© 2000, 2001 Channel49

INT. LATE AFTERNOON WILLY'S SPACIOUS STUDY

WILLY relaxes at his desk. STAN sits more stiffly nearby.

SHADOWS mask WILLY'S expression.

Some gal that Connie's A do-er.

A do-er. Have you known her long?

Friend-of-a-friend.

Friend of Roy's.

The President?

The very same.

Connie is his favorite media-person.

So, I like her too.

Uh huh.. I...

You should like her also.

I… uh...

No use in doing those educational films. 

Dealing in perversity.

WILLY moves from the shadows into SUNLIGHT. He smiles pleasantly.

Show me what you got...

The slides are all set up, but maybe

first I should tell you...

How ever you want to do it.

WILLY sits on the edge of his desk, folds his arms across his chest and waits patiently.

Christianity comes from two basic sources.

The Judaic representing Jesus and the Hellenistic

world of the Gentiles...

WILLY nods his head slightly.

INT. LATE AFTERNOON GUEST SUITE

CONNIE does her nails as she talks on the phone. MARVIN sits in a corner and wipes his CAMERA with a handkerchief.

Are you sure you don't 

mind talking on a car-phone?

How close are you?

Hope my nails are dry by then.

INT. LATE AFTERNOON STUDY

A SLIDE is being projected on the wall that portrays a group of people wearing MASKS as they sit around a person laying in their midst.

What is this?!

A representation of the ancient Mithraist

mystery religion's communion meal for

initiates. The Mithraic fellowship sits around

the initiate wearing the masks of their rank

and the Pater or Father offers the bread with

the sun-cross of Mithras

What corruption.

The bread represented 

the god's symbolic flesh.

It's pagan nonsense. It's theater!

They practiced the cummunio mystica, 

transubstantiation, imitatio deus, made the

 day of the sun a holy day, and gave us 

Christmas, originally the Natalis 

Solis Invicti, a solstice celebration.

Are you talking English?

I'm trying to.

Jesus Christ gave us Christianity and not 

those heathens. They're nothing but bloody pagans. Homos!

The pagans gave us the days of our week; 

Sun's day, Moon's day, Thor's day, 

Wodin's day, Frig's day, Saturn's day…

You got them out of order, unless

your week is different than mine.

WILLY sits behind his desk. He thinks a moment and becomes more relaxed.

Our Christmas holiday is not a solar holiday.

Solstice... Of course not, it was 

subsumed into Christianity.

Sub-sUmed? I don't believe that word is in

my country-boy's vocabulary…

Maybe you ought to just stick

to the gospel's account.

Which one? John presents an enigmatic

almost weird Christ...

WILLY puts his forefinger forward in anger but relents.

Look you're a smart boy. Perhaps like Paul

driven mad with great learning.

WILLY leaves his chair and strides about the room.

We're kind of in the same business you and me; 

COMMUNICATION. Right? 

--I've got millions of folks 

DEVOTED to watching me. Devoted. 

And we're just getting started, here. 

--A clever fellow could go far in this organization. 

Knowledge of media is critical 

to getting the word out. 

The word, Stanley, the word. 

Not this here speculative rumination.

WILLY shudders at the SLIDE and changes it. The next SLIDE is of a JEWISH-LOOKING fellow wearing a tunic.

Who's this actor supposed to be, Moses?

Jesus.

WILLY shakes his head and turns the projector off.

Connie was right in getting 

us together before it's too late.

WILLY smiles.

INT. LATE AFTERNOON HALLWAY

CONNIE strides down a corridor. Her dress clings to the contours of her body. She examines her nails to see if they are fully dry.

INT. LATE AFTERNOON STUDY

I want you to spend the weekend here with us.

I'm hoping we can talk some more about some new

project you might undertake...

STANLEY stands and begins to shake his head.

Because this (points to screen) could

get you crucified. (smiles) --By me.

Well, I got to work on my Easter message…

I can't resist; --Do you know the origination

of the word 'Easter'

WILLY regards him cooly.

From Eastore the pagan goddess of

Spring; coming from the eastern dawn…

WILLY's eyes narrow.

You are a divisive person.

I believe...

But at least you're sharing that

with ME. I appreciate that.

I believe in the truth,

So do I, but the truth has got to accomplish something.

It can't be just empty wisdom.

--Let me tell you something boy, What do you see on

every street corner in America, huh?

Convenience stores?

Bars and churches. Bars and churches; the world,

my friend is as awash in evil as it is in churches.

You want to empty those churches in

order to fill up those bars?

No.

WILLY scowls as he prepares to depart the room.

I don't either. I intend to--

Yes?

To fill those churches up. 

Fill MY church up all around

this great and wonderful country.

--You don't think that's worthy?

Soliciting for contributions?

Living here?

How dare you.

WILLY approaches STANLEY with vehemence.

Ingrate! Don't you think the

Lord gives things to HIS people?

Houses, cars, planes?

Yes,

No I don't.

The fury subsides in WILLY.

That wealth and power is 

going to be used for

something, boy. Believe me.

Can I get a cab to the airport?

You ain't going to no airport. Relax. There's big doings

going on. When your visit is over my limo will bring you.

Oh, I get mad, but the love of the Lord cools me down.

You're a reasonable man. We'll talk.

I'll convince you not to make a mistake.

WILLY shakes STAN's hand.

I've got a very important 

guest to greet and a sermon

that won't wait. Please excuse me.

I'll hang around.

Good, good. Make yourself at home. 

Use my library.

Plenty of good books here.

WILLY leaves the room. STANLEY watches several of his slides, shrugs and browses among WILLY's BOOKS. HE opens a few.

Virgin bindings...

Two dozen bibles that 

have never been opened..

Yeah, what am I doing here?

STANLEY takes a Bible with him as he leaves the study.

INT. EVENING AUDITORIUM

STANLEY enters a small Auditorium from the stage wings. The dark interior is lit by one SPOT LIGHT near the edge of the stage. HE sits in the SPOTLIGHT and dangles his feet over the edge.

Hello out there.

A WOMAN wearing an apron enters through the main doors and approaches the stage by the aisle.

Hi.

Hello. I'm Alma, --the cook.

Hi.

Are you Stanley?

Yes I am.

What are you doing there?

--I'm a religious comedian

looking for appropriate inspiration.

Have you found any?

Wells let's sees..

There's always this curious passage, Mark 3:21… 

--It seems that Jesus had left his house to perform 

a healing and got worked up enough to give his 

family alarm. They thought he had gone out of his mind. 

So they yanked him back into the house.

'Knock-knock,

Who's there?

Uh, it's me Peter Simonstone, you know, 'Rocky' 

--can Jesus come out now, we got some more healin' to do.

A doctor you're not; what's the matter, 

fishing's too good for you? You'll get 

my Jesus into big trouble always egging 

him on, 'Give us a sign, give us a sign'...

STANLEY chuckles.

Do you ever read this book?

(Bible)

Morning, noon and night.

What do you think?

I don't think, only read it.

I wouldn't make fun of it.

Oh no. –I'm not being vicious. I identify with Jesus,

lost causes, uphill struggles...And my family thinks

I'm crazy also.

Are you hungry? Would you like

a baloney sandwich or maybe a lobster?

Baloney sandwich or lobster, huh?

We got several crates in this

morning. Cooks up quickly.

I'll hold off.

Worked for Reverend Willy long?

Oh yeah.

If you won't be eating I'm gonna go now.

Always strange things happen around the

Spring Equinox. I'm going to go out and have a look,

--Maybe a shooting star. Maybe something;

you never know.

No. you don't.

According to another Bible story, the

prophet Elijah was bodily assumed into

the heavens aboard a flaming chariot

caught up in a whirlwind... 'WOOOSH!'

(launches hand as rocket)

--An interstellar space craft.

Uh huh.

The Jewish tradition holds that Elijah will return

on Passover to announce the Messianic arrival.

Passover begins soon.

Tonight.

Yes indeed, and you know, if Elijah was traveling in an

interstellar draft at light speed he would only age about

20 years over our last 2900…

Are you really crazy or is this part

of your routine?

Interesting huh?

I'll know interesting when I see it.

I wish you luck.

ALMA nods and exits. STANLEY sits, grinning absently.

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

P.O.V. The CAMERA floats low over the ground traveling QUIETLY along dark macadam walkways terraced with bushes and enters an expanse of garden and grass-land.

In a pocket of space borrowed from nature, several interlopers are surprised. They are either children dressed in costume or perhaps mirthful alien BEINGS who interrupt their play and point a direction for the CAMERA to follow. ( Note: Point Of View gives the impression that the scene is a person's view)

Continuing with more haste the CAMERA discovers persons, isolated from each other and standing as still-lifes under LIGHTING from ornate street lamps. There is the cook ALMA, wearing her apron and transfixed two dimensionally. However, as the CAMERA draws closer SHE smiles slightly and her EYES follow. Next is a SECURITY AIDE with a walkie-talkie a dozen yards behind ALMA. HE raises his radio in SLOW MOTION. His EYES follow the CAMERA'S movement but he does not smile.

The CAMERA pauses before a busy DRIVE-WAY cut into a sloping hill on the far side of WILLY'S ESTATE.

Other AIDES and SECURITY PERSONNEL, bristling with radios and urgency convey an importance to the scene. As the CAMERA moves amongst them there is a BLACK OUT as an AIDE intercepts and FOCUS is lost in the closeness of HIS CHEST.

INT. NIGHT WILLY'S HOUSE

The CAMERA'S P.O.V. is resumed inside the service entrance as it finds CONNIE the media-personality and MARVIN her videographer.

Only MARVIN becomes aware of an outside presence and turns quickly to focus his CAMCORDER LENS on it.

CUT TO

A MAN'S FACE with a beard. Woeful eyes. (HE resembles the second slide of Stanley's presentation). The silent HANDS of AIDES gently lead him into another room,

I'm sorry, you'll have to wait.

They aren't ready yet.

A joyous Reverend WILLY opens another door and gains CONNIE's attention.

President Goodboy's here.

PRESIDENT GOODBOY emerges from behind WILLY. He is wired with energy and confidence.

Roy.

Howdy darlin'

ROY winks and plants a chaste kiss on CONNIE's cheek..

Hear you've planned some fireworks

for us.

Little ol' me?

Some mish-mash of peculiar 

blaspheme to be nipped in the bud. 

I'll say she's got an explosion in mind.

Who says I'm planning an explosion.

Don't say that in front of my pastor, darlin'.

Oww! Come-on Will, I don't get out

much any more. When I do it's old

friends. I'd like to PARTY!

(laughs)

I hear ya. But you do need some prayer

and contemplation too.

WILLY leads them toward another part of the house. ROY pats CONNIE'S backside as they walk.

Of course.

Oooo, nice spread there.

Watch your hand don't burn off, I'm

hot stuff.

Don't I know it. Wooee!

EXT. NIGHT HIGHWAY

A VAN travels the night byways. Foreboding MUSIC plays. Raucous, barely intelligible LANGUAGE is HEARD.

Bootem'-ina-ass...

INT. NIGHT VAN

A GROUP of racists in jolly spirits bounce around in the cargo bed chugging malt-liquor and smoking joints. Many have tattoos on their hands and ONE has a knife drawn on his FACE.

The DRIVER takes a curve HARD (tires SQUEAL) while swallowing ten ounces of alcoholic beverage. This causes much LAUGHTER from the group.

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

ALMA gives up her search for the unusual and returns to the house. She passes the SECURITY AIDE with the radio who gains her attention with a shoulder tap. ALMA is surprised.

ALMA

Yes?

Weird night, huh?

Maybe…

Kind of a night when you expect

 'terrorist activity'.

The SECURITY AIDE grins.

Oh I don't know. Kind of a

                                                       hopefully weird night.

What's your name, ma'am?

It's Alma. I'm the cook.

        On this night I'm called number four.

        If you're asking yourself, why on this night…

 -I know why. I've been through

        this before.

Then you know it can get pretty lonely

out here waiting for what can happen…

It can get pretty lonely waiting.

Yes it can. -

Sometimes I get real hungry, Alma.

ALMA nods.

  I know what you mean.

Can you take care of that hunger?

I could try, couldn't I?

Thank you.

 --Boy, I'm glad we had this talk.

Me too. Shame a whole crate of

lobsters should go to waste. Chicken too.

 I like chicken. I could eat a mess of chicken.

You will.

INT. NIGHT WILLY'S RECREATION LOUNGE

CONNIE, ROY and WILLY are already loosened up. ROY insists in pouring another drink for Willy. The THREE are LAUGHING.

C'mon Roy, that's enough.

Horse-shit, you ain't no Baptist…

I got work to do,

--What if there's a national emergency?

That's my problem.

Where's the ice, darlin'?

CONNIE pushes the ice-bucket forward.

It certainly isn't in your veins.

Hear that? This girl will be the death of me, yet.

Seriously, what if something happens?

Nothin's gonna happen. The world is quiet.

Everybody everywhere is behaven' themselves.

In their dachas or in their mosques, with their

mistresses or boyfriends. I got this doped.

Drink up.

What if a meteor comes...

A.. what?

Will.you.listen.to this.guy.

Somethin' like that happens -- you gonna

have to pray for us, Reverend.

WILLY accepts the drink.

That's what I mean, the Lord's business won't wait.

I got a sermon to tape... I don't like to drink too

near camera-time.

Oh Jeeze...

ROY is momentarily taken back with nostalgic recollections.

You know when I first met this guy...

A life-time ago.

Uh huh?

I was a wet-nosed... No more than a kid.

Runnin' for… was it state senate?

Or county office...

And this guy-was trying to haggle fifteen

minutes of local TV time.

Now I got a television studio in my house.

Which of you sold your soul…

Whoa. Hey…

That's why I like her so much.

Tolerates very little bullshit.

But you can trust me.

Oh yeah.

No ma'am, We got to where we are

with the help of the Lord.

Yes! Help of the help of...

The Lord.

And some other help.

Can I help it if Roy Goodboy was the

hand-picked chosen of the…

We're all tied in there. Me, you, her.

CONNIE

Me?

Sure, everyone has a role to play.

What's mine?

ROY kisses her hand.

To make me happy.

Maybe you've already played it.

Bringin' that Stanley to me.

Oh him. I want an interview out of this.

Yeah, what's that all about?

Has some notions that could possibly get

some people to think the wrong way.

But he's smart. 'Learned' as they say.

Then ignore him. Don't give him

any soap box…

Why not have him do 

things the right way; for us?

WILLY puts his glass up to toast. ROY accepts.

All right. You ain't been wrong yet.

CONNIE joins their toast. Smiling into each other's EYES they drink

INT. NIGHT HALLWAY

MARVIN videotapes the closed doors that line the corridor he is in. A SECURITY AIDE stands outside the door in which ROY, WILLY and CONNIE are in. MARVIN waits patiently in front of this door.

Can't go in there, Mac.

MARVIN videotapes the AIDE's impassive FACE in extreme CLOSEUP. Suddenly an image comes into his head. MARVIN glances to his side. CAMERA DOLLIES back and LIFTS UPWARD. A strange MUSIC plays.

CUT.TO

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

The CHILD-BEINGS play. MARVIN joins them. THEY dance in a circle while holding hands. LAUGHTER.

CUT. BACK. TO

INT. NIGHT HALLWAY

MARVIN's mind's-eye returns to his camera.

(getting annoyed)

Maybe you should find something else to do...

The DOOR behind the SECURITY MAN opens. CONNIE leans out.

So there you are, Get in here,

just don't get in Roy's way.

MARVIN follows focus on the annoyed Security Aide as he backs into the LOUNGE.

INT. NIGHT RECREATION LOUNGE

ROY and WILLY are LAUGHING. CONNIE is also mirthful.

Whoa, that boy ain't gonna take

my picture like this here.

Of course not. Give me some credit.

So why's he here?

To record for posterity the number

of times you visit the John,.,

He gets lonely by himself.

Well so do I.

CONNIE opens her arms.

Then come here.

ROY drifts across the room and embraces CONNIE. They dance slowly together with no music.

Love the smell of your hair.

WILLY shakes his head. MARVIN videotapes WILLY, till the latter ducks out of the lens.

Pointin' that thing at me like

this makes me nervous.

Don't that boy drink?

Marv. Relax.

Help yourself.

MARVIN lifts a bottle of vodka and takes several snorts without setting the camera down.

I appreciate a man who's 

so devoted to duty...

ROY begins to kiss CONNIE's neck.

Maybe we ought to open this party up.

What did you have in mind, partner?

I had some entertainment planned, at

somebody-else's expense, just as you like.

Say what?

Le'mme bring down that Stanley fellow…

Shit.

I don't take trifling with what I do laying down..

And nor should YOU.

Bring him down.

What's he about?

A book reader, documentary producer.

Ever work with him?

Research once…

All right.

WILLY picks up his house phone,

Clairbolt here. Yeah… 

Send that Stanley down

here ... and the actor too.

We might have some fun.

ROY rubs the palms of his hands along CONNIE's arms.

If I want some fun I know where

to get it.

If I don't turn away more stuff... Hell if I didn't

I'd be twelve hours a day in bed with bimbos

--- present company excepted --- But, bein' a

preachin' man does have its toll.

I don' mind bein' a bimbo if the

price is right...

He wasn't talkin' about you, darlin'.

Besides you're MY bimbo.

It's not what you do, it's how much you do it

for that's important. Right?

Absolutely.

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

POV CAMERA approaches SECURITY AIDE (Number 4) from behind. HE turns And finds ALMA.

My stove is getting hot.

AIDE

All right!

I'll be feeding you soon.

I'm counting on it.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

STANLEY steps into the lounge and is videotaped by MARVIN.

Go get him, rover.

Back off Marvin.

Find any good readin' in my study.

Only the Bible... Is that? (Of Roy)

Yes it is, boy. Come in here, let

me get a good look at you.

ROY inspects STANLEY.

Is this here a threat?

It's in what he does,

What do I do?

Fix a drink, Willy don't like

your subject material.

STAN nods to Roy as he goes to the bar and makes a drink.

My subject material?... Well I've done 

'This is Hinduism'. A series on Buddhism ...

 I'm avoiding Islam for obvious

reasons… I have a pilot on 

Judaism; 3700 years of history…

Why shouldn't I continue?

Because you got to approach it from

the inside.

Why?

Because we're all insiders here.

Aw, hell, people don't want to know 

where things come from anyway. 

They just want to feel good about themselves.

There's more to, it than that.

And there's more to it than that,

But isn't that true? I don't want to know 

the significance of anything ... 

All my predecessors were God-fearin' men.

That's not so. Jefferson, Lincoln even Washington

could not be classified as traditionalists...

Roy here is of a better breed.

That's so.

Didn't think so, did ya?

My Roy certainly is. He's alive for one thing.

Yes I am.

Thought maybe you could demonstrate

some of your theories for us...

Enact the film by myself?

I've got that actor of yours, that Jewish Jesus.

A what?

That's right, a Jewish Jesus.

Where's the joke? You folks know

a Danish Jesus?

If that don't beat all!

See? Liberalism, doubt, science-ism…

            --See, Roy and me can't have our 

finely laid out plans to re-unite this nation 

through one faith upset by certain 

kosher-Hebrew notions about the 

separation of cheese and steak.

ROY roars with laughter. The ACTOR (in costume) enters.

Have your material?

I don't think I care for what's going on here.

CONNIE shrugs.

What do you wish?

Do what he (Stan) tol' ya.

We've never met before.

INT. NIGHT KITCHEN

ALMA animatedly prepares a great deal of food. She HUMS.

Ima-Alma; and Ima cookin' 

... cookin' for my man.

SHE shuffles a dance step and slings her hips and shoulders back as she moves between table and stove.

Cookin' for my man...

(Hums)

EXT. NIGHT HIGHWAY

The VAN is parked on the shoulder of the road. The ROWDIES stand about BELCHING and URINATING. A CAR approaches, its HEADLIGHTS begin to LIGHT a swath that approaches them. THEY wave their beer-bottles and SHOUT obscenities at the oncoming TRAFFIC.

The Car OCCUPANTs, a middle-aged couple cringes.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

What do you mean, you've never met; 

wasn't he in that slide?

STAN approaches the Actor 

and examines the fabric of his tunic.

Where did you get such a realistic

costume? Hi, I'm Stanley.

Awkwardly, the Actor and Stanley shake hands.

I'm Yeshu.

You're what? Sounded like he sneezed.

A contraction of Yehoshua.

Well, Yairs-hoo-ya…

Oh my gosh, I may have committed a

security violation.

Relax, if he's in this part of the building he's

been searched. Those boys know their job.

But he is foreign...

Get ya a drink. What are they gonna

do for use dance a dervish?

Feel like dancin'?

--Anybody?

CONNIE volunteers. SHE and ROY shuffle together closely.

See, I got a second; a THIRD rate

Staff. They couldn't tell an Israeli

from a Mexican. Got me the wrong Jew.

ROY

Fill your glass Willy and give

one to Jose. You know, Yers-hoo.

Drink?

No thank you.

Maybe he's a Baptist.

No. John was the Baptist. He came not eating

or drinking, yet still they thought him crazy.

Of me, some even said I was a wine-biber...

Good, I don't trust a man who never

takes a drink.

WILLY seems perplexed.

You ain't getting the full drift,

Roy. They're gospel lines.

He's in character… --From Yeshu in the

Aramaic language came Yesous in Greek

and Yeses in Latin....

Jesus in English...

I appreciate a well-researched role.

Let me see if I have a business card on me…

Hey enough of this. Christians love

their Lord and don't take to mockery.

All look at WILLY. MARVIN begins videotaping again.

Maybe I've had enough to drink.

Hey don't you spoil this party.

WILLY waves Roy off. ROY dances over toward WILLY, breaking with Connie at the last moment.

Perk up, Rally, damn you.

WILLY smiles and he and ROY clasp hands and LAUGH.

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

P.O.V. SECURITY AIDE's back. Someone approaches. It's ALMA bearing a steaming plate of FRIED CHICKEN.

I want you should eat.

SECURITY AIDE (#4) reaches to her plate of chicken, secures a large piece and bites into it. HE chews.

Eat hardy.

HE eats the piece voraciously in several huge bites dropping the remainder.

It's go-oood!

HE swallows.

Real good…

Have more. Have as much as you like.

You eat?

I eat last.

But my hand's all greasy. I could drop

my radio… or my gun. --Have a taste.

AIMA seizes HIS hand by the wrist and brings it to her mouth. SHE licks his hands and purrs.

Folks can see us like this, eatin' on duty.

THEY-back up toward the bushes near the house. ALMA still holds the tray.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

STANLEY and the ACTOR have seated themselves on a couch. ROY and CONNIE lean together by the bar with WILLY an arm's length from ROY. MARVIN stands mid-floor with his camera seemingly confused by the lack of center this party displays. ROY and WILLY seem to be inebriated.

Willy, do some shots wi' me?

--Yeah, c'mon. Line 'em up…

CONNIE tugs on ROY's shoulder from the other side.

Sure that's what you want to be doin'?

--It'll put a fix on the rest of the night.

Listen to her.

Just one shot, then...with a beer chaser.

--Set 'em up. See if I can't out-guzzle this preacher.

I'm out of practice.

You're out of practice. Think I can behave this

way at official dinners? Jesus, they have me

drinkin' Kool Aid.

--Or ginger ale.

ROY spies STANLEY and the ACTOR.

Hey you two. Get into this. No sittin'

around jawin' about such and such.

Drink up.

STAN

(raising.glass)

I'm working on it.

You drink like a baby.

My little sister could out-drink you when

she was fourteen.. Out screw you. God…

ROY!

She was no damn good.

I want to hear about this.

Nothin' there.

A long time ago…

Did you…?

ROY pauses.

Not in front of these peoples

She was no damn good.

ROY!

ROY claps his hands.

We need a party to cook here!

That's the spirit!

CONNIE watches ROY's movements. She puts her hand on his arm.

Did you ever...

What? Screw my no good sister?

Young lady...

No, the question is exactly what kind of poor,

white trash was I before I became somebody.

How old was I when I got my first pair of boots?

ROY turns to STAN and the ACTOR.

Would either of you ever screw your

sister? Under any conditions?

I don't have a sister.

But would you?

That's enough, Roy.

Roy, I'm sorry, hon… Please…

Not if she looked like me.

That's a good answer. 

Jose, how about you?

Asking that question answers it; 

answering it asks it.

It's clearly not right.

Love is too precious to betray…

What kind of a...

                                                    Do you hear this ... this bull…?

What do know about love? Don't folks in your

country have a whole bunch of wives, or something?

Love is an expression from God...

While it's the only thing worth 

having it can't be owned, 

but it can be given.

God gives it to people to give to

                                                    other people.

Do you hear this?

The ACTOR rises and approaches ROY.

Love is never having to say, 

'Get off me', because I'm on top.

Believe me ... when you are at the end of your

days only those who you have loved and the ones

who have loved you --will be of any importance.

All other is trivia, vanity gone with the wind.

I'm speechless really.

Then, why are you talking?

To break the ice.

STAN joins the Actor and pats him approvingly on the back.

I'll drink to that.

So. Mr... Yes-who?

Call him Jesus.

If that's okay with you?

What would my Mother think, a Jewish

boy with a Latin, a ROMAN name?

(kidding in woman's voice)

Oy, my Yeshila...

Yes-who or…

Jose,

--Jose will have to do.

Fine. Yes, your question?

WILLY pauses to gather his equilibrium.

Interesting several words, a moment ago.

What is it that you believe?

I believe?

Hear Oh Israel, the LORD is our God; the

LORD is One…

Not exactly an opening line for your

Easter message, Will.

May I respectfully remind you, Reverend,

but that line which originates in Deuter-

onomy is repeated in the Gospel of Mark...

l2:29 I believe...

Thank you Stanley. Without your

 brilliance where would I be today?

ROY LAUGHS.

--Love of God; love of neighbor...

What is there besides the Fatherhood of God,

and brotherhood of Man?

How about --REALITY?

Roy, c'mon now, he's just reminded

us of our Savior's two commandments…

If only you could accept Christ…

The everlasting grace brought by the blood he shed...

ACTOR

(wryly)

This is a hard saying, who can understand it?

Reverend Willy, for a moment 

there I sensed true piety…

Did you think I was an atheist?

An opportunist, A performer.

Give a twerp a couple of drinks,

and he'll say anything.

Actually all of us here, or most of us 

are creatures of television. --Think about it.

I do every day. Ratings and shares

Gentlemen to the MEDIA!

ALL, including MARVIN, (save the ACTOR) drink to this toast.

Bottoms up.

ROY tries to chug the drink, A stream of it runs down the side of his face. WILLY LAUGHS.

I've had a very long trip. 

Is there a place to lie 

down for a short while?

WILLY points to a door.

Right through there is a guest-room.

Make yourself to home.

Aw, is Jose leaving us?

Do you think he'd diddle his sister?

Roy…

WILLY holds ROY's arms The ACTOR nods to all and opens the door.

Yes, Will?

I'm worried about you.

--How you bearin' up?

Fine, fine.

--You know, about that Jose...

I can size a man up pretty quickly…

I knew from the get-go that he had that un-shrewd,

obsessive quality ... that in-born notion of total

sincerity that is of such little use in our world...

