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Sinners · written by Ryan Coogler · 2025
Scene 17 of 110 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Act one
In 1932 Mississippi, gifted sharecropper-bluesman Sammie Moore wants to make a life in the blues beyond his preacher father's rules, but the opening night of his cousins' juke joint becomes a siege by a vampire offering the community belonging at the price of its freedom.
The legend and prologue frame Sammie's segregated Delta life under his father's church and the twins' shadow.
Jedidiah makes Sammie rehearse church music and a sermon, warning that the blues will bring the devil home.
Smoke and Stack collect Sammie outside the church while Jedidiah watches his son leave with wounded pride.
In the sedan, the twins puncture Sammie's dream of northern freedom by describing Chicago's racism in another form.
This scene
Smoke pulls the car off the side of the road towards a large pile of foliage covering something. He parks and the three exit.
The Twins start pulling at the foliage exposing a LARGE TRUCK, it’s covered bed filled with supplies.
Sammie gazes at the truck, doing his best not to ask questions. He goes in to help remove foliage when something is revealed. A grating CH-CH-CH-CH-CH sound!
Sammie jumps bac k. It’s a TIMBER RATTLESNAKE coiled on the truck bed, its tail vibrating loudly.
SMOKE
Don’t move.
Sammie stands frozen within the snakes reach, in between Stack, who pulls a LARGE KNIFE and tosses it to Smoke, who catches it and brings the blade down on the snake’s head, killing it instantly.
Sammie stands there ashen. Smoke wipes the blade and hands it back to Stack.
SMOKE (CONT’D)
Leave the truck to us.
The twins re- fold the tarp to cover the back of the truck to make it operable while hiding the supplies.
Smoke tosses Stack the keys. Checks his watch.
SMOKE (CONT’D)
Cracka showing up late already got
us behind schedule. I’m thinking
we set up for the night... open
next weekend.
STACK
Nah fuck that. We gotta do it
tonight! Grand opening. Start wit
a bang.
SMOKE
Or we start wit a misfire. Come
stumbling out the gate with a half
cocked party. Still be setting up
when folks come in.
Stack makes a face .
STACK
How hard can it be? We got all
damn day. We done more wit less
lead time. Look at the sky. This a
mighty fine cotton picking day.
Think about all that money gettin’
spent tonight that should be spent
wit us.
Smoke looks at his watch again. He does the math out loud.
SMOKE
Only way for us to have a chance
is if we split up.
Stack smiles at this idea.
SMOKE (CONT’D)
But who gon' watch the car while I
talk to the Chows?
STACK
Let em see it’s you.
SMOKE
We been gone a long time.
STACK
Seven years ain’t long enough to
forget about us.
SMOKE
Alright.
(to Sammie)
Make sure this fool don’t get into
no trouble.
STACK
(to Sammie)
Shit you might be big enough now
to take me!
SAMMIE
I’ll do what I can.
SMOKE
You’ll do what you’re told. Keep
your eyes open for anybody stari ng
too long. This nigga ain't no good
at watching his own back.
Stack tosses Smoke his car key. Smoke returns the favor. Before leaving, Stack pulls an unmarked bottle out of the cargo car.
Sammie observes as the Twins do a parting ritual, One checks the others’ handgun and knife. And they hug.
The twins walk towards their respective vehicles. Sammie follows Stack, and they load into CAR 1.
Smoke loads into the truck and both cars pull off and go opposite ways down the road.