A thread about music in novels triggered a thread about movies with or about folk music. None of those mentioned came close to what a phoakie movie should be like, so I thought we ought to write one.

Bound for Possum

OPENING: View down a long, straight two-lane highway at night in the rain. Truck headlights get closer and closer. Background music, guitar and harmonica backing singer on ³You¹re a Detour on the Highway to Heaven.² Truck pulls into a truck stop and as the driver pumps diesel into the tank, a skinnyl, curley haired kid with a scraggly beard climbs out of the passenger side, a blue Air Force duffel bag in one hand, a beat up guitar case with duct tape patches, on one of which is written in slightly runny red marker, ³This Ax Cuts Down the Tree of Hate.² He¹s wearing brogans, levis, and a fatigue jacket, with dark spots where airman first class insignia have been pulled off.

As the titles come on, the kid walks over to the driver, puts down his duffel, and shakes the driver¹s hand.

KID: Thanks, Leon, for the ride--and the coffee. Ya saved my life.

LEON: That¹s okay, kid. I enjoyed your songs. [still holding onto the gas pump with one hand, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ten dollar bill which he gives the kid.] This is for the concert. Good luck.

KID: [looks at the bill as if he wants to give it back, but finally pockets it and looks Leon in the eye a minute] Thanks again, Leon. [turns and walks to the cafe]

Titles finish as kid puts his guitar and duffel on seat in booth of cafe, then sits down on the other side. The camera moves from the duct tape on the guitar case to the same kind of duct tape patching the bench; just before kid sits on it, we see, also in red marker, a crude swastika.

A waitress, thirtyish, hair bleached and sprayed into an unflattering do, drops a menu in front of him and says...

--seed