PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay
Page 19
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE DAIRY QUEEN RESTROOM - DAY
SOUND: MATCH toilet flushing.
Hutt comes out, zipping up, walks to his car. Sees THREE GIRLS in cheerleader suits inside, a couple of other PEOPLE. A cardboard sign in the window tells us where he is:
INSERT: WE SUPPORT THE LIBERTYVILLE WOLVERINES!
Picks up paper cup of coffee he's left on the fender, gets in.
POV HUTT: Sees the TROOPER walking toward him in typical trooper gear. Sees the front of the COP CAR around the side--it wasn't there before.
HUTT
Fuck...
TROOPER/HUTT
Trooper looks in window.
TROOPER
Afternoon, how we doing, sir?
HUTT
Fine, you?
TROOPER
Shoot, I could do without the heat.
HUTT
Me too.
TROOPER
I like the Dairy Queen better'n any place you can find. I see one I'm going to stop there. A lot of places, you don't know what you're going to get.(beat)
This your vehicle, sir?
HUTT
Huh? No, it's a rental, not mine.
TROOPER
Louisiana plates. That where you're from?
HUTT
Baton Rouge.
TROOPER
(grins)
Oh, yeah... You like the Park Avenue?
HUTT
Sure. Good car.
ANOTHER ANGLE
TROOPER
Mostly we get your Fairlanes. You're smart, you'll stay clear of a Ford. Can I see your license and registration?
HUTT
Sure.
Hutt shows him, keeps his cool.
CUT TO:
Cheerleaders and other patrons are watching all this with interest.
BACK TO SCENE:
TROOPER
This your current address, Mr. Hutt?
HUTT
Kenny.
TROOPER
What?
HUTT
Hutt. Hutt Kenny, not Kenny Hutt.
TROOPER
I don't think I know anyone named Hutt.
HUTT
Right.
TROOPER
(pause)
Would you hang in there a minute, sir?
Trooper goes to his car, stays there a moment.
CLOSE ON HUTT
Hutt looks irritated, hot.
OUTSIDE DAIRY QUEEN
A couple of cheerleaders and patrons are now outside, trying to listen. Hutt gives them an irritated look.
AT CAR
TROOPER
Just checked you 'cause you were out of state, sir. Kinda routine.
HUTT
Sure.
TROOPER
Only thing is, I ran your name through, and a lot of bad stuff come out. I guess you're surprised to hear that...
I got thirty-two arrests here...assault, assault, breaking an' entering, possession of a controlled substance, ah, assault-assault-assault. You assault folks a lot down there, Mr. Hutt?
HUTT
Kenny.
TROOPER
What?
HUTT
That stuff you were reading. That's incorrect, that is a mistake.
TROOPER
Which one is that, sir? I got thirty-two here.
HUTT
You got the sheet. You know I was acquitted on every fucking one.
TROOPER
I'd prefer you hold back on the obscenities, sir. You're in Libertyville, Texas, now, you aren't in Lou-easy-anna.
HUTT
Fine. Look, officer, in wholesale foods, you got a lot of competition. That stuff you're reading, it's all made up.
TROOPER
(thinks about that)
Okay, Mr. Hutt...I've got no reason to keep you here, nothing you're wanted for. I will ask you, sir, to drive clear of Libertyville and refrain from falsely assaultin' anyone along the way.
HUTT
Hey, you're just doing your job, I understand that.
TROOPER
Yes, sir...
The trooper leans in the car. Frowns. Something bothers him.
HUTT
What?
TROOPER
Before you go, sir, would you hit the trunk release for me, then step outside the car?
HUTT
What for?
TROOPER
'Cause I asked you to, sir.
HUTT
I thought we were through with this.
TROOPER
Hit the release, sir.
Hutt does as he's told. Steps out.
People are standing around close now.
Hutt walks back with the trooper, who opens the trunk wide. Hutt gags, makes an awful sound as the smell hits him.
CUT TO:
TRUNK
There are two bodies in the trunk--one guy with his zipper open, the other in an aviator jacket, black or maybe brown. The trooper steps back, puts one hand on his sidearm.
Cheerleaders and patrons react.
Hutt shakes his head, stunned, puzzled.
HUTT
Hey, there's some kind of--
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON HUTT
as the trooper slams his head against the car.
HUTT (CONT'D)
--misunderstanding here.
CUT TO:
PIGGS – CELLAR - DAY
Jack is curled up uncomfortably on a high concrete ledge, wrapped in his shabby blanket. His eyes are closed. Very little light through the slats in the floor above.
CECIL (O.S.)
....dozing off, I can't see the clock, it's Junior Ambrose himself, he's getting on the phone. He's real upset, whining like a kid.
GRAPE (O.S)
Uh-huh.
Jack is wide awake now.
CECIL'S ROOM
Cecil opens a beer, gets up, turns on the TV, doesn't like what he sees, turns it off.
CECIL
He's telling me the cops have got Hutt, Hutt is in serious shit. They are finding some persons of the stiff persuasion in the trunk.
Grape laughs. Walks over and gets himself a beer, too.
CECIL
I'm telling the kid, "Excuse me for speaking of a person who is in your employee, but fuck Hutt Kenny. You want to sell your product, send me a person, he's got a little respect.
GRAPE
Hutt, this guy, he don't know about respect.
CECIL
Junior, he got the idea. He's sending someone. I don't know who.
Cecil walks across the room.
THE CELLAR
Dust falls in Jack's eyes.
BACK TO SCENE.
CECIL
Couple things. There's a blue Beamer out in the lot. Have Cat get it out of there. I'm guessing it's the other fucker in Hutt's trunk. He forgot to mention that.
GRAPE
Cat kinda forgets.
CECIL
And Grape...Tex-Mex dude, hanging 'round Gloria all the time. I'd just as soon put a stop to that.
Grape turns to go.
CECIL (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Get Jack. Don't do anything. I want to talk to him, don't want him in a trunk.
THE CELLAR
Jack reacts to Cecil's words as we imagine he would. He looks sick.
WAN'S STORAGE ROOM-LATER
Jack is sitting against a wall, wolfing down a bowl of rice. He has a shabby pack by his side. Ortega is squatting on his heels nearby.
ORTEGA
...Rhino is saying, where the fock is Jack? Two in the after noons, where is the Jack? I am saying, how the fock do I know?
JACK
(makes a face)
Christ, this stuff isn't cooked.
ORTEGA
I am cooking this rice Al-denny. You don't know this because you are the washer of dishes and the waiter, you are not the chef.
Jack has his mind somewhere else.
JACK
Ortega gets up, goes to the kitchen.
ORTEGA (O.S.)
I would not be going to the place that is cold. I am thinking Whatamala. Whatamala got the beach, got the girls.
JACK
I don't think so. Everyone down there's a Mescan or something. I don't feel I'd get along at all.
Ortega comes back.
ORTEGA
Hey, me either. Bunch of greasers? Who'd want to do that?
ANOTHER VIEW
JACK
I didn't mean any personal offense.
Ortega looks pained.
ORTEGA
You got friends and you don't even know it, Jack. You got people you don't care about, is caring about you. Who do you think is not telling Cecil you are living in the doggie place under the Piggs? Who you think that would maybe be?
ON JACK
Jack looks bewildered.
JACK
What's with this doggie place? What are you talking about?
FAVOR ORTEGA
ORTEGA
I am seeing you coming out the hole, okay? I know there is Gino's Fine Fish Restu-rant-e before the Piggs, and the Sunset Vet before that. I know these things because I am cook for the Gino's. And, before that, I am putting the puppy dog to sleeping at the vet.
ON JACK
JACK
Jesus....
ORTEGA
I would think about the Whatamala, Jack. I would give some thought to that.
CECIL'S TABLE-MORNING-LATER
Jack is slumped in a chair. He looks awful. Cecil, Grape and Cat are present. The bartender and Ortega are in the background, cleaning up, setting chairs about for the evening.
CECIL
What it is, Jack, I feel there is some misunderstanding among the of members of my staff. I don't wish that to happen anymore. I don't think you do either.
