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Priest

Screenplay By Phillip Ghee (USA)

Chapter One

 

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Priest is a psychodrama/murder mystery, the story of two young men, seminary students, who in their subconscious quest to secure a father figure and role mode they become embroiled in a shocking crime.
The Hero of our tale brings a fresh new element into the area of American cinema. He is Haitian. We have sizable Haitian Communities in three region of our country yet little is known, cinematic-ally about their culture.
The screenplay works on several levels as a creative production. For the common man you have all the cops, grime and sex of a made for television miniseries. For the more discriminating viewer there is the engaging mystery of a suspense thriller, full of twist and turns and surprise conclusions. And finally the screenplay is ripe with religious allegory and symbolism, voodoo and historical content.  
Primary Characters
Jared Covar: a sensitive and introverted first year seminary student is paired with roommate Braxton Rasche: ex- jock, pretty- boy and all around flirt.
Detective Jean DeBaptise : Haitian Born, now serving in the Los Angeles Police Department
CHAPTER 1
OPENING SEQUENCE: SCENE COLLEGE CAMPUS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A slightly nerdy, Jared makes his way towards a line of students waiting for dormitory room assignments. Already in line, we find Braxton. With his surfer boy looks, Braxton is captivating an audience of fellow students, with animated discourses on proper surfing techniques. He smiles and sways his way to the delight of many, especially the bedazzled, young sophomoric girls.
Jared finds himself enthralled by the charismatic lure and lore of this tanned, beach wear attired coed. As fate would have it, Jared so happens to be paired with Braxton as a roommate. He is equally surprised yet delighted to discover that they are also enrolled in the same major: Religious Studies.
The following sequences are lighthearted campus vignettes: We are treated to scenes showing the juxtaposition of personalities; scenes of Jared studying and receiving recognition while Braxton, clowns, procrastinate, schemes and flirts with reckless abandoned.
Braxton does not exhibit the behavioral characteristic not normally associated with seminary students. After an unusual short night of study at the library, Jared returns to his room, only to hear the sounds of moaning and rumpus activity echoing from inside the door.
Although a virgin, Jared has a pretty good idea of what is going on inside. He is embarrassed and starts to leave but curiosity overwhelms him. He gently cracks open the door and peers in. Braxton and one of the starry eyed, sophomoric girls, from the opening sequence, are consumed in a whirlwind of passionate sexual activity. Jared's curiosity is quickly morphed into arousal. Ashamed by his erotic response to Braxton's extra curricular activities, Jared eases the door closed. He returns to Study Hall.
Jared and Braxton are at breakfast the following morning. Braxton is his usual jubilant self. Jared appears withdrawn. Braxton breaks the ice.
                                           BRAXTON

           ”SO HOW DID YOU LIKE THE SHOW LAST NIGHT BUDDY?”
                                            JARED
                                (Startled)
              “What...?”
                                         BRAXTON
       (singing, lyrics to classic rock tune)
    “Every step you take every breath you take I'll be watching you.”
                                        

 

                                           JARED

            “I am sorry man, I didn’t know you had company.” I tried to close the door
               real slow so as not to disturb you.”

 

   BRAXTON
                            (Mimicking a hi-brow accent)

“COMPANY? YOU CALL THAT COMPANY, MY BOY THAT WAS MORE THAN COMPANY, THAT WAS A CORPORATION, THAT WAS CONGLOMERATE, A SEX MONOPOLY AS IT WERE. MICROSOFT, OR SHOULD I SAY MACROHARD -HA!”

JARED

“I THINK WE SHOULD SWITCH THE SUBJECT, ONCE AGAIN I
APOLOGIZE.

BRAXTON
(Excited at first, then reflective, then excited again)

“HEY! BUD, I DON'T MIND IF YOU HAD A LITTLE LOOK-SEE.
I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT.
REMEMBER I'M A... WAS AN ATHLETE. WHAT GOOD IS SPORT,
WITHOUT THE APPROVAL AND CHEER OF THE CROWD, THE ADORING FANS.
YOU WERE CHEERING ME ON, WEREN’T YOU”?

JARED
(Blushing)

“BRAX! WE ARE SEMINARY STUDENTS, YOU KNOW?”

 

           BRAXTON

“OH! I GET IT. I SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.  YOU WOULD RATHER DISCUSS THE VULGATE THAN THE VULGAR. OHHHH! I SEE.
 YOU’RE A VIRGIN AREN'T YOU”?

 

     JARED

“SO WHAT IF I AM.  WHATS THAT GOT TO DO WITH STUDYING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD? THE WAY I FIGURE IT, THAT WILL MAKE MY VOW OF CELIBACY ALL THE EASIER BECAUSE THAT’S SOMETHING I PLAN ON GOING ALL THE WAY WITH.”
  BRAXTON

“WELL THE WAY I SEE IT, YOU AREN'T REALLY SACRIFICING ANYTHING IF YOU
NEVER HAD THAT WHICH YOU ARE TO GIVING UP. WHAT THE RATIONALE
BEHIND LENT MY BOY?

OK HERE'S THE DEAL.YOU STICK WITH ME AND I'LL GET YOU A NICE SUCCULENT PIECE BEFORE YOU BECOME A BORED AND SUFFERING OLD PRIEST. CAPICE?

    JARED  

“THANKS, BUT NO THANKS, I WORKED HARD TO GET INTO
THIS SCHOOL, I HAVE MY VOCATION ALL PLANNED. I HAVE
TO MAINTAIN MY FOCUS”.

BRAXTON

“CHILL DUDE. WE'RE ONLY FIRST YEAR WE CAN AFFORD TO
MAKE MISTAKES.

LIKE, YOU EVER HAVE THE COPS BUST YOU
YOU, WHEN YOU WERE A KID FOR STUPID OR RECKLESS STUFF,?

DUH!...DUMB QUESTION, WRONG WITNESS.

ANYWAY, MAKE PRETEND YOU ARE A KID AGAIN AND YOU GET BUSTED FOR SOME LAME SHIT. THEY, THE COPS,CAN'T CHARGE YOU AS AN ADULT. LOOK EVEN THE COPS REALIZES THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO DO DUMB AND
STUPID STUFF WHEN YOU ARE A KID. THAT’S A PART OF BEING A NORMAL
EXPERIMENT CHILD.  HELL! MOST OF THEY JUST TRY TO SCARE THE SHIT OUT
OF YOU, MOST TIMES THEY JUST DROP THE CHARGES ANYWAY, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO COURT”.

 

 

JARED

AM I SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWING SOMETHING HERE?

 

                        BRAXTON

OH WHAT A NUMB SACK, AND I MEAN THAT LITERALLY.

                        JARED

”YOU KNOW BRAXTON, THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
OF MATURITY AND RESPECTABILITY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EMULATING.
WE AREN’T JUST YOUR USUAL JOE BLOW, FRAT BOY. WE ARE
SEMINARY STUDENTS”.

BRAXTON

“JC, YOU'RE ONE HELL OF AN ARMCHAIR PHILOSOPHER BUT YOU NEED TO
SMARTEN UP AND DOWNLOAD SOME REAL LIFE. HOW CAN YOU
EXPECT TO SO PIOUSLY ABSOLVE THE MASSES FROM ALL THEIR DIRTY
LITTLE PERVERSION, THEIR SEXUAL SINS; WITHOUT SOME FIRST HAND
EXPERIENCE?

 AND AS FOR LAST NIGHT FORGET ABOUT TITS. CHAO”.

 

Braxton prevails in the end and breaks Jared down to laughter. Braxton playfully gives Jared a gangster smack of the face and exits. Jared is left still smiling despite himself.

 

Continued next week...

 

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