FADE IN:

INT. THE APPLEGATE ARMS - NEW ORLEANS - MORNING

This is a boardinghouse located in the french quarter of New Orleans. Formerly an old southern mansion, it is large and stately, but it has seen better days. We are looking at the sitting room of the house. Adjacent is the dining room. A large staircase leads to the upper part of the house. The furniture, once of quality is now seedy and worn. FREDERICK CHARLESTON stands alone in the room. Frederick is as charming and rundown as the house.  One part southern gentleman, one part reprobate, all man. He wears a soiled white linen suit, with a string tie. In one hand he holds a sheet of paper, in the other hand he holds up a mint julep. He reads from the page with a deep southern drawl.

FREDERICK
I think that I shall never see a thing more lovelier than thee. Oh lean tall glass with ice so cold and eighty proof bourbon, ten years old.

He drinks.

FREDERICK
Eat your heart out, Carl Sandburg.

The front door opens and "DOC" GRETCHEN TURNER enters. "DOC" is an attractive black girl in her late 20's to early 30's. In her arms she carries her saxophone.

DOC
Good Morning, Frederick.

FREDERICK
And a lovely day to you, Doc. Julep, my dear?

She comes over to him and drinks from his glass.

DOC
Ummmm, that is tasty. Getting ready for the park?

FREDERICK
Preparing to elucidate the masses to the beauty of the spoken verse. And to do that, the throat must have ample fluids.

He finishes the drink in a single swallow.

DOC
Well, may I say that you are looking good today. Dashingly rumpled. The rubes will love it.

FREDERICK
Why thank you, my little sax fiend.

Doc turns and heads up the stairs.

FREDERICK
Beware of the Dragon.

DOC
Mrs. A is upstairs. Doing what?

FREDERICK
As hard as it will be to believe, she has found someone to take up lodgings in room number 5.

DOC
Someone is moving in to 5?

George "BUBBA" BRUCE now enters from the dining room. He is a mountainous, slow looking young man in his 20's. He is a "Good Ole Boy" jock, with a cheerful disposition.

BUBBA
There sure is! A really pretty girl. She's so pretty she makes my heart beat hard. She's as pretty as a banana split with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and smothered with butterscotch and cherries and nuts.

Frederick has gone to a cabinet, looks up to see if the coast is clear, then opens it and takes out a bottle of bourbon and adds it to his glass. He quickly puts it away.

DOC
She sounds delightful.

FREDERICK
She sounds delicious. I won't know whether to kiss her hand or lick her fingers.

From the top of the stairs emerges HEATHER FARRINGTON. Heather is breathtakingly beautiful. Full breasted with long legs and flowing hair. As she descends the stairs, she is dressed in a sheer night gown which covers but does not conceal her amble charms.

HEATHER
Good morning all.

ALL
Good morning, Heather...

HEATHER
It is a glorious morning isn't it. Did someone say that Mrs. Applegate was upstairs?

FREDERICK
She is showing the new girl around.

HEATHER
Oh shit!

Heather turns and sprints up the stairs, two steps at a time. She disappears for a moment and then returns pulling a YOUNG MAN with her. He is quickly pulling on his clothes.

HEATHER
Come on honey. You have got to go!

YOUNG MAN
But I haven't had any coffee.

They reach the bottom of the steps and Heather drags him to the front door. One of her breasts has slipped loose.

HEATHER
I'm sorry baby, I can't give you any coffee. But how about a little sugar?

Heather pulls him to her body and gives him a long, hot kiss. She then pats his ass, and pushes him out the door.

HEATHER
Now shoo.

Heather begins to shut the door. Suddenly, the young man's hand shoots back inside, extending a wad of dollar bills.

HEATHER
Oh. Thank you, sugar.

Heather snaps the money out of the hand and closes the door. She slowly turns, with great poise. Her breast remains exposed. Bubba blatantly stares at it.

HEATHER
He lost a bet. So there's a new girl? I hope that she has manners. Good breeding is so important.

DOC
Ah..Heather honey.....

Doc points to her own breast to clue Heather to the problem.
Heather quickly slips the breast back into place.

HEATHER
Thank you, Doc. Stop your gawking Mr. Bubba Bruce.

BUBBA
I ah... I didn't mean...

HEATHER
It's alright darlin, I would be offended if you didn't look.

From above, a loud angry voice can be heard. At the sound, Frederick attempts to hide his drink. Doc places her saxophone behind a chair. Heather quickly sits down, picks up a pillow to conceal her state of undress. Bubba just looks afraid.

MRS. APPLEGATE
(from above)
WOODROW!! Go get Miss Callahan's luggage out of her car and take it up to her room. AND I MEAN THIS MINUTE-!!

Down the stairs scurries WOODROW "WOODY" APPLEGATE. He is a timid black man in his late 30's.

WOODY
Yes, Cora honey.

At the bottom of the stairs, he comes to an abrupt stop.

WOODY
Good mornin to you all.

MRS. CORA APPLEGATE appears at the top of the stairs. She is a hard-faced black woman, who looks older than her 40 years.

MRS. APPLEGATE
I SAID THIS MINUTE-!!

WOODY
Yes, Cora, this minute.

He zips out the door. Following Mrs. Applegate is MELODIE CALLAHAN. Melodie is young and pretty. Her dress is simple and functional. She is listening respectfully to Mrs. Applegate.

MRS. APPLEGATE
Each room has it's own toilet, and there's two showers at each end. Be careful what flush. These pipes is real old, and I can't afford to be fixin 'em.

MELODIE
Yes, ma'am.

MRS. APPLEGATE
Now, I don't know how they do things up there in New Jersey, but in his house we have got us some rules. I don't allow no drinking of alcohol. No playing of music after dark, and of course no men or women as the case may be in your room. Breakfast is served at 8 am and dinner is at 7 p.M.. If you come late, you'll have an empty plate.

FREDERICK
You'll will find that is not such a bad thing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIXIE MELODIE PROJECT, TO VIEW THE PILOT, ETC., CONTACT B.J. GROGAN AT THE E-MAIL ADDRESS GIVEN AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE...