HUTT
Kenny.
TROOPER
What?
HUTT
That stuff you were reading.
That's incorrect, that is a mistake.
TROOPER
Which one is that, sir?
I got thirty-two here.
HUTT
You got the sheet. You know I was acquitted on every fucking one.
TROOPER
I'd prefer you hold back on the obscenities, sir.
You're in Libertyville, Texas, now, you aren't in Lou-easy-anna.
HUTT
Fine.
Look, officer, in wholesale foods, you got a lot of competition. That stuff you're reading, it's all made up.
TROOPER
(thinks about that)
Okay, Mr. Hutt...I've got no reason to keep you here, nothing you're wanted for.
I will ask you, sir, to drive clear of Libertyville and refrain from falsely assaultin' anyone along the way.
HUTT
Hey, you're just doing your job, I understand that.
TROOPER
Yes, sir...
The trooper leans in the car. Frowns. Something bothers him.
HUTT
What?
TROOPER
Before you go, sir, would you hit the trunk release for me, then step outside the car?
HUTT
What for?
TROOPER
'Cause I asked you to, sir.
HUTT
I thought we were through with this.
TROOPER
Hit the release, sir.
Hutt does as he's told.
Steps out.
People are standing around close now.
Hutt walks back with the trooper, who opens the trunk wide.
Hutt gags, makes an awful sound as the smell hits him.
CUT TO:
TRUNK
There are two bodies in the trunk--one guy with his zipper open, the other in an aviator jacket, black or maybe brown. The trooper steps back, puts one hand on his sidearm.
Cheerleaders and patrons react.
Hutt shakes his head, stunned, puzzled.
HUTT
Hey, there's some kind of--
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON HUTT
as the trooper slams his head against the car.
HUTT (CONT'D)
--misunderstanding here.
CUT TO:
PIGGS – CELLAR - DAY
Jack is curled up uncomfortably on a high concrete ledge, wrapped in his shabby blanket.
His eyes are closed. Very little light through the slats in the floor above.
CECIL (O.S.)
....dozing off, I can't see the clock, it's Junior Ambrose himself, he's getting on the phone. He's real upset, whining like a kid.
GRAPE (O.S)
Uh-huh.
Jack is wide awake now.
CECIL'S ROOM
Cecil opens a beer, gets up, turns on the TV, doesn't like what he sees, turns it off.
CECIL
He's telling me the cops have got Hutt, Hutt is in serious shit.
They are finding some persons of the stiff persuasion in the trunk.
Grape laughs. Walks over and gets himself a beer, too.
CECIL
I'm telling the kid, "Excuse me for speaking of a person who is in your employee, but fuck Hutt Kenny.
You want to sell your product, send me a person, he's got a little respect.
GRAPE
Hutt, this guy, he don't know about respect.
CECIL
Junior, he got the idea. He's sending someone. I don't know who.
Cecil walks across the room.
THE CELLAR
Dust falls in Jack's eyes.
BACK TO SCENE.
CECIL
Couple things. There's a blue Beamer out in the lot.
Have Cat get it out of there. I'm guessing it's the other fucker in Hutt's trunk. He forgot to mention that.
GRAPE
Cat kinda forgets.
CECIL
And Grape...Tex-Mex dude, hanging 'round Gloria all the time. I'd just as soon put a stop to that.
Grape turns to go.
CECIL (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Get Jack. Don't
do
anything. I want to talk to him, don't want him in a trunk.
THE CELLAR
Jack reacts to Cecil's words as we imagine he would. He looks sick.
WAN'S STORAGE ROOM-LATER
Jack is sitting against a wall, wolfing down a bowl of rice. He has a shabby pack by his side. Ortega is squatting on his heels nearby.
ORTEGA
...Rhino is saying, where the fock is Jack? Two in the after noons, where is the Jack? I am saying, how the fock do I know?
JACK
(makes a face)
Christ, this stuff isn't cooked.
ORTEGA
I am cooking this rice Al-denny.
You don't know this because you are the washer of dishes and the waiter, you are not the chef.
Jack has his mind somewhere else.
JACK
You ever been to Canada? I'm thinking another state isn't far enough away.
Ortega gets up, goes to the kitchen.
ORTEGA (O.S.)
I would not be going to the place that is cold.
I am thinking Whatamala. Whatamala got the beach, got the girls.
JACK
I don't think so. Everyone down there's a Mescan or something. I don't feel I'd get along at all.
Ortega comes back.
ORTEGA
Hey, me either. Bunch of greasers? Who'd want to do that?
ANOTHER VIEW
JACK
I didn't mean any personal offense.
Ortega looks pained.
ORTEGA
You got friends and you don't even know it, Jack. You got people you don't care about, is caring about you. Who do you think is not telling Cecil you are living in the doggie place under the Piggs? Who you think that would maybe be?
ON JACK
Jack looks bewildered.
JACK
What's with this doggie place? What are you talking about?
FAVOR ORTEGA
ORTEGA
I am seeing you coming out the hole, okay?
I know there is Gino's Fine Fish Restu-rant-e before the Piggs, and the Sunset Vet before that.
I know these things because I am cook for the Gino's.
And, before that, I am putting the puppy dog to sleeping at the vet.
ON JACK
JACK
Jesus....
ORTEGA
I would think about the Whatamala, Jack. I would give some thought to that.
CECIL'S TABLE-MORNING-LATER
Jack is slumped in a chair.
He looks awful.
Cecil, Grape and Cat are present.
The bartender and Ortega are in the background, cleaning up, setting chairs about for the evening.
CECIL
What it is, Jack, I feel there is some misunderstanding among the of members of my staff. I don't wish that to happen anymore. I don't think you do either.
Jack looks dazed.
Grape slaps him playfully across the face.
GRAPE
The man's talking to you, Jack.
CECIL
Jack's all right. We are making progress here, aren't we, Jack?
JACK
Yes, sir, we surely are.
CECIL
Cat, he thinks he ought to remove the limb that assaulted his private parts, which is a hurtful thing to.
What I said was, Jack did not strike you with harmful intent.
Jack has learned a great deal from his stay in a penal institution, and he is not as dumb as that.
Cecil leans forward. Ortega, in the background, scarcely dares look at all this.
CECIL (CONT'D)
So here is how it stands, Jack.
You get out of this. We go ahead and we don't look back. That okay with you?
JACK
It is, Mr. Dupree. And I---
Cecil flares up, nearly knocks over the table.
CECIL
Then what the fuck are you doing here, boy? Get the fuck out of my sight.
Jack gets up quickly, starts to leave. Cecil calls out.
CECIL
Jack...
ON CECIL
Cecil holds up Jack's miserable backpack.
CECIL (CONT'D)
Friends don't leave friends without saying goodbye. You're not planning any trips real soon, are you?
Cecil tosses the pack at Jack, who takes off.
DISSOLVE TO:
CECIL'S TABLE -NIGHT
The joint is swinging, packed to the ceiling.
Cecil sits alone at his table. Gloria prances past, from the front door, and Cecil doesn't even look up.
CECIL
You are late, my dear. I do not condone that in my people.
GLORIA