(SOMBER INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
MECHANIC: Yeah, there you go.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
MECHANIC 2: Move out back.
MECHANIC 3: Nah, you can't park there.
PAROLE OFFICER: (OVER PHONE) Mercer, all I can tell you is,
it's not about what anybody else does,
it's about what you do.
How you react, how you behave,
and you know that's a decision
that you're gonna have to make every day.
Conditional custody is a good first step, all right?
Be happy.
I'll see you at 8:00 a.m. Friday.
Ready to piss in that cup.
Thank you.
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
FEMALE REPORTER: (ON TV) It's dramatic
and it's devastating
to the Los Angeles police officers
involved in the March 13 beating
of that Black motorist.
One of the two officers...
MALE REPORTER: ...partially cloudy
with 65 degrees the KFI radio.
In the beating of Rodney King,
the District Attorney has indicted the four Los...
MERCER: Wake up.
Twan, wake up, man, it's time for school.
Come on, man, wake up.
(ANTOINE GRUNTS, GROANS)
School doesn't start for another hour and a half.
Yeah,
I used to hate waking up for school
in the mornings, too.
Made you some breakfast, man.
Better get up.
Come on.
(ANTOINE SIGHS)
(DUCKS QUACKING)
Weren't you the one that said never again?
There were reasons for that.
He doesn't leave witnesses.
(SCOFFS) I know you're not defending that mother****er.
You know I hate him.
Grew up with the ****er.
This job, it's just...
too big for us to handle alone.
If you want out, this is our shot.
Let me handle the old man.
All right.
All right, last one. But for real this time.
Come on.
-Love you, bro. -Love you, too.
Hit me up later.
MALE REPORTER: It began as a high-speed chase
and ended early Sunday morning with
the motorist, a Black male, being thrown...
Breakfast of champions right here.
...struck as many as 56 times
and suffered several broken bones.
FEMALE REPORTER: Fifty six times,
that's what the American public
will be hearing of today.
The suspect, identified as Rodney Glenn King.
King who is married and has two stepchildren was on parole
after serving time for armed robbery.
Doctors said he suffered a concussion...
So you just gonna ignore me every morning?
What do you want me to say?
...from the blows to his face
that would require reconstructive surgery.
MALE REPORTER: And for what I've seen,
none of the prison...
I feel like you got me locked up in a cage.
At least at Ma and Grandma's
they let me hang and kick it with my friends.
I don't have no type of freedom here.
So, what do you want?
You wasn't there for my childhood,
and you wasn't there for their accident.
MALE REPORTER: This is something that never should
have happened.
These procedures...
Look, I know it's hard not having them around anymore.
It's hard for me, too.
But you're with me now.
MALE REPORTER: The difference this time is that...
Look at me when I'm talking to you.
MALE REPORTER: It's not an isolated incident.
I know we've been running around
up in this small space,
trying to feel each other out.
FEMALE REPORTER: The Black community is not buying that.
About 300...
But we got this.
...marched on police headquarters today.
We in this.
FEMALE REPORTER: This is an aberration...
We just gotta stay the course.
...never have happened.
The incident early Sunday morning is not
an isolated incident. The difference this time
is that we have the proof.
MALE REPORTER: Right, right,
do you have any idea how many guys...
NEWS ANCHOR: What do you remember about that?
Shit might get a little crazy out there today.
So you need to come straight home from school.
LAWYER: And I'm announcing today
that we have obtained indictments...
against four Los Angeles police officers.
LAPD Officer Laurence Powell...
That's some bullshit.
(DISHES CLATTERING)
What did you say?
You better watch your tone.
You a boy
that I'm trying to raise to be a man.
In this house,
you're gonna respect me.
MALE REPORTER: I'm going to tell you.
You're going to have a police department
not going to be the kind to deprive...
I gotta get to school, Pop.
NEWS ANCHOR: If I or other members of the...
MECHANIC: Yeah. Yeah! It's parked over there!
(PUT THAT IN MOTION BY SNOOP DOGG, JXHN DXE PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
♪ Now we ball 'cause we all want the same thing ♪
CHILD: Mamma! Mamma, let me in!
♪ Dis that new crick bloodshed walk it out ♪
♪ I ain't wanna be the one to just call it out ♪
♪ But real talk, girl ♪
ANTOINE: Still watching me, man.
Still watching me.
WOMAN: I love you, baby.
♪ Color corrected ♪
♪ Ice on my necklace ♪
♪ Check off my checklist ♪
♪ Your ***** is reckless ♪
-♪ I ain't got no time ♪ -♪ It's unlikely ♪
-♪ Lighten up that fire ♪ -♪ It's unlikely ♪
♪ East side connected West side protected ♪
♪ Frontline affected ♪
-You get the old man? -Yeah.
(PUT THAT IN MOTION CONTINUES PLAYING OVER CAR STEREO)
Car looks good, Dad.
LOWELL: Yep.
Taking her up to the classic this Friday night at Bob's.
-Nice. You ready? -Yep.
-You look good. -You look good.
Let's see what your brother's got for us.
-How you doing, son? -RIGGIN: What's up, Dad?
Where's Copeland?
He couldn't make it.
Couldn't make it? If he's doing the job with us
he should be casing it with us.
I'll fill him in.
(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
♪ I know a place ♪
♪ Ain't nobody cryin' ♪
♪ Ain't nobody worried ♪
♪ Ain't no smilin' faces ♪
♪ Mm-mm, no, no ♪
♪ Lyin' to the races ♪
♪ Help me, come on, come on ♪
♪ Somebody, help me now ♪
♪ I'll take you there ♪
♪ Help me, y'all ♪
♪ I'll take you there ♪
-♪ Help me now ♪ -♪ I'll take you... ♪
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
MAN: Yup, that's it right there.
MAN 2: Hey, what's up, man?
MAN: What up. What up.
Yo! Let me just see this right quick.
MAN: Huh! Young man.
Get a pack of Phillies.
Phillies. Not Backwoods.
-TELLER: Backwoods? -Phillies!
Phillies! Are you deaf?
-TELLER: No have. -You speak English, *****?
I said Phillies, nigga.
-I don't want this shit. -Watch your mouth.
-The **** you say, nigga? -(GUN COCKS)
MERCER: Said watch your mouth.
No, you watch your ****ing mouth, nigga.
What the **** wrong with you?
Huh?
How the **** that feel, nigga?
Familiar.
D-VILLE: Hey!
What the **** you doing, nigga?
Hey, fall back.
I said, fall back. Fall the **** back!
When I tell you to move, you ****ing move.
You hear me?
Mother****er was talking shit.
You know who the hell that is?
(SLAPS) Fix your face. Don't ****ing look at him.
That's OG Merc.
You wouldn't have a flag to fly
if it wasn't for that brother right there.
That cold-hearted mother****er woulda dropped you dead
before you could even pull the ****ing trigger.
So you better ****ing recognize.
Don't do that shit again.
♪ When I ride at night ♪
♪ Broad day, no exempt ♪
♪ Niggas kill you when the sun is out ♪
♪ Make sure your gun is out ♪
D-VILLE: Yo, Merc.
It's been a minute, man.
When you get out?
Oh, six months ago.
Six months?
My phone ain't ringin'.
How come I ain't know?
Been laying low, bro.
You know what it is out here.
It's tucked away, man.
Stay up, D.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
All right. Stay up, bruh.
(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
Let's go.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
LOWELL: Pluton Metals.
Tell me what they do again?
Catalytic converters.
Yeah, he explained it to me, like, five times.
It's like something about pollution.
But I don't really understand it.
Catalytic converters, they need platinum.
Right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
and platinum is like more money than gold.
-Right? -How much they got in there?
Ten million in bullions.
(LAUGHS)
Whoa. That's beach money.
Yeah.
Beach money.
All right, run it for me.
Brand-new vault. Installed a few weeks ago.
Walls are composite concrete mix
in a galvanized frame, 18 inches thick.
LOWELL: And door?
Mosler. Four live bolts.
Three inches in diameter.
They're checked by two key change dual combinations.
-Tool and torch? -(RIGGIN CLEARS THROAT)
Two hours.
But we're not going through the door.
The safe's freestanding.
We're going through the side wall.
Front gate is taken care of.
We got the code in, 1992.
Who told you all about this?
RIGGIN: The machinist in there got me the layout.
What, he drop his pants and just
told you all this shit?
Yeah.
Been drinking with him for over a year.
-You paying him? -Nope.
Bleeding it out of him a little at a time.
I roughed out a sketch
of what I think it looks like in there.
We enter through the loading dock,
that's the rear of the building.
That'd drop us into the security office.
Past that is the machine shop.
That's the main room.
That's where all the mechanicals are.
And in the back, that's where the vault is.
That's where they keep the platinum locked up.
It should weigh around 900 pounds.
(METAL THUDS)
There's a panic button in the security office.
And if it gets pressed, an alarm goes off
and a massive steel cap comes down,
encases the safe entirely.
If that happens, it's over, done.
The LAPD's got to come in, punch in a release code.
Yeah, the government uses one just like it, right?
It's the National Archives Museum.
Yeah.
It's where they keep the Declaration of Independence.
What?
Security's just too tight.
There's cameras everywhere.
I mean...
I love the idea of $10 million but,
this is just out of our league.
It's just over our heads.
All right, so if it's not some nickel-and-dime pawn shop,
you won't heist it.
It's Fort Knox with a ****ing vault.
You'd need a miracle to pull this off.
Well, you keep doing that small-time shit.
Because for me, this is it. I'm out.
Let's get the **** out of here.
-It's stupid. -RIGGIN: Mmm-hmm.
(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
FEMALE REPORTER: (ON RADIO) Good news.
It was reported today
that a cure for the common cold is very close.
How you doing, Mercer?
I'm all right.
I'm alive and on the outside.
GUARD: All right, man. Take care.
-(GATE ALARM BUZZES) -(GATE SLIDING)
(MERCER HUMS)
(PUNCH-IN MACHINE DINGS)
JOSEPH: Mercer.
You're late.
Yeah, like my birthday tickets?
Oh, here we go.
-Yeah. -Here we go.
-Come on, man. -(JOSEPH LAUGHS)
By the time I get to a Laker game,
Magic Johnson already retired.
How many times I got to tell you?
My man's working on it.
You been saying that since I got out.
Come on.
I got Dodgers' tickets all day if you want those.
Ain't nobody going to those damn Dodgers.
-Come on, man. -(JOSEPH LAUGHS)
See, it's that shit right there. (LAUGHS)
FEMALE REPORTER: (ON TV) There's palpable tension
here at the scene down the court house
as media outlets from around the world
await a verdict in the Rodney King...
They just betrayed their damn oath.
You wore them colors.
Got plaques all over your wall.
-Your people. -No.
No, that ain't my folks.
Not at all.
I didn't do no...
shit like this and abuse my power.
Never.
Crooked cops like that is the reason
why I quit the force in the first place.
I got this job
so I can give guys like you who deserve it
a second chance.
Yeah, we all deserve a second chance.
Hell, yeah. You're damn right.
FEMALE REPORTER: A small group of demonstrators
has formed outside the court house.
JOSEPH: I'll tell you what, though.
If that jury lets them off...
it's going to get hot out there.
Real hot.
DELIVERY MAN: Yo. Hey, yo.
Save you a walking.
Crickets. All right.
Send my love to the family, Joe.
-I will. -Good to see you, man.
Holla at you later, Mercer.
Hey!
You want them Dodgers tickets let me know now.
Man, if you don't get your *** up.
All right, all right.
(JOSEPH CHUCKLES)
Goddamn Dodgers. Come on.
(INTRIGUING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
PAT: (ON RADIO) One policeman involved in the beating said,
"I haven't beaten anyone this bad in a long time."
MALE REPORTER: Well, Pat, everyone is in
a state of nervous,
uh, a state of nervousness
just waiting for the decision to come down.
FEMALE REPORTER: We've been told 3:15 p.m. for a verdict.
MALE REPORTER: The District Attorney has indicted
the former Los Angeles...
MAN: (ON TV) How do I stay so young?
I don't, but it sure helps to look at.
Your skin deserves the best and so do you.
Try our new rejuvenating formula.
You'll look younger, feel younger.
And you might even act younger.
One thing is for sure...
You'll thank us. Available everywhere...
(COMMERCIAL CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
DENNIS: Hey, you okay?
RIGGIN: What?
You angry at Dad?
For what?
You know, for not doing the job
that we showed him today. I feel like...
I feel like you, like, worked really hard on that.
Yeah, I got so much other shit to be angry with him about.
The job's pretty far down the ****ing list.
DENNIS: Hmm.
I mean, it's a tough lick.
-No doubt. -Mmm.
But, um, not as impossible as he says.
-No? -No.
That security, though, it's a problem.
Yeah, security looked like really tough.
Well, look, I mean, if there's anything I can do...
You know, we could go get drunk
or something, I don't know.
-Thanks, man. -Yeah.
FEMALE REPORTER: (ON TV) A small group of demonstrators
has formed outside the courthouse.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN: She's gone, check back later.
A stunning verdict from Southern California.
The jury in the Los Angeles police brutality trial
has just reached its verdict.
(OVER RADIO) The four police officers
who were videotaped
repeatedly beating an unarmed man
where found not guilty
on all but one count.
The all-white jury deadlocked on that one charge.
No verdict for the one charge only.
Correspondent Ron Allen...
MALE REPORTER: The jury in the Rodney King trial,
not guilty verdicts on all but one count.
WOMAN: What?
MAN 1: Do you see this shit? MAN 2: Oh, man!
Bruh!
MAYOR BRADLEY: And today, this jury told the world that
what we all saw with our own eyes...
wasn't a crime.
Today, that jury asked us to accept
the senseless and brutal beating
of a helpless man.
-(RIOTERS SHOUTING ON TV) -(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(RIOTERS CLAMORING)
-(RIOTERS CLAMORING) -(CAR HORN HONKING)
(SIREN WAILS)
How long before we stand up for ourselves?
How long are we gonna allow them to do this to us?
How many more Rodney Kings does it have to be?
How many more Latasha Harlins does it have to be?
Enough is enough!
-(RIOTERS CHEERING) -(OBJECTS CLATTERING OUTSIDE)
-(RIOTERS CLAMORING) -(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)
(CHANTING INDISTINCTLY)
(CAR HORNS HONKING)
-(GUNSHOT) -(RIOTERS SCREAMING)
REPORTER: Yeah, Kim, you're looking at a live picture.
There's been a mini-riot at this location.
A Tom's Liquor store has been looted at this point.
-(SIRENS WAILING) -(TIRES SCREECH)
FEMALE REPORTER: (ON TV) They've set up a command post,
and then officers have been ordered
to stay out of this area.
(PHONE KEYPAD BEEPING)
Dad, you watching the news?
LOWELL: Yeah, no one minding the store.
(ALARM BUZZES)
MAN: You'll be operating the bell.
MANAGER: Gather around, everyone.
-Gather around, please. -MAN: Shut it down, Jimmy.
MANAGER: Sorry to pull you away from your work.
I'm sure a lot of you have heard by now that
some people have taken to the streets
to express their anger about the verdict today.
It's starting to get a little dicey out there.
So, in the interest of everyone's safety
we're gonna let you all go home now
and be with your families.
You know, keep safe and...
safe journey home.
JOSEPH: All right, fellas, I'll be in my office
if you have any questions.
-Be safe out there. -Yep.
-(LINE RINGING) -RIGGIN: Hello?
MAN: (ON PHONE) Hey, man, we're closing.
Okay.
I can hardly contain myself.
(DENNIS CHUCKLES)
CARTOON: (ON TV) Just where do you think you're going?
Yo, Dennis, get your shit and let's go.
-Where are we going? -We're pulling that job.
What? I thought we weren't gonna do the job.
Dad said it would take a miracle, right?
Yeah. Well, turns out all we needed
was 12 racist mother****ers
out in Simi Valley.
Let's go. Come on.
Wait, so we're doing it, like, right now? Like today?
This is our window. Come on.
Get your shit together. Let's go.
DENNIS: Did you call Dad?
Yeah, I called him. We're good.
DENNIS: What...
RIGGIN: I'll be in the car.
MALE REPORTER: And they will be held accountable.
Every one of those officers
from the chief down to the newest rookie.
MAN: Are they heading over to Stout's?
-Tiff! -(RIGGIN WHISTLES)
Hey...
What's going on, hot mama?
Yeah, see I'm getting bigger.
-Whoa! -How are you, sweetie?
Uh, what month are you on?
-The sixth. Yeah. -The sixth?
So, do you feel the baby, like,
moving and kicking and stuff?
Yeah, it's kicking right now.
-Really? -Yeah, you wanna feel?
-Yeah. -Maybe he'll say hi.
-Yeah, yeah, I feel that. -(TIFF GIGGLES)
-(DOOR OPENS) -COPELAND: Hey!
-Take your hand off my woman! -TIFF: Oh, my goodness.
I can't turn my head for five seconds.
-I was... -Can't turn my head
-for five seconds. -(MEN LAUGH)
What's up, man?
Bring it on.
So, when will you be back, Cope?
Uh...
Shouldn't be too long.
Yeah, not past ten.
(TIRES SCREECH, SIREN WAILS)
Hey, we gotta go.
-Tiff, good to see you. -So good seeing you.
-Bye. Bye, baby. -Bye.
MAN: I'm gonna ride with you.
Please stay inside.
Things gonna get crazy tonight.
I will.
-I love you. -I love you.
WOMAN: I see him circling around.
MALE REPORTER: (ON RADIO) Reported suspicious activity
in a call to 911...
WORKER: This is bullshit,
we're not gonna even get paid for the full day now.
JOSEPH: You're complaining to the wrong guy,
that call's way above my pay grade.
WORKER: Yeah, you're right, see you.
JOSEPH: All right, brother.
MALE REPORTER: Take personal security precautions
to avoid becoming...
Don't do it.
Avoid crowded public areas.
The hell are you still doing here?
I was wondering, is this place still gonna be open?
Nah, the boss said "Everyone go home," Mercer.
Yeah, I was thinking maybe
I can bring my son back up here.
So to be more safe.
Nah, I don't think that's a good idea, man.
I really don't.
Joe, we live in the hood.
Like, for real. In the belly of the beast.
It's just about to get wild out here.
And you wanna bring him here?
I respect that.
If you and your son wanna join me,
I'll be all right with company.
I'll give the front gate a heads up
that you're coming through.
Appreciate you, bro.
Mmm-hmm. All right.
Thank you.
Lowell, you want both plasma cutters?
LOWELL: Yeah, bring everything, Murphy.
MALE REPORTER: (ON RADIO) Not videotaped,
don't worry about it.
Another brother officer won't turn you in...
Get the light.
...an officer does turn you in, don't worry about it.
We'll get white jurors
or whatever it takes and you'll walk.
You got another white jury saying
that it's okay for white cops
to beat up Black people.
And that's racism in American style.
Hey!
There they are!
The fruit of my loins!
Hey, Dad.
-How you doing, buddy? -DENNIS: Yeah, good.
Well, look who decided to show up.
Copeland, how are ya?
What's the word, Lowell?
LOWELL: The word is rich
because that's what we're gonna become.
Rich.
-Murphy, we almost loaded up? -Just about, sir.
Dennis, give me a hand.
Yeah.
Send them home.
Four of us got this.
I'd rather not.
Titus and Murphy...
They are like my security blanket.
They keep me warm and cozy and safe.
And I like feeling warm and cozy and safe.
They're your problem then.
**** you.
-(RIOTERS CLAMORING) -(CAR HORN BLARING)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(ENGINE REVVING)
-(HORN HONKING) -(MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
Watch out. Watch out, bro.
MAN: Bro, let's go.
(CAR HORN HONKING)
RIOTER: Come on, hold up. Go, go, go!
Guys, this is America. Please!
This is America. Stop!
RIOTER: Get back! Get back!
-(MAN GRUNTS) -RIOTER: Get 'em! Get 'em!
(CAR ALARM BLARING)
RIOTER 1: They're a streak.
RIOTER 2: Telling you they all getting down there together.
A whole mess of stuff to take.
RIOTER 3: Do you see it? Come on.
RIOTER 2: I'm telling you, it's some bullshit.
What's going on?
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
WOMAN: Y'all, hurry up!
MALE REPORTER: (ON TV) National Guardsmen
now being deployed
in neighborhoods not yet under assault.
Most of the fires and violence
have been confined to predominantly...
Twan.
...the rivers of South Central Los Angeles...
Twan?
All the police headquarters down south
as many as 300 altogether.
MAN: (ON TV) Sitting in there talking about peace.
Every time somebody talks about peace
we get a foot in our ***.
-(SIGHS) -I'm not talking about...
****!
-RIOTER: **** y'all! -(RIOTERS CLAMORING)
OFFICER: Do not come forward. I repeat, do not come forward.
RIOTER: Go. Yeah! Hit the brakes, *****!
RIOTER 2: You better run.
RIOTER 3: You're just a nobody!
OFFICER: Calm down, just calm down.
-(SIREN WAILING) -RIOTER: **** you.
RIOTER: (CHANTING) No justice, no peace!
No justice, no peace!
Get out of here!
Goddamn ****ing animals.
RIGGIN: Can you really blame 'em?
Doesn't give them the right to do this.
It's not their property.
Right, Copeland?
(SCOFFS) Whatever you say, boss.
(RIGGIN SIGHS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
Yeah, just stay cool.
They've got bigger fish to fry.
FEMALE REPORTER: (ON TV) And again,
the situation is very volatile.
People keep on taunting officers,
throwing things at them.
Now, I think it started out as an organized demonstration.
RIGGIN: Hey, Cope.
MALE REPORTER: (ON TV) National Guardsmen
now being deployed in neighborhoods
not yet under assault.
Most of the fires and violence
have been confined to predominantly
Black neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles,
and a few near City Hall
and police headquarters downtown...
-Hey, man. -GUARD: Hey, can I help you?
RIGGIN: Yeah, delivery.
I'm sorry I'm late, man. It's the crazy riots.
RIGGIN: There it is, yeah.
Uh, what delivery did you say you're here for?
-This one! -(GUARD YELPS)
(GATE ALARM BUZZES)
Close that door.
LOWELL: Go, go.
RIGGIN: Keep going.
(GATE ALARM BUZZES)
(STOMACH GRUMBLES)
(SIGHS)
All right, let's see. What do we want?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(TIRES SCREECH)
Rigg, we should use the forklifts
-to unload everything. -RIGGIN: Got it.
(COINS JINGLE)
-(BUTTON BEEPS) -(VENDING MACHINE WHIRS)
(OBJECT CLATTERS)
Well... I'll be damned.
Hey.
There's no reason for anybody to get hurt.
You just do what we say, we all go home.
You fellas picked the wrong place to rob.
Why don't you try the liquor store
up the street?
We're exactly where we're supposed to be.
You, my friend,
you're at the wrong place at the wrong time.
-(JOSEPH GRUNTS) -No! Goddamn it!
MURPHY: He reached for his piece, Riggin.
What the **** you want me to do?
****ing kidding me.
You saw him go for the gun, right?
He did.
LOWELL: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Guys.
He made a move.
What you gonna do, pretty boy? Hmm?
Listen, when we walked through the door,
we all put skin in this game.
Okay? This is your job.
But it's all of our ***es.
Now what are you gonna do, kill them?
People get hurt.
That's the cost of doing business.
Put the gun down and let's get paid.
Please.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Let's get paid.
**** you.
(LOWELL LAUGHS)
All right, cut the phone lines.
Kill the surveillance.
Let's get the rest of the stuff out of the van.
MURPHY: Yes, sir.
(COPELAND SIGHS)
Let's go.
Keep it together, okay?
Let's go.
MALE REPORTER: (ON TV) That fire
was one of three fires
that have recently broke out in the Hollywood area.
The other was just east of that.
And, frankly, up in the air here,
we can see fires East beyond Watts and Compton area.
Clearly, the fires are spreading.
Convalescent hospital's on fire over there.
There's a fire at the convalescent hospital.
The fire department, the police department...
(WOMAN SCREAMING)
GANG MEMBER 1: Hey, hey, hey.
We're not gonna **** around, man.
Crackers coming here to **** our shit up.
GANG MEMBER 2: All right? These are our streets.
We're taking them back.
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
D-VILLE: Hey, hold up, hold up.
Hey, what's up, man?
Hey, what it do, Merc?
You all right?
I'm looking for my son, Antoine.
Oh, no. I ain't seen him.
I'll put the word out, though.
Hey, you might need this, homie.
RIOTER: This way! Let's go, over here!
No, I'm good.
No, nigga, you don't understand.
You better take this mother****ing gun.
Join us. Let us look out for you.
GANG MEMBER 3: Yeah, we gotta be ready!
You all wanna look out for me?
Help me find my son.
RIOTER: You got a lighter?
RIOTER 2: Yeah, let's go. Get 'em!
-(TIRES SCREECH) -(CAR HORN BLARES)
-(TIRES SCREECH)
RIOTER: Get the **** out of here!
WOMAN: Come on!
RIOTER 1: They got a whole gang...
RIOTER 2: I'll bust 'em, let's go!
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
-(FORKLIFT APPROACHING) -(LOWELL LAUGHS)
LOWELL: There she is, boys. Honey, I'm home.
Come on. Unload this shit. Come on.
Let's set up.
(FORKLIFT BEEPING)
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
RIOTER: Come on, man, get it all.
Grab everything you can!
WOMAN: Hey, man, you got toilet paper?
STORE OWNER: Come on! What are you all doing?
Stop! This is not right.
RIOTER: I got your car! I got his car!
Antoine!
-(CAR HORN BLARES) -(TIRES SCREECH)
(BURGLAR ALARM RINGING)
RIOTER: Get in! Get in!
(ANTOINE BREATHING HEAVILY)
(MUFFLED) Antoine!
Antoine, the **** is you doing?
You lost your damn mind?
RIOTER: You're gonna party into the night, mother****ers.
(GASPS, BREATHES RAGGEDLY)
(WHIRRING)
LOWELL: Hey, you gotta be gentle.
COPELAND: What?
Stop.
You gotta be gentle. You can't drill too deep.
You gotta kiss her before you **** her.
Got it, got it.
-Easy, easy, easy, easy. -(DRILL WHIRRING)
Good, good.
(JOSEPH GRUNTING)
(DRILL WHIRRING)
(ALARM BLARES)
What the hell is going on?
-RIGGIN: Come on, come on. -(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
COPELAND: Almost there, almost there.
(METAL CREAKING)
Out of the way!
Cope, move, move!
-Oh, shit. (GRUNTS) -(BONES CRUNCH)
(SCREAMS IN PAIN)
****, man!
God damn! Rigg! Come on, Rigg!
Oh, ****! Move that shit!
(COPELAND CONTINUES TO GROAN IN PAIN)
****.
Goddamn it.
God. ****!
COPELAND: Rigg! DENNIS: It's all right.
-It's okay. -Wait, wait, wait.
COPELAND: Come on, Rigg.
RIGGIN: Don't move. Don't move.
Hold on, we gotta get him out.
DENNIS: We can pull him out, yeah?
We can pull him, we'll pull him.
You can't move the forklift.
RIGGIN: ****ing kidding me.
We gotta get him out.
You ain't getting him out from under the forklift.
Not with his leg still attached.
Just hold on a second, everybody.
Calm the **** down!
You can't ****ing talk to me like that.
-****! -DENNIS: It's okay.
(COPELAND GRUNTING IN PAIN)
Hey, I got you, man. I got you.
His leg is gone one way or another.
It's just ****ing gone.
We move it back a little bit.
There's no way!
What the **** are you doing?
Get the **** out of my face.
MURPHY: Touch me one more time, girl,
I'm gonna break your ****ing face.
Rigg!
****ing hell. What?
That shit is beyond ****ed, man.
(LOWELL CHUCKLES)
Are you shitting me?
MURPHY: Cut his ****ing leg.
LOWELL: You gotta make a decision.
Millions or a little leg?
What are you gonna do?
-It's your job. -MURPHY: We're falling behind.
Just cut it.
LOWELL: We'll get him the help he needs
when we're done.
(ALARM CONTINUES BLARING)
Will someone turn off that ****ing alarm?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
-(SIRENS BLARING DISTANTLY) -(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
OFFICER: (OVER RADIO) Charlie Mac one-niner.
We got an alarm call at Pluton Metals in Vernon.
We'll do a flyby.
Go check it out.
DISPATCH: Copy that. Over.
(RIOTERS SHOUTING)
RIOTER: Yo, **** this country!
(SCREAMS) **** America!
(SCREAMS)
RIOTER: Yo, **** the police! **** them!
**** the police!
Get your *** back in this car and sit still.
Why'd you stop me, Pop?
These cops get to run through our hoods
doing whatever the **** they wanna do to us
but we can't express ourselves?
Antoine, chill out.
**** that, Pop! We angry, man!
We angry, too!
This ain't our first rodeo.
1965...
See, the white folks called it the Watts Riots.
We called it the Uprise, the Watts Rebellion.
I was around your same age, so I feel you.
See, what we didn't think about,
we burn all of our own shit down.
What we gonna have left for us?
Pop, what we got now, man?
Man, I don't see your name on none of these stores.
We don't own shit.
So who gives a **** if...
So who cares that we burn down the shit that they own?
-They. -They!
Look around.
There's no cops, there's no ambulance, no fire trucks.
They don't give a **** about us.
We're doing exactly
what these white folks want us to do.
Gotta think, Twan!
(ALARM BLARING)
MALE REPORTER: (ON RADIO) ...they really don't know
what to do right now.
There are TV cameras all over, there are people all over.
I don't think anybody really knows what to do
and how to get this under control.
This is a super swap meet location.
Someone actually...
A group of 100 people
went into this location and looted it.
And every time they go in and loot
and they're done looting,
they set fire to the structure.
RIOTER: Come on, man,
get all of them, everything you can.
WOMAN: You got toilet paper?
MAN: Get the shit. Go, go, go.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
CARJACKER: Come on. MAN: ****!
-Holy shit! -(WOMAN SCREAMING)
-MAN: What the ****? -Get the **** out the car now!
MAN: Leave us alone. CARJACKER: Come here!
MAN: Hey! **** off! Get off me, man!
CARJACKER: **** out of here, man!
MAN: Whoa, hey! Whoa, man! What the...
CARJACKER: Give me the ****ing keys!
Back up, back up!
-Get the **** out! -MAN: Hey!
CARJACKER: Get the **** back, man.
MAN: Don't touch her, man, leave her alone.
CARJACKER: Get the **** back. Give me the ****ing keys.
-MAN: Whoa, whoa. -Where the **** the keys at?
-Let's go! -(WOMAN SCREAMS)
MAN: Hey, hey!
Stay in the car, lock the doors and don't move.
WOMAN: Help!
CARJACKER: Y'all gonna get ****ed up tonight!
WOMAN: Please, don't shoot us.
CARJACKER: Hey, back up!
MAN: Don't shoot, don't shoot.
-CARJACKER: Back the **** up! -I'll do whatever you want.
-Give me the ****ing keys! -No, no, they're in the car.
Back up. Hey, back up.
Leave 'em alone.
Back the **** up, man. None of your business.
Leave 'em alone.
CARJACKER: Come on, man.
(GRUNTS)
MAN: Get in, get in!
WOMAN: Let's go.
Get the **** out of here, now!
-MAN: Shit. You okay? -(ENGINE SPUTTERING)
-WOMAN: Watch out! -(MERCER GRUNTS)
-Now! -(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
Put your seatbelt on.
(GENERATOR WHIRRING)
(MID-TEMPO INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Murph!
Okay.
I think we're good.
(LAUGHS) Get the Tovex.
This ****ing safe's a punchline.
RIGGIN: Move.
Dennis, detonators.
-Dennis! -DENNIS: Yeah.
(BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
-(MURPHY WHISTLES) -(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
LOWELL: Lights, lights, lights.
Dennis.
OFFICER: (ON RADIO) Charlie Mac one-niner.
Dispatch, it looks pretty quiet over in Vernon
at Pluton Metals.
We're gonna head over to Crenshaw area, over.
DISPATCH: Copy that.
(HELICOPTER RECEDES)
Let's keep going.
-He's gone. Let's go. -RIGGIN: Let's keep going.
Yo, Pop, that was some real shit back there, man.
You messed them fools up and you wasn't even scared.
Nice.
You know what scares me about you?
I don't want you to grow up to be like me.
My only reputation is
putting niggers on their back.
What's wrong with that, Pop?
What's wrong with that?
Stay calm, we'll be in and out.
(POLICE RADIO CHATTER)
(TAPPING)
OFFICER 1: Where do you think you two are going?
To work.
OFFICER 1: There's a curfew.
License and registration.
MERCER: I'm on my way to work, Officer.
OFFICER 1: It's okay, move along.
He just let them go, that's some bullshit, man.
You got something to say, boy?
DISPATCH: (ON RADIO) One ID six project...
No, sir, he doesn't.
Get out. Open the trunk.
Why?
I need to make sure you're not transporting
stolen property, that's why.
But we're not.
I said get the **** out of the car
and open up the trunk.
Pop, you don't have to get out of the car, man.
-Just chill. I'm chill. -Get the **** out!
-Get him out and check. -**** this shit.
OFFICER 2: Let's go.
Hands on the hood.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
OFFICER 1: Do you have any weapons or contraband on you?
No, sir.
OFFICER 1: Do you have anything
that could stick, poke, cut or harm me in any way?
No, sir.
Spread 'em.
Pop, they can't search us, man.
They don't have no warrant.
Shut up.
Don't do that to my son.
I said shut the **** up.
Are you listening to me?
Well, it looks like you have a problem listening,
so I'm giving you this hearing aid.
-Yo, these ****ing cops... -OFFICER 2: Shut up!
Keep your hands on the car, don't ****ing move.
Twan.
(CRYING) This is all you need, man.
(SOFTLY) Please, please, please...
(ANTOINE WHIMPERS)
OFFICER 1: All right, it's clean.
Where'd you say you work?
Pluton Metals, off of 18th.
I better not see you two again.
You listening to me?
Now get the **** out of here.
Let him go.
(HANDCUFFS CLICK)
OFFICER 1: Let's go. Come on.
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
-(ANTOINE SNIFFLES) -(ENGINE TURNS OVER)
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
All right, let's **** her up.
-(BUTTON BEEPS) -(EXPLOSION)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(LOWELL LAUGHS TRIUMPHANTLY)
We're rich, boys. We're rich!
Let's get it in the van and get the **** out of here.
Copeland, you're gonna be able to buy yourself
a brand-new foot with all this money.
Better than the original. (LAUGHS)
I'm proud of you, son.
We're gonna be millionaires.
Yeah.
I gotta prep the van.
-(DOOR CLOSES) -(DENNIS BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
MALE REPORTER: (ON RADIO) ...right down
the middle of the street.
FEMALE REPORTER: It is a multiracial crowd,
it's not predominantly any color.
One stands in the middle of the...
That one fellow is lighting the trees, is he not?
Yeah, it looks like he's going along block to block
and nobody's stopping him.
Great fuel for an arson.
-One tree after another. -(KEYPAD BEEPING)
(GATE ALARM BUZZES)
(PILLS RATTLE)
(GULPS)
MALE REPORTER: (ON RADIO) I talked to some
of the officers a little while ago
and they really don't know what to do right now.
I don't think anybody really knows what to do
and how to get this under control.
FEMALE REPORTER: This is a super swap meeting location.
Actually a group of over 100...
ANTOINE: Where did you say the bathroom was?
...and looted it.
Left, down the hall.
FEMALE REPORTER: After they're done looting,
they set fire to the structure.
(GASPS, BREATH QUIVERS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(BREATH QUIVERS)
FEMALE REPORTER: At least one fireman has been shot.
We don't know what his condition is.
It's pretty chaotic out here...
Joe!
(GUNFIRE)
(MERCER GRUNTS)
MURPHY: Hey!
Antoine.
(PANTING)
I'm gonna go the other way.
(ELECTRICITY POWERS DOWN)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
-(METAL CLATTERS) -(MERCER GRUNTS)
(TITUS GRUNTS IN PAIN)
(METAL PIPE CLATTERS)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(RIGGIN GRUNTS)
(COPELAND BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
(GROANING IN PAIN)
****ing kids.
Never here when you need them.
DENNIS: (SHOUTING) Dad!
Dad!
LOWELL: Who in the **** is this?
I was in the bathroom and he came in.
(DENNIS STAMMERS)
Sit right there.
I, uh... Here.
I took the wallet off him.
-(COPELAND GROANS IN PAIN) -Shut up!
Shut up, Copeland.
Shut your ****ing mouth, shut up.
Where's your brother? We gotta get
-the **** out of here. -I don't know.
-Where's your brother? -I don't know.
(COPELAND GROANS IN PAIN)
Shut the **** up.
I'm telling you, shut the **** up.
DENNIS: Cope, Cope, Cope. Hey.
(COPELAND GROANS)
Hey, come on.
-You're okay, Cope. -(COUGHS, WHEEZES)
Antoine King.
2431 West 62nd Place.
And you're a sophomore at Crenshaw High?
What the **** are you doing here, crashing our party?
What the **** are you doing?
I came looking for my dad.
He works here.
What does your dad do?
Maintenance.
-What? -Maintenance. I...
I tried to go home, but I couldn't.
The bus lines were down.
So, I came here looking for him.
(RIGGIN GRUNTS, COUGHS)
MERCER: Wake the **** up.
Where's my son?
-(COUGHS) -Where's my son?
I don't know what you're talking about.
You and your boys are robbing this joint right now. Right?
RIGGIN: Who are you?
You don't know who you're ****ing with.
Man, this is not gonna end well for you.
It's not going well for me.
It's damn sure not going well for you.
Please.
(RIGGIN GRUNTS)
-(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) -(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
LOWELL: You came here to look for your dad?
Huh? Huh?
ANTOINE: Yes, yes, yes, but he's not here.
(COPELAND GROANS IN PAIN)
LOWELL: You know what?
Today's your lucky day.
'Cause I'm feeling charitable.
So, I'm gonna let you go.
I'm gonna let you go home to your daddy.
-COPELAND: (GROANING) No! -I swear to...
-What the ****? -ANTOINE: Oh, shit!
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
I know where you live.
If you talk to anyone about who or what you saw here,
I'm gonna ****ing kill you.
I'm gonna kill your father, your mother, your dog,
every relative you ever had.
I'm gonna obliterate your whole ****ing family,
you little ****!
(ANTOINE SHUDDERING)
Goodbye.
Get the **** outta here.
MURPHY: Lowell!
Someone ****ed us up!
-Where's Riggin? -They took him!
Hey, Crenshaw, stop!
Stop!
Stop and get your *** back here.
-(GUN COCKS) -Now.
Get over here.
(GUN COCKS)
Easy, easy, easy. We're gonna use him.
-Where's your father? -ANTOINE: I don't know.
LOWELL: You were ****ing lying to me
-before, weren't you? -ANTOINE: I don't know.
-You're ****ing lying to me. -I swear to God, I don't know.
What do you want to do with him?
-(MURPHY KICKING) -(ANTOINE GROANS)
We're gonna use him.
-MURPHY: ****. -We're gonna use him.
(TENSE MUSIC BUILDS)
-****. -MURPHY: Check the van!
I see that.
(ENGINE SPUTTERS, STOPS)
****.
-Murph. -What?
We got a problem.
What the **** is it?
The ignition rotor is missing.
The **** is a rotor?
We can't start the van without it.
Son of a *****.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
TITUS: Boss.
We can't find Riggin anywhere.
What?
(PANTING) Yes, and we can't...
start the van either.
Why the **** not?
Because the ignition rotor is missing.
Your old man is playing with your life.
He's playing with your ****ing life.
TITUS: Maybe I should walk out
and try to find another vehicle, huh?
No, no, that's a bad idea.
LOWELL: What about the two cars out in front?
No.
Their suspensions won't support the weight.
Dad, we have to find Riggin.
I know, Dennis.
I'm well aware that we don't have your brother.
Just load up the rest of the bars.
We'll clean up. Let's get that ****ing rotor.
We'll get the **** out of here.
I got all the leverage I need right there.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(RIGGIN GASPS, GROANS)
(HELICOPTER HOVERING)
Hey!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Give me the rotor to the van.
**** you.
-(BONES CRACKING) -(GROANS, WINCES)
Where? You ****ing say!
-**** you. -Huh?
-(MURPHY KICKING) -(MERCER GRUNTS)
Come on.
Come on, now.
Okay, okay.
Where is the rotor to the van?
Hmm? Huh?
Easy now.
Easy.
(MERCER WINCES IN PAIN)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(METAL PIPE CLATTERS)
(GUN COCKS)
(GUNSHOTS)
(LOWELL LAUGHS)
Sounds like you're down a dad.
(GLASS SHATTERS)
(BODY THUDS)
(ANTOINE GASPING)
Son of a *****.
MERCER: Just ****ing relax.
(RIGGIN GROANS)
Don't be stupid.
-(ZIP TIE TIGHTENS) -(GROANS)
I guess your crew...
don't believe in the whole
"honor among thieves" system, huh?
The old man...
is a heartless mother****er.
That Black man was on the ground...
he shot him up.
Just ****ing unloaded on him.
Bullshit.
He did it in front of my son.
Bull. Shit.
Then he put the gun up to my son's head.
(SIGHS)
Look, I need you to be honest with me.
Do you know where my brother is?
I just watched your dad kill a man.
If I knew where your brother was,
believe me, I would tell you.
That old man in there... (SIGHS)
that's my dad.
And honestly, man,
it's a ****ing miracle that your son's still alive.
And now your kid, he's just a witness.
He don't let witnesses live.
I gotta find him.
You understand that, right?
But...
I promise I am not going to let anything
happen to you.
You girls having a nice chat?
Yeah, I was...
Why you ****ing talking to him?
(HESITATES) I'm getting information.
Did you know that his father has your ****ing brother?
Did you know that?
What information are you getting?
-Huh? -It was...
Shut up.
Get up. Get up.
You're gonna get us out of this.
'Cause if you don't, I'm gonna ****ing kill you.
Walk.
Smarten up.
I never wanted to hurt anybody.
Okay?
I sure as hell don't want anything
to happen to your kid.
You sure the **** don't.
(MIC FEEDBACK)
LOWELL: (OVER SPEAKER) The toilets
need scrubbing, Mercer.
The toilets need scrubbing.
Shit.
I got somebody here who wants to talk to you.
Don't trust him. Don't listen to anything he says, man.
Press the button and say "Dad."
Dad?
Twan.
They're gonna kill me.
Dad, they're gonna kill me, Dad.
Dad, they're gonna kill me.
(CRYING) If you don't do what they say.
LOWELL: Mercer.
How about a trade?
Your son for my son and the rotor.
RIGGIN: He's a liar.
They're just gonna kill you and then your son.
Shut the **** up.
Be at the loading docks in five minutes.
If you do not show up,
your kid's gonna get a bullet in the head.
If you bring any weapons,
that would not be good for Antoine's health.
Got it?
You're gonna help me get my son.
(FORKLIFT BEEPING)
It's almost over, Crenshaw.
Hey, stop right there.
Dad.
Stop.
Get the rotor.
Rigg!
You good?
Dennis, I'm cool, I'm cool.
Got it.
Put it back in the van.
After all the bullshit you put me through tonight,
you're lucky I don't just kill
this mother****ing kid right now.
Give me my son.
You killed one of my guys.
You ****ed up my night.
Let us go.
You can go right back
to whatever the **** you was doing.
And if I don't?
Then we got a problem, homie.
Well, then I guess we got a ****ing problem, homie.
-(ENGINE TURNS OVER) -Yes.
Goodbye, Crenshaw.
-Twan! Get down -Go, go!
-(GUNSHOT) -(DENNIS GRUNTS)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(LOWELL GRUNTS)
Oh, shit, Dennis!
Get up! Get to the van!
-All right? -Go!
(TIRES SCREECH)
LOWELL: We gotta wire the car out front!
-RIGGIN: Keep the pressure. -(DENNIS GROANS)
Look at me.
Hey. Look at me!
Hey, you're gonna be fine. You're gonna be fine.
(TIRES SCREECH)
Come on.
-Oh, ****! -Dennis!
(KEYPAD BEEPING)
(GATE ALARM BUZZES)
RIGGIN: Go!
DENNIS: Okay, okay, okay.
He's getting away with my money.
RIGGIN: You're gonna be okay.
DENNIS: Oh, God. Oh, God.
Y'all all right?
RIGGIN: He needs a hospital!
(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)
RIGGIN: Come on, push. Just keep pushing.
Hold the pressure. Come on. Stay with me.
Hey, Rigg. Guess what?
What?
We're rich.
-We're rich. -No.
Shoot 'em.
Oh, shit!
(GUNFIRE)
(TIRES SCREECH)
RIGGIN: He's losing a lot of blood.
I don't wanna die, Rigg.
Hold on, hold on.
Hold on.
(DENNIS GASPS, SPUTTERS)
Oh, no.
No way. Baby bro.
MERCER: Don't look back.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(RIGGIN SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)
Shit.
(YELLS)
No. **** you!
Mother****er!
(GROANS)
(TIRES SCREECH)
(CAR HORN BLARES)
LOWELL: **** me.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Dad, he got hit!
Oh, shit!
(ENGINE STOPS)
(RIGGIN BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(RIGGIN COUGHS)
(RIGGIN WHEEZING)
****ing hell.
(CLINKING)
(COUGHS, GROANS)
Hey.
I did the best that I could, son.
I'm sorry it wasn't enough.
You mother****er.
Do you know how much you cost...
(GUNSHOTS)
(BODY THUDS)
-MERCER: It's okay. -(ANTOINE WHIMPERING)
It's okay, Twan.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
I'm sorry.
-I'm sorry. -(ANTOINE SOBBING)
(LITTLE GHETTO BOY BY DONNY HATHAWAY PLAYING)
♪ Little ghetto boy ♪
♪ Playing in the ghetto street ♪
♪ Whatcha gonna do when you grow up ♪
♪ And have to face responsibility? ♪
♪ Will you spend your days and nights in a pool room? ♪
♪ Will you sell caps of madness ♪
♪ To the neighborhood? ♪
♪ Little ghetto boy ♪
♪ You already know how rough life can be ♪
♪ 'Cause you've seen ♪
♪ So much pain and misery ♪
♪ Little ghetto boy ♪
♪ Your daddy was blown away ♪
♪ He robbed that grocery store ♪
♪ Don't you know that was a sad, sad old day? ♪
♪ All of your young life ♪
♪ You've seen such misery and pain ♪
♪ The world is a cruel place ♪
♪ And it ain't gonna change ♪
♪ You're so young and you've got so far to go ♪
♪ But I don't think you'll reach your goal, young man ♪
♪ Hangin' by the pool room door ♪
♪ Look out, son ♪