ABLE-BODIED SAINTS

Written by

Elyon John Gonzales

 FADE IN:

1 EXT. TRAILER PARK COMMUNITY - MORNING 1

AXEL, 15, points a PAINTBALL GUN at BOBBY BAILY, 14. Bobby

stands at the ready, his shirt wrapped over his head. His
naked chest ready.

AXEL
Ready?

BOBBY
Yeah, come on.

AXEL
ONE, TWO.

Axel pulls the trigger, popping Bobby across the chest with a
splat of paint.

BOBBY
Aghhh... damn!

AXEL
Shit, you alright?

Bobby shakes it off and stands back in position.

BOBBY
Alright, again.

A second round of paint splatters across his chest.

CUT TO:

2 INT. MOBILE HOME - THAT MOMENT 2

The Bailey family is gathered around the breakfast table,

absorbed in their morning routine while a small black and
white television plays cartoons in the background.

MATT BAILEY, 6, is engrossed in the television program,

absentmindedly spooning cereal into his mouth.

JOHN BAILEY, 44, takes leisurely sips from his morning cup of
coffee, spiked with his usual Tennessee Whiskey blend. He
casually puffs on a cigarette, exhaling wisps of smoke into
the air.
 2.

GLORIA BAILEY, the homemaker, lights up her own cigarette and

pours herself a fresh cup of coffee. She glances out the
window and observes Axel and Bobby wrestling in the dirt.

GLORIA
(sipping coffee)
The truck needs a new battery.

JOHN
(nodding)
Right.

GLORIA
Well?

JOHN
I’ll take care of it.

GLORIA
(skeptical)
Mhm. You sure about that?

JOHN
(assuredly)
Sure am.

John helps himself to another swig of alcohol, a habit he

seems quite accustomed to.

CUT TO:

3 EXT. TRAILER PARK COMMUNITY - CONTINUOUS 3

Bobby and Axel tumble around on the ground in a wrestling

match.

A neighbor, COLE, in his forties, steps out of his mobile

home and lights up a cigarette, keeping a watchful eye on the
boys.

Axel gains the upper hand, positioning himself on top of

Bobby, pinning him to the ground.

BOBBY
(egging him on)
Come on! Bring it!

Axel clenches his fist, readying himself to strike.

BOBBY (CONT'D)
Come on, you coward!

Axel's fist connects with Bobby's nose.

 3.

BOBBY (CONT'D)
(mocking)
Is that all you've got? Try harder!

AXEL
I'm not hitting you again.

BOBBY
Why? Because your mom's a stripper
and your sister's a whore!?

AXEL
Don't you talk about them like
that!

BOBBY
You think I could rent your sister
for a pack of smokes?

Axel strikes Bobby once more.

BOBBY (CONT'D)
How about a whole carton?

Axel delivers another blow, then another, his frustration

boiling over.

CUT TO:

4 INT. MOBILE HOME - CONTINUOUS 4

John spots Axel attacking his son through the window.

JOHN
Shit.

He jumps out of his chair.

CUT TO:

5 EXT. TRAILER PARK COMMUNITY - CONTINUOUS 5

Axel continues to rain down blows on his friend.

AXEL
You bastard! You don't talk about
them like that!

Bobby, with a broken nose and chipped teeth, manages a

twisted bloody smile amidst the chaos.

John rushes over, intervening and pulling Axel off of Bobby.

 4.

JOHN
What the hell are you doing?

AXEL
I told him not to say those things.
I told him!

JOHN
Get home now, Axel. I'll speak to
your parents shortly. Go on.

John helps Bobby to his feet, his expression a mix of concern

and disappointment.

Axel heads back toward his home, where his father, Cole,
awaits.

COLE
Good boy, Axe.
(to John)
You've got yourself a tough kid
there, John.

John ignores Cole's comment, focusing on getting his son

indoors.

Cole watches them go, a sly grin forming on his face as he

takes a swig from his can of beer.

CUT TO:

6 INT. BATHROOM/MOBILE HOME - DAY 6

Gloria tenderly washes the blood off Bobby's face with a warm
towel, while Matt and John look on.

JOHN
(sipping his coffee)
What's going on with you, huh?

Bobby remains silent, ignoring his father's question.

JOHN (CONT'D)
Hey?

GLORIA
Answer your father, baby.

BOBBY
No.

JOHN
What did you say?
 5.

John gets up momentarily to grab his pack of cigarettes.

As Gloria rinses the rag in the kitchen sink, Bobby notices

his father's bottle of Tennessee Whiskey nearby on the
counter. He reaches for it and takes a swig.

John immediately snatches the bottle away from Bobby and

smacks him across the mouth.

GLORIA
(noticing)
John!?

There's a tense beat as John realizes his mistake.

JOHN
(awkwardly)
I've got to get to work.

John walks away, leaving Gloria to comfort Bobby.

Gloria returns with the towel and continues cleaning Bobby's

wounds, while Bobby remains silent and still. Matt, his
younger brother, watches from a distance, his expression a
mixture of concern and fear.

CUT TO:

7 EXT. MOBILE HOME, NEAR TRUCK - DAY 7

John strides towards his pickup truck, his steps heavy with
unresolved tension. He reaches the driver's side door and
climbs in, the worn seat creaking slightly under his weight.
He shuts the door with a solid thud.

CUT TO:

8 INT. PICK UP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS 8

John retrieves a small bottle of booze kept hidden from the

family inside the glove compartment. He takes a long drink,
the liquid burning on its way down.

Attempting to start the truck, he twists the key in the

ignition, but the engine refuses to turn over.

JOHN
Damn, c’mon!

CUT TO:
 6.

9 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 9

John, slightly drunk, holds up his thumb in an attempt to

hitch a ride.

A passing vehicle comes to a halt, and John hops in without

hesitation.

CUT TO:

10 EXT. AUTOMOTIVE SHOP - DAY 10

John finally arrives at work, two hours late. His boss, SAL,
in his forties, confronts him immediately.

SAL
Two hours late, John?

JOHN
My truck broke down. I had to—

Sal interrupts, sniffing John's breath suspiciously.

SAL
You drunk?

John is speechless, unable to offer a response.

SAL (CONT'D)
No more excuses, John. You're
fired.

JOHN
Come on, Sal.

SAL
No. Get your stuff and get the hell
out of my shop. I'm done with you.

Sal turns his back on John, dismissing him with finality as

he walks away.

CUT TO:

11 EXT. MOBILE HOME - NIGHT 11

Bobby arrives home with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

He approaches the door, fumbling for his keys as he begins to
unlock it.

CUT TO:
 7.

12 INT. MOBILE HOME - CONTINUOUS 12

Matthew lies on the couch, coughing weakly. Gloria rushes

over, concern etched on her face, and places a cool towel
over his forehead.

BOBBY
(enters)
What's going on?

GLORIA
Your brother is sick.

BOBBY
Where's dad?

Gloria hesitates, her silence speaking volumes.

GLORIA
How come you’re home so late?

BOBBY
Where is he, mom?

Bobby hears coughing coming from the restroom.

GLORIA
Bobby...

Bobby approaches the restroom and cautiously opens the door.

Inside, he finds John on his knees, his head hanging over the
toilet bowl. A bottle of whiskey sits nearby.

BOBBY
(disgusted)
Christ.

JOHN
It's not as bad as it looks. I'll
be alright.

BOBBY
You'll be alright? What about your
son?

JOHN
...It's just a fever. It'll pass.

Bobby shuts the door on his father, unable to stomach the

sight any longer.

GLORIA
Where are you going?
 8.

BOBBY
I'm getting him some medicine.

Bobby slams the door closed behind him.

CUT TO:

13 EXT. NEIGHBOR’S MOBILE HOME - NIGHT 13

Bobby approaches a trailer home across the way from his. He

knocks on the door and waits.

MADDY
(from inside)
What do you want?

BOBBY
Is Axe around?

MADDY
I heard he gave you quite a
whooping earlier.

BOBBY
Is he around?

MADDY
He ain’t gonna talk to you. You
ain’t his friend.

BOBBY
Could I borrow five dollars?

MADDY
Excuse me?

BOBBY
Please, my brother's sick.

MADDY
Here, here's a dime.

Maddy opens the door a crack and tosses a dime at Bobby's

feet just as she shuts the door.

Bobby picks up the dime, frustration boiling over. He slams

his hand against the door.

BOBBY
Goddamn good-for-nothing stripper!

Bobby retrieves his paintball gun and places it inside his

backpack. He mounts his bike and begins to ride.
 9.

Cole stands near, smoking a cigarette and nursing a beer. He

watches Bobby ride off, a sense of concern evident in his
gaze.

CUT TO:

14 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT 14

Bobby rides fast into the night, a small flashlight taped to

the front end of his bike to light his way.

A truck pulls up alongside Bobby, and Cole leans out the

window. He eyes the paint ball gun sticking out of the
backpack.

COLE
Where are you off to?

BOBBY
Dale’s.

COLE
For what?

BOBBY
My brother's sick.

COLE
You planning on paying for that
medicine? Or do you have something
else in mind?

There's a beat as Bobby considers his response.

COLE (CONT'D)
Climb on in. We'll stop by the
store together.

CUT TO:

15 INT. TRUCK - MOVING - LATER 15

Cole drives Bobby, his bike secured in the back of the truck
bed. Bobby holds a box of medicine tightly.

COLE
You were planning on robbing that
place, weren't you?

BOBBY
...Thanks.
 10.

COLE
Hell, don't mention it. But there's
something I'd like to show you, if
that's alright with you.

BOBBY
What?

COLE
You can take a beating pretty good.
Question is though, can you fight
back?

BOBBY
Of course I can!

COLE
Good.

BOBBY
Where we going?

COLE
Let's just say you'll have plenty
of money to buy more medicine after
tonight.

CUT TO:

16 INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT 16

Bobby (in slow motion) walks forward. Their truck-ride

conversation plays over visuals.

BOBBY (V.O.)
Is that right?

COLE (V.O.)
That’s right.

BOBBY (V.O.)
What do I do?

MOMENTS LATER

A YOUNG FIGHTER, 16, punches Bobby across the face. Bobby

shakes it off and puts up his fists. Cole and MARTIN, 40,
stand side by side, whispering information back and forth.

MARTIN
Where did you find this one?
 11.

COLE
Don’t worry about that. He can
fight thought, can’t he?

MARTIN
He sure can.

Bobby and the young Fighter continue to exchange blows. The

Fighter throws a punch towards Bobby’s midsection, cracking a
rib. Bobby falls to one knee.

COLE (V.O.)
This is what you do: Take some
shots. Go down. And when the time
comes --

Bobby watches the young Fighter as he slowly moves in.

COLE (V.O.)
-- You strike back.

Bobby hops up onto his feet, catching the Fighter off guard.
He lands several key blows to the Fighter’s face and head.
The fighter goes down.

Bobby mounts on top of the Fighter and holds up his fist

triumphantly. There's a beat before Bobby climbs off.

Cole pats Bobby on the back.

COLE
He who is born in fire shall strike
the mightier blow.

A CROWD OF PEOPLE surround Bobby and Cole. Half of them cheer

and applaud, while the other half toss garbage and scream
profanities.

CUT TO:

17 INT. MOBILE HOME - NIGHT 17

Bobby returns home, carrying a new car battery. John sits on

a chair, visibly drunk. He sets medicine down over the
counter.

BOBBY
Where is everyone?

JOHN
Your mom hitched a ride to take
your brother to the ER. Where have
you been?
 12.

BOBBY
I got us a new battery.

JOHN
Where the hell have you been, boy?

Bobby steps into the light, revealing serious wounds on his

appearance.

JOHN (CONT'D)
(getting up)
What the hell happened to you?

BOBBY
Nothing.

JOHN
Is that where the money came from
for the car battery?

BOBBY
....

JOHN
You were down there, weren’t you?

BOBBY
...We needed the money.

JOHN
You're not supposed to be worrying
about money. You're 15 years old.
You should be out meeting girls and
reading books, not messing around
with those animals.

BOBBY
We needed a new battery and Matt
needed the medicine.

JOHN
You like fighting?

John steps into Bobby’s space.

JOHN (CONT'D)
Go on and hit me then.

BOBBY
Come on...

JOHN
No, I want you to hit me. You like
fighting so much, then hit me.
 13.

BOBBY
Get out of my face.

JOHN
You angry? Good. Hit me. Hit me,
you dumb son of a bitch.

BOBBY
I ain’t gonna hit you.

JOHN
Why? My face isn’t good enough for
your bloody knuckles?

John shoves Bobby.

JOHN (CONT'D)
What, I’m not good enough?

John lunges toward Bobby, who steps aside, causing his father
to fall flat on his face.

Bobby crouches down, making eye contact.

BOBBY
I ain’t gonna hit you because
you’re my dad, and I love you.

JOHN
You love me so much, then hit me!

There's a beat.

BOBBY
I’ll stop fighting when you stop
drinking.

JOHN
Jesus, son.

BOBBY
I gotta clean up.

Bobby walks past his father and enters the bathroom. John
remains flat on his back, beginning to sob.

CUT TO:

18 INT. BED - MOBILE HOME - NIGHT/LATER 18

Bobby feeds his little brother medicine, checks his

temperature under the cool towel. They sleep in the same bed.
 14.

BOBBY
Fever is going down. That’s good.

Matthew notices the swelling on Bobby’s face.

MATTHEW
Does it hurt?

BOBBY
Don’t you worry about that. You
just focus on feeling better,
alright?

MATTHEW
Alright.

BOBBY
I love you, Matt.

MATTHEW
Love you, too.

Bobby kisses his little brother on the head.

BOBBY
Go to sleep.

Bobby shuts off the lamp.

CUT TO:

19 INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY 19

The surrounding CROWD goes nuts, hollering and shouting.

Bobby stands face to face with a taller, stronger FIGHTER,

aged 19. The Fighter cracks a smirk while Bobby remains
poised, readying his fists.

Cole watches on, observing the tense confrontation.

CUT TO:

20 EXT. MOBILE HOME - DAY 20

John shuts the hood to his truck, his movements deliberate

and heavy with emotion.

He looks toward the neighboring mobile home and spots Axel

smacking a tire with a tire iron. Maddy sits on the porch
with a cigarette in hand, her eyes glued to a magazine.
 15.

John's gaze shifts to his son, Matthew, seated on the porch

in his mother's arms, engrossed in a book. Gloria looks to
John, her eyes consumed with grief.

As John's hand begins to uncontrollably shake, he glances

over to the passenger seat in his truck, spotting a bottle.

CUT TO:

21 INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY 21

Cole holds his hand over his face, his expression filled with
concern beyond words.

The Fighter grabs Bobby by the hair and delivers a thick

punch to the already beaten man. Bobby falls to the ground.

The crowd cheers on, energized by the violence. The Fighter

feeds off the crowd's energy as he encourages their applause.

Cole leans in close to Martin's ear, his voice filled with

urgency.

COLE
That's enough, Martin. He's lost.

MARTIN
(over the crowd noise)
You hear that?

The crowd noise intensifies.

MARTIN (CONT'D)
They want blood.

COLE
They've gotten it.

MARTIN
It ends when I say it ends.
Alright?

COLE
(backing off)
...Alright.

CUT TO:
 16.

22 EXT. MOBILE HOME - DAY 22

John grabs the bottle from the car seat and tosses it inside
the garbage can. He then enters his truck and powers it on.
Gloria and Matthew notice this.

John puts the truck in gear and speeds off.

CUT TO:

23 INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY 23

Bobby staggers to his feet, his left eye swollen shut and his
face covered in blood. The Fighter turns back around,
noticing Bobby's slanted posture.

Bobby raises his fists as the Fighter approaches.

CUT TO:

24 EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY 24

John pulls up to the abandoned warehouse with cars parked

alongside it. He pulls up alongside the building and quickly
gets out of the truck.

CUT TO:

25 INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - DAY 25

Bobby falls to his knees, the crowd taunting with murderous

intent. He slowly pushes himself up, softly clenching his
fists.

The Fighter slaps his arms down and grabs a handful of hair,
propping Bobby back onto his knees. With firm resolve, the
Fighter closes his fist and raises his arm for one last
deadly blow.

Just as he's about to strike, John rushes into the fight and
pulls the Fighter away. The crowd shouts with disapproval and
rage.

JOHN
He's my son! He's my son!

Martin, the organizer, silences the crowd.

MARTIN
This is your boy?
 17.

JOHN
Yes sir, he is.

MARTIN
Well, he's got a fight to finish.

JOHN
No, no, he ain't fighting no more.

MARTIN
If he can't finish the fight, then
he's gotta cough up five hundred
dollars. You got five hundred
dollars?

JOHN
No sir, I don’t.

MARTIN
What about you, Cole, you got five
hundred dollars?

COLE
No, Martin, I don't.

MARTIN
Well, the fight goes on.

The crowd cheers on.

JOHN
I'll fight! I'll finish the fight!

Martin quiets the crowd.

MARTIN
You? Well, mister, as you can see,
this young man's at a significant
disadvantage.

JOHN
I wasn't talking about him.

There's a beat.

MARTIN
You’re on.

The crowd cheers. John rests his son down on his back.

MOMENTS LATER

Bobby incoherently lies on his back.

 18.

John stands within the circle with Martin as his opponent.

The crowd cheers as John lands the first punch. Martin
smiles, spits out blood, and retaliates.

He lands a few strikes to John’s midsection, and lastly to

his face. Martin tosses up his hands carefree. John raises
his arms and closes his fists, waiting. Martin smirks and
approaches.

John dodges a swing and lands a few punches on Martin’s ribs.

He then goes for the face, pouncing on it until Martin lands
back first above the ground.

John holds up his fist, looking down at Martin who has now
lost his state of coherence. He holds there, waiting. John
lowers his arm.

The crowd around erupts, tossing beer cans, trash, and shoes.
They wanted blood, and John failed to deliver. John
approaches his son and helps him to his feet.

JOHN
(to the crowd)
His debt's paid! This able-bodied
saint ain’t fighting no more!

MAN FROM CROWD

You coward!

Someone lands a beer can on John’s head. John ignores it and

escorts his son outside. More food, beverages, and angry
words are tossed at them as they approach the exit.

DISSOLVE TO:

26 EXT. MOBILE HOME - MORNING 26

John works on his truck.

JOHN
Start her up.

The vehicle engine powers on.

JOHN (CONT'D)
Mm, gotta love the sound of a
healthy interior.

Bobby exits the truck and approaches his father. Both he and
John wear bruises and have swollen faces.

JOHN (CONT'D)
Atta boy, Bobby.
 19.

Gloria brings John and Bobby some water.

GLORIA
She ready?

JOHN
She sure is, ma’am.

GLORIA
Mm, that’s what I like to hear.

JOHN
Pretty, isn't she?

GLORIA
She sure is.

JOHN
I was talking about you.

John and Gloria share a kiss.

Matthew runs up with a backpack over her shoulder.

MATTHEW
Come on, mom, I’m gonna be late.

Matthew hops in the passenger seat. Bobby helps him with his
seatbelt.

GLORIA
I gotta go. This one’s running late
for school.

JOHN
Well, you be sure to hurry on back,
you hear?

Gloria and John share another kiss.

BOBBY
You listen to those teachers,
alright? Make sure you walk out of
there smatter than me.

MATTHEW
Alright.

BOBBY
See you later, ma.

GLORIA
Bobby, help with those dishes, will
you?
 20.

BOBBY
Sure thing.

GLORIA
Alright, hun. See you all in a bit.

Gloria pulls the truck forward and drives off. John and Bobby
watch them go.

JOHN
You know I love you, son. Always
and forever. You know that, don’t
you?

BOBBY
Yeah, dad, I know.

Bobby releases an everlasting smile and takes a drink of

water.

JOHN
What do you say to some house work
to help your mama out?

BOBBY
Sounds good, pop.

JOHN
Good. C’mon then.

He and his father walk side-by-side as they approach home.

THE END.