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Century Of Lies - fdb@ev1.net Pages 1 to 30 of 108 page screenplay |
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FADE IN Ext.
Mountainside — day GRAPHIC: Southwest
U.S., 1900 An INDIAN WARRIOR sits on the edge of a cliff, looking at a beautiful valley below. He stands, pulls a pipe bowl from a pouch, the stem of the pipe comes from another pouch. He fits them together and fills the pipe from a third pouch. The brave lifts the pipe toward the sky, then he pulls a twig from the fire and lights his pipe. We note that he holds the hit for a few seconds, then he prays. indian WARRIOR I dreamed that God is planting a perfect world … the leaves of the trees, like spirits, fill my nostrils. [passes pipe under nose] I dreamed of … dog men. After he says his prayer, he has a look of horror. Again, he lifts the pipe toward the sky and takes another hit. He begins to dance and chant, looking toward the sky. Ext.
Street Scene: El Paso, TX, — Afternoon The streets are not busy; a few riders pass by. FAT DRUNK, OLD DRUNK and YOUNG DRUNK are jeering at a teenage MEXICAN boy who is smoking a joint. GRAPHIC: El Paso, 1910 FAT DRUNK Shut the hell up! Or you’re going to jail. OLD DRUNK Hey! We don’t have time for this shit! Just get out’a here! … Get! Old drunk points for the Mexican to leave. The Mexican steps up to the old drunk. MEXICAN KID The sheriff saw me working for you. I worked two full days for you! At this point, young drunk steps up and shoves the kid back on the very muddy street. Across the street, we see two Texas rangers [RAY and WOODROW] come out of a bar and glance at the ruckus across the street curiously. The Mexican starts getting up from the mud with some bluster involved. Fat drunk and old drunk shove him back down and hold him in the mud with their feet. The rangers come across the street and now approach the ruckus. RAY All right, all right. Just hold up there. Get your feet off the boy. Just step back … step back! The drunks move back and Woodrow leans over and gives the Mexican a hand up out of the mud. WOODROW ¿Habla Ingles? … Speak English? MEXICAN Yes sir, I speak English. RAY What’s this all about? FAT DRUNK He thinks we owe him some money. MEXICAN I worked 2 days … to earn a dollar! OLD DRUNK He didn’t do enough to earn 2 bits … he’s a liar! YOUNG DRUNK He’s smoking that maryhana the mayor made ill … legal! There’s a bit of a silence while all of them try to contemplate, look at each other in trying to understand if there was significance in what young drunk just said. Ray has some sort of facial twitch and looks at Woodrow with a “who’s got time for this kind’ a shit” look. Ray takes out a dollar and flips it to the Mexican kid. RAY Ain’t nobody got time for all this foolishness. [speaking to the Mexican] Let this be a lesson. Don’t work for scoundrels, like these boys. Mexican tosses the coin back to Ray. MEXICAN Thank you sir. But I want the money I earned. YOUNG DRUNK Well, ain’t you gonna arrest him? He was smoking their herb; probably in his pocket. WOODROW Yeah, he was smoking something. Smelled it from across the street. But if we arrested every Mexican that smoked marijuana, we’d have to build jails from here to Dallas. RAY Besides, it’s a city law. The governor would laugh at this horse shit, Woodrow. At this point, the Sheriff comes walking up, speaks to the Mexican and the Drunks. sherriff One of you boys got a problem? Everyone seems to back down from the situation. Nobody has a full or coherent sentence to say. RAY My problem? I need another drink. Can I buy you a whiskey? Looking at the calmness of the situation, the Sheriff turns to Ray. SHERIFF All right Ray. And then I’ll buy a round. MEXICAN [Tentative] Sheriff … they will not pay my wages. SHERIFF They didn’t pay you? MEXICAN No sir … they say they can put me in jail. SHERIFF Now look here boys … If we start not paying wages, soon won’t be no Mexicans working for white folks. You want that? YOUNG DRUNK Truth is Sheriff; he dropped three blankets in the mud. That’s worth my dollar. And besides, like it said in the newspaper, he’s a lawbreaker. Check his pockets, he’s got some [looks at Woodrow] marijuana. I don’t owe him nothing! The Sheriff looks dejected. He lowers his head for a moment. SHERIFF [To Ray and Woodrow] The mayor’s been after me. He says [mimicking], “It’ll keep the Mexicans in line.” … First time for everything. … God Damn politicians! RAY I don’t see any marijuana. Cain’t smell it. You gonna’ arrest him just cause they, say he’s got some? The Sheriff turns to the Mexican. SHERIFF Boy, you got marijuana in your pockets? The Mexican looks at the sheriff in disbelief. The sheriff looks back as if demanding an answer. RAY Reach on in his pants … feel around … careful of … his jumping bean. [laughs] The sheriff turns to young drunk. SHERIFF Make the Mayor and me proud. … You’re accusing him. You search him. Show me the loco weed. [more laughs] Young drunk walks slowly over and begins to search the Mexican. Ray and Woodrow go walking back toward the bar, shaking their heads. WOODROW Makes me ashamed to be a lawman. RAY Folks getting arrested, for the pursuit of happiness. [spits in the street] Civilization! [like a cuss word] Int.
