262. Drunkard - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. THE ALTERNATIVE - NIGHT


• The Alternative, a popular club among those who like to imagine themselves as counter-cultural, is packed with people who are pierced, tattooed, and corseted.


• A loft looking over the dance floor holds a single large table around which a sizable crowd is gathered.


• Commanding their attention is JOSPEH, a muscular, plain-looking man in jeans and a t-shirt, he takes a sip from the mug of beer in front of him and the crowd watches in rapt attention.


• MATT, a lawyer; JOHN and PETER, fishermen sit next to him.


• Peter, a young man with thick, calloused hands tries not to stare at a young WAITRESS with thick plugs in her ears who has stopped at a discrete distance to listen.


• Joseph grins, speaking in a soft southern accent.


• JOSEPH
• You sure know how to throw a party Miri.


• MIRI, the club owner, sits next to Joseph, curled up with SYDNEY, her partner.


• MIRI
• For you, anything. Tell us one of those amazing stories of yours.


• JOSEPH
• Y'all want a story?


• Someone in the crowd yells in the affirmative and everyone laughs.


• JOSEPH
• Well, there was dressmaker who lived once upon a time in a world a lot like ours, and she wanted to throw a party, maybe something a lot like this one. Let me start from the beginning, because every good story has to start like this. Once upon a time...


• CUT TO:


• SCRIPT # 223 THE LITTLE DRESSMAKER - A STEAMPUNK PARABLE


• CUT TO:


• INT. THE ALTERNATIVE - NIGHT


• Joseph takes a sip from the mug.


• JOSEPH
• That's the kingdom of God in a nutshell. That right there.


• He grins, delighted.


• The crowd exhales, almost as one, and some clap softly.


• JOSEPH
• Alright, I'm out of stories for the night.


• MIRI
• I don't understand why no one else has every explained things like this before. You're not like the others. Never ceases to amaze me.


• Joseph smiles sadly but doesn't respond.


• He stands to leave, and Matt, Peter, and John stand with him.


• Hugs and handshakes are exchanged and then the four men slip out towards the back entrance.


• The waitress with the plugs slips up behind them and touches Joseph gingerly as they open the door.


• EXT. THE ALTERNATIVE - NIGHT


• The five step out into the night to find a group of PASTORS and PAPARAZZI waiting for them.


• Lights flash as the pastors approach.


• The waitress is not deterred.


• WAITRESS
• Sir, sir, I'm so sorry, I...


• He leans over, clasps her hand, and speaks softly.


• JOSEPH
• It's alright Alice, I know. I forgive you. Go, sin no more.


• She nods, trying not to cry, and slips back into the club.


• The pastors have reached them now and PASTOR JACKSON scowls as he smells the club on them.


• PASTOR JACKSON
• How dare you travel around this country and spread your lies? You're just a drunk and a hypocrite. And then spending the night with this scum! And tomorrow every paper in the nation will have you touching...her...on its headlines.


• Joseph puts a hand on his shoulder.


• JOSEPH
• If you're healthy, there's no reason for you to visit a doctor. My Father sent me here to take care of the sick and the hurting.


• He keeps his hand on the pastor's shoulder and the man squirms.


• Joseph turns away, leaving a livid Pastor Jackson silent.


• He nods to the three men who are waiting quietly


• They walk out of the alley disappear down the street, leaving a group of angry and confused pastors, and befuddled paparazzi.


• FADE TO BLACK.