♔ Champion ♔ Robbin' Hood -- The Beginning — August 2019 challenge winner

[Peachy00Keen]

Fade in:

A grid of busy city streets, panning down to a single avenue -- Day, overcast

Nestled among the rows of storefronts in a poorer part of town sits a small supermarket. People standing in line at the register inside wait to pay for their rations with Foodstamps. Outside, the atmosphere is dreary and the people appear lethargic and disinterested.

Dissolve to:
​

Inside supermarket -- Checkout line -- Day

One of the lights overhead flickers and people shuffle along through the slow-moving line. An infant cries.

SAMMY, a young messy-haired boy of about seven years with oversized ears and a dirty tee-shirt and pants that are too short, tugs at his mother's sleeve.

SAMMY
Mommy, can we please get just a small cake? Just a cupcake even?
​

SAMMY'S MOTHER, a frazzled-looking woman with a messy tangle of brown hair and tired eyes, shakes her head solemnly.

SAMMY'S MOTHER
I'm sorry, baby. I know I told you we could get you something special for your birthday, but now with your little brother's needs, we just don't have the extra money.

SAMMY
But he could have some of the cake, too! Why does he have to eat special food?

SAMMY'S MOTHER
Honey, babies can't eat cake. Maybe next year.
​

STORE CLERK, a middle-aged man with graying hair and deep worry lines carved into his brow, shouts at a stooped figure hurrying out the door.

STORE CLERK
Hey! Stop! You have to pay for those!!
​

SUPERMARKET FRONT DOOR, INTERIOR

The figure pauses, turns to look at the cashier and the small family ringing up their groceries, and bolts outside. The door shuts, but no one pursues.

ALLEYWAY BESIDE THE STORE

HECTOR, a tanned man in his late twenties with messy black hair and a fresh cut on his left cheekbone, crouches, pulls back his hood, and drops an armful of wrapped snacks on the ground in front of him.

HECTOR
(whispering in prayer)
God above, forgive me. I'm not the man I once was, but I need to eat.
​

SUPERMARKET FRONT DOOR, EXTERIOR

SAMMY
(crying)
This is all daddy's fault! Why'd he have to leave us?

SAMMY'S MOTHER
(soothingly, holding back tears)
Honey, please don't cry. It'll get better, I promise. Just... Give mommy some time, okay? We'll have a home again, and we can have cake every day.
​

ALLEYWAY BESIDE THE STORE

HECTOR freezes momentarily as the small family passes by. He looks down at his stolen snacks and picks up a package of snowball cakes. He sighs and stands up.

ON THE STREET

HECTOR
Uh- Hey! Ma'am! Kid?
​

SAMMY'S MOTHER turns around, her infant in one arm and her free hand clutching SAMMY's shoulder.

HECTOR
(stepping forward cautiously)
I, uh, heard talk of a birthday. I've been there before too, kid. If it's alright with your mom...
​

HECTOR offers the unopened package of snowball cakes and looks down at the ground.

HECTOR
You deserve a birthday cake, even if it's kind of lame.
​

SAMMY looks to his mother. She hesitates, assessing the man and the offering, before nodding. SAMMY snatches the cakes.

SAMMY
Thanks, mister! Look, Milo, cakes!
​

MILO, SAMMY's infant brother, drools and hiccups happily.

SAMMY'S MOTHER
Thank you.

HECTOR
No need. I'm just trying to do the right thing.
​

The group splits and HECTOR returns to the alley and gathers his snacks. He walks deeper into the gloomy passage until he comes to a battered door. HECTOR unlocks the door and steps inside a tiny apartment with meager furnishings. He throws the snacks on the table and leans against the wall.

HECTOR
(distantly)
Just trying to do the right thing... Maybe there's something more to that. Steal from the Haves, give to the Have-Nots... It's not perfect, but it's a start.
​

Fade out.