Stash of Bags MP3     © 2000 fdb@ev1.net

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FADE IN:

EXT. LAS VEGAS STYLE LIGHTSHOW – NIGHT

We are looking at a wonderful, colorful, moving, changing, beautiful display of lights.  The lights form images that beckon us towards a door.  Arrows pointing, naked women dancing, cannabis leaves dancing, clouds of beautifully colored smoke billowing, a “slogan”: “First One’s Free”.  A wonderful panorama is displayed for our eyes.  Above the door is the name “CANNABIS CLUB” in beautiful lights as well.  We ZOOM in towards the door.  A smiling, handsome doorman opens the door.  We go through the door.

EXT. PRISON — DAY

TITLE OVER: MARION FEDERAL PRISON

JACKSON and WOODROW are sitting on the prison loading dock, waiting for the next busload of prisoners.

JACKSON

I’ve seen some of those plants that look like, what? … a rainbow?

WOODROW

You’ve got to realize the effort that goes into some of those exotics. They love their herb.

JACKSON

Most of these farmers are really … gentlemen. You know, what are they doing here? What they did can’t be that bad.

WOODROW

When we have a National Referendum, do we have your vote?

JACKSON

Yeah, what’s going on makes no sense. These guys believe in what they do, it’s a calling.

WOODROW

Mr. Jackson, it’s a religion.

A prison bus full of new prisoners pulls in and parks next to the loading dock. The prisoners come out; Mr. Jackson releases them from their handcuffs.

TREY (25) is the third to get off the bus. Woodrow (about 40 years old) is a trustee and he corrals the prisoners for orientation. Mr. Jackson watches over what Woodrow does.

WOODROW

You men are part of the general population. That means anything can and probably will happen to you while you’re here. My name is Woodrow. This man likes to be called Mr. Jackson! Don’t yell, hey guard or even guard, he won’t answer … Mr. Jackson.

JACKSON

Thanks Woodrow. In case you’re wondering, Woodrow’s a preacher, a good man, you’d be well advised to listen to him. I do. … all right … abandon hope and go through this door.

Woodrow walks over to Trey to introduce himself.

WOODROW

You Trey Hanes?

TREY

Yeah, and you’re … I remember you … Mediterranean Church, right?

WOODROW

Yeah that’s right.

TREY

My whole family believes in the sacrament.

WOODROW

Your grandpa, and my dad smoked pot, back in world war two.

TREY

I know my grandpa smoked back then. Who’s your dad?

WOODROW

John Weiss, regional head of the DEA.  He was …he retired a few years ago,.

TREY

He let you sit here? For what? 20 years?!

WOODROW

They busted me for holding Lion services here, so, no parole, nothing. I'm getting out in a few weeks.

Woodrow looks at his watch, and then up at the door the guard went through.

WOODROW

There’s a lot I have to tell you.  …They pretty much leave me alone now, but we better go.

Ray and Woodrow go inside the door.

INT. Prison Cafeteria — Day

TREY is sitting at an empty table, looking at his food suspiciously. WOODROW walks over to the table.

WOODROW

Mind if I sit?

TREY

No, go ahead. It would be nice to talk to somebody … sane.

WOODROW

[Chuckles]

It’s pretty amazing what walls can do to a personality. Not making excuses for these guys, but most of them would probably be all right, on the outside.

Woodrow looks around the cafeteria, looks Trey in the eyes.

WOODROW

I know how you wound up here, about the donations, the charity work.

TREY

So the word gets around, huh?  Yeah, I was stupid enough to think I could make a difference.

WOODROW

I still do my Lion services,

[looks around]

and I provide for the Medicinally challenged, and I hope you’ll continue that after I leave.

TREY

[Laughs]

It still goes on.  Even here?

WOODROW

I’ll show you how it’s done  …later.  Everybody’s heard of the Hanes family.  A name to be proud of.  How’s your grandpa?

TREY

He’s doing good.  Must be about 75 years old now.  Damn.  When I think of what he did, when he did it.  Bold sonofabitch.

WOODROW

I could dig a story about one of the pioneers.  Anything you can share?

TREY

Not a problem.  Ray doesn’t grow, deal or get involved with the money anymore.

WOODROW

How did he get caught?

 TREY

Easy enough I guess.  He got busted back in the late 50’s for importing a bunch of keys.  He loves the herb …what can I say.  He used to buy from this small time Mexican dealer, at least he was then …Juan Morales. 

Int. Souvenir Shop — day

RAY Hanes is unpacking a box of Mexican Sombreros and putting them on the shelf of his shop. He is busy and does not notice as JUAN MORALES sneaks quietly through the front door.

Juan looks at the cash register for a bit too long. Juan is not carrying a gun, but we cannot see that. Juan walks up and pokes his finger in Ray's back.

JUAN

Give me all your gold!

Ray turns, sees Juan, smiles.

RAY

Juan! Señor Morales, how are you?

JUAN

Good, very good. Nobody else in the store?

RAY

Hell, I didn’t know you were in here. We better look.

Ray and Juan glance around the store.

RAY

So you made it OK, no problems?

JUAN

More than it is worth. I’m through with these small loads.

RAY

For $10 a pound, I can’t blame you.

JUAN

You know how to find me? No problems …in Mexico.

RAY

(beat)

Look for me the first of next month.

INT. – PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

TREY and WOODROW are pushing food around on their trays.

WOODROW

So he was messing with Morales?

TREY

(chuckling)

It was just gentle fun back then.

WOODROW

Well tell me, what happened to Ray?

TREY

So Ray makes dozens of trips down to Mexico, to buy from Juan …no problems.  But then Morales gets himself busted on the U.S. side …

INT. Border Patrol Office — day

TITLE OVER: Border Patrol Office, 1957

We are in a small, beat up looking office. JUAN MORALES is sitting in a chair in handcuffs. AGENT GISH and AGENT FARLEY are interviewing Juan.

GISH

Help us catch some of the gringos you sell to, or you get ten years, at hard labor.

FARLEY

You help us, you’re free.

JUAN

I know an American … a war hero … who sells to children.

EXT.   US/MEXICO BORDER, US STATION — NIGHT

RAY HANES is next in line to cross over into the U.S. Ray drives a 1957 Chevrolet Bellaire. His radio features Elvis Presley singing “Love Me Tender” he is singing along. He has the air of complete fearlessness.

He’s importing kilos of marijuana along with his assortment of hats, clothes, silver jewelry and other souvenir goods, something he has done a hundred times before.

Ray looks at the German Shepherd dog the NICE INSPECTOR has with him. The nice inspector signals for him to pull up to the checkpoint. Ray puts the car in gear with some difficulty, pulls up then stops next to the inspector.

The German Shepherd starts barking, pulling the inspector toward the front end of the car. We see a quick shot of Ray, his eyes are vibrating a bit, he takes a deep breath.

RAY

So’d your dog see a snake?

NICE INSPECTOR

Oh, no. Got these dogs to stop some of the reefer smugglers. This is Hawkeye.

HAWKEYE is jumping up on the front quarter panel and barking like mad. INSPECTOR SNOOP, reading from a clipboard starts walking over from his empty checkpoint.

NICE INSPECTOR

I’m sorry. Don’t know what’s got him in a lather.

RAY

I need to get moving. Supposed to eat dinner with the in-laws. Don’t wanta piss off the missus.

NICE INSPECTOR

All right, damn dog’s sure acting goofy.

Nice Inspector signals Ray to go through. Ray tries to put his car in gear but he’s having a rough time. Inspector Snoop is double-checking the license number and then walks up beside Ray’s door.

INSPECTOR SNOOP

Mr. Hanes?

RAY

Yeah, I’m Hanes.

INSPECTOR SNOOP

Open your hood, for inspection.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

TREY is actually eating some of the meal he has been ignoring.  J.D. walks up, carrying a rack of dominoes and asks to sit down with WOODROW and Trey.

J.D.

War stories?  Can I listen in?

WOODROW

He’s alright, been here many years, but he gets out before I do.

Woodrow punches J.D. in the arm.

TREY

Pull up a chair.

WOODROW

Trey was just telling me stories about the famous Hanes Family.

J.D.

Heard you were in.  Glad to meet you.

J.D. shakes Trey’s hand.  J.D. starts shuffling the dominoes.

TREY

So, like I told Woodrow, Grandpa got busted.  He spent 20 years behind these same walls.  But when he got out, he saw the light, “stay away from the border”. So back about 1979 or 80.

Ext. A beautiful MARIJUANA PATCH — Afternoon

RAY and JUNIOR are out harvesting their plants.

RAY

Told you these island seeds were the way to go.

JUNIOR

I believed you … that they would do well, but, who imagined this!

[holds out a prime bud]

RAY

Easy to sell, no need to take any chances.

JUNIOR

Never cross any borders.

RAY

I can go fishing whenever I want now. You’re the one who needs to watch his ass. You do this for a year or two and … we both go fishing. All right?

JUNIOR

That’s my plan.

They both harvest in quiet for a few seconds.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

TREY is finishing his tray of food.  He throws the fork down and has a bad belch, bad food.  He sticks his tongue out to show it was bad.  J.D. is shuffling dominoes.

TREY

So, I was only 5 or 6 years old when I figured out what they were doing.  They may as well have been  pirates; I wanted to farm so bad.  About 10 or eleven years later, I dinged up my car.

Ext. A small Fishing BOAT tied to the dock — Morning

RAY, now 70 + years old, and JUNIOR, now about 40 years old are sitting in the boat, prepping their fishing gear.

JUNIOR

If they can get generation x to register and then vote, they can get licensed “medical” marijuana.

RAY

Say they get it on the ballot, they get the votes and you can get a doctor to prescribe it, where you gonna buy it?

JUNIOR

At “cannabis clubs” that will fill the prescriptions at cost. Whatever that means.

RAY

Sounds like a great business, except the Feds will never let it happen. Too many industries that lose money …big money.

JUNIOR

I hear ya’ dad. Look!

 [points]

There’s Trey. What did he do to that Mustang?

We see TREY parking a 1992 Mustang in the parking lot. The mustang has extensive damage to the front end, the windshield is broken. Trey gets out and walks the short distance to where the boat is moored.

TREY

Hey you old farts! Catch any fish?

Trey approaches, and then boards the boat with Ray and Junior.

RAY

How’d you manage this time?

[points to Mustang]

TREY

Shit Grandpa, nobody knows how to drive … I want you guys to teach me a trade, so I can fix it. I want to farm. The family tradition.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

TREY, WOODROW and J.D. are playing dominoes at the table.

TREY

Shouldn’t we clear out of here?  Aren’t they going to bother us for sitting here too long or something.

J.D.

We’re with Woodrow.  No problems if you stick to Woodrow in this place.  Just remember who his daddy is.

WOODROW

I wish it was that easy.  But you’re right J.D.  Trey, they leave me alone mostly cause they’ve seen me sit here every day for the last 10 years, kind of a stalemate …it’s okay.  Tell me about the cannabis clubs.  Pretty cool huh?

TREY

I wish.  It’s like a hospital …with a lot of paranoia involved.  That’s how I felt the first time I delivered to Shawn’s Club.

Ext. Rear Door of Cannabis CLUB — Night

Pulling up to the door in a camper/van is TREY, who is met at the door by SHAWN.

TREY

Evening, everything OK?

SHAWN

Never better. How much did you bring?

 TREY

Almost 17 pounds.  For MS, and AIDS patients and all the other poor fuckers who can’t afford two to five hundred dollars a damn ounce.

SHAWN

I hear you. I promise not one gram will be sold.

TREY

Alright.

[shakes Shawn’s hand]

SHAWN

You got it! Let’s put this herb in the “sanctuary”

[points to the club]

before some rookie cop starts hot-dogging on us.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

J.D. is beating his hands on the table, some kind of Latin rhythm.

WOODROW

Calm down J.D.  Let them man finish his story.

J.D.

Ah man, I was just thinking about seventeen pounds.  I miss the herb almost as much as I miss pussy.

WOODROW

Shut the hell up.  Go ahead Trey. Are there lot’s of people that can’t afford the herb?

TREY

Yeah.  More than there should be.  A drug that costs a penny sells for a hundred bucks.  Let me tell you a story about this beautiful, but poor, MS sufferer, Melissa. The law’s so stupid, but …so was I.

INT.   MELISSA JONES Bedroom — MORNING

MELISSA and her medical companion LARRY are sitting in her room. Melissa is in her wheel chair, she has MS and her speech is none too clear.

LARRY

Hon, we’ll get our hands on some pot today, and then, chow time. I can feel it.  I heard the DEA is standing down from the situation.

MELISSA

Let’s hope so.

The phone rings. Larry gets up and answers it.

LARRY

Hello … you’re not shitting me? … We’ll be right down … thanks Shawn.

Larry hangs up the phone and turns to Melissa. Larry’s face is beaming.

LARRY

Want’a score some pot, baby?

Melissa has a spark of life in her eyes and a sweet crooked smile.

Ext. The Cannabis Cabanas — Day

LARRY is driving a van, with handicapped facilities for MELISSA. As they pull into the parking lot, they see there are many people there to fill their prescriptions. 

LARRY

Melissa, I’ll be gone no more than 2 minutes. I’m going to find Shawn and be right back.

MELISSA

I can wait. Don’t forget me.

Melissa is losing the wonderful control she displayed earlier, she’s shaking, Larry  holds her hand for a second.

LARRY

Not in a million years. Hang tight.

Larry scats toward the Club and runs inside.

Int. Cannabis Club — Day

LARRY comes bolting through the door, looking for SHAWN in the crowd. Larry sees Shawn at a counter and crowds to the front of the line to talk to Shawn.

LARRY

Shawn, I’ve got Melissa in the car. I’m bringing her in.

SHAWN

Bring her on in … I’ll carve out some time to talk to her.

Larry bolts out to get Melissa. Shawn is dealing with a PROGRAMMER.

PROGRAMMER

Hi Shawn, I’m looking for something good, but not too good. It’s hard to program code on that equatorial shit.

SHAWN

Got some good Mexican, but it’s brown bud, not too tasty.

PROGRAMMER

It’s alright.  Give me the usual. VISA still work?

SHAWN

Yeah, VISA still works.

Shawn sees Larry wheeling Melissa into the store. Turns to Trey who is unpacking some herb.

SHAWN

Trey, take over here, I see a special customer.

Trey sees Larry and Melissa coming through the door.

TREY

You give her whatever she wants!

Shawn goes over and takes over from Larry and pushes Melissa back into his office.  Shawn’s office has a window through which we can see a small warehouse filled with grow lights shining on 100 cannabis plants of various sizes.

SHAWN

Let’s get your order straight.

MELISSA

This feels like Christmas.

SHAWN

You name it; it’s yours, I’ve got second generation Thai, Lights, Maui and Herer.

MELISSA

One ounce of each.

[that crooked smile]

Shawn tosses a leather satchel to Larry.

SHAWN

Tell that guy behind the counter. Tell him to fill this with Maui, Thai, Herer and Lights. And tell him I said 1/4 pound each.

Shawn Turns to Melissa. Larry exits the offices and goes to the front of the store.

SHAWN

Honey, you’re going to have medicine to last for a year.

Larry walks behind the counter and interrupts Trey in the middle of his current transaction with GARY GREY.

LARRY

Shawn said to give Melissa a quarter pound, each, of Lights, Maui, Thai and oh yeah, Herer.  Put it in his satchel.

TREY

Her wish is my command.

Trey takes the satchel and starts filling it with quarter pound bags. Turns to speak to Larry looking proud, happy.

TREY

I put those quarters in carefully, but it’s a tight fit. Don’t smash the buds.

Trey hands the satchel to Larry. Larry goes to get Melissa from the office; Trey goes back to waiting on Gary Grey, the customer at the counter who now has a sly smile; he knows something about Trey.

Larry walks back into the office and opens the bag to show Melissa the bags of pot (sweet smile).

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

TREY is smiling, far away; thinking about how he felt when he gave the pot to Melissa.  WOODROW and J.D. leave him alone, they know how precious a good thought is in prison.  Trey seems to snap out of it, leans back in to tell the rest of the story.

TREY

So, it’s a great day.  This sweet lady gets a pound of great shit and I feel proud.  Sonofabitch Gary Gray is the customer at the counter.  He follows Melissa out of the club.

EXT. MELISSA’S VAN — DAY

SHAWN is driving MELISSA home.

LARRY

Soon as we get home, I’m loading the bong for you, and then I’m rolling a big fat doobie!

MELISSA

I already feel better, just knowing I’ve got my medicine.

We hear a quick whoop of a police siren. Larry looks in the rear view mirror.

LARRY

I don’t believe it!

MELISSA

You have my prescription don’t you?

LARRY

Sure thing sweetheart. Yeah, what am I worried about? They don’t have time to fuck with us.

Larry pulls the car over. A RED FACED DEA AGENT approaches him and comes to the driver side. Larry rolls down the window. Remaining in the cop car is GARY GREY.

RED FACE AGENT

We have reason to suspect that you are carrying a quantity of marijuana beyond your prescribed allotment.

LARRY

She needs to eat, she needs to laugh … you know, feel alive again … and you want to take that away from her?

RED FACED AGENT

Sir, the DEA is the cure, not the problem.

LARRY

Can’t you just let her go? Take me, give her a few buds and let her go?

Gary Grey joins the conversation at the driver’s window.

GARY GRAY

I would hate to see an obstruction of justice charge tacked onto this situation. Can we use your van to transport?

Larry glances at Melissa for a second. She seems to be falling into depression, severe shakes, totally forlorn.

LARRY

Then let’s get going. She doesn’t need this.

Int. MELISSA JONES Bedroom — Night

LARRY is wheeling MELISSA into her bedroom. She is gray, weak looking, shaky. Larry helps her out of her wheelchair and tucks her in bed.

LARRY

Melissa, hon. I’m calling Shawn to get us some buds over here tonight. Damn DEA cretins!

Larry picks up the phone and starts dialing. Melissa looks real tired and sleepy, she can barely talk.

MELISSA

I’m can’t smoke or eat tonight. I need to rest. Call Shawn tomorrow.

Larry hangs up the phone, and then tucks Melissa in even tighter. Larry starts to leave the room. Larry turns back to Melissa.

LARRY

Good night Melissa.

MELISSA

[Croaks]

Good night Larry.

[coughs]

Tomorrow, a beggars banquet.

Larry turns out the lights.

Int. MELISSA JONES KITCHEN — Morning

LARRY is making a quick cup of coffee. He is also talking on the phone.

LARRY

Yeah … all right … you are? … well I’ll just listen for your knock …

[hangs up phone then yells]

MELISSA

INT.   MELISSA JONES BEDROOM — MORNING

LARRY taps on the door, and then opens the door. Goes in the bathroom, gathering towels.

LARRY

Melissa, Trey’s already on his way with another quarter pound. I’ll get you cleaned up and ready for a sweet smoke and a nice meal. … Melissa? … Melissa?

Larry leans over and feels her throat for a pulse. Larry picks up the bong from the table, looks at the bowl for a second then smashes the bong on the floor. Larry just sits and looks at Melissa for a few seconds.

We hear a KNOCK at the front door. Larry continues to stare at Melissa. A few seconds later, TREY walks in the room and first notices the broken glass bong.

TREY

You broke the bong?

[reaches toward shirt pocket]

I’ve got some pape … Ah Damn! … It never stops.

Trey goes over to put his arm around Larry.

TREY

I’m so sorry.

[tears up]

Larry seems to be “regaining consciousness”, he turns to Shawn.

LARRY

Trey, don’t … don’t!

Larry puts his arms around Trey for a second.

TREY

It’s so wrong, there’s got to be a way.

LARRY

It’s like we’re on the Bizarro world.

TREY

It’s starting to remind me of the dark ages. Torture and imprisonment for your beliefs.

LARRY

[crying, mimics song]

“It can’t happen here.”

Both men laugh and cry at the same time. Larry gets up and grabs the phone.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

J.D. and WOODROW stop TREY for a moment.

WOODROW

You’re saying they just let her die?  That same guy, Gary Grey?

TREY

Heartless bastards every one of them.  Part of the job description I guess.  He was the one who busted me too.  I think he put two and two together about the free herb.  Probably put a radio beacon on my jeep, I don’t know.  A couple of months later, it’s almost harvest time.

EXT. POT PATCH — DAY

TREY is out tending his plants. It is near harvest time, the plants are full and ripe. He is harvesting a few of the dying buds, putting them into a canvas bag he has over his shoulder.

Trey is whistling a song, happy and content. We hear a voice through a bullhorn.

DEA AGENT

(bullhorn)

Trey Hanes! This is the DEA! You are under arrest!

Trey starts running away, dropping the bag. He is fast; he strides through the plants and heads toward the nearby river. He makes it to the river with the sound of DEA agents, panting for breath, on his heels.

Trey makes it into the river and is half way across when he sees the agents waiting for him on the other side of the river. He floats on his back, going downstream. An agent from each side of the river wades into the cold water.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

J.D. starts beating on the table again.  He stops when he glances at TREY and WOODROW who are staring at his hands.

TREY

When they fished me out of the river, there’s Gary Gray, multimillionaire. 

J.D.

How much did they get?

TREY

They said 2,000 plants, 8 million dollars.  I’d have been happy with 2 million.

J.D.

This wasn’t you first year?  You got millions in the bank?

TREY

I got some cash left, what they didn’t take for forfeiture and the IRS.  …So J.D., what’s your story?  How’d you get here?

J.D.

Real easy.  Like most everyone else. By their definition, I was a criminal I guess.  But when I got busted, they planted on me.  The cops had carte blanche, could do anything they wanted back in Texas.  We were just sitting around, playing music.  We wished we had some drugs.

Int. “the Sadhouse” hippie house — Night

We are in an old “rent house” with creaky wood floors, weird rooms and 3^rd hand furniture. 15 young men are “members” of the “tribe” that lives there.

The trees are hand painted, the house is a bad half painted mess and SADHOUSE is written on the garage door in letters 5 feet high. Tonight, the Sadhouse band is playing some music. They are having a hell of a time.

J.D.

Hold it down! It’s after 10. I know there’s no pot in the house, but silence, may keep the tigers away.

A general murmur of “fuck it, let’s keep going”. Then an “aw shit, I guess we better.”

CHRIS

OK. Billy turn off the amps. I’ll get the acoustics.

GARY GRAY

I got to be at work at 7. I’ll see y'all Friday.

At this point about 15 of the 25 or so that were gathered around say their goodbyes and throw work excuses around and then leave the Sadhouse.

CHRIS

Been practicing that new blues song?

ED

Sure, let me warm up.

Ed pulls a CHROMATIC HARMONICA out of his pocket and begins to warm up. NOTE: ED is 17, thin, good looking, with long blonde hair.

J.D.

Ed, your trial’s day after tomorrow?

ED

I should have taken the probation they offered. The DA’s pissed now and wants to give me some real time.

J.D.

For one joint, actually 1/3 of a joint?

CHRIS

You getting a haircut?

ED

Yeah, tomorrow afternoon.

J.D.

That won’t make any difference Ed. I’ve been in county and you’ll have to fight like hell. Really, they’ll fight each other first, to see who gets you.

CHRIS

It’s OK Ed. Your attorney will get you off. They did for Ricky and Scar.

ED

Yeah right! Ricky got 3 years probation. Scar got time served in county … I was driving. I paid for the pot

J.D.

[Yells]

Hey Tiger! Eat shit and die!

CHRIS

Fuck all that; let’s play some music.

Chris is on guitar, J.D. on drums, Ed on harmonica, Billy plays tambourine and Stevie is on bass. They play “If I Had a Stash of Bags”.

We pull back from the house, down the street where we see a cop/van, with 2 cops, COP ONE with headphones on, taking notes. Gary Grey is in the back seat talking to TIGER.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

TREY and WOODROW are playing cards on the table.  J.D. is shuffling the cards.

J.D.

So we’re worried about Ed going to the pen.  He’s 17, skinny and in deep shit.  So anyway, we’re being good citizens, no drugs, no loud music.  So the next morning

Int. The Sadhouse — AM

We are in the hallway looking at the front door moving from the impact of the hard door knocking that someone is doing. Stevie is shown waking up first and sliding thru the hallway to the door.

STEVIE

So who is it?

TIGER

[Yells]

It’s the police, open the door!

Stevie goes running into J.D.’s room, to wake him.

STEVIE

I think it’s Tiger at the door.

J.D.

Yeah, I heard. Ask him to wait.

Stevie goes back towards the front door. Billie is already there talking to Tiger through the door.

STEVIE

J.D. said to ask him to wait a minute; he’s getting his pants on.

BILLIE

Tiger said he was going to give us 10 seconds, it’s been about 15.

Just then, the cops start trying to crash the door. It does not give on the first try. J.D. shows up and leans on the door so do Billie and Stevie, to try to keep it from coming off the hinges.

As the door starts to lose its reason for being, J.D. calls out.

J.D.

[Yells to Tiger]

Can’t we talk it over for once. We have no drugs, no pot, nothing.

TIGER

[Yells back]

We had a complaint and we will investigate!

J.D.

This is like the tenth time; I know that’s right.

TIGER

All right, we’ll just take a quick look and be on our way.

As they let the pressure off the door and turn the lock, four plain-clothes, two uniformed cops and detective TIGER bust in like a SWAT raid and knock Billie and Stevie down on the ground.

The cops all have guns drawn and point them at the hippies while they search the rooms. Tiger takes J.D. into the living room where Ed is already sitting on the couch with a cop guarding Ed, Chris, and a couple of other hippies.

Tiger tries to shove J.D. down onto the couch. J.D. retains his footing and glares back at Tiger. The cops are whiskey drunk at 7:30 a.m., very loose cannons! They throw clothes and pictures on the floor as they “search” very thoroughly.

On top of these valuable items they throw the garbage.

TIGER

Sit down! Nobody asks me about these busts. How I conduct them is my business. Understand?

J.D.

I’m so sick of this shit! From Nixon all the way down to you pigs! This is my house! Do you have a warrant?

Tiger pulls his 45 and sticks the barrel partly into J.D.’s nose.

TIGER

This is my warrant! Works real good too! Sit down?

A uniformed cop comes up and puts J.D.’s hands behind him, cuffs him.

J.D.

Just do it! There’s too many witnesses. You can’t kill us all, you liquored up morons.

TIGER

That’ll be a great day, when I can.

BILLIE

Hey J.D! Sit down! We’re freaks! We can’t go to court against their precious Tiger. Sit down!

Tiger shoves J.D. onto the couch. detective ONO comes around the corner carrying a briefcase, he looks at Tiger and shakes his head no. Tiger motions for him to put the briefcase on the floor.

The Sadhouse crew is rounded up and herded to several police cars for a trip to jail. J.D. is kept back in the house.

Tiger and 3 other Detectives stay in the house until the rest of the hippies are in the police cars. J.D.’s face shows he is in a bad situation.

Tiger, reaches over to the briefcase, opens it and pulls out a pound of marijuana.

TIGER

Look what I found in your stuff.  …This is not a good day for you, huh?

J.D.

It’s fine, except for the pigs smelling up the place.

TIGER

On the floor!

The other three DETECTIVES grab J.D. and throw him on the floor, face first and start kicking him in the ribs, side and top of his head with steel-toed boots.

Tiger comes over and gets in a good kick to J.D.'s cheek. Tiger motions the detectives to stop.

TIGER

If you would have just been polite, this didn’t have to happen.

J.D.

Fuck you pig!

Tiger gives J.D. another kick to the head. Motions for the other cops to pick J.D. up. They roughly grab him; pull him up by his handcuffed wrists, very painful to J.D.

TIGER

Drugs or no drugs, music or no music, your tribe is moving. The good people of this neighborhood want your kind out of here.  And for you, …felony possession.

Tiger punches J.D. in the solar plexus and they haul J.D. out to the waiting police cars. They throw J.D. in the car with Ed. Tiger leans in to tell Ed something.

TIGER

Ed! Huntsville should be a pleasant stay, for such a pretty boy.

Ext. HOLDING CELL — Night

The Sadhouse crew is gathered at a jail table. J.D. has a couple of patches of matted blood in his hair and a cut on his cheek.

J.D.

Tiger said he’ll drop charges on you guys.  If you guys move out, they’ll leave you alone.  They’re taking me to trial.

CHRIS

I’m moving. They’ll be back again.

ED

Man, I’m screwed.

J.D.

Damn Ed. Go to trial and plead guilty, ask for mercy.  That’s what I’m going to do.

ED

With all the maximum sentences and all the lies, you think I’ll receive mercy?

The JAIL GUARD walks down the hallway, rattling his keys.

JAIL GUARD

Ed Nauritz?  Your grandmother arranged bail.

J.D.

(shakes Ed’s hand)

I know you’ll be alright Ed.  Just hang in there.

INT. PRISON CAFETERIA – DAY

J.D. pounds on the table, with a fist, knocking the cards flying.  He takes a deep breath and continues his story.

J.D.

So anyway, Ed was supposed to go to trial that next morning.

Ext. Ed’s treehouse — Sun Up

We are in Ed’s tree house, which has a floor, 3 ½ walls, a roof, and a couple of windows. We are looking off into the distance, at the sun coming up. We hear Ed’s footsteps as he climbs up the ladder.

We hear a CLUNK (.22 rifle on floor of tree house) and then we see Ed rise up into the scene (no haircut) and look out  at the sunrise. We circle around him and see him light a joint.

He takes two hits then stares out at the sun for a few more seconds. Ed steps back in the tree house, out of the scene. We now can see a bird on a tree branch.

(To read the whole screenplay, just contact Dean at fdb@ev1.net.

We'll send you a copy right away.)

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