Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by Steven Donnini
by Steven Donnini
Copyright 2004
1
Introduction
beer, wine and soda coolers. Hanging from the ceiling are
It’s still the after midnight Mecca for the night crawlers
and lost souls from the old eastside city streets. Poppy,
2
bound most of the time. He supervises his many convenience
stores by phone.
seen all kinds of people come into the store over the years
OMAR, “I learned that these animals would kill you for five
bucks, or just for fun. Now, when they take out a knife or
The Holidays are always the time when family history and
3
SALLY bets the agnostic OMAR, that before Christmas Day he
off for years, it’s time I got something back.” There are
insurance goes up, so they keep the tapes and don’t call
4
assaulted. AUGGY’S robbery attempt is one of those times
when it’s better for everyone to just forget it. Then, one
she looks like she stepped out of the 60’s. She turned out
at Poppy’s.
They drive by and fire their guns into the store breaking
glass windows and wine bottles. When the shooting was over
MITCH, SALLY, and OMAR are all hunkered down on the floor
blood trail going out the backdoor leading into the alley.
a police report.
shift.
5
MITCH comes in for a pack of smokes. SALLY asks, “So,
a cold winter night and a Puerto Rican drug gang was after
she had a stroke from rock cocaine. I told him about the
OMAR sums up the story… “I think SALLY was right about some
6
AUGGY packs more mischief, pound for pound, than anyone I
impulse control.
I don’t agree with most of her religious dogma, but she has
deserve it.”
7
Poppy’s Corner
By Steven D. Donnini
Library Of Congress
WGA
Copyright Steven Donnini 2004
8
Setting
Buffalo, NY.
CHARACTERS
SALLY Amagone
9
MITCH (Michael Alveraz)
AUGGY Bazycki
10
INTERIOR POPPY’S STORE NIGHT
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
11
OMAR
SALLY
As in Hare Krishna?
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
12
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
13
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
That’s scary.
OMAR
SALLY
What happened?
14
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
Yeah and…
OMAR
15
SALLY
(AUGGY walks in the door and shakes of the snow from his
parker.)
AUGGY
SALLY
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
Why ask?
AUGGY
16
OMAR looks at AUGGY with suspicion.
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
AUGGY
AUGGY pays for his cigarettes and beer and leaves the
store.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
Bless them.
17
OMAR
SALLY
They’re harmless.
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OH?
OMAR
18
so I gave them some fat lip.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Isn’t it cold out there?
TWO-STEP
SALLY
19
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
(Pointing at TWO-STEP)
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
TWO-STEP
SALLY
20
It’s the way it is. We all have a
place in Yahweh’s grand plan.
OMAR
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
21
You don’t have to believe in Jesus.
But he is the only way you’re going
to go to heaven.
OMAR
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
Oh?
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
22
My parents are old school Islamic,
they thought it would be good for me
to get away from the gang I was
hanging with in.
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
TWO-STEP
SALLY
23
I think we need some music around here,
to lighten things up.
OMAR
TWO-STEP
I like it.
OMAR
OMAR takes a box of VHS tape and walks into the back
room.
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Oh.
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Yeah, me too.
TWO-STEP
24
I still feel guilty.
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Why is that?
TWO-STEP
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
TWO-STEP
25
But I think they just wanted to slow
me down with some other drugs.
I blew a gasket.
OMAR walks back into the store from the back room.
OMAR
TWO-STEP
Nope.
OMAR
TWO-STEP
All right.
TWO-STEP
OMAR
OMAR
26
Looks like your $35 dollars richer.
Sign the back and I’ll give you
the cash.
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
TWO-STEP
Sure.
OMAR
MITCH
27
I’m stressed out.
OMAR
Yeah?
MITCH
Come here.
SALLY
Hi there.
OMAR
So?
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
28
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
Who is it?
MITCH
OMAR
29
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
30
MITCH
Thanks.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
So what?
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
31
Give it a rest, it’s the Holidays.
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Not me.
OMAR
TWO-STEP
MITCH
Give me a Bull.
OMAR
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
32
AUGGY
SALLY
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY pulls out a gun from inside his old army coat.
AUGGY
SALLY
Oh my.
OMAR
AUGGY
OMAR
No way.
SALLY
33
OK. Just don’t point that thing at
anyone. It could go off.
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
Do I care?
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
34
What are you talking about?
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
MITCH
TWO-STEP
OMAR
MITCH
35
Then why are you giving stuff away?
SALLY
OMAR
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
AUGGY
36
I’d rather shoot him in the foot.
MITCH
No too messy.
OMAR
AUGGY
What’s that?
MITCH
AUGGY
SALLY
TWO-STEP
Jesus, that’s hardly worth getting
in trouble over.
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
37
If you’re going to shoot me, go for it.
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
Here see.
OMAR
SALLY
SALLY reaches into her purse and takes out a $20 bill.
OMAR
SALLY
AUGGY
OMAR
TWO-STEP
38
He’s just trying to get by.
MITCH
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
39
TWO-STEP
MITCH
Is he a Jew?
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
TWO-STEP
AUGGY
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
40
He’s harmless.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
AUGGY
OMAR
MITCH
What?
41
OMAR
Tell them.
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
TWO-STEP
AUGGY
42
Oh Yeah!
