16002 camino del sol
                                                            Houston, Texas 77083
                                                            Phone:281-498-0454
                                                            Email:colourwhirl@cs.com

                  DIAMONDS AT SUNRISE

                           by

                      LARRY HUNTER

                                                            COPYRIGHT:4/14/2004
                                                            WS#1173085

                         DIAMONDS AT SUNRISE

FADE TO

MUSIC: AFRICAN DRUMS

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. KONO VILLAGE, WEST AFRICA AT SUNRISE

THE SOUND OF SHOVELS DIGGING IN THE EARTH. ONLY FOUR SHOVELS
ARE SEEN AS THE AFRICAN MEN DIG.

                    AFRICAN MEN
                   (singing)
            Workin in da mornin, til dawn tu
            feed me self some rice Africa,
            Africa, the land of the shining
            stone, Work, work til the mornin sun.

                                            CUT TO:

A LARGE SOAP STONE CARVING OF A FACE WITH SPARKLING DIAMONDS
AROUND IT APPEARS. The shovels digs faster until the full
body is seen. A hand reaches down to pick up the soap stone
carving. Ten small sparkling unique diamonds on the carving
glows like the rays of the sun.

                         AFRICAN VOICE
            I sey! Looka! Dis. Gud ju-ju! We
            mus take to chief.

The sound of the shovels stops. Mumbling voices of the
African men are heard.

FADE TO

MUSIC: AFRICAN DRUMS

                                            CUT TO:

INT. VILLAGE GRASS HUT

The CHIEF HANDS can be seen holding the soap stone carving.
The chiefs fingers and wrists are covered with shining gold
ornamentation.

                                                            2.

                         CHIEF
            Huh, huh! Dis one. We must keep
            secret from all outside men. The
            gods have spoken to us. The shining
            stone is the spirit of our soul
            that takes us beyond this world to
            another resting place.

FADE TO

MUSIC:AFRICAN DRUMS

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. THE RISING MORNING SUN RAYS IN THE SKY PENETRATING
THROUGH A WINDOW IN A GRASS HUT IN KONO VILLAGE, WEST AFRICA.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. GRASS HUT

A circle of ten sparkling diamonds is visible on the chest
area of an old male  African chief as the rising morning sun
rays touch his chest between the circle of sparkling
diamonds. The diamonds and sun rays make the sound of a
thousand bumble bees..The old African soul is an image of a
soft white looking ghost like figure that lifts up from the
old African Chief's chest like vapor, follow by a blinding
bright light coming from the diamonds and sun rays. The
light and figure shoot out the grass hut window like a
cannon and away into the clouds carrying the soul to another
resting place.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. PLANE-SEAT A

LUDY, a young AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE is in his early thirties,
very sharp dresser with a sense of cockiness about himself.He
is wearing sun glasses and an Olive colored suit. He is a
precious gem collector. LUDY is on his way back from KONO
VILLAGE in West, Africa He is about 6'2" in height  He is in
a deep sleep He is perspiring heavily..He's holding his
belly tightly.

                                            CUT TO:

LUDY FLASHBACK

FADE TO

MUSIC: AFRICAN DRUMS

                                                            3.

EXT. KONO VILLAGE-OCEAN SIDE-DAY

The sound of the drums in Kono. LUDY,AFRICAN AMERICAN, and
HYWA,young  AFRICAN WOMAN are walking along the ocean side.
Fishermen are pulling in their boats from a day's work at
sea. They are singing as the waves come into shore. HYWA
head is down as tears flow from her eyes down her soft cheeks.

                         HYWA
            I don’t understand, Ludy. I thought
            you love me. Maybe you love the
            diamonds more than me, huh?

They sit for a moment on a bench under a palm tree off the
beach.

                         LUDY
            I do, Hywa. But loving you here and
            loving you in America will be
            different. You will change, Hywa
            and I love you the way you are
            right now, try to understand. . . .1
            don’t want to be the one to take
            you through that kind of change.
            You have a beautiful and strong
            culture. You have a beautiful smile
            and such a free spirit, you know.
            In America, you will lose all of
            that, Hywa....Maybe you will be
            better off marrying Falala, at
            least there will be understanding.
            I've never had what you have,a
            strong and pure culture, you know....

FADE TO

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. AIRPLANE -LATE EVENING-2007 - SUMMER-SEAT A

LUDY MENDE wakes up on the plane. He leans back in his seat
and reaches in his left hand coat pocket to check for his
baggage ticket and passport.  After sitting a few minutes,
he begins to sweat. He takes out his handkerchief and wipes
the sweat from his face.  The plane hits a few air pockets.
He holds his stomach.The WHITE STEWARDESS notices his
discomfort. She is concern. She approaches LUDY and leans
over to him.

                                                            4.

                         THE STEWARDESS
            Is there something wrong, Mr. Mende?

                                            CUT TO:

LUDY FLASHBACK

FADE TO

MUSIC-AFRICAN BEAT

                                            CUT TO:

INT. AFRICA -KONO VILLAGE-CHEF MANDE HUT

HYWA is rolling ten small diamonds in an African dish called
FOO-FOO. LUDY and CHIEF MANDE are sitting, waiting as Hywa
rolls each diamond small pieces of FOO-FOO gently. LUDY has
a reluctant look on his face.

                         HYWA
            Trust us, Ludy Mende. Palm oil and
            Foo-Foo will help your belly.
            Diamonds will float like canoe..

HYWA rolls each FOO-F00 in palm oil and hold one by one up
to LUDY'S mouth. FOO-FOO is a doughy like sticky African
dish that is made from Cassava root.It looks like bread
dough. FOO-FOO does not dissolve easily.  LUDY hesitates
each time. For the fear keeps him tense as he swallows the
Foo-Foo with diamonds. He kind of gags a little, but HYWA
coaches him on with her gentle touch as she rubs his back
each time he swallows a roll of FOO-FOO.

                         CHIEF MANDE
            This an old native trick for
            smuggling diamonds passed our
            customs. We have never done this
            with this sacred diamonds, but the
            cause is important because E-lis
            and I are good friends of this
            person and you will be  rewarded
            very well.  This friend is quite
            wealthy.You have only 24 hours
            before the diamonds do any damage
            to you..Do not eat or drink
            anything until you have rid the
            diamonds from your belly.

                                            CUT TO:

                                                            5.

INT. PLANE-SEAT A

LUDY nods his head, meaning he is okay. The WHITE STEWARDESS
turns away in concern. LUDY takes out his cell phone and
dials a number. He waits a second with a painful look on his
face.

                                            CUT TO

INT. PLANE-SEAT D

A middle age WHITE MAN called THE MYSTERY MAN sits two seats
across from LUDY. He is watching LUDY from behind an opened
newspaper

                                            CUT TO:.

MYSTERY MAN FLASHBACK

EXT.  SEA WALL COFFEE SHOP-PATIO-MORNING

VERNICE and THE MYSTERY MAN are talking over a cup of coffee
on the SEA WALL CAFE'S PATIO. VERNICE goes in her purse and
hands THE MYSTERY MAN a white envelope of money. THE MYSTERY
MAN takes the money and puts it in his side coat pocket.

                         VERNICE
            Don't screw this up like you did
            the last job. Don't let Ludy Mende
            out of your sight. We need those
            diamonds. Don't do any thing crazy
            before he gets back in the States.

                                            CUT TO

INT. PLANE-SEAT A

LUDY is on his cell phone.

                         LUDY
            Yeah!  I'm okay.....About thirty
            minutes before landing......Yeah......

LUDY puts the cell phone back in his coat pocket as sweat
pours down his face.

                         LUDY
                   (talks to himself)
            I guess the old African trader was
            right about me after all.

FADE TO

                                                            6.

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

LUDY FLASHBACK

EXT.  HOUSTON FLEA MARKET - MORNING-1989

LUDY is eleven years old. He is at THE HOUSTON FLEA MARKET
in Houston,Texas with his grandmother. He stops to look at
some African Ju-Ju leather pouches. The old AFRICAN TRADER
tries to bargain with LUDY.  Old AFRICAN TRADER  pleas his
case but LUDY doesn't move an inch on his last price.  The
trader try every sales pitch on Ludy, but nothing changes.

                         AFRICAN VENDER
            But look....Good leather from the
            best Fula cow... .Very soft.

                         LUDY
            If you let me have this for three
            dollars, my friends will come and
            buy more, I promise.

                                            CUT TO:

LUDY'S GRANDMOTHER is walking toward him with an armful of
merchandise and ready to go. She walks up to the OLD AFRICAN
TRADER'S booth.

                         GRANDMOTHER
            Ludy! Lets go grandchild. I done
            spent all my money.

The AFRICAN TRADER laughs.

                         AFRICAN VENDER
            Your boy gon be Big Trader one day.

The AFRICAN TRADER gives LUDY the leather pouch.

                         AFRICAN TRADER
                   (laughs)
            Here! You earned it....Take it for
            good luck! You, boy got lot of sense.

LUDY looks up at the OLD AFRICAN TRADER and smile as he put
the bracelet on his wrist

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO:

                                                            7.

INT. EXIT DOORS OF HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

                                            CUT TO

LUDY rushing out the double doors onto the streets.

                                            CUT TO

A BLACK 2007 CHEVY VAN pulls up to the curb. LUDY throws his
hand bag into the Van and jumps in. The VAN speeds off.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

THE MYSTERY MAN flags down a Taxi to follow the BLACK CHEVY
VAN. He opens the door to the Taxi and jumps in. The YELLOW
TAXI CAB follows the BLACK CHEVY VAN.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. BLACK CHEVY VAN

LUDY is sweating. His twenty year old  brother, CHAPPY is
driving the VAN. He looks over at LUDY.

                         CHAPPY
                   (concern)
            Ludy! You don't look so good....

LUDY looks at CHAPPY. He makes up an excuse.

                         LUDY
                   (frowns)
            I musta got hold of some bad fool
            on that flight----

LUDY changes the subject.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            How is Mama?

                         CHAPPY
                   (smiles)
            That old lady is tough....She's all
            right.

                         LUDY
            You still keeping them grades up in
            college, huh?

                                                            8.

                         CHAPPY
                   (proud)
            YEAH! I think I can be outta there
            next year......

                         LUDY
                   (smiles)
            That's my baby brother, Chappy...

LUDY reaches in his pocket. He takes out a white envelope.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
                   (hands it to Chappy)
            Here....This is for you and Mama.

CHAPPY takes the envelope.

                         CHAPPY
                   (smiles)
            Thanks, Ludy! Listen, Mama worries
            about you all the time......

                         LUDY
            Yeah. I know. She always did even
            when I was a small boy....Anyway,
            tell her I'll see her on the
            weekend. Maybe we can go out to eat
            or something.

                         CHAPPY
                   (smiles)
            That's going to make her real happy,
            Ludy...... .

                         CHAPPY(CONTD)
            I saw Bunchy the other day, just
            hanging on the streets.

LUDY is silent for a moment as he looks out the window.

                         LUDY
            Yeah. Bunchy gonna be Bunchy.

FADE TO

MUSIC-HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO:

LUDY FLASHBACK

                                                            9.

EXT. OLD VACANT LOT IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, WINTER MORNING

BUNCHY, LUDY standing by a barrel of fire warming their
hands and passing a joint of marijuana.

THE SOUND OF SIRENS SCREAM THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD

BUNCHY takes a long drag off the marijuana joint and passes
it to LUDY. LUDY takes a drag off the joint while BUNCHY
warms his hands.

                         BUNCHY
            You remember that day we played
            Grambling--you came down the floor
            like a run-a-way truck.

LUDY just stands there shaking his head and blowing his cold
hands. BUNCHY goes through the motion, acting like he is
passing the basketball

                         BUNCHY
            You faked a pass to me and did a
            three-sixty and kissed a trey right
            off the back-board. It was awesome’
            You remember that Ludy?

BUNCHY turns to LUDY. LUDY shows no interest.

                         LUDY
            Listen, Bunchy, the past is
            haunting our ass. Them were the
            good-old days. We just can’t keep
            living back there, you understand?
            I promised my Grand Ma before she
            die I would give up these streets,
            man, This is no future. Bro.

BUNCHY turns away from LUDY like his best friend is turning
on him.

                         BUNCHY
            Then what else can we do, Ludy, we
            can’t just forget our personal
            contribution to this society. It's
            the only dam thing I got left---and
            they owe me for my sweat, blood and
            tears on that basketball court.

                                                           10.

                         LUDY
                    (rubs his hands together)
            Bunchy, I understand your feelings,
            but its over and done with, outta
            our hands  I wanna go into some
            kind of business, get off these
            streets and be somebody. We can't
            rely on what we did in the Pros for
            only one year, Bunchy.

This is a different conversation coming from LUDY. BUNCHY is
quiet.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            Grand Ma left me a big stash, man.
            I wanna use it wisely. You know
            what I’m saying?

LUDY slowly gazes over at BUNCHY

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            Maybe we can do something together,
            Bro....

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            We got more than basketball brains,
            man. The system owes us that, Bro.

                         BUNCHY
                    (takes a long drag
                   off the joint)
            Naw, bro. No more dreams for Bunchy
            here. The system done whooped old
            Bunchy for the last time. Anyway I
            can’t give up this weed.

BUNCHY takes another long drag off the joint.

FADE TO

MUSIC-HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO:

INT. BLACK 2007 CHEVY VAN

LUDY stares out the window.

                         LUDY
            E-lis save me from the streets. If
            not for her business and friendship,
            I would still be out their like Bunchy.

                                            CUT TO:

                                                           11.

LUDY FLASHBACK

INT. RED EXPLORER-FRONT SEATS

E-LIS and LUDY are discussing LUDY'S future.

                         E-LIS
            You deserve better than the streets,
            Ludy. I know Bunchy is your friend,
            but life has to go on. The game of
            basketball is not in your life
            anymore, just memories.

LUDY stares at E-LIS

                         LUDY
            What are you saying, E-LIS?

                         E-LIS
            Let me help you.....I owe you Ludy.
            Since my parents die, you and
            MOTHER GEM are the only persons I
            really trust.

                         LUDY
            How are you going to help me? I
            have nothing to start with, E-lis!
            I even spent the money my
            grandmother left to me.

E-LIS smiles.

                         E-LIS
            I have a plan.

FADE TO

MUSIC: JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

EXT. GALVESTON BEACH - EARLY MORNING-WOMAN LEGS AND FEET
RUNNING IN THE SAND

                                            CUT TO

The sound of heavy breathing  by  E-LIS, a young attractive
white woman and the splashing of waves coming to shore as
seagulls glide in the air beneath a rising sun. Her feet are
jogging softly on the sandy beach

                                            CUT TO:

                                                           12.

E-LIS FLASHBACK

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. GRAVE YARD-LOS ANGELES-AFTERNOON-TOMB STONE READS: THE
HARRISONS-1965-2006

E-LIS is standing crying at her parent’s graves. She is only
twelve. A middle age AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN called MOTHER
GEM is holding her hand. The WOMAN kneels down to E-LIS

                         MOTHER GEM
                    (hold both of E-lis’s hands)
            I promised your parents, I will
            take care of you, child if anything
            happened to them. There is so much
            I must teach you about precious
            gems. Your mother and father taught
            me every thing I know about gems. I
            must pass it on to you It just was
            an act of God that took their lives
            in that boat accident..Mother Gem
            gonna take care of you baby. I
            promise..

E-LIS cries as MOTHER GEM embraces her.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BEACH HOUSE-PATIO

She jogs up to her patio outside her beach house. E-LIS
takes the towel from a chair and wipes her sweaty body. She
pours a glass of orange juice from the pitcher on the table
and looks out into the blue water and silky white sands.

E-LIS FLASHBACK

FADE TO

MUSIC: AFRICAN DRUMS

                                            CUT TO:

INT. VILLAGE HUT IN KONO-AFTERNOON-WEST AFRICA

E-LIS is twelve years old. SHE is visiting the village of
KONO with her parents, THE HARRISONS. They are precious gem
and stone collectors. They are friends of CHIEF MANDE. CHIEF
MANDE will assist them in finding precious stones and gems
in the area. A VILLAGER and GUIDE extends his hands for them
to sit down in the grass hut. CHIEF MANDE is eating an
African dish while his wife prepares another dish. As they
sit,she gathers the dish and exits with a smile.

                                                           13.

CHIEF MANDE, dressed in a colorful African attire greets
them with a gentle smile.CHIEF MANDE impresses E-LIS as she
looks around at the different environment. E-LIS just takes
a seat quietly. The culture captivates her curiosity.

                         CHIEF MANDE
            Africa is different, uh child..
            ..not like America, huh?. You must
            come to visit more often. It is a
            very friendly place.

E-LIS breaks out of her silence. She smiles and blushes a
little bit when MANDE directs attention to her.

                         E-LIS
             Are there really diamonds laying
            everywhere on the ground like rocks?
            I heard stories about that.

CHIEF MANDE chuckles. He does not discuss diamonds unless
their is death in the village. To his village, the diamonds
are sacred.

                         CHIEF MANDE
            Some stories tell jokes you know.
            Maybe one day you will be  a
            business person like your mama and
            papa, come to Africa to do good
            business with precious gems like
            Amber, huh?

CHIEF MANDE pauses for a moment as E-LIS stares at him.
CHIEF MANDE touches the amber necklace around his neck. E-
LIS touches the amber necklace.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. GALVESTON BEACH- WAVES COMING INTO SHORE - SEAGULLS
FLYING ABOVE

                                            CUT TO

INT. HOUSE- CELL PHONE RINGS

                                       CUT TO

EXT.  BEACH HOUSE-PATIO

E-LIS finish during her stretches. She inhales and exhales
while taking a breath of the ocean's freshness. E-LIS waves
at another JOGGER running along the beach. The phone is
still ringing. She glances at her watch.

                                                           14.

                         E-LIS
            Aw, Shit!  Ludy

                                            CUT TO

INT. BEACH HOUSE

E-LIS picks up her cell phone from the couch. She glances at
it....She answers the call.

                         E-LIS
            I'm on my way!  Are you
            okay?.....Dam! I knew this was too
            risky.

E-LIS FLASHBACK

INT. RED EXPLORER-FRONT SEATS

E-LIS is watching LUDY and Bunchy playing basketball on the
outside court.  E-LIS opens the door and gets out the RED
EXPLORER. She closes the door.

                                            CUT TO: .

EXT. E-LIS IS WALKING TOWARD THE CYCLONE FENCE NEAR THE COURT.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT.  BASKETBALL COURT

LUDY and BUNCHY are playing basketball. LUDY dribbles around
BUNCHY for the game lay-up.

                         LUDY
            Game!

                         BUNCHY
                   (serious)
            Let's go again for the tie breaker.

                         LUDY
            I gotta go...Maybe tomorrow.

LUDY looks toward the cyclone fence. He stares for a moment.

                                            CUT TO:

E-LIS smiles as LUDY walks toward her. LUDY thinks he knows
who it is, but not sure. It's been years.

                         LUDY
                   (approaches)
            E-lis!

                                                           15.

E-LIS smiles as she walks slowly from around the fence.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            It can't be you!  It's been years!

LUDY and E-LIS embrace each other.

                         E-LIS
            It's me, Ludy. You are a hard man
            to find. Coming here was my last
            resort.I knew how you loved this
            basketball court.

LUDY concern

                         LUDY
            Is something wrong?

                         E-LIS
            Yes and No.....Really I must go.
            It's a bad idea. It's too dangerous.
            I am glad I found you, Ludy.

E-LIS turns to leave.  LUDY grabs her arm. She turns around
with tears in her eyes.

                         LUDY
            Hey! Wait! Let me decide that E-lis.
            I've always had your back, you know
            that.Come on. Lets discuss this in
            your car.

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO:

INT. RED EXPLORER-FRONT SEATS

E-LIS and LUDY are sitting in a RED 2007 EXPLORER. E-LIS is
showing LUDY some precious gems. LUDY observes the gems
carefully.

                         LUDY
                   (excited)
            Wow!

LUDY picks one to observe closely.

                                                           16.

                         E-LIS
            You see, I collect precious gems
            and sell them for a fortune. I am
            sharing  this with you because I
            have always trusted you even when
            we were in high school together.
            You were like my shield.

LUDY laughs as he observe the precious stones

                         LUDY
            Yeah! Not talking about the many
            times I had to keep the bad boys
            off of you.

LUDY and E-LIS is silent for a moment.

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles)
            Sometimes I wondered why our
            friendship didn't go to the next level.

LUDY stares ahead.

                         LUDY
            That's easy....black boy, white
            girl. End of story.

E-LIS and LUDY pauses for a moment to observe each other.
LUDY touches her face.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            You are still pretty as ever.

E-LIS smiles as she stares across the street. LUDY is
curious about her friend, VERNICE.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            Whatever happened to Vernice? You
            all were so close in school..

                         E-LIS
            I rather not talk about her.  She
            betrayed our friendship long time ago..

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. BLACK AND WHITE YOUNG BOYS ARE PASSING A MARIJUANA
JOINT AROUND TO EACH OTHER.

                                            CUT TO:

                                                           17.

INT. RED EXPLORER-FRONT SEATS

E-LIS and LUDY look at each other.

                         LUDY
            I'm sorry to hear that.

                         E-LIS
            Trust me. I got a plan that's going
            to keep you off the streets forever.
            Any way, you were always smarter
            than me in school. Remember?

LUDY is curious as gives the precious stones back to E-LIS.

                         LUDY
            I'm listening....

E-LIS explains

                         E-LIS
            I want to recruit you for an
            adventure of your life including
            two million after the job is done.

                         LUDY
            Two million dollars! Is this a joke,
            E-lis?

                         E-LIS
            This is real, Ludy. But it does
            involve a risk and you are the
            right person to pull it off. I want
            you to go to Africa on a business
            trip for me. After this, maybe we
            can be partners..

                         LUDY
            Africa?!

LUDY is silent for moment.

                         E-LIS
            Think about it.

E-LIS goes in her purse and pulls out a business card.

                         E-LIS
            Give me a call.

LUDY stares at the card.

                                            CUT TO

                                                           18.

EXT. GALVESTON HOTEL ON GALVESTON ISLAND

A RED EXPLORER speeds up to the entrance. E-LIS jumps out as
she gives the keys to the VALET.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. DOUBLE DOORS OF GALVESTON HOTEL

She runs in through the double doors of the hotel.

                                            CUT TO:

E-LIS rushes to the elevators. She punches the BUTTON to go
up. The elevator door opens, but it is crowded.

                                            CUT TO:

INT.  ELEVATOR

She squeezes in between all the people.

                         E-LIS
                   (squeezes inside)
            Will someone punch 8 for me?

FADE TO

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. ROOM 820-RESTROOM

LUDY is vomiting in the wash bowl. Blood is mixed with
shinning small diamonds that glows in the wash bowl. LUDY is
coughing badly.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RESTROOM DOOR

E-LIS is beating on the restroom door. The door is lock.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY is washing the diamonds.

                                            CUT TO

E-LIS is still beating on the door.

                                                           19.

                         E-LIS
                   (yelling from outside
                   the restroom)
            Ludy!  Are you in there?! Open the
            door,man!

LUDY looks in the mirror. His eyes look very weak as he
splashes water on his face. He wraps the diamonds up in a
white wash cloth.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RESTROOM DOOR

E-LIS is still beating on the door. She stops and pulls on
the door.

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
            Ludy!  Are you all right?.....

                                            CUT TO

INT.  RESTROOM DOOR

LUDY stumbles to the door. He braces himself from falling.
He opens the door.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. RESTROOM DOOR OF HOTEL ROOM

 LUDY falls right into E-LIS'S arms. E-LIS pulls out her
cell phone  as she struggles him to the floor.She dials 911.

                         E-LIS
            This is an emergency!

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. GALVESTON HOTEL

The sound of AMBULANCE SIRENS can be heard outside the
GALVESTON HOTEL.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. TWO MEDICS ARE WHEELING LUDY TO THE AMBULANCE ON A
STRETCHER.

E-LIS is walking along side of the stretcher. LUDY grabs her
hand as she weeps as the TWO MEDICS lifts LUDY into the
ambulance.

                                                           20.

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
            Hold on baby, hold on!  You gonna
            be just fine.....I'm with you all
            the way..

E-LIS steps up in the ambulance. The MEDIC closes the door.

EXT.  AMBULANCE

The sound of the AMBULANCE SIREN is heard as it moves slowly
up the street.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. A BLACK 2007 BUICK IS FOLLOWING THE AMBULANCE

                                            CUT TO:

INT. BLACK 2007 BLACK BUICK

THE MYSTERY MAN is following the Ambulance. He pulls out his
mobile phone from his coat pocket. He dials a number.

                         THE MYSTERY MAN
                   (talks  on phone)
            You are not going to believe this....

                                            CUT TO:

 FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. JOHN SEALY HOSPITAL-SECOND FLOOR-ROOM 225

The WHITE DOCTOR is talking to LUDY while he is lying in the
hospital bed. E-LIS is standing near the bed. The Doctor
shakes his head as he takes a look at LUDY'S medical chart.

                         THE DOCTOR
                   (shakes his head)
            Mr. Mende....You are one lucky man.
            What ever you ate had some sort of
            stone glass in it. Do you remember
            your last meal?.....

LUDY and E-LIS look at each other.

                                                           21.

                         LUDY
                   (tries to answer)
            I remembered in Africa, I had some
            Coca yams and they were very gritty.
            I Kinda over did myself......

                         THE DOCTOR
            Well if it hadn't been for your
            partial plastic stomach, you
            wouldn't be here today. You've lost
            a lot of blood in the upper part of
            your colon.....Stay over tonight
            I'll see you in the morning.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY FLASHES BACK

                                            CUT TO

EXT. GALVESTON, TEXAS- BACK ALLEY-TWO YOUNG SIXTEEN YEARS
OLD BOYS WARMING THEIR HANDS OVER A BARREL OF FIRE.

The TWO YOUNG BOYS are laughing. Suddenly, another YOUNG BOY
walks up with a gun in his hand. He points it at LUDY. LUDY
and BUNCHY backs up. The YOUNG BOY with the gun begins to
shoot LUDY. He shoots LUDY three times in the stomach. The
SHOOTER runs away as LUDY'S FRIEND, BUNCHY stands over LUDY
crying. Blood is pouring from his stomach.

                                            CUT TO

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM 225

The DOCTOR exits the room. As soon as the Doctor closes the
door. LUDY slowly sits up, pulls the cover off of him........

                         LUDY
                   (points)
            Hand me my clothes.

                         E-LIS
            Ludy!  You sure you can make it?!

E-LIS hands him the clothes.

                         LUDY
            For two million dollars!  Dam right!
            I'm very sure....You got the rocks?

E-LIS pats her purse.

                                                           22.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            Then, what the hell are we waiting
            on?! You said we have twenty four
            hours to get the rocks to the buyer
            before sun rise or it will be too
            late! You never told me the buyer's
            name.

                         E-LIS
                   (reluctant)
            I promised not to for sentimental
            reasons.Anyway, you probably would
            not have believe my reason. You
            never believed in the unknown,
            remember?

LUDY just stares at E-LIS

FADE TO

MUSIC:BLUES

                                           CUT TO

INT. MANSION HOUSE OFF PELICAN ISLAND-TELEPHONE RINGS

MOTHER GEM, an old elegant AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN picks up
the phone as she coughs a little before answering. An
African leather pouch hangs around her neck.Precious stoned
compliment her fingers and wrist. Her eyes are very weak as
she stares out her bedroom window as the sunset disappears
into the ocean.

EXT. SUNSET DISAPPEARING INTO THE GALVESTON GULF

                         MOTHER GEM(V.O.)
                   (hoarse voice)
            He's here? Good.....Does he know
            anything about the secret of the
            diamonds?..... Good.....Hurry.
            Bring him to me.. Time is valuable.
            Chief Mande kept his word. We must
            keep ours.The secret must stay
            conceal to the outside world. It
            will be just a another magic trick
            to them..

                                            CUT TO:

INT. MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION BEDROOM

MOTHER GEM hangs the phone up and stares into space.

                                            CUT TO:

                                                           23.

MOTHER GEM FLASHBACK

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. MOTHER GEM FAMILY'S HOUSE-GALVESTON, TEXAS-DAY

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. BACK YARD-MOTHER GEM 12TH  BIRTHDAY PARTY

SINGING - HAPPY BIRTHDAY

PEGGY is MOTHER GEM at the young age of twelve. The focus is
on a large white cake with twelve burning candles. Voices of
children playing are heard in the background. PEGGY and her
fiend, MANDE, a twelve year old boy is standing over the
cake. PEGGY is sad because after the party, Mande is leaving
for Africa. A tear from PEGGY  falls on one of the candles.
MANDE and Peggy have been friends ever since the first grade.

                         MANDE
             Come on Peggy, everyone is waiting!

MANDE rushes PEGGY to blow out the candles. Peggy’s hands
rest on the table as if she is getting ready to blow out the
candles.

                         PEGGY
            I hate your father for taking you
            away! I hate him!

PEGGY turns away from MANDE. She is very angry and
disappointed.MANDE defends his father’s actions. He explains
to PEGGY his father’s reason for taking him away.

                         MANDE
            Don’t say that, Peggy! My father’s
            studies are over here in America.
            He must return to our village, Kono.
            One day he will take my
            grandfather’s place as Chief of our
            village... Please try to understand.

PEGGY turns to MANDE. She regrets that she speaks of hating
his father. In many ways she thinks he is a wonderful man.
She is thinking of losing a good friendship.

                         PEGGY
             I’m sorry, Mande. I just thought
            we were going to be friends forever
            like we used to say.

MANDE reaches in his pocket and pulls out an soft brown
leather pouch.

                                                           24.

                         MANDE
             This will keep our hearts close
            forever. This has good ju-ju and it
            only comes from my village.I had it
            made especially for you

MANDE gestures to put pouch around PEGGY’S neck. PEGGY
smiles as she turns around to receive the leather pouch. She
blushes. MANDE’s father approaches. He taps Mande on the
shoulder.

                         MANE'S FATHER
             Mande, Its time to go, son.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. BACK WINDOW OF CAR DRIVING AWAY --- DAY

A BLACK LIMOUSINE is driving away as PEGGY stands at her
window, crying. MANDE looks out the LIMOUSINE'S back window
and waves good-bye as tears run down PEGGY’S cheek. She
whispers.

                         PEGGY
             I will never forget you Mande.

                                            CUT TO:

INT ATTORNEY NASH’S OFFICE-BOGANY, EAST TEXAS-16 YEARS
LATER-DAY

 ATTORNEY NASH opens the Will as he sits at his desk. Timber
land can be seen from his picture window behind his chair.
PEGGY is sitting in front of the desk. She pulls out a
handkerchief and slowly wipes her teary eyes. ATTORNEY NASH
sympathizes with PEGGY.

                         NASH WADE
            Listen... .We just buried your
            mother about a month ago. I can
            understand your grief, Peggy... .We
            got time, you know. Lets do this
            another----

PEGGY straightens up, gathers her poise, puts her
handkerchief back in her purse.

                         PEGGY
            No--uh--I’m fine, Nash I want to
            get this over with, okay?

ATTORNEY NASH continues as he explains the Will to PEGGY.
PEGGY would rather have her wonderful parent’s back than
material wealth.

                                                           25.

The sign of loneliness shows on her attractive face.

                         NASH WADE
             There is no contest because you
            are the only child. And I must say
            you are going to be a very rich
            school teacher.Your mama and papa,
            Lee and Bertha Wiggins left their
            entire estate to you. Their estate
            is worth five million dollars, rich
            in acres of green healthy timber
            land with oil right stab dab in the
            middle. Pretty soon, them white
            folks up here gonna be calling you
            the Negro Queen of East Texas.

PEGGY gets up from the chair in front of the desk. She walks
over to the big picture window as NASH’S eyes follow her
from waist down. She stares out the window and looks a far
distant at pine trees for miles. She kind of smiles and
responds to NASH’S comment.

                         PEGGY
            Nash, you better rephrase that
            Negro Queen comment to Nigger Queen
            of East Texas.

PEGGY and NASH look at each other for a moment and burst out
laughing. PEGGY needs a sense of humor right about now. But
she remembers when her parents bought all this land. She is
still standing at the big picture window behind ATTORNEY
NASH’S Desk.

                         PEGGY
             Mama and Papa were smart Negro
            folks. Forty acres were passed down
            to them and they just kept buying
            more land when it was selling for
            little of nothing Them days are
            gone now. White folks didn’t know
            how rich the land was back then.

ATTORNEY NASH likes PEGGY. But she never encourages a
relationship. Even if he is prosperous among black folks in
East Texas. PEGGY, for years thought about MANDE and one day
to see him again. She loves the African culture. NASH tries
to flirt a little with PEGGY, even more so now because of
her richness. He gets up from his chair, stands behind Peggy
as she looks out the window. He puts his hands on both of
her shoulders.

                                                           26.

                         NASH WADE
            Now what are you going to do with
            all that land and oil money? Peggy
            Lee Wiggins, you gonna need a
            husband to protect you, the land
            and them precious stones.

PEGGY moves away from the window to get away from his grasp.
She picks up the purse from the chair, puts on her sun
shades, pauses and responds to Nash question.

                         PEGGY
            Why, Nash Wade  I haven’t even
            given that a thought of day. Maybe
            I will just sell all of it and run
            off to Africa.

Africa is not a priority on NASH’S list. He thinks she is
joking. He walks from behind his desk in disbelief of
selling the land and going to Africa.

                         NASH WADE
            AFRICA! You got to be joking, Peggy!

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. PEGGY’S CLASSROOM - EAST TEXAS- DAY

PEGGY is in her classroom. Students gather around her desk
looking at precious stones from her private collection. The
stones comes from different countries. PEGGY picks up
crystals and holds it up to the students. Then she picks up
an amber piece. She opens a book and turn the pages to an
Africa map and points to the country of the amber’s origin.
The stones excite her students.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. FRONT PORCH-PEGGY’S HOUSE-EAST TEXAS CUT TO

PEGGY is sitting out on her country porch in De-Berry, Texas.
The sun is setting above the timber land and oil fields. She
is watching the sunset as she reads a letter. She pauses for
a moment as something in the letter freezes her. Suddenly
she starts dancing and jumping for joy. MANDE, her long time
African friend since the age of twelve has written a very
serious letter. He ask to marry her and wants PEGGY to come
immediately to Africa for his father’s blessings. His father
who is chief does not have long to live, so she must hurry.

                                                           27.

                          (CONT'D)
                     PEGGY
                   (excited)
            Yes Mande, I will marry you! Yes!
            And I will come for your father’s
            blessings. Thank you God!

FADE TO

MUSIC - AFRICAN DRUMS

                                            CUT TO:

INT. GRASS HUT - VILLAGE KONO-SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA

LATE- EVENING-1945

MANDE’S FATHER is lying in bed. He is dying. WOMEN are
standing around fanning him. He is very old. PEGGY is trying
to hold back her tears. Mande goes over to his father and
whispers something in his ear. The FATHER open his eyes and
a smile is on his face when he sees PEGGY. He beckon for
PEGGY to come closer. PEGGY comes closer and kneels down.
The African drums are sounding outside of the chiefs house.
THE CHIEF whispers something in PEGGY’S ear. Whatever he
tells PEGGY, her face is sad. The look on her face is ice
cold as if she is snake- bitten, The WOMEN around the bed
are nodding and smiling as if they know a father’s dying
wish to his future daughter-in-law

THE CHIEF whispers in a hoarse voice.

                         THE CHIEF
             Welcome to Kono, unlike your
            country, we don’t have any vanilla
            and strawberry ice cream to cool
            you off

PEGGY smiles as she holds the CHIEF'S hand. Tradition over-
powers her innocence. Suddenly, she feels out of place.
Sweat begins to pour down her face as she watches a dying
man fight for his last breath. The CHIEF coughs a little as
the women fan him. The sound of the African drums are louder.
The CHIEF turns his head toward PEGGY.

                         THE CHIEF
            I hope you forgive me for taking
            Mande away. You were so young to be
            in love. Everything is settle now.
            There is a happy ending to my life now.

A WOMAN is opening up a piece of black silky cloth. The
rising of the morning sun and the glow of the diamonds
brightens the room.

                                                           28.

PEGGY looks around as the WOMEN place the diamonds on the
CHIEF. Only the WOMEN’S arms are seen. The diamonds are not
visible, only the glow that brightens the room. The glow is
as bright as auto lights. Peggy turns away from the glare.

THE CHIEF whispers in a hoarse voice.

                         THE CHIEF
            I do give you and Mande my
            blessings. But you must promise to
            bear children until a boy is born
            to carry the chieftain on in my
            family. It is a tradition.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. GRASS HUT - AT SUNRISE

MUSIC - AFRICAN DRUMS

Tears run down PEGGY’S cheeks as she turns away from the bed.
The CHIEF takes his last breath.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. DIAMONDS IN A CIRCLE ON CHIEF'S CHEST

.A circle of ten sparkling diamonds is visible on the chest
area of CHIEF MANDE as the rising morning sun rays touch his
chest between the circle of sparkling diamonds. The diamonds
and sun rays make the sound of a thousand bumble bees..CHIEF
MANDE soul is an image of a soft white looking ghost like
figure that lifts up from his chest like vapor, follow by a
blinding bright light coming from the diamonds and sun rays.
The light and figure shoot out the grass hut window like a
cannon and away into the clouds carrying the soul to another
resting place.

EXT. THE RAYS OF THE SUN AND THE GLOW OF THE DIAMONDS
TRAVELS AWAY INTO THE CLOUDS MAKING THE SOUND OF A THOUSAND
BUMBLE BEES.

                         MANDE( V.O.)
            Good-bye father. May your soul
            travel in peace to join your love
            ones on the other side forever. I
            will see you again.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. SUNSET - MANDE AND PEGGY SITTING UNDER A PALM TREE

PEGGY is going back to America. Even though, MANDE does not
want her to go.

                                                           29.

She feels unworthy because she could not fulfill a dying
chief's wish. She could not bare children.

                         MANDE
            Peggy. What you have seen here,
            tell no outsider. The power of the
            sacred diamonds lies within its
            secrecy.

                         MANDE(CONT’D)
            We will always be one, Peggy and
            I’m going to be thinking of you
            everyday of my life. Our souls are
            one. One day we will meet again.
            l’m sorry.you made the decision not
            to stay.

For the first time ever, MANDE and PEGGY hold each other in
their arms as tears flow down her cheeks.

                                      CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

MOTHER GEM is sitting staring out at the ocean as she rocks
slowly in her ROCKING CHAIR.

FADE TO

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER-MOBIL GAS STATION-GALVESTON

LUDY is waiting for E-LIS to come out of the rest room. He
takes a look at the diamonds in her purse. E-LIS opens the
door while he is observing the diamonds. E-LIS and LUDY look
at each other and smile. E-LIS starts the EXPLORER and
speeds off.

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO:

INT. RED EXPLORER

E-LIS and LUDY are driving along a dark road. The sound of
the ocean wind is blowing.

                                                           30.

                         LUDY
                   (curious)
            Where do we have to meet the buyer?

                         E-LIS
                   (respond)
            Pelican Island.We have to wait
            until around early morning to cross
            on the ferry.

LUDY looks at his watch

                         LUDY
             You lived there with Mother Gem
            after your parents die, right?.

E-LIS is quiet.

                         LUDY
            Sorry--I didn't mean---

                         E-LIS
            I'm fine. It's just that I never
            got a chance to really know them.

                         LUDY
            All these years and I've never met
            Mother Gem. You kind of kept it a
            secret from me when we were in
            school--and we kinda lost touch.

E-LIS ignore LUDY curiosity

                         E-LIS
                   (driving)
            It was best. Mother Gem likes her
            privacy, but she has a heart of gold.

E-LIS stares at the road as she wipe tears from her eyes/

                                            CUT TO:

E-LIS FLASHBACK

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

E-LIS tips in MOTHER GEM’S room, She breaks down and cries.
MOTHER GEM turns her head slowly against the pillow to look
at E-LIS. E-LIS stands over MOTHER GEM trying to hold back
the tears. MOTHER GEM looks different. Her long gray hair
almost covers the pillow. Her eyes look like they are going
to pop out of her head. She grabs E-LIS hands and smiles. E-
LIS sits down in a chair by the bed, grasps MOTHER GEM’S
HAND to her lips.

                                                           31.

MOTHER GEM looks toward the window, praying that she last
for the Diamond ceremony..

                         MOTHER GEM
            I pray that Ludy completes the
            mission before sunrise....I can't
            last much longer.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. BLACK WOMAN CRYING ON SIDE OF ROAD

A WELL DRESSED BLACK WOMAN is sitting along side the highway,
crying. E-LIS passes her up.

FADE TO

MUSIC: JAZZ

                                            CUT TO:

BLACK WOMAN'S FLASHBACK

INT. GALVESTON BAR ALONG OCEANSIDE

A WELL DRESSED YOUNG BLACK WOMAN sits at the bar sipping on
a cocktail. She is alone. THE MYSTERY  MAN walks up to the
bar and takes a seat next to  her. THE WELL DRESSED WOMAN
ignores his presence. He raises his hand for the bartender
to make him a whisky on the rocks.He breaks the silence.

                         THE MYSTERY MAN
            Are you ready to make your keeps?

THE BARTENDER sits THE MYSTERY MAN drink in front of him on
the bar.

                         THE BLACK WOMAN
            Did you bring the money?

THE MYSTERY MAN pats his inside coat pocket. They both get
up and leaves the bar.

                                            CUT TO:

EXT. RED EXPLORER-BACK VIEW

E-LIS jams the brakes and backs up.

                                            CUT TO:

                                                           32.

INT. RED EXPLORER-PASSENGER SIDE

                         LUDY
                   (shouts)
            What are you doing?  We know
            nothing about this woman.

E-LIS backs up and opens the RED EXPLORER'S door. She
unbuckles her seat belt.

                         E-LIS
            The woman needs help, Ludy.

LUDY stays in the car.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. SIDE OF THE ROAD

BLACK WOMAN is sitting crying.

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
            Is there something wrong?

The BLACK WOMAN looks up. She wipe her eyes with the back of
her hand.

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (explains)
            Someone hijacked my Lexus and put
            me out....I don't know what to
            do......Could I bother you to take
            me to the next Gas station to call
            the police. My cell is dead..

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

LUDY quickly exchange the real diamonds for imitation glass
diamonds. They are identical to the real ones. He puts the
glass diamonds into E-LIS'S purse. He is being very careful
because he thinks someone else is after the diamonds..

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RED EXPLORER PASSENGER WINDOW.

E-LIS knocks on the window. LUDY opens the window.

                         E-LIS
            She's stranded.  Somebody hijacked
            her vehicle.

                                                           33.

                         LUDY
                   (shakes his head)
            That's not our problem. Tell her to
            call the police......How do you
            know her story is legit?

E-LIS is standing at the window. She shakes her head,
knowing that calling the police is not a good idea especially
when they are carrying two million worth of diamonds.

                         E-LIS
            We just can't leave her out here in
            the middle of nowhere....She's
            coming with us......

E-LIS turns and beck for the BLACK WOMAN to come. The BLACK
WOMAN walks toward the RED EXPLORER.

INT. RED EXPLORER-PASSENGER SIDE

LUDY is watching cautiously as the BLACK WOMAN approaches
the RED EXPLORER. By the time the BLACK WOMAN walks in front
of the vehicle----

                                            CUT TO

INT.  RED EXPLORER-PASSENGER SIDE

LUDY pulls out a gun from his waist. He opens the door and
jumps out.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RED EXPLORER

LUDY points the gun at the BLACK WOMAN. The BLACK WOMAN
covers her head with her hands......

                         E-LIS
                   (freezes)
            Ludy!  What are you doing?  Have
            you lost it?!  When did you start
            carrying a gun?

LUDY pointing gun as he walks closer to the BLACK WOMAN.

                         LUDY
                   (turns to E-lis)
            How you know this ain't a setup, E-
            lis.....Search her! Someone was
            following me on the plane.

                                                           34.

                         E-LIS
                   (walks toward Ludy)
            Come on Ludy!  Put the gun down!
            This is not necessary....

                         LUDY
                   (points the gun)
            On your knees, Lady!...Why are you
            following us. Ever since I got off
            that plane, I've been watched! Who
            put you up to this?!

The BLACK WOMAN get on her knees.

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (emotional)
            Please, mister!.....Don't shoot
            me.....I didn't do nothing!

                         E-LIS
                   (pleas)
            For God sakes, Ludy!  Stop this
            right now!

                         LUDY
            Be quiet, E-lis! If you won't
            search her, I will.

LUDY walks behind the woman pointing the gun at her head. He
starts searching her as the BLACK WOMAN is terrified. E-LIS
walks back and forth.

                         E-LIS
            You are paranoid! That's what you
            are, Ludy!

LUDY is still searching the BLACK WOMAN.

                         LUDY
            All of a sudden, you just appeared
            out of nowhere like the whole thing
            was planned----Didn't you?!

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (trembling)
            Like I told you, someone hijacked
            my car.....

LUDY does his last search on the BLACK WOMAN. He finds
nothing, not even identification. He puts the gun back in
his coat pocket.

                                                           35.

                         E-LIS
                   (frustrated)
            Are you satisfied now......

E-LIS helps the BLACK WOMAN up.

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
            Are you all right....I'm sorry.

LUDY walks back to the front door of the RED EXPLORER and
leans over.

FADE IN

MUSIC:JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

The BLACK WOMAN is sitting in the back seat of the RED
EXPLORER. E-LIS is driving. LUDY is watching the BLACK WOMAN
at his back from REAR VIEW MIRROR. E-LIS pulls into a MOBIL
GAS STATION. The BLACK WOMAN gets out. She waves good-bye to
E-LIS. E-LIS waves back. LUDY never looks up as E-LIS drives
off.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. PHONE BOOTH-FRONT ENTRANCE OF MOBIL SNACK SHOP

The BLACK WOMAN picks up the phone and dials a number. She
looks around. She waits patiently as the other line rings.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE-PHONE RINGING ON DESK

The MIDDLE AGE WHITE MYSTERY MAN with the newspaper on the
airplane answers the phone.

                         THE MYSTERY MAN
                   (picks up the phone)
            Did you get the information I need?

                                            CUT TO

EXT. PHONE BOOTH-FRONT ENTRANCE OF MOBIL SNACK SHOP

The BLACK WOMAN is explaining to the MYSTERY MAN.

                                                           36.

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (looks around)
            Yes....When do I get my
            money?.......I'm at the Mobil Gas
            Station on 63rd street..........

                                            CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE-MYSTERY MAN HANGS UP PHONE

The MYSTERY MAN hangs the phone up. He grabs his coat from
the chair, opens his desk drawer and pulls out a gun. He
checks the barrel for bullets. He quickly puts his coat on
and stuff the gun into his right side waist of his belt.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FRONT ENTRANCE OF MOBIL SNACK SHOP

The BLACK WOMAN is pacing back and forth nervously. She
takes a drag off her cigarette.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BRIGHT LIGHTS FROM A BLACK BUICK APPROACHES BLACK WOMAN

The BLACK WOMAN smiles as she throws the cigarette down and
steps on it. The BLACK CAR slowly drives up to her. The door
opens. The BLACK WOMAN jumps in.

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK CAR

The MYSTERY MAN smiles as he touches the BLACK WOMAN'S face.
She smiles.

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (nervous)
            Man....I'm glad to see you....That
            Ludy is crazy! I thought he had
            caught on to me......You got my
            money.......

The MYSTERY MAN smiles.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (drives off)
            Calm down. I got you cover.

The MYSTERY MAN reaches in his coat pocket and hands the
BLACK WOMAN an envelope. She peeps in the envelope.

                                                           37.

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (joyful)
            Yes!.....Listen, they are staying
            at  The Flagship tonight..They kept
            talking about 24 hours to complete
            the mission and Ludy kept watching
            her purse.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (smiles)
            Is there anything else I need to know?

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (shakes her head)
            No.....Just drive me to my car.
            It's been a long night......

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (suggests)
            Why don't we go to my place and end
            our acquaintance with a bang.....

                         BLACK WOMAN
                   (smiles)
            Not tonight, baby.....Some other time.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BLACK CAR PULLS UP TO A LEXUS-OFF BEACH

The BLACK WOMAN gets out the car. She turns and walks away.

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK CAR

The MYSTERY MAN pulls out a gun from his waist and shoots
her twice in the back of the head.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FRONT ENTRANCE OF MOBIL SNACK SHOP

The BLACK WOMAN slowly falls to the ground.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BLACK CAR-OPENS DOOR.

The MYSTERY MAN gets out the car, walks over to the dead
BLACK WOMAN and takes back the money. He puts it in his coat
pocket.

                                            CUT TO:

                                                           38.

PEOPLE rushes out the store.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. BLACK CAR

MYSTERY MAN speeds away in BLACK CAR.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (sadly)
            Sorry.....And you were so good.

FADE TO

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. FLAGSHIP HOTEL-ROOM 235

E-LIS and LUDY are entering ROOM 235.

                         LUDY
                   (curious)
            Are you staying with me tonight---I
            promise, hands off, with no strings
            attached.

E-LIS smiles.

                         E-LIS
            Yeah...Right...Last time we agreed
            to that, it didn't work.We made up
            for what we didn't do in high school.

LUDY plays like his stomach is hurting.

                         LUDY
            I think I'm gonna be sick....

LUDY grabs his stomach.

                         E-LIS
                   (laughs)
            Okay...Only if you promise we will
            try to stay away from each other.

                         LUDY
                   (jokes)
            I got the bed on the left.....

He throws his carry bag on the bed.

                                                           39.

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles)
            It doesn't matter because before
            the night is over, you gonna be in
            my bed.

                         LUDY
            You're that confident, huh girl?

                         E-LIS
            All ways.......

                         LUDY
                   (serious)
            Not this time.....Something is
            going on. I can feel it in my bones.
            I don't wanna be caught with my
            pants down. You know what I'm
            saying?.....

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles)
            We'll see.......

                         LUDY
            I could swear someone was following
            me at the airport. Anyway, you
            never told me what was so important
            about this mission than any
            other.......

                         E-LIS
            I'll tell you later.....Trust
            me....It's very important and
            personal this time..

                         LUDY
                   (serious)
            We not staying in this room tonight.
            That woman was listening to every
            word we spoke tonight. I think we
            talked too much around her.

