EDDIE (yelling louder):
Hey. Didn’t you hear me calling?
From behind, Eddie GRABS Johnny by the shoulder.
EDDIE:
What? The army make you too good for your family now?
Johnny pulls Eddie’s arm off his shoulder.
JOHNNY:
You’re NOT my family.
EDDIE:
I’m married to your fuckin’ sista. We’re family.
Johnny turns to leave.
Eddie pushes him from behind. Johnny turns, PUNCHES Eddie HARD. Eddie loses balance. Then LUNGES at Johnny.
Johnny and Eddie are seriously fighting, Eddie is on the losing end.
The sounds of the crowd and fighting intensifies.
Fatima pulls her daughter off the Merry-Go-Round, flings her on her hip.
Grace turns towards the noise and RACES towards Johnny.
GRACE:
John! Johnny!
Fatima runs after her, grabs her by the wrist, pulling her away. Grace resists.
GRACE:
NO. STOP. Let go of me. He’s hurting my Johnny.
56 EXT. FATIMA AND EDDIE’S APARTMENT DOOR - LATER THAT NIGHT
Eddie, drunk, is struggling with the key - clumsily inserting it into the lock.
EDDIE:
I saw the way you looked at Mario.
FATIMA:
Eddie, shhhhhhhh. It’s late.
EDDIE:
You wanted him ... didn’t you.
FATIMA:
For Christ’s sake, Eddie, I’m seven months pregnant. I don’t want nobody.
Opening the door, turning towards Fatima.
EDDIE:
What’s that suppose to mean?
FATIMA:
It means I ain’t exactly feelin’ so sexy these days.
EDDIE:
So what are you saying? If you wasn’t pregnant, you’d be interested?
FATIMA:
NO. That’s not what I mean.
Standing in the doorway, BLOCKING her entrance.
EDDIE:
I know exactly what you mean. Once a whore, always a whore.
SLAM! He shuts the door in her face. Fatima softly raps on the door. Looking around, trying not to wake the neighbors.
FATIMA (softly):
Eddie, please...
57 EXT. VIEIRA APARTMENT DOOR - CONTINUOUS
Hair a mess. Holding her shoes in hand, long runs zigzagging her pantyhose, Fatima stands at the front door INCESSANTLY RINGING the doorbell.
FATIMA:
Come on, somebody answer.
JOHNNY (opening the door):
What’s the matter?
FATIMA:
My life, that’s the matter.
Fatima pushes past him.
FATIMA:
I have to pee so bad.
58 INT. KITCHEN
John turns the burner on under the kettle. Fatima has her head down on the table, hands covering her face.
JOHNNY:
You want some coffee?
FATIMA (SLAMMING the table):
NO! What I want is a new life. I can’t stand him anymore.
JOHNNY (slowly):
Fatima, Eddie Pacheco’s a piece of shit. You shoulda’ left him a long time ago.
FATIMA:
Oh ya, sure ... you know how Ma feels about that. And where am I suppose to go? Live here with her? Go on welfare? NO Way.
(pause)
Anyways, sometimes, he ain’t so bad. But I swear to God, tonight, all’s I did was say hi to Mario and, boom, he lost it. It’s the booze. It always makes him crazy.
John pulls up a chair, sits close, locks eyes with her.
JOHNNY:
Fatima. Listen to me. Ever since I can remember, Eddie Pacheco’s been an asshole. With or without booze. He’s never gonna change. And being nice sometimes, just ain’t good enough.
BELLA:
What’s the matter now, Fatima?
Bella enters, wearing a nightgown, holding rosary beads. Grace peeks in from behind her.
FATIMA:
Everything, Ma. Everything’s the matter. My life.
My marriage.
BELLA (Portuguese):
And whose fault is that, Fatima?
FATIMA:
Ma, I beg you. Don’t start with me. I’m sorry I got pregnant. I’m sorry I disappointed you.
(in Portuguese):
Desculpa. Desculpa. Desculpa.
JOHNNY:
Ma, it’s not her fault. Eddie’s...
Grace’s EYES DART from Bella to John to Fatima arguing.
BELLA (interrupting):
Married people. They fight. This no your business.
JOHNNY:
Ma. Come on. Go back to bed. Leave her alone for God’s sake.
Bella leaving, turns back to Fatima.
BELLA (sternly in Portuguese):
Remember Fatima. All good, God- fearing mothers make sacrifices for their children.
59 INT. LIVING ROOM - NEXT MORNING
A wall filled with family photos and, yes, saints ... lots of saints surround Grace.
Wearing Barbie pajamas, she sits cross-legged in front of the TV - talking into her pink Barbie phone.
GRACE (V.O.):
I learned a lot about how different we were from watching TV. Everybody’s not so sad, or mad and yelling at each other all the time. Sometimes, it’s okay to just be happy.
Still in last night’s clothes, Fatima stands at the doorway watching Grace.
GRACE (on her Barbie phone):
Yes. Okay, that will be fine.
FATIMA:
What are you doing?
GRACE:
Making reservations.
FATIMA:
Reservations? You goin’ somewhere?
GRACE (proudly):
Yeah, sure. I saw it on TV. You can go anywhere you want.
Grace hands Fatima the phone.
GRACE:
Here, you try it. Just pick a place.
Fatima fidgets with the dial on the toy phone.
FATIMA:
Yeah, don’t I wish. I’m not goin’ anywhere anytime soon.
CAMERA SEES: TV playing in the background as a smiling “All American Family” sits down for a “No Drama” dinner together.
GRACE (V.O.):
I wanted to be more like them. You know, just eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and living in a house without saints staring over your shoulder, watching your every move.
Unconsciously stroking the Saint Michael medallion hanging around her neck, Bella stands by the door.
CUT TO:
60 INT. MCI CORRECTIONAL CENTER (LOW SECURITY PRISON) - DAY
Crammed Visitor’s Room. Grimy metal tables line the square concrete block.
Visitors sit on worn, plastic orange chairs waiting to see their Cons.
Johnny studies an old poster taped on the wall - JAIL HOUSE VISITOR’S DRESS CODE: Prohibited attire: Clothing that exposes breasts, chest, genitals or buttocks.
Tommy saunters in wearing an orange jumpsuit. Plops into a matching orange chair across from Johnny.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
When did ya’ get home? And what the fuck they feed you in there? You turned into the Jolly Green Giant.
JOHNNY (shaking his head):
Just last week Tommy. You were first on my list, buddy. How’s it going?
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
It sucks ass! You can’t catch a break in this friggin’ place. The Spooks think you’re a Spic, the Spics think you’re a Honky Fag and the Irish assholes in here, they fuckin’ hate everybody.
JOHNNY:
Callahan ... you do know you’re Irish. Right?
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Yeah, yeah. But I’m not like them. You. Me. We’re family.
Johnny shakes his head. Laughs. He hands Tommy a cigarette.
JOHNNY:
You need anything?
Tommy pulls one from the pack. Takes a long drag.
/> TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Just be here to pick me up when I get outta this dump next week. I’m gonna need some weed and pussy - real bad.
61 INT. VIEIRA KITCHEN - AFTERNOON
Johnny scanning a thin section of the newspaper “Want Ads.” READING: “Experience required,” “College degree,” “Masters level candidates ...”
Glued to the TV, Grace sits next to Johnny.
Bella HOVERS over Johnny.
BELLA:
So, what now? What you gonna do for work?
Johnny circles the “We Don’t Want You Ads” with his finger.
JOHNNY:
I don’t know, Ma. Don’t have a clue.
GRACE:
Maybe you can go work in a fancy office like Mr. Brady.
JOHNNY:
WHO?
Grace points to The Brady Bunch reruns playing on Nickelodeon.
GRACE (matter of fact):
Mr. Brady. Marcia’s dad.
BELLA:
I talk with Senhor Silva at the factory. He say you got a job there anytime’s.
JOHNNY:
Ma, I’m not gonna go work shoveling shit for a living.
(winking at Grace)
I’m gonna go work in a fancy office like Marcia’s dad.
62 INT. SPRING HILL CASKET MANUFACTURERS - DAY
Burger King Whoppers, fries and shakes line the top of a casket. Tommy’s chowing down. Smoking a joint. Alternating between bites and drags.
TOMMY CALLAHAN (talking to his Whopper):
Bacon Cheese Double Whopper. I’ve been dreaming of you for months.