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Drink up everybody We gonna get down to it!

Yeeha! Yahoo! Whoop-whoop-whoopie!

ROY takes CONNIE by the waist and pulls her close to him.

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

ALMA shakes fried chicken crumbs from her apron and dress. The mostly-consumed remains of several pieces of chicken rest alongside a few whole pieces on the tray that sits upon the ground. ALMA hums as she picks up the tray,

EXT. NIGHT HIGHWAY

The VAN full of ROWDIES is underway again.

INT. NIGHT GUEST ROOM OFF LOUNGE

The ACTOR lays amid shadows,-his eyes open. The revelry from the lounge can be HEARD.

Nobody's seen a temptress like

you, babe…

I'm savin' it all up for you, hon.

This gal's got an answer for everything.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

ROY tries to entice CONNIE into his lap.

C'mon. Come to Daddy!

Teasingly SHE squirms into his lap and rises to step away, pose and try again.

ROY

Ride 'em, cow-girl! Yahoo!

WILLY finishes his current drink.

You disapprove?

Personally, I'm not a hypocrite.

That boy there (Roy) has a lot on his mind.

Unbelievable pressures. 

It's healthy to see him unwind.

STAN watches ROY slapping at CONNIES's hunched-over buttocks as MARVIN searches for the best angle to put the camera too.

Gidiap-gidiap! Go-go-go! YA!

Yeah.

CONNIE settles into ROY's lap.

(to Marv)

It's okay, hon. I'm all right...

SHE turns and kisses ROY.

How about you and I have a little chat ...

before I get too.. too happy?

Sure.

That, project of yours will never do.

It makes us look like bloody pagans.

It raises too many questions.

How many people do you think would

see it? Do you think legions are

flocking to studies of comparative religion?

Two people won't see it, because it won't be made.

--What ever's invested in it...don't fret, 

you'll get it out, I guarantee YOU.

I'm a business-minded person, I'm no fool.

--You'll make a new project. 

A better one, with more dough behind you. 

Willy-Missions money, and plenty of it.

I've seen what you can do in your other projects... 

You can be good. Oh so talented...

Why do I feel the devil's talking to me?

You can feel-how you want... --You don't have

to like me. You think I'm a pile of pitiful vanity?

--Shit, I would have come to nothing

as such...A shoe salesman.

Yeah, laugh if you want. A shoe.

salesman ... But I have a calling...

I felt it then, and I feel it now…

Maybe I don't fit into such great plans.

Maybe you do. Think on it.

EXT. NIGHT ESTATE GROUNDS

SECURITY AIDE Number FOUR stands with his radio in the still night. His POCKETS are bulging. A strained and odd LAUGH escapes him. He tries to stifle this chortle but can only contain it momentarily. Soon it is HEARD.

INT. NIGHT KITCHEN

ALMA prepares LOBSTERS for steaming. HER expression is distant but not unhappy.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

MARVIN continues his camera-work, though is now working from a chair. CONNIE sits perched in ROY's lap. THEY feed morsals of FRIED CHICKEN to one another, WILLY and STAN lean upon the bar. WILLY's eyes are heavy.

I dunno' why I'm tellin' you this...

Don' even know if I can trust you...

If this helps --I'm not very ambitious.

She's (Connie) ambitious. I trust her...

An' you know why? --Ambition, once

defined can be (makes fist) controlled.

--I know what she wants... and can help

                                                    her get it…

What does she want?

Roy laughs.

    She wants… needs access to power.

I know that.

What about you?

Understand things ... truth, maybe?

WILLY LAUGHS. softly.

            You keep saying that.

That's a tough one.

--Look, should religion express man's

true internal creed? His seven day a week

feeling; not just his Sunday-morning

submissiveness, hmm? --Now. what would that be?

'Me first, asshole, get out of my way' Get my point?

The truth has to be shaped.

--History bears witness to its shaping,

A hundred million people were shot,

gassed, tortured starved, stabbed,

strangled, bombed and obliterated this century…

I share that concern. I do.

I'm not much good at philosophy.. especially after

drinking; shaping these things is like mythology… 

It's like shaping intolerance, like fashioning knives...

ALMA enters with a plate of steaming LOBSTER TAILS.

Bring 'at here, woman.

ALMA serves ROY who feeds CONNIE. STAN and WILLY gravitate to this feast. WILLY sensing a need for sobriety puts the TELEVISION ON.

Catch some news.

CONNIE, seemingly fascinated with the silent LOGO of a television show, comes forward to watch, WILLY turns to STAN.

You've got the greater and more

dangerous ambition, my friend.

STAN makes no reply.

Ooo, turn it up, Turn up the volume.

Aw ... it's only bullshit.

ALMA offers her tray to MARVIN who first videos it before partaking. The others are gathered into the glow of Television LIGHT.

INSERT (On TV):

EXT. DAY A pest-camera PERSON (P.O.V.) follows ROY and his AIDES. ROY turns into the CAMERA and issues commanding declarations.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

The group in the LOUNGE, LAUGHS.

God, they can annoy the hell out of you.

But, hon, you looked so mean, there.

Everywhere I go I got people standing on my

ears and cameras shoved in my face.

CONNIE turns up the AUDIO just in time for a COMMERCIAL.

INSERT: A MARVIN-look-alike wearing a military instructor's HAT barks out orders and a string of BLEEPED expletives.

Let Sergeant Sadist train your whole entire family.

Toughen up with drill and physical training.

A FAMILY at their television execute several 'LEF' FACE!' half-turns while maintaining the position of ATTENTION.

Only 11.95 from Venture Video…

In the LOUNGE, ROY turns the AUDIO off as the NEWS show Continues with several scenes: INSERT: WILLY'S HOUSE, FILE FOOTAGE of WILLY preaching. WILLY and ROY smiling in friendship. ROY turns it OFF.

I get sick of watchin' myself.

I don't. But I'm on another channel.

ROY dips his LOBSTER tail into a container of butter sauce, bites it and shares the remainder with CONNIE. He offers his buttery fingers for her to lick off, which she does. Then he rubs her body and they kiss. WILLY glances away.

ROY leads CONNIE to the guest room occupied by the ACTOR .

INT. NIGHT GUEST ROOM

Giggling, CONNIE and ROY brush against the bed but fall to the floor in an embrace. WILLY comes after them, he pulls at ROY's shirt-tails.

WILLY

(softly)

Not here. Roy… Please...

ROY looks behind him.

ROY

Dad? Dad, is that you?

ROY lets go of CONNIE and begins to rise in the near dark..

Oh my gosh, Dad, I'm sorry…

She made me do it.

It's me, Roy, It's Will.

ROY giggles.

Will? Clairbolt?

It's me. That a ... Jose's sleeping in here.

CONNIE with a cool expression watches from the floor as WILLY leads ROY back into the LOUNGE. CONNIE stands, stretches and glances back to the bed. The ACTOR lays awake.

Sorry to wake you, bub.

The ACTOR nods. CONNIE sashays to the doorway where she stands in silhouette for a long, luxurious moment.

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

ROY portraying confusion and some embarrassment stays close to Willy. He covers his eyes with his hands and sobs briefly. WILLY tries to shield him from the others.

It's okay, Roy.

For a minute… --She was no good!

ROY wipes tears from his face.

You've been absolved. You've repented.

You have been forgiven.

How come it don't go away?

How come I still feel I got a

punishment coming?

Do I have the power?

Yes, by-God, you do.

Didn't I make you, and you make me?

Yes.

Then believe.

I do. My God, give us the word!

Reverend Willy! YEEHA!

The greatest preachin' fellow this 

boy ever knowed!

Attaboy!

If you burn, Roy Goodboy, do you

know what it'll be for?

What?

For wantin' everything your two big hands

can hold, an' me for fillin' tem up in the first

place. I am your FATHER, because I'm you

and you're ME. WE are the two hands of

ALLmighty GOD on this earth. We got the

vision and we...

Got the balls to make it happen!

Say amen.

Amen.

Roy, I trust you like no other...

I love you Clairbolt Willy. You gave me the means

to make it happen. --You brung God into my life.

WILLY and ROY hug with delirious ecstasy.

We can do no wrong!

WILLY releases ROY with a solid pat on his back.

What's happened to this party? Yeeha!

Let's get it going again, everybody drink up.

WILLY's phone RINGS. He answers it.

It's how long till taping time?

Wasn't it canceled?...

--We can just send them home… All right…

WILLY hangs the phone up.

I got some preachin' to do.

Not tonight, pard. It would be a mistake.

I've delivered the goods in worse shape.

ROY LAUGHS.

We want a sermon. We want a sermon.

Friends…

Have I got the voice right? Friends… we are

gathered here at a fork in the road, the left

runs to… I better write one…

Is this the great one? The sermon that

will make the difference? The best dang...

It might be…

It might be the one that wakes…

The ACTOR appears in the LOUNGE. The 'color' leaves WILLY's face. WILLY becomes dizzy.

What's the matter there, hombre?

ROY and STAN support him. WILLY won't take his eyes off the Actor.

I saw somethin'...

Only Jose.

ROY and STAN help WILLY into a chair. ROY seems woozy also and puts a hand upon the chair to steady himself.

Not doin' too good myself.

ROY sits down next to WILLY.

I was known as a 'Navi' a prophet.

Though to others I was Rabbi Yeshu ha

mashe-ach; Rabbi Joshi the anointed one…

 WILLY

STOP IT!

What's the matter?

STAN looks at CONNIE for information. CONNIE is equally mystified.

--Quite a subversive title in those days.

NO MORE, PLEASE!

Is this for real ... He's (the actor) only

doing his shtick!

In Galilee and Judea so long ago…

 WILLY

No more!

Why, you must be Jesus Christ.

JESUS (Actor)

I suppose I am… sorry if I don't

appear as you would expect.

It's the Holy Spirit...I can feel it.

It came into this room. Roy don't you feel it?

Light-headed...Yes I felt it.

And?

And it must mean that this Jewish

fellah here is all we got to show for

after centuries of praying to our Savior.

Hell, Will, it musta been them lobster tails

mixed with scotch and gin, and what all we

been drinking.

It's what we ate, I tell ya…

Roy, this was the first time I've

ever been visited by the Holy Spirit...

Well, now that IT knows where you are,

I'm sure you'll be receivin' it more often...

Put a little cold water on your face.

Go on.

WILLY rises. He heads for the Guest Room.

I have never experienced that.

You're out of practice. Ain't been

keepin' up with me in a while.

INT. NIGHT GUEST ROOM LAVATORY

WILLY watches himself in the MIRROR over the sink, HE turns the WATER ON. Suddenly he ducks his head to avoid a FLOCK of WHITE DOVES he sees above him. They disappear but WILLY spies a DROPPING on his shoulder. He takes some toilet tissue to wipe if off, but the dropping too vanishes.

WILLY shuts his eyes tightly.

Lord…Lord…

--I can't pray…

WILLY rushes into the LOUNGE. JESUS stands by the doorway.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do

not do the things I say?

