screenplay by

David McKenna

February 6, 1997

INT. HOUSE - CLOSED EYES

A young man's blue eyes slowly open. A girl moans from the next room.

EXT. STREET CORNER - A LARGE TIRE

turns the corner and splashes through a puddle from an

earlier rain. TUPAC SHAKUR blares from inside.

INT. HOUSE - TIGHT ON THE EYES

They snap wide as the young woman in the next room MOANS

even louder.

EXT. VENICE BEACH HOUSE - A WET NIGHT

A slight buzz emanates from the power lines and street

lights above the humble VINYARD household. A black FORD

BRONCO rests in the driveway.

EXT. WET STREET - A GRAY TRANS AM

TUPAC'S rapping builds. The window-tinted drive-by

slowly heads down the residential street, cruises past

the Bronco in the driveway, and slows to a stop. The

music stops and TWO BLACK MEN spring from the car.

They move with purpose. The larger figure, crowbar in

hand, moves to the truck. The GUN wielding passenger

hurries to the front door and stands guard. Inside the

car, another man methodically waits.

INT. BEDROOM - DANNY VINYARD'S EYES

The sex happening in the next room makes it difficult for

Danny to sleep. Next to a digital clock that reads

3:07AM, the clean cut 14-year-old flips to his side.

A poster of Lee Ving of FEAR onstage, taped to the wall.

Pre-Calculus and Biology books on the floor. Cassettes

scattered on his tiny desk. A stereo in the corner.

The off-screen sound of breaking glass grabs Danny's

attention. He sits up and looks through the blinds.

EXT. HOUSE - SAME

Danny SEES a man reach through the broken window and

unlock the door. He quickly. pans to the idling Trans Am.

INT. DANNY'S BEDROOM - TIGHT ON DANNY

His fearful expression says it all.

DANNY

Holy shit.

Danny quickly bolts out of his room and into the adjacent

bedroom down the hall. He barges through the door.

INT. DEREK'S BEDROOM - A NAZI IRON EAGLE BATTLE FLAG

It hangs above a serious computer and next to a giant,

tome-filled bookshelf. The moans, meanwhile, approach

orgasm.

TIGHT ON DEREK VINYARD. The young man has a shaved head,

a thick goatee, and a well-crafted SWASTIKA on his left

tit. On top of Derek in the bed is his barely-of-age

girlfriend, STACEY. The covers are completely off and a

BLACK ROSE is tattooed across her right shoulder blade.

Danny watches her fuck, only for a second.

DANNY

(softly)

Der !

Danny walks over and shakes him. Startled, Derek

forcefully grabs his little brother's arm.

DEREK

(controlled)

What?

Stacey stops and looks over. Frustated, she rolls off

Derek and onto her side.

STACEY

Fucking pervert, Dan!

DANNY

There's a black guy outside Der...

breaking into your car.

Derek, muscled and tattooed, jumps out of the bed and

quickly puts on his skivvies. He reaches under his

mattress, pulls out a SIG .45 semi-automatic pistol, and

shoves in a clip.

DEREK

How long has he been out there?

DANNY

Not long.

STACEY

Who?

DEREK

Nobody. Relax.

Stacey sits up quickly from the bed as Derek pulls on his

black combat boots.

STACEY

Who's out there, Derek?

DEREK

Not right now, honey.

(to Danny)

How many?

DANNY

One...I think.

DEREK

Is he strapped?

DANNY

Hunh?

DEREK

Does he have a fucking gun, Dan?

DANNY

I'm not sure.

DEREK

Is there a driver?

Danny nods his head yes.

DEREK

Okay. Stay the luck here.

STACEY

Derek? Be careful.

He looks at his girlfriend and walks off.

INT. HALLWAY - SAME

TIGHT ON DEREK. He walks down the hall. The intensity

on his face is alarming. He stops at the front door and

grabs the doorknob. Before he turns the knob, he peeks

through the eye hole on the door.

EXT. HOUSE - DEREK'S EYE POV

THE BLACK GUARD carelessly turns toward the driveway to

see what's taking his partner so long with the wires.

INT. HOUSE - DEREK AT THE DOOR

The guard has his back to him. Derek goes.

EXT. HOUSE - THE DUEL

Derek throws open the door and the black man standing

guard wheels and fires a shot into the front door. Derek

buries two bullets in his chest.

DEREK

Fuck you!

The force propels the man six feet backwards.

INT./EXT. BRONCO - THE OTHER MAN

Stunned by the gunfire, he charges back to the getaway

Tranny. Derek buries a bullet into his shoulder. The

car splits and Derek fires a shot through the side

window. He then walks towards the car and fires shot

after shot at it until it disappears.

INT. VINYARD HOUSEHOLD - DARKNESS

Davina and Doris Vinyard yell in the background like they

were in Vietnam. They meet in the hallway, still not

able to place the direction of the gunfire.

DAVINA

MOM!!!!

DORIS

STAY DOWN, HONEY! DANNY?!

They stay down on the carpet together.

EXT. BEDROOM - DANNY'S POV

From the rain-soaked window he watches Derek face his

wounded prey - crawling on the ground. Sirens sound from

a distance.

STACEY (O.S.)

Get down, Danny! Jesus!

TIGHT ON DANNY. His gaze is locked on his brother from

his bedroom window. Derek cocks his piece, points it and

walks toward the man.

TIGHT ON DEREK'S FACE. Eyes blistering.

FADE TO BLACK:

THREE YEARS LATER

EXT. POLICE STATION - EARLY MORNING

A black man in a suit and tie, ROBERT SWEENEY, goes

through the automatic doors and into the station. He

approaches a DESK SERGEANT. A daily calendar on her desk

reads MONDAY. MARCH 3. 1997.

SWEENEY

Captain Rasmussen?

DESK SERGEANT

Briefing room. Down that hall...third

door on the left.

INT. BRIEFING ROOM - A MEETING

Cops and detectives sit attentively and a few sip coffee.

The clock on the wall above reads 7:38 AM. Middle-aged

with slicked-back hair, CAPTAIN JOHN RASMUSSEN finishes a

thought. He spots Sweeney as he enters and aimlessly

reaches for a file.

RASMUSSEN

All right. Moving on--

(acknowledging)

Good Morning, Doctor.

The group looks over and meets Sweeney's hard glare.

SWEENEY

Good morning.

RASMUSSEN

Gentlemen, this is Dr. Bob Sweeney.

He's Principal over at Venice High and

for some time now he's done a load of

outreach work with gangs...in and out

of the can.

Sweeney nods as Rasmussen cough. He sips water and

continues.

RASMUSSEN

Three years ago a local kid named

Derek Vinyard gets sent up for

murdering a couple of Crips who were

trying to jack his car. Bob taught

Vinyard back in high school and has

followed the case closely.

YOUNG COP

He was a skinhead, right?

SWEENEY

Derek was more like...the skinhead.

He and Cameron Alexander.

COP #2

Who?

Rasmussen opens a FILE in front of him. There rests

Derek's mug shot. He flips it over and reveals

CAMMERON'S MUG SHOT. Front and side view.

RASMUSSEN

Cammeron Alexander is probably the

biggest writer and distributor of

white power literature in LA County.

He promotes white power bands, writes

reviews, columns, all at the ripe age

of forty.

YOUNG COP

(smiling)

He's forty? Jesus.

RASMUSSEN

Pretty clean record...runs everything

out of his house down by the beach.

SWEENEY

There weren't any organized white

gangs around Venice before those two

hooked up. Very few, if any. It was

mostly just black and Mexican. But it

was tiny. They hit it off though...

and Alexander hit the jackpot with

Derek.

Rasmussen reaches over and pushes play on a VCR.

RASMUSSEN

We got some uncut footage here.

Courtesy of NBC.

ON THE TELEVISION--

REPORTER

Earlier this evening...LA County

Firefighter Dennis Vinyard was shot

and killed while putting out a fire in

a suspected Compton drug den.

RASMUSSEN

(to the group)

This being February of '90.

EXT. VINYARD HOUSEHOLD - A LIVE BROADCAST - VIDEOTAPE

A YOUNGER DEREK, short haired with no tattoos, stands

next to the reporter. Derek wears a Venice High

Basketball jersey drenched in sweat. Towel around neck,

he thinks to himself as the man speaks into the camera.

REPORTER

To my right I have Lieutenant

Vinyard's oldest son Derek.

(to Derek)

How do you feel about all this, son?

DEREK

How do I feel? How do you think I

feel? It's typical.

REPORTER

Typical how, Derek?

DEREK

Well...look at our country. It's a

haven for criminals. Black...brown...

yellow...whatever.

REPORTER

So you're saying the murder of your

father is "race" related?

DEREK

Every problem in this country is

"race" related. Every problem, not

just crime. These problems are rooted

in the black community, the Hispanic

community, the Asian...every non-

Protestant group in our society.

(then)

Look at the shit. Immigration...

welfare...AIDS...they're all the

problems of the non-white. Look at

the statistics.

REPORTER

Most of these issues you're referring

to though son are related to--

DEREK

(interrupting)

No no no! Don't say poverty right now

cause that's not it. They're not a

product of our fucking environment

either! Minorities don't give two

shits about this country! They're

here to exploit...not embrace.

