Sample Beat Sheet: Do The Right Thing

SAMPLE BEAT SHEET
DO THE RIGHT THING

230 save the cat! goes to the movies ~ blake Snyder
Do The Right Thing (1989)
Torn between wanting to belong and the need to “do the right
thing,” what is a more apt description of any dilemma of the “I”
type than that found at the heart of writer/director Spike Lee’s
critic’s fave. Featuring an all-star cast including such “unknowns”
(at the time) as Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez, and standout
performances from veteran actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, the
film’s about the pull of the group versus listening to the “little
voice” inside us all.
At the center of the debate is Mookie (Spike Lee), poised
between boyhood and manhood, old family and new family, peace
(symbolized by Martin Luther King) and war (as represented by
Malcolm X). He has loyalty to his proud boss and mentor Sal
(Danny Aiello), but fears Sal’s sons and an uncertain future.
On the hottest day of the year, a Bed-Stuy block will erupt in
racial hatred. Despite the calming voices of Da Mayor (Davis) and
Mother Sister (Dee), the friction creates sparks and finally fire.
Setting it into motion are radical views represented by Buggin’ Out
and Radio Raheem. Told to “do the right thing,” it will be loyalty
to himself that changes Mookie’s life.
I Type: Family Institution
I Cousins: The Godfather, Boyz N the Hood, Goodfellas, Terms of Endearment,

The Joy Luck Club, Liberty Heights, Avalon, American Beauty, The Royal
Tenenbaums, Spanglish
institutionalized 231
Do The Right Thing

Written by Spike Lee
Opening Image: To Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” Rosie Perez

dances. Beautiful and strong (Ernest R. Dickerson is the film’s
cinematographer and MVP), she soon wears boxing gloves. We’re
not just dancing; we’re warming up for battle.
Set-Up: The forecast for New York’s Bedford-Stuyvesant is HOT

this summer morning, according to neighborhood DJ Mister Señor
Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson). We meet Mookie (Spike Lee),
counting money. Spike is alone at the start, but by the movie’s
finish (next morning), he is with Tina (Perez) and son Hector.
Something will occur in the course of this day to make that trans-
formation possible. We also see Sal (Danny Aiello) and sons,
stalwart owners of Sal’s Famous Pizzeria, a Bed-Stuy landmark
— and soon to be ground zero for racial antipathy. We also meet
the stuttering Smiley (Roger Guenveur Smith), selling a photo of
Martin Luther King with Malcolm X. These two leaders’ opposing
views are the crux of Spike’s dilemma — and his community’s.
Catalyst: At Minute 11, Spike walks into work and is told, “You’re
late again” by “Company Man” Pino (John Turturro), Danny’s
bigoted son. Stress between Danny and John sets the tone for the
day. We also meet the boom box-carrying Radio Raheem (Bill
Nunn), a strong, silent man proclaiming “Fight The Power.” He
will spark the fire.
Debate: Where do Spike’s loyalties lie? Spike’s is a timeless “I”

problem: being a Naif trapped in the system.
Break into Two: At Minute 19, after getting static from Danny about
his pizza, a Brando figure, Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito), looks
up on the wall of Sal’s Famous and sees nothing but Italian-Ameri-
cans. “Why ain’t you got no brothers up on the wall?” he protests.
And since it’s primarily an African-American community, Buggin’
232 save the cat! goes to the movies ~ blake Snyder
Out wants answers. Instead, Danny kicks him out, with Spike as-
sisting. For now, Spike is trying to keep his boss happy.
Theme Stated: At Minute 23, while on a delivery, Spike is told by

