-- White lines of a distant jet ripple across the sky.
-- A fluorescent cross flickers on a faux-rock wall above a
jacuzzi-baptistry.
-- Red Converse hi-tops tumble down through wet pine
branches.
-- UNDERWATER: Bright bubbles rise. A dog paddles. Men’s
hands brush, linger together. A trout slips through the
shimmer.
C.J. (V.O.)
And I’ll have a four-door car. And
I’ll have my own pencils. New, not
used. And I will be tall and I will
have black hair like the Fonze.
FADE TO:
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Dreams at the Dam
EXT. FOREST - OVERFLOW DAM - DAY (1982)
Water glides silent and heavy across the spillway into a deep
green basin below.
At the edge, C.J. HARRIS (10) - skinny in cutoffs and a tank
top - his hair in a bowl-cut, sits cross-legged.
His dog, LADY, pants beside him. His cat, POPEYE, stretches.
C.J.
And we’ll live in Hollywood in a
house with a paved driveway and
sidewalks. Like on TV. And we’ll
have a refrigerator that’s never
empty. And we will stay together
forever.
He draws with a stub of chalk: four stick figures - two
parents, two kids - holding hands inside a lopsided house.
He stands, admiring his masterpiece on the narrow dam.
On one side C.J.’s image reflects on the surface of the deep
lake. On the other side, a hundred-foot drop to white rock
and creek foam.
And the pines, cedars and firs sway in the gentle breeze.
TITLE CARD: SON OF A PREACHER MAN
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Family Dynamics and Mischief at His Way Church
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - CRAIG’S OFFICE - DAY (1990)
SUPER: 1990
Muffled preaching bleeds through the walls.
C.J. (17) sits atop Craig’s desk. Dirty-blonde mullet. Suit
jacket. Pegged pants. Red Converse.
EZRA and DEREK, both 17, lounge in Cosby sweaters and acid-
washed jeans.
Ezra holds a small pink packet up to the window.
EZRA
There’s no way it really glows.
C.J.
Put it in the sun.
DEREK
Owen’s chickening out.
C.J.
He’s taking a piss. Relax.
EZRA
Pastor Craig says if a guy can’t
pee in front of other guys, that’s
how you know they’re queer.
DEREK
Then Owen’s definitely a fag.
C.J.
Shut up, Derek.
The door opens. Ezra and Derek snap upright.
Owen (17), tall, handsome in Wranglers, boots, and a bolo-
tie, steps in.
C.J. (CONT’D)
It’s just Owen, dorks.
OWEN
Looks like Butt-Pirates Anonymous
is in session.
EZRA
You wish.
Owen nods to the packet.
OWEN
You better not have opened it
without me.
EZRA
Still charging it.
C.J. notices a chunky ring on Owen’s finger.
C.J.
Your ring came.
Owen holds his fist out, showing off his 1990 class ring.
OWEN
Cap and gown too.
DEREK
I’m waiting to get mine at
Sacramento Christian.
C.J.
That’s barely a college, Derek.
DEREK
Eat my shorts.
OWEN
You getting one?
C.J.
After my birthday. Maybe. Saving
for wheels first.
Ezra checks the packet.
EZRA
I think it’s ready.
They slip out into the --
CHURCH HALLWAY
Owen pulls a key ring from his pocket, opens a utility door.
Inside, he looks up at a hatch in the ceiling panels.
C.J.
Boost me.
Owen laces his fingers. C.J. steps into them. He pushes open
the hatch, disappears into the ceiling.
His hand reaches down:
C.J. (CONT’D)
Come on.
Owen hesitates - then takes his hand.
ATTIC SPACE
C.J. pulls Owen into the attic space above the sanctuary.
Unfinished walls rise into rafters. Air-conditioning ducts
and water pipes snake through the beams. Stenciled labels
read: BAPTISTRY INTAKE and DRAINAGE.
Below them, muffled preaching leaks through the ceiling.
A voice startles them:
SHEILA (O.C.)
You boys lost?
EZRA (O.C.)
Pastor Craig asked us to find his
keys, Miss Sheila.
C.J. and Owen peer down through the square of light.
Below: Ezra and Derek stand in the hallway under the access
panel, busted by SHEILA (40s), crew-cut, pant-suit.
SHEILA
Lying is a shameful sin, Ezra.
She escorts Ezra and Derek away. C.J. and Owen retreat into
the dark, holding in laughter.
C.J.
Poor bastards.
Owen holds out the small packet. It glows pink in the dark.
OWEN
Gnarly. It really glows.
C.J. looks to the access panel, making sure they are alone.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Relax. It’s just us.
He rips open the packet, pulls out the pink glowing condom.
C.J.
Where the fuck did you get this?
OWEN
Sixth period sex ed.
Owen unzips. Rolls it on.
C.J.
Holy shit!
Owen swings the glowing condom around like a toy, making
ridiculous light-saber sounds.
OWEN
Vvvvrrom, vvvvooom, vroom ---
The boys collapse into silent laughter.
Then -- the organ BOOMS through the rafters. They nearly jump
out of their skin.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Fuckin’ hell, I’m late.
He zips up as they drop through the access panel into the
hallway and run toward the --
SANCTUARY
The boys stop behind a stage-flat to regain their composure.
C.J.
Where’s the condom?
OWEN
Still on.
They stifle laughter and step into the glare of stage lights.
A vast, modern church. Chandeliers and speakers soar above
hundreds of CONGREGANTS singing with raised hands.
Faux white lilies crowd an altar with an oversized Bible. A
tall back-lit cross glows over a Jacuzzi-style baptistry
flanked by organ pipes.
At center stage, PASTOR NORM CHAMBERS (50s), clean shaven,
hair dyed, in a white three-piece suit, sings with wife,
JANIS (40s), her hair teased, makeup heavy.
PASTOR NORM & JANIS
(singing)
There is pow’r, pow’r, wondrous
working pow’r --
Owen grabs an electric bass guitar, joining a small band on
stage, including an ELDERLY WOMAN (80s), on the organ.
C.J. moves toward JESSIE HARRIS (15), all bangs and shoulder
pads, in the front pew. Derek and Ezra stand in the next row.
CATHY HARRIS (34), hair permed and Aqua-Netted up high,
worships at the far end of the pew, one hand raised, BABY
SCOTTY (1) on her hip. Tears streak her makeup.
The rest of the HARRIS CLAN -- ERIN (7), ANDY (5), and RYAN
(3) -- fill the pew, bored to death and singing along. They
make room for C.J.
PASTOR NORM & JANIS (CONT’D)
(singing)
-- in precious blood of the lamb.
The song crescendos. Norm steps to the pulpit.
PASTOR NORM
Praise the lord. You may be seated.
The congregation sits.
PASTOR NORM (CONT’D)
I want to turn this over to Youth
Pastor Craig for some
announcements. Pastor Craig?
CRAIG HARRIS (34), balding, Fu Manchu, neon green parachute
pants and an orange tee, vaults onto the stage.
Owen slams into a heavy worship riff. The youth chant and
clap, practiced and loud.
CONGREGATION (CHANTING)
King of kings! Lord of lords!
Glory! Hallelujah!
Craig lands at the pulpit, jabs a finger skyward.
CRAIG
Radical! Rockin’ for Jesus!
Can I get an ‘amen’?
CONGREGANTS
Amen!
CRAIG
Amen. C.J., son, come help me with
these announcements.
C.J. climbs the steps. Owen adjusts himself as C.J. passes.
They both fight a giggle. C.J. steps up to the mic.
C.J.
Good morning.
CONGREGANTS
Good morning!
C.J. checks the announcement sheet.
C.J.
His Way Youth Ministry is looking
for volunteers for this year’s --
He looks up.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Drum roll please...
The DRUMMER obliges.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Sober grad night youth talent
showcase.
The band riffs. Applause swells. C.J. reads:
C.J. (CONT’D)
Seniors are invited to share their
awesome God-given talents. Sign up
sheets are in the lobby.
C.J. nods to Craig, starts offstage.
CRAIG
Stay up here, son. One more thing.
C.J. stops.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Cathy, join us up here.
Cathy stands, hands Scotty to Jessie, and ascends the stage.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
I met this pretty lady in eighth
grade, and asked her to go steady.
Cathy stands with Craig and C.J. She leans into the mic.
CATHY
We were just two kids lost in sin
when I got pregnant.
(MORE)
CATHY (CONT’D)
We got married, but the clinic told
us a baby at eighteen would be too
hard.
C.J.’s smile tightens. Cathy notices.
CRAIG
Satan wanted this boy torn from
the womb.
Craig pulls C.J. close.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
But C.J. stands here today as
proof that God has a plan. Tell
them who gave you life, son.
C.J. glances at Owen, then catches himself.
C.J.
Jesus.
The room erupts.
CRAIG
One day, this young man’s gonna
stand right here and tell his own
testimony.
Craig hugs him tighter. Cathy wipes tears.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Jessie, Erin, Andy, Ryan, come up
here with Scotty.
The Harris kids obey, filing onto the stage.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Lord knows me and Cathy had rough
patches in our marriage.
CATHY
But with the love of Jesus, we
stand here today, together, with
this beautiful family.
CRAIG
A living testament to God’s saving
grace.
The family lines up. Jessie hands Baby Scotty over to C.J.
CATHY
I used to think my job outside the
home gave us security. But the Lord
called me back to my family.
C.J. holds Scotty, wondering where this is going.
CRAIG
And that is why we are so jazzed to
announce that we are blessed again.
CATHY
We’re expecting child number seven.
The sanctuary explodes.
JESSIE
Jesus.
C.J. looks down at his red Converse as Cathy hugs him.
Pastor Norm steps in, praying.
PASTOR NORM
Lord, God, we just thank you right
now for Pastor Craig and Cathy,
Lord, for bringing yet another
straight arrow into the quiver
during these end times. God, bless
the Harris family, in Jesus name --
CONGREGATION
-- Amen.
The Congregants swarm. Janis and Pastor Norm shake Craig’s
hand and hug Cathy.
JANIS
We are so happy for you two.
Sheila hugs C.J., still holding baby Scotty.
SHEILA
God’s calling is all over you, C.J.
C.J.
Yes. Thank you, Sheila.
He slips free, hands Scotty to Cathy, then pushes up the
aisle to Owen, Ezra and Derek as they disappear through the
double sanctuary doors.
MEN’S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Ezra and Derek step up to the urinals. C.J. checks his hair
in the mirror.
Owen reaches in his pants, yanks off the condom, tosses it to
the counter. C.J. laughs.
EZRA
Ugh. Gross.
OWEN
C.J.’s parents could have used it.
DEREK
Then you wouldn’t have to be the
anti-abortion poster-child.
OWEN
Seven kids. Jesus.
C.J.
Yeah. God’s got jokes. It’s a total
cluster fuck.
DEREK
Pretty sure cluster fucking is the
leading cause of pregnancy.
C.J.
Gag me.
OWEN
Guess we need to plan our party
before sober grad night.
EZRA
And C.J.’s eighteenth.
DEREK
River?
The door opens. C.J. snatches the condom off the counter,
stuffs it into his pocket.
ZACH (17), shy, soft-spoken, steps in. Guy-liner and a silver
cross, trying for Morrissey but not quite there.
He freezes when he sees the others.
ZACH
Oh, hey, C.J.
C.J.
Hey, Zach.
Owen, Ezra, and Derek watch them through the mirror.
Zach searches for something safe to say.
ZACH
Your family’s so big. That must
be... I don’t know. Kind of a
blessing.
Ezra snickers.
EZRA
So blessed.
DEREK
So large.
C.J. catches the boys watching him. He smiles. Chooses it.
C.J.
Blessed as fuck.
The boys crack up.
Zach’s face drops.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Whatever.
Zach catches C.J.’s eye in the mirror.
The door swings open again. Jessie leans in, impatient.
JESSIE
Come on, Hollywood. We’re leaving.
Ezra and Derek push out after Jessie.
C.J. looks at Zach and Owen in the mirror once more.
OWEN
Later.
Owen walks out.
Zach stays. Waiting.
C.J. starts to say something. Stops. He turns and walks out
after Owen.
Zach is left alone.
I/E. YOUTH MINISTRY VW VAN - LATER
Craig drives through their gold-rush town. Cathy rides
shotgun, cradling Baby Scotty.
In back: Jessie and Erin share a bench. Andy and Ryan sleep
against C.J., heavy and warm.
JESSIE
So does this mean I have to share
my room now?
C.J.
You can have mine after I move out.
JESSIE
That’ll be the day.
Craig’s eyes flick to the rearview mirror.
CRAIG
If you don’t like this family,
there’s always foster care.
CATHY
If it were up to me, none of you
would ever leave me.
Jessie and C.J. exchange an eye roll.
The van turns into the gravel turn-out of an 1850s farm
house: blistered paint, sagging laundry lines, neglected
orchards, rock-walled fields.
Beyond the trees, water glints. An old mill rusts near a dam.
Across the road: a boarded-up cottage, overgrown.
Jessie leans forward:
JESSIE
Evelyn’s finally up before sunset.
ERIN
Whose motorcycle is that?
Craig pulls beside an old VW Bug, a 70s Lincoln Continental -
and a Harley.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Family Secrets and Smoky Banter
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
C.J. exits the van with Jessie, Erin, Andy and Ryan.
CATHY
Mom. You can’t stay with us if
you’re gonna smoke with the oxygen
on. You’re gonna blow this whole
place to smithereens.
Evelyn ignores Cathy. Erin and Andy check out the Harley.
EVELYN
You’ve got company.
JESSIE
So that’s why you’re all dolled up.
Evelyn nods to the field.
ST. NICK (50s), rough and worn down, in jeans, boots and
biker jacket, stands at rock wall, staring out over the land.
C.J.
It’s Saint Nick.
CATHY
(to Craig, re: St. Nick)
Not in front of the kids.
CRAIG
Let me go see what’s up.
Craig heads toward the field.
ERIN
Why is his name Saint Nick?
JESSIE
‘Cause he used to come around like
Santa Claus with his friend Genie
to give mom and dad magic medicine.
CATHY
Watch it, Jessie.
ERIN
Magic medicine?
Cathy carries baby Scotty into the house ignoring Erin.
C.J.’s eyes stay locked on Craig with St. Nick in the field.
JESSIE
God. He looks terrible.
EVELYN
He’s lookin’ pretty damn good to
me.
JESSIE
Ew. Evelyn.
Jessie heads inside. C.J. steps closer to Evelyn. Reaches
behind her ear - produces a QUARTER.
EVELYN
(laughing)
You think you’re slick shit.
C.J.
Maybe I’m full of magic.
She takes the coin, grinning. Hands him a cigarette.
EVELYN
I swear if you get caught -
C.J.
They tell you the new-kid news?
EVELYN
Yeah - like I need another one of
you moochin’ my smokes. Jesus.
She laughs. C.J. smiles, pockets his cigarette.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Family Chaos and Private Moments
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
C.J. steps over his siblings sprawled out, watching TV. Cathy
dumps laundry onto the couch.
CATHY
Nope. Jessie, Erin, help fold.
Boys, get your butts outside.
ANDY ERIN
Aw, mom -- Come on --
Evelyn rattles in with her oxygen tank and catalogs.
CATHY
Turn it off.
ERIN
This sucks.
CATHY
That’s it.
ERIN
Mom, please. Dad said we could keep
this one.
Cathy yanks the TV by its cord and drags it toward the front
door, passing Evelyn.
EVELYN
Nurse Ratched’s got nothin’ on you.
CATHY
Nobody asked you to move in, mom.
C.J. climbs the tired staircase, passing Jessie.
JESSIE
Another one bites the dust.
C.J.
Jesus.
C.J. keeps moving down the hall into --
C.J.’S BEDROOM
He closes his door. Latches it.
A new cap and gown hang in plastic on the back of the door.
He kicks off his Converse, digs loose change from every
pocket, and drops it into a glass 5-gallon jug.
The jug is half-full, taped with fading L.A. travel ads: a
Ferris wheel, palm-lined streets, the Hollywood sign.
Penny Saver cut-outs for beat-up cars fill the gaps. One ad
catches his eye: a truck. $500 OBO.
C.J. gives the jug one practiced shake, judging the weight.
Not enough.
He collapses onto his bed, picks up a Bible from a stack of
books, flips it open.
Inside is hollowed-out, hiding a Walkman and lighter.
He pulls the pink condom from his pocket, laughs to himself,
and tosses it inside.
Headphones on, he hits play.
He cracks the window. Lights his cigarette. Picks up an
International Male catalog: Hands. Underwear fabric. Bare
chest. Bicep. Lower back.
C.J. turns a page. Stops. His thumb presses the paper flat.
He undoes the top button of his jeans.
KNOCKING jolts him. He drops the catalog, shoves the Walkman
under the bed, crushes the cigarette.
JESSIE (O.C.)
C.J.!
C.J.
What?!
JESSIE (O.C.)
Mom’s trying to cast demons out of
the TV again.
C.J. crosses to the window. Below: Cathy throws the TV into a
plastic kiddie pool, blasts it with a garden hose. The
younger kids cry.
C.J.
Jesus, mom....
Then he sees Craig and St. Nick across the property, near the
Harley. St. Nick is wrecked. His shoulders shaking. Craig
holds him as he sobs.
C.J. shifts to another window.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Departure and Unresolved Tensions
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
C.J. steps out onto the porch, past the flooded TV.
He watches St. Nick mount his bike. The engine roars. Craig
steps back, composes himself, waves St. Nick off.
C.J. heads towards Craig.
C.J.
What happened to him?
Craig wipes his eyes.
CRAIG
He needed me.
Craig walks away.
C.J. stands alone, watching the St. Nick’s Harley roar down
the road.
The sound of the Harley fades into another engine.
Older. Louder. Many of them.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
The Arrival at Harris Farm
EXT. SIERRA CITY - MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY (1982)
Sunlight flashes off chrome. A pack of Harleys rip below the
pines, engines snarling in the soft mountain air.
Craig Harris (26), shirtless and lean, leads the pack. His
long, thinning hair whips in the wind. Fearless. Alive.
An oncoming station wagon veers onto the shoulder as the
riders thunder past.
SUPER: 1982
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Craig leads the bikers into a clearing. The old farmhouse.
Empty fields. A cottage across the road, occupied and
cheerful.
They park among a VW Bug, an El Camino, and a rusted dairy
truck turned camper, its U-Haul trailer still hitched.
A caravan of the lost and self-made.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Tensions at the Harris Farm
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - DAY - SAME
Music blares from a turntable on moving boxes.
Lawn chairs for furniture. Cocaine on a plate. Rifles against
the wall. The Brady Bunch flickers on a small TV.
On the floor: the 5-gallon glass jug filled with coins,
plastered with cutouts of the Hollywood sign, palm tree lined
streets, a ferris wheel, and Los Angeles travel ads.
C.J. (10), bowl-cut, cutoffs and tank top, studies a porn
magazine. His cat, Popeye, naps next to him.
CRAIG (O.C.)
What did I tell you about my
business?
Craig looms over him, hair windblown, pistol in his jeans.
C.J.
Stay out of it.
CRAIG
And why is that?
C.J.
‘Cause it’s not for me.
Craig tosses the magazine onto a pile of Hustlers. Kills the
music. The bright chatter of TV remains.
CRAIG
Then why are you in my shit?
C.J.
I was just looking at the car ads.
Craig crouches, presses his fist under C.J.’s chin.
CRAIG
Keep lying and the day you turn
eighteen I’ll knock your block off.
C.J. swallows hard.
JESSIE (8), bursts from behind a hanging blanket that serves
as a bedroom door. Lady trots after her.
JESSIE
Dad, dad. Can I have this room?
CRAIG
Share with your brother.
C.J.
I don’t wanna share with Jessie.
JESSIE
Shut up, C.J!
Craig steps out the screen door. C.J. turns to Jessie:
C.J.
We’re probably gonna move again
anyway.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Summer Day at the Harris Farm
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - PORCH - CONTINUOUS
UNCLE MARK (22), long hair and wispy goatee, in an Oakland
Raiders t-shirt, lies on a skateboard, his polio-twisted legs
dragging behind him.
He nods toward REBECCA (30s), sweeping the porch of the
cottage across the road.
UNCLE MARK
You got neighbors.
CRAIG
They cool?
More Harleys roll in. Craig passes the joint to Mark.
UNCLE MARK
She’s a looker. No man around. Any
medicine left?
Craig straightens his back, rolls his shoulders. C.J. does
the same, mirroring his father. Craig steps off the porch.
C.J.
Medicine’s on the trunk, Uncle
Mark.
UNCLE MARK
Atta boy, nephew.
Uncle Mark grips the doorframe and pulls himself inside. C.J.
and Jessie race after their father.
At the center of the new arrivals stands St. Nick (40s),
broad, virile, sunburned, leather vest open over his bare
chest, a pistol strapped across it.
He swings off his bike and spots the kids.
C.J. & JESSIE
Saint Nick!
Nick’s laugh booms. Jessie wraps her arms around his leg.
ST. NICK
Ah! There’s Lil’ Miss Jessie. And
Craig-the-Second. Glad to have you
two back. Isn’t that right, Lady?
He pats the dog.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
What’ve you ruffians been eatin’?
Growin’ faster than weeds.
JESSIE
Peanut butter on a spoon.
ST. NICK
It better be more than that, girl.
C.J.
We were only gone two weeks.
ST. NICK
Well, we all thought you and your
momma moved on for good this time.
Nick grins, shifts his stance.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
Now wait just one darn minute. What
do we have behind these ears?
He reaches behind Jessie’s ear, pulls out a silver dollar.
JESSIE
How’d you do that?
ST. NICK
We’re full of magic, kiddo.
Nick shifts something small into his palm. Looks to Craig.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
This public or private?
CRAIG
Private.
Craig leads St. Nick toward the dairy truck. C.J. holds
Jessie back.
C.J.
He’s got to buy his medicine.
CRAIG
C.J., grab your old-man a beer.
The kids race to an ice-chest where YAN (30), with hair down
to his legs, cooks hotdogs over a burn-barrel.
C.J.
He told me to get it.
Jessie throws punches to get there first.
GENIE
Whoa, slugger.
GENIE (27), handsome and shirtless with a genie-in-a-bottle
tattoo, lifts Jessie up. She squeals and laughs.
JESSIE
I can do it!
C.J.
Beer?
C.J. gets the beer, pops the top. Genie calls out:
GENIE
Craig-o! The rug-rats cool to have
a beer?
CRAIG (O.C.)
One of their own.
C.J. pulls two cans of Near-Beer.
JESSIE
I can do it.
GENIE
Here, chica.
Genie works his buck knife into the cans. His forearm flexes,
dark hair catching the light. C.J. stares, transfixed.
YAN
(to C.J.)
He’s your very own Burt Reynolds.
Yan laughs. C.J. looks away, embarrassed. He takes beer
toward Craig. Uncle Mark scoots up, cocaine in his nostrils.
UNCLE MARK
That for me?
C.J.
It’s for my dad.
CRAIG
Uncle Mark can have it, buddy.
C.J. hands it over, disappointed. Craig hands Uncle Mark
several dime-bags of cocaine.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Work on these? Baking soda’s in the
box marked “kitchen”.
UNCLE MARK
Right on.
Uncle Mark scoots off. Craig does a bump off his buck knife.
Lady drops her ball at Craig’s feet.
CRAIG
Catch.
He tosses the ball to C.J., which he misses trying not to
spill his Near-Beer.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Keep your eye on the ball.
C.J. throws back. The ball falls short. Lady runs after it.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Still throwing like a girl.
Craig walks into the house. C.J. looks down. St. Nick
approaches, rustles his hair.
ST. NICK
You can throw any way you like,
C.J.
C.J. walks off into the woods alone.
Genres:
["Drama","Family","Indie"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
The Vanishing Encounter
EXT. HIDDEN CREEK - MOMENTS LATER
C.J. wanders down a narrow path to a small clearing where
sunbeams fracture across shallow pools.
The creek winds around discarded milling machines.
He kicks off his flip-flops and steps into the water. Popeye
follows on mossy stones. Turtles dive.
C.J.
(whispers)
Don’t move, Popeye. They’ll come
back out.
Rustling catches C.J.’s attention. Across the water, SHAWN
(10), in red hi-tops, pokes a stick into the creek.
C.J. moves closer. Shawn looks up. They stare at each other.
Shawn gives a small wave. C.J. waves back. Smiles.
A SHARP WHISTLE pierces the woods. C.J. turns. When he looks
back, Shawn is gone.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Family Dynamics at the Harris Farm
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Cathy (26), summer dress, hair pulled back with a bandanna,
whistles again with her fingers.
C.J. comes running from the woods:
C.J.
Mom! There’s a turtle pond!
Jessie runs from a wild berry patch, hands stained purple.
JESSIE
And blackberries!
Cathy catches Jessie’s hands before they hit her dress.
CATHY
Yep. You’re turning purple. Where’s
your father?
St. Nick and Craig emerge from the house.
ST. NICK
Lookin’ good, Cat.
Uncle Mark drags himself out behind them, Hustlers in hand,
coke still dusting one nostril.
UNCLE MARK
Hey, Cathy.
CATHY
Really, Mark?
Craig and Cathy walk toward the driveway. C.J. copies Craig’s
stride, hands in pockets.
CRAIG
Thought you ran off and left me
with the kids this time.
Cathy nods toward Evelyn’s Lincoln Continental.
CATHY
Mom spends more gas chasing coupons
between stores than she saves on
groceries.
C.J. notices Cathy clock Craig’s dilated eyes.
CATHY (CONT’D)
Not in front of mom.
CRAIG
Who’s she to judge?
Cathy pulls scissors from a pocket, turns to the kids.
CATHY
C.J., porch. Haircut. Now.
Jessie, wash those hands before you
touch anything.
Across the road, C.J. spots Shawn in the cottage yard with
SARAH (12). He can’t stop looking.
JESSIE
C.J., come on.
C.J. gives her the finger.
JESSIE (CONT’D)
Mom! C.J. said fuck with fingers.
CATHY
C.J., get on the porch before I cut
those fingers off.
Jessie moves to the garden hose. C.J. climbs onto the porch,
sits on a moving box.
Evelyn (early 50s), full make-up, Dolly Parton wig,
approaches. She takes in the house.
EVELYN
Had to see this place for myself.
Cathy runs a comb through C.J.’s hair, snips.
CRAIG
Little elbow grease can fix this
place up real sweet.
Evelyn scoffs.
EVELYN
Trunk’s open. Don’t let the milk
sour.
Craig moves toward the car where Genie helps unload
groceries. Jessie follows her father.
C.J. looks at the house.
C.J.
Mom? Are we gonna stay here?
CATHY
That’s the idea, hon.
Evelyn nods toward Rebecca’s cottage.
EVELYN
Pretty neighbor. I’m sure Craig’ll
do his best to keep it in his
pants.
CATHY
Jesus, Mom.
Genie steps up with an armload of groceries.
CATHY (CONT’D)
Thank you, Genie.
She sets the scissors down, grabs the bags from Genie, and
carries them inside.
GENIE
Last of it, ma’am.
EVELYN
That’s Miss to you.
C.J.
I can carry one too, Grandma.
Genie glances at Evelyn, amused.
GENIE
M’lady.
He flashes a smile, walks off. Evelyn turns on C.J.
EVELYN
No more granny shit. You call me
Evelyn. You don’t cock-block me, I
won’t cock-block you. Deal?
C.J. nods. Evelyn kisses C.J. on the forehead, then heads for
her car.
Craig saunters up, grabs the scissors, continues C.J.’s hair.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
You’re welcome Craig.
He gives her a look.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
The groceries.
CRAIG
Thanks, Evelyn.
EVELYN
Anytime, Hoover.
She sniffs one nostril, slips into her car, slams the door.
Craig and C.J. watch her drive off.
C.J.
Dad?
CRAIG
Yeah?
C.J.
Are you and mom getting back
together?
Craig sets down the scissors, lights a new cigarette.
CRAIG
Ask your mother.
Craig walks off toward St. Nick, Genie, Uncle Mark, and the
burn barrel. C.J. sits there, taking in his dad’s advice.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
A Night of Longing
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - NIGHT (1982)
C.J., bathed and in his pajamas, locks the back door, closes
the blinds, turns off unused lights. Lady follows him. He
looks past the blanket door into the --
BEDROOM
Cathy tucks Jessie into a sleeping bag on a lawn chair.
JESSIE
But how come?
CATHY
When you are ten years old you can
stay up for fifteen extra minutes
on a school night too.
LIVING ROOM
C.J. moves to the TV. Turns the channel to Little House on
the Prairie, works the antenna for better reception.
Cathy stands at the blanket door talking to Jessie:
JESSIE (O.C.)
It’s not fair.
CATHY
Honey, life isn’t fair.
C.J. drops the magic coin from St. Nick into the glass jug.
He looks out the window to the glowing burn barrel next to
the old dairy truck. Popeye sits next to him.
Cathy collapses on a pull-out bed. Jessie cries echo.
JESSIE (O.C.)
I want papa....
C.J.
Mom?
CATHY
Yeah, hon?
C.J.
Are you and dad getting back
together?
Cathy looks at C.J., Jessie’s cries get louder.
JESSIE (O.C.)
Papa...
Cathy gives in.
CATHY
For chrissakes. Go get him.
And with that, C.J. and Lady are out the door.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
A Night of Laughter and Family Bonds
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - NIGHT
Music plays from the El Camino’s radio. C.J. trots with Lady
to the dairy truck, peers inside: a gas lantern glows.
CRAIG (O.C.)
Which hand?
REBECCA (O.C.)
That one.
C.J. follows the voices to the front of the truck. Craig
stands with Rebecca in the burn-barrel glow. St. Nick, and
Genie lean on their bikes. Uncle Mark passes a joint.
Craig holds both hands for Rebecca - empty.
CRAIG
Wait. What’s this in your ear?
He “magically” pulls a quarter from Rebecca’s ear. Badly.
REBECCA
Keep your day job.
She laughs, takes a hit from a joint.
C.J.
Dad?
CRAIG
Hey, buddy.
(to Rebecca)
My oldest, C.J.
REBECCA
Good to meet you.
C.J. is quiet. Rebecca smiles, pets Lady.
CRAIG
What do you say, mister?
C.J.
Hi, ma’am.
REBECCA
C.J. must be for Craig Junior.
C.J.
Craig James.
CRAIG
Didn’t want him stuck with his old
man’s name when he grows up to hate
me.
The men laugh. C.J. looks at the ground.
REBECCA
You won’t hate your daddy,
hon.
Rebecca hands the joint to Craig.
REBECCA (CONT’D)
Duty calls.
She heads to her cottage. The men watch her go.
UNCLE MARK
Shit, man. Leave some for
the rest of us.
CRAIG
Ass or grass?
UNCLE MARK
Both.
The men laugh. C.J. laughs too, not getting it.
C.J.
Dad? Mom said to come tuck us in.
ST. NICK
Time to hit the road.
CRAIG
Catch you on the flip side.
ST. NICK
(to C.J.)
G’night big man.
The bikes and El Camino kick to life. Genie does a wheelie.
Uncle Mark spins his El Camino.
C.J. plugs his ears and laughs as they roar into the dark.
Craig drops into a racing position. C.J. copies him.
CRAIG
On your mark, get set, go!
They race to the porch. Craig pulls C.J.’s shirt. Lady barks.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Beat ya!
C.J.
Cheater!
Jessie bursts through the front door.
JESSIE
Papa!
Jessie jumps in Craig’s arms as Cathy holds the door open.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Family Fights and Dance Breaks
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - LATER THAT NIGHT
‘70’s rock plays on the radio. Sugar Ray Leonard boxes on TV.
C.J. in a tank top, wipes the tears from his red eyes with
the back of his boxing glove. Craig warns C.J.:
CRAIG
No tears.
C.J.
She punched me in the face.
Cathy interjects:
CATHY
You’re a big boy. You gotta swerve
so she misses.
Craig pep talks Jessie, also in a tank top and boxing gloves.
She is clearly loving this.
CRAIG
Duck, duck, SWING that left hook.
JESSIE
Duck, duck, swing!
CRAIG
Round three, ante up.
Cathy and Craig each throw a dollar into a small pile on a
streamer trunk where cocaine is railed out on a plate.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Into your corners.
Jessie and C.J. stand in the corners of the living room.
C.J.
I don’t wanna play this anymore.
CATHY
Don’t hurt her.
CRAIG
On your marks - get set. GO!
Craig rings a cowbell, Jessie starts swinging. Cathy pushes
C.J. towards his opponent.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Fight! Gotta make contact Jess -
That’s it! That’s my girl.
CATHY
Come on C.J., weight on the back
foot, come on!
C.J. blocks the punches coming from his sister. He drops his
hands, turns to his mom.
C.J.
Do I have to?
CATHY
Put ‘em up! Protect your face --
Jessie’s left hook connects to C.J.’s jaw, he goes down.
CRAIG
That’s my girl - My Muhammad Ali!
Craig grabs Jessie’s arm and holds it high. C.J. gets up,
tears run down his face.
C.J. CATHY
Fuck. Fuck.
CATHY (CONT’D)
Watch the language. We’re done.
Losing all my money anyway.
She kisses the top of his head.
CRAIG
Forfeit! We have the heavy weight
champion of the world!
Craig lifts Jessie onto his shoulders, she squeals.
C.J. wipes tears. Cathy tries to comfort him, hands him the
dollars and coins:
CATHY
Here, hon. For your piggy bank.
C.J. tearfully adds the cash to the glass jug.
Cathy works the dial on the TV, lands on American Bandstand.
Le Freak by Chic fills the living room.
JESSIE
Disco!
Jessie climbs off her father and gets down to the music.
JESSIE (CONT’D)
(singing and dancing)
Ahhhhh - Freak out! --
Cathy smiles, turns it up.
CATHY
Come on, C.J., baby. It’s your
favorite.
She’s right. It’s his favorite. C.J. wipes his tears. He
straightens his spine, closes his eyes, and then, he lets go.
C.J. dances - his eyes closed - lost in joy.
Craig lights a joint and watches his son dance with his eyes
closed, hips loose, arms free.
CRAIG
Hey - stop it.
Craig turns off the TV. C.J. opens his eyes.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Stop shaking your hips. Nobody
wants to see that.
C.J. stops dancing. Craig lays on the pull-out couch.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Bedtime.
JESSIE
Ah, man...
Jessie and C.J. mope through the blanket-door toward their
lawn chair beds.
Genres:
["Drama","Family","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Quiet Moments in Uncertainty
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - CRAIG’S OFFICE - NIGHT (1990)
The office turned youth group meeting room. About twenty
TEENS sit scattered on the carpet, loose and tired at the
tail end of youth group.
Beside the door, a TALENT SHOW SIGN-UP sheet. One name is
already on there in Craig’s handwriting: TALENT - C.J. HARRIS
- Share Testimony
Craig leans against his desk, mid-story. Relaxed. Familiar.
CRAIG
...every generation thinks they
have more time.
C.J. (17) sits beside Owen (17), backs against the couch.
Owen fights sleep. Blinks. Tries to stay awake. Loses. His
eyes shut and his head tips over onto C.J.’s shoulder.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
But look around. Earthquakes. Wars.
Famines. Disease. Men calling evil
good and good evil. We are living
in the end times --
C.J. glances down at Owen. He doesn't move. Lets him stay
there. Owen settles into him.
C.J. closes his eyes too. Their breathing falls into the same
rhythm. Craig’s voice drifts farther away.
CRAIG (O.S.) (CONT’D)
-- I’m not saying this to scare
you. I’m saying it because some of
you keep making plans like you’re
guaranteed a future.
C.J. breathes in. Owen weight settles against him.
C.J’s eyes close.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Dreams of Freedom and Authority
EXT. OPEN ROAD - GOLDEN HOUR (1990)
C.J. rides on the back of a Harley through warm air. He leans
back. Arms wide. Palm trees emerge along the highway.
In the distance, a ferris wheel’s neon glows on the horizon.
Overhead, a green highway sign reads: LOS ANGELES.
He leans forward, wraps his arms around Owen riding in front
of him. Presses closer. Rests his head at Owen’s neck.
CRAIG (O.S.)
OWEN.
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - CRAIG’S OFFICE - SAME
C.J.'s eyes snap open. Owen jerks awake -- and off C.J. so
fast he nearly knocks into Derek beside him.
Zach, Ezra, Jessie and the other teens sit dead still. Craig
glares at Owen.
CRAIG
Move.
Owen sits, unsure who he’s talking to.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
I said move.
Owen scrambles to his feet.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Over there.
Owen crosses the room and drops into an empty folding chair.
C.J. glances over at Owen - staring straight ahead, gripping
the folding chair until his knuckles pale.
Craig turns back to the room like nothing happened.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
“Therefore keep watch, because you
do not know on what day your Lord
will come.”
A beat.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
You don’t get ready later.
His eyes land on C.J.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
You get ready now.
C.J. glances down, avoiding his father.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Dawn of Tension
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - C.J.’S ROOM - DAWN (1990)
The sharp cries of Baby Scotty echo through the dark house.
C.J. stirs awake, groans. His mullet at odd angles. He pulls
on his jeans, finds coins in the pocket - drops into his
glass jug.
LIVING ROOM
Half-asleep, C.J. descends old staircase.
Evelyn lies awake on the couch on oxygen. No wig. Her hair
nearly gone. Her shoulders heave with a hacking cough.
C.J.
How’s the couch?
EVELYN
I’ve had longer. And stiffer.
C.J. smiles, leans in, kisses the top of her head. Evelyn
coughs again. C.J. moves on into -
KITCHEN
Craig, in worn work overalls, sits in a quiet prayer. His
large bible lies open on the table. A fire snaps and pops in
the old wood-burning cookstove. He opens his eyes.
CRAIG
Morning.
C.J.
(groggy)
Morning.
C.J. opens the fridge. Pulls out a Tupperware pitcher.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Who put the orange juice back
empty?
He sets the empty pitcher on the table, opens the freezer,
pulls out a can of frozen orange juice concentrate.
CRAIG
Raisin bagel?
C.J nods. Craig drops a sliced bagel into the toaster. C.J.
steps to the sink, runs warm water over the juice can.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Here.
Craig stands next to C.J., fills a small pot with water. He
sets it on the wood burning stove. C.J. submerges the frozen
can into the pot to thaw.
C.J.
Thanks.
Evelyn’s hacking cough cuts through the silence.
C.J. sits at the table - pours cereal. Craig joins him. They
eat in silence. Craig pulls some handwritten pages tucked in
his bible. Slides them to C.J.
CRAIG
Some of my youth sermons for the
talent show. You can use them to
help you shape your testimony.
C.J. looks at the pages. Doesn't touch them.
C.J.
Okay.
The toaster pops. Craig stands. He turns the can of orange
juice over in the pot.
C.J. watches him. Then:
C.J. (CONT’D)
It was kinda wild seeing Saint Nick
yesterday. Blast from the past.
Craig spreads butter on the hot bagel in silence. Then:
CRAIG
Mmm-hmm.
He sets half a bagel in front of C.J., sits with the other.
C.J.
Nice he still has you.
CRAIG
We don’t have much in common
anymore.
Craig stands, pulls the orange juice can out of the hot
water. He opens the can and slides the lumpy half-frozen
concentrate into the pitcher.
C.J. studies his father, presses on - casual, careful:
C.J.
Did you love him?
CRAIG
We were friends.
C.J.
I know, just - you were close.
Craig moves to the sink, fills the pitcher with cold water,
stirs with a wooden spoon.
CRAIG
Like queer shit?
C.J.
No. Like David and Jonathan. You
know. Bible close.
Craig stops stirring the orange juice.
CRAIG
Nick’s finding out there’s a heavy
price for living for the flesh.
You’d do well to take note.
He knocks the wooden spoon hard on the edge of the pitcher,
clearing the drips.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Help your mom get the kids ready
for school.
He grabs his jacket off a hook and pushes out the back door.
C.J. stays frozen in his chair. The house is silent. He stirs
the orange juice.
Cathy shuffles in holding Baby Scotty - places him into a
high-chair next to C.J.
CATHY
Morning, hon.
She kisses C.J. on the head.
C.J.
Morning.
Cathy pulls baby food from the cupboard. Sits and feeds
Scotty. Evelyn coughs again from the other room.
C.J. looks to his mother.
C.J. (CONT’D)
She sounds terrible.
CATHY
Smokes are a killer. She knows
better.
Andy and Ryan bound into the kitchen in their pajamas and bed-
head - they each pull up chairs at the table.
CATHY (CONT’D)
Good morning.
ANDY
Morning.
Andy grabs a box of cereal, holds it away from Ryan.
RYAN
Mom - I want to read the Cheerios
box.
CATHY
Andy, share with your brother.
C.J. pours orange juice for his brothers.
C.J.
Thinking I’ll throw my party at the
river.
CATHY
Have it here, hon. It’s my baby’s
last birthday under my roof.
(MORE)
CATHY (CONT’D)
Bring all your friends - I’ll make
strawberry cake. One last time.
C.J. smiles at his mom. Craig suddenly bursts back through
the backdoor.
CRAIG
C.J. - come on.
Craig yanks a large rifle from its mount in the kitchen and
rushes out the door again. Cathy looks up at C.J.
CATHY
You better get going -
C.J. puts on his trench coat and follows his father out to --
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Rite of Passage
EXT. FIELD - MOMENTS LATER
The ranch is a world of silhouettes. The sky shifts from
black to deep blue.
C.J. trails Craig into a stand of cherry trees. Craig drops
behind the low stone wall and motions C.J. to join him. Lady
presses close.
CRAIG
We’ve got a five-pointer.
C.J. peers over the wall. A small group of deer grazes. One
large BUCK stands apart.
The horses graze beyond the buck. Too close. Craig raises the
rifle anyway. He braces it on the stone wall. He peers
through the sights.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Here.
He motions C.J. forward.
C.J.
No, I don’t -
CRAIG
You’re nearly eighteen. Time you
learned.
C.J. hesitates. Then scoots forward, shoulders the rifle. His
hands tremble.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Slow breath. Line up the sight.
C.J.
I don’t want to kill it.
CRAIG
Line it up.
C.J. swallows hard, obeys.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Relax.
C.J. stares down the barrel at the deer.
C.J.
Dad - I can’t --
CRAIG
Ease off the safety.
C.J.’s hands shake violently. Craig wraps his arms around
him, steadying the rifle.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Perfect shot. Right behind the
front leg. Straight to the heart --
C.J.
I can’t!
The rifle fires. Deer scatter. Horses bolt. C.J. staggers
back.
C.J. (CONT’D)
I’m sorry! I’m sorry!
CRAIG
Give me that.
Craig rips the rifle from him.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
You’re gonna get someone killed.
The rifle blast rings in C.J.’s ears.
C.J.
I didn’t mean for it to go off --
Craig leans close. C.J. has nowhere to look but his face.
CRAIG
Man up before I knock your block
off.
Craig strides back toward the house with his rifle.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Go practice your testimony.
C.J. remains behind the wall, Lady pressed against his leg.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
And don’t miss the bus.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Morning Beginnings
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - MORNING (1982)
C.J. (10), with his bowl-cut combed tight and dressed for
school, stands with Jessie (8). They stare at the neighbor’s
cottage - Lady and Popeye at their side.
Shawn, bounds out of his house in his Boy Scouts uniform with
his backpack, red hi-tops and “Mork & Mindy” lunch box.
Sarah, follows with her “Olivia Newton John” Trapper Keeper.
Rebecca, in her robe, calls out from the door:
REBECCA
Shawn, Sarah! Kisses!
C.J. watches from the distance as Shawn and Sarah turn back
for a big hug and kiss from their mom.
Cathy comes out of the house dressed professionally with a
cigarette in hand. She heads for her VW Bug. Craig stands
shirtless in the doorway also smoking.
Cathy rolls down the window. Leans towards C.J. and Jessie.
CATHY
How do I look?
JESSIE
Beautiful!
C.J.
Are you coming home when you’re
done?
CATHY
Of course, hon. It’s just a job
interview, OK? Wish me luck!
Cathy blows kisses and drives off. C.J. watches Craig nod to
Rebecca from his porch. She smiles, returns to her cottage.
Shawn and Sarah cross the road to C.J. and Jessie:
SHAWN
Our bus stop is past those
conifers.
SARAH
They’re called trees, dufus. Try to
be normal.
C.J. smiles, shy, but excited to make new friends. Shawn
smiles back at him. The kids all walk, the pets follow.
SHAWN
I like your cat.
C.J.
That’s Popeye. And Lady’s our dog.
Jessie tries to chime in:
JESSIE
Our dad sells medicine out of his
truck.
SARAH
Medicine?
C.J.
Jessie, shush.
EXT. BUS STOP - CONTINUOUS
The kids and pets emerge from the pine trees at a turn-out
where Derek and Ezra (10), compare “Star Wars” trading cards.
SHAWN
(under his breath)
Derek and Ezra are rich. Their
houses come microwaves.
Derek looks C.J. and Jessie up and down.
DEREK
You’re new.
SHAWN
They’re our neighbors.
The bus arrives, opens its doors. The kids all step onto:
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Bus Banter and Bullying
INT. SCHOOL BUS - CONTINUOUS
Derek, Ezra and Sarah make their way to the backseats where
Owen (10), sits. C.J., Shawn and Jessie follow.
OWEN
(to Sarah)
Why does your brother hold his
hands like a fag?
SARAH
Because he is a fag.
SHAWN
Takes one to know one.
Ezra flips his eyelids inside out and holds his wrists limp.
EZRA
(imitating Shawn)
Give a HOOT don’t pollute!
Sarah, Ezra, Derek and Owen laugh. Owen points to Zach (10),
sitting alone few rows ahead.
OWEN
Sit with Zach in the fag row.
C.J.’s smile disappears. He points Jessie to an open seat.
C.J.
Sit here, Jessie.
Shawn sits near Zach, who smiles shyly. They endure the
laughter from the back seat.
JESSIE
(to C.J.)
C.J., what’s a fag?
C.J.
Shut up, Jessie.
ZACH
It’s a cigarette.
Zach offers them candy cigarettes. Shawn happily takes the
box, distributes to C.J. and Jessie.
JESSIE
(blowing sugar ‘smoke’)
Our grandma loves fags.
Shawn and Zach laugh, enjoy their candy cigarettes and ignore
the teasing coming from the back row.
C.J. leans his head against the window, watches the trees
roll past his reflection.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Morning Conversations on the Bus
INT. SCHOOL BUS - MORNING (1990)
C.J. (17) sleeps, his head against the window.
ZACH (O.C.)
Mind if I sit?
C.J. opens one eye to find Zach (17) standing next to his
seat. The bus is full. Jessie (15), hair Aqua-Netted to its
max, giggles nearby with her girlfriends.
C.J.
Hey, Zach. Sure.
Zach slides in.
ZACH
I think you drooled.
C.J.
Gross. Sorry.
ZACH
Maybe that’s your talent.
C.J.
What?
ZACH
For the grad-night talent thing.
C.J.
Oh. Right. Yeah, that’d actually be
funny.
ZACH
So what’s your talent gonna be?
C.J.
My dad wants me to share my
testimony.
ZACH
So you’re the next preacher man?
C.J.
Yeah. Not my thing.
ZACH
You’re good at the pulpit.
C.J.
It’s not hard. You just say what
they want.
Zach thinks about that.
ZACH
Do you believe it?
C.J.
Believe what?
ZACH
God. Jesus. Heaven.
C.J.
I believe my dad believes it.
That’s bad enough.
ZACH
That’s not what I asked.
C.J. looks out the window.
C.J.
I don’t think I have a testimony.
C.J. spots several drafting tools and rolled floor plans
protruding from Zach’s bag - changes the subject:
C.J. (CONT’D)
What’s all that?
ZACH
Architectural drafting.
C.J.
Like drawing houses?
ZACH
Yeah. Floor plans. Counts toward
shop credit.
C.J.
Well, there’s your big talent show
act.
ZACH
Ha. Yeah right. “Tonight, for the
glory of God, Zach will draw a two-
bedroom rambler.”
C.J. laughs.
ZACH (CONT’D)
I was thinking maybe I’d sing.
C.J.
What song?
ZACH
I don’t know. Something from
church, probably.
C.J.
Of course.
ZACH
What?
C.J.
Nothing.
ZACH
Not everybody hates it.
C.J. looks at him.
C.J.
I don’t hate it.
ZACH
You just don’t believe it.
The bus pulls into the SIERRA CITY HIGH SCHOOL complex
surrounded by forest. Hand-made banners read: “Go Warriors”
and “Class of 1990”.
Out the window, C.J. notices Owen, Derek, and Ezra smoking
cigarettes by Owen’s lifted 4x4. Zach sees C.J. seeing Owen.
ZACH (CONT’D)
That why you’re still here?
C.J.
What?
Zach follows C.J.’s look to Owen. C.J. looks away.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Second I get a car, I’m outta here.
ZACH
Okay.
Zach tears off a piece of drafting paper, jots something.
ZACH (CONT’D)
My brother’s in Glendale.
He hands it over.
C.J.
Glendale?
ZACH
You’ve been saying L.A. since,
like, forever.
C.J. looks at the number. Then out the window at Owen.
ZACH (CONT’D)
Then don’t wait for anyone.
C.J.
I’m not.
C.J. stands and walks off the bus to greet Owen.
Zach steps off behind him and walks alone toward the school.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
A Joyful Ride: Overcoming Fear
EXT. SIERRA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY (1982)
Bells ring. Doors push open. SCHOOL CHILDREN flood out toward
yellow buses.
C.J. (10), and Jessie (8), spot Craig across the street on
his Harley. St. Nick and Genie share a bike. Uncle Mark waits
in his El Camino, Lady panting in the back.
Teachers and parents watch closely. Craig grins as the kids
run to him.
C.J. JESSIE
Dad! Papa!
CRAIG
Hop on big man.
C.J. hesitates, afraid of the bike.
C.J.
I’ll ride in Uncle Mark’s truck.
CRAIG
Girls ride in the truck.
C.J. fights tears.
JESSIE
I’ll ride with you, dad!
CRAIG
Go with your brother.
Craig fires up his hog, disappointed.
UNCLE MARK
Hop in, rug rats!
C.J. and Jessie climb into the El Camino bed with Lady.
EXT. SIERRA CITY / MOUNTAIN ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
The El Camino cruises beside Craig, St. Nick and Genie on
their Harleys. C.J. and Jessie stand in the truck bed with
Lady, wind in their hair.
Craig guns it onto the open road. The El Camino surges after
him. The kids squeal.
EXT. DEER RIVER - BRIDGE - MOMENTS LATER
The hot sun beats down on bikers and El Camino. They cross a
high bridge. The river churns far below.
EXT. DEER RIVER - DIRT ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
The bikers inch their Harleys down a steep, rutted dirt road.
C.J. and Jessie jostle in the bed of Uncle Mark’s El Camino
with Lady, tumbling into each other, howling with laughter.
Craig laughs with them.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Encounter at the Jesus Bus
EXT. DEER RIVER - MOMENTS LATER
The bikers and El Camino pull up near an old school bus
painted with rainbows, flowers, crosses: “THE JESUS BUS”
C.J. and Jessie hop out with Lady and sprint to the water.
Downriver, Pastor Norm (40s), loose white linen, flowing
beard, baptizes young hippie converts, mostly women.
Craig, St. Nick and Genie splash water on their faces, openly
checking out the women. Uncle Mark watches from the El
Camino.
Pastor Norm wades closer, smile blazing.
PASTOR NORM
Come on in. The water’s fine.
He shakes Craig’s hand.
PASTOR NORM (CONT’D)
Norm. Pastor Norm.
CRAIG
Craig Harris. Nick. Genie. My kid
brother, Mark.
C.J. spots Owen (10) standing near Janis (30s) and Sheila
(30s). Owen gives a small wave. C.J. waves back.
Pastor Norm smiles at the bikers without judgment.
PASTOR NORM
Everything’s God’s perfect plan.
Craig clocks the way the people orbit Pastor Norm.
PASTOR NORM (CONT’D)
Janis. Owen. Come say hello.
Janis, in her natural hair and wet Jesus Freak t-shirt,
approaches with Owen. Sheila, in flannel and cut offs,
lingers near the motorcycles.
PASTOR NORM (CONT’D)
My beautiful bride, Janis. Our boy,
Owen.
JESSIE
You’re pretty.
JANIS
Well thank you, sweetheart. Quite
the charmer!
CRAIG
Taking after her old man.
Sheila studies the bikes. Owen joins her.
SHEILA
Nice hogs.
Uncle Mark drops from the El Camino.
UNCLE MARK
Seventy-eight FXS Low Rider. Eighty-
one iron-head hardtail chopper.
GENIE
(to Owen)
This one’s C.J.’s favorite.
OWEN
Cool.
Owen smiles at C.J.
Craig offers Pastor Norm a dime bag.
PASTOR NORM
No thanks, brother. Jesus is the
only high we need.
Pastor Norm points up, pats Craig’s shoulder, easy and warm.
CRAIG
Not really on the religion thing.
JANIS
No religion. Just basking in the
love of Jesus.
Pastor Norm turns to Uncle Mark.
PASTOR NORM
The healing power of Jesus can do
miracles.
UNCLE MARK
Yeah. No cure for polio. But
thanks.
Pastor Norm smiles. At least he offered.
PASTOR NORM
You’re all welcome on the Jesus
Bus.
CRAIG
Thanks. We’re headed to the falls.
Craig turns up the dirt road. C.J. follows, looking back at
Owen. Owen waves. C.J. waves back. Behind them:
PASTOR NORM
God always chooses an imperfect
vessel for His most perfect work.
St. Nick and Genie exchange a look.
UNCLE MARK
That’s one hell of a racket.
CRAIG
Yeah. Wild.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Chaos at Deer River
EXT. DEER RIVER - MOMENTS LATER
The El Camino parks near a waterfall thundering into a clear
pool, out of sight of the Jesus Bus.
NUDISTS soak in the last heat of summer. St. Nick and Genie
strip and dive in. Craig follows.
Uncle Mark cracks a beer and cranks a lazy 70s rock jam. The
music drifts over the falls, defiant against the faint hymns
downriver.
C.J. and Jessie stand clothed at the edge.
CRAIG
Don’t get your clothes wet.
He whoops and dives nude into the pool.
UNDERWATER:
Muted roar. Bubbles. Pebbles. Trout.
Lady’s paws paddle past. St. Nick and Genie wrestle naked,
hands brushing, bodies easy.
C.J. bursts through the surface.
Across the pool, Craig flirts with TWO NUDE WOMEN.
A sharp WHISTLE cuts through the roar. C.J. turns.
Cathy appears on the trail, still in her professional
clothes. C.J. waves, thrilled.
Craig gives Cathy a quick nod, then turns back to the women.
Cathy takes that in.
Then, deliberate and unbothered, she undresses near the kids,
lays her clothes on a rock, and reclines nude in the sun.
A HANDSOME NUDE MAN approaches Cathy, interested.
Craig sees. He turns, climbs the steep rock face beside the
falls. Lady scrambles after him.
At the top, Craig looks down. The nude women wave. St. Nick
and Genie cheer.
Craig steps back, out of sight. C.J. holds his breath.
Craig SPRINTS and LAUNCHES himself over the falls. Lady leaps
after him. They vanish into the roar.
Everyone cheers.
Lady pops up first, paddles hard to shore, shakes water all
over Jessie.
But no Craig.
C.J. scans the pool.
C.J.
Mom...
Cathy sits up.
CATHY
Did he come up?
Uncle Mark leans out of the El Camino for a better view.
St. Nick and Genie dive under.
C.J. ducks under - can’t see. Pops back up. So do St. Nick
and Genie. Still no Craig.
The HANDSOME NUDE MAN dives in too.
C.J. scans the pool. Once. Twice. No Craig. Then, Craig steps
out from behind the falls, completely fine.
Laughter from the nudists. C.J. drags a wet forearm across
his face.
C.J.
Dad! Watch!
The falls swallow his voice. He turns to Jessie.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Jessie, watch -
He runs and jumps from a low rock into the water. Jessie and
Lady jump in after him, laughing.
The current catches them. Fast. Uncle Mark blasts the El
Camino horn. Too late.
UNDERWATER
Whitewater. Boulders. Bubbles. Jessie’s hair whips past. C.J.
reaches for her. Misses.
He breaks the surface, swept downstream. He sees Cathy
scramble across the rocks before he’s dragged under again.
UNDERWATER
Chaos. Cathy’s hand clamps around C.J.’s arm. She hauls him
up, slams him onto a rock. He coughs water, sobbing.
Cathy dives back toward Jessie, being pulled farther
downstream toward the Jesus Bus on the bend.
Craig and St. Nick fight the rapids toward them.
CRAIG
Grab C.J.!
Craig breaks toward Cathy. Still nude, Cathy lifts a limp
Jessie from the water - within view of Pastor Norm and the
hippies at the Jesus Bus.
Cathy beats Jessie’s back - Jessie vomits water.
C.J.’s grip slips.
C.J.
Dad!
St. Nick surfaces beside him and locks an arm around him.
ST. NICK
It’s ok. I’ve got you.
Craig reaches Cathy. Both naked. Shaking. Cathy slaps him.
The sound cuts through the river.
CATHY
Fucking bastard.
Craig’s nose erupts with blood.
Pastor Norm, Janis, Owen, Sheila and the hippies stare. Janis
pulls Owen close, shielding his view. St. Nick carries C.J.
through the water.
ST. NICK
Up we go.
He lifts C.J. onto the dirt embankment.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
He’s ok, Cat. He’s ok.
C.J. covers himself, suddenly aware everyone can see him.
Sheila approaches with towels. Genie gathers Cathy’s clothes.
Cathy clutches her children, sobbing, furious, alive.
Sheila helps her get C.J. and Jessie toward the VW Bug parked
near the Jesus Bus. Lady follows, soaked and shaking.
Cathy does not look back. Craig stands bleeding, naked,
abandoned by the river.
Genres:
["Drama","Family","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Fairground Confessions
EXT. SIERRA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS - EVENING (1990)
Hidden behind the Log Flume, Owen, Ezra and Derek (all 17)
pass an apple made into a bong.
C.J. (17) pegs his jeans above his red Converse.
Ezra takes a hit and coughs hard.
EZRA
That shit’s harsh.
Owen takes the apple, hits it, coughs, passes it to C.J., he
takes a hit, exhales, then bites into the apple.
DEREK
Dude! What the fuck?
Owen and Ezra crack up.
OWEN
Dirty move, Harris.
C.J.
Gotta destroy the evidence.
OWEN
Let’s roll.
C.J. tosses the apple into a trash can.
They push into the fair: bumper cars, Graviton, Tilt O’
Whirl, Zipper. Rock music collides with squeals and screams
under the pines.
They stop at a FREE THROW game. Owen hands over cash to the
BARKER (40s). C.J. hangs back.
Owen shoots. All net. Ezra drains one too. The boys cheer.
Derek turns and holds out the ball to C.J.
DEREK
Don’t hide now, Harris.
C.J.
Naw. I don’t want any of that junk.
EZRA
Come on, Hollywood. You owe me for
my apple.
C.J. doesn’t move. Ezra tosses the ball to him.
EZRA (CONT’D)
Don’t fuck it up.
C.J. shoots. It falls short.
BARKER
Ouch.
DEREK
My little sister can make that
shot.
OWEN
Shut up, Derek.
C.J.
Good. That shit was ugly anyway.
C.J. walks off. Owen laughs for Ezra and Derek’s benefit.
Then follows C.J., nudges his shoulder.
OWEN
Fuck that guy.
C.J. doesn’t respond. Walks through the midway.
OWEN (CONT’D)
You good?
C.J.
I keep thinking about Saturday.
OWEN
The talent show?
C.J.
My dad wants me to preach.
OWEN
So don’t.
C.J.
You don’t get to just “don’t” in my
house. My dad’s already itching to
to knock my block off when I turn
eighteen.
OWEN
At least then you get L.A.
C.J.
Need a car first. You could come.
OWEN
Your party? I already am.
C.J.
L.A.
Owen looks over.
C.J. (CONT’D)
I mean, if you wanted out too.
Owen checks back. Ezra and Derek still heckle the Barker.
OWEN
I’ve got a truck.
C.J. looks at him.
OWEN (CONT’D)
After your birthday. I could drive
you.
C.J.
To L.A.?
OWEN
Why not?
C.J. looks down, hiding the smile.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Come on.
He heads for the SWING CAROUSEL. C.J. smiles, follows. The
boys strap into the swings.
The synth keys of an 80’s pop anthem kicks in. Owen looks
over - and doesn’t look away. Their chairs drift close enough
that their feet touch briefly.
The swings lift and start to spin - they rise beneath the
neon carousel, chains stretched, chairs flying wide.
C.J.’s red Converse skim the dark pine branches. He looks
over. Owen is laughing, hair blown back, eyes still on him.
C.J. laughs too.
Owen catches himself smiling at C.J. too long, looks down,
spots Ezra and Derek. Just like that, Owen’s face changes. He
leans out of his swing, aiming spit toward them.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Open wide, dickheads!
Ezra and Derek wave up from the midway.
DEREK
Don’t puke, Chambers!
Ezra and Derek scatter below, laughing. Owen laughs too loud
now, swinging wild.
C.J. watches him from the next swing. His hair blowing in the
breeze. His smile fades.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
A Family Outing to the Old Sierra Theater
INT. CATHY’S VW BUG - DAY (1982)
Wind blows C.J.’s (10) combed hair. His hand riding the wind
out the window of Cathy’s VW.
Orange and yellow leaves drift down to blanket the road.
Jessie (8) stands on the backseat, her hair in new ribbons.
Cathy drives in her best dress.
The three sing together along with the radio.
CATHY, JESSIE & C.J.
(singing)
-- You, you make loving fun - it’s
all I want to do --
Cathy pulls up to --
EXT. OLD SIERRA THEATER - MOMENTS LATER
-- a packed gravel lot. Pickup trucks. VW buses. Young
couples. Long skirts. Bell-bottoms. Mustaches. Babies on
hips. Guitars come faint through open doors.
The old movie marquee above reads:
“HIS WAY CHURCH - PASTOR NORM CHAMBERS”
The JESUS BUS from the river is parked right out front.
C.J. watches Cathy climb out of the bug, smooth her blouse.
C.J.
This is it?
CATHY
I think so.
C.J. looks at the building. The people. The open doors. This
is not his world. But it’s warm, alive.
Cathy takes Jessie’s hand, looks back at C.J.
CATHY
Come on, hon.
C.J. gets out, shuts the door. They walk toward the entrance
like they belong.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Faith and Fracture
INT. OLD SIERRA THEATER - LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
A rush of bodies and music and welcome. Handshakes and
coffee. Kids darts past. Somebody laughing too loud.
C.J. takes in the crowd: Young, happy, clean people. He turns
to Cathy.
C.J.
Everyone’s so clean. Like on TV.
She smiles. He’s not wrong.
C.J. spots a scale-model of a modern house-shaped building on
the repurposed concessions counter. He inspects the little
trees, colorful toy cars, and tiny people that surround the
model building. A color poster reads:
“HIS WAY CHURCH - Our New Home Opens Spring ‘83”.
A donation box sits under a thermometer graphic, nearly
reaching the $1.3 million fundraising goal.
Sheila, in men’s flannel and jeans, steps up to Cathy.
SHEILA
Cathy! You made it.
Cathy smiles, a little self-conscious.
CATHY
Barely.
Sheila nods to Cathy’s dress.
SHEILA
Such a nice color on you.
JESSIE
My mom’s boyfriend took us
shopping.
CATHY
Jessie --
JESSIE
He’s a doctor.
Sheila laughs.
SHEILA
Wow. He sounds nice.
CATHY
Will you two please mind your
business?
Sheila smiles, presses a bulletin into her hand.
SHEILA
We’re so glad you finally made it.
Cathy nods. High energy music swells - congregants move
further inside.
SHEILA (CONT’D)
Come on, I know where the good
seats are.
Cathy gathers her kids close. They follow Sheila into --
THEATER / SANCTUARY - CONTINUOUS
The windowless but brightly lit old theater is alive with
music. Faux white lilies, an American flag, a baby grand
piano, and a tall wooden cross decorate the stage.
Pastor Norm and Janis, in white linen and long hair - more
slick than they were at the river - lead the congregation in
song with the choir.
Owen (10) plays his guitar next to his parents.
PASTOR NORM & JANIS
(singing)
You don’t have to jump no pews -
run down aisles - no chills run
down your spine --
Congregants fill every inch of the theater - standing and
singing with eyes closed, hands raised. No one is formal. But
all are fervent.
Sheila leads Cathy and the kids through the concert-like
crowd to the front row.
From the stage, Janis and Pastor Norm give Cathy a wave.
Owen spots C.J., smiles. C.J. smiles back. Watches.
Pastor Norm, Janis, and Owen look like a perfect family.
C.J. pulls on his mom’s sleeve.
C.J. PASTOR NORM & JANIS (CONT’D)
I like it here. (singing)
- don′t you know the earth
didn’t quake -
Cathy smiles. She does too. She tries to sing along. C.J.
scans the room.
Then sees - Craig. A few rows over. Clean-cut. Shaved. Good
shirt. Bible in hand.
C.J. (CONT’D) JANIS
Mom! Dad’s here! (singing)
- but I knew - that I been
born again -
Cathy looks: It’s Craig singing next to a WOMAN (30s). He
looks younger somehow. Lighter. Sober. Open-faced.
Craig sees them. He goes still.
Cathy faces forward.
The church rocks on.
C.J. (CONT’D) PASTOR NORM
Mom? (singing)
I say- you don′t have to jump
no pews - run down no aisles
CATHY PASTOR NORM & JANIS
We’re leaving. (singing)
no chills run down your spine
C.J. PASTOR NORM & JANIS (CONT’D)
I want to see dad. (singing)
but you′ll know -
JESSIE PASTOR NORM & JANIS (CONT’D)
Papa! (singing)
that you been - born again
Jessie breaks into a full run across the theater to Craig.
She jumps into his arms.
Frustrated tears fall down Cathy’s face. She glances over.
Craig holds Jessie tight.
C.J.
Mom?
Cathy looks at Craig with their daughter in his arms. Clean.
Sober. Here. Everything she has hoped for.
CATHY
Go on.
C.J. runs to his father, embraces him with all his strength.
I/E. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - BEDROOM - LATER
C.J. sits on his lawn-chair bed with Jessie. Tears streak
down her face. Lady and Popeye stay close.
CATHY (O.C.)
(screaming)
Every fucking word out your mouth
is a lie.
C.J. moves to the blanket door, peeks into the --
LIVING ROOM
Cathy furiously stacks moving boxes. Craig stands calm, a
Bible in his hands.
CATHY (CONT’D)
Get your shit out of my house. This
is not your storage locker.
CRAIG
Cathy. Everything is different now.
CATHY
Don’t tell me what’s different.
NOTHING changes with you.
C.J. moves to step between them, moves them apart. Jessie
watches from the blanket door.
C.J.
Into your corners.
CATHY
No. He is leaving. Right now. With
all his shit.
Craig steps back. C.J. points for his mother:
C.J.
That’s your corner.
CRAIG
You don’t have to believe me.
CATHY
I don’t.
CRAIG
His truth is all there is.
CATHY
You are so full of shit.
C.J. tugs lightly at Cathy’s arm, trying to pull her back.
CRAIG
Cathy. I’ve fallen in love with
Jesus. He’s calling for you too.
For all of us.
Cathy laughs through tears.
CATHY
Have him call Carol. Or Beth. Or
Katie. Or any of your two-bit
whores.
CRAIG
Cathy -
CATHY
We came back to be a family. To
start fresh. And every single time
you shit on us. You run off. You
cheat and party and who-the-fuck-
knows-what.
CRAIG
You’re right. I’m a sinner. A liar
and adulterer. I know that, Cathy.
Christ has forgiven me.
Cathy charges toward him. C.J. can’t stop her.
C.J.
Mom --
CATHY
I’m not Christ, so fuck you.
CRAIG
I am saved. Washed in the blood of
the lamb.
C.J. and Jessie freeze.
JESSIE
Blood?
CRAIG
This family has been chosen by God.
CATHY
Fuck this Jim Jones cult shit. Wipe
that stupid fucking smile off your
face before I do it for you.
CRAIG
He loves you Cathy. He died for
you. For me. For all of us.
C.J.
Who died?
Craig kneels to C.J.
CRAIG
Jesus did, son.
Craig pulls a gold ring from his pocket. Slips it on. Stands
to face Cathy.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
I’m putting this back on. I’ve
committed my life to Jesus. To this
family. To our children. To you.
Cathy breaks. She wants to believe him.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
You never deserved the pain I
caused. I will never hurt you
again. I love you.
Cathy shakes her head, crying.
CATHY
You’re such an asshole.
CRAIG
One Sunday. Come back once. And I
will never bother you again.
CATHY
Get out.
CRAIG
I love you.
CATHY
GET OUT!
Craig leaves with a smile.
Through the window, C.J. watches Craig walk toward Pastor
Norm, waiting at the open door of the “THE JESUS BUS”.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
A Foggy Morning of Exploration
EXT. SHAWN’S COTTAGE - DAY (1982)
Fog lifts between the evergreens into the overcast sky above.
C.J. waits in his Royal Ranger uniform with Lady and Popeye.
Shawn bursts out of his cottage in his Boy Scout uniform and
a buck knife strapped to his leg. They run off shoulder-to-
shoulder into the woods. The animals follow.
EXT. IRRIGATION FLUMES - LATER
C.J. and Shawn walk single-file along slick, narrow wooden
planks above rushing water. Lady and Popeye follow close.
C.J. studies the merit badges on Shawn’s uniform.
C.J.
What’s that one?
SHAWN
Camping. But I want Fish and
Wildlife.
C.J.
Owen’s got a Bible Merit. I’m gonna
get mine too.
SHAWN
Boy Scouts doesn’t have that.
C.J.
Royal Rangers is just for
Christians. That’s why.
SHAWN
Am I a Christian?
C.J.
Well, you don’t go to our church,
so not yet.
SHAWN
My mom says I can’t.
C.J.
The Holy Ghost comes into our
church.
SHAWN
There’s no such thing as ghosts.
C.J.
It’s just what they call him. You
can’t see him.
SHAWN
Like the Force?
C.J.
Kinda like the Force. But everyone
starts speaking in different
languages.
SHAWN
Nu-uh.
SMASH CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Fervent Worship and Spiritual Struggle
INT. OLD SIERRA THEATER - SANCTUARY - DAY (1982)
C.J., Jessie and Cathy stand stiff in the front row, hair
combed tight, dressed modestly. They try to sing with Craig.
Pastor Norm and Janis perform onstage in flowing white linen.
Owen plays the tambourine.
The congregation speaks in tongues, dance, hands raised,
crying. Bodies convulse. People collapse.
C.J. watches as Sheila, dressed in her men’s flannel, weeps
while Pastor Norm, Janis and congregants pray over her.
Pastor Norm presses a Bible to her forehead.
PASTOR NORM
I rebuke these lesbian demons from
this child of God -
C.J. takes in the spectacle.
Genres:
["Drama","Spiritual"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Fort Building and Questions of Faith
EXT. HIDDEN CREEK - ANOTHER DAY (1982)
A light rain drizzles as fall moves to winter. C.J. and
Shawn, in raincoats, pull a huge cedar branch.
C.J.
Sometimes we drink blood. But
really it’s just grape juice.
SHAWN
Why?
C.J.
It’s illegal to drink real blood.
SHAWN
Gross.
They hoist the branch onto several others creating a
makeshift fort against at tall cedar tree.
C.J. ducks inside. The small space is dry, protected. Shawn
crawls in to join him.
C.J.
This part’s your room. Mine’s over
here.
Shawn moves to the far corner, claiming his space.
SHAWN
Perfect. We can stay here every
day.
C.J. smooths pine needles from the dirt floor.
C.J.
Until Hollywood.
SHAWN
What’s in Hollywood?
C.J.
Sidewalks. A refrigerator that’s
never empty. But on Sunday we have
church. You can come if you get
born again.
SHAWN
How do you get born twice?
C.J.
You ask Jesus in your heart.
SHAWN
Why?
C.J. doesn’t have an answer. The two boys fall silent again.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
Confession and Conflict
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - SANCTUARY - NIGHT (1990)
C.J. (17) in his mullet and Miami Vice-esque jacket, sits in
a pew with Owen, Derek and Ezra (all 17, in Cosby sweaters).
Ahead of them: Cathy and Jessie with their Aqua-Net hair and
the younger Harris kids.
Zach sits alone a few rows away.
At the pulpit, Craig - in his signature neon parachute pants -
stands with Pastor Norm, slick in his 3-piece suit.
Between them: St. Nick.
C.J. watches - St. Nick looks out of place. Tattooed,
pierced. Leather jacket. His shoulders slumped, eyes down.
CRAIG
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
my dear friend Nick here has known
me from my days living in sin.
Owen leans toward C.J.
OWEN
(whispering)
You know this guy?
C.J.
Yeah, he used to be my dad’s drug
dealer.
(MORE)
C.J. (CONT’D)
(beat)
Kind of my godfather.
EZRA
Whoa.
The boys are impressed. C.J. smiles to himself.
Craig continues from the pulpit:
CRAIG
Nick’s seen me commit every sin
known to man.
(beat)
Well, except murder... and
homosexuality.
Laughter ripples through Congregation. Craig turns to Nick:
CRAIG (CONT’D) EZRA
Over the years, since I got (whispering)
saved, I’ve urged you to come He’s got biker tattoos.
up here, to experience
Christ’s unconditional love
firsthand. Haven’t I?
ST. NICK C.J.
Yes. That’s right. (whispering)
Hell’s Angels.
CRAIG DEREK
And last week you finally (whispering)
came up from San Francisco to Fucking cool.
see me.
ST. NICK
Yes -
CONGREGATION
Amen. Praise Jesus. Welcome, Nick.
PASTOR NORM
Why don’t you share what you shared
with Pastor Craig and me?
He gestures to the pulpit mic. St. Nick hesitates, leans in.
ST. NICK
Well... Pastor Norm... Craig -
Pastor Craig --
CRAIG
Craig is just fine, my friend.
Craig pats him on the back. St. Nick looks at him:
ST. NICK
We’ve done a lot together. I...
I’ve been living in the city - the
Castro - for years. Selling dope.
Running with gangs.
Derek leans toward C.J.
OWEN
He’s a fuckin’ badass.
C.J. smiles.
ST. NICK
(voice shaking)
And I’ve also been hiding all that
time as a ... a homosexual.
(beat)
With Genie. Eugene. My partner.
There are gasps. Ezra and Derek turn to C.J.
Owen stares at St. Nick. Then checks Ezra and Derek.
OWEN
(whispers)
Wait - he’s gay?
Pastor Norm wraps an arm around St. Nick.
PASTOR NORM
Jesus loves you, Nick.
ST. NICK
So many of my friends are sick.
Dying.
CRAIG
Give him strength, Jesus.
ST. NICK
And, Genie - he got sick - he
passed. My Genie. He’s gone.
St. Nick breaks down. The sanctuary goes silent. Cathy weeps
openly. C.J. doesn’t blink. Owen glances at C.J.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
-- I don’t want to live with this --
I don’t want to die like this --
PASTOR NORM
You don’t have to live with this
anymore, Nick.
ST. NICK
-- please, God, take it away --
please, make it go away --
Hands rise across the sanctuary. Congregants pray in tongues.
ELDERS surround St. Nick, hands pressing, voices rising.
Janis steps to the mic and the band swells beneath her.
JANIS
(singing)
I want to thank you Lord --
Sheila joins the prayer circle - but her hand trembles before
it lands on Nick’s shoulder. Pastor Norm pushes a bible
against Nick’s head.
PASTOR NORM
In the name of Jesus Christ, I
command this spirit of
homosexuality out of this man.
The noise builds louder, more frantic. C.J. shifts in his
seat.
Across the pew, Owen grips the hymnal rack hard enough to
whiten his knuckles. C.J. sees it. His own hand starts for
Owen’s. Stops. He folds it into a fist against his leg.
Nearby, Zach catches C.J.’s eye. C.J. bolts up and out to --
-- THE LOBBY
C.J. stops at the glass lobby doors. His reflection stares
back at him.
A sanctuary door opens behind him, leaking distorted prayer
and tongues into the space. Jessie steps out to join him.
JESSIE
Hey.
The sanctuary door closes. The noise drops away. They stand
side by side in silence - their reflections stare back at
them in the glass.
JESSIE (CONT’D)
I always knew about Nick and Genie.
(then)
I can always tell.
C.J. looks up at her.
C.J.
What does that mean?
Jessie isn’t sure how to respond, or if she even should.
JESSIE
I wouldn’t say anything.
C.J. walks away, wiping tears. He pushes into the -
MEN’S ROOM
C.J. enters a stall. Locks the door. He breathes hard.
A door opens. Footsteps. He exhales, braces himself, then
pushes out of the stall. Zach at the sink. They see each
other in the mirror.
ZACH
I couldn’t stay in there.
C.J. looks at him for a moment - turns away and walks out.
-- LOBBY
Congregants spill out of the sanctuary. Murmurs, handshakes.
Pastor Norm and Craig emerge with St. Nick, who looks spent,
wiping tears as he shakes hands.
PASTOR NORM
We can put you to work. Keep your
hands busy, keep your heart open.
ST. NICK
Thank you, Pastor. Truly.
PASTOR NORM
One day at a time, brother.
Derek, Ezra move toward C.J. Owen laughs too fast.
DEREK
So... guess he’s demon-free now.
EZRA
Gay-Busters-R-Us.
OWEN
There’s something strange in the
neighborhood. Who ya gonna call?
EZRA & OWEN
Gay-Busters!
Owen cracks up to hard.
SHEILA
Not the time or place, gentleman.
Sheila passes, cool and corrective, without slowing. Owen
bristles, mutters:
OWEN
How is that dyke always around?
C.J. glances at him.
St. Nick spots C.J. and smiles big, and approaches.
ST. NICK
Craig-the-second. A spitting image
of your dad at seventeen.
C.J. gives him a thin smile. St. Nick opens his arms for a
hug. C.J. steps back. St. Nick stops himself, covers it with
a weak grin. The boys watch C.J., waiting.
Jessie appears, throws her arms around St. Nick.
JESSIE
St. Nick!
ST. NICK
(laughs)
Lil’ Miss Jessie! Look at you
ruffians. All grown up. Time flies.
Time flies.
C.J. turns back to his friends.
C.J.
Who ya gonna call?
OWEN, EZRA & DEREK
Gay-Busters!
C.J. and his friends laugh, walk off together, leaving St.
Nick standing there with Jessie.
Owen slams out the lobby doors, C.J. follows him.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Faith and Family on Market Street
EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - MARKET STREET - DAY (1982)
A PERFORMANCE TROUPE in matching overalls and yellow t-shirts
hold a sheet painted with:
“JESUS SAVES”
Craig and a very pregnant Cathy stand with Pastor Norm,
Janis, Sheila and the troupe.
C.J., Jessie, and Owen -- also in the matching outfits --
stand with their parents. C.J. takes in Market Street.
A CABLE CAR GRIPMAN leans into the bell. A WOMAN in a suit
eats a hot dog, walks fast. Two MEN in leather jackets lean
together outside a record store, laughing like nobody’s
watching. A HOTEL DOORMAN lifts luggage from a taxi like it
weighs nothing.
C.J. can’t stop staring. People everywhere. None like home.
The troupe joins hands to form a half circle. Owen reaches
down and takes C.J.’s hand. They smile at each other.
Onlookers gather near the Jesus Bus as Pastor Norm prays.
C.J. whispers to Owen.
C.J.
When I’m eighteen, I’m gonna live
someplace big like this.
OWEN
Why?
C.J.
So we can have a real house. Like
on TV.
JESSIE
It smells like pee.
At Pastor Norm’s cue, Sheila drops to the pavement in front
of the troupe, curling into herself. The troupe pantomimes
hurling stones at her.
THE TROUPE
Adulterer! Whore!
C.J., JESSIE & OWEN
Sinner!
C.J. scans the plaza.
Across the way, Uncle Mark watches from his El Camino. St.
Nick sits astride his Harley with Genie behind him.
C.J. lights up. He gives a small wave. St. Nick sees him,
gives him a two-finger salute.
C.J. smiles, then straightens his yellow t-shirt.
PASTOR NORM
He that is without sin - let him
cast the first stone!
As the troupe pantomimes hurling stones, C.J. sneaks another
look across the plaza. St. Nick is watching. C.J. throws his
imaginary stone bigger.
St. Nick’s smile fades.
ST. NICK
What in the name of fuck?
UNCLE MARK
It’s gotten serious.
The troupe freezes mid-throw. Craig steps forward, helps
Sheila to her feet.
CRAIG
Accept Christ and be saved. Go, and
sin no more.
Pastor Norm watches Craig with pride. Cathy wipes tears. The
troupe sings, handing out pamphlets to uneasy pedestrians.
THE TROUPE
(singing)
And they will know we are
Christians by our love --
C.J. and Jessie run to St. Nick and Uncle Mark, for hugs.
C.J.
Did you see me, St. Nick?
ST. NICK
You were great!
C.J.
Is this where you live?
ST. NICK
Yep. Few blocks up.
Craig follows, Bible in hand.
CRAIG
Thanks for coming out.
ST. NICK
Infiltrating enemy lines?
The two shake hands and embrace. As they separate, St. Nick
palms a large baggie of cocaine into Craig’s hand. Craig
holds it out.
CRAIG
No, man.
GENIE
What are you doing?
Genie snatches the baggie and shoves it into a pocket.
ST. NICK
Jesus.
CRAIG
I’m not down with it anymore.
UNCLE MARK
Told you.
Cathy leans on Craig, smiling, holding her belly. C.J. stands
like his father. St. Nick looks at C.J., then to Cathy:
ST. NICK
What’s going on, Cat?
CATHY
Just out here sharing our
testimony.
UNCLE MARK
More like sold out.
CRAIG
God uses imperfect vessels.
UNCLE MARK
Now you’re better than us?
C.J. steps up.
C.J.
Are you going to heaven, Uncle
Mark?
UNCLE MARK
Oh, hell no, bud.
Uncle Mark reaches for C.J., pulls him close.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
Get ahold of me the day you turn
eighteen, kid. I’ll get you out of
this mess.
(to St. Nick)
Let’s roll.
Uncle Mark turns over the El Camino’s engine.
CRAIG
I’ll be praying for you.
UNCLE MARK
Traitor.
St. Nick kick starts his bike. Engines roar. He gives a ‘so-
long’ salute. C.J. salutes back as they pull away.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Frozen Dreams and Harsh Realities
EXT. FOREST - OVERFLOW DAM - DAY (1982)
Light snow drifts over the partially frozen lake.
C.J. and Shawn sit on the narrow dam, bundled in layers. C.J.
wears plastic Wonder Bread bags over his socks. Lady and
Popeye trail behind.
C.J. grabs a rock and hurls it onto the ice. It bounces,
skids - then bloop - drops through.
C.J.
It’s fine.
Shawn looks at the hole. Then at C.J.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Just stay on this end.
SHAWN
You go first.
C.J.
Same time. On your mark, get set,
go!
They step onto the ice. Dark, deep water beneath. It clicks.
Ticks. Shawn slips - catches himself.
SHAWN
Shit!
C.J.
Here. Hold on.
C.J. takes Shawn’s hand. They slide a few feet, laughing.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Whoo-hoo!
Shawn answers with his own howl. Lady whines.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Lady! Come on, girl. You got it.
Lady steps on the ice. Adjusts. Popeye turns and pads off.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Good girl!
Shawn tilts his head back, catches snowflakes on his tongue.
SHAWN
Delicious.
C.J. slides into his best disco moves and sings.
C.J.
(singing)
Ahhhh - Freak out!
Shawn joins him.
C.J. & SHAWN
(singing)
Le freak, so chic -
C.J. slips. Falls hard.
C.J.
Fuck!
Shawn tumbles onto him. The ice clicks louder. Lady scrambles
over. The boys laugh hysterically.
SHAWN
Owww... that hurt.
C.J.
You landed on me!
They roll apart, lie on their backs. Snowflakes fall. C.J.
scoots closer, presses his head beside Shawn’s.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Someday, you and me - we’re gonna
live in Hollywood in a house with
sidewalks.
(MORE)
C.J. (CONT’D)
And we’ll have a refrigerator
that’s never empty. And we will
stay together forever.
Shawn sits up, unstraps his buck knife. He uses the sharp
point to pierce his finger. A small dot of red blood appears.
SHAWN
Promise.
He hands the knife to C.J., solemn.
SHAWN (CONT’D)
Careful. It’s really sharp.
C.J. pushes his finger onto the knife tip, winces. He pulls
his hand back, a blood droplet falls into the snow. C.J.
looks at Shawn, holds out his hand. The boys press their
pierced fingers together.
C.J.
I promise.
SHAWN
Me too.
C.J. smiles. Shawn smiles back.
C.J. moves back to the dam, pulls chalk from his pocket and
draws on the concrete. Soon, Shawn joins him. They sit in
silence. Snowflakes drift in the cedar trees. And the creek
rushes far below.
Shawn doodles “S+C” on his red Converse with a marker. Lady
perks up.
CRAIG (O.C.)
C.J.
C.J. and Shawn turn, surprised to see Craig walking towards
them. Lady wags her tail and gets pets from Craig.
C.J.
Hi, dad.
Craig spots the chalk drawing.
CRAIG
Shawn, get home.
Shawn looks to C.J.
C.J.
See you tomorrow.
SHAWN
Okay.
Shawn walks up the trail past the fort.
CRAIG
What’s this?
Craig points to the chalk drawings: “C.J. loves Shawn” with a
heart and two stick figures holding hands in a house.
C.J.
It’s my house in Hollywood with
Shawn. When we grow up.
Craig squats and splashes water over the chalk, erasing it.
CRAIG
Queers don’t go to heaven, C.J.
Craig walks away. Calls back:
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Go get ready. We’re late.
C.J., Lady, and Popeye follow.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Embrace at the Edge
EXT. OVERFLOW DAM - DAY (1990)
Fog lifts off the deep lake, drifting through the evergreens.
C.J. (17) walks the narrow dam alone. He pulls chalk from his
pocket, draws on the concrete like he did as a kid.
He stands at the edge, red hi-tops peeking over open space.
The creek roars a hundred feet below.
Water creeps across the dry concrete, impossible and silent,
washing away the chalk - his name, a house, two stick figures
holding hands.
C.J. watches until nothing remains. He tosses the chalk over
the edge. It falls into oblivion.
Suddenly - arms wrap around him from behind. C.J. stiffens,
then exhales. Closes his eyes. Leans into the embrace.
He turns. It’s Owen (17). Owen leans in, kisses him. They
fall together into the deep lake --
UNDERWATER
A rush of bubbles. C.J. and Owen tumble beneath the surface,
tangled in the white current, kissing passionately.
A deep crack echoes beneath them. The current surges, hard
and hungry. They hold each other as the water takes them.
SMASH CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Awakening and Awkwardness
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY (1990)
C.J. jolts awake on the couch, gasping. Disoriented from a
deep nap. He looks down. A wet spot spreads across his pants.
Across the room, Evelyn, oxygen tubes on, reads catalogues on
her pull-out bed.
EVELYN
Sounded like a good one.
C.J. bolts up and rushes to the --
BATHROOM
C.J. locks the door. He grips the sink, looks at his
reflection. Breathes hard.
On the wall: a framed print of Jesus knocking on a door. C.J.
speaks at it.
C.J.
Don’t.
He runs the shower, watches the water fall hard on the tile.
A horn honks from outside. C.J. steps on tippy toes to look
through the bathroom window.
Outside: Owen steps out of his lifted 4x4, black cowboy hat
on. He swings wrestles with the young Harris kids in yard.
CATHY (O.C.)
C.J.! Owen’s here!
C.J.
I’m coming --
Oooof. Wrong choice of words. He glances at the Jesus
picture:
C.J. (CONT’D)
Sorry.
C.J. strips, hurries into the shower.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Bonfire Bonds
EXT. DEER RIVER - NIGHT (1990)
Silhouettes dance against the waterfall. A massive BONFIRE
roars beside the river, throwing wild light across drunk
TEENS.
Late-80’s music echos off the water. C.J. dances in pegged
jeans and red Converse.
Owen, shirtless under a letterman jacket, his black cowboy
hat low over his eyes, leans against his lifted 4x4.
Ezra and Derek sport t-shirts with homemade “CLASS OF 1990”
scrawled across them, pass a bottle of Jack Daniels. Owen
guzzles it. Howls.
EZRA
Class of nineteen ninety, bitches!
Owen offers the bottle to C.J. He takes a long pull.
C.J.
FUCK!
C.J. grabs the boombox and runs to the water. He sets it on
bedrock, blasting music into the stars.
Owen wanders over with two Bartles & Jaymes.
OWEN
Happy birthday, fucker.
C.J.
Still four more days.
They try to one-up each other with dance moves.
Owen’s leg hits the boombox sending it into the river.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Oh shit!
C.J. drops to his stomach, reaching as the boombox bobs, then
starts to sink.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Fuck - it’s sinking.
Owen drops his hat and jacket, dives into the dark water.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Dude!
For one awful second, Owen is gone.
Then he pops up holding the doomed boombox. He lifts it,
water streaming from its speakers.
C.J. laughs.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Holy shit, Owen.
OWEN
We couldn’t just leave Fine Young
Cannibals at the bottom of the
river.
C.J. helps Owen out: soaked jeans, shirtless body, firelight
on wet skin. Owen shivers.
C.J.
You fuckin’ maniac. You’re gonna
freeze. Put this on.
C.J. tosses the letterman to Owen, then rubs his arms and
shoulders vigorously to help warm him up.
OWEN
Thanks. Fuck.
Owen wraps his arm around C.J.’s shoulder.
OWEN (CONT’D)
I love you, man.
C.J.
I love you too.
Owen’s smile falters. He looks back to the others, drops his
arm off C.J.
OWEN
Yeah, I bet you do.
C.J. looks at Owen. Owen laughs. Then yanks C.J. into the
river with him -
UNDERWATER
Blackness. The roar of the falls muted.
They break the surface, gasping and laughing. Cheers erupt
from the bonfire. C.J. punches Owen’s arm.
C.J.
You’re crazy.
The boys climb out shivering, soaked, still laughing.
EZRA
(calling out)
You fuckin’ maniacs are gonna
freeze.
C.J. passes the Bartles & Jaymes. Owen chugs it.
OWEN
I need a jacuzzi.
He grins at C.J., shivering.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Come on -
Owen snatches up his hat, stumbles toward his 4x4. C.J.
follows.
I/E. OWEN’S 4X4 - LATER
Owen drives, black cowboy hat low on his brow. C.J. rides
shotgun. The heater blasts as the boys try to warm up. Then:
OWEN
It’s not gonna be the same here
when you head to L.A.
C.J.
Still driving me?
OWEN
I said I would, didn’t I?
C.J.
You coming with me or just dropping
me off?
Owen keeps his eyes on the road. His hands tighten the wheel.
C.J. (CONT’D)
I got the number of a kid that
moved down there a couple years
ago. He knows the city pretty well.
OWEN
Call him. First thing.
C.J.
Yeah?
OWEN
Four days, then you’re free.
C.J.
Free to sleep under a bridge.
OWEN
Call that dude. It’s gotta be
better than this shit.
C.J.
Kinda wild to go it alone.
Owen removes his cowboy hat, and places it on C.J.’s head.
OWEN
Now I’ll have come back down there
and get my hat back.
C.J. smiles wide. Owen looks at him in the hat. Smiles back.
They howl together.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Teen"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Rebellious Revelry at His Way Church
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
Silhouettes of C.J., cowboy hat on, and Owen with keys
outside the glass front doors.
OWEN (O.C.)
It’s the big one.
C.J. (O.C.)
This is the big one.
OWEN (O.C.)
The other big one.
The key finally turns. The door unlocks. They slip inside,
Owen with the Jack Daniels bottle.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Fuck. Its colder than a witch’s tit
in here. Come on -
They stifle giggles, cross the dark lobby, and disappear into
the --
SANCTUARY
The vast sanctuary is dim, lit only by early morning light
spilling through tall windows.
Owen sprints down the center aisle, Jack Daniels bottle in
hand. C.J. chases after him, laughing.
At the altar, Owen takes a long pull from the Jack bottle.
OWEN
Drink, in remembrance of me.
C.J. takes the bottle, drinks deep, steadying the cowboy hat
on his head. Owen climbs onto the stage, grabs the mic.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Welcome to the First Annual Saved-
As-Hell Talent Show.
C.J. laughs despite himself. Owen strikes a pose.
OWEN (CONT’D)
For my first number, I’ll be doing
a dramatic interpretation of Pastor
Craig’s hairline.
C.J.
You’re going to hell.
OWEN
Already packed.
He pounds out AXEL F on the organ. C.J. dances in sanctuary,
unselfconscious - strikes a pose at the pulpit.
C.J.
I rebuke you Satan, in the name of
JESUS!
Owen howls with laughter and jogs across the stage, flipping
switches on a control panel.
The baptistry jets kick on, water churning. Owen strips to
his underwear, steps into the bubbling water. C.J. laughs,
shakes his head.
C.J. (CONT’D)
You’re out of your mind.
He strips to his briefs, keeps the cowboy hat on - climbs in.
Owen slips under the surface, lifts his underwear out of the
water, tosses them aside.
OWEN
Washed clean. Feels great.
C.J. follows suit. He places a hand on Owen’s forehead.
C.J.
In the name of the father, son and
holy spirit --
Owen glances up at the glowing cross.
OWEN
You think He’s watching?
C.J. follows his gaze.
C.J.
Let Him.
Owen laughs, unsure if C.J. is joking. C.J. dunks him under.
UNDERWATER
Bubbles churn. Limbs tangle. Hands search.
Owen rises back to the surface. They hover inches apart. Owen
leans in and kisses C.J., then pulls away.
OWEN
You can’t tell anyone.
C.J.
Never.
Owen kisses him full - harder than C.J. expected. The two
cling to each other, clumsy, urgent, hands searching.
C.J. pulls back just enough.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Stay with me in L.A.
Owen looks at him, smiles.
The massive cross lights up above them. Stage lights flood
the room. Owen jolts back.
OWEN
Fuck!
Underwater lights ignite inside the baptistry, illuminating
the glass front panel facing the sanctuary.
The boys sink lower in the water. Music blasts through the
massive sound system.
AMY GRANT (V.O.)
(singing)
I have decided! I’m gonna live like
a believer --
The boys look up toward the sound booth above the rear of the
sanctuary. Behind the glass: a tall male figure moves,
silhouetted. The chandeliers blaze on.
Owen’s lips move. Nothing comes out.
OWEN
(whispering)
Please help me, Jesus. I’m sorry.
The boys stay low. Water trembles against the glass. The
figure exits the booth.
C.J.
(whispering)
Don’t move.
Below the booth, the double sanctuary doors swing open. St.
Nick enters, pushing a janitor’s cart. He stops to prop one
door open with a rubber wedge. He hasn’t seen them.
ST. NICK
(singing)
Bein’ good is just a fable, I just
can’t ‘cause I’m not able --
St. Nick reaches the altar. Stops. He notices the JACK
DANIELS BOTTLE sitting there. The music continues.
St. Nick looks up. Sees them. Naked under the cross. A long
beat. Then, St. Nick looks away. He drops the bottle into his
trash bag. Plugs in the vacuum, keeps working.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
(singing)
I have decided! I’m gonna live what
I believe --
C.J.
Come on.
The boys slip out of the water, grab their clothes, and
disappear through the stage door.
BACKSTAGE HALLWAY
They dress fast, clothes sticking to wet skin. C.J. holds
back a laugh.
Owen is silent. He can’t button his jeans. He looks back
toward the sanctuary, toward the music.
Owen wipes his mouth.
C.J.
Owen --
Owen shoves past him and hits the exit door.
St. Nick keeps cleaning. Keeps singing. The song echoes
through the empty sanctuary.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
Breaking Away
EXT. HIS WAY CHURCH - SUNRISE - CONTINUOUS
Owen storms into the empty parking lot, still buttoning his
jeans. His fingers miss the buttonholes.
C.J. follows, barefoot, soaked, clutching his clothes and the
cowboy hat.
C.J.
Oh my god, you can’t make this shit
up.
Owen stops at his truck, his back turned. His breath catches,
then catches again.
Owen sees his cowboy hat in C.J.’s hands.
He fumbles his keys, they land on the pavement. He crouches
to retrieve them.
C.J. steps forward to help, their hands touch. Owen recoils.
OWEN
You know exactly what they’ll do to
us.
Owen opens the truck, shakes his head. Wipes his eyes.
OWEN (CONT’D)
I’m not like you.
C.J.
What?
Owen looks to the church building. Muffled worship music
drifts through the tall windows.
Then suddenly Owen punches the truck door.
OWEN
Fuck!
C.J.
Owen --
Owen turns to C.J., his eyes swelling and red.
OWEN
I’m not some dirty faggot.
Owen climbs into his truck.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Go to L.A. and be whatever the fuck
you want.
C.J. stands there, soaked, clutching the hat against himself.
C.J.
You said you’d drive me.
OWEN
Find your own way.
Owen slams the door and peels out of the lot.
C.J. pulls on his jeans, alone.
C.J. looks up at the glowing windows of the church building.
The giant cross high against the roof line. Speaks to it:
C.J.
You don’t get to keep me.
He then turns back to the church building and walks away.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
C.J.'s Quiet Rebellion
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - C.J.'S ROOM - LATER THAT DAWN
C.J., wearing Owen’s hat closes the door, trying not to wake
the house.
He takes off the hat. Holds it a moment. Then rests the hat
on the nightstand. He turns the brim away from him, toward
the wall.
He picks up Craig’s sermon pages laying on his small desk. He
crumples them into a ball. Drops them into the wastepaper
basket.
He opens his Bible, the secret compartment. Zach’s scrap of
drafting paper. The Glendale number.
He looks at the number, folds it into his wallet.
Then he grabs the 5-gallon jug with its L.A. travel cut-outs,
tips it over. Coins and bills spill across the bed, too loud.
C.J. holds still, listens. The house stays quiet.
He sorts fast. Bills first. Quarters. Anything useful.
He checks the PennySaver car ad taped to the jug: $500 OBO.
He stuffs the bills into his pocket. A handful of quarters.
Heads out, closing his door in silence.
INT. SIERRA CITY - THRIFT STORE - LATER
C.J. moves through racks of outdated suits, church shoes,
clip-on ties. He pulls out a white dress shirt. Holds it
against himself. Shoves it back.
Then he spots them: Polyester bell-bottoms. A silk shirt. A
rhinestone-covered pleather jacket.
His hand reaches for the jacket. Stops. Then grabs it.
C.J. carries the jacket and bell bottoms to the counter.
Counts out coins to pay. The clothes go into a cardboard box.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Morning Routines and Family Prayers
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING (1982)
Re-runs play on the T.V. Cathy (26) - long hair, visibly
pregnant - clears plates. A thick Bible lies open.
Jessie (8) counts as Craig (26) does push-ups in his boxers.
C.J (10) pets Popeye, who lies listless in a cardboard box.
C.J.
Why can’t we take Popeye to the
doctor?
JESSIE
-- forty nine --
CATHY
I’ll keep an eye on him, hon.
JESSIE
-- and fifty!
Craig hops up, high fives Jessie.
C.J.
Can we call St. Nick? I can use my
jug money. Buy medicine.
CRAIG
We don’t use that kind of medicine
any more. And it’s not for cats.
A beat.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Let’s pray.
Craig kneels. Places his hand on Popeye. Jessie joins. C.J.
hesitates, then reaches into the box.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Dear heavenly Father, we ask for
your healing. Make Popeye whole. In
Jesus’ name. Amen.
C.J. & JESSIE
Amen.
CATHY
Amen. Kisses. We’re late.
The kids kiss Cathy on the cheek and then bound out the door.
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Rain drizzles on Shawn and Sarah as they bound out of their
cottage across the road. C.J. and Jessie come out their own
front door with Lady.
SARAH
(calls out)
Hurry. We’re late!
C.J. waves to Craig who watches from the kitchen window.
JESSIE
Run, C.J.!
The kids run with the dog through the wet trees towards the:
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
A Race to Tragedy
EXT. BUS STOP - CONTINUOUS
C.J. and Jessie reach the bus stop. Jessie waves to Sarah and
Shawn across the road. An over-loaded pick-up truck lumbers
between them with a line of cars behind it.
The School Bus approaches in the distance. Jessie calls out
to Shawn and Sarah, between the slow cars:
JESSIE
The bus is coming!
SHAWN
(calling back)
Don’t go without us!
C.J.
I won’t leave you!
SARAH
Why don’t you two get married
already.
SHAWN
Maybe we will. And when we grow up
we’ll move to Hollywood.
JESSIE
(singing)
Shawn and C.J. sittin’ in a tree --
C.J.
Shut up, Jessie.
JESSIE & SARAH
K - I - S - S - I - N - G
C.J. blushes. Changes the subject:
C.J.
Last one across is a rotten egg.
As the final car passes:
C.J. (CONT’D)
On your mark, get set... GO!
Shawn runs across the road towards C.J.
Tires scream against wet pavement. Shawn locks eyes with C.J.
From opposite direction, a speeding car slams into Shawn.
Shawn’s red Converse fly into the trees.
The car halts. A DRIVER (50s, female) jumps out.
Craig runs from the farm house in his boxers. Shawn’s body
lands in a rock ditch...
CRAIG DRIVER
JESSIE -- What are you little shits
doing in the road?!
The driver sees Shawn. Craig picks up his bleeding body.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
It’s not Jessie! Oh thank you,
Jesus! It’s not Jessie.
Cathy runs to C.J. and Jessie. Lady barks. C.J.’s legs give,
he stumbles.
Rebecca comes running in her robe to Shawn.
CRAIG (CONT’D) DRIVER
Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Oh my god. Why were they in
Jesus! It’s not my baby girl. the road? Oh my god.
Rebecca kneels in the mud and takes Shawn from Craig.
REBECCA
Call 911!
Craig runs back to the house. C.J. holds on to Cathy -
watches Rebecca rock Shawn’s body in the ditch. Blood streams
from Shawn’s ears. His eyes are open, but rolled back.
SHAWN REBECCA (CONT’D)
Mama... Mama. I’m right here baby. I’m
right here.
Sarah comes to Cathy in tears.
SARAH CATHY
Is Shawn ok? Will he be ok? Help us, Jesus, please,
Jesus.
DRIVER
I didn’t see them. I didn’t know --
They just darted out -
Craig runs back with blankets, helps Rebecca wrap up Shawn as
his wet body convulses.
CRAIG
Paramedics are coming.
The school bus pulls up. KIDS press against the windows.
Craig stands with his arms out, loudly:
CRAIG (CONT’D)
In the name of Jesus! We rebuke you
Satan. Jesus, we call upon you to
heal this boy. Be healed!
REBECCA
Shut the fuck up, Craig!
Craig steps back and continues his prayers quietly. Rebecca
tries to soothe an incoherent Shawn.
CATHY
Come on. Come with me.
Cathy guides C.J., Jessie and Sarah back towards the house,
away from the scene.
Sirens scream in the distance.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
Tensions in the Fellowship Hall
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - FELLOWSHIP HALL - DAY (1990)
Dozens of TEENS, several still in caps and gowns, rehearse
their various talents: ribbon dancing, foam puppets,
tambourines.
Owen tunes his guitar. Over-tightens a peg. A string snaps.
He flinches.
Zach stands off to the side, applying guy-liner in the
reflection of a darkened window. Beside him: rolled floor
plans, smudged with pencil marks.
C.J. holds the thrift store cardboard box with Craig’s sermon
pages, wrinkled but flattened out, on top.
ZACH
What’s in the box?
C.J.
Props.
ZACH
A testimony with props. Totally
normal.
C.J. keeps his hand on the box.
ZACH (CONT’D)
You okay?
C.J. looks at Craig’s wrinkled sermon pages. Then at the box
in his hands.
C.J.
I will be.
Craig, in neon POWER TEAM wardrobe, calls everyone together:
CRAIG
Circle up!
Cathy whistles, sharp and practiced. The room quiets.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
There we go. Thank you, Cathy.
Let’s pray before we go on.
The teens move into a large circle, join hands. Zach tucks
the floor plans away before anyone can see.
JANIS
Nick - over here. Sheila, honey.
Janis gently guides St. Nick beside Sheila, placing their
hands together like a display.
JANIS (CONT’D)
There we go. Walking in victory.
Sheila’s smile tightens. St. Nick lowers his eyes.
C.J. holds his hand out for Owen. Owen sees it. Then slips in
beside Pastor Norm, taking his father’s hand instead.
C.J. is left hanging. He looks down at Craig’s wrinkled
sermon pages in his hand. Then to the box at his feet.
A beat. He folds the sermon pages once, smaller than they
were. His foot slides the box closer.
Jessie quietly slips her hand into his.
PASTOR NORM
Pastor Craig tells me we have a
full house today.
CRAIG
That’s right, Pastor Norm. We
opened up the balcony seating.
The group buzzes with excitement.
PASTOR NORM
Well, praise the Lord.
CRAIG
Amen. Brother Nick - will you lead
us in prayer?
St. Nick steps forward. C.J. won’t look at him. He glances at
Owen who looks downward.
ST. NICK
Yes. Amen, brother Craig.
He bows his head.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
Lord, I want to thank you for the
gifts you’ve placed in these young
people. Help them use those gifts
for your glory, not their own --
St. Nick catches C.J.’s eye. C.J. looks away.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
-- and thank you for seeing us...
even when we wish you didn’t.
C.J. looks over to Owen, who stares back at him.
ST. NICK (CONT’D)
It’s only by repentance and your
grace that we are saved. In Jesus
name --
OWEN EVERYONE
AMEN. Amen.
The circle breaks. Owen turns away, moving straight to Ezra
and Derek.
JANIS
If your act has music, make sure
your tape is labeled and upstairs
in the booth before showtime.
C.J. looks at his cardboard box. Then picks it up and heads
toward the stairs.
ST. NICK (O.C.)
I’m praying for you, C.J.
C.J. turns. Saint Nick meets his eyes. C.J. looks away. Cathy
steps up with Scotty on her hip.
CATHY
Hey, Nick, Sheila could use a hand
with those casseroles.
C.J. spots Zach nearby, escapes to him.
C.J.
Zach.
Zach turns. C.J. reaches in the cardboard box, pulls out a
cassette tape. Hands it to Zach.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Can you take this to the booth.
Track one. When I point.
Zach looks at him.
ZACH
Track one?
C.J.
Yeah.
ZACH
You sure?
C.J.
No.
Zach takes the tape anyway. C.J. turns, moves up stairs.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Disco Testimony
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - SANCTUARY - LATER
The sanctuary is packed. The heavy, driving rock of PETRA -
“Judas’ Kiss” cranks from the speakers.
OWEN (O.S.)
(singing)
-- I wonder how it makes you feel
when he'd rather be on his own --
Owen fronts the church band - he belts out the lyrics into
the mic and shreds his electric guitar.
Stage lights pulse bright - the congregation rocks out. From
the wings, C.J. and Jessie watch.
JESSIE OWEN (CONT’D)
Damn he’s good. (singing)
-- Just like Judas' kiss --
C.J.
Yeah. Too good.
Owen hits his falsetto. Applause erupts. Pastor Norm beams
from the front row. Craig bounds up to the mic.
CRAIG
Rock on! Let’s hear it for Owen
Chambers!
Craig grabs Owens hand and holds it high. More applause.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Look what God can do through our
young people.
Owen nods and smiles, wipes his brow and moves to the wings,
passes C.J. and Jessie -
C.J.
That was incredible, Owen.
Owen pushes past with the rest of the band.
JESSIE
Jesus.
C.J. doesn’t respond.
CRAIG
Radical. Now - next up, another of
His Way Church PK - one of my own -
here to share his testimony, C.J.
Harris. Son - it’s all yours.
Applause. Whistles. Hoops. C.J. carries his cardboard box and
sermon pages into the lights.
He scans the crowd. Craig returns to the front pew to join
Cathy, Pastor Norm, Janis, St. Nick and Sheila.
C.J. lays the sermon pages on the lectern, flattens the
wrinkles.
He looks up to the sound booth, sees Zach behind the glass.
Then clears his throat.
C.J.
Uh - hi, everyone. So - every head
bowed. Every eye closed.
The congregation obeys.
C.J. looks at the sermon pages, then to Craig in the front
pew - eyes closed.
Then to Owen, back with Ezra and Derek. Owen whispers
something. Ezra laughs.
C.J. slides the sermon pages aside.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Somewhere, far away, you hear a
beat.
He reaches into the box, pulls out polyester bell-bottoms,
slides into them. Craig opens one eye.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Steady. Familiar.
C.J. pulls out a silk shirt, then a rhinestone-covered
pleather jacket, slips them on. Craig sits up straighter.
C.J. (CONT’D)
It’s not jazz. Not R&B. Not reggae.
Horns come in. Strings.
C.J. drops a gold medallion around his neck.
Owen watches, then looks to see that Ezra and Derek still
have their eyes closed.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Then it hits you. You’ve never felt
more free --
C.J. points toward the sound booth.
Zach hesitates.
C.J. points again.
The cassette clicks. Chic’s “Le Freak” blasts from the
speakers.
CHIC (V.O.)
One, two, ahhh, freak out!
A spotlight snaps on. C.J. strikes a disco pose.
CHIC (V.O.)
Le Freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
The crowd explodes. Gasps. Laughter.
C.J. doesn’t look at anyone. He just moves.
CHIC (V.O.)
Ahhh, freak out!
C.J. looks out to the pews as he dances. Ezra and Derek howl
from the pews. Owen stands stiff.
Craig starts to rise. Pastor Norm cheers with the
congregation, unsure what he’s watching. Craig sees the room
enjoying it. He sits back down.
Ezra leans to Owen, laughing. Owen doesn’t laugh.
C.J. closes his eyes and dances.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age","Musical"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Disco Tensions
INT. HIS WAY CHURCH - MEN’S ROOM - LATER
C.J., still in his disco-suit, steps up to the urinal beside
Zach. C.J. pees.
ZACH
You could’ve warned me.
Zach stands stiff. Can’t pee. He exhales, frustrated, moves
to the mirror.
C.J.
You still hit play.
Zach laughs. True.
ZACH
You’re insane.
C.J.
Yeah.
C.J. removes the gold medallion, holds it out.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Here.
Zach smiles, slips it on. Strikes a disco pose. The two boys
crack up.
The door swings open. Ezra, Derek and Owen enter.
Ezra and Derek crowd the urinals. Owen sees C.J. still in the
open polyester shirt. The rhinestone jacket. The ridiculous
bell-bottoms. The medallion now on Zach’s chest.
OWEN
You trying to get us killed?
C.J. says nothing.
Ezra and Derek look between them. Owen shifts, looks at Zach
in the mirror.
OWEN (CONT’D)
Yo, Zach, your mascara’s running.
C.J. laughs, reflexively. Zach drops his gaze.
OWEN (CONT’D)
You here to piss? Or just watch?
C.J. laughs again. Zach steadies himself against the sink,
then faces Owen.
ZACH
You know nothing about me, Owen.
(then, to C.J.)
Neither do you.
C.J.’s jaw moves, but nothing comes out.
DEREK
Come on, man.
Owen ignores him, his eyes snap to C.J. in the mirror.
OWEN
C.J. invite you to the baptistry
for a skinny dip yet?
C.J.
That was your idea -
OWEN
Shut your mouth.
Zach steps between them.
ZACH
Back off, Owen.
Owen shoves Zach hard into the wall. Zach stays on his feet.
He looks to C.J.
C.J. looks to the floor.
DEREK
Come on.
Derek pulls Owen toward the door.
EZRA
You fags can kiss in private.
Ezra flips off the lights as he exits.
BLACK.
The lights snap back on.
At the door, Zach straightens the gold medallion. C.J.
remains at the sink, pale. Zach takes off the medallion. Sets
it on the sink. Walks out.
C.J. stares at the medallion. He picks it up. Closes his fist
around it. Still in the disco suit, he pushes through the
door into the —
FELLOWSHIP HALL - CONTINUOUS
The hall hums with post-performance joy.
Congregants crowd folding tables. Teens glow with adrenaline.
Kids weave through adults balancing plates of Jell-O salads
and casseroles.
C.J. scans the room.
Across the hall, Owen stands with Craig, Pastor Norm and St.
Nick. Owen talks fast. Craig leans in.
C.J. catches only part of it:
OWEN
-- he made me wear it --
Owen sees C.J. watching. Looks away. Pastor Norm puts an arm
around Owen.
Craig turns. Finds C.J. He starts across the room.
St. Nick reaches after him.
ST. NICK
Craig. Brother --
Pastor Norm’s hand lands on St. Nick’s shoulder, stopping
him.
Craig reaches C.J.
CRAIG
We’re leaving.
C.J. doesn’t move.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
Now.
Craig storms off.
Cathy gathers Jessie with a look.
Behind them, Owen, Ezra, and Derek watch. Pastor Norm’s hand
stays on St. Nick’s shoulder. Janis and Sheila stand stiff.
C.J. stops. Looks back at Owen. Their eyes lock. Owen drops
his head.
C.J. follows Craig out.
I/E. YOUTH MINISTRY VW VAN - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
Cathy sits rigid, clutching baby Scotty. Craig drives.
Silent. Still wearing his neon church outfit.
Behind him, C.J. sits in his disco suit. Further back, Jessie
rides with Erin, Andy, and Ryan.
Craig’s eyes glare at C.J. in the rearview.
CRAIG
Just who in the hell do you think
you are?
C.J.
I don’t know.
CRAIG
Pastor Norm’s son says you brought
something into the church.
C.J.
What?
CRAIG
Says you dragged him into the
baptistry.
C.J.
We were just messing around --
CRAIG
You carry my name. You represent my
family.
C.J.
I’m not you.
Craig slams the brakes. Everyone lurches forward.
CATHY
Craig! The baby -
A horn blasts. A DRIVER flips Craig off. Craig punches the
gas. Drives looking straight ahead.
C.J., reaches back, pulls seatbelts over his siblings.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Family Tensions at the Harris Farm
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
Craig slams the Youth Ministry van into the driveway. He
looks at C.J. in the rearview.
CRAIG
Go to your room.
Craig storms into the house.The family follows in silence,
passing Evelyn on the porch: leisure suit, Dolly Parton wig,
oxygen tube, cigarette.
She calls out as Cathy:
EVELYN
Strawberries are on the counter.
You owe me a dollar forty six.
Cathy ignores her, heads inside.
C.J. sits in the van, alone in his disco suit. He climbs out.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
Someone call 9-1-1. We’ve got a
five alarm Disco inferno.
C.J. hands her a quarter. Evelyn palms him a cigarette.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
How’d it go?
Before he can answer, Cathy appears in the doorway.
CATHY
C.J. Your room. Now.
She disappears back inside. C.J. exhales.
C.J.
God. The drama.
Evelyn watches him head to the house.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
Family Tensions and Isolation
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Andy and Ryan sprawl with Erin, watching THE COSBY SHOW
reruns on a small TV. CANNED LAUGHTER fills the room.
C.J. enters, still in his disco suit.
He steps over the kids and heads for the stairs. Another
LAUGH TRACK HIT. Jessie leans against the banister.
JESSIE
You had to do it in front of
everybody?
C.J. looks at her.
C.J.
Yeah.
He continues upstairs. The laughter keeps rolling below.
HALLWAY
C.J. reaches his bedroom door. His hand rests on the knob.
Another faint burst of LAUGH TRACK rises from downstairs.
Then something thumps inside his room. C.J. opens the door.
Craig tears through the room. Closet emptied. Drawers dumped.
Mattress flipped. Cassettes, drawings, clothes everywhere.
C.J. stops in the doorway.
Craig grabs him by the pleather jacket and yanks.
CRAIG
Where is it?
C.J.
Where’s what?
CRAIG
That thing you put on Owen.
C.J.
What thing?
CRAIG
Don’t play stupid with me.
Craig shoves past him, digs through the wreckage, finds the
INTERNATIONAL MALE CATALOGUE.
He flips it open. Glossy pages of nearly naked men. Shoves it
into C.J.’s face.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
You get off on this?
C.J.
It’s just underwear.
Craig unbuckles his belt.
CRAIG
Turn around.
The belt cuts across C.J.’s legs. C.J. cries out.
CRAIG (CONT’D)
You bring this filth into my house?
Craig raises the belt again. Swings. Hits. C.J. tries to
protect his legs with his arms.
C.J.
Dad - stop!
CRAIG
You bring that filth near my
family?
C.J. backs onto his ruined bed.
C.J.
I’m your family.
CRAIG
You stood up there in front of God
and everybody and made a mockery
out of it.
Craig snorts, then storms out with the catalogue.
After a beat, Cathy enters.
C.J.
Mom, please stop him.
CATHY
Your father's doing the best he
can.
C.J.
You always take his side.
CATHY
You need to give it over to God.
C.J.
But Dad’s not God.
The slap is instant and hard. C.J. holds his face.
CATHY
God restored this family. Don’t you
ever spit on that.
A beat. Then:
CATHY (CONT’D)
I don’t know how to help you, C.J.
(then)
He’s all we got.
She slips out, shutting the door.
C.J. crosses to the window, looks down. Too far.
Across the property: the Youth Ministry van. Evelyn’s
Continental. His siblings playing with Lady. Beyond them: the
sawmill. The dam. Shawn’s boarded-up house.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
Grief and Doubt
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - DAY (1982)
C.J. (10) stands in a shirt and tie, tears streaming down his
face. He holds a shoebox labeled: POPEYE.
He places the box in a hole under a cross made of sticks
surrounded by wildflowers.
Jessie (8) holds Cathy’s (26) hand. Lady sits nearby. Craig
(26) shovels dirt over the box.
I/E. SHAWN’S COTTAGE - DAY (1982)
C.J. crosses the empty road. Lady follows him. He steps up
onto the cottage porch.
Through the screen door he sees Sarah help a catatonic
Rebecca fold Shawn’s clothes into a box marked “Good Will”.
Rebecca looks up at C.J., her face blank:
REBECCA
We missed you at Shawn’s services.
C.J.
My dad thought it would be better
to go without us.
Sarah steps outside to join C.J. They pull a Red Ryder wagon
of Good Will boxes towards Rebecca’s Volvo.
SARAH
I’m sorry about your cat.
C.J.
I’m sorry too.
They walk in silence.
C.J. places a Good Will box into the Volvo. Shawn’s red
converse with “S+C” drawn on them fall out of the box. C.J.
places the shoes back inside.
He looks to Sarah, unsure of what to say. Then:
C.J. (CONT’D)
I keep dreaming about him. And when
I wake up I remember.
SARAH
Me too.
REBECCA (O.C.)
Sarah, honey.
Sarah walks towards the house. C.J. blurts it out:
C.J.
Did Shawn ask Jesus in his heart
before he died?
Sarah stops, turns to C.J.
SARAH
Your dad said Shawn’s in heaven.
That’s why him and your mom were
smiling at the funeral. They said
we should be happy for him.
C.J. looks at Shawn’s shoes. A beat, then:
C.J.
You have to be saved first.
Sarah looks at him.
SARAH
If Shawn’s not in heaven, I don’t
want to go there.
REBECCA (O.C.)
Sarah --
Sarah walks inside.
C.J. picks up Shawn’s red converse and walks with Lady
towards his house.
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
C.J. stands in front of Popeye’s grave.
He sets the shoes down and kneels in front of the small cross
to pray. Lady sits next to him. His voice shakes:
C.J.
Dear Jesus. Why didn’t you take me
instead?
C.J. breaks.
C.J. (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. Please leave my heart. I
don’t want to go to heaven. Please,
God, please leave me alone.
He lays his face against the dirt and sobs.
BACK TO:
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Confrontation and Departure
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - C.J.'S ROOM - EVENING (1990)
C.J. (17) stands at the window.
He picks up Owen’s hat off the floor, places it back on the
night stand.
The bedroom door opens behind him. Craig pushes in.
C.J. stands still. Craig takes in the room he has destroyed.
He wipes his face with his hands. Then:
CRAIG
I stood in front of that church and
told them God had a plan for you. I
said one day you’d stand up there
and give your testimony.
C.J.
I did --
CRAIG
That wasn’t testimony.
C.J.
It was mine.
Craig looks at his son, still in the disco-outfit.
He reaches for C.J.’s Bible.
C.J. moves to grab it first.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Don’t.
The Bible drops, falls open. The SECRET COMPARTMENT spills
out: the Walkman, cigarettes, pink condom, and scrap of
drafting paper.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Dad, I --
Craig stares at cut-up Bible.
CRAIG
You cut up the word of God?
C.J.
I just --
Craig looks at the limp, unrolled pink condom.
CRAIG
That’s Owen’s?
C.J.
It was a joke.
Craig raises the belt.
CRAIG
You won’t destroy what I’ve built.
C.J. grabs his blanket as a shield from the belt.
C.J.
Just wait.
CRAIG
What?
C.J.
A few days.
CRAIG
For what?
C.J.
I turn eighteen.
Craig steps toward him.
C.J. (CONT’D)
Then you can knock my block off.
CRAIG
Don’t you twist my words.
C.J.
I’m leaving Saturday.
CRAIG
You walk out that door, don’t come
back.
C.J.
You always say Jesus saved us.
CRAIG
Enough.
C.J.
Then where is He?
A beat. Craig lowers the belt.
Evelyn storms in, the International Male Catalogue clenched
in her fist. Cathy follows her, stops at the door.
Evelyn shoves the catalogue at Craig.
EVELYN
It’s mine.
She hands cigarettes to C.J.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
These too. You want someone to
blame? Come beat the shit out of
me, coward.
CATHY
Mom --
She passes Cathy on her way out.
Craig drops the belt.
CRAIG
Go.
CATHY
Craig.
C.J. nods. He spots the 5-gallon glass jug overturned. Sets
it upright. The coins settle. He drops a few in his pocket.
CRAIG
Saturday. Go.
CATHY
I’m sorry, baby -
C.J.
No.
C.J. pushes past his parents, leaves the room.
KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
C.J. moves to drawer under the phone. Inside: pens. Coupons.
Rubber bands. A church directory. An address book. He flips
fast.
Lands on: HARRIS, MARK - OAKLAND.
He pulls our Zach’s drafting paper. Under the Glendale
number, he jots down Mark’s number. His hand shakes. He
steadies it.
JESSIE (O.C.)
You ok?
C.J. turns to his sister.
C.J.
I don’t know.
Jessie sits at the window. A jet, high above, leaves white
streaks across the sky.
JESSIE
I wonder where they’re all floating
off to.
C.J. comes close, sits next to her.
C.J.
Anywhere but here.
Jessie wipes her eyes.
C.J. (CONT’D)
It’s like I keep pouring Cheerios
and expecting Raisin Bran.
JESSIE
When what you really need is Froot
Loops.
The siblings laugh together. They fall into silence.
JESSIE (CONT’D)
I don’t want you to float away.
C.J. takes her hand. Gives it a squeeze. Then stands, walks
out the door.
EXT. SIERRA CITY DOWNTOWN - LATER THAT MORNING
A quarter drops into a payphone. C.J. dials one of the two
numbers now on Zach’s scrap of paper. Waits for the rings.
UNCLE MARK (RECORED V.O.)
Wherever I am, it ain’t here. Leave
your name and phone number and I’ll
get back atcha.
C.J.
(into phone)
Hey, Uncle Mark? It’s me. C.J. -
Saturday is my eighteenth and I --
Passing logging trucks swallow the rest of the conversation.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
A Bittersweet Birthday
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - C.J.’S BEDROOM - DAY (1990)
Through the window: limp balloons. Loose streamers. The
remains of a strawberry-topped cake on the picnic table.
A crooked banner reads: HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY
The Harris kids run through the yard. Janis and a few CHURCH
LADIES help Cathy clean up, moving with practiced cheer.
On the porch, Craig shows Pastor Norm and the CHURCH MEN one
of his rifles.
Near the driveway, St. Nick stands beside Sheila. He pulls
his sleeve down to cover his tattoos. Sheila’s flannels are
gone; now she wears a long flower-print dress.
They hold hands like they’ve been told where to put them.
Inside, C.J.’s room is mostly packed into boxes and an old
suitcase. His coin jug is empty. Coins and bills organized on
the floor. C.J. tallies on a notepad.
At C.J.’s small desk, Evelyn smokes and rolls coins. Her
People magazine lies open to a cigarette ad.
EVELYN
There’s something dirty about Joe
Camel.
That gets a smile out of C.J.
C.J.
You can do better, Evelyn.
EVELYN
Fuck it. Call me grandma. People
can tell me I look good for my age.
C.J. smiles, then fades. Adds the numbers again.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
How many times you gonna count it?
C.J.
Until it changes.
Evelyn watches him. Then looks out to the party.
EVELYN
Nice little turnout.
C.J.
That party isn’t for me.
Evelyn doesn’t argue. She picks up Owen’s hat off the bedside
table.
EVELYN
What time are Owen and the boys
comin’ by?
C.J.
They’re not.
She sets the hat down. A beat.
EVELYN
Don’t waste your life waiting on
any man to want you right. Doesn’t
matter how good he smells.
C.J. can’t look at her.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
And don’t you ever hide.
C.J.
Grandma --
EVELYN
Promise. I want to hear it.
C.J.
I promise.
Evelyn reaches into her purse, pulls out three empty honey-
bear bottles, packed solid with quarters.
EVELYN
Every smoke you bought off me.
C.J.
You kept them?
EVELYN
Figured one of us should.
C.J. looks at her.
EVELYN (CONT’D)
OK. You can move to Hollywood.
She kisses the top of his head.
C.J. pours the coins out of the honey-bears, counts. Evelyn
lights a new cigarette, rolls more coins.
C.J. tallies again. Still not enough.
Outside, an ENGINE RUMBLES up the drive. C.J. turns to the
window. Uncle Mark’s El Camino rolls into view.
C.J.
He’s here.
Evelyn nods at money.
EVELYN
Go use it.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
A Bittersweet Gift
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS
The Harris kids inspect the El Camino in the dirt driveway
next to several other cars.
Craig, Cathy and St. Nick greet Uncle Mark (29) as he sets up
his wheelchair. Pastor Norm, Janis and Sheila stand near.
C.J. steps out with the coin jug.
CATHY
Lookin’ good, Mark.
UNCLE MARK
Guess growing up can do that.
Craig leans on the El Camino.
CRAIG
She still sounds strong.
PASTOR NORM
She’s a beast.
Uncle Mark turns to C.J.
UNCLE MARK
So. This the big business meeting?
C.J.
It’s everything I saved.
He holds out his glass 5-gallon jug.
UNCLE MARK
For what?
C.J.
The car.
UNCLE MARK
She’s yours.
C.J. looks at the El Camino. The cracked vinyl seat. The hand
controls bolted beneath the wheel.
C.J.
I can pay something.
UNCLE MARK
Save it. You’ll need gas. Food. A
phone call when you get there.
PASTOR NORM
What a precious gift. Praise be to
Jesus.
UNCLE MARK
You can just praise me.
(then to C.J.)
Pedals still work. Hand controls
are mine. Ignore ’em.
C.J.’s voice catches.
C.J.
Thank you.
CRAIG
Car won’t make you free, son.
UNCLE MARK
No. But it’ll get him out of here.
Craig holds Mark’s look. Then turns toward the house.
CATHY
I need to get these dishes inside.
Cathy picks up the leftover cake, wiping tears. Janis and
Sheila help her gather the paper plates.
Craig and Pastor Norm follow the women into the house.
St. Nick leans against the El Camino. C.J. avoids eye
contact, fiddles with the dash.
C.J.
This is... so rad, Uncle Mark.
UNCLE MARK
And you don’t even have to use your
feet to drive it.
C.J. smiles. Uncle Mark looks to make sure the coast is
clear, then pulls out a flask, takes a swig.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
Happy birthday, Nephew.
He tosses the flask to C.J. He catches it, drinks. St. Nick
shakes his head no.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
What? Uncle’s sworn duty.
C.J. offers the flask to St. Nick.
ST. NICK
Nah. That life’s behind me.
UNCLE MARK
So what, they got you and that
Sheila lady playing house now?
St. Nick doesn’t answer.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
Jesus.
ST. NICK
By the grace of God, that man is
dead.
UNCLE MARK
Genie would never let you say that.
St. Nick lowers his eyes. Uncle Mark rocks his chair gently.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
I don’t know shit about God.
He looks directly at St. Nick.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
But I know bullshit when I hear it.
St. Nick stares straight ahead. Uncle Mark looks to C.J.
UNCLE MARK (CONT’D)
Where’s your dad?
C.J.
Inside.
Uncle Mark wheels off. C.J. and St. Nick stand in silence.
C.J. studies him. Then, C.J. reaches behind St. Nick’s ear
and pulls out a QUARTER.
C.J. (CONT’D)
We’re still magic.
He offers it. St. Nick looks at the coin in C.J.’s palm. Then
he closes C.J.’s fingers around it.
ST. NICK
You keep that.
He turns and walks away before either of them can say more.
C.J. drops the coin into his jug.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
A Haircut and Heartfelt Goodbyes
EXT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - DAY (1990)
Sunlight dances through the evergreens onto C.J. sitting on a
kitchen stool. Cathy cuts his hair with clippers. Lady rests
at his feet.
CATHY
I always knew this day would come.
C.J.
It’s not over yet.
She wipes tears, keeps working on his hair. Silence, then:
CATHY
Jesus, protect my boy.
Baby Scotty cries inside the house. Cathy sets down the
clippers.
CATHY (CONT’D)
Sit tight.
She goes inside. C.J. looks up at the trees. Clouds drift.
The clippers resume. C.J.’s eyes open, Craig behind him.
CRAIG
How short?
C.J.
Short on the sides. Long on top.
Craig starts cutting.
CRAIG
Eighteen. Same age I was when you
were born.
C.J.
An entire lifetime for me.
Craig smiles. It fades.
CRAIG
You’re not much like me.
C.J.
Yeah.
Craig keeps cutting. The clippers buzz between them.
CRAIG
I’m worried about heaven, son.
C.J.
You’ll get in.
CRAIG
I don’t know if I’ll see you there.
C.J.
I know.
Craig sets the clippers down and disappears inside.
C.J. sits there. His hair half-finished. He lets out a
breath. Picks up the clippers, clicks them on, and finishes
it himself. Clumps fall into the gentle breeze.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Echoes of Farewell
INT. HARRIS FARM HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (1982)
Rain at the windows. Sit-com reruns low on the TV.
C.J. (10), in pajamas, sits on the floor with his 5-gallon
glass jug. Craig (26) sits near him, back against the couch.
From behind the blanket door, Jessie (8) cries.
JESSIE (O.C.)
It’s not fair.
CATHY (O.C.)
Nothing’s fair, hon.
C.J. cuts out an image of The Brady Bunch house from a TV
Guide. Craig holds out pieces of tape for him.
C.J.
And there’s a room for Jessie. And
one for me.
CRAIG
What about me?
C.J.
You and mom get the biggest room.
Because you’re tall.
Craig laughs.
CRAIG
That’s a hell of a plan, big man.
C.J.
I just need enough money.
Craig shakes the jug, judging its weight.
CRAIG
Better keep saving.
C.J. tapes the image onto the jug. Craig holds the corner
flat for him.
I/E. EL CAMINO - HARRIS FARM HOUSE - MORNING (1990)
Cathy, Jessie and the Harris kids stand in the driveway with
Lady and Evelyn.
C.J. sits behind the wheel. Jessie flips him off through wet
eyes. C.J. pulls away.
I/E. EL CAMINO - MOUNTAIN ROADS - LATER
C.J., hair buzzed, drives the winding mountain road. His
tassel and the medallion hang from the rearview.
I/E. EL CAMINO - REDWOODS - LATER
The El Camino passes through an ancient grove of redwoods.
On the dashboard: the black cowboy hat. Beside it: Shawn’s
red Converse, “S+C” written on the side.
C.J. cracks the window, lets the air hit his face. He wipes
his eyes. Keeps driving.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Journey's End
INT. ROTTEN ROBBIE TRUCK STOP - LATER
C.J. pays for gas and a new Thomas Guide with coins. The
ATTENDANT (60s) watches him count.
EXT. ROTTEN ROBBIE TRUCK STOP - MOMENTS LATER
C.J. stands at the hood of the El Camino, parked among dozens
of pumps, dwarfed by big rigs.
He flips through the Thomas Guide, refers to Zach’s drafting
paper: the Glendale number, an address scrawled beneath it.
I/E. EL CAMINO - SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - LATER THAT DAY
Flat land. Open sky. Orchards. Aqueducts. The El Camino flies
southbound on I-5.
C.J. drives. Looks at the black cowboy hat on his dash.
He places it on his head, looks in the rearview. He takes off
the hat. Sets it back on the dash beside Shawn’s red
Converse.
He holds his own gaze. Then his hand rides the wind.
A sign flashes past: LOS ANGELES – 320 MILES.
FADE TO BLACK.