Page 137 of Reasons We Break

Manny keeps his gun trained on her.

“I’d start by taking back that hit you have out on him.” Very slowly, Simran turns on the spot. “I’m going to leave now.”

She takes a cautious step toward the door. He doesn’t shoot. No one stops her from leaving the room. Not a peep as she walks down the glass staircase and through the front doors. It’s like she’s invisible.

Or, protected.

SCENE I

(A random shithole—night. Gunshots outside. Sounds like a real party out there. It’s dark and quiet in this room, though. At least until a door opens and light floods in.)

SOME DUDE WITH A GOATEE:

Fuck.

(A YOUNGER KID in a hoodie enters too and stops dead. GOATEE DUDE skids over to you and pats you down.)

YOUNGER KID:

He’s not—shot, is he?

GOATEE DUDE:

I don’t see anything. But he’s not breathing right for some reason.(to you)Get up, asshole! It’s me, Nick. I didn’t go through all this shit so you could die on me.(to YOUNGER KID)Don’t just stand there!Youinsisted on coming. Now help.

(YOUNGER KID sinks down at your side. He pries open one of your eyes and sucks in a breath.)

YOUNGER KID:

I think he took something. His pupils are tiny.

NICK:

Seriously? The Aces are sick. Shit. Shit.

YOUNGER KID:

I—have a Narcan kit. In the truck.

NICK:

Why the fuck do you have—Never mind. Get it, if you want your brother to live.

(YOUNGER KID exits the room. The gunshots start dying down; sirens replace them. NICK shakes you again.)

NICK:

Wake up. Tell me to go to hell. Punch me in the face.Breathe.Holy shit, why aren’t you breathing?

(The scene begins fading to black as YOUNGER KID reenters the room, this time holding a grey bag. NICK dumps the contents on the ground. The scene becomes so dark you can’t see what he’s doing, at least until he plunges a needle into your arm.The scene brightens suddenly. Brighter than before. A blond girl enters, pale and tight-lipped.)

BLOND CHICK:

Is he—

NICK:

No. Do we have an exit strategy?