Wine Mama (65) Saving Batch

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (65)

MAKING BATCH

EXT: COLUMBUS WINERY-2 P.M.

BRIAN AND JOHN PULL UP TO THE COLUMBUS WINERY

OWNER BILL WARD AND SEVERAL WORKERS WAITING BY GATE

WARD LEANS UP AS THEY PULL TANKER TRUCK IN

WARD

"Hello Mister Hudson, are you ready to unload?"

BRIAN

"Mister Ward, ah it's Bill right...my name is Cashman, but you can call me Brian and Hudson is the name of the winery...let's try to keep that in order if you don't mind?"

WARD

"Of course, of course, my bad...did you have any trouble retrieving your sludge?" 

BRIAN

"Yea well...a few threats here and there...let's see we burned up a pump, and oh yea, got shot at while leaving the property...almost forgot about that little miscue, could have been worse!"

WARD

"They're all crazy people over there, they'll probably just claim that you were stealing their grapes...well anyway, glad to see you survived...how much were you able to save anyway?"

BRIAN

"That's the way I figure it too, but still man, you don't just shoot at people like that...ah, let's see we sucked up about thirteen-seven, but it's got so much junk in it, it's definitely going to have to be strained out again...so we'll probably lose a little more I figure!"

WARD

"Go on head and bring the truck around and we can start the transfer, okay?"

(2 HOURS LATER)

WITH THE PUMPING COMPLETED, ALL THE GUYS ARE JUST STANDING THERE LOOKING AT THE ALMOST FOURTEEN THOUSAND GALLONS OF WINE SLUDGE SITTING IN SIX STAINLESS STEEL VATS

LITTLE BUBBLES COMING UP FROM THE INVIGORATED MIX

WARD

"We'll start off pulsing this first batch through a fifty count screen and see where we go with that...looks like Sheffield really corrupted this batch...so we'll follow that up by doing a pressure sieve and see what we got!"

BRIAN

"Fuck, I still can't believe this...I mean is this stuff even savable?"

WARD LAUGHING

"Oh, hell yea...when we had bad season's, storms and stuff, we were filtering out tree limbs, dead birds, just about anything you can imagine!"

WORKER

"One time we had to shovel out a Possum, it all comes out good!"

EVERYBODY LAUGHING

BRIAN

"Okay guys...I'm leaving this up to your hands, I'll give you a call, or give me a call if something else comes up...nothing would surprise me at this point!"

WARD

"Okay Brian, now go clean your truck tank real good...that acid will ruin that thing...and don't you worry, we're going to make this wine good, trust me!"

BRIAN

"Thanks again Bill..."

(scene switch)

EXT: BRIAN'S HOUSE-6 P.M.

BRIAN FINALLY PULLS UP INTO DRIVEWAY SEEING AN AUDI A8 WITH WASHINGTON PLATES PARKED BEHIND SANDY'S RANGE ROVER

DECIDES TO CALL INSIDE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON

SANDY ANSWERING PHONE

SANDY

"Hey, gator boy what's cooking?

BRIAN

"Just sitting out here in the driveway, wondering who's dropping in?"

SANDY

"Oh, just Captain Franks with a surprise visitor!

BRIAN

"Who?"

SANDY

"Well dumb shit, come in and see...it is your house isn't it?"

BRIAN

"I guess I'll do that...but I'm warning you...I'm sludgy!"

SANDY

"Bring your sludgy self in and get you cleaned up, bye!"

WALKING IN HE SEE'S CAPTAIN FRANK DRINKING A MOOSEHEAD AS A HEAD TURNS FROM THE OPPOSING CHAIR

IT'S ARTHUR

BRIAN

"Well I'll be, guess we'll have to call off the funeral, Jesus man does exist!"

CAPTAIN FRANKS

"Yea, he's been hanging with me...we've been doing a few flights together, pretty handy guy...just a little on the weird side sometimes, but otherwise, he's been earning his keep!"

ARTHUR

"Yea, thought I needed to bail out for a while, you seemed to have your hands full..."

BRIAN

"Geez man, you could at least called all something..."

SANDY

"That's what I was telling him, we thought the Bear's got you or something!"

BRIAN

"Well, I've been through so much shit in the past couple of weeks, it was probably for the best....but still, you know...we were worried!"

SANDY

"So, how is the sludge anyway?"

BRIAN

"To keep it simple, it's been moved...trash and everything else."

ARTHUR

"Trash...what happened to it?"

BRIAN

"That old fuckhead Ron Sheffield corrupted my batch when he found out I was coming to take it away...even shot at me a few times, what a piece of work his operation turned out to be!"

ARTHUR

"If you want, I'll go hunt him down for you?"

BRIAN

"No, nothing doing, I'm not even tell Lieutenant Brown, he's got enough crap to worry about...everybody is safe, that's all that matters, it's been transferred to Columbus, they're sieving it, filtering it out...whatever, and we'll just go from there...it's all good...so what, you hanging around for a while, what?"

CAPTAIN FRANKS

"I just came down to get that Delta chute I lent you, but I see it's become a permanent fixture in your Sycamore tree, what are you going to do with it, turn it into a birdhouse or something?"

BRIAN LAUGHING

"No, just haven't had a chance to go up there and dig it out of the limbs...thought if I waited long enough, the wind would knock it down...we'll get it..."

ARTHUR

"We've been doing a little partying here, but I'll climb up there in the morning and get it when I straighten up a little, no problem man..."

BRIAN

"Sounds like a plan...so your camping here tonight?"

CAPTAIN FRANKS

"Well, we were going down to the Comfort Inn and get a room, that's up to you?"

SANDY

"I already told them they're welcome to stay, but they would have to share a sleeping bag...you know, the one we always use?"

BRIAN

"We have couches and the rugs are clean, I mean...save your money and lounge around a little!"

SANDY

"But if you change your mind and want to use the sleeping bag, let me know and I'll throw it in the washer...clean it up a bit!"

CAPTAIN FRANKS

"Really appreciate that Brian, haven't been down here since you fixed this place up...I'm impressed!"

BRIAN

"More of a lady's touch, but hey...I'll take credit for whatever I can take at this point...the important thing is that we're all here, safe and sound, that's all that's important when you get down to it..."

SANDY WALKS UP HANDING BRIAN A MOOSEHEAD

THEY ALL HOLD THEIR BOTTLES TOGETHER

BRIAN

"To good friends..."

THEY CLANK BOTTLES TOGETHER

THEY ALL PROFESS

"Cheers!"

scene close

Wine Mama (64) Poetry In Sludge

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (64)

POETRY IN SLUDGE

BRIAN DRIVING OVER TO SHEFFIELD WINERIES

SEE'S GATES CLOSED, CALLS JOHN ON PHONE


BRIAN

"Hey, what's up...you bringing the truck?"


JOHN

"Yea, we're almost there, had to get some fuel...what's it look like over there?"


BRIAN

"Well, haven't tried to enter the gate, just sitting here waiting for the sparks to fly!"

(30 MINUTES LATER)

TRUCK PULLS UP BEHIND BRIAN'S VAN, THEY BOTH APPROACH GUARD GATE

BRIAN LEANS HEAD OUT OF WINDOW, TALKING TO GUARD


BRIAN

"Good morning, I'm Brian Cashman, we're here to pick up some sludge from Mister Sheffield."


GUARD

"Yea, Mister Sheffield has been expecting you, come on in."

OPENING GATE, BRIAN SPOTS RON SHEFFIELD WITH SEVERAL GUARDS HOLDING RIFLES, WALKING OVER TO HIM


SHEFFIELD

"Morning Cashman, looks like you've got your equipment there, how were you planning on getting your stuff out of here?"


BRIAN

"I guess we'll just sump it, pump it, whatever it takes...do you have an access area where we can park the truck?"


SHEFFIELD

"Look, this is the first time I've ever let anybody take they're stuff back like this, are you sure this is what you want to do?"


BRIAN

"We've already been through this, Bill Ward...you do remember him, your accomplice...we'll looks like we're going to be doing business after all!"


SHEFFIELD

"He's going to screw up your batch, he can't do that much at one time anyway...it's just a mom and pop operation!"


BRIAN

"Well, I'm not going to get into all the legal shit, but I don't have time to explain my feelings about both of you, but right now, we're just trying to save my grapes, haven't got a lot of wiggle room here, so let's team together and try to get something accomplished.

SHEFFIELD LOOKING DISGUSTED


SHEFFIELD

"The holding vats are over on the left side of the building, you can put your hoses in the pit holes, don't forget to meter this, cause I don't want you coming back bitchen about being shorted or anything!"


BRIAN

"You've already short changed me...I'm just on a mercy mission, I could really do without all explanation, cause anything else we do here is going to be in a court of law."


SHEFFIELD

"It was an accident, there was never any intent...so there was a little body wash, we lost about fifteen hundred bushels...it's not the end of the world!"


BRIAN

"I'm learning about this business, and I can see what kind of slime balls it's made of...trust me, next time around, I'm just going to take out a loan and do this myself!"


SHEFFIELD

"For something your going to do once a year, it's not even worth it..."


BRIAN

"Get out of my way if you don't mind, I've got some sucking to do!"


SHEFFIELD

"By all means, go suck your crap up and get the hell out of here!"

(2 Hours Later)

PUMP TO TRUCK STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND SHUTS DOWN


BRIAN

"John, what the hell happened?"

JOHN CHECKING PIPE INPUT


JOHN

"Too much crap built up on pump...most of this doesn't even look like grape sludge...looks like contamination, leaves and paper."


BRIAN

"It figures, they probably dropped all kinds of garbage in here, how much have we got?"

JOHN LOOKING AT METER


JOHN

"Looks like about thirteen-thousand seven hundred, what do you want to do?"


BRIAN

"Out of twenty or so, I think we just need to pull the hose and boogie the hell out of here...what do you think?"


JOHN

"Your asking me, I'm surprised we even retrieved this much, I was almost sure that dude was going to chase us away...considering how shady all this is...well Boss, let's just say you lucked out again!" 


BRIAN

"Your probably right, I just feel all screwed over by this...let's pull this load and go, Bill's probably waiting!"

SHEFFIELD WALKS OUT


SHEFFIELD

"Well, did you suck your sludge, are we all happy here?"


BRIAN

"Dancing on a cloud man...couldn't get everything I came for, seems like you had a little garbage in the tank...couldn't explain that by the way...could you?"


SHEFFIELD

"Have no idea what your talking about, anything you had in that vat belonged to you...don't you point fingers at me!"

BRIAN WALKS OVER AND PUNCHES SHEFFIELD IN THE HEAD

GUARDS WALK UP AND START PUSHING BRIAN AROUND

JOHN PUSHES REVERSE PUMP ON TANKER

WINE SLUDGE KNOCKS ALL THE GUARDS OFF THEIR FEET

TURNING PUMP OFF HE SCREAMS TO BRIAN


JOHN

"Come on Boss, let's go, let's go!"


