Urban Pirates- an original screenplay by James K. Shaffer- Part Six

INT. WOMEN’S BATHROOM

sheeps

Anna and Maya are at the sink and look up at the mirror. Anna turns to Maya.
Anna
Can we talk?

Maya
I’ve been standing here waiting.

They chuckle.

Anna
Tell me about Mike. What is he so angry about? I’m working too hard here.

Maya
Mike was the happiest guy in the world.
(beat)
Dawn was pregnant. It was a stupid car accident.
(tearing)
A schoolteacher in a new SUV went through a stop sign. It was horrible.

Anna
That is heartbreaking.

Maya
You are the first woman he’s allowed on that boat since Dawn died.

Anna
Really? That’s a big deal, huh?

Maya
Yeah, it is big.
This treasure quest y’all are on has brought him back to life.
I think Ken goes along just to see his old friend happy again.

Anna
Wow. Thanks, Maya. I appreciate your trust.

Maya
Sure. Girl to girl?
You got yourself a good man there.
He can be a bit thick-headed, too. Hang in there.

They laugh and exit.

EXT. PARKING LOT

Mike and the rest of them are waiting. Ken holds the baby. Maya and Anna exit the restaurant laughing. It is getting dark.
Mike
What’s so funny?

Maya
Girl talk. Don’t you worry.

Mike
Don’t listen to that woman.

Maya
Don’t blame me, Mike.

Pat
(A little woozy)
Time to go. I gave Suarez the keys. He doesn’t drink until after dark.

Suarez
I am still a very able and careful driver.

Pat
He’ll drive back to the bar, he’ll have his nightcap and I’ll get him a car service. I’ll sleep well tonight.

Mike and Pat hug. They all go to their cars waving goodnight. Soon, it is only Mike & Anna.

Mike
(To Anna)
Walk you to your car?

Anna
Sure.

Mike
I’m sure MAYA gave you an earful, huh.
Don’t believe everything you hear. She thinks I’m nuts.

Anna
She said nothing but nice things.

Mike
Oh, well believe those things.

Anna
I am pretty smart remember?

Mike
Yeah. No kidding.

Anna
There is this faculty function coming up in a few weeks and I could use a date. What do you think?

Mike
Wow.

Ken flashes his lights as he and his family pull out. Pat & Suarez pull out with Suarez driving Pat’s Cadillac. Mike & Anna wave to them.

Anna
I understand if you think it is too soon, but…

Mike
You know about Dawn, huh?

Anna
Yes.

Mike
I like you plenty, but I need to think about it a little.

Anna
Sure. I understand. I’ll be here. I think you are a special man.

Mike
Thanks, Anna. Sometimes it feels like it just happened.

Anna
Hey, fella’. Tomorrow is only a few hours away. I’ll talk to you then.
I’m going to bring the piece we found to the lab and soak it overnight.

Mike
Cool. You are a peach. Goodnight, Anna

Anna
G’night, Mike.

Mike kisses her cheek and she hugs him. She enters her car and pulls out into the night. Mike walks to the Jeep singing. Mike kicks the gravel. Mike starts the Jeep and pulls out last.

up belt parkway

INT. ANNA’S LAB

Anna flicks on the bright lights of the lab. She lays out a bag and removes the sooty 2-foot length of chain. She places it in a pan, pours liquid in and leaves the new necklace to soak. Something moves just outside the window. Anna turns quickly, but misses it.

She looks around, grabs her purse and heads for the door.

EXT. BC PARKING LOT-NIGHT

Anna exits the building and walks across the parking lot. She gets into her BMW. She throws in her purse, starts the car and pulls out. She waves to the guard in the booth as she pulls out.

EXT- STREET OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE

Outside the gate, Ramon & Flaco sit in the idling SUV. Anna drives out. They follow. They hang back for a few blocks. They speed up and begin to follow Anna at a short distance. They are not trying to hide. Anna notices them and begins to drive faster. She switches gears manually and the cars engine REVS UP. She flies along the Belt Parkway, but they are still following.

INT. ANNA’S CAR

She is cool under pressure, rocketing past slower cars with a WHOOSH.

She sees them in the rearview mirror. They are still on her tail. She kicks it up a notch as she exits at Atlantic Avenue.

EXT. HILLY AREA OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

Anna swings her car though the narrow streets, in an out of tight curves with expert precision. Ramon struggles to keep up.

INT. SUV

Flaco
Fucking bitch can drive, yo! She is kicking your ass.

Ramon
Shut up and get the gun.

Flaco reaches into the glove compartment.

INT. ANNA’S CAR

She searches her bag, finds a black remote.

Anna
(Rubbing the car’s dashboard)
Okay, Sugar. Get us out of this.

Flaco opens the glove compartment with a key and removes a large handgun. Anna pulls away some. She is nearly clear. A red light. Anna must wait for a woman and her kids to cross. She looks back. Here they come. Anna hits the gas and heads up a hill.

Ramon
Take out one of her taillights.

Flaco rolls down the window, aims, but can’t get a clean shot.

INT. ANNA’S CAR

Anna sees the gun.

Anna
Shit! Don’t worry Sugar. Just do your thing.

Anna focuses, shifts and gasses the BMW hard.

Ramon is gaining. Anna swerves to miss some teens. She is get now getting a little nervous.

EXT. ANNA’S CAR

From behind, Flaco fires, this time, taking out the rear window.

INT. ANNA’S CAR

She is trying hard to keep it together.

Anna
Damn. Now you are really pissing me off!

She makes a sharp turn and gains a little distance. She whips around a corner.

INT. ANNA’S GARAGE

The garage door opens and the lights come on just as she pulls up. Anna pulls into the garage.

EXT. ANNA’S HOUSE

Ramon & Flaco skid to a stop and jump out of the SUV, running towards Anna. A neighbor notices from a window across the street. Anna hits another button and two giant dogs charge into the garage from the door to the house. She gets out of the car pointing a small silver gun. The dogs freeze at the edge of the garage just as Ramon & Flaco reach the closing garage door. They jump back. Anna cocks the gun and points at the two befuddled men.

Flaco
(Lowering his gun)
Shit! This ain’t over, bitch.

Anna
I got your license PLATE.

Flaco
And we have yours, Mommy.

Sirens begin in the background. The door closes. Anna drops her tough posture and hugs her dogs, crying.

EXT. STREET

Ramon and Flaco run back to their SUV & split.

INT. ANNA’S TOWNHOUSE

The two dogs follow at Anna’s heels. She pulls herself together and picks up her cell phone.

INT. MIKE’S APARTMENT- EVENING

He is at his computer working on his “Hell’s Gate Treasure” article. His cell phone rings.

Mike
Hey, Anna. What’s up? You got a match already?

Anna
No. Listen, Mike, I was followed home.

Mike
What are you talking about?

Anna
They shot at me. Hit my car. I’m scared.

Mike
Are you hurt?

Anna
No. I’m okay.

Mike
I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Call the cops. Now.

Anna
Ok. I will. Hurry, please.

Mike
I will.

EXT. ANNA’S HOUSE- 15 MINUTES LATER

There is a police cruiser out front, flashing lights on. Mike arrives. Anna is talking to two officers.

OFFICER 1
We ran the plates. The vehicle was stolen on Long Island last week.

OFFICER 2
We will send a squad car by every half hour or so throughout the night.

Mike
That’s it?

Officer 1
For now. Detective Brennan said he will ring you tomorrow.

INT. ANNA’S HOUSE- LIVING ROOM

The dogs growl at first. Anna heels them. Anna opens the door and hugs him. He is awkward at first and then hugs her.

Mike
Are you all right?

Anna
I’m scared, Mike. They shot out my back window.

Mike
Who?

Anna
I think it was the same guys from the black SUV. I got their license number. Who is Detective Brennan?

Mike
He is my Uncle Pat’s old partner. What the hell is going on?

Anna
The curse.

INT. STRIP CLUB BACK ROOM

We follow a group of men walking past the dancing girls and into a back room. The door is shut. FJ, Ramon, Flaco and a new guy named DIABLO (a big, A muscular, scary MF’er). Reggaeton BANGS out of the sound system. FJ lowers it with a remote.

FJ
Ah-iight. We’ve got the others occupied. Here’s how the next play goes down. Pay attention.

ALL
Si.

FJ
This old man has a piece of jewelry that belongs to my client. It is in his vault in the basement.
It is a cross. We are paid to get it back.

Flaco
The English dude’s cross, right?

FJ
Don’t interrupt me ever again, FLACO. I will burn you with this fucking lighter. You don’t need to know who.

Flaco
Sorry. Papi.

FJ
(leaning in)
The old man lives upstairs. Be as quiet as you can be.
He is packing.
Ramon disables the alarm. Diablo and Flaco, you two crowbar the front door. Fast.

Ramon
Done.

FJ
I only want what belongs to my client.
Everything else you three split evenly. There might be $50-60 grand in that vault.

Ramon and Flaco smile. Diablo is expressionless.

INT. SUV- ESCALADE- FAT JOE’S

Ramon drives. Diablo opens a suitcase and hands the boys two serious handguns. He has two.

FJ
It should take 7 minutes to get in and get out. Questions?

They all shake their heads no.

DIABLO
(To Flaco, sarcastically)
You know how to use this, son?

Flaco
I could shoot a bird from the sky.

Diablo
Don’t shoot yourself in the fucking eye. Then you’d be a real pirate. Ha.

Flaco
(Getting pissed)
Who the fuck are you, Papi?

Diablo
I am the fucking devil, bro. I am Diablo.

FJ
Chill.

Ramon
We got no problems here. DIABLO, he is just joking.

Diablo
I love a good joke. I just didn’t hear one.

FJ
Cut the shit. Now get to work.

They exit the truck.

EXT. BEHIND PAT’S BAR

Diablo disables the alarm and signals.

Ramon & Flaco to pry the door with the crowbar. The door is harder than they thought, but they finally bust through into the bar.

INT. PAT’S APARTMENT ABOVE THE BAR

Pat is sleeping off the big meal.

There is the faint sound of a drill downstairs. Pat stirs. Another noise. Suddenly, he opens his eyes.Pat rises in his boxers. He coolly reaches into his bedside drawer and removes a loaded 9MM. Pat cracks his knuckles and checks his clip. He puts on his robe. He kisses a small gold cross on a chain and puts it around his head. He heads down the stairs.

INT. ANNA’S

Anna removes empty wine glasses from the table and brings them to the kitchen.

Anna
You can stay on the couch if you want.

Mike
Sure, if you want me to.

Anna
Yes, please. I’ll get you a pillow and stuff.

INT. INSIDE THE DARK BAR

Ramon is guarding the door. Diablo and Flaco struggle to lug the safe towards the door.

Pat pokes his head around the doorway and fires once. Pat shoots Flaco between the eyes. He falls to the ground, dead. Diablo and Ramon drop the safe and draw their guns.

Pat
Drop it.

Diablo
Sure.

Diablo draws and hits Pat as he dives away. Pat shoots from under the couch and blasts Ramon in the ankle. Ramon gets up SCREAMS in pain. Diablo tries dragging the safe out, but no luck. Pat holds his bloody stomach as he collapses. Diablo drags the wounded Ramon out the door.

INT. FAT JOE’S HUMMER

Diablo and a limping Ramon reach the truck.

FJ
What the fuck happened? Where is the safe?

Diablo
The old man came down with a gun. I got the old bastard in the gut.

Ramon
I’m shot. Flaco is dead.

FJ looks at Ramon’s gunshot ankle. He throws him a box of pink tissues.

FJ
Fuck, Flaco. Ramon, don’t be bleeding all over my shit.

Ramon
Fuck Flaco? What about my fucking foot?

FJ
We’ll fix you up, baby. D, grab some rope from the back.

