Straight Outta Compton Page #7

33.

JERRY HELLER:

Hey fellas, sorry I'm running late.

I’ll be honest. We’ve had a lot of

passes. People are scared of you

guys big time. They think you’re

dangerous. But I think that’s a

good thing. And we’ve had a couple

nibbles, from a couple labels.

Epic, Capitol, Priority...

REN:

“Nibbles”..? What’s that mean?

Jerry pauses a beat, finding the best response.

JERRY HELLER:

Here’s the thing. You guys can make

a real record. Sell it nationwide.

But we’re not there yet. These

labels, they’re still gonna need

some... convincing. So I invited a

few of them to your show. So you

have to kick ass tonight. Can you

do that?

The guys stare back at Jerry, with the fire in their eyes.

Goddamn right they can do it -- "Hell yeah!"

JERRY HELLER (CONT’D)

Let me go and make sure they're all

here.

Jerry peels away and goes inside. Cube looks at Eazy.

CUBE:

And you trust this dude? Cause he

looks like a one of my old

muthafuckin' history teachers.

Eazy c*cks his head at Cube.

EAZY:

You trust me?

CUBE:

Yeah, I trust you. But that ain't

what we talking about --

EAZY:

Just leave it up to me. I'll make

sure everything is straight. Just

have them raps cocked and loaded.

Dre throws his arm around Eazy, puts a stop to it-

34.

DRE:

Come on now. Cube has never failed

to deliver. He always comes

correct, ready to work. That ain’t

gonna change. Aiight?

Cube and Eazy soften, smile at each other, it’s all good.

YELLA:

Can this muthafucka Jerry Heller

bring in more p*ssy? That's worth

20 percent!

Everyone LAUGHS as we --

32 INT. SKATELAND RINK - MAIN FLOOR - CONTINUOUS 32

We see the PACKED MASS of the CROWD, crammed together, hands

in the air, SCREAMING, even though nothing’s happened yet.

The stage is pitch black as we see the silhouettes of NWA

members manning their battle stations. More screams and

anticipation from the crowd.

At the BACK of the room, we see JERRY HELLER beside THREE

nervous-looking RECORD EXECS. One of them -- BRYAN TURNER --

glances around warily at the inner-city CROWD.

BRYAN TURNER:

You sure this is... safe for us..?

JERRY:

Try not to look so scared, Bryan.

They smell it on ya, you’re

finished.

Turner FREEZES and his eyes go wide -- Jerry LAUGHS.

JERRY (CONT’D)

Relax. You’re in for a real treat!

Just then, the STAGE LIGHTS come on, and NWA IS ON STAGE,

spread out in FORMATION, in their BLACK RAIDERS GEAR. DRE and

YELLA man FOUR TURNTABLES and 2 mixers -

CUBE:

Yo Dre, kick in the bass!

The bass-heavy ASSAULT of DOPEMAN kicks in. The crowd goes

APESHIT. Jumping up and down. Crushed against each other --

ON STAGE, CUBE stalks to the edge, lets loose -

35.

CUBE (CONT’D)

It was once said by a man who

couldn’t quit --

And and CROWD SCREAMS BACK, because THEY KNOW EVERY LYRIC!

THE CROWD:

DOPE MAN PLEASE CAN I HAVE ANOTHER

HIT???

CUBE:

The Dopeman said Cluck I don’t give

a sh*t, if your girl kneels down --

THE CROWD:

AND SUCKS MY DICK!!!

with each other, like, Oh my God, this is sick!

IN THE CROWD, we find JERRY and the RECORD EXECS. One of the

EXECS looks disgusted, WALKS OUT. Jerry watches him go...

JERRY:

So what do ya think?

RECORD EXEC:

Jerry, we’re friends, but Compton?

(laughs)

I don't think so. Queens..? Maybe.

But. If you find another Bon Jovi,

you call me.

