Drumline Page #3

---

Yeah, he about to bring it

like you ain't never heard.

See, I can help you out

with a couple of them dance moves.

- One, two, three. Pop it. Take it.

- (Laughs)

Drop it. Yeah.

Beat it, Devon.

Thought you ain't remember me.

(Iron Man)

A break is five minutes, not 15.

Hey, Devon,

you know if you keep messing up...

- Ernest actually might get a chest.

- (Men Laughing)

(Straining) And Diedre might get

strong enough to pick up a hot comb.

(Men Laughing)

# (Rhythmic Drumming) #

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hold up. Hold up.

What are y'all looking at?

Drums ain't going nowhere,

so what you clowns looking down for?

Always remember this.

Playing the drums,

it's like making love.

You can't be looking down there seeing

what's going' on, trying to get the flow right.

Eyes on me.

Don't look down.

Yeah. Now, when you

making love right...

when you handling your business,

you feel it!

- (Sticks Clatter)

- (Groans)

Maybe you don't.

Eyes on me.

Mm-hmm!

Yeah. You know how it is

when you hitting that spot, right?

- Don't ya, girl?

- (Sticks Clatter)

Never look down.

(Sticks Clatter)

(Dr. Lee)

That was impressive.

Thank you, sir.

What I like most...

was instead of

making Sean look bad...

you made yourself

look like a jackass.

Let's take this from the top,

and this time, follow me.

Don't look down,

remember?

You have to learn to follow

before you can lead, Mr. Miles.

(Sean)

Congratulations.

You're not crabs anymore.

Now you're crab drummers.

- (Murmuring)

- And tomorrow...

it's tree-shaking

eliminations...

which will determine

who will become A&T drummers.

So tonight, celebrate...

'cause you made it

through training.

- (Cheering)

- Yo, whoa, whoa.

After you prove a thorough

knowledge of the rule book.

What is mandatory

of all A&T musicians?

All A&T musicians

must read music.

When can a P2 or P3...

challenge for a spot

on the field?

At the practice

before the performance, sir.

What is...

the last rule

of the rule book?

Uh...

(Mouthing Words)

Head, uh...

Stay ahead of the game.

- (All Groan)

- (Man Imitates Buzzer Sounding)

One band, one sound means

you all are responsible for each other.

That means all of you are responsible

for showing Boys in the Hood here...

what the last rule is.

(All Laugh)

- What y'all laughing at?

- (Charles) It's on.

Down, boy! Sit down!

Sit down!

- What's up? I'm going to get a lap dance or something?

- Something like that.

- (Sean) Why don't you read the last page, brother?

- All right, all right.

"If you do not read

this rule book"...

(All)

"Your head will be shaved".

I told you to read the book.

I told you, dog.

Devon, would you like me

to help you take your cornrows out?

Would you like me

to help you take yours out?

(Ernest)

Show you some love, dog.

Hey, Dev, let me tell you.

You can look like me...

- but you ain't never gonna play like me.

- (Razor Buzzing)

(All Moaning)

Watch my nerves.

- You ain't touching my head.

- You don't follow the rules, you don't audition.

Whatever, man.

Is that what you want me

to tell Dr. Lee?

I don't care what you tell him.

Dr. Lee ain't my daddy. This is bullshit.

(Man)

Devon, come on, man.

Man, how much fish is Charles

gonna put in there?

He gonna short out

the whole building. Damn!

# (Hip-hop) #

You know, uh, big brother Sean

is going to be really happy...

when he finds out you quit the band

'cause of some stupid haircut.

(Scoffs)

Well, all right.

I'm about to go get up

on some honeys.

Holler!

- (People Chattering)

- # (Hip-hop Continues) #

This is the best.

Yo, yo, yo!

(Man)

That's Devon.

(All Cheering)

Move away! I got my homeboy

right down the middle.

Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. Hold up.

Who in here can do an uptown fade?

- (All Yelling)

- I got this. I got this one.

(Dr. Lee)

All right, crabs, check up!

Tree-shaking is gonna

rank you P1 through P4.

But only P1 s are guaranteed

a spot on the field.

Now, if youre a P2 or a P3,

you can still get a spot...

in sections that are available,

so do your best.

I'll see you all

on the other side.

(Car Horn Honks Three Times)

(Man)

Who is that?

That's the upperclassmen.

They flash their lights to say

what ranking they think we should get.

Hey, Charles,

what's up with your socks?

Man, don't worry about my socks, man.

It's a tuba thing, shorty.

Better be.

Mr. Miles, please play the required piece.

It's on the stand.

You notice this crab hasn't looked down

at his sheet music once?

- So?

- So?

Who memorizes an audition piece?

It's complicated.

It's supposed to be read.

They expect you to stumble through it.

Like you did?

Mr. Miles, I guess you

didn't like the required piece as written.

No, I just thought I'd add

a little something-something on the end.

He can play. We all know that.

But his attitude is messed up.

Now, I've put three years

into building this line.

And the chemistry's great

and I don't want to jeopardize that.

(Car Horns Honk Once)

Your line seems

to think otherwise.

(Excited Chattering)

Yeah! P2 bass! Ow!

(Devon's Voice)

I did it, Ma.

Yeah, P1 and everything.

The only freshman to do that.

I was just calling to let you know

everything is everything.

Come on.

You know what that means.

Yeah, it's all good.

Excuse me. Hi.

I'm looking for this really good-looking

brother with cornrows.

- And I heard...

- (Student) Shh!

I heard he made the drumline.

Oh, so now you got jokes?

- (Chuckles) Congratulations.

- Thanks.

You know I can't wait

to see you move to my beats.

Do women actually respond

to the way you come at them?

Well, actually,

they usually come at me.

Hmm.

What? Wait.

Where you going?

My bad. Hold on.

Why don't you school me

on how to come at a sister?

Okay.

How about showing some interest

in something other than the way she looks?

All right.

Let me see what you got here.

Damn, girl! What, you part

of Oprah's book club?

I'm a philosophy major.

- Dang. Philosophy? That's deep.

- Yeah.

Like, Miss S.A.T. girl,

huh?

Your parents probably used to put

all your report cards on the refrigerator.

Mom be talking about,

"Aw, look, my baby done got another 'A'.

Yes, she did".

Something like that.

What about you?

- What major makes your parents proud?

- Hey, to tell you the truth...

I never even thought I'd be in college

till Dr. Lee recruited me.

It's that simple

for you, huh?

Yeah.

- I should...

- You know what? Let me get these for you.

- That's so cute.

- Yeah, I thought you'd like that.

I did. I liked it.

But I can manage.

- I have a car.

- Word?

(Laila)

I can't believe I'm letting you do this.

All right, um, just...

Gently.

- (Tires Skid)

- (Laughing) That was not gently.

- (Tires Skid)

- Okay!

Okay. Okay.

I said, "Gently". Hello...

It's your clutch

or something.

No, it's a new car.

Okay?

Softly, softly. Okay?

- Uh-huh.

- Not bad.

Yeah. Recognize the skills.

I don't even

let my sister do this.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote