True Romance Page #10

CLARENCE:

Do you have a fella?

She looks at Clarence and smiles.

ALABAMA:

I'm not sure yet. Ask me again later.

CLARENCE:

What's the story behind you takin' a cab to the most dangerous part of town

alone?

ALABAMA:

Apparently, I was hit on the head with something really heavy, giving me a

form of amnesia. When I came to, I didn't know who I was, where I was, or

where I came from. Luckily, I had my driver's license or I wouldn't even

know my name. I hoped it would tell me where I lived but it had a

Tallahassee address on it, and I stopped somebody on the street and they

told me I was in Detroit. So that was no help. But I did have some money on

me, so I hopped in a cab until I saw somethin' that looked familiar. For

some reason, and don't ask me why, that theater looked familiar. So I told

him to stop and I got out.

CLARENCE:

And in a theater full of empty seats, why did you sit by me?

ALABAMA:

Because you looked like a nice guy, and I was a little scared. And I sure

couldda used a nice guy about that time, so I spilled my popcorn on you.

Clarence looks at her closely. He picks up his soda and sucks on the straw until it makes that slurping sound. He puts it aside and stares into her soul.

A smile cracks on her face and develops into a big wide grin.

ALABAMA:

Aren't you just dazzled by my imagination, lover boy?

(eats her last piece of pie)

Where to next?

INT. COMIC BOOK STORE - NIGHT

It's about 1:
30 a.m. Clarence has taken Alabama to where he works. It's a comic book store called Heroes For Sale. Alabama thinks this place is super-cool.

ALABAMA:

Wow. What a swell place to work.

CLARENCE:

Yeah, I got the key, so I come here at night, hang out, read comic books,

play music.

ALABAMA:

How long have you worked here?

CLARENCE:

Almost four years.

ALABAMA:

That's a long time.

CLARENCE:

I'm hip. But you know, I'm comfortable here. It's easy work. I know what

I'm doing. Everybody who works here is my buddy. I'm friendly with most of

the customers. I just hang around and talk about comic books all day.

ALABAMA:

Do you get paid a lot?

CLARENCE:

That's where trouble comes into paradise. But the boss let's you borrow

some money if you need it. Wanna see what "Spiderman" number one looks

like?

ALABAMA:

You bet. How much is that worth?

Clarence gets a box off the shelf.

CLARENCE:

Four hundred bucks.

ALABAMA:

I didn't even know they had stores that just sold comic books.

CLARENCE:

Well, we sell other things too. Cool stuff. "Man from U.N.C.L.E." Lunch

boxes. "Green Hornet" board games. Sh*t like that. But comic books are main

business. There's a lot of collectors around here.

She holds up a little GI Joe sized action figure of a black policeman.

ALABAMA:

What's that?

CLARENCE:

That's a "Rookies" doll. George Sanford Brown. We gotta lotta dolls.

They're real cool. Did you know they came out with dolls for all the actors

in "The Black Hole"? I always found it funny somewhere there's a kid

playin' with a little figure of Earnest Borgnine.

He pulls a plastic-cased "Spiderman" comic form the box.

CLARENCE:

"Spiderman", number one. The one that started it all.

Clarence shows the comic book to Alabama.

ALABAMA:

God, Spiderman looks different.

CLARENCE:

He was just born, remember? This is the first one. You know that guy, Dr.

Gene Scott? He said that the story of Spiderman is the story of Christ,

just disguised. Well, I thought about that even before I heard him say it.

Hold on, let me show you my favorite comic book cover of all time.

He pulls out another comic.

CLARENCE:

"Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos". One of the coolest series known to

man. They're completely worthless. You can get number one for about four

bucks. But that's one of the cool things about them, they're so cheap.

(he opens one up)

Just look at that artwork, will ya. Great stories. Great Characters. Look

at this one.

We see the "Sgt. Fury" panels.

CLARENCE:

Nick's gotten a ring from his sweetheart and he wears it around his neck on

a chain. OK, later in the story he gets into a fight with a Nazi bastard on

a ship. He knocks the guy overboard, but the Kraut grabs ahold of his chain

and the ring goes overboard too. So, Nick dives into the ocean to get it.

Isn't that cool?

She's looking into Clarence's eyes. He turns and meets her gaze.

CLARENCE:

Alabama, I'd like you to have this.

Clarence hands her the "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos" comic book that he loves so much.

INT. CLARENCE'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Clarence's bedroom is a pop culture explosion. Movie posters, pictures of Elvis, anything you can imagine. The two walk through the door.

ALABAMA:

What a cool room!

She runs and does a jumping somersault into his bed.

Later. Alabama's sitting Indian-style going through Clarence's photo album. Clarence is behind her planting little kisses on her neck and shoulders.

ALABAMA:

Oooooh, you look so cute in your little cowboy outfit. How old were you

then?

CLARENCE:

Five.

She turns the page.

ALABAMA:

Oh, you look so cute as little Elvis.

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