Playaz - Jerry - Act 1

CAST LIST

Bones (19) - skinny, 6 foot black kid from the streets.

Pablo (17) - fat, 6-2 Hispanic kid

Priest (35) - hulking 6-10 black police officer

Jerry (23) - 5-10 Chinese guy with a goatee

Cheryl (31) - 6-0 black lady who's a lawyer by day.

Hans (25) - 6-8 German man who dresses stylish

Bunyan (18) - 7-2 with wild red hair and dressed from the
70s.

Skittles (9) - shy brunette girl who watches excitedly.

DJ (26) - short fellow with a loud voice

Al (60) - a homeless man



EXT. SHANGHAI BASKETBALL COURT - DAY

A bunch of Chinese players run on a basketball court
surrounded by tall buildings. Aside from the Chinese faces
and writing, this could be in any city.

A sign on a bus stop bench has Jerry's face on it.

JERRY (O.S.)
Who's here to play some ball!

The players stop and turn around.

Jerry, wearing a McGrady jersey, stands on the sideline.

PLAYERS
Jerry! He's back!

The players run to Jerry, and they all appear about the same
height.

PLAYER #1
How was New York?

PLAYER #2
Are the Americans tall?

JERRY
Well...



EXT. RUCKER PARK - DAY

Jerry dribbles at the top of the key with Bones guarding him.
Priest and Bunyan stand in the key, making it look crowded.

Jerry drives for the middle of the key.

AL (V.O.)
Sometime, even when you can't see a
path, you need to make one for
yourself.

Jerry fakes to his left, drawing Bones.

Jerry dashes to his right, around Bones.

Jerry runs right at Bunyan.

Jerry holds the ball in the palm of his hand like a torch.
Bunyan jumps.

Jerry runs under Bunyan, who's body blocks out the sun.

Jerry lunges, with the ball sneaking into ray of sunlight.

Jerry flips the ball into the air, through Bunyan's arms.

The ball spins off the backboard and into the hoop.

PRIEST
That's how you do it!

Jerry slaps a hi-five with Priest, who appears a foot taller
than Jerry.



EXT. SHANGHAI STREETS - DAY

Jerry, wearing a basketball jersey, walks through the
streets, which appear like any big city streets except for
the Chinese characters. Some Chinese basketball players
follow Jerry.

PLAYERS
Wa sai...

JERRY
Yeah, forget what they say about
American basketball. You can play
here, you can play there.

The players smile and nod to each other.

JERRY
See you on the court, got to do my
job.

Jerry and the players wave to each other as Jerry enters a
building.



INT. REAL ESTATE OFFICE - DAY

Jerry makes a grand entrance into the office, holding out his
hands.

JERRY
I am back!

Around the office, Co-Workers, all in suits and wearing a
gaudy, yellow shirt with a Chinese logo, tap on computers or
hold telephones. No one pays attention to Jerry.

Jerry lowers his arms and slumps.

The workers sit at their desks as the sounds of ringing
phones and typing fill the air.

LEE (40), wearing a suit and the yellow logo shirt, walks
past Jerry.

LEE
Good, you're back. Maybe you can
start doing some work.

Jerry follows after Lee. A Chinese logo poster hangs on the
wall behind them.

JERRY
Hey, I have been doing...

LEE
Yes, yes, the plan to make you
famous by bouncing your ball.

Lee sets down some papers on a desk.

JERRY
What do you mean? People were
following me from the courts.

LEE
But those are not the people buying
our properties. You are lucky this
is your family's business.

Jerry stops in his tracks as Lee walks away.



EXT. SHANGHAI STREETS - DAY

Title card - one year ago

Jerry, wearing a suit, walks down the street with JERRY'S
DAD, who is short but appears dignified.

JERRY'S DAD
Look around, my son.

Construction yards are everywhere, with people building
skyscrapers and other buildings. Already built skyscrapers
form an impressive skyline.

JERRY'S DAD
The Pudong district is booming.
This was nothing but farms and
fishermen when you were a child.
Now, it will soon be a great city.

Jerry and Jerry's Dad walk past billboards with basketball
players.

JERRY'S DAD
But we must have an advantage. Why
would people want to use our real
estate service.

JERRY
We must sell ourselves.

JERRY'S DAD
Yes! Exactly, like Donald Trump in
America.

JERRY
And I know how to do this.

Jerry stops.

Jerry's Dad stops a few feet from Jerry and turns to face
him.

Jerry points over his shoulder at the giant billboard of a
basketball player.

Jerry holds up a basketball and smirks.



INT. REAL ESTATE OFFICE - DAY

Jerry, wearing his basketball jersey, sits amidst a group of
suit wearing workers.

Lee stands in front of the room next to a chart graph. Jerry
and other workers watch Lee.

LEE
So, yes, our business is growing.

Lee points to another chart.

LEE
But real estate throughout China is
growing at an even greater rate.
That means we are falling behind.

Lee points to a dip in the chart.

LEE
This marks the start of Jerry's
project.

The room looks at Jerry, who hangs his head. Jerry's Dad,
stands up and walks next to Lee.

JERRY'S DAD
Do not look down on my son. He is
trying to increase our business,
what have the rest of you done?

Jerry looks up as the rest of the room slumps their heads.

JERRY
This could still work, there's...

LEE
Why don't we just hire a
professional?

JERRY
I told you, Yao Ming costs more
than we make in a month. Just use
me. I am famous on the courts.
This is street cred!

Jerry jumps to his feet and strikes a pose.

The room smirks and looks away. A few snickers are heard.

Jerry's Dad clears his throat.

JERRY'S DAD
Your 'street cred' is nice, but
results are necessary for our
goals. You had best start winning.

Jerry puffs out his cheeks.



EXT. RUCKER PARK - DAY

Jerry sits on the sideline and puffs out his cheeks. The
stands are full of cheering fans. A banner reads, "Annual
Goat Classic."

DJ (V.O.)
(muffled)
Bones and his boys are playing like
their lives depend on it!

On the court, players bring the ball against the team of
Bunyan, Bones, and Pablo.

Bones glares out with determination.

A player drives into the lane and flips up a layup.

Bunyan flies in and swats the ball into the backcourt.

Bones runs and grabs the loose ball.

Bones dribbles the ball, but stops at the three point line.

Bones launches a three - nothing but net.

Bones turns to the crowd and lifts his hands.

The crowd erupts.

CROWD
Bones! Bones! Bones!

Priest slides next to Jerry on the sidelines.

PRIEST
Bring your A-game. You'll need it.

Jerry grits his teeth.