Tommy passes Johnny the joint, Johnny shakes his head, No.
TOMMY CALLAHAN (mouth full, to Johnny):
So, you in or what?
JOHNNY:
God, Tommy. You’ve been out of jail a week and you’re already thinking of ways to get yourself back in!
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Oh yeah, Mr. War Hero. What the frig’ else am I suppose to do?
JOHNNY:
I don’t know, Tommy. How about just playing it straight.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Doing what? Selling brooms?
(pushes back in his chair)
We’re never, ever gonna make any money playing it straight, man. Come on. They brainwash ya’ in the Army or what? You know the system’s rigged. Guys like us, we ain’t ever gonna catch a break.
63 SEQUENCE OF SHOTS:
Tommy, Fat Manny, Little Louie stealing cases of liquor out the back of Kappy’s; tossing baked hams into the back of a hearse; Tommy modeling leather jackets as Louie pushes a rack full of jackets into a Spring Hill Caskets truck; Fat Manny stocking a casket full of Dora the Explorer dolls.
64 INT. AGWAY FERTILIZER FACTORY - DAY
Brown soot cakes the walls.
Sweaty men, wearing dust masks and ear plugs, fill bags with fertilizer on a fast moving conveyor belt.
65 INT. MANAGER’S OFFICE, AGWAY FERTILIZER
Johnny’s sitting in front of a cheap metal desk in a tiny office. Mr. Silva - short, bald, middle-aged Portuguese man, sits behind the desk.
MR. SILVA (Portuguese accent):
Your papa was a good man. You know, back in the old country, we was best friends. But he...he was the handsome one.
... Revealing a mouthful of crowded, cigarette-stained teeth.
MR. SILVA (tapping his head):
And smart, too.
Johnny nods politely.
MR. SILVA:
I gotta be straight Johnny. Times is tough. I got a hard time just keepin’ the guys I got busy. But I promised your Ma.
(passing him a dust mask)
I got an opening as a loadah on the skeleton crew.
66 INT. CAREER BUILDERS EMPLOYMENT CENTER - CONTINUOUS
Chubby, middle-aged woman sporting a SuperCuts hair-do, sits behind a cluttered desk. Johnny - handsome, in a shirt and tie, sits across from her.
MRS. ABERNATHY (warm, kind):
Thank you for your service Corporal Vieira.
JOHNNY (politely):
Thank you, ma’am.
She glances at his all too short application. Looks up.
MRS. ABERNATHY:
I have to be honest with you sweetheart ... getting a decent paying job with just a GED is gonna be an uphill battle.
Turning over his application to reveal a totally blank side.
MRS. ABERNATHY:
Any chance you could go back to school? Maybe take some night classes?
67 EXT. LOADING DOCK AGWAY FERTILIZER COMPANY - NIGHT
Johnny, sweating, tosses heavy bags of fertilizer into the back of the open truck.
Radio BLARING, Tommy Callahan drives by HONKING. Laughing. Waving from a new souped-up Mustang, wearing a new leather jacket. A sexy girl, wearing a bright red leather jacket rides next to him.
Johnny SHOOTS Tommy the bird.
CUT TO:
68 INT. TOY STORE - MORNING
Fat Manny‘s talking non-stop. Johnny scans the dolls on the shelf.
FAT MANNY:
He’s got his head so far up her ass he don’t see straight. He wants to go and marry “Blow Job fuckin’ Tracy.” I told him, Louie, Little Louie. Listen to Fat Manny ... you just can’t go around marryin’ them party girls. Screw ‘em yeah, but for Christ’s sake, don’t go and marry them broads.
JOHNNY (laughing):
I don’t know who’s more nuts, you or Little Louie.
Johnny stops, grabs a Dora the Explorer doll. Heads to the check out.
FAT MANNY:
Where ya’ goin’ with that?
JOHNNY:
To the cash register.
FAT MANNY:
Why?
JOHNNY (matter of fact):
To pay for it.
FAT MANNY (grabbing for the doll):
Give me that.
Johnny pulls it away from him.
FAT MANNY:
Are you nuts? Why are you gonna pay for that. I can get you a dozen of them stupid dolls for nothin.’
JOHNNY:
It’s for my little sister. I ain’t gonna give Grace a stolen doll.
69 INT. SPRING HILL CASKET MANUFACTURERS - AFTERNOON
Caskets in every shape, size and price circle Tommy holding court - sitting inside an open casket smoking a joint.
Fat Manny tosses ziplock bags of marijuana into a casket. Arms folded, Johnny leans up against the wall.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Come on Johnny. Just say the word. I can get you in with O’Leary,
(snapping his fingers)
like that!
JOHNNY:
Listen Tommy. I ain’t selling drugs to little kids.
TOMMY CALLAHAN:
Who says you gotta sell drugs? There’s plenty of
other shit to sell. Come on Johnny, it’s a ton of dough.
More than you ever dreamed of.
(taking a drag)
Anyway, all we’re doin’ is moving stuff around.
You know, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Like Robin Hood shit.
LITTLE LOUIE (rushing):
Hey Johnny, you better get out here. Fast.
70 EXT. SPRING HILL CASKET MANUFACTURERS
Splattered with blood, Bella and Grace rush across the street.
Red blood paint covers their clothes, hair, faces.
Grace is crying, Bella’s holding back tears as she drags Grace by the hand.
JOHNNY:
What the ...?
(running across street)
Ma. What happened to you?
GRACE (sobbing):
Them. Those bad boys. They sprayed us with paint.
Grace wipes her runny nose with her little hand, leaving blood red paint smeared across her tiny face.
GRACE:
They just laughed and called us bad names.
Bella breaks down, falling against Johnny, covering him in red paint.
He pulls his mom in closer. STARES out ston
e-faced.
71 EXT. ROOSEVELT TOWERS - LATER THAT NIGHT
A radio is BLARING.
The dilapidated, concrete Projects TOWERS in the background. Along the wall are a dozen or so tough guys and a couple of skanky girls drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, playing “Crank That” loud from a car stereo.
Across the street, Little Louie dawdles ... alone.
PROJECT KID:
Hey! You shorty. What the fuck you doin’ walking on my street?
LITTLE LOUIE (stopping):
... You talking to me, you low life Project Faggot?
PROJECT KID:
Yeah, you - Ass wipe. Stop stinking up my street with your Port-a-Gee B.O.
BOOM! They whip beer bottles at Louie. CHARGE at him.
Little Louie runs towards a parked van. Project Boys in hot pursuit.
Catching up, they charge Louis at the van - doors SWING open.
RUSHING OUT Johnny, Fat Manny, Tommy Callahan and some BIG tough, tattooed dudes carrying bats and chains.
Project kids SCRAMMING every which way. TOO LATE.
72 INT. VIEIRA FAMILY APARTMENT - LATER THAT NIGHT
SILENT. DARK ... except for the bathroom light shining.
Johnny’s studying his blood-splattered image in the mirror: hair is messed, shirt’s torn and he has blood on his hands.
GRACE:
Did those bad boys hurt you too?
CLOSE VIEW: Grace, dressed in her Barbie pajamas, standing in the doorway holding her Dora the Explorer doll.
JOHNNY:
Nope baby girl ... Not this time.
73 SEQUENCE OF SHOTS:
JOHNNY’S NOW in the thick of it with Tommy Callahan, Fat Manny and Little Louie: Spring Hill Casket Factory - packing rows of coffins full of stolen goods ... Jack Daniels to chocolates to Kitty Litter.
74 EXT. VIEIRA FIRST FLOOR PORCH - DAY
Grace and her ten-year-old friend, JOEY MEDEIROS, sit on the porch floor playing “Go Fish.”
Johnny’s across from them meticulously washing his car. Tommy sits on the stoop smoking and “supervising.”
TOMMY CALLAHAN (to Johnny):
You missed a spot.
JOHNNY(tossing a sponge at Tommy):
Anytime you wanna help.
Using his mop of curly black hair to camouflage his eyes, Joey sneaks peeks at Grace’s cards as he deals out the deck.
GRACE (catching him):
Stop it Joey.
JOEY (continues dealing cards):
What? I ain’t doing nothin.’
GRACE (standing up, calling over to her brother):
What Geese Can't Fly Page 4
