Dear White People Page #18

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104.

HELMUT:

Two hundred thousand views. Look

they even auto-tuned it.

With a click Helmut pulls it up.

AUTOTUNED COCO (YOUTUBE)

Muthafuckin Tubman! Muthatfuckin

Tubman! Don’t give a f*** about no

muthafuckin Tubman!

Coco’s not sure what to think.

HELMUT:

Couple months, that’s how long

shooting for an episode takes. We

recommend you cut your course load

in half to accommodate the

schedule.

COCO:

Half?

HELMUT:

Trust me it it’ll read “full-time”

in the episode. If...once we go to

series, we might have to figure out

a summer schedule.

COCO:

For shooting?

HELMUT:

For uh...classes and stuff. Won’t

be graduating early anymore

sweetheart.

Helmut shifts a contract over to Coco.

HELMUT (CONT’D)

Five grand for the episode. Twenty

each if you get picked up for

series. What do you say?

Coco stares at the contract and back at Helmut.

HELMUT (CONT’D)

Trust me sweetie it’s the same out

there as it is in here. Good news

is? Against all that damn white you

and I? We pop. Think I wanted to be

the go-to producer for all things

Black?

105.

Coco shrugs.

HELMUT (CONT’D)

Tell you what’s worse though. Being

that broke Nigga stuck on the south

side of Chicago. Hundred and

Fiftieth street.

Coco takes a deep breath. Stares right into his eyes -

99 EXT. MANCHESTER - DAY 99

Coco exits a building and spots Troy up ahead. He’s flanked

by his former enemies turned supporters, Reggie and the other

BoFros. They all carry Troy’s “New Hope” posters.

COCO:

Made some new friends?

Troy shrugs as Coco grabs for his hand. He pulls away and

shares a glance with Reggie, who doesn’t approve.

COCO (CONT’D)

Fine.

TROY:

Come on Coco.

COCO:

F*** you.

Coco starts to walk ahead.

TROY:

My dad saw your videos. He’s a

little worried about --

COCO:

-- how it’ll look. With your

campaign and all. What’s your best

friend Reggie think?

Troy motions for Reggie to go on ahead.

TROY:

We had fun, alright?

COCO:

I get everyone else wants you to

win Troy. But do you?

Troy doesn’t know how to answer that. He stares at the

triumphant, winning version of himself on his poster.

106.

Coco’s eyes shift longingly as she walks ahead - unsure of

who she is at the moment and who she will be in the next.

Watching her is Lionel and Sam - sitting with Gabe and

Sungmi. They both know that look well...

SAM:

Hey Lionel. With me out and Troy

moving on - A/P’s going to need a

new head of house.

LIONEL:

Think there’s a story there? Who do

you think it’ll be?

Sam and Sungmi share a glance and stare right at Lionel.

LIONEL (CONT’D)

What? No.

SUNGMI:

Everyone loves you. Won’t be hard

to rally the vote.

SAM:

Yeah. We got you man.

Lionel takes in this moment. One of complete acceptance.

100 INT. FLETCHERS OFFICE - DAY 100

Fairbanks turns from the window in Fletcher’s office to join

him at his desk. They’re all ears as they look across to...

HELMUT:

Let me get this straight. First you

tried to break up the Black house.

Then you took down the sister with

the little radio show. And after

all that, your kid throws a

Blackface party?

FLETCHER:

Now wait a minute!

HELMUT:

You thought you were having money

problems before? Wait till cable

gets their hands on this story.

Bill Maher is gon’ f*** you up!

FLETCHER:

I have heard enough -

107.

HELMUT:

-- Wait I’m sorry. Look from where

I’m sitting this place is a

goldmine.

DEAN FAIRBANKS:

What?

HELMUT:

For one we got to show the events

that led up to the party -

DEAN FAIRBANKS:

-- That already happened.

HELMUT:

Well yeah, but we can reenact --

DEAN FAIRBANKS:

-- reenact?

HELMUT:

Documentary term...Look, I can

start putting together an overall

deal today. I’m talking real money!

Turns out the one thing America

likes in it’s reality more than

ignant Black folks, is crazy racist

White people!

DEAN FAIRBANKS:

Now you look here. This is an

honorable institution. The idea

that we would so much as entertain

this suggestion -

Fletcher holds his hand up. His turn to speak.

FLETCHER:

How much we talking?

Fairbanks’ outrage turns to resignation as Helmut, the one

winner here smiles. Dollar signs in his eyes.

100 CUT TO BLACK. 100

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