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THE SHAME OF SAN JOAQUIN

WGAw #1834463

FADE IN:
EXT. SUBDIVISION - MORNING
A peculiar wind blows snowflakes past a wall guarding the
entrance to a neighborhood that reads “SAN JOAQUIN ESTATES”.
In a black Mustang idling at the curb sits BOBBY GONZALEZ, a
directionless young man with a hard look and disheveled hair.
A police scanner crackles on the dashboard, but Bobby’s eyes
are locked in a standoff with a FAMILY OF LIGHT-UP REINDEER
amidst a lawn full of Christmas decor.
Suddenly, the FATHER REINDEER is mounted behind the MOTHER
doggie-style; the teenage culprit, COLTON, jogs to the car.
COLTON
They go ballistic when I do that
... I do it every night!
Bobby hands him a baggy of weed without a look.
COLTON (CONT’D)
You’re a life-saver, Bobby.
Holidays are unbearable at my
house. My family sucks.
Bobby shoots him a glance and Colton reaches in his pocket.
While Bobby’s eyes return to the reindeer, Colton tosses a
wad of cash in Bobby’s lap and hops out of the car.
COLTON (CONT’D)
Text you in a few weeks.
When Bobby finally counts the bills in his lap, he comes up
short; he jumps out of the car to give chase, but Colton is
already sprinting away.
Bobby curses Colton and finds himself beside the scandalized
yard reindeer family. He repositions them as the HOMEOWNER
opens his door with a disapproving scowl.
HOMEOWNER
It’s Christmas Eve, son. Get
yourself home, be with your folks.
The door slams and a feeling hits Bobby in the gut. He
engages the BABY REINDEER now who seems to call to him.
Bobby surveys his surroundings inconspicuously and steals the
baby reindeer.

2.
INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - MEANWHILE
A Flight Attendant gestures for seat belts to be fastened as
a VOICE comes over the intercom:
ATTENDANT (O.C)
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re
beginning our descent into Dallas.
ERICA BEDFORD, an unapproachable young woman in sweats and
glasses, retrieves a sleeve of Nicotine Gum from her purse.
She pops one in her mouth and chews anxiously.
As she pops another piece, she notices a nearby PASSENGER
watching with concern.
ERICA
I hate flying.
PASSENGER
You’ll be home soon enough.
Erica absorbs this response and tosses yet another piece in
her mouth. She looks out the window.
Yep.

ERICA

EXT. GONZALEZ HOUSE - MEANWHILE
The Mustang roars up the driveway of a modest home and
screeches to a halt.
Bobby steps out with a look of disbelief as his indomitable
mother, EMILIA, lines boxes up along the garage door.
When she notices Bobby, she glares at him and lets a box of
his stuff drop on the hard concrete with a crunch.
EMILIA
How many times?
BOBBY
What are you doing?
EMILIA
You’re moving out.
BOBBY
(beat)
What did you do with it?

3.
EMILIA
Flushed it. You’re welcome.
He pursues her to the back door as she heads inside.
BOBBY
That was all I had! My savings, my
income--everything!
(off her look)
What am I supposed to do? Where am
I supposed to go?
She shrugs and puts a hand on the doorknob.
BOBBY (CONT’D)
You look down on me now, but I
don’t see you complaining when I
buy the groceries or pay the rent-When she turns, the look in her eyes stops him in his tracks.
EMILIA
It’s not fair for a boy to bury his
father before he can be made a man,
but this niño caprichoso in front
of me is an even greater disgrace.
(beat)
I love you, but I will not enable
you. Time to go.
(beat)
I’ll be at Lala’s if you want to
join for Christmas, but you will
not come back here. Good luck baby.
She goes inside, letting the screen door shut behind her.
BOBBY
You’re the one who needs the luck.
Behind the screen door, Emilia shudders. She shuts the door
and locks the deadbolt.
As Bobby goes to his car and opens his driver door, he
notices a document taped to his front door. The heading
reads, “Eviction Notice.”
His face falls as he reconsiders his mother’s behavior.
He suddenly senses someone watching him. In the window of the
home across the street, EYES peer through the blinds.
When the Eyes catch Bobby’s, the blinds snap shut.
Bobby glares back with an unsettling feeling.

4.
EXT. AIRPORT - MEANWHILE
Beside her gray luggage, Erica blends in with the terminal.
Her disdainful squint softens as a YELLOW BEETLE approaches.
She stamps out her cigarette quickly and takes a deep breath.
When the Beetle pulls up, Erica’s sunny cousin BRI BEDFORD,
emerges with a squeal.
BRI
Is this what New York is wearing
now? So bleak, I love it. Like
bleak-chic, urban camo, just YES.
ERICA
I’m doing my best to be invisible
for the duration of this trip, is
it obvious?
BRI
Well we’re having mimosas like now
since I haven’t interacted with a
sane human adult in about--I don’t
know, when were you last here?
Bri grabs the suitcase and lugs it to the trunk.
ERICA
But we won’t be like seen, right?
BRI
It’s church day, baby, you’re safe.
ERICA
Shouldn’t you be there? Eternally
repenting of your sins?
BRI
Yeah, I usually wear this really
cute brooch--it’s a giant red “A”-and I just lay down at the front
while old men flog me.
Erica actually smiles as Bri gets in the driver’s side.
BRI (CONT’D)
But not today, honey! Because today
is Mother’s Day OUT!
Erica glances to the back where an empty car seat sits.

