The Takers Part 2 The Awakening

Nicholas Francis

Cinematic Christian Hip-Hop, Trap, Gospel Fusion

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[PREVIOUSLY ON THE TAKERS]

ERIC:
You taught me how to become a worker…

But nobody taught me
how to become an owner.

[SCENE — SAM'S OFFICE]

SAM:
An owner?

[Sam chuckles under his breath.]

Eric…
You really think you're ready for that?

ERIC:
I know it's going to be hard.

SAM:
Hard?

No, son.
It's more than hard.

I tried it once.

I know exactly what it costs.

[Sam leans back.]

They say nearly half of new businesses
don't make it five years.

Some never make it past year one.

Taxes.
Payroll.
Insurance.
Regulations.
Customers.
Competition.

And then there's the part nobody tells you…

You can work sixteen hours a day
and still lose everything.

[Eric's head lowers.]

SAM:
You have a family, Eric.

Bills.

Responsibilities.

And you're talking about
walking away from a paycheck?

[Sam smiles.]

Ownership isn't easy.

But don't worry.

You'll always have a job here.

You might as well cut out the middle
where you try and fail.

Just accept the comfy little spot
you've got now.

Forget the dream.

You won't be able to afford
to start a business anyway.

Your family needs
"a stable job."

[Silence.]

ERIC:
A comfortable job?

[Sam pauses.]

ERIC:
Isn't that redundant?

[Beat.]

Because if it's so comfortable…

why does everybody look terrified
when the paycheck disappears?

[Sam's smile fades.]

ERIC:
Let's go through your facts.

You said businesses fail.

Some do.

But you forgot to mention
businesses are also born,
adapt,
change,
and survive.

You told me starting costs money.

It can.

But I don't need a storefront
on Main Street to start.

I have a phone.

I have the internet.

I have social platforms
that can put my message
in front of people
I could never reach from a cubicle.

I can learn.
I can test.
I can build.

I can start small.

I can sell a skill
before I ever build a company.

I can build an audience
before I build an office.

And I don't need
a million dollars
to prove I can create value.

[Sam shifts in his chair.]

ERIC:
You told me
my family makes entrepreneurship
too dangerous.

No, Sam.

My family is exactly why
I have to learn.

Because what's the alternative?

You?

A government?

A politician sitting in the Oval Office
deciding my family's financial value
while handing me a five-thousand-dollar
check and telling me
that's supposed to change my life?

Nah, Sam.

You can keep that path.

I'll make my own.

[Sam laughs.]

SAM:
The internet?!

What are you gonna be?

An influencer?

C'mon, Eric.

Didn't you hear me?

You have a FAMILY.

[Eric's eyes narrow.]

[Long silence.]

ERIC:
Don't you ever use my family
as an argument against my future.

You think I'm talking about
quitting tomorrow?

I'm not.

I'm talking about building tomorrow
while I'm still working today.

I'm talking about learning
before I leap.

Saving before I scale.

Building skills
before I build payroll.

Testing an idea
before I bet the rent.

You call that irresponsible?

I call that preparation.

[Sam stops smiling.]

ERIC:
You keep telling people
they're too busy.

Too broke.

Too scared.

Too responsible.

Too inexperienced.

And every time they believe you,
they stay exactly where they are.

Not because they couldn't build.

Because you convinced them
trying was more dangerous
than staying trapped.

[Beat.]

ERIC:
But here's what you don't understand.

I'm scared.

I'm supposed to be.

I'm responsible for people
besides myself.

That's exactly why
I'm going to take this seriously.

Fear doesn't get to make
my financial decisions.

Fear gets a seat in the room.

It doesn't get the keys.

[Music begins rising.]

ERIC:
You taught me to clock in.

You taught me to collect a paycheck.

You taught me to survive.

But now I'm learning
how to create.

How to solve.

How to sell.

How to serve.

How to build.

And maybe I fail.

Maybe I have to start again.

Maybe I lose money.

Maybe I lose sleep.

Maybe I get embarrassed.

But at least I'll know
I tried to build something
my children can inherit
instead of just inheriting
my fear.

[Sam stands.]

SAM:
You really think
you can beat the system?

[Eric smiles.]

ERIC:
No.

I think I can stop
depending on it.

[BEAT DROP]

ERIC:
You wanted a worker.

You woke up an owner.

[FINAL — CINEMATIC]

SAM:
Eric…

ERIC:
No, Sam.

You had your chance
to scare me.

Now watch me build.

4290/7500

[PREVIOUSLY ON THE TAKERS] ERIC: You taught me how to become a worker… But nobody taught me how to become an owner. [SCENE — SAM'S OFFICE] SAM: An owner? [Sam chuckles under his breath.] Eric… You really think you're ready for that? ERIC: I know it's going to be hard. SAM: Hard? No, son. It's more than hard. I tried it once. I know exactly what it costs. [Sam leans back.] They say nearly half of new businesses don't make it five years. Some never make it past year one. Taxes. Payroll. Insurance. Regulations. Customers. Competition. And then there's the part nobody tells you… You can work sixteen hours a day and still lose everything. [Eric's head lowers.] SAM: You have a family, Eric. Bills. Responsibilities. And you're talking about walking away from a paycheck? [Sam smiles.] Ownership isn't easy. But don't worry. You'll always have a job here. You might as well cut out the middle where you try and fail. Just accept the comfy little spot you've got now. Forget the dream. You won't be able to afford to start a business anyway. Your family needs "a stable job." [Silence.] ERIC: A comfortable job? [Sam pauses.] ERIC: Isn't that redundant? [Beat.] Because if it's so comfortable… why does everybody look terrified when the paycheck disappears? [Sam's smile fades.] ERIC: Let's go through your facts. You said businesses fail. Some do. But you forgot to mention businesses are also born, adapt, change, and survive. You told me starting costs money. It can. But I don't need a storefront on Main Street to start. I have a phone. I have the internet. I have social platforms that can put my message in front of people I could never reach from a cubicle. I can learn. I can test. I can build. I can start small. I can sell a skill before I ever build a company. I can build an audience before I build an office. And I don't need a million dollars to prove I can create value. [Sam shifts in his chair.] ERIC: You told me my family makes entrepreneurship too dangerous. No, Sam. My family is exactly why I have to learn. Because what's the alternative? You? A government? A politician sitting in the Oval Office deciding my family's financial value while handing me a five-thousand-dollar check and telling me that's supposed to change my life? Nah, Sam. You can keep that path. I'll make my own. [Sam laughs.] SAM: The internet?! What are you gonna be? An influencer? C'mon, Eric. Didn't you hear me? You have a FAMILY. [Eric's eyes narrow.] [Long silence.] ERIC: Don't you ever use my family as an argument against my future. You think I'm talking about quitting tomorrow? I'm not. I'm talking about building tomorrow while I'm still working today. I'm talking about learning before I leap. Saving before I scale. Building skills before I build payroll. Testing an idea before I bet the rent. You call that irresponsible? I call that preparation. [Sam stops smiling.] ERIC: You keep telling people they're too busy. Too broke. Too scared. Too responsible. Too inexperienced. And every time they believe you, they stay exactly where they are. Not because they couldn't build. Because you convinced them trying was more dangerous than staying trapped. [Beat.] ERIC: But here's what you don't understand. I'm scared. I'm supposed to be. I'm responsible for people besides myself. That's exactly why I'm going to take this seriously. Fear doesn't get to make my financial decisions. Fear gets a seat in the room. It doesn't get the keys. [Music begins rising.] ERIC: You taught me to clock in. You taught me to collect a paycheck. You taught me to survive. But now I'm learning how to create. How to solve. How to sell. How to serve. How to build. And maybe I fail. Maybe I have to start again. Maybe I lose money. Maybe I lose sleep. Maybe I get embarrassed. But at least I'll know I tried to build something my children can inherit instead of just inheriting my fear. [Sam stands.] SAM: You really think you can beat the system? [Eric smiles.] ERIC: No. I think I can stop depending on it. [BEAT DROP] ERIC: You wanted a worker. You woke up an owner. [FINAL — CINEMATIC] SAM: Eric… ERIC: No, Sam. You had your chance to scare me. Now watch me build.

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