Drowning the Flame-dirty-sub Copy

8/13/2019 Drowning the Flame-dirty-sub Copy

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Drowning the FlameA Play

By Michael Oatman

CharactersTupac --- African American male, early twentiesJada --- African American female, early twentiesill --- African American male, late twentiesMarion --- African American male, early twenties!ome --- African American male, twenties

"ettings"tudio#i$ing !oom%ar&

"ynopsis!i$al 'ip 'op artists struggle to win the affections of a successful 'ollywood actress(


2/44

ACT O)*+"C*)* O)*

The scene opens to reveal a darkened stage and two chairs facing one another. There isa table in between the two chairs. The chairs are very comfortable. As the scene opens,we can hear muffled music as if there is music being played loudly in an unseen room

back stage. Rome and a woman wearing a baseball cap are in the middle of a heatedconversation(Woman

Just tell him that ./m here to see him(Rome

. told you he recording right now(Woman

. need to see him(Rome

. 0etchu do( 1Laughs2Woman

3o get him(Rome

Bitch, 0eat the 0loc&( 1He turns to leave(2Woman

ait a minute, who you calling a 0itch4Rome

./m calling yo simple ass a 0itch, now get the fuc& out of here fo . call the police(Woman

. ain/t going no where( 1he takes off her hat and glasses (2Rome

Oh, shit, . didn/t &now that you were ( ( (Jada

( ( ( 5eah, that/s what . thought( 1!eat2 )ow go get him(Rome

5eah, yeah, sure ( ( ( and . mean, you &now we don/t ha$e to tell %ac a0out this ( ( ( you gottaunderstand we get a lot of ( ( (

Jada( ( ( 3o get him and . will try to forget what a piece of shit you are ( ( (

Rome1!eat2 5eah( ait here( 1He e"its the stage. After a few seconds, we hear the music in thebackground stop. #ada walks to the edge of the stage and begins to talk.2

Jada. don/t e$er ta&e that shit off no0ody( )o woman, no man, no0ody( Don/t get this 'ollywood shit

twisted( . will ta&e off my earrings, flip off my shoes and get down if . got to( %eople thin& 6causeyou famous you won/t throw-down( 'ell, e$en 0efore . got famous, 0ecause . was small, peopletried me all the time( . had to learn to let cats &now right away( . was ne$er a cutesy type-chic&( .was always the tom0oy( My mama use to say that . was all s&inned &nees and el0ows(

. was ne$er supposed to 0e that chic&( . wasn/t tall or pretty li&e the other girls( . didn/t ha$e a0ody li&e some, my face was 7ust alright ( ( ( 0ut . was a tom0oy, e$ery0ody/s 0est friend( The 8.wish that . could find someone li&e you,9 girl ( ( ( while they dating e$eryone else 0ut me( . ain/t

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complaining though, 6cause it made me strong( .t made me understand that the world don/t stopspinning, 6cause . say ( ( ( and success don/t come 6cause . as& for it( "ometimes they act li&e .wal&ed into 'ollywood and they 7ust ga$e it to me(

Ain/t a 0lac& woman in the history of the world that it wor&ed that way for( e always ha$e to wor&

for it, grind for it, 0leed for it( hene$er a sister get to the point that you &now her name, or she onT: or in the mo$ies ( ( ( you don/t ha$e a clue of what it too& for her to get there( The sacrifices, theindignities( *$ery time some sister ma&e it, no matter what she doing, . got lo$e for her 6cause .&now what it/s li&e, what it ta&es, the ;uarts of 0lood that you spill on the floor while you crawling upthe ladder( Ma&ing it in 'ollywood is li&e those soldiers in war who see so much hurt, death andpain( Many of 6em ma&e a pact that if they e$er get out, e$er escape there ain/t no ;uestionsas&ed( .t/s li&e that for 0lac& actor chic&s ( ( ( if one ma&es it, slips through the net, 0ecomesfamous 0efore this place destroys them( )o ;uestions( . don/t care if its Oprah infrey or somegirl spread eagle in some maga


4/44

Tupac. mean for real, you don/t owe me a goddamned thing( ./m easy fuc&ing 0ree


5/44

. was 7ust in the ( ( (Tupac

hat are you doing here, Jai4Jada

./m ( ( ( ./m ( ( (

Tupac5our what4Jada

1Long beat2 ./m drowning(Tupac

1!eat2 "it down( 1!oth of them sit down(2Jada

. 7ust needed ( ( ( . don/t &now ( ( ( something(Tupac

Did you and that nigga ha$e a fight4Jada

)o(Tupac

5ou sure4Jada

e don/t fight(Tupac

5ou don/t fight4Jada

)o(Tupac

'ow is that possi0le, witcho hard-headed ass4 "hit, if you was fuc&ing around with 3andhi, hemight get the urge to pimp slap yo ass(

Jada. got two words, )egro( 1$lips him the bird(2 Fuc&( And 5ou( 1Tupac laughs(2

Tupac1%n a fake %ndian accent(2 . will not put up with your 0ullshit, hoe( Do not ma&e me to 0rea& a 0itchoff(

Jada5ou stupid( 1Tupac continues to laugh(2

Jada./$e missed you ( ( ( your friendship ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( My friendship4 1Laughs2 .s that what we pretending now ( ( ( is that the scene we suppose to

0e playing> two old friends sharing a moment4 Jai, this ain/t the fuc&in/ mo$ies(Jada

That/s not what ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( hy are you here4 hat/s wrong4Jada

5ou always said if . was in the neigh0orhood to stop 0y( May0e you didn/t mean it(Tupac

5


6/44

"top tal&ing stupid( 5ou &now you always welcome where$er . am(Jada

. &now that you were 0usy(Tupac

"ince when am . too 0usy for you4 Time has always stood still for you(

JadaDon/t get me to 0lushing( 1he smiles(2Tupac

*$ery time . thin& my heart dun turned to stone . see that fuc&ing smile of yours and fall in lo$e ( ( (with 0lac& women, all o$er again(

Jada./m serious= stop it for you ma&e me e$en redder(

Tupac.t/s that .ndian in you( 1!eat2

Jada5ou loo& good(

Tupac. &now(

JadaOh, don/t get fly( A few hit al0ums and a nigga don/t &now how to act . see(

TupacC/mon now, you &now . ne$er &new how to act, 0efore( 1The couple laughs(2 Do you wantsomething to drin&, something to eat( . could get !ome to scrounge up something(

Jada)o, than& you(

Tupac5ou sure4

Jada

./m sure(Tupac

"o you were in the neigh0orhood(Jada

5eah(Tupac

. li&e hearing your $oice e$en when you lying( 1he smiles(2 . 0een real proud of you( 5ou/$emo$ed up in this world( That Low &own &irty hamewas the truth(

Jada.t was a good mo$ie(

Tupac

"hit, it was a great mo$ie ( ( ( . mean, if you would ha$e had me in that piece instead of that wea&ass ayans nigga, it would ha$e 0een a classic(

Jada. was luc&y to get it(

Tupac)ot, 7ust luc&y( Talented(

Jada3od is good

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7/44

Tupac'e is(

Jada5ou running in some pretty 0ig circles your damn self, why you playing(

Tupac

./m doing my thang( 5ou &now . always was a hustler( But you the one doing it 0ig ( ( ( 0ig timeactress ( ( ( getting gigs( ./m happy( 5ou deser$e it, pro0a0ly more than any0ody . &now( %rettysoon . won/t e$en 0e a0le to get you to return a niggas calls(

Jada. ain/t changing(

Tupace all change, 0a0y girl( That/s 7ust a natural fact(

Jada./m as real as . was when we were in school(

TupacBeing real( . don/t e$en &now what that means anymore( 1!eat2 For real . don/t( . 0een callingmyself a real nigga for so long . don/t e$en &now what that really means(

JadaMay0e, it means that you hold true to your principles, remem0er where you came from, may0e itmeans that the money hasn/t made you into some watered down phony ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( May0e it means that ./m trying to hold onto a myth that wasn/t real in the first damn place(May0e it means that ./m wearing a pair of shac&les, may0e it means ./m full of shit, may0e we allare(

Jada1!eat2 ./$e missed you( 1Her phone begins to ring. he reaches into her pocket glances at thescreen and then puts the phone down. %t continues to ring(2

Tupac

5ou thin& it helps me to hear that4Jada

)o(Tupac

"ometimes when . let myself thin& a0out you, . can feel it in my chest ( ( ( tightening ( ( ( li&e . can/tfuc&ing 0reathe(

Jada1!eat2 'ow ha$e you 0een4

Tupac. 7ust told you( Are you gonna answer that thing4

Jada

)o( 1!eat2 . don/t li&e how we left it(Tupac

hy are you here4Jada

. wanted to see you(Tupac

That didn/t answer my ;uestion(Jada

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8/44

. 7ust ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( hat/s going on4 hat/s up4Jada

. don/t &now( . ( ( ( ./m in a weird place, right now(

Tupac5eah, my studio(Jada

. don/t &now what ./m doing with my life( ./m 7ust floating( 1The phone stops ringing(2Tupac

To hear the newspapers tell it, you got the world 0y the 0alls( !olling with that soft ass nigga(Jada

Don/t call him that(Tupac

./m 7ust saying(Jada

Don/t disrespect him( 'e/s a good man(Tupac

A good man(Jada

5es(Tupac

And what am .4Jada

5our a good man too(Tupac

)o, ./m not( 1!eat2 )ot the way . treated you(Jada

./m not here to rehash all of that(Tupac

Then why are you here4Jada

. 7ust needed to see you( . tried to call ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( . ne$er ( ( (Jada

( ( ( . &now( Trying to get to you nowadays is li&e trying to get to the damned %resident for Christsa&e(

Tupac

Things ha$e 0een a little cra


9/44


10/44

Jada. can/t( )ot now(

Tupachy4 Because your here with me4 Because it/s easy to 0e with a 0ad copy of me as long as thereal thing don/t show up4 hat the fuc& are we doing, Jai4 . don/t care what that nigga 0ecomes,

he won/t e$er 0ecome me( And you &now it( 1!eat2 Come here( 1#ada continues to sit in herchair(2 . said come here( 1he slowly stands up as does Tupac(2 O$er here Jai( 1he slowlyedges forward. He reaches out his hand to touch her face. he turns away but continues to standin the same spot. Tupac free'es, his hand lingering in mid(air(2 . wanna touch you(

Jada1aid almost as a whisper(2 )o(

Tupac. don/t &now that . can 0ear to ha$e you here, this close to me and not touch you( 1!eat2

Jadae shouldn/t(

TupacMy whole life is shouldn/t(

Jada)o(

Tupac. can still remem0er(

Jada!emem0er what4

TupacThe first time . touched you(

Jada"top it(

Tupac

. touched you ( ( ( and e$erything after was somehow different, . was different( 1!eat2 Do you lo$ehim4

Jada'e/s e$erything you/re not> sta0le, solid, e$en-tempered(

TupacAre you tal&ing a0out yo man or yo ta? attorney4

Jada'e/s good for me(

TupacDo you lo$e him ( ( (

Jada

( ( ( 'e/s gonna 0e the father of my children(Tupac

"o you/$e already pic&ed him to 0e the nigga to plant the seed4Jada

5eah ( ( ( 0ecause . &now that with him something will grow(Tupac

All this happiness and yet you here with me( 1Rome enters the room(2Rome

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11/44

"uge says that he is ready to ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( Tell "uge, ./m gonna need a few more minutes(Rome

"uge said ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( And . said that ./m gonna need a few more minutes(Rome

1!eat2 ./ll tell him( 1Rome e"its the stage(2Tupac

5ou smell good(Jada

Than& you(Tupac

.t wasn/t a compliment( 1!eat2 hy do you smell so damned good4 hy did you come heresmelling so damned good ( ( ( why are you here4

Jada. need to wor& some things out ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( 0ut why are you here4

Jada1!eat2 hy didn/t you e$er ( ( ( we e$er ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( . don/t &now( 1Long beat(2 hen . was a &id, . thought that we/d ha$e time ( ( ( that we we/dha$e nothing 0ut time( .t ain/t so( e 7ust came up on the wrong side of the cloc&, 0a0y girl( .nschool, we was together, laughing and clowning( . came home, laid my head down and when .wo&e up and that sassy little girl was gone( )e?t thing . &now you li&e this 0eautiful woman( 1!eat2'is woman( And . 0ecame this thing, this car$ed up, 0urned up thing ( ( ( that . don/t e$en

recogni


12/44

Tupac5eah, if you was any fuc&ing happier you/d 0e in an electric chair(

Jada'e/s a good man(

Tupac

5eah( Jada1!eat2 !emem0er when we use to dance to his music4 !emem0er that4

TupacParents #ust &on)t *nderstand( ( ( yeah, . remem0er(

Jada1!eat2 But you still disli&e him4

Tupac'e the nigga always running his mouth a0out how he can ma&e songs without cussing or &illingniggas( 'e the one trying to ma&e a point( ./m 7ust trying to ma&e music(

Jada'is talent is different, that/s all( 5a/ll 7ust different(

TupacThen why is the nigga ta&ing shots4 *$ery time he do an inter$iew, he ta&e shots at niggas li&eme( 5ou don/t hear me mouthing off a0out that soft0all shit he do(

Jada5ou use to lo$e that soft0all shit(

TupacThat was a hundred years ago( . ain/t a &id no more, neither are you( 5et and still that 0ig-eared,nigga still lo00ing out that watered down 0ullshit(

Jada'e ne$er attac&ed you(

Tupac

)ot 0y name, 0ut . ain/t dum0, he 0een coming after gangsta niggas for years(Jada

May0e you 7ust 7ealous(Tupac

Damn, that nigga dun really made you drin& the cool-aid( 1aid in a mocking voice (2 8e 7ustdifferent is all(9 #oo&, you wit 6em, do yo thang( But don/t e$er lie to yourself( The difference0etween me and him is the difference 0etween Jordan and e$ery other nigga who can 0ounce a0all( ./m a giant, he/s a 3rammy winner(

Jada5our a legend ( ( (

Tupac

( ( ( And don/t you e$er forget it(Jada

%ro0lem is legends are made for museums( Made to li$e in a glass case( 5ou can/t 0uild on thatground( 5our heart is fro


13/44

Tupac( ( ( 5es, you did ( ( ( whate$er else we are to one another ( ( ( we don/t e$er lie to each other( .t/s0een too long, we 0een through too much(

JadaMay0e, . shouldn/t ha$e come here ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( May0e( Or may0e ./m 7ust holding on to too many memories( #i&e you said, you and that niggais 0ecoming, changing into something, someone . don/t e$en &now( . sit and watch you throughthe tele$ision screen and . wonder( ho is she4 ho is that person4

Jada5ou &now me(

TupacDo .4

JadaOf course(

Tupac. don/t thin& so(

Jada3et the hell out of here(

Tupac"eriously, who are you4

Jadaho am .4

Tupac5es(

Jada5ou &now who . am(

Tupac

. don/t &now who you are, now(Jada

./m the same ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( Bullshit ( ( (Jada

( ( ( hat are you tal&ing a0out4Tupac

5ou said it, you said( 5ou/re changing, you/re 0ecoming( hat are you 0ecoming4 That/s the;uestion, that/s the ;uestion(

Jada

By 0ecoming, . 7ust meant growing ( ( ( not li&e ./m a different person or something(Tupac

3rowing for the 0etter4Jada

)ot 0etter, not worse necessarily, 7ust different . guess( 1!eat2 Bad always comes with the good(Tupac

A nigga can/t ma&e an omelet without 0rea&ing eggs, right4Jada

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14/44

"omething li&e that(Tupac

. thin& you 7ust tal&ing yourself into circles(Jada

hy do you always moc& me4 hy is that e$ery time . try to spit some real to you, you gotta

ma&e fun4 Tupac. ain/t ma&ing fun ( ( ( it 7ust 0other me that you act li&e you deeper than some nigga humping towor& in a factory somewhere( 5ou tal& a0out 0ecoming as if it don/t apply to some waitress 0itchser$ing up sausages(

Jada. didn/t say that4

TupacDidn/t ha$e to( .t/s in your $oice( hen you tal& a0out greatness, what you really mean issuccess( My mother spent years smo&ing drugs and trying to raise a family all at the sametime ( ( ( and guess what . thin& she as great as some white 0oy trying to cure cancer somewhere(3reatness is not awards and flash0ul0s( Becoming, is not 7ust a0out mo$ing from one great careerto another( "ometimes greatness is paying the rent that month or ma&ing sure that yo &ids can eatthat day( 1!eat2 %eep game( The other day . was dri$ing, doing my thing ( ( ( you &now 7ustcruising the strip to clear my head( . was here at the studio and "uge had let me use his Jag( That$ehicle hug corners li&e hater niggas hug these nuts( "o ./m flying man, . mean dri$ing for hoursand ne?t thing . &now, ./m in atts ( ( ( . mean, widows down, dri$ing through the heart of it ( ( ( the0elly of the 0east ( ( ( niggas on e$ery corner, 0urned out 0uildings and cats eyeing the mags onthe Jag formulating plots( And so ./m coming down this itty 0itty side street, you &now one of themones with a factory on it ( ( ( and on the end of the street was one of those ( ( ( you &now paneltruc&s( One of those 0ig muthafuc&as, you &now( And so the truc& had pulled out so far to my leftit was 0loc&ing my $iew of the on-coming traffic, 0ut you &now the deal, . was straight in my Fuc&the orld, mode, so . wasn/t focused on anything other than the road in front of me and the sounds

spilling out the spea&er( "o . fly up doing ( ( ( you &now, li&e @ or ( ( (Jada

( ( ( Down a side street4Tupac

5ou &now how . do ( ( ( and as ./m yan&ing through the stoplight . hear this ( ( ( $oice, out themuthafuc&in/ dar&ness ( ( ( 'ey . mean the shit was so loud it scared me, so . yan&ed the wheelaround and come to a stop in front of the stoplight( )e?t thing . &now this fuc&ing Mac& truc& rollspast me doing a least @ ( ( ( . mean if . would ha$e &ept going, . would 0een, &illed, or if nothingelse crippled for life or otherwise fuc&ed up( . mean no 0ullshit, . was almost &illed( 1!eat2 Thiswas not some nigga pulling pipe ( ( ( this was 7ust some straight random shit( . sitting there in theJag, li&e . was in a da


15/44

Tupac)ow whose ma&ing 7o&es4

Jada1!eat2 hy did you tell me that story4

Tupac

1!eat2 hy are you here4 Jada. told you, . don/t &now(

Tupachy don/t you ta&e your ass 0ac& to that 3rammy inning nigga4

JadaDon/t call him that(

TupacA simple description of the facts(

JadaDon/t call him that li&e it/s a slur(

TupacAnd don/t show up to my fuc&ing recording session, li&e you fell out of the goddamned s&y ( ( ( wal&in here carrying my fuc&ing heart on a plate and then defend him to me( 5ou thin& ./m 0eing meanto the nigga4 5ou don/t li&e how ./m tal&ing then get the hell out of here( 5ou come in here, gut meli&e a fish and then you gon tell me how ./m allowed to 0leed ( ( ( fuc& that ( ( ( and fuc& you(

Jada5ou wanna hit me4

TupacThat/s real Funny(

Jada./m serious ( ( ( . mean the way you hollering at me(

Tupac

. could ( ( ( . would ne$er hit you ( ( ( cuss you the fuc& out may0e( . could ne$er do anything to hurtyou(

Jada'itting someone with a fist is only one way to hurt someone ( ( ( and not necessarily the mostpainful(

Tupac. guess(

Jada. should go(

Tupac5eah4

Jada5eah( 1he turns to leave(2

Tupacait(

Jadahat4

Tupac1Let me touch you(2 #et me touch you(

15


16/44

Jada)o(

TupacJust a little( 1!eat2 Can . try to ( ( ( . don/t &now, 0rea& this muthafuc&in/ spell4

Jada

. don/t understand TupacCould . see if it was real4

Jada.s what was real4

Tupachat . felt ( ( ( what ./m feeling ( ( (

Jada( ( ( . don/t &now ( ( ( . don/t ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( . need to &now( .f nothing else, you owe me that( 1he +uietly reaches down, grabs his handsand places them on her cheeks ( Tupac closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath. They standthere for several seconds(2

Jadaell4 1Long pause(2 as it real4 1Tupac painfully pulls away(2 ell4

Tupac. ha$e to get 0ac& to my session(

Jada%ac( 1He +uickly e"its the stage teary(eyed. #ada stands there for several seconds and absorbsthe wake left by Tupac. he reaches out as if to grab the vapors left by his absence (2 %ac(1Thenshe e"its. The studio set fades to black as #ada crosses to the ne"t set, ill)s Living Room, whichsuddenly illuminates.2

ACT O)*+"C*)* TO

#ada is now center stage in the living room of ill mith where she has been spendingconsiderable amounts of time. he is frantically pacing back and forth. he begins toaddress the audience(

Jada5eah, yeah, yeah( . get it( . &now what your thin&ing( . don/t need you 7udging me( . &now it/sfuc&ed up( . &now it/s not right( . don/t need you to tell me that( ./m not a dummy( . &now what itloo&s li&e ( ( ( . mean, hell( ./m not trying to hurt ( ( ( why would . do that, why would . hurt a man

whose lo$ed me li&e not other man e$er has4 ./m 7ust figuring some things out ( ( ( e?ploring myoptions 0efore . 7ump off the damned cliff( Don/t . ha$e the right to do that4 . mean ./m a goodperson( Don/t . ha$e the responsi0ility to ma&e sure its right4 ./m not li&e a lot of these 'ollywoodchic&s( ./m real( . ta&e that commitment lightly( .t has to mean something ( ( ( ./m not that 0roadthat/s gonna go through hus0ands li&e underwear ( ( ( yeah, . &now ( ( ( . &now, that/s not fair( 'e/sta&ing the same gam0le . am and he/s sure( 'e &nows what he wants ( ( ( 0ut ./m not him( ./m notsome immo$a0le o07ect ( ( ( ./m not %lymouth !oc&, . don/t care what the papers say( ./m 7ust somedamned actress trying to stum0le through life( ./m not a statue on a pedestal( 5ou &now what .

16


17/44

mean4 1!eat2 5ou &now what . mean4 1!eat2 ./m luc&y really( !ight4 This is what ./$e wor&ed sohard for( To 0e woman( A woman with choices ( ( ( with options( . mean what should . do, right4!ight4 1he walks over to a drawer and pulls out a candy bar. he begins to eat the candy bar.he begins to speak to the audience(2 hen ./m stressed . eat( . ha$e a0out a thirty of thesedamn things hidden all o$er the house( 1!eat2 'ey, don/t 7udge me ( ( ( . told you ./m stressed(

1The ill enters the room and begins to pace around. He contemplates approaching #ada andthen finally decides to approach(2Will

hen did you get 0ac&4Jada

1he +uickly shovels her candy bar away(2 A few hours ago(Will

. was worried a0out you(Jada

./m sorry(Will

. mean, you fly off the handle and then disappear for the rest of the day( hat gi$es4 Tal& to me(Jada

. said . was sorry(Will

. not as&ing for an apology ( ( ( ./m as&ing you to tal& to me(Jada

. 7ust needed to sort some things out(Will

5ou 0een in the dumps e$er since . ( ( (Jada

( ( ( .t 7ust caught me 0y surprise(Will

Most women are happy when a man ( ( (Jada

( ( ( . &now( "o was . ( ( ( it 7ust threw me for a loop(Will

5ou seem misera0le(Jada

./m not, ./m really not ( ( ( it/s 7ust the rest of my life( .t/s not li&e ./m trying to pic& a color for the den(Will

. thought that men were the one/s who were supposed to 0e s&ittish(Jada

5ou always said that . was li&e a man(

Will5eah, 0ut damn(

Jada5ou hate me4

Will. hate the way that ./m 0eing treated( . deser$e 0etter(

Jada. 7ust need a little room right now that/s all(

17


18/44

Will5ou want to 0rea& up4

JadaOf course not(

Will

Then what &ind of room are we tal&ing a0out4 Jada. need you not to frea& out for awhile so . can wor& through some stuff(

Will1!eat2 5ou went to see him didn/t you4

Jada1!eat2 ill ( ( (

Will( ( ( Don/t lie to me(

Jada. had to sort some things out(

Will( ( ( e/re not tal&ing a0out your laundry(

Jadahat do you want me to tell you4

WillThe truth(

Jada. 7ust needed ( ( (

Will( ( ( To see him(

Jada5es(

Will5our still in lo$e with him(

Jada. care a0out him( That doesn/t 0loc& my feelings for you( 5ou/re the most important thing in mylife( That hasn/t changed(

WillDon/t act for me, this isn/t a mo$ie set(

Jadahy does e$eryone &eep saying that4 ./m not acting ( ( ( how could you say that4

Will./m sorry, you don/t get to do what your doing and then ta&e the high ground( Don/t get indignant

with me ( ( (Jada

./m not sleeping with the man(Will

5ou might as well 0e(Jada

That/s not fair(Will

18


19/44

. ha$e 0een there for you ( ( ( . 0een true, and . 0een up-front( 5ou don/t get to straddle on this one(5ou ha$e to chose(

Jada.n case you ha$en/t noticed( . ha$e chosen( 5ou are my man( . lo$e you and only you( . 7ustneeded to ( ( ( loo&, not e$ery0ody is as certain of e$erything li&e you( e don/t all roll out the

wound and ha$e it all figured out( For some of us, it/s a 7ourney, it/s a pu


20/44

ACT O)*+"C*)* T'!**

The spotlight comes up and Tupac is sitting in one of the chairs on stage and drinkingfrom a glass that is on the table. A phone begins to ring and ring and ring. Tupac beginsto search his person for his phone. He finds the phone and checks it.

Tupachat the fuc&4 1He puts his phone down and begins to look around. He gets up and walks overto #ada)s phone. He bends over and picks up her phone. He stares at it for several minutesdeciding whether or not he should answer it. He decides to answer it.2 'ello( 1A spotlight(((-special on ill mith illuminates(2

WillCan . spea& to Jada4

Tupac"he/s not here4

Willho is this4

Tupac)igga, you &now who this is(

Willhy do you ha$e her phone4(

Tupac"he left it(

Willhy would she lea$e her phone4

20


21/44

Tupac#oo&, dude, . dun answered a0out all the ;uestions . intend to( 1!eat2 "he was upset( "he 7ustforgot her phone(

Will"o she was there(

Tupac5eah(Will

Came to see you4Tupac

"omething li&e that( "he was upset(Will

"he was upset and came to see you4Tupac

ell, in 0etween ma&ing all those dirty rap songs, . sometimes s;uee


22/44

5eah, that/s right nigga, yo 0road was o$er here 0ecause of me( That ma&e perfect fuc&ing sense(Will

"he/s my woman ( ( ( and . ain/t a0out to gi$e her up(Tupac

"he ain/t a fuc&ing collie nigga, you don/t get to say(

Will5ou couldn/t lo$e her li&e she needs ( ( ( you/d 7ust end up fuc&ing her o$er ( ( ( and you &now it(Tupac

Muthafuc&a don/t tal& to me li&e you &now me(Will

./m 7ust saying ( ( ( the &inda life you li$e ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( hat the fuc& you &now a0out the life . li$e4 5ou 0itch ass nigga, you don/t &now shit a0outme(

Willhat . &now is that your not good for her, what . &now is that . won/t let you fuc& up her life( hat .&now is that . won/t let you hurt her(

TupacBitch what the fuc& you gon do if . did4

Will#isten to me ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( )o you listen to ( ( (

Will( ( ( #."T*) TO M* ( ( ( Tupac, if you don/t 0elie$e any words . ha$e e$er said or written 0elie$esthis( . you e$er ( ( ( and . mean e$er hurt her ( ( ( in any way( . will fuc&ing &ill you( 5ou write allthem gangsta songs a0out how you carry guns and shoot cats and all that ( ( ( well let me tell youthis ( ( ( if you hurt her, if you push so much as a hair out of place . promise you, ./m gon find out

how much of that is true( 1Long silence(2 5ou hear me, nigga(Tupac

Those are the first words . ha$e heard, e$erything else has 0een 0ullshit( .ts nice to &now thatsafe, middle of the road muthafuc&as li&e you can 0e 7ust as animalistic as thug niggas li&e me( To0e honest . li&e the fact that you found something that you would &ill for( on/t change shit though,it/s gon go how it/s gon go(

Will. meant what . said(

Tupac1Laughs2 )igga, wanna &ill me it/s a waiting list( . gotta go( 1He hangs up the phone and tosses itacross the room. As /arion enters the room, he is almost hit by the phone.2

Marionhat the fuc&4

Tupac"uge ( ( ( oh, shit man, my 0ag(

Marion( ( ( hat the fuc& are you doing4 )igga you can put an eye out li&e that and shit(

Tupac"orry man, what/s up4

22


23/44

MarionThat/s what . came o$er here to find out(

Tupachatchu tal&ing a0out4

Marion

. thin& you &now what ./m tal&ing a0out( Tupac5ou heard(

MarionOf course . heard( 5ou thin& some shit can go down in this city and not ha$e me hear a0out it4

Tupac.t/s alright, man, . 7ust wanted to ma&e sure that money situation got ta&en care of ( ( ( . didn/t wantno0ody shitting on your people(

Marionhile, . appreciate that shit, nigga that ain/t yo 7o0( hat if that shit had gone 0ad4 hat then4That situation could ha$e turned into some gangsta shit, 7ust li&e that( 1naps his fingers(2 5ougotta start ta&ing 0etter care of yourself( Don/t get me wrong, you &now how . roll, if we gotta lay asituation down, we lay it down( .f some fool 7ump up and we ain/t got no choice, ./m the first niggato crac& that s&ull( But that situation you dealt wit, you didn/t need to 0e a part of that( That wasn/tno emergency situation, that was you 7ust trying to pro$e you got a 0ig dic&( ell, loo& nigga ./llsa$e you the trou0le( 5ou got a 0ig dic& ( ( ( o&ay4 5ou happy4

TupacAll we did is tal& man, wasn/t no physical in$ol$ed(

Marionhat would ha$e happened if 0ullets started flying4

TupacThen nigga . would ha$e dealt with that shit( 1Tupac lifts up his shirt and flashes a gun(2

Marion

1/arion angrily grabs the gun(2 )igga is you out of you mind4 . don/t need you doing that shit( egot people for that shit, . need your 0lac& ass in the studio &noc&ing out them fuc&ing tunes(

Tupachatchu want from me4 The niggas called(

MarionThat call shouldn/t$e 0een made( . don/t need you out on these streets pro$ing how tough youare( Muthafuc&a ./m the only 0ad ass on Death !ow, the rest of ya/ll niggas is 7ust employees and./m the 0oss nigga(

TupacAlright, alright(

Marion

Don/t alright me, %ac( )igga you got to start 0eing smarter than this( 5ou &now them niggasalready loo&ing at you under a magnifying glass ( ( ( what you trying to go to 7ail4

Tupac)aw, man(

MarionAnd we already 0ehind on the al0um( And . don/t want to ha$e to 0ail you out of no more trou0le(

Tupac./m good(

23


24/44

Marionhate$er( Man, . don/t get you, it/s li&e you trying to fuc& shit up( hat going on in that head ofyours4

Tupac./m fine(

Marion)igga you are not fine( 'alf the studio shit we got we can/t use( )igga all your passion was gone(5ou sound li&e your at the fuc&ing dentists office( Tal& to me nigga, what/s wrong4 5ou o&ay(

Tupac5eah, man . 7ust got shit on my mind(

Marion)igga( ./m the %resident of that clu0 ( ( ( 0ut we can/t let the 0usiness fall away( . 7ust need you tofocus through a couple of sessions and we/ll get you the hell out of here( O&ay4

TupacO&ay( 1The two give the universally known black handshake. /arion begins to walk away(2 "hestopped 0y last night(

Marion5eah, that/s what !ome said( 3otcho head all fuc&ed up(

TupacMay0e a little 0it(

Marionhy did she come 0y4

TupacThat/s the thing ( ( ( . don/t &now( . thin& she not happy( . thin& that she want to ma&e a change(Mo$e away from that s;uare ass nigga

MarionAnd you thin&ing of trying to mo$e her towards you4

Tupac

May0e( 1!eat2 hat4 5ou don/t thin& ./m good enough4Marion

ell, if you really as&ing me ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( . am ( ( (Marion

( ( ( . thin& you selfish( . thin& you don/t gi$e fuc& what that 0itch need( . thin& it/s li&e e$erything inyo life ( ( ( it/s all a0out you(

TupacDamn, nigga, you sound li&e that 0itch ass ill "mith(

Marion

5ou as&ed(Tupac

5ou thin& . would 0e 0ad for her4Marion

. thin& you would hurt that 0itch li&e she ain/t ne$er 0een hurt( . thin& that you would ta&e that thingin her that ma&e you want her in the first place and strangle that shit till it die(

TupacThat/s fuc&ed up(

24


25/44

Marion"aid 0y a nigga that &nows(

Tupac. want to ( ( ( . don/t &now ( ( ( . want to reach out ( ( (

Marion

( ( ( . &now, and may0e you could( That ain/t what the deal is( The deal is not could you, 0ut shouldyou(Tupac

Don/t . deser$e a little happiness, huh4 hy is happiness the shit that happen to themmuthafuc&as in the maga


26/44

Marion5eah(

TupacDoes it e$er get 0etter4

Marion

1Long beat(2 )o( .t ne$er does( .t/s li&e wal&ing around with an open wound(Tupac"o then what am . supposed to do then, huh4 hat now4

Marion1!eat2 . guess that/s why 3od in$ented weed, li;uor and groupie 0itches( 1He pats Tupac on theback and e"its the stage. Tupac stands up, leans his head back and wipes his eyes with histhumb and forefinger. A spotlight(-pecial appears on Tupac.2

Tupac. once watched in wonder as the girl . lo$ed leftpoof, $anished( #i&e a ghost, gone li&e a whiff of smo&e. stand herehood nigga strong0leeding and waiting for them to come for mewaiting for the &noc& at the doorwaiting for them to wipe me off the face of the *arthlea$ing only the stainthe unremo$a0leindestructi0leincorrupti0le stainthe mar&the 0lood spotthat said . was herethat thing that will li$e on in memory

long after they drilled me si? down in the groundand still . standwaiting for fatesmiling when the door &ic&s ina twin&le in my eye when the gun firesa twin&lea muthafuc&ing twin&le6cause see, . &now what they don/t. hold what they can ne$er touchthe thought of her, smiling in the sunshine( 1The light on the studio set goes black and the sametime as the spotlight(-pecial on #ada in ill)s Living Room illuminates(2

JadaBeams of light crash down on me./m 0lessed and . &now itmy heart 0eatsa mile a minuteas this lifemy liferolls 0y li&e freight cars in the rain

26


27/44

. ain/t crying, ./m en7oying the ridesha&ing the handse$ery 0it the minglermy name ain/t Jada, it/s A()()Always )etwor&ing )egro

. can smile and please with the 0est of themBut e$ery now and then, when the silence catches meor ./m a0le to steal a moment, . thin& of himalmost li&e a guilty pleasure. loo& aroundsure not to 0e o0ser$ed and then. reach 0ac& and wrap my fingers around himand pull him out of the dar& corners of my pastand . remem0er. remem0er him, as he wasas he is, although most will ne$er &now. remem0erthat sweet 0oy who would wal& me to schoolin worn snea&ers and ashy &nees. thin& of him and wonder how far we/$e comeand . wonder what we left 0ehindwonder a0out the dimly lit Baltimore street corners that 0irth us into the lime lightthe memory of him is my afternoon snac&the errant laugh that is 7ust for meBut ./m in a new place nowForeign groundthe land of plastic peoplestretched pulled 0ac& faces that don/t melt under the sun

plastic California faces smiling at meas my idiot grin slips and the sadness in$adesand the plastic people wonder and pretend concern85ou o&ay, Jada49and of course . smile and return their plastic grinand tuc& away thoughts of him for lateras if he was game to play under a shade tree(

As the interlocking lines are spoken, #ada and Tupac are not aware of one another andthey are walking towards one another as the lines are delivered(

Tupac./m free


28/44

My time can 0e measured 0y the second, niggas hunting me, . can feel them( . miss her( My0eautiful girl(

Jada./m telling you ( ( ( he was a 0eautiful 0oy( . &now it/s hard to picture him as a good little school 0oy,0ut that/s 7ust what he was, . don/t care what he say in his songs( 1Tupac points his hand, which is

shaped like a gun in the direction of #ada and begins to fire it. e hear the sound of his handfiring(2Tupac

My childhood is a hollow point 0ullet e?ploding(Jada

'e wasn/t no damned gangsta ( ( ( yeah, he got into a little trou0le he ne$er was no hard guy( Allthat 0ullshit came later(

TupacMay0e "uge is right, may0e . would 7ust hurt her ( ( ( ma&e her a part of this poison that has0ecome my life ( ( ( may0e ./m 7ust selfish(

Jada. am not a child anymore( . can/t chase rain0ows and 0ullshit and act li&e the 0ottom ain/t gon fallout, 6cause . &now 0etter(

Tupacillas are 0orn not made( 1!eat2 . miss the way we were(

Jada. miss the way he was ( ( (

Rome enters the room. ill)s Living Room goes dark.Rome

'ey, %ac ( ( ( that nigga Tre 7ust called ( ( ( he said them muthafuc&a tripping o$er the money again('e said need you to come down(

TupacOf course(

Romehatchu you want me to tell 6em4 . &now that "uge said you shouldn/t 0e in$ol$ed in this typething( .f he find out ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( Don/t worry a0out it ( ( ( "uge don/t got to &now shit, you wor& for me(

Rome"o whatchu wanna do4

Tupac1Long pause2 Cry ha$oc and let slip the dogs of war(

Romehat the fuc& that mean, nigga4

Tupac.t means pull the fuc&in/ car around and tell them niggas we on the way down(

Romehy the fuc& didn/t you 7ust say that4

TupacThe car, !ome, the car( 1Rome e"its the room. Tupac walks over to the table between the twosofa chairs and pulls out a bullet proof vest. He straps on the vest and then reaches into drawer

28


29/44

again and pulls out a gun. He cocks it to make sure it)s loaded and then tucks it into his waist belt.He begins to e"it the stage. The light on ill)s Living Room illuminates again(2

Jada'e use to ma&e art( 1Tupac free'es in his tracks. !eat2 )ow the art is ma&ing him. 1!eat2 "owhy is it that . can/t thin& a0out anyone else4 1Tupac +uietly e"its the stage. !oth stages fade to

black(2

Intermission

ACT TO+"C*)* O)*

Tupac is sitting on bench with his feet up smoking a cigar in the park. #ada enters thescene and she is 0ogging. he is wearing a grey oversi'ed sweat suit.

Tupac. 0rought cho phone( 1He holds her phone out like an offering (2

Jada%ac4

Tupac.n the muthafuc&in/ flesh( 1he takes the phone(2

JadaThan& you( 1!eat2 hat the hell are doing here4

Tupac5ou came to see me, so . thought that . would pop 0y Be$erly 'ills to see you(

Jada!eally4

Tupac5ou loo& se?y e$en in that damned 7ogging suit(

Jada'ow did you find me4

Tupac. learned a long time ago that you can get any piece of information you want if you willing to pay forit(

Jada5ou &now that you not allowed to smo&e out here4

Tupacell, the niggas can arrest me if they li&e(

JadaDon/t chu got enough 0ad press4

TupacFor niggas li&e me it ain/t no such thing( . could fuc& an elderly nun in the ass and my record sellswould dou0le(

Jada

29


30/44

hat are you doing here4Tupac

. told you that . came to see you( hen . found out where you were . had !ome dri$e me o$erhere( 'e/s in the car o$er there( 1Tupac points(2

Jada

5ou don/t go far without your henchmen do you4TupacThey come in handy(

Jada#oo&, . appreciate you 0eing there for me the other day 0ut ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( . lo$e you( 1He grabs her hands(2

Jada. lo$e you too ( ( (

Tupac)o, . lo$e you( 5ou should 0e with me(

Jada%ac, we are in the middle of a par& ( ( (

Tupac( ( ( . don/t care if we were in the middle of China( 5ou should 0e with me and you &now it(

Jadahat do you want me to say to that4

Tupac. don/t want you to say anything( . want you to get into my car and come with me( .t/s time for Aliceto lea$e onderland( 5ou don/t lo$e him(

Jada1Long beat2 This is not a game, this is my life(

Tupac

This is my life too(Jada

This is cra


31/44

Fuc& the world( ./$e ne$er 0een scared of anything in this world, 0ut you(Jada

Me4Tupac

5eah, you ( ( ( you terrify me(

Jada. can/t do this ( ( ( ma&e this decision ( ( ( not here, not here(Tupac

hy not here4Jada

. am not a0out to decide my whole fuc&ing life in a par&(Tupac

5ou lo$e me(Jada

5ou would a0solutely destroy me ( ( ( . 7ust &now it(Tupac

Or may0e . would sa$e you from yourself( 1Long beat. Rome enters the stage(2Rome

%ac ( ( (Tupac

!ome, not now(Rome

5es, nowTupac

hat !ome, what4Rome

./m sorry man ( ( ( 0ut it/s important( That ( ( ( thing we were hoping would resol$e itself( .t/s goingdown( )ow( 1He has a cell phone in his hand with his palm covering the mouth piece (2

Tupac)ow4

Rome5eah(

TupacJai ( ( (

Jada( ( ( . &now, you ha$e to go(

Tupac5eah ( ( (

Jada

.t/s o&ay go(Tupac

Come see me tonight(Jada

. can/t . ha$e to ( ( (Tupac

( ( ( 5ou ha$e to 0e with me( Come to my studio tonight( .t/s time to start our li$es ( ( ( for real ( ( (Jada

31


32/44

( ( ( . can/tTupac

. &now that you lo$e me( . &now that you want to 0e with me ( ( (Jada

( ( ( %ac ( ( (

TupacJust don/t say no right now( 1Long beat2 .f you want to 0e with me, show up tonight at my studio=and if you don/t, then don/t come( Just thin& a0out ( ( ( promise me that( 1Long pause2 %lease(

JadaO&ay(

Romee gotta go man(

Tupac5eah( 1He begins to e"it the stage(2 . lo$e you, Jai( 1He rubs her face and then Tupac and Romee"it the stage. The scene fades to black.2

32


33/44

ACT TO+"C*)* TO

The scene opens and Tupac is sitting in one of the chairs of his studio and he is drinkingfrom a vodka glass. A bottle is ne"t to him. Rome enters the scene(

Rome"uge is on his way up(

Tupac5ou called him4

RomeOf course . called him ( ( ( the ship is sin&ing, nigga( . called him as soon as it happened( This shitis fuc&ed up(

Tupac#i&e, . need you to tell me that4

Romehat the fuc& we gon do, %ac4

Tupac. don/t &now( e gon 7ust ha$e to hold it down, that/s all( 'old that shit down(

Rome1!eat2 hat are we doing, man4

Tupac. don/t &now( . really don/t( 1/arion enters the scene. He stands at the door for several secondsand does not speak(2 "ay something(

Marion. don/t &now what to say(

TupacMe neither( 1Tupac takes a large gulp from the bottle sitting ne"t to him(2

Marion"ingle malt4

TupacOnly the 0est for me( 1He laughs(2

Marion5eah( 1/arion walks over and sits down(2

Tupac5ou &now what . did today4 1!eat2 . ignored a good friend of my, stuc& my nose where the fuc& itdidn/t 0elong ( ( ( and . threw it all away( Just li&e that( 1naps his fingers(2

Marion!ome told me what happened when he called(

Tupac

33


34/44

Did he4Marion

hy didn/t you call4Tupac

And say what4 8'ey, "uge, it/s %ac . didn/t listen a goddamned word you said to me, and ./$e 7ust

fuc&ed up my life(9 MarionThat/s e?actly what you say( "ee, you still don/t get it( e family nigga, ride or die( )ot 7ust whenthe sun shining, when the shit is raining down on you, that/s when it matter the most( . learned thatin the streets, you don/t ride witcho niggas, you don/t e?ist( 5ou didn/t thin& . would 0e there foryou4

Tupac1!eat2 ./m sorry for fuc&in/ e$erything up so 0ad(

Marion. swear nigga, you was 0orn under a luc&y star( .f !ome hadn/t called me, this thing might ha$egotten completely our control( 1Tupac +uickly sits up(2

Tupachat do you mean4

Marion. mean, you need to crawl out of that fuc&ing 0ottle( This thing may not 0e the show closer youthin& it is(

Tupachatchu mean4

Marion. mean that . still got 7uice on the street ( ( ( and in other places too( As soon as . found out, .started wor&ing the phones(

TupacAnd ( ( (

Marion( ( ( And there is at least the possi0ility of ma&ing this thing go away(

TupacDon/t fuc& with me, "uge( .t ain/t li&e we tal&ing a0out a traffic tic&et( . mean how could ( ( (

Marion( ( ( hat . always tell you, don/t worry a0out how . 0ring in the 0acon nigga, 7ust 0e than&ful whenyou chowing down on it(

Tupac5ou mean go away completely4

Marion.t/s too early to tell, 0ut it/s a definite possi0ility--- and man, . can not stress the fact, that if you

would ha$e told me a0out this as soon as it happened it would ha$e put me in an e$en 0etterposition of protect you(

Tupac. don/t &now what to say(

Marionell, . do( .f . do this thing for you ( ( ( pull this ra00it out the hat ( ( ( that pu0lishing we tal&ed a0out( ( (

Tupac

34


35/44

( ( ( .t/s yours( 1The two men shake hands(2Marion

Family 0a0y, when it all goes to hell, it/s the only thing that counts( 1The two men hug(2 5ou readyto head out4

Tupac

)aw, man ./m gon hang around here for awhile(Marionaiting for that 0itch4 1Tupac drops his eyes(2

Tupacho told you ( ( ( !ome(

MarionAin/t shit out here . don/t &now ( ( ( nothing( 5ou ta&e a piss and . &now 0efore the first drop 0ounceoff the toilet 0owl(

Tupac. need to do something(

MarionOne of these days you gon sa$e yo/self the pain and listen to me( 5ou don/t really thin& shecoming4

Tupac. don/t &now, 0ut if so, it/s something . gotta do(

MarionO&ay, ./m off to the house, . got a 0unch of calls . gotta ma&e to monitor yo little situation( 1/arione"its the scene. Rome enters the scene a few moments later.2

Tupacell, if it ain/t Mr( !un My Fuc&in/ Mouth ( ( (

Rome( ( ( 5ou mad at me4

Tupac

hatchu thin&4 . got a right hand man that don/t e$en wor& for me apparently ( ( ( the nigga isreporting to my 0oss(

Rome5ou wanna fire me, nigga4

Tupac. didn/t say that(

Rome3ood( 6Cause ain/t another muthafuc&a that could deal witcho 0ullshit and put up wit yo cra


36/44

RomeBy the way, she/s here(

Tupac5ou mean ( ( (

Rome

( ( ( 5eah( Tupac#et her in( 1Rome e"its the stage and few seconds later #ada enters the stage (2 5ou came(

Jada. don/t e$er want to ha$e to wonder what if4

TupacMy world is shit( Did you &now that4

Jadahat/s wrong4

Tupac"omething happened(

Jadahat happened4

Tupac1Long beat2 . hurt someone tonight(

Jada5ou hurt someone4

Jadaho4 'urt li&e how4

Tupac.t doesn/t matter( hat matters is that . didn/t mean to( . didn/t mean for it to get out of hand li&ethat( . didn/t mean for all that cra


37/44

Jada. lo$e you(

Tupac. lo$e you too(

Jada

Don/t say it li&e that( Tupac#i&e what4

Jada)ot li&e that( "ay it li&e you mean it( #i&e it 0urns inside( #i&e it hurts to say(

Tupac./m not some mon&ey on a string ( ( ( you &now how . feel, ./m not some nigga out of 0oo&(

Jada./m here ( ( ( you as&ed me to 0e here and ./m here( 5ou as&ed me to ta&e a ris& and . ha$e andnow it/s li&e you don/t want me here(

Tupac1!eat2 . don/t( This was a mista&e ( ( ( . want you to lea$e(

JadaAre you insane4 hat are you tal&ing a0out4

Tupac./m tal&ing a0out you lea$ing here( This is a mista&e( . want you to lea$e ( ( ( go 0ac& to ill(

Jada. don/t 0elie$e you( . don/t thin& you want me to lea$e( hat . thin& is that your scared( 5ourfrightened of all the things you could 0e( ./m frightened too, 0ut we can get through it together( ecare for each other= that/s all we need(

Tupac)o( "uge was right( ./m not li&e these other dudes out here( .t/s not my destiny to 0e li$ing in the60ur0s, 0urping 0a0ies and mowing the lawn and shit( .t/s not who . am( That was fantasy that . let

myself 0elie$e ( ( ( let myself hold onto( . lo$e you, 0ut . can ne$er 0e with you ( ( ( and . want youto lea$e( 3o 0ac& to your life and li$e that muthafuc&a li&e no life has e$er 0een li$ed(

Jada5ou tal&ing li&e you on Death !ow 1They both laugh(2

Tupac)o, pun intended4 3et outta here Jada( There/s not place for you in my world(

Jada1!eat2 ell, ./m sorry ( ( ( 0ut your gonna ha$e to ma&e room( ./m not lea$ing ( ( ( . can/t spend mylife running away ( ( ( neither can you(

TupacAre you listening to me4 .t/s o$er ( ( ( were done( . want you to lea$e(

Jadahy 0ecause your scared ( ( ( 0ecause you don/t want to try, want to fight for something that could0e special4 hat &ind of man are you4

Tupac"hut you mouth(

Jada.t ta&es a man to shut my mouth( And what are you4

Tupac

37


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. said shut your fuc&ing mouth and get out of here(Jada

)o ( ( ( . gonna fight for us ( ( ( e$en if you don/t ha$e the guts to(Tupac

./m not the one for you ( ( (

Jada( ( ( And why do you get to say4Tupac

#ea$e(Jada

.f . lea$e, it won/t end and you &now it( .t/s gonna 0urn in you and 0urn in me and in a wee&, twowee&s, two years, were gonna 0e right 0ac& here and you &now it( 1He turns his back to #ada(2Don/t turn you 0ac& on me( Face me( Turn around and fight( Fight for us(

TupacThere/s nothing to fight for(

Jada5ou &now what, . thin& your a fuc&ing coward( 1Tupac back hands her hard across the cheek.he turns away and when she recoils she is horrified to discover that she is bleeding. hetouches her lip and stares at the blood(2

Tupac3et the fuc& out of my studio and don/t you e$er come 0ac&( 1!eat2 )ow 1#ada +uickly e"its thestage. Tupac walks over to the end of the stage from which #ada e"ited. He stands there andstares after her(2 'a$e a good life, Jai(

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ACT TO+"C*)* T'!**

The lights are out in ill)s living room and #ada is sitting in the dark. ill enters theroom.

Jada./m a damned fool(

WillJada ( ( ( why you sitting in the dar&(

Jada.t/s one 0ig metaphor for how my life has 0een for the last few wee&s( .n the damned dar&(

Willhat are you tal&ing a0out ( ( ( can . turn the light on(

Jada%lease don/t 1ill suddenly turns the lights on (2

Willhat the hell happened to your face(

Jada.t/s o&ay, ill( .t loo&s a lot worse than it is(

WillJesus Christ ( ( ( who hurt you, who hurt you4

Jada.t/s o&ay, right now . wanna tal& a0out how . hurt you( . had the real damn thing staring me in theface and . 0een acting li&e a complete asshole(

WillJada who hurt you4

Jada

.t doesn/t matter now(Will

.t was him, wasn/t it4Jada

'e didn/t mean it( 'e was drun&(Will

Alright, ./m gonna call my Doctor in the morning and get him to come o$er here and loo& at yourface ( ( ( o&ay4

JadaO&ay, ill, 7ust stay here with me ( ( (

Will

Jada rela? it/s o&ay( !ight now . want you to go to the 0athroom and press a cold rag on your face(Jada

O&ay, 0a0y, . 7ust don/t want you to do anything stupid or get into it with him a0out this(Will

