Unseen Fortune By Alex Conrath

FADE IN INT. DESHAWNS BASEMENT - DAY DRE - African-American, 15, wearing a black Harlem baseball jersey and dirty black jeans. Dre has a small Afro and SILVER earings. DESHAWN - A muscular, short, African-American male, 15, wearing a RED shirt with dirty blue jeans and a New York Knicks hat. Two GOLDEN earings in the shape of an E hang from DeShawns ear. A dark lit basement contains provocative female posters and smoke throughout the air. Beer cans all over the floor and coffee table. In the middle of the coffee table lies a dish containing white pills. RAP MUSIC plays. DESHAWN This is the life. DeShawn lifts up a can of beer and takes a drink. DRE This is how lifes meant to be. Hangin out, a little boos and my friend molly. DESHAWN God do I love molly, whata nice name. Have to talk to you. I talk to my fellas and they want you in the group. DRE Fo real? DESHAWN Yeah man. Told them bout you and they said bring him tonight. They want to meet ya. DRE Appreicate it brother. Plus we can hook em up with tha goods, which in turn helps our penny banks. We HEAR to basement door OPEN. The stares creek as William walks down. WILLIAM Whats good?

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CONTINUED: DESHAWN Not much. What took ya so long? WILLIAM Ah, had to finish some homework. DESHAWN I remember when used to do homework.

2.

DeShawn smirks. Dre looks over at DeShawn and shakes his head left and right while smirking. WILLIAM Yo whats those white pills on the table? DRE My girl molly. Doenst talk much, shes shy. WILLIAM Thats some serious shit dude, what tha fuck ya thinkin? DESHAWN Dre and I just takin a break from business. WILLIAM What does that mean? DRE Deshawn and I are both sellin. We decided to team up. Makes more sense. WILLIAM Are you mother nuts dude. DeShawns been doin it for a year. But, Dre, when you get into it? DESHAWN Year strong baby! Dre smiles. DeShawn grabs a beer from the floor and SNAPS it open. DRE A couple weeks ago. Never told ya, knew this would be tha reaction. Dre reaches into his pocket. He pulls out two huge wads of cash and places them on the table. William looks shocked. (CONTINUED)

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3.

DRE (CONTD) Told ya. WILLIAM What happened to ya dreams man? Why you really doin this? DESHAWN Will youre actin like a bitch. Eat a snickers. William glances over at DeShawn and glares. DRE Alright Will fair enough. Heres a straight up answer. Why? My goal is and has always been to get out of Harlem. Harlem is a trap. This has been my goal since Ive been 5, when I saw my mom get shot right infront of me. You already know that. I need to make enough money to get out. This is the only way. DeShawn looks at Dre and raises his eyebrows. WILLIAM Dre, you and I know youre smark enough to reach your goals through other ways. Scholorships or.. DRE Thats right, scholorships, and scholorships only. Since were bein real, my grades last year were terrible. Scholorships out tha door. You and I know that sports isnt fo me. (BEAT) Dre stands up and SCREAMS. DRE (CONTD) So Will, ya see how thats my only way brother. You feel me? You gettin it through ya head? A tear rolls down Dres face. EXT. ALLY BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS - NIGHT

(CONTINUED)

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4.

FRANCISCO - A tall, Hispanic male, 18, with a goatee. Franciso wears a black shirt that says, East Harlem Purple Gang. He has on black baggy jeans. GOLDEN earings in the shape of a E dangles from his ear. Half of a SILVER pistol sticks up from the back of his jeans. The ally lies in between two old brick buildings that a covered with graffiti at the base. Each have a lot of wear, showing their age. The asphalt ally has many potholes and chips throughout. Some trash covers the ground, opened trash bags line the ally. Twenty men form a circle. Most wear black with GOLDEN earings in the shape of an E. A couple of the men lean against the bricks buildings, a couple others smoking a cigarette. Dre and DeShawn stand next to each other. Francisico stands in the middle of the circle. Franciso takes a smoke and slowly blows out. He throws the cigarette on the ground and stomps on it. DRE Thats right, we do. FRANCISO Take this golden earing, some gangs do tattoos, ours is earings. Francisco hands Dre two GOLDEN earins in the shape on an E. FRANCISO (CONTD) So, we gotta guy that wants to join. My man DeShawn recruitin. So, DeShawn tells me you two sell? Dre and DeShawn look at each other. DRE Yeah, we do. FRANCISO (CONTD) Cool. Now that youre both in. I suppose we could help each other out. DeShawn wanted you in our group. DeShawn expressed that if we had you in the group, wed get some good rates. Sound good to you. DESHAWN What you mean by reduced. I just said wed make sure youre good at all times.

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CONTINUED: FRANCISO Youre join one of the top gangs in New York City. Think ya can do some favors. We got ya back all times, you get our goods all time. DESHAWN We need to make some profit.

5.

Franciso reaches to the back of his jeans and pulls out a SILVER pistol. He grasps it in his right hand, showing it to Dre and DeShawn. FRANCISO Thats understandable. Just get it to us cheap. Francisco looks down at the pistol FRANCISO (CONTD) Just dont upset her. The gang LAUGHS. DESHAWN Yo dude, were gonna hook you up, dont worry. FRANCISO Good. Alright, now we move to the fun part. Your buddy has gotta go through initiation, you dont getta get outta jail free card. (BEAT) Francisco walks up to Dre. He stands face to face. FRANCISO (CONTD) Walk down to the end of the ally, tha 1st person you see, shoot em. Dont kill em. Well, thats optional. Dre takes a gulp. He rubs his sweaty palms onto his jeans. Franciso hands Dre the SILVER pistol. Dre grabs the gun. He places it into the back of his jeans with half sticking out. EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHT Dre appears from the ally. He turns the corner and leans up against the side of a brick building. Dre glances both directions. Dre spots an older man walking towards him. He keeps his eyes pinned to the ground to prevent any suspicion. (CONTINUED)

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6.

The man walks in front of Dre. Dre reaches into the back of his jeans and tightly grips the pistol. He takes the pistol out and stares at it. Dre lifts the pistol up and aims down sight. The gun shakes rapidly. We hear him BREATHING RAPIDLY. Sweat pours down Dres face. He slowly squeezes the trigger. Dre releases. He stands there and brings the pistol down. Dre stares at the man emotionless. Dre turns around and sets the pistol at the corner of the ally and the main street. He stands there momentarily and stares at the ground in a daze. INT. WILLIAMS BEDROOM - DAY Dre opens the door to Williams room. A cassette player sits on the night stand. Posters of famous musicians coat the walls. DRE Hey Will. WILLIAM Knock next time. Dre stars anxiously enters the room and sits down on the floor. DRE Alright. (BEAT) Need to talk to you. Youre right. I dont want to keep goin down this path man. I didnt tell ya but DeShawns in a gang. A bad one too. The gangs his thing but I told him I wanted in. WILLIAM Jesus man. DRE I could care less about a gang. I wanted them to buy from us, thats a lot of customers. Will they wanted me to shoot an innocent person and steal from em.

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7.

WILLIAM Shit, I know you didnt do it.. Right? DRE I was that close. Dre puts two fingers really close together. DRE (CONTD) But, I didnt. I set the gun down and ran. I dont even know who I am anymore man. I need that money but Ill probably end up dead before my next birthday. Need to get out. If I meant to stay in Harlem, so be it. WILLIAM Im happy you woke up man. Thats some scary shit youve got yourself into. The cassette PLAYS The Sugar Hill Gang, Rappers Delight. Dre RAPS. DRE (RAPPING) You see, I got more clothes than Muhammad Ali and I dress so viciously. I got bodyguards, I got two big cars That definitely aint the wack, William smiles. He SNAPS his fingers to the beat. DRE (CONTD)(RAPPING) I got a Lincoln Continental and a sunfoofed Cadillac. So after school I take a dip in the pool, Which is really on the wall, I got a colour TV, so I can see The Knicks play basketball. Hear me talk about Checkbooks, credit cards, mo money. WILLIAM Dre you can spit. I mean Ive heard you before but damn man. DRE Thanks man. I mean raps always been a passion of mine. Thats why I like it, something I do alone. For (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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8.

DRE (contd) me, rapping in front of freinds or whom ever just aint my thing. Thats why you rarely hear me. Dre reaches over at the cassette player and turns up the volume. WILLIAM I got you. You know about the competition theyre havin at the Lenox Lounge? DRE Nah, whats that? WILLIAM Heard about it from a guy in my class. You know how raps on the rise and shit right? Well, since its especially popular here in Harlem there hostin this. You get up on stage with a random beat and you gotta freestyle to it. If you win youre gonna get some studio time. Talk about leavin Harlem dude, imagine if you got signed? DRE Dude, Im not gettin signed. Im not even that good at rappin. William turns to Dre. WILLIAM Brother, trust me youre good. Take this blue band, it says believe. Its my lucky charm. DRE No shit. A blue band? Kinda feminine dude. WILLIAM Whatever. I use it for basketball, always do good wit it on. If itll help, shit, wear it. Thats how I look at it. Dre takes a deep breath.