RASMUSSEN (O.S)

(over reporter's question)

When Alexander got his hands on this

segment...he copied it, sent it out

and it became the Gettysberg Address

for hate groups across the country.

BACK TO THE TELEVISION.

DEREK

Millions of white Europeans came to

this country and flourished within a

generation! A generation! So what

the fuck is wrong with these people?!

REPORTER

What does any of this have to do with

your father?

DEREK

Because my father was doing his

fucking job! Saving a nigger

neighborhood he didn't give two shits

about! And he got killed by some drug

dealer who still collects a fucking

welfare check.

Derek looks at the man and walks over to HIS MOTHER

DORIS, who smokes a cigarette. The camera follows him as

he puts his arm around her and escorts her back inside

their Venice Beach residence. The camera pans back to

the reporter who just stands there, speechless.

INT. BRIEFING ROOM - SAME

Rasmussen ejects the tape, the screen turns to fuzz, and

he turns it off.

RASMUSSEN

Vinyard was quietly released from

Chino on Saturday after three and some

odd years. And I think it's something

we might want to keep an eye on for a

few days.

SWEENEY

I don't wanna be an alarmist. But

payback is out there. I know it is.

And in this particular case...if

Vinyard gets popped...more people will

get popped.

RASMUSSEN

It's not exactly LAPD policy but I

want 24-hour surveillance on Vinyard

for a few days.

COP #2

(smiling in disbelief)

Twenty-four hour surveillance, sir?

RASMUSSEN

Just for a few days.

ANOTHER COP

He doesn't sound like Mr. Lovely here,

Captain. You want us to bust him or

protect him?

Rasmussen offers Sweeney a look that it's his question.

SWEENEY

I don't think Vinyard's gonna be the

one to start anything. It's his

following.

RASMUSSEN

Either way...let's keep it low.

CUT TO:

EXT. VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK - MORNING

PEACEFUL DAY by PENNYWISE blasts from Danny's walkman

headphones. The day is cloudy and overcast but that

doesn't bother the local SURFERS. A twosome paddles

north to get a better break on the next set. Danny

watches as he skateboards down the strand.

His appearance is changed, now resembling a younger,

softer Derek.

Head shaved to a quarter of an inch, he wears a PLAIN

WHITE BACKPACK with punk/white power bands scribbled all

over it. Your standard Sex Pistols, DK, Germs, G.B.M.,

and Adolescents in black. Cro-Magnons and Skrewdriver

off to the left. In red is the largest name, DICK NIXON.

CUT TO:

EXT. VENICE HIGH SCHOOL - THE BIKE CORRAL

Kids from all walks of life park their cars, lock their

bikes and head off to class.

EXT. HALLWAY - TIGHT ON A THRASHED LOCKER

Danny throws his SKATEBOARD in, slams the door, and turns

to face LIZZY, a pretty, redheaded freshman.

LIZZY

Hi Danny.

DANNY

Hey Lizzy.

The two smile at one another as the FIRST BELL RINGS.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL BATHROOM - A URINAL

Danny takes a piss. Outside, a voice pleads "It wasn't

me!" DARYL DAWSON, pale and thin, is shoved into the

bathroom and he trips into the sink. LITTLE HENRY, a

young black kid, enters with two of his buddies. Danny

zips up and faces them.

LITTLE HENRY

(to a terrified Daryl)

Tellin' Baker I'm fuckin' cheatin'?

I've never cheated in my life.

BUDDY #1

Beat his ass, Henry!

LITTLE HENRY

Why you trippin' on me?

DARYL

I didn't say anything, Henry. I

swear.

BUDDY #2

He's lying, man! I was right there!

Little Henry cracks Daryl in the face and practically

knocks him down with one shot. A bleeding Daryl

struggles to his hands and knees behind Danny.

LITTLE HENRY

Next time, man.

Danny stares into Henry's eyes and the trio exits. Dannv

helps Daryl back up to the sink. THE SECOND BELL RINGS.

CUT TO:

INT. CLASS - SAME

Kids have just settled into their seats. Danny walks in

and tries to be discrete.

OFFSCREEN VOICE

Vinyard!?

An OLDER TEACHER writes an Algebra problem on the board

for the students to solve.

OLDER TEACHER

You're late.

The man grabs a pink slip off his desk and hands it to

Danny.

OLD TEACHER

But it looks like you got bigger

problems.

DANNY

(reading the slip)

Oh, man! Come on. Get a job.

The teacher stares at him.

CUT TO:

INT. PRINCIPAL LOBBY - DANNY

He sits in a chair next to an office door marked DR.

ROBERT SWEENEY - PRINCIPAL. Danny glances at the

secretary as she types and talks on the phone.

TIGHT ON DANNY. He listens to the conversation through

the the crack in the door as his eyes swell.

MURRAY (O.S.)

I do not have a problem with him as an

individual, alright!?

SWEENEY (O.S.)

Oh shit Murray sure you do. You hate

this kid.

INT. OFFICE - THE CONVERSATION

The bespectacled, short-haired MURRAY ROSENBERG, 48,

looks over and spots Danny listening outside. Murray

walks over and shuts the door. He looks at DR. SWEENEY,

who now has his jacket off.

He points to a typewritten report on the desk and smiles

in horror. It is titled BOOK REPORT--MEIN KAMPF.

"Daniel Vinvard - American History" is in the upper left

hand corner.

MURRAY

This paper is a travesty, Bob!

Arguing for Hitler as a civil rights

hero?! You've gotta draw a line.

SWEENEY

Murray...it says in your syllabus that

they could do their report on any book

related to the struggle for Civil

Rights.

MURRAY

Oh come on, Bob!

SWEENEY

Let me finish! He needs help...I'm

not disputing that. But I read it and

I'm not going to throw him out.

MURRAY

His brother probably put him up to it.

SWEENEY

I can guarantee you his brother didn't

have anything to do with it, Murray.

Murray sighs and takes off his glasses.

MURRAY

Don't let him walk scot-free here.

For his sake...not mine. You might be

all he has left.

Sweeney stares at the younger teacher and nods.

CUT TO:

EXT. OFFICE - THE DOOR OPENS

Murray walks out and turns back to Sweeney.

MURRAY

Thanks, Bob.

SWEENEY (O.S.)

Okay. Get in here, Dan!

Danny and Murray make hostile eye contact.

DANNY

I knew it was you.

SWEENEY (O.S.)

Shut up and get your ass in here!

INT. OFFICE - DANNY ENTERS

Before he even gets through the door he's chastised.

SWEENEY

What's it gonna be, Dan?

DANNY

What's what going to be?

SWEENEY

This petty shit you're pullin'.

DANNY

Well...I don't know.

SWEENEY

You said it, all right. Sit down.

Danny does what he's told. Sweeney stares at the

teenager and leans back in his chair.

SWEENEY

Are you okay?

DANNY

Yeah.

SWEENEY

Any time you wanna talk, Dan--

DANNY

Okay.

SWEENEY

How's Derek?

DANNY

Fine.

SWEENEY

Adjusting okay?

DANNY

Yeah.

SWEENEY

He was a student of mine. Honors

English. He was a great student...

like you...but he hung out with

scumbags. Also like you. That's why

he ended up in the pen, hunh?

No answer. Sweeney holds up Danny's paper.

SWEENEY

Great writing. I can't correct it

though. It wreaks too much of shit.

DANNY

Come on, man! I followed directions

and wrote an "A" paper. It's got

nothing to do with Derek.

SWEENEY

Everything you do now has something to

do with Derek. Who told you to do

this?

DANNY

Let us get on with our lives, man!

SWEENEY

Hey, I'm not worried about Derek--he

can take care of himself. I'm worried

about his little brother.

(softly)

Mein Kampf, Dan? I should expel you!

DANNY

Do it. What? You don't think I could

handle it?

SWEENEY

(smiling in disbelief)

The street would kill you, Danny.

You're not tough. The second a

brother pulls a gun on your ass you'll

be holierin' for Doris.

(pondering to himself)

So here's the drill. Take it or leave

it cause I'm sick of babysitting. I'm

your history teacher from here on out.

We're gonna deal with shit happening

right now. Call it American

History...X. I see your ass once a

day. Any more, any less, and you're a

memory at Venice High. Clear?

DANNY

It took me a week to read Mein Kampf.

Come on, Sweeney.

SWEENEY

My name is Dr. Sweeney. And I want a

another paper on my desk tomorrow.

DANNY

What am I doing it on then?

SWEENEY

It'S not a "what", it's a "who."

(after a beat)

Derek.

SMASH TO:

EXT. VENICE SHORELINE - LATE AFTERNOON

A series of intercuts shows activity in and around the

pier. A HOMELESS LATINO MAN searches a trash dumpster.

OPEN VENDORS sell tie-dye and water bong paraphernalia.

A FAT WOMAN walks past eating a hot dog. BLACK GANG

MEMBERS play basketball in their low-rider shorts and

boxers.

TIGHT ON DANNY. He skateboards down the boardwalk,

performing tricks and spinning the board. He eats shit,

recovers, and looks off into the distance.

DANNY (V/O)

People look at me...and they see my

brother. That's how things have gone

since the murder of our father.

