PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay

by Neal Barrett Jr.

  JACK

  I'm your food person. You got to see a wait person for that.

  OLD GUY

  A what?

  Jack looks to his right, spots Gloria and dashes off.

  DRESSING ROOM

  GLORIA and JACK

  GLORIA

  I am on, Jack, I can't stop and talk now. And don't keep barging in. We're going to get a lock.

  JACK

  Huh-uh. That'd be a fire code violation. Listen, I just want to talk.

  Gloria drops her robe.

  GLORIA

  Christ, Jack, I feel I ought to put a coat on, you come around. It isn't natural, staring like that.

  Jack looks intense.

  JACK

  We talked about us going out, Gloria. Only you don't have time. You got time for Cecil and that rich greaser, you haven't got time for me.

  GLORIA

  Don't go there, Jack. I will not put up with personal intrusions on my life.

  ON JACK

  JACK

  Things'll be different soon. You'll be wearing real clothes, and candy that's not on sale. When my big deal comes through...

  ON GLORIA

  Naked as ever, Gloria goes to a hanger and brushes something off a costume. Doesn't look at Jack.

  GLORIA

  And how's that coming?

  JACK

  All right. Far as Chavez is concerned, I'm letting racial tension stand in the way. I don't like ol' Ortega much, but I don't like him in a different way I don't like Chavez.

  Gloria freezes, as she holds up a tiny bra to her breasts.

  GLORIA

  You're saying what?

  JACK

  Ricky is one rich greaser. Ortega's poor as a dog. You wouldn't think about doing it with someone like him.

  GLORIA

  Doing it.

  JACK

  You know. Doing it.

  GLORIA

  Goddamn it, Jack.

  She snatches up her robe.

  GLORIA (CONT'D)

  You have broken a bond between us. One I doubt has got a chance of healing.

  JACK

  What kinda bond was that? You won't even go out for pie.

  GLORIA

  Maybe pie just wasn't meant to be, hon.

  Gloria checks her hair in the mirror, wets her finger, brushes a curl across her cheek. We can see Jack in the mirror.

  GLORIA (CONT'D)

  Sometimes it's best you nip something like that, before it gets to pie...

  In her mirror, Jack's face wilts.

  OUTSIDE DRESSING ROOM

  Jack stops short as Cecil's voice comes over the speakers.

  CECIL (O.S.)

  ...We have a special surprise for y'all at Piggs tonight...

  DJ'S STAND

  ON CECIL

  CECIL

  ...What we got is post time,

  ladies and gents, if there's any ladies got in here somehow.

  SOUND: LAUGHTER

  CECIL

  We got your horsies, we got 'em right here. Ugliest horses I have ever seen, but take a look at those jockeys, boys, that's what you came to see!

  Cheers

  MUSIC (O.S) DERBY MUSIC.

  MAIN FLOOR

  SERIES OF SHOTS

  We see the the horsies are TRUCKERS, LAWYERS, DEFROCKED DALLAS COWBOYS, etc. Each have a number pinned to their butts. The strippers wear cute jockey hats and carry toy whips. The patrons are on their feet cheering.

  ON JACK

  He glances behind him, sees Gloria at the dressing room door, hanging on the arm of Ricky Chavez.

  JACK

  Aw, man...

  CECIL (V.O.)

  And they're off. There they gooooo!

  SERIES OF SHOTS

  The trucker bucks Maggie off. The football player moves ahead...here comes the lawyer and a judge, other strippers, other guys....up to the finish line, etc.

  ON JACK

  Cat wraps a big arm around Jack from behind, pulls him into shadow. Jack kicks at empty air as Grape appears and peels him down to his shorts, shoves him to his knees.

  JACK

  Hey, goddamn it!

  Grape can't stop laughing.

  GRAPE

  Go get 'em---I got a twenty on you, jailbait!

  Something lands on his back. It's the girl singer. Cat gives Jack a kick.

  DJ'S STAND

  CECIL

  Hold it, folks, we got us a late entry here, it's not done yet! Here she is, boys, our real special guest an' she's just fourteen, the prettiest songbird in Nashville, Tennessee...little Miss Kaaaandy Klee!

  JACK / KANDY

  KANDY KLEE

  (riding Jack)

  Thirteen, asshole...

  Words only Jack can hear.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  INT. THE AIRPLANE -NIGHT

  Ricky Chavez sits uncomfortably in the jumpseat; Gloria slumps in a chair, dead tired, rubbing her feet, trying to keep her eyes open. Ricky is trying to be Mister Smooth.

  RICKY

  ...One cannot but admire the German peoples, Miss Mundi. They can craft the most incredible of machines.

  As I recall,the Junkers JU 52 has the maximum speed of 350 kilometers an hour, and the ceiling of 18,045 feet, yes?

  Gloria scarcely opens her eyes.

  GLORIA

  It'll depend on your load factor, and what kind of weather you're up against in the European skies.

  RICKY

  That is much like life itself, is it not? What we strive for is not always what we achieve.

  Gloria tries to pay attention.

  GLORIA

  I haven't given it a whole lot of thought.

  (yawn)

  Real nice of you to drop in, Mr. Chavez. It's getting awful late.

  But Ricky is on a roll.

  RICKY

  It was my great pleasure that I have travel, had the vacacion in the lovely German town and countryside...

  Gloria wakes up a bit.

  GLORIA

  I didn't know that.

  RICKY

  But, I expect you speak the German tongue.

  GLORIA

  Shoot, I don't speak any tongues at all.

  RICKY

  No? Ah, vas ge-stoppen der Gretel und Fritzen? Vo grabben der stein, mine hair? Vo ge-sleepen in der Benz?

  GLORIA

  Now I got some of that. I hope it wasn't something foreign that isn't nice.

  Ricky smiles, encouraged.

  RICKY

  No, no, Fraw-line. I simply said, "Do you not think it is cool for this time of the year in the Texas?" And, if you will excuse the familiar, I said, "You are a most charming person."

  Gloria stands and fluffs up her hair.

  GLORIA

  Let's not get into that right yet, all right? Some other time I would love to hear more...

  Ricky is desperate with desire. He also hates Gloria's coffee, and takes the opportunity to slide his cup under his seat.

  RICKY

  I must say the German nation of today is a most pleasant place to be. The people have not the warlike nature of the past, they---

  Gloria's manner changes at once.

  GLORIA

  Uh-huh. I don't recall any JU-52s over Acapulco, Mr. Chavez. Just what are you complaining about?

  Ricky is taken aback; he stands at once.

  RICKY

  Miss Mundi, I was born in the Cleveland of the Ohio.

  GLORIA

  Well muy beano for you.

  RICKY

  I did not think you were of the racial thinking.

  GLORIA

  Well you thought right. And I thought you had a real feeling for the German people. I see that you don't. On the con-traire, as the Frenchies say.

  RICKY

  Please, you mistake my intent...

  GLORIA

  I got your intent, which is to stare up my shorts. I get enough of that at work, I don't need to put up with it here.

  I am real dis
appointed, Mr. Chavez. I imagined you were a deeper type of person. I see I was wrong about that.

  She moves to the door of the plane, showing him the way.

  GLORIA

  And if you'd read your history you'd know there was plenty of folks didn't go for Hitler at all.

  RICKY

  I am sure that is--

  GLORIA

  The boy who flew this very plane likely had no part in the historic crimes of the National Social Party on people of other creeds.

  RICKY

  Excuse me. How could you possibly know that?

  GLORIA

  And I would ask you not to approach me in a romantic manner, Mr. Chavez. We have not reached that level of acquaintance.

  Ricky, out the door and over the wing, glances down with some trepidation.

  RICKY

  Miss Mundi. If I have shown some expression of physical desire, please to know that is but one aspect of my attraction to you.

  With all my heart, mi corazon...

  Gloria backs him away.

  GLORIA

  Don't start. I don't need that kind of talk and I don't want it in your native tongue, either.

  The rose was nice. I won't comment on the candy.

  Gloria gives him a light kiss on the cheek. Ricky is bewildered.

  RICKY

  Thank you. That was very---

  GLORIA

  I said don't start. Get climbing, Mr. Chavez, all right? Before I get really pissed at you...

  CUT TO:

  WAN'S KITCHEN - DAY

  ON ORTEGA

  Ortega splits a chicken down the middle with a cleaver.

  JACK flinches, almost drops a dish.

  ORTEGA

  I am thinking I know who is jumpy, who is not getting their proper rest. I do not feel I could sleep down there with the spirits of the little dead doggies yip-yip-yipping in the night.

  JACK

  For Chrisakes, there isn't any dead doggies, an' you don't need to be talking about down there.

  ORTEGA

  Among my people, we respect the souls of our animal brothers---

  Ortega whacks another chicken in half.

  Rhino sticks his head in the door a moment.

  RHINO

  That was a shameful thing to do, what Cecil did. Isn't no way to treat a white man, don't care what he done. It wasn't right.

  Rhino backs out. Jack shrugs.

  ORTEGA

  I am pleased I live to see this thing, Jack. Rhino, he is taking up for you.

  JACK

  He didn't exactly say that...

  ORTEGA

  Is like you are peeking in the window, there is Julius Robbers, she is taking off her clothes. You are never thinking this will happen to you.

  Ortega tosses chicken parts into the sizzling wok. Rhino barges in.

  RHINO

  What are we doing, ladies? I got a fucking Chink restaurant to run, get moving back here! Move-move-move-move!

  DISSOLVE TO:

  EXT. PASSAGEWAY -LATE AFTERNOON, NEAR SUNDOWN.

  Only a few customers are dragging into Piggs. Jack washes up at the faucet near the dumpster, slips on a clean T-shirt as Gloria parks her Rambler.

  JACK

  Well, you're kinda early.

  GLORIA

  Is everybody 'round here keeping time?

  JACK

  He isn't here.

  GLORIA

  Who isn't, Jack?

  JACK

  The seen-yor. You know, the meester beeg shot weeth the choco-latays an' de flower?

  GLORIA

  I will try and overlook your behavior.

  JACK

  Si. I know nahthing. Nada..

  DISSOLVE TO:

  THE MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

  ESTABLISHING SHOT

  CAMERA ROAMS through the crowd. Crowd parts, and there's CECIL'S TABLE, a bib tucked in his overalls, as he works through a plate of ribs. TWO GUESTS at table, plus Grape and a STRIPPER. Cat behind Cecil. Cecil has he group is stitches, but we can't hear what he's saying.

  CUT TO:

  PARKING LOT

  For a moment, Jack sits against the wall of Piggs. Then, bright lights sweep over him as

  CUT TO:

  A BLACK LINCOLN pulls into the FRONT of the lot. Jack's not looking in that direction; he's farther back, waiting for Ricky Chavez.

  THE GROUP - GERRARD, WILLIE BEE, LEO and FRANK get out and head for the front entrance to Piggs.

  SERIES OF SHOTS

  Gerrard, a giant of a black man in shades, white collar, blue shirt. Leo, Willie Bee and Frank. Just hoods.

  CUT TO:

  Ricky's car

  He parks his car and walks toward the side entrance to Piggs. He stops, surprised.

  CLOSE ON RICKY

  RICKY

  Jack...?

  JACK and RICKY

  Jack grins; he can scarcely believe his luck.

  JACK

  Sheeit. Y'all right on time tonight.

  Jack brings a short iron pipe from somewhere and taps Ricky lightly on the head.

  CUT TO:

  CECIL'S TABLE

  CECIL, finishing off another rib and a funny story. Everyone LAUGHS, more than they need to.

  CECIL

  ....what is funda-mentally wrong with your person of New York descent is constriction of the bloodline. People up there tend to co-habit with their own kind. Be it your eye-talian aunt or a seester from down Porto-Reeko way.

  FIRST GUEST

  Man, that is raht.

  SECOND GUEST

  Sister's fine with me.

  CECIL

  Don't get me wrong, now. There are similar habits in the South. But we do make an effort to breed outside the county or even out of state sometimes.

  That's why the gee-netic pool produces honies such as this.

  Cecil grabs a stripper's knee.

  OVER SHOULDER SHOT

  GRAPE'S POV

  CECIL

  ...then there is the matter of pigmentation of the skin. Your Eastern gent will tell you he lunches with a black man every day...

  Someone bumps Grape, passes him by. Grape is the only one who sees who it is, which is Gerrard, followed by his hoods.

  GRAPE

  Uh, Mr. Dupree...

  FAVOR CECIL

  CECIL

  ...He fails to mention one of them is the waiter, and one is the wait-ee. That kinda---

  CECIL

  ...He fails to mention one of them is the waiter, and one the dine-ee. That---

  Cecil stops, looks up.

  POV CECIL

  Gerrard, standing there, smiles His guys are in the shadows behind him, along with a gaping Grape.

  GERRARD

  Mr. Cecil R. Dupree? Sir, I am Hamilton Taylor Gerrard, and I represent Mr. Ambrose Junior of Baton Rouge, Louisiana who would like to offer you a fair, square and honest business deal.