your mamma 1s crazy as hell and so is your grandma —- leavin’ you here like this... In response Emmett Junior puts the shoe in his mouth as we... INT. BRANDON'S APARTMENT -~ DAY Brandon puts down several plates of food for Jerrika and Coogie to try... BRANDON Go on... Jerrika cuts a pilece of steak, tastes ikt... JERRIKA Shit’s raw ag hell.. BRANDON That’s how white folks like it. Coogie takes a bite. COOGIE You got any ketchup. BRANDON You ain’t puttin’ ketchup on it. Brandon watches as Coogie wraps the remainder of the steak in a napkin.

BRANDON What are you doin,? COOGIE Savin’ it... BRANDON For what? COOGIE JERRIRA Still needs salt. BRANDON (lovingly busting her right back) This that salty greasy ass shit you serve at Italian Gardens... JERRIKA Better watch your mouth... BRANDON Just sayin’ when T open my place it ain‘t gonna be like that. JERRIKA Your place, you mean our place... BRANDON My bad. (then to Coogie) You goin’ to school? COOGIE Mom was supposed to sign a note explaining how come I missed. Can’t go back without one... BRANDON Shit, forge one... JERRIKA I will? BRANDON He needs to get back in school. Brandon crosses back to the kitchen to grab some coffee. STAY WITH him as he gets a text.

BRANDON (CONT’D) Oh shit... JERRIRA What? BRANDON It’s tonight. (off look) The line. JERRIKA No way... BRANDON They're short. I do good the job’s mine. JERRIKA Course you gonna do good. BRANDON You don‘t know Chef. JERRIKA You got this... On Coogie, watching as Brandon gives Jerrika a kiss... BRANDON Love you... JERRIKA Love you too no go. We’ll clean up, ain't that right Coogie... With that Brandon grabs his backpack and exits as we... EXT. MARCUS GARVEY ACADEMY, PLAYGROUND - NEXT MORNING Kevin and Jake are rolling on the ground scrapping. KEVIN Fuck you, Jake! Kevin KICKS Jake in the stomach as Papa pulls him away. KEVIN (CONT'D) Why'd you ask her to the dance when you knew I wanted tol? JAKE Cuz you was takin’ too long! 45.