S P I R A L (Feature) - D1.3

SPIRAL
D1.2
Written by
Charlie Hamilton
"A LIE THAT IS HALF-TRUTH IS THE
DARKEST OF ALL LIES"
~ ALFRED LORD TENNYSON
2.
OVER BLACK
CHEERING. A PACKED SPORTS STADIUM ROARS FROM A HOME TEAM
TOUCHDOWN.
The CHEERING forms into -
DOOR KNOCKS...
KNOCK... KNOCK... KNOCK...
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! CLEAR AS A JACKHAMMER NOW, bringing us
into-
INT. BATHROOM - SWAY’S CONDO - DAWN

The bottom of a swanky, glass-walled shower, JAMES ‘SWAY’
DRAYTON, 37, snaps awake at the POUNDING DOOR.
Sway resembles New Years and Prom Night having an abortion.
His once pressed dress shirt, now sweat soaked to his
muscular body. Pants hang to one foot. His nose, caked with
blood.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!
Sway gets his head back and climbs out of the shower.
The rest of the bathroom looks worse than Sway, with vomit
lining the toilet and sink.
Sway rubs his head - Chugs water from the sink - Washes his
face-
SWAY
Okay! Shit.
ON SWAY, eyeing his reflection. Checks in with himself - What
the hell happened last night?!
INT. ENTRANCE - SWAY’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway rushes to the door - The bolt locks are open but the
double chain locks are holding, leaving an opening big enough
for a FACE to appear. The FACE belongs to LEO, 40’s, former
boxer, current brick shit house.
The second Leo’s eyes hit Sway, he knows shit’s gone down.
3.
LEO
Sway - Sway, what the fuck-
(Lowers his voice)
What the hell happened to you?
SWAY
I don’t know, I’m just getting my
head back. What’re you doing here?
LEO
The fucking interview.
Over Leo’s shoulder, Sway looks out into the condo hallway-
RICHIE MILLS, 23, paces impatiently, CELL in hand. Behind him
-- LISA WADE, 30s, sex in heels, white sundress under a jean
jacket, sunglasses, laptop bag and notebook.
Oh, shit -- Reality smacks Sway.
SWAY
Oh shit, shit, shit. Ice it for 5
minutes.
RICHIE (O.S.)
(Yelling)
Sway? Sway, you good?
SWAY
Fuck, tell Richie to shut the fuck
up. Back in 5-
LEO
Sway- Sway, unlock the door-
But Sway’s already turned away and is shutting the door to
the destroyed bathroom -
LIVING ROOM
Rushing through his condo, giving us our first look at the
crib -
A massive open-concept, exposed-piping penthouse. The
entrance looks out to the living room, decorated by
monochromatic couches and chez-lounges semi-circled around a
flat-screen too large for the wall. The FLATSCREEN is on,
playing SPORTSNET HIGHLIGHTS.
The other walls are lined with PROMOTIONAL POSTERS of a
young, black quarterback, CYRIL DRAYTON, in mid-play action.
A shelf on one wall holds several different sized AWARDS and
TROPHIES, including a large BANNER that reads FREEMAN
PROJECT. The place reeks of new money.
4.
THE FAR WALL, running the length of the penthouse - Floor to

ceiling windows look out at the last gasp of twilight, the
interior of a densely populated city hiding in its shadows.
Sway hurry-stumbles his way towards the bedroom, but STOPS-
ON THE TABLE - THREE MESSY LINES OF COKE, a small PILE, a
BAGGY, A DUSTY CREDIT CARD.
SHIT.
Sway’s reaction informs us -- This is NOT normal. He
continues on to the bedroom, but STOPS AGAIN-
INT. BEDROOM - SWAY’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

ON SWAY, in the doorway, his attention hair triggered on the
bed... Which is occupied.
A WOMAN, 24, caucasian, naked except for a black lace thong.
SHIT
Is she alive? Dead?
The Woman stirs, and a SIGH of relief escapes Sway.
Sway’s eyes find his CELLPHONE on the bed near the Woman’s
body.
Sway moves in, passing a FAMILY PHOTO on the wall of him with
his wife NATALIE, 35, and their son JAY, 9.
Sway reaches passed his CELL, grabbing the Woman’s leg.
SWAY
Hey... hey... sorry... wake up.
Excuse me. Miss? You needa wake up.
The Woman stirs again, eyeing Sway. She’s gorgeous. Dark
hair, light eyes, makeup still somehow perfect from the night
before.
WOMAN
Mmm mornin’ handsome-
SWAY
Hey. Hi. You gotta get up-
The Woman’s hand snakes up Sway’s leg as she comes in for a
kiss-
SWAY (CONT’D)
No, no, stop. I ain’t playin’. You
gotta go.
5.
WOMAN
That’s not what you were saying
last night.
SWAY
I don’t remember last night.
Whatever it was... I’m sorry but
you gotta go.
The Woman sits back, accepting her rejection.
WOMAN
Yeah you were pretty fucked up.
Sway grabs his CELL, 34 MESSAGES, 66 MISSED CALLS, 82 EMAILS.
SHIT. He scans through the missed connections-
1 missed call from CY. 9 from NATALIE. 13 from RICHIE. 23
from CARTER. With MESSAGES from them and many more. Sway’s
panic intensifies.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
You want any more white paint?
SWAY
Huh?
The Woman opens the PENDANT on her NECKLACE, revealing a TINY
COKE STASH and SCOOP. She snorts some-
SWAY (CONT’D)
Hey-
Sway kicks the bed.
SWAY (CONT’D)
You gotta go. Get up. Get dressed.
Get the fuck out.
They stare each other down. Neither blinking. Finally, a
smile creeps across the Woman’s lips.
WOMAN
Or what? Gonna come get me?
Sway gives her hard eyes.
The Woman SIGHS, gets up, finds her bra and dress.
Sway steps into his closet and quickly suits himself in a
beautiful, very expensive three-piece. Watch. Rings. He
applies moisturizer on his face and is suddenly ready for a
Wall St. closeup.
Sway steps out as the Woman is JUST finishing putting her
dress on.
6.
SWAY
What happened last night?
WOMAN
You wanna talk now?
SWAY
How did we end up together?
The Woman passes him, rubbing against him as she does.
WOMAN
I guess that’s for me to know.
She passes his dresser and the FAMILY PHOTO.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
Nice family, by the way.
Alone in the room now, Sway stares at the bed. The sheets.
Tussled up. Used. Fuck...
Sway goes back to his CELL SCREEN to call NATALIE.
BUT.
VOICES carry from the front door. It’s open now.
SWAY
Shit-
Leo’s already at the bedroom door, entering-
LEO
Why is there coke on the table and
who the fuck is that?
SWAY
I don’t know what happened. I was
with Richie and then... fuck... I
woke up in the shower 2 minutes
ago.
LEO
Fucking Richie.
SWAY
Yeah.
The VOICES at the entrance continue.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Shit.
7.
INT. ENTRANCE - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway and Leo arrive at the front entrance as Richie and Lisa
are awkwardly conversing with the Woman.
WOMAN
Wow... when’s the issue coming out?
LISA
Should be out next month.
WOMAN
I’ll be sure to pick one up for the
spread.
The Woman eyes Sway, continues on down the hall.
Richie and Sway share looks, Richie just as confused as Sway.
SWAY
My apologies for keeping you
waiting.
LISA
Do you need some more time-
SWAY
No. No, I’m fine. Come on in.
Sway steps aside, welcoming Lisa in. She continues into the
living room. Sway pulls Leo close-
SWAY (CONT’D)
(Whispered)
Follow that woman outside and make
sure she leaves the building.
LEO
You got it, boss.
Sway continues into the -
INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Living room.
SWAY
Make yourself at home-
LISA
Lisa. Lisa Wade.
SWAY
Lisa, Sway, pleasure to finally
meet you.
(MORE)
8.
SWAY (CONT'D)
I thought the living room would be
a good place to talk. I’ll get some
coffees up here.
LISA
Thanks. And take your time if you
need a few. I have to set up.
SWAY
Perfect.
Sway leads Richie back to the entrance, out of ear shot.
Hushed, panicky conversation takes over.
RICHIE SWAY (CONT'D)
Sway, where the hell you been- Why the fuck didn’t you wake
me up?

I been trying to, boss. No That’s what I’m trying to
answer. We been beating the figure out. Get a cleaner up
door down for the last 10 here asap. The bathroom’s
minutes. Was about to call fucking torched. And get us
the landlord. Where you been? some coffees and Tylenol.
Who was that bird?
SWAY (CONT’D)
And what the fuck happened last
night?
RICHIE
I left you at the bar downstairs.
You said you were ordering a night
cap. You were fine when I left.
Sway thinks on it-
FLASHES OF A HIGH CLASS BAR. MARTINI GLASSES AND TUMBLERS.
HANDS RUBBING THE GLASSES. HANDS RUBBING OTHER HANDS. THE
WOMAN’S FACE FROM LAST NIGHT.
BACK ON SWAY -
SWAY
Get those coffees.
RICHIE
You got it boss. But, yo...
SWAY
What?
RICHIE
You, uh- You talk to Cy?
9.
SWAY
No. I woke up 2 seconds ago. My
phone looks like a switch board.
Why?
RICHIE
I haven’t talked to him since last
night.
SWAY
It’s 730. He’s probably still
sleeping. Coffees. Go.
RICHIE
(Relenting)
You got it, boss.
Richie leaves, CELL to ear.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
Can we get a cleaner up to the
penthouse...
LISA (O.S.)
Hey, Sway-
Lisa approaches from the living room-
LISA (CONT’D)
Yeah, I uh, don’t know how to say
this really, but there’s coke on
the table.
SHIT. THE COKE.
SWAY
My apologies. One sec.
INT. KITCHEN - SWAY’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway grabs some PAPER TOWELS from the kitchen, wets them, and
grabs the GARBAGE BIN.

Sway re-enters, wipes the LINES OF COKE and BAGGY off the
table and into the BIN.
LISA
Whoa. Been awhile since my college
days, but that was quite a few
shekels.
SWAY
Wasn’t mine.
10.
Sway replaces the BIN in the kitchen, rejoins Lisa, who’s