5.
EXT. CEMETERY - MEANWHILE
Bobby approaches a row of headstones coated with snow.
He singles one out and wipes it clean to reveal the name
ALVINO GONZALEZ 1959-2014.
His eyes move from the headstone to the adjacent church
grounds where toddlers bobble around on a playground.
Bobby’s face shifts and he walks away from his father’s grave
without a second glance.
EXT. CHURCH PLAYGROUND - MOMENTS LATER
OLD LADIES supervise kids playing on a jungle gym.
As Bobby’s Mustang rolls up and idles nearby, the Ladies
corral the children away from the fence.
The car drives away and into the parking lot.
IN THE SANCTUARY
A ROBED CHOIR seems to proclaim the entrance of GRAHAM
BEDFORD, a magnetic politician in Brooks Brothers.
He shakes hands and hugs old ladies while his dutiful wife
MAE falls in line behind him routinely.
An OFFICIAL-LOOKING MAN takes Graham’s hand and whispers
something in his ear; Graham nods with reassurance.
Trailing this parade is Graham’s eccentric mother, RENEE, who
takes a seat in the back near the aisle.
Mae finds her usual spot in the front row as Graham moves up
onto the stage, timing the ending of the hymn with a clap.
GRAHAM
Amen.
(beat)
I believe I said, AMEN!
The Congregation’s applause swells with shouts of “Amen!”
As it dies down, Graham pats his forehead with a handkerchief
for a laugh, beginning his well-rehearsed act.

6.
GRAHAM (CONT’D)
I thought being the District
Attorney was tough, but this is
worse than the witness stand!
(to Pastor Jerry)
You been at this how long now,
Pastor Jerry?
Seated beside Mae, PASTOR JERRY holds up four fingers.
GRAHAM (CONT’D)
Four decades ...Lord a-mighty. Most
Democrats can’t even stay liberal
that long! I mean good night!
The Congregation responds like a laugh track.
The Official-Looking Man grins.
Graham soaks it up.
IN THE PARKING LOT
Bobby walks toward the Church door on a mission.
IN THE SANCTUARY
The laughter tapers as Graham settles into his pitch.
GRAHAM (CONT’D)
But I’m not here for your vote this
morning ...I’m here to honor that
man right there--sitting a little
too close to my wife in my opinion.
There is more laughter as Pastor Jerry blushes and scoots
away from Mae playfully; she joins the fun, moving near him
and putting her arm around him.
IN THE LOBBY
Bobby enters quietly and moves past ROGER, a sleeping Deacon
holding programs in his limp hands.
Approaching the Sanctuary, Bobby freezes at the sight of
Graham through a glass opening.
His breath grows shallow and his eyes narrow.

7.
IN THE SANCTUARY
Graham takes it down now, offering sudden gravity.
GRAHAM (CONT’D)
Nice, isn’t it, this Freedom we
enjoy? And while we worship in the
false safety of this house, we
ignore reality: that this country’s
institutions are invaded and
corroded by immorality daily.
(beat)
And most in danger is the
cornerstone of civilization itself:
the Family. What will we stand on
if we forfeit the Family?
(beat)
When institutions become too weak
to light our path, the
responsibility falls onto the
shoulders of the Strong Individual.
Like this good man here ...
(to Pastor Jerry)
I commend you, Brother, for being a
statue of righteousness, an
uncompromising enforcer of God’s
Justice, and a General in the army
of His Peace.
(beat)
I plan to stand beside you because
today I’m announcing my candidacy
to represent you in Congress.
(off their excitement)
Would you pray with me?
As heads bow and eyes close, Bobby invades the Sanctuary
making his way down the center aisle.
He scans the congregation.
At the front pew Bobby spots Mae, but continues searching for
someone else.
Looking once more for his target, he gives up ...but not
before he gives Graham a look--and the finger.
He heads back down the aisle and out of the Sanctuary.
In the back pew, with her eyes cracked open, Renee tracks
Bobby exiting the Sanctuary.

8.
IN THE LOBBY
Bobby hurries to the exit, but Renee’s voice stops him.
Roger.

RENEE

The Deacon wakes just as Bobby hides behind a staircase.
RENEE (CONT’D)
I’m keeping my great-grandson today
and for the life of me I cannot
recall where they lock up those
little tikes.
ROGER
Just around that corner, Renee-third door on the left.
She pats him on the shoulder.
RENEE
Oh, that’s right. At ease soldier,
it’s a real snoozer in there.
Roger grins at her and settles back into his nap.
Bobby emerges from behind the staircase and Renee catches his
gaze; she offers a sublime nod just before disappearing into
the sanctuary.
As Roger dozes off, Bobby sneaks out of the lobby.
INT. CHURCH NURSERY - A MOMENT LATER
In a colorful room full of blabbing toddlers, DALTON GONZALEZ
finishes a tiny cabin out of Lincoln Logs just as a fellow
toddler demolishes it with a Monster Truck.
Bobby pokes his head in the doorway and a profound look takes
over his face when he sees Dalton.
CRYSTAL, a bashful nursery aide, steps in to block his gaze.
CRYSTAL
Can I help you, sir?
BOBBY
Just here to see my son.