Life Page #6

RAY:

So you mean, if I needed some jack

to get my nightclub up and running,

I'd have to hype some square like

you?

CLAUDE:

Uh-huh.

Ray pulls out his pocket watch. A mechanical tune plays as

he checks the time.

RAY:

How would I get a loan, anyway?

CLAUDE:

You need collateral.

RAY:

(re:
watch)

Like this?

CLAUDE:

That thing? Who'd you steal it from?

RAY:

My daddy gave me this watch.

CLAUDE:

Yeah? Who'd he steal it from?

RAY:

My daddy is dead so watch your mouth.

You can say what you want about me,

but don't be dragging my daddy into

it. This watch means the world to

me. Solid gold. Keeps perfect time.

CLAUDE:

Looks like a fake to me. Loan denied!

Ray stuffs his daddy's watch back in his pocket.

RAY:

Ah, go chase yourself. I'll take my

business elsewhere. And for future

reference, you are no longer welcome

at Ray's Boom-Boom Room.

CLAUDE:

There is no Boom-Boom Room.

RAY:

When there is, you can forget about

it. And I swear to God, you ever

talk about my daddy again I'm gonna

kick your bank-telling, loan-denying

ass, you got me?

CLAUDE:

Oooh...

RAY:

I think I liked you better when you

kept your trap shut.

EXT. ROADSIDE DINER -- DAY

The truck veers off the highway and jerks to a halt in front

of the rundown establishment.

INT. ROADSIDE DINER -- DAY

A dozen WHITE FOLKS look up as Ray and Claude push through

the door.

RAY:

Man, something smells good in here.

How's everybody doing?

Nothing but sullen stares from all corners of the room.

CLAUDE:

(sotto)

Maybe we oughta find another place.

RAY:

Are you kidding? Tell me you don't

want a slice of that pie right over

there.

CLAUDE:

I must have left my appetite outside,

which is where I think we ought to

be right now.

Claude tugs Ray towards the door but Ray won't be dissuaded.

He boldly addresses a YOUNG MAN in an apron behind the

counter.

RAY:

Good evening, Billy. We'd like some

coffee and a couple of slices of

that homemade pie you've got

advertised.

BILLY:

How you know my name's Billy?

RAY:

It says so right there on your shirt.

BILLY:

(glancing down)

That what that says?

Billy's MAMA sets a piping hot pie on the back counter and

steps up next to her son. She casts a disparaging glance at

Claude's suit.

MAMA:

If you boys can read so good, how

come you missed that sign in the

window?

Claude considers the sign she's pointing to.

CLAUDE:

You mean this sign? The one that

says "No Coloreds Allowed." That's a

good question. Ray, how come we missed

the sign?

RAY:

Look, ma'am, we've been driving all

day. We'd just like to purchase one

of those pies and we'll be on our

way.

MAMA:

Those are whites-only pies.

RAY:

Got any n*gger pies?

Claude jabs him.

CLAUDE:

Any fool could see those are whites-

only, not-for-blacks, come-on-let's-

get-the-f***-outta-here pies. Thank

you very much.

Claude starts tugging Ray toward the door.

RAY:

(sotto)

Thanks for backing me up here, Uncle

Claude.

CLAUDE:

(sotto)

Don't Uncle Claude me. You get a

load of those crackers? Couldn't be

a mouthful of teeth among the bunch

of 'em. Why you want to pick a fight

with people like that for?

RAY:

You're soft.

CLAUDE:

What'd you say?

Diner patrons stare.

RAY:

I said you're soft.

CLAUDE:

Hey, man, don't ever call me that.

RAY:

I call it like I see it, and what I

see is definitely soft.

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