#*ep 14

[Night - The Dollhouse] 

(Girl #1): Slurring. Yay we made it! I’m tryna stare at some big beautiful titties or whatever Rihanna said!

(Girl #2): Relax, man…if you’re too drunk they won’t let us in!

(Girl #1): Booo! I wanna do shots! Girl #2 kisses her teeth.

(Girl #3): Still cannot believe you talked me into this.

(Girl #4): Girl it did not take much to convince you!

[***]

(Girl #3): Guys, we should get drinks, the next girl starts in 10.

(Girl #1): I can’t lie, I'm not tryna get up right now…I want a lap dance.

(Girl #2): Ignore her, the rest of us can go up.

(Girl #4): Nah, I need a wee. Can you get me a rum & coke though?

[***]

(Danielle): Max?

(Max): Danielle…What are you doing here?

(Danielle): I’m out with my friends…are you here with yours?

(Max): …I’m on break…I bartend here.

(Danielle): Oh.

(Max): Oh?

(Danielle): I didn’t mean it in a rude way! This just isn’t where I pictured you working. 

(Max): Right well I’ve only got half hour left of my break so-

(Danielle): Wait, don't go! I haven’t seen you in ages. …How are you?

(Max): ...We don’t have to do this, you know. 

(Danielle): Do what?

(Max): The small talk. It’s jarring. 

(Danielle): You’re jarring.

(Max): And you’re defo drunk so unless you need help finding your friends–

(Danielle): -Can I just ask you something? What exactly is your issue with me?

(Max): Oh we are not doing this. They turn to leave, Danielle grabs their arm.

(Max): Are you for real?

(Danielle): Answer my question Max.

Max sighs, choosing to stay. Danielle lets go.

(Max): Okay one: keep your fucking hands to yourself and two: …I don't have an issue with you. We’re just not…close.

(Danielle): Bullshit. I’ve done fuck all to you. In fact, I’ve only ever tried to support you, but for some reason you still treat me like a prick, so why is that? 

(Max): Fed up. Jesus– D’ya know what?! It’s because you fucking pity me Danielle. 

(Danielle): Excuse me?

(Max): Ever since I first set foot in your mum’s house the two of you have looked at me like I was a sick dog. 

(Danielle): The fuck are you talking about, bruv? All we’ve ever done is try our best to love you! How is that wrong?

(Max): I don’t know! Until I was 11 there was this life I knew and it wasn’t perfect but it was mine. And then my mum met yours and all I could feel was how much everything was changing. Do you know what it’s like to find out almost everything you’re used to is wrong?

(Danielle): I don’t! But I do know that you’ve held onto this shit for years! If you’d just talked to us then– 

(Max): …If everyone else was trying their best, then why would I fuck that up?

(Danielle): Max– 

(Max): –Look, we’re done here. I’m hungry and my break’s almost over.

(Danielle): But– 

(Brooke): I’m almost done babe.

(Carmen): You said that 20 minutes ago. 

(Brooke): I know, and I’m sorry but this deadline’s killing me.

(Carmen): I don’t care Brooke! You’ve got ten minutes before I get an uber.

(Brooke): Don’t be like that Carm. You know how important this is.

(Carmen): So is me getting my pussy ate!

Brooke sighs, but she doesn’t respond.

(Carmen): Yeah…fuck this actually. She stands up, pulling her trousers back on.

(Brooke): Noticing. Are you seriously this impatient? It’s not even been 10 minutes.

(Carmen): And? I’m done wasting my time with you.

(Brooke): Carmen…

(Carmen): Leaving. Delete my number Brooke.

Brooke sighs again, resigned to her fate. She continues scrolling, before something gives her pause.

(Brooke): …What the fuck?...Max?!

Lena waits impatiently in a quiet parking garage.

[TXT] (DV // 06:19): bridgeview. 2PM.

[TXT] (LENA // 13:57) here. [sent 12mins ago]

Dimitry enters the car

(Lena): You’re late.

(Dimitry): I’m busy. 

Lena kisses her teeth. 

(Lena): Spice district. Start talking.

(Dimitry): What makes you think I’ve got shit to say?

(Lena): Do I look like a dickhead to you?

(Dimitry): [Sighing] Look, I don’t have time for this Lena. I don’t know shit and even if I did I’m not a fucking snitch.

(Lena): No, you’re a rat. So do what you do best and name your price.

(Dimitry): It’s not worth the risk.

(Lena): The fuck are you on about?

(Dimitry): Lena, you've got no idea what’s coming. I’m not gonna stay down in the mud when I can get to the high rise. Whatever moves you’re planning won’t matter. If these lot get their way, you’ll just have to fall in line.

A tense silence falls. It’s broken by Lena’s phone buzzing.

[TXT] (AMARA // 14:18) Have you left yet? 

(Lena): [To Dimitry] Get out.

(Dimitry): I’m going…but don’t shoot the messenger, yeah? I’m doing you a favour.

[Max & Lena Kissing]

(Max): Babe…

(Lena): Two more minutes.

(Max): I don’t wanna keep her waiting.

(Lena): [Sighing, pulling away] Fine. 

(Max): Alright, text me when you get to Copperdale.

(Lena): I will. C’mere. [They kiss again]

(Max): [Pulling away] Okay, okay! I have to go babe. For real.

(Lena): So let me get this straight. We pay you to watch our shipments and make sure things go off without a hitch, yet somehow our stock still gets seized and miraculously, you don’t know how this happened?

