PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay (33 page)

Any time you like I will be happy not to show up at all.

CECIL

You going to quit?

GLORIA

Can I expect you to turn your attentions elsewhere, Mr. Dupree?
 
I would like to get that clear.

CECIL

You get a decent place to live yet?

GLORIA

What?

Cecil looks away again.

CECIL

Out of that Nazi airplane.
 
We talked about this. And getting coffee.
 
The kind you grind, not something comes in a jar, little grains float on the top...

Gloria tries to speak, can't.

CECIL

I got your flat fixed. You could thank me for that.

Gloria stomps off, and Cecil nearly smiles.

WAN'S KITCHEN-NIGHT

Ortega is busy cooking. Rhino stops Jack as Jack leaves with a tray of food.

RHINO

I been getting reports on your behavior, Jack.
 
I do not like hearing incidents like that.

JACK

I made a mistake is all.
 
Mr. Dupree says it's okay.
 
Says it wasn't harmful intent.

RHINO

I don't give a fuck about in
tent.

What you do reflects on me. You want to keep straight, you want to get along with me?

JACK

I guess that's what I want to do.

RHINO

You guess?
 
What is a fucking
guess,
Jack?

Jack has had enough---that does it. Jack turns on Rhino, a different Jack for the moment.

ALTERNATE VIEW

JACK

You got no cause to be stompin' on me.
 
You talk like I'm fucking off all the time and that ain't so.
 
I do what you're telling me, taking your shit, whatever you're dishing out. I am doing as much as anybody else 'round here!

ON RHINO

Rhino is shocked that Jack is talking back like this. His anger reaches a peak, then simply drops away.

RHINO

Get that stuff over there, get it over an' get back here.
 
And---don't be speaking uncivil to me.

It is over, and Jack's still alive.
 
As he leaves, sweat breaks out on his face.

INT. MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

The place is packed as Jack weaves his way through the crowd. Glances at Cecil's table.
 
Cecil is making a big thing over a guy in a black Stetson hat, a singer Jack has seen on TV. With him is KANDY KLEE, she's a singer too. She's maybe twelve, but made up older than that.

The two wear typical country singer wear. They are both autographing pigs.

CLOSE ON ONE OF THE PIGS

The pig squeals.

MATCH THE SQUEAL to

Guy at the bar as he CHOMPS into a barbecue sandwich.

A TABLE ON THE FLOOR

Jack spots Maggie riding on an OLD GUY'S chubby knee.

JACK

You seen Gloria or what?
 
She's supposed to be on, I don't see her anywhere.

MAGGIE

Well hell, Jack, I am busy here, all right? You are interfering with my customer's delight.

OLD GUY

I can't see the ladies, you are standing there, son. Get us a couple of Buds.

JACK

I'm your food person. You got to see a wait person for that.

OLD GUY

A what?

Jack looks to his right, spots Gloria and dashes off.

DRESSING ROOM

GLORIA and JACK

GLORIA

I am on, Jack, I can't stop and talk now. And don't keep barging in. We're going to get a lock.

JACK

Huh-uh. That'd be a fire code violation. Listen, I just want to talk.

Gloria drops her robe.

GLORIA

Christ, Jack, I feel I ought to put a coat on, you come around. It isn't natural, staring like that.

Jack looks intense.

JACK

We talked about us going out, Gloria. Only you don't have time. You got
time
for Cecil and that rich greaser, you haven't got time for me.

GLORIA

Don't go there, Jack. I will not put up with personal intrusions on my life.

ON JACK

JACK

Things'll be different soon. You'll be wearing real clothes, and candy that's not on sale. When my big deal comes through...

ON GLORIA

Naked as ever, Gloria goes to a hanger and brushes something off a costume. Doesn't look at Jack.

GLORIA

And how's that coming?

JACK

All right. Far as Chavez is concerned, I'm letting racial tension stand in the way. I don't like ol' Ortega much, but I don't like him in a different way I don't like Chavez.

Gloria freezes, as she holds up a tiny bra to her breasts.

GLORIA

You're saying what?

JACK

Ricky is one rich greaser.
 
Ortega's poor as a dog.
 
You wouldn't think about doing it with someone like him.

GLORIA

Doing it.

JACK

You know.
 
Doing it.

GLORIA

Goddamn it, Jack.

She snatches up her robe.

GLORIA (CONT'D)

You have broken a bond between us. One I doubt has got a chance of healing.

JACK

What kinda bond was that? You won't even go out for pie.

GLORIA

Maybe pie just wasn't meant to be, hon.

Gloria checks her hair in the mirror, wets her finger, brushes a curl across her cheek. We can see Jack in the mirror.

GLORIA (CONT'D)

Sometimes it's best you nip something like that, before it gets to pie...

In her mirror, Jack's face wilts.

OUTSIDE DRESSING ROOM

Jack stops short as Cecil's voice comes over the speakers.

CECIL (O.S.)

...We have a special surprise for y'all at Piggs tonight...

DJ'S STAND

ON CECIL

CECIL

...What we got is
post
time,

ladies and gents, if there's any ladies got in here somehow.

SOUND: LAUGHTER

CECIL

We got your horsies, we got 'em right here.
 
Ugliest horses I have ever seen, but take a look at those jockeys, boys, that's what you came
 
to see!

Cheers

MUSIC (O.S) DERBY MUSIC.

MAIN FLOOR

SERIES OF SHOTS

We see the the horsies are TRUCKERS, LAWYERS, DEFROCKED DALLAS COWBOYS, etc. Each have a number pinned to their butts. The strippers wear cute jockey hats and carry toy whips.
 
The patrons are on their feet cheering.

ON JACK

He glances behind him, sees Gloria at the dressing room door, hanging on the arm of Ricky Chavez.

JACK

Aw, man...

CECIL (V.O.)

And they're off.
 
There they gooooo!

SERIES OF SHOTS

The trucker bucks Maggie off.
 
The football player moves ahead...here comes the lawyer and a judge, other strippers, other guys....up to the finish line, etc.

ON JACK

Cat wraps a big arm around Jack from behind, pulls him into shadow. Jack kicks at empty air as Grape appears and peels him down to his shorts, shoves him to his knees.

JACK

Hey, goddamn it!

Grape can't stop laughing.

GRAPE

Go get 'em---I got a twenty on you, jailbait!

Something lands on his back. It's the girl singer. Cat gives Jack a kick.

DJ'S STAND

CECIL

Hold it, folks, we got us a late entry here, it's not done yet!
 
Here she is, boys, our real special guest an' she's just fourteen, the prettiest songbird in Nashville, Tennessee...little Miss Kaaaandy Klee!

JACK / KANDY

KANDY KLEE

(riding Jack)

Thirteen,
asshole...

Words only Jack can hear.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE AIRPLANE -NIGHT

Ricky Chavez sits uncomfortably in the jumpseat; Gloria slumps in a chair, dead tired, rubbing her feet, trying to keep her eyes open. Ricky is trying to be Mister Smooth.

RICKY

...One cannot but admire the German peoples, Miss Mundi. They can craft the most incredible of machines.

As I recall,the Junkers JU 52 has the maximum speed of 350 kilometers an hour, and the ceiling of 18,045 feet, yes?

Gloria scarcely opens her eyes.

GLORIA

It'll depend on your load factor, and what kind of weather you're up against in the European skies.

RICKY

That is much like life itself, is it not? What we strive for is not always what we achieve.