Jason’s Lyric(1994)

Submitted by Julio M

Short pooper:
Joshua (Bokeem Woodbine) kills himself when Jason (Allen Payne), having had enough of his antics, walks away from him for good. Lyric (Jada Pinkett) survives her attack and she and Jason stay together as a couple.

Longer version:
Jason reaches a catharsis when he finally discloses to Lyric the reason for which he feels permanently bound to the chaotic life of his younger brother Joshua: the incident in which their drunkenly abusive father, “Mad Dog” (Forest Whitaker), was killed, was caused by a scuffle between Jason and Joshua themselves as children, wrestling over the control of a gun Joshua was pointing at Mad Dog in defense of their mother Gloria (Suzzane Douglas), and which went off, mortally wounding the man. He breaks down while recounting this and Lyric comforts him, but she warns him that he must sever ties with Joshua for his own good and of theirs as a couple.

That same night, Jason, having told Gloria, prepares to move with Lyric; meanwhile, elsewhere, “Rat” (Eddie Griffin), a common friend of Jason and Joshua, spots Joshua organizing what appears to be a takeover of Alonzo’s (Treach) house, in retaliation for the bank robbery gone awry where Alonzo and his crew tortured Joshua as punishment, and runs off to warn Jason.

Joshua storms Alonzo’s house, kills two of his gang members and takes Lyric as a hostage. Shortly after, Jason arrives and confronts Joshua, who demands to know where Alonzo is and scolds Lyric, out of jealousy, for “stealing her brother away from him”. At this point, Jason comes to realize how toxic and selfish Joshua has chosen to be and, after a charged argument between the two, Jason pulls a gun on him, to which Joshua reacts by accidentally shooting Lyric and causing her to lose consciousness.

Shocked over what Joshua has done, Jason tends to Lyric and, as he carries her outside, tells Joshua that he is done with him. Despondent over the consequences of his actions and feeling abandoned by everyone, Joshua commits suicide by shooting himself. Even though the loss of his brother has hurt him, Jason stands by Lyric, who is assisted by an ambulance.

The final scene shows Jason and Lyric, together, stronger than ever as a couple, riding a bus.