Open scene: Our young man emerges from the local general store and is confronted by a woman and her teenage son. Claiming to be victims of Hurricane Katrina, they are in desperate need of $15 to buy a tire to get to Houston. The tire costs $65, they only need $15. Not having cash on hand, he wishes her well, yet says he can't help. He is moved with compassion, yet wary of her, having heard of similar circumstances leading to getting got. Falling for a scam. She persuades him, begging that he use his plastic to get only $15. Two days later, he is called by his brother, who works at a tire shop. The call revealing that this woman has been scaming people for days and has only just scammed the young man's church and pastor. Our young man feels like a fool, angered and betrayed. Close scene.
Open scene: Many months later, in a different town in a different state, our young man is presented with a man begging outside a grocery store. The man is ruddy, dirty, and asking for money. He's been seen there before. Not wanting to throw change in his face, our young man stops, inquires of the beggar his name, and chats for a short while. Upon the close of the conversation, the young man shares what little change from his pocket. Not much. He sees the beggar a few times after that, dirty and asking for money outside the grocery store. One night, weeks later, upon parking his car blocks away from his apartment, our young man spies the beggar. What is seen is not a dirty man asking for money, but a man in a nice, expensive looking Nike sweatsuit, complimented by expensive looking sneakers. The clean beggar is strolling along, singing to himself. Or is he just talking? Again, the man turns away disheartened, having gotten got. Close scene.
Open scene: A few months later, after having lived in this new town for a while, our young man is confronted by beggars almost on a daily basis. His heart goes out to them, yet he knows not who needs help and who is scamming. On top of that, he is not a man of the means and knows he cannot give to each beggar that confronts him. While replacing his windshield wipers, a woman approaches. Early thirties, dark dark skin, slightly overweight she calls out to him as she comes near. She is obviously distressed, sweating, holding out her drivers license she says she is in town from Tennessee. She has followed a man far from Tennessee, and he has beaten her. Her name is Merribelle. If only she can get to Friday, she says, she will be on a bus back home. She is hungry, looking for a meal, not money, and she is 4 months pregnant. Walking to a nearby grocery store, the beggar's grocery store, our young man proceeds to buy her a sandwich, some fruit, and a Sprite, all with his plastic. He gives her the food wishing her well, she thanks him, God blesses are exchanged, and he is back to his wipers. Warm feeling, help having been given. Close scene.
Open scene: Two weeks later, our young man finds himself in that very same grocery, buying odds and ends. From his right he hears a laugh. Instinctively he turns to the direction from which it came. Merribelle stands before him, casually hanging out with those who appear to be friends. No distress, no apparent hunger or weariness, and not in Tennessee. She is casual, enjoying herself and her friends. Our young man realizes that once again, he has gotten got. Close scene.
