Sparkle: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Good morning fans. I'm glad to see both of you. Thanks for coming. Come again soon. Come again? Are you coming? Come with me. Come, come. Let's have some fun.

Screened HENRY, PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER last night for the first time in I don't know how many years. My god, is that a twisted movie. Cast of unknows except for character actor Michael Rooker as Henry. The actors playing his brother and girlfriend are white trash perfection. Not for the feint of heart. Absolutely riveting The scene where Henry and his roomie kill a family and videotape it is still in my head. See it, if you dare ...

Speaking of serial killers, get ready for today's sequence from DAZED, BEAUTIFUL & BRUISED, cause it's a doozy. This is a bit longer than usual, but I think you'll think it's worth it. The scenes are all short, and interconnnected ... and from them, a lot of major story points are introduced. So, without any futher adieu ...

Let the games begin.

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INT. THE PLEASURE CHEST - DAY

Sparkle looks at a boxed strap-on harness.

Makes a face. Continues down the aisle, until she sees --

CHROME HANDCUFFS. 'Police issue.'

She smiles, reaches for them.

MALE VOICE (O.S.)

Are those for work -- or play?

Sparkle turns, faces the intruder.

It’s BRUCE BALL. Smiling.

SPARKLE

They’re for a movie.

BRUCE

A movie, huh? Isn’t that funny.

I’m in the movie business myself.

Commercials, mostly -- for now.

SPARKLE

(deadly serious)

It’s an industry town.

Pause.

BRUCE

Yeah. So, listen -- here’s my card.

I’m always casting something.

You’ve got a nice look.

She stares. Ignores the card.

SPARKLE

What do I look like? Talent?

INT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS MANSION - KITCHEN - AT THAT MOMENT

Carrie and Zette get coffee, scope out the craft services.

CARRIE

And I said, 'what do I look like? Talent?'

ZETTE

Vat do you expect when you come to the porno

dressed like Daisy Dykes?

CARRIE

I’m dressed like this cause it’s

a fucking hundred degrees out here

in this cultural wasteland.

Pause.

ZETTE

(takes her hand)

I had fun the other night. Glad you came.

CARRIE

Me, too.

(beat)

Several times, actually.

(awkward)

Listen, there’s something I gotta tell you.

MALE VOICE (O.S.)

You mean she doesn’t know you’re a cop?

Zette and Carrie look.

It’s Bruce.

BRUCE

A plainclothes homicide detective, I believe?

ZETTE

You’re a cop?

CARRIE

I was going to tell you.

(to Bruce)

Bruce Ball? What a surprise.

What are you doing here?

BRUCE

I was just gonna ask you the same thing.

INT. THE COFFEE BEAN CAFE - DAY

Sparkle stands behind the counter in uniform

getting training from the MANAGER,

a flaming queen.

SPARKLE

I was just gonna ask you the same thing.

(brightly)

I’m the bastard, inbred offspring of trailer trash

from a town so poor, Sunday dinner was the junkyard cat.

(beat)

Let me guess. I’d say you’re from --

the east coast. Massachusetts, Connecticut.

One of those Kennedy states.

MANAGER

That’s -- horrible. You’re kidding me, right?

Her smile betrays nothing.

A phone RINGS in the back.

MANAGER (CONT’D)

I’m from Hyannisport, actually.

But how did you --

RING. RING. RING.

SPARKLE

You better get that.

It could be Stephen Cannell’s office with a big order.

MANAGER

(as he leaves)

Yeah -- uh, just help out the customers.

I’ll be right back.

SPARKLE

(low, to herself)

Go ahead. Make my gran-day.

Carrie and Bernie walk in.

SPARKLE’S POV

They glow in a dreamy amber light,

glide in slow-motion.

SPARKLE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Well, fuck me bloody and hang me on a cross --

they’re perfect.

CARRIE AND BERNIE - IN REAL TIME

come up to the counter.

KEKO

I think you set a record for

having your cover blown, doll-face.

CARRIE

Stuff it, Bernie, I’m not in the mood.

Larry put me on this case,

so just back off, boogalo.

(beat)

The little twerp owned the building

where we found that dead, tortured yoga teacher

in the basement dungeon.

I tailed the fucker for a week, but he was clean.

I coulda sworn he never saw me.

(to Sparkle)

I’ll have a grande mochachino with a triple bullshot, please.

Sparkle nods, writes it down.

KEKO

(to Carrie)

Drink much caffeine?

CARRIE

Mind your own fucking business. Order.

SPARKLE

(to Bernie)

Yes, officer -- what can I get you?

KEKO

Officer? How did you know I was --

SPARKLE

That haircut? Those shoes?

This is the Sunset Strip, mister.

Where’d you buy that suit?

Ross Dress for Less?

(beat)

Wait a minute, let me guess.

Coffee. Black. Four sugars.

(beat)

Don’t worry, this is a donut joke-free zone.

She smiles strangely, goes to the coffee machine.

KEKO

Uh -- no, wait --

(looks at menu above)

I’ll have a -- decaf iced latte, little lady.

Sparkle reacts like she’s been stabbed.

CARRIE

Ooh. Macho.

KEKO

Shut up. It’s hot out, I want something cool.

(to Sparkle)

And I’m buying. How much?

SPARKLE

(mumbles to herself)

I’m not your little lady.

KEKO

I’m sorry?

SPARKLE

I said -- that’ll be seven-eighty.

INT. SPARKLE’S TRAILER - FLASHBACK - DAY

Title card reads SIX YEARS EARLIER.

Dot yells at Roscoe, waves a receipt in his face.

DOT

Seven-eighty? For a pack of smokes?

ROSCOE

We were celebratin, I won the Camelot

super-buck scratch-off.

Jimmy said Dunhills were the best.

Said the Rock smokes ‘em.

DOT

The Rock! The Fucking ROCK?!

You and your dumb-ass loser friends!

No wonder we’re fuckin’ BROKE!

She GRABS a saucepan off the stove.

Greasy food SPLATTERS.

ROSCOE

Hey -- be careful with that.

DOT

Let fuckin’ Jimmy fix yer supper!

She THROWS the pan at him.

He ducks, RUNS away --

as it HITS the wall with a CLANG,

food SPRAYING everywhere.

ROSCOE (O.S.)

Fucking crazy, psycho CUNT!

Dot chases after him, into --

INT. TRAILER - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

But Roscoe’s gone. The front door swings open in the breeze.

Dot holds her head, the sudden movement causing a reaction.

DOT

Whoa, head rush.

(sits on the couch, calls out)

Sparkle? You dressed yet?

Mommy wants to see her little beauty queen.

Sparkle (10) appears as if by magic.

Painted, tarted up. Very Jon-Benet.

Holding a tiara.

SPARKLE

(softly)

I hate it when you guys fight.

DOT

Never mind that. Put on the crown.

I wanna see how it looks

on my pretty little princess.

She does. Looks like she’s about to cry.

DOT (CONT'D)

(beaming)

Now that’s my little lady.

Come over here and sit on Mommy’s lap.

As if in a trance, the little girl does. Trembling.

DOT (CONT'D)

(strokes her hair)

That’s my little lady. My pretty little girlie.

(hand on her thigh)

You ready for the pageant tomorrow?

You been practicing yer baton twirlin’?

(off her terrified nod)

That’s a good girl. Such a good girl.

(hand goes up her dress)

My little lady. My pretty little doll.

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