INT. APARTMENT: MORNING
Freddy and Freddy’s dad are having breakfast at the small dining table. Freddy’s dad is smoking, drinking coffee, and reading the newspaper. Freddy is eating a bowl of cereal, his skateboard leaning against his chair, showing the face of Charles Manson.
FREDDY’S DAD
(Expression of surprise.)
Freddy, says here a kid that went to your school was shot and killed at a bus stop.
Tyrone’s his name. You know him? They got a picture of him here.
FREDDY
No way! Here, let me see.
Freddy’s dad hands over the paper. The camera shows a photo of a nice looking black kid about 16 years old and a makeshift shrine at the bus stop consisting flowers, cards, and balloons. Freddy intently reads the paper, his dad watches him curiously, sipping his coffee and smoking his cigarette.
FREDDY’S DAD
(Curious.)
Well?
FREDDY
(Stunned.)
Yeah I know him. I mean we weren’t friends or nothin, no chance of that him being
black.
FREDDY’S DAD
Why’s that?
FREDDY
(Looking at his dad like he clueless.)
Whites and blacks don’t mix at school. Some of the jocks maybe because they’re on
the same team. Otherwise, you stay with your own kind.
FREDDY’S DAD
That’s too bad. I had a couple black friends when I was in school.
FREDDY
Guys you played ball with, right, Dad?
FREDDY’S DAD
Yeah, I suppose.
FREDDY
Any you hung out with or visited you at home?
FREDDY’S DAD
I see what you mean, Freddy.
FREDDY
And I bet there weren’t any black gangbangers.
FREDDY’S DAD
Well, that’s true. We didn’t have that many blacks at school. They were a minority.
FREDDY
Well, Jefferson is different, Dad. We’re all minorities there.
FREDDY’S DAD
Says he was a basketball player.
FREDDY
(Trying to read.)
Yeah, he was supposed to be pretty good.
FREDDY’S DAD
Did he ever give you a hard time?
FREDDY
No. Tyrone wasn’t a banger or bully. He was all about basketball. Probably wanted to
be a professional someday and make a lot of money.
FREDDY’S DAD
Should’ve got out of that crappy neighborhood. The paper said he might have been
killed by a member of the 46th Street gang.
FREDDY
Yeah. He was bused to Jefferson which gives you some idea of what his
neighborhood’s like. But not now. The hood got em before he could get out.
FREDDY’S DAD
Guess living where we do ain’t so bad.
FREDDY
(Smiling.)
Right, Dad. Did you see the shrine?
FREDDY’S DAD
Yeah. Kind of sad looking.
FREDDY
I oughta pay it a visit.
FREDDY’S DAD
I don’t think so, Freddy. You don’t want to be going into a black ghetto. Don’t want to
end up like your schoolmate Tyrone.
FREDDY
No way. I think I’m goin to hit the streets with Manson for a while.
FREDDY’S DAD
(Worried look.)
Okay, but stay away from trouble, okay?
FREDDY
(Grabbing his skateboard.)
Don’t worry, Dad. Manson will keep me safe.
Freddy’s dad gives Freddy a perplex look.
FREDDY’S DAD
I’m serious, Freddy. Stay out of bad neighborhoods.
FREDDY
(With a reassuring smile.)
Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll be okay.
EXT. THE STREET
Skating montage. Indicating Freddy travels some distance.
Freddy skates fast through his neighborhood, ollieing over and off curbs. He skates passed white trash, rundown apartments and then enters a surreal-looking neighborhood where grafheads and bangers have bombed every fence and wall. Without the graffiti it would still be a really ugly place, but the graffiti makes it a scary ugly place. He passes a McDonald’s where a four or five Latino gangbangers dressed in khaki, white T-shirts and opened cholo long sleeves standing in front of the restaurant. They watch Freddy pass, giving him hard looks but saying nothing. He then enters Vietnamese neighborhood. Asian faces with neutral looks watch him pass. Skates around an old woman wearing a wide brim hat of a rice paddy worker. She pushes a shopping cart filled with two or three bags containing cans. Then he skates into a housing complex that has a sign in front saying <SINCE 1953: U.S. NAVY HOUSING>. Old fashion, 1950’s stucco homes. The lawns are neat manicured, no trash or graffiti. A woman watering her lawn, her two young children playing in the yard, looks as he passes by. Then he skates through a long series of strip malls and the traffic thickens. Finally, the stores and neighborhood begin to become rundown. Three or four black youths dressed in gang gear watch Freddy from across the street. Freddy gives them a worried look but keeps skating fast.
EXT. THE BLACK ZONE – A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD – RUNDOWN, LOTS OF GANG GRAFFITI
Freddy sees a BUS STOP in the distance next to a streetlight with 4 or 5 tired BALLOONS tied to it. He wears a cautious expression.
All around, concrete, asphalt, cheap store signs that look like they were cheaply made some by the owners, looking more depressing than the graffiti, half-dead vegetation, businesses looking like they are going out of business, and behind them down the streets where people live one sees neglected faded houses and apartments all squeezed together. On each side of the street with a are row gas guzzlers from the 70s and 80s. The atmosphere is mind-numbingly dreary.
A few young people stand around looking at the shrine. There’s no bench to sit on. A collection of flowers and letters lie on the ground below the half inflated balloons hanging limply from the streetlight. As Freddy looks more closely at the hastily improvised shrine his expression becomes sad.
The people at the shrine are mostly girls, about a half-dozen, standing but looking sad and bewildered. They all turn at once toward Freddy when they hear his skateboard. The sad looks become grim. Freddy looks around cautiously. The neighborhood looks threatening with very few people on the street.
About 40 feet away Freddy picks up Manson and offers a friendly smile. A black girl about 16 years old walks up to him.
BLACK GIRL
(Suspicious and full of attitude.)
Did you know Tyrone?
FREDDY
(Uneasy.)
No, but I’d see him around at school.
BLACK GIRL
(Agitated.)
So why are you here?
Freddy looks up at the street sign: <46th Street>.
FLASHBACK 1 - NEWSPAPER
INT. FREDDY’S APARTMENT – FREDDY READING THE PAPER - SHOT ONLY OF THE NEWSPAPER
CLOSE UP: THE NEWSPAPER READS:
“Young man, 16, and girl, shot and killed at a bus stop on 46th Street. Killer may have been a member of the 46th Street Gang or a member of a rival gang.”
FLASHBACK 2 - 46th STREET BUS STOP
EXT. THE SAME BUS STOP BUT THE DAY OF THE SHOOTING
A car slowly drives in front of the bus stop. A hand with pistol extends from the passenger-side window. Tyrone and little girl look at the car with frightened expression. The gun shoots Tyrone twice in the chest then shoots the little girl.
RETURN TO PRESENT - EXT. 46TH STREET BUS STOP
Freddy looks back at the black girl who addressed him.
FREDDY
(With a befuddled expression.)
I don’t know.
BLACK GIRL
(Hostile tone of voice.)
Just a curious motherfucker?
FREDDY
(Seeing being nice is pointless.)
Somethin like that, I suppose.
A black boy about 13, a street kid with a lot of attitude approaches and walks right up to Freddy.
BLACK BOY
(Aggressively.)
Whatcha doin in the hood, whitey?
FREDDY
(Trying one more time being nice.)
Tyrone went to Jefferson High where I go to school. Just thought I’d pay my respects.
By now the others have gather around. Very young teenagers, maybe a youngster or two.
BLACK BOY
(Lots of bluster.)
Bullshit, whitey. Yous just stickin your nose where it don’t belong.
FREDDY
Okay, have it your way.
Freddy turns, runs and drop Manson and heads away moving fast but trying not to look scared. He glances back and sees the black boy running after him.
BLACK BOY
(Falling behind Freddy.)
You motherfucker!
Freddy pumps fast down 46th Street, businesses flashing by. He cuts across the street, coasts and does some ollies. Everything seems back to normal when a BLACK BMW with tinted windows approaches and pulls alongside Freddy. The car’s GIANT WOOFERS make the air vibrate. The shotgun window sucks downward and a SCARY-LOOKING BLACK MAN with a gold tooth gives Freddy a Halloween smile. The man then pulls out a 9MM just so Freddy can see it.
CUT – AN IMAGINARY SCENE OF THE SITUATION
In Freddy’s imagination: The man starts shooting Freddy, who then falls slow-motion off Manson onto the street.
CUT - BACK TO PRESENT TIME
Freddy sees an opening between parked cars and suddenly and spectacularly cuts off the street onto the sidewalk. Coming to a wide intersection Freddy keeps going as if he is going to continue on 46th Street but then suddenly cuts right on the other side of the intersection, ditching the car for the moment.
Freddy laughs, feeling pretty good about ditching the bad guys, begins cutting from one side of the street to the other and in and out between cars, ollieing up, over and off of curbs, carving the street and sidewalk like a snowboarder, when suddenly the sound of barking dogs: Aaarf! Aaarf! Aaarf! Aaarf! Aaarf! Looking back he sees two pit-bulls racing toward him. Just as the pit-bulls reach his hears a car to the right pulls into the approaching intersection blocking Freddy’s way and causing him to cut in front of and around the car but by doing so cutting in front of an oncoming car traveling the same direction he is. The driver honks his horn but the cars at least cut off the pit-bulls. The expression on Freddy’s face is one of concentration. He looks back. The two pit-bulls have given up the chase. Freddy smiles and lets out a sigh of relief. But then he hears a car accelerating and he looks back to see the black BMW heading straight for him. Freddy cuts back onto the sidewalk as the BMW passes fast, drags his foot to slow down, cuts back out into the street to turn left at an intersection, but an oncoming honking car prevents the turn. The BMW catches up with him, its brake lights come on and the car slows so that Freddy, riding in the center of the street, is now parallel with the BMW. The BMW driver’s window rolls down and the driver smiles, seemingly impressed by Freddy’s skating. Then the points like a gun his index and middle fingers at Freddy as a warning to stay out of the hood.
Freddy smiles and give the driver the finger. The driver frowns, but Freddy has reached an intersection and cuts left in front of oncoming traffic, causing a motorist to slam on the brakes and honk his horn. Freddy is now riding down a descending street. He's flying. Oncoming traffic causes the BMW to wait before making the turn. Freddy now hears the screeching of tires, looks back and sees the BMW coming fast. However, at the bottom of the hill is a 7-Eleven with a police car parked in front. Freddy pulls into the center of the street in front of the BMW and points to the police car. The BMW slows. Freddy then cuts toward the 7-Eleven and begins dragging his foot to slow down but can’t stop before running into the police car and falling to the ground. A BLACK POLICE OFFICER comes out of the 7-Eleven and looks across the street to see the BMW stopped, its driver smiling and then taking off. He looks down at Freddy, his face scared, flush, and sweaty.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
(Concerned but also annoyed.)
You running from someone, son?
FREDDY
(Getting up.)
Sorry about your car. I tried to stop.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
(Helping FREDDY up.)
Yeah, I see that. The car looks fine, but are you okay?
A WHITE POLICE OFFICER has come out of the 7-Eleven and picks up Freddy’s skateboard and brings it around to where Freddy and the other police officer are.
FREDDY
(Looking nervous.)
Yeah, I’m okay. I just got goin too fast down the hill.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
Those guys in the BMW give you are hard time?
FREDDY
No, just kinda scared me is all.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
Well, you ought to be scared. They’re thugs. What’s your name?
FREDDY
Freddy.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
So, Freddy, what are you doing here in this neighborhood, looking for trouble?
FREDDY
No, nothing like that. I was just visiting where Tyrone Williams was shot. He went to
my school.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
I see. Still I don’t think this is the safest neighborhood for a white kid on a skateboard.
Where do you live?
FREDDY
Alta Vista.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
You’re a long ways from home. Perhaps we should give you a ride home to make sure
you get there safely.
FREDDY
I appreciate that, officer, but I think I’ll call my dad. He’ll be bummed if I come home
in a police car.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
(Smiling.)
I understand. Well, go ahead and make that call while we are here just so we know
you can get a ride home.
The black police officer looks around as if someone might be waiting for Freddy.
FREDDY
Thanks.
Freddy goes to the pay phone and makes the call.
FREDDY
Hello, Dad, could you pick me up?
FREDDY’S DAD
Anything wrong?
FREDDY
No, just feelin a little sick is all.
FREDDY’S DAD
Where are you?
FREDDY
7-Eleven...Hold on.
Puts his hand over the phone.
FREDDY
Officer, what’s this street.
WHITE POLICE OFFICER
Fairmont and 42th Street.
FREDDY
Thanks.
FREDDY
Fairmont and 42nd Street.
FREDDY’S DAD
42nd Street! Isn’t that’s in the ghetto? What in the hell are you doing there? Do you
want to get killed? And what did I just tell you about staying out of bad
neighborhoods?
FREDDY
I got lost is all, Dad.
FREDDY’S DAD
I bet. I’ll be there in a few minutes.
Freddy hangs up the phone and walks over to the police officers.
FREDDY
He said he’s on his way.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
Good. You know I ought to give you a ticket for running into my car. And if you’re
going to be running into things maybe you should wear a helmet and not riding that
thing in the middle of the street.
FREDDY
Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about the car. I just kinda lost control.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
I saw that. Just be careful, and maybe skate somewhere safer like a skatepark, or at
least not here. It’s just not safe. You know what happen to Tyrone.
FREDDY
(Starting to get emotional, as if he’s about to cry.)
I know. I just thought I should pay my respects.
The white police officer walks over with the board and hands it to Freddy. Freddy takes it.
WHITE POLICE OFFICER
(Smiling.)
Here’s your board, Freddy. I just have to ask. Why Charles Manson?
FREDDY
He keeps me safe, like just now. He knows the streets.
WHITE POLICE OFFICER
(Surprised.)
You mean like running into a police car?
FREDDY
Nah, that was my fault. Before that.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
So something did happen before.
FREDDY
No, no. I just thought maybe someone was comin after me. Anyway, I understand that
you don’t like my board. My dad doesn’t either.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
And I bet he didn’t know you were here in the hood.
FREDDY
No, he wouldn’t of let me come if I’d of told him where I was goin.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
We’re goin to take off, Freddy. You should wait for your dad inside. Okay? Come on.
Freddy and the two police officers go inside the 7-Eleven. The police pick up two coffees and a bag at the counter and start back out to their car.
BLACK POLICE OFFICER
(To the older of the two black clerks.)
Eugene, Freddy here is going to wait for his dad inside the store.
CLERK
(Chuckles amiably.)
Yeah, sure, no problem.
As they leave Freddy speaks to them.
FREDDY
(Happier.)
Thanks again for not giving me a ticket for running into your car.
The police smile and leave.
CLERK
(To Freddy.)
I’m surprised they didn’t you a ticket or something, running into their car like that. I
guess they were more interested in eating their honey buns and drinking their coffee
before it gets cold than giving you a hard time. You were just plain lucky. (Laughs,
shaking his head.)
FREDDY
(Smiles but then the smile disappears.)
Yeah, I was lucky.
CUT - THE SHRINE FOR TYRONE
No one is there. The balloons hang down limp. A breeze causes them to stir. The camera pulls back and upward. The shrine disappears mid the desolate community.
