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  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 RURAL GAS STATION / FIELD - LATE AFTERNOON

       Bill comes out from the Gas station to find Cosmo in the 
       adjacent field, shooting at old cans and bottles with a hand 
       gun.  The area is littered with shot up stuff; stop signs, 
       TVs, etc.  Bill approaches cautiously.

                           COSMO
                 Pretty loud, huh?

                           BILL
                 Where the hell did you get that?!

                           COSMO
                 I had it in the glove compartment.

       Cosmo aims and shoots another can.  Bill flinches and tries 
       to cover his ears.

                           BILL
                 Jesus, it's like a fucking cannon!

                           COSMO
                 It's a forty-five revolver which is very 
                 rare.  My granddad brought it back from 
                 World War II.  They swapped him for a 
                 Luger he had.  They needed it for a 
                 German defector they were planting back 
                 as a double agent.  No shit.

                           BILL
                 Isn't it illegal to carry a loaded gun in 
                 the car?

                           COSMO
                 Probably.  It depends on the state.  You 
                 want to try it?

                           BILL
                 I don't know.  I believe in gun control.

                           COSMO
                 So do I. 
                     (recounting an old argument)
                 Look, no one should have hand guns.  
                 They're only good for killing people and 
                 you shouldn't kill people; that's all 
                 there is to it.  But... they're still 
                 pretty cool.  I've wanted to shoot it 
                 ever since I was a little kid.  So, do 
                 you want to try it or not? 

                           BILL
                 Okay, what the hell.

       Bill carefully takes the gun and aims at one of the bottles.

                           COSMO
                 Now use both hands, take a deep breath, 
                 and slowly squeeze the trigger.  Be ready 
                 for a little kick.

       Bill shoots, evaporating the bottle.  He's knocked back 
       significantly.

                           BILL
                 Holy Shit!  

                           COSMO
                 Forty-five, Big-ass bullet.

                           BILL
                 Indeed.

       Bill levels the gun and shoots again, hitting a can.  He 
       looks to Cosmo and smiles, getting into it.  

                           COSMO
                 Nice shootin', Tex!  You know, nothin 
                 turns a woman on more than a man who can 
                 shoot straight.

       Bill grins and successfully shoots another bottle.  He blows 
       on the gun barrel like a cowboy and turns in a mock swagger.  
       With a smirk, he mimes putting the gun into an imaginary 
       holster on his hip.  

       A SHOT rings out.

                                                            CUT TO:

       INT EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT

       Bill sits on a gurney with his right shoe on his lap.  A 
       small bandage is on the pinkie toe of his outstretched foot, 
       and a very annoyed look is on his face.  With a finger, he 
       holds a cotton ball on his upper arm.  Cosmo sits in a nearby 
       chair reading GUNS & AMMO magazine.  

                           COSMO
                 That tetanus shot looked really painful.

       Annoyed, Bill snatches the GUNS & AMMO Magazine and tosses it 
       aside.  He glares at Cosmo.

                           COSMO (cont'd)
                 I found it in the waiting room, I swear.

       The portly SHERIFF GLEASON approaches carrying Cosmo's gun in 
       a ziploc bag and filling in a report on a clipboard.

                           SHERIFF GLEASON 
                 Okay, who's Thelma and who's Louise?

  ©1998 Mark W. Gray
  WGA Registered 
  #686823