HOW DID WE GET HERE?

By

ROBERT S. MCGAHA

SAMMCGAHA@HOTMAIL.COM

FADE IN:

BLACK

EXT. CITY SKYLINE - NIGHT

NARRATOR

The stars in the sky seem to be especially bright and the

winds at peace this evening, even though there would

be darkness from a storm no one could see looming ahead.

FADE IN:

EXT. CRIME SCENE LOCAL MALL 123RD ST - PARKING LOT

The sounds of sirens could be heard from a mile away.

Witnesses are in shock of what they have just scene. Crowd

noises heard ranging from sobbing to insignificant chatter

engulfs the area. The emergency medical team is on the scene

with police trying to control the crowd that has surrounded

a young man (MARCUS) holding a young woman (TANYA)in his

arms.

The young man MARCUS is covered in blood and the EMT’s are

trying to check on the condition of the young lady, but

Marcus will not let anyone near her. The young man had a

look on his face that only comes after terror has just

visited. A cold stare in disbelief. Even though there are

many people in the surrounding area it’s as if they don’t

even exist. As if nothing else matters, the young man

appears to have a breakdown when tears begin to roll

down his face.

EMT RESPONDER

Sir, we need you to let go of this

woman so we can perform our job.

MARCUS

What does it matter to you? Your

job is done. You are too late. I

was too late. (sniffles)

2.

EXT. - MALL PARKING LOT

Nearby there are police officers taping the area off in the

infamous yellow tape. A group of detectives stand by the

vehicle riddled with bullets as CSI members mark shell

casings from afar.

Marcus finally relinquishes his hold of Tanya. As one

uniformed group of EMT’s leaves they are replaced by the

officers from the county coroners office.

EXT. - CAR DRIVING SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN

INT. - INSIDE OF JAME’S CAR

James is a pretty big guy ranging around 6’4" 250 lb with an

athletic build. His face rugged with a scar above his right

eye from an accident when he was a kid. To all inquiring

minds, James also known as JJ on the street, was known to be

very cold-blooded killer when it came to his money and the

things that he wanted. He would not let anything become

those two things. The only person JJ really had a soft spot

for was his best friend Marcus. The type of business

dealings JJ had didn’t leave much time for friends and it

was usually better that way. In fact he preferred it. For

some strange reason though, Marcus is the only person who

could ever talk JJ down or tell him about himself and get

away with it. Partly due to the fact they were pretty much

raised together since birth.

As the hustler makes his rounds through town like the post

office, there is a phone call to the cell on his hip. The

number is an associate of James and he answers:

JJ

What up fool?

ASSOCIATE

Homie, I saw your boy Marcus on the

news... at least I think.

EXT. - SIDE ALLEY STREET - DOWNTOWN

JJ slams on the breaks, and puts car in park as he looks at

his phone in shock.

JJ

What the hell you mean you saw him

on the news?

ASSOCIATE

Bruh, I saw some craziness went

down over at the mall. It look like

your Lac was shot the hell up!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

JJ

Dude you can’t be serious right

now!? Not Marcus!

ASSOCIATE

Nah, for real my dude its on the

news now.

JJ

Man if I found out this is a joke

I’mma kill you on GP.

ASSOCIATE

I wouldn’t play like that about

this here son! What was he doing

with your car anyway?

JJ

He wanted to impress this little

breezy he been talking to. So after

the last favor he did for me I told

him I got him. I can’t believe this

shit right now. I’m heading over

there to check this out. Where you

say that went down?

ASSOCIATE

Over at the mall on a hundred and

twenty-third.

JJ

Bet!

EXT. - JJ’S CAR

Driving like something out of a NASCAR race, JJ flies toward

the mall.

EXT. - MALL PARKING LOT 123RD ST

By the time JJ reaches the mall the crowd has dissipated,

while the yellow crime scene tape remains. Officers are

questioning Marcus as to his account of the evening. He is

still being distant but seems to at least be talking to

them.

A car pulls up like a bat out of hell, screeching tires more

than a banshee on Halloween. JJ has pulled up demanding to

be told where Marcus is. Breaking his way through the tape

JJ sees Marcus as detectives are heading away.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

DETECTIVE

Son, here is my card. If there is

anything else you can think of

please give us a call.

Holding what was an ordinary business card now looks like a

hot mess as it’s now covered in bloody fingerprints and

wiped off tears.

In the distance Marcus begins to hear JJ’s voice shout for

him.

JJ

Marcus! Marcus! Where you at dog?

EXT. - MALL PARKING LOT - UNDER LAMP POST NIGHT

Marcus is finishing up the last of his cigarette as the

detectives start to walk away.

Just as JJ arrives Marcus reaches for the hip of the passing

detective to grab his gun.

Gun drawn and aimed in the direction of JJ, Marcus lets of

two shots, in what was a matter of seconds seemed like an

eternity as JJ clutched his chest covering one of the holes

freshly planted in his sternum.

The officers immediately try to restrain Marcus but it is

too late. He has shot his best friend and killed instantly.

In what seemed already like a tragic evening the officers

now place Marcus in handcuffs and begin to walk him past

JJ’s body. As cops prepare to whisk Marcus off to jail he

looks at what was his former friend’s body and says:

EXT. - MALL PARKING LOT - VIEW OF THE STARS IN SKY (JJ POV)

The cops prepare to whisk Marcus off to the nearest squad

car in passing of his former friend’s body. He begins to

slow down to a stop and say:

MARCUS

You know I always wondered why you

would tell me thy enemy is thy

friend, but in business there are

none. Well... how the hell did we

get here!?

5.

END SCENE