Queen Of Heartbreak: A Short Story
140 EXT. FIRST LADY ACRES. LATER. 140 DOLLY along a row of reporters broadcasting live.
REPORTER ONE
It was supposed to be a quiet day of shopping for the queen of heartbreak...
REPORTER TWO
After tying a panty hose around her neck...
REPORTER THREE Tammy’s description of her assailants has been vague, leaving some to wonder whether George Jones played some role in her abduction.
141 INT. FIRST LADY ACRES. TAMMY’S BEDROOM. SAME MOMENT. 141
Tammy recuperates in bed. Gwen (now 18) enters. Tammy rolls over, turning her back on her daughter.
TAMMY
I don’t want you looking at me, Gwen.
GWEN
You need to tell me the truth,
Mama. If you can’t tell me the truth, I am going to leave.
The threat of being left is too much. Tammy looks at Gwen. Just when …show more content…
145 INT. RECORDING STUDIO. DAY. 145
George is asleep at the mic. Billy presses the intercom button from the CONTROL ROOM.
BILLY
George, you need to wake up, buddy.
It’s time to sing. George stirs.
GEORGE It’s too sad.
BILLY
I know. But we’re gonna go for another. A BLONDE SECRETARY enters with coffee for the tired MUSICIANS and ENGINEERS.
The music starts, but George misses his cue to begin. Nods off again on the mic. Billy turns to his BLONDE SECRETARY.
BLONDE SECRETARY
Want me to get some more whiskey?
Billy looks at the blonde girl. He gets an idea.
146 INT. RECORDING STUDIO. A LITTLE LATER. 146
George is asleep on the mic. In the CONTROL BOOTH, Billy seats the blonde on a stool in the corner. He lowers the lights then presses the intercom button.
BILLY
George? You gotta wake up. Tammy wants to hear your new song.
G&T - 1st Numbered Draft 06-09-15 114.
ENGINEER This is sick.
George stirs.
BILLY
I told her you were waiting for her to show up so you could sing it to her -- let her know how you feel.
George looks to Billy who gestures to the Secretary. George’s POV: Tammy Wynette, not the Secretary, sits in the booth.
GEORGE
It’s nice to see you, Tammy.
The Secretary waves. She’s uncomfortable playing this …show more content…
Cursing is a lowly undignified practice... Nancy.
NANCY
Is it true you tried to shoot him?
* *
G&T - 1st Numbered Draft 06-09-15 117.
GEORGE
People like to talk. They like talking about me. Peanutt says so, I says I ain’t so sure.
NANCY
If somebody pointed a gun at me, I wouldn’t be fixing them up.
GEORGE
Well, Peanutt’s a Christian. And you’re dressed up. Smelling pretty. Right on time to meet a man who tried to shoot your friend.
NANCY (a smile)
Allegedly.
George smiles. PRE-LAP Tammy and Richey singing...
TAMMY AND RICHEY (O.S.)
O THEY TELL ME OF A HOME FAR BEYOND THE SKIES, O THEY TELL ME OF A HOME FAR AWAY...
149 TELEVISION SEGMENT. 149
We’re watching a 1980’s celebrity profile of Tammy (actual). Bad video cross dissolves of FIRST LADY ACRES’ EXTERIOR, the opulence of its INTERIOR.
Tammy, Richey and Friends around a piano singing as if this were a happy home.
TAMMY AND RICHEY (CONT’D)
O THEY TELL ME OF A HOME WHERE NO STORM CLOUDS RISE, O THEY TELL ME OF AN UNCLOUDED DAY.
150 EXT. FIRST LADY ACRES BACKYARD. DAY. 150
Segment continues. Richey spins Tammy on a merry-go-round. HEAR the voice of LORI-ANN (20’s), an entertainment reporter.
LORI-ANN (V.O.)
Tammy Wynette’s dizzying life as
REPORTER ONE
It was supposed to be a quiet day of shopping for the queen of heartbreak...
REPORTER TWO
After tying a panty hose around her neck...
REPORTER THREE Tammy’s description of her assailants has been vague, leaving some to wonder whether George Jones played some role in her abduction.
141 INT. FIRST LADY ACRES. TAMMY’S BEDROOM. SAME MOMENT. 141
Tammy recuperates in bed. Gwen (now 18) enters. Tammy rolls over, turning her back on her daughter.
TAMMY
I don’t want you looking at me, Gwen.
GWEN
You need to tell me the truth,
Mama. If you can’t tell me the truth, I am going to leave.
The threat of being left is too much. Tammy looks at Gwen. Just when …show more content…
145 INT. RECORDING STUDIO. DAY. 145
George is asleep at the mic. Billy presses the intercom button from the CONTROL ROOM.
BILLY
George, you need to wake up, buddy.
It’s time to sing. George stirs.
GEORGE It’s too sad.
BILLY
I know. But we’re gonna go for another. A BLONDE SECRETARY enters with coffee for the tired MUSICIANS and ENGINEERS.
The music starts, but George misses his cue to begin. Nods off again on the mic. Billy turns to his BLONDE SECRETARY.
BLONDE SECRETARY
Want me to get some more whiskey?
Billy looks at the blonde girl. He gets an idea.
146 INT. RECORDING STUDIO. A LITTLE LATER. 146
George is asleep on the mic. In the CONTROL BOOTH, Billy seats the blonde on a stool in the corner. He lowers the lights then presses the intercom button.
BILLY
George? You gotta wake up. Tammy wants to hear your new song.
G&T - 1st Numbered Draft 06-09-15 114.
ENGINEER This is sick.
George stirs.
BILLY
I told her you were waiting for her to show up so you could sing it to her -- let her know how you feel.
George looks to Billy who gestures to the Secretary. George’s POV: Tammy Wynette, not the Secretary, sits in the booth.
GEORGE
It’s nice to see you, Tammy.
The Secretary waves. She’s uncomfortable playing this …show more content…
Cursing is a lowly undignified practice... Nancy.
NANCY
Is it true you tried to shoot him?
* *
G&T - 1st Numbered Draft 06-09-15 117.
GEORGE
People like to talk. They like talking about me. Peanutt says so, I says I ain’t so sure.
NANCY
If somebody pointed a gun at me, I wouldn’t be fixing them up.
GEORGE
Well, Peanutt’s a Christian. And you’re dressed up. Smelling pretty. Right on time to meet a man who tried to shoot your friend.
NANCY (a smile)
Allegedly.
George smiles. PRE-LAP Tammy and Richey singing...
TAMMY AND RICHEY (O.S.)
O THEY TELL ME OF A HOME FAR BEYOND THE SKIES, O THEY TELL ME OF A HOME FAR AWAY...
149 TELEVISION SEGMENT. 149
We’re watching a 1980’s celebrity profile of Tammy (actual). Bad video cross dissolves of FIRST LADY ACRES’ EXTERIOR, the opulence of its INTERIOR.
Tammy, Richey and Friends around a piano singing as if this were a happy home.
TAMMY AND RICHEY (CONT’D)
O THEY TELL ME OF A HOME WHERE NO STORM CLOUDS RISE, O THEY TELL ME OF AN UNCLOUDED DAY.
150 EXT. FIRST LADY ACRES BACKYARD. DAY. 150
Segment continues. Richey spins Tammy on a merry-go-round. HEAR the voice of LORI-ANN (20’s), an entertainment reporter.
LORI-ANN (V.O.)
Tammy Wynette’s dizzying life as