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DECOY
EXT. WEALTHY SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD -- DAY
KRISTINA, a pretty, stylish, blonde sixteen-year-old, marches
down the lovely, tree-lined street, clutching her purse.
EXT. MAIN ROAD -- DAY
Kristina turns the corner, and comes to wait at the bus stop.
She paces, looks up the road, glances at her watch.
KRISTINA'S MOTHER, a society matron, approaches.
MOTHER
Kristina. Your father's just
upset.
KRISTINA
I know. I'm upset too.
MOTHER
If you'd just apologize, I'm sure
he'd let you borrow the car.
KRISTINA
I don't need his car, I'm fine.
And I've got nothing to apologize
for.
MOTHER
You just can't talk to your father
that --
KRISTINA
I don't really wish to discuss this
with you, Mother.
MOTHER
(nonplussed)
But you can't just . . . go out and
. . . and take the bus . . .
Kristina at last looks directly at her.
KRISTINA
No? Why can't I? Lots of people
do.
The bus pulls up. Kristina gets out her change.
KRISTINA
Bye, Mom.
As her mother watches, dismayed, she boards.
INT. COREY'S APARTMENT -- DAY
COREY, a tall, sixteen-year-old African American athlete,
goes through his sock drawer. He pulls out a pair of white
socks with holes in the toe. He puts his finger through one
hole, dismayed.
INT. HALLWAY -- DAY
COREY'S MOM paces, talking on a cordless phone.
MOM
Uh huh. Gina, you know I'm not
gonna say that to her.
(a beat)
Because. You think I'm a fool?
Corey walks past her.
COREY
I'm goin' to the mall, Ma. Want
anything?
MOM
No, baby, I'm good, thanks. You be
back in time for dinner?
COREY
I dunno, I think so.
MOM
Call if you get held up.
He goes out the front door, as she tells her friend:
MOM
Yeah, Gina, I'm here. No. I will
definitely not tell her that.
EXT. COREY'S BUILDING -- DAY
In this more run-down, urban neighborhood, the bus slows down
and stops. Corey gets on.
INT. BUS -- DAY
Kristina watches Corey board and take a seat not far from
hers. He does not see her, although she is the only white
person on the bus.
They bounce along, and she calls over to him:
KRISTINA
Hey.
He looks up.
KRISTINA
Your name is Corey, right?
COREY
(after a beat)
That's right.
KRISTINA
Mind if I join you?
Corey shrugs, and she moves into the seat next to his.
KRISTINA
I hate people who shout to each
other across a bus, you know?
(a beat)
Is this your first year at the
Academy?
COREY
Yeah.
KRISTINA
How do you like it so far?
COREY
S'okay.
KRISTINA
And is Mr. Garfield setting you on
fire?
COREY
He's okay, I guess.
KRISTINA
Well, I'm glad somebody thinks so.
If I hear one more word about how
going down the river is a
"journey," and life is a "journey,"
and Huck and Jim are being changed
by the "journey," I am gonna spit!
Corey cracks a smile at this.
KRISTINA
You know what I mean?
COREY
Yeah, I guess we have heard a lot
about that "river motif."
KRISTINA
I mean, it's not even like Twain
wanted high school English teachers
to get their grubby little hands
all over his book! He told them to
keep out! He posted a great big No
Trespassing sign at the start of
the novel --
COREY
Yeah, I saw that.
KRISTINA
Well, okay then. But you don't
hear Garfield mentioning that.
He is finding her funny, warming up to her a little. He at
last makes eye contact.
KRISTINA
So. Corey. Do you know what my
name is?
COREY
(unsure)
Krissy . . .
KRISTINA
Kristina. That's what I prefer.
You hang out with anyone from our
class?
COREY
You the first one to talk to me.
KRISTINA
Seriously?
COREY
Seriously.
KRISTINA
Wow. Well, does that sum up the
Academy, or what?
EXT. HIGHWAY -- AFTERNOON
We see the bus as it lumbers through traffic. It turns at a
light, entering a huge mall parking lot.
EXT. MALL -- AFTERNOON
The bus groans to a stop in the parking lot area. People,
mostly black and latino, get off, as others wait to board.
Kristina And Corey get off. She looks around in disbelief.
KRISTINA
This is, like, so far from all the
stores!
COREY
You never been to the mall before?
KRISTINA
Sure, but -- I don't usually come
this way.
COREY
(grins)
Well, relax, shorty. We'll take
the scenic route.
Kristina almost swats him with her bag, playfully.
KRISTINA
Who you calling shorty?
Corey laughs, puts up his hands to fend her off.
COREY
Calm down, it's just an expression.
Kristina smiles, and they set out walking.
KRISTINA
Fine, let's go. Maybe we can hitch
a ride along the way.
She sticks out a thumb.
EXT. PARKING LOT -- AFTERNOON
ANOTHER ANGLE
They are walking along a cement wall, nearing the mall. An
older black man sits on the pavement, and rattles a waxed cup
at them. His voice is detached; he sounds high.
HOMELESS MAN
Change. Spare any change.
Anything at all.
Corey walks past him, but Kristina makes an elaborate show of
stopping, opening her bag and giving him a dollar, her face
filled with concern.
KRISTINA
Here you go, sir.
HOMELESS MAN
Thanks, have a nice day.
Corey waits for her to catch up with him. They walk along.
COREY
Damn. I'd never give to that old
junkie. You see how wasted he was?
How long you think before he's
smokin' your dollar, or shooting it
into his arm?
KRISTINA
Well, I guess that's really none of
my business.
COREY
Maybe. I just got better things to
do with my money.
KRISTINA
Money isn't everything.
COREY
I guess not, when you got it. Me,
I value it a little more than just
throwin' it away.
They are approaching the glass doors at the main entrance to
the mall.
KRISTINA
So, what are you here for?
COREY
(shrugs)
No big deal. Hang out. Buy some
socks, maybe.
KRISTINA
Where? At, like, Sears or Wal
Mart?
(a beat)
I'm sorry. That sounded really
snotty. I guess I was just having
fun teasing you, a little. Before.
COREY
(offended)
Hey, I don't care where I buy
them. I'm an athlete, I need some
gym socks. They don't got to be by
Ralph Lauren.
KRISTINA
You're right.
COREY
That preppy "look" all the guys at
the Academy wear? They can take a
flying leap off a tall building,
far as I'm concerned. I ain't
frontin', I ain't tryin' to.
KRISTINA
Okay.
COREY
Like I said, I don't throw away my
money.
KRISTINA
You are completely correct.
COREY
So, what are you here for? There a
sale at Zwirler's on gold-plated
Kleenex?
KRISTINA
I am going to Zwirler's. And I do
like gold. But I'm not going to
buy. Just to look.
She pushes through the doors, entering the mall. Corey
stands outside, staring at the doors, angry, before pushing
through.
INT. MALL -- AFTERNOON
Corey walks along. There is a small version of an amusement
park ride. Little children are on it, supervised by their
parents, and cheerful organ music plays.
Though Corey is angry, he stops to look.
Kristina comes along, watches him for a moment, then joins
him.
KRISTINA
Waiting your turn?
Corey smiles.
COREY
S'okay. I'd rather watch. You go
ahead.
KRISTINA
Naah, looks too crowded right now.
She shows him several candies she has bought, and offers him
one.
KRISTINA
Peace? Friends?
He takes it, looks embarrassed, pockets it.
COREY
Whatever.
KRISTINA
How come you're not eating? You
headed up to the food court?
COREY
Yeah.
They are walking away from the ride; the music grows fainter.
KRISTINA
Lemme guess. Double cheeseburger
and fries, right?
They approach the escalator.
COREY
You kiddin'? I used to work at
Burger Heaven.
I ain't goin' near another
hamburger, ever again. Maybe I'll
get a burrito.
KRISTINA
Too greasy.
COREY
(teasing)
Yeah, shorty, I bet you go to the
Japanese place, and get a bunch of
those cute little California rolls,
right?
KRISTINA
(surprised)
How did you know?
COREY
(smiles)
I'm psychic.
INT. FOOD COURT -- AFTERNOON
They sit at a small, round table, she delicately picking up
her little California roll pieces with chopsticks, he
munching on his burrito.
KRISTINA
So, what's it like at Burger
Heaven?
COREY
It's nasty. They got a manager,
thinks he's a drill sergeant. And
you learn some things about, like,
fast food preparation you did not
want to know.
He eyes his burrito warily, while she lifts some thin-sliced
pink ginger onto a sushi bit, and pops it into her mouth.
She smiles mischievously.
KRISTINA
So. Did you have to wear the
little outfit, and the paper hat?
COREY
Not when I was makin' food. When I
was behind the cash register, yeah.
It was a job, what the hell.
Several black young people are standing near the railing of
the food court. Two are clearly a couple. They are staring
at Corey and Kristina: whispering and laughing about them.
Kristina glances at them.
KRISTINA
Friends of yours?
Corey glances up at them, then back down at his food.
COREY
Not really. Used to be, I guess.
KRISTINA
The girl's pretty.
COREY
Yeah, I thought so too. In fifth
grade. If she goin' with him now --
well, good for them.
Eventually, the group of amused friends by the railing moves
on.
KRISTINA
Wouldn't it be bizarre if someone
from the Academy came along, and
saw us here?
She looks around, rather hopefully.
COREY
Why bizarre?
KRISTINA
Oh, I don't know. It would just be
-- weird. I mean, I guess like you
and those guys, I go back with most
of our class a long time.
COREY
You goin' out with Doug?
KRISTINA
(snorts)
Not likely. Maybe, in his twisted
imagination. Not since, like,
seventh grade.
COREY
You guys all went to that kiddie
private school before the Academy?
KRISTINA
Emily Everett May's. Yeah. That's
the thing -- Doug, Greg, these guys
are like my bratty brothers, you
know? How can you take somebody
seriously when he's trying to be
cool, and put the moves on you, and
you remember what a crybaby he was
in the sandbox when he was seven?
COREY
(smiling)
I don't know, shorty. They look to
me like they ready to cry now, if I
say five words to them.
KRISTINA
Well, maybe I'll tell Doug I've
been hanging out with you. He's
the jealous kind. Maybe he'll beat
you up after school. You'll see
what a tough guy he really is.
COREY
Oh, I'm shakin'. You got me really
scared.
KRISTINA
(after a beat)
How come you take the Academy so
seriously?
COREY
I don't . . . what do you mean?
KRISTINA
I mean . . . you're so serious in
class. Garfield doesn't seem to
know when to call on you. You
think he's just freaked out over
the "N" word in Huck Finn, or what?
COREY
(looks down, no longer
smiling)
I dunno.
KRISTINA
And you actually bought one of
those school rings, when that
company came through?
She catches his hand, and looks at the ring. It's heavy,
silver, with a large garnet in the center. It says FORREST
ACADEMY, in block letters.
KRISTINA
I mean, I thought you said you were
a guy who values money. Who
doesn't throw it away.
Embarrassed, hurt, Corey hides the hand under the table.
COREY
Well, that's not -- that's
different. I think it's a nice
ring.
KRISTINA
Oh, it looks nice, but --
COREY
If I gotta go to school in a place,
I might as well . . . feel some
connection. I mean, there's things
I don't like at the Academy, but --
that's where I am now. My moms was
really proud I won the scholarship.
KRISTINA
You were just saying nobody even
talks to you.
COREY
In Garfield's class. I hang out
with some of the guys on the team.
We're a good team. The coach is
okay. I got some good teachers.
KRISTINA
Okay, that's great. I'm just
saying.
COREY
What? What are you just saying?
KRISTINA
I don't like the way the Academy
uses the scholarship students, and
the minority students, frankly.
This town is so messed up, and that
school is so messed up.
And you're just, like, decoys, to
distract people from noticing
what's really going on. You're,
like, window dressing --
Corey rises, angry.
COREY
You know, I really don't have time
to listen to this, I'm sorry.
He picks up his tray, dumps what's left of the burrito in a
trash receptacle, and leaves the tray in the stack on top.
He heads for the escalator.
INT. MALL, NEAR ESCALATOR -- AFTERNOON
Kristina catches up with him.
KRISTINA
Hey.
He slows, but still looks angry.
KRISTINA
I did it again, huh? I got quite a
mouth on me. If you think I'm
rude, you shoulda heard what I said
to my father this morning.
COREY
I don't wanna know what you said to
your father.
KRISTINA
I say what I think. I can't help
it. I'm honest to a fault. At
least I'm not handing you some
b.s., and acting all freaked out,
and super-polite like Garfield, am
I?
COREY
Whatever.
They get on the escalator, ride it down.
KRISTINA
You ever been to Zwirler's?
COREY
Naah. You know me. Mr. Wal-Mart.
KRISTINA
So, come with me to Zwirler's. You
know, it's not Tiffany's, but the
jewelry department is as close as
we get out here.
COREY
I'm not into that stuff.
KRISTINA
Then, humor me. Check out a new
store at the mall.
NEW ANGLE
They are walking past stores we have not seen before. Corey
looks upset.
KRISTINA
Hey. You still mad?
He stops, and speaks angrily.
COREY
Just tell me this. If I'm just a
dumb athlete, or a token or
whatever. Do you know my grade
point average?
KRISTINA
No.
COREY
Do you see how well I do on my
exams?
KRISTINA
No.
COREY
Okay. Well, that's what I'm
saying. You don't know.
KRISTINA
I don't know. I'm ignorant.
COREY
I'm not saying you're ignorant --
KRISTINA
Me, I'm saying it. Life is a
learning experience, and I'm here
to learn.
COREY
(softening)
Well, okay, shorty. So long as you
admit you don't know everything.
KRISTINA
Hey, sometimes I admit it,
sometimes I don't. Here we are.
She nods in the direction of Zwirler's.
KRISTINA
You up for it?
COREY
Like you say. Life is a learning
experience.
KRISTINA
Life is a "journey." Like:
They say together:
KRISTINA AND COREY
"Going down the river."
They look at each other, and smile.
INT. ZWIRLER'S DEPARTMENT STORE -- AFTERNOON
Corey and Kristina enter the store, through sliding doors.
There are expensive women's clothes in this front section.
Corey stops, looks at the price tag on the sleeve of one of
them, and whistles.
KRISTINA
Yeah, for that money, you'd think
they'd be selling something decent
looking.
COREY
No comment.
CUT TO:
AN IMAGE OF COREY AND KRISTINA ON A BLACK AND WHITE TV
We PULL BACK to see the TV set in a larger monitor, with a
bank of screens showing various parts of the store. The
images are fuzzy, but we watch the two teens make their way
down the aisle.
We remain on this shot of the TV screen in semi-CLOSE UP, as
we HEAR the voices of the two guys who watch security cameras
comment:
BOB (O.S.)
Whoa. Heads up. Jigaboo at twelve
o'clock.
EVAN (O.S.)
(laughs)
You are such a crude bastard.
BOB (O.S.)
Hey, he's already feeling up the
merchandise.
On the screen, Corey and Kristina make their way a little
further into the store.
EVAN (O.S.)
Well, stay on him. Ride the wave.
INT. ZWIRLER'S DEPARTMENT STORE -- AFTERNOON
Same as before. As they amble, Kristina turns, abruptly.
KRISTINA
You know, you're right. If you're
not into jewelry, you shouldn't
have to come with me. Why don't
you check out the store and write
me a review when we meet up?
COREY
(confused)
You want to --
KRISTINA
Just do the circuit, and I'll hit
my favorite hot-spots, and I'll
meet you by the checkout in fifteen
minutes, okay?
Corey looks startled and uncertain.
CUT TO:
TV CAMERA BANK. SAME AS BEFORE.
On the screen, we watch Kristina stride off, and Corey slowly
move in another direction.
BOB (O.S.)
And, oh, his efforts to hit on
blondie prove unsuccessful . . .
and so he moves . . . due east.
EVAN (O.S.)
Stay on his tail, guy.
The TV CAMERA MOVES with Corey, following him and losing
track of Kristina.
BOB (O.S.)
He's got my undivided.
INT. MEN'S DEPARTMENT -- AFTERNOON
Corey looks at the jackets and sweaters for men. A
FLOORWALKER, an imposing white guy in his thirties, follows
him, as he moves through the store.
Corey bends to examine some merchandise, and when he lifts
his head, the floorwalker is standing right in front of him.
FLOORWALKER
May I help you, sir?
COREY
No, that's okay.
The man does not move.
FLOORWALKER
Is there is something in particular
that you are looking for?
COREY
Naah, I'm just lookin' around.
He maneuvers around the man, but the man stays close.
INT. JEWELRY DEPARTMENT -- AFTERNOON
Kristina is admiring items in a glass case, and items that
the nicely coiffed SALESWOMAN in her forties has set out for
her to examine.
KRISTINA
They're beautiful, but they look a
little heavy.
SALESWOMAN
I know what you mean.
KRISTINA
What about those bracelets in the
case?
SALESWOMAN
Those aren't bracelets, those are
anklets, actually. But we do have
some really delicate bracelet
chains from Italy. Just a moment.
She goes to the other side of the counter, the other side of
the cash register, to retrieve them, after throwing Kristina
a warm smile.
INT. SHOE DEPARTMENT -- AFTERNOON
Corey enters the department. He looks at a table display of
fancy sneakers.
A middle-aged, white, heavy-set SALESMAN goes up to him
immediately.
SALESMAN
Good afternoon, sir.
COREY
Good afternoon.
SALESMAN
What exactly are you looking for?
Corey stares at him for a moment. He looks back and sees
that the floorwalker is still tailing him. He turns again,
and regards the shoe salesman. He says ironically:
COREY
Thanks for comin' to help me so
fast. I was wondering if you sell
white gym socks.
SALESMAN
(pointing)
I'm afraid you'll have to go to
Men's Underwear for that.
COREY
Great. Thanks. You don't need to
walk me there -- I think I think I
can find it myself.
EXT. CASH REGISTER -- AFTERNOON
We see a bored female clerk ringing up purchases, and PULL
BACK, to see a line of older white people -- plus Corey, two
from the register, waiting to buy a package of socks.
Kristina saunters up.
KRISTINA
Hey.
COREY
Hey.
His line moves forward.
KRISTINA
So. Was it a learning experience?
COREY
I guess you could say that. Didn't
learn anything very new.
KRISTINA
You found the socks you wanted?
COREY
Yeah, and they better be comfy, at
this price. What you buyin?
KRISTINA
Oh, nothing today. I just came to
scope out what's around.
EXT. MALL -- AFTERNOON
They are walking away from the main entrance.
COREY
Damn. I could not believe it. I
could not take five steps without
them practically frisking me. I
shoulda gone for that floorwalker,
I swear.
KRISTINA
Well, what did you expect?
COREY
I guess I expect something like
that, which is why I do not shop at
Zwirler's.
KRISTINA
Oh well. Maybe they were watching
the wrong one of us, huh?
COREY
What do you mean?
KRISTINA
(smiling conspiratorially)
Well, you went there to buy socks.
But I was after a bigger prize.
She lifts a gold chain out of her pocket, and lets it dangle
in the air.
KRISTINA
Pretty, no?
COREY
I thought you didn't buy nothin'.
KRISTINA
I didn't.
A beat.
COREY
You're not saying you stole that.
KRISTINA
I think "shoplifted" is the
technical term.
Corey stops, stares at her, very upset.
COREY
What are you, nuts?
KRISTINA
Calm down, nobody saw me. They
were too busy watching you. It's
ironic, don't you think? Serves
them right.
COREY
I don't believe you. Kristina.
You stole that from the store?
(a beat)
You take that back right now.
KRISTINA
(laughs)
Oh yeah.
COREY
I am not kidding. I'll go with
you, or I'll wait right here.
Whatever you want.
KRISTINA
Hey, look, you helped make it
possible. I appreciate it. It's
not every time I hang out with a
guy that I get a trinket.
She puts it on.
COREY
What do you mean I helped make it
possible?
KRISTINA
Well, I wouldn't say you were my
"accomplice." Let's just say you
were my "enabler."
COREY
(understanding)
That's why you wanted me to go in
with you.
KRISTINA
And I think, if they figure it out
later, it will teach them an
important lesson. Don't you?
She starts to walk again. He grabs her arm, very angry, and
stops her.
COREY
You take that chain back there
right now. They not gonna press
charges if you do it yourself.
KRISTINA
Let go of my arm!
COREY
You go back in there and tell them,
or I'm gonna do it for you.
KRISTINA
(with indignant disbelief)
What the hell is your problem? You
know, this is actually none of your
business.
COREY
You used me. You made it my
business.
KRISTINA
Oh, you think I couldn't have
pulled this off alone?
He grabs both her shoulders, furious. She is scared, and
very angry herself. She spits out the words.
KRISTINA
I. Said. Let. Go.
He lets go of her, and takes a step backward.
COREY
I'm gonna go tell 'em. I'm gonna
tell 'em your name. Unless you go.
KRISTINA
Fine. And I'll tell them you were
in on it. It was your idea. I'll
tell my parents, I'll tell Doug how
you've been pestering me and
manhandling me all day. Trying to
cop a feel!
COREY
Good, go 'head! Tell any lie you
wanna tell! Take your best shot!
As he walks off, she yells after him, very upset:
KRISTINA
You just stay away from me, in
school, outside of school, you
crazy, violent perv!
She is near tears.
EXT. MALL ENTRANCE -- AFTERNOON
Corey strides through the doors.
EXT. PARKING LOT -- AFTERNOON
Kristina, watching him go, is now snuffling, and in tears.
She reaches into her purse, and pulls out a Kleenex, and a
cell phone. She punches in the numbers, and dabs at her face
as the call goes through and the phone rings.
MOTHER (O.S.)
Hello?
KRISTINA
Hi, Mom?
MOTHER (O.S.)
(very concerned)
Kristina! Where are you?
KRISTINA
I'm at the mall.
MOTHER (O.S.)
What happened?
KRISTINA
I'm -- I can't talk about it.
Could you pick me up? In area B?
MOTHER (O.S.)
Of course, honey, we'll be right
there.
KRISTINA
Thanks.
She puts away the phone, and wipes her face with her hand,
defiant.
INT. MALL -- AFTERNOON
Corey approaches Zwirler's again. He hesitates. Then, he
moves forward, and the glass doors part for him.
INT. ZWIRLER'S DEPARTMENT STORE -- AFTERNOON
Corey takes a few steps into the store. The floorwalker
appears almost immediately, and blocks his path.
FLOORWALKER
Good afternoon, sir. Again.
You're back so soon.
COREY
Yeah.
The floorwalker nods at Corey's package containing the socks.
FLOORWALKER
I see you've still got your
previous purchase.
COREY
Yeah.
FLOORWALKER
And is there something in
particular we can help you with
this time?
Corey stares at him for a long moment.
COREY
Never mind, man.
He turns, and leaves.
EXT. PARKING LOT -- AFTERNOON
This is a part of the lot, in front of the stores, that we
have not been in before. People pull in and out, in their
fancy cars.
Kristina waits. She looks irritated, no longer crying. She
gets out her cell phone, and punches in more numbers. Waits.
KRISTINA
Cheryl? You would not even believe
what's been going on.
EXT. MALL ENTRANCE -- AFTERNOON
Corey exits again. He heads in the direction he and Kristina
were walking in before -- back toward the buses.
EXT. CEMENT WALL -- AFTERNOON
Corey again strides past the homeless man on the pavement,
rattling his cup.
HOMELESS MAN
Spare some change, spare some
change, anything at all, please
help the homeless.
Corey stops. Turns around, goes back. Takes something off
his hand, and throws it into the cup.
COREY
Here you go, man. Buy something
good with it.
He continues walking toward the buses. The homeless man
pours out the contents of his cup into his hand.
There is a fair amount of change, a dollar bill -- and
Corey's high school ring. He picks up the ring and examines
it.
EXT. PARKING LOT -- AFTERNOON
Buses are boarding. Corey gets into a line, to board a bus.
END OF SCREENPLAY