LUCKY THE LEPRECHAUN
Now who's dat a portrait of?
CHRIS
I was going to post a picture of my late brother but I have to find one; so I was looking for a place holder and I typed in "Irish Thug" and this popped up and he actually looks A LOT like my brother John. It's just another incident of superuniversallysynchronistic weirdness. But I'm used to these kinds of things. Did you notice the first name of the photographer?
LENA
That's a little spooky.
LUCKY
Was your brother a thug?
CHRIS
Not particularly. But he had an extremely pugilistic personality; argumentatively speaking that is. If he was stoned he was actually quite sweet and loveable. But he would argue his viewpoint until the Blarney stone crumbled. So, in the spirit of railing against the powers that be, even if that be your own power; let's raise a glass: To John Patrick Reidy, may he rest in some semblance of peace.
ALL
Slainte!
There is a sudden crash of THUNDER and flash of lightning and then we hear the following:
Now who's dat a portrait of?
CHRIS
I was going to post a picture of my late brother but I have to find one; so I was looking for a place holder and I typed in "Irish Thug" and this popped up and he actually looks A LOT like my brother John. It's just another incident of superuniversallysynchronistic weirdness. But I'm used to these kinds of things. Did you notice the first name of the photographer?
LENA
That's a little spooky.
LUCKY
Was your brother a thug?
CHRIS
Not particularly. But he had an extremely pugilistic personality; argumentatively speaking that is. If he was stoned he was actually quite sweet and loveable. But he would argue his viewpoint until the Blarney stone crumbled. So, in the spirit of railing against the powers that be, even if that be your own power; let's raise a glass: To John Patrick Reidy, may he rest in some semblance of peace.
ALL
Slainte!
There is a sudden crash of THUNDER and flash of lightning and then we hear the following:
LUCKY
Now dat's a feckin' President!
LENA
Ooooh la la!
CHRIS
Sagittarius, natch!
JEAN GENET AND EDITH PIAF step out of a white, blue and red cloud.
JEAN GENET
Sacre bleu!
CHRIS
Ladies and kind people: French icons, Mr. Jean Genet and Madame Edith Piaf!
WILD APPLAUSE!
JEAN GENET
Veuillez retiner vos applaudissement...nous ne somme pas ici pour parler du President Macron!
LENA
Pardoney moi?
EDITH PIAF
Ehh, he speaks no Anglais; ah, he says to hold zee applause, that we are not here to speak about presidents.
CHRIS
Why are you here?
EDITH
We represent...THE DECEMBER NINETEENTH TRIBUNAL!
LUCKY
The what now?
GENET
Mon dieu! Comment peux-tu ne pas savoir--
EDITH
Never mind Jean; they cannot understand you. Why don't you have a smoke and I'll handle this?
She makes the universal smoking gesture. Genet nods, sits in a chair and lights a cigarette.
LENA
Now what's this all about Miss Piaf, darlin'?
EDITH
The December 19th Tribunal is here to consider the evidence against Mr. Coogler and Warner Brothers Pictures and then further our findings to Madame Milano--
CHRIS
Alyssa Milano?
EDITH
Yes and then she and the rest will come to a--
CHRIS
Miss Piaf I think you're mistaken. I don't have any evidence on anyone or anything...
EDITH
Mon dieu!
CHRIS
But you're welcome to consider my opinions and offer your thoughts.
EDITH
(Shrugs) D'accord...(lights a cigarette).
CHRIS
Can I bum a cigarette?
EDITH
Zay are French...no filter...very strong...
CHRIS
Oh, that's fine. (Lights, inhales, COUGHS violently) This is great!
Now dat's a feckin' President!
LENA
Ooooh la la!
CHRIS
Sagittarius, natch!
JEAN GENET AND EDITH PIAF step out of a white, blue and red cloud.
JEAN GENET
Sacre bleu!
CHRIS
Ladies and kind people: French icons, Mr. Jean Genet and Madame Edith Piaf!
WILD APPLAUSE!
JEAN GENET
Veuillez retiner vos applaudissement...nous ne somme pas ici pour parler du President Macron!
LENA
Pardoney moi?
EDITH PIAF
Ehh, he speaks no Anglais; ah, he says to hold zee applause, that we are not here to speak about presidents.
CHRIS
Why are you here?
EDITH
We represent...THE DECEMBER NINETEENTH TRIBUNAL!
LUCKY
The what now?
GENET
Mon dieu! Comment peux-tu ne pas savoir--
EDITH
Never mind Jean; they cannot understand you. Why don't you have a smoke and I'll handle this?
She makes the universal smoking gesture. Genet nods, sits in a chair and lights a cigarette.
LENA
Now what's this all about Miss Piaf, darlin'?
EDITH
The December 19th Tribunal is here to consider the evidence against Mr. Coogler and Warner Brothers Pictures and then further our findings to Madame Milano--
CHRIS
Alyssa Milano?
EDITH
Yes and then she and the rest will come to a--
CHRIS
Miss Piaf I think you're mistaken. I don't have any evidence on anyone or anything...
EDITH
Mon dieu!
CHRIS
But you're welcome to consider my opinions and offer your thoughts.
EDITH
(Shrugs) D'accord...(lights a cigarette).
CHRIS
Can I bum a cigarette?
EDITH
Zay are French...no filter...very strong...
CHRIS
Oh, that's fine. (Lights, inhales, COUGHS violently) This is great!
LENA
Was that Doctor Zhivago?
CHRIS
I think so...
LUCKY
Physician, heal thyself!
JEAN
Continuez avec ca...
CHRIS
Okay. Well. Let's go back to the movie poster; because if you don't see the similarities there, then you more than likely won't see the less apparent ones. And for me, this similarity comes down to one color:
Was that Doctor Zhivago?
CHRIS
I think so...
LUCKY
Physician, heal thyself!
JEAN
Continuez avec ca...
CHRIS
Okay. Well. Let's go back to the movie poster; because if you don't see the similarities there, then you more than likely won't see the less apparent ones. And for me, this similarity comes down to one color:
LENA
What's the significance?
CHRIS
Well, it's the same color as the text on my screenplay cover. I tried to find the perfect Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Yellow-Orange and here it is as the "key color" of Sinners artwork. I find this highly telling.
What's the significance?
CHRIS
Well, it's the same color as the text on my screenplay cover. I tried to find the perfect Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Yellow-Orange and here it is as the "key color" of Sinners artwork. I find this highly telling.
CHRIS
And the "diagonal" element in some of the artwork:
And the "diagonal" element in some of the artwork:
LUCKY
Now, I tink dat's a we bit of a stretch, Mr. Chris...
LENA
There's that color again...but what about things from the movie itself? Like story elements and so on and such as like that?
CHRIS
I will admit, here is where it gets a bit more nebulous...
LENA
Take us through it baby--
EDITH
Oui, bebe.
LUCKY
Yeah bod mor!
CHRIS
Can we get a number from Miss Piaf first?
WILD APPLAUSE
EDITH
Oh...d'accord...
CHRIS
And here's Mr. Ed Sullivan to introduce you!
WILD APPLAUSE!
Now, I tink dat's a we bit of a stretch, Mr. Chris...
LENA
There's that color again...but what about things from the movie itself? Like story elements and so on and such as like that?
CHRIS
I will admit, here is where it gets a bit more nebulous...
LENA
Take us through it baby--
EDITH
Oui, bebe.
LUCKY
Yeah bod mor!
CHRIS
Can we get a number from Miss Piaf first?
WILD APPLAUSE
EDITH
Oh...d'accord...
CHRIS
And here's Mr. Ed Sullivan to introduce you!
WILD APPLAUSE!
WILDER APPLAUSE!!!
CHRIS
C'est magnifique.
EDITH
Merci, merci. Now commence!
CHRIS
Okay. I'll just tell you what I find...oh...how shall I put it?
LUCKY
Goidte?
CHRIS
I'm sorry?
LUCKY
That's Irish for "stolen."
CHRIS
"Similar." Let's say similar. These are things I find similar in both scripts.
GENET
Depeche-toi!
CHRIS
Mr. Genet, there's a tea room down the hall if--
And Genet is gone, his cigarette hanging in mid-air.
CHRIS
C'est magnifique.
EDITH
Merci, merci. Now commence!
CHRIS
Okay. I'll just tell you what I find...oh...how shall I put it?
LUCKY
Goidte?
CHRIS
I'm sorry?
LUCKY
That's Irish for "stolen."
CHRIS
"Similar." Let's say similar. These are things I find similar in both scripts.
GENET
Depeche-toi!
CHRIS
Mr. Genet, there's a tea room down the hall if--
And Genet is gone, his cigarette hanging in mid-air.
LENA
Now I wouldna taken him for a tee-totaler...
EDITH
Ah, mon dieu...
CHRIS
Okay. I like to call these things The Trees; as in "Can't see the forest for the trees." Because it's the trees that make up the forest; that is to say: the details. And the other saying is: God is in the details. And I suppose you could further that to mean: The Truth is in the details. So, the first thing is brothers. Mr. Coogler's script has twin brothers, "Smoke" and "Stack" played by the same actor: Michael B. Jordan. And might I add he got his start on a soap opera?
LENA
Oh really? Which one?
CHRIS
All My Children.
LUCKY
Oh, well, One Life to Live was my story; also part of the ABC line-up.
CHRIS
Mine too!
LENA
What about the Irish one; Ryan's Hope?
CHRIS
Well, Delia was kind of fun...but...
LUCKY
It was tryin' too hard.
CHRIS
Yeah, it really was, wasn't it?
Now I wouldna taken him for a tee-totaler...
EDITH
Ah, mon dieu...
CHRIS
Okay. I like to call these things The Trees; as in "Can't see the forest for the trees." Because it's the trees that make up the forest; that is to say: the details. And the other saying is: God is in the details. And I suppose you could further that to mean: The Truth is in the details. So, the first thing is brothers. Mr. Coogler's script has twin brothers, "Smoke" and "Stack" played by the same actor: Michael B. Jordan. And might I add he got his start on a soap opera?
LENA
Oh really? Which one?
CHRIS
All My Children.
LUCKY
Oh, well, One Life to Live was my story; also part of the ABC line-up.
CHRIS
Mine too!
LENA
What about the Irish one; Ryan's Hope?
CHRIS
Well, Delia was kind of fun...but...
LUCKY
It was tryin' too hard.
CHRIS
Yeah, it really was, wasn't it?
EDITH
Brothers? Nine out of ten scenarios dramatique have freres.
CHRIS
Yes. True. But my script actually had two sets of brothers. Twin sets, if you will? But here's the other thing...I was developing the actual movie as I was going along writing the screenplay in real time. Casting it and so forth. I'll show you the images of the people I cast and this might give the Tribunal something a bit more tangible than the aforementioned nebulousness. Is that agreable?
ALL
Sure...yeah...okay...whatevs...let's get on with this...I don't have all day...etc.
CHRIS
So, my main characters are HENRY NOTLAD and PADDY O'RIADA.
LUCKY
Now Mr. Chris, I know dat "O'Riada" is the Irish source of your surname: REIDY and it's derivations. But what kind of a name is NOTLAD?
CHRIS
Oh, it's just "Dalton," spelled backwards:
Brothers? Nine out of ten scenarios dramatique have freres.
CHRIS
Yes. True. But my script actually had two sets of brothers. Twin sets, if you will? But here's the other thing...I was developing the actual movie as I was going along writing the screenplay in real time. Casting it and so forth. I'll show you the images of the people I cast and this might give the Tribunal something a bit more tangible than the aforementioned nebulousness. Is that agreable?
ALL
Sure...yeah...okay...whatevs...let's get on with this...I don't have all day...etc.
CHRIS
So, my main characters are HENRY NOTLAD and PADDY O'RIADA.
LUCKY
Now Mr. Chris, I know dat "O'Riada" is the Irish source of your surname: REIDY and it's derivations. But what kind of a name is NOTLAD?
CHRIS
Oh, it's just "Dalton," spelled backwards:
LUCKY
Now why on God's green ert did you spell it backwards?
CHRIS
All of this goes back to Patrick Swayze--
ALL
Ooohh-la-la!
CHRIS
Goes without oohing. Yeah, so he was in this movie called Road House and then they remade it with Jake Gyllenhaal--
ALL
Oooohhhh-la-la!
CHRIS
Goes without la-la-ing. And a lot of people, including me were like: Why? Who Asked For This? And then I started riffing on how I would write a remake and that started as a joke; but then it got serious and I ended up with HEARTFIGHT. So, Patrick's character's name was "Dalton" so I just reversed the spelling; but then I liked it. So I left it.
LENA
But didn't that raise some questions in your lil' ole script; like: who the hell has that last name?
CHRIS
It did; but in my mind the family had changed the name because of discrimination when they first came to America; although that's never actually addressed in the script. So Road House inspired my script. And maybe more so, this particular frame from it:
Now why on God's green ert did you spell it backwards?
CHRIS
All of this goes back to Patrick Swayze--
ALL
Ooohh-la-la!
CHRIS
Goes without oohing. Yeah, so he was in this movie called Road House and then they remade it with Jake Gyllenhaal--
ALL
Oooohhhh-la-la!
CHRIS
Goes without la-la-ing. And a lot of people, including me were like: Why? Who Asked For This? And then I started riffing on how I would write a remake and that started as a joke; but then it got serious and I ended up with HEARTFIGHT. So, Patrick's character's name was "Dalton" so I just reversed the spelling; but then I liked it. So I left it.
LENA
But didn't that raise some questions in your lil' ole script; like: who the hell has that last name?
CHRIS
It did; but in my mind the family had changed the name because of discrimination when they first came to America; although that's never actually addressed in the script. So Road House inspired my script. And maybe more so, this particular frame from it:
SOUND EFFECT: BREAKING BARWARE
EDITH
C'est un cul chaud!
LUCKY
Diabhal!
LENA
Where's Miss Lena's fan?
CHRIS
So, Henry and Paddy in my story both have brothers who are their managers. I was seeing Adam Driver as Henry and imagining Colin Farrell as his brother, Danny
C'est un cul chaud!
LUCKY
Diabhal!
LENA
Where's Miss Lena's fan?
CHRIS
So, Henry and Paddy in my story both have brothers who are their managers. I was seeing Adam Driver as Henry and imagining Colin Farrell as his brother, Danny
CHRIS
And then for Paddy and his brother Sean I was imagining Dhomnall Gleeson and Aiden Turner...but as much as I love Dhomnall, his real life brother Brian might be the better choice for Paddy; and as a matter of fact, looks exactly like who I was picturing and as of this moment; I had no idea he existed. Is it a sign?:
And then for Paddy and his brother Sean I was imagining Dhomnall Gleeson and Aiden Turner...but as much as I love Dhomnall, his real life brother Brian might be the better choice for Paddy; and as a matter of fact, looks exactly like who I was picturing and as of this moment; I had no idea he existed. Is it a sign?:
Here's a trailer for a tv show they were in together. Let's take a look!
LUCKY
I'd put money dat the carpet matches the drapes in both o' deez cases!
LENA
Now I'm gonna have to agree with Miss P. here. Stories revolvin' around brothers go back to Misters Castor and Pollux...that's back all the way to when stories were invented!
CHRIS
Yes. I certainly agree with that; but what I'm seeing here as a connecting point is the twinning. Or doubling, if you will. Here's a moment from my script that again, I see as a telling tree. And as I go back over Heartfight; the pages just seem to be flipping open to these moments:
I'd put money dat the carpet matches the drapes in both o' deez cases!
LENA
Now I'm gonna have to agree with Miss P. here. Stories revolvin' around brothers go back to Misters Castor and Pollux...that's back all the way to when stories were invented!
