If by accident you’re here cashmeoutisdedropmycroissants I’m mostly over here now.
2020 what the duck man.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Thursday, July 12, 2018
FRANK 19128 Episode 1: Tool-Pay Hanna
Darkness.
The Sound of a match being struck against a hard surface.
Friction and Ignition.
Almost one and the same sound.
You couldn’t slide a playing card, a Joker, in the space between those two sounds but there is a space.
Like two sides of a coin. A Janus.
The crackling of the neatly compressed tinders of dried tobacco leaf immolated and inhaled.
In and out.
During the inhalation of breath we hear…
VO:
First Things… - (distracted)
Exhale…On the exhale we go from darkness to
INT. DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA.
Two Men sit across from a solitary man. He has thinning brown hair and carries a beer gut. This is FRANK. The two men are nattily dressed and trim. One is African American early 30’s, this is AGENT JOHNS, the other Caucasian, SEAL fit with eyes like two chips of slate rock, this is AGENT HOWARD. A Man with a quilted pattern jeff cap hangs up his coat behind FRANK and sits TWO Barstools down from FRANK and places something on the barstool to his left, to FRANK’s right. The man then places personal effects onto the bar: His hat, a pack of Winstons, his car keys. FRANK sees a KEYCHAIN for TUSCARORA INN AND CONFERENCE CENTER dangling from the JEFFCAP Man’s KEYS.
FRANK
Hey, that‘s funny I was just in Tuscarora last week.
AGENT JOHNS shifts in his barstool. The SEAL fit man picks up on the histrionics, not an inch of daylight in between them.
AGENT HOWARD
What brought you all the way up there?
FRANK
Not sure. Really. Too much of this
FRANK holds up his bottle of Yeungling Lager.
You know that‘s the source of the Schuylkill river?
The jeff cap man barely acknowledges him.
All the way up there. Funny. The Schuylkill was “discovered“ by Europeans. The Dutch…English…Swedish. Philly‘s still got some Swedish stuff. Mostly just the colors of the flag for Philly - blue and yellow… Old Swede’s Church. I think it‘s actually a Dutch word…means hidden river.
PRESENT DAY 2015
EXT.GREENSGROVE FARMS, FISHTOWN DAY - We see a plastic workman’s pail over the forearm of an amputee. He has lost his right hand at the wrist. The person holding the pail has clearly accepted this a long time ago. The sleeves are rolled up in equal measure along each forearm. The stump is limestone white and raw, like the color of pig flesh and bone. With his left hand he wrestles keys from his pocket to unlock a pigpen. Inside the pigpen there is one large tamworth pig, a sign just outside of his pen reads “Milkshake”. That is the name of the pig. Friendly as dog, big as a brick shithouse and just as smelly.
EXT. DAY. - A man with a barrel chest and a patchwork jeff-cap strolls past a house near the corner of 30thand Dickinson in the Greys Ferry section of Philadelphia. He is a large, hale man in his early 60’s. This is Jack Donehy, He has salt and pepper hair and florid cheeks. He wears a local Steam Fitters 420 Union jacket. He looks at the Sherriff’s auction signs, boarded up windows, and general disrepair at the state of the block. His eyes rest upon a broken, sun bleached sign that hangs over a corner store, now vacant, that says “Madge’s Candy Shoppe: Ice Cream and Sundries” We see his jaw line tense. He sees two black kids maybe 10 or 11 years old. They’re playing “SUEY” or “SUICIDE” wall ball against the brick wall of the building. He slowly walks up to them.
JACKIE
Heya fellas.
KID1
Heya Mister.
KID2
Hello.
There is a beat. The man regards the sweetness, the lack of history, the freshness of the greeting. He is put off his tack for a moment.
JACKIE
You guys live here?
KID1
Nah-uh.
KID2
No sir.
JACKIE lifts his right hand to the brim if his JEFFCAP. On his middle finger we see a band of PALE, WHITE FLESH. A hidden ring of skin underneath where a WEDDING BAND would be, but there is no band. The skin had been covered by the sacrament of matrimony for years and now screams a ghostly eggshell white halo in the sunlight.
JACKIE
You kids be good, allright?
We see an African American man, 35 on the porch across the street. We follow his EYES following JACKIE down the street.
CUT TO - INT. BAR, EAST FALLS DAY
INTERCUT AS NEEDED
FRANK V.O.
(continued throughout)
Tuscarora…The source of the “Hidden river“… imagine that…This…current…you can‘t see it…but it‘s there…flowing through everything…(back again, as if from a daydream) Historians think that the Old Dutch there probably called it “the hidden river” ‘cuz when they were sailing south on the Delaware ya couldn‘t see the headwaters of the Schuylkill because of League Island. You gentlemen ever been out there?
AGENT HOWARD
Can’t say I have.
AGENT JOHNS
Nope.
FRANK
Well you gotta. (V.O. through the following.)
EXT. DAY - WINDY POINT, NEAR the CSX TERMINAL and KITTY HAW AVE. THE WOODS.
FRANK walks past a fire ring constructed with patio bricks, through stilt grass, garbage, and altissima weeds. He sees a broken dresser, poorly made from 1x3's and luan. There is a small sticker of a Carebear on the top drawer. Two faded sunbleached bits of garbage whirl around the center of a small vortex created by the passing of a City of Philadelphia Sanitation truck. FRANK consults a paper map and LOOKS around.
FRANK (V.O. CONTINUED)
It’s way down there. In the bowels of the city man. At the edge. Nothing. League Island Boulevard. Bang a left on Kitty Hawk. And walk. And then walk some more till you get to Windy Point…The city looks like an afterthought in the wilderness. Pillars of glass and steel that didn’t get the news that that it‘s over. You can make out Liberty one and the Comcast tower - standing there like pillars from Atlantis. Dumb in the wind.
EXT.DAY - ST.CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY on CITY LINE AVENUE. A Large white cross against a cloudless, coldbright November sky. A thin, pleasant faced man with fading blonde hair in all black with a Roman collar quietly places the implements of the mass away in a sacristy with two seminarians. They quietly chat with wan, serene smiles.
EXT. DAY - TWO YOUNG MEN in a DATSUN 280Z drive south on WINGOHOCKING and make a slight right on CAYUGA. These two are RICARDO and GIO. They are laughing and joking with each other.
EXT.DAY - CHESTNUT HILL. Volvos, Audis and other expensive cars are parked neatly outside of a QUAKER MEETING HOUSE. Not a speck of trash, clean lines, immaculately manicured grass and hedges. As we look down the line of cars, we notice the plates of a tired, brown TOYOTA CORROLA, “CLERGY” with an ICTHUS symbol.
EXT.DAY - DELPHI THEATER COMPANY, SOUTH 52ndand Baltimore Avenue, WEST PHILADELPHIA.
A large and tattered banner “THE DELPHI THEATER COMPANY” is stretched taught over a mounted moveable letter board, save for one corner. The board is fastened into the rising arches of the granite church with enormous rusted masonry screws like braces on soft enamel. The bottom left flap snaps in the wind. The sign doesn’t cover the whole board, so underneath the banner we read “The Delphi Theater Company proudly presents, in conjunction with the LGBT alliance of Philadelphia, “Hippolytus, the Queen! A Punk Rock Review” and “THE BACCHAE BURLESQUE”. There is a homeless man pissing on the historical building plaque. A thin, spry, spectacled man of about 30 with a Beatles Mop-top of hair, looks at the sign and pulls a sharp stab of brisk air through his nostrils. He is wearing a North face jacket and J.Crew khaki pants. His shoes look new. A faint smile plays around the corner of his mouth.
EXT.DAY - THE PRACTICE RANGE of SUNNHAVEN COUNTRY CLUB just outside of NORTHWESTERN AVE. which is the CITY LIMIT of PHILADELPHIA - PASTORAL Rolling HILLS. Sycomores and Firs. All manner of FLORA and FAUNA. An idyllic landscape that would have inspired poetry to make LINES WRITTEN A FEW MILES ABOVE TINTERN ABBEY by WORDSWORTH look like DOGSHIT. A MAN, early 60’s take a few hefty practice swings. WHIFF. WHIFF. He squares up to the ball. WHIFF. Crack. A Clear 200 yard drive. The ball bounces twice and takes a hard run along the fairway and knocks another ball out of the way. Like a POOL shot. This is RAYMOND GOODWIN. He holds out his driver to his left with his RIGHT HAND. A young black man takes it with his right hand without looking. Not equals. But they are at the golf course together.
EXT.DAY - RIDGE AVENUE AND AYRDALE CRESCENT.
A bus stop just at NORTHWESTERN AVE. SIGNS FOR KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL, LIONS and THE ROTARY CLUB are hanging beneath a SEPTA bus stop sign. A man in his 30’s boards the #27 bus traveling south into the CITY.
We hear an exhale…and we’re back in -
INT. DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA.
We see the MAN the VOICE belongs to, FRANK. He sits, still, in a dimly lit, IRISH BAR in EAST FALLS as he stubs out a cigarette. The place is empty except for the JEFFCAP MAN, THE BARTENDER “MURPH” and the two men in suits.
FRANK
… But that’s not why you’re here. You want to hear about the Seminary, the Meat Slicer, cousin Nernan’s bicycle, the police department right? All that stuff - happened…What was it Murph? 4 years ago?…
MURPH
Sounds ’bout right.
FRANK
Back us up there Murph.
MURPH throws his bar towel over his right shoulder and places shot glasses, upside down on the bar in front of the four men. We see chairs upside down on top of the tables. There is a young HISPANIC MAN mopping on the far side of the bar.
FRANK
OK…
INTRO CREDITS
PHILADELPHIA - 2004
EXT.DAY - A Classroom in the School for Theological Studies, on the Grounds of ST.CHARLES BORROMEO SEMINARY on CITY LINE AVENUE. A priest stands at the front of the room. This is FATHER O’BRIAN. There is a picture of Pope John Paul II on the wall, underneath a crucifix at the front of the room is sign that says “Ora et Labora” - Work and Prayer.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Come on Gentlemen,
let’s smoke out this error.
Who can tell me? William of Ockham…
Silence
FATHER O’BRIAN
(continuing) - Modernity has seen the rise of one form of epistemology that bestows absolute metaphysical primacy upon the empirical, the quantifiable and what is quantifiably demonstrable…
(A hand shoots up…it Belongs to Frank. Who looks considerably younger, healthier and thinner. He should, it is 2004)
FRANK
William of Ockham confused ideas which inhabited the intellect, with the subjective images that inhabited the imagination.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Loquere Francis, quia audit servus tuus.
FRANK
But Aquinas, in the Summa, makes it very clear that images only capture things in their singularity but ideas capture things in their universality.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Ergo…
FRANK
Since Ockham didn't make that distinction, then IDEAS were just impressions on the imagination from sense perception and this epistemological confusion lead Ockham to reject universals.
BEAT.
Father O’Brian opens his mouth as if he is about to speak when a tall, shy student with blonde hair and thin wrists raises his hand…His eyes dart nervously around the classroom.
Father O’Brian smiles and nods at the student.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Yes. Mr. Rogers. Do you have something you’d like to add?
David Rogers
(his voice is thin and reedlike)
Yes, Father O’Brian. Yes. Uh. Thank You. So…(ahem)Well I was reading through Bokenkotter’s Concise History of the Catholic Church to supplement the class reading concerning the syllabus… -
Father O’Brian
Dave, we’ll -
David Rogers
- David.
Father O’Brian
Mr. Rogers, I know we’re on a bit of a wild goose chase with Francis but let’s chase down this line of inquiry until we run it into the ground, we’ll get back to an Introduction to Dogmatic Theology in just a second.
FRANK
EXACTLY my fucking point!
Huge shit eating grin on his face as he points at DAVE, excuse me, DAVID
FATHER O’BRIAN
Whoa, easy there Frank!
FRANK
(Sincerely)
Sorry for the “F” Bomb Father, I got the Holy SPIRIT. But There we go,- Are we all just little organic machines, an amalgam of behavioral repertoires whose every thought and feeling and idea is the product of technological and external stimuli made by a few BF Skinners? Davey over here has his syllabus, and he’s read his books - look how much its freaking him out that we’re technically off task.
A student with a thick Irish accent butts in. His accent is so thick, it sounds almost like some sort of music from a large muscular horn. This is DECLAN DONNELLY
DECLAN
Ay, Frank, Nominialism.
FATHER O’BRIAN
First Marks, Mr. Donnelly…so…where does that put us? Like Paul in Athens…
DECLAN
That’s between the eyes Father…right there between the eyes…(formulating his thoughts) Well if all that is, is only what you can measure…where is truth,justice…beauty…?
FATHER O’BRIAN
Yes. And…
DECLAN
There’s no ruler for them, that is no way to measure them…but they’re axiomatic -
-BELL RINGS
FATHER O’BRIAN
We’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow, the Depositum Fidei and the Papacy, Yes? FRANCIS MCKEOWN, I’d like a word.
INT. HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
FATHER OBRIAN and FRANK walk
FATHER O’BRIAN
Quo vadis, amigo?
FRANK
Ego, ne nusquam. Oh you mean Newtonian motion not Aristotelian?
FATHER O’BRIAN
You got another class?
