Just Two Niggas A Play By Michael Oatman Characters Sonny Testa --- He is the co-star of the controversial show,

Just Two Niggas. He is also the creator of the show. He is in his early fifties. Chris Soriano --- He is the co-star of the controversial show, Just Two Niggas. He is in his late forties. Marty Adelman --- A Jewish man in his late forties. He is the hea of new !rogram evelo!ment at a ma"or television networ#. Tasha Johnson --- A ar#-s#inne secretary, who is overweight, $ut not slo!!y. %he is also in her late thirties. Steve Weiss --- The hea of the networ#. Bill Warner --- Television irector&voice only. Norbel/Richard --- Television !ro ucer&!ro uction staff mem$er. Setting Office 'un own A!artment (!scale A!artment Networ# %tu io Synopsis An African American actor who once starre in infamous, racially controversial show entitle , Just Two Niggas, attem!ts to mount a retros!ective of the show.

A)T ON*&%)*N* ON*

,The s otlight comes u and reveals two A!rican American men on stage wearing overalls" #ne o! the men is using a car et cleaning machine" The two men are in mid$conversation" The two men are standing ne%t to one another on stage.Sonny %o, she says to me, nigga get cho han out my !oc#et. . Beat/ An 0 loo# at her an 0 say sister 0 hate to tell you, $ut that ain1t my han . .A loud laugh trac& eru ts in canned laughter./ Chris Boy, get on away from here. 2e gots to git these amn car!ets steame an cleane fo Mr. 2hitten ale gets $ac#. Sonny 3ig it. Only a hon#ey woul !ay goo $rea to have they car!ets, frie , ye an lai to the si e. .A loud laugh trac& eru ts as the two men sla each other !ive ./ Chris 4ou1se a fool. Sonny 0 ain1t no fool man, 0 am a car!et cleaning e5traor inaire. 0 ma#e these car!ets !rettier than 6ola 7ulana. 0 wor#s har for these hon#eys. Chris 'eally, then why is it when you wor# har 01m the one that gets tire 8 Sonny That1s 9cause 01m the $rains, an you the muscle. 4ou #now how much $rain !ower 0 gots to $urn u! oing my su!erviserial wor#. 01m a regular 'i)HA'3 Ni5on. Chris 2ell, Presi ent Potentate you min hel!ing me with this car!et8 Sonny 01m the $lac# tric#y 3ic#, you #nows 0 can1t get my han s irty . . . that1s what 0 got you fo. 4ou my $lac# :. :or on 6i y. 0t is a real $ur en all this $rain wor# 0 gots to o for the $oth of us. Chris 4eah, it1s a real scan al all the . . . umm, ahh, 0 mean. %hit. 6ine. . The lights come u and both men come out o! character" Marty becomes visible on the edges o! the stage./

Marty 0t1s a scan al all the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Sonny %hit, )hris this is the thir time through, get your hea into the game. 01m ta#ing five. .Sonny e%its the stage in a hu!!" We hear a loud disembodied voice !rom the heavens./ Bill Alright, fol#s, it loo#s li#e were ta#ing five. Marty .'e wal&s over to Chris who is visibly not !eeling well./ 4our o#ay man8 Chris .Beat/ No. No 01m not. Marty 4ou can get through this thing man. Chris 0 on1t thin# so Marty. 0 . . . 0 "ust nee a little something to get me through. Just a little. Marty 4ou on1t nee that, )hris. 4ou on1t nee it. 4ou $een oing goo man. How many ays has it $een8 Chris A wee#. Marty A wee# is goo , a wee# is goo . Chris The longest wee# of my life. Marty 4ou can o this. Chris 0 feel li#e 01m frea#ing out. 0 feel li#e every$o y #nows, every$o y can see. Marty 0t1s in your hea , )hris, you loo# fine. No$o y #nows anything man. 4ou1re o#ay. Chris Man, 0 can1t remem$er these lines.

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Marty 0 $een trying to hel! out $est 0 can. 0=ve $een writing your lines as short as 0 can till you can get $ac# u! to s!ee . Chris 01m gonna $low this thing. 0 can feel it, 01m gonna $low this thing. Marty 4ou1re not gonna $low anything. 4our fine. Pull it together. . Beat/ 2e1re almost $ac#. Now listen, the line is> it1s a scan al all the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Chris O#ay, Marty 0 got it, man, 0 got it. Marty 'e!eat it, %onny is alrea y on e ge we nee to get this thing. Now re!eat. Chris Marty, 0 got it. Marty 'e!eat. 0t1s a scan al all the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Chris 0t1s a scan al all the . . . Marty . . . All the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Chris All the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Marty 0t1s a scan al all the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Chris 0t1s a scan al all the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Marty :oo . :oo . One more time. Chris 0t1s a scan al all the wor# you have to o Mister thin#er. Marty Alright. 2e1re goo . 2e got one more scene an we1re one. Alright, one more scene.

Chris One more, one more. .Sonny re$enters the stage. 'e is drin&ing !rom an old style co&e bottle./ Sonny %o what are you women cac#ling a$out8 Marty Just giving him his lines, Mr. Testa. Sonny The nigga shoul alrea y #now his amne lines. An Marty, you gotta start !unching u! those Ni5on "o#es. 2e1re not gonna get out- one $y (augh$)n for )hrist sa#e. 2e are Just Two Niggas. 4ou #now what that means, Marty8 0t means cutting e ge. 0t means, cutting fuc#in1 e ge. 0t means more e gy than *ood Times, it means $lowing All in the +amily out of the water. This is the 9@As go Marty, cutting e ge. Marty 4es sir, Mr. Testa. 01ve got some stuff your gonna love. %ome Ni5on stuff, some Blac# Panthers humor. .Marty goes to ta&e his lace./ Sonny 0 got a Jew $oy writing $lac# !anthers humor. The worl has gone insane. 6et1s get this one you "ive tur#eys. Chris Marty. .Beat/ Than# you. .Marty gives him a thumbs u and smiles./ Sonny Bill, we rea y to get this show on the roa . Bill 'ichar . )oul you a "ust %onny1s mic, 01m getting some rever$ u! here. .Richard enters the stage and re$ad,usts Sonny-s mic./ %onny. Sonny 4eah8 Bill 2e nee to get some B-reel on the new o!ening. Sonny amit. The worl is on fire. )utting e ge

3i n1t we alrea y get that in the can8 Bill 2e nee "ust a little more, %onny. Sonny 0s every$o y in this go amne $uil ing incom!etent8. Bill 2e "ust nee a little ta!e, %onny. 0 swear we1ll ma#e it as Cuic# as !ossi$le. Sonny 7ine. Bill. 0t seems that 01m the only !rofessional here, so fine. 6et1s shoot B-reel that we shot a wee# ago. 2hich o!ening Bill8 Bill The 7inger !ointing one. Sonny .To Chris/ 4ou remem$er that one. Chris 4eah, %onny, 0 remem$er. Sonny This $ac# ro! o#ay, Bill Bill 4eah, that1s fine we1re gonna cut it into a montage anyway so that1s fine. Richard )ue the theme song. .The theme song begins to lay> Just Two Niggas" The two men begin to smile and gyrate around" They also begin to !inger oint at one another in a coonish !ashion" The two men loc& arm and arm and dance around in a circle" The two men !ree.e in lace and oint at one another"/ Bill That1s a goo ta#e fellas. That1s a ra!. .The lights !ade to blac&./

A)T ON*&%)*N* T2O ,When the s otlight comes u the stage is entirely dar& e%ce t !or the s otlight" A man is standing in the s otlight" 'e begins to s ea& immediately .Norbel %o ig it, Marty. There is this co!, right8 He1s a young co!, amne near a roo#ie really, an his !artner, who was the $est frien an !artner of his co! father, who $y the way was #ille in the line of uty . . . wait, wait, let me slow own. 0 on1t want you to get lost. There is this young co! name . . . 0 on1t #now, Jac#son. An this young co! $ecomes the !artner of this ol er guy, we1ll call him . . . 0 on1t #now, %alvatore. Now %alvatore was the !artner an $est frien of Jac#son1s father who was #ille in the line of uty. .Norbel begins to wander out into the audience as he begins to s ea&" 'e is in the middle o! the isle" 'e is s ea&ing in a loud tone/ gesticulating wildly and s ea&ing with his hands./ %o as it turns out this %alvatore guy, who the younger co! Jac#son loo#s at @

li#e a father gets into some trou$le. %ee as it turns out, this %alvatore is on the ta#e, as was Jac#son1s father. %o %alvatore $ecomes entangle with the mo$. Jac#son fin s out an is a!!roache $y 0AB. The 0nternal Affairs Bureau. Jac#son is face with a ecision, shoul he coo!erate with 0AB or oes he allow his !artner, %alvatore to continue his si e gig with the mo$. .(ong ause./ %o he ma#es the ecision. He eci es to coo!erate with the 0AB. He $ecomes a snitch, a turncoat, a rat. 2ell, the whole thing goes wrong, %alvatore gets convicte , $ut Jac#son $ecomes mar#e as a snitch. His career as a !atrolman is over. But the 0AB officer he wor#e with on the %alvatore case throws him a ro!e. He invites him to come wor# for 0AB. This #i . . . this Jac#son $ecomes the entry !oint to the story. %et in New 4or#, this story is a$out the officers who wor# in 0AB. 0n every co! show we hear mentions a$out the 0AB, a$out the !olice who !olice the !olice. An the name of this show, of this o!us is the #ic#er, the clincher, the thing that is going to !lant the asses in the seats. The name of the show is . . . rum roll !lease . . . the 'at %Cua . Huh8 :oo 8 :oo 8 .(ong ause/ 2ell, what o you thin#, Marty8 Marty 0nteresting. Norbel 4ou on1t li#e it8 Marty 2ell, first of all Nor$el li#e 0 tol you, 01m in charge of evelo!ing s!ecial !rogramming, you #now li#e variety s!ecials, retros!ectives, some news s!ecials, s!ecial re!orts, the occasional mini-series you #now stuff li#e that . . . Norbel . . . 4eah, yeah, 0 #now, Marty. That Prison 'iot ocumentary you i was fan-fuc#ingtastic. 2hat was that s!ecial calle 8 Marty Assault on %hawgrass. Norbel 4eah. %hawgrass. 2on erful wor# Marty. .Beat/ 0 #now that this is not e5actly your area $ut 0 thought if you li#e it may$e you coul #ic#-u! to one of those $ig wigs u!stairs, you #now what 01m saying8 Marty

