Fish & Grits Episode 2 "A Safe Place" Written & Created By Allyson Parker June 2026 Allyson Parker allysontulsaok@gmail.com COLD OPEN INT. FISH & GRITS DINER — 1:47 AM The diner is calm. Tank is wiping down the counter. Miss Lo is restocking silverware. Shonda is scrolling her phone, halfawake. The bell DINGS. WAYNE walks in first — tired, dusty, but still talking like he’s midstory. Behind him is his coworker, a dude who looks like he’s been through a natural disaster. COWORKER (loud, dramatic) Man… they worked the HELL outta us tonight. Tank looks up. TANK What they have you do? COWORKER I’m a forklift driver, Tank. A forklift driver. Why they got me out there doin’ all that manual labor? Wayne drops into his usual booth, laughing. WAYNE Because you slow on that forklift. COWORKER I ain’t slow! I’m delicate! I ain’t no country boy like Wayne and Tank. I ain’t built for all that liftin’ and draggin’. My spirit is urban. Shonda finally looks up. SHONDA Your spirit is lazy. The coworker gasps like she slapped him with words. COWORKER I am NOT lazy. I am… indoorinclined. Wayne hollers laughing, slapping the table. WAYNE Boy, you from North Tulsa. Ain’t nothin’ “indoor” about you. Tank shakes his head. TANK What they have you lift? COWORKER Everything! Pallets, boxes, crates… At one point I swear they had me movin’ a whole refrigerator. SHONDA Was it plugged in? COWORKER Shonda, I don’t know! I was fightin’ for my life! Miss Lo walks over, calm as ever. MISS LO Baby, you want somethin’ to drink? COWORKER Yes ma’am. Something cold. Something sweet. Something that remind me I survived. MISS LO I’ll bring you a Sprite. COWORKER Thank you, Miss Lo. You the only one who care about me. WAYNE She don’t care about you. She just don’t want you passin’ out in her booth. Miss Lo walks away. MISS LO (over her shoulder) And I don’t feel like callin’ 911 tonight. Wayne and Tank crack up. The coworker clutches his chest like he’s been betrayed. COWORKER This place got no sympathy for a hardworking man. SHONDA You ain’t work hard. You just worked. The bell DINGS again. Everyone looks up. Miss Lo’s face shifts — she sees something the others don’t. CUT TO BLACK. ACT ONE INT. FISH & GRITS DINER — CONTINUOUS FROM COLD OPEN The bell DINGS. Everyone looks up — Wayne, Tank, Shonda, even the coworker. But Miss Lo is the only one whose face changes. She sees something the others don’t. A WOMAN steps inside with her TWO KIDS. They’re carrying bags — not luggage, just bags. She’s scanning the room, eyes darting, shoulders tight. She doesn’t wait for permission. She doesn’t ask for help. She walks straight to the back booth — the “safe booth” — like instinct led her there. The kids slide in first. She sits on the outside, facing the door, still watching it. MALIK, 25, handsome, fresh fade, wiping tables nearby, freezes midwipe. He looks at Tank like: MALIK (quiet) Tank… you see that? Tank doesn’t even look up from the counter he’s wiping. TANK Yeah. I see it. Malik nods like Tank just confirmed the weather. MALIK Man… I knew somethin’ felt off. My spirit be pickin’ up on stuff like yours. Tank gives him a sideeye. TANK Your spirit ain’t pickin’ up nothin’. You just nosy. Malik shrugs, embarrassed but still trying to be cool. Shonda looks up from her phone and sees the kids’ faces — terrified, silent, too still. SHONDA (under her breath) Lord… But Miss Lo? She’s already moving. She walks over slow, calm, steady — the way she always does when something’s wrong. MISS LO (soft, warm) Are you okay, sweetie? The woman straightens up fast, trying to play it off. WOMAN Yeah… yeah, we’re fine. Just… tired. Long day. Her voice is too quick. Too light. Too practiced. The kids don’t look up. They’re holding onto each other under the table. Miss Lo doesn’t push. She just nods. MISS LO Mmhmm. Y’all thirsty? Want somethin’ to drink? The kids look at their mother — waiting for permission. The woman hesitates… then nods. WOMAN Juice is fine. Thank you. MISS LO Alright then. Miss Lo turns to the counter. MISS LO (cont'd) Shonda — get them babies some juice. SHONDA On it. Shonda moves fast — faster than she ever moves for regular customers. Malik watches, nervous, whispering to Tank: MALIK Tank… you think she runnin’ from somebody? Tank doesn’t answer right away. He just watches the woman check the door again. TANK (low) Yeah. I do. Malik nods like Tank just gave him a life lesson. MALIK Man… you always know stuff. I’m tryna get like that. TANK You tryna get like me, start by finishin’ them tables. Malik jumps back into wiping like he’s in a race. Miss Lo turns back to the woman. MISS LO You hungry? The woman opens her mouth to say “no”… but her stomach growls loud enough for everyone to hear. She closes her eyes, embarrassed. WOMAN …maybe a little. Miss Lo doesn’t smile, doesn’t pity her — she just nods like this is normal. MISS LO Shonda — fix them a plate. Something warm. SHONDA Already makin’ it. Tank steps closer to Malik. TANK Keep an eye on the door. Malik straightens up like he’s been given a mission. MALIK I got you. Miss Lo sets the juices down gently in front of the kids. MISS LO Here you go, babies. Drink slow. Ain’t no rush. The kids sip like they haven’t had anything cold in days. The woman watches them, eyes glassy. Miss Lo sits across from her — not interrogating, not prying, just present. MISS LO (cont'd) You safe in here. Eat first. Rest a minute. We’ll figure the rest out later. The woman swallows hard, nodding. WOMAN Thank you… I just… I didn’t know where else to go. Miss Lo reaches out, squeezes her hand. MISS LO You came to the right place. The camera holds on the woman and her kids — finally exhaling. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO INT. FISH & GRITS DINER — LATER The woman wipes her eyes again, embarrassed. WOMAN I’m sorry. I don’t want to make a scene. MISS LO Baby… this ain’t a scene. This is life. And you ain’t in it by yourself tonight. The woman nods, but she’s still tense — still watching the door. Miss Lo stands up slowly. MISS LO (cont'd) You sit right here. Eat. Let them babies rest. We gon’ take it one step at a time. The woman nods again, holding her kids close. Miss Lo walks back toward the counter — not to “get help,” not to make a big announcement — just to give the woman space and to let the staff know to stay alert. Tank meets her halfway. TANK (low) You need somethin’, Lo? MISS LO Just keep your eyes open. Tank nods once. He doesn’t ask questions — he just shifts his stance so he can see both the door and the booth. Malik leans on the counter, arms crossed, watching the door too — not scared, just ready. MALIK (low) Whoever she runnin’ from… they better not bring that mess in here. Tank gives him a look — approving, not correcting. TANK Ain’t nobody gettin’ past Lo anyway. Miss Lo doesn’t smile, but her eyes soften. She looks back at the woman and her kids — eating quietly, finally breathing. Miss Lo turns off the overhead music — the diner gets a little quieter, a little safer. SHONDA (soft) Lo… you want me to call somebody? MISS LO Not yet. Let her settle first. Shonda nods. The diner falls into a calm, protective silence — the kind where everyone is pretending to work but really watching the booth. The woman takes another shaky breath. Her kids lean against her. For the first time tonight… she looks like she might actually rest. CUT TO BLACK. END OF ACT TWO   ACT THREE   INT. FISH & GRITS DINER — A LITTLE LATER The woman and her kids are still in the back booth. They’re eating now — calmer, quieter, but still alert. Miss Lo steps away to give them space. Tank leans on the counter. Malik is wiping tables with a little rhythm like he’s got a song in his head. Shonda is grabbing extra napkins. The energy is soft… but not sad. Tank glances at the kids. TANK (low) Turn that TV on for ‘em. Malik nods and grabs the remote. MALIK What y’all wanna watch? We got Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network… I even got my Netflix login if y’all wanna watch somethin’ fancy. The older kid looks at their mom. She nods. OLDER KID …SpongeBob? MALIK Say less. He turns it on. The theme song starts playing. The kids’ shoulders drop a little — the first sign of them relaxing. Shonda walks by and whispers to Malik: SHONDA You know you only put SpongeBob on ‘cause you like it. MALIK And? It’s a classic. Tank shakes his head. TANK You 25 watchin’ cartoons. MALIK And you 32 with no hobbies. We all got flaws. Tank smirks — he can’t even argue. At the booth, the woman watches her kids giggle at the TV. She wipes her eyes quietly, but she’s smiling now. Miss Lo returns with two small cups of ice cream. MISS LO Here y’all go. Don’t tell nobody I gave you dessert before dinner. The kids light up. WOMAN You don’t have to— MISS LO I know. But I want to. The woman nods, grateful. Shonda leans on the counter, watching the kids laugh. SHONDA (soft) That’s better. Kids shouldn’t look scared in a place that smell like bacon. Malik nods. MALIK Facts. The bell DINGS. Everyone looks up — not tense, just aware. It’s Dawn, in scrubs, badge still clipped, hair pulled back. She looks tired but still fine — like she’s been arguing with a CNA all night. DAWN Evenin’, y’all. Tank nods. Shonda waves. Malik straightens up like he suddenly remembered he’s handsome. MALIK What’s good, Dawn. DAWN My back hurt, my feet hurt, and I’m two seconds from quittin’ that job. Tank smirks. TANK You say that every week. DAWN And one day I’ma mean it. She heads toward her usual seat — but stops when she sees the woman and kids watching SpongeBob. DAWN (cont'd) (soft) Lo… who they belong to? Miss Lo walks over. MISS LO They just needed somewhere to sit for a minute. Let ‘em breathe. Dawn nods — she gets it immediately. She walks over to the booth, gentle but not pitying. DAWN Hey babies. Y’all watchin’ SpongeBob without me? The kids smile — small, but real. DAWN (cont'd) (to the woman) I’m Dawn. I work over at the nursing home. You mind if I sit with y’all? The woman hesitates… then nods. Dawn sits. DAWN (cont'd) You don’t gotta tell me nothin’ you don’t want to. I’m just here to keep you company. The woman exhales — relieved she’s not being interrogated. The kids laugh at something on the TV. The diner feels warm again. Miss Lo stands behind Dawn, arms folded, watching the door — calm, steady, protective. END OF ACT THREE   ACT FOUR   INT. FISH & GRITS DINER — LATER The vibe is light. SpongeBob is playing on the TV. The kids are laughing — real laughs now. The woman is finally breathing. Dawn is sitting with them on her lunch break, eating fries and talking to the kids like she’s known them forever. DAWN Y’all like SpongeBob? Good. If y’all said Caillou, I was gon’ have to leave. The kids giggle. Shonda snorts. SHONDA Caillou is a menace. Malik is wiping down the counter, vibing to the cartoon theme song. MALIK (low) This my jam. Don’t judge me. Tank shakes his head. TANK Ain’t nobody judging you. We just disappointed. Wayne and his coworker are still in their booth, finishing their food before heading back to the warehouse. COWORKER Man… they had me liftin’ stuff tonight that ain’t even in my job description. I’m a forklift driver — not a superhero. I need a cape and a raise. WAYNE You need muscles. COWORKER I got muscles! They just… on break. Malik laughs. MALIK Your muscles been on break since orientation. COWORKER Wow. Haters everywhere. The woman smiles — a real one — watching her kids laugh at SpongeBob. For a moment, it feels like a normal night. Then— A SHADOW passes the front windows. The woman’s smile drops instantly. Her whole body stiffens. Miss Lo sees it first. She doesn’t react big — just shifts her weight, eyes narrowing. MISS LO (quiet, sharp) Tank. Tank looks up. He sees the woman’s face. He sees the shadow. His whole posture changes. TANK …yeah. I see it. Malik stops wiping, eyes locked on the door. MALIK Yo. Shonda’s expression drops. She slides behind the counter without a word. Wayne stands up slow. His coworker stands too — confused but following Wayne’s lead. The woman whispers: WOMAN (terrified) He’s here. He found us. The kids cling to her. Dawn immediately shifts — calm, protective, steady. DAWN (to the kids) Hey, hey… look at me. You with me now. You good. Miss Lo walks to the door and flips the lock. CLICK. Tank steps behind her. Wayne moves beside him. Malik comes out from the back, wiping his hands like he’s ready. Shonda reaches under the counter and pulls out the baseball bat. SHONDA I swear… I been waitin’ to hit somebody all week. Malik smirks. MALIK Just don’t hit me. SHONDA Move then. Then— BANG. The abuser hits the glass. The woman ducks instantly, pulling her kids under the table. The kids start crying. Dawn slides into the booth with them, shielding them with her body. DAWN (soft, steady) Don’t look at that door. Look at me. I got y’all. Another BANG — louder. ABUSER (O.S.) OPEN THIS DOOR! I KNOW SHE IN THERE! Tank steps closer to the door, jaw tight. TANK Try it. Go on. Wayne cracks his knuckles. WAYNE You gon’ have a long night, boy. Malik stands behind them, ready. The abuser rattles the door handle violently. The kids scream. Dawn holds them tighter. DAWN (sharp whisper) Don’t look. Don’t look. You safe. The man bangs again — harder — then steps back like he’s deciding whether to break the glass. Miss Lo steps right up to the window — inches from him — and stares him down. MISS LO Move around. The man bangs again. ABUSER (O.S.) OPEN THIS DOOR! Miss Lo doesn’t raise her voice. MISS LO Ain’t nobody in here for you. Move. Around. A long beat. The abuser finally backs up. He yells something unintelligible, then storms off toward his truck. The headlights sweep across the diner as he peels out. Silence. Tank exhales. Wayne shakes his head. Malik mutters: MALIK Man… I wish he would’ve tried it. Shonda taps the bat on the counter. SHONDA I was gon’ knock his head into next week. Miss Lo turns back to the booth. The woman is crying quietly. Dawn is holding her and the kids. MISS LO (soft) Baby… he gone. You safe. The woman nods, shaking. WOMAN Thank you… Thank you… Thank you… Miss Lo puts a hand on her shoulder. MISS LO You ain’t thankin’ us. This what nights are for. END OF ACT FOUR   ACT FIVE INT. FISH & GRITS DINER — EARLY MORNING HOURS The diner is still open, humming softly. SpongeBob plays low on the TV. The kids are asleep — one on Dawn’s lap, the other curled against the woman. The woman looks exhausted, but calmer. Her hands still shake a little. Miss Lo sits across from her, steady as ever. MISS LO Alright baby… We gon’ get you somewhere safe for real. Not just for tonight. The woman nods, eyes wet. WOMAN I don’t… I don’t know where to go. Dawn shifts the sleeping child gently and leans in. DAWN There’s a DV shelter over on Pine. They take emergencies 24/7. I know one of the nurses over there — she on nights like me. Tank nods. TANK They good people. Real good. The woman swallows hard. WOMAN Will they take the kids? MISS LO Baby… they gon’ take all of you. That’s what they there for. The woman wipes her eyes. WOMAN I don’t have anything. No clothes… no money… nothing. Shonda steps forward with the blanket still around her shoulders. SHONDA You got your babies. That’s somethin’. Everything else we can figure out. Malik pulls out his phone. MALIK I’ll call the hotline. They’ll send somebody or tell us where to go. Dawn shakes her head. DAWN Nah, I got it. I know the direct line. They answer faster. She pulls out her phone and steps a few feet away, speaking low and calm. Tank sits beside the woman. TANK You did the right thing leavin’. Don’t let nobody tell you different. The woman nods, tears falling again. WOMAN I was scared he’d hurt them. TANK And you stopped that. That’s strength. Wayne and his coworker stand near the door, still on alert. COWORKER (to Wayne, low) Man… this is heavy. WAYNE Yeah. But she ain’t alone no more. Dawn returns to the booth. DAWN Alright. They got a bed open. They said bring her now. They’ll meet us at the door. The woman covers her mouth, overwhelmed. WOMAN Thank you… Thank you so much… Miss Lo stands and gently touches her shoulder. MISS LO You don’t thank us. You just get up. We gon’ walk you out. Tank stands. Malik stands. Wayne stands. Even the coworker stands — nervous but present. Shonda grabs the bat and tucks it under her arm. SHONDA Just in case he circle back. I’m not playin’ tonight. Dawn lifts the sleeping child carefully. DAWN Come on, baby. We gon’ get you somewhere warm. The woman gathers her things — which is basically nothing — and stands. Miss Lo wraps the blanket tighter around her. MISS LO You safe now. Let’s go. They form a quiet escort: · Dawn carrying the child · The woman holding the other kid’s hand · Miss Lo leading · Tank, Malik, Wayne, and the coworker flanking them · Shonda at the back with the bat They walk her out into the early morning air — the sky just starting to lighten. The diner door closes behind them. Inside, SpongeBob keeps playing. FADE OUT. END OF EPISODE.