E-LIS looks puzzle.

                         E-LIS
            Ludy, please. Not another one of
            your hunches. You are getting too
            paranoid.

                         LUDY
            Let's go!

                                            CUT TO

                                                           40.

EXT. BLACK CAR-DRIVING ALONG GALVESTON SEA WALL

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FLAGSHIP HOTEL SIGN FLASHING AT NIGHT

                                            CUT TO

INT. FLAGSHIP HOTEL DESK

E-LIS and LUDY are standing at the desk for service. No one
is there.

                         LUDY
                   (rings the bell)
            Hello! Could I get some service
            here.....

                         E-LIS
            Listen....I'm going to sit in the
            lobby. This is your little paranoid
            project.

E-LIS walks to the lobby. LUDY is still at the desk waiting
for service. A YOUNG BLACK MAN comes up to the desk. They
kind of eye each other.

                         LUDY &BLACK MAN
                   (points at each other)
            Don't I know you?.....

                         LUDY
            Scooter!

                         BLACK MAN
                   (excited)
            Scat! I haven't seen you since high
            school!  What's up!

                         LUDY
            Look, I need a favor.....

                         BLACK MAN
            Sure. Anything for my teammate. We
            wouldn't have won the state that
            year if you hadn't hit that two
            pointer at the buzzer.....Man! What
            a celebration!

LUDY looks at the BLACK MAN'S name tag.

                         LUDY
            I see you are the manager....

                                                           41.

                         BLACK MAN
            Sure is....and proud of it....What
            about you?......

                         LUDY
            Uh....Business man...Precious
            gems.....Black folks are moving up
            in the world, huh?.....Listen,
            about this favor......

                         BLACK MAN
            I'm listening......

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK CAR-ON PARKING LOT OF FLAGSHIP

The MYSTERY MAN is sitting in the BLACK CAR. He looks at his
watch. He leans back in his seat and wait. He unwraps a
sandwich and begins to eat.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. OCEAN SIDE-THE WAVES COMING TO SHORE.

The MYSTERY MAN cell phone rings. He reaches in his coat
pocket. He answers the call.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (serious)
            I will have the diamonds for you by
            morning....Trust me.

He hangs up the phone. A WHITE BEACH BUM bangs on the BLACK
CAR'S window. He startles the MYSTERY MAN. The MYSTERY MAN
pulls his weapon and points it at the BEACH BUM. The BEACH
BUM almost stumbles over his own feet backing away from the
car. He takes off running.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (yells)
            Bum! Get a job!

The MYSTERY MAN doses off to sleep.

                                            CUT TO

INT. ROOM 325-FLAGSHIP HOTEL-2:00AM

LUDY is sleep. He starts to toss and turn. E-LIS is sound
asleep in the other bed. Suddenly LUDY WAKES UP SCREAMING!
His body is wet with sweat. E-LIS jumps in the bed and holds
him as tight as she can.....

                                                           42.

                         E-LIS
            It's okay, baby....It's
            okay.....Take a deep breath.

                         LUDY
            Damn! It was like I was blown to
            pieces in Africa by a suicide bomber.

                         E-LIS
            That's because on your last mission
            for precious stone, it almost
            happened to you. Now get some
            sleep......Time is running out. We
            only have fifteen hours before
            sunrise to deliver the diamonds.....

LUDY lays back down. He takes a deep breath.

                         LUDY
                   (smiles)
            Okay....Okay.......Did you leave
            the fake diamonds in the other room?

                         E-LIS
            Yes.....Right on the bed......

                         LUDY
                   (doses to sleep)
            Good....That will buy us some time....

                         E-LIS
            I hope you are wrong.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FLAGSHIP HOTEL-ELEVATOR-3:00AM

The door of the elevators opens. The MYSTERY MAN steps on
the elevator. The door closes.

                                            CUT TO

INT. ELEVATOR

The MYSTERY MAN punches the second floor. The elevator stops
on the second floor. The MYSTERY MAN steps out the elevator.
He puts on black gloves.

                                            CUT TO

INT. SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY-FLAGSHIP HOTEL

The MYSTERIOUS MAN walk pass rooms looking for 235. He stops
and look around to see whether anybody is out on the floor.

                                                           43.

He turns the knob to 235 to see if it is open. It is open.
He takes out his gun that has a silencer on it. He slowly
opens the door. The purse is laying on the bed. The bed look
like two people are laying there. It is very dark. He tips
in and takes the purse. He opens it. He heads for the door,
but decides to shoot bullets into the bed. His gun has a
silencer on it. He fires two shots into the pillows.

FADE TO

MUSIC:JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

INT. MANSION HOUSE-ROOM SURROUNDED BY PRECIOUS GEMS-SUNRISE-
ON PELICAN ISLAND

MOTHER GEM, the old African American woman is sitting in her
rocking chair looking out at the ocean from her bedroom
window. She starts coughing up blood as she grabs a kleenex
from the box on the table next to her rocking chair. She
lays back.

                                            CUT TO

MOTHER GEM FLASHES BACK

An AFRICAN WOMAN is opening up a piece of black silky cloth.
The glow of the diamonds brightens the room. A YOUNG MOTHER
GEM looks as the WOMEN place the diamonds on the AFRICAN
CHIEF. Only the WOMEN'S arms are seen. The diamonds are not
visible, only the glow that brightens the room. The glow is
as bright as auto lights. MOTHER GEM turns away from the glare.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MANSION HOUSE-ROOM SURROUNDED BY PRECIOUS GEMS.

MOTHER GEM sits quietly as an ocean breeze blows through the
window. MOTHER GEM closes her eyes as she takes a deep
breath of the ocean air.

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER-7:00AM

E-LIS and LUDY are riding along the coast of Galveston.

                         E-LIS
                   (driving)
            Okay! Okay! Don't rub it in. I was
            wrong!

                                                           44.

                         LUDY
                   (explains)
            Okay! But, listen to me next time!
            That's the reason I switch the
            diamonds in your purse.

                         E-LIS
                   (surprise)
            Now that was a good move.

                         LUDY
                   (serious)
            I was just following my instincts.
            That's called street sense.....

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RED EXPLORER-LEFT FRONT WHEEL-BLOWOUT

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER PASSENGER WINDOW.

E-LIS is trying to control the wheel. The RED EXPLORER is
spinning around and around.....

                         LUDY
            What happened?

                         E-LIS
                   (turning the wheel)
            I think we just had a blowout! Hold
            on. I'm going to head for the sand!

E-LIS is still trying to control the wheel of the Explorer.
The Explorer is spinning and turning. Finally it stops in
the sand. E-LIS and Ludy just sit in the Explorer for a
moment without mumbling a word to each other.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RED EXPLORER-DRIVES INTO THE SAND

A BEACH BUM comes over to the RED EXPLORER and peeps in on
the passenger side.

                         BEACH BUM
                   (looks inside)
            Are ya'll all right?

E-LIS and LUDY looks at each other. LUDY puts his hand on
his gun. E-LIS peeps over the front passenger seat.

                                                           45.

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles)
            We are fine....Thank you.....

                         BEACH BUM
            Could ya'll spare me some breakfast
            change?

LUDY looks strange at the BEACH BUM. E-LIS nods for LUDY to
give the BEACH BUM some change. LUDY reaches in his pocket
and gives him a five dollar bill. The BEACH BUM looks at the
five dollar bill.

                         BEACH BUM(CONTD)
            God bless you! God bless you!

The BEACH BUM walks happily away. LUDY stares out at the ocean.

                                            CUT TO:

LUDY FLASHBACK

EXT. LUDY'S GRANDMA HOUSE-BEDROOM

Eighteen year old LUDY is tearful as he sits beside his
dying GRANDMA'S bed. He holds her hands as she weakly opens
her eyes and whispers to LUDY.

                         LUDY'S GRANDMA
            Ludy....The streets are no good,
            boy. Change your life or God gonna
            snatch you from this world, son......

LUDY'S GRANDMA closes her eyes.

                                            .CUT TO:

EXT. OCEAN SIDE-THE WAVES COMING TO SHORE. SEAGULLS ARE
FLYING ABOVE THE WATER.

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

E-LIS and LUDY are sitting in the RED EXPLORER. E-LIS looks
at her watch.

                         E-LIS
            Ludy! Are you all right?

LUDY snaps out of his stare.

                                                           46.

                         LUDY
                   (curious)
            Yeah! I'm good. Just thinking about
            my grandma. What are we gonna do now?!

                         E--LIS
                   (smiles)
            Call Triple AAA....

E-LIS pulls her cell phone from her purse. She starts
dialing a number.

FADE TO

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. GALVESTON-THE REEF RESORT-OFF SEA WALL-12:00NOON

A BLACK THIRTY YEAR OLD WOMAN, sharply dressed is on her
cell phone. Her name is VERNICE. She is looking out her
hotel window as the large waves are coming to shore.

FLASHBACK

                                            CUT TO:

INT. MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE-SLEEP OVER-14 YEARS AGO.

VERNICE and E-LIS are the best of friends. They are high
school seniors. VERNICE is sneaky. She is jealous and envy
of E-LIS. E-LIS'S family leaves her wealthy.  VERNICE
regrets that, but she doesn't make it an issue around E-LIS.
E-LIS is a good friend to VERNICE, not knowing that VERNICE
despises her. When she spend nights with E-LIS, she is like
a spy, rambling through E-LIS'S personal things when she is
not around. One day E-LIS is in the shower. VERNICE comes up
on some information on Africa concerning diamonds.HER HEAD
is buried in E-LIS'S DIARY BOOK. E-LIS doesn't allow anyone
to read her diary especially on the sacred diamonds. E-LIS
comes out the shower and VERNICE is reading her diary. She
is furious. She snatches the diary from VERNICE.

                         E-LIS
                   (furious)
            Vernice! This is private! Why are
            you reading my diary. We suppose to
            be friends.  How could you do this
            to me?

                                                           47.

                         VERNICE
            I'm sorry....I just wanted to read
            more about the diamonds, the sacred
            diamonds. Is that really true?

E-LIS paces up and down.

                         E-LIS
            You going to have to leave....Right
            now! Vernice.

VERNICE gets up to leave.

                         VERNICE
                   (snaps)
            I don't understand what's all the
            drama about! I'm outta here! You
            are just a spoil little white bitch!

VERNICE storms out the room, slamming the door behind her.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. GALVESTON GULF WAVES COMING TO SHORE. SURFERS ARE
RIDING THE HIGH WAVES.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. GALVESTON-THE REEF RESORT-OFF SEA WALL-12:00NOON

VERNICE is on the phone looking out the window

                         VERNICE
            Did you get the diamonds?......

VERNICE turns away from the window.

                         VERNICE
                   (sits down on the bed)
            I didn't order you to do that.......

A MIDDLE AGE WHITE MAN,JOHNNY WHITE, her partner walks in
the hotel room. She nods for him to sit down. He sits down
in a chair near the bed.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
                   (takes a deep breath)
            Don't waste my time.........I got
            the money.......No ......At my
            hotel......room 440......And hurry,
            my buyer is getting impatient.......

VERNICE hangs up and puts the cell phone on the lamp table.
JOHNNY WHITE looks up for her to tell him something.

                                                           48.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (shrugs his shoulders)
            What?.....

VERNICE opens a black brief case full of money.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            We giving up one million to make
            five......

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            I can't argue with that. We got
            less than twenty four hours or the
            source will call the deal off.

FADE IN

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BLACK CAR-2004-DRIVING TOWARD THE REEF HOTEL

The BLACK CAR pulls up in the parking area of The REEF
RESORT. The MYSTERY MAN parks the CAR near the entrance. He
steps out wearing dark glasses. He looks around as if
someone is watching him.

                                            CUT TO

INT. THE REEF RESORT HOTEL-ROOM 440

VERNICE points toward the rest room and nods to JOHNNY WHITE.

                         VERNICE
                   (paces)
            I don't trust this Mysterious Man.

JOHNNY WHITE opens the door to the restroom and closes it so
he isn't seen.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. ROOM 440

The MYSTERY MAN knocks on the door. VERNICE opens  it. The
MYSTERY MAN walks right pass her and looks around the room.
He reaches in his coat pocket and pulls out a folded white
handkerchief. VERNICE observes every move he is making. He
lays the handkerchief on the dresser table. He unfolds the
handkerchief slowly and then back away for VERNICE to see.
VERNICE pulls out a magnifying glass from the dresser draw,
bends over and inspect the diamonds.

                                                           49.

The MYSTERY MAN waits patiently. The MYSTERY MAN sits down
in a chair and pulls out a long cigar. Just before he gets
ready to light the cigar, VERNICE raises her head up from
the smell. The MYSTERY MAN snaps his lighter open.

                         VERNICE
                   (complains)
            Please....Not in here.....

The MYSTERY MAN takes the cigar from his mouth and put it
away in his coat pocket.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
                   (examining the diamonds)
            Are you sure you killed both of
            them....Why did you kill them?....

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (smiles)
            Dead people can't talk...And I'm
            sure they are dead.

                         VERNICE
                   (looks up)
            I see......As long as your mess
            don't carry over on me......I hate
            the cops breathing up my ass.......

The MYSTERY MAN smiles. VERNICE takes another long look at
the diamonds. She pauses and shakes her head.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (curious)
            What?!

                         VERNICE
                   (throws the magnifying
                   glass down)
            You fool! These are fake! Just some
            pretty glass!

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (pulls off his glasses)
            Good try.....Just give me my money.

                         VERNICE
                   (turns away)
            Like I said......

The MYSTERIOUS MAN grabs VERNICE by the arm. She snatches away.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
            Don't you ever touch me again!

                                                           50.

The MYSTERIOUS MAN pulls out his gun and points it to
VERNICE'S head.

                         THE MYSTERY MAN
                   (out of control)
            Don't touch you?! I'll kill your
            ass right now if you don't give me
            what's due.....Now do it!

JOHNNY WHITE eases out the restroom and sneak up behind the
MYSTERY MAN. Point blank, he places the barrel of his gun at
the back of MYSTERY MAN'S head and cocks it.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (presses the gun
                   against head)
            Dropped it or I swear to God, you
            won't see tomorrow.........

The MYSTERIOUS MAN looks at VERNICE.

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (lower the gun and
                   lays it down on the dresser)
            Why you son of a bitch!

VERNICE throws the glass diamonds back to him. She looks in
the mirror. She goes in her purse and pulls out some
lipstick. She passes it along her top and bottom lips. She
closes the tube of lipstick and throws it in her purse.
JOHNNY WHITE is still holding the gun to the MYSTERY MAN'S head.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles as she heads
                   for the door)
            You fail me, Mystery Man. Now I
            have to finish the job......

                         MYSTERY MAN
                   (angry)
            From now on you are on my list.....

VERNICE opens the door and turns to JOHNNY WHITE.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            Kill him and dump him in the Gulf.

Vernice closes the door behind her.

EXT.. ROOM 440. TWO SHOTS RINGS OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

FADE TO

                                                           51.

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. GALVESTON GULF-FERRY CROSSING TO PELICAN ISLAND

E-LIS and LUDY are standing on deck. The sound of the water
underneath the FERRY is splashing against the side. An ocean
breeze blows E-LIS hair as they stand on deck looking out to
sea.

                         LUDY
                   (smiles)
            You look good, E-lis....I didn't
            know that our sex life could be so
            good.

                         E-LIS
                   (pulls her hair back
                   from the breeze)
            Don't even go there, Ludy.

                         LUDY
                   (looks out toward the Gulf)
            Yeah.....I was too complex and
            afraid. I think I'm over that now......

                         E-LIS
                   (laughs)
            You are so full of it----Let's
            change the subject......

                         LUDY
                   (turns away from her face)
            Yeah....You right.....I'm just
            ready to talk you into going to bed
            with me again.

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles)
            And you usually do---but I'm
            getting stronger by the day. Sex
            has a way of corrupting a good
            friendship. I don't wanna lose that,
            Ludy.

They stare for a moment at each other and then embrace.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MANSION HOUSE ON PELICAN ISLAND--AFTERNOON

MOTHER GEM is sitting looking out her bedroom window
breathing in the ocean air.

                                                           52.

Crystals and other precious stones brightens the room up.
She is moving back and forth in her rocking chair. She close
her eyes as the breeze cools her aging body.

MOTHER GEM FLASHES BACK

                                            CUT TO

INT. ROOM- HOUSE OF PRECIOUS STONES-GALVESTON ISLAND

MOTHER GEM is talking to E-LIS at TWELVE years old. MOTHER
GEM is educating her on precious stones.

                         MOTHER GEM
                   (holding stones in
                   her hands)
            We all are precious like this,
            child.  Only when we let ourselves
            be. Look at them, shinning and
            glowing. A kind of purity that all
            of us need in our hearts. No pain,
            no sorrow, no fear and no hate,
            just good clean positive energies,
            smiling and loving, the soul of man
            and woman...The power of the
            diamond bonds people together in
            marriage. A woman eyes light up
            when she sees a diamond. There is
            fire in her eyes. It comforts the
            soul. And only  special kind of
            diamonds can do that. Once I saw
            diamonds that could lift souls to
            heaven. But then there is the evil
            part where men and women kill for
            the money value on this little
            precious stone.

                         E-LIS
                   (downs her head)
            I could never kill anyone, Mother
            Gem......

MOTHER GEM smiles as she touches E-LIS little young face.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MANSION HOUSE OFF GALVESTON ISLAND-MOTHER GEM

MOTHER GEM is coughing badly as she gets up from her rocking
chair. She close the curtains and walks over to her bed. She
picks up a glass of water that is sitting on her lamp table.
She opens a bottle of pills and takes two out. She puts the
bottle of pills back down on the table. She swallows the
pills and drink the glass of water. MOTHER GEM crawls in bed.

                                                           53.

Her eyes are staring to the ceiling.

                                            CUT TO

INT. FLAGSHIP HOTEL-LOBBY-DESK-3:00PM.

VERNICE walks up to the front desk. She rings the bell.
SCOOTER, the black manager comes from the back office.

                         BLACK MANAGER
                   (polite)
            May I help you, madam?

VERNICE goes into another personality.

                         VERNICE
                   (faking)
            Listen....I have a cousin whose in
            room 235. Would you be so kind to
            ring and tell him I'll wait on him
            in the lobby......

                         BLACK MANAGER
                   (shakes his head)
            I'm sorry, but that room is under
            investigation.....

                         VERNICE
            Really? What happened?

                         BLACK MANAGER
                   (explains)
            Somebody shot holes in the bed
            early this morning. A good thing my
            friend,Scat changed rooms that night.

                         VERNICE
                   (laughs)
            Did you say Scat?!

                         BLACK MANAGER
                   (smiles)
            His real name is really, Ludy.

                         VERNICE
                   (acting excited)
            Ludy Mende?!

                         BLACK MANAGER
            That's him......

                                                           54.

                         VERNICE
                   (still acting)
            He's the cousin I'm looking for. He
            didn't tell me that his nickname is
            Scat.

                         BLACK MANAGER
                   (whispers)
            It's a personal thing with me and
            him. We kind of kept it a secret
            from the family.

                         VERNICE
            Will you call him and tell him that
            his little cousin is waiting in the
            lobby.

                         BLACK MAN
            Sorry. He checked out a few hours ago.

                         VERNICE
                   (curious)
            Did he leave a message for me. It's
            very important that I see him. Our
            favorite Aunt die last night.

VERNICE sobs a little. She wipe her eyes. BLACK MANAGER
gives her a kleenex.

                         VERNICE
                   (faking)
            Thank you......

                         BLACK MANAGER
            I think he said he had to take care
            of some business on Pelican
            Island.....But he didn't say where.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            Are you sure?....

                         BLACK MANAGER
            Yeah. It's Pelican Island. I
            remembered because I told him to
            take the ferry.

                         VERNICE
                   (still acting)
            Oh! Thank you! You are a life savior!

VERNICE turns to leave.

                                                           55.

                         BLACK MANAGER
            Wait! Don't I know you?

VERNICE turns back around.

                         VERNICE
            I don't think so.

                         BLACK MANAGER
            Yeah! You went to Central High. You
            and E-lis used to be the best of
            friends.

                         VERNICE
                   (serious)
            That was a long time ago.

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK MERCEDES

JOHNNY WHITE is sitting at the driver's seat as VERNICE
opens the passenger door and jumps in quickly.

                         VERNICE
                   (demanding)
            Pelican Island! Let's move it! They
            are not dead!

                                            CUT TO

EXT.  BLACK MERCEDES SPEEDS OFF

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FERRY DOCK STATION TO PELICAN ISLAND

The BLACK MERCEDES drives up. JOHNNY WHITE and VERNICE steps
out of the vehicle. They walks over to read the schedule on
the dock.

                         VERNICE
                   (looks at posted schedule)
            Ferry is shutting down for four
            hours....Dam!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            What are we gonna do now? We don't
            have much time. We got to get to
            those diamonds.

                                                           56.

                         VERNICE
                   (snaps)
            Come on......

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Where're we going?

                         VERNICE
            I'll explain later.

                                            CUT TO

EXT.  BLACK MERCEDES SPEEDS OFF

                                            CUT TO

INT.GALVESTON GULF- FERRY BOAT CROSSING THE GULF TO PELICAN
ISLAND

LUDY and E-LIS standing on Ferry Boat Dock. Seagulls are
flying over the Ferry.

                         LUDY
                   (curious)
            E-lis, why is it that I got a
            feeling you are not telling me the
            whole story on these
            diamonds?......An old superstitious
            woman really think that these
            diamonds have some sought of
            healing and supernatural powers......

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles)
            You know, it's good to have faith
            in something when age hit
            you....Mother Gem have live long
            enough to believe anything she want
            to.......

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK MERCEDES

JOHNNY WHITE and Vernice are driving along the Sea Wall
Street, 163rd.

                         VERNICE
                   (impatient)
            It doesn't matter Johnny White.
            Pelican Island is small. We will
            find them.

                                                           57.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (shakes his head)
            It's a good thing you checked the
            hotel.....We thought those two were
            dead.....

                         VERNICE
            The Mystery Man was my mistake. One
            thing though, he always came
            through when we needed it. I'm
            retiring after this job. We will
            have enough money to last us for a
            long time.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            What is so special about these
            diamonds?

                         VERNICE
            They have special powers.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Don't tell me they have African ju-ju.

VERNICE looks strangely at JOHNNY WHITE

                         VERNICE
            In the right hands, they are worth
            at least five million. That's
            already a done deal.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FERRY BOAT DECK-4:00PM

E-LIS is standing alone on the deck of the ferry boat. She
stares into the water.

                                            CUT TO

E-LIS FLASHES BACK

E-LIS is crying at her parent's grave site. She is only
twelve. A BLACK WOMAN is holding her hand. The WOMAN kneels
down. THE WOMAN IS a middle age MOTHER GEM.

                         MOTHER GEM
                   (holds both of E-
                   lis's hands)
            I promised your mom, I will take
            care of you, child.
                         (MORE)

                                                           58.

                         MOTHER GEM (CONT'D)
            There is so much I must teach you
            about precious gems. Your mother
            and father taught me every thing I
            know about gems. I must pass it on
            to you. We both have to be strong.

MOTHER GEM holds E-LIS tight in her arms.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FERRY BOAT-ON DECK

LUDY walks up behind E-LIS with two beers in his hands. She
is still staring into the Gulf.

                         LUDY
                   (holding beers)
            E-lis!

She turns around and snaps back.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            I thought we might need some
            refreshments....It's been a busy day.

E-LIS takes the beer and smiles.

                         E-LIS
            Thanks........

                         LUDY
            Are you okay?

E-LIS blushes.

                         E-LIS
            One day when the time is right. I'm
            going to tell you a story.....even
            though you might think it's one of
            my fantasy.....

                         LUDY
                   (smiles)
            Is that right? Let's toast to a
            happy ending after all of this is over.

E-LIS and LUDY toast to each other.

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

                                                           59.

EXT. GULF-MOTOR BOAT APPROACHING FERRY DOCK

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTOR BOAT

JOHNNY WHITE is driving. VERNICE points to parking area.
JOHNNY WHITE pulls up to side of Ferry Dock. They quickly
get out of the boat.

                                            CUT TO

An OLD MAN is fishing off the dock. He smokes his pipe as he
waits for the fish to bite.

                                            CUT TO

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE are looking around.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            What's next Vernice? How in the
            hell are we going to find them
            without a car?......We shoulda----

                         VERNICE
                   (looks toward the old man)
            Johnny White! Please!  Shut up!

                                            CUT TO

VERNICE is standing behind the OLD MAN. She bends down to
get his attention. JOHNNY WHITE is waiting patiently.

                         VERNICE
            Nice evening for fishing......

The OLD MAN'S fishing line jerks.

                         OLD MAN
                   (reels the line in)
            I gotcha!

The OLD MAN takes the jumping fish from the line and puts it
in his cooler. VERNICE waits patiently.

                         OLD MAN(CONTD)
                   (closes his cooler)
            Yep! It's a fine day for fishing.

The OLD MAN turns and looks at VERNICE. He takes the pipe
from his mouth, lays it down by the cooler. He baits his
fishing line again and throws the line into the Gulf. He
picks up his pipe and puts it in his mouth.

                                                           60.

                         VERNICE
                   (acting)
            Sir....Do you know where we can
            rent a vehicle around her?

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (impatient)
            Vernice! We are wasting our time
            with this old man.

The OLD MAN points to his old Chevy Truck on the road up the
hill.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. OLD CLEAN 62 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING ON THE ROAD

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            How much?

                         OLD MAN
                   (holds his line steady)
            One hundred dollars a day......

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (snaps and points)
            For that piece of---This is bull-shit!

VERNICE doesn't hesitate. She reaches in her pocket and
pulls out a hundred dollar bill. She gives it to the OLD MAN.

                         OLD MAN
                   (examining the bill)
            Mighty fine.......

The OLD MAN hands VERNICE the key to the CHEVY PICKUP.

FADE IN

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER-5:00PM

E-LIS and LUDY are riding along the PELICAN ISLAND COAST. E-
LIS is driving. LUDY is quiet as he sits back and smiles.
E-LIS looks over at him. She is curious.

                         E-LIS
            What?!

LUDY coughs a little.

                                                           61.

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
                   (worries)
            Are you all right?

                         LUDY
                   (smiles)
            Yeah.....I was just thinking about
            this story I heard in Africa......

                         E-LIS
                   (comments)
            Yep....That place is story heaven.

                         LUDY
            Some you believe and others were
            just humor to make you laugh. There
            were two that interested me. One
            about a black woman name Peggy and
            another about a young white girl
            who came to be a very good friend
            of a chief.

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles as she listen)
            African people are great
            storytellers. Sometimes they can be
            so funny.

                         LUDY
                   (begins story)
            They told me that their chief once
            lived in America. His father
            received a degree from one of  our
            black colleges back in the day,
            right here in Texas. They said his
            father majored in Agriculture.
            Anyway he was six years old when he
            met this girl name Peggy and they
            were friends for six years. He
            returned back to Africa with his
            father at twelve. It was a sad
            moment for him and Peggy. She
            didn't want him to go. So he gave
            her a traditional leather pouch
            that was made only in his village
            by a special person. To give a gift
            of this kind meant friends forever.
            They told me that years later,
            when both of them were around
            twenty-one, he sent for her to be
            his wife. They said that she
            actually came. Now that part is a
            lie.
                         (MORE)

                                                           62.

                         LUDY (CONT'D)
            What is an American woman, black or
            white going to do in a village?
            About the little white girl, they
            told me that he met her through
            doing business with her parents who
            specialized in collecting precious
            gems. They said she still comes to
            his village often to see him. I
            can't believe that either. The
            funniest thing about the little
            white girl is when she was twelve
            years old, she asked the chief one
            day. "Are there really diamonds
            laying around on the ground
            everywhere?" They told me that the
            chief laughed so hard that his gold
            tooth fell out of his mouth.

Ludy looks at E-LIS and laughs. Suddenly he has a sharp pain
in his stomach.

                         LUDY
                   (holding his stomach)
            Dam!

E-LIS turns off the road.

                         E-LIS
                   (concern)
            Are you all right, Ludy?

                         LUDY
                   (sweating)
            I'll be all right.

There is quietness for a moment.

                         E-LIS
            Are you sure, Ludy?

                         LUDY
            Yeah....I've been living on
            borrowed time ever since those
            bullets were pumped into my gut.

E-LIS stares down the rode as she drives faster. LUDY begins
to sweat. He pulls out his handkerchief and wipes his face.
E-LIS looks over at LUDY.

                         E-LIS
            Are you sure you are okay?

                                                           63.

LUDY looks over at E-LIS as he holds his stomach.The pain is
only temporarily.

                         LUDY
            I will be okay. I've been living
            with this pain for years. It will
            go away.

E-LIS is concern as she continues to drive.

                         E-LIS
            I'm sorry....

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD 62 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK-LOW SPEED UP THE ROAD

JOHNNY WHITE is driving. VERNICE is sitting quietly with a
serious look on her face.

                         VERNICE
                   (impatience)
            Can't this thing go any faster?

                         JOHNNY
                   (press the gas peddle
                   to the floor)
            I got it to the floor!  It's not me!
            It's this dam piece of shit!

FADE IN

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER-PARK IN FRONT OF MOTHER GEM'S MANSION ON
PELICAN ISLAND

E-LIS and LUDY sitting in the RED EXPLORER.

                         E-LIS
                   (looks at her watch)
            We got here early enough.

                         LUDY
                   (rubs his hands together)
            Well. What are we waiting on! Let's
            go collect our money from this old
            lady.

                                                           64.

                         E-LIS
            Hold on....We are too early. It is
            only six o'clock. The diamonds are
            no good until the rising of the sun.

                         LUDY
                   (pauses a second)
            Wait one minute, E-lis!  You mean
            dawn, don't you? Because sunrise is
            the next morning.

E-LIS is quiet.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            I knew it was something about this
            mission. Why you holding out on me.
            We've been business partners for a
            long time, E-lis....

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CLEAN CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING ON THE ROAD

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE are trying to figure out where they
are on Pelican Island.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            This road runs right into the
            ocean...Where in the hell are we?

VERNICE sits back and gazes out to the ocean.

                         VERNICE
            Johnny White!  I'm getting tired of
            your mouth!

VERNICE pulls out a gun from her purse.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
                   (points the gun at
                   Johnny White)
            Now! Shut the fuck up!  I'm trying
            to think here.....

JOHNNY WHITE is startle. He snaps back.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Okay! You don't have to be so
            hostile, Vernice.....Anyway, I
            didn't know you had a piece.......

                         VERNICE
            I'm always packing.

                                                           65.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Did they teach you that in prison?

JOHNNY WHITE laughs.

                         VERNICE
                   (stops the truck)
            I told you to never mention prison
            to me again, Johnny White.

VERNICE pulls out her gun.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Okay! Okay! My bad....

VERNICE puts the gun back in her purse.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
            That mansion and old Mother Gem got
            to be around here somewhere. E-LIS
            used to talk about Mother Gem all
            the time and how she raised her
            after her parent died. She made her
            money in precious gems. I've always
            wanted to look inside that house,
            but E-LIS kept it a secret. I knew
            this is the only place she and her
            plastic partner is taking those
            diamonds. Maybe the old woman is
            sick and the diamonds are going to
            heal her.....

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            How do you know so much about E-Lis?

                         VERNICE
            We went to the same school and was
            the best of friends until she
            started crossing the Ferry to
            Pelican Island everyday. But I
            always despised her because she had
            everything. She told me that the
            old lady saw healing powers in the
            diamonds performed in Africa. When
            she sent Ludy to Africa, my
            instinct made me think that it was
            the sacred diamonds he's after. So
            I paid the Mysterious Man to follow
            him all the way to Africa. I
            figured, let Ludy do the work and
            we'll take them diamonds right from
            under their noses.
                         (MORE)

                                                           66.

                         VERNICE (CONT'D)
            Her diary told me plenty about the
            diamonds. But I couldn't understand
            the power of the diamonds.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            That's pretty clever, Vernice.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            What so good about the whole thing
            is, she doesn't know it's me that
            trying to get the diamonds.

                                            CUT TO

A MAN JOGGER is running the beach.

                                            CUT TO

VERNICE jumps out the truck and starts yelling from the road.

                                            CUT TO

The JOGGERS stops. VERNICE approaches the JOGGER.

                         VERNICE
            Could you tell me where MOTHER GEM
            lives. I'm kinda lost out here in
            nowhere.

                         JOGGER
                   (wipes the sweat from
                   his brow)
            Sure.....Back up and make a left
            turn. That road will lead you right
            into her Mansion.

                         VERNICE
                   (acting)
            Oh. Thank you so much.....

The JOGGER nods his head and takes off running.

FADE TO

MUSIC:HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

E-LIS is giving an explanation to LUDY.

                                                           67.

                         E-LIS
                   (explaining)
            I promised Mother Gem and the
            source in Africa that I would never
            reveal the secret.

                         LUDY
            Well, evidently, somebody else
            knows, E-lis.......

                         E-LIS
                   (turns away)
            I don't know where the leak came
            from unless it came from Africa.
            All these years, it's been kept a
            secret from the outside world,
            Ludy.......

                         LUDY
            So, you are telling me that it
            wasn't about business as
            usual.......And these diamonds that
            almost choked me to death, caused
            killers to be after us and they
            suppose to have some kind of
            supernatural power.......Do you
            believe that?

                         E-LIS
            I don't know, Ludy.....Mother Gem
            saw the diamonds' power in Africa
            years ago. I guess it is one of her
            fantasies. Things work for you when
            you believe---and she
            believes......And the two million
            dollars are still on the table.

                         LUDY
                   (impatient)
            Why don't we just collect the two
            millions dollars and get the hell
            out of dodge. This is getting to be
            a little spooky......

E-LIS downs her head. She looks up at LUDY.

                         E-LIS
            I wish I could Ludy, but there is
            an ending and closure to this story.
            I'm part of it. If you want to go,
            go. I will tab up with you when
            this is over.

E-LIS and LUDY are quiet. They look at each other for a moment.

                                                           68.

                         LUDY
            I can't believe this....Okay, okay!
            As spooky as it seems, I'll stick
            to the plan.......

FADE IN

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CLEAN CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK CHUCKLING ALONG

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE are trying to find MOTHER GEM'S
house. They are driving slowly down the road.

                         VERNICE
                   (points)
            There it is. And there's E-lis's
            Explorer.....

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (anxious)
            Let's go!

JOHNNY WHITE opens the door. VERNICE grabs him by the arm.

                         VERNICE
                   (explains)
            No! Not yet! We gonna wait right
            here until we see those lights go off.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            I never thought about that.

                         VERNICE
            Just leave the thinking to me,
            please. We got them right where we
            can keep an eye out like a cat and
            mouse game.

VERNICE looks around.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
            Back this thing up. We don't wanna
            be seen, at least for right now. To
            my knowledge, from my source in
            Africa, the diamonds are most
            powerful at sunrise....Just maybe
            the old lady is dying.....

JOHNNY WHITE backs the truck up.

                                                           69.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            I call this superstitious....Why
            don't we just go in and stop this
            nonsense.

                         VERNICE
                   (disgusted)
            Didn't I tell you to let me do the
            thinking. It's my specialty. E-lis
            taught me everything about precious
            gems, but she kept this one a
            secret from me.

FADE IN

MUSIC: CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

INT.  MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION-GEMS AND CRYSTALS THROUGHOUT THE
HOUSE

LUDY and E-LIS are walking into MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION. It is
very quiet. The brightness of the gems glow at the ceiling.
Crystals are everywhere. All kinds of stones and gems fill
the rooms. The house is 	alive with reflections of colors
from the stones and gems. The sound of soft jazz with an
African beat echoes in each room. The mystical surrounding
petrifies LUDY  as he observes and feels the peaceful
atmosphere.

                         E-LIS
            Amazing, isn't it?

For a moment, LUDY wraps himself up into the mystical and
spiritual feeling he is receiving from the gems and crystals.
Being a sensitive person like he is, this takes him by surprise.

E-LIS explains something to LUDY

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
            Mother Gem believe that all these
            precious gems are free spirits that
            enlightens one in life and
            death.She believes that they live
            forever, feeding happiness and
            positive energies into people lives.
            Precious stones play a very
            spiritual part of  women's lives
            especially diamonds. Her eyes light
            up when she see diamonds. They are
            so magical that only a woman can
            explain.
                         (MORE)

                                                           70.

                         E-LIS(CONTD)
            To me, it's the start of something
            beautiful and caring. A wedding is
            not a wedding without the present
            of a diamond ring.

                         LUDY
            Kind of strange. For a moment I
            forgot about the two million.
            Something special came over me. I
            always saw diamonds and precious
            stone as just  material things that
            shines.

E-LIS and LUDY walks slowly observing the precious stones
and gems. Stones, gems and crystals from all around the
world.  E-LIS turns off one of the lights in another room.
The whole room sparkles.

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING UP THE ROAD

JOHNNY WHITE see the lights go off and the glow of the
crystals and other precious stones shine as bright as the sun.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (excited)
            Did you see that? It's like the
            whole house lit up.......

                         VERNICE
            Mother Gem is known for her
            precious stones especially crystals.
            It is said that crystals have
            healing powers.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            You're kidding me, right?

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            Johnny White! Where have you been
            all your life?

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (admit)
            Well, I didn't come from a
            superstitious family. Wasn't
            nothing superstitious about my
            mother or father.

                                                           71.

                         VERNICE
            Do you know that crystals can
            actually cry? Sometimes when they
            dig them out of the mines, the tale
            is that you can hear them cry.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            I don't wanna hear any more. All
            this mo-jo and ju-ju is making me
            nervous.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION

E-LIS stops and turns to LUDY before she enters MOTHER GEM'S
bedroom.

                                            CUT TO

MOTHER GEM is staring out the window at the ocean. Waves are
coming to shore. Wind is blowing her long gray hair. She
closes her eyes as if she is praying to God. There is
silence in the room with the exception of the sound of the
Gulf waters. She begins to cough.

                                            CUT TO

E-LIS is explaining to LUDY something that is surprising to him.

                         E-LIS
            Listen. If I had told you the truth
            earlier, you wouldn't have believe
            me. You always think that I live in
            a fantasy world anyway. But before
            you go into this room, I want you
            to know that my best friend I've
            ever had is dying behind these
            doors. She believes that the
            diamonds will carry her soul to a
            better resting place somewhere in
            the heavens........Don't be afraid
            of death around her. She has
            accepted that her hours are
            limited.....Now what do you wanna
            do? Do you wanna take the two
            million and run or are you up to
            the challenge.

LUDY downs his head.

                                                           72.

                         LUDY
                   (humble)
            It wasn't about the two
            million,anyway huh? It was all
            personal from the start.

                         E-LIS
                   (nods her head)
            That's right....It was strictly
            personal...She has been my Guardian
            Angel all these years.......

LUDY looks at E-LIS.

                         LUDY
            You go on. I'm gonna take a walk
            outside to take in some fresh air.

                         E-LIS
            I understand......See ya later....

LUDY walks away. E-LIS eyes follow him for a moment.

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CLEAN CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK

JOHNNY WHITE wakes VERNICE.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (points)
            Vernice! Look! He's coming this way.

                         VERNICE
            Duck!  Don't let him see us!

Both, VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE ducks down in the vehicle.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY stares toward the OLD CHEVY TRUCK, but then turns and
walks back to the house.

                                            CUT TO

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE raise up from their seat.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            We coulda got him right then!

                                                           73.

                         VERNICE
            Johnny White! We don't know whether
            he had the diamonds on him. My
            guess is,E-lis have them......Like
            I told you. Don't think!

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S  BEDROOM.

E-LIS opens the door to MOTHER GEM'S room. MOTHER GEM is
lying in bed. She senses that someone is in the room.

                         MOTHER GEM
                   (eyes to the ceiling)
            Is that you E-lis?

E-LIS walks over as she wipes her teary eyes. MOTHER GEM
turns her head slowly against the pillow to look at E-LIS.
E-LIS stands over MOTHER GEM trying to hold back the tears.
MOTHER GEM looks different. Her long gray hair almost covers
the pillow. Her eyes look like they are going to pop out of
her head. She grab E-LIS'S hands and smiles. E-LIS sits down
in a chair by the bed. She puts MOTHER GEM'S HAND to her lips.

                         MOTHER GEM(CONTD)
            Did you bring the diamonds?

E-LIS nods.

                         MOTHER GEM(CONTD)
            Thank you for carrying out my wish.
            The doctor don't think I'm gonna
            make it to sunrise..........

MOTHER GEM smiles and suddenly starts coughing. E-LIS takes
a kleenex from the box on the lamp table. She hands it to
MOTHER GEM.

                         MOTHER GEM(CONTD)
            I got a feeling that someone is
            after the diamonds. The secret is
            out. Be careful.

E-LIS kisses MOTHER GEM on the forehead.

                         E-LIS
            I will, Mother Gem.....

MOTHER GEM tries to raise up, but falls back in the bed. She
wants to whisper something to E-LIS. She gestures for E-LIS
to come closer. E-LIS bends over toward MOTHER GEM. MOTHER
GEM whispers to E-LIS.

                                                           74.

                         MOTHER GEM
                   (whispers in E-lis's ear)
            My will is in the cookie jar above
            the kitchen cabinets. I want you to
            have everything. You've been as
            precious as my stones to me.......

E-LIS turns away as she wipes her teary eyes.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY walks in the room. E-LIS is staring out at the ocean as
MOTHER GEM closes her eyes. E-LIS turns and see LUDY. LUDY
thinks MOTHER GEM is dead.

                         LUDY
                   (walks over to E-lis)
            Mother Gem is a black woman?

E-LIS shakes her head and wipes her nose with the kleenex.
LUDY stares at MOTHER GEM.

                         E-LIS
            I didn't want to tell you. I wanted
            you to see for yourself. She is
            truly my precious gem for all these
            years..

                         LUDY
            So this is why you never invited me
            to Pelican Island to meet Mother
            Gem when we were in high school. It
            was your little secret.

                         E-LIS
            Vernice was the only one that knew
            all my secrets but one, the
            diamonds at sunrise.

E-LIS walks over to a black briefcase. She opens it. LUDY
walks over to take a look.

                                            CUT TO

INT. BRIEFCASE-TWO MILLION DOLLARS

                                            CUT TO

E-LIS closes the briefcase and hands it to LUDY. LUDY takes
the briefcase.

                                                           75.

                         E-LIS
            Take the money and go.....It's all
            for you. I have some unfinished
            business here. You don't have to
            stick around. Your mission is over.
            I'll catch up with you later.

LUDY has a sad face. The money does not seem as important to
him anymore.

                         LUDY
            I didn't expect that the mission
            was a death wish.

MOTHER GEM opens her eyes. She looks at LUDY. She gestures
for LUDY to come closer to her bedside. LUDY pauses as he
looks at E-LIS. E-LIS nods for him to go. LUDY walks slowly
over to the bed. He puts the briefcase on the floor. MOTHER
GEM grabs his hand. For a moment, it startles LUDY.

                         E-LIS
                   (walks to the head of
                   the bed)
            Mother Gem, this is Ludy Mende.

                         MOTHER GEM
                   (smiles)
            Ludy Mende......I like that name.
            E-lis talked about you all the time
            when ya'll were in high school...

                         LUDY
                   (smiles)
            Thank you....My father last name
            was Mende, after the Mende Tribe in
            West Africa.

                         MOTHER GEM
                   (squeezes Ludy's hand)
            Thank you for carrying out my death
            wish. You've made an old lady the
            happiest person in the world before
            she meets her maker.....

MOTHER GEM starts coughing again as she releases LUDY hand.
LUDY backs up as E-LIS attends to MOTHER GEM.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION-FRONT PORCH

LUDY storms on the porch with the briefcase in his hands.

                                            CUT TO

                                                           76.

INT. OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING UP THE ROAD

JOHNNY WHITE is sleeping. VERNICE is reading a magazine.
Suddenly she looks up and sees LUDY pacing up and down the
porch with a briefcase in his hand. VERNICE hits JOHNNY
WHITE on the shoulder with the magazine.

                         VERNICE
            Wake up!

JOHNNY WHITE wakes up. He rubs his eyes and look toward
MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (impatient)
            I bet on my mother's grave that
            those diamonds are in the briefcase....

                         VERNICE
            Or the money.......E-lis is still
            in there, so are the diamonds..

                                            CUT TO

EXT. MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION-FRONT PORCH

LUDY is still pacing up and down. He walks quickly over to
the RED EXPLORER.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. RED EXPLORER

LUDY opens the door to the RED EXPLORER. He quickly jumps in
the front seat.

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

LUDY pauses for a moment. He is trying to think whether he
should drive off. He puts the key in the ignition and starts
the RED EXPLORER.

                                            CUT TO

INT.  OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING UP THE ROAD

JOHNNY WHITE and VERNICE are watching LUDY.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            He seems to be frustrated!  He's
            leaving! Let's follow him......

                                                           77.

JOHNNY WHITE is ready to start the OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK
motor. VERNICE stops him.

                         VERNICE
                   (takes the key from
                   the ignition)
            No! Don't start the motor! You will
            blow the whole thing. Like I said,
            he doesn't have the diamonds.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (sits back in his seat)
            Well, let's grab the money he has
            in the briefcase and go. I don't
            like sitting out here in nowhere.

                         VERNICE
            Johnny White!  If you wanna go----

VERNICE crosses her arm over JOHNNY WHITE and opens his door.

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
            Get out! I'm not going anywhere
            until I get those diamonds.....

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE stares at each other.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (throws up his hands)
            Okay! Okay! I'm sorry......

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

LUDY sitting there staring at MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE.

                         LUDY
                   (grabs the steering wheel)
            Dam! E-lis! A death wish?  I saw my
            grandmothers face when she died......

                                            CUT TO:

LUDY FLASHBACK

INT. LUDY'S GRANDMOTHER HOUSE

Ludy is eighteen years old as he stands at the bedside of
his dying grandmother.He is holding her hand. He runs his
hand across his face to wipe the tears from his eyes. She
looks up at him with a smile and grasp his hand tight.

                                                           78.

                         GRANDMOTHER
                   (whispers)
            You be a good boy and stay off them
            streets. Ain't nothing but evil out
            there.

LUDY'S GRANDMOTHER close her eyes.

                                            CUT TO:

INT.  RED EXPLORER

LUDY opens the door to the RED EXPLORER.

                                            CUT TO

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE watching.

                         VERNICE
            Like I said. He ain't going
            anywhere without his main
            girl.....The diamonds are still in
            the house.

VERNICE looks at her watch

                         VERNICE(CONTD)
                   (smiles)
            We will make our move right before
            sunrise. The diamonds are at there
            healing state at sunrise. If that
            old lady is sick or dying, the
            diamonds will be visible.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            We gonna stay here until sunrise?
            What about food.

VERNICE turns and looks in the back of the pickup.

                         VERNICE
                   (turns to Johnny White)
            The old fisherman got us covered.....

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (turns and looks)
            Where?

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BACK OF OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK

A large ice chest sits right in the back of the truck.

                                                           79.

FADE IN

MUSIC:CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM OF MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE

LUDY sits down on the couch. He puts the briefcase of money
down on the coffee table. He listen to the singing of the
crystals. LUDY walks over to a picture at the top of a
fireplace. It is a picture of MOTHER GEM and E-LIS. E-LIS is
a young teenage girl.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. FIREPLACE-PICTURE OF E-LIS AND MOTHER GEM ABOVE

LUDY turns and sit back down on the couch. He takes a deep
breath.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY FLASHES BACK

EXT. BACK ALLEY

LUDY is a YOUNGER MAN hanging out on the streets. He is
hanging out with  his best friend, BUNCHY. They are smoking
weed. BUNCHY passes the joint to LUDY. They are warming
their hands over a barrel of fire.

                         BUNCHY
                   (rubs his hands together)
            You remember that day we played
            Grambling College and you came down
            the floor like a run-a-way truck?

LUDY just stands there shaking his head and blowing his cold
hands.

                         BUNCHY(CONT'D)
                   (acting like passing
                   the ball)
            You faked a pass to me and did a
            three-sixty and kissed a trey right
            off the back-board! It was awesome!
            You remember that Ludy?

BUNCHY turns to LUDY.  LUDY doesn't respond. He's thinking.
LUDY passes the marijuana joint to BUNCHY.

                                                           80.

                         LUDY
                   (warms his hands over
                   the fire)
            Listen, Bunchy, the past is
            haunting our ass. Them  were the
            good-old days. We just can't keep
            living back there, you understand?
            I promised my Grand Ma before she
            die I would give up these streets,
            man. This is no future, Bro.

BUNCHY turns away from LUDY like his best friend is turning
on him.

                         BUNCHY
            Then what else can we do, Ludy, we
            can't just forget our personal
            contribution to this society! It's
            the only dam thing I got left. They
            owe me for my sweat, blood and
            tears on that basketball court.

                         LUDY
                   (rubs his hands together)
            BUNCHY. I understand your feelings,
            but its over and done with, outta
            our hands. I wanna go into some
            kind of business, get off these
            streets and be somebody.

BUNCHY is quiet. He walks over to a nearby bench and sits
down. LUDY turns around to him. He walks over and sits down
next to BUNCHY.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
                   (serious)
            Grand Ma left me a big stash, man.
            I wanna use it wisely. You know
            what I'm saying?

LUDY slowly gazes over at BUNCHY. BUNCHY gets up and walk to
the barrel of fire to warm his hands.

                         LUDY(CONT'D)
            Maybe we can do something together,
            Bro.

                         LUDY(CONT'D)
            We got more than basketball  brains,
            man. The system doesn't owe us
            anything. We owe ourselves to do
            something about our situation here.

                                                           81.

                         BUNCHY
                   (takes a long drag
                   off the joint)
            Naw. No more dreams for Bunchy here.
            The system done whooped old Bunchy
            ass for the last time.

                                            CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM OF MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE

LUDY sits quietly on the living room couch. He is bent over
with his head between his hands.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

E-LIS is standing at the bedroom window listening to the
Gulf as the waves come to shore. She pulls the curtains. She
walks over to MOTHER GEM'S bedside. Her eyes are full of
tears. MOTHER GEM opens her eyes and see E-LIS sobering over
her.

                         MOTHER GEM
            Don't cry,my child.... This is a
            time to rejoice, baby. We had good
            times on this old island.

                         E-LIS
                   (smiles as she wipes
                   her eyes)
            I love you, Mother Gem for all the
            time and things you did for me
            after my parents died. I just don't
            wanna lose you like I lost them.
            I'm selfish that way.

MOTHER GEM starts coughing rapidly. E-LIS holds her hand tight.

                         MOTHER GEM
            I love you too. Sunrise will be
            coming soon. I think I'm gonna make
            it. Until then, go find the young
            man and share the secret of the
            diamonds with him. He is confused.
            He is having pity on an old dying
            lady and his conscious is bothering
            him. Go find him. I probably
            reminds him of his grandmother.

E-LIS is reluctant to go.

                                                           82.

MOTHER GEM gestures for her to go. E-LIS turns and walks
away from the bedside. Mother GEM stares to the ceiling as
E-LIS walks away.

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING UP THE ROAD

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE is eating a sandwich and drinking a
beer.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (sipping his beer)
            That old man really knows how to
            make a sandwich.

JOHNNY WHITE bites another piece of sandwich.

                         VERNICE
            Yeah!

VERNICE looks at her watch.

                         VERNICE(CONT'D)
            It's gonna be show time in three
            hours when that sun begins to rise.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (rears back in his seat)
            In the meantime, I'm gonna get some
            shut eye.

VERNICE pick up some binoculars. She looks toward MOTHER
GEM'S MANSION.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            Surprise, surprise, E-lis. I'm
            coming for the diamonds......

FADE IN

MUSIC: JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM OF MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE-COUCH

E-LIS and LUDY are making intense love on the couch. They
take off each other top shirt. Sweat is pouring from LUDY'S
body. E-LIS gets on top of LUDY. LUDY'S body is tense as the
sound of sex echoes through the room. LUDY turns her over
softly. They both roll  on the floor. Their lips and tongues
are kissing against each other.

                                                           83.

                         E-LIS
                   (on the bottom)
            I -thought-we were through doing this.

LUDY is quiet as his body moves in all directions. E-LIS
wraps her legs around his waist. The sex is so intense that
their stomachs are one. LUDY turns her over to another
position. The sweat of their bodies and the glowing of the
crystals reflect against the walls.

                                            CUT TO

INT. OPEN FRONT WINDOW IN THE LIVING ROOM

A cool breeze blows through the window. The beautiful draped
curtains floats around the window as E-LIS and LUDY'S sex
get more intense. The sound of two bodies electrifying each
other.

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK SITTING UP THE ROAD

VERNICE is looking through the window from the binoculars as
JOHNNY WHITE sleeps.

                         VERNICE
                   (sucks her lips)
            It must be good. E-lis always gets
            the good part.

                                            CUT TO

INT. LIVING ROOM OF MOTHER GEM'S HOUSE

E-LIS and LUDY are putting on their clothes. They kind of
smile at each other.

                         E-LIS
                   (buttons her shirt)
            We needed that.....

                         LUDY
                   (putting on his pants)
            Listen I-----

                         E-LIS
                   (puts her finger to
                   Ludy's lips)
            Shhhh! I t doesn't matter. Nothing
            to explain.
                         (MORE)

                                                           84.

                         E-LIS (CONT'D)
            We both just got rid of a lot of
            stress......Listen, Mother Gem want
            you to see the power of the
            diamonds and what you have done for
            her.....Are you up to the challenge
            this time?.....

LUDY nods.

FADE TO

MUSIC: CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

EXT. THE GALVESTON GULF-PELICAN ISLAND-5:00AM.

The GULF is calm. A few waves comes to shore. Seagulls are
fishing in the water. Pelicans are flying low to scoop up
the fish. The brightness of the sun is making it's way for a
sunrise. The FERRY is moving toward the dock. Fishing boats
are ready to move out for their daily duty.

                                            CUT TO

INT. OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK-SITTING UP THE ROAD.

JOHNNY WHITE wakes up. He yawns as he looks around at VERNICE.

                         VERNICE
                   (turns her nose up)
            Will you please turn your head the
            other way when you do that?

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (stretches)
            What time is it?

                         VERNICE
                   (checks her gun)
            About time for us to move in.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (checks his gun)
            Showtime!

                         VERNICE
                   (pauses)
            Now. Look here...We don't wanna
            kill anybody unless we have to.
                         (MORE)

                                                           85.

                         VERNICE (CONT'D)
            Now what I understand about these
            diamonds, they only have power at
            sunrise. So what ever we do, we
            will catch them off guard with
            everybody in the same room. The
            diamonds should be in the area and
            visible. Focus in on the diamonds,
            not the supernatural effect it
            has......

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (spits out the window)
            Vernice.....

VERNICE just turns and look at JOHNNY WHITE.

                         JOHNNY WHITE(CONTD)
            How in the hell do you know so much
            about these diamonds.

                         VERNICE
            E-LIS always kept a journal on
            precious stones. I was her best
            friend. I would sneak and read it
            everyday when she wasn't around.
            She trusted me. Mother Gem told her
            about the mystic of the diamonds
            years ago. Mother Gem's source in
            Africa promised that if she ever
            becomes sick or death is near,
            somehow the diamonds will come to
            her. When she sent Ludy to Africa
            and the old lady was sick, I knew
            that something was on. The story
            always fascinated me and for many
            years I waited for this
            moments.........If the diamonds
            have the powers that I read about
            in her journal, we gonna be
            rich......Let's move!

                                            CUT TO

EXT. MOTHER GEM'S - MANSION-FRONT PORCH-5:45AM

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE peeping inside the living room.
They try to open the front door. It opens. They walk slowly
and quietly inside.

                                            CUT TO

                                                           86.

INT. MOTHER GEM'S  MANSION-LIVING ROOM

The MANSION lights up from the precious gems and crystals
inside. VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE pull out their guns. There
is quietness through out the house. VERNICE points toward
the bedroom. They tip-toes toward MOTHER GEM'S bedroom.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

LUDY is helping E-LIS move the bed to a wild open window
looking toward the east where the sun is going to rise.
MOTHER GEM is coughing badly.

                                            CUT TO

The SUNRISE is slowly making it's way over the GULF waters.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM-6:45AM-SUNRISE

E-LIS quickly opens the night gown of MOTHER GEM.  She takes
the diamonds and place them in a circle on MOTHER GEM'S
chest. The sparkles are so bright. LUDY shades his eyes from
the glow. E-LIS covers her eyes and turns her head away.
MOTHER GEM is smiling as if the pain and suffering is gone.
E-LIS cracks open the curtains to the room slightly to let
the sun energies and warmth shine on the diamonds. There is
a glow coming from every opening in MOTHER GEM'S body, her
nose, eyes, mouth and ears. The sun beams and glows from the
diamonds looks like a rainbow. Mother Gem is  turning colors
as the circles  go round and around MOTHER GEM'S chest area.
E-lis is crying. LUDY freezes from all the energies in the
room. All of a sudden, the circles get larger and lighten up
the whole room. The circles turns like a whirl pool into one
ball of colorful bright and shinning light that takes MOTHER
GEM'S SOUL up through the small opening  in the curtains
like a rocket. E-LIS is crying as she drop to her knees.
MOTHER GEM'S body lays in the bed.

EXT. BRIGHT LIGHT SHOOTING THROUGH THE WINDOW INTO THE SKY
MAKING A SOUND OF A THOUSAND BUMBLE BEES.

                                            CUT TO:

The BRIGHT LIGHT disappears into the clouds carrying MOTHER
GEM'S soul to the heavens.

                                            CUT TO

                                                           87.

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

                                            CUT TO:

E-LIS stares out the window

                         E-LIS
            Thanks, Mother Gem, thanks for all
            your love. May your soul and spirit
            travel in peace.........

E-LIS turns to LUDY.

                         LUDY
            Did I just see---oh my God!

E-LIS and LUDY embraces each other.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM DOOR

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE listening outside the MOTHER GEM'S
bedroom door.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            What was that I heard?

                         VERNICE
                   (looks at the floor
                   for light)
            The healing power of the diamonds.
            The old lady must be dead or healed.
            The bright light is gone. When this
            happens, this means that the
            diamonds have finished their
            spiritual healing.

VERNICE reminds JOHNNY WHITE

                         VERNICE(CONT'D)
            Remember. We don't want to kill
            them, just stay focus on the
            diamonds. Are you ready?....

JOHNNY checks his gun and nods. VERNICE opens the bedroom door.

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

E-LIS and LUDY are hit by surprise.

                                                           88.

                         VERNICE
                   (pointing the gun)
            Nobody moves!

E-LIS is in shock.

                         E-LIS
                   (in disbelief)
            What are you doing?  Is this a joke
            or what? Mother Gem just died---and
            you come in her house like this?.......

                         VERNICE
                   (angry)
            Shut up! E-lis!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (impatient)
            Hand over the diamonds, now!

                         LUDY
            E-lis, do you know these thieves?

                         VERNICE
            Look whose calling who a thief. I
            know all about you, Ludy Mende with
            your half plastic gut.......I
            remember reading about the shooting
            years ago. That's how you smuggled
            the diamonds in the country.

                         E-LIS
            This is my long lost suppose to be
            friend.

                         VERNICE
            I always wanted to tell you how
            much I hated you! You had everything.

                         LUDY
            Vernice! Nicy, we used to call you.
            You were always hyper at
            school....But this! You are out of
            your mind....

LUDY reaches in his pocket.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (points his gun)
            Uh, uh. Don't make me do it. It
            would be such a pleasure......Give
            me your gun!

                                                           89.

LUDY reaches in his coat pocket and hands the gun slowly to
JOHNNY WHITE.

                         VERNICE
            Now. Does anyone else have any more
            tricks up there sleeves because I
            don't want to have to shoot any
            body up in here?

Everybody is quiet for a moment VERNICE takes a look at
MOTHER GEM'S BODY.

                         VERNICE(CONT'D)
            I liked Mother Gem. But she liked
            you better. I bet you, she willed
            all her riches to you......

                         LUDY
                   (curious)
            What is this?!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            What does it look like? It sure
            ain't no family visit....Hand the
            diamonds over.......

                         E-LIS
                   (explains to Ludy)
            You see, Ludy,as you know, Vernice
            and I were once best friends. We
            were so tight, when you see one,
            you see the other. We really
            cherished our friendship at one
            time, even would die for each other.

                         VERNICE
                   (angry)
            That's right! I just hated the fact
            that you had everything and I had
            nothing.

                         E-LIS
            I never treated you any different.
            We were like sisters.....

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (swings the gun around)
            Are ya'll finished with the girl
            talk here!

                         VERNICE
                   (points the gun at
                   Johnny White)
            Johnny White! Shut the fuck up!

                                                           90.

JOHNNY WHITE screams out.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (points the gun at Vernice)
            Vernice! That's the last time you
            gonna tell me to shut up!

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE turns and points the gun at each other.

                         LUDY
                   (smirks)
            Both of ya'll have a serious
            problem here.

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE turns the gun on LUDY for making
that statement. E-LIS distracts VERNICE.

                         E-LIS
            Vernice.....Tell me. How did you
            know about the diamonds? I never
            told you...Wait I remember now. I
            caught you reading my diary one
            night---but I hadn't written all
            the information on the power of the
            diamonds.

VERNICE smiles

                         VERNICE
                   (explains)
            You are so predictable. You wrote
            all your secrets in your journal
            everyday, especially about precious
            gem. Everything Mother Gem told you,
            you wrote it in your journal.

                         E-LIS
            But that journal was  with me
            everyday and I never shared it with
            you or nobody. You betrayed my
            trust that day.

                         VERNICE
            Yeah. Right.....But another time we
            went out partying at a friends
            house, remember? You fell asleep at
            my house. The journal was in your
            purse. I thought the story about
            the diamonds were a winner. So I
            knew Mother Gem was ill just like
            my mother is now. I heard that you
            were sending Ludy to Africa for
            business.
                         (MORE)

                                                           91.

                         VERNICE (CONT'D)
            It had to be for the diamonds. I
            didn't figure out how he was going
            to get such special stones out of
            Africa. Then it darned on me that
            your boy, Ludy, here, has half of a
            plastic gut which probably could
            hold ten small polished diamonds
            until he get back in the states.

                                            CUT TO:

VERNICE FLASHBACK

INT. VERNICE'S MOTHER

VERNICE'S MOTHER is sitting on side of the bed. Vernice is
giving her medication. VERNICE'S MOTHER slowly lies down
with VERNICE'S help. VERNICE covers her mother with a
blanket. VERNICE props her head up on the pillows and sits
down in a chair next to the bed. She kisses her mother on
the forehead. VERNICE'S MOTHER smiles as she falls to sleep.
VERNICE looks sentimentally at her mother with tears in her
eyes.

                                            CUT TO:

INT. MOTHER GEM'S BEDROOM

                         LUDY
                   (shakes his head)
            Very clever, Vernice......So the
            man on the plane was part of your
            little scheme.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            I should say so myself, Ludy.

                         E-LIS
            But the diamonds are worthless,
            have no value or healing power
            unless one believes. The diamond
            becomes supernatural when there is
            faith.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (impatient)
            Bullshit!  Faith! Vernice! What the
            hell is she talking about?

                                                           92.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            We'll see. My client have all the
            faith in the world and it's call
            five million dollars worth.....Now
            let's stop this chattering and get
            on with it. You know what I
            want.....Hand over the diamonds!

JOHNNY WHITE is impatient. He goes over and points the gun
to LUDY'S HEAD.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (presses gun against temple)
            You heard her. Stop all this mo-jo-
            ju-ju talk. I'm just itching to
            pull this trigger......

                         LUDY
            You really need help if you think
            I'm gonna let you walk outta here
            with something I almost gave up my
            life for.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (presses the gun closer)
            I don't like your attitude. I'm
            gonna blow you away just for the
            hell of it.

                         E-LIS
            No! No!

                         VERNICE
            Give me the diamonds, E-lis or your
            friend gonna get blown away.

                         E-LIS
            There they are.....Why don't you
            get them?.......

                         VERNICE
            No! No! I don't go near dead
            people.....You first....

E-LIS hesitates with tears in her eyes.

                         E-LIS
            You know, she really cared about
            you, Vernice. We were the best of
            friends. How could-----

VERNICE is getting impatient.

                                                           93.

                         VERNICE
            Give me the got-dam diamonds, E-lis!

E-LIS walks over to MOTHER GEM'S body in the bed. She takes
a long look at the body. She picks up the ten diamonds one
by one. She hands the diamonds to VERNICE. VERNICE pulls out
a small brown pouch. She puts the diamonds in the brown
pouch and sticks it back in her purse.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (backing away from Ludy)
            Good girl.....I'm still gonna blow
            him away.....

                         E-LIS
            No! You got what you want!

JOHNNY WHITE pauses as he points the gun at LUDY.

                         VERNICE
                   (standing at the
                   bedroom door)
            Johnny White! No killing! Let's get
            the hell out of here. Time is
            running out!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (puts his gun to his side)
            You are lucky today....Really
            lucky.....

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE exit the bedroom quickly.

                         LUDY
            I can't believe this. Why am I so
            concern? I completed the mission
            and collected.....But it's you I
            feel for and something happened
            here that changed my life. Now
            because of me, the secret is in the
            wrong hands.

                         E-LIS
                   (explains)
            Listen....Stop pitying yourself.
            You did something good. You
            fulfilled an old lady's fantasy.
            Mother Gem left here with a smile
            on her face......

E-LIS picks up the phone.

                                                           94.

                         E-LIS(CONT'D)
            I'm going to call the funeral home.
            I want her to have a proper burial....

                         LUDY
            What about the diamonds?

                         E-LIS
            She has nothing without the faith.
            She knows that, but that idiot,
            Johnny White doesn't. Once he finds
            out that Vernice has lied to him,
            he's going to kill her.......I
            don't think it's about the five
            million.....

                         E-LIS(CONT'D)
            Vernice mother has been in bad
            health for a long time. I think she
            is trying to help her. She really
            loves her mother......I know the
            way she thinks and right now, she's
            desperate.

                         LUDY
            But how come she didn't come out
            and say that? You could have helped
            her.

                         E-LIS
                   (dials a number)
            She couldn't. She got him believing
            that they are going to collect five
            million dollars.....That was her
            first plan. She didn't think I
            would tell her the secret. I
            probably wouldn't have because she
            has the tendency to be a liar when
            it comes to push and shove.

LUDY is not buying the story.

                         LUDY
            Are you sure about this. Is this
            facts or theory?.......

E-LIS picks up the phone to call the corridor.

                         E-LIS
            Maybe and maybe not......I just
            hope she be alive when we do find
            her.....Yes I'm calling to report a
            death at.......

                                                           95.

FADE TO

MUSIC:CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

INT.. OLD CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK PULLS UP AT THE FERRY DOCK-11:00AM.

VERNICE and JOHNNY WHITE is getting ready to open the doors.
VERNICE decides to sit for awhile in the truck.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (turns before getting
                   out the truck)
            You coming?.....The deal is off in
            an hour by your calculations.