Texas Congressional office — Night HARVEY Asblum,
Herman Allafen and GEORGE Hebert are sitting around a conference table discussing the future passage of a
Texas state marijuana law. GRAPHIC: Texas, 1922 george It’s a real honor to have you gentlemen here in Texas. J D ASBLUM George, we need you and all Americans to get behind this. Help us prepare the people to accept this. In a few years, they’ll forget the old ways. george The people of Texas haven’t seen the harm, the need for a hemp law. Asblum George, we prefer to call it by it’s Mexican name, marijuana. It just represents the menace of this plant, spells out the Mexican type of danger for folks, a little better. george Isn’t it one and the same? Marijuana or hemp? Asblum We use the name “marijuana” when we speak of the Mexican types. It’s more potent and therefore dangerous. Allafen There are many of these backwoods farmers that think it’s a cheap way to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol. ASBLUM ’Scuse me, Mr. Allafen. What’s really happening here, if I may, is that the criminal element is coming into play more than ever. Your constituents are making money off the other states. New Englanders can’t grow it, not without great peril. ALLAFEN I’m suggesting you set your punishments in the light range, maybe a five years maximum. ASBLUM Then next year, or the year after, set the maximum to something more appropriate. Allafen We feel that for multiple offenses, large offenses, that a life sentence or even the electric chair is not enough for these degenerate, communist bastards. george Will you be able to send the experts to put the fear in the rural representatives? ASBLUM Of course. Nobody will want to stand up there and defend a commodity that comes from hell. Plus, there’s a great need to prohibit, in every legislator. Allafen Lean on your churches for support. There’s not a preacher out there that won’t jump on this bandwagon. I’ve heard many a fine sermon, seen many folks brought to Jesus by sermons about this demon weed. ASBLUM Do you recall the migration of Mormons in 1910? When they fled back from Mexico … they brought the Devil plant back with them. Allafen Wasn’t alcohol, wasn’t tobacco, but it made the church very unhappy, to see their members imbibing and laughing, carried away by this very unholy smoke. ASBLUM There’s the beauty. This [stresses word to George] “marijuana” makes people laugh; like hyenas in a pack. Not a pleasant sight to your elite families coming home from church. Allafen In most of the states, they just say, “all Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff is what makes them crazy.” ASBLUM “Give one of these Mexicans workers a couple of puffs on a marijuana cigarette, he thinks he’s just been elected president of Mexico, and starts out to execute all his enemies.” GEORGE [Chuckling] I’m sure you gentlemen are right. Thank you for coming. This will be so good for the state, less crime to deal with. INT.
Corporate Office — Afternoon Graphic
: Newark, N.J., 1935 An elaborate, plush waiting room outside of Mr. DUPAUL’s office. The secretary is typing away. In walks JACK WILLIAMS, dressed in a cheap suit. The secretary recognizes him. SECRETARY Hello Jack. Mr. DuPaul said to send you right on in. JACK Thank you Miss. Jack walks on in and enters an even more fantastic office, walks across the large office to DUPAUL's desk, stands in front of it and waits while Mr. DuPaul finishes up some paperwork. Mr. DuPaul finishes, and then looks up at Jack. DUPAUL Jack, it’s so good to see you. Please have a seat. JACK Thank you sir for seeing me so quickly. Jack sits down in the beautiful guest chair. DUPAUL No, no. I have my own motives as well. But you first. From what I’ve heard, this is important, so, please, you go first. JACK Yes sir. I won’t take up your time. Mr. DuPaul, my son Jack Junior got himself in with a bad crowd. They got caught with a bag of marijuana. DUPAUL In my talks with Mr. Asblum, I hear lots of second hand stories … about tragedies like this. JACK There hasn’t been a good nights sleep at my house since it happened. DUPAUL Tell my secretary what jail he’s in. I’ll see that all charges are dropped. JACK Thank you Mr. Dupaul. Thank you. Jack composes himself for a moment, fighting back tears yet smiling at Mr. DuPaul. jack You said … you said you had your own motives for seeing me today? DUPAUL I want those pulp processors rolling off the factory floor. JACK You really expect the process to gain acceptance, even with the hemp processors coming on line? DUPAUL I’m going to tell you something that cannot leave this room. I know I can trust you with what I’m about to say. JACK Certainly, Mr. DuPaul. I am your servant. DUPAUL Enough of that Jack. These marijuana laws started out, were designed to hold the Mexicans, the black folk in line. That’s neither here nor there. What I’m trying to say, is our process is a fine workable process, but it’s not as cost effective, not by a long shot. Its’ not as effective as the hemp decoriator machines. And they produce a much better grade of paper. JACK Ahh. Therefore … hemp prohibition. DUPAUL I knew you would quickly grasp the logic. The chemical and oil concerns are backing me on this 100%. We will not lose out to a weed! INT. House Ways and Means Committee Meeting — day Graphic: Wash
DC, 1937 About 8 or 10 congressmen are sitting at a conference table. Noted as present McCORMACK, BINGE, WOODWARD, VALAER, SAM RAYBURN and VINSON. We are coming in during the middle of a conversation mccormack Is it a harmful drug? BINGE Any drug that produces degeneration of the brain is harmful. mccormack And the continued use of it, as you have observed the reaction on dogs, does it result in the disintegration of personality. binge Yes, so far as I can tell, not being a dog psychologist. mccormack Thank you Dr Binge. You have been very helpful. McCormack shakes binge’s hand, thanks him and turns back to the conference table. mccormack Gentlemen … gentlemen … I know it’s late, but in the little time left, I would like to get the AMA take on this marijuana bill and then we can put this day behind us … and have a drink. Bring in Dr. Woodward. DR Woodward is brought in the room while a mild buzz of noise erupts from those attending the meeting. Dr Woodward approaches the head of the table. mccormack Dr Woodward, it’s been a long day. Make this brief if you would. WOODWARD Sir, I have been instructed by the board of trustees of the American Medical Association to protest on behalf of the association against the enactment of HR6906. There is no evidence that the medicinal use of these drugs has caused or is causing cannabis addiction. Since the medicinal use of cannabis has not caused and is not causing addiction, the prevention of the use of the drug for medicinal purposes can accomplish no good end whatsoever. How far it may serve to deprive the public of the benefits of a drug that on further research may prove to be of substantial value, it is impossible to foresee. The American Medical Association knows of no evidence that Marijuana is a dangerous drug. valaer Doctor, if you can’t say anything good about what we are trying to do, why don’t you go home. VINSON If you haven’t got something better to say than that, we are sick of hearing you. INT. House of Representatives, Wash DC — day It is a Friday, August 20 at 5:45 PM, before A/C
and people are fanning themselves and many of the congressmen are
packing up their papers, not really paying attention to the proceeding.
We pan to the clock on the wall,
the time is 5:45. DOUGHTON I ask unanimous consent for the present consideration of the bill, HR6906, to impose an occupational excise tax upon certain dealers in marijuana, to impose a transfer tax upon certain dealings in marijuana and to safeguard the revenue therefrom by registry and recording. CLERK HR 6906, The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937! SNELL Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and notwithstanding the fact that my friend, Reed, is in favor of it, is this a matter we should bring up at this late hour of the afternoon? I do not know anything about the bill. It may be all right and it may be that everyone is for it, but as a general principle, I am against bringing up any important legislation, and I suppose this is important, since it comes from the Ways and Means Committee, at this late hour of the day. RAYBURN … If the gentleman will yield, I may say that the gentleman from North Carolina has stated to me that this bill has a unanimous report from the committee and that there is no controversy about it. SNELL What is the Bill? RAYBURN It has something to do with something that is called marijuana. I believe it is a narcotic of some kind. SNELL Mr. Speaker, does the American Medical Association Support this bill? VINSON Their Doctor Wentworth came down here. They support this bill 100%. SNELL Mr. Speaker, I am not going to object but I think it is wrong to consider legislation of this character at this time of night. PAN back to the
clock, time is now 5:47, WE HEAR A GAVEL. EXT. SIKES FARM
— AFTERNOON GRAPHIC: Near Lexington Kentucky, 1937 RICHARD SIKES, 58 YEARS OLD is sitting on a rocking chair on his back porch. He is braiding a lariat using hemp fiber. He looks across the yard at the field of hemp growing behind his barn. He looks toward the road and sees RAY HANES, a 13 year old kid who lives in town. Ray is carrying two paper bags. Richard waves to Ray. Ray returns the wave and jogs up to the back porch. ray Good afternoon Mr. Sikes. sikes Master Ray Hanes … what brings you out here? ray I was over helping Mrs. Wilson harvest apples. You want half of these? Ma got two bushels this morning. sikes Sure, I’ll give ’em to the Misses. … Come by Sunday afternoon for a slice of pie. Ray puts a bag of apples on the table. ray Mr. Sikes, you making that lariat for a cowboy? sikes [Chuckles] Yeah Ray. It’s for Jimmy Wilkes. He ain’t won much yet, but at least he’ll have a good rope. RAY Sure thing. That must be some extra good hemp you got. Ray points to the huge hemp field behind the barn. SIKES Thanks Ray. That hemp’s been in that field, long as the Sikes family’s been in Kentucky. Close to a hundred and thirty years. RAY I’ve got to get to town. Ma says I look like Skeezix. [rubs hand over his hair] Got to get to Benny’s before he closes. Sikes looks at his watch. SIKES Benny closes in less than an hour. You better git. RAY See ya! Ray resumes jogging toward town. Int. Benny’s
Barbershop — DAy Benny owns a one-chair barbershop in Lexington. Benny is cutting a cowboys hair. COWBOY So this fella Binge says it makes people insane, turns ’em into criminals, makes grown men rape their own daughters. BENNY That stuff’s not the same as hemp, is it? COWBOY The way they talked about it, seems they’re partly the same. They couldn’t tell one from the other The door bursts open, RAY looks up at the clock on the barbershop wall. RAY Hi Benny, plenty of time, huh? BENNY Just have a seat son. I’ll be done shortly. COWBOY So they can’t tell one from the other, they’re just gonna outlaw all of it, to be real careful like. BENNY Wonder if Richard Sikes has heard about this. He makes hemp goods for folks around here. The cowboy notices the kid and puts a little teasing in his next statement. COWBOY I heard tell that you smoke that hemp, you grow wings and … some folks turn invisible. Ray does not respond to the statement, but we can see by his eyes that he is thinking about what the cowboy said. BENNY Guess somebody needs to tell Richard about this. COWBOY I was down in Mexico and there was some of them boys smoking it, cause it was free. Said it was better than whiskey. Funny, they didn’t cause any problems that I noted. BENNY [Not paying attention] Well ain’t that something. Benny looks at the calendar. BENNY Richard will come in this Saturday. I’ll tell him then. EXT. Beside the
SIKES BARN — Night RAY is standing beside the barn; he looks over at the SIKES home, and then looks up at the hemp plants. He pulls out a pocketknife and slashes a plant and stuffs it in a bag. He looks at the house again and feeling confident, he walks away. EXT. Street Scene,
Near Benny’s Barbershop — Day RAY looks like he is pretending to be an airplane. He is flying around on the sidewalks. Ray stops when people walk by and stands real still, with his teeth bared, looking somewhat like a vampire statue. Benny is cutting the SHERIFFS hair watching Ray. BENNY What the hell is that boy doing? SHERIFF Lord, Benny. I never seen the like. Out the window, Benny and the sheriff see Ray pull out a cigarette and light it up. SHERIFF Benny, do me a favor and call Ray in here. I want to talk to him while you finish my haircut. BENNY Sure thing Sheriff. Benny opens the door and calls to Ray. BENNY Ray! … Get on in here boy. SHERIFF Thanks Benny. I’m gonna try to straighten him out. Don’t like to see kids that young smoking. Ray comes in the shop, acting perfectly normal, and no cigarette in hand. RAY Yes sir Mr. Benny. Want me to sweep up? SHERIFF Where you getting your tobacco Ray? I know your momma and daddy don’t smoke. Do I need to talk to them? RAY I picked it … out in the country. The Sheriff looks a bit puzzled. SHERIFF Let me see that tobacco Ray. Ray produces a small bag full of hemp, hands it to the Sheriff. The Sheriff pulls out a pinch and smells it. Turns around and looks at Benny. SHERIFF [Irritated] Benny, you about done? BENNY I can make do, if you give me half a minute. SHERIFF Ray, this is very important. Where did you get this tobacco? Did you steal it? RAY No sir! Yesterday, I took Mr. Sikes some apples GRAPHIC: Fly in a LEXINGTON Newspaper, Headline: “SIKES GETS 4 YEARS HARD LABOR IN LEAVENWORTH.” Ext.
Newark NJ Bus Station — Winter — Night GRAPHIC: Newark,
N.J., 1939 Shirley and Elizabeth are huddled back in an alley, freezing cold. Their coats are not adequate. They are basic rummies, about 30 years of age. Shirley and Elizabeth share a couple of swigs each from a bottle of gin. Smacking their lips first then quickly drying their lips because of the cold. Elizabeth They say, when you freeze to death, you don’t even feel it. You just go to sleep and … you just don’t wake up. shirley Don’t go talking like that. Stop thinking about it. Shirley and Elizabeth take a couple more drinks of gin. Shirley sees the bus coming up the street. The girls run out of the alley and stand at the bus stop. shirley Let’s get out of the wind. Elizabeth You know what the driver said. The bus stops. The door opens only a little bit. The driver yells out to the girls. DRIVER No money, no ride. You girls got cash? shirley Yeah! Plenty of cash! Now open the damn door! The driver opens the door, slowly. Shirley and Elizabeth flop down in the seat behind the driver. DRIVER So where’s the cash? I’m not moving till I hear the cash in the till, understand? Shirley pulls a small 22 Cal pistol and places it against the drivers’ throat. Elizabeth screams. The driver holds his hands on the wheel DRIVER I’ll take you wherever, whatever! shirley Lizzie, you take the man’s wallet, let’s show him what it is like to be poor and freezing. Elizabeth I don’t know; I’m not doing this. … Can you open the door please? The driver leans over to pull the lever and the door opens. During his reach, Shirley flinches a bit, and she blows out the driver’s jugular vein. Elizabeth runs out. Elizabeth No, no! Elizabeth goes running down the street. Shirley immediately sees the huge flow of blood, she takes the drivers wallet and goes following after Elizabeth. The driver tries to stem the flow of blood and gets the bus going again. We follow the bus for a few seconds, and then we see it crash into a telephone pole. Int.
