Bringing Out the Dead Page #10

LOVE, a black, tough-talking female dispatcher, comes on the

radio:

DISPATCHER LOVE:

Twelve Young.

(beat)

Let's go, Twelve Young. Answer the

radio.

FRANK:

Hey, Marcus, it's Love. I haven't

heard her in months.

MARCUS:

She only works when I'm on. I make

her wait and it drives her crazy.

FRANK:

Is it true that you and Love went on

a blind date?

(Marcus looks away)

She hit you with a bottle?

MARCUS:

She loves me the way no woman ever

has.

DISPATCHER LOVE:

Twelve Young, I don't have time for

your games. Now answer me or do I

have to come out there myself?

MARCUS:

I usually don't do calls before

coffee. But I think it might do you

some good.

(picks up mike)

Twelve Young is here and I'm gonna

take care of you, baby. Don't you

worry about a thing, yahear, cause

Marcus is alive and on arrival.

DISPATCHER LOVE:

I'm not your baby, Young, I'm not

your mother either. You're going to

a cardiac arrest, Avenue C and Ninth,

northeast corner. It's a club. Take

the side entrance.

MARCUS:

Ten-four, hon.

(to Frank)

This is for you.

Marcus flips on the lights and siren.

CUT TO:

EXT. NINTH & AVENUE C--NIGHT

Marcus grabs the yellow airway bag, leaving Frank to lug the

three heavier pieces as they push their way through the crowd

toward a black jacketed DOORMAN holding a walkie-talkie:

MARCUS:

(to crowd)

I hope we're not late from you guys

holding us up here.

CUT TO:

INT. CLUB BACKSTAGE--NIGHT

The Doorman leads Frank and Marcus through the smoky graffiti-

covered backstage ante-rooms to a cubicle where a knot of

club types and band members hover around IB BANGIN, 18 year-

old white rapper, face up, blank-eyed and breathless on dirt-

impacted carpet. Hip-hop music echoes from the club PA.

Frank kneels beside IB Bangin, taking a pulse, realizing

it's the gray and black stage makeup making him seem DOA. He

pulls up IB Bangin's eyelid, shines a light into the pupil.

MARCUS:

Okay, what happened?

DRUMMER:

He's going to be all right, right?

MARCUS:

No. He's dead.

DRUMMER:

No way, man.

MARCUS:

He's dead and there's nothing we can

do. Come on, Frank, that's it.

FRANK:

(whispers)

He's not dead. It's a heroin overdose.

Break out the Narcon.

MARCUS:

(announcing)

He's dead unless you folks want to

stop bullshitting me and tell it

straight. Then, Lord willing, we'll

try to bring him back.

BYSTANDER:

He broke up with his old lady.

GIRLFRIEND:

We didn't break up. We were just

seeing other people.

MARCUS:

I'm still waiting and this young man

is still dead.

BYSTANDER:

She broke his heart.

The Girlfriend shoots a look at the Bystander. Marcus just

stands, hands on hips, silent. Frank opens the drug box.

The Drummer relents:

DRUMMER:

All right, all right, he's been

snorting that Red Death stuff. Been

going for four days.

MARCUS:

(brings hands together)

What's his name?

DRUMMER:

IB Bangin.

MARCUS:

What'd you mean IB Bangin? What kind

of name is IB Bangin?

GIRLFRIEND:

(Hesitant)

It's Frederick. Frederick Smith.

MARCUS:

(to body)

Okay, Freddy.

GIRLFRIEND:

It's Frederick.

MARCUS:

Okay, IB Bangin, we're gonna bring

you back. Every person here grab the

hand of the person next to you.

Marcus assists them as Frank breaks the cellophane off a

syringe, locates a vial of Narcon. Frank gives Marcus the

high sign--Marcus raises his hands:

MARCUS (CONT'D)

Oh Lord, here I am again to ask one

more chance for a sinner. Bring back

IB Bangin, Lord. You have the power,

the might, the super light, to spare

this worthless man.

Frank injects IB Bangin: he responds to the Narcon with a

jolt, opening his eyes, raising his hands.

GIRLFRIEND:

(kneeling)

Frederick!

BYSTANDER:

Oh wow, man. Oh wow.

IB BANGIN:

(sick)

What happened?

GIRLFRIEND:

You died, you stupid bastard. I warned

you.

DRUMMER:

You guys are awesome.

FRANK:

(to IB Bangin)

C'mon.

Frank and the Girlfriend guide IB Bangin to the door as Marcus

collects the gear.

MARCUS:

Not us. The first step is Love. The

second is Mercy.

He follows Frank, IB Bangin and Girlfriend out, calling for

the crowd to clear.

CUT TO:

INT. MERCY ER--NIGHT

IB Bangin sitting with Nurse Constance in triage. Past Griss,

Frank talks with Dr. Hazmat:

FRANK:

That guy I brought in yesterday,

post-cardiac arrest. He's gone.

Rate this script:3.5 / 4 votes