4eah. Norbel %o what i you thin# a$out it . . . an 0 want you to $e honest, $u$ala. Marty 0 on1t #now, Nor$el. %ome of it . . . a co! show set in New 4or# seeme a little . . . well, familiar. 2e1ve got to $e careful a$out mining the !ast if we inten the have a successful future. The networ# is loo#ing for the ne5t hot thing, that new reality show, or that new story no one has even thought of yet . . . an 01m not sure that this i ea fits in with that. Norbel 0 thought it might $e goo . . . you #now, you can1t go wrong with a goo a co! series . . . Marty . . . 2e1ve ha Hill %treet Blues an N4P3 $lue an they were great. 0 on1t #now if we coul re!licate that success, you #now what 0 mean8 .'e reaches over on his des& and !ingers a eanut M0M and o s it into his mouth./ *ven the whole )%0 forensic show angle is sort of inching towar s the en of its run. 0 res!ect what you1re going for, $ut 0 on1t thin# its anything that the networ# woul move on at this time. 0 mean may$e sometime own the roa it might $e something you might want to revisit. Norbel 01m sorry to hear that Marty, $ecause 0 thin# a cou!le of your com!etitors are #in of hot for the i ea. 0 $rought it to you $ecause . . . Marty . . . $ecause of all the wor# we1ve one together in the !ast. 0 a!!reciate that, Nor$el. 0 really o. But we1re gonna have to !ass on this one. Norbel 4ou sure . . . 0 woul hate for the other guy to ma#e a mint off of an i ea you !asse on. 4ou #now your gonna #ic# yourself. Marty .Comes !rom behind the des& and stic&s his hand out to sha&e with Norbel" / 2ell, my loss is gonna have to $e the ne5t man1s gain. .Beat" 'e sha&es Norbel-s hand./ 0t was goo to see you Nor$el. 4ou loo# goo . . Norbel sha&es his hand sorrow!ully./

Norbel Than#s for seeing me, Marty. Marty )1mon now, of course, Nor$el. Be goo an say hello to the wife for me. . Marty wal&s over and sits down behind his des&./ Norbel Peg. My wife1s name is Peg. .Beat/ Marty 4eah. .Norbel e%its./ Jesus. .Marty wi es his hands across his hair in !rustration" 'e eases bac& in his chair./ Brutal. .'e leans !orward and uts his !inger on the intercom button./ Tasha, come see me honey. Tasha 4es, sir Mr. A elman. .A !ew seconds later Tasha enters the room./ 2hat o you nee 8 Marty )oul you $ring me a gun8 Tasha %ir8 Marty %o that 0 can shoot myself. Tasha Tough meeting8 Marty Oh, yeah. .'e hands her a set o! envelo es that were sitting on his des&./ Here are those contracts. Ma#e sure they get maile out $y the en of $usiness to ay. At least we can get something accom!lishe to ay. Tasha 4ou loo# so tire . Marty 0 always imagine sitting in this chair woul $e ifferent, you #now8 Tasha 2hat i you thin#, $eing the man woul n1t have a !rice, sir8 .(ong ause as Marty leers at Tasha./

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Marty )ome, here Tasha. .She wal&s over to Marty and they eer into each others eyes./ %o how long are you gonna #ee! u! this sir shit8 Tasha 2e1re at wor#. Marty 01ve seen you na#e . Tasha Marty . . . Marty . . . 3o you #now how craGy you ma#e me8 . 'e growls li&e a horny tiger" Then he uts his hand on her thigh and begins to wor& it u towards her honey ot./ Tasha Marty, noHHH 0t1s $a enough that 01m a wal#ing clichI. Marty )1mon $a$y. Tasha 01m your em!loyee an the last thing 0 nee is for everyone in the office to #now. Marty But we1re in my office whose gonna see8 Tasha 0 sai no. 2hile we1re in the office it1s all $usiness. An 0 mean it you horny little Jew. Marty %o, when 0 get home you gonna let me taste it8 Tasha .Said tersely./ 4es, Marty. Marty %ay it. Tasha Marty. Marty %ay it.

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Tasha No. Marty )1mon, $a$y, say it. 0 want to hear you say it. Tasha .(ong ause./ 0 will let you taste my . . . sweet ebony ,ungle. )an 0 go now. Marty 4ou can go, as long as 0 can come later. .She turns to leave./ :et it as long as 0 can . . . .The door slams behind Tasha" 'e begins to shu!!le through some o! the a ers on his des&" Tasha re$enters his o!!ice ./ Tasha 01m sorry, Mr. A elman, in mi st of $eing se5ually harasse 0 forgot. 4our ; o cloc# is here. Marty Alrea y8 He1s twenty minutes early. Tasha 4ou want me to ma#e his ma"esty wait8 Marty No, it1s alright. %en him in. .Sonny Testa enters the o!!ice" 'e is wearing a !inely tailored suit/ e% ensive shoes and he is carrying a lastic bag" 'is hair is !inely cut and he loo&s li&e a million buc&s./ Sonny There he is. .Marty gets u and wal&s over to meet Sonny Testa./ Marty %onny. Jesus you loo# goo . Sonny )ome on now woul you e5!ect anything less. .The two men sha&e hands./ Marty Please. %it own. .Both men sit on o osite sides o! Marty-s des&./ Sonny 6oo# at cha $oy, shining li#e a new !enny. Marty

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4ou1re the one to tal#. %o, how1s tric#s8 Sonny 4ou #now man, "ust running my little em!ire, trying to stay out the way. Marty That1s what 0 hear. Sonny 0n fact, 0 $rought you a little something. .'e reaches into the small lastic bag and roduces a white tee$shirt and hat with lettering on it" Marty holds u the shirt" The letters on the shirt and hat read/ 1*##2N3SS *RAC)#4S/ *R)TS AN2 *RA56 .J/ Marty Nice. 0 hear you were mar#eting a line of shirts from the show. Sonny :rits an gravy. :reat catch line. :oo ness gracious, grits an gravy. Marty That catch !hrase !ai for a few of our houses. Sonny 4ou wrote it. Marty 4eah. %eems li#e a million years ago. 2hen we were young. Sonny 2e1re we ever young, Marty8 Marty Hum!f. 4eah, every now an then 0 catch a re-run of the show an 0 swear it1s li#e 0 was never a!art of it. 6i#e someone else i all that wor#, fought all those $attles "ust to #ee! the amne thing on the air. Sonny 0t was us. Just Two Niggas was a !henomenon that has never $een matche . Blac# fol#s still on1t now that half that shit was !enne $y a Jewish #i out of Brighten Beach. Marty 4eah. Sonny

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2e1ve certainly come a long way haven1t we. Marty A elman, the hea of New Pro"ects an 3evelo!ment. 4ou eserve it. How long have you $een with the networ#8 Marty A$out +E years. A real overnight success. %o what $rings you $y, your email was so cry!tic8 Sonny 0 i n1t mean to $e mysterious. But you #now how e icate 0 am to the fans of Just Two Niggas. Marty 4eah, 0 hear a$out the fan site you1ve $een running, 01m sure they must $e turning a goo !enny from all of the merchan ising your oing from those sites . . . ma#es me wish 0 woul n1t have sol my shares the show. Sonny Oh, it1s oing great, the money from the sites, the conventions, the nostalgia shows . . . Marty . . . An on1t forget the occasional television s!ot. Sonny 4eah, those are nice too. Marty %ome of these young assholes might have given you shit a$out the show, $ut they all steal from you. All of these new guys they may not #now it $ut they all $orrow from you. 4ou o!ene the oors. Sonny 0 a!!reciate that. But, it1s o#ay, 0 on1t min these new $lac# come ians turning their nose u! at me. 0t1s o#ay, it1s the controversy that still #ee!s me as relevant as ever. 0f we woul have "ust one some nice tame show li#e the Je!!erson-s or *ood times we woul $e an after thought, $ut Just Two Niggas, !ushe the envelo!e. 0t shie away from !reaching to the au ience. 2e elivere $elly laughs $y the $arrel. Me an )hris mooning an mugging for the camera an you with those $rilliant lines. Marty 2e $ecame everyone1s guilty !leasure. Sonny

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4eah, when 01m at those nostalgia conventions my ta$le is always a mo$ scene. Blac# an white, an army of !eo!le scream at me, K:oo ness, gracious, grits an gravy.J They love it. 0 on1t give a shit what the NAA)P thin#s a$out my wor#. Marty The fans love you, %onny. Sonny An 0 love them . . . in fact that1s what $rings me $y. Marty 3ue tell. Sonny 4ou #now 0 have all 0 can han le running my various $usiness ventures . . . Marty . . . 01m sure. Sonny 0 love my fans, they are everything to me . . . an lately, there has $een a $uGG out there . . . a groun swell really for a retros!ective of the show. Marty A retros!ective of Just Two Niggas8 Sonny 4eah. 0 #now it soun s craGy, $ut 0 thin# it coul wor#. Marty .'e stands u and begins to wal& around gentle massaging his tem les./ %onny . . . Sonny . . . Hear me out, 0 thin# this thing coul wor#. Marty 3o you really want to re ge u! all of that cra!, the !rotests, the e itorials, the charges of racism. Just Two Niggas was great $ut it almost en e my career. Sonny But things are ifferent. 2e1re ifferent. The racial humor we use to o $ac# in the 9@As is almost tame $y to ay1s stan ar s. 6oo# at all the shows that o the same thing that we i . The Martin Show/ Jamie +o%%/ The Wayans Brothers, it1s all the same shit, "ust re!ac#age . . . now on1t get me wrong if this was "ust a$out me 0 woul say let slee!ing

