Next Friday

EXT. FRONT LAWN - OVERHEAD SHOT - NIGHT

DEBO is laid out on the grass.

CRAIG (V.O.)

In the movies, when you beat up the

neighborhood bully; you suppose to live

happily ever after. But around here;

that's when all the drama begins...

Blue and red police lights flash over Debo's body. Two

sheriffs walk INTO OUR FRAME and stand over Debo. They flash

their lights on him.

CRAIG (cont'd) (V.O.)

Last Friday; I got fired for the first

time. I got high for the first time. I

got shot at for the first time and I

kicked Debo's ass for the first time...

They get him to his feet; but he stumbles and falls in the

bushes like a knocked out prize fighter. The sheriffs laugh

at him.

Debo looks dazed and confused. The sheriffs help him out the

bushes and start to cuff him.

CRAIG (cont'd) (V.O.)

I was the man that night; and Debo ended

up going to jail for a couple of years.

But he told Ezal he was getting out next

Friday. He said, when he see me, he was

gonna smoke me on the spot...

They walk him OUT OF FRAME...

FADE TO BLACK.

OVER BLACK:

CRAIG (cont'd) (V.O.)

And today is next Friday...

SOUNDTRACK!

"New Line Cinema presents, etc., etc...

FADE IN:

EXT. LOS ANGELES - EARLY MORNING

OPENING CREDITS. It's early Friday morning and the sun peeks

over the LA skyline. As the city starts to awake and the

credits continue to roll;

we see SEVERAL SHOTS of the real people who make up Los

Angeles. It seems that they all move to the same beat.

EXT. L.A. COUNTY JAIL - CONTINUOUS

Debo is released from the Twin Towers County Jail. Still in

his orange jumpsuit, he walks right past us and down the

street. Everybody clears his path.

SOUNDTRACK still PUMPIN'.

Debo crosses the street passing an old man dancing and

directing traffic. Debo stops, the man starts to dance in

front of him. He stares for a second, then he's on his way.

Still walking tall and hard, he trips over a crack in the

sidewalk (losing cool points).

Three little black girls in plaid uniforms practice the

latest dance steps on their way to school. Debo is walking

towards them. They scream and take off in the other

direction. He smiles. Briefly.

Still walking; he stops at a corner. A SA boy waits to cross

with his low-rider bike. A Metrolink train passes. After it

goes by; we see Debo riding off on the boy's bike. He's on

the ground holding his eye.

Debo continues to ride through the city.

He turns a corner or two and comes to a stop at Craig's

house.

EXT. JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Mr. Jones' dog catcher's truck sits in front of the house.

A CHIHUAHUA (like the Taco Bell dog) takes a dump on the

lawn. It starts to BARK at Debo. He looks down at the dog

and kicks him in the street. The DOG YIPES!

Debo focuses his attention on Craig's house.

INT. JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The hallway is clear and quiet, until MR. JONES (Craig's

father), storms out of the bedroom. He struggles to put on

his dog catcher's uniform. He stops at the bathroom door and

knocks hard.

MR. JONES

Craig! Craig! Off yo' ass and on yo'

feet; this ain't the time to beat your

meat!

Mr. Jones laughs at himself.

CRAIG (O.S.)

I'll be out in about 35-40 minutes!

MR. JONES

Hurry up; today is Fri-day! And we gotta

hit the high-way!

Mr. Jones continues on his way; dancing to the beat.

INT. BATHROOM - CLOSE-UP ON HIGH TIMES MAGAZINE - CONTINUOUS

Hands crack open a $20 sack of bud onto the magazine. A pack

of Zigzags fall INTO FRAME. Papers are ripped from the

package.

CLOSE UP ON CRAIG JONES

the doctor of this delicate operation.

CRAIG (V.O.)

Soon as my pops found out what Debo said

to Ezal, he wanted me to move with my

uncle and little cousin in Rancho

Cucamonga. Til' things calm down, or

Debo went back to prison. Whichever

comes first.

He's sitting on the toilet (dressed: not using it) putting

the finishing touches on his masterpiece. He licks, rolls

and slides the 'J into the fifth pocket on his Levi jeans.

CRAIG (cont'd) (V.O.)

I feel like the biggest punk around here.

I wiped Debo's ass. He should be the one

moving.

He exits.

EXT. JONES' HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The front door opens. Mr. Jones walks out the door, yelling

back into the house.

MR. JONES

Craig! Let's go! I don't wanna hit that

traffic.

He steps off the porch backwards and into "fresh Chihuahua

sh*t." He slips and falls on the grass.

MR. JONES (cont'd)

I be got damn.

Mr. Jones gets up. He brushes the grass off his uniform. He

looks clean, but when he turns around dog sh*t is smashed all

over his back and butt.

MR. JONES (cont'd)

Craig! Craig!

Craig emerges from the house with his bags in hand.

CRAIG:

(irritated)

Here I come!

MR. JONES

(still mad)

Well bring yo' ass on...

Craig slams the door and starts towards the truck.

CRAIG:

What's the matter?

MR. JONES

I fell in some mud. Now hurry up!

Mr. Jones gets in the truck. Craig jumps in. They back out

and pull off.

INT. DOG TRUCK - MOVING - CLOSE-UP ON CRAIG - CONTINUOUS

He's daydreaming about Smokey.

CRAIG (V.O.)

I didn't wanna leave my neighborhood at

all. Especially my homeboy Smokey. But

he went to rehab last week. I know I'mma

miss him...

Out of nowhere, Debo jumps in front of the truck. Mr. Jones

slams on the BRAKES.

DEBO:

Craig! Get out the car, boy! This the

rematch!

Debo reaches for his shank. Craig turns to Mr. Jones!

CRAIG:

Daddy, punch it!

Mr. Jones floors it and hits Debo. He falls over the hood,

off the car and in the street. The yellow truck speeds off.

Debo jumps up staggering with scrapes and bruises.

DEBO:

You know I'mma find you! You can run ya'

can't hide!

BACK IN CAR - CONTINUOUS

Craig screams out the window.

CRAIG:

You fake ass Suge Knight!

Mr. Jones is a bit shaken up.

MR. JONES

That nigga worst than them damn pit

bulldogs or something! That's why moving

wit'cha Uncle Elroy and Cousin Day-Day is

the best thing for you right now.

CRAIG:

(with attitude)

Ya'll making me look like a punk.

MR. JONES

It ain't about being a punk, son. It's

about this...

Craig smells something in the air.

MR. JONES (cont'd)

My great, great grand daddy on my Momma

side; had a saying... 'See a fool --

leave a fool.' Somebody else a get him.

Plus, I don't want that fool shooting at

my house trying to hit yo' ass.

CRAIG:

What's that smell?

Mr. Jones sniffs.

MR. JONES

Must be your upper lip, 'cause I don't

smell nothing.

CRAIG:

(holding his nose)

I do.

MR. JONES

What it smell like?

CRAIG:

Smells like you didn't fall in no mud.

Mr. Jones grabs the air freshener from under the seat. He

starts to spray too much. Craig's window won't roll down.

CRAIG (cont'd)

What's wrong with the window?

MR. JONES

I gotta get'em fixed. They don't roll

down.

CRAIG:

All damn.

MR. JONES

Just hold your breath.

EXT. CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA - MORNING

They exit the freeway and pass a sign that reads, "Rancho

Cucamonga" (the city away from the city).

EXT. UNCLE ELROY'S STREET - CONTINUOUS

Welcome to the suburbs. Where the "Smiley Happy People" live

in peace and quiet.

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