Diablo takes a piece of rope from the back and ties a tourniquet on his leg tightly.

Diablo
Quit you whining. It is not that bad.

FJ picks up his cell and dials. Ramon holds a handful of bloody tissues to his foot. Ramon wails in pain.

FJ
Yo, Doc. Hate to call so late, but we got a house call coming your way. 15 minutes.

INT. ANNA’s TOWNHOUSE- MINUTES LATER

Mike is sleeping on the couch. It is 4:30 a.m. His cell phone RINGS waking him. It is Ken’s number. SIRENS WAIL in the background.

Mike
Hey, bro. What’s up?

EXT. OUTSIDE PAT’S BAR

There are emergency vehicles everywhere. Ken is in uniform. An ambulance being driven with a purpose SCREAMS away from the scene. The lights are blinding and the siren BLARING. Ken has to pause before he can talk to Mike.

Ken
Mike, Pat’s been shot. Someone broke into the bar, tried to take the safe.
(Beat)
Pat stopped them, but took one in the stomach. He is alive. Meet me at Coney Island Hospital.

Mike
Oh, this fucking curse! I’m on my way.

Anna opens the door to her bedroom. Mike gets dressed.

Anna
What is it, Mike?

Mike
PAT’s been shot. Someone tried to steal the safe.

Anna
Oh my God.

INT. BUSY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY WAITING ROOM

Mike BURSTS through the swinging doors with Anna. Walking wounded are everywhere with their loved ones in tears. Mike spots Ken across the room. Ken is talking to the three detectives. They are Brennan, Jackson and Murphy.

Mike
What the hell happened to my Uncle?

Ken
Someone tried to rob the bar. He got hit in the stomach. He is unconscious.

Mike
Detective Brennan, what are you doing here What the hell is going on?

Mike & Brennan hug briefly.

Brennan
Mike, Pat rang me last week and we talked about your find. There is a definite connection. We just don’t know what it is yet. We’ve got a pretty good idea who did this to Pat.

Mike
I don’t understand. What the fuck is going on here?

Brennan
The Keeper is back. He killed again two weeks ago. Drained the blood from the victim. He hired some local heavies to lean on Pat.

Ken
I knew there was something to this curse stuff.

Mike
Well, I am ready to listen.

A Doctor comes out to talk with MIKE. She stops at KEN and he points her to MIKE.

DOCTOR
Mike Duffy?

Mike
That’s me.

Doc
Your uncle Pat is going to be okay. He has lost some blood and is weak, but there is no major organ damage.

Mike
Thank you, Doc. Can I see him?

Doctor
Not until the morning. He is sedated and will sleep though the night.
No point in staying. Come back around 9 a.m.

INT. THE KEEPER’S COMPOUND

The Keeper is writing at his desk. Fausto knocks.

The Keeper
Yes, Fausto. Enter. What is it?

Fausto
Dear Captain, I am afraid I have bad news about the mission.

The Keeper
Damn them.
Time for me to take a more, hmm, hands on approach. Ready my broadsword and field uniform, Fausto. We are going to paint Brooklyn red tonight!

Fausto opens The Keeper’s walk in dressing room holding his lantern.

EXT. A LONELY BROOKLYN AVENUE

Ramon is parked next to a payphone.

A bloody bandage covers his foot. He limps towards the phone booth.

He looks around nervously as he juggles coins and places a call.

Brennan
“Brennan.”

Ramon
Hey, BRENNAN.
Time for us to talk.
I need help. I’ve been shot.

Brennan
Ramon, are you okay?

Ramon
No. But, I’m alive. I want to stay that way.

Brennan
You know you can’t half do this. I need you to tell me everything.

Ramon
I know. Please help me. They are coming for me.
(Beat)
Hang on. Let me write it down. Ok. Go ahead.

He scrambles for a pen and begins to write.

JKS 1/3/18

Published by eringoscratch

I am a big man, home cook in a tiny kitchen in NYC. I hook it and cook it, buy it and fry it, and will show you around NYC!

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