BRIAN

"Right behind you John."

JOHN DRIVES TANKER TOWARD GATE

GUARD REFUSES TO LET THEM OUT SO JOHN PLOWS FENCE DOWN AS BRIAN FOLLOWS IN VAN

OTHER GUARDS GET UP FROM THEIR SLUDGE BATH AND START FIRING WEAPONS AT BOTH VEHICLES, TO NO EFFECT

SHEFFIELD RUNNING OUT, MAKING COMMENT


SHEFFIELD

"I'm not done with Cashman, if he knew what was good for him, sucker should have stuck to his Gatortails while he had the chance, hey...get some guys over here to clean up this crap, and you guys...go get a shower before the flies eat you up!"



scene close

Wine Mama (63) Guilty Hands Of Progress

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (63)

GUILTY HANDS OF PROGRESS

INT: GATORTAIL RESTAURANT-RECEIVING DOCK-TUESDAY-8 A.M.

BRIAN COMING IN EARLY-CHECKING RECENT SHIPMENT OF GATOR MEAT COMING OFF THE FED-EX OVERNIGHT TRUCK

TALKING TO JOHN HIS GENERAL MANAGER

BRIAN

"Two hundred and eighty...that's all he could ship, crap...just ten gators?"

JOHN

"When I talk to him, he call and say permits were limited and he could only take so many, he say he wants more money, but with everything else going bad with you, we haven't had chance to talk...I leave you alone!"

BRIAN

"Yea, I know...I've got to work on the restaurant a bit...this wine stuff has me over a log, can't let what brought me here...we'll you know what I mean?"

JOHN

"We could bread this out a little, I good at making this last...we cut corner here and there...I know how to do that...nobody know?"

BRIAN

"No, we're not going there, like some kind of chicken McNugget crap where we have knuckles, corn bread, and ten-percent meat, no way is that gonna happen...but I need to get back to why I'm here in the first place...if I was going to just work on making money, I could have just stayed back in Vegas working at the Palms...George was taking damn good care of my ass...was making a mint!"

JOHN

"Only man upstairs knows why you are like you are, you have purpose, purpose for being here, we your family now, you take care of us best you can, you are not perfect, but we Love you anyway!"

BRIAN

"Yea, but now...I might be losing the grapes...shit, wasn't that I wasn't trying to make this work...hopefully Sheffield will be leaving me a message...something?"

JOHN

"His wine guy, master steward...let him decide what is best, he's been there before...I know him from way back...he will save what he can, he take it personally!"

BRIAN

"So, this is a pretty tight business, I mean everybody kind of pulls together on ideas and stuff...you guy's are always working for the save, huh?"

JOHN

"Late in the game...down by a quarter, you must trust your quarterback!"

BRIAN

"Yea, this is a little like football, strategy and plays, I see your point!"

JOHN

"Just remember, we believe in good management, vision...just can't fail with all this positive energy going down, we just can't, now it important that you believe, too!"

BRIAN

"Sound like a winner...let me go check my messages, I'll be back!"

WALKING INTO HIS OFFICE, BRIAN SEE'S RED LIGHT BLINKING ON BUSINESS LINE

HE PROMPTS FIRST CALL


COMPUTERIZED OPERATOR

"You have four messages...message number one received on..."

BRIAN ADVANCES BUTTON

"Hello, this is Officer Jeff Brown with he Louisiana Department of Game and Fisheries...we have just released a trapper on his own recognizes, apparently was caught interfering with tags on other owner's traps...according to our records show that you hold his transfer licence and continually mentioned your name as his bonding agent, please call me when your available, thank you!" 

BRIAN ADVANCES BUTTON

"Hello Brian, this is Detective Brown at the Modesto Police department, this is in reference to a complaint filed against your estate by the Thomson family for compliance of a death benefit associated with your relationship with Mister Thomson. We are simply requesting a simple statement as to your business dealings leading up to his demise...hope all is well, please contact me as soon as possible, thanks!"

BRIAN ADVANCES BUTTON

"Hey Brian, this is Ron Sheffield, looks like we're going to have to chill down the sludge and see if we can get it going tomorrow  nothing guaranteed  maybe forced to add a little Nitrate to keep everything stable, no biggy...but we're just going to have to wait till the tanks are sterile, call me if you have any questions, bye!"

BRIAN ADVANCES BUTTON

"Hello Mister Cashman, this is Bill Ward with Columbus Wineries...just wanted you to know that me and the family felt bad about the problems you were having with the grapes, our condolences to the Thomson family, as we were not sure what type of man he was to do something like he did...in any case, we have clean vats and would express great pleasure in processing your harvest, please let me know if I can be of assistance, thank you!"

COMPUTERIZED OPERATOR

"There are no new messages, AT&T!"

BRIAN RUNNING INTO KITCHEN WHERE JOHN IS COOKING


BRIAN

"That's it!"


JOHN

"What's it?"


BRIAN

"I'm going to let that guy Ward and his wayward family do the Port Vodka...call up your driver friend, whatever his name is, and have him get his truck...I'm calling Sheffield up and having this stuff shipped over, assuming we can do this in time!"


JOHN

"But it's been strained and berdaded already, it's just sludge...it will be a mess!"


BRIAN

"Well then, I guess we'll just have to sump it up with a pump...put it in a milk tanker, one of those stainless steel milk tankers...I don't know, let's just get it over there!"


JOHN

"We transport it, we'll make it all good then?"

