#*luis scott

(Luis): Don’t hang up.

[Disgusted, Lena does just that. The phone quickly rings ...and again. Eventually, she answers.]

(Luis): —You are a fucking child.

(Lena): Fuck you. Where’s Mum?

(Luis): Look, I used her phone because we both know you’re not taking my calls and–

(Lena): Get. To. The. Point.

(Luis): [Sighing] The shooting…my contacts are saying it’s Harbour Kings.

(Lena): …Contract or personal?

(Luis): I don’t know.

(Lena): [Hushed, Furious] Then what the fuck am I supposed to do with that?! And what contacts? You’re supposed to be off the fucking grid!

(Luis): I still am. That’s why I bothered talking to you instead of taking action.

[Lena kisses her teeth]

(Luis): Look, everyone’s either running scared [(???): I need you to hide this.] or prepping for war right now. If we cut a deal with one of the smaller firms for now, then it’ll get us back in the rooms with the important players. Right now we rely on whispers but we need to start showing our faces and–

(Lena): —Oh give it a fucking rest, man. I don’t work for you.

(Luis): Don’t let hubris be your downfall, Lena. You are new to this, it won’t kill you to take my advice.

(LENA): So um, bathroom and kitchen are to the left if you wanna shower or eat and then the rooms in front of us are the living room, bedroom and study so…

(MAX): Lena…[They turn to face each other]

(LUIS): [Noticing Lena’s car] Let’s get this over with.

[As the siblings walk towards each other, the air is thick with tension. The one-two punch of seeing both of her siblings arrive mixes with Lena’s ongoing anxieties over Max. Betrayal and fear distil themselves into an ache in her chest, giving her a brief pause before she speaks. However, the silence proves too much for Lourdes and her rising panic makes her talk first]

(LOURDES): Lena…I know how this looks, but please. If you let us explain then I’m sure we can have a civil conv-

(LENA): Sure? Oh that’s funny. An hour ago I was sure my sister wasn’t a traitorous bitch. 

(LOURDES): Lena! You don’t understand! 

(LENA): Get the fuck out of my sight Lourdes, before I change my mind.

(LOURDES): I-

(LUIS): Go wait in the car. 

[Lourdes, now devastated, stomps off in the direction of the car]

(LUIS): If it’s any consolation, she hated lying to you and mami, and probably she hates me now too.

(LENA): She can join the fucking club. What is wrong with you Luis? [Gritted teeth] Why would you do this? What was there to gain?

(LUIS): Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand. You have no idea what it’s like to atone for the sins of this fucking family.

(LENA): Oh give me a break! Do you think you’re the only one who’s been through shit? Who’s fucking sacrificed?

(LUIS): No. But unlike you, my shit isn’t self-inflicted.

[Lena punches Luis to the ground]

(LOURDES): [witnessing it] here we fucking go.

(LENA): [Flexing her hand] get up.

[Luis scrambles to get back on his feet]

(LENA): Do you know what your problem is? You don’t know how to de-escalate. You just expect people to back down and acquiesce to your point of view. [Luis gets back up, breathing heavily] …And if you can’t get your way, you provoke people into being their worst selves, so that you can say your hand was forced. Now we both know that shit doesn’t run with me, so how about you try telling the truth instead?

[Luis takes this opportunity to shove Lena to the ground, they fall together and immediately start fighting.]

(LUIS): [Breathless, mocking] that ‘I’m so tough’ shit is getting old, Lena.

(LENA): [venomous] Prick. [She surprises Luis by shoving him off her, quickly regaining the upper hand. Her gun clatters to the floor in the process.] 

(LOURDES): [quiet, panicked] Oh fuck!

(LENA): Aw poor Luis, it’s so hard being daddy’s favourite, I’m such an angel! It’s my sister who’s a big bad monster! Boo-fucking-Hoo. [deadly] You know I promised mami I’d bring you home, I just didn’t say what condition…

[Lourdes sprints back into view, Roy’s black SUV pulls up]

(LOURDES): Lena! That’s enough!

[Lena releases him immediately, shocked out of her blind rage, the two sit, facing each other]

(LENA): …He’s fine. 

[Car door slams, Roy steps out, but so does someone else]

(LENA): [Now standing] Max?

[Luis scrambles to his feet, in the background, now holding his sister’s gun]

(LENA): How are you here?

(MAX): I- um, Roy helped me with…I needed to see you.

(LOURDES): [Quietly] Luis are you okay? Do you need a hospital?

(LUIS): [Hoarse] I’m fine. [He points the gun] And I’m sorry Roy, but when all is said and done, you’re a loose end.

(ROY): [holding max at gunpoint] I have to say, you’re not the one I thought would be holding that. Makes my insurance plan feel a bit flat. Tell your brother to drop the gun, Lena.

(LENA): [low, tense] Luis…don’t make them a part of this.

(LUIS): I’m sorry Max, I don’t know what my sister has you caught up in, but she should’ve known better.

(LOURDES): Luis please! Lena’s right! Let’s just go home. You don’t have to do this!

(LUIS): This doesn’t concern you Lourdes. Go back to the car.

(LOURDES): No! [She stands in front of him] We are going home! I will not lose another member of my family! Drop the fucking gun! [She turns around] Both of you!

(LENA): [Quiet, urgent] Luis. Come on.

[Luis sighs before dropping the gun into Lena’s hand. Satisfied, Roy lowers his gun and releases Max from his grasp. They remain utterly silent.]

(LENA): Alright Roy. Let’s call a truce. It’s been a long fucking day.

(ROY): …Fine. Just this once. It’s not fucking worth it anywa-

(LENA): [To Max, mouthing] Duck. 

[max ducks, lena fires her gun, the bullet hitting roy square in the chest, he collapses to the ground, his own gun clattering on the gravel]

(LOURDES): [Horrified] Fuck! Why?

(LENA): [staring at max] he crossed a line.

[Lena walks towards Max, who now stands over Roy’s body] 

(LENA): [gentle] Max?

(MAX): [Staring at Roy’s body] Yeah?

(LENA): Look at me.

[Slowly, Max meets Lena’s worried gaze]

(LENA): Are you okay? Did he hurt you?

(MAX): I’m good. Are you okay?

(LENA): [Surprised] I’m fine. Just…sorry you had to see that.

(MAX): Don’t be… I get why you did it.

[*]

[Lourdes and Luis watch on in the distance]

(LOURDES): [Realising] Oh.

(LUIS): That doesn’t concern us. We need to get out of here.

 [*]

(MAX): What happens now? Do you need to sort things with your siblings?

(LENA): They’ll be fine. What do you need?

(MAX): …Can we go back to yours? Don’t think I should be alone after all this.

(LENA): Of course.

(MAX): And…what about Roy? It’s not just him…in the boot there’s-

[NINE MONTHS EARLIER]

(LUIS): Why come to me?

(ROY): Enemy of my enemy. God saw fit to deal with your father. It’s up to me to handle the rest.

(LUIS): I see…and you’re sure this will work?

(ROY): I’m certain. You help me, I help you. We both get what we want.

(LUIS): Alright…I’m in.

[SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER]

(LOURDES): Have you lost your entire mind?!

(LUIS): Lourdes-

(LOURDES): Dad hasn’t even been dead a year and now you want to break Mami’s heart all over again? You want me to lie to my only sister?

(LUIS): Lourdes please. What I’m doing will save our family. It will make us better!

(LOURDES): You don’t know that! I feel like you’re not telling me the whole story. I don’t get why we just can’t go to Lena and Mami-

(LUIS): Because they won’t understand! Do you honestly think I’d ask you to help me if I wasn’t desperate? You’re the only person I trust in this world! I need you by my side on this. And you’re right, I’m not telling you everything, but it’s because you don’t need to know. You have to let me protect you, just like I'm trying to protect Mami…[off Lourdes’ look] and Lena too.

(LOURDES): You shouldn’t be calling.