CAN BOYS FLY
EPISODE TWO
“The Mouth Piece”
INT. HOME OF STEPHANIE CAMPBELL – DINING ROOM
Large, stylish, and art on the walls. Not a mansion by any means, but ‘got money’. They live in an emerging upscale area on the lake, south of Sheboygan called Black River. Evening at dinner table, Stephanie’s mom, dad, and two younger siblings. Stephanie is the oldest child.
ROGER CAMPBELL
How was school? Are you making good friends? Are you liking it here?
Roger is tall, fit, a brooks brothers and country club kind of guy; might sail too; blue oxford shirt, sleeves rolled up.
STEPHANIE
I like it here. Things move slower than Chicago, The Lutherans around here are more conservative and pro- Jesus.
ROGER CAMPBELL
Rural. Blue collar. Nice enough.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Seems like a fine school. Your teacher says your fitting right in – even though you’re a stranger from a strange land.
STEPHANIE
Lutherans’ on one half of the block. Catholics on the other. Separated by a tall guard fence. We slip notes to each other at recess.
ROGER CAMPBELL
A little separation is a good thing at your age.
STEPHANIE
Feels like a prison.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Any inmates of interest?
STEPHANIE
Mom?!?! Weird.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
I hear those catholic boys can be trouble.
INT. SCHOOL GYM CHUCK
CUT TO:
GLOWERING HOMICIDALLY at the basketball hoop. He’s practicing free throws. CLANG! He short-arms one. The ball hits the rim and ricochets off to…
MACE NEWTON, 13. Tall and imposing. A mild streak of sadism shows in his grin as he holds the ball and cracks facetiously to TOOEY KARPOWITZ, another of Chuck’s teammates.
MACE NEWTON
(re: Chuck’s errant shot)
Another brick. Waddo you think it is, Tooey?
TOOEY
(Snorts. Then..)
Chuck didn’t eat his Wheaties this morning.
Chuck’s glare is a dagger aimed at Mace’s sardonic face.
You see, these two, Mace and Tooey, survived the rosary session firmly ordained on them by Chuck’s dad in EPISODE 1.
TOOEY
(CONT’D)
Nerves. Chuckie’s got the yips.
MACE NEWTON
Nah. It’s not nerves.
Chuck does that gimmie thing with his hands. He wants the ball back. Mace fires an aggressive pass to Chuck.
MACE NEWTON
(to Tooey)
You know what it is?
Chuck dramatically ignores their talk. Tosses up another free throw. Misses badly to the left, but snatches the rebound before Mace can. Mace just laughs cruelly.
MACE NEWTON
I think Jesus is trying to tell Chuckie something.
TOOEY
Yeah. Try another sport.
Tooey heartily laughs at his joke. But Mace and Chuck remain as overwhelming serious as a tsunami about to hit land. Just the mutual glares alone could foul another player.
CHUCK
(GLARES at Mace as he says this:)
Shut up, Tooey.
MACE NEWTON
Yeah. Jesus isn’t telling Chuckie to quit basketball. Jesus is telling Chuckie boy to take out his rosary. Isn’t he, Chuckie?
Chuck wants to rip Mace’s balls off and stuff them in his mouth — but he bridles his temper. Takes another free throw. This time, SWISH. He makes it.
MACE NEWTON
Nice.
(to Tooey)
He’s got the rosary memorized. Chuckie’s said so many rosaries he doesn’t need one.
(to Chuck)
You saying your rosary, Chuck?
Chuck snatches the ball. Truculently spins it in his hands.
MACE NEWTON
Where are you, Chuck? On a Hail Mary?
Chuck stares hard at the ball in his hands.
MACE NEWTON
Where are you, Chuck? Where are you, Bead Thumber?
(turns to Tooey)
“Bead Thumber.” That’s a good nickname for Chuckie. Oh, wait. Even better: Roseryita —
WHAM! The basketball hits the side of Mace’s head with such malignant force that Mace stumbles. When he regains his footing, IT’S ON.
Mace bull rushes Chuck and they both violently crash against the hardwood floor. Chuck ends up on top and WINDMILLS Mace with punches, many of them landing until–
Mace shoves the lighter chuck off his chest, then dives at him until —
BASKETBALL COACH (O.C.)
DIEDRICH, NEWTON! BREAK IT UP!
The BASKETBALL COACH (army flat top, a real generalisimo- type) and his two assistants separate the two boys, Mace’s nose bleeding, a welt over his right eye growing fast.
STAY ON CHUCK, nearly hyperventilating, toxic with adrenaline, as we…
CUT BACK TO:
INT. HOME OF STEPHANIE CAMPBELL – DINING ROOM
As Stephanie’s father rhapsodizes over Sheboygan.
ROGER CAMPBELL
Peaceful little town. Lots of businesses popping up; the bank is doing well.
STEPHANIE
Speaking of businesses, I have a class assignment to visit a local farm and write a paper on it.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Plenty of corn, cows and cheese around here.
STEPHANIE
That’s why I want to visit a mink farm. Did you know that Sheboygan County is the largest mink producing county in the entire state?
ROGER CAMPBELL
(Smiling, loving his young daughter’s pluck)
That so? Didn’t know that.
STEPHANIE
Big industry…you know mink coats, fashion, glamour.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
(smiling)
Might look a little overdressed wearing a mink coat in Sheboygan.
ROGER CAMPBELL
I met a few mink ranchers at the bank. I can ask about it.
STEPHANIE
I talked to Ray Diedrich, the plumber we used on our guest house. He said his brother has a mink farm. I could do a field trip. – see a mink ranch.
ROGER CAMPBELL
Fine with me. Catherine?
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Only if they give you a mink coat for me.
ROGER CAMPBELL
What’s wrong with the three you have?
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
A girl can never have enough mink.
STEPHANIE
Then it’s settled. I’ll let Ray know.
(then, ironic)
This is fab. I’ll learn a lot.
She’s thinking of Chuck, of course…
CUT TO:
INT./EXT. CARL DIEDRICH’S CAR – DAY
Chuck, sweaty and mussed up and his Dad, Carl ride in tense silence, until Carl unloads on his son.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I won’t have you fighting. We have a business in this city, you understand?
(doesn’t wait for an answer)
What the heck were you fighting about? What can be so important that you give a teammate — a teammate — a bloody nose?
Silence.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I asked you a —
CHUCK
He called me names.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
(astonished)
You’re lucky you weren’t suspended! And he called you names? What names are worth getting expelled over?
CHUCK
(corrects Dad)
Suspended —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
What names!?
CHUCK
Does it matter?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
It mattered to you. What did he call you? Why didn’t you tell the coach —
CHUCK
I’m not a squealer —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
What did he do — call you a mink farmer? Well, I’m proud of what I do, we produce the finest mink in the United States, did you know that, are you aware of how respected we are outside of this city? And you’re brawling like a sailor at school? You don’t have to fight my battles, Mister —
CHUCK
(CUTTING him off)
— He called me a bead thumber.
Carl scrunches his face.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
A what?
CHUCK
Someone who says… someone who says the rosary all the time.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Well that sure as hell isn’t you.
No, it isn’t. And now it sinks into Carl’s steady mind. As he looks out at the road ahead the terrible epiphany hits him: His son was fighting his battles.
He peaks at Chuck, leaning disconsolately against the car door. Carl has an odd, oscillating expression caught on his face, as if he doesn’t know whether to slap Chuck upside the head or to pull him close and hug him for his crucible.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. DRIVE WAY OF MINK DIEDRICH FARM – DAY
Early morning, cold and overcast day. Snow is in the air. A clean, new car pulls into the drive way. HELEN DIEDRICH comes out of the house.
HELEN DIEDRICH MOM
Welcome. You must be Catherine and this must be Stephanie. Ray said such nice things about you.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Hello Mrs. Diedrich, nice to meet you.
HELEN DIEDRICH MOM
You can call me Helen.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
My first time on a mink farm. It’s all Stephanie talks about lately.
Her daughter eagerly surveys the mink yard as if she’s looking for someone in particular.
STEPHANIE
Nice to meet you. A real mink ranch. I can’t wait to see it.
Marvin exits the Feed House. He sees Helen and the strangers talking. He walks over.
HELEN DIEDRICH MOM
This is Marvin, our hired hand. There is nothing he can’t do. Marv, we will have a guest with us today. This is Stephanie Campbell. She’s got a school project and she wants to learn all about the mink business.
MARVIN
Well, this is the place.
HELEN DIEDRICH MOM
This is her mom, Catherine.
MARVIN
Hello, mom. I have to say we’re in the middle of things, it’s our busy season but I got just the guy to show how things are run around here.
STEPHANIE
You mean, Chuck? We talk through the fence at school sometimes.
HELEN DIEDRICH MOM
So you attend the Lutheran School? Have we met before? You look a little familiar?
STEPHANIE
(a dazzling non-sequitur)
Thanks.
(to Marvin)
So where’s my tour guide?
Marvin and Stephanie start walking away, leaving Helen and Catherine to themselves.
MARVIN
No exactly sure. In one of these sheds I’m guessing. He’s getting set up.
STEPHANIE
Set up for what?
MARVIN
Chasmo is doing the pelting. He’s been promoted. He’s the Big Man now.
(checks her out)
Looks like you’re dressed warm and you got your insulated rubber boots on; kind of cold and messy this time of year.
STEPHANIE
Chasmo! Chuck the Chasmo.
MARVIN
The sight of you will perk him up.
INT MINK SHED
Chuck stands in the aisle, next to the kill box.
MARVIN
Chasmo, we got a guest. She wants to learn about the mink business. She says he knows you from the school fence.
Chuck looks up. Confused, stunned, embarrassed, and sees a pink and blue vision.
CHUCK
Whaaat the….whooo? Why?
MARVIN
Here’s your tour guide.
CHUCK
(excited)
Me?
(easy, tiger. Staid now)
Um.. me?
The mink have their own way of saying hello. The nearest ones snarl and rattle their cages as they run in tight little, imprisoned circles.
MARVIN
Stephanie, don’t put your fingers in the pen.
STEPHANIE
They’re so vicious.
MARVIN
Not so bad once you get to know how to handle them.
Marvin puts his hand on Chuck’s shoulder.
MARVIN
Chuck, do us proud and give this beautiful girl a tour worthy of a queen.
Stephanie blushes while Chuck pleads —
CHUCK
Oh, please, not now. Not here. Please. Can you come back? I-I-I look like shit. I smell.
MARVIN
(facetiously)
He smells.
(to Chuck
This is a mink farm —
STEPHANIE
I want to smell.
MARVIN
She wants to smell. Get a move on Chasmo, show her a real live mink farm.
(then)
Bye. You kids have fun!
Marvin leaves Stephanie and Chuck alone.
CHUCK
Weird.
STEPHANIE
Not weird! I’m all eyes, ears, and note pad. I guess your folks didn’t tell you I was coming. School project… I want to learn all about the mink business.
CHUCK
Follow me.
He leads Stephanie to the part of the shed where the kill box is located.
CHUCK
Nobody told me. It’s pelting season for Christ’s sake.
STEPHANIE
You’re killing them? You?
CHUCK
Pelting, not killing. Yes. I found out yesterday.
STEPHANIE
Congratulations!
CHUCK
Wasn’t expecting an audience.
STEPHANIE
I wanted to see you.
CHUCK
(collects himself…takes a deep breath)
Well, here I am. Hope you like it. Take a whiff.
Chuck is annoyed, confused, pissed off, self conscious and deeply enamored.
CHUCK
Stand away from the kill box, it has cyanide powder in it. It’s poisonous.
Stephanie stands back and watches Chuck who opens kennels and drops mink into the kill box. He works fast. After about 25 animals are in the box, he moves to where Stephanie is standing and watching.
CHUCK
We need to wait a few minutes.
STEPHANIE
Wait for what?
CHUCK
For them to die.
STEPHANIE
Oh.
CHUCK
It’s like falling asleep. It’s just what we do. It’s what I do.
STEPHANIE
Eternal sleep.
CHUCK
I guess so. Just stay here and hold your breath. I am going to collect them.
Chuck moves the wheelbarrow next to the kill box. He unfastens the two openers on the side of the box; he takes a deep breath; opens the door and 25 lifeless mink slide out and onto soft, dry hay that covers the bottom of the wheelbarrow. He closes the kill box door, locks it.
As he does this, Stephanie has crept up to behind his shoulder.
He locks it and exhales. Then Stephanie collapses to the ground.
CHUCK
Stephanie!!!! Oh my God, I killed her.
Chuck gets down next to her. Takes off his leather gloves, and pulls her a few feet from the box.
CHUCK
Stephanie!
Chuck touches her face, he’s about to do CPR; puts his mouth on her month when she opens her eyes and laughs with enthusiasm.
STEPHANIE
Got you!!!
CHUCK
You’re alive?
STEPHANIE
Sweet of you to care.
CHUCK
You scared the shit out me. How could you do that?
STEPHANIE
Loosen you up! It’s not the end of the world, Chuck.
He helps her up. Brushes her off.
CHUCK
I’m a little wound up I guess.
STEPHANIE
Think????
CHUCK
Okay, I’m stressed.
STEPHANIE
I can see that.
CHUCK
You’re a crazy girl.
STEPHANIE
Can I touch them?
Stephanie looks down on the pile of warm, dead mink.
CHUCK
You sure don’t waste any time. Sure. Let me grab one.
Chuck reaches into the pile and pulls one out. He holds it like during grading. He lets her pet it, feel it, look at it. She is transfixed.
STEPHANIE
Like velvet… The softest velvet ever.
CHUCK
Rub your hand slowly over its back.
Stephanie takes her time. After a long moment, he puts the mink back in the wheelbarrow.
CHUCK
What do you think?
STEPHANIE
I’m not thinking. Nothing I ever experienced. This place is amazing! Hell with dairy farms; I all about mink and Chasmo!!!
CHUCK
Pelting season.
STEPHANIE
Yes, I can see that.
Marvin appears at the shed door. Takes a moment to take in the two of them. And then yells.
MARVIN
Chuck! Get your ass in gear!
CHUCK
Shit. Okay. Sorry.
Chuck picks up the wheelbarrow, and rolls it at a quick pace.
STEPHANIE
Get your ass in gear, Diedrich!! Step it up….one and two, and one and two. Get moving, Chasmo.
Stephanie trots beside Chuck and the wheelbarrow.
INT. CARPENTER SHOP
Marvin hears the two of them coming and opens the carpenter shop door. Chuck’s dad is at the skinning table, sharpening knives and smoking his pipe. There is a stand up wood stove. It is warm and comfortable inside.
MARVIN
(winks at Chuck)
Chuck got hung up.
CHUCK
Sorry.
CHUCK
No rest for the wicked.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I hear we have a special guest today.
CHUCK
This is Stephanie. She attend Evangelical Lutheran School. She’s doing a class report on mink farming.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Welcome, Stephanie. You picked quite a time of year for your visit.
STEPHANIE
Pelting season – I lucked out I guess. Thank you for letting me visit. Your brother Ray brought me to your summer picnic and I got to see a little of your ranch.
CARL RIES – DAD
What have you done so far?
STEPHANIE
Chuck just held a dead one for me. Very soft and beautiful!
MARVIN
That girl deserves a mink tail.
Marvin reaches under the skinning table, finds a black mink tail and gives it to Stephanie. When tails come off during skinning, they are not sown back on.
MARVIN
Congratulations’ Stephanie, you are now a junior minker.
STEPHANIE
Thanks, Marvin.
Chuck picks all the dead mink out of the Wheelbarrow and lays them on the end of the work table next to Marvin.
The skinning of the mink is a quick two part process. Marvin cuts from rear leg to rear leg and with his index finger slightly pulls the tail bone free and passes the animal to my dad.
Carl uses a ice pick to impale both hind feet of the mink; and with a pulley he extracts the tail bone; he then peels off the hide like a tight fitting sweater; when he gets to the head/nose, he uses a small sharp knife to cut and free the hide from the carcass; careful never to slice into the hide (or ripe the skin).
He constantly sharpens the knife. With one final slice he frees the nose from the body. The entire hide is now free from the body. He tosses the caucus into a 50 pound barrel that is now half full with caucuses. He turns to hang the hide on a rack behind him. The rack has 50 hides warm, skinned mink hanging on it.
Carl never stops working. Chuck never stops working. Stephanie is enthralled.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Take these hides to the freezer.
Chuck puts an old dish towel in the crook of his left arm so his jacket does not get mink fat oil all over it. He collects the skins hanging behind his dad; laying them over his arm. Once all 50 are collected, he leaves.
EXT. GRAVEL DRIVE WAY – LATER
Chuck exits the carpenter shop and walks to the freezer that is adjoined to the feed house. It has started to snow. Walking side by side with Stephanie.
STEPHANIE
Thank you.
CHUCK
For what?
STEPHANIE
For letting me be here. For showing me your strange, magical world.
The hides that Chuck is carrying are so freshly skinned that steam rises off them and into the winter air.
CHUCK
It’s weird having you see all this. I’m glad you’re not freaked out.
(adding)
You’re not, right?
STEPHANIE
Not even close. Nothing like you exists in Chicago. You’re the one and only, Chasmo The Great!
CHUCK
Smelly?
STEPHANIE
(bursting with laughter)
Smells I never smelled before.
CHUCK
You can call me stinky if you like?
STEPHANIE
“Chuck” is just fine. I sort of like Chasmo too. You have bunch of cool names for yourself. Stinky but interesting that’s for sure.
Stephanie puts her hand on Chuck’s shoulder and squeezes it as they arrive at the feed house door.
INT. FREEZER ROOM
Stacked high with 100 pound blocks of frozen feed ingredients. An area is cleared to the front where Chuck sets down the mink hides and one by one inserts a thin, wooden board about 5 inches wide into each hide. He then lines then up the freezer.
Stephanie sits on frozen blocks of feed nearby and watches.
CHUCK
We let the hides freeze. It makes it easier to scrape the fat off them. We call it fleshing.
Marv, my brothers and few others will start fleshing later. We better get moving.
STEPHANIE
So nice and cold in here and quiet too.
Stephanie stands up and faces Chuck. They look at each other for a good long time. Chuck does not know what to do with the quiet, the privacy. His head is spinning.
CHUCK
We need to get moving. I have work to do.
EXT. MINK YARD – LATER
Chuck is pushing the wheelbarrow back to the shed. Snow is falling. Stephanie walks along side him.
CHUCK
You like Sheboygan?
STEPHANIE
I guess so. Feels small sometimes.
CHUCK
I’ve never been to Chicago. I haven’t any place really except around here.
STEPHANIE
But you want to, right?
CHUCK
Has to be more than just this.
They return to the kill box. Stephanie stands back and Chuck again, drops 25 mink in quick succession. As he moves back to wait for the mink to die.
STEPHANIE
Can I try?
CHUCK
Try?
STEPHANIE
Killing?
CHUCK
You’re crazy, you know that?
STEPHANIE
I want to try.
Chuck reflects, and decides to show her how. He reaches into a kennel, grabs a mink by the head, holds its body with his other hand, and drops it into the kill box.
CHUCK
You got that? Here put these on. Now grab my hand.
Chuck’s hand becomes the mink; he pulls it away and she tries again. This time she does not let go.
CHUCK
Good.
Now Stephanie reaches into the kennel of a pastel female. Grabs it, and carries it to the kill box trap door and drops it in. They both walk a few steps away from the kill box.
CHUCK
You did it! You’re a mink handler – a minker!
STEPHANIE
Well thank you very much!
CHUCK
You can’t tell anyone I let you do this.
STEPHANIE
Secret stays with us.
She reaches out with the catching glove on and shakes Chucks hand. She holds a mink now, wriggling and squirming, but she holds on tight.
EXT MINK YARD
Stephanie pushes the wheelbarrow through the mink yard toward the carpenter shop. They are animated and talking.
STEPHANIE
Best day ever.
CHUCK
It was fun. You’re fun. Different.
INT. CARPENTER SHOP Marvin greets Stephanie.
MARVIN
Got your mink tail and now the coveted honor of pushing the wheelbarrow. We’ll do a job interview soon.
STEPHANIE
It’s been a fascinating day. I learned a lot. My dad is picking me up pretty soon. Thank you for having me.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
You’re welcome to come visit anytime. Maybe during weening season. There’s something new going on all year round.
STEPHANIE
Your mink are beautiful.
Chuck reacts to the SOUND of tires crunching over gravel.
CHUCK
That car must be your dad.
EXT. GRAVEL ROAD
Stephanie and Chuck walk towards Roger Campbell’s car idling in the drive way. Roger talks to Chuck’s mom.
STEPHANIE
Best day ever day.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Glad you enjoyed it. Lots going on this time of year.
ROGER CAMPBELL
You must be Chuck?
Chuck’s odor is evident. Roger can be seen puzzling over the smell.
CHUCK
Nice to meet you, Mr. Campbell.
STEPHANIE
Thank you for such a great experience. I guess the next time I see you will be through the fence.
ROGER CAMPBELL
We better be getting home, your mom will have dinner ready soon.
EXT. GRAVEL ROAD NEAR THE SHEDS
As Helen watches the car disappear down the road.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Lutherans.
CHUCK
So what. She’s wonderful.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Was that the girl who came with Ray to the picnic?
CHUCK
Yes.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
I thought she looked familiar. Ray says they’re from Chicago. Money people. She’s a little shifty.
CHUCK
No, she’s honest. About everything.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
She’s out of your league.
CHUCK
What league is that?
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
You just watch yourself or you’ll get hurt. You stick to what you know and people who know you.
Helen turns and goes back into the house.
INT./EXT. ROGER CAMPBELL’S CAR
He sniffs and makes a sour face.
ROGER CAMPBELL
That’s quite an odor. You’ll need a soaking.
STEPHANIE
I loved it. Chuck’s quite a mink handler. Look at this — a mink tail! I’m now a junior minker!
She holds up the tail to show her dad. It, too smells of mink odor.
ROGER CAMPBELL
Seems like a nice enough farm boy.
STEPHANIE
I like him. Yeah. I like him.
STAY ON STEPHANIE, her eyes wide open as if to see the future more clearly…
INT. FLESHING ROOM – DAY
The converted garage now has 4 fleshing machines in it. Marvin, brother Jim and John are fleshing.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
How are you boys doing?
MARVIN
Getting rich at 35 cents a hide.
JIM
Rich?
MARVIN
Well you gotta be fast, Jimmy. You might have too many feathers in your head.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Just don’t tear any; makes more work for me.
Helen goes from work station to work station, counting the fleshed mink; keeping a written tally.
MARVIN
I think Chasmo is smitten like a lead mitten. He’s been floating around more than usual since yesterday. She’s cute.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
I told him to watch out for girls like that.
JOHN
I must have missed something?
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Yesterday.
MARVIN
School project on the mink business but I think Chuck was the business she was studying.
JOHN
She must be blind. Or have no sense of smell. Did she get a whiff?
MARVIN
Most definitely not blind. All she could smell was Chasmo.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
You think she set this all up to see Chuck? She and her folks seemed fancy. Not the kind of people who come out the mink farms.
Chuck walks in from the feed house.
JOHN
Hey you little knucklehead, you been holding out on us. You got a girlfriend? Is she retarded or what?
CHUCK
What? No.
JOHN
I hear she’s cute.
CHUCK
She’s a friend.
JIM
Seems unlikely.
MARVIN
Nice girl. Sent her home smelling like a mink rose. I gave her a scented tail fresh off the wheelbarrow. The fragrance women die from.
Screen Graphic: THREE WEEKS LATER
EXT. STEPHANIE’S HOME – DAY
DISSOLVE TO:
As Stephanie, animated and jazzed about something uses two hands to open the difficult, large door.
INT. STEPHANIE’S HOME – HALLWAY
Stephanie breezes in, kick off her shoes…
STEPHANIE
(HOLLERS to the house)
I got an A! I got an A! Stephanie clambers up the stairs to…
INT. STEPHANIE’S BEDROOM
Stephanie, delighted, plucks her “A DAY ON A MINK FARM” term paper from her backpack.
We can see the grade she got — an encircled “A” — as it stands out on the title page in RED.
DISSOLVE TO:
SCREEN GRAPHIC – THE NEXT MORNING
INT. STEPHANIE’S HOUSE KITCHEN – DAY
Breakfast. Stephanie’s parents, CATHERINE and ROGER face each other in a way that tells us they have a secret they’re sharing. Roger asks the table…
ROGER CAMPBELL
What day is it today?
STEPHANIE
Thursday. One more day to a weekend of relief from books.
ROGER CAMPBELL
I don’t think so.
(to his wife)
Do you?
Tired of keeping the secret and probably not behind it any way, Catherine rapidly slathers her well-done toast with a knife and butter. Then chops it hard in half, leaning on her knife, her full bust jiggling with Catherine’s strength.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Oh, for the love of Pete, just tell her, Rog.
STEPHANIE
Oh, boy. I’m grounded all weekend for letting Hummer Whitfield kiss me in the Cafeteria?
ROGER CAMPBELL
When did this happen?
STEPHANIE
Wait — Principal Moore didn’t call you?
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
No. Looks like you got a free-be there.
(then)
The Whitfield family owns 25 liquor stores across the state.
STEPHANIE
Really.
CATHERINE CAMPBELL
(hopeful)
So you like Hummer Whitfield?
STEPHANIE
Not really.
ROGER CAMPBELL
All right all right, let’s forget about Strummer —
STEPHANIE
Hummer.
ROGER CAMPBELL
Whatever. Due to the A on your Term Paper, we’re going up to The Island this weekend.
Stephanie bounds to her father, gives him a bear hug and a smooch on the cheek.
STEPHANIE
Oh, Daddy thank you! I can’t get enough of the Island!
(uses her affection to squeeze this in:)
Can I bring a friend?
STAY ON Stephanie, anticipating the answer with a broad grin…
STEPHANIE
Thank you!
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DIEDRICH HOUSE – BASEMENT – EARLY EVENING
Helen comes to the basement carrying an arm full of fleshed skins. Carl is sitting at a small table slipping mink hides over drying boards and setting them into the racks.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Marvin says Chuck is a little goofy about that girl.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Just a girl.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Not just a girl. She’s trouble.
STAY ON CARL, feeling a mink hide as if he was massaging his ego, confident and dismissive to his wife.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
You have my ticket?
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
You’re all booked.
Then, still scratching that itch called Stephanie, Helen goes on about Stephanie…
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
He can’t keep up with a girl like that. Lutheran too. Chicago people. Nothing but trouble.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
It’ll pass.
As we hear the distant RING of a telephone coming from upstairs…
CUT TO:
INT. DIEDRICH KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS
Eating a big chunk of forbidden-until-after-dinner chocolate cake, CHUCK is startled by the telephone ring. He answers with a mouthful of cake.
CHUCK (INTO THE PHONE)
(Hello with his mouth full of cake)
Mmmlow?
INT. STEPHANIE’S BEDROOM
CUT TO:
Stephanie ON HER PHONE makes a scrunchy face, as in who is THIS?
STEPHANIE
Um, hello. May I speak with Chuck?
INT. CHUCK’S KITCHEN/STEPHANIE’S BEDROOM
As they talk over the phone. Chuck immediately recognizes her voice and swallows his cake.
CHUCK (PHONE)
Speaking.
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
Hi, Chuck.
Chuck’s so excited he’s ready to climb into the phone wires to find her.
CHUCK (PHONE)
Stephanie! I was just.. eating… some… cake.
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
Sounds delicious.
CHUCK (PHONE)
(re: for talking with his mouth full)
Sorry.
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
How would you like to go up to Washington Island with me and my parents this weekend? We have a house on the lake. They said I could take a friend and anybody who enjoys chocolate cake as much as that is a friend of mine.
Chuck goes into shock. And it’s not from all the sugar in the cake either. It’s her, the vision of his fantasies asking him, he who slaughters little furry animals and smelleth like a sewer pipe.
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
Hello? Are you still there?
CHUCK (PHONE)
YES. I mean yes, I’d like to go.
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
We have a seriously great boat. Do you sail?
CHUCK (PHONE)
Me? oh, oh sure.
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
Have you sailed a 40 footer before?
CHUCK (PHONE)
Woah. Um, well, no, nothing that big.
(then)
To tell the truth the only boat I’ve been on has a couple oars and a seat that gave me splinters.
Stephanie giggles. Then…
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
It’s no sweat, really. You can be captain. You can handle the boom while I handle your rudder.
She has no idea of the double entendre. Chuck, still reeling by the call from heaven doesn’t either.
CHUCK (PHONE)
Well, that sounds great. I do have to ask my folks —
STEPHANIE (PHONE)
— Oh, they’re so nice.
CHUCK (PHONE)
Yeah.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM (PRELAP)
NO.
INT. THE DIEDRICH LIVING ROOM
As Mom turns down Chuck’s request with a little too much gusto. Dad Carl dispassionately reads the paper on the couch.
CHUCK
But why?
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Because your father is taking you with him to New York.
This is news to Chuck’s Dad who rattles his newspaper to get his wife’s attention, but she ignores him.
CHUCK
What if I don’t want to go?
That grabs Dad’s attention. He eases his paper down to his lap. Looks a little sideways at his son.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Now why would you say that?
CHUCK
(amending)
It’s not that I don’t wanna go it’s just that Stephanie invited me up to their house on Washington Island this weekend.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
(with a touch of sarcasm)
Well, I hope you didn’t answer in the affirmative yet —
CHUCK
I told her I had to ask my parents.
(then)
So I’m asking.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
Well, I for one —
Carl holds up his hand to summarily cut off Mom.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
(to Chuck)
You’re a mink farmer. You work hard and you’ve got the touch. It’s about time you saw the money side of our business.
Carl regards Chuck, about as crestfallen as a dead leaf.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
You’ll thank me later. New York is a very special place.
CHUCK
But —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
No, no buts. You’ll have all summer to go to Washington Island with this girl.
CHUCK
(defiant to the last)
Her name is Stephanie.
Oh, Dad doesn’t like being corrected, no not at all and he stares, his eyes like two bullets, aimed at his son’s impudence. Chuck gets it. The talk is over.
CHUCK
(capitulating)
Yes, sir.
HELEN DIEDRICH – MOM
(cheerfully)
You need help packing?
Chuck slowly shakes his head, the look on his face electrified with contempt — for both of them, for his lot in life, for the ten thousand minks waiting to have their fur torn from their flesh — and surrenders towards his room.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MINK FARM – JUST BEFORE DAWN
Chuck exits the house, being sure to gently close the kitchen door. He high tails it to…
INT. MINK FARM – A TOOL SHED – JUST LATER
PITCH BLACK, until CLICK — Chuck has turned on the lights. We’re in a shed nearly the size of a warehouse.
Filled with heavy tools, farm machinery, lumber, oil cans, gas cans and so on.
Chuck looks out a window: The pinkish glow says it’s getting light out. He quickly seeks out what he’s looking for:
A TWELVE-FOOT LONG ALUMINUM POLE, which he carefully extracts from a pile of plumbing pipes.
CUT TO:
EXT. MINK FARM – THE CAGES – JUST LATER
Rows and rows and rows of stacked cages each one harboring a small dark presence, like souls waiting in a wire-latticed purgatory, some sleeping, others leering out at freedom — ten thousand minks in all their captured and kept wonder.
ANGLE ON A ROW OF CAGES
Each with a garden fence-like latch that lifts up to open each pen. Now we see Chuck’s pole as it slides along a row of LATCHES. What? What? He’s about to free a dozen minks at once, when —
MARVIN (O.C.)
How long you think it would take —
MARVIN so thoroughly startles Chuck that he drops the pole.
MARVIN (CONT’D)
— To free all of them?
CHUCK
(with an edge)
I dunno…
MARVIN
Even with your pole there, you couldn’t do it in a day let alone by the time your father gets up.
