EXT. BRIDGES II HALF-WAY HOUSE - DAY
Under sprawling oaks and anorexic palm trees, a Victorian home, all pitched roof and ornate trim, stands proudly.
A stout, shirtless man in denim jeans, work boots and thick goatee steps onto the front porch. Across a bloated stomach in Old English lettering - a tattoo: Sacramaniac.
Jar of coffee in one hand, unlit cigarette between his lips. He flips open one of the white mailboxes nailed along the wall. Envelope inside.
Spitting the cig from his lips, he snatches up the envelope and rips it open with his teeth.
Check fluttering. Snatches it out of the air, writing side up.
CHOAD
'Pay to the order of: Frances Bean McGovern, the sum of: five hundred dollars and zero cents.
Nodding his head enthusiastically.
CHOAD (CONT'D)
Son-of-a-bitch! About fuckin' time.
Bangs on the window closest to the mailboxes - a satisfied grin spreading across his lined and tanned face.
CHOAD (CONT'D)
Rattler! I got my damn SASCA check for you, you sideways son- of-a bitch, you!
INT. RATTLER'S AND ROAN'S 'CELL' - DAY
Rattler bolts upright in the lower bunk. Stringy bed- head, pock marked face.
In the upper bunk, a younger guy with short hair, trendy sideburns, high cheek bones. Bolts upright, suddenly awakened by the noise outside.
RATTLER
(shouting with his eyes closed)
Well, you lucky I ain't gotta throw you out on your fat ass, Choad!
Another tap on the window and moments later, an engine turns over with a roar - a squeal of tires.
Rattler rubs his eyes, groaning. An upside down head suddenly before him.
RATTLER (CONT'D)
You. My new cellie. What's your name again?
ROAN
Roan. Soo what's SASCA?
Rattler plops onto his feet. In a sideways direction, he moves fitfully towards the vanity, towards some smokes on top of the bureau.
SIDEWINDER
Nosy, are we? SASCA is what pays most of the rent for us here ex- cons, Mr. College Boy.
ROAN
Right, but SASCA is an acronym for something else though, right?
SIDEWINDER
A what? Man, you really are a fresh fish, aint'cha?
ROAN
Wait a minute. If Choad got his check then maybe the Peace Corps finally mailed my readjustment allowance! Hey, maybe I'll make rent after all...
YOU ARE READING
Stark Raving Sober
SpiritualIf the film 'Barfly' knocked up the movie 'Election' their lovechild would be 'Stark Raving Sober.' Roan, the freshest fish at a halfway house in Sacramento, think sobriety sucks and rehab is for quitters. On the brink of relapse, he runs into two...