setting up a VOICE RECORDER. They sit across from each other
on the couches.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Richie’ll be back in a sec - How do
you like your coffee? Milk, cream,
sugar, bourbon?
LISA
Black’s good.
Sway uses the REMOTE CONTROL to turn the volume down on the
FLATSCREEN, which is playing last night’s NFL ENTRY DRAFT.
LISA (CONT’D)
Beautiful place, by the way.
SWAY
Thank you. It’s one of the
buildings we reno’d.
LISA
And you got the penthouse.
SWAY
Top of Wayne tower.
LISA
Who?
SWAY
No one.
(Beat)
I have to apologize again though.
Mornings usually aren’t this far
behind the 8-ball.
LISA
Totally understandable.
(Motions to FLATSCREEN)
Especially with that much to
celebrate last night. And another
one today?
SWAY
Yeah. The whole neighbourhood’s
gonna be down at Coach’s monument.
Starts at noon. So...
Sway checks his watch.
SWAY (CONT’D)
We got a solid hour and a half here
before I gotta head down and help
the set-up. You should come with
us. See the people, meet Cy.
11.
LISA
What’s happening, exactly?
SWAY
Well, we’re having a celebration at
our old high school. With Cy going
4th overall last night, it seemed
appropriate to hold at the place
that shaped him. Shaped me. It’s
where The Freeman Project, my
Organization, was created. Based
off our former coach and mentor,
Coach Freeman. Also, Cy’ll be
giving a speech. Which I wrote, so
it’ll kill.
Sway raises the remote, turning up the volume-
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
The Seattle Seahawks, with their
4th round pick... Cyril Drayton!
An AUDIENCE APPLAUSE takes over. Sway smiles, nods at the
screen.
SWAY
Top 5.
LISA
Congratulations. You must be proud.
SWAY
Cy’s worked hard. Overcome more
than most.
Sway hits MUTE on the REMOTE CONTROL.
LISA
I saw you became his legal guardian
from his 5th birthday until his
18th?
SWAY
(Nodding)
You did your research.
LISA
Just what’s online. You’ll have to
fill in the blanks for our
listeners.
SWAY
Listeners?
LISA
Readers.
12.
SWAY
Right. So how do these go? Do you
have questions lined up? Or do you
just press record and let me loose?
LISA
Little of both. Generally, I’ll
start with questions but I like to
let the subject go. Talk about
themselves, their lives. How
they’ve been shaped. Keep it
organic. Fluid.
Sway smiles.
Lisa leans forward to press RECORD, but has one last bit to
introduce-
LISA (CONT’D)
And just so you know, we’re looking
for gritty. We’re looking for real.
One of the women we interviewed
gave us a devastating recounting of
growing up in a cult and being a
pregnancy mule. Another guy told us
about growing up with a neo-nazi
father and brother. The types of
crimes they committed, give you
chills. But mainly, and most
importantly, it shows how far
they’ve come.
SWAY
Dunno if I can top those.
LISA
No one can top Martha. Or Adolfus.
But give us the most interesting
Sway.
Sway smirks.
Richie re-enters, carrying the COFFEE TRAY and placing it
with the TYLENOL on the table.
RICHIE
Sorry to interrupt - Can I grab you
for a minute?
SWAY
We’re just starting.
RICHIE
I wouldn’t ask if...
Richie doesn’t want to continue... Sway takes the privacy
hint.
13.
SWAY
Sorry again. I’ll be right back.
Sway leads Richie around the corner and into the-
INT. KITCHEN - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway, annoyed, wants to get to it-
SWAY
Who’s dead?
What? No, no one’s dead- Then what couldn’t wait an
hour?
Cy. You got ahold of him?
No. But- Then what?
It’s... He’s in trouble. What kind of trouble?
RICHIE
He lost a bet.
On SWAY - That can’t be good.
Leo re-enters the condo, seeing Sway and Richie tucked aside
in tense conversation.
LEO
What’s going on?
SWAY
Did you know about this?
LEO
What?
SWAY
Apparently Cy lost a bet last
night.
LEO
How much he in for?
Sway looks at Richie for a response. Richie doesn’t do well
under the pressure and his voice croaks out-
RICHIE
They won’t say, they’ll only talk
to Cy.
14.
SWAY
And you can’t find him?
LEO
Cy’s missing?
RICHIE
Last night after the draft.
SWAY
Fuck sakes. I don’t have time for
this. Leo, send Moe to Cy’s place.
See if he’s there.
Leo takes out his CELL, makes the call.
SWAY (CONT’D)
What was the bet for?
RICHIE
Cy bet he’d go top 3.
SWAY
Shit.
(Beat)
And when did this happen?
RICHIE
Couple weeks ago him and I were out
and he was - I mean, he had heard
rumblings about going first overall
and he figured he was a shoe-in for
top 3 at least... and he was on a
high and honestly it was like old
Cy - First year college Cy - 10
anchors couldn’t slow him down Cy-
SWAY RICHIE (CONT'D)
I pay you to slow him down. I I know, I know, I’m sorry. He
pay you to keep an eye on him- was on a tear - There was no
stopping him. He had that
vacuum mentality.
The words hit Sway.
Leo finishes the call and checks back in.
SWAY
Wait, was this just the bet, or did
he-
RICHIE
He- He had a little.
SWAY
You let Cy back on the China?
15.
LEO RICHIE
Richie, you dumb fuck. How I didn’t let him on shit -
many times you gonna try to You know Cy, he’s a magician
poison your cash cow- at clubs. Blow just appears
around him and then he
disappears.
Sway squeezes his fists, wanting to unload them on Ritchie.
Leo shakes his head in utter disappointment.
SWAY
How long ago was this?
Approximately.
RICHIE
2 weeks.
SWAY
Okay... Okay, that’s not bad. Has
he had any since?
RICHIE
I don’t know. He’s... Cy, man. He’s
the most functional cokehead I’ve
ever met.
Sway grabs Richie by the throat, presses him to the wall. Leo
tries to ease Sway down.
LEO RICHIE (CONT'D)
Sway - Sway - Not here, not Yes! He’s had some since! I
like this- haven’t seen him do it but I
know what he’s like when he’s
on it and he’s been distant
and agitated all week!
Sway cools off.
SWAY
Get people to find him. Now. All
hands on deck.
LEO
Moe and his crew are at Cy’s now.
No one’s home.
SWAY
All hands, Leo.
LEO
You got it, boss.
RICHIE
You got it boss.
Sway gives Richie cutting eyes.
16.
SWAY
Richie... this is on you to make
right.
RICHIE
I know.
SWAY
He’s giving a speech a noon. That’s
a couple hours away.
RICHIE
I know.
SWAY
Quit saying “you know.” You never
know. You always have to be told-
LEO
(To Richie)
Who’d Cy make the bet with?
RICHIE
Some guy from the west end named
Rez. Er, Reznik. Some shit.
SWAY
What do you know about him?
RICHIE
I heard he’s old school. Old-head
Polish nigga. He’s the kinda bookie
who does his own collections.
Sway thinks on it. Too much to handle right now.
SWAY
You got his number?
RICHIE
Yeah.
SWAY
Okay. Good. Give it to Leo.
(Turning to Leo)
Call Carter. See if you can get
some season tickets for Rez. Field
side at the 50 fucking yard line.
Ask Carter about getting him into
some team practices, dinners. Maybe
we can ease this down a bit. Then
call Rez - See how warm the water
is. Tell him if he wants to talk to
whoever’s paying him to talk to me.
RICHIE
I got this, boss.
17.
SWAY
No. Leo handles this.
RICHIE
Boss. Let me make this right.
Sway thinks on it, exchanges a look with Leo.
SWAY
Fine. Beat your feet.
Sway turns to the living room-
SWAY (CONT’D)
Don’t interrupt again unless
someone’s dead or you’ve gotten
ahold of Cy.
(Whispered to Leo)
Keep the calls moving. I want eyes
everywhere. Find Cy.
Sway continues back to Lisa.

Sway rejoins, downing four TYLENOL and making himself a
coffee.
SWAY
Sorry about that.
LISA
Everything okay?
SWAY
Nope, world’s on fire and they need
Bruce.
LISA
Well, if the world’s on fire...
SWAY
(Smiling)
Where were we?
LISA
We hadn’t really started. So. The
beginning.
SWAY
Alright. The beginning of like-
LISA
I’d like to start with a lightning
round. Kinda warm ourselves up. Get
us loose and smooth.
18.
Sway nods, smiling.

LISA (CONT’D)
Great. Let’s start basic - Name and
age?
SWAY
Sway Drayton- Er, James Drayton. I
go by Sway. And I’m 37 years old.
LISA
Are you married?
The interaction with the Woman at the door hangs between
them, the elephant in the room.
SWAY
Yes.
LISA
How long have you been married?
SWAY
8 years.
LISA
Do you have children?
SWAY
I have a son, Jason. Jay. Who’s 9.
LISA
Favourite sport?
SWAY
Mine or his?
LISA
Yours.
SWAY
Basketball. Don’t tell my brother.
Lisa smiles.
LISA
Your secret’s safe with me.
ON SWAY - His secret...

LISA (CONT’D)
Favourite athlete?
SWAY
Jordan.
19.
LISA
Favourite historical figure?
SWAY
Pheidippides.
LISA
Do you believe in God?
SWAY
Haven’t met him.
LISA
Do you believe in karma?
SWAY
I believe in irony. And no, I don’t
believe in taxes either.
Lisa smiles.
LISA
Would you like you, if you met you?
Sway slows, the deepness of the question sinking in.
SWAY
I’d understand me.
LISA
If you were given a book, and the
contents contained every
conversation that’s ever been had
about you, would you read it?
Sway thinks on it.
SWAY
Yes.
LISA
Why?
SWAY
I need the truth. And anything that
can be destroyed by the truth,
should be.
ON LISA - The answer, very interesting...

