Boonville

Episode 1

Scene 1

FADE IN:

INT. GROCERY STORE. DAY

We are looking at a checkout counter with a chipped Formica top. Faint country music plays in the background, mixed with indistinct voices. A bloody slab of steak wrapped in plastic and Styrofoam drops into view. Blood splatters around inside the wrapper. Another steak is dropped on top.

Camera zooms out as another, and another, and another. A woman is unloading meat from an overflowing basket. She is TEAL. Once she was beautiful, but that was years ago. The CHECK OUT CLERK watches without saying anything.

Zoom out to reveal DANNY stocking shelves. Danny is a young woman. Her work clothes are dirty. She watches Teal, shaking her head. DANNY empties her basket of assorted chicken parts into the appropriate displays.

Follow DANNY to the back of the store where an older man is making pizza. He is TRAVIS. He is grizzled, no hint remains of the innocent boy.

Above Travis’s head is a white sign with red letters. “BOONVILLE MARKET: PIZZA & SUBS.” A menu is below.

DANNY leans on the counter. TRAVIS is saucing a pizza.

TRAVIS: Hey Danny.

DANNY: Can I get a soda, Travis?

TRAVIS: You can get it yourself.

DANNY: Randy doesn’t want me behind the pizza counter anymore. He says all I do is stand back here and drink soda.

TRAVIS sprinkles cheese on the pizza.

TRAVIS: But it’s okay if I give you the soda?

DANNY: Randy hasn’t complained about that yet.

TRAVIS puts a pizza in the oven.

TRAVIS: Well I’m busy, and Randy’s in back, so get it yourself. Say I gave it to you.

DANNY goes behind counter, pours herself a cup from soda fountain.

RANDY bursts through doors from the back room. He is a tall, middle-aged man, overweight, but with plenty of muscle beneath.

DANNY drops her cup and jumps from behind pizza counter. RANDY is not paying attention.

RANDY: Did she do it again?!

RANDY looks around, sees Danny.

RANDY: Danny, get over here and give me a hand. Do I pay you to do anything but sit around and drink soda all day?

Continued tomorrow