Straight Outta Compton Page #17

The Man STOPS about fifteen feet away from Jerry, and stands

there, just staring, patiently, ominously.

87.

JERRY:

Help you with something?

LARGE MAN:

This your house?

Jerry looks at the Man. Glances up and down the street.

There’s nobody around. It couldn’t be quieter.

JERRY:

Who’s asking?

LARGE MAN:

It’s a real nice house.

Jerry glances at the front door of the house. Seems to be

gauging, in his mind, how long it will take to get there.

JERRY:

Who are you? Are you with Suge

Knight? Someone else? Ice Cube?

The Man doesn’t answer. Instead, he just gazes upon the

house, the lush surrounding lawn, the trees.

LARGE MAN:

Have yourself a good night, Jerry.

He makes a hat-tipping gesture to Jerry. Except he’s not

wearing a hat. Then he walks back to the car, climbs inside.

Jerry watches him go, alarmed --

82 INT. HOTEL - LOBBY - NEW YORK CITY - DAY 82

We are in a HALLWAY adjacent to the AUDITORIUM where a RAP

PANEL is about to take place.

Find CUBE drifting down the escalator along with THE LENCH

MOB, and they’re all decked out in their Lench Mob Gear.

Coming up the escalator on the other side, is the rap group

ABOVE THE LAW (ATL), all wearing gear blazing the RUTHLESS

RECORDS logo.

As the two groups approach each other, they both get QUIET,

and their faces pull into angry sneers. The animosity between

the two groups is tense, palpable, dangerous.

Just as they’re about to PASS each other -

ATL GUY 1

(under his breath)

F***in' traitor...

88.

But Cube and his boys heard that sh*t.

CUBE:

F***’d y’all say!?

ATL GUY 2

Ruthless, muthafuckas!

AND THEN IT POPS OFF! Some of the ATL CREW hop the escalator

divider, others sprint down the other side to attack -

THE LENCH MOB CREW, at the foot of the escalator, they all

start BRAWLING like crazy. PUNCHING each other in the face,

grappling, cursing -

There’s so many FISTS flying -- such a tangle of BODIES --

it’s hard to tell who’s hitting who. It’s f***ing CHAOTIC and

UGLY, and it culminates in -

The moving violent mass SMASHING INTO A LARGE GLASS DISPLAY,

SHATTERING it. Just then -

A LENCH MOB GUY runs up to a downed an ATL GUY, winds back to

kick him while he’s down, but before the kick lands, we -

HARD CUT TO:

A83 ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE A83

An OFFICER KICKS the downed RODNEY KING while three other

L.A.P.D. OFFICERS (known as the L.A. Four) mercilessly beat

the man. We all recognize this as the RODNEY KING BEATING.

Raw, gritty, horrific. WE PULL BACK to reveal -83

INT. AUDIO ACHIEVEMENTS STUDIO - DAY 83

The members of NWA (minus Cube, of course) watch the NEWS

FOOTAGE while in the studio, finishing up some new TRACKS for

their follow-up album NIGGAZ 4 LIFE.

DRE:

Still can’t believe it. It’s like

they’re enjoying themselves.

EAZY:

Least they got it on video. LAPD

gonna have a real good time on that

level 3 prison yard, know what I

mean?

DRE:

Yep, we got they asses this time.

Tape don't lie.

89.

The room is over-crowded -- because everyone has an

ENTOURAGE. JERRY is also there and he doesn’t look thrilled

about it, nor is he happy to see -

SUGE KNIGHT in the room, hovering behind DRE at the Board,

accompanied by a very large GERMAN SHEPHERD.

Jerry tries to make his way over to Dre, but SUGE blocks his

path, and the HUGE DOG stares at Jerry.

JERRY:

Just need a word with Dre -

SUGE:

It can wait. Let the man work.

Jerry looks at the dog, the dog looks back. Stymied, Jerry

turns and exits the studio, jaw clenched.

After he leaves, Dre sighs. He looks tired, depressed.

Totally over it. He PLAYS BACK the track he’s been working

on, listens. Tries to feel it. But something’s missing.

Irritated, Dre gets up, exits the studio. Suge follows -

84 EXT. AUDIO ACHIEVEMENTS STUDIO - PATIO - MOMENTS LATER 84

Suge comes out the back door just behind Dre -

SUGE:

Yo Dre. Hold up.

-- gestures for Dre to sit with him at a nearby table.

SUGE (CONT’D)

I did what you asked. Had my people

look into your contracts.

Dre’s interest is piqued.

SUGE (CONT’D)

It ain’t good. Not that I’m

surprised or anything. Gotta watch

yourself.

DRE:

What you mean by that?

Suge pulls out a thick FILE. Places it on the table.

SUGE:

Everything you need to know. It’s

all in there.

(MORE)

90.

SUGE (CONT'D)

(off Dre’s sober look)

You know I can help you with this.

Dre considers a moment...

DRE:

Nah. I got this.

85 INT. AUDIO ACHIEVEMENTS STUDIO - THE NEXT NIGHT 85

Eazy sits alone in the studio, listening to some NEW TRACKS.

It’s late, and there’s nobody else around as --

Dre comes in through the door, holding the FILE from Suge.

Eazy notices the file, along with Dre’s nervous energy.

EAZY:

So, what’d you wanna see me about?

Sounded all worked up on the phone.

Dre sits down across from him, full of purpose, fired up.

DRE:

I know you don’t like hearin’ this

sh*t. But it’s about Jerry. We

gotta get rid of that muthafuck -

EAZY:

Is that seriously the reason you

wanted to talk? I thought we were

past all that --

DRE:

I found out some information, Eric.

Real sh*t. I had some people look

at this, and I ain’t gettin’ my

fair share.

Eazy finally turns and looks Dre in the eyes.

EAZY:

You know why you rich, Dre? You

know why you live in a big ass

house and don't sleep on a couch no

more? Do you know why you f*** the

finest b*tches? That’s Jerry, dude.

He broke us through the door. He

made this sh*t happen, and you

wanna turn on him just like Cube -

DRE:

Cube was right, fool! You gotta

look at these papers, E. Just look

and you’ll see.

(MORE)

91.

DRE (CONT'D)

We made it because our sh*t is

dope, Eric, not because of Jerry.

We can keep going and own the

goddamn world, we just can’t be

f***in’ with him no more.

Eazy just shakes his head, turns back to the Board. Dre looks

pained. Can’t believe he can’t get through.

DRE (CONT’D)

Dude. We go back a long, long way.

You and me. We started this NWA

sh*t. I just want it to be right.

EAZY:

You think that’s right, turning

your back on somebody? After all

he’s done for us?

DRE:

You mean all he’s done for you.

Eazy doesn’t say anything. Dre stands up --

DRE (CONT’D)

Look at me, man. Why won’t you look

at me? It’s like I don’t mean sh*t

to you. Like I never meant sh*t.

Eazy won’t look at Dre, shrugs. Cruelest shrug you ever saw.

Dre looks hollowed out by it.

DRE (CONT’D)

Thought you were my brother.

EAZY:

Thought you were mine, too.

Dre walks out the door -- SLAMS it so hard, the walls shake.

A platinum NWA record slides off the wall, breaks on the

floor. Eazy FLINCHES, even though he wishes he didn’t.

A86 OMITTED A86

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote