"Believe it or not, that was 90 seconds." "Not a long time by any means, but certainly long enough for any garden-variety criminal to rob your house, rob you bat-blind." "It's not my intention to frighten you." "I'm simply trying to point out that in that same 90 seconds, an armed guard from the West Beverly Hills Patrol would've been at your doorstep." "Before I take any questions, I would like to thank our hosts of the evening." "Also, they are our newest subscribers." "Jack and Candy Welsh." "It's Walsh." "Jim and Cindy Walsh." "So all you do is press those code numbers into this keypad like this, and bingo, you're online." "Well, now we can sleep at night." "Don't get me started." "This was your mother's idea." "Oh, and if you need another block captain for the neighbourhood watch" "Say no more, we need all the help we can get." "Well, you heard what he said." "I know." "Well, that's why we felt we should become involved." "The Lieberman house was broken into in broad daylight." "That's horrible." "I don't think we've met the Liebermans." "You haven't missed anything." "But the worst is that Caplan over at 1 41 0, with those barking dogs that he runs off the leash." " And have you heard the latest?" " No." "Well, the new people have moved into the old Walker house." "Oh, what are they like?" "Oh, you'll see." "All right, he's looking cool, he's driving cool." "For Steve Sanders, the world is one huge clam." "Dylan, your mom has been here for three weeks so far." "Am I ever gonna meet her?" "Bren, you gotta trust me." "You do not wanna meet this woman." "Come on, she cannot be all that weird." "No, of course not, Bren. I mean, I know everybody's parents listen to tapes of wind chimes in the car." "Wind chimes?" "Good morning, Andrea." "What are you talking about?" "It's a great morning." "I think we have finally found ourselves a staff photographer." "Told you someone would come out of the woodwork." "Yeah, well, fortunately for all of us, somebody did." " Who?" " Robinson Ashe lll." "Yes, Robinson Ashe lll." "Splendid chap." "Not to be confused with Robinson Ashe iv, of course." " Or, for that matter, Robinson Ashe V. - l don't care what his name is." "He is by far the best photographer this school has had." "Look at these lifestyle shots he submitted, Brandon." "They're great." "Now, look at this one." "Can he shoot sports?" "I don't know, why don't you ask him?" "I think he has Tech this period." "What's he like?" "Well, actually, I haven't had the chance to meet him yet." " Oh, Andrea." " Please, Brandon?" "You are much better with new people than I am." "You know how intense I get." "Besides, now that you're on the editorial board, I think it's time that you started making some of the tough calls yourself." "Fine." "But what if I don't like him?" "Why won't you like him?" "You like everybody." "I know, but I've never had to deal with a real, live Robinson Ashe lll before." "Well, if you truly don't like him, maybe you'll learn to like him." " Thanks, Andrea." " Anytime." " Robinson Ashe, I presume." " Yo, what can I do for you?" " Oh, you're Robinson." " You got that right." "Hey, I'm Brandon Walsh, the sports editor for the West Beverly Blaze." "I hear you're pretty good with a camera." "Just pretty good?" "Or good enough to become the next staff photographer of the West Beverly Blaze?" "One, two, three." "How's it going, chief?" "I don't know, man. lt's a lot tougher than I expected." "A lot tougher." "But, you know, I think most of it's in focus." " Well, what's the problem?" " You know, it's hard to say, but I think the main problem is you don't know when I'm goofing." "Score for the kid, man." "Look, have no fear." "With me taking the pictures, your only problem is gonna be, is choosing which one's gonna be the best." "That's what I like about you, Ashe." "You're so modest." "And yet so good at everything I do." "Listen, no rush on the film." "Drop it off tomorrow, okay?" "All right." "Brandon." "Can I ask you a personal favour?" "Do you by any chance live north of Wilshire?" "Can I get a ride home with you today?" "Look, man, this is..." "It's pretty tough for me to say, but..." "Yeah, hey, man, if it's not cool, it's not a problem." "No, listen, it is a problem, and I'll tell you what the problem is." "It's that you don't know when I'm goofing." " You're good, Walsh." " Yeah, you got that right." "So where exactly do you live, Robinson Ashe lll?" "Welcome to the neighbourhood." "Oh, this is so sweet of you." "Come in." "No, listen, I know how hectic moving day is." "I don't wanna keep you. I just wanted to come over and introduce myself." "I'm Cindy Walsh." "We live a few houses down." "I'm Felicity Ashe, and we live here." "I love your house. lt's my favourite in the whole neighbourhood." "Oh, thank you." "Come back and visit us anytime." "We should have all the boxes unpacked sometime between now and the next five years." "I know the feeling." "We moved here from Minneapolis last summer." "We still got crates in the garage." "Well, I'll tell you what. lf we ever finish here, I'll come and help you unpack." " l might take you up on that." " Do." "But until then, please, if you need anything, just call." "Thanks." "Thanks, Cindy, will do." "Oh, and I hope you don't mind, but I brought along a pamphlet from the West Beverly Hills Patrol." "I'm the new block captain for the neighbourhood watch." "Well, it's not like Beverly Hills has a major crime problem or anything, but there have been some incidents this month." "We heard. ln fact, my husband thinks it's a good thing all these break-ins started before we moved in." " He was joking, of course." " Oh, I knew that." "Yeah, I do believe I can get used to the hills of Beverly real fast." "I don't think I'll ever get used to this place." "Well, that's because you never lived in the 'hood." "Must be pretty rough down there, huh?" "Yeah, well, it can get sticky sometimes." "But, you know, as long as I can remember, my pop's been promising my mom he'd buy a house in Beverly Hills." "You gotta dap him, man." "He came through bigtime." " What does your father do?" " You ever heard of Poppa's Popcorn?" "Yeah, my sister only lives on the stuff." "Well, that's his company." "Your dad is the Poppa of Poppa's Popcorn?" "Positively finger-popping, the old-fashioned way." "So you think your papa's got some free samples lying around for all his hungry new neighbours?" "From what I can tell, papa might have a lifetime supply for you if you can let his son ride to school with you in the mornings." "Yeah, I think that can probably be arranged, once in a while." "All right." "Then you want the extra light, super crispy, or new and improved Cajun spicy?" " Surprise me." " Cool." " Catch you later, then, neighbour." " All right, man." "Go easy." " Look what you did." " Look what I did?" "What, are you insane?" "You rammed into me." " This is a brand-new car." " Yeah, well, this is a classic car." " Give me your licence." " No." "What do you mean?" "We had an accident, we gotta report it." "I don't have to do nothing till I talk to my father, who's gonna put your head on a platter and serve it to his lawyers for breakfast." "My father's no slouch." "By the time we finish with you, you'll wish you never graduated from driver's training." " We'll see." " Yeah, we'll see." "I can't believe what I'm hearing here." "Why should I have to pay for something that wasn't my fault?" "Brandon, I already told you." "I will pay for it." "It's a non-issue, so let's drop it." "But there's a principle involved here, Dad." "What's involved here is a minor accident where no one was injured." "So let's walk away from it with our heads held high and our insurance premiums intact." "Fine, why don't we roll over with our tails between our legs while we're at it?" " He's your son." "You talk to him." " Dad, wa" "Brandon, look." "Even if it is her fault, and I'm sure it was, I mean, this is not the kind of message I wanna be sending to these people." "Honey, we lived here for two months before anybody on the block even deigned to talk to us." "That's probably because we're from Minnesota." "Very funny, Brenda." "But the fact is they're our neighbours now." "We have to try to get along with them." "We have to learn to live with them." " But" " Brandon, I'm sorry." "That's the way I feel, and that's the way it's gonna be." "You know why they're doing this, don't you?" "Yeah." "For free popcorn." "You know, the worst part about it is that girl's gotta be gloating right about now." " But, Daddy, it was his fault." " l sincerely doubt that, the way you drive like a bat out of hell." " l told you not to buy her a sports car." " This is an A and B conversation." " C your way out of it, please." " Robbie, hush." "I'll call the insurance company in the morning." "If you won't sue him, Daddy, I will." "Look here, Charise." "We didn't move to Beverly Hills so you could make a spectacle of yourself." "Right, we moved here so we all could become a whiter shade of pale." "Charise, that is cruel and untrue." "What am I supposed to say in Inglewood when they ask why we moved out?" "How about telling the truth?" "How about telling that one of the reasons we moved out was to put as many miles between you and that Devo Damars character?" "With whom I know you're still hanging about." "Busted." "Shrimp, you working my last nerve, okay?" "So why don't you take that last nerve over to the Walshes, tell that young man that your father insists on paying for the damages?" " But, Daddy" " No buts." "Just go." "My papa told me to talk to you." "Yeah, well, mine told me to talk to you." " So talk." " You first." "My father insists on paying for everything." "So does mine." "Well, if your father's anything like mine, I just might have to be nice to you, out of pity." "Don't do me any favours." "If it were up to me, we would be having an appointment with Judge Wapner and The People's Court." " Judge Wapner?" " Yes." " l'm Brandon." " l'm Charise." " Welcome to Beverly Hills, Charise." " Thank you, Brandon." "Tell me, does everyone in Beverly Hills drive like a raving lunatic?" "No, just you." " Jim, Jim." " Cindy." "Call the security patrol." " Cindy." " Call them." "It's probably Brandon." "Hey, Mom, what's the keypad number?" "This is a very loud way to wake up in the morning!" "I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to go for a bike ride before school." "If you'd paid attention the other night instead of clowning with your sister, you'd know how to turn this off." "I thought the number was 251 4." " lt is 251 4." " Well, that's the number I punched in." "Mom, how come nothing's happening?" "I'm sorry, I still don't quite see why we can't turn the alarm off directly." " Nice work, champ." " Hey, all I did was open the door." " Oh, sure, Brandon." " Here, here, let me try." "Just a minute, hold on a second." "Hello?" "No, Mrs. Cooper." "No, there's nothing to worry about." "I have the security police on the other line." "No, nothing's wrong, the alarm just seems to be stuck." " Thank you, thank you." " Dad." "For my next trick, I will pull a rabbit out of a hat." "No, do the one where you make Mrs. Cooper disappear." "Yes." "No, Mrs. Cooper." "Hey, it may be funny now, but I'm telling you, before you guys came downstairs, Mom was borderline touch-and-go." "Brandon, Mom may be a little crazed about all these burglaries, but she's definitely not wigging on us." "No, I didn't say that." "She's just stressed, that's all." " Oh, my God." " l don't believe this." "Charise, babe, you gotta settle down, or you're gonna die behind the wheel and take me out with you." " Sorry, Brandon, I didn't see you." " That's because you weren't looking." "You're right." "It's just that I'm late for school." "Where do you go, USC or the Mario Andretti School of Unsafe Driving?" "Brandon, I'm still in high school." "If you go to West Beverly, how come I'm driving your brother to school?" " Because I go to Baldwin." " Where's that?" "Near where we used to live." " Long way to drive, isn't it?" " Yeah, it is." " So nice talking to you." " Wait a second." "Why don't you go to West Beverly?" ""l wouldn't go to West Beverly if it was the last hellhole in the galawy." "Too many cashed-up snobs."" "And you should've heard the way she dissed on everybody at Beverly." "I can relate to that one." "It's not what she said, it's how she said it." "This is coming from a girl who's driving around in a brand-new convertible." "Courtesy of her papa, the Poppa." " "Positively finger-popping"?" " The same." "We're talking beaucoup bucks here." "Princesses come in all shapes and sizes." "And colours." "But you say that she's a good student?" "According to Robbie, she complains her classes aren't hard enough." "Here she has a chance to go to a great school and she trashes it." "That is exactly what interests me about her story." "What story?" "Brandon, here I am lying through my teeth about living in-district so I can come here, and she's driving halfway across the universe to avoid it." "What story?" "No, there's a story lurking there." "I'm just not quite sure what it is yet." "When you find it, ace, you be sure and let me know." "Brandon, all I'm asking you to do is have a simple conversation with her." "I'd have to talk to her, which is not something I wanna rush back into." "And believe me, the feeling is very mutual." "Why don't you ask Robbie to help you?" "I'm sure he'd love that." "Look, if he truly wants to be the next staff photographer, he'll help you." "Why is it that every time I look up, that Robbie kid has a telephoto lens pointed at me?" "Yeah, just what this campus needs, paparazzi." "You know, he kind of reminds me of David Silver." "I mean, except he's black." "I didn't know David Silver was black." "Shut up." "I don't know, but I think Brandon has a thing for his older sister." "Mr. Ashe." "How you doing today?" "Good timing, Walsh." "I just framed your twin sister for a prizewinner." "Speaking of sisters, this is gonna sound kind of weird, but Andrea wants me to interview yours." " Interview Charise?" " lf it's all right with you." "No, I have no problem with the concept, man." "It's just that it's Charise you gotta worry about." "Why's that?" " You really want the truth?" " Always." "You see, it may be different with you, but the truth is Charise really isn't that crazy about white people." "Wonderful." " Tamale Heaven." " Ramon, it's me." " Can I speak to him?" " Sure thing, love." " Devo, it's Popcorn." " Tell her I'm busy." " He'll be right with you." " Thanks." "Thanks a lot." " Mom, you look terrific." " Oh, thank you." "Robbie, I just left you a note." "You're on your own for dinner tonight." "Being honoured by the Chamber of Commerce." "But, Mom, I invited Brandon over to eat with us." "So you're Brandon." "Robbie and Reesie have had plenty to say about you." "Well, then half of what you heard is probably true." "Okay, we won't be late." " Say hi to your mom for me, okay?" " Will do." "Mom, is there anything to eat besides you-know-what?" "Maybe Brandon would like to try our Cajun light." " Oh, Mom." " What?" "Won't be in the store for months." " lt would be my pleasure." " Good." "You tell me what you think." "All right, goodbye, everyone." "I swear, that woman tries to turn all my friends into guinea pigs." "So feed me." "Don't you wanna see me?" "Look, you know I do." "Why do you want me to come way up to Beverly Hills?" " So your old man can kill me?" " He can't kill what he can't see." "They're not coming back till late." "We could practically spend the whole night together." "Well, look, I gotta close up here tonight, you know what I'm saying?" "What about later?" "I just think I should lay low because, you know, with my brothers in town, they might be trying to run some mind games on Mom." "You know what I'm saying?" "It's always something with you, isn't it, Devo?" " Charise-- - lf you wanna break up, that's fine." "Just don't use Beverly Hills as your excuse." "Come on, now, Charise." "I can take a hint." "Sucker." "How long have you been standing there?" "I was just waiting for Robbie to bring out the popcorn." "And eavesdropping on my private conversation?" "No, I wasn't." "Not really." "All I know is you have a boyfriend who detests Beverly Hills about as much as you do." "First of all, I don't have a boyfriend." "And second of all, I don't detest Beverly Hills." "Oh, that's right." "What was it you said to me this morning?" ""fyi, Brandon, Beverly Hills ain't heaven on earth."" "What was that about, Reesie?" "It was about putting you on the defensive." "And don't ever call me Reesie." "You are brutal." " Sorry about that." " Well, you should be. I'm a nice guy." "No, really, I am." "My mom told me so." "What else did she tell you?" "She told me to look both ways before crossing the street and always be polite to the ladies." " ln all shades and colours?" " Never stopped me before." "Hey, look, I couldn't find the Cajun spicy, so I cooked us up some extra crispy." "Thanks, but there's been a slight change of plans." "I'm gonna take your sister out to eat tonight." " She agreed to be interviewed?" " Well, actually, I didn't bring it up." "I figured we'd get to know each other first and see what happens." " lf it's all right with you." " Yeah, sure. lt's cool with me." "I got two cousins working in Beverly Hills." "Same house, different wings." "Wings, man." "The house is so big, they gotta fly from one end to the other." "Oh, I crack me up. "Fly."" "Go see your girl, man." "I got you covered." "You think I should give her a call, man?" " A call?" " Yeah." "Yo, come on, man." "Devo, where's your sense of romance, homey?" "What she wants is for you to show up at her doorstep with flowers and some strawberry yogurt." "So talk to me, you gonna lend me your ride?" "Now you're talking." " But you gotta change that shirt." " Well, what's up?" "You're going to Beverly Hills." "A green one, for money." " This is Charise." " Hi." " This is David, Donna and Dylan." " You can just call us the Three D's." "I don't think so." "Well, it's nice to meet you, Charise." "This is my sister, Brenda." "She was in the car you tried to take out this morning." " Sorry about that." " lt's okay. I like what you're wearing." " Thanks." " And I love the way you wear it." "I'm Steve Sanders, and you're definitely better-looking than your brother." "I hope so." " And this is Kelly." " Hi." " l love what you're wearing." " Thank you." "You wanna sit down?" "This is very hip, Brandon." "Very hip." "Two-seven-three?" "No, 27 4?" "Operator, yeah, just give me Robinson Ashe in Beverly Hills." "While you're at it, let me have an exact address. lt's a new listing." "What?" "It's not listed?" "Well, that figures." "I mean, I should've known this old man wasn't gonna have his digits in the phone book." "No, no, it's okay." "I'm just gonna have to wing it." "My husband must have accidentally set it off." "We don't know why." "We don't know why we ever installed this damn thing in the first place." "What was that, Mrs. Cooper?" "Oh, no, you didn't have to call the security patrol." "She did what?" "Oh, it's okay, honey, it was not because of us." "It's because Mr. Caplan's dogs are barking too loud." "Oh, of course, the dogs." "I can really hear them barking." "Jim." "Honey, way to go." "Mrs. Cooper, I have to go now." "Get out of here." "Hey!" "Hold it." "Don't you like animals, kid?" "Well, I can take them or leave them, but I work at this tamale stand, so they must smell the meat." " Where are you going so fast?" " l'm going to see my girlfriend." " What's her address?" " Lives on Hillcrest Drive." "I don't know the exact address." "Her name is Ashe." "You better call B.H.P.D." "Have them come check out our friend here." "Give me a break." "What you gonna do?" "Are you gonna arrest me for walking on a public street?" " What's in the bag?" " Yogurt." " Keep your hands to the side." " Well, check it out." "Hey, hey, get your hands off me, man!" "You responsible for all those burglaries, my man?" "What burglaries, man?" "I ain't done nothing." "Shut up." "Just give me a reason." "Robbie called when you were in the shower." " His mom's gonna take him to school." " Oh, okay." "You know, I really liked Charise." "Everybody did." "Do you think she liked us?" "Yeah, she even liked Steve." "I think it's me she didn't like." "Oh, she wouldn't let you kiss her good night, huh?" "I think she has a boyfriend." " Oh, that's a different story." " Yeah, it is." "Terrible." "That's terrible." "When did the police leave?" "Well, was anyone else injured?" "What happened?" "Your mother's speaking to Mrs. Cooper right now, so I don't know how viable any of this is, but apparently there was a prowler outside the Ashe home last night." "Turned out to be a friend of the daughter's, the crazy one with the sports car." "Yeah, I know who she is, Dad." "I took her out last night." " You did?" " Yeah." "is there a problem with that?" " No, no. I'm just surprised, that's all." " Why?" "Well, because two days ago, you were ready to drag her into court." "Anyway, can you guys just tell me what happened?" "What happened is the security was called and all hell broke loose." "This is a real mess." "Morning." "Yo, didn't Brenda tell you?" "My mom's taking me to school today." "Oh, yeah, she told me." "We just heard about what went down with the security patrol." "Oh, well, that." "It's not a big thing, you know that." "Well, my mom didn't know all the details, but didn't the cops come?" "You know, to tell the truth, I really don't know." "I was sleeping, mostly." "You must be a pretty heavy sleeper, pal." " Wasn't there a squad