True Romance
by Quentin Tarantino
When you are tired of relationships, try a romance.
INT. BAR - NIGHT
A smoky cocktail bar downtown Detroit.
CLARENCE WORLEY, a young hipster hepcat, is trying to pick up an older lady named LUCY. She isn't bothered by him, in fact, she's alittle charmed. But, you can tell, that she isn't going to leave her barstool.
CLARENCE
In "Jailhouse Rock" he's everything rockabilly's about. I mean he is
rockabilly: mean, surly, nasty, rude. In that movie he couldn't give a fuck
about anything except rockin' and rollin', livin' fast, dyin' young, and
leaving a good-looking corpse. I love that scene where after he's made it
big he's throwing a big cocktail party, and all these highbrows are there,
and he's singing, "Baby You're So Square... Baby, I Don't Care". Now, they
got him dressed like a dick. He's wearing these stupid-lookin' pants, this
horrible sweater. Elvis ain't no sweater boy. I even think they got him
wearin' penny loafers. Despite all that shit, all the highbrows at the
party, big house, the stupid clothes, he's still a rude-lookin'
motherfucker. I'd watch that hillbilly and I'd want to be him so bad. Elvis
looked good. I'm no fag, but Elvis was good-lookin'. He was fuckin'
prettier than most women. I always said if I ever had to fuck a guy... I
mean had too 'cause my life depended on it... I'd fuck Elvis.
Lucy takes a drag from her cigarette.
LUCY
I'd fuck Elvis.
CLARENCE
Really?
LUCY
When he was alive. I wouldn't fuck him now.
CLARENCE
I don't blame you.
(they laugh)
So we'd both fuck Elvis. It's nice to meet people with common interests,
isn't it?
Lucy laughs.
CLARENCE
Well, enough about the King, how 'bout you?
LUCY
How 'bout me what?
CLARENCE
How 'bout you go to the movies with me tonight?
LUCY
What are we gonna see?
CLARENCE
A Donny Chiba triple feature. "The Streetfighter", "Return of the
Streetfighter", and "Sister Streetfighter".
LUCY
Who's Sonny Chiba?
CLARENCE
He is, bar none, the greatest actor working in martial arts movies ever.
LUCY
(not believing this)
You wanna take me to a kung fu movie?
CLARENCE
(holding up three fingers)
Three kung fu movies.
Lucy takes a drag from her cigarette.
LUCY
(laughing)
I don't think so, not my cup of tea.
INT. DINGY HOTEL ROOM - DAY
The sounds of the city flow in through an open window: car horns, gun shots and violence. Paint is peeling off the walls and the once green carpet is stained black.
On the bed nearby is a huge open suitcase filled with clear plastic bags of cocaine. Shotguns and pistols have been dropped carelessly around the suitcase. On the far end of the room, against the wall, is a TV. "Bewitched" is playing.
At the opposite end of the room, by the front, is a table. DREXL SPIVEY and FLOYD DIXON sit around. Cocaine is on the table as well as little plastic bags and a weigher. Floyd is black, Drexl is a white boy, though you wouldn't know it listen to him.
DREXL
Nigger, get outta my face with that bullshit.
FLOYD
Naw man, I don't be eatin' that shit.
DREXL
That's bullshit.
BIG DON WATTS, a stout, mean-looking black man who's older than Drexl and Floyd. Walks through the door carrying hamburgers and french fries in two greasy brown-paper bags.
FLOYD
Naw man, that's some serious shit.
DREXL
Nigger, you lie like a big dog.
BIG D
What the fuck are you talkin' about?
DREXL
Floyd say he don't be eatin' pussy.
BIG D
Shit, any nigger say he don't eat pussy is lyin' his ass off.
DREXL
I heard that.
FLOYD
Hold on a second, Big D. You sayin' you eat pussy?
BIG D
Nigger, I eat everything. I eat pussy. I eat the butt. I eat every
motherfuckin' thang.
DREXL
Preach on, Big D.
FLOYD
Look here. If I ever did eat some pussy - I would never eat any pussy -
but, if I did eat some pussy, I sure as hell wouldn't tell no goddamn body.
I'd be ashamed as a motherfucker.
BIG D
Shit! Nigger you smoke enough sherm your dumb ass'll do a lot a crazy ass
things. So you won't eat pussy? Motherfucker, you be up there suckin'
niggers' dicks.
DREXL
Heard that.
Drexl and Big D bump fists.
FLOYD
Yeah, that's right, laugh. It's so funny, oh it's so funny.
(he takes a hit off of a joint)
There used to be a time when sisters didn't know shit about gettin' their
pussy licked. Then the sixties came an' they started fuckin' around with
white boys. And white boys are freaks for that shit -
DREXL
- Because it's good!
FLOYD
Then, after a while sisters use to gettin' their little pussy eat. And
because you white boys had to make pigs out of yourselves, you fucked it up
for every nigger in the world everywhere.
BIG D
Drexl. On behalf of me and all the brothers who aren't here, I'd like to
express our gratitude -
Drexl and Big D bust up.
FLOYD
Go on pussy-eaters... laugh. You look like you be eatin' pussy. You got
pussy-eatin' mugs. Now if a nigger wants to get his dick sucked he's got to
do a bunch of fucked-up shit.
BIG D
So you do eat pussy!
FLOYD
Naw naw!
BIG D
You don't like it, but you eat that shit.
(to Drexl)
He eats it.
DREXL
Damn skippy. He like it, too.
BIG D
(mock English accent)
Me thinketh he doth protest too much.
FLOYD
Well fuck you guys then! You guys are fucked up!
DREXL
Why you trippin'? We jus' fuckin' with ya. But I wanna ask you a question.
You with some fine bitch, I mean a brick shithouse bitch - you're with
Jayne Kennedy. You're with Jayne Kennedy and you say "Bitch, suck my dick!"
and then Jayne Kennedy says, "First things first, nigger, I ain't suckin'
shit till you bring your ass over here and lick my bush!" Now, what do you
say?
FLOYD
I tell Jayne Kennedy, "Suck my dick or I'll beat your ass!"
BIG D
Nigger, get real. You touch Jayne Kennedy she'll have you ass in Wayne
County so fast -
DREXL
Nigger, back off, you ain't beatin' shit. Now what would you do.
FLOYD
I'd say fuck it!
Drexl and Big D get up from the table disgusted and walk away, leaving Floyd sitting all alone.
Big D sits on the bed, his back turned to Floyd, watching "Bewitched".
FLOYD
(yelling after them)
Ain't no man have to eat pussy!
BIG D
(not even looking)
Take that shit somewhere else.
DREXL
(marching back)
You tell Jayne Kennedy to fuck it?
FLOYD
If it came down to who eats who, damn skippy.
DREXL
With that terrible mug of yours if Jayne Kennedy told you to eat her pussy,
kiss her ass, lick her feet, chow on her shit, and suck her dog's dick,
nigger, you'd aim to please.
BIG D
(glued on TV)
I'm hip.
DREXL
In fact, I'm gonna show you what I mean with a little demonstration. Big D,
toss me that shotgun.
Without turning away from "Bewitched" he picks up the shotgun and tosses it to Drexl.
DREXL
(to Floyd)
All right, check this out.
(referring to shotgun)
Now, pretend this is Jayne Kennedy. And you're you.
Then, in a blink, he points the shotgun at Floyd and blows him away.
Big D leaps off the bed and spins toward Drexl.
Drexl, waiting for him, fires from across the room.
The blast hits the big man in the right arm and shoulder, spinning him around.
Drexl makes a beeline for his victim and fires again.
Big D is hit with a blast, full in the back. He slams into the wall and drops.
Drexl collects the suitcase full of cocaine and leaves. As he gets to the front door he surveys the carnage, spits and walks out.
EXT. CLIFF'S MOVING CAR - MORNING
A big white Chevy Nova is driving down the road with a sunrise sky as a backdrop. The song "Little Bitty Tear" is heard a capella.
INT. CLIFF'S MOVING CAR - MORNING
Cliff Worley is driving his car home from work, singing this song gently to the sunrise. He's a forty-five-years-old ex-cop, at present a security guard. In between singing he takes sips from a cup of take-out coffee. He's dressed in a security guard uniform.
EXT. TRAILER PARK - MORNING
Cliff's Nova pulls in as he continues crooning. He pulls up to his trailer to see something that stops him short.
Cliff's POV Through windshield
Clarence and a nice-looking YOUNG WOMAN are watching for him in front of his trailer.
CLOSEUP - CLIFF
Upon seeing Clarence, a little bitty tear rolls down Cliff's cheek.
BACK TO:
CLIFF'S POV
Clarence and the Young Woman walk over to the car. Clarence sticks his face through the driver's side window.
CLARENCE
Good Morning, Daddy. Long time no see.
INT. TRAILER HOME - MORNING
All three enter the trailer home.
CLIFF
Excuse the place, I haven't been entertaining company as of late. Sorry if
I'm acting a little dense, but you're the last person in the world I
expected to see this morning.
Clarence and the Young Girl walk into the living room.
CLARENCE
Yeah, well, tha's OK, Daddy, I tend to have that effect on people. I'm
dyin' on thirst, you got anything to drink?
He moves past Cliff and heads straight for his refridgerator.
CLIFF
I think there's a Seven-Up in there.
CLARENCE
(rumaging around the fridge)
Anything stronger?
(pause)
Oh, probably not. Beer? You can drink beer, can't you?
CLIFF
I can, but I don't.
CLARENCE
(closing the fridge)
That's about all I ever eat.
Cliff looks at the Girl. She smiles sweetly at him.
CLIFF
(to Girl)
I'm sorry... I'm his father.
YOUNG GIRL
(sticking her hand out)
That's OK, I'm his wife.
(shaking his hand vigorously)
Alabama Worley, pleased to meetcha.
She is really pumping his arm, just like a used-car salesman. However, that's where the similarities end; Alabama's totally sincere.
Clarence steps back into the living room, holding a bunch of little ceramic fruit magnets in his hand. He throws his other arm around Alabama.
CLARENCE
Oh yeah, we got married.
(referring to the magnets)
You still have these.
(to Alabama)
This isn't a complete set; when I was five I swallowed the pomegranate one.
I never shit it out, so I guess it's still there. Loverdoll, why don't you
be a sport and go get us some beer. I want some beer.
(to Cliff)
Do you want some beer? Well, if you want some it's here.
He hands her some money and his car keys.
CLARENCE
Go to the liquor store -
(to Cliff)
Where is there a liquor store around here?
CLIFF
Uh, yeah... there's a party store down 54th.
CLARENCE
(to Alabama)
Get a six-pack of something imported. It's hard to tell you what to get
'cause different places have different things. If they got Fosters, get
that, if not, ask the guy at the thing what the strongest imported beer he
has. Look, since you're making a beer run, would you mind too terribly if
you did a foot run as well. I'm fuckin' starvin' to death. Are you hungry
too?
ALABAMA
I'm pretty hungry. When I went to the store I was gonna get some
Ding-Dongs.
CLARENCE
Well, fuck that shit, we'll get some real food. What would taste good.
(to Cliff)
What do you think would taste good?
CLIFF
I'm really not very -
CLARENCE
You know what would taste good? Chicken. I haven't had chicken in a while.
Chicken would really hit the spot about now. Chicken and beer, definitly,
absolutely, without a doubt.
(to Cliff)
Where's a good chicken place around here?
CLIFF
I really don't know.
CLARENCE
You don't know the chicken places around where you live?
(to Alabama)
Ask the guy at the place where a chicken place is.
He gives her some more money.
CLARENCE
This should cover it, Auggie-Doggie.
ALABAMA
Okee-dokee, Doggie-Daddy.
She opens the door and starts out. Clarence turns to his dad as the door shuts.
CLARENCE
Isn't she the sweetest goddamned girl you ever saw in your whole life? Is
she a four alarm fire, or what?
CLIFF
She seems very nice.
CLARENCE
Daddy. Nice isn't the word. Nice is an insult. She's a peach. That's the
only word for it, she's a peach. She even tastes like a peach. You can tell
I'm in love with her. You can tell by my face, can't ya? It's a dead
giveaway. It's written all over it. Ya know what? She loves me back. Take a
seat, Pop, we gotta talk -
CLIFF
Clarence, just shut up, you're giving me a headache! I can't believe how
much like your mother you are. You're your fuckin' mother through and
through. I haven't heard from ya in three years. Then ya show up all of a
sudden at eight o'clock in the morning. You walk in like a goddamn
bulldozer... don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see you... just slow it down.
Now, when did you get married?
CLARENCE
Daddy, I'm in big fuckin' trouble and I really need your help.
BLACK TITLE CARD: "HOLLYWOOD"
INT. OUTSIDE OF CASTING DIRECTOR'S OFFICER - DAY
FOUR YOUNG ACTORS are sitting on a couch with sheets of paper in their hands silently mouthing lines. One of the actors is DICK RITCHIE. The casting director, MARY LOUISE RAVENCROFT, steps into the waiting room, clip board in hand.
RAVENCROFT
Dick Ritchie?
Dick pops up from the pack.
DICK
I'm me... I mean, that's me.
RAVENCROFT
Step inside.
INT. CASTING DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - DAY
She sits behind a large desk. Her name-plate rests on the desktop. Several posters advertising "The Return of T.J. Hooker" hang on the wall.
Dick sits in a chair, holding his sheets in his hands.
RAVENCROFT
Well, the part you're reading for is one of the bad guys. There's Brian and
Marty. Peter Breck's already been cast as Brian. And you're reading for the
part of Marty. Now in this scene you're both in a car and Bill Shatner's
hanging on the hood. And what you're trying to do is get him off.
(she picks a up a copy of the script)
Whenever you're ready.
DICK
(reading and miming driving)
Where'd you come from?
RAVENCROFT
(reading from the script lifelessly)
I don't know. He just appeared as magic.
DICK
(reading from script)
Well, don't just sit there, shoot him.
She puts her script down, and smiles at him.
RAVENCROFT
That was very good.
DICK
Thank you.
RAVENCROFT
If we decided on making him a New York type, could you do that?
DICK
Sure. No problem.
RAVENCROFT
Could we try it now?
DICK
Absolutely.
Dick picks up the script and begins, but this time with a Brooklyn accent.
DICK
Where'd he come from?
RAVENCROFT
(monotone, as before)
I don't know. He just appeared as magic.
DICK
Well, don't just sit there, shoot him.
Ravencroft puts her script down.
RAVENCROFT
Well, Mr. Ritchie, I'm impressed. You're a very fine actor.
Dick smiles.
INT. TRAILER HOME - DAY
Cliff's completely aghast. He just stares, unable to come to grips with what Clarence has told him.
CLARENCE
Look, I don't know this is pretty heavy-duty, so if you wanna explode, feel
free.
CLIFF
You're always making jokes. That's what you do, isn't it? Make jokes.
Making jokes is the one thing you're good at, isn't it? But if you make a
joke about this -
(raising his voice)
- I'm gonna go completely out of my fuckin' head!
Cliff pauses and collects himself.
CLIFF
What do you want from me?
CLARENCE
What?
CLIFF
Stop acting like an infant. You're here because you want me to help you in
some way. What do you need from me? You need money?
CLARENCE
Do you still have friends on the force?
CLIFF
Yes, I still have friends on the force.
CLARENCE
Could you find out if they know anythin'? I don't know they know shit about
us. But I don't wanna think, I wanna know. You could find out for sure
what's goin' on.
(pause)
Daddy?
CLIFF
What makes you think I could do that?
CLARENCE
You were a cop.
CLIFF
What makes you think I would do that?
CLARENCE
I'm your son.
CLIFF
You got it all worked out, don't you?
CLARENCE
Look, goddamnit, I never asked you for a goddamn thing! I've tried to make
your parental obligation as easy as possible. After Mom divorced you, did I
ask you for anything? When I wouldn't see ya for six months to a year at a
time, did you ever get your shit about it? No, it was always "OK", "No
problem", "You're a busy guy, I understand". The whole time you were a
drunk, did I ever point my finger at you and talk shit? No! Everybody else
did. I never did. You see, I know that you're just a bad parent. You're not
really very good at it. But I know you love me. I'm basically a pretty
resourceful guy. If I didn't really need it I wouldn't ask. And if you say
no, don't worry about it. I'm gone. No problems.
Alabama walks in through the door carrying a shopping bag.
ALABAMA
The forager's back.
CLARENCE
Thank God. I could eat a horse if you slap enough catsup on it.
ALABAMA
I didn't get any chicken.
CLARENCE
How come?
ALABAMA
It's nine o'clock in the morning. Nothing's open.
INT. TRAILER HOME - BEDROOM - DAY
Cliff's on the telephone in his bedroom, pacing as he talks. The living room od the trailer can be seen from his doorway, where Clarence and Alabama are horsing around. They giggle and cut up throughout the scene. As Cliff talks, all the noise and hubbub of a police station comes through over the line. He's talking to DETECTIVE WILSON, an old friend of his from the force.
We see both inside the conversation.
CLIFF
It's about that pimp that was shot a couple of days ago, Drexl Spivey.
WILSON
What about him?
CLIFF
Well, Ted, to tell you the truth, I found out through the grapevine that it
might be, and I only said might be, the Drexl Spivey that was responsible
for that restaurant break-in on Riverdale.
WILSON
Are you still working security for Foster & Langley?
CLIFF
Yeah, and the restaurant's on my route. And you know, I stuck my nose in
for the company to try to put a stop to some of these break-ins. Now, while
I have no proof, the name Drexl Spivey kept comin' up Who's case is it?
WILSON
McTeague.
CLIFF
I don't know him. Is he a nice guy? You think he'll help me out?
WILSON
I don't see why not. When you gonna come round and see my new place?
CLIFF
You and Robin moved?
WILSON
Shit, are you behind. Me and Robin got a divorce six months ago. Got myself
a new place - mirrors all over the bedroom, ceiling fans above the bed.
Guy'd have to look as ugly as King Kong not to get laid in this place. I'm
serious, a guy'd have to look like a gorilla.
CUT TO:
EXT. TRAILER HOME - DAY
Clarence and Cliff stand by Clarence's 1965 red Mustang. Alabama's amusing herself by doing cartwheels and handstands in the background.
CLIFF
They have nothing. In fact, they think it's drug related.
CLARENCE
Do tell. Why drug related?
CLIFF
Apparently, Drexl had a big toe stuck in shit like that.
CLARENCE
No shit?
CLIFF
Yeah. Drexl had an association with a fella named Blue Lou Boyle. Name mean
anything to you?
CLARENCE
Nope.
CLIFF
If you don't hang around in this circle, no reason it should.
CLARENCE
Who is he?
CLIFF
Gangster. Drug Dealer. Somebody you don't want on your ass. Look, Clarence,
the more I hear about this Drexl fucker, the more I think you did the right
thing. That guy wasn't just some wild flake.
CLARENCE
That's what I've been tellin' ya. The guy was like a mad dog. So the cops
aren't looking for me?
CLIFF
Naw, until they hear something better they'll assume Drexl and Blue Lou had
a falling out. So, once you leave twon, I wouldn't worry about it.
Clarence sticks his hand out to shake. Cliff takes it.
CLARENCE
Thanks a lot, Daddy. You really came through for me.
CLIFF
I got some money I can give you -
CLARENCE
Keep it.
CLIFF
Well, son, I want you to know I hope everything works out with you and
Alabama. I like her. I think you make a cute couple.
CLARENCE
We do make a cute couple, don't we?
CLIFF
Yeah, well, just stay outta trouble. Remeber, you got a wife to think
about. Quit fuckin' around.
(pause)
I love you son.
They hug each other,
Clarence takes a pice of paper out and puts it into Cliff's hand.
CLARENCE
This is Dick's number in Hollywood. We don't know where we'll be, but you
can get a hold of me through him.
Clarence turns toward Alabama and yells to her.
CLARENCE
Bama, we're outta here. Kiss Pops goodbye,
Alabama runs across from where she was and throws her arms around Cliff and gives him a big smackeroo on the lips. Cliff's a little startled. Alabama's bubbling like a Fresca.
ALABAMA
Bye, Daddy! Hope to see you again real soon.
CLARENCE
(mock anger)
What kind of daughterly smackeroo was that?
ALABAMA
Oh, hush up.
The two get into the Mustang.
CLARENCE
(to Cliff)
We'll send you a postcard as soon as we get to Hollywood.
Clarence starts the engine. The convertible roof opens as they talk.
CLIFF
Bama, you take care of that one for me. Keep him out of trouble.
ALABAMA
Don't worry, Daddy, I'm keepin' this fella on a short leash.
Clarence, slowly, starts driving away.
CLARENCE
(to Cliff)
As the sun sets slowly in the west we bid a fond farewell to all the
friends we've made... and, with a touch of melancholy, we look forward to
the time when we will all be together again.
Clarence peels out, shooting a shower of gravel up in the air.
As the Mustang disappears Cliff runs his tongue over his lips.
CLIFF
The-son-of-a-bitch was right... she does taste like a peach.
INT. DICK'S APARTMENT - DAY
Dick's apartment is standard issue for a young actor. Things are pretty neat and clean. A nice stereo unit sits on the shelf. A framed picture of a ballet dancer's feet hangs on the wall.
The phone rings, Dick answers.
DICK
Hi, Dick here.
INT. HOTEL SUITE - LAS VEGAS - SUNSET
Top floor, Las Vegas, Nevada hotel room with a huge picture window overlooking the neon-filled strip and the flaming red and orange sunset sky.
Clarence paces up and down with the telephone in his hand.
CLARENCE
(big bopper voice)
Heeeellllloooo baaaabbbbbyyyy!!!
Note: We intercut both sides of the conversation.
DICK
(unsure)
Clarence?
CLARENCE
You got it.
DICK
It's great to hear from you.
CLARENCE
Well, you're gonna be seein' me shortly.
DICK
You comin' to L.A.? When?
CLARENCE
Tomorrow.
DICK
What's up? Why're leavin' Detroit?
Clarence sits down on the hotel room bed. Alabama, wearing only a long T-shirt with a big picture of Bullwinkle on it, crawls behind him.
CLARENCE
Well, there's a story behind all that. I'll tell you when I see you. By the
way, I won't be alone. I'm bringing my wife with me.
DICK
Get the fuck outta here!
CLARENCE
I'm a married man.
DICK
Get the fuck outta here!
CLARENCE
Believe it or not, I actually tricked a girl into falling in love with me.
I'm not quite sure how I did it. I'd hate to have to do it again. But I did
it. Wanna say hi to my better half?
Before Dick can respond Clarence puts Alabama on the phone.
ALABAMA
Hi, Dick. I'm Alabama Worley.
DICK
Hello, Alabama.
ALABAMA
I can't wait to meet you. Clarence told me all about you. He said you were
his best friend. So, I guess that makes you my best friend, too.
Clarence start dictating to her what to say.
CLARENCE
Tell him we gotta go.
ALABAMA
Clarence says we gotta be hittin' it.
DICK
What?
CLARENCE
Tell him we'll be hittin' his area some time tomorrow.
ALABAMA
He said don't go nowhere. We'll be there some time tomorrow.
DICK
Wait a minute -
CLARENCE
Tell him not to eat anything. We're gonna scarf when we get there.
ALABAMA
Don't eat anything.
DICK
Alabama, could you tell Clar -
CLARENCE
Ask him if he got the letter.
ALABAMA
Did you get the letter?
DICK
What letter?
ALABAMA
(to Clarence)
What letter?
CLARENCE
The letter I sent.
ALABAMA
(to Dick)
The letter he sent.
DICK
Clarence sent a letter?
CLARENCE
Has he gotten his mail today?
ALABAMA
Gotten your mail yet?
DICK
Yeah, my room-mate leaves it on the TV.
ALABAMA
(to Clarence)
Yes.
CLARENCE
Has he looked through it yet?
ALABAMA
(to Dick)
Ya looked through it?
DICK
Not yet.
ALABAMA
(to Clarence)
Nope.
CLARENCE
Tell him to look through it.
ALABAMA
(to Dick)
Get it.
DICK
Let me speak to Clarence.
ALABAMA
(to Clarence)
He wants to speak with you.
CLARENCE
No time. Gotta go. Just tell him to read the letter, the letter explains
all. Tell him I love him. And tell him, as of tomorrow, all his money
problems are over.
ALABAMA
(to Dick)
He can't. We gotta go, but he wants you to read the letter. The letter
explains it all. He wants you to know he loves you. And he wants you to
know that as of tomorrow, all of your money problems are over.
DICK
Money problems?
CLARENCE
Now tell him goodbye.
ALABAMA
Bye-bye.
CLARENCE
Now hang up.
She hangs up the phone.
INT. DICK'S APARTMENT - DAY
Dick hears the click on the other end.
DICK
Hello, hello, Clarence? Clarence's wife?... I mean Alabama... hello?
Extremely confused, Dick jangs up the phone. He goes over to the TV and picks up the day's mail. He goes through it.
BILL: Southern California Gas Company.
BILL: Group W.
BILL: Fossenkemp Photography.
BILL: Columbia Record and Tape Club.
LETTER: It's obviously from Clarence. Addressed to Dick. Dick opens it.
EXT. TRAILER - DAY
A lower-middle-class trailer park named Astro World, which has a neon sign in front of it in the shape of a planet.
A big, white Chevy Nova pulls into the park. It parks by a trailer that's slightly less kept up than the others. Cliff gets out of the Chevy. He's drinking out of a fast-food soda cup as he opens the door to his trailer.
INT. TRAILER - DAY
He steps inside the doorway and then, before he knows it, a gun is pressed to his temple and a big hand grabs his shoulder.
GUN CARRIER (DARIO)
Welcome home, alchy. We're havin' a party.
Cliff is roughly shoved into his living room. Waiting for him are four men, standing: VIRGIL, FRANKIE (young Wise-guy) LENNY (an old Wise-guy), and Tooth-pick Vic (a fireplug pitbull type).
Sitting in Cliff's recliner is VINCENZO COCCOTTI, the Frank Nitti to Detroid mob leader Blue Lou Boyle.
Cliff is knocked to his knees. He looks up and sees the sitting Coccotti. Dario and Lenny pick him up and roughly drop him in a chair.
COCCOTTI
(to Frankie)
Tell Tooth-pick Vic to go outside and do you-know-what.
In Italian Frankie tells Tooth-pick Vic what Coccotti said. He nods and exits.
Cliff's chair is moved closer to Coccotti's. Dario stands on one side of Cliff. Frankie and Lenny ransack the trailer. Virgil has a bottle of Chivas Regal in his hand, but he has yet to touch a drop.
COCCOTTI
Do you know who I am, Mr. Worley?
CLIFF
I give up. Who are you?
COCCOTTI
I'm the Anti-Christ. You get me in a vendetta kind of mood, you will tell
the angels in heaven that you had never seen pure evil so singularly
personified as you did in the face of the man who killed you. My name is
Vincenzo Coccotti. I work as a counsel for Mr. Blue Lou Boyle, the man your
son stole from. I hear you were once a cop so I assume you've heard od us
before. Am I correct?
CLIFF
I've heard of Blue Lou Boyle.
COCCOTTI
I'm glad. Hopefully that will clear up the how-full-of-shit-I-am question
you've been asking yourself. Now, we're gonna have a little Q and A, and,
at the risk of sounding redundant, please make your answers genuine.
(taking out a pack of Chesterfields)
Want a Chesterfield?
CLIFF
No.
COCCOTTI
(as he lights up)
I have a son of my own. About you boy's age. I can imagine how painful this
must be for you. But Clarence and that bitch-whore girlfriend of his
brought this all on themselves. And I implore you not to go down the road
with 'em. You can always take comfort in the fact that you never had a
choice.
CLIFF
Look, I'd help ya if I could, but I haven't seen Clarence -
Before Cliff can finish his sentence, Coccotti slams him hard in the nose with his fist.
COCCOTTI
Smarts, don't it? Gettin' slammed in the nose fucks you all up. You got
that pain shootin' through your brain. Your eyes fill up with water. It
ain't any kind of fun. But what I have to offer you. That's as good as it's
ever gonna get, and it won't ever get that good again. We talked to your
neighbors. They saw a Mustang, a red Mustang, Clarence's red Mustang,
parked in front of your trailer yesterday. Mr. Worley, have you seen your
son?
Cliff's defeated.
CLIFF
I've seen him.
COCCOTTI
Now I can't be sure of how much of what he told you. So in the chance
you're in the dark about some of this, let me shed some light. That whore
your boy hangs around with, her pimp is an associate of mine, and I don't
just mean pimpin', in other affairs he works for me in a courier capacity.
Well, apparently, that dirty little whore found out when we're gonna do
some business, 'cause your son, the cowboy and his flame, came in the room
blastin' and didn't stop till they were pretty sure everybody was dead.
CLIFF
What are you talkin' about?
COCCOTTI
I'm talkin' about a massacre. They snatched my narcotics and hightailed it
outta there. Wouldda gotten away with it, but your son, fuckhead that he
is, left his driver's license in a dead guy's hand. A whore hiding in the
commode filled in all the blanks.
CLIFF
I don't believe you.
COCCOTTI
That's of minor importance. But what's of major fuckin' importance is that
I believe you. Where did they go?
CLIFF
On their honeymoon.
COCCOTTI
I'm gettin' angry askin' the same question a second time. Where did they
go?
CLIFF
They didn't tell me.
Coccotti looks at him.
CLIFF
Now, wait a minute and listen. I haven't seen Clarence in three years.
Yesterday he shows up here with a girl, sayin' he got married. He told me
he needed some quick cash for a honeymoon, so he asked if he could borrow
five hundred dollars. I wanted to help him out so I wrote out a check. We
went to breakfast and that's the last I saw of him. So help me God. They
never thought to tell me where they were goin'. And I never thought to ask.
Coccotti looks at him for a long moment. He then gives Virgil a look. Virgil, quick as greased lightning, grabs Cliff's hand and turns it palm up. He then whips out a butterfly knife and slices Cliff's palm open and pours Chivas Regal on the wound. Cliff screams.
Coccotti puffs on a Chesterfield.
Tooth-pic Vic returns to the trailer, and reports in Italian that there's nothing in the car.
Virgil walks into the kitchen and gets a dishtowel. Cliff holds his bleeding palm in agony. Virgil hands him the dishtowel. Cliff uses it to wrap up his hand.
COCCOTTI
Sicilians are great liars. The best in the world. I'm a Sicilian. And my
old man was the world heavyweight champion of Sicilian liars. And from
growin' up with him I learned the pantomime. Now there are seventeen
different things a guy can do when he lies to give him away. A guy has
seventeen pantomimes. A woman's got twenty, but a guy's got seventeen. And
if you know 'em like ya know your own face, they beat lie detectors to
hell. What we got here is a little game of show and tell. You don't wanna
show me nothin'. But you're tellin' me everything. Now I know you know
where they are. So tell me, before I do some damage you won't walk away
from.
The awful pain in Cliff's hand is being replaced by the awful pain in his heart. He looks deep into Coccotti's eyes.
CLIFF
Could I have one of those Chesterfields now?
COCCOTTI
Sure.
Coccotti leans over and hands him a smoke.
CLIFF
Got a match?
Cliff reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter.
CLIFF
Oh, don't bother. I got one.
(he lights the cigarette)
So you're a Sicilian, huh?
COCCOTTI
(intensly)
Uh-huh.
CLIFF
You know I read a lot. Especially things that have to do with history. I
find that shit fascinating. In fact, I don't know if you know this or not,
Sicilians were spawned by niggers.
All the men stop what they were doing and look at Cliff, except for Tooth-pic Vic who doesn't speak English and so isn't insulted. Coccotti can't believe what he's hearing.
COCCOTTI
Come again?
CLIFF
It's a fact. Sicilians have nigger blood pumpin' through their hearts. If
you don't believe me, look it up. You see, hundreds and hundreds of years
ago the Moors conquered Sicily. And Moors are niggers. Way back then,
Sicilians were like the wops in northern Italy. Blond hair, blue eyes. But,
once the Moors moved in there, they changed the whole country. They did so
much fuckin' with the Sicilian women, they changed the blood-line for ever,
from blond hair and blue eyes to black hair and dark skin. I find it
absolutely amazing to think that to this day, hundreds of years later,
Sicilians still carry that nigger gene. I'm just quotin' history. It's a
fact. It's written. Your ancestors were niggers. Your great, great, great,
great, great-grandmother was fucked by a nigger, and had a half-nigger kid.
That is a fact. Now tell me, am I lyin'?
Coccotti looks at him for a moment then jumps up, whips out an automatic, grabs hold of Cliff's hair, puts the barrel to his temple, and pumps three bullets through Cliff's head.
He pushes the body violently aside. Coccotti pauses. Unable to express his feelings and frustrated by the blood in his hands, he simply drops his weapon, and turns to his men.
COCCOTTI
I haven't killed anybody since 1974. Goddamn his soul to burn for eternity
in fuckin' hell for makin' me spill blood on my hands! Go to this
comedian's son's apartment and come back with somethin' that tells me where
that asshole went so I can wipe this egg off of my face and fix this
fucked-up family for good.
Tooth-pick Vic taps Frankie's shoulder and, in Italianm asks him what that was all about.
Lenny, who has been going through Cliff's refridgerator, has found a beer. When he closes the refridgerator door he finds a note held on by a ceramic banana magnet that says: "Clarence in L.A.: Dick Ritchie (number and address)".
LENNY
Boss, get ready to get happy.
TITLE CARD: "CLARENCE AND ALABAMA HIT L.A."
INT. DICK'S APARTMENT- MORNING
Dick's asleep in a recliner. He's wearing his clothes from the night before. His room-mate FLOYD is lying on the sofa watching TV.
The sound of our hands knocking on his door wakes Dick up. He shakes the bats out of his belfry, opens the door, and finds the cutest couple in Los Angeles standing in his doorway.
Clarence and Alabama immediately start singing "Hello My Baby" like the frog in the old Chuck Jones cartoon.
CLARENCE/ALABAMA
Hello my baby,
Hello my honey,
Hello my ragtime gal -
DICK
Hi guys.
Alabama throws her arms around Dick, and gives him a quick kiss. After she breaks, Clarence does the same. Clarence and Alabama walk right past Dick and into his apartment.
CLARENCE
Wow. Neat place.
INT. PINK'S HOT-DOG STAND - DAY
The Pink's employees work like skilled Benihana chefs as they assemble the ultimate masterpiece hot-dog.
EXT. PINK'S HOT-DOG STAND - PATIO - DAY
Clarence, Alabama, and Dick are sitting at an outdoor table chowing down on chili dogs. Alabama is in the middle of a story.
ALABAMA
... when my mom went into labor, my dad panicked. He never had a kid
before, and crashed the car. Now, picture this: their car's demolished,
crowd is starting to gather, my mom is yelling, going into contractions,
and my dad, who was losing it before, is now completely screaming yellow
zonkers. Then, out of nowhere, as if from thin air, this big giant bus
appears, and the bus-driver says, "Get her in here.". He forgot all about
his route and just drove straight to the hospital. So, because he was such
a nice guy, they wanted to name the baby after him, as a sign of gratitude.
Well, his name was Waldo, and no matter how grateful they were, even if
I'da been a boy, they would't call me Waldo. So they asked Waldo where he
was from. And, so there you go.
CLARENCE
And here we are.
DICK
That's a pretty amazing story.
CLARENCE
Well, she's a pretty amazing girl. What are women like out here?
DICK
Just like in Detroit, only skinnier.
CLARENCE
You goin' out?
DICK
Well, for the past couple of years I've been goin' out with girls from my
acting class.
CLARENCE
Good for you.
DICK
What's so fuckin' good about it? Actresses are the most fucked-in-the-head
bunch of women in the world. It's like they gotta pass a test of emotional
instability before they can get their SAG card. Oh, guess what? I had a
really good reading for "T.J. Hooker" the other day.
ALABAMA
You're gonna be on "T.J. Hooker"?
DICK
Knock wood.
He knocks the table and then looks at it.
DICK
... formica. I did real well. I think she liked me.
CLARENCE
Did you meet Captain Kirk?
DICK
You don't meet him in the audition. That comes later. Hope, hope.
ALABAMA
(finishing her hot-dog)
That was so good I am gonna have another.
DICK
You can't have just one.
Alabama leaves to get another hot-dog. Clarence never takes his eyes off her.
DICK
How much of that letter was on the up and up?
CLARENCE
Every word of it.
Dick sees where Clarence's attention is.
DICK
You're really in love, aren't you?
CLARENCE
For the very first time in my life.
(pause)
Do you know what that's like?
Clarence is so intense Dick doesn't know how to answer.
DICK
(regretfully)
No, I don't
(he looks at Alabama)
How did you two meet?
Clarence leans back thoughtfully and takes a sip from his Hebrew cream soda.
CLARENCE
Do you remember The Lyric?
INT. THE LYRIC THEATER - NIGHT
Sonny Chiba, as "Streetfighter" Terry Surki, drives into a group of guys, fists and feet flying and whips ass on the silver screen.
Clarence sits, legs over the back of the chair in front of him, nibbling on popcorn, eyes big as sourcers, and a big smile on his face.
EXT. THE LYRIC THEATER - NIGHT
A cab pulls up to the outside of The Lyric. The marquee carries the names of the triple feature: "The Streetfighter", "Return of the Streetfighter" and "Sister Streetfighter". Alabama steps out of the taxi cab and walks up to the box office.
A box office girl reading comic looks at her.
ALABAMA
One please.
BOX OFFICE GIRL
Ninety-nine cents.
ALABAMA
Which one is on now?
BOX OFFICE GIRL
"Return of the Streetfighter". It's been on about forty-five minutes.
INT. THE LYRIC THEATER - LOBBY - NIGHT
Alabama walks into the lobby and goes over to the concession stand. A young usher takes care of her.
ALABAMA
Can I have a medium popcorn? A super-large Mr. Pibb, and a box of Goobers.
INT. THE LYRIC THEATER - NIGHT
It's still assholes and elbows on the screen with Sonny Chiba taking on all-comers.
Alabama walks through the doors with her bounty of food. She makes a quick scan of the theater. Not many people are there. She makes a beeline for the front whick happens to be Clarence's area of choice. She picks the row of seats just behind Clarence and starts asking her way down it.
Clarence turns and sees this beautiful girl all alone moving towards him. He turns his attention back to the screen, trying not to be so obvious.
When Alabama gets right behind Clarence, her foot thunks a discarded wine bottle, causing her to trip and spill her popcorn over Clarence.
ALABAMA
Oh, look what happened. Oh god, I'm so sorry. Are you OK?
CLARENCE
Yeah. I'm fine. It didn't hurt.
ALABAMA
I'm the clumsiest person in the world.
CLARENCE
(picking popcorn out of his hair)
It's OK. Don't worry about it. Accidents happen.
ALABAMA
(picking popcorn out of his hair)
What a wonderful philosophy. Thanks for being such a sweetheart. You could
have been a real dick.
Alabama sits back in her seat to watch the movie.
Clarence tries to wipe her out of his mind, which isn't easy, and get back into the movie.
They both watch the screen for a moment. Then, Alabama leans forward and taps Clarence on the shoulder.
ALABAMA
Excuse me... I hate to bother you again. Would you mind too terribly
filling me in on what I missed?
Jumping on this opportunity.
CLARENCE
Not at all. I, this guy here, he's Sonny Chiba.
ALABAMA
The oriental.
CLARENCE
The oriental in black. He's an assasin. Now, at the beginning he was hired
to kill this guy the cops had. So he got himself arrested. They take him
into the police station. And he starts kickin' all the cops' asses. Now,
while keepin' them at bay, he finds the guy he was supposed to kill. Does a
number on him. Kicks the cops' asses some more. Kicks the bars out of the
window. And jumps out into a getaway car that was waiting for him.
ALABAMA
Want some Goobers?
CLARENCE
Thanks a lot.
ALABAMA
I thought Sonny was the good guy.
CLARENCE
He ain't so much good guy as he's just a bad motherfucker. Sonny don't be
bullshittin'. He fucks dudes up for life. Hold on, a fight scene's coming
up.
They both watch, eyes wide, as Sonny Chiba kicks asses.
TIME CUT:
On the screen, Sonny Chiba's all jacked up. Dead bodies lie all around him. THE END (in Japanese) flashes on the screen.
The theater light go up. Alabama's now sitting in the next seat to Clarence. They're both applauding.
ALABAMA
Great movie. Action-packed!
CLARENCE
Does Sonny kick ass or does Sonny kick ass?
ALABAMA
Sonny kicks ass.
CLARENCE
You shoulda saw the first original uncut version of the "Streetfighter". It
was the only movie up to that time rated X for violence. But we just saw
the R.
ALABAMA
If that was the R, I'd love to see the X.
CLARENCE
My name is Clarence, and what is yours?
ALABAMA
Alabama Whitman. Pleased to meet ya.
CLARENCE
Is that your real name? Really?
ALABAMA
That's my real name, really. I got proof. See.
She shows Clarence her driver's license.
CLARENCE
Well, cut my legs off and call me Shorty. That's a pretty original moniker
there, Alabama. Sounds like a Pam Grier movie.
(announcer voice)
She's a sixteen-calibre kitten, equally equipped for killin' an' lovin'!
She carried a sawed-off shotgun in her purse, a black belt around her
waist, and the white-hot fire of hate in her eyes! Alabama Whitman is Pam
Grier! Pray for forgiveness, Rated R... for Ruthless Revenge!
EXT. THE LYRIC THEATER - NIGHT
Clarence and Alabama are outside the theater. With the marquee lit up in the background they both perform unskilled martial arts moves. Clarence and Alabama break up laughing.
CLARENCE
Where's your car? I'll walk you to it.
ALABAMA
I took a cab.
CLARENCE
You took a cab to see three kung fu movies?
ALABAMA
Sure. Why not?
CLARENCE
Nothing. It's just you're a girl after my own heart.
ALABAMA
What time is it?
CLARENCE
'Bout twelve.
ALABAMA
I suppose you gotta get up early, huh?
CLARENCE
No. Not particularly.
(pause)
How come?
ALABAMA
Well, it's just when I see a really good movie I really like to go out and
get some pie, and talk about it. It's sort of tradition. Do you like to eat
pie after you've seen a good movie?
CLARENCE
I love to get pie after a movie.
ALABAMA
Would you like to get some pie?
CLARENCE
I'd love some pie.
INT. DENNY'S RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Clarence and Alabama are sitting in a booth at an all-night Denny's. It's about 12:40 a.m. Clarence is having a piece of chocolate cream pie and a coke. Alabama's nibbling on a peace of heated apple pie and sipping on a large Tab.
CLARENCE
Well, enough about the King. How about you?
ALABAMA
How 'bout me what?
CLARENCE
Tell me about yourself.
ALABAMA
There's nothing to tell.
CLARENCE
C'mon. What're ya tryin' to be? The Phantom Lady?
ALABAMA
What do you want to know?
CLARENCE
Well, for starters, what do you do? Where're ya from? What's your favorite
color? Who's your favorite movie star? What kinda music do you like? What
are your turn-ons and turn-offs? Do you have a fella? What's the story
behind you takin' a cab to the most dangerous part of town alone? And, in a
theater full of empty seats, why did you sit by me?
Alabama takes a bite of pie, puts down her fork, and looks at Clarence.
ALABAMA
Ask me them again. One by one.
CLARENCE
What do you do?
ALABAMA
I don't remember.
CLARENCE
Where are you from.
ALABAMA
Might be from Tallahassee. But I'm not sure yet.
CLARENCE
What's your favorite color?
ALABAMA
I don't remember. But off the top of my head, I'd say black.
CLARENCE
What's your favorite movie star?
ALABAMA
Burt Reynolds.
CLARENCE
Would you like a bite of my pie?
ALABAMA
Yes, I would.
Clarence scoops up a piece on his fork and Alabama bites it off.
CLARENCE
Like it?
ALABAMA
Very much. Now, where were we?
CLARENCE
What kinda music do you like?
ALABAMA
Phil Spector. Girl group stuff. You know, like "He's a Rebel".
CLARENCE
What are your turn-ons?
ALABAMA
Mickey Rourke, somebody who can appreciate the finer things in life, like
Elvis's voice, good kung fu, and a tasty piece of pie.
CLARENCE
Turn-offs?
ALABAMA
I'm sure there must be something, but I don't really remember. The only
thing that comes to mind are Persians.
CLARENCE
Do you have a fella?
She looks at Clarence and smiles.
ALABAMA
I'm not sure yet. Ask me again later.
CLARENCE
What's the story behind you takin' a cab to the most dangerous part of town
alone?
ALABAMA
Apparently, I was hit on the head with something really heavy, giving me a
form of amnesia. When I came to, I didn't know who I was, where I was, or
where I came from. Luckily, I had my driver's license or I wouldn't even
know my name. I hoped it would tell me where I lived but it had a
Tallahassee address on it, and I stopped somebody on the street and they
told me I was in Detroit. So that was no help. But I did have some money on
me, so I hopped in a cab until I saw somethin' that looked familiar. For
some reason, and don't ask me why, that theater looked familiar. So I told
him to stop and I got out.
CLARENCE
And in a theater full of empty seats, why did you sit by me?
ALABAMA
Because you looked like a nice guy, and I was a little scared. And I sure
couldda used a nice guy about that time, so I spilled my popcorn on you.
Clarence looks at her closely. He picks up his soda and sucks on the straw until it makes that slurping sound. He puts it aside and stares into her soul.
A smile cracks on her face and develops into a big wide grin.
ALABAMA
Aren't you just dazzled by my imagination, lover boy?
(eats her last piece of pie)
Where to next?
INT. COMIC BOOK STORE - NIGHT
It's about 1:30 a.m. Clarence has taken Alabama to where he works. It's a comic book store called Heroes For Sale. Alabama thinks this place is super-cool.
ALABAMA
Wow. What a swell place to work.
CLARENCE
Yeah, I got the key, so I come here at night, hang out, read comic books,
play music.
ALABAMA
How long have you worked here?
CLARENCE
Almost four years.
ALABAMA
That's a long time.
CLARENCE
I'm hip. But you know, I'm comfortable here. It's easy work. I know what
I'm doing. Everybody who works here is my buddy. I'm friendly with most of
the customers. I just hang around and talk about comic books all day.
ALABAMA
Do you get paid a lot?
CLARENCE
That's where trouble comes into paradise. But the boss let's you borrow
some money if you need it. Wanna see what "Spiderman" number one looks
like?
ALABAMA
You bet. How much is that worth?
Clarence gets a box off the shelf.
CLARENCE
Four hundred bucks.
ALABAMA
I didn't even know they had stores that just sold comic books.
CLARENCE
Well, we sell other things too. Cool stuff. "Man from U.N.C.L.E." Lunch
boxes. "Green Hornet" board games. Shit like that. But comic books are main
business. There's a lot of collectors around here.
She holds up a little GI Joe sized action figure of a black policeman.
ALABAMA
What's that?
CLARENCE
That's a "Rookies" doll. George Sanford Brown. We gotta lotta dolls.
They're real cool. Did you know they came out with dolls for all the actors
in "The Black Hole"? I always found it funny somewhere there's a kid
playin' with a little figure of Earnest Borgnine.
He pulls a plastic-cased "Spiderman" comic form the box.
CLARENCE
"Spiderman", number one. The one that started it all.
Clarence shows the comic book to Alabama.
ALABAMA
God, Spiderman looks different.
CLARENCE
He was just born, remember? This is the first one. You know that guy, Dr.
Gene Scott? He said that the story of Spiderman is the story of Christ,
just disguised. Well, I thought about that even before I heard him say it.
Hold on, let me show you my favorite comic book cover of all time.
He pulls out another comic.
CLARENCE
"Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos". One of the coolest series known to
man. They're completely worthless. You can get number one for about four
bucks. But that's one of the cool things about them, they're so cheap.
(he opens one up)
Just look at that artwork, will ya. Great stories. Great Characters. Look
at this one.
We see the "Sgt. Fury" panels.
CLARENCE
Nick's gotten a ring from his sweetheart and he wears it around his neck on
a chain. OK, later in the story he gets into a fight with a Nazi bastard on
a ship. He knocks the guy overboard, but the Kraut grabs ahold of his chain
and the ring goes overboard too. So, Nick dives into the ocean to get it.
Isn't that cool?
She's looking into Clarence's eyes. He turns and meets her gaze.
CLARENCE
Alabama, I'd like you to have this.
Clarence hands her the "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos" comic book that he loves so much.
INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Clarence's bedroom is a pop culture explosion. Movie posters, pictures of Elvis, anything you can imagine. The two walk through the door.
ALABAMA
What a cool room!
She runs and does a jumping somersault into his bed.
Later. Alabama's sitting Indian-style going through Clarence's photo album. Clarence is behind her planting little kisses on her neck and shoulders.
ALABAMA
Oooooh, you look so cute in your little cowboy outfit. How old were you
then?
CLARENCE
Five.
She turns the page.
ALABAMA
Oh, you look so cute as little Elvis.
CLARENCE
I finally knew what I wanted when I grew up.
LATER - LIVING ROOM
Clarence and Alabama slow dance in the middle of his room to Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart".
CLARENCE
You know when you sat behind me?
ALABAMA
At the movies?
CLARENCE
Uh-huh, I was tryin' to think of somethin' to say to you, then I thought,
she doesn't want me bothering her.
ALABAMA
What would make you think that?
CLARENCE
I dunno. I guess I'm just stupid.
ALABAMA
You're not stupid. Just wrong.
They move to the music. Alabama softly, quietly sings some of the words to the song.
ALABAMA
I love Janis.
CLARENCE
You know, a lot of people have misconceptions of how she died.
ALABAMA
She OD'd, didn't she?
CLARENCE
Yeah, she OD'd. But wasn't on her last legs or anythin'. She didn't take
too much. It shouldn't have killed her. There was somethin' wrong with what
she took.
ALABAMA
You mean she got a bad batch?
CLARENCE
That's what happened. In fact, when she died, it was considered to be the
happiest time of her life. She'd been fucked over so much by men she didn't
trust them. She was havin' this relationship with this guy and he asked her
to marry him. Now, other people had asked to marry her before, but she
couldn't be sure whether they really loved her or were just after her
money. So, she said no. And the guy says, "Look, I really love you, and I
wanna prove it. So have your lawyers draw up a paper that says no matter
what happens, I can never get any of your money, and I'll sign it." So she
did, and he asked her, and she said yes. And once they were engaged he told
her a secret about himself that she never knew: he was a millionaire.
ALABAMA
So he really loved her?
CLARENCE
Uh-huh.
They kiss.
INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY
It's the next day, around 1 p.m. Clarence wakes up in his bed, alone. He looks around, and no Alabama. Then he hears crying in the distance. He puts on a robe and investigates.
INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Alabama's wearing one of Clarence's old shirts. She's curled up in a chair crying. Clarence approaches her. She tries to compose herself.
CLARENCE
What's wrong, sweetheart? Did I do something? What did I do?
ALABAMA
You didn't do nothing.
CLARENCE
Did you hurt yourself?
(he takes her foot)
Whatd'ya do? Step on a thumbtack?
ALABAMA
Clarence, I've got something to tell you. I didn't just happen to be at the
theater. I was paid to be there.
CLARENCE
What are you, a theater checker? You check up on the box office girls. Make
sure they're not rippin' the place off.
ALABAMA
I'm not a theater checker. I'm a call girl.
Pause.
CLARENCE
You're a whore?
ALABAMA
I'm a call girl. There's a difference, ya know.
(pause)
I don't know. Maybe there's not. That place you took me to last night, that
comic book place.
CLARENCE
"Heroes For Sale"?
ALABAMA
Yeah, that one. Somebody who works there arranged to have me meet you.
CLARENCE
Who?
ALABAMA
I don't know. I didn't talk with them. The plan was for me to bump into
you, pick you up, spend the night, and skip out after you fell asleep. I
was gonna write you a note and say that this was my last day in America.
That I was leaving on a plane this morning up to Ukraine to marry a rich
millionaire, and thank you for making my last day in America my best day.
CLARENCE
That dazzling imagination.
ALABAMA
It's over on the TV. All it says is: "Dear Clarence." I couldn't write
anymore. I didn't not want to ever see you again. In fact, it's stupid not
to ever see you again. Las night... I don't know... I felt... I hadn't had
that much fun since Girl Scouts. So I just said, "Alabama, come clean, Let
him know what's what, and if he tells you to go fuck yourself then go back
to Drexl and fuck yourself."
CLARENCE
Who and what is a Drexl?
ALABAMA
My pimp.
CLARENCE
You have a pimp?
ALABAMA
Uh-huh.
CLARENCE
A real live pimp?
ALABAMA
Uh-huh.
CLARENCE
Is he black?
ALABAMA
He thinks he is. He says his mother was Apache, but I suspect he's lying.
CLARENCE
Is he nice?
ALABAMA
Well, I wouldn't go so far as to call him nice, but he's treated me pretty
decent. But I've only been there about four days. He got a little rough
with Arlene the other day.
CLARENCE
What did he do to Arlene?
ALABAMA
Slapped her around a little. Punched her in the stomch. It was pretty
scary.
CLARENCE
This motherfucker sounds charming!
Clarence is on his feet, furious.
CLARENCE
Goddamn it, Alabama, you gotta get the fuck outta there! How much longer
before he's slappin' you around? Punchin' you in the stomach? How the fuck
did you get hooked up with a douche-bag like this in the first place?
ALABAMA
At the bus station. He said I'd be a perfect call girl. And that he knew an
agency in California that, on his recommendation, would handle me. They
have a very exclusive clientele: movie stars, big businessmen, total
white-collar. And all the girls in the agency get a grand a night. At least
five hundred. They drive Porsches, live in condos, have stockbrokers, carry
beepers, you know, like Nancy Allen in "Dressed to Kill". And when I was
ready he'd call 'em, give me a plane ticket, and send me on my way. He says
he makes a nice finder's fee for finding them hot prospects. But no one's
gonna pay a grand a night for a girl who doesn't know whether to shit or
wind her watch. So what I'm doin' for Drexl now is just sorta learnin' the
ropes. It seemed like a lotta fun, but I don't really like it much, till
last night. You were only my third trick, but you didn't feel like a trick.
Since it was a secret, I just pretended I was on a date. An, um, I guess I
want a second date.
CLARENCE
Thank you. I wanna see you again too. And again, and again, and again.
Bama, I know we haven't known each other long, but my parents went together
all throughout high school, and they still got a divorce. So, fuck it, you
wanna marry me?
ALABAMA
What?
CLARENCE
Will you be my wife?
When Alabama gives her answer, her voice cracks.
ALABAMA
Yes.
CLARENCE
(a little surprised)
You will?
ALABAMA
You better not be fucking teasing me.
CLARENCE
You better not be fuckin' teasin' me.
They seal it with a kiss.
LATER - THAT NIGHT
CLOSEUP - Alabama's wedding ring.
The newlyweds are snuggling up together onthe couch watching TV. The movie they're watching is "The Incredible One-Armed Boxer vs. the Master of the Flying Guillotine". Alabama watches the screen, but every so often she looks down to admre the ring on her hand.
CLARENCE
Did ya ever see "The Chinese Professionals"?
ALABAMA
I don't believe so.
CLARENCE
Well, that's the one that explains how Jimmy Wang Yu became the Incredible
One-Armed Boxer.
We hear, off screen, the TV Announcer say:
TV ANNOUNCER
(off)
We'll return to Jimmy Wang Yu in... "The Incredible One-Armed Boxer vs. the
Master of the Flying Guillotine", tonight's eight o'clock movie, after
these important messages...
Clarence looks at the TV. He feels the warmth of Alabama's hand holding his. We see commercials playing.
He turns in her direction. She's absent-mindedly looking at her wedding ring.
He smiles and turns back to the TV.
More commercials.
Dolly close on Clarence's face
FLASH ON:
Alabama, right after he proposed.
ALABAMA
You better not be fucking teasing me.
FLASH ON:
In a cute, all-night wedding chapel. Clarence dressed in a rented tuxedo and Alabama in a rented white wedding gown.
ALABAMA
I do.
CLARENCE
Thank you.
FLASH ON:
Clarence and Alabama, dressed in tux and gown, doing a lover's waltz on a ballroom dance floor.
FLASH ON:
Clarence and Alabama in a taxi cab.
CLARENCE
Hello, Mrs. Worley.
ALABAMA
How do you do, Mr. Worley?
CLARENCE
Top o' the morning, Mrs. Worley.
ALABAMA
Bottom of the ninth . Mr. Worley. Oh, by the by, Mr. Worley, have you seen
your lovely wife today?
CLARENCE
Oh, you're speaking of my charming wife Mrs. Alabama Worley.
ALABAMA
Of course. Are there others, Mr. Worley?
Moving on top of her.
CLARENCE
Not for me.
He starts kissing her and moving her down on the seat. She resists.
ALABAMA
(playfully)
No no no no no no no no no...
CLARENCE
(playfully)
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes...
FLASH ON:
A big mean-looking black man in pimp's clothes.
PIMP
Bitch, you better git yo ass back on the street an' git me my money.
Pimp on street corner with his arm around Alabama, giving her a sales pitch to a potential customer.
PIMP
I'm tellin' you, my man, this bitch is fine. This girl's a freak! You can
fuck 'er in the ass, fuck 'er in the mouth. Rough stuff, too. She's a freak
for it. Jus' try not to fuck 'er up for life.
FLASH ON:
Pimp beating Alabama.
PIMP
You holdin' out on me, girl? Bitch, you never learn!
FLASH ON:
Alabama passionately kissing the uninterested pimp.
PIMP
Hang it up, momma. I got no time for this bullshit.
BACK TO:
TV showing kung fu film.
BACK TO:
Clarence's face. There's definitely something different about his eyes.
Clarence springs off the couch and goes into his bedroom. Alabama's startled by his sudden movement.
ALABAMA
(yelling after him)
Where you goin', honey?
CLARENCE
(off)
I just gotta get somethin'.
INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - BATHROOM - NIGHT
Clarence splashes water on his face, trying to wash away the images that keep polluting his mind. Then, he hears a familiar voice.
FAMILIAR VOICE
(off)
Well? Can you live with it?
Clarence turns and sees that the voice belongs to Elvis Presley. Clarence isn't surprised to see him.
CLARENCE
What?
ELVIS
Can you live with it?
CLARENCE
Live with what?
ELVIS
With that son-of-a-bitch walkin' around breathin' the same air as you? And
gettin' away with it every day. Are you haunted?
CLARENCE
Yeah.
ELVIS
You wanna get unhaunted?
CLARENCE
Yeah.
ELVIS
Then shoot 'em. Shoot 'em in the face. And feed that boy to the dogs.
CLARENCE
I can't believe what you're tellin' me.
ELVIS
I ain't tellin' ya nothin'. I'm just sayin' what I'd do.
CLARENCE
You'd really do that?
ELVIS
He don't got no right to live.
CLARENCE
Look, Elvis, he is hauntin' me. He doesn't deserve to live. And I do want
to kill him. But I don't wanna go to jail for the rest of my life.
ELVIS
I don't blame you.
CLARENCE
If I thought I could get away with it -
ELVIS
Killin' 'em's the hard part. Gettin' away with it's the easy part. Whaddaya
think the cops do when a pimp's killed? Burn the midnight oil tryin' to
find who done it? They couldn't give a flyin' fuck if all the pimps in the
whole wide world took two in the back of the fuckin' head. If you don't get
caught at the scene with the smokin' gun in your hand, you got away with
it.
Clarence looks at Elvis.
ELVIS
Clarence, I like ya. Always have, always will.
INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
CLOSEUP - A snub-nosed .38, which Clarence loads and sticks down his heavy athletic sock.
INT. CALRENCE'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Clarence returns.
CLARENCE
Sweetheart, write down your former address.
ALABAMA
What?
CLARENCE
Write down Drexl's address.
ALABAMA
Why?
CLARENCE
So I can go over there and pick up your things.
ALABAMA
(really scared)
No, Clarence. Just forget it, babe. I just wanna disappear from there.
He kneels down before her and holds her hand.
CLARENCE
Look, sweetheart, he scares you. But I'm not scared of that motherfucker.
He can't touch you now. You're completely out of his reach. He poses
absolutely no threat to us. So, if he doesn't matter, which he doesn't, it
would be stupid to lose your things, now wouldn't it?
ALABAMA
You don't know him -
CLARENCE
You don't know me. Not when it comes to shit like this. I have to do this.
I need for you to know you can count on me to protect you. Now write down
the address.
TITLE CARD: "CASS QUARTER, HEART OF DETROIT"
EXT. DOWNTOWN DETROIT STREET - NIGHT
It's pretty late at night. Clarence steps out of his red Mustang. He's right smack dab in the middle of a bad place to be in daytime. He checks the pulse on his neck; it's beating like a race horse. To pump himself up he does a quick Elvis Presley gyration.
CLARENCE
(in Elvis voice)
Yeah... Yeah...
He makes a beeline for the front door of a large, dark apartment building.
INT. DARK BUILDING - NIGHT
He's inside. His heart's really racing now. He has the TV guide that Alabama wrote the address on in his hand. He climbs a flight of stairs and makes his way down a dark hallway to apartment 22, the residence of Drexl Spivey. Clarence knock on the door.
A Young Black Man, about twenty years old, answers the door. He has really big biceps and is wearing a black and white fishnet football jersey.
YOUNG BLACK MAN
You want somethin'?
CLARENCE
Drexl?
YOUNG BLACK MAN
Naw, man, I'm Marty. Watcha want?
CLARENCE
I gotta talk to Drexl.
MARTY
Well, what the fuck you wanna tell him?
CLARENCE
It's about Alabama.
A figure jumps in the doorway wearing a yellow Farah Fawcett T-shirt. It's our friend, Drexl Spivey.
DREXL
Where the fuck is that bitch?
CLARENCE
She's with me.
DREXL
Who the fuck are you?
CLARENCE
I'm her husband.
DREXL
Well. That makes us practically related. Bring your ass on in.
INT. DREXL'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Drexl and Marty about-face and walk into the room, continuing a conversation they were having and leaving Clarence standing in the doorway. This is not the confrontation Clarence expected. He trails in behind Drexl and Marty.
DREXL
(to Marty)
What was I sayin'?
MARTY
Rock whores.
DREXL
You ain't seen nothin' like these rock whores. They ass be young man. They
got that fine young pussy. Bitches want the rock they be a freak for you.
They give you hips, lips, and fingertips.
Drexl looks over his shoulder at Clarence.
DREXL
(to Clarence)
You know what I'm talkin' about.
Drexl gestures to one of the three stoned Hookers lounging about the apartment.
DREXL
(to Marty)
These bitches over here ain't shit. You stomp them bitches to death to get
the kind of pussy I'm talkin' about.
Drexl sits down at a couch with a card table in front of it, scattered with take-out boxes of Chinese food. A black exploitation movie is playing on TV.
DREXL
Looky here, you want the bitches to really fly high, make your rocks with
Cherry Seven-Up.
MARTY
Pussy love pink rocks.
This is not how Clarence expected to confront Drexl, but this is exactly what he expected Drexl to be like. He positions himself in front of the food table, demanding Drexl's attention.
DREXL
(eating with chopsticks, to Clarence)
Grab a seat there, boy. Want some dinner? Grab yourself an egg roll. We got
everything here from a diddle-eyed-Joe to a damned-if-I-know.
CLARENCE
No thanks.
DREXL
No thanks? What does that mean? Means you ate before you came down here?
All full. Is that it? Naw, I don't think so. I think you're too scared to
be eatin'. Now, see we're sittin' down here, ready to negotiate, and you've
already given up your shit. I'm still a mystery to you. But I know exactly
where your ass is comin' from. See, if I asked you if you wanted some
dinner and you grabbed an egg roll and started to chow down, I'd say to
myself, "This motherfucker's carryin' on like he ain't got a care in the
world. Who know? Maybe he don't. Maybe this fool's such a bad motherfucker,
he don't got to worry about nothin', he just sit down, eat my Chinese,
watch my TV." See? You ain't even sat down yet. On that TV there, since you
been in the room, is a woman with her titties hangin' out, and you ain't
even bothered to look. You just been starin' at me. Now, I know I'm pretty,
but I ain't as pretty as a couple of titties.
Clarence takes out an envelope and throws it on the table.
CLARENCE
I'm not eatin' 'cause I'm not hungry. I'm not sittin' 'cause I'm not
stayin'. I'm not lookin' at the movie 'cause I saw it seven years ago. It's
"The Mack" with Max Julian, Carol Speed, and Richard Pryor, written by
Bobby Poole, directed by Michael Campus, and released by Cinerama Releasing
Company in 1984. I'm not scared of you. I just don't like you. In that
envelope is some payoff money. Alabama's moving on to some greener
pastures. We're not negotiatin'. I don't like to barter. I don't like to
dicker. I never have fun in Tijuana. That price is non-negotiable. What's
in that envelope is for my peace of mind. My peace of mind is worth that
much. Not one penny more, not one penny more.
You could hear a pin drop. Once Clarence starts talking Marty goes on full alert. Drexl stops eating and the Whores stop breathing. All eyes are on Drexl. Drexl drops his chopsticks and opens the envelope. It's empty.
DREXL
It's empty.
Clarence flashes a wide Cheshire cat grin that says, "That's right, asshole."
Silence.
DREXL
Oooooooooh weeeeeeee! This child is terrible. Marty, you know what we got
here? Motherfuckin' Charles Bronson. Is that who you supposed to be? Mr.
Majestyk? Looky here, Charlie, none of this shit is necessary. I ain't got
no hold on Alabama. I just tryin' to lend the girl a helpin' hand -
Before Drexl finishes his sentence he picks up the card table and throws it at Clarence, catching him of guard.
Marty comes up behind Clarence and throws his arm around his neck, putting him in a tight choke hold.
Clarence, with his free arm, hits Marty hard with his elbow in the solar plexus. We'll never know if that blow had any effect because at just that moment Drexl takes a flying leap and tackles the two guys.
All of them go crashing into the stereo unit and a couple of shelves that hold records, all of which collapse to the floor in a shower of LPs.
Marty, who's on the bottom of the pile, hasn't let go of Clarence.
Since Drexl's on top, he starts slamming fists into Clarence's face.
Clarence, who's sandwiched between these two guys, can't do a whole lot about it.
DREXL
Ya wanna fuck with me?
(hits Clarence)
Ya wanna fuck with me?
(hits Clarence)
I'll show ya who you're fuckin' wit!
He hits Clarence hard in the face with both fists.
Clarence, who has no leverage whatsoever, grabs hold of Drexl's face and digs his nails in. He sticks his thumb in Drexl's mouth, grabs a piece of cheek, and starts twisting.
Marty, who's in an even worse position, can do nothing but tighten his grip aroud Clarence's neck, until Clarence feels like his eyes are going to pop out of his head.
Drexl's face is getting torn up, but he's also biting down hard on Clarence's thumb.
Clarence raises his head and brings it down fast, crunching Marty's face, and busting his nose.
Marty loosens his grip around Clarence's neck. Clarence wiggles free and gets up on his knees.
Drexl and Clarence are now on an even but awkward footing. The two are going at each other like a pair of alley cats, not aiming their punches, keeping them coming fast and furious. They're not doing much damage to each other because of their positions, it's almost like a hockey fight.
Marty sneaks up behind Clarence and smashes him in the head with a stack of LPs. This disorients Clarence. Marty grabs him from behind and pulls him to his feet.
Drexl socks him in the face: one, two three! Then he kicks him hard in the balls.
Marty lets go and Clarence hits the ground like a sack of potatoes. He curls up into a fetal position and holds his balls, tears coming out of his eyes.
Drexl's face is torn up from Clarence's nails.
Marty has blood streaming down his face frim his nose and on to his shirt.
DREXL
(to Marty)
You OK? That stupid dumb-ass didn't break your nose, did he?
MARTY
Naw. It don't feel too good but it's alright.
Drexl kicks Clarence, who's still on the ground hurting.
DREXL
(to Clarence)
You see what you get when you fuck wit me, white boy? You're gonna walk in
my goddamn house, my house! Gonna come in here and tell me! Talkin' smack,
in my house, in front of my employees. Shit! Your ass must be crazy.
(to Marty)
I don't think that white boy's got good sense. Hey, Marty.
(laughing)
He must of thought it was white boy day. It ain't white boy day, is it?
MARTY
(laughing)
Naw, man, it ain't white boy day.
DREXL
(to Clarence)
Shit, man, you done fucked up again. Next time you bogart your way into a
nigger's crib, an' get all his face, make sure you do it on white boy day.
CLARENCE
(hurting)
Wannabee nigger...
DREXL
Fuck you! My mother was Apache.
Drexl kicks him again. Clarence curls up.
Drexl bends down and looks for Clarence's wallet in his jacket.
Clarence still can't do much. The kick to his balls still has him down.
Drexl finds it and pulls it out. He flips it open to driver's license.
DREXL
Well, well, well, looky what we got here. Clarence Worley. Sounds almost
like a nigger name.
(to Clarence)
Hey, dummy.
He puts his foot on Clarence's chest. Clarence's POV as he looks up.
DREXL
Before you bought your dumb ass through the door, I didn't know shit. I
just chalked it up to au revoir Alabama. But, because you think you're some
macho motherfucker, I know who she's with. You. I know who you are,
Clarence Worley. And, I know where you live, 4900 116th street, apartment
48. And I'll make a million-dollar bet, Alabama's at the same address.
Marty, take the car and go get 'er. Bring her dumb ass back here.
He hands Marty the driver's license. Maty goes to get the car keys and a jacket.
DREXL
(to Marty)
I'll keep lover boy here entertained.
(to Clarence)
You know the first thing I'll do when she gets here. I think I'll make her
suck my dick, and I'll come all in her face. I mean it ain't nuttin' new.
She's done it before. But I want you as a audience.
(hollering to Marty)
Marty, what the fuck are you doin'?
MARTY
(off)
I'm tryin' to find my jacket.
DREXL
Look in the hamper. Linda's been dumpin' everybody's stray clothes there
lately.
While Drexl has his attention turned to Marty, Clarence reaches into his sock and pulls out the .38. he stick the barrel between Drexl's legs. Drexl, who's standing over Clarence, looks down just in time to see Clarence pull the trigger and blow his balls to bits. Tiny spots of blood speckle Clarence's face.
Drexl shrieks in horror and pain, and falls to the ground.
MARTY
(off)
What's happening?
Marty steps into the room.
Clarence doesn't hesitate, he shoots Marty four times in the chest.
Two of three Hookers have run out of the front door, screaming. The other Hooker is curled up in the corner. She's too stoned to run, but stoned enough to be terrified.
Drexl, still alive, is laying on the ground howling, holding what's left of his balls and his dick.
Clarence points the gun at the remaining Hooker.
CLARENCE
Get a bag and put Alabama's thing in it!
She doesn't move.
CLARENCE
You wanna get shot? I ain't got all fuckin' day, so move it!
The Hooker, tears of fear ruining her mascara, grabs a suitcase from under the bed, and, on her hands and knees, pushes it along the floor to Clarence.
Clarence takes it by the handle and wobbles over to Drexl, who's curled up like a pillbug.
CLOSEUP - Clarence's forgotten driver's license in Marty's bloody hand.
Clarence puts his foot on Drexl's chest.
CLARENCE
(to Drexl)
Open you eyes, laughing boy.
He doesn't. Clarence gives him a kick.
CLARENCE
Open your eyes!
He does. It's now Drexl's POV from the floor.
CLARENCE
You thought it was pretty funny, didn't you?
He fires.
CLOSEUP - The bullet comes out of the gun and heads right toward us. When it reaches us, the screen goes awash in red.
INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The front swings open and Clarence walks in. Alabama jumps off the couch and runs toward Clarence, before she reaches him he blurts out:
CLARENCE
I killed him.
She stops short.
CLARENCE
I've got some food in the car, I'll be right back.
Clarence leaves. Except for the TV playing, the room is quiet. Alabama sits on the couch.
Clarence walks back into the room with a whole bounty of take-out food. He heaps it on to the coffee table and starts to chow down.
CLARENCE
Help yourself. I got enough. I am fuckin' starvin'. I think I ordered one
of everythin'.
He stops and looks at here.
CLARENCE
I am so hungry.
He starts eating french fries and hamburgers.
ALABAMA
(in a daze)
Was it him or you?
CLARENCE
Yeah. But to be honest, I put myself in that position. When I drove up
there I said to myself, "If I can kill 'em and get away with it, I'll do
it." I could. So I did.
ALABAMA
Is this a joke?
CLARENCE
No joke. This is probably the best hamburger I've ever had. I'm serious,
I've never had a hamburger taste this good.
Alabama starts to cry. Clarence continues eating, ignoring her.
CLARENCE
Come on, Bama, eat something. You'll feel better.
She continues crying. He continues eating and ignoring her. Finally he spins on her, yelling:
CLARENCE
Why are you crying? He's not worth one of your tears. Would you rather it
had been me? Do you love him?
(no answer)
Do you love him?
(no answer)
Do you love him?
She looks at Clarence, having a hard time getting a word out.
ALABAMA
I think what you did was...
CLARENCE
What?
ALABAMA
I think what you did...
CLARENCE
What?
ALABAMA
... was so romantic.
Clarence is completely taken back. They meet in a long, passionate lovers' kiss. Their kiss breaks and slowly the world comes back to normal.
CLARENCE
I gotta get outta these clothes.
He picks up the suitcase and drops it on the table in front of them.
ALABAMA
(comically)
Clean clothes. There is a god,
Clarence flips open the suitcase. Alabama's and her husband's jaws drop.
ALABAMA
Clarence. Those aren't my clothes.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - DAY
We see the Hollywood Holiday Inn sign. Pan to the parking lot where Clarence's empty red Mustang is parked.
INT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - CALRENCE'S ROOM - DAY
CLOSEUP - Dick's jaw drops. His hand reaches out of shot.
CLOSEUP - The reason for all the jaw dropping... the suitcase is full of cocaine!
Clarence smiles, holding a bottle of wine.
Alabama's watching the cable TV.
DICK
Holy Mary, Mother of God.
ALABAMA
This is great, we got cable.
CLARENCE
(to Alabama)
Bama, you got your blade?
Keeping her eyes on the TV, she pulls out from her purse a Swiss army knife with a tiny dinosaur on it and tosses it to Clarence. Clarence takes off the corkscrew and opens the wine.
He pours some wine into a couple of hotel plastic cups, a big glass for Dick, a little one for himself. He hands it to Dick. Dick takes it and drinks.
DICK
This shit can't be real.
CLARENCE
It'll get ya high.
He tosses the knife.
CLARENCE
Do you want some wine, sweetheart?
ALABAMA
Nope. I'm not really a wine gal.
Using the knife, Dick snorts some of the cocaine. He jumps back.
DICK
It's fuckin' real!
(to Clarence)
It's fuckin' real!
CLARENCE
I certainly hope so.
DICK
You've got a helluva lotta coke there, man!
CLARENCE
I know.
DICK
Do you have any idea how much fuckin' coke you got?
CLARENCE
Tell me.
DICK
I don't know! A fuckin' lot!
He downs his wine. Clarence fills his glass.
DICK
This is Drexl's coke?
CLARENCE
Drexl's dead. This is Clarence's coke and Clarence can do whatever he wants
with it. And what Clarence wants to do is sell it. Then me and Bama are
gonna leave on a jet plane and spend the rest of our lives spendin'. So,
you got my letter, have you lined up any buyers?
DICK
Look, Clarence, I'm not Joe Cocaine.
Dick gulps half of his wine. Clarence fills up.
CLARENCE
But you're an actor. I hear these Hollywood guys have it delivered to the
set.
DICK
Yeah, they do. And maybe when I start being a successful actor I'll know
those guys. But most of the people I know are like me. They ain't got a pot
to piss in or a window to throw it out of. Now, if you want to sell a
little bit at a time -
CLARENCE
No way! The whole enchilada in one shot.
DICK
Do you have any idea how difficult that's gonna be?
CLARENCE
I'm offering a half a million dollars worth of white for two hundred
thousand. How difficult can that be?
DICK
It's difficult because you're sellin' it to a particular group. Big shots.
Fat cats. Guys who can use that kind of quantity. Guys who can afford two
hundred thousand. Basically, guys I don't know. You don't know. And, more
important, they don't know you. I did talk with one guy who could possibly
help you.
CLARENCE
Is he big league?
DICK
He's nothing. He's in my acting class. But he works as an assistant to a
very powerful movie producer named Lee Donowitz. I thought Donowitz could
be interested in a deal like this. He could use it. He could afford it.
CLARENCE
What'd'ya tell 'em?
DICK
Hardly anything. I wasn't sure from your letter what was bullshit, and what
wasn't.
CLARENCE
What's this acting class guy's name?
DICK
Elliot.
CLARENCE
Elliot what?
DICK
Elliot Blitzer.
CLARENCE
OK, call 'im up and arrange a meeting, so we can get through all the
getting to know you stuff.
DICK
Where?
CLARENCE
(to Alabama)
The zoo.
CLARENCE
(to Dick)
The zoo.
(pause)
What are you waiting for?
DICK
Would you just shut up a minute and let me think?
CLARENCE
What's to think about?
DICK
Shut up! First you come waltzing into my life after two years. You're
married. You killed a guy.
CLARENCE
Two guys.
DICK
Two guys. Now you want me to help you with some big drug deal. Fuck,
Clarence, you killed somebody and you're blowin' it off like it don't mean
shit.
CLARENCE
Don't expect me to be all broken up over poor Drexl. I think he was a
fuckin', freeloadin', parasitic scumbag, and he got exactly what he
deserved. I got no pity for a mad dog like that. I think I should get a
merit badge or somethin'.
Dick rests his head in his hands.
CLARENCE
Look, buddy, I realize I'm layin' some pretty heavy shit on ya, but I need
you to rise to the occasion. So, drink some more wine. Get used to the
idea, and get your friend to the phone.
EXT. LOS ANGELES ZOO - DAY
CLOSEUP - A black panther, the four-legged kind, paces back and forth.
Clarence, Alabama, Dick and Elliot Blitzer are walking through the zoo. One look at Elliot and you can see what type of actor he is, a real GQ, blow-dry boy. As they walk and talk, Clarence is eating a box of animal crackers and Alabama is blowing soap bubbles.
ELLIOT
So you guys got five hundred thousand dollars worth of cola that you're
unloading -
CLARENCE
Want an animal cracker?
ELLIOT
Yeah, OK.
He takes one.
CLARENCE
Leave the gorillas.
ELLIOT
- that you're unloading for two hundred thousand dollars -
CLARENCE
Unloading? That's a helluva way to describe the bargain of a lifetime.
DICK
(trying to chill him out)
Clarence...
ELLIOT
Where did you get it?
CLARENCE
I grow it on my window-sill. The lights really great there and I'm up high
enough so you can't see it from the street.
ELLIOT
(forcing a laugh)
Ha ha ha. No really, where does it come from?
CLARENCE
Coco leaves. You see, they take the leaves and mash it down until it's kind
of a paste -
ELLIOT
(turning to Dick)
Look, Dick, I don't -
CLARENCE
(laughing)
No problem, Elliot. I'm just fuckin' wit ya, that's all. Actually, I'll
tell you but you gotta keep it quiet. Understand, if Dick didn't assure me
you're good people I'd just tell ya, none of your fuckin' business. But, as
a sign of good faith, here it goes: I gotta friend in the department.
ELLIOT
What department?
CLARENCE
What do you think, eightball?
ELLIOT
The police department?
CLARENCE
Duh. What else would I be talking about? Now stop askin' stupid doorknob
questions. Well, a year and a half ago, this friend of mine got access to
the evidence room for an hour. He snagged this coke. But, he's a good cop
with a wife and a kid, so he sat on it for a year and a half until he found
a guy he could trust.
ELLIOT
He trusts you?
CLARENCE
We were in Four H together. We've known each other since childhood. So, I'm
handling the sales part. He's my silent partner and he knows if I get
fucked up, I won't drop dime on him. I didn't tell you nothin' and you
didn't hear nothin'.
ELLIOT
Sure. I didn't hear anything.
Elliot is more than satisfied. Clarence makes a comical face at Dick when Elliot's not looking. Dick is wearing I-don't-believe-this-guy expresion. Alabama is forever blowing bubbles.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOS ANGELES ZOO - SNACK BAR - DAY
We're in the snack bar area of the zoo. Alabama, Dick, and Elliot are sitting around a plastic outdoor table. Clarence is pacing around the table as he talks. Alabama is still blowing bubbles.
CLARENCE
(to Elliot)
Do I look like a beautiful blond with big tits and an ass that tastes like
French vanilla ice-cream?
Elliot hasn't the slightest idea what that is supposed to mean.
ELLIOT
What?
CLARENCE
Do I look like a beautiful blond with big tits and an ass that tastes like
French vanilla ice-cream?
ELLIOT
(with conviction)
No. No, you don't.
CLARENCE
Then why are you telling me all this bullshit just so you can fuck me?
DICK
Clarence...
CLARENCE
(to Dick)
Let me handle this.
ELLIOT
Get it straight, Lee isn't into taking risks. He deals with a couple of
guys, and he's been dealing with them for years. They're reliable. They're
dependable. And, they're safe.
CLARENCE
Riddle me this, Batman. If you're all so much in love with each other, what
the fuck are you doing here? I'm sure you got better things to do with your
time than walk around in circles starin' up a panther's ass. Your guy's
interested because with that much shit at his fingertips he can play Joe
fuckin' Hollywood till the wheels come off. He can sell it, he can snort
it, he can play Santa Claus with it. At the price he's payin', he'll be
everybody's best friend. And, you know, that's what we're talkin' about
here. I'm not puttin' him down. Hey, let him run wild. Have a ball, it's
his money. But, don't expect me to hang around forever waitin' for you guys
to grow some guts.
Elliot has been silenced. He nods his head in agreement.
INT. PORSCHE - MOVING - MULHOLLAND DRIVE - DAY
Movie producer, Lee Donowitz, is driving his Porsche through the winding Hollywood hills, just enjoying being rich and powerful. His cellular car phone rings, he answers.
LEE
Hello.
(pause)
Elliot, it's Sunday. Why am I talkin' to you on Sunday? I don't see enough
of you during the week I gotta talk to you on Sunday? Why is it you always
call me when I'm on the windiest street in L.A.?
BACK TO:
ELLIOT
Elliot is on the zoo payphone. Clarence is next to him. Dick is next to Clarence. Alabama is next to Dick, blowing bubbles.
ELLIOT
(on phone)
I'm with that party you wanted me to get together with. Do you know what
I'm talking about, Lee?
BACK TO:
LEE
Store-fronts whiz by in the background.
LEE
Why the hell are you calling my phone to talk about that?
BACK TO:
ELLIOT
ELLIOT
Well, he'd here right now, and he insists on talking to you.
BACK TO:
LEE
In the 7th street tunnel. Lee's voice echoes.
LEE
Are you outta your fuckin' mind?
BACK TO:
ELLIOT
ELLIOT
You said if I didn't get you on the -
Clarence takes the receiverout of Elliot's hand.
CLARENCE
(into phone)
Hello, Lee, it's Clarence. At last we meet.
EXT. DICK'S APARTMENT - DAY
Virgil's knocking on Dick's door. Floyd (Dick's room-mate) answers.
VIRGIL
Hello, is Dick Ritchie here?
FLOYD
Naw, he ain't home right now.
VIRGIL
Do you live here?
FLOYD
Yeah, I live here.
VIRGIL
Sorta room-mates?
FLOYD
Exactly room-mates.
VIRGIL
Maybe you can help me. Actually, who I'm looking for is a friend of ours
from Detroit. Clarence Worley? I heard he was in town. Might be travelling
with a pretty girl named Alabama. Have you seen him? Are they stayin' here?
FLOYD
Naw, they ain't stayin' here. But, I know who you're talkin' about. They're
stayin' at the Hollywood Holiday Inn.
VIRGIL
How do you know? You been there?
FLOYD
No, I ain't been there. But I heard him say. Hollywood Holiday Inn. Kinda
easy to remember.
VIRGIL
You're right. It is.
EXT. LOS ANGELES ZOO - PAYPHONE - DAY
Clarence is still on the phone with Lee.
CLARENCE
Lee, the reason I'm talkin' with you is I want to open "Doctor Zhivago" in
L.A. And I want you to distribute it.
BACK TO:
LEE
Stopped in the traffic on Sunset Boulevard.
LEE
I don't know, Clarence, "Doctor Zhivago" is a pretty big movie.
BACK TO:
CLARENCE
The biggest. The biggest movie you've ever dealt with, Lee. We're talkin' a
lot of film. A man'd have ta be an idiot not to be a little cautious about
a movie like that. And Lee, you're no idiot.
BACK TO:
LEE
He's still on Sunset Boulevard, the traffic's moving better now.
LEE
I'm not sayin' I'm not interested. But being a distributer's not what I'm
all about. I'm a film producer, I'm on this world to make good movies.
Nothing more. Now, having my big toe dipped into the distribution end helps
me on many levels.
Traffic breaks and Lee speeds along. The background whizzes past him.
LEE
(continuing)
But the bottom line is: I'm not Paramount. I have a select group of
distributers I deal with. I buy their little movies. Accomplish what I
wanna accomplish, end of story. Easy, business-like, very little risk.
BACK TO:
CLARENCE
CLARENCE
Now that's bullshit, Lee. Every time you buy one of those little movies
it's a risk. I'm not sellin' you something that's gonna play two weeks, six
weeks, then go straight to cable. This is "Doctor Zhivago". This'll be
packin' 'em in for a year and a half. Two years! That's two years you don't
have to work with anybody's movie but mine.
BACK TO:
LEE
Speeding down a benchside road.
LEE
Well, then, what's the hurry? Is it true the rights to "Doctor Zhivago" are
in arbitration?
BACK TO:
CLARENCE
I wanna be able to announce this deal at Cannes. If I had time for a
courtship, Lee, I would. I'd take ya out, I'd hold your hand, I'd kiss you
on the cheek at the door. But, I'm not in that position. I need to know if
we're in bed together, or not. If you want my movie, Lee, you're just gonna
have to come to terms with your Fear and Desire.
Pause. Clarence hands the phone to Elliot.
CLARENCE
(to Elliot)
He wants to talk ya.
ELLIOT
(into phone)
Mr. Donowitz?
(pause)
I told you, through Dick.
(pause)
He's in my acting class.
(pause)
About a year.
(pause)
Yeah, he's good.
(pause)
They grew up together.
(pause)
Sure thing.
Elliot hangs up the phone.
ELLIOT
He says Wednesday at three o'clock at the Beverly Wilshire. He wants
everybody there.
(pointing to Clarence)
He'll talk to you. If after talkin' to you he's convinced you're OK, he'll
do business. If not, he'll say fuck it and walk out the door. He also wants
a sample bag.
CLARENCE
No problems on both counts.
He offers Elliot the animal crackers.
CLARENCE
Have a cookie.
Elliot takes one.
ELLIOT
Thanks.
He puts it in the mouth.
CLARENCE
That wasn't a gorilla, was it?
EXT. HOLIDAY INN - DAY
The red Mustang with Clarence and Alabama pulls up to the hotel. Alabama hops out. Clarence stays in.
ALABAMA
You did it, Quickdraw. I'm so proud of you. You were like a ninja. Did I do
my part OK?
CLARENCE
Babalouey, you were perfect, I could hardly keep from busting up.
ALABAMA
I felt so stupid just blowing those bubbles.
CLARENCE
You were chillin', kind of creepy even. You totally fucked with his head.
I'm gonna go grab dinner.
ALABAMA
I'm gonna hop in the tub and get all wet, and slippery, and soapy. Then I'm
gonna lie in the waterbed, not even both to dry off, and watch X-rated
movies till you get your ass back to my lovin' arms.
They kiss.
CLARENCE
We now return to "Bullit" already in progress.
He slams the Mustang in reverse and peels out of the hotel. Alabama walks her little walk from the parking lot to the pool area. Somebody whistles at her, she turns to them.
ALABAMA
Thank you.
She gets to her door, takes out the key, and opens the door.
INT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - CALRENCE'S ROOM - DAY
She steps in only to find Virgil sitting on a chair placed in front of the door with a sawed-off shotgun aimed right at her.
VIRGIL
(calmly)
Step inside and shut the door.
She doesn't move, she's frozen. Virgil leans forward.
VIRGIL
(calmly)
Lady. I'm gonna shoot you in the face.
She does exactly as he says. Virgil rises, still aiming the sawed-off.
VIRGIL
Step away from the door, move into the bathroom.
She does. He puts the shotgun down on the chair, then steps closer to her.
VIRGIL
OK, Alabama, where's our coke, where's Clarence, and when's he coming back.
ALABAMA
I think you got the wrong room, my name is Sadie. I don't have any Coke,
but there's a Pepsi machine downstairs. I don't know any Clarence, but
maybe my husband does. You might have heard of him, he plays football. Al
Lylezado. He'll be home any minute, you can ask him.
Virgil can't help but smile.
VIRGIL
You're cute.
Virgil jumps up and does a mid-air kung fu kick which catches Alabama square in the face, lifting her off the ground and dropping her flat on her back.
INT. MOVING RED MUSTANG - DAY
Clarence, in his car, driving to get something to eat, singing to himself.
CLARENCE
(singing)
"Land of stardust, land of glamour,
Vistavision and Cinema,
Everything about it is a must,
To get to Hollywood, or bust..."
INT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - CLARENCE'S ROOM - DAY
Alabama's laying flat. She actually blacks out for a moment, but the salty taste of the blood in her mouth wakes her up. She opens her eyes and sees Virgil standing there, smiling. She closes them, hoping it's a dream. They open again to the same sight. She has never felt more helpless in her life.
VIRGIL
Hurts, don't it? It better. Took me a long time to kick like that. I'm
third-degree blackbelt, you know? At home I got trophies. Tournaments I was
in. Kicked all kinds of ass. I got great technique. You ain't hurt that
bad. Get on your feet, Fruitloop.
Alabama wobbily complies.
VIRGIL
Where's our coke? Where's Clarence? And when he's comin' back?
Alabama looks in Virgil's eyes and realizes that without a doubt she's going to die, because this man is going to kill her.
ALABAMA
Go take a flying fuck and a rolling donut.
Virgil doesn't waste a second. He gives her a sidekick straight to the stomach. The air is sucked out of her lungs. She falls to her knees. She's on all fours gasping for air that's just not there.
Virgil whips out a pack of Lucky Strikes. He lights one up with a Zippo lighter. He takes a long, deep drag.
VIRGIL
Whatsamatta? Can't breathe? Get used to it.
INT. HAMBURGER STAND - DAY
Clarence walks through the door of some mom and pop fast-food restaurant.
CLARENCE
Woah! Smells like hamburgers in here! What's the biggest, fattest hamburger
you guys got?
The Iranian Guy at the counter says:
IRANIAN GUY
That would be Steve's double chili cheeseburger.
CLARENCE
Well, I want two of them bad boys. Two large orders of chili fries. Two
large Diet Cokes.
(looking at a menu at the wall)
And I'll tell you what, why don't you give me a combination burrito as
well.
INT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - CLARENCE'S ROOM - DAY
Alabama is violently thrown into a corner of the room. She braces herself against the wall. She is very punchy. Virgil steps in front of her.
VIRGIL
You think your boyfriend would go through this kind of shit for you? Dream
on, cunt. You're nothin' but a fuckin' fool. And your pretty face is gonna
turn awful goddamn ugly in about two seconds. Now, where's my fuckin' coke?
She doesn't answer. He delivers a spinning roundhouse kick on the head. Her head slams into the left side of the wall.
VIRGIL
Where's Clarence?!
Nothing. He gives her another kick to the head, this time from the other side. Her legs start to give way. He catches her and throws her back. He slaps her lightly in the face to revive her, she looks at him.
VIRGIL
When's Clarence getting back?
She can barely raise her arm, but she somehow manages, and she gives him the middle finger. Virgil can't help but smile.
VIRGIL
You gotta lot of heart, kid.
He gives her a spinning roadhouse kick to the head that sends her to the floor.
INT. HAMBURGER STAND - DAY
CLOSEUP - Burgers sizzling on a griddle, Chili and cheese is put on them.
Clarence is waiting for his order. He notices a CUSTOMER reading a copy of "Newsweek" with Elvis on the cover.
CLARENCE
That's a great issue.
The Customer lowers his magazine a little bit.
CUSTOMER
Yeah, I subscribe. It's a pretty decent one.
CLARENCE
Have you read the story on Elvis?
CUSTOMER
No. Not yet.
CLARENCE
You know, I saw it on the stands, my first inclination was to buy it. But,
I look at the price and say forget it, it's just gonna be the same old
shit. I ended up breaking down and buying it a few days later. Man, I was
ever wrong.
CUSTOMER
That good, huh?
He takes the magazine from the Customer's hands and starts flipping to the Elvis article.
CLARENCE
It tried to pin down what the attraction is after all these years. It
covers the whole spectrum of fans, the people who love his music, the
people who grew up with him, the artists he inspired - Bob Dylan, Bruce
Springsteen, and the fanatics, like these guys. I don't know about you, but
they give me the creeps.
CUSTOMER
I can see what you mean.
CLARENCE
Like, look at her. She looks like she fell off an ugly tree and hit every
branch on the way down. Elvis wouldn't fuck her with Pat Boone's dick.
Clarence and the Customer laugh.
INT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - CLARENCE'S ROOM - DAY
Alabama's pretty beat up. She has a fat lip and her face is black and blue. She's crawling around on the floor. Virgil is tearing the place apart looking for the cocaine. He's also carrying on a running commentary.
VIRGIL
Now the first guy you kill is always the hardest. I don't care if you're
the Boston Strangler or Wyatt Earp. You can bet that Texas boy, Charles
Whitman, the fella who shot all them guys from that tower, I'll bet you
green money that that first little black dot that he took a bead on, was
the bitch of the bunch. No foolin' the first one's a tough row to hoe. Now,
the second one, while it ain't no Mardi Gras, it ain't half as tough row to
hoe. You still feel somethin' but it's just so deluted this time around.
Then you completely level off on the third one. The third one's easy. It's
gotten to the point now I'll do it just to watch their expressions change.
He's tearing the motel room up in general. Then he flips the matress up off the bed, and the black suitcase is right there.
Alabama's crawling, unnoticed to where her purse is lying. Virgil flips open the black case and almost goes snow blind.
VIRGIL
Well, well, well, looky here. I guess I just reached journey's end. Great.
One less thing I gotta worry about.
Virgil closes the case. Alabama sifts through her purse.
She pulls out her Swiss army knife, opens it up. Virgil turns toward her.
VIRGIL
OK, Sugarpop, we've come to what I like to call the moment of truth -
Alabama slowly rises clutching the thrust-out knife in both hands. Mr. Karate-man smiles.
VIRGIL
Kid, you got a lotta heart.
He moves toward her.
Alabama's hands are shaking.
VIRGIL
Tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna give you a free swing. Now, I only do
that for people I like.
He moves close.
Alabama's eyes study him. He grabs the front of his shirt and rips it open. Buttons fly everywhere.
VIRGIL
Go ahead, girl, take a stab at it.
(giggling)
You don't have anything to lose.
CLOSEUP - Alabama's face. Virgil's right, she doesn't have anything to lose. Virgil's also right about his being the moment of truth. The ferocity in women that comes out at certain times, and is just here under the surface in many women all of the time, is unleashed. The absolute feeling of helplessness she felt only a moment ago has taken a one hundred and eighty degree turn into "I'll take this motherfucker with me if it's the last thing I do" seething hatred.
Letting out a bloodcurling yell, she raises the knfe high above her head, then drops to her knees and plunges it deep into Virgil's right foot.
CLOSEUP - VIRGIL'S FACE
Talk about bloodcurling yells.
Virgil bends down and carefully pulls the knife from his foot, tears running down his face.
While Virgil's bent down, Alabama smashes an Elvis Presley whiskey decanter that Clarence bought her in Oklahoma over his head. It's only made of plaster, so it doesn't kill him.
Virgil's moving toward Alabama, limping on his bad foot.
VIRGIL
OK, no more Mr. Nice-guy.
Alabama picks up the hotel TV and tosses it to him. He instinctively catches it and, with his arms full of television, Alabama cold-cocks him with her fist in the nose, breaking it.
Her eyes go straight to the door, then to the sawed-off shotgun by it. She runs to it, bends over the chair for the gun. Virgil's left foot kicks her in the back, sending her flying over the chair and smashing into the door.
Virgil furiously throws the chair out of the way and stands over Alabama. Alabama's lying on the ground laughing. Virgil has killed a lot of people, but not one of them has ever laughed before he did it.
VIRGIL
What's so fuckin' funny?!!
ALABAMA
(laughing)
You look so ridiculous.
She laughs louder. Virgil's insane. He picks her off the floor, then lifts her off the ground and throws her through the glass shower door in the bathroom.
VIRGIL
Laugh it up, cunt. You were in hysterics a minute ago. Why ain't you
laughing now?
Alabama, lying in the bathtub, grabs a small bottle of hotel shampoo and squeezes it out in her hand.
Virgil reaches in the shower and grabs hold of her hair.
Alabama rubs the shampoo in his face. He lets go of her and his hands go to his eyes.
VIRGIL
Oh Jesus!
She grabs hold of a hefty piece of broken glass and plunges it into his face.
VIRGIL
Oh Mary, help me!
The battered and bruised and bloody Alabama emerges from the shower. She's clutching a big, bloody piece of broken glass. She's vaguely reminiscent of a Tasmanian devil. Poor Virgil can't see very well, but he sees her figure coming toward him. He lets out a wild haymaker that catches her in the jaw and knocks her into the toilet.
He recovers almost immediately and takes the porcelain lid off the back of the toilet tank.
Virgil whips out a .45 automatic from his shoulder holster, just as Alabama brings the lid down on his head. He's pressed up against the wall with this toilet lid hitting him. He can't get a good shot in this tight environment, but he fires anyway, hitting the floor, the all, the toilet, and the sink.
The toilet lid finally shatters against Virgil's head. He falls to the ground.
Alabama goes to the medicine cabinet and whips out a big can of Final Net hairspray. She pulls a Bic lighter out of her pocket, and, just as Virgil raises his gun at her, she flicks the Bic and sends a stream of hairspray through the flame, which results in a big ball of fire that hits Virgil right in the face.
He fires off two shots. One hits the wall, another hits the sink pipe, sending water spraying.
Upon getting his face fried Virgil screams and jumps up, knocking Alabama down, and runs out of the bathroom.
Virgil collapses on the floor of the living room. Then, he sees the sawed-off laying on the ground. He crawls toward it.
Alabama, in the bathroom, sees where he's heading. She picks up the .45 automatic and fires at him. It's empty. She's on her feet and into the room.
He reaches the shotgun, his hands grasp it.
Alabama spots and picks up the bloody Swiss army knife. She takes a knife-first-running-dive at Virgil's back. She hits him.
He arches up, firing the sawed-off into the ceiling, dropping the gun, and sending a cloud of plaster and stucco all over the room.
Alabama snatches the shotgun.
Arched over on his back Virgil and Alabama make eye contact.
The first blast hits him in the shoulder, almost tearing his arm off. The second hits him in the knee. The third plays hell with his chest.
Alabama then runs at him, hitting him in the head with the butt of the shotgun.
Ever since he's been firing it's as if some other part of her brain has been functioning independently. She's been absent-mindedly saying the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.
ALABAMA
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.
Clarence, who's been hearing gunshots, bursts through the door, gun drawn, only to see Alabama, hitting a dead guy on the head, with a shotgun.
CLARENCE
Honey?
She continues. He puts his gun away.
CLARENCE
Sweetheart? Cops are gonna be here any minute,
She continues. He takes the gun away from her, and she falls to the ground. She lies on the floor trembling, continuing with the downward swings of her arms.
Clarence grabs the shotgun and the cocaine, and tosses Alabama over his shoulder.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY INN - DAY
Everybody is outside their rooms watching as Clarence walks through the pool area with his bundle. Sirens can be heard.
EXT. MOVING RED MUSTANG - DAY
Clarence is driving like mad. Alabama's passed out in the passenger seat. She's muttering to herself. Clarence has one hand on the steering wheel and the other strokes Alabama's hair.
CLARENCE
Sleep baby. Don't dream. Don't worry. Just sleep. You deserve better than
this. I'm so sorry. Sleep my angel. Sleep peacefully.
EXT. MOTEL 6 - NIGHT
A new motel. Clarence's red Mustang is parked outside.
INT. MOTEL 6 - CLARENCE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Alabama, with a fat lip and a black and blue face, is asleep in bed.
INT. NOWHERE
Clarence is in a nondescript room speaking directly to the camera. He's in a headshot.
CLARENCE
I feel so horrible about what she went through. That fucker really beat the
shit out of her. She never told him where I was. It's like I always felt
that the way she felt about me was a mistake. She couldn't really care that
much. I always felt in the back of my mind, I don't know, she was jokin'.
But, to go through that and remain loyal, it's very easy to be unraptured
with words, but to remain loyal when it's easier, even excusable, not to -
that's a test of oneself. That's a true romance. I swear to God, I'll cut
off my hands and gouge out my eyes before I'll every let anything happen to
that lady again.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS - NIGHT
A wonderful, gracefully flowing shot of the Hollywood Hills. Off in the distance we hear the roar of a car engine.
EXT. MULLHOLLAND DRIVE - NIGHT
Vaaarrroooooommmm!!! A silver Porsche is driving hells bells, taking quick corners, pushing it to the edge.
INT. MOVING PORSCHE - NIGHT
Elliot Blitzer is the driver, standing on it. A blond, glitzy Coke Whore is sitting next to him. They're having a ball. Then they're seeing a red and blue light flashing in the rear-view window. It's the cops.
ELLIOT
Fuck! I knew it! I fucking knew it! I should have my head examined, driving
like this!
(he pulls over)
Kandi, you gotta help me.
KANDI
What can I do?
He pulls out the sample bag of cocaine that Clarence gave him earlier.
ELLIOT
You gotta hold this for me.
KANDI
You must be high. Uh-huh. No way.
ELLIOT
(frantically)
Just put it in your purse.
KANDI
I'm not gonna put that shit in my purse.
ELLIOT
They won't search you. I promise. You haven't done anything.
KANDI
No way, JosČ.
ELLIOT
Please, they'll be here any minute. Just put it in your bra.
KANDI
I'm not wearing a bra.
ELLIOT
(pleading)
Put it in your pants.
KANDI
No.
ELLIOT
You're the one who wanted to drive fast.
KANDI
Read my lips.
She mouths the word "no".
ELLIOT
After all I've done for you, you fuckin' whore!!
She goes to slap him, she hits the bag of cocaine instead. It rips open. Cocaine completely covers his blue suit. At that moment Elliot turns to face a flashing beam. Tears fill his eyes.
INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Elliot is sitting in a chair at the table. Two young, good-looking, casually dressed, Starsky and Hutch-type POLICE DETECTIVES are questioning him. They're known in the department as Nicholson and Dimes. The dark-haired one is Cody Nicholson, and the blond is Nicky Dimes.
NICHOLSON
Look, sunshine, we found a sandwich bag of uncut cocaine -
DIMES
Not a tiny little vial -
NICHOLSON
But a fuckin' baggie.
DIMES
No don't sit here and feed us some shit.
NICHOLSON
You got caught. It's all fun and fuckin' games till you get caught. But now
we gotcha. OK, Mr. Elliot actor, you've just made the big time -
DIMES
You're no longer an extra -
NICHOLSON
Or a bit player -
DIMES
Or a supporting actor -
NICHOLSON
You're a fuckin' star! And you're gonna be playin' your little one-man show
nightly for the next two fuckin' years for a captive audience -
DIMES
But there is a bright side though. If you ever have to play a part of a guy
who gets fucked in the ass on a daily basis by throat-slitting niggers,
you'll have so much experience to draw on -
NICHOLSON
And just think, when you get out in a few years, you'll meet some girl, get
married, and you'll be so understanding to your wife's needs, because
you'll know what it's like to be a woman.
DIMES
'Course you'll wanna fuck her in the ass. Pussy just won't feed right
anymore -
NICHOLSON
That is, of course, if you don't catch Aids from all your anal intrusions.
Elliot starts crying. Nicholson and Dimes exchange looks and smile. Mission accomplished.
INT. POLICE STATION - CAPTAIN KRINKLE'S OFFICE - DAY
CAPTAIN BUFFORD KRINKLE is sitting behind his desk, where he spends about seventy-five percent of his day. He's you standard rough, gruff, no-nonsense, by-the-book-type police captain.
KRINKLE
Nicholson! Dimes! Het in here!
The two casually dressed, sneaker-wearing cops rush in, both shouting at once.
DIMES
Krinkle, this is it. We got it, man. And it's all ours. I mean talk about
fallin' into somethin'. You shoulda seen it, it was beautiful. Dimes is
hittin' him from the left about being fucked in the ass by niggers, I'm
hittin' him form the right about not likin' pussy anymore, finally he
starts cryin', and then it was all over -
NICHOLSON
Krinkle, you're lookin' at the two future cops of the month. We have it,
and if I say we, I don't mean me and him, I'm referring to the whole
department. Haven't had a decent bust this whole month. Well, we mighta
come in like a lamb, but we're goin' out like a lion -
KRINKLE
Both you, idiots shut up, I can't understand shit! Now, what's happened,
what's going on, and what are you talking about?
DIMES
Okee-dokee. It's like this, Krinkle; a patrol car stops this dork for
speeding, they walk up to window and the guy's covered in coke. So they
bring his ass in and me an' Nicholson go to work on him.
NICHOLSON
Nicholson and I.
DIMES
Nicholson and I go to work on him. Now er know somthing's rotten in
Denmark, 'cause this dickhead had a big bag, and it's uncut, too, so we're
sweatin' him, trying to find out where he got it. Scarin' the shit outta
him.
NICHOLSON
Which wasn't too hard, the guy was a real squid.
DIMES
So we got this guy scared shitless and he starts talkin'. And, Krinkle, you
ain't gonna fuckin' believe it.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Detroit. Very fancy restaurant. Four wise-guy Hoods, one older, the other three, youngsters, are seated at the table with Mr. Coccotti.
COCCOTTI
- And so, tomorrow morning comes, and no Virgil. I check with Nick
Cardella, who Virgil was supposed to leave my narcotics with, he never
shows. Now, children, somebody is stickin' a red-hot poker up my asshole
and what I don't know is whose hand's on the handle.
YOUNG WISE-GUY #1 (FRANKIE)
You think Virgil started gettin' big ideas?
COCCOTTI
It's possible. Anybody can be carried away with delusions of grandeur. But
after that incident in Ann Arbor, I trust Virgil.
YOUNG WISE-GUY #2 (DARIO)
What happened?
OLD WISE-GUY(LENNY)
Virgil got picked up in a warehouse shakedown. He got five years, he served
three.
COCCOTTI
Anybody who clams up and does hid time, I don't care how I feel about him
personally, he's OK.
BACK TO:
KRINKLE'S OFFICE
NICHOLSON
It seems a cop from some department, we don't know where, stole a half a
million dollars of coke from the property cage and he's been sittin' on it
for a year and a half. Now the cops got this weirdo -
DIMES
Suspect's words -
NICHOLSON
To front for him. So Elliot is workin' out the deal between them and his
boss, a big movie producer named Lee Donowitz.
DIMES
He produced "Coming Home in a Body Bag".
KRINKLE
That Vietnam movie?
DIMES
Uh-huh.
KRINKLE
That was a good fuckin' movie.
DIMES
Sure was.
KRINKLE
Do you believe him?
DIMES
I believe he believes him.
NICHOLSON
He's so spooked he'd turn over his momma, his daddy, his two-panny granny,
and Anna and the King of Siam if he had anything on him.
DIMES
This rabbit'll do anything not to do time, including wearing a wire.
KRINKLE
He'll wear a wire?
DIMES
We talked him into it.
KRINKLE
Dirty cops. We'll have to bring in internal affairs on this.
DIMES
Look, we don't care if you bring in the state milita, the volunteer fire
department, the L.A. Thunderbirds, the ghost of Steve McQueen, and the
twelve Roman gladiators, so long as we get credit for the bust.
NICHOLSON
Cocaine. Dirty cops. Hollywood. This is Crocket and Tubbs all the way. And
we found it, so we want the fuckin' collar.
BACK TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
YOUNG WISE-GUY #3 (MARVIN)
Maybe Virgil dropped it off at Cardella's. Cardella turns Virgil's switch
off, and Cardella decides to open up his own fruit stand.
LENNY
Excuse me, Mr. Coccotti.
(to Marvin)
Do you know Nick Cardella?
MARVIN
No.
LENNY
Then where the hell do you get off talkin' that kind of talk?
MARVIN
I didn't mean -
LENNY
Shut your mouth. Nick Cardella was provin' what his words was worth before
you were in your daddy's nutsack. What sun do you walk under you can throw
a shadow on Nick Cardella? Nick Cardella's a stand-up guy.
COCCOTTI
Children, we're digressing. Another possibility is that rat-fuck whore and
her wack-a-doo cowboy boyfriend out-aped Virgil. Knowing Virgil, I find
that hard to believe. But they sent Drexl to hell, and Drexl was no faggot.
So you see, children, I got a lot of questions and no answers. Find out who
this wing-and-a-prayer artist is and take him off at the neck.
TITLE CARD: "THE BIG DAY"
EXT. IMPERIAL HIGHWAY - SUNRISE
Clarence's red Mustang is parked on top of a hill just off of Imperial Highway. As luck would have it, somebody has abandoned a ratty old sofa on the side of the road. Clarence and Alabama sit on the sofa, sharing a Jumbo Java, and enjoying the sunrise and wonderful view of the LAX Airport runways, where planes are taking off and landing. A plane takes off, and they stop and watch.
CLARENCE
Ya know, I used to fuckin' hate airports.
ALABAMA
Really?
CLARENCE
With a vengeance, I hated them.
ALABAMA
How come?
CLARENCE
I used to live by one back in Dearborn. It's real frustratin' to be
surrounded by airplanes when you ain't got shit. I hated where I was, but I
couldn't do anythin' about it. I didn't have enough money. It was tough
enough just tryin' to pay my rent every month, an' here I was livin' next
to an airport. Whenever I went outside, I saw fuckin' planes take off
drownin' out my show. All day long I'm seein', hearin' people doin' what I
wanted to do most, but couldn't.
ALABAMA
What?
CLARENCE
Leavin' Detroit. Goin' off on vacations, startin' new lives, business
trips. Fun, fun, fun, fun.
Another plane takes off.
CLARENCE
But knowin' me and you gonna be nigger-rich gives me a whole new outlook. I
love airports now. Me 'n' you can get on any one of those planes out there,
and go anywhere we ant.
ALABAMA
You ain't kiddin', we got lives to start over, we should go somewhere where
we can really start from scatch.
CLARENCE
I been in America all my life. I'm due for a change. I wanna see what TV in
other countries is like. Besides, it's more dramatic. Where should we fly
off to, my little turtledove?
ALABAMA
Cancoon.
CLARENCE
Why Cancoon?
ALABAMA
It's got a nice ring to it. It sounds like a movie. "Clarence and Alabama
Go to Cancoon". Don't 'cha think?
CLARENCE
But in my movie, baby, you get the top billing.
They kiss.
CLARENCE
Don't you worry 'bout anything. It's all gonna work out for us. We deserve
it.
INT. DICK'S APARTMENT - DAY
Dick, Clarence and Alabama are just getting ready to leave for the drug deal. Floyd lays on the couch watching TV. Alabama's wearing dark glasses because of the black eye she has.
CLARENCE
(to Floyd)
You sure that's how you get to the Beverly Wilshire?
FLOYD
I've partied there twice. Yeah, I'm sure.
DICK
Yeah, well if we got lost, it's your ass.
(to Clarence)
Come on, Clarence, lets go. Elliot's going to meet us in the lobby.
CLARENCE
I'm just makin' sure we got everything.
(pointing to Alabama)
You got yours?
She holds up the suitcase. The phone rings. The three pile out the door. Floyd picks up the phone.
FLOYD
Hello?
He puts his hand over the receiver.
FLOYD
Dick, it's for you. You here?
DICK
No. I left.
He starts to close the door then opens it again.
DICK
I'll take it.
(he takes the receiver)
Hello.
(pause)
Hi, Catherine, I was just walkin' out the -
(pause)
Really?
(pause)
I don't believe it.
(pause)
She really said that?
(pause)
I'll be by first thing.
(pause)
No, thank you for sending me out.
(pause)
Bye-bye.
He hangs up and looks to Clarence.
DICK
(stunned)
I got the part on "T.J. Hooker".
CLARENCE
No shit? Dick, that's great!
Clarence and Alabama are jumping around. Floyd even smiles.
DICK
(still stunned)
They didn't even want a callback. They just hired me like that. Me and
Peter Breck are the two heavies. We start shooting Monday. My call is for
seven o'clock in the morning.
CLARENCE
Ah, Dick, let's talk about it in the car. We can't be late.
Dick looks at Clarence. He doesn't want to go.
DICK
Clarence.
CLARENCE
Yeah?
DICK
Um, nothing, let's go?
They exit.
EXT. LAX AIRPORT - HOTEL - DAY
We see the airport and move in closer on a hotel on a landscape.
INT. LAX AIRPORT - HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Lenny can be seen putting a shotgun together. He is sitting on a bed.
Dario enters the frame with his own shotgun. He goes over to Lenny and gives him some shells.
Marvin walks through the frame cocking his own shotgun.
The bathroom door opens behind Lenny and Frankie walks out twirling a couple of .45 automatics in his hands.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - COP S' HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Nicholson and Dimes and FOUR DETECTIVES from internal affairs are in a room on the same floor as Donowitz. They have just put a wire on Elliot.
DIMES
OK, say something.
ELLIOT
(talking loud into the wire)
Hello! Hello! Hello! How now brown cow!
NICHOLSON
Just talk regular.
ELLIOT
(normal tone)
"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief -"
DIMES
Are you gettin' this shit?
DETECTIVE BY TAPE MACHINE
Clear as a bell.
Nicholson, Dime, and the head IA Officer, Wurlitzer, huddle by Elliot.
DIMES
Now, remember, we'll be monitoring just down the hall.
ELLIOT
And if there's any sign of trouble you'll come in.
NICHOLSON
Like gang-busters. Now, remember, if you don't want to go to jail, we gotta
put your boss in jail.
DIMES
We have to show in court that, without a doubt, a successful man, an important figure in the Hollywood community, is also dealing cocaine.
NICHOLSON
So you gotta get him to admit on tape that he's buying this coke.
WURLITZER
And this fellow Clarence?
ELLIOT
Yeah, Clarence.
WURLITZER
You gotta get him name the police officer behind all this.
ELLIOT
I'll try.
DIMES
You do more than try.
NICHOLSON
You do.
DIMES
Hope you're a good actor, Elliot.
INT. MOVING RED MUSTANG - DAY
Clarence, Dick and Alabama en route.
DICK
You got that playing basketball?
ALABAMA
Yeah. I got elbowed right in the eye. And if that wasn't enough, I got
hurled the ball when I'm not looking. Wam! Right in my face.
They stop at a red light. Clarence looks at Alabama.
CLARENCE
Red light means love, baby.
He and Alabama start kissing.
INT. MOVING CADILLAC - DAY
Marvin, Frankie, Lenny and Dario in a rented Caddy.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE PARKING LOT - DAY
Clarence, Alabama, and Dick get out of the red Mustang. Dick takes the suitcase.
CLARENCE
I'll take that. Now, remember, both of you, let me do the talking.
Clarence takes out his .38. Dick reacts. They walk and talk.
DICK
What the fuck did you bring that for.
CLARENCE
In case.
DICK
In case of what?
CLARENCE
In case they try to kill us. I don't know, what do you want me to say?
DICK
Look, Dillinger, Lee Donowitz is not a pimp -
CLARENCE
I know that Richard. I don't think I'll need it. But something this last
week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not to need it than to
need a gun and not to have it.
Pause. Clarence stops walking.
CLARENCE
Hold it, guys. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm pretty scared.
What say we forget the whole thing.
Dick and Alabama are both surprised and relieved.
DICK
Do you really mean it?
CLARENCE
No, I don't really mean it. Well, I mean, this is our last chance to think
about it. How 'bout you, Bama?
ALABAMA
I thought it was what you wanted, Clarence.
CLARENCE
It is what I want. But I don't want to spend the next ten years in jail. I
don't want you guys to go to jail. We don't know what could be waiting for
us up there. It'll probably be just what it's supposed to be. The only
thing that's waiting for us is two hundred thousand dollars. I'm just
looking at the downside.
DICK
Now's a helluva time to play "what if".
CLARENCE
This is our last chance to play "what if". I want to do it. I'm just scared
of getting caught.
ALABAMA
It's been fun thinking about the money but I can walk away from it, honey.
CLARENCE
That rhymes.
He kisses her.
DICK
Well, if we're not gonna do it, let's just get in the car and get the fuck
outta here.
CLARENCE
Yeah, let's just get outta here.
The three walk back to the car. Clarence gets behind the wheel. The other two climb in. Clarence hops back out.
CLARENCE
I'm sorry guys, I gotta do it. As petrified as I am, I just can't walk
away. I'm gonna be kicking myself in the ass for the rest of my life if I
don't go in there. Lee Donowitz isn't a gangster lookin' to skin us, and
he's not a cop, he's a famous movie producer lookin' to get high. And I'm
just the man who can get him there. So what say we throw caution to the
wind and let the chips fall where they may.
Clarence grabs the suitcase and makes a beeline for the hotel. Dick and Alabama exchange looks and follow.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - LOBBY - DAY
Elliot's walking around the lobby. He's very nervous, so he's singing to himself.
ELLIOT
(singing)
There's a man who leads a life of danger,
To everyone he meets
he stays a stranger.
Be careful what you say,
you'll give yourself away...
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - COPS' HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Nicholson, Dimes, Wurlitzer, and the three other Detectives surround the tape machine. Coming from the machine:
ELLIOT'S VOICE
(off)
... odds are you won't live
to see tomorrow,
secret agent man,
secret agent man....
Nicholson looks at Dimes.
DIMES
Why, all of the sudden, have I got a bad feeling?
BACK TO:
LOBBY
Clarence enters the lobby alone, he's carrying the suitcase. He spots Elliot and goes in his direction. Elliot sees Clarence approaching him. He says to himself, quietly:
ELLIOT
Elliot, your motivation is to stay out of jail.
Clarence walks up to Elliot, they shake hands.
ELLIOT
Where's everybody else?
CLARENCE
They'll be along.
Alabama and Dick enter the lobby, they join up with Clarence and Elliot.
ELLIOT
Hi, Dick.
DICK
How you doin', Elliot?
CLARENCE
Well, I guess it's about that time.
ELLIOT
I guess so. Follow me.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - ELEVATOR - DAY
The four of them are riding in the elevator. As luck would have it, they have the car to themselves. Rinky-drink elevator Muzak is playing. They are all silent.
CLARENCE
Elliot.
ELLIOT
Yeah?
CLARENCE
Get on your knees.
Not sure he heard him right.
ELLIOT
What?
Clarence hits the stop button on the elevator panel and whips out his .38.
CLARENCE
I said get on your fuckin' knees.
Elliot does it immediately. Dick and Alabama react.
CLARENCE
Shut up, both of you, I know what I'm doin'.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
Pandemonium.
DIMES
He knows.
NICHOLSON
How the fuck could he know?
DIMES
He saw the wire.
NICHOLSON
How's he supposed to see the wire?
DIMES
He knows something's up.
BACK TO:
ELEVATOR
Clarence puts the .38 against Elliot's forehead.
CLARENCE
You must think I'm pretty stupid, don't you?
No answer.
CLARENCE
Don't you?
ELLIOT
(petrified)
No.
CLARENCE
(yelling)
Don't lie to me, motherfucker. You apparently think I'm the dumbest
motherfucker in the world! Don't you? Say: Clarence, you are without a
doubt, the dumbest motherfucker in the whole wide world. Say it!
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
NICHOLSON
We gotta get him outta there.
DIMES
Whatta we gonna do? He's in an elevator.
BACK TO:
ELEVATOR
CLARENCE
Say it, goddamn it!
ELLIOT
You are the dumbest person in the world.
CLARENCE
Apparently I'm not as dumb as you thought I am.
ELLIOT
No. No you're not.
CLARENCE
What's waiting for us up there. Tell me or I'll pump two right in your
face.
BACK TO:
COPS
NICHOLSON
He's bluffin ya, Elliot. Can't you see that? You're an actor, remember, the
show must go on.
DIMES
This guy's gonna kill him.
BACK TO:
ELEVATOR
CLARENCE
Stand up.
Elliot does. The .38 is still pressed against his forehead.
CLARENCE
Like Nick Carter used to say: I I'm wrong, I'll apologize. I want you to
tell me what's waiting for us up there. Something's amiss. I can feel it.
If anything out of the ordinary goes down, believe this, you're gonna be
the first one shot. Trust me, I am AIDS, you fuck with me, you die. Now
quit making me mad and tell me why I'm so fucking nervous.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
DIMES
He's bluffin', I knew it. He doesn't know shit.
NICHOLSON
Don't blow it, Elliot. He's bluffin'. He just told you so himself.
DIMES
You're an actor, so act, motherfucker.
BACK TO:
ELEVATOR
Elliot still hasn't answered.
CLARENCE
OK.
With the .38 up against Elliot's head Clarence puts his palm over the top of the gun to shield himself from the splatter. Alabama and Dick can't believe what he's gonna do.
Elliot, tears running down, starts talking for the benefit of the people at the other end of the wire. He sounds like a little boy.
ELLIOT
I don't wanna be here. I wanna go home. I wish somebody would just come and
get me 'cause I don't like this. This is not what I thought it would be.
And I wish somebody would just take me away. Just take me away Come and get
me. 'Cause I don't like this anymore. I can't take this. I'm sorry but I
just can't. So, if somebody would just come to my rescue, everything would
be alright.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
Nicholson and Dimes shake their hands, They have a "well, that's that" expression an their faces.
BACK TO:
ELEVATOR
Clarence puts down the gun and hugs Elliot.
CLARENCE
Sorry, Elliot. Nothing personal. I just hadda make sure you're all right.
I'm sure. I really apologize for scaring you so bad, but believe me, I'm
just as scared as you. Friends?
Elliot, in a state of shock, takes Clarence's hand. Dick and Alabama are relieved.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
Nicholson and Dimes listen open-mouthed, not believing what they're hearing.
INT. DICK'S APARTMENT - DAY
Floyd still lying on the couch watching TV. He hasn't moved since we last saw him.
There is a knock from the door.
FLOYD
(not turning away from TV)
It's open.
The front door flies open and the four Wise-guys rapidly enter the room. The door slams shut. All have their sawed-offs drawn and pointing at Floyd.
FLOYD
Yes.
LENNY
Are you Dick Ritchie?
FLOYD
No.
LENNY
Do you know a Clarence Worley?
FLOYD
Yes.
LENNY
Do you know where we can find him?
FLOYD
He's at the Beverly Wilshire.
LENNY
Where's that?
FLOYD
Well, you go down Beechwood...
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - LEE'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY
The door opens and reveals an extremely muscular guy with an Uzi strapped to his shoulder standing in the doorway, his name is Monty.
MONTY
Hi, Elliot. Are these your friends?
ELLIOT
You could say that. Everybody, this is Monty.
MONTY
C'mon in. Lee's in the can. He'll be out in a quick.
They all move into the room, it is very luxurious.
Another incredibly muscular GUY, Boris, is sitting on the sofa, he too has an Uzi. Monty begins patting everybody down.
MONTY
Sorry, nothin personal.
He starts to search Clarence. Clarence back away.
CLARENCE
No need to search me, daredevil. All you'll find is a .38 calibre.
Boris gets up from the couch.
BORIS
What compelled you to bring that along?
CLARENCE
The same thing that compelled you, Beastmaster, to bring rapid-fire weaponry to a business meeting.
BORIS
I'll take that.
CLARENCE
You'll have to.
The toilet flushes in the bathroom. The door swings open and Lee Donowitz emerges.
LEE
They're here. Who's who?
ELLIOT
Lee, this is my friend Dick, and these are his friends, Clarence and
Alabama.
BORIS
(pointing at Clarence)
This guy's packin'.
LEE
Really?
CLARENCE
Well, I have to admit, walkin' through the door and seein' these "Soldier
of Fortune" poster boys made me a bit nervous. But, Lee, I'm fairly
confident that you came here to do business, not to be a wise-guy. So, if
you want, I'll put the gun on the table.
LEE
I don't think that'll be necessary. Let's all have a seat. Boris, why don't
you be nice and get coffee for everybody.
They all sit around a fancy glass table except for Boris, who's getting the coffee, and Monty, who's standing behind Lee's chair.
CLARENCE
Oh, Mr. Donowitz -
LEE
Lee, Clarence . Please don't insult me. Call me Lee.
CLARENCE
OK, sorry, Lee. I just wanna tell you "Coming Home in a Body Bag" is one of
my favorite movies. After "Apocalypse Now" I think it's the best Vietnam
movie ever.
LEE
Thank you very much, Clarence.
CLARENCE
You know, most movies that win a lot of Oscars, I can't stand. "Sophie's
Choice", "Ordinary People", "Kramer vs. Kramer", "Gandhi". All that stuff
is safe, geriatric, coffee-table dog shit.
LEE
I hear you talkin' Clarence. We park our cars in the same garage.
CLARENCE
Like that Merchant-Ivory clap-trap. All those assholes make are unwatchable
movies from unreadable books.
Boris starts placing clear-glass coffee cups in front of everybody and fills everybody's cup from a fancy coffee pot that he handles like an expert.
LEE
Clarence, there might be somebody somewhere that agrees with you more than
I do, but I wouldn't count on it.
Clarence is on a roll and he knows it.
CLARENCE
They ain't plays, they ain't books, they certainly ain't movies, they're
films. And do you know what films are? They're for people who don't like
movies. "Mad Max", that's a movie. "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly",
that's a movie. "Rio Bravo", that's a movie. "Rumble Fish", that's a
fuckin' movie. And, "Coming Home in a Body Bag", that's a movie. It was the
first movie with balls to win a lot of Oscars since the "The Deer Hunter".
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
They're all listening to this.
DIMES
What's this guy doin'? Makin' a drug deal or gettin' a job on the "New
Yorker"?
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
CLARENCE
My uncle Roger and uncle Cliff, both of which were in Nam, saw "Coming Home
in a Body Bag" and thought it was the most accurate Vietnam film they'd
ever seen.
