John From Cincinnati
Episode 9

Click for the trailer

(Open on a remote beach, we see a ramshackle beach hut nestled in the rocks. There’s a grey-haired man sitting motionless in a chair, surrounded by rock sculptures. We see a hazy image of somebody approaching him in the distance.)

(Cut to the Yost house interior. We see Cissy walking through the house, then knocking on Shaun’s door. She opens the door, and we see that Shaun’s bed is empty and made, the room is empty and Shaun’s skateboard and backpack are on the floor. Cissy calls out to Shaun, rushes through the house and out the side door. We see Palaka dozing in a lawn chair, and on the street we see Freddy and Bill are still there from the night before.)

Cissy: He’s gone! My god! (Everyone stirs and jumps up from their napping, Cissy is on her cellphone) Kai! Shaunie’s gone! (Cissy is frantic, she runs back into the house. We see Bill opening the back door of Freddy’s car. He pulls out Zippy’s cage, which is empty.)

Bill: (To Freddy) You got my goddamn bird?!

(Palaka is approaching Freddy, Freddy is motioning to Palaka wanting to know what’s happening)

(Cut back to the remote beach, we see Mitch approaching the man in the chair.)

Mitch: Erlemeyer! Mitch… Yost. You know, I stopped by that cantina down the road last night and, uh, there was this inked-up asshole in there talking about “The Chemist.” I … yeah and I uh remembered that you live down here.

Erlemeyer: Well, I don’t do that anymore, Mitch… if that’s why you’re down here.

Mitch: So … so, not making what you used to make, do you ever see what we used to see?

Erlemeyer: I try to stay eligible. I pray, I fast, I meditate. I try not to resent people I haven’t seen in 20 years coming down to take my temperature.

Mitch: Look, I’ve been up in the air, I … I’ve seen my grandson come back from the dead.

Erlemeyer: In the cantina…

Mitch: No, in I.B. … with clear head. You know, I … I think maybe an extraterrestrial’s involved with my family. My son, especially.

Erlemeyer: The analgesic pioneer. Do I cross a line, Mitch, if I ask with all this shaking up there … why you’re down here?

Mitch: I lost my nerve.

Erlemeyer: Use it up, charging big pipe?

Mitch: No, big pipe’s easy. Dry land’s hard.

Erlemeyer: What’s it take to get across the border now?

Mitch: You thinking of going back?

Erlemeyer: Aren’t you, Mitch? See anything in that cantina worth staying for? Maybe you came down to renew my eligibility.

(Cut to Linc’s hotel room. We see Tina in bed as a cellphone is ringing. She answers the phone to hear Cissy.)

Cissy: Say something, you prick.

Tina: It’s Tina.

Cissy: Has Linc got Shaun?

Tina: He’s jogging.

Cissy: Some promo bullshit he didn’t bother to mention last night?

Tina: Shaun’s not with Linc, Cissy. (Tina is up and putting on her jeans)

Cissy: Is he with you? Another fucking jaunt to SeaWorld?

Tina: Maybe he’s surfing.

Cissy: His wetsuit’s right here! Don’t you think I know where his fucking wetsuit is?

Tina: (Tina is struggling to squeeze into her tight jeans) You motherfucker!

Cissy: What did you call me?

Tina: I’ll go tell Linc, Cissy. I’ll take him his phone so he can call you.

Cissy: Yeah, and don’t forget to drown yourself afterwards!

(Cut back to Erlemeyer’s place in Mexico, We see him descending a long stair from his house to the driveway where Mitch is parked. We also see a hippy-type camper vehicle that’s built from an old luxury sedan. He approaches Mitch in his car)

Erlemeyer: (Pointing to the camper) I drew a full house against a flush.

Mitch: You wanna ride up with me?

Erlemeyer: Well, I studied engines so I could make it run. (He wants to drive his camper. They nod at each other and he heads to the camper. After starting it, he motions to Mitch to move out of the way)

(Cut to Butchie’s room at the motel, Butchie is asleep in bed. We hear and see Cissy’s car roaring into the lot outside. Butchie stirs and hears her too. Cissy gets out of her car and immediately starts yelling.)

Cissy: Butchie! Butchie! (As she reaches his door, he’s opening it from inside and steps outside) Shaun’s gone!

Butchie: What?

Cissy: He’s fucking gone! Disappeared overnight!

Butchie: Did you call Kai?

Cissy: Yeah, she’s probably surfing.

Butchie: And he’s not surfing?

Cissy: His wetsuit’s still at the house. Those fucking assholes didn’t see him …

Butchie: What assholes?

Cissy: I’m telling you he’s gone! And I wanna know where your friend is who said he would be.

Butchie: That skinny bitch with the camera’s place. OK, I’m on it Ma. I’ll go over there right now.

(Cut to Bill’s house interior. We see Bill standing and holding Zippy’s empty cage)

Bill: I put him in against a whole different weight class, they wipe him from the face of the earth. Christ! Shaun is gone and Zip is gone on my watch, do you understand? And that’s the sum and substance of it from here on in. Stand watch and fail and stand watch and fail and lose ‘em all one after another!

(Cut to the Snug Harbor as Palaka and Freddy arrive in their car.)

Palaka: Cell phone on alarm, relentless three minute intervals how ever many hours I was on watch, boss. And boss, it never went off, boss. And you wanna know why?

Freddy: I’m gonna break your other fuckin’ wrist.

Palaka: Because I never fell asleep. That kid had to have turned into mercury and oozed below my watch post at that fence and turned into a tiny silver ball …

Freddy: Meaning it was me he got past!

Palaka: No no, god forbid I think that.

(As they are walking towards Freddy’s room, we see Butchie rushing out of his room and hopping into his van, then driving away. We also see Ramon in his bathrobe, watching the comings and goings.)

Palaka: (Now inside Freddy’s room) You do not buy a gift and not give it. That’s the oldest bad luck in the world. (We see Palaka with a teddy bear that’s dressed up like Fonzy) Bought for good luck, specifically .. you on your visit to the mainland. You break my wrist the minute I don’t give it, disaster on disaster since. Never ever a streak as worse as this. (Freddy grabs the bear from him and throws it out the door to the room. Palaka hurries to go get it.) ‘Scuse me. If you’ll allow me past …(He goes out and retrieves the bear and again offers it to Freddy) I’d just as soon you don’t put a beating on me, or a skull fracture, and I hope this could break the bad luck and please just take it … take it under that set of circumstances. (pause) For the boy.

(Freddy takes the bear and looks at it, then walks outside the room with Palaka peering out after him. Freddy spots Barry unloading groceries from his car and walks towards him. As Barry sees Freddy and gets a closer look at him, he looks alarmed. Freddy tosses the bear at Barry’s feet.)

Freddy: For the boy. That boy Shaun’s gone. (Ramon hears this, and he and Barry both look surprised. Freddy walks back into his room. Barry puts down his groceries and walks off to the barroom as Ramon watches).

(Cut to the interior of a suite of empty, run down offices. We see Dr Smith approaching from outside and open the front door with a key. We watch as he looks around the reception area, then walks down a long hallway with many rooms on either side. He turns and goes into one room and stands in it looking around. )

(Cut to the Snug Harbor bar as Barry is walking in. Barry has very tense expression as he walks in and past the seated ghost of Mr Rollins. As Barry passes, we also see Shaun seated at the bar. )

(Cut back to Dr Smith as he is leaving the room where we left him. He hurries up the hallway and out the front of the offices.)

(Cut to the I.B. beach as Tina is walking out onto the sand. We see Linc jogging, and he spots Tina and jogs over to her.)

Tina: Cissy called you. Shaun’s gone. Do you know where he is?

Linc: No, how would I know?

Tina: ‘Cause you signed him last night. She thought maybe you took him somewhere. (She’s handing Linc his phone)

Linc: Tina, I’m right here with you. You saw me go out for a jog.

Tina: What did I do?

Linc: What, so you’re the one who took him?

Tina: I shouldn’t have come down here.

Linc: (Dialing the phone.) I’ll do what I do, I’ll find him. Get me to the hotel. You should go to Cissy’s shop. You need to be with people right now.

Tina: That where Cissy’s gonna be?

Linc: You’re the one who talked to her, Tina. (Speaks into the phone) Hang on, Jake.

Tina: Give her one more thing to freak out about.

Linc: Maybe that’s what she needs.

(Cut to the café as Dwayne is seated in front of his computer. On the computer screen we see an image of 2 “monad symbols”, one large and one small)

Dwayne: It’s conceivable this is meant to be reassuring.

Jerri: If you’ve lived your life with your head up your ass.

Dwayne: The last tape showed one figure on the sheet behind Butchie’s friend and Butchie’s friend says, “Shaun will soon be gone.” This tape shows two figures on the sheet and no speaker. Assume one of the figures is Butchie’s friend, the other is Shaun and both are now gone, that’s a confirmation of the previous message.

Jerri: Proving Butchie’s friend’s a sadist and a kidnapper.

Dwayne: It’s only sadistic if he intends harm.

Jerri: That the fuck but harm would he be intending … to fucking kidnap someone?

(We hear knocking on the door, then see Dickstein outside the cafe looking in) Fuck sake, Dickstein.

Dickstein: It’s me, Meyer Dickstein! (Jerri walks to the door)

Jerri: Don’t I fuckin’ know who you are? And doesn’t that sign at your balls say “closed”?

Dickstein: I had a dream I was supposed to come over here.

Jerri: Go away.

Dickstein: Did you hear what I just said?

Jerri: Yes, Dickstein. Lay down, take a nap and dream you’re supposed to fucking leave.

(Cissy bursts up behind Dickstein and pushes him aside)

Cissy: Move, goddamn it.

Dickstein: Excuse me. (Jerri opens the door for Cissy)

Cissy: He’s gone, Shaunie.

Dwayne: We know.

(Cut to Cass’ hotel room as Butchie is knocking on the door.)

Butchie: It’s Butchie Yost, looking for John. (We see that Cass’ computer has the same image on it as Dwayne’s did)

Cass: He’s not here …that I’m aware of.

Butchie: Can I come in for a second? (Cass starts to open the door, then Butchie suddenly pushes open the door and bursts in, shoving Cass back against the wall with his hand on her chest) Your roommate grabbed my kid.

Cass: Oh, my god!

Butchie: Are you gonna tell me what you know?

Cass: Yes. Yes, of course.

(Cut back to the café)

Dwayne: Food for thought, anyway …as a basis for believing Shaun’s safe, I’m saying.

Jerri: You would think sending messages means he’s looking for ransom.

Cissy: People kill kids … and ask for ransom.

Dwayne: Uh, the notice before the fact is what I’m proposing as a basis for belief.

Dickstein: It certainly invites an answer.

Dwayne: Wouldn’t this be a good time to involve the police?

Cissy: Sure, they hate us, and who the hell do we say John is? (She heads for the door)

Dickstein: Don’t you want to help me write a draft?

Cissy: I’m gonna look for him!

Jerri: (Closing the door behind Cissy and locking it, then turns to Dickstein.) Hurry up!

Dickstein: “To whoever’s gone with Shaun…”

(Cut back to Cass’s room, she and Butchie are looking at video footage of some sort of “tribal dancing” with John in the picture)

Butchie: Where’s the fucking canoe trip to Yosemite?

Cass: It’s…it’s what he wanted.

Butchie: Well, he told you these places to go?

Cass: No, he said, “drive”, then he’d say “stop” and then he’d say “work here”.

Butchie: Oh – OK turn it off.

Cass: I think he’s on some kind of automatic pilot.

Butchie: Yeah, maybe he’s a commercial plane.

Cass: Like, he hears something, and then his program tells him what to say back.

Butchie: Yeah, but who put his program in?

Cass: I don’t know. I mean, he says, “My father did this” or “My father did that”.

Butchie: Or the president of American Airlines. And it’s like he’s programmed to fake “Oh, I’m sad”, “Oh I’m happy” or whatever else he fucking does.

Cass: Yeah, and he’ll look like something makes him sad or happy if it’s in his programming, I …I don’t know.

Butchie: And what’s the connection to my father going up in the air and all that other fucking shit?

Cass: I don’t know.

Butchie: Well, I guess you don’t know fucking much now, do you?

Cass: No, I guess not.

Butchie: (Sighs, then grabs a pencil and starts writing on a sticky pad) So… if he fuckin’ shows up or anything, or if he fuckin’ calls …

Cass: Yeah, I…I call that number.

Butchie: Right. That’s mine. This is my fuckin’ mother’s. And here is the other fuckin’ mother. (He starts to leave then turns back to Cass) Did I hurt your tit or anything?

Cass: No.

Butchie: OK. You’ve got the numbers.

(Cut to the beach as Kai is coming out of the water. She reaches her stuff on the beach and picks up her phone. She checks her messages and hears Cissy’s frantic message: “Kai, Shaunie’s gone!”)

(Cut to a view of Cissy at the pier, she is going from one person to the next, showing them Shaun’s photo. )

(Cut to Bill’s house, he is sitting and suddenly realizes that a white bird is making sounds like Zippy. )

Bill: (To the white bird) Zip? Zip, is that you? (He appears to be listening to the bird) Please forgive me! How could I have been so mistaken? Your wish is my command…your ladyship. (He picks up Zippy’s empty cage and starts to the door.) It’s Bill Jacks commencing recon for both the missing. And please forgive me for being so slow on the uptake. (To himself as he is leaving: ) Never once communicated previous 15 years.

(Cut to the Snug Harbor, we see Barry slowly exiting the back of the barroom. Dr Smith is walking past and sees him, then comes over to Barry.)

Smith: Mr. Cunningham?

Barry: Go away! (Barry shrinks from Smith and holds his hands up like for karate) I’m serious!

Smith: What’s happened?

Barry: This is my property, I’ll have you arrested.

Smith: (Slowly approaching Barry and reaches out to him.) For what? Barry…

Barry: Just don’t … don’t touch me! Don’t put your hands on me!

Smith: I’ve had terrible dreams too.

Barry: Oh, not like this.

Smith: Yes, I have.

Barry: I dreamed about…Butchie’s son… there in the bar.

Smith: You dreamt he was in the bar?

Barry: Now he’s gone.

Smith: Things don’t happen because we’ve dreamt them.

Barry: No one should go in there! I should have leveled the place!

Smith: Why don’t we go inside?

Barry: Are you crazy?

Smith: Definitely. (Smith gently takes Barry’s hand and starts to lead him back into the bar. We see that Palaka has been watching them)

Palaka: The doctor is in!

(Cut to Cissy on the pier, she is approaching Joe as he is fishing)

Cissy: My grandson’s missing. Have you seen him?

Joe: Not today. Ah, he was…he was out here yesterday with that frat boy. (pointing to the beach)

Cissy: What frat boy?

Joe: Tall drink of water with the poodle haircut.

Cissy: John?

Joe: Yeah, that’s him. I’ll uh, I’ll check into it. I’ll ask the boys down at the V.F.W. There’s not much around here they don’t know about.

Cissy: Thank you.

Joe: I… I’d be the last one to say he’s not strange, but I’d have said till now, he’s harmless.

(Cut to the surf shop, Butchie and Kai are hugging and talking)

Butchie: You know, he could be brainwashed, he could be on automatic pilot or any other fucking thing. John would hurt himself before he’s hurt Shaunie. I mean John, he … can’t even take a dump, how’s he gonna be a master criminal?

Kai: “Did you dump out today, Kai?” That, he said, trying to make me feel better. Sweet and stupid… like you.

Butchie: When?

Kai: At the hospital when Shaunie had his accident.

Butchie: I said that at my crib, Kai, trying to make him feel better.

Kai: Are you telling me John repeated what someone else said to him?

Butchie: Hey Kai, what if John thinks “A+ for fume control” means he hopes you feel better?

Kai: If he wants us to feel better, why’d he take Shaun?

Butchie: ‘Cause his pilot’s got him on override.

Kai: Well if John’s on override, how do we know he wouldn’t hurt Shaun?

Butchie: Because John’s automatic pilot wouldn’t be an asshole. That’s the secret code to us from his pilot, Kai.

Kai: What?

Butchie: “John can’t dump”. “I’m not an asshole”.

Kai: How in the fuck did I miss that? (We hear the door as Tina enters. Tina sees them hugging)

Butchie: We were just talking about Shaunie, how we know he’s gonna be alright.

Tina: How?

(Cut to the street outside the surf shop, where we see Linc and Jake leaning against Linc’s car)

Linc: Kid needs to be looked for and it has to happen under the radar.

Jake: That P.I. in Del Mar… made Wonderboy’s date-rape thing go away?

Linc: Use him.

Jake: You know, that congressman whose kid tagged along with the team in the tuamotus?

Linc: Arliano.

Jake: Yeah, he’s part of some… intelligence oversight committee. He can notify the bureau on the Q.T.

Linc: Good.

Jake: I’ll do that right away.

Linc: Thanks a lot. (They are looking at the back of Butchie’s van.)

Jake: Butchie’s ride, no? Should I be wearing Kevlar?

(Butchie, Kai and Tina exit the surf shop, they see Linc and Jake and looks are exchanged all around. )

Tina: (To Butchie) He’s helping find Shaun. (They start walking towards Linc. From across the street at the café, Jerri sees this development and comes out of the café saying “Ah, Christ, look at this”. Butchie walks over and faces Linc.)

Butchie: Every fuckin’ promise I ever made, I broke.

Linc: Do what you gotta do. (Butchie slowly raises his fist, then suddenly punches Linc in the face. Linc falls over. Jerri hurries over from the café. From the ground, Linc looks up at Butchie.) There’s one in a row you’ve kept.

Jerri: (To Kai.) Not that what they’re on about ain’t making the boy’s recovery imminent, the hairlip thinks he’s onto something.

(Cut to the beach, where we see Cissy hurrying under the pier to show Shaun’s photo to some homeless bums. As she leaves there, she sees Shaun’s surfing friends coming out of the water and runs over to them. She sends them off to look for Shaun. Next we see Joe at the V.F.W. talking to one of his drinking buddies. He sends the guy off to look for Shaun. Then we see Shaun’s friends asking other kids to help look for Shaun and they all run off together. We also see the V.F.W. guy talking to people on the street. )

(Cut to the Snug Harbor bar interior. We see Smith and Barry at the pool table, talking as Smith plays with a ball on the pool table)

Smith: When we met, just now, I was coming back from the clinic I’ve leased across the street. I’d gotten scared there in an examining room. I’d been imagining days to come, the people I’d be caring for, their gratitude to a physician of my credentials choosing to work with the poor and underserved. (As Smith is speaking, we see Barry crying and exchanging looks with the ghost of Mr Rollins) The day before, standing in that room, I’d felt that I had heard those patients voices thanking me. Not hearing them today, I saw that the room was ramshackle and dirty. (He takes Barry’s hand) Not hearing the hallelujah soundtrack frightened me, made me run. I’d better get that place opened up. (Barry exchanges looks with Mr Rollins and with Shaun at the bar, then sighs) Shall we go?

