PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay (27 page)

CUT TO:

MAIN ROOM

The night goes on, SOUND and FURY

CUT TO:

INT: DRESSING ROOM

The place is crowded and sleazy. Gloria is there with Maggie Thatch. Jack enters without knocking. Maggie, mostly naked, plucks a Kleenex to cover herself, isn't sure which parts to cover.

MAGGIE

Jesus, Jack, we are naked in here!

JACK

You maybe didn't notice, you're naked out there.

MAGGIE

That is professional naked, the entertainment portion of my life. It is personal time back here.

CUT TO:

Gloria in a robe, facing her makeup mirror.

GLORIA

You ever heard of knock?

JACK

I need to see you, before you get off.

GLORIA

I don't ever get off.

JACK

I was thinking. Maybe you feel like it, we could go somewhere. Maybe pie or something up to Denny's on 35. They do a good pie.

GLORIA

Denny's.

JACK

You like the icebox or the hot?

GLORIA

Tonight's not good for me. I am real tired, Jack.

JACK

Sure....Okay....

Maggie is now dressed in her OUTRAGEOUS British flag costume.

MAGGIE

I hate to leave, everyone's talking about pie.

GLORIA

Do it to 'em, babe.

Maggie leaves.

MUSIC: God Save the Queen

DISK JOCKEY (O.S.)

Here she is, right from Looooondon, England...

GLORIA

Fort Fucking Worth...

DISK JOCKEY (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Miss Maaaagie Thatch!

SOUND: APPLAUSE

CUT TO:

EXT. PIGGS -NIGHT

MATCH APPLAUSE, BUT SOFTER

It's South Texas sweltering hot. Background is the parking lot and Wan's. SOUND: insects buzzing in the trees. The PIGGS sign blinks and sizzles.

MOVING, as Cecil hurries across the lot, passes an old NASH RAMBLER that belongs to Gloria, reaches his CADDIE. Cat, running up behind him, opens the trunk.

CAT

You need anything?

CECIL

I say I need anything, you hear me say I need anything?

Cecil snatches a long object wrapped in burlap from the trunk and walks off. MOVING SHOT as Cecil walks across the dark lot with his sack.

CUT TO:

MAN IN AN AVIATOR JACKET is standing by his car, a BLUE, BMW CONVERTIBLE. He's looking for his keys, glances up, alarmed.

MAN IN AVIATOR JACKET

What the fuck, man---?

Cecil pulls a short-handled bat from the sack, whips it across the man's gut. Man staggers back. Cecil whacks him again, and the man slides down the side of his car. Cecil raises him hand to whack the guy again---and we

CUT TO:

INT. DRESSING ROOM

Gloria at the dressing table, robe half open. She's doing her face.

GLORIA

I swear that woman come out of a looney bin somewhere. She is my very best friend but I think she's from a alien world of some kind.

JACK

Alabama.

GLORIA

No, not Alabama. Maggie. You're not even listening. You're thinking about pussy and pie.

Gloria sees Jack isn't even looking. He's slumped, grumpy-faced. She turns to face him.

(beat)

GLORIA (CONT'D)

All right, what's wrong, Jack?

JACK

Isn't anything wrong.

GLORIA

Uh-huh.

ANOTHER ANGLE

JACK

Cecil. You know how he gets. He's upset at this guy so he takes it out on me.

GLORIA

Cecil isn't upset. He's crazy as shit, Jack.

Jack looks thoughtful. Won't look at Gloria.

JACK

I didn't come in to whine, Gloria. But yeah, I got something on my mind. It sometimes happens a bad experience of some kind will open the door to opportunity. I believe such a chance has come my way. I am in a position to make a great deal of money. There are risks involved, but I am willing to take those risks if a certain someone could consider sharing wealth and new found happiness with me.

Gloria looks blank.

GLORIA

Do what, Jack?

JACK

You wouldn't ever have to work in a dump like this again. Not ever.

GLORIA

I am an exotic dancer, Jack. I am fulfilled in my profession. I don't want to be something else.

JACK

(frustrated)

You haven't ever
tried,
Gloria. You don't know what else may await you out there!

Gloria stands, and her half-open robe drops off leaving her stark naked.

GLORIA

I got to get to work, Jack.

JACK

You sure look good.

GLORIA

Lord, Jack, look at something else.

A KNOCK on the door.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Jack opens the door. Rickey Chavez stands there
carrying
a red rose and a box of chocolates. Jack closes the door behind him.

JACK

What do you want? You're not supposed to be back here. This area's restricted to authorized personnel.

RICKY

I am calling on the Senorita Mundi. What are you doing here, Jack?

JACK

I'm an employee. I go where my duties take me. Patrons got to sit out front, I don't have to explain that to you.

FAVOR CHAVEZ

RICKY

I am not here as a patron. I come in the role of the
galan.

JACK

You do what?

RICKY

I am a suitor. I come to pay Senorita Mundi court.

JACK

Jesus Christ, get your ass out of here.

Ricky makes a move. Jack stands in his way.

JACK

That woman is not fully dressed. Get on back where you belong.

RICKY

Pardon.
I mean no offense.

Ricky easily, and gently lifts Jack and sets him aside. Jack is too flustered (and too small) to act.

JACK

That rose isn't even real. And that candy's from a fucking drug store. I happen to know they're on sale.

His protests are drowned in a hemorrhage of flashing lights, the whoops and hollers of the crowd as we

CUT TO:

CENTER STAGE

Maggie does a dip, twirls around the chrome bar. Tosses her bra into the crowd.

CUT TO:

A DRUNK catches the bra in his face. He's delighted and his buddies laugh.

CUT TO:

EXT. PIGGS

Cat has the guy in the aviator jacket Cecil killed over his shoulder, walking back along in the shadows of PIGGS, holding a baseball bat in one hand. He bumps into someone in the dark.

POV CAT

The drunk who was urinating is standing face to face with Cat. He sees the dead guy over Cat's shoulder. His eyes open wide.

DRUNK

Holy---

CUT TO:

CAT has the guy over his shoulder,
and
he's dragging the limp body of the drunk by one leg.

CUT TO:

CECIL'S TABLE

ON HUTT

Hutt has Alabama in his lap, and is feeling no pain. She giggles but is not comfortable with this much groping.

CECIL/GRAPE

GRAPE

What you want me to do? He's going to nail her right here.

CECIL

What I'm going to do is nail
him
and that fucking kid in Baton Rouge. Leave him alone. Give Alabama a twenty from me.

Grape nods past Cecil.

GRAPE

There he is.
 
There's the guy again.

CECIL

There's who?

CUT TO:

BAR

The back of a MAN in a leather jacket.

BACK TO SCENE

GRAPE

The clown, the dude called your guy a fag.

CECIL

(Shakes his head)

Huh-uh. Guy's got a brown jacket.
 
You said a black.

GRAPE

No sir.
 
I believe I said a brown.
 
Short hair, brown jacket like a aviator wears.

CECIL

I'm pretty sure you didn't say brown.

Grape shrugs.

GRAPE