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White Trash Blues - Thad McCone
Episode 16 FADE IN When we last saw DP he was fleeing with frenzied alacrity from NY Guy’s scattergun only moments after he pilfered a muumuu from the Bowl-a-mat clothesline in a desperate attempt to cover his nakedness. NY Guy, his vision blurred by his duct-taped 1972 Erik Estrada “CHiPS” model sunglasses is unaware of the identity of his prey. He has also invested an afternoon’s research into Maf’s signature beverage which he is attempting to replicate to serve in his own establishment. His shots have gone wild, breaking a window at Mamie Rey’s TipTop Tavern next door. Mamie is ignorant of the commotion and unsuspecting of the damage to the TipTop because she is at that moment across town putting the finishing touches on the newly opened adult novelties department at the Poly Palace, her second business. She will later blame the damage on her progressing feud with NY Guy who is attempting to get the town’s permission to open a competing business. Meanwhile in the road out front, Little Boo, Nerdy’s prepubescent daughter and the driver of the now disabled motorcycle that was carrying DP to safety, has finally flagged down a ride. In yet another of the seemingly endless but often whimsical coincidences that have plagued this series, she is picked up by none other than Shvoo who is herself searching for DP. While asking for a lift to her long overdue grammar lesson at Mac’s, Little Boo casually mentions DP’s current plight. Abruptly braking her truck “Dream Weaver”, named for her semi-regular fantasy interpretation column in the Tradin' Times, Shvoo ejects Little Boo from the vehicle and drives across the Bowl-a-mat lawn at high speed in an impulsive bid to save the man of her own dreams. Just before the “Dream Weaver” plunges into the Bowl-a-mat’s swimming pool, which NY Guy has been attempting to pass off as a car wash, Shvoo cuts off the pursuing proprietor who is swept into the pool along with her. DP, not knowing that he is no longer being chased, frantically thrashes about for a safe harbor of his own. As he breaks through the brush behind the TipTop, he stumbles upon the newest and least successful business in town: Thad McCone’s Juice Bar and Diner. McCone, a New England refugee who is feeling very much out of his element in his newly adopted community, has yet to detect any meaningful companionship here. Nor has his fastidious menu of cleverly labeled latte, designer muffins and organic juices found a receptive audience. Although he is known to his friends back home as a come-from-behind guy, in this setting Thad is lonely and becoming a little melancholy about his future among a citizenry unfamiliar to his somewhat more refined and, to some extent, more fastidious ways. Into this fecund setting bursts an excited DP, wearing only a muumuu and a thong and anxious to find a friendly face himself. Their eyes meet across the diner. Thad smiles. EXPECTANT MUSIC UP |
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