The weather forecast was right on the mark today. The rain was predicted to stop from one to two PM. I set up the floating book shop at 12:45. Like yesterday, I didn't expect any business. Then Kofi came along. He buys from me once or twice a year. He picked out Everyday Acts and Small Subversions by Anndee Hochman, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, the City by the Sea DVD, starring Robert DeNiro, and, most surprising of all, Jethro Tull's Benefit CD, their third album. I imagine Tull's fan base is 99% white, so I assumed Kofi was just doing me a favor, then he started singing Living in the Past, which is from a later disc. Thank you, sir, and also to OWS Jack, who entertained me with one of his rants. Born in Israel, an Ashkenazi Jew, he has completely turned on that country and faith, siding with the Palestians. He believes religion is the source of most of the world's problems and does an ach-poo at the mention of Biblical figures. He seems to know a lot of the history of the middle east, but I have no way of knowing how accurate his points are. It's just a trip to see him go off.
I haven't heard anything particularly interesting in the news today, so it's time for an excerpt, this one from All Hallows, a screenplay. In it, five nuts escape an asylum and wreak havoc on a small town. It's sheer entertainment, available as a Kindle for one buck, link below. The excerpt is about a five-minute read:
Part 28: Lover's lane. Angel, .45 at the ready, is squatting beside Rob's car, providing as little target as possible. Richards calls from the woods.
Richards, imitating Ricky Ricardo: Yoo-hoo, Lucy.
She scans with her eyes, remaining perfectly still.
Richards: Smart girl. Knows she'd be a dead duck if she turned on the flashlight.
She does not respond.
Richards:
Not speaking to me, mommy? I'm hurt.
She remains silent. There is a pregnant pause.
Richards: You are precious. I always wanted a woman like you, a real fighter. Gives a man such a sense of accomplishment.
She purses her lips, fighting the urge to respond..
Richards: You're from New York, aren't you? Let me guess - you ran away to the sticks to forget your ugly past?
This jolts Angel, who bites her lower lip. A siren is heard in the distance.
Richards:
Oh, well, maybe some other time, mommy. I have a feeling we'll meet again. Until then, accept this as a gift on the day of my independence.
The sound of the tape being pulled from Wally's mouth is heard. Wally cries out.
Wally: Angel!
She rises and shines the flashlight on the woods. She cannot spot them. A shot is fired. She sees the flash.
Angel: No!
Richards laughs. Angel sobs, falling back against the car. The Sheriff's car speeds onto
the scene. He races toward Angel, gun drawn. She is seated on the ground, weeping.
Angel: He killed Wally.
The Sheriff's eyes contract.
Sheriff: Where?
Angel: There.
She nods in the direction. He races into the woods. Angel rises, wiping tears. The Sheriff calls out to her.
Sheriff : He's alive! Angel, he's alive. Get an ambulance. You hear me?
Stunned, she fumbles for the phone.
Sheriff: Angel?
Angel: Got it.
In the woods, the Sheriff has cut the tape that bound Wally. Wally's scalp is seared and
bloodied. The Sheriff pulls him to his feet and helps him walk. As they exit the woods,
Angel rushes toward Wally, throws her arms around him and kisses him. Wally is dazed.
Wally: It's just a scratch, Mom. Why's the phone so loud? What? I can't bear you.
Sheriff: Easy, partner.
Angel: No ambulances available.
Sheriff: Naturally.
The Sheriff leans Wally against the car. Suddenly Angel is fuming, pacing.
Angel: That creep. He took me apart. He had me sized up in a few minutes.
Sheriff: Easy, cowgirl. You did great. You saved three lives.
She is stunned by the realization. Suddenly Rob and Laura stamp their feet in
frustration. The Sheriff moves to free them. Angel races toward the woods, gun and
flashlight in hand.
Sheriff: Get back here! Angel! Dammit.
He cannot leave the others. He races to his car. Rob and Laura protest, stamping their
feet. Wally topples to the ground. The Sheriff picks up the radio microphone.
Sheriff: “Beautiful?”
Doris: Is everybody all right?
Sheriff: Everybody is crazy. FBI make it?
Doris: No.
Sheriff: Where the hell are they?
Doris: How should I know? Why're you yellin' at me?
Sheriff: I wasn't yellin' at you. It was a rhet'....
Doris: A what?
Sheriff: Never mind.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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