Crackers In Bed

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In Chapter 5 of FILLMORE, after going to church, Clarence reveals to his mother that he wants to be a blues singer. Later that day, Clarence and his friend show a couple of white boys where they can get laid ... if they buy them some booze ...


EXT. SOUTHERN BAPIST CHURCH - DAY
A bright, sunny Sunday morning.
A stream of TOWNSPEOPLE stream into
a big, beautiful, old church.

INT. SOUTHERN BAPIST CHURCH - DAY
The joint is packed.
A group of GOSPEL SINGERS
stand off to the side, singing their hearts out.

Everyone sings along, making the rafter shake.
It’s glorious, moving, inspiring.

They finish. People in the crowd shout out AMEN,
PRAISE JESUS and PRAISE THE LORD.
The PREACHER (50’s) appears.

PREACHER
Let’s everyone come up to the altar to pray.

Everyone starts coming up to the front row.

PREACHER
Thank you for coming today to hear the good word.
Before today’s sermon, let us kneel and pray.

IN THE FRONT ROW
We see Clarence, Idola, John and siblings
sitting and watching, dressed in their Sunday finest.

Clarence is wearing a beautiful,
brand-new powder blue suit.

The Sims family and most of the
congregation starts to kneel.

Clarence takes a handkerchief out of his pocket --
it’s the same color as his suit --
and places it on the floor.

Then kneels on it.
People notice. Stare at him.

IDOLA
(whispers to John)
What’s that boy doing?

CLARENCE
(hears her)
It’s a new suit, Momma --

INT. CLARENCE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Idola sits at the piano quietly playing a gospel song.
Softly humming along. She’s really good.

Clarence walks in the room,
now in jeans and t-shirt.

CLARENCE
That’s really nice, Momma.

IDOLA
(nods, smiles)
Haven’t heard you play in awhile.
You been keeping up with your lessons?

CLARENCE
Yes, Ma’am.

IDOLA
Come over here. I want to talk to you.

He walks over to her.

IDOLA
You know I love you very much, right?

CLARENCE
And I love you.
(beat)
Did I do something wrong?

IDOLA
No. For once, you haven’t --
(beat)
I’m worried about you, Clarence.
You’re always getting in trouble,
making mischief --
(off his look)
Don’t you want to make
something of yourself in life?

CLARENCE
Of course I do.

IDOLA
Do you know what you want to DO?

CLARENCE
I’m gonna be a blues singer, Momma.

IDOLA
It’s awfully hard to make a living
doing that, Clarence.

CLARENCE
It’s the only thing that makes me happy.
Entertaining people.

She looks at him long and hard.
His eyes, full of passion.

CLARENCE
Can I go outside and play now?

IDOLA
Did you do your chores?

CLARENCE
Of course.

IDOLA
Then go run along now.

He smiles. RUNS to the front door. Goes outside.
She watches him go. Sighs.

IDOLA
Lord have mercy --

EXT. CLARENCE’S HOUSE - REAR - NIGHT
Crickets chirp in the humid night air.
A window quietly opens.

Clarence climbs out.
RUNS into the woods.

EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHT
Clarence and his Joe walk down the street,
enjoying the night.

They pass a bar.
Look in the window.

CLARENCE
I wanna go in there. Have a drink.

JOE
But we’re not old enough.

A couple of grinning WHITE BOYS (18)
walk over to them.

TALL WHITE BOY
(to Clarence)
Hey, boy.

CLARENCE
What.

TALL WHITE BOY
You know where a guy
can get laid around here?

CLARENCE
You want a colored girl?

CHUBBY WHITE BOY
What do you think we’re doing
in this part of town?

CLARENCE
Buy us some liquor and we’ll show you.

EXT. WHORE HOUSE - NIGHT
The joint we saw before
on the outskirts of town.
But now it’s come alive.

On the front porch of each bungalow
sits a HOOKER (20’s) showing off her
wares under colored lights.

A fancy roadster pulls up to the curb. Stops.
Clarence, Joe and the white boys get out.

Clarence and Joe carry bottles of booze
in paper sacks, followed by Tall and Chubby.

CLARENCE
This is it.

TALL WHITE BOY
Looks kinda -- nasty.

CLARENCE
Isn’t that what you want?

Chubby pulls a quarter out of his pocket.
Flips it at him.

CHUBBY WHITE BOY
Thanks, boy.
Now get your black asses outta here
and go back to your momma --

TALL WHITE BOY
Maybe have yourself some chitlins.

They LAUGH and walk toward the bungalows.

CLARENCE
Stupid fucking crackers.

He takes a big swallow of his bottle.
Wipes his mouth with his sleeve.
Stares at the bungalow they went into.

CLARENCE
I’d sure like to mess them up.

JOE
Then let’s do it --

EXT. WHORE HOUSE - NIGHT - LATER
Tall and Chubby come out the front door,
laughing, drunk, weaving down the steps.

TALL WHITE BOY
Colored PUSSY.
That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

CHUBBY WHITE BOY
Whoah. I’m seeing DOUBLE --

They swerve onto the sidewalk. Stop.

CHUBBY WHITE BOY
Fuck. I’m gonna get --

He PUKES A GEYSER OF BROWN VOMIT onto the grass.

TALL WHITE BOY
Somebody’s FUCKED-UP.

Clarence and Joe appear out of the shadows.
holds a length of chain, Joe a steel pipe.

CLARENCE
Give us your wallets, CRACKERS.

JOE
Or we’ll FUCK YOU UP.

TALL WHITE BOY
(weaves, confused)
What the hell?

CHUBBY WHITE BOY
We ain’t giving you --
(hiccups)
Shit.

TALL WHITE BOY
Yeah. Colored piece of SHIT.

Clarence LEAPS forward and
WHACKS Tall with his chain.

TALL WHITE BOY
OW.

He FALLS to the ground, WRITHING in pain.
Joe CRACKS Chubby on the head with the pipe.

He HITS the ground, THWUMP. Knocked out cold.
Clarence and Joe grab their wallets
and their watches -- and RUN AWAY --