Poetic Justice

JUSTICE

Yep.

LUCKY

Write letters to 'em while he was inna county jail?

JUSTICE

Mmmm-huh. That's right.

LUCKY

You used to send 'em naked pictures while they in jail too?

CLOSE – JUSTICE'S FACE

JUSTICE

(a beat)

You getting too personal... Oh what do you know. You don't even keep your nails clean!

She gets up and walks away. Lucky just looks at her, grins, and shakes his head.

DISSOLVE TO:

DIFFERENT IMAGES

Kids playing. Two little boys fight and are broken up by Cousin Pete, who says, "Y'all family. Don 't fight."

OLD MEN THROWING HORSESHOES

Some young people are dancing. A few older folk join in on the fun. Lucky and Chicago playing a game of spades with Cousin Pete and another man. Iesha going to an ice chest to get a Bacardi Cooler. Justice playing with some children. The three old women sitting like statues. Lucky and Chicago winning a hand, then starting the game up again. Cousin Pete shouts out, "Awright then, let's play for money, play for money!" Iesha getting another drink. Justice resting on the beautiful green grass as a little girl puts a flower in her hair. Suddenly, she turns to notice something. One of the old women taps another as all three direct their attention toward Iesha, who is talking to some brother, a fly-looking Johnny Gill type. There is definite interest in both their eyes. Justice looks from this sight over toward Chicago.

THE CARD TABLE

Where Chicago notices this also. He is pissed. Offscreen, someone asks him to deal his hand. He does so, never taking his eyes off of...

IESHA AND JOHNNY

We PAN from Iesha's drunken smiling face to the handsome face of Johnny.

THE OLD WOMEN

Are having a field day. All three of them are talking away and looking out the corner of their eyes.

JUSTICE

Gets up from the children and walks over toward Iesha.

WIDE

As Justice approaches Iesha and Johnny.

JUSTICE

I gotta talk to my friend for a second.

RACK TO CARD TABLE

Where we MOVE IN on Chicago's face.

LUCKY
Looks at Chicago and then over toward Iesha.

BACK TO SHOT

Where Iesha pulls away from Justice and goes back to talking with her new friend.

CHICAGO

Gets up and throws his entire hand down. We PAN OVER to Lucky, who takes off his hat and scratches his head.

LUCKY
(under his breath)

Oh, shit!

WIDE SHOT

As Chicago walks into the shot toward Iesha and Johnny. Iesha looks over at Chicago nonchalantly. She doesn't even acknowledge his presence. Chicago grabs her arm. Iesha pulls away and tries to resume her conversation. Chicago pulls her again, and Iesha walks away toward the parking lot. Johnny tries to interfere and Chicago pushes him. She begins cursing loudly, making it more of a scene than it already was. Chicago and the brother get into a fight. Several family members attempt to break it up.

JUSTICE

Is embarrassed. She looks over at Lucky.

LUCKY

Looks back at her. Their eyes meet.

LUCKY

(to the card group)

Y'all don't mind if I take some food to go, do you?

THE TABLE

Where the old women sit.

AUNT JUNE

Humph, that ain't gonna last long.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE ROAD – DAY – OVERHEAD ON CRANE

As we see the empty road, then ZOOM as the truck goes up into the distance. We hear Iesha and Chicago arguing.

INT. THE TRUCK – DAY

Lucky Is driving once more. He taps his fingers on the steering wheel and looks over at Justice who looks at him shakes her head and looks out the window.

THE BACK

Where Chicago and Iesha are going at it. Swinging insults like swords.

CHICAGO

What's your muthafuckin problem, huh? What's your muthafuckin problem? Why you disrespect me like that, huh?! Why you disrespect me?

IESHA

Fuck you! You don't own me!

CHICAGO

Fuck you, bitch! Fuck you and your pussy!

IESHA

If I'm a bitch, why you wit me, huh? Why you wit me?! Leave, then! Step tha fuck off! 'Cause I ain't in the business of keeping niggas when they don't wanna be kept! All that talking – do it while you walkin.

THE FRONT

Justice is fed up. She looks over at Lucky.

JUSTICE

Pull over.

EXT. RESTSTOP – DAY

Where the truck pulls over in line with a row of ten-wheelers.

INT. THE TRUCK – DAY THE BACK

CHICAGO

Why we stopping?

IESHA

Good, I gotta pee.

CHICAGO

'Cause you drinking too much! That's your goddamn problem. You an alcoholic bitch!

They continue arguing back and forth.

EXT. RESTSTOP – DAY – THE PASSENGER DOOR

Justice hops out of the truck and goes toward the back.

THE BACK OF THE TRUCK

Where Iesha (bottle in hand) opens the door.

JUSTICE

(coolly)

C'mere. I gotta talk to you.

Iesha faintly sees the anger on Justice's face but is not aware that it is directed toward her.

IESHA

(sweetly and drunk)

What's wrong, J? Lucky talking shit again? I'ma fuck him up! Where he at?

Justice lures Iesha out to the middle of the parking lot. The latter is holding her stomach. A few truckers walk past to notice the two girls arguing. Iesha begins to convulse, then she throws up on the ground. She calmly and coolly accepts a tissue from Justice, then says...

IESHA

What's the problem?

Justice grabs the bottle out of Iesha's hand.

IESHA

My drink!