EXT. BOARDWALK - NEAR THE BASKETBALL COURT

From afar, he spots a group of black gang members shoot

hoops. He and Little Henry from earlier exchange a cold

glance.

DANNY (V/O)

Little Henry Hastings and his older

brother Jerome. Jerome's a Shoreline

Crip...Henry's on his way.

Little Henry and older brother JEROME catch their breath

and stare down Dan. Danny doesn't flinch. Jerome sips

from a 40 oz. beer and resumes playing.

DANNY (V/O)

Venice Beach, man. It didn't always

look like this. I mean...our Dad used

to take us down here to run...and it

was cool. Derek fucking owned this

place. Since then though...the gangs,

man--

TIGHT ON DANNy. He watches the basketball action as he

takes a drag off his Marlboro Red.

DANNY (V/O)

--they've moved west from Inglewood

and South Central and have really

just...taken over. Especially at my

high school. The Venice Locos are big

too but they hang out in bumluck Mar

Vista. It's scary.

(then)

And then there's The Disciples of

Christ. The D.O.C.

Jerome and Little Henry joke and argue with eight extra

players and spectators.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - A GAME - FLASHBACK

DANNY'S POV. The teams are a mixed assemblage of 3

blacks and 2 Latinos and 3 whites and 1 black and 1

Latino. SKINHEAD FAT SETH RYAN, early twenties, and his

two skinhead buddies, can't compete against the better,

predominantly black team. One of the skins, CURTIS, has

a shaved head, a light beard and an M-16 RIFLE tattooed

on his head.

JEROME and LITTLE HENRY sit together to the right of the

court and monitor closely. Danny looks over his left

shoulder and sees Derek and Stacey sit with CAMMERON.

Cowboy hat and BRONCO JERSEY, they sit and converse on

the bleachers.

LAWRENCE

Seven-six. Let's go! Set some picks!

SETH

Bring it on, boy.

Derek quickly moves his eyes to the court.

LAWRENCE

Boy?

Lawrence quickly pivots past Seth, dunks it, and yells as

he hangs on the rim. The crowd cheers.

SETH

Lucky piece of shit! I'm through

"monkeying" around with your ass!

Lawrence spins around and challenges Seth.

LAWRENCE

Fat, pasty, pale, pastrami eating,

cracker, motherfucker. A hundred

bucks says I make you my bitch.

SETH

(to the crowd)

Here we go! Trying to make ends meet

for that cut in welfare.

He makes a scene and passes Danny on the sideline.

Lawrence waits for Seth to take it further. Danny looks

at him, concerned.

DANNY

It's eight-six, Seth.

SETH

When I want your fucking opinion I'll

ask for it, fuckhead.

(to Derek and Cam)

Help me cover here, guys.

Derek and Cameron stare at Seth, knowing Seth will lose

and embarrass them.

CAMMERON

You got a big fucking mouth, fat kid.

SETH

I'll take this negro down.

DEREK

You can't take a shit, Seth. Shut up.

Derek shoots a look to Cameron, comes to a decision, and

stands. He shouts for all to hear.

DEREK

I got a bet.

Lawrence stares at him, sensing something harder.

DEREK

I come in, same score now, first one

to eleven. Black boys against the

white boys.

Lawrence looks back to his boys in disbelief.

LAWRENCE

Name your price, Cracker.

DEREK

No money...for the court. We win, you

grab your shit and find a different

place to run. Not just today...

forever. You win, and we don't come

back. No hitching, no fighting, here

in front of everyone. Six-eight, our

ball.

The action around the court gets very still. Finally,

Lawrence nods.

LAWRENCE

You got a lot of fucking balls, man.

Bring it. Right now.

Derek pulls off his sweatshirt and gives it to Stacey.

Lawrence gets his team together.

CUT TO:

EXT. COURT - BLACK VERSUS WHITE

No more mixed assemblage of players. One team is white,

one team is black.

A SERIES OF SMOTS

Derek blows by Lawrence for a left handed layup. Derek

hits a thirty looter. Curtis grabs a rebound and uses

his elbows to get defenders off him. Big Lawrence fouls

Derek hard and Derek stares at him. Big Lawrence makes a

twenty foot turnaround. Lawrence advances on a three on

two and dunks it. Derek pump fakes three times and uses

the glass for a deuce. Finally, Derek drives the lane

and dishes to Seth at the last minute for a bucket.

SETH

Yes! Ten a piece! Nice fucking dish.

SETH and CURTIS slap Derek's hand as they get back on

transition. Derek stares at Lawrence. CAMMERON watches

intently.

CAMMERON

It's all you, Der!

LAWRENCE

Fuckin' BYU, man! All right! All we

need is one now!

Lawrence and Derek lock eyes, a look exceeding

competitive boundary. A look filled with rage.

CAMMERON

Use that fat ass and keep him out,

Seth!

Seth and the opposing player bang to get position

underneath.

LAWRENCE

I ain't losin' in my house! Clear it

out!

The POWER FORWARD dribbles beautifully up the court --

his teammates clearing out the key. Defensively, Derek

is solid. He tries to pass Derek but Derek's defense is

stifling. Again. With another tricky move, Lawrence

inadvertently puts his LEFT ELBOW into Derek's face,

sending him quickly to the pavement. EVERYBODY STOPS.

CURTIS

That's fuckin' offense!

LAWRENCE

Get the fuck outta here! He was

movin' his feet!

Derek, teeth bloodied, rises. The two have a stare down.

DEREK

(threateningly)

I'll go if you want to.

LAWRENCE

You wanna piece! Bring it!

Players quickly rush to restrain the two even though the

teams hate each other.

DEREK

If you wanna go...I'm ready. Don't be

throwin' fuckin' elbows.

LAWRENCE

Fuck you!

Derek walks over to Cammeron, Danny and Stacey standing

courtside. She has a water bottle and a towel waiting

for him. He wipes his BLOODY LIP and takes a sip.

Cameron stares at Derek.

CAMMERON

Hey. Are you copacetic?

Derek nods and looks at Danny and Stacey.

CAMMERON

He's gonna do that 180 spin move.

DEREK

I know what he's gonna do.

DANNY

You gotta call offense on that shit.

DEREK

Not on point game you don't.

STACEY

Fuck that, D. That chucker can't pull

that shit. It's fucking-

DEREK

Not on point, honey.

He turns back to the court and walks over to Lawrence.

He stands in front of him and checks the ball in.

DEREK

Tens!

Lawrence takes the ball, passes it to the wing, and

quickly gets it back. Lawrence dribbles up top, makes a

marvelous 180 spin with the ball, and pulls up for a ten

foot jumper. Derek reads it perfectly and REJECTS IT.

Lawrence trips to the ground, Derek grabs the ball off

the fast break and DUNKS IT.

DANNY

(amazed by the dunk)

Holy shit!

Everybody courtside goes nuts. Derek walks to the

sideline, ignoring all the hand slaps being offered.

Everyone is riveted on Derek.

SETH

(to the other team)

Get off my fucking court! This is my

house!

DANNY

Yeah! Fuck...yeah!

A sweaty Derek pulls his little brother close. He takes

a drink of water, spits out more blood, looks at his

bitter opponent, and says nothing.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET - BY THE COURT

Derek, Danny, Seth, Cammeron, Curtis and Stacey stand

outside the Bronco. The doors are all open and the

stereo softly plays music in the b.g. Derek dries off.

DANNY'S POV. Derek throws a shirt and tie over his

sweaty, tattooed body. Danny watches the tats disappear,

and it's almost like his brother is normal. A name tag

reads LA COPY CENTER - DEREK - ASSISTANT MANAGER.

Derek looks at JEROME and LAWRENCE from afar. Danny

notices the two men stare at his brother, ready to kill.

Derek meets their gaze.

CUT TO:

EXT. VENICE BOARDWALK - PRESENT - DANNY'S POV

Danny awakens from his daydream. The black players now

stare at him. Danny puts his board down and skates down

the boardwalk.

DANNY (V/O)

It was only the beginning.

(then)

Derek once told me that minorities

would take America over one day. That

white people are too afraid. Maybe he

was right.

CUT TO:

EXT. SMALL BEACH HOUSE - A PATIO

Danny skates up to the gate and kicks his board up to his

hand. He passes two SURFBOARDS on his way towards the

back.

EXT. SIDE ENTRANCE - TWO 14-YEAR-OLDS

LIZZY, the redhaired beauty from earlier, and her blond

friend KAMMI, sturable out and laugh. They're stoned.

KAMMI

Hey! Danny!

DANNY

(smiling)

Hey.

LIZZY

You're going tonight, right?

DANNY

Where?

LIZZY

That party. Go there.

The two young girls giggle and take off.

INT. TINY, MESSY BEDROOM - SAME

JASON and CHRIS, two 17-year-old skinheads with shaved

heads, prepare to hit the surf. Chris sings to

INSTITUTIONALIZED BY SUICIDAL TENDENCIES on the stereo

while Jason throws on a ZOG T-SHIRT, the tops of their

fullsuits hang down.

DANNY (O.S)

There's dick for waves.

CHRIS

I don't care. I just wanna get wet.

TIGHT ON DANNY. He flips through a book titled TURNER

DIARIES. On the nightstand to his left is a digital

clock that reads 4:47 p.m.

DANNY

I've been trying to buy this. You

can't find it anywhere.

The two look at Dan.

JASON

Cammeron dropped us off a copy. Dope

fucking shit, man. It's all about

reclaiming the country. I'll let you

read it when I'm done.

DANNY

Fuck that. I just read Mein Kampf.

JASON

There you go.

CHRIS

Hey? What was this Daryl shit you

were talking about?

DANNY

Henry Hastings almost kicked Daryl

Dawson's ass. He would're too if--

CHRIS

Little Henry the negroid?

Danny nods.

DANNY

Everyday there's something over there,

man.

CHRIS

Why do you think we fuckin' quit?

DANNY

I hear you.

JASON

Daryl Dawson's a pussy faggot.

CUT TO:

EXT. BOARDWALK - DANNY, JASON AND CMRIS - LATER

The three skateboard down the strand, Jason and Chris

with their surfboardS and suits. Chris looks at Jason's

shirt.

CHRIS

What's ZOG again?

JASON

Zionist somethin'.

DANNY

Zionist-Occupational-Government.

Ahead an OLD ASIAN WOMAN tows a succession of SHOPPING

CARTS. As Jason passes, he smacks her with his surfboard

and knocks her to the ground. They all laugh and Danny

breaks off and heads east on Rose.

CUT TO:

INT. DUMPY APARTMENT - TIGHT ON TEARY EYES

DAVINA VINYARD, in a UCLA T-SHIRT and panties, cries on

the couch as she hugs a LONG HAIRED Derek. DORIS sobs as

she lays under a pink blanket, burdened by the flu.

Shirtless Derek grabs Doris' hand and leans over to kiss

her.

DEREK

It's gonna be fine.

EXT. DUMPY APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

Danny skates up to his residence and looks at a car

across the street. Two plainclothes cops from the

earlier meeting sit in their car and stare from afar.

Danny goes through the gate.

iNT. HOUSE- SAME

Danny walks in on the tearful family conclave. He stands

there, wishing the day would just end.

DANNY

Oh man--! Come on! What are you

crying about now?

THE PHONE RINGS and Derek rushes down the hall to get it.

DEREK

I got it.

Danny looks to his mother.

DANNY

Are you feeling better at all?

DORIS

I need a kiss.

Danny wipes away her tears, kisses her, and moves away

quickly so he won't get sick.

INT. BEDROOM - DEREK ON THE PHONE

He listens to the man on the other line.

DEREK

Unhuh. Unhuh. Did you expel him?

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME

There's a knock on the front door and Davina answers.

She opens the door and tries to shut it immediately.

SKINHEAD FAT SETH, from the game earlier, wears a GOOD

GUYS STEREO UNIFORM. He pushes the door back open.

DAVINA

What do you want!?

SETH

Open up, bitch!

Davina relents and Seth enters.

DAVINA

(examining him)

Jesus! Are you sure you can fit

through the door?

SETH

Fuck off.

(excited)

Where is he?

DAVINA

Back in his bedroom.

Seth pushes Danny to the side, passes Doris and yells.

SETH

(smiling)

Where are you, you free motherfucker?

Seth moves down the hall and bangs on Derek's door.

SETH

Vinyard!

DAVINA

He's on the phone, asshole!

SETH

Fuck off.

DEREK (O.S.)

I'll be out in a minute!

Without pushing it, Seth undoes his pants and moves into

the bathroom. Danny walks down the hall.

INT. BATHROOM - THE CAN

Seth sits on the toilet. Danny pushes the door slightly

and stares at Seth's GUN on the bathroom counter. Danny

looks at him. After a few seconds--

SETH

What are you lookin' at?

DANNY

I'm still trying to figure it out.

SETH

Come in here and I'll show you,

maggot.

DANNY

Fuck off. When'd you start carryin'?

SETH

I'm dropping the kids off at the pool,

junior. Shut the fuckin' door!

Danny grabs his nose and turns to the door behind him.

DANNY

Jesus! Chew your food, dude!

INT. BEDROOM - DEREK

He continues into the phone receiver.

DEREK

All right. Thanks. I'll take care of

it. Yeah.

DANNY'S POV. He opens the door and sees Derek on the

phone with his back to him. Above Derek is Danny's

surfboard, hanging on ropes hooked to the ceiling.

Blue jeans, black boots and slicked back hair, Derek

holds his hand up and motions for Dan to be quiet. The

sleeves of tats covering his arms, shoulders and back

(D.O.C.) define the hatred that has engulfed his past.

DEREK

(into the receiver)

Okay. Okay. I'm what? What channel?

He covers the receiver, turns on a ten inch TV, and flips

to the correct channel.

DEREK

(without turning)

What is it, Danny?

DANNY

You got pigs outside.

DEREK

I know.

Derek leans over the computer to check it out.

INT./EXT. BEDROOM - DEREM'S POV

He looks through the blinds and stares at the UNMARKED

CAR. Danny throws his backpack on the bed and exits.

TIGHT ON DEREK. He listens to the television.

TV ANCROR (O.S.)

Saturday's prison release of a former

skinhead gang leader has many

community leaders up in arms tonight.

INT. BATHROOM - TIGHT ON SETH

He points his Glock 9mm at the mirror.

SETH

Drop the t.v., nigger.

He laughs to himself and exits.

INT. HALLWAY - SETH CONTINUED

He bangs on Derek's door once more, pissed that Derek

didn't open it earlier. He heads for the living room.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUE TV ACTION

Danny, Davina, and Doris are glued to the news story on

the same station. Doris, once beautiful, is now aged and

graying. NYQUIL, PEPTO BISMOL, two PRESCRIPTION

CONTAINERS, and a spoon rest on the coffee table.

TIGHT ON THE TELEVISION. A WELL-DRESSED BLACK WOMAN

speaks angrily to the reporter covering the story.

Random black protestors nod and comment in the

background.

BLACK WOMAN

Maybe now whites will understand the

motives behind people like Malcolm X

and the Black Panthers. Just put the

shoe on the other foot.

FLASH TO:

EXT. CHINO PRISON - THE VINYARDS ON NEWS FOOTAGE

Danny walks' towards Derek and they smile and hug. Davina

and Doris soon join in.

Davina

BLACK WOMAN (V/O)

Derek Vinyard deserved the death

penalty for what he did to that young

man! And now he walks the street as

free as you and I.

DANNY

{to the tv)

What about OJ, bitch!?

INT. VINYARD HOUSE - TIGHT ON THE TV

The news segment winds down.

BLACK WOMAN

(fed up, to the camera)

They've done it to us again.

A hand reaches over to turn the channel. IT'S SETH.

Doris, in an awful state, lays back down.

TIGHT ON SETH. Tattoos cover his forearms. A BLOODY

SNAKE is halfway tucked under his rolled-up sleeves.

SETH

Nigger lovin' Jew media calling the

shots. Watch cartoons. It's the only

t.v. that's safe nowadays.

DORIS

No one's safe--until we all are.

Seth looks at the woman like she's from another planet.

He laughs and goes into the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN - SETH'S POV

He looks through the fridge but finds nothing. He closes

the door and looks at the family pictures on the door.

A FAMILY SHOT of Doris, Derek, Danny, Davina, and DENNIS

VINYARD in front of church. Seth appreciates Dennis in a

coat and tie. Below that, a picture of a dirty and

rugged Dennis and a young Davina, wearing her father's

FIRE HELMET. Danny with Doris.

SETH

Come in here, Dan.

INT. SMALL KITCHEN - SAME

He sits and comes upon Davina's revealing CROTCH. She

studies and so does he. Danny walks in the kitchen and

looks through the fridge. He pulls out a leftover piece

of steak and gnaws on it. Seth looks over at Dan

SETH

Where the fuck you find that?

DANNY

Goin' to Cam's party tonight?

SETH

Is Davina's ass water tight?

Danny laughs.

DAVINA

Hurry up and leave, Goodyear. You've

taken your dump now go.

SETH

Listen to you. You callin' me a

blimp, you fuckin' Democrat?!

DAVINA

Yes! I am!

Danny takes a bite and laughs at Seth.

DANNY

I'm there tonight.

SETH

Oh yeah? You ask Derek?

DANNY

Noo...but he's got two kegs.

SETH

Well...you can think of me drinkin'

'em then when you're studying with

fuckin'... White Trash in there.

Davina scoffs and Seth looks up her shirt.

SETH

Where is the fucker, by the way!?

He's hiding from us.

Davina looks up from her homework and catches the pervert

looking at her.

DAVINA

You're not even human.

Seth erupts with laughter.

DANNY

Is Cam playing sticks?

SETH

Of course, man.

Seth drums on the table as Danny shoves the last bite

into his mouth.

SETH

Sit down. I wanna ask you some

questions.

DANNY

I got homework, Seth.

SETH

Two fucking seconds, dude!

Danny sits and looks at Seth.

SETH

Tell me your convictions.

DANNY

Fuck off.

SETH

Tell me some of the shit you've

learned luckbrain or I'll pistol-whip

you.

DANNY

About Adolf?

SETH

About anything. What do you believe

in?

Danny thinks to himself and smiles.

DANNY

I believe in filth and destruction and

chaos and death and greed.

SETH