Episode 12
FADE IN
Battered by the furor on the public bulletin board that followed her analysis of C. Heavy’s “big box” dream in her column, Shvoo has retreated to the haven of her doublewide for a few weeks of solitude while the Trading Times prints reruns of classic “best of” "Dream Weaver" columns. Still feeling heartache from the as yet unrequited affection from the man of her own dreams, she has discovered that from the roof of her home she can see into his trailer.
Harley's old scope is back in service
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Too many long hours with Harley’s old bird-spotting scope and a half-empty Box-O-Wine are the immediate result of this enlightenment. She also has been experiencing a vague notion that she may be threatened by alien abduction. “Threatened” might be too strong a term, however, because during her “Truck Stop Red” (vintage: Tuesday) reveries, she imagines what orifices the alien probing might encompass. Crop circles have lately fascinated her and she doesn’t know why.
have we been visited?
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DP, unaware that he can be seen, has been “experimenting” with some intimate items he found in Jolene’s drawer while she was at the Speedi-Mart. What man has not wondered how he would look wearing only a mullet and a thong?
just wondering how it might look
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Shvoo, in a rush of emotion, decides to “drop in” on DP with a plate of fresh-baked sfoglia with marmalade. She climbs down from her roof planning to head for his trailer. What she does not know is that at the same moment Jolene, feeling oddly ill this morning, has just talked her boss into letting her have the rest of the day off.
DP's favorite home-baked treat
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Meanwhile, Red, still smarting from his armchair fishing “outing”, realizes that he must take some action to redeem himself in the eyes of his peers in the community. He heads into his front yard, looking for his favorite fishing pole. Having fortified himself with a liberal dosing of Mad Dog 20/20, he intends to confront Sonny at Maf’s over the true ownership of the now renamed “Sonny’s Dream”.
Mona, more and more distracted while at her job at the Speedway station, has been quietly seething at what she believes is Radish’s growing interest in Shvoo. While she does not have any explicit information about the two of them and knowing that she and Radish have never pledged themselves exclusively to each other, she is nonetheless well aware that his truck has been seen at with some frequency at Shvoo’s doublewide. Taking advantage of her lunch break, she jumps into her ’49 Crosley wagon and heads for Shvoo’s to see if Radish might be there.
hmmm - another visit from Radish?
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While these events are unfolding, two additional and striking developments are also headed for a showdown.
A swarthy and shadowy newcomer who calls himself N. Pujols has arrived in town. He may be from the Middle East. He has already snapped up a prime location across town and unveiled a trendy modern funeral home and car wash, which should be open for business any day now.
a swanky new competitor
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Nerdy, whose long-established economy burial service (motto: “Same Day Pick-up & Delivery”) is very worried and has already retaliated with a 2-for-1 offer. Nerdy has asked Sonny to meet her at DP’s to discuss a counterstrike.
"Same Day Pickup & Delivery"
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In addition, many of the townspeople are upset over a proposal that the proprietor of the NY Guy tattoo parlor, Radish's ex-employer, is trying to slip past the licensing board. The board met recently and tentatively okayed his plan for a combination bowling-laundry-bar.
licensing trouble?
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But within the last few days it was alleged that NY Guy may have had a mole on the board and now a significant opposition has spontaneously formed. Perhaps not exactly spontaneous since the anti’s are led by Maf and Nonna. They are now on their way to Jolene’s trailer to challenge DP for his possible surreptitious role in the board’s approval.
As we join the players and anticipate the collisions that are about to unfold, a feeling of foreboding and impending conflict is in the air. The weather suddenly turns stormy.
MUSIC UNDER
