Ricardo Williams
Forum Replies Created
-
Thanks for a great course. I felt I got all the help I needed. I’ll be happy to read and give feedback on any script. I sent my script to be edited and will get it back in 2 weeks. Ready to move on to my next venture. Wishing everyone the best.
-
Subject line: Ricardo Williams Chronological Edit
What I learned doing this assignment is how rewarding it feels to have a script that floors. I found a lot of areas that needed work to make the scenes cohesive.
I made progress with the flow and clarity. I still have work to do with the description and the dialogue. I do feel better about the dialogue. This class was very helpful. I am looking for readers for my script and I’ll be happy to read yours in return.
-
Subject line: Ricardo Williams Solved Scene Problems!
What I learned doing this assignment is how to check my script for scenes that don’t elevate or advance the script.
2. For any scene problems you find make the prescribed improvements.
I added a final scene that looks like a mini-reunion, but that reunites the protagonist with the antagonist and have them sort out their difference. I felt it necessary as the script has a family theme and the message of forgiveness and redemption seems suited for it.
FADE IN:
A Quotation from WILLIAM EARNEST HENLEY’S POEM “INVICTUS” AGAINST A BLACK SCREEN:
“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.”
INT. DR. HOWARD’S DENTAL OFFICE – DAY – 1934
The sign on the outside of the door reads, DR. E. C. HOWARD – DENTIST. The sign on the adjoining door reads, THE VANITY BOX. The sounds of a man moaning on the inside. The moans grow louder as we see DR. EDWARD HOWARD, 35, a Black dentist appears with a pair of stainless silver pliers. He leans closer to his white male patient seated in farmer’s overalls.
DR. HOWARD
I promise you it wouldn’t hurt. I haven’t even touch you as yet.
FARMER
It hurts. I just know it will.
DR. HOWARD
What if I showed you that your teeth is already out and the pain is in your mind?
FARMER
How?
DR. HOWARD touches the back of the patient’s left ear and comes up with a tooth.
FARMER (CONT’D)
Aw! Aw! Aw!
The farmer is in shock as he steers at the tooth with his mouth wide open long enough for DR. HOWARD to go into his mouth with his pliers and swiftly extract the bad tooth.
FARMER (CONT’D)
I hardly felt that.
DR. HOWARD
Great. You see? It was all in your mind.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – NIGHT
DR. HOWARD opens the door and as he turns around his two daughters JOLYN, 6 years old, and CHARLOTTE 4 years old, gleeful runs into his arms. He lifts them both up and spins them around. He kisses them. He kisses his wife MRS. MARGARET HOWARD, a woman in her mid-twenties, fair and beautiful with grace and elegance.
MRS. HOWARD
Honey, we have a busy weekend. We may need extra help with the movie theater.
DR. HOWARD
Sweetie, can you not manage with the girls?
MRS. HOWARD
No. Unless you gonna be there to help us.
DR. HOWARD
Actually Sweetie, I have a poker tournament with the guys.
MRS. HOWARD
Now that’s not fair. The girls and I have the movie theater, the pop corn stand, and the burger grill.
JOLYN
MOTHER, I want to sell the popcorn.
CHARLOTTE
Me too.
JOLYN
When I grow up I want to sell pop corn.
CHARLOTTE
Me too.
DR. HOWARD
Now my dear children, a better idea is to own your own pop corn stands. When you own it, you get to keep the profits.
CHARLOTTE
What is profits daddy?
JOLYN
That’s the money you make after you pay for your expenses.
DR. HOWARD
Now JOLYN, that’s just brilliant.
JOLYN
When I grow up, I want to own my own movie theater.
(Laughter)
CHARLOTTE
Me too.
DR. HOWARD
That’s what I am talking about. You can do anything you set your mind to. See honey, the apple never falls far from the tree. We are raising entrepreneurs.
JOLYN
Daddy what is entrepaneer?
DR. HOWARD
People who own businesses.
MRS HOWARD
Honey, I am still waiting for your answer.
DR. HOWARD
Sweetie, I’ll get you all the extra help you need.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY – 1942
14 year old JOLYN is cleaning her parents bathroom. She notices scales in the bathtub. She uses a broom and dust pan to sweep them up. She is puzzled. She comes out of the bathroom, passes her mother’s dresser and notices a letter from a doctor’s office. She takes out the letter from the open envelope. The words “MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES” catches her eyes, and then she silently reads the dreaded contents of the letter. She drops the letter and runs out of the room. She is fighting to hold back tears.
MRS. HOWARD
JOLYN, are you OK?
JOLYN ignores her mother and goes into her room and closes the door. She gets into a fetal position on the bed and she silently weeps. There is a knock on the door. DR. HOWARD walks in. He sits next to JOLYN and hands a travel magazine.
DR. HOWARD
I thought this will cheer you up.
DR. HOWARD opens the magazine and shows JOLYN a picture of the EIFFEL TOWER in PARIS. JOLYN wipes her eyes. Her eyes slowly fills with excitement. Then she is sad again.
JOLYN
Dad, can you take me there?
DR. HOWARD
This is a busy time for us. I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. But one day, you will visit all these places. The world is a beautiful place and you will get to see all of it. (He hugs her).
JOLYN
But I want to go with you Dad.
DR. HOWARD
I am so sorry Sweetie. I can’t promise you that. But always remember that I love you.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY – 1945
MRS. WHEELER, DR. HOWARD’S secretary walks into the living room. She takes JOLYN and CHARLOTTE by the hands and sits them down on the sofa. She is hesitant.
MRS. WHEELER
Your mother called this morning from the hospital. Your father died.
JOLYN is in shock. She stumbles off the couch. CHARLOTTE is screams. JOLYN holds onto CHARLOTTE. She looks out the window at the Post Office Plaza across the street. She sees people walking around, talking, and laughing. JOLYN watches the crowd from the window. She is angry.
JOLYN
What are you people laughing at? How can you do this? My father just died.
(Shouting)
EXT. DOWNTOWN CHICAGO – NIGHT
December 1999, CHARLOTTE invites JOLYN for a night out on the town to bring in the New Year. They walk into a busy night club bustling with youngsters.
CHARLOTTE
I don’t know about you, but these youngsters ain’t got nothing on me.
JOLYN
The young folks in Paris always invited me to parties. They even called me MOTHER.
CHARLOTTE
Well, we are no mothers tonight. We are the DYNAMIC DUO. (They both smile).
JOLYN
How about, Dynamic Duo for life?
The club is playing 1999 by PRINCE. They come across a heavy set woman on the dance floor. It is LUCY. LUCY runs and hugs JOLYN.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Look at you, all dressed up and fancy.
LUCY
Life is good. I can’t complain.
JOLYN
I’m so happy to hear.
A gentleman politely interrupts their conversation to offer a drink to LUCY. It is TROY THOMAS.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Hell, no. What on earth is going on here?
TROY THOMAS
Hello Mrs. Robichaux. It so nice to see you again. Let me explain.
LUCY
That’s OK Sweetie. I’ll handle it. You see what had had happened was, this fine gentleman here stepped in and swept me off my feet. He helped me raised my four kids, 3 girls who are now nurses, and the one boy, he is an engineer. We purchased this club. We living the high life.
TROY THOMAS
Yes, she straightened me out.
LUCY
As I tell him upfront, I am not putting up with any bullshit. He is a good man.
TROY kisses LUCY.
JOLYN
You know what. I am stunned, but I am so happy for you. Come here. Charlotte you knew about this?
CHARLOTTE
Yes. It was meant to be a surprise.
JOLYN hugs TROY and LUCY.
LUCY
So what about you? Are you still forcing Niggas to send out old receipts? (They all laugh).
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
-
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subject line: Ricardo Williams Solved Character Problems!
What I learned doing this assignment is how to strengthen my characters and get them more involved in the script.
For any character problems you find, make the prescribed improvements I found the character of Lucy to be humorous and as a result, I added a couple of new scenes with her.
I wanted to strengthen my scenes with the antagonist, so I added an action scene and I brought him back at the end of the script as a changed man.
I recognize the potential problem of all characters being the same so I made some changes to enhance their differences.
The story is being told through the eyes of the protagonist. I added a scene with the protagonist and her son to show the conflict of her business ventures and how it affects family life.
I showed the transformation of a lovable character Lucy from being a struggling single woman to being happily married and owning her own business. The message there is that anything is possible if you have the will and the right attitude.
-
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subject line: Ricardo Williams Solved Structural Problems
What I learned doing this assignment is how to structure my screenplay the right way to bring clarity and logic to the script.
ACT 1:
Opening/Old Ways:
From an early age, Jolyn had a passion for business and dreamt of owning her own business as her father and mother did. Jolyn seems happily married. Her
husband, Joe Robichaux is making great progress in life while she plays a supporting role as a
housewife, playing golf in her spare time. She wonders if there is more to life than being a good wife. When her husband buys Baldwin Ice Cream company as a family business, Jolyn has dreams of managing the business, but due to her lack of business experience, her husband thinks it a better idea to give her the role of secretary and have her observe operations while his more experienced cousin Troy Thomas manages the business. Jolyn sees the operational flaws and is convinced she can do a better job than Troy.Inciting Incident: The unexpected death of
her husband leaves Jolyn to decide to either sell the company or get turn it
over to her husband’s cousin Troy Thomas to manage it.Turning Point:
Jolyn fires Troy Thomas and takes over
the managing of the company. She is all in.ACT 2:
The Plan: Jolyn has plans to focus on closing the failing retail outlets, and turning the focus to the wholesale market. She enlists her sister Charlotte Logan who has a degree in Business Administration to help with the operations. She also signs up with a talent agency for a mentor.
The Plan in action: Jolyn commands her employees to send out old receipts held back in the office to the customers. The action makes her the laughing stock of both the employees and the companies that received them. Desperate to
know more about her industry, Jolyn decides to network by attending a
Women’s Seminar. She encounters an unwarranted sexual encounter by the
male course leader, Hardy Grove in his hotel room. She outsmarts him and gets him to commit
to a business contract that will allow her company to supply ice cream to a
military base. Things are improving, but access to wholesale is still limited as Jolyn
realizes the barrier-to-entry is difficult to break. Jolyn meets with an old friend Rita Rogers who tells her about concession stands at the O’Hare Airport. Jolyn thinks it is a lucrative idea.Midpoint Turning
Point: Jolyn signs a contract for 5 airport concession stands which
promises to be profitable because of the heavy airport traffic, but the
stands fail to kick-off due to the airport aviation department delaying the openings by 6 months causing Jolyn to lose money on the closed stalls while paying employee salary and a mortgage.ACT 3:
React. Rethink: Jolyn wants to get rid of
the stands, but she receives the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award from President Reagan in 1985 which is to be presented to her in an official ceremony in 1987. The Airport Aviation Authorities are reluctant to let her leave especially as she is the first Black American to own concession
stands at the airport, and it will reflect badly on them if she leaves before the presidential award is presented.New Plan:
Jolyn decides to stick with the concession stands, hoping things will turn around with the publicity received from the presidential award. She appears on the Oprah Winfrey show, “The New Millionaires.” The show boosts her sales.
Turning Point: All is Lost:
When the news ran a story about crime in the Third Ward, the area Baldwin Ice Cream company is located, sales plummet. Jolyn herself is a victim of crime when two gunmen hold her up in her home. Jolyn finds out that Troy Thomas has used her company’s letterheads to inform the banks that she is incompetent and has mental issues. This causes her main bank to pull her loans. Jolyn finds out the US government is
suing her company for the improper use of child labor by her delivery drivers.Act 4:
Dilemma: Should she fight the US government? Can she get a buyer for her concession stands? Can she break into wholesale with the Big Box companies?
Climax. Ultimate Expression of the Conflict:
Jolyn successfully fends off the US government. She sells her airport concession stands. She pays off her loans. She finally gets the big contracts with the Big Box
wholesale companies. She turns the business into a multi-dollar
corporation.Resolution:
She sells the
company and makes a profit.New Ways:
She retires to France. She reunites with Charlotte and Lucy.
-
Subject line: (Ricardo Williams) Fillled In Missing Scenes!
Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is how to write a script that follows a sequence that doesn’t skip scenes.
I added scenes to Act 1.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – NIGHT
DR. HOWARD opens the door and as he turns around his two daughters JOLYN, 6 years old, and CHARLOTTE 4 years old, gleeful runs into his arms. He lifts them both up and spins them around. He kisses them. He kisses his wife MRS. MARGARET HOWARD, a woman in her mid-twenties, fair and beautiful with grace and elegance.
MRS. HOWARD
Honey, we have a busy weekend. We may need extra help with the movie theater.
DR. HOWARD
Sweetie, can you not manage with the girls?
MRS. HOWARD
No. Unless you gonna be there to help us.
DR. HOWARD
Actually, Sweetie, I have a poker tournament with the guys.
MRS. HOWARD
Now that’s not fair. The girls and I have the movie theater, the popcorn stand, and the burger grill.
JOLYN
MOTHER, I want to sell the popcorn.
CHARLOTTE
Me too.
JOLYN
When I grow up I want to sell popcorn.
CHARLOTTE
Me too.
DR. HOWARD
Now my dear children, a better idea is to own your own popcorn stands. When you own it, you get to keep the profits.
CHARLOTTE
What is profits daddy?
JOLYN
That’s the money you make after you pay for your expenses.
DR. HOWARD
Now JOLYN, that’s just brilliant.
JOLYN
When I grow up, I want to own my own movie theater.
(Laughter)
CHARLOTTE
Me too.
DR. HOWARD
That’s what I am talking about. You can do anything you set your mind to. See honey, the apple never falls far from the tree. We are raising entrepreneurs.
JOLYN
Daddy what is entrepaneer?
DR. HOWARD
People who own businesses.
MRS HOWARD
Honey, I am still waiting for your answer.
DR. HOWARD
Sweetie, I’ll get you all the extra help you need.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY – 1942
14 year old JOLYN is cleaning her parents bathroom. She notices scales in the bathtub. She uses a broom and dust pan to sweep them up. She is puzzled. She comes out of the bathroom, passes her mother’s dresser and notices a letter from a doctor’s office. She takes out the letter from the open envelope. The words “MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES” catches her eyes, and then she silently reads the dreaded contents of the letter. She drops the letter and runs out of the room. She is fighting to hold back tears.
MRS. HOWARD
JOLYN, are you OK?
JOLYN ignores her and goes into her room and closes the door. She gets into a fetal position on the bed and she silently weeps. There is a knock on the door. Her dad walks in. He sits next to JOLYN and hands a travel magazine.
DR. HOWARD
I thought this will cheer you up.
DR. HOWARD opens the magazine and shows JOLYN a picture of the EIFFEL TOWER in PARIS. JOLYN wipes out eyes. She is excited.
JOLYN
Oh DAD. That’s so beautiful. Can you take me there?
DR. HOWARD
This is a busy time for us. I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. But one day, you will visit all these places. The world is a beautiful place and you will get to see all of it. (He hugs her).
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY – 1945
MRS. WHEELER, DR. HOWARD’S secretary walks into the living room. She takes JOLYN and CHARLOTTE by the hands and sits them down on the sofa. She is hesitant.
MRS. WHEELER
Your mother called this morning from the hospital. Your father died.
JOLYN is in shock. She stumbles off the couch. CHARLOTTE is screams. JOLYN holds onto CHARLOTTE. She looks out the window at the Post Office Plaza across the street. She sees people walking around, talking, and laughing. JOLYN watches the crowd from the window. She is angry.
JOLYN
What are you people laughing at? How can you do this? My father just died.
(Shouting)
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – DAY
JOE is excited as he sees JOLYN entering the room, but JOLYN looks sad.
JOE
What’s the matter, Sweetie? Is this job taking a toll on you? You seem so sad these days.
JOLYN
I’ve been analyzing our financial statements and I think we should close the parlors. They are losing money. They are putting a strain on us. I think we should focus on wholesale and the grocery stores. That’s where we are profitable.
JOE
Ah. I see that business mind of yours is showing, but we can’t do that? We have a loyalty to the community.
JOLYN
But Honey, we can be loyal to our community in other ways and avoid losing money and besides we pay taxes. That’s one way to be loyal.
JOE
That’s true, but the community doesn’t see that. They see our presence and they take pride in the fact that we are a Black-owned business. I think we should stick with the parlors even as we expand.
JOLYN
The problem is that we are lacking efficiency. We are working hard, but not efficient.
JOE
We will need more trucks if we were to focus on Wholesale, though. Let me think about it.
JOLYN
On another note, there is something going on between TROY and the PURCHASING OFFICER MS. RANDALL. She twitches when she walks past him. He slaps her on the rear. They spend most of the day flirting with each other.
JOE
That’s the TROY I know.
JOLYN
He shouldn’t be doing these things. Do we even need this guy? I have observed enough that I can run the company.
JOE
I will have a talk with him.
INT. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY
JOLYN visits her mother. She feels frustrated.
MRS. HOWARD
What’s the matter? You seem so down.
JOLYN
Mother, you know I’ve always wanted to have my own business, do you?
MRS. HOWARD
Yes Honey, I remember. We joked about the time when you said you wanted your own movie theater. You sounded so serious.
JOLYN
Since we bought the company, I’ve been trying to convince JOE to let me run things. Instead, he has given the job to his womanizing cousin who spends his time flirting with the female employees, and not doing anything to improve the business.
MRS. HOWARD
Honey, you know business is a man’s world. They’re ain’t no woman running companies, and much less a Black woman? He is probably trying to protect you.
JOLYN
It’s so unfair. I get to observe things and I am seeing all the errors we are making and no one is listening to me. Mother, we can be turning a profit if we change our focus to Wholesale. A quick look at the books show clearly that’s where we are making a profit. JOE doesn’t want to close the parlors. He wants to be loyal to the community.
MRS. HOWARD
I can understand why he is skeptical. You depend on the community to support the business. If you alienate them it could create problems for you.
JOLYN
I told him we could support the community in other ways like granting school scholarships and other educational ventures.
MRS. HOWARD
Those are good ideas. What did he say?
JOLYN
JOE believes loyalty is keeping the parlors even if it kills the business.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
Phone rings. Jolyn answers.
NURSE
Mrs. Robichaux, we admitted your husband as a matter of precaution. We need you to come as soon as possible.
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE – DAY
JOLYN and JOE are at the doctor’s office. JOE is having stomach pains. There are red spots all over his body.
DOCTOR
Our test results show that your husband is allergic to mosquito bites.
JOLYN
Doctor that is impossible. There are no mosquitoes here in April?
DOCTOR
Let me recommend a specialist to you. They can run more comprehensive testing.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT – 1971
JOE is at the hospital resting while awaiting the test results. The doctor walks into the room. He has the results.
DOCTOR
MRS. ROBICHAUX, the test results show your husband has a rare case of Leukemia. It had progressed very far. He is going down fast.
JOLYN
DOCTOR what are you saying?
DOCTOR
There is no medication to put it into remission. Your husband has less than two weeks to live. I am so sorry.
JOLYN is pacing the hospital room.
JOE
I feel like I’ve failed you.
JOLYN gets close to JOE. She sits on his bed and hold his hand.
JOLYN
Don’t you ever say that. You are my champion. You are my hero. You can never fail me.
INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
JOLYN is comforting JOE. He is drowsy from the medication he is taking. She gets a call. It’s TROY THOMAS from the office.
TROY THOMAS (V.O)
The man is here with the trucks.
JOLYN
What man and with what trucks?
TROY THOMAS (V.O.)
We have three new ice cream trucks here. He wants Mr. Robichaux to sign the papers.
JOLYN
Hold on.
JOLYN turns to JOE
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Honey, what is this? There are three new trucks at our location?
JOE
Oh, I bought three trucks, so we can expand into Wholesale.
JOLYN
(Back to speaking on the phone).
MR. THOMAS send the gentleman to the hospital and I will meet him outside.
JOLYN puts on a mask and meets the gentleman outside.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
My husband has a condition that is highly contagious so we can’t go in there. Let me see these papers?
GENTLEMAN
Can I go in with you and have him sign them?
JOLYN
You can’t come in because my husband’s germs are contagious.
The gentleman looks puzzled. He hands JOLYN the papers and she takes them into JOE’S room. JOE signs them. JOLYN returns the signed papers to the gentleman.
GENTLEMAN
OK, everything is all set. The trucks are all yours.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS
A feeble JOE is lying in bed. He holds JOLYN’s hand. ZENOBIA is sitting in the corner of the room observing. JOE smiles. JOLYN looks concerned but composed.
JOE
You are so beautiful. I love you very much. You have been a good wife and I want to thank you for everything you’ve done. You gave me two beautiful children and I thank you. You threw some of the best parties I’ve witnessed. I remember when you learned to cook and served me some of your worst meals (smiling). We had so many wonderful vacations the best I remember was going to the Rose Bowl game in Los Angeles. Some of the happiest moments of my life was watching you golf.
JOE squeezes JOLYN’s hand. She is sobbing and losing her composure. She is sniffing hard.
JOLYN
Sweetie, I am so sorry. I am so sad (she is losing control as she weeps while he squeezes her hand). You are my heart and I love you. I will never forget you. I will treasure our memories everyday of my life.
JOE closes his eyes for one last time.
ZENOBIA
(Screaming)
Who’s going to take care of me now? Who’s going to take care of me?
Jolyn puts her arms around Zenobia and they both continue to cry.
-
“What I learned doing this assignment is how to strategically cut the fat out of my screenplay and narrow the focus of the climax and resolution. Now I have to make some adjustments to my script.
Subject line: Ricardo Williams Act 4 Climax
Outline Key Scene 3.
JOLYN realizes TROY has been sabotaging her company causing her loans to be denied. She is ready to confront him. After the matter is resolved, she starts getting the recognition she deserves even being featured on the covers of prominent magazines finally walking away with the prestigious Presidential Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Key Scene 3: Climax – The Ultimate Expression of The Conflict.
INT. ZENOBIA’S HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN pays ZENOBIA an unexpected visit. ZENOBIA half opens the door and tries to close it on JOLYN. JOLYN pushes the door open.
ZENOBIA
What are you doing? I wasn’t expecting you.
JOLYN
I wasn’t planning on visiting you.
ZENOBIA
Then why are you here?
JOLYN
Mother, I’ve just found out that PAUL has written letters informing the banks and all my business associates that I am incompetent and not fit for business. Do you know anything about this?
ZENOBIA
How will I know?
JOLYN
We are supposed to be a close knit family. I thought he may have said something.
ZENOBIA
I knows nothing about that. But what I know is that you should have let him manage the company. You have caused him a lot of damage.
JOLYN
MOTHER, the company has grown since I took over. We probably would be doing even better if Troy hadn’t sabotaged us. He is going to have to pay for what he’s done.
JOLYN hears some movement in the house.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Do you have company? I thought I heard movements.
ZENOBIA
No. (ZENOBIA looks nervous and suspicious).
JOLYN gets up and follows the direction where the sound came from. She pushes the door open to the bathroom. She sees TROY THOMAS crunched on the toilet. She walks in on him and grab him by his left ear and yanks out of the seat. He grabs at his pants barely getting them up. She pulls him out of the bathroom. He is on tip toes as the pain in his ear becomes unbearable.
JOLYN
You have some explaining to do.
TROY THOMAS
Ouch, you are hurting me.
JOLYN
Tell me the truth. Are you trying to sabotage my company?
TROY pulls away from her and run around the living room trying to pull his pants together. JOLYN catches up with him. She pushes him down and gets her knees on his chest.
ZENOBIA
Stop it. What on earth is going on? (She is screaming).
JOLYN
Tell her Troy. Are you trying to sabotage my company?
She pulls him up by the ear in front of ZENOBIA.
ZENOBIA
Let him go.
JOLYN
So that’s it? (Shouting).
I am spending money to allow you to live a comfortable life, and here you are housing the very person who is trying to take down me and my company.
ZENOBIA
He had no way else to go.
TROY THOMAS
It is not her fault. She knows nothing about it. I did it, and I am sorry. I just didn’t think you were capable of running the company. I was wrong.
JOLYN
I thought family was the most important thing to you? I guess I don’t qualify as family?
TROY THOMAS
I said, I am sorry. You are an important part of our family.
-
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subject line: Ricardo Williams Act 4 First Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of structure and how it all comes together to make sense.
Reaction to 3rd Act Turning Point.
JOLYN is set to achieve something that’s never been done before becoming the First African American female to own a concession stand at the Chicago O’Hare Airport. The problem is that it goes against her business philosophy of focusing on Wholesale instead of Retail. CHARLOTTE recognizes her shift in focus and lets her know it’s a bad move and a change in focus. Her mentor SAUL ABRAHAMSON sees it as an opportunity to make lots of money and get good marketing exposure.
Write Key Scene 2: Protagonist faces their Dilemma.
JOLYN faces a dilemma when the airport aviation delays the opening of her 5 concession stands by 6 months after she had them fully staffed, paying salaries, and repaying the bank loans while not generating any income from the stands.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO BOARD ROOM – DAY – 1983
JOLYN addressing board members.
JOLYN
I am proud to announce that we have been awarded five concession stands at O’Hare Airport. We had asked for one, but they were generous enough to grant us five. It will cost us $1 million to construct, but I believe we stand to recuperate that cost because of the volume of traffic.
CHARLOTTE
I think you are trying to do too much at a time. We should focus on distribution. Retail is going to drain our resources. If we are not careful it will all come crashing down.
JOLYN
We’ve been waiting 15 years for distribution and nothing has happened. We can’t put all our eggs in one basket. We must look at alternatives.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Congratulations. It probably would be a good idea to strike the hammer while the iron is hot and build a franchise model to go with the concession stands.
JOLYN
I admit my heart is fluttering nervously. I am excited, but fear is flowing in my adrenaline here. But I am an entrepreneur and taking chances is what we do.
EXT. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK LOBBY – MORNING
JOLYN pacing the lobby of the bank waiting for a loan specialist. Stipulations enforced by the CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY has delayed the opening of the airport concession stands by 6 months. She needs a loan to offset the expenses caused by the delay. A white loan officer MR. BLAND in his twenties, approaches her to discuss her loans.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we are very concerned with your financial statements for the last two quarters. Seems like you’ve been losing money.
JOLYN
I apologize MR. BLAND, but we were experiencing some difficulties with our airport stores that were closed due to new airport regulations. They have since resolved the issues, so things are going to improve.
MR. BLAND
So you are the CEO of the company?
JOLYN
Yes, I am.
MR. BLAND
Why, at your age would you want to run a company? My mom is your age and she stays at home taking care of her grandchildren.
JOLYN
I’m sorry MR. BLAND, but I am not your average grandma.
MR. BLAND
Tell you what MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am seeing some troubling signs in your financial statements. You’ve been bleeding cash. We also have a letter on file that alerts us about your state of mind.
JOLYN
What letter are you talking about? I’ve been a loyal customer with your bank for 15 years.
MR. BLAND
The letter we have is on your letterhead and it is signed.
JOLYN
I need a copy of that letter.
MR. BLAND hands JOLYN a copy of the letter. She stares on the signature, her eyes bulging with disbelief, the words TROY THOMAS is written in the signature box. A cold feeling of fear runs through her veins. She feels like her world has crumbled.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am afraid we’ll have to ask you to pay off your loans. I am giving you 6 months to do so.
JOLYN
It is impossible to pay up in 6 months with my airport stores struggling. I guess I won’t be doing business with your bank anymore. I am going to move my accounts.
EXT. LOBBY OF EXCHANGE BANK – DAY
JOLYN walks aimlessly through the lobby of EXCHANGE BANK, she is worried and conflicted when a gentleman approaches her.
MR. CARTER
Hello there. I know you. What are you doing here?
JOLYN
MR. CARTER from AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK? (JOLYN looks puzzled).
MR. CARTER
I am now the Vice President of Exchange Bank.
JOLYN
MR. CARTER in all my years of dealing with American National Bank, I have never had a problem, but today a loan officer turned down my request and called my loans. He gave me 6 months to pay them off.
MR. CARTER
What happened?
JOLYN
Our business is booming and we expanded to O’Hare Airport. We invested $1 million to build 5 concession stands and when we were about to open, the Aviation Department stalled us for 6 months. We are open now, but the delays put us in a hole when it comes to cash.
MR. CARTER
Come with me, let me look into it.
JOLYN follows MR. CARTER to his office. He closes the door behind her and offers her a seat.
INT. CARTER’S OFFICE – DAY
MR. CARTER shuffles through some files. He stops at a letter from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY.
MR. CARTER
I see the problem.
JOLYN
What problem?
MR. CARTER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, do you have a manager named PAUL THOMAS?
JOLYN
Don’t tell me you have a letter signed by him. Do you?
MR. CARTER
Yes. We have a letter on file signed by him stating that you are mentally incompetent and is forbidden from doing any business transactions under Baldwin Ice Cream Company.
JOLYN
I’ll be darned. I knew something wasn’t right? I was being turned down in all my business transactions.
MR. CARTER
He must have sent out letters to everyone you’ve done business with.
JOLYN
He is no longer with the company, but he had an insider feeding him the information. What am I supposed to do?
MR. CARTER
Those fools don’t know you as I know you. I have seen you get out of some tough scrapes and you will get out of this one. I can help you. Let me transfer your accounts to Exchange Bank. We will assume the balance of your loans and give you an additional $75,000 to help ease your burden.
JOLYN
You are such a life saver. Thank you. (She is hugging him frantically).
INT. OFFICE OF CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY – DAY
JOLYN meets the MANAGER of Chicago Aviation Agency to discuss her plans to close the airport concession stands.
AVIATION MANAGER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, if you close your 5 stands it will look bad on you. You have been in the news for your groundbreaking accomplishments. We need you to stay.
JOLYN
No, it would look bad on you.
It makes no business sense for me to keep the locations. We are not turning in a profit and it is draining our wholesale finances. I will close the stands and accept my losses.
AVIATION MANAGER
I don’t want that kind of headline for our department. We may have a buyer if you would like to consider that option.
JOLYN
Sure. I would be happy to sell.
AVIATION MANAGER
That would be a better option. We get a lot of people inquiring about concession stands.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is going through her accounting books. A Japanese gentleman is standing at her door.
MR. WU
Hello MRS. ROBICHAUX.
JOLYN
Yes. Come in. How can I help you?
MR. WU
My name is MR. WU. The Chicago Aviation Agency recommended that I speak to you. I am looking to purchase your concession stands at O’Hare Airport.
JOLYN
Are you in the ice cream business?
MR. WU
Our company sells steaks, and we are looking to expand. Would you be interested?
JOLYN
Most definitely.
MR. WU
I will need your five locations.
JOLYN
You’ve got it.
-
(Ricardo Williams) Completed Act 3
What I learned doing this assignment is how to identify my Act 3 from start to finish.
Outline any scenes left for Act 3.
2. Write the outlined scenes.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO BOARD ROOM – DAY – 1983
JOLYN addressing board members.
JOLYN
I am proud to announce that we have been awarded five concession stands at O’Hare Airport. We had asked for one, but they were generous enough to grant us five. It will cost us $1 million to construct, but I believe we stand to recuperate that cost because of the volume of traffic.
CHARLOTTE
I think you are trying to do too much at a time. We should focus on distribution. Retail is going to drain our resources. If we are not careful it will all come crashing down.
JOLYN
We’ve been waiting 15 years for distribution and nothing has happened. We can’t put all our eggs in one basket. We must look at alternatives.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Congratulations. It probably would be a good idea to strike the hammer while the iron is hot and build a franchise model to go with the concession stands.
JOLYN
I admit my heart is fluttering nervously. I am excited, but fear is flowing in my adrenaline here. But I am an entrepreneur and taking chances is what we do.
EXT. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK LOBBY – MORNING
JOLYN pacing the lobby of the bank waiting for a loan specialist. Stipulations enforced by the CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY has delayed the opening of the airport concession stands by 6 months. She needs a loan to offset the expenses caused by the delay. A white loan officer MR. BLAND in his twenties, approaches her to discuss her loans.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we are very concerned with your financial statements for the last two quarters. Seems like you’ve been losing money.
JOLYN
I apologize MR. BLAND, but we were experiencing some difficulties with our airport stores that were closed due to new airport regulations. They have since resolved the issues, so things are going to improve.
MR. BLAND
So you are the CEO of the company?
JOLYN
Yes, I am.
MR. BLAND
Why, at your age would you want to run a company? My mom is your age and she stays at home taking care of her grandchildren.
JOLYN
I’m sorry MR. BLAND, but I am not your average grandma.
MR. BLAND
Tell you what MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am seeing some troubling signs in your financial statements. You’ve been bleeding cash. We also have a letter on file that alerts us about your state of mind.
JOLYN
What letter are you talking about? I’ve been a loyal customer with your bank for 15 years.
MR. BLAND
The letter we have is on your letterhead and it is signed.
JOLYN
I need a copy of that letter.
MR. BLAND hands JOLYN a copy of the letter. She stares on the signature, her eyes bulging with disbelief, the words TROY THOMAS is written in the signature box. A cold feeling of fear runs through her veins. She feels like her world has crumbled.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am afraid we’ll have to ask you to pay off your loans. I am giving you 6 months to do so.
JOLYN
It is impossible to pay up in 6 months with my airport stores struggling. I guess I won’t be doing business with your bank anymore. I am going to move my accounts.
EXT. LOBBY OF EXCHANGE BANK – DAY
JOLYN walks aimlessly through the lobby of EXCHANGE BANK, she is worried and conflicted when a gentleman approaches her.
MR. CARTER
Hello there. I know you. What are you doing here?
JOLYN
MR. CARTER from AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK? (JOLYN looks puzzled).
MR. CARTER
I am now the Vice President of Exchange Bank.
JOLYN
MR. CARTER in all my years of dealing with American National Bank, I have never had a problem, but today a loan officer turned down my request and called my loans. He gave me 6 months to pay them off.
MR. CARTER
What happened?
JOLYN
Our business is booming and we expanded to O’Hare Airport. We invested $1 million to build 5 concession stands and when we were about to open, the Aviation Department stalled us for 6 months. We are open now, but the delays put us in a hole when it comes to cash.
MR. CARTER
Come with me, let me look into it.
JOLYN follows MR. CARTER to his office. He closes the door behind her and offers her a seat.
INT. CARTER’S OFFICE – DAY
MR. CARTER shuffles through some files. He stops at a letter from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY.
MR. CARTER
I see the problem.
JOLYN
What problem?
MR. CARTER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, do you have a manager named PAUL THOMAS?
JOLYN
Don’t tell me you have a letter signed by him. Do you?
MR. CARTER
Yes. We have a letter on file signed by him stating that you are mentally incompetent and is forbidden from doing any business transactions under Baldwin Ice Cream Company.
JOLYN
I’ll be darned. I knew something wasn’t right? I was being turned down in all my business transactions.
MR. CARTER
He must have sent out letters to everyone you’ve done business with.
JOLYN
He is no longer with the company, but he had an insider feeding him the information. What am I supposed to do?
MR. CARTER
Those fools don’t know you as I know you. I have seen you get out of some tough scrapes and you will get out of this one. I can help you. Let me transfer your accounts to Exchange Bank. We will assume the balance of your loans and give you an additional $75,000 to help ease your burden.
JOLYN
You are such a life saver. Thank you. (She is hugging him frantically).
INT. ZENOBIA’S HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN pays ZENOBIA an unexpected visit. ZENOBIA half opens the door and tries to close it on JOLYN. JOLYN pushes the door open.
ZENOBIA
What are you doing? I wasn’t expecting you.
JOLYN
I wasn’t planning on visiting you.
ZENOBIA
Then why are you here?
JOLYN
Mother, I’ve just found out that PAUL has written letters informing the banks and all my business associates that I am incompetent and not fit for business. Do you know anything about this?
ZENOBIA
How will I know?
JOLYN
We are supposed to be a close knit family. I thought he may have said something.
ZENOBIA
I knows nothing about that. But what I know is that you should have let him manage the company. You have caused him a lot of damage.
JOLYN
MOTHER, the company has grown since I took over. We probably would be doing even better if Troy hadn’t sabotaged us. He is going to have to pay for what he’s done.
JOLYN hears some movement in the house.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Do you have company? I thought I heard movements.
ZENOBIA
No. (ZENOBIA looks nervous and suspicious).
JOLYN gets up and follows the direction where the sound came from. She pushes the door open to the bathroom. She sees TROY THOMAS crunched on the toilet. She walks in on him and grab him by his ears and yanks out of the seat.
JOLYN
You have some explaining to do.
TROY THOMAS
Ouch, you are hurting me.
JOLYN
Tell me the truth. Are you trying to sabotage my company?
She pulls him out by the ear in front of ZENOBIA.
ZENOBIA
Let him go.
JOLYN
So that’s it? (Shouting).
I am spending money to allow you to live a comfortable life, and here you are housing the very person who is trying to take down me and my company.
ZENOBIA
He had no way else to go.
JOLYN
I don’t know how I will ever be able to trust you.
TROY THOMAS
It is not her fault. She knows nothing about it. I did it, and I am sorry. I just didn’t think you were capable of running the company. I was wrong.
JOLYN
I thought family was the most important thing to you? I guess I don’t qualify as family?
TROY THOMAS
I said, I am sorry. You are an important part of our family.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM HEADQUARTERS – DAY
JOLYN holds a board meeting to give updates on the company’s direction.
JOLYN
We made history by becoming the first Black-owned company to have concession stands at the airport, but it has cost us dearly. We overcame a brief moment of sabotage that caused The Aviation Department to delay our openings. It means we were paying mortgages on businesses we couldn’t open, and we were paying managers, who were not able to work. Luckily, the city council has allowed us to open, but financially, we were in a big hole. We have secured new loans with Exchange Bank to get us back on track.
CHARLOTTE
Do you ever listen, JOLYN? What happened to our mission statement that says We are a Wholesale Company? Everything is all about JOLYN. JOLYN decides she wants 5 concession stands. Where does she get the money from? The Bank. Can’t you see the Bank owns this company? I thought we were supposed to be focusing on Wholesale Distribution. All you are doing is throwing money at Retail. We are making money in wholesale and throwing it all away in retail. What happened to the DYNAMIC DUO? I thought we were a team? I am sorry, but I can’t go along with this madness. I am leaving.
