BETWEEN
TWO WORLDS
FADE IN:
EXT. CONCRETE TABLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM GREEN RIVER MALL - AFTERNOON
AERIAL EXTREME LONG SHOT FOCUSES IN ON A SMALL FIGURE SITTING AT A CONCRETE TABLE, WRITING, A RIVER ON ONE SIDE AND THE MALL ON THE OTHER SIDE.
EXT. CONCRETE TABLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM GREEN RIVER MALL - AFTERNOON
AERIAL EXTREME LONG SHOT FOCUSES IN ON A SMALL FIGURE SITTING AT A CONCRETE TABLE, WRITING, A RIVER ON ONE SIDE AND THE MALL ON THE OTHER SIDE.
FREDDY LOUCHE is sitting at a concrete table across the street from GREEN RIVER MALL, a huge sprawling complex. Behind him flows GREEN RIVER, which is concealed by the brush that runs along it. He is writing in a notebook.
FREDDY (V.O.)
I’m sitting at a concrete table on a strip of lawn that separates Green River
Palace from riverside, the two Americas. The one passes its time at the mall;
the other living outdoors because there ain’t nowhere else to live. I live in the
middle with my dad. I don’t know anyone from the mall world, and only one
person from riverside. I’ve brought my notebook to write some shit, this shit,
but I’m here mostly hoping that July might appear to me, because that’s what
she’s done before, just suddenly appear. But now, right now, I really need to
talk to her, but I ain’t sure she’s coming because I haven’t seen her in a while.
The first time I met July, in fact each of the three times she appeared to me, I
was at this table, smoking a cigarette thinking about just shit, you know.
I’m sitting at a concrete table on a strip of lawn that separates Green River
Palace from riverside, the two Americas. The one passes its time at the mall;
the other living outdoors because there ain’t nowhere else to live. I live in the
middle with my dad. I don’t know anyone from the mall world, and only one
person from riverside. I’ve brought my notebook to write some shit, this shit,
but I’m here mostly hoping that July might appear to me, because that’s what
she’s done before, just suddenly appear. But now, right now, I really need to
talk to her, but I ain’t sure she’s coming because I haven’t seen her in a while.
The first time I met July, in fact each of the three times she appeared to me, I
was at this table, smoking a cigarette thinking about just shit, you know.
FLASHBACK
EXT. SAME CONCRETE TABLE ACROSS FROM GREEN RIVER MALL - AFTERNOON
JULY appears out from the bushes along the river and approaches Freddy from behind. She’s dressed like a boy, Levis, a blue hoodie with the hood over her head like she’s hiding and cheapo tennis shoes. Her clothes are shabby but clean.
EXT. SAME CONCRETE TABLE ACROSS FROM GREEN RIVER MALL - AFTERNOON
JULY appears out from the bushes along the river and approaches Freddy from behind. She’s dressed like a boy, Levis, a blue hoodie with the hood over her head like she’s hiding and cheapo tennis shoes. Her clothes are shabby but clean.
JULY
Hey.
(Freddy looking around, jumpy, nervous.)
Hey.
(Freddy looking around, jumpy, nervous.)
FREDDY
Who are you?
Who are you?
JULY
July.
July.
FREDDY
July? That’s this month.
July? That’s this month.
JULY
Yeah, but it’s also my name.
Yeah, but it’s also my name.
FREDDY
That’s weird. To be named after a month.
That’s weird. To be named after a month.
JULY
I was born on the 4th of July. My mother thought the name would bring me luck.
I was born on the 4th of July. My mother thought the name would bring me luck.
FREDDY
Guess it’s good you weren’t born in October or February, huh?
Guess it’s good you weren’t born in October or February, huh?
JULY
Is that a joke?
Is that a joke?
FREDDY
Nah, I was just thinking it’s weird is all. Are you one of those fucking riverside
people?
Nah, I was just thinking it’s weird is all. Are you one of those fucking riverside
people?
JULY
Yeah, I guess I am one of those fucking riverside people, but don’t you think
riverside people makes us sound pretty freaky?
Yeah, I guess I am one of those fucking riverside people, but don’t you think
riverside people makes us sound pretty freaky?
FREDDY
Well it is, ain’t it?
Well it is, ain’t it?
JULY
Yeah, kinda but we ain’t a bunch of freaks.
Yeah, kinda but we ain’t a bunch of freaks.
FREDDY
I didn’t mean that just... Fuck I don’t know what I meant. I guess your name
didn’t bring you much luck.
I didn’t mean that just... Fuck I don’t know what I meant. I guess your name
didn’t bring you much luck.
JULY
That’s one way of looking at it.
That’s one way of looking at it.
FREDDY
I don’t see any other way to look at it. I mean you living riverside and all.
