Boscutti's Elvis Presley (Screenplay)

By Stefano Boscutti

Walk a thousand miles in Elvis' shoes.

It's 1970. It's Christmas. And Elvis Presley is jack of it. He's had enough of the songs, the fans, the girls, the guys, everything. He flees Graceland on a wild, manic quest to meet President Nixon before Colonel Parker can haul his ass back to Memphis. The King wants to score a Federal Drug Agent's badge. The President of America is the only man who can get it for him. Based on an amazing true story.

Official White House photos of Elvis meeting Nixon on December 21, 1970 are the most requested items at the National Archives. (More requested than the Bill of Rights or even the Constitution of the United States.)

"Boscutti's Elvis Presley" is a truly spirited rock'n'roll screenplay. Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.

Will Elvis convince Nixon to give him what he needs?

★★★★

'The image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.' Elvis Presley

'Intimate portrait of the king of rock'n'roll with much humor, gossip and adulation. Judicious and delightfully addictive.' Mary Turpin

'Boscutti untangles the soul of man in a wild, riveting and sharply written screenplay. I didn't want it to stop.' Helen Nye

'Often poignant psychological profile of a true rock'n'roll visionary. You've never seen Elvis like this.' Fay Scott

'Strikingly cinematic storytelling that cuts just the right way. Fine writing, sparkling dialogue. Sleek, fast-paced and exciting.' Henry Ballard

'Exceptionally intelligent and thought provoking account of the life of Elvis Presley.' Hugh Ransford

'Everything that's great about rock'n'roll wrapped up in an impossibly true story.' Juliet Hadsell

'Boscutti is a master storyteller. He bends the screenplay form to fit a narrative biography that seems to unspool like some epic road movie.' Greg Byers

'Best portrayal of Elvis I've ever read. Elvis comes to life on every page.' Lynne Wilson

'Stylish and addictive, plenty of intrigue and drama from Memphis to Los Angeles to Washington and into the heartland of America.' Brent Stine

'Exuberantly outrageous telling of one of rock'n'roll's finest moments.' Jane Hansen

'Riveting narrative tracing the incredible true story of the greatest entertainer who ever lived.' Murray Corcoran

'Boscutti writes with style, imagination, wit, and force. Exhilarating.' Adele Talmadge

'Intoxicating blend of true satire and sudden, sly compassion.' Michael Acevedo

'Boscutti shows us a terribