An Original Short Screenplay by Mark Barkawitz

FADE IN:

EXT. ALLEY--AFTERNOON

EDDIE HUCK--a lean, wild-eyed sixteen-year-old, who wears a T-shirt with a KROQ logo, loose-fitting jeans, and new high-top tennies--runs. Chasing angrily behind him are THREE TAGGERS, also about his age. They wear extremely baggie garb with skinheads and red bandana headbands. Though racially diverse, they are otherwise indistinguishable from one another.

EDDIE
(Voice-Over)

My name's Eddie Huck. You probably heard of me on the news or if you read the papers. I'm the one they made sound like a lost soul. A loner. A runaway. But even before it all happened-- the shootings and killings, I mean-- even then I was one of those guys who never quite fit in. Always the odd-dude-out. The last one chosen. The brunt of the joke.

(still running; glancing over shoulder)
So I guess there's no use lyin' about it--
in the sixteen-plus years that I hung-out
in that treacherous part
of the planet called Los Angeles,
more than once, I thought about running away.
To where? I didn't know.
Something just told me, I had to get away.

(increasing his speed)
Fortunately, I had practiced for my journey.

As Eddie continues to extend his lead, the taggers curse him from behind. He looks over his shoulder and smiles to himself, confident in his ability to outrun his pursuers. But as he approaches the cross street which intersects the alley, a polished metallic low-rider screeches to a stop directly in front of him. Still looking backwards, Eddie runs into the fender, which knocks the wind out of him and leaves him laid-out on the hood, gasping.

EDDIE
(continuing VO)

Of course like any other guy my age,
cars were another part of my story.

The door opens. The tattooed gang leader, I.N.K., STEPS OUT.