Voice of Blood

Voice of Blood

By

David M. Tregde

[email protected]

http://tregdemedia.com

FADE IN:

INT. EMPTY BAR - DAY

Dark wood and leather furniture. Well kept, but not

spotless. Light streams in through window with partially

open blinds. Ambitious KENT (late 20s)-dark hair, cold

eyes-and humble ALLEN (late 20s)-dark hair, soft eyes-sit

across from the formidable yet gentle BOSS (mid 50s) at

table. Kent and Allen wear dress shirts and ties. The Boss

is in full suit.

BOSS

You will be my go-to boys when I

need things done and done

well. When I need things done

clean. (Beat) Loyalty, that’s

something you can’t buy. Even if

you could, you wouldn’t want

to. Your father was a good

man. Loyal to his friends. I

expect the same from his sons.

Kent, Allen nod, stand.

ALLEN

We won’t let you down.

BOSS

Sit.

Boss waits for brothers to sit before proceeding.

BOSS

(To Kent)

Can I trust Allen?

KENT

Of course.

BOSS

(To Allen)

Can I trust Kent?

Allen hesitates for a split second.

ALLEN

Yes.

BOSS

If I find out you’re cheating me,

I’ll forget how much your father

did for me.

2.

KENT

You’ve got nothing to worry about.

Boss leans back, folds his hands over his stomach.

BOSS

A man was walking home on a

freezing cold night. He found a

stray dog, freezing to death on the

side of the road. The man felt

sorry for the dog and carried it

home with him. When he got home,

the man put the dog on the floor

near the fire. The dog turned to

the man’s wife and child with a

hungry snarl. The man promptly

buried a fire poker in the dog’s

skull.

Boss leans forward, places his still-folded hands on arm

rests.

BOSS

I’ve taken you into my home and

into my business. Don’t make me

regret it.

The Boss leans back, satisfied with his warning.

BOSS

Now, there has been word one of

Baptiste’s dealers likes to hang

out around 5th and

Williamson. Check it out. And if

he comes around, kindly let him

know he’s far from home.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO BAR - CONTINUOUS

Brothers exit front door. Allen spots self-assured ISABEL

(mid 20s) as he exits. She sees him, smiles. He reaches

out, grabs her hand.

ISABEL

How’d it go?

ALLEN

I can’t wait to show your dad what

I can do.

3.

ISABEL

You’re going to impress him. I know

you will.

Isabel kisses his cheek. They cross the parking lot

together.

ISABEL

Is Kent going to hold up his end?

ALLEN

Yea. Why?

ISABEL

I don’t know. He always just seems

to try too hard.

Allen stops.

ALLEN

What do you mean?

ISABEL

He always has to be better than

everyone else. Especially you.

ALLEN

Well, we’re working together, so we

should be fine.

ISABEL

Okay. Good.

EXT. 5TH AND WILLIAMSON - LATE AFTERNOON

Brothers lean against wall. Kent, Allen see shaggy JOHNSON

(20s) approaching on sidewalk corner. Kent taps his brother

and crosses to Johnson with Allen in tow.

KENT

What are you doing here?

JOHNSON

You guys like to party?

Kent steps uncomfortably close to Johnson. He reaches

inside Johnson’s jacket and yanks out a paper bag.

JOHNSON

Piss off. Who do you think--

4.

ALLEN

You’re a long way from home, buddy.

JOHNSON

Fine, I’ll go. Just give me my--

KENT

Uh uh. Call it an insurance policy

against us breaking all the bones

in your body.

Johnson makes another lunge for the cash bag. Kent whips

out a folding knife, bringing it to Johnson’s face.

KENT

If you’re not gone before I take my

next breath, I’m going to take your

face as a souvenir.

Johnson throws up his hands defensively and backs away. He

is compromising, not frightened. The brothers retreat down

the alley. Allen points to the bag of cash.

ALLEN

What are you gonna do with that?

KENT

Take good care of it.

ALLEN

But...stealing from Baptiste?

