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"Last Call" excerpt:
ACT 1/SCENE 1
INT. A RUN DOWN, LOW RENT APARTMENT, NIGHT
It's Saturday night. JESSE is sitting on the arm of his ragged couch. The STEREO is PLAYING COUNTRY MUSIC. The living room is cluttered with empty beer cans, pizza boxes, overflowing ashtrays and crumpled balls of typing paper.
Jesse's shirt, vest and leather jacket are hanging neatly on the edge of a bookcase. He's wearing blue jeans and one boot. A lit cigarette dangling from his mouth, he glances at a PICTURE of a girl (BECKY) displayed in a brass frame on his desk as he struggles to pull on his other cowboy boot.
JESSE
(under his breath, to himself)
Son of a . . . . bitch.
Jesse stands up and walks over to the bookcase. He continues to dress, putting on his shirt, belt and vest stopping from time to time to take a drink of beer from a sixteen ounce can. He fills his pockets with cigarettes, matches, a comb, a knife, a pack of gum, a wallet, some loose bills and change and a few guitar picks.
He looks into the mirror above the couch as he adjusts his bolo tie. He walks over to the desk and picks up three silver and turquoise rings that are near a framed PHOTOGRAPH of HIS PARENTS when they were first married. He slips the rings on his fingers as he goes for his black leather jacket.
Jesse puts his jacket on, takes one more quick look in the mirror, takes one more long drink of beer (which partially trickles down his chin), takes one more puff of his cigarette and heads for the door. He drops his cigarette in his empty beer can, crushes the can with one hand and tosses the can into the messy sink in the adjoining kitchenette. Flicking OFF the STEREO with the toe of his boot, he turns OFF the wall LIGHT switch with his elbow. JESSE EXITS. DARKNESS.
ACT 1/SCENE 2
INT. COUNTRY MUSIC BAR (THE GLASS HEART), SAME NIGHT
BAR NOISE. A live COUTNRY BAND is PLAYING as Jesse walks into THE GLASS HEART SALOON. PEOPLE LAUGHING, DANCING AND TALKING. NEON LIGHTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE. Jesse is well-known and well-liked at this establishment. It's his home away from home.
A cigarette (not lit) dangles from the corner of Jesse's mouth as he enters the bar. He's holding a pack of matches in his hand, preparing to light his cigarette. He walks up to LENNY, THE BOUNCER. LENNY is seated just outside the entrance to the bar, in the lobby.
JESSE
(smiling)
Hey, Len. Good crowd?
Lenny leans back on his stool, hands clasped behind his head, cracking his knuckles.
LENNY
(sounding bored)
Same old, Jess. Becky's here. For over an hour.
Jesse reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small roll of bills.
LENNY
(laughing lightly)
Put it away.
Jesse looks at the floor.
JESSE
Thanks.
Jesse tries to light his cigarette as he wades through the crowd on his way to the bar. Just as he is about to strike a match, FRANK appears out of nowhere. He grabs Jesse by the shoulder and yells into his ear.
FRANK
(drunk and obnoxious)
Eee--eha!
Jesse is startled. He drops his matches.
JESSE
Shit.
Frank starts to laugh. Then he gets a mean look on his face.
FRANK
What's the matter, cowboy? Nervous?
Jesse bends over to pick up his matches. He turns to face Frank. Jesse stares directly in to Frank's eyes.
JESSE
(calm, firm)
You're a horse's ass, Frank.
Frank seems a little frightened but stands his ground. He looks around the room and then turns his gaze back to Jesse.
FRANK
(with a nervous laugh)
So, what? At least I'm not a . . . cowboy.
JESSE
So . . . you'd rather be a horse's ass? Good choice.
Frank struggles for a reply.
FRANK
Well, yeah. I mean, no. I . . .
JESSE
(laughing lightly)
You're such a wit, Frank.
Jesse walks away from Frank, shaking his head in disbelief. SALLY sees Jesse walking through the crowd. She runs up to him.
SALLY
(giggling, mocking Frank)
Eee-ha, cowboy!
Jesse touches Sally's upper arm.
JESSE
(laughing lightly)
Hey. One of him is enough.
BECKY is seated with her friend, TAMMY. Sally looks in the direction of their table.
SALLY
(seriously)
Jesse, you're not here to see her again, are you? When are you going to learn? She's your ex-wife all over again.
JESSE
Nobody could be as screwed up as Chelsea was . . . or . . . is.
SALLY
She's out of the same mold, Jess. She's a user. When she's through with you, she'll drop you. You don't need that again.
JESSE
(smiling)
Says who? Hey, isn't this a bar? I need a drink. Talk to you later.
SALLY
(giggling)
Wait. Let me tell you something.
JESSE
(slightly perturbed)
What? More advice?
Sally giggles and looks at the floor. Then she looks at Jesse with wide opened eyes.
SALLY
Debbie.
JESSE
(confused)
Debbie what? Debbie who?
Sally tosses her head in the direction of DEBBIE, THE BARTENDER. DEBBIE is working behind the bar.
SALLY
(still giggling)
Debbie Debbie
JESSE
What about her?
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SALLY
She can't take her eyes off of you. It's the same way every time you come in here. I've been watching.
JESSE
It's in your mind, Sally. There's nothing there. We're friends. That's it.
SALLY
(giggling)
I'm telling you, Jess. She wants you. Big time.
Jesse pats Sally on the top of her head.
JESSE
Later, Sally. Later.
SALLY
(seriously)
Don't drink too much. I worry.
JESSE
(winking an eye)
Don't.
Jesse looks over his shoulder and smiles at Sally as he walks toward the bar. He notices THE KISSING COUPLE. They're engaged in a long, passionate kiss. Jesse glances down at them.
JESSE
(under his breath)
Looks serious.
Jesse continues walking to the bar. DEBBIE is working. Jesse lights his cigarette and takes out his small roll of bills. He approaches the bar.
JESSE
(to Debbie)
Hi, babe. How's tips?
DEBBIE
(her face lighting up)
Hi, Jesse. Tips are o.k. How are you?
JESSE
Good. How about a shot of Jack and a long neck?
DEBBIE
(smiling, teasing)
How about a coke instead?
JESSE
(jokingly)
What is this? Nobody wants me to drink tonight. First Sally, now you.
DEBBIE
(playing with her earring)
I just thought you might want to try something different for a change.
JESSE
If that ever happens, I'll let you know.
Debbie turns to prepare Jesse's order. Jesse smokes his cigarette as he surveys the bar. BECKY is seated at a table with her friend, TAMMY. Jesse makes eye contact with BECKY. He signals, with his finger, that he'll be over in a minute. Debbie returns with Jesse's drinks.
DEBBIE
(smiling)
Here you go, hon.
Jesse attempts to pay Debbie for his drink order.
DEBBIE
(nodding in the direction of Becky)
Keep your money, Jess. You're going to need it for that one over there.
Jesse looks over his shoulder at Becky.
DEBBIE
(continuing)
She might be cheap . . . but she's expensive.
JESSE
(facetiously)
Unbelievable. No one wants me to drink. And no one wants me to be with a woman. Why don't you just tell the band to stop playing and I'll go the hell home.
DEBBIE
(laughing)
Written any new songs lately?
JESSE
(teasingly, picking up his drinks)
Get to work.
DEBBIE
(smiling, facetiously)
Oh, you're so forceful.
Jesse downs his shot of whiskey. He takes two dollars from his roll and throws it on the bar for a tip. Debbie smiles, takes the money and walks away. Jesse walks over to Becky and Tammy.
JESSE
(standing, to Becky)
Hi, babe. You look good tonight.
BECKY
(irritated)
You're over an hour late, Jesse.
JESSE
(hand over his eyes in mock shame)
Sorry, baby. I'm late for everything.
BECKY
(indignant)
You could have at least brought me a drink. Want one, Tam?
JESSE
(to Tammy)
Hi, Tammy.
Tammy looks away from Jesse. She doesn't acknowledge his greeting.
TAMMY
(to Becky)
Sure. I'll have one more.
BECKY
(arrogantly, firmly, to Jesse)
Well, Jesse? Do you think you can handle that? You know what I drink. Tammy will have the same.
Jesse looks around the room for CARLENE, THE BARMAID. She's walking in his direction. She approaches.
JESSE
(laughing lightly, abruptly)
Hey, Carlene. How about two for them and one for me?
CARLENE
(irritated)
How about getting the hell out of my way?
JESSE
(laughing lightly, facetiously)
Thanks, honey.
Jesse turns to Becky.
JESSE
Can I sit down now?
BECKY
(less hostile)
Sit.
Jesse sits down next to Becky and puts his arm around her. He kisses her cheek.
JESSE
Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?
BECKY
(pouting)
If you'd have been here, you'd have known. Jesse, I don't wait for anyone. Why did you do that to me?
(This excerpt comprises 7 of the "Last Call" screenplay's 192 pages.) |
