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written by Adel L. Morales and
Julio Antonio Toro
FADE IN:
INT. TRUNK OF A CAR - NIGHT
The muffled MUSIC plays on the car radio, as...
A SERIES of shots from the POV of THEIR PRISONER looking around in the darkness of the trunk.
The car suddenly jerks to a stop, as the TAIL LIGHTS give the inside of the trunk a PINK color and the brakes SQUEAK to a halt.
The MUSIC ends abruptly, as Their Prisoner hears two doors OPEN and CLOSE.
FOOTSTEPS get closer as...
The BREATHING of Their Prisoner grows heavy.
EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT
THREE MEN stand around the trunk of a car.
FREDDY,(32), a skinny and fidgety Latino, and
CANO,(34), a tall and husky Latino, stand before the trunk, looking down at it.
FREDDY Open the trunk.
CANO Relax. For now, we wait.
FREDDY What if he suffocates?
CANO He's not gonna fuckin suffocate.
FREDDY But what if he does?
CANO Fuck him!
A third car door POPS open.
Freddy and Cano look over as...
LUGO, (35), all in black, rises out from the car seat. A GOLD CRUCIFIX swings and blings from his neck. This is one bad-ass dude. He looks at his watch.
Freddy picks up and on cue, looks at his.
FREDDY Where the hell is Sal?
SMACK!
Freddy's head jerks forward from Cano's slap.
CANO (pointing to the trunk) Why don't you just give him our social security numbers while you're at it?
Freddy rubs his head.
FREDDY Fuck you.
CANO No. Fuck you, you frickin' moron.
Lugo taps Cano to get his attention and points toward...
A DIRT ROAD
Where the HEADLIGHTS of an oncoming car come steadily nearer. Their LIGHT darts in and out of the spaces between the trees.
FADE OUT:
EXT. STREET - BRONX - DAY
The sunlight brightly BEAMS off metal awnings attached to several Two and Three-Family homes along this block in a lovely residential neighborhood.
A car with several people slows down and stops.
INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
MATT GUZMAN, handsome, yet bookish and reserved, steers the car as JESSICA DEJESUS, an attractive, yet conservative, and slightly older woman looks over at him from the passenger seat.
JESSICA Thanks again for helping with Sonia.
MATT When I saw how angry your husband got, I thought it was the least I could do.
JESSICA You know you didn't have to drive us. We could have taken the train.
MATT Two beautiful women should never have to take the train alone.
Matt looks through the rear view and smiles at
SONIA, a pretty young 16 year old in catholic school attire. It's clear she got her mama's looks. She rolls her eyes at Matt, and looks out the window.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
A MAN peeks out from the living room WINDOW. Matt's car is clearly visible.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Jessica and Sonia exit the Matt's car with armfuls of GROCERIES. They struggle carrying them to the house.
Sonia looks up in a nervous way, knowing her father's watching.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Sal stares out the window at his wife and daughter.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Matt's car pulls away.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
SAL DEJESUS, 36, and husky, though finely dressed in slacks and shoes, is a wannabe mafioso. He lets go of the curtains as they fall shut.
Jessica enters the house wearing a big smile on her face that quickly erases at the sight of her husband.
SAL Let me guess. He's moonlighting as a cab driver.
JESSICA Mr. Guzman found out we were going to ride the train home and offered to be a gentleman.
SAL I would've picked you up.
JESSICA Right. After you told me how tired you were, moaned about how lazy I am, and made me beg for a ride.
SAL Yeah, but I would've picked you up!
JESSICA (laughing) You just don't get it.
She walks into the kitchen as Sal looks back at the window.
Matt's car pulls off.
Sonia walks off in disgust.
EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT
The HEADLIGHTS of a car turn off. The driver's door OPENS and Sal strolls toward the Three Men.
SAL Where is he?
FREDDY I told them to take him out.
Cano gives Freddy a "Why are you such a bitch?" look.
Freddy shoots back with a "What'd I say?" face.
SAL (to Freddy) Go get the shovels from the car.
Freddy runs out of frame, as Sal and Cano open the trunk.
INT. TRUNK OF CAR - CONTINUOUS
Matthew's EYES adjust to the pale blue moonlight, Sal PUNCHES him in the face.
Lights out.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Matthew sits across a table from Sal, Jessica, and their sixteen-year- old daughter, SONIA, who wears a Catholic Schoolgirl Uniform.
MATT Sonia refuses to pay attention in class and she hasn't done any homework this entire marking period.
Sal frowns in disgust. Glares at Sonia.
MATT (con't) When we met last month, we decided that she would be allowed to make up all the assignments that she's missed. As of today, she still has done nothing.
SAL (to Sonia) Where are the assignments? You told me you were doing them.
SONIA I handed some in and he wouldn't take them.
MATT Those two assignments that you're referring to ... were incomplete and I told you how to fix them.
JESSICA What about the others?
SONIA I forgot.
SAL How could you forget? When you're not talking to your friends online or on your cell phone, you're watching videos!
MATT Mr. And Mrs. Guzman...
JESSICA Ms.
Sal looks at her in shock. There is an uncomfortable silence.
MATT I don't mean to add fuel to the fire, But in the last two weeks, Sonia's even started bullying some of her classmates.
JESSICA (at Sal) I can't imagine where she learned that.
Sal looks at his daughter in shock, as if searching for an explanation.
Sonia's cell phone RINGS and she answers it, as the Three Adults look on in disbelief.
SONIA (into phone) Yeah, I'm here now. I'll call you back.
She ends the call.
SAL (to Sonia) Give me the phone.
SONIA But, I put it away.
SAL Excuse me?
Sonia hands over the PHONE, but pouts as she does it.
JESSICA (to Sonia) You'll get it back, sweetie.
Sal frowns at his wife, then focuses on Sonia.
SAL Do all your homework, pass the next two exams and I'll think about giving it back to you.
JESSICA (to Sal) Can't you come up with something a little better?
SAL Don't do this. Not now.
JESSICA How am I going to know where she is?
SAL She'll be easy to find since she's grounded for the next thirty days.
SONIA That's not fair!
JESSICA That's a little excessive.
SAL Don't argue with me Jessica!
JESSICA Who's arguing? I just think you should let me decide her punishment, especially...
SAL What? Since I moved out? I still pay the goddamn rent. I pay her tuition. And I pay for this goddam phone!
Sal looks at his wife and daughter and makes sure they understand that he's very serious.
Sensing the uncomfortable tension in the room, Sal pockets the PHONE and rises to shake Matt's hand.
SAL Mr. Guzman, I'm sorry you had to see this. But thank you for your help.
MATT It's okay. I can't even pretend to know what it's like to raise a child.
Matt rises and they shake.
SAL Believe me, Sonia will improve her grades or so help me. (to his family) I'll be in the car!
Jessica's eyes follow her husband, as Sal leaves the room.
Sonia sinks into her mom's embrace. Jessica consoles her, as Matt sympathetically looks on.
EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT
A GIANT TREE towers into the night. From behind it, the SOUNDS of punches landing on flesh and bone fill the night. The HEAVY PANTING of...
Sal, that echoes louder and louder as he pummels the body of Matt Guzman against the earth.
He tires and pauses his fit of rage to catch a breath. He wipes his brow with a bloodied hand. Smears blood.
SAL (to Matt) You had this coming you son of a bitch.
CANO I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
Lugo gives him an "asshole" glance.
FREDDY You are one fucked up individual.
CANO This faggot deserves everything he's getting and more. Don't forget that. Sal looks at Matt as he spits blood onto the earth, and slowly writhes in pain. A moment of silence, as suddenly, Sal's conscience is weighing on him.
FREDDY (OS) But, look at him. Hasn't he learned his lesson? Sal anger slowly wavers. To what? Suddenly, he's not so sure. He rises.
SAL Somebody else take over.
CANO Love to.
Cano walks over and tightens the GLOVES on his hands.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Jessica cleans the remains of ketchup off a dish. She scrubs in a delirium.
Sal storms in, opens the fridge, and pulls out a beer.
SAL No one's seen her at school?
Jessica shakes her head in an agonizing "no".
Sal opens a drawer, grabs a can opener, uses it, throws it back in, SLAMS the drawer shut, and chugs.