FRANK
Yeah, Biblical Greek.
FATHER O’BRIAN
I’ll walk with you.
FRANK
Sure thing. What’s up father?
FATHER O’BRIAN
Where are you from Frank?
FRANK
Roxborough.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Huh. You a Roman guy?
FRANK
Nah, I went to St. Joe’s Prep.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Fancy man.
FRANK corrects FATHER O’BRIAN
FRANK
EXTREMELY FANCY… matter of fact me and the Archbishop are hosting a golf tournament this Saturday at Whitemarsh Country Club. No big deal. 500 bucks a head. Full bar. Sunday Dinner menu, you know, lobster ravioli, Veuve Cliquot…Not the high end stuff…but… I was wondering if you’d want to caddy for me, make a few bucks.
FATHER O’BRIAN
(amused at the piss and vinegar)
Well what do you pay for a loop?
FRANK
60 bucks, soft pretzel and a Coke at the turn.
(beat)
FATHER O’BRIAN
(considering the sweet offer)
Hot damn.
They shake on it. Ridiculous.
They both laugh. They are standing near the Student Lounge. We see DECLAN play ping pong with another student and DAVID ROGERS sitting quietly with a copy of the VULGATE, the intra-linear ENGLISH/GREEK NEW TESTAMENT and some pens and pencils and a notepad. He casts a sidelong glance at FRANK.
FATHER O’BRIAN
What brought you here?
FRANK
That is a…(he is actually flummoxed by the question) That is a good question, Father.
FATHER O’BRIAN laughs a deep, hearty laugh. There is a beat and then he laughs again. He casts a glance at FRANK, who is laughing along with him.
FATHER O’BRIAN
Very good…Very good.
FRANK
Just being honest.
FATHER O’BRIAN
You ever read Iron John?
FRANK
All they mommies got they golden ball?
FATHER O’BRIAN
You know a lot of these guys…They come here. “I love Christ” - “I love the Glory and Splendor of the Truth” - Some of them even quote the Gospel to me, like some tambourine shaking Baptist. Just falling over themselves to prove that Spirit descended on them like Christ in the Jordan…
Beat. We pan over the faces during the following…OR NOT…I’m not a director, Mea Culpa.
Real…You know…Churchy kind of stuff…I get it…Look Frank… No one gets away with anything. A lot of them are here to hide. To make a parent happy. Because they’re scared. Because they’re lost. Because they got some ideas. It all flushes out downstream.
FRANK considers this strange rumination of FATHER O’BRIAN’S.
A woman rushes down the hall towards where Frances McKeowan and Father Thomas O’Brian are standing…This is CAITLIN VAN HAUTE, the secretary of the seminary, she is in her early 40’s.
CAITLIN
Frances! Would you please come with me, it is of a rather urgent and personal matter.
We See a zolly of Frank’s face in the hallway at 2004 turn into a collapsed sequence of events…all with Frank at the center of the frame. A face amidst a swirl of chaos.
Frank, coifed, suit and tie. It could be a funeral. All black.
Years pass. Frank in classroom. #2 Pencil between his teeth. Legal Pads. A book with the words “Torts” on the spine. Years pass.
Frank, in full City of Philadelphia Police Department dress blues at a graduation.
Darkness.
The Sound of a match being struck against a hard surface.
Friction and Ignition.
A CIGARETTE is lit. INHALE in DARKNESS. EXHALE - WE ARE BACK to the…
INT. BAR DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS
FRANK STILL RIDES THE SAME BARSTOOL, let’s call this THE STOOL AT THE CORNER OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE BAR, a fresh beer is in front of him. A small gathering of cigarette butts are in the ashtray now. The man with the PATCHWORK JeffCAP and the STEAMFITTERS Jacket still, is two barstools away from FRANK. The SEAL fit man and the young BLACK MAN, are still sitting across from FRANK.
AGENT HOWARD
So that brings us to mid 2009.
YOUNG AGENT
We spoke to your partner. And some of your former classmates at the seminary.
This elicits a chuckle from FRANK
FRANK
Mo? You spoke to Mo? How’s he doing these days?
AGENT JOHNS
He’s good.
FRANK
I love that brown bastard. You talked to who else?
CUT TO:
EXT.JOHNNY’S HOTS - DAY
FRANCISCO “MO” ALVAREZ, mid 30’s, salt and pepper hair, with horn-rimmed glasses. He looks Arabic and Mexican, because he in fact, is. The “Mo” is short for Mohammed. He sits at Johnny’s Hots on North Delaware and Columbia Avenue eating a pulled pork and provolone sandwich.
MO
Frank was…I don’t know what he was doing there…He shouldn’t have lied about…(he gestures to his head)…you know what he lied about. He always seemed a little odd. Who goes from Seminary, to Law School, to the Police Department?
CUT TO:
EXT.DAY - CATHEDRAL on the PARKWAY
DECLAN, Now, FATHER DONNELLY, a little HEAVIER SET, stands in front of the CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER AND PAUL on the BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY. It is a very foggy day.
FATHER DECLAN
Oh sweet Mary, Mother of God! Describe Francis…well Francis…(he thinks for a moment and then points an index finger at the COMCAST TOWER) There’s 58 floors to that building. Now today. We can only see about 30 of them…maybe a bit more. It doesn’t mean the other 28 aren’t there. That’s Francis.
CUT TO:
INT. FRANCES and DOLORES MCKEOWN’S - ROW HOME - ROXBOROUGH section of PHILADELPHIA
DOLORES
Frankie’s a fucking Saint. And youse two jerk offs clearly don’t know your asshole from your elbow. ( Looking over the SEAL FIT MAN ) You probably do, ya speak French?
O.S. from UPSTAIRS
(CHILD’S VOICE)
IS UNCA FRANK HOME?
DOLORES
No it’s just Unca Frank’s…friends…go back to bed Mikey.
INT. DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA.
AGENT JOHNS
They’re both good. Just worried about you. What you’ve been up to.
CUT TO:
EXT. DAY - SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - YEARS AGO - FRANK is a GREENHORN in the Greater Philadelphia Police Department.
Frank, in a squad car filling out a police report riding shotgun. FRANCISCO “MO” ALVAREZ. Frank’s partner, drives.
We see the two of them on the beat at PAT’S KING of STEAKS on EAST PASSYUNK AVE. CLEARLY ENGAGED in some ribald, intense, all important debate about WHICH IS THE BEST MOTHERFUCKING CHEESTEAK IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IT’S OBVIOUSLY PAT’S, ONLY A PHILISTINE WOULD SAY SOMETHING SO STUPID kind of debate - When they climb into their squad car.
SMASH CUT on the CAR DOOR CLOSING
EXT. DAY - OUTSIDE OF A ROW HOME on WINGOHOCKING and WEST 8thSTREET - HUNTING PARK SECTION OF PHILADELPHIA
An hysterical LATINA WOMAN in her late 60’s is swearing, and pleading with the TWO MEN. Her name is Gabriella. She has a ROSARY in her hand. They are standing on a sidewalk, there are other people around. It is an active, densely populated neighborhood. There are two other people, EDUARDO and JESSICA. It is clear that GABRIELLA is the JESSICA’S MOTHER. About 30 meters away, two young men are working on a tricked out ATV and 150 cc dirt bike, they look like they could be part of a Riding Crew. They are paying attention with amused curiosity in between the occasional ratchet turn. There is clearly something going down in front of FRANICSCO’S HOUSE with GABRIELLA, and people are checking it out.
GARBRIELLA
Te lo dije. Te lo dije. Te lo dije. Esta persona no era de este barrio por aquÃ! Él era alto y no tenÃa pelo!
FRANK
Uh…CALMA! CALMA! Is that what you say? Mo, can you…get involved here!
MO
She said “I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU. THIS PERSON WAS NOT FROM AROUND HERE! HE WAS TALL AND HE HAD NO HAIR!”
FRANK is momentarily distracted. He glances over GABRIELLA’S SHOULDER. Past the TWO YOUNG MEN working on their street rigs, to see a group of CHILDREN playing.
There are at least 5 of them and one of the kids is wearing a RED HOODIE.
He is clearly “IT” if it is a game of TAG they are playing. But it’s not. There seems to be rules of play the children have established, and are abiding by them but it’s not immediately discernable what they’re doing. FRANK watches the RED HOODIE BOY who has his RIGHT HAND TUCKED up his sleeve and tries to extract a rule set when…
MO
So that’s it as far as physical description.
FRANK
Yes?
MO
(To the older woman, Gabriella)
Si?
Gabriella
Si. Y que no tenia la mano derecha.
Frank
(waiting for the translation from Mo, who seems not to have heard it…)Mo?
MO
Yeah…it was a guy not from here, and bald.
Gabriella
Non. No. ParecÃa que se afeitó la cabeza.
Frank
(to MO)
…?
MO
(checking his watch)
She said it wasn’t like he was bald, like a bald guy. It was like he had hair but shaved his head…Stubble. Look Gabriella, we’ll sort this garbage out…Como se dice…Nos desharemos de esta basura, si?
On ESTA BASURA. Oscar gestured with his left hand north, up the block. He didn’t realize his gesture of disdain rested on the two young men maintaining their vehicles. One is thin and lanky with a beater and a ROC-A-FELLA HAND SIGN baseball cap, immaculately manicured. This is RICARDO. The other is stockier. He has a Target purchased black T on with a black and white illustration of Eliaphas Levi’s BAPHOMET, he holds a LUG WRENCH in his hand. This is GIO.
GIO
Hey. Officer, what the fuck did you say to me? Th’fuck are you?
RICARDO
For real. This ain’t on the level.
MO and FRANK are quick to begin.
FRANK
Young man, my partner Officer Alvarez and I are conducting Official Police work pertaining to the burglary of a bicycle and Meat Slicer from the ALVAREZ TAQUERIA on the corner of 9thand CAYUGA
EDUARDO proffers the information
EDUARDO
My cousin Nernan’s bicycle, you know (reverting to Spanish)Usted sabe Nernan?
SMASH CUT. MOMENTS LATER. We are inside of the SQUAD CAR - MO is DRIVING. AGITATED but not ANGRY. There is some TENSE SILENCE as FRANK talks over the two-way. POLICE CHATTER. Silence. FINALLY. ( MOMENTS LATER )
MO
Jesus.
FRANK
Jesus…
MO
Incident report?
FRANK
Way ahead of you there. (WRITING and then to himself almost) "See how sensitive the citizens become; they chafe impatiently at the least touch of authority, and at length, as you know, they cease to care even for the laws, written or unwritten; they will have no one over them."
MO
FRANK.
FRANK
(adopting a school marm tone of voice)
FRANCISCO MOHOMMAD ALVAREZ CAN I HELP YOU SIR??
They both laugh. A tension, neither of them were fully aware of seems to have been broken.
MO
The kid verbally and physically threatens you…
FRANK
As soon as he started walking towards me how many smartphones hit the air? We DO NOT need that shit. Police report - stolen bicycle and meat slicer. That’s it. There’s a video of a little hothead screaming at a cop on YouTube. Fine. Get him some street cred. Maybe get him some pussy. But there is NO video of a white, mick cop beating up some Hispanic teenager.
MO begrudgingly acquiesces to his partner’s rationalization of his course of action. There is some quiet scribbling. Driving. SHIFT in tone.
FRANK
First things…
MO picks up the thread.
MO
So a meat slicer got stolen. And a bicycle. The shop has been closed for 3 days because of renovations so the burglary might have occurred sometime on Friday.
FRANK
Does not explain why the call it in now or why the Grandmom is so hysterical.
MO
Probably a cousin. Somebody they knew or knew them…There was a block party near Nueva Esperanza charter school on Saturday. The burglar lifts it, makes some money selling sandwiches at the block party and figures he’ll return it after the holiday. They won’t miss it right? Renovations…But the Granmother goes into the shop for some reason…Sees a bald white guy, maybe he’s with the city? Maybe he’s the carpenter. The old lady flips…He leaves-
FRANK
-And Bob’s your uncle.
MO
(Sing-Song)
-and Robertooo es su tioooo (Beat) Maybe there’s a lawsuit in there for you.
FRANK
You knew I got a law degree?
MO
Yeah, Drexel’s got a hell of a law program.
FRANK
What else you know about me?
MO
You wear assless chaps and bartend at Woody’s every other Friday Night.
They laugh.
FRANK
True. Lovely people. Great tips.
MO
…wait, I was making that up are you serious…?
FRANK
Sure…what…? I don’t put out or anything.
Beat.
FRANK
Did anyone ever tell you that you look like the Latino Josh Hartnett. Hey, Mo, do you want to come over and watch TROY with me later?
Beat. FRANK is “taking the piss”. They laugh.
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Hustle and Bustle of a Police Station. Plain clothes detectives sit their desks or perambulate around their workspaces. Some are on the phone asking questions. Some are quietly working, filling out police reports. Working. Through an occasional waft of cigarette smoke and Styrofoam cups of coffee we see FRANK and MO enter the their COMMANDING OFFICER’S OFFICE. LEIUTANT KIETH SOBCHECK.
INT. SOBCHECK’S OFFICE - DAY
LT. SOBCHECK is large man, 44, with thinning hair, a greasy comb over and a quick smile. He hangs up his coat and hat and rolls up his sleeves. On his desk there is a picture of his wife and two daughters. There is an Eisenhower mug on his desk, a few half full cans of diet coke and an empty pack of Marlboro lights. There is also an assortment of Nicotine gums and a vaporizer, with a small brownish bottle of syrupy looking fluid that has a white label with the name “CAPONE” scrawled in messy cursive. On the shelf, behind him is a white rectangle with a propeller on top and a tail rotor, just like a helicopter. It resembles a cheap, remote controlled helicopter that you would buy at CVS, except this is a rectangle that spells out the word “FUCK”
SOBCHEK
At Ease gentlemn, grab a seat.
They sit.
SOBCHECK
Do you mind?
FRANK
What on earth is that thing?
SOBCHECK
My wife has been riding my ass about quitting the smokes, another fucking pain in the ass, don’t get married fellas, trust me, another bunch of bullshit - anyway - it’s vape. A vaporizer
MO
A What? Like a humidifier?
SOBCHECK
No, it’s like - It vaporizes this piss (pointing to the bottle that reads “CAPONE”) that looks and tastes like Lenny Dykstra’s tobacco spit and you get the nicotine. Without all the other stuff.
FRANK
Huh.
MO
Huh.
FRANK
How’s that working, like, good, for you?
SOBCHEK
It tastes like an anchovies ass. (Shifting gears) Look I think you made the right play in Hunting Park today Frank. Some conscientious citizen of this fair city of brotherly love uploaded that altercation onto YouTube. You played it cool…It’s good. But they still want a statement. I got a call from Daily News that they might want to run a headline “It’s time for Chuck Ramsey to take out his own trash.”
FRANK
(Livid)
That is completely ridiculous. I filed the incident report immediately. We are putting our arms around this. We’ve already contacted…What were their names?
MO
(leafing through some paperwork)
GIO SANCHEZ AND RICARDO HERNANDEZ
FRANK
We’ve already contacted their parents and issued a FREAKING APOLOGY.
SOBCHEK
We gotta play nice. You know how this machine works. With the economy the way it is. All these goddamn foreclosures. These Occupy hippies with their hackey sacks and patchouli bullshit squatting down at City Hall. The last thing we need is to have any, and I MEAN ANY, negative PR.
FRANK
(Lifts his hands as if to say “Hey, You’re the boss”) How high?
SOBCHEK
There’s already a coalition of concerned church people. An Hispanic evangelical group, some Baptist groups, a parish over there in Hunting park, but the most vocal is this Chestnut Hill Friends Quaker Fellowship, This guy RAYMOND GOODWIN, is kind of heading this thing up and wants a statement from the police.
FRANK
Chestnut Hill.
MO
Fine, concerned, socially progressive citizens.
SOBCHEK
They draw a lot of water. Action News is going to be at the precinct at 5:30 for a remote. Keep it nice, keep it good. You know what to say.
FRANK
Yes, sir.
SOBCHEK
In the meantime. (He hands FRANK and MO a file) Run down to 16thand JFK. See what these protestors are all about. See if you can make an inroad.
MO
An inroad…(incredulous) An inroad to what? Where I can score some Molly? Phish tickets? Aw, c’mon boss, you have got to be shitting us. They’re all just a bunch of college kids looking for a cause. This is a waste of police resources if you ask me.
FRANK
Yeah, c’mon. Kieth.
LT. SOBCHEK picks up a small controller of his desk that has two flight sticks on it. One is clearly on the “y” axis and the other on the “x” axis. He flicks a switch in the center of the controller and a red light pops on. THE “FUCK” helicopter suddenly takes off from his shelf and flies over the desk. He hovers the FLYING FUCK for a moment and then lands it on his DESK right between MO and FRANK.
SOBCHEK
(LAUGHING his ass off)
I don’t give a flying fuck. Dismissed.
MO
How long have you been waiting to use that?
SOBCHEK
All week and I haven’t had a reason ‘till now. (LAUGHING EVEN HARDER) DISMISSED.
THE two men, FRANK and MO are leaving. When SOBCHEK calls after him.
SOBCHEK
Hey Frank - MURPH’S tonight. 40 cent wings. See you there.
FRANK
See you there.
SOBHEK lights a MARLBORO LIGHT.
EXT. DAY - PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL
An ad-hoc campsite in the Courtyard of CITYHALL , a bright blue port-o-pottie which has seen better days is next to a raised platform, on which stands a thin, spry, spectacled man of about 30 with a Beatles Mop-top of hair. He is giving an impassioned SPEECH into a MICROPHONE. This is ALEX GOODWIN.
The PORT-O-POTTIE is festooned with all manner of sharpee street tags, hashtags, stickers and foreboding graffitos that make the portable urinal look more like a modern art piece than a place to releive yourself.
A Duchamp by way of Adbusters by way of Banksy, if you will.
There are igloo coolers, tents, and folding tables which sport nearly as many stickers with stacks of books, all tattered, well read, dog eared and used ( titles like "THE CHOMSKY READER", "THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO", "A
PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES" “MANUFACTURING CONSENT” Etc... )A Ratty Tent with an opening in the front is sheltered under an old blue tarp which is strung up with yellow, nylon rope on a tree near the SOUTH PORTAL. In front of the tent next to a folding table and an igloo cooler with FLYERS stickers on it is a sponge bob squarepants folding, beach chair and rainbow beach umbrella. A plastic sign that is actually the polish flag taped over WITH DUCT TAPE, is a handmade sign with the letters OWS scrawled on it.
In the Spongbob Squarepants folding beach chair sits NATE, a husky 20 something with long hair, a
hoody, birkenstocks, and a PHISH T-Shirt. He is absorbed in his iPhone. He is facing NORTH, the man on the STAGE is FACING SOUTH during his SPEECH.
ALEX
(Into the Microphone)
If you borrowed one dollar the time of Christ at 5% interest there wouldn't be enough zeroes in the world to cover this debt!
CHEERS from the crowd. General APPLAUSE.
Hey guys I want to give all of the fine people inside City Hall a little history lesson today. Whadda ya say!?
CHEERS. “GIVE ‘EM HELL BURNSY!” “YEAH!” - from the CROWD
You know, the bankers that succeeded the Medicis were called the Fuggers. Funny name. The Fugger Family. Sounds like something else doesn’t it?
LAUGHTER
They were the bankers for the Habsburgs. In 1494 the Fugger's gave a loan to the Habsburgs and the Habsburgs came into possession of all the gold and silver mines in the new world. Let me say that again…ALL OF THE GOLD AND SILVER MINES.
A MAN yells out “THAT’S A LOT OF CHEDDAR”
AND I SMELL RATS!
LAUGHTER.
INT.EAST PORTAL - PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL - CONTINUOUS.
In the EAST PORTAL we see a GROUP of MEN. A man with a barrel chest and a patchwork jeff-cap is at the front of the GROUP. He is a large, hale man in his late 50‘s. JACKIE DONEHY. They all wear local Steam Fitters 420 Union jackets.
UNION MAN#1
So Jackie, this kid’s Dad?
JACKIE
Yeah, this motherless fuck’s Dad.
UNION MAN#2
Foreclosing pieces of shit.
JACKIE
They put two niggers in CHARLIE’S house you know that?
UNION MAN#3
He sees us. He gets it.
During Alex’s speech he happens to glance over to the EAST PORTAL. He LOCKS EYES WITH DONEHY. He doesn’t lose his composure, but it is clear that ALEX is shaken. JACKIE DONEHY doffs his cap to ALEX and the men leave to exit onto 13thStreet. AS the 420 men leave they cross paths with OFFICERS FRANK MCKEOWAN and FRANCIS “MO” ALVAREZ. FRANK double takes, looks back at JACKIE for moment only to catch the back of his head. They proceed casually through the EAST PORTAL and STOP in the ARCHWAY to OBSERVE.
ALEX (CONTINUED)
You see, all of this gold and silver flowed into the coffers of the Habsburgs because Phillip II was King of Spain and he "owned the new world" so to speak. Yet in spite of all of this silver and gold, the Habsburg
family went bankrupt in 1516 because they couldn't keep up with the compound interest on the loan they had from the Fuggers. Now we don’t own GOLD MINES do we?
CHEERS FROM THE CROWD. “NO”
We just want a fair shake! DON’T WE?
CHEERS AGAIN, LOUDER “YEAH!”
This kind of EXORBITANT INTEREST ruined them! It ruined their economy! And if we don’t do something about it RIGHT NOW. It’s going to do the same thing to us. It was HERE 329 years ago, on the banks of the Schuylkill that William Penn wanted to make a city FOR EVERYONE. Not just for the 1%!
EXT. CITY HALL - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
ALEX and NATE are STANDING with OFFICERS FRANK AND MO. The tone is OFFICIAL but it is not HOSTILE.
ALEX
…We did apply for that permit. We have both permits, public performances with and without a sound device. This however was not a performance, it falls squarely inside Freedom of Speech.
MO
Let’s have a look at the permits.
ALEX
For Sure. Nate.
NATE
Yeah.
Nate gets up from his folding chair and moves toward a plastic file box. MO walks over to him. We see NATE and MO going over the paperwork while. ALEX and FRANK TALK.
FRANK
Quite a speech. You must be educated.
ALEX
Sure. Nate here just calls me “Gay.”
FRANK
Tsk, Tsk, Tsk...Hate-speech. It's not just the income gap that's causing social friction good sir. It's intolerance like that.
ALEX
Touché, Officer. My bad.
FRANK
McKEOWAN. FRANK McKEOWAN. Just call me Frank.
ALEX
So what’s the story? What’s going to kick us out of here first? The cops or the cold?
FRANK
I don’t know.
MO
Everything’s square Frank. The paperwork is in order.
INT. THEATER - DAY.
A TYPICAL REHEARSAL SPACE. It is a small BLACK BOX style theater which seats about 200. THERE are 6 ACTORS on a bare stage. They are all young and eager. In the DARKNESS of the seats facing the stage sits ALEX and NATE.
THE SAME ALEX and NATE from THE OCCUPY EVENT earlier that day. ALEX sits with folded legs and a scarf around his neck. AROUND the CORNERS of the BLACKOUT CURTAINS we see a thin line of waning daylight. There are a few FRESNELS which focus our attention to the young cast onstage.
Jason
The Ancient Greeks had many different kinds of words for the many different kinds of love:
Sophie
There was the word Storge, which meant natural, familial affection.
Eddie
There was Philia, which means friendship and possibly affectionate love.
Maddie
There was also Eros. Which is where we get the word Erotic. This is sexual desire, and lust.
Cassandra
And of course there is Agape. Which is the highest form of love. This is transcendent, sacrificial love. Love that gives of itself.
Odie
Notably absent is any kind of Romantic Love. Jason, if you please.
Jason
Well, very interesting. (He has in his hands a copy of THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov),Chekhov, you'll remember, was a doctor. He brought much of his acumen as a physician to bare when he was composing his plays.
Eddie
This is important in understanding his literary mode of Naturalism.
Jason
Correct. You see the Naturalism of Chekhov was a function of his desire to actually recreate life as it really is, but onstage.
Odie
He said watching a play ought to be like "Putting the slide under the microscope"
Jason
Right you are, Odie. He referred to the theater in such a way because he wanted to study society, much like you would in a laboratory.
Odie
To study society, examine its ills, determine its pathologies, diagnose it, and
hopefully -
Eddie
- Cure it. The definition of the word Autopsy.
Inspection and dissection of a body after death, as for determination of the cause of death. From the Greek:Autopsia: a seeing with -
Alex’s phone rings.
Alex
Shit. Fuck. Piss. Crap! Sorry, Apologies! Apologies to the actors. Let’s take 5. Fuck it. Take a Fifteen. He looks at the display.
CUT TO: EXT. OLD ACADEMY PLAYERS, EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA - DAY
ALEX
No, mother, NO. I can’t meet him at CAPITAL GRILLE tonight for dinner…Yes, I am spending time with my CAST tonight. I know. It’s not that I don’t want to see him, no I’m not avoiding Father tonight. Yes. Well I told him the space that would be ideal. Yes. In West Philly. Allright. I love you too.
CUT TO:
CLOSE on the MONITOR of an old CRT television. It has an RCA antenna on top, with a beat-up co-axial cable. On Screen we see a DECAL for the Philadelphia ACTION NEWS in the bottom right hand CORNER. OFFICER FRANCIS MCKEOWN is on SCREEN in front of his POLICE STATION.
FRANK
We responded to a call concerning a robbery in the HUNTING PARK SECTION. My partner OFFICER ALVAREZ was assisting in translation and one of the residents of the block, who was not involved in the police proceedings, overheard a piece of the conversation which was taken out of context. The young man took offense to this and we peaceably tried to diffuse the situation. I personally want to thank everyone who assisted with the investigation today and don’t hesitate to call on us at any time. We are here to protect and to serve.
THE MONITOR SHUTS OFF and the camera SWISH PANS to the FRONT DOOR of
INT. FRANCES and DOLORES MCKEOWN’S - ROW HOME - ROXBOROUGH section of PHILADELPHIA
DOLORES McKEOWAN, 65, sits in a lazy boy recliner, a bottle of COORS LIGHT at hand, a remote in the other. This is FRANK’S MOTHER. There are laundry baskets and children’s toys littered throughout the house. On the wall we a ST. BRIDGET’S CROSS. A PICTURE OF POPE RATZINGER. COUNTLESS FAMILY PHOTOS. On the back of the FRONT DOOR is an IRISH BLESSING: May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
DOLORES
FRANKIE, How was your day hun?
FRANK
Hey Mom, fine. Good. You?
DOLORES
I just saw you on the news, Frankie, I swear to God, I thought I was looking at your Father. I almost had a heart attack.
FRANK
(Smiling) Mmm-hmmm. How many of those you had?
DOLORES
My first one. (She holds up crossed fingers as she takes a swig)So what was that about.
FRANK
Ah you know. Keep the Police looking pretty.
DOLORES
Mmm. Hmmm. I know how those people are.
FRANK
It was actually Mo that fucked up.
He makes his way to the kitchen and grabs two COORS LIGHT from the FRIDGE. He CRACKS THEM and hands one to his MOTHER.
DOLORES
Then how come we didn’t see RICKY MARTIN fucking BIN LADEN saying he was sorry.
FRANK
Mom.
DOLORES
I’m just saying they’re more racist then we are, but we can’t say shit.
FRANK
(Gesturing to the toys on the floor)
They asleep?
DOLORES
Yeah. Joanie and Marge went out like a light. Mikey took some doing. He was asking for his UNCA FRANK.
FRANK
And where’s “homeboy?”
DOLORES
(SHRUGS HER SHOULDERS, She cannot conceal the weariness and bitterness that has clearly taken a toll on her, being a surrogate mother to three young GRANDCHILDREN) Who knows. It’s better when he’s not here.
SHE IS RIGHT.
FRANK gets a text message. He checks his phone.
ED: Yo FRNAK U home? MY kids asleep? Hed to get out of there MOM is such a fuckin bicth.
DOLORES
That him?
FRANK just gives his mother a look.
DOLORES
He knows your schedule. Soon he’ll be asking for some money.
TEXT MESSAGE AGAIN. FRANK’S PHONE. ED: Yo BRO, mind if I borrow a couple bucks??
FRANK
I gotta meet SOBCHECK and the boys at MURPHS for a few.
FRANK stands up and walks to the stairs and hangs out there for a minute, sipping his beer. He looks at the PHOTOS on the wall. His eyes rest upon a WEDDING PHOTO of his mother and father from their wedding day. They are YOUNG, SMILING and BEATIFUL. It reads in CURSIVE, THOMAS and DOLORES MCKEOWAN, ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, JUNE 1st1977. THOMAS has long, SHAGGY HAIR, and a BEARD, DOLORES looks positively angelic in her WEDDING GOWN.
DOLORES notices FRANK looking at the PHOTOGRAPH.
DOLORES
I miss that goofy bastard.
FRANK
Yeah?
DOLORES
I’ll never forget our first date. He rides up to EUGENE and CATHERINE WHITAKER’S House, MY parent’s house on a motorcycle and hands me head of broccoli like it was a bouquet of roses.
FRANK
Dad.
DOLORES takes another swig of her beer.
FRANK
So who was the eggman?
DOLORES nearly spits out her beer.
DOLORES
You don’t forget a thing do you, Frankie! The eggman! That was a repossessed memory! I had forgotten completely about that guy!
FRANK
So, what’s the statute of limitations. One of the last times me, you and Dad got a sandwich at Brittinghams Dad nearly had a siezure he was laughing so hard, and you wouldn’t let him tell the story of “THE EGGMAN”
DOLORES
You’re father took it to his grave and so will I. What makes you think of that.
FRANK
I don’t know.
CUT TO: EARLIER THAT DAY, AFTER FRANK and MO have left the OCCUPY PROTESTERS at CITY HALL. MO and FRANK are driving EAST on ARCH STREET. The car crosses 4thand FRANK taps MO on the SHOULDER
FRANK
Pull over up here when we get to 5th.
MO
What’s up?
FRANK
Nothing, I just want to do something.
MO pulls over on the right. FRANK gets out of the SQUAD car and runs to the corner of 5thand Arch in front of BEN FRANKLIN’S GRAVE. There are a handful of tourists taking pictures, snapping selfies, and throwing pennies onto Ben and Deborah Franklin’s GRAVE. Frank fishes through his pockets to find a penny.
VOICE (O.S.)
Here you go.
FRANK is startled and looks to his left. A heavy set man with a round pleasant face and finely groomed stubble offers FRANK a penny with his left hand. He has his right hand in his jacket pocket. Next to him stands a thin man, very well dressed. They look like partners, perhaps, out for a day of shopping in Olde City.
FRANK takes the penny.
FRANK
Hey, thank you. Hah.
FRANK examines the penny. It looks unusual, two faces on each side. Not any recognizable bust be clearly minted.
FRANK
This is a neat coin. You get this from here?
FRANK gestures to the USMINT right behind him over his right shoulder. The Men laugh.
FRANK
Officer FRANK McKEOWAN.
He puts out his right hand. The man who offered the penny puts out his left hand. There is an awkward moment but FRANK puts out his left hand as courtesy.
OWEN HUNTER MCARTHY
Charmed. My name is Owen and this is my partner BRUCE.
BRUCE
Bruce, a pleasure Officer.
FRANK
Are you Gentlemen enjoying your afternoon?
BRUCE
We are, thank you.
FRANK
From the neighborhood?
OWEN
We’re in the process of buying a place in FISHTOWN.
FRANK
Ah. Great area. Good bars - (as if in answer to a question) I was in the area, My Dad used to take me down here. He loved history, the old buildings. I was on a field trip, in like, 7thgrade I think, and my Dad decided it was time for us to skip out. We had our own field trip that day. Just me and him. One of the happiest memories of my life. So I have to stop by Old Ben and Deb every time I’m down here.
There is an awkward silence.
FRANK
Enjoy your day Gentlemen.
Frank FLICKS the COIN onto the GRAVE and beats it back to the SQUADCAR, doubletime, as if he’s retreating.
BRUCE
Honey can you hold this for a second.
BRUCE hands a bag from SASSAFRASS MARKET to OWEN. OWEN has his PHONE in his left hand so he takes his right hand out of his POCKET and PUTS it through the LOOPHANDLE of the PLASTIC BAG. We see just for a moment that he is missing his RIGHT HAND from the WRIST down.
(BACK TO) INT. FRANCES and DOLORES MCKEOWN’S ROW HOME - ROXBOROUGH section of PHILADELPHIA
FRANK
I don’t know what made me think of Pop.
DOLORES
You’re exactly like him. “Surviving twin” is what he said at the end. “You’re my surviving twin, Frank!”
FRANK
I’m just gonna check in on Mikey to see if he’s still awake, before I head out.
CUT TO:
INT. FRANCES and DOLORES MCKEOWN’S - ROW HOME - ROXBOROUGH section of PHILADELPHIA - SAME AS BEFORE but in a small UPSTAIRS BEDROOM. It is DARK in the ROOM except for a small rectangle of LIGHT on the BED. SMALL hands touch blocks on the SCREEN.
FRANK
Hey Mikey are you playing Minecraft?
FRANK flicks on a light.
MIKEY, 9, with a buzz cut sits up in bed.
MIKEY
Hey Uncle Frank!
FRANK
Show me what you’re building there.
FRANK sits on MIKEY’s bed. They look at the tablet together as Mikey explains the elaborate structure he’s building.
CUT TO: INT. NIGHT - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA. This is the same IRISH BAR where we started but it is YEARS EARLIER and it is a PACKED HOUSE on a FRIDAY NIGHT.
THE WALL of the BAR are a deep rich wood. It looks like the HULL of an OLD SPANISH GALLEON. YEARS of CIGGARETTE SMOKE, SPILLED BEERS, BLOOD and FOOD are in the WOOD of this BAR. From the ceiling of to the floor, every SQUARE inch of the BAR has some sort of MEMORABILIA.
OLD C.Y.O. RACE NUMBERS with the SAFETY PINS still in the CORNERS, POLAROIDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, even some REALLY OLD DAGUERROTPES ARE ESCONCED behind the old CASH REGISTER. JERSEYS from the LASALLE EXPLORERS, ST. JOE’S UNIVERSITY, ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SHOOL, LASALLE HIGH SCHOOL, CENTRAL, ROXBOROUGH HIGH, ARCHBISHOP CARROLL and WOOD and BONNER are Pinned to the WALL, HANGING from FULL SIZED SWEEPING OARS that are fastened to the CEILING, otherwise MOUNTED EVERYWHERE.
There are individual hand FANS with the picture of SMILING IRISH CATHOLIC PRIEST on one side and on the other side TEXT which reads FATHER KELLY’S FAN CLUB. There is no end to IRISH PARAPHERNALIA from DECADES of ST. PATTY’S DAY CELEBRATIONS, and from TRIPS to IRELAND. There is a single GUINNESS TOWER and a line of “SET-UP” pints of GUINESS, ready to be topped off.
SOBHEK and other men for the force are at the other side of the bar. FRANK takes a SEAT at the THE STOOL AT THE CORNER OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE BAR
A LOUD, FIREPLUG of a man ERNIE BARILE, is holding court. He wears a PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT T-SHIRT.
ERNIE
So my brother is telling me that this crazy motherfucker would get all liquored up on his lunch break and come back for classes at J&A Culinary and just spill his fucking guts. “Fuck you Barile, I’ll kill you right now.” How they would run METH from the WARLOCKS, back when the K&A gang was around -
SOBCHEK
- that’s what ended the K&A -
ERNIE
- Yeah, so the guy, I think his name was House, DENNY HOUSE, the whole HOUSE family are like generations of fucking Micks from KENSO -
WASHLICK
- I was with DENNY, Young DENNY in the MARINES - we called him SMALLS -
ERNIE
(Getting agitated that he keeps getting interrupted) Are you motherfuckers gonna let me finish my fucking story about this dude who’s in CULINARY SCHOOL WITH MY BROTHER who used to dump bodies in the marshes near the Philly fuckin’ airport or not (Points at SOBCHECK) and I only wanna tell it once I know how slow you Polocks are!
HUGE LAUGH. BARILE SCORES A POINT.
SOBCHEK
I’ll arrest you right now you little wop shit!
ERNIE
(Seeing FRANK he puts on the a voice. IT is part gravel and honey, with large exaggerated VOWELS)
MR. MCKEEEOOOOWWWWWAAAANNNN.
FRANK
(LAUGHING)
FUCK. ERNIE. We graduated 8thgrade 15 fucking years ago and you still think it’s fucking hilarious to impersonate our GRADE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
Everyone knows this bit and is getting a kick out of it. ERNIE is ON FIRE. Clearly this is an established routine between the TWO MEN and an immediately recognizable impression for anyone that attended IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY GRADESCHOOL in the 1990’s.
ERNIE
(As PRINCIPAL GERALD O’BANNON)
Now Mr.McKEOWAN…We tried detentions…we tried referrals…we tried JUG for a week. Now those JESUITS down there at the PREP…They won’t take you! THEY WON’T HAAAVEE YOUUU. And What are you gonna do…What are you gonna DOOOOOO?? Dollars to Donuts you’ll be crying to me!
RAUCOUS LAUGHTER.
CUT TO:
INT. DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA - 2015
FRANK still sits at the same stool at the SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE BAR. WE see him take a drag.
O.S. (AGENT HOWARD)
The police never did find out who killed your Dad. Did they?
INT. NIGHT - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA - back to that night in 2011
OVERHEAD, WE LOOK DOWN and see lines of IRISH CAR BOMBS LINED UP.
SOBCHECK
Cheers boys.
DROP. SPLASH. LIFT. CLINK. SLAM. The drinks are finished.
CUT TO:
INT. DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA - 2015
FRANK
No. We didn’t.
INT. NIGHT - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS, PHILADELPHIA - back to that night in 2011. We hear VO from FRANK in 2015 throughout the following.
FRANK
But sometimes you were just looking at the wrong set of DATA. You disregard things because before you even looked at something, you already, subconsciously, made a decision about it without even realizing it. Poof. It’s gone. Might as well not have existed. It’s no longer on the table. You’ve written it off. The little biological computer has already crunched the numbers, the programming is at work. CONTROL A BACKSPACE. It’s not in the algorithm now, might has well never even existed.
THE Front DOOR OPENS and in WALKS the CAST from the OLD ACADEMY PLAYERS. THEY have walked up the street from their rehearsal. They takes seats the tables.
TWO men enter from the KITCHEN with BUSPANS, this is NERAN and EDUARDO.
THREE MEN in LOCAL 420 STEAMFITTERS JACKETS sit at the bar across from FRANK and his BUDDIES. THEY REGARD the GROUP that just walked through the door.
BACK TO FRANK INT. DAY - IRISH PUB EAST FALLS - 2015
FRANK
Maybe what you’re looking for isn’t out there. It’s rolling around at your feet.
AGENT JOHNS
Allright well-
FRANK
- Back us up Murph.
The Sound of a match being struck against a hard surface.
Friction and Ignition.
Frank takes a hard pull on the ciggarette. Inhale.
As he exhales -
DARKNESS
THE END
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