Two Psychopaths in a Cadillac

Two Men discover they both have their own kill list and decide that to help fill each other's lists

The Following is a half baked chance at a first draft:

Open on:A picture of Jesus looking serenly out while his chest and bleeding heart is opened to the world.

Opening in The Clifton house

The meeting room is at the top floor of the house.  The basement is filled with second hand clothes, concrete floor and limestone walls.  One picture of Jesus touching his heart.  The heart shows a bloody dark red muscle wrapped in thorns yet Jesus looks serenely at the watcher.  Moving up the thin, wooden, and rotting steps.  The main floor is made of a card table in the dining room a couch and sofa in the living room.  An old Tv, a heavy box of a thing.  Color fading and hollow sounding stays silent always on the fox news loop.  In the kitchen, two old restraint style coffee pots are on constant percolation.  Coffee cups outnumber plates and bowls.  The walls are tall and the hallways are tall and the hallways are small.  There are two stairways, one in the kitchen and one at the front door.  Both sets are uneven and tall.(you better be sober to try and walk up them) the top floor is the main attraction.  The AA meeting room of THE CLIFTON HOUSE has a bare wooden floor well used, but not too dirty.  The chairs are a mixture of old seats.  Some are just plastic, hard seats of brown or orange, some have leather pads, some have cloth pads.  They all face one way.  A table and chair on a platform.  On the desk is a gavel with no handle, a wicker basket, a plastic container with small pencils, a cup also sits next to a Winnie the pooh mug with pens sticking out of it.  The desk itself is an old beatup desk, heavy and lime green.  The walls are uneven due to the roof.  Four lights keep the room evenly lit.  The walls are covered with pictures of people who maintained sobriety and were constant fixtures at the Clifton House.  They died sober and happy.  Also on the walls are hand prints of all colors, slogans are painted such as “let go and let God”, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Also on the walls are the twelve steps and the twelve traditions.  Also the house rules, these are behind the desk on either side.  The middle is a poster of Bill W.  A splash of red paint(very tiny) under his left eye.  On the opposite wall are books, teachings and guides to the AA way of life.  Footsteps on the stairs, a small man opens the door, and this man walks across the room.  His gait is bowlegged, his jeans are oversized.  He walks over to the books and one by one begins placing a blue book on each chair. The old man sits down at the desk facing the chairs. One by one men and very little women fill the room.  Some mill around the room shaking hands and chatting.  The last one to arrive is Mark.  He walks into the room and sits down in the middle chair in the front row.  People sit down as the old man at the desk bangs the gavel.

[Dialogue]

Steve King

Welcome to the Five O’ Clock Step three meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, I’m Steve.

          MARK,All

          Hi Steve

As the meeting progresses the next shot begins over Steve’s head.  And slowly the shot pushes forward on MARK

Steve

Let’s begin as always. With the Serenity Prayer God….

mark,steve,all

God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

During the Prayer Mark repeats the mantra, keeping his eyes at the carpet just under STEVE’S DESK.  After the prayer he opens up his own TATTERED BLUE BOOK and begins doodling in it.

Steve

Good afternoon.  Normally I read a passage from the blue book.  Today I just want to talk about how step three affects me.  You know, for the longest time, I fought step three.  How could I “Let go and let God” How could he possibly know? I spent my first three years right in those seats, angry.  I didn’t know I was angry, but it was in every action I did outside those doors.  I was angry.  I wasn’t lashing out physically but verbally I was lashing out at people I loved…But I got a sponsor, someone who has been through what I was going through.  And boy, I fought that step three.  But my Sponsor was patient.  And told me to choose my own concept of God.  I though on that for a while.  And That’s when I watched my daughter walk across the stage at her graduation.  And it hit me.  My God wasn’t some robed asshole who looked the other way while my father beat me.  The love I felt for my daughters there was where my God existed.  After the ceremony I went to my daughter and gave her a hug and promised I would be a better part of my life.  And that I loved her. (STEVE starts to choke up) While my sponsor was on his deathbed.  I paid him a visit.  And he told me how proud he was of me and how watching me find my way through AA was a great joy in his life.  (STEVE produces a chain out from under his shirt and presents it to everyone) every time I pray, I pray for Dave, and I pray for my daughters.  I’ve learned to forgive God, to forgive my Ex-wife, and mostly to forgive myself…

There’s a pause while everyone soaks in the emotion.  We see Mark chewing his nails and staring at that spot just under STEVE’S DESK

              STEVE

          And That’s All I got.

              ALL

          Thanks Steve

              STEVE

And since this is a Call-on meeting, I want to hear from you young lady.

STEVE points and we see a young woman who looks bored.

              MARIAH

     My name’s Mariah

              ALL

     Hi Mariah

              Mariah

     And I’m just going to listen

              ALL

     Thanks Mariah

Mariah pulls out her phone.

              STEVE

     You have to call on someone

MARIAH looks up from her phone and around the room.

              MARIAH

     Him.

MARIAH points at MARK.  It takes MARK a moment to look over and realize MARIAH

              MARK

     My name’s Mark and I’m an alcoholic

              ALL

     Hi Mark

As mark talks, he worries his fingernails with his hands and keeps his eyes on that spot just under STEVE’S DESK

              MARK

I guess one more day and I’ve got a year coming to this meeting and talking and praying with you all.  Hearing your stories has been a great help for me.  I never did get that sponsor.  Nor have I really gone through all the steps.  But seeing you all everyday has given me hope.  Hope to stay sober.  The God thing has always been tough for me.  Hell, maybe it was God who found me in that drain pipe I stuffed myself into.  I didn’t think I was going to make it this long.  I was in a bad place.  Whatever that was, I’m still here and with you.  And that’s all I have.

              ALL

     Thanks Mark

              MARK

     I think I’ll call on Warren

              (O.C WARREN)

     Thanks Mark, Hi, I’m Warren and I’m an alcoholic.

              ALL

     Hi Warren

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO:  INT. MARK’S APARTMENT.  NIGHT.

Mark enters his small studio apartment.  It’s a small cramped place.  Bare Walls.  A Desk, A Chair, a tv, and a bed make up most of the apartment.  Mark heads into his apartment and throws his keys on the kitchen counter.  He stops and stares at the fridge, lost in thought.  MARK walks over to his chair, sits down, and turns on the tv.  Mark stares at the tv for a moment before standing up and walking into the kitchen.  MARK pics up a glass  and goes to fill the water.  In the process he knocks another glass onto the floor with a crash.  Mark stares at the shards for a moment.

              MARK(QUIETLY)

     Fuck

MARK closes his eyes ant lets a sound of frustration

              MARK(Louder)

     FUCK!

Mark throws his other glass on the ground. And starts to pound on the faucet to his sink

              MARK

     FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

MARK finally stops and stares at the mess he’s made.  He turns around and storms out of his apartment. 

CUT TO: INT. GAS STATION. NIGHT

MARK is looking at beer and chewing his nails.  MARK slects a rather large case of beer.

CUT TO: INT. MARK’S APARTMENT. NIGHT

MARK enters his apartment puts the case down and tears into it.  He pops open the tab and takes a long pull of the beer. And lets out a long pleasurable sigh and closes his eyes.  MARK drags his case of beer to his desk. Turns on his music. (RANDOM 80s song) starts playing.  MARK gets comfortable and takes another long pull of his beer.

CUT TO:  INT. GAS STATION.  NIGHT

MARK is waiting in line behind HUNTER.  Who is on the phone paying for Wild Turkey.  MARK is buying a huge jug of wine.xc 

          HUNTER

     Jesus….Jesus….Jesus, are you fucking kidding me?

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO:  INT. CLIFTON HOUSE. EVENING.

          STEVE KING

…This is a call on meeting and the first person I’m going to call on is Mark

MARK is sitting in his normal seat. Looking at the spot just above STEVE KINGS head.  It dawns on him that he’s being called on.

          MARK

     My name’s Mark

          ALL

     Hi Mark

          MARK

     And I’m just going to listen.

          ALL

     Thanks Mark

MARK goes back to staring at the wall behind STEVE KING

          STEVE

     Call on someone Mark

          MARK

     Oh, Mariah.

Mariah is talking to someone quetly in the back of the room.

          MARIAH

     Um, pass

Maria, goes back to talking to the guy.

          STEVE

Call on someone please

          MARIAH

Him (points at the guy she’s talking to)

The guy looks around the room with a smirk

          HUNTER

     My name is Hunter.

          ALL

     Hi Hunter

          HUNTER

     And I’m going to pass.

          ALL

     Thanks Hunter.

HUNTER goes back to talking to Mariah quietly.

          STEVE KING

     You have to call on someone.

HUNTER glances around the room. And points to a girl on the other side of the room.

          JOAN

     Thanks Hunter.  My name is Joan

          ALL

     Hi Joan

          JOAN

     And I’m an alcoholic.