Da Mayor (Ossie Davis) to “always do the right thing.” As we’ll see,
this is Spike’s choice: to listen to his inner voice or not.
B Story: Ossie is the spokesman for the neighborhood, its rov-

ing lifeguard and timeworn hero. His romance with Mother Sister
(Ruby Dee), who hates him at first, is where we’ll discuss the older
values of this community and the film’s theme. Like Spike, today
will be a turning point for Ossie; he’ll not be alone tomorrow.
Fun and Games: The city on a hot day is seen in “Fun and Games.”
When kids open up the fire hydrants and play in the water, the cops
come by to shut it down, but for the moment, they are well-mean-
ing defenders of the status quo. A bicyclist (John Savage) with a
“Bird” jersey (for basketball star Larry Bird) gets grief from the
kids for being a Yuppie renovator of a brownstone. We see more
friction when Korean owners of a market get hassled by “Sweet
Dick Willie” (Robin Harris). And at Minute 48, we get a close-up
of hate as several citizens complain to the camera.
Midpoint: At 1 Hour 15 Minutes, the lines are drawn and the con-
flict looms: Danny tells John he’s not moving, and Buggin’ Out
decides to organize a boycott of Sal’s Famous. “Stakes are raised”
more when Spike’s sister visits and Danny flirts with her as John
and Spike watch. There is a B Story “false victory” as Ossie buys
flowers for Ruby. At 1 Hour and 19 Minutes, the sun is going down
and Spike tells his sister: “I’ll be making a move.”
Bad Guys Close In: Tension increases between Danny and Spike over
Danny’s attention to Spike’s sister. Later, Spike has a loving moment
with Rosie but it seems to be the calm before the storm as the cops
come by Sal’s, acting a little more aggressively. John and his younger
brother have a fight in the storeroom with John saying Spike is not
institutionalized 233
to be trusted. Maybe John is jealous of Danny’s relationship with

Spike?
All Is Lost: About to close for the night, and pleased to have got-
ten through another day, Danny is confronted by Radio Raheem
and Buggin’ Out. With Radio Raheem’s boom box cranked up
loudly, Buggin’ Out demands satisfaction, and the showdown boils
over into violence. Danny grabs his bat and destroys the boom box.
Raheem attacks Danny and the fight spills out into the street until
the cops come. Arresting Buggin’ Out, the cops grab Radio Raheem
and violently put him in a choke hold. He dies while everyone
watches. At 1 Hour 35 Minutes, all are in shock.
Dark Night of the Soul: Smiley wails while the cops take away the
body. Danny pleads he had nothing to do with it. While Ossie tries
to calm everyone, the neighborhood is about to tip. And the one
who commits the “sacrifice” comes as a shock.
Break into Three: Naif turns Brando: Spike grabs a trashcan,

throws it through the window of Sal’s — and a riot starts.
Finale: The neighborhood kids burn Sal’s Pizzeria down while A

and B stories cross as Ossie whisks Danny to safety and comforts
Ruby. The Korean market is next, but the owner manages to talk
down the rioters by saying “Me black.” The comment defuses the
violence and the neighborhood watches as firemen come to put out
the blaze. In a note of Synthesis, Smiley puts his photo of King and
Malcolm X on the wall of Danny’s burned-out restaurant.
Final Image: Spike wakes the next day with Rosie and their son,
but leaves to get his back pay from Danny. Danny’s business
is destroyed, Radio Raheem is dead, and another day is starting
— but has anything changed? Over credits we see quotes from both
King and Malcolm X. Like the twin rings Radio Raheem wore
— one saying LOVE, the other HATE — the conflict goes on.

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SAMPLE BEAT SHEET

DO THE RIGHT THING

Do The Right Thing (1989)

I Type: Family Institution

I Cousins: The Godfather, Boyz N the Hood, Goodfellas, Terms of Endearment,

Do The Right Thing

Opening Image: To Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” Rosie Perez

Set-Up: The forecast for New York’s Bedford-Stuyvesant is HOT

Debate: Where do Spike’s loyalties lie? Spike’s is a timeless “I”

Theme Stated: At Minute 23, while on a delivery, Spike is told by

B Story: Ossie is the spokesman for the neighborhood, its rov-

to be trusted. Maybe John is jealous of Danny’s relationship with

Break into Three: Naif turns Brando: Spike grabs a trashcan,

Finale: The neighborhood kids burn Sal’s Pizzeria down while A

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