JESSICA Was Matt still there?
Sal is pissed. Jessica notices.
JESSICA (con't) Mr. Guzman? She had tutoring with him today.
SAL I didn't know you two were on a first name basis.
Jessica looks away and SCRUBS some more.
JESSICA Don't be silly.
SAL What's silly is what's going on with you two.
JESSICA No, Sal. What's silly is what's going on with us!
SAL What? It's just some time apart. that's all.
JESSICA It's not time apart if you're here everyday.
She's right. He knows it.
SAL When was the last time you tried calling her?
JESSICA You took her phone. Remember?
Sal takes a long swig of his beer.
SAL That's it. I'm sending her ass to boarding school.
JESSICA What will that solve?
SAL She should have been home already.
JESSICA She's probably hanging out with some friends.
SAL She's punished.
JESSICA Look, maybe this is just a phase. Once she gets used to you not being here...
SAL What makes you think that's some- thing she's going to be able to get used to?
JESSICA She'll manage. We'll manage.
SAL How can you be so cold?
JESSICA After what you did?
SAL Here we go. You're never going to let me live that down are you? No matter how sorry I am.
JESSICA We made a vow, Sal. Under God. Excuse me if that means something to me.
SAL She never meant anything!
JESSICA I guess neither did eighteen years of marriage.
She turns away. Fights her tears. Sal walks over.
SAL Is that what you think?
JESSICA I think...I'm tired.
Sal spins her around.
SAL I don't want to lose you.
JESSICA We don't always get what we want.
Jessica tosses the dirty wet WRAG in his chest. He catches it as she walks off.
INT. JESSICA"S HOUSE - KITCHEN - LATER
Silence fills the kitchen.
Sal and Jessica sit solemnly apart.
IN THE LIVING ROOM
The front door opens and they quickly run over.
In shock, Sonia lets the door SHUT itself.
SAL Do you have any idea what time it is? You've had us worried to death!
Sonia looks dazed. Fuck that, traumatized.
JESSICA Sonia?
Sal moves in.
SAL Are you okay, sweetie? You don't look good.
He grabs her face gently, and brushes her hair away.
JESSICA Baby, what is it? What's wrong?
Sonia buries her face in Sal's neck and cries.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Sonia sits next to Matt as they solve Math problems.
MATT Don't forget that the angle bi- sector splits that angle in half, forming two smaller congruent angles.
SONIA I don't get this stuff! It's so boring!
MATT Actually, it can be quite exciting, especially considering that Euclid came up with his geometry thousands of years ago.
Sonia LAUGHS mockingly.
SONIA C'mon, Mr. Guzman. Isn't there anything else that excites you?
MATT Students who pay attention.
Sonia moves seductively closer.
SONIA Now, that sounds exciting.
MATT (standing) Ms. DeJesus, I think our session is over.
SONIA Why? What'd I do?
MATT You know damn well what.
SONIA I was just playing.
Matt rises and turns to leave.
SONIA You promised to help me!
MATT Goodbye, Ms. DeJesus.
SONIA (walking to door) This is bullshit!
MATT Watch your mouth!
SONIA You think I don't see what goes on With you and my mom, Matt?
Matt is stunned. He stops in his tracks.
SONIA (CONT) Don't pretend to be so innocent now. You don't fool me. You don't fool me one bit.
Sonia storms out of the room, leaving Matt speechless.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The MOON shines brightly and bathes the house in its brilliance.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - SONIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Sonia sleeps under some covers.
Sal, wearing all black, sits in a chair near her dresser.
He looks over at Sonia and fumes. He's beyond reason now. Slightly psychotic. Getting increasingly worse.
He gets up, wiping his eyes, kisses Sonia's cheek and slowly marches out of the room.
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - PARKING LOT - DAY
A few cars still sit in their lonely spaces.
INT. MATT'S CAR - CONTINUOUS
Matt cruises over as...
SONIA marches along the driveway. She's pissed. She ignores Matt as he pulls alongside.
He slows in front of her. She catches up. Looks in.
MATT Get in.
SONIA Fuck off.
MATT We need to talk.
SONIA You had your chance, Mr. Guzman.
MATT Sonia. Get in.
Sonia thinks about it.
SONIA Why should I?
MATT Don't make me get out and throw you in.
SONIA MMMMM...Mr. Guzman! I like it rough.
He opens the door for her.
MATT Matt. Call me Matt.
She gets in. Closes the door.
EXT. THE WOODS - NIGHT
Sal drinks from a LIQUOR BOTTLE. He's distraught. Possibly having second thoughts.
FREDDY I didn't sign on for murder.
Cano motions for the bottle. Sal passes. Cano drinks.
LUGO (to Freddy) You're a pussy! You always were.
FREDDY (unconvincingly) I'm not afraid of you.
Sal snatches back his flask. Swallows more liquor.
LUGO (to Sal) It's your call, man. She's your baby girl.
Lugo, flips Matt over on his back. Looks at Freddy and then at Cano.
LUGO Anybody got a problem with that?
Reality begins to set in amongst them all. Freddy looks like he's about to shit a brick.
Cano motions for the bottle. Sal passes. Cano drinks.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Jessica nervously watches Sal prepare to leave.
JESSICA She still won't talk. The Detective said he'll come back tomorrow to get a statement.
SAL What about the lab results?
She shakes her head and looks down.
SAL (con't) Did you see her eyes?
Jessica nods.
SAL (con't) She was drugged.
Jessica starts to cry.
Sal moves in and gives her a long hug. Kisses her forehead.
SAL I'll be back.
JESSICA Don't. I don't want you to do this.
SAL We don't always get what we want.
Sal exits his house. A very quiet and lonely house.
INT. MATT'S CAR - DAY
Jessica sits in the passenger's seat and undoes a button on her blouse.
SONIA It's hot in here.
MATT Open a window.
He glances over at her and can't help but notice her CLEAVAGE.
Sonia notices him looking at her. She smiles and looks out the window.
SONIA So, do you have a girlfriend?
MATT That's none of your business.
SONIA I guess that's a "no." Do you even like women?
MATT I love women. It's little girls I have a problem with.
SONIA I'm not a little girl!
Matt looks at her and smiles devilishly.
MATT
Sonia lets her lips soften into a smile.
INT. THE WOODS - NIGHT
All the MEN stand around in a semi-circle.
Lugo kneels over
MATT'S BODY
LUGO (to Matt) They fucked you up pretty good.
FREDDY Fuck this man! I'm not going to jail for this shit.
SAL Nobody's going to jail. Just relax.
LUGO That little girl you raped was my niece, cocksucker.
Blood curdles from Matt's mouth as he breathes.
The GOLD CRUCIFIX around Lugo's neck shines in the moonlight.
Lugo pulls a GUN from his waist and loads that puppy up. Coldly calm.
LUGO (con't) Baptized by me in the name of the father...
He pops open the chamber and slides a round in.
LUGO (con't) And of the Son...
Another round.
LUGO (con't) And of the Holy Spirit.
He fills the chamber. CLACKS it back. ROLLS it.
LUGO (con't) Which one do you think will have mercy on your soul?
FREDDY Oh hell no Lugo! Come on man. You can't.
CANO Yo' chill, Lugo. This shit ain't funny.
Lugo stands and turns the gun around. The handle is facing Sal.
LUGO (to Sal) What's it gonna be?
Sal is uncertain.
LUGO You love her don't you? Listen to your heart.
Sal is torn.
FREDDY AND CANO Nah, Sal...Don't do this...Fuck this... You're not a murderer.
LUGO You know if you listen closely enough, maybe you can still hear her scream.
Sal rushes up and grabs the pistola. All rage. He points it at Matt's helpless body.
Matt's eyes plead for forgiveness.
INT. SONIA'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Jessica sits over Sonia as she lies asleep. She strokes her daughter's hair.
SONIA Mommy...
JESSICA Sonia! I'm here baby. What is it?
SONIA I told them to stop. They wouldn't listen.
JESSICA Who baby? Who'd you tell to stop?
Jessica looks deep into her daughter's eyes.
INT. SAL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS
Sal's cell phone VIBRATES vehemently on the seat of the car. Again, and again, and again...