JUSTICE

(smashes the bottle on the ground)

This is the problem!

(pushes Iesha in anger)

You acting like a stupid bitch, Iesha! A stupid, alcoholic bitch! I'm tired of seeing you get drunk! That's why I don't go nowhere with you – 'cause you get crazy! You just like my damn... momma was.

Iesha looks at her angry friend as if stunned. Actually, she is drunk. Iesha sways back and forth as if in a daze. She begins crying.

IESHA

(crying)

I'm sorry.

Justice's anger gives way to compassion. She hugs her friend.

WIDE SHOT

As they hug each other and an eighteen-wheeler pulls out and away.

ANOTHER ANGLE

As the large truck goes past, to reveal the women once more.

JUSTICE

It's all right. It's all right. You my girl and all, but you gotta chill on the liquor. Iesha continues to cry, mumbling in a drunken tone about how much she values Justice's friendship: "You helped me when I had that abortion," etc. Crying gives way to sniffles, and Iesha tries to regain her composure. She turns around to see...

REVERSE ANGLE THE TRUCK

Where Lucky and Chicago sit by the front of the truck. Chicago is looking at Iesha.

IESHA'S FACE

As she wipes her tears away and stands up straight. She looks in her Fend bag to pull out some tissue, maintaining her dignity in front of the men.

IESHA

I gotta pee.

Justice looks at her friend and almost cracks a smile. They walk off toward a restroom.

JUSTICE

(playfully)

Cow.

IESHA

You a cow. Cow! Mooo!

BACK TO TRUCK

LUCKY

I'm telling you she's crazy, Loc. You better get ridda her.

CHICAGO

(upset)

Damn man, I gotta piss. I 'ma go over here and piss in the field. Get my nuts close to nature and shit.

As they walk off.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – SEVEN YEARS EARLIER – DAY

We see an early-model 1 980s car pull up the driveway. Out the passenger door springs a twelve-year-old Black girl. This is Justice, seven years younger. She runs toward the house. The driver of the car is Geneva, Justice's grandmother.

GENEVA

Girl, you better come on back here and help me with these grocery bags!

THE STEPS

Where Young Justice reluctantly shrugs her shoulders and walks back toward the car.

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – THE KITCHEN – DAY

Where Justice and her grandmother put away the groceries. Geneva snatches a box of cookies out of Justice's hand.

GENEVA

You'll spoil your dinner. I'm making ox tails.

(calls out)

Alfrieda! Frieda! Go tell your mother to come here!

The little girl takes off.

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – THE STAIRS

As Young Justice shoots up the stairs.

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – THE TOP OF THE STAIRS

Justice the adult woman arrives at the top of the stairs.

YOUNG JUSTICE

Momma! Momma! Nanny want you!

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – AN OFFICE ROOM

As Justice looks in. No Momma here.

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – JUSTICE'S MOTHER'S BEDROOM

No one here.

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – THE BATHROOM

We see Justice walk forth. She slows down as she discovers the body of a woman collapsed on a tile floor of the bathroom.

YOUNG JUSTICE'S FACE

She screams!
 

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – BACK TO KITCHEN

As Justice's grandmother hears her screams.

INT. JUSTICE'S HOUSE – DAY – THE TILE FLOOR

We see an opened bottle of pills. Different angles of pills on the tile floor.

Idea: Image of Justice's mother's hand open, holding pills, in the background.

OVERHEAD

Justice's grandmother grabs Justice and discovers the body.

ANOTHER ANGLE

As Justice is pulled away. Geneva turns her face away from the horror of Justice's dead mother and into the hallway mirror. Justice covers her face up, then slowly looks at her reflection. The light behind her changes, and we are back into...

INT. REST STOP BATHROOM – DAY

Justice looking at herself in the mirror. A beat. Iesha comes out of the stall behind Justice and taps her shoulder.

ANOTHER ANGLE

As Iesha walks past and we end on Justice.

IESHA

Let's go.

EXT. RESTSTOP – DAY – MINUTES LATER A BENCH

Where Lucky sits eating some leftover barbecue. Music is playing from his small boom box. Chicago is lost in thought. He is visibly shaken by the recent events. He looks out along the road and then down toward the ground.

LUCKY

Hey, hey, hey, pick your head up. Don't be a buster! You don't want her to know you upset! Be cool!

CHICAGO'S FEET

Where his shoelaces are untied.

CHICAGO

I gotta tie my shoelace.

LUCKY

Wait, just wait... Leave it untied – it'll look better that way.

CHICAGO

That shit played out years ago.

Chicago bends down to fasten his shoes. Lucky looks at him and shakes his head. Then he looks up to notice

CHICAGO'S POV – LOW ANGLE

While he is down on his knees, Justice and Iesha walk up. Chicago looks up and sees Justice, who walks away to reveal Iesha. Iesha mumbles the "shake it to the east/shake it to the west" cheer.

WIDE

As Justice sits on one side with Lucky. Iesha puts her arms around Chicago's neck and gives him a kiss. Justice and Lucky look at this exchange out of the corner of their eyes.

CHICAGO

As he attempts to stay angry in light of this loving treatment. He looks over at Lucky.

CHICAGO

(uncomfortable)

Is it good?

LUCKY

Jammin.

Justice looks away, listening to the music.

JUSTICE

This is nice. Who's this?