"MY MOTHER DREAMS
THE SATAN'S DISCIPLES IN NEW YORK"
FADE IN:
EXT. SOUTH DAKOTAN FARM - DAY
A lone farmhouse sits isolated against a prairie backdrop,
silhouetted by a marbled dawn sky.
INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
MARIAN PETERSON, a gray-haired woman in her late sixties,
meticulously packs a suitcase. She picks up a small, framed
PHOTO from a chest-of-drawers and holds it up to her.
INSERT - PHOTO
It's a picture of a man about Marian's age. He has a sweet
natured smile on his face. Marian looks at it longingly,
then packs it carefully in her suitcase between some sweaters
and closes it up.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
A paint-chipped truck rounds the corner on a dirt road
leading into the farm.
Marian, waiting on the porch, ready to go, rises and waves.
A FEW MOMENTS LATER -
Marian's son, STEVE, dressed in jeans and flannel shirt,
loads his mother's single piece of luggage into the bed of
the truck, climbs back into the cab, where his mother is
sitting, and drives off.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. THE SKY - DAY
A JETLINER descending in the hot, cerulean sky.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL - AFTERNOON
Marian, looking a little forlorn and out of sorts, stands out
by the taxi area with her suitcase on a tote, looking around
for a cab, unsure what to do.
CURBSIDE - A FEW MINUTES LATER
MISCHA, a somewhat dissolute-looking Russian cabbie in his
thirties, roughhouses Marian's single piece of luggage into
the dirty, cluttered trunk of his cab.
INT. TAXI - DAY
Marian is sitting in the back of the cab as Mischa opens the
driver's side door and slams it shut, rattling Marian's
nerves.
MISCHA
(brusquely)
Where to?
MARIAN
Are you sure you got my bag in?
MISCHA
What do you think? I left it on the
curb?
MARIAN
I'm sorry, I'm a little nervous. It's my
first time in New York. Just a minute.
Marian fumbles with a piece of paper she's rooted out of her
purse.
Mischa, annoyed, slams the shift lever into Drive and lurches
off.
Marian leans forward into the rectangular opening of the
Plexiglas partition.
MARIAN
I want to go to 526 East 5TH. That's in
the East Village. My daughter said it
would cost thirty dollars.
In the REAR-VIEW MIRROR we glimpse Mischa giving Marian a sly
look.
CUT TO:
EXT. LOCATION - DAY
The TAXI passes on a turnpike, streaming with vehicles,
headed toward Manhattan. DRIVE-BY TRANSITION.
INT. TAXI - DAY
Hurtling along. Marian cranes her head through the partition
and attempts to strike up a conversation with the surly
cabbie.
MARIAN
I came to New York to visit my youngest
daughter.
MISCHA
And where is she?
MARIAN
She would have come to the airport to
meet me - she wanted to - but ... but,
she just started a new job and, well, I
guess no one drives here.
MISCHA
So, you come here all by yourself?
MARIAN
Uh, yes. My husband passed away recently
...
MISCHA
... Oh ...
MARIAN
... And the children thought I should
take a trip.
MISCHA
Yeah.
MARIAN
I'm from South Dakota. Where are you
from?
MISCHA
Moscow.
MARIAN
Ohhh. Do you know the East Village?
MISCHA
Oh, yeah ... yeah ... it's a hellhole.
MARIAN
(disconcerted)
You mean it's dangerous?
MISCHA
Nah, not dangerous. Not that dangerous.
(beat)
Not during the day.
Mischa chuckles as Marian sits back in the cab.
ANGLE ON MARIAN -
looking out the window, her face clouded with consternation.
EXT. BRIDGE - DAY
Cars pouring into Manhattan over one of the many bridges
spanning the East River.
CUT TO:
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET AND 2ND AVENUE - DAY
The cab brakes to a halt, bringing Marian INTO THE FRAME, her
face strickened with fear.
Marian climbs out of the cab as Mischa, in the background,
opens the trunk to retrieve her bag. Marian, taking in the
foreign surroundings, seems confused about something.
MARIAN
Pardon me, Mischa. Is this 526 East 5TH
Street?
Mischa closes the trunk and approaches Marian with her one
piece of luggage on a tote.
MISCHA
No, no. Sorry, I can't drive you to
door. There's a roadblock on Avenue B
...
(he gestures down the street)
right there ...
MARIAN'S AND MISCHA'S P.O.V. -
At the far end of the block, we SEE a movable, blue NYPD
roadblock.
BACK -
The two of them, Marian looking puzzled.
MISCHA
This is one-way street. You go down the
block to the middle.
MARIAN
(pointing uncertainly)
This way?
MISCHA
Yeah. Not far. You will be fine.
(beat)
It's still day.
He chuckles to himself, but Marian doesn't get the joke.
MARIAN
I see. How much?
MISCHA
Forty-five all total.
MARIAN
Forty-five? I thought it was only
supposed to be thirty?
MISCHA
Thirty is base price. Tolls, tax, tip
... it all adds up.
Marian unsnaps her wallet and grudgingly hands the
disreputable cabbie two twenties and a five.
Mischa takes the money and starts away. Halfway back to his
cab, he turns around and calls out to Marian, who stands
frozen on the dilapidated street.
MISCHA
Hey, lady.
(Marian turns)
Hold purse like this.
Mischa hugs an imaginary purse close to his side. Marian
apes his advice in all seriousness.
MISCHA
(nodding approval)
Good luck.
Mischa climbs back into his cab and peels off.
NEW ANGLE -
HIGH DOWN WIDE of Marian standing forlornly at the end of the
street, a Dayton's shopping bag in one hand, her luggage
strapped to the tote in the other.
TITLE IS SUPERIMPOSED:
MY MOTHER DREAMS THE SATAN'S DISCIPLES IN NEW YORK
CUT TO:
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - DAY - A FEW MINUTES LATER
Marian pulling her luggage apprehensively down the street.
She passes THE SQUATTERS, a motley group of homeless
teenagers, pierced, tattooed, wild hairdos and even wilder
attire.
SQUATTER #1
Hey, lady, can you help us out with some
change today?
Marian, shocked by their circumstances, rolls her luggage
past them, smiling faintly.
SQUATTER #2
Come on. Every little bit helps. A
little food, you know?
MARIAN
Maybe some other time.
SQUATTER #1
Thanks a lot anyway.
Marian continues on. She's distracted by ...
A WOMAN in her thirties, who looks like she hasn't slept in a
week, bent over the railing of a second-story fire escape
balcony, in the throes of a veritable rage.
WOMAN IN A RAGE
You forgot your fucking plant, you
fucking asshole!
Marian stares up at her, even more disconcerted than ever.
The enraged woman continues her tirade at an unseen old
boyfriend below.
WOMAN IN A RAGE
And there's a lot of other shit in there
you forgot. Just wait there, I'm going
to go fucking get it for you, all right?
No, just wait there! Do you want me to go
get it for you? Well, why don't I just
do that, huh? I'm going to do that right
now!
Marian looks away and, intrepid Midwesterner that she is,
pushes on.
A MAN, dressed strangely, stands surreally in the middle of
the street, blowing huge clouds of cigarette smoke.
A GAY COUPLE parade past, laughing hysterically.
NEW ANGLE - AT THE END OF THE STREET -
A PACK of unmufflered, chrome-coruscating HARLEYS round the
corner in a ear-shattering approach.
MARIAN -
stops dead in her tracks and stares in heartstopping terror.
ACROSS THE STREET -
The BIKERS, wearing their club's colors embroidered on blue
jeans, and leather, vests, back their motorcycles in a
uniform row against the curb, kill their engines, park them
at an angle on their kickstands, and dismount.
They high-five a biker known as the DISCIPLE PROSPECT, a
small, mean-looking man with a red bandana tied taut over his
head, and then disappear into the windowless clubhouse,
passing through a large, forbidding, black door with the
skeleton of Death riding a motorcycle painted on it.
The Disciple Prospect tosses the butt of a cigarette into a
rusted steel drum and flames erupt.
MARIAN -
in horror, cannot pry her eyes away from them.
NEW ANGLE -
An upstairs window on a six-story, red-brick co-op building.
PAULA, Marian's daughter, a pretty woman with short dark
hair, is leaning out the window, waving.
PAULA
Mom! Hi! I'll be right down.
EXT. THE FRONT SECURITY DOOR - A FEW MOMENTS LATER
Paula emerges to greet her mother.
Marian glances one last time across the street and exchanges
oblique looks with the Disciple Prospect, now parked on a
stool next to the burning drum. He seems to home in on her.
INT. CO-OP - TWILIGHT - A FEW MOMENTS LATER
A nice, one-bedroom co-op, tastefully furnished. Paula is
unpacking Marian's things. Marian stands in the middle of
the apartment, feeling relaxed, if still a bit shaken, for
the first time since she arrived.
PAULA
So, what do you think?
MARIAN
Well, once you're inside, it's nice.
PAULA
You don't like where I live?
Marian walks over to the window and peers out.
MARIAN
Well, when I walked up the block, I ...
well, my word!
PAULA
That's New York. It looks rundown, but
it's safe during the day. You'll get
used to it.
Marian returns her gaze to the view out the window.
EXT. STREET - TWILIGHT - MARIAN'S P.O.V. -
Out the window. Two BIKERS stand with their arms
crisscrossed against their leather-vested chests, framing the
burning drum on the sidewalk, guarding the phalanx of
Harleys.
CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT - LATER
Paula and Marian are sitting at the dining table. They're
studying one of those plastic laminated maps of New York that
you can buy everywhere. Paula is attempting to acquaint her
mother with Manhattan's complex public transportation system.
PAULA
You take the M-15 bus all the way to ...
79TH Street. And then you take the
crosstown bus to 5TH Avenue, and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art is right
there. You can't miss it.
Marian removes her glasses and fixes her gaze on her
daughter.
MARIAN
I wanted to ask you something. Those
motorcycles across the street ...?
PAULA
Uh-huh?
MARIAN
... What are they all doing there?
PAULA
That's the Satan's Disciples' New York
headquarters.
MARIAN
(alarmed)
The motorcycle gang? Don't they deal
drugs and rape young girls?
PAULA
I've never had any problem with them.
People say it's the safest block in the
East Village.
(lays a reassuring hand on her
mother's arm)
I just hope their motorcycles don't keep
you up at night.
CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
CRANE UP to Marian lying wide awake on a convertible sofa
next to the street window. We (Marian!) hear VOICES,
MOTORCYCLES REVVING, POLICE SIRENS, followed by what sounds
like GUNFIRE, tires SCREECHING, a cacophony of sounds typical
of summer nights in the East Village.
We go UP and OVER Marian toward the window as imaginary
voices flood in and become intelligible.
RANDOM VOICES (O.S.)
Did that shipment of heroin come in?
That old lady see them?
We can kill her if we have to.
RAUCOUS LAUGHTER erupts.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT - MONTAGE
A Kenneth Anger Scorpio Rising-like MONTAGE:
A black-booted foot kick-starts a Harley.
A gleaming chrome exhaust pipe vibrates and spits smoke.
A black-gloved hand revs a handle-bar accelerator.
A helmet is pulled down over a Hun-like face.
Flames roar in the steel drum as though a signpost in Hell.
One of the DISCIPLES, bare-chested, long-haired, sweating,
swings a baseball bat and calls out to Marian in a singsong
voice:
BIKER
Oh, Marian ...
Another half-naked BIKER, arms tattooed up and down, has
Marian's suitcase open and is scattering her belongings out
into the street. He finds the framed photo of her deceased
husband and tosses it to the pavement. He raises his head
slowly with a sneer and looks up at ...
MARIAN -
standing in the window in her nightgown, a hand covering her
mouth, looking down in utter terror on the fire-lit tableaux
of her nightmare.
THE BIKER ON THE STREET -
starts stomping on the photo with the heel of his boot,
shattering the glass. Then he removes the photo from the
frame and slowly drops it into the roaring conflagration in
the oil drum.
The other dawdling Disciples guffaw loudly.
SLAM CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
Marian wakes with a start, consciousness giving way to a sigh
of relief.
FADE TO:
EXT. CO-OP BUILDING - DAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT of Paula's red-brick co-op, splashed with
sunlight and framed by a bright blue sky.
INT. CO-OP - DAY
It's quiet in the co-op. Marian is dusting the bookshelves
and humming to herself.
Behind a shelf of books she discovers a PHOTO ENVELOPE with
some snapshots in them. Curious, she has a look-see.
SNAPSHOTS -
flipping through Marian's hands. They chronicle Paula and a
BOYFRIEND on a recent vacation to a Caribbean island. Marian
is amused by them ... until she comes to one showing Paula
with her bathing suit top off, arms raised giddily in the
air.
MARIAN -
gasps, then blushes and quickly replaces the pictures.
INT. CO-OP - DAY - LATER
Marian is at the window, peering through the furling
curtains.
EXT. STREET - DAY - MARIAN'S P.O.V. -
Looking down on the Satan's Disciples' clubhouse. Two BIKERS
and their GIRLFRIENDS swagger out of the clubhouse, don their
helmets, mount their bikes, kick-start them to life and roar
off down the street.
MARIAN -
draws away from the window. She picks up her "Streetwise
Manhattan" laminated map, puts her glasses on, looks at it,
debating whether to tackle the streets of New York or not.
A FEW MINUTES LATER -
Marian, determined now to get out of the co-op, pulls her
purse over her shoulder and grips it like the cabbie
instructed. Then she moves to the front door, opens it, and
steps warily out into the hallway. She freezes when she
HEARS THUNDERING FOOTSTEPS.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Marian cowers against the half-open door as a young MAN,
wearing faded jeans, black cowboy boots, and leather vest
over a naked torso, comes charging down the stairs pulled by
a frothing, pent-up BULLDOG on a leash.
As he passes, Marian retreats quickly back into her unit,
closes the door, and locks the locks from inside.
CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
Paula is hanging up her coat and setting down her briefcase,
an incredulous expression on her face, looking at ...
Marian, sitting in a chair by the window, leafing through a
magazine.
PAULA
(mildly rebuking)
You didn't leave the house all day?
Marian shrugs.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEW YORK - DUSK
Manhattan skyscrapers framed against a twilit sky.
INT. RESTAURANT/BAR - NIGHT
Marian and Paula are sitting at the bar. They each have a
glass of white wine in front of them. Paula is looking at
some PHOTOS of the farm that Marian has brought along.
MARIAN
Would you look at those strawberries.
They made the best jam.
(passes Paula the photos)
Here are some more pictures of the farm.
Crops were unbelievable this year.
Paula continues to browse through the snaps.
MARIAN
Plenty of rain. Your dad would have been
happy with that.
Marian removes a pill from a small vial she's rummaged out of
her purse and slips it discreetly into her mouth.
MARIAN
I just can't seem to focus on anything
these days.
PAULA
(turning to her mother)
That's why it's good you came to visit
me.
MARIAN
(washing her pill down with
some wine)
How are you doing sweetheart?
PAULA
I'm good.
MARIAN
Dating anyone?
PAULA
No, I'm working too much, I don't have
time.
MARIAN
What about the fellow in those pictures?
PAULA
What pictures?
MARIAN
You know ...
(raises both hands in the air)
... whoops!
PAULA
(blushing)
Mother!
MARIAN
Well, they were right out in plain view.
PAULA
Behind the books.
MARIAN
But I was dusting.
PAULA
(reluctantly explaining)
I was seeing Aaron and there were some
... complications.
MARIAN
He seemed quite taken with you.
PAULA
I don't want to talk about it.
MARIAN
(hurt)
You know, you never tell me anything.
PAULA
That's not true.
(lays a placating hand on her
mother's arm)
Besides, I don't want you dusting. I
want you to see New York.
CUT TO:
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - NIGHT
Marian and Paula, arm-in-arm, walk down the block back to her
building.
A MOTORCYCLE rounds the corner, slows to a crawl, and one of
the Satan's Disciples stares over at the two of them as if
casing them out. Paula won't look at him, but Marian can't
avert her gaze.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
Marian lying awake in bed, the ENGINES of the Disciples'
Harleys deafening ...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. SATAN'S DISCIPLES' CLUBHOUSE - NIGHT
DOLLY ACROSS a line of idling Harleys, the bikers, one at a
time in succession, switching their single-beam headlights
on.
PAN ACROSS the FACES of the Disciples, mounted on their
cycles, dark helmets, faded blue jeans jackets embroidered
with elaborate stitching of their club's insignia, cigarettes
dangling from their hirsute mouths, baleful-looking
countenances, revving their engines loudly, tauntingly.
NEW ANGLE -
From across the street, Marian, appearing like an apparition
in her nightgown, surreally walks toward them, a beseeching
look on her face.
MARIAN
Excuse me. Could you please turn your
motorcycles off? They're so loud, I
can't sleep.
GO TO SLOW MOTION as the BIKERS, some ten in number, slowly
approach the frail-looking Marian. Gently, they pick her up
off the ground and raise her aloft. Then, like some moving
human bier, they carry her through the forbidding black door
into their clubhouse.
INT. CLUBHOUSE - NIGHT
We follow Marian down a dark corridor leading into the bowels
of the clubhouse.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DREAM CORRIDOR - NIGHT
At the end of another corridor, a MAN stands, silhouetted
against an explosion of blue light. As we near the ghostly
figure, we REALIZE it's Marian's deceased husband.
There's a GUN SHOT.
SLAM CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
Marian wakes with a start, clutching a hand to her breast.
INT. KITCHEN - A FEW MOMENTS LATER
Marian shakes a Valium out of a vial, puts it into her mouth,
swallows it with a drink of orange juice.
FADE TO:
INT. PAULA'S CO-OP - THE NEXT DAY
Marian, not wanting to be a disappointment to her daughter,
damn her fears, gathers her purse up and starts out the door.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Marian is again prevented from an easy exit when a young, hip
looking COUPLE come bounding down the stairs. As she stands
at her open door to let them pass, they completely ignore her
as if she didn't exist.
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - DAY - A FEW MOMENTS LATER
Seen from Marian's perspective across the street, the front
of the Satan's Disciples headquarters is quiet. There are
only a couple Harleys parked out front.
Marian, relieved that there are no bikers out, hurries off in
the direction of First Avenue, determined to see the sights
of the city.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - DAY - MONTAGE
A giddy, almost dreamlike, MONTAGE of Marian touring New
York. She's SUPERIMPOSED over famous landmarks, as if she
were standing stationery and the city were in a diorama
rotating all around her. The Empire State Building; Circle
Cruise Line; eating a hot dog from a street vendor; shopping
at Macy's. Marian beams as she is magically whisked along,
walking on air.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - DAY
Marian comes INTO THE FRAME around the corner. She has a
spring in her step and a broad smile emblazoning her face.
But her sanguine mood is quickly shattered when she HEARS
shouting. She freezes in her tracks.
ACROSS THE STREET - THE SATAN'S DISCIPLES HEADQUARTERS -
The Disciple Prospect and another Biker are roughing up a
teenage KID, wrestling him into submission.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
You're just chilling, huh? Not on this
block, do you understand?
MARIAN -
at the security door of Paula's building. She rummages
anxiously through her purse, but she can't find her keys!
MARIAN
Oh, no.
Marian glances across the street, her face tensed with fear.
ACROSS THE STREET -
The Bikers continue to roughhouse the Kid. The Disciple
Prospect brandishes a plastic bag under his nose.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
What's this, huh?
KID
I ain't got shit on me.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
What is that? You're chilling, man?
Well, then maybe we need to warm things
up for you, man. How many times do we
got to tell you? You don't listen and
you don't learn and that's the problem.
That is the problem.
MARIAN -
turns away from the escalating violence across the street and
punches one of the buttons on the intercom. A WOMAN'S VOICE
crackles over it.
WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Hello?
MARIAN
My daughter lives here and I'm her mother
and I've lost my keys.
There's no answer.
MARIAN
Hello? Hello?
Marian returns her frightened gaze to the altercation across
the street.
ACROSS THE STREET - MARIAN'S P.O.V.
Two more DISCIPLES emerge from the clubhouse. One of them
squirts lighter fluid on the fire burning in the steel drum
and the flames explode. Then KID is dragged over toward the
fire. The Disciple Prospect drags him dangerously close to
the flames.
DISCIPLE
Roast him!
KID
(screaming)
All right all right all right.
MARIAN -
petrified, as if she'd stepped into a re-enactment of a
passage out of Revelations, walks briskly down to the middle
of the block toward a pay phone.
DISCIPLES CLUBHOUSE -
The Disciples kick the drug-dealing Teenager a couple more
times, then set him free, laughing as he flees down the block
in mortal fear.
PAY PHONE -
Marian drops the appropriate coins in the coin slot and dials
a number from memory.
MARIAN
(quavery voice)
Yes, is Paula there? ... Could you leave
her a message, please? Tell her it's
urgent.
(gathers herself)
Her mother has lost her keys and is
stranded on the street with the Satan's
Disciples ... When she comes back, would
you tell her to come home as quickly as
she can? ... Thank you.
Marian hangs up the phone and turns, quails in terror.
NEW ANGLE -
The Disciple Prospect is towering over her, staring down at
her with a scowl on his face.
MARIAN
Oh, please, don't hurt me.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
I just need to use the phone, lady.
MARIAN
Oh, let me get out of your way then.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
What happened? Did you lose your keys?
MARIAN
(withdrawing anxiously)
Have a nice day.
WIDE SHOT -
Marian walks quickly ACROSS THE FRAME. As she EXITS RIGHT,
the Disciple Prospect ENTERS LEFT and trails after her.
EXT. PAULA'S BUILDING - DAY - A FEW MOMENTS LATER
Marian is at the front entrance, uncertain what to do. She
quailss when the Disciple Prospect approaches. Without a
word, he reaches his arm over her and presses a buzzer to one
of the units.
WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Hello.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
Washing machine repairman.
The DOOR BUZZES almost at once, and the Disciple Prospect
pushes it in and holds it open until Marian is safely inside.
He looks at her a little annoyed. Marian is absolutely
nonplussed.
CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP HALLWAY - LATER THAT DAY
Paula comes running up the stairs. She stops when she SEES:
MARIAN -
sitting on the floor, propped against the door to their unit.
Paula shakes her head reprovingly at her mother who just
shrugs, chagrined.
INT. CO-OP - BATHROOM - NIGHT - LATER
Paula is in the bathroom. She has her mother's vial of
Valium in her hand.
PAULA
Maybe you should lay low tomorrow. I'm
going to see if I can get off early and
maybe we can take the ferry cruise.
Okay?
LIVING ROOM -
Marian is standing at the window looking down on the street.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT - MARIAN'S P.O.V.
The Disciples are backing their bikes against the curb,
parking them, and filing into the clubhouse.
BATHROOM -
Paula dispenses the remaining pills into the palm of her
hand.
PAULA
(to herself)
Three left.
LIVING ROOM -
Marian looking apprehensively down at the Disciples'
headquarters, stupefied.
Paula emerges from the bathroom in the background. Marian
doesn't turn to acknowledge her. She continues to stare
transfixed at the bikes and the fire-burning oil drum.
PAULA
(softer)
Okay? Does that sound like a plan?
Marian doesn't answer.
Paula stands some distance from her distracted mother, a
worried expression featured on her face.
FADE TO:
INT. CO-OP - DAY
Looking through the security eyepiece, a FISH-EYE LENS SHOT
of an attractive, but distraught woman in her twenties,
puffing a cigarette, eyes red and swollen from crying.
MARIAN
Who is it?
MARIKA
It's Marika. Is Paula there?
MARIAN
She's at work. I'm her mother.
MARIKA
Oh. I thought today was Saturday.
Marian, seemingly reassured, opens the door for her. She
sees Marika, realizes she's upset about something, and feels
immediately compassionate toward her.
MARIKA
I'm sorry. I had a wretched night.
MARIAN
Oh. You need a cappuccino.
And she lets Marika in.
INT. CO-OP - DAY - A FEW MINUTES LATER
They're sitting at the dining table, having coffee. Marian
is listening sympathetically to Marika's tale of woe.
MARIKA
And there was this number on my phone
bill that I didn't recognize. Calls made
at three and four in the morning. So, I
called the number ... and a woman
answered. And I ... I hung up.
(leans forward)
So, then I followed him. Just like in
the movies. And I found out that he has
a wife and a little girl living in
Brooklyn. We had been going together for
almost a year.
MARIAN
(shaking her head in disgust)
Men ... they're all the same.
(beat)
Our pastor in Sioux Falls was caught with
his wife's sister.
MARIKA
(brightening)
Really?
MARIAN
Oh, it was such a big scandal.
MARIKA
What happened?
MARIAN
Poor man had to leave town.
(Marika laughs)
And I hear that other women came forward.
This makes Marika laugh even harder. Marian's story seems to
have assuaged her own grief in some parallel way.
MARIAN
You know, you ought to come out to South
Dakota some time and meet my son, Steve.
He's single.
MARIKA
What does he do?
MARIAN
He's an organic farmer.
MARIKA
(chuckling)
Oh. Well, that would be a ... change.
(smiles warmly)
Thank you, Mrs. Peterson. You have a
very reassuring voice.
The Disciple's MOTORCYCLES GROWL OFF SCREEN, interrupting
their tête-à-tête.
Marian and Marika both rise simultaneously from the table and
amble over to the window together.
MARIKA
I wish they wouldn't come and go in
packs, then they wouldn't be so loud.
They reach the window.
EXT. STREET - DAY - MARIAN'S AND MARIKA'S P.O.V.
The Disciples dismounting from their bikes below, shutting
down their engines and removing their helmets.
INT. CO-OP - DAY
At the window, Marian and Marika standing side by side.
MARIAN
I wonder what they do in there? Don't
they frighten you? They all look so ...
MARIKA
... Manly?
Marian does a double-take and throws a backward glance at
Marika.
MARIKA
You know, probably none of them had a
mother like you.
Marian and Marika smile at each other.
CUT TO:
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - DAY
Marian's FOOT STEPS OFF THE CURB.
WIDER ANGLE -
Marian crosses the street headed in the direction of the
Satan's Disciples headquarters.
The Disciple Prospect is sitting alone, guarding the line of
parked Harleys. He's wearing dark aviator shades and his
trademark red bandana tied over his head. Marian steps
bravely right up to him.
MARIAN
Excuse me, sir.
(the Disciple Prospect looks
up, poker-faced)
I just wanted to thank you for helping me
get into my building yesterday.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
Yeah, sure, no problem, you're welcome.
MARIAN
My daughter lives across the street from
you people and she tells me that you keep
this area safe. Is that true?
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
We like to think so, yeah.
MARIAN
And you don't deal drugs?
The Disciple Prospect removes his sunglasses and looks at her
mock reprovingly.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
Who told you we deal drugs?
MARIAN
I'm just concerned about my daughter.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
You don't have to worry. She's going to
be fine. We're law-abiding citizens just
like you.
MARIAN
What about yesterday? Kicking that poor
boy?
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
(mildly annoyed)
That poor boy's a crack dealer from
Alphabet City. We do not allow his kind
on this block.
Marian seems to accept the explanation. She glances up.
THE CLUBHOUSE DOOR -
The black, forbidding door leading into the clubhouse with
its painting of Death on a stylized Harley, gripping
lightning bolts for handlebars.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT -
looking at Marian looking up at the door.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
Is there something else I can do for you?
MARIAN
Well, I'd love to see inside your club.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
(taken aback)
You want to come inside?
MARIAN
Well, if you're not holding a meeting or
anything.
EXT. CLUBHOUSE ENTRANCE - DAY - A FEW MOMENTS LATER
The Disciple Prospect emerges from the club with the HEAD
DISCIPLE, a gentle giant of a man with a long, flowing wispy
beard and an old man's paunch. They're muttering about
something.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
Her daughter lives across the street and
she was wondering ...
HEAD DISCIPLE
What?
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
She's curious ...
The Head Disciple glances over at Marian standing curbside,
expectantly awaiting approval. He sees that she's ingenuous.
HEAD DISCIPLE
What the hell ...
(calling out to Marian)
Come on in.
Marian, smiling, comes forward.
HEAD DISCIPLE
(pointing to the steps leading
up to the door)
You watch your step here.
And the three disappear inside.
INT. SATAN'S DISCIPLES' CLUBHOUSE - DAY
The hallway leading into the clubhouse is dark and gloomy.
ROCK MUSIC assails them as they make their passage into the
main room.
CLUBHOUSE MAIN ROOM -
They reach the main room where about ten or so DISCIPLES are
lounging about. One has his nose in a book, The Road Less
Traveled. Another reads the Wall Street Journal. Two others
are seated at a card table, playing a game of poker. Still
another is sprawled on a couch, smoking a cigarette. The
walls are festooned with biker posters. The place is a bit
of a mess, but innocuous.
The Head Disciple stands in the center of the room and
addresses his clan.
HEAD DISCIPLE
Hey, guys. This here is, uh ...
He turns to Marian, realizing he doesn't know her name.
MARIAN
(meekly)
Marian.
HEAD DISCIPLE
(booming voice)
Marian!
A CHORUS OF VOICES
Hi, Marian.
Hey, Marian.
Yo, Marian.
Marian blushes at their warm response to her unexpected
appearance.
HEAD DISCIPLE
(explaining her visit)
Marian's daughter lives across the street
and she was a little worried about her.
DISCIPLE #1
Swear to God, lady, she's not here.
Laughter erupts. Marian smiles.
DISCIPLE #2
Hey, is she cute?
DISCIPLE #3
Does she like motorcycles?
DISCIPLE #4
Can she cook?
Amiable laughter fills the room. Marian laughs with them.
She glances all around her, fascinated by this dungeon she
had dreamed and fantasized about since she first arrived in
New York.
MARIAN
You know, this isn't so bad. It looks
like our kids' rooms when they were
growing up.