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
TWO-STEP
AUGGY
Every day.
SALLY
43
What if I told you there’s a way out
of all this?
OMAR
TWO-STEP
SALLY
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
AUGGY
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
44
I’ll tell you, Ezekiel can’t get
these gangsters off my ass.
OMAR
TWO-STEP
MITCH
TWO-STEP
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
45
I don’t know. But, I know you’re
going to hell.
AUGGY
MITCH
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
46
SALLY
TWO-STEP
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
What?
AUGGY
OMAR
MITCH
47
OMAR
MITCH
Like a snitch?
AUGGY
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
I didn’t know.
SALLY
48
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
AUGGY
OMAR
4 times.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
Go on, what?
OMAR
49
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
You must have to pay a bundle in support.
OMAR
That’s mostly over now. I maybe the
only man who didn’t learn anything
from getting divorced.
SALLY
(looking at photos)
OMAR
50
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
Self preservation comes to the rescue.
TWO-STEP
51
I hear you.
MITCH
AUGGY
SALLY
TWO-STEP
AUGGY
No way.
TWO-STEP
AUGGY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
52
SALLY
MITCH
AUGGY
SALLY
AUGGY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
53
$19,000.
SALLY
AUGGY
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
SALLY
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
54
I can’t afford to win.
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
That’s cold.
SALLY
I just feel better when their not around.
MITCH
I know, nobody cares.
SALLY
I know your right. I should care more
about them. But the make it hard
to love them.
MITCH
55
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
That’s discrimination.
OMAR
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
56
The men are another thing altogether.
They’re all fucking drug dealers
or addicts.
SALLY
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
57
An hour later the water was 2 inches
deep down the hallway into the
Dean’s office. Mr. Shavonie thought
it was me, so I was expelled from
his class.
AUGGY
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
AUGGY
MITCH
58
SALLY
TWO-STEP
AUGGY
MITCH
SALLY
That’s nice.
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
Everything is perfect.
SALLY
MITCH
59
Everywhere I sit, I’m afraid I’m
going to drop your food and make a mess.
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
60
Billy Sr. and Vern.
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
Hello.
61
SALLY picks up the newspaper and starts reading.
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Where is he now?
TWO-STEP
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
62
Sit down behind the counter and don’t
get up till I tell you to.
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
TWO-STEP
I’m an Aquarius.
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
What am I?
SALLY
63
Scorpio.
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
AUGGY
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
64
I’m a Leo. You can tell a Leo by
the big hair, clothes, cars and diamonds.
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
65
MITCH creeps up again from behind the counter.
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
AUGGY
66
Very clever those Pakistani Devils.
SALLY
AUGGY
MITCH
SALLY
AUGGY
OMAR walks over to the light switch and turns off the
lights.
OMAR
67
Gunshots are fired into the store. The window breaks
and SALLY cries out.
SALLY
OMAR
Is anybody hit?
SALLY
AUGGY
I can’t move.
OMAR
MITCH
I’m here.
OMAR
SALLY
No.
68
AUGGY crawls to the front window and looks out from
between the signs taped to it.
AUGGY
OMAR
OMAR
AUGGY
SALLY
Where’s TWO-STEP?
She must have stepped out the back door during the
shooting.
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
69
OMAR walks to the telephone and calls Poppy.
OMAR
OMAR
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
70
SALLY
AUGGY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
71
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY goes to the coat rack on the back wall and walks
to the front door.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
72
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
Well…
OMAR
73
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
74
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
Is she alone?
MITCH
Yes.
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
Of course I do.
SALLY
75
OMAR
What happened?
SALLY
OMAR
OMAR puts down his broom and walks to the wall phone.
OMAR
MITCH
Can I go now?
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
76
MITCH
I’m screwed.
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
Yeah. I know.
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
I don’t know.
77
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
78
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
79
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
80
No. That sounds like AUGGY shot TWO-STEP.
Besides there’s the surveillance
videotapes.
SALLY
No more TWO-STEP.
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
81
The stage goes to black out for a wardrobe and set
changes.
OMAR
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
MITCH
OMAR
82
It’s only for a few days.
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
SALLY
MITCH
OMAR
Anonymous right?
MITCH
OMAR
SALLY
83
MITCH
SALLY
I won.
OMAR
The Lotto?
SALLY
OMAR
SALLY
84
OMAR
You’re dreaming.
MITCH
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
TWO-STEP
OMAR
SALLY
85
It’s drainage, her lung is draining.
I know about these things I worked
as a nurses aide.
TWO-STEP
SALLY
TWO-STEP
OMAR
TWO-STEP
SALLY
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Oh great.
OMAR
MITCH
86
Free cigarettes. That’s value plus, man.
SALLY
OMAR
TWO-STEP
SALLY
Looks OK to me.
SALLY
TWO-STEP
Merry Christmas.
MITCH
Cheers.
OMAR
87
Don’t leave without a hug. You never
know when one of us could be taken
to the Holy Land. Or die in our sleep.
MITCH
TWO-STEP
OMAR
88
But, every once in a while someone
like SALLY will surprise me.
I don’t agree with most of her
religious dogma, but she has a gift,
an unexpected kindness that causes
a lot of strange feelings in me.
And I think it’s only natural to have
more than one miracle at Christmas.
FADE TO BLACK
89