Back



  The following is an excerpt from the 
  screenplay "Pathos Bill" by Mark W. 
  Gray.  Any unauthorized duplication 
  or distribution is strictly 
  prohibited.
  
  ©1998 Mark W. Gray
  WGA Registered 
  #686823
       
       
    


       
       EXT  MOVING CADILLAC - DAY

       The giant car flies along the two lane black-top, surrounded 
       on both sides by acres of CORN.  The top is down.  Cosmo is 
       at the wheel and Bill is fiddling with the 1950's AM RADIO.  
       We hear different EVANGELISTS in various states of religious 
       fervor, interspersed with bits of HEAVY METAL MUSIC.

                           BILL
                 Man!  You really only get two choices out 
                 here:  The power of The Lord or the music 
                 of The Devil.

                           COSMO
                 'Course there's Christian Heavy Metal 
                 bands; they cover both bases.

                           BILL
                 Yeah.
                     (in mock heavy metal British 
                      accent)
                 HELLO CLEVELAND!  ARE YOU READY TO ACCEPT 
                 JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR?!

                           COSMO
                     (Makes cheering crowd noise)
                 Hahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  DON'T THROW YOUR 
                 PANTIES AT US!  THROW THEM TO THE 
                 LOOORRD!!

       They laugh.  Pause.

                           BILL
                 It's pretty wild that girl from the strip 
                 club turned out to be PetMinders, huh?  

                           COSMO
                 No wilder than her also being the model 
                 in your art class.

                           BILL
                 Yeah, that is weird.

       Bill pulls her references out of his bag and leafs through 
       them, finding her passport photo.

                           COSMO
                 God is clearly trying to get you two 
                 together.  That or she's stalking you.  
                 Either way she seems like a lovely girl.

                           BILL
                 Yeah, she's a stripper with a heart of 
                 gold. 

                           COSMO
                 She's also an art model, and a house 
                 sitter,  and don't forget the singing 
                 telegrams.

                           BILL
                 Maybe she can weld too.  I mean she's 
                 really pretty and everything, but she is 
                 a stripper.  Do I really want to think 
                 about getting involved with a stripper?

                           COSMO
                     (solemnly)
                 My mother was a stripper.

                           BILL
                 Really?

                           COSMO
                 You are so gullible.

                           BILL
                     (laughs)
                 Asshole.

       Cosmo fiddles with the radio, finding an Oldies station.

                           COSMO
                 Here we go!

       The Buddy Holly song "Peggy Sue" is just beginning.  Cosmo 
       and Bill join in.

                           COSMO
                     (singing)
                 I love you.  
                 Peggy Sue...

                           COSMO & BILL
                     (singing maniacally)
                 PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY 
                 PEGGY SUE!

       The car zooms away through the cornfields as they sing.

[ top ]


  ©1998 Mark W. Gray
  WGA Registered 
  #686823