FOR THIS SEQUENCE WE ARE IN MA’S SCHIZOPHRENIC MIND:
INT. HOSTEL BATHROOM – LATE NIGHT (MA’S MIND)
We’re in a beaten down bathroom. Tiles, tub and walls are filthy. We can see the kitchen below through the various holes in the floor.
CLOSE UP – Swollen fingers massage a REVOLVER BULLET.
POP is an Asian male in his thirties; however, he looks much older with his deep wrinkles.
Pop’s hunched over, hugging the toilet. A cigarette hangs off his chapped bottom lip. Pop forces the bullet into a REVOLVER CYLINDER and spins it…round and round it goes.
CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK.
Pop presses the REVOLVER deep into his temple. The pressure makes his skin turn red.
He squeezes the trigger.
CLICK – EMPTY.
Pop grunts.
Pop lowers the revolver. He reaches for a bottle of Jack D. He drinks between his cigarette totes. Pop swings open the
revolver cylinder, locates the single bullet. He takes it out, massages it with his fingers, loads it and spins it.
CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK.
Now, he pins the revolver under his chin.
CLICK – EMPTY.
CUT TO
Pop stares at himself in a dirty mirror. There’s ambition in his eyes now. He puts on a hockey mask. He loads the revolver and cocks it. Bullet’s in the chamber. He finishes off the Jack D and presses the gun to his eye. He tears up. His finger’s on the trigger…
We hear three KNOCKS on the door.
SONNY (O.S.)
Pop?
We hear SONNY. He’s a cute, charming Asian-American boy in his mid to late teens. Pop’s finger is still touching the trigger. Gun’s still pinned on his eyeball.
SONNY (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Pop?
We see the door knob turn left and right from the other side. Door’s locked.
SONNY (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Pop… I dreamt about her again… Ma… I miss her Pop. I really miss her.
POP
Yeah?
He lowers the gun.
SONNY (O.S.)
Yeah… you think we’ll see her again? Do you think she’ll come back to us?
We see the door knob turn left and right again.
POP
I don’t know… she’s married to Jesus now. She does God’s work.
Awkward silence.
SONNY (O.S.)
You know Pop… I was calculating, if I take a break from school and work full-time. It won’t take us that long to earn the money back that she took…
POP
Stole son…That she stole from us.
Tense Silence.
POP (CONT’D)
(Mutters to himself)
Fifteen years it took me to save that money. Fifteen years.
Pop drinks from an empty bottle of Jack.
POP (CONT’D)
Could you get me another bottle of Jack?
SONNY (O.S.)
Pop, you need to stop… remember what the doctor said?
POP
We’re all dying slow son… Some faster than others.
SONNY (O.S.)
Lies hide the…
POP
Lies hide the pain. Some smoke, some drink, some jerk off to porn, inhale hairspray, collect coins…etc.
HOSTEL HALLWAY (MA’S MIND)
Sonny mouths the speech. He’s heard it all before.
POP (O.S.) (CONT’D)
It’s all just different ways to lie to ourselves, different ways to hide the pain.
SONNY
I’ll get you some beer. How’s that?
Hallway is crowded with Restaurant workers that are fast asleep. Sonny carefully steps over them.
He gets all the way to the bedroom door when he’s startled by something. Tentatively, he looks down…it’s a toddler.
A toddler’s got a hold of Sonny’s pant leg. Sonny stares down the hallway where the toddler’s mommy’s fast asleep. She’s got her hands out searching for her baby.
Sonny places the toddler back into his mother’s arms.
We hear CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK shortly after Sonny walks pass the bathroom door.
HOSTEL BEDROOM (MA’S MIND)
It’s a small modest space. Bed, no frame, desk, no chair…etc.
It’s clean, too clean, immaculate even…as if being PRESERVED.
Car headlights drift from one side of ceiling to the other.
On the wall we see a DISTORTED GLOW FADE.
We get a glimpse of MA; an early to mid thirties woman. A diagnosed SCHIZOPHRENIC who’s HYPER-RELIGIOUSLY PREOCCUPIED. She always has a look about her as if she’s neither here nor there.
Ma walks into a closet. Camera pans through the closet shutters.
INT. HOSTEL BEDROOM CLOSET (MA’S MIND)
We see it’s a walk-in closet turned cozy bedroom. Family pictures fill the wall of a time which has long come and past.
MA
Why don’t you ever dream about anything else, son?
She taps Sonny’s forehead as if it were a light bulb.
Sonny’s fast asleep. He tosses and turns in his sleep; cold sweat percolates off his forehead. He mouths CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK.
All of a sudden LIGHT SHOOTS OUT OF SONNY’S FOREHEAD as if his forehead were a MOVIE PROJECTOR. We see a moving image formulate on the wall.
It appears Ma has special powers. It appears Ma’s peering through Sonny’s dream and projecting it onto the wall.
Camera zooms into the image.
HOSTEL BATHROOM (MA’S MIND)
Pop takes off the hockey mask. His eyes are red and tears stream down his face. He loads and cocks the gun and stares deep into his miserable eyes.
HOSTEL CLOSET (MA’S MIND)
Sonny reaches into a secret compartment in the hardwood floor and pulls out some beers.
We hear a thunderous BANG!
The BANG startles Sonny.
HOSTEL HALLWAY (MA’S MIND)
Sonny bum rushes the door repeatedly.
HOSTEL BATHROOM (MA’S MIND)
Sonny holds his bloodied father in his arms. It doesn’t look good.
HOSTEL HALLWAY (MA’S MIND)
Sonny drags his father down the hallway. Workers look on. No one offers him any help. Sonny drags Pop’s limp body down the stairway.
HOSTEL FRONT PORCH (MA’S MIND)
Sonny drops his father. He picks him up and again drags him to the car.
INT. VAN (MA’S MIND)
Sonny starts the car. Gas is on Empty. It won’t start. Sonny punches the steering wheel.
EXT. STREET (MA’S MIND)
Sonny pushes his dead father in a shopping cart down the street. As a car approaches Sonny jumps out in front and waves his hands. Car maneuvers around Sonny.
SONNY
Help! Help! Please Help!
DRIVER
(Shouts out of his car window)
Fucking Bums! Get a fucking day job!
Sonny continues pushing his father down the street to the hospital.
Camera zooms out of Sonny’s DREAM which again is projecting out of Sonny’s head onto the wall.
INT. HOSTEL CLOSET (MA’S MIND)
Ma wipes the sweat off his forehead.
MA
How about something a little more pleasant – bubbles and butterflies.
She looks at him affectionately and kisses Sonny on the forehead.
The image on the wall changes. Now we’re on a train.
Ma digs into some potato chips, sips on a soda pop.
Again image projects out of Sonny’s forehead…Camera pans in.
INT. TRAIN (MA’S MIND)
Metro sways side to side. Sonny steams up the window and writes ‘I love you.’ He wakes up LETA who’s fast asleep on his lap. Leta is an island gal: gorgeous, sweet and playful.
LETA
I love you too. I’d love you more if you’d tell me why we’ve been on this train for two days. Sonny, my hair’s a mess, I’m starving and I’m starting to stink. Please, tell me what’s wrong.
SONNY
…What did you?… when your mother passed… how did you… deal with… how did you come to terms with that?
LETA
(She studies Sonny’s face)
I didn’t, I haven’t. Some days I’m real angry and other days I’m real sad. I miss her. Why?
SONNY
My father’s in the hospital. He… (makes a gun with his fingers and
shoots his head) They say he’s not going to make it.
Leta pulls Sonny in closer to her, holds him tighter.
Wall goes black.
MA
That’s not bubbles and butterflies. Oh Lord, oh Lord…
Ma exits the closet.
HOSTEL BEDROOM (MA’S MIND)
She lies down in the bed. She bounds her left leg with rope already tied onto the left bed frame and then bounds her right leg also with rope already tied onto right bed frame.
MA
Oh Lord, oh Lord.
Just as she bounds her left arm with rope…
The LIGHTS FLICKER on and off.
Ma freezes up.
The lights flicker again, but, it’s not coming from the ceiling lights nor the lamp in the corner. Where is it coming from?
Lights flicker again… Ma locates it coming from the mirror in the corner.
MA (CONT’D)
Father God, Lord Jesus… please protect me from the Enemy. Please oh Lord, oh Lord…please for I am so tired…so, so tired.
We hear a ripping… the mirror rips off the wall and suspends in mid air. A liquid substance drips off the side of the mirror and onto the hardwood floor.
MA (CONT’D)
Father God, Lord Jesus… please protect me from the Enemy. Please oh Lord, please.
ALLIGATOR EYES appear on the top left and top right corners of the mirror. It appears to be blood dripping off of it. The mirror slams into the ground; miraculously nothing breaks. Mirror goes black.
Ma prays with more and more desperation.
The room vibrates, loud thumps of destruction come from the hostel stairway just a few footsteps away.
VIA THE MIRROR – we see a GIANT TAIL wiggle its way through the front door of the hostel.
HOSTEL BEDROOM (MA’S MIND)
Ma opens her eyes.
MA (CONT’D)
The MIRROR! Thank you, Thank you,
Thank you Lord!
We see via the mirror – A monstrous alligator ease its way up the stair. It swings left and right. Its mouth is too big. It’s stuck on the stairs. Another alligator dives into the wooden stairway mouth first, chomping whatever’s in its path.
With haste Ma unties herself. Sonny’s starting to wake from his deep slumber.
Via mirror – Alligators rip through and pillage the first room down the hall. They flip the mattress.
Ma picks up a chair and swings away at the mirror.
BANG!
Sonny pops up.
SONNY
Ma? Ma?! What is it?! What’s wrong?!
Via mirror – The reckless, vicious alligator lunges to and through the wall into the neighboring bedroom.
Ma swings the chair at the mirror repeatedly, but to no avail. They’re coming and they’re coming fast. We see on the opposite side of the wall, the powerful lethargic alligator sniff around. It puts its nose to the wall and slowly pushes through it.
Ma watches the alligator’s head pop in through the wall. It jerks its head side to side. It rips through the wall. It looks in Sonny’s direction. Ma takes the chair and swings it at the alligator’s head. It swallows the chair whole.
Sonny looks in its direction. Then he looks at Ma. Then he looks back at the wall.
The reckless alligator crashes through the wall just missing Sonny and jumps on top of Ma. Sonny rushes over to Ma.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Ma? Hold still. It’s me Sonny, your son. Can you hear me?
Sonny sticks a MEDICATED needle into Ma’s forearm.
Ma blacks out as does the screen.
END SEQUENCE IN MA’S MIND:
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. HOSTEL BEDROOM
Ma springs up. She’s tied up to the bed again. She surveys the room. There’s NO DAMAGE to the room what so ever. Sonny sits by her bedside.
SONNY
It’s okay, Ma. It’s me, Sonny, your son.
Sonny flicks up another vein in Ma’s forearm. He sticks another medicated needle in her. Ma falls back asleep.
SONNY (CONT’D)
It’s okay, Ma. I’m here.
EXT. HOSTEL – DAWN
Red sun breaks the horizon.
It’s a broken down three family house. It’s got three floors and about a third of the windows are boarded up. A car frame rests on cylinder blocks in the front yard. Golden brown grass is intermixed with dirt patches and graffiti. A real dump.
INT. HOSTEL BEDROOM
Sonny unlocks a series of locks and SAFETY FEATURES on the window. It’s similar to a psyche ward. Sonny throws some eggs into a frying pan on top of a portable stove.
Sonny takes a seat next to his mother on the bed. He unties his mother.
SONNY
It’s time to get up, Ma. Big day for you today.
MA
Sonny? Did you see them? Did you see them Sonny? The Alligators… there were two of them. Two…
She reaches out to him. Sonny lifts her up. She URINATED in the bed. Sonny sighs. He sits her down in a chair. He changes the sheets. It’s all very routine to him.
Ma surveys the room. Again, there’s no damage.
MA (CONT’D)
One of them things blasted through that there wall. Father God, Lord Jesus the mirror…
We see the mirror’s still on the wall and again there’s no damage.
SONNY
Big day for you today, Ma. I made your favorite.
He drops some scrambled eggs with cheese onto a plate.
MA
I was hitting that damned mirror over and over again, oh Lord. Then the Gator…
SONNY
…You were hitting the wall, Ma. The wall…
MA
Say what?
SONNY
You were hallucinating again…
MA
I was?
SONNY
Yeah. You were. Shirt…
Sonny gives his mother a bird bath. Ma notices some cuts on Sonny’s face.
MA
What happened to your face?
SONNY
Pants.
She takes off her pants. Sonny wipes her legs down.
MA
Did I do that to your face?
SONNY
Yup.
He wraps her hair in a bun.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Eat up. We’re going to be late.
She plays with her food.
SONNY (CONT’D)
What? What is it?
Sonny takes the spoon from her and feeds her.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Open up.
MA
I’m sorry Sonny, I’m real sorry.
SONNY
It’s okay, Ma.
MA
I was just trying to protect you… protect you from the alligators.
SONNY
I know Ma, I know.
EXT. MODERN PSYCHIATRIC WARD
Nine passenger van pushes its way through the fog. Patients and Orderlies spread out across the eerie terrain. We see them move, but we don’t hear them. It’s as if they are muted. The lands are grim and morbid.
INT. MODERN PSYCHIATRIC WARD WAITING AREA
Sonny and Ma sit in what looks like a throne of a chair which complements the eclectic oversized decor. He stares at a flyer which reads “Do you suffer from depression? Thoughts of suicide?”
Orderly comes out.
ORDERLY
Hi Sonny, how are you? And hi Miss Pain, it’s good to see you again…
MA
It’s pronounced Pon…
ORDERLY
Pain?
MA
Pon…
ORDERLY
Pan
MA
Pon.
ORDERLY
Pon.
Ma gestures.
ORDERLY (CONT’D)
Lovely.
PSYCHE WARD SECTION B ENTRANCE WAY
Sonny and Ma wait. Orderly punches in a code and then swipes his card. Door props open.
PSYCHE WARD SECTION B
It’s a pretty decent size space. There are plenty of rooms. There are predominantly sparse bedrooms with plenty of light, tiled floor, an occasional framed piece of art.
ORDERLY
(Whispers)
Ms. Pon, why don’t you sit in on morning meeting?
Sonny nods. Ma grimaces. Sonny leaves Ma there.
SECTION B COMMON AREA
Ma takes a seat in the corner. Patients sit in a circle. They all look quite ill and heavily medicated. They listen to BILLY, an early twenties patient who’s “troubled” by birds.
BILLY
The birds, they mock me. They laugh at me. They’re plotting against me.
Bird lands on the window ledge. It startles Billy.
BILLY (CONT’D)
See… they want revenge. They know I did it. They know what I’ve done…
DOCTOR SO’S OFFICE
The dimensions of the room are unpleasing. It’s triangular and similar to an unfinished attic. DOCTOR SO (40s) wears
Scooby Doo tie. He pours Sonny a glass of water, flips through some paper work. There are couches, bean bags. It’s got a college dorm ambiance to it.
