ATLANTA

"SHOW ME THE PAPER BOI"

Written by

Theo Bark

3230 Rowena Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027

917.494.5303
theobark@gmail.com
 1.

EXT. ASA AGENCY - DAY

PAPER BOI walks through the parking lot of big time agency
ASA with DARIUS, Snapchatting the experience.

PAPER BOI
You already know what it is, we
live at the agency. I dont exactly
know what an agent does, but I know
I need one. We 'bout to get all
Jerry Maguire in this hoe.

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

EARN lies on his stomach in bed watching his phone. We see
Paper Boi's face in extreme closeup.
PAPER BOI
Does this mean Paper Boi about to
fulfill them hoop dreams? You gonna
have to check back. Im comin for
you, Bieber!

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Earn clicks through to the next Snap.
EARN
I feel like he's cheating on me.

He lies on his back, watching the ceiling fan go round,

talking to the ceiling.
EARN (CONTD)
Ever feel like, if a tree falls in
the forest and nobody Snaps it,
then it's probably on Instagram
Video, because life is meaningless?
VAN suddenly looms partially into frame, hands on hips.

VAN
You know I dont do social media. I
thought you had a meeting.
EARN
So did I, but here I am.
VAN
Well, I know someone who would love
to talk with you, if you can take
time out of your crazy schedule.
 2.

LOTTIE pops her head out from under the covers and crawls
onto Earn's chest.
EARN
Oh, hey. I heard you're looking for
representation. I actually manage
babies - I was gonna say for a
living, but I don't even know what
that would sound like.
He holds her, and with his free hand clicks the latest Paper
Boi Snap.
EARN (CONTD)
Look, it's your Uncle Al. Look at
that giant baby!

LOTTIE
Issa baby!!!

INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

Paper Boi Snaps from the reception desk. The Receptionist
gives Snapchat the finger.
PAPER BOI
This agency shit no joke! They got
Now n Laters, breath mints,
bananas.. Thats a weird
collection, man.
DARIUS
Free bottles of mouthwash in the
bathroom.
PAPER BOI
Darius stole the mouthwash.
Its a giant bottle. Darius cradles it like an infant.
DARIUS
Reparations.
A Snap filter animates the title "ATLANTA" at the bottom of
the screen.

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Van stands in the doorway. Earn lies in bed, watching a
rapper named BLACK GREATNESS talk into a stack of $100s with
an iPhone embedded in it.
 3.

VAN
Maybe he just... realized that
youre not really a manager, and
now you can go get a real job?
EARN
Is that really what I need to hear
right now?
VAN
...Maybe?
EARN
Im over here trying to hustle and
my artist is like... taking
meetings without me.
VAN
Look, Im sorry baby...
He shoots her a look.
VAN (CONTD)
...But you need to get a job!
He looks at the ceiling again.
EARN
I have a job.

Lottie reaches for his phone.

VAN
Another job, then.
EARN
I have another job too.
VAN
I need you to get like six jobs.
EARN
Like Kevin Gates? Really? Then I'm
a need two phones...
VAN
(ignoring the joke)
Well, I have a date.
Van waltzes away.
EARN
You know it's noon, right.
 4.

VAN
It's a lunch date.
He lays his phone over his eyes like VR glasses.
EARN
Everyone's cheating on me.
Lottie slaps the phone off his face.
EARN (CONTD)
Yo, you getting serious with this
corny nigga?
VAN
You know what, maybe you should
stop saying that word around our
daughter.
He hoists Lottie up and places her to his ear -
EARN
What? She says your dating life is
depressing. She's sad for you.
He carries Lottie into her room and deposits her in her crib.
EARN (CONTD)
Is a lunch date some millennial N-
word shit I should know about?
VAN
(looking into the mirror)
Lunch dates are cool. He seems
creative.
EARN
Lunch dates are cheap. He seems
broke.
VAN
(loudly)
You hear that Lottie? That's
jealousy! Yes it is!

INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

Three white agents, LANSKY, ROSEN and RON BANGERZ, sit with
their feet up on a coffee table, staring at their phones.
Across from them, Paper Boi and Darius sit awkwardly,
waiting.
Eventually, one of the agents looks up.
 5.

LANSKY
Paper Boi! What's up man?
PAPER BOI
You DM'd me asking me to come in
so... I came in.

They continue to stare at their phones.

PAPER BOI (CONTD)
So...
LANSKY
(putting down phone)
First of all, we love the mixtape.
RON BANGERZ
(still on phone)
Shit's flames, featuring fuego.
ROSEN
(still on phone)
On lava.
RON BANGERZ
(rapping to his phone)
Paper Boi, Paper Boi...
LANSKY
What's good Paper Boi?
PAPER BOI
To be honest I dont even know what
yall do in the first place, so...
LANSKY
I love that. OK, so Im Lansky - we
go by last names here at ASA. So
we'd call you... Boi.
ROSEN
(interrupting)
I'm Rosen. I run digital, and this
is Bangston aka Ron Bangerz, he's
our music guy. You probably seen
him up in the club.
Ron Bangerz shoots off a couple of rounds, 21 Savage-style,
without looking up from his phone. He never looks up from his
phone.
 6.

RON BANGERZ
Pew pew pew.
DARIUS
OK, Ron Bangerz.
Lansky looks at Darius as if seeing him for the first time.
LANSKY
Sorry, is he... Are you the
manager? Producer?
PAPER BOI
That's just Darius. He don't
believe in titles.
LANSKY
(reaching behind him)
Great, well, we picked up a lil
something special for the hang...

He places a bottle of Activis brand cough syrup on the table,

with a stack of double-cups and a big bottle of Sprite.
RON BANGERZ
(Migos voice)
Activis! Activiss! Activis!
Lansky places styrofoam double cups in front of them and
doles out ice.
PAPER BOI
Is that real Activis?
RON BANGERZ
Real shit. Po' up.
Ron pours himself a cup. Rosen reaches for the syrup.
ROSEN
When we heard it was being
discontinued we bought up all the
bottles. The market went crazy!

PAPER BOI
Hold up. Them bottles run for like
20 racks. How did y'all...
LANSKY
We rep Dr. Oz. He's got the hookup.
DARIUS
That's just a title. He's not
actually a doctor.
 7.

RON BANGERZ
Is Master P a real Master?
DARIUS
Yes.
PAPER BOI
(ignoring Darius)
Dr. Oz got you Lean? That's like
saying Dr. Dre runs your rehab
facility.
LANSKY
Yo, y'all wanna hear Detox? We had
to pay Dre not to drop it. It was
too hot.

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Earn Snaps Lottie, bouncing her in the crook of his arm.
EARN
Whats that Lottie? You want to
know what an agent does? Nobody
knows! It's impossible to know!
Lottie laughs.

EARN (CONTD)
Thats funny, right? Nobody knows?
Earn narrates as he edits and adds text to the Snap.
EARN (CONTD)
Caption... "SMH AGENTS"... Lets go
with yellow for this one. The color
of betrayal.
He posts the Snap to his one follower: Paper Boi.
INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS
Ron Bangerz pours out a little Activis.
RON BANGERZ
For Yam$, yo. Rest in Power.
DARIUS
You know Yam$ died from drinking
that.

Ron Bangerz takes a long sip.

 8.

RON BANGERZ
That's why we sip.
PAPER BOI
That makes zero sense.
Ron Bangerz offers Paper Boi a cup. He shakes his head.
PAPER BOI (CONTD)
Nooo! I'm good on that!
DARIUS
Y'all need to get off that Lean...
Darius places his mouthwash onto the center of the table.

DARIUS (CONTD)
(smiling)
And get on that 'Swash.
RON BANGERZ
This guy said 'Swash. Y'all play
too much.
He cracks the bottle of Scope.
DARIUS
We don't. We sip 'Swash. Pour up.
Darius pours up a cup for Ron Bangerz. Ron Bangerz takes a
long sip of 'Swash -- then coughs 'Swash everywhere.
DARIUS (CONTD)
Watch for the hook...
RON BANGERZ
(still coughing)
That 'Swash got a lil... damn.
Fucks with it though.

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Earn watches another Snap, holding Lottie in his arms. We see
the Snap through Earn's phone -- Paper Boi waving a sheet of
paper. In the background, the Agents are still on their
phones.
PAPER BOI
Look at this shit mannn! I had to
sign a gotdamn NBA just to get in
this mothafucka.
 9.

The Snap's camera angle shifts every time Darius or Paper Boi
talks.
DARIUS
I wouldn't sign. That's how they
take your soul.
PAPER BOI
He don't sign.
DARIUS
And its NDA - which in most cases
is not legally binding.
PAPER BOI
Did I mention Darius used to be a
lawyer?
DARIUS
Paralegal.
PAPER BOI
Same thing.

DARIUS
Theyre not.
PAPER BOI
Same office!
We pull out of the Snap and see Earn cringing, bouncing
Lottie.
EARN
Nooo... What did he sign?
Lottie giggles and reaches for Paper Boi through the phone.

INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

The Agents remain glued to their phones. Paper Boi is on
Snapchat.
RON BANGERZ
Sippin' on some skizzope, sip
sippin' on some Scope... Sippin' on
some skizzope...
DARIUS
I like it. It's catchy.
Paper Boi watches Earn's Snap...
 10.

ROSEN
Paper Boi, Paper Boi...

AGENTS IN UNISON
All about that Paper, Boi!

RON BANGERS
That shit fire dogg.
He reaches to give Paper Boi dap, while somehow never taking
his eyes off his phone. Paper Boi clicks Earn's Snap: "SMH
AGENTS."

PAPER BOI
What do y'all do?

ROSEN
Show me the paper.

LANSKY
That's what we do!

PAPER BOI
Aight then. Let's get this Jerry
Maguire shit popping!
ROSEN
(excited, a la Jerry
Maguire)
Show me the paper!
DARIUS
You mean "show me the money."
ROSEN (CONTD)
No, literally. I need the NDA we
had you sign.

Unfazed, Paper Boi begins a new Snap, shooting the office,

the framed pictures of agents shaking hands with actors.
PAPER BOI
Whatup world? You ready to see
Paper Boi on this wall next to
Chingo Bling and Joan Rivers? Real
shit right here. These Agents wild!
He Snaps the Agents. They do not look very wild. He sends the
Snap to Earn.
 11.

INT. UPSCALE MIDTOWN FUSION RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS

Van sits at a table at an upscale fusion restaurant. KYLE
sits across from her. He looks like he's in this situation a
lot. She stabs a fork at her salad self-consciously.

VAN
What?
KYLE
I was just thinking - it's so cool
that you're a teacher.
VAN
Is it?
KYLE
I've never dated a teacher. It's so
selfless.

VAN
That's me... selfless Van. Wait,
are you even talking about me? Or
are you saying you're selfless for
dating me?
KYLE
I'm talking about you. I feel like
it says so much about you.
VAN
Like what?
KYLE
You love kids. You have a huge
heart. You want a family.
VAN
Well actually - I didn't exactly
mention this on my profile but I...
KYLE
I have to come clean about
something.
VAN
Oh good.
KYLE
So this date isn't really a date.
It's more like an interview. For a
dating app I'm working on...
 12.

VAN
This date is an app.
KYLE
Interview. It's a dating app for
women. Well, we start with women.
And then we add men.
VAN stares at him, posting an internal APB for her dignity.
VAN
Ok. Im a start with grabbing my
shit to leave, while you add up the
check. Right?
KYLE
Wait, listen! Listen. It's not how
it sounds. This is just my job. I
really liked talking to you. We've
got an event tonight...
VAN
See, this is why I don't date
online -- or in real life,
apparently. Like... what?

INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

Darius films a Snap, panning along framed pictures of rock

bands and landing on: Paper Boi, posing next to Oasis.
CUE: "BLACK BEATLES" - RAE SREMMURD
PAPER BOI
Send that shit. See what Earn say
about me being the sixth Oasis.
ROSEN
Man. So, what's the craziest shit
you did since you blew up?
PAPER BOI
(sitting)
Got cable.

ROSEN
Word, like you must be - mad hoes
right? Clubs... just... ass.
A picture on the wall catches Paper Boi's eye.
 13.

PAPER BOI
Y'all represent Valencia Joyner?
The reporter lady that said all
them terrible things about me?
LANSKY
Yeah, V-Jo, she's asked about you,
actually.
PAPER BOI
I knew it bruh! Let me find out she
got that Paper Boi ringtone.
RON BANGERZ
He said ringtone.
ROSEN
(laughing)
You should be on her show, though.
PAPER BOI
Yes! I want to be on her life. Can
ya'll do that?
LANSKY
Connecting people is a thing we do
- but lets talk about Paper Boi.
What does Paper Boi do?
PAPER BOI
Rap. Sometimes do other shit.
LANSKY
Try from Paper Bois perspective.
Say it after me: Paper Boi is...
PAPER BOI
What do you want me to do, dude.
LANSKY
Visualize it.
PAPER BOI
I'm not prepared to do that.
DARIUS
You guys ever do acid?
Silence.
DARIUS (CONTD)
You guys should do acid. I find it
helps with visualization
techniques.
 14.

Paper Boi sighs, then turns on the charm.

PAPER BOI
Paper Boi is a rapper. Paper Bois
an actor. Paper Bois a label.
Paper Bois a mogul.
RON BANGERZ
Aight. I see you.
PAPER BOI
I mean, I'm a rapper, I got to have
my own artist and shit, movie and
shit.
DARIUS
Franchise.
PAPER BOI
You see me in the video? How did I
so convincingly portray your
average newspaper delivery person
with little-to-no prior knowledge
of the craft? I don't know.
DARIUS
We also working on a show like
Planet Earth, but for rappers.
RON BANGERZ
That shit wet, bro.
PAPER BOI
What?
RON BANGERZ
Its wet. Wet's the new lit.

ROSEN
We own the trademark.

EXT. PARKING LOT - LATER

Van watches the progress of her Uber, whose name appears to
be Kung Fu Panda.
VAN
If my Uber driver shows up in an
actual panda suit, he's endangered.
A Tesla silently glides alongside her. Van tries to open the
back door, but can't figure out how to open it. The
passenger-side door opens.
 15.

VAN (CONTD)
This is gonna sound weird but -
Kung Fu Panda?
It's Kyle.
KYLE
Nope, still Kyle.
VAN
Seriously? You're an Uber driver
now too? What are you, just all the
apps?
Van crosses her arms.
KYLE
Come on, let me give you a ride.
It's the least I can do.
She hesitates. An orange Honda Element driven by an actual
Panda pulls up behind him.
VAN
Alright, but I'm still gonna sit in
the back. Uber or otherwise.
Van climbs into the Tesla. The Panda waves.

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Earn records a new Snap, panning first past pictures of
Lottie and Van, then reversing the camera to shoot Lottie in
his arms.

EARN
That's right y'all, it's E-Money
and Lottie doin' BIG THINGS.
Talking meetings. Conference calls,
circling back...
Lottie gurgles happily.
EARN (CONTD)
Tired of being just another artist
on the roster? At E-Money Agency
you're our top - our only priority,
really. We don't eat unless you do.
(off Lottie's look)
It's just a thing we say.
 16.

EXT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Kyle and Van sit inside the Tesla, parked outside of her
place.
KYLE VAN
So this is you? This is me.
KYLE (CONTD)
So my girl Ursula, right. You
probably seen her out.
VAN
I'm not out.
KYLE
Purple hair? Wrangles girls to the
club?
VAN
Like bottle rats?
KYLE
How you know about that?
VAN
Do they get paid? I always
wondered.
KYLE
They're union now. I'm playing.
VAN
OK. I'm gonna go in my house now.
KYLE
Hear me out - the bottle rat girl
introduced me to this guy Calvin,
who funded the app.
She opens the door.
KYLE (CONTD)
It's called Matchster. We have an
event tonight - that's what we're
interviewing participants for. The
events pay really well.
VAN
Do I get a Tesla?
 17.

KYLE
All you do is show up sip
champagne, eat free lobster and be
out.
VAN
Like an actual rat.

KYLE
Funny.
VAN
And we get paid for that?
KYLE
A rack.
VAN
Like the country?

INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

Paper Boi watches Earns latest Snap. He looks mad.
PAPER BOI
Look, we doing business or what?
LANSKY
Were just talking my dude!
RON BANGERZ
(to his phone)
Gotta let it marinate...
ROSEN
Circle back, connect...
RON BANGERZ
Politic, ditto.
PAPER BOI
That's what y'll do? Just waste
everybody's whole day 'n shit?
DARIUS
It's like a filibuster, but more
drugs.
LANSKY
So you have our contacts now. Keep
us in the loop. Next time, come
through with some ideas...
 18.

PAPER BOI
Look, Im 35-years-old. I got a
song on radio. I just shot someone.
DARIUS
He's POPPING.
PAPER BOI
Why y'all invite me out here if
y'all aint tryna work?
DARIUS (CONTD)
It is kinda fucked up. I'm on acid
and I could tell that.
Lansky shrugs as if their anger is very misplaced.
LANSKY
This was just an informational, to
get a sense of who Paper Boi is.
ROSEN
Weve got you in mind for BIG
THINGS.
RON BANGERZ
Oh snap. Valencia Joyner just hit
me back.
LANSKY
And thats what we do. Another
thing.
ROSEN
Help us... help you.
DARIUS
Hes actually quoting Jerry Maguire
now.
RON BANGERZ
You gotta come provocative, my
nickel.
PAPER BOI
The fuck you say?
LANSKY
Different, but not.
ROSEN
Right. Different, but the same.
 19.

LANSKY
I always say, you gotta tell your
truth!
RON BANGERZ
Yeah, like you came up selling
Justin Bieber lean.
PAPER BOI
Can we get back to the part where
Ron Bangerz just said nigga?
Something RIVETING is now happening on Lansky and Rosen's
phones. Meanwhile, Ron Bangerz finally makes eye contact.
RON BANGERZ
I said nickel. Its different.
DARIUS
It's the polite version, maybe.
RON BANGERZ
(back to phone)
Nah like a symbol, you feel me.
Like Prince.
DARIUS
Love Prince.
PAPER BOI
How is a whiteboy saying "nigga"
like Prince?
RON BANGERZ
We were just talking about this.
See, an emoji is a symbol, right?
If I send a smiley emoji, that
dont mean Im smiling.
DARIUS
But if you post a comment with a
eggplant emoji...
RON BANGERZ
I'm into chicks, my dude.
DARIUS
But if YOU reply eggplant emoji to
a black Tweet - I'm a take it to
mean moulignon, a corruption of the
Italian word for eggplant - and
that would be disrespect.
 20.

PAPER BOI
Nigga, what?

RON BANGERZ DARIUS

Exactly. Exactly.

RON BANGERZ (CONTD)

(back to phone)
I mean, everybody says it when they
text.
DARIUS
You should just say nigga then.
PAPER BOI
Not if you wanna keep your teeth.

INT. EASTLAKE APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Earn packs his backpack while Van recounts her story.

EARN
So the corny N-word turned you into
a hooker?
VAN
Fuck you, corny nigga. You just
mad.

EARN
That didn't last long.

VAN
What? Whatever, yo.
Van flops down on the bed.

EARN
It's called prostitution.
VAN
Getting paid to go to dinner?
EARN
The app part is like the millennial
version of a pyramid scheme.

VAN
Whatever. Corny... person.
She bounces Lottie and kisses her cheek.
 21.

EARN
So you really doing that?
VAN
It's a thousand dollars. Yeah.

EARN
Aight, I'm a drop Lottie at mom's.
Try not to meet any corny dudes
while Im gone. We got a one corny
nigga max in this house.

He smiles and swoops up Lottie, leaning in. Van almost kisses

him.
VAN
You dont make the rules. Not until
you pay rent, anyway.

EARN
Working on that. Ask Yung Lottie,
she about to blow up, right?
LOTTIE
Yes!!!

INT. ASA AGENCY - CONTINUOUS

DARIUS
See, y'all just wanted to see the
thug in the safety of your office.
(to Paper Boi)
You see that, right?
PAPER BOI
Planet Earth shit.
DARIUS
Exactly.
The Agents feign surprise.

LANSKY
Paper Boi...
PAPER BOI
(standing)
Man, this trash...
RON BANGERZ
My G?
 22.

PAPER BOI
This shit trash. You. This office.
Everyone walking around like only
my shit stink. Valet parking I had
to pay for.

DARIUS
Them glass steps y'all got where if
you're on acid you think you gonna
fall thru.
PAPER BOI
Surprised you aint charge us for
the bananas and Nown Laters yall
gave out.

DARIUS
(standing)
You could keep the 'Swash, but be
careful with that Lean.
PAPER BOI
Matter fact...
He snatches up the Activus, still 3/4 full.
DARIUS
Peace nickels!

Paper Boi stalks out the office. Darius follows.

DARIUS (CONTD)
(over his shoulder)
WHOS COMING WITH ME???
PAPER BOI
They don't know Jerry Maguire. Fake
ass Agents.

EXT. GLENWOOD APARTMENTS - LATER

Earn sits on the front porch of a modest house, waiting for
Paper Boi aka his cousin Alfred. He watches another Snap:
Paper Boi at the wing spot, complaining about his wings.

PAPER BOI (IN SNAP)

See how they do us with these
vulture wings? This some KONY 2017,
shit look like a damn talon.
On cue, Alfred pulls up to the crib. Even his car looks mad.
 23.

ALFRED
Sup cuz.
DARIUS
Sup Money Earn.
The door slams behind them. Earn picks up his backpack and
follows.

EXT. GLENWOOD APARTMENTS - LATER

Alfred plays Call of Duty, sitting on the couch, in the
middle of the lawn. The TV is on a milk crate on the grass.
Earn sits next to him, pursing his lips. Darius just kinda
drifts, looking at the sky.
ALFRED
Saw your snaps.
EARN
Saw yours too.
ALFRED
You had a couple good ones. Yo, you
saw when they tossed Darius? Thats
gotta be on the show.
Earn ignores them. They don't notice.

DARIUS
We shooting Planet Earth for
rappers. Gonna call it Planet
Earfs.
ALFRED
D decided to drop acid and go to
the meeting and shit... Long story.
Al puts down the controller.
ALFRED (CONTD)
What's on your mind Earn?
EARN
Nothing.
ALFRED
You're mad about the meeting I had
with the Agents.
 24.

EARN
(feigning surprise)
What? The one you Snapped all day?
Why would I be mad about that?
ALFRED
They DMd me, I showed up. What you
want me to do?
EARN
You need to tell me about shit like
that so we can discuss it.
ALFRED
What was there to discuss?

EARN
Our strategy, you know? Our plan?
ALFRED
My nigga you ain't had a plan
since... You know what I need? A
record deal. I'm pretty sure that's
what managers do. You get us a
record deal and don't be worried
about this other shit.
EARN
You needed me in that meeting
today.
ALFRED
Earn, no disrespect, but I need you
to stop talking about this.
EARN
What happened to playing both
sides, the silent wild card?

Alfred's not following.

EARN (CONTD)
Me playing the bad guy so that
you...
ALFRED
Nigga, I am the bad guy. You just
my cousin Earn that sleeps on my
couch.
DARIUS
Cousin Earn do have a point,
though.
(MORE)
 25.
DARIUS (CONTD)
For negotiation purposes it would
behoove you to have someone acting
on behalf of your interests, such
as they might be.
EARN
And I realize Im still technically
on your couch, so you might not be
ready to hear this coming from me,
but they played you Al.
ALFRED
Nah. It was... It was cool. We gon'
work. Meetings. Circling wagons...
other idioms of that nature.
EARN
Let me break this down for you.
They called you in, right? And then
they just looked at you confused,
like maybe you asked for the
meeting instead of the other way
around. Sold you a dream and then
told you to come back when you
woke...
ALFRED
Nah, that ain't really how it went
down though.
DARIUS
(to Alfred, tripping)
I didnt tell him any of that. I
mean, I dont think I did. Not with
my mouth anyway. Or with these
hands...
ALFRED
You need to stop expanding your
mind bruh. You be saying some
outlandish shit.
EARN
You got beasted Al.
ALFRED
Definitely not.
EARN
They wanted you to come in, right.
See what you smell like. If you
scared them enough to sign you.
 26.

ALFRED
And if I did?
EARN
You didn't. How can you not see
this? This is what they do.
ALFRED
So this is what they do? I been
trying to figure that out actually.
EARN
Let me guess. You show up on time?
ALFRED
(hits blunt)
Fa sho.
EARN
Pitch ideas and ask how y'all could
work?
ALFRED
That too.
EARN
Yeah. You got ate.
ALFRED
It was - what did they say? An
informational. I didn't know I was
supposed to go in and act all Art
of War and shit.
EARN
Look, I get it. "Earn can't get
Kid's Meals at McDonalds, how the
fuck is he gonna help me?" I get
it. I'm not... I've never been good
at doing things for myself. I'm
not... I'm fucking great at making
things happen for other people
though. Im not fucking around Al.
Im about getting you your paper.
So I can get my paper. So my
daughter can eat. So I can walk
with respect. So I am about that
paper, boi. I have to be. I got no
choice.
Alfred gives him a pound, with a look bordering on impressed.
ALFRED
I ain't mad at you.
 27.

EARN
You could sign with these agents,
but to them you're a small fry in a
food court. To me you're the whole
kid's meal. I eat when you do.
You're the plate of wings...
ALFRED
(cracking up)
Ah man, you saw my Snap? Stringy
ass condor wings and shit. Aight
Earn, you win. Ill tell you about
the DMs. You can even have my
password - nah you dont want that.
But I need you to bring in this
paper.
EARN
You already know.
Earn rummages through his bag.
DARIUS
I liked that analogy about the
fries and shit. Then I saw fries
come out your eyes like tears.

INT. BOUGIE FUSION RESTAURANT - LATER

Van surveys the scene. Plates of cheese and grapes. Fig jam.
Champagne. Men with smiles she cant stand, talking to overly
enthusiastic women.
She spots her NBA-player-fan JAYDE chatting up the tallest
man in the room, and Kyle talking to URSULA, with the purple
hair. Next to them, we see Agent Rosen, staring at his phone.
Van hovers by the food, sipping a glass of wine. A short,
slightly overweight man with glasses, CALVIN stands next to
her.
CALVIN
A scene, isnt it?
VAN
It's something... Is this hummus?
CALVIN
Pt. All different kinds of Pt.
VAN
Alright. I'll be over here with 50
shades of Pt, then.
 28.

CALVIN
(chuckling)
Don't let me slow you down.
VAN
For Colored Girls Who Have
Considered a Rainbow of Pts/ When
one Hummus is Enuf
CALVIN
I'm Calvin.
VAN
(munching a cracker)
Van.

CALVIN
So thats what you see out here - a
rainbow of Pts?
VAN
(sizing up the crowd)
Kinda. See Jayde, right, she's like
an athlete-whisperer. Got her man,
tallest in the room. He takes her
out, couple rides on the PJ, and on
to the next. But where does that
get us?
CALVIN
Wherever the jet takes us, I
suppose.
VAN
As people, I mean.
CALVIN
Cant you just enjoy the champagne?

VAN
And that one over there, Ursula?
She got her guy too - lawyer,
family, never gonna leave his wife,
but never not gonna say he is. I
mean - its kinda sad.
CALVIN
Not always. Take Laurice. She found
a gem in the midst of this Pt.
Van watches Laurice, an engaging looking girl, talking to a
heavy-set older man.
 29.

CALVIN (CONTD)
Supreme Court Judge, family had
money before politics. Perhaps one
of the most powerful figures in the
city...
VAN
He aint here for Laurice.
The Judge appears to be checking out Jayde's baller.
CALVIN
Interesting. We seem to possess
similar talents.
VAN
Oh, this is your app-thing...
CALVIN
In a manner of speaking.
VAN
Sorry. I'm rude.

CALVIN
I thought you said you were Van?
VAN
Wow. Corny.
CALVIN
(smiling)
See, there are worse things in the
world than Pt.

INT. GLENWOOD APARTMENTS - LATER

Earn writes out a rough contract with a sharpie, narrating as
he writes.
EARN
ARTIST MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
Agreement is made and entered into
as of June 25, 2017. BY AND
BETWEEN: Alfred Miles PKA Paper Boi
(herein referred to as the
"Artist") and Earnest Marks (herein
referred to as the "Manager")...
ALFRED
Damn Earn, how you know all this?
 30.

EARN
Google.

DARIUS
You got the juice now, Earn!

EARN
(out loud) )
Agrees to not exclude Earn from
meetings...
ALFRED
We family dogg, why we gotta...?
DARIUS
(hitting blunt)
Nah, contracts is crucial.
Especially between family.

EARN
Lets make the terms 3 years. And
the compensation 20%.
ALFRED
What? Thought we said 5?
EARN
You said 5. Im saying 20.

ALFRED
10.

EARN
15 to 20 is standard. Right now Im
only managing you - means you get
100% of my attention. The lower the
rate you negotiate, the more likely
I am to search for other clients,
which means less time for you.
ALFRED
(hitting blunt)
15 sound good then. Young mogul n
shit.
DARIUS
You got the juice baby!

EARN
Why do you keep saying that like
it's a good thing...
 31.

DARIUS
Who said it's not?
EARN
Juice - the actual movie youre
referencing? Bishop dies in that
movie. And Tupac, who played
Bishop, also died in real life.
DARIUS
Its called actualization. I'm
trying to attract a drink
endorsement.
ALFRED
You'd be surprised how often stuff
like this works for him.
Earn puts down the sharpie.

EARN
How do yall even know each other?
ALFRED
(smoking blunt)
Business & Industry class. Atlanta
Tech.
EARN
Seriously?

ALFRED
What, you think you was the only
college boy, Earn?
DARIUS
He made a convincing presentation.
EARN
What was it?
ALFRED
(passing blunt)
Sell drugs.
DARIUS
(taking blunt)
I agreed with him...
 32.

INT. BOUGIE FUSION RESTAURANT - AFTER DINNER

Van and Calvin sip champagne. Jayde walks up, shaking her
head. A pair of twins in skimpy club outfits are already
hanging off of Jaydes baller.

JAYDE
This mug. I walk away for four
seconds and Sister Sister over
there just pounced on his giant
ass.
Jayde grabs a glass of champagne.
JAYDE (CONTD)
Girl, Im bout to... You met
Calvin? You would meet Calvin. This
is his whole thing. He try to set
you up with anybody?
CALVIN
In a way. I'd like to offer her a
job.
VAN
You can't afford me.
JAYDE
OK!
They cheers champagne. Kyle walks up, suave but subdued in
Calvin's presence.
VAN
Oh hey Kyle, you know Calvin,
right? Y'all really need to work on
your approach. Screening people
under false pretenses is tacky.
She drains her glass.
VAN (CONTD)
(to Kyle, a parting shot)
I was told thered be lobster.

INT. GLENWOOD APARTMENTS - CONTINUOUS

Earn continues writing up the contract. Darius has the
controller now.
EARN
So... Y'all were in class.
 33.

ALFRED
Yuh.
EARN
Studying Business and Industry...
DARIUS
I was teaching.
ALFRED
He was my favorite professor. I'd a
probably graduated if we didn't go
into business together.
EARN
(taking blunt)
Damn. I can't tell if that's real
cool or depressing as fuck.
DARIUS
Depends if you view life as linear.
It's probably both.
Earn looks at the blunt and decides against it. He passes the
blunt back to Alfred, hands them the contract, and zips up
his backpack.
EARN
(standing)
Aight, Im bout to go get this
paper. Peace yall. Look over the
contract and sign it.
ALFRED
(hitting blunt)
Aight. I'll check it out.
They watch Earn walk down the yard, backpack strapped tight.
ALFRED (CONTD)
There go my manager. I guess.

INT. GLENWOOD APARTMENTS - LATER

Darius turns over the remaining piece of paper on the table,
revealing the NDA that they signed at the Agency.
Alfred hits a blunt, spacing out.
DARIUS
You might want to look at this NDA
you signed back at the Agency.
 34.

ALFRED
You kept a copy?
DARIUS
Force of habit. Anyway, from what
it says, you already signed a
management contract today.
ALFRED
(snatching it up)
The fuck?
DARIUS
That nickel Ron Bangerz. He tryna
come up.

PB reaches for his phone.

ALFRED
I'm a call Earn.
DARIUS
Nah. Let em have this. At least for
tonight. Hell figure it out on his
own soon enough.
ALFRED
Damn. He was almost gonna win, too.