PIGGS - A Novel with Bonus Screenplay (36 page)

GLORIA

You seen Mr. Chavez around?

Wilda looks disgruntled.

WILDA

That asshole in the Wal-Mart tie? Says,"can you change a fiver, hon?"

We don't get economic change in this country, we are in for a
major
downside, you can quote me on that.

OUTSIDE DRESSING ROOM

Gloria pauses, peers back over the meager crowd, looks disgusted.
 
Maggie, just outside the dressing room, is having a smoke.

MAGGIE

Buenos noches, hon.

GLORIA

El fucko you,
dear.

DRESSING ROOM

Gloria goes in the dressing room, slams the door.

OUT BACK

Jack helps Ricky (duct-taped, clumsy) out of the hole that leads from Jack's cellar.

RICKY

This is not right, Jack. We are working together. You do not treat a person who is doing the
cooperacion
in such a manner.

JACK

Can it, seen-yor. We ain't working together, and we sure aren't friends. Just move it along.

RICKY

How am I supposed to do that?

Jack stops behind the dumpster. Duct-tapes Ricky to the dumpster. Picks up a rag from the ground.

JACK

You're going to feel a little discomfort, all right? I'm going up for that money. All you got to do is keep still till I get back.

You want to start yelling or something, it's maybe Cat coming out, don't blame me for that.

Jack picks up a rag.

RICKY

That revolver has sentimental value to me. I would like to get it back when--

Before Ricky can speak again, Jack stuffs the rag in his mouth. Jack keeps low, edges back toward Piggs, through the nearly empty lot.
 
STOPS, FREEZES.

POV JACK

Gerrard and his crew toward the front of the lot, standing by their Lincoln.

BACK TO SCENE:

Jack nearly cries, shakes his head.

JACK

Shit. Timing is not your thing, man...

MAIN ROOM

The place is mostly empty.
 
A couple of patrons leaving, a stripper heading for the front door. Cecil is at the bar, having a drink, waiting.
 
Grape and Cat look intense.

ON JACK

Jack sees all this, edges along the far wall, climbs the back stairs.

BACK STAIRS, DOOR TO CECIL'S ROOM

Jack works frantically, trying to pick the lock.
 
Breaks off his pick.
 
Nearly loses it right there. Ready to give up.
 
Tries the knob.
 
The door isn't locked.
 
Goes in.

CECIL'S ROOM

Jack finds the place on the floor he spotted through the cracks.
 
The box is inside. He takes it out, tries the lock. Hears a key turn in the door, rolls behind a sofa as Cecil walks in.

CUT TO:

CECIL'S FEET

BACK TO SCENE

Jack reaches for Ricky's revolver. The hammer catches on his belt.
 
He eases the weapon out.

LOW VIEW CECIL

Cecil opens a closet, takes something out. Comes within inches of Jack. Turns, goes back out the door.

ON JACK

Jack comes out from the sofa as Cecil walks back in. Jack freezes in plain sight. Cecil doesn't see him, turns and goes out again.

Jack looks as if he might throw up.

THE MAIN ROOM

The place is empty. Jack edges down the stairs, runs right into Gloria leaving the dressing room.

GLORIA

Jesus!

JACK

What are you doing here?

GLORIA

I kinda
work
here. Jack--

JACK

You don't want to go out that way. That's not a good way.

MOVING SCENE

Jack leads her quickly toward the side entry.

GLORIA

Quit it.
 
What is the matter with you?

JACK

There's a problem. Something's come up, I don't have time to go into this now.

GLORIA

Well, take time.
 
What's that?

JACK

A box.

GLORIA

Box of what?

Jack ignores her, pulls her along.

GLORIA

Jack---

Jack guides her out the side door.

OUTSIDE

Jack glances at the Lincoln and the men standing about at the end of the lot. Moves Gloria along until they come to the dumpster, and there's Ricky, duct-taped, in his underwear.

WIDEN SCENE

GLORIA

Oh---my--
God...!

JACK

Keep it down, all right? It's okay.
 
Him and me are doing something together.

GLORIA

If this is a pervert thing, you can just stop right there.

Ricky is struggling to speak through the rag in his mouth.

JACK

It's just business, Gloria...

GLORIA

That man is restrained. Get that stuff off him, Jack.
 
Right now.

JACK

All right, just keep it kind of quiet, okay?

Gloria yanks the rag out of Ricky's mouth.

GLORIA

You all right?

RICKY

I am being held against my will, Miss Mundi, but I am perfectly fine.

GLORIA

(to Jack)

If this is another of your efforts to thwart my personal life...

Jack begins to whisper.

JACK

It has got nothing to do with that. Like I said it is
business!

RICKY

Why are we whispering, Jack?

Gloria throws up her hands.

GLORIA

Damn, what'd I do with those keys?

JACK

Listen, you don't want to be driving right now.

GLORIA

You boys straighten this out, be sure and let me know.

JACK

Gloria!

Too late.
 
Gloria stalks back toward the passageway entry, carrying her shoes.

JACK

(to Ricky)

You just stay right there, I got to get her back.

RICKY

Let me go, I will gladly help.

JACK

You just--

Just as Gloria disappears, lights from the Lincoln flare into brightness, partially spotlighting Ricky and Jack.

JACK

Oh, fuck...

FRONT DOOR OF PIGGS

Cecil, Grape and Cat come out the front entrance.

GERRARD (O.S.)

Ah, Mr. Dupree…

Grape starts to say something.

CECIL

Don't talk, don't be
talking
to him.

(pause, to Grape)

This side...Cat, over here.

CECIL

(calls out)

Hot out here, Mr. Gerrard...

THE PARKING LOT

Gerrard, leaning against the Lincoln.

GERRARD

Indeed it is, Mr. Dupree...

NEAR THE DUMPSTER

Ricky, alarmed, watches Jack disappear, then he starts hopping away.

DRESSING ROOM

GLORIA, going through all her stuff, muttering.

GLORIA

(to herself)

Perverts is my guess. I do not know why I am surprised.
 
Every man there is has got a kink of some kind...

She turns over everything on her dresser. Gets down, reaches under it.

GLORIA (CONT'D)

I would rather see a man naked any day than in his shorts.
Why
they cannot keep themselves clean...

PARKING LOT

The Lincoln, with Gerrard, Leo, Willie Bee and Frank on one side---Cecil, Grape, Cat on the other.

FAVOR CECIL

He leans against his own Caddie, sets an attache case by the front tire.

CECIL

We could do without all the bright lights.

GERRARD

Leo...

Leo reaches in and turns off the lights.

GERRARD

What we going to do, Mr. Dupree, is like they do it on the TV. I'm the black dude in the shades, you the white guy without. I put
my
stuff on the hood, you put yours there too. You with me so far?

CECIL

Just do it.
 
I don't need to hear any rappity-rap, I don't need a lot of soul.

FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT