
AMERICAN HISTORY Xscreenplay byDavid McKennaFebruary 6, 1997 INT. HOUSE - CLOSED EYESA young mans blue eyes slowly open. A girl moans from the next room.EXT. STREET CORNER - A LARGE TIREturns the corner and splashes through a puddle from anearlier rain. TUPAC SHAKUR blares from inside.INT.
He continues into the phone receiver.
DEREK
All right. Thanks. I'll take care of
it. Yeah.
DANNY'S POV. He opens the door and sees Derek on the
phone with his back to him. Above Derek is Danny's
surfboard, hanging on ropes hooked to the ceiling.
Blue jeans, black boots and slicked back hair, Derek
holds his hand up and motions for Dan to be quiet. The
sleeves of tats covering his arms, shoulders and back
(D.O.C.) define the hatred that has engulfed his past.
DEREK
(into the receiver)
Okay. Okay. I'm what? What channel?
He covers the receiver, turns on a ten inch TV, and flips
to the correct channel.
DEREK
(without turning)
What is it, Danny?
DANNY
You got pigs outside.
DEREK
I know.
Derek leans over the computer to check it out.
INT./EXT. BEDROOM - DEREM'S POV
He looks through the blinds and stares at the UNMARKED
CAR. Danny throws his backpack on the bed and exits.
TIGHT ON DEREK. He listens to the television.
TV ANCROR (O.S.)
Saturday's prison release of a former
skinhead gang leader has many
community leaders up in arms tonight.
INT. BATHROOM - TIGHT ON SETH
He points his Glock 9mm at the mirror.
SETH
Drop the t.v., nigger.
He laughs to himself and exits.
INT. HALLWAY - SETH CONTINUED
He bangs on Derek's door once more, pissed that Derek
didn't open it earlier. He heads for the living room.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUE TV ACTION
Danny, Davina, and Doris are glued to the news story on
the same station. Doris, once beautiful, is now aged and
graying. NYQUIL, PEPTO BISMOL, two PRESCRIPTION
CONTAINERS, and a spoon rest on the coffee table.
TIGHT ON THE TELEVISION. A WELL-DRESSED BLACK WOMAN
speaks angrily to the reporter covering the story.
Random black protestors nod and comment in the
background.
BLACK WOMAN
Maybe now whites will understand the
motives behind people like Malcolm X
and the Black Panthers. Just put the
shoe on the other foot.
FLASH TO:
EXT. CHINO PRISON - THE VINYARDS ON NEWS FOOTAGE
Danny walks' towards Derek and they smile and hug. Davina
and Doris soon join in.
Davina
BLACK WOMAN (V/O)
Derek Vinyard deserved the death
penalty for what he did to that young
man! And now he walks the street as
free as you and I.
DANNY
{to the tv)
What about OJ, bitch!?
INT. VINYARD HOUSE - TIGHT ON THE TV
The news segment winds down.
BLACK WOMAN
(fed up, to the camera)
They've done it to us again.
A hand reaches over to turn the channel. IT'S SETH.
Doris, in an awful state, lays back down.
TIGHT ON SETH. Tattoos cover his forearms. A BLOODY
SNAKE is halfway tucked under his rolled-up sleeves.
SETH
Nigger lovin' Jew media calling the
shots. Watch cartoons. It's the only
t.v. that's safe nowadays.
DORIS
No one's safe--until we all are.
Seth looks at the woman like she's from another planet.
He laughs and goes into the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN - SETH'S POV
He looks through the fridge but finds nothing. He closes
the door and looks at the family pictures on the door.
A FAMILY SHOT of Doris, Derek, Danny, Davina, and DENNIS
VINYARD in front of church. Seth appreciates Dennis in a
coat and tie. Below that, a picture of a dirty and
rugged Dennis and a young Davina, wearing her father's
FIRE HELMET. Danny with Doris.
SETH
Come in here, Dan.
INT. SMALL KITCHEN - SAME
He sits and comes upon Davina's revealing CROTCH. She
studies and so does he. Danny walks in the kitchen and
looks through the fridge. He pulls out a leftover piece
of steak and gnaws on it. Seth looks over at Dan
SETH
Where the fuck you find that?
DANNY
Goin'