CITY OF SHADOWS

A MicroShort Film

Written by Hulda Nicolas, Rodly Saint Aude and JustL

Cast:
Mariah Ingraham as "Amelia"
Byron Wright as "Jamal"
Alexis Sierra as "Jessica"

01.06.24 theclltvs@gmail.com
EXT: PART 1 - THE FALL

TIME: LATE EVENING

AMELIA, disoriented and trembling as she walks along the

projects. Her surroundings hushes into an eerie silence.

CITIZENS bypass Amelia as they focus on the nauseating sight

that was left behind by her.

Jessica, Jamal's sister is crying over her brother's lifeless

body.

POV - AMELIA, CAPTURING HER WORLD

CITIZENS 1
(sitting on the curb next to her
sister, smoking a pot)

What's wrong with Jamal

CITIZENS 2
(noisy neighbor)

I'on know but why his sister down like

that

CITIZENS 1
He still owe me like $20 (coughs
afterwards)

OTS - AMELIA, CAPTURING CITIZENS POV

CITIZEN 3
(running in frame)

THIS MOTIVATES CAMERA TO SHIFT FOR AMELIA'S OTS

Bruh ain't that Rackeisha baby daddy?

CITIZEN 4
(running out frame)

That nigga dead

EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY / NO OVER-LAPPING.

 2.

CITIZEN 5
(sitting on the crate, Gets up)

Somebody call 12

CITIZEN 4
(runs across frame to citizen 5)

Man fuck 12

Burn this sh!t down

CITIZEN 5
(gaze at Amelia, runs across frame)

Ayo that bitch got a knife

CAMERA SHIFTS TO KNIFE

Curious glances turn into uneasy stares as they notice red

substance on Amelia's clothes. Amelia's expression is a mix
of confusion and guilt. She seems oblivious to the gravity of
the situation.

CITIZEN 5
What's that red shit on her ?

THE CAMERA SLOWLY REVEALS AMELIA WITH BLOOD ON HER AND

HOLDING ONTO A KNIFE AS SHE IS STILL DAZED.

CITIZEN 6
Bitch that's blood.

Everyone stares at Amelia with judgment as she passes by.

BRIBRI

Sh!t something always going down in Overtown.

She prolly on that same molly as homie

CLOSE UP - AMELIA'S FACE

AMELIA'S EYES DART AROUND, SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS SHE CAN'T

FIND. BEHIND HER - WE SEE POLICE FLASHING LIGHTS.

END.
 3.

PART 2 - WHAT HAPPENED

CLOSE UP - AMELIA'S FACE

OFFICER 1:
Put your hands up to where we can see
them,

OFFICER 2:
She has a weapon

Ma'am drop your weapon.

Do not take any step closer.

OFFICER 1:
Drop your fucking weapon now!

Amelia, distraught and confused, walks closer to Officer 2,

as police voices slowly fade out.

OFFICER 2:
Don't come any closer!

AMELIA
Help me……please help me

drops knife.

As soon as she drops the knife, Police officers quickly come

and arrest her; Amelia snaps back into reality.

AMELIA
Wait.. what's going on? Get your hands
off me! Wtf is wrong with y'all!
Jamal, help!!!! Let me go!

Citizens standing outside in shock, disbelief, and denial.

trying to make sense of the situation. Camera picks up
different emotions

AMELIA
Why y'all just standing there? Go get
Jamal! Let me go, officer! Somebody
please call Jamal

OFFICERS WALK DOWN PATH WITH AMELIA, SHE LOOKS AT JESSICA

 4.

CRYING OVER JAMAL'S BODY.

JESSICA
You killed my brother! He's dead! He's
fucking dead!

As officers walks away with Amelia, she dazes out looking at

Jamal.

We now enter flashback.

INT: KITCHEN - (SAME) DAY

Amelia is in the kitchen cutting up food in the mix of an

argument with Jamal. Amelia walks to the living room with a
furious look on her face without noticing the knife is still
in her hand.

AMELIA
You really got Racqueisha knocked up

JAMAL
(Silent. His face says it all.)

Babe I thought we were past this.

AMELIA
Past? are you fucking kidding me?!

JAMAL
Babe chill. I already told you it was
an accident.

AMELIA
AN ACCIDENT? DO I LOOK LIKE A CHILD TO
YOU JAMAL? You just gon keep lying to
my face, after everything we've been
through?

JAMAL

Still seated on the couch, watching TV.

Listen, I was drunk as fuck. She

didn't mean anything to me. After
everything we just went through, why
would I do that to you?

Amelia grabs the remote and turns it off.

 5.

Jamal gets up as if he's about to hit her, he quickly goes to

the door (to avoid hitting Amelia). He opens and stands by
the door, slightly enough for Jessica to enter.

AMELIA
After our miscarriage?

Beat.

My grandma was right. she warned me

about your dusty ass. You don't do
shit for nobody but you.

This triggers Jamal as they did not get along.

JAMAL
Your grandma didn't know what the fuck
she was talking about. Her old
judgemental mouth is why she's dead
now

Jessica walks by and overhears this. She enters to see what's

going on.

JESSICA
Yo what the fuck is going on

JAMAL
It's not my fault you lost the baby

JESSICA
Jamal, why would you say that to her.

Amelia takes a moment and lets the last words sit with her.

JESSICA
You should go for a walk.

JAMAL
(Looks at Jess)

Jess stay out of this a'ight

RETURNS FOCUS TO AMELIA

AMELIA
So you are blaming me for that.

JAMAL
Take it how you want to take it

Amelia's face has a blank look on it.

 6.

JAMAL

BEAT

Man I ain't got time for this shit.

I'm out

Jamal walks out

JESSICA

Jess walks to Amelia, who remains in silence processing the

information.

Amelia, I'm sorry..

Amelia?

Hey are you okay?

Amelia..

Amelia pushes Jessica out the way, runs out the door and
catches up to Jamal, stabs him.

JAMAL
Babe...

We see Jamal gasping for air, Jess runs out to help him.
Blood on her hands. She looks up and sees Amelia walks away,
with no care of what she's done.

END.