(Vince): I swear! I was havin’ a piss and when I came out security were swarmin’ round the goods! I-it was too late to do anythin’!

(Aaron): That’s interestin’ ‘cause your mate said otherwise. Apparently “The pay’s too low for you to be arsed!”

(Vince): He’s lying! I never said that shit!  Please, y-you've got to believe me! I’ve got kids! I’ll p-pay you back! 

(Lena): Course you will. [Standing up, to Aaron] He’s all yours Aggro.

(Vince): What?! Please I-I’ve not done anything! [Sobbing]  I want t’ go home I-

[Early evening, sequence - Amara fretting on the phone / Lena driving]

(Amara): Hushed, urgent. …I need some more time…You know what I’m dealing with.

(Lena): ¿Mamí? ¿Dónde estás? [Mum? Where are you?]

(Amara): …Well that’s hardly fa-...Fine. Set up a meeting. 

(Lena): [Knocking] 

(Amara): Hushed, urgent. Shit. I have to go…I’ll call you. SHE HANGS UP. Come in!

(Lena): Entering, immediately suspicious. Who was that?

(Amara): ¿Cómo dices? [Excuse me?] 

(Lena): I didn’t mean it like that. You just look…stressed. 

(Amara): Estoy bien. [I’m fine.] And I know you didn’t drive all this way just to worry about me. What did you find out?

(Lena): …Less than I hoped. Our presence in the city is too subtle. We need to come out of the dark.

(Amara): Sighing. It’s too soon for that Lena. Our foundation isn’t solid yet.

(Lena): How can it be?! We finally have a chance to rebuild, yet we’re stuck doing busy work! We need to expand our operation! Bold moves are being made, Mamí, and if we don’t strike soon, we’ll get left behind!

(Amara): ¡Cálmate [Calm down]  Lena! I know it feels like things are stalling but this work requires patience. We cannot jump into the fray just because our lessers are rushing forward. 

(Lena): …What aren’t you telling me?

(Amara): Lena, how many times must I ask you to trust me?

[The Banks Household - Late afternoon]

(Benito): I know you’re going through the unimaginable right now, but if you think of anything, anything at all that you think could aid us in our investigation, then please let me or one of my colleagues know. You have my card, if you need anything in the coming weeks please feel free to reach out.

(Toni-Ann): Weary. Thank you officer.

(Jade): Sudden. Have you spoken to his friends yet? Michael, Kenan, Jake? Any of them lot?

(Benito): We’re still in the early stages of investigation. We are conducting interviews but I hope you can understand that I can’t discuss with who.

(Jade): So why are you here then?

(Toni-Ann): Jade.

(Benito): It’s fine - of course you want answers. I wish I had them but right now, the best thing I can do is conduct this investigation as thoroughly as possible. 

(Jade): And how long will that take? What about the funeral? Why the fuck is my brother rotting in the morgue when he should be laid to rest? You’re not gonna find anything! The people that did this probably pay your salary! 

(Toni-Ann): Tearful. That’s enough, Jade! Apologise to detective Marquez! Now! 

(Jade): Standing up. Nah mum! You know what Jarell was doing! The feds aren’t gonna do shit and you know it! [To Benito] So unless you can bring my brother and his girlfriend back from the dead then you’re fucking useless to us! 

(Jacqui): Thanks for coming in, Max. How’ve you been?

(Max): …Um fine thanks. You?

(Jacqui): I’m not too bad doll. Now before I explain why you’re ‘ere, I want ya to know that you’re not in trouble.

(Max): Right…

(Jacqui): I just wanted to check in a bit. You’ve been back ‘ere a little while now. How are ya finding it?

(Max): [Brightly] Good! It took a bit of adjusting but Autumn and the other girls have been really nice. 

(Jacqui): I’m glad. What do you like about bartending exactly?

(Max): Oh um- well the social side of it mostly, it's a good way to meet people and um…um sorry my brain’s gone completely blank.

(Jacqui): Don’t worry love- happens to all of us…Have you ever thought about doing anything else?

(Max): …Not for a while…I went to uni to work in research but…I changed my mind.

(Jacqui): Mm. [Sighing] Look, I’ll get to the point– I’m worried about ya Max. 

(Max): Sorry?

(Jacqui): You’ve had it rough lately, but you’re in your 20s and I can see you’ve got a lot of potential that’s going to waste. People like us don’t get many opportunities in this life. I’m tryna change that.

(Max): How?

(Jacqui): Well I’m sure you know the club isn’t my only line of work. I’ve been watching you and I think you’d be a great addition to my security team. It’s unsocial, unpredictable hours but you’ll make a lot of cash…and gain a sense of purpose.

(Max): Oh…but I’ve never done anything like–well what would the job entail exactly?

(Jacqui): …Sometimes I help people out…but I don’t do freebies and some of my customers need a bit of encouragement to pay me back. D’ya get what I’m saying?

(Max): …Yeah…I just don’t know if I’ve got the right…skillset.

(Jacqui): That’s no issue, you’d be buddied up with one of my senior girls to show you the ropes. Tell ya what - Why don’t we try it on a trial basis? 6 weeks, if it’s not for you - you can go back to the bar and walk away scott free.

(Max): Can I think about it?

(Jacqui): …Fine. See what your girlfriend says.

(Max): Oh she’s not my–[Off Jacqui’s look]. I’ll let you know by the end of the week. Is that okay?