Coppers
A Screenplay
In Memory of Bob Star and William Fry
Copyright © Mary Alice Mark
1 EXT A TWO LANE ROAD LINED WITH FLORIDA PINE DAY
A bright sunny day. Pine needles, pine cones and scattered patches of hardy grass and wild flowers as far as can be seen.
SOUND: "We Shall Overcome," continues, very softly fading in and out through to the end of the piece.
CUT TO
2 EXT A LARGE WHITE WOODEN CHURCH DAY
PEOPLE are gathering on the lawn.
One group is preparing a streamer of red, white and blue crape paper.
Another group is setting up a sound system on a temporary platform.
Some wander about.
Some gather taking in groups of two or three.
Most of the people are black, of many ages, diversity of garb invites speculations as to class.
Now and again we see the closed fist symbol of black power raised among the groups.
SOUND: soft voice chants flow through the crowd: "Take it down! Take it down! Take it down," starts in one area, to flow from there and be picked up in another. "Over,
under around and through," trickles along over, under, around and through the others. "Never again to anyone," flows through the groups from another direction.
CUT TO
3 INT A RED CORVAIR CONVERTABLE OF EARLY SIXTIES VINTAGE
The top is down on the convertible.
The pine tree lined street flows into the sunshine ahead of us.
FLASHING LIGHTS of a police car appear as reflected in the rear view mirror.
4 EXT THE RED CONVERTABLE STOPPED ON THE VERGE
The TWO COPS look quite a bit alike. Overweight, military trims of graying sandy colored hair, brown uniforms, blue eyes.
The COP RIDING SHOT GUN slams his door and stands near it, leaning slightly to his right and forward with a big wet grin as he observes the situation.
The COP DRIVER crosses to the CORVAIR.
COP DRIVER
Step out of the car.
BLACKIE, a young white woman with long brown hair, is about twenty. She reaches out towards COP DRIVER with her driver's license.
COP DRIVER
(Glancing at the license.)
Step out of the car.
BLACKIE
(As she gets out of the car.)
Why did you stop me?
COP DRIVER
Well, just come right along, hear? That's what I plan to show you.
Taking BLACKIE by the arm, he guides her to the back of the CORVAIR.
COP DRIVER
See there, Little Lady? Your turn signal is on.
BLACKIE
Well, I turned it on when you pulled me over.
COP DRIVER
"Well-." You're "over" now, and it's still blinking. Careless driving. You neglected to turn it off.
While we're standing here going over things like negligence, let's see just what else is wrong.
COP DRIVER pulls BLACKIE by the arm. He seems to be examining the car, muttering as they move around towards the front of the CORVAIR. HE stops suddenly, still facing away from the cop car.
COP DRIVER
(Softly.)
You were at that event at the church this morning.
CUT TO
5 INT OLD WOODEN CHURCH DAY
Long wooden tables are set with cakes, cupcakes, cookies and other baked refreshments.
LEAH, a young woman closely resembling BLACKIE in build and feature. She wears slacks and a printed blouse and strolls through the reception area introducing BLACKIE.
BLACKIE, also wearing slacks and a printed blouse, is the only white person in the reception area.
ELDER. a woman if about forty, wears a summery dress. She puts the finishing touches on one of the cakes.
OLD WOMAN, in old fashioned clothing and a flowery hat, leans on a cane to study baked goods at one of the tables.
FIRST and SECOND WOMAN stand near the doors helping people carry things in and out.
THE PASTOR a man in his late fifties wearing pastoral robes, studies the baked goods, then suddenly recognizes BLACKIE.
BLACKIE
(VOS)
Yes.
PASTOR
I remember you-!
LEAH
-You two know each other-?
PASTOR
What did your mother have to say about that hair cut?
LEAH
He cut your hair?
PASTOR
She's a friend of Bob's.
WOMAN ONE
Our Bob?
LEAH
You know Bob?
BLACKIE
Yes.
LEAH
How many other things don't I know about you?
ELDER
That could take a life time.
LEAH
You know her too?
BLACKIE
(To ELDER.)
How's Jack?
ELDER
Well as far as I know.
WOMAN TWO
(Not pleased.)
You're still in touch with him?
BLACKIE
(Shouldn't have asked.)
I'm sorry.
ELDER
Pay it no mind.
BLACKIE
Is he coming today?
ELDER
I doubt it. Family, you know.
PASTOR
I am so glad you're here!
COP DRIVER
(VOS)
That's not the kind of thing everyone agrees about.
BLACKIE freezes, entering some personal "Brown Study."
ELDER
Are you all right?
BLACKIE
Excuse me?
PASTOR
You didn't tell Leah that story?
BLACKIE
Excuse me?
ELDER
You didn't tell Leah?
LEAH
Oh. She doesn't call me that.
WOMAN ONE
What does she call you?
LEAH
Well-. -I call her, Blackie.
WOMAN TWO
And she calls you-?
BLACKIE
It stimulates a lot of conversations.
OLD WOMAN
You do this at school.
BLACKIE
The teachers often join in the discussions.
ELDER
Do they?
LEAH
Yeah, except that the school is a college and the teachers are called professors. Don't you know where you are?
BLACKIE
(As from a great distance.)
Stand up in the middle, get hit from both sides.
Everyone is concerned. THE PASTOR wraps his arms around BLACKIE.
PASTOR
Be strong.
LEAH
I could use some of that.
(She joins the hug.)
We are strong.
OLD WOMAN
You are young.
WOMAN ONE
And cocky.
OLD WOMAN
When you're my age, you might see a difference.
CUT TO
6 EXT THE RED CONVERTABLE STOPPED ON THE VERGE DAY
The COP RIDING SHOT GUN checks his time piece, then resumes his observation from beside the POLICE CAR.
COP DRIVER moves BLACKIE back towards the door of her car.
COP DRIVER
(Very loud.)
Aren't you afraid to drive around all by yourself in an area like this with the top down on your car?
BLACKIE
What's wrong with this area?
COP DRIVER
See here! We don't all see the same thing, but many people here in South Florida would consider that a negligent comment.
SOUND: THE ROAR of an engine.
An Old Red Pick up suddenly speeds by both cars and pulls off the road very close in front of the CORVAIR
SOUND: A REBEL YELL.
THREE YOUNG MEN in tight jeans and "Western" shirts get out of the pickup.
HIM, the driver, is evidently in charge. He is the eldest and has light brown hair.
The others are Blond and Blonder.
HIM
Thank you, man, you found my little sister.
BLACKIE
No.
BLOND
Oh come on, you know you're one of us.
BLACKIE
No.
BLONDER
She gets confused.
BLACKIE
No.
HIM
(Putting his arm around BLACKIE.)
We're family-
BLACKIE
-No-.
HIM
-We'll take care of her.
BLACKIE
No.
COP RIDING SHOTGUT
Well, Jeb, since her family is here, our job is done.
BLACKIE
No.
7 EXT THE POLICE CAR PULLING AWAY DAY
COP DRIVER is at the wheel.
COP RIDING SHOTGUN
You know, Jeb, I have me a hankering for some lunch.
8 EXT A LARGE WHITE WOODEN CHURCH DAY
THE EVENT is in full swing.
THE COLOR LINE is red, white and blue crape paper gentle wound and suspended from two tether ball poles about four feet in the air.
A LARGE GROUP of people circle around the line clapping and chanting.
BLACKIE, on one knee, makes a stirrup of her hands.
LEAH steps onto the stirrup, from there to BLACKIE'S raised knee and from there onto her shoulder. Then Leah drops to the other side of the crepe paper line.
OTHERS join in the "stirrup-to-knee-to shoulder" jump.
SOME PEOPLE simply hold the "line" up and walk under it.
SOUND: The chants, and "We Shall Overcome" continue, under.
HIM
(VOS)
We need to teach you a lesson.
SOUND: an oof, as when the breathe is knocked out of somebody's body.
BLONDER
(VOS)
You said we could have some fun with her first.
CUT TO
9 EXT POLICE CAR AT A DINER PARKING LOT
COP RIDING SHOTGUN is getting out of the car,
COP DRIVER
How 'bout you go along. I have some calls to make.
COP RIDING SHOTGUN
As you will.
FADE TO
10 EXT A LARGE WHITE WOODEN CHURCH DAY
THE EVENT is in full swing. THE COLOR LINE is red, white and blue crape paper gentle wound and suspended from two tether ball poles about four feet in the air. A LARGE GROUP of people circle around the line clapping and chanting.
FADE TO
11 EXT THE RED CONVERTABLE STOPPED ON THE VERGE DAY
No one is around.
SOUND: Thuds and an oof from behind the red truck.
HIM and TWO BLONDS torment BLACKIE. Suddenly they lift her and throw her against the side of the truck.
COP DRIVER
(VOS)
Clear the area!
BLOND
(VOS)
It's the man!
HIM
Oh, officer, you don't understand what's going on here!
COP DRIVER
I understand exactly what's going on here.
BLONDER
We was just havin' a little fun.
COP DRIVER
It doesn't strike me that the young woman is having fun.
BLACKIE
No.
COP DRIVER
You come on over where I can see you when you talk to me.
BLACKIE moves towards COP DRIVER. Scratched and rumpled, she seems to fight to keep her feet and tries to stand at attention.
HIM
You don't understand, she's my little sister.
COP DRIVER
You don't understand, you don't have a sister.
BLACKIE
No.
HIM
But we are family-.
BLACKIE
-No-.
BLOND
She gets confused.
COP DRIVER
Young lady, are any of these men friends or relation of yours.
BLACKIE
No.
COP DRIVER
Gentlemen, clear the area.
BLONDER
He can't do that to us!
COP DRIVER shifts his weight, leaning slightly forward and to his left, moving his right hand in an arc near his gun.
COP DRIVER
No?
BLOND
This is public property!
BLONDER
We're the public!
HIM
I believe our message has been delivered.
SOUND: A rebel yell, then the motor revs.
HIM
You'll be sorry.
.
The truck peels out and heads North.
COP DRIVER and BLACKIE stand stiffly, almost at attention.
COP DRIVER
I would like to tell you that was an idle threat.
BLACKIE
No.
COP DRIVER
You have met him before.
BLACKIE
Yes.
COP DRIVER
I can assure you that you have every right to file charges against your attacker. . . . As far as things go in this county, what his father's family doesn't own, his mother's does. And they are willing to spend any amount to clean up after him.
BLACKIE
Evidently.
.COP DRIVER
If I get on my radio and request that he be picked up, countless numbers of my colleagues will experience a sudden, but irresistible hankering for lunch.
BLACKIE
Yes.
COP DRIVER
You're afraid of him.
BLACKIE
Yes.
COP DRIVER
What I can do, is have our boys look for you.
BLACKIE
Me?
COP DRIVER
Yes. That they would do. If I'm not mistaken, you're afraid of me.
BLACKIE
Yes.
COP DRIVER
For that I am sorry. . . . Had I not been working, I would have been at that church this morning.
Don't bother to hide your surprise. I know what I look like. I know how I sound. I also know that there are many people, perhaps especially from the "Great North," who believe that South of the Mason Dixon line everyone is born in ignorance and Baptized in hate.
BLACKIE
I'm sorry.
Their eyes meet for the first time.
BLACKIE
For all for it!
COP DRIVER
(Nodding after a pause.)
Me too.
They relax, as if someone called, "At ease."
COP DRIVER
That's right. Breathe deeply. Take the time you need to relax enough to enjoy your drive home. I'm going to put my call in. You're going to turn off of U. S. One at Kendall Drive-.
BLACKIE
-Well I live-.
COP DRIVER
-You forget, I checked your driver's license.
BLACKIE
Oh! Kendall Drive is just wonderful!
COP DRIVER
From there to, what Eighty seventh? To, say, Miller. Then back roads.
BLACKIE
Miller, yes, then back roads.
COP DRIVER stands at attention, does a pivot turn and heads for his car.
BLACKIE
Thank you.
COP DRIVER executes another pivot turn and, again at attention, salutes.
COP DRIVER
Just doin' my job ma'am.
SOUND: CHANTS and MUSIC fade up.
FADE TO
13 EXT A LARGE WHITE WOODEN CHURCH DAY
THE EVENT in full swing.
FADE TO
THE END
