DANNY
Here.
DORIS
Thank you, honey.
She coughs, recovers, and sips. Danny walks away.
DORIS
Hey. Come here. Sit with me.
DANNY
I've got this thing to do.
DORIS
You can sit down for two seconds.
He looks at her and sits beside her.
DANNY
Don't breathe on me.
DORIS
I won't.
They share a smile.
DANNY
It's cold in here, no wonder your
sick.
She stares and smiles at him for a few moments.
DANNY
What?
DORIS
What? I'm not allowed to look at you
anymore?
He smothers her face with his hand, jokingly.
DANNY
No. You're not.
DORIS
(laughing)
Daniel Patrick! Stop it! Are you
ever gonna let that beautiful hair
grow back?
DANNY
Nope. Never.
DORIS
I bet you will.
He smiles and locks eyes with his mother for several
moments. He finally rises and walks back to his room.
DANNY
Get some sleep.
DORIS
If you need me to proof anything for
you I will.
DANNY
I'll be all right.
DORIS
Wake up early if you get tired.
Doris watches him disappear down the hall, distant
thoughts creeping back slowly.
INT. BEDROOM CLOSET - DANNY
He grabs a flannel and throws it on. He sees a cigar box
that rests on the right shelf. He grabs it and looks
inside. The rolled-up LA TIMES clipping reads "Prominent
Skinhead Charged with Murder." The accompanying picture
of Derek is near evil.
TIGHT ON HIS EYES. Danny stares at the clipping. ON THE
TRACK--GUNSHOTS.
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM WINDOW - THE EYES - FLASHBACK
He watches Derek fire his gun at the TRANS AM as it
blazes down the street. He walks over to the wounded man
on the lawn and points his weapon.
STACEY (O.S.)
Get on the floor, Danny! Jesus!
Danny looks down at her and hurries out of his room.
EXT. HOUSE - TIGHT ON DEREK
He hovers over big Lawrence. Gun pointed steadily, he
kicks him in the stomach over and over -- tongue pressed
against teeth. Hot air flows from Derek's breath and
into the cold.
DEREK
You fucked with the wrong bull.
LAWRENCE
Goddamn, man!
Danny watches his brother from the front porch.
DANNY
Let the cops handle it, Der!
DEREK
Fuck that. The cops will let him
walk.
Derek grabs Lawrence and drags him to the CURB.
DEREK
Ever shoot at firemen, you fuck?
(then)
Open your mouth and put it on the
corner of the curb. I'm gonna teach
you a little lesson.
DANNY
Derek!?
DEREK
Get in the fucking house, Dan!
Danny doesn't move.
LAWRENCE
Come on, man. Call an ambulance.
DEREK
My dad gave me that truck,
motherfucker. Couldn't leave well
enough alone. Put your mouth on the
corner of the fucking curb!
Derek cocks his piece and Lawrence complies--his teeth
now scraping concrete. SIRENS sound from afar. Danny
walks out into the middle of the street to check it out.
DANNY
The cops are comin' Der'
Lawrence mumbles something unintelligible from his
outstretched mouth.
DEREK
What the fuck did you say? You just
threaten me? Hunh? Hunh? Hunh?
DANNY
(anticipating)
No!
Derek STOMPS his foot on the back of LAWRENCE'S head -
completely tearing his jaw in half on the curb's corner.
DANNY
(crying)
Holy fucking shit! Derek! What the
hell was that for?! Jesus!
The two lock eyes. Derek does not flinch. Helicopter
lights shine on the house. COP CARS SCREECH TO A HALT.
DANNY'S POV. Two cops take cover behind their door, draw
their guns, and shout instructions. Derek puts the gun
down, puts his arms behind his head, and drops to his
knees. His eyes are remorseless.
DANNY (V/O)
Joseph Conrad once wrote that "murder
is always with us. It's almost an
institution." That couldn't rang more
true than with me.
CUT TO:
EXT. WET STREET - THE CRIME SCENE - LATER
FIVE PATROL CARS, a FIRE TRUCK, TWO AMBULANCES, and a
throng of terrified NEIGHBORS strangle the front of the
house. Clothed and handcuffed, Derek is escorted from
the house by two uniformed cops and RASMUSSEN.
DANNY (V/O)
Bobby Lawrence died of massive head
trauma early that morning.
Derek marches past the bodies -- which are being tended
to thoroughly.
DANNY (V/O)
Six months after that...Derek was
convicted and sentenced to seven years
for voluntary manslaughter...to be
served at the California State
Penitentiary in Chino.
Rasmussen forces Derek's head down and he gets in the
car. He stares at his brother and sister as police
lights flash on him. Then to Stacey. Finally, to a
lifeless Doris. They lock eyes as the patrol car takes
off down the street.
DANNY (V/O)
Prosecutors wanted murder one for my
brother's torture method...but there
wasn't enough "premeditated" evidence.
CUT TO:
OMIT
INT. BEDROOM - DANNY'S EYES
They clearly focus on the computer. HIGHLIGHTED is the
sentence "There might have been if I testified." Only
when he hits the DELETE KEY does it disappear. He
continues typing.
DANNY (V/O)
(continuing)
Over the next year we'd lose our house
and the rest of our father's pension
to attorney fees. My mother...much to
all of our surprise...stood by Derek.
Danny's interrupted by a LOUD KNOCK on the front door.
INT. FRONT HALL - DANNY'S POV
He looks through the PEEPHOLE and sees it's CHRIS AND
JASON. He sighs in relief and opens the door.
JASON
We're here, dude.
CHRIS
Drop your dick and grab your stick.
DANNY
I told you I can't tonight.
DORIS (O.S.)
(from the couch)
Danny?
DANNY
It's okay, Mom.
The two punks laugh as Danny pushes them and their boards
back to his bedroom. He shuts his bedroom door.
INT. BEDROOM - THE THREESOME
Danny looks at the two.
DANNY
If I don't finish this thing I'm dead.
CHRIS
Just tell 'em you'll do it tomorrow.
You can't miss the party.
JASON
Fire pie Lizzy called and told us to
grab your ass.
DANNY
She did?
CHRIS
(nodding)
You gotta hit that shit. It's the
only fun thing that's legal anymore.
The PHONE RINGS and Danny grabs it.
DANNY
Hello?
INT. DARK OFFICE - TIGHT ON SWEENEY
The only illumination shines through the window from the
street. Holding his briefcase, he stands over his desk
phone, all packed up and almost out the door.
SWEENEY
Dan?
DANNY (O.S.)
Yeah?
SWEENEY
Dr. Sweeney.
INTERCUT THE CONVERSATION
DANNY
(worried)
What's going on? (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/Club) (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip)