The Charity Bin
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING - LOBBY - AFTERNOON
Lavish Christmas decorations adorn the walls. There is a huge, 10 foot Christmas tree against one wall. Beyond it is the Manager’s office and the building’s elevator. Between the elevator doors and the office door is a Charity Bin filled with donated food. RASHEED, 10 years old, and ANTWAN, 8 years old, crouch at the corner of a wall. Every so often Antwan peeks around the corner at the Manager’s office to see if the coast is clear.
RASHEED
They still there? They looking this way?
ANTWAN
Yeah, man. They’re still there. Door is open, too.
RASHEED
Gawd, I wish they’d leave. I’m starving.
Rasheed peeks around the corner as his stomach gives off a loud growl. His eyes linger on the Charity Bin.
ANTWAN
(laughing)
Was that your belly?
RASHEED
(embarrassed)
It’s not funny. I’m hungry and all that food’s sitting right there and we can’t get any of it ‘cause they won’t leave.
They sit against the wall.
ANTWAN
How ‘bout I distract them? Then you can grab some.
RASHEED
What would you do?
ANTWAN
I don’t know. Pretend I’m hurt? Or sick? That stuff always works on TV.
RASHEED
Don’t be stupid. This ain’t TV.
ANTWAN
Don’t know, then. We can wait for Ma. Maybe she’ll have some food.
RASHEED
She hasn’t brought anything home for a while. What makes you think she’ll bring something home today?
ANTWAN
Then what do you want to do?
RASHEED
(exasperated)
Why don’t they leave? Sheesh, don’t they have an apartment to show or something?
Both of their stomachs growl loudly. Antwan peeks around the corner again.
ANTWAN
I know! We could go upstairs and ride the elevator down. When the doors open we can run out and grab some stuff and jump back in. They won’t see us cause the open door blocks their view and Lydia just closed the blinds.
RASHEED
That sounds like a plan.
They stand up and run to the stairs.
STAIRS
The stairwell is plain but well lit. The boys run up the stairs to the next floor.
SECOND FLOOR LOBBY
The lavish Christmas decorations continue here. The only thing that’s missing is a Christmas tree. The boys run through the area to the elevator. Rasheed reaches it first and pushes the down button multiple times. A moment later the doors open and they enter it.
ELEVATOR
The elevator walls are painted in a faux marble texture. The floor is a laminate that looks like wood. Antwan pushes the button for the first floor and the doors close. They stand close to the doors and when they open they exit quickly.
LOBBY
Rasheed and Antwan run to the Charity Bin and start grabbing random items from it. Their arms are almost full when the apartment manager, MRS. DOOLEY, exits the office.
MRS. DOOLEY
Hey! What are you boys doing?
Rasheed and Antwan startle and look around. They see Mrs. Dooley and bolt towards the elevator. Antwan pushes the up button multiple times as Mrs. Dooley walks towards them.
MRS. DOOLEY (CONT’D)
What are you doing? Put that food back right now!
RASHEED
It’s taking too long! Come on!
Rasheed and Antwan run to the stairs and quickly disappear up them, food spilling from their arms along the way. LYDIA exits the office to see what is causing the commotion. She is carrying a clipboard and pen. She finds Mrs. Dooley picking up the dropped food.
LYDIA
Good lord, what’s all the noise? And why is there food all over the floor?
MRS. DOOLEY
The Johnson boys ran off with some of the donated food.
LYDIA
(consulting her clipboard)
You know, their mother hasn’t paid this month’s rent yet. I called but didn’t get an answer. So, I left another message on her voice mail.
Lydia tucks the clipboard under her arm and helps Mrs. Dooley pick up the food and put it back in the Charity Bin.
MRS. DOOLEY
I know. I’ve called, left voice mail messages, and a notice on the apartment door. I spoke to her last month when she brought the rent down. She said she’s having some financial issues. I hope those issues haven’t gotten worse.
LYDIA
If the boys are snatching donated food I’m guessing her money issues haven’t cleared up. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw her bringing home groceries. Are you going to tell her?
MRS. DOOLEY
(sighs)
No. There’s no point. I’m sure they’ve eaten most of what they took by now. I do think it’s time we removed further temptation. Could you get some bags to pack this food in. We’ll deliver it tonight after closing.
LYDIA
Sure!
Lydia disappears into the office. She returns a moment later without the clipboard and pen and with some paper bags. She helps Mrs. Dooley pack the food from the Charity Bin in them.
LYDIA (CONT’D)
You know, you never did tell me who’s getting this food. Are we taking it to the local food pantry?
MRS. DOOLEY
Nope. We have a needy family right here in our complex so I’ve decided it should go to them.
LYDIA
That’s a wonderful idea! I like the idea of our complex taking care of our own. So, who’s the lucky family?
MRS. DOOLEY
(Smiling)
The Johnson’s.
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