WT: Cultman James

By
Jessica Breeden
FADE IN
EXT. RURAL COMPOUND - NIGHT

Surrounded by MILITARY, POLICE, and MILITARY POLICE.

SHERIFF BLANCA ROSALES (51) is handed a phone.
ROSALES
(on phone)
If were still negotiating, this is
it.
INTERCUT WITH:

INT. RURAL COMPOUND - NIGHT

A SILHOUETTE shuffles MUSLIM PRAYER BEADS and watches
through an open window.
He is PASTOR ISAAC JAMES (39)

ISAAC
(on phone)
You read Revelations?
ROSALES
Close that Bible and look outside.
ISAAC
"He that leadeth into captivity
shall go into captivity: he that-"

ROSALES
Isaac! I cant save you! The only
thing you can do is send-
ISAAC
Send out the fugitives, unlock the
gate, and go quietly.
OUTSIDE, the authorities are LOCKED and LOADED
ISAAC
(Cont.)
Several days Ive listened to you,
now you listen. Were not armed;
nobody in heres a threat to nobody
out there.

ROSALES
Its not me youre talking to; its
these guys! Actions speak louder
tha-
 2.

ISAAC
Platitude. The Word made me. I
preach the Word, "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was
God." Nothing speaks louder than
God.
Time for jackboots, assault rifles, and battering rams:
OFFICER MCBADASS
(to the troops)
On me, ladies! In ONE! TWO! THR-
ROLL MAIN THEME
I

FADE IN
INT. CHURCH OF THE LAMB - NIGHT
ONE YEAR AGO

Folding chairs and homemade crosses are all that mark this
generic store front as a church.
ISAAC preaches while MOVERS confiscate everything
SHERIFF ROSALES presides:

ROSALES
(shouting)
Five minutes, Pastor!
ISAAC
Praise be, for we are in the House
of the Lord!
The tiny CONGREGATION replies: "Hallelujah!", "praise be!",
and such.

ISAAC
Now, I thought I knew what Hell
looked like... til I saw Fallujah
FLASHBACK
 3.

EXT. FALLUJAH - NIGHT

FIRE burning everywhere...
We hear MOVERS CLANGING in the B.G.

Two American soldiers, YOUNG ISAAC (27) and WILLIE (19),

squat behind cover.
ISAAC (V/O)
(Cont.)
Thats the kinda place you meet the
Devil.
Willies BLEEDING from a neck wound
ISAAC (V/O)
And he aint waitin for you in the
dark-
Young Isaac fumbles with a first aid kit
BACK IN CHURCH

ISAAC
(Cont.)
(hand to heart)
Hes here-

MR. MOVER pokes Isaacs son JOSIAH (20)

MR. MOVER
(whisper)
scuse me

ISAAC
(Cont.)
With our desires-
Josiah stands; Mr. Mover snatches his chair.

BACK IN FALLUJAH
Willies DEAD
And Young Isaac crams a fresh magazine into his RIFLE

ISAAC (V/O)
(Cont.)
With our rage-
He SHOOTS erratically into the dark
 4.

ISAAC (V/O)
(Cont.)
Hes with us.
A SILHOUETTE FALLS in a flickering cloud of fire-lit blood

ISAAC (V/O)
See, I never noticed that til I
shot somebody-
Isaac approaches slowly - his wounded enemy stares back

ISAAC (V/O)
(Cont.)
But when that man looked at me, I
saw him, saw who he was.

The man makes an escape attempt, but hes hurt too badly.
ISAAC (V/O)
(Cont.)
His blood called to me from the
ground, and it spoke Gospel-

Isaac drops his rifle, offers his canteen, and unpacks his
first aid kit.
ISAAC (V/O)
(Cont.)
"For I was thirsty and ye gave me
Drink. I was a stranger and ye took
Me in. Naked and ye clothed me."
GUNFIRE all around - Young Isaac ignores it and does for his
enemy what he couldnt for Willie.
ISAAC (V/O)
Mans corruption says a uniform is
a license to kill. But whats the
Lords truth?

The injured man offers his PRAYER BEADS to Isaac

BACK IN CHURCH
The walls are bare

ONE CHAIR remains; it contains MRS. WUNDERLICH (90)

ISAAC
(Cont.)
Each of us was put together to look
like God-
 5.

MS. MOVER helps the old woman stand up

ISAAC
(Cont.)
To know what he knows, to love like
he loves. Each-
ROSALES
(CLAP!)
Amen! Alright, everybody - time to
go home. Snip snap!
Mr. Mover snatches the pulpit
ISAAC
Just- now hang on! Aint finished
my verse:
Mrs. Wunderlich leans on Josiah while her chair is
confiscated

MS. MOVER
(whispering)
Sorry.
ISAAC
(Cont.)
"Inasmuch as ye have-"
LIGHTS OFF
CUT TO BLACK

FADE IN
EXT. CHEAP STORE-FRONT - NIGHT
A "NOTICE OF EVICTION" is flapping in the breeze while the
CONGREGATION shuffles out; ISAAC is last (naturally).
BALDY OWNERTON locks up, and the minister offers his hand
ISAAC
(to Ownerton)
God bless you, always.
OWNERTON
(ignoring the hand)
Mmmm hmm.

A "CHURCH OF THE LAMB" sign lays discarded in the parking

lot. WORKERS replace it with "DEANERS WIENERS"
Isaacs daughter MAGGIE (16) pipes up:
 6.

MAGGIE
Finish the verse!

PEANUT GALLERY
Yeah!
ROSALES interrupts:
ROSALES
Uh uh!!
The parishioners form a circle - Isaac at the center
ISAAC
Well, the Lords house is every
which where, so-
ROSALES
(entering the circle)
Pastor James, this is private
property!
(points)
Read that sign!
ISAAC
("reading")
Property of Pharisees incorporated.

ROSALES
Pay your bills, and you can write
anything you want.
ISAAC
You are holdin Gods Word hostage
over a dinkly seventeen hundred
dollars!
ROSALES
No, Im holding an eviction order.
(ready to write)
And a citation book thats really
gonna start fillin up in about two
seconds.

Several parishioners quietly leave...

Maggie, Josiah, and Mrs. Wunderlich do not.
ROSALES
(to Isaac)
Kids and old ladies, man. I dont
wanna do the paperwork, you dont
wanna go to court-
 7.

ISAAC
(Preacher mode)
Matthew 25:40 "Inasmuch as ye ha-"

ROSALES
Seriously!
ISAAC
If you dont mind there, Miss
Mexico, we still have a quorum.
Rosales (who is Ecuadoran) CLICKS her inkpen with great
authority
CUT

FADE IN
INT. ICE CREAM PARLOR
MAGGIE and ISAAC are eating sweet treats with citations on
the table.
ISAAC
(oddly happy)
Aint sure who wes supposed to be
incitin a riot with.

They laugh
MAGGIE
(reading)
Mines just loitering

ISAAC
Just nothing! Taught my girl to
stand up, and here she is, standin
MAGGIE
What we gonna say to Mom?
ISAAC
Ah, your Mamas off here and there,
but she knows whats good.

MAGGIE
You sure?
ISAAC
Lord called me to be a talker, and
thats all I gotta do.
KELSEY (38) enters and approaches
 8.

KELSEY
(NOT to Isaac)
Cmon, Maggie.
MAGGIE
(bite of ice cream)
Can I at least...
KELSEY
Bring it with.

ISAAC
(to Kelsey)
Uh, babe?
KELSEY
(no eye contact)
Yes?
ISAAC
Need ya to...hang out for a sec?
KELSEY
(no eye contact)
Listen, you have to sign, and I
dont care what you think about
divorce.
ISAAC
Aint just me, Bible says-
KELSEY
(still no eye contact)
Isaac!!

Everyone is looking at them

ISAAC
Anyway, thats not what Im
talking-

KELSEY
(eye contact)
Hey preacher, its a school night!
MAGGIE
I got a ticket!
KELSEY
(suspicious)
To what?
 9.

MAGGIE
From, like, cops.
KELSEY
(Directly to Isaac)
So like shoplifting? Vandalism?
Were you even watching?
ISAAC
(holding out the ticket)
Kelsey, babe-

KELSEY
(snatching it)
Nuh uh.
(reading)
Ah, criminal loitering- a classic
church activity.
ISAAC
They write what they want, but-
KELSEY
Maggies a child! This is how you
raise a child?
ISAAC
Thought youd be proud of our girl!
(to Maggie)
Stood up to the moneychangers and
said "my temple-"
KELSEY
This isnt Sunday school!

MAGGIE
Mama, I-
KELSEY
(to Maggie)
Shh!
(to Isaac)
Its a crime. You asked our child
to commit a crime, and then you
took her out for ice cream.

Kelsey shovels a random amount of MONEY onto the table and

grabs Maggies hand
KELSEY
(walking out)
Like she scored at the goddamn
soccer game!
 10.

Alone, Isaac stares at Maggies abandoned ice cream.

CUT
FADE IN

INT. KELSEYS CAR (PARKED) - NIGHT

MAGGIE is nervous in the drivers seat...KELSEYs nervous
too

KELSEY
OK, just take it out of park-
MAGGIE
(shifting)
I can drive.

The car starts MOVING

SILENCE
KELSEY
You know its good right?
MAGGIE
Ive been losing too much speed on
curves but-

KELSEY
No, I mean your father...hes a
good person.
MAGGIE
Ok?

KELSEY
Hes just not a stable one.
(turn coming up)
Start slowing down.

MAGGIE
(same speed)
Hey, I didnt marry him. Wanna see
him is all.

KELSEY
Im not stopping you. Slow down!
HEADLIGHTS close behind
 11.

MAGGIE
Said you dont want me at dads
Church. And theres someone riding
my-

KELSEY
So let him pass you!
Maggie pointedly BRAKES and flips on her turn signal
"HONNNNNNNNK!" from outside

KELSEY
(window down)
(to herself)
Asshole

Maggie starts to turn, and the other car passes

KELSEY
(shouting outside)
Asshole!!
(window up)
Dad doesnt have a church, and you
almost got arrested.
MAGGIE
Hey, Jesus didnt have one.

KELSEY
Dont feed into that crap. Dip
coming up.
MAGGIE
I know!! And feed into what?
KELSEY
That crap where you do something
stupid and say "Oh, Im just like
Jesus."

They hit the dip rather un-gently-

THUNK!
KELSEY
Pay attention!!
MAGGIE
Im paying attention!
 12.

KELSEY
Alright, come on, Maggie, pull
over.
MAGGIE
(pulling over)
Why.
The CAR STOPS - engine off
KELSEY
(door open)
You are on a learners permit-
(out of the car)
Busy flipping out about something-
Passenger door SLAMS

Driver door OPENS

KELSEY
(Cont.)
Instead of learning. Keys.

MAGGIE
(hands the keys)
(muttering)
Cunt

KELSEY
What did you say?
MAGGIE
(scooting over)
Nothing.

KELSEY
(settling in as driver)
No, I wanna know!

MAGGIE
(slowly, clearly)
Youre a cunt
KELSEY
Say it again.

A nasty silence
The ENGINE starts
 13.

MAGGIE
Its not me. Youre jealous cause
I have fun with dad,
KELSEY
Hey, Im sorry I dont wanna hang
out and break the law, but somebody
has to be the mom.
MAGGIE
Sure, whatever! Youre right about
stuff-
KELSEY
Thank you.
MAGGIE
But something youre way wrong on-
KELSEY
mmmmmmm
MAGGIE
Nobody gives a damn whos right;
they just want whats
beautiful...and I do too.
CUT

II
FADE IN
INT. ISAACS TRUCK (moving) - Day

ISAAC speeds down a country road singing along to Christian

music
On the dashboard, his HEAT GAUGE begins to climb

The VOLUME TURNS UP

The HEAT GOES UP
Hes belting out the chorus

HEAT reaches maximum

Isaac sings louder
The ENGINE STARTS SMOKING
 14.

ISAAC
(singing)
"Oh Jeeeeeesus"
(sees smoke)
Sweet Jesus!!!!
(volume down)
Beggin pardon, I- gahhhhhh!
The truck STOPS on the shoulder
Isaac goes for his CHEAP CELL PHONE, and dials:

"Rinnnnnng" - engine off

"Rinnnnnng" - door open
CUT TO:

EXT. TWO-LANE ROAD - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

"Rinnnnnng" - stepping out
"Rinnnnnng" - digging in the back

*Click* - JOSIAHs voice:

JOSIAH (O.C.)
Havin luck?

Isaac grabs a JUG OF WATER

ISAAC
(to phone)
Nah, havin problems.

HOOD OPEN
JOSIAH (O.C.)
OooOoooh. Usual?
ISAAC
Yeah.
JOSIAH (O.C.)
Got water?

ISAAC
(touches hot engine)
Owww! Yeah...darn it
JOSIAH (O.C.)
Let er cool first!
 15.

ISAAC
Course!
JOSIAH (O.C.)
Tellin you, Dad. Im worried bout
our church.

The engine starts SPITTING HOT WATER

ISAAC
Cripes!
(stands back)
The Lord provides, son.
JOSIAH (O.C.)
You OK?

Isaac starts THROWING COLD WATER back

ISAAC
Dandy, dandy.
He gingerly approaches the hissing engine

JOSIAH (O.C.)
You aint lettin it cool!
ISAAC
(pouring water)
Dont know much on cars. Trustin
Jesus is a-
SCALDING WATER BOILS OUT
Isaac SCREAMS and drops the phone

JOSIAH (O.C.)
You still there?
ISAAC
(picking up phone)
Owwwwww!
JOSIAH (O.C.)
Hello?

ISAAC
(burned himself)
Yeah, better let it cool off. What
was you sayin?
 16.

JOSIAH (O.C.)
About?...
ISAAC
Said you was worried, kid.

JOSIAH (O.C.)
Oh, findin a new place. Hows that
going?
ISAAC
Eh, wide world.
JOSIAH (O.C.)
Speakin figuratized, sure-
HOOD CLOSED

JOSIAH (O.C.)
(Cont.)
But speakin actual, Pentecost is
this Sunday. And where we goin?

Isaac starts WALKING down the road

ISAAC
Its one of those you gotta send up
to-

JOSIAH (O.C.)
What about the ranch?
ISAAC
Wunderlichs?

JOSIAH (O.C.)
Its technically church property.
ISAAC
Just for tax purposes. Poor old
woman cant render no more unto
Caesar.
JOSIAH (O.C.)
Not much law out there: No sheriff,
no rent payments. Just people doin
Gods work.
ISAAC
Hey, we are a church. Its about
singin praises on a Sunday, and if
we start messin with that, theyll
think we done went New Age.
 17.

A PUBLIC PARK almost seems to rise out of the earth.

JOSIAH (O.C.)
At the risk of repeatin myself:
Where-

ISAAC
(in awe)
The Lord provides, son. That good
old Lord provides and pro-vides.

CUT
FADE IN
EXT. PUBLIC PARK - DAY

MAGGIE affixes a homemade flier:

"PENTECOST SUNDAY - Come one come al & recieveth the HOLY
SPIRIT"
CUE MUSIC

BEGIN MONTAGE:
ISAAC leafs through a Church Directory and DIALS
JOSIAH shows up with a pile of SCRAP WOOD and a TOOLBOX

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - DAY

MRS. WUNDERLICH looks up a step-by-step guide on bonfire
building.

EXT. WILDFLOWER FIELD - DAY

"POSTED - NO TRESPASSING"
MAGGIE and several WOMEN are giddily picking flowers

IN THE PARK
Josiah builds a CROSS from scrap...it keeps falling apart.
EXT. WOODS - DAY

ISAAC and a few MEN gather wood for the bonfire - they are
beset by snakes, wasps, and vicious plants.
IN THE FIELD

A MAN appears with TWO MEAN DOGS

 18.

The ladies scatter

IN THE PARK
Josiah has completed his cross!

....it falls over.

IN THE WOODS
Isaac is explaining something to a PARK RANGER

INT. PARK BATHROOM - DAY

Various characters try on RED CLOTHING
IN THE PARK

These scenes culminate in a cross wreathed in flowers, a

towering bonfire, and a congregation dressed in red.
END MONTAGE

MATCH-DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. PUBLIC PARK - NIGHT
Everything vibrates with the ecstasy of a deity and His
people;

The CHURCH BAND plays with a fundamentalist fervor;

And ISAAC takes center stage.
ISAAC
Praise the Lord!
CONGREGATION
Praise the Lord!
ISAAC
Whooooeee! Say it again!
CONGREGATION
(louder)
Praise the Lord!!!

ISAAC
Beeeeautiful, every one of ya. It
is Pentecost Sunday, the most
beautiful night of the year.
 19.

PARISHIONER
Praise Jesus!
ISAAC
Because this is the moment when the
first Apostles made us Apostles.

CUT TO:
INT. SHERIFFS OFFICE - NIGHT
ROSALES is hurrying through some paperwork in her office

PHONE RINGS
ROSALES
(pick up)
Rosales speaking.
The CALLER says something; all we get is "FIRE"
ROSALES
Call nine one-one, this is my pers-
(interrupting)
Maam, fire department does that,
we-
(BEAT)
What!?

BACK TO PENTECOST
ISAAC
(mid-sentence)
-that all who believe in Him, were
saved by Him, confessed to Him,
shall be called Apostles!
JOSIAH
Save me, Lord!
ISAAC
Youuns want Gospel?
They want Gospel!
ISAAC
Acts 2: "When the day of Pentecost
was fully come, there was suddenly
a sound from heaven as a rushing
mighty wind-
People begin to MUMBLE, others WEEP
 20.

ISAAC
"There appeared unto them cloven
tongues of fire. And they were
filled with the Holy Ghost-

The entire congregation is swaying, babbling, crying, and

reaching to heaven.
Theyre SPEAKING IN TONGUES
ISAAC
-and began to speak with other
tongues!"
A BEAT while we take in this chaotic music of faith
ISAAC
Thats what makes us Christian -
God filled us with fire and bade us
heal the Nations!
MAGGIE
Hallelujah!

CUT TO:
INT. SQUAD CAR (MOVING) - NIGHT
Blue and red FLASHING, ROSALES at the wheel, and DEPUTY JAKE
riding shotgun
ROSALES
These dopes...nothin better to
do?

DEPUTY JAKE
Couple a cross burnings ever year
- somethin in the water I guess.
ROSALES
(scoff)
Or the meth.
BACK TO PENTECOST
Isaac stands by the flowery cross

ISAAC
(rolls up sleeve)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
went into the fire-
(takes a flower)
They were not harmed.
 21.

A mutter of TONGUES
ISAAC
(approaching the bonfire)
The Lord spoke through a burning
bush, it did not wither.

MRS. WUNDERLICH
Thank you, Jesus!
ISAAC
Marks Gospel says "In my name they
shall cast out devils-
His hand - with the flower - plunges into the fire
ISAAC
They shall speak with new tongues-
(flower shrivels)
They shall take up serpents-
(flower turns black)
They shall lay hands on the sick-

Isaacs hand leaves the fire, and he holds it up for all to

see
ISAAC
-And they shall be healed!!"

The congregation CHEERS

ISAAC
This is the miracle, we are the
miracle - let all who believe touch
the fire and receive the Holy
Ghost!
MORE CHEERS
A line forms - Maggie at the front

BACK TO SQUAD CAR

The FIRE is visible in the distance
DEPUTY JAKE
Wanna get loud? Scare em a little?

ROSALES
I like quiet on these
 22.

DEPUTY JAKE
Why?
ROSALES
Open carry - people start thinkin
theyre bad.
DEPUTY JAKE
They aint gonna shoot.
ROSALES
Not at you, white boy.
BACK TO PENTECOST
The MUSIC is louder than ever

Maggie - flower in hand - closes her eyes and touches the

flame
MAGGIE
(tears streaming)
Oh Lord, Oh Jesus ahhhhHhhHh!
She pulls her hand out and begins SHOUTING in TOUNGUES
The congregation CHEERS, and Josiah steps toward the fire.
Then-

BRIGHT LIGHTS ALL AROUND

Practically EVERY COP in the county is there - forming a
massive circle.

Panic from the congregants

ROSALES
(into a megaphone)
Alright, people, nothin dumb -
show hands.

SCREAMS - hands go up
ROSALES
(megaphone)
Not stuttering here. Hands or-
....Pastor??
ISAAC
(waving to Rosales)
Help ya officer?

The Sheriff breaks rank and walks toward the center

 23.

ROSALES
(to self)
No me jodas!
(shouting)
Pastor James!? What in the blazing
hell are you...thinking!!?!?
Isaac has a look of complete innocence
TIME-CUT:

EXT. PUBLIC PARK - NIGHT (A LITTLE LATER)

The BONFIRE blazes for a moment. Then-
FIRE-HOSES deploy

The POLICE hand out citations while FIREFIGHTERS dismantle

everything else.
ROSALES
(to Isaac)
Freakin idiot. We thought you were
the Klan!
ISAAC
(disgusted)
Never! Now you-

ROSALES
Drivers license
ISAAC
See, Sheriff-

ROSALES
You have it or you dont.
ISAAC
I dont think identification
really-
ROSALES
Have it or dont?
ISAAC
Dont...
ROSALES
(sigh)
Okay, so I have to arrest you.
 24.

ISAAC
For not havin a stupid little
card?

ROSALES
For lighting a goddamn park fire!
ISAAC
Christian ears, Miss Rosales.

ROSALES
Listen, the D.A. does chapter and
verse. My job is keeping...this out
of public.
(handcuffs)
Anything in your pockets I should
know?
A silence of resignation
MAGGIE approaches and puts her arms around Isaac

ROSALES
Dont touch, please.
MAGGIE
(arms disconnect)
Um?...Daddy, they said I can go
with Jos. Gonna be long?
ISAAC
While, babe.

ROSALES
Sometime tomorrow, probably.
(shouting)
Hey Jake!
DEPUTY JAKE
(at some distance)
Yeah?
She motions Jake over

MAGGIE
Tomorrow?
ROSALES
(to Isaac)
Stick your arms out for me

Isaac complies, and the Deputy begins patting him down and
checking his pockets.
 25.

ROSALES
(to Maggie)
Yeah, sweetie. Hell just be in for
the night.
Jake finds a POCKET BIBLE
MAGGIE
(tears)
In?
Jake finds PRAYER BEADS
DEPUTY JAKE
(to Isaac)
Coat off
Isaac removes his jacket
MAGGIE
(sadness becomes anger)
So youre arresting him? For
preaching?
Jakes giving a final pat-down
ROSALES
(to Maggie)
The officer said you were free to
go right?
DEPUTY JAKE
(search complete)
Were good.
MAGGIE
Thats not the point. I-

ROSALES
(cuffing Isaac)
No, it is the point. Go home;
Daddys fine.
ISAAC
Yeah, babe.
MAGGIE
(contempt)
How old you think I am?

ROSALES
Hon, Im over fifty - all kids look
the same age to me.
 26.

MAGGIE
Im sixteen!
ISAAC
Mag-

ROSALES
(escorting Isaac away)
And youre leaving or youre
getting another juvenile court
date.

MAGGIE
(following)
No, its in the Constitution:
Everybody worships how they please,
and I can speak my mind!

ROSALES
(stops, turns)
Hey, Betsy Ross, it aint Harvard;
I dont care how teenage girls
interpret the Constitution. Anyway,
at Harvard theyd still arrest you
for setting a park on fire!
(to Isaac)
Can we read your rights in the car?
Girls being a problem.

ISAAC
Right to be silent?
Rosales NODS
ISAAC
(shrug)
I Know that from TV
They continue toward the car, leaving Maggie behind
ROSALES
(to Maggie)
See? Constitution dont let you do
whatever you want-
(now shouting)
But it definitely gives you the
right to shut the hell up!
CUT TO:
 27.

INT. COUNTY JAIL - NIGHT

In quick succession ISAAC is:

Stripped
Photographed
Fingerprinted

And praying in a cell

FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN

EXT. SHERIFFS OFFICE - DAY

The doors to "BOOKING AND RECEIVING" burst open
JOSIAH has an angry walk...ISAACs wearing yesterdays
clothes and tomorrows big grin
JOSIAH
(walking)
Three hundred bucks for that bond.

ISAAC
(sightly behind)
The Lords gonna prov-
JOSIAH
He hadnt been lately!

ISAAC
Okay, somethins botherin you.
JOSIAH
Sharp eye, preacher.

They walk for a moment in silence

ISAAC
(excited)
Son, we are goin toward somethin
here, I can feel it.
JOSIAH
Gotta quit worryin about what you
feel and start thinkin on how to
live.
Isaac is about to say something
 28.

JOSIAH
Dollars, Dad! Gotta think dollars.
SILENCE
ISAAC
Wheres the truck?
JOSIAH
(points)
Up the way

ISAAC
Now...Ill take every dime they
give me, but I aint gonna go out
shakin a cup like some
TV-vangelist.

JOSIAH
They sure make plenty
ISAAC
(scoff)
Devil pays em
JOSIAH
Daddy, I believe what you believe,
and I wanna save every soul, but
money always comes first.

ISAAC
I cant do that.
JOSIAH
Then youll get kicked out
everywhere you go, and theyll keep
bringin you back here
ISAAC
They did it to Jesus

JOSIAH
You cant be like Him!
ISAAC
(yes I can)
No.....
CUT
FADE IN
 29.

EXT. MOTORHOME - DAY

It may have wheels, but this thing hasnt moved in years.
The MAILBOX is labeled "REV. JAMES".
KELSEY waits with a book

ISAACs TRUCK pulls in

KELSEY
Took you long enough

ISAAC
(engine off)
Wheels of justice turn slow
JOSIAH gets out, not acknowledging his mother

KELSEY
Maggies lost it, and I cant
believe...prison!?
ISAAC
Jail, honey
KELSEY
Same thing
SLAM! Josiahs in the R.V.

ISAAC
No it aint: Jails-
KELSEY
Sh-shhut - if I wanna hear that,
Ill listen to Maggie. Thinks shes
a lawyer now, wants to defend you.
ISAAC
Thats sweet

KELSEY
She loves you
ISAAC
Course!

KELSEY
And thats why you have to stop
ISAAC
Stop what?
 30.

KELSEY
This-this-this thing where you make
such a...
(no words)
THING!
ISAAC
Thats just the Holy Ghost bein-

KELSEY
No its not! Its not, it - is -
NOT!
(sigh)
You went to prison, you burned our
daughter-

ISAAC
Went to jail
KELSEY
How can you not hear what Im
saying?? Is there a screw loose,
were you this stupid in high
school!?
ISAAC
(fondly)
We was both pretty stupid back then
KELSEY
(un-fondly)
Do not change the subject.

ISAAC
Kay, so whats the subject?
KELSEY
One - papers, you should sign them.
The judge will give me the divorce
with or without you.
ISAAC
(looking down)
Yeah?

KELSEY
And, Isaac-
Puppy eyes

KELSEY
If this is a fight, the one getting
hurt isnt me...please dont force
me?
 31.

ISAAC
Can we- you know- on a day I didnt
just-
KELSEY
Sorry, but todays when Im here,
and Ive got one more.
ISAAC
(smile)
We caint separate twice!

KELSEY
This "Church" is out of control.
Tone it down or it wont include
Maggie-

ISAAC
It aint right to-
KELSEY
I dont want her growing up to be a
fundamentalist.

ISAAC
Just what do you think we are?
KELSEY
What do you call it?

ISAAC
Church of the Lamb has its own way,
but-
KELSEY
She has court next week
ISAAC
Us too

KELSEY
And thats not normal!
Silence
KELSEY
You dont have to worry about being
a husband anymore; youre excused.
So try to pretend youre a father.
CUT

FADE IN
 32.

INT. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OFFICE - DAY

More like a dentist office than a courtroom

MAGGIE and KELSEY are waiting nervously by a stack of

magazines;
A RECEPTIONIST plays games on her computer.

The JUDGE is typing something else while a SECRETARY asks

all the important questions.
Periodically the Judge will look over and make a two-word
comment.

KEY INFO:
- MAGGIE gets community service plus a fine
- KELSEY agrees to pay

- HYE is also given community service - extra because he

cant pay
- ISAAC is hit with a very large fine
LEGAL SECRETERY
How we think were gonna handle
that, Mr. Jones? Were we thinkin
time served?
ISAAC
Respectful and all, your Honor
or...but I aint got your meaning?
LEGAL SECRETERY
Jakell take you around the corner
there and let you work it out that
way.
A Sheriffs deputy (JAKE) gives Isaac a friendly wave
DEPUTY JAKE
Be lunch time in twenty minutes.
Get you set up.
ISAAC
You mean like jail?
She definitely means jail....

BEGIN MONTAGE:
- Photographed, fingerprinted, fed
 33.

- Two inmates (BEAVIS and BUTTHEAD) think its very funny to

hide Isaacs Bible
- Isaac sings gospel songs in the shower, and others join in
- Hes getting out day after tomorrow!

- Second court date (now handcuffed in jailhouse grey)

- Form stamped

- Photographed, fingerprinted, fed

- Isaac pulls a prank on Beavis and Butthead
- More singing

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COUNTY JAIL - DAY (ONE MONTH LATER)
ISAAC prays, packs his things, and says goodbye to his new
friends