(Cut to the street outside Rosa-the-Avon-lady’s house as Ramon is walking by in his best suit-jacket. Ramon notices her roses, and stops to smell them. Rosa is sitting out in a lawn chair with some crocheting and watches him. They exchange greeting is Spanish and talk for a short while. No Spanish translation is available at this time. Rosa offers him an Avon catalog, which he declines, then he changes his mind and takes one. He thanks her then walks off towards the Snug Harbor)

(Cut to the Snug Harbor as Barry and Smith are leaving the back of the bar, hand-in-hand. They see Ramon approaching as he also sees them. Barry is now smiling broadly)

Ramon: (Indicating his suit jacket) Church. Praying for the boy.

Barry: (Holding up his and Smith’s hands) Just married.

Ramon: (He seems excited about something and holds out the Avon Catalog) Look what Rosa gave me.

Barry: (Takes the catalog and looks at it) Avon. Wonderful. (He opens it and looks through) The care that must go into creating lipstick shades for women of color.

Ramon: (Pointing to the catalog) Go to the middle.

Barry: Oh yes. (Smith is looking at the pages in the catalog, as is Barry. Smith looks surprised and looks at Ramon. Ramon nods: “Yes”.)

Smith: Please excuse me. You stay right there. (He rushes off)

Barry: Thank you!

Smith: I’m coming right back!

Barry: What an extraordinary man.

Ramon: Listen to me. Look at this. (Pointing to the catalog. Barry holds it up and we can see that there are many “monad symbols” printed across the pages as though they have magically appeared there)

Barry: I am looking. I am seeing … Avon in an entirely new light.

Ramon: This is big. This is huge.

Barry: I think it very well could be.

Ramon: I want to cook something.

Barry: I could eat. (We see Smith on the 2^nd floor balcony of the motel with his Avon Catalog)

Smith: Look!

Barry: Come closer! (Smith runs over to them with his catalog)

Smith: Look! (He holds the catalog up and we see that it has the same monad symbols on the same pages.)

Barry: Those same marvelous figures.

Smith: (to Ramon) What did she tell you about these?

Ramon: Nothing.

Smith: This is huge.

Barry: Ramon’s thinking of cooking.

Smith: I’m sure the Yosts would appreciate that.

(Cut to the Yost kitchen, we see Mitch carefully coming in the door and looking around. Erlemeyer follows him in)

Mitch: Yeah, we built a-a room in the back for our grandson.

Erlemeyer: Oh. Is he different after what happened?

Mitch: (Realizing that he doesn’t have a clue) Well that’s hard to say. You know? So, uh, you… you want a-a water? (Erlemeyer motions a yes, Mitch goes and gets one from the fridge as Erlemeyer is looking at Mitch’s surfing trophies on a shelf. Mitch returns with the water) Yeah, they’re going green.

Erlemeyer: Dust to dust. Thanks.

(Cut to a street in I.B. We see Bill in his truck pull up behind the cop Anderson who is writing a motorist a ticket. Bill gets out of his truck and approached Anderson)

Bill: Anderson! Anderson!

Anderson: Get back in your vehicle sir!

Bill: A situation … individuals you wanna be lookin’ for – in an unofficial capacity.

Anderson: Stop right where you are! Step off the street please!

Bill: (Frustrated) Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ! (He walks over to the curb to wait. A young guy on a skateboard skates by Bill and says: )

Guy: Still skating officer Jacks!

Bill: Until you break your goddamn neck! (Anderson finishes with the motorist and sends him away, then walks over to Bill)

Anderson: What a coincidence running into you, Bill. Seeing as you’re the reason I’m out here.

Bill: Be on the lookout for a white male, Anderson, early to mid 20’s, 6’2”, medium build, brown hair in a poodle cut.

Anderson: You know I’m writing summonses on the street the next 10 days because you stole the handle off a drinking fountain at the station house and I covered for your ass!

Bill: Anderson! Anderson! You’ve gotta focus on the matter at hand! (Bill lays on the hood of his truck, clearly distressed. Anderson sees this and starts to pay attention)

Anderson: All right, tell me what’s he done, this guy we’re looking for under the radar.

(Cut to Mitch’s fort interior as he enters with Erlemeyer. They see the disarray that Cissy has left there. Erlemeyer looks off in the distance behind the property and sees the military radio facility across the lagoon. He stares at it for a bit while Mitch is inside looking at the damage)

Mitch: Neighborhood punks.

Erlemeyer: Yeah. (We see Cissy pulling into the driveway and hear her car. Mitch goes outside to look. Mitch goes down the stairs, and meets Cissy coming up the driveway. She takes a big swing at Mitch and misses. Mitch grabs her to restrain her.)