                         VERNICE
                   (change the subject)
            Look at that old fisherman.....

                                            CUT TO

The OLD MAN FISHERMAN is sitting patiently waiting on a fish
to bite.

                                            CUT TO

VERNICE goes into her purse and pulls out a hundred dollar bill.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            What are you doing?  We already
            paid him for twenty four hours.

                         VERNICE
                   (smiles)
            If it wasn't for him and this old
            truck, our feet would be hurting
            like somebody threw bricks on them.
            I'm going to tip him another
            hundred for just being trusting and
            patient.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (gets out the truck)
            You losing it, Vernice.  All I want
            is my half of the five million and
            I'm off to the Virgil Island......

VERNICE gets out the truck.

                                            CUT TO

                                                           96.

VERNICE is handing the OLD MAN FISHERMAN the hundred dollar
bill. He nods and tips his hat as he pulls his line in for a
catch.......

                                            CUT TO

EXT. MOTOR BOAT TIED TO FERRY DOCK

JOHNNY WHITE unties the motor boat. He jumps in and starts
the motor.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (yells)
            Vernice! Come on!

VERNICE jumps in the motor boat and they speed off up the Gulf.

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BLACK MERCEDES PULLS UP AT AN OLD HOUSE ON GALVESTON
ISLAND

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK MERCEDES

JOHNNY WHITE and VERNICE are sitting in the car. VERNICE is
sitting in the driver's seat. She stares over at the old
house where her mother is ill.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (curious)
            Why are we stopping here at your
            mother's house?

                         VERNICE
                   (softly)
            It's something I have to do.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (impatient)
            Why can't we do this after we
            collect the money?

                         VERNICE
                   (looks at Johnny White)
            My mother is very sick....I have to
            make sure she gets her medication.
            You gotta problem with that?.....

                                                           97.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (turns away)
            Okay! Okay! But hurry up!

VERNICE opens the door to the car. She looks over at JOHNNY
WHITE.

                         VERNICE
                   (getting out car)
            Sit tight. I'll be right back.

Right before VERNICE steps out the car, JOHNNY WHITE reaches
over and grabs her arm.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (holding her arm)
            Where are the diamonds?

VERNICE snatches her arm away from him.

                         VERNICE
                   (angry)
            Where do you think---and don't ever
            touch me, Johnny White.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (insists)
            You better leave the diamonds with me.

VERNICE has a very frustrating look on he face.

                         VERNICE
            Johnny White, don't get paranoid. I
            ain't gonna disappear in thin air.
            Get real!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (turns away)
            Okay! Okay! I didn't mean it like
            that! Just hurry up!

VERNICE gives JOHNNY WHITE an unforgiving look and steps out
the car. JOHNNY WHITE looks at her as she walks away.

                                            CUT TO

INT. VERNICE'S MOTHER HOUSE-BEDROOM

VERNICE MOTHER is lying in bed. She is sleeping. VERNICE
goes over and kisses her on the forehead. Her MOTHER opens
her eyes.

                                                           98.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
                   (weak voice)
            Vernice.....Where have you been, baby?

                         VERNICE
                   (sits down on bed)
            Attending to business, Mama. How
            are you feeling today?....

VERNICE'S MOTHER closes her eyes.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
            Not too good, baby......Could I
            have a glass of water. My mouth
            feels so dry.

VERNICE gets up from the bed and walks to the lamp table
near the bed. She picks up a pitcher of water and pours it
in the glass. She walks back to the bed. She raises her
MOTHER'S head so she could drink the water. She takes the
glass and puts it back on the lamp table.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
                   (curious)
            Did you get my medicine?

VERNICE pause as she sits on the bed.

                         VERNICE
            Mama....I got something that going
            to take away all your pain.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
            But what about my medicine, Vernice?
            You know I need my medicine.

VERNICE takes her purse from the lamp table. She opens it
and take out the diamonds. She unwrap the diamonds and show
them to her MOTHER.

                         VERNICE
            Mama. Look, these have real good
            healing powers. They are going to
            perform a miracle on you that's
            going to drive all your pain away.
            I've seen it work, Mama.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
            I just want my medicine, Vernice.
            Diamonds can't help me now. And I
            don't believe in stuff like that.
            You been around Mother Gem and E-
            lis too long.....Please....Give me
            my medicine.

                                                           99.

VERNICE reaches over on the lamp table and gets her medicine.
She opens the pill box and takes out two round white pills.
She gives them to her MOTHER. Her Mother swallows the pills
as VERNICE holds the glass of water for her to drink.
VERNICE raises her MOTHER'S head for her drink the water.

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK MERCEDES

JOHNNY WHITE is looking at his watch. He is getting impatient.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Where in the hell is she?!

JOHNNY WHITE looks toward the house. He starts to get out
the car. VERNICE opens the door to the driver side and jumps in.

                         VERNICE
                   (patient)
            Going somewhere.....

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (turns around)
            It's about time.......

VERNICE pauses and stares toward her MOTHER'S house.

                         VERNICE
            We got a slight problem.....

JOHNNY WHITE has a frustrated look on his face.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            What now?! What kind of problem?

                         VERNICE
                   (looks straight ahead)
            Our source can't see us until
            11:00am tomorrow morning.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (angry)
            What?! That's bullshit! You mean we
            gonna have to wait another day!

                         VERNICE
            Either we do that or forget the deal.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Okay! Okay!

                                                          100.

                         VERNICE
            Listen. Take the truck, get a hotel
            and meet me back here at nine
            o'clock in the morning. I'm going
            to stay with my mother. She's in a
            lot of pain.

JOHNNY WHITE looks at VERNICE suspiciously.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Let me see the diamonds.

VERNICE pulls the diamonds from her purse. She shows them to
JOHNNY WHITE. He picks up one and looks at it. He puts it back.

                         VERNICE
                   (puts diamonds back
                   in purse)
            Are you satisfied?!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            Why can't I stay with you and your
            mother?

                         VERNICE
                   (looks strange)
            Because, right now, I want to be
            alone with my mother.....

VERNICE opens the car door.

                         VERNICE(CONT'D)
            Just go....I'll see you in the morning.

JOHNNY WHITE hesitates. VERNICE steps out the car. He
watches her walk toward the house for a moment.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. BLACK MERCEDES-SPEEDS OFF UP THE STREET

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

INT. E-LIS'S HOUSE-GALVESTON ISLAND

E-LIS and LUDY is talking about VERNICE. They are sitting on
the couch sipping a glass of wine. E-LIS gets up and starts
pacing.

                                                          101.

                         LUDY
                   (comments)
            We got to get those diamonds back
            without involving anybody else. If
            it gets out that-----

E-LIS picks up the telephone.

                         LUDY(CONTD)
            What are you doing?

E-LIS dials a number.

                         E-LIS
                   (holds phone to her ear)
            See if she will answer the phone at
            her mother's house.

                         LUDY
            E-lis....You think she is at her
            mother's house.....She's long gone,
            trying to get to her source.....Come
            on.......
0
E-LIS hangs up the phone. She sits down on the couch.

                         E-LIS
                   (gets up)
            I'm telling you, Ludy. She's going
            to try to use the diamonds on her
            mother. I can feel it. And she's
            going to try in the morning unless
            that Johnny White catches on to her.

LUDY gets up as E-LIS stares out her front window. He walks
up behind E-LIS.

                         LUDY
                   (puts his hands on
                   her shoulders)
            Why are you so worried about
            Vernice. She dug her own hole.......

                         E-LIS
            I know. But she is still my friend,
            Ludy.

E-LIS turns away from LUDY. She walks toward the couch and
sits down leaving LUDY standing at the front window.

                                                          102.

                         E-LIS
                   (shakes her head)
            Yes. I'm worried that Johnny White
            gonna blow her away. I tell you,
            Vernice is not doing this for five
            million, but he is.....The diamonds
            are not going to heal her mother.
            Her mother always thought that
            Mother Gem was just an old woman
            believing in weird things......The
            only thing the diamonds will do is
            take her soul to another place and
            Vernice doesn't know that. She is
            thinking that the diamonds will
            make her mother whole to walk here
            on earth.

                         LUDY
            Okay! What do you wanna do?

E-LIS gets up and walks toward LUDY.

                         E-LIS
                   (explains idea)
            Let's go to her mother's house
            right before sunset. Just maybe we
            can help her.

                         LUDY
            What about Johnny White. He either
            going to kill us or we gonna have
            to kill him.

                         E-LIS
            Vernice is smart enough to get rid
            of him before she try to use the
            diamonds to heal her mother.

                                            CUT TO

INT.  BLACK MERCEDES-5:00AM

JOHNNY WHITE is driving up at VERNICE'S MOTHER HOUSE earlier
than 9:00am. He is suspicious of VERNICE. He parks across
the street from the house. He looks at his watch. He slumps
down in his seat and waits until sunrise.

                                            CUT TO

INT. VERNICE MOTHER HOUSE- BEDROOM-6:45-SUNRISE

VERNICE is sleeping in a chair near her MOTHER'S bedside.
Her MOTHER wakes up screaming.

                                                          103.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
                   (raises her head up
                   from pillow)
            Vernice! I don't wanna die!

VERNICE'S MOTHER begins to cry. VERNICE holds her hands
tight. She kisses her on the forehead. She raises her
MOTHER'S head from the pillow to her chest and rocks back
and forth.

                         VERNICE
                   (tears in her eyes)
            I'm here,Mama! You're not gonna die.
            The sun is rising! it's time for
            you to be healed.

                         VERNICE'S MOTHER
                   (weak)
            For real, baby.....I don't wanna
            die....

VERNICE softly lays her MOTHER'S head on the pillow. She
hurries over to the window. She pulls the drapes back and
opens the window.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. THE SUN IS RISING ABOVE THE GALVESTON ISLAND. THE RAYS
ARE BEGINNING TO SHINE THROUGH THE WINDOW.

                                            CUT TO

INT. VERNICE'S MOTHER BEDROOM

VERNICE hurries over to her MOTHER. She opens her gown. Her
MOTHER falls back to sleep. She quickly get the diamonds
from her purse. She is nervous. She places the ten diamonds
in a circle around her MOTHER'S CHEST. She runs over to open
the curtains wider.

                                            CUT TO

INT. BLACK MERCEDES

JOHNNY WHITE opens the door. He gets out the car.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. VERNICE'S MOTHER BEDROOM WINDOW-A SHINNING BRIGHT
CIRCULAR LIGHT COMES THROUGH THE WINDOW AND SHOOTS UP IN THE
SKY.

                                            CUT TO

                                                          104.

EXT. BLACK MERCEDES

JOHNNY WHITE is standing near the BLACK MERCEDES. JOHNNY
WHITE covers his eyes.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
            What in the hell!

                                            CUT TO

EXT.  RED EXPLORER

E-LIS and LUDY are driving up to VERNICE'S MOTHER HOUSE.

                                            CUT TO

INT. VERNICE'S MOTHER HOUSE BEDROOM

VERNICE'S MOTHER has a smile on her face. VERNICE shakes her
mom but she doesn't respond.

                         VERNICE
                   (crying)
            Mama! Wake up! It doesn't suppose
            to take you away! Mama! Please!

                                            CUT TO

JOHNNY WHITE enters the bedroom. VERNICE is bending over her
MOTHER.. She is rocking back and forth with tears flowing
down her cheeks. She doesn't notice JOHNNY WHITE as he
touches her on the shoulder.She looks up at JOHNNY WHITE.

                         VERNICE
                   (rocking back and forth)
            My mother is dead!

VERNICE sobs. JOHNNY WHITE has a vicious look on his face.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (no remorse)
            I'm sorry....But you have led me on
            all this time......I should have known.

VERNICE wipe her teary eyes.

                         VERNICE
            Yes! It was all about healing my
            mother......

VERNICE picks up her purse off the lamp table.

                                                          105.

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (shakes his head)
            The story about your source and
            collecting five million was all a
            lie, huh? You don't have any
            contact for the diamonds. All this
            was for to save a sick old lady......

                         VERNICE
            Watch your mouth!

                         JOHNNY WHITE
                   (angry)
            Why you bitch!

Both, JOHNNY WHITE and VERNICE pull out their guns at the
same time.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. VERNICE'S MOTHER HOUSE-RED EXPLORER DRIVES UP

                                            CUT TO

INT. RED EXPLORER

E-LIS and LUDY are getting out the car when suddenly they
hear gunshots.

                         E-LIS
                   (hesitates before
                   getting out car)
            Did you hear that?!

                         LUDY
                   (getting out car)
            Sounds like gunshots to me!

                                            CUT TO

EXT. VERNICE'S MOTHER OPEN BEDROOM WINDOW

E-LIS and LUDY walk carefully to VERNICE MOTHER'S house.
They slowly walk over to the open bedroom window and peep in.

                         E-LIS
                   (wipes her teary eyes)
            Oh, no!

                                            CUT TO

                                                          106.

INT. VERNICE'S MOTHER BEDROOM FLOOR

JOHNNY WHITE and VERNICE are laying dead on the the bedroom
floor. VERNICE'S MOTHER is dead in the bed as the diamonds
lay on her chest.

                                            CUT TO

INT. VERNICE'S MOTHER BEDROOM

E-LIS and LUDY walk in the bedroom. E-LIS kneels down over
VERNICE'S BODY and sobs. LUDY takes the diamonds from
VERNICE'S MOTHER CHEST.

                         LUDY
                   (pulls E-lis up from
                   the floor)
            Listen, E-lis, let's get out of
            here before we have a lot of
            explaining to do.......

E-LIS backs away as LUDY is leading her to the door.

                         E-LIS
            I'm sorry, Vernice. I'm so sorry.....

FADE TO

MUSIC: CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

EXT. GALVESTON GULF WATERS-MOTOR BOAT MOVING ALONG

                                            CUT TO

INT. MOTOR BOAT

E-LIS and LUDY are inside the motor boat. LUDY is driving.
E-LIS is spreading MOTHER GEM'S ASHES in the waters of
GALVESTON'S GULF.

                         LUDY
                   (driving)
            Have you finished?

E-LIS nods. Tears are in her eyes as LUDY drives off.

FADE TO

MUSIC- CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

                                                          107.

INT. JEWELRY STORE-GALVESTON ISLAND-TWO WEEKS LATER

LUDY is looking inside a jewelry showcase. A certain ring
fascinates him. The diamonds from the ring shine right into
his eyes. He wipe his eyes. It glows again. LUDY turns away.
TWO COUPLES leave the store. The MEN have just bought them
diamond rings. They are happy. The WOMEN hug the MEN as they
adore the rings on their fingers. LUDY turns back to the
showcase.

                                            CUT TO

INT. JEWELRY SHOWCASE-MOTHER GEM'S FACE APPEARS

                                            CUT TO

MOTHER GEM appears in SPIRIT to LUDY. LUDY wipes his eyes in
disbelief. MOTHER GEM is smiling.

                         MOTHER GEM(SPIRIT)
                   (appears)
            Remember Ludy, precious stones and
            gems have powers that join friends
            together in death and life, It
            brings happiness to a weary soul.
            Look at the glow and sparkles, they
            will heal your sorrow. Embrace
            your-self in love energies that you
            see right here. Your life is as
            precious as a sparkling diamond.
            Remember the sunrise at Pelican
            Island. Take care of E-LIS.She
            needs a good friend.

MOTHER GEM FACE disappears and the bright shinning light dims.

                                            CUT TO

EXT. JEWELRY SHOWCASE

LUDY is wiping his eyes. The SALESMAN comes over.

                         SALESMAN
            Is there something wrong, sir?

LUDY stop wiping his eyes. He points at the SHINNING RING
with the bright glow.

                         LUDY
            May I see the ring to the left.

The SALESMAN opens the showcase and takes the ring out.He
hands the ring to LUDY. LUDY takes a good look at the ring.

                                                          108.

                         LUDY(CONT'D)
            How much?

The SALESMAN clears his throat.

                         SALESMAN
                   (in doubt of sale)
            Very costly......$100,000.00,
            sir....Now we have some less---

                         LUDY
            No....I want this one.....

The SALESMAN looks surprise.

FADE TO

MUSIC: HIP-HOP

                                            CUT TO

EXT. GALVESTON ISLAND SANDY BEACH AREA-ONE WEEK LATER-
MORNING AT SUNRISE

E-LIS is jogging on the white sands of GALVESTON  BEACH. All
of a sudden she stops.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY is jogging toward her.

                                            CUT TO

E-LIS smiles as she starts to jog toward him.

                                            CUT TO

LUDY is jogging with the ring in one hand. He is smiling.

                                            CUT TO

E-LIS and LUDY jogs up to each other. They stop and catch
their breath. LUDY puts the ring on her finger. She admires
it. They embrace each other in the white sands as waves
splashes against their feet as the morning sun rises.

FADE TO

MUSIC: CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

                                            CUT TO

                                                          109.

EXT.  THE SUN IS RISING OVER THE GALVESTON GULF WATERS.

                         THE END

                                                          110.