The Kings Of Cool

257

INT. JOHN’S HOUSE — NIGHT

SOUND OF CHON’S PHONE RINGING.

He doesn’t answer it.

CHON

I’ve never asked you for anything.

JOHN

But you’re going to now. What do you want?

CHON

A pass for Ben Leonard.

John shakes his head.

JOHN

Walk away from him.

CHON

I’m not that guy.

John laughs.

JOHN

You going to tell me who you are and who you’re not? I know who you are.

CHON

You don’t know a fucking thing about me.

JOHN

Your mother wanted to flush you down a sink. I know that.

CHON

Yeah, she told me.

JOHN

She would. (Beat) I wouldn’t let her do it. I dunno, I was feeling sentimental, I guess.

CHON

I’m supposed to, what, thank you?

JOHN

You’re the one asking for the favor.

CHON

You going to do it, or not?

JOHN

The fuck you owe this Leonard guy, anyway?

CHON

He’s family.

John takes this in-seems to hear the truth of it. He doesn’t have an answer.

CHON (CONT’D)

This isn’t about me and Ben-it’s about me and you. I’m asking you for something. You want to give it to me, great. You don’t…

JOHN

What?

CHON

We go a different route.

JOHN

I can’t do what you’re asking me to do. I don’t mean I “won’t,” I mean I can’t. I can do this for you-I can tell you walk away. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. I wish I’d walked away twenty years ago. You still can.

CHON

You go after Ben, you have to come through me.

JOHN

Then we have a problem, kid.

John reaches under the sofa cushion and pulls out a pistol and points it at Chon.