Why not dramatize heroin recovery steps rather than lament the crisis? Hide recovery answers under turning points in the story. The presentation must show both action and answers. Start with action:

Angela West, a school teacher, and tae kwon do black belt, attends her first cocaine party. Borrowing from an actual case history we discover her perils:

Angela exits the ladies’ room into the — HALL

She follows the voice to the — LIBRARY

Through only candlelight she sees guests lining the perimeter, and O’Brien right at the door.

She enters, smiles and takes his arm.  Only then does SHE SEE

Escorts at room’s center, at attention around a table resembling an altar. Witherspoon face-up is gagged and is pinned down by his bearers.

Rodriguez sits in a large chair, much like a throne. He nods to one of the servants.

The servant passes a sword to Ryker.

Ryker lifts the sword over his head and thrusts it into Witherspoon’s heart.

Angela GASPS and dashes from the room. O’Brien motions for a servant to follow her.

BATHROOM – NIGHT

Angela hyperventilates. Her eyes dart to the window. She raises it, hears urgent footsteps approaching and positions herself behind the door.

The footsteps stop. Angela yanks open the door startling her pursuer. He stumbles in, bolts forward, and BANGS his head on the open window frame.

She rabbit-punches him in the neck. As he slumps forward she spins him toward the open window and, in see-saw fashion, rolls him through.

She rams the clothes hamper in front of the open door as

Mark O’Brien, gun drawn, races in, somersaults over the hamper and slams his head on the marble floor.

His gun flies free. Angela grabs it as O’Brien stands.

She gestures with the gun to back up toward the shower curtain and then shoves him. Swallowed into the oversized billows, O’Brien flails in confusion.

The curtain rod bounces. Ping, ping, ping go the sprockets as their uninvited guest thrashes blindly.

Angela locks the door, then squeezes halfway through the window. She gasps as she peers down two stories that overlook the lawn bathed in outdoor lights.

EXT. RODRIGUEZ MANSION – NIGHT

Angela steels herself to walk a narrow ledge with a lifeline of an overhanging oak.

She hand-walks the largest limb to the trunk. Darkness conceals her as she looks down 25 feet.

SHE SEES

Frantic men with flashlights and guns circle angrily below. No one looks up.

ON ANGELA

She looks at her watch. It’s midnight.

EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT

A policeman checks his watch: 2 a.m.

Angela starts to descend. Then, crack! The limb gives way and she lands with a loud thud. She rubs her ankle, stands, and stumbles into the black forest

INT./EXT. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH – DAY

Angela, head bandaged, and Mrs. West, eyes swollen and red, enter the rear door. Mrs. West kneels in the pews.

INT. CONFESSIONAL – DAY

Father Max opens the window, making the sign of the cross. Angela, hands shaking, weeps into a handkerchief.

FATHER MAX

How long since your last confession?

She removes the handkerchief, but her tears continue to stream.

FATHER MAX (CONT’D)

Is it drugs?

ANGELA

(sobbing)

I owe —

FATHER MAX

Paying for drugs is an immoral contract.

ANGELA

Tell that to them.

FATHER MAX

I can get you into rehab.

Angela wails.

ANGELA

It won’t help. They’ll find me. I saw them murder someone.

#############################

As the action slows we can start showing recovery answers

Parole Agent Phil McGuire, eight years sober, chairs the largest Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Baltimore City. He just abruptly terminated a blossoming romantic relationship with Angela West. Angela, an attractive elementary school teacher, has only brief experiences of recovery principles.  She does not understand why Phil ended things and is very angry about it. She would like to write Phil McGuire out of her life forever, but she must join him for a mutually agreed upon meeting with police. Woven into this scene are shame, unforgiveness, and some important information.

 

EXT. RESTAURANT PARKING LOT – NIGHT

Angela and McGuire exit their cars at the same time but they ignore each other as they head toward the entrance.

INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Angela, McGuire, and Sergeant Wynant shake hands and are seated at the table. McGuire is aware that Angela slides her chair as far as possible from him. The WAITRESS approaches.

WAITRESS
(to Angela)
Would you like a drink?

ANGELA (V.O.)

I haven’t had one in 38 days, but yes, I’d like a drink.
McGuire winces.

ANGELA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Ice Water, please.

McGuire smiles.

BACK TO SCENE

WAITRESS
And you, sir?

MCGUIRE
Ice Water,… that’s perfect!

WAITRESS
(to Wynant) And you, sir?

WYNANT

Gimme a beeee… Uh, I mean ice water. No ice.

WYNANT (CONT’D)
Am I missing something?

MCGUIRE
Recovering addicts don’t use alcohol.

Wynant points to McGuire. McGuire nods.

WYNANT
Good to know. Now, Angela, that killing in the mansion. Witherspoon. Did you know that man?

She shakes her head.

WYNANT ( CONT’D)

I didn’t think so. These guys bring heroin overland from Mexico and cocaine by ship from Colombia. They’re using bizarre methods to scare off or kill competition. The guy killed at the mansion was livin’ on breadcrumbs at his parents’ house.

He borrowed their car. When it wasn’t returned the parents used their OnStar tracking device. We found the car but no body.

Wynant hands them a picture.

WYNANT (CONT’D)
What about him.

ANGELA
Billy Francisco! He gave us the video.

WYNANT
He was found behind a laundramat with a bullet in the back of his head.

EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Indistinct conversation between McGuire, Angela, and Wynant. A big grin from Wynant as they shake hands.

WYNANT
So, you’re staying in a convent… Now that’s pretty darned creative. Just make sure you stay there.

Wynant heads toward his car. Without looking at McGuire, Angela does likewise. McGuire catches up to her, but she keeps walking.

McGuire

I had thirty-eight days clean once.

 

 

Copyright © 2020 by Timothy A. McCarthy with Julie Sawyer. All rights reserved.

 

Explanation

  • Recovery Principle One: In the scene above: Early recovery romance often torpedoes the lives of those beginning the process. It can take a year to clarify the habits, friends, and attitudes that make recovery successful. No one should be looking for romance while they still learn the rules. Statistics from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore advise that those with eight years sober, like Phil McGuire, remain sober at the level of 90%. However, in the first year of recovery success is only 50%. McGuire is clearly attracted to Angela but knows that for her own good she isn’t ready for romance now. The anger above presents no problem unless it hardens into unforgiveness.
  • Recovery Principle Two: Opioid addiction affects exactly the same neurotransmitters in the brain that often lead to alcoholism. Angela has been told that she must avoid alcohol permanently, but she probably doesn’t understand why. The progression normally starts with a new addiction to alcohol eventually leading back to heroin, her drug of choice. Hence, McGuire has reason to be happy when Angela opts for ice water.
  • Recovery Principle Three: Find a Trusted Counselor. Back Story: Angela ,now in rehab, explains how a committed school teacher got addicted to heroin and cocaine.
    OUTSIDE/INSIDE – ROOM 406 – DAY
    Father Max unlocks the rehab door and enters.
    Angela, head in hands, sits in a chair, shaking. Consoling, he puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.
    ANGELA
    I thought I was getting better.
    FATHER MAX
    It will happen. But they tell me you
    won’t talk to anyone. Will you let
    me in? Can you tell me what happened?
    He takes a seat on the bed and motions for her to sit beside him.
    ANGELA
    Letting someone in is why I’m here. (gallows laugh)
    Did you know I used to be a teacher?
    Father Max shakes his head.
    ANGELA (CONT’D)
    Fifth grade. Loved the kids, the school, even the principal. Lost it all because —
    (bitter)
    I let someone in.
    FATHER MAX
    Who was that?
    She smiles ruefully.
    ANGELA
    Met him at church.
    FLASHBACK:
    EXT. ESSEX SKY PARK – DAY
    DAVE, ruggedly handsome, smiles at Angela as he assists her into his Piper Cub.
    OVER CHESAPEAKE BAY – DAY
    The Piper Cub flies above the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
    EXT. SMALL AIRFIELD – DAY
    Dave lands the plane in a small airfield with Terry’s Malt Shop in view.
    INT. TERRY’S MALT SHOP – DAY
    At a long counter, visitors shop for souvenirs.
    Angela and Dave sit on the same side of a private booth with a large picture window that faces the bay. Sailboats bob gently in the summer breeze. They hold hands and share a chocolate shake with two straws.
    ANGELA (V.O.)
    One milk-shake, five dollars. Round trip over the Chesapeake Bay-priceless.
    FATHER MAX (V.O.)
    Expensive way to impress somebody.
    ANGELA (V.O.)
    I was already impressed. Dave was handsome. I loved flying in his plane that is until I learned he wasn’t just using it for milk-shake runs.
    EXT. LANDING STRIP ON CORNFIELD – DAY
    Dave’s plane glides to a short airstrip at the edge of a cornfield. Cars approach from three directions and packages pass from Dave to three other men who each hand Dave a fat envelope. Dave returns to the plane and takes off.
    BACK TO SCENE
    ANGELA
    And stupid weak me, I loved him even when he started me using heroin. I stayed with him much too long. I should have dumped him. Now he’s gone but my habit’s not.
  • Recovery Principle Four: Never Trust the Drug Culture.
  • Recovery Principle Five: Know how to recognize the HALT PRINCIPLE.
  • Recovery Principle Six: If Rehab Fails, Enter Detox Treatment Quickly,
  • Recovery Principle Seven: The 12 Step Fellowship Builds Lasting Bridges to Recovery,
  • Recovery Principle Eight: Learn to Replace Drug Highs with Natural Highs
    • Examples: practicing your jump shot, playing the guitar, going jogging, learning how to paint landscapes, taking a ride in the country, eating chocolate, reading biographies or watching television comedies or detective stories, listening to your styles of music.

For opening sequence visit http://takinbackthestreets.com

Worthywarden7@gmail.com   *   443-610-7584

Timothy A. McCarthy, Certified Drug Counselor, Retired

Retired Senior Probation Agent

Author: Unhooking the Hooked Generation (1987)

Author: TAKIN’ BACK THE STREETS                (2020)