Fading Nights
Genre: Crime/Drama
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writer: Jimmy Ellis
Cast: Donald Glover, Idris Elba, Daveed Diggs, Hannah John-Kamen, Joe Cole, Rupert Friend, Willem Dafoe
Plot: Malcolm King (Donald Glover) stands at the gates of prison. He walks out disappointed that nobody is there to pick him up. Ever since he was locked up, his girlfriend Paris and the rest of his family lost contact. He breathes heavily and walks.
With the hood now over his head he arrives in a nice, small neighbourhood. He approaches the door and while looking down knocks. The door is answered by a young beautiful woman, Paris (Hannah John Kamen). Malcolm lifts his head and Paris is disgusted. She tells him she wants nothing to do with him, she broke his heart, he said he wouldn’t associate with his brother and uncle anymore. He pleads with her apologising. He wants to make things right; he promises he won’t get back with them. He loves her and can’t think of life without her. She looks in his eyes, the love evident. However, with that love is also pain, tears rush down her face as Malcolm comforts her, saying it will be different this time.
Boots King (Idris Elba) sits in a luxury apartment, drinking whiskey. Sitting opposite him is a young man. Boots stares daggers at the young man and tells him calmly that if this debt is not settled he will have to do more next time. The young man sobs as he places his hand on the table. Boots stands from his seat and grabs something from the nearby drawer. Boots swings back and hits the young man’s hand with a hammer, screams fill the air. Boots whispers to the young man to not cross him again.
Jay “Wiz” King (Daveed Diggs) sits in a run-down basement. Next to him is a line of cocaine with a joint sitting nearby also. He snorts the cocaine before taking a hit of the joint, he sits back as he watches the television.
6 Months Later: Paris and Malcolm sit at a table as they talk about their financial situation. Paris tells Malcolm he needs to find a job, he assures her he is trying but nowhere will hire a former prisoner, he has tried. Malcolm stands and shoves all the paperwork to the ground before sitting again. Paris walks behind him and places hands on his shoulders, telling him things will work out eventually, they just need to wait a little longer. Paris kisses him and says she is going to have a shower. He kisses her again and sits back on the lounge.
While Paris is in the shower Malcolm gets a phone call. He answers and on the other side is his uncle Boots. Before Boots can say anything, Malcolm says he isn’t doing anymore jobs for him, the last one he did got him locked up, Malcolm hangs up.
Boots stares into the distance shocked, then slams his desk in anger. He calms himself then picks up the phone again, ringing Malcolm. He calmly tells Malcolm to listen closely, and asks if he has forgotten the little debt he owes him. Malcolm sparks up, what does he mean debt, he just spent 2 years in prison for Boots. Boots simply says a debts a debt, and this job could earn him a million dollars, and it should be like stealing candy from a baby. Malcolm looks around making sure Paris is still in the shower. Swearing, Malcolm says he will do it as long as Wiz doesn’t get involved. Boots says he would never think of having him involved, he tells him to be at his apartment by 8pm, he hangs up. Malcolm sits on the lounge, swearing. Paris comes out of the shower, sensing somethings different she asks him what’s wrong. He tells her he has some news, he has a job opportunity tonight, he just has to have a meeting first. She kisses him, saying that this might be what they need to turn their life around.
Malcolm walks the streets until he arrives at the apartment complex. He buzzes into Boots’ apartment and walks the stairs.
As he enters he is angry at the sight of his brother Wiz, high as a kite. Malcolm looks at Boots and berates him, asking why he would bring Wiz in after what happened last time. Boots looks at him and simply says they need him, and to be quite honest Wiz needs the money too. Malcolm tells him he probably just wants to buy some more drugs. Wiz sitting there just stares at Malcolm. Malcolm tells Boots to just get on with the job.
Boots explains the job to them, it’s a simple one, a wealthy socialite and artist, Francis St John is coming to town to unveil his latest painting “Fading Nights”. Boots explains that he already has a deal set up for the painting that will earn them each a million dollars each and lord knows they need it. Boots says the job will go down in tomorrow night, they will meet at the gym and go from there. Malcolm makes it clear this is the last job, he is only doing it because of the debt. Boots nods and shakes his hand. As Malcolm goes to leave, Wiz tries to hug his brother, Malcolm tells him to fuck off before storming out the door.
Malcolm arrives home, Paris asks how the interview went and he says he got the job, he starts tomorrow. The two kiss and have sex to celebrate.
Detective Pierce Keen (Joe Cole) receives a phone call, the caller says he knows of a backstreet deal going down in tomorrow night. Pierce perks up. He writes down the name that the caller tells him, the camera shows the name to be “Paris”.
The next morning Malcolm leaves for ‘work’ as Paris wishes him luck. He smiles and kisses her but as soon as he turns around, the smile turns to a look of determination and anger.
Malcolm arrives at the gym to an already waiting Boots, he says this will make him a rich man, Malcolm doesn’t say a word, as they wait for Wiz.
Wiz walks the streets in a happy mood, he is suddenly jumped from behind and dragged up an alleyway. Nolan Waters (Rupert Friend) kicks him multiple times. He spits on him, saying that he said he’d find him. He demands his money, saying that his little drug escapades are coming to an end. Nolan grabs a knife from his pocket, he grabs Wiz’s hand a begins cutting a finger, Wiz jerks so he punches him in the face. As Nolan is cutting one of his fingers off, Wiz tells him about the painting and how much it’s worth on the street. Nolan is intrigued and finishes cutting the finger off. He demands to know where it is and Wiz tells him, screaming, that it’s at the gala. Nolan throws the finger at him before beating him to a bloody pulp.
Detective Pierce pulls up at the house of Paris. He knocks on the door and enters. He begins to question Paris, asking where Malcolm is. She tells him of how he starts work today. He doesn’t believe her. He tells her he knows about the deal going down. She says she has no clue what he is talking about, Malcolm has not had dealings with his uncle or brother since going to prison. Pierce asks where Malcolm is working, to which she says he is working near the Met Gala tonight. He thanks her for her time before leaving.
Paris decides to call Malcolm to make sure he isn’t doing anything with his uncle and brother. He lies to her saying he is just at work and doesn’t know what the detective wanted. After he hangs up he lets Boots know that the police know of the deal. Boots tells him to stay calm, the job is still going ahead, if Wiz could hurry the fuck up.
Francis St John (Willem Dafoe) arrives at the Met Gala with the famous “Fading Nights” painting. He unveils the painting and delivers a short sharp speech about the painting, along with thanking those in attendance.
Wiz crawls along the ground to his phone, he calls Boots and with great difficulty tells him what’s happened. Boots freaks out and says they will be there soon, Wiz just tells him to take care of Malcolm and get the job done. Wiz hangs up.
Boots looks to Malcolm and tells him Wiz is a no show, they need to start the job, somebody else is going after the painting. Boots throws him a gun, Malcolm doesn’t want it but Boots tells him not to worry it’s not loaded. They put masks on and head to the Gala.
Detective Pierce drives to the Met Gala, assuring himself that he will get these guys.
Nolan Waters walks the streets smiling as he approaches the Gala doors. He enters and makes a b-line straight for the painting. He stares at it for a moment asking himself who would pay that much for this.
St John is talking with a few females when he notices Waters eyeing off the painting, he excuses himself and walks over, standing next to him. “Beautiful isn’t it he asks.” Nolan says he doesn’t care much for art but this piece is amazing. He commends the artists, who St John reveals himself to be.
St John grabs the painting off the wall, to show Nolan the true detail in the painting. Nolan smiles and looks at St John. He pulls out a gun (with a silencer) and shoots him where he stands, he thanks St John as he falls to the ground. With the painting in hand he begins walking away.
At this time Detective Pierce enters, he sees St John on the ground, and tells someone to call 911, he runs after Nolan, who has started his escape. Pierce is then obstructed by a group of people running to help St John. Nolan is seen at the back door of the building, as he is about to exit, the door is knocked down by Boots and Malcolm. Boots sees Nolan and quickly shoots, at the same time Nolan does. Nolan is shot in the throat whereas Boots is shot in the leg. Writhing in pain Boots tells Malcolm to grab the painting, the two start to make a run for it with Malcolm helping Boots stay up. Malcolm argues with his uncle about the guns being loaded. Boots just tells him they would be dead if his wasn’t loaded.
Pierce runs toward the back and sees Nolan laying dead. He looks at the open back door and runs outside. He spots Malcolm and Boots in the distance. He calls out to the two of them to stop. Boots looks to his nephew and tells him to take the painting and leave, lay low for a few days, then sell it. Malcolm doesn’t want to leave his uncle, but Boots forces him to. As Malcolm leaves, Boots turns to Pierce, at first he raises his hands, but he turns out to aim his gun at Pierce. Pierce has no other option than to shoot him dead.
As Malcolm is in the distance he hears the gunshots. Tears stream from his eyes as he enters the car.
As he drives off, he bashes the steering wheel while swearing. Suddenly blue and red lights can be seen close by, with sirens blaring. Malcolm looks to a photo of Paris and says that he is sorry. He grabs the gun next to him and puts it next to his head, he pulls the trigger.
SCREEN FADES TO BLACK
