American History X Page #5

CUT TO:

INT. CLASS - SAME

Kids have just settled into their seats. Danny walks in

and tries to be discrete.

OFFSCREEN VOICE:

Vinyard!?

An OLDER TEACHER writes an Algebra problem on the board

for the students to solve.

OLDER TEACHER:

You're late.

The man grabs a pink slip off his desk and hands it to

Danny.

OLD TEACHER:

But it looks like you got bigger

problems.

DANNY:

(reading the slip)

Oh, man! Come on. Get a job.

The teacher stares at him.

CUT TO:

INT. PRINCIPAL LOBBY - DANNY

He sits in a chair next to an office door marked DR.

ROBERT SWEENEY - PRINCIPAL. Danny glances at the

secretary as she types and talks on the phone.

TIGHT ON DANNY. He listens to the conversation through

the the crack in the door as his eyes swell.

MURRAY (O.S.)

I do not have a problem with him as an

individual, alright!?

SWEENEY (O.S.)

Oh sh*t Murray sure you do. You hate

this kid.

INT. OFFICE - THE CONVERSATION

The bespectacled, short-haired MURRAY ROSENBERG, 48,

looks over and spots Danny listening outside. Murray

walks over and shuts the door. He looks at DR. SWEENEY,

who now has his jacket off.

He points to a typewritten report on the desk and smiles

in horror. It is titled BOOK REPORT--MEIN KAMPF.

"Daniel Vinvard - American History" is in the upper left

hand corner.

MURRAY:

This paper is a travesty, Bob!

Arguing for Hitler as a civil rights

hero?! You've gotta draw a line.

SWEENEY:

Murray...it says in your syllabus that

they could do their report on any book

related to the struggle for Civil

Rights.

MURRAY:

Oh come on, Bob!

SWEENEY:

Let me finish! He needs help...I'm

not disputing that. But I read it and

I'm not going to throw him out.

MURRAY:

His brother probably put him up to it.

SWEENEY:

I can guarantee you his brother didn't

have anything to do with it, Murray.

Murray sighs and takes off his glasses.

MURRAY:

Don't let him walk scot-free here.

For his sake...not mine. You might be

all he has left.

Sweeney stares at the younger teacher and nods.

CUT TO:

EXT. OFFICE - THE DOOR OPENS

Murray walks out and turns back to Sweeney.

MURRAY:

Thanks, Bob.

SWEENEY (O.S.)

Okay. Get in here, Dan!

Danny and Murray make hostile eye contact.

DANNY:

I knew it was you.

SWEENEY (O.S.)

Shut up and get your ass in here!

INT. OFFICE - DANNY ENTERS

Before he even gets through the door he's chastised.

Rate this script:4.6 / 5 votes