"PONDEROSA"

FADE IN:

EXT. SHACK - DAY

As the scene opens, we see JIMMY, sitting on his ramshackle porch in a t-shirt and jeans and drinking cheap beer straight from the can. He is young, mid-20s, but looks much older. We hear the NOISE of someone walking through a field, breaking sticks underfoot and whistling. Jimmy looks up.

The PREACHER is coming over the hill, shotgun in hand. He is dressed fairly well for someone at his level of poverty, and carries himself with dignity. His deep, smooth voice seems to hypnotise the listener, and he always speaks as if he has a congregation in front of him. He sees Jimmy and waves with his gun hand.

PREACHER
Jimmy? Son, we need to have a
talk...

JIMMY
(annoyed)
Daddy, I told you, I ain't running
around on Linda any more.

PREACHER
I know that, Jimmy, and Jesus
loves you for it. But you aren't quite
treating her like a good Christian
wife should be treated.

LINDA'S POV

as she walks through the house, carrying a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses. She stops and watches her husband and father-in-law through the screen door.

JIMMY
Aw, daddy...

PREACHER
Afternoon, Linda

SCENE

We see Linda for the first time. Her right eye is blackened and her neck is covered with bruises. She does not look downtrodden, however, but angry, and glad that Jimmy is getting what's coming to him.

LINDA
Afternoon, Daddy.

Linda opens the door and puts the tray down on a small folding table. She begins to pour for Jimmy and The Preacher.

JIMMY
Geez, I told her I was sorry,
and -

PREACHER
(interrupting)
Jimmy, the only one who will hear your
apologies is the Good Lord. And I know
you're not speaking to him like you
should be.

JIMMY
I've been going to that Bible class
you signed me up for.

LINDA
No, he hasn't.

Jimmy shoots her a murderous glance.

PREACHER
Now, don't be blaming Linda, bless her
soul, for telling me that, because I
already knew.

Linda smirks, and brings the Preacher his glass of lemonade. Jimmy can get his own.

PREACHER
Much obliged, darlin'. The Lord's work
brings on a mighty thirst.
(to Jimmy)
As I said, I knew you weren't taking
those classes when I went down to the
Ponderosa Restaurant on Saturday. What
do you think I saw there, Jimmy?

Jimmy shrugs, disinterested.

PREACHER
(continuing)
Robert Hayes and Shawn Miles and John
Moore and all their wives and children.
Having a family dinner after Bible class.
And I said to myself, "Now, where is my
boy, and his beautiful wife?" and right
then I knew in my heart that you hadnıt
been attending.

JIMMY
I was sick on Saturday, Linda can tell
you...

PREACHER
Linda's already told me enough. Why, if
she hadnıt come to me yesterday, I'd be
off with the revival, instead of here
setting things right.

Jimmy has begun to watch the gun, nervously. The Preacher notices his discomfort and smiles.

PREACHER
Aw, son, I'm not gonna kill you. This
gun is a symbol of God's righteous hand.
Yes, the wrath of the Lord will tear
through you like a bullet if you donıt
mend your ways.

JIMMY
You ain't on the pulpit right now,
Daddy, don't preach to me!

PREACHER
(he hasnıt heard)
Son, I want you to pray with me.

He begins to advance towards Jimmy, swinging the shotgun with his stride. Linda, too, has begun to get nervous at her father-in-lawıs careless handling of the firearm.

LINDA
Daddy...

PREACHER
Pray with me, to Jesus. Pray to be
redeemed for your sins. Pray that God
will take you by the hand and lead
you away from evil.

Jimmy gets to his feet and starts shuffling towards his father.

LINDA
Daddy, careful with that gun!

PREACHER
Ain't loaded, Linda. Besides, Jesus will protect my boy from harm.
(to Jimmy)
Kneel, son!

Jimmy obeys, but keeps an eye on the shotgun all the while.

PREACHER
Oh Lord, gather up my boy Jimmy in your
arms, and keep Satan's mouth away from
his ear...

Jimmy tries to follow this, repeating random words about a second after the Preacher. Meanwhile, Linda has been getting more and more nervous.

LINDA
Daddy, please put down that gun!

PREACHER
Linda, I've told you, it's all right.

JIMMY
(starting to get up)
You listen to my daddy, Linda!

LINDA
(sceaming)
Daddy, please!

At the end of her scream, the GUN goes off.

Silence. Then...

LINDA
JIMMY!

Jimmyıs jaw has been shot off. He is rolling on the ground and has pulled his T-shirt up over his face, in an effort to stop the bleeding and to hide his sudden disfigurement.

PREACHER
Jimmy...

Suddenly, all his pomposity has been dropped. He is no longer The Preacher, he is Jimmyıs father, and his face moves through revulsion to nausea to utter pain at what he has just done.

PREACHER
Jimmy, it was an accident, I thought
it wasn't loaded...

LINDA
Daddy, you shot his jaw clean off!

The Preacher is rocking back and forth on his heels. He has dropped the gun.

PREACHER
Jimmy, I didn't know, I...Satan must
have pulled that trigger, Jimmy, son,
speak to me...

LINDA
Jesus, Daddy!

She runs into the house.

PREACHER
Jesus...Jesus...

Slowly he is slipping back into his proselytizing persona. An idea is coming to him.

PREACHER
Jimmy, it wasn't Satan who pulled
that trigger, it was Jesus.

Jimmy whips around and glares at him, hatred and fear in his eyes.

PREACHER
(continuing)
Yes, Jesus has pulled that trigger to
teach you a lesson. Sometimes love isn't
enough and only a firm hand will guide
a sinner to redemption.

Linda runs back out, her arms full of towels, which she uses to wrap Jimmy &rsquo s fragmented lower jaw.

LINDA
Don't worry honey, I called the
ambulance, they'll fix you up.
(to Preacher)
I told you to be careful with that gun,
didn't I?

The Preacher doesnıt hear her. He is wrapped up in his grand plan to exploit Jimmy's accident.

PREACHER
We can use this son, oh, we can use this.
You and me, in the revival tent. We'll
tell the story of how you strayed from
the flock, and how only divine
intervention could save you. The classic
story of sinning and redemption. Your
face will be a testimony to the divine
grace of The Lord.

Linda is cradling Jimmy's head in her arms. They are both sobbing. We begin to HEAR a siren far off in the distance.

PREACHER
Praise the Lord! And let all sinners
beware!

END