(Anthony leaves, grabbing his jacket. Isiah and Lawrence look at each other and start chuckling)

LAWRENCE
I’m out kid…take care of yourself…only get into fights you know you can win, ya know what I’m sayin? And don’t let that shit affect your schoolwork—for real.

INT. COLLEGE AUDITORIUM DAY

It is the same classroom and professor seen earlier. The professor is at the front of the class lecturing, and Anthony and Lawrence are seated several rows back on the left. One row behind them, but on the right side, are seated Rahul and Malkit.

PROFESSOR

Consider this paper not an assignment, but an exploration. Pick an instrument or a genre or some aspect of music that inspires you, and discover that passion. Delve into that passion. And along the way, write about your journey. Share with me your insights, your epiphanies, your perspectives. Do so in a coherent, moving way, and the paper will write itself. (Pause) Proposals are due two weeks from today, and outlines are due a week after that. Any questions? (Pause) Of course not, everyone is asleep. (Isolated laughter from audience) Moving on, this week we will travel back to ancient India, to discover the tabla, which forms the percussion foundation of both classical and modern Indian music, as well as….

RAHUL
(hushed, to Malkit)
Arreh! Tabla nu rakho, dhol nu chelou!

MALKIT
(half-smiling)
This is going to be the easiest paper. Ever.

<< Page 15

LAWRENCE
(giving him some love)
That’s my dawg.

ANTHONY
What? Bro, Isiah can’t be getting into fights?!

LAWRENCE
And why not? That’s what growing up on these streets is about. It builds character man. And respect. I guess you didn’t have all that at your white-boy private scho–?

ANTHONY
–Fuck you man. Why you always bring that shit up? I’m not less of a person just cause my parents were well off. (turning to Isiah) Isiah, listen, squash it next time man…it’s not worth it.

ISIAH
Why you lecturing me? Your boy L is the one with the black eye.

LAWRENCE
And you should know that your mentor here was in the same shit.

ISIAH
(to Anthony)
What?! How you gimme shit when you’re getting into shit too!

ANTHONY
But I didn’t want to! L, you were the one who got me into that shit! I had no beef with the turban dude! It was just a fuckin tackle. It wasn’t till after I stepped in to help *your* ass that I got hurt. Whatever, I’m rollin…you and Isiah keep talkin all about how to get your asses kicked. Isiah, for real, it’s not worth it. (Lookin to L) I know.

<< Page 14 | Page 16 >>

ISIAH
Aight, I will. But I’m telling ya, I already done my homework for the week.

ANTHONY
Alright kid, you da man. Give me some love.

Anthony puts his hand out for Isiah, who brings his own hand around. As Anthony grasps Isiah’s hand, he notices fresh, deep scars on Isiah’s hand

Yo, what’s this about?! You punch some glass or something?

ISIAH
What’s it to you? I’ll live…I gotta roll or I’m gonna miss dinner.

ANTHONY
Dinner can wait. Seriously kid, how’d this happen?

ISIAH
You’re my mentor, not my dad, so kick back.

LAWRENCE
(walks up at this second, and affectionately puts his hand out for Isiah,
and notices the slight tension in the air)

What’s up Isiah? Anthony giving you some grief?

ANTHONY
L, check his hand man…I think Isiah got into a fight.

LAWRENCE
(doesn’t even glance at hand)
You win?

ISIAH
No doubt.

<< Page 13 | Page 15 >>

Lawrence! Why, you nearly startled me son.

LAWRENCE
I’m sorry Mrs. James. How you doing today?

MRS. JAMES
Oh, I’m just fine, son. Is it four o’clock already? You boys going down to the center?

LAWRENCE
Yes ma’am.

MRS. JAMES
(waving goodbye)

Well bless you. Your mama would have been so proud.

LAWRENCE
We’ll see you next week Mrs. James.

Anthony and Lawrence continue walking. Anthony is visibly not as comfortable as Lawrence, as he is not from these streets like Lawrence is.

INT. TUTORING CENTER INSIDE A CHURCH DAY

Anthony, Lawrence and Company are each at folding card tables across neighborhood youth, ranging in age and demeanor, but not color. It is apparent that things are wrapping up as mentors are standing by their mentees saying goodbyes. Anthony is still finishing up with Isiah, his mentee of 11 years.

ANTHONY
I agree, but Dre is the man behind the man. The dawg behind the dawg, you know what I’m sayin?

ISIAH
True that.

ANTHONY
Anyway, we should probably wrap it up. Yo, next week bring your homework. I’m here to help so use me, you know what I’m sayin? Math, Science, whatever…

<< Page 12 | Page 14 >>

Lawrence and a few friends enter main studio behind the recording room where Anthony is working. Persistent banging on the recording room window behind Anthony finally gets his attention, who walks over and lets them in. Greetings are exchanged. Anthony knows the rest of the guys, but not well.

LAWRENCE
What up kid? You ready to do your duty?

ANTHONY
Yeah man. Hey, check this out real quick before we leave.

Anthony drops a track he’s been composing. The music is not traditional hip hop or rap. There’s an artistic edge–a product of Anthony’s years of training on the piano–with which the guys in the group are not familiar. The ten second sample finishes with dramatic hand motions by Anthony.

LAWRENCE
(to crew)
That, kids, is what we call high society hip hop.

The posse laughs as Anthony begins wrapping up, sporting a frown.

EXT. STREETS OF OAKLAND

Anthony and Lawrence walk a few steps behind their companions through the streets of a dingy part of Oakland. It is a predominantly black neighborhood, riddled with poverty; windows are barred and front yards are fenced. These are Lawrence’s streets.

They are walking past a house that looks relatively well maintained. An elderly woman is sweeping her porch as Lawrence leans up against the chain liked fence.

LAWRENCE
Hello, Mrs. James.

MRS. JAMES
(startled, peering out through her glasses)

<< Page 11 | Page 13 >>

The tone is friendlier, but still serious. Ryan has been bouncing the soccer ball against the wall in front of him. Just above where the ball hits is a poster capturing Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington D.C., which catches Rahul’s eye.

RAHUL
Let’s look at history for a moment. You’ve got a poster of MLK. That’s PC and all, but MLK was weak…all he did was talk. What you need is a poster of Malcolm X cause he made shit happen. He knew he had to take control of situations when people are out to get you and–

MALKIT
–and what? Malcom X wasn’t neeeearly as effective as MLK. Do you even know where this is (pointing at poster)? August 28th, 1963, one of the very important days of the Civil Rights movement where MLK motivated hundreds of thousands to effect change through peaceful, constructive means. Malcom X just talked a big game, but didn’t do shit.

RYAN
(jokingly)
Yo, I’m gonna get you both a copy of my Ghandi poster. Chill kids… how did he do it? (demonstrates posture) ohmmmmmm.

Ryan tosses the ball at Rahul and a smile breaks through Malkit’s pensive expression.

[POSSIBLE SCENE WITH MALKIT AND SEEMA AT DINNER]

INT. MUSIC STUDIO DAY

Anthony stands alone in front of two turntables and a microphone, a keyboard to his immediate left. Headphones cover his right ear, held there by his shoulder. The room is soundproof and Anthony is rocking slightly to the beats, moving between the tables and the keyboard.

<< Page 10 | Page 12 >>

(catching the ball, continuing)
Easy there kid. I wouldn’t want you to beat me up like you did those guys last night.
(to Rahul) Who knew?

MALKIT
(sternly)
That was a mistake. I didn’t mean to get into a fight,
(looking at Rahul)
but Mr. T over here just started swinging.

RAHUL
(passionately)
You’re damn right I did. How are you gonna take that shit?

MALKIT
(calmly)
I don’t. But I also don’t fight, ‘specially not against 6′2″ black dudes. Confront, but don’t fight.

RAHUL
And then walk away like a loser. At least now he’ll think twice before talking shit again.

MALKIT
(aggravated)
What? I don’t know if you noticed, but we weren’t exacting winning–

RYAN
(interjecting)
–Ladies, ladies…true, sometimes you gotta stand up for stuff. I feel that. Everyone feels that.

