24. Back Seat Jesus-Eric (true story)

• FADE IN


• INT. HOUSE-3:45 AM


• Eric is snoring loudly, wrapped under a thick comforter. The only part of him visible is the olive green toque, peeking above the comforter. A box fan hums a few feet from him. The phone begins to ring. After several rings, Eric finally rolls out of bed and answers it.


• ERIC
• You better be God.


• SANDRO
• Sorry for calling this late, I'm stuck on I-24. Can you get me?


• Eric sighs.


• ERIC
• Do you have any drugs?


• SANDRO
• No.


• Eric sighs, long and heavy.


• SANDRO
• Come on man. There's a black guy down here harassing everyone. And it's cold. Come on, Eric.


• ERIC
• Okay, where are you?


• Eric listens for a second and hangs up the reciever. He grumbles to himself and slowly gets dressed. He grabs his keys from the dresser and walks out.


• EXT. HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA-4:20 AM


• Eric pulls into the parking lot of the Hyatt. Sandro comes from the hotel foyer and slowly walks to the car, carrying a backpack. His fingernails are polished black and he is wearing an eyebrow hoop. He climbs inside the blue, beat up station wagon.


• ERIC
• You were at that club, Alan's?


• Sandro nods.


• SANDRO
• My stupid car broke down. Rick sold me a lemon.


• Eric nods, and begins pulling out, but notices a disheveled black man wearing stained sweats and a dirty starter jacket walking to his car. Eric rolls down the window.


• MAN
• Hey, you got a light?


• ERIC
• Sure


• Eric pushes in the car lighter and waits. The man peers at him. His eyes seem vacant of feeling. They seem empty and tell a story that this man has really nothing left to lose. He begins staring in the back seat. The car lighter pops out, and Eric holds it out. The man leans forward and lights his cigaretter from the held lighter. After he takes a drag, he jerks toward Eric, only inches from his face. Eric flinches, and begins shaking.


• MAN
• You know something. I was going to get you tonight. But for some reason I'm going to pass.


• Eric is stunned, and stares at the man's EYES. The man is looking down in the back seat. The man is holding a small, silver HAND GUN at his side. Eric slowly rolls up the window and begins driving off.


• ERIC
• Oh my god!


• They are silent for a few minutes while they enter the ramp and begin heading down I-24. Sandro pulls out a small safety pin.


• SANDRO
• We would have been okay. I would have pulled out this safety pin on him.


• He turns his head towards Sandro, and sighs.


• ERIC
• Riiight, dude. He had a gun.


• SANDRO
• He did?


• Eric nods.


• SANDRO
• So? I would have poked his eye out. I'm not afraid of him.


• ERIC
• Mmhhmm. Right. He kept looking in the back seat when he said he was going to pass on robbing us.


• We see several, large paperback books. On the cover of one JESUS is standing next to a large skyscraper. The top book reads:Desire of Ages.
  
• ERIC VO
• Ah, that's what saved us. Those old canvassing books I never threw away. Wow. I could have died. I'm going to leave those books there I think. Even if I'm going to buy drugs or drive through bad neighborhoods. I wonder if I can get a picture of Jesus emblazoned on a jacket?


• FADE OUT