"Cowboys, Indians and Sheriffs.."

Cowboys, Indians and Sheriffs

Scene 1

(The year was 2014. The sun beat down on South Carolina. The sounds of J Cole and Nas could be heard bumping through Jason’s speakers. His bedroom floor and walls shook violently from the base. He bopped his head as he got dressed, he could see some of his neighbours mowing the front lawn whilst the children in neighbourhood played on their porches. He walked across the room to his mirror, he took out his brush and began to brush his long curly blonde hair. Jason was tall for his age, he had green piercing eyes and he had a few freckles dotted around his nose. He looked at the time and put on his sneakers.)

Mom: Jason! Put down that music, you know you father does not like you playing music loud.

Jason: That sucks mom! Anita is always bumping her music loudly all the time!

Dad: Jason! Turn that racket down! We don’t want to hear that disgusting, ignorant music!

Jason: (Mumbled) I bet if it were some other pop trash he wouldn’t complain.

(He ran downstairs and entered the kitchen where his father sat on the table next to his younger sister Anita. He looked exactly like Anita, the same green eyes and same long hair. Aaron sat right in front of the TV watching Disney cartoons. He giggled as he saw the red Indians running across the grass with their red flags held above their heads chasing Donald duck.)

Dad: Let’s watch the news.

(He flicks the channel and Aaron squeaks in anger.)

News Reporter: Another case of the turf wars in Chicago, there are now more reported killings in the city of Chicago now than there was in Iraq. How do we stop this black on black crime? It seems to be a never ending cycle? How can there be so much hate that exists within the same community?

Dad: Disgusting, I’ll never understand why they would do all of that stuff. It’s wild out there-

(He notices Jason is absorbed with his phone.)

Dad: You know, you can learn something from the news. It shows you what is happening in the world, it would be wise to listen to what is happening out there.

Jason: The news doesn’t always show what really happens Dad.

Dad: Really? What would you know about that then? These guys are out there killing each other, black on black-

Jason: Mom I’m going to the mall to meet Jamal and Freddie. Just going to hang out for a while and do some homework.

(Jason exits the house and slams the door shut)

Scene 2

(Jason gets off the bus and spots the Jamal in the distance. He jogs towards them and they shake hands and laugh. Jamal was the same height as Jason but he was broader than him. He had dark skinned and wore a phat farm tracksuit with some air forces. Freddie was Vietnamese and half Cuban. He was shorter than both of them, he was quite chubby and wore glasses.)

Freddie: Are you guys ready for this meeting? 

(They all followed Freddie through the crowded mall until they found a quiet spot in the coffee shop.)

Jason: Ok what are we going to do first?

Freddie: Ok look at this, wait hold up look-

(They all turn to look outside, Tanya walks past with her group of friends. They are all wearing their cheer leading costumes. Freddie, Jason and Jamal stare with their mouths wide open. They are all entranced by their beauty. The girls giggle as they walk past without noticing them looking.)

Freddie: She so hot dude. Isn’t she with CJ?

Jason: I heard CJ was with Emma?

Freddie: Man all I know is that she is hot dude!

Jamal: Those chicks will never look at us…

Freddie: They will after this!

(He withdraws a note pad filled with writings and various diagrams.)

Freddie: This is inspired from Jamal’s idea for the business. We need to execute it but I think we should help our community first.

Jason: How?

Freddie: We set up a fair for children in the neighbourhood!

Jason: Cool!

Freddie: Jamal already set up the funding from the local authority.

Jason: I and Jamal already raised some money from our 5k run so we put that altogether that is a done deal. We raise money at this event and give it to charity we can make it a regular event and sooner or later we will become recognized as ambassadors.

Jamal: Yep! My older brother has gone to Yale, he is already looking at contacts so he can bring me through, we just need to keep up the hard work guys.

(They order some snacks and drinks to kill time. Across the mall two cops are staring across the mall towards to coffee shop.)

Cop 1:Look at those kids over there. Why are they sitting in the back, just creeping in the shadows.

Cop 2: What do you think buddy? Looks suspicious?

Cop 1: Yeah, I don’t trust those black kids, didn’t you see the news?

Cop 2: I know, these black kids are always up to no good. They got that white kid hanging around with them too. I’ve seen him tailing them around a few times.

Cop 1: That weird chinky guy with them too. Hmm…I don’t buy it, something is fishy.

Cop 2: You see that? That black kid slipped something in his pocket.

Cop 1: You know what, when they move we move.

(The two jobs retreat and walk to the back of the mall.)

Jamal: Those cops are wierdos? Why were they staring at us?

Freddie: Dude, cops are probably just bored.

Jason: You hear about that stuff in the Chi?

Jamal: It’s wild out there, I’m so happy it’s alright around here and we don’t have to go through that. At least we can have a positive influence on our own community.

Jason: My dad is so ignorant, anything to do with black people he hates. I think it’s because he grew up around Texas.

Freddie: Sucks dude, but that’s how it is here, in the Chi, in DC all over the world.

(Jason looked downcast)

Jamal: You know what, don’t be upset man. This team is all different were like the Justice league or marvel team. All shapes, sizes and colours but each supreme in their own way, working together for one goal.

Jason: That was the gayest speech of all time! Haha

(They all laugh heartily. They slowly begin to leave the mall, they double back to the end of the mall to avoid the human traffic. As they turn the corner to go to the train station they walk past the police car with the two cops inside.)

Jamal: See you guys for the next meeting. Jason take these business cards.

(He reaches in his pocket and the cops jump out of the car wielding their guns. The three boys step back in shock.)

Cop 1:Freeze scumbag! Don’t move!

Cop 2: What you got there nigger? You wanna sell the white boy some crack?

Jamal: This is a mistake, I’m just giving him-

Cop 1: I said don’t move! One more move-

Jamal: It’s just this-

(As Jamal reaches back into his pocket the cop fires two shots, one is his chest and one in his head. He slumps to the floor blood everywhere.)

End Scene

The sun rises and the moon falls…

People in the land scream for justice and peace…

There isn’t justification for letting off your piece…

I just want peace, piece of mind…

This land is cursed…the fore fathers stole from the inhabitants and claimed it

It doesn’t come as a surprise that bloodshed is a common theme

The government will have you think the police are on your team

But they are killing dreams

taking lives before their time and they haven’t committed one crime

The beasts in uniforms are cloaked with corruption and deceit

If you sneeze they might shoot, if you cough they might shoot

I’m sick of this travesty we have to accept

Even amongst them there is not even an ounce of regret...