A Scene From "Sometimes a HERO" The following scene takes place just after Cassandra, (a figure skating coach from an upper class neighborhood), has driven Jimmy, (from the other side of the tracks), home after their first date. Jimmy, in an effort to get away from his undesirable life of crime, has recently broken a contract with crime boss Arthur Hallam to destroy the skating facility where Cassandra coaches. Jimmy's fellow gang member, Derek, is having trouble adjusting to Jimmy's change of heart. Jimmy Coy and Cassandra Diaz EXT. JIMMY'S HOUSE -- NIGHT Cassandra's car pulls up into the driveway. It stops just in front of the garage. INT. CASSANDRA'S CAR -- NIGHT Cassandra turns off the ignition as she looks at the home in front of her. She turns to Jimmy who stares out the window - a little bit of tension in the air. CASSANDRA Well... umm.... here you are. JIMMY (depressed) Here I am... Cassandra catches a sense in his tone. CASSANDRA Jimmy? He sighs. JIMMY I hope you won't judge me by the area I live in. Cassandra smiles. CASSANDRA As long as you don't judge me on the area that I live in. Jimmy smiles. JIMMY Thanks. Saying this, Jimmy opens the door and steps out of the car. He closes the door behind him - and starts to walk to the house. CASSANDRA Hey Jimmy!! Jimmy stops and turns - a slight smile on his face. CASSANDRA Thanks for a wonderful night. Jimmy nods a thank you, then decides to make the most of the moment. He takes a deep breath. JIMMY Could I show you something? CASSANDRA Sure.   INT. JIMMY'S GARAGE -- NIGHT Jimmy leads Cassandra into the garage and turns on the light. Cassandra sees the old car... the hood up... engine exposed. CASSANDRA Wow! JIMMY It was my dad's CASSANDRA Was he a race car driver? JIMMY No... he was a musician... poet... the typical starving artist. Jimmy looks at the car. JIMMY But his hobby was cars... we used to work on this together. Cassandra listens. JIMMY It's the only thing of his I have left. That, his old guitar, and some stuff he wrote my mom. Cassandra walks closer to get a better look. She sets her purse down on the work bench. Jimmy smiles as he steps closer. JIMMY When he was alive I never wanted to learn to play the guitar. Jimmy's voice cracks in sorrow. JIMMY Now I'd give anything to sit down with him... watch every chord, every placement of the fingers. Cassandra realizes Jimmy is hurting, she smiles and tries to change the subject to spare his feelings. She gets another look at the engine. CASSANDRA This'll really fly. JIMMY Yep... Cassandra stands back up and turns to Jimmy. CASSANDRA Well, I want to go for the first ride when it's done! Jimmy smirks. JIMMY Sure... but you'll be driving. CASSANDRA Me?... why? Jimmy looks away... but does not respond. Cassandra realizes the question was too personal. CASSANDRA It's really late... I better get home. Jimmy's face saddens as he tries to muster a smile, motioning for them to leave.   EXT. JIMMY'S HOUSE -- NIGHT Jimmy walks Cassandra to her car, then she realizes... CASSANDRA Ooops!... forgot my purse. She darts off. Jimmy, now back in a normal mood takes this opportunity to rehearse what he's wanted to say for the past few minutes. JIMMY (to himself) Cassandra... we should... No!, Cassandra if you want to.. Na! Could you and I... that sucks. He takes a breath. JIMMY (out loud) Could I see you again, Cassandra? CASSANDRA (O.C.) I would really like that. Jimmy jumps slightly as her voice interrupts his rehearsal. JIMMY Oh... great.. uh... CASSANDRA I have a skating banquet tomorrow night - 8:00pm... Dress up. JIMMY Cool. Cassandra grins from ear to ear as she waves a goodnight and almost skips her way to the car. Jimmy smiles as he watches her drive off... then suddenly his smile fades. JIMMY (to himself) I don't have her number... Jimmy looks to the sky as a surrender to his stupidity. He turns to go inside, then realizes the garage light is still on.   INT. JIMMY'S GARAGE -- NIGHT Jimmy steps into the doorway to switch the light off, when something catches his attention. He smiles. There, on the windshield of his car written in lipstick... Cassandra - 555-7363 Call me you Doofus!!   JImmy Coy and Derek Moore EXT. JIMMY'S HOUSE (porch) -- NIGHT Derek walks up the driveway as Jimmy emerges from the garage. JIMMY (to himself) Here we go. Jimmy signals for them to go to the garage.   INT. JIMMY'S GARAGE -- NIGHT Derek sits on the work bench. DEREK (sarcastically) So... how was the date? Jimmy ignores Derek's tone. JIMMY I saw Russ at the arena tonight. Derek says nothing. JIMMY I think Hallam hired them. DEREK You think you're the only game in town? Jimmy looks at Derek. JIMMY We gotta stop them. DEREK Forget it Coy!!.. no way! JIMMY Derek, c'mon... we have to! Derek shakes his head. DEREK I could understand you not wanting to hurt innocent people... but now it's about you gettin' laid. Jimmy clenches his fists. JIMMY If I know Hallam... he's got a contract out on us anyway. Derek looks at Jimmy... he then notices the lipstick writing on the car windshield, he sneers. DEREK This woman is bad news. You're just an experiment for her. She's just toyin' with you... havin some fun! Jimmy steps right into his friend. His face is stern as he glares at Derek. DEREK You don't wanna do this, Jimmy! Jimmy steps back... not wanting to build on the intensity of the conversation. JIMMY Are you bailing cuz I decided to have a conscience? Derek sighs. DEREK I just want you thinking straight. JIMMY Wake up! For the first time in my life I'm starting to think straight. DEREK God makes two types of people... Us and victims - it's just the way it is. JIMMY I don't believe that anymore. Derek frowns. JIMMY And it isn't because of Cassandra... she's just turned out to be a bonus. DEREK A bonus for you... what about Remo?... me? Derek begins to walk away. DEREK Our options start at midnight, and end when a bullet finds us. Jimmy pleads. JIMMY I have to take Hallam down. But I can't do it alone. Derek continues to walk out of the garage... he turns. DEREK You're struttin' around in the twilight zone. Sorry, man... I'm gone. Derek exits the garage without another word. Jimmy stands alone for a moment - then... turning and grabbing his guitar, he too exits. Back to "Sometimes a Hero" main page