| The Peter
Leroy Television Series Pilot
Chapter 14, I Have Met the Enemy, in which Peter fears that it really is all his fault |
by Eric
Kraft
|
In Babbington, the series will run exclusively on
WCLM-TV.
|
EXT. A SHORE ROAD. ANYWHERE. DAY. Albertine
and Peter driving along in a Studebaker convertible, Peter at the wheel.
He is forced to bring the car to a screeching stop when they come to an enormous pile of sand, blocking their way.My darling, we’re on our way.PETERMaking our getaway.ALBERTINE(delighted)And soon we’ll be happy . . . somewhere else . . .PETER Peter gets out of the car, astonished by this pile of sand.Oh . . .ALBERTINE(disappointed, but not entirely surprised)What the hell is this?PETERA very big pile of sand.ALBERTINE In a take-charge manner, Peter strides to the trunk, flings it open, and roots around in it for something.But, on a metaphorical level, it represents all the mistakes we’ve made.ALBERTINE (CONT’D.) Peter slams the trunk shut and strides forward, carrying a child’s tiny toy shovel.There they are, heaped upon the road ahead of us, the sands of error . . .ALBERTINE (CONT’D.) Peter digs furiously, determined to get past this pile of sand and on to a bright future. He sees a large shovelful of sand being tossed onto the pile from the other side.. . . blocking the way.ALBERTINE (CONT’D.) Another large shovelful of sand is tossed onto the pile.Hey! Hey, cut that out!PETER(angry, calling to the unseen shoveler) Peter walks around the pile, carrying his little child’s shovel as if it were a weapon, to see who is throwing sand onto the pile, and to do battle with him if necessary.What the hell are you doing?PETER There, on the other side of the pile, is a BIGGER PETER, adding sand to the pile, using a really big shovel. The alarm clock rings. It’s a loud, jarring note.You want to escape?BIGGER PETER(sneering, challenging)Um . . . get away . . . from it all.PETEROver my dead body.BIGGER PETER(brandishing the shovel) CUT TO:
INT. PETER AND ALBERTINE’S BEDROOM. EARLY MORNING.
Peter and Albertine both snap bolt upright. The day must begin.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE SMALL’S ISLAND DOCK. MORNING. The three guests
are preparing to board the “launch.” DICK and JANE have checked out.
They’re saying goodbye to Albertine, and they’re genuinely reluctant to
go. Peter is putting their bags on board. As he works, he overhears
their goodbye. So does LOU. Lou has a duffel bag over his shoulder.
Oh . . . I really don’t want to go.JANEWe’ll be back in October.DICK(comforting her)We will?JANE(surprised, pleased)I’ve already made the reservation.DICK(to Albertine)Thanks for everything. Staying here has really meant something to us.We’ll see you in October!JANE(as she leaves)If the place is still standing.ALBERTINE(muttering to herself) CUT TO:
EXT. BOLOTOMY BAY. MORNING. Peter at the wheel of
the “launch,” taking the guests to Babbington. Dick and Jane are
sitting in the bow with their arms around each other.
Lou laughs; he really thinks Peter is a funny guy.You should be flattered.LOU(nudging Peter)Flattered? Why?PETERThey’re experiencing a sense of loss.LOUAnd the flattering part?PETERThey were happy. They’ll remember it.LOUHoney, remember that little hell-hole with the leaking roof and dying boiler?PETER(imitating Jane’s voice)We must celebrate the ends of things, or there is no rhythm to our lives.LOU(the philosophical bartender)You’re right, Lou. About the ends of things. “This, too, shall pass.” . . . Or as Baldy the Dummy likes to put it, “Cheer up! Nobody lives forever!”PETER(as if suddenly cheered) CUT TO:
EXT. BABBINGTON TOWN DOCK. A FEW MINUTES LATER.
More goodbyes. Lou gives Peter a hearty both-hands handshake.
Lou hops onto the dock, and Peter heads back to the island.See you later, buddy!LOUWhen do you want me to come get you?PETERDon’t worry about me. I’ll get a ride.LOU CUT TO:
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||
 Here
are a couple of swell ideas from Eric Kraft's vivacious publicist, Candi
Lee Manning.
You'll find more swell ideas from Candi Lee here. |
Tip the author. You can toss a little something Kraft's way through the Amazon.com Honor System or PayPal.
Copyright © 2002 by Eric
Kraft
The scripts for The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy Television Series are works of fiction. The characters, incidents, dialogues, settings, and businesses portrayed in it are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this teleplay may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. The illustration at the top of the page is an adaptation of an illustration by Stewart Rouse that first appeared on the cover of the August 1931 issue of Modern Mechanics and Inventions. The boy at the controls of the aerocycle doesn’t particularly resemble Peter Leroy—except, perhaps, for the smile. |
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