PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay (35 page)
Someone bumps Grape, passes him by. Grape is the only one who sees who it is, which is Gerrard, followed by his hoods.
GRAPE
Uh, Mr. Dupree...
FAVOR CECIL
CECIL
...He fails to mention one of them is the waiter, and one is the wait-ee.
That kinda---
CECIL
...He fails to mention one of them is the waiter, and one the dine-ee. That---
Cecil stops, looks up.
POV CECIL
Gerrard, standing there, smiles His guys are in the shadows behind him, along with a gaping Grape.
GERRARD
Mr. Cecil R. Dupree?
Sir, I am Hamilton Taylor Gerrard, and I represent Mr. Ambrose Junior of Baton Rouge, Louisiana who would like to offer you a fair, square and honest business deal.
CECIL/GERRARD
The two guests and the stripper quickly find something else to do.
CECIL
Do what?
CUT TO:
THE CELLAR - NIGHT
Ricky is duct-taped, naked except for shorts and boots, sitting in a "doggie" pen.
Jack squats beside him.
Jack has lined up Ricky's possessions in the light of a camping flashlight:
Clothing, gold watch, rings, cash, .357 Magnum with a gold
peso
inlaid in the ivory grip.
RICKY
This is a criminal act you are doing, Jack. When you are detaining the person, it is a most illegal matter, for which the penalty is severe. However, I am willing to overlook this as a misunderstanding.
I would even consider a generous reward.
JACK
A what?
RICKY
I will deal with you in a financial manner and forget this--
(pause)
--whatever you think it is.
JACK
You through? What you ought to do is thank me,
amigo.
You'd be a cold
burrito
if it wasn't for me.
RICKY
And what is that supposed to mean?
JACK
Means there's other people well as me unhappy with your attentions to a lady whose name I won't mention. His initials are Cecil R. Dupree.
RICKY
No, no...you are jesting now.
JACK
Right. Maybe Cat and Grape's a joke with you.
Jack bends down close to Ricky's face.
ANOTHER ANGLE
JACK
Anyway, we aren't talking 'bout them. What you need to worry 'bout is me. I know you are making every effort to diddle Gloria's parts and I won't put up with that.
(BEAT)
RICKY
My interest in Miss Mundi is serious in nature. I resent your use of coarse and ordinary--
Jack slaps him HARD on the side of his head. Ricky flinches.
JACK
I didn't bring you here to talk about greaser ro-mance, all right? Shut up and listen, you might get out of this in one piece. It might be you could be of use to me in a certain enterprise.
RICKY
I am of course willing to listen, Jack.
JACK
I bet.
Jack picks up Ricky's wallet, thumbs through it, puts it down and picks up a beautiful Colt .45 silver-plated, engraved, ivory-handled revolver.
JACK (CONT'D)
Real nice piece.
RICKY
Thank you.
Jack leans back against the fence, playing with the revolver.
JACK
Cecil Dupree's got a box full of money up in his place. I can't say how much but one hundred grand'd be close. He's making a drug buy with that dough only I intend to take it first.
RICKY
Christo...!
JACK
Someone'll be coming here from Baton Rouge to make the deal. Who they are is people from a criminal empire in Louisiana, a lot of whose members have been cited on cable TV.
RICKY
I believe I have seen that show.
JACK
This is where I come in. And you too, if you behave yourself. I'm getting that box 'fore anyone else does. That's my part. Your job is hding it. Like maybe in a overseas offshore truss.
Ricky, solemn as can be.
RICKY
I...imagine I could do that.
JACK
Fine. Then you got a fair chance of remaining among the living.
RICKY
I am pleased to be working with you, Jack.
JACK
Fuck you are. Just don't get any fancy ideas. I've seen every Ricardo Mounty-balm picture twice...
CUT TO:
CECIL'S TABLE
Cecil, Grape and Cat behind him, all bewildered by the presence of Gerrard. Cat
stares
at Gerrard. Gerrard now sits at ease, nursing a drink.
The crowd is thinning. The strippers dance like zombies onstage.
GERRARD
...took us some
time
to find your establishment, Mr. Dupree.
Though I have to say, now that I have seen it in persona, it is all I expected it to be.
CECIL
We are not New York City, but we like to think we have our own mil-loo--so to speak.
GERRARD
That you do, sir. Ahm-bee-ahnce unbound is what I see. I am of the Hebrew faith myself, but I find the pork motif both original and without great offense.
CECIL
We get all kinds of folks here.
GERRARD
Tolerance is a fine thing to see..
Cecil glances away a moment.
CECIL
I'll go along with that.
GERRARD
What I bring, Mr. Dupree, is a message from Mr. Ambrose Junior, who would like to say he harbor no ill feeling regarding the mishap that occurred in connection with Mr. Hutt Kenny's visit here.
Mr. Ambrose say an accident like that might happen once, but odds are it wouldn't happen again. I expect you'd agree.
CECIL
I sure don't foresee any such event. The odds are good he wouldn't be sending another asshole with funny-looking shoes up here.
FAVOR GERRARD
Gerrard's smile fades for an instant. Then he leans one elbow on the table.
GERRARD
Here is what Mr. Ambrose Junior suggest we do. I have brought the merchandise in the quantity you requested...
CECIL
You got in here, do you? Fine.
No partials, now.
We do the whole package, I told him that.
GERRARD
And, as a gesture of good will, he agrees to that, sir.
Cecil tries not to look too surprised.
CECIL
Oh?
GERRARD
Yes, sir. And the new price, that will be one forty five.
CECIL
No
way.
GERRARD
Allow me to continue.
Mr. Ambrose feels this slight increase could serve as a gesture of good will on
your
part, Mr. Dupree.
CECIL
I sense the direction you are heading, Mr. Gerrard. With all due respect, fuck Mr. Junior. I might go five for goodwill, if we go back to seventy five next time around.
GERRARD
Mr. Ambrose anticipate your feelings. He will agree to eighty, and looks forward to a pleasant atmosphere in future relations.
The two nod, and everyone relaxes for the moment. Cecil signals for more drinks.
CECIL
My associates. This is Grape here, and that's Cat.
I see you've brought some friends along. You didn't need to do that.
GERRARD
Long ride up here by yourself.
Someone got to read the map.
Gerrard looks at his watch.
GERRARD (CONT'D)
I have 12:22, Mr. Dupree.
I suggest we conclude our business outside.
An hour all right with you?
I will have my package, you'll have yours.
CECIL
That's kind of late. We'll be closing up soon.
GERRARD
My people often stay up all night, Mr. Dupree.
CECIL
I heard about that.
Gerrard stands.
There is a short moment of tension between the two.
GERRARD
Mr. Dupree...
Gerrard turns and leaves, and his crew follows.
AT THE TABLE
GRAPE
He's going to what--sit out in the lot? What's all that about?
CECIL
That is to get on my nerves, is what it's all about.
CAT
That nigger's real tall.
GRAPE
They're all real tall. They're supposed to be tall.
FADE TO:
MAIN ROOM - LATER
The crowd has thinned. Gloria, hopping toward the dressing room, harried, takes off her high heels as she passes Wilda, coming out of the dressing room.
