PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay
Page 16
CECIL
Like an aviator jacket.
GRAPE
Like that.
A topless waitress stops by with drinks.
HUTT
There's no problem, Mr. Dupree. What the guy said, doesn't mean a thing to me.
Cecil looks overly grave, deeply concerned.
CECIL
It means something to me, Mr. Hutt. You are a guest of mine here. That boy showed no respect to you. Same as you're showing no respect to me.
HUTT
Hey, come on...
CECIL
My guess is, you being an asshole, this is a social dis-order, this is a personal failing in yourself, and has nothing to do with Mr. Ambrose Junior and me...
Hutt tries to speak. Cheers from the crowd drown him out.
CECIL (cont'd)
(leans forward)
What do you think, Mr. Hutt Kenny, would I be correct in saying that?
HUTT
Now that isn't right, Mr. Dupree.
CECIL
Get me a Coors, Cat. Get our guest another drink.
HUTT
Nothing for me.
No one pays any attention to him. Cat leaves.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Jack enters the frame. He sets down his tray on another table, gathers up bottles, etc. Starts passing out dishes to Hutt and Cecil.
AROUND THE TABLE
Cecil, easy going. Doing a reasonable LBJ act for Hutt, while he scribbles on a piece of paper.
CECIL
This is a simple operation, Mr. Hutt. You folks are selling, I'm buying. What's so hard about that? And as I will be handing you a great deal of money...
CUT TO JACK:
His blank "waiter" expression changes on the word MONEY.
OVER THE SHOULDER
POV JACK.
Cecil's hand, making notes: Scribbles, doodles, but the numbers $75,000 are scratched out, and $100,000? is underlined, with a question mark.
ON HUTT
HUTT
(to Grape)
Nothing for you?
GRAPE
In here?
Cecil is pissed at being interrupted.
CECIL
...as such,I feel I am entitled to some assurance you people will carry off this delivery in a smooth, efficient manner. That you will manage not to fuck up the works.
FAVOR HUTT
Alabama Straight plops down in Hutt's lap. He grins at that.
HUTT
Don't have to worry about a thing. Be hunky-dorry, Mr. Dupree.
CECIL
Be what?
GRAPE
He says it'll be okay.
CECIL
Then why don't he just say it?
Cecil looks up quickly, stabs Jack with his eyes, catches him looking at the scribbling. That CHILLING friendly smile again.
CECIL (cont'd)
Well, my heavens, Jack, what do you think you're doing?
JACK
Uh...suh-serving your dinner, Mr. Dupree.
CECIL
Well suh-serve it, then.
Laughter
Cecil looks at his plate; a slight smile crosses his features.
CECIL
What exactly was it you went up for, Jack? Mo-lesting sheep or what?
More laughter. Jack sweats.
CECIL (cont'd)
You eat a lot of Chink food down at Huntsville, Jack? They serve a lot of who-nan, sheky-wan?
JACK
No sir, they don't do that.
CECIL
(Cecil points to his plate)
Then I don' guess you know what this is.
JACK
It's, uh--
CECIL
Get it out of here. Take it back.
JACK
Sir?
GRAPE
You hear him? He says take it back.
JACK
Yes, sir. I'll just---
Cecil glances up, a look that strikes Jack dumb, as his Lone Ranger birthmark turns almost black. He SLAMS his fist down on the table so hard it rattles plates, knocks a glass to the floor.
CECIL
Then DO IT!
Jack fumbles around, stumbles, tries to get stuff up as fast as he can.
ON TABLE
Everyone enjoys this.
CECIL
Son of a bitch is going to give me a stroke, I swear...
At that moment, he looks out over the crowd, seems to see something of interest.
CECIL
You all will excuse me a moment?
He gets up, leaves.
MOVING SHOT
People speak to Cecil as he passes, walking toward the front door. One of the TOPLESS WAITRESSES is holding a pink piglet while a COUPLE OF GUYS tp sign it.
ON CAT
He is bringing drinks back, but spots Cecil, sets drinks on a table and follows Cecil out.
He passes a PRETTY GIRL.
PRETTY GIRL
(to cat)
Hi, big fella.
Cat doesn't notice her. She shrugs as he passes her by.
CUT TO:
SMALL JANITOR'S CLOSET
Jack is sweating, throwing up. Splashes water on his face, looks at himself in the mirror. Feels it all coming up again.
CUT TO:
MAIN ROOM
The night goes on, SOUND and FURY
CUT TO:
INT: DRESSING ROOM
The place is crowded and sleazy. Gloria is there with Maggie Thatch. Jack enters without knocking. Maggie, mostly naked, plucks a Kleenex to cover herself, isn't sure which parts to cover.
MAGGIE
Jesus, Jack, we are naked in here!
JACK
You maybe didn't notice, you're naked out there.
MAGGIE
That is professional naked, the entertainment portion of my life. It is personal time back here.
CUT TO:
Gloria in a robe, facing her makeup mirror.
GLORIA
You ever heard of knock?
JACK
I need to see you, before you get off.
GLORIA
I don't ever get off.
JACK
I was thinking. Maybe you feel like it, we could go somewhere. Maybe pie or something up to Denny's on 35. They do a good pie.
GLORIA
Denny's.
JACK
You like the icebox or the hot?
GLORIA
Tonight's not good for me. I am real tired, Jack.
JACK
Sure....Okay....
Maggie is now dressed in her OUTRAGEOUS British flag costume.
MAGGIE
I hate to leave, everyone's talking about pie.
GLORIA
Do it to 'em, babe.
Maggie leaves.
MUSIC: God Save the Queen
DISK JOCKEY (O.S.)
Here she is, right from Looooondon, England...
GLORIA
Fort Fucking Worth...
DISK JOCKEY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Miss Maaaagie Thatch!
SOUND: APPLAUSE
CUT TO:
EXT. PIGGS -NIGHT
MATCH APPLAUSE, BUT SOFTER
It's South Texas sweltering hot. Background is the parking lot and Wan's. SOUND: insects buzzing in the trees. The PIGGS sign blinks and sizzles.
MOVING, as Cecil hurries across the lot, passes an old NASH RAMBLER that belongs to Gloria, reaches his CADDIE. Cat, running up behind him, opens the trunk.
CAT
You need anything?
CECIL
I say I need anything, you hear me say I need anything?
Cecil snatches a long object wrapped in burlap from the trunk and walks off. MOVING SHOT as Cecil walks across the dark lot with his sack.
CUT TO:
MAN IN AN AVIATOR JACKET is standing by his car, a BLUE, BMW CONVERTIBLE. He's looking for his keys, glances up, alarmed.
MAN IN AVIATOR JACKET
What the
fuck, man---?
Cecil pulls a short-handled bat from the sack, whips it across the man's gut. Man staggers back. Cecil whacks him again, and the man slides down the side of his car. Cecil raises him hand to whack the guy again---and we
CUT TO:
INT. DRESSING ROOM
Gloria at the dressing table, robe half open. She's doing her face.
GLORIA
I swear that woman come out of a looney bin somewhere. She is my very best friend but I think she's from a alien world of some kind.
JACK
Alabama.
GLORIA
No, not Alabama. Maggie. You're not even listening. You're thinking about pussy and pie.
Gloria sees Jack isn't even looking. He's slumped, grumpy-faced. She turns to face him.
(beat)
GLORIA (CONT'D)
All right, what's wrong, Jack?
JACK
Isn't anything wrong.
GLORIA
Uh-huh.
ANOTHER ANGLE
JACK
Cecil. You know how he gets. He's upset at this guy so he takes it out on me.
GLORIA
Cecil isn't upset. He's crazy as shit, Jack.
Jack looks thoughtful. Won't look at Gloria.
JACK
I didn't come in to whine, Gloria. But yeah, I got something on my mind. It sometimes happens a bad experience of some kind will open the door to opportunity. I believe such a chance has come my way. I am in a position to make a great deal of money. There are risks involved, but I am willing to take those risks if a certain someone could consider sharing wealth and new found happiness with me.
Gloria looks blank.
GLORIA
Do what, Jack?
JACK
You wouldn't ever have to work in a dump like this again. Not ever.
GLORIA
I am an exotic dancer, Jack. I am fulfilled in my profession. I don't want to be something else.
JACK
(frustrated)
You haven't ever tried, Gloria. You don't know what else may await you out there!
Gloria stands, and her half-open robe drops off leaving her stark naked.
GLORIA
I got to get to work, Jack.
JACK
You sure look good.
GLORIA
Lord, Jack, look at something else.
A KNOCK on the door.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Jack opens the door. Rickey Chavez stands there carrying a red rose and a box of chocolates. Jack closes the door behind him.
JACK
What do you want? You're not supposed to be back here. This area's restricted to authorized personnel.
RICKY
I am calling on the Senorita Mundi. What are you doing here, Jack?
JACK
I'm an employee. I go where my duties take me. Patrons got to sit out front, I don't have to explain that to you.
FAVOR CHAVEZ
RICKY
I am not here as a patron. I come in the role of the galan.
JACK
You do what?
RICKY
I am a suitor. I come to pay Senorita Mundi court.
JACK
Jesus Christ, get your ass out of here.
Ricky makes a move. Jack stands in his way.
JACK
That woman is not fully dressed. Get on back where you belong.
RICKY
Pardon. I mean no offense.
Ricky easily, and gently lifts Jack and sets him aside. Jack is too flustered (and too small) to act.
JACK
That rose isn't even real. And that candy's from a fucking drug store. I happen to know they're on sale.
His protests are drowned in a hemorrhage of flashing lights, the whoops and hollers of the crowd as we
CUT TO:
CENTER STAGE
Maggie does a dip, twirls around the chrome bar. Tosses her bra into the crowd.
CUT TO:
A DRUNK catches the bra in his face. He's delighted and his buddies laugh.
CUT TO:
EXT. PIGGS
Cat has the guy in the aviator jacket Cecil killed over his shoulder, walking back along in the shadows of PIGGS, holding a baseball bat in one hand. He bumps into someone in the dark.
POV CAT
The drunk who was urinating is standing face to face with Cat. He sees the dead guy over Cat's shoulder. His eyes open wide.
DRUNK
Holy---
CUT TO:
CAT has the guy over his shoulder, and he's dragging the limp body of the drunk by one leg.
CUT TO:
CECIL'S TABLE
ON HUTT
Hutt has Alabama in his lap, and is feeling no pain. She giggles but is not comfortable with this much groping.
CECIL/GRAPE
GRAPE
What you want me to do? He's going to nail her right here.
CECIL
What I'm going to do is nail him and that fucking kid in Baton Rouge. Leave him alone. Give Alabama a twenty from me.
Grape nods past Cecil.
GRAPE
There he is. There's the guy again.
CECIL
There's who?
CUT TO:
BAR
The back of a MAN in a leather jacket.
BACK TO SCENE
GRAPE
The clown, the dude called your guy a fag.
CECIL
(Shakes his head)
Huh-uh. Guy's got a brown jacket. You said a black.
GRAPE
No sir. I believe I said a brown. Short hair, brown jacket like a aviator wears.
CECIL
I'm pretty sure you didn't say brown.
Grape shrugs.
GRAPE
It's fuckin' dark in here. I coulda said black.
CECIL
I think you did.
GRAPE
You want a beer, something else?
Cecil is watching Gloria, paying no attention to Grape.
POV CECIL
Gloria doing her stuff.
CECIL (V.O.)
...No, I'm fine...
NEAR THE BAR
Jack makes his way through the crowd. He glances back at Cecil's corner.
CUT TO:
CECIL'S TABLE
Cecil, Grape, Hutt and Alabama are there. Cecil and Grape look toward the bar.
BACK TO JACK
He ducks back a few steps to avoid getting too close to Cecil again. He steps behind the bar, crouches a bit as he makes his way.
CUT TO:
The BARTENDER, an older, ex-stripper, gives Jack a curious look as he crouches past her, behind the bar, on his way out.