Life

FADE IN:

EXT. PRISON CEMETERY -- DAY

A handful of people are gathered in an open field under a

fierce Mississippi sun. A couple of young inmates, JAKE and

LEON, lean on their shovels. They are waiting to bury two

identical CASKETS with inmate numbers stenciled on the

pinewood lids.

A GUARD rests the butt of his rifle on the ground and takes

a long, healthy pull from his canteen. He offers it to the

PRISON CHAPLAIN, who is much obliged. SUPERINTENDENT BILL

BURKE, a 40-year-old black man, glances at his watch and

loosens his tie. Sure is hot.

MARY HUMPHRIES, an elderly white woman in a nurse's uniform,

stands behind WILLIE LONG, an ancient inmate sleeping

peacefully in a wheelchair. She readjusts an umbrella to

shield the old black man from the blistering sun.

Burke dabs his forehead with a handkerchief. He gives the

nod to the chaplain, who steps forward and cracks his bible.

The men remove their hats.

CHAPLAIN:

In accordance with the regulations

of the State of Mississippi, we gather

here today to lay to rest the remains

of inmates R. Gibson, number 4316,

and C. Banks, number 4317. Ashes to

ashes, dust to dust. May God have

mercy on their souls.

BURKE:

Go ahead, fellas.

The young inmates plunge their shovels into the dirt. One by

one, the mourners head back toward a prison van parked on a

nearby dirt road.

NURSE HUMPHRIES:

I'll come back for you in a little

while, Willie...

She leaves Willie alone with Jake and Leon. He rolls his

chair up to the edge of the graves and gazes at the pinewood

caskets.

JAKE:

These two guys friends of yours, old

man?

WILLIE:

We spent some time together.

LEON:

Why do I get the feeling when you

say some time, you mean some time.

WILLIE:

I was already here a good many years

when they came in in 1932.

LEON:

1932? That's like, that's like...

WILLIE:

Sixty-five years ago. They always

said the farm couldn't hold 'em

forever. Looks like you're finally

free, boys.

Willie pulls a bottle of moonshine from his jacket and takes

a swig in their honor.

JAKE:

Hey, the dude's holdin'.

LEON:

Come on, old-timer, hook the brothers

up.

Willie passes the bottle to Leon, who takes a swig and winces

from the unexpected kick.

LEON:

Hell of a way to get out. Heard they

burned up in that fire yesterday.

JAKE:

I seen the bodies before they sealed

'em up. Them fellas sizzled up good.

Looked like some sh*t from the X-

Files.

(taking a swig from

the bottle)

Damn, that sh*t's nasty.

WILLIE:

Ray's special recipe. He always had

exacting standards where the hooch

was concerned.

LEON:

What were they, bootleggers?

Willie holds up the bottle, checking the clarity of the

liquor.

WILLIE:

Something like that.

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. SPANKY'S BACK ALLEY (1932) -- NIGHT

RAY GIBSON holds up a similar bottle of liquor to a light

over a door. Music comes from within. He takes a swig and

stashes the bottle in his belt. He adjusts his tie, polishes

his shoes on the back of his pants and raps on the door.

INT. SPANKY'S -- NIGHT

The speakeasy is jumping, jammed with people. Up on stage a

hot JAZZ BAND is playing backup for a seductive CHANTEUSE.

Well-heeled PATRONS enter through doors near the stage.

In the back, at the end of a long hallway, a BOUNCER cracks

open the door and Ray squeezes inside.

BOUNCER:

Oh, no, Ray. Not tonight. Spanky's

not happy with you.

RAY:

Is Spanky here?

BOUNCER:

No, but...

RAY:

Then what's the problem?

BOUNCER:

Do yourself a favor and find another

place where they let you in the front

door.

RAY:

But this is where the action is and

I have to be where the action is.

Look, when your old lady wanted those

alligator shoes, didn't I come through

for you? Ain't she stepping in style

now?

BOUNCER:

Yeah...

RAY:

Well, alright then. What do you think

about this new tie?

BOUNCER:

Sharp.

RAY:

I look good tonight. And I feel lucky,

too.

Ray heads inside.

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