DOCTOR SO
Here at Modern, we take pride in our reputation. We have a tremendous staff filled with decorated doctors.
SONNY
I know, that’s why you’re so expensive and that’s why we’re here… I don’t mean to be rude, but; I have to be at work soon.
DOCTOR SO
Very well, we’re happy to offer your mother placement in our facilities.
SONNY
Terrific.
Sonny gets up, extends his hand out.
DOCTOR SO
Before you leave, I would like a little back story on your mother… I see that your mother’s been to Presbyterian.
He flips through stacks of medical history.
DOCTOR SO (CONT’D)
Mount Sinai, Queens, Our Lady…
SONNY
We’ve jumped around a lot of these places in the last few years.
DOCTOR SO
And I see that she’s been diagnosed with a violent form of schizophrenia caused by her hyper-religious preoccupation. Wow, that’s a mouth full…
SONNY
Let me just cut to the chase… I gotta get these workers to the restaurant in half an hour. When I was five years old, my mother woke up out of her sleep and said that she was married to Jesus now and was required to do God’s work. She got up and left us… me and Pop that is. I didn’t see her for three years. Then she came back one day. Then she left again and then she came back and that’s pretty much how it’s been.
INT. VAN
Sonny honks the horn. He adjusts his seat back and dozes off.
SONNY (O.S.)
My mother thinks God talks to her. She thinks the devil’s after her. She hallucinates…among other things. I’ve been giving her a steady dosage of lithium and Risperdal; but lately she’s been getting worse and that’s why we’re here and that’s why I’m paying you an absurd amount of money. Now if you can excuse me, I have to go.
DR. SO (O.S.)
Just one more question… Has your mother ever physically harmed herself or anyone else?
Sonny hesitates. Camera zooms in on the scratches on his face.
SONNY (O.S.)
No doc, she’s too smart for that. Just make sure she gets her meds… you’ll be fine.
A playful finger says hello to a sleeping Sonny. It caresses his eyebrows and then works down to his NOSTRILS.
It’s flirting with the possibility. It’s thinking about it. It wouldn’t. It won’t. Finger goes up Sonny’s nose!
Sonny wakes up disgusted.
NOODLES
(Always speaks with a mixture of
English and Mandarin)
Gross!
ANGEL “NOODLES” CHEN is an early to mid teens, fresh off the boat immigrant. He’s wacky, goofy, funny…etc. Noodles wipes his finger off.
SONNY
Really?
NOODLES
Really.
SONNY
Was it funnier in your head?
NOODLES
Yeah.
SONNY
Do you regret it now?
NOODLES
A little.
Noodles lays a wet one on Sonny’s forehead.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
Raise and shine ABC.
Noodles honks the horn.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
(Sings)
Zroom Zroom, Giddy up, Giddy up, Giddy Up, Giddy up…
CUT TO
Workers file into the van grumpy and slow. Noodles acts as if he’s a tour guide on a tour bus. He’s obviously a morning person.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
On today’s tour we will not be seeing the Statue of Liberty, we will not be seeing the Empire State Building… There is only one stop on this tour and it is yay!!! Pavilion. Yay!!! Boo!!!
Sonny flicks on the van’s headlights.
INT. PAVILION RESTAURANT KITCHEN
Sonny flicks on the kitchen lights. Tired workers go do what they do every morning. Some wash woks, others prep foods… etc.
PAVILION RESTAURANT DINING ROOM
It’s an upscale, yet everyman restaurant, decent size, modern, rich with personality and culture.
Sonny dumps a bunch of string beans on the table. He peels the ends with a few waitresses. The pile of string beans gets smaller and smaller and smaller.
Noodles taps Sonny on the shoulder.
SONNY
No, not today. No.
Noodles holds out a broom stick.
NOODLES
It’s Monday. Madonna wake up late today.
SONNY
It’s Primadonna and no, he’s going to be on time and he’s gonna catch us and we’re all going to get fired… again.
KITCHEN
It’s the most intense game of green pepper broom stick hockey ever. Two on two, four broom sticks and two goals. Sonny and Noodles versus MEXICO (Bus boy) and MAY (Cute Waitress).
Noodles goes between his legs off the wall, no look pass to Sonny and they SCORE! And the crowd goes wild.
Gamblers collect their winnings. Mexico and May blame each other. Sonny and Noodles do a little celebration dance.
In walks BOSS MAN also known as PRIMADONNA (middle aged male) a cranky romantic, fresh off the boat twenty years later.
PRIMADONNA
(English no good)
What I pay you for?! To waste food?! Who pay for this? Who pay for this?
He picks up pieces of a green pepper as if it had some sort of sentimental value.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
You. Always you.
He rips a broom stick away from May and chases Noodles with a broom stick.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
I fire you! I fire you! And you!
And you! And you!
DINING ROOM
It’s rush hour. There’s not one empty seat in the house. Bus boy scrambles to clean tables, pours water into glasses.
KITCHEN
Waiters yell at Chefs to get orders out quicker. Chefs tell the waiters to go fuck themselves.
ENTRANCE WAY
Sonny greets each customer as if they are old friends. He’s very charming.
KITCHEN
Sonny walks into workers exchanging unpleasantries.
SONNY
Hey! Hey! Hey! What’s the problem?!
Everyone talks at once. He gives everyone a look. Everyone silences. He looks at Noodles.
NOODLES
That still impresses me how you can get everyone to shut up with a look. It’s like you’re our mother and we’re all scared to get a spanking.
Sonny spanks Noodles with a motherly scold.
SONNY
Wait.
(looks around)
Where the hell is my Head Chef? Noodles?
NOODLES
Head Chef went on a run.
SONNY
Went on a run?
(Doesn’t compute)
Why’s my head chef making deliveries?
ANGEL
No, he’s taking a run.
(Snaps his fingers searching for…)
It’s a idiom. No wait, a euphemism.
SONNY
Angel “Noodles” Chen… Talk in Chinese.
ANGEL
(Flustered, but determined)
He’s in the bathroom… running?
SONNY
Angel! Speak in Chinese!
NOODLES
You told me to practice my English!
SONNY
Damn it, Angel!
NOODLES
(Chinese)
He’s taking a shit!
A disturbing sound resonates from the deep freezer, catches them both off guard. Everyone stares at the deep freezer.
DEEP FREEZER
Sonny and Noodles caution their step. There it goes again, it sounds like a cross between a goose and a moose. Sonny and Noodles peek behind the shelves of food. LEE (20s) a very young looking immigrant sits on a pile of frozen foods. He’s lighting dollar bills on fire.
SONNY
Lee?
Sonny waits for an explanation.
NOODLES
Before Lee come to America. He had Zroom Zroom, Giddyup Giddyup Giddyup with peasant girl. Peasant girl’s parents went to great measures to arrange her marriage to a very wealthy suitor. Well, being that Lee got peasant girl pregnant.
SONNY
Angel, I don’t have time for this…
NOODLES
Which is impressive because she really wasn’t all that cute to begin with and then given the fact that she’s dirt poor…
SONNY
Angel…
NOODLES
Long story short… the girl’s parent sued Lee’s family for $80,000 and won.
SONNY
$80,000
ANGEL
$80,000… for one night of zroom zroom giddyup giddyup, and she wasn’t even that cute.
Lee weeps like a moose/goose again.
Sonny leaves, it’s too much to deal with right now. Noodles hands Lee a frozen piece of meat. Lee wipes his tears with it.
NOODLES
You know, that kind of look likes fun.
Lee hands Noodles the matches and the dollar bills. Noodles puts the money right into his pocket.
KITCHEN
Sonny rips three, four orders off the clip board and fires up three woks. He tosses various meats, assorted veggies, spices in each. He even has time to do a little a dance. Walah… waiter takes out dish after dish. Problem solved.
There’s a clothes pin on Angel’s nose. He knocks on the bathroom door.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
Head chef?
Door opens. Noodles tosses Pepto Bismol in.
Primadonna taps Sonny’s shoulder.
PRIMADONNA
Am I Jennifer Aniston?
Sonny’s stumped.
SONNY
Are you…?
PRIMADONNA
I fifty years old and cannot keep wife. Why? Why wife always leave me?
SONNY
…because you’re Jennifer Aniston?
PRIMADONNA
(Takes in a deep sigh due to the painful revelation, nods, then starts pathetically singing the Friend’s theme song)
Primadonna hands Sonny the cordless phone.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
(While exiting)
He’s young, cute. Okay, but, he’s broke. I have lots of money… I don’t understand…
Sonny looks at the number on the caller i.d. and instantly smiles.
LETA (O.S.)
Are you cheating on me?
SONNY
Am I cheating on you…
Sonny’s going to have some fun with this.
LETA (O.S.)
I’ve been in Seattle for a month now and you mean to tell me that you’ve been faithful to me?… Excuse me?
SONNY
Well, I get the feeling sometimes that I’m getting fucked.
Sonny turns. He has quite the audience in the kitchen.
FREEZER
Lee’s still sitting in the corner sobbing quietly. Sonny acknowledges he’s there, then returns to Leta.
SONNY
My boss be fucking me. These customers be fucking me. Someone’s always fucking me.
LETA (O.S.)
Ha-ha. Sonny…
SONNY
Two weeks, just give me two weeks. I just put her in a new hospital… two weeks. I promise.
LETA (O.S.)
That’s what you said last time and the time before that… You know one day… if you can love me half as much as you love your mother that would be more than enough for me.
SONNY
Are you menstruating?
LETA (O.S.)
Why do you go there every time?
SONNY
Because every time we get into an argument you’re menstruating.
LETA (O.S.)
NO, I AM NOT MENSTRUATING, BUT IF I WERE TO BE MENSTRUATING, ASKING ME IF I’M MENSTRUATING WOULD BE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOT TO SAY TO ME, A WOMAN THAT’S MENSTRUATING!!!
Beat.
LETA (CONT’D)
I’m horny and I’m gaseous, moody, and irritable…
Beat.
LETA (O.S.) (CONT’D)
I’m sorry.
SONNY
Yeah. Tell me about it.
Beat.
LETA (O.S.)
I miss you.
SONNY
I miss you too.
LETA (O.S.)
Two weeks?
SONNY
Two weeks, I promise.
LETA (O.S.)
Okay.
SONNY
How are classes going?
LETA (O.S.)
Stressful, we’ve got midterms coming up next week.
Primadonna opens freezer door.
PRIMADONNA
I no pay you to sit in the freezer and talk on the phone!
SONNY
I gotta go babe… I’ll call you tonight.
LETA (O.S.)
Okay.
SONNY
Hey…
LETA (O.S.)
What?
SONNY
I love you too.
LETA (O.S.)
Two weeks? You promise?!
SONNY
Promise.
LETA (O.S.)
(Finally warming up)
Okay.
SONNY
(clears throat)
LETA (O.S.)
I love you too.
PRIMADONNA
And you? What are you doing? Get to work!
He pulls Lee out by his earlobe.
SUPER : TWO WEEKS LATER
EXT. PSYCHE WARD PLAYGROUNDS
Patients roam aimlessly on the basketball court. Some follow the direction of the ball carrier, some don’t. There’s about thirty patients playing a game of full court basketball.
Ma’s playing the most intense game of her life without a ball.
She splits through defenders, dribbles her imaginary ball between a patient’s unsuspecting legs and pulls up from long range. She holds her shooting form as the imaginary ball travels through the air. Patients glance at the rim, then back at Ma. One celebrates, prematurely running off the court.
EXCITED PATIENT
We won! We won!
OLDER PATIENT
What’s he cheering about? The ball’s still in the air.
YOUNGER PATIENT
Someone didn’t take their medication today.
MA
Swish.
A chain reaction happens. Patients on the court celebrate the victory. All the patients… who lost the game?
Sonny tentatively makes his way through the festivities. Patients carry Ma on their shoulders. Orderly appears and safely hoists her down.
Ma sees Sonny and runs to him.
MA (CONT’D)
Abandon ship. Abandon ship.
(To Sonny)
We won! We won! Did you see my game winning shot?
Sonny looks around. Patients still celebrating. He nods. It’s tough for him.
SONNY
Ma, we have to talk.
Orderly rings hand bell. Patients head back in.
MA
C’mon, it’s lobster night. We’ll talk in the cafe.
INT. PSYCHE WARD CAFETERIA
Sonny plays with his food. Ma stuffs her face in, bowl to face. Food’s everywhere.
MA
(Food in mouth)
Why aren’t you eating? You love lobster.
It is not lobster! It’s like grade D dog meat loaded with ketchup.
Ma tries to spoon feed Sonny.
MA (CONT’D)
Open up… c’mon just try it.
SONNY
No. Ma?! I don’t want any… Ma, I’m leaving. I’m going to Seattle.
MA (CONT’D)
What? No…
SONNY
Ma, you’re in a good place. It’s one of the best facilities in the country. I’ve paid off your hospital bills for the next six months.
MA
Six months?
SONNY
I’ll be back before then… I just need some time to deal with…
MA
I’ve been good though? Haven’t I? Haven’t I been good? I’m taking my meds…
SONNY
Yes, Ma, you’ve been great. I’m proud of you. You’re doing good.
MA
Don’t give up on me, Sonny. Just give me a little more time…please don’t go. I’m getting better. It’ll be like how it was when you were young…soon, real soon.
SONNY
Ma, I’ll only be gone for a little while. Be back before you know it.
Ma turns so that her back’s facing Sonny.
MA
God said the world wouldn’t understand. He said that the world would treat me like they did Jesus.
SONNY
What?
MA
God told me to take that money, Sonny, to save that woman, Sonny. God did… and I’m sorry for what happened. I really am. But, that woman is alive and well because of me… because of God.
SONNY
Right, God told me to do this and God told me to do that… God said it and you did it and now we’re here and my father’s dead. My father’s…
Sonny calms himself. He sucks in the tears.
Beat.
MA
The only reason why I’m here is because you think I need help. I’m here for you.
Ma gets up and walks away.
SONNY
Ma? Ma! Is that really how you want to say goodbye to me?
She stops. She turns.
MA
I’m sorry for what happened. I really am, I really am… and I know how it looks… but, God’s gonna make sense of it all in the end. He is… you just have to have a little faith. Don’t you have a little faith in God? Don’t you have a little faith in me?
Sonny gets up. He gives his mother a hug and exits.
INT. HOSTEL BEDROOM – NIGHT
Sonny sits on the window sill. He spins an empty bottle of Jack – round and round it goes…
FLASHBACK TO:
INT. HOSTEL BEDROOM – NIGHT (FIVE YEARS PRIOR)
Jack D bottle spins on the window sill. It knocks into a clock. It reads “4:23 a.m.” His head and body sway. He’s drunk. He looks over at a pile of clothes on the bed. He stumbles off the chair. He makes his way to the bed, props himself up.
POP
Cheers.
He lifts his arm and drinks thin air. He forgot to bring his bottle. He looks over at the half-empty bottle of cognac on the window sill. He stands to his feet, gathers himself, takes one step and stumbles back onto the floor.
Sonny (pre-teens) stands by the door with his head down. Pop closes his eyes, swings his head side to side, opens his eyes. Whoa, he’s dizzy now.
POP (CONT’D)
(Slurring)
Do you know what time it is?
No response. Pop raises his hand like an excited school boy.
POP (CONT’D)
…I do. I do. But, I asked you.
Pop tilts his head until he leans over.
POP (CONT’D)
Bring me that bottle over there.
SONNY
Pop, I think you had enough to drink.
POP
Bring it to me!
Sonny brings him the bottle. Pop taps the floor. Sonny sits.
POP (CONT’D)
Get ready for this, it’s a metaphor.
(Clears throat)
See, this bottle. I like this bottle, cause the bottle can’t walk out of my life!
Pop pushes the bottle into Sonny’s chest. He stares at it.
POP (CONT’D)
The bottle knows it’s four a.m. Do you?
(Beat)
Give me my metaphor back.
Pop snatches the bottle out of Sonny’s hand. He gulps and wipes his mouth.
POP (CONT’D)
Where were you?
SONNY
Heard there was a gathering at Benson court…went looking for her. She wasn’t there.
Pop pats him on the back and shoves the bottle into Sonny’s chest.
POP
Here, have a drink with your old man.
Sonny looks at it. He drinks and coughs it out.
POP (CONT’D)
(Chuckles)
Pop laughs at him. He pulls his son in and hugs him so tight, he begins to tremble.
POP (CONT’D)
You, me and Mr. Jack D. We gon be okay.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
They sit by the window. Empty chairs face outward into the window. They survey the spectacle at Benson Courts.
POP (CONT’D)
So some elder gets a sign from God from which he predicts what day the world will end. So then on that day these people gather at where they believe Jesus will re-appear and pull them up to Heaven prior to the destruction of all human kind as we know it.
SONNY
Yup.
Pop passes the liquor. Sonny passes the liquor back to Pop.
POP
Hmm. How long have these people been out there?
SONNY
Since three o’clock this afternoon.
POP
It’s damn near six in the morning now.
SONNY
Yup.
POP
I hope they brought food and drink. Hmm… how many times has this elder been wrong?
SONNY
Every time.
POP
And he still has that many followers?
SONNY
He’s actually gained followers. Looks like a couple thousand have gathered this time around.
POP
Hmm.
(Sound of guzzling)
Should we go?
SONNY
Naw, I gotta feeling the world’s not gonna end today.
POP
Ok.
Pop stands up and unzips his fly.
EXT. HOSTEL
Urine spouts out second floor window, splashes onto car frame.
INT. HOSTEL
Pop drinks from the bottle of Jack D as he urinates out the second floor window. Sonny can’t believe Pop’s actually urinating out of the window while he’s drinking.
HALLWAY
Sonny tugs on the bathroom door. It’s locked. He knocks.
MEN (O.S.)
(In Mandarin)
Leave me alone.
Sonny looks defeated.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXT. HOSTEL
Two streams of urine flow out a second floor two family house.
SONNY (O.S.)
Hey Pop, why’s yours so much bigger than mine?
POP (O.S.)
Well, hmm, you must get that from your Mother’s son.
INT. HOSTEL
They zip up and turn to another spectacle. The sight of Ma standing by the door! Sonny and Pop are in complete shock. She doesn’t say a word. She just stands there.
MA
I’m sorry…
Sonny and Pop are still in shock.
Pop awkwardly makes his way over to Ma. She’s got her head down.
MA (CONT’D)
I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to cause you any pain. Please, forgive me.
Pop pulls her in and embraces her. He holds her so tight. His face is full of emotions.
Sonny is not as forgiving, in fact; he’s got a bitter expression on his face.
SONNY
Three years, it’s been! Three years! Where the fuck were you? How could you just leave us like that? You told us it’d be different this time!
MA
God.
SONNY
Fuck you and your God.
POP
Okay! That’s enough…
A tense silence fills the room. Both sides catch their breath.
POP (CONT’D)
…Show your mother some respect.
Sonny refuses to move, he refuses to acknowledge her presence. Pop scolds him. Finally, Sonny walks over to his mother and pats her on the back.
SONNY
Welcome back.
He then turns and walks into the closet and closes the door behind him.
Pop turns to Ma. She’s still got her head down.
POP
C’mon, I’ll make you something to eat.
INT. HOSTEL CLOSET
The smell of home cooking still lingers. Pop watches Ma sleep in the bed. He caresses her face and kisses her hand.
Sonny comes out of the closet.
POP
Hmm… You’ve got to hold your liquor better boy.
Pop messes with his boy’s hair and rubs his forehead against his.
POP (CONT’D)
Come here, sit down.
Pop waits as Sonny makes his way over and sits down.
POP (CONT’D)
Those who do not forgive will never be forgiven. You’ve only got one mother and she’s only got one son. And one day you’re going to fuck up too and she’s going to forgive you. Never give up on family. Never. Never. You understand that boy? Never give up on family.
Sonny nods his head. The words echo over and over again.
SONNY
I’m sorry, Pop. I was out of line.
POP
I forgive you.
They hug.
Sonny notices Ma’s eavesdropping. She reaches out for him. Sonny goes to her.
SONNY
I’m sorry, Ma.
The three of them embrace.
BACK TO PRESENT:
EXT. HOSTEL BACKYARD
Sonny sits on the side of Pop’s tombstone. He’s all packed and ready to go. He’s sipping from a bottle of Jack D in between his cigarette totes.
SONNY
I’ve done all that I can do for her. I’ve dropped out of school to provide for her. Spent over $60,000 in hospital bills alone these last couple years. I’m tired Pop, real tired now. If going to Seattle is wrong, please forgive me…
Sonny nestles his forehead into the tombstone as his father once did to him.
INT. AIRPORT CHECK IN DESK
An attendant hands boarding passes to a man.
ATTENDANT
Thanks for flying with American Airlines; have a good flight.
Man exits.
ATTENDANT (CONT’D)
Good Morning, how many bags are we checking today?
Sonny hoists a luggage bag onto the counter and hands her his driver’s license.
SONNY
Just one.
ATTENDANT
I’m sorry sir, it seems flight 342 to Seattle is delayed an hour due to weather conditions.
GATE D
Sonny watches the rain drip down the window.
LETA (O.S.)
I’ve called out of work already. I’m skipping class tonight. I got the food in the oven. Been doing some kegel exercises.
SONNY
What are kegel exercises?
LETA (O.S.)
It gets it tighter.
INTERCOM
We are now boarding for flight 342 to Seattle, we apologize for the delay, but here American Airlines we take your safety very seriously…
SONNY
Okay, they’re boarding.
LETA (O.S.)
Yay! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I take back all those bad things I said about you these last few months.
SONNY
They got exercises to make it tighter?
LETA (O.S.)
Well, you’ll find out soon enough…
SONNY
Oh, baby…
LETA (O.S.)
Yup. Tons of things one learns in college.
SONNY
I’ll see you soon. Love ya too.
Sonny hands over his boarding pass. As he’s walking through the boarding tunnel; he gets another call. Phone reads Modern Psychiatric.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Yes, hello. Say what?
(Beat)
What do you mean you can’t locate my mother?
(Beat)
I’ll be right there.
