EVERY SCAR AND DIMPLE
BY Malik Salaam
Theme: Set in Atlanta, Every Scar and Dimple is a romantic drama about a young artist, who seems as if his life is destined for heart break and failure. Until one night in a smoke filled jazz club, he meets a woman who loves him despite his shortcomings, and has the ability to take him to the next level- only he must first escape from the grips of his past.
Treatment:
We meet our man character, HUSSEIN FULTON as he scurries to shove his entire life in the back seat of his cousin’s small compact car. He moves frantically as he replays an argument in his head from his young firecracker of a wife, RAQUEL COOPER. She and Hussein are high school sweethearts, but after being dishonorably discharged from the Navy- after Raquel has had two of his children- Raquel is unhappy with her life-not to mention that while out at sea Hussein found a passion for writing… a passion that he now wants to pursue.
After the last box is put into the car Hussein’s cousin drives from the quite (yet foreign) community of the suburbs to the chaotic (but familiar) scenery of Atlanta’s Westside ghetto. Hussein is going to start his life over on the couch of his childhood friend, ADAM MOSELY, who he hasn’t spent any time around since high school, and Adam’s roommateKEDDY JENKINS.
Hussein has no idea what he is in store for. The first night in the house, Keddy informs Hussein that the house has to run in a certain manner, which includes all lights out by 10pm- the only sound that is allowed from that point on is “The Love Hour” with DJ Dr Love (which the two men listen to every night). And under no circumstances is there to be any marijuana (the very mention of which sends Keddy into a visible and mysterious state of paranoia).
After a week in the strange house Hussein finds the strength to return to work. His first day back is a reminder of his hate for anything that occupies his time. It starts with his manager and includes an obnoxious bartender, JAMES, who tries to bargain with Hussein in regards to a “super-dope hook up” that Hussein has on some stolen laptops. Hussein overcharges James (although James has no idea) and requires him to bring the money up-front.
After working a double shift, Hussein’s co-worker LISA offers him a ride home. She is a suburban rocker white girl type who has a secret crush on Hussein… a crush that is revealed after she treats Hussein to a few drinks and a couple of hits of cocaine to celebrate his independence from Raquel. Hussein values their friendship and lets her down easy.
As Hussein staggers onto the porch, Keddy is sits in deep contemplation. Keddy diverts the attention from himself by cracking jokes about the white girl Hussein brought to the “hood”. Hussein uses the opportunity to ask Keddy the deal with the early bedtimes, The Love Hour, and the fear of weed.
Keddy tells Hussein about his past. The story (that we see in a very comedic flashback) of how he and Adam smoked so much marijuana that they lost their minds: Adam and Keddy gathered around the caller ID trying to decipher the meaning behind the phone numbers [think “who’s on first”]. Keddy butt-naked in an apartment complex, in front of Adam’s parents, screaming behind a pair of Ray Bans that he is Jesus. Keddy strapped to a gurney.
Hussein lights the blunt as Keddy tells the story… and replies to Keddy that it just sounds like he is searching and whatever it is he is searching for he can’t run from it. He passes the blunt to Keddy… and Keddy accepts it. And the entire dynamics in the house will never be the same.
The next day at work Hussein a gorgeous young woman mesmerizes Hussein as he enters the front door. When Lisa comes to apologize to Hussein he inquires about the woman, and Lisa, although agitated by his curiosity, informs him that INGA OZARE was hired the week that he was in mourning over Raquel. Lisa displays her agitation of Hussein’s inquiry. Shortly after, James arrives with Hussein’s $400.00 for the laptop.
Later on Hussein sits in the back of the restaurant on break, eats his lunch, and scribbles in his notepad. Inga surprises him when she comes to where he is sitting and tells him that she is new in town ( she is from Iowa) and wants to know if he had every heard of a spot called The Sanctuary, a hang out for artists and alternative people. Hussein lies and says he hasn’t. Inga insists they should go- since he is off the following day. Inga has done her homework, and Hussein agrees. He is intrigued.
The next night Inga arrives late- she looks stunning, and although Hussein tries to remain inconspicuous as they enter the night club, he is well known. Inga is not upset about his lie- rather it feeds her intrigue. After the show, Inga invites Hussein back to her apartment…
The night with Inga- which turns in to a month long romance- lights a fire in Hussein that he hasn’t felt in a long time. He decides to take the money that he has gotten from James and buy a quarter-pound of weed and, at the very least, gain some of his freedom back.
And then all of a sudden Inga stops coming home- to her own apartment. Unbeknownst, to Hussein, Raquel has called to the restaurant and told his girlfriend that she was his wife. Hussein only feels the weight of another failed relationship. He decides to move back to his spot on the couch.
Then one night, as Hussein sits in the back of The Sanctuary, KEISHA “CHARISMA” JOHNSON spits a poem that seems like it is speaking directly to his soul. After several failed attempts Hussein wins Keisha’s heart. She is different from any relationship that he has ever had- and proves it- when Raquel tracks Hussein down at Keisha’s house and dumps their children on Keisha’s front lawn. After Hussein opens up about his feelings of inadequacy,Keisha shares with Hussein her secret surrounding her inability to produce children. And convinces Hussein that he and the kids should move in with her.
For months Keisha supports Hussein and his children without, so much, as a visit from Raquel. Keisha keeps quiet about her frustration. Until one night when Raquel cancels on picking up the kids just as Keisha gets ready for a well-deserved night on the town… and she no longer holds her tongue. Instead of supporting the one woman who has supported him, Hussein blows up. He treats her like she hasn’t been by his side and even goes as far as saying, “Goddidn’t give you any kids!” Keisha reacts violently. She kicks Hussein out. Hussein calls Raquel and she comes and gets the kids right away “since he was back on somebody’s couch”.
The next morning, Hussein sits on the porch at the shotgun house… his belongings stuffed into two garbage bags. Keddy arrives and stares in confusion. Keddy rolls a blunt and asks Hussein where has he been all night. Hussein tells him how he rode the train and bumped into Inga.
Flashback. Hussein and Inga sit in a breakfast dive and share coffee. It is the first time they have seen one another since Hussein left Inga’s house. Inga tells him how he owes Keisha more… how he owes himself more. End of flashback. Keddy passes the blunt to Hussein and recalls the first time he met Hussein. And how he thought then that Hussein was crazy with all his talk of freedom. But that the freedom that he is searching for is inside of him.
Later that night Hussein leaves several emotional, intoxicated messages on Keisha’s answering service. During these messages we see Keisha as she listens to them…she shakes in pain. Hussein pours out his heart. And as he tells her of how she has changed him in ways the he would never be able to thank her, we see Hussein as he goes to the court house to file for divorce.
A month later Hussein is on stage, he tells a story about how he had love and lost it… but has found love for himself in the process. Hussein performs a poem that reflects his story.
When he gets off of the stage, Hussein is so full of emotions that he rushes outside pass the audience to the patio. Hussein stares at the skyline… And then he hears Keisha’s voice. It is a voice of forgiveness. She loves him and he has found what he has been searching for.
The End.