Of course not= ./m Mr( 8#e$el 'eaded9 remem0er( 1he stands up(2Jada

. lo$e you ( ( ( . don/t &now how . could ha$e e$er dou0ted it( 1They both hug and smile. he e"itsthe stage. His smile +uickly morphs into a scowl and he +uickly e"its the stage on the opposite

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side. About a thirty seconds later she re(emerges with a cold rag on her face(2 5ou &now 0a0e .thin& this 0ruise &inda ma&es me loo& se?y ( ( ( ill ( ( ( ill ( ( ( 1The scene fades to black(2

ACT TO+"C*)* FOE!Tupac is laying on the sofa. He has a bottle in his hand and he is swigging it withconviction. e hear voices shouting off stage. ill enters +uickly and with purpose (

Tupac

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ell, if it ain/t ill muthafuc&in "mith( The Fresh %rince, T: star( hat . can do you for, nigga41Rome enters +uickly behind ill mith(2

RomeMuthafuc&a, . will 0rea& yo fuc&in/ nec&(

Tupac

.t/s alright !omey, !ome it/s all the fuc& right( RomeThis nigga 7ust ran past me ( ( (

Tupac.t/s o&ay, for real ( ( ( don/t worry a0out ( ( ( go on now, 7ust gi$e us a minute(

Rome1Rome gives ill a half(hearted push on the shoulder(2 %un& ass nigga(

Tupac"ee, how safe . am here with all this top notch security4 'a$e a seat( Drin&4 1Tupac holds thebottle up as if to offer ill some (2 Oh, that/s right( . forgot you Mr( America and shit, you don/tdrin&(

WillThe woman . lo$e ( ( ( the future mother of my children is at my house ( ( ( and she/s crying(

Tupac!eally4

Will"he 0leeding too( #i&e some low life put his hands on her(

Tupac"o, what you here= to &ic& my ass for hitting Jada4

Will. warned you o$er the phone(

Tupac5eah, that was some good gangsta shit( 1Tupac stands up(2 Come on, 8Mr( %arents Just Don/tEnderstand(9 Come on with your pun& ass( "how me whatchu got 0itch( 1Tupac waves himforward(2

Will1ill stands +uickly(2 . don/t let no one put they hands on my family(

Tupac)igga, you can put yo hands on these nuts( 1ill rushes forward and punches him in the face andTupac crashes to the ground. ill 0umps on top of him and punches him again and again andagain(2 That/s what the fuc& ./m tal&ing a0out ( ( ( again, nigga hit me again( 1ill gets off of Tupacand stands up. Tupac stands up as well(2 Come, hit me again( 1He begins to cry(2 'it me again(

Come on, goddamnit, hit me again( 1Tupac stumbles forward and grabs onto ill)s lapels(2 Againyou soft ass nigga, why did you stop4 1ill pushes Tupac off of him and edges back. 2

Willhat in the hell is wrong with you4

Tupac1Long beat2 . don/t &now4 1Tupac stumbles back and falls over the small table in(between thechairs. ill walks over and helps him into the chair(2 5ou lied to me(

Will

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. lied to you4 1ill sits in the opposite chair(2Tupac

5ou promised to &ill me, you piece of shit( 5ou/re liar(Will

"o you want me to &ill you4

Tupacorse ways to die(Will

5ou got a death wish(Tupac

5ou e$er heard of that African pro$er0 a0out the egg4Will

The African pro$er0 a0out the ( ( ( what are you tal&ing a0out4Will

)igga, you &now that pro$er0 the one that say that if you hold an egg too loose the damn thing fallsout of your hand and crashes to the ground ( ( ( crac&ed the fuc& up ( ( ( 0ut if you hold it too tight,you crush it all to hell( 5ou destroy it( 5ou destroy that thing you lo$e ( ( ( 0y holding on too tight(

Will5eah, . &now that one(

Tupac. 7ust 0een thin&ing a0out that one lately(

WillThe great Tupac ( ( ( you/re a mess(

Tupac5ou 7ust figured that out4

Will"o, you/re the new Miles Da$is, or so they say4

Tupac

*ats you up don/t it4Will

"topped reading the papers a long time ago(Tupac

)o, wonder you can/t handle Jada, you the worst liar ./$e e$er seen(Will

. don/t get 7ealous e$ery time some0ody step into the lime light( )ergo . 0een doing this for tenyears, put my first al0um out in /@ and . still go platinum e$ery time( #ets see you do that, lets seewhere you/ll 0e in ten years(

TupacBut still it must ir& you 7ust a little 0it ( ( ( li&e you said you 0e out since /@, selling al0ums, winning

awards ( ( ( 0ut when they start tal&ing a0out the greats of this game, nigga you don/t e$en getmentioned in the top twenty(

Willhy4 Just 0ecause . don/t ser$e up the death you call music4

Tupac./m 7ust ma&ing records(

Will

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That/s what niggas li&e you ne$er understand( .t/s not 7ust a0out ma&ing records( .t 7ust ain/t a0outthat sports car in the dri$e way( 5ou didn/t get here 0y yourself( 5ou stood on the shoulders ofthose who came 0efore( 5ou owe them something(

Tupac. crawled to where . am on my 0elly ( ( ( didn/t no0ody gi$e me nothing and . don/t owe any0ody a

goddamned thing4 Will.s that how your mother feels4 .t 7ust seems to me that she was a0out the people4 hathappened to you4

Tupac. grew up( %eople don/t 0uy my al0ums to here 0lac& history lessons( %eople 0uy it for a reason(

WillAnd people 0uy crac& to= that don/t ma&e it good(

Tupac)iggas, li&e you ne$er respected my music(

Will5our wrong( . happened to thin& you are one of the most talented 0rothers out there( But the &idsout there ain/t gon separate the talent from the poison( 5our lyrical structure is magnificent, youword play dynamic, 0ut your o0ligations ha$e to go further than the art(

TupacThat/s easy to say from the mountaintop(

WillMay0e, 0ut ./m on this mountaintop 0ecause of the hard wor& it too& to clim0 it( Try 0eing aplatinum selling artists who don/t cuss in the age of 3angster !ap( . was around 0efore 3angsta!ap and ./m still around( ./$e seen 6em come and go, 0ut ./m still here(

Tupac. see why she lo$es you( Old white 0read got a little passion, a little heart 0eating inside of theCardigan( 1!eat2 "he/s a good woman(

Will. &now(

Tupac"he deser$es to 0e happy( 1!eat2 This thing 0etween me and her ( ( ( it/s not real ( ( ( it/s a spellcast 0y a muthafuc&in/ wi


44/44

Will5ou &new that a sister li&e Jada, she could ne$er 0e with you after you put cho hands on her( 5ou&new she would 0e crossing o$er into a place she could ne$er return 0ac& from( 5ou &new itwould dri$e her away fore$er(

Tupac

1Long beat. Tupac is in tears.2 . can/t ta&e her where she needs to go( That/s gon ha$e to 0e your7o0(Will

5ou really lo$e her, don/t you4Tupac

"eems li&e that/s a crowded clu0 nowadays, don/t it4 1!oth men laugh. !eat.2 Ta&e care of her(%lease ( ( ( 7ust lo$e her(

Willith e$erything that . am( 1!eat2 . gotta go(

Tupac5eah( 1ill begins to e"it the stage( !eat.2 5ou &now that she will ne$er lo$e you li&e she lo$esme, right4 1ill stops in his tracks( !eat(2 Can you li$e with that4

Will1ill turns around. !eat.2 . guess ./m gonna ha$e to( 1He turns and e"its the stage. The scenefades to black.2

F.)(

ord Count GH,GI

Drowning the Flame-dirty-sub Copy

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