ON a hand taking stacks of money from under a mattress.
SUPER: GULF WAR. AHMADI, KUWAIT. 1991.
1.1 INT. MO’S HOUSE - MO’S BEDROOM - KUWAIT - 1991 - DAY 1.1 *
Reveal YUSRA NAJJAR, early 40s, focused and resolute,
grabbing as many BUNDLES OF CASH as she can carry. We FOLLOW
her as she hurries into --
1.2 INT. MO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - KUWAIT - 1991 - DAY 1.2 *
A room that has been turned upside down - there are piles of
clothes and half-packed suitcases all over. Yusra dumps the
cash onto the couch, adding it to an already sizable pile.
She goes back for more, passing -- *
YOUNG MO NAJJAR, seven, dribbling a soccer ball like a *
basketball as if he were driving into the paint. *
NOTE: All dialogue in the Kuwait/Iraq scenes are in Arabic.
YOUNG MO *
(like an announcer)
Olajuwon leaps for the rim --
He jumps up, pretending to slam dunk.
YOUNG MO (CONT’D) *
Yes! The crowd goes wild! AAAAAH!
Mo sees his older brother, YOUNG SAMEER NAJJAR, 11, *
obsessively pacing around the room in a zig-zag pattern, as
if one wrong step would bring disaster. Mo goes to pass him
the ball.
YOUNG MO (CONT’D) *
(like an announcer)
The Dream looks to Kenny Smith!
(off Sameer’s nonreaction)
Sameer! The Jet!
Sameer cannot be distracted from his pacing. Mo shrugs.
YOUNG MO (CONT’D) *
Tricked him! He keeps it and...
Mo THROWS the ball, hitting his sister, YOUNG NADIA NAJJAR, *
18, who’s folding and packing clothes. She turns, annoyed:
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 2.
YOUNG NADIA *
Mo! We’re all rushing and you’re
still playing stupid games!
YOUNG MO *
You’re stupid.
MUSTAFA (O.S.)
Hamoudi --
Mo’s FATHER, MUSTAFA NAJJAR, 50s, approaches from the dining
table where he’s set-up a workstation for his electronics.
MUSTAFA (CONT’D)
Habibi, your sister’s right. We
don’t have much time, you need to
focus.
YOUNG MO *
Baba, did you fix my Walkman yet?
MUSTAFA
(not now)
Go help your mother.
Mo runs off to Yusra as Mustafa resumes soldering some
Walkman components together.
A SERIES OF SHOTS:
MUSIC UP: “That’s Alright Mama” by Elvis Presley.
Yusra opens a PURSE, empties it onto the floor, and cuts the
lining with a razor. Mo hands her stacks as she begins
stashing cash into the makeshift compartment.
ON Yusra’s hands re-sewing the purse’s lining. She pulls the
last of the thread taut and Mo, scissors ready, cuts the
thread.
Yusra, at a sewing machine, finishes sewing a belt. She
secures it to Nadia’s waist and Mo fills it with money.
Mo finds a few STACKS of CASH in a box of Lion Bar chocolates *
and brings them to Yusra. Exhausted, she forces the forgotten *
stacks into a hidden lining of a suitcase. She doesn’t notice
as Mo grabs some nearby ACTION FIGURES and throws them in
with the clothes.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 3.
1.3 EXT. MO’S HOUSE - KUWAIT - 1991 - DAY 1.3
Mo, Yusra, Nadia, and Sameer stand outside with Mustafa and
their suitcases. Yusra’s wearing an oversized coat lined with
valuables; Mo in a too-small Pelé jersey.
An early 1980’s SCHOOL BUS approaches, stopping at their
house. The doors swing open and Yusra lifts her bags, guiding
Nadia and Sameer onto the bus.
But Mo hesitates... he can’t stop looking back at their home. *
Mustafa gently nudges him onward. Mo looks to his dad.
YOUNG MO *
Why can’t we go together?
MUSTAFA
The four of you will be together in
Houston, with Hakeem from the
basketball. I’ll be with you soon
inshallah.
Mustafa lovingly crouches down and caresses Mo’s face.
MUSTAFA (CONT’D) *
Habibi, Allah made you a strong and
clever boy. Now you must use those
gifts as a man. You are young, but
not a child anymore. The family
needs you. Can I depend on you?
ON Mo, his seven year old eyes absorbing the gravity of the
situation. He nods.
MUSTAFA (CONT’D)
Good. I thought so.
Mustafa smiles then hands Mo a now REPAIRED WALKMAN. Mo
smiles wide.
YOUNG MO *
Shokran, baba.
MUSTAFA
Yallah, habibi. Take care.
As Mo goes to board the bus, his smile disappears again as he *
can’t help but wonder if they’ll ever be together again.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 4.
1.4 INT. BUS - KUWAIT - 1991 1.4
Mo sits with his Mom, staring at the other FAMILIES piled in.
He’s got an empty bag of chips and a mound of orange peels on
his lap. He makes eye contact with a SAD YOUNG GIRL. He looks
away, then slips on his headphones and nuzzles into Yusra.
Mo’s woken up by a commotion outside the bus, now stopped. He
looks out the window --
Genres:
["Drama","Family","War"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Checkpoint Confrontation
IRAQI SOLDIERS yell at people they’ve kicked off other
vehicles, breaking open their luggage and stealing valuables.
A BURLY SOLDIER enters the bus and makes an announcement:
BURLY SOLDIER
Everyone, take your bags and get
off of the bus.
Mo tries not to look scared. Sameer and Nadia are having less
success - Sameer moans nervously and Nadia trembles, her
fingers feeling the money hidden in her belt. Yusra grips
them, trying to calm them down.
YUSRA
(to Nadia)
Go before you blow our cover.
(to Mo)
Watch Sameer.
Yusra hands them their bags and ushers them off. We stay with
her as she kneels down, out of sight, listening to the CHAOS
outside.
She grabs her suitcase and makes a mess of it, undoing all
her work. She grabs another bag and does the same thing.
Finally, she scatters orange peels and empty wrappers on top.
ON Mo, outside, stealing glances at what Yusra’s doing. He
has enough sense to know not to stare. The passengers around
him watch helplessly as their possessions are ransacked and
valuables stolen. Yusra signals him with a go-ahead, and as
the other passengers get herded back onto the bus, the Najjar
children join them.
The burly soldier accompanies the last of the passengers back
onto the bus. As Mo, Sameer, and Nadia sit back down with
Yusra, the soldier’s eyes land on her:
BURLY SOLDIER
I never saw you get off the bus.
You playing me for a fool?
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 5.
Mo sees other passengers look on anxiously as Yusra clutches
Sameer, quietly starting to recite Quranic Surat Ya-seen.
BURLY SOLDIER (CONT’D)
What are you deaf, bitch? Think you
can hide from me?
ON Mo, seeing his family in need. Suddenly, he starts fake
CRYING.
YOUNG MO *
Please, sir! Don’t take my Ninja
Turtles! She didn’t know they were
there!
The soldier looks at him, confused. Mo sells it hard, his
tears becoming sobs. He seems genuinely terrified.
YOUNG MO (CONT’D) *
I just wanted to have my toys. It’s
not her fault. She didn’t know!
He holds a weathered TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES toy out to
the soldier.
YOUNG MO (CONT’D) *
Take Michelangelo, everyone knows
he’s the best! Please --
SUPERIOR OFFICER (O.S.)
What is this filth?
The SUPERIOR OFFICER steps on the bus, his uniform crisp and
covered with honors. He eyes the Burly Soldier.
SUPERIOR OFFICER (CONT’D)
You think you’re a big man? Making
women and children cry?
Mo stifles his cries as the Officer gives his subordinate a
hard stare. The Officer eyes Yusra’s luggage -- the wrappers,
the orange peels, and Mo’s Ninja Turtles peeking out. *
SUPERIOR OFFICER (CONT’D)
These bags have clearly been
searched. You want to take the
boy’s candy and toys too?
He signals to a couple of his other MEN and has the Soldier
removed from the bus. The Officer takes one of the figures
from Yusra’s suitcase and hands it to Mo, patting him on the
face. He looks over to Yusra:
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 6.
SUPERIOR OFFICER (CONT’D) *
God be with you all. *
Once in the clear, Yusra turns to Mo, proud and impressed.
You can hear the relief in their hushed voices:
YUSRA
When did you learn to turn on tears
like that?
YOUNG MO *
When you wouldn’t buy me a Walkman.
He holds up his Walkman, smiling. Yusra shakes her head,
amused. The bus begins to pull away and Mo puts on his
headphones. Hits play.
PRELAP: “25 Lighters on My Dresser” by Fat Pat --
CUT TO:
MAIN TITLE
1.6 INT./EXT. - MO’S CAR - HEADED TOWARD ALIEF - DAY 1.6
“25 Lighters” continues over a MONTAGE:
MO NAJJAR, now in his mid-30s, cruises in his beat up ‘70 *
FORD TURINO COUPE, old-school windows rolled down due to the *
broken AC, the MICHELANGELO TOY he had in Kuwait on the
dashboard.
We take in the sights of Houston -- e.g., the “Be Someone”
bridge over I-10; the Houston Graffiti Building; the “Twin
Syringes” building...
Mo rolls into Alief and lights up a joint as he passes the
water tower; Crump Stadium; Pencil Middle School...
He throws on a “Houston Mobile Spot” shirt as he turns onto
Bellaire Blvd with its Mexican meat markets, 99 cent stores,
Black women's hair product stores...
Finally, he pulls into a strip mall parking lot and kills the
engine, the MUSIC CUTS OFF.
Psst, psst -- Mo sprays himself with a can of air freshener.
1.7 INT. HOUSTON MOBILE SPOT - DAY 1.7
Mo moves back and forth between desks, multi-tasking as he
puts a new screen on a TEXAS WOMAN’S phone. *
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 7.
TEXAS WOMAN
How are you doing it so fast?
MO
These new LCD screens are easy,
just a couple of screws and an
attachment. Now if you brought me a
Nokia 1202, that’s a whole
different situation, can’t find
those parts.
One of Mo’s inept coworkers, JOSÉ, late 20s, shouts:
JOSÉ
Yo, Mo! I need those iPhone cases.
(in Spanish)
Aye, asshole -- this gringa been
waiting.
Mo doesn’t look up as he puts the finishing touches on the
woman’s phone. Shouting to José:
Genres:
["Drama","War","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Mo Gets Fired
MO
Which iPhone cases? The SE, 11 Pro,
12 Pro Max, be specific, José!
JOSÉ
The iPhone 13s!
MO (IN SPANISH)
Relax, cabrón. They’re in the back
by the Selena Samsung cases -- rest
in peace.
JOSÉ (IN SPANISH)
Rest in peace.
José does the sign of the cross and walks off. Mo’s boss,
ABOOD RAHMAN, 50s, whistles, motioning for him. Mo hands the
phone back to his customer.
MO
José will ring you up.
Mo joins Abood in the back of the shop. *
MO (CONT’D)
What’s happening?
ABOOD RAHMAN (IN ARABIC) *
I have to talk to you...
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 8.
MO
Why are you speaking Arabic? It’s
never good when you speak Arabic in
front of the customers.
Abood hesitates. *
ABOOD RAHMAN (IN ARABIC) *
ICE raided our other location this
morning. We ate a big fine, one
more will shut us down. I have to
let you go.
MO
You’re firing me?
ABOOD RAHMAN *
What am I supposed to do? You don’t
have a work permit. I’m sorry.
MO
What about José? José can’t be
legal.
ABOOD RAHMAN *
No, José’s legal.
JOSÉ (O.S.)
I married in, bro!
ABOOD RAHMAN *
See?
JOSÉ (O.S.)
You should marry Maria, she’s fine
as hell! And she’s a mechanic too,
got those oily hands!
MO
Don’t talk about my girl’s hands!
(to Abood) *
How can you fire me over that guy?
God only knows what’s in his search
history.
ABOOD RAHMAN *
Mo, please --
MO
He’s from Matamoros! You know what
that translates to? Kill Muslims.
(MORE)
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 9.
MO (CONT’D)
(in Arabic)
Don’t do this. I know this store
better than anyone. Plus I’ll have
my asylum soon.
ABOOD RAHMAN
How soon?
MO
Soon. You know. Like, (trailer
voice) coming soon. That kinda
soon. I’m in the system, okay? I’m
not undocumented. My court date’s
coming up. Once they grant me
asylum, I’ll have a work permit.
ABOOD RAHMAN *
And if they don’t, they’ll deport
you. It’s not so simple. You’ve
been waiting, what, 20 years?
MO
Twenty-two.
ABOOD RAHMAN *
Twenty-two years of courts dates.
What makes you think this next one
will be different?
MO
I’m just playing the odds. How many
times can they push a hearing?
ABOOD RAHMAN *
Listen, inshallah it all works out
and I take you back. Until then...
He holds out an envelope.
ABOOD RAHMAN (IN ARABIC) (CONT’D)
I wish I could do more...
Mo takes it, counts the cash. Looks up, annoyed.
MO
This is the money you owe me. You
made it sound like you were giving
me a lil extra, which would be nice
considering how much I’ve done for
you. Good luck running this place
with (shouting) JOSE! But
whatever, man. It’s not the first
time ICE has run me out of a job.
Salaams to the family.
Mo walks away, goes to dap José goodbye.
JOSÉ
Gonna miss you, hermano.
MO
You too brother.
As Mo makes his way out the door, José attempts to curse him
in Arabic along with the appropriate hand gesture.
JOSÉ
(gesturing)
Hey Mo -- Biteezee!
MO
(correcting)
It’s Bi-teezak! Like this.
1.8 INT. MARIA’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT 1.8 *
Mo checks his phone in bed while his girlfriend, MARIA (late
20s-30s, Mexican), comes out of the bathroom after having
just finished washing for the night.
MARIA
I’m telling you, if I see Ramón’s
ass crack one more time...
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 11.
MO
Baby, I don’t wanna hear you talk
about other men’s asses.
MARIA
I don’t wanna see their asses! I’ve
tried belts, lululemons -- the
guy’s crack is relentless.
MO
Put him on oil changes, stick him
under the car.
Maria: That’s not a bad idea... She picks Mo’s Houston Mobile *
Spot shirt up and folds it, before joining him in bed.
MARIA
You gonna retire that thing? Hang
it on your wall like a jersey? *
MO
I’m gonna keep it so my mom thinks *
I still work there. *
Maria laughs -- then sees he’s not kidding.
MARIA (IN SPANISH)
Seriously? Just tell her!
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Clash Over Mother
MO *
Why worry her? I’ll figure out my *
next move and then I’ll tell her. *
Maria stares incredulously. Mo lights a joint.
MO (CONT’D)
Don’t give me that look. You don’t
know my mom. *
MARIA
Because you never let me see her.
MO
You saw her just the other day! *
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 12.
MARIA
We said hello and goodbye, like *
always. Two years now and we’ve *
never had dinner together. *
MO
You want my mom to grill you again?
MARIA
Think I can’t handle her religious
shit?
(as Yusra)
“Maria, why do you Catholics
worship three gods?”
MO
She has a point about the Trinity. *
MARIA
Here we go again. You want to put
me in a hijab.
MO
No! Hijab is not the top priority.
We can build to that later. Start
with the basic Muslim package.
Maria grabs the joint from Mo, takes a toke.
MARIA
You calling me basic?
MO
(playful)
Ain’t nothing basic about you,
girl... *
MARIA
You don’t even go to your mosque. *
Why don’t you come with me to *
church for once? You could use a *
confession... *
Mo takes a drag, blows out a cloud of smoke.
