Left Long

Steel Fuses — Act I Scene IV

(The lights come up on the courtyard. MANI is chillin with the Js

on the bench. They're sipping on bottles in brown bags and freestyling bars. JAMAL finishes a dope rhyme.)

JARROD/MANI

OOOH SSHEEE-IT!

JARROD

Yo, Jamal, that was ill. Big ups.

(JAMAL sips from his bag. MANI points his bag in JAMAL's direction.)

MANI

Word, yo.

JAMAL
( disbelief )

Hold the fuck up! Dawg, you drinkin' some Sprite ?

(MANI quickly pulls the bag up to his chest and leans back.)

MANI
( defensively )

Nah, yo. I got the same shit y'all did. You buggin'.

(JARROD begins creeping up behind MANI, quietly, so he doesn't notice.)

JAMAL
( diverting him )

Right. Uh huh. You always tell yourself shit so you believe it? That work for you? Hm?

(JARROD has gotten in position to grab the bag. HE starts creeping his arm forward towards the bag and grabs it mid-sentence.)

MANI

Psh. Whatev—

JARROD

Got it!

MANI

Yo, give it back, yo. C'mon. Fellas.

(JARROD tosses the bag to JAMAL and holds MANI in place by his shoulders.)

JAMAL
( Dramatically )

Well what have we got here? ( To JARROD ) Jarrod, you feelin' adventurous?

JARROD

Word, son. Like a fuckin' Viking.

(JAMAL opens the bag, reaches inside and dramatically pulls out a half-empty plastic bottle of Sprite. MANI tries to hide embarrassment.)

MANI

I'm just usin' that bottle.

JARROD

Yea. Whatever, son.

JAMAL

‘S all good, though. Our man here is allowed his choice.

(JAMAL shakes his head disapprovingly.)

JAMAL

(continuing)

( deadpan )

Fuckin' loser.

(JARROD lets go of MANI's shoulders, who jerks angrily away and snatches the bottle back from JAMAL.)

MANI

Gimme that.

JARROD

Chill, son. We just playin' with you. (a beat, then a low blow) Guy thinks he shouldn't get his balls busted just cuz he played some good ball one day.

(MANI glares at him. GERARD and FRANKIE enter stage left from the apartment. GERARD is decked out head-to-toe in the newest gear from the Jordan line. FRANKIE has on an a-shirt and gym shorts and a worn pair of black basketball sneakers. As they approach the bench MANI, and the Js grill them coldly. GERARD stops and glares back while FRANKIE keeps walking. FRANKIE realizes GERARD has stopped and goes over to back him up. MANI is sitting in a relaxed way and sips his Sprite.)

MANI
( coolly )

You know, lookin' like a baller don't make you play like one.

(A beat passes as THEY continue the stare down.)

GERARD
( with equal venom )

At least I play.

(The Js step up like they're about to brawl, steely looks on their faces. MANI raises a flat palm in the air, signaling them to stop. THEY slide back a half-step, never taking their eyes off of GERARD and FRANKIE. FRANKIE pulls on GERARD's jacket, turns and starts walking off. GERARD lingers for a second and then follows him off stage right.)

Scene V

(The scene is the practice court. The chain link fence is stage left of the handball wall.

GERARD and FRANKIE enter through the gap in the fence. They start shooting around. GERARD makes a comment after every shot, and gets frustrated from more misses than makes. HE dribbles in place before every shot, trying moves that are above his skill level, and loses the ball repeatedly. FRANKIE is quietly rebounding and running down loose balls. When HE makes shots, HE gives a little fist pump. FRANKIE begins rebounding for GERARD and talking while he's doing it. GERARD answers between shots.)

FRANKIE

Son.

GERARD

Yea?

FRANKIE

I got a guy for you, D.

GERARD

Say word?

FRANKIE

Yea. Dude's been on the low for a minute now, but he's lookin' to get back in the game.

GERARD

Makes it tough, dawg. He a baller?

FRANKIE

And a half.

GERARD

For real?

FRANKIE

‘S my word, D. I got a feelin' you'd like his game.

GERARD

‘S that so?

FRANKIE

Trust me. ( a beat ) I think this could be one to ride.

GERARD

Nigga what? You talkin' some nonsense now. But I'ma listen. Keep goin'.

FRANKIE

Well y… you… you're j… just always sayin' you lookin for the right guy to run with.

(FRANKIE is upset because he let the stutter reveal itself. HE continues to struggle with it for the rest of the conversation.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

T… take you outta here and whatnot.

GERARD

Yea. And?

FRANKIE

I… I'm… I'm just s… sayin'. This dude's a ball… a baller. That's my word.

GERARD

Aight… So this baller of yours got a name, or what?

FRANKIE
( evasive )

I t… I told you, he's keepin' on the low.

GERARD

Say what? How you gon' do me like that? You tell me dude's a baller and a half and then you gon' hold out a name?

(A beat passes while FRANKIE composes himself, and successfully fights the stutter back.)

FRANKIE

Guy just wants to keep a low profile is all. You gotta trust me, D. For real. ( a beat) He wants to meet you straight up.

GERARD

Stut, that's some bull- shit … ( a beat, realizes FRANKIE won't back down ) You lucky you my boy. I wouldn't let no one else even come at me with that. But, for you, I'ma think about it. I'ma get back to you on that one.

FRANKIE
( somewhat spent )

No doubt. ( a beat ) Thanks, D.

GERARD

No prob, dawg.

(GERARD extends the ball towards FRANKIE, and raises a quizzical eyebrow.)

Yo, you game?

FRANKIE

Bring it.

(GERARD flips the ball to FRANKIE who checks it, and crouches down into a defensive position as GERARD eyes him up and begins to dribble. The lights fade on the court as GERARD drives to the hole.)

Scene VI

(The lights open on the courtyard. MANI and the Js have been chillin' on the bench, keeping a lazy eye on GERARD and FRANKIE's game. GERARD and FRANKIE enter from stage right.)

MANI

Good ballin', Def.

(GERARD waits for the snide comment he knows is coming.)

MANI

(continuing)

You got game to match your tag – quiet.

(GERARD is visibly agitated. FRANKIE is looking at him, trying to convey to him to let it go.)

GERARD

You always talk this big or only when you got the Js behind you?

MANI

Please. I'm not the one livin' off doin' other people favors. Fuckin' butler.

(GERARD steps up towards MANI menacingly.)

GERARD

And wha—

(GERARD's toe catches on a crack in the concrete and he falls flat-out on his face.)

JARROD

OH SHIT!!

(MANI and the Js burst out laughing, doubling over, mimicking GERARD and the like. Every time THEY look up at him triggers a new round of laughter. GERARD slowly rises off the ground, scowling and shedding off FRANKIE's help. HE gets up, brushes himself off and walks off towards the building, stewing. FRANKIE looks at MANI and the Js somewhat disapprovingly and offers a shrug before tailing after GERARD as the lights fade out on the courtyard.)