I don’t see any other way to look at it. I mean you living riverside and all.
JULY
Whatever. How about a cigarette?
Whatever. How about a cigarette?
FREDDY
Sure.
Freddy gives her a cigarette and his red Bic lighter. July lights up as if she been smoking since she was twelve, hands cupped around the lighter. Freddy watches her closely, sensitively. Close up of July’s face. Her face is tanned from being in the sun, even reddish. Her eyes are dark brown, alert but sensitive. She watches Freddy as he watches her. It is the look of a wild animal, cautiously alert. It’s as if July’s contact with Freddy is for her brief contact with a young person like herself but one living in the normal world.
Sure.
Freddy gives her a cigarette and his red Bic lighter. July lights up as if she been smoking since she was twelve, hands cupped around the lighter. Freddy watches her closely, sensitively. Close up of July’s face. Her face is tanned from being in the sun, even reddish. Her eyes are dark brown, alert but sensitive. She watches Freddy as he watches her. It is the look of a wild animal, cautiously alert. It’s as if July’s contact with Freddy is for her brief contact with a young person like herself but one living in the normal world.
JULY
Camel regulars. Pretty potent smoke!
Camel regulars. Pretty potent smoke!
FREDDY
Yeah, a gift from a friend. Actually, I don’t smoke that much, mostly with my friends
or when I come here and think about shit. You’re pretty clean and all for livin
riverside.
Yeah, a gift from a friend. Actually, I don’t smoke that much, mostly with my friends
or when I come here and think about shit. You’re pretty clean and all for livin
riverside.
JULY
Hmm.
Hmm.
CLOSE-UP of July’s face then of Freddy’s. She stares intently at Freddy while she lights up, as if trying to figure him out. Camera then focuses on JULY’S HANDS which Freddy admires because they aren’t pale and soft but suntanned, youthful but also womanly.
FREDDY
Do you actually live down there?
Do you actually live down there?
JULY
Yeah, I do. Is that so weird?
Yeah, I do. Is that so weird?
FREDDY
Well yeah it’s weird. I mean don’t you think so?
Well yeah it’s weird. I mean don’t you think so?
JULY
Maybe it is, but lots of people are livin that life. Maybe it’s more sad than weird. You
ever thought of that?
Maybe it is, but lots of people are livin that life. Maybe it’s more sad than weird. You
ever thought of that?
FREDDY
Not really.
Not really.
JULY
It don’t matter. I’ve gotten used to it.
FREDDY
So what did you do, run away?
It don’t matter. I’ve gotten used to it.
FREDDY
So what did you do, run away?
JULY
No, my mom’s boyfriend left one day. We were staying at a motel and my mom
wanted to take me to the beach because I’d never seen the ocean before.
No, my mom’s boyfriend left one day. We were staying at a motel and my mom
wanted to take me to the beach because I’d never seen the ocean before.
FLASHBACK AS TOLD BY JULY
INT. SHABBY MOTEL
INT. SHABBY MOTEL
JULY’S MOTHER
Come on, Clayton, don’t be an asshole. Let me take the Firebird to the beach. July’s
never seen the ocean.
Come on, Clayton, don’t be an asshole. Let me take the Firebird to the beach. July’s
never seen the ocean.
CLAYTON
No bitch’s gonna drive my Firebird.
No bitch’s gonna drive my Firebird.
JULY’S FLASHBACK CONTINUED
INT. CITY BUS - AFTERNOON
July’s mom looks pissed. July looks out the window, has a dreamy somewhat melancholy expression. The camera shifts from her face to the animated beach town scenery, palm trees, blue sky, exotic but not posh, more like a surfing community. Then the ocean appears with a sprinkling of sun bathers and swimmers. The sky is blue with just a scattering of white clouds.
INT. CITY BUS - AFTERNOON
July’s mom looks pissed. July looks out the window, has a dreamy somewhat melancholy expression. The camera shifts from her face to the animated beach town scenery, palm trees, blue sky, exotic but not posh, more like a surfing community. Then the ocean appears with a sprinkling of sun bathers and swimmers. The sky is blue with just a scattering of white clouds.
JULY’S FLASHBACK CONTINUED
EXT. PARKING LOT OF THE MOTEL
July and her mother get off the bus. Clayton’s Firebird is not in the parking lot.
EXT. PARKING LOT OF THE MOTEL
July and her mother get off the bus. Clayton’s Firebird is not in the parking lot.
JULY
Doesn’t look like Clayton here.
Doesn’t look like Clayton here.
JULY’S MOTHER (Stern look.)
He’s such an asshole. Out at some bar but can’t even drive us to the beach.
He’s such an asshole. Out at some bar but can’t even drive us to the beach.
JULY’S FLASHBACK CONTINUED
INT. MOTEL ROOM
July and her mother enter the hotel room. Pieces of luggage and plastic bags full of stuff are on the floor but Clayton’s stuff is gone.
INT. MOTEL ROOM
July and her mother enter the hotel room. Pieces of luggage and plastic bags full of stuff are on the floor but Clayton’s stuff is gone.
JULY
(It’s clear that Clayton has left.)
(It’s clear that Clayton has left.)
Clayton’s stuff isn’t here, Mom. Did he leave?
JULY’S MOM
That fucking asshole left us.
That fucking asshole left us.
BACK TO FREDDY’S FLASHBACK
EXT. CONCRETE TABLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM GREEN RIVER MALL – AFTERNOON
EXT. CONCRETE TABLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM GREEN RIVER MALL – AFTERNOON
JULY
That’s how we ended up on the streets.
That’s how we ended up on the streets.
FREDDY
Bummer. Clayton sounds like a real cool guy.
Bummer. Clayton sounds like a real cool guy.
JULY (Pensive.)
I knew he was an asshole when Mom brought him home. The Firebird should have
tipped her off. Only macho rednecks drive that kind of car, but those were the only
kind of guys Mom hung out with. I always hoped she’d come home with some nice
guy, you know a guy that drives a VW bus or a Datsun like the one Chris McCandless
drove, but she never did.
I knew he was an asshole when Mom brought him home. The Firebird should have
tipped her off. Only macho rednecks drive that kind of car, but those were the only
kind of guys Mom hung out with. I always hoped she’d come home with some nice
guy, you know a guy that drives a VW bus or a Datsun like the one Chris McCandless
drove, but she never did.
FREDDY
McCandless who?
McCandless who?
JULY
The guy in the story Into the Wild. I guess you don’t read much do you?
The guy in the story Into the Wild. I guess you don’t read much do you?
FREDDY
You guessed right. So was this guy McCandless a nice guy?
You guessed right. So was this guy McCandless a nice guy?
JULY
A lot nicer than Clayton.
A lot nicer than Clayton.
FREDDY
What about your dad?
What about your dad?
JULY
What about him? You’d have to ask my mother.
What about him? You’d have to ask my mother.
FREDDY
Didn’t you?”
Didn’t you?”
JULY
Of course I did, dufus. Whaddayathink?
Of course I did, dufus. Whaddayathink?
FREDDY
I don’t know. Don’t get all upset. We’re just havin a conversation.
I don’t know. Don’t get all upset. We’re just havin a conversation.
JULY
Yeah. Sorry. I’ve been on edge for a while.
Yeah. Sorry. I’ve been on edge for a while.
FREDDY
It’s understandable. I mean it can’t be easy livin the way you do.
(Behind her upfront anger and toughness July is still a girl—maybe even a little scared.)
It’s understandable. I mean it can’t be easy livin the way you do.
(Behind her upfront anger and toughness July is still a girl—maybe even a little scared.)
JULY
It wasn’t all that easy before. My dad wasn’t around long enough for my mother to get
to know him. I don’t think she knows which of the guys she was fucking at the time is
my father, but it don’t matter.
It wasn’t all that easy before. My dad wasn’t around long enough for my mother to get
to know him. I don’t think she knows which of the guys she was fucking at the time is
my father, but it don’t matter.
FREDDY
So how long you been here?
So how long you been here?
JULY
Bout a year.
Bout a year.
FREDDY
Livin riverside for year. Shit!
Livin riverside for year. Shit!
JULY
No, at first it was on the streets, in a shelter a few days, in a motel a week or two, you
know, wherever.
No, at first it was on the streets, in a shelter a few days, in a motel a week or two, you
know, wherever.
FREDDY
How did you get money?
(July takes a long drag off her cigarette and puts it out on the concrete table leaving a black smear.)
How did you get money?
(July takes a long drag off her cigarette and puts it out on the concrete table leaving a black smear.)
JULY
We just got by. Can I have another cigarette?
We just got by. Can I have another cigarette?
FREDDY
Sure.
(Freddy takes one out of the pack and lights up. Then he places the pack and the Bic in front of July.)
Sure.
(Freddy takes one out of the pack and lights up. Then he places the pack and the Bic in front of July.)
FREDDY
You can keep them.
(July gives Freddy a suspicious look, then accept the gift.)
You can keep them.
(July gives Freddy a suspicious look, then accept the gift.)
JULY
Okay, thanks.
Okay, thanks.
FREDDY
No problem. Like I said, I ain’t a big smoker. Hey would it piss you off if I asked you
how old you are?
No problem. Like I said, I ain’t a big smoker. Hey would it piss you off if I asked you
how old you are?
JULY
I think you just did.
I think you just did.
FREDDY
Yeah, I guess I did.
Yeah, I guess I did.
