10 Minutes

 

Characters: 

Tre: 18 year old black teenager who graduated high school a week ago

Mom: Tre’s mother 

Keron: Tre’s friend who dropped out junior year. They used to be best friends but fell off after a while. 

Jay: Another friend of Tre’s who hangs out with Keron in their neighborhood

Mr. Charles: Older black man who runs the local corner store. 

Officer 1

Officer 2

News Anchor

Scene opens with Tre standing center stage, spotlight on him. Everything else is dark

 

TRE: (To the audience) My name is Tre. I'm 18 years old and I graduated last week. My entire life I have worked to be where I am now. I was supposed to be the first in my family to go to college. Howard. Man, mom was so proud when she got my admission letter.  (beat)  My life will be over in ten minutes. Here is what happened. 

 

Lights out.

 

 Lights up to Tre and Mom in their apartment. It is a hot summer day and the heat is felt even more than usual. Tre is laying on the ground with his headphones in while Mom stands in the kitchen looking out the window. The air conditioner went out and they are both doing what they can to stay cool. 

 

Everything around Tre comes to a complete standstill

 

Tre: (To the audience) Ten. 

Motion resumes

Mom: Tre!!!

No response. Tre is listening to music and can’t hear.

Mom: (to herself)  Boy I swear. TRE!!!

Tre removed his headphones 

Tre: My bad, my bad. Need something?

Mom: I need you to run down to the store and grab some ice cream. It’s too hot in here and I swear- to-God if Mr. Eddy doesn’t come down here to fix the a.c soon I’m going to grab him by the ear and make him do it myself.

Tre: I gotchu ma, where’s the money? 

Mom: Here’s ten, and I better be getting my chance when you get back.

Tre: No worries ma, what flavor you want?

Mom: You know by now.

Tre: You’re right, ion even know why I asked. I’ll be back in a few

Mom: Aight, love you baby. And you better shut my door all the way. Gonna let the good air out.

Lights out. End of scene 1

 

Lights up, Tre is now outside his apartment. He runs into Keron and Jay outside. They are dressed in all black and both carrying two fully stuffed backpacks moving with a purpose. They stop though, at the sight of Tre. 

Everything around Tre comes to a complete standstill

Tre: (to the audience) Nine. 

 

Motion resumes

Keron: YEEEEOOOO aint no way, is that my dawg Tre? 

Jay: Man I aint seen bro in a minute, what's happening?

Tre: Whats up yall, chillin chillin, yall know how it is. 

Keron: Nah bruh you doing your thing for real, Howard? That's a solid ass school. My pops went there. 

Jay: Man, your pops aint go to no damn Howard. 

Keron: On everything he did. 

Tre: Yeah Kerons right, that's the whole reason I chose the school for real. Yo pops put me on back when we was kids after I won that little science fair. Cant believe its bout to be five years man. 

Keron: Im saying. (beat) You coming to the balloon release tomorrow right? My moms was hoping you was. 

Tre: Yeah Ill be there for sure. (beat)  What yall been up to though, been a minute, yall still working at the wendys off of South Street?

Keron: Nah man, moneys been too slow fr. 

Tre glances at the backpacks they both are wearing, and are starting to put two and two together. 

Tre: Aight man. 

Keron: Where you bout to slide to tho

Tre: Runnin down to Mr Charles stoh real quick

Keron: Shoot we going that way too we’ll slide with

Tre: Bet that

Tre, Keron, and Jay all start walking down to the store, when they see Mr Charles sitting out in front of the door in a chair.

Tre: Whats going on Mr Charles!

Mr Charles stands up and Tre and him go in for a dap up, before hugging each other.

Mr Charles: Ive been good son, figured I get a lil tan in so I popped out here to get sun. 

Tre: Mr Charles you dont need to get no tanner. Plus its way too hot for you to be out here like this. 

Mr Charles glances behind Tre to see Keron and Jay standing behind them. They smile at him, but they are constantly looking behind them as if they are expecting something. Mr Charles notices this, but choses to ignore it.

Mr Charles: Keron, Jay. How have you boys been.

Keron: Good, Mr Charles. 

Jay: Yeah ive been aight. 

Mr Charles: Well that's good boys, oh Keron I’m going to need you to swing by the store bout an hour before the balloon release, imma need help carrying the food down. 

Keron: Will do Mr Charles, thanks again for helping out.

Mr Charles: No need to thank me, (beat) I might need some help around the store if you're looking for work. Could use the extra hands.

Keron: Im good right now but I'll think about it. 

Mr Charles glances at both Keron and Jay, but looks at Keron a little harder. 

Keron: Ight well we bout to bounce so Tre, ill catch you. Be safe Mr Charles

Jay: Ight ill see you Tre. Ill catch you Mr Charles

Tre: Ight stay safe bruh

Keron: Bet that, you stay safe too bruh. 

Keron and Jay walk off, before their pace begins to quicken. Tre glances at the two of them before he continues enters the store. 

Lights out. End of Scene Two

Lights up. Tre enters the store with Mr Charles . The store is filled with posters of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Shaft; and there is an old box television sitting behind the counter.

Everything around Tre comes to a complete standstill

Tre: (To the audience) Six. 

 

Motion resumes

Tre: Say Mr Charles, you really are staying cool in here. It's like 50 degrees in here.

Mr Charles: You know me Tre! Im bout the coolest mother shu-

Tre: Shut yo mouth.  Mr Charles you stay quoting Shaft.

Mr Charles: Oh come on Tre, you been coming in here every week since you could walk so you know how I feel about Shaft . Best movie ever. Period. Aint gone be nobody badder then that boy Shaft.

Tre: Now you know the Sam L Jackson revive was the best. Either way i'm talking about the heat.

Mr Charles: Yeah I know, but I cant remember the last time its been this hot. Thankfully the generator is keeping everything cool. You come by for the usual?

Tre: You know it, Moms mint chocolate chip. 

Mr Charles:  I got some kept away in the back just for times like this. Hows your mama by the way?

Mr Charles exits to get the ice cream from the back. 

Tre: Nah shes good, stressed tryna keep up with the bills but you know how she is. 

Mr Charles (offstage): Your mama sure is a strong one. I remember her coming in when she was bout your age. 

Mr Charles enters again holding a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream. 

Mr Charles: She was just bout to head off to college when she found out she was going to have you. And she came in this one day, looking tired as a dog. And she just sat. Right there on the floor. I had no idea what to do and I straight up froze. But then (beat) my dear Cynthia (he picks up a photograph sitting on the counter and looks at it) she sat right next to her, and offered her some ice cream. You know what type it was?

Tre: Mint Chocolate Chip.

Mr Charles: Mint Chocolate Chip! And they just sat there and ate and talked for what seemed like hours. I dont know what she said to your mama but I remember just seeing them both stand up, hug, and then that was it. After that I could count on our best customer to come in every week and get that ice cream. 

Tre: I know Mr Charles, you and mama both told me this before. 

Mr Charles: My point being, your mama went through so much raising you to be the young man you are today. You see a lot of things being here as long as me. You see people get old right in front of your eyes. Some make the right choices, and others dont. But your mama, she did a fine job raising you. 

Tre: I appreciate that Mr Charles, truly. 

Mr Charles: You turned out just fine Tre. Especially since you going to my alma mater.

Tre glances at the television behind the counter and notices a breaking news story. Mr Charles notices this too, and turns to watch.

Tre: Turn that up Mr Charles

News Anchor: Breaking news, we have received reports of another robbery in the area. The police in a statement said witnesses saw two African American men, between the ages of 16-21 wearing all black fleeing the scene. If anyone has any information they would like to disclose please reach out to the tips hotline at (555)-43...

Mr Charles turns the television back down and turns back to Tre 

Mr Charles: Another robbery, a damn shame. Nobody wants to work an honest job anymore. 

Tre glances up quickly after he hears this. It's at this moment he realizes who committed the robbery.

Tre: Ah shit. 

Mr Charles: You know my rule, thats a dollar to the jar. Whats on your mind though son?

Tre: Nah its nothing, just seen Keron and Jay earlier, hopefully it wasnt them. 

Mr Charles: I feel sorry for those boys. Jay’s always been a devil child ever since he was young. Mustve stolen bout 50 bucks worth of candy by the time he was ten. But Keron? He aint been the same since his daddy passed. He used to help me sweep the shop every Saturday but after the funeral I only see him when he walks by with Jay. I pray they aint got nothing to do with this. 

Tre: (Puzzled tone) Nah, they aint ion think. But I better be going Mr Charles, cant keep ma waiting. 

Mr Charles: I understand dont let me keep ya. Im proud of you though Tre. Heres an extra fifty for some food when you get to school. 

Mr Charles places the ice cream in the plastic bag first, and then the change and fifty bucks of cash on top. 

Tre: I appreciate that Mr Charles.

Tre turns to exit the store. Mr Charles is still behind the counter smiling. 

Lights out. End Scene three. 

Lights up. Tre is walking back to his apartment. Holding a plastic bag with the ice cream and change in it. 

Everything around Tre comes to a complete standstill

Tre: (To audience) Two.

 

Motion resumes

Tre: Man its hot, im praying this ice cream dont melt, ma would kill me. 

Officer 1 and Officer 2 enter. They are looking around and spot Tre. They then approach him. 

Officer 1: Excuse me, we need to speak with you a minute. 

Tre: Uh, yeah sure. What seems to be the problem officer?

Officer 1: There was a robbery in the area and you match the descriptioon provided at the scene. Do you have any identification on you? 

Tre: Um, no I dont. My mom just sent me to the store and back, I havent been anywhere else today. I didnt bring my wallet she gave me cash.

Officer 2: Cut the bullshit, we know it was you.

Officer 1: (To officer 2) Relax, we dont want to escalate this. 

Tre: Escalate what? I was just walking home. 

Officer 1: The perp was said to be black and wearing and all black outfit. They did say there were two of you though. 

Officer 2: So tell us where your little friend is. 

Tre: Little friend? I havent been anywhere else all day.

Officer 2: Thats what they all say. Im going to need you to put the bag down.

Tre lowers the bag, and Officer 2 notices the cash sitting on top. 

Officer 2: Whered you get all that cash from? 

Tre: Mr Charles gave it to me, he runs the corner store down the block. Its for school. 

Officer 2: Yeah, right. Im going to need you to stand facing the wall and put your hands behind your back. 

Tre: For what? I aint even do anything. 

A phone begins to ring. It's Tres phone, his mom is calling to check on him. 

Officer 2: HE'S REACHING FOR A GUN!

Officer 1: No it's a phone!

Officer 2 reaches for his pistol and aims it at Tre

Tre: WAIT!

Everything goes black except a spotlight on Tre

Tre: I didnt think this would be how everything ended. My momma broke her back for eighteen years, and for what? Me to be left on this hot concrete, praying I would make it. God, it's so hot. (beat) I would never see ma, Mr Charles (beat)  anyone. (pause) Ever again. All I can think is why, why me. Why now? Just, why. 

Tre: (beat) Zero. 

Everything goes black. Everything is silent for a second before the sound of a gunshot rings out, followed by a scream. 

End.