Ashley breaks down on the job after the LAPD murders a Black woman. White Nationalist leader, Spencer Wilson, decides to capitalize on the situation.
Ashley breaks down on the job after the LAPD murders a Black woman. White Nationalist leader, Spencer Wilson, decides to capitalize on the situation
CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Ashley Allen – Natalie Wachen
Vinnie – Brian N. Taylor
Charlie Cole – Ashley Chaney
Elizabeth Ellis – Nan McNamara
Spencer Wilson– Chris Osbrink
Effie Edelman – Andia Winslow
Monica Edelman – Janora McDuffie
Elijah - Joe D. Reitman
CREDITS:
Written & Directed by Natasha Lewin
Produced by DaVida Chanel Smith of Creating, Etcetera
Engineered by Tom Fritze at LoLA Studios
Casting Director Medge Ross
Music courtesy of J. Wells
Music courtesy of Bleu
Copyright 2020
Trigger warning. This episode contains adult content and racial violence.
EXT. STREET
PROTESTORS Black Lives Matter!
ASHLEY He killed her??
VINNIE
She probably resisted arrest or ran or who knows. You ‘bout ready?
ASHLEY
I saw her. I talked to her. I could’ve -- I could done something.
VINNIE
What could you do? Those people don’t want our help.
ASHLEY
I don’t feel so good.
VINNIE
Ooh. You don’t look so good.
ASHLEY I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I can’t do this.
Ashley HYPERVENTILATES.
VINNIE What do you me to do? We’re live in 10. Want me to call Elizabeth? Is that a yes? Yes?? Okay, hold on.
SLY NETWORK - HMU A hair dryer WHIRS.
CHARLIE COLE
Get me a LaCroix. Pamplemousse.
ELIZABETH ELLIS That's diva for grapefruit.
The door CLOSES.
ELIZABETH ELLIS (CONT'D) So you said this was urgent?
Cellphone RINGS.
ELIZABETH ELLIS (CONT'D) Shit, hold on.... (in phone) Elizabeth Ellis.
VINNIE (on phone) Hey it’s Vinnie. Ashley’s hyperventilating.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Did she hit her head? Is she bleeding?
VINNIE No.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Then give her a paper bag and a sip of water, and tell her she’s got exactly eight minutes to get the fuck on camera or she’s fired.
CLICK
CHARLIE COLE
Hoo! What was that about? OW! Fuck, Gretchen! The blow dryer’s too hot.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Newbie’s having a panic attack.
CHARLIE COLE Newbie as in that cunt who’s getting all my air time?
ELIZABETH ELLIS
You’re head anchor of the 7 o’clock news. Ashley’s doing brushfires.
CHARLIE COLE
And traffic and lead-ins and --
ELIZABETH ELLIS
She’s a johnny-on-the-spot, Charlie You’re the face of Sly.
CHARLIE COLE Yet her face is everywhere.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
There’s nothing I can about do it. Stephen likes her.
CHARLIE COLE
He liked me too once, remember? No matter. Stephen can stick that twat where ever he wants. I’m gonna be leaving the desk.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Now?? Our numbers haven’t been this high since Obama was elected.
CHARLIE COLE I want to do sit-downs.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
We hired you as a reporter not as Barbara Walters.
CHARLIE COLE
Why is Sly wasting me on every police shooting or vandalized Jewish cemetery? I’m bigger than that bullshit. Charlie Cole brings the main fucking course.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
And that’s the 7 o’clock news.
CHARLIE COLE
No it’s after, on the new 8 o’clock Hour with Charlie Cole.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Go on.
CHARLIE COLE
And for my first guest, the man behind white nationalism himself, Spencer Wilson.
ELIZABETH ELLIS It’s not bad.
CHARLIE COLE Told you it was urgent. Ow!! Gretchen, watch it!
EXT. HELIPAD
Helicopter blades WHIRL.
PILOT
Mister Wilson? I’m Mike, your pilot to Los Angeles. And may I just say, what an honor it is to have you in my bird, sir.
SPENCER WILSON Thanks Mike. Call me Spencer.
PILOT
Not sure I can do that, sir. I’m a member of White Excellence Local Liberators, and my dad’s founder of the Tarheel Ten.
SPENCER WILSON Well your dad’s the best damn Dixiecrat since Strom Thurmond. I guess I’m in great hands.
PILOT
The absolute best, sir. I’m even gentle with the coons I fly from Orange County to the Clipper games.
SPENCER WILSON
Swell, Mike. Swell. So shall we?
PILOT
Yessir, welcome aboard, sir. And watch your head.
INT. CAR
A car motor PURRS as highway traffic FLIES by.
EFFIE
That pig executed her in broad daylight! And you made it sound like it was her fault!
ASHLEY
Nobody knows what happened. There were no body cams or witnesses --
EFFIE
You called the protests “riots.” They were marching! The only people out there rioting were white instigators trying to get Black folks in trouble.
ASHLEY
That’s not what they told me. They said Black people were looting too.
EFFIE
Looting!? You’re picking up their racism. How can you work there??
ASHLEY
I applied to every Black station I could, Effie. Even in Nevada. Black folks do not wanna hire me. I’m not their “brand.” I’m not supposed to work because I’m light-skinned?
EFFIE
So you work for a white network for white people with white privilege??
ASHLEY
We get that same privilege.
EFFIE
Jewish is not the same as white!
MONICA
Will you two stop it and let your dad drive?!
ELIJAH
Yeah, not today, girls.
EFFIE ASHLEY Sorry dad. Sorry daddy.
The car SLOWS. Car window rolls DOWN. Birds CHIRP.
ELIJAH Edelman, 18 and 19.
SECURITY
Go ahead. And I’m sorry Mr. Edelman.
ELIJAH Yeah, me too.
Car drives over GRAVEL. Elijah SIGHS.
MONICA
Look at this. It’s terrible! How’d they even get in here?
EFFIE
Better question is how’d they get in here. That’s your van, right?
ASHLEY
No, Sly has a whole different team in Orange County.
EFFIE
They sure got here quick. Probably handed out the spray paint.
ELIJAH
ENOUGH! I don’t want to hear it anymore! Let’s get ‘em and go.
Three car doors OPEN. Birds CHIRP.
MONICA You comin’ Esther?
ASHLEY
I’m gonna stay behind. In case.
MONICA In case?? (to Eli and Effie ) You two go on ahead...You heard me.
Two car doors SHUT.
MONICA (CONT'D) I don’t know what has gotten into you, but I’d like it to get out.
ASHLEY
I have to reap all these white benefits while I can, mom. Then I’ll get a bigger reel and a big--
MONICA
And what about your family? What your father?? And Wahlid? You’re treating your own people like you’re ashamed.
ASHLEY
I’m not ashamed. I’m only doing my job.
MONICA
If it’s Sly is making you turn your back on who you are, you need to get a new job.
Ashley’s phone RINGS.
ASHLEY
Oop, speak of the devil.
MONICA Yes, I did.
ASHLEY
I gotta take it mom.
MONICA
Child, you are something else. And it sure as hell ain’t white.
The car door SLAMS. Ashley SIGHS. Phone RINGING stops.
ASHLEY Hello?
ELIZABETH ELLIS (in phone) What’s your location?
ASHLEY
Not LA. Why, what’s happening?
ELIZABETH ELLIS
We’re patching through to a live feed in Orange County and need someone on the desk.
ASHLEY
For the seven o’clock?? What happened to Charlie?
ELIZABETH ELLIS Contract negotiations. So you’re too far away for the 7?
ASHLEY
Yeah, shoot. What’s the story?
ELIZABETH ELLIS
White power crew smashed up another Jewish cemetery.
ASHLEY
D-do you know which one?
ELIZABETH ELLIS
You suddenly the expert on Jewish cemeteries?
ASHLEY
I’m in Orange County.
ELIZABETH ELLIS It’s uhm Mount --
ASHLEY
Olive. I went to UC Irvine, it’s close by.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Close enough to do a Sly affiliate crossover? It’ll get you on the 7.
ASHLEY
Sure, yeah. I can be at Mount Olive in about 20. Thirty tops.
ELIZABETH ELLIS I’ll text you your POC.
ASHLEY Person of color??
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Person of contact. Sly doesn’t do color, Ashley.
ASHLEY Right. Talk soon.
CLICK. Ashley SIGHS.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Shit.
EFFIE (O.S.) Pop the trunk, hurry.
Elijah and Effie GROAN. A dampened THUNK. Car doors OPEN.
ASHLEY What was that?
ELIJAH
What’s left of your grandmother’s headstone. Buckle up.
The car engine STARTS, DRIVES over gravel.
EFFIE
All this just for being Jewish.
ELIJAH
There are sick people in the world.
EFFIE
And Esther works for ‘em.
MONICA Leave it alone, Effie.
ASHLEY
So Wahlid’s on his way down.
ELIJAH
He coming to the house for dinner?
ASHLEY
No, we’re gonna go out to eat. Can you drop me off at Tonic?
ELIJAH
You’ll be early, it’s right down the street.
ASHLEY I’ll order a drink.
EFFIE I’m sure you will.
MONICA Want us to join you?
ASHLEY No! But thanks.
INT. HELICOPTER
Chopper blades WHIR. Through chopper HEADPHONES --
PILOT
Touchdown in two, sir. Jen said we have you booked for a quick turnaround at 1930, correct?
SPENCER WILSON
Correct. So Mike, what else do you do besides pilot choppers?
PILOT
I run the Segregation Militia, sir.
SPENCER WILSON
You don’t say. WELL’s throwing an expo at the Convention Center and I need a security team who’s sympathetic to our cause.
PILOT
That’s us all over, sir. We’ll split skulls if necessary.
SPENCER WILSON
You might have to. LA’s first white rights rally could get a little -- iPhone RINGS.
SPENCER WILSON (CONT'D) Excuse me.
(in phone) Hey Jen.
WOMAN’S hurried muffled VOICE through phone.
SPENCER WILSON (CONT'D) Whoa, slow down. A lotta networks wanna interview me. Let’s see what Sly’s offering first. And who’s the one interviewing me?
EXT. MOUNT OLIVE Feet RUN on pavement. Birds CHIRP.
ASHLEY (breathless) Hi, I’m here with Sly.
SECURITY Got a press pass?
ASHLEY I have a text.
SECURITY No can do.
ASHLEY
I-uh, I was just here interviewing one of the families targeted. Edelman? Plots 18 and 19?
SECURITY
Elijah Edelman spoke with Sly News?? I’m shocked. He hates you guys. Says you’re a bunch of anti- Semites. But I guess how else would you know him? Go ahead.
For the next 6 weeks tune in every Friday for a new episode of WHITE PRIVILEGE Season 1.