Marlene the Divine is now also a novel, and is available in paperback, hardcover, and as an ebook on Amazon.
If your phone is wonkifying the formatting below, click THIS LINK for a pdf of the first few pages of the script,
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TITLE, OVER BLACK:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."
Exodus 20:7
FADE IN
INT. NEW YORK CITY DINER - DAY
SCUFFED SHOES jitter-tap on a red checked floor, a staccato drumbeat under the sounds of a busy diner: chatty patrons, surly waitresses, the clanging of a short order cook.
Our shoe drummer is TED MORTON (skinny-ass white guy, 40s).
Ted is all bundled up in a puffy black winter jacket and that's just weird - because it's not a cold day.
He nurses a glass of apple juice and scans the pedestrians outside, ignoring the HUSBAND and WIFE (60s) arguing loudly in the next booth over.
HUSBAND
One vacation a year. One god-damned
He nurses a glass of apple juice and scans the pedestrians outside, ignoring the HUSBAND and WIFE (60s) arguing loudly in the next booth over.
HUSBAND
One vacation a year. One god-damned
vacation...
The Husband notes Ted's clothing and momentarily loses focus.
HUSBAND
...and if you think I'm gonna spend
a day and a half on that train just
to listen to a bunch a' cheeseheads
brag about their lame-ass team,
The Husband notes Ted's clothing and momentarily loses focus.
HUSBAND
...and if you think I'm gonna spend
a day and a half on that train just
to listen to a bunch a' cheeseheads
brag about their lame-ass team,
then you're outta your God-damned--
WIFE
Hey! That's my FA-MI-LY you're
WIFE
Hey! That's my FA-MI-LY you're
talkin' about.
At the word "family," Ted turns their way.
HUSBAND
They're your second cousins, for
At the word "family," Ted turns their way.
HUSBAND
They're your second cousins, for
Christ's sake.
WIFE
I swear to God, you take the Lord's
name in vain one more time, I will
WIFE
I swear to God, you take the Lord's
name in vain one more time, I will
stab you in the eye with this fork.
She points to Ted in his oversized coat.
WIFE
You think this nice man came all the way
from, what - looks like Florida - just to
hear you blaspheme the Almighty?
(to Ted)
I am so sorry, mister. As you can see, my
husband has no respect.
But Ted's attention is focused out the diner. He unzips the faded backpack on the seat next to him, and we catch a glimpse of the snub-nosed REVOLVER inside.
The Wife leans over and SNAPS her fingers near Ted's face.
WIFE
Hey. I'm tryin' to apologize.
Ted pulls a few crumpled bills out of the backpack as he stands. He slaps the money onto his table, then makes eye contact with the Wife.
TED
Enjoy your vacation.
The Wife SPLUTTERS.
Ted bee-lines to the door.
EXT. NEW YORK STREET - CONTINUOUS
Ted steps out onto a New York City sidewalk teeming with pedestrians - most of them dressed in T-shirts and shorts.
He reaches into his backpack (this time for the revolver) as he parallels a MAN IN A SUIT (50s), walking along on the other side of the one-way street.
Ted grips the revolver inside the backpack and angles his way across the street, never noticing the
BWAAAAAAAH!
Horn-blowing, bright-red LEXUS that VEERS past him and
WHAM!
smacks full-force into a PARKING METER on the far side of the street. The top of the meter goes flying. The front of the Lexus CRUNCHES. Steam HISSES out from under the hood.
Brakes SCREECH! Horns BLARE! Pedestrians looky-loo as Ted full-stops in the middle of traffic.
The Lexus’ door opens and out steps none other than...
And it’s not just the trumpets - the whole WORLD seems to pulse, momentarily, with Marlene’s glory.
Marlene (40s) is a compact, vivacious Black woman in white rimmed, Blues Brothers’ style sunglasses and a Here-I-Am red dress that’s dotted with bright white flowers.
She brandishes a large white PURSE. No words - just straight-up locomotion, coming right at Ted.
Ted strains to see past her to the receding Suited Man.
TED
I have to go. I--
He jigs to the right and almost makes it past, when...
MARLENE THE DIVINE
Oh, no you don't.
...Marlene snags the collar of his jacket and JERKS him back.
MARLENE THE DIVINE
You aren't goin' anywhere, Mr. Man.
Ted stumbles and barely keeps his footing.
TED
Look...
Ted YANKS out the revolver and points it at Marlene.
TED
I am sorry about your car. But I--
She points to Ted in his oversized coat.
WIFE
You think this nice man came all the way
from, what - looks like Florida - just to
hear you blaspheme the Almighty?
(to Ted)
I am so sorry, mister. As you can see, my
husband has no respect.
But Ted's attention is focused out the diner. He unzips the faded backpack on the seat next to him, and we catch a glimpse of the snub-nosed REVOLVER inside.
The Wife leans over and SNAPS her fingers near Ted's face.
WIFE
Hey. I'm tryin' to apologize.
Ted pulls a few crumpled bills out of the backpack as he stands. He slaps the money onto his table, then makes eye contact with the Wife.
TED
Enjoy your vacation.
The Wife SPLUTTERS.
Ted bee-lines to the door.
EXT. NEW YORK STREET - CONTINUOUS
Ted steps out onto a New York City sidewalk teeming with pedestrians - most of them dressed in T-shirts and shorts.
He reaches into his backpack (this time for the revolver) as he parallels a MAN IN A SUIT (50s), walking along on the other side of the one-way street.
Ted grips the revolver inside the backpack and angles his way across the street, never noticing the
BWAAAAAAAH!
Horn-blowing, bright-red LEXUS that VEERS past him and
WHAM!
smacks full-force into a PARKING METER on the far side of the street. The top of the meter goes flying. The front of the Lexus CRUNCHES. Steam HISSES out from under the hood.
Brakes SCREECH! Horns BLARE! Pedestrians looky-loo as Ted full-stops in the middle of traffic.
The Lexus’ door opens and out steps none other than...
[GOLDEN TRUMPET FANFARE]
MARLENE THE DIVINE
And it’s not just the trumpets - the whole WORLD seems to pulse, momentarily, with Marlene’s glory.
Marlene (40s) is a compact, vivacious Black woman in white rimmed, Blues Brothers’ style sunglasses and a Here-I-Am red dress that’s dotted with bright white flowers.
She brandishes a large white PURSE. No words - just straight-up locomotion, coming right at Ted.
Ted strains to see past her to the receding Suited Man.
TED
I have to go. I--
He jigs to the right and almost makes it past, when...
MARLENE THE DIVINE
Oh, no you don't.
...Marlene snags the collar of his jacket and JERKS him back.
MARLENE THE DIVINE
You aren't goin' anywhere, Mr. Man.
Ted stumbles and barely keeps his footing.
TED
Look...
Ted YANKS out the revolver and points it at Marlene.
TED
I am sorry about your car. But I--
I have to go.
He edges wide, scanning for the fast-receding Suited Man.
Ted just squeaks past, but as he looks away from Marlene she SWINGS her purse by the strap, full-inertia-force
POW!
into the back of his head.
Everything slows WAAAAY down as Ted falls and we...
ON TED'S CONTORTED FACE: spittle flying, eyes rolling.
Beyond Ted, Marlene the Divine smiles brightly.
TITLE CARD:
He edges wide, scanning for the fast-receding Suited Man.
Ted just squeaks past, but as he looks away from Marlene she SWINGS her purse by the strap, full-inertia-force
POW!
into the back of his head.
Everything slows WAAAAY down as Ted falls and we...
FREEZE FRAME
ON TED'S CONTORTED FACE: spittle flying, eyes rolling.
Beyond Ted, Marlene the Divine smiles brightly.
TITLE CARD:
"Prepare to Meet Thy God."
Amos 4:12
SMASH CUT TO
BLACK
END OF SAMPLE
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Thanks for your interest!