The Exec brushes past Jerry and WALKS OUT. Jerry turns and

sees that BRYAN TURNER is the only Exec still there. And he’s

WATCHING with wide eyes, overwhelmed while -

UP ON STAGE, EAZY tears into his verse -

EAZY:

Yeah high-rollin’, big money I’m

foldin, B*tch on my tip for the

dick I’m holdin’. Strung

strawberry, jockin’ me so early. Ho

you want a hit --

CROWD:

YOU GOTTA GET YOUR KNEES DIRTY!!!

IN THE BACK OF THE CLUB, from a corner, a big man is

watching, mind going, This is SUGE KNIGHT.

36.

33 INT. SKATELAND RINK - LATER 33

The last raucous PARTY-GOERS exit, leaving behind some

CLEANING CREW and OUR GUYS, still riding the high of

performing.

DOC:

Damn Dre, ya'll wrecked these

mothafuckas tonight!

DRE:

I know. Stage was shaking so much--

thought my needles was about to

jump off the record!

CUBE:

I’m still trippin’ that they knew

all the words! That's Crazy...

REN:

Compton is definitely on the map my

nigga!

YELLA:

Did you see all the freaks that was

out there? Lord, thank God for

biker shorts!

Everybody shoots YELLA a look.

CUBE:

We talkin’ about the power of

N.W.A. and all you saw tonight was

p*ssy?

YELLA:

Man, p*ssy is power.

They chuckle at Yella in disbelief as SUGE KNIGHT approaches.

SUGE:

(surprisingly friendly)

Man, I had a feelin’ y’all was

gonna represent tonight. Good sh*t.

EAZY:

Wuddup, Suge -- What you been up

to, homie? Still out in Vegas?

SUGE:

Back and forth. Doing some

bodyguard work among other things.

If ya'll need my services, just let

me know.

37.

EAZY:

Aight. But we don't need no body

guards.

SUGE:

You never know what you need until

you need it.

Somewhat of an uncomfortable pause of dead air.

JERRY rounds the corner, sweating through his misshapen suit,

along with BRYAN TURNER.

SUGE (CONT’D)

I just came back here to give ya'll

your props. I got my people out

here waiting on me. But I'll be

around.

Suge exits... as DOC clocks his flavor-- our attend goes to

Jerry and Bryan.

JERRY:

That was quite a show, gentlemen.

Nice job. Very, very nice.

They all keep STARING at him, waiting. Jerry grins, enjoying

stretching out this moment.

JERRY (CONT’D)

This is Eazy E and NWA. Guys, this

is Bryan Turner.

CUBE:

(brazenly)

Ice Cube, ‘Sup?

JERRY:

Uh, Bryan runs Priority Records. He

wants to sign you.

BRYAN TURNER:

Immediately. Fellas, I loved the

show. You really had the crowd on

their feet. I think you’ll fit

perfectly with our label.

DRE:

That'll work. Priority Records? I'm

not familiar with your label. What

artist do you got over there?

Bryan looks at Jerry, who folds his arms, chin on his chest.

38.

BRYAN TURNER:

Nothing big. Just an R&B group.

REN:

Who dat?

Bryan hesitates, almost ashamed to say -

BRYAN TURNER:

Uh-- The California Raisins.

Everyone in NWA grimaces --

CUBE:

Them little-ass raisins on the

commercial? Singin’, "I Heard it

Through the Grapevine"?

Yep. They all LAUGH in Bryan's face. He smiles too.

BRYAN TURNER:

Laugh all you want. Those little

f***ers went gold last year.

The laughing stops -- This gets their attention and respect.

EAZY:

Gold?

JERRY:

Yep, almost platinum. Bryan has a

great distribution platform.

This is the perfect time for Jerry Heller to seal the deal.

BRYAN TURNER:

So what do ya say? Wanna go make a

record?

It takes a second for it to sink in. But they are as ready as

they ever could be. Jerry watches, pleased as punch -

34 EXT. AUDIO ACHIEVEMENTS - TORRANCE - ESTABLISHING - DAY 34

Cars zip past as we move inside -

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