43.
THE SITUATION --
Were at Dans Dogs - formerly a fifties drive-in with curb
service. Its night and its PACKED with CUSTOMERS.
ELLIS (40s), HORSE (19) and FREE MAN (20) ENTER. Ellis finds an
empty booth, pushes away the trash and sits. Hes still wearing his
parsons outfit from the costume party, and the drug he was slipped
- whatever it was - is peaking now. He takes a deep breath, tries
to control his breathing, but the raucous room isn't helping much.
He sees a barefooted KID, tracking blood across the floor,
jaundiced BABIES, WOMEN draped in tubs of lard, sullen CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS and beat-to-hell WAITRESSES and hunched-over KITCHEN HELP.
A FAMILY MAN in the next booth (his back to Ellis) speaks up --
MAN IN BOOTH
Why you always wanna bring up sex? Is that all you think
about?
Ellis glances at the mans WIFE, sees a hangdog expression, bags
under her eyes -- she is truly the saddest woman on earth tonight.
Ellis listens for her response but its swallowed up by the din of
the room. Then he glimpses a tiny hand with green, sparkly
fingernails. He leans forward, and makes brief eye contact with the
Sad Wifes DAUGHTER (9).
MAN IN BOOTH
Because thats what it is! People dont make love. Love is already
there. Or it aint. And in our case, it aint. Now Im sorry, sugar,
but thats just the way it is.
The wife bursts into tears and rushes for the door. Her daughter
follows matter-of-factly, glancing at Ellis as she passes. The Man
in the Booth mumbles something, stands, drops some change on the
table and shuffles by Ellis on his way out.
MAN IN BOOTH
Marriage is a wonderful thing, aint it, Preach?
Ellis remembers that he's dressed as a parson, notices that a
few more customers are staring at him, stands on shaky legs.
ELLISHorse. Get it to go, will you?
Horse gives him a thumbs up and Ellis exits.
44.
(MORE)
EXT. DANS DOGS - NIGHT
Almost immediately, Ellis is accosted by an unwashed HOMELESS
GUY with a Wilson patch on his work shirt.
WILSON
Sir, Im wondering if I might have a word with you. Is wondering
if maybe you could hep me out a little. See, my wife and me aint
eat in a while, were living outta her car right now, have been
since the first of the year, and we wont have no place to stay till
her tax refund comes or till I find me some work somewhurs, so if
you could maybe hep us out a little, I swear itd go to good use
cause you can ask anybody around here and theyll tell you, I aint
got no drinking problem no more, nossir, Ill spend whatever you
gimme on food cause I aint touched a drop of nothing in fifteen
years, not a drop, you can ask anybody in any one of these houses
around here, you can even ask my wife and shell tell you...
Finish the scene by adding 1-2 pp. Download the recommended
screenwriting software and type your pages in proper screenplay
form. Bring your final pages to our next class.