JOLYN
CHARLOTTE, we’ve been trying for over ten years to break into the Whole Sale market and nothing has happened. We can’t keep all our eggs in one basket.
CHARLOTTE
Every Retail move has lost money so far, and you’ve committed to five retail outlets? It makes no sense. I am out of here.
JOLYN
THEN GET OUT. GET OUT. (Jolyn is pretty loud). Get out. (Her words are softer and slower. Her voice is shaking with hurt). GET OUT. GET TO FUCK OUT. (She is loud again as she watches Charlotte leave.
EXT. CHICAGO – DAY
November 2nd, 1984, JOLYN and SHEILA are at the wedding of LINDA JOHNSON and S. ANDRE RICE. Somewhere in the crowd there is a loud talking woman, and the attendees are screaming at the sound of her voice.
SHEILA
Who is that woman talking so loud, Mom?
JOLYN
That is OPRAH WINFREY. She is one of the most popular persons in Chicago. She is very enthusiastically watched by Blacks and Whites on a Chicago daily talk show.
SHEILA
I’ve never heard of her.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
Jolyn opens a letter it is an invite from OPRAH to be a member of the panel on her show, “New Millionaires.” The letter points out Baldwin Ice Cream Company’s major success in achieving concession stands at the Chicago O’Hare Airport. She shows it to Saul Abrahamson.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
This is the perfect marketing boost we need.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO
JOLYN watches the long line of patrons the result of her appearance on Oprah’s show “New Millionaires.” Business is booming. SAUL ABRAHAMSON hands her the CHICAGO TRIBUNE newspaper. He points to a story on the front page about crime in CHICAGO listing the THIRD WARD as the most dangerous.
JOLYN
Oh no. This is not good. We are in the THIRD WARD. This can’t be good for business. This is going to hurt us. People come from all over Chicago to the THIRD WARD.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY – 1985
It’s a slumber time at the BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO. Retail sales have plummeted due to the Chicago Tribune newspaper article about crime in the Third Ward. JOLYN is looking at the pile of mail on her desk. She notices a letter from the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. She nervously opens the letter. That cold feeling of ear builds again. The words of the letter send shock waves through her. She yells out for SAUL ABRAHAMSON.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
What is it MRS. ROBICHAUX?
JOLYN
The UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT has awarded us the MALCOLM BALDRIDGE MINORITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD for 1985.
Screams are heard throughout the office as JOLYN spreads the news. Scenes of high fives and lots of celebration.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN is on the cover of N’digo magazine. She shows the magazine to ZENOBIA and hands her a Forbes magazine pointing to an article about her.
ZENOBIA
Wow. Is that you? I was so wrong about you. My son would have been so proud of you. (She hugs Jolyn).
INT. HOME – DAY
JOLYN hands MRS. HOWARD a cup of tea. They sit on the sofa.
MRS. HOWARD
Look at you on the cover of magazines. Your dad would have been so proud of you.
JOLYN
Oh MOTHER, I can see his face lighting up and he lifting me up and swinging me all around the room. I miss him so much.
MRS. HOWARD
I miss him too. Now what are you going to do about CHARLOTTE? I can’t have a rift between you too. It is not acceptable.
JOLYN
I’ve reached out to her, but to no avail.
MRS. HOWARD
I will talk to her again, but you should keep reaching out to her.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
SAUL ABRAHAMSON greets JOLYN. His excitement is beaming from his face.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Look at you. You are in Forbes. You are gracing the covers of prominent magazines. You are on TV and in newspapers. You are a star.
JOLYN
Well thank you, MR. ABRAHAMSON. I think this is the perfect time for us to take our sales to the national level.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Now wait MRS. ROBICHAUX, I think you should focus on here in Chicago. Let’s say, you open a model store with the idea of creating a franchise. That will build some momentum.
JOLYN
I am tired of retail and I’m burnt out with being stuck here in Chicago. I want us to branch out on a national scale. I want to bring our focus back to wholesale.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
I think you should wait.
JOLYN
Wait for what? What are we waiting for? (Her voice is elevated).
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
I am not liking your tone.
JOLYN
Can you help me SAUL. Can you at least help me over this hurdle. Put in a good word for me?
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
I wish I could, but it is not in my assignment to make such decisions for your business.
JOLYN
You don’t get it, don’t you? You don’t see the vision. You don’t see things beyond the Black Belt that has caged us and clipped our wings like pigeons. You don’t see our obsession with retail that has been eating through our resources like a cancer. You don’t get it. (Jolyn is shaking her head in frustration).
INT. CHICAGO DINER – DAY
JOLYN meets with RITA ROGERS at a local diner.
RITA ROGERS
I’m so proud of you, winning the presidential award. That should give you the boost you need to go national.
JOLYN
I know. I was so eager to go national, but SAUL ABRAHAMSON thinks we should wait.
RITA ROGERS
Wait for what?
JOLYN
He wants us to finish the franchise model before we make that move.
RITA ROGERS
You’ve got to strike the hammer while the iron is hot.
JOLYN
You’re right, and this iron is extremely hot now.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – MORNING
JOLYN meets with SAUL ABRAHAMSON.
JOLYN
I’ve decided to go National. I think it’s the only way forward. We have to move beyond the confines of the Black community otherwise we won’t survive. I am going all in with radio and television ads throughout the country and I conducting interviews to reach a wide audience.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
When I came to you, business was crawling. I’ve seen you walk, and I know you are capable of running. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. If you want to build a model company in the Chicago community I can help you, but beyond that, I can’t.
JOLYN
I appreciate your years of service, but I have to let you go.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
You are firing me?
JOLYN
To put it nicely. Yes.
INT. HOME – DAY
JOSEPH JR visits JOLYN from his college break. She reaches out and hugs him.
JOLYN
Well, if it isn’t my handsome son. What a surprise!
JOSEPH JR
Hi MOM. I was thinking. I want to come and work with you and help you manage the business.
JOLYN
Why will you want to do that? I thought you wanted to be an engineer?
JOSEPH JR
No MOM. I just want to help you.
JOLYN
Are you saying after spending one year at FISK UNIVERSITY, you are going to give it all up to help me? Son, I can’t let you do that.
JOSEPH JR
I have dropped out of college. I want to help you, Mom.
JOLYN
I wish you didn’t. This is a hard business, but I can let you manage the new prototype building on 7959 KING DRIVE, but son it’s going to be a lot of work.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM PARLOR – KINGS DRIVE – DAY
JOLYN and JOSEPH JR are observing the customers as they come into the newly opened building. They’re not happy. The white female teenage cashier is smiling as she serves the customers.
CUSTOMER ONE
I can’t believe how BALDWIN ICE CREAM sold out the BLACK COMMUNITY.
JOLYN is about to answer the customer, but holds herself back to allow JOSEPH JR handle it.
JOSEPH JR
What do you mean?
CUSTOMER ONE
First you use White contractors to build your store and now you hire a white cashier. You sold us out.
JOSEPH JR
But we also have Black workers.
CUSTOMER ONE
You sold out. Let us boycott this place. They sold out on us.
Other customers shout to boycott the shop.
JOSEPH JR
Can we really solve discrimination by engaging in it ourselves?
CUSTOMER TWO
We don’t have jobs to give to white folks who don’t need it. We are not going to support this.
Still shouts of boycott continue.
INT. HOME – DAY
JOSEPH JR sits with JOLYN in the living room. He seems agitated and frustrated.
JOLYN
What’s the matter son.
JOSEPH JR
MOM, I don’t want to manage any more. It is way too hard and we are not making a profit. I am going back to college and complete my degree.
JOLYN
It’s been a tough year for business, son and with Black folks not supporting the shop, I will have no choice but to close it down. In a way, I’m glad you have decided to go back to college. Business has been a constant struggle. We are not making money with the Airport Concession Stands either. I feel like my hands are tied.
JOSEPH JR
MOM, why it feels like you were never around when I was younger? So many times I felt alone and depressed.
JOLYN
Son, I am so sorry. I had to get out and make things happen for us. When your dad died, we were left with a struggling business. I had to take matters into my own arms to save it, but unfortunately it took me away from you. I wish I had spent more time with you.
JOSEPH JR
It was hard Mom.
JOLYN
I am so sorry Son. I wish I could have done it different, but I was up against a wall.
JOSEPH JR
I understand. The good news though, I have qualified for the DUAL DEGREE ENGINEERING PROGRAM at CLARK UNIVERSITY in Atlanta. I won the top honor out of 400 applicants nationwide.
JOLYN
Look at you. I am so proud of you.
JOSEPH JR
I thought you were going to be disappointed that I am not staying to develop the family business. I realized business is not for me.
JOLYN hugs her son.
JOLYN
That’s the important lesson in life. It is finding what’s best for you and committing to it. It will be all right, Son. It will all work out.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN opens a letter on her desk. It is from the Federal Government. They are suing Baldwin Ice Cream. She calls for an immediate meeting with the drivers. She is holding the letter, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
JOLYN
Are there any, any drivers here using underage kids to off load deliveries?
DRIVER 1
We’ve done it in the past, but we no longer do.
JOLYN
Well, I have a letter from the Federal government suing our company. They claim our drivers are using underage boys as helpers. Seven months ago, they were awarding us with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and today, they are suing us.
DRIVER 2
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we shouldn’t be charged with something everybody does. All the delivery drivers for other stores do exactly that.
JOLYN
We are going to fight this. We are not giving in.
INT. CAFE – DAY
RITA ROGERS sits with JOLYN for lunch.
JOLYN
The Federal government is suing me for what they are calling driver’s aid. They are saying our drivers employ under-aged boys to help them off load our trucks. I am going to fight them every step of the way.
RITA ROGERS
In my experience, nobody brings the Federal government to court and wins. These cases normally drag on for years. You may as well pay them. What are they asking?
JOLYN
They want us to pay $500 a day with back pay stemming from the alleged violation.
RITA ROGERS
That’s impossible.
JOLYN
It is, and that’s why I am going to fight it.
RITA ROGERS
What evidence do they have?
JOLYN
I don’t know. They are asking anyone who has off loaded our trucks in the past to come forward with a promise to compensate them. I’ll show those fools how to run an investigation.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
JOLYN is seated in her office. She receives a package. It is from an investigator. It contains labelled photos. She writes a letter. She reads the letter aloud.
JOLYN (V.O.)
In the matter of the Federal Government vs. Baldwin Ice Cream Company, we understand your concern about the use of minors as drivers’ aid. We at Baldwin Ice Cream Company have a strict policy against such procedures. If you have any proof of our drivers engaging in such acts please provide them to me and we will be happy to investigate the issue. In the meantime, here are photographs showing 6 major White corporations engaging in the use of drivers’ aid with minors. Hope this helps with your investigation and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
JOLYN seals the envelope and addresses it to the Federal Government.
INT. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – DAY
FEDERAL AGENT picks up the letter on his desk from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY. He reads it aloud, then looks at the photographs.
FEDERAL AGENT
Son of a Bitch.
INT. CHICAGO DINER – DAY
JOLYN meets with RITA ROGERS.
JOLYN
I’ve received a letter from the Federal Government. They have dropped the charges against Baldwin Ice Cream Co.
RITA ROGERS
How did that happen?
JOLYN
I simply volunteered to help them with their investigations and sent them some photographs of several major corporations that are engaging in driver’s aid, the actions we are accused of. The Federal Government would need to go after the powerful white organizations to appear equitable when taking Baldwin down.
RITA ROGERS
They underestimated your tenacity.
INT. OFFICE OF CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY – DAY
JOLYN meets the MANAGER of Chicago Aviation Agency to discuss her plans to close the airport concession stands.
AVIATION MANAGER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, if you close your 5 stands it will look bad on you. You have been in the news for your groundbreaking accomplishments. We need you to stay.
JOLYN
No, it would look bad on you.
It makes no business sense for me to keep the locations. We are not turning in a profit and it is draining our wholesale finances. I will close the stands and accept my losses.
AVIATION MANAGER
I don’t want that kind of headlines for our department. We may have a buyer if you would like to consider that option.
JOLYN
Sure. I would be happy to sell.
AVIATION MANAGER
That would be a better option. We get a lot of people inquiring about concession stands.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is going through her accounting books. A Japanese gentleman is standing at her door.
MR. WU
Hello MRS. ROBICHAUX.
JOLYN
Yes. Come in. How can I help you?
MR. WU
My name is MR. WU. The Chicago Aviation Agency recommended that I speak to you. I am looking to purchase your concession stands at O’Hare Airport.
JOLYN
Are you in the ice cream business?
MR. WU
Our company sells steaks, and we are looking to expand. Would you be interested?
JOLYN
Most definitely.
MR. WU
I will need your five locations.
JOLYN
You’ve got it.
-
Subject line: Ricardo Williams Act 3 Turning Point
Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of trimming the script and focus on driving the tempo. I watched the new movie “Shiva Baby” and it gave me some great incite. I went back and trim my opening scenes as a result.
1. Outline Key Scene 4 – Turning Point 3.
2. Write Turning Point 3 – Protagonist faces their lowest low.
INT. HOME – DAY
JOSEPH JR visits JOLYN from his college break. She reaches out and hugs him.
JOLYN
Well, if it isn’t my handsome son. What a surprise!
JOSEPH JR
Hi MOM. I was thinking. I want to come and work with you and help you manage the business.
JOLYN
Why will you want to do that? I thought you wanted to be an engineer?
JOSEPH JR
No MOM. I just want to help you.
JOLYN
Are you saying after spending one year at FISK UNIVERSITY, you are going to give it all up to help me? Son, I can’t let you do that.
JOSEPH JR
I have dropped out of college. I want to help you, Mom.
JOLYN
I wish you didn’t. This is a hard business, but I can let you manage the new prototype building on 7959 KING DRIVE, but son it’s going to be a lot of work.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM PARLOR – KINGS DRIVE – DAY
JOLYN and JOSEPH JR are observing the customers as they come into the newly opened building. They’re not happy. The white female teenage cashier is smiling as she serves the customers.
CUSTOMER ONE
I can’t believe how BALDWIN ICE CREAM sold out the BLACK COMMUNITY.
JOLYN is about to answer the customer, but holds herself back to allow JOSEPH JR handle it.
JOSEPH JR
What do you mean?
CUSTOMER ONE
First you use White contractors to build your store and now you hire a white cashier. You sold us out.
JOSEPH JR
But we also have Black workers.
CUSTOMER ONE
You sold out. Let us boycott this place. They sold out on us.
Other customers shout to boycott the shop.
JOSEPH JR
Can we really solve discrimination by engaging in it ourselves?
CUSTOMER TWO
We don’t have jobs to give to white folks who don’t need it. We are not going to support this.
Still shouts of boycott continue.
INT. HOME – DAY
JOSEPH JR sits with JOLYN in the living room. He seems agitated and frustrated.
JOLYN
What’s the matter son.
JOSEPH JR
MOM, I don’t want to manage any more. It is way too hard and we are not making a profit. I am going back to college and complete my degree.
JOLYN
It’s been a tough year for business, son and with Black folks not supporting the shop, I will have no choice but to close it down. In a way, I’m glad you have decided to go back to college. Business has been a constant struggle. We are not making money with the Airport Concession Stands either. I feel like my hands are tied.
JOSEPH JR
MOM, why it feels like you were never around when I was younger? So many times I felt alone and depressed.
JOLYN
Son, I am so sorry. I had to get out and make things happen for us. When your dad died, we were left with a struggling business. I had to take matters into my own arms to save it, but unfortunately it took me away from you. I wish I had spent more time with you.
JOSEPH JR
It was hard Mom.
JOLYN
I am so sorry Son. I wish I could have done it different, but I was up against a wall.
JOSEPH JR
I understand. The good news though, I have qualified for the DUAL DEGREE ENGINEERING PROGRAM at CLARK UNIVERSITY in Atlanta. I won the top honor out of 400 applicants nationwide.
JOLYN
Look at you. I am so proud of you.
JOSEPH JR
I thought you were going to be disappointed that I am not staying to develop the family business. I realized business is not for me.
JOLYN hugs her son.
JOLYN
That’s the important lesson in life. It is finding what’s best for you and committing to it. It will be all right, Son. It will all work out.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN opens a letter on her desk. It is from the Federal Government. They are suing Baldwin Ice Cream. She calls for an immediate meeting with the drivers. She is holding the letter, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
JOLYN
Are there any, any drivers here using underage kids to off load deliveries?
DRIVER 1
We’ve done it in the past, but we no longer do.
JOLYN
Well, I have a letter from the Federal government suing our company. They claim our drivers are using underage boys as helpers. Seven months ago, they were awarding us with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and today, they are suing us.
DRIVER 2
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we shouldn’t be charged with something everybody does. All the delivery drivers for other stores do exactly that.
JOLYN
We are going to fight this. We are not giving in.
INT. CAFE – DAY
RITA ROGERS sits with JOLYN for lunch.
JOLYN
The Federal government is suing me for what they are calling driver’s aid. They are saying our drivers employ under-aged boys to help them off load our trucks. I am going to fight them every step of the way.
RITA ROGERS
In my experience, nobody brings the Federal government to court and wins. These cases normally drag on for years. You may as well pay them. What are they asking?
JOLYN
They want us to pay $500 a day with back pay stemming from the alleged violation.
RITA ROGERS
That’s impossible.
JOLYN
It is, and that’s why I am going to fight it.
RITA ROGERS
What evidence do they have?
JOLYN
I don’t know. They are asking anyone who has off loaded our trucks in the past to come forward with a promise to compensate them. I’ll show those fools how to run an investigation.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
JOLYN is seated in her office. She receives a package. It is from an investigator. It contains labelled photos. She writes a letter. She reads the letter aloud.
JOLYN (V.O.)
In the matter of the Federal Government vs. Baldwin Ice Cream Company, we understand your concern about the use of minors as drivers’ aid. We at Baldwin Ice Cream Company have a strict policy against such procedures. If you have any proof of our drivers engaging in such acts please provide them to me and we will be happy to investigate the issue. In the meantime, here are photographs showing 6 major White corporations engaging in the use of drivers’ aid with minors. Hope this helps with your investigation and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
JOLYN seals the envelope and addresses it to the Federal Government.
INT. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – DAY
FEDERAL AGENT picks up the letter on his desk from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY. He reads it aloud, then looks at the photographs.
FEDERAL AGENT
Son of a Bitch.
INT. CHICAGO DINER – DAY
JOLYN meets with RITA ROGERS.
JOLYN
I’ve received a letter from the Federal Government. They have dropped the charges against Baldwin Ice Cream Co.
RITA ROGERS
How did that happen?
JOLYN
I simply volunteered to help them with their investigations and sent them some photographs of several major corporations that are engaging in driver’s aid, the actions we are accused of. The Federal Government would need to go after the powerful white organizations to appear equitable when taking Baldwin down.
RITA ROGERS
They underestimated your tenacity.
INT. OFFICE OF CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY – DAY
JOLYN meets the MANAGER of Chicago Aviation Agency to discuss her plans to close the airport concession stands.
AVIATION MANAGER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, if you close your 5 stands it will look bad on you. You have been in the news for your groundbreaking accomplishments. We need you to stay.
JOLYN
No, it would look bad on you.
It makes no business sense for me to keep the locations. We are not turning in a profit and it is draining our wholesale finances. I will close the stands and accept my losses.
AVIATION MANAGER
I don’t want that kind of headlines for our department. We may have a buyer if you would like to consider that option.
JOLYN
Sure. I would be happy to sell.
AVIATION MANAGER
That would be a better option. We get a lot of people inquiring about concession stands.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is going through her accounting books. A Japanese gentleman is standing at her door.
MR. WU
Hello MRS. ROBICHAUX.
JOLYN
Yes. Come in. How can I help you?
MR. WU
My name is MR. WU. The Chicago Aviation Agency recommended that I speak to you. I am looking to purchase your concession stands at O’Hare Airport.
JOLYN
Are you in the ice cream business?
MR. WU
Our company sells steaks, and we are looking to expand. Would you be interested?
JOLYN
Most definitely.
MR. WU
I will need your five locations.
JOLYN
You’ve got it.
-
Ricardo Williams Act 3 Middle Scenes
JOLYN is excited about opening up the first franchise model store and having her son JOSEPH JR manage it. JOSEPH JR is confronted by an angry customer calling for a boycott of the store because it was constructed by white contractors instead of black contractors. The story goes out of business, and JOSEPH JR heads back to college to finish his engineering degree.
Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
INT. HOME – DAY
JOSEPH JR visits JOLYN from his college break. She reaches out and hugs him.
JOLYN
Well, if it isn’t my handsome son. What a surprise!
JOSEPH JR
Hi MOM. I was thinking. I want to come and work with you and help you manage the business.
JOLYN
Why will you want to do that? I thought you wanted to be an engineer?
JOSEPH JR
No MOM. I just want to help you.
JOLYN
Are you saying after spending one year at FISK UNIVERSITY, you are going to give it all up to help me? Son, I can’t let you do that.
JOSEPH JR
I have dropped out of college. I want to help you, Mom.
JOLYN
I wish you didn’t. This is a hard business, but I can let you manage the new prototype building on 7959 KING DRIVE, but son it’s going to be a lot of work.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM PARLOR – KINGS DRIVE – DAY
JOLYN and JOSEPH JR are observing the customers as they come into the newly opened building. They’re not happy. The white female teenage cashier is smiling as she serves the customers.
CUSTOMER ONE
I can’t believe how BALDWIN ICE CREAM sold out the BLACK COMMUNITY.
JOLYN is about to answer the customer, but holds herself back to allow JOSEPH JR handle it.
JOSEPH JR
What do you mean?
CUSTOMER ONE
First you use White contractors to build your store and now you hire a white cashier. You sold us out.
JOSEPH JR
But we also have Black workers.
CUSTOMER ONE
You sold out. Let us boycott this place. They sold out on us.
Other customers shout to boycott the shop.
JOSEPH JR
Can we really solve discrimination by engaging in it ourselves?
CUSTOMER TWO
We don’t have jobs to give to white folks who don’t need it. We are not going to support this.
Still shouts of boycott continue.
INT. HOME – DAY
JOSEPH JR sits with JOLYN in the living room. He seems agitated and frustrated.
JOLYN
What’s the matter son.
JOSEPH JR
MOM, I don’t want to manage any more. It is way too hard and we are not making a profit. I am going back to college and complete my degree.
JOLYN
It’s been a tough year for business, son and with Black folks not supporting the shop, I will have no choice but to close it down. In a way, I’m glad you have decided to go back to college. Business has been a constant struggle. We are not making money with the Airport Concession Stands either. I feel like my hands are tied.
JOSEPH JR
MOM, why it feels like you were never around when I was younger? So many times I felt alone and depressed.
JOLYN
Son, I am so sorry. I had to get out and make things happen for us. When your dad died, we were left with a struggling business. I had to take matters into my own arms to save it, but unfortunately it took me away from you. I wish I had spent more time with you.
JOSEPH JR
It was hard Mom.
JOLYN
I am so sorry Son. I wish I could have done it different, but I was up against a wall.
JOSEPH JR
I understand. The good news though, I have qualified for the DUAL DEGREE ENGINEERING PROGRAM at CLARK UNIVERSITY in Atlanta. I won the top honor out of 400 applicants nationwide.
JOLYN
Look at you. I am so proud of you.
JOSEPH JR
I thought you were going to be disappointed that I am not staying to develop the family business. I realized business is not for me.
JOLYN hugs her son.
JOLYN
That’s the important lesson in life. It is finding what’s best for you and committing to it. It will be all right, Son. It will all work out.
-
Ricardo Williams Act 3 Reaction to Midpoint
Jolyn has made a major breakthrough in becoming the first African American woman to own a concession stand at Chicago O’Hare Airport. She now own 5 stands. Her celebration is short lived as the Aviation Department delays her ability to open the stands for 6 months due to newly installed airport regulations. The delay has put a financial strain on her company as she was paying employees for stalls that were not operating and also paying a mortgage on the stalls. In the meantime she has won the Minority Entrepreneur of the Year Award because of her accomplishments. She must now rethink either keeping the stalls or selling them.
3. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
EXT. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK LOBBY – MORNING
JOLYN pacing the lobby of the bank waiting for a loan specialist. Stipulations enforced by the CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY has delayed the opening of the airport concession stands by 6 months. She needs a loan to offset the expenses caused by the delay. A white loan officer MR. BLAND in his twenties, approaches her to discuss her loans.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we are very concerned with your financial statements for the last two quarters. Seems like you’ve been losing money.
JOLYN
I apologize MR. BLAND, but we were experiencing some difficulties with our airport stores that were closed due to new airport regulations. They have since resolved the issues, so things are going to improve.
MR. BLAND
So you are the CEO of the company?
JOLYN
Yes, I am.
MR. BLAND
Why, at your age would you want to run a company? My mom is your age and she stays at home taking care of her grandchildren.
JOLYN
I’m sorry MR. BLAND, but I am not your average grandma.
MR. BLAND
Tell you what MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am seeing some troubling signs in your financial statements. You’ve been bleeding cash. We also have a letter on file that alerts us about your state of mind.
JOLYN
What letter are you talking about? I’ve been a loyal customer with your bank for 15 years.
MR. BLAND
The letter we have is on your letterhead and it is signed.
JOLYN
I need a copy of that letter.
MR. BLAND hands JOLYN a copy of the letter. She stares on the signature, her eyes bulging with disbelief, the words TROY THOMAS is written in the signature box. A cold feeling of fear runs through her veins. She feels like her world has crumbled.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am afraid we’ll have to ask you to pay off your loans. I am giving you 6 months to do so.
JOLYN
It is impossible to pay up in 6 months with my airport stores struggling. I guess I won’t be doing business with your bank anymore. I am going to move my accounts.
EXT. LOBBY OF EXCHANGE BANK – DAY
JOLYN walks aimlessly through the lobby of EXCHANGE BANK, she is worried and conflicted when a gentleman approaches her.
MR. CARTER
Hello there. I know you. What are you doing here?
JOLYN
MR. CARTER from AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK? (JOLYN looks puzzled).
MR. CARTER
I am now the Vice President of Exchange Bank.
JOLYN
MR. CARTER in all my years of dealing with American National Bank, I have never had a problem, but today a loan officer turned down my request and called my loans. He gave me 6 months to pay them off.
MR. CARTER
What happened?
JOLYN
Our business is booming and we expanded to O’Hare Airport. We invested $1 million to build 5 concession stands and when we were about to open, the Aviation Department stalled us for 6 months. We are open now, but the delays put us in a hole when it comes to cash.
MR. CARTER
Come with me, let me look into it.
JOLYN follows MR. CARTER to his office. He closes the door behind her and offers her a seat.
INT. CARTER’S OFFICE – DAY
MR. CARTER shuffles through some files. He stops at a letter from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY.
MR. CARTER
I see the problem.
JOLYN
What problem?
MR. CARTER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, do you have a manager named PAUL THOMAS?
JOLYN
Don’t tell me you have a letter signed by him. Do you?
MR. CARTER
Yes. We have a letter on file signed by him stating that you are mentally incompetent and is forbidden from doing any business transactions under Baldwin Ice Cream Company.
JOLYN
I’ll be darned. I knew something wasn’t right? I was being turned down in all my business transactions.
MR. CARTER
He must have sent out letters to everyone you’ve done business with.
JOLYN
He is no longer with the company, but he had an insider feeding him the information. What am I supposed to do?
MR. CARTER
Those fools don’t know you as I know you. I have seen you get out of some tough scrapes and you will get out of this one. I can help you. Let me transfer your accounts to Exchange Bank. We will assume the balance of your loans and give you an additional $75,000 to help ease your burden.
JOLYN
You are such a life saver. Thank you. (She is hugging him frantically).
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM HEADQUARTERS – DAY
JOLYN holds a board meeting to give updates on the company’s direction.
JOLYN
We made history by becoming the first Black-owned company to have concession stands at the airport, but it has cost us dearly. We overcame a brief moment of sabotage that caused The Aviation Department to delay our openings. It means we were paying mortgages on businesses we couldn’t open, and we were paying managers, who were not able to work. Luckily, the city council has allowed us to open, but financially, we were in a big hole. We have secured new loans with Exchange Bank to get us back on track.
CHARLOTTE
Do you ever listen, JOLYN? What happened to our mission statement that says We are a Wholesale Company? Everything is all about JOLYN. JOLYN decides she wants 5 concession stands. Where does she get the money from? The Bank. Can’t you see the Bank owns this company? I thought we were supposed to be focusing on Wholesale Distribution. All you are doing is throwing money at Retail. We are making money in wholesale and throwing it all away in retail. What happened to the DYNAMIC DUO? I thought we were a team? I am sorry, but I can’t go along with this madness. I am leaving.
JOLYN
CHARLOTTE, we’ve been trying for over ten years to break into the Whole Sale market and nothing has happened. We can’t keep all our eggs in one basket.
CHARLOTTE
Every Retail move has lost money so far, and you’ve committed to five retail outlets? It makes no sense. I am out of here.
JOLYN
THEN GET OUT. GET OUT. (Jolyn is pretty loud). Get out. (Her words are softer and slower. Her voice is shaking with hurt). GET OUT. GET TO FUCK OUT. (She is loud again as she watches Charlotte leave.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY – 1985
It’s a slumber time at the BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO. Retail sales have plummeted due to the Chicago Tribune newspaper article about crime in the Third Ward. JOLYN is looking at the pile of mail on her desk. She notices a letter from the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. She nervously opens the letter. That cold feeling of ear builds again. The words of the letter send shock waves through her. She yells out for SAUL ABRAHAMSON.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
What is it MRS. ROBICHAUX?
JOLYN
The UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT has awarded us the MALCOLM BALDRIDGE MINORITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD for 1985.
Screams are heard throughout the office as JOLYN spreads the news. Scenes of high fives and lots of celebration.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN is on the cover of N’digo magazine. She shows the magazine to ZENOBIA and hands her a Forbes magazine pointing to an article about her.
ZENOBIA
Wow. Is that you? I was so wrong about you. My son would have been so proud of you. (She hugs Jolyn).
INT. HOME – DAY
JOLYN hands MRS. HOWARD a cup of tea. They sit on the sofa.
MRS. HOWARD
Look at you on the cover of magazines. Your dad would have been so proud of you.
JOLYN
Oh MOTHER, I can see his face lighting up and he lifting me up and swinging me all around the room. I miss him so much.
MRS. HOWARD
I miss him too. Now what are you going to do about CHARLOTTE? I can’t have a rift between you too. It is not acceptable.
JOLYN
I’ve reached out to her, but to no avail.
MRS. HOWARD
I will talk to her again, but you should keep reaching out to her.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
SAUL ABRAHAMSON greets JOLYN. His excitement is beaming from his face.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Look at you. You are in Forbes. You are gracing the covers of prominent magazines. You are on TV and in newspapers. You are a star.
JOLYN
Well thank you, MR. ABRAHAMSON. I think this is the perfect time for us to take our sales to the national level.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Now wait MRS. ROBICHAUX, I think you should focus on here in Chicago. Let’s say, you open a model store with the idea of creating a franchise. That will build some momentum.
JOLYN
I am tired of retail and I’m burnt out with being stuck here in Chicago. I want us to branch out on a national scale. I want to bring our focus back to wholesale.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
I think you should wait.
JOLYN
Wait for what? What are we waiting for? (Her voice is elevated).
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
I am not liking your tone.
JOLYN
Can you help me SAUL. Can you at least help me over this hurdle. Put in a good word for me?
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
I wish I could, but it is not in my assignment to make such decisions for your business.
JOLYN
You don’t get it, don’t you? You don’t see the vision. You don’t see things beyond the Black Belt that has caged us and clipped our wings like pigeons. You don’t see our obsession with retail that has been eating through our resources like a cancer. You don’t get it. (Jolyn is shaking her head in frustration).
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – MORNING
JOLYN meets with SAUL ABRAHAMSON.
JOLYN
I’ve decided to go National. I think it’s the only way forward. We have to move beyond the confines of the Black community otherwise we won’t survive. I am going all in with radio and television ads throughout the country and I conducting interviews to reach a wide audience.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
When I came to you, business was crawling. I’ve seen you walk, and I know you are capable of running. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. If you want to build a model company in the Chicago community I can help you, but beyond that, I can’t.
JOLYN
I appreciate your years of service, but I have to let you go.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
You are firing me?
JOLYN
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN opens a letter on her desk. It is from the Federal Government. They are suing Baldwin Ice Cream. She calls for an immediate meeting with the drivers. She is holding the letter, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
JOLYN
Are there any, any drivers here using underage kids to off load deliveries?
DRIVER 1
We’ve done it in the past, but we no longer do.
JOLYN
Well, I have a letter from the Federal government suing our company. They claim our drivers are using underage boys as helpers. Seven months ago, they were awarding us with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and today, they are suing us.
DRIVER 2
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we shouldn’t be charged with something everybody does. All the delivery drivers for other stores do exactly that.
JOLYN
We are going to fight this. We are not giving in.
INT. CAFE – DAY
RITA ROGERS sits with JOLYN for lunch.
JOLYN
The Federal government is suing me for what they are calling driver’s aid. They are saying our drivers employ under-aged boys to help them off load our trucks. I am going to fight them every step of the way.
RITA ROGERS
In my experience, nobody brings the Federal government to court and wins. These cases normally drag on for years. You may as well pay them. What are they asking?
JOLYN
They want us to pay $500 a day with back pay stemming from the alleged violation.
RITA ROGERS
That’s impossible.
JOLYN
It is, and that’s why I am going to fight it.
RITA ROGERS
What evidence do they have?
JOLYN
I don’t know. They are asking anyone who has off loaded our trucks in the past to come forward with a promise to compensate them. I’ll show those fools how to run an investigation.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
JOLYN is seated in her office. She receives a package. It is from an investigator. It contains labelled photos. She writes a letter. She reads the letter aloud.
JOLYN (V.O.)
In the matter of the Federal Government vs. Baldwin Ice Cream Company, we understand your concern about the use of minors as drivers’ aid. We at Baldwin Ice Cream Company have a strict policy against such procedures. If you have any proof of our drivers engaging in such acts please provide them to me and we will be happy to investigate the issue. In the meantime, here are photographs showing 6 major White corporations engaging in the use of drivers’ aid with minors. Hope this helps with your investigation and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
JOLYN seals the envelope and addresses it to the Federal Government.
INT. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT – DAY
FEDERAL AGENT picks up the letter on his desk from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY. He reads it aloud, then looks at the photographs.
FEDERAL AGENT
Son of a Bitch.
INT. CHICAGO DINER – DAY
JOLYN meets with RITA ROGERS.
JOLYN
I’ve received a letter from the Federal Government. They have dropped the charges against Baldwin Ice Cream Co.
RITA ROGERS
How did that happen?
JOLYN
I simply volunteered to help them with their investigations and sent them some photographs of several major corporations that are engaging in driver’s aid, the actions we are accused of. The Federal Government would need to go after the powerful white organizations to appear equitable when taking Baldwin down.
RITA ROGERS
They underestimated your tenacity.
INT. OFFICE OF CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY – DAY
JOLYN meets the MANAGER of Chicago Aviation Agency to discuss her plans to close the airport concession stands.
AVIATION MANAGER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, if you close your 5 stands it will look bad on you. You have been in the news for your groundbreaking accomplishments. We need you to stay.
JOLYN
No, it would look bad on you.
It makes no business sense for me to keep the locations. We are not turning in a profit and it is draining our wholesale finances. I will close the stands and accept my losses.
AVIATION MANAGER
I don’t want that kind of headlines for our department. We may have a buyer if you would like to consider that option.
JOLYN
Sure. I would be happy to sell.
AVIATION MANAGER
That would be a better option. We get a lot of people inquiring about concession stands.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is going through her accounting books. A Japanese gentleman is standing at her door.
MR. WU
Hello MRS. ROBICHAUX.
JOLYN
Yes. Come in. How can I help you?
MR. WU
My name is MR. WU. The Chicago Aviation Agency recommended that I speak to you. I am looking to purchase your concession stands at O’Hare Airport.
JOLYN
Are you in the ice cream business?
MR. WU
Our company sells steaks, and we are looking to expand. Would you be interested?
JOLYN
Most definitely.
MR. WU
I will need your five locations.
JOLYN
You’ve got it.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY – 1989
JOLYN is seated in her office. She writes a check to pay off Exchange Bank. The phone rings. JOLYN answers. It’s the Marketing Director Rodney Doyle of Jewel stores.
JOLYN
How can I help you MR. DOYLE?
RODNEY DOYLE (V.O.)
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we at JEWEL STORES will like to stock your products in all our 214 grocery stores nationwide.
JOLYN
WHAT? You will?
RODNEY DOYLE (V.O.)
Yes, MRS. ROBICHAUX we want to stock your products nationwide. Now there is one catch to this. We want the packages to meet the standards of the JEWEL Brand. You will need you to come up with a carton down payment of $100,000. Our package to you comes with guaranteed unlimited shelf space, and newspaper sales ads. Do you accept our offer?
JOLYN
I do. I do accept.
-
Ricardo Williams Has Completed Act 2 Draft 1
What I learned doing this assignment is introducing a minor character for purpose of humor and also living the message of the story in their little world could enhance the script. I introduced Lucy.
JOLYN and CHARLOTTE heads back to her office. JOLYN observes the employees are mingling with TROY THOMAS. LUCY, a heavy set, office attendant gives him high fives.
CHARLOTTE
We’ve got ourselves a problem here.
JOLYN
I should have just fired him. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time. From the first day he disrespected me. But he is JOE’S favorite cousin. As the senior driver, he can basically shut down the operations if I am not careful.
CHARLOTTE
How?
JOLYN
He holds the power over the employees. He gives them loans and he is intimate with them.
The phone rings in her office.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Hello?
PAUL CHORD (V.O.)
MRS ROBICHAUX?
JOLYN
Yes. Who is this?
PAUL CHORD (V.O.)
It’s PAUL. PAUL CHORD. I was wondering if you have any work available for me. I’ve been sober for two years and I’m ready to work again.
JOLYN
As a matter of fact, I do have a job for you. Can you start Monday?
PAUL CHORD
Yes. I can start on Monday.
JOLYN
Can you visit me at home this evening? I will give you money to purchase a freezer suit and update you with everything you need to know.
PAUL CHORD
Yes, Mrs. Robichaux. I’ll be there.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is at her desk. TROY THOMAS drops in and hands her a letter.
JOLYN
What is this?
TROY THOMAS
I told you that I wanted a raise, and I told you if you didn’t give me a raise, I was quitting. So here I am.
JOLYN
I guess it is time for you to find a position with men who foolishly value your poor performance.
TROY THOMAS
What are you saying?
JOLYN
You leave me no choice but to accept your resignation. Thank you for your years of service.
TROY THOMAS
But I can stay on to train the new freezer man.
JOLYN
That won’t be necessary. Goodbye, MR. THOMAS.
TROY THOMAS
You know we are family. Your husband would have want me to run this company. You must have lost your mind to think that you, a woman with no experience could manage this company. You need me to tell you what to do.
JOLYN
All my life, everyone told me what to do. Well, not anymore. From now on, I am doing the telling. Now get out.
TROY walks away from JOLYN, his head bent and shoulders drooped. He tries to hug LUCY. She chases him away. He clears his desk of personal property and leaves.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – MORNING
JOLYN is looking over receipts. She notices many of them are outdated and were not sent out. She looks up and TROY THOMAS is walking towards her.
TROY THOMAS
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I changed my mind. I don’t want any raise. I just want to work with you.
He hands her his letter.
JOLYN
What’s this for?
TROY THOMAS
I am rescinding my decision to resign.
JOLYN
Well, thank you Mr. Thomas, but that won’t be necessary. I’ve already found your replacement. Now, goodbye.
TROY THOMAS
You are going to regret firing me. You are just a depressed housewife and you haven’t a clue about running a business.
He bolts out of the office fuming as he passes his coworkers. He passes PAUL CHORD who is on his way in.
PAUL CHORD
Good morning, MRS. ROBICHAUX.
JOLYN
Welcome back, MR. CHORD. Let me reintroduce you to the staff. Follow me.
PAUL CHORD follows JOLYN to the main floor. JOLYN calls for a quick meeting.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Everyone, let us welcome back MR. PAUL CHORD our new Freezer Control Manager. As we focus on wholesale, it is important for deliveries to be punctual. CHARLOTTE will work with all the drivers to make out their schedules.
LUCY
I am so glad you got rid of that trouble maker, TROY. I said to him, don’t mess with MRS. ROBICHAUX, she is not playing, but he didn’t listen.
JOLYN
I am sure you did LUCY. Now do me a favor start sending out the old receipts in those boxes.
LUCY
Yes, MRS. ROBICHAUX. I will get at it right away.
ANN RANDALL
We can’t send out old receipts, it will reflect poorly on us.
LUCY
Oh yeah, that’s right.
JOLYN
Yes, it will reflect poorly on us. We will send them out with apology letters. The goal here is to develop new relationships.
LUCY
Good idea, MRS. ROBICHAUX
ANN
Some of our drivers won’t be able to make out their schedules.
JOLYN
Why is that?
ANN
Not everyone can read and write MRS. ROBICHAUX.
LUCY
Oh yes, MRS. ROBICHAUX. They can’t read, and they can’t write.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN in her room in the dark smoking a cigarette with a glass of whiskey on a small table next to her. She is in deep thought. The words of ANN rings in her head, “Not everyone can read or write.” Another voice echoes, “Face it, you’re a failure.” She takes a deep breath and utters the words of her favorite poem, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Another voice screams, “Why don’t you teach them to write and read their schedules?” She picks up the glass of whiskey and empties it in the bathroom sink. She utters with excitement, “I’m going to teach them.” There is a knock the door. ZENOBIA walks in.
ZENOBIA
Have you lost your mind?
JOLYN
Excuse me?
ZENOBIA
TROY told me that you fired him?
JOLYN
As a matter of fact, I did.
ZENOBIA
Why will you fire the one man left in this family who could run the business and give us the security we need?
JOLYN
Because I don’t need his security, and I find him very disrespectful and repulsive.
ZENOBIA
What do you mean, you don’t need his security? He knows the business. He is the one we can trust to run it. You can go out and get another job if you don’t like him.
JOLYN
I don’t want another job. I want to run my company.
ZENOBIA
There are no women running companies in this country, much less a black woman. Have you lost your mind?
JOLYN
No I have not lost my mind. I know more about this business than any man who ventured to run it.
ZENOBIA
And who is going to take you seriously? We need TROY to secure the business.
JOLYN
No. You need Troy for your security. I don’t. All my life I had to choose between feeling secured and taking my chances. Security has brought me nothing but heartache and loss. I lost my father. I lost my husband. I am at risk at losing my house, and my mind. I am no longer putting my security in the hands of anyone else, but myself. From now on, I am running my business, and no one, not even you, will stand in my way.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is conducting a classroom type training. She is in a room with a big table. Five Salesmen are sitting around her. JOLYN is showing them how to write in cursive form and how to read their schedules. The men are excited and bubbly with their new found knowledge.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN is back after her two-week break. She opens a contract from the Chicago’s Board of Education. She addresses the office.
JOLYN
Baldwin Ice Cream has been awarded, not one but two contracts for ice cream distribution.
CHARLOTTE
Wow! Amazing. I told you distribution is the way to go. Guess what! While you were out, I secured a contract with DOMINICK’S on the NORTH SIDE of CHICAGO. We are expanding to new markets (Cheers all around).
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY 1974
SHEILA approaches JOLYN in her office. She is agitated.
SHEILA
MOM, follow me. I want to show you something.
JOLYN follows SHEILA to the basement in the office building. SHEILA pulls off a tarp covering merchandise. She points at the address on the merchandise which leads to a local night club. SHEILA shows JOLYN a purchase order for the items signed by ANN RANDALL.
SHEILA (CONT’D)
It seems like MS RANDALL is furnishing her own nightclub.
JOLYN
Oh no. She is furnishing TROY THOMAS’S nightclub. I always knew those two were up to no good. Now it all makes sense.
SHEILA
What are you going to do?
JOLYN
Come with me.
They head back upstairs. JOLYN approaches MS. RANDALL who is chatting with LUCY.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
MS. RANDALL can I speak to you in my office?
MS. RANDALL follows JOLYN and SHEILA to her office. JOLYN closes the door.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Tell me, MS. RANDALL, do you like dancing?
MS. RANDALL
As a matter of fact, I do.
JOLYN
Where do you go dancing?
MS. RANDALL
At my boyfriend’s club. My boyfriend owns a nightclub. It is fairly new.
JOLYN
Is that the club on Leonard’s Avenue?
MS. RANDALL
It is.
JOLYN
So MS. RANDALL, you are using our funds to furnish TROY THOMAS’S nightclub?
MS. RANDALL
I’m sorry I have to pee. (She rubs her knees nervously together).
JOLYN
No problem. Once you are through, clear out your desk. You are fired.
As MS. RANDALL clears her desk to leave JOLYN notices her placing a package that says BALDWIN ICE CREAM under her arm. JOLYN tugs at the package and MS. RANDALL smacks her in the face with her fist. The impact knocks JOLYN’S gold earring to the floor. LUCY looks on in shock as JOLYN tries to gather herself to her feet.
LUCY
Oh boy, I’ve got to go. I am getting out of here. This is going to be bad. (LUCY grabs her purse and heads for the door).
JOLYN upper cuts MS. RANDALL and punches her to the ground, then retrieves the package which contains contracts belonging to BALDWIN ICE CREAM company. Moments later JOLYN dusts herself off and looks on as the police escorts MS. RANDALL out of the building.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY – CONTINUOUS
LUCY is sitting in JOLYN’S office. She is shivering. Her eyes room the room.
JOLYN
What’s the matter? Am I making you nervous?
LUCY
I just want to say. You have a right to fire MRS. RANDALL. I try to talk some sense into her, but she won’t listen.
JOLYN
MS. LUCY, you always seem to be at the center of things. You are like the common denominator.
LUCY
What that means MRS. ROBICHAUX? I hope it’s something good.
JOLYN
I don’t know MS. LUCY. I am still trying to figure you out. What’s your story?
LUCY
MRS. ROBICHAUX, let me break it down for you. I am just doing what I can to get by to keep a roof over my head and feed my kids. I am loyal to no one but my money and these Motherfuckers are playing with my money.
JOLYN
Did you just say what I thought I heard you say?
LUCY
Lady, I don’t know where you from or what you’ve been through, but I’m from the Streets of Chicago, way down in the Black Belt, and that’s how we talk when you play with our money.
JOLYN
You know what MS. LUCY? I like you. I am going to give you a raise and a promotion.
Moments later, JOLYN is smiling as she watches LUCY running around the office shouting Praise the Lord, I got a raise.
-
Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of understanding structure in a screenplay.
(Ricardo Williams) Act 2 TP – Midpoint
Key Scene 4: The Midpoint.
EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY – 1982
JOLYN is in the company of RITA ROGERS. They are seated in a restaurant.
RITA ROGERS
Now that you are grossing over a million dollars in sale, I want to personally invite you to join the Committee of 200. We are a national organization of women who are owners or executives of companies that gross $5 million or more annually. We hosted the conference we first met. Can you believe that it’s been 10 years since your encounter with HARDY GROVE? 10 years ago.
JOLYN
Oh no. Please don’t remind me. Poor guy. He got me started in business though. He gave me the momentum I needed. I owe it to that conference for building my network.
RITA ROGERS
You changed him for the better. He gave up his womanizing ways. JOLYN have you thought about getting a concession stand at Chicago O’Hare Airport? Think of the traffic that goes through there. It can be good for your business. I have had a concession boutique there for 10 years.
JOLYN
It is not part of my vision as we focus more on Wholesale, but now that you mentioned it, I think it’s worth looking into.
RITA ROGERS
Our committee is always looking at ways to advance our members. O’Hare is one of the busiest airports. If you can get in there the potential could ensure you remain a multimillion dollar corporation. You could even do a franchise and corner out airports.
JOLYN
Rita, you are a genius. You are getting me excited about a strategy I hadn’t thought about.
RITA ROGERS
Think of the fame it would bring you. It could even open the doors for you to flood the Wholesale Market.
JOLYN
Do you know the procedures to get a concession stand?
RITA ROGERS
If I remember correctly, It’s just a matter of submitting a request to the Chicago Aviation Agency.
JOLYN
I will submit a request just as soon as I discuss it with our board of directors.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN opens a letter she received from CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY. The letter denies her request for a concession stand citing an exclusive contract with Carson’s International. JOLYN picks up the phone and calls the number on the letter.
WOMAN ON THE PHONE
Hello, office of Chicago Aviation, how may I help you?
JOLYN
My name is JOLYN ROBICHAUX. I am the CEO of Baldwin Ice Cream Company. I recently applied for a concession stand at O’Hare Airport, can you give me an update, please?
WOMAN ON THE PHONE
I see here that we declined your request.
JOLYN
That is unacceptable. I would like to speak to your manager.
AVIATION MANAGER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we denied your request because we have an exclusive contract with Carson’s International.
JOLYN
I have a copy of your contract that I obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and it shows that your contract says Carson’s International can sell to O’Hare Airport all foods and all drinks except ice cream and pop corn. Why do I sense discrimination here? If you like I can send copies of this contract to the superiors who fund you.
AVIATION MANAGER
Give me one moment, let me look at the contract.
JOLYN
Sure. I’ll wait.
AVIATION MANAGER
Mrs. Robichaux let’s set up a meeting to discuss this.
INT. AVIATION DEPARTMENT – DAY
Jolyn walks into the small office of the Aviation department at the airport. A stocky white male in his fifties, the Aviation manager greets her.
AVIATION MANAGER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, someone once told me that life is a game of chess played by men, and I believed them. Not anymore.
JOLYN
I wouldn’t know what to believe because they said the same thing about golf, and I play golf.
AVIATION MANAGER
But do you play chess.
JOLYN
I haven’t a clue.
AVIATION MANAGER
Good. So you are a Black owned Chicago company and you are the head. You are the CEO.
JOLYN
That’s right.
AVIATION MANAGER
Unheard of. Ain’t that a thing. Do you know that big brands like Haagen-Dazz, and Ben & Jerry’s have been trying to get into this market for years? And wallop, just like that, you did something they couldn’t. You do know the O’Hare Airport is one of the busiest and there is a lot of traffic in this area. You will need more than one concession stand to meet the needs of the airport.
JOLYN
I hadn’t taught of that.
AVIATION MANAGER
Tell you what Mrs. Robichaux, we want you to know that you have been so wonderful about this that we are going to give you permission not for one concession stand, but we are going to give you five concession stands.
JOLYN
Sounds like a deal (Elated laughter and excitement).
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO BOARD ROOM – DAY – 1983
JOLYN addressing board members.
JOLYN
I am proud to announce that we have been awarded five concession stands at O’Hare Airport. We had asked for one, but they were generous enough to grant us five. It will cost us $1 million to construct, but I believe we stand to recuperate that cost because of the volume of traffic.
CHARLOTTE
I think you are trying to do too much at a time. We should focus on distribution. Retail is going to drain our resources. If we are not careful it will all come crashing down.
JOLYN
We’ve been waiting 15 years for distribution and nothing has happened. We can’t put all our eggs in one basket. We must look at alternatives.
SAUL ABRAHAMSON
Congratulations. It probably would be a good idea to strike the hammer while the iron is hot and build a franchise model to go with the concession stands.
JOLYN
I admit my heart is fluttering nervously. I am excited, but fear is flowing in my adrenaline here. But I am an entrepreneur and taking chances is what we do.
EXT. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK LOBBY – MORNING
JOLYN pacing the lobby of the bank waiting for a loan specialist. Stipulations enforced by the CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY has delayed the opening of the airport concession stands by 6 months. She needs a loan to offset the expenses caused by the delay. A white loan officer MR. BLAND in his twenties, approaches her to discuss her loans.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we are very concerned with your financial statements for the last two quarters. Seems like you’ve been losing money.
JOLYN
I apologize MR. BLAND, but we were experiencing some difficulties with our airport stores that were closed due to new airport regulations. They have since resolved the issues, so things are going to improve.
MR. BLAND
So you are the CEO of the company?
JOLYN
Yes, I am.
MR. BLAND
Why, at your age would you want to run a company? My mom is your age and she stays at home taking care of her grandchildren.
JOLYN
I’m sorry MR. BLAND, but I am not your average grandma.
MR. BLAND
Tell you what MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am seeing some troubling signs in your financial statements. You’ve been bleeding cash. We also have a letter on file that alerts us about your state of mind.
JOLYN
What letter are you talking about? I’ve been a loyal customer with your bank for 15 years.
MR. BLAND
The letter we have is on your letterhead and it is signed.
JOLYN
I need a copy of that letter.
MR. BLAND hands JOLYN a copy of the letter. She stares on the signature, her eyes bulging with disbelief, the words TROY THOMAS is written in the signature box. A cold feeling of fear runs through her veins. She feels like her world has crumbled.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am afraid we’ll have to ask you to pay off your loans. I am giving you 6 months to do so.
JOLYN
It is impossible to pay up in 6 months with my airport stores struggling. I guess I won’t be doing business with your bank anymore. I am going to move my accounts.
-
What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of having characters in the scenes that adds dimensions to the story, in my case mild humor.
Ricardo Williams Act 2 Middle Scenes:
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN shows up at the office. The employees are surprised to see her. She sits at her desk. TROY THOMAS approaches her.
TROY THOMAS
I know this is a difficult time for you. I can assure you, the company is in good hands with me. You can take as much time as you want off.
JOLYN
I am not sure, I am comfortable with that. This is truly a difficult time.
TROY THOMAS
Don’t you worry. I’ve got this.
TROY walks away and as he passes by MS RANDALL’S desk, she get’s up and holds his hand and moves with her twitching motion. He slaps her on her rear. She sway her head back in full laughter. JOLYN gets up and take a closer look at TROY THOMAS. She notices a sales man handing him money. TROY shakes his hand as they part ways.
Scene 3 Events:
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN calls a meeting with TROY THOMAS and CHARLOTTE to discuss the operations.
EXT. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK LOBBY – MORNING
JOLYN pacing the lobby of the bank waiting for a loan specialist. Stipulations enforced by the CHICAGO AVIATION AGENCY has delayed the opening of the airport concession stands by 6 months. She needs a loan to offset the expenses caused by the delay. A white loan officer MR. BLAND in his twenties, approaches her to discuss her loans.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, we are very concerned with your financial statements for the last two quarters. Seems like you’ve been losing money.
JOLYN
I apologize MR. BLAND, but we were experiencing some difficulties with our airport stores that were closed due to new airport regulations. They have since resolved the issues, so things are going to improve.
MR. BLAND
So you are the CEO of the company?
JOLYN
Yes, I am.
MR. BLAND
Why, at your age would you want to run a company? My mom is your age and she stays at home taking care of her grandchildren.
JOLYN
I’m sorry MR. BLAND, but I am not your average grandma.
MR. BLAND
Tell you what MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am seeing some troubling signs in your financial statements. You’ve been bleeding cash. We also have a letter on file that alerts us about your state of mind.
JOLYN
What letter are you talking about? I’ve been a loyal customer with your bank for 15 years.
MR. BLAND
The letter we have is on your letterhead and it is signed.
JOLYN
I need a copy of that letter.
MR. BLAND hands JOLYN a copy of the letter. She stares on the signature, her eyes bulging with disbelief, the words TROY THOMAS is written in the signature box. A cold feeling of fear runs through her veins. She feels like her world has crumbled.
MR. BLAND
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am afraid we’ll have to ask you to pay off your loans. I am giving you 6 months to do so.
JOLYN
It is impossible to pay up in 6 months with my airport stores struggling. I guess I won’t be doing business with your bank anymore. I am going to move my accounts.
EXT. LOBBY OF EXCHANGE BANK – DAY
JOLYN walks aimlessly through the lobby of EXCHANGE BANK, she is worried and conflicted when a gentleman approaches her.
MR. CARTER
Hello there. I know you. What are you doing here?
JOLYN
MR. CARTER from AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK? (JOLYN looks puzzled).
MR. CARTER
I am now the Vice President of Exchange Bank.
JOLYN
MR. CARTER in all my years of dealing with American National Bank, I have never had a problem, but today a loan officer turned down my request and called my loans. He gave me 6 months to pay them off.
MR. CARTER
What happened?
JOLYN
Our business is booming and we expanded to O’Hare Airport. We invested $1 million to build 5 concession stands and when we were about to open, the Aviation Department stalled us for 6 months. We are open now, but the delays put us in a hole when it comes to cash.
MR. CARTER
Come with me, let me look into it.
JOLYN follows MR. CARTER to his office. He closes the door behind her and offers her a seat.
INT. CARTER’S OFFICE – DAY
MR. CARTER shuffles through some files. He stops at a letter from BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY.
MR. CARTER
I see the problem.
JOLYN
What problem?
MR. CARTER
MRS. ROBICHAUX, do you have a manager named PAUL THOMAS?
JOLYN
Don’t tell me you have a letter signed by him. Do you?
MR. CARTER
Yes. We have a letter on file signed by him stating that you are mentally incompetent and is forbidden from doing any business transactions under Baldwin Ice Cream Company.
JOLYN
I’ll be darned. I knew something wasn’t right? I was being turned down in all my business transactions.