Mitch: (struggling) Jeez, goddamn… Cissy! Goddamn it!

Cissy: Fuck you! (Panting) Is that … that’s the fucking chemist, isn’t it! Huh! I hope you brought a carload of acid, Mitch, and some beads and a fucking bong! (Still struggling with Mitch as Erlemeyer pretends to not notice) Shaunie’s gone! He’s been taken!

Mitch: You wanna tell me what you mean? (He lets her go)

Cissy: He was here last night… in his bed! And now he’s gone!

Mitch: And you looked…

Cissy: Fuck you! Fuck you!! (She storms off towards the house.) Everywhere! (Goes inside)

Mitch: (To Erlemeyer, who’s still pretending not to notice) Excuse me. (Mitch goes inside leaving Erlemeyer alone. Erlemeyer is trying to see over the fence in the direction of the radio facility)

(Cut to the Yost kitchen as Mitch enters. Cissy is dumping her purse out, looking for a cig.)

Cissy: I’ve looked! We’ve looked! Everybody’s looking who isn’t soul surfing in Baja with fucking Captain Crunch!

Mitch: Will you walk me through it?

Cissy: Walk you through what?

Mitch: Well, everything. What happened?

Cissy: Why? What the fuck are you gonna do about it?! (She shoves the butcher-block island into Mitch’s legs)

Mitch: Goddamn it! (He tosses the island aside and steps into her face) Maybe I can help.

(We see Erlemeyer in the yard looking around. He notices a rake next to the house and picks it up. He carries the rake up the stairs to Mitch’s fort)

(Back inside again)

Mitch: OK, there’s a tape on the computer, and John says, “Shaun will be gone.”

Cissy: In front of a black curtain.

Mitch: Yeah, I know that Cissy. I just don’t know why that’s important.

Cissy: He looked like a fuckin’ raghead!

Mitch: He was wearing a burnoose?

Cissy: What’s a bur-moose, asshole?

Mitch: The – the covering they wear on their heads.

Cissy: No!

Mitch: Well then, that made him look like an Arab?

Cissy: It looked like one of those terrorist threat messages.

Mitch: Oh, Jesus!

Cissy: There was a stick figure drawn on the curtain in white chalk or paint or some fucking thing! Bill questioned him about it.

Mitch: How could Bill question him if they’ve disappeared?

Cissy: Um… the message was posted, we freaked out, John came back, Bill questions him… and Freddy…

Mitch: About where Shaun was?

Cissy: And Shaun was at fucking SeaWorld with that bitch who spit him out.

Mitch: Oh… All right, Cissy, I’m trying to follow.

Cissy: Bill questions him. Freddy questions him. The bitch brings him back from the dolphin tank. Everything looks like it’s all right. Linc signs Shaun to a contract…

Mitch: What the fuck?!

Cissy: (She hauls off and kicks Mitch hard in his bad leg) Piss in my ear about that with Shaun kidnapped! (Mitch is in pain, she realizes she has hurt him)

Mitch: You know, if Freddy talked to John, either John told him what’s going on or he’s in pieces in a freezer someplace.

Cissy: He walked out of that room covered in blood.

Mitch: John?

Cissy: And happy as a clam.

Mitch: Well that’s it! The guy’s got some kind of supernatural power!

Cissy: Oh really? You think so. Mitch?

Mitch: Yeah, and it’s obviously part of something that’s bigger than he is, Cissy. If you remember, I went up in the air.

Cissy: Why couldn’t you have gone off a cliff?

Mitch: OK, OK.

Cissy: And there’s been another fuckin’ message, OK? Another curtain. No John… two stick figures.

Mitch: Any message?

Cissy: I just said there was another fuckin’ message!

Mitch: I know, I…but…with…words, like “Shaun will be gone” like there was with the last one?

Cissy: No!

Mitch: So… but they’re both gone. Look… somebody has got to walk point.

Cissy: What do you mean: “Walk point”?

Mitch: Like talk to the cops and the press and the…that whole deal.

Cissy: And you would do that?

Mitch: Yeah, well, I did the public service announcements. “Clean up the sloughs.”

Cissy: And you hated it.

Mitch: Yeah, but I did it, Cissy. That’s the point. I’m ju….I’m just saying give me the weight. That’s all I’m saying. I’m here. Let me take it.

(Cut to Freddy’s motel room, he and Palaka are together, Palaka is keeping watch at the door.)

Freddy: Tell me what you see. (Palaka turns around and looks at Freddy)

Palaka: You. (Freddy gives him a dirty look and Palaka turns around again) Uh, looking at the gin mill, what do I see? Nothing since they…they closed the door behind them. The Mexican, the doctor and the homo.

Freddy: Find out what’s going on.

Palaka: Go over…just…

Freddy: Find out what they’re doing in there.

Palaka: I’ll just ask ‘em, that’s all, right? It’s supposed to be a closed premises. (We see Dickstein drive in to the lot and park) It’s the lawyer getting out of the Lexus. Hey! They’re in the bar! Them two that I see you with, they’re in with the physician! (Dickstein waves and heads to the bar. ) So now…I go over, right? “Did you get in alright?” and so forth. How I open with the Jew.

Freddy: Ask him what happened to my bear.

(Cut to Mitch’s fort, we see Erlemeyer using the rake to pile up all the Cissy debris into a pile in the center of the room.)

(Cut to the Snug Harbor bar, the group is seated at a table and comparing the 2 examples of the Avon catalogs. Dickstein walks in)

Dickstein: I… we uh… Dwayne… who has the cleft palate, spends him time in the internet café…

Ramon: What about him?

Dickstein: Dwayne and I sent a message to those responsible for Shaun Yost’s disappearance.

Ramon: Did they get it?

Dickstein: We don’t know. We don’t know. (Palaka comes into the bar and sort of lurks by the door)

Palaka: (Looking at a painting on the wall) Hey, uh, that’s cool. (To Barry) He wonders what did you do with his bear?

Barry: He’s keeping company with Teddy.

Palaka: Well he’d also like to be ascertained what’s goin’ on in here.

Barry: Just boys being boys.

Palaka: Boys… yeah. I - uh…I’ll tell him. (He backs out the back door. As he does, Dwayne comes in the front door with his laptop computer and sets it down on the table.)

Dwayne: This is big.

(In the parking area, Freddy is checking an old pay phone for change)

Palaka: What do you got, anything? Good?

(Back inside the bar, we see Dwayne’s computer screen. There’s an image on it of many monad figures. )

Dwayne: Contact. (Everyone looks at this with surprise. Smith gets up and walks out quietly. Ramon looks up towards the bar and points for Barry to look. Everyone looks at the valance above the bar, Barry turns and faces the bar)

Barry: I didn’t know I’d placed an order. (We see that over the bar, there is a row of 15 randomly spaced monad figures on the valance. I note that the closed captions state that Barry’s line is: “Avon calling” )

(Back in the parking lot)

Palaka: Status quo there…know what I’m saying? At a table, the most part. (We see Smith walking away)

Freddy: Physician, maybe off to his, uh, clinic.

(Cut to a shot from the pier, looking back at I.B.)

(Cut to the front yard at the Yost house, where Mitch is talking to a crowd of reporters)

Mitch: Well, actually my wife and I are hoping this is just a case of our grandson failing to check in.

Reporter: Now when you say his companion is strange…

Mitch: Well, he might… kind of might give the impression of having, uh, a mental disorder, retardation.

Reporter: And you believe he’s a danger to your grandson?

Mitch: Umm… I’m not absolutely… prepared to say that.

Reporter: Well what are you absolutely prepared to say?

2^nd Reporter: Were they already friends when your grandson had his accident?

Mitch: What we know for sure is that my grandson’s missing, that’s why we involved the press.

(Cut to inside the Yost house, Butchie is with Cissy as they watch Mitch.)

Butchie: Dad looks like he wants to take poison.

Cissy: (laughs) What if he tells those reporters he can float…like a blimp?

Butchie: He can, mom. I saw it.

Cissy: Who cares what you saw? Or how many figures show up on that hairlip’s computer screen?

Butchie: Me. It makes me believe he’s coming back.

Cissy: Good. Good. That and two dimes of dope, you should be sitting pretty.

Butchie: Anyways…

Cissy: That’s right, now run.

Butchie: I’m not running anywhere, ma. I’m going over the fence and I’m going out on the water.

Cissy: Good. Try to find time to fuck yourself on the way. (Butchie turns and looks at her for a bit)

Butchie: It’s gonna be all right.

Cissy: Where’s fucking Kai!

Butchie: I don’t know. Somewheres waiting for Shaunie. (He leaves)

(Cut to the Snug Harbor parking lot. Dickstein is helping Ramon cook up a feast on the barbie)

Dickstein: Got dressed, headed over to the internet café like a man possessed.

Ramon: You go there every morning.

Dickstein: I never felt before like I had to, Ramon. And I went… and I saw that they needed me and I improvised that communication. And… it was answered.

Ramon: You gonna improvise another one? “What does your last answer mean”? them stick figures in them catalogs and over the bar?

Dickstein: “To whoever’s gone with Shaun…”

Ramon: This is ready. There’s some more stuff packed in the office. How about giving me a hand taking this over to the Yosts?

Dickstein: Of course.

(Ramon grabs a shopping cart for the food. Dickstein comes out of the office with a virtual mountain of foil trays and pans of food.)

Dickstein: I can barely see where I’m going. (He adds this to Ramon’s huge pan of dogs and burgers in the shopping cart. They have nearly filled the cart with trays of food.)

