The Power Pellet

INT. JORDAN'S STUDIO APARTMENT -- NIGHT

Kate knocks on Jordan's front door. He looks through the peephole but sees only darkness.

JORDAN
If I can't see you, I won't let you in.

Kate pulls her finger away from the peephole, smiling through watery eyes. Jordan opens the door, motioning her inside.

KATE
HE THINKS THAT I DO TOO MUCH... WE MADE THIS PROMISE... BUT HE'S BEEN CHEATING... SO IF HE CHEATS, I DO TOO.
(crying and screaming)

JORDAN
What’s wrong? Slow down... what’s going on?

KATE
Josh and I promised to only do stuff together, and lately, he’s been over here telling me not to do anything while I know he’s high as hell.

JORDAN
Well, fuck. You ARE your own person, and part of the fun of being in a relationship is not having to share everything. Doing that makes a relationship destined to fail.

KATE
So that’s how you operate, huh?
(being coy and sexy)

JORDAN
Not completely, but there’s no reason to tell everything. The way I see it, the more that’s on the table, the more there is to hate.

KATE
I used to feel the same way; I just wanted this one to be different.

JORDAN
It's okay, just relax... there’s no reason to be an open book. Let’s sit down and talk about this.

KATE
I’m glad we’re on the same page.

As Kate and Jordan walk into the dining room to sit down, she smiles elegantly, dragging her index finger across the veneer of the dining table. She turns to face Jordan.

KATE
(CONT'D)
Why don’t we just say fuck all for a day, drop everything, and go look at some oriental rugs?

JORDAN
Let me take a rain check on that one... I have to make some money today. Feel free to do whatever you like here, though; you know the layout of the house. Just lock the door on your way out.
(speaking nervously)


EXT. THE POWER PELLET (LOCAL ARCADE) -- EVENING

Jordan opens the door of his black Honda Prelude and strides from the parking lot into "The Power Pellet." Upon entering, he notices a group huddled around the arcade's Marvel vs. Capcom game. He spots his contact, Rufus, surrounded by friends, and approaches them.

JORDAN
Yo man, you Rufus?

RUFUS
Yeah man, you got the shit?

Jordan sneers slightly, moving in closer to speak face-to-face with Rufus. Rufus, feeling nervous, pulls his head back.

JORDAN
Please spare the B-movie acting. I've got the merchandise, so let’s make a trade and we’ll go our separate ways.

RUFUS
Shit, no need to be an ass, okay? You first.

JORDAN
Already did. It’s in your front right pocket of your coat. I need some tokens; let me borrow some cash.

Rufus takes his right hand off the joystick and digs into his coat pocket, smiling as he pulls out cash from his left pocket and hands it to Jordan.

RUFUS
Here, I'll save you a seat.

Jordan takes the money, stashing it in his coat pocket, and walks toward the token machine. He retrieves a dollar from his jeans and feeds it into the machine, which spits out four tokens. He returns to the game, inserting two tokens and placing the other two on the screen.

JORDAN
Here, I'll pick random select.

RUFUS
You a cocky motherfucker, aren’t you?

JORDAN
Have to be in my business... (smiles)

Jordan selects random and plays against Rufus, winning the first round.

RUFUS
One more, I got you this time. One sec, let me get some more tokens...

JORDAN
Use these two on the screen.

RUFUS
I’d rather get my own.

JORDAN
Then I’m leaving...

RUFUS
Okay, okay... here, you happy?

Rufus grabs the other two tokens and inserts them into the coin slot, choosing his characters. Jordan selects random again and wins once more.

JORDAN
Good games, man. I have to go... you can keep playing on my tokens. Thanks, guys. (smiles at the large men at the other machines)

As Jordan walks out of the arcade, Rufus pulls out a cell phone from his coat pocket and makes a call as Jordan heads toward his car.

---

EXT. THE POWER PELLET PARKING LOT (LOCAL ARCADE) -- MOMENTS LATER

Jordan reaches his car, unlocking the doors and getting inside. As he starts the engine, a white Buick Delta 88 speeds down the lane and screeches to a halt right behind him. The driver leaps out, wielding a crowbar.

Jordan spots the driver in his rear-view mirror and kicks the Prelude into reverse, hitting the electronic locks just as the driver grabs the door handle. The door stops halfway open, causing the passenger, who was getting out, to scream and flop back down into the seat with his leg hanging out.

The Honda slams into the right-side door of the Buick, pinning the passenger's leg between the car door and frame. A sickening crack echoes as the passenger screams, while the driver begins smashing the windows of the Prelude, narrowly missing Jordan's head.

Glass rains down around Jordan as he shifts the car into drive, crashing into the vehicle parked in front of him. The driver gets the crowbar stuck in the Prelude's aluminum frame and releases it, while the passenger yanks his leg back inside the Buick and slams the door.

In a panic, the passenger puts the Buick in reverse and floors the accelerator. The car lunges backward as the driver pulls a Beretta 92 from his jacket. Jordan catches a glimpse of the gun and slams the car into reverse, speeding out of the parking space.

The driver points the gun at Jordan, who then shifts into drive. The driver fires five shots into the passenger side of the Prelude. Jordan floors it, making a right out of the parking lot.

---

EXT. MAIN STREET -- CONTINUOUS

The driver maneuvers into the right turn lane, aiming the gun out the window. Jordan ducks, veering into oncoming traffic and zipping through a red light.

DRIVER
Fuck! Goddamnit...

PASSENGER
(screaming)

DRIVER
Shut the fuck up, man! SHUT UP!!!

PASSENGER
I’m sorry, man! Get me to a hospital! I need a hospital!

DRIVER
After we kill this motherfucker...

The driver races through another red light, pursuing Jordan. Jordan glances in the rear-view mirror, seeing the driver close behind. He speeds through three more red lights, taking a left at another red light into a suburban neighborhood.

A yuppie mowing his lawn watches as Jordan turns onto his street, realizing too late that it's a dead end. He pulls the handbrake, executing a 180-degree turn and speeds into the yuppie's yard, narrowly avoiding the rider.

The driver tries to follow but misses the yuppie, colliding with a parked car. Jordan quickly exits the suburb, seeing the driver stopped and kicking the Buick.

JORDAN
(laughing uncontrollably)
Oh, shit...

Jordan swerves onto the gravel beside the road, barely avoiding another car at a stop sign.