Funereal blues

Thanks for the comments on my previous entry! I got one comment and a few e-mails, which is more than I expected. Also, if you simply can't wait for me to remember this blog and post something on it every so often, you can access the whole script here.

And now, I'm going to try copy-pasting the next scene. See what you think.

Here's something. I've got a character reading a Biblical passage in this next scene. The passage she's reading is important (it lets us know what the deceased thought of himself), but I'm not sure it's important I put the whole thing in the script. It really slows the momentum down. On screen, it wouldn't be the focus, as other conversation would occur over it. Do you think I could just put the chapter-verse number in the stage directions? I sort of do.

Furthermore, I like this scene's portrayal of religion. It's the only one in the script that doesn't seem to hate it (Paul's kind of bitter). Some of the dialogue is a bit stilted, but I like the last thing Jefferson says to Paul.

The script used to END with this scene, but I realized, slowly, that if we were going to get an idea of the show, we needed to start here. A movie ends with the funeral; a pilot starts with it.

Anyway. . .

INT. ST. MARY' S CHURCH - - DAY

A young man in a priest's uniform stands before a huge crowd. This is FATHER DAVE, and he is presiding over Jake's funeral. The opening credits play over this sequence.

FATHER DAVE
W e knew Jake Emerson by many names, of course. Father. Pastor. Boss. Friend.
(beat)
I, of course, hardly knew Jake Emerson.

The camera leaves him and begins to pan across the faces in the crowd. We see all of the regulars and most of the recurring characters here.

FATHER DAVE (CONT' D)
But. . . I felt I learned a lot from him in the few times we spoke.
(beat)
He w ould alway s say . . .

The door to the church closes. Everyone turns to look. It's Paul. He looks even more dishevelled. Father Dave is briefly shaken.

FATHER DAVE ( CONT' D)
He. . . he would alway s say . . . "We can' t see w hat God' s thinking, Dave. It's better that way."

The camera pushes in slowly, centering on Paul. His face displays no emotion.

FATHER DAVE ( CONT' D)
He. . . he TRUSTED God. What a wonderful thing, it must be, to trust like that. To completely lose yourself in faith. And I know he' s being rewarded for that now.
( beat)
Let us pray.

CUT TO:
INT. ST. MARY' S - - LATER

A pretty girl is standing in front of the congregation, reading something. Perhaps we recognize her, just slightly, from the photo we saw earlier. This is Becky Bormann. She is giving the reading. The conversation between Paul and Jefferson will play over this, but here is Becky's whole speech.

BECKY
A reading from the book of Job.
(beat)
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you
come from?" Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason. "
(beat)
"Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out y our hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD said to Satan, " Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life. "
(beat)
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity ? Curse God and die! "
( beat)
He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? " In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Jefferson sidles up to Paul at the door. They talk over Becky's reading.

JEFFERSON
Paul. I didn' t think we' d see you.

PAUL
Jeff, it' s my own father' s funeral.
( beat)
I mean, he changed my diapers, after all.
(beat)
And. . . the Book of Job? Really ?

JEFFERSON
It's what he wanted. He was very clear.

PAUL
(full of disdain)
Right. Of course.

JEFFERSON
Your own father' s funeral is hardly the. . .

PAUL
Forget I said anything.

There' s a pause. We cut to a shot of Becky.

PAUL (CONT' D)
Becky Bormann.

JEFFERSON
She lives here now .

PAUL
(smiling)
Really?
(beat, almost sinister)
Excellent.

JEFFERSON
(oblivious)
She runs the bookstore.

PAUL
There's a bookstore now?

JEFFERSON
Quite a nice one, in fact.

Another pause. Jefferson seems rather embarrassed by the whole conversation.

JEFFERSON ( CONT' D)
Well. . . I didn't mean to come over here and. . . besmirch your father's memory. I just wanted to tell you not to leave right away after the service.

PAUL
I wasn't planning. . .

JEFFERSON
Stay for cake.
(beat)
Please.
(beat)
You have my sympathies.

Paul watches him go and then turns to watch the last of Becky's reading, as do we.





END SCENE

Sorry for the weird formatting. Rip away!