car--?" " Like I said, I really don't know." "Why don't we just forget about it, you know what I'm saying?" "Oh, hold on a second, man." " How's Charise doing?" " l guess she's doing okay." "Look, I gotta go. I'll catch you later." " All right." " Okay." "We have rules in this house, young lady." "There are rules in this house, and you broke them all." "How many times have we specifically told you to stop seeing Devo Damars?" "I wasn't even here when it happened, Daddy." "What are you trying to sell me?" "That this was some random coincidence?" "That that no-class bum gets himself into a fight with the police in front of our house while you're off gallivanting?" "We went out to get a hamburger." "You got a problem with that?" "You'd like Brandon, honey." "Yeah, maybe I would." "But what I don't like is being lied to." "What I don't like is my daughter sneaking around with a high school dropout." "What am I supposed to do?" "You set the rules, you tell me I can't go out with this one." "You tell me I can't go out with that one." "Black, white, it doesn't make a difference." "No one's ever good enough for you." "That's enough out of your smart mouth, young lady." "None of this would've happened if you didn't invite that thug here in the first place." "What are the neighbours gonna say?" "Who cares what the neighbours think?" "I care." "Your mother and I didn't work all these years to buy a house in Beverly Hills so that we would be put under a microscope." "Look, Charise, if I am hard on you, it's because I love you." "Well, I'm sure this will all blow over soon." "By this time tomorrow, the whole thing will be forgotten forever." "Hey, buddy." "Hey, Steve-o, hey, Kellster." "What's happening?" "Why don't you tell us?" "We were just wondering what happened last night." "I wish I knew." "The PR guy at the police department gave me the runaround all morning." " What are you talking about?" " What are you talking about?" " Charise." " What about Charise?" "We just were wondering if there's any jungle fever happening." "You know, you two really ought to consider getting back together again." "What's his problem?" "Look, I know you're a guy with a mission, but I can't put the paper to bed without a sports page." "Yeah, sorry. I'll put it together." "The police won't release any details, because it turns out the guy wasn't actually arrested." "If he wasn't arrested, what's the story?" "What's the story?" "The story is a young black guy gets detained and harassed on a public street for no apparent reason other than the colour of his skin and nobody wants to talk about it." "Wait a minute, wait, what are you saying?" "That there's a cover-up going on here?" "No, all I'm saying is that some of these private security guards are like loose cannons." "Who are they accountable to, anyway?" "I think you better talk to the guy they stopped." "First I gotta find out his name." "That would help." "Hey, Robbie." "I've been looking for you, man." "You weren't in Tech class." " l came in a little late this morning." " Hey, listen, I was hoping maybe you could help me out." "Do you know Charise's friend, the one that got hassled?" " Yeah." " Well, what's his name?" "I thought we were gonna forget about that." " And pretend nothing happened?" " Sounds like a plan to me." "Robbie, I need to interview this guy." "I'd like it if you could tell me how to get in touch with him." "Now, come on, Brandon." "Why are you gonna make this thing worse than it is?" "My parents are steamed up enough, you know." "I know, but the truth is this isn't about your parents." "This is about breaking a news story." "If you wanna be our new staff photographer, I suggest you find a way to help me out here." "Well, if you put it that way, I strongly suggest you find yourself a new photographer." "Hey, come on, man." "What's your problem?" "My problem is you, man." "You are a user, and I'm sick of it." "You blatantly used me to get to my sister." " No, that's not true." " Yes, it is." "You use every opportunity you can find to make me painfully aware that when you look at me, you don't see the new kid on the block, you see the new black kid on the block." "And I hate to tell you this, but in my eyes, that doesn't make you a whole hell of a lot different than those dudes on the security patrol." "The guy practically called me a racist." "And he did call me a user." "It's bogus, man." "It's pure BS." "What?" "You think I use people?" "You think I'm a racist?" "No, Brandon, of course not." "You promise you won't get mad?" "Go on." "If you didn't think there was a kernel of truth to what he was saying, you probably wouldn't be so angry." "Charise, you got a minute?" "is this off the record or on the record?" "I guess Robbie told you about the article, huh?" "The moment I got home last night." "Right after he told me Devo got busted." " l'm sorry, I should've said so" " Yeah, you should've." "I should've known better than to go out with a boy from Beverly Hills." "When I asked you out, I didn't ask you out as a reporter." "I asked you out as a friend." "Or at least someone who wanted to become your friend." "Yeah, well, if you truly wanna become my friend, get out of here before my papa grounds me for another month." "Charise..." "That damn alarm." "You better rush home and call the security patrol." "For all you know, a Negro might be breaking into your house." "Okay, okay, fine." "You win. I'm the bad guy." "I'm the biggest bastard in the history of Beverly Hills, all right?" "You can say or think anything you want about me. I don't care." "But what happened to your friend Devo on this street last night was wrong." "Now, I wanna write a story about it, but I need you to tell me how I can get in touch with him." "Go home, Brandon." "Mrs. Cooper" " Mrs. Cooper, you're not listening to me." "There is no need to call the security patrol, because they're already here." "Yes, yes, they're in the other room, trying to locate what keeps setting this thing off." "If you and Dad don't disconnect that thing, I will." "It's embarrassing, Mom. lt really is." "Yes, yes, Mrs. Cooper. I'm still here." "Do you have any earplugs?" "Really." "And you know the irony of all this?" "That Charise's friend probably wouldn't have even been hassled if the security patrol had not come here to answer our false alarm." "It's about time." "This kind of thing never happens." "We're replacing all the circuits." " Clearly, something's defective." " Clearly." "Listen, you and your family have all been very patient." "I appreciate it, okay?" "Anything I can do for you" "Actually, maybe there is something you could do." "When your security officers detain someone, do they fill out a report?" "Sure, yeah." " Hey." "Where are you going so fast?" " Tamale Heaven." " Sounds delish." " l'll let you know." "Hey, is it that the new place on Charleville?" " No, it's south." " Where?" "It's south, it's somewhere between Watts and the airport, I think." "Why are you going there?" "It's where Charise's boyfriend works." "I wanna get an interview with him." "This is gonna sound kind of beat, but is it safe to go there by yourself?" " We'll see." " Brandon." "I know you love playing Woodward and Bernstein, but I think you're way over your head here." " Thanks." " Brandon" "Stay out of it." "It's got nothing to do with you." "Fine, just go." "What's up, fellas?" "So, what are we trying to accomplish here?" "Didn't Ramon warn y'all about mashing headgear around here?" "Your posse know what's up." "Y'all keep this up, you're gonna get busted." "If you're packing or carrying, I strongly suggest y'all step off before the Man gets here, you know what I'm saying?" "Oh, you're larger than life now, huh?" "Siren don't mean nothing to you, huh?" "Move!" "If you're looking to score, I strongly suggest you go back to your side of the hill." "You hear me?" "Hey, I'm not a doper, man." "I'm a friend of Charise's." "More like a neighbour." "You're Devo, right?" "Devo Damars?" " Who wants to know?" " l'm Brandon Walsh." "I'm a reporter for my school newspaper at West Beverly High." "I live down the block from Charise." "I know what went down last night." "I want an interview with you." "With all due respect, you don't have a damn idea about what went down here last night, you got that?" " They did that to you, didn't they?" " What, this?" "No, you know, my moms accidentally rolled over me with her Rolls-Royce." "Seriously, man." "Did security patrol jack you up, or was it the city cops?" "Did you say "jack you up"?" "You've been reading your Spike Lee handbook, haven't--?" "You think you can drop the attitude long enough to say what happened?" " Why?" " lt's an important story." "What is, man?" "You tell me." "Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong colour?" "You think for a minute it would've been any different for you out there if I hadn't chased these guys off?" " lt's not the same thing." " Yes, it is, man!" "Wake up, all right?" "They don't roll out welcome mats for my kind in Beverly Hills, and you should not feel free to roam around these alleyways either." "Yeah, but that doesn't make it right, does it?" "Of course it doesn't make it right, man." "It makes it the kind of world that we live in today." "I came down and heard this guy on the radio, talking about that Rodney King incident." "The guy that got beat up by the L.A.P.D." "Yeah, I know who he is." "Well, the amazing thing wasn't what happened, blondie." "Because see, that happens every day down here." "The amazing thing was the whole thing got peeped out by somebody's home-video camera." "Excuse me." "What are you saying, Devo?" "We should let bygones be bygones?" "Well, hey, I mean, it's a kinder, gentler nation, right?" "Give me a break, man." "You're so full of it, you stink." "You look me in the eye, tell me this doesn't make you angry." "Look, man, it makes me angry, all right?" "More important, it makes me sad." "You want a story, blondie?" "I got a story for you, all right?" "My mother, who means the world to me, had to go out and beg for money, man, in the middle of the night, to pay for a taxi to bring her into Beverly Hills, man." "I will never, ever forget the expression on her face when she rolled in that emergency room." "My mom has four boys, four." "Two of them are in prison, the other one's on the pipe, and then there's me, man." "I'm the one she never had to worry about." "All I do is try to please her, man, and make her proud." "I try to do what's right." "Brandon." "Brenda, what are you doing here?" "Well, after you left, Robbie just happened to be walking by." "So here we are." "Kind of beat, huh?" "No, it's kind of nice." " You all right?" " This?" "Don't even worry about it, baby." "Mama says I'll always be handsome now." "It's just a minor setback." " We gotta talk, Devo." " l know." "Look, you want a tamale?" " Right." " Well, you liked them before." "Well, I guess this means you're going through with your big expose, huh?" "You know, I don't know anymore." "Well, I think you should put it out there." "And if you do, there's some pictures that your trusty staff photographer's been taking that you ought to look at." "I'd like that." "You know what I'd like, guys?" "You guys have got to try the extra crispy." "No, the Cajun spicy is the best, and no calories." "You're hysterical." "You know what I wanna taste?" "Popcorn in yogurt sauce." "Oh, yeah." "Well, you be sure to tell papa about that recipe." "Well, I hate to tell you this, but he's got that recipe already." "It'll be out by Christmas." " Are you kidding?" " Yeah!" "Psyche!" "Do you know how good your paper looks this week?" "Yeah, we know, but you can tell us again." " The article is really great, Brandon." " Thanks, Bren." "Hey, wait, especially the pictures." "Oh, especially the pictures." "I like this part right here." ""lt's when we stop looking at the human race as individuals, we, as a generation, are in trouble."" " Eloquently put." " l'm glad you liked it." "Cindy, I got your note, and needless to say, I am very disappointed." "Look, Mrs. Cooper, I'm really sorry." "But I can't talk right now." "We've got company." "To impulsively just cancel your contract with our security patrol because of one questionable incident" "Look, Mrs. Cooper, I don't mean to be rude, but what this family does and why we do it is really no concern of yours." "And, you know, I met Mr. Caplan, and I like his dogs." "Goodbye." "First professional game I went to, 1 965 World Series." " Koufax versus the Twins, right?" " Yeah." "Yeah, right, I'll bet you're a Twins fan, huh?" " Charise, what's up?" " Same old, same old." " Where are you going?" " Tamale Heaven." " Thought that place was off-limits." " Not anymore." "Ever since you did your article on Devo, my dad's been rediscovering his roots." " Glad to help." " Thanks." "So, what'd you think of the article?" "I think my brother's an excellent photographer." "You are brutal." "Drive safely, Brandon." "Thought that was supposed to be my line."