The Last Whole Earth Catalog - SimplyScripts
“The Last Whole Earth Catalog”
A screenplay
by
Joe Hall
Joe Hall
229 Brannon Rd.
Horse Shoe, NC 28742
(828) 891-4663
WoodyBrowse@
THE LAST WHOLE EARTH CATALOG
FADE IN:
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS DAY SPRING 1969
In black and white we watch a chaotic group of college students protesting the Vietnam War. They taunt the National Guard troops that are aligned in battle formation. Some of the students throw things at the Guardsmen. Two SHOTS ring out. A PROTESTOR falls to the ground, and the chaos becomes pandemonium.
DONOVAN (O.S.)
There, did you see it?
pull back to:
INT. NIGHT HOSPITAL ROOM IN COLOR
DONOVAN, the protestor who was shot, is lying in his hospital bed watching the evening news with his three comrades, MOSES, CHOOCHOO and APRIL.
DONOVAN
He was sitting on the wall right behind me. When I got shot in the leg, I sort of twisted as I fell and I saw him. It was a little kid. At the second shot, his shirt turned a blotch of red and he disappeared, flipped backward over the wall. He took a bullet meant for me.
MOSES, hippy guru, shakes his head.
MOSES
I couldn’t see it from the camera angle, Donovan. There was a tree in the way.
CHOOCHOO, the anti-military militant shakes his head too.
CHOOCHOO
I was there man, and I didn’t see any little kid.
DONOVAN
You couldn’t see him, Choochoo, because I was standing in front of him until a millisecond before he was gone.
You believe me, don’t you, APRIL?
The tall blond flower-child who is holding his hand, lets go of it and picks up her bag.
APRIL
Why don’t we go look?
She waits a moment. No one offers to go with her.
APRIL
OK, why don’t I go look?
EXT. NIGHT LATER
April is walking along the waist-high brick wall, heading to where Donovan was shot.
She’s bumped into by a long-haired HIPPY, wearing granny glasses and carrying an army duffel bag. He doesn’t offer an apology, just adjusts his headband and hurries on.
When she gets to the cordoned off spot, April shines a flashlight over the wall. The weeds have been trampled, but there’s no sign of a body. She nimbly vaults over and looks around.
Standing in an isolated spot in the dark, she’s startled when a MAN puts his hand on her shoulder. He’s not very well groomed for a cop nor too bright.
CAMPUS POLICEMAN
What are you doing here?
APRIL
Oh! You scared me.
CAMPUS POLICEMAN
You shouldn’t be here. This whole campus is under quarantine from dusk ‘til dark.
April looks close to see if he is really that stupid.
APRIL
I was just looking for something… something I lost.
He looks out at the deserted campus, then eyes her closely to appraise risk versus reward.
CAMPUS POLICEMAN
And what’s that, your cherry?
He snorts at his little joke.
Maybe you’d like for me to look too.
He pats his holstered gun with the hand not on April’s shoulder.
You won’t be disappointed. I swing a larger caliber than this,
He leers at her
and…
He leans forward as though disclosing a secret
I shoot blanks.
APRIL
Becoming a bit worried about her predicament, but remaining cool.
Haven’t you heard the radio jingle, V.D. is for Everybody?
CAMPUS POLICEMAN
(smiling)
You can trust me; I’m a cop.
APRIL
See, that’s the thing…
She suddenly points behind the cop
Oh look, a curfew!
When the cop turns to look, releasing his grip, April jumps over the wall. The cop turns back.
APRIL
What I lost was my trust in any one over thirty and my respect for pigs in general, no matter how immature.
She jogs away as the cop struggles to climb the wall.
INT. HOSPITAL
While April’s gone, the three young men talk.
MOSES
I can’t stay long. I’ve still got lots to do before the morning.
Three hundred of your brothers and sisters are depending on me to have everything ready for their exodus to our communal promised land. I wish you could make it three hundred and one.
DONOVAN
I’ll be OK, Moe.
MOSES
I know you will, but we’ll miss your expertise.
They all think it’s going to be some sort of nirvana. Maybe it will be, if nirvana is sleeping well because your body’s tired and your mind is at ease.
CHOOCHOO
He’ll be there soon as his leg heals up. Won’t choo, man?
Moses studies Choochoo’s face.
MOSES
Why are you feeling responsible for this, Choo?
(gives Choo a hard look)
You supplied the tomatoes, didn’t you?
Choochoo doesn’t answer.
MOSES
I’ve told you, both of you, violence isn’t the answer.
CHOOCHOO
No man. Not even you could’ve foreseen some little Lieutenant going nuts like that.
I’m doing my part for the cause,
getting boys up to Canada on the underground. While you’re running off to your commune, I’m keeping
our brothers from getting killed
by the gooks just to support the Military Industrial Complex, so don’t blame me, Moe.
MOSES
I was in ‘Nam, Chooch, so don’t...
Moses gives Chooch his Manson stare, then relaxes and pats Chooch on the shoulder.
MOSES
So don’t give up the faith, Chooch. It’s a good thing you’re doing.
He turns to Donovan and puts two hands on Donovan’s leg. Donovan winces.
MOSES
The Vietcong would rather shoot one of our guys in the leg than kill him. That way two more men have to leave the fight to drag their brother to safety, and a third person has to give him medical aide.
He looks Donovan in the face.
MOSES
This is a hard truth I’m revealing to you, Donovan. Can you dig it?
April enters. Donovan sits up in expectation.
APRIL
No bodies there, but the weeds are trampled. Maybe he got up and walked away.
DONOVAN
He didn’t get up, unless he rose from the dead.
APRIL
But this is interesting. I heard that the guy that shot you, Lieutenant Williams, is AWOL.
CHOOCHOO
This is starting to look like a conspiracy, man. The Army has
disappeared both the killer and the killee. My guess is we’ll never see either of them again.
MOSES
We’ve got to go. It’s late and I still have things to do. Get well.
APRIL
You’re coming, right? As soon as you get out of here?
DONOVAN
Soon as I heal I’ll come find you.
They kiss. Moses leads her out the door. Choochoo gives Donovan a soul-brother handshake.
DONOVAN
Choochoo, ask around. See if anybody’s missing a little kid. He’s about nine or ten, dark hair. Maybe Hispanic. His parents might be illegal immigrants. They’d be afraid to report it.
CHOOCHOO
Sure man. I’ll ask Chavez. Peace.
Chooch turns out the light and closes the door. Donovan puts his head on this pillow and closes his eyes.
EXT. DAY
Donovan relives the shooting. He throws a tomato and shouts. He bends and gets another tomato. As he rears back a shot is heard. He twists as he falls backward,
(cont.)
and he sees a little Hispanic boy in a white t-shirt and jeans sitting on the short brick wall behind him. He hears another shot.
A red splotch appears on the boy’s shirt, and falling backwards, the boy disappears behind the wall.
INT. NIGHT
Donovan wakes from his nightmare and sits up. This Donovan is thirty years older, grey haired, but with a ponytail. Where does the time go?
He’s in a little bungalow. The woman under the quilt next. to him, AUGUSTA, or Gussie is dark, compact and ten years younger than he is.
LATER KITCHEN MORNING – MARCH 1999 -ARIZONA
Donovan starts his fossil-fuel-free morning ritual. He opens a cover on his wood cook stove and puts a couple of pieces of kindling in. After lighting it and replacing the steel cover, he sets a strange-looking kettle on the stove.
LATER BATHROOM
In the shower a water line runs up to a barrel with the word HOT stenciled on it. This line runs out to the solar heater.
He gets wet in a fine mist and turns it off. He pours shampoo from a clear bottle and after washing hair and body with this he puts some of the soap on his toothbrush. After brushing his teeth with Dr. Bronners peppermint. soap, he turns the water on long enough to rinse the soap off and his mouth out.
LATER KITCHEN MORNING
The steaming kettle spins a little whirligig on its top. He pours water into his hand-thrown teacup and sips his tea while looking out the back, past a new garden to an old shack.
EXT. ARIZONA DAY
Donovan walks with a limp through a lush xeroscaped yard, surrounded by desert. The yard is full of wind, water and sun powered gizmos. He carries a roll of thick black plastic which has an electric cord dangling from it.
At the old shack he unfurls the sheet, which we now see is very hi-tech. Looking at the sun he orients the sheet, then drives a couple of nails right through it, into the shack. He pulls the bottom edge out onto the dirt and drops a rock onto each corner of the obviously expensive, high-tech gizmo, slanting it toward the sun.
Donovan opens the door to a ruined micro-bus, whose psychedelic paint. faded long ago. Selecting an eight-track tape from a pile on the seat, he pops it into the tape player.
No sound.
He drags forth a tangle of wire from the bus, then inserts the bare wires into a small, sleek box that is built into the sheet of black plastic.
Blasting from the van comes rock-and-roll, circa 1969. Music to break glass by.
CLOSEUP
Donovan looks down at us. He has a bandana over his nose and goggles on.
DONOVAN
You old gimp.
He swings a hammer down at us, and the mirror he was looking into shatters.
INT. KITCHEN DAY
CRASH. A hot pan of bread, just out of the oven is dropped onto the wood table by Augusta, a New Age earth mother. She wipes her brow. Donovan comes up behind her and puts his arms around her.
DONOVAN
Morning Gussie, I made something for you.
She rolls her eyes.
GUS
What is it this time, Donovan? A chime that plays “Give Peace a Chance” when you feed it alfalfa sprouts?
DONOVAN
No, but that’s a great idea.
He pulls out a little notebook and writes.
DONOVAN
Biomass powered chimes.
GUS
What is it then?
DONOVAN
Come see.
EXT. BACKYARD DAY
An electric potter’s wheel with a very nice, artistically done, not yet fired, clay pot on it is positioned in front of something which is covered with a blanket. Gus is aghast.
GUS
That’s my electric potter’s wheel. And my new pot. Donovan, that pot was done on commission.
DONOVAN
Look, no more fossil fuels to fire your pots. Watch.
He plugs the wheel into the solar sheet and the pot starts to turn. Donovan steps past the wheel and pulls a tarp off the large object, revealing a parabolic
mirror that looks like a mosaic made from broken mirrors.
DONOVAN
I recycled some mirrors that were de-silvering. I reconfigured the parabolic saucer into an oval so it concentrates the light into a line instead of a point. That way it heats the entire pot, as long as it’s turning, of course.
The sun’s concentrated beam is focused on the rotating pot. Donovan’s smile beams along with it. Then his face clouds over as a wisp of smoke curls up from the wheel.
Looking closer we see that the line of concentrated sunlight, extends below the pot and melts a wire on the potter’s wheel. There’s a spark and the wheel stops turning. In an instant the motor bursts into flame.
The pot shatters from the concentrated sunbeam.
Gus is beside herself with anger.
GUS
That pot was for a customer, Donovan. A paying customer.
DONOVAN
I can fix that.
GUS
How? How can you fix that?
DONOVAN
Well, I can adjust the beam and put a reflector in front of the wheel to shield it.
GUS
The pot, damn it! How can you fix the pot?
She hits him on the shoulder and stomps off.
He’s crestfallen and calls after her.
DONOVAN
There was a time when we would have laughed about this.
Then to himself.
DONOVAN
When we cared more about love than money and material objects.
INT. BED NIGHT
A Frankenstein-patched-together version of the once-elegant pot is sitting on the bedside table. It has one poppy and one daisy in it. They lean over opposite sides of the pot. Donovan and Gus are lying in bed together, staring at the ceiling.
GUS
My life isn’t turning out like I’d hoped.
DONOVAN
Mine either. I thought I would have saved the world by now.
GUS
You could. You could still do a lot if you just would. You could provide that indestructible solar sheet you invented to underprivileged countries. They could pump water with it. They could have light to teach their children to read by.
DONOVAN
We don’t have enough money to give those away.
GUS
We would if you’d license the army to use your patent. We would be rich. Right now we’re barely scraping by on your salary and what you get from sales to camping stores. If it weren’t for the garden and my pots…
DONOVAN
I can’t support the military, Gussie. I just can’t. It’s against everything I believe in. Imagine me as the industrial part of the military/industrial complex.
Augusta turns to him and touches his face.
GUS
Then let’s have children. Lots of children. We’ll raise them on love and peaches and they can save the world.
DONOVAN
I can’t, Gussie.
FLASHBACK
He sees the child on the wall an instant before it disappears.
RETURN TO PRESENT
DONOVAN
I couldn’t bear to bring an innocent child into this world of capricious violence.
I just couldn’t.
GUS
We can’t go on like this. I want kids. I want to leave the good parts of myself with them.
I’m at a time in my life where I have to make a choice. I love you, Donovan, but something has to give.
She turns away. Donovan closes his eyes.
EXT. VILLAGE DAY
Dark little kids laugh and run around as several men struggle to install a rigid, glass solar panel on a mud hut in an arid third world country.
VO
General Dynamics, making a difference in the world.
INT. OFFICE DAY
The lights go on as a promotional film ends at the small company that Donovan works for. There are about eight casually dressed people in attendance. The older man who stands to speak is JOHN, the company owner.
JOHN
As you know I’ve been thinking for sometime now about retiring and moving someplace with warmer weather.
Polite laughter from his fellow Arizonians.
JOHN
I’ve finally found a buyer for the company that seems to share our philosophy of doing well by doing good. Most of you will be able to stay right here and continue with your current projects. Some of you
(cont.)
may want to make use of the opportunities that a larger company like Gen-Die can offer.
There is a little buzz of conversation among the engineers. John interrupts.
JOHN
The good news, other than you getting rid of the old man, is that Gen-Die wants to mass produce Donovan’s Solar Sheet for distribution in third world countries.
There is enthusiastic applause.
JOHN
Of course you’d have to relocate to their headquarters in San Francisco. You wouldn’t mind going home again, would you, Donovan?
I/E DAY
Donovan and Gus gaze out of their hybrid Honda, at the dreary cityscape of San Francisco. Other cars on the Interstate whiz past them.
I/E DAY
They drive through a suburb of identical ticky-tacky houses, which are made unique only by their individual pastel colors. They stop in front of the third blue one.
DONOVAN
This is it.
GUS
How do you know? It looks like all the others. Neither more nor less tacky.
DONOVAN
The number.
GUS
We used to be known as the quirky people at the end of the lane. Now we’re Mr. and Ms. 52.
DONOVAN
Could be color coded too. We might Those people in blue 52. There could be a red 52 and a yellow 52.
GUS
I thought you said there was a garage for my pottery.
DONOVAN
We have to go down the alley behind the houses. That’s one good thing, the street isn’t full of cars.
GUS
No, but I bet the garages are full of SUVs.
DONOVAN
It’s nice and quiet here anyway.
GUS
Quiet? It’s dead. There’s not a child playing or a bird chirping.
DONOVAN
Silent Spring.
They park in the back drive. Gus shoulders a backpack as Donovan puts a sunshade in the windshield. Then he
takes an electric plug from the car and plugs in his car’s charger. The sunshade is one of his solar generators.
EXT. ALLEY NEXT. MORNING
All of the garage doors go up at the same time. All of the Ford Expeditions back out and pull forward in synchronization. They each hold one person.
Donovan is taking his recycling out. He yells at the caravan as they leave.
DONOVAN
Haven’t you people ever heard of Kalaka? You know, car pooling.
Just as the SUVs clear the ally, a garbage truck pulls in. While the mechanical arm is dumping the herby-curby the garbage man takes Donovan’s recycling container from his hands.
GARBAGE MAN
You know, you’re the only person in this neighborhood who uses his recycling container.
He dumps the recycling in with the other trash and hands the container back to Donovan.
GARBAGE MAN
Don’t it make you feel good doing your part to save our precious resources?
INT. HIGH RISE OFFICE DAY
BILL KELLY, chubby, beautiful suit, great comb-over, greets Donovan who is wearing his laid-back clothes.
BILL
I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to meet the man who is invented this wonderful solar device. Together we are going to move the third world up to second.
DONOVAN
Thanks, I...
BILL
How do you like San Francisco? Quite a bit different from Arizona
I bet. I’m a Canadian myself. You and the misses settled in OK? You like the house?
DONOVAN
Yeah, I guess. Kind of a strange
neighborhood though. Is there any mass transit nearby? I feel bad about driving everyday. Maybe someone who works here lives nearby.
BILL
They all do.
DONOVAN
They all do what?
BILL
It’s a company neighborhood. All your neighbors work here.
DONOVAN
Why don’t they carpool? Think of the gas they waste.
BILL
That’s not the American way. They want their independence. Their freedom to say, drive out to one of your great National Parks and go hiking if they want.
DONOVAN
On the way home from work?
BILL
Have I said what a great privilege it is to meet you?
DONOVAN
Yeah, it’s nice meeting you too. Augusta and I are both thrilled about finally being able to provide solar power to the poor of the world.
I’m looking forward to working
with your people to craft an efficient model for the circumstances. I don’t think it’ll be much different from what we already make, but I’ve got a few
ideas to streamline it and make your money go a little farther.
BILL
Thanks, but we’ve already done that.
DONOVAN
Done what?
BILL
My engineers have already drawn up the specs that the solar sheets for Third World Enterprises are to be manufactured by.
He turns to his printer that is spitting out the last of a stack of papers.
BILL
In fact here they are now.
DONOVAN
What’s Third World Enterprises?
BILL
That’s the umbrella corporation we’ve set up to handle this charitable project. Do you know much about corporate tax shelters?
DONOVAN
No.
BILL
Good.
He looks up at Donovan.
BILL
Tax shelters that is. Good things, but a little complicated.
He hands a stack of pages to Donovan.
BILL
The top sheet is your contract. It’s pretty much standard boiler-
plate. Just says that you grant us permission to manufacture your invention to these specs. If you would sign and date it.
The spec sheets just need your initials. This last sheet says
I’ve informed you that you have three days in which you can cancel a contract.
He hands them to Donovan along with a pen.
LOBBY OF THE OFFICE BUILDING
Gus walks up to the reception desk. It is very fancy. She is not.
GUS
I need to talk to Donovan, please.
The receptionist is a little snobbish.
RECEPTIONIST
Donovan who?
GUS
How many Donovans work here? He’s in Bill Kelly’s warren.
RECEPTIONIST
Mister Kelly, I should have guessed.
She bends down to pick up her phone, and Gus can now see the floral arrangement behind her.
GUS
Those are endangered plants!
The receptionist stops dialing and turns to look.
RECEPTIONIST
No they’re not. They’re flowers.
GUS
Yes they are. Look there’s a Hookers Manzanita.
Gus goes behind the desk and starts pulling flowers from the arrangement, telling about them as she goes.
RECEPTIONIST
You can’t go back there.
GUS
Meads Milkweed. That’s a twofer. You get to eliminate the Monarch butterfly when you get rid of that one.
A pitcher plant? Who would wade
out into a swamp to destroy pitcher plants? They’re not even pretty.
The receptionist gets on the phone.
BILLS OFFICE DAY
The phone rings. Bill picks it up.
BILL
Bill here.
He listens for a moment.
BILL
OK, I’ll be right down.
To Donovan.
BILL
This is a little bizarre. There’s a hooker causing a disturbance in the lobby, and she seems to know my name. I’ll be right back.
He starts out the door and stops.
BILL
I assure you I don’t know any hookers.
DONOVAN
I do. They mostly just want drug money. It wouldn’t be that way if drugs were legal. If you want to make drugs less sexy, let the government supply ‘em. The same goes for prostitution. Nothing to discourage a man like having him fill out a form before he gets laid.
Bill gives him a look of wonder before going. Donovan signs the top sheet then looks at the specs.
DONOVAN
(to himself)
These are way overdone. We could build twice as many for the same price if…
He moves to Bill’s seat and looks at the computer terminal. He tosses the spec sheets into the trash and starts retyping them.
INT. LOBBY DAY
Gus is struggling with two security officers. There’s an overturned floral arrangement on the floor.
GUS
That’s not what I said. What I said was Forking Asters.
She points to the flowers.
GUS
And Hookers Manzanita and Meads Milkweed and Foxglove. These are endangered plants that you people
(cont.)
are helping to wipe from the face of the earth.
Bill walks up, grabs her and shakes her.
BILL
What the hell are you doing?
GUS
Are you Bill Kelly?
BILL
I am, but I can assure you that we never met. You protestors have gone too far this time. I don’t know whether to call the police or take you to the basement and have you beaten.
He looks at the receptionist with a weak smile.
BILL
Just kidding, Elaine.
GUS
I’m Donovan’s old lady.
Bill lets go of her.
BILL
What?
GUS
I’m with Donovan. I need to see if he can help me get a truck for a little job I have?
Bill is taken aback.
BILL
Oh. Oh, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. If there’s anything I can do.
I/E. TRUCK
Donovan is backing up a really nice four-door truck.
DONOVAN
It sure was good of Bill to loan us his truck.
GUS
I didn’t even know Cadillac made pickups.
EXT. FARM DAY
A farmer on a tractor with a scoop, picks up a load of steaming manure and drops it in the truck bed.
MONTAGE - GUS AND DONOVAN ENJOY EACH OTHER’S COMPANY
- They shovel manure off the truck.
- They throw horse apples at each other.
- They unload a rototiller.
- The tiller beats Donovan up.
- Gus leisurely strolls behind the tiller.
- They load the tiller up as the sun sets on their new garden. The plot is merely plowed-up dirt, but it takes up most of the back yard.
I/E CITY NIGHT
They stop the truck at a red light.
GUS
Look, we’re at the corner of Haight and Ashbury.
DONOVAN
Cool. Let’s look around.
They stroll along, looking in windows.
DONOVAN
I used to live here, you know.
GUS
Were you a flower child?
DONOVAN
I was more of a student activist. Look, Joint. Venture. What a head shop that was. I’m surprised it’s still here.
They look in the window.
GUS
It’s a brokerage firm.
DONOVAN
Probably run by the same guys though.
GUS
There’s something that’s open.
DONOVAN
That’s the Blue Unicorn. Man, I hope it’s still a food joint. I’ll cry if it’s Viagra’s home office.
INT. NIGHT
A scruffy old hippy, Choochoo, as it turns out, is sitting and talking with the newest generation of college kids.
CHOOCHOO
Hell, yeah, we could’ve won the war in Nam. But that wasn’t why Uncle Sam had us over there.
KID
Well then, why were we there?
CHOOCHOO
It was a testing ground. We needed a place to play with napalm and Agent Orange and whatever else the
chemical and munitions companies cooked up. It was a trial run and if it had worked out, we’d have moved on to the real thing.
KID
Russia?
CHOOCHOO
No man, a defensive border of satellite countries like Russia
(cont.)
had, starting with Cuba and Central America.
KID
We would never invade Central America.
CHOOCHOO
Kennedy wouldn’t. That’s why he was replaced.
Gus and Donovan enter. It hasn’t changed. They sit down and look at the menu. Choochoo studies them a moment.
CHOOCHOO
I haven’t seen such obvious undercover agents since Hoover put on a dress. I’ll be right back.
He goes outside.
GUS and DONOVAN’S TABLE
DONOVAN
Cool, they’ve named their food after famous people who hung out here.
A waitress comes over.
WAITRESS
You ready to order?
GUS
I’ll have a veggie burger.
WAITRESS
That would be the Pearlburger.
And you, sir?
DONOVAN
I’d like a cheeseburger all the way. I used to live off of those.
GUS
Donovan, meat is murder.
DONOVAN
Then it must be called the ‘Manson’ burger. He lived just down the street.
WAITRESS
Actually we call our cheeseburger The Grateful Dead.
Choochoo comes back in and walks over to Donovan’s table.
CHOOCHOO
Who’s driving the really nice truck that smells like shit?
Gus and Donovan look at each other and laugh. Choochoo pulls a chair up to their table.
He doesn’t recognize Donovan.
CHOOCHOO
Are you guys with the military?
GUS
Why do you ask?
CHOOCHOO
‘Cause you got a frigging parking sticker on your windshield for the military base.
Donovan leans over to share a secret with Choochoo. He points at Gus.
DONOVAN
Well, you may not know it, but this girl’s a spy. She’s an undercover agent for the FBI. And she’s been sent down here to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.
Choochoo looks at her for a moment then studies Donovan.
CHOOCHOO
Donovan, you son of a gun. Look at choo.
DONOVAN
So Chooch, you’re still here. Still on guard.
CHOOCHOO
Yeah, Semper Fi, man. You think Vietnam was bad, they didn’t even
(cont.)
have something we wanted. Wait ‘til this oil thing gets tight.
Donovan motions to Gus.
DONOVAN
Chooch, this is Gus.
GUS
Pleased to meet you.
CHOOCHOO
Pleased to meet choo. Oh wow. This is far out. So you’re all grown up
(cont.)
now. You probably have a 9 to 5 job and a house in the burbs and a bunch of little kiddies, huh?
Gus and Donovan share a look.
DONOVAN
Sort of. I just started working for Gen-Die.
Choochoo sits back and makes a cross with his fingers to ward off vampires.
CHOOCHOO
They’re bad news man. It’s not coincidental that Interview With a Vampire was shot here. Word is they’re into a lot of baaad stuff, but nobody really knows what.
GUS
I got that feeling too.
CHOOCHOO
What is it you’re doing for them?
DONOVAN
That’s the thing. I came up with this solar electric generating device that’s almost indestructible, lightweight and you can roll it up to carry it.
Gen-Die is going to make a bunch of them and distribute ‘em to third world villages, just for the PR.
CHOOCHOO
I don’t know, man. Sounds like Dupont helping third world Vietnam with their weed problem by donating some Agent Orange. All I can say is watch your back.
GUS
I believe it. Just look at the way your boss treated me today and now Chooch…
DONOVAN
Bill is an Eddie Haskell kind of guy. But he’s just an
administrator. I’d like to talk to the engineers who drew up the specs to make my solar sheets. They were way over-engineered.
That’s how you can tell an engineer is young, he’s so afraid of messing up, he overbuilds things. If they made them according to those specs, they would have spent twice as much for nothing.
GUS
What do you mean would have?
DONOVAN
They were built like a tank, so I got on Bill’s computer and redid ‘em when he was down in the lobby with you.
The waitress brings their food. Donovan’s burger is oozing juices.
Gus looks at it with disgust.
GUS
I can’t watch you eat that. Where’s the bathroom, Choochoo?
He points the way. As soon as she is gone Donovan turns serious.
DONOVAN
Did you ever hear back about that missing boy from the National Guard shoot ‘em up?
CHOOCHOO
Oh yeah, man, I ran into Chavez at a rally and he said there was a little boy who came up missing about that time.
He was one of several kids in a migrant farming family. They were moving from grapes to apples and weren’t real sure where they lost him. They thought he was with some cousins.
They were illegal, so they never went to the cops.
Choochoo looks up at a guy who just came in and is standing by the door.
CHOOCHOO
I gotta go, man. It’s great seeing you two. Come by again. I’m like a permanent fixture here.
They shake hands and he leaves with the guy who just came in.
DONOVAN
Can I get this to go, please?
EXT. NIGHT
They walk past a homeless person and Donovan gives him his wrapped-up burger.
HOMELESS PERSON
This isn’t a Pearlburger, is it?
EXT. ALLEY DAY
Donovan pulls out in the Cadillac truck, in sync and his solo-driving neighbors smile and wave.
INT. OFFICE DAY
Donovan sticks his head in Bill’s office.
DONOVAN
Hey Bill, do you have some sort of lab or work area I can use?
INT. DAY LAB
Donovan is happily tinkering away in a work area that he has all to himself.
INT/EXT. DAY
Bill Kelly walks up to Gussie’s back door with a little skip. He carries a bouquet of red roses. He knocks on the door and then puts the roses behind his back when Gus answers.
GUS
Yes?
BILL
Hi, Gussie, I know we got off to a bad start so I wanted to come by and smooth things out.
He hands her the roses. She doesn’t take them.
BILL
These are for you.
GUS
Oh gee, artificially created flowers harvested by sweatshop labor, and grown where they had to wipe out rainforests to make room for their hothouses. How sweet. You really shouldn’t have.
What, no candy made from high fructose corn syrup?
BILL
I got a box of chocolates but I didn’t want to come on too strong. A man gives chocolate to a beautiful woman and she might get
the wrong idea about his intentions.
GUS
What is it you want Bill?
BILL
I just want us to get along now that we’re in the Gen-Die family together.
GUS
You and I are no more in the same family than me and my Neanderthal brethren.
BILL
I don’t suppose you’re going to invite me in.
She doesn’t reply.
BILL
Your husband has a brilliant mind.
Gus has no reply.
BILL
Or your boyfriend? Have you been together long? I notice you don’t have any kids.
GUS
Do you?
BILL
No, I’m not married and quite frankly don’t even have a girlfriend right now.
How does that work? Being in a relationship where you’re not married, I mean. Can you still sleep with other people?
Gus doesn’t reply.
BILL
Well, like I was saying, Don is a brilliant man, but sometimes people like that don’t realize the potential for something. Like the
solar sheet. He sat on that for quite a while. Does he have any
other inventions he might have set
aside that you see a potential for?
GUS
Maybe. Are you into solar chimes?
She indicates one of his gizmos.
BILL
He does like to tinker doesn’t he. He reminds me of someone but I
can’t quite put my finger on it. Has he by any chance mentioned if
(cont.)
we have run into each other before?
GUS
No. And believe me he would remember. Is there anything else? I have work to do.
BILL
No. Sure you don’t want the roses?
Gus doesn’t reply.
BILL
Well all right. Guess I’ll see you at the company Christmas party.
He turns to go, tossing the roses into her compost pile.
Gus goes to the compost pile and picking the roses up holds them to her nose. She watches as Bill’s brake lights come on. He turns and is gone. Gus opens the herby curby and tosses the roses in the trash.
EXT. BACKYARD DAY
Donovan, immaculate, walks in past the neatly rowed garden that Gus, on her hands and knees and not very clean, has just finished planting.
GUS
Your boss was here today.
DONOVAN
Who?
GUS
Bill Kelly.
DONOVAN
What did he want?
GUS
Just sort of nosing around. He’s kind of creepy.
DONOVAN
Yeah, well he’s schizophrenic, a conservative that doesn’t conserve.
GUS
Against abortion but in favor of capital punishment...
DONOVAN
Death for welfare recipients, unless it’s corporate welfare.
GUS
An ardent supporter of the trickle-down theory...
DONOVAN
Better known as piss-on-the-poor.
GUS
and a ‘free’ market, that no one can afford.
They hug and walk into the house.
EXT. DAY
Donovan leaves for work in his car.
INT. WORKROOM- Gen-Die
Donovan continues to tinker.
INT. KITCHEN DAY
Gus is cooking. Donovan walks in and kisses her.
DONOVAN
(singing)
Hey good lookin’. Whacha got...
GUS
(cutting him off)
Beans. Beans and rice. Do you get paid Friday?
DONOVAN
I guess.
GUS
I hope so, because tomorrow we’re having a Sandinistan breakfast.
DONOVAN
What’s that?
GUS
Leftover beans and rice. It’s all we’ve got.
DONOVAN
Should’ve got that Visa card. We could be earning frequent-flyer miles every time we fart.
EXT. ALLEY- DAY
All the cars leave for work in sync.
INT. OFFICE DAY
Donovan sticks his head in Bill’s office.
DONOVAN
Hey Bill, gotta minute?
BILL
Always for you, Don.
DONOVAN
Bill, I was just wondering, when’s payday around here?
BILL
All of the engineers here are considered subcontractors, Donald. They like it better that way because they get to keep more of the fruit of their labors. We like it because we don’t have to mess with paperwork stuff, like insurance.
DONOVAN
So when do I get paid?
BILL
You get paid when you sell an invention.
DONOVAN
Well, I sold you my solar sheet, didn’t I?
BILL
Technically no. You donated it. You see, when I wrote the contract, I knew you wouldn’t feel right making money at the expense of the poor. That’s why I drew it
(cont.)
up so that no funds would be drained from this altruistic endeavor and siphoned off to your personal account.
DONOVAN
Oh. I got so caught up in the specs I didn’t really read the contract.
BILL
Tell you what. Show me what you have in the works. Maybe the company can make you an advance against that.
INT. WORKROOM
Bill and Donovan go into the workroom to see what he’s been doing. There’s a little fountain making soothing noises.
BILL
That’s a nice homey touch. Now show me what you’ve been working on.
DONOVAN
That’s it.
BILL
A fountain? Come on Donnie you can buy those at Wal-Mart.
DONOVAN
It’s not a fountain. It’s a water battery. The solar sheet only works during the day. During that time a windmill will be pumping
water from this lower pond into the upper pond. At night you release the water and it turns an
electric generator as it empties back into the lower pond.
BILL
But Donovan. This isn’t something you can get a patent on and own. Any shmuck could build one of these in his back yard.
DONOVAN
Yeah, that’s great, huh. The villagers could easily do this themselves.
BILL
But how would you and I profit from it. How are you going to be able to buy groceries and put gas in your car because of this?
DONOVAN
But Bill, I thought I would make something off of my solar
invention.
You know, at Zomeworks I had a small salary because I helped guide the younger engineers. I know the guys who drew up your solar specs could benefit from my years of experience.
Bill shakes his head.
BILL
You don’t have anything else on the back burner that has the potential of your other invention?
DONOVAN
No. Well maybe a chime…
BILL
I have an idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this earlier. It’s going to put the icing on the cake.
Don, what if I told you, there’s a man coming in tomorrow who is
going to be distributing your solar sheets to the third world countries. Let’s see.
He hesitates as though thinking what to say, then continues, making it up as he goes along.
He represents a religious group that has very deep pockets. They should have, he’s had his hands in the pockets of television viewers all over the nation.
I think if you showed him this
(cont.)
water battery of yours he would be very interested.
DONOVAN
You really think so?
BILL
I know so. Dang, I’m brilliant. This is going to be so sweet.
DONOVAN
That’s great.
Bill stops and considers, then gets another inspiration.
BILL
There’s only one problem. He hates hippies. If he sees you like that, he might back out of the solar thing altogether.
Bill takes out a wad of bills and hands some to Donovan.
BILL
Take this, go buy a suit and get a haircut. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted Gus’s help with organic farming.
Donovan looks dubious about getting a haircut.
DONOVAN
I don’t...
BILL
You two could travel the continents setting up renewable energy sources and helping starving children to eat.
(beat)
Or, if you’re too proud you could take back your solar sheets before
the close of business today and walk away. Of course there’s all those third world villagers…
Donovan takes the money.
EXT. ALLEY DAY
Donovan walks from his car around a small bulldozer that’s parked in the alley. He has a haircut and is carrying a suit. The garden is gone. The dozer has smoothed it out. Augusta storms out the back door to meet him.
GUS
Those bastards! Those holier than thou, ‘our shit don’t stink because we eat polyester’ bastards.
DONOVAN
Gussie, what happened?
GUS
They tore out my garden. They said it was against covenants. They’re going to sod it tomorrow and send us the bill. They called my compost heap a pile of garbage and gave me a citation.
She looks up at him, breaking down.
GUS
And they cut your beautiful hair.
She starts weeping. They hug.
DONOVAN
I cut my hair Gussie. I’ve got an important meeting tomorrow.
She pushes back from him.
GUS
A meeting? You’re taking a meeting? All day today I tried to call you, but they wouldn’t put me through. They said you were in a meeting.
DONOVAN
Yes. That was a meeting about this meeting.
GUS
What’s in the bag?
Donovan mumbles something.
GUS
A what?
DONOVAN
A suit.
She starts crying again.
GUS
A haircut, a suit. You almost ate meat three days ago. It only took one week to change you into one of them. I loved you because you were principled. I thought you would be a great father for my children. I was wrong on both counts.
Donovan grabs her arm with his free arm.
DONOVAN
It’s not like it seems.
She looks at her arm in his hand.
GUS
That’s still bruised from where Bill grabbed me.
He lets go.
DONOVAN
I screwed up. I thought we had some money coming that we don’t. I have to make a good impression on this religious guy tomorrow so we
(cont.)
can eat and maybe see some of my inventions put to use.
GUS
So now you’re into organized religion too. Let me guess with whom, a televangelist.
There’s no response from Donovan. Gus slams into the house and in a few minutes returns with a backpack.
GUS
If you ever decide to reclaim your soul, I’ll be at home.
DONOVAN
How are you going to get there?
Gus takes off her flannel shirt revealing a tight t-shirt.
GUS
I think this hippy chick can still get a man to pick her up.
She slings on her pack. The miracle straps emphasis her breasts. She walks off.
DONOVAN
In San Francisco?
INT. OFFICE DAY
Donovan, looking like a businessman in his suit and haircut, is met at Bill’s door by two security guards. Donovan sticks his head in the door. The grace period for Donovan to renege on his contract with Bill has expired.
DONOVAN
Bill, is there some reason these guys are here?
Bill gets up from his desk.
BILL
One of them is here to take our picture on this momentous occasion.
DONOVAN
What occasion?
Bill puts his arm around Donovan and smiles for the camera. FLASH.
BILL
This is the best day of my life.
Bill takes the camera from the guard and gets ready to take a picture of Donovan.
DONOVAN
Why is that?
Camera flash.
BILL
I’ve just been made rich.
Conversely, in the Ying Yang of things this is the worse day of your life. No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Love your hair, by the way.
DONOVAN
You heard about Augusta, huh? We’ll work things out.
BILL
Did the old lady leave you, Donald?
DONOVAN
She went back to Arizona.
BILL
That alone wouldn’t make this the worst day of your life, would it? It wouldn’t be as bad say, as April 2, 1969, when you were in college. I heard about that. How you and those other dirty hippy fags attacked the brave young men who fought for their country.
FLASHBACK COLLEGE CAMPUS DURING PROTESTS
College kids are scattered about, heckling the National Guard.
BILL (V.O.)
Protesting the war.
The kids throw tomatoes.
BILL (V.O.)
Throwing stones at the National Guard.
A young lieutenant, whose face we don’t see well, is hit with a tomato and completely looses his rationale. He commands his men to fire at the students, but they hold steady.
BILL (V.O.)
Forcing the Guard to fire on you.
Throwing a tantrum and yelling at his own men, the lieutenant grabs a rifle from the nearest soldier and shoots twice into the crowd of students.
BILL (V.O.)
Making you a cripple for life.
The first bullet strikes Donovan in the leg. He falls. The second bullet knocks a boy off the wall. The lieutenant, stares for a moment, unable to believe what he just did. He throws the rifle down and in the pandemonium runs away.
BILL
Now wouldn’t you say that having a tiff with your woman isn’t anywhere near as bad as that?
Donovan is shocked.
DONOVAN
How do you... ?
BILL
What makes this day worse...for you, is that on that day only your body was hurt. But today, today you sold your soul for a pocketful of mumbles, as the song goes. You enriched the capitalist pigs and you gave your life’s work to the military.
DONOVAN
What are you talking about, Bill?
BILL
I’m not just Bill Kelly. I have several names. One of which is Third World Enterprises, the corporation to whom you signed over the rights to make your solar sheet. I in turn contracted to sell thousands of your solar
sheets to the Army for a great big bundle of money.
DONOVAN
You can’t do that. The agreement was to use them in third world countries.
Bill laughs.
BILL
Where do you think the U.S. Army operates? Do you think they’re more likely to invade France or Saudi Arabia? My money would be on Saudi Arabia.
He turns to the security guards.
BILL
Throw him out; him and his cheap suit.
To Donovan
You’ve got twenty-four hours to vacate my house.
The guards drag Donovan away to the elevator.
INT. DAY BLUE UNICORN
Donovan is sitting at a table with Choochoo.
CHOOCHOO
That’s some heavy shit, man. I told you he was bad news.
DONOVAN
Who is he? How does he know about my college days?
CHOOCHOO
He knows about your college days because your Uncle Sam has been keeping an eye on you since your first peace rally. When your name came up as the inventor of something they wanted, they dug up all the dirt they could find on you, man.
DONOVAN
What dirt? There is no dirt. I haven’t done a thing in my life, other than get shot once.
CHOOCHOO
Turns out they didn’t need it.
(cont.)
They got this trickster to con you
into letting them use your invention and as a bonus they got it for free.
DONOVAN
What should I do? You know any civil-rights attorneys? Maybe I should go after him.
CHOOCHOO
No man, he’s going to be comin’ after you. In his anger he let something slip. Look up at the TV.
There’s a television on the wall over the bar. It shows people in an Arabian country being beheaded with a sword.
DONOVAN
That’s awful. What kind of barbarians would do something like that?
CHOOCHOO
That reaction is what the government wants from all of its citizens. Which is why the news has suddenly started showing how Saudi Arabia carries out its executions and other ‘atrocities'. Then when we liberate them we can justify taking their oil. After all, they’re barbarians.
DONOVAN
We’re not going to invade Saudi Arabia.
CHOOCHOO
Iraq was just practice; look at the news now.
The TV shows lines at gas stations. The words scrolling across the screen say that OPEC has cut back production again.
CHOOCHOO
What do you think the Army is going to use for energy while they’re trying to take over our major energy supplier, which, not
(cont.)
so coincidentally is in a sunny region. They’re going to use solar.
Bill let slip that they’re going to Saudi Arabia. That’s why he’s going to come after you. It’s hard to mount a surprise attack if some loud-mouthed hippy protestor knows what you’re up to.
Donovan considers that for a moment. He looks around at all the memorabilia from the Vietnam era. He’s finally convinced.
DONOVAN
So what do I do?
CHOOCHOO
The first thing man, is you get the hell out of Saigon.
EXT. NIGHT ALLEY
Donovan and Chooch pull up next. to the loader in his back yard.
CHOOCHOO
We shouldn’t be coming back here. It’s the first place they’re going to look.
DONOVAN
(Still in his suit)
I can’t go around looking like
this. Besides, Bill’s too elated at the money he’s going to make to realize what he said.
Though he might think of it tomorrow when he’s nursing a hangover after celebrating.
Choochoo looks at the newly sodded yard.
CHOOCHOO
What’d you do with all that shit, man? I thought your old lady had a garden.
DONOVAN
Bill said I sold my soul.
He looks at the big yellow machine.
DONOVAN
I know how I can start to buy it back.
Chooch looks too.
CHOOCHOO
A little ecotage?
INT. KITCHEN
They are rummaging through the cabinets.
DONOVAN
You’d think Gus would of at least had some brown sugar.
CHOOCHOO
Borrow some from your neighbor.
NEXT. DOOR
Donovan smooths his hair and then knocks on the door. A LADY answers. Donovan sticks out his hand.
DONOVAN
Hi, I’m your new neighbor.
The lady grasps his hand enthusiastically.
LADY
Thank god. I’m so glad those squatters are gone.
DONOVAN
I was hoping I could borrow a cup of sugar?
LADY
Sure you may.
To the ladies dismay Donovan hands her a huge beer stein.
EXT. NIGHT
Back at the bulldozer he hands the stein to Chooch.
DONOVAN
(whispers)
Have you done this before?
CHOOCHOO
No, Abbey told me about it. You just pour it in the gas tank.
They look for the gas cap without success.
DONOVAN
See if you can turn on the light.
Chooch turns something and the machine starts up.
DONOVAN
I guess we don’t have to whisper anymore.
CHOOCHOO
(Yelling)
What?
DONOVAN
Will it work with it running?
Chooch doesn’t hear him. He leans back and turns to talk to Donovan.
CHOOCHOO
It might work even better with it running.
When he turns back he inadvertently pushes a lever which starts it moving.
DONOVAN
Put on the brake.
Choochoo pushes down with his left foot, but that merely turns the machine to the left and toward the house. They valiantly push and pull things but it keeps moving. Just before contact, they jump ship.
EXT. NIGHT BUS STATION
Chooch hands Donovan a bus ticket.
CHOOCHOO
I bought choo a thirty-day ticket. You can go anywhere in the U.S. of A. for a month. If they find out you caught the bus, they won’t know where you went. Don’t head
straight to the commune. See the
(cont.)
country first. You know, ‘amber waves’ and all that shit.
DONOVAN
Thanks Chooch. Sell the car and send the money to Gus. Tell her I’m all right.
They shake hands and Donovan is left waiting for the bus. When it pulls up and blocks our view, we see the word, ‘HOUND’. It pulls away and we see just a grey wall.
INT. BUS
Donovan looks out the window as the bus drives through the outskirts of San Francisco in the early morning. It’s very foggy. The bus stops at his old campus. In the distance Donovan sees the place where he was shot. There’s a young Hispanic boy sitting on the wall. The boy hops down and runs to the bus.
Donovan watches in horror as the boy gets on the bus and walks toward him. He has a red splotch over his heart. As the boy turns to sit by Donovan we see the back of his shirt, but Donovan doesn’t. ‘TODDS PAINTBALL’ ‘KILL ‘EM ALL AND LET TODD SORT’EM OUT’.
DEAD BOY
Hi.
Donovan tentatively raises a hand.
DONOVAN
Hi. I thought you were dead.
The boy studies him for a moment then looks down at his own t-shirt.
DEAD BOY
Oh, that. I was, but it doesn’t last long.
DONOVAN
Did it hurt?
DEAD BOY
Well yeah, but just for a moment. The pain fades away. It leaves a mark though.
DONOVAN
What was it like?
DEAD BOY
It’s kind of exciting at first, but then you get tired of sitting in the weeds, waiting for someone to come by.
DONOVAN
We looked for you.
DEAD BOY
Where you there too?
DONOVAN
Yeah. I got shot too. What’ve you been doing since then?
DEAD BOY
I went to Chinatown and Golden Gate Park. The usual tourist haunts.
DONOVAN
I think I might of seen some of you at the park. Why’d you come back?
DEAD BOY
I’m going to see my mom.
Do you think we’ll drive through the middle of a redwood tree?
DONOVAN
I hope so. I’m sure we’ll drive over the Rocky Mountains and through the desert.
DEAD BOY
And across the Grand Canyon?
DONOVAN
I hope so. Which way are you going?
DEAD BOY
Heaven. You?
Donovan muses.
DONOVAN
Thirty years ago I though it was...if not heaven at least the promised land.
LATER DESERT
DEAD BOY
I’m bored. How much longer ‘til we’re there?
DONOVAN
Bored?
He pulls out a prism from behind the boy’s ear. He holds it in the sunlight so that it projects a rainbow on the boy’s shirt.
LATER
They play hangman.
LATER NIGHT
The boy sleeps with his head against Donovan’s shoulder using his suit coat as a cover.
MORNING
They arrive at Heaven, Oklahoma. The place is foggy. The boy gets ready to leave.
DONOVAN
Heaven. Heaven, Oklahoma.
The boy hands his coat back and offers the prism.
DONOVAN
No, you keep it.
DEAD BOY
Gee, thanks.
He turns to go. Donovan yells after him.
DONOVAN
Hey, what’s your name?
DEAD BOY
Joe. Joe Hill.
EXT. – PODUNK TOWN, OKLAHOMA
The boy meets his mom and walks off away from us, gradually disappearing into a fog.
HIS MOM
How was the trip, honey?
DEAD BOY
It was great. I met this really neat kid. We played some cool games and he gave me this.
He pulls out the prism and moves it around.
DEAD BOY
Well, it only works in the sunshine, but...
EXT. DAY – RURAL TENNESSEE
We see the exterior of the bus in close-up. The words say, “GREY”. The bus drives off, and a haggard Donovan is standing on a country road looking up a long dirt drive.
There’s a large mailbox that says ‘The Farm’. Just as he starts walking a psychedelic VW bus pulls up and some very young “hippies” yell out.
HIPPIES
Hey pops, want a ride?
EXT. DAY- FARM
Donovan gets out of the VW bus and stares in amazement. He is in hippy heaven. The place is like Woodstock at the Renaissance Fair. There’s a band playing music from his era, and lots of young hippy wannabes having fun. The only old people are the ones running the concessions and cleaning up; and him.
EXT. NIGHT
There are folk and labor sing-alongs at the campfires and sounds of love coming from the tents.
EXT. DAY
Donovan is walking along, gnawing a turkey leg. He bumps into a woman who is his age but looks older, well-worn. She disappears into the crowd. He turns and stares after her.
DONOVAN
April? Hey April!
If it was April, she’s gone.
EXT. NIGHT
Donovan hands a joint. back to its owner and takes a swig of his beer. He spies the blonde woman wearing a plaid skirt, standing at a distance with her back to him and makes his way over.
He puts his hand on her shoulder and says with a slur.
DONOVAN
April, the lost love of my youth.
She turns around. She has a beard and the skirt is a kilt.
SCOTSMAN
Excuse me.
Donovan looks him over.
DONOVAN
Laddie, I don’t know where you’ve been, but I see you won Miss Congeniality.
Donovan laughs drunkenly and staggers away.
EXT. DAY
Donovan awakes. He is lying on the ground surrounded by the festival’s garbage. Making his way to a standing position, he tries to brush his hair back and wipe his suit clean.
The kids are all gone, the concession stands are being taken down. The people cleaning up are sad-faced sharecroppers in worn overalls. He approaches one of them, MOM.
DONOVAN
Can I get some breakfast somewhere?
The old woman doesn’t bother to look up.
MOM
Festival’s over.
Donovan sees a banner being taken down that reads,
WELCOME TO THE FARMS 10th ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL.
Wandering around he sees his hippy heaven is really a run down farm.
He sees April working in the distance but realizes what a mess he is. On his way through a
Barn, he grabs some saddle soap. He finds a pond and wades in, still clothed. He washes his suit, then spreads it out to dry. He does naked yoga.
Washed and refreshed, he goes to find April. When he finds her, she’s a mess from cleaning the place all day.
DONOVAN
Hi, April it’s me, Donovan. From college.
APRIL
Yeah, hi. Where’ve you been?
DONOVAN
Well after school I moved to Arizona, then...
APRIL
No, I mean today, where’ve you been? I’ve been seeing you around for a couple of days and then you left. I thought maybe you just wanted to be a tourist.
DONOVAN
You recognized me in a suit and business hair? I don’t even recognize myself.
APRIL
I never forget a face. One of my esoteric talents. Guess I look at something beneath the surface.
DONOVAN
So you stayed here all these years?
APRIL
Yeah, at first I guess I stayed waiting for you. Then it just became my home.
DONOVAN
Do you like it here?
APRIL
Looking around
It might not look like much now, but in it’s heyday when everything worked and we all felt like we
were proving something...
Yeah. Yeah, I like it here. Come on to the dining hall. I’ll introduce you to my family.
INT. KITCHEN
The hall is large with lots of vacant tables, the hippy farmers only occupy one.
April introduces him to the scrubby people he saw manning the concessions and cleaning after the festival.
APRIL
This is Little John.
DONOVAN
Don’t get up.
Donovan reaches to shake his hand.
LITTLE JOHN
I am up.
We see that he has a large torso and short legs. April introduces an older woman.
APRIL
This is his mom. We call her Mom.
DONOVAN
Hi mom. I think we met.
They walk into the kitchen. April serves up two plates.
APRIL
Little John was a runaway. He had an abusive father. Mom came to
(cont.)
take him back, but Moses talked her into staying. Then his Dad came to take them both back.
DONOVAN
What happened?
April looks away.
APRIL
Moses can’t stand to see a child hurt.
DONOVAN
Are there any children here, now?
APRIL
No, at first things were just too hard. And then we wanted to make the world a better place for them. Then there was a schism, and most
(cont.)
of the people left and now...
Well, it seems time has just passed us by, doesn’t it?
They sit down to eat when Moses walks in.
MOSES
Who have we here, April?
APRIL
It’s Donovan, Moe.
MOSES
I see. The prodigal son who threw his talents to the pigs has finally made it. Did you take a wrong turn?
DONOVAN
Just thought I’d see the U.S.A.
MOSES
In your Chevrolet?
DONOVAN
I took the bus.
MOSES
Transit of the masses, huh? You don’t look like a mass transit guy. You look like a Suburban
(cont.)
loner. Riden’ the lonesome trail through rush hour, on your way to happy hour. No one bothering you while you’re trying to hear on
your Bose speakers how Alias Dow and Jones fared today.
He grabs Donvan’s hands and studies them.
MOSES
Tough but not callused. Scruffed but no grime. A few cuts and
dings. No major scars and you have all of your digits.
He looks Donovan in the face but doesn’t release him.
MOSES
You did start out with just ten, didn’t you?
He doesn’t wait for an answer.
MOSES
These are the hands of a man of leisure who enjoys the outdoors. You wrangle horses and ratchet your yachet. You go on eco-tours. You bag peaks. And now you come here to see an old sweetheart so that, when you have your memoirs written, your life will be wrapped up, neat and tidy, like the reviewers want.
He looks Donovan in the eye and dropping his hands walks away.
DONOVAN
I wouldn’t say that time has softened his edges.
APRIL
It’ll take him a week to recover from the festival. He feels like it cheapens us, but with the drought and all.
EXT. NIGHT
April and Donovan go for a moonlight stroll. It’s springtime at the farm for the free-love generation.
They walk by the pond and listen to the stream splashing into it.
APRIL
Isn’t this dreamy? Before we got here I had imagined every day
(cont.)
would be fulfilling and every night romantic. I was so disappointed when you couldn’t
come, and then again when I realized you wouldn’t come. Did
you fall in love with your nurse or something?
DONOVAN
I didn’t...
He turns away and takes a couple of limping steps.
DONOVAN
I didn’t think there would be a place here for a gimp.
They have wandered down to the barn.
APRIL
I don’t think any of us escaped the sixties a whole person. It’s just not so easy to see in most of us.
DONOVAN
Maybe not, but what if I needed to, say do some work up in that hayloft?
He points to the ladder.
APRIL
Wait here.
She climbs the ladder and tosses down the rope on a windlass they use to take hay up into the loft.
APRIL
Put your foot in the loop.
He does it. She shoves a big bale of hay, tied to the other end of the rope, out of the loft. It doesn’t go anywhere because Donovan is heavier. April then steps onto the bale and riding the rope down, she passes Donovan on his way up.
April rejoins him in the loft and puts his hand on her breast.
APRIL
I think you do have some work in the hayloft.
April seduces Donovan in the hay loft. As their foreplay intensifies, April seems to bellow like a cow. She stops Donovan.
APRIL
It’s Elsa. She needs some help.
April climbs down from the loft naked. When Donovan finally gets down, zipping his pants, April has her arm stuck up the cow’s uterus.
APRIL
Pull, Donovan.
DONOVAN
What?
APRIL
Put your arms around me and help me pull the calf out.
Donovan complies and in a minute they fall to the ground along with a newborn calf.
With the calf suckling, a very messy April turns to Donovan.
APRIL
Well you want to finish what we started?
DONOVAN
I may have to take a raincheck.
April gets upset and starts to cry.
APRIL
I’ve gotten old and ugly haven’t I?
DONOVAN
No, April, it’s just that...well you’re a little gross right now.
She looks at herself and laughs.
APRIL
It’s nice to have you here.
She gives him a slimy hug and turning, walks off.
INT. DINING HALL DAY
Donovan is sitting and talking with Little John. Just as April walks out of the kitchen with two plates, Moses walks in. When April sets a plate in front of Donovan, Moses picks it up.
MOSES
This is a simple place Donovan. We only have one rule; Those who don’t work, don’t eat.
APRIL
He helped me with Elsa’s delivery last night.
MOSES
He helped in the same manner the bull did. I’m afraid that doesn’t count.
DONOVAN
I can work. Give me a job.
EXT. DAY
Moses leads Donovan to the back of the farm. They walk past a depression that once was a corral and up past the rundown barn, which isn’t very romantic in the light of day.
A broken-down windmill swings and creaks in the breeze but doesn’t turn.
They walk on up past the pond, littered with castoff irrigation pipe, to a clearing where a large garden, atop the hill, is withering.
MOSES
Here’s a job for you Donovan. Haul water up from the pond and water-in the one hundred percent organic fertilizer.
DONOVAN
I can do that, but it doesn’t look as though the garden has been fertilized.
MOSES
Then I guess you’ll have to do that first.
DONOVAN
Where will I get the fertilizer?
MOSES
You’ll get the fertilizer when you muck out the barn.
INT. BARN DAY
Using a pitchfork, Donovan fills a wheelbarrow with manure. Flies buzz about.
Limping, he tries pushing it up to the garden but when he gets to a steep place he can’t go any farther. It starts to turn over and to keep from spilling he turns it. It starts back down hill, and unable to stop it, Donovan follows it back downhill and through the barn, where he crashes in the corral. Donovan sits on the overturned wheelbarrow and surveys the situation.
EXT. DAY
April and Moses stand on top of the hill and watch as Donovan purposely wheels more loads of manure down to the bottom of the corral, not up to the garden.
APRIL
Isn’t he going the wrong way?
MOSES
The shortest distance between two points is some times a slalom.
INT. NIGHT
Donovan comes into the dining hall. He’s a bedraggled mess in his suit. He sits down, exhausted. April fixes a plate for him. As she sets it in front of him Moses picks it up.
MOSES
It’s a hard truth, but work is defined by accomplishment, not by effort. Has the garden had food and water yet?
APRIL
That’s not fair...
Moses holds up a hand to silence her.
DONOVAN
That’s all right April. I’m too tired to eat.
He puts his head down on the table.
EXT. DAY MONTAGE
Donovan puts one last barrow of manure at the end of the old corral and tamps it down good with his feet.
He walks through the barn and up the hill to the pond. Where the water exits the pond through a spillway, he catches some water in his hands and washes his face.
He gathers up the irrigation pipe and fits them together. He directs the top pipe into the strong current of water leaving the pond.
At the bottom of the pipe extensions, he fits a canvas bag over the pipe end and pulling a small lever at the end of the pipe, a powerful stream of water shoots out the end. He directs the water at the barn stable with the force of a firehose.
As the barn gets hosed clean, the effluence runs downhill and gathers in the old corral that he has dammed up with the previous day’s manure.
When the waste lagoon is filled, he takes the pipe out of the pond overflow and adding a few lengths to the top runs an extension from the manure slurry, up to the garden.
He gets an auger off of an abandoned tractor and slides the large screw into the bottom section of pipe. He hooks a steel rod to the end of the screw and turns it to make sure the auger will turn freely inside the pipe.
Getting a few tools, he slowly climbs the broken windmill, favoring his bad leg. He works up there for an hour.
Back on the ground he watches the windmill turn, then he connects a rod from the base of the windmill to the auger he inserted into the lowest section of pipe. He drops that end of the pipe into the effluence and pulling a PTO lever, the windmill starts turning the screw.
On top of the hill at the garden, Donovan directs the canvas bag. As the mixture of water and manure starts flowing, he points it between the rows of vegetables.
Donovan sits back and relaxes as the wind does his work.
END MONTAGE
LATER – GARDEN
The sound of a flute mixes with the gurgling of the garden getting watered. April walks up the hill playing a wooden flute, followed by Moses and the rest of the commune.
They spread blankets on the ground and
unload baskets full of food. Moses drinks from a bottle of wine then hands it to Donovan.
MOSES
Welcome to our family.
April gives him a kiss.
APRIL
We’re so proud of you. How’d you come up with the idea of pumping the water like that?
DONOVAN
Archimedes thought that up, three thousand years ago.
APRIL
But you knew about it and how to use it.
MOSES
I’m sure you know a lot of other things we need. You’re thirty years late, but I’m glad you finally showed up.
LATER STILL
When they’re finished eating, Donovan is sitting on a blanket with April. He points to a stark block building down the other side of the hill.
DONOVAN
What’s that April?
APRIL
That? That is a run-for-profit juvenile detention center. Don’t ever mention it to Moses. It’s a monument to his worst mistakes.
DONOVAN
What’s it got to do with him?
APRIL
Once, The Farm was in a stage when everyone wanted to be an artist, and no one wanted to be a farmer. There was a drought that year and
to top it off our cash crop got burned by the sheriff’s department.
We couldn’t pay our taxes, and it looked as though we might lose the farm. One day a man in a suit as nice as yours showed up and offered to buy that stony piece of property from us.
DONOVAN
I know about those guys in suits.
APRIL
We didn’t grow anything there, the ground was too bad. We only used it as a spiritual retreat. This man was going to build ‘a youth camp’ on it.
DONOVAN
Are they bad neighbors to you?
APRIL
They’re a bad neighbor for everyone on the planet. We wouldn’t mind that they import the worst kids from around the nation, if they would actually try to help them. You know, teach them a skill, give them a sense of self-worth and maybe instill a spiritual life so they have an inner place to go when things are tough.
The people who run it are only interested in the bottom line.
Moses walks over to them.
MOSES
Tomorrow will be an easy day. All you need to do is slay the nine headed Hydra.
He looks off toward the prison.
INT. NIGHT
Moses and Donovan are sitting in Moses’ office.
MOSES
I know why you’re here, Donovan, and it’s not to recapture your lost youth. I talked to Choochoo, and he told me the Army is trying to find you before you inform the Saudis that we are about to invade them.
DONOVAN
Well sort of. I also ran a loader through a company house.
MOSES
Do I have to tell you that Chooch is some what of a nut? He misses sending kids off to Canada so sending you to Tennessee was the next. best thing for him. The U.S. isn’t going to invade Saudi Arabia.
Your ex-employer might not be too happy about you redecorating his mill house, but if he’s going to reap millions of dollars from stealing your invention I don’t think he wants to involve the law.
DONOVAN
Are you saying you want me to leave?
MOSES
No, just the opposite. We need you here. The Herculean task you performed today needs to be repeated all over the farm. We like you and want you to stay and be a part of us.
You don’t have a job waiting. Is there any other reason for you to leave?
DONOVAN
I have a friend back in Arizona, Gus, Gussie.
MOSES
What does she do there?
DONOVAN
She’s a potter.
MOSES
Just what we need, another artist.
has an organic garden in the desert, where she raises all our food and enough to sell at the market.
MOSES
Why don’t you write to her? Tell her you’re all right and ask her to get some pots made to sell at our fall festival, no charge for the booth. When she comes, in October, maybe she’ll like it enough to stay.
DONOVAN
It might be a little awkward to have her here with April and all.
MOSES
I don’t think so. Why don’t you talk to April about it? Oh, and just to be on the safe side, in the letter to Gus, don’t tell her exactly where you are.
EXT. NIGHT
April and Donovan are walking by the pond.
They both offer a nervous laugh. Donovan holds her hand.
DONOVAN
April, I am so glad to see you again.
APRIL
Me too. I often imagined how it would be if you ever did show up. It’s nice.
DONOVAN
I know, and it’s been really nice for me too, even though we haven’t...
APRIL
Yeah that was kind of funny, but I just wanted to see...
DONOVAN
I wanted to also, but I have to tell you before we go too far I have a lover, Gus, who might be coming here to stay.
APRIL
Donovan! I’m so happy for you. I’m gay too. That’s why I didn’t talk to you the first day you got here. I waited until the festival was over and Moonbeam left to visit her family.
DONOVAN
Wait a second I’m not gay.
(beat)
You’re gay? You have a girlfriend named Moonbeam?
APRIL
You’ve got a lover named Gus and you’re not gay?
DONOVAN
It’s Gussie, Augusta June Stuchell.
They look at each other for a minute uncertain what to say next.
Finally April breaks the silence.
APRIL
Thank god for Elsa, or we might be having an awkward moment here.
They turn together and walk away from us.
DONOVAN
Moonbeam? Were her parents like our age?
APRIL
No, just way ahead of their time.
So you had an April in the spring of your life, an Augusta in the summer, and probably a Jan in your final years.
DONOVAN
Yeah, but Moonbeam?
INT. DAY
Everyone is at breakfast. Moses comes in with a sheet of paper.
MOSES
Eat hearty. Today is the beginning of the farm’s restoration. With Donovan’s help, I want us to get back to self-sufficient living and eventually do away with the festivals. Today let’s start in the hydroponic greenhouse.
EXT. DAY GREENHOUSE
The whole crew stands outside the dilapidated dome style greenhouse. It looks haunted with missing panes and weeds every where.
I/E MONTAGE
They spend the week hauling junk out, pulling weeds and cutting back plants from the Little Shop of Horrors.
They empty out the huge plexi-glass hydroponic tubes, filled with scum.
They get the water pipes and cistern and drainpipes working.
They sit and lie around on the ground bone tired. There is no interaction between April and Donovan. Mom brings them cold beer.
DONOVAN
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m getting too old for this.
APRIL
What’s the next. project?
Moses leans his head back and everyone follows his gaze, up to the broken and missing panes in the dome. They let out a collective groan.
NIGHT
The quiet night is disrupted by sirens coming from the prison. Moses comes out of his door and disappears up the hill, into the night.
NIGHT WOODS
A young man, HOBBY, is running and looking back over his shoulder. The sounds of pursuit can be heard. He runs into a chain link fence, falls and then climbs as far as the barbed-wire top.
He is stuck there until a wooden ladder leans against the fence from the other side. Hobby grabs a cantilevered rung and pulls himself over.
MOSES
If you want to be saved, pick up your ladder and follow me.
He turns and starts up the hill. The boy picks up the old wooden ladder and follows. Moses leads him into the barn.
MOSES
You can leave tomorrow, or you can stay as long as you want.
HOBBY
Yeah, thanks.
MOSES
This is a simple place. If you decide to stay, we only have one rule...
EXT. NIGHT COMPOUND
Soon after, a sheriff’s car pulls into the farms compound. RON, the sheriff knocks at the door. Moses,
(cont.)
fully dressed and coming from the direction of the barn, walks up behind the law officer.
MOSES
What can I do for you, Ron?
Ron turns, startled.
RON
Don’t scare a man like that. Especially a man with a gun.
MOSES
You wouldn’t shoot me, Ron. Nobody would believe it was an accident. Did you lose something?
RON
Yeah, sort of. One of the boys from the reformatory is missing.
MOSES
That’s no reformatory. The kids who go in there come out in worse shape than when they went in.
RON
Well, regardless there’s been a breakout.
MOSES
We’ll be on the lookout and keep the women and children close to home until you find him.
RON
I’d like to have a look around if I can.
MOSES
Permission denied. I doubt you can get a warrant to search this place on the pretext. that we are harboring a teenager. Besides you know me, if a kid showed up here, I’d be a lot harder on him than the warden.
RON
You’ve got a point. there. This is a hardscrabble life. I wouldn’t wish it on any of my inmates.
Good night then. I’ve at least warned you.
MOSES
Oh sheriff, what was this kid in for?
RON
He beat a man nearly to death.
MOSES
Maybe the guy had it coming.
RON
The man was a priest.
MOSES
A priest? Why on earth…?
RON
The boy wouldn’t speak in his own defense. The priest claimed it was unprovoked, so we don’t know why.
Y’all be careful.
EXT. DAY GREENHOUSE
Donovan is on top of the dome. He is holding on with one hand and reaching toward the hole trying to grasp a sheet of plexi-glass that’s not quite within his reach. Suddenly it moves high enough for him to grab.
DONOVAN
What happened? Did Little John finally stand up?
APRIL (O.C.)
No, we got some help.
ON GROUND
They’re standing in front of the greenhouse admiring their work. There’s a young man with them, Hobby. He’s solid and has a military haircut.
DONOVAN
Thanks. We were having a hard time of it. I’m Donovan.
HOBBY
I’m Hobby.
DONOVAN
Hobby, you’re a little early for the fall festival, but speaking for all these other tired out folks who had too many drugs in there youth and not enough now, we’re happy to see you.
HOBBY
This is a cool greenhouse. Mind if I look around?
APRIL
Make yourself at home. Supper’s in an hour in the big house.
As he starts to walk off, Little John slaps him on the butt.
LITTLE JOHN
Good job, up there, Hobby.
Hobby turns on him.
HOBBY
Don’t you ever touch my butt. I ain’t no homo.
April and Donovan exchange a look and shrug.
INT. NIGHT DINING HALL
The door opens and Moonbeam walks in. April runs and hugs her.
APRIL
Hi honey, how was the trip? Any troubles? I thought you were going to be back days ago.
MOONBEAM
Everything’s fine. It’s good to be back home. This home. Jeesh, how much TV can one person watch?
APRIL
How’s your mom and your brother? Did you see any old friends?
MOONBEAM
Mom’s fine. Startin’ to show her age though. Billy’s still Billy. Can’t hold down a job, but at least he’s there for mom.
APRIL
Neighborhood still the same? See any old friends?
MOONBEAM.
The old neighborhoods still the same. Like mom, just a little more rundown.
APRIL
Moonbeam, did you see Bruce?
MOONBEAM
Bruce? Yeah, I bumped into him one night down at the pub.
APRIL
Bumped into him?
MOONBEAM
Yeah, bumped into him. It’s a small town.
They stare at each other a moment. Moonbeam looks away first. She sees Hobby.
MOONBEAM
Hi. You’re new.
April indicates Hobby.
APRIL
This is Hobby. He’s sort of hiding out.
MOONBEAM
An outlaw. How romantic. Hi, I’m Moonbeam.
They shake hands.
MOONBEAM
Who’s this?
APRIL
Oh, sorry. This is Donovan. He’s sort of hiding out, too.
MOONBEAM
I guess that makes us the Hole in the Wall Gang, doesn’t it?
DONOVAN
Hi, nice to meet you.
MOONBEAM
Are you THE Donovan? The Donovan from college?
APRIL
Yeah. Imagine bumping into him here. It’s a small world.
MOONBEAM
You two were an item back then, weren’t you?
DONOVAN
It was the Summer of Love.
MOONBEAM
Summer of sixty-nine. Even named a sex position after it. But that was a long time ago.
Moonbeam looks at April.
MOONBEAM
I said, that was a long time ago, wasn’t it.
APRIL
Some times it seems like another life. But I guess the years you spent married to Bruce seem like another life too.
The two women stare at each other for a moment, before April walks off.
MONTAGE
They work in the garden and around the outbuildings with Donovan doing most of the directing and Hobby doing most of the hard work. April avoids Moonbeam and stays close to Donovan.
April hands tools to Donovan who hooks a crosscut saw up to the windmill’s PTO. Little John turns the lever on and off to the power train. Hobby loads the logs onto the saw buck.
Donovan holds the ladder while April dumps a bucket of small fish into one of the huge fiberglass tanks. She drops a fish on him. When she starts down he slips it into her waist band. Moonbeam looks on jealously.
They harvest pumpkins for the fall festival.
They are hoeing the garden. The sun is blistering hot. Donovan is walking backward as he hoes, as is April, although she’s coming from the opposite direction. When they meet, they do a little bump dance before moving on.
Moonbeam watches and then hoes the hell out of some weeds.
Moses notices this and how hot everyone is. He puts down his hoe and addresses the others.
MOSES
As your spiritual leader... I find it necessary at time like
these...to advise you all, each
and everyone of you, to follow me...
He turns and runs down the hill.
MOSES
to the pond.
He is stripping his clothes off as he goes. The others follow. When he gets to the pond he dives in as do the all the others except Hobby who is still fully dressed.
Moonbeam swims back to him as the others cavort.
MOONBEAM
Come on in, Hobby. We won’t look.
HOBBY
I’m not swimming with you naked homos. I’ll find some shade somewhere else.
Moonbeam decides to turn the tables on April. She walks out of the water, displaying herself to Hobby.
MOONBEAM
We don’t have to swim with the guys.
She reaches out to take his shirt off.
You and I can stay up there under the water fall.
She reaches for his pants waist, but he grabs his shirt and leaves.
April, looking on, stifles a giggle and dives under water.
EXT. NIGHT
Donovan and Moses are finishing up a chore at dusk.
MOSES
Sure would be nice to be able to run electricity to these out buildings.
DONOVAN
It would be easier to put some of my Solar generators around, but even at my cost they’re pricey.
MOSES
I’ll put it on my wish list.
Donovan, I was wondering if you could come up with some kind of solar or wind-powered gizmo for the festival, that would make an impression on the crowd. Get them thinking about renewable energy.
Nothing too artsy though.
DONOVAN
Yeah, I think I can come up with something.
INT. DAY DINING
Everyone is eating. There are some big pots of food on the table. It starts raining. Mom comes along and dishes all of the food, from the pots, onto everyone’s plate.
DONOVAN
Mom, what are you doing?
She doesn’t answer, she just picks up his plate and moves it to a different place at the table. In its place she puts the now empty pot.
DONOVAN
Mom!
Just then water starts dripping in from the holey tin roof. It drops into the pans Mom has strategically placed. Donovan looks up.
DONOVAN
Looks like the drought’s over.
EXT. DAY
Every one is outside looking at the rusted tin roof of the dining hall. The pumpkins are piled in the yard.
DONOVAN
Well, I can guess what our next. project is going to be.
MOSES
I’ve got some buckets of tar in the storage shed. We’ll have to seal those leaks.
DONOVAN
Seal them? We’d have to coat the entire roof. We need to replace the roof.
MOSES
Can’t.
DONOVAN
Sure we can. It’s easier than fixing the greenhouse.
MOSES
We don’t have any tin sheeting and can’t afford any.
HOBBY
I know where there’s some.
He leads them to one of the rundown out buildings.
Going inside, Hobby moves some junk that’s been there for years and reveals a stack of smooth and shiny metal.
They wrestle one piece out into the yard.
MOSES
I forgot all about this. It’s stainless steel we got in a barter years ago. We thought to use it for roofing, thinking it would never rust, but we couldn’t get the edges to seal.
DONOVAN
You need a break.
MOSES
Tell me about it.
DONOVAN
No, a metal break. It’s a device that bends metal. We could make a standing seam roof. The break puts
a crease on the edges so it doesn’t leak. It’s used on really expensive buildings because it
takes a skilled man lots of hours to do.
MOSES
Great. Make a break.
INT. TOOL SHED
Donovan and Hobby rummage through looking for stuff to make a break with. Donovan finds two steel L-shaped lintels.
DONOVAN
These will do for a start. Now we need some hinges.
Hobby reaches up on a shelf and brings down two hinges. Donovan looks at him as though he’s pulled a rabbit out of a hat.
DONOVAN
And some small nuts and bolts.
Hobby opens a drawer. It contains nuts and bolts.
DONOVAN
And a drill.
Opening a cabinet Hobby displays tools from which Donovan selects a hand driven brace and bit drill.
DONOVAN
Clamps?
Hobby points. Donovan shakes his head in amazement.
DONOVAN
How?... Never mind. Let’s get the pickup truck and we’ll move this stuff to the house.
LATER AT SHED
Hobby backs the truck up to the shed. Hippy music is playing. Hobby turns the truck off. The music stops.
DONOVAN
Why don’t you leave the music on. We can groove while we load.
HOBBY
No man, your music sucks.
DONOVAN
We’ll put something else in.
HOBBY
In? Put something else in. That’s just the problem. All you have is tapes and all your tapes suck. Why don’t this radio pick up radio stations?
Donovan points to two wires embedded in the windshield.
DONOVAN
See that? That’s a radio antenna, circa 1975. Probably quit working when disco hit the air-waves.
HOBBY
That’s no problem. I’ll take an antenna off another junk heap and tomorrow we’ll be jivin’.
EXT. DAY
All the gang except Hobby are sitting on the hill. Little John is playing the flute and Mom the bongos. Moses and Donovan are doing yoga, and April and Moonbeam perform a slow martial arts dance. Moses and Donovan are still-lifes.
The music slowly speeds up and the women are soon engaged in mock combat, oriental style. It ends in a fast crescendo as they stop in mid-movement and glare at each other.
At the bottom of the hill, Hobby walks along the edge of the woods.
DONOVAN
Hobby sure has been a big help, even if he is a raging homophobe.
MOONBEAM
(Looking away first)
Yeah, it’s nice having a young person here, but he’s such a loner. Maybe it’s the age difference, maybe he has a lot of issues to work through.
Hobby disappears into the woods. The sun goes down in Tennessee.
EXT/INT. DAY ARIZONA
The sun rises in Arizona. Gus takes a loaf of bread out of the oven. The tea kettle starts to whistle and the whirligig on top of it spins. Gus looks at it, wipes a tear and says.
GUS
You silly man.
Someone knocks at the door. Gus answers.
GUS
Yes?
It’s Bill Kelly and his two security goons. One of them forces the door open pushing Gus aside. He is holding a pistol. Bill and the other guy step inside. The other guy is holding something large down by his side which we can’t see. Bill looks around.
BILL
Is Donovan home? A.K.A Donny, A.K.A. Donald, also known as Don the Con. Is he at the homestead today?
GUS
No. We split up. I haven’t seen him since he went over to the dark side.
BILL
Is that so? Somehow I don’t believe he would abandon a cute little earth-mother like you. ‘If you love someone set him free and if he doesn’t return to you, blah, blah, blah.’
GUS
What’s the problem? Did Donovan screw up something of yours? Well join the band.
BILL
This is a private little place you have here in the country. Let’s go out back and finish our discussion.
The goons usher her out.
EXT. BACKYARD DAY
They are standing by her beautiful ripe garden.
BILL
This is wonderful. Who would have thought that in this dry country, you could produce such a bounty. The one you lost in San Francisco was nice, but this... This is the Taj Mahal of gardens. I bet it’s all organic too.
Incidentally, I saw you rescue those roses I gave to you.
GUS
Yeah, they harbor so many plant diseases I had to take them out of the compost heap so they wouldn’t
(cont.)
infect it. They went into the trash.
He suddenly gets in her face.
BILL
Where’s Donovan?
She doesn’t reply. One of the goons has a pump sprayer and is pumping it up. He hands the wand to Bill while the other goon grabs Gus.
BILL
Are you sure you don’t know where Donald is?
Gus is silent.
BILL
Hold out your hand.
She doesn’t move.
BILL
Would you rather I spray your face?
She holds a trembling hand out.
BILL
One last chance.
GUS
I don’t know where he is.
Bill takes the wand and sprays her arm. She doesn’t flinch.
BILL
Does that hurt?
She doesn’t reply, but it obviously doesn’t. Bill takes out a cigarette and striking a match, lights it. He holds the burning match for a moment, then flicks it away. He picks the wand up again.
BILL
The reason that didn’t hurt...
He turns and sprays the nearest vegetables.
BILL
is because you’re not a plant.
He waves the wand around as though taking a leak, indiscriminately spraying the garden.
BILL
This is Paraquat, a herbicide. Or would that be an ‘erbicide. An herbicide that is so powerful it’s now illegal. It was used in the 60’s and 70’s for killing marijuana fields.
I know you worked hard on this garden all year, probably hauled tons of manure here in a borrowed truck. And I would like for you to reap what you have sown. Just as I...
He kicks a head of cabbage.
BILL
would like to enjoy the fruits of my labors.
He grabs her face.
BILL
So tell me, where can I find Donald?
GUS
I really don’t know. His phone is disconnected and the people at your office refuse to put me
through to him. Why would I keep calling your office if I knew where he was?
Bill muses for a moment, then picks up the sprayer.
BILL
You know, I believe you.
He sprays the garden again.
BILL
But I’m still pissed off at you for abusing my truck.
Finished spraying, he tosses the sprayer into the garden, and the three men walk off.
EXT. DAY IN FRONT OF DINING HALL
Hobby turns the radio on and tuning it finds Fat Boy doing a rap version of The Beach Boys, Wipe Out. We see the antennae lying on the dash and its wire running to the radio.
The lintels and stuff are mounted to two saw horses. Donovan finishes bolting a hinge which connects one lintel to another.
DONOVAN
And Bob’s your uncle. Now let’s slide one of those sheets in here and I’ll show you how this works.
They slide a sheet of the stainless steel from the bed of the truck onto the saw horse. They put an edge of the sheet in the break, clamp it in, fold it over with a small lever and unfold it. Moses walks up behind them clapping.
MOSES
Nice. Very nice.
What is that music?
HOBBY
That’s called Hip Hop. You probably haven’t heard of it ‘cause it’s only been around for twenty years.
DONOVAN
Hobby fixed the radio antennae. Now we can get Radio Free Tennesee
and find out the truth about those communists.
Moses reaches into the truck and turns it off. He notices the antennae lying on the dash.
MOSES
I can’t work with that stuff on. What’s the antenna doing on the dash?
DONOVAN
There wasn’t a hole for it. The old antenna was in the windshield. But it works fine there.
MOSES
Let’s get to work. Hobby, you help with the break. A young man who
(cont.)
knows how to fabricate metal roofs can make a good living and has a craft he can be proud of.
HOBBY
Man, you sound like my granpa. I don’t want to be no skilled craftsman workin’ for the man 9 to 5.
Moses’ ire rises but he controls it.
MOSES
Well, son, do you want to stay down here and help Donovan with this and maybe learn something or do you want to work with me up on the roof?
I’d actually prefer to have you on the roof.
HOBBY
I’ll stay here.
Moses goes up the ladder. Hobby has a retort that’s just loud enough for Donovan to hear.
HOBBY
I’m about tired of your shit, Moe.
LATER
Hobby is folding a metal sheet while Donovan, on the roof for a moment, is showing Moses and April how to fasten the sheets to the roof.
DONOVAN
You nail this flange into place, then the next. piece fits over it like this and covers the nail heads.
His two apprentices nod their heads.
MONTAGE
They work on roofing all morning.
LATER
On the ground, Mom brings them lunch. They admire their work which is half done.
MOSES
It’s going to be blinding up there in the afternoon. We’ll finish this up tomorrow.
Let’s go into town and put up banners for the Festival. We can listen to Hobby’s radio.
MOONBEAM
You know there’s this new thing called National Public Radio.
EXT. DAY SMALLTOWN STREETSCAPE NEAR FARM
Moses talks to sheriff as they finish putting up banners.
MOSES
I appreciate you helping with this, Ron.
RON
Your festivals have become a major source of income for the local merchants, Moe. Thirty years ago we never would have thought we’d be glad you people are here.
MOSES
Yeah, well things change.
(To his group.)
Lets get a piece of pie at the cafe.
DONOVAN
Go ahead. I’ll catch up.
Donovan walks to a pay phone and dials.
DONOVAN
I’d like to make a collect call.
OPERATOR (O.C.)
State your name.
DONOVAN
Donovan.
Phone rings a few times.
GUS (O.C.)
Hello.
OPERATOR (O.C.)
I have a collect call from Donovan. Will you accept the charges?
GUS (O.C.)
Yes. I mean no. No, I can’t.
She hangs up. Donovan stares at the phone while the disembodied operator gives him alternative ways to pay. He hangs it up then calls again.
DONOVAN
I need to make a collect call.
OPERATOR
State your name.
DONOVAN
I need you.
The phone rings.
GUS
Hello.
OPERATOR
I have a collect call from Annie Choo. Will you accept the charges?
GUS
Damn. Yes operator.
DONOVAN
Gus, Gussie, It’s me, Donovan. I’m sorry I haven’t called before. I’ve sort of been hiding out. I know that sounds silly now, but...
GUS V.O.
Get off the phone.
DONOVAN
What?
GUS V.O.
Get off the phone. They’re looking for you. They’ll trace this call.
DONOVAN
Who is? Bill Kelly? Are you all right? Did they hurt you?
GUS V.O.
No, but they will if they think I know anything. Be careful, Donovan. They had a gun.
The phone clicks as she hangs up.
DONOVAN
Gussie.
He stands for a moment, then hangs up and looks across the street. Ron is talking to some hunters. They show him a rifle. Ron sights though it. Ron admires the rifle, then hands it back and slaps the hunter on the back. They laugh about something. Ron walks into the sheriff’s department. Donovan follows him in.
EXT. TOP OF HILL DUSK
Moses and Donovan are talking.
DONOVAN
I called home today. Gussie said that Bill Kelly had been there
looking for me and he threatened her.
MOSES
So he is looking for you.
DONOVAN
Yeah, I guess you were wrong about the invasion.
MOSES
I’ve been wrong before.
He looks down at the prison.
MOSES
But I don’t think I’m wrong now, not about that. Tell me your story again. Start in Arizona. What were you doing at Zomeworks and how did you get involved with Gen-Die?
Donovan talks and the sun goes to a brilliant sunset as he finishes.
DONOVAN
And so I came here.
MOSES
It’s good you did or you would have wasted the rest of your talented life, eating crumbs from lesser men’s tables.
You produced nothing at Zomeworks but were paid a stipend to help others with their projects and when you found that Gen-Die wasn’t going to pay you for the solar blanket, you would have been happy to live as an advisor to their engineers.
That’s why you altered their specs. You wanted to have the same job there, with no
responsibilities. Just a nice guy always willing to help others accomplish something.
That bullet that crippled your leg
crippled your spirit too. Why didn’t you sell the military the right to use your patent?
DONOVAN
It’s against all I stand for.
MOSES
It has no value as a weapon, it would only make life for the common grunt a little better. You know, the guys who don’t have the brains to become an engineer and so join the army to try and make something of themselves.
How much would the military have paid you?
DONOVAN
(Mumbles)
MOSES
Speak up.
DONOVAN
Lots, millions.
MOSES
Our generation had the greatest dreams of helping the world, but failed because all the good people thought money would make them bad.
(cont.)
So we let the people without a conscience have it and use it. It’s like Lord of the Rings. We didn’t think we could use the power of money without being corrupted so we let it go to the evil lords instead.
DONOVAN
Enough pop psychology, Moses. All I want to know is why Bill Kelly is looking for me.
MOSES
The specs.
DONOVAN
The specs?
MOSES
The specs. You changed the specs. Remember the solar sheets on Bills specifications, would have built
like tanks. When you altered the specs that day at Bill’s desk, to make them cheaper, you made them less durable. They no longer meet the Army’s specs.
DONOVAN
You’re right. They won’t buy them like that.
MOSES
I bet Bill tried to deliver his first batch and couldn’t collect any money.
DONOVAN
So he needs me to sign off on the original specs so he can build then to the militaries specs. Right now he’s only got the legal right to make the cheapy version. He’ll find me you know. I’m going to have to leave here.
MOSES
I’ve got a better idea. Tomorrow, you are going down to the military
(cont.)
base at Huntsville an indigent and coming back a millionaire. We’ll head Lt. Kelly off at the pass. Then if he does show up here, sign whatever he wants. Imagine him going to the Army trying to make another deal, when they’ve already contracted with you. They’ll toss him out.
DONOVAN
No. No, I can’t do that. I think your analogy is wrong. It’s not having money that would corrupt me. It’s dealing with the Dark Lords of the military.
MOSES
Well think about it. And think about that Gollum that’s tracking you. Let’s get a beer.
INT. NIGHT
Moses and Donovan walk into the dining hall.
In the kitchen they hear a commotion from the women’s quarters. Hobby is yelling at them.
HOBBY
Where do you hide it? I’ve searched every inch of this place.
APRIL
Hide what?
HOBBY
Hide all that dope you guys grow. It’s not growing with the alfalfa or in the greenhouse. That’s where I was looking when you guys came to fix it that day. It’s not baled and hidden in with the hay.
I don’t think you could have harvested and sold it without me noticing but if you did that’s ok, I’ll just take the proceeds.
APRIL
We don’t do that anymore. Not since the sheriff burned a crop we’d grown to depend on.
MOONBEAM
We do have that little patch we grow for mom. She has arthritis you know.
APRIL
Moonbeam!
HOBBY
Get it.
APRIL
It’s just a baggie full.
HOBBY
Get it, I said!
Mom pulls a baggie from a drawer.
HOBBY
Is that it?
The women nod.
HOBBY
I worked here all summer for this? I don’t think so. I think I’m entitled to some of that free
hippy love before I go. Take your clothes off.
Mom is the only one who starts to unbutton.
HOBBY
Not you Mom. Go to your room.
She shrugs, turns and goes.
HOBBY
Now, disrobe, ladies.
April and Moonbeam start undressing.
APRIL
Why would you do something like this, Hobby. We took you in. We treated you like family.
HOBBY
A kid like me has two choices in life. Sell drugs or join the army. This marijuana gig seemed like a
(cont.)
sure thing. Since that’s a bust, I’ll have to settle for the consolation prize. Now off with the Muumuus.
INT. NIGHT KITCHEN
In the kitchen Donovan picks up a knife. Moses shakes his head and whispers.
MOSES
No violence.
Moses hands Donovan a bottle and picks up another, then strips off his clothes. Donovan studies the label on his bottle which says ‘Wesson Oil” and nods.
DONOVAN
He’s such a homo-phobe he’ll freak and run away.
INT. NIGHT BEDROOM
The two naked women spread out on each side of Hobby. They circle around him.
APRIL
It doesn’t have to be like this,
Hobby. Get dressed and walk away. We’ll never mention it again.
He turns to face her and Moonbeam chops his wrist, sending the stick flying. He turns toward Moonbeam his hands balled into fists.
MOONBEAM
Rape is the servant of anger not of love, Hobby.
APRIL
You’re angry because of the man you beat up. Did he abuse you?
HOBBY
(shouting)
Shut up! I’m not a queer!
He turns and swings at her. She parries it and keeps circling.
MOONBEAM
It’s ok to be angry about what he
(cont.)
did to you. But you can’t keep it inside.
He swings at her. She directs his punch into the air and keeps circling.
HOBBY
I’m not a queer, and I’ll prove it.
He strips off his shirt and throws it.
APRIL
We all are angry about something. You have to let your anger out in a way that doesn’t hurt others and destroy you.
He swings wildly at her, and she blithely uses two hands to spin him around by directing his punch onward.
He starts yelling.
HOBBY
I hate him. I hate him because he didn’t force me.
He swings wildly into the air.
HOBBY
I hate him because he didn’t have a weapon. I let him do it.
APRIL
He was someone one you trusted.
HOBBY
He was my priest. I loved him and he used me
(huge sob)
I wish I had killed him.
INT. BEDROOM
Donovan and Moses, both naked, jump into the bedroom where everybody else is naked.
DONOVAN
Yahoo! Free love Wesson oil party. I was wondering when you were going to loosen up a little, Hobby.
MOSES
We held back all summer because we thought you were too uptight.
He pours oil all over Hobby and the women who are standing and hugging.
DONOVAN
I think you are just cute as hell, Hobby.
Moses pours oil from the other side.
MOSES
Yeehaa. Orgy, anything goes!
APRIL
Stop it, you two.
DONOVAN
But we’re saving you.
MOONBEAM
Do we look like we need saving?
The men stop and look at the trio.
MOSES
Well, not now you don’t.
APRIL
Then shut the door on your way out.
The two men turn to go.
MOONBEAM
But leave the oil. We need it for therapy.
April puts an arm around Hobby as Moonbeam takes the oil and shuts the door on the men.
NEXT. DAY
They are close to being finished with the roof. Little John and Moonbeam hand up the folded stainless steel sheets to Moses and April.
They get the sheet in place and then discover that they are out of nails.
MOSES
Hey, Moonbeam. Can you bring us some nails up?
Moonbeam climbs the ladder with a bag and carefully makes her way up using her free hand. When she gets up, she sees April sitting on the far side of the sheet they haven’t nailed. They smile at each other. Moonbeam crosses the roof and hands the nails to Moses without even looking at him, thinking to sit with April.
MOONBEAM
Here’s your nails Moe. April, this looks grea…
Moses tries to warn her and reaches out for her, way too late. The sheet, bearing her weight, takes off down the roof like a toboggan, bearing Moonbeam on it.
BELOW
Little John looks up at the commotion just in time to see the stainless steel guillotine heading for his neck.
A MOMENT LATER
The sheet is on the ground. At one end of it Moonbeam is writhing in pain. At the other end the body of Little John sticks out from under the sheet. If Little John’s head is still attached it has the sheet on top of it.
We scan the ground stopping at various pumpkins, making sure it’s not a head.
Donovan and Hobby pick up the steel sheet. Little John sits up and runs his hand over the top of his head.
Donovan goes to Moonbeams side. As he reaches for her, April rushes to Moonbeam, brushing Donovan aside.
APRIL
Moonbeam. Are you all right? Is it your arm? Your leg? Your insides?
Oh, I’m so sorry. Tell me what hurts?
Moonbeam looks up at April who is cradling her head.
MOONBEAM
Every thing hurts.
APRIL
I’m taking her to the hospital. They need to check her.
MOSES
We can’t April. We don’t have the money just to see...
APRIL
But Moses...
MOSES
Tomorrow, when the adrenaline wears off, we’ll see how she feels. For now though, take her in and put her in bed.
APRIL
No, we’re taking her to hospital, and we’re taking her now.
Moses looks at her.
MOSES
If this had happened after the Festival, we would have some money. We could take her. We owe the hospital.
They will only take us if we pay up front.
APRIL
We have money.
MOSES
We don’t have money to spare. If we use that money, there won’t be anything to buy food to sell to the masses. We won’t be able to pay the band. In other words, there won’t be a festival and the money we need to make won’t be there and the Farm will be lost.
APRIL
So the Farm is more important than Moonbeam’s life?
MOSES
Christ almighty. Put her in the truck.
THAT NIGHT THE FARM
Moses walks in. He is dripping wet. Donovan is drunk. Hobby is sitting with him.
MOSES
What a night! It’s not supposed to rain in October.
DONOVAN
Where’s April showers?
MOSES
She stayed at the hospital. They want to do every test that they learned at med. school and X-ray each and every bone in Moonbeam.
DONOVAN
Is she reconciled with her true love? Am I cut loose now that I’ve served my purpose?
MOSES
Are you drunk? Is he drunk, Hobby?
HOBBY
He’s been steady at it ever since you left. And I’m proud to say, he’s cussed everyone here except me.
DONOVAN
That’s because you are the only one here honest enough to admit that you’re a thief. And you’re the only other person that realizes what a power-hungry megalomanic my college friend Moses is.
MOSES
At a time when I need you, you have to do this.
DONOVAN
At a time when you need me? How about when I needed you. How about the time I was in the hospital with a bullet in my butt and you not only left without me, you took my girlfriend and then when I do show up, you told me I wasn’t welcome since I was a gimp.
Guess I proved you wrong, huh? Guess a gimp is good for something huh?
MOSES
Yeah, you’re the greatest. You saved the farm with your engineering know-how.
DONOVAN
No I didn’t. The Farm is dying. I just gave it a little more time. And do you know what it’s dying from?
He takes a swig of wine.
MOSES
I’m sure you do.
DONOVAN
Damn straight I do. It’s dying from old age. We both have these lofty ideals, but if you don’t have children to pass those ideals onto they die with you.
Just like Gussie said. She was right. I’m such a smuck. I need to tell her that she was right, but first I have to do something.
He stands up.
DONOVAN
I have to prove that I was right too. I have to go to San Francisco and prove that I was right an’ then everything will be ok.
He runs to the door and out into the rain. Hobby stands up.
HOBBY
Shouldn’t we go after him?
MOSES
He’ll be all right. What could happen to a drunken over-the-hill hippy with a bad leg out on the back roads of Tennessee in the middle of a rainy night?
(beat)
Damn it. Get the truck.
INT/EXT. NIGHT TRUCK
They drive for awhile.
MOSES
He couldn’t have gone this far. He must of gone the other way.
They turn around and drive some more. The headlights flash on Donovan as they round a curve. He is hitching. They stop and open the door. He climbs in. No one says a word. They drive along for a few minutes then Donovan notices the antennae on the dash.
DONOVAN
Hey, I’ve got some friends that have a truck just like this.
Moses and Hobby bust out laughing and drive on home in the rain.
INT. HOSPITAL DAY
In the waiting room of the hospital are April, Moses and Donovan. A doctor walks out to see them.
DOCTOR
On the bright side she has no internal injuries and no broken bones. On the bad side she is going to hurt worse today then she did yesterday.
I recommend that you let her stay here one more day before moving her.
MOSES
Thanks doc. I wish we could...
DONOVAN
Wait Moe. She can stay.
MOSES
No, we...
DONOVAN
She can stay until we get back from the Army base in Huntsville.
EXT. DAY ARMY BASE CHECK IN HUT
Moses and Donovan drive up to the kiosk window seeking admittance to the Army base.
SOLDIER
Good morning, sir.
MOSES
Good morning, private. We need to talk with someone who can put us in touch with General Starlitz at the Pentagon.
SOLDIER
May I see some identification sir?
Moses hands him his driver’s license. The soldier picks up the phone in his kiosk and talks. In a moment he hangs up and hands Moses his license back.
SOLDIER
I’m sorry sir, unless you have an appointment or are here on established business, I can’t allow you entry to the base.
Donovan leans over to plead his case.
DONOVAN
But General Starlitz has been begging me to contact him.
SOLDIER
I’m sorry sir, those are my orders. You can turn around right there.
It is getting hot, and the soldier is sweating profusely.
DONOVAN
Don’t you have air conditioning in that thing? It’s going to be ninety degrees today.
SOLDIER
No, sir.
DONOVAN
Not even a fan?
SOLDIER
No, sir. No place to plug one in.
MOSES
When’s your duty up, private?
SOLDIER
Next. month, sir.
MOSES
Are you going to re-up?
SOLDIER
For this? You gotta be kidding.
I/E TRUCK HUNTSVILLE
DONOVAN
There’s a camping and sporting goods store I occasionally sell to on Georgia Avenue. Let’s go there.
I/E RUNDOWN STORE
They walk into ‘Hunts-ville and Fishes Too-Camping Equipment’. They go past some camouflaged ATVs, meant for hunters and go up to the counter. They are met
with a sour visage. The old man has an oscillating fan on the counter top behind him.
DONOVAN
Do you have Don’s Indestructible Electricity Generating Solar Blanket in stock?
The man’s face brightens. Donovan offers his hand.
DONOVAN
Hi, I’m Don. I’ll have my company send you four blankets for free if you will let me have one of yours and that fan.
EXT/INT. DAY ARMY RECRUITER OFFICE
Two crew-cut Army recruiters are surprised to see Donovan and Moses. They put down their Field and Stream.
RECRUITER 1
I haven’t seen a pair like you since the draft ended.
RECRUITER 2
It looks like Gomer and Goober went to Woodstock.
RECRUITER 1
Y’all look a little too old for the Army. Either that or you’ve done some very bad drugs.
RECRUITER 2
We’ve been told there’s some bad acid going around.
They laugh and high five.
MOSES
Is your bonus for getting a soldier to reenlist enough to
(cont.)
justify one of you driving out to the base with me?
The recruiters look at each other.
RECRUITER 2
I’ll go.
RECRUITER 1
No, I saw them first. I’ll go.
EXT. DAY ARMY BASE CHECK IN HUT
The recruiter’s car is parked just past the kiosk and the pick up truck is pulled up next. to it. Donovan places his solar blanket on the kiosk roof and Moses plugs the store owners oscillating fan into the dangling cord. The recruiter is talking to the soldier. He then directs the soldier to talk with Moses again.
MOSES
Would you tell your Commanding Officer that Sargent Moe Bramowitz formerly of the second infantry, who served under Colonel Perry in the DeNang offensive would like a few minutes of his time on a matter that is of utmost interest to the United States of America?
SOLDIER
Yes, sir.
INT. DAY ARMY BUILDING
Donovan signs a contract and a Colonel hands him a check and shakes his hand.
COLONEL
Are you sure you don’t want an escort to the bank?
DONOVAN
Since it’s a check, I think we’ll be all right.
COLONEL
I am proud to have met two fine Americans such as yourselves.
DONOVAN
Sir, I am only doing this because I can’t figure any way you could use this to hurt somebody and that
(cont.)
it will only make life for the average man in the service a little bit easier.
COLONEL
From your lips to the Joint. Chief of Staff’s ears.
INT. DAY BANK LOBBY
Donovan, backed up by Moses, hands the check to a teller who is a little cowed by their rough-and-ready appearance.
DONOVAN
I’d like to do some business with your bank.
The teller looks at him, incredulously.
MOSES
(under his breath)
Donovan, could you get two thousand in cash? To pay the hospital, I had to rob from what we’ve got set a side to put the festival on with.
DONOVAN
Can you give me some of this in cash?
TELLER
You want me to give you three million dollars, cash?
DONOVAN
Shhh. Somebody will hear you.
TELLER
I’m sorry I’ve never been held up before.
DONOVAN
This isn’t a hold-up. I’m trusting you with three million dollars, minus two thousand that I need.
The teller looks at the check. She then calls a guard over.
TELLER
I thought these men were holding us up for three million dollars, but it’s just a cheap flim-flam
trick to get a couple of thou. Would you escort them out, Jimmy?
EXT. TRUCK
MOSES
We can go to Ducktown and put it in my account. I’ve been doing business with them for thirty years. They’ll take our money.
NEXT. FEW DAYS MONTAGE
The corral, minus the manure dam makes a natural amphitheater. They erect a stage there with a large backdrop. Donovan hangs an awning from the barn roof that is on the hill facing the stage. He builds a platform in front of this that rotates when hooked to the windmills power-train.
What he does behind the awning is unknown, but on the rotating platform, he has Hobby and Little John place one of the hydroponic tubes. Into this, they insert three long sheets of Plexiglas to form a prism, and fill this triangular section with water.
The sun shining through the prism casts a faint. rainbow on the tarp that moves when the windmill is engaged.
The communers are politely unimpressed. Moonbeam and April dance in the mild rainbow as Little John strums a guitar.
EXT. DAY FARM
April and Little John are setting up the ticket booth. All the festival banners are hung and the place is ready. The Cadillac truck pulls up. Out step the two goons in bib overalls and Bill Kelly dressed like a hippy with a long wig and granny glasses.
LITTLE JOHN
Sorry guys, the festival doesn’t officially start until noon.
Bill looks the two over.
BILL
That’s nice. Where’s Donovan?
LITTLE JOHN
Oh, ok, yeah, you must be friends of Donovan’s. He’s up there by the
barn. Just go up the hill a little ways.
They brush past April and start up the hill. April looks at them for a moment. She starts to follow, but the sheriff’s car pulls up. She goes to his door.
RON
Hi, April, is Donovan busy? The people at the San Francisco Police Department would like to talk on the phone with him.
APRIL
Is he in trouble? We’re working real hard trying to get ready for the festival.
RON
No. He’s not in trouble. He just has some information they are interested in. It’s waited thirty years, I guess one more week won’t hurt ‘em.
He reaches for a sheet of paper.
RON
Give this to him. Tell him to call soon as he gets a chance.
April takes the paper and the sheriff drives off.
EXT. BARN DAY
Donovan pulls the big lever on the wind mill, and the platform with the huge prism on it starts turning. He turns his back on it and walks over to the tarp that is hung from the barn rafters. A faint. rainbow moves across the tarp. He reaches up toward the tarp but is interrupted.
BILL
That looks like a lot of work for very little pay off.
Donovan turns around. The two goons are holding guns. Bill is holding some papers.
BILL
That’s the problem with you people. Everything is so bland.
The most tasteless thing I’ve eaten was at an organic restaurant. And this washed out little rainbow sliding across a dingy drop cloth is... well it’s disappointing.
He steps in front of the giant prism and the rainbow goes away.
I can help out though. I’ve redone the washed out specs on your solar sheet, which you somehow altered, and they are once again strong enough for battle. All I need is your signature.
Donovan shrugs.
BILL
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
DONOVAN
OK, I’ll sign it. And if you’d like I’ll buy the batch the military didn’t want.
He steps forward and reaches for the papers.
Bill pulls them back.
BILL
Wait a minute. You’re not planning to tear them up or throw them away
are you? Because if I have to get another copy, you are coming with me.
DONOVAN
No, I’m just going to sign them.
Bill offers them and then pulls them back again as Donovan reaches for them.
BILL
Why? Why are you going to sign them just like that, when you know I’m going to sell them to the Army and take all the money for myself?
Donovan just looks at him.
BILL
I know why. You figured out who I am and you’re afraid of me. Let me instill a little more fear. You have already ruined two of my lives. I won’t stand for a third.
You destroyed my military career when you assaulted my men and forced me to fire. I had to abandon all my dreams and flee to Canada.
I eventually built up a prosperous business there. I was doing alright, but running a company is so boring, compared to commanding a unit in battle. I always hated you for that.
When I heard through the grape-vine of your solar invention, that you preferred sitting on, rather than use it to aid our troops, it made my blood boil.
DONOVAN
That’s not…
BILL
Shut up. This is my diatribe.
I lay awake at nights, hating you and what you stood for and most of all your insolence. Then one night it came to me; how I could enrich myself, help our boys in uniform and have my revenge in one fell swoop, with the added bonus of humiliating you!
I sold my company. I would have given my right arm for this opportunity. With my business experience Gen Die was glad to give me an executive job position.
DONOVAN
I’m confused. Whose company did I sell to?
BILL
Third World is mine. GenDie has so many umbrella companies fronting for them, it was easy to run Third World Ventures from there. As long as I kept my division profitable, who would notice?
His face reddened in anger.
BILL
I thought I’d pulled off the coup of the century; But now I find that I’ve invested my life’s savings to manufacture a thousand solar blankets that are of such poor quality, I can’t give them away, because you changed the specs.
You are going to sign this new contract and if you protest it before three days are up, I will come back and complete what I started thirty years ago! Do you hear me?
DONOVAN
Lieutenant Williams? I don’t guess it was too hard to go from Kelly
(cont.)
Williams, to Williams, Kelly to William A.K.A. Bill Kelly.
BILL
No, especially when that stupid conspiranoia friend of yours thought I was a draft dodger and had me smuggled up to Canada.
DONOVAN
You made a mistake coming back. I won’t have to renege on the contract. I’m sure Uncle Sam will discover that the man selling them supplies is a deserter.
BILL
I’m afraid not. Thanks to your fellow liberals, even the military has a statute of limitations.
DONOVAN
Not for murder.
BILL
Oh, and who am I supposed to have shot other than you?
DONOVAN
A boy, an innocent bystander.
Bill laughs and looks at his companions.
BILL
And where is this boy?
Before Donovan can answer April walks up behind Donovan and addresses Bill.
APRIL
Hi, long time no see. I didn’t know you were a friend of Donovan’s. Course it makes sense now, you were out there doing the same thing I was that night, looking for that dead boy.
Bill looks at her dumbfounded.
BILL
Who are you?
Who is she, Donny?
DONOVAN
A friend from Berkley. She’s got this weird memory for faces.
APRIL
Oh, Donovan before I forget. The sheriff said that the San Francisco Police called them and yes they did have an unsolved murder that fit your description.
She pulls out a piece of paper.
APRIL
About twenty years ago, some fishermen in the Bay, pulled out the body of a boy who had been shot about ten years before that.
She turns to Bill who is getting more agitated every time April speaks.
APRIL
You know what’s really strange, he was weighed down in a National Guard duffel bag like the one I saw you with that night.
Bill goes ballistic. Reverting to the day of the student shooting, he starts yelling to his henchmen.
BILL
Fire! Shoot them! Shoot’em. I command you to fire.
They just stand there. He grabs a gun from the nearest one.
SLOW MOTION
Donovan twists his head and sees April beside and behind him. He turns and throws himself on her to protect her.
Bill now has the gun in hand and is bringing it down to fire.
Donovan and April fall into the tarp, pulling it down and revealing what’s behind it.
Bill gets off a single shot which goes through one of the three stainless steel sheets that have been
(cont.)
mounted so they are curved. They send concentrated rays of sun right at Bill who is standing in front of the rotating prism they were aimed at.
The enormous parabolic mirrors do to Bill what the small mirror did to Gussie’s pot earlier. Bill is blinded and burned. His arms go up to shield his eyes and the gun flies up and out of his hand, into the air, then kerplunking into the water-filled prism.
Bill falls, writhing, to the ground. His suit is smoking.
Behind the stage we see three brilliant rainbows sliding along the screen behind the stage. The rainbows are perfect in their beauty, except for a cancerous spot slowly sinking through them, a black silhouette of the pistol.
EXT. DAY - FARM YARD
MONTAGE:
Donovan and Gus walk around the farm together. All around are young people dressed uniformly.
They happily milk cows and tend gardens. There are many young farm animals as well; a line of chicks follow their mom, goat-kids gamble in their humorous manner while nannies are milked, possibly a colt getting to its feet for the first time, April pulling out a calf from its mom’s uterus, with a line of children pulling her.
DONOVAN
Is this enough kids for you Gussie?
GUS
This is a utopia. How did you manage it?
DONOVAN
The ‘for profit’ reform school wasn’t making a profit so I used my military money to buy them out. We set up an incentive program. The kids that improve themselves get to come here during the day instead of looking at four walls. The old hippies here get the help they need and are mentors to the kids. The farm feeds the kids. The kids keep the farm running.
GUS
That’s great, Donovan. But you know I still want kids of my own.
Donovan turns her to face him and studies her a moment.
DONOVAN
Have you seen the hayloft yet?
He puts his arm around her and they head toward the barn, walking past a wind-chime that is powered by wind, of all things.
EXT. DAY SAUDI ARABIA
A scene reminiscent of the opening scene, with U.S. military in battle formation and scattered civilians protesting.
The civilians are Arabians. The military are on high tech ATV’s, powered by Donovan’s solar/electric generators.
A lieutenant raises his arm and brings it down.
LIEUTENANT
Fire!
The men fire and people fall, wounded. The lieutenant raises his arm again.
The cross-hairs of a rifle settle on an infant cradled in its mother’s arms and freeze.
INT. NIGHT BEDROOM
Donovan sits up in bed, covered in sweat. He lies there for a moment, and then wipes his hand over his face.
Turning to his wife, he looks at Gus’s face and touches her pregnant belly.
He puts his head back on his pillow and stares off into the darkness, trying to see what might have awaited him, down a different path.
FADE OUT
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