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ogs lie . . . $ut the fans Marty, the fans, 0 have always $een a$out our fans, you #now that . . . an their clamoring. 0f you coul see the email 0 get on a aily $asis or the amount of traffic my site gets. Marty 0 on1t #now. Sonny 6i#e 0 sai this is all for the fans man. 2e owe them. Marty There are no virgins in this room. 0 can1t ta#e !ans to my $osses, an you #now that. They1re gonna want to #now a$out num$ers, a$out how we sell it, a$out how this s!ecial will test, a$out what mar#ets we want to reach, a$out how we1re gonna eal with one of the most controversial shows to ever air on American television. 2hat am 0 su!!ose to say, huh8 4ou thin# my $oss want fuc#in1 Jesse Jefferson outsi e of your oorway screaming, no "ustice, no !eace. Huh8 2here am 0 su!!ose to wor# when Al$ert )utson is stan ing on the front ste!s calling us a racist networ#8 0t too# years for the suits to istance themselves from Just Two Niggas. Sonny 0 #now. Marty 4ou were there. Sonny 0 #now. Marty %o, what o you want from me8 Sonny 6i#e you sai , 01m no virgin. 01m not stu!i , 0 on1t want to o a Bra y Bunch reunion. 4ou thin# that 0 woul come here em!ty han e , without thin#ing this thing through8 2ho o you thin# 0 am, Marty8 Of course 0 have the answers to those Cuestions. Marty 3ue tell. Sonny

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2ell, as for 'everen Jesse Jefferson, an 'everen Al$ert )utson, 0 !ro!ose we eal with them, $y ealing them in. Marty %orry8 Sonny .'e reaches into his oc&ets and roduces two documents./ 0 have Kintent to signJ agreements from $oth of the 'everen s to !artici!ate in the s!ecial. To give the show a cultural conte5t. Of course . . . !art of the eal is that we woul . . . well, onate ten gran a !iece to $oth men for their !artici!ation in the s!ecial. Marty Partici!ate how8 Sonny They will $oth give a cultural overview of African American images an the !ower of the me ia. 2hat we o is turn it into a ocumentary style e5amination of the show an its im!act on culture an society an we have $oth si es of the argument on to iscuss it. Marty 0n other wor s $ring the fo5es into the hen house. Sonny *5actly. 2e on1t have to worry a$out them stan ing on the ste!s !rotesting, we sim!ly !ay 9em to sit their fat asses in the stu io to give a few, well e ite , well !re!are comments a$out the show. Marty An what if they on1t li#e how their e ite 8 Sonny Trust me, as long as the chec#s clear you won1t hear a !ee! out of those two. An if any other grou!s try to ram! u! any o!!osition we have two of the country1s foremost civil rights lea ers on $oar to cover our asses. %hit, we coul call for the re-institution of slavery an no one will $e a$le to say a go An the me ia . . . Sonny amne wor a$out it. Marty

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. . . 2e sell it li#e a . . . a !u$lic forum, an e5amination of race, using Just Two Niggas, as a lens through which we view mo ern- ay cultural attitu es. 2e coul even invite the news e!artment to o a few tie ins an may$e even have a show to accom!any the s!ecial itself. 2e coul cross !romote this fuc#er. Marty Huh. Sonny Thin# a$out it. As one of the writers you coul even o a little interview a$out what it was li#e $ac# then, a$out the success an controversy. Marty 0 will a mit. 0t soun s interesting. .'e reaches into the small crystal bowl on his des& and !ingers a 7eanut M0M and o s it into his mouth./ 0t1s a lot to thin# a$out. Sonny %hit yeah. Marty 2hat are we loo#ing at in terms of $u get8 0 mean the tie-ins woul $e no !ro$lem. ;A gran for the !reachers, soun s o#ay, $ut what a$out the footage what #in of !rice tag are we tal#ing a$out8 That archive shit can get !retty !ricey, the theme song, !lus !ro uction. Sonny 2e coul #ee! !ro uction chea! an shoot the thing with one camera, my !ro uction com!any coul han le that !art . . . at cost. An as for the footage 0 ha!!en to $e very goo frien s with the owner of every single !u$lishing right connecte with Just Two Niggas . . . inclu ing the theme song. Marty 2ell, how much woul this owner $e as#ing to use it8 Sonny .(ong ause/ 0 woul let you use it for a song. Marty 4ou $ought all the rights8 Sonny 0 create the show i n1t 08 4ou thin# 0 was gonna let it float out there in the ether8

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Marty %mart. %o you on1t have to even !ay a licensing fee for all of your merchan ising. 4ou collect every inch of the !rofits minus overhea . 4ou always i ta#e the long view on things. Sonny %o what o you thin#8 Marty 0 must a mit it has merit. 01m intereste . Sonny That1s what 01m tal#ing a$out. Marty But, 01m not gonna lie to you. This is not gonna $e an easy sale. Sonny 2hat are you tal#ing a$out sale8 Just greenlight the thing so we can get starte . Marty Things are ifferent aroun here. The climate has change . This is not some little reality show 01m loo#ing to sli! into the sche ule. %omething li#e this has to go through Javits. Sonny The hea of the news e!artment8 Marty 4es. Sonny But . . . Marty . . . 4ou were right, this thing . . . if it is gonna $e acce!te is gonna have to have a news com!onent to !ut it in the !ro!er conte5t. %hort of that this thing is not even gonna get out of the gate. 0f Javits li#es it, then he #ic#s it u! to 2eiss who ma#es the final ecision. Sonny %o, your gonna !itch it to Javits8 Marty

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4es. But 01m gonna nee num$ers, $rea# owns, !ro"ections on materials an !ro uction costs . . . Sonny . . . As# an you shall receive my frien . .Sonny reaches into the lastic bag and ulls out a binder and hands it over to Marty./ *verything you nee . 0 even have suggeste artwor# for the a vertising e!artment. Marty Aren1t you thorough. Sonny Always. Marty 0 will call you when 0 hear something. Sonny The fans are gonna than# you, Marty. Marty 2ell, you #now me, %onny. 2henever 0 can ris# my "o$ for a $unch of ignorant assholes 01ve never met, you can count me in. Sonny .(ong ause/ 0t was goo to see you again, Marty. 0t1s $een too long. Marty 01ll call. .The scene !ades to blac&./

A)T ON*&%)*N* TH'** ,Marty enters the stage" Chris is &neeling down in a ball and is sha&ing badly" The stage is dar&. We can hear the ambient sound o! a dinner arty going on outside o! the room.Marty )hris. Hey. )hris are you in here8 Chris

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01m right here. Marty .Marty wal&s over to Chris./ Jesus )hrist, )hris. Are you . . . are you . . . o#ay8 Chris 4eah, Marty, 01m great. 4ou wanna go out an hit the iscos8 Marty 4ou1re sha#ing. Chris 4eah, 0 #now. 0t starte a$out five minutes ago. 0 can1t get it to sto!. Marty Jesus )hris. The suits are here. %onny1s loo#ing for you man. These are the u!-fronts for )hrist sa#es. 2e got suits out there, a vertisers, affiliates. 2e=re alrea y hanging $y a threa $ecause of the !rotests. Hell, we gotta get you out of here. May$e, 0 can tell them your were sic#. Chris 4eah, that 01m sic#. .Sonny enters the stage wearing a tu%edo./ Sonny 2hat in the hell8 Marty %onny. Sonny 2hat the hell is going on8 Marty )hris is sic#. Sonny %ic# (h8 Marty He1s real sic#. Sonny 4eah, $ac# in )levelan a lot of niggas got that isease. . Beat/ Marty, 0 want you to go out an tell those e5ecutives that the stars of Just Two Niggas will $e out to s!ea# to them in "ust a few minutes.

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Marty But Mr. Testa . . . Sonny . . . 0 got it, Marty. Marty . . . Mr. Testa . . . Sonny . . . Marty, 0 sai 0 got. Now go an o what the fuc# 0 tol you to o. Marty 4es, sir, Mr. Testa. .Marty e%its the stage./ Sonny .'e &neels down ne%t to Chris who is in a hea ./ .S o&en in a tis&/ tis&/ tis& !ashion./ )hristo!her, )hristo!her, )hristo!her. 2here in trou$le my frien . Chris 01m trying to #ic#, %onny. 0 can $eat this thing. 0 can $eat it. Sonny 0 $elieve you. Chris 4ou o8 Sonny 0 o. 0 thin# you can #ic# this thing anytime you want. 0t1s all min over matter. That reha$ shit the stu io !ut you in ain1t gon hel! you #ic#. 2e from the same street corner, you an me. 2e #now how it wor#s on1t we8 Chris 4eah. Sonny 2e was watching "un#ies floating on a sea of cotton $efore we even #new what he'ON or )ocaine even was, right8 2e #now that it1s all a$out what1s u! here. . 'e oints to his head./ 0t1s all a$out a man1s will. Jun#ies stay high, $ecause they want to stay high. Chris 4eah. Sonny

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That1s why 0 say if you gon #ic#, why not o it tomorrow. 9)ause right now, we got a room full of e5ecutives in there an guess what8 Chris 2hat8 Sonny There here for us. Here for you. Chris Here for me. Sonny 4es, here for me. .Beat/ 6i#e you sai , you can #ic# anytime you want. 0 #now that. 4ou #now that. %o you #now what8 Chris 2hat8 Sonny 6et1s go in that room an show them why we are two of the $iggest stars on networ# television. )ome on now, .'e begins to sing./ 2e1re "ust two niggas hanging out, having fun, we1re "ust two niggas . . . Here go, . Sonny hands Chris a ac&et./ Just a taste to get you through. Chris 0 on1t thin# that 0 nee that. 0 $een clean for . . . Sonny . . . 3on1t worry a$out it. 6i#e you sai , you can #ic# this thing anytime, right8 Chris 'ight. Sonny %o ta#e it, get right an let1s go out there an show these hon#eys why they got to renew our show. Chris %onny . . . 0 . . . Sonny . . . 6oo#, man you #now how far $ac# we go. 0 woul never have you o something you weren1t comforta$le with. 0t1s u! to you. 4our ecision. . Sonny gets u and wal&s away

;<

and !aces the audience./ All u! to you. .Chris onders the ac&et in his hands and considers what to do" 'e dabbles some o! the white owder on his hand and stares at it" 'e sni!!s it" The white owder tears through his system and begins to sto his body !rom sha&ing" The high o! the drugs begins to overta&e him" 'e stands u and begins to straighten out his clothes./ Chris 01m rea y. Sonny How1s that8 .'e turns around./ Chris 01m rea y to o this shit, %onny. 01m rea y to go wow these mutherfuc#as. Sonny Alright. .Sonny wal&s u to Chris and uts both o! his o en hands on both sides o! his !ace./ That1s my $oy. .'e straightens u Chris- collar and suit la el./ 'ea y for !rime time my man8 6et1s go get 9em $a$y $oy. .Chris smiles and e%its the stage" Sonny stares out at the audience and begins to straighten u his own suit" Marty enters the stage./ Marty )hris is mi5ing an mingling li#e a new man. Sonny Just nee e a little !e! tal# is all. Marty A !e! tal#, huh8 Sonny 4eah, Marty a !e! tal#. 4ou saying ifferent8 Marty No, sir, Mr. Testa. That must1ve $een one hell of s!eech you gave him. Sonny 4ou #now me, Marty, 01m a regular fuc#in1 ins!iration. .Sonny e%its the stage./

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A)T ON*&%)*N* 7O(' ,Marty-s !eet are sitting in a tub o! water" 'is dress shirt is undone at the collar and his cu!!s are unbuttoned and ulled over his !orearms" Tasha is rubbing his shoulders and Marty is ooooing and ahhhhing in leasure.Marty 7uc#ing $rutal. Tasha Am 0 hurting you8 Marty No. No, $a$y #ee! those fingers moving, you1re magic. Just a long ay is all. Tasha %ometimes you act li#e you hate your "o$. Marty %ometimes 0 o hate my "o$. Tasha %to! com!laining. 4ou coul $e igging itches. Marty That1s how it feels sometimes. Tasha

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2aaaah. 01m tire of $eing a ri iculously over!ai networ# e5ecutive. 2aaaah. Marty Than#s honey, that1s nice. That1s "ust the #in of su!!ort 01m loo#ing for at the en of a har ay. Tasha 01m ru$$ing your shoul ers aren1t 08 Marty 4eah, that1s something. Tasha How i the meeting go with Testa8 Marty %onny is %onny. Always wor#ing an angle. Tasha 2hat angle is he wor#ing to ay. Marty 7or some reason he wants to o a retros!ective show of Just Two Niggas. Tasha A retros!ective . . . of that Tomfest8 Marty 0t was not a Tomfest, it1s how 0 got my start, than# you very much. Tasha 4ou were a Jewish $oy from 'e Hoo# loo#ing for a $rea#, 0 on1t $lame you. Marty 2ell, first of all 01m from Brighten Beach, an secon of all 0 thin# that %onny an )hris got a $a ra!. The show was a satire. Tasha Bullshit, the show was a isgrace. Marty 2hy $ecause it was not the Cosby Show8 Tasha Marty, the show was calle Just Two Niggas, give me a $rea#. Marty

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The title was ironic. 0t was satire. Tasha May$e for you, $ut for millions of !eo!le who watche that wretche show not all of them too# it that way. As an artist what you inten is irrelevant, it1s what !eo!le !erceive. Marty An what are we to ma#e of the millions of fans who love the show8 Tasha 0 iots8 Marty 0 iots $ecause they on1t have the same taste as you8 Millions of !eo!le watching, su!!orting loving the show, that oesn1t mean anything8 Tasha Millions of !eo!le love crac# an heroin too, oesn1t mean its goo for you. Marty Not every$o y can go to college li#e you Tasha an $ecome enlightene on what true come y is. Tasha :oo thing you1re a white $oy an i n1t have to $other with college. Marty 4eah, right. 0 i n1t have to wor# at all to a vance in the $usiness. They "ust han e it right over. Tasha That1s not what 0 meant Marty Then what i you mean8 Tasha 0 meant that the 4armul#e tuc#e in your !oc#et an that He$rew $ec# of yours oesn1t hurt in this town. Marty .Turns around and sto s her !rom rubbing his shoulders./ 0 i n1t as# to $e $orn Jewish. 0 i n1t as# for any !rivilege, either.

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Tasha That oes not negate the fact that you $enefit from it. 01m "ust saying that might $e a thought that crosses your min when your sitting in that $ig chair that has $ecome such a $ur en. 4ou i n1t "ust get there $ecause of your wit an guile. .Beat/ 4ou can call Just Two Niggas satire if you want. But for some it re!resents !ain. A remin er that we=re ifferent. 0 sure as hell $et that this networ# woul never !ro uce a show calle Just Two 8i&es or Just Two 'ebs. Marty That1s not fair. Tasha 2hy not8 Marty 0t1s "ust . . . Tasha . . . 0t1s "ust what8 Marty 0t1s not the same. Tasha 2hy isn1t it the same8 Marty 0t1s "ust not. Tasha A racial slur is a racial slur. Marty 0 haven1t agree to o the retros!ective.. Tasha But you1re consi ering it. Marty 4es. Tasha Just Two Niggas. An what are you gonna o a$out the inevita$le !rotests. Marty

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0t1s han le . . . not that 01m gonna !itch it, $ut if 0 o !itch it, that situation is han le . Tasha There is a reason the show ran for only a cou!le of years $efore it got cancele . Marty 0t actually got cancele in the mi le of the thir season. . Beat/ Tasha it1s "ust an i ea. Tasha 0f this satire of yours ealt with Jewish racial stereoty!es, we $oth #now that it woul never hit the light of ay. Marty Before anything else, television is a $usiness. 0f we were tal#ing a$out Jewish racial stereoty!ing an satire, no one woul give a amn. Jews on1t call each other He$s or Li#es. Jews i n1t $uil an entire culture aroun racial terms an attitu es. Jews i n1t ma#e their o!!ression mar#eta$le. Tasha 6ast time 0 chec#e Schindler-s (ist, 'ogans 'eroes and the 7roducers, i $usiness. A month oesn1t !ast in which some s!ecial oesn1t come on the air screeching a$out the Holocaust. 0t seems that Jews have one a $ang u! "o$ at mar#eting their o!!ression. Never forget, right Marty8 Marty That1s . . . Tasha . . . not the same. 4eah, so you1ve sai . Marty 'acial humor is a !art of our social fa$ric. Tasha 4ou the $oss. .She gets u and e%its the stage./

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A)T ON*&%)*N* 70M* ,Sonny Testa/ is sitting in a chair with one leg crossed over the other" 'e is im atiently sha&ing his leg and smo&ing a cigarette" 'e glances at his watch several times and continues to wait" 'e ta&es another dee drag on his cigarette. Marty enters and he has several !ile !olders underneath his arm.Marty This !lace smells li#e an ashtray1s cunt. .Beat/ 2oul you !lease !ut that amne thing out8 Sonny .'e ta&es one more drag o!! o! his cigarette./ 0f you insist. Marty 0 o. .Beat/ Jesus )hrist, it ree#s in here. Sonny Ta#ing the lor 1s name in vain is a sin, Marty. Marty 4our lor , not mine. 2e offe the son of a $itch, remem$er8.'e uts the !ile !olders down and reaches into his des& draw" 'e begins to s ray to &ill the smo&e smell./ Sonny That stuff stin#s worse than my cigarette. Marty 0 mean give me a $rea#, your such a !isser you #now that8 0 mean, )hrist woul you o that in any other e5ecutives office8 No. No, you woul n1t . . . $ut some how you feel you can waltG into my office an ro! a tur on my es#. Sonny Marty, calm own. 01m "ust nervous is all. 0 nee a little something to stea y me, ta#e the e ge off you #now. %o what1s the ver ict8 Marty 0 on1t #now how to say this, so 0 will "ust say it. . Beat/ Javits hate it. Sonny He hate it8 <A

Marty 4eah. Sonny 3i he even consi er it8 Marty Not really. 0 !itche it to him an he re"ecte it out of han . Sonny He hate it. 2hat the fuc#, Marty. Marty 2hat o you want me to tell you8 Sonny 0 want you to tell me you got this thing one, that1s what 0 want you to tell me. He hate it. 3i you !itch it goo , or i you fuc#ing $reeGe through the !itch8 Marty 0 !itche it goo . Sonny 4ou !itche it goo 8 How goo 8 Marty :oo . 2hat the fuc# o you want8 2e #new this woul $e a long shot. Sonny 2ho #new8 Marty %onny . . . Sonny . . . 4ou isa!!ointe me. Marty 0 isa!!ointe you. 2hat the fuc# are we, li#e 01m your fuc#in son who "ust wrec#e the car. 7uc# you %onny. Sonny 4ou !romise me Marty, you !romise me you were gonna ma#e this thing ha!!en. Marty

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0 !romise you 0 woul !itch it. An that1s what 0 i . 0 !itche it. Pitche it har , !itche it goo . %hort of that 0 on1t owe you a go shit on to! of my hea . Sonny .(ong ause/ 01m sorry, Marty. 0 #now that you i your $est. Marty 0 on1t even see what the $ig eal is. KNo,J oesn1t mean no forever. An even if it oes, who cares. 7uc# the fans. 4ou1ve one enough for them anyway. Sonny Marty . . . 0 . . . Marty, 0 . . . Marty . . . 6oo#, it will come $ac# aroun again. Hell in two three years . . . Sonny . . . 0 can1t wait two or three years. Marty 2hat1s the $ig eal, in a few years we coul . . . Sonny . . . 0 nee this, Marty. 0 nee it $a . 0 nee to generate some heat. 'aise my !rofile. The sites . . . the sites are rying u!, Marty. Marty 0 thought you were moving !ro uct. Sonny No. Marty %onny, 0 on1t #now . . . Sonny . . . 01m hurting. Ba . 0 nee this to get right again. Marty 0s it a money thing8 Because 0 coul may$e !ut a cou!le ollars in your han an . . . Sonny . . . 0 on1t nee your fuc#in1 money . . . amne thing. 4ou coul n1t even get into the office of any other networ# e5ecutive on my level an you #now it. %o on1t

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Marty . . . 01m "ust saying . . . Sonny . . . 0 ma e you, Marty. 0 fuc#ing ma e you. 4ou on1t han me money. 4ou on1t ma#e me, you on1t len me . . . you fuc#. Marty O#ay. Sonny 7uc# you. Marty 01m "ust trying to hel!. Sonny 4ou wanna hel! me8 Marty 4es. Sonny 4ou wanna hel! me8 Marty 4es. Sonny 4ou wanna hel! me8 Marty 3ammit, yes. 4es, 0 wanna hel! you. Sonny Then get my fuc#in1 s!ecial on the air, Marty. :et it one, ma#e it ha!!en. 4ou1re the $est. Marty Too much !olitical fallout. Javits oesn1t want to eal with a hot !otato. Sonny 4ou1re the $est. Marty 01m not that goo .

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Sonny 4es, you are Marty. 4es you are. 4ou1re the $est. An 0 #now you1re the $est $ecause that1s how 0 traine you. 4ou can sell $rimstone to the evil. 7ee them this fuc#ing s!ecial an ma#e 9em love it, Marty. Ma#e 9em love it. 2e can ma#e it wor#, Marty. 7uc# the NAA)P, those niggas can #iss my $lac# ass. 2ho the fuc# are they to say, who can an can not $e $lac#8 Huh8 2ho says they get to eci e. There is an army of fans out there "ust aching for us, $egging to see us $ac# on that screen. These fuc#in1 shows that are on now are "ust !reten ers mining all the gol we ug u! thirty years ago. . *rabs Marty-s arms./ Please, 0 nee this, 0 nee you to get me $ac#. . Beat/ )1mon now. 2e go $ac# li#e $a$ies an !acifiers. Marty 2e1ve got history. Sonny 4eah, we got history. Marty But, there1s nothing 0 can o. Sonny Nothing8 Marty 01m sorry. Sonny 4eah. .Beat/ Than#s for meeting with me. .Sonny begins to e%it the stage./ Marty %onny . . . wait. .Sonny turns around./ May$e . . . 0 on1t #now, may$e we on1t have to sto! at Javits. Sonny 2hat o you mean8 Marty May$e we can !itch it over his hea . May$e we can !itch it irectly to 2eiss. Sonny 2oul it change anything8 Marty

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May$e. .Beat/ 4ears ago when 2eiss ha this "o$ an 0 was a "unior e5ecutive. 2e too# a tri! to Hawaii for the networ#1s annual retreat. Me an 2eiss got a chance to hang out a $it. %o, 0 coul 0gnore Javits an informally ta#e it to 2eiss, $ut it will cost me with Javits. Sonny 4ou1 o that8 Marty 0 on1t #now 01m thin#ing a$out it. Sonny 0t woul mean everything to me. Marty 4eah. Sonny 4ou will8 Marty 0 will. 01ll !itch it to 2eiss . . . Sonny . . . 4ou1ll go $ac# an ma#e it ha!!en, you1ll ma#e him listen, ma#e him un erstan . Marty 0 am not going to !romise anything. 0 will !itch it to 2eiss, that1s it. Sonny 0t1s worth it, Marty. 0t1s our history. 0t1s who we are. Marty 01ll call you. Sonny An 0 will $e waiting. .Sonny reaches across the des& and vigorously sha&es Marty-s hand./ 4ou are the man. .Sonny e%its the stage./ Marty 4eah. Marty the man. That1s gonna ma#e a hell of a !rofessional e!ithet. .(ights !ade to blac&"/

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A)T ON*&%)*N* %0N ,When the s otlight comes u Marty is slee ing soundly at his des&" 'is !eet are u and he is &ic&ed bac& in his chair" Suddenly Tasha rushes into the o!!ice .Tasha Marty . . . Marty . . . .She runs over to his des& and sha&es Marty./ Marty Jesus, what . . . what the hell8 Tasha 2a#e u!. Marty

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01m u!, 01m u!. Tasha He1s here. 'ight outsi e. Marty Here8 2ho8 2ho1s here8 Tasha 2eiss. :etcho ass u! an get your game face on. Marty Here8 Our meeting is not for another two ays. 2hat the hell is he . . . give me a few minutes. Tasha 4eah. An !o! a mint ragon $reath. Marty :o. .Marty motions with his hands !or Tasha to e%it and she does" 'e goes over to the mirror in his o!!ice and starts to rim and ma&e himsel! more ro!essional loo&ing" 'e wal&s u stage and stands u straight and strong and waits !or Weiss to enter" Weiss enters./ Mr. 2eiss . . . Weiss . . . Now, Marty, you #now 01ve tol you a$out that. %teve, Marty. )all me %teve. Marty Of course, %teve. Have a seat. )an 0 get you something, water or coffee8 Weiss No, 01m fine. .'e wal&s over and sits down./ %o how have you $een, Marty8 Marty :oo sir. Weiss 0 miss seeing you over at the ol $uil ing. %ince you move over to this $uil ing we1re li#e istant strangers. Marty 4es. 0 miss wor#ing at the main $uil ing, $ut this o!!ortunity you1ve given me means the worl to me. Weiss

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4ou earne it. 4our my Johnny on the s!ot. That line u! you !ut together of s!ecial !rogramming was ins!ire . 2e a!!reciate your ivision cleans u! the messes we ma#e at the to!. Marty Just trying to $e a team !layer. .Beat/ %o what $rings you $y8 Weiss 2ell, 0 ha to get $y here eventually to see how my !riGe !rotIgI was oing. 0 have an investment in you young man. Marty 4es, sir. 0 a!!reciate that. Weiss %o how is the %hawgrass follow-u! loo#ing8 Marty 2e1re getting close to sen ing you something on that. 01ve got 'enee oing the legwor# on it. 01ll have a $u get on your es# $y the en of the wee#. Weiss :oo , goo , goo . 0f we can !ull even @B !ercent of num$ers we got for the first one 0 will $e thrille . Marty 4es, sir. Weiss Ma#e sure that 'enee factors in her num$ers for a FA minute $loc#. 2e1re gonna nee this thing to run a little longer than the first s!ecial. The news ivision has reCueste to o a lea -in on this thing. Marty Of course. Weiss 4ou #now Javits. 3oesn1t ta#e much for him to get his !anties in $unch. Marty That1s what 0 hear. Weiss 0n fact, he was s!illing !oison in my ear the other ay.

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Marty 'eally8 Weiss .'e o ens his brie!case and ulls out a !ile and sla s it on Marty-s des&./ )1mon Marty, you #new when you sent me this you were stic#ing your ic# into a whirlwin . %omething li#e this has to go through Javits. Marty 0 i sen it to him . . . Weiss . . . An he re"ecte it. Marty He1s wrong. Weiss 0t1s a news item. 2hat o you want me to o8 Marty 0 want a secon loo# ta#en, that1s all. Weiss 4ou want me to intervene for your little !et !ro"ect8 Marty 0 want you to "u ge it on the merits. 0 un erstan Javit1s !ers!ective. 0 #now where he1s coming from. But !erha!s his !ers!ective can $e a $it too narrow at time. 0 wante this thing to lan on your es# $ecause you have a wi er view. Weiss An what if 0 ha!!en to agree with Javits8 Marty 0 on1t un erstan . Weiss This thing is a !ow er #eg. 2hy woul 0 want to !ut our networ# in a !osition to $e calle racist8 This show is a $lac# mar# on our recor to $egin with. 2hy shoul n1t we forget it an "ust move on8 Marty Because there is gol in em are hills. An we are the !eo!le that can mine it.

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Weiss 'eally8 Marty 'eally. Have your rea that treatment8 Weiss 0 scanne it. Marty %can it again. This is a new ay, things have change . 'acial strife is ratings. An to $e can i , after last Cuarter we coul use a $oost. Peo!le are !ro$a$ly going to $e angry. :oo that means that they will also $e tuning in. Weiss 6oo#, 0 #now that %onny gave you your start . . . Marty . . . 4es, he i , $ut this is not a$out that. This is a$out ratings. The !ro!osal %onny has !ut together is $rilliant. 6oo#, if he can eliver )utson an Johnson, were gol en. No one will $e a$le to touch us. The !eo!le who woul usually $e the ones lea ing the !rotest will $e in our stu ios ta!ing. Weiss Ten gran a !iece. Marty That1s craft service for a ay aroun here. Weiss They1 come that chea!8 Marty )ivil rights lea ers an !oliticians have always $een an affor a$le commo ity. 2e $ring the news ivision in on this, moc# u! some $ullshit town hall an were tal#ing awar winning television. 2e1ll have !rint me ia tri!!ing over themselves to give us free coverage. Weiss Then why isn1t Javits in on this if this is such a slam un#8 Marty

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Not to s!ea# out of turn, $ut there is a reason that Javits is running the news e!artment an not hea ing the networ#. News houn s have never e5actly $een #nown for their vision an aring. 6oo#, %teve you #now me. 01m a team guy, 01m not loo#ing to !iss in Javits ear, 0 woul not have come to you if it i n1t have such a !otential to lan us a $ig win. An we nee one. Weiss 0 on1t #now. Marty 0t1s your call. Weiss .(ong ause/ 0s it8 Marty 0 on1t #now what you mean. Weiss 3on1t you8 Marty No. No 0 on1t. Weiss 4ou #now, when 0 saw this file lan on my es#. 0 ha to won er. Marty 2on er what8 Weiss 2on er if my little Marty was !laying his chi!. Marty My chi!8 Weiss 4es. )learly you #now things a$out me that coul ma#e my life . . . well, ifficult an . . Marty . . . %ir, Hawaii was five years ago . . . Weiss . . . 01m won ering if this little !romotion of your wasn1t enough to $alance the $oo#s. Marty

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0 woul ho!e that my har wor# was enough to earn this chair. 0 have !oste more to! +A !rogramming in my tenure then the last three guys who occu!ie this chair com$ine . . . your !ersonal life is none of my $usiness . . . Weiss . . . Of course Marty, 0 wasn1t trying to suggest that you i n1t earn this !osition. )learly you i , son. 0 was "ust . . . Marty . . . 0 sent you that file for the goo of the com!any. This is not some !ower !lay on my !art. Weiss An if 0 wal# out of here not having given you the answer you want8 Marty Then 0 will have to get use to living with isa!!ointment. Hawaii is in the rear view mirror. Weiss 0 a!!reciate that, Marty. Marty 0 woul never !ut you in a ifficult situation. After all these years 0 woul have thought you #new that a$out me. Weiss Of course Marty. Marty 6oo#, if you on1t want to o the thing, we on1t o the thing. 01m a $ig $oy 0 un erstan . Weiss Hmmmm. 0t has some merit. But the $u get is at least ;A !ercent too high an it woul have to go through Javits for the mi5 own an he1s gonna want final a!!roval on the narrator. Marty 2e can cho! the $u get, an Javits can !ic# whoever he wants for the narrator as long as they can string a sentence together an 0 will consult with him on the final mi5 own. Weiss

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That soun s li#e a goo soli $eginning. But we have to get )utson an Johnson that1s essential. *ven if you have to throw them a slightly $igger $one, there !artici!ation is a eal $rea#er. 2e have letters of intent for $oth8 0 see we have the rights to all footage an music. As 0 see it we only have one other !iece that is missing to ma#e this !uGGle wor#. Marty 2hat1s that8 Weiss 4ou #now what, 0 coul use some coffee after all. )oul you call that thic# legge girl of yours in here to $ring me a mocha latte. Marty 4es, sir. .'e rings the intercom./ Tasha coul you $ring me a mocha latte . . . an a $ottle of water. Tasha 4es, sir. Marty Now. 4ou saying something a$out one more essential !iece8 . (ights !ade to blac&./ Intermission

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A)T T2O&%)*N* ON* ,The scene o ens and Tasha is in Marty-s o!!ice and is si!ting through a ers on his des&" She dro s several a ers onto the !loor" She bends over and ic&s u the a ers" As she is bending over/ Sonny enters the room.Sonny Now that is how 0 want a woman to greet me when 0 enter a room. . Tasha loo&s u ./ Tasha Mr. Testa. Sonny 4eah. 01m here for my +A o1cloc#. Tasha 4es. 0 wasn1t a$le to reach you. Mr. A elman is running a little late. But he1s on the way. Sonny .'e enters the room and sits down./ Not a !ro$lem. 01m a $lac# man in America. 01ve learne the virtue of !atience. Tasha 0 on1t thin# that !atience is a virtue reserve for $lac# man Sonny 0n ee . How long have you been with Marty8 Tasha 01ve wor#e for Mr. A elman for three years or so. Sonny 4eah, 0 $et you wor# that !retty little tail off on1tcu8 Tasha 0 o my "o$. Sonny

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4ou a film stu ent8 Tasha How i you #now that8 Sonny Artists are of a $ree . 2e have a certain smell a$out us. Tasha 0s that right8 Sonny That1s a fact. 0 can see the am$ition in your eyes. %omehow 0 on1t thin# $eing a secretary an answering !hones is enough to nourish you. Tasha 01m an e5ecutive assistant, not a secretary an 0 o a lot more than answer !hones. Sonny 01m sure, honey. Tasha 01m not your honey. Sonny 'eally8 %o whose honey are you8 Never met a woman yet in this $usiness who got here $y talent alone. Tasha .Smiles/ *5cuse me8 Sonny 4ou are in the !resence of a star, honey, act accor ingly. Tasha 3o you really $elieve that8 Sonny 4ou gotta $elieve, honey8 Tasha 0 thin# 0 feel sorry for you. .Begins to e%it./ Sonny 2hat i you say you little, $itch8 Tasha

?B

.(ong ause/ That might have hurt if it i n1t come from a has $een. Sonny Better a has $een then a never was. Tasha 4our clever. Not smart really, "ust clever. Sonny .Beat/ There is nothing for free in this town. 4ou1ll learn that. %ince you1re so !ure, chec# $ac# with me in ten years or so an let1s see if you1re still virgin. Tasha Mr. A elman shoul $e here in a moment. .She e%its" A !ew moments ass and Marty enters his o!!ice./ Sonny 4ou1re fuc#ing the secretary. Marty *5cuse me8 Sonny The secretary . . . the chun#y $lac# sister, your ta!!ing that, right8 Marty %he1s not a secretary, she1s an a ministrative assistant. Sonny %o you are fuc#ing her. Marty 2ho tol you that 8 Sonny That sullen face of hers, $a emeanor, !issy attitu e. Those are a classic sym!toms of Marty 4ou1re a funny guy, you #now that8 Sonny 4eah. 01m hilarious. %o come on, give. 2hat1s the ver ict8 Marty 2eiss was intereste . Jew 3ic#. Only one of my He$rew $rethren coul so thoroughly not satisfy a woman.

?D

Sonny 4ou1re shitting me8 Marty No. He li#e it . . . with some a "ustments. He wante the $u get cut $y ;A !ercent. Sonny That is very oa$le. Marty An he wante to $e a$le to !ic# the narrator. Sonny Not a !ro$lem. Marty An there is something else. Sonny O#ay. Marty An your not gonna li#e it. Sonny 0 on1t li#e a lot of thingsO what is it8 Marty 4ou1re really not gonna li#e this. Sonny 2hat is it8 Marty 2eiss says that if we are gonna o a retros!ective, we nee )hris. Sonny 0 on1t li#e it. Marty %onny . . . Sonny . . . 0 on1t li#e it Marty, 0 on1t li#e it . . . Marty . . . 0 #now how you feel . . . 0 #now you we1re gonna !o! a gas#et over this thing $ut . . .

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Sonny . . . 0 was the show. 2e on1t fuc#in1 nee )hris. An this is not ego tal#in1. He was nothing more than a fuc#in1 straight man. An not even a goo one. Marty %onny . . . Sonny . . . No, Marty, this is $ullshit. 0 won1t o it, 0 won1t fuc#in1 o it. The !ric# oesn1t even live in 6.A. anymore. 0 hear he move $ac# to )levelan for )hrist sa#e. Marty %onny, it1s a eal $rea#er. Sonny A eal $rea#er. Marty 4e!. Sonny That1s $ullshit. Marty That1s what it is. Sonny This is not what 0 nee e . Marty 4ou are such an asshole. 0 "ust !ulle a ra$$it out of my ass $y getting 2eiss to green light this !otential !ow er #eg. 0 get the thing mostly fun e an you1re $itching8 :uess what, if you on1t li#e the con itions ta#e it to one of the other networ#s $ecause to $e fran# 01m sic# of the whole $usiness alrea y. Sonny .(ong ause/ A eal $rea#er, huh8 Marty )omes straight from 2eiss. 0n his o!inion you can1t have A Just Two Niggas retros!ective with "ust one nigger. Sonny 0 was the show.

?E

Marty 2eiss isagrees. Sonny 2eiss is a !iece of shit. Marty May$e, $ut he1s the !iece of shit whose green-lighting this !ro"ect. Sonny 2here the hell am 0 su!!ose to fin him8 Marty 4ou1re as#ing me8 Hell, if 0 #now. All 0 can tell you is that the man Cuit the $usiness when )arter was in the 2hite House. Sonny 4eah. 0 hear he move $ac# home. Marty To )levelan 8 Sonny 4eah. Marty That1s your home town. Ma#e some calls an fin the guy. Sonny 4eah. Marty 0 #now what went own $etween you two . . . $ut this is where we1re at. That1s the eal. Sonny This is $ullshit. Marty Hey, 0 ha to move heaven an *arth "ust to get you this fuc#ing shot, 0 !ut my ass on the line for you so on1t $ust my $alls. 4ou want the retros!ective, get )hris to sign on the otte line. Sonny No !ro$lem. 6oo#s li#e 01m on my way $ac# to the rust $elt. Marty

?F

2ho says you can1t go home again, right8 .Smiles/ Sonny 4eah. .(ights !ade to blac&./

A)T ON*&%)*N* T2O ,Sonny is sitting in a chair" 'e has a er coming out o! his collar" The ur ose o! the a er is to &ee the ma&e$u !rom his !ace !rom staining his collar" Marty is standing over Sonny and has a binder in his hands.Sonny 3i you ma#e the changes to the scri!t8 Marty 4es. 4es, 0 i .

