“DEMO”

(section)

[Some background: Dale Rooks, a Special Forces soldier, on leave and staying at his brother’s place in Oakland, is pulled into a mystery surrounding a onetime tenant of his brother’s.]

INT. KITCHEN – DAY

JARED, 14, [Rooks’ step-nephew] toys with a double-edged combat knife when Rooks enters. His eyes widen at the sight, and he quickly snatches the knife out of Jared’s hand.

JARED

Hey!

ROOKS

What are you doing with this?

Jared gets ready to say something, but gets frozen by a tractor-beam stare from Rooks.

ROOKS(cont.)

What Are You Doing With This?

Pause.

JARED

(barely audible)

Nuthin’.

ROOKS

(louder)
What?

Jared’s eyes make an effort to drift. Rooks taps him on the cheek.

ROOKS(cont.)

Look at me! What?

JARED

(deer in headlights)

Nothing.

Rooks narrows his eyes & bores them through the back of Jared’s scull.

ROOKS

Uh-huh. Where’d you get it?

Pause. Jared tries drifting again; Rooks pats him on the cheek.

ROOKS(cont.)

No slouching! Where did you get it?

JARED

...Found it.

ROOKS

WHAT?

JARED

I found it.

ROOKS

That’s bullshit. You got it from someone—who’d you get it from?

JARED

I didn’t—

ROOKS

You playin’ me for a fool?

JARED

I swear—

ROOKS

Shut the fuck up!.. You any idea what this is designed for?

Pause. Jared tries to drift again. Rooks pats him on the other cheek.

ROOKS(cont.)

Answer the question. Do you know what this is designed for?

JARED

...No.

ROOKS

WHAT?

JARED

I don’t know!

ROOKS

Son, what are you doing with a knife you don’t know what it’s for?

Pause. Rooks backs off a bit, but keeps his eyes on locked on Jared’s. He examines the blade with his hands.

ROOKS(cont.)

Definitely’s not made for pealing carrots. Or cutting cake. It’s for one thing:

Rooks slowly draws the knife across his own throat without breaking skin. Jared swallows.

ROOKS(cont.)

Now, who gave you this?

JARED

I told you I found it.

Rooks drives the knife into the kitchen cutting board next to Jared, jolting him rigid and quivering.

JARED(cont.)

Honest to God, I’m telling the truth! I found it! I swear!

ROOKS

Found it where?

Rooks pulls the knife from the board.

INT. ATTIC – DAY

Jared leads Rooks through a maze of boxes and crates to a corner of the room. He clears away a couple of boxes to bring one into view, marked on the top and sides in big, black letters: AK.

Jared looks up at Rooks, who nods to him. He opens the box and steps away to show the contents to Rooks.

Along with the knife’s sheath, there are various other objects of a military and paramilitary nature: belts, insignia, other knives—and a formal photo of “Arthur” in uniform. Then name on the tag reads, ARMSTRONG. And underneath the picture of the young man in uniform...

...is a copy of the Demo. Rooks discreetly pockets the Demo, then turns to face Jared.

ROOKS

Arthur tell you about this? The truth, now.

JARED

...Yes—Yes, sir.

ROOKS

When?

JARED

About a week before he passed.

[Possible flashback scene interspersed.]

JARED(cont.)

He said I could have it, if he should ever go away. And that I should keep it a secret.

Pause.

ROOKS

Okay. Why you gotta lie to me before?

JARED

I was scared.

ROOKS

Yeah, well, when I see kids playing with things like this,

(holds up knife)

that scares me. Okay?

Rooks returns the knife to its sheath and closes up the box.

ROOKS(cont.)

You’re lucky I’m the one who caught you and not your mom. Or your dad.

JARED

You won’t tell them?

ROOKS

Nah. But this stuff doesn’t belong to you.

JARED

Huh?—Why??

ROOKS

‘Cause it’s Government property, and I’m Government. It’s still a secret, though. Now let’s clean this up before your mom & dad get home.

Jared quickly joins Rooks to replace the boxes to their original order and quit the scene.