MR. CARTER
He must have sent out letters to everyone you’ve done business with.
JOLYN
He is no longer with the company, but he had an insider feeding him the information. What am I supposed to do?
MR. CARTER
Those fools don’t know you as I know you. I have seen you get out of some tough scrapes and you will get out of this one. I can help you. Let me transfer your accounts to Exchange Bank. We will assume the balance of your loans and give you an additional $75,000 to help ease your burden.
JOLYN
You are such a life saver. Thank you. (She is hugging him frantically).
INT. ZENOBIA’S HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN pays ZENOBIA an unexpected visit. ZENOBIA half opens the door and tries to close it on JOLYN. JOLYN pushes the door open.
ZENOBIA
What are you doing? I wasn’t expecting you.
JOLYN
I wasn’t planning on visiting you.
ZENOBIA
Then why are you here?
JOLYN
Mother, I’ve just found out that PAUL has written letters informing the banks and all my business associates that I am incompetent and not fit for business. Do you know anything about this?
ZENOBIA
How will I know?
JOLYN
We are supposed to be a close knit family. I thought he may have said something.
ZENOBIA
I knows nothing about that. But what I know is that you should have let him manage the company. You have caused him a lot of damage.
JOLYN
MOTHER, the company has grown since I took over. We probably would be doing even better if Troy hadn’t sabotaged us. He is going to have to pay for what he’s done.
JOLYN hears some movement in the house.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Do you have company? I thought I heard movements.
ZENOBIA
No. (ZENOBIA looks nervous and suspicious).
JOLYN gets up and follows the direction where the sound came from. She pushes the door open to the bathroom. She sees TROY THOMAS crunched on the toilet. She walks in on him and grab him by his ears and yanks out of the seat.
JOLYN
You have some explaining to do.
TROY THOMAS
Ouch, you are hurting me.
JOLYN
Tell me the truth. Are you trying to sabotage my company?
She pulls him out by the ear in front of ZENOBIA.
ZENOBIA
Let him go.
JOLYN
So that’s it? (Shouting).
I am spending money to allow you to live a comfortable life, and here you are housing the very person who is trying to take down me and my company.
ZENOBIA
He had no way else to go.
JOLYN
I don’t know how I will ever be able to trust you.
TROY THOMAS
It is not her fault. She knows nothing about it. I did it, and I am sorry. I just didn’t think you were capable of running the company. I was wrong.
JOLYN
I thought family was the most important thing to you? I guess I don’t qualify as family?
TROY THOMAS
I said, I am sorry. You are an important part of our family.
-
Ricardo Williams Lesson 13 Act II Reaction to TP 1
What I learned from this lesson is structuring and how the Turning Point and Inciting Incident leads to a detailed reaction.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – MORNING
JOLYN lies in bed. She has a pillow over her head. She weeps silently. She hear movements in the living room as MRS. HOWARD is helping the kids prepare for school. She hears the door closes as they leave the house.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – NIGHT
There is a knock on the door. MRS. HOWARD enters the room. She gives JOLYN a comforting hug.
MRS. HOWARD
I am so sorry Honey. I wish there was something I could do. If you need me to stay with the kids while you take some time off, I am here for you.
JOLYN
I wish I had time MOTHER. I am in a very peculiar situation. My husband just signed a $75,000 loan for three new trucks. If this business fails, we can lose everything and the sad thing about it is that I am not even the one in charge of the business.
MRS. HOWARD
Well, can you not sell the business?
JOLYN
I could try, but there is no guarantee that I can recover my expenses, and I will still have to stay on and show the new owners everything. All my life I wanted to own my own business and when the opportunity comes, I find myself back up against a wall that’s about to crumble. Mother, I am going to take possession of my dream.
MRS. HOWARD
What ever your decision, just know you can count on me, and CHARLOTTE is always available to help.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – NIGHT
Clothes are scattered on the floor. JOLYN hears the words, “You are running out of time,” echoing in her head. Then she hears, “Sell the company.” Then she remembers MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE shaking her hand and the words, “You can run your own company,” appear in her head. Then she hears the final stanza of INVICTUS, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” She pulls herself together and gets out of bed. Bit by bit, she cleans up the room.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – DAY
JOLYN, SHEILA, and JOEY are sitting at the breakfast table.
SHEILA
MOM, are you going to keep the business? I hope you do.
JOLYN
It’s a tough decision to make, but I will keep our business. I don’t think I can trust anyone to run it. I’ll do it myself. It’s going to be a lot of work and long hours. I have to be there for both you and JOEY.
SHEILA
I think you should do it MOM. I can look after JOEY while you work.
JOLYN
It’s a lot to ask of a 14 year old, after all JOEY is only 6 and he has Asthma.
SHEILA
I can do it, MOM. I know how to do his treatments.
The phone rings. JOLYN answers. CHARLOTTE is on the line.
CHARLOTTE (V.O)
JOLYN I know this is a difficult time for you, but I am here for you. I am willing to come work with you and help you grow the business.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN shows up at the office. The employees are surprised to see her. She sits at her desk. TROY THOMAS approaches her.
TROY THOMAS
I know this is a difficult time for you. I can assure you, the company is in good hands with me. You can take as much time as you want off.
JOLYN
I am not sure, I am comfortable with that. This is truly a difficult time.
TROY THOMAS
Don’t you worry. I’ve got this.
TROY walks away and as he passes by MS RANDALL’S desk, she get’s up and holds his hand and moves with her twitching motion. He slaps her on her rear. She sway her head back in full laughter. JOLYN gets up and take a closer look at TROY THOMAS. She notices a sales man handing him money. TROY shakes his hand as they part ways.
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN calls a meeting with TROY THOMAS and CHARLOTTE to discuss the operations.
JOLYN
TROY, let me introduce to my sister CHARLOTTE. CHARLOTTE has a degree in Business Management from Fisk University. We want to discuss the operations with you to see how we can improve things. We are very concerned about the future of the company. How are things in your opinion?
TROY THOMAS
Things are great. It could be better, but it is great. Business is good.
JOLYN
Do you see any ways we can improve things?
TROY THOMAS
Not really. Everything is great. I mean not great, but it is good.
JOLYN
What do you think will make things great?
TROY THOMAS
I don’t know. Maybe more sales?
JOLYN
More sales is always a good thing. I have noticed some flaws in our operations. The drivers never seem to follow their schedules. That is not good for our reputation as a company. It is not good for business. I think we can fix that. CHARLOTTE?
CHARLOTTE
Yes. Punctuality is very important. I would like to sit down with you and workout drivers’ schedules. I want us to hold them accountable to their schedules.
TROY THOMAS
Are you saying you want to workout schedules or are asking me to do it? I can do it. I don’t need help.
JOLYN
Actually TROY, CHARLOTTE will do the schedules. She doesn’t need your help. Another thing, we are changing the focus of the company to Wholesale. We would be visiting some of the big companies to get more shelf space and expand our market. I, myself will network with other women in business.
TROY THOMAS
What makes you think these White owned companies are going to open their doors to a Black owned product? We’ve had Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition for years trying to make it happen and it didn’t. Sure, they gave us some space to make it look like they want our products, but they are never expanding their shelves to us.
JOLYN
You are right. It is going to be a challenge.
TROY THOMAS
These people only see dollars and unless we are making a lot of money, they are going to ignore us.
JOLYN
Another thing we are changing is office etiquette. We want to ensure that everyone is treated with respect. We want to address each other by last name and title MR., MRS, or MS.
TROY THOMAS
I may need a raise. You are asking for a lot.
JOLYN
Help us achieve the results we are looking for and then we can talk about a raise. And if you can’t, then I am happy to do it for you.
TROY THOMAS
Do what?
JOLYN
Run the company.
TROY THOMAS
You can’t run the company. Last I check you were a housewife. The employees won’t take you seriously. They respect me. They only respond to what I say.
JOLYN
Tell you what TROY. I will run the company until you commit to my terms. After all I am the one paying the bills around here, and I am the one paying your salary.
JOLYN is visibly annoyed. She gets up from her desk and walks to the main floor and calls for an abrupt meeting.
JOLYN (CONT’D)
Many people have asked what am I going to do with the company. Let me assure you that I am going to manage the business. My sister CHARLOTTE will be your SALES MANAGER. Together we will manage the company. As some of you may know, my husband, just before he passed gave us three new trucks. It shows that he understood the vision and today I want to honor his commitment by rolling out our new Mission Statement, one that is simple and projects our new direction, “Our business is Wholesale.” I now will allow Charlotte to say a few words.
-
What I’ve learnt in this lesson? I’ve learnt the importance of reading over and editing the script. Errors seem to pop up from no where.
LESSON 12 Ricardo Williams Act 1
INT. DENTAL OFFICE – CAIRO, IL – DAY – 1934
The sign on the outside of the door reads, DR. E. C. HOWARD –
DENTIST. The adjoining door reads, THE VANITY BOX. The sounds
of a groan man moaning on the inside. The moans grow louder
as DR. EDWARD HOWARD, 35, a Black dentist appears with a pair
of gold plated pliers. He leans closer to his white male
patient seated in farmer’s overalls.DR. HOWARD:
Relax man. I haven’t even touch you
as yet.FARMER:
It hurts.
DR. HOWARD touches the back of the patient’s left ear and
comes up with a tooth.FARMER (CONT’D):
Aw! Aw! Aw!
The farmer is in shock as he steers at the tooth with his
mouth wide open long enough for DR. HOWARD to grab his pliers
and swiftly extract the bad tooth.FARMER (CONT’D):
I didn’t feel that.
DR. HOWARD:
Great. You weren’t suppose to.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – NIGHT
DR. HOWARD opens the door and as he turns around his two
daughters JOLYN, 6 years old, and CHARLOTTE 4 years old,
gleeful runs into his arms. He lifts them both up and spin
around. He kisses them. He kisses his wife MRS. MARGARET HOWARD, a woman in her mid
twenties, fair and beautiful with grace and elegance.MRS. HOWARD:
Honey, we have a busy weekend. We
may need extra help with the movie
theater, popcorn stand and the
burger grill.JOLYN:
MOTHER, I want to sell the popcorn.
CHARLOTTE:
Me too.
DR. HOWARD:
Sweetie, it seems like we’ve got
all the help we need. I will get
some extras.JOLYN:
When I grow up I want to sell pop
corn.CHARLOTTE:
Me too.
DR. HOWARD:
Now my dear children, a better idea
is to own your own pop corn stand.
When you own it, you get to keep
the profits.CHARLOTTE:
What is profits daddy?
JOLYN:
That’s the money you make after you
pay for your expenses.DR. HOWARD:
Now JOLYN, that’s just brilliant.
JOLYN:
When I grow up, I want to own my
own movie theater.
(Laughter)CHARLOTTE:
Me too.
DR. HOWARD:
That’s what I am talking about. You
can do anything you set your mind
to. See honey, the apple never
falls far from the tree. The Vanity
Box, Dental Office, Pop Corn stand,
Movie theater, wow, we are a family
of entrepreneurs.JOLYN:
Daddy what is entrepaneer?
DR. HOWARD:
People who own businesses.
INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY – 1942
14 year old JOLYN is doing her chores of cleaning her parents
bathroom. She notices scales in the bathtub. She uses a broom
and dust pan to sweep them up. She is puzzled. As she comes
out of the bathroom, she notices a letter on the dresser from
a doctor’s office. She picks it up and takes out the letter
from the open envelope. The words “MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES” catches
her eyes, and then she silently reads the dreaded contents of
the letter. She drops the letter and runs out of the room.
She is fighting to hold back tears.MRS. HOWARD:
JOLYN, are you OK?
JOLYN ignores her and goes into her room and closes the door.
She gets into a fetal position on the bed and she silently
weeps.INT. DR. HOWARD’S HOME – DAY – 1945
MRS. WHEELER, DR. HOWARD’S heavy set secretary walks into the
living room. She takes JOLYN and CHARLOTTE by the hands and
sits them down on the sofa.MRS. WHEELER:
Your mother called this morning
from the hospital. Your father
died.There is a look of shock on JOLYN’S face. She stumbles off
the couch. CHARLOTTE is screaming. JOLYN holds onto
CHARLOTTE. She looks out the window at the Post Office Plaza
across the street. She sees people walking around, talking,
and laughing. JOLYN is visibly angry as she watches the crowd
from above.JOLYN:
What are you people laughing at?
How can you do this? My father just
died.
(Shouting)CUT TO:
INT. EDIPHONE CENTER – DAY
JOLYN is busy transcribing cylinders of dictated letters to
customers. Male SUPERVISOR frantically walks into the room.SUPERVISOR:
MS. HOWARD you’ve typed, “Your
account is in the rear. It should
read, “Your account is in arrears.”
You have speed and that’s great,
but let me teach you something
about business. It doesn’t matter
how much effort you put in, if in
the end you are doing it wrong.
Efficiency is the most important
lesson you would learn in business.
Get it right the first time and you
would save us all from a lot of
heartache.INT. EDIPHONE CENTER – DAY – CONTINUOUS
JOLYN sits in the break-room. She writes a letter to her mom.
JOLYN (V.O.)
Dear Mother, today, I learned the
most important lesson in business.
The importance of accuracy and
getting it right the first time. I
started a job as an Ediphone
Operator. I am sending you this
money to help with expenses and to
help CHARLOTTE with her college.
Mother, I’ve dropped out of
college. I didn’t want to be a
burden on you. I want to be in a
position to support you and
CHARLOTTE.INT. BEIGE ROOM – NIGHT
JOLYN and CHARLOTTE walks into the BEIGE ROOM night club.
They are well dressed and looking glamorous. They are accompanied by CHARLOTTE’S handsome fiance, AL LOGAN,
28 and his weighty friend JOE ROBICHAUX, 32. JOE escorts
JOLYN to the dance floor.JOE:
What’s your hobbies?
(He is shouting above the music).JOLYN:
I’ve just taken up golfing.
JOE:
Such a prestigious game. Do you
play in tournaments?JOLYN:
As a matter of fact, I do. Mainly
in the Chicago area.JOE:
I have tickets
to see MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE speak at a hotel
downtown. I will like for you to
accompany me.JOLYN:
I really like her. I love her views
on women empowerment. I’ve met her
before at my workplace, but I would
love to here her speak.EXT. DOWNTOWN HOTEL CHICAGO – NIGHT
JOLYN and JOE ROBICHAUX arrive to a packed venue with the
best of Black Chicago in splendid glamor. They sit at a table
5 rows from the stage.MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE:
Perhaps the greatest battle is
before us. The fight is for a new
America: fearless, free, united,
and morally re-armed, in which 12
million Negroes, shoulder to
shoulder with their fellow
Americans, will strive that this
nation under God will have a new
birth of freedom.
(Applause)MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE makes her way through the crowd. She
stops at JOE’S table, stretches out her hand and greets
JOLYN. As she moves on, JOE grins and JOLYN is in a state of
shock.EXT. DOWNTOWN HOTEL CHICAGO – NIGHT
The night air is cool and refreshing. JOLYN holds on to JOE’S
right arm as they cross the street. The gentle sound of a car
horn beeps in the distance. An enlarged full moon stares at
the couple from overhead.JOE:
How are you enjoying our date so
far?JOLYN:
I must say, not bad for a first
date.JOE:
I admit, CHARLOTTE helped me out a
bit when she told me that you loved
Mary McLeod Bethune.JOLYN:
She did? I was wondering how you
knew. She is one of the reasons I
studied to be an educator. I always
wanted to have my own business, but
I was told it is not something
women do, so I did the next best
thing. I studied to be an educator
just like Mary McLeod Bethune.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get very
far though.JOE:
What do you mean?
JOLYN suddenly stops. She stares at the water park to their
left as several water outlet pouts in the air towards a huge
water fountain in the middle.JOLYN:
Oh! That’s so beautiful. This is so
amazing. I love downtown.JOE
(Smiling): The Summer is the perfect time of
year. So much to do. But wait (Joe pauses). Are you
changing the conversation on me?JOLYN hesitates. She gazes at the neon signs in the distance.
She stares at a neon sign that reads BEERS in red letters,
then another Coca Cola in white letters, and another with the
word CAPITOL in pink letters.JOLYN:
I don’t want to talk about it. The
night is too beautiful to bring up
the sadness of the past.
JOE:I understand. But I also understand
that in between the sadness there
are normally happy memories. I want
to know all sides of you.JOLYN:
It is not my intentions to bore you
to death.JOE:
Bored? No way. Just being in your
company, I feel so alive. There is
no way you can bore me. Try me.JOLYN:
If you insist (She pauses). I
dropped out of college Because I
didn’t want to be a burden on
mother after father died. (She
pauses, then tears up).JOE:
I am so sorry to hear. (He draws
her closer to him and hugs her).She is now in full blown tears. Joe pulls out a handkerchief,
and hands it to her. She wipes her eyes.JOE (CONT’D): I am so sorry. Seems like you were
very close to him. How did he die?JOLYN:
He died from a disease called
Mycosis Fungoides.JOE:
I’ve never heard of it.
JOLYN:
It’s a form of blood cancer that
dries out the skin. I adored him.
He was fun-loving, very interested
in life. He was a dentist at a time
when it was extremely prejudice,
yet about sixty percent of his
practice were white folks which was
very unusual at that time.JOE:
Wow! How did he accomplish that?
JOLYN:
He was known as the dentist that
didn’t hurt. It says something
about human nature and race. When
it comes to suffering, people don’t
care where they have to go to get
relief. So the word was out that if
you went to Dr. Howard, you could
have your teeth pulled, and you
wouldn’t even feel it. And what he
did (She pauses), he used magic.JOE:
Magic? Did he just make the tooth
disappear? ( Joe snaps his fingers
into the open air and chuckles).JOLYN:
Not exactly. He learned how to pull
rabbits out of hats. So he would
get these people in the chair and
start talking to them and showing
them his little tricks. And then
he’d grab a scarf and his tools, go
into the mouth and pull the tooth
out, and they didn’t even know it
was gone (laughter). So he was a
kind of showman. And maybe that’s
where I got it from myself. (She
does a dance skip on tip toes).JOE gently reaches out and hold her hand and does a
complimenting dance of his own.JOE:
What a remarkable story. I would
have love to meet him.JOLYN:
I watched him go from a happy proud
man with two small planes, a
successful dental practice and a
movie theater, to a man in hiding
with his skin drying up and falling
off like fish scales. Through it
all, he never lost his smile (She
is sobbing again). He did buy
MOTHER her dream home, a cottage in
the suburbs, before he died.They walk along a pave concrete wharf and passes too young
boys throwing fishing lines in the water.JOE:
In a way, your Dad’s death reminds
me of my own mortality. We have a
dash of time and the sooner we find
our purpose, the more complete our
life is.JOLYN:
Unfortunately growing up in the
Black Belt of Chicago, I’ve seen so
much hopelessness. You could say we
were a school of fish in an ocean
of sharks. Education was our only
hope. My paternal grandfather was
born a slave, but he educated all
his children. In a way, Dad showed
me the challenge is not in being a
small fish, but having the skills
to grow into a shark. I can say
with pride, he died a shark.JOE:
I believe you will get back into
school and become the shark you
were meant to be. If business is
your passion then you should study
business, but being an educator
also sounds like a great idea. I am
the shark that will see you
accomplish your dreams.JOLYN:
And just what qualifies you to be a
shark? (She chuckles).JOE:
You. That’s it. You made me a shark
(He playfully pounces on her. They
laugh).JOLYN:
You’re silly. I am scared of
sharks, so I won’t be of any use to
you. (She pauses and looks up at
the skyline). When I own my own
business I will be the shark I was
meant to be.JOE:
I will help you become that shark.
