INT/EXT. On the tugboat. - Scene 7


JOE  
(leaning against the cabin wall, his voice low and tense)  
Esteban, we’ve got no time to waste. Word is out—they’re gunning for me. I need you to listen closely.

ESTEBAN  
(fixing Joe with a steady gaze)  
I’m listening, Joe. But I must warn you, if they’ve set their sights on you, then it’s not just you at risk. We both know how this game is played.

JOE  
(snaps back)  
Then we’ll play it better. I need to hit them before they hit me. We take that shipment of weapons—blow their plans wide open.

ESTEBAN  
(raises an eyebrow)  
You’re talking about going after the Navy’s supplies? That’s a hell of a gamble, Joe.

JOE  
(fists clenching)  
What other choice do we have? They’re circling like sharks. If we arm the revolutionaries, we make a statement. We can’t just sit back and wait for them to come for our heads.

ESTEBAN  
(paces the narrow space)  
And what about Loretta? You can’t pretend her death doesn’t weigh on you. She’s gone because of this life—a price paid for the game.

JOE  
(sighs deeply)  
Believe me, I carry that weight every waking moment. But it changes nothing. If we want a shot at something better, I need to seize control now—before they decide I’m nothing but a target.

ESTEBAN  
(stops pacing, locks eyes with Joe)  
You know Maso won’t let this go easily. He’ll want blood for blood. Your rise will ignite another war.

JOE  
(leaning forward, his voice fierce)  
Let him come! This isn’t just about me anymore; it’s about standing up to men like him who think they can pull the strings without consequence.  

ESTEBAN  
(nods slowly)  
Alright, then. What’s the plan?

JOE  
(grinning grimly)  
We hit the docks at dawn, catch them off guard while they’re moving shipments. Just enough chaos to slip away with what we need and send a message that we won’t be cowed.

ESTEBAN  
(considering)  
A bold move, but risky. We’ll need everything in place—distractions, solid alibis… and maybe even a little luck.

JOE  
(smiling wryly)Luck has never been our strong suit, Esteban. But this time, we create our own. We’re not just fighting to survive; we’re fighting to take control of our fate.  

ESTEBAN  
(smirking)  
I like the sound of that, Joe. Just remember, when the dust settles, it’s not just blood that’ll stain the deck.

JOE  
(leaning back, exhaling sharply)  
Then let it stain. I’d rather have a deck covered in blood than a life spent cowering in the shadows.

ESTEBAN  
(smirking)  
You’ve got fire in you, Joe. I knew there was a reason I kept you around.

JOE  
(turns serious, his voice firm)  
This isn’t just about me anymore—it’s for Loretta, for everything we've lost. We rise from the ashes of this game or we don’t rise at all.

ESTEBAN  
(nods in agreement)  
Then it’s settled. We’ll prepare, move swiftly, and strike hard. The Pescatore Mob won’t know what hit them.

JOE  
(smirks)  
Let’s show them who they’re really dealing with.  

(Outside, the waves crash against the tugboat, mirroring the brewing storm within.)  