LISA
What are you most proud of?
Sway holds, mind racing through the rolodex of his dense
life.
20.
SWAY
My son, Jay. There’s a lot, but
probably him.
LISA
That’s sweet. What was the moment
that had the greatest impact on
your life?
SWAY
The first time I saw someone
murdered.
Lisa’s taken back, not ready for the response.
SWAY (CONT’D)
I was 7. I saw how fragile life
was. How easily it slips away. It
gave me direction.
LISA
What are you most excited for?
SWAY
Seeing my son grow up. But, to keep
the reader entertained...
(Beat)
I’m probably most excited for the
Freeman Project. It’s my life’s
work. It gives people like my son a
chance for a better future. And I
can’t wait to watch it grow.
LISA
Final question: What did you do
when you found out you’d been
selected into GQ’s 40 Under 40?
A smile spreads across Sway’s face.
SWAY
Ya know, I try to instill in my son
that you shouldn’t base your self-
worth off other people’s
expectations. Or approval. But, I
gotta say, when I found out... All
I wanted to do was flex.
Lisa LAUGHS.
SWAY (CONT’D)
But I hugged my son. Kissed my
wife. Bought a new watch and got
back to work.
21.
LISA
Well, James Drayton, known as
“Sway,” welcome to GQ’s 40 Under
40.
Sway raises his COFFEE.
SWAY
Chin, chin.
LISA
Why do they call you Sway?
Sway smirks.
SWAY
It wasn’t my first nickname. When I
was younger - Grade 7 or so - The
kids started calling me ‘Faucet.’
(Beat)
’Cause I was hot and cold on the
court. But that turned into “Sway”
in high school. I like to say it’s
‘cause I was really good at talking
my way out of problems with the
police. But, uh, after home games,
we’d get really high behind the
bleachers. Like 10 of us. And I’d
always get too dim, and my head
would drop, chin would hit my
chest, and I’d just start swaying
back and forth. Totally out of it.
LISA
Oh no...
SWAY
Yeah it was embarrassing. My boys
used to walk behind me in the halls
at school like a bunch of zombies,
just all-
Sway puts his head down and mimics the HIGH SWAY.
SWAY (CONT’D)
And then they started doing it on
the basketball court as a
celebration when I scored. It was
terrible. I prefer Faucet to be
honest.
Lisa LAUGHS along.
LISA
Well, we got the story of the name
down. Let’s move on to you.
Who are you?
22.
SWAY
My history has a long tail. How
much space you got on that thing?
LISA
About 2 gigs.
SWAY
That’s Chapter 1.
(Beat)
I guess to know me, you gotta know
Parkwood.
LISA
Tell it to me like I’m an outsider.
Welcome to Sway’s wheelhouse-
SWAY
Parkwood’s the 21 blocks in the
east end of Lincoln City. Assault
every 16 hours. Rape every 32
hours. Murder every 2 and a half
days. 3200 residences, with
residents numbering between 4000
and 9000 - Impossible to tell in
any of the 13 co-ops. Bed bug
infestation. Disease carried by
rats. Disease carried by
prostitution and drugs. Daily
ambulance visits for overdoses.
Unemployment at 75 percent. Single
parent households at 92 percent.
Property value so low its got boots
with the fur. 1 junior high school,
which has the lowest reading and
math scores in the state. 1 high
school, which is in the worst 5
high schools in the nation for
testing across all courses, and
more violent than the next two high
schools combined and several small
countries. No help from local,
state, or federal governments. Left
to our own devices to murder each
other or ourselves, whichever comes
first. We’re the neighbourhood our
city pretends belongs to a
different one.
In the background, the sun rises, peeking between buildings
and illuminating Parkwood.
Checking that Lisa’s in, hook, line and sinker -- Sway flips
his script.
23.
SWAY (CONT’D)
That was 15 years ago. You can look
out the window from here and see
the changes - But I like to brag,
so - Parkwood now has a full mini-
mall with 23 stores and 2 food
courts. 19 individual stores,
restaurants or outlets spread
through the neighbourhood. 5
converted condo buildings with more
on the way. Renovated apartment
buildings, townhomes, and co-ops. 2
public parks. 2 public gardens. 2
Churches and we’re starting a
fundraiser for a reno on our
community centre. Bed bug and rat
problems solved. We’re down to 38
percent single parent homes, and
dropping. And it’s all been helped
by a special police force that
knows how to deal with residents,
made up of trained officers from
the ‘Wood. They helped drive out
prostitution and drugs. Our junior
high school is top 10 in the state
in math and science scores. And our
high school has a grade increase
across all courses of 20%. We had
to incentivize teachers to come
from out of town, which wasn’t
working. So we hired on tutors to
become teachers, paying them higher
rates than unions would. Then, of
course, there was and is the
incredible sports program and a
football field that’s the pride of
the neighbourhood. Parkwood’s
beating heart.
Sway sips his coffee.
LISA
How? How did you accomplish this
turnaround?
SWAY
Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
It was built every day.
(Beat)
Like any complex issue, it had to
be broken down so we could
understand what the problems were.
Really were. And what it came down
to was the family unit and access
to proper education.
Both were blamed on poverty and the
welfare state was imposed as a
solution to the problem.
(MORE)
24.
SWAY (CONT'D)
And it kept getting pushed, year
after year, with the only question
asked being “what were the
intentions” instead of “what were
the outcomes?” Were less people
going on it? Or were more people
becoming reliant on it? And which
is better for the individual? These
are questions that should be asked,
especially if the taxpayer’s eating
the bill for an increasing demand.
But they aren’t asked. It’s just
assumed the policies are working
because the intentions are
considered ethical.
Lisa sits with it.
LISA
I gotta ask, do you have any plans
to go into politics? You talk like
you’ve won a lot of arguments in
the shower.
SWAY
I spent some time with the city
council, which left me feeling
pessimistic. I found them very
openminded in a close-minded sort
of way. They were very willing to
give careful consideration to both
sides of the same side. Which
happened to not be mine. Any real
push for change was instantly
mired in a bloated burearcractic
inertia.
In the background - All of Parkwood is now visible, the sun
casting down on it.
LISA
So you went your own way?
SWAY
We did. Parkwood, I mean. We wanted
to try something different. I guess
you could say we created work for
each other. As the Freeman Project
opened its Charity Division, more
money flowed in and we could pay in
cash. The neighbourhood really came
together though, everyone
contributed something.
LISA
The Charity division?
25.
SWAY
I set the Freeman fund up after
Coach -
Sway turns solemn.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Well, after he left us. We pushed
our story out and people in the
city started to rally around
Parkwood. The more we grew, the
more they wanted to be a part of
it. We’ve become the fastest
growing charity in the U.S.
LISA
The Freeman Project.
Sway raises his wrist, displaying a FREEMAN PROJECT BRACELET
(LIVESTRONG style).
LISA (CONT’D)
How’d you and your business
partner, Carter Gold, get together?
SWAY
Carter and I met in college, so
those 4 years weren’t a total waste
for me. He’s a brainiac. Graduated
early, headhunted by Wasserman
Media before he got his degree.
He’s one of their top agents now.
LISA
And he represents Cy?
Sway nods.
SWAY
Carter recognizes talent. And
there’s plenty of that in the
‘Wood. I haven’t even started
talking about the other athletes,
or the artists and musicians who’ve
come out of our neighbourhood in
the last 5 years. But if you were
to compare it, per capita, to the
rest of the nation, I’m sure we’d
be top 5.
LISA
Why do you think that is?
SWAY
Hard times create strong people.
And we know hard times. We’re made
of something different.
(MORE)
26.
SWAY (CONT'D)
And the successful people who grew
up here, they’ve been instrumental
in growing the brand.
LISA
Where did the shift come from?
SWAY
Lots of residents wanted change but
when you don’t know anything
different, what can you change to?
LISA
They needed a leader.
Sway nods.
LISA (CONT’D)
And they found one with Coach
Freeman?
Not the name he was expecting, but not wrong.
SWAY
Yeah. I mean, he’d always been
there, but, yeah. Football,
basketball, baseball, track. He
coached everything. He couldn’t
keep everyone off the streets. But
he kept a lot of us on a path no
one told us about. Most of us grew
up without fathers. He simply
became the one we needed. He
offered us somewhere to direct our
energy and talent.
Richie re-enters, his hand over his CELL.
RICHIE
Sway-
SWAY
Richie.
RICHIE
I - Uh - You have a call.
SWAY
Who’s funeral?
RICHIE
I- Uh - No one’s, but... You should
take it.
Sway, annoyed, shrugs to Lisa.
27.
SWAY
My apologies again.
LISA
It’s okay. I’ll be here.
Sway leads Richie into-
INT. BEDROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Where Leo’s waiting, they shut the door.
SWAY
What the fuck did I say, Richie?
RICHIE
I know, I know, but-
SWAY
STOP SAYING YOU KNOW.
(Beat, calming down)
Anyone found Cy yet?
LEO
No one’s got a single lead on him.
SWAY
Fuck. Okay. So what’s this about
then?
Richie and Leo exchange nervous looks. Richie holds up his
CELL, still covering the mouthpiece.
LEO
It’s the bookie.
SWAY
You call Carter?
RICHIE
I did.
SWAY
And?
RICHIE
Didn’t matter. Rez ain’t interested
in bargaining.
Sway SIGHS.
SWAY
(To Leo)
Have any read on him?
28.
LEO
Haven’t spoken to him. Only Richie
has. I got some guys looking into
him.
SWAY
And?
LEO
Nothing yet.
RICHIE
He’s a serious man.
Sway takes the CELL.
SWAY
This is Sway.
Silence. A gruff chuckle.
REZNIK (V.O.)
I’m looking for Cyril.
SWAY
I handle his business enquiries.
What can I do for you?
REZNIK (V.O.)
I’m looking for him. Not his
assistant.
SWAY REZNIK (V.O.)
He’s busy and behind closed Yeah, I’m sure he’s not elbow
doors. Now can I help- deep in some tranny right
now.
SWAY
Watch your fuckin’ mouth.
REZNIK (V.O.)
Or what?
SWAY
I don’t know you. I don’t know why
my brother made a bet with you but
the situation’s passed that. I’m
interested in getting you paid and
out of our lives. Starts and stops
there. Now, what kind of money is
he into you for-
REZNIK (V.O.)
Let me stop you there. I’m not
looking for money.
29.
SWAY
Why’d you call?
REZNIK (V.O.)
Am I speaking to a child?
SWAY
You’re listening like one.
REZNIK (V.O.)
I’m looking for Cyril.
Silence.
SWAY
To what purpose?
REZNIK (V.O.)
So he can pay off his debt.
SWAY
So it is about money.
REZNIK (V.O.)
It’s not. You bet with what you
have, and he didn’t.
SWAY
So, what, you’re gonna beat him up?
Break his knees? Arms? You’re
walking away from a monster
paycheque to prove a point?
REZNIK (V.O.)
Where’s your brother?
SWAY
What the fuck is this? I told you
we’ll pay. There’s no problem here,
he made a bet - Lost - And now
we’ll pay.
REZNIK (V.O.)
Your brother.
Angry now, Sway boils over.
SWAY
I don’t give a fuck who you think
you are - If you’re not interested
in getting paid, then fuck off.
CLICK. Sway hangs up. Falls back on his words, regretting.
Richie and Leo watch, worried.
30.
SWAY (CONT’D)
(To Leo)
Shit. Okay, call up Dre. Wahib.
Make sure they’re strapped at the
monument 20 minutes ago. Then get
Moe’s whole crew, and have them
canvas Parkwood for Cy.
LEO
You got it Boss.
Leo takes his cell out of the room to make the call.
SWAY
(To Richie)
Call Carter back. He’s got a guy
who can look into Rez quick. I need
you to find out everything you can
about him. Go.
Ritchie head nods and gets back on his CELL.
Sway eyes his CELL - All the missed calls from NATALIE.
DIALS NATALIE
RING, RING... CLICK
NATALIE (V.O.) SWAY (CONT'D)
James Drayton I was just Baby, I can’t talk long. I am
about to put your face on a so sorry - I’ve been curled
milk carton! Where have you up under the toilet all
been?! night. Coming out both ends.
I gotta get back to this
interview. I just wanted to
call and say hi and I’m okay.
No! Awww are you alright? I don’t know, I was out with
What happened? Richie after the draft at 4th
And Wolf and I started
feeling real sick. He got me
back here and left me in the
bathroom.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Baby... You should go to the
hospital that sounds serious.
SWAY
It’s clearing up alright, I might
later this afternoon. But I gotta
get back to the interview-
31.
NATALIE (V.O.)
How’re you still doing the
interview? The celebration’s in a
few hours!
SWAY NATALIE (V.O.)
I’ve cancelled on them twice. You couldn’t just do it over
They gotta go to print next the phone?
month and I’m booked up until
2046.
SWAY
They insisted on in-person. Baby, I
gotta go-
The PHONE’s jostled, and Natalie’s VOICE is replaced by
JAY’s.
JAY (V.O.)
Daddy?! Where are you?
SWAY JAY (V.O.)
I’m just at the condo right You weren’t here this
now, buddy, I had to- morning.
Sway stares at the FAMILY PHOTO on his wall. Guilt hitting
hard.
SWAY
I know, daddy had some work he had
to come in for, but I’ll see you at
the monument in a bit, okay?
JAY (V.O.)
I can still bring Bruiser, right?
SWAY
Of course, buddy. Just keep him on
the leash.
JAY (V.O.)
He’s so silly, dad. He keeps trying
to eat my shoelaces!
ON THE FAMILY PHOTO -- Sway’s reflection in it. His eyes.
Glassy with tears.
JAY (V.O.) RICHIE (O.S.)
Daddy? Sway-
Sway snaps back, wiping his eyes.
SWAY
I gotta take off buddy, but give
your mom a squeeze from me,
alright. Love you.
32.
JAY (V.O.)
Love you daddy-
Sway hangs up and turns on Richie.
SWAY
You couldn’t possibly have made
that call already.
RICHIE
I did but didn’t get a word out.
Richie holds out his phone to Sway.
Sway eyes Lisa in the other room. SIGHS.
SWAY
Keep her entertained.
RICHIE
You got it, boss.
Sway takes the CELL, Carter erupting like the Ivy League,
popped-collar he was born to be-
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)
Hey Carter, what’s- You cocksucker where the fuck
have you been?! I’ve been
calling you every hour on the
Goddamn hour.
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)
I know, I know. I got food Food poisoning? I’m not your
poisoning last night and just fuckin’ girlfriend, you don’t
getting my head back. need to lie to me. No one
gets food poisoning.
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)
Well I fucking did alright. What were you in, fuckin’
India? Christ - You talked to
Cy?
SWAY
No, Richie’s trying to track him
down. Have you?
CARTER (V.O.)
No, apparently everyone got fucking
food poisoning last night because
NO ONE WANTS TO CALL ME THE FUCK
BACK.
SWAY
We’re on the phone now! What the
fuck is it?
33.
CARTER (V.O.)
Wanna know what the fuck it is? We
have Goliath Equity coming this
morning. THAT’S what the fuck it
is, slick.
Sway has to catch his breath from the news.
SWAY
They’re coming?
CARTER (V.O.)
They’ll be there at noon.
Sway fist pumps. BIG NEWS.
SWAY
That’s great news.
CARTER (V.O.)
Yeah, no kidding. And they wanna
meet your brother. So you better
pull Cyril out of whatever Caligula
style pretzel orgy he’s in and
paint a fucking three-piece on him.
SWAY
He’ll be there.
CARTER (V.O.) SWAY (CONT'D)
He fucking better be there. I said he’ll be there.
CARTER (V.O.)
Good. Now, why the fuck is your
moron assistant asking me about
season ticks for some bookie?
SWAY
Christ... Cy made a bet about the
Draft.
CARTER (V.O.)
And he lost? How much he in for?
SWAY
Don’t know. They won’t say.
CARTER (V.O.)
And no one can find him?
SWAY
Not yet.
CARTER (V.O.)
How do we know the bookie hasn’t
found him?
34.
SWAY
‘Cause the bookie’s looking for him
too.
CARTER (V.O.)
Should I be making some calls? I
can get some ex-pats, former
special ops guys, or-
SWAY
No. No. Maybe. Yeah. I dunno. Keep
the idea on speed dial. Let’s try
to find Cy first and move from
there.
CARTER (V.O.)
When did you say this happened? The
bet?
SWAY
Couple weeks ago.
CARTER (V.O.)
And where was Richie for it?
SWAY
He was there.
CARTER (V.O.)
How many fucking times...
SWAY
I know...
CARTER (V.O.)
You needa cut Richie loose after
this.
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)
I’m gonna have a talk with- I’m fucking serious. I know
you feel protective of him
and everything... But the
guy’s a fucking iceberg.
SWAY CARTER (CONT'D)
I’ll handle it. Don’t just say you’re gonna
handle it-
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)
I’m fucking handling it Fuck off.
nigga.
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)
Go fuck yourself. No, you go fuck me yourself
you coward. And start
answering your Goddamn-
35.
SWAY CARTER (V.O.)

Call ya back, ya piece of You better! And tell your
shit. wife to stop calling me when
you’re not home-
CLICK. Sway takes a moment to himself before jumping back in.

Sway returns to find Richie and Lisa CHATTING. Richie gets
up, giving Sway his seat back. Sway nods for Richie to take a
hike.
LISA
Called everyone in the phone book,
did ya?
SWAY
Unbelievable. I can’t apologize
enough.
LISA
Not a problem.
SWAY
I think the whole world’s awake
now. Where were we?
LISA
You were telling me about your
childhood.
SWAY
Is that what I was doing?
LISA
That’s how I remember it.
SWAY
Okay.
(Beat)
Well, wasn’t really much childhood
to speak of. I grew up quick. I
remember being hungry a lot. Most
nights we didn’t have food, was a
“find your own way” type household,
from the beginning. And we found
our way.
LISA
What was the house like? Single
mother?
Sway nods, obviously.
36.
SWAY
Never knew dad. Even his name. Our
mother worked nights. Had a
conveyor belt of irresponsible
boyfriends that’d eat whatever was
in the house, shoot up, sometimes
dealt outta the basement. They were
angry people. Took out their own
childhoods on Cy and me. Mostly on
our mom. Had this one asshole,
Warren, who had these old
handcuffs. He said he’d stolen them
from a cop back in the day. He’d
handcuff me to the radiator while
he went to town on my mom. The last
time he did, he went at her with a
coat hanger, and I sat there and
watched. Listened to her scream for
me - For anyone. And the worst
part... The handcuffs didn’t even
lock. I was just too scared to
check.
LISA
I’m sorry. That’s horrible.
SWAY
Built a lot of character. You see
Cy on the field, he can take a
beating. That was burned into him
from an early age. He’s not afraid
of anything.
LISA
Are you?
Sway thinks back to Reznik.
SWAY
Cy. Sometimes. The sky’s too low
for him.
LISA
Think he’ll reach too high?
SWAY
Or fall too hard. I’m his older
brother. Always gonna worry about
him.
LISA
Was there a final push to adopt
him? A last straw?
SWAY
Yeah. One night, Mom never came
home.
37.
LISA
I’m sorry.
SWAY
Looking back, it was a blessing. We
loved her in the basic ways, but...
Some animals were born to be on the
plate. She couldn’t help herself.
ON LISA -- Pretty inhumane way to talk about your mother. But
moves on.
LISA
I’m interested to hear more about
Coach Freeman.
SWAY
Sure, what would you like to know?
LISA
He clearly played a large role in
your upbringing. Cyril’s too. And
the neighbourhood. His death must
have been catastrophic for you and
the community.
SWAY
It was an atomic bomb on our world.
LISA
Can you tell me what that was like?
The aftermath of his murder?
Sway swallows hard, clams up.
Lisa taps the STOP BUTTON on the RECORDER.
LISA (CONT’D)
Remember what I said about the
nitty gritty?
Sway nods.
LISA (CONT’D)
You’re already on the 40 Under 40
list, Sway. But do you want people
to remember you from it? Or do you
just wanna be filler between the
pregnancy mule and the survivor of
the neo-nazi family?
Sway thinks on it.
TAP, the RECORDER resumes.
38.
SWAY
It was the team’s last home game of
the season. Cy’s last home game at
Parkwood. And Coach’s last home
game before retirement. We were
undefeated that season and there
was a big celebration planned after
the game. We had high hopes for
nationals and really wanted Coach’s
last year to be something special.
For him to go out on top.
Sway’s pulled back into sad memories.
SWAY (CONT’D)
The school had put some money
together and purchased a 12 foot
tall bronze statue of Coach. We’d
dug up a hole at the front of the
school to cement the foundation for
the statue, and it was supposed to
be unveiled that night at the game,
but there was a problem with the
cement mixer so we had to postpone
it until the following morning.
Coach never got to see it. But the
monument became a symbol of hope
for the neighbourhood. It’s what we
rally behind.
Sway raises his COFFEE to sip, but realizes it’s empty. Pours
more, taking a moment to himself.
LISA
How’d it happen?
SWAY
What?
LISA
His death.
Sway takes a breath.
SWAY
He was shot to death in the parking
lot walking to his car after the
game. He never saw the monument.
Sway rubs his face, not enjoying the walk down memory lane.
SWAY (CONT’D)
The reveal had to be postponed
again. School was cancelled and we
all just... it was bad. We’d been
doing so well as a community, but
that day there was something down
below looking up at us.
39.
LISA
What was he like before the
shooting?
SWAY
Coach? Everyone loved him. Growing
up, most of my interactions with
white folks were the police or
banks. Which is to say, not great.
He made me realize there was a lot
more to people.
LISA
Do you have any idea why he was
murdered?
Sway shrugs, melancholy.
SWAY
Heard theories. Mugging gone wrong.
Gang initiation. Walked in on a
drug deal.
LISA
What was the prevalent theory in
the neighbourhood?
SWAY
I don’t think there was 1 more than
another.
LISA
For a personal killing, I would
think-
SWAY
Who said it was personal?
LISA
The police report stated he was
shot 8 times. With a Smith and
Wesson Model 36 snub nose, I
believe. Those guns only carry 5
rounds. Which means it was
reloaded.
ON SWAY, surprised at her knowledge.
LISA (CONT’D)
I read up on it last night.
SWAY
Yeah. That could be looked at as
personal.
40.
LISA
What’re your thoughts on the theory
surrounding Wesley Mills?
FLASHBACK - WESLEY MILLS, 30’s, CRACK HEAD AND FORMER
ATHLETE, sits behind the wheel of an old Cutlass Classic.
BACK ON SWAY.
SWAY
It’s another theory.
LISA
And?
SWAY
Could be true.
LISA
I’m asking what you think. I’m
asking you to speculate. You don’t
need to back it up with anything -
I’m more just interested in your
theory.
Sway eyes Richie.
LISA (CONT’D)
The reason I’m asking is, Parkwood,
formerly a hyper violent community,
went pretty close to cold-turkey
for several years. Then Coach
Freeman gets murdered, a former
student, Salim Mohammed, gets
murdered the following night, and
another former student, Wesley
Mills, disappears.
Sway nods uncomfortably.
LISA (CONT’D)
Seems to me it’s likely they’re
related.
SWAY
If there’s evidence relating all
three, sure. But you mentioned
Coach was shot with a snub nose.
From my recollection in the reports
Salim was shot with a Glock. Once.
The M.O.’s don’t really line up.
LISA
Did you know Wesley Mills or Salim
Mohammed?
41.
SWAY
I knew both. Wesley I knew real
well. I grew up with him. He was my
best friend. Played ball with him.
He’s one of the reasons I’m so
close with Richie.
Sway motions to Richie.
LISA
Right, Wes was Richie’s brother.
Sway nods.
SWAY
Wes woulda kept an eye on Cy if I
was gone.
Now Salim, I didn’t know him as
well. He was younger than me so I
missed him at Parkwood. But he
played ball and was one of the top
runners on the team, from what I
heard. Coach had high hopes for
him. But no one saw Salim much
after grade 12. I thought he’d
moved out of Parkwood, then I heard
his body was found. It was sad to
hear.
LISA
Reminded you of the old days.
SWAY
In Parkwood, hell’s not a far drop.
Lisa nods, understanding.
LISA
Do you think Wes was responsible
for Coach Freeman and Salim
Mohammed’s murders?
Sway, more than uncomfortable now, gives Richie eyes - What
is this?!
LISA (CONT’D)
He was the investigation’s top
suspect. A former student. Knew
both Coach Freeman and Salim.
SWAY
In Parkwood, everyone has
connections to everyone else. I
think the timing is curious. Both
the murders happening and then Wes
disappearing.
(MORE)
42.
SWAY (CONT'D)
Could that be evidence? Sure. Could
it also be a coincidence? Sure.
LISA
Police didn’t seem to think it was
coincidence. They went pretty far
in trying to track down Wesley but
came up empty-handed.
Sway shrugs.
LISA (CONT’D)
I feel like you’re shying away from
this-
SWAY
It’s not that I’m shying away, I
just know how Coach was looked at
in our community. For someone to
personally hate Coach that much...
I don’t know. He just... He was
loved by everyone. No one who knew
him would do that. Which is why,
despite coincidences, despite the 8
shots, makes me think it was
random. We’ve had gang initiations
in the past that had young punks
accepted only after stabbing
someone a specific number of times.
Then there’s also the question of
what if the person who killed Coach
wanted it to look personal when in
reality, it wasn’t.
LISA
Interesting.
LEO (O.S.)
Sway-
Leo’s back, standing in the doorway, his hand over his CELL.
And his eyes WIDE. Sway sees the look and gets up right away-
SWAY
I’ll take it in there. Excuse me.
Sway nods to Richie to sit down and chat with Lisa.
Sway follows Leo into the -

SWAY
Who is it?
43.
LEO
Natalie. Shit’s going down-
SWAY
What’s wrong?!
SWAY (CONT'D) NATALIE (V.O.)
Hey baby, what’s up- (Hushed, frantic)
There’s men outside our
fucking house. They keep
walking up to our windows and
looking inside!
SWAY NATALIE (CONT'D)
Whoa, whoa, what the fuck are There’s like 8 of them. They
you talking about?! have these two panel vans out
front they keep going back
to!
SWAY
What do they look like?
NATALIE
Big guys. Covered in tattoos. Like
movers. But they’re not movers.
SWAY
Where are you right now?
NATALIE (V.O.)
Upstairs in our bathroom! Jay’s got
the pup in our bedroom.
SWAY
Did you take out the .45?
No, I wanted to talk to you Get the fucking gun out.
first-
NATALIE (V.O.)
Okay, okay I’m getting it.
Sway hears Natalie moving into the bedroom, talking with Jay-
NATALIE (V.O.)
Baby, go sit on the other side of
the bed, alright? Mommy’s gotta get
something over here...
Richie enters, feeling the tension.
RICHIE
What the fuck’s going on?
44.
Sway tries to calm himself, but his hands squeeze into fists,
seething. He covers the CELL, speaks to Richie.
SWAY
(To Richie)
Call up Moe and his guys and get
them to my house right now.
(To Leo)
Go to my house and stay there with
Natalie.
LEO
On it! But I need my phone-
SWAY
Fuck, shit!
(To Natalie)
Just switching phones, call you in
a sec.
Sway hangs up and hands it to Leo, who rushes out of the
room. Sway takes out his own cell and dials Natalie.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Baby?
SWAY
It’s me.
RICHIE
Sway - Moe and his guys are at the
monument-
Sway, covering the phone-
SWAY
I KNOW! GET THEM TO MY FUCKING
HOUSE RIGHT NOW!
RICHIE
Okay, okay!
SWAY
And make sure they’re walking in
strapped! Go!
Richie pulls out his CELL and dials MOE.
Sway checks back into his call-
NATALIE (V.O.)
Okay I got it. Babe? Babe??
45.
SWAY
Moe and his guys are on the way
over now and Leo’ll be there
shortly. Stay upstairs in the
bedroom, keep the door locked.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Should I call the cops?
SWAY
No. Leo will take care of it.
NATALIE (V.O.)
What if - what if they come in
before Leo or Moe get here?
SWAY
The gun loaded?
NATALIE (V.O.)
Yeah.
SWAY
Okay, keep the safety on until you
need it. You know where the safety
is?
NATALIE (V.O.)
Yeah.
SWAY
Are the doors locked?
NATALIE (V.O.)
Yeah.
SWAY
Then the only way they come in is
if they break in. And if they break
in, the safety comes off.
A deep, frightened SIGH from Natalie.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Baby, you won’t have to shoot it.
The gun is just your support. Your
words are the weapons.
NATALIE (V.O.)
What am I supposed to say?
SWAY
If they break in, point the gun in
the biggest guy’s face and say:
“Leave your drivers licenses on the
floor, go back out the way you
came, don’t ever come back.
(MORE)
46.
SWAY (CONT'D)
And if you do, I promise you, my
husband will find you and burn down
your homes with your families
inside them.” And if he does
anything other than turn and walk
away, you blow his fucking face
off.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Baby...
SWAY
Nat, you need to talk to them like
they’ve already burned our house
down and raped all your relatives.
They need to hear anger in your
voice. Don’t waver. You waver, they
don’t take you seriously. They
don’t take you seriously, they’re
gonna take you and Jay.
Okay. Baby... just pretend it’s me
leaving the fridge door open.
Silence. A nervous GIGGLE.
SWAY (CONT’D) NATALIE (V.O.)
That’s right, let me hear You suck.
that laugh.
SWAY
I know. But Leo and Moe and his
crew are gonna be there soon.
They’ll call you when it’s clear to
come out.
A SIGH of relief from Natalie.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Thank you.
SWAY
Stay upstairs, keep Jay calm.
Nothing bad’s gonna happen.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Okay.
SWAY
Call me when Leo or Moe get there.
Or if anything else happens.
NATALIE (V.O.)
I will. Baby?
47.
SWAY
Yeah?
NATALIE (V.O.)
Are these men here for you?
Sway goes silent.
SWAY
Not me. Cy.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Why would they come here?
SWAY
We’re the only family he has.
Richie returns, his hand covering the CELL RECEIVER and a
nervous look across his face.
SWAY (CONT’D)
I gotta go. Call me when Moe’s
there.
NATALIE (V.O.)
I will. I love you.
SWAY
Love you too.
Sway hangs up-
SWAY (CONT’D)
Talk to Moe?
RICHIE
Yeah, yeah they’re on the way to
your house.
Sway’s CELL starts to vibrate. He checks the DISPLAY, seeing

a strange number.
SWAY
Who the fuck...
(Answering)
Hello?
WOMAN (V.O.)
Morning handsome. Miss me?
ON SWAY - The VOICE is familiar. Sway goes quiet.
WOMAN (V.O.)
It’s Jade.
48.
SWAY
I don’t know any Jade’s.
WOMAN/JADE (V.O.)
You knew me last night. In the
elevator. In the shower. And then
in your bed.
Sway pulls the CELL AWAY - FUCK.
SWAY
How’d you get this number?
JADE (V.O.)
Picked up one of your business
cards on my way out.
SWAY
Look, last night was an accident. I
don’t remember it and I’m not sure
what else to say. But, please, lose
my phone number.
Sway hangs up.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Fuckin’ psychos...
(To Richie)
Any word on Cy?
RICHIE
Still MIA.
DING. A PHOTO TEXT comes in. From the UNKNOWN NUMBER.
The TEXT: How much is this worth to you?
The PHOTO’s a selfie, taken by Jade - The WOMAN from last
night - of her with Sway, arms around each other and making
out in the elevator.
SWAY
Oh, shit.
RICHIE
What?
Richie tries to see the CELL. Sway turns it away.
SWAY
Nothing. What’s Reznik’s number?
Richie opens his CELL, finds it.
49.
RICHIE
405-267-4324.
Sway dials.
SWAY
Call Natalie. Stay on with her
until Leo or Moe gets there.
Richie dials Natalie.
REZNIK (V.O.)
This is Rez-
SWAY
Get every one of your dogs away
from my family right fucking now.
REZNIK (V.O.)
Starting to get the picture?
SWAY
I’m serious - You don’t know me, I
will go to war with you-
REZNIK (V.O.)
Two years ago. Final four. Biggest
underdog story in the last three
decades of college football. With a
hot, young quarterback who threw
more TD’s than his opponents threw
completions. Had the game of his
life. And he was only a junior. We
lost more on that game than we did
all year. The following year, this
hot young quarterback comes back,
and we decide to bet on his team
this time. But this year, he throws
more interceptions than TD’s. And
we’re out even more money.
(Beat)
You can’t imagine the excitement I
felt when I saw the same hot young
quarterback walk into that bar 2
weeks ago looking for coke and
pussy. Like it was fucking
Christmas.
SWAY
The Orange Bowl.
(Beat)
So you really never wanted money.
REZNIK (V.O.)
If he had paid up last night, I
woulda walked away with his cash.
Now I get to walk away with a
smile.
50.
SWAY
If you do anything - ANYTHING - to
my brother or my family - I don’t
care what I’ll lose — I’ll forget
it all and come at you like the
fucking plague. There won’t be a
person you know who doesn’t suffer.
Reznik goes quiet, his pack-of-cigarrettes-before-breakfast
breathing rasps from the receiver.
Did Sway talk his way out...
REZNIK (V.O.)
Ya know what I’ve learned about
doing this job? You can beat a man
into a coma. Into a wheelchair.
Hell, into an early retirement. But
a couple months later, they’ll be
back and knocking at your door with
a gun trying to get you back for
the ass-whoopin’ you gave’m. Only
way to avoid that... is to destroy
the man’s soul. You see it in
prison all the time - The one’s
who’ve been held down in the
showers. It’s in their eyes. Like
they’ve been to war and lost, but
kept on living. A shadow of a
shadow. And you don’t come back
from that. Now, do I end up with
the coupla grand that’s owed? Maybe
not. But everyone on the street
knows. So when people come to bet
with us, they know what the fourth
quarter looks like on our end.
Sway loses his temper in a controlled outburst:
SWAY
Then come see me this morning and
find out what my fourth quarter
looks like motherfucker. I’ll dog-
walk you across the city I run.
CLICK.
Sway pulls the CELL away, a tremble moving through his body.
The words stick in him. Claw in him.
Richie, no longer on the phone with Natalie-
RICHIE
What he say?
Sway stares at Richie — Could knock his block off.
51.
SWAY
Having you around is like losing
three good men, Richie. If these
motherfuckers show up, first shots
better be outta your gun.
They won’t make it to the Call everyone we know. Block
start of the block, boss- off the streets leading to
Parkwood High. You see any
panel vans, they get turned
back. Anyone we don’t know,
they get turned back. Only
our people get through.
Everyone else gets turned
BACK!
RICHIE
Okay, I got it!
SWAY
Any word on Cy?
RICHIE
Still nothing.
SWAY
Fuck. Did you tell Carter to get
his sleuthing guy?
RICHIE
Shit...
SWAY
Come the fuck on, Richie...
Where are Moe and his guys?
RICHIE
They just got to Nat’s. The vans
must have taken off. Leo’s there
too. They’re with Nat and Jay.
SWAY
Good. Call her and tell her she’s
with Leo for the rest of the
morning. Until I get to her. And
get Carter on his sleuthing guy.
Richie leaves, CELL to his ear.
Sway takes out his CELL again, opens the PICTURE TEXT from
Jade -- Jade’s pulling Sway in, kissing. His hand squeezing
her ass, with her hand guiding it there. Sway’s face is just
visible enough in its twisted drunkenness to identify. As is
his personalized watch.
PLINK. A new TEXT: $50k to keep quiet.
52.
Sway SCOFFS at the number.

PLINK. Per month.
SWAY (CONT’D)
(To himself)
This bitch...
Sway pockets the CELL, pushing the situation further under
the rug. He checks his watch: 8:30 am.
Sway looks out into the living room -- Lisa sits, waiting.
She smiles.

Sway re-enters, shrugging sheepishly.
SWAY
Starting to think we should have
rescheduled.
LISA
Everything we’ve gotten has been
great.
SWAY LISA (CONT'D)
I think we left off with my I’m really curious about the
predictions about next years Freeman Fund.
Super Bowl line-up.
SWAY
Okay.
LISA
The funding. What kind of money
comes into the charity? Everything
you’ve talked about is so
incredible - But I gotta think it
would take a load of capital to get
started.
SWAY
You’re not wrong. It takes a lot.
We’re very fortunate to have the
people we have doing the work they
do. We have charity collectors that
go out every day to all parts of
the city. We have a huge presence
online with FreemanProject.com
where we sell apparel, give info on
the school’s teams, home games, and
accept donations.
(MORE)
53.
SWAY (CONT'D)
We also have support from people
like Stella Grooves, War’n Chainz,
Kush Purp, Layla Gomez, all kinds
of artists and athletes that came
out of the ‘Wood in the past
decade. They got out because of
programs like the ones we offered.
So now they donate a good chunk and
they rep us on a global scale,
which is worth even more. And it
all goes back into the
neighbourhood.
LISA
That’s a lot of support.
SWAY
We have a lot of expenses. So we -
That’s Carter and me - Started a
land development firm. And we used
Parkwood as our guinea pig. People
like being a part of something when
it’s built. All the people who put
money towards Parkwood get one of
our Freeman Project bracelets, and
their name carved into the Donators
Wall outside Parkwood High. That
way they can have a part of
Parkwood, and Parkwood can have a
part of them.
LISA
Tell me more about Carter.
SWAY
He’s my Wozniak. Genius level. His
family’s tied in with
transportation unions, which helps
us move materials for our
properties. They were also the
first investors. Helped us get the
foundation set up. Then Coach
passed... And we decided the best
way to honour him, was to remember
him. Hence the brand name.
Lisa smiles, an odd smile... Understanding, but not
believing.
LISA
I’d like to circle back to crime in
Parkwood.
SWAY
Okay.
54.
LISA
Why do you think people resort to
crime instead of finding an
occupation?
SWAY
Crime is an occupation, it just
happens to be a high-risk one that
plays by the opposite rules of law-
abiding ones.
LISA
How’d you manage to drive the crime
out of Parkwood?
SWAY
As it turned out, we had more than
a few residents who worked security
in the past. Even a few vets. They
were people who wanted
responsibility, just didn’t know
how to take it or direct it. So we
got them licensed, then employed
other residents to design and
create uniforms.
LISA
How did they become licensed?
SWAY
We paid for training and associated
tests. We knew security was a
paramount base structure for
Parkwood to succeed. We set up
sting operations to catch the
larger criminals who were still
there. Offered decreases in rent
and grocery subsidies - until we
could afford to pay actual wages -
for info that would lead us to
them.
LISA
Getting neighbours to snitch on
neighbours.
SWAY
Getting law-abiding citizens to
help identity non-law-abiding
citizens. But it wasn’t just about
that. You can’t cut the rot out of
a fruit and put it back in the
fridge. Like I said, this comes
back to Parkwood’s population
collectively wanting something
different.
55.
LISA
Where did the drugs and
prostitution go?
SWAY
Prison, rehab. Most were arrested,
but... Couldn’t say where the rest
ended up.
LISA
You’re not worried that you just
pushed Parkwood’s problems into
another neighbourhood?
SWAY
Are you referring to a
neighbourhood in particular?
LISA
No, not one specifically. But that
kinda thing doesn’t disappear
without reappearing.
SWAY
I can say it hasn’t reappeared in
Parkwood.
LISA
Hm.
Lisa takes a moment, thinking. She reaches into her LAPTOP
BAG and takes out a FOLDER. She pulls out THREE PHOTOGRAPHS.
One PHOTO is of a BLACK MALE in his 20’s. The other two are
STUDENT PHOTOS, one of a TEEN BOY and one of a TEEN GIRL.
LISA (CONT’D)
Have you ever seen any of these
people?
Sway looks at the PHOTOS hard, but shakes his head.
LISA (CONT’D)
Hm.
Sway now becomes antsy, shifting in his seat. Lisa leaves the
PHOTOS on the table.
LISA (CONT’D)
Can you tell me about the fire in
the H-Block section of Parkwood
last March?
ON SWAY - That’s out of left field. But he rebounds.
56.
SWAY
Uh, sure. There was a freak
accident in one of our buildings.
LISA
A freak accident?
SWAY
Yes.
LISA
Is it true that the local police
weren’t allowed to investigate?
SWAY
Had nothing to do with being
allowed. Parkwood PD were the first
ones on the scene and helped the
city’s fire department put out the
blaze. We cooperated with local
PD’s when they arrived. But we did
conduct our own investigation.
LISA
And what of the rumours that it was
a fire from a basement meth lab in
one of the buildings being Reno’d.
Sway shakes his head.
SWAY
Yeah, I heard that one. I also
heard it was some sort of gang
retaliation. An ex-pat building an
IED. A myth about a fire witch
seeking revenge. Lotta rumours
about that one. But no. Nothing
quite so interesting.
LISA
So, what happened?
SWAY
It was an electrical fire I
believe. Faulty wiring.
Unfortunately, things we were only
days away from fixing.
LISA
So drugs have been completely
eradicated from Parkwood?
SWAY
I can’t tell you what every single
resident does or doesn’t do.
(MORE)
57.
SWAY (CONT'D)
I can say there is zero organized
crime, including drugs and
prostitution here.
LISA
Have you ever heard of Devil’s
Teardrops?
SWAY
Yes.
LISA
What is it?
SWAY
I believe it’s a type of super-
charged meth.
LISA
Where was it created?
SWAY
What’re you doing? You already know
- Right? So why are you asking?
What is this-
LISA
I’m just saying - It’s shown up in
Wilton County. Hilden Hills.
Cypress. West Point. Inner cities
in various directions across the
state. But none here. Where it
originated.
SWAY
And your point?
LISA
Seems the drugs haven’t ended,
they’ve just been moved to a new
place. Or, sorry, places.
SWAY
I said they ended in Parkwood. Not
every other inner city with their
own crime and drug problems.
LISA
Of course. But do you feel any
responsibility? Other
neighbourhood’s turning into what
yours was because of what was
created in yours?
58.
SWAY
Do I feel any responsibility? I
take as much responsibility as I
can handle for the things I’m
responsible for. How other cities
or neighbourhoods handle their drug
problems does not fall on my moral
counter-
Richie enters from the Bedroom, cupping his hand over his
CELL.
RICHIE
Sway.
Sway gets up, his patience disappearing with Lisa.
SWAY
‘Scuse me.
Sway follows Richie into-

SWAY RICHIE
Who the fuck does this bitch Sway. Sway, Sway-
think she is? She’s digging
into our shit like a fucking
bloodhound, this should be a
Goddamn fluff piece-
SWAY
Who is it?
RICHIE
Carter.
SWAY
Better be good news.
CARTER (V.O.)
Should I hang up then?
SWAY
What is it?
CARTER (V.O.)
Still can’t find Cy.
SWAY
Fuck.
59.
CARTER (V.O.)
And I got Rez’s number from Richie,
but it just rings.
SWAY
Did Richie ask you about that
internet sleuth?
CARTER (V.O.)
Who? Deadlock6969? Naw, Richie
didn’t mention anything. Want me to
reach out?
Sway hits Richie in the shoulder, HARD.
SWAY
Yeah get him on this.
CARTER (V.O.)
On it. But that won’t help us this
morning. You two have to be at the
monument soon.
SWAY
Shit.
CARTER (V.O.)
May want to think of postponing
this.
SWAY
Keep looking. Get everyone to keep
looking.
Sway’s CELL VIBRATES. He checks it, but it’s UNKNOWN.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Shit - I got a call from an
unknown. Could be Cy. I’ll call you
back-
CARTER (V.O.)
Yeah make sure you fucking do-
Sway switches to his CELL.
SWAY
This is Sway.
JADE (V.O.)
Don’t even fucking think about
hanging up on me again.
SWAY
What’re you on a new phone?
60.
JADE (V.O.)
Just calling to collect.
SWAY
Yeah, right, 50k a month, that’s
what you said?
JADE (V.O.)
You got it.
SWAY
Yeah, that’s not happening. I don’t
have that kind of money. You might
as well be asking for a million a
month. Or a billion. Just as
likely.
JADE (V.O.)
You have connections to your
charity.
SWAY
You think I’m gonna syphon money
from my charity to keep you quiet?
JADE (V.O.)
Your words.
ON SWAY, angry and over it. He considers his position between
the rock and hard place.
SWAY
Okay.
JADE (V.O.)
Okay?
SWAY
Okay, release the photo.
A beat of silence. Nothing from Jade.
JADE (V.O.)
I’m not bluffing. I’ll send it to
your wife-
SWAY
Neither am I. I’m not gonna be a
prisoner to some fucking catfish.
What happens next month when you
decide you want more? And the
following month? No. You don’t get
a penny. Do what you want.
JADE (V.O.)
You think this stops at your wife?
61.
ON SWAY - Huh?
JADE (V.O.)
You can’t imagine the nightmare I
have planned for you if you don’t
roll over on your back and pay up.
SWAY JADE (V.O.)
Listen up you fucking psycho - Ya know, that’s exactly how
You’re not getting paid a I’d expect an abuser to talk
cent from me. So crawl back to someone he just abused.
under-
SWAY
Oh fuck off, I didn’t touch you-
JADE (V.O.)
I’m covered in bruises, Sway.
SWAY
Not from me.
JADE (V.O.)
That’s not what I’ll say.
SWAY
Whatever you say won’t hold up to
shit.
JADE (V.O.)
Of course it will. Especially after
I sit on the wrong end of a wine
bottle and really cause some damage
down there. Wait ‘till I show up at
the monument this morning in the
middle of your brother’s speech.
I’ll be with my friends carrying
posters with your face on it and
the word RAPIST written in red.
When I’m done with you, there’ll be
a fucking crater where your life
was.
Sway nearly explodes in anger, barely stifles it.
JADE (V.O.)
Also, it’s fucking adorable that
you think that’s the only picture I
took. You haven’t even seen the
ones I took in the shower, yet.
Silence. Sway keeps taking the hits.
JADE (V.O.)
Still there?
(Beat)
Hello?
62.
Sway lets the CELL drop from his ear, hangs up. The threats
hit him hard.
Sway calls CARTER.
CARTER (V.O.)
YOU have some good news?!
SWAY
No. Somehow I have worse news.
CARTER (V.O.)
How the fuck is that possible?
SWAY
I don’t know what happened last
night, Carter...
CARTER (V.O.)
Yeah, you mentioned that.
SWAY
I brought someone back. To the
condo.
CARTER (V.O.)
Someone other than your wife?
SWAY
Yeah.
CARTER (V.O.)
Shit. Does Nat know?
SWAY
Not yet. But this chick, she got a
picture of us together when I was
blacked out. It doesn’t make me
look good. She’s trying to
blackmail me with the picture. Said
she’s gonna send it to Nat unless I
funnel her money.
CARTER (V.O.)
What’d you say?
SWAY
Told her to fuck off.
CARTER (V.O.)
Yeesh. Well, new levels bring new
devils.
SWAY
She’s threatening to turn this into
a “Me Too” moment.
63.
CARTER (V.O.)
What?!
SWAY
Yeah.
CARTER (V.O.)
Was it?
SWAY
Fuck off! As far as I know we
didn’t even sleep together. But she
said she gave herself some bruises,
making it look like I went at her.
She’s threatening to show up at the
monument.
CARTER (V.O.)
This morning?
SWAY
Yeah.
CARTER (V.O.)
She can’t. Sway, that cannot
happen.
SWAY
I know.
Do you? Do you know how bad Yes, I do know-
that would be for her to show
up?
Or how fucking fast Goliath YES I FUCKING KNOW.
Equity will hightail it back
to Cali?
CARTER (V.O.)
Good! ‘Cause unless you SEAL team
this in the next 20 minutes, I’m
cancelling the whole fucking thing.
SWAY
No way.
If this Jade chick shows up, We’re not cancelling.
it’ll go viral. That cannot Cancelling is a show of
happen. We can blame guilt. We push forward with
postponing on the weather, the plans.
whatever, but-
64.
CARTER (V.O.)
Okay.
(Beat)
Okay, play the tape forward for me
then. You and Cy are there with
everyone, and this Jade nutjob
shows up with her family and
friends. All the news outlets we’ve
paid to be there are now her
fucking soapbox to stand on. It
turns from a celebration to a
lynching. I’m being hyperbolic
obviously, but, shit Sway... This
is NOT the confrontation we need in
front of everyone we want to
impress. This is lose-lose game.
Sway’s CELL BUZZES again. Natalie, again.
SWAY CARTER
I’ll call you back in 5. Don’t fucking hang-
Sway hangs up, answers Natalie.
SWAY NATALIE (V.O.)
Baby, right now’s a bad time- Who the fuck is Jade?
Sway rubs his face, the dam’s breaking.
Silence hangs between the husband and wife.

SWAY NATALIE (V.O.)
(Whispered) Who is she?
Shit...
NATALIE (V.O.)
Tell me about last night. Tell me
everything.
Sway goes quiet... Turns to his confession voice.
SWAY
I... don’t know what happened last
night.
NATALIE (V.O.)
No. Not good enough. Not even
close.
SWAY
The last thing I remember was
leaving the awards ceremony, and
Richie and I came back here to the
downstairs bar. After that... I
woke up in the bathtub.
(MORE)
65.
SWAY (CONT'D)
There was a girl in my bed I’d
never seen before. I swear to God I
have no idea what happened.
She told me you picked her up Baby - Baby, I don’t remember
at the bar. You posed for a any of that. I wasn’t even
fucking picture, Sway... And drinking hard. I don’t know
then brought her up to our what happened-
condo. Our bed?
And she said you tried to pay I didn’t try to pay her off!
her off. She was the one that wanted
money! She was trying to
fucking blackmail me!
I guess that didn’t work, Oh, come the fuck on - I have
huh? You thought you could never messed around on you-
just chuck her aside after
you were done? How many,
Sway? How many women? How
many times has this happened
that I haven’t known about?

What - Aside from last Nat, baby, I swear on Jason’s
night?! You’re gonna deny life, it wasn’t like that-
what I’m looking at with my
own eyes right now? The two
of you in our elevator.
Tongue’s down each other’s
throats. Hand all over her
ass like you’re in fucking
high school!
NATALIE (V.O.)
What was it like then?
SWAY
I don’t know!
(Beat)
I wasn’t there. I was, but I
wasn’t.
Silence takes over. Just breathing.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Well, I don’t know if your son and
I will be there this morning.
SWAY
Baby, please don’t make this into
something it’s not-
66.
NATALIE (V.O.)
‘Something it’s not?’ You asshole!
You’ll be lucky if you get to see
us at all after this.
The line goes dead.
Sway stays on the dead line. How did it all fall apart so
quickly?!
Sway dials Carter. It RINGS, RINGS, RINGS...
CARTER (V.O.) SWAY
What I was gonna say before Nat knows. Jade sent her the
you cut me off is- picture.
CARTER (V.O.)
How? How the fuck did she get your
wife’s number?
SWAY
I don’t know.
Silence between the two for a beat.
CARTER (V.O.)
Well, I’d recommend going and
setting your house on fire. It’ll
be easier to put out than this shit
show.
SWAY
Thanks.
CARTER (V.O.)
So this Jade bitch is serious.
SWAY
Seems that way.
CARTER (V.O.)
Well, unless you want to test her
crazy boundaries, I’d say take the
L AND my advice and call off the
monument.
Sway’s quiet, rubbing his face.
CARTER (V.O.)
You there, Chief?
SWAY
How the fuck did this happen...
CARTER (V.O.)
Want me to answer that?
67.
Sway SIGHS.
CARTER (V.O.)
You wanna know who to blame for
this? Go, walk into your bathroom
and look in the fuckin’ mirror.
That’s who’s to blame.
SWAY
How the fuck is this my fault?
CARTER (V.O.)
Who watches Cy go out and get
fucked on coke and make a retard
bet? Richie! Who takes his boss out
to the bar and leaves him in the
grips of a Gone Girl? Richie! Who
does, this and SO MUCH FUCKING MORE
EVERY FUCKING DAY!?
Silence.
CARTER (V.O.)
RICHIE!
(Beat)
And who the fuck still hasn’t fired
him?
(Beat)
Don’t blame a clown for acting like
a clown - Ask yourself why you keep
going back to the fucking circus.
SWAY
Fuck you.
CARTER (V.O.)
Fuck you too. Why don’t you count
your blessings. See if you can get
to 1.
BUZZ, BUZZ. Sway’s PHONE VIBRATES. He checks it-
CY CALLING.
SWAY
Just got to 1. I’ll call you back.
Sway switches onto CY -
SWAY (CONT’D)
Cy!? Cy you there?!
A SNIFFLE wavers out from the other line.
CYRIL (V.O.)
It’s me- It’s me bro. I’m here.
68.
SWAY
Where the fuck have you been? Where
are you? Are you okay?
CYRIL (V.O.)
I’m... I’m in my car... I woke up
in my car... I’m in a parking lot.
SWAY
What, why... what parking lot?
CYRIL (V.O.)
I... I come here sometimes...
SWAY
What... Cy... What’s going on?
Where are you?
CYRIL (V.O.)
I’m not... I’m not doing great,
bro...
SWAY
What’s up. Talk to me.
Cy’s VOICE CROAKS. He’s muffled the phone, but is clearly
fighting tears.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Come on, talk to me, brother.
What’s up? Where are you? What
parking lot? I’ll come to you. Just
tell me and I’ll be there.
CYRIL (V.O.)
Parkwood... the school...
SWAY
Okay, I’m coming right now. Just
wait there-
CYRIL (V.O.)
No... no, not like this. I’m gonna
go home now. I just... I’m sorry,
bro. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for
it to happen.
(Beat)
I was doing so good.
Sway rubs his face, knows where it’s all going. He leans up
the wall, sliding down, and sits on the floor.
CYRIL (V.O.)
I’m really on it. And I can’t... I
can’t get off this stuff. It’s got
a hold of me, bro. I don’t know
what to do.
69.
SWAY
Alright, alright listen to me. I’m
gonna come over- I’m cancelling the
monument, Leo will take care of it.
I’m coming over. And we’re gonna
get you into a program low-key.
You’re gonna be fine, brotha,
you’re gonna be better than fine.
CYRIL (V.O.)
Sw-Sway... please... please help me
get through this. I promise, we
won’t have this conversation again.
I p-promise. I don’t know how this
happened, I swear...
Cy lets the tears go, SOBS over the CELL.
CYRIL (V.O.)
Sw-Sway... There’s something else.
I’m in deep to a bookie.
SWAY
Yeah, I know. Don’t worry about
him.
CYRIL (V.O.)
He was the one that got me back on
this shit.
SWAY
What?
CYRIL (V.O.)
He sold me it. I think he laced it.
Something’s wrong, it’s got me all
twisted up inside.
Sway tightens his fist, ready to go full Chernobyl.
SWAY
Alright. Listen. You’re gonna be
fine. Hey- Hey, remember, we’re
made of something different.
CYRIL (V.O.)
I know, I know. I’m gonna beat
this. Again. For the last time.
SWAY
That’s right. That’s what you’re
gonna do. Then we’re gonna win a
Super Bowl. Alright?
CYRIL (V.O.)
Fucking right... You’re fucking
right we are...
70.
SWAY
I’ll see you soon.
CYRIL (V.O.)
I love you, brother.
SWAY
I love you too.
CLICK.
Sway takes in the situation. Breathes deeply for the first
time. But only for a moment. Back to deal with Lisa...

Sway enters, already mentally on his way out the door-
SWAY
I’m sorry, Lisa, we’re gonna have
to call it now. You can run what
you have or we can try to pencil in
some time over the phone this
weekend or next week-
LISA
We have more to cover though.
SWAY
I’m sorry. Family emergency.
LISA
Sit down, James.
SWAY
Excuse me? This is over, I gotta
leave and you gotta leave.
Lisa stays put.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Get out before I call GQ and have
you writing op-eds for the Enquirer
about Bigfoot keeping lumberjacks
as sex slaves.
LISA
I don’t work for GQ.
SWAY
I don’t give a... what?
LISA
My name’s not Lisa Wade.
71.
SWAY
What’re you talking about?
LISA/SHARON
My name’s Sharon Burke. I run a
podcast.
SWAY
Fucking hell, Richie! RICHIE!
Sway goes nuclear, calling out to his whipping boy.
SHARON
Sit down, Sway.
SWAY
You needa stand up and walk your
ass out of here - Richie!
SHARON
He knows.
SWAY
What?
SHARON
He knows who I am and why I’m here.
SWAY
(Sighing)
It is impossible to underestimate
that man.
Something clicks for Sway.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Why you’re here... He knows why
you’re here? What does that-
SHARON
It was his idea.
SWAY
What was? This little prank? Why
isn’t he coming out to take a bow?
SHARON
This isn’t a prank. It’s for the
podcast.
SWAY
Right, you run a podcast. Great -
Let me know when it comes out, I’ll
be sure to miss it.
72.
SHARON
I wouldn’t. It might concern you.
We focus on true crime. Cold cases.
RICHIE (O.S.)
Murders in particular.
Richie appears from the hallway. A different Richie -
Different in demeanour - Confident. Collected. A spine. But
with anger boiling under the surface.
SWAY
You?
SHARON (O.S.)
Sometimes our blind spot is bigger
than our field of vision.
Sway holds Richie’s eyes as he stands silently.
SWAY
Every day, I’ve set the bar so low
for you. And every day, you show up
with a fucking shovel. We’re done.
I was gonna drop you at the
orphanage today any ways, but this-
SHARON
Sit down.
SWAY
Get the fuck outta my condo. Both
of you.
SHARON
Sit down.
SWAY
You can go out the front door or
over the fuckin’ balcony. 3 seconds
to choose.
SHARON
If you don’t sit down and talk to
us, all those phone calls you’ve
been getting all morning are gonna
get worse.
Reality hits Sway. Richie... It’s all been Richie?
SWAY
You? All this shit? Jade? Rez? The
bet? The people outside my fucking
family home? You? Who the fuck were
they all, actors?
73.
SHARON
Nope. Though they were good,
weren’t they? Jade’s real name is
Sarah Parker.
Sharon motions to the three PHOTOS on the table again.
SHARON (CONT’D)
The girl in the picture here...
Sharon motions to the PHOTO of the BLACK MALE in his 20s.
SHARON (CONT’D)
This was Sarah’s fiancee, Alonzo.
They lived in Wilton County
together. Alonzo was mugged for
drug money on his way home. The
muggers stabbed him and he bled
out, by himself, in an apartment
stairwell.
Sharon motions to the SCHOOL PHOTO of the TEEN GIRL.
SHARON (CONT’D)
Her name’s Stacy Jenson.
She got addicted to Devil’s
Teardrops and fell into
prostitution in Cypress. She died
last year in a shootout at a pill
house she was staying in. You’d
know her father as Reznik.
Sharon, visibly emotional now but keeping strong, motions to

the final SCHOOL PHOTO of the TEEN BOY.
SHARON (CONT’D)
This boy was named Jeffrey. He
loved sports and wanted to be a
basketball announcer when he grew
up. But instead, he overdosed on
Devil’s Teardrops in West Point.
Jeffrey was my nephew.
(Beat)
We all found each other.
SWAY RICHIE
And Cy? Getting him fucked on It’s actually coke laced with
coke again- Devil’s Teardrops. That’s why
he’s tweaking out so hard.
SWAY
You’ve been spiking my brother, you
cocksucker?
RICHIE
Did you go deaf over the last 2
minutes?
(MORE)
74.
RICHIE (CONT'D)
Want me to repeat what the fuck
Sharon just said? How’s it any
different from what you’ve done-
SWAY
What I’ve been doing? I’m sorry, I
didn’t realize your hands were so
fucking clean. And either way, they
know what they’re buying. My
brother didn’t know you were
batching with-
RICHIE
How bad Cy is hit by this is
entirely up to you. My guy whipped
up a super-charged Naltrexone
cocktail for your bro to ween him
off the mix by the end of the
weekend. But that’s only if you
start fucking talking.
SWAY
And Nat? How you gonna fix that?
RICHIE
Explain to her what I explained to
you. We set you up. You didn’t
stand a chance.
Sway sits with it. Furious.
SWAY
I feel bad for the parents you
never had.
RICHIE
Likewise.
Richie holds Sway’s hard-stare.
SWAY
I shouldn’t be surprised. Only you
could fuck my life up this badly.
RICHIE
Or this well.
(Beat)
Like I said, everything we’ve done,
we can take off.
SHARON
But only if we can have a very
honest conversation about that
night.
Sway thinks... thinks... thinks... beats pass, turning the
situation more tense. He sits.
75.
As Sway speaks, the sunlight pours through the window,

illuminating Sway’s body, revealing him as the questions
progress.
SWAY
What do you not already know?
SHARON
We’d like you to lay down the
detailed events of the night 4
years ago when Wes went missing and
Salim was murdered.
SWAY
Fucking hell. Richie, you were
there. You know what I know-
RICHIE
Not for all of it.
SHARON
And I wasn’t there at all.
SWAY
Why’re you doing this?
SHARON
We believe Wesley Mills was
murdered by your brother.
SWAY
You’re kidding me? No fucking
chance. No. No way. My brother, Cy,
no way.
SHARON
We have it on good authority that
he did.
SWAY
Your “good authority’s” fulla shit.
SHARON
If he didn’t, then the only person
who knows for sure is the killer.
SWAY
I know my brother.
SHARON
Has your brother ever killed anyone
before?
Sway goes quiet.
76.
FLASHBACK - SALIM MOHAMMED, 20’s, lays back against a couch.

A bullet wound in his chest. Standing opposite him... TWO
SHADOWED SILHOUETTES. One holding a smoking GUN out in front.
SHARON (CONT’D)
You know this is a yes or no answer
and not answering is an answer-
SWAY
No. He hasn’t.
Sharon and Richie exchange looks. Richie shrugs and gives the
go ahead to Sharon, who turns full blown bad cop.
SHARON
In about 20 minutes the police are
going to get an anonymous call
informing them about 34 Wallace St.
in Parkwood’s east end. The meth
lab you run in the basement, the
other one that didn’t blow up. The
one that actually funds your
neighbourhood. The one you use your
fake charity, the Freeman Project,
to launder money through. All that
bullshit about people coming
together. About driving out the
drugs and prostitution. Parkwood
PD?
(LAUGHS)
Gimme a fuckin’ break. And using
your business partner’s family
trucking company to move your drugs
into other cities. You didn’t get
rid of hell, you buried it
somewhere else. Richie told me
everything. All your planning. All
your ideas.
Finally cornered. Sway sets his eyes on Richie, ablaze.
SWAY RICHIE
Everything we built. All the Don’t use our people as a
opportunities for our people shield. You built a pyramid
down there- out of marbles.
Go down there and ask Easy when it wasn’t built on
everyone whose lives have your back. Or your brother’s.
changed because of me if they
give a fuck what it was built
on.
77.

It was built on my back. And It was built on a lie.
my brother’s. And every
single person who showed up
to help.
SWAY
Your brother killed Salim. And then
he took off.
Richie LAUGHS.
RICHIE
The thing is Sway, I know it wasn’t
my brother that killed Salim.
FLASHBACK - Through the window of SALIM’S HOME, Younger Sway
sees what’s just happened.
SWAY
You weren’t there. I was. I watched
your brother pull the trigger. Cy
was there too, sure, but it was Wes
holding the gun.
FLASHBACK - The TWO SHADOWED SILHOUETTES step into the light.
WESLEY MILLS, 30’s, holds a smoking GLOCK.
Silence in the room.
RICHIE
I spent a lot of time with Cy after
that. Some real fucked up nights on
drugs and booze. It took two years
for me to get him twisted enough to
tell me what happened. And he
doesn’t even remember telling me.
Sway waits with baited breath.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
He told me he pulled the trigger on
Salim. His own words-
SWAY
No. No, no. I watched your brother
shoot Salim. And I watched the
light drain from my brother’s face
when he saw Salim die. I thank God
every day he didn’t pull the
trigger, that he isn’t carrying
this around on his back. Even
though your brother wanted him to.
And Wes and I, we were best friends
for fuck sakes-
78.

Don’t you fucking retcon Anything that fell onto him,
history - I listened to you he was the one to pull it
push everything onto Wes down. He thought everyone
after it happened. And now around him was wrong and he
you’re acting like you was right. Not even his best
didn’t?! Like you were all friend could keep him on a
best buds? Fuck you! You led straight path.
the charge condemning him.
You might have been friends
when you were young, but that
ended a long time ago.
RICHIE
Some best friend.
And what the fuck do you know I know he wasn’t a perfect
about your brother? About the man, but he-
shit he did when you were
still wet behind the ears?
SWAY
Wes was always the first kid to
pick up ice in a snowball fight.
That’s who he was.
(Beat)
Your brother wanted to destroy Cy,
because he wanted to destroy me.
You’re right about one thing, Wes
and I were friends, until high
school, but it was his choices that
changed that. He was the best
athlete on Coach’s team for the
first year of high school and he
woulda been the best in the last
year. But he didn’t wanna train. He
didn’t wanna work or listen. He
wanted to show up and undermine and
do what he wanted. He thought he
was smarter and better than
everyone, including Coach. And it
was so fucking toxic that Coach
asked me what I thought. I was the
captain, and I wanted to win, so I
said cut Wes loose. After that, Wes
fell off. Ball was the only thing
keeping him going to school, and
when that was gone, he turned to
drugs and crime.
SHARON
So his life fell apart, and he knew
you were the reason?
SWAY
Yes.
79.
SHARON
So, he had reason to come after
you?
SWAY
Yes.
SHARON
So you had reason to defend
yourself. And your brother.
SWAY
If push came to shove, I would do
anything for Cy. Luckily it didn’t.
SHARON
What exactly happened that night?
Sway rubs his face.
SHARON (CONT’D)
Let me do my thing. And at the end,
Richie will pull all his dogs back
and you can continue with your
life.
RICHIE
If you tell the truth. This is your
one chance.
SWAY
I never want to see you again after
this.
Richie nods - Yeah, no kidding.
SWAY (CONT’D)
Cy was in a red rage. The night
after Coach was murdered, Cy only
had one thing on his mind - Finding
the killer. And he knew he’d be
more likely to find the killer than
the cops. Only thing he really
needed... was a gun. So he went to
Wes.
FLASHBACK - CY, 18, and Wes, 30s, sitting in an old Cutlass
Classic. Wes holds a GLOCK 9 MIL in his hands. He passes it
to Cy.
Sway SIGHS, recollecting the old memories.
FLASHBACK - We follow Sway, Cy, Richie and Wes as they cruise
through back neighbourhoods in Wes’ Cutlass Classic. The car
glides through the street like a predator in the jungle.
80.
SWAY (CONT’D)
We’d gone out driving. The four of
us. Me, Cy, Richie and Wes. I’d
heard through some back channels
there was talk of a suspect in the
area. Black guy with dreads. Black
and yellow jacket. We spent most of
the night driving around. Wes got
the idea to check in with his
dealer - After all, who knows more
people than him. And despite me
trying to keep him in the car, Cy
wanted to go with him. I had to
stay with the car, and Richie
stayed with me. Unmarked cruisers
started to show up, then a riot
van. I realized it was a drug unit
and they were going to raid the
dealer’s. So I called Cy, told him
to get out of there, but he wasn’t
answering. The cops started eyeing
us so we had to drive off. I had
Richie keep calling Cy until he got
through. And it was just in time.
Cy and Wes managed to get out the
back window before the police
raided. But all of Parkwood went
into lockdown for the next few
hours. So I told Cy and Wes to go
to our meet up spot when they
could.
SHARON
Where was that?
FLASHBACK - Sway and Richie creep through the backyard of a
home and sneak in the backdoor.
SWAY
Coach’s. I figured it was the only
place the cop’s wouldn’t check.
Only... Cy and Wes never showed up.
But the cops did. Coach had an
alarm system I didn’t know about
that was still on a timer. Richie
and I hid in the basement until the
cops left. Then we got ahold of Cy.
Him and Wes found a guy, dreads,
black and yellow jacket. And they
followed him home. It was Salim.
Sway’s CELL BUZZES. Carter.
RICHIE
Don’t bother.
SHARON
Keep going.
81.
SWAY
Cy gave us Salim’s address and I
made him promise me they wouldn’t
go in until we got there. We pulled
up, Richie kept his eyes on the
front of the house, I went around
back, looked in the window and saw
them - Salim was on his knees, and
Wes was holding the glock to his
head. Wes tried to hand the gun to
Cy, but Salim saw his chance and
tried to get away. And in the
shuffle, Wes shot him.
FLASHBACK - A muzzle flash erupts, lighting Wes holding the
Glock and Salim falling back.
RICHIE
Bullshit.
SWAY
You want the truth, that’s what
happened.
RICHIE
I don’t believe you. Your brother
told me-
SWAY
And I’m supposed to believe what my
brother said when he was beyond
fucked up after you led him in the
direction you wanted him to go?
Silence.
RICHIE
You’re leaving out a little part,
aren’t you?
SHARON
What’s that?
RICHIE
What we found in Coach’s basement.
Sway’s jaw tightens.
FLASHBACK - Sway and Richie, behind a large FURNACE, pull a
METAL BOX out of the wall.
SWAY
Richie.
RICHIE
It’s part of the story, Sway. Don’t
leave that out now.
82.
SHARON
What’d you find in the basement?
Sway swallows hard, not wanting to continue...
RICHIE
Sway.
But does.
SWAY
When the cops showed up, we hid
behind the furnace in the basement.
A back panel on the wall came
loose. And we found a shoebox. It
was filled with pictures of kids.
One of them was Salim.
SHARON
When you say ‘pictures of kids,’
you mean-
SWAY
I mean, pictures of kids from the
school. The neighbourhood. Naked.
Half clothed. Doing... things.
SHARON
So, Salim killed the man who
molested him?
(Beat)
And then Wes killed Salim for doing
it?
Sway nods.
SHARON (CONT’D)
What happened after?
SWAY
Dropped Wes off at his girl’s
place. Then drove Richie to his
crib. And Cy and I went home.
SHARON
When did you see Wes next?
SWAY
I didn’t.
SHARON
You didn’t see him again after?
Later that night?
83.
SHARON (CONT’D)
Next day?
SWAY
Next I heard of him was he was
missing.
RICHIE
This is your final chance.
(Beat)
Did you see him again that night?
Sway stays quiet, shakes his head.
Richie SIGHS, nods to Sharon.
Sharon pulls out her LAPTOP.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
Remember Toshi’s Convenience? On
Jefferson?
(To Sharon)
They liked us for some reason, and
didn’t care about selling us 40’s.
Now, Toshi’s had a security camera
along the alleyway beside them. We
were always told that the camera
was just for show, that it didn’t
actually work.
(To Sway)
But it did.
(To Sharon)
Mr. Toshi died two years ago.
Cancer. But before he died, he got
in touch with me.
(To Sway)
You were trying to push him out,
bring in new businesses. He decided
he was done protecting you.
Sharon flips her laptop to face Sway.
ON THE SCREEN — SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE — A dark alleyway,
but visible enough. It’s still, empty.
THEN
Movement. A shadow emerges. Dragging something. A BODY.
SOMEONE dragging a BODY...
SWAY. Dragging WES’ lifeless BODY. Sway looks around, lifts
WES into a GARBAGE CONTAINER. Closes the lid and rushes off,
out of frame.
84.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
We can let the tape roll and you
can watch as you back up into frame
and load my brother’s body into
your trunk. Or we can skip to why
we’re here...
Richie leans in, ice cold.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
Where the fuck did you put my
brother’s body?
Sway’s silent. Shocked. Separated from his body. How did this
happen...
SHARON
Ya know something I’ve learned in
this - Doing what I do? How to lie.
If you search for it all day in
interviews, pretty straight path to
doing it yourself. You know what
the secret to lying is?
Sway stays quiet.
SHARON (CONT’D)
Including as much of the truth as
possible.
ON SWAY, still quiet.
RICHIE
Look at your stubborn ass - You’re
so far behind you still think
you’re in first.
ON SWAY... This is it... Here we go... He reaches forward and
taps the STOP BUTTON on the RECORDER, shutting it off. Richie
and Sharon don’t flinch.
SWAY
Wes called me around midnight. Had
something he wanted to show me. So
I went to meet him in that back
alley. He told me he was going back
to Salim’s to leave the gun there.
(Beat)
Then he told me he’d been wearing
gloves all night. So the murder
would land on Cy.
SHARON
What would that matter, if your
brother didn’t shoot Salim?
Sway can’t match anyone’s eye-line.
85.
RICHIE
Because he did, right Sway?
Sway, eyes down, acknowledges without saying ‘yes.’
FLASHBACK - At SALIM’s, the GUN MUZZLE flashes, revealing Cy
holding the GLOCK this time, and Wes standing beside him.
SWAY
Wes told me he’d been waiting for a
moment like this. To get back at
me. Take away my brother’s future
like I took away his. But there was
more. He wanted to frame Cy for my
murder. That’s when he tried to
pull the glock on me. But it
hitched on his jacket. Before he
got it free, I was on top of him...
And pounded his head into the
cement.
The room sits in still silence.
SHARON
So... where’s the body?
ON SWAY -- The pyramid of marbles, rolling apart.
SWAY
(Whispered)
The monument.
RICHIE
What?
SWAY
He’s under the monument.
(Beat)
It was the only thing I could think
of at the time. Parkwood was still
in lockdown. The hole’d been dug
for the day before... And the
cement mixer owed me a favour. So I
called him and 2 hours later... Wes
was under 3 feet of cement. Then we
put the monument over it and played
it like it was an early surprise.
Richie and Sharon sit in shocked silence. Words can’t escape
the room, there are only struggled thoughts.
Finally, Sharon looks to confirm that Richie’s good with the
answer. He nods, but turns back to Sway.
RICHIE
Call up your friend. The cement
mixer.
86.
SWAY
Why?
RICHIE
Tell him to meet us down there. And
tell him to bring a jackhammer.
SWAY
No way...
RICHIE
I wanna see the body.
Richie stands.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
Let’s go.
Sharon puts her laptop away, gathers her things.
SWAY
I can’t. That’d... that’d be it.
I’d be put away. You said you’d
take all your dogs off if I told
you where his body was.
RICHIE
I will take my dogs off. But yours
are gonna eat you.
SWAY
Call them off first.
RICHIE
Not. A. Chance. You think I did all
this - ALL OF FUCKING THIS - To
chance it on your word against
ours? I’ve come too far to just
come this far.
Sharon pulls a SECOND RECORDER out of her jacket pocket. She
waves it at Sway, the RED RECORD BULB glowing.
RICHIE (CONT’D)
Remember, anything that can be
destroyed by the truth, should be.
(Beat)
Let’s. Go.
Richie reveals the PISTOL GRIP of a BERETTA sticking out of
his pants.
End of the line.
ON SWAY, utterly shellshocked from the collapse of his life.
He leads Richie and Sharon out of his kingdom.
87.
EXT. FRONT ENTRANCE - BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER

Sway is led to Richie’s BLACK LINCOLN with tinted windows.
Richie gets in the driverside, Sharon gets in the passenger
side. Sway moves to the back passenger side behind Sharon,
and finds two of the backseats occupied.
IN THE MIDDLE SEAT - Jade, dressed down and casual now,
smiling out at Sway. She winks at him.
HIDDEN BESIDE JADE - A MAN leans out, a smirk crosses his

face.
MAN/REZNIK
4th quarter’s waiting for ya.
They’re all there.
FLASHES OF THE THREE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWN IN THE PENTHOUSE

Sway holds back for a beat, but gets in beside Jade.
INT. SHARON’S SUV (MOVING) - MOMENTS LATER

They drive, Sway in the back seat like he’s being transported
to his own funeral. A corpse in the back of a hearse.
The neighbourhood flashes by as they drive the few blocks to
the monument. The neighbourhood Sway built.
Sharon breaks the silence.
SHARON
One thing I don’t get — Why didn’t
you say something? You were the
face of the neighbourhood. You
didn’t need Coach anymore. Why’d
you protect him?
Silence. This is not a question Sway plans to answer.
So Richie does for him.

RICHIE
Because his picture was in the
shoebox too.
Sway doesn’t flinch, doesn’t cry. He just stares out the
window, no longer here.
EXT. PARKWOOD HIGH - MOMENTS LATER

WE DROP INTO SLOW-MOTION — The BLACK LINCOLN glides to a halt
in front of the high school.
88.
Sway emerges, flanked by Richie and Reznik on one side and

Sharon and Jade on the other. They walk up the school’s front
steps.
AHEAD OF THEM - CYRIL “THE SPIRAL” DRAYTON, 23, strung out,
rushes Sway, hugging him.
Sway’s unresponsive, his shell-shock still in control. Cyril
pulls back, confused, shakes Sway, who snaps out of it
briefly. Sway pulls Cy in, hugging him with all his heart
now.
Beside them, Leo rushes up, trying to deliver information to
Sway. But Sway’s world is on MUTE now.
Leaving Cy and Leo in a befuddled state, Sway moves on,
forwards. He stops... Now at the foot of something tall,
looking over him.
GARY, 50’s, the CEMENT MIXER -- Approaches, a JACKHAMMER
propped up against his leg.
Sway turns back, seeing Richie, Sharon, Jade, Rez, Cy and
Leo. Now Natalie and Jay approach from the street.
Sway, destroyed, turns back to the cement mixer and nods to
him.
FROM BEHIND —- We pull back, ultra wide, revealing -- The
SMALL GROUP standing in front of the MONUMENT — A large
BRONZE STATUE of COACH FREEMAN on a 2 foot CEMENT MOUNT. Sway
at the foot of it, under its shadow.
The Cement Mixer prepares to drive the JACKHAMMER into the
MONUMENT BASE and excavate the body.
CUT TO:
BLACK

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SPIRAL

INT. BATHROOM - SWAY’S CONDO - DAWN

INT. ENTRANCE - SWAY’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

THE FAR WALL, running the length of the penthouse - Floor to

INT. BEDROOM - SWAY’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

INT. ENTRANCE - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

RICHIE SWAY (CONT'D)

INT. KITCHEN - SWAY’S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway replaces the BIN in the kitchen, rejoins Lisa, who’s

INT. KITCHEN - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway nods, smiling.

ON SWAY - His secret...

Sway thinks on it.

ON LISA - The answer, very interesting...

INT. BEDROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

SWAY CARTER (V.O.)

INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

INT. BEDROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sway’s CELL starts to vibrate. He checks the DISPLAY, seeing

ON SWAY - The VOICE is familiar. Sway goes quiet.

Sway pulls the CELL AWAY - FUCK.

Sway hangs up.

Sway SCOFFS at the number.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

INT. BEDROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Silence hangs between the husband and wife.

NATALIE (V.O.) SWAY (CONT'D)

INT. LIVING ROOM - SWAY'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS

Sharon motions to the PHOTO of the BLACK MALE in his 20s.

Sharon motions to the SCHOOL PHOTO of the TEEN GIRL.

Sharon, visibly emotional now but keeping strong, motions to

As Sway speaks, the sunlight pours through the window,

FLASHBACK - SALIM MOHAMMED, 20’s, lays back against a couch.

SWAY RICHIE (CONT'D)

RICHIE SWAY (CONT'D)

EXT. FRONT ENTRANCE - BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER

HIDDEN BESIDE JADE - A MAN leans out, a smirk crosses his

They’re all there.

FLASHES OF THE THREE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWN IN THE PENTHOUSE

INT. SHARON’S SUV (MOVING) - MOMENTS LATER

So Richie does for him.

EXT. PARKWOOD HIGH - MOMENTS LATER

Sway emerges, flanked by Richie and Reznik on one side and

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