Sinners · written by Ryan Coogler · 2025

Smoke orders food and supplies from Bo Chow for the juke joint's opening-night crowd.

Scene 20 of 110 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Smoke
Lisa Chow
Bo Chow

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 22 min into a 2:07 film

The story so farBefore scene 20

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.

Scenes 1–15
The legend and prologue frame Sammie's segregated Delta life under his father's church and the twins' shadow.
Scenes 16–18
Sammie wants the freedom, recognition, and musical life he imagines beyond the plantation.
Just before
Scene 17
The trio uncovers the twins' hidden truck of supplies, kills a rattlesnake, and splits up to prepare the opening.
Scene 18
Stack tells Sammie how Smoke killed their abusive father and claims their guitar came from Charlie Patton before Sammie plays.
Scene 19
Smoke hires a teenager to watch the truck and negotiate a paid lookout job.
Scene 20
This scene

20INT. DELTA GROCERY STORE - DAY

Smoke enters to find several BLACK PATRONS inside the store shopping. He goes up to the register where a YOUNG KID is working, this is LISA CHOW (12, Chinese American).

SMOKE

Now you not Lisa, is you?

LISA CHOW

Guilty as charged.

SMOKE

Jesus time flies... your Daddy

here?

Lisa nods and walks into the back of the store for a beat, and comes out with BO CHOW (30s, Chinese American). He spots Smoke and s miles.

SMOKE (CONT’D)

Bo Chow!

BO CHOW

Look what the damn cat dragged in!

They embrace.

BO CHOW (CONT’D)

Where’s your brother?

SMOKE

He on the other side of town.

(beat)

We throwing a big event tonight.

BO CHOW

Whatcha need?

Bo pulls out a pen and note pad.

SMOKE

I need catfish for a bout 50-100

people.

BO CHOW

Mmm hmm. Frying it? Cornmeal,

lard, salt, pepper and garlic?

SMOKE

Yessir. Collards for the same

amount. Prolly do cheese, ham, and

bread for sandwiches.

He jots down furiously.

BO CHOW

This go nna cost you. Tell me,

ya’ll do good up in Chicago? I

heard about some of them casinos

up there. Did ya’ll hit big?

SMOKE

We hit. Just not in the way you

thinking.

BO CHOW

What kind of way?

HOOOOOOONK. They are cut off by the sound of Smoke’s horn.

SMOKE