Straight Outta Compton Page #19

Synopsis: In 1988, a groundbreaking new group revolutionizes music and pop culture, changing and influencing hip-hop forever. N.W.A's first studio album, "Straight Outta Compton," stirs controversy with its brutally honest depiction of life in Southern Los Angeles. With guidance from veteran manager Jerry Heller, band members Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren navigate their way through the industry, acquiring fame, fortune and a place in history.
Production: Universal Pictures
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 27 wins & 40 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.9
Metacritic:
72
Rotten Tomatoes:
87%
R
Year:
2015
147 min
$129,402,415
Website
6,827 Views


Jerry puts a fatherly hand on Eazy’s shoulder. Looks at him.

JERRY:

Of course it is. You’re smarter

than those criminals. You wanna

kill somebody? Then you’ll be in

prison, forever. No more family. No

more Ruthless. No more anything.

Eazy stares back at Jerry.

JERRY (CONT’D)

If you kill this man. His problems

are over and yours are just

beginning -- Lets hit 'em where it

really hurts.

Eazy is more conflicted then ever before -

98.

91 INT. EAZY’S HOUSE - STAIRS TO BEDROOM - NIGHT 91

Through the darkness we see movement. It’s Eazy. He moves in

a slow and laborious fashion as he enters --

THE BEDROOM where Tomica sleeps in their bed, safely tangled

in sheets. Eazy doesn’t even bother shedding his clothes.

Simply slumps closer, sliding quietly under the covers.

Without a word, she wraps Eazy in an embrace.

A92 EXT. CUBE’S HOUSE - BACK YARD/POOL - DAY A92

Kim looks on as the CNN CREW's CAMERAS FILM CUBE in the midst

of a tense INTERVIEW -- A JOURNALIST peppers him with

questions:

JOURNALIST:

Are you Anti-Semitic?

CUBE:

What? I thought this interview was

about the Rodney King trial?

JOURNALIST:

The J.D.L. has recently gotten

involved, saying that the lyrics

regarding your former manager Jerry

Heller -

But Cube’s too smart to fall for this crap.

CUBE:

I’m not Anti-Semitic. I'm Anti-

Jerry Heller. Let me ask you a

question -- do they condone Jerry's

behavior when it comes to my

situation? Him trying to get me to

sign a contract without legal

representation?

JOURNALIST:

I have no idea.

CUBE:

Well, you get me that answer and

then we can continue on this topic.

Until then, let's talk about the

beating of an unarmed motorist -Rodney

King and the trial of 4

guilty L.A.P.D. Officers who seem

to be Darryl Gates' standard issue -

99.

JOURNALIST:

But it isn’t just the Jewish

community. The Korean grocer

community have also accused you of

racism, mostly because of your song

“Black Korea” --

CUBE:

Come on, man. That don’t even make

no sense. Black Korea is just a

warning. That's it. I’m a

journalist, just like you!

Reporting on what’s going on in the

hood. But the difference is that

I’m brutally honest about it. Cause

sugar coating will get you

diabetes.

A couple of members of the Nation of Islam are quietly seen

in the background as the journalist struggles, tries to gain

a foothold --

JOURNALIST:

What’s your relationship with the

Nation of Islam?

Cube just smiles, shakes his head.

CUBE:

There my brothers. That question

alone just proves how unprepared of

a "sandbag reporter" you really

are. You wanna talk about Anti-

Semitism? Then it’s “Black Korea,”

and now you wanna talk about the

Nation of Islam? Seriously, man.

What's your agenda? You can't focus

on one thing? Ask me something

interesting. I'm not an elected

official. I'm an artist. You

haven't asked me one damn question

about music. I'm America's

conscience. I represent the good,

the bad and the ugly. What you

represent?

92 INT. DRE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 92

The massive room’s focal point is a BASIC STUDIO SETUP: SSL,

some turntables, a mic, some keyboards, a tower of speakers.

SUPERIMPOSE:
SIX MONTHS LATER

100.

Dre sits in the epicenter of it all, motionless, lost. It’s

the first time we’ve seen him anywhere near a soundboard and

not creating on it. He just stares into the nothingness -

A TAP ON GLASS alerts us to SNOOP, Warren G and DOC (small

scare on DOC's neck) outside. Dre stands. Opens the window.

DRE:

What you fools doin’ out here?

WARREN G:

Watching you daydream for the last

five minutes.

DOC:

(raspy voice)

Looking stupid as a mothafucka.

SNOOP:

Come take a ride with us Dr. Dre.

You gotta get out this house, Cuz

and get your mind right.

INT. DRE’S CAR - LOS ANGELES - MINUTES LATER

Snoop at the wheel, they ride listening to ATOMIC DOG by

George Clinton. Snoop’s at the wheel, smoking a JOINT

(surprise), Dre shotgun, Warren G and D.O.C. in the back.

SNOOP:

What you so tense for, Cuz?

DRE:

I’m cool.

WARREN G:

No you not. You been up in that

house for a month now, and not one

track? Wassup, what’s wrong?

DRE:

First time in my life, I feel like

I’m forcin’ it.

WARREN G:

Why?

DRE:

Too much outside interference --

Eazy and Jerry tryin’ to starve me

out. Playin’ games with my money.

Tryin’ to get me back in there on

my hands and knees -

101.

SNOOP:

Is that why you ain’t got no

furniture?

Snoop holds out the jay.

SNOOP (CONT’D)

This sh*t’ll chill you out.

DRE:

Nah, that ain’t me. I'm good.

WARREN G:

Come on, big bro. Loosen up.

DRE:

(reconsidering)

F*** it, gimme that sh*t.

Dre takes a deep pull, holding it in before COUGHING out a

massive cloud. They all laugh. And Dre takes another hit. An

even bigger one.

DRE (CONT’D)

Wow. What is in this sh*t?

SNOOP:

That sh*t right there? That’s the

Chronic.

Dre TURNS UP the music.

SNOOP (CONT’D)

You never smoked before?

DRE:

No. I can feel it in my nuts, man.

Is that normal?

Dre finds himself laughing with the guys as they cruise on...

94 INT. DRE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 94

Dre’s behind the SSL, listening to a rhythm based on Leon

Heywood’s I’M GONNA DO SOMETHING FREAKY TO YOU. Warren G,

Snoop, and D.O.C are in different corners of the room. Smoke

floats over Snoop’s head like a halo.

The vibe is positive and laid back, but as we look at Dre’s

face we can tell what he’s thinking: something’s missing.

Dre turns to the MOOG Keyboard situated on the side of the

board and starts noodling with a melody. It’s almost

familiar. But not quite.

102.

Then he hits it:
Da do dee dah dee dah dah dee do deee...

Just like that, we’ve witnessed the birth of AIN’T NUTHIN’

BUT A G THANG.

SNOOP:

Oh sh*t. Keep playing that.

Dre does the same ten notes -- That’s it! It’s G THANG.

SNOOP (CONT’D)

(freestyling)

One. Two. Three into the Four.

Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at

the door... (rap continues)

Just like that, musical history is being created.

95 EXT. JERRY’S HOUSE - BACK YARD - DAY 95

Tapdancing for a slightly fatigued Eazy, Jerry tries hard to

convince him that -

JERRY:

We’re about to get back into the

game in a big way, Eric -

EAZY:

Yeah? How you figure?

JERRY:

Are you just trying to insult me?

Eazy stares back at Jerry, like indulge me.

JERRY (CONT’D)

Did you forget about Ren’s album?

Or the fact that you’re working on

an album that I believe is gonna be

bigger than anything NWA ever -

EAZY:

Do you really believe that

bullshit? All I know is Cube’s

doin’ big things, makin’ movies and

sh*t. And I keep hearin’ about this

album Dre workin’ on -

JERRY:

Dre’s a f***in’ producer, Eric!

Producer’s don’t rap! It’s never

gonna work! Period!

103.

96 OMITTED 96

97 OMITTED 97

98pt1 OMITTED 98pt1

98 I/E. DRE’S HOUSE - BEDROOM TO BACKYARD - DAY 98

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Jonathan Herman

Jonathan Herman is an American screenwriter, best known for his work in Straight Outta Compton for which he received numerous award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay at the 88th Academy Awards. more…

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    "Straight Outta Compton" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/straight_outta_compton_616>.

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