317. Black - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. JERRY'S BOOK SHOP - DAY


• JERRY sits behind the counter of the book store, a cozy space which contains an even mix of rare titles and standard Barnes and Nobles' fare.


• He leans back on his stool, watching the traffic pass on the sidewalk outside.


• The door swings open and Cary walks in.


• CARY
• Yo, Jerry. Slow day...


• JERRY
• Yeah, it is.


• Cary leans against the counter.


• CARY
• You still on for the barbecue next week?


• JERRY
• You better believe, as long as no one has an issue with me bringing a few veggie dogs for the wife.


• CARY
• Picky that way eh?


• Jerry grins and rolls his eyes.


• JERRY
• Vegetarians...


• Cary chuckles.


• Two black guys pass the store, dressed in chains and pants that sag severely around their waists.


• CARY
• Hey, no offense, but why the heck do black guys dress like that? It just seems stupid.


• JERRY
• I don't.


• CARY
• Well, yeah, but you're not really black.


• JERRY
• Excuse me?


• CARY
• Aw, c'mon man, you know what I mean, you don't even sound black.


• Jerry exhales, then takes a deep breath, then exhales again.


• JERRY
• What does "being black" even mean to you?


• CARY
• You know, how most black people act?


• JERRY
• Wow, just...look, first of all, there is no "being black." It's not like all thirty-seven million of us get together in our monolith and plan what we're going to do.


• Cary looks at him blankly.


• JERRY
• Look, it's a class thing, not a race thing; and you've taken one particular class and stretched that to cover millions of people. It's as if I took a WASP from an old money family, then looked at and said, "You're not really white, because you're not like this." Or if you took a redneck from Appalachia and said "This is what all white people are like."


• CARY
• Ummm.


• JERRY
• We American blacks are descended from a thousand African cultures, mixed with Europeans and Native Americans...how could we possibly be all alike?


• Cary moves away from the counter.


• CARY
• Dude, was just trying to make conversation. Next Sunday?


• Jerry shakes his head and disbelief.


• JERRY
• Yeah, I'll be there.


• Cary slips out the door and Jerry throws up his hands in the air.


• JERRY
• Let those with ears, let them hear...and he obviously is missing that part of his anatomy.


• FADE TO BLACK.