MO
You know nuns wear hijabs, right?
They got OG hijabs.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 13.
1.9 INT. NAJJAR CONDO - ENTRANCE/LIVING ROOM - DAY 1.9
Mo, wearing his Houston Mobile Spot shirt, enters the
family’s small condo. Though it’s not dirty, it’s CLUTTERED,
the space filled with mismatched furniture and random items,
with knickknacks and odd collectibles cramming the shelves.
Plus, it’s LOUD. Yusra shouts in Arabic as she FaceTimes with
her sisters, trying to talk over “The Price is Right”, which
is blasting on the TV.
On his way inside, Mo bumps into an end-table, knocking over
one of three mismatched lamps. YUSRA, now in her 60s, looks
up from her FaceTime --
YUSRA (IN ARABIC)
Watch where you’re going, Hamoudi!
MO
Mama, why do we have three lamps on
one table? You don’t even plug them *
in.
YUSRA
They’re antiques!
Mo picks up the lamp he knocked over, noticing:
MO
This was $11.99 from Target, you
left the price tag on.
YUSRA
Yes, so people will know what a
bargain I got. Come, say hello to
your aunties.
Mo takes the phone to say hello. His Aunt LAMEECE holds her *
phone low for a chin-up view, while his Aunt HALIMA holds *
hers inches from her face. Both unflattering angles.
MO
Hi, Khalto Halima. Hi, Khalto
Lameece.
LAMEECE (FACETIME)
Hamoudi! Look at you!
HALIMA (FACETIME)
Are you okay, habibi? You seem
bigger.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 14.
MO *
I’m fine, you just need to hold *
your phone a little further away -- *
HALIMA (FACETIME)
You need to take care of yourself
if you want to meet a good girl.
LAMEECE (FACETIME)
You need me to set you up, Hamoudi?
I can set you up right now --
(to off screen)
Ayisha! Come, meet my nephew! *
MO
Nope, all good, Ayisha! That’s nice *
of you Auntie, but I’m okay.
YUSRA
He’s talking to a Mexican girl. And
on top of that she’s Catholic.
LAMEECE/HALIMA
Habibi!
Mo ignores their protests.
HALIMA (FACETIME)
Hamoudi, Hadi wants a Samsung
Galaxy. How much can you get them
at work, we’ll pay you.
MO
Tell Hadi I’ll take care of it, the
phone’s on me.
HALIMA (FACETIME)
Are you sure?
MO
Of course, they love me there!
HALIMA (FACETIME)
Oh habibi, thank you!
Mo hands the phone back to Yusra and heads for his room, his
face dropping: Why did I just say that?
Mo enters and shuts the door. He takes a calming breath and *
closes his eyes. But the peace and quiet is short lived as he
hears his door CREAK open, followed by a PURRING.
He turns to find his older brother, SAMEER, now 39, in the
doorway, carrying a cat, in his Chick’n Cone uniform. Sameer
stares at him.
MO SAMEER
Why are you looking at me
like that? I’m working on my eye
contact.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
A Deal in the Hookah Lounge
Mo nods, indulging his brother.
SAMEER (CONT’D)
I need you to get some Meow Munch
Premium for Crystal. It’s the only
brand she eats now.
MO
There’s no way a cat’s pallet is
that refined.
SAMEER
Oh no, cat pallets are very
refined. They’ve done studies.
MO
What about the package of Perfect
Portions I just got you?
SAMEER
I also need you to return that.
Sameer steps in, hands Mo a handwritten list, it has one item
on it: Meow Much Premium. Mo tries to hand it back to him.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 16.
MO *
Habibi, I have a lot on my plate --
SAMEER
It’s gotta be within the next two
hours. Crystal’s on a very strict
feeding regimen.
MO
Sameer, I’m not Amazon prime. I’m
not promising to deliver in two
hours. I’ll get it when I can,
okay?
SAMEER
If you don’t get it, I’m gonna tell
mom about your tattoo.
MO
Seriously? You’re pulling this shit
again? Come on...
Beat. Sameer yells through the door:
SAMEER MO (CONT’D)
Mama, Hamoudi mutilated his
body with a tattoo! Fine, fine! I’ll get the
stupid cat food!
Sameer, satisfied, puts his hand on Mo’s shoulder.
SAMEER (CONT’D)
Four hours. I don’t want my little
brother stressed, it’s bad for the
immune system.
1.11 INT. KAAN YA MAKAAN HOOKAH LOUNGE & CAFE - DAY 1.11
Mo walks into the café, heading toward the back. Hookah smoke
fills the lounge as people chat and share plates.
At a table in the back, two men -- ABA WEINBERG (60s, Jewish) *
and NAZEER (60s, Arab) -- play BACKGAMMON, rolling dice and
sliding checkers as they bicker.
ABA WEINBERG NAZEER
You can huff and puff until
you’re blue, but in 1947, the -- Ah, yes, 1947, the year
United Nations -- history began! --
ABA WEINBERG (CONT’D)
-- presented a plan offering both
sides their own country --
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 17.
NAZEER
Devised by the same European
colonialists who seized the land in
the first place. Pass the tahini?
Aba hands Nazeer the tahini. Mo sidles up to the table and
joins them.
MO
Hey, Arafat, Rabin, you guys done
with your podcast?
ABA WEINBERG
Let’s table the peace talks.
MO
I’ve had enough drama, I just got
fired.
NAZEER
You lost your job? What’d you do?
MO
What do you mean, what did I do?
Nothing. ICE raided Rahman’s other
store and he got scared, let me go.
NAZEER
(re: Abood)
No balls, that guy.
A WAITER, HAMEED, mid 20s, sets down more trays of hummus and
all the fixings. Hameed speaks broken English and thinks
“shit fool” -- which he pronounces “shee foo”-- means “yes.”
HAMEED
Hummus. Lemon juice. Chick pea on
side. Sexy.
ABA WEINBERG
Learn English, kid. Hummus ain’t
sexy.
MO
He means it tastes good.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 18.
HAMEED
Shee foo. Shee.
Hameed walks off. Mo takes out a small bottle of OLIVE OIL
and MIXES the hummus with the side ingredients, customizing
it to his liking. Nazeer comments as he mixes:
NAZEER
Look at this guy, so particular
with his hummus. Baladi asly.
MO
Taban. I got high standards, amoo.
ABA WEINBERG
You know they make this snack-cup
hummus now? It’s actually not bad.
MO
That’s a war crime.
NAZEER
So what are you gonna do for work?
Mo takes a beat, swallows.
MO
I wanna start selling again.
Bootlegs, counterfeits, whatever.
NAZEER
Why go back to selling that crap?
MO
Because I’m good at it. Can you
hook me up?
Nazeer doesn’t like the idea.
NAZEER
You need a job? Work for Aba in his
suit shop.
ABA WEINBERG
I’d love to have him, the kid’s a
natural salesman. But what am I, a
charity?
MO
(to Nazeer)
It’s just a side-hustle. I’m still
gonna get another job.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 19.
NAZEER MO (CONT’D)
Your father, God rest his
soul -- God rest his soul.
NAZEER (CONT’D)
Wouldn’t want to see you or Sameer
or Nadia get in trouble.
MO
But he’d want me to support the
family. I don’t want to be selling
this shit either, but what am I
supposed to do?
Nazeer’s still unconvinced.
MO (CONT’D)
If I have to go around Harwin
asking for a connect, I will. But
yallah, you know everyone in the
wholesale district. Save me the
time, hook me up.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Hustle in the Parking Lot
NAZEER
(capitulating)
All right, all right. I’ll make a
call. You happy now?
MO
Thank you, amoo. I appreciate it.
(needling Aba)
‘67 borders and right of return.
ABA WEINBERG
Right of return?? We’ll never reach
a deal with your fakakta terms.
NAZEER
The nakba started the whole thing!
