The Betrayal
Fiction*
This is a scene from my new play. Comments welcome and appreciated.
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Stan Powell and Tyrone Maxon are in the basement of a barbershop. Tyrone has come to pick up $200,000 Stan promised him when he first went to prison. Tyrone does not know he is about to be betrayed by Stan.
Stan:
Man it’s good to see you, it’s been a long time.
Tyrone:
As-Salaam Alaaikum.
Stan:
You a Muslim now? What made you convert to Islam?
Tyrone:
It’s a way to stay alive in prison and not have some thugs try to beat up on you and turn you into a bitch.
Stan:
I see…so do you pray five times a day?
Tyrone:
I’d be lying if I told you I did.
Stan:
Have a seat, say are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?
Tyrone:
Na, I’m straight.
Stan:
How about a drink?
Tyrone:
That sounds good, what you got?
Stan:
I got a half a bottle of Johnny Walker Red.
Tyrone:
Yeah, give me a shot.
(Stan grabs bottle of whiskey and two glasses and pours the whiskey.)
Stan:
It’s tough out here on these streets $200,000 is a lot of cash to be carrying. You got some heat to protect yourself?
Tyrone:
Na man, I sure could use one.
(Stan walks over to cabinet and pulls out a black pistol.)
Stan:
Here, this my gift to you.
Tyrone:
Thanks Stan, I need this.
Stan:
Shorty tells me you been dying to see me.
Tyrone:
He didn’t lie. Sitting here in front of you drinking fine liquor is like a dream. I never could imagine you opening up a barbershop. How long you been cutting hair?
Stan:
Way before we ever met to tell you the truth. See when I was 12-years old my old man taught me how to cut hair. My father was a barber and when he died I just took over his shop. Now, I don’t cut hair, I just own the shop. You know, I’ve been dying to see you too.
Tyrone:
Yeah, it’s been a long time I really missed you a lot and I’d hoped you would have come to visit me while I was in prison.
Stan:
I had some trauma that I had to deal with that made it impossible for me to see you caged up like an animal. So, here we are like old times. How you feeling about life now that you’re a Muslim and free?
Tyrone:
Life is great! Nothing like being free, but even better I’m free with $200,000. I’m gonna get me a dope apartment and a fly whip. Hey you wouldn’t have a job for me until I can start my own dope hustle?
Stan:
I’m no longer in the drug trafficking business anymore I’m surprised Shorty didn’t tell you. You know when you worked for me I was always worried about you. I was never worried about Jimmy O’ Conner. Some nights I lay awake thinking about the day you get pinched by the Feds. You kept me awake many nights Tyrone.
Tyrone:
What I do, that kept you up all night?
(Stan pours Tyrone another drink.)
Stan:
You was the most reckless stud in my crew, you was Mister Bling, gold chains, diamond rings on your fingers, driving a yellow Mercedes Benz. There were days I just wanted to let you go, but Brenda asked me not to fire you. It seemed like you and Brenda made some kind of connection. I’m gonna share a little secret with you, I was gonna have you killed when I found out you killed that teenage girl and threw her off a roof when you finished raping her. My wife, Brenda she begged me not to kill you.
Tyrone:
I didn’t kill that girl! I never touched her. People be making stuff up about me! Look Stan, I’m sorry to hear about Brenda, Shorty tells me she died from cancer.
Stan:
Shorty told you a lie! Brenda didn’t die from no cancer! She died because I made her have an abortion! Tyrone you will never know the pain I still feel over the loss of my wife. Check this out…someone who worked for me went after my Brenda and he made her pregnant.
Tyrone:
Man that’s deep! I really don’t know what to say. Brenda never struck me as a woman who would cheat on you.
Stan:
Tell me, how well did you know Brenda?
Tyrone:
What you trying to say? You think it was me? I would never go after Brenda! I don’t know what’s happening here, but I just want my money. I don’t want no trouble. I just want my 200 grand and be gone. Look Stan, I don’t know what you want from me and I don’t know where all this is going. I just want my money.
Stan:
Tyrone you ain’t afraid of me are you?
Tyrone:
Look here Stan, I want my damn money!
Stan:
Have I not been a good host? I offer you something to eat, give you my best liquor. If anyone should be angry it should be me.
Tyrone:
Look Stan, I don’t want no trouble…just give me what you owe me.
Stan:
Hmmmm… so the question is what does Stan owe Tyrone? Last time I checked I paid you generously and what did I get in return? I fed you, I brought you into my home and treated you like family. How do you repay me? Think about it!
Tyrone:
Hey Stan, I don’t know why you tripping out on me man?
Stan:
Tyrone I swear you is about the dumbest son-of-a-bitch in Baltimore. Dude, this is about you sleeping with my wife! It’s about you getting Brenda pregnant! You have no idea what kind of trouble you in.
(Tyrone pulls the gun from his waist and points it at Stan.)
Tyrone:
I’m tired of being nice, I want my money or so help me I’ll blast you into next week. Now get my money. I don’t want to hurt you.
(Stan puts his hands up.)
Stan:
Go on pull the trigger! I’m ready to die, but are you? Go on gangster shoot me and get it over with! Kill me! Do it! What you scared to blast me into next week?
Tyrone:
I don’t know what kind of shit you on but don’t think I won’t kill you.
Stan:
I hate to inform you that there are no bullets in that gun you holding.
(Stan quickly pulls a pistol from under his shirt.)
It really ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun, is it? Now put that little cap pistol on the floor nice and slow.
Now, where you want your bullet sucker?
Tyrone :
Stan please don’t kill me!
Stan:
Why should I spare your sorry life? When you was laying up in my bed sleeping with my wife did you not care what the consequences would be if I found out how you betrayed me?
Now, get down on your knees and start praying sucker!
Fade to black.
Charles Micheaux