JULY
Sixteen.
Sixteen.
FREDDY
Fuck, were about the same age.
Fuck, were about the same age.
JULY
That means I’m older than you, right, because you can’t be seventeen.
That means I’m older than you, right, because you can’t be seventeen.
FREDDY
I guess it does, but I bet not by much. So, how does your mom handle... you know
livin riverside? There’s got to be some really creepy people down there. I’ve seen
some here that were really nutty, scary like.
I guess it does, but I bet not by much. So, how does your mom handle... you know
livin riverside? There’s got to be some really creepy people down there. I’ve seen
some here that were really nutty, scary like.
JULY
Damaged goods is what they are, Freddy. That’s what one of them told me once.
Homeless people are like merchandise that falls off a truck and gets broken and once
people see that it’s broken they just leave it because it’s broken. Worthless. Some are
more broken than others. Just the way it is.
(Freddy doesn’t respond, stares at July, enthralled.)
Damaged goods is what they are, Freddy. That’s what one of them told me once.
Homeless people are like merchandise that falls off a truck and gets broken and once
people see that it’s broken they just leave it because it’s broken. Worthless. Some are
more broken than others. Just the way it is.
(Freddy doesn’t respond, stares at July, enthralled.)
JULY
Are you still with me?
Are you still with me?
FREDDY
Yeah. I was just thinking.
Yeah. I was just thinking.
JULY
About what?
About what?
FREDDY
Just stuff.
Just stuff.
JULY
Like me?
Like me?
FREDDY
Maybe, a little. Is that bad?
Maybe, a little. Is that bad?
JULY
Depends on what you were thinking.
Depends on what you were thinking.
FREDDY
I wasn’t thinking nothing nasty. I don’t really think that kind of shit.
I wasn’t thinking nothing nasty. I don’t really think that kind of shit.
JULY
You’re a guy. All guys think nasty shit.
You’re a guy. All guys think nasty shit.
FREDDY
You’re entitled to think whatever you want.
You’re entitled to think whatever you want.
JULY
What’s your name? So I don’t have to remember you as Camel boy.
What’s your name? So I don’t have to remember you as Camel boy.
FREDDY
Freddy.
Freddy.
JULY
You’re a strange one, Freddy. You were looking right at me but it was like you didn’t
see me. Do you drift a lot?
You’re a strange one, Freddy. You were looking right at me but it was like you didn’t
see me. Do you drift a lot?
FREDDY
No. Why, you think it might be a disease?
No. Why, you think it might be a disease?
JULY (July laughs.)
Maybe but probably not a fatal... Hey, I should go. Thanks for the cigarettes and
the lighter.
Maybe but probably not a fatal... Hey, I should go. Thanks for the cigarettes and
the lighter.
FREDDY
But I was goin to ask you about your mother.
But I was goin to ask you about your mother.
JULY
Next time, Freddy. I gotta go. I'll see you around.
FREDDY
You think so?
You think so?
JULY
Sure, I’ve seen you here before. I came over today because I decided you look okay.
Sure, I’ve seen you here before. I came over today because I decided you look okay.
FREDDY
Whadaya mean okay?
Whadaya mean okay?
JULY
You’re okay. That’s all.
(July walks away toward the river, turns and waves, then disappears into the high grass and brush.)
You’re okay. That’s all.
(July walks away toward the river, turns and waves, then disappears into the high grass and brush.)
The CAMERA PULLS UP AND AWAY leaving Freddy at the table, until he almost disappears.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
BACK TO THE PRESENT
FREDDY (V.O.)
In my bones I know July ain’t gonna come back, because I’m feeling somethin’s happened
to her, but I keep coming and sit at the very same table hoping she just might show up.
Freddy opens his notebook. The pages are blank.
In my bones I know July ain’t gonna come back, because I’m feeling somethin’s happened
to her, but I keep coming and sit at the very same table hoping she just might show up.
Freddy opens his notebook. The pages are blank.
FREDDY (V.O.)
You’re probably wonderin what’s with the notebook. Well, you see I got into some
serious trouble last year and the police shrink told me to write down all the shit that
happened before. When I asked her where I should begin she said begin where things
started to go wrong. Problem is things started goin wrong in Iowa when my mother
started fucking her boss, so I figure I’ll start a year ago...4th of July because I
remember getting jumped that day. It seems July wasn’t a lucky month for me or July.
You’re probably wonderin what’s with the notebook. Well, you see I got into some
serious trouble last year and the police shrink told me to write down all the shit that
happened before. When I asked her where I should begin she said begin where things
started to go wrong. Problem is things started goin wrong in Iowa when my mother
started fucking her boss, so I figure I’ll start a year ago...4th of July because I
remember getting jumped that day. It seems July wasn’t a lucky month for me or July.
