FADE IN...
EXT: MAN ON THE STREET SURROUNDED BY CROWD --- NIGHT
-----------------------------------------------------CUT TO:
A bundle of men stand behind a man wearing a white shirt and baseball cap. They're framed by a backdrop of pitch black. Nothing paints the scene except for the occasional passing car, and neighborhood lights and sounds that filter in through the background every now and then.
An unseen interviewer and cameraperson focus in on the white shirted man. Behind him the onlookers stand quiet, intent, listening….
MAN:
"...I'm smoking and I'm on the phone. Now I'm on the phone. I had (grabs cell phone and puts it to his ear) --ON THE PHONE, y'all.
(Points to his right and says)
"The officers got the-the guns drawn at my partners----I'm across the street from them though. You know what I'm saying? I'm not knowing that I'm a suspect or any of this.
(waves a hand, puts phone back to his ear)
"I'm just on the phone talking--how…how am I am suspect?"
(Pulls phone away and stares into the crowd. Then puts phone back to his ear as if talking on the phone)
"So I turn around to a gun drawn in my face. I'm like, (phone still to ear, waves palm as if to show, hey I'm safe, there's no threat here) Alright, and he like, you know what I'm saying, 'PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"
(Staring straight into the camera, distressed, pulls phone from ear, opens palm and gestures)
"I goes to put my phone in my pocket--you know what this man almost did to me?
(Puts phone in pocket, looks sad)
"This man almost kills me. I swear to God. I would not lie to you. This man said, (Poses like he's holding an invisible gun) "HE'S GOT A GUN--HE'S GOT A--"
(Then he raises both hands in surrender)
"Man," I said, "Man, I ain't got no gun (hands still raised).And he said…you know what that man said!?! "'I WANT YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING ON YOU, 'CAUSE I'M GOING TO BEAT YOUR ASS'!"
"That's what that man said. I swear to God on my son! He said I'm gonna beat your ass if you got something' on you. I swear to God."
(Stabs a finger in the direction of the police.)
"Y'all know you're not right, and y'all know it!. And I know the city--they known, 'cause it's the city who did it. You know what I'm saying? City--County--all of them--they…they wrong." (Gestures) "They wrong! Ain't none of them right. Ain't none of them right."
REPORTER:
"Sorry-sorry, I didn't get your name…"
MAN:
(Stares into the camera for a few beats.)
REPORTER:
"You wanna share your name…Sir, I didn't catch your name--"
MAN:
"My name is Mike Brown, sir."
CROWD:
MIKE BROWN! MIKE BROWN! MIKE BROWN!