EXT. WOODS - CONTINUOUS
Sal stands with the gun pointing at Matt. Shaking.
FREDDY No Sal! Don't listen to him. Please!
LUGO (to Freddy) Shut the fuck up!
Cano is white as a ghost. Horrified and no longer having fun.
SAL (to Matt) Why? Why the fuck would you do this? She's just a baby.
LUGO Who gives a fuck why? Kill him!
FREDDY (crying) Sal, please...
Sal lowers the gun. Lugo moves in closer. Over his shoulder. Up to his ear.
LUGO Don't be weak, Sal. We're not like them. We protect our family. Always.
Lugo lifts Sal's arm. The gun is back on Matt.
Sal battles himself. The turmoil eating away at him.
LUGO Think of your little girl. And how she must've cried. How she called for you. And how she went numb when she realized no one was coming to save her.
Sal grits his teeth. He is crying. Angry. This is it.
BLAM!
The birds scatter from the treetops and into the night. When suddenly...
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Sal stands with the gun still pointed. He is lost.
CLICK, CLICK, CLICK...
Lugo's eyes are afire.
He puts his arm on Sal's shoulder and Sal collapses to his knees.
Cano looks on in shock as Sal cries in agony.
Freddy gets sick, covers his mouth, turns and vomits.
Lugo picks up the gun as Cano walks over to Sal. Sal is fixed on the corpse.
Sal crumbles to the ground, staring off into nothingness. He's not O.K.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Sonia pulls out a CELL PHONE. She dials. It rings.
SONIA (into phone) Hey, you stank ho'. What's going on? ... Ooh, a party. Where? ... I wanna come ... Would you? ... I'll wait for you at the corner.
Sonia exits the frame.
INT. A FRIEND'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Girl #1, the Dealer, Three Boys, and Sonia sit on the floor.
The Dealer puts small purple PILLS in everyone's hand, except for Sonia who closes hers at the last minute.
Sonia wavers between "do it" and "don't do it."
Finally, she puts her hand out to the Driver, who places her purple Pill in her hand.
IN THE HALLWAY - LATER
Girl #1 and the Dealer make out heavily against a wall. Sonia stumbles passed them...
INTO THE BEDROOM
She lies down on the bed and passes out!
IN THE HALLWAY
The Three Boys SEE Sonia lying on the end of the bed. She is zoning in and out. Totally incoherent.
The three TEEN BOYS enter the bedroom. The Dealer shuts the bedroom door.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Sal, Lugo, Cano, and Freddy walk somberly through the trees. Cano and Freddy carry the shovels.
They all are dirty, exhausted, and in thought. The woods are serene for the first time all night.
Sal gets to his car and his cell PHONE still BUZZES. He gets in to the car and shuts the door.
INT. SAL'S CAR - CONTINUOUS Sal sits and stares blankly ahead. He ignores the phone as the buzzing stops. He turns the car on and drives off.
BUZZ!
The cell phone continues its maddening routine. Sal finally picks up.
SAL Yeah?
He listens. There is no reaction.
JESSICA'S VOICE Sal. Sal. It's me. Sal. Listen. It wasn't him. It wasn't him. She just woke up. She told me. It was a bunch of boys from school, Sal...
Sal stares blankly out the windshield, holding the phone.
JESSICA'S VOICE (cont'd) Sal ... Are you there? ... My God, Sal ... Sal ... Please, tell me that you didn't do this, Sal! Oh my God!
He slowly lowers the phone to the passenger seat.
JESSICA'S VOICE (cont'd) Oh God, Sal. What are we gonna do, now?
MONTAGE of images.
Sal beating Matt in the woods.
Sal's EYES.
Sal and Jessica hokding Sonia as she walks in the house frightened.
Sal's EYES.
Sal and Matt at the school discussing Sonia's grades.
Sal's EYES.
Sal and Jessica in the living room while Sonia rests.
Sal's EYES.
Sal, stewing in Sonia's bedroom, as she sleeps.
The CRUCIFIX on her bedroom wall.
Sal's EYES.
Sal and Lugo in the woods.
Sal's EYES.
Matt's lifeless body in the woods.
He puts the car in gear and drives off and out of frame.
FADE OUT:
THE END.
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