1.12 EXT. STRIP MALL PARKING LOT - ALIEF, TX - LATE AFTERNOON 1.12
Mo leans against his trunk, scoping out possible customers as
people walk by. He spots a 20-something LATINO KID in a
hoodie approaching.
MO
Wassup my man, I --
The kid walks by, gives Mo the finger from behind. Mo shakes
it off, spots a 30-something WHITE GUY wearing New Balances.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 20.
MO (CONT’D)
Nice kicks, bro. Check out these --
As soon as Mo opens his mouth, the guy nervously power
walks/runs away.
Finally Mo spots JIM (early 50s, southern) walking toward
him, rubbing his lower back in pain. Mo zeros in on him.
MO (CONT’D)
What are you, a size 12?
JIM
(impressed)
Yes sir.
MO
Corral boots?
JIM
Sonofabitch, you’re right again. My
old trusties.
MO
They’re old, all right. Probably
not good for your back either.
JIM
Yeah, I got real bad lower back
pain.
MO
Same here. But once I switched over
to these Yeezys, my lower back pain *
disappeared. Thank you, Yeezus,
that’s what I say.
(hands one to him)
See? Designer, yet orthopedic.
JIM
Yeah, I dunno. These don’t look
like the kinda thing I’d wear.
MO
That’s cuz you haven’t tried them
on yet.
Mo reaches into his trunk like a magician and plops down a
stool for Jim.
MO (CONT’D)
C’mon have a seat, what’s it gonna
take, 30 seconds?
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 21.
Jim reluctantly takes a seat. Mo fits the Yeezys on him.
MO (CONT’D)
(a slight southern accent)
Listen, Corrals are great, but you
can’t walk a country mile in ‘em.
Back pain’s nothing to play with.
Mess up your lower lumber and you
won’t be able to pickup your
grandkids.
(finishes lacing)
Go on, give ‘em a try.
Jim takes a few steps and is pleasantly surprised: *
JIM
Wow. These are golden.
MO
And they’re made of high quality
materials too. You can hang your
hat on that. Look, let’s not burn
daylight here. Genuine aftermarket
Yeezys go anywhere from $350 to
over a $1,000 a pop. I’m offering
you these for $200 -- that’s below
retail.
Jim thinks about it. He likes the sneakers, but --
JIM
I don’t think spending that kinda
money on sneakers is gonna fly with
the wife.
MO
I smell what you’re stepping in. So
I’m gonna sweeten the pot.
Mo reaches into his trunk, takes out a hand bag.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 22.
MO (CONT’D)
For $300 -- I know, hear me out --
I’ll throw in this Chanel purse
that’s just like the real thing
that sells for a $1,000. She’ll
never know the difference.
Mo stares at Jim. Jim stares back. A beat.
CUT TO:
1.13 EXT. STRIP MALL PARKING LOT - ALIEF, TX - MOMENTS LATER 1.13 *
Mo watches as good ol’ Jim walks away in a new pair of
Yeezys, with Corral boots in one hand and a Chanel purse in
the other.
1.14 INT. THE BREAKFAST KLUB - NIGHT 1.14
Mo, Maria, and Mo’s oldest friend, NICK (30s, Black), chow
down on breakfast food at this local Houston staple.
Maria stares at the Chanel bag on her lap, marveling. She’s
inspecting the bag, trying to find a flaw.
MARIA
(in awe)
This isn’t real?
NICK
You don’t wanna be selling this
fake shit, man.
MO
It’s not “fake”. It’s a high
quality replica.
NICK
That’s the problem -- it’s too
real. Remember Fat Phillip from
Hastings? He got busted selling
those mock Louis V’s -- they hit
him with a fuckin’ felony.
MO
It’s not an actual crime! I’m
stealing from Kanye - he doesn’t
give a fuck. He’s busy making
moccasins for NASA or some shit.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 22A.
MARIA
I don’t care about Kanye, I care
about you. You can get in trouble.
MO
Oh you care about him... you voted
for him.
NICK
(incredulous)
You voted for Kanye?
