FADE IN:
EXT. BANGOR MAINE FAIRGROUNDS - ESTABLISHING - DAY
A line of trailers is parked along the outer edge.
A group of WORKMEN hoist a towering sign to an upright position. It reads "IPSIG BROTHER'S TRAVELING CARNIVAL EST. 1980"
EXT. IPSIG BROTHER'S CARNIVAL - MIDWAY - DAY
CARNIES set up tents and booths.
CLOWNS sit in a group around a barrel engaged in clown-like pursuits such as putting on face paint and big floppy shoes.
Burly and greasy haired carny STEVE (20's) slogs past, a look of distain on his face. He carries a garish, weather- worn cloth banner. He takes it to an empty booth in a remote corner.
EXT. EVERYBODY WINS BOOTH - DAY
He shakes out the sign. It reads "EVERYBODY WINS". He nails it vertically to a chewed up wooden pole.
A land-locked old salt known as GRIZZLY (60's) to his friends and much worse by his enemies approaches with an armful of cheap prizes.
GRIZZLY
Careful Steve. That's my lucky banner.
Gonna' be a lot of lucky people tonight.
Because everybody wins at Grizzly's games!
Steve winces.
STEVE
Can I have some time off tonight? I'm
feeling lucky myself.
Grizzly lifts a bucket of garish toys onto the counter.
GRIZZLY
You be here on time. You'll work
your shift. And you'll keep your
pecker in your pants.
EXT. BANGOR, MAINE - STREET CORNER - DAY
Johnny leans by his side on a wall. Glowers. Bruce stands on line nearby at a roach coach. Johnny checks his watch.
BRUCE
Relax. I won't make you late for
your meeting with the reverent
reverend. You'll have plenty of
time to go home, and shower and
shave, and
(beat)
change clothes?
JOHNNY
Not again.
BRUCE
Yes again. You need to put a little
color in your life. A little light.
One of these days I will take you
shopping. I'll get you hooked up.
That's right. Get you one of them
Hawaiian shirts with flowers and
bamboo and crap on it.
He gestures to his own colorful, casual wardrobe to accentuate his meaning. The line moves.
BRUCE (CONT'D)
Black and gray are not your best
colors my friend.
The line moves. Bruce steps up to put in his order.
An ELDERLY WOMAN with a cane rounds the corner. She sees Johnny's cane and smiles. He nods. Their elbows touch.
EXT. BANGOR, MAINE - STREET CORNER - DAY (VISION)
He sees a flash of her future. She sits on the bench at the bus stop, and takes out her knitting.
A DENIM CLAD TEENAGER hustles by. He grabs a hold on her purse. She resists. They struggle. She is yanked off the bench and hits the ground. He pulls out a knife. She screams.
He cuts the strap off the bag, yanks it free, and dashes across the street.
The elderly woman, hand on her hip, cries out in pain.
EXT. BANGOR, MAINE - STREET CORNER - DAY
Johnny is back. He watches her shuffle down the street and take a seat on the bench. He takes a casual walk towards her. Pretends to window shop, while keeping one watchful eye turned in her direction. The Denim Clad Teenager, as if on schedule, approaches.
Johnny steps in his way. He's at least three inches taller. The teen has a perfect view of Johnny's throat.
JOHNNY
(sly, smarmy)
Go near that nice woman and I'll
clobber you.
He nudges the teen in the crotch with the cane. The teen looks down, then up. Their eyes meet.
DENIM TEEN
I wasn't--
JOHNNY
Going to take advantage of that
fragile old lady. No. You weren't
going to hurt someone that probably
never swatted a fly in her whole life.
The teen reconsiders his actions, turns, and walks back in the direction from where he came.
Johnny does the same. The old woman, oblivious, smiles at Johnny. Johnny nods. He leans his back against the wall. Shines the cane handle on his sleeve.
Bruce returns, also oblivious to the events. Happy as a clam, he gnaws on a fat, greasy burrito. He takes a huge bite.
BRUCE
(mouth full)
Having fun holding up that wall?
You didn't do a thing while I was
gone, did you? You're stagnant man.
JOHNNY
(hiding amusement)
That so?
BRUCE
You need to get out more. Have some
fun. You look about as happy right
now as a turkey on Thanksgiving.
JOHNNY
Where do you come up with these
things?
BRUCE
It's a gift.
Bruce takes another bite. He points to a curled and torn poster stapled to a pole that proclaims "THE IPSIG BROTHER'S CARNIVAL. THIS WEEKEND AT THE FAIRGROUNDS."
BRUCE (CONT'D)
Like that. A carnival. That ought
to lift your spirits.
(beat)
So to speak.
JOHNNY
A carnival. I haven't been to one
of those in
(thoughtful beat)
years.
With one finger, Johnny smoothes down the edge. He's gone.
EXT. IPSIG BROTHER'S CARNIVAL - SPIN-OUT RIDE - NIGHT (VISION)
He's seated. Strapped in. Level to the ground. The ride starts off with a jerk. Slow and deliberate in a circle. It jumps and jostles, and lifts off the ground. He throws his arms in the air. And then
EXT. IPSIG BROTHER'S CARNIVAL - MIDWAY - NIGHT (VISION)
He's in a different place and time and a P.O.V. from unknown eyes where all is jittery and spastic. Colorful and noisy.
Lights and music assault his senses. There's people close around. Packed in like sardines. Laughing and talking. They're all unusually large and foreboding. Surreal.
Firecrackers explode on all sides. One flash too close and
INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION (VISION)
He is somewhere else altogether. A place of dark and quiet.
A vertical sliver of light breaks into the black. Then there are legs, and hands and something oversized and unclear. The vision is drowned in water. And then Johnny is
EXT. BANGOR, MAINE - STREET CORNER - DAY
On the street. He drops his hand. The corner of the poster curls up.
JOHNNY
Looks like fun.
Bruce, knowing well the expression on Johnny's face, slam dunks the last of the burrito into a trash can.
BRUCE
You look real excited. What time
should I pick you up?
JOHNNY
Seven is fine.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
EXT. IPSIG BROTHER'S CARNIVAL - MIDWAY - DAY
Magic hour. A light crowd. The music is loud. The drums pound out a relentless beat. Neon lights flicker in random order.
Johnny and Bruce make their way through the maze of activity.
BRUCE
So you gonna tell me what you saw?
(his attention zooms elsewhere)
Oh hey. They got funnel cakes. I
love those.
JOHNNY
What's a funnel cake?
BRUCE
It's a flat doughnut cake-ish kind
of thing, with powdered sugar on it.
(beat)
Hey! Don't change the subject.
JOHNNY
You brought it up. I'm not sure
what it meant. But it happened here.
BRUCE
Concessions are over there.
He makes a show of pointing out the food.
JOHNNY
You're gonna waste away if you
don't get a flue cake in the next
half hour?
BRUCE
Funnel. Funnel cake. And yeah, I
need my dinner, man! I'm a growing
boy.
EXT. BIG MOUTH GAME - DAY
A JADED CARNIE dances around a wood placard bearing the image of a maniacally grinning clown. The mouth has been cut out. The Jaded Carnie runs off at the mouth with his yelled- too-many-times mantra.
JADED CARNIE
Toss a ball. Feed the clown. Win a prize!
(a fake happy laugh)
Toss a ball. Feed the clown. Win a prize!
BRUCE
Remind you of anyone?
Johnny shrugs. Then realization passes his face. He grins.
BRUCE/JOHNNY
Purdy!
Bruce smacks Johnny on the back.
BRUCE
See? We're having fun already. We
just had a moment there, you and I.
Johnny rolls his eyes, and walks away.
BRUCE (CONT'D)
I got a cousin who's afraid of
clowns. It's okay if you are too.
EXT. MIDWAY - DAY
Johnny wanders through the crowd. He sticks to the less traveled paths and avoids brushing against people. He touches random objects, but no visions come.
EXT. COTTON CANDY BOOTH - DAY
Johnny skirts the line, causing those waiting to grumble and complain. He places a hand on the side of the booth.
EXT. COTTON CANDY BOOTH - NIGHT (VISION)
His vantage point changes to the P.O.V. of the unknown eyes looking UPWARD at the window and into the face of the kindly female COTTON CANDY VENDOR who smiles back, and hands out one of the huge blue wads of spun sugar on a stick.
COTTON CANDY VENDOR
Here you go honey. Don't eat too
fast.
The sugary blue substance blots out everything else.
EXT. COTTON CANDY BOOTH - DAY
Johnny digs the palm of one hand into one eye. Shakes it off.
JOHNNY
I think it's a little girl.
BRUCE
Who? Wait. Never mind. Where to next?
