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FADE IN:
EXT. BAR ENTRANCE - DUSK
Lively {zydeco-flavored} recorded music is heard as the door opens.
A white male, BARKER, walks into the shot. (Tight profile.)
{Barker is a nondescript blue-collar type, late thirties, somewhat shaggy.}
He sticks a cigarette between his lips and lights it, then walks toward
the street.
A younger man, HESSEY, exits the {humble, older} bar. He sees
BARKER, hesitates, {shakes his head quickly, coming to a decision}
and walks over to BARKER.
HESSEY gets a cigarette out of his pocket.
HESSEY
Hey, dude - got a light?
{Reflexively} BARKER digs for his lighter,
hands it to HESSEY without making eye contact.
HESSEY lights his cigarette, and hands the lighter back.
HESSEY
Much obliged.
Huh - it's weird.
BARKER reacts {subtly}, not up for a conversation, or maybe not
one with HESSEY. {BARKER is suppressing dread about
what the subject of conversation will be - he doesn't get hit on
any more, so he has a different, vague notion...}
BARKER
What's weird?
BARKER stares at the sidewalk and smokes
{wishing HESSEY would just go away}.
HESSEY
I got pulled aside. In there. Given a message.
ANGLE ON BARKER {kicking out a weary sigh},
who just had a suspicion confirmed.
BARKER
Good for you.
HESSEY
No. Not so much... I heard the voice, but didn't see anybody.
Doing the talking. Invisible hand around my arm.
BARKER
(nodding)
Was that the first time?
HESSEY
Oh hell no.
BARKER
So why are you telling me -
HESSEY
Well, unless I got it all wrong,
you're the one they call Barker. Right?
BARKER
(controlling his temper)
Shit. Yeah.
HESSEY
(looking around conspiratorially)
Look, I'm in for it too tonight. If that makes it any easier.
There's at least two of 'em here... And of course
it only gets weirder.
BARKER
Alright, lay it on me.
HESSEY
You gotta choose. Uh, the exact words were...
"What he knows best, or a new... admirer."
with characteristic subdued frustration}.
BARKER
What I know best, or a new... bastard.
HESSEY
Yeah. Sorry. Maybe you got another fan you didn't have before.
BARKER
It didn't give you a name?
BARKER
Was its voice real low? Sinister? Pretty threatening?
HESSEY
They all sound like that. I mean, I didn't recognize it...
from the other times I got nabbed.
Then BARKER makes a decision.
BARKER
Well, shit. It's probably a done deal. Not a real choice.
They like their fuckin' head-games, though, don't they?
HESSEY
Aye.
BARKER
I pick the one that usually hunts me down,
and it'll rub my face in it for the next couple weeks.
And if I don't, I'm still gonna regret it.
HESSEY
It's a fucked-up deal.
BARKER
They gotta be spying on us right now.
Or were you supposed to, like, report in?
overhead gesture.
HESSEY
No need.
BARKER
Right. {looks above Hessey} Hey - asshole. You win. Again...
{waits for some kind of response}
Budgrab?
as their eyes dart around.
BARKER
Par for the course. The silence means nothing.
HESSEY
(nodding)
I don't know that name. Zizz usually fucks with me.
That wasn't Zizz in there - the one that gave me the message for ya.
BARKER
Well... until one of 'em stops me, and drags my ass off,
I guess I'd better get as shitfaced as I can.
HESSEY
(smirking)
Works for me.
{Ruefully,} Both men head back into the bar.
7-Apr-13