American History X Page #11

No!

Derek STOMPS his foot on the back of LAWRENCE'S head -

completely tearing his jaw in half on the curb's corner.

DANNY:

(crying)

Holy f***ing sh*t! Derek! What the

hell was that for?! Jesus!

The two lock eyes. Derek does not flinch. Helicopter

lights shine on the house. COP CARS SCREECH TO A HALT.

DANNY'S POV. Two cops take cover behind their door, draw

their guns, and shout instructions. Derek puts the gun

down, puts his arms behind his head, and drops to his

knees. His eyes are remorseless.

DANNY (V/O)

Joseph Conrad once wrote that "murder

is always with us. It's almost an

institution." That couldn't rang more

true than with me.

CUT TO:

EXT. WET STREET - THE CRIME SCENE - LATER

FIVE PATROL CARS, a FIRE TRUCK, TWO AMBULANCES, and a

throng of terrified NEIGHBORS strangle the front of the

house. Clothed and handcuffed, Derek is escorted from

the house by two uniformed cops and RASMUSSEN.

DANNY (V/O)

Bobby Lawrence died of massive head

trauma early that morning.

Derek marches past the bodies -- which are being tended

to thoroughly.

DANNY (V/O)

Six months after that...Derek was

convicted and sentenced to seven years

for voluntary manslaughter...to be

served at the California State

Penitentiary in Chino.

Rasmussen forces Derek's head down and he gets in the

car. He stares at his brother and sister as police

lights flash on him. Then to Stacey. Finally, to a

lifeless Doris. They lock eyes as the patrol car takes

off down the street.

DANNY (V/O)

Prosecutors wanted murder one for my

brother's torture method...but there

wasn't enough "premeditated" evidence.

CUT TO:

OMIT:

INT. BEDROOM - DANNY'S EYES

They clearly focus on the computer. HIGHLIGHTED is the

sentence "There might have been if I testified." Only

when he hits the DELETE KEY does it disappear. He

continues typing.

DANNY (V/O)

(continuing)

Over the next year we'd lose our house

and the rest of our father's pension

to attorney fees. My mother...much to

all of our surprise...stood by Derek.

Danny's interrupted by a LOUD KNOCK on the front door.

INT. FRONT HALL - DANNY'S POV

He looks through the PEEPHOLE and sees it's CHRIS AND

JASON. He sighs in relief and opens the door.

JASON:

We're here, dude.

CHRIS:

Drop your dick and grab your stick.

DANNY:

I told you I can't tonight.

DORIS (O.S.)

(from the couch)

Danny?

DANNY:

It's okay, Mom.

The two punks laugh as Danny pushes them and their boards

back to his bedroom. He shuts his bedroom door.

INT. BEDROOM - THE THREESOME

Danny looks at the two.

DANNY:

If I don't finish this thing I'm dead.

CHRIS:

Just tell 'em you'll do it tomorrow.

You can't miss the party.

JASON:

Fire pie Lizzy called and told us to

grab your ass.

DANNY:

She did?

CHRIS:

(nodding)

You gotta hit that sh*t. It's the

only fun thing that's legal anymore.

The PHONE RINGS and Danny grabs it.

DANNY:

Hello?

INT. DARK OFFICE - TIGHT ON SWEENEY

The only illumination shines through the window from the

street. Holding his briefcase, he stands over his desk

phone, all packed up and almost out the door.

SWEENEY:

Dan?

DANNY (O.S.)

Yeah?

SWEENEY:

Dr. Sweeney.

INTERCUT THE CONVERSATION

DANNY:

(worried)

What's going on?

SWEENEY:

Nothing here. Is everything all right

over there?

DANNY:

Everything's fine.

SWEENEY:

How's it comin'?

DANNY:

I'm doing it right now.

CMRIS:

Who is it, dude?

DANNY:

(covering the receiver)

It's Sweeney.

CHRIS:

Who?! Why is he calling here!? F***

you, Sweeney! A**hole!

JASON:

(grabbing the receiver)

Get a f***ing job, you reggie!

Danny grabs the receiver back and yells at his friends.

DANNY:

You f***ers are going to get me

booted!

(into the receiver)

Dr. Sweeney? I'm sorry, man.

SWEENEY:

Just make sure it's on my desk

tomorrow, Danny.

DANNY:

It'll be there, alright!?

SWEENEY:

It better be.

Sweeney hangs up abruptly. Danny slams the phone on the

hook, gives it TME FINGER, and looks at his friends.

DANNY:

Let's go.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMMERON'S HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT

A TRUCK sits across the street.

INT. TRUCK - DEREK AND SETH

They sit in the car as a band JAMS from Cam's house.

Shiftless Seth throws on a black CRO-MAG t-shirt and

tosses his work shirt in the back. He wolfs down a

burger as Derek rolls his foot on a basketball on the

floor.

SETH:

You're an idiot if you ask me.

DEREK:

I'm not asking you.

SETH:

What if he writes something stupid and

that n*gger turns you in? Jesus. He

didn't testify, Der. They can use

that sh*t and re-try you.

Derek takes a long stare at Seth, who devourshis burger.

DEREK:

Sweeney's not gonna do anything, Seth.

He helped get me released.

Seth is a pathetic vision to Derek. Derek stares at him

for several moments.

DEREK:

I'm out, Seth.

Seth wipes his mouth and casually meets eyes with Derek.

DEREK:

I'm only going to tell you this once

so pay attention. I'm done, Seth. I

don't want you to come near me...near

Dan...I want you to leave my family

alone.

Seth stares and laughs at Derek.

SETH:

You're serious.

DEREK:

I'm dead f***ing serious. No more

phone calls, no more visits, no more

nothing.

Seth doesn't know what to say.

DEREK:

We don't exist as far as you're

concerned, Seth.

SETH:

I can't believe I'm hearing this sh*t

come out of your mouth.

DEREK:

Believe it, Seth. Believe it. I

spent over three years away from my

family. My family, Seth. For what?

SETH:

For your country, fuckhole, that's

what. I'd do a hundred years before I

felt like that.

Seth gets out, slams the door, and walks to the party.

SETH:

You're a motherfucking traitor!

Derek stares out the window and sighs.

EXT. STREET - DEREK'S POV

He watches the house. Suddenly, Danny, Chris and Jason

skate up to the residence and follow Seth inside.

DEREK:

What the--? Sh*t.

INT. CAMMERON'S HOUSE - THE FRONT DOOR

CUT TO:

DICK NIXON plays a punk version of WHITE CHRISTMAS as

skins slam dance.

EXT. CAMMERON'S BACK PATIO - A SKINHEAD

His face is tattooed with crow's feet and prison ink.

CASSANDRA, a frail, older, English woman with green hair

and multiple piercings, approaches JASON at the keg.

CASSANDRA:

You're full of sh*t!

JASON:

If he ain't here, he's comin'.

INT. HOUSE - MORE SLAMMING

Chris, Danny and Jason pound beer and huck DARTS at a

picture of O.J. SIMPSON. Seth violently slams past the

kids. Derek walks in.

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