PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay (29 page)
GLORIA
That is not entirely fair.
WILDA
It's disgusting is what it is.
WILDA (CONT'D)
Arnie Pratt, used to come in? Took me to this part in San Antone. Wasn't anyone there but these proctologists. Not a one of their wives would turn their backs on those dudes.
MINNIE
Isn't a man I ever saw isn't an asshole doctor, you give 'em half a chance.
GLORIA
Know what a guy said to me last night? "If women would go around naked, we wouldn't
have
to have strip clubs."
MINNIE (O.S.)
Sounds like something they'd say in France. Sin is not a big issue over there. What they do is get right to it.
Your European does not share the re-pressive nature of your normal American male...
Wilda and Gloria look blank.
WILDA
What?
SOUND of toilet flushing.
CUT TO:
THE WOODS NEAR WAN'S
Jack and Ortega are walking toward a grove of large oak trees.
ORTEGA
I think Cat is gonna kill you, Jack.
Maybe worse than that. I was you, I'd go east.
I would go to Maine or Delaware.
JACK
Why up there?
ORTEGA
'Cause Cat don't know where it is.
JACK
I'll keep it in mind.
ORTEGA
(pausing)
I think the great whales are against us.
I think there is evil in these creatures we have yet to dream about.
JACK
I never gave it much thought.
ORTEGA
Look at a whale sometime.
Look him right in the eye.
JACK
What do you know about Chavez?
What's he do? Big guy.
Comes over here from San Antone.
ORTEGA
(frowns, as if insulted)
I know who he is, Jack.
You don't got to tell me who he is. A white man is thinking, both these dudes are enchiladas, they gonna know each other, right?
JACK
You been drinking, pal.
ORTEGA
Si.
We are all
borracho.
Read you fucking Hemingway.
It is this thing of the drink,
Ingles.
JACK
I feel I've caught you in a bad frame of mind.
Jack and Ortega reach the far edge of the grove, where Ortega has set up a shabby tent near his BEAT-UP CAR.
ORTEGA
Chavez owns a bank in San Antonio.
He has about a billion acres near Carrizo Springs.
JACK
Jesus.
That explains the gold-toed boots.
ORTEGA
People of the Hispanic culture say a man like this has the
suerte,
the luck.
Good fortune.
JACK
That's what people of the gringo culture say too. You going to go anywhere, you going to be here?
ORTEGA
Why don't you just ask?
Give me the courtesy of that.
JACK
Okay.
You think I could use the car?
ORTEGA
There is very little gas.
I will hold you responsible, you run out and leave it somewhere.
JACK
(frowns, like his feelings are hurt)
I wouldn't do that, amigo.
ORTEGA
Good.
Because you have done this a number of times before.
Jack lays an arm on Ortega's shoulder, gets close, confidential like. Ortega shows he's suspicious of such an action from Jack.
JACK
Besides, buddy, changes are rapidly taking place in my life. I can't say a lot about it right now, but
I will likely be buying you a new car of your choice right soon.
ORTEGA
Good. Do not lose this one until you do.
JACK
You people are a very suspicious race.
ORTEGA
I wonder where the fock we get that?
MAIN ROOM
-MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT
The contrast is startling. The place is almost empty.
A couple of strippers are leaving.
Hutt, under the weather, talks to the aging lady bartender.
HUTT
This....and do not take offense... This is not--not my idea of a really swinging town. You know?
BARTENDER
Uh-huh.
HUTT
(glances at the bartender)
You get off?
BARTENDER
I used to.
How about you?
Hutt sits on the floor. Bartender raises a brow. Cat comes out of shadow, carries Hutt toward the door.
CUT TO:
DOWN THE ROAD
Jack slumps in Ortega's car, trying to read a
Discover
in the dark, and keep one eye on Gloria's Rambler in the nearly empty parking lot of Piggs.
POV JACK
A car picks up Wilda and Minnie.
DISSOLVE:
MOMENTS LATER ON JACK
Jack wearily opens his eyes.
POV JACK
THROUGH WINDSHIELD
Maggie Thatch leaves in her pickup with a British flag painted on the door.
ON JACK
He picks up another magazine, one with a whale on the cover. Looks puzzled.
ON HUTT
Hutt staggers out alone, drives off erratically.
BACK TO JACK
He yawns. Closes his eyes. Opens them quickly, looks up.
POV JACK
Gloria stands by her Rambler, sees a tire is flat, kicks it in disgust. At that moment, Cecil's car lights go on, and he pulls up beside Gloria. He gets out, talks to Gloria. Gloria argues a minute, then gets in the car.
ON JACK
Jack gapes, pounds on the steering wheel. This is too much.
INT. CECIL'S CAR
-NIGHT
MOVING
Cat drives, Grape beside him. Cecil sits in back with Gloria.
GLORIA
It's very nice of you, Mr. Dupree, you don't have to do this.
CECIL
What are you talking about?
People help each other, that's what people do. And not
Mister
Dupree, please.
I feel old, a young lady like you calls me that. You get to be my age, that is not a title you care to hear.
GLORIA
Oh, I don't think I could.
CECIL
Could what?
GLORIA
Call you that.
I feel it would be a presumption on my part, me being in your employment and all.
CECIL
Well, as your employ
er
, I say it's Cecil, I say Cecil's just fine.
GLORIA
If you say so.
CECIL
So say it.
GLORIA
Do what?
CECIL
Say it.
GLORIA
Say what?
CECIL
Say it.
Say "Cecil."
GLORIA
You mean all by itself?
CECIL
Jesus Christ, all by itself'd
be fine...
GLORIA
Cecil.
CECIL
Now see, that sounds real nice.
And you are not presuming a thing, all right?
I assure you of that.
Cecil pats her on the knee.
Gloria rolls her eyes. Uh-oh, here we go again.
EXT. TEXAS ROAD -NIGHT
Headlights of Cecil's car sweep across a weathered, dangling sign.
It is rusted, cracked, shot at by passing citizens over the years. It reads:
BATTLE OF BRITUN FAMILY FUN PARK
OUTSIDE CAR
Grape opens a battered gate. Cecil helps Gloria out.
GLORIA
Now you don't need to, I can do just fine from here.
CECIL
Hey, I won't have that.
I don't see a lady home, leave her walking in the dark.
GLORIA
Isn't any trouble.
I do it all the time.
CECIL
We haven't had a chance to talk.
Cecil takes her arm and guides her down a rough path.
CECIL (CONT'D)
Right now's fine with me.
Gloria is no stranger to bullshit, and she's getting increasingly uptight about all this.
GLORIA
It is awful late, all
right?