She Hate Me • by director/co-writer Spike Lee

She’s Gotta Have It, Mo’ Better Blues, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Crooklyn, Girl 6, He Got Game, Summer of Sam, 4 Little Girls, Bamboozled.

These are the titles from my films. I have always felt it’s very important what you name your film. This summer my 18th feature film will be released: She Hate Me. Once again I feel another provocative title. The following scene from the film helps explain the naming of this film.

INT. STARBUCKS – DAY

Jack and Vada sit in a Starbucks that is directly across the street from the Hygeia building.

JACK
Vada, I got a new name for Fatima. Remember the crazy brother from the XFL?

VADA
That fake, NFL, bogus, football, wrestling Vince McMahon doo-doo, ca-ca merde turd, bullshit and now defunct league.

JACK
You got it. Fatima’s new name is SHE HATE ME.

VADA
Oh snap! When I saw HE HATE ME on the back of that brother’s football jersey the first thing I thought was I know his Mom’s didn’t name him that. My second thought was this was genius. Pure genius. What is his name?

JACK
Rod Smart.

VADA
Where is he now?

JACK
Out of football. Gone but not forgotten. He Hate He, Fatima—She Hate Me. Like Mary J. Blige sings, “Hateration.”

VADA
Fatima, didn’t and still doesn’t feel that way about you. She told me so herself.

JACK
Hold up. Hold up. What do you mean She Hate Me told you herself? You been holding out on your boy?

VADA
When you refused to talk to her, answer her numerous calls, letters, Emails, FedEx packages, she called me up one day and asked if I could help arrange a meeting. Of course I told Fatima…

JACK
…She Hate Me.

VADA
…She Hate Me that I couldn’t do that. You were in a deep hurt and when you were ready to acknowledge her existence on this planet you would and not a millisecond before that. She Hate Me respected that.

JACK
You fronted. You played me.

VADA
Y’know what Jack?

JACK
What?

VADA
She Hate Me’s friend was fine as wine.

JACK
Meaning what?

VADA
I can’t really blame She Hate Me. Listen, bro’ it could have been worse.

JACK
What’s worse?

VADA
You could have barged in with her getting boned by some big Mandingo, NFL, 300-pound Defensive lineman,

JACK
Like who?

CUT TO:

INT. FOOTBALL LOCKEROOM – DAY

Fatima is getting it doggy style from WARREN SAPP.

VADA (os)
Warren Sapp, Tampa Buccaneers All-Pro Defensive Lineman

CLOSE – JACK’S FACE

His face is twisted with torment.

VADA (os)
C’mon which is worse? Right or wrong?

JACK
It coulda been worse.

ANGLE – TWO SHOT

VADA
Why all this stuff about She Hate Me?

JACK
She Hate Me is back in the picture. Her and her new lover paid me to impregnate them.

The complete script of She Hate Me was written by Michael Genet and Spike Lee based on a story by Mr. Genet.

Whistle-blower Jack (Anthony Mackie) gets fired after he causes an investigation into his bosses' business dealings. Broke, his ex-girlfriend (Kerry Washington), now a lesbian, offers him $10,000 to impregnate her and her girlfriend (Dania Ramirez). Jack is ready to make "easy" money and as word spreads, rich lesbians with a desire for motherhood are lining up. But between his former employers seeking to frame him for fraud and his dubious fathering activities, Jack finds his life growing very complicated. Co-starring Monica Bellucci, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro and Brian Dennehy. Written and directed by Spike Lee.