INSERT SHOTS -
of overflowing ashtrays, crushed beer cans, fast food
wrappers balled up and strewn on tables.
BACK -
to Marian, her brow knitted thoughtfully in a schoolmarmish
expression.
MARIAN
Could use some cleaning.
INSERT SHOTS -
of several of the Disciples' FACES, turning to her in SLOW
MOTION with mock baleful looks of disapprobation.
THERE'S A BEAT, then ...
CUT TO:
INT. CLUBHOUSE - DAY - MONTAGE
A MONTAGE, with abbreviated SCENES DISSOLVING one into
another of Marian supervising a thorough, top-to-bottom
cleaning of the clubhouse:
One Disciple sprays Easy-Off in a blackened oven.
Another empties ashtrays.
Yet Another vacuums.
Still others pick up wrappers from under the couch, while
Marian wags a reproving finger at them.
One Disciple tosses the contents of an ashtray under the
couch while Marian isn't looking.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CLUBHOUSE - DAY - MONTAGE CONTINUING - LATER
Marian in the kitchen, wearing the cut-off blue jeans
insignia jacket of the Satan's Disciples, their colors
emblazoned on the back. She pops the top on a can of beer
and pours some of it into a huge pot of chili she's stirring
over a stove, while the Disciples sit patiently in the
background at a bar awaiting the food.
Marian tries a sip of the beer and some of the Disciples
smile approvingly.
A FEW MOMENTS LATER -
Marian ladles chili into all of their bowls in a series of
JUMP CUTS.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CLUBHOUSE - DAY - STILL LATER
All the Disciples are huddled around Marian in the middle of
the clubhouse, as if she were the mother hen, arms folded
across their chests, smiles creasing their faces, sated.
MARIAN
Well, I'd better be going. It was nice
meeting all of you.
DISCIPLE #1
Thanks, Marian.
CHORUS OF OTHER DISCIPLES
Thanks, Marian.
DISCIPLE #2
The food was outstanding.
Marian starts off.
HEAD DISCIPLE
You know, if we can do anything for you,
Marian, you just let us know.
MARIAN
(turns, considers for a moment)
Well, there is one thing.
(beat, mildly scolding)
At night, your motorcycles are so darn
loud, I'm not getting much sleep. Now,
I'm going home in a few days, so ...
could I ask you to keep them quiet?
Some of the Disciples exchange petulant looks, rolling their
eyes at the request.
HEAD DISCIPLE
(mollifying)
Well, we'll, uh, see what we can do,
Marian.
All the Disciples break into laughter.
MARIAN
Thank you.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUILDING - DAY
A narrow, stand-alone ten-story isosceles-shaped office
building, on an island of land in downtown Manhattan.
ESTABLISHING SHOT.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Paula, with her mother in tow, knocks on an open office door.
PAULA
Hello.
NEW ANGLE -
DON PALMER, an avuncular-looking man in his mid-forties rises
from his desk.
MR. PALMER
Come in.
Paula and Marian enter the office and halt mid-room across
from his desk.
PAULA
Don, this is my mother.
(turns to Marian)
Mom, this is my boss, Don Palmer.
MARIAN
(enthusiastically)
Oh, it's so nice to meet you.
MR. PALMER
We're very glad to have your daughter
working for us.
MARIAN
(blurting out)
I met the Satan's Disciples today.
MR. PALMER
(chuckling nervously)
Really?
PAULA
Mother, I ...
MARIAN
(waving her daughter off)
My daughter lives right across the street
from the Satan's Disciples' clubhouse,
and I was so worried about her ...
so, I went over and introduced myself.
And they were the nicest people.
Paula and Mr. Palmer exchange disquieting glances.
MR. PALMER
(playing along)
Well, that's a very unusual New York
experience.
MARIAN
I had a wonderful time.
Paula is in a mild state of shock hearing her mother's
fantastical anecdote.
CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
Paula is sitting at the dining table with a plate piled with
roast chicken, potatoes, and broccoli in front of her. She
has a worried look etched on her face.
Marian is in the kitchen in the background, feeling light and
happy, a singsong quality to her voice. She brings a plate
of food for herself to the table.
MARIAN
And they were so friendly those young
men. Though I do think they should shave
their beards and ... and get some nicer
clothes.
Marian sits down at the table and takes a sip of her wine,
picks up her utensils and gets ready to dig in. She turns to
Paula who isn't touching her food, her head in her hands.
Marian, seemingly oblivious of her daughter's feelings,
prattles on.
MARIAN
What do you say ... we take a subway
uptown and see a play tonight?
Marian finally notices that Paula isn't listening.
MARIAN
What's wrong?
PAULA
Mom ... I mean, it's amusing to imagine
such a thing, but ... how many of those
pills have you been taking?
MARIAN
(stung, taken aback)
Oh, that has nothing to do with it.
PAULA
No, no, it's my fault. I've been pushing
you too hard to do things on your own.
Marian retreats into herself, sips her wine - as if she,
herself, now wonders if she's lost her mind - and her buoyant
mood deflates almost at once.
PAULA
The, um, other night, I got up to get a
glass of water and you were standing by
the window talking to daddy. I called
out to you, but you didn't answer. You
remember?
Marian doesn't remember, and her daughter's words pierce her.
She's afraid to object.
PAULA
New York is a ... it's a strange place in
the summertime. The noise, the warm air,
it's ... easy to imagine things.
Paula lays a reassuring hand on Marian's arm, talks to her
condescendingly, as if she were a child.
PAULA
Now, you know you didn't go into the
clubhouse, did you?
Marian doesn't bother to argue, fearing anything she might
say would compromise her.
PAULA (CONT'D)
It's okay. Dad's dying put a lot of
stress on you. But you're going to be
all right. We're all going to be all
right. Where did you get this vivid
imagination, huh?
Paula grips Marian's arm a little tighter and shakes it
gently as if snapping her back to reality. Marian returns
her a tight-lipped smile.
FADE OUT.
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
Marian, lying supine on the convertible sofa bed by the open
window, snoring peacefully.
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - NIGHT
On the sidewalk, the Disciple Prospect sits next to the fire
breathing oil drum, standing sentry over the Harleys.
One of the Disciples comes out of the clubhouse and they high
five. The Disciple mounts his Harley and is about to kick
start it to life, when the Disciple Prospect rises from his
stool.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
Yo, man!
The Disciple about to start his bike, turns.
The Disciple Prospect raises two fingers to his lips in a
kind of warning, then gestures up to Paula's co-op where
Marian is sleeping.
The Disciple, remembering the new rule, nods assent with a
slightly annoyed expression.
Then, he puts his Harley into neutral, dismounts, and starts
slowly walking it down the quiet, ill-lit street.
INT. CO-OP - NIGHT
The room is cast in soft ambient light from the street.
Paula comes into the living room and lies down next to her
mother on the sofa bed and rouses her awake. Marian swims
leadenly back to consciousness.
PAULA
Mom, I need to talk to you.
MARIAN
(still drowsy)
If it's about the bikers, dear, I don't
want to talk about it.
PAULA
No, I had a dream about daddy. Do you
think I'll ever meet anyone like him?
MARIAN
Oh, I hope so, dear.
PAULA
You know that guy in the pictures you
saw?
MARIAN
Aaron?
PAULA
Yeah ... turned out to be a real jerk.
MARIAN
I'm sorry.
Marian pats her daughter on the arm. Paula pricks up her
ears for a minute.
PAULA
It's unusually quiet tonight, isn't it?
MARIAN
Mm hmm.
FADE TO:
EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY
A lovely, sun-drenched day. Shadows dapple a promenade along
one of the park's many ponds. Paula and Marian walk arm-in
arm.
PAULA
I think you should consider coming out
and staying with me longer.
MARIAN
Oh, I don't want to be in the way.
You've got your career and everything.
PAULA
You wouldn't be in the way. I like
having you around.
MARIAN
Dear, I was thinking. Why don't we go to
Paris next year? I've never been. Your
father, God bless him, wasn't much for
traveling.
PAULA
I'd love to.
They walk off into the golden light.
CUT TO:
INT. CO-OP - DAY
Marian is finishing up her packing. Paula comes from the
kitchen, bearing a gift for her mother to take home with her.
PAULA
Here you go.
(Marian accepts the gift)
I think you should talk to Dr. Byrne when
you get back about how much Valium he's
prescribing. Okay?
MARIAN
At my age, I'm going to take any pill
that makes me feel better.
PAULA
Mother!
MARIAN
I can make my own decisions.
Paula extends her arms and embraces her mother.
PAULA
I love you, Mom.
(turns to leave)
I have to run. You remembered to call
the limousine service, right?
MARIAN
Mm hmm.
PAULA
(pulling on her backpack)
Well, bye. And have a safe trip ... and
... Paris in the spring!
MARIAN
(pensive)
Goodbye, sweetheart.
Paula blows her mother a kiss and Marian throws her daughter
a little wave.
CUT TO:
EXT. EAST 5TH STREET - DAY
Marian steps down the stairs of her daughter's building. A
smile breaks out on her face when she SEES:
A MOTORCADE -
of idling Harleys in the middle of the street, waiting for
her.
MARIAN -
turns to the Head Disciple, materializing behind her,
carrying her luggage. He gestures with his head toward the
motorcycles.
THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET -
The Disciple Prospect takes Marian's luggage from the Head
Disciple and hauls it over to one of the waiting Harleys and
straps it on to the carrying rack.
Then, he helps Marian onto the back of the Harley she's going
to be riding to the airport. Gently, he places a helmet -
festooned with decals of fire-breathing reptiles - over her
head and affixes the chin-strap.
DISCIPLE PROSPECT
All right?
Marian nods and beams at the same time.
The other Harleys form a circle around Marian's motorcycle.
The Disciple Prospect gives them a signal and they start off,
one by one, forming a V-shaped procession.
Marian, completely comfortable on her motorcycle, her arms
around her Disciple escort, her fever dream now manifest.
CRANE UP as the procession heads down East 5TH.
WHITE OUT -
CREDITS