Oh, yeah - but sleeping around ain’t a sin?
FATIMA:
You say you love me. We get married.
EDDIE:
Married? Come on, I’m not even sure the kid’s mine.
FATIMA (crying):
No Eddie. I never be with nobody’s. Only you.
Eddie pulls her in closer to him.
EDDIE:
I know, you’re my little Portagee Virgin Mary ...
Come on, there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of everything. Trust me, not even God will know.
Fatima REELS at Eddie in rage and starts hitting him.
FATIMA:
NO. No. NO. You lie to me.
Eddie GRABS her by her tiny wrists, pins her up against the wall. She fights back. Tearing the buttons off of his uniform shirt, yanking off his gold cross.
EDDIE (looking down at his shirt):
You little bitch, don’t you ever...
JOHNNY (yelling, from the doorway):
S-S-STOP! STOP hitting my sister.
STARTLED - they both stop, FROZEN.
CLOSE UP VIEW ON JOHNNY IN THE DOORWAY.
JOHNNY:
Stop hurting her!
Eddie taunts Johnny - lightly slapping Fatima’s face.
EDDIE:
Oh yeah, tough guy. What are you gonna do about it?
JOHNNY (stuttering):
L-L-Leave her alone.
Eddie grabs Fatima by the hair, pulling it.
EDDIE (mimicking):
Oh yeah. M-M-M-Make me!
Johnny grabs the knife off the table. LUNGES for Eddie.
With one hand, Eddie grabs Johnny, knocks him to his butt. The knife falls. Eddie grabs it. Grabs Johnny. Brings the knife up close to his ear.
EDDIE:
You little shithead. I should just cut your ear off.
This ain’t none of your business.
FATIMA:
Eddie no. Please. No hurt him.
Eddie gives Johnny a hard shove against the wall. Grabs for Fatima’s arm - she recoils.
EDDIE:
I was never gonna hurt him. You know me, I just wanted to scare the piss out of him.
(puts his arm around Fatima)
Come on baby. You know I love you. Give Eddie a little kiss.
Fatima, fighting back tears, looks away — not wanting to face Johnny.
39 INT. VIEIRA FAMILY KITCHEN, LATER THAT NIGHT
SILENCE ... except for the heavy kneading of dough.
Swallowing back sobs, Fatima stands at the sink washing dishes.
Bella AGGRESSIVELY POUNDS the dough on the counter.
FATIMA (in Portuguese, her head cast down):
He won’t marry me.
BELLA (in Portuguese):
Why not?
FATIMA (in Portuguese):
He says the baby isn’t his.
BELLA (in Portuguese):
Is it?
Fatima throws the sponge into the sink ... back splashing herself.
FATIMA (Portuguese):
Mama, eu não sou uma PUTA!
(English)
I’m a good girl.
Bella POUNDS the dough with her fists.
CUT TO:
40 EXT. OUTSIDE A DARK APARTMENT DOOR - DAWN, NEXT DAY
CLOSE VIEW: A woman’s big, meaty fist pounds on a door, banging loudly.
EDDIE:
Go away. It’s five o’clock in the friggin’ morning.
41 INT. EDDIE’S APARTMENT
KNOCKING continues.
Cheap furniture, beer cans and clothes strewn all about, EXCEPT FOR: his bus driver uniform which is hung neatly over a chair, next to his large wad of bus keys.
In his underwear, wearing his gold cross, a disheveled Eddie heads towards the door.
KNOCKING GROWS LOUDER.
EDDIE:
Hold your fuckin’ horses!
PISSED OFF, he swings open the door.
EDDIE:
This better be good.
A stern-faced, chubby, older woman, dressed in black from head to toe, stands before him.
EDDIE:
Ma? What are you doing here?
ANNA PACHECO reaches up and slaps his face. HARD.
Anna barges in, pushing Eddie aside. She’s followed in by Bella and Fatima.
42 INT. VIEIRA KITCHEN - ONE WEEK LATER
A morose Eddie stands by the sink tugging on his new wedding ring - sliding it on and off his finger.
Baby Grace sits in a highchair crushing Cheerios on the table with her chubby hands.
Next to her, Johnny and Fatima lean in closer to the radio ... listening to a soccer game.
PORTUGUESE RADIO ANNOUNCER (exuberant in Portuguese):
GOOOOAAAALLLL! GOOOOAAAALLLL!
RAPPING on the table, Fatima celebrates the goal.
Johnny scoops up Grace, TWIRLING her around the room. LAUGHING.
GRACE (V.O.):
There were pockets of happiness. But they were fleeting. Like there was a hole in your pocket, where the lucky penny kept slipping out.
FATIMA (to Johnny):
Maybe one day you play futebol. Like papa teach you.
Johnny smiles, sits Grace back in the highchair ... feeding her a Cheerio.
EDDIE:
So Johnny boy, how’s school goin’?
JOHNNY (shrugging):
I dunno.
EDDIE:
That’s just great. The family brain trust here spends all day in school
(mocking)
learning ... I dunno!
Eddie pulls a folded letter out of his pocket, flattens it on the table.
EDDIE (sliding the letter towards Johhny):
Maybe this is why.
Close-up on letter: JOHN VIEIRA TRUANCY WARNING ...Violation of the compulsory attendance can result in referral for court proceedings ...
EDDIE:
They can deport your dumb Portagee ass if you keep on skipping school.
SMACK! Johnny POUNDS the table with his fists, startling Grace. She CRIES.
JOHNNY:
I hate you Eddie. I don’t care what they do. I ain’t ever goin’ back.
43 EXT. SCHOOL BUS STOP - NEXT MORNING
Sulking, Johnny is kicking a beer can against the curb.
JOHNNY:
I hate school.
Wearing a red, white and blue bandana, Tommy’s leaning against the fire hydrant, smoking a cigarette.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
School blows, man.
Johnny sits down on the curb, crushing the can with his foot.
JOHNNY:
Everybody hates me.
A bus pulls up filled with kids. Windows open, heads hanging out, kids laughing, shouting.
Billy Maguire sticks his head out the window and tosses his pencil at Johnny’s feet.
BILLY MAGUIRE:
Hey, hey Johnny get me my pencil? I dropped it.
Johnny shakes his head, no.
BILLY MAGUIRE (pleading):
Ah come on, be a pal. It’s the only one I got.
Johnny picks up the pencil and walks toward the bus.
Billy SPITS at him. His buddies ROAR with laughter.
Fists clenched, Johnny stands frozen in rage.
Tommy WHIPS his cigarette at the bus.
He HUCKS up a big glob of spit and aims it directly at Billy - the glob SPLATTERS against the bus window.
TOMMY CALLAHAN (grabbing Johnny by the shoulders):
What the fuck’s wrong with you, man. You can’t let them mess with you like that. You gotta stand up to those assholes.
LAUGHING, Billy’s buddies PELLET Johnny with their pencils.
TOMMY CALLAHAN (grabbing Johnny):
Come on, come with me.
Boarding the bus, they MARCH towards Billy Maguire.
Tommy EYES Billy, getting in his face.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Hey, you. Asshole. You see this kid.
(points to Johnny)
This is my buddy. AND if you ever, EVER, spit at him again, I’m gonna yank out your friggin’ tongue out of your ugly-ass mouth.
(pokes Billy’s chest hard)
You GOT that?
Eyes bulging out of their sockets, Billy nods yes.
Tommy and Johnny walk to the last row and sit.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Johnny, listen to me little man. You gotta seriously beat the crap out of that asshole. Really, really hurt him.
(pause)
Oh yeah. One more thing.
Make sure someone SEES you do it.
Johnny’s not quite getting it?
TOMMY CALLAHAN (leaning in closer):
So the WORD gets around.
44 INT. SCHOOL GYMNASIUM, GYM CLASS - DAY
The boys’ sixth grade class PLAYS dodge ball. Teams are lined up - throwing the ball at each other. Billy Maguire is fiercely dominating the game.
Billy’s aiming for the small, fat boys and Johnny. He aims for Johnny. Misses.
You hear the SMASHING BLOWS as kids get hit. The teacher sits in the bleachers, reading from a clipboard.
TEACHER (barely interested):
You’re out. Next up.
Johnny’s up.
Takes his time as he EYES Billy Maguire. Aims. Hits him HARD - taking Billy’s breath away.
BILLY MAGUIRE (pointing at Johnny):
You’re gonna pay for that.
TEACHER:
Maguire. You’re out. Sit down.
Game continues as Billy GLARES at Johnny.
45 INT. VIEIRA TRIPLE DECKER LANDING - LATER
Johnny enters the front door. From behind, he’s punched in the head. BAM! BAM! As Billy and his buddy punch and kick him.
BILLY MAGUIRE:
You dirty, little Port-a-Gee. Thought you were a tough guy, huh?
Mrs. CABRAL walks out on the landing waving her new broom.
MRS. CABRAL (yelling):
Go away. GET OUT. I call police.
The boys stop, run out the door - leaving Johnny bruised and bloodied on the floor.
46 INT. BELLA’S BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
Johnny’s curled up on the bed crying. Bella’s sitting on the edge holding an ice wrapped towel - gently pressing it against his bruised and swollen face.
A lit candle illuminates Johnny’s father’s photo on the dresser. Jose’s photo slowly morphs...
FLASHBACK:
47 INT. TINY VIEIRA KITCHEN - AZORES, NIGHT
TO JOSE VIEIRA’s image in the mirror, knotting the tie on his policeman’s uniform shirt. He kisses the Saint Michael Archangel medallion hanging from his neck - his protector against the forces of evil.
Bella sits across from him at the kitchen table feeding a squealing baby Grace in her high chair.
BELLA (to Jose in Portuguese):
You should just look the other way Jose. Say nothing. Carlos was born a thief. He’s been stealing since he was a little kid.
JOSE (in Portuguese):
Yeah Bella, but it’s not just candy he’s stealing anymore. Carlos Teixeira’s become a very dangerous man. And I know who he’s stealing for.
BELLA (in Portuguese):
And that’s exactly why you should stay quiet.
Jose gently pinches Grace’s chubby cheeks. Kisses Bella on the forehead.
JOSE (to Bella in Portuguese):
You worry too much, meu amor.
Jose grabs his police cap off the table, opens the kitchen door onto the street.
Right as he opens the door: BANG! BANG! BANG! Blood SPRAYS the room, SPLATTERING Bella and Grace in Jose’s blood.
CUT BACK TO:
48 INT. BELLA’S BEDROOM
BELLA (to Johnny in Portuguese):
Your father died because he had the courage to stand up to some very bad men.
Dropping the towel and cupping Johnny’s face in her hands.
BELLA (in Portuguese):
Johnny, your father spoke out when others cowered in fear. He would want you to stand up for yourself and fight back.
CUT TO:
49 EXT. SCHOOL YARD - DAYS LATER
Kids are running around. Playing tag, shooting hoops.
In the corner, Billy Maguire and his buddy are spray painting “PORTAGEES SUCK!” on the school wall.
BAM! BAM! BAM! From behind. Each boy falls to the ground as Johnny whacks them HARD with a broken-off broom stick.
DISSOLVE TO:
Portuguese Fado music softly returns.
act 2
50 INT. NEW VIEIRA APARTMENT - TEN YEARS LATER
CLOSE VIEW ON NOW TEN-YEAR-OLD GRACE: TWIRLING around the room, wearing a long, blue satin robe, tied with a gold sash. From under her robe, spring feathered angel wings.
GRACE (V.O.):
Being an angel in the church parade is a Portuguese girl’s rite of passage. Your little hands squeezed together in prayer, dutifully walking behind a floating Holy Spirit statue wearing its crown of thorns ... dodging and weaving as the Priest swings the holy incense holder ... trying not to choke on the fumes.
As cherub-faced Grace spins, the modest, new apartment is revealed: Decorated Portuguese style—gold crushed velvet wall paper, plastic covered sofas, fake flowers, saints galore.
Slowly, three framed pictures appear on the wall: Jesus Christ on the Cross, JOSE - the father, and SPORTEM - the Portuguese soccer team.
FATIMA (slight Portuguese accent):
Hey, Grace. Slow it down.
Grace with her eyes closed, arms spread wide open continues to spin, bumping into a very PREGNANT Fatima.
FATIMA:
Ai’ corisca, take it easy. Don’t go messin’ up your costume before the feast.
GRACE:
I’m practicing my angel flying.
FATIMA:
Great. Then try flyin’ to the kitchen, it’s time to eat.
51 INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Flowered, fuzzy-balled fringe curtains hang from the windows. Plastic fruit decorations everywhere. A clock featuring The Last Supper TICK TOCKS on the wall.
Bella sets the table with platters of traditional food: codfish, octopus, sardines, huge loaves of bread.
LOUD chatter from the other room - all in ENGLISH.
BELLA (broken English):
Come. Come eats. Venha comer.
Eddie enters wearing a super-sized gold cross and the same pompadour hairstyle from ten years ago. Followed by Fatima, holding the hand of her toddler, Linda.
Tall, strong, fit, sporting a crew cut and wearing a khaki Army uniform - Johnny enters. Bella grabs his face. Kisses him on his forehead, eyes, cheeks...
BELLA (broken English):
Ah Meu Deus. Meu Johnny. So good you home. Your Papa.
(blesses herself)
He be so proud.
52 INT. HALLWAY
Grace flits down the narrow hallway towards the kitchen. The edges of her angel wings brushing up against the saint-lined wall.
Her moment to SHINE.
About to enter the kitchen, Grace’s angel wings get stuck in the doorway. She PUSHES herself through ... no luck.
Laughter ERUPTS, louder and louder the more she attempts.
Eddie SLAPS the table in hysterics.
53 INT. BELLA’S SEWING ROOM, OFF THE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Grace’s little sobs fill the hallway.
Johnny pulls back the flowered curtain serving as a door, revealing an old Singer sewing machine, and a small daybed shoved in the corner.
Grace’s sitting on the bed crying. Her little feet dangling.
GRACE:
I’m a stupid angel.
He kisses her head and looks her straight in the eye.
JOHNNY:
You’re the smartest angel in this whole family. Don’t you ever forget that.
He gently pulls the little, blue satin robe up over her head. Kneels down on one knee and unhooks the angel wing harness. Pulls the robe back down and grabs her hand.
54 INT. KITCHEN
> Holding Johnny’s hand, Grace shyly walks into the kitchen.
EDDIE (sarcastically, pointing):
Hey! Houdini. That was some stunt. Next time, why not try flyin’ in!
He laughs hysterically at his own stupid joke. Fatima shoots him a long, dirty look - pushing away her plate.
JOHNNY:
You are such an ass, Eddie. Nothing ever changes with you.
EDDIE:
What? Come on. I was making a joke.
FATIMA:
Nobody’s laughing Eddie.
BOOM! In a burst of anger, Eddie rises. Kicks over the chair.
55 EXT. SAINT ANTHONY’S CHURCH FEAST - DUSK
“The Feast of the Holy Spirit” banner hangs from the church, in Portuguese and English.
Music plays; costumed dancers dance; people eat and drink; kids enjoy the makeshift carnival.
Johnny’s surrounded by his ‘Portuguese Posse’ - the same guys we first met in front of Spring Hill Caskets. Everyone’s drinking beers, smoking cigarettes, talking trash.
FAT MANNY (to Johnny):
You was friggin’ nuts for volunteerin.’ No way I’m gonna go fight nobody I know nothin’ about.
There’s no fuckin’ way I’m gettin’ my ass blowed up for some foreigners. Let ‘em fight their own friggin’ battles.
LITTLE LOUIE:
Yeah that’s right. And with your big, fat ass - they couldn’t miss.
The guys laugh, jostling each other.
Grace, Fatima and her little girl are riding on the Merry-Go- Round. Fatima holds onto the toddler as they go round and round - laughing.
Across the way, Eddie, his buddies and his cousin, MARIO are yucking it up. Drinking, smoking, checking out women.
EDDIE (downing his beer):
Look at the tits on that one. You could suck on them babies for days.
Laughter erupts as they further ogle the young woman. Fatima glances over disapproving. Mario catches her eye.
Embarrassed, he waves over. She nods back.
Catching their interaction, Eddie STOMPS his cigarette out on the ground with his foot.
MARIO FURTADO (pointing over):
Hey! Ain’t that Johnny over there? When’d he get home?
EDDIE (uninterested):
Yesterday. He just got back.
MARIO:
Call him over. I wanna’ see him.
Eddie whistles loudly to get Johnny’s attention.
EDDIE (shouting):
Hey John, Johnny. Come here.
Johnny looks straight at him. Turns. Walks away.
What Geese Can't Fly Page 3
