Black Snake Moan script

EXT. RONNIE'S TRAILER - EARLY DAWN

RAE is naked.

Wrapped around her shoulders is a loose-knit spread that
conceals her slender form. She is in her 20's: a strawberry
blond, with cinnamon freckles spotted across her pale skin.
She is beautiful without trying.

She stares at the distant trees. This is the South; the small
town of FISHERVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Soon Rae will be alone.

CUT TO:

INT. RONNIE'S TRAILER - EARLY MORNING

RONNIE is 25 years old. His hair is cropped in a military
issue buzz.

Rae's face is wet with tears as Ronnie gently makes love to
her. She touches his face and sobs like a child.

CUT TO:

INT. RONNIE'S TRAILER - LATER THAT MORNING

RONNIE is dressed in his National Guard fatigues, packing up
his gear.

Rae is now wearing a short jeans skirt and a T-shirt with a
gray wolf print ironed on the front.

There is a knock at the door. Rae flinches. Ronnie opens the
door revealing GILL MORTON, Ronnie's buddy from high school.

GILL

Still need a lift?

RONNIE

Yeah. Transmission's shot.

Gill and Rae's eyes meet. Gill sees that Rae is crying.

GILL

Gonna have a smoke.

Ronnie shuts the door and feels a wave of sudden nausea. He
rushes past Rae.

RONNIE

Shit...

INT. RONNIE'S TRAILER - BATHROOM - MORNING

Ronnie is vomiting into the toilet as Rae rubs his head. Each
painful dry heave makes Rae comfort him more.

RAE

Baby...

EXT. RONNIE'S TRAILER - MORNING

Ronnie places his duffle bag in Gill's truck. Rae begins to
cough.

GILL

You sick?

Rae doesn't answer.

Gill backs away, allowing Ronnie and Rae some privacy. The
two lovers stare into each others eyes and then embrace.

Rae peeks over Ronnie's shoulder at Gill with an expression
of dread. Anger seizes her.

RAE

This ain't gonna work.

RONNIE

Rae...

RAE

I don't see why we gotta lie `bout it
when you and I know this ain't gonna
work.

RONNIE

(holds her face in his

hands)

Rae don't do this now...

RAE

It's stupid... It's so fucking stupid!

RONNIE

Rae!

Silence. Rae melts. Tears stream down her face.

RONNIE

(reaches in his pocket)

Look it. I got somethin' for us. This is
gonna help, okay.

GILL

You gonna miss your bus.

Ronnie removes a small digital watch and fastens it around
her wrist.

RONNIE

This watch here is gonna beep at
midnight. Every night. That's when it
comes up on you the hardest, right?

Ronnie holds out his own wrist to show her his identical
watch.

RONNIE

And wherever I'm at, my watch'll beep,
too. We'll be thinkin' bout each other at
the same time. Wherever we are.

Rae is shaking. He grips her by the back of her neck and
pushes their faces inches away. Eye to eye.

RONNIE

I gotta believe we can do this or I ain't
gonna make it, Rae.

Rae sees the fear in his eyes. She swallows her own anxiety
and nods.

RAE

Okay... Okay.

They kiss passionately.

RONNIE

I love you.

Afraid of his swelling emotion, Ronnie quickly breaks away
from her.

Rae watches as her love leaves in Gill's pick-up. Compelled
to follow, she absently walks after the truck, down the
gravel drive.

She stops. Silence. She is alone.

An intense wave of sorrow hits, like a kick to her gut. She
gasps for breath as she struggles to hold back the flood of
her tears.

Rae drops to her knees, right there in the gravel drive. Her
hair falls in front of her face, masking her grief.

Her shoulders shudder.

Her middle finger begins to scratch at her thigh repeatedly -
a nervous habit that has always accompanied this burning
sensation that consumes her.

RAE

Shit.

Tears come to her. She's not going to be able to stop it.

RAE

Goddammit, Ronnie...

(shouting in frustration)

GODDAMMIT!

Rae is gripping the watch around her wrist for comfort. Her
breathing is already out of her control. The dizziness is
already upon her. The familiar burning.

She inhales in gasps, rocking back and forth on her knees.
The late morning cicadas chirp in an undulating frenzy.

RAE

(shaking her head)

Mm-mm (meaning "no"). Mm-mm... Mm-mm...

The scratching at her leg leaves a red mark. She is dizzy
with anxiety. Her teeth are clenched, her face is flush.

RAE

MM-MM! MM-MM! MMMMMMMMMMMM!

CUT TO:

INT. MOTEL ROOM - AFTERNOON

TEHRONNE is fucking Rae from behind.

Tehronne is a muscular, dark-skinned, black male in his late
twenties.

Rae's face is crammed up against the mirror in the small
bathroom. Tehronne gets faster and pushes harder - a stark
contrast to her lovemaking with Ronnie.

Rae comes. A severe coughing fit hits her. She pushes him
away with her ass.

RAE

We're done, right?

CUT TO:

EXT. FISHERVILLE SQUARE - AFTERNOON

Walking with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, wearing
his only suit and tie, is LAZARUS WOODS (LAZ). He is in his
late fifties, black, a strong face under his old fedora. He
stares across the street into Dunn's Cafe.

ROSE WOODS, black, early forties, stands in the cafe. She
looks confident and resolute in her new green skirt.

A brown Delta Olds pulls up into a parking space in front of
Laz. Stepping out is REVEREND R.L., Laz's longtime friend. He
is also black and in his late fifties.

R.L.

You ain't gonna make a fuss, are you?

(no answer)

Nothing a man can do when a woman make up
her mind.

LAZARUS

I never laid a hand on her in anger. Not
a day. Not even when I's drinkin'. But
this business got me wonderin' what a
good shake and slap would do for her.

R.L.

That kind of talk is between us. Don't
you go in there with that shit on your
tongue.

LAZARUS

I didn't start this, R.L..

Laz tries to stop his lip from quivering: the man is hurting.

R.L.

You wanna pray with me `fore you go in?
Laz?

(R.L. touches Laz's arm

and bows his head)

Heavenly Father...

CUT TO:

INT. DUNN'S CAFE - AFTERNOON

R.L.'s prayer is heard as Laz opens the front door to the
cafe. He looks ill. Each step is painful.

R.L.

(v.o.)

We do not question your divine plan for
us, Oh God. But in these times, when our
spirit lies in shadow. When we are lost.

Laz crosses to Rose's booth - the distance seems to stretch
out into eternity.

R.L.

(v.o.)

We ask that you give us strength. Give us
strength that surpasses all
understanding. In your name we pray.
Amen.

Laz sits across from his wife.

ROSE

Can't remember the last time I saw you in
that suit.

LAZARUS

Your mother's funeral. I's a pallbearer,
remember?

The waitress is kind and twangy as she asks for their order.

WAITRESS

Can I start you both off with some coffee
`fore I take your order?

ROSE

We won't be stayin' long. Coffee'll be
fine.

The waitress leaves. The sounds of the cafe fill the silence.

ROSE

We leavin' this weekend. Deke got a
friend in Mobile gonna get him a job at
the water company...

LAZARUS

(interrupting)

If you come to talk about that
muthafucka, I'm gonna get up and leave
you sittin' pretty in that new suit he
bought'cha.

ROSE

Think this about money still,
ya old fool?

LAZARUS

Say what you gotta say, but I
ain't gonna hear you speak
his name to me. Not never.
You hear?

ROSE

How many times we been over this, Laz?
How many times?

The waitress places the coffee between them and leaves.

ROSE

Thought we was gonna be friendly about
this.

LAZARUS

Carryin' on behind my back. Make me out
to look like a fool to all our people.
Tell me, what's friendly about that?

ROSE

I'm not ready to grow old, Laz. Livin'
with you. I feel it. Like I'm one foot in
the dirt. Saw it happen to my momma. And
that's not gonna happen to me. I got
living to do.

LAZARUS

And you gonna live it with him?

Rose doesn't answer. Lazarus softens, touching her hand.

LAZARUS

Rose. Folks get sick. But you do what you
can to get on the mend. Our marriage...
it just got sick. That's all.

ROSE

Talk to me about sick. Ain't been right
since I moved into that drafty house.

LAZARUS

I keep the heat on.

ROSE

That damned, rusty, radiator, bout burned
the skin off my legs each time I passed.

LAZARUS

Kept us warm for twelve years.

It's over. Laz has lost her for good.

ROSE

I deserve better than this.

LAZARUS

Better'n me?

ROSE

Better than what you give.

LAZARUS

Rose... please...

ROSE

Laz... You can't say nothin'...

LAZARUS

If we get with a counselor. At the
church, maybe they's...

ROSE

(the final interruption)

I don't love ya no more.

The words are daggers. Laz is wounded beyond concealment.
Rose picks up her purse, preparing to leave.

ROSE

I'm sorry you hurtin'. But, like I say,
this the only life I got.

(waits for him to respond)

I said my piece.

She stands and attempts to walk away. Laz grips her tightly
by the wrist.

LAZARUS

God forgive you, for how you done me...

ROSE

Let go...

LAZARUS

My Daddy told me that a younger woman
would bleed me dry. And that's what you
did. Ya bled me.

ROSE

Let go of my arm...

LAZARUS

Would'a chopped my arm off if you asked.
And this how you do me!

ROSE

LAZ, I said let...!

LAZARUS

You better pray, gal. You better pray...

ROSE

(yanks free)

Don't you lay a CURSE ON ME!

The whole cafe is silent. All eyes are on Rose.

ROSE

(to customers)

Yeah, go'on! Look! See if I give a shit
about any of you people!

And she's gone, right out the front door.

CUT TO:

INT. MOTEL ROOM - AFTERNOON

Tehronne is taking his time hanging his ice around his neck
and wrists as he stands shirtless before the mirror. Rae is
lying on the bed.

RAE

You got any money?

TEHRONNE

Thought you had a man for that.

RAE

(a heavy cough)

I said we wasn't gonna talk about him.

TEHRONNE

What we just did, you askin' for money,
make a man stop. I ain't callin' you no
ho. But I ain't gonna be played like no
trick, neither. Remember... you called
me.

RAE

Save that hustle talk to them field
ballers you sell crack to.

TEHRONNE

What'd I tell you?

(kicks the bed)

I don't do none of that shit no more. I'm
in communications now.

10.

RAE

Stolen phone cards and two-ways is what
you sayin'.

Rae starts coughing.

TEHRONNE

Mobile technology is the new fix for
these niggaz, I'm tellin' you. I'm just
lookin' ahead.

(takes out his wallet)

Anyways, ain't no money in drugs no more
with these rednecks popping cough pills
like they's Skittles. Hey, that's what
you need, girl. Get you some cough
medicine. What, you sick?

RAE

Just a cough. Sugar and a spoonful of
Jack'll do it.

TEHRONNE

(takes out money)

Alright. How much you need, ho?

RAE

The hell you call me?

TEHRONNE

Eh, if the bootie fits...

Tehronne catches Rae's wrist as she goes to slap. He quickly
yanks her arm behind her back and bends her backwards,
shoving his face close to her own. He grips the money in a
fist and cocks it to punch - all in jest.

TEHRONNE

You gonna get rough? Is that what you
doin'?

Rae's chest begins to heave with deep breaths. Tehronne looks
down at her legs as she anxiously rubs them together.

TEHRONNE

(shakes his head)

I swear, I seen some buck-wild bitches in
my time, but you the illest I ever seen.

Rae gets control of the burning. She takes the money.

11.

RAE

Just got a cough.

CUT TO:

EXT. FISHERVILLE SQUARE - DAY

Rae is prancing up the walkway on the square. Two young men
dressed for construction pass Rae.

MAN

It's already noon, Rae. You think that
skirt should still be on?

RAE

(flips them off)

If it weren't you could kiss my rebel
cootch, ya faggot.

The men keep walking as Rae coughs. She turns toward the
Fisherville Grocery.

SANDY

Cough drops or condoms?

Rae stops in her tracks, looking up at her estranged mother,
SANDY, smoking a cigarette outside the grocery store. Sandy
has bleached hair with dark roots. She is in her late-
forties: once a sexy girl, now she's lost all her tread.

RAE

(surprised to see her)

Didn't know you was workin' here now?

SANDY

I just like dressin' up in these goddamn
blue vests.

(takes a drag)

Your money ticket get shipped today?

Rae walks away - deeply affected by Sandy's presence.

SANDY

(calling after her)

You let me know if I can be of any
assistance.

CUT TO:

EXT. MELVIN'S FEED STORE - DAY

Laz drives an old green Ford pick-up. He pulls the truck up
to the front of the feed store and kills the engine.

12.

LINCOLN, a 13-year-old black boy, comes out of the open
loading door.

LINCOLN

You won't at the square this mornin'.

LAZARUS

Get me ten bags of mulch.

LINCOLN

Yes'sir.

Lincoln runs off. Laz yanks off his black tie.

EXT. MELVIN'S FEED STORE - LATER

Lincoln slaps the last bag of mulch into the bed of Laz's
truck. Laz hands Lincoln a twenty.

LAZARUS

Keep the change on that.

LINCOLN

Naw... I got it, Mr. Lazarus.

(makes change)

You wanna tip me, best do it in butter
beans. Momma say she need a bag `a yours,
none of that store-bought junk. That's
what she said.

Laz smiles. He takes the change. Climbs in his truck.

LAZARUS

Alright, Lincoln. You come on by, I'll
load you up.

CUT TO:

EXT. LAZARUS'S BARN - LATE DAY

Lazarus steers his tractor toward his small home in a sea of
lush green kudzu. He kills the engine and looks beyond the
nose of his tractor. He lights a cigarette. Below the nose is
the head of a rose garden with a painted sign under it:
Rose's Roses.

Laz inhales smoke and exhales hate. The tractor lunges
forward, trampling the garden, ripping the flowers to shreds.

CUT TO:

13.

INT. BOJO'S - EARLY EVENING

MAYELLA is a heavy, forty-year-old black woman. Her blue neon
tube top matches her short pants stretched across her healthy
ass. She is flipping through the juke box selection.

MAYELLA

You gonna put some Luther Vandross in
here? Shit, he black ain't he?

BOJO is reading a paper behind the bar. He's short and stout,
looking like a sad bull dog.

BOJO

He black alright, he just ain't blue.

MAYELLA

Why you stop havin' dancin' on Saturday?
Used to have bands... all kind's live
shit. Like a wake up in here, now.

BOJO

Folks can dance when they want. Didn't
buy that mirror ball for nothin'.

MAYELLA

You seen my snake-skin shoes?

Mayella lifts up her leg and stretches it over the bar with a
provocative flourish. Her shoe is bright blue.

MAYELLA

They're from New York. My niece gets `em
on the computer.

LAZARUS

They got blue snakes up north?

Mayella turns to Laz sipping a beer at the end of the bar.

MAYELLA

Naw. They got some blue dye, though. You
think them boots you got on come from a
black cow?

BOJO

Wanna get on somebody `bout live music,
get on ol' Laz, there. He the one got
this place shakin' back in the day.

14.

(MORE)

MAYELLA

Don't gotta tell me. Me and my
girlfriends use-ta talk `bout them hard
fingertips he got pickin' that guitar.

LAZARUS

Got'em pickin' peas, not strings.

Mayella moves in close, with the tips of her tits touching
his arm.

MAYELLA

They still hard?

LAZARUS

Mayella. It ain't happened yet. Ain't
happenin' tonight.

MAYELLA

(retreating with a glare)

I know you hurtin', Laz. I got ears, you
know. But you should know more'n me...
ain't no better cure for them blues than
some good pussy.

Mayella saunters over to the pool table with the others.

BOJO

Whole lotta woman, right there.

LAZARUS

She can still spread it around.

The door opens behind Laz. Bojo sees the man entering.

BOJO

Laz. We friends and all but... promise me
you'll keep yo cool in my joint.

Laz turns to see the door shut behind his brother, DEKE
WOODS. He is younger than Laz and a bit smaller. Laz turns to
Bojo.

LAZARUS

I'm gonna finish my beer.

Deke slowly approaches Laz at the bar.

DEKE

Mind if I sit?

(no answer)

Rose said... it didn't go too well this
afternoon.

15.

DEKE(cont'd)

(MORE)

See, that's not how we wanted this to go
down. I told her, I said, Rose, we ain't
leavin' till we make peace with Laz. And
that's God's truth. I laid it down.

LAZARUS

You laid it down.

DEKE

I did.

LAZARUS

Funny. Layin' it down... for my wife.

DEKE

We're not gonna get through this clean.
But it don't need to get dirty. All
this... it just come together unexpected.
You think I want to hurt you? I... I'd
take a bullet for you, Laz.

The dry look on Laz's face could cool the sun.

LAZARUS

You wanna give that a try?

(to Bojo)

Bo. You still got that .22 behind the
tap? My little brother say he'd take a
bullet for me.

(into Deke's eyes)

You come here to ease your heart. Well, I
ain't gonna give it to you. You took her
into your bed, now you gotta lie in it.

Laz turns back to the bar. Deke begins to turn but stops.

DEKE

I'll always love you, Laz. Till the end
of my...

In one quick movement, Laz grips Deke by the throat and
smashes the bottom of his bottle into jagged shards.

BOJO

LAZ!

Laz pushes Deke back through the joint and slams him onto the
pool table. He grips Deke's throat and holds the broken
bottle up to his face.

LAZARUS

Cain slew Able. Slew him out of envy. And
God put his mark on Cain for his sin. You
want that mark, Deke?

16.

LAZARUS(cont'd)

Give you that peace you come here for?
I'll give it to you, just say that shit
again. Say you love me. Go'on! Say YOU
LOVE ME, NIGGA!

Lazarus slams the bottle down on the pool table, shattering
it. Laz lifts his hand. His own blood leaks from between his
fingers.

He wipes the blood across Deke's face.

LAZARUS

I'm through wit'cha both.

Laz releases Deke and exits. Deke calls after him.

DEKE

What'chu gonna do? Nothin'. YOU AIN'T
GONNA DO NOTHIN'!

Laz slams the door behind him.

CUT TO:

EXT. FISHERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL - FOOTBALL FIELD - NIGHT

The bleachers are packed with three generations of fans and
family cheering their boys on the high school football field.

Rae is sitting with her two girlfriends, JESSE and KELL - two
girls who graduated five years ago.

JESSE

(hands Rae a beer)

Ronnie ship out this mornin'?

RAE

It's so stupid. Says to me that he don't
want nothin' to do with no military
career. Says he wants to move. Open up an
auto shop with his uncle up in Knoxville.
I said, okay. How about now? Let's go.

KELL

He'd be good for that. Shit, Ronnie knows
cars.

RAE

He get stubborn. Starts
talkin' `bout obligation and
duty and all that... Shit. I
just want him to come home...
I swear, if somethin' happens
to him...

KELL

He fixed up that Buick for my
uncle Dale. He say it purrs
like a kitten every morning.

17.

JESSE

Nothing's gonna happen. Not like
everybody over there is in the line of
fire with them Arabs blowin' themselves
up.

RAE

Can't be thinkin' bout him every second
of my day. I'll go outta my gourd.

JESSE

Why should you waste your life waitin'
and wonderin'. Not like you're married.

RAE

(takes a healthy swig)

I begged him not to go. And he did.

KELL

(screaming at the field)

PUNT YOU FUCKERS!

CUT TO:

EXT. CONNER'S HOUSE - THE KEGGER - NIGHT

Dirty South rap pounds the ears from a hoopty Olds with a
backseat full of bass. Rae, Kell, and Jesse are walking up to
the rowdy party through the variety of parked cars.

A girl rushes past the trio, vomiting on herself as a friend
comes to her aid.

JESSE

These baby chicks just can't hold their
Jello shots. I'm tellin' ya.

CUT TO:

INT. CONNER'S HOUSE - THE KEGGER - NIGHT

CONNER is one of the linebackers for the Fisherville Dusters.
A wasted girl sits on his lap as Kell rolls a joint.

CONNER

Tennessee Vols gotta practice indoors
just so those Florida State sons-a-
bitches don't spy on their plays with
satellites and shit.

KELL

Satellites... You mean in space?

18.

CONNER

Uh-huh.

KELL

Good thing you can block, Conner, cuz
you're dumb as a sack of shit.

Jesse notices Rae coughing. She pulls her aside as Conner
rambles.

JESSE

You wanna go home?

RAE

It gets worse there. Leavin' me to my own
mind. That's just not good.

JESSE

(pours a shot of vodka)

Here. Pound this and I'll join you.

Rae and Jesse take a strong shot. It burns.

JESSE

One more. Fuck the chaser.

As they pound one more, Rae notices Gill, Ronnie's friend,
staring at her from across the room.

JESSE

Better?

RAE

Yeah.

BATSON and MARK approach Jesse and Rae. They are both
sophomores, both skinny and harmless.

BATSON

Hey, Jess.

JESSE

Boys.

BATSON

You robotrippin' tonight?

JESSE

I'm just gonna smoke.

Rae peeks at Gill maneuvering through the room.

19.

BATSON

(rummages in his pockets)

Got eight packs of DXM. Oxycontin. Got a
shit load of Coricidin if you want to get
out-a-body, n'all.

JESSE

You just trying to get me outta my
clothes.

RAE

Be right back.

Rae pushes through the crowd of drunken kids to get to Gill.

RAE

It's not like I can't go out and have fun
with my friends.

GILL

You think I'm Ronnie's spy or somethin'?
Come tomorrow that dumb-ass gonna be
halfway round the world tryin' to keep
his head on his shoulders. You think he's
gonna be thinkin' about you?

RAE

You go to hell.

Rae pushes through the crowd, back toward the others.

RAE

(to Batson)

How many to fuck me up?

QUICK CUTS of: Batson popping out five red cough pills. Rae
swallowing all five and chasing them with vodka. Conner's
girl falls off his lap. Kell laughs. The laughter echoes and
grows as we:

CUT TO:

EXT. CONNER'S HOUSE - THE KEGGER - HIS PARENT'S WATERBED
- NIGHT

CLOSE ANGLES: We never quite see the whole of what is
implied. Rae's eyes, Jesse's mouth, a boy's shoulder.

The room is packed with bodies. Rae laughs with pleasure as
her eyes attempt to focus. The kid on top of her finishes and
rolls off.

20.

JESSE

What's so funny?

Jesse is straddling a guy in an arm chair, Chinese-eyed and
bouncing. Rae tries to respond coherently as another football
player rolls her over on all fours and takes her from behind.

RAE

(laughing)

Oh... I'm just on a water bed... And it's
just... so... Goddamn... funny!

A few coughs. Rae focuses to see a younger guy sitting at her
eye level.

RAE

Hi.

BRYAN

Hey.

RAE

You ain't the kicker, are you?

BRYAN

No, ma'am.

RAE

Cuz let me tell you, you boys gotta run
the ball more. You get into a kicking
game, ya'll gonna lose.

BRYAN

Can I put it in your mouth?

RAE

Okay.

CUT TO:

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - THE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Laz kills the rest of his whiskey. He squeezes his eyes
closed as the liquor burns his throat. He tosses the bottle
into a trash bag he is holding.

Laz continues throwing out all of Rose's make-up and hair
products. With one broad sweep, he cleans off her vanity.

21.

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - NIGHT

Laz opens the front door and tosses the two bags outside.
Stumbling, he kneels next to the coiled radiator against the
wall opposite the door. He talks to it like an old friend.

LAZARUS

Seem like you and me... we drove her
away. That's what we did. Now we...

(singing softly)

Drinkin' muddy water... a'sleep in a
hollow log...

A thought.

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - THE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Laz pulls out a guitar case from under the bed. He wipes a
layer of dust off and opens it.

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT

He gently cradles the guitar in his big hands and sits at his
kitchen table. Tunes the strings.

He closes his eyes, swimming in drunken sorrow.

LAZARUS

You gonna do this?

Laz plays the blues, Mississippi, Bentonian style: one
guitar, one voice, a mess of pain.

LAZARUS

(singing, his eyes closed)

Just like a bird without a feather, you
know I'm lost without your love.
Just like a bird without a feather, you
know I'm lost without your love.
You know I need your love just like the
angels need heaven above.

The music continues as we:

CUT TO:

EXT. CONNER'S HOUSE - THE KEGGER - THE WOODS OUT BACK -
NIGHT

Lazarus's blues is all we hear as four guys chase Rae through
the woods. She is in her shirt and panties, wearing football
shoulder pads.

22.

She is completely wasted. Lost. The ground rocks back and
forth with each step. Trees pass in a slow-motion haze.

LAZARUS

(singing)

Well I sure did shot my baby, but I did
it because she did me wrong.
Well I sure did shot my baby, but I did
it because she did me wrong.
You know the judge called it murder now
the penitentiary is my home.

Rae grips a tree to steady herself, but a team member tackles
her. The woods spin and distort as someone mounts her with
ease.

LAZARUS

(singing)

I loved that woman, she said she didn't
love no one but me.
I loved that woman, she said she didn't
love no one but me.

Rae smiles as she lifts her hand up to the stars, passing the
writhing back of the guy on top of her. If she could just
grab a star she would feel safe again.

She tries to snatch one. She can't. Her hand drops as the boy
stands and takes off after his friends tossing the football.

Rae lies motionless on the ground.

LAZARUS

(singing)

Yeah but I caught my baby cheating.

CUT TO:

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT

A tear rolls down Laz's cheek.

LAZARUS

(singing)

Now my home ain't where it used to be.

His guitar groans its last for the night.

CUT TO:

23.

(MORE)

EXT. CONNER'S HOUSE - THE KEGGER - FRONT YARD - LATER
THAT NIGHT

Rae is wasted. She is still wearing her shirt, panties and
shoulder pads as she steps over passed-out teenagers.

RAE

Jes? Jesse?

(trips over a sprinkler)

Oh shit... Wait... Wait... STOP!

GILL

Stop what?

Rae doesn't look up. The Coricidin is tripping her out.

RAE

(coughing)

The ground is... turnin' upside down. I'm
gonna...

(coughing)

I'm gonna fall off...

Gill reaches down and pulls off the shoulder pads. The
coughing fit passes.

RAE

Oh. That feels so much better.

CUT TO:

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

Gill's truck flies down the dark road.

INT. GILL'S TRUCK - NIGHT

Rae is looking out the window, drifting in and out.

GILL

Thought you had a skirt earlier.

RAE

I got others.

Gill pulls to the side of the road and kills the engine. He
watches Rae tilt her head from side to side.

GILL

This thing you got... I've heard people
say, you'd fuck a tree if it was handy. I
can see that.

(shakes his head)

24.

GILL(cont'd)

But that nigger Tehronne. Thinks he's
some player cuz he hustles dope and
stolen hubcaps. I mean, I can see a tree.
But that piece of shit?

RAE

(lost in hazy sorrow)

I begged him. Don't see why he had to
go...

GILL

I bet you did. Just had to get that black
cock up in you. I swear to God. What
Ronnie sees... you disgust me.

Gill grabs her legs and spreads them with no resistance. Her
head rolls from side to side on the truck seat as Gill unzips
his pants.

Rae starts giggling.

GILL

The fuck you laughin' at?

RAE

(giggling)

You don't got half what Tehronne got.

Gill flinches upright. A rage builds in his eyes.

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

From outside the steamed truck window, we see Gill beat Rae
repeatedly.

Silence.

GILL

(muffled from the inside)

Get up! I ain't playin'! OPEN YOUR
GODDAMN EYES!

Silence.

He opens the truck door, fear in his eyes. Rae isn't moving.
Blood is on her face.

GILL

Oh, Jesus...

A hasty idea. He pushes her out of the truck. She falls to
the dark pavement in a tangle of her own limbs.

25.

The door slams. Gill floors the gas. Rae lies motionless
alone under the stars.

Her watch alarm goes off: Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

CUT TO:

INT. A BUS - NIGHT

Ronnie is asleep on the bus, unaware that his watch alarm in
beeping at him.

A Guardsman sitting next to him shakes Ronnie awake.

GUARDSMAN

Hey.

Ronnie silences the alarm. He regards the watch with sadness
and affection.

EXT. FREEWAY - NIGHT

The bus roars past. The red brake lights fade into night.

FADE TO BLACK:

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - KITCHEN - EARLY MORNING

Lazarus has fallen asleep sitting at his kitchen table. His
eyes open. Standing is difficult. The guitar falls to the
floor.

The phone rings. Dizziness hits, but he manages to pick up
the receiver.

LAZARUS

Huh?

INT. CHURCH OF GOD/ LAZARUS'S HOME - EARLY MORNING

R.L. is on his cell phone. He is placing hymnals in the back
racks of the church pews.

R.L.

Bojo called. Said you got to see your
brother at the long end of a broken
bottle.

LAZARUS

You gonna preach `bout turnin' the other
cheek?

26.

R.L.

I think you did alright by God under the
circumstances.

(R.L. pauses)

Your people are here for you, Laz. This
is your home. No shame in showing your
face.

LAZARUS

Don't know if God wanna see me.

R.L.

He knows where ya at. Just answer the
door if he come knockin'.

Laz hangs up the phone.

CUT TO:

EXT. LAZARUS'S HOME - LATE MORNING

Lazarus steps out onto his porch. He picks up the trash bags
full of Rose's things and walks down the gravel drive to the
road.

EXT. LAZARUS'S HOME - WHERE THE DRIVE MEETS THE ROAD -
LATE MORNING

Laz tosses the bags inside his trash cans.

He's really hung over this morning. His eyes squeeze shut, he
grips his neck in pain.

LAZARUS

Mmmmmmmmmm... Mm!

His eyes open. They remain fixed beyond us. The pain in his
face is replaced with grave confusion.

Rae lies on the side of the road.

Her T-shirt and panties are damp from the early morning mist,
her face caked with dried blood. Her skin is deathly white,
her mouth open, her eyes shut and swollen.

Lazarus carefully steps toward her. He leans down over her
face.

LAZARUS

Sweet... Jesus...

27.

(MORE)

Rae coughs. Laz flinches.

CUT TO:

INT. LAZARUS' HOME - LATE MORNING

The door slams against the wall as it swings open. Laz is
carrying Rae, unconscious and limp, in his arms.

He lays her down on the couch by the radiator. He pulls a
quilt over her cold skin. With a twist of the valve the
radiator moans to life.

Laz takes out his bandana and cleans her face. He tries to
wake her.

LAZARUS

Little lady? Miss? You need to open your
eyes for me. Could ya do that?

Her eyes open slightly - just slits of white.

LAZARUS

There we go. There we go. Just like you
doin'. Go'on.

She whispers as she touches her fingers to his cheek.

RAE

(a raspy inhale)

Teh... Tehronne?

LAZARUS

Tehronne? Tehronne done this?

A labored breath followed by the most pitiful cough fit. Laz
tries to calm her as her lungs fight for oxygen. Laz looks
scared as the coughing stops in a desperate wheeze followed
by silence.

INT. LAZARUS'S HOME - KITCHEN - MORNING

Laz pulls the phone off its cradle on the wall and flips
through the phone book.

His fingers scan down the listings and stops on POLICE
DEPARTMENT. He dials and listens.

OPERATOR

(a recorded voice)

You've reached the Fisherville Police
Department. Your call will be answered in
the order it was received.

28.

OPERATOR(cont'd)

If this is an emergency, please, hang up
and dial 9-1-...

Slam! Fingers hit the phone cradle. Lazarus dials 911.

As soon as he places the phone to his ear, he looks over at
Rae sprawled out on his couch. Her bare legs can be seen
peeking out from under the quilt.

Fear hits him. He slams the phone down again.

Laz crosses to the couch and gently touches her head.

LAZARUS

(softly)

I'm'a go into town. Get you some medicine
to fix you up. You just rest, okay, gal?
You just sleep. Get that chill out'cha.

Laz touches the radiator. It burns him.

LAZARUS

God... damn...

EXT. ROAD - AFTERNOON

Laz's Ford roars down the shaded street towards town.

CUT TO:

EXT. FISHERVILLE SQUARE - MACON DRUGS - AFTERNOON

Laz parks his truck in front of MACON DRUGS and heads inside.

An old black man named RED sits on a bench next to an older
white man in his early eighties holding a cane. RED is the
paid caretaker of MELVIN.

MELVIN

How's the squash this year?

LAZARUS

It's good, Mister Melvin. I'll bring ya
some.

Laz rushes inside.

INT. MACON DRUGS - AFTERNOON

The variety of cough medicine confuses Laz as he examines
them.

29.

ANGELA approaches Laz. She is dressed in a floral print dress
with a white lab coat. Angela has a few extra pounds on her
but she wears it well with her caring face and sweet manner.

ANGELA

Lazarus?

LAZARUS

(startled)

Oh! Gave me a start.

ANGELA

I'm sorry. It's these soft shoes I wear
for my back.

LAZARUS

You hurt it?

ANGELA

I'm standing most of my day. They're for
support.

(a smile)

Didn't see you in church this mornin'.

LAZARUS

(tries to lie)

Been on the crop. May need to get some
extra hands if I don't want to work on
Sundays.

ANGELA

Well. It's good to see you.

Angela wants the conversation to continue but Laz remains
silent. She smiles awkwardly.

LAZARUS

Angela?

ANGELA

Yes?

LAZARUS

I need to uh...

ANGELA

Go on, Laz. You can talk to me.

LAZARUS

My little niece... she got this deep
cough.

30.

ANGELA

You take her to a doctor?

LAZARUS

(struggles to lie)

No. No, she can't go. Mean to say...
they's just no money fo'a doctor. Her
daddy left for a job, and uh... give her
to me to look on. I just...

(a pitiful pause)

I don't know what to do.

Angela thinks for a moment.

ANGELA

You wait right here.

CUT TO:

INT. LAZARUS' HOME - DAY

Snot and spittle has run down the side of Rae's face - her
eyelids stick together as she tries to open them.

There is a creak, followed by another. Rae has become aware
that someone is slowly walking up the front porch.

The door opens. Silhouetted in the day's blinding light is a
white man in his 40's. His face is indistinguishable to Rae's
affected gaze.

Is this a dream?

He stands above her and lights a cigarette. The Zippo lighter
clasps shut. The man lowers it to his side where Rae can see
it clearly. A bald eagle is printed on the side, a sight that
makes Rae's eyes open wide in horror.

Her breath grows deeper - a girlish plea. This is no dream -
it's a nightmare.

RAE

Mm-mm... Mm-mm...

A massive hand slaps down over her mouth. Her crusted eyes
peer above the hairy knuckles. He sucks on the cigarette. A
red cherry blazes at the end. The man pushes the blanket off
of her and grips her panties.

Rae's eyes close. She knows what is next. In his clenched
fist, the panties are ripped off.

31.

RAE

NOOOOO!

Rae flinches awake from the fever-induced nightmare and falls
to the wooden floor, drenched in sweat.

Weakened and shaking, she scampers away, finally collapsing
in the kitchen. Her hand reaches out and lands on the strings
of Laz's guitar on the floor. She grips the steel strings
with her trembling fingers.

A single bass note twangs as she passes out.

CUT TO:

INT. MACON DRUGS - AFTERNOON

Angela stands between the aisles, motioning Laz to approach,
away from the girl at the counter.

ANGELA

Is your niece older than 12?

LAZARUS

Oh, she older than that.

She hands him a white box with cough syrup inside.

ANGELA

My sister got a bad cough with her
pneumonia. I just copied her
prescription. You don't need to pay
anything... just take it. But if she gets
worse, you give me a call. I wrote my
number on the box.

LAZARUS

This gonna get you in trouble?

ANGELA

Not if no one finds out.

Laz doesn't know what to say. He puts the box in his pocket.

LAZARUS

Thank you.

(suddenly awkward)

Oh. My wife. She had a card here for her
migraine pills. She ain't gonna be around
no more... So if you...

32.

ANGELA

I already tossed that out.

(takes a step closer)

Somethin' you should'a done to that woman
long ago... how she treated you. Of
course, that's none of my business.

LAZARUS

(smiles)

Don't make it less true.

Angela returns the smile.

EXT. MACON DRUGS - AFTERNOON

Laz opens his truck door and stops. At the pool-hall across
the square, Laz sees a green Cutlass with chrome rims.

CUT TO:

INT. POOL HALL - AFTERNOON

Laz enters the empty pool hall. Tehronne is playing a game
with a skinny playa-wanna-be dressed in flea-market Fubu.

CHARLIE, the owner, approaches Laz from the bar.

CHARLIE

Hey, Lazarus. We closed up on Sunday.

LAZARUS

Need a word with Tehronne.

CHARLIE

(calling to the back)

Yo, T! Laz wanna holla at cha.

TEHRONNE

Come on back, Cuz.

Charlie nods Laz on. He crosses to the back pool table as
Tehronne sinks the 8. Tehronne looks at his friend.

TEHRONNE

Do you call it a game when only one man
win each time? I think you call it a damn
shame.

LAZARUS

Word wit'cha. In private.

Tehronne hands his friend the pool cue. The two take a few
steps away to talk.

33.

TEHRONNE

You need some weed?

LAZARUS

Been years since I fooled with that.

(tries to find the words)

You know a white girl? Dirty blond hair,
split down the middle like?

TEHRONNE

(smiles)

That ain't up to me to hook you up. Naw
what I mean? She her own, you know?

LAZARUS

Huh?

TEHRONNE