AMERICAN HISTORY X

--while hopped up on Chivas and

P.C.P...you'd consider the force those

cops used to be justified!

DORIS

He didn't hit anybody!

DEREK

If he did though! If that shithead

killed Dan...you would have believed

the beating to be justified and so

would everybody else. But since he

didn't hit anyone...it's "Hands Across

America" for the son of a bitch.

Derek takes a bite of food.

DEREK

We are still so hung up in this notion

that we have an obligation to help the

struggling black man and all you

contribute to it! Lincoln freed the

slaves a hundred and thirty years ago!

Get off your fucking asses!

STACEY

I'm with you, honey. All the way.

It's one...giant...ploy.

DAVINA

Here we go.

STACEY

I mean...nobody likes Chief whatever

his name is, right?

DAVINA

Gates.

STACEY

Yeah. So here comes this filthy piece

of garbage in his Hyundai. He pulls

over in front of a perfectly lighted

area where a video camera is sitting

there...fucking waiting for him, man.

What happens next? Chief Gates is

dust. It's total--

Davina drops her silverware on the plate with a clatter

and looks at her mother. Everyone stares at Davina.

DAVINA

(to Doris)

May I be excused please?

DEREK

Don't interrupt, Davina.

DAVINA

I didn't interrupt shit.

DEREK

The hell you didn't. I was listening

to Stacey and then I heard you.

That's called interrupting. Wait 'til

she's finished and you can be excused.

DAVINA

Who the hell do you think you are?

Derek jumps up from the table and grabs her by the back

of the hair. The table JOLTS and plates tumble to zhe

floor.

DEREK

You don't know when to shut up.

DORIS

Dammit Derek!

MURRAY

What are you trying to prove, man?!

Derek turns and laughs at Murray.

DEREK

I'm trying to teach my sister some

respect, Murray.

DAVI NA

Let go of my fucking hair!

DEREK

(to Murray)

See! See the way she speaks! Tell me

you're gonna shut up and I'll let go.

DORIS

Derek! Let go of her hair and sit

down!

DEREK

I will when I hear an answer, Doris.

Are you going to shut up, Davina?

TIGHT ON DANNY. He gets up quickly and tries to pull

Derek off. Derek turns and cracks Danny in the face with

a BACKHAND, dropping him back into a cabinet. A crystal

vase with flowers crashes to the floor, just missing

Danny's head.

MURRAY

Jesus!

DEREK

(to Danny)

What are you thinkin'?

DORIS

Danny?! Are you okay?!

Danny nods his head as everyone looks at Derek.

DEREK

It's a real easy question, Davina. A

simple yes or no will suffice. Tell

me what I want to hear and I'll let

go.

DAVINA

Fuck...you.

Derek takes a piece of roast beef off her plate and

shoves it in her mouth. Me holds the whole piece inside

so she can't spit it out. Davina cries as she chokes on

the meat.

MURRAY

She can't breathe, Derek!

DEREK

Stay back, both of you! It's her bed,

she's gotta lie in it.

(grabbing harder)

You can cry all you want, Davina. I'm

not gonna let go until you tell me

what I wanna hear! Are you going to

shut that fat fucking mouth of your's

and let my girlfriend tell her

opinion? Are you?!

DORIS grabs him from behind and he aggressively turns on

her. Derek curls his tongue behind his teeth and raises

his arm like he's actually going to smack his mother.

She grabs his arm though, forcefully.

DORIS

Let go of her hair and get out.

Derek releases his grip on his sister and she spits the

roast beef onto the floor. She runs into the back

bedroom crying, choking and coughing.

DAVINA (O.S)

I hate you, you fucking asshole!

The door slams shut in the background. Doris, Murray,

Danny, and Stacey all stare at Derek. Derek calmly faces

his brother.

DEREK

You okay?

Danny nods.

MURRAY

(softly)

Psycho.

IN SLO MO--Time FREEZES as Derek slowly turns his head

back to Murray. ON THE TRACK we hear a few keys being

typed and then silence. A cigarette sizzles.

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM - DANNY THINKING - PRESENT

He takes a long drag off his cigarette and exhales. He

slowly runs his hands over his stubbly head, marveling at

the past.

BACK QUICKLY TO:

INT. DINING ROOM - TIGHT ON DEREK - FLASHBACK CONT.

Derek smiles at Murray in wonder and disbelief.

DEREK

Would you care to repeat that, Murray?

I'm not sure I got all of it.

STACEY

(smiling)

He called you a "psycho", honey.

DEREK

(smiling back)

Was that it? Thanks Murray.

MURRAY

See. Here we go again with this,

Derek. Making me out to be the bad

guy again.

STACEY

You callin' me a liar, RosenKike?

MURRAY

(to Stacey)

Hey goddammit! You talk to me with

respect or--!

DEREK

Or what, Murray!? What're you gonna

do? Give her fucking detention?

DORIS

Both of you get out right now.

Murray stares at Derek with pity. Doris becomes

emotional.

DORIS

(to Derek)

Do you think you're the only one who's

affected around here?

Derek focuses on his mother for a moment. A captivated

Danny watches and waits as Derek turns to Murray.

DEREK

Out of respect for my mother...I'm

gonna let that comment go, Murray. I

won't bash your face in. But let me

tell you somethin'...man to fuckin'

mouse here. Normally in a situation

like this I'd take my steel-tips to

your fucking Jewish temple. That goes

for anyone making comments about me,

my family, Stacey, whomever. You know

and I know that I could crush that

puny fuckin' skull of yours in a

second. So it's beyond me why you

would say something like that without

being able to back it up? What's

worse, you sack of shit, is you

calling the woman I love a liar.

MURRAY

I never said she was a liar.

DEREK

Weasel like that again Murray...you

fuckin' ponytail, pussy, bagel eating,

teacher, faggot...and I'll cut your

shylock nose off. Make no mistake.

Murray silently walks out of the house. Derek claps and

sings the Jewish celebration song "Hava Naghila." Stacey

joins in and the two laugh. Doris goes after Murray.

STACEY

Murray Rosenberg...International Jew.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Murray goes to his car and Doris follows. Danny watches

from the door.

DORIS

He's a stupid kid, Murray! I'm sorry!

MURRAY

He's not a kid, Doris. We were kids.

We didn't call people kikes.

DORIS

It's just gonna take some time with

him. What can I do?

MURRAY

You don't know your children, Doris!

You have no clue about the world they

live in. Your son is a terrorist.

DORIS

He's not a terrorist, Murray. Jesus!

MURRAY

He's a member of the Disciples of

Christ. You remember that grocery

store incident?!

DORIS

Murray?

MURRAY

My sister and her two kids got

evacuated from her Temple in Woodland

Hills!

DORIS

Murray! Please! Derek would never

have anything to do with bombs, okay?!

You don't know him like I do.

MURRAY

And I wouldn't want to. Goodbye.

Murray gets inside and goes down the street.

INT. HOUSE - SAME

DANNY'S POV -- He watches Doris stand alone, her face in

her hands, crying.

BEHIND Dan a humiliated Davina storms towards Derek, now

wielding a BASEBALL BAT.

DANNY

Davina?

Derek hears Dan and looks out of the corner of his eye.

He spots her at the last moment.

DAVINA

Take this, you fucking dick!

Derek pops up quickly, disarms her, and pulls her close.

DEREK

Davina! It's okay! Calm down.

Please.

DAVINA

Fuck you! Let go!

DEREK

(whispering in her ear)

I'm sorry, Davina. Come on.

DAVINA

Let go of me!

DEREK

Come on, Davina. I'm sorry. I lost

control. Please. I screwed up.

Derek holds tight until the crying girl settles down.

He's gripped as desperately by remorse as he was moments

before by rage. He kisses and repeats his apology over

and over. Finally, she succumbs and puts her arms around

him. Derek looks to Danny.

DEREK

(hugging Davina)

You guys are my life and I'd do

anything for you. You do know that?

DAVINA

(wiping her tears)

I don't believe you anymore.

DEREK

I swear to God I would, Davina.

Please.

DANNY

I believe you, Der.

Derek smiles at his little brother, lovingly.

DEREK

Davina? Please forgive me. Please.

I'm sorry.

DAVINA

(nodding, after a beat)

That fuckin' sucked, Derek.

DEREK

I know it did. And I'm sorry.

I just really hate that guy.

DAVINA

You couldn't tell.

A RAINSOAKED DORIS walks through the front door.

DORIS

Find an apartment because I want you

out of here.

DEREK

Morn, I'm sorry but that guy's--

DORIS

I don't wanna hear it anymore! I want

you out!

STACEY

He can move in with me.

DORIS

When?

STACEY

Tomorrow.

DORIS

Good.

She walks past Derek and into the back bedroom.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BEDROOM - TIGHT ON DANNY'S EYES - PRESENT

He rises from the computer and PEEKS out the blinds. The

two cops supposedly watching Derek are now eating in the

car. One of them looks up. Danny flips the blinds down.

From the other room, he hears Doris break into another

coughing fit.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DANNY

He sits beside her and hands her a glass of water.

DANNY

Here.

DORIS

Thank you, honey.