EXT. PALM READER TENT - DAY
A banner proclaims "MADAME BOLIVAR. TAROT, PALM READING & FORTUNES TOLD".
Under the scarf adorned tent is a round plastic table and two chairs. There is a stack of worn tarot cards in the center next to a framed sign that reads: "I WILL KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVE. PLEASE SIT AND WAIT."
Johnny takes a seat.
BRUCE
This ought to be interesting.
MADAME BOLIVAR (40's) clad in something close to a re-sewn window dressing with a turban style hat, emerges from behind a curtain.
She swoops down into the empty chair, and stares into Johnny's eyes. The deepest wrinkles on her face are caked with makeup.
She throws her arms in the air, and makes awkward circular gestures with her hands.
MADAME BOLIVAR
(a really horrid gypsy accent)
What have you come to ask of Madame
Bolivar? A question on love? A
question on fortune? A question on
fashion?
Bruce chuckles. Johnny throws him a dirty look. Bruce stifles his laugh.
JOHNNY
I'm looking for information--
MADAME BOLIVAR
They are all looking for information
when they come to see Madame
Bolivar. Let me see your hand.
Johnny puts his hand, palm up onto the table. Madame Bolivar makes a few more odd motions. She places her hands on his.
A flash and
EXT. UNKNOWN LOCATION (VISION)
A bolt of light reveals an oversized, cheaply made stuffed lion.
EXT. PALM READER TENT - DAY
Johnny finds Madame Bolivar gyrating in her seat. Eyes shut tight, she moans and groans.
Johnny, eyes wide, looks at Bruce, who is doubled over in laughter. Johnny cannot help but allow a snort of his own.
Madame Bolivar opens one eye.
MADAME BOLIVAR
Fine. Laugh. Mock me all you wish.
But where the hell did you go just
then?
She lets go of his hand.
MADAME BOLIVAR (CONT'D)
(Jersey shore J.A.P. all the way)
We all have to make a living honey.
Some of us get in the papers and on
television, some of us end up
working a dump like this. What the
hell does someone like you need
from someone like me anyway?
JOHNNY
How about your eyes and ears. You
see any trouble? Maybe last night?
Somebody maybe beating on someone
else?
She shuffles her tarot cards, and lays a few out on the table.
MADAME BOLIVAR
A few drunk guys smacking their
girlfriends around. That happens
more than not. But that's all. I
don't have much time to notice,
y'know? I'm workin'. I get busy.
Johnny stands and drops a few dollars on the table.
She stuffs the bills into her bra.
MADAME BOLIVAR
If I experience any manifestations
I'll let you know.
BRUCE
(deadpan)
Great. Thanks.
MADAME BOLIVAR
For a kindred spirit, anything.
Johnny and Bruce leave Madame Bolivar to her tarot cards.
BRUCE
Kindred spirit. Yeah.
They head in the opposite direction.
EXT. HIGH STRIKER TEST OF STRENGTH GAME - DAY
The operator, DWAYNE (30's), a dirty man with a puffy left eye, holds up an oversized mallet. Points at Bruce with the handle.
DWAYNE
(southern accent)
You look like a live one. Come on
and see if you can't win a prize
for your girlie. You gotta be tough
to win this game. Are you tougher
than me? Come prove it. I got this
black eye--
He points to his shiner.
DWAYNE (CONT'D)
Fighting off ten men. And I won.
MADAME BOLIVAR (O.S.)
(loud but distant)
Don't listen to him. He's a liar
and a troublemaker. Worse yet--
(laughter)
He's a Taurus!
DWAYNE
Shut up old bag!
Bruce swaggers over. Johnny steps in his way. He encircles the hand Dwayne has on the mallet with his own.
EXT. HIGH STRIKER TEST OF STRENGTH GAME - NIGHT (VISION)
He sees via a P.O.V. STEEPLY TILTED UPWARD looking at the target which appears very far away. The gaze shifts and lingers on a blond haired kewpie doll.
Child-like laughter rings out. An adult woman's hands engulf a smaller pair around the handle to keep the mallet steady. It rises and falls with very little force. A buzzer sounds. They lose.
DWAYNE (O.S.)
(filtered)
Better luck next time retard.
EXT. HIGH STRIKER TEST OF STRENGTH GAME - DAY (VISION)
The P.O.V. shifts to third person.
Johnny watches as Dwayne, sans puffy eye, pinches the behind of a PETITE YOUNG WOMAN. She turns and punches him dead in the face. He covers his eye.
DWAYNE
Hey! What did I do?
EXT. HIGH STRIKER TEST OF STRENGTH GAME - DAY
Dwayne pulls his hand loose. The mallet falls to the ground.
DWAYNE
You gonna play or not? Or are you
just one of them funny guys?
JOHNNY
I don't know what you mean. But I
do know how to treat a lady. Keep
your hands to yourself and you
won't have all those shiners.
He leaves Dwayne gaping.
BRUCE
You sure told him.
JOHNNY
She had someone with her.
BRUCE
Who?
JOHNNY
The little girl. But it's not a
parent. I didn't get that. But she
needs help. Maybe all the time.
EXT. DUNK TANK - DAY
From the next attraction, a soaking wet MEAN CLOWN hoots and hollars at the top of his lungs.
MEAN CLOWN
Hey, look at the gimp. Got a big
mouth dont'cha? Bring that over
here. Hey gimpy, can you throw
better than you walk? I bet you
can't hit the side of a barn with
the side of a barn. Give us a kiss,
peg leg!
Johnny and Bruce wander over.
BRUCE
(loud at the clown)
You gonna take that from some guy
in makeup sitting two inches above
water with a wet ass?
JOHNNY
That kind of stuff doesn't bug me.
It's his job.
MEAN CLOWN
I knew it. He's a pansy. Big wussy
baby. Can't throw. Can't throw. Peg
leg, I think I love you! I'm dry,
but you're always all wet!
Bruce drops a dollar on the counter. Picks up a ball. Hands it to a reluctant Johnny.
A wave of emotion overtakes Johnny. Feelings that belonged to other people who touched it before him. Tension. Anger. Annoyance. He squeezes the ball hard. His knuckles turn white.
He aims and fires off a rocket of a shot. It hits the target. Sirens blare. The Mean Clown hits the water. A small group of passerby cheer.
The Mean Clown rises out of the water and spits out a mouthful through the wire mesh.
MEAN CLOWN
I bet you couldn't do that again,
peg leg!
They leave the Mean Clown spitting and growling in the tank. Someone pats Johnny on the shoulder.
EXT. MIDWAY (MONTAGE VISION)
Little snippets. Flashes. Disjointed. Spastic. The stuffed lion. The dark. Bright flashing lights. Something yellow. The lion. A hotdog with everything. Strawberry ice cream in a bowl.
EXT. TILT-A-WHIRL - NIGHT (VISION)
Too much light. Too much dark. Spinning out of control. A voice wails out in fear. Then two voices. Then three. Then many. But not in pain. They're having the time of their lives.
The vision shifts to third person.
Johnny hovers above the ride. He crouches mid-air and scans the group of riders for a clue. The wheel spins too fast. He can't see. He concentrates hard. A flash of pain crosses his face as a passing white light blinds him. The ride slows as does the rock music that engulfs him. The music morphs into something almost evil. A warped electronic drum beat. It pounds in Johnny's ears.
He sees men, women, and children. Nothing out of the ordinary.
He's in a seat as the ride and music jump back to normal speed.
EXT. MIDWAY - NIGHT
Johnny holds a hand to his forehead. Groans. He's disoriented.
JOHNNY
You're spinning. I'm spinning. That
hurt. I'm getting a headache. It's
too loud. Too bright. Hey, when did
it get dark?
He grimaces, doubles over and retches onto the ground. Bruce jumps back a foot.
BRUCE
Here take this.
He hands Johnny a handkerchief. Johnny wipes his mouth and chin.
JOHNNY
How do I look?
BRUCE
Perfect. You're stylin'. Really.
(a quick change of subject)
I'm still hungry. You?
JOHNNY
Don't talk about food.
Bruce takes a few jaunty steps off towards the concessions. Johnny doesn't budge. Bruce jogs in place a few steps, and motions 'come on'. He scowls and walks back.
BRUCE
What?
JOHNNY
I think--
BRUCE
You'll warn me if you're going to
chuck again.
JOHNNY
No. I'm fine.
He rubs his eyes.
BRUCE
You know what? I saw a sign for a
business office as we came in.
Let's go over there, and ask about
your girl. And while we're there,
you can sit down for a while. Or
lay down on a stretcher or something.
One with wheels. Just in case they
need to take you out of here real
quick.
FADE OUT