CHUCK
I wasn’t trying to free all of them. Just…
MARVIN
Enough to make a statement, huh?
Chuck shrugs. Then…
CHUCK
They keep holding me down, controlling me, I feel like I’m in jail.
MARVIN
So if you can’t be free a few dozen mink can, is that it?
CHUCK
Sure, why not?
Marvin picks up the pole. Hands it to Chuck.
MARVIN
So go ahead then, I won’t stop you.
Marvin’s acquiescence temporarily derails Chuck’s ardor. He turns away and into the direction of the rising sun.
CHUCK
Shit.
MARVIN
You’re crazy about this girl aren’t you?
CHUCK
If you blindfolded me I could find my way to her. She could be with anyone. Any one. And she chose me. She likes me for who I am.
MARVIN
And who’s that?
Chuck glares at the pole as if it was an awful idea in aluminum. Pent up, angry, poisoned by a noxious mixture of self-pity and self-contempt, he throws the pole like a javelin down the row the mink pens.
CHUCK
I don’t know…
MARVIN
Yeah, life takes on a lot of different shapes, doesn’t it?
(then)
Well, before you make any statement, maybe you should work on finding out.
The two of them stand in silence while the sherbet ball of the sun tears away from the horizon. Then…
CHUCK
What’re you doing out so early?
MARVIN
Early works for me. I like the dark surrender that happens before the sun gets up there to do its job.
(adding)
It’s very peaceful — usually.
Chuck kind of snorts a little laugh. Then, sobering up:
CHUCK
I don’t know what to do.
MARVIN
I’ll bet.
Marvin puts a comforting hand on Chuck’s shoulder. Then:
MARVIN
You never been on a plane, have you?
CHUCK
No.
MARVIN
Well, for starters, enjoy the ride.
As Marvin strides down the row to fetch the pole…
STAY ON CHUCK, as we…
CUT HARD TO:
INT./EXT. BOEING 747 – DAY
As it ROARS and rips away from the earth, CHUCK plastered back in his seat, as if a giant palm were holding him back.
INT. JFK AIRPORT TERMINAL
Chuck and dad wait for bags at luggage return. QUICK SHOTS of people and things Chuck has never seen in Sheboygan – black people, Hasidic Jews, Hare Krishna hippies and other non- white folks.
EXT. 5TH AVENUE – CENTRAL PARK
A hundred cabs stampede through an intersection going both ways, CHUCK AND HIS DAD, as Carl hails one of the cabs.
EXT. TIMES SQUARE – DAY
Dad walks his son through the throng of tourists, workers, homeless hippies and hookers.
POV CHUCK: That wrap-around news report display cries out in teletype: The Boston Strangler Albert DeSalvo is captured… Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton to wed…Students storm the administration building and stage sit in at the University of California. 800 are arrested...
INT. HOTEL LOBBY
Chuck and dad check into their hotel.
FRONT DESK CLERK
Welcome to New York! Is this your first visit to the Big Apple?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
This is my son’s first visit.
Stranger in a strange land.
FRONT DESK CLERK
You’ll come to love it. But first you have to get used to it.
CHUCK
I never saw so many people. Where do they all live?
FRONT DESK CLERK
(Laughs)
Mostly on top of each other. I will make sure to get you a nice room since its your first visit.
INT. ELEVATOR
Bell hop has their bags.
BELLHOP
What you here for?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Here for the fur auction.
BELLHOP
What kind of fur?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Mink.
BELLHOP
Fancy. You buying or selling.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Most definitely selling.
INT. HOTEL SUITE
Chuck and Dad hurriedly unpack.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
You have a lot to see. Let’s get to the auction house before it gets too late.
INT. ELEVATOR
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
It’s a lot to take in the first time. We work hard all year but this is where we learn what women want.
Chuck looks up dubiously at his father, as…
INT./EXT. TAXI CAB – DAY
They take a Cab to garment district and NY Auction Company.
INT. FRONT LOBBY OF AUCTION HOUSE Carl, at the front desk:
PERSON AT FRONT DESK
Welcome to the auction, Carl.
Bernie’s been looking for you. I’ll let him know you arrived.
Chuck looks around, as they wait. A big busy place. Not fancy. It is both a warehouse and a showroom. Mink hanging in bundles, fur graders at tables, furriers and buyers looking at stock.
BERNIE GREENBERG is in his early 40’s tall, trim, handsome, dark hair, dresses sharp. He is kind, thoughtful and smart. Voice like velvet. A Jewish business man: Shrewd with great insight about people. He’s a good man but nobody’s fool.
BERNIE GREENBERG
Carl, good to see you again. The graders tell me your hides look exceptional as always. This must be your son you said would join you this year?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Chuck, this is Bernie Greenberg. He runs the auction house. Best judge of fur in the world.
CHUCK
Nice to meet you.
BERNIE
Your dad tells me this is your first time to the Big Apple.
CHUCK
Lots of people.
BERNIE
You’re right. But we manage to all get along.
BERNIE
Your dad says you want to be a mink rancher.
CHUCK
I’m learning. He works us like men but he pays us like men.
BERNIE GREENBERG
You ranchers work a lot harder than me. He’s lucky he’s got a bunch of sons to help him out; pretty hard to teach people how to handle mink. Carl, I’ll show Chuck what we do here? We’ll catch up with you later.
INT AUCTION HOUSE MAIN ROOM
Bernie shows Chuck how mink are graded, and bundled for auction. He shows Chuck his dad’s mink. Lots of visual and activity.
BERNIE
We’re auctioning mink tomorrow, but we also auction fox, rabbit, raccoon and other wild and domestic fur. The buyers are from all over the world – Eastern Europe, China, Korea, Japan.
CHUCK
And turn them into garments.
BERNIE
That’s right, coats, jackets, hats, stoles, capes…what ever the ladies want. The garments are sold to furriers or fashion salons.
Bernie guides Chuck to an area of the main Hall of The Auction House where mink from his dad’s ranch are hanging or being graded and bundled.
BERNIE GREENBERG
These are the best ranch dark mink in the world. A remarkable blood line. Doesn’t matter if the fur market are up or down, he always makes money.
CHUCK
I’m not sure what he sees in me.
BERNIE GREENBERG
He sees something special in you. He’d never brought your brothers to NYC. And here you are – that’s special.
BERNIE GREENBERG
I told your dad, we’d meet him at the reception down the street.
INT. FUR FASHION BOUTIQUE NEAR THE AUCTION HOUSE
Late afternoon, a fur and leather fashion boutique near the Auction House. Hosting a wine and cheese reception for the ranchers who will sell mink the next day. A few skinny-as-a- tooth-pick-models wearing various fur garments wander around.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Well Chuck what do you think?
CHUCK
Feels miles from the shit piles.
BERNIE
Well, if I may be so crude; “no shit, Charlie!” It must seem like some parallel universe. You are not in Sheboygan anymore.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Seeing all this will make sense of long days we have back home.
Chuck sees one of eye catching models, who looks stunning, almost artificial in her look. Chuck is not sure what to make of it.
CHUCK
Wow. Look at her!!
Carl nods affirmatively.
BERNIE GREENBERG
Beautiful isn’t she and the coat isn’t so bad either?
CHUCK
What’s a coat like that cost?
BERNIE GREENBERG
About $30,000.
CHUCK
Who can afford that? And why bother?
BERNIE GREENBERG
Like diamonds, or race horses; no one needs a fur coat. But humans like to show off. Mink, diamonds, horses, boats, high fashion are all ways for people to let you know they’re special.
Bernie and Carl get into a side conversation and another model strolls by, winks at young Chuck. There might be a moment here where Chuck actually sees an alien – one of those tall, thin, big eyes beings we often see in Science Fiction.
Carl has a beer. Bernie has red wine.
BERNIE
I had a nice time with your son. He asks lots of questions. Curious about everything.
CARL
He’s a good boy; his mind is packed full. Maybe a little too much going on up there some days.
Bernie and Carl look over to see Chuck talking to the model. Chuck is a good bit shorter than the model; he is standing right up on her and he looks UP at her. Earnest and asking questions.
BERNIE
See that? He’s interviewing her. Doesn’t back away. I love that.
Then they pause to look around – silent; taking it in.
BERNIE
I know you put God and faith on the top shelf. I get it. I grew up in the synagogue, learned my prayers. My dad always made it clear, that God and education came before money. But with God and good education, you do things – you can make money.
CARL
Your dad got it right. It’s not easy, but it is simple.
BERNIE
Chuck could take this beautiful thing you’ve created, and help you grow it. You’ve see what the Fromme and MacArthur Families have done? They used the money made from mink to diversify – real estate, animal feed, silver fox, banks, even ginseng. Those boys are printing money.
CARL
Flashy guys. Nice enough people. Big City types.
BERNIE
Won’t argue with you on that.
I’m just saying you got plenty of hustle and pride; you raise great mink. Your bundle price average are sky high; even during this down market. You always make money. But you’re still a one-horse show.
I think I can help you teach Chuck
to think bigger while he’s just a kid. He learns it now, it stays in his head. Show him how creative, challenging, and lucrative this could all be. But in your style; with your values. You not Cadillac guy, your all quality.
CARL
I have dreams. I’m just not sure how to get there.
BERNIE
Well, you’re doing pretty great!
You started with bringing Chuck out here.
CUT TO:
INT. FUR FASHION BOUTIQUE – NEAR THE RUN WAY
Chuck gazes up at THE MODEL, who in heels has to be six feet and counting.
CHUCK
Excuse me, can I ask you a dumb question?
MODEL
Sure.
CHUCK
I’ve never seen something like you before. If you showed up looking like you do we’d think you were an alien visitor from a far off planet.
MODEL
Planet New York City?
CHUCK
(laughs at the truth of her comment)
Yes, that’s right!
MODEL
It’s a crazy world. I’m from Toledo, Ohio. My friends call me their fashion alien; but its good living – being a fashion alien – looking lovely is lovely. Don’t you think?
CHUCK
Wearing that coat? Does it make you feel different – better?
MODEL
I guess it does. Do you like how I look in it?
CHUCK
I think I do. I mean, my relationship to mink fur is when the mink are living and not dead.
MODEL
(Smiling at this paradox)
How do you like them best — living or dead?
CHUCK
No question about it, dead.
MODEL
Well then I am in luck!
INT./EXT CAB – LATE AFTERNOON
Chuck is still stricken by the vision of the model while his father looks in judgement out the cab window at a city trying to measure up to him but he won’t allow it. Harrumph!
CHUCK
Those were the tallest women I have ever seen. Not of this world!
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
High fashion. Auctions are a time to learn. You’re learning. And yes, some of it is a little out of this world weird too.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Bernie’s a great guy. Really knows the business.
CHUCK
Seems a little slippery to me. Like too cool and smooth for school.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Never judge people by what they look like. There are plenty of people better off then we are who choose to dress like bums, drive beat-up trucks, and live in ordinary homes. Appearances don’t matter! What matters is what people have in their heart, their head, and in the bank. Its called German poor. Bernie is a great man and a good man.
CHUCK
(blowing his dad off)
Got it, dad.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
It’s exciting. We’re here to learn.
And you will too.
(then)
Tomorrow’s the big day – pay day.
INT. HOTEL SUITE – CENTRAL ROOM – LATE AFTERNOON
Chuck, wet hair slicked back, in a bathrobe. He’s just showered.
Furtively listens to his father in the bathroom; waits to hear the shower running. There it goes: The whoosh of water, telling Chuck he’s got a few minutes to do something that’s been eating at him since they arrived.
Chuck hurries to the phone. Dials a number. Gets an operator’s taped message:
OPERATOR
The number you called cannot be completed as dialed. Please hang up and try again.
Chuck SLAPS down the dial tone plunger. Rapidly dials again. Same thing:
OPERATOR
The number you called cannot be completed as dialed. Please hang up and try again.
CHUCK (to himself)
Shit.
He dials the hotel operator:
CHUCK
Uh, hello. I keep trying to dial a number and it —
(listens, then)
— I have to dial 9 first? Thank you.
Chuck hurries to bathroom door. Listens. Hears his father singing in the shower. Rolls his eyes, then sprints back to phone. Dials 9 first, then the number.
CUT TO:
INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE – LIVING ROOM
The Campbell’s housekeeper, NETTY (female, black, 55, antebellum vibe) answers the phone:
NETTY
Campbell residence.
INT. NETTY/CHUCK PHONE CALL
Nervous as hunting dog, Chuck’s voice quivers in the phone:
CHUCK (PHONE)
Yes, hello, is Stephanie there?
NETTY (PHONE)
May I ask who’s calling?
CHUCK (PHONE)
Chuck Diedrich.
NETTY (PHONE)
Oh, yes, the Beaver farmer boy.
CHUCK (PHONE)
Mink. Mink farming.
NETTY (PHONE)
Pardon me. Ooh La La, Mink.
Stephanie is up at the Cottage with a friend.
CHUCK (PHONE)
(uh-oh!)
A friend?
NETTY (PHONE)
(getting impatient)
She’s with her folks and the Whitfield boy, uh —
CHUCK (PHONE)
(hard as hammers)
— Hummer.
NETTY (PHONE)
Hummer, that’s right. P.S. That there is silly name, you ask me. I can give you the cottage number, if you want to —
CLICK. Chuck hangs up.
NETTY (PHONE)
Hello?
Netty shrugs, hangs up.
STAY WITH CHUCK: He has the look on his face that condemned men have when the priest walks in.
But inconsolable sadness quickly devolves in anger as he GLARES at the bathroom door.
INT. HOTEL SUITE – BEDROOM – LATER
Dad Carl puts his wrist watch on. Checks his suit in the mirror: all good. FOLLOW him out into…
THE LIVING ROOM
Where Carl finds his son, sitting on the couch in his bathrobe and staring at the TV — which is off.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
What are you doing? Why aren’t you dressed, it’s time to go.
CHUCK
I’m.. not ready.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Well I can see that. What’s the matter? Are you sick?
CHUCK
No. I’m… I dunno, I miss home.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
We’ve only been gone a day-and-a-half.
CHUCK
It feels longer.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
(sighs, then…)
There is a telephone. You can call —
CHUCK
(interrupting)
— No, no phone. That’ll only make it worse.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Are you going to get dressed or just sit there?
Chuck shoots a defiant look at his father. He’d need a crowbar to get him up as they lock eyes. Dad finally breaks off.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Okay. You sit there and feel sorry for yourself.
They both speak at once:
CHUCK
I’m not feeling sorry for myself.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I’m going to dinner.
CHUCK
I’ve just had enough of crowds, I need some time, you know, alone.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I don’t think you’re taking this whole trip very seriously —
CHUCK
Maybe if I had a choice.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
A choice? A choice? And what would you have done? Gone off with that little rich girl and played along? We’re not like them, we earned our money we didn’t inherit it!
Chuck gets up to go to his room —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Where are you going?
CHUCK
To my room —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Sit down.
Chuck tentatively obeys.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
So you’d rather mope in here than learn something valuable about our business. Maybe you don’t even want to be a mink farmer. Is that it?
Their eyes meet. Then Carl discovers the unspoken truth in Chuck’s deep reproachful sigh.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I see. Maybe you want to be a race car driver or a fighter pilot, is that it? Well, you’re 13 years old.
(startles Chuck)
WAKE UP.
Chuck, supremely intimidated, capitulates.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Let me tell you something. Whatever you do? No matter how successful you are? You’ll never equal what I’ve done. Because I started with nothing. Nothing.
Chuck lets what his father said sink in. Then, with some reluctance…
CHUCK
I’ll go get dressed.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Oh, now you want to go?
CHUCK
Dad, I’m sorry, I just —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
— You want to be alone? Greta Garbo?
CHUCK
(emasculated)
What?
We’ve never seen Carl mad before. And he’s mad — or acting out to make his point. As he snatches up his hat —
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Then be alone. I’m going to dinner, to be with my friends, people who are like me. Think about that.
At the door now:
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I’ll be back by Ten. And if you set one foot out of this suite, you’ll be up for auction.
Dad booms through the door. Doesn’t slam it but shuts it hard behind himself as if to say he’s about had it with the tug of war between his way and that of his son.
STAY ON CHUCK, who stares into a plan…
CUT TO:
INT HOTEL LOBBY – LATER
An elevator opens on…
CHUCK
In his sport jacket and tie, hair combed for church or something. He steps out of the elevator, looks to his right:
He sees the cavernous entrance to the hotel’s restaurant, CAFE SELECT, where his father is probably dipping his way through his shrimp cocktail.
He looks to his left, where New York City roars in a blur of people and cars, like a loud prayer to indulgence. Chuck makes a split decision, right then and there…
CUT TO:
EXT. STREETS OF MANHATTAN – EVENING
CHUCK walks down the street looking at people, and into shop windows. He stops at a fruit stand and buys an apple and a banana. He continues down the street mesmerized by the sights and sounds.
He stops to gaze into a Jewelry Store (Luxury Items).
Chuck turns to encounter two young men in jeans, hoodies, sun glasses.
NYC STRANGER 1
Bro, can you tell us how to get to the Lexington Subway?
CHUCK
No, I’m not from here.
NYC STRANGER 1
Where you from?
CHUCK
… Wisconsin. Sheboygan.
NYC STRANGER 1
She-boy-gan.
(laughs)
Waddo you, got a lot of chicks with dicks there?
CHUCK
(doesn’t get it)
What?
NYC STRANGER 2
You dressed up for church or something? You got something in your wallet to help the needy?
The two strangers inch in on Chuck, pressing him between each other. Chuck is scared and senses something bad is up; not knowing what to do, he darts from between them and runs his ass off. The two strangers pursue him.
STRANGER 1
Hey you little shit, get your boney ass back here!
Chuck throws both the apple and banana at the two strangers. Kind of pointless, but he is doing what he needs to do all the while he keeps running. The strangers gain on Chuck.
EXT. BLUE NOTE CLUB
It is late afternoon, the Maitre’d and/or club manager are outside the club as a few musicians are arriving. Chuck sees them ahead of him and races toward them. The two strangers are at his back, he turns and runs into the club.
STRANGER 2
Come here you little cracker piece of shit. Give me my wallet back!!
Stranger 1 looks at Maitre’d.
STRANGER 1
He’s a thief. He a fucking little thief dressed up like Sunday School.
Standing between the two strangers (who are just outside at the entrance) and Chuck who is just inside the front door is a 40’ish DIZZY GILLESPIE. Dizzy turns and looks at Stranger 1 and Stranger 2 and then to Chuck.
DIZZY
Are you a thief dressed up like Sunday School?
CHUCK
(stuttering a little)
No sir. No sir. I was just looking at stuff in the windows. And….
Dizzy and Maitre’d now walk toward the two strangers.
DIZZY
You two best be running along.
Dizzy gestures to Maitre’d who moves toward the strangers.
MAITRE D’
Get moving. Now.
The two strangers skulk off. Dizzy and the Maitre’d turn to Chuck who just flew in their doors.
INT. BLUE NOTE CLUB – JUST LATER
Chuck surveys the club. Tables are thisclose together. A stage with a blue velvet curtain. Spotlights.
DIZZY
How you doing, son?
Chuck is stunned, scared, and at a loss for words. This is a different world. Tears of fear are in his eyes.
CHUCK
Thank you. I-i-i didn’t know what to do. So I ran.
DIZZY
That was smart. You’re safe. All good people here. So, who is my pleasure to be talking to?
CHUCK
My name is Chuck Diedrich.
DIZZY
Well Chuck, can I buy you a soda?
CHUCK
Yes, sir, I’d appreciate a soda.
DIZZY
You can call me Dizzy. Let’s sit down over here and say hello to each other.
They both sit down at a table in the empty restaurant.
DIZZY
Where you from; what’s your story, Chuck?
CHUCK
I flew in this morning with my dad. We’re from Wisconsin. We’re farmers.
DIZZY
Sure I know Wisconsin. I’ve been to Milwaukee a few times. Where’s your farm?
CHUCK
About an hour north of Milwaukee.
The Maitre’d sets down a soda for Chuck and a cup of coffee for Dizzy.
DIZZY
Cheese, cows and the Green Bay Packers. In’t that what Wisconsin is all about?
CHUCK
And mink.
DIZZY
Mink?
CHUCK
Yes, sir. Lots of mink.
DIZZY
Like in Mink Coat?
CHUCK
Yes, sir Mr. Dizzy.
DIZZY
Just Dizzy, kid.
CHUCK
Dizzy. We raise about 10,000 mink a year. I mean, my dad does.
DIZZY
You raise 10,000 mink? For mink coats? Wow. Well, Chuck, you’re a first for me. I wouldn’t know a mink from a black cat.
CHUCK
We’re here for the fur auction. My first time outside of Wisconsin, first time on a plane, first time to New York City. First time in a hotel.
DIZZY
First time almost being mugged. That’s a big list of firsts. You’re pack’em in, son.
CHUCK
My dad thinks I got what it takes to be a mink farmer. I’m the first son he’s ever brought to New York for the auction. Not sure what he sees in me.
DIZZY
Well, I just met you and I can see you’re a good kid. That’s plain as day.
As Dizzy looks over his coffee cup at Chuck…
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT
Carl Ries and Bernie Greenberg in a banquet booth:
BERNIE GREENBERG
Where is the Prince of Hides?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
He wanted to stay in. Said it was a long day. Pretty sure he is stressing about a girl.
BERNIE GREENBERG
Get him to New York for a month.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
Shit!
BERNIE GREENBERG
He won’t listen to you. Send him to me.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
I’ll send him to god damn Military Academy or better the Jesuit Boarding school – those Jesuits know how to turn boys into men.
BERNIE GREENBERG
Slow down. Sure let’s put the fear of God into him too! After a month in The City all he will think about is Mink and making money in the Fur Business.
BERNIE GREENBERG
I talked to Mike Schmidt who’s in the auction tomorrow. You know how he got his boys into business?
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
He hired you to brainwash them?
BERNIE GREENBERG
Not quite; my services are only for good friends.
BERNIE GREENBERG
He gave them ten females when they were in eighth grade. Told them, “You treat these girls nice and they will be nice to you.”
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
How’d they do?
BERNIE GREENBERG
First year they each sold 50 hides at a $52 average – $2,500 gross. That got their attention. Eighth graders! Just like Chuck. Make sure he goes to mass on Sunday or everyday for that matter, but show him the money. He’ll be shoveling shit with a little more oomph!!!
Bernie laughs, puts his hand on Carl’s shoulder and gets Carl to exhale and laugh as well.
BERNIE GREENBERG
Mike’s boys started to focus more on their school work too. It motivated them. Chuck needs to see the connections.
CARL DIEDRICH – DAD
He’s not headed to the seminary from what I can tell.
(Points to his head)
He seems to be lost in life up here.
BERNIE GREENBERG
A month in New York City will give him a lot to think about. Let me do this for you. He will never find his way in life if we don’t open the door.
As Carl chews a piece of steak and thinks on this…
CUT BACK TO:
INT. BLUE NOTE CLUB
Dizzy and Chuck continue their talk.
CHUCK
What do you do?
DIZZY
I play jazz. You know what that is?
CHUCK
No sir.
DIZZY
It’s a special kind of music. Off beat, beautiful. Lotta making up as you play. Sometimes I think the music plays me and I’m just letting it fall out. Kind of like from God’s lips to my horn. I love it and it loves me back.
CHUCK
How did you know you loved it? How did it find you?
DIZZY
How come a young fellow like you is on fire with all that? Those are big man questions.
CHUCK
Maybe, yeah. But I don’t know if I want to be like my dad.
DIZZY
I see. You don’t love it and it don’t love you back. So what do you love, Chuck?
CHUCK
Her name is Stephanie…
(with a frown)
Her parents are rich.
DIZZY
Ah ha. You got a little Romeo and Juliet thing going.
CHUCK
Is that a jazz song?
DIZZY
Shakespeare. Your dad know you’re out and about?
Chuck shakes his head.
CHUCK
My dad is at dinner.
DIZZY
I see. Lost your appetite on a cause a pretty Stephanie.
CHUCK
Some days I feel like I’m going to explode. Like there’s this crazy person trapped inside of me.
DIZZY
I know how you feel. Like you are two people. One that your folks want you to be and one who you want to be. Maybe a little of both.
CHUCK
I think I don’t wanna be both. I want to be good at something and love it. Like you love your jazz.
DIZZY
So mink is a plink.
CHUCK
A plink?
DIZZY
A note in music that doesn’t sound right.
CHUCK
I don’t want to be a mink farmer.
But it seems that’s what I’ll be.
DIZZY
Nothing wrong with being a farmer, but you want to be you, too.
CHUCK
I don’t know who that is I get all knotted up in my head and I can’t even speak right sometimes. I sound like an idiot.
DIZZY
When you love something, you just know it. You might love it in a kind of quiet way at first, but if it grows and grows, then you just have to chase it. Because its kind of chasing you too. If you do, and if it’s true, it will love you back.
CHUCK
So, I’ll just know.
DIZZY
That’s right.
CHUCK
Sounds so simple.
DIZZY
In a complicated way. There is something you love, and there is something loving you back. When you find that; well you just got to jump!
CHUCK
(re: the muggers)
Um, thanks for chasing those guys off.
DIZZY
You made my day, Chuck from Wisconsin.
CHUCK
I still don’t know exactly what you do. But I like talking to you.
Dizzy reaches into his pocket puts a mouth piece to his lips and lets it toot. He then hands it to Chuck.
DIZZY
Give it a try; see if you can make it talk back.
Chuck takes the mouth piece, puts it to his lips and blows. He manages to make an audible toot.
DIZZY
Mmmm….not bad. That’s not so easy to do the first time. Maybe if you keep trying, it will start talking back to you; saying things just fall from your lips and land in hearts.
Chuck tries to hand the mouth piece back to Dizzy.
DIZZY
That’s for you…when you get a little older and you see my name, you just come to the where I’m playing and you tell them Chuck The Mink Farmer is here. I’ll make sure you sit right up front.
Now ROCK, a husky, well-dressed white man in a skull cap and in a hurry approaches.
DIZZY
Chuck, meet my bass player, Rock. Rock, this is Chuck from Wisconsin.
ROCK
Yo, Chuck what’s the word.
(then, to Dizzy)
Quarter to, Dizz, we’re up in fifteen.
Chuck suddenly panics.
CHUCK
Quarter to what?
(checks his watch and answers himself)
TEN!? Holy shit, I gotta be back before my father knows I’m gone!
Dizzy sees the fear crackle in Chuck’s eyes and immediately understands as…
EXT. JAZZ CLUB – A LINE OF TAXIS – SECONDS LATER
IDLING at the curb. Dizzy packs Chuck in the back of the first cab in line, then hands paper money shaped in a v between his fingers to the cabbie and orders him —
DIZZY
You get my boy over to the Morgans before Ten pronto, you know what I’m sayin?
HENRY
I’m there, Dizz.
Chuck tries to wave but — eeeeeeeerrrr! — gets thrown back against the seat as the driver squeals off.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGANS HOTEL – RESTAURANT
While that whisper of canned pop evening music lilts through the Restaurant like a herd of sheep, at their booth, Carl and Bernie get a country load of their WAITRESS as she sidles up to warm their coffee.
WAITRESS
Had a look at the dessert menu?
BERNIE
Ooof. I want to but I’m stuffed.
Carl?
CARL
I’ll have a wedge of that Key Lime Pie I had last time I was here.
WAITRESS
Good choice!
CUT BACK TO:
EXT. 10TH AVENUE – CHUCK’S CAB
Slaloms through the traffic at twice the speed posted, Chuck amazed by the cabbie’s skill. Chuck flinches when the cab veers so close to a bus he couldn’t spit between them, the cabbie calm and zenned out as if he’s meditating on the pavement they eat up speeding through The Village and…
CUT BACK TO:
INT. THE MORGANS HOTEL RESTAURANT
As the waitress strides empty-handed back to Carl and Bernie’s booth.
WAITRESS
I’m sorry, Mr. Diedrich, we’re all out of the key lime.
CARL
(self-consciously)
Oh.
CUT TO:
INT./EXT. CHUCK’S CAB
ERRRRRRRR! Chuck’s cabdriver has to stand on the breaks to avoid rear-ending a handsome cab, it’s sullen horses wagging their tails, as..
CUT BACK TO:
INT. RESTAURANT
CARL’S WAITRESS
Uncrossing her legs as she stands there:
WAITRESS
Can I get you something else? The volcano chocolate cake is really good.
Carl quickly peruses the dessert menu, as…
CUT TO:
CHUCK’S CAB
Takes the corner of 5th Avenue and 10th Street as close to on two wheels as Gravity allows without breaking stride, Chuck peaking out the back window as if his soul ran alongside the roaring taxi until…
CUT BACK TO:
CARL AND BERNIE
Stand on their full bellies and shake hands good-night.
BERNIE
And be sure to talk some sense into that boy’s head, Carl. You’ll see, he’ll come around —
As we…
CUT TO:
CHUCK’S CAB
Screeeching to a landing in front of The Morgan’s Hotel like a yellow rocket ship. As the driver runs around to let Chuck out, he checks his watch.
CABBIE
You made it for the bedtime story, kid, Ha ha.
CHUCK
(hurrying from the cab)
Thanks, Mister.
As the cabbie waves and tears off…
CUT TO:
CHARLES DIEDRICH
IN THE MEN’S ROOM of THE LOBBY, as he meditatively takes a piss in the alabaster urinal. Zips up.
CUT TO:
CHUCK, ENTERING THE LOBBY
Checks the hall to the restaurant. Coast is clear. Skitters across to the elevator, when he spots HIS FATHER, buying a newspaper. Chuck dashes around a corner. Waits there. Listens. Hears the DING of the elevator. Peaks. OHMYGOD, he sees the silhouette of his father enter the elevator.
The doors close. He spots the stairs. Tears up them two at a time, to the third floor only to see from the stairwell…
His father stride out onto the third floor. Chuck ducks down the stairs, wonders what the fuck he’s going to say, waits to hear the door open when, well, he doesn’t. Then he hears…
KNOCK KNOCK. His father is actually knocking on their door! Now his father whispers into the door so as not to wake the other hotel occupants on the floor:
CARL
Chuck?
(KNOCKS again)
Chuck, it’s me, I left my key somewhere. Chuck?
(KNOCK KNOCK)
CHUCK?
Carl finally gives up. Hurries for the elevator. Knowing he’s gone, Chuck scampers to the door, opens it with his key, then closes it behind him, as we…
CUT TO:
INT. THE LOBBY – MAIN DESK- CHECK IN
As Carl approaches the main desk he’s intercepted by THE WAITRESS, who smiles and shows him what he inadvertently left behind at his table and calls to him…
WAITRESS
(joke)
Mr. Diedrich! Well, we were out of lime but we have your key.
As Carl, with an appreciative grin, takes his key, looks at it bashfully, then…
EXT. THIRD FLOOR – JUST LATER
Carl opens the door to his suite. Walks through the dark and FLIP! Slips on Chuck’s shoe (hastily removed by Chuck as he scurried to get into bed).
Carl catches himself before he falls; picks up the shoe with some irritation (he’d horsewhip his boy if he really knew what happened) an irritation that slowly dissolves as Carl approaches…
His son’s room. Dark. He sees the lump of his son’s figure, asleep (through not really asleep, just faking — and dressed under the covers).
Something catches Carl’s eye, the moonlight reflecting off of something shiny, or rather brassy. It’s coming from Chuck’s sport coat, strewn on the floor.
Carl moves closer to see the object, half-out of the sport coat pocket. Carl bends down and retrieves…
THE MOUTH PIECE
Dizzy gave to Chuck, the mouth piece exposed in the moonlight like a glowing phallus, rigid and brilliantly obscene to the father who plays no music, who sits down in an easy chair in his son’s room and waits for tomorrow to come…
GO TO BLACK.
END OF EPISODE TWO
