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Main Elements:
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Classic story with modern undertones based on several films of the "stranger
in a small western town" genre. ["Petrified Forest", "Picnic" "Albino
Alligator"]
1. Bittersweet longing for a better place
2. Missed chances for love
3. Violent gangsters
4. Quaint desert cafes
5. Clever dialog
Darlene's Daydream Café
and Auto Body Repair
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The Premise:
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Darlene, once a country singer, was in an abusive marriage with her band's
manager William, with whom she had her first boy, Willy. Three years after
Willy's birth - Darlene and her secret lover were discovered by her
husband, in a motel room.
William was killed when Darlene's lover turned the gun on him.
Darlene quickly disposed of her husband's wallet, personal belongings and
the gun. She re-arranged the room and the corpse to make it appear that there
had been a robbery/murder then called the police and reported the crime.
Being one of several local motel robberies at that time, the crime though
un-solved, was all but forgotten about by police.
Darlene cashed in on the insurance policy and quickly moved to Highlonesome,
Arizona where she opened a small diner.
A few months later Darlene discovered she was pregnant with her lover's baby,
but lied on the birth certificate and to anyone who asked, and said that
the child, named Billy, was the son of her late husband William.
The diner where Darlene and her two boys live and work has managed to stay
open for nearly twenty years. After graduating high school, Willy opened
an auto body repair shop in the back, and the place is now known as "Darlene's
Daydream Cafe and Auto Body Repair."
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The People:
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Despite being on the highway between two ghost towns, Darlene
(40) is content in her cafe which boasts of good coffee,
cheap food and live music.
Although deeply devoted to his mother, Billy (21), Darlene's
baby boy is restless and secretly yearns for a life on the road. Consumed
with the romantic history of the old west, Billy wants to travel and have
wild cowboy adventures of his own.
The Drifter, actually, Robert Alan "Duke"
Tracy (25) is hiding from police and has taken to the
road.
The elder son Willie (25) is obsessed with the family's bleak financial
future. He is convinced that the diner should be sold and the money used
to move the family and his fiance Patty away from the dying town.
Patty (25), though unhappy in her stormy relationship with Willie,
is also anxious to marry and move to a larger city.
Clifford, who never speaks, is a musician who wandered into the diner
several years ago, began playing piano for Darlene in exchange for food,
and has been playing there since.
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Symbolic Elements:
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DARLENE "darling" (Middle English)
WILLIAM from the Teutonic elements "will helmet".
PATTY PATRICIA. Pat Garrett was the sheriff who shot Billy the Kid.
DUKE from the noble title. Humphrey Bogart plays escaped gangster
Duke Mantee in Robert Sherwood's "The Petrified Forest."
TRACY "path" or "road" (French).
CODY "helpful" (Gaelic)
JAMES From JACOB "to hold the heel" or "supplanter" The biblical Jacob
was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel.
CLIFFORD "ford by a cliff" From a place name or a surname.
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Rain
Depending upon its level of intensity, rain may either serve as life-giving
or life-destroying. It is revitalizing, fertilizing, and heavenly, and often
marks acts of purification.
Wanderer
The lonely wanderer is a common image across all genres of literature. The
wanderer is the opposite of the pilgrim; the first is aimless, the second
directed. In Buddhism, the wandering man is one who is caught in a cycle
of birth and death until enlightenment is achieved, thus attaining the motionless
center.
West
West is the direction of the setting SUN and dusk, linking it with death,
endings, the season of fall, and middle age. In the mid nineteenth century
western culture witnessed westward expansion and the GOLD rush, so this context
allows us to see west as opportunity, hope, and adventure.
Train
Train symbolism is related to social life, destiny, JOURNEY, and fatalism.
Candle
The candle symbolizes light in the darkness of life, illlumination; it is
the symbol of holy illumination of the spirit of truth. Lit in times of death,
they signify the light in the next world, and they represent Christ as the
light.
The Plot (Part One):
It is early on an unusually hot August morning, and while Darlene sips a
diet lemonade and vodka, the radio blares out a violent oncoming storm. Billy
emerges from the kitchen and sings. [ SKIP LIKE A STONE ]
The radio announces another storm warning - then the door to the diner suddenly
blows open, and into the room walks a mysterious stranger with a guitar over
his shoulder.
With little prompting, Darlene orders him breakfast, and introduces herself
and her two boys by way of a song. [ DAYDREAM CAFE ]
In response, the stranger sings his own introduction song which reveals little
about him, but charms Darlene. [ STRANGER PASSING THROUGH ]
Willy, who has begun an auto body repair shop in back of the diner, comes
through briefly to pitch his idea to sell the place, but Darlene refuses
to listen. He leaves but threatens to press the issue later at a family meeting
he's planning.
Darlene attempts to question the stranger about his arrival in the small
town, but is caught off gaurd when he makes a pass at her.
Billy enters the room with breakfast, catching Darlene and the Stranger in
a compromising position. Darlene gets Billy to sing one of his favorite old
cowboy songs which impresses the stranger. [ WHEN THE WORK'S DONE ]
Billy and the stranger go into the kitchen to talk further, leaving Darlene
to hear another gloomy weather report on the radio.
Yelling is heard. Willy and Patty burst through the door fighting. After
much fussing, Willy leaves and Patty and Darlene sit down to have a drink.
Just as Patty tries to inform Darlene of a reported runaway fugative in the
area, the stranger passes through on his way to the bathroom. Patty is
immediately taken with the stranger and subjects him to her one-woman karioke
show. [ COUNTRY GIRL ]
Willy enters to catch Patty showing off and an argument ensues. Darlene takes
the stranger for a tour of the place to get him out of the room.
Willy begs Patty to help him convince Darlene to sell the diner, and promises
to marry her when they move to a new city. Billy overhears some of this and
warns Willy away from the topic. Willy and Patty move aside to speak privately.
The stranger enters and confers with Billy about the location of the nearest
bus or train station. Patty leaves, complaining that Willy loves his truck
more than he loves her. Willy sings a love song to his truck. [ BUILT FOR
COMFORT ]
Patty and Darlene have been discussing the stranger, and as they enter Patty
presses him for answers. When Darlene goes to the kitchen, Patty reveals
her attraction for the Stranger. Patty openly questions Willy's true feelings
and commitment, and aggresively flirts with the Stranger. Patty comes on
to him and suggests she could get Willy's truck and provide a ride out of
town, or perhaps even run away with the Drifter.
When Patty tries to hear the radio news of the runaway fugitive, the Stranger
quickly changes the station and dances with Patty. [ ROUTE 30 ]
The station happens to play of one of Darlene's old recordings.
Patty calls for Darlene who enters followed by Billy. Darlene is convinced
to sing her old song and reminices about the bad old days as a country singer,
recounting her trip to the Arizona Desert and her dream of a diner. [ LOOKS
LIKE RAIN ]
Willy comes in and demands to have a family meeting to discuss the selling
of the diner. More news on the radio of the runaway fugitive this time announcing
a reward. They quiet Willy, long enough to hear the update.
Willy begins the family meeting by insisting they sell the diner. Patty tries
to help pitch the idea, but Darlene is dead set against it. Billy offers
Darlene his total support either way.
The Stranger suggests that Darlene could draw customers and make more money
by advertising the diner as a bed and breakfast. She is delighted by the
idea, and goes off to dream about the new plans and write ads for travel
brochures. Willy argues with Patty, disgusted with Patty's weak defense of
his position. Before Willy can storm off - Patty asks him to have a private
conversation. They exit.
Billy informs the stranger that a mid-night train goes through a neighboring
town. The Stranger offers to share some marijuana with Billy who readily
accepts, and the two have a long conversation about Billy's past and future.
The Stranger suggests that they should skip town and team up to become a
fearsome duo - out exploring the countryside. They sing about life on the
road as a pair of free-spirited cowboys. They laugh and dance and eventually
end up in an embrace. [ TWO COUNTRY COWBOYS ]
Darlene, unheard, walks into the diner in time to see the two men kiss. The
men go on dancing until Patty re-enters with Willy who tells everyone that
he plans to turn the Stranger over to the police. Darlene rejects the idea,
but Willy insists - explaining that there is a large reward for his capture.
The stranger moves for the door, but Willy blocks it, and says he is determined
to keep the stranger inside the diner until the police arrive.
It begins to rain harder now. The arguing intensifies as the men scuffle
near the door. Billy gets involved in the fight and is slightly injured.
Willy tells Patty to call the police but the phone is dead.
Billy confronts Willy and they fight. In a sudden suprising move, Willy produces
a shot gun and declares that until the storm ends and the police can be
contacted, he intends to hold hostage everyone in the diner.
The Plot (Part Two):
As the radio blares out another storm warning, Billy sings a quiet sad cowboy
song. [ CURTAINS OF NIGHT ]
Darlene and Willy argue. The Stranger and Billy quietly confer. Willy stops
him with the threat of the gun, and insists he will keep everyone in the
cafe until the police can be contacted. Darlene is questioned about the gun.
Billy protests the Stranger's innocence. Patty pressures the Stranger about
his true identity.
The Drifter tells everyone how he found the cafe, explaining that he shared
a boxcar with a man who claimed to have once known a woman named Darlene
who owned a diner.
The Drifter confesses in a song, that he is in fact the wanted fugative,
but that it was actually a terrible mistake. [ DRIFTIN ]
Billy is convinced of the Drifter's story, and is determined to go off with
him. Willy confronts the Drifter and the situation becomes tense.
Darlene having written some text to send to travel publications asks Patty
to read the description of her bed and breakfast. Billy tells Darlene that
he plans to leave town with the Stranger. Darlene resists the idea, and fears
that the Stranger is not to be trusted. Billy is resolute and feels the time
is right, and promises to return. [ TWO WHITE HORSES ]
Patty and Willy argue about their relationship.
Drifter goes to the bathroom and while he's out of the room, Willy sings
about his philosophy. [ RIDE WITH THE TIDE ] Drifter escapes
through a bathroom window. Willy and Billy fight, then chase
after Drifter.
Patty and Darlene discuss the situation. Patty sings about her relationship
with Willy.
[ ONLY BOY IN TOWN ]
Billy and the Drifter enter followed by a gun wielding Willy who has prevented
their escape. Willy gloats about his capture and argues with the others that
turning in the wanted Drifter is the right thing to do.
Darlene sings about her family. [ HOME]
Suddenly the radio and all the lights go off. The diner is plunged into a
silent darkness. Darlene scrounges for candles.
Billy and Willy presses Darlene to reveal the truth about William Sr.'s
death.
The Drifter surprisingly mentions a name that frightens Darlene. He again
recounts parts of the story he heard from the mysterious boxcar companion,
and reveals that man's name to everyone. Darlene explains the truth about
the family history. She confesses that William, SR. was not killed in a robbery,
but had actually been shot by her secret lover.
Darlene goes on to tell everyone how she re-staged the death scene to look
like a robbery/murder. Darlene tells Billy that the man she was having
the affair with was his father, and that he disappeared without
a trace.
Billy reels from the news, insisting he has always suspected something was
wrong. Billy says he will go and find his real father.
Darlene begs Billy to wait until the storm ends to leave, but he is resolute.
[ ALWAYS ]
Patty announces that the phones are again working and Willy instructs her
to call the police. Billy and the Drifter move toward the door. Willy shoots
near the door to stop them. The brother's and Darlene wrestle for the gun.
Suddenly the lights blink on again, as the power is restored - it is realized
that the Drifter has escaped during the confusion.
Billy unplugs the phone and over Darlene's objections leaves to follow the
Drifter. Patty, saying she needs time to consider things, quickly leaves.
Willy follows out after her.
Darlene quietly sits alone for a minute, then begins to clean up the diner.
[ SKIP LIKE A STONE: REPRISE ]
The San Pedro River Valley
Highlonesome, Arizona
HIGHLONESOME, NM
It was owned by Bill McCombs who was a brother in law to Bob Crosby the world
famous steer roper who had a ranch nearby. Most of the area ranchers got
their mail delivered to Highlonesome and it was the meeting place for that
corner of the world. Bill McCombs had two daughters and two sons. Strawberry
was the eldest and finally bought the Bob Crosby ranch at Highlonesome; Bill
Jr. who ran the Diamon A Ranch Co; Iola, who still lives in Roswell and Barbara
who now lives back east somewhere. Highlonesome became no more in about
1942 when Bill built a new home in Kenna and moved his family closer to
civilization. Somebody will have to show you where it was because I don't
believe there is even a tin can left of what used to be a welcome sight to
a lot of folks.
Southeastern Arizona
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