MARIA
(defensive)
He’s a free-thinker! He was the
only one that wasn’t bought out by
wall street. A self-made man.
NICK
Wow. You’re the blackest person I
know. You vaccinated?
MARIA
(ignoring)
Listen, I used to dream about
voting before I became a citizen.
Then when I did... I realized all
the options suck. So yeah -- Kanye.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 23.
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Clash of Values: Counterfeit Quandary
MO
And once I’m a citizen, I won’t
sell this shit. But right now this
is the only work I can get.
NICK
Stop acting goofy, man. My boy’s *
got room at Frenchy’s Chicken ‘til *
your case comes through. *
MO
I make way more money with this and *
I can’t get fired. *
Nick swallows a bite, then:
NICK
What good is that money if you get *
locked up? *
(beat) *
Maria, you know how me and this guy *
became brothers? His dad died the *
same year my pops went to jail. *
Nick lifts his left arm sleeve up to reveal a tattoo that
says “CHETACHI”.
NICK (CONT’D)
We got tats with our dads’ names.
MARIA
I didn’t know you had one like
Mo...
NICK
I guess he forgot to tell you.
He prolly also forgot that he used
to drive with me to visit my pops.
(leaning in to Mo)
He definitely forgot what the
inside of that jail was like.
MO
Chill man! I’m not goin’ to jail.
NICK
Yeah, they might send you back to
Palestine first.
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 24.
MO
Back? I’ve never been. I’m not a
citizen there, or here -- nowhere.
I don’t even have a passport. All I
got is my asylum claim and a bunch
of Gucci bags.
MARIA
(switching gears)
A bunch? You got any leather-minis?
MO
I need to take care of my family
today. They’re relying on me. I’m
gonna do what I have to ‘till I can
start my own business, buy some
land... do things the right way.
NICK
All I’m saying is you’re doing the
one thing that could kill your
whole case.
(beat)
And I’m not tryna get a Mo tattoo.
MARIA
He’s right Mo... and you’d do
terrible in jail.
MO
What are you talking about? I’d be
amazing. I’d form alliances
instantly.
MARIA
Aw, baby... no. You’re too
sensitive.
NICK
(nodding)
You’re a big dude but... you’re
actually a small dude, you feel?
Maria lifts Mo’s sleeve, looking at his MUSTAFA tattoo. ON *
Mo’s face, insulted and concerned...
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 25.
1.15 INT. SUPERMARKET - EVENING 1.15
CLOSE ON hands grabbing a large bag of MEOW MUNCH CAT FOOD
off a shelf. The brand’s logo is a cartoon cat smiling wide.
REVEAL Mo, carrying the bag on his shoulder. He passes a
white SUPERMARKET EMPLOYEE at a SAMPLE TABLE.
SUPERMARKET EMPLOYEE
Hi, sir. Care to try some chocolate
hummus?
Mo stops dead in his tracks. Eyes the “hummus” and pita bread
samples.
MO
What did you just say to me?
Chocolate hummus?
Mo pulls out his small bottle of olive oil and pours some out
to dip the pita in. Explaining matter-of-factly as he eats:
MO (CONT’D)
See, this is the problem. First the
West goes to war with Arabs, then
it steals from them.
SUPERMARKET EMPLOYEE
Sir, what are you doing? --
MO
It’s not enough to bomb us, you
gotta debase our culture too?
SUPERMARKET EMPLOYEE
Sir, the pita is for the hummus --
MO
This isn’t hummus, okay? Hummus
doesn’t come in candy flavors.
(MORE)
GOLDENROD DRAFT - 12/10/21 26.
MO (CONT’D)
This is dip in brown face, that’s
what this is.
(looks down at his collar)
Is that an oil stain?
Mo’s inspecting the stain when suddenly -- POP POP POP --
BLOOD SPLATTERS on his shirt. WTF?? The employee SCREAMS in
horror.
Mo looks at the bag of Meow Munch. The cartoon cat’s covered
in blood as food pellets pour from a hole in its eye.