BRIAN CALLING BILL WARD AT COLUMBUS WINERIES ON PHONE


BRIAN

"Hey Bill, this is Brian, is your offer still good, cause I'll bring it over right now if your ready?"


BILL WARD

"Yes, yes of course, we process it now, what you need?"


BRIAN

"Well, I have a friend who has a tanker, and I'll pay the cost for all that, but I figure we can pump the sludge and get it over there a.s.a.p....sound good?"


WARD

"I'm ready to receive when your ready to bring it!"


BRIAN

"Good, let me call Sheffield and let him know we're coming, I'll get back to you later, bye!"

BRIAN CALLING SHEFFIELD, RON ANSWERING


RON

""Hey Brian, what's up?"


BRIAN

"Well, we had a little change of plans, was starting to get a little nervous about things, didn't want to start putting Nitrates into the sludge, but talked with Bill Ward over at Columbus...said he'd take the sludge right now and get it going, what do you think?"


RON

"You really surprise me Cashman, just throwing away everything we've worked for here, the contract, the loyal trust, what gives?"


BRIAN

"What gives...what's to give, what's to be gotten...if my shit spoils, we've got nothing...I've got nothing to lose at this point, so just let me do what I've got to do!"


RON

"And...just what is that?"


BRIAN

"Well, I'm coming over with a stainless steel milk transport and sucking up all my sludge and try to get it over to Columbus before it's too late!"


RON

"Well, you can't do that just now, not just like that...don't forget you still owe me for processing, for storage, legal fees!"


BRIAN

"Yea, let me drop a dime to Lieutenant Brown, I'll call him up and have a police escort in-tow, then we'll see who's sucking sludge...is that the way you want to play this?"


RON

"Alright, your still being billed for my services, your not going away without first..."


BRIAN

"Yea, yea...yea, sue me...take me to court...I figure with all the bullshit you wasted or managed to waste with my thirty-five bushels of grapes, putting them into contaminated vats along with the remains of your expired sales manager...mmm tasty...I swear Sheffield, your a fucking prick if there ever was one to called that!"


RON

"Don't you be calling me what I am...I mean, think you can just put names on people like that...out of the blue...don't be telling me what to think?"


BRIAN

"I just did, happy now...look when we get there with the tanker, I would highly suggest that you move to the side so we don't accidentally mistake you for a dog turd or something...I'm coming in and sucking up my shit, understand?"


RON

"Well, well...you just come and get it, but don't ask me for any more favors?"


BRIAN

"Favors...try burden  just a big stinking burden ..that's all you've ever managed to be to me...all you guys working on margins, I'll tell you, this is all going to catch up to you..that slippery slope crap form of doing business has to stop!"


RON

"It's a business that's been here since..."


BRIAN

"I know Ron, forever and ever, what the fuck ever...all I know is that my First Harvest is not going down without a fight...do you even understand that concept of hard work, a greater power, or is it all reliant upon bullshit cheese-ball smoke and screen scenarios?


RON

"We run a respectable business here, no need to belittle my grandfather's efforts!"


BRIAN

"Yea, Pappy's probably up there trying to get his name changed right now...you've disgraced all he's worked for, all that he represented, your a real piece of work Ron...so look for our truck and step aside, we've got wine to make...


RON

"But, you can't just..."


BRIAN

"Can't what fuckhead...ah, I can and I will...good bye Mister Sheffield, good-bye..."





scene close

Wine Mama (62) Just Leave A Message

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (62)

JUST LEAVE A MESSAGE

INT: GATORTAIL RESTAURANT-BRIAN'S OFFICE-TUESDAY-9 A.M.

BRIAN WALKS IN, PROMPTS UP MESSAGE BANK AND NOTICES IT IS BLANK

MESSAGE BANK ALSO SHOWING THAT IT HAS BEEN CORRUPTED AND NEEDS TO BE RESET

CHECKING SETTINGS AGAIN, NOTICES IT HAS BEEN HOLDING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF NOTICES AND HAS BEEN RESET THROUGH DEFAULT

PROMPTING HIS ACCOUNT, THE COMPUTERIZED MESSAGE COMES ON

COMPUTERIZED MESSAGE-LADY'S VOICE

"I'm sorry, but your message system has been entered without formal pass code and has, been altered and erased, please check all settings before attempting to operate this account, please contact your phone provider for further instructions, thank you...AT&T!"

BRIAN LOOKS PERPLEXED, TRYING TO LOOK AT MENU AS TO WHO TO CALL

SO, HE CALLS HIS OWN NUMBER FROM HIS EMERGENCY FLIP-PHONE

WOMAN ANNOUNCER

"Welcome to Total Call, if you know your preferred language, please press..."

BRIAN PUSHES ONE FOR ENGLISH

DIALS HIS OWN NUMBER

OPENING WITH BLUES MUSIC, IT PROMPTS HIS MESSAGE

"Hello, this is Brian Cashman, I'm out in the swamp catching Gator right now, but leave me a message if your hungry, thanks!"

COMPUTERIZED WOMAN ANNOUNCER

"Please leave a message at the beep or press nine for more options, AT&T!"

BRIAN PRESSING SEVEN

COMPUTERIZED WOMAN ANNOUNCER

"You have zero messages, thank you, AT&T!"

BRIAN TALKING TO HIMSELF

"Well...ain't this some shit!"

SANDY COMES IN, WEARING A SUNDRESS, MULES, AND A BIG FLOPPY HAT

SANDY

"Morning sweetie, who's on the horn?"

BRIAN

"Well, at this point...apparently nobody, my system fucked up or something, everything got erased...who knows?"

SANDY

"Probably the media, wanted to know about that story last night, they just blew your system apart...happened to me when David died!"

BRIAN

"What did that have to...when David died, what?"

SANDY

"It wasn't the fact that he died, it was the way he died, everyone was fascinated!"

BRIAN

"And how did the poor old bastard go again?"

SANDY

"He wasn't a poor old bastard, he was only forty-two, but he died while he was fucking me, don't you remember...the paramedics making fun, laughing as he was still laying on the floor, dead as a door nail with that huge boner still going on?"

BRIAN

"You said he fell off of you when he had his heart attack, he pulled out from pure movement, you never said anything about his manliness...not once did you speak of this so-called Large Boner?"

SANDY

"Oh well, you weren't the recipient, or you would have remembered, yea David was quite endowed!"

BRIAN

"So, how do I...I know it's a strange..."

SANDY

"Oh, how do you measure up...okay I guess, but you have a lot more feeling with it, and I doubt you'd ever leave me holding the wienie...so to speak!"

BRIAN

"Well, that's nice to know, do you have any suggestions as to how to get this phone working again Miss P.C.?"

SANDY

"Sure, if you've already reset your phone bank thingy, then if the call was really that important, they will call you back...pretty simple really!

BRIAN

"Didn't think about the phone thingy, thanks for the technical!"

SANDY

"That technical jargon will just get you confused, so trust me on this one..."

BRIAN

"I'm so thankful you let me off easy with that one, so what's with those shoes, them be sexy?"

SANDY

"Old school Candies, four-inch heel, wood platforms, very comfortable, and yea...sexy, too!"

BRIAN

"Is that like a girl's way of expressing her attitude, you guys always trip me out with your moods?"

SANDY

"I call these my "Fuck Me" shoes...any questions?"

BRIAN

"Ah...no, got to go see if John needs any help in the kitchen...I'll be back!"

(scene change)

INT: SHEFFIELD WINERIES-PRODUCTION ROOM-TUESDAY-10 P.M.

RON SHEFFIELD TALKING WITH CHIEF PROCESSOR-TOBY COLLINS

SHEFFIELD

"So, we are having problems with contamination...I don't understand?"

COLLINS

"Have been fermenting all my life Mister Sheffield, but this body that mashed in here, it's...well it apparently is interfering with the 4372 activator, I thought the tank was clean, but something is causing it to not activate...with these kind of grapes, they're kind of picky..."

SHEFFIELD

"What would cause that?"

COLLINS

"Having a human body spilling all his inside crap into my sterile tanks didn't help...I'm thinking the gunpowder residue, that would shut any yeasting right there!"

SHEFFIELD

"What should we do...is there a remedy?"

COLLINS

"Haven't tried this in a while, but we could throw out some of this crop...as it already has entered the water table...can probably save about the other three-fourths, but it needs to be purged and sterilized before I can bring any new spores into here!"

SHEFFIELD

"How long will that take?"

COLLINS

"Longer than these grapes are going to last, they're already turning now...I have to be real careful here!"

SHEFFIELD

"So, what is the quantity we have to throw out, what are we left with...assuming we can process it?"

COLLINS

"About three-thousand bushels which I had already loaded up...I mean it looked okay when I started, but now that the skins are pressed out, I can't take any chances with contamination, the activator isn't responding, so we need to make a decision here?"

SHEFFIELD

"Of all the batches I didn't want to screw up, was the Cashman harvest, it will be a bit short, but it's better than nothing."

COLLINS

"That's assuming it holds up, if it starts turning, I can't help him...so it's a crap shoot either way!"

SHEFFIELD

"Well, let me give him a call, this is not going to cheer him up at all after what he's been going through...but, the truth must be known!"

SHEFFIELD CALLS UP CASHMAN

SHEFFIELD

"Hey Brian, it's Ron over at Sheffield...how's it going?"

BRIAN

"It's going, but I've been having phone troubles or something...did you leave me any messages?"

SHEFFIELD

"Not me, but I think the Lieutenant may have called you, I wouldn't know...fishing the body out and everything just caused all kinds of headaches!"

BRIAN

"Yea, how did that all work out anyway...did everything get cleaned out and everything?"

SHEFFIELD

"Yea Brian, that was kind of what I was calling about, ah my wine maker..."

BRIAN

"Your wine maker?"

SHEFFIELD

"Toby Collins, been with me forever...seems that he had already started a batch of your grapes, about three-thousand bushels...it goes through the carte or the auto-treading, then the liberdade or the liberty process, then the macacos...the plunging, well when the activator didn't..."

BRIAN

"Let me guess...didn't activate?"

SHEFFIELD

"Right...wow, your really good at perceiving this...so I had to stop processing and..."

BRIAN

"Dump three-thousand bushels of my harvest, right?"

SHEFFIELD

"Right...so questioning aside, do you want to risk trying again  cause we're looking at a forty-eight hour turnaround and I'm not sure your grapes are ready for this...they may not be produceable?"

BRIAN

"What else is new, what else can go wrong here, I'm surprised they made it this far...okay, okay ask your wine wizard over there what he thinks, cause you know I was planning on making Port Vodka out of these things anyway...what does he think?"

SHEFFIELD

"I'll ask him and get back to you!"

BRIAN

"Yea, what the hell...just leave a message..."

SHEFFIELD

"Leave a message?"

BRIAN

"Yea, why not...just leave a message!"

scene close

Wine Mama (61) Pillow Talk

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (61)

PILLOW TALK

INT: BRIAN'S HOUSE-LIVING ROOM-MONDAY-10 P.M.

BRIAN AND SANDY LAYING ON COUCH IN A SPOONING POSITION

EMPTY MAGNUM OF TAWNY PORT WITH TWO HALF-FILLED GOBLETS SITTING ON COFFEE TABLE, CANDLE BURNING SOME VANILLA BEAN SCENT

THEY ARE BOTH STARING AT FLAT SCREEN TV ON WALL

ANNOUNCER ON TV

"...So, the question becomes, why do so many people, who are apparently stricken with greed...willing to so easily give their lives for an industry as tightly regulated as the sector of spirit and wine production here in Modesto? Although the ATF...the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm's chair Moody Scotts admits it's a problem which goes back to the Kennedys, the Bugsy Segal's, Capon, and even the Hatfield's and McCoy's...people will value life at any cost for the access to production, distribution, and acquisition of the coveted bottle of booze in any stage of it's existence...some things never change...just the faces, this is Larry Cravers Eye-Eleven special report!'

JOURNALIST

"Thanks Larry for that fascinating investigation, and now to this week's weather, here's Zooey our  weather guru..."

BRIAN MUTING VOLUME ON REMOTE

BRIAN

"Why are people so drawn to our little piece of the planet, what's the manic need to take from us, I'm not getting something here?"

SANDY

"All I can see, is that David's dream here was small, but it was passed to me, then I passed it to you...well, more-less, then everybody decided it was just the right size to possess, to control...it wasn't like those other "Big Boy" operations!"

BRIAN

"Yea but, that's what's so confusing...people who have been in the business their whole lives, for so long, just wasting themselves for a truckload of grapes, some uncalculated land-grab...doesn't even compute with me?"

SANDY

"Doesn't compute with me either cause you haven't been there, I haven't even been there...looking in from the outside...looks more intriguing than it's actuality...kind of like a Star taking to the stage, here's someone proven to be a talent, everybody envy's and adores them at the same time...they all wish and want that acclaim, but in reality, it's the the raw talent and hard work that led them down the "Yellowbrick Road", all leading them to that point of success...I mean Brian, look at you...look at what you've got, what you've achieved?"

BRIAN

"Wait, it wasn't handed to me, I struggled a bunch!"

SANDY

"The outside world doesn't see that, they just see the results...face it, I'm assuming that if it was all that easy, then everyone would be doing it...right?"

BRIAN

"I just followed through with a dream...never questioned what it was going to take...just kept plowing away till I got to where I wanted to be...and even then, there wasn't any particular point in stopping, you just expand on the original idea...had some loyal friends  tried to stay away from partnerships and just put things together by myself, on my own terms...nothing I've ever done or succeeded at was cut in stone...just played my hand straight up!"

SANDY

"Yea, you see it from your direction, your looking out the window down at them...almost in a demeaning, sort of "made it look easy, cause I'm better than you" sort of tone!"

BRIAN

"Fuck that Sandy, that's water off a Duck's back kind of thinking...I never belittled or dehumanized anyone!"

SANDY

"In your mind, in your heart of heart's I'm sure you didn't intentionally do anything, your too sweet of a person for that...but it's the way it's positioned, the way you presented your business model, that being yourself within the community...Hey, I'll just pop in and be successful within this group of people, I don't even know or know anything about...who are stuck in their own "Little Private Idaho", their existence is only mired in how soon they start collecting pension check or just fall over in a drunken stupor...never really accomplishing anything...it happens to a lot more people than you think...if I wouldn't have met you, it might even have happened to me for all I know...but I digress?"

BRIAN

"That was very well put girl...so why don't I feel any guilt for this claim to fame?"

SANDY

"I don't know, maybe you just assume everybody has your kind of candor, like the smooth-operator that you appear to be, like "Water off a Duck's back", is that what you call it?"

BRIAN

"Your cheapening the whole idea of being successful to start with...it's giving thanks to the man upstairs, not trying to get religious, but he gives me the courage to face the hurdles and the dilemmas I run in to...I don't question, I just follow through and hope for the best!"

SANDY

"Yea, but people tend to take short-cuts, they handle procedures, I don't even think half the time they even consider the end result...just greed, you have...I take, like shoplifting your spirit, see something in the store...it's in my pocket now...it's there, now it's not...all they see is an easy in...they take the dare, and boom...why is this in your pocket sir, everything is exposed, no where to run, they either die or die trying...don't take it personally, but if you don't get me some of that wine from the table...Sandy gonna have a dry mouth, and you know what that means?" 

BRIAN HURRIEDLY GRABS HER GOBLET AND HANDS IT TO HER

BRIAN

"Can't have that...here girl, you know, when you think about it, in the grand scheme of things, you were easy...don't remember having to kill anybody for your ass?"

SANDY

"What are you saying...you mean if needed, you wouldn't have fought for my honor?"

BRIAN

"Oh, I probably would now, but to be honest, at the time, I guess...hate to admit this, I was looking after my own greed...wanted that resource for next venture...hunting it down, not really sure what was going to happen, but I smelled it, knew it was out there somewhere, you feel me?"

SANDY

"No, but apparently you smelled me, came out of space and just abducted my ass for your own claim to fame...I'm surprised you didn't start wrestling Bear's and anything else that got in your way!"

BRIAN

"No, I'll admit, I was looking for my own venture to come along, and nothing was, wanted that resource to make my Port Vodka...and you just so happened to come along with the package..."


SANDY

"In French-Canadian, they call that a little Lagniappe..."


BRIAN

"I know the phrase, a little something extra!"


SANDY

"So that's what I am to you, a little something extra?"


BRIAN

"Turns out, your a lot of things I didn't even consider, and then some...almost like overflow!"


SANDY

"How's that?"


BRIAN

"Well, first off...never even considered  getting involved with someone, I mean anyone...thought it would slow up my progression, had lot's of opportunities, just never acted on it..."


SANDY

"And yet, here I come along, wagging a little property in your face, so you thought you'd just come popping up for a look-see..."


BRIAN

dunno, seemed like at he time, you kind of hated my guts...sort of despised me?"


SANDY

"Well, look how you moved on my poor David's leftovers, what was I to think?"


BRIAN

"True, but look at what could have been, the State of California just giving your shit away...no Love, no pride, no compassion for what it represent to you, to yourself, where would have that lead you?"


SANDY

"Yea, it was going down the slippery slope, who knows what might happened, I was wondering if I didn't make enough from the sale, would they have still pinned me for the existing amount?"


BRIAN

"Probably not, but if debts were drafted through private funding, yea...they could have garnished whatever income you had, if any!"


SANDY

"Like the IRS, too?"


BRIAN

"Oh well, the IRS...that is considered the real Mafia, don't really want to fuck with them...worse than in-laws...they just follow you around till you fall over dead...they always got your number!"


SANDY

"What happens once you fall over dead?"


BRIAN

"They follow your in-laws around to the point where they either pay what you owe or commit...suicide themselves...then I think your your first-born is questioned, they find out where the trust fund is established...take the poor kids piggy bank, blue blanket...pacifier's, anything they can cash in on the Baby Channel, then they look under your pillows, if your Polish like me...under trees around your house, also anything with a chip in it, like pets...dogs, cats, hamsters,  wild horses, free-range chickens, the IRS...relentless!"


SANDY

"Oh no, the piggy bank...well anyway, I really do appreciate what occurred now, but at the time, you caught me at a different time, a different place...it still seems odd to me how you popped up though!"


BRIAN

"So are you willing to admit to a higher power now...even with the IRS being around?"


SANDY

"I never said it didn't occur...I always thought...at least to me,  that something else was definitely going on here...you were pulling miracles out of the ying-yang, you were getting help from somewhere?"


BRIAN

"Just trust in him, and he will provide...in a sense, he's actually standing beside you and guiding you along."


SANDY

"So, in other words, your still doing all the work...right?"


BRIAN

"Well, at least when your trying to make Port Vodka...God kind of sticks to wine, keeps it simple!"


SANDY

"Well, didn't he make water into wine?"


BRIAN

"Yea, but that was different...dinner party...private reception..."





scene close

Wine Mama (60) The Process

Kirk Carter@ WGA Copyright 2013

WINE MAMA (60)

THE PROCESS

SHEFFIELD WINERY-MODESTO, CALIFORNIA-MONDAY-10 A.M.

AS THE BATCH OF ALREADY DETHATCHED GRAPES ARE DROP LOADED FROM THE TRAILER INTO THE UNDERGROUND PROCESS BINS, THE GRAPES ARE SPRAYED DOWN, WEIGHED INTO BUSHEL BOXES, AND GIVEN A FINAL INSPECTION BEFORE THEY TRAVEL ALONG THE CONVEYOR BELT TO WHERE THE MASHING PROCESS BEGINS

RON SHEFFIELD HAS TAKEN A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THIS BATCH OF THE MIXED SYRAH AND ZINFANDEL GRAPES FROM THE HUDSON VINEYARD, HE WATCHES THEM WITH INTEREST OVER THE PRODUCTION CAMERAS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY

AT THE SAME TIME, THOMSON HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED  ON A HUNDRED-THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL, HE TAKES RIDE BACK WITH ATTORNEY PAUL SIMON WHO IS TRYING TO CALM HIM DOWN ON THEIR DRIVE BACK TO THE SHEFFIELD WINERY TO PICK UP HIS CAR AND OFFICE ACRUMENTS

PAUL SIMON

"You know, if you hadn't been such a hot-head about all this, you probably would have been able to just skirt this, but now the D.A. had you listed as an accessory to commit mail fraud and distribution of stolen property  I'm not a magician here Rob, they have paperwork laying all over the place...didn't you know they were tracking the grapes the whole time with kids from the Explorer's watching every little move...did you have any clue at all?"

THOMSON

"No, no I didn't, just thought we had some bum fucks trying to process a harvest, a first harvest of grapes, this just got way out of hand, now look at this shit, I'm being tossed out like last night's leftovers  what am I suppose to do now, been in this this business for thirty something years...what now...produce manager at the ninety-nine cent store?"

SIMON

"I don't know what to tell you, but silence might be a good thing to start practicing till I can investigate this and figure out he we're going to play down these accusations...you could be walking into some pretty deep shit If they can tie all this together."

THOMSON

"So, in the mean time?"

SIMON

"Just shut the hell up, understand...for everybody's good!

THOMSON AND SIMON SHOW UP AT FRONT GATE OF SHEFFIELD

THOMSON

"Good morning Clarence, just here to pick up my shit...guess Sheffield doesn't feel much like talking about this, huh?"

CLARENCE-GATE ATTENDANT

"Hold on one second, let me contact Mister Sheffield..."

GATE ATTENDANT CALLING MISTER SHEFFIELD

"Sir, Mister Thomson is here, I think he wants to come get his affairs...ah, you didn't want to talk to him or anything, did you?"

SHEFFIELD

"Heaven's no...just let him collect his things, make sure security is with him at all times, no phone calls, nothing...understand?"

CLARENCE

"Yes sir, should we give him some time, he does have a lot of stuff up there, or did you want me to hurry him, what sir?"

SHEFFIELD

"Only if he looks like he's piddling around...if he doesn't get a move on, have him cited for trespassing ..keep him on the edge...Lord only knows...he's already caused enough trouble around here?"

CLARENCE

"Yes sir, no problem..."

AS THOMSON AND SIMON PULL INTO PARKING LOT HE FINGERS THE TRIGGER ON THE LOADED THIRTY-EIGHT HE HAS IN HIS JACKET

DRIVING OVER TO HIS PARKED CAR, HE GET'S OUT, OPENS TRUNK AND RETRIEVES SEVERAL EMERGENCY ROAD FLARES, SHOVING THEM INTO HIS COAT, STARTS WALKING TO ENTRANCE OF BUILDING, BEING FOLLOWED BY TWO OTHER GUARDS

MISTER SHEFFIELD WATCHES HIM CAREFULLY ON THE BUILDINGS SURVEILLANCE FEED


(scene switch)


GATORTAIL RESTAURANT-KITCHEN-11 A.M.

BRIAN IS ADDING THE  SAUSAGE TO THE FINAL INGREDIENT TO HIS MASTER BATCH OF CREOLE GUMBO

SANDY COMES IN FROM SERVING, GIVES HIM A HUG


SANDY

"Well, from what I heard the officer's said they released Thomson from jail this morning...


BRIAN

"Great, just great...so he's running around on the loose somewhere?"


SANDY

"probably over getting his stuff, heard Mister Sheffield canned his ass..."


BRIAN

"Yea, stirring up the pot, madman on the loose...somehow I seem to recall a situation like this not too long ago...these people get caught red-handed and can't face up to the drama!"


SANDY

"In my opinion, your worth it...I stopped watching soap-operas ever since I met you."


BRIAN

"I didn't realize I had such a fan base!


SANDY

"I didn't realize I was such a fan?"


(scene switch)

SHEFFIELD WINERY-THOMSON'S OFFICE-12 NOON

THOMSON GOING THROUGH STUFF FILE BY FILE, LOOKING AT ONE THING AND THROWING IT INTO TRASH HEAP, LOOKING AT ANOTHER AND STUFFING IT INTO PERSONAL BOX

FINALLY SHEFFIELD CALLS DOWN TO OFFICER TO INFORM THOMSON THAT HE ONLY HAS TEN MINUTES LEFT TO RETRIEVE HIS STUFF AND LEAVE


GUARD (on phone)

"Yes sir, right sir, bye!"

GUARD (cont.)

"Look uh Thomson, boss says you got to pick up and finish in ten minutes...you got to go, okay?"


THOMSON

"Oh sure, right...uh just memorizing a bit, you know, have a lot of memories here, hard to just cut loose after so many years here?"


GUARD

"Yea, you got some shit collected here...but you got that greed kicking in, Lord see you not talking to him, why you ruin all you built up on something like this?"

THOMSON THROWS DOWN SET OF FILES 

GRABS WEAPON OUT OF COAT AND FIRES INTO CHEST OF OFFICER KILLING HIM INSTANTLY, OTHER OFFICER ATTEMPTS TO FIRE HIS WEAPON, BUT THOMSON SHOOTS HIS HAND, THEN FIRES ANOTHER SHOT INTO HIS FACE, WHERE HE BACKS UP FALLING THROUGH PICTURE WINDOW, FALLING TWO FLOORS ONTO TOP OF DELIVERY TRUCK, DIES INSTANTLY

STANDS STILL FOR A MOMENT, AS SHEFFIELD HAS CALLED POLICE WITNESSING THIS ON SURVEILLANCE MONITOR

THOMSON STARTS FLEEING WITH BOX OF STUFF DOWNSTAIRS TO HIS CAR

SEEING POLICE CARS SPILLING INTO PARKING LOT, HE DOUBLES BACK DOWN HALLWAY AND INTO PROCESSING ROOM

POLICE CORNER HIM AGAINST GRAPE PRESS


OFFICER

"Drop your weapon Thomson, drop it now!"


THOMPSON

"What's the point, all you fuckers are in on this...aren't you, just going to let me hang for this little misunderstanding huh?"


OFFICER

"Don't make me repeat myself Thomson, drop your weapon now!"

THOMPSON WAGS HIS PISTOL INTO THE AIR, ACCIDENTALLY FIRING A SHOT INTO THE CEILING

POLICE ALL SHOOT, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY, AS HIS BOX OF POSSESSIONS FALL INTO GRAPE PRESS WHICH IS ONLY FILLED WITH WATER AND YEAST BUT IS INTO FULL RECIPROCATION OF CYCLES

THOMSON'S GUN FALLS INTO PIT WITH THOMSON FALLING IN BEHIND IT

PIT OF WATER TURNS RED AS POLICE ATTEMPT TO STOP MACHINE

OFFICER WALKING UP LOOKING DOWN INTO PIT


OFFICER

"Looks like a mess here, God, call the coroner and Brown up...somebody's going to be busy today!"

RON SHEFFIELD WALKS UP FROM OFFICE, LOOKING DOWN INTO PIT, SEEING THOMSON SMASHED UNDERNEATH THE GRAPE PRESS


SHEFFIELD

"Looks like a bad vintage for Thomson, no awards for this batch..what a pity!"




scene close