Jack looks dazed. Grape slaps him playfully across the face.
GRAPE
The man's talking to you, Jack.
CECIL
Jack's all right. We are making progress here, aren't we, Jack?
JACK
Yes, sir, we surely are.
CECIL
Cat, he thinks he ought to remove the limb that assaulted his private parts, which is a hurtful thing to.
What I said was, Jack did not strike you with harmful intent. Jack has learned a great deal from his stay in a penal institution, and he is not as dumb as that.
Cecil leans forward. Ortega, in the background, scarcely dares look at all this.
CECIL (CONT'D)
So here is how it stands, Jack. You get out of this. We go ahead and we don't look back. That okay with you?
JACK
It is, Mr. Dupree. And I---
Cecil flares up, nearly knocks over the table.
CECIL
Then what the fuck are you doing here, boy? Get the fuck out of my sight.
Jack gets up quickly, starts to leave. Cecil calls out.
CECIL
Jack...
ON CECIL
Cecil holds up Jack's miserable backpack.
CECIL (CONT'D)
Friends don't leave friends without saying goodbye. You're not planning any trips real soon, are you?
Cecil tosses the pack at Jack, who takes off.
DISSOLVE TO:
CECIL'S TABLE -NIGHT
The joint is swinging, packed to the ceiling.
Cecil sits alone at his table. Gloria prances past, from the front door, and Cecil doesn't even look up.
CECIL
You are late, my dear. I do not condone that in my people.
GLORIA
Any time you like I will be happy not to show up at all.
CECIL
You going to quit?
GLORIA
Can I expect you to turn your attentions elsewhere, Mr. Dupree? I would like to get that clear.
CECIL
You get a decent place to live yet?
GLORIA
What?
Cecil looks away again.
CECIL
Out of that Nazi airplane. We talked about this. And getting coffee. The kind you grind, not something comes in a jar, little grains float on the top...
Gloria tries to speak, can't.
CECIL
I got your flat fixed. You could thank me for that.
Gloria stomps off, and Cecil nearly smiles.
WAN'S KITCHEN-NIGHT
Ortega is busy cooking. Rhino stops Jack as Jack leaves with a tray of food.
RHINO
I been getting reports on your behavior, Jack. I do not like hearing incidents like that.
JACK
I made a mistake is all. Mr. Dupree says it's okay. Says it wasn't harmful intent.
RHINO
I don't give a fuck about intent.
What you do reflects on me. You want to keep straight, you want to get along with me?
JACK
I guess that's what I want to do.
RHINO
You guess? What is a fucking guess, Jack?
Jack has had enough---that does it. Jack turns on Rhino, a different Jack for the moment.
ALTERNATE VIEW
JACK
You got no cause to be stompin' on me. You talk like I'm fucking off all the time and that ain't so. I do what you're telling me, taking your shit, whatever you're dishing out. I am doing as much as anybody else 'round here!
ON RHINO
Rhino is shocked that Jack is talking back like this. His anger reaches a peak, then simply drops away.
RHINO
Get that stuff over there, get it over an' get back here. And---don't be speaking uncivil to me.
It is over, and Jack's still alive. As he leaves, sweat breaks out on his face.
INT. MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
The place is packed as Jack weaves his way through the crowd. Glances at Cecil's table. Cecil is making a big thing over a guy in a black Stetson hat, a singer Jack has seen on TV. With him is KANDY KLEE, she's a singer too. She's maybe twelve, but made up older than that.
The two wear typical country singer wear. They are both autographing pigs.
CLOSE ON ONE OF THE PIGS
The pig squeals.
MATCH THE SQUEAL to
Guy at the bar as he CHOMPS into a barbecue sandwich.
A TABLE ON THE FLOOR
Jack spots Maggie riding on an OLD GUY'S chubby knee.
JACK
You seen Gloria or what? She's supposed to be on, I don't see her anywhere.
MAGGIE
Well hell, Jack, I am busy here, all right? You are interfering with my customer's delight.
OLD GUY
I can't see the ladies, you are standing there, son. Get us a couple of Buds.