St. Vincent

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

A bedroom stuck in the 1970’s. Felt wallpaper, cigarette

smoke stains, thick dust. Pictures everywhere of a MAN

(VINCENT) and a WOMAN (SANDY) in love. They couldn’t

look happier. Young, full of life.

On the bed, an African American woman, CHARISSE, rides on

top of someone we’ll soon meet. Charisse is lost in her

30s, rough, tattooed, too much makeup, and somewhere

underneath it all...beautiful. Furthermore, she’s

pregnant. Who knows how long, she’s so damn skinny.

Grinding away.

CHARISSE:

You eat breakfast yet?

She’s talking to VINCENT (mostly VIN.) Whom she’s

riding. He’s the guy from the pictures, although now in

his 60s/70s. Beat-to-hell, raw, irreverent. He gave up

on life years ago.

VINCENT:

(puffing a cigarette)

You didn’t eat?

CHARISSE:

I forgot.

VINCENT:

How do you forget to eat?

CHARISSE:

It happens.

Vincent returns his gaze to...the TV on top of his

dresser. An old Abbott & Costello movie is playing.

Charisse adjusts herself, continues grinding on Vincent.

Then...

VINCENT:

You want go to breakfast?

Sure.

INT. NAT’S DINER - LATER

A greasy spoon. Vincent and Charisse are in a booth

eating breakfast. Charisse is scarfing down Huevos

Rancheros, like she hasn’t eaten in days.

VINCENT:

I get reflux just looking at you.

2.

CHARISSE:

Can get a pill for that.

VINCENT:

Bastards have a pill for

everything. That’s a fact, lady.

Killing us all, ten milligrams at a

time.

Vincent sifts through his pill pouch. Pulls out a dozen

or so...the day’s dose.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

Where’s the water? Didn’t I ask

for water?

CHARISSE:

Ask ‘em again.

VINCENT:

Coming here twenty years, still

can’t get their sh*t together.

Calling off to a Mexican server (JESUS.)

VINCENT (CONT’D)

Jesus. Aqua. Pills.

Jesus smiles, nods.

CHARISSE:

I ain’t never takin’ me that many

pills.

VINCENT:

Just crack and meth. That’s a

better plan.

CHARISSE:

F*** you, Vin. Stay off my sh*t.

She reaches across the table for his toast.

CHARISSE (CONT’D)

You wan’ your toast.

Jesus returns with a glass of water. Lots of ice.

JESUS:

Here you go, Mr. Vincent.

VINCENT:

Can you put more ice in it? I want

to make sure I choke while I’m

swallowing my poison.

Jesus is confused.

CHARISSE:

He don’t wan’ no ice.

3.

JESUS:

Oh. Si.

VINCENT:

Yeah. Oh, si. Just like everyday

I come in here. Water no ice.

No one really knows what to say. They’ve heard it all

before. Daily.

JESUS:

Uno momento, Mr. Vincent.

Jesus walks off, nonplussed.

VINCENT:

Uno momento. That’s all they say

around here.

Vin takes a pill, swallows.

VINCENT (CONT’D)

What did Jesus say to the Mexicans

before he left?

CHARISSE:

Don’ know.

VINCENT:

Don’t do anything till I get back.

Charisse doesn’t laugh.

CHARISSE:

Talking for Jesus ain’t right.

VINCENT:

Really. From you?

Vin takes another pill. Swallows.

EXT. A BANK - DAY - LATER

Standard bank. Vin’s car’s parked outside. A Dodge

Duster in crap shape.

INT. THE BANK - CONTINUOUS

Vin’s sitting across from a mortgage counselor, TERRY.

He’s reviewing paperwork.

VINCENT:

(pointing)

That one there. Says the line’s

been frozen.

Terry shuffles.

4.

TERRY:

Uh-huh. Got it. Yes. Let’s

see...so...with these reverse

mortgages you can only borrow a

percentage of the equity you have

in the house. That’s called the

loan-to-value.

VINCENT:

Don’t need a financial seminar. I

own the damn thing outright. 40

years.

TERRY:

Yes. Yes. Well...you did. But

now, since you’ve been getting

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