He hangs up the phone, breathes heavy. How’s he going to explain this one to Leta?
He takes a moment to compute this. Passengers walk around Sonny and board the plane.
Sonny’s stuck. He can’t move. An attendant by the plane’s entrance notices and walks to him.
ATTENDANT
Sir? Are you okay?
Sonny nods absent-minded.
ATTENDANT (CONT’D)
We’re boarding…will you be joining us.
Sonny exhales and shakes his head no.
He dials Leta’s number.
SONNY
Hi, umm… there’s been a change in plans.
She hangs up on him.
INT. MODERN PSYCHIATRIC WARD CONFERENCE ROOM
We HEAR dial tone, dialing and then ringing.
We SEE Sonny in a very large very empty conference room.
We HEAR Leta’s voice mail pick up.
Sonny carves Leta into a leg of the conference table. He looks so sad, suffocated by the big empty space.
Sonny hangs up and calls her again. Again her voice mail picks up. There’s a numbing pain in his face.
Dr. So enters wearing huge bifocals. He’s decorated by colorful duct tape and another Scooby Doo tie. It’s
purple…very purple. He signs some forms and hands them to an orderly. A group of detective suits and hats follow.
ORDERLY
(It’s obvious she has a crush on him)
You were great in there, Dr So. You sounded just like him – like Scooby.
DR. SO
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
ORDERLY
Oh, I did…I mean, we all did…I think some of the patients actually thought you were Scooby.
DR. SO
Let’s hope not.
Dr. So gives her a fake smile. She curtseys as she exits. He catches his breath as he takes off his Scooby tie and bifocals.
Three knocks, door props open…
Now Sonny’s surrounded by strangers with suits and detective hats.
DR. SO (CONT’D)
The board is very embarrassed and has made it their absolute priority to resolve the matter as it pertains to your mother. The board has hired a team of proven private investigators and believe this matter will be resolved shortly and with efficiency.
They all nod with their detective hats.
DR. SO (CONT’D)
In exchange the board thinks it best that we all keep quiet about this very unfortunate matter…
SONNY
You’re so…articulate. So articulate and so removed of emotion. You know what that tells me? You don’t give a fuck and that’s fine. It’s fine.
PRIVATE I
Sir, if I may, you can rest assured. We’ve already started going through all the tapes…
SONNY
…you’re gonna round up all the usual suspects and you will find her. You will find her. You will find her.
PRIVATE I
Yes, we will.
SONNY
Yes, you will.
Sonny chuckles.
PRIVATE I
Is something funny?
SONNY
Have you ever not found someone?
Private I’s stumped by this.
PRIVATE I
(Regroups)
We here at the agency.
SONNY
Oh, would you quit already?! You’re just making a pay check, that’s all and that’s fine. You got the job, go do your job and spare me the false advertisement please.
(To Dr. So)
And as for you, I’ll be expecting a full refund. Won’t I?
Sonny exits.
INT. HOSPITAL
Receptionist checks her database.
RECEPTIONIST
I’m sorry, she’s not in the system.
SONNY
Okay, thank you.
INT. POLICE STATION
Receptionist checks her database.
RECEPTIONIST
I’m sorry, she’s not in our system.
INT. CHURCH
Sonny scans the crowd of what looks like the homeless and disregarded.
INT. TRAIN STATION
Sonny points to a picture of his mother. Homeless man shakes his head no.
EXT. BENSON PROJECTS BASKETBALL COURT
Sonny sifts through the crowds, searching for Ma. She’s no where in sight.
A group of women pray fiercely in a circle in the corner. It appears they are generating energy. Wind circulates litter and blows up and away.
A group of men shoot dice.
A couple kids carry a bloodied mattress. Another kid pushes along a lawn mower as if it were a shopping cart. No one even lifts a head indicating that this type of activity is all very normal.
Sonny takes a seat.
WOMAN
Look, it’s adorable.
Homeless woman tries to sell Sonny a Dance with me Elmo Doll. She presses a button.
ELMO
Where do cows go on Saturday night?
Woman presses Elmo again.
ELMO (CONT’D)
To the mooooovies.
WOMAN
What do you say? Huh? Huh?
Sonny shakes his head no.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
Alright, just wait one minute… give me a chance here…
Whips open heavy overcoat.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
Life got you down? Can’t get it up? Feeling under the weather? Slipped one by the goal less than 72 hours ago…
She wiggles pills in Sonny’s face.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
I got Prosaic, Viagra, Dayquil, Plan B…
No. Searches deeper into her overcoat.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
I got CD’s, DVD’s, deodorant, soap, shampoo all on sale just for you…
No.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
But, that’s not all.
She pulls out a King James Bible.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
For a limited time a collector’s edition of the Good Book signed by the Pope himself which comes with a two to three or four ounce supply of holy water.
SONNY
Have you seen this woman?
She studies the picture.
WOMAN
Yes, I mean no, I mean I can’t remember…
Sonny hands her a couple of dollars.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
I see her every once in a while feeding the stray dogs, squirrels, birds… got ‘em trained too. They find her coins and she gives them food. Best bet… keep on feeding these animals cause where they are, she’ll be.
WOMAN (CONT’D)
I got bread…
Sonny buys a loaf. He starts feeding the stray animals. They immediately form a circle around him.
CUT TO
There’s a crowd of animals around Sonny now, but still no Ma.
It’s pretty dark. The religious fanatics are gone. The streets are pretty empty, except for the homeless and the drug fiends trying to get a fix.
Out the corner of his eye Sonny sees a PERSON in a WHEEL CHAIR staring at him. Person’s dressed like the grim reaper. Sonny looks away for a second and then looks back. Grim reaper’s still staring at Sonny. Wind blows off grim reaper’s hoodie.
Sonny sees it’s Ma.
He pops up and sprints after her. Ma presses a button on her power wheel chair. She turns and drives off in the opposite direction.
SONNY
Ma! Ma! It’s me, Sonny. Ma! Stop!
Sonny runs with all he’s got. He’s getting closer and closer until… Ma shifts into a higher gear. She builds some separation between her and Sonny.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Ma! Stop!
Sonny just avoids getting hit by a car at an intersection. He collides into a parked car. He regroups and sprints after Ma.
Ma turns a corner.
Sonny gets to the corner and she’s gone.
EXT. STREET
Off screen – We hear a dial tone.
Sonny hobbles along. He lifts his shirt, he’s cut pretty bad.
EXT. HOSTEL
Off screen – We hear Leta’s voice mail pick up. Phone clicks. Sonny unlocks the van.
INT. VAN
Off Screen – Again, we hear a dial tone. Again, Leta’s voice mail picks up. Phone clicks.
Sonny reaches into the glove department.
He cleans up his rib and his chest wounds and wraps ace bandage around himself. He takes a sip of Jack.
He tosses a blanket over his head.
CUT TO
Ma stares at Sonny fast asleep in the driver’s seat. She takes an OPENED CAPSULE of MEDICINE. She sprinkles the POWDERED CONTENTS into a bottle of Jack. Powder dissolves into the liquid. Ma sets it down and gently closes the door.
VAN – EARLY MORNING
Sonny’s fast asleep. Workers file in one by one. Same shit just another day…
NOODLES
Ooo, Donna is mad with you! I think he’s going to fire you today.
SONNY
Well, what else is new?
Sonny wipes the crust from his eyes, tosses aside his blanket. Noodles rests his seat way back, he hits the worker behind him.
Sonny takes a swig of Jack.
WORKER
Ouch!
NOODLES
Sorry.
WORKER
You’re such a fucking Quiff.
NOODLES
I told you to stop calling me that!
WORKER
Did you ever find out what it means?
NOODLES
No.
WORKER
Quiff.
Noodles pins his seat back more onto the worker’s knees and rests his arm over his face.
WORKER (CONT’D)
Quiff. Quiff. Quiff.
INT. PAVILION RESTAURANT PRIMADONNA’S OFFICE
Primadonna’s on the couch playing patient. Sonny’s at the computer desk setting up an online dating account for his boss. He scrolls through a hideous collection of photos.
PRIMADONNA
They say small egg foo young, I say small egg foo young. Then they say again. I say why you say again slow? They say same thing I say. I say why I say something and you say same thing I say slow back to me? You don’t know what I say? And they no say.
He looks back at Sonny with a sad face. Sonny’s reaching out to girl after girl after girl… “I’m expressing interest on behalf of my very wealthy boss…”
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
Why you do that to me? Where you go yesterday? Why no one understand the words that are coming out my mouth?
Bingo. Sonny’s reeled in a girl.
SONNY
Huh? I’m sorry. I can’t understand the words that are coming out of you mouth…
PRIMADONNA
I fire you.
SONNY
Huh? I’m sorry. Come again…
Sonny leans his ear in a little closer.
PRIMADONNA
I fire you! You Fire!
(Blows)
Smoke! Water! Fire! Give me keys and bow tie.
Sonny hands him keys and bow tie and just as Sonny’s about to exit.
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN GIRL
Hello? Mr. Donna? Is that you? Mr. Prima Donna?
Primadonna looks at the screen. There’s a beautiful American girl flashing on the screen. It’s a Jennifer Aniston look alike on video chat.
She waves at him.
Startled, Primadonna waves back.
PRIMADONNA
Jennifer Aniston?
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN GIRL
Yeah, I get that a lot.
(Giggles)
PRIMADONNA
I big fan of your work.
(Sings the Friends theme song)
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN GIRL
(Giggles)
PRIMADONNA
I make Jennifer Aniston laugh.
Primadonna hands Sonny back his keys and bow tie. Sonny exits.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
How’s Emma? Are you still with Ross?
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN GIRL
(Giggles)
PRIMADONNA
You have beautiful laugh, but, very different from show.
EXT. HOSTEL – NIGHT
Sonny again calls Leta and gets the voice mail. He hangs up and tries it again and again he gets the voice mail.
Van pulls up to the curve. Workers file out. Sonny punches the steering wheel, phone in hand.
NOODLES
I’ll be right there. Don’t start the game without me.
Workers nod and they file out.
They sit there in silence for a while.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
I don’t know nothing about it. I honestly don’t know who in the house has been pranking people late at night.
SONNY
What are you talking about?
NOODLES
Oh, I thought you were mad cause of… You haven’t gotten any complaints yet?
Sonny shakes his head.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
Late at night, when everyone’s asleep…someone’s been going around smearing Wasabi up people’s noses, over their eyes, into their ears…
Noodles can’t help, but to break out laughing and neither can Sonny. Sonny’s laugh turns to tears; but not happy tears…
Noodles notices.
Sonny regroups.
Beat.
SONNY
She’s won’t pick up her phone, Angel. I think that’s it. I think we’re done.
NOODLES
What your American girl?
SONNY
Yeah.
Beat.
NOODLES
Did she find an American boy?
SONNY
What? No…
NOODLES
Italian?
SONNY
No, Angel…
NOODLES
(Gasps)
…Black?
SONNY
… she didn’t leave me for another man.
NOODLES
She didn’t?
SONNY
No.
NOODLES
Oh… was it her parents?
SONNY
What?
NOODLES
Were they racist against us immigrants?
SONNY
What? No. Just shut up for a minute… will you please?
Beat.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Shit’s been getting too much for me to handle lately… she use to help me deal.
NOODLES
Oh. What is it exactly?
SONNY
I don’t know…
NOODLES
Is it Primadonna? Is it Lee? Is it…me?
SONNY
I don’t know… you know what, don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.
NOODLES
You sure?
SONNY
Yeah, I’m sure.
NOODLES
Oh, okay.
They sit alone in silence a bit longer. Noodles doesn’t know what to say.
SONNY
Didn’t you have a game to get to?
NOODLES
Oh, right.
Noodles exits. Sonny watches him go into the hostel.
Sonny dials Swift’s number again and again it’s a voice mail. Sonny rests his head on the car steering wheel and closes his eyes.
Three knocks on the glass startle Sonny.
It’s Noodles. He gets in, pulls out and lights a joint and passes it to Sonny. Sonny just stares at it for a second, then he takes it.
They smoke their troubles away.
INT. HOSTEL
We see Sonny and Noodles put Wasabi on sleeping workers’ faces. They’re chuckling and obviously high off the marijuana.
They put Wasabi on drunk chefs by the stairway. They put Wasabi on Lee.
Noodles picks up the infant child who’s always crawling away from his mother. Sonny shakes his head no. Noodles puts Wasabi on the infant’s forehead. They laugh so hard. They’re having the time of their lives.
INT. PAVILION RESTAURANT FREEZER – NOON
NOODLES
Lip stick.
Sonny hands Noodles the lip stick. He untwists, rubs it on his hand. He conceptualizes…
NOODLES (CONT’D)
I think this is too dark. Hand me the other one we got.
SONNY
I told you it was too dark at the store.
NOODLES
Okay. You have like all this negative energy surrounding you and I can’t. I just can’t…
Sonny hands him the lighter color they got. He looks miserable.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
Okay sweetie, pucker your lips.
Noodles applies lip stick on Lee.
Noodles and Sonny step back and take it all in.
SONNY
Remind me why we’re doing this again…
NOODLES
On Tuesday me and Lee calculated that it’d take him something like fifty-seven years to pay off the $80,000. We figured there’s no way that he could get a raise cause half the time he’s crying in the freezer. So I said to Lee maybe he can win some money playing blackjack… Long story short, now he owes some mob boss’ son twenty thousand dollars in addition to the $80,000. Mob boss’ son threatened to cut off his penis and feed it to his mother if he didn’t pay up by Friday. Which is today.
SONNY
I don’t even know why I ask anymore.
Lee’s dressed in woman’s clothing. He’s got a wig, bra and boobies or socks, make up…the works.
Lee’s a pretty ugly looking girl.
NOODLES
I’d do him.
SONNY
Really?
NOODLES
Yup.
Like an artist Noodles formulates a rectangular picture frame with his hands and takes a mental snapshot.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
Yup, I’d do him. No question about it.
Lee starts to cry…again.
NOODLES (CONT’D)
Honey, darling, diva…your mascara’s gonna run.
SONNY
We didn’t get mascara.
NOODLES
Yes, we did.
SONNY
You stole mascara? Really Angel?
Worker barges in. He gets this and that.
WORKER
Do this. Do that. Do this. Do that. Fuck you! Blow me!
He glimpses over at the scene in front of him as he barges out. And then he barges back in again slowly.
SONNY
(It’s all too ridiculous)
Apparently he’s going to get his dick chopped off…
NOODLES
Isn’t she pretty?
He takes a good look at her.
WORKER
I’d do him.
NOODLES
Yeah, see.
(Gives Sonny an ‘I told you so’)
Lee starts to cry…again. Noodles pinches him to prevent him from crying. He blows on Lee’s eyes to dry his tears.
Sonny gets the hell out of there.
INT. PAVILION RESTAURANT
It’s a lazy Wednesday afternoon. Restaurant’s pretty quiet. Sonny takes a seat by the bar. Delivery man stacks this and that in the bar area.
DELIVERY MAN
Bad day?
SONNY
Bad life.
DELIVERY MAN
Yeah, tell me about it. Took a can of Coke. Cool?
Sonny nods.
DELIVERY MAN (CONT’D)
Okay. Well, you know the drill. Here, here and here.
(Flips stapled pages)
Sonny signs here, here and here. He hands it back to him. He flips through the channels on the tube.
Delivery man exits, but not before…
PRIMADONNA
Hey, did you pay for that?
(To Sonny)
Did he pay for that?
Sonny grimaces.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
Mmmhmm.
(Gives Delivery Man the eagle eye as he walk out)
Can you tell me what this says?
Primadonna points to a pill capsule.
SONNY
Take four hours prior to…
(Annoyed)
The promise of sexual activity.
PRIMADONNA
Ok, so this is sex pill.
(Tries to pique Sonny’s interest)
Beat.
Sonny looks up and realizes that Primadonna’s still standing in front of him.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
I nervous penis get soft…
Sonny flips through more channels.
PRIMADONNA (CONT’D)
…very embarrassing.
SONNY
MmmHmm.
PRIMADONNA
I have sex with Jennifer Aniston yesterday and… very embarrassing. Funny if happened to Ross. But, not funny happen to me.
On and on he goes, Sonny can’t tune him out. Sonny gets up. Primadonna follows him into the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN
PRIMADONNA
I ask you sex question. It’s okay?
SONNY
You want to ask me a what question?
PRIMADONNA
A sex question.
SONNY
No.
PRIMADONNA
Please.
SONNY
No.
Sonny walks through the kitchen and out the back door. Again, Primadonna’s not too far behind.
PRIMADONNA
I masturbator on chair all the time. No problem.
EXT. PAVILION RESTAURANT PATIO
Sonny steps out onto the patio. Restaurant rests on a private street just off the main road. We see the cars whizzing by. Some woods and a small stream run on the side of it. It’s a rather romantic location.
PRIMADONNA
Jennifer Anniston sex me standing up. Blood no go to penis. Why?
Camera pans into the distance, we see branches move up and down. It appears something or someone’s lurking in the woods. Out appears a ragged woman.
It’s Ma!
SONNY
I don’t know. I have sex standing up all the time… maybe cause Primadonna’s penis too old.
Ma’s surrounded by squirrels, birds, stray dogs. We hear her whisper to herself and then answer herself in a different voice. A squirrel runs up her shoulder and hands her a quarter. She in turn hands the squirrel some bread.
Camera pans back to sex therapy session on the restaurant porch.
PRIMADONNA
Why you make funny? This not funny. This vaaaaarry hard…
SONNY
(Slight chuckle)
PRIMADONNA
for me to tell you. Please help blood go to penis. I call Dr. Dr. tell me take pill. I take pill…no help. Help me please… I want to have sex with Jennifer Anniston.
SONNY
I don’t know… why don’t you try masturbating while standing up…
Takes a moment to process it…
PRIMADONNA
(Eureka!)
Agh, you vaaaaaarry smart.
(Happily goes off whistling)
Sonny turns, freezes the second he sees Ma. Immediately he jumps off the second floor patio and onto the lawn. He sprints toward her.
SONNY
Ma! Ma! Ma!
The piercing sound startles Ma and she ducks behind a tree. The stray dogs instantly run out to meet Sonny. They growl and hover around Sonny.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Ma! It’s me! It’s Sonny! Your son! Ma! Ma!
MA
It’s okay, Sonny. I save you. I here to save you.
SONNY
Ma, it’s me! Sonny! Your son!
The dogs growl and snap at Sonny’s legs.
MA
Sonny. I save you. It’s okay. Come, follow me, I save you. Come Sonny. Come.
She slides into the woods and disappears. The dogs attack him. One lunges toward Sonny’s face. Sonny dodges it.
SONNY
MA!!!!!!
Another lunges toward his chest. This one connects and wrestles Sonny to the dirt. It snaps at Sonny’s neck, his face. Sonny jabs at it.
The other two dogs circle Sonny as well as they prepare to strike.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Ma!!!!!! Call them off!!!!!!
Sonny throws a lucky uppercut and catches the dog’s nose. It winces away.
But, just as Sonny gets one off of him another attacks him. Dog catches Sonny’s hand. It thrusts its neck side to side ripping away at Sonny’s flesh. Blood shoots out this way and that. Sonny lifts this dog up in the air and body slams it into the ground.
Now all three surround Sonny.
SONNY (CONT’D)
Ma!!!!!!
Blood drips off their teeth as they circle him. They get closer and closer and closer.
MA
Hey! No! No! Come here! Now!
Dogs whimper their way to her. She disciplines them as if they were infants.
MA (CONT’D)
Bad boy! Bad boy! Don’t fight with your brother! Go say sorry to him right now!
The dogs go say sorry to their brother. Sonny walks around them and toward Ma. The dogs follow him closely. As Sonny gets closer a playful expression surfaces on Ma’s face and…
MA (CONT’D)
Tag, you’re it.
She dashes off.
SONNY
Damn it, Ma!
Sonny chases after her. He maneuvers around pricker bushes and slippery trails. He stops and surveys his surroundings.
Ma’s no where in sight.
We hear movement.
MA
Psst. I’m over here.
Sonny looks in one direction.
MA (CONT’D)
Over here.
Sonny wrestles with some more prickers. He goes down into a stream. Ma stands in the middle of the river, arms extended to the skies. She’s got her eyes closed praying.
He takes a seat by the river. He checks his wounds and shakes his head.
INT. VAN
Ma’s tied up real good in the passenger side seat.
MA
Sonny… I need to use the bathroom.
SONNY
So use it.
MA
Okay.
She starts to urinate in the seat.
SONNY
Oh Ma?!
She stops urinating.
MA
Ugh-Oh… I gotta…
Sonny unties Ma.
INT. PAVILION RESTAURANT BATHROOM AREA
Ma sits on the toilet with the door open. Sonny keeps an eye on her by the doorway; hand over his nose and mouth.
SONNY
C’mon Ma.
MA
Does it smell bad?
Phone rings. No one’s by the front counter. Sonny takes a look around the dining room. It’s completely deserted. There are no customers, no workers.
Toilet flushes.
MA (CONT’D)
They’re downstairs.
SONNY
Wash your hands. What?
She washes her hands.
MA
They’re downstairs…
Sonny stares at his mother. What the hell is she talking about now.
INT. KITCHEN
Everywhere Sonny goes, he’s got his mother in his grasp.
SONNY
Hello?!
It’s deserted.
FREEZER
SONNY (CONT’D)
Hello?
It’s empty.
STAIRWAY
Sonny and Ma go down the stairs.
BASEMENT
There’s a fire going inside a large metal trash bin. Everyone surrounds it in awe. May cries. Head Chef’s on his knees with his eyes closed in prayer.
Sparks flare inside the trash can.
CAMERA PANS IN and through the flames we see remnants of a person’s body.
Primadonna’s smoking a cigarette.
SONNY
What happened? What is it?
MAY
They killed them. They killed them.
Sonny stares long and hard at the trash can. He starts to approach it and Ma tugs on the rope.
Sonny looks at his mother. She shakes her head – don’t go.
CUT TO
Sonny pokes around inside the trash bin and plops over a decapitated head.
It’s ANGEL… and it’s LEE.
The shock knocks Sonny to his knees.
CAMERA PANS IN on Lee’s and Angel’s heads burning in the trash bin.