MALKIT
So every person that looks at me the wrong way should get beat?
You know how many times a day I get that shit?

RYAN
No, I don’t, but you shouldn’t hate on your boy for taking the first swing.

<< Page 9 | Page 11 >>

MALKIT
(smiling)
I’ll make it worth the wait. Let’s do an early dinner, my treat. I’ll meet you outside your Bio lecture…say 4:30?

SEEMA
Your treat? Why Romeo, how thoughtful. Yeah, after bio class sounds good. (picking up her backpack) Cya then.
(noticing a flyer on the outside pouch)
By the way, I saw this flyer…someone is lookin for a percussionist for the upcoming BSU show…

MALKIT
(glancing at it)
BSU show, huh? Yeah, I’ll be a big hit. (puts flyer down) I’ll pass, but thanks for picking it up.

SEEMA
Suit yourself…you’re always talking about getting back on stage…anyways, got to go. Love you.

Seema kisses Malkit, and on her way out Rahul and RYAN walk into the apartment holding a soccer ball. They exchange greetings with Seema before she leaves and Ryan quickly throws the ball at Malkit, who spins it on his finger.

RYAN
Someone just got laid.

MALKIT
(smiling)
And someone needs to.

RYAN
(smiling, starts searching his pockets)
I admit, it’s been awhile…but I think I’ve got your sister’s number here somewhere….

Malkit whips the ball back at Ryan’s head.

RYAN

<< Page 8 | Page 10 >>

The crowd on the balcony jumps to stand, followed by Lawrence and Anthony, who is slow to get up because of a slight limp (from the tackle).

FRIEND
(focusing on L’s black eye, and then Anthony’s limp)
What the hell happened to you two?

ANTHONY

Nothin man. We got into some shit with a couple punks on the soccer field a bit ago.
Lawrence here felt compelled to lay down his immigration laws, and dragged me into his shit. (throwing a glance at L)

LAWRENCE
What? Jigga please, I was just lookin out for you. (meets the glance)

FRIEND
Well I hope you fucked ‘em up cuz you
both look like shit.

LAWRENCE
(sorta jokingly)
Man, shut the fuck up or I’ll smack you too. Let’s get inside.

Move inside to hear Lamar goin off.

INT. MALKIT’S BEDROOM DAY

Malkit and Seema are lying on Malkit’s bed, giggling. Malkit gets out and puts his jeans on. He throws Seema’s shirt at her.

MALKIT
So much for getting lunch, huh?

SEEMA
I wonder if you had ever planned on it. Guess it’s a Luna bar until after class.

Seema puts on her shirt and eases out of bed. She slips on some jeans and moves to the mirror to fix her hair.

<< Page 7 | Page 9 >>

Malkit glances at Rahul’s exaggerated movements across the room.

MALKIT
(calmly, almost exhausted)
I don’t really want to talk about it. (Pause) Anyways…listen, I’m sorry for flaking on dinner tonight. You got time for lunch tomorrow?

SEEMA
(smiling wrly, touching his jaw)
Sure. But I’m not going to Jamba Juice even if that’s the only thing you can eat.

Seema’s comment makes Malkit chuckle, but he stops as the movement hurts his jaw. The music in the background switches to Seema’s favorite song and she pulls a reluctant Malkit onto the dance floor. Rahul sees them and grabs the girl he’s talking with to join growing crowd.

EXT. BLACK STUDENTS FRATERNITY HOUSE BALCONY NIGHT

Anthony, Lawrence and others stand on the balcony showing a couple of college recruits a good time. Anthony and Lawrence are not part of the fraternity, but they definitely know their way around, and people know them.

ANTHONY
(to recruit with confidence)
What you need, my friend, is to find a college athlete–preferably a soccer player–to show you how it’s done. There’s nothing like it.

Everyone besides the bright-eyed recruits start shaking their heads. They’ve heard Anthony’s “all talk, no game” discussions of women all too many times. Just then a FRIEND rushes out onto the balcony.

FRIEND
(excited)
Yo, guys, get your asses inside. Lamar’s on the mic droppin some sick shit.

<< Page 6 | Page 8 >>