Diabolic Fiction

DRIFTER SMILE

Excerpt from the feature length screenplay

From an idea by Garry Messick
Written by Garry Messick, Jon Wilkins and Grant Balfour
Screenplay by Jon Wilkins

FADE IN:
INT. – MOTEL BATHROOM, NIGHT
Overhead shot of a sink filled halfway with water. A small amount of blood is swirling at the bottom.

A hand enters the frame and dips a glass into the sink, fills it with water, then exits the frame.

MAN
(o.c.)
Wake up, Alfonse. Drink this. Don’t you want a drink?
(beat)
Come on. Wake up.
(rage)
Wake up!

SFX: One punch, then a gurgling sound as if someone is being forced to drink, then a glass breaking.

CUT TO:

EXT. – NORTH TEXAS BACKROAD, NIGHT
The CAMERA moves over the hills, finally catching up to a sheriff’s car hauling ass down a two-lane road until it comes to a halt next to a battered sign reading:

WELCOME TO REMBRANDT
Home Of The Texas-sized Swedish Meatballs!

As the dust cloud clears, 40-ish sheriff JOHN PAYNTER gets out and stares down the long highway.

PAYNTER
(sotto)
Son-of-a-bitch.

Paynter looks back down the road and sees nothing but darkness. He gets back in his car, starts it up and slams down on the gas pedal. The car lurches forward, and fishtails a bit before continuing down the highway.

INT. – PAYNTER’S SQUAD CAR
Paynter opens the glove compartment and rifles through the contents before coming away with a half-finished bottle of whiskey and a cassette tape. Paynter rams the tape into the car stereo, and tries to open the bottle with one hand.

ANNOUNCER
(from the stereo)
Welcome to Volume One of Successful Living Through Positive Thinking. I’m Richard Danforth, president of BioLife Incorporated and I want to welcome you to the beginning of a whole new life.

Cheesy music plays as Paynter has trouble getting the cap off the bottle. He tries unscrewing it with his thumb but it won’t budge.

PAYNTER
Goddammit.

ANNOUNCER
Just 1-hour out of your day is all I ask to help you live longer, happier and most importantly; better.

Paynter looks at the road for a moment, making sure there’s no oncoming traffic. He then takes his other hand off the wheel and uses his knee to steer the car. He loosens the bottle cap and is about to take a swig when he looks up and notices a woman with short, black hair standing in the middle of the road wearing a see-through nightgown. Her back is to him. Paynter drops the bottle and slams on the brake sending the car into a slide. The car careens sideways and runs the woman over before coming to a halt in a cloud of dust.

ANNOUNCER
(cont’d)
Let’s start with what I like to call, the moment of pure love. This is where you take your arms, wrap them around yourself, and repeat the following; I love myself. I love my warmth, my voice and my smile.

Paynter looks down at the whiskey bottle lying on the passenger seat. He grabs it and takes several, long gulps. He wipes his mouth on his shirtsleeve and exits the car.

EXT. – NORTH TEXAS BACKROAD
Paynter walks around his car, looking for the woman. He strolls down the road a bit to find nothing.

ANNOUNCER
(distant)
Just sit like this for a few minutes, realizing who you are and what you mean to YOU!

Paynter walks back to his car, leans in and grabs the bottle. He is about to take a drink when he HEARS:

ANNOUNCER
Are you sure you want to do that?

Paynter lets the bottle rest against his bottom lip, but doesn’t drink.

ANNOUNCER
(cont’d)
Do you really need that? Wouldn’t a hug be much better? Hugs are better than bugs, and we all know a person sees nothing but bugs when they do what you do. Like the one on your shoulder.

C.U. on Payner’s face. He slowly turns to look at his shoulder. REVEAL a very nasty-looking beetle crawling from his back over his shoulder. Paynter freaks out and starts smacking at the bug.

ANNOUNCER
(cont’d, with bluegrass banjo)
That’s the spirit. Beat the bug blues away. And give yourself a hug while you’re at it.

PAYNTER
Fuck off!

Paynter pulls his revolver and uses the butt end to smash the stereo. Paynter calms down as the smoke clears. He slides into his car and rests his eyes. When he opens them, he clears the tape from the stereo and throws it onto the road. Strangely, the stereo is still in working order, though in very bad shape. Paynter reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out another tape. He slides it into the stereo and starts the car. Music blasts from the stereo as he speeds away.