Jericho

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TEASER:

1 EXT. KANSAS - MORNING 1

An Amtrak train snakes through the countryside. The Januarymorning is so cold, it's clean. Welcome to Kansas.

2 EXT. AMTRAK TRAIN - MORNING 2

The wheels of the train chug along. We watch this image long

enough to wonder why we’re watching it for so long.

3 INT. AMTRAK BAR CAR - MORNING 3

The intercom announces, “Next Stop, Topeka!” as we move down

the aisle, past businessmen and tourists, reading their

papers. Each paper has a different photo and a differently

worded headline. But all of them tell us one thing... The

President’s State of the Union Address is tonight.

We move past two little girls pointing out the window, “Dad,

lookit!” and finally land on... JAKE GREEN, 27, the charming

prodigal son. Jake is old movie handsome. A rogue.

Troubled. As he sips his whiskey, he looks sad and deep in

thought. Jake stares through the window as billboards

advertising the Golden Eagle Casino and Trading Post roll by.

JOVIAL MAN (O.S.)

Tough day?

Jake turns to find a chubby JOVIAL MAN, 47, smiling.

JOVIAL MAN (CONT’D)

Just curious why you’re drinking so

early in the morning? Break-up?

Lay off? Titans fan?

JAKE:

(finds himself smiling)

No. I’m going back home for the

day. Going to visit my grandfather.

JOVIAL MAN:

Is that bad?

JAKE:

No. The bad part is seeing my

father and brother.

(gestures like a boxer)

Dad will hit me with the 'you're a

disappointment' right, and Peter

will come in with the 'family

values' left. Good times.

2.

JOVIAL MAN:

(smiles)

Let me guess. You’re grandpa’sfavorite?

JAKE:

I don’t know. But he was my

favorite.

They smile. Jake points to the man’s empty beers...

JAKE (CONT'D)

What about you? Why are youdrinking so early in the morning?

JOVIAL MAN:

Because I’m a drunk.

4 INT. AMTRAK STATION - TOPEKA, KANSAS - MORNING 4

Jake’s laughter becomes the squeal of the train’s brakes.

Jake exits the train and passes baggage handlers, pushing

luggage carts. If we look closely, we see one of them load a

silver suitcase on the train.

5 EXT. PARKING GARAGE - TOPEKA, KANSAS - MORNING 5

Jake’s taxi moves through the city streets, then enters a 12

story parking garage with a sign... Monthly Rates Available.

6 INT. PARKING GARAGE - 8TH FLOOR - MORNING 6

The taxi moves around a cement pilar to reveal... a vintage

Ford Mustang Convertible. Jake turns to the taxi driver.

JAKE:

You got jumper cables?

7 INT. PARKING GARAGE - GROUND FLOOR - MORNING 7

Jake, now sitting in the Mustang, hands his ticket to the

TICKET TAKER, an African American woman, about 31. She looks

at the ticket. All yellow and faded. She’s confused.

8 INT. PARKING GARAGE OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER 8

The ticket taker enters the messy office and approaches her

BOSS, a gruff man. She holds up Jake’s ticket.

TICKET TAKER:

I don’t know what to do with this.

3.

BOSS:

What do you mean? Take his money.

TICKET TAKER:

You don’t understand. This man’s

had his car here for... 5 years.

9 EXT. KANSAS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 77 - LATE MORNING 9

We see a MOTORCYCLE GANG making life hell for a student

driver, then move over to Jake's Mustang as it pulls off the

crowded highway. A sign reads... Jericho 87 miles.

10 INT. JAKE'S MUSTANG - LATE MORNING 10

Jake flips through the radio dial. Bill O’Reilly blurts,

“Larry. Pensicola, Florida. Go.” Larry, “Hey, Bill. So,

the State of the Union tonight...” Jake changes the channel.

Rush Limbaugh groans, “It makes me ill that the President’s

speech is going to acknowledge this liberal--” Click. Al

Franken says, “The arrogance of this administration--”

Click. “... it’ll be cold tonight. Low in the mid 20’s.”

Jake finally finds some music.

Company.” Our new title song.

Bad Company’s anthem, “Bad

Ahh. Much better.

11 EXT. RURAL HIGHWAY - LATE MORNING 11

The image goes high as the Mustang cuts through the

countryside. Jake passes rivers, streams, bridges, farms.

Jericho may be isolated, but nobody can say that the ride to

it isn’t gorgeous. No traffic. Blues skies. Peace.

12 EXT. POTAWATOMI NATION INDIAN CAVES - LATER 12

As Jake pulls up to a stop sign, he looks to his right to

see... a JERICHO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUS. The CHUBBY BUS

DRIVER stands in front of the bus’s smoking engine. He

shakes his head in frustration and pulls out his cell phone.

Jake shifts his glance to the PRETTY TEACHER as she guides a

group of excited 2ND GRADE KIDS into the visitor’s center.

PRETTY TEACHER:

Come on, kids. Single file now.

(a fat girl trips)

Oh, dear. Are you okay, Hilda?

13 EXT. PETERSON FAMILY FARM - ROADSIDE STAND - AFTERNOON 13

As customers browse the farm’s roadside stand, BONNIE

PETERSON, 17 and cheer-leader juicy, sits behind the cash

register. She text messages her boyfriend. “I miss you so

much. Can you come back this weekend?”

4.

STANLEY PETERSON

BONNIE!

Startled, Bonnie turns to her big brother, STANLEY PETERSON,

27, an avid car lover who has no luck with women.

STANLEY PETERSON (CONT’D)

Mom and dad didn’t keep you out of

school today so you could text

message your boyfriend.

(off Bonnie’s groan)

I know. “He moved away. My lifeis over. Blah blah.” Put down the

phone, Bonnie!

Bonnie grumbles. Stanley turns and sees Jake climb out of

his Mustang. At first, Stanley can't believe his eyes.

Then, a smile creeps over his face. Jake approaches. The

two old friends smile. And then, Stanley starts hugging him.

STANLEY PETERSON (CONT'D)

I can’t believe it. Jake Green!

My God. When you get back to town?

JAKE:

Just now.

STANLEY PETERSON

You seen Emily yet? The family?

JAKE:

I just got back now, Stanley.

STANLEY PETERSON

Oh, right. Right. Sorry. Wait.

Where the hell have you been?

JAKE:

Around.

STANLEY PETERSON

No one is “around” for 5 years.

JAKE:

Believe it or not... the Army.

Just then, a woman emerges from the farm house. MIMI CLARK

is 30, sexy, stylish, Jewish, urbanite, and couldn't look

more out of place. Stanley’s good humor instantly vanishes.

JAKE (CONT’D)

Who’s that?

5.

STANLEY PETERSON

That? That’s the government.

JAKE:

Sexy government.

Mimi Clark runs frightened from a chicken. “Ewww!”

STANLEY PETERSON

Don’t let the style fool you, Jake.

Miss “shiver me timbers” is from

the I.R.S.

JAKE:

IRS? Audit?... Not going well?

STANLEY PETERSON

Forget it. How about you and me

get together tonight? Catch up?

JAKE:

I’d love to, but I’m only in to see

my grandpa, then I gotta get back.

So, if I can get my mother’s

favorite Peterson Apple Pie...

Stanley nods, slaps Jake’s shoulder, and turns to find...

STANLEY PETERSON

BONNIE!

Bonnie drops the phone and scrambles to get Jake's order.

STANLEY PETERSON (CONT’D)

Welcome back to Jericho, Jake.

14 EXT. JERICHO - VARIOUS LOCATIONS - AFTERNOON 14

We see it all through Jake’s eyes. Unlike most of flat,

dusty Kansas, Jericho is nestled in the foothills. It’s a

town that embraces its Old West roots and Frontier Spirit. A

statue reads... Welcome to Jericho: We Stand Strong.

ELECTION POSTERS hang on every storefront and telephone pole.

ELECT GRAY ANDERSON. RE-ELECT MAYOR GREEN. All to the

lovely sounds of Sean Hannity raving on the radio...

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