For Self

"FOR SELF"1

Waking up from a deep sleep, Self staggers to the bathroom to get ready for work. As he walks down the sunlit hallway towards the kitchen, he sees his daughter playing with her oatmeal, as usual. He walks over to her, takes a spoonful, and eats it. While pulling the spoon out of his mouth, he says, "Now that's good stuff!" And he bends down and gives her a kiss. With a bright smile, Autumn begins to eat. 2

Jeremy walks over to his wife, who is fixing him a plate of bacon and eggs. He kisses her and says "good morning" as he sits down at the table. Margaret brings the plate over to him and begins to talk about their savings. With a glow on her face and an excited tone in her voice, she says "Jeremy, we have worked so hard for the past six years, I think it is time we start looking for a house. We really deserve it." 3

As she continues to talk about how much money they have saved, Self cuts her off. "I would love to sit here and talk with you about this, but I have to go to work." 4

While driving to work he looks around thinking about what his wife had said. Stopped at a traffic light, he takes notice of all the early morning change beggars. He says to himself, "I have to get my family out of here, but I am really going to miss this place." 5

While sitting at his desk at work, his phone rings. "Time to make the first sale of the day'', he says to himself as he picks up the phone. In a stern professional voice, he speaks into the phone, "Capital Insurance, Jeremy Watts speaking''. The loud noise on the other end of the phone causes him to pull the phone away from his ear. 6

On the other end of the phone, his brother Marcus is trying to talk over people yelling. "I only have two minutes, so here it is. I am at the police station and my bail is two-hundred thousand dollars. I need ten percent of that to get out. You know I'll pay you back bro." Before anymore can be said, the phone call is disconnected. Hanging up the phone Jeremy says to himself I can't keep doing this for him. 7

At that moment, Anthony Palmeri walks by. Noticing Jeremy in his office, he stops and knocks on the door. 8

"Hey. What's up? It looks like you have something on your mind?" 9

Jeremy looks at him and begins to explain the situation about his brother and the money him and his wife have saved up for a new house. 10

"What would you do?" 11

In his usual calm, collective manner, Anthony replies, "If it was my brother I would already be on my way there." 12

With that response, Jeremy stands up to get his coat. As he is putting on his coat, he looks back at Anthony and says, "Thanks. I think I just needed the confirmation. You know the wife is going to kill me." Oh, and tell the boss a family matter came up for me, thanks. 13

Frustrated after sitting at the police station for over two hours Self gets up and goes to the counter. The desk officer acknowledges him but continues to talk casually on the phone. Eventually, the desk officer hangs up. "Can I help you?" 14

"Yes. I paid Marcus Watts' bail two hours ago. When is he going to be released?" 15

The officer picks up the phone and makes a call. When he hangs up he says, "It should be soon, he is being discharged right now." 16

Sitting back down frustrated, he sees his brother coming from the back. Marcus walks up to him, elated, and gives his brother a big hug. "I love you, bro. I didn't think you were going to come through for that amount of money. I really appreciate it." 17

Walking to the car, Self asks, "What did they get you for?" 18

"Bro all I can say is too much. This time I will be going away for a while. Like ten years." 19

"You have to go to court, no matter what happens. That money I just put up came from Margaret as well as me. And you know what it was for." 20

"I got you bro. I'll get your money back." 21

Self pulls up to Marcus's house. As Marcus reaches for the door handle, Jeremy looks at hi,. "Stay out of trouble. I can't afford to come get you again." 22

With a smile of gratitude, Marcus says, "Thanks bro. You have always been there for me. Don't worry, I will get your money back as fast as I can. Tell Margaret thank you." 23

Taking a nap in the bedroom, Jeremy is woken up by a slammed door. Margaret comes into the room screaming. "Where's the money Jeremy! I went to the bank to make a deposit today and there is twenty-thousand dollars missing!" 24

Demanding to know where the money is, her face swells up with anger. 25

"Margaret! Calm down. Please just let me explain." 26

She remains standing and crosses her arms. "Go ahead. I would love to hear what you have to say." 27

Self explains to her the situation about his brother. 28

"What was all that about this morning then? I thought we were supposed to start looking for houses? We need that money to get a loan. What happens if he doesn't go to court? Then what? We are out of twenty thousand dollars! Even if he does go, we still have to wait till the case is closed to get that money." 29

"He will go, even if I have to take him myself. Hunny, I'm sorry. I know I should have talked to you about it first." 30

"We have been saving for six year to get out of here. Our daughter needs things, as do we. You walk around here with his noble street name Self Savior' but you are doing the opposite. You must learn how to save yourself before you can save others." Self just stares as if he is looking threw her. As she turns towards the door she looks back at him, "I am going to make dinner." 31

The next morning Self walks to the bathroom. Margaret is standing in front of the mirror putting on makeup, before work. She turns to him and says "I understand it is your brother but when you have a family they come first." 32

"He is my family." 33

Turning back to the mirror she looks at him through the reflection. "You just don't get it do you? 34

Jeremy pulls into his usual spot at work as a bright red BMW pulls in next to him. Anthony gets out, "What's going on?" Jeremy shakes his head and looks at him as if he was ill. Anthony walks up to him and asks "What's wrong?" 35

"You won't understand." 36

"Try me." 37

"How old are you?" 38

"I just turned twenty-three." 39

"That's why you won't understand." 40

Anthony looks at him. "You just don't know. We all go through it. I just learned early on how to handle it. I was in the military since I was eighteen. I have seen things no boy or man should ever see." 41

When Jeremy returns from lunch that afternoon, a memo in his inbox catches he eye. He picks up the memo and begins to read it. In the memo he learns the company that has been buying up smaller companies has bought the one he works for and they will begin to evaluate all employees starting with his division, first thing in the morning. 42

Anthony looks over at Jeremy and smiles. "They sure know how to make a guy feel good." 43

"Well they have been talking about it for a year now. I guess it was just a matter of time right?" 44

"Of course you don't care. You are one of the best here. I am sure they let them know who they should keep and who they shouldn't." 45

That night there is a severe thunderstorm and the power goes out in Maplewood. Jeremy wakes up and notices the clock is blinking. He picks his watch off the nightstand. In the middle of a yawn, his eyes come into focus on the time. 46

Jeremy jumps out of bed ripping the sheets of his wife. "Wake up! Wake up! The power went out and we are going to be late for work!" Telling him to calm down Margaret pulls the sheets back onto her. Speeding threw the room getting ready he tells her about the evaluation that starts today. 47

"We all know you are the best so just relax." 48

He kisses her on the cheek and says "Thanks hun." And then bolts for the door. 49

Jeremy walks into work thirty minutes late. He sees Anthony packing up his desk. "What's going on?" 50

"They let me go." Right then, Jeremy is paged to go to the conference room by his floor supervisor. 51

As he enters the conference room, he sees three men he has never seen before. "Have a seat Jeremy." 52

Skeptical he sits down. One of the men begins to speak. "We hear you do very good work and we want you to know that this is only temporary. We want you to work for us in the future, most likely at a higher salary." 53

Jeremy becomes enraged with anger. Remaining calm, he stands up and shakes the man's hand. "I understand." Then turns and walks out the door. As he closes the door to the conference room he lets out a breath. 54

Walking to his desk, Anthony walks over to him. "What happened?" 55

"They let me go." 56

"But you are one of the best." 57

"They said that too and still let me go." 58

"Let's smoke a joint." 59

"I don't smoke." 60

"Well you do today." 61

Driving around in Anthony's car Jeremy tells him about the money problem with wife. He tells Anthony about their plans to get a house, and how that is impossible without a job. 62

As they enter their former employee parking lot, Anthony tells him. "Don't worry about it. If you ever need anything, let me know. No matter what it is." Anthony drops him off at his car and pulls away. 63

Jeremy gets into his car and sits there, his eyes start to water and he lets out a flow of tears while asking himself what happened to everything he worked so hard for. 64

On the way home Jeremy sees his brother on the corner where he usually hangs out at. He watches him as he makes a drug deal. Clinching his jaw he pulls up to Marcus. Jeremy leans over and opens the door for his brother. "Get in!" 65

Marcus looks at him and gets in. Jeremy pulls off and begins to yell at him. "What do you think you are doing out there? Selling drugs with a case pending and my money on the line!" 66

"You know that's how I make my money. Why does it bother you now? Why are you even yelling at me like this out here?" 67

With his eyes watering up, Jeremy says, "I need that money back. I lost my job today and I don't know what to do. How am I suppose to take care of my family? I need a way to make money." 68

"Sorry for coming out here like this bro, but I am stressed out and I can't believe you are out here doing this shit again. Risking another arrest before the one I put up the money for is closed." 69

Looking out the passenger window Marcus jokingly says, "We could always rob a bank." Bewildered that he did not immediately shoot the idea down, Marcus looks over at Jeremy, who he is nodding his head yes. "You know I was joking." 70

The next morning, not wanting to tell his wife he lost his job, Jeremy gets ready for work as usual. After eating his breakfast, he picks up his briefcase, kisses his wife and daughter goodbye and heads out to look for a job. For the next two weeks he continued to this, without luck. 71

Around eleven that morning, after being rejected at another job interview he calls Anthony. "What are you doing?" 72

"Nothing now, I just finished working out. Do you need to talk or something?.'' 73

"Yea." Anthony gives him directions and tells him to give him a call if he gets lost. 74

Twenty minutes later, Jeremy pulls up to what looks like a mansion, with a wraparound driveway and perfectly manicured yard. When he gets to the door and rings the bell, a Hispanic lady opens the door. 75

"Is Anthony here?" 76

"Yes. Come in," she says in a strong Spanish accent. 77

As she closes the door, Anthony comes up the stairs and shakes Jeremy's hand. "How are you doing?" 78

"Good I guess. Still unemployed." 79

Anthony tilts head and turns back towards the stairs. "Come on. We can go to my room and play some games or something to get your mind off of all this stress." 80

Walking down the stairs to Anthony's bedroom in the basement, Jeremy comments on how nice his house is. "You never cared about losing your job. Look at how nice your house is you will always be okay. I would not have a care in the world if I was you. I wish I had your life. You even have a maid!" 81

"No you don't. You think money makes everything better. But it doesn't. My father is always at the office so he can pay for all this and my mother became an alcoholic because she is so lonely. The only parent I have ever had is the maid, who we call Marie. She is not a maid, she is family. Marie was taken from her family and mine is nonexistent, so we are all either one of us got. That's why I don't care. I don't want this life. People say I live the good life, but I would trade it in a second just to have a real family. Not someone who is paid to live here. Sometimes I feel like it's a trap. People want and need things so much that they have to do certain things in order to get them. It's not for everyone and the people who are scared of it or can't do it because of their own beliefs, have to settle for less. But let me tell you, I think less is better. 82

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I always thought that money was the solution to everything. I guess everyone has problems, no matter what they have or don't have." Anthony replies People who think money will make them happy better hit the lottery cause if you have to work for it you might just suffer instead''. 83

Jeremy looks at him slyly. "Do you want to make enough money for a fresh new start and not have to worry?" 84

Enthusiastically Anthony responds "Hell yea! What do you have in mind?" 85

"I want to rob a bank." 86

Anthony laughs, "You're crazy! People never get away with that." 87

"I know. That's why I want to rob four. At the same time." 88

Anthony remains quiet for a moment. "That could be a good idea." 89

They sat in his room for hours mapping out the whole plan. 90

"Let me tell you something, when I was a Marine I was in demolition. In other words, I blew things up. "You said the plan is for Madison and that town can only have about twelve cop cars. That's why a small town like this is so great. I got this idea where I can set explosives on the car axles. I can get to the cars a couple at a time." 91

"I don't want kill anyone." 92

"No, no, no. Nobody is going to get killed. The explosive is just going to blow off the axles of the car. Not the whole car. I don't want to go down for killing a cop. That's crazy! I'm not making a bomb. Well I am, but not a big one. You got a family make sure you want to do this because anything can happen." 93

"I am doing this for my family. I know it is not the right way to get money, but I feel it is the only way right now." In a calm voice Anthony says when you have to eat you have to eat''. 94

As he leaves the house, Jeremy calls his brother and tells him to meet him at the park in their old neighborhood. When he shows up his brother is already waiting for him on the bench. He walks to the bench and takes a seat along side Marcus and begins to tell him the plan. 95

"So will you do it with me?" 96

Shaking his head side to side, Marcus looks at him and smiles "Of course. But this is crazy." 97

"Good. I am thinking that we are going to need about nine people to do this. I already got a friend of mine who said he is willing." 98

"I can probably come up with the other six." 99

"Make sure they are trustworthy." 100

"Of course." 101

"Bring them to our old hangout, an old ran down building in there old neighbor in three days at four p.m. 102

Three days later, Jeremy and Anthony are already there and Marcus walks in with six other guys. They all meet each other, and begin to talk about everyone's role in the robbery. There are going to be two people in every bank showing up on motorcycles, Anthony will be in an SUV to set off the explosives and to throw the bags of money in, so the money can go a different way. After that the group of two on bikes will take different routes so it is hard for the police to follow. The most important part is they only spend three minutes in the bank. They spend five weeks learning the routes, getting all their supplies, and Anthony planting the explosives on the cars. On the last day of the fifth week, they went and set up for the big day which they are going to try and execute their plan. 103

Around ten a.m. the next morning on Main Street, a four mile road in the small town of Madison where just about every business in the town is located, eight sport bikes come rolling down the main street. But the only thing on these riders have on their minds are the four out of seven banks on this road. Equipped with two-way headset radios the riders split-up in groups of two about a quarter mile down the road. 104

Jeremy radios in Anthony, parked about a half mile back on a side street. "Are you ready?" 105

"Whenever you are." He responds in his usual calm and collective tone. 106

Self radio in the riders and asks if they are all in place. Everyone answers but one. Self asking for a response gets one saying, Dude I can't do this''! I have to go. I am sorry I can't do it. Anthony comes in on radio we can't do it without him''. We need that man. Marcus comes on and says bro I can go in by myself''. Trying to tell him that is stupid. Marcus cuts Anthony off and says shut up I am doing this for my brother not you its my fault why we are here anyway. Just make sure you set off the explosives and keep the cops off us. With a moment of silence Self says bro if you think you can handle it lets do it. Just get out as planned. Marcus replies everything you plan seems to work. So lets go make this plan work. Self says on my word we go. Self gives the word and the riders all equipped with tech-nine millimeter guns walk in the bank with their bike helmets on. 107

At the police department in this small town the Captain is sitting in his office reading a book when a desk officer runs in with a frantic look and lots of base in his voice, says four bank alarms were triggered within one minute of each other. The Captains says "Something must be wrong. Send as many patrol cars to the locations as possible." 108

Self radios in Anthony set off the explosives''. The police cars speeding down the street all start to blow out. At the police station the Captain is listening to all the incoming reports from the officers on the radio. He screams "What in the world is going on here? How many cars are out?" 109

The dispatcher responds "We only have three moving''. Radio in the surrounding towns and tell them we need backup now!" 110

Self gives the word for everyone to leave. They all grab their bags and head for the door. The Captains asks for the response time on the other towns. "One minute." 111

Pulling out of the bank a police car pulls up on Marcus. He jumps out and pulls his gun. But Marcus starts speeding away. The cop jumps back in the car and starts to chase him. On the radio the officer is trying to get back up as he describes the bike and where he is heading. The others already have got back and dropped off the money in the suv and left to meet at the hangout. Marcus comes in on the radio calling his brothers name Jeremy I got a chase I will meet you after I lose my tail tell''. With three cops on his tail, Marcus merges onto the highway, weaving through traffic at dangerous speeds. One cop comes up on his left and bumps his bike. Almost losing control, he manages to straightens out the bike. 112

Self is asking him where he is but he gets no answer. Taking an exit Marcus loses control of the bike and it slides from under him. He grabs the bag of money and tries to run but he is surrounded. Multiple guns are drawn on him. 113

"Drop the weapon and put your hands in the air!" blares over the megaphone. 114

Self listening in Marcus to drop the gun I will take care of everything''. Marcus says, "Bro you are always taking care of everything and its time I take care of myself." 115

"Don't be stupid!" 116

The police yelling at him to put his weapon down Marcus starts firing at them. Self hears the gunshots. And suddenly the radio went quite. He hears a voice that is not his brother's say "He's dead." 117

Everyone in the room tries not to look at him. Anthony comes over to him and tells him you still have a brother left''. 118

"Lets count this up and go home." Jeremy responds in attempt to shake off the death of his brother. 119

Around six o'clock that night Margaret comes home, running up stairs and see Self sitting on the end of the bed. She starts talking about what she heard on the radio on the way home, four banks were robbed and one bank robber who was killed had the same exact name as your brother. She looks at him and sees tears start to fall down his face. She then realizes it was his brother. He tells her all about the bank robbery and the loss of his job. 120

She asks "Why didn't you tell me? We could have worked this out.Why would you do that?" 121

"I did it for us. You said I had to learn to help myself before others. So I did. Now I can help us and others. We got a total of 5.2 million which goes eight ways. With a stunned look where is the money''? Its hidden until this blows over, and then I can find another job so we get the house and the things we need and deserve''. 122

About two years later, Jeremy and Margaret are sitting in the living room of their new house, in the neighborhood of her dreams, watching a news report on the bank robbery. 123

"Investigators are still looking for any information on the bank robberies in Madison, New Jersey. There is a reward of half million dollars leading to the arrest of any of the seven remaining men that were involved. Even with one casualty it was the most successful bank robbery in history." 124

They hear a blowing horn in the driveway. Self goes to the door and sees Anthony in a brand new S500 Mercedes Benz. Self smiles as he walks over to the car. Margaret comes to the door and says dinner is in an hour and he better be home on time. Anthony replies "yes ma'am." 125

"You're welcome to come too." 126

Self gets in the car Anthony asks him how his new job going? 127

"It's great. They even gave me the big office. When are you going back to work? 128

"I am going to take some more time off. I like waking up at noon." 129

"So what do you want to do before its time for dinner? 130

Anthony pulls out a joint and says "Let's work up an appetite."131