Poor Richie's Dead

int. citadel bank -- day

A blue Mustang SCREECHES into the parking spot nearest the bank's entrance. HUGH kicks the door open in frustration and rushes to the other side of the Mustang and rips the door open. A second man, near Hugh's age of 30, hobbles out of the Mustang, his pink shirt crimson red near the belly from a gunshot wound.

Hugh pulls RICHIE from the car and drags him to the bank's glass door entrance. Hugh BASHES the door open, a pistol in his free hand. He aims it at the lone, fat, short and aging security guard who throws his hands up immediately.

RICHIE

(resting Richie against a wall)

Do not fucking test me!

Everyone in the bank from cashiers to ATM-visiting civilians drop what they are doing.

HUGH

Everyone get on the floor now! No bullshit!

One female cashier begins to move towards a certain desk in the bank.

HUGH

(noticing)

Take another step and you're dead. Get on the floor!

RICHIE

(gritting teeth)

Hurry the fuck up Hugh...I ain't gonna make it!

With everyone on the floor Hugh begins to drag Richie across the bank's lobby towards the vault.

HUGH

(pointing with gun)

Move your ass and open up the vault now!

RICHIE

(using table for support)

Come on Hugh...I don't wanna die like this.

HUGH

(picking Richie up again)

I'm gonna take care of you man, just let me do what I gotta do.

The bank manager moves forward with a large set of keys. The vault is small and made of steel. Not the huge traditional large ones in modern banks.

BANK MANAGER

(fiddling with keys)

You're going to...you're going to have to give me a hand. It takes two keys at the same time to open it.

HUGH

(resting Richie on floor)

Shoot them Richie if they try something funny.

RICHIE

(weakly holding pistol)

Sure thing...

The bank manager and Hugh both put keys into the vault to open it. They turn opposite ways.

The security guard begins to crawl out of view, using the cover of the other prone bodies.

RICHIE

Hugh...the fat ass is tryin' move.

HUGH

(moving away from vault)

Give me the gun.

Hugh walks over to the guard who stops just as he hears Hugh's footsteps. He looks up sheepishly.

HUGH

You gonna stop moving or should I shoot you in the ass?

guard

(scared)

I'm...yeah...I'll stop movin.'

HUGH

Move again and I'll shoot you in your ass twice, one for each cheek.

GUARD

(shaking head)

I ain't..Don't worry Mistah, I ain't gonna move no more.

Hugh walks away from the guard and resumes turning the vault key with the bank manager.

Several people begin to move around, peeking their heads up.

RICHIE

Hey...hey Hugh. They're all moving and shit...

HUGH

I got it.

Hugh walks to the center of the room.

HUGH

Next one to move gets one right between the eyes. This is not a fucking game. Do not push my buttons.

Hugh finally opens the vault. A second door blocks entrance to the money stash.

RICHIE

Hey...hey Hugh. Buddy, I think we got cops.

HUGH

(to bank manager)

How do you open this one?

BANK MANAGER

Combination. See...see the lock right there?

HUGH

Then open it!

BANK MANAGER

Can't. The armored car guys change it and don't tell us.

RICHIE

(in pain)

He's fucking lying! Hugh don't let me die like this!

HUGH

(putting gun in manager's face)

Open it or I shoot your goddamn kidneys.

BANK MANAGER

Fuck that. The cops are outside anyways.

Hugh throws the manager against the metal wall and pushes his gun on the manager's hand.

HUGH

(calling out)

Hey Richie, how many hands you need to play with a Masterlock?

RICHIE

(laughing in pain)

Hehehe...I think...wait let me think...I almost got it. Ya only need one! Yeah...fuck...

Hugh shoots the manager's hand once, then shoots off his pinky. Speckles of blood splashes onto Hugh's light blue shirt and his skin.

HUGH

Open the goddamn door now!

The bank manager YELPS in pain all the while crawling over to the vault door. He inputs the combination quickly then slumps over in shock.

RICHIE

Shit! The cops are outside man. Hurry up!

Hugh rushes to Richie's side and props him against his own body. Dragging Richie to the vault door Hugh begins to cry.

HUGH

(through tears)

It wasn't supposed to be this way man. I wanted so much more for you.

RICHIE

Fuck it. Ya know? I had one goal in my life. One goal no matter how I got to it. And I chose this way. You ain't got nothing to feel sad about man.

HUGH

(nearing vault door)

But I could have done more for you.

RICHIE

You know...I should have done more for myself. Never should have dragged you into it.

HUGH

(resting against wall to catch breath)

You didn't drag me. I wanted to get quick cash just as much as you did.

RICHIE

But you see the funny thing is...I was so close. Ya know?

HUGH

Yeah I know Rich.

RICHIE

I just don't wanna die like this.

HUGH

But you're gonna live your dream aren't you?

RICHIE

Shit. Dream. Dreams. Fuck, I had those.

The police sirens grow louder as the cops begin to bang on the locked bank entrance. A few prepare to bust through with a large black object.

HUGH

I remember when I met you.

RICHIE

I was poor then and I'm still poor now.

HUGH

I know. But you told me that you wanted to die rich right?

RICHIE

Oh yeah. I wanted to die with money and love. Ya know? A king's death or somethin'

HUGH

(pushing second vault door open)

Well you know you can still live that dream--

RICHIE

Hey Hugh...Hugh. You ever have dreams? You still got ones you wanna accomplish?

HUGH

Well, yeah I guess. I had dreams. But they don't matter anymore because I want you to fulfill your dream.

RICHIE

Well fuck me man. You ain't the one with the bullet in his belly. you should go on and live your life. I shouldn't be the one to stop you.

The police officers bust through the front door. Dozens of civilians and workers rush out the door into the safety of the police.

HUGH

Naw, it's alright. My dreams aren't possible. Yours is better.

RICHIE

(shutting vault door)

Wait. You...you tell me your dream first. What goals you have.

Richie and Hugh both sink to the floor, their backs to the second vault door leading to the money. Richie's skin almost glows a deathly white as the police move cautiously towards the pair.

HUGH

Well, I did have this one dream of mine. That you know, just never went away. Since I was a kid and all.

RICHIE

(breathing heavily)

What about?

HUGH

I wanted to make a name for myself. You know? I wanted my name to be in history books. Like I wanted to be a President or somethin. But my parents were always fighting and stuff and I never got the kind of education I would have needed. I just want to be remembered. But I like your dream though.

RICHIE

Forget my dream. You can get out of here. You didn't hurt no one, they can't put you in jail forever and when you come out you can make your name go into those history books.

HUGH

(chuckling)

I wish it were that easy. I always said to myself as a kid that I would go down in history. You know, I was young and shit and all my other friends had dreams and whatnot. But I had this funny idea when my mother finally left me with my father. That maybe I would have to do something horrible just to go in history.

RICHIE

You mean like kill someone?

HUGH

Naw, that ain't history. That's a headline. I mean, I would have had to kill a lot of people or burn the White House down or something. That would have been an easy way to get into history.

RICHIE

Shit, that's...fuck...that's quite a dream you got there Hugh.

HUGH

Yeah. But I like yours more.

Hugh lifts Richie from the ground as the police officers start to yell commands and orders for them to stop and drop all weapons. Hugh ignores them.

RICHIE

Maybe we can share my dream.

HUGH

(pushing Richie into money vault)

Yeah, I kinda like that idea.

Richie and Hugh take all the money off of the metal tables inside the money vault, even taking the bills out of the plastic and metal containers in the wall.

They spread the money everywhere and Richie drops to the floor as a bill drops onto his face. He smiles through the blood that he now gurgles.

OFFICER

Freeze!

Richie laughs in joy.

RICHIE

I'm gonna actually die rich Hugh!

The money flutters around the room gleefully.

HUGH

We didn't want no trouble officers. Just helping a friend.

Hugh dangerously waves his pistol around without thought.

OFFICER

Drop the weapon now dammit!

RICHIE

Hey, chillax guys I just wann--

The officers shoot Hugh in the chest three times, dropping him in an instant. He blinks his eyes then looks at Richie who can only utter one last thing.

RICHIE

It looks like we're both gonna die rich.

HUGH

I told you I liked your dream better.

A one hundred dollar bill lies smack dab on Hugh's chest, right next to his heart.

He smiles weakly.

FADES OUT