GLORIA
You seen Mr. Chavez around?
Wilda looks disgruntled.
WILDA
That asshole in the Wal-Mart tie? Says,"can you change a fiver, hon?"
We don't get economic change in this country, we are in for a
major
downside, you can quote me on that.
OUTSIDE DRESSING ROOM
Gloria pauses, peers back over the meager crowd, looks disgusted.
Maggie, just outside the dressing room, is having a smoke.
MAGGIE
Buenos noches, hon.
GLORIA
El fucko you,
dear.
DRESSING ROOM
Gloria goes in the dressing room, slams the door.
OUT BACK
Jack helps Ricky (duct-taped, clumsy) out of the hole that leads from Jack's cellar.
RICKY
This is not right, Jack. We are working together. You do not treat a person who is doing the
cooperacion
in such a manner.
JACK
Can it, seen-yor. We ain't working together, and we sure aren't friends. Just move it along.
RICKY
How am I supposed to do that?
Jack stops behind the dumpster. Duct-tapes Ricky to the dumpster. Picks up a rag from the ground.
JACK
You're going to feel a little discomfort, all right? I'm going up for that money. All you got to do is keep still till I get back.
You want to start yelling or something, it's maybe Cat coming out, don't blame me for that.
Jack picks up a rag.
RICKY
That revolver has sentimental value to me. I would like to get it back when--
Before Ricky can speak again, Jack stuffs the rag in his mouth. Jack keeps low, edges back toward Piggs, through the nearly empty lot.
STOPS, FREEZES.
POV JACK
Gerrard and his crew toward the front of the lot, standing by their Lincoln.
BACK TO SCENE:
Jack nearly cries, shakes his head.
JACK
Shit. Timing is not your thing, man...
MAIN ROOM
The place is mostly empty.
A couple of patrons leaving, a stripper heading for the front door. Cecil is at the bar, having a drink, waiting.
Grape and Cat look intense.
ON JACK
Jack sees all this, edges along the far wall, climbs the back stairs.
BACK STAIRS, DOOR TO CECIL'S ROOM
Jack works frantically, trying to pick the lock.
Breaks off his pick.
Nearly loses it right there. Ready to give up.
Tries the knob.
The door isn't locked.
Goes in.
CECIL'S ROOM
Jack finds the place on the floor he spotted through the cracks.
The box is inside. He takes it out, tries the lock. Hears a key turn in the door, rolls behind a sofa as Cecil walks in.
CUT TO:
CECIL'S FEET
BACK TO SCENE
Jack reaches for Ricky's revolver. The hammer catches on his belt.
He eases the weapon out.
LOW VIEW CECIL
Cecil opens a closet, takes something out. Comes within inches of Jack. Turns, goes back out the door.
ON JACK
Jack comes out from the sofa as Cecil walks back in. Jack freezes in plain sight. Cecil doesn't see him, turns and goes out again.
Jack looks as if he might throw up.
THE MAIN ROOM
The place is empty. Jack edges down the stairs, runs right into Gloria leaving the dressing room.
GLORIA
Jesus!
JACK
What are you doing here?
GLORIA
I kinda
work
here. Jack--
JACK
You don't want to go out that way. That's not a good way.
MOVING SCENE
Jack leads her quickly toward the side entry.
GLORIA
Quit it.
What is the matter with you?
JACK
There's a problem. Something's come up, I don't have time to go into this now.
GLORIA
Well, take time.
What's that?
JACK
A box.
GLORIA
Box of what?
Jack ignores her, pulls her along.
GLORIA
Jack---
Jack guides her out the side door.
OUTSIDE
Jack glances at the Lincoln and the men standing about at the end of the lot. Moves Gloria along until they come to the dumpster, and there's Ricky, duct-taped, in his underwear.
WIDEN SCENE
GLORIA
Oh---my--
God...!
JACK
Keep it down, all right? It's okay.
Him and me are doing something together.
GLORIA
If this is a pervert thing, you can just stop right there.
Ricky is struggling to speak through the rag in his mouth.
JACK
It's just business, Gloria...
GLORIA
That man is restrained. Get that stuff off him, Jack.
Right now.
JACK
All right, just keep it kind of quiet, okay?
Gloria yanks the rag out of Ricky's mouth.
GLORIA
You all right?
RICKY
I am being held against my will, Miss Mundi, but I am perfectly fine.
GLORIA
(to Jack)
If this is another of your efforts to thwart my personal life...
Jack begins to whisper.
JACK
It has got nothing to do with that. Like I said it is
business!
RICKY
Why are we whispering, Jack?
Gloria throws up her hands.
GLORIA
Damn, what'd I do with those keys?
JACK
Listen, you don't want to be driving right now.
GLORIA
You boys straighten this out, be sure and let me know.
JACK
Gloria!
Too late.
Gloria stalks back toward the passageway entry, carrying her shoes.
JACK
(to Ricky)
You just stay right there, I got to get her back.
RICKY
Let me go, I will gladly help.
JACK
You just--
Just as Gloria disappears, lights from the Lincoln flare into brightness, partially spotlighting Ricky and Jack.
JACK
Oh, fuck...
FRONT DOOR OF PIGGS
Cecil, Grape and Cat come out the front entrance.
GERRARD (O.S.)
Ah, Mr. Dupree…
Grape starts to say something.
CECIL
Don't talk, don't be
talking
to him.
(pause, to Grape)
This side...Cat, over here.
CECIL
(calls out)
Hot out here, Mr. Gerrard...
THE PARKING LOT
Gerrard, leaning against the Lincoln.
GERRARD
Indeed it is, Mr. Dupree...
NEAR THE DUMPSTER
Ricky, alarmed, watches Jack disappear, then he starts hopping away.
DRESSING ROOM
GLORIA, going through all her stuff, muttering.
GLORIA
(to herself)
Perverts is my guess. I do not know why I am surprised.
Every man there is has got a kink of some kind...
She turns over everything on her dresser. Gets down, reaches under it.
GLORIA (CONT'D)
I would rather see a man naked any day than in his shorts.
Why
they cannot keep themselves clean...
PARKING LOT
The Lincoln, with Gerrard, Leo, Willie Bee and Frank on one side---Cecil, Grape, Cat on the other.
FAVOR CECIL
He leans against his own Caddie, sets an attache case by the front tire.
CECIL
We could do without all the bright lights.
GERRARD
Leo...
Leo reaches in and turns off the lights.
GERRARD
What we going to do, Mr. Dupree, is like they do it on the TV. I'm the black dude in the shades, you the white guy without. I put
my
stuff on the hood, you put yours there too. You with me so far?
CECIL
Just do it.
I don't need to hear any rappity-rap, I don't need a lot of soul.
FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT