My first screenplay.

In 1998, I learned of a writer’s strike.  That’s when I started writing again.  I had quit a job working with juvenile delinquents and seven years into a career, decided then that, I needed independence and stability.  Almost twenty years later, the only independence I have found is in writing.  Yet that has its limitations.  Since then their have been two more strikes from the chosen elect of the WGA.  I recently applied for a job there so I’ll be nice with the elect.

It took almost a year to write and edit but here are the first few pages of this screenplay.

Excerpts can be found in my book Character Within the Screenplay.

http://www.amazon.com/Darrell-J-Banks/e/B00I33S10C

If you want to compare my writing, styles and how they have evolved check out Siolam.

http://www.amazon.com/Siolam-Black-Western-Darrell-Banks/dp/1515299236/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446925773&sr=1-1&keywords=siolam

DEATH and THE FAMILY

COPYRIGHT 1999

All Rights Reserved

Darrell Jerome Banks,Esq.

FADE IN

EXT.-DETROIT SKYLINE-DAY

The eastside of Detroit has small streets on one of these streets sits a family run funeral home in need of repair.  Next door is a vacant lot and across the street is a large stately plantation style funeral home with a neon sign that says Jackson Funeral Home inexpensive but quality funerals.

INTERIOR WILLIAM=S FUNERAL HOME-OFFICE

An elderly man and a woman  sit at an oak table, solitary cards are spread out over the table with two rows of poker chips stacked nearby.  The man is despondent and the woman is crying and dabbing a napkin at  her eyes.  A group of men stands around the table talking and watching the woman play solitary.  The woman looks at the men shakes her and walks over to her husband who is on the phone requesting a person-to-person call.

EZIEKEL

I need to speak to Mr. Williams at the number I just dialed.  Yes, I=ll hold.

AUNT BEV

Give me the phone I told you I would call him.

INT. BEAUTY SALON-MIAMI SOUTH BEACH

Salsa music is in the background blasting from several ceiling speakers.  The shop is crowded with beautiful women having their hair washed, dried and curled.  Several anxious women are waiting for their blow and go in the lobby.

Billie William=s, the owner of the shop is at chair one, he is examining a Cuban woman=s hair.  He picks up a long lock of her hair and rolls it through his fingers like spaghetti.  He smells the hair.

BILLIE

No, that is not right this is not Revlon and it smells bad like etouffe and I definitely did not use that rinse last week.  Now Marcella how did you get this smell in your hair.

Marcella looks up into Billie=s eyes.