CHRIS
Yes. I certainly agree with that; but what I'm seeing here as a connecting point is the twinning. Or doubling, if you will. Here's a moment from my script that again, I see as a telling tree. And as I go back over Heartfight; the pages just seem to be flipping open to these moments:
And here's a moment I find flat-out spooky:
LUCKY
Dat is kinda weird...
CHRIS
And then there was this father son relationship that felt extremely similar to me as well.
EDITH
I would say the pere et fils relationship is even more common than freres.
CHRIS
Oui, Miss P. But again, here, we're looking for telling moments. Clues if you will--
EDITH
Toute le monde danse!
EVERYBODY JAMS TO THE FOLLOWING:
Dat is kinda weird...
CHRIS
And then there was this father son relationship that felt extremely similar to me as well.
EDITH
I would say the pere et fils relationship is even more common than freres.
CHRIS
Oui, Miss P. But again, here, we're looking for telling moments. Clues if you will--
EDITH
Toute le monde danse!
EVERYBODY JAMS TO THE FOLLOWING:
CHRIS
You know, I never really realized how attractive he was until just now. And did you catch the synchronicitous moment with the heart? I mean, I've never seen this video before. Crazy!
LUCKY
So tell us about the father son thing.
CHRIS
Okay, so in Sinners, the movie opens with a young man stumbling into a church. He's holding a disembodied guitar neck. His "Father" who we find out is literally his father, calls him to the altar.
LENA
What's the connection here?
CHRIS
Well, in Heartfight I have the character of Roddy Shannon, who is a rather charismatic fight promoter. A larger than life character. I "cast" Idris Elba to play him; that is who I was thinking of and wanted the reader to as well. Because I wanted someone charismatic and that could supply a certain amount of...shall we say, sexual frisson.
You know, I never really realized how attractive he was until just now. And did you catch the synchronicitous moment with the heart? I mean, I've never seen this video before. Crazy!
LUCKY
So tell us about the father son thing.
CHRIS
Okay, so in Sinners, the movie opens with a young man stumbling into a church. He's holding a disembodied guitar neck. His "Father" who we find out is literally his father, calls him to the altar.
LENA
What's the connection here?
CHRIS
Well, in Heartfight I have the character of Roddy Shannon, who is a rather charismatic fight promoter. A larger than life character. I "cast" Idris Elba to play him; that is who I was thinking of and wanted the reader to as well. Because I wanted someone charismatic and that could supply a certain amount of...shall we say, sexual frisson.
LENA
I'm feelin' it baby!
CHRIS
And as his teen-age son Francis, I wanted an unknown actor. So, my go to for that is Mr. Dustin Shelby.
EDITH
Qui est-ce?
CHRIS
He's an athletic young man from Washington state whose picture I came across randomly and I thought: "Now there's a Star!"
I'm feelin' it baby!
CHRIS
And as his teen-age son Francis, I wanted an unknown actor. So, my go to for that is Mr. Dustin Shelby.
EDITH
Qui est-ce?
CHRIS
He's an athletic young man from Washington state whose picture I came across randomly and I thought: "Now there's a Star!"
LENA
Can he act?
CHRIS
I have no idea. I think he's in college now, playing rugby or something.
LUCKY
I'd jump in a scrum with him in a Galway minute!
CHRIS
I hear ya, Lucks! Now here's the interesting thing. This is where music starts coming into the proceedings. But before I get into that, I wanted to touch on this telling tree--
LUCKY
Telling tree. Is that like The Log Lady from Twin Peaks?
CHRIS
I suppose it is...
Can he act?
CHRIS
I have no idea. I think he's in college now, playing rugby or something.
LUCKY
I'd jump in a scrum with him in a Galway minute!
CHRIS
I hear ya, Lucks! Now here's the interesting thing. This is where music starts coming into the proceedings. But before I get into that, I wanted to touch on this telling tree--
LUCKY
Telling tree. Is that like The Log Lady from Twin Peaks?
CHRIS
I suppose it is...
LENA
Was that lady just talkin' about twins?
LUCKY
Sure, and she was!
LENA
Okay, that is just beyond spooky now.
CHRIS
I'm really used to this stuff now. Anyways: Mr. Shelby would be playing "Francis Shannon." His character is interesting because I kind of based him on Icarus, the mythological character.
LUCKY
Oh, the poor lad who flew too close to the sun?
CHRIS
Yes, except he doesn't die in my story. He does however go through various name changes which just kind of emerged from the story. I guess he represents multiple dualities. He's called Ick, Frankie, Cupe and Frannie at various points in the story. And as you can see, Mr. Shelby is pretty caucasian. So, if Idris Elba is playing his dad, then he'd have to be biracial. A biracial character figures prominently into the story of Sinners. Another interesting comparison. Also, the character of "Ick" is a musician. He teaches Paddy how to play the Irish drum, as opposed to say the guitar, which the correlating character of "Sammie" plays.
LUCKY
Oh, roight. The bodhran! I play meself.
CHRIS
I even included a "how to" video in the ongoing Heartfight "class."
Was that lady just talkin' about twins?
LUCKY
Sure, and she was!
LENA
Okay, that is just beyond spooky now.
CHRIS
I'm really used to this stuff now. Anyways: Mr. Shelby would be playing "Francis Shannon." His character is interesting because I kind of based him on Icarus, the mythological character.
LUCKY
Oh, the poor lad who flew too close to the sun?
CHRIS
Yes, except he doesn't die in my story. He does however go through various name changes which just kind of emerged from the story. I guess he represents multiple dualities. He's called Ick, Frankie, Cupe and Frannie at various points in the story. And as you can see, Mr. Shelby is pretty caucasian. So, if Idris Elba is playing his dad, then he'd have to be biracial. A biracial character figures prominently into the story of Sinners. Another interesting comparison. Also, the character of "Ick" is a musician. He teaches Paddy how to play the Irish drum, as opposed to say the guitar, which the correlating character of "Sammie" plays.
LUCKY
Oh, roight. The bodhran! I play meself.
CHRIS
I even included a "how to" video in the ongoing Heartfight "class."
CHRIS
As a matter of fact, HEARTFIGHT is full of Irish music and scenes of people learning (or not) how to play traditional Irish instruments. And singing Irish songs; which is what really made my eyebrows go up when I was watching Sinners; becasue if this element hadn't been there, I wouldn't be talking about this now. But the element is there and it has me asking questions about not just the music; but the inclusion of Irish people (or vampires) at all. Like why? Why did Ryan Coogler go there? Where exactly did this "obsession" he speaks of come from? Where exactly is all this Black/Irish crossover he alludes to that people aren't really aware of? I mean, I'm Irish and I certainly wasn't aware of it. Other than my dad's love of Flip Wilson and Tina Turner.
And that's what I want to look at in the next meeting of THE DECEMBER 19TH TRIBUNAL.
Meeting adjourned.
ALL
Aye!
Please see: DOUBLIN' DOWN ON THE TROUBLIN' DOWN ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN or AN EXAMINATION OF SINNERS PT. 3
CFR 4/30/25
As a matter of fact, HEARTFIGHT is full of Irish music and scenes of people learning (or not) how to play traditional Irish instruments. And singing Irish songs; which is what really made my eyebrows go up when I was watching Sinners; becasue if this element hadn't been there, I wouldn't be talking about this now. But the element is there and it has me asking questions about not just the music; but the inclusion of Irish people (or vampires) at all. Like why? Why did Ryan Coogler go there? Where exactly did this "obsession" he speaks of come from? Where exactly is all this Black/Irish crossover he alludes to that people aren't really aware of? I mean, I'm Irish and I certainly wasn't aware of it. Other than my dad's love of Flip Wilson and Tina Turner.
And that's what I want to look at in the next meeting of THE DECEMBER 19TH TRIBUNAL.
Meeting adjourned.
ALL
Aye!
Please see: DOUBLIN' DOWN ON THE TROUBLIN' DOWN ON THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN or AN EXAMINATION OF SINNERS PT. 3
CFR 4/30/25