FINAL DRAFT
July 26, 2001
©2001, Alex Taft
SABBATH FADE IN: EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY One empty parking spot remains in a church parking lot. BEGIN TITLES The ROAR of a MOTORCYCLE (O.S.) gets louder... louder... louder, a SCREECH, and then finally the motorcycle pulls into the spot. All we can see is the driver's big black boot, and possibly the back wheel. A finished cigarette drops to the ground. It is extinguished by the big black boot. The camera slowly TILTS up the Driver's body. He is dressed entirely in black. As the camera TILTS up toward the Driver's black leather jacket, we see him withdraw a FLASK which is embossed with a crucifix. The camera FOLLOWS the flask to a CLOSE UP of FATHER BRUCE O'REILLY. On the way up, we notice that under the leather jacket Father Bruce is wearing the traditional collar of a priest. END TITLES As Father Bruce steps out of his close up, the camera FOCUSES on a signpost which has two signs on it. The first sign is a regular-looking "No Parking" sign which reads: CLERGY PARKING ONLY Below it, nailed to the signpost, is a poorly-made wooden sign which, in red paint declares: PARK HERE AND GO TO HELL -- THE MANAGEMENT CUT TO: AGAINST BLACK, TITLE CARD: 'SABBATH' CUT TO: INT. ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH - DAY BROTHER JENKINS is an assistant to Father Bruce at St. Michael's. He is kind of nerdy, kind of spineless. Although Jenkins is apprehensive about Bruce's style, we can sense some camaraderie between the two of them. Brother Jenkins approaches Father Bruce and the camera FOLLOWS them as they make their way through the church. JENKINS Father O'Reilly! FATHER BRUCE Brother Jenkins, how many times do I have to tell you, call me Father Bruce? JENKINS Father O'Reilly, I just don't think that -- FATHER BRUCE (interrupting) Listen, Jenkins, you can call me vagina face for all I care, just don't call me Father O'Reilly. SHOT - JENKINS Jenkins is visibly shocked, but manages to compose himself and get down to business. JENKINS Father Bruce. Well, sir, I just thought that I ought to come tell you that the Bishop came in again this morning. FATHER BRUCE That old fucker? What'd he want this time? JENKINS Well, he seemed to be pretty upset about your Sunday sermon. FATHER BRUCE Yeah, that was a doozy. JENKINS With all due respect, Bruce, I hardly think "Cool the fuck out and forgive" was an appropriate theme for the sermon. FATHER BRUCE Shit, Jenkins. What do you have against forgiveness? It's a good fucking thing, you know. Love thy neighbor and all that shit... Father Bruce lights a cigarette and starts walking towards his office. MOVING SHOT - FATHER BRUCE AND JENKINS The camera FOLLOWS Father Bruce and Jenkins as they walk towards Bruce's office. JENKINS Well, whether or not I approve of it, the Bishop caught wind of it from one of our parishioners, and he is not happy about it. He says that he needs to talk to you immediately. FATHER BRUCE Fuck. Bruce flicks his cigarette offscreen. CLOSE SHOT - BASIN CONTAINING HOLY WATER Father Bruce's cigarette lands in the holy water and extinguishes with a SIZZLE. Father Bruce and BISHOP HARDING begin their conversation over this shot. FATHER BRUCE'S VOICE Bishop Harding... it's Father Bruce O'Reilly. I'm sorry to bother you at home, but Brother Jenkins told me that you called. BISHOP HARDING'S VOICE That's all right, Father O'Reilly. I'm glad you returned my call so promptly. CUT TO: INT. FATHER BRUCE'S OFFICE - DAY Father Bruce is on the phone with the bishop continuing the conversation started in the last scene. Father Bruce's office is a mess. There are files and papers lying everywhere. There is an Apple Computer "Think Different" poster on the wall featuring a photo of Miles Davis. Father Bruce has an ORANGE IMAC COMPUTER which has a bumper sticker on it that says "Jesus loves you. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole." There is also a COFFEE MAKER and an ASHTRAY. INTERCUT telephone conversation between Father Bruce and BISHOP HARDING. Father Bruce is frustrated and stressed out by this whole situation. He is chain-smoking during their conversation. FATHER BRUCE Look, Bishop... You guys have been struggling to recruit young people to the church for years, and here I am in Hyde Park, right next to the University of Chicago, bringing them out in droves, but I still can't catch a break with you people. Bishop Harding is a conservative old man who is constantly wearing a GIANT BISHOP'S HAT. In this scene, he should be at home, wearing pajamas or a smoking robe or something that one would only wear at home. Of course, he is still wearing the hat. It is clear that Bishop Harding likes the fact that Father Bruce is bringing in new blood to the church; but he is by no means sympathetic. BISHOP HARDING Father O'Reilly... FATHER BRUCE Bruce, Bishop. Call me Bruce. BISHOP HARDING Bruce, as much as we appreciate your efforts to go out and bring in the young people, they don't bring any money to the church. It is the older people in your parish that bring the money that keep the church alive. FATHER BRUCE So they got upset about one sermon. Can't you just, you know, turn the other cheek? (he laughs sheepishly.) SHOT - BISHOP HARDING The Bishop does not think the joke was funny. FATHER BRUCE Sorry. BISHOP HARDING Father Bruce, it wasn't just last Sunday. I have had complaints about the content of almost every single sermon... He picks up a list. BISHOP HARDING (CONT'D) (reading) "What were they smoking when they wrote Revelation?"... "Mary Magdalene: the Holiest of the Hos" ... "Judas was a pussy"... FATHER BRUCE (interrupting) Okay, Okay, I see your point. But listen, Bishop, it's not about pleasing the old folks! It's about bringing new flesh and blood into the Catholic church and having them discover that Catholicism doesn't have to be all about sexual repression! I'm trying to show these kids - and the older folks - that Catholics can have fun, too! BISHOP HARDING Father Bruce, you and I both know that that is simply not true! (a beat) Bruce, I would love to see your parish thrive on ramen noodles and Gino's East Pizza coupons, but neither of those things are going to pay the heating bills. Now, Bruce, I hate to bring it down to this, but either you clean up your act, or we will be forced to consider excommunication. FATHER BRUCE (angrily) Fine! Just don't come crying to me in thirty years when the entire Catholic population of Chicago is dead. He slams down the phone. FATHER BRUCE Fucking bishop. INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY We are in a typical coffee shop that one would find in a college neighborhood. There are lots of COFFEE SHOP PATRONS - mostly students - studying and chatting over coffee in the background. SHOT - FATHER BRUCE'S TABLE Father Bruce has been hard at work. There is a BIBLE, several crumpled up pages, an EMPTY COFFEE CUP, and an ashtray piled high with cigarette butts on the table. ANGLE - FATHER BRUCE It is later in the week. Father Bruce is wearing the traditional Priest getup with a black leather jacket. Father Bruce is smoking a cigarette and writing furiously in a notebook while occasionally glancing at his bible. He looks like crap. His hair is messed up, he has circles under his eyes. He looks like he has been writing for twenty-four hours straight. He is frustrated. His body language grows slowly more and more agitated. He is pressing the pen harder and harder into the paper. Eventually, he just stabs the notebook with the pen, and noisily crumples up the paper. Furious, Bruce throws the paper onto the table and slams the notebook on the ground. He picks up his bible, unable to control his rage any longer. FATHER BRUCE (screaming) This is shit! This is complete and utter bullshit! ANGLE - COFFEE SHOP PATRONS The COFFEE SHOP PATRONS are all staring at Father Bruce. FATHER BRUCE Sorry. He sits down. RENEE THOMAS is a student at the University of Chicago. She is witty and intelligent. She is good-looking, but not gorgeous. Her wardrobe seems to be more comfort-oriented rather than fashion oriented. Renee approaches the table. RENEE Looks like you could use a break. FATHER BRUCE (seriously - he does not want to take a break) Renee - I can't. I have to write this sermon for Sunday and I'm just totally swamped. RENEE Bruce, you really should take a break. FATHER BRUCE Oh yeah? What makes you say that? RENEE Well, it could be the 450 cigarettes in your ashtray... Or it might just be the fact that you just screamed to the greater Chicagoland area about how "it's all bullshit" with a Bible in your hand. A beat. FATHER BRUCE Sit down. He starts clearing the table to make room for her. A WAITRESS approaches. WAITRESS (to Renee) Can I get you something? RENEE A cup of coffee, please. FATHER BRUCE And I'll have a refill. He holds up the cup for the waitress. His hand is shaking. RENEE Make his decaf. WAITRESS Right. The waitress leaves. FATHER BRUCE (sarcastically) What would I do without you, Renee? RENEE Die of heart palpitations on your next cup of regular. What is the matter with you anyway? FATHER BRUCE Renee, if I tell you something, will you promise to keep it on the down low? RENEE Yes. FATHER BRUCE Are you sure? RENEE Somehow I think lying to a priest would not be in my best interests with the man upstairs. FATHER BRUCE The bishop is threatening to excommunicate my ass unless I act like every other two-bit priest in this fucking city. RENEE What?!? He can't do that! You've increased church attendance like crazy! FATHER BRUCE I know, but it's all college students who are coming out. College students, as you know, are poor. College students do not make any donations to St. Mike's. In short, the church is going broke because I'm drawing the wrong kind of people. RENEE But you're not drawing the wrong kind of people! You're drawing the people that need to be touched spiritually the most! In twenty years, these people will be donating the most money to the church. FATHER BRUCE I don't think Bishop Harding is concerned about money on a long term basis. It's not like Catholicism is in any danger of extinction. RENEE But what you're doing is more important than money! You are spiritually inspiring the young Catholics. I mean, look at me. Before I heard about you, I hadn't been to church in seven years. Now I'm there every Sunday. Think of how many students in your parish have the same story! FATHER BRUCE Yeah. I guess. But that doesn't bring in any money. I'm beginning to think that Bishop Harding is right. It doesn't matter how many young people I bring in. The church has bills to pay. And the young people just aren't going to pay them. A pause. Renee looks like she wants to say something, but can't. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) Look, Renee... I gotta go. It was good to see you. Father Bruce picks up his stuff, drops some cash on the table and then leaves. ANGLE - RENEE She looks disheartened as we can see Father Bruce exiting the coffee shop in the background. INT. - ST. MICHAEL'S CHAPEL - DAY INSERT TITLE - 'THAT SUNDAY' It is the Sunday mass. They are just finishing up with the communion. The last members of the CONGREGATION have just sat down. The church is packed. The congregation contains mostly college-age people, who are informally dressed. Jeans and t-shirts and piercings are common throughout the young congregation. There is an occasional older person, but they are rare. As the last of the congregation gets seated, we can hear ORGAN MUSIC gently coming to a close in the background. ANGLE - FATHER BRUCE Bruce looks nervous. He has shaved his goatee and stubble off and his hair is neat and combed. Beads of sweat are forming on his forehead. He is clearly not ready to give a 'normal' sermon. SHOT - CONGREGATION They are all staring straight forward, waiting for Bruce to approach the pulpit to deliver the sermon. Bruce is frozen stiff. ANGLE - FATHER BRUCE He is still frozen stiff, scared as all hell. ANGLE - JENKINS Jenkins is starting to get visibly uneasy as the uncomfortable silence gets longer. SHOT - CONGREGATION Still staring straight forward at Bruce. CLOSE UP - FATHER BRUCE Still sweating, still scared stiff. ANGLE - JENKINS Becoming more nervous. Jenkins decides to approach Father Bruce. He takes one step towards Bruce when Bruce snaps out of his trance. CONGREGATION'S POV Father Bruce picks up the chalice which contains the remainder of the communion wine and chugs it. We FOLLOW Father Bruce to the pulpit. FATHER BRUCE The Lord be with you. SHOT - CONGREGATION CONGREGATION (in unison) And also with you. ANGLE - FATHER BRUCE FATHER BRUCE (nervous) Today, I wanted to talk about (looks down at notes) INSERT - FATHER BRUCE'S NOTES Scrawled on a single piece of notebook paper in a big black marker, they read: 1. ACT LIKE A SQUARE. 2. DON'T FUCK UP!!!!! BACK TO SCENE FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) -- the gospel. (clears throat) Today's gospel is about sacrifice. Every week we at the church ask you to sacrifice some of your hard earned money to help us keep going. You know, to pay for stuff. (clears throat again) But last week, we only got seven dollars and a coupon for buy one get one free at Boston Blackie's on Grand. The congregation lets out a SLIGHT LAUGH. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) Sure, we didn't make a lot of money, but neither do you guys. The woman in the gospel today only gave a little bit to the church. But as Jesus pointed out, her heart was a whole fff-- (he stops himself from cursing) -fflot bigger than the guy who donated a lot of money to the church, because that little bit meant more to her than the big lot did to the rich dude. So the point of all this is that sacrificing is about percentage. That's why we have an increasingly scaled federal income tax. A beat. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) (quickly, wanting to get it overwith) In Jesus' name, Amen. SHOT - CONGREGATION The congregation is silent. They are shocked. SHOT - FATHER BRUCE FATHER BRUCE (raising his voice) I said, "Amen!" CONGREGATION (unsure, not quite in unison) Amen. CUT TO: INT. - ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH - LATER The service is over. Father Bruce is shaking hands with the churchgoers as they leave. STEVE is a young white guy who desperately wants to be black. You can tell by his speech and dress. FATHER BRUCE Good morning, Steven. STEVE Steven? Yo, what's wit you, Father B? Yo' ass is all twisted around this morning! FATHER BRUCE Steven, I'm afraid matters have become such that I have to change the format of my services. STEVE What?!? Nigga, you gots ta be bustin' my ass! FATHER BRUCE Now, Steven, there's no need for that kind of language here. STEVE (disappointed) Shit, B! Sounds like yo' ass got influenced by the man. FATHER BRUCE I'm afraid it's become much more complex than that, Steve. STEVE Oh, yeah? Well, complex this, muthafucka. I ain't coming next Sunday. Sheeit. Steve exits the church. Renee is behind Steve. She is very upset, near tears. FATHER BRUCE Renee... RENEE I can't believe you. I really thought that you were going to stick to your guns. She leaves. FATHER BRUCE (upset) Renee... I can explain... Renee! FATHER BRUCE'S POV We watch Renee walk away from the church. DISSOLVE TO: INT. - ST. MICHAEL'S CHAPEL - DAY It is later that day. The church is empty and Father Bruce is sitting with his head in his hands on the front pew. He is holding a lit cigarette in one of his hands. Jenkins sits down next to him and puts his hand on Bruce's back. JENKINS Bruce, I... I just wanted to let you know that I think you're doing the right thing. I mean, you've drawn a very important line for yourself. You have shown that trying to keep your own parish is more important to you than trying to impress those students. FATHER BRUCE (miserably) Yeah. JENKINS They're young, Bruce. They'll get over it. Bruce's CELL PHONE RINGS. He pulls it out of his shirt pocket and answers it. INTERCUT Bishop's telephone conversation with Father Bruce. Bishop Harding is at home again, but this time he is walking on his TREADMILL. He is wearing a WORKOUT OUTFIT, like a sweatsuit, or a running jacket and warm-ups. He is - of course - wearing the BISHOP'S HAT. He talks on a cordless phone while walking on his treadmill. FATHER BRUCE Hello? BISHOP HARDING Bruce! I heard good things about you this morning! FATHER BRUCE Really? I didn't. BISHOP HARDING (laughs) Oh, Bruce. I'm glad to hear you're keeping your sense of humor about you through this difficult time of transition. FATHER BRUCE (A grunt/groan) Unh. BISHOP HARDING At any rate, Bruce, I was so pleased to hear about your performance that I decided to invite Archbishop Drake to your sermon next Sunday to show him your rapid improvement! FATHER BRUCE The Archbishop? BISHOP HARDING Yes. FATHER BRUCE Here? BISHOP HARDING Yes. FATHER BRUCE Next Sunday? BISHOP HARDING Yes. FATHER BRUCE (yells) Shit!!! BISHOP HARDING What was that? FATHER BRUCE I mean, uh, great. BISHOP HARDING We'll see you next Sunday, Father Bruce! Bruce hangs up without a word. JENKINS Archbishop Drake is coming next weekend? Father Bruce nods. JENKINS Shit! Father Bruce gives Jenkins a look, with a half-smirk on his face. Jenkins looks awkward and embarrassed and exits the chapel. SERIES OF SHOTS A) Father Bruce in the coffee shop we saw him in earlier. He is frustrated and is surrounded by crumpled up pieces of paper and an ashtray full of cigarettes. He is furiously writing something down on a piece of paper. B) A similar shot as before. Father Bruce is in his office, this time, typing furiously on his computer. A full pot of coffee and an ashtray full of cigarette butts sits next to him. He starts to get drowsy and eventually falls asleep. C) A SLOW MOTION shot of Father Bruce and Jenkins, dressed in full clergy dress at a carnival or an amusement park. They are playing a carnival game that involves squirt guns. Jenkins turns his gun and starts squirting Father Bruce, who laughs and shoots back. They are laughing joyously and squirting one another. The WOMAN working at the booth smiles and gives them both an enormous stuffed animal. They laugh and jump up and down, giggling with glee. JENKINS' VOICE Bruce.... Bruce... Bruce... CUT TO: INT. FATHER BRUCE'S OFFICE - NIGHT We realize that the carnival scene has been a dream. It is Jenkins' voice in the dream that is blending in with reality. Jenkins is trying to rouse Bruce, who is asleep and drooling on his desk. JENKINS Bruce? Bruce... Bruuuuce.... Father Bruce finally snaps out of his slumber. FATHER BRUCE What?!? JENKINS Bruce, you've been working for like 30 straight hours. Maybe you should get some rest. Father Bruce looks around a little bit to get re-oriented. FATHER BRUCE Uh... Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right. Father Bruce exits the office and gives Jenkins a funny look as he leaves. Jenkins is visibly confused at the stare. DISSOLVE TO: INT. - ST. MICHAEL'S CHAPEL - DAY It is a scene similar to the Sunday before - a packed house. SHOT - JENKINS, BISHOP HARDING, AND ARCHBISHOP DRAKE Archbishop Drake is another old white guy, except he is even older than Bishop Harding. He should be wearing glasses and be wearing a hat nearly twice the size than that of Bishop Harding's. INSERT TITLE - 'SUNDAY' In the background we can hear ORGAN MUSIC coming to a slow halt. Father Bruce steps up to the pulpit to speak. FATHER BRUCE The lord be with you. CONGREGATION And also with you. Father Bruce takes a deep breath before he begins. FATHER BRUCE (hesitant) Many of you were here last week for the sermon. ANGLE - RENEE Renee is sitting in the pews, looking hopeful. FATHER BRUCE (O.S.) A sermon, which, for this church, was rather unorthodox. SHOT - FATHER BRUCE FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) A lot of you that are here from last week come here every Sunday. And I really, truly appreciate that. As a Christian, and as a priest to such a loyal congregation, I feel that I owe it to you all to be completely and totally honest with you. SHOT - STEVE Steve is just entering the church through the rear entrance. FATHER BRUCE (O.S.) And I have not been completely honest with you. SHOT - FATHER BRUCE FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) I have been threatened to be excommunicated from the church. SHOT - ARCHBISHOP DRAKE AND BISHOP HARDING AD LIB reaction of surprise, disappointment from the congregation. Bishop Harding looks furious and starts to stand up. Archbishop Drake stops him and leans over to whisper something in his ear. SHOT - FATHER BRUCE FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) Since most of you are college students, and can barely afford to pay for a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon... LAUGHTER from the congregation. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) ...spending money on your church is not your utmost priority. Sure, this church doesn't make a lot of money, but I don't think that's really it. Father Bruce glances in the direction of Bishop Harding and Archbishop Drake. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) I think it's me. A beat. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) When I was young, I hated going to church. I hated sitting down and saying the same thing over and over again and listen to some white guy who I didn't even know tell me how to live my life. WIDE SHOT - CONGREGATION Steve stands up. STEVE Yeah! Everyone in the congregation turns and stares at Steve. There is an awkward silence as Steve slowly sits down, trying hard not to not look embarrassed and still look macho. SHOT - FATHER BRUCE FATHER BRUCE So when I decided to dedicate my life to God, I decided that I wasn't going to be like every other priest. I wasn't going to have sermons like every other priest. Why should I? I am not like them. They are not like me. Hell, they are not like one another. God created us all to be completely different from one another. And that is something that we should celebrate, every single day. Everyone is going to have a unique relationship with God, just as everyone is unique themselves. A beat. FATHER BRUCE (CONT'D) Now, instead of everybody reciting the Nicene Creed like a bunch of creepy catholic cyborgs, I want everyone to say something that reflects their individual relationship with God. I'll give you a minute to think about it. A pause. INT. - ST. MICHAEL'S CHAPEL - DAY It is later on. All of the parishioners have cleared out of the church and the only ones left are Father Bruce, Bishop Harding, Archbishop Drake, and Brother Jenkins. BISHOP HARDING Well, Father Bruce, I must admit that Archbishop Drake and I were overwhelmed by your sermon. For the first time, we hear Archbishop Drake speak. He has an incredibly thick Chicago accent. ARCHBISHOP DRAKE Very nice, Father. Very good message. FATHER BRUCE Listen... I'm going to level with you, here. I don't really care what you two thought of my sermon. What I do want to know is this: Am I in, or am I out? ARCHBISHOP DRAKE Father Bruce, Bishop Harding and I were so touched by your message of individuality and by your ability to bring in the youth to the service, that we would like to recommend you for a position as a Bishop. FATHER BRUCE Well, guys, thanks... But no thanks. My place is right here at St. Mike's. ARCHBISHOP DRAKE Suit yourself. (to Bishop Harding) You wanna go get a Walker Brothers? Father Bruce and Archbishop Drake leave. MOVING SHOT - FATHER BRUCE AND JENKINS They are walking slowly towards the front of the church. JENKINS Bruce, that was a really great sermon you gave today. FATHER BRUCE Thanks, Jenkins. JENKINS Hey, Bruce...Call me Ignatius. Father Bruce stops him. FATHER BRUCE Wait, your first name is Ignatius? JENKINS Yeah. Why, wha-- From nowhere, Steve and Renee run into the shot holding hands, interrupting Jenkins. FATHER BRUCE Hey, you guys! RENEE Father Bruce, Steve and I have some great news! FATHER BRUCE You guys know each other? Renee and Steve look at each other. RENEE AND STEVE We're getting married! STEVE And we want you to perform the wedding, B! Father Bruce is overcome with joy and shock at once. AD LIB appropriate reaction. Father Bruce faints. Jenkins, Renee and Steve all laugh. Jenkins bends over, out of the camera's view. JENKINS (O.S.) Hey, guys, he's not breathing. Renee and Steve look at each other awkwardly. Jenkins stands up, returning to the shot. JENKINS Just kidding! They all start laughing again. JENKINS Hey, look, now he's foaming at the mouth! They laugh harder. JENKINS We really should call an ambulance! They laugh even harder. FREEZE FRAME FADE OUT. THE END