Riot Read Online Free PDF Page B

nobody.
    We see her fingers again slide the lock open and shut.
When they tell me that they are chasing black people in the street, I don’t know what to feel. I am angry that anyone is being chased, but do I know what it means to be black? When that girl looked at me, it was with such contempt. A week ago she couldn’t have hurt me. Now just the thought of her coming back fills me with terror. It’s as if she has found who she is and can look right through me and know that I am lost.
    Again she fingers the lock. The camera moves to the stairway.
ELLEN
    (calling from upstairs)
Claire? Did you have anything for breakfast? Claire? Claire!
    EXT. MADISON SQUARE PARK—SAME DAY
    We see rows of tents, a few small fires, and groups of SOLDIERS in small knots.
    CUT TO:
    Three privates, KELLY (25), PARKER (24), andLANCASTER (17). KELLY and PARKER are both unshaven and have the look of men who have been in combat too long. LANCASTER looks (and is) too young to be in the army. His uniform hangs loosely on him. He stands while the other two soldiers sit. We see KELLY searching through his equipment bag, then walk away.
PARKER
He’s got his mad on, but this has got to be better than facing Johnny Reb.
    He is poking a small fire they have started, in which he has placed his canteen cup to make hot water for tea.
LANCASTER
I don’t even know what this is about.
PARKER
About the draft. Something about the draft. These people don’t want to enjoy the pleasures of marching in the sun.
LANCASTER
I heard the rebs had to kill a bunch of people to get them to report for duty.
PARKER
Captain said some of these people haveguns. Gotta be careful. A fool can kill you just as quick as a sniper. Gotta be careful.
LANCASTER
You had anything to eat? I’m starving.
PARKER
There’s some eggs in that crate. They say don’t suck them raw, but that’s what I’ve been doing. You can boil them over the fire if you got a mind to. Don’t boil them too long or they’re get hard. I can’t stand no hard eggs.
LANCASTER
Back home I used to suck them raw all the time. Go down to the henhouse and move an old fat biddy off her nest. I never figured out if they really cared or not. My ma didn’t like it none, wanted me to sit around the table with my brother and daddy for breakfast. But my daddy never had nothing to say that wasn’t grinding against the ear. Complainingest man I’ve ever known.
PARKER
That why you joined up? I thought you just liked the pretty brass buttons.
LANCASTER
Look at this one watching us. You figure she’s a spy or something?
    The camera moves, and we see CLAIRE standing next to a tree, about twenty feet from the soldiers.
PARKER
    (calling to CLAIRE)
    Come on over, darling. We won’t bite you.
    CUT TO:
    CLOSE-UP of CLAIRE, who looks apprehensive, then forces a smile. Return to MAIN SHOT.
PARKER
Lank here thinks you’re a spy.
    We see CLAIRE take a step back, then walk slowly toward the soldiers.
PARKER
Morning!
CLAIRE
Morning.
PARKER
We’re just here debating whether or notLank is going to die from eating raw eggs. He says he won’t, but I say he might. What do you say?
    CLAIRE looks from man to man but doesn’t speak.
LANCASTER
I done ate raw eggs before, and there’s nothing to it.
CLAIRE
If you have a pan, I can cook them for you.
LANCASTER
We got a pan.
PARKER
Lank, you liable to come out this war a man yet.
    (taking loose tobacco and cigarette paper out of his pocket)
Got a woman cooking his breakfast! Miss, don’t let his head get too close to your dress or it’ll get all wet. He ain’t got water on the brain; he’s just a little wet behind the ears!
LANCASTER
Parker, you’re a crazy man.
PARKER
    (to himself as he heads off)
Ain’t but two months out of his diapers and he’s got a woman cooking his breakfast!
    CLAIRE and LANCASTER stand awkwardly, a few feet apart. Then LANCASTER realizes what she is waiting for and rummages through his bag. He produces a small skillet and lays out the eggs, a piece of fatback,