"Blurred Lines"

“Blurred Lines”

Scene 1

(The year was 1960. The summer heat was relentless. The cockroaches and mosquitos seemed to dance in the sun. The birds fluttered on the rooftops doing a rain dance. This was the hottest it had been in Alabama Texas for many years. The prison officers sat on their tables lapping up cold water and snacking on donuts. One of the officers laughed heartily at what could only have been an inappropriate joke or poor treatment of one of the inmates. Their laughter seemed to echo across the county jail. The walls were sweating and the ceilings were grimy.  Every corner of the room was decorated by cockroaches or lizards. The lizards raced each other to catch the cockroaches, feasting on them mercilessly. Rats streaked across with their tails dangling behind. They screeched loudly as they searched the floor looking for scraps of food on the floor. Nathan laid on his bed staring up at the ceiling. He was sweating profusely, the prison was loud but he appeared to be unmoved by all the raucous in the background. His eyes were fixed on the fly that was at the top of the ceiling. He looked towards his cell door as he heard the sound of footsteps and muffled voices. He turned back to the walls where magazines, newspaper articles and photos were stuck up. A ripped piece of paper had the words ‘Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against me shall prosper’. Beside the paper was a picture of a young woman who looked about 18 years old. She had long blonde hair and green eyes. She was beaming into the camera. She has two long pig tails, she wore a pink summer dress with yellow daffodils imprinted on it. Nathan was entranced by the grace which oozed from the lady’s smile. The dark, dank cell was illuminated by her smile. Nathan heard a loud bang on his door.)

Cell Officer: Get up! Get your sorry butt up!

(Nathan stood up and walked over to the sink in the corner of the cell. He washed his face and brushed his teeth. His eyes looked lifeless, and he had dark circles. His face was unshaven, his hair was past his shoulders. He picked up a pair of scissors and began to cut down the sides till is hair was on the same level as his ears.)

Cell Officer: Did you hear me?

Nathan: Yes boss I’ll be out in a second.

(Nathan walks over to the door and pulls it open. A short round bellied officer pushed into the cell. He shoves Nathan hard in his chest and eyes the room as if he was looking for something.)

Cell Officer: I’ve never trusted you since the day you walked in here. You up to something?

Nathan: I’m just trying to do my time sir.

Cell Officer: You don’t fool me! You’re a low life scum bag like the rest of these inmates.

Nathan: Yes I am sir.

Cell Officer: Follow me.

Nathan: Ok.

Cell Officer: Don’t you want to take that crap off the walls?

Nathan: Nope. I’m fine.

(The cell officer looks over and scans the wall.)

Cell Officer: Pretty lady, that your girlfriend? Funny I’ve never seen any broad come and visit you in this joint. I hope she waited for you. Or maybe she’s a skank! Haha!

(Nathan stared at him emotionless as he laughed at his joke heartily. He led Nathan to a large metal gate. Many of prisoners made noise and banged on their cells as he walked past. He walked up to a booth with two cell officers inside the booth. They stared at Nathan with stern faces.)

Matthew: Well well well you are leaving the dog house. You must be over the moon. But who or what is out for you out there? You get fed and washed here at least or let me guess you want somebody to wipe your ass too?

Nathan: I’m just happy to be on the other side of the bricks and the walls. Have some fresh air and a good meal.

Matthew: Sorry we couldn’t provide you fine cuisines whilst you were here.

(Nathan smiled)

Tim: Go easy on this guy Matthew! Give him a few more months, he will be inside here again. These guys never learn.

(Both officers laugh. Tim goes into the back and retrieves a black bag. He hands it over to Nathan and makes him sign some paper work.)

Matthew: Enjoy the freedom while it lasts.

(Nathan slings the bag over his back and walks outside the gates. He stares up at the sun, He takes a deep breath. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a different picture of the blonde haired girl. He gazes into her eyes and smiles.)

End Scene

Scene 2

(Nathan stands across the road from a large house. The house has a white picket fence and a large porch. The lawn in the front garden was cut immaculately. The sun was shining down on the whole street. It seemed to highlight this house specifically. Nathan crossed the road and walked towards the front porch. He took a deep breath and rapped on the door 3 times. Nobody answered. He knocked again and waited and still nobody answered. He looked through the letter box and there was nobody there. He turned and walked off the porch. He notices a group of children playing across the street. He chuckled to himself. He froze as he hears the front door swing open and he hears a voice. A beautiful blonde haired woman stepped out onto the front porch)

Sandy: Excuse me? Hey!

(Nathan stands frozen with his back facing her.)

Sandy: Hello? Who is that? I ain’t got all day.

(Nathan turns around slowly.)

Nathan: Hey Sandy.

Sandy: Oh my God! Nathan! Is that you?

Nathan: Yes Ma’am.

(Sandy runs towards him and embraces him. Tears of joy roll down her face.)

Sandy: Nathan I never thought I’d see you again!

(She takes him inside the house. He plonks on the sofa and she makes him a fresh lemonade. Shortly after a young blonde haired girl runs down the stairs into the room. He looked about 4 years old. )

Hollie: Mama!

Sandy: Hollie! Now you need to be playing outside you can’t but inside all day playing with your dolls.

Hollie: But mama those kids won’t let me play with them! They’re mean!

Sandy: Hollie this is your uncle Nathan!

(Hollie looks at his face and runs behind her mother.)

Nathan: Aww is the little lady a little shy?

Sandy: He doesn’t bite.

Hollie: Mama when is daddy coming home?

Nathan: Yes that is the million dollar question. When is he coming home?

Sandy: He leaves his office at around 9.

Nathan: He knows I’m coming here right?

Sandy: Yes obviously! Now stop fussing and relax.

(Hollie runs back up stairs. Nathan laughs at her as she sprints up the stairs.)

Nathan: Ms Sandy you still look as beautiful as the day I set eyes on you. You still wear your hair in pig tails? Come on you’re a big woman now! Haha.

Sandy: (Laughs) isn’t it how you have always liked them?

(Awkward silence)

Nathan: I’m sorry. I’m sorry I haven’t been around.

Sandy: It’s not your fault Nathan! You’re not a bad person. I wish I could have visited you but I think that would have caused confusion and drama.

Nathan: I understand. I’m happy your straight and everything is in order. Hollie is beautiful. She has your eyes and your long hair.

Sandy: You need a proper haircut.

Nathan: And a proper shower too.

Sandy: Why don’t you give your stuff to me. You head upstairs and shower and sort yourself out and relax. 

I’ll be making dinner soon.

(Nathan heads upstairs and locks the bathroom door behind him.)

(A few hours later Nathan is in the kitchen laughing and joking with Sandy. Hollie is in her room fast asleep. The sounds of Stevie Ray Vaughn creep out of the radio.)

Nathan: Those were good times right?!

Sandy: The look on your face when you saw that dog! You were 10 blocks away by the time you heard me screaming for help!

Nathan: Haha! I’ve never ran so fast in my life.

Sandy: You got that right!

(Awkward silence)

Sandy: You always protected me…

Nathan: Sandy.

Sandy: You know it’s true.

Nathan: It doesn’t matter anymore we were young.

Sandy: If it doesn’t matter how come you have had my picture all those years? I saw it fall out when I was doing your laundry. You try and act like its ok but it’s not.

Nathan: It’s in the past.

(The front door slams shut. They both look up as a tall gentleman with long black hair walks into the room. He is wearing a white linen shirt and black trousers. His face is screwed up in confusion as he looks at Sandy and Nathan.)

Sandy: Hi darling! How was work?

(He dismisses her question.)

Nathan: Hello brother. You got that stupid look of confusion on your face. What’s up? You lost?

(The two men stare at each other. The Nathan cracks a smile and laughs out loudly. Both men laugh wildly and they embrace.)

Nathan: Why can’t you be happy to see me home? You’ve seen me drag myself across that country jail for four years, where’s the red carpet?

Matthew: Haha! Big brother! You know I love you! I should have given you a red carpet and pissed on it so you would know it was from me. Real love!

Nathan: What did they say when I left?

Matthew: They’re betting on how long it takes you to go back inside.

Nathan: How much did you bet?

Matthew: I said a year give or take.

Nathan: Haha!

Sandy: Matthew!

Matthew: I’m joking! Sandy go upstairs baby. I need to have some quality time with my big brother.

(Sandy exits the room.)

Nathan: Here we go. I’m your older brother and you want to lecture me.

Matthew: No I wanted to thank you. I had to hide that you were my brother for all that time just to hold onto that stupid job.

Nathan: Look I done what any loyal brother would do.

Matthew: But four years is a long time I don’t know how to repay you.

Nathan: Look I’m just happy to be in a warm house and some decent food.

(Matthew looks at Nathan solemnly.)

Matthew: You won’t change, always acting like you’re ok.

End Scene.

Scene 3

(Two teenage boys hid in the bushes of the garden. They crouched low so they were out of sight.)

Nathan: Oh my God Matthew! This is not cool I told you to stop this crap!

Matthew: He’s only a stupid negro boy! What can he say? Nothing!

Nathan: Stop using that word. What has he ever done to you?

Matthew: Just a bit of fun.

Nathan: Mama is going kill you!

Matthew: What? Are you going to tell on me?

Nathan: Let’s go home!

Matthew: Oi you stupid nigger! You want some food?

(He dangles a piece of meat in front of the dark skinned house boy. They boy looked malnourished. 

His lips were ashy and his cheeks were sunken.)

House Boy: Please sir that would be appreciated. I haven’t eaten in two days straight.

(Matthew comes out of the bushes and stretches his hand out with the meat. As the boy reaches out to take it Matthew pulls his hand back and tosses the meat over the fence. He spits at the boy and giggles. The boy looks down on the floor, tears roll down his face.)

Nathan: Matthew what the hell!?

Matthew: It’s just a bit of fun, these guys are like animals. Look at him he’s in chains.

Nathan: Please can we get out of here before anybody sees us.

(Suddenly the house boy gets up and wraps the chain around Matthew’s neck and begins to choke him mercilessly.)

Nathan: Matthew!!

Matthew: He..lp ple…ase.

Nathan: Let go of my brother, please! Somebody help.

(The boy showed no signs of letting go, he squeezed even tighter. Nathan panicked and scanned the area. He saw a big rock lying on the ground. He picked it up and pounded the boy’s head several times. He released Matthew. He gasps for air and flapped on the floor like a fish out of water. Nathan stood over the body. He was unsure whether he was dead or alive.)

Matthew: Lets go!

(Matthew ran to the fence and climbed over.)

Matthew: Nathan!

(The back door opened and a lady and old man came out of the house. They saw Nathan standing over the body with the rock in his hand. Before Nathan could move the man knocked him to the ground and pinned him to the floor. He cried out to his wife to call the authorities.)

Old Man: You going to jail son!

End Scene

Scene 4

(Nathan woke up in a cold sweat. He could hear the cock crowing loudly. He walked into the kitchen like a zombie. He took a glass of water and looked out into the front lawn. He walked back into the living room. He smiled at all the family portraits. He smiled at the many pictures of Hollie as a baby. He looked solemnly at a picture of Sandy and Matthew on their wedding day. He reached out and stroked Sandy’s face.)

Matthew: Morning brother.

Nathan: Good Morning baby brother. I’m just looking at the pictures. Damn. I missed out on a lot, the wedding, Hollie being born. Poor girl is still scared to death of me.

Matthew: She’s shy, always has been always will be. Don’t take it personal. I thought all those years in the joint would have toughened you up!

Nathan: Haha.

Matthew: I’m getting ready to go back there now.

Nathan: Don’t you get tired of working there.

Matthew: Need to pay the bills and I’ve got a family to feed.

Nathan: Speaking of bills, it’s been a few weeks that I’ve been here. I’m not used to this, I need to be my own man. What happened to mama and papa’s inheritance. I want my cut so I can stand on my own feet. Get a little place and probably work at the gas station. Just to make ends meet.

(Matthew shuffles.)

Matthew: We can talk about that when I’m back from work. Don’t worry I got you.

(Nathan walks over to the sofa and immediately goes back to sleep. A few hours later he wakes up to the sound of sizzling grease on the stove.)

Sandy: Good morning sunshine! You catching up on all the sleep you missed out on when you were inside?

Hollie: Inside where?

Sandy: oh, inside work. Uncle Nathan was on a long business trip. Very boring adult stuff.

Nathan: Yeah it wasn’t any fun at all. They didn’t have any toys or dolls inside there.

(Hollie stared in shock.)

Hollie: Not even one doll!?

Nathan: Not even one.

(Sandy and Matthew both laugh. He proceeds to the dinner table and shovels egg down his mouth. Hollie rushes her breakfast and runs into the back garden with her doll dragging behind her.)

Nathan: So how has it been around here? You happy?

Sandy: Yes I’m happy Nathan.

Nathan: How has he been treating you?

Sandy: He’s the best husband I could ask for. Times are hard but he still looks after us well.

Nathan: He has to, that’s a man’s job.

Sandy: Amen

Nathan: Did you miss me?

Sandy: I thought that was the past? I thought it doesn’t matter?

Nathan: I’m just curious. But maybe it’s not good to kick a sleeping dog.

Sandy: So I’m a dog now?

Nathan: No but maybe there’s more important things to think about. I need to be a man as well.

(He flexes his biceps and laughs.)

Sandy: I know you still want me baby. I see the way you look at me, you make me feel 20 all over again.

Nathan: That ship has sailed. You’re his property now.

Sandy: First I’m a dog. Now I’m property. Great.

Nathan: You know what I mean. Just drop it.

(Sandy begins sobbing.)

Nathan: Don’t start this. Please stop.

Sandy: It’s just all too much I remember the day you got sentenced I couldn’t handle it. Nobody was there for me except Matthew. I’m sorry.

Nathan: Look I wasn’t around it was my fault.

Sandy: We all know why you did that.

Nathan: Well I took it too far.

Sandy: You saved his life when your mum and dad died in the fire as well.

(Nathan sat in silence.)

Nathan: Why are you bringing up these things?

Sandy: He always talks about it, says you have the nose of a blood hound. You smelt the smoke and dragged him out the basement on your back. You could have died but you didn’t care.

Nathan: Shame about mama and papa but Grandma raised us well.

Sandy: Remember when we were 16. You took me by the river and told me that one day we would walk down the river again but we would be married.

Nathan: Now you are married…

(Sandy slaps Nathan around the face.)

Sandy: Don’t patronise me!

(Nathan gets up and pushes her against the wall. He looks at her intently, they are both breathing heavily.)

Nathan: Don’t ever do that again!

Sandy (Smiles): Or what?

Nathan: Damn Sandy! We are not wild and young anymore! You gotta behave yourself.

(He releases her.)

Nathan: I need to get out of here before I lose my mind.

Sandy: Oh yeah? With what money?

Nathan: I’ve agreed with Matthew that we will split the inheritance, we will put the family home up for sale and split it.

Sandy: There’s no inheritance baby. Matthew gambled it whilst you were away. He was out of control when you went inside. He was consumed by guilt, he didn’t know what to do with himself.

Nathan: What!?

Sandy: Yup! Luckily your Uncle Jack got to him before he went completely crazy. He hooked him up with the job at the county jail and he cleaned up his act.

Nathan: I can’t believe this.

(Sandy strokes his beard gently.)

Nathan: Sandy stop it.

Sandy: You know he’s not half the man you are.

Nathan: Stop.

Sandy: Lets run away.

Nathan: You’re crazy.

Sandy: Me, you and Hollie. I have some savings it can work out.

Nathan: What about Hollie? You want to take her away from her father?

Sandy: She won’t be away from her father, because you’re her Daddy.

End Scene

Scene 5

(Later that evening Nathan is on the front porch in just a vest and trousers. He takes a drag of his cigar and blows the smoke into the air. Matthew pulls into the driveway and hops out.)

Matthew: Disgusting habit big brother.

Nathan: Old habits die hard little brother.

Matthew: Indeed.

Nathan: Let’s talk about the inheritance buddy. You know I can’t stay here forever.

Matthew: Let’s go inside and talk then, folk around here are nosey.

Nathan: Sandy and Hollie are asleep, we can’t wake them up.

Matthew: But…

(Matthew tries to enter the house but Nathan moves his arm across the doorway to block him walking inside.)

Nathan: Cut the crap Matthew! I know you spent all the inheritance. Why didn’t you just tell me from the beginning?

Matthew: I was in a bad space I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to and I know you’ve helped me a lot I just didn’t want to let you down.

Nathan: You can’t you’re my little brother and I love you.

(They embrace on the porch. As they embrace Nathan whispers in Matthew’s ear.)

Nathan: Tomorrow I’m leaving I will take the little I have and go to Manhattan. Cousin Sam is still out there, I’m sure he will help me out.

End Scene.

Scene 6

(The next day Nathan sat in the living room packing his bags. Sandy rushed around the house packing as many items as she could.)

Hollie: Mama! Are we going on a trip!?

Sandy: Yes baby! Just a little trip.

Hollie: I can’t wait to see where Daddy is taking us.

Sandy: Daddy won’t be coming but we will come back and see him soon. For now it's me and your uncle Nathan. We will get him a key ring and some toys while we are out there.

Nathan (Takes Hollie’s hand): I will get all the toys for you. Every toy you could ever imagine and more.

(Hollie beams at him. She exits the room. Sandy grabs Nathan and kisses him passionately.)

Nathan: I can’t believe we are doing this!

Sandy: Life is what you make it! I ain’t waiting around in this small town for big things to happen.

Nathan: We need to go quickly before he comes home.

Sandy: I know! Go and get the tickets from the station baby! We need to make a move!

(Nathan scurries out of the house to the station and collects the pre ordered.  He jogs down 10 blocks and arrives back at the house. His heart stops as he sees Matthew’s car in the driveway. His hands begin to sweat, his heart is racing. The front door is wide open. He can hear screaming and crying.)

Nathan: Sandy!

Sandy: Nathan! Help me!

(He looks up and to his horror she is on the roof of the house with Matthew strangling her.)

Matthew: You sick woman! You thought you could leave! You want to leave me for that guy!

(Nathan runs into the house. He bounds up the stairs, Hollie is crying at the top of the stairs. He lifts her up and puts her in her bedroom.)

Nathan: I’ll come back for you sweet heart.

(He climbs up the ladder and hoists himself up onto the roof.)

Matthew: SO this is what you had planned all along big brother? After all I’ve done for you? This is how you repay me?

Nathan: I’ve looked after you my whole life! I raised you better than this. Let her go!

Matthew: Oh I’ll let her go alright. But first she needs to see me blow your brains out.

(He pulls out his gun from his holster.)

Sandy: Matthew! Stop it please!

Matthew: No!

Sandy: Please! What about Hollie?! What about your daughter think about her Matt!

(Nathan laughs)

Matthew: What’s funny?

Nathan: Haven’t you told him Sandy?

Sandy: No.

Matthew: Told me what?

(Nathan advances closer to Matthew, grinning from ear to ear. Matthew raises the gun.)

Matthew: What!?

Nathan: Put the gun down, we both know you won’t use it. Let go of Sandy.

(Matthew slowly lets go of Sandy. She lets go of him and runs to Nathan and embraces him. Matthew drops to his knees and cries. The gun drops by his side. Nathan walks closer towards him still grinning.)

Nathan: Brother I didn’t want you to find out like this but…

(Suddenly Sandy rushes from behind Nathan and knocks him off the roof. He lands on the front porch and dies instantly. Blood streams from his head. Matthew gets up slowly and looks over at Nathan’s limp body. Sandy is staring over the body shaking in fear. Matthew turns away from the body and looks at Sandy, he smiles at her.)

Matthew: You did it baby.

Sandy: It’s a shame but he had to go, now we can start our lives properly. We can use the inheritance properly.

Matthew: The plan worked like a charm. Oh help me! Help me Nathan! Haha! It worked like magic baby, Nathan always wanted to be the hero! I can’t believe he actually bought your story about losing all that money! Does he think I would be that stupid!? I didn’t want it to end like this. But sometimes it’s how it goes. We will be in New York by the time the cops come. They don’t care about his sorry ass, in their eyes he’s another criminal.

(They both hold each other underneath the majestic moonlight.)

Matthew: Oh, what was it that he wanted you to tell me? Haha

(Sandy pulled him in close and kissed him on the forehead.)`

Sandy: I love you baby.

Matthew: I love you baby

(Matthew leads Sandy from the edge of the rooftop towards the ladder going into the house. She doubles back to strap her shoe buckle. Matthew turns around towards her.)

Matthew: So what is the first thing were are going to do when we reach New York! The big apple!

(Sandy picks up the gun and squeezes the trigger. Two bullets pierce Matthew’s chest. He squeels and topples backwards off the roof. His body lands next to Nathan’s. Blood covered the front porch. She looks at the two dead bodies briefly.)

Sandy: Love you too baby.

(She climbs down the ladder and goes straight to Hollie’s room. She is still crying. Sandy cradles her and sings sweet melodies to calm her down. After 30 minutes she falls asleep.  She takes her down stairs and puts her into the backseat. She retrieves a big suitcase rom the boot and opens it. She roots through the bag throwing out different bits of paper work. Her eyes light up when she sees a brown package with a label on it. ‘The inheritance for the two Brothers Nathan and Matthew Dixon, sons of Maggie and Louis Dixon. Enclosed is $200,000’. She puts the package back into the suitcase and slams the boot. She jumps into the front seat and peels off into the darkness.)

End Scene