KENT

Not stealing from him. Stealing

from his idiot dealer.

ALLEN

Okay. Just--

KENT

Be cool, okay?

Kent’s phone RINGS. He checks it, answers.

KENT

Hey sexy. (Pause) What’s up?

(Pause) Are you free later? (Pause)

Swing by my place around 7.

ALLEN

Who was that?

Kent looks at his brother as if Allen should already know

the answer.

5.

KENT

Delilah.

ALLEN

She’s a nice girl. You should take

her out sometime.

KENT

When I need advice from you, I’ll

ask for it.

ALLEN

I’m just saying. Might be nice to

get out. Spend some of that money

you just got.

KENT

Oh, I know how to spend my

share. Don’t worry about that.

The brothers turn, look out at the alley.

INT. KENT’S DEN - NIGHT

One lamp lighting mostly bare room. Couch, floor neat and

sterile with pillows, blankets, magazines. Kent and

manipulative DELILAH (late 20s) sitting on couch, rigidly

cuddling. Kent wears white t-shirt, dark jeans. Delilah

wears skinny jeans, red top. Light flickers from the TV.

KENT

You’re right. That extra 10 inches

makes a difference.

DELILAH

I told you. You’ll never be able

to watch on a little TV again.

KENT

Yea, well I’m not planning on

downsizing at this point.

DELILAH

Where do you want to go eat?

KENT

I don’t care.

DELILAH

You must have some idea what you

want.

Kent shrugs.

6.

DELILAH

There’s this new Japanese place on

10th I want to try.

KENT

I really shouldn’t be down past

7th.

DELILAH

Come on.

KENT

Delilah...I can’t.

DELILAH

This is ridiculous.

KENT

There’s plenty of nice restaurants

on this side of town.

DELILAH

I hate that stupid rule.

KENT

The two families get along as long

as we all stay on our own

turf. It’s for our own good.

DELILAH

It’s for your own good. I can go

wherever I want.

KENT

Let’s just go to Rico’s.

DELILAH

God, I’m so sick of this.

KENT

Well, what do you want me to do?

Quit? Yea, that’s a good idea.

DELILAH

Well something has to change--

KENT

I’m working on it, okay?

DELILAH

I’m not going to limit my life for

you.

7.

KENT

I promise. Sooner than later.

Delilah lays her head on Kent’s shoulder.

DELILAH

I don’t want to look back and ask

why we didn’t take any risks. I

don’t want to be stuck here

forever. We deserve more.

Delilah looks up to make sure Kent heard her.

EXT. 5TH AND WILLIAMSON - DUSK

Allen sees Johnson dealing to scruffy COLLEGE KID

(20s). Allen walks toward Johnson, but Johnson notices and

runs away. Allen pursues.

EXT. BACK ALLEY - DUSK (CONTINUOUS)

Allen rounds the corner, nearly running into Kent.

ALLEN

Whoa. Hey. Did you see, uhhh...

Allen looks behind Kent.

KENT

See who?

ALLEN

That dealer. That guy who we

scared off the other day.

KENT

Oh him? Nope. No one down there.

ALLEN

You sure? I could have sworn he--

KENT

Too young to be losing it, bro.

ALLEN

Guess I’m just paranoid.

KENT

Why don’t you head back. I’ll keep

an eye out for him.

8.

Allen retreats. Kent turns back down the alley. He

approaches Johnson behind a dumpster, pulling out a tooth

pick to chew on.

JOHNSON

I don’t know why you did that--

KENT

Because now you owe me.

JOHNSON

I don’t understand--

KENT

You keep dealing around here, and

it’s a problem for everyone. You

cut me in, and I’ll protect you.

JOHNSON

Screw you. I don’t need--

Kent opens his jacket to show his gun. Johnson looks.

JOHNSON

Be cool.

KENT

We can do this my way, or let the

bosses handle it.

Johnson looks away, frustrated.

KENT

It’s a good neighborhood. They

like to spend here.

JOHNSON

Fine.

Johnson shakes Kent’s hand reluctantly.


Kent pours money out of paper bag. Delilah sits on couch,

eyes lit, hungry. She grabs a stack of cash.

DELILAH

What do we do with it?

KENT

Whatever we want.

9.

DELILAH

Maybe a house? Over in Raintree?

KENT

We’re not there yet.

DELILAH

But we will be.

KENT

I’m good at what I do.

DELILAH

And you should be rewarded for

doing such a good job.

Delilah leans in and pushes Kent down on the couch.

EXT. LOCAL COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

Allen and Isabel walk down street with coffee.

ALLEN

How many shots of espresso did you

get in that?

ISABEL

Don’t want to fall asleep on you.

ALLEN

I could always carry you home.

Isabel takes Allen’s hand.

ISABEL

You know what I keep thinking

about?

ALLEN

What?

ISABEL

That one time as kids when your dad

dropped you and Kent off at our

house. I was a princess and you

two were my knights. Remember

that?

ALLEN

Kind of. Yeah.

10.

ISABEL

I know it’s cheesy, but it would

still be nice to have a fairy tale

ending.

ALLEN

It is a little cliche, but it

sounds nice.

The couple walks hand in hand down street.

INT. EMPTY BAR - NIGHT

Boss folds hands. Kent chews on tooth pick.

BOSS

Years of peace. I don’t want to

start a war. This guy...what’s his

name--

KENT

Johnson--

BOSS

--just can’t take a hint?

ALLEN

Maybe this is a bigger move by the

Baptiste family?

BOSS

No, Baptiste has no idea. Says the

guy is acting all on his own. I

believe him.

KENT

If this guy is on his own, then he

isn’t protected by the family.

BOSS

(To Kent)

Take care of this. No mess. There

was once a man sitting

outdoors. An ant crawled up the

man’s leg and bit him. The man

slapped his leg trying to kill the

ant, but the ant had already

escaped. The man’s leg now stung

from both the bite and the

slap. Don’t overreact to a small

problem.

11.

KENT

You can count on me.

Kent smiles slightly, straightens jacket before exiting.


Kent thumbs through a stack of bills. Delilah sits next to

him, rubbing his back. Kent chews tooth pick.

KENT

Not sure how long we can keep this

up. Boss is getting suspicious.

DELILAH

(Whispering in his ear)

Whatever it takes, my hero.

Kent grabs his leather jacket, wool-knit cap, and his gun

before crossing to door. Delilah catches him at the door.

DELILAH

Be careful. I don’t know what I’d

do without you.

KENT

The hero always comes back.

EXT. 5TH AND WILLIAMSON - NIGHT

Kent and Allen approach the alley from the street. Johnson

stands with his back to them.

KENT

Let me handle this.

Allen turns to watch the alley. Kent grabs Johnson and pins

him against the wall, keeping his voice down. Allen starts

to slowly approach.

KENT

It’s getting too hot man. You need

to clear out of here.

JOHNSON

(Too loudly)

You said you’d handle this.

KENT

Shut up! (Beat) I will. You just

need to disappear for a while.

12.

JOHNSON

I was doing fine til you showed up.

KENT

Until I saved you, you mean. (Beat)

You’re mine.

JOHNSON

Nawww. You’re on you’re own. I’m

out. You can take your deal and

shove it. I’m gonna tell Baptiste

you made me deal over here--

On "made me," Kent whips out his pistol and FIRES into

Johnson’s abdomen before Johnson can return

fire. Allen rushes up as Kent fires three more

times. Allen grabs Kent’s shoulder and whips him around.

ALLEN

What are you doing?

KENT

Cleaning up.

ALLEN

Yeah. You’re mess. What deal did

you have with this guy?

KENT

Nothing.

ALLEN

You were letting him deal down here

and taking a cut, weren’t you?

Kent puts his gun in his jacket, adjust his hat.

ALLEN

I can’t believe you.

KENT

This is what it takes.

ALLEN

This isn’t what it was like with

dad.

KENT

Yea, well he’s dead, isn’t

he? Kind of hard to teach lessons

from the grave.

Kent storms off, leaving Allen with Johnson’s body.

13.

INT. CHURCH SANCTUARY - NIGHT

Allen sits, hands folded in prayer, forehead on the pew in

front of him. Isabel enters. Allen raises head.

ISABEL

What’s wrong?

ALLEN

Kent.

ISABEL

Is he okay?

ALLEN

It just wasn’t enough for him.

ISABEL

What happened?

ALLEN

I found out something today that’s

not going to go over well.

Isabel looks in his eyes, encouraging him to finish his

thought.

ALLEN

Kent. He protected one of

Baptiste’s dealers on our side of

town. Then he killed the guy for

threatening to tell Baptiste.

Isabel continues to study Allen’s face.

ISABEL

What are you going to do?

ALLEN

Don’t say anything to your

dad. I’ll fix this.

Isabel turns, looks straight ahead. She reaches over, grabs

Allen’s hand.


Kent paces in front of Delilah sitting on the couch.

DELILAH


14.

KENT

If you would just shut up for a

minute, then I could think. I

wouldn’t be having to deal with

this problem if it wasn’t for your

delusions of grandeur.

DELILAH

You did this. Don’t blame me.

Kent’s phone vibrates. He reads text.

KENT

Allen wants to talk.

DELILAH

Well at least one of you has

balls. What are you going to do?

KENT

Allen knows. A lot.

Kent pulls out toothpick and begins chewing

forcefully. Delilah stands beside him, runs her finger

along his shoulder and neck, addressing him soothingly.

DELILAH

We can run this town. You and me.

She leans forward and kisses his neck. Disinterest oozes

from Kent’s unwavered breathing. Kent crosses to door.

KENT

Don’t wait up for me.

DELILAH

I wasn’t planning on it.

INT. CHURCH SANCTUARY - NIGHT

Allen stands in silence. He loosens his tie. Kent enters

chewing on a toothpick, disturbing the silence.

ALLEN

I’m in a real spot here, Kent.

Kent chews tooth pick.

ALLEN

I think I can protect you. I just

need you to let me handle it.

15.

KENT

I’m not going to do that.

ALLEN

You’ve killed the goose. There are

no more golden eggs.

KENT

You talk like him now?

ALLEN

You’ve got to let me help.

KENT

I don’t need you.

ALLEN

Yes you do. You’ve gotten yourself

so deep into this mess you can’t

get out on your own.

KENT

I took care of the problem. What’s

the big deal?

ALLEN

The big deal is you killed a man

because you made a bad deal. You

made a stupid deal, and now you’re

gonna have to pay for it unless I

help.

KENT

(Half-mumbled)

Well you’re the only one who knows

about the deal.

ALLEN

What?

KENT

I know what I’m going to do.

ALLEN

What, Kent? What’s your master

plan?

Kent draws his gun and FIRES, narrowly missing Allen. Allen

takes cover behind a pew, drawing his own gun. He starts to

cock it, but stops.

16.

ALLEN

Kent! I’m not going to do this.

Allen stands, removes the clip from his gun, places both on

the ground. He crosses to center aisle, looking down each

row of pews to see nothing. Kent fires one shot in Allen’s

back. Allen falls to the ground. Kent plugs two more

rounds into Allen’s barely living body. He stands over his

brother.

INT. EMPTY BAR - DAY

Kent enters, forcefully chews toothpick. Boss sits, hands

folded on table.

BOSS

Where’s Allen, Kent?

KENT

Haven’t you heard from him?

Boss shakes head.

BOSS

Neither has Isabel.

KENT

I’m sure it’s nothing.

BOSS

I wish that were true.

Boss nods to DARK FIGURE behind Kent. Dark Figure pistol

whips Kent on the back of the head, knocking him

unconscious.

INT. BOSS’S GARAGE - NIGHT

Kent fades in and out of consciousness to the sounds of a

buzzing noise.

Kent finally wakes, he feels a dull burning in his neck. He

is shirtless, tied to a chair, his neck wrapped in plastic

wrap. He grunts, unable to form words with his thick,

semiconscious tongue. He struggles half-heartedly at his

bonds.

BOSS

"For whatever one sows, that he

will also reap."

17.

KENT

What?

BOSS

You stole from me, Kent.

KENT

Never took anything.

BOSS

You stole from me when you killed

that dealer. Johnson.

KENT

I would never--

Boss leans down into Kent’s face.

BOSS

And then you killed your own

brother.

KENT

How--

BOSS

One thing I learned early on is you

never do your own dirty

work. That’s why I’m in charge,

Kent. I know how things work.

KENT

I’m sure there’s something I can--

BOSS

NO! There’s nothing you could

offer me that could replace what

you’ve taken. From me or from

Isabel. I don’t think she’ll ever

forgive me for putting Allen in

danger.

KENT


BOSS

I wanted to shoot you in the back

like you did to your brother,

but Isabel wouldn’t let me. So I

came up with an alternative.

18.

Boss unties Kent. Kent sits up, reaching for his neck,

which is wrapped in plastic wrap. He pulls off the wrap,

wincing in pain. The boss holds up a mirror to reveal the

words "Brother’s Keeper" tattooed on either side of Kent’s

throat

BOSS

People can forget their

mistakes. But you’ll remember what

you’ve done. You killed your own

flesh and blood.

Kent looks at the Boss: anger, frustration. The Boss turns

his back, puts his hands behind him.

BOSS

A queen bee brought an offering to

the Mother Nature. She promised

the queen anything in return. The

queen bee asked for a stinger that

would kill anyone that got in her

way. Nature gave her this gift,

but told her that using this

stinger would mean risking her own

life. Because once used, the

stringer would remain in the victim

and she would die without it.

(Beat) Death comes home to those

who desire to kill.

Kent puts his head in his hands.

BOSS

Killing family is bad

business. Always.

Kent buttons shirt.

BOSS

If any one of my boys sees you, you

won’t see the next sunset.

Kent stands.

BOSS

When we went to your place to

retrieve Baptiste’s money, it

wasn’t there.

The boss pulls a house key out of his pocket and places it

in Kent’s hand.

19.

BOSS

We will get the money back.

EXT. SMALL TOWN STREET - NIGHT

Delilah walks down street towards her car, hips swaying,

confident. Her purse is full of cash. Her eyes smile.

Dark Figure walks out of shadow, following behind Delilah

wearing a dark wool hat and large heavy jacket. Delilah

turns, worried look, speeds up her pace.

Dark Figure slowly draws gun. GUNSHOTS. Delilah falls to

the ground. Dark Figure takes Delilah’s purse.


Kent stands, grabs his clothes, exits. Boss sits with hands

folded on table. He lowers head, rubs temples.

INT. KENT’S DEN - NIGHT (LATER)

Kent frantically rushes in with duffel bag. He grabs bottle

of whiskey and a glass and quickly downs a drink. He grabs

his gun and stuffs it in his jacket.

A KNOCK at the door. Kent draws his gun, slowly approaches

the door and answers. Isabel stands, waiting like a marble

statue. She wears the hat and jacket we recognize from Dark

Figure. Kent lowers his gun.

ISABEL

You killed my knight.

Isabel pulls out a gun from under her jacket and FIRES into

Kent’s chest. He falls to the ground gasping as the world

slowly fades to black, holding his chest as his life

fountains out.

FADE OUT


ALTERNATE ENDING:

Boss is putting away materials from tattooing. Isabel

enters and drops Delilah’s purse full of cash. The only

light on them comes from directly overhead. Boss looks at

her then down at the bags. His eyes betray his deep pain at

dragging his daughter into the business.

20.

He reaches out and pulls her to him in a deep

embrace. Isabel looks straight ahead, empty and dark.

FADE OUT

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Voice of Blood