126. Rows of History - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. KITCHEN - DAY


• Warm summer sunlight pours in through the windows on two sides of the kitchen, highlighting the chair on which LANDON, an eight-year-old slouches.


• ARLENE, his mother, pulls at his hair, forming it into tight cornrows.


• Landon winces.


• LANDON
• Ouch!


• ARLENE
• Stay still Landon, or it'll just take longer.


• He twists in the chair, moving his head.


• His mother gently smacks his skull with her comb.


• ARLENE
• Keep your head down.


• LANDON
• I just want to go outside and play, I don't want these stupid braids!


• ARLENE
• There's history in those braids, son, don't you forget. These braids hold the history of your people. They hold the stories of the slaves. They traveled with us across the great sea. Don't you forget.


• Landon appears bored.


• Arlene gives a strand of hair a final quick twist.


• ARLENE
• Alright, all done, go play.


• Landon bounds from his chair and races to the door.


• EXT. FRONT YARD - DAY


• Landon joins a few of his FRIENDS, playing near the sidewalk.


• ERIC, one of the largest in the group, points and laughs.


• ERIC
• Hey look, Landon got cornrows! Going to wear some bling with that?


• Landon draws himself up.


• LANDON
• Hey! Back off. There's history in my braids.


• FADE TO BLACK.