A group of white men in their late teens and early 20s play pick-up basketball on a outdoor blacktop. The court is in the middle of Optimist Park, a public park that is surrounded by a playground, a sand volleyball court, a large grassy field and a parking lot. The star player is Christopher. He drives the lane and makes an easy lay-up. He’s faster and quicker than the other players. He blocks another player’s shot, grabbing the ball before it goes out of bounds. Christopher is taller than the other players, too. He pulls up and drains a shot from beyond the arc. He drains it. A tall player argues that Christopher's foot was on the line. One of Christopher's teammates tells the tall player to shot a three to win the argument. The tall player steps to the top of the key a shoots. It’s an airball. Christopher’s teammate tracks the ball down an inbounds the ball. He calls game point. Christopher takes the ball down court. The tall player guards him. Christopher fakes to the left and the Tall Player bites. Christopher drives to the right and dunks the ball. The other players cheer, even those on the other team. Christopher calls game. He picks up the ball. His teammate calls for the next team up. Christopher says he's got to leave. His teammate asks him to leave the ball; he'll return it later. Christopher shakes his head. He says the ball has sentimental value, his father gave it to him before he died. Another player whines that means they have to play with Smitty's flat ball. Christopher shrugs. He starts walking away.
The tall player approaches Christopher and asks if he's made a decision. Christopher says he's leaning towards UVA. The tall player winces and says he should go to Maryland. Christopher shrugs and say he'll see what they offer. The teammate goes back to playing basketball. Christopher walks away.
Christopher walks down the street, dribbling the basketball. It’s getting darker as the sun starts to set. A grey Dodge Charger comes speeding around the corner behind Christopher. The driver doesn’t notice him. Christopher dives out of the way of the car. He hits his head pretty hard on the curb and passes out. The Charger never slows down.
Christopher stirs. It’s now completely dark out. He slowly gets to his feet. He’s a bit unsteady. He looks around and sees his basketball in the grass of a nearby lawn. He walks onto the lawn to retrieve the ball, not seeing the man sitting on the porch of the house beyond the lawn. The man tells Christopher to get the hell off his lawn. Christopher says he was just getting his basketball. The man stands up and flicks his cigarette onto the gravel next to the house. He stomps inside. Christopher picks up the basketball. The porch light comes on, startling Christopher. The man comes back out brandishing an aluminum softball bat. In the light, he’s WM, 40s, sandy hair. He’s wearing an open Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts and blue Crocs. Christopher turns and runs. The Man threatens to chase him, but never leaves the porch. Christopher runs a couple of blocks then turns onto the cross street.
Christopher walks down the street in the darkness. He doesn’t make any sound, carrying the basketball rather than dribbling it. He sees a group of teens, all WM, sitting on two cars down the block. They’re drinking, smoking and horsing around. Christopher turns down a side street. He keeps watching the teens and smashes into a mailbox with a loud clang. He drops the basketball and it bounces across the street and onto another lawn. The teens stop and look in Christopher’s direction. Chad asks who he is. Brad asks if someone is hiding in the dark. Christopher quietly crosses the street to get his basketball. Brad says they can see him. Chad says Christopher has invaded the wrong neighborhood. Christopher grabs the basketball and runs. Chad says "Get him!" They throw their beers to the ground and the bottles shatter. They chase Christopher.
The teenagers stop running in the middle of the road as a car passes them on the cross street. They’re out of breath. Thad says they lost him. Chad says he needs a beer. He walks back towards their cars. The others follow. After they’re out of range, Christopher crawls out from under a porch. He takes off down the street, as quietly as he can.
Christopher stands in front of a house, staring at the front. Lights are on inside, but the curtains are drown. He walks up to the front door. He hesitates. He knocks on the door. He waits. Several moments later, Frank opens the door. Standing close to him is Margie. Frank asks what he wants. The hope and excitement drain from Christopher’s face. He doesn’t recognize either of them. He asks if Mariela is there. Margie says no. Frank says it's the wrong house. Frank asks if Christopher is an immigrant. Christopher says no. Frank walks away. Margie gives him a sympathetic smile and says he'd better go before Frank gets back. Christopher says this is his house. He lives here. Tears stream down his face. Margie frowns, her sympathy going away. Frank says he "paid for this house with my own dadgum money." Frank whips the door all the way open. He’s holding a hunting rifle. Christopher turns and runs. Frank points the rifle at Christopher and takes aim. Frank fires the rifle. The bullet goes through Christopher’s shoulder. The force knocks him to the ground. He gets up. His balance is off and he almost falls again. He runs. Frank steps forward, aims and fires again. This bullet misses. Frank warns him away, then lowers the rifle. They go back inside and lock the door behind them.
Christopher stumbles into a primitive park. The swings, merry-go-round and slide are set on grass. The park slopes down towards a forest. He sits on the edge of the slide. He pulls his shirt away from the exit wound on his shoulder. It winces in pain. He says his wound is gonna get infected. He looks down towards the bottom of the slope. He sees a drainpipe. He gingerly stands up and stumbles to the pipe. He climbs inside and gets comfortable, sitting where he can see anyone entering the park. Christopher instantly falls asleep.
Christopher wakes up. It’s still dark out. A red rubber ball bounces down the hill and into Christopher’s lap. He looks up in surprise. A young boy walks into his line of sight. This is Corey. Christopher throws the ball back to Corey. He winces as he throws. Corey says "You don’t belong here, do you?" Christopher says "I’m in the wrong neighborhood." Corey tells Christopher to follow him. Christopher struggles to get up. He painfully picks up his basketball. Corey walks into the forest. Christopher follows. Corey follows a path to a clearing. On the far side a new path enters the forest again. Corey stops and points at the new path. Corey tells Christopher to follow the path. Christopher asks where it goes. Corey shrugs and says "that’s the way everyone else went." Christopher stares at the new path and thanks Corey. Corey says "You don’t belong here." Christopher shakes his head and says he doesn't. Christopher walks to the new path. He stops and looks back. Corey is gone. Christopher walks down the new path.
Christopher emerges from the forest onto a suburban street. It’s daylight now. He looks down. His bullet wound is gone. He runs.
Christopher stops in front of his house. He hesitates. He slowly walks to the front door. He opens the door and calls out for his mother. She walks into the living room. He hugs her as hard as he can. She gets a puzzled look and asks him if he's okay. He says he is now. He shuts the door behind him.