WILLY moves away from Jesus, HE tries smiling.

Friends…

EVERYONE looks to WILLY, even MARVIN who has allowed his camera to droop.

Friends, do you realize 

the importance

of this occasion?

ALL seem puzzled.

We have Je-sus here with us!

All right! YEEHA!

Welcome back!

You and me still got some 

business to attend to.

WILLY surveys the room, STAN speaks casually with JESUS as he waves a long-nursed drink about in gesture. JESUS nods, MARVIN, looking quite bored picks apart a LOBSTER TAIL. ROY holds CONNIE's hands as he 'sweet-talks' her. WILLY wipes his brow with a handkerchief.

I got some things to do...

WILLY pauses before STAN and JESUS.

Could you folks --all of ya -join me in

the studio, in a little while?

Sure.

Hurriedly, WILLY leaves the Lounge.

INT. NIGHT HALLWAY

WILLY's pace picks up dramatically. HIS face changes expression from panic to enthusiasm. He begins to mutter to himself, A PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE wearing a headset approaches him outside the studio.

Will you be ready?

Ready? Shit. Put together a satellite

feed… a network link-up… A multi-channel

hookup...

Are you serious? Is the President going on?

Rent the Astrodome for Easter Sunday.

WILLY enters his STUDIO OFFICE.

INT. NIGHT STUDIO OFFICE

WILLY takes a drink from the water cooler.

My God. --We'll have a SUPERBOWL for

Christ with a FIFTY MILLION GROSS!

Designer clothes: Jesus-Holy-Duds.

How much a copy?

A new Church ... Crystal Palace will

look like a shack compared.

--The New Temple; The New Jerusalem!

Hallelujah.

WILLY slaps his hands together in excitement.

Yes sir, folks, Jesus is back.

The Kingdom is here!

What kingdom? --My kingdom?

WILLY stands upright and sucks several deep breaths into his chest.

This is the big one.

WILLY plays a tape recorder on his desks He picks up a small microphone and pins it to his lapel.

Friends, our centuries of prayer ("pray-air") have

finally been answered.

Yes, answered. Why? Because our

Lord Jesus, our Teacher, our shepherd has

returned. Yes, Jesus Christ is here with me,

his very evening. IN THE FLESH!

WILLY pauses. He turns the tape recorder off and takes the microphone off.

Words is failing me… HE IS HERE!

WILLY convulses with a fit of LAUGHTER.

He's in my pocket...

Here he is

I'm talkin' to ya about Jesus!

WILLY's efforts dissolve into laughter.

That Jewish-guy back there in the coarse tunic

is your long-awaited savior,

--No...Right here on CAMERA TWO

--Get a CLOSE UP…

How would Jesus look on Television?

HE needs make-up ... A white robe...

Off-white ... Think HE'll get upset...?

Just a few suggestions. I know…

That's why he come to me.

--JESUS IS BACK!

WILLY drums a beat on his desk.

WILLY

Savior's back...

Course, he never left, did he?

WILLY paces.

WILLY

You there, in the front row…

You immoral God-groupie, with your 

legs spread to both coasts 

--wearin' no underpants… Damn you

for tempting me --Always tempting me...

I'm a preachin' man.… A preachin' man...

--Maybe I don't always measure up. I look

the other way ... I got too much AMBITION!

--I'm sorry if I didn't always believe in you.

You could have sent a sign before now...I thought 

I was doin' well anyway...Had your favor…

WILLY sits

I can't do this tonight… I just can't.

My mind isn't working. Is that it?

Will you put the right words into

my mouth, Lord? --What am I talking about?

I need some sleep. I'm going nuts.

--I got to do it tonight. I just have to.

The INTERCOM BUZZES. WILLY ANSWERS IT.

Yeah?

PROD AS. (INTERCOM V.O.)

When do you want the networks?

And Reverend, did you mention

something about the Astro-Dome?

WILLY

Just standby on all that…

INT. NIGHT LOUNGE

CONNIE and ROY sit on the couch and search each other's eyes. HE touches her face. SHE watches him with interest.

Casually, STAN escorts JESUS toward the hallway. THEY are having a conversation UNHEARD from this vantage point.

MARVIN begins to slump in his chair. The mood in the lounge is quiet and unhurried.

CONNIE touches ROY's hand.

Guest room?

ROY grins.

I love the way you think, girl.

HE kisses her hand. SHE smiles.

But I got a better idea. A --wilder-idea.

One that you would just love.

What's that?

When I was a fellah on a Texas night

in the springtime...

Goin' out for a nowhere drive...

Best girl on my arm. Big car.

Cruisin'… Nothin' but sky above.

The BIG sky above...

CONNIE SIGHS.

Warmth floatin' up from that

hu-mongis engine. The ol' gas guzzler…

Mixin' with the chill of evenin'

--A night that seems like it could

go for ever, if you don't stop it.

            My lover is a poet… --Let's do it.

Get a car you mean.?

SHE kisses his fingers.

Get a car.

With three security men bouncin'

around on the trunk?

Couldn't we fix it for just this

special night?

ROY pulls her close.

Maybe we could try.

INT. NIGHT STUDIO OFFICE

STAN enters. WILLY looks up at him.

Where's Jesus?

Down the hall...getting a drink or something.

He's got to go on- TV tonight.

--Hope he does well.

Can the… can the Holy Spirit 

be felt over television?

Is this a four-part answer?

I'm serious.

I'm concerned about 

him doing well on TV.

What do you want him to do, talk about love?

No.

There's more to bein' a Christian

than yappin' about LOVE.

Like what?

If you'd shut up a minute I'll tell ya'

--Ther