[Mr Ringo]

 :FADE IN:

INT. RINGO MANUFACTURING – NIGHT

The camera fades in to a large office and pans around the room and shows older, out-of-date furniture, different pictures on the walls, and an awkward color scheme. The large window on the right wall is covered by a dark red curtain and the lights from the Miami, Florida city night is barely creeping in the through the curtain and into the dark office. Directly next to the window, posted on the wall, is a calendar that shows the current month as February 2014. Above the large desk and the leather chair is a sign that reads, “Without Power, There is Nothing”. A loud creek is heard behind the door and the sound of a lock unlocking can be heard.

Sitting behind the desk is a middle-aged man in a dark suit. His hair is salt and pepper and he is slightly balding. He is of average height and has a small frame. His face is slightly hidden by the large nose placed on top of it that holds his small bifocals that seem to sit right on the tip. Sitting in front of him on his desk is nameplate that reads “JAMES O. RINGO”. As he hears the door open he looks up to see two large men in black suits, white shirts, and black ties walk in. They are both wearing matching Ray-ban sunglasses and both share an equally unsettling look to them. The middle-aged man gasps for a moment and then lets out a soft smile.

{JAMES O.}
Well? Did you find him?

The henchmen move to either side and standing behind them is a punk looking kid wearing baggy shorts, Nike Air Force Ones, and a Dwayne Wade Miami Heat Jersey. He is JIMMY RINGO.

{JAMES O.}
Welcome home, James.

{RINGO}
This ain’t home, Pop. I told you…Vegas is where it’s at. It’s poppin-

SLAM!

James O. slams his fist on his desk. The younger Ringo very quickly quiets down and purses his lips as he stares at his father.

{JAMES O.}
Things have been rather…quiet…with you gone these past few months, James. Your late night endeavors with Mr. Runner have been quiet expensive for us here, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed.

{RINGO}
Nah, Run didn’t say nothin’ about that.

SLAM!

Again JAMES O. slams his fist on his desk, annoyed by his son’s lack of proper grammar.

{RINGO}
I meant, Harold didn’t say anything to me about that.

JAMES O. lets out a wide smile.

{JAMES O.}
See, you’re not an idiot after all. I’m sure your mother will be very pleased.

{RINGO}
Why did you bring me back here? I thought I was free to-

{JAMES O.}
No, James…you are not.

JAMES O. walks around his desk, picking up what looks like a glass of brandy from his desk, and takes a seat on the small leather couch at the far end of the room. He motions to RINGO to sit across from him, which he does, and then he motions to the two large henchman that they are free to go. He waits for the two men to leave the room and close the door behind them and then he leans in, across the couch toward RINGO, and whispers to him.

{JAMES O.}
You were never free, James, never. Remember that.

He leans back in the couch and smiles as he swirls his brandy in the snifter and then takes a sip. RINGO stares back at him with what looks like a lump in his throat and after a moment, clears his vocal chords.

{RINGO}
What do you want from me?

{JAMES O.}
What do I want from you?

{RINGO}
That’s what I said isn’t it?

JAMES O. stares back at RINGO and shakes his head a bit before letting out a long sigh.

{JAMES O.}
You’re my son, James. You belong here.

{RINGO}
I go by Jimmy…

JAMES O. again smiles and shakes his head a bit.

{JAMES O.}
No son, I named you over the two most powerful people I ever knew. The two strongest men I have ever come across. My father, your grandfather, Nathaniel Orion Ringo who was the founder of our great company and a true patriarch to this family. He provided for your grandmother and me, and your uncle Louis, more than he had to and he instilled a discipline in my brother and myself that to this day guides me.

RINGO looks up at his father.

{RINGO}
And the other…”powerful” person.

JAMES O. again leans in across the couch. This time his smile fades and he grinds his teeth a bit.

{JAMES O.}
Me you ignorant fuck. Now you listen to me, I didn’t raise you to be a stunad. I raised you to be my heir…my successor. So you listen to me, from now on, all you do is listen to me. I’m going to teach you to be a Ringo…even if it means I have to beat it into you. Do you understand me?

RINGO sits with a blank look, as if he’s thinking, and this enrages JAMES O. even more.

{JAMES O.}
Are you listening to me?!

{RINGO}
Yes! I am.

JAMES O. again sits back and swirls his brandy.

{JAMES O.}
Good. You are going to make a fine Ringo, James. I can feel it.

He chuckles a bit as he takes a drink of his brandy.

:FADE OUT:


:FADE IN:

INT. ST. LUCIA’S CHURCH – NIGHT

The camera fades back in to the basement of a small Miami church. There is a circle of chairs in the center of the room, almost all filled with different types of people. A pregnant woman, a dark skinned man with scars on his face, a Latino man with a shirt two sizes too small and so on. In the center of the far side of chairs is a young blonde woman with bright blue eyes. She is wearing a pink collared short sleeve shirt and a rainbow striped zip up hoodie over it. On the left side of her chest is a nametag that reads CHLOE. She is talking, telling a story of some sort, but it’s impossible to make out what she is saying. Even she seems to be disconnected from her speech as she stares at the man sitting directly across from her burning a whole right through her with his dark eyes. Wearing a black suit and a black open collared shirt underneath, her eyes can’t move away from him. She looks over his dark features and stares right back in to his eyes, he is RINGO.

{CHLOE}
…and that’s what lead me to here. So as is customary…my name is Chloe and I’m an alcoholic.

{CROWD}
Hi Chloe.

{CHLOE}
That will be all the time we have tonight. Remember there’s a meeting every night here but if you need an afternoon one, we also host one at the rec center down the road.

As she stands up she looks for RINGO but all she gets is a glimpse of him walking out the door.

:CUT TO:

EXT. ST. LUCIA’S CHURCH – NIGHT

CHLOE runs outside to see RINGO walking briskly down the road. Trying to get his attention, she screams out as if almost unintentionally.

{CHLOE}
Hey you!

He stops in his tracks and then turns around. He is a bit shocked to see her standing there so he doesn’t say anything. He only stares straight through her again.

{CHLOE}
My name’s Chloe.

{RINGO}
I heard you.

{CHLOE}
What’s yours?

He shakes his head a bit.

{RINGO}
Is there something I can help you with Chloe?

{CHLOE}
I just want to know your name. I see you hear every night but you never share or stay for coffee or anything. I see you looking at me…

{RINGO}
Well don’t get the wrong idea. You’re easier to look at than some of those people in there. I’m really in a rush so I-

{CHLOE}
Please. Your name?

{RINGO}
My name is Jimmy…James. My name is James.

She smiles at him.

{CHLOE}
It’s nice to meet you, James.

He stares back at her and flashes half of a smile. He wants to respond but he can’t bring himself to. He shakes his head a bit and then turns around and starts walking again.

{CHLOE}
See you tomorrow!

He stops in his tracks when he hears her sweet voice again. He can hear the smile in her words and it almost forces him to smile back. But as he thinks about her he looks ahead to see his father’s limo waiting for him so he hangs his head and starts walking again.

:FADE OUT:



The Personal Diary of James Nathaniel Ringo

October 16th, 2014

I have returned. The plan is in motion and so far it seems to be working. They don’t understand, just as he said that they wouldn’t. My father was right. Everything he said so far was right. I don’t know why it took me so long to accept that this was the only way. Why I fought so hard, I could’ve saved…

There are tasks now. Missions that have been set forth in front of me that must be completed. Task one is John Dough. A familiar face…or should I say mask…that must be dealt with and dealt with swiftly. I’m not here this time for fun. I did not return to drink champagne and rap and be the life of the party. I came back for one reason and reason alone…to conquer.

John Dough will fall. It is now his destiny. The son of the faraway land called FoShan has drawn the first unlucky short straw. My colleague took care of Equinox but I know that our chapter has not been finished yet. The final note has not been written for our Enigmatic friend. First FoShan will fall. The world will know that no mask can protect you. John Dough will kneel before me…he will kneel to…POWER.