David Conley

The Blues on Maple Avenue (Sample) By David Martyn Conley -- EXT. ELLIE’S HOUSE- EVENING Sam, mid 20’s, stops the police car in front of Ellie’s house, turns it off, gets out, and walks around to greet his brother, Darren, late 20’s, who is standing on the lawn. SAM No wonder you can’t keep no woman. What could you say that done pissed her off already? DARREN Ain’t NO crime in the city? That’s what you telling me? SAM All the crime I need right here. Don’t tell nobody you my brother. DARREN Don’t worry. SAM What you do to that girl? DARREN Hell if I know. Last night we kissing on the lawn... SAM Standing up or laying down? DARREN ... then tonight, she mad cause I didn’t call, but it’s not about the call... or something. SAM Definitely laying down. DARREN What? Edward, early 30’s comes to the front door and steps out on the porch. EDWARD You kids better get off my lawn! DARREN You better not be in there eating all the chicken! (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 2. They all laugh. Edward walks off the porch and joins his brothers by the police cruiser. SAM What you doing here? Mama alright? EDWARD She good. I’m just staying here tonight. DARREN What? SAM You cats are pitiful. Rosie done put you out. Miracle broke up with this one. DARREN She didn’t break up with me. EDWARD Wait. You and Miracle back together? DARREN Well... SAM Kissing on the lawn in front of God and Everybody! EDWARD Standing up or laying down? DARREN What is up with you two and that question? SAM Laying Down. EDWARD Its always the quiet ones. Freaks. DARREN I ain’t all that quiet. They all laugh. EDWARD Turning back the clock to twelve years old. I hear that. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 3. DARREN Not sure what’s going on with her. Hormones or something. SAM Probably that weak game you got. DARREN I got your weak game. EDWARD It is kinda weak, though. DARREN Hell with both y’all! SAM What Rosie put you out for? EDWARD Who say she put me out? SAM Cause you not staying at home. Don’t take a genius to figure out something’s going on. EDWARD We just, working some things out. Its all good. DARREN All good, huh? EDWARD Yeah. SAM Liza pregnant. DARREN AND EDWARD WHAT?! SAM Yeah. EDWARD Wow. Sam sighs. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 4. SAM Yeah. DARREN That’s a good thing, right? Sam looks at Edward who shrugs. SAM Well... yeah... sure. You know, I want to have kids. Do the whole Daddy thing. Be like Eddie. EDWARD Don’t be like me. DARREN Y’all tripping. You act like you just got convicted of murder. EDWARD You lucky, D man. You got it made SAM Yep. DARREN Made? Why? Cause I ain’t got kids or some girl pregnant? Kids are a gift, from God. SAM Its almost heartbreaking how innocent you are. Edward laughs. DARREN Just saying... EDWARD No. My kids are a gift from God. I Love my kids. Nothing like Fatherhood. It’s just...just ain’t the easiest thing in the world. They counting on you, you know? For everything. The wife too. You just got to worry about you. Your decisions effect you. Period. But, when you got a family....it’s just different. That’s all. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 5. SAM Amen. DARREN What you talking about? You ain’t married. SAM Might as well be. We share everything, now we got the kid coming... DARREN You can still, walk away easier. Its not the same. SAM Not with a baby, coming. I’m on the hook now, brother. Silence. DARREN You guys are amazing. You complaining bout stuff, that some people would kill to have. Find a woman you love, that you have trouble breathing without, you have a couple children in your own image... The air is more serious now. DARREN (CON’T) ... its like you complaining about heaven. Maybe its just me. Everybody is quiet. Darren walks toward the house. DARREN (CON’T) Well, goodnight. Edward and Sam stand alone watching him leave. Sam shakes his head. SAM Heartbreaking. EDWARD Damn shame.