Straight Outta Compton Page #6

DRE:

Yo, if Lonzo don’t like it, you

know that sh*t is dope.

They pound. Everyone LAUGHS. Truth.

REN:

Damn, Dre -- You just turned a

hustler into a rapper.

EAZY:

Now this right here..? This some

ruthless sh*t for real. Dre, you a

muthafuckin’ genius. And Cube, you

got more of them stories to tell?

28.

CUBE:

Homie, I got rhymes for days. But I

got to hear this one more

gen...Dre, hit that sh*t.

Laughter as Dre cues it up, the SONG RESUMING, as we -

22

INT. MACOLA RECORDS - LOS ANGELES - DAY 22

BOYZ IN THA HOOD is PLAYING OVER -A

STACK of VINYL RECORDS moves through a PRESS. A machine

STAMPS a RED LABEL onto the MIDDLE. CLOSE ON the RED RUTHLESS

LABEL --BOYZ N THA HOOD.

IN THE RECEIVING AREA, EAZY picks up a couple BOXES of

RECORDS. He PAYS for them, and hauls them away.

23

INT. RECORD STORE - CENTRAL AVE - COMPTON - DAY 23

BOYZ keeps on THUMPING --

DRE and TYREE stand at the counter of a RECORD STORE, with a

BOX OF RECORDS. The CLERK takes about SIX RECORDS -

24

EXT. RUN-DOWN HOUSE - COMPTON - DAY 24

BOYZ continues OVER --

Eazy emerges from a RUN-DOWN HOUSE, jogs across the street to

his BUCKET, climbs inside, opens his STASH SPOT, stuffs a

large WAD of CASH inside. A hustler is always hustlin -

25

EXT. BACK YARD HOUSE PARTY - SOUTH CENTRAL - DAY 25

Some local TEENAGERS are partying, drinking and listening to

BOYZ N THE HOOD wax. And that sh*t has the party bumpin’.

A sense that this song is going VIRAL, in a contagious, pre-

internet sort of way -

26

EXT. ROADIUM SWAP MEET - LOS ANGELES - DAY 26

BOYZ continues as Eazy brings TWO BOXES of RECORDS to a SWAP

MEET BOOTH operated by STEVE YANO. Yano excitedly collects

the two boxes, hands over some cash. Deal done. Before Eazy

can even bounce, some KIDS bumrush Yano for copies -

27

INT. K-DAY RADIO STATION - LOS ANGELES - DAY 27

BOYZ slowly fades, iconic KDAY Disc Jockey GREG MACK spinning

the TRACK over the airwaves of Los Angeles. He grins, bobbing

his head, digging this sh*t for real.

29.

GREG MACK:

1580 KDAY, this is Greg Mack --

Mack Attack. That was “Boyz n tha

Hood” by Eazy-E, local rapper out

of Compton. Sounds like he's about

15 years old --

He glances over to the TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD, which suddenly

LIGHTS UP like crazy, with dozens of CALLERS.

GREG MACK (CONT’D)

-- I know you like it. It's been

the most requested record on this

station ever since I played it. The

freshest song of 1986 -

28 INT. MACOLA RECORDS - RECEIVING AREA - DAY 28

Eazy pays for another couple boxes of records. Grabs them -

JERRY HELLER (O.S.)

I heard your record.

Eazy turns to find -

JERRY HELLER, a middle-aged guy in a velvet track suit. His

face is craggy, seasoned, wise. He’s got terrible posture,

but lively, hyper-alert eyes. He extends his hand to Eazy.

JERRY:

Jerry Heller.

EAZY:

Eric Wright.

JERRY:

Pleasure to meet you. Would it be

possible to have a word with you,

Eric?

EAZY:

About what?

29 INT. MACOLA RECORDS - OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER 29

Jerry at his desk, Eazy on the ratty couch. Eazy lets his

eyes wander around the shabby office. The sad furniture, the

old and irrelevant posters on the walls.

JERRY:

I thought your record was good.

30.

EAZY:

Just good? Why you call me in here

then --

Eazy gets up and heads for the door -

JERRY:

No-no-no, hang on. (beat) I thought

it was exceptional. Please, sit

back down.

Eazy indulges Jerry. Sits back down and stares, cold,

unreadable. Jerry rubs his eyes, frustrated, his regular

spiel isn’t having its usual effect.

JERRY (CONT’D)

Let’s try this again. As a music

manager, let me tell you what I can

do for you, Eric -

EAZY:

Maybe I’m the one who can do

somethin’ for you.

JERRY:

You think because I don’t have some

flashy office, that means I don’t

know what I’m talking about? Elton

John, War, Styx, REO Speedwagon -

EAZY:

You manage anybody this decade?

Jerry leans on his elbows on the desk, c*cks his head at

Eazy. The balls on this kid.

JERRY:

Let me tell you what I see. Lotta

raw talent. Lotta braggadoccio. But

if you think anyone’s gonna talk to

you, if you think anyone’s gonna

let you into the building where you

might talk to somebody -- somebody

who matters -- you’re crazy.

Eazy frowns, looks away --

JERRY (CONT’D)

That’s what I do for you. I will

make you legit. I will take you

into that building. I will protect

you. I will block out all the noise

of this business and we can build

something big.

(MORE)

31.

JERRY (CONT’D)

But you’re gonna have to believe in

me like I believe in you. If you

don’t think you can do that...

Eazy doesn’t budge. Satisfied, Jerry continues --

JERRY (CONT’D)

You got more music for me?

EAZY:

I got everything you need.

JERRY:

Good, cause you're gonna have to

follow this up. So what does N.W.A.

stand for anyway?

(with a smile)

No Whites Allowed?

Eazy looks at Jerry. Cold as ice.

EAZY:

“Niggas With Attitudes.”

The smile is wiped off Jerry's face immediately.

30 EXT. SKATELAND RINK - COMPTON - NIGHT 30

200 or so people lined up outside, waiting to get in. NWA

POSTERS are stapled to walls in testament to guerilla

marketing. Notice the profusion of PEOPLE present as --

Eazy and Ren pull into the lot, exit the car and heads

inside, intoxicated by the sea of people.

31 INT. SKATELAND RINK - MAKESHIFT DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT 31

Eazy addresses the guys, all business.

EAZY:

I asked everybody to wear something

black today, ‘cause if we gonna be

an All-Star group, we gotta look

like an All-Star group.

WE PULL BACK to reveal the GUYS -- Cube, Dre and Ren --

gathered around Eazy. A whole crew is there with them, too,

including DOC, Tyree and Jinx. And everybody’s dressed in

some type of BLACK L.A. RAIDERS GEAR, except Yella who

approaches from the side wearing an old school purple & gold

L.A. KINGS jersey.

EAZY (CONT’D)

Damn Yella! What happened?

32.

YELLA:

Man, kiss my ass, I ain't got no

Raider gear.-- Are we gettin’ paid

to wear that sh*t?

Eazy hits him in the face with a black t-shirt.

EAZY:

Put this on.

As YELLA starts to change shirts, Jerry Heller comes around

the corner talking to the promoter, nothing hip-hop about him

at all.

CUBE:

Aww damn-- here come The White

Shadow.

(no smiles)

REN:

Nah, Mr. Furley from “Three's

Company.”

EAZY:

(irritated)

Man, shut the f*** up? This dude

knows the game inside out. He been

out there shopping our sh*t around.

Gonna find distribution for

Ruthless, get us on tour and bring

a whole lot of money to the table.

DRE:

And then what-- How he get paid?

EAZY:

Just takes 20:
:percent:: off the

top. That’s it. We cut up 80.

That's how managers work.

DOC:

(drink in hand)

All managers don't get 20

mothafuckin' percent!

EAZY:

Doc, shut yo drunk ass up. You

don't know the music business.

DOC take another sip.

Jerry joins the group.

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