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9.

DRE Uh, alright man. Fuck it. William smiles and hands to band to Dre. INT. DRES BEDROOM - NIGHT Dres bedroom has dents and holes in the notebook paper covers most of the bed. A player rest on Dres nightstand. He sits rap lyrics into a notebook. The notebook "The Lenox Lounge Opportunity." walls. Ripped out beaten up record on his bed writing paper is titled

Dre stands up and grabs a vinyl that sits on his on the floor. He takes the record out of the sleeve and gently places into the player. He drops the needle. We see "Instrumental" written on the disc as it begins to spin. Dre reads out of his notebook as he begins RAPPING. DRE (RAPPING) Why dont you tell me a story? Please tell me a story too You know, I think Ill tell you the story of my life. Dre smiles. The next twenty seconds of the instrumental PLAYS. Dre proceeds to write more lyrics into his notebook. He gets up and adjusts the needle to where the last verse had ended. DRE (CONTD)(RAPPING) You tell me! I wanna hear too I was born in Harlem a long time ago, see. And now Im lucky enough to be here with you Yeah, but what happened in between? Yeah, what else happened? Well, it went pretty much like this. EXT. STREET - DAY Dre and William walk down the street towards a group of guys in a circle. As they walks by the gang stops Dre and William. Francisco approaches from the group. FRANCISO Look who it is. The coward and his bitch. Dre just stands there. William looks pissed off. Dre glances at the gang and notices DeShawn.

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CONTINUED: FRANCISO I said give me what you got. William looks at Dre. WILLIAM Yo, its DeShawn. DRE DeShawn, help us out man. DeShawn ignores them and looks at the ground. FRANCISO DeShawns on our side, sorry bruh.

10.

Dre looks at DeShawn in shock. DeShawn avoids eye contact. Francisco leans up on Dre and pushes him down to the ground. Dre falls and looks scared. He then looks at William then back at Francisco. FRANCISO Give me ya shit! Francisco pulls out a pistol. Dre tries to get up off the ground. Francisco leans down and sets the pistol on Dres cheek. He reaches into Dres pocket and pulls at his a piece of paper. It reads "The Lenox Lounge Opportunity." FRANCISO Whats this. Dre doesnt speak. FRANCISO (CONTD) Tell me or Ill shoot ya. DRE Its for the rapping competition at the Lenox Lounge. FRANCISO Thats what I thought. Thats mine. Dont show up. I mean it. Franciso opens up the pistol and takes a bullet out. FRANCISO (CONTD) This bullet will go in between your eyes. William walks up to Franciso.

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11.

WILLIAM You think youre tuff. False. Youre the clown. We didnt do shit to you, leave us alone man. Francisco looks at William and smiles. William proceeds to help Dre off the ground. They both turn around and walk off. Dre takes off his two GOLDEN earings and throws them on the ground. EXT. FRONT OF LENOX LOUNGE - NIGHT The club BLARES MUSIC. Colorful lights FLASHING. The club is completely filled, people CONVERSE and Dance. Dre and William walk into the club, a BOUNCER stops them. Bouncer - a huge muscular man, with a tight black t-shirt and silver earings. He walks up to Dre and grabs him on the shoulder. BOUNCER Stop. Stop. Fellas here for the competition? If not you have to leave, youre underage. DRE Yeah we here for the competition. BOUNCER Aright. Proceed this way. The Bouncer points towards a large private ballroom INT. LENNOX LOUNGE BALLROOM - NIGHT The ballroom contains a stage. Forty chairs lined up in three rows, where the contestants sit. Behind the chairs is around seventy spectators. Many hold glasses of beer have their eyes glued to the stage. SYLVIA ROBINSON - A gorgeous African-American women, 43, wearing a purple shirt and a lime green sparkly hat with tight blue jeans. She looks back at Dre and smiles. - walks up to the mic. Dre walks in and stands in amazement at the edge of the room. He sees a women standing next to the stage. He walks up to her. DRE Mam, where do I sit?

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CONTINUED: SYLVIA ROBINSON Are you in the competiton? Whats your name? DRE Dre Murphy. And yes. SYLVIA ROBINSON Right over there. Syliva points to an open chair. SYLVIA ROBINSON (CONTD) Youre the the last contestent. Lucky you. Good luck. Were starting in a moment. Sylvia smiles to Dre.

12.

Dre walks over and sits in a chair. The stage consist of a mic and a record player. A DJ stands infront of the player. Dre looks at the clock. The clock turns in time lapse from 8:00PM to 10:32PM. We HEAR Dres heartbeating faster as the lapse progresses. Syliva robinson is on stage holding the mic. Dre stares at the ground. As soon as Sylvia speaks he raises his head and looks at her. He wipes sweat from his forehead, then wipes hands on jeans. SYLVIA ROBINSON Theres two contestants left. Francisco come up to the stage. Francisco stands sits in the front row. He stands up and walks up the stage. He grabs the microphone and takes it off the stand. A random instrumental PLAYS. FRANCISCO (RAPPING) So you wanna come jump into the game, try 2 fly high with a moment of fame WELL, guess what? it aint gonna happen, its gonna go down bad like a white dude rapping you might as well quit & walk on home, or lifes gonna slap ya till ya end up alone you say you got skill & youre one of the best, now its time to put those words to the test you see a beautiful girl & proceed to say hi, not even five words in & she tells you bye what is it with failure & mis-communication. (CONTINUED)

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13.

Dre sweats, he wipes the sweat on his palms off onto his jeans. Dre focuses on the ground with his right foot tapping. FRANCISCO(CONTD)(RAPPING) Its keeping you from having a steady relation but be patient & just give it some time, Im sure soon enough things will work out n itll be just fine keep yourself going at a steady pace, life always slows down cause it aint no race but am I really in the place to be soo nice? I cant even get a job & Im giving advice its a tough economy tho & I just cant hired then again when I can I end up getting fired. make sure to get back up every time you fall & never let a bad moment make you stall its all is what you give & never what you get, good times are here, we just havent seen em yet. The crowd ROARS by SCREAMING, CLAPPING. Syliva stands in front of the mic. Dre looks over at Francisco. Francisco walks off the stage and looks directly at Dre. He runs his finger across his throat. Then takes his hand and makes it look like a gun. Dre looks back down at the ground. WILLIAM Dre, fuck dat dude. You got this. You cant let a bitch stops you from your dream man. Dre looks at Will and smiles and then gives him a knod. Syliva is at the mic on stage. SYLVIA ROBINSON Wow. Wow. Folks. Dion well done. Thats going to be really hard to follow up. (BEAT) SYLVIA ROBINSON (CONTD) Alright, our next and final contestant is Dr. Dre. Dre gives Will a fist bump. He pulls out to silver earings and puts them on. Dre stands up and walks through the isle. He walks over to the stairs and up to the stage. Sylvia passes him and WHISPER. (CONTINUED)

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14.

SYLVIA ROBINSON Good luck. Dre walks up to the mic stand. He glances out at the crowed. Everyone in the crowed has their eyes focused on Dre. He grabs the mic. He looks down at his blue band that says believe and shakes his head to get pumped up and smirks. Dre gives a thumbs up to drop the beat. The instrumental PLAYS. Dre stares at the ground. The beat plays a couple seconds, then Dre RAPS. DRE(RAPPING) I told em all All them little gangstas Who you think helped mold em all Now you wanna run around and talk about guns Like I aint got none What you think I sold em all Cause I stay well off Now all I get is hate mail all day sayin Dre fell off What cause I been in the lab wit a pen and a pad Tryna get this damn label off I aint havin that This is the millenium of Aftermath It aint gonna be nothin after that So give me one more platinum plaque and fuck rap You can have it back So wheres all the mad rappers at Its like a jungle in this habitat But all you savage cats Knew that I was strapped wit gats When you were cuddled wit cabbage patch. Yall know me still the same ol G But I been low key Hated on by most these clowns, Wit no cheese, no deals and no Gs, no wheels and no keys. My names Dre, this is me. The crowed roars. A standing ovation Non stop CLAPPING, WHISTLING and SCREAMING fill the club. Dre stands there in shock, he smirks. He gently places the mic back onto the stand and proceeds to walk off. The crowed wont stop cheering. The cheers get continually louder. WHISTLING and SCREAMS fill the room. Dre stands there and stares out looking at the crowed in disbelief. EXT - BACKSEAT OF CAR - DAY Sylvia Robinson is in the passenger seat wearing a white dress. Dre sits in the backseat by himself. The car is a 1960 Rolls Royce, white. Sylvia turns and looks back at Dre.

(CONTINUED)

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15.

SYLVIA ROBINSON What an amazing performance last night Dre. DRE Thank you. I appreciate it. Didnt know I have it in me. Dre smirks. He looks out the window. The car is driving down the main street in Harlem. Buildings pass by. Dre notices a group standing on the corner. He spots DeShawn. DeShawn has a SILVER pistol in his hand and is in a circle with twenty other guys. Dre turns and looks at his lap, smiling. FADE OUT