Drumline Page #6

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Choreography and formation plots

get worked out on Tuesday.

We give it a short test run

on Thursday and Friday.

Mr. Miles, strap-up.

- What the...

- Let's get to work.

This is bullshit.

(Crowd Cheering)

(Announcer) There they are, the homecoming

king and queen and the A&T court.

- But y'all know it's all about the band at homecoming 2002.

- (Cheering)

On your feet

for the greatest school...

and the baddest band

in the land, Atlanta A&T!

# (Brass Joins Percussion) #

# (Ends) #

(Announcer)

Now that's why they call it "homecoming".

You better recognize the realness.

Now give some love

to Dr. James Lee.

(Wagner)

Yes.

(Laughs)

Meet Dr. Lee.

(Announcer)

They came all the way from Macon University...

for the annual drum battle.

- There will be no discussion. We rule percussion.

- (All) Hey!

So send out your best.

And, remember, keep it clean.

- Now just wait a minute. They came here just to see you.

- One second.

- (Cheering)

- (All) Hey!

(Laughing)

- (All) Hey!

- (Crowd Booing)

- (Announcer) That's it? So it's amateur night, huh?

- (Sean) Senate!

(Announcer)

Watch this.

(Crowd Cheers)

- (Crowd Gasps)

- (Indistinct)

- (Crowd Boos)

- (Announcer) Oh, yeah. The powder was real cute.

- (Sean) Senate!

- Come on now.

- (Crowd Oohing)

- Come on!

Yes. Look at our boys.

You didn't tell me

you had all of this planned.

- (Grunts)

- (Crowd Gasps)

(Screaming)

Break it up!

Break it up!

Hey, yo, big Rob,

you was throwing crazy blows.

You had my back.

Good looking out.

Ain't nobody backing up your dumb ass.

I was throwing for A&T.

(Woman #1)

Good game, huh, girl?

(Woman #2)

Yes, everything came out so beautiful.

I think we have about

three more games before...

- Dad.

- Okay. Let's go.

(Chattering)

(Chattering)

(Man Clears Throat)

Shh.

- (Door Closes)

- (Chattering Stops)

Why didn't nobody tell me

we was having a meeting?

We don't have to tell you anything.

(Devon)

What's going on?

Alright. That's how it's gonna be?

(Door Opens)

Yo, Dr. Lee, man, you gotta talk to the line.

They tripping.

Look, I'm sorry about yesterday.

I got a little carried away.

Wasn't nobody stepping up,

and I'm saying you put me on the line...

'cause you know

I can make things happen.

I put you on the line

because I made a mistake.

And now I have

to do what I believe.

You are no longer

a member of this band.

(Voice Echoing) Devon, there are

things that you just do not understand.

(Echoing)

Devon?

Yeah. I figured you'd

just be getting off work.

Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

I just got up.

Uh-huh. Mom, I'm fine. It's...

It's just midterms. Yeah.

(Sighs)

Uh... Uh...

Actually, I should probably have

my head in a book right now.

Yeah, I was just calling to say hey.

Yeah, I'll talk to you later.

(Sighs)

I love you too.

(Phone Beeps)

(Sighs)

It ain't gonna be the same

without you, man.

It's all about the tubas now, dog.

What you mean?

It's always been about the tubas, shorty.

- (Scoffs)

- (Laughs, Mocks Scoffing) Nothing.

Hey, man, you know

how Dr. Lee is about time.

- I know, man.

- Yeah.

(Imitating Lee)

"You're on time if youre five minutes early".

- "You're late if youre on time".

- (Laughs)

Hey, we gonna miss you, man.

Why you acting like

the man's gonna leave school?

Look. Fried okra night in my room.

Be there, all right?

- You a fool. Take this.

- All right then.

- All right.

- Y'all stay up.

All right.

See you in class.

Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!

What... What...

What in the hell was that?

Huh? Snares, y'all need

to pick it up.

- Mr. Wade?

- What... What is it? What?

Okay. Break them up into groups,

and do something. I don't know.

- (Whistle Blows)

- Yeah! It's about time you got down here.

- What took you so long?

- Uh, sorry to interrupt your practice, sir.

(Laughs)

Man, you put on a show up there...

at the homecoming last week.

But I bet Dr. Lee grounded you,

didn't he?

- Actually, he kicked me off the band.

- I'm sorry to hear that, son.

But, see, that's what happens

when a talented brother like yourself...

don't have a real place to shine.

Uh, you know, Mr. Wade...

I was wondering if maybe you had

a space for me on your band next year.

That's a definite possibility.

But I want you to think very carefully about that,

then you come back and see me.

In the meantime, I'll talk to the coaches

about the scholarship situation.

All right.

- Thanks.

- (Chuckles) All right.

Look, I might as well

tell you this up front.

What's that?

I can't really read music.

Don't worry about that. A lot of folks

can't read the sign that says "toilet"...

don't mean

they don't know how to use one.

- (Chattering)

- You want one? Okay.

Just once, could a brother

get a slice of pizza?

Hi.

Devon.

Oh, snap.

Now you can see me?

Look, I panicked.

My parents were talking

all that crap about...

"That hoodlum on the field

that started the fight", and I just...

Devon, I'm... I'm sorry.

It ain't about your parents.

You left me hanging.

You know how that feels?

No? Let me show you.

Dr. Lee? Dr. Lee.

I just wanted to catch

you before rehearsal.

I was thinking that instead of promoting

a P2 to replace Devon...

we might just keep

the snare line at nine.

And how long have you

been thinking that?

Just this morning.

Are you sure?

I thought maybe it was the day

you showed us all he couldn't read...

or maybe it was the night

he took your solo.

I don't know.

But since you heard him play...

you decided that the line,

or perhaps maybe just you...

would be better off without him.

Remember when I first

made you section leader?

You were sweating bullets

wondering how you could lead...

this loud, passionate group

of your peers...

and I said you would be fine.

Remember why?

You said I loved

the sound of the line...

more than the sound

of my own drum.

Yes. And you've lost

sight of that...

and that's okay because...

we all lose sight

of things sometimes.

But if you don't get it together,

Mr. Taylor...

you're gonna have

a difficult time leading the senate...

whether Devon is on it or not.

(Wade)

Now I put in a word with Mr. Hill...

to get you some

financial aid next year...

hook you up with a part-time job

this summer, put some money in your pocket.

- You know you need some money. Hmm? Hmm?

- (Laughs) Yeah.

- Yeah. I heard that.

- Yeah, everybody needs some money.

And the B.E.T. Southern Classic coming up,

where you gonna sit, on the ground?

Sit up in the skybox with us.

- You can see the honeys way good up there.

- (Laughs) Oh, yeah!

- Most def.

- (Both Laugh)

- Now, what can you tell me?

- What you mean, what can I tell you?

What you mean,

"What I mean"?

Oh, I know Dr. Lee is working

on something big for the Classic.

The man's too stubborn to sit down

and take his butt-whipping like a man.

- You know that.

- (Both Chuckle)

- I don't know.

- There you go again. He don't know.

(Laughs)

At least a play list.

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