Courtroom — Day GRAPHIC: Newark,
NJ, 1940 The trial is for ELIZABETH and SHIRLEY for the murder of the Driver. LAWYER WILEY represents them at trial. Lawyer Wiley Your honor, the defense would like to call an expert to the stand at this time, Dr. James G. Binge. A bit of a murmur in the court. Dr. Binge walks up and takes the stand, gets sworn in. Lawyer Wiley Dr. Binge, you are a pharmacologist at Temple University, in Philadelphia? binge Yes sir, I am. Lawyer Wiley And according to Mr. Harvey Asblum himself, you are the Medical Expert for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics? binge Yes sir, that is my designation. Lawyer Wiley You have written medical papers and other reports for the medical establishment on the subject of marijuana and how it affects your subjects? binge Again sir, that is correct. Lawyer Wiley I have to be honest. The state has had minimal problem in proving that these two unfortunate women killed the bus driver. But the reason you are here, is to explain to the jury why they did this. Dr. Binge, does your experimentation, using marijuana on dogs indicate the disintegration of the personality? binge Yes sir, in a way that takes from three months to perhaps over a year to take effect. Lawyer Wiley Can you summarize what those effects are please? binge To sum it up in a sentence. Marijuana addiction leads to insanity, criminality and death. Lawyer Wiley What have you done with the drug Dr Binge? binge I’ve experimented on the dogs, I have written about it and I have used the drug experimentally myself. Lawyer Wiley So, Dr Binge what happened when you used this drug. binge After two puffs on a marijuana cigarette, I felt I was turned into a bat. I flew around the room for 15 minutes or so. I started to come to after a while, but still felt like I was in a huge inkwell, hundreds of feet tall. But, then the next morning, I was fine. Lawyer Wiley Thank you Dr Binge. Your insight on this problem is very beneficial. Dr Binge gets up and leaves the stand. Lawyer Wiley [To jury] After what these girls told you about growing 6-inch fangs, I know that you weren’t very convinced. But now, we’ve heard the truth about this matter, from the top. [turns to the judge] Your honor, the defense rests. NEWARD STAR NEWSPAPER, OCTOBER 12, 1940 FLYS IN WITH HEADLINE: “KILLER DRUG TURNS DOCTOR TO BAT, BUS DRIVER SLAYERS SET FREE” EXT.
Open Ocean in a RAFT — Near Sundown, GRAPHIC: S.
Pacific, 1943 JOHN and RAY are in an Army Air Corp issue raft paddling toward the evening sun. They are very sunburned, chapped, dry, hungry, dressed in portions of aviator clothes from a downed bomber crew. JOHN Dammit, I am the navigator and … [takes a deep breath, he’s exasperated] … if we keep going west we’ll hit some damn island. RAY Ah, yeah … sorry I said anything. [looks 360 around the raft] No coconuts today. At least the sun’s going down. Ray pulls his hat down and looks to be ready for a nap. John starts paddling the boat toward the west. EXT.
On the beach — Night JOHN and RAY are asleep in the raft. Gentle waves are washing them ashore on a small island. John wakes first and a huge smile goes across his face. He gets out of the raft and easily walks ashore where he picks up a coconut and walks back to the raft, gets in and wakes Ray by putting the coconut in his lap. JOHN Ray, Ray! I found a coconut. Wake up man! Wake up! RAY [Kinda dopey] I was dreaming about coconuts. Ray notices they are scraping the sand on the beach, that they are ashore somewhere. Ray jumps up, throws the coconut at John who deflects it into the water. RAY You sonofabitch! JOHN [Laughing] I just knew how bad you wanted a coconut. They pull the raft ashore and hide it in the jungle. JOHN We sleep in the raft till sunup. Then we go find water. I’m gonna go sweep our tracks off the beach. RAY You bet … navigator. John comes out of the jungle with a palm branch and sweeps their tracks from the sand. As John comes back to the raft in the jungle, he stops; startled at seeing Ray with a javelin pressed against his neck, a huge Polynesian JUMBO is holding the javelin. JOHN Ahh … awh we are Americans. [Points to Flag patch on shoulder] US Army Air Corps. I’m Lt. John Weiss, this is Sgt. Ray Hanes. JUMBO Americans? … Americans? JOHN Yeah, we’re Americans, you bet. Jumbo pulls the javelin away from Ray’s neck and motions for them to follow him. JUMBO [Island language] Come with me to the camp. He takes a step toward the camp, points with his javelin in the direction he wants them to go. Then waits a moment for John and Ray who gather their stuff and Ray starts to strap his gun on. JOHN Bring the 45, but don’t wear it, carry it like … belongings. RAY I got ’ya. No sense playing Captain Cook … right? JOHN Carry it so’s you can get to it real easy, right? RAY Right! Ray and John follow Jumbo deeper into the jungle. EXT.
Mountain streamside —DAWN JOHN is filling a canteen with water. RAY has his whole head underwater. JUMBO is standing nearby watching, curious about the man with his head underwater. JOHN You hear me Ray? RAY pulls his head out of the water. RAY You say something? [inhales deeply] We’re getting close to his camp; it’s over there! [points] JOHN Now you’re the navigator? RAY No, I’m a chowhound. Somebody’s cooking a pig, over that ridge. John and Ray get going in a hurry. Ray forgets the 45. John picks it up. EXT.
Village “Council Fire” — Morning Approximately 30 villagers are preparing for a feast. As JOHN, RAY and JUMBO approach, the older men step forward to meet them. We see John take a reassuring glance down at the 45. The CHIEF and Jumbo talk a little bit, back and forth, pointing to John and Ray. Jumbo points to the US flag on John’s shoulder and everybody smiles. John and Ray smile. The natives escort John and Ray over to the appetizers, while they wait on the pig. Everyone begins to eat. DISOLVE TO John and Ray have a look of utter contentment, full of food. The women of the village who are topless, wearing only grass skirts are watching them and sharing comments and smiles about them with each other. The CHIEF leads John and Ray into the men’s hut. The rest of the male members of the tribe stand guard at the door of the hut. John, Ray and the Chief sit beside a small fire. RAY [Looking at his protruding stomach] You ever see those cartoons where they … they pretend to be the other guys friend? Feed ’em real good and then when they’re good and fat they eat them? JOHN Hey if that’s what they’re gonna do, at least I got to eat first. RAY They probably think we’re gods or something anyway. The Chief of the tribe fills a pipe with a bit of plant matter. He lifts the pipe up toward the ceiling and says a prayer. He grabs a light from the fire and lights the pipe. He takes a deep drag and hands the pipe to John. John turns to Ray. JOHN Peace pipe, like the Indians. Just do what he does. Ray nods yes in answer but with a quizzical look on his face. John takes a draw on the pipe and hands it to Ray. John watches the Chief and notices the man does not release the smoke he inhaled so John holds the smoke as long as he can … he turns red, he needs to cough, he chokes it out after about 15 seconds. After 5 or 6 seconds of coughing and catching his breath, John turns to the Chief. JOHN That’s real tasty chief. RAY That’s some good reefer. Thank you sir! [hands the pipe to the Chief] The Chief holds the pipe out in front of him, takes another hit from the pipe, and hands it to John again. John holds the pipe out in front like the Chief had done. He does not look at Ray. JOHN Ray? Reefer? [laughs] John hits the pipe again but does not hand it to Ray. John is staring at the pipe and looking at the design in amazement. Ray reaches over and takes the pipe from John. John lets the hit go slowly, with a smile, his head is slightly tilted, he looks totally enthralled. JOHN You know, this is a beautiful hut, just, beautiful. Ray is coughing out his last hit. He starts to look around and manages to respond. RAY [Late to answer] Man, it sure is! It’s like a palace, made of straw! John and Ray both start laughing at this bit of humor, then stop and look at the Chief. The Chief is looking at them with a strange sort of smile, which cracks John and Ray up even more. RAY Yeah, that was marijuana, damn that cowboy. JOHN Cowboy? [pause] We’re addicts. [laughs] Feels damn good! The Chief gets up and urges John and Ray to follow him outside the hut. John leaves the 45 and all the other gear sitting in the hut. The Chief calls over the two most beautiful girls, tells them something and then encourages John and Ray to go with the girls. They go strolling off with the girls in wide-eyed wonder. RAY So, we died at sea, and, this is heaven. JOHN I don’t know what god the Chief was praying to, but I’m a believer. Big smiles as the four of them walk into the jungle. Int.