BA

Sonny 3oes it flow naturally from the narrative8 Marty 4es. 0t "ust oesn1t seem . . . 0 on1t #now, right. 0 mean )hris is such a !art of the show. Sonny 2e can1t fight change Marty, we "ust have to roll with it my man. Now rea me the line. Marty O#ay, the line is. K3on1t chu $e "iving me you "ive tur#ey suc#a. 0 wants my money.J Sonny That1s interesting $ut it1s flat. How a$out we say something li#e, KHey man you $etta $e careful, owing me money is li#e $eing a tur#ey on Than#sgiving.J Marty 0 li#e that line Mr. Testa. But . . . Sonny . . . But what8 Marty *ood Times. Sonny 2hat the hell oes *ood Times have to o with it8 Marty They ha a line on one of their shows very similar. Sonny *ood Times can #iss my ic#. Marty 0 "ust on1t want to $e accuse of . . . Sonny . . . 4eah, yeah, 0 get it. .Chris enters the stage./ Chris 2hat the hell8 Sonny )hris, what are you oing . . .

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Chris . . . 2ho is he8 Sonny 2hat are you oing here8 Bill was su!!ose to tal# to you. Chris 0 haven1t $een home. Sonny %o you haven1t tal#e to Bill8 Chris 2ho is that in my ressing room8 Sonny Marty, coul you e5cuse us for a moment. (s two ol frien s nee to tal#. Marty 4es, sir. .Marty e%its the stage./ Sonny )hris, c1mon man, you #now what it is. Chris No, %onny, 0 on1t #now what it is, you tell me. 4ou tell me what it is. 2ho is that guy in my ressing room8 Sonny His name is 'ichar )hase. He1s stage actor out of )hicago. Chris O#ay. 2hat is a stage actor out of )hicago oing in my ressing room8 Sonny Hey, on1t ro! your tri! on me, man. 4ou $een fuc#in1 u! for months an you #now it. Marty has $een carrying you, 01ve $een carrying you an 01ve ha enough. 2e1re alrea y un er the gun, we1re $attling to $e renewe an you $een struggling . . . for a while now. )oming late or not showing u! at all. An even when you o grace us with your !resence you1re off. Chris 0 $een oing goo . 0 $een clean for almost a wee# an a half. Sonny

B;

An how many times have we hear that one. .Beat/ 4ou are my man, $ut 0 have res!onsi$ilities to the !eo!le who wor# here an 01m not a$out to have you flush this show own the toilet. Chris %o it1s li#e that8 Sonny 0t1s li#e that. Chris 2hat a$out our !romise, huh8 2hat ha!!ene to that %onny. 2hen we were starving, cutting our teeth in )levelan . 3oing theater, ma#ing art8 *5!an ing our min s, wra!!ing our talent aroun our $eliefs8 2hat ha!!ene to that %onny, what ha!!ene to us8 Sonny 2e grew u! )hris. At least 0 i . 0 ha them $o5 u! your things. There at the security es#. Chris This is fuc#e u!. Sonny 4eah. .Chris e%its the stage. The stage !ades to blac&/ A)T T2O&%)*N* TH'** ,The s otlight comes u but is itching a dim all over the cram ed/ crumbling inner$city a artment" Chris is wearing a dirty wi!e beater with a dirty white long sleeved dress shirt" 'e is watching television" Chris gets u and wal&s over to the door.Chris 2ho is it. Sonny %onny8 Chris 0 on1t #now no fuc#in1 %onny. Sonny

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)hris. O!en this amn oor. .Chris gets u and o ens the door" When it o ens the two men ,ust stare at each other !or 9: second or more./ %o you on1t #now me8 Chris Holy shit. Sonny %o you gonna invite a nigga in8 Chris 4eah. .Sonny enters the a artment./ Sonny How have you $een8 Chris 4ou got eyes on1tcu8 Sonny :ot a nose tooO this !lace smells li#e shit. Chris Nice suit. Sonny 4ou #now 0 always was a clothes horse. Chris 4eah. Sonny 0 $et you won ering how 0 foun you8 .Beat/ 4our mama. %he still lives in the same house. .Beat/ %he tol me where to fin you. Chris 4ou were "ust in the neigh$orhoo 8 Sonny 2ell, not Cuite Chris 7lew in8 Sonny 4es. Chris

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7rom 6A8 Sonny 4es. Chris Big Hollywoo star come to visit his ol frien . To what o 0 owe this honor8 Sonny A thing came u!. Chris A thing8 Sonny 4eah, a thing, a $usiness thing. Chris A $usiness thing. Been a long time since we ha any $usiness together %onny. 6ast $usiness transaction 0 remem$er is you $ooting me the hell out of Hollywoo . Sonny 01m not here to tal# a$out ancient history. Chris Not so ancient for me %onny Sonny 0t was thirty years ago. Chris 0t was yester ay. Sonny 0 nee to as# you a$out . . . Chris . . . 4ou see one minute 0 was a networ# television star an the ne5t thing you #now 0 was $eing run out of Hollywoo for oing what every$o y was oing in the 9@As. Hell 0 remem$er your nose getting !ow ere from time to time. Sonny %ame ol )hris. 01m gla you on1t let truth get in the way of a goo story. That same $ullshit you were s!ewing in that interview with Bill :raves. Chris

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0 tol him the truth. Sonny 2hat o you #now a$out the truth8 4eah, we all were a$$ling $ac# then, $ut we i our "o$s, we showe u! to wor# or on1t that figure into your memory8 4ou were so strung out you coul n1t even ta!e half your scenes. 4ou thin# 0 i n1t #now a$out the little arrangement you ha with Marty8 4ou thin# 0 i n1t #now he was thinning your lines 9cause you coul n1t remem$er them anymore8 4ou were a mess an you were gonna ta#e us all own with you. 0 on1t owe you anything. Chris 4ou on1t owe me anything8 Sonny 0 on1t owe you a amn thing. Chris 0 i n1t tell Bill :raves everything in that interview. Sonny 0t was twenty years ago, $ut from my memory you through everything at me $ut the #itchen sin#. Chris 0 i n1t tell him a$out the u!-fronts, %onny. 0 i n1t tell him that. 0 i n1t tell him a$out the care !ac#age you !ut in my han . Sonny .(ong ause/ 2hy not8 Chris 0 on1t #now. 0 "ust i n1t #now. Sonny 0t was craGy $ac# then . . . we i what we ha to o to survive. Chris 4eah8 Sonny 0 was sorry 0 coul n1t hel! you, $ut you never wante to hel! yourself. . Beat/ Are you . . . well . . . are you using8 Chris

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3o you really nee to as#8 Sonny %ince you left the show8 Chris No. 0 went through !erio s of my life where 0 staye clean. Once 0 staye off the stuff for nine years . . . even got marrie , ha a #i . . . Sonny . . . But . . . Chris . . . But li#e any a ict, it only ta#es one $a sli e away. Sonny 4ou1re not ea yet you #now. Chris My time has come an gone. %o is that why you came here to chec# my tom$stone8 Sonny No, 0 came here $ecause we are oing a s!ecial. Chris A$out Just Two Niggas8 Sonny 4eah. Chris O#ay. Sonny An we want you to !artici!ate. Chris .(aughs/ Partici!ate. Partici!ate as what, your frien ly neigh$orhoo crac#hea 8 Sonny The fans on1t care who you are. They "ust want to see you. Chris . . . No . . . Sonny ay for everything you1ve wor#e for to

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. . . 2ait )hris . . . Chris No. %onny )hris . . . Chris . . . No. Sonny Hear me out. Chris Nothing to hear. Sonny There1s money involve . Chris Not enough. Sonny How o you #now its not enough8 Chris Because enough money ain1t $een !rinte .. Sonny 2hy8 2hat is the $ig eal8 2e1ll get you a nice suit, haircut. Chris A ma#e-over ain1t gon hel!. Sonny 4ou1ll $e fine. Chris 01m not oing it. Sonny 2hy8 Chris Because 0 say so nigga, not get out. Sonny

BE

01m not going anywhere . . . 0 #now you coul use some money. Chris 4eah .Sonny Then let1s start tal#ing sensi$ly. 0 coul !ro$a$ly get the networ# to !ay you two or may$e even three gran . Plus fly you out to 6A. Buy you some clothes, !ut you u! in one of them swan#y hotels. Chris 4ou came all the way here for this8 Sonny 4es. Chris 0t1s $een <A years an 0 ain1t hear so much as a !ee! from you. Sonny An what e5actly was 0 su!!ose to say8 Besi es you isa!!eare . Chris 4ou on1t seem to have a !ro$lem fin ing me when you wante something. Sonny 01m not the reason your are an a ict. Chris 0 can1t ta#e your money. Sonny 2hy $ecause your angry with me8 Chris 0t1s $een thirty years 0 on1t #now if 0 have the energy to $e angry at anything. Sonny 0 on1t un erstan you. 0 come here out of the goo ness of my own heart to hel! you out an !ut a little money in your !oc#et . . . Chris . . . %onny Testa on1t o nothing that on1t hel! %onny Testa. Sonny

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A few gran )hris, on1t tell me you on1t nee it. Hell, who #nows 0 might even $e a$le to $um! that u! to four gran or so. Chris 3on1t o this. Sonny 3o what, !ut four large in your han to o ;A, <A minutes of ta!e for four gran . Jesus ain1t 0 a horri$le !erson. Chris 3on1t ta#e it away from me. Sonny Ta#e what away8 .Chris gets u and wal&s over to curtain on a wall and ulls it down" 4nderneath the sheet is a romotional oster o! Chris !rom the/ Just Two Niggas days./ This is all 0 got left. This image. 6oo# at me u! there %onny. 6oo# at me. %trong an wi e. Broa shoul ers for ays. 6oo# at the nigga. He $eautiful. 0t1s all 0 got left. Them fans they still remem$er that nigga u! there. 0f nothing else 0 can $e that niggas in ey hea s. 0 on1t want to $e some wal#ing ea re"ect, two inches from the #eeling over. Sonny The way you tal#. 4ou soun li#e you a$out to ie right now. Chris 4eah. Sonny 2hat1s wrong8 Chris 01m not well. Sonny 6i#e you sai 0 got eyes. 0 can see that. Chris Not the rugs. Sonny 4ou1re sic#. Chris

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4eah. Sonny 'eal sic#8 Chris 4es. .'e tal&s his dress shirt o!! and reveals his arms which are covered with red liaisons"/ Sonny The $ig time. Chris 0 got the $ug a few years ago. Sonny A few years ago8 Chris 0t1s a miracle 0 i n1t get it sooner. 4ou see. 0 want that !icture in !eo!le1s hea to mean something. %o on1t offer me that money again, $ecause if you o 0 might "ust ta#e it. 0t1s $een har . Sonny 4eah. Chris 0 saw that cameo you i in that 3enGel 2ashington movie. .Beat/ 4ou #now 0 hear he1s a 'e!u$lican. Sonny 0 hear the same thing. .Beat/ %o . . . how long i they say. Chris 6et1s "ust say 0 ain1t ma#ing !lans for ne5t )hristmas. .Sonny wal&s over to the oster on the wall"/ Sonny 2e were something weren1t we. .'e begins to sing./ Just two niggas .Chris ,oins in./ Hanging out, having fun, where "ust to niggas . . . My shoul ers were !retty $roa too. .Beat/ %o . . . uhh, 0 $etter get going. 0 got a !lane to catch. Chris 4eah, umm, it was nice . . . to, you #now, see you again. . The two men sha&e hands./

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Sonny .Sonny reaches into his oc&et./ Here is a little something to . . . Chris . . . Than# you, $ut no. 4ou #ee! that. Sonny 4ou sure 0 thought . . . Chris No. 4ou #ee! it. 0 ma e it this far, an 0 will lim! on into tomorrow "ust fine than# you. Sonny 4eah. .Sonny begins to e%it the stage" As he is being ushered out o! the door he turns around and stares at the oster./ 2e were something weren1t we8 .'e e%its. Stage !ades to blac&./

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A)T T2O&%)*N* 7O(' ,The s otlight comes u and Sonny is sitting across !rom Marty at his des&.Marty 3i you fin him8 Sonny 0 foun what was left. Marty An . . . Sonny . . . An 0 shoul n1t have gone. Marty 2hat ha!!ene 8 Sonny *verything. Marty 4ou1re tal#ing in ri les. 0 have a retros!ective to !lan 0 can1t use ri les right now. 2hat ha!!ene . Sonny 0 shoul n1t have gone. Marty %o what i he say8 Sonny He sai a lot. Marty He1s not oing well8 Sonny No. Marty How $a are we tal#ing8

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Sonny Ba . Marty 3i he sign8 Sonny 0 on1t thin# that he woul $e goo for TM. He1s sic# Marty 2e on1t nee him to a amne series, we "ust nee him for a Cuic# interview. %!ill a few memories. Tal# a$out his life a little. Sonny No. Marty 2hat o you mean no8 Sonny 6i#e 0 sai no. 2e can1t o this. Marty 2hat all of a su en we foun moral fortitu e8 2hat we can !ut him on $ecause he1s an a ict. 0 thin# we $oth lost the !rivilege of acting li#e )hris1 $ig $rother. . Beat/ 2e1re not going to ma#e him loo# li#e a "er# off. He was as much my frien as yours. Sonny He1s not well. Marty 4ou #ee! saying that. Sonny He1s not. Marty 2e can !ro! his ass u! in front of the camera an . . . Sonny . . . 2e can1t. Marty 4eah, $ut this is television. 2e can o anything remem$er8 Sonny

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Meaning8 Marty Meaning that may$e we shoul change the narrative at $it. Sonny 2hat o you mean8 Marty 2hat o 0 mean8 )ome on %onny. 4ou getting slow in your ol age. The story is no longer "ust a$out this controversial show an all the !rotests surroun ing it. Now the narrative is a$out an actor . . . an actor from )levelan . An actor who came to the $ig city an was corru!te $y success. By rugs. 2e flash !ictures of )hris uring the glory years. 2hen he was ri ing high. 2e $uil the story, still using racial controversy. But we !arallel it with the small time $oy gone $a angle. Sonny %mall town $oy gone $a angle8 Marty 4eah. Thin# a$out it. An then after much commentary. By you, $y me, $y !eo!le who #new )hris. 2e get the money shot. The last scene. The revelation of what he loo#s li#e now. .Beat/ 01m assuming the years haven1t $een #in . Sonny No, they haven1t. Marty %o there. 0n the $ottom hour of the s!ecial, we see him. The result of a life of !ain an isa!!ointment. An we interview him. Sonny 0 tol you, he won1t interview. Marty He won1t interview8 Sonny He won1t interview. Marty Bullshit. Sonny

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He won1t o it. Marty There is nothing un er the son that can1t $e $ought. 4ou taught me that. Sonny He oesn1t want . . . Marty 2hat oes what he wants have to o with it8 He1s a crac#hea right8 Sonny 4es. Marty A crac#hea , as in a !erson who oes crac#, right8 Sonny 4es. Marty An you coul n1t get this guy to sign on the otte line8 Sonny He was angry . . . he woul n1t . . . Marty Are you craGy8 2e1re all angry %onny. 2hat1s going on here8 0 coul have $ought this guy for a $us to#en an a cou!on to Mc3onal s for )hrist sa#e. Sonny 4ou on1t un erstan . Marty 2hat1s his a ress8 Sonny Marty. Marty :ive me his a ress. 01ll have a lawyer sent out to )levelan , we1ll have his signature $y sun own. Sonny He1s ying Marty. Marty

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0 #now %onny, he1s $een #illing himself for <A years !ro$a$ly. Sonny No. He1s ying. He1s got the $ug. 7ull $lown. Marty .(ong ause/ He1s !ositive. Sonny He1s got a few months . . . may$e. Marty .(ong ause/ All the $etter. Ma#es the story that much more arresting. Sonny 0t1s not a fuc#ing story. 0t1s his life, you son of a $itch. Man you got ice$ergs swimming in your veins. Man haven1t you come u! in the worl . Marty 0 learne from the $est, %onny. .Beat/ At the foot of the master. Sonny 0 on1t want to o this anymore. Marty 'eally8 An 0 on1t want hair growing out of my ass, $ut go 1s a muthafuc#a, what can 0 say8 Now, if were one fantasiGing lets get $ac# to the real worl . 4ou1re not !ulling the !lug on this thing, 0 got my ic# hanging in the amne win . Sonny 0 coul give a amn. Marty A!!arently. Sonny This is not a$out you, Marty. Marty Hell, if it1s not. The secon 0 !itche this thing to 2eiss it $ecame a$out me. Sonny 0 on1t give a shit. 01m not going through with it. 0t1s off, where one. 0 own all the rights to the show, the music an 0 tell you it1s over. .Sonny gets u and begins to wal& away./

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Marty %it own. Sonny 2hat8 Marty 0 sai sit your $lac# ass own. .Beat/ Now, who in the hell o you thin# your ealing with8 01m not that little sCuatty Jew carrying aroun your scri!ts anymore. 4our gonna o this or my han to go 0 will cho! you into little !ieces. 0 swear it. 0 !ic# u! a !hone an ay into night .Sna s his !ingers/ 4ou on1t e5ist in this town anymore. 0 will revo#e your Hollywoo !ass. An you ain1t 3enGel 2ashington my frien , 0 can o it. His a ress. .'e ushes over a iece o! a er and a en./ Sonny Are there any lines we won1t cross Marty. A$out a hun re years ago we were frien s. 4ou, me, )hris. 2e were . . . Marty 2e were satellites s!inning aroun your or$it. But you can1t $e the sun forever. *ven the $est s!ar#le an fa e eventually . . . let alone some secon rate sitcom star from the 9@As. 0 want )hris1 a ress. Sonny 4es, sir Mr. Marty. .'e ;uic&ly scribbles the address on a iece o! a er and shovels the number over to him. Marty !ic#s u! the !hone./ Marty As soon as we get )hris to sign, we will start shooting this thing so ma#e sure you1re availa$le ne5t wee#. Sonny 4eah. Marty 2e1re gonna !ut you $ac# out there whether you li#e it or not. Sonny 4eah. Bac# out there. .'e ambles to the !ront o! the stage and !alls on his &nees" 'e !alls underneath the glare o! a ower!ul s otlight while everything else on stage in

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itched into dar&ness" 'e closes his eyes and ;uietly wee s./ 4ou #now Marty, sometimes there "ust ain1t enough right in the worl to ever ma#e you clean again. 70N.

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