(Cut to the Yost back yard. We see Cissy carrying a plate of tuna sandwich up the stairs.)

Cissy: Chemist! You want tuna?

Erlemeyer: Thank you.

Cissy: Come down after you’re done if you feel like it.

(On the street in front of the Yost house, we see Tina and Linc sitting in her Mustang and looking at the small crowd of reporters.)

Tina: There’s no way he’ll come back if I’m here.

Linc: When they’re done doing whatever it is they do to you, what do they do, pile drive your head into the floor?

Tina: What are you talking about?

Linc: What… you’re making sense and then you talk so fuckin’ stupid.

Tina: Fuck you.

Linc: You came back to be his mother, right? Because that’s who you said you wanted to be. Aren’t you still his fucking mother? Couldn’t you do him some good being his mother…. Right now? How about if you go up there and you say “Please bring my son back. I know I’ve been bad. Give me a chance, I’ll be better, but…please bring my boy back”?

Tina: I can’t. I can’t go out there. I wish I could. I’ll fall apart. I’ll fuck it up.

Linc: Then stay in here and tell god.

Mitch: (Still with the reporters) We’re… we’re very grateful for your cooperation. (Bill is walking around the perimeter of the Yost house, as we see Anderson drive up in his personal car)

Anderson: What’s the word, Jacks?

Bill: Anderson! How you doing?

Anderson: They still haven’t filed a missing persons report?

Bill: Not at this juncture.

Anderson: You want me to spell you?

Bill: No thanks, I’m fine.

Anderson: All right, Bill.

Bill: Thanks for stopping by.

(Dickstein and Ramon are arriving with their mountain of food)

Bill: Hold on there! Let’s see what you got. (He checks out the food then directs them to the house)

Mitch: (To reporters) He’s grown a lot since this was taken. Uh, I couldn’t exactly say exactly how much. (Showing Shaun’s photo to the reporters)

(Inside the house, Cissy is with Erlemeyer)

Cissy: I don’t know what he’s saying, but I know he’s fucking up.

Erlemeyer: That was the man back in the day. And that chick that hung with him… ah… the hottest piece of ass on those beaches.

Cissy: Yeah well, those days are gone.

Erlemeyer: I still recognize the both of you.

(Cut to Freddy, lying in his bed and talking to the ceiling)

Freddy: Whoever I fuckin’ ran away from in that volcano 25 years ago, I’m talking to you. I don’t give a fuck. I don’t need to understand. (We see Palaka lying in his bed in the next room, listening) I would ask you, avoid harming that kid. I would say I am here to ask you. I would say I came here to be here. I came to California… to ask. Whatever’s gonna happen…

(Cut to the café. We see Dwayne at his computer as Jerri pulls her shirt over his head from behind.)

Jerri: What are these tits telling you, Rock? Rubbing up against those sexy jug ears.

Dwayne: Closing time?

Jerri: Correct. (She pulls her shirt off his head.)

Dwayne: If you’ll trust me with the key, I’ll lock up.

Jerri: Spare’s under the planter out back. (She turns and leaves him watching the screen)

(Cut to the beach near the pier, we see Kai sitting alone and watching the water. It’s twilight, and she is watching Butchie who’s sitting on his board out in the water. Butchie is just sitting and staring out. Kai looks around and notices Cass up on the pier. Cass has her camera, and appears to be filming Butchie. Cass looks around and sees Kai. They look at each other for a bit, they are about 50 yards apart. As we watch Butchie sitting alone in the water, music starts playing. The song is “Hold On, I’m Coming”. Fade to black.)

Click for music from the Credits

Directed by: Adam Davidson
Written by: Wayne Loren Wilson

Mitch Yost:  Bruce Greenwood Cissy Yost: Rebecca De Mornay Bill Jacks: Ed O'Neill Barry Cunningham: Matt Winston Linc Stark: Luke Perry Kai: Keala Kennelley Dr Michael Smith:  Garret Dillahunt Palaka: Paul Ben Victor Tina Blake: Chandra West Daphne: Jennifer Grey Erlemeyer: Howard Hesseman	Butchie Yost: Brian Van Holt John Monad: Austin Nichols Ramon Gaviota: Luis Guzman Shaun Yost: Greyson Fletcher Meyer Dickstein: Willie Garson Vietnam Joe: Jim Beaver Cass:  Emily Rose Steady Freddy Lopez:  Dayton Callie Jerri: Paula Malcomson Dwayne: Matt Maher Jake Ferris: Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Transcript last updated on 08/13/2007
John from Cincinnati transcript from www.calamitydan.com These transcriptions are the property of CalamityDan.com, and are intended solely for entertainment purposes. No copying or public distribution is permitted. Possession or use by anyone other than authorized members of CalamityDan.com is cause for cuttin' some throat.