JOLYN runs off. JOE runs behind her and catches her from
behind. She is laughing and screaming as she turns around to
face him. He kisses her passionately. She responds. They kiss
intimately. He pauses.JOE (CONT’D):
JOLYN will you marry me?
JOLYN:
Are you crazy? You barely know me.
What are you nuts? (She giggles).CUT TO:
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – DAY
JOLYN is lying on the couch with her head on JOE’s lap. He is
massaging her gently.JOE:
You know how important serving the
community is to me. Do you?JOLYN:
Of course I do.
JOE:
Well, it so happens, MAYOR DALEY
wants me to run for the position of
Committeeman. He thinks with all
the new wards that are opening, I
stand a good chance.JOLYN:
I don’t want you in politics.
Politics is a game of crooks and
corruption.JOE:
Those are two things you won’t have
to worry about when it comes to me.
We have no politicians, who know
how to handle power. I know how to
handle power.JOLYN:
I agree. You are everything power
should be. You are now the Jury
Commissioner, and Vice President of
Wanzer Dairy. It just seems like
its a lot to handle.JOE:
I can handle it, and plus if you
allow me to, you can quit your job,
the job that you hate and focus on
your golfing.CUT TO:
EXT. HOME – DAY
JOLYN celebrates JOE’S appointment as JURY COMMISSIONER of
COOK COUNTY. Close friends and relatives gather in the back
yard patio. There are drinks and food for everyone.JOLYN:
My husband had a dream. A dream
that I was skeptical about. But I
stood by him. Politics as you know
can be a dangerous game, but it is
where his heart is and I wanted to
be there with him. Joe has beaten
the odds. He first won the position
of COMMITTEEMAN and three years
later MAYOR DALEY has appointed him
JURY COMMISSIONER of COOK COUNTY,
and may I also inform you that he
is a DIRECTOR at WANZER DAIRY. He
is one busy man. Ladies and
gentleman, I present to you my
husband and love of my life, JOE
ROBICHAUX.
(Clapping)JOE is smiling, a sheepish shy smile. He comes up to JOLYN
and hugs her and kisses her.JOE:
There is a saying that behind every
successful man is a strong woman,
and my wife has definitely been my
rock and my strength. She has kept
our family together. From raising a
son with asthma, and a daughter who
just became a teenager, she has
done it all. And don’t get me
wrong, she has dreams of her own,
but she has placed it on the backburner to care for our family.
Thank you, Sweetie.JOE’S MOM, ZENOBIA comes to the front to speak.
ZENOBIA:
I just want to say how proud I am
of my son. As a mother, I had to
put a few of my dreams on the backburner myself. I am so happy my
sacrifice was not in vain. If there
is one thing I can say about JOE is
that he takes care of his mother.
Thank you Son.
(Laughter and clapping)JOLYN is clapping, but she suddenly
looks sad.EXT. HIGHWAY – MORNING
JOLYN is driving. She gets off the highway and passes a stop
sign on her way to the GOLF COURSE. In her rear view mirror, she
notices the flashing colorful lights of a police car. She is
being pulled over.COP:
Excuse me, Ma’am, do you know why I
stopped you?JOLYN:
No sir.
COP:
You had a moving violation. You
didn’t stop at the Stop sign. I
need your driver’s license and
registration.JOLYN hands him the documents and he heads back to his car.
She is waiting and it feels like an eternity. The cop walks
back to her car.COP (CONT’D):
Ma’am, our record shows you have 6
unpaid parking tickets. You are
under arrest. Step out of the car.
Do not make any irrational moves.JOLYN is placed in handcuffs and taken into the backseat of
the police car down to the police station.INT. POLICE STATION – DAY
JOLYN is placed in a booking cell. She sits calmly in her
cell. Around the corner she hears the conversations from the
officers and the desk captain.DESK CAPTAIN:
Do you realize, you arrested the
wife of COMMITTEEMAN JOE? Do you
know how bad this looks?COP:
We had no idea.
DESK CAPTAIN:
I suggest you call him up and let
him handle this. I am sure this has
to be some misunderstanding.INT. POLICE STATION – DAY – CONTINUOUS
JOE arrives at the station to pay the tickets and pick up
JOLYN.JOE:
Hello, I am Committeeman Joe
Robichaux here to pick up my wife,
JOLYN ROBICHAUX. I spoke to the
DESK CAPTAIN and he is expecting
me.CLERK:
I am sorry the DESK CAPTAIN left
for the day, but I will be happy to
help you.JOE:
Great. I will like to pay the
outstanding fees and pick up my
wife.The Clerks are frantically searching for JOLYN. They pass
back and forth in front of her and can’t seem to find her.
JOLYN stops the Clerks.JOLYN:
Excuse me, who are you looking for?
CLERK:
We’re looking for MRS. ROBICHAUX.
JOLYN:
I am MRS. ROBICHAUX.
CLERK:
Sorry, we’re looking for
COMMITTEEMAN JOE’S wife.JOLYN:
Yes. I am JOLYN ROBICHAUX.
CLERK:
But you are Black. Are you the wife
of COMMITTEEMAN JOE ROBICHAUX?JOLYN is released. Joe hugs her, but he is visibly annoyed.
JOE:
Sweetie, why didn’t you take care
of those tickets?JOLYN:
I thought I had time, MR.
COMMITTEEMAN. Those poor clerks
expected to see your white wife.
Their eyes popped when they saw I
was Black.JOE leans over and kisses JOLYN on the lips. He looks up to
see the surprise look on the clerks faces. He kisses her
again.INT. JOLYN’S HOME – DAY – 1967
JOE is fixing a cocktail and JOLYN is on the couch relaxing.
The phone rings. JOE walks over to the living room and picks
up the phone.JOE: Hello.
ARCHIBALD CAREY (V.O.):
Hello, is this JOE ROBICHAUX?
JOE:
Who am I speaking to?
ARCHIBALD CAREY (V.O.):
This is Archibald Carey
JOE:
The one and only Archibald Carey,
prominent lawyer and now Circuit
Judge?ARCHIBALD CAREY (V.O.):
Yes sir.
JOE:
It’s a pleasure hearing from you.
How can I be of service to you?ARCHIBALD CAREY:
I don’t know if you are aware of
this, but I am also the owner of
BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO.JOE:
Yes, of course. I am quite aware of
that.ARCHIBALD CAREY:
Well, the truth is, I am very ill
and I want to divest myself of the
responsibilities of the company.JOE:
I am so sorry to hear that. What’s
your plans for the company?ARCHIBALD CAREY:
Would you be interested in
purchasing the company? It is
currently in receivership, but
supermarkets all over the Black
Belt are stocking our products. I
know you are involved with Wanzer
Dairy and I think you are the ideal
person.JOE:
I’ll have to talk it over with my
wife, but I’m very much interested.ARCHIBALD CAREY:
A little history about the company,
it was started in 1921 by seven
black postal employees who were
under-employed at the post office
because they each had college
degrees. It started off as the
SEVEN LINKS and when KIT BALDWIN
bought them out, he changed the
name to BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY.
I want to keep the business Black
owned.JOE walks over to JOLYN with a sheepish grin.
JOE:
Honey, our life is about to change.
You won’t believe what just
happened.JOLYN:
What?
JOE:
ARCHIBALD CAREY offered to sell us
BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO for $25,000.JOLYN:
Wow! Sounds like a bargain. BALDWIN
is a household name. I’ve seen
patrons in their Sunday best
waiting in long lines to indulge in
their ice cream.JOE:
It’s one of the longest surviving
Black businesses. It’s been around
since 1921. He wants to keep it
Black owned. Do you think we should
purchase it?JOLYN:
Let’s do it.
JOE:
Now, I will need you to take care
of the house while we build this
business. I can get my cousin TROY THOMAS to
run things while I keep my jobs
with the Commission, and Wanzer
Dairy. You could focus on your
golfing and taking care of the
children.JOLYN:
Honey, you know my dream is to own
my own business. What’s the point
of me having a business and I am
not involved in running it?JOE:
I know it is your dream, Sweetie,
but we have obligations to the kids
and the house. Don’t forget JOEY
has Asthma. He is only 5 and SHEILA
is only 13. We need to be here for
them.JOLYN:
Honey, that’s my dream manifesting.
The kids are in school during the
day, and we could get your mom to
help out. We can make it work.JOE:
How about a compromise. You can
come in and observe things during
the day until 3 PM. I will go to
the Cook County Jury Commission at
9 then go to Wanzer Dairy where I
will perform my duty as Vice
President and then head over to our
business by 3 PM. Mother can help
with the kids. I will have TROY THOMAS direct sales and
I will manage it as we get familiar
with things.JOLYN:
So you want me to come down to
Baldwin everyday just to observe
what the operation is like?JOE:
Yes. We can keep the current
managing team, while we learn the
business.JOLYN:
Family or not, you know your
womanizer cousin is not right in
the head.JOE:
He has that business experience
that would come in handy, and
family is important to him.JOLYN:
What business experience he has?
Are you talking about running a bar
for drunkards?JOE:
He does that on weekends. During
the week I can get him to work with
us.JOLYN:
Honey, that makes no sense. So
basically, you want me to go to the
office and just sit there and give
you updates?JOE:
No. I want you to be my right hand
and keep an eye on things. We can
give you the title of SECRETARY.JOLYN:
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, why do I have to
be the SECRETARY? Why can’t I be
the MANAGER?JOE:
I think you are more than capable
of being the manager, but I want
you to learn the business first.JOLYN:
If that’s what you want, I get it,
it’s a Man’s World. Just know that
if the men can’t get the job done,
this woman is more than capable and
ready to step up.JOE:
I will see to that. (He smiles).
-
I learned during this assignment how to spot the inciting incidents and turning points in my screenplay.
Ricardo Williams Turning Point Scene
INT. RECEPTION AREA OF CORPORATE OFFICE – DAY
Jolyn shows up at the corporate office elegantly dressed and a brief case containing what she believes will win her more shelf space with the corporation.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE – DAY
After two days of trying to see managers, Jolyn gets an unexpected welcome from the receptionist who is impressed by Jolyn’s persistence and elegance. She informs Jolyn that the managers will see her.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE – DAY
After receiving a cold reception from the managers, Jolyn makes a move that turns out to be the turning point in the Act. She opens a briefcase of cash and promise the managers that if they meet her demands, she will double sales.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE OF SUPERMARKET – CHICAGO – DAY
JOLYN enters the corporate office for a major distributor supermarket. She is dressed in elegant business attire. She is carrying a black briefcase, and a work bag. She approaches the white female receptionist in her early fifties, who looks up at JOLYN with shock and disdain at the sight of a black woman in a white store.
JOLYN:
Good morning. I am the CEO of BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY and I would like to speak to your manager.
RECEPTIONIST:
I am sorry, my manager is busy and won’t be able to see you.
JOLYN:
Can I make an appointment?
RECEPTIONIST:
We have no appointments available.
JOLYN:
Surely, you do have cancellations sometimes. Am I right?
RECEPTIONIST:
Very rarely.
JOLYN:
In that case, I will clear my schedule and sit here and wait for that rare occasion when a cancellation becomes available.
Jolyn makes herself comfortable in the waiting room. She takes out a book from her bag and proceeds to read. She pulls out a snack and eats it slowly, while drawing her briefcase closer. The receptionist feels uncomfortable but ignores Jolyn.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE OF SUPER MARKET – DAY – CONTINUOUS
It is closing time at the office and Jolyn still has not seen the manager.
RECEPTIONIST:
Excuse me ma’am. Our office is about to close. You will have to leave now.
JOLYN:
No problem. Let your manager know that I will be back in the morning.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE OF SUPERMARKET – DAY
Jolyn dressed in elegance and fashion is back at the corporate office of the supermarket. She is all smiles as she approaches the receptionist still carrying her black briefcase and work bag.
JOLYN:
I am sure, you know why I’m here. I’d like to talk to your manager.
RECEPTIONIST:
He is busy. He would not be able to see you.
JOLYN:
Again, no rush. I will make myself comfortable while I wait. Be sure to let him know that I am here to see him.
Jolyn sits in the waiting room. She takes out a book and a snack from her bag. She reads and munches on the snack. The hours go by and still no sign of the manager.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE OF SUPER MARKET – DAY – CONTINUOUS
It is closing time and the receptionist confronts Jolyn.
RECEPTIONIST:
Ma’am, we are about to close.
JOLYN:
Not a problem. Do me a favor, won’t you please? I know this must be a very difficult thing for you to do, but tell your manager, I will be back to see him in the morning.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE OF SUPER MARKET – DAY
Jolyn shows up for the third successive day to see the manager. She is elegantly dressed in a black dress, black stockings, black hat, and black shoes and carrying the black briefcase and work bag. The receptionist steps out to greet her. She is smiling and pleasant a sharp contrast from the previous days.
RECEPTIONIST:
MRS. ROBICHAUX, in all my time as a receptionist, I have never met anyone who dresses as elegant as you do and shows the kind of persistence and determination you do. Today, you are in luck. My manager will see you. Come on in.
Jolyn walks into a room where 10 white horses are posing in sitting posture and then as her eyes zero in on her shock, she realizes they are actually 10 white men eagerly sitting around with curious eyes. The look of surprise on their faces to see a black woman in their office. She smiles.
MANAGER 1:
Is it MS. ROBICHAUX? How can we help you?
JOLYN:
I am the new owner and CEO of BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO. (JOLYN gives one of her charming smiles, her eyelashes blinking rapidly). We have improved our product quality, delivery service and our sales. I will like more space in your freezers.
There is laughter all around.
MANAGER 1:
Are you kidding me? Is this a joke?
The managers all have smirks on their faces.
MANAGER 2:
Who does she think she is?
MANAGER 3:
HARRIET TUB-TUB-TUBMAN? (Mocking stuttering)
MANAGER 4:
Are you looking for the Underground Railroad? Are you lost? (Laughter all around).
JOLYN:
I am serious. Here are our sales figures and here are our projections. If you grant us more space, I can guarantee you we will increase our sales by 50 percent within a year. Let us make more money together. Do we have a deal?
The managers laugh even harder.
MANAGER 1:
Didn’t Baldwin file for bankruptcy?
JOLYN:
Actually, under my leadership, we paid all our debtors and came out of bankruptcy. (Jolyn is smiling and blinking rapidly in a charming way).
MANAGER 2:
Are you affiliated with JESSE JACKSON’S Rainbow PUSH, that group that has been picketing our stores? Because we already house your products. What more do you want?
JOLYN:
I
need more space in your freezers. I promise our products sell on its own. Just
give us the space.MANAGER 1:
Ain’t going to happen. Sorry.
JOLYN:
If I return next year and I can show you a 50% increase in sales. Would you give us the extra space?
MANAGER 1:
(The managers in the room laugh out loud).
Please show MS. ROBICHAUX the exit.
JOLYN:
Wait.
She puts one hand up, halting the approaching managers as they move to toss her outside. They pause. She places the brief on its side and opens it exposing a briefcase full of cash.
JOLYN (CONT’D):
I promise you that within a year, I’ll be back with not one, but two briefcases and in return all I ask for is unlimited space in your freezers.
The managers look confused. Some are rubbing their lips. There is an uncomfortable pause of silence in the room.
MANAGER 1:
Deal. If you can double your sales, we will give you unlimited space in our freezers.
-
Does anyone else get the feeling that Assignment 10 and 11 are similar?
-
Ricardo Williams LESSON 10
What I’ve learned doing this lesson is how to add details to show the impact of the inciting action.
LESSON 10
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE – DAY
JOLYN takes JOE to the doctor’s office. He is having stomach pains. There are red spots all over his body.
DOCTOR:
Our test results show that your husband, Mr. Robichaux is allergic to mosquito bites.
JOLYN:
Doctor that is impossible. There are no mosquitoes here in April.
DOCTOR:
Let me recommend a specialist to you. They can run more comprehensive testing.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT – 1971
JOE is at the hospital to have a specialist conduct a panel of test.
DOCTOR:
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am so sorry. The test results show your husband has a rare case of Leukemia and it has progressed too far. He is going down fast and there is no medication to put it into remission. He has less than two weeks to live.
INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
JOLYN paces the hospital room, she gets a call. It is MR. Hayden from the office.
MR. HAYDEN (V.O):
Mrs. Robichaux, the man is here with the trucks.
JOLYN:
What man and with what trucks?
MR. HAYDEN (V.O.):
We have three new ice cream trucks here. He wants Mr. Robichaux to sign the papers.
JOLYN:
Hold on.
JOLYN turns to JOE
JOLYN (CONT’D):
Honey, what is this? There are three new trucks at our location.
JOE:
Oh, I bought three trucks, so we can expand into Wholesale.
JOLYN:
(Back to speaking on the phone).
MS. Hayden send the gentleman to the hospital and I will meet him outside.
JOLYN puts on a mask and meets the gentleman outside.
JOLYN (CONT’D):
My husband has a condition that is highly contagious so we cannot go in there. So, let me see these papers.
GENTLEMAN
Can I go in with you and have him sign them?
JOLYN
You cannot come in because my husband’s germs are contagious and will kill you, but mines will not.
The gentleman looks puzzled, but hands JOLYN the papers and she takes them into JOE’S room and she signs them. JOLYN returns the signed papers to the gentleman showing a $75,000 debt.
GENTLEMAN
OK, everything is all set. The trucks are all yours.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS
A feeble JOE is lying in bed. He holds JOLYN’s hand. ZENOBIA is sitting in the corner of the room observing. JOE smiles. JOLYN looks concerned but composed.
JOE:
You are so beautiful. I love you very much. You have been a good wife and I want to thank you for everything you’ve done. You gave me two beautiful children and I thank you. You threw some of the best parties I’ve witnessed. I remember when you learned to cook and served me some of your worst meals (smiling). We had so many wonderful vacations the best I remember was going to the Rose Bowl game in Los Angeles. Some of the happiest moments of my life was watching you golf.
JOE squeezes JOLYN’s hand. She is sobbing and losing her composure. She is sniffing hard.
JOLYN:
Sweetie, I am so sorry. I am so sad (she is losing control as she weeps while he squeezes her hand). You are my heart and I love you. I will never forget you. I will treasure our memories every day of my life.
JOE closes his eyes for one last time.
ZENOBIA
(Screaming)
Who is going to take care of me now? Eh? Who is going to take care of me?
Jolyn puts her arms around Zenobia and they both continue to cry.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – DAY
JOLYN lies in bed all morning. She has a pillow over her head. She is weeping silently. She can hear movements in the living room as the kids prepare to leave for school. She lacks the energy to get involved. It’s going to be another long boring day.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN
is sitting in her bedroom in the dark. She is smoking a cigarette. Cigarette
butts overflow in the ashtray. Clothes are scattered on the floor. JOLYN hears
the words, “You are running out of time,” echoing in her head. Then she hears,
“Sell the company.” Then she remembers MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE shaking her hand and
the words, “You can run your own company,” appear in her head. Then she hears
the final stanza of INVICTUS, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of
my soul.” She feels energized and ready to take matters into her own hands. -
Ricardo Williams LESSON 10
What I’ve learned doing this lesson is how to add details to show the impact of the inciting action.
LESSON 10
INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE – DAY
JOLYN takes JOE to the doctor’s office. He is having stomach pains. There are red spots all over his body.
DOCTOR:
Our test results show that your husband, Mr. Robichaux is allergic to mosquito bites.
JOLYN:
Doctor that is impossible. There are no mosquitoes here in April.
DOCTOR:
Let me recommend a specialist to you. They can run more comprehensive testing.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT – 1971
JOE is at the hospital to have a specialist conduct a panel of test.
DOCTOR:
MRS. ROBICHAUX, I am so sorry. The test results show your husband has a rare case of Leukemia and it has progressed too far. He is going down fast and there is no medication to put it into remission. He has less than two weeks to live.
INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
JOLYN paces the hospital room, she gets a call. It is MR. Hayden from the office.
MR. HAYDEN (V.O):
Mrs. Robichaux, the man is here with the trucks.
JOLYN:
What man and with what trucks?
MR. HAYDEN (V.O.):
We have three new ice cream trucks here. He wants Mr. Robichaux to sign the papers.
JOLYN:
Hold on.
JOLYN turns to JOE
JOLYN (CONT’D):
Honey, what is this? There are three new trucks at our location.
JOE:
Oh, I bought three trucks, so we can expand into Wholesale.
JOLYN:
(Back to speaking on the phone).
MS. Hayden send the gentleman to the hospital and I will meet him outside.
JOLYN puts on a mask and meets the gentleman outside.
JOLYN (CONT’D):
My husband has a condition that is highly contagious so we cannot go in there. So, let me see these papers.
GENTLEMAN
Can I go in with you and have him sign them?
JOLYN
You cannot come in because my husband’s germs are contagious and will kill you, but mines will not.
The gentleman looks puzzled, but hands JOLYN the papers and she takes them into JOE’S room and she signs them. JOLYN returns the signed papers to the gentleman showing a $75,000 debt.
GENTLEMAN
OK, everything is all set. The trucks are all yours.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS
A feeble JOE is lying in bed. He holds JOLYN’s hand. ZENOBIA is sitting in the corner of the room observing. JOE smiles. JOLYN looks concerned but composed.
JOE:
You are so beautiful. I love you very much. You have been a good wife and I want to thank you for everything you’ve done. You gave me two beautiful children and I thank you. You threw some of the best parties I’ve witnessed. I remember when you learned to cook and served me some of your worst meals (smiling). We had so many wonderful vacations the best I remember was going to the Rose Bowl game in Los Angeles. Some of the happiest moments of my life was watching you golf.
JOE squeezes JOLYN’s hand. She is sobbing and losing her composure. She is sniffing hard.
JOLYN:
Sweetie, I am so sorry. I am so sad (she is losing control as she weeps while he squeezes her hand). You are my heart and I love you. I will never forget you. I will treasure our memories every day of my life.
JOE closes his eyes for one last time.
ZENOBIA
(Screaming)
Who is going to take care of me now? Eh? Who is going to take care of me?
Jolyn puts her arms around Zenobia and they both continue to cry.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – DAY
JOLYN lies in bed all morning. She has a pillow over her head. She is weeping silently. She can hear movements in the living room as the kids prepare to leave for school. She lacks the energy to get involved. It’s going to be another long boring day.
INT. JOLYN’S HOME – NIGHT
JOLYN
is sitting in her bedroom in the dark. She is smoking a cigarette. Cigarette
butts overflow in the ashtray. Clothes are scattered on the floor. JOLYN hears
the words, “You are running out of time,” echoing in her head. Then she hears,
“Sell the company.” Then she remembers MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE shaking her hand and
the words, “You can run your own company,” appear in her head. Then she hears
the final stanza of INVICTUS, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of
my soul.” She feels energized and ready to take matters into her own hands. -
After reviewing this assignment, I feel for the first time it’s all coming together now. I have a better understanding of my protagonist’s and antagonist journey and arcs.
Ricardo Williams ACT 1 The Protagonist scene:
INT. HOTEL – DAY
JOLYN looks at the door of the hotel room with the number 309. She knocks. The door opens slightly.
HARDY GROVE:
Come in JOLYN. (His deep baritone voice has an eerie feeling of seduction).
JOLYN steps back realizing that HARDY is in a robe.
HARDY grabs JOLYN by the arm and places a knife against her neck. He pulls her into his room.
JOLYN:
What the fuck’s wrong with you?
HARDY GROVE:
Be quiet.
HARDY locks the door.
JOLYN:
HARDY, you don’t have to do this. You know what I want, and I know what you want. Let me make it easy on you.
HARDY GROVE:
What do you mean?
JOLYN:
You want me, don’t you?
HARDY GROVE:
As a matter of fact, I do.
JOLYN:
I know all about your reputation. They told me you are the Gentle Giant. I guess, I missed the gentle part?
I am willing to sleep with you.
HARDY GROVE:
(HARDY clears his throat). You are? (He looks puzzled). I can be gentle.
JOLYN:
I will like that, but first, business before pleasure. Let me have the signed contract you promised. Allow me to hang up my coat and my purse if you don’t mind.
HARDY nods his head in the direction of the closet.
HARDY GROVE:
It’s over there.
JOLYN takes her time. She hangs up her purse and her coat and walks back to HARDY.
JOLYN:
The contract?
HARDY GROVE:
Here it is.
HARDY nervously puts the signed contract on a desk. JOLYN reads it carefully and signs it. She folds it and takes it back to her purse. She puts the contract in and picks up a small bottle containing PEPPER and empties the contents in her hand and walks back to Hardy.
JOLYN:
Now you can remove your robe.
Hardy drops his robe on the floor exposing his brown hairy buttocks.
HARDY GROVE:
Are you going to undress?
JOLYN:
I have weight issues. I prefer my clothes on.
JOLYN walks closer to HARDY. She pretends she is going to kiss him. She puts her left hand on his face and draws him closer. She uses her right hand and rubs the pepper into his eyes. He screams. She knees him in his testicles. HARDY stumbles uncontrollably with his eyes inflamed and closed. JOLYN guides him to the door, unlocks it, and pushes him out of the room. She locks the door. She picks up the phone and dials a number.
FRONT DESK:
Front desk, how may I help?
JOLYN:
There is a naked gentleman locked out of room 309. He will need a robe. Can you let him in?
JOLYN picks up her purse and coat and stands at the door. As the front desk opens the door, JOLYN walks out. She passes a whimpering HARDY.
JOLYN:
Bye HARDY. Thanks for the contract.
Ricardo Williams Act 1 PART 2 The Antagonist Scene:
INT. OFFICE OF BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO – DAY
JOLYN and CHARLOTTE meets with TROY THOMAS to discuss the operations.
JOLYN:
TROY, let me introduce to my sister CHARLOTTE. CHARLOTTE has a degree in Business Management from Fisk University. We want to discuss the operations with you to see how we can improve things. We are very concerned about the future of the company. How are things in your opinion?
TROY THOMAS:
Things are great. It could be better, but it is great. Business is good.
JOLYN:
Do you see any ways we can improve things?
TROY THOMAS:
Not really. Everything is great. I mean not great, but it is good.
JOLYN:
What do you think will make things great?
TROY THOMAS:
I don’t know. Maybe more sales?
JOLYN:
More sales is always a good thing. I have noticed some flaws in our operations. The drivers never seem to follow their schedules. That is not good for our reputation as a company. It is not good for business. I think we can fix that. CHARLOTTE?
CHARLOTTE:
Yes. Punctuality is very important. I would like to sit down with you and workout drivers’ schedules. I want us to hold them accountable to their schedules.
TROY THOMAS:
Are you saying you want to workout schedules or are asking me to do it? I can do it. I don’t need help.
JOLYN:
TROY, CHARLOTTE will do the schedules. She doesn’t need your help. Another thing, we are changing the focus of the company to Wholesale. We would be visiting some of the big companies to get more shelf space and expand our market. I, myself will network with other women in business.
TROY THOMAS:
What makes you think these White own companies are going to open their doors to a Black owned product? We’ve had Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition for years trying to make it happen and it didn’t. Sure, they gave us some space to make it look like they want our products, but they are never expanding their shelves for us.
JOLYN:
You are right. It is going to be a challenge.
TROY THOMAS:
These people only see dollars and unless we making a lot of money, they are going to ignore us.
JOLYN:
Another thing we are changing is office etiquette. We want to ensure that everyone is treated with respect. We want to address each other by last name and title MR., MRS, or MS.
TROY THOMAS:
I may need a raise. You are asking for a lot.
JOLYN:
Help us achieve the results we are looking for and then we can talk about a raise. And if you can’t, then I am happy to do it for you.
TROY THOMAS:
Do what?
JOLYN:
Run the company.
TROY THOMAS:
You can’t run the company. Last time I checked you were a housewife. The employees won’t take you seriously. They respect me. They only respond to what I say.
JOLYN:
Tell you what TROY. I will run the company until you commit to my terms. After all I am the one paying the bills around here, and I am the one paying your salary.
JOLYN
is visibly annoyed. She gets up from her desk and walks to the main floor and
calls for an abrupt meeting.-
This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Ricardo Williams.
-
This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by
-
ACT 4
OPENING: JOLYN is seated in her office. She writes a check to pay off Exchange Bank. The phone rings. It’s the Marketing Director Rodney Doyle of Jewel stores.
TE 1: RODNEY DOYLE informs JOLYN that JEWEL Stores will like to house Baldwin Ice Cream products nationwide.
INCITING INCIDENT: Baldwin Ice Cream company will have to come up with $100, 000 upfront for repackaging their products to meet the standards of JEWEL stores. Jolyn doesn’t have $100,000.
VIRGINIA ROGERS invests $100,000 into Baldwin Ice Cream Company giving Jolyn the money for repackaging the products.
INT. JOLYN ROBICHAUX’S OFFICE – DAY
JOLYN is seated in her office. She writes a check to pay off Exchange Bank. The phone rings. It’s the Marketing Director Rodney Doyle of Jewel stores.
TE 1: RODNEY DOYLE informs JOLYN that JEWEL Stores will like to house Baldwin Ice Cream products nationwide.
INT. RESTAURANT – DAY
INCITING INCIDENT: JOLYN informs VIRGINIA ROGERS that Baldwin Ice Cream company will have to come up with $100, 000 upfront for repackaging their products to meet the standards of JEWEL stores. Jolyn doesn’t have $100,000.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
TE 2: VIRGINIA ROGERS calls to invests $100,000 into Baldwin Ice Cream Company giving Jolyn the money for repackaging the products.
INT. JOLYN ROBICHAUX’S OFFICE – DAY
JOLYN is seated in her office. She writes a check to pay off Exchange Bank. The phone rings. It’s the Marketing Director Rodney Doyle of Jewel stores.
INCITING INCIDENT: Baldwin Ice Cream company will have to come up with $100, 000 upfront for repackaging their products to meet the standards of JEWEL stores. Jolyn doesn’t have $100,000.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
PLACEMENT: JOLYN is worried she doesn’t have the money for repackaging her products to JEWEL store standards. Should she try to get another bank loan? She believes she has maxed out her chances for further loans. She is feeling stuck.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
TE 2: VIRGINIA ROGERS calls to invests $100,000 into Baldwin Ice Cream Company giving Jolyn the money for repackaging the products.
INT. JOLYN’S OFFICE – DAY
PLACEMENT: Is Virginia Rogers really going to come through with her investment? What if she changes her mind? Is there anyone else to turn to?
-
ACT 3
OPENING: It’s a slumber time at the BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO. Retail sales have plummeted due to the Chicago Tribune newspaper article about crime in the Third Ward. JOLYN is looking at the pile of mail on her desk. She notices a letter from the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. She nervously opens the letter. That cold feeling of ear builds again.
TE 1: JOLYN announces their Entrepreneur of the Year Presidential Award to the office. It sets off loud cheers and celebration.
INCITING INCIDENT: Jolyn reads a letter that says the US government is suing her company for use of child labor.
TE 2: Jolyn against the advice from her team, Jolyn decides to fight the charges.
INT. JOLYN ROBICHAUX’S OFFICE – DAY
It’s a slumber time at the BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO. Retail sales have plummeted due to the Chicago Tribune newspaper article about crime in the Third Ward. JOLYN is looking at the pile of mail on her desk. She notices a letter from the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. She nervously opens the letter. That cold feeling of ear builds again.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
TE 1: JOLYN announces their Entrepreneur of the Year Presidential Award to the office. It sets off loud cheers and celebration.
INCITING INCIDENT: Jolyn reads a letter that says the US government is suing her company for use of child labor.
TE 2: Jolyn against the advice from her team, Jolyn decides to fight the charges.
INT. JOLYN ROBICHAUX’S OFFICE – DAY
OPENING: It’s a slumber time at the BALDWIN ICE CREAM CO. Retail sales have plummeted due to the Chicago Tribune newspaper article about crime in the Third Ward. JOLYN is looking at the pile of mail on her desk. She notices a letter from the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. She nervously opens the letter. That cold feeling of ear builds again.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
TE 1: JOLYN announces their Entrepreneur of the Year Presidential Award to the office. It sets off loud cheers and celebration.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER: JOLYN bubbling with excitement as she tries to absorb the fact that she has won the Presidential Award.
INT. JOLYN ROBICHAUX’S OFFICE
INCITING INCIDENT: Jolyn reads a letter that says the US government is suing her company for use of child labor.
TE 2: Jolyn against the advice from her team, Jolyn decides to fight the charges.
INT. HOME – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER: Can she win a legal battle against the US government? Does she have the resources to win this battle? Should she called them up?
-
OPENING: Jolyn walks into the small office of the Aviation department at the airport, a stocky white male in his fifties the Aviation manager, greets her. He hands her the contracts for the concession stands.
TE 1: JOLYN announces to board members about the five airport concession stands.
INCITING INCIDENT: JOLYN receives letter from the Aviation Manager that due to changes in regulations her concession stands have not reached the standard requirement to open.
TE 2: JOLYN is stuck for 6 months paying employee salaries while her concession stands remained closed due to the airport restrictions.
EXAMPLE 2
INT. AVIATION OFFICE – DAY
JOLYN shakes the hands of the Aviation manager. He hands her the contracts for the 5 concession stands. She signs them. It’s a done deal.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
INCITING INCIDENT: JOLYN reads letter from the Aviation Manager that due to changes in regulations her concession stands have not reached the standard requirement to open.
TE 2: Hit with new airport regulations, JOLYN spends the next six months trying to meet their standards. In the meantime, she is paying employee salaries on closed concession stands putting a financial strain on the company.
INT. AVIATION DEPARTMENT — DAY
TE 1: JOLYN shakes the hands of the Aviation manager. He hands her the contracts for the 5 concession stands. She signs them. It’s a done deal.
INT. BALDWIN ICE CREAM COMPANY – DAY
PLACEHOLDER: JOLYN chatting with board members about the newly acquired airport concession stands.
INT. JOLYN ROBICHAUX’S OFFICE — DAY
INCITING INCIDENT: At work, JOLYN reads letter from the Aviation Manager that due to changes in regulations her concession stands have not reached the standard requirement to open.
INT. AVIATION OFFICE — DAY
TE 2: Hit with new airport regulations, JOLYN complains to Aviation manager about the financial impact the restrictions are having on her business. She is paying employee salaries on closed concession stands putting a financial strain on the company.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER: How to deal with the financial impact of the closed concession stands? Should she panic? Write a letter of complaint? Walk out of the contract?
-
An Unlikely CEO — Troy Thomas
In this assignment I’ve learnt how to flush out my antagonist and add depth to their storyline.
Troy Thomas leads
Baldwin Ice Cream company but is limited in his vision.He focuses on
loyalty rather than strategy.He
engages in sabotage after losing his job.It is believed that he hired hit
men to kill Jolyn.Shows that he has control over the employees even after
being fired.He writes letters telling
all potential business partners that Jolyn is incompetent and not suitable
for business.He apologizes after
being caught, but can he be trusted?He acknowledges he was
wrong in thinking that Jolyn as a woman was not capable of running the
business. -
EXAMPLE 4 ACT 2
OPENING: HARDY invites JOLYN to his hotel room to meet other members from the conference and sign the contract for the military contract.
TE 1: JOLYN looks at the door of the hotel room with the number 309. She knocks. The door opens slightly. JOLYN steps back realizing that HARDY is in a robe.
INCITING INCIDENT: HARDY grabs JOLYN by the arm and places a knife against her neck. He pulls her into his room.
TE 2: HARDY nervously puts the signed contract on a desk. JOLYN reads it carefully and signs it. She folds it and takes it back to her purse. She pretends she is going to kiss him. She puts her left hand on his face and draws him closer. She uses her right hand and rubs pepper into his eyes. He screams. She knees him in his testicles. He stumbles uncontrollably with his eyes inflamed and closed. She guides him to the door, unlocks it, and pushes him out of the room. She locks the door. She picks up the phone and calls the front desk.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
HARDY walks over to JOLYN for polite conversation. She smiles and shakes his hand.
INT. HOTEL LOBBY – NIGHT
JOLYN looks at the door of the hotel room with the number 309. She knocks. The door opens slightly. JOLYN steps back realizing that HARDY is in a robe.
INCITING INCIDENT: HARDY grabs JOLYN by the arm and places a knife against her neck. He pulls her into his room.
INT. HOTEL ROOM – DAY – CONTINUOUS
HARDY nervously puts the signed contract on a desk. JOLYN reads it carefully and signs it. She folds it and takes it back to her purse. She pretends she is going to kiss him. She puts her left hand on his face and draws him closer. She uses her right hand and rubs pepper into his eyes. He screams. She knees him in his testicles. He stumbles uncontrollably with his eyes inflamed and closed. She guides him to the door, unlocks it, and pushes him out of the room. She locks the door. She picks up the phone and calls the front desk.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
OPENING: HARDY invites JOLYN to his hotel room to meet other members from the conference and sign the contract for the military contract.
INT. HOTEL LOBBY – DAY
TE 1: JOLYN looks at the door of the hotel room with the number 309. She knocks. The door opens slightly. JOLYN steps back realizing that HARDY is in a robe.
PLACEHOLDER: JOLYN thinks she is worried she is about to be raped.
INCITING INCIDENT: HARDY grabs JOLYN by the arm and places a knife against her neck. He pulls her into his room.
INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER: How should she handle HARDY? Should she scream? Should she remain calm? Should she give in to his demands?
-
1. Ricardo Williams
2. Three scripts.
3. I am hoping to tighten my script writing abilities.
4. There is only one of me. Boy, that’s strange, and unique at the same time. I can be very sarcastic and annoying to myself. I did Stand Up comedy a few times. I wasn’t very good at it. I did published a couple books. Sometimes I wish that I didn’t.
-
Hi Michael,
I just saw your message. I will love to have you read my script. I am awaiting the editing which I should get back this Friday. I will also like to read your script. Congratulations on your second-place achievement. Are we going to email each other the script? ricardowilliams@hotmail.com