Sinners · written by Ryan Coogler · 2025

The teenager spots thieves at the truck, and Smoke shoots one and cripples the other to make a point.

Scene 21 of 110 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act one

Thief
Smoke
Teenager
Second Thief

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 23 min into a 2:07 film

The story so farBefore scene 21

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 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
Smoke orders food and supplies from Bo Chow for the juke joint's opening-night crowd.
Scene 21
This scene

21EXT. DELTA GROCERY STORE - DAY

Smoke trots over to his car where the TEENAGER is leaning on the horn as TWO THIEVES are digging around in the trunk attempting to make off with one of the crates.

Smoke produces a Colt 1911 Pistol from his waistband and BLAM, he shoots one of the Thieves in the ass cheek.

THIEF

Ahhh shit!

Smoke takes aim at the other thief who starts to run.

SMOKE

Hold on. Wherever you think you

going, I bet this b ullet beat you

there.

The running thief stops.

Ass Cheek Thief spins around towards Smoke.

THIEF

You shot me you mutha-- Smoke? Is

that you?

SMOKE

Terry? How you been boy?

THIEF

I was doin better before you shot

me in the ass!

SMOKE

Why the hell was you trying to

boost from my truck?

THIEF

I didn’t know it was yours.

The Teenager leans out of the car.

TEENAGER

Bullshit, I told you it was his!

THIEF

I thou ght she was lyin’! Ya’ll

supposed to be in Chicago workin’

for Capone.

SMOKE

Well we back now...

Smoke looks around and thinks. He looks at the second thief who is frozen in fear.

SMOKE (CONT’D)

Who is he?

THIEF

Just some nigga I met last week.

SMOKE

Where’s he from?

THIEF

Maybell.

Smoke sucks his teeth and shoots the Second Thief in his kneecap.

SECOND THIEF

Ahh goddamn. What you do that for?