BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 05 Aug 99 - 01:26 AM

" Where do you hail from?" said Bulldog , attempting a grin. Billy smiled back, still vamping the chords to Hey Good Lookin , although the big cop's fingers were bearing down on his shoulder muscle like a vise-grip." Dayton Ohio."Bulldog really didn't like the way Billy looked him in the eyes. Most folks didn't have the nerve to stare back like that. He felt the thin muscle in Billy's shoulder between his thick fingers and squeezed tighter." You're a long way from home, stranger. They got laws against vagrancy in Dayton? Because we put you in jail for it here."

Billy felt the anger rising up and making him breathless, he felt the smile on his face stiffen, felt himself grit his teeth. Why did bullies all want to wear uniforms? Did it give their cruelty a veneer of respectability."You're loitering in a public place, boy," smiled Bulldog. "What you mean? This boy's a paid entertainer," said a tall thin man who was leaning against a pick-up, the rain spattering his gray Stetson. He strode forward, and Billy noticed the ostrich boots, the "Let's Rodeo" Silver belt buckle. The man pulled a money clip out of his pocket and peeled off a twenty, which he tossed into the guitar case. "See, Bryson, this kid's part of my new live entertainment on the patio program here at the Cafe.Why don't you let go his shoulder so he can get some feeling back in his strumming hand?" The man was 3 inches taller than the big Deputy, and 50 pounds lighter, but when he gripped the cop's arm, his hand came away easily from Billy's shoulder."Now, son. You know I Ride an old Paint ?" Billy smiled at the stranger and began to play. The Deputy sneered, then turned on his heel stalking through the rain to his cruiser." I should have fatted all the region kites with this slave's offal" the Deputy whispered, and then slammed the door.

Tina applauded from the open doorway as Billy finished his song. "you've got a real pretty voice, Billy the Kid," she said. The tall man laughed. "Gunslinger, huh?" he said and slapped Billy on the arm."Guns?" Bill smiled, holding up the guitar. "No guns, but I'm formidable with an axe." The tall man walked up and wrapped a long arm around Tina's waist."Everything alright tonight? We making any money?" She laughed and slapped him with her towel."Aw, money. That all you're interested in, Wilson Brady?" Brady chuckled and winked at Billy. "Well, son," he said," you been paid- quit sandbaggin' and give us another tune."

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 04 Aug 99 - 11:58 PM

"Gee, what an amazing truck stop this is," mused Billy as he looked at the bills collecting in his guitar case. "Here it is in the middle of the night, raining like hell, and I've been warming up for five minutes and I've already made more than I ever made in front of Macy's in San Francisco...maybe they're trying to impress this girl."

Billy looked at the girl sitting in front of him on the fender of her little Miata. When she drove up, he remembered, she had been looking into the cafe as if she were meeting someone, but the minute she saw him she had turned her car into the slot right in front of him, despite the fact that she could have parked closer to the door, or at least a little farther from the rain. She was covered by the overhang, so wasn't directly under the weeping skies, but her car was wet and rain was streaming down the windshield and the hood, so her butt under those designer jeans had to be soaked.

He stopped playing the blues and started an old Hank Williams tune, this time playing in A: "Hey, good lookin", whatcha got cookin'? Howzabout cookin' something up with me." He became aware of another presence beside him, but went on with the song, "Hey, sweet baby, doncha think maybe..." He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and looked up and the biggest, meanest looking cop he'd ever seen...

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: JR
Date: 04 Aug 99 - 12:30 PM

I was a bit surprised by that, as he really had no clue what a diminished chord was, but he kinda liked the way it sounded. He guessed the passers by were likin it too by the way the crumpled sinles were starting to color the the simulated gray velvet lining of his guitar case. At this rate he'd be able to score an economy box of malox in no time. (God he liked cafe burgers). There would even be something left over for a night at the "Walk Right Inn".

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 04 Aug 99 - 03:14 AM

Billy stood his duffel bag on end and lay his guitar case to the right side of it. He opened the battered case and withdrew an equally battered guitar, an old Yamaki 12 string his brother had bought in Japan on R&R from Vietnam and had carried back to give to Billy ten years earlier. Jimmy had left an arm behind in Que Sanh. Jimmy, 15 years older than Billy was was doing okay, Billy thought as he picked up the instrument to which he'd had to add a metal tailpiece because the medium strings he'd put on and tuned up to standard tuning had buckled the face at the peghead, but now the instrument played surprisingly well. Not a whole lot of volume, but good action. A couple of the bass strings buzzed when he moved up beyond the ninth fret, so he played mostly on the treble strings when he moved up the neck.

Taking a seat on the upended duffel bag, Billy stood the guitar on his toes and held it with his knees while he folded up the harmonica holder around his neck and stuck an A harp into the spring grip. He picked up the guitar, positioned it, and blew on the Hohner, then with a flat pick played an A chord on the guitar. After a couple of adjustments, he sucked in on the first four holes and listened, playing an E chord on the guitar. Satisfied he was in tune, he began strumming a 12-bar blues in E and after a couple of times through the pattern, added the harp, first a low riff, then another 12 bars starting on the fifth hole and working up.

He tried to remember the blues he'd made up for the truck driver, using the story the driver had told him.

"Been sitting behind this wheel for fifteen years," he sang.
"Been drivin' this old truck for fifteen years, But sometimes I cain't see the white line through my tears," and finished the verse with a descending trio of diminished chords.

--seed

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 04 Aug 99 - 01:08 AM

Deputy Bryson" Bulldog" Peterman, a 6 foot 2, 245 pound redneck ex-football star for New Mexico State who had blown out his knee while making an upfield cut in the Home Opener seven years earlier, and was still holding a grudge. Bulldog was not your average homegrown Ruidosa Redneck. He had always had what he referred to as a "poetic nature" and had been an English Lit major at State. He still read Shakespeare on the sly, and was fascinated by Macbeth, Richard III and Othello, whom he identified with as martyred men of action.

As he turned sideways to pass Billy, Bulldog's big nostrils flared. "Phew! What goddam shiftless vagabond fouls my air?" Rita flicked Bulldog with her bar towel. "Kid's harmless, Bryson. Grab a seat at the bar and I'll fetch your cherry coke and meat loaf sandwich." Bulldog gave Rita a hostile look. He didn't like it when she called him Bryson. He sat down. " whats a matter Rita, got the curse?" She glared back, "don't push your luck, Bulldog." He turned and peered at the scruffy traveler who was unpacking his guitar in front of the plate-glass window. He lit a Winston and flipped the match into an empty coffee cup. Outside, the traveller was talking with that pretty Hazlett girl. The words bubbled up in Bulldog's skull. " He capers nimbly in a ladies chamber, to the lascivious pleasing of a lute." Bulldog breathed out the hot smoke, mumbling " since I cannot prove a lover to entertain these fair well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain." Rita paused in her conversation with the skinny ranch hand at the end of the bar. " You say something, Bulldog?" He stubbed out the smoke inside the coffee cup."Richard the Third," said Bulldog, and brought his jaws down on the meatloaf sandwich.

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 03 Aug 99 - 08:44 PM

"Veal parmesan in a road house?," the kid shook his head in disbelief. "I don't think so. Gimme a burger and some fries--and don't put gravy on the damned fries."

"We don't put gravy on fries," Rita (for that was the name sewn above her left breast) said. "I've never heard of anybody putting gravy on their fries." She looked at the kid strangely for a bit, then offered, "You can have catsup if you want, hon. And anything to drink?"

The kid looked at the ten dollar bill under the table, then fished around in his pocket and came up with a couple of ones. "Nah," he said. "Just icewater. And can I have a couple of lemon slices?"

Rita thought a moment. "Oh, what the hell?" she muttered and went back to the counter and handed the order through the window to the kitchen. Then she brought the water and lemon. She stood and watched him as he squeesed the lemon into the icewater and stirred in some sugar. "Do you play that guitar," she asked.

"Nah," he said. "I'm just lookin' for a pawn shop."

"Really?" she asked. "Oh, heck. it was a stupid question, wasn't it?"

"That's okay?" he responded. "I hear it all the time. Ya think anyone would mind if--after I eat--I sit out in front and play and sing a bit? I can usually catch a ride with a trucker, sometimes make a buck or two."

"I don't think the boss would like it," she said. "But he ain't here tonight. Just me and the cook. Just don't do it right next to the door." She grinned, a bit dreamily. "Maybe, since it's so slow in here..." she paused, thinking about it. "Maybe I can come out and listen a bit."

L"Cheeseburger and fries," the cook called out, and Rita went to get them. When she placed them in front of him, she asked, "Hey, kid. What's your name?"

"Billy," he answered.

"Billy? Hi, Billy." She patted him on the shoulder. "Billy what?"

"Just Billy. When I get a gig I'm Billy the Kid."

It took Billy about five minutes to wolf down his meal and drink the lemonade, then he waved to Rita on the way out. He squeezed out the door between his guitar and...

Subject: RE: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: Neil Lowe
Date: 03 Aug 99 - 09:13 AM

"...if you're figuring on just ordering water you can beat feet to the street. I ain't the Salvation Army. And no sleeping in the booth. Otherwise," and here her demeanor changes to plastic, pasty and lackluster delivery as she recites for the thousandth time, "special of the day is veal parmesagne wit' yer choice of two vegetable, dinner roll and free refills on the coffee, $2.95. Can I take your order?"

Subject: BOUND FOR POSSUM--a folk music movie
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 02 Aug 99 - 08:55 PM

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