IDLE HANDS - SimplyScripts
IDLE HANDS
Original Screenplay
By
Joseph Cahill
Second Draft
Joseph A. Cahill
Guadalajara, Mexico
Proclone3@
WGA Reg#: 1081461
“IDLE HANDS”
FADE IN:
INT. WEAVER’S MORTUARY – DAY
A lone, plain casket sits at the front of the near-empty viewing room. A half a dozen or so PEOPLE sit listening.
A PREACHER behind the casket moves his mouth, talking. Though no sound. An eeri, artificial silence.
BILLY MCMILLEN(13), a young, supple, Irish boy, sits in the silence of the front row next to his father, WILLIAM MCMILLEN(30’s), watching. Both are poorly dressed.
Billy looks at his father.
William is straight-faced. No emotion.
Billy returns his gaze towards the casket.
Billy looks back up again at his father.
William looks down at his son. Still straight-faced. No happiness. No sadness. Looks back towards the front.
Billy keeps his eye on his father for a moment. Searching. His eyes begin to well with tears. Turns to the front. Tries to hide it.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX – NIGHT
A young boy on a push scooter cuts through the dark, cold, pre-dawn air. He wears a gray hooded sweatshirt and too-short, hand-me-down trousers. He rides along a sidewalk on the interior of a gritty suburban apartment complex.
As he passes a door he hurls a newspaper from a large, white burlap sack that hangs around his neck and continues without seeing if it hits its mark. It hits dead-on.
Billy McMillen shows his familiarity with the complex by easily maneuvering through breezeways. He has his paper route memorized.
As he rides through a parking area he notices a large BLACK MAN kneeling near several parked cars.
The man stops Billy as he passes.
BLACK MAN
(quiet)
Hey young brotha. Wanna make a buck?
BILLY
(reluctant)
Sure. I guess.
BLACK MAN
Stand there and keep a lookout then.
Tired of throwing papers anyways, Billy agrees. Watches as the man goes to work on one of the tires.
A few seconds and the man has all the lug nuts off the first tire.
Billy watches curiously.
Suddenly, breaking the silence of the morning...
WOMAN’S VOICE(OS)
Get away from that car!
Without looking to see where the voice is coming from, Billy takes off on his scooter. The black man stays crouched down behind the car in the shadows, out of view of the woman wherever she may be.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX – DAWN
Billy casually scoots past towards his apartment building. He realizes he still carries half a bag of newspapers. Stopping at a nearby dumpster he unloads the rest of his bag.
The sun begins to creep up behind the building. It’s almost daylight.
EXT. APARTMENT BREEZEWAY - DAWN
Billy scoots into a dimly lit breezeway. He stops in front of a door. A well-worn “Welcome” mat sits on the ground in front.
He opens the door quietly and goes in.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT – BILLY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Billy heads for his bed. All lights are off indicating the other occupants are still sleeping.
The bedroom is dark but posters are noticeable on the walls and the floor is littered with toys, mostly action figures.
Billy climbs on the ladder to the top bunk, taking care not to wake the other occupants.
BUTCH MCMILLEN(11), Billy’s younger brother sleeps on the bottom bunk. Across the room, STEW MCMILLEN(12), Billy’s stepbrother sleeps in a bed of his own.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT – BILLY’S BEDROOM - DAY
The sun shines in through tattered curtains and illuminates the entire room.
Billy is still asleep in the top bunk. Alone. Loud VOICES can be heard coming from another room. His parents are arguing again.
LOUISE MCMILLEN(OS)
It’s your bastard children –-
Billy opens his eyes but doesn’t move. He listens to the arguing from his bed.
LOUISE MCMILLEN(OS)
(continuing)
-- How many apartments does make? Three? Four? I’m sick and tired of this!
Butch, face full of freckles with red hair to boot, enters the room. He’s as honery as his holey jeans suggest. Yells at Billy from the doorway.
BUTCH
Billy, get up! You’re in deep crap.
BILLY
What’s Lou-Lou yelling about this time?
BUTCH
(matter-of-factly)
We got evicted again. The manager said we were trying to steal tires from one of the cars in the parking lot last night.
Butch leaves.
BILLY
(getting up)
You gotta be kiddin’ me --
Billy hurries up and hops down from the bunk. He still wears his clothes from early morning.
WILLIAM(OS)
How the hell’sa thirteen-year old gonna steal tires? He can’t even git the lug nuts off.
Reluctantly, Billy goes into the living room.
WILLIAM(OS)
(continuing)
They’re just looking for a reason to kick us out.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM
Stew McMillen, a younger version of Louise, sits at the kitchen table eating Cornflakes. Watches cartoons coming from the living room Television. Looks nothing like the other brothers.
LOUISE MCMILLEN(30’s) sits on an old sofa in the living room. She is a sloppy-looking, overweight woman wearing a robe with the same wear and tear as the sofa. Oversized, prescription glasses cover her eyes and she smokes a wilting cigarette.
A guilty-looking Billy heads to the kitchen table without addressing his parents. An EVICTION NOTICE sits on the table next to Stew.
WILLIAM MCMILLEN(30’s), a Vietnam Vet who looks older than he is, sits at the kitchen table with one leg crossed over the other. He wears a mustache that hangs down the side of his face, a plain white undershirt and dirty blue jeans.
He gives Billy a sideways look as he comes in.
BILLY
What? I didn’t do nuthin.
LOUISE
I’m sure it wasn’t you again. It’s always someone else’s fault. Goddamn brats!
William sits there without responding.
Billy realizes no response he can give will be adequate.
BILLY
I’m not staying in here for this.
Billy grabs his jacket, goes to the front door and heads outside.
LOUISE
Good! Maybe you’ll go to your Goddamn mother’s!
WILLIAM
(to Billy)
Don’t go anywhere –- we’re goin’ to the store in a minute -- Find your brother.
(to Stew)
You too. Get outside. I don’t want you hangin around inside all day
STEW
Aw c’mon.
EXT. APARTMENT BREEZEWAY – DAY
Butch and Billy hang around outside on the stairwell while CHRIS RAMSEY(12)stands with them talking. Ramsey is a black boy with a thick jerry-curl.
BILLY
I hate that Lou. Our lives would be a lot better if she was gone.
CHRIS
She yellin again?
BUTCH
You don’t hear her? She’s crazy.
It doesn’t take much to hear Louise from inside still yelling.
BILLY
It’s all that alcohol.
CHRIS
Ya know, my uncle said if you ever wanted to kill anybody you just feed the body to hogs -- said they eat everything -- bones and everything. No evidence.
LOUISE(OS)
Just get out, William! Take those brats with you!
BILLY
If I could git away with it –-
BUTCH
-- Yeah right. You’d never kill anybody. You’re too chicken.
BILLY
Shut up.
(sighs)
I just wish our mom was still here.
CHRIS
Where’s your mom at?
BUTCH
She’s in California. Soon as she gits enough money she’s gonna come git us.
Billy doesn’t comment on Butch’s statement. He’s unconvinced but still hopeful.
The front door to the apartment opens and Stew comes out chewing something.
BUTCH
(to Stew)
Fat ass, stop eating. You’re gonna eat all the food in the house. You drank all the milk didn’t you?
Stew finishes his food before responding. He eats like it may be his last meal.
STEW
Just powdered milk.
The sibling rivalry between Butch and Stew is apparent.
BUTCH
Fat Ass!
Stew hangs out but keeps his distance between himself and the others.
CHRIS
What’s up with your Lou-Lou?
STEW
Why you askin me?
BUTCH
She’s your mom!
STEW
If Billy wouldn’ta been trying to steal lugnuts –-
BILLY
-- Shut up!
The door from the apartment opens and William walks out.
WILLIAM
Both of you shut up. Let’s go.
The boys get up to follow their father.
CHRIS
See you guys later.
INT. CHEVY PICK-UP CAB – DAY
William and the kids sit in a row in the front seat of the raggedy old truck.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX – PARKING LOT - DAY
The truck pulls out of the apartment parking lot. It is a cacophony of the colors green and white. The truck looks like it’s on its last leg.
EXT. IGA GROCERY STORE – PARKING LOT - DAY
The green and white pick-up pulls into a parking spot in front of the store.
The local-owned store looks as down and out as its customers.
Several other small stores are in the same shopping center: A pawnshop, liquor store and Goodwill. The usual for this part of town.
The fall weather has the store’s mostly black PEDESTRIANS dressed in jackets.
INT. PICK-UP TRUCK - DAY
William counts FOOD STAMPS as the boys watch. He hands each boy a one-dollar Food stamp.
WILLIAM
Five-cent gums only. Got it?
BILLY
This is so ghetto.
STEW
(smart-alec)
We gotta do this so you guys can get beer.
WILLIAM
Be quiet. I don’t want to hear it. You guys want gum or not?
The boys don’t answer.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
All right, then. Go.
Closest to the door, Billy opens it and the boys get out and head in the store.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Don’t be in there looking at comic books either.
INT. IGA GROCERY STORE - DAY
Billy stands in the comic book section looking at the newest edition of “The X-Men”.
Butch and Stew stand in separate checkout lines behind several waiting CUSTOMERS.
Billy gives a quick look behind him and sees no one looking. He quickly shoves the comic in his jacket and zips it up. He heads off to the interior of the store.
INT. IGA GROCERY STORE – FOOD ISLE
Billy stands in front of the shelving looking at the products in front of him.
The shelving contains several rows of boxes of RAT POISON. Billy grabs a box and shoves it in his jacket next to the comic book. This makes his jacket stick out ever so slightly.
INT. IGA GROCERY STORE - CHECKOUT - DAY
An ELDERLY MAN finishes paying in front of Billy and leaves.
Billy hands the CASHIER, a large white woman, two pieces of individually wrapped gum.
She rings them up all the while eyeing Billy suspiciously. She suspects something.
CASHIER
Eleven cents, young man.
Billy hands the cashier the one-dollar food stamp.
CASHIER
(continuing)
You got brothers?
BILLY
Yeah. Why?
The cashier hands Billy the change. She eyes Billy’s puffed-out jacket front.
CASHIER
Cute kids.
Billy begins to get a little nervous. Shifts his eyes away from the woman.
CASHIER
(continuing)
Cold out?
BILLY
A little.
The cashier smiles at Billy. Billy looks up. Forces a smile back.
Billy takes the change and hurries toward the front door.
Billy is almost out the front door when...
CASHIER(OS)
Hey, boy!
Billy stops but is reluctant to turn around. He’s been found out.
CASHIER(OS)
(continuing)
Boy!
(beat)
Your gum.
Billy turns toward the cashier, quickly grabs the gum from her outstretched hand and heads out the front door.
INT. CHEVY PICK-UP TRUCK - DAY
Butch and Stew sit in the truck along with their father as they watch Billy cross the parking lot approaching the truck.
Billy gets in and slides in next to his brothers.
WILLIAM
Lookin’ at those damn comic books again.
Billy hands the change to his father. His brothers happily struggle to chew the mouthful of gum in their mouths.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Git your gum?
William puts the change into a cup with the rest of the boys’ change. He gives the cup a shake.
BILLY
Yeah. I’m gonna save it.
William gives Billy a smile before starting the truck.
BILLY
(continuing)
How many stores we gonna do?
WILLIAM
Just a couple more.
Billy turns his head toward the window and stares at the passing vehicles.
EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - PARKING LOT - DAY
The green pick-up sits in the parking lot directly in front of the store.
William Comes out of the store after a moment carrying a case of MILWAKEE’S BEST in one hand and a new pack of cigarettes in the other. He gets in the truck where the kids are waiting.
INT. CHEVY PICK-UP TRUCK - DAY
BILLY
D’you get Lou her beer?
WILLIAM
You git your gum?
BUTCH
Dad, why does Louise have to live with us?
Stew eyes William eager for his response.
STEW
Yeah...Will?
William doesn’t answer. Instead he unwraps the cigarette pack and takes out a cigarette. He throws the wrapper out the window and lights the cigarette.
EXT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT COMPLEX - DAY
The beat up green and white pick up pulls into the parking lot and parks in the same spot. The truck runs for a second after the engine’s been cut off then sputters quiet.
Several YOUNG BOYS, including Chris Ramsey, play between two adjacent apartment buildings. They have several old mattresses stacked in a pile and are using them to do flips on.
Billy and Butch hurriedly get out of the truck and head over to join in. Stew slowly follows.
WILLIAM
I want ya’ll to check-in in an hour. And no wrasslin’ around –- sombody’ll git hurt.
William heads inside with his peace offering for Louise.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM - DAY
The mismatched interior is more noticeable especially the sofa which has a worn out spot where Louise sits most days. Her spot’s empty at the moment.
A thick haze of cigarette smoke fills the room.
An old Eighties SONG plays loudly from the only piece of furniture that’s worth anything. The heavy wooden lid on a large wooden stereo unit sits open. A record spins inside. The sound is pretty good considering the age of the device.
Louise sits at the dinner table smoking a cigarette. looks happy now. A little too happy. She takes a drink from a white plastic cup.
Her friend, DEBBIE SCARBERRY(30’s), sits in an adjacent chair. The drugs and alcohol have eroded her once pretty looks. She rolls a joint in her lap.
The front door opens. William comes in. He heads for the kitchen.
WILLIAM
(unenthusiastic)
Hey Debbie.
DEBBIE
William! Looks like you brought us a drink.
LOUISE
(slurring)
Least he can do one thing right. Huh, Bill?
Louise laughs over dramatically.
William puts the case of beer in the fridge. He grabs himself one.
LOUISE
(continuing)
You git me some cigarettes?
WILLIAM
Sure didn’t –- didn’t have enough.
William goes over to the small Television in the adjacent living room. Turns it on. A fuzzy picture comes on.
LOUISE
Wadaya mean you didn’t have enough? You’ve been gone all morning.
William ignores Louise. Silently turns the dial on the television a couple of times. Stops at a football game. Gets a picture that is barely viewable.
William messes with the rabbit ear antenna on the top of the television. A little better picture.
William turns the television volume up trying to drown out the music. Sits on the couch.
SPORTS ANNOUNCER(VO)
The Oklahoma Sooners have had a fabulous season under the leadership of Barry Switzer –-
Suddenly irritated, William gets up and turns the stereo down. He sits back down and takes a swig of beer.
He continues to watch the television.
SPORTS ANNOUNCER(VO)
(continuing)
-- the defense has carried the team to ten straight wins --
The MUSIC is turned back up suddenly, louder than before.
Irritated, William shuts the blaring television off.
LOUISE(OS)
Don’t touch my goddamn radio.
William gets up and goes to the fridge without responding to Louise. He grabs another beer and shoves it in his back pocket. He turns just as Debbie lights up the joint.
Debbie takes a deep drag and holds it in. Holds the joint in Louise’s direction. Louise takes it.
William heads out the front door.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Good! Take ‘em with you!
William is already out in the breezeway.
WILLIAM(OS)
I’m gonna work on the car.
Defiant, Louise goes to the stereo and turns the music up even louder.
EXT. MICMILLEN APARTMENT COMPLEX - SWIMMING POOL - DAY
The brothers and Chris sit at a poolside table. The swimming pool is empty except for dirty rainwater at the deep end.
CHRIS
Aw, gimme a Snickers.
Butch pulls out several candy bars and other items from his jacket and lays them on the table. This includes a toothbrush still in the package.
BUTCH
Waddaya gonna give me?
CHRIS
I’ll tell you about a scam that’ll get a lot of money.
STEW
Yeah right. Why aren’t you doing it?
BUTCH
Shut up, fat ass.
STEW
You shut up, freckles.
Stew glares at his step-brother.
BILLY
Why’d you steal a toothbrush? You don’t even brush your teeth.
BUTCH
That’s because I didn’t have no toothbrush.
(to Chris)
Here --
Butch throws the Snicker’s bar to Chris.
CHRIS
Sweet. I’ll tell you about that thing later. When fat-ass isn’t around.
STEW
Shut up, shoe-lick.
CHRIS
Shoe lick? That’s dumb. Doesn’t mean anything.
STEW
Shoe-lickin slave.
CHRIS
Say that one more time, fat-ass.
Billy pulls the comic out of his jacket and flips through it.
BUTCH
That’s all you got?
Butch reaches over and pats the bulge in Billy’s jacket.
BUTCH
(continuing)
What else is in there?
Billy pulls back a little, reluctant to show.
STEW
Something to do with X-men, I bet.
Several teen-age black boys approach the swimming pool area.
CHRIS
Shit. It’s Junior.
JUNIOR RAMSEY(15) looks like a miniature body builder making him the largest of his group.
The older boys surround the younger ones sitting at the table. Junior gets behind Chris.
JUNIOR
What’s goin on here?
Junior snatches the Snicker’s bar from Chris, opens it and begins eating it.
KENDALL HAMILTON(14), a dark-skinned black boy stands behind Billy. He grabs the comic book.
KENDALL
McMillen, why you read this faggot shit?
Kendall flips through the pages as though he’s reading it.
BILLY
C’mon Kendall –-
Billy tries grabbing the comic back just missing.
The other boys begin taking the candy off the table.
Butch grabs several candy bars from their hands.
BUTCH
Go steal your own stuff.
STACY, a tall, goofy, black boy in a fade grabs Butch in a chokehold from behind. Butch struggles to get free while his face turns bright red in anger.
CHRIS
Mess with somebody else, Stacy.
Kendall walks over to the deep end of the pool and holds the comic book over the edge.
BILLY
C’mon, Kendall. Gimme it.
MRS. RAMSEY(OS)
JUNIOR!
It sounds like Mrs. Ramsey is at the other side of the complex. The boys stop what they’re doing.
MRS. RAMSEY(OS)
JUNIOR!
JUNIOR
Chris, momma wants you home before dark.
Junior turns to leave. Stacy releases Butch and follows. Kendall pulls the comic book back in and gives it back to Billy breaking the tension.
JUNIOR
(continuing)
Little brother, thanks for the candy bar...What, momma!?
Junior heads in the direction of his mother’s voice. Kendall and Stacy follow.
CHRIS
Junior.
BILLY
What’s up with your brother and his friends?
BUTCH
They ain’t got nothing better to do?
The cold wind begins to blow a little.
STEW
It’s freezing. I’m goin’ inside.
BUTCH
Me too.
Butch and Stew get up to leave. Butch grabs his bounty off the table and shoves what’s left in his pockets.
Chris follows.
CHRIS
Can I come? You got the new Iron Sheik?
STEW
Yeah. Let’s play a tag-team match. I get the Von Eric’s!
BUTCH
(complaining)
You have them every time.
The boys run towards the apartment leaving Billy behind.
Chris turns back to Billy.
CHRIS
Billy! You comin’?
BILLY
Yeah.
Chris and the brother’s disappear into the nearby breezeway.
Still sitting poolside, Billy pulls the small box of poison from his jacket. He inspects the generic-looking box thinking.
BUTCH(OS)
BILLY!
Startled, Billy hurriedly shoves the box back in his jacket and rushes off.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT – BILLY’S BEDROOM - DAY
The boy’s play with several toy wrestlers and a miniature, wrestling ring in the middle of the bedroom floor.
MUSIC continues to play loudly from the adjacent living room.
Louise stumbles past the boy’s door and goes into the bathroom.
Quiet and to himself, Billy sits on the top bunk reading his new comic. His mind appears elsewhere.
STEW(OS)
(announcer’s voice)
Kerry Von Eric tags his brother –-
Noticing Louise in the bathroom, Billy peers from behind his comic at his brother’s and friend. They seem to be well distracted.
Billy gets up and hops down from the bunk. The other boy’s don’t take notice.
Casually, he heads into the living room towards the blaring MUSIC.
Debbie sits on the couch with her head leaning back and eyes closed. She is either passed out or listening to the music. She doesn’t notice Billy.
Billy passes the living room and into the kitchen. Louise’s cup, half full, sits alone on the kitchen table.
Turning the corner out of sight, Billy takes a quick look at Debbie before grabbing Louise’s drink. He takes it to the back of the kitchen out of site.
Nervous, his heartbeat quickens.
Billy fumbles with his shirt. Finally pulls out the box of rat poison. The box is a mess to open. Billy fumbles with the box, trying to open it.
The top rips open unevenly almost spilling its contents.
Billy’s not sure how to get it into Louise’s drink.
Debbie continues her drunken meditation still unaware.
The boys continue their wrestling match in the bedroom.
Louise’s still busy inside the bathroom.
Billy continues to fumble with the contents. Spills a little of the white powder on the counter top.
Suddenly, the front door to the apartment opens...
WILLIAM(OS)
Damn! It’s colder’n shit out there -–
Frantic, Billy tries hiding the evidence. It’s futile. White powder is all over the place, except for Louise’s cup.
The MUSIC is suddenly turned way down almost inaudible.
WILLIAM(OS)
(continuing)
Where’s Billy at?
BOYS(OS)
(in unison)
Don’t know.
Billy has hidden the box in the back of one of the kitchen cabinets. He brushes off what’s left on the counter.
The toilet FLUSHES and the bathroom door OPENS.
LOUISE(OS)
Who turned my goddamn radio down?!
WILLIAM(OS)
I did.
Billy grabs Louise’s cup and sets it down on the kitchen table. Just misses Louise as she turns the corner into the kitchen.
LOUISE
What do you want?
BILLY
Nuthin’. Just getting a drink.
LOUISE
Get out!
Billy hurries back towards the bedroom. Passes William as he lies in his bed watching the game.
Louise grabs her drink and takes a swig.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
It’s late. William, Louise and Debbie sit around the kitchen table drinking and smoking. The house is filled with cigarette and pot smoke.
DONNIE SCARBERRY(30’S), a waif-like man has just arrived but he is as high and drunk as the rest.
MUSIC continues to play loudly from the living room.
The couples LAUGH. Enjoying themselves.
William and Donnie talk MOS.
Donnie sits on the edge of the kitchen and living room in direct sight from the boy’s bedroom. The bedroom door is partly open revealing a pitch-black room.
INT. BILLY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The boy’s watch the party from the bedroom, unnoticed.
BUTCH
(quiet)
Lemme do it.
Stew hands Butch a drinking straw. Butch bites off a bit of paper and chews it heartily then loads the straw with the gooey projectile.
Butch blows the paper wad through the cracked bedroom door. Hits Donnie square in the head.
Sluggishly, Donnie reacts to the hit. He looks up at the ceiling expecting falling debris. Nothing.
DONNIE(OS)
What the --
The boy’s GIGGLE quietly.
WILLIAM(OS)
What is it?
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Donnie looks in the direction of the boy’s bedroom. He sees nothing.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - BILLY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Butch loads the straw again and steadies his aim. Got Donnie in his sights again.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Just as he blows the spit wad, Louise walks into his line-of-sight. The spit wad hits Louise on the side of the face. Sticks with a SPLAT.
Louise reaches for her face. Looks towards the bedroom door. Realizes what has just happened and where it came from.
LOUISE
My goddamn eye! William! Those fucking brats!
Overreacting, Louise appears as though she’s been shot with a bullet. Continues to YELL at William.
INT. BOY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
BILLY
Shit.
In the blink of an eye, the boys rush into bed and act asleep.
The bedroom door pushes open forcefully. Light from the hallway floods the dark bedroom. William stands in the doorway.
WILLIAM
Get up, goddamit!
William flips the bedroom light on. Playing it up, the boys act as though they’ve been awakened from a deep sleep. William doesn’t buy it.
BILLY
What? We didn’t do nuthin.
WILLIAM
Fun and games –- get up, I said.
William releases his belt buckle and pulls his belt from his pants in one smooth, familiar motion. The boys know what’s coming.
BUTCH
(crying)
We didn’t do it!
Stew begins to CRY hoping William might change his mind.
The boys reluctantly line up in a row in the middle of the room.
WILLIAM
Turn around and bend over.
The CRYING gets more intense and the boys hesitate before reluctantly turning around to meet their fate. It’s apparent they’ve had to do this before.
Each boy’s backside is now exposed.
William goes down the line and gives each one a good, solid WALLOP with the belt.
The CRYING is now louder than ever.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Don’t make me come back in here. Now go to bed.
Eagerly, the boys rush into bed and pull the covers up. Butch has the covers over his head. The crying has eased.
WILLIAM
(continuing;calm)
Good-night.
William shuts the light off and closes the door tight leaving the room pitch black. The crying has been reduced to intermittent SOBS.
The MUSIC continues to play loud in the next room. The adults have continued their party like nothing happened.
Billy lies on the top bunk staring into space. No emotion in his face. Tears roll down his cheek.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - BILLY’S BEDROOM – DAY
the sun shines through the room giving it an almost angelic glow.
MUSIC continues to play in the adjacent room.
Billy hops down from the top bunk.
The two brothers sleep quiet in their beds.
Billy heads out of the room into the hallway. The MUSIC gets louder as he gets closer to the source. Goes past his parent’s open bedroom door. Noone there. Billy peers in.
Going into the bathroom, he does what one would expect from a ten year old; he leaves the door wide open, doesn’t lift the seat and doesn’t mind to flush the toilet when he’s done.
Billy heads towards the living room. Gets to the edge of the room. Peers around the corner.
INT. MCMILLEN APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Louise sits alone in her favorite spot on the couch. She is either passed out or sleeping. Her awkward position would indicate the former.
William lies passed out on the nearby recliner.
The old wooden music box plays a RADIO STATION.
Billy watches Linda sleep.
Linda takes a heavy breath. Falls silent again.
From nowhere, the barrel of a rifle gets close to Louis’s face. It’s almost touching.
Taking aim, Billy steadies a twenty-two rifle at Louise’s face. He is just a few inches from her.
There is a short, tense moment before Louise comes to and sees the end of a barrel near her face. She looks as though she knew this was coming sooner or later.
Then...
LOUISE
What the fuck are you doing?
Linda’s voice thrusts Billy out of his daydream. He’s back in his original spot, standing.
He watches Linda. Empty-handed.
Linda raises her head slightly.
Billy continues to stare. Not sure if he’s still daydreaming.
LOUISE
I said, what the fuck do you want?
Billy stares without responding. Back in his daydream for just an instant.
The end of the rifle explodes into a single GUNSHOT at Louise’s raised head.
Again...
LOUISE
Get the fuck out of here!
Billy continues to watch Linda empty handed.
Finally...
BILLY
(grins)
Bang. You’re dead.
Billy leaves Linda. Goes towards the kitchen. Linda watches him silent for a moment.
LOUISE
What did you say to me?
The sound of the fridge door OPENING. The OPENING of a cereal box in the kitchen. Nothing from Billy.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Fucking brat.
Irritated, Louise looks through the wall toward the NOISE. Finally gets off the couch. Looks at the peacefully sleeping William.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Bill, get up!
William barely moves.
Giving up, Linda leaves the living room.
A bedroom door SLAMS.
The sound startles William from his sleep. Raises his head slightly. Looks around. Sees nothing. Lays his head back down. Back to sleep.
Billy peers from around the kitchen corner. Looks at his sleeping father then towards the Louise’s closed bedroom door. Smiles. Satisfied.
Sits down quietly to eat his cereal. Alone.
EXT. OLD GODDARD PLACE – DAY
The old green and white pick up truck struggles down a dirt and gravel, pot-holed road towards an old house. The road winds around and the truck stops in front of the dilapidated house.
The road itself continues on the property out of sight into a wooded area. A small camper sits off the road in the distance.
The property is large with an overgrowth of weeds surrounding the house and immediate area.
The truck SPUTTERS a second before turning off completely.
William and Billy get out of the truck. William grabs a cardboard box filled with belongings, mostly Vietnam memorabilia, from the rear of the truck. Billy grabs a smaller one.
WILLIAM
That’s it –- last load.
BILLY
I’m glad. I’m tired of moving.
WILLIAM
You an’ me both, son.
The two begin to walk towards the house.
BILLY
Whadya get that medal for?
Billy points towards the box at a small case with a medal inside.
BILLY
(continuing)
That for killing someone?
William stops. Looks at his young son. Uncomfortable by his son’s interest.
WILLIAM
No.
(beat)
That’s not for killing someone. It’s called a Purple Heart. You get one if you get injured during a war.
William pulls the medal case out so Billy can get a better look. He hands it to Billy who eagerly looks at it.
BILLY
(taking case)
Wow! Did you get shot? Did you kill the guy that did it at least?
WILLIAM
Naw. Was just shrapnel –- from a grenade.
Billy stares at the medal admiring it for a moment then gives it back. Father and son continue towards the house.
BILLY
You ever kill anybody, Dad?
William stands silent for a moment. Unsure of his answer.
BILLY
(continuing)
I mean if you did...there was a reason, right?
WILLIAM
Well...
BILLY
If you had a good enough reason...
William looks at his son curiously. Not sure where this is going.
BILLY
(continuing)
...like being at war..it’d be alright, huh? Killing someone.
WILLIAM
War’s different. People do things they don’t normally do. Don’t make them bad, necessarily.
Billy watches his father intently.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
People can do bad things...and still be good people.
(beat)
Still don’t mean what they do is right.
William holds his hand toward Billy. Billy lays the medal in his father’s hand. William places it back inside the box.
WILLIAM
You don’t plan on killing noone, I hope.
(smiles)
BILLY
Not yet.
WILLIAM
That’s good.
William pats his son on the head gently. Continues walkng.
Billy watches his father for a moment. Continues after him.
BILLY
So how long’s Uncle Goddard gonna let us stay?
WILLIAM
You don’t worry bout that –- you worry bout school that starts this week.
BILLY
Yeah. I gotta wear the same clothes as last year. I thought Grandma was gonna take us school shopping?
WILLIAM
You know kids in Africa don’t even have clothes. You should feel lucky.
Billy rolls his eyes.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Look, don’t worry – we’ll go when I get paid. I just don’t have the money right now.
BILLY
You never have any money.
William can only look at his son.
The two go through a chain link gate towards the front door of the house. The grave condition of the house and grounds is obvious. Where paint should be only rotting wood. Where grass should be only dirt.
WILLIAM
(changing subject)
Pretty neat place, huh? You know we can go fishin’ in those ponds down the road.(pointing in distance)
BILLY
(excited)
Can I get my BB gun and go exploring?
WILLIAM
Yeah. Just stay ‘round the house.
(beat)
Maybe later we can shoot the twenty-two.
BILLY
Cool!
INT. OLD GODDARD HOUSE - DAY
Billy sets the box down just inside the door in the hall way and hurries off somewhere inside the large house.
The inside of the house is worse off than the outside. Several moving boxes lay about.
William sets his box down and goes to the refrigerator.
The miniscule contents of the refrigerator are the first thing noticeable. The second is the lone twelve-pack of beer sitting on the shelf. William grabs a can of beer from it.
William heads into the living area where several unpacked moving boxes sit around waiting to be unpacked.
Louise has assumed her normal position on the couch. The location of the couch is the only thing that’s changed.
Louise takes a swig from her white plastic cup.
LOUISE
Can’t believe this dump. Don’t even have hot water.
WILLIAM
Listen, don’t start on me. I can’t help it if the water heater’s broke. Least we don’t have to pay rent. You find something to bitch about though, huh?
William takes a large swig of beer.
LOUISE
You need to go to Nelda’s –- I’m out of Valium.
WILLIAM
I’m not going right now.
LOUISE
You bastard! It’s all about you and those kids. What about me?
WILLIAM
It’s always about you!
INT. ADJACENT HALLWAY - DAY
Billy eavesdrops on the discussion in the next room.
Butch and Stew play with action figures on the floor behind him.
LOUISE(OS)
I don’t know what you’re gonna do come Monday with those kids – you’re not gonna leave me here with them.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
The brothers come hurdling out of the back room. Billy has a BB-gun in one hand as they run past William and Louise.
WILLIAM
Be careful with the windows!
The front screen door SLAMS shut, leaving William and Louise alone.
LOUISE
Can you get some beer at least?
WILLIAM
I’ve gotta have money for lunches on Monday.
LOUISE
They can take their lunch.
She takes a swig from her cup.
WILLIAM
With what food?
LOUISE
Get some bread and boloney while you’re at the store.
She finds a half-smoked cigarette lying in the ashtray on the coffee table. Lights it.
WILLIAM
What about food for tonight?
LOUISE
I don’t know -- figure it out.
William shakes his head in disgust. He picks up his box of memorabilia and heads to his bedroom.
INT. BEDROOM – DAY
William sits on the bed. Holds his Purple Heart in his hand staring at it. He lays it on the bed next to him.
He removes several other pieces of Vietnam War memorabilia and lays them on the bed next to the Purple Heart.
Finally, he removes the last item from the box. Holds up a small, framed picture of himself, his ex-wife and Butch and Billy a few years earlier. He takes a good look at it, reminiscing. Better days.
William goes to a closet. Hides the picture in back of the top shelf.
EXT. OLD GODDARD PLACE – DAY
The boys are quite a ways down the dirt road almost out of sight of the house. Billy is carefully aiming his BB-gun towards some trees.
Leaves litter the ground.
BILLY
If Louise’s gone, Dad’ll have to get back with mom. Louise is the only reason they’re not together.
Butch watches his big brother curiously.
BUTCH
But what if we git caught? We’ll go to jail. I ain’t going to no jail.
Billy takes a SHOT with the BB-gun. Missing his target, he pumps the air gun up using the handle under the stock readying for another shot.
BILLY
I’m not going to jail neither. Don’t worry, no one’s gonna care if she’s dead anyways. Everyone hates her.
BUTCH
Yeah. Even Stew.
BILLY
(lowers gun)
You want mom and dad back together don’t you? You want us to be a family again? Besides their not gonna send kids to jail. We’ll just tell everyone that robber broke in and shot her.
Buttoning his front pants, Stew walks up to the two other brothers.
BILLY
(to Butch)
Shut up. There’s Stew.
STEW
You shoot anything?
BILLY
Not yet.
Taking careful aim, Billy fires another SHOT.
BILLY
(continuing)
Got im!
The brothers run over to a nearby area. They survey the remains of a dying bird.
BUTCH
Dang, look at what you did. It’s still moving.
The oddly squirming, dying bird mesmerizes Billy.
STEW
What are you gonna do with it?
Without saying anything, Billy pumps the BB-gun. Points the gun and shoots the bird point blank.
The bird now lies still.
BILLY
Now it’s dead.
Butch and Stew look at Billy then each other, in disbelief.
Coldly, Joe surveys his first kill.
INT. OLD GODDARD HOUSE – NIGHT
The boys sit at the old wooden dining table while William mixes a syrupy concoction on several paper plates.
The boys wait eagerly for their dinners.
WILLIAM
How many kids get to eat peanut butter and syrup for dinner?
William gives each boy a plate with a good-sized portion of the peanut butter and syrup mixture.
The boys don’t hesitate to dig in eating like they haven’t eaten in days.
William fixes himself a plate of the same. He chases each bite with a swig of beer.
The all day drinking is beginning to show on William’s face. His eyes are as red as his flushed face.
Louise is fast asleep on the couch in the adjacent room.
EXT. BAPTIST CHURCH – DAY
The graveled parking lot is filling up with cars mostly Cadillac’s and the like. CHURCHGOERS hang around talking and some enter the brick, stand alone building.
A large, permanent, billboard-like sign welcomes cars into the parking lot. On the billboard below the name of the place it reads: Living in sin? Get evicted. Move in with Jesus.
The McMillen truck pulls up right beneath the sign. The three brothers file out.
Butch is the last one out. He closes the heavy door behind him. The boys are dressed in their Sunday best though they are the worst dressed.
WILLIAM
Be waitin outside for me.
The boys wave acknowledging their father. They watch as he pulls out of the parking lot and gets down the street out of sight.
Several old MEN and WOMEN pass by the boys barely taking notice.
The boys wait until their father is out of sight before heading towards the church building.
EXT. BUSY ROAD – DAY
Still in their Sunday dress, the boys walk in the overgrown grass just off the road. Billy walks just behind the other two carrying a large stick. He picks up a stone once in a while and takes a swing at it.
Butch and Stew walk just ahead.
STEW
That guy’d get his ass whupped.
BUTCH
You see that Camel Clutch? No way you’d get out of that. He’d break his back.
Several old cars pass by creating a whirlwind of air around the boys.
BUTCH
(continuing)
Chris Stone...he went to a real life wrasslin match a while back...he said he spit on the Sheik while he was comin out...said the guy just about jumped in the stands to get him. I’m tellin’ you that guy’s crazy. No way Slaughter could take him.
The boys get to a bridge that crosses a wide, shallow river. They veer off down towards the riverbank.
STEW
(picks up rock)
I dunno. I’d put money on Slaughter. The guy’s recon. You know what those guys can do?
BILLY
(interrupting)
Wonder what time it is?
STEW
(throws rock)
Church ain’t done for awhile. Besides, Ed’ll be late anyways. Like always.
BILLY
Maybe we should get back.
The other brothers continue walking without acknowledging their older brother.
As the three approach the riverbank, they notice a lone, ELDERLY BLACK MAN(60’s), sitting on the bank fishing.
The Elderly man looks up taking notice of the boys. He takes a swig from a can wrapped in a brown paper bag and continues tending his line.
The warm sun invites the cool water.
The boys get to the edge of the water. The river is deceivably swift but calm.
Stew eyes the fisherman.
STEW
Probably fishin for carp. Will says they love eatin that.
BUTCH
What’s a carp?
STEW
It’s a fish with nothing but bones. Only ghetto people eat it. Mostly blacks. That and chicken.
Butch considers Stews comment.
BUTCH
We eat a lot of chickin.
STEW
Cause we’re ghetto.
BILLY
I’m going in.
Billy begins to undress revealing the swim trunks beneath his trousers.
Billy wades in the shallow river. It looks pleasant.
The fisherman eyes the boys.
Billy gets in to about his knees and looks back at his brothers.
BILLY
(continuing)
C’mon.
Butch and Stew look at each other before stripping down. They too have shorts on beneath their trousers. They were expecting this.
Butch and Stew wade in. Butch splashes Stew soaking him. Stew retaliates. Billy continues wading deeper in the river.
Suddenly, Billy hits a deep spot and sinks to his chest in water. Stew and Butch don’t seem to notice and follow Billy. They too end up in chest deep water. The water seems much swifter now.
The swift moving river has almost overtaken Billy. He struggles to keep his footing. Butch and Stew are soon in the same predicament.
They are all now being swept down river towards the fisherman.
The fisherman takes another swig of his drink. Watches the boy’s worsening situation.
The brothers are in full panic mode. They SCREAM for help as they struggle for air. They float right in front of the fisherman still sitting. He watches, unmoved, as the boys float by.
Billy tries swimming against the current. He goes under a few times in the attempt. His brothers flail about aimlessly.
After what seems like forever, Billy finally ends up on the nearby shore struggling for something to hold on to. Somehow he grabs Butch as he floats by.
Stew floats by the other brothers still SCREAMING for help. He finally hits a half submerged tree and gets stuck.
Exhausted, Billy pulls himself out then helps Butch.
The fisherman sits a few yards away tending his bait.
Somehow, Stew manages to pull himself close enough to shore to grab hold. He pulls himself ashore and throws himself on the sand exhausted.
The boys sit there awhile catching their breath.
Billy glares at the old man. The man stares back. Smiles.
EXT. BUSY ROAD – DAY
The boys walk along the same path except back towards the church. Each boy’s long, shaggy head is soaked. They certainly don’t look like they’ve been at church.
STEW
You see that ol man? He didn’t even try an help us.
BUTCH
We coulda died.
STEW
Yeah. We’d be in deep crap.
BILLY
Don’t even think about that. No one died so --
BUTCH
-- Yeah we coulda, though.
BILLY
I wonder why that guy didn’t help us? Not like he couldn’t hear us yelling.
Silent. The boys conteplate their near-death experience. Continue walking.
EXT. BAPTIST CHURCH – DAY
The boys arrive in the parking lot just as church is being let out. As they come around the corner to the front, they notice William’s pick up truck in the parking lot.
BILLY
Crap! Dad’s here! How do I look?
Billy looks like the others, a wet rat.
STEW
Forget about it. We’ll tell him we were wrasslin in a puddle.
BUTCH
What puddle, fat-ass? It ain’t raining.
STEW
Well you think of something then, Freck.
It’s too late. William’s seen them. Reluctantly, the boys head towards their fate.
Billy turns to wave goodbye to a few of the churchgoers whom have congregated outside.
Not sure why, a few still wave back.
BILLY
(loud)
See you next Sunday.
Butch opens the passenger side door and gets in next to his father. Stew and Billy follow.
William notices the water dripping off them.
WILLIAM
How was church?
BILLY
You know, same ol’ stuff. Wantin everyone to be saved and stuff.
William knows something’s fishy. Literally.
Butch and Stew remain oddly quiet.
BILLY
(continuing)
You and Louise should go with us sometime. Pastor Ted was askin about you.
WILLIAM
Really.
Avoiding the subject, William starts the truck.
The truck begins to pull out of the parking lot.
Again, Billy waves at churchgoers on the way out.
An uneasy silence.
BUTCH
Dad, you think Slaughter could take the Iron Sheik?
WILLIAM
What do you think?
The boys sit without responding.
WILLIAM
(continuing;
smiling)
The guy’s Recon. Of course he could.
INT. OLD GODDARD PLACE - DINING ROOM
Butch and Stew sit at the dinner table eating cornflakes.
Stew pours himself another bowl of cereal and milk from a plain container.
BUTCH
God I wish we could have some regular milk. This stuff stinks.
STEW
(taking bite)
I think it’s all right.
BUTCH
That’s because you’ll eat anything.
William enters buttoning a blue work shirt.
WILLIAM
What’s wrong now?
BUTCH
It’s this powdered milk. Tastes like water. Gross.
WILLIAM
If that’s all you got you’ll eat it.
BUTCH
That’s all we got.
WILLIAM
Exactly. So eat it.
(beat)
Where’s your brother?
BUTCH
He’s in the bathroom.
INT. BATHROOM
Billy stands in front of the mirror combing his hair. He puts a little water on the plastic comb and carefully runs it through his hair.
WILLIAM(OS)
Billy, Let’s go. You’re gonna be late for the bus.
No reply. Billy continues to comb through his wet hair. He gives himself a wry smile. A vote of confidence.
Lays the comb down. Billy holds an old sock in front of him. Begins folding it in several places.
The sock is now a neatly folded square.
He reaches back and shoves the padding down the back of his underwear. Looks at his elevated backside in the mirror. Smiles at the reflection of his new butt cheek.
Another sock. More folding.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
As Butch and Stew continue to eat from their bowls of cereal, Billy enters.
Billy sits and pours himself a bowl. He pours the milk. Squirms in his chair a little trying to get comfortable.
William finishes buttoning his shirt then swigs the last of his coffee from a mug.
BILLY
Dad, you got our lunch money?
WILLIAM
You just tell them you forgot it and you’ll bring it tomorrow. You’ll be on tickets anyways.
BILLY
What if they don’t let us eat? Then what?
WILLIAM
I guess you’d better eat another bowl of cereal then.
William smiles.
The boys don’t see the joke. Shake their heads.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Don’t worry. They ain’t gonna let you starve.
(beat)
Now hurry up. You’re gonna miss the bus.
William goes into the next room.
Stew finishes eating. Takes his empty bowl to the sink. Leaves the room.
Butch finishes. Leaves his bowl on the table. Follows Stew into another room.
Billy sits alone. Continues eating. Reads the back of the cereal box.
BILLY
Dad?
WILLIAM(OS)
Yeah?
BILLY
You think it’s worse watching someone die...like if sombody was drowning or something...and not doing anything to help them...or killing someone who wants to be dead anyways?
William peers his head around the corner. Looks at his son sitting. A little worry on his face.
WILLIAM
What are you talking about?
Billy continues eating. Stares straight. Daydreaming.
BILLY
Doesn’t mean they’re evil.
(beat)
Kinda like killing someone in a war.
Billy looks at his father.
William hesitates before answering.
WILLIAM
I suppose.
Billy returns his attention to his cereal bowl. Quiet.
EXT. SCHOOL BUS STOP – DAY
A few CHILDREN wait in the cold morning air for the school bus.
A pretty young black girl, DARCY PETERSON(13), stands alone near the lone street sign near the curb. She carries an armful of new school supplies and a flute case.
DANNY(11) and DAVEY ADDINGTON(12), two geeky-looking white boys meekly throw rocks across the street. Both wear matching Coca-Cola sweat suits.
Butch and Stew sneak up behind the Addington boys as they continue their rock-throwing.
Before they can turn around, Butch and Stew have both snatched the Addington boys’ sweat bottoms and yanked them down to their knees.
The Addington boys quickly realize what has happened and reach for their lowered trousers.
DANNY
Aw c’mon guys! Real funny.
Davey is almost in tears.
Butch and Stew LAUGH hysterically.
Both boys manage to get their pants up rather quickly and begin chasing their assailants.
Butch and Stew take off running. They dodge the two slower boys around the bus stop and down the road a little.
Darcy watches in amusement.
Billy approaches the bus stop. He notices Darcy standing alone. Barely recognizing the now pretty girl, he takes a long second look.
BILLY
(smiling)
Hi, Darcy.
DARCY
(smiling back)
Hi, Billy.
There is an awkward, pre-pubescent moment.
DARCY
(continuing)
Who do you have this year?
BILLY
Miss Campbell. Who do you have?
DARCY
Miss Clayton. I hear she’s mean.
(beat)
I wish I had Miss Campbell.
(smiles)
I hear she’s real nice.
BILLY
Yeah. That’s what I hear.
Suddenly concerned with his appearance, Billy tries fixing his still-wet hair.
Darcy notices.
DARCY
Your hair looks all right.
BILLY
(smiles)
Oh. Thanks. Yours too.
Again, an awkward moment.
BILLY
(continuing)
Do you really use grease in your hair?
Darcy’s a little embarrassed by the question.
DARCY
No. Do you?
Darcy waits for a response. The embarrassment is now on Billy.
BILLY
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean --
DARCY
-- I’m kidding. No I don’t use grease in my hair. It’s called activator. It keeps my jerry curl from falling out.
Billy’s not quite sure how to respond.
BILLY
You mean your hair will fall out? Wow.
DARCY
(smiles)
No. I don’t mean my hair will fall out. Like going bald or something.
(beat)
My hair’ll get real dry and, well, it won’t look like this.
Billy tries soaking up the cultural lesson.
Butch and Stew run up breaking the uneasy silence. They are both out of breath.
STEW
God. Did you see that? Got his pants down to his knees.
BILLY
Their gonna tell their brother.
BUTCH
Who cares? They don’t even go to our school.
The old, yellow school bus turns the far corner heading for the bus stop.
The Addington brothers are nowhere to be seen.
STEW
Here comes the bus.
(in the distance)
You guys better hurry!
The bus pulls to a stop in front of Darcy. Only a few black heads can be seen inside.
The old doors jerk open with a SQUEAK and the children file on.
The BUSDRIVER, an overweight woman watches the children file on.
Danny and Davey hurry from down the street to catch the bus. They just make it. Hurry on.
The bus pulls off leaving a black puff of smoke.
INT. SCHOOL BUS – DAY
Butch and Stew sit in the last seat of the bus. They are up to no good as usual.
Billy sits a few seats up by himself. He is engaged with a new comic book.
Darcy sits directly across from Billy’s seat. She watches him read.
Billy looks up to see Darcy watching.
She smiles.
A little uncomfortable, he gives her a shy smile then returns to his book.
EXT. SCHOOL BUS STOP – DAY
The old, yellow school bus pulls up to the familiar bus stop. Its doors open.
Butch and Stew come barreling out.
Butch takes off running. Agitated, Stew picks up some gravel and hurls it towards Butch. Butch is too far down the road.
STEW
(to Butch)
Real funny, freck. You better run!
Stew takes off after his brother. They both soon get down the road and out of sight.
Shortly after, Billy gets off the bus. Darcy follows.
The bus pulls off leaving a dust trail behind it.
The two have picked up where they left off.
DARCY
So where do you live?
BILLY
I live off tenth. What about you?
DARCY
(points)
I live back over there.
BILLY
Oh.
A silent moment.
DARCY
You want to come over?
Billy finds his words.
BILLY
Uh--
DARCY
-- No one’s home. My parents work late. We’ll be the only one’s there. And my dad’s got this collection of comic book’s he’s been saving. They’re real old.
Billy seems a little more interested now.
BILLY
I don’t know.
DARCY
It’s not far.
(changes mind)
Nevermind. You probably can’t go anyways.
Billy looks in the direction his brothers went. He turns back to Darcy.
BILLY
No. Um...Uh...sure. I can only stay for a minute though.
DARCY
(smiles)
That’s okay.
The two begin to walk down the street towards Darcy’s house.
EXT. BUSY ROAD - DAY
Billy and Darcy walk along the edge of the two-laned road. Every once in a while a truck speeds past throwing wind and dust around them.
They seem to be enjoying each other’s company.
INT. GAS STATION PARKING LOT – DAY
Billy and Darcy cross the parking lot of the run-down gas station. Several YOUNG BOYS loiter around the building.
The boys watch the couple move across the gravel lot.
BOY #1(OS)
Hey! Porch monkey! What’s in the case?
Darcy ignores the comment and the two keep on walking.
BILLY
Just ignore them--
Suddenly, the largest and oldest boy, a corn-fed boy in boots and jeans snatches Darcy’s case from behind.
Darcy and Billy turn to face the boy.
BOY #1
I just want to know what you got here, little girl.
DARCY
Gimme it. Please.
The boy opens the case and removes the expensive-looking antique flute.
DARCY
(continuing)
Please be careful. It’s old.
BOY #1
What a perty thing you got here. I bet you blow pretty good with them lips, huh?
Boy #1 spits a huge wad of tobacco spit in front of the couple then smiles revealing sickly, rotting teeth. Too much tobacco already.
DARCY
I-I’m okay, I guess.
The other boys LAUGH at the comment and are now gathered around their friend. They eye Billy.
Boy #1 puts the end of the flute in his mouth and mimics felatio on it.
The other boys laugh at the sick humor.
Billy avoids eye contact. He knows the dire potential of the unfolding scene.
Boy #1 removes the flute from his mouth leaving the end contaminated with chew spit and debris. He joins in the laughter. Again, his teeth are a reminder of his poor hygiene.
Boy #1 spits again at the feet of the couple. A nice spit puddle is forming on the ground.
BOY #1
What about your boyfriend? Does he blow as good as you?
BILLY
I’m not her boyfriend.
BOY #1
I wasn’t talking to you, boy. I was talking to your girlfriend.
(beat)
Well, Aunt Jemima? Does he blow or not?
DARCY
I don’t know.
BOY #1
You don’t know? What do you mean you don’t know?
(to Billy)
Well, boy. You put your lips on that black skin yet? How’d it taste?
(smiles)
Like chocolate? Or mud?
Billy is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. He glares at the older boy.
BOY#1
(continuing)
Don’t cut your eyes at me, boy.
The older boy gets directly in front of Billy. He leans down and puts his face into Billy’s, almost touching.
BILLY
I didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, the older boy head butts Billy in the forehead. The force pushes Billy back, knocking him down.
Billy holds back tears. He slowly gets up. His ego is hurt more than anything.
DARCY
Leave him alone, you redneck!
BOY #2
What’d you say, nigger?
The smaller, rough-looking, boy #2 approaches Darcy. He gets in her face.
BOY #2
(continuing)
You know what my daddy says they used to do to niggers?
Boy #2 waits, expecting a response from the now scared Darcy.
BOY #2
My daddy says they used to string you people from trees –- where you belong.
The situation looks like it is about to end badly until...
From nowhere, several black boys ride into the parking lot on bicycles. By the look on Billy’s face, he knows them.
Recognizing Billy, Junior Ramsey, Kendall and Stacy pull up to where the boy’s have gathered.
JUNIOR
What’s going on, McMillen?
Junior rides up and puts his bike between Billy and Boy #1. Stacey and Kendall follow suit and each stops his bike in front of one of the boys.
The shoe is now on the other foot. Boy #1 and Boy #2 back up a little.
Junior notices Billy’s watering eyes and red forehead.
JUNIOR
These good-ol-boys messing with you?
Billy’s not sure what to say.
DARCY
Yeah. These boys are messing with us.
Junior steps off his bike and lets it fall on the graveled parking lot.
JUNIOR
Is that right?
Junior gets right up in Boy #1’s face.
JUNIOR
(continuing)
You got a problem with my friend here? I’ll settle it for him if you want.
Junior flexes a little showing off his muscles.
BOY #1
Naw, Junior. No problem. Your friend’s girlfriend was just showing us her flute.
JUNIOR
Give it back to her.
BOY #1
(smiling)
Sure. No problem.
The redneck reaches around Junior and hands Darcy her flute and case. He glares at Billy while he does letting him know this isn’t the end.
BOY #1
(continuing)
We were just leaving. Huh, fellas?
The other boys remain silent, waiting for Stacy and Kendall to make a move.
JUNIOR
You better take your ass back to the farm.
The redneck gets the picture and begins to slowly retreat. His friends follow.
Stacy flinches towards one of the boys causing him to jerk back a little. He smiles at the reaction.
The boys finally get into Boy #1’s beat up pick up truck and drive off throwing gravel out of the parking lot.
STACY
McMillen about to get his ass whooped.
BILLY
Funny, Stacy. I’m glad you guys showed up.
JUNIOR
Don’t worry about them cotton-eye-Joe’s. Needed a toothbrush more than anything.
(beat)
Where’d you guys move to?
Junior picks up his bike and sits on it.
BILLY
(points)
Over there off tenth. Got two ponds on it and everything.
JUNIOR
I know that place. You gotta ask your dad if I can come fishing one of these days. Good bass in there. You need a ride?
Billy looks at Darcy. Looks at Junior.
BILLY
Naw. I’m going to Darcy’s.
DARCY
I’m just around the corner.
JUNIOR
All right, McMillen.
(smiles)
Stay out of trouble.
BILLY
Yeah.
DARCY
Nice to meet you, Junior.
Darcy smiles at Junior. She has found a new infatuation.
JUNIOR
You too, kid.
Darcy’s face shows disappointment at the reference to her age.
STACY
Alright, McMillen. Tell your brother he owes me a candy bar.
Junior and the other boys ride off.
Darcy smiles and waves.
INT. UNKNOWN RESIDENCE – BEROOM - DAY
An expensive king-sized bed and nightstand.
A glass gun case in the corner of the room. Not empty. Photos of WHITE MEN holding different animals killed. A large, buck’s head with antlers hangs over the head of the bed.
A dozen comic books laying on the bed. Some covered in plastic.
Billy sits on the bed and has an old edition of ‘The X-Men’ in his hands reading it. He carefully turns each page.
An R&B SONG plays softly in the background.
Darcy sits on the bed near Billy. Her attention on him. His on the comic.
DARCY
Remember, if you hear a car out the window.
Billy
Sure. You know this is the edition where they introduce Wolverine? This thing’s worth a ton.
DARCY
You can have it.
Billy looks at Darcy.
BILLY
Are you serious?
Darcy smiles confirming.
BILLY
Wow. Won’t your dad find out?
DARCY
Don’t worry about it. He doesn’t look at them much anymore.
Billy looks at his new gift. Caressing it. Looks around at the lavish bedroom.
BILLY
Boy, you’re lucky.
DARCY
Yeah...well...
(beat)
Wait here.
Darcy jumps out of the bed. Goes into the other room.
Billy stays put. Takes a few other comics off the bed. Looks them over.
Darcy returns. A tin box in hand. Sits on the edge of the bed next to Billy. Opens the tin’s lid. A large amount of marijuana, some rolling papers, a pipe. A couple of already rolled joints.
Darcy opens the bedroom window a little. Takes out one of the rolled joints and the lighter.
Billy can only watch, silent.
Darcy puts the joint to her mouth and lights it. Takes an awkward, inexperienced drag. Holds it in. Holds the joint in Billy’s direction.
Billy hesitates. Finally takes it from the little girl. Can’t be outdone.
Darcy watches Billy excited. Blows out her inhaled smoke through the open window.
Billy takes a deep drag. COUGHS badly. Keeps his composure. Takes another deep drag. Holds it in this time. Holds the joint in Darcy’s direction. COUGHS some more.
INT. UNKNOWN RESIDENCE – BEDROOM – DAY
A room now filled with smoke. Darcy and Billy LAUGH uncontrollably. Billy’s on his back on the bed.
Darcy stops laughing. Looks at Billy lying on the bed. Billy doesn’t notice. Too busy laughing.
Finally, Billy stops. Opens his bloodshot eyes.
Darcy’s close to Billy now. Almost over him.
DARCY
You ever kiss a black girl, Billy?
BILLY
No. I don’t think so.
(giggles)
Darcy leans over Billy, lying on the bed and gets her face close to his. Closes her eyes.
Billy looks on in horror. Can’t move.
Darcy puckers up. Kisses Billy.
Billy allows it. Closes his eyes. Lost in the moment.
Suddenly...
A DOOR opening from the front of the house.
The mood broken by the noise, Darcy jumps off Billy and out of bed.
Billy remains. Eyes still closed. Lips puckered.
DARCY
(hushed)
Billy! Get up!
By the time Billy’s up, Darcy’s half out the open window with her things.
The bedroom’s a mess. Comics and paraphernalia all over the bed.
Confusion. Billy scrambles to follow Darcy out the window. Remembers the comic book. Reaches back inside for it. Can’t reach.
DARCY
Billy, let’s go!
Darcy pulls Billy by the back of the trousers. Pulls him out of the window.
The WHITE MAN(30’s) in the photos, the owner of the place, enters the bedroom just as the two get out the window.
EXT. UNKNOWN RESIDENCE – DAY
Billy and Darcy hop the nearest chain link fence. Run like hell.
The middle, upper class neighborhood exposed.
A man’s YELL from the open window. Sticks his head out the window. Doesn’t see anyone.
The two, young intruders ignore it. Keep running. Out of sight now.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET – DAY
A dilapidated street. Broken down cars. A low-income area.
Darcy and Billy walk along the street casually. Still stoned.
DARCY
You’re not gonna tell anyone are you.
BILLY
No.
(beat)
I’m just mad I didn’t get that comic.
(smiles)
Darcy smiles at this.
The two share a laugh. Stop in the street.
DARCY
I gotta go. See you tommorrow?
Billy
Yeah.
Darcy turns to leave. Leaves Billy standing in the street. Billy waits a moment. Turns to leave.
DARCY(OS)
Billy!
Billy turns towards Darcy’s voice.
BILLY
Yeah?
DARCY
You’re a good kisser.
(smiles)
BILLY
(smiles back)
Thanks.
The two turn and walk away. Billy smiles uncontrollably.
EXT. OLD GODDARD HOUSE – DAY
Stew and Butch play in the yard in front of the house. Throw rocks and sticks.
Billy comes up the drive. Through the gate.
Stew and Butch notice Billy. Stop what they’re doing.
BUTCH
Where were you!?
STEW
Lou’s looking for you.
Billy’s pale face turns to worry.
BILLY
You’re kidding.
STEW
Yeah. We are. You think she’s gotten off the couch?
BUTCH
Where’d you go?
BILLY
I’ll tell you about it tommorrow. I don’t feel good.
BUTCH
Aw, C’mon...
Billy continues past his brothers. Goes inside.
INT. OLD GODDARD PLACE - DAY
Billy heads straight to his room. Doesn’t look well. The pot perhaps.
Walks past Louise sitting on the sofa. Her attention’s on the television. Doesn’t even notice Billy come in.
INT. OLD GODDARD PLACE – DAY
Billy goes straight for his bed. Climbs the ladder to the top. Lays down. Closes eyes. Passes out.
INT. OLD GODDARD HOUSE - LIVING ROOM – DAY
Cartoons play on the fuzzy television.
A few empty beer cans litter the area.
Stew and Butch sit at their usual places at the adjacent kitchen table eating cereal and watching the fuzzy television.
Butch scratches his head ferociously every so often as if something is biting. His attention is mostly on the cartoons, though.
WILLIAM(OS)
(stern)
You’re going to school.
BILLY(OS)
Dad, I don’t feel good. They’ll just send me home.
WILLIAM(OS)
Fine. Stay home. I don’t want any trouble, though.
(beat)
Butch. Stew. Let’s go now.
BILLY(OS)
Let me go to work with you. I don’t want to stay with Louise.
William enters the living room buttoning his work shirt. He notices Butch repeatedly scratching his head.
WILLIAM
Quit scratching. Like a dog with fleas or something.
BUTCH
My head itches.
WILLIAM
Well, gotta take a bath tonight. No excuses.
STEW
Aw, it’s freezing cold, though.
William ignores Stew’s comment.
Butch finishes his cereal and puts the bowl in the dirty sink.
WILLIAM
(to Billy)
You gonna help me pour cement?
Billy follows his dad into the living room. He still wears his night shorts and shirt, though he doesn’t appear sick.
BILLY
I could help. Just let me go. You’ll see.
Late again, William hurries himself and the boys out the door. He grabs a metal thermos and brown lunch bag on his way out.
WILLIAM
You don’t go to school, you stay home. That’s it.
STEW
Why does Billy get to stay home?
WILLIAM
You want to stay home with Louise? Fine.
A nearby, cracked, bedroom door shows a heap of sheets and linens on a bed. Presumably a sleeping Louise.
Stew reconsiders his plea.
STEW
No way.
Butch and Stew rush out the front door letting the heavy screen door BANG shut.
William stops before leaving and turns to Billy.
WILLIAM
Please, no trouble. I don’t want to have to come home from work today. Stay in your room or go outside. Just leave Louise alone. Okay?
BILLY
Okay.
William pats Billy gently on the head.
WILLIAM
Good.
William leaves.
Billy reluctantly sits at the kitchen table and watches William and the boys leave.
INT. OLD GODDARD PLACE - BATHROOM
Sitting on the toilet, Billy is more engaged in a comic book than his bodily functions.
Suddenly, a DOOR closes and FOOTSTEPS break the silence just outside the bathroom door.
Billy looks up at the bathroom door towards the noise.
BILLY
(quiet)
Shoot.
INT. HALLWAY
A door slowly opens in the hallway and Billy carefully pokes his heads out looking for Louise. He sees no one.
He carefully enters the eerily quiet hallway and heads toward where Louise is likely to be.
The cracked bedroom door reveals an absent occupant.
Louise is up.
INT. LIVING ROOM
The “Price is Right” plays on the television as Louise sits in her spot on the sofa still wearing her dingy robe. Holding a cheap, paperback novel in one hand she takes a drink from her white, plastic cup in the other.
She sets the cup down on the coffee table. A few generic pill bottles take up space on the table.
Billy peeks his head around the corner to get a look.
Louise takes another swig from her cup.
INT. HALLWAY
Billy continues to peek around the corner. Suddenly, Billy pulls back and, as quiet as he can, hurries to his bedroom.
Just missing Billy, Louise appears to be in a hurry. She storms down the empty hallway and in to the bathroom.
She barely gets the door closed before the sound of an explosive BOWEL MOVEMENT echoes throughout the house.
INT. BEDROOM
As Billy sits on the floor of the bedroom looking through another comic book, the emanating loose BOWEL SOUNDS coming from the bathroom cause Billy’s face to wince from unwanted imagery. He covers his mouth either trying to keep himself from vomiting or laughing hysterically.
As suddenly as it began, the disturbing bathroom noise ceases.
The bathroom door OPENS.
Billy watches his bedroom door as if expecting Louise to bust in the room any moment. She doesn’t. All is quiet again.
INT. BEDROOM
Billy now lies on his back with his feet in the air against the bunk bed. He throws a small ball in the air several times. Now a significant pile of comics litters the ground around him. A lot of reading.
INT. BEDROOM
Still in his bedroom, Billy now plays with the miniature wrestling ring and toy wrestlers.
BILLY
(announcer’s voice)
Oh my God! Hulk Hogan is going off the top rope.
Billy maneuvers the wrestlers through their imaginary moves.
BILLY
(continuing)
This is it folks. The Iron Sheik is through.
Suddenly, Louise, now dressed, standing in the doorway, interrupts Billy.
LOUISE
Get up. We gotta go to the store.
Louise leaves.
INT. FORD MAVERICK - DAY
Louise drives and Billy sits shotgun in an old car.
EXT. CONVIENIENCE STORE PARKING LOT – DAY
The blue and rust FORD MAVERICK pulls into the familiar looking parking lot.
INT. FORD MAVRICK – DAY
Louise turns the ignition off and gathers her purse. She counts out several one-dollar bills from it.
Billy watches.
LOUISE
Want a coke or something?
BILLY
(hesitant)
Sure.
LOUISE
Come in and get something.
A little excited at the offer of a treat, Billy hurriedly opens the heavy car door and follows Louise inside.
INT. CONVENIENCE STORE – DAY
Billy heads straight for the soda case. Louise for the beer.
After getting his soda, Billy positions himself in front of the magazine stand by the front door. He peruses the comic section then takes one off the shelf. He begins reading it.
Louise stands at the counter paying for the beer.
Out of habit, Billy attempts to fit the comic in his pant waist.
LOUISE
Billy!
Billy stops dead.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Get which one you want.
Casually, Billy turns towards Louise and the waiting cashier.
BILLY
I’m getting this.
Billy holds up the soda bottle towards Louise.
LOUISE
I know that. Your book.
Louise motions to the book Billy’s holding.
Pleasantly surprised at the generosity though a little tentative, Billy brings the soda and comic book to the front register. He slides them onto the counter.
Louise pays the cashier.
INT. OLD GODDARD PLACE – BEDROOM - DAY
On the floor next to his bed, Billy sits reading his new comic book. He takes a drink from the soda bottle.
Louise pokes her head in the door.
LOUISE
You want to come watch TV?
BILLY
Sure.
Billy follows Louise in the living room where a children’s program is on television.
Billy takes a seat on the couch next to Louise’s spot.
Louise goes into the kitchen.
The CRACK of a can opening in the kitchen then the sound of POURING.
Eventually, Louise comes in and takes a seat next to Billy in her normal position on the couch. She takes a swig from the freshly poured beer in her white cup.
Both Louise and Billy’s attention is on the television.
LOUISE
So you’re sick, huh?
BILLY
Kinda.
LOUISE
I know what you mean. I’ve been that way for a while now.
The two continue to watch the program in silence once more.
LOUISE
(continuing)
You know, Billy. You’re going to be something one day. I just know it.
(drinks)
You’re the only one.
(drinks)
Something special.
Billy doesn’t know what to say to the compliment. He musters a shy smile.
LOUISE
(continuing;at Billy)
Just don’t throw it away like I did. I went to college, you know.
LOUISE(CONT’D)
(drinks;at TV)
I was going to do something with my life. Get out of here. Everything’s gone now.
(drinks)
All I got left. Fuck.
Again the two sit in an eerie, uncomfortable silence watching the TV.
BILLY
If you hate your life why don’t you leave or something?
LOUISE
(sharp)
Life isn’t like your little books. There are no good guys and bad guys, No happy endings. No one to rescue you. Just people like you and me --
(drinks)
-- feeding from the trough of misery.
Billy considers Louise’s last comment.
BILLY
What’s a trough?
Louise reaches over and gently strokes Billy’s cheek. She holds her hand there. Her hand falls and rests on his lap.
Billy holds his ground and manages a smile.
LOUISE
Oh, wait.
Louise gently reaches for Billy’s eyelid. Billy moves back a bit.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Don’t move.
She gently pulls a fallen eyelash from his cheek. She holds it between her forefinger and thumb.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Which finger?
Billy quickly points to the thumb. Louise opens her fingers and finds the lash on her thumb.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Lookee there. Get to make a wish. Close your eyes.
Going along with the game, Billy closes his eyes. After a moment, he opens them.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Boys are cute when they’re little.
She looks at Billy lovingly almost seductively. Again, Louise caresses Billy’s cheek.
Suddenly, Billy pulls back a little. He’s spoiled the moment.
Louise’s friendly demeanor turns sour.
LOUISE
(continuing)
You know your mother isn’t coming back, don’t you? She’s the one that left your dad after he got back from Vietnam. What a thing to do. Shame.
BILLY
Cause he cheated on her with you. She’ll be back one day.
Louise laughs at this. She knows different.
Finishing her drink already, Louise goes into the kitchen for a refill.
LOUISE(OS)
What mother would leave her children? Says a lot. Me and William together. Forever.
LOUISE(CONT’D)
(singing)
Together. Forever. Together. Forever.
Billy stares straight ahead for a moment trying to ignore the taunting. The hatred for Louise quickly returns.
INT. GODDARD HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY
Billy sits wincing with every go through of his hair William does with rusty, electric clippers. Billy’s hair is almost completely buzzed.
BILLY
Ow! But my head doesn’t even itch!
WILLIAM
It’ll be cooler for the summer anyways.
The clippers seem to be doing more pulling than cutting.
BILLY
Just because Butch had head lice we all have to get our heads shaved. It’s not fair.
The phone RINGS in the other room. William hesitates waiting for someone to answer it. Louise perhaps.
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Louise is passed out on the couch. The loud RINGING has no effect on her sleep.
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
Another RING.
WILLIAM
Get that.
No answer from the living room.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Shit.
Forced to answer it himself, William leaves Billy sitting in the chair.
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
William enters and looks at the unresponsive Louise before picking up the phone.
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Billy’s hair still has remnants of uncut strands of hair as he waits for his dad.
WILLIAM(OS)
Hi, Martha.
Billy’s eyes light up hearing his mother’s name.
Butch enters the kitchen and goes to the fridge. His head is already buzzed.
BUTCH
God, you look funny.
BILLY
(excited)
Mom’s on the phone!
BUTCH
No way!
The two boys rush to the edge of the living room and listen to the phone conversation.
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
WILLIAM
Why can’t they stay for a few days? I don’t care. Make room.
(listens)
I’ll bring them by Friday. What’s the address?
WILLIAM(CONT’D)
(listens)
Yeah. Okay. Bye.
William hands up the phone and sees the boys standing watching. Before he can get anything out...
BUTCH
Mom’s back? We get to go to mom’s this weekend?!
WILLIAM
Yep.
The two boys grab each other and begin dancing around each other.
BILLY
(singing)
We get to go to our mom’s this weekend! We get to go to our mom’s this weekend!
Stew enters to see what the commotion is about. His hair is gone too.
STEW
What? What’s going on?
BUTCH
(boasting)
We get to go to our mom’s this weekend.
Stew’s not sure how to take the news. He’s not happy about being left out.
WILLIAM
(reassuring;to Stew)
Don’t worry. We’ll do something this weekend.
(to Butch)
Don’t get too excited. It’s not the weekend yet.
(to Billy)
Go sit down or I’ll leave your hair the way it is.
Butch and Billy stop dancing. Billy gladly takes a seat in the makeshift barber’s chair. Nothing could ruin this moment.
William continues with the haircut.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX – DAY
A nicer than usual apartment for this part of town. A middle-class area.
William’s pick-up pulls into the parking lot and slowly cruises the area. The truck sticks out amongst the newer, nicer cars.
Finally, the truck comes to a stop.
INT. MCMILLEN TRUCK – DAY
William drives and the boys sit, as usual, in a row next to him. Stew sits closest to William this time.
William checks the address on a piece of paper in his hand.
WILLIAM
Okay. There it is. Number eleven. Go ahead. I’ll wait here.
BILLY
You don’t want to come with us?
WILLIAM
I don’t think so. Hurry up.
Billy opens the heavy door and gets out. Butch follows.
WILLIAM
(continuing)
Wave to me to let me know someone is there.
BILLY
Okay.
They head towards the building.
WILLIAM
(to himself)
Have fun.
The two eager boys rush over to the apartment door. They knock.
Stew now sits next to the window and watches his step-brothers.
The boys knock again. They are getting impatient. No one is answering.
William and Stew watch curiously.
Just as they are about to give up the door opens.
EXT. APARTMENT DOOR – DAY
The plain front door swings open revealing an Arab man, KAREEM ABDUL(30’s), the boys’ new stepfather.
KAREEM ABDUL
(accent;polite)
Hi boys. Come in.
BILLY
Is our mom here?
KAREEM ABDUL
She’s in the bathroom.
Still a little cautious, the boys wave to their father still waiting in the truck.
William’s truck pulls off slowly. Soon it’s out of sight.
Billy goes in and Butch follows. The boys eye Kareem as they enter the new place.
KAREEM ABDUL
(continuing)
I like your hair cuts.
Billy rubs his fuzzy head.
BILLY
Thanks.
Butch doesn’t respond. His demeanor is cold.
INT. APARTMENT – DAY
The apartment is filled with cigarette or perhaps some other type of smoke.
The unfamiliar place and people cause the boys to hesitate a bit.
BETH and JIMMY STEVENS(30’s) sit at the dining table. The source of the smoke.
JIMMY
Hey, boys. How you doing?
BOYS
(in unison)
Fine.
JIMMY
I like your haircuts. Look like a couple of Goddamn skinheads. (laughs)
BETH
Jim-my!
Billy is getting uneasier with every mention of his hair.
Again, Billy rubs his hair more conscious of it now. He doesn’t return the compliment.
KAREEM ABDUL
Would you boys like a Coke?
BUTCH
Yeah.
KAREEM ABDUL
Billy?
BILLY
No. Thanks.
Kareem goes to the fridge to fix the drinks.
JIMMY
How’s your ol’ man? Ain’t heard from him in a while.
BILLY
Good.
JIMMY
He still working for Kenneth? Pouring concrete.
BILLY
Yeah.
Jimmy takes a drag from his cigarette.
JIMMY
I ain’t seen your dad since the last time I gave you boys those melted chocolate bars. You boys were probably too young to remember that.
(laughs)
Those things had been in the car all day. You got that damn chocolate everywhere.
Jimmy laughs at his memory of this.
Kareem brings each boy a drink.
MARTHA(OS)
Yeah, I coulda killed you, too.
JIMMY
Goddamn that was funny, Martha Jean.
MARTHA
Goddmmit, I told you it’s Carol now. I can’t stand Martha Jean.
Butch sees his mother for the first time in a few years.
BUTCH
Mommy!
Butch rushes up and throws himself into his mother’s arms.
Billy refrains and remains seated.
MARTHA
My babies!
MARTHA ABDUL(30’s) is an attractive woman with an angry face. Though dressed nicely, her façade doesn’t hide her poor roots.
She immediately notices Billy hasn’t moved.
MARTHA
(continuing)
You too good to give your momma a hug?
BILLY
No.
MARTHA
Well, come give me a hug then.
Billy, slowly, almost hesitantly, gets up to hug his mother.
MARTHA
(continuing)
My God! What happened to your hair? You look like a bunch of hillbillies.
It’s clear that Billy feels the insult. He gives his mother a quick, cold hug.
MARTHA
(continuing)
And look at the way you’re dressed. Raising a bunch of rednecks.
The adults at the table hold back laughter.
BETH
C’mon, Martha. Holey, dirty jeans are in style.
JIMMY
So is bald men. That’s the reason you stick around.(laughs)
BETH
Yeah. It isn’t your money.
Jimmy and Kareem laugh at this.
BILLY
(to Martha)
You ain’t the one raising us.
Suddenly, the room has gone quiet.
MARTHA
What was that?
BILLY
Nothing.
MARTHA
No, I ain’t raising you. Look at you. You sure in the hell wouldn’t be dressed like that.
Billy looks down at his clothes. She’s right.
MARTHA
(continuing)
Ain’t my fault he married that fat bitch. Blame your dad. Not me.
Billy doesn’t respond. He’s hurt. Butch continues to hang onto his mother’s side.
There is an uneasy silence.
Kareem tries easing the tension.
KAREEM
You boys hungry? We cooked some hamburgers and hotdogs.
BUTCH
(excited)
Yeah.
Butch goes into the kitchen area with Kareem.
KAREEM
Billy?
BILLY
Sure.
Billy follows Kareem into the kitchen leaving his mother standing in the living area.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX – PLAYGROUND
Billy sits alone on one of the metal play apparatuses. He’s looking somewhere off in the middle distance.
Martha sneaks up behind her son trying to scare him.
MARTHA
Boo!
She playfully grabs her son around the waist. Not only is Billy not scared, he is also unamused.
MARTHA
(continuing)
Oh C’mon. Your hair doesn’t look that bad. It makes you look tough. Nobody’ll mess with you now.
Billy continues to stare off in the distance. Stubborn.
BILLY
Can we come live with you?
Martha searches for the correct response. An easy answer.
MARTHA
Listen. Kareem and I just got back. We need to get back on our feet. Get settled.
MARTHA(CONT’D)
(beat)
You guys can come over every weekend if you want. We got a pool here.
BILLY
(unenthusiastic)
Thanks.
An awkward silence. Martha gets a cigarette from her pack and lights it. She takes a long drag.
MARTHA
Guess what?
BILLY
What.
MARTHA
You’re going to have another brother.
Billy finally looks at his mother. This is definitely not what he expected to hear.
MARTHA
(continuing)
I’m pregnant. You excited?
BILLY
Pregnant?
MARTHA
(smiles)
Yeah. Three months now.
Billy turns back to looking at nothing.
BILLY
I don’t want another brother.
This is not what Martha expected to hear. Her demeanor turns hard.
MARTHA
Don’t be so goddamn selfish. The world doesn’t evolve around you.
BILLY
I thought it was revolve.
MARTHA
Whatever. Don’t be a smart-ass. I haven’t seen you in a while. Don’t ruin it.
BILLY
Oh don’t worry.
Billy jumps off the play toy. He glares at his mother.
BILLY
(continuing)
We won’t ruin anything.
Billy walks off.
His mother watches Billy leave without responding. She takes a final drag from her cigarette and throws the butt in the playground dirt.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX – PARKING LOT
Billy and Butch stand alone on the sidewalk waiting for their father.
Shortly, William pulls up in his truck.
The boys approach the driver’s side door.
Stew scoots close to William as the boys get near.
INT. WILLIAM’S TRUCK - DAY
William watches as Butch opens the door.
WILLIAM
Where’s your mother?
BILLY
She’s sleeping.
The boys get in and close the door.
William looks towards Martha’s apartment before tearing out of the parking lot.
WILLIAM
(to himself)
Goddamn sleeping. Ain’t seen em in a year and can’t even walk em out. Goddammit.
The boys sit quiet listening to their father’s complaint. They act as though they’ve done something wrong.
STEW
What’d you guys do this weekend.
BUTCH
Nothing.
BILLY
(unconvincing)
We had so much fun. Can’t wait till we get to spend the night again.
Billy turns out the window and stares. He wishes it were true.
William looks down at his boys sitting uncharacteristically quiet.
INT. GODDARD HOUSE – BATHROOM
Billy, a little taller though with looks much the same, stands in front of the mirror running a comb through his longer hair. Tiptoes. Gets a glimps of his poofed-out butt.
WILLIAM(OS)
BILLY! Let’s go!
Billy gives his hair one more good comb through then smiles at his reflection.
BILLY
Alright! Jeeze.
Billy leaves.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – BOY’S ROOM
Butch lies in bed with the covers pulled up to his neck. He appears sickly with his facial complexion off-white to almost yellow.
LOUISE(OS)
I don’t want to be left here with him all day. Take him to work with you.
WILLIAM(OS)
I can’t take him to work with me! He’s sick.
LOUISE(OS)
Well stay home then. I’m not watching him.
WILLIAM(OS)
Fine. I get fired you buy your own Goddamn beer.
Billy enters from the adjacent bathroom.
BILLY
Butch.
Butch doesn’t respond.
Billy gets closer to his brother.
BILLY
(continuing)
Butch.
Butch’s eyes struggle to open. He squints shielding his eyes from the room light.
Louise and William continue to argue in the next room.
BUTCH
What.
Billy notices his brother’s sick look.
BILLY
Man, you don’t look good. You’re really sick, huh? You staying home?
BUTCH
Uh huh. My head hurts bad.
With that, Butch rolls over and continues to sleep.
Billy looks at his brother’s body for a moment.
BILLY
Don’t be messing with my new comics.
Butch doesn’t respond.
BILLY
(continuing)
I’ll be checking when I get home.
Still no response.
BILLY
(continuing)
See you later.
With that, Billy goes to the bedroom door, opens it and begins to close it.
BUTCH
Tell fat-ass not to eat all the cereal.
Billy smiles turns off the light and closes the bedroom door leaving Butch alone.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – LIVING AREA
William counts several one-dollar bills out and throws a few on the coffee table in front of Louise. His mustache is now neatly trimmed.
An open pill bottle and Louise’s white, plastic cup have taken their place on the coffee table as well.
As William throws the money on the table, Billy enters on his way into the dining room.
WILLIAM
There. I don’t have any more.
LOUISE
Whatever.
As Billy passes, Louise notices Billy watching the two of them.
Louise takes a white pill from atop the table, next to the pill bottle and puts it in her mouth. She chases it with a swallow from her white cup. She looks as though she’s aged ten years.
LOUISE
(to Billy)
What’s you fucking problem.
Billy responds by shaking his head in disgust. He goes into the adjacent dining room where Stew has taken up his normal position.
Stew has his cereal bowl tipped up and is slurping the remaining milk from it. He’s put on a few more pounds.
WILLIAM
Hey. Jesus. You have to talk like that?
LOUISE
Shut up.
WILLIAM
That’s all you need to be doing this early. Better slow down on that stuff.
LOUISE
Fuck you, Bill.
William’s had enough. He shakes his head then leaves Louise lone.
Hurriedly, he passes Stew and Billy in the dining room. Billy has sat down and is getting ready to pour him a bowl of cereal.
WILLIAM
Let’s go. Now.
BILLY
I didn’t get to eat.
WILLIAM
I don’t care. Let’s go.
William goes to the front door and leaves. The wooden screen door SLAMS shut behind him.
Stew quickly gets up, grabs a couple of books off the table and follows William out. Again, the screen door SLAMS shut behind him.
Reluctantly, Billy gets up from the table. He leaves the empty bowl behind. Before he leaves, he looks into the living room at Louise once more.
She has now laid down on the couch.
Billy Stares at the immovable mass for a moment. Contemplating.
Finally, he grabs a few schoolbooks off the table and heads for the front door. The screen door SLAMS shut a final time.
INT. GODDARD PLACE - DAY
The front screen door looks as though it may jump open at any time. The place is eerily quiet.
Suddenly, the front screen door swings open abruptly. Billy and Stew come barging in after school.
Stew heads straight for the refrigerator. Billy goes to the kitchen table to put his books down.
BILLY
Hello. Anybody home.
In the living room, Louise is still sleeping on the couch. The only thing different is the television is on with the sound off.
Billy walks over and checks on Louise quickly trying not to wake her. The now empty pill bottle is tipped over on the table next to her white cup.
Billy looks closely to see if she’s still breathing. Hoping.
Her heavy chest goes up and down slowly.
Disappointed, Billy heads for his bedroom.
INT. GOODARD PLACE – BOY’S BEDROOM
Butch is still lying in bed. The blanket covers most of his body.
Billy enters.
BILLY
Must be nice. Getting to sleep all day.
Billy takes a quick look at Butch then heads for his comic book shoe box in the closet.
BILLY
(continuing)
Better not have messed with my books.
Billy pulls the shoebox open and inventories his comics.
BILLY
(continuing;
sniffing)
God. What’s that smell.
Billy gets up and leaves his comic books in the box. He goes over to the bunk bed where Butch lies.
BILLY
(continuing)
You pee the bed? Smells like pee.
Investigating the source of the smell, he gets close to Butch’s bed.
BILLY
(continuing)
Butch. Wake up. You smell that?
Billy gets right up close to Butch’s body. He reaches over to wake him.
BILLY
(continuing;
casual)
Butch. Wake up.
(beat)
Stew’s eating all the cereal.
Billy nudges the blanket. It doesn’t move.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – KITCHEN AREA
Stew stands in front of the fridge drinking milk from the gallon container.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – LIVING AREA
Louise lies motionless on the couch.
The silent television plays.
BILLY(OS)
SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH BUTCH!
Louise continues her peaceful sleep.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – KITCHEN AREA
Stew continues drinking from the milk container.
Neither respond to Billy’s plea.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – BOY’S BEDROOM
Billy urgently shakes his younger brother trying to wake him.
BILLY
(loud)
Butch! Wake up!
The covers pull back revealing Butch’s cyanotic face.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – LIVING AREA
Louise sleeps.
BILLY(OS)
HELP! Butch! Please. Wake up.
The television program eerily mocks Billy’s cries for help.
EXT. CEMETARY – DAY
Dark clouds linger overhead. A rain is coming.
A Sparsely decorated cemetery is filled with rows of plain headstones.
A small group of MOURNERS gathers around a gravesite.
The McMillen family minus Butch and a few other relatives stand huddled around a freshly dug hole.
A RELIGIOUS PERSON says a few last words.
Martha and Kareem stand opposite the McMillen family. Martha SOBS quietly. Kareem comforts her.
The rain begins to gently fall on the participants.
Billy stares intently as a small casket is lowered into the ground. Rain is beginning to soak Billy’s face. He doesn’t notice.
Billy finally looks up at Louise a few feet away. Her disinterested look is obvious even behind the large sunglasses.
Billy looks across the casket at his mother. Watches her. Suddenly, her image is replaced by Louise’s. Same clothes same demeanor.
Billy continues staring at the morphed image of his two mothers. Rain in his eyes. Hatred.
EXT. SCHOOLBUS STOP – MORNING
Billy and Stew stand alone at the familiar bus stop. The two avoid conversation.
The old, yellow school bus approaches and stops in front of the two boys.
The door opens revealing the fat bus driver.
Stew hurriedly gets on and moves quickly to a seat.
Billy looks up at the bus driver and hesitates. He stands there.
BUS DRIVER
C’mon son.
Stew and a few other SCHOOL CHILDREN curiously watch Billy from the bus windows.
Billy looks at Stew then the bus driver again. Turns away and begins walking back towards his house.
Confused, the bus driver and Stew watch Billy intently for a moment.
Stew lowers the window on the school bus.
STEW
Billy! Where you going?
Billy doesn’t turn or respond. He keeps going.
The school bus sits running idle for a moment.
Stew continues to watch Billy walk, almost out of sight now.
The bus doors finally close and the bus pulls off leaving a thick puff of smoke in its wake.
Stew’s head hangs out the window trying to get a look at his brother as the bus pulls out of sight.
EXT. GODDARD PLACE – DAY
Billy gets to the front door steps. He walks past the front door and to an adjacent tool shed.
INT. TOOL SHED - DAY
Billy enters the darkened space and quickly looks around. Soon he finds what he’s looking for and grabs a shovel.
EXT. WOODED AREA – DAY
Carrying the shovel, Billy stops at a clearing and begins digging. The hard earth is tough work for the young boy.
EXT. WOODED AREA – DAY
Billy is now almost waist deep in his freshly dug hole. His dirty clothes and appearance reveal the difficulty in the task.
Throwing the last shovel full of dirt, Billy jumps from the rectangular pit. He looks at his work satisfied.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – LIVING AREA
Louise is in her usual spot asleep. The expected accessories lay about on the table in front of her.
The television plays with the SOUND up loud.
Louise’s breath is heavy from her drooping mouth. One can almost see the alcohol and drug laden breath.
From nowhere, the barrel of a 22-rifle quietly and slowly gets close to Louise’s face. Almost touching. A familiar scene.
Louise is unaware. Blissfully passed out.
On the other end of the gun, Billy looks down the barrel at the unsuspecting woman.
The fresh dirt is apparent on Billy’s face and shirt.
Billy holds the weapon with unusual steadiness. He readies his shot.
Billy grimaces with emotional pain. Tears roll down his face.
The muscles in his arm flex squeezing the trigger until...
Louise opens her eyes. Sees the barrel of the gun and it’s holder.
Billy notices. Remains.
LOUISE
Please.
Billy doesn’t budge.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Do it.
Billy’s shaking now.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Do it! Kill me!
Billy relaxes his aim. Not expecting this.
Louise suddenly grabs the barrel of the gun tight and brings it close to her face. Presses it against her own nose.
LOUISE
(continuing)
You want to do it. Do it!
(crying)
Fucking kill me!
Billy considers her plea.
Louise is hysterical now.
LOUISE
(continuing)
Kill me! Kill me!
A silent, tense moment.
Billy’s grip tightens again. Determined to finish his task. Then...
INT. WEAVER’S MORTUARY – DAY
Same lone, plain casket. Same PREACHER. Same silence.
Billy sits with his father watching. Looks at his father.
William is straight-faced. No emotion.
Billy returns his gaze towards the casket.
Billy looks back up at his father.
William looks down at his son. Still straight-faced. Looks back towards the front.
Billy holds back tears.
The preacher finally finishes. Steps down.
MORTUARY WORKERS approach the closed casket. Move flowers from atop it, readying for the viewing. Open the lid.
Billy stares at Louise’s white, ghoulish profile just above the rim of the casket at the front.
EXT. WEAVER’S MORTUARY – DAY
A few mourners stand around the exit smoking. The SOUND of the world has returned. It’s a pleasant reminder of the life around them.
William, Billy and Stew exit past the relatives loitering around the entrance. William, Billy and Stew look relaxed, happy.
INT. GODDARD PLACE – DAY
Billy stands over Louise’s body still steadying for the shot.
She continues holding the barrel at her face.
After a tense moment, Billy slowly lowers the rifle.
Though wet with tears, his face shows a change of heart. Leaves Louise alone.
Louise SOBS uncontrollably.
Her trough of misery.
FADE OUT.
THE END
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related searches
- hands on activities for photosynthesis
- cellular respiration hands on activity
- hands on math activities
- peeling skin on hands pictures
- peeling hands and feet disease
- hands and feet peeling causes
- skin peeling on hands autoimmune
- nails lupus rashes hands symptoms
- hands on photosynthesis activity
- dry skin on hands peeling
- author s purpose hands on activity
- skin peeling on hands causes