BY
MATT ASENDORF
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Version 1.1 - September 29,
2003; 51kb
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SAMPLE
The carnival
members have buried Ben's mother
and are standing around her grave,
marked with a simple wooden cross,
singing. RUTHIE, a frail but defiant
woman plays the accordion. With
her are Samson, Jonesy, the conjoined
twins ALEXANDRIA and CALADONIA,
the bearded woman LILA, a very tall
and long-limbed GIANT, and Ruthie's
son, the mentally-challenged wrestler/strong
man GABRIEL. They are singing the
hymn "Nearer My God to Thee."
RUTHIE,
SAMSON, ALEXANDRIA, CALADONIA,
LILA AND OTHERS (singing)
"E'en though it be a
cross that raiseth me, still
all my song shall be nearer
my God to thee. Nearer my
God to thee. Nearer to thee.
Though like the wanderer,
the sun go down. Darkness
be over me, my rest a stone.
Nearer my God to thee..."
Ben looks
around him at the strange folk.
Their trucks are marked "Carnivàle."
In one truck painted "Apollonia
~ Queen of the Gypsies," Ben
spots the young and beautiful SOFIE,
who turns away from him. He also
sees, waiting outside their car,
STUMPY and RITA SUE DREIFUSS and
their teenage daughters DORA MAE
and LIBBY. And watching from a distance
and singing in French is the blind
mentalist, PROFESSOR LODZ. He draws
an arrow in the dirt with his cane.
They finish
singing and right on cue, the bulldozer
demolishes Hawkins's home.
SAMSON
Okay, children, let's shake
some dust!
RUTHIE
Can't just leave him.
SAMSON
The boy ran rabbit from a
chain gang. He's still sporting
ankle-iron.
JONESY
Nothing but trouble.
RUTHIE
(to Jonesy)
Yeah, that's what I said about
you.
SAMSON
C'mon, Ruthie, don't do this.
We've got nothing open. We're
down to tater-shucks.
LILA
He can have my tater-shucks.
RUTHIE
Just to Milfay.
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