LEE
You know, Clarence, when a veteran of that bullshit wars says that, it
makes the whole project worthwhile. Clarence, my friend, and I call you my
friend because we have similar interests, let's take a look at what you
have for me.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
DIMES
Thank God.
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
Clarence puts the suitcase on the table.
CLARENCE
Lee, when you see this you're gonna shit.
BACK TO:
LOBBY
The four Wise-guys are at the desk.
LENNY
(quietly to the others)
What was the Jew-boy's name?
MARVIN
Donowitz, he said.
FRONT-DESK GUY
How can I help you, Gentlemen?
LENNY
Yeah, we're from Warner Bros. What room is Mr. Donowitz in?
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
Lee's looking over the cocaine and sampling it.
CLARENCE
Now, that's practically uncut. You could, if you so desire, cut it a
helluva lot more.
LEE
Don't worry, I'll desire. Boris, could I have some more coffee.
CLARENCE
Me too, Boris.
Boris fills both of their cups. They both, calm as a lake, take cream and sugar. All eyes are on them. Lee uses light cream and sugar, he begins stirring this cup. Clarence uses very heavy cream and sugar.
LEE
(stirring loudly)
You like a little coffee with your cream and sugar?
CLARENCE
I'm not satisfied till the spoon stands straight up.
Both are cool as cucumbers.
LEE
I have to hand it to you, this is not nose garbage, this is quality. Can
Boris make anybody a sandwich? I got all kinds of sandwich shit from
Canters in there.
ALABAMA
No thank you.
DICK
No. But thanks.
CLARENCE
No thanks, my stomach's a little upset. I ate somethin' at a restaurant
that made me a little sick.
LEE
Where'd you go?
CLARENCE
A Norms in Van Nuys.
LEE
Bastards. That's why I always eat at Lawreys.
Lee continues looking at the merchandise.
Alabama writes something in her napkin with a pencil. She slides the napkin over to Clarence. It says: "You're so cool" with a tiny heart drawn on the bottom of it. Clarence takes the pencil and draws an arrow through the heart. She takes the napkin and puts it in her pocket.
Lee looks up.
LEE
OK, Clarence, the merchandise is perfect. But, whenever I'm offered a deal
that's too good to be true, it's because it's a lie. Convince me you're on
the level.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
DIMES
If he don't bite, we ain't got shit except posession.
NICHOLSON
Convince him.
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
CLARENCE
Well, Lee, it's like this. You're getting the bargain of a lifetime because
I don't know what the fuck I'm doing. You're used to dealin' with
professionals. I'm not a professional. I'm a rank amateur. I could take
that, and I could cut it, and I could sell it a little bit at a time, and
make a helluva lot more money. But, in order to do that, I'd have to become
a drug dealer. Deal with cut-throat junkies, killers, worry about getting
busted all of the time. Just meeting you here today scares the shit outta
me, and you're not a junkie, a killer or a cop, you're a fucking
movie-maker. I like you, and I'm still scared. I'm a punk kid who picked up
a rock in the street, only to find out it's the Hope Diamond. It's worth a
million dollars, but I can't get the million dollars for it. But, you can.
So, I'll sell it to you for a couple a hundred thousand. You go to make a
million. It's all found money to me anyway. Me and my wife are minimum wage
kids, two hundred thousand is the world.
LEE
Elliot tells me you're fronting for a dirty cop.
CLARENCE
Well, Elliot wasn't supposed to tell you anythin'.
(to Elliot)
Thanks a lot, bigmouth. I knew you were a squid the moment I laid eyes on
you. In my book, buddy, you're a piece of shit.
(to Lee)
He's not a dirty cop, he's a good cop. He just saw his chance and he took
it.
LEE
Why does he trust you?
CLARENCE
We grew up together.
LEE
If you don't know shit, why does he think you can sell it?
CLARENCE
I bullshitted him.
Lee starts laughing.
LEE
That's wild. This fucking guy's a madman. I love it. Monty, go in the other
room and get the money.
Clarence, Alabama and Dick exchange looks.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
Nicholson and Dimes exchange looks.
DIMES & NICHOLSON
Bingo!
BACK TO:
ELEVATOR
The four Wise-guys are coming up.
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
LEE
(pointing to Alabama)
What's your part in this?
ALABAMA
I'm his wife.
LEE
(referring to Dick)
How 'bout you?
DICK
I know Elliot.
LEE
And Elliot knows me. Tell me, Clarence, what department does you friend
work in?
Dick and Alabama panic.
CLARENCE
(without missing a beat)
Carson County Sheriffs.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
The internal affairs officers high five.
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
Monty brings in a briefcase of money and puts it down on the table.
LEE
Wanna count your money?
CLARENCE
Actually, they can count it. I'd like to use the little boy's room.
BACK TO:
COPS' ROOM
They all stand.
DIMES
OK, boys. Let's go get 'em.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - LEE'S HOTEL ROOM - BATHROOM - DAY
Clarence steps inside the bathroom and shuts the door. As soon as it's shut he starts doing the twist. He can't believe he's pulled it off. He goes to the toilet and starts taking a piss. He turns and sees Elvis sitting on the sink.
ELVIS
Clarence, I gotta hand it to ya. You were cooler than cool.
CLARENCE
I was dying. I thought for sure everyone could see it on my face.
ELVIS
All anybody saw was Clint Eastwood drinkin' coffee.
CLARENCE
Can you develop an ulcer in two minutes? Being cool is hard on your body.
ELVIS
Oh, and your line to Charles Atlas in there: "I'll take that gun", "You'll
have to".
CLARENCE
That was cool, wasn't it? You know, I don't even know where that came from.
I just opened my mouth and it came out. After I said it I thought, that's a
cool line, I gotta remember that.
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
Everything's just as it was.
Sudenly, Nicholson, Dimes and the four Detectives break into the room with guns drawn.
DIMES & NICHOLSON
Police! Freeze, you're all under arrest!
Everybody at the table stands up. Boris and Monty stand ready with the Uzis.
DIMES
You two! Put the guns on the floor and back away.
MONTY
Fuck you! All you pigs put your guns on the floor and back away.
LEE
Monty, what are you talking about? So what they say.
DIMES
This is your last warning! Drop those fuckin' guns!
BORIS
This is your last warning! We could kill all six of ya and ya fuckin' know
it! Now get on the floor!
DICK
What the fuck am I doing here?
LEE
Boris! Everybody's gonna get killed! They're cops!
MONTY
So they're cops. Who gives a shit?
BORIS
Lee, something I never told you about me. I don't like cops.
NICHOLSON
OK, let's everybody calm down and get nice. Nobody has to die. We don't
want it, and you don't want it.
LEE
We don't want it.
The four Wise-guys burst through the door, shotguns drawn, except for Frankie, who has two .45 automatics, one in each hand.
Half of the cops spin around.
WURLITZER
Freeze!
LENNY
Who are you guys?
WURLITZER
Police.
DARIO
(to Lenny)
Do we get any extra if we have to kill cops?
BACK TO:
BATHROOM
Clarence and Elvis.
CLARENCE
How do you think I'm doin' with Lee?
ELVIS
Are you kiddin'? He loves you.
CLARENCE
You don't think I'm kissin' his ass, do you?
ELVIS
You're tellin' him what he wants to hear, but that ain't the same thing as
kissin' his ass.
CLARENCE
I'm not lyin' to him. I mean it. I loved "Coming Home in a Body Bag".
ELVIS
That's why it doesn't come across as ass-kissin', because it's genuine, and
he can see that.
Elvis fixes Clarence's collar.
ELVIS
I like ya, Clarence. Always have.
BACK TO:
LEE'S ROOM
This is a Mexican stand-off if there ever was one. Gangsters on one end with shotguns. Bodyguards with machine guns on the other. And cops with handguns in the middle.
Dick's ready to pass out.
Alabama's so scared she pees on herself.
For Elliot, this has been the worst day of his life, and he's just about had it.
ELLIOT
Officer Dimes? Officer Dimes.
Dimes looks at Elliot.
ELLIOT
This has nothing to do with me anymore. Can I just leave and you guys just
settle it by yourselves?
DIMES
Elliot, shut the fuck up and stay put!
LEE
(to Elliot)
How did you know his name? How the fuck did he know your name? Why, you
fuckin' little piece of shit!
ELLIOT
Lee, understand, I didn't want to -
DIMES
Shut the fuck up!
LEE
Well, I hope you're not planning on acting any time in the next twenty
years 'cause your career is over as of now! You might as weel burn your SAG
card! To think I treated you as a son! And you stabbed me in the heart!
Lee can't control his anger any more. He grabs the coffee pot off the table and flings hot coffee into Elliot's face. Elliot screams and falls to his knees,
Instinctively, Nicholson shoots Lee twice.
Alabama screams.
Boris lets loose with his Uzi, pinting Nicholson red with bullets.
DIMES
(screaming)
Cody!!!
Nicholson flies backwards.
Marvin fires his shotgun, hits Nicholson in the back, Nicholson's body jerks back and forth then on the floor.
Clarence opens the bathroom door.
Dimes hits the ground firing.
A shot catches Clarence in the forehead.
Alabama screams.
Dario fires his sawed-off. It catches Clarence in the chest, hurling him on the bathroom sink, smashing the mirror.
It might have been a stand-off before, but once the firing starts everybody either hits the ground or runs for cover.
Dimes, Alabama, Dick, Lenny, an IA Officer and Wurtlitzer hit the ground.
Boris dives into the kitchen area.
Monty tips the table over.
Marvin dives behind the sofa.
Dario runs out of the door and down the hall.
With bullets flying this way and that, some don't have time to anything. Two IA Officers are shot right away.
Frankie takes an Uzi hit. He goes down firing both automatics.
Elliot gets it from both sides.
Alabama is crawling across the floor, like a soldier in war, towards the bathroom.
Clarence, still barely alive, lays on the sink, twitching. He moves and falls off.
Alabama continues crawling.
Marvin brings his sawed-off from behind the sofa and fires. The shotgun blast hits the glass table and Monty. Monty stands up screaming.
The Cops on the ground let loose, firing into Monty.
As Monty gets hit, his finger hits the trigger of the Uzi, spreading fire all over the apartment.
EXT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - DAY
Cop cars start arriving in twos in front of the hotel.
BACK TO:
GUNFIGHT
Alabama crawling.
The suitcase full of cocaine is by Dick. Dick grabs it and tosses it in the air. Marvin comes from behind the sofa and fires. The suitcase is hit in mid-air. White powder goes everywhere. The room is enveloped in cocaine.
Dick takes this cue and makes a dash out the door.
An IA Officer goes after him.
Lenny makes a break for it.
Wurlitzer goes after him but is pinned down by Marvin.
Alabama reaches the bathroom and finds Clarence.
ALABAMA
Sweety?
Clarence's face is awash with blood.
CLARENCE
I... I can't see you... I've got blood in my eyes...
He dies.
Alabama tries to give him outh-to-mouth resuscitation.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - HALLWAY - DAY
Dario runs down the hall, right into a cluster of uniformed police.
He fires his shotgun, hitting two, just before the others chop him to ribbons.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - ANOTHER HALLWAY
The hallway's empty but we hear footsteps approaching fast. Dick comes around the corner, running as if on fire. Then we see the IA Officer turn the same corner.
IA OFFICER
(aiming gun)
Freeze!
Dick does.
DICK
I'm unarmed!
IA OFFICER
Put your hands on your head, you son-of-a-bitch!
He does. Then, from off screen, a shotgun blast tears into the IA Officer, sending him to the wall.
DICK
Oh shit.
He starts running again and runs out of frame, then Lenny turns around the corner and runs down the hall.
Dick runs into the elevator area, he hits the buttons, he's trapped, it's like a box.
Lenny catches up. Dick raises his hands. Lenny aimes his sawed-off.
DICK
Look, I don't know who you are, but whatever it was that I did to you, I'm
sorry.
Two elevator doors on either side of them open.
Lenny looks at Dick. He drops his aim and says:
LENNY
Lotsa luck.
Lenny dives into one elevator car. Dick jumps into the other, just as the doors close.
BACK TO:
HOTEL ROOM
The Mexican stand-off has become two different groups of two pinning each other down.
Wurlitzer has Marvin pinned down behind the sofa and Dimes has Boris pinned down in the kitchen.
In the bathroom, Alabama's pounding on Clarence's bloody chest, trying to get his heart started. It's not working. She slaps him hard in the face a couple of times.
ALABAMA
Wake up, goddamn it!
Dimes discards his handgun and pulls one of the sawed-off shotguns from the grip of a dead Wise-guy.
Boris peeks around the wall to fire.
Dimes lets loose with a blast. A scream is heard.
BORIS
(off)
I'm shot! Stop!
DIMES
Throw out your gun, asshole!
The Uzi's tossed out.
Dimes goes to where Wurlitzer is.
DIMES
(to Marvin)
OK, black jacket! It's two against one now! Toss the gun and lie face down
on the floor or die like all you friends.
The shotgun's tossed out from behind the sofa.
INT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - ELEVATOR - DAY
Dick's sitting on the ground, he can't believe any of this. The doors open on the fourth floor. He runs out into the hallway.
HALLWAY
He starts trying the room doors for an open one.
DICK
Oh, God, if you just get me outta this I swear to God I'll never fuck up
again. Please, just let me get to "T.J. Hooker" on Monday.
STEWARDESS'S ROOM - DAY
Dick steps in. Three gorgeous girls are doing a killer aerobics workout to a video on TV. The music is so loud they're so into their exercises, they don't hear Dick tiptoe behind them and crawl underneath the bed.
LEE'S ROOM
Boris has caught a lot of buckshots, but he'll live. He's lying on the kitchen floor. Dimes stands over him. He has the sawed-off in his hand.
DIMES
Don't even give me an excuse, motherfucker.
Dimes pats him down for other weapons, there are none.
Wurlitzer puts the cuffs on Marvin and sits him down on the couch.
Dimes looks in the bathroom and sees the dead Clarence with Alabama crying over him.
Dimes walks over to Wurlitzer.
DIMES
Everything's under control here.
WURLITZER
Sorry about Nicholson.
DIMES
Me too.
WURLITZER
I'm gonna go see what's goin' on outside.
DIMES
You do that.
Wurlitzer exits. Dimes grabs the phone.
LOBBY
Shotgun in hand, Lenny moves hurriedly down the lobby.
A Cop yells out.
COP
You! Stop!
Lenny brings up his sawed-off and lets him have it. Other cops rush forward. Lenny grabs a woman standing by.
LENNY
Get back or I'll blow this bitch's brains to kingdom come!
LEE'S ROOM
Dimes on the phone talking with the department. Boris is still moving on the floor. Marvin is sitting on the couch with his hands cuffed behind his back. Alabama is crying over Clarence, then she feels something in his jacket. She reaches in and pulls out his .38. She wipes her eyes. She holds the gun in her hand and remembers Clarence saying:
CLARENCE
(off)
She's a sixteen-calibre kitten, equally equipped for killin' an' lovin'!
She carried a sawed-off shotgun in her purse, a black belt around her
waist, and the white-hot fire of hate in her eyes! Alabama Whitman is Pam
Grier! Pray for forgiveness, Rated R... for Ruthless Revenge!
Alabama steps out of the bathroom, gun in hand.
Marvin turns his head toward her. She shoots him twice.
Dimes, still on the phone, spins around in time to see her raise her gun. She fires. He's hit in the head and flung to the floor.
She sees Boris on the kitchen floor.
ALABAMA
Bye-bye, Boris. Good luck.
BORIS
You too, cutie.
She starts to leave and then spots the briefcase full of money. She takes it and walks out the door.
HALLWAY
The elevator opens and Wurlitzer steps out.
Alabama comes around the corner.
WURLITZER
Hey, you!
Alabama shoots him three times in the belly. She steps into the elevator, the doors close.
LOBBY
Alabama enters the lobby and proceeds to walk out. In the background, cops are all over the place and Lenny is still yelling with the woman hostage.
LENNY
I wanna car here, takin' me to the airport, with a plane full of gas ready
to take me to Kilimanjaro and... and a million bucks!
(pause)
Small bills!
EXT. BEVERLY WILSHIRE - PARKING LOT - DAY
Alabama puts the briefcase in the trunk. She gets into the Mustang and drives away.
INT. MUSTANG - MOVING - DAY
Alabama's driving fast down the freeway. The DJ on the radio is trying to be funny. She's muttering to herself.
ALABAMA
I could have walked away. I told you that. I told you I could have walked
away. This is not my fault. I did not do this. You did this one hundred
percent to yourself. I'm not gonna give you the satisfaction of feeling
bad. I should laugh 'cause you don't deserve any better. I could get
another guy like that. I'm hot lookin'. What are you? Dead! Dumb jerk.
Asshole. You're a asshole, you're a asshole, you're a asshole. You wanted
it all, didn't ya? Didn't ya? Well watcha got now? You ain't got the money.
You ain't got me. You ain't even got your body anymore. You got nothin'.
Nada. Zip. Goose egg. Nil. Donut.
The song "Little Arrows" by Leapy Lee comes on the radio. Alabama breaks down and starts crying. She pulls the car over to the side. The song continues. She wipes her eyes with a napkin that she pulls out her jacket. She tosses it on the dashboard. She picks up the .38 and sticks it in her mouth.
She pulls back hammer. She looks up and sees her reflection in the rear-view mirror. She turns it the other way. She looks straight ahead. Her finger tightens on the trigger. She sees the napkin on the dashboard. She opens it up and reads it: "You're so cool".
She tosses the gun aside, opens up the trunk, and takes out the briefcase. She looks around for, and finally finds, the "Sgt. Fury" comic book Clarence bought her.
And with comic book in one hand, and briefcase in the other, Bama walks away from the Mustang forever.
FADE OUT
THE END
Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino
Produced by Samuel Hadida
Steve Perry
Bill Unger
Directed by Tony Scott
Cast List:
Christian Slater Clarence Worley
Patricia Arquette Alabama Whitman
Dennis Hopper Clifford Worley
Michael Rapaport Dick Ritchie
Bronson Pinchott Elliot Blitzer
Christopher Walken Vincenzo Coccotti
Saul Rubinek Lee Donowitz
Samuel L. Jackson Big Don
Brad Pitt Floyd
Val Kilmer Elvis (Mentor)
Typed with two bare fingers by Niki Wurster
Removed from zip format and formatted in text format by Kale Whorton.
Formatted in HTML by Dabrast Caustic