lawyers office — 1943 Graphic: New
York, 1943 DOCTOR BINGE and defense attorney SAM BROADCLOTH are in Sam’s office, discussing an upcoming murder trial. BINGE So you see, even if they never touched marijuana, with my testimony, they’re innocent. broadcloth For two thousand dollars? Lord I hope so. binge It worked in New Jersey and a dozen times since. It will work this time. Besides, the law’s based on my analysis. Broadcloth signs a check and gives it to Binge. broadcloth Here’s the check. See you in the morning. Secretary knocks, comes in the office. SECRETARY Mr. Broadcloth, Mr. Asblum is calling, for Doctor Binge. broadcloth Take the call here. I’ll step outside. Secretary and Broadcloth step out of the room. Binge picks up the phone. binge Harvey? … Yes … the cop killers … of course I do … Yes Mr. Asblum … yes sir! … your office, tomorrow morning. GRAPHIC: NY TIMES “INSANITY DOC QUITS, COP KILLERS TO FRY” ext. mexican side of border — dusk Graphic: Mexican
Border, 1946 JUAN MORALES (10 years old) is hanging on the street corner, by the Mexican side of the bridge, he is dressed very poorly. He is selling matchboxes of marijuana for one dollar each. Americans pass by, going on into Mexico. Juan speaks to each group that passes by. juan Acapulco gold, one dollar. The tourists ignore him for the most part; some smile at the boy, because with his accent, they are not sure what he says. Three carnival workers: Dirty CARNEY, ugly carney and skinny carney are coming across the bridge. juan Acapulco gold, one dollar. DIRTY CARNEY Can we get a matchbox? juan Matchbox? One dollar. SKINNY CARNEY Let me see the matchbox. juan Let me see your dollar. Skinny Carney and Juan exchange the cash for the matchbox. Skinny Carney opens, then sniffs the matchbox and nods his head in approval. The carneys turn to go back to the US. Juan yells to them. juan When you come back, ask for me, Juan Morales! We walk with the 3 carneys as they start back over the bridge. SKINNY CARNEY That kid, getting his hands on Acapulco Gold. But you can tell it’s the real thing.[sniffs the matchbox.] DIRTY CARNEY He probably made more today with that dollar, than most Mexican men. Skinny Carney offers the matchbox to Ugly Carney to sniff. Ugly Carney nods his head in approval and hands it back to Skinny Carney. UGLY CARNEY You bought it, you hold it. Ext. alleyway
behind juans house — dusk JUAN MORALES is running home from his days work on the bridge. He stops behind his very modest house to count his money. He pulls out perhaps 10 or 12 dollar bills and smiles. He arranges the money, puts it back into his pocket and runs to his marijuana garden at the back of his small yard. At the Marijuana garden, he clips a few buds of pot, enough to make an ounce or so. He carries the buds in his hat over to a chipped bowl lying on the ground. He throws the fresh buds in the bowl. Juan picks up another bowl of pot which dried in today’s sunshine, pours the dry pot in his hat, smiles and runs in the house. Ext.
ray and johns island — day GRAPHIC: S.
Pacific, 1950 RAY and JOHN are in a pot field, culling the male plants. They are dressed as the natives dress; they look fit, tan and happy. RAY You think we won the war? John Hell ... If the US won, they’d have found us. So the Japs run Asia and Hitler’s in charge of everything else. RAY Yeah. Well I’m not leaving here, no matter who finds us. JOHN If they find us. Ray lights a pipe and they head back to their huts. Ext. john and rays
huts — day Sitting just outside of a hut is a US Navy Officer Ted NIDEL. He is waiting for JOHN and RAY to return. As John and Ray come across the clearing, they are smoking the pipe. Nidel stands up and yells to John and Ray. NIDEL Gentlemen, you have been rescued! John and Ray cough out the smoke and sputter their responses. RAY [Coughs] Holy Shit! JOHN God damn. [chokes] Could’a scared us to death. NIDEL We won the war! Back in 45! RAY What year is it now? GRAPHIC: Fly
in a newspaper — WAR HEROES FOUND NEAR ATOM ISLE Ext. flying in a “flying boxcar” — day RAY and JOHN are flying back to San Francisco from the islands. AIRMAN JONES is riding with them on their trip. JONES You were stranded on an island for seven years? RAY Sacrifice for ones country is a privilege. For the U, S of A … I would do it again. Hell, John’s staying in, going into intelligence...They made him a Major. JOHN Pacific war was over six years before they started looking for us, they can use the help. RAY Kinda glad we missed the rest of the war. Getting shot down once … was enough. JOHN Ray and I stockpiled hemp supplies for the war effort. RAY The work was … excruciating! ,,,,,,,
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EXPERIENCE THE REAL DRUG WAR! The Ray Hanes and John Weiss families lead us through the 20th century and into the 21st. Do we face another century filled with lies? Can 20 million believers stand against the evil our government calls a drug policy? The resolution of this story will awaken the world with the echoes of a hundred years! If you like the message of the first 30 pages, you will love the last 78 pages. We deal with the change of the FBN to the DEA, religious, medicinal and recreational users and their dealings with the DEA, local cops, beatings, imprisonment, and death. We crash into our resolution with special investigations of the infidel congress that still holds this bag of lies for men that are already dead. |
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