Blow
The engine is on and the propeller is spinning. Kevin is at the controls. Tuna is not making the trip. He pokes his head in before shutting the cockpit.
TUNA You guys are fucking insane.
George reads from a flight manual.
GEORGE Alright, pull back the throttle…
The engine screams.
GEORGE (CONT’D) Not that far, only halfway. You sure you know what you’re doing?
KEVIN Relax. I’ve flown with my old man a million times. And he always told me, the taking off part is easy, it’s the landing you’ve got to worry about.
EXT. SANTIAGO FARM – MEXICO – 1968 – DAY
The plane tries to land. It’s a clumsy one. The Cessna is tipping and touching, first one wheel, then another, almost sideways before straightening out and stopping. George and Kevin hop out of the plane. They are greeted by Santiago and the Mexican contingency.
AMIGOS Hola, George! Bienvenido!
George hands out presents to everyone. He’s like Santa Claus, giving gifts to every man, woman and child. They love him. Santiago pumps George’s hand.
SANTIAGO Good to see you, Jorge. You are a man of your word.
GEORGE Actually, I’ve got some news. That fifty thousand I promised you, I couldn’t get it.
George throws Santiago a duffel bag.
GEORGE (CONT’D) So I brought you sixty.
EXT. DRY LAKE BEDS – TWENTY-NINE PALMS, CA. – 1968 – DUSK
Rada sits in the Winnebago and keeps flashing the headlights. Barbara, Tuna, and Maria stand on top of the Winnebago waving big, white towels. The plane descends from the sky and touches down, making another extremely shaky landing.
INT. FOREAL’S HOUSE – MANHATTAN BEACH – 1968 – NIGHT
It’s on the water and beautiful. The furnishings are distinctly Derek Foreal. It’s a surreal scene. The holiday decorations are up, TOPLESS WOMEN in elf outfits sip champagne, and a thousand pounds of cannabis lays on the living room floor.
GEORGE Are you sure you want to do this in front of everyone?
DEREK Don’t be ridiculous, these are my babies.
George empties the pot all over the floor.
DEREK (CONT’D) George, you’re a genius. We’re rich. Come, children.
The girls dive on top of Derek, caressing and kissing him.
DEREK (CONT’D) George, get my camera.
Derek poses with a load of marijuana like it’s a new fur.
DEREK (CONT’D) Take a picture of me, George. Take a picture of me with my new friends. It’ll be a fabulous Christmas card.
INT. VILLA – PUERTO VALLARATA – 1970 – DAY
A Mexican Real Estate Agent shows Barbara and George a sprawling Villa in Puerto Vallarta. It’s amazing. White marble on the water. George looks at Barbara.
GEORGE Should we buy it?
BARBARA Are you kidding?
GEORGE We’ll take it.
EXT. VILLA – PUERTO VALLARATA – 1970 – MAGIC HOUR
The team is there. All of them. George, Barbara, Kevin, Rada, Tuna, Maria and Derek with a couple of new senorita friends. They all wear identical Mexican sombreros. A MEXICAN BOY approaches them with a camera.
MEXICAN BOY Picture?
They pose, their arms thrown around each other in camaraderie, and FLASH. The picture freezes and WE DISSOLVE.
INT. THE BUGGY WHIP – WEYMOUTH – 1972 – NIGHT
George is taking Barbara and his parents out to dinner. The Buggy Whip is Ermine’s favorite.
ERMINE I just can’t get over the size of that ring. I just love it. Fred, look at it. Tell me you don’t love that ring.
FRED I’m just happy that George has found someone he cares for.
ERMINE Yes. Of course. But, I’m talking about that ring. It’s something else. Let me tell you.
BARBARA George has exquisite taste.
ERMINE What is that, two carats? That’s got to be two carats.
BARBARA I don’t know.
ERMINE Yes. It’s at least two carats, darling. Treasure it.
FRED Hard to imagine being able to afford a ring like that on a construction salary.
All eyes turn to George, who fumbles.
GEORGE Well, you know. It’s um…
ERMINE Oh, shut up, Fred. Shut your big fat mouth. You don’t buy it all at once. It’s called layaway.
FRED Layaway shmayaway.
ERMINE That’s right. Layaway. Something you wouldn’t know anything about, you cheapskate.
FRED Who’s the cheapskate?
ERMINE You, you big old tightwad. He still has his communion money. Tell him, George. Tell your father about layaway.
GEORGE Yeah, layaway.
ERMINE The boy is happy, Fred. Don’t be such a killjoy.
FRED Killjoy?
George looks to Barbara, whose nose is bleeding.
GEORGE Honey, your nose!
BARBARA Oh my G-d, I’m so sorry.
ERMINE Barbara, here, take my napkin.
BARBARA Thanks. I’ll be okay.
GEORGE You wanna split?
BARBARA Yeah, I don’t feel so well.
GEORGE Okay, guys, we’re gonna leave. Let’s get the check.
EXT. THE BUGGY WHIP – WEYMOUTH – 1972 – LATER
George and Barbara exit the restaurant.
GEORGE Are you sure you’re okay? You’re pale.
BARBARA I feel like shit. Me and my frigging nosebleeds.
GEORGE I’m taking you to the doctor when we get home, and I don’t want to hear any arguments.
BARBARA Would you be bummed out if I didn’t go to Chicago with you?
GEORGE No, not at all. Sure. You’re right. You fly home and get some rest.
BARBARA Nice first impression. A nose bleed in front of your parents.
GEORGE Oh my G-d, how embarrassing were they? I wanted to shoot myself.
BARBARA Oh, they weren’t that bad. I mean, they were kind of cute.
GEORGE Promise me that we’ll never be like them. I don’t want to wind up like that.
BARBARA Relax, baby. We’re going to wind up like us.
INT. POLICE STATION – CHICAGO – 1972 – DAY
SUPERIMPOSE
MUG SHOTS of George. Left, right, center. George sits handcuffed to a chair. Piles of marijuana bricks roll past him.
GEORGE (V.O.) I had a little problem in Chicago. Something about trying to sell a truckload of dope to an undercover officer. So I applied the three rules of the game under if and when arrested.
INT. COOK COUNTY COURTHOUSE – CHICAGO – 1972 – DAY
George and his COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY stand before the JUDGE at the arraignment.
GEORGE (V.O.) Rule one: don’t fight. A trial will cost you a fortune in lawyer’s fees and the jury will chop off your balls and hand them to you on a platter.
JUDGE George Jung, you have been accused of possession of six-hundred and sixty pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute. How do you plead?
GEORGE (V.O.) Rule two: plead not guilty and get bailed out of jail.
GEORGE (CONT’D) Your honor, I’d like to say a few words to the court.
The court appointed attorney puts his head in his hands.
JUDGE By all means.
GEORGE In all honesty, I don’t feel like what I’ve done is a crime and I think it’s illogical and irresponsible for you to sentence me to prison. None of the real criminals of the world ever end up behind bars. I mean, when you think about it, what did I really do? Cross an imaginary line with a bunch of plants? You say that I’m an outlaw, you say that I’m a thief, but where’s the Christmas dinner for the people on relief?
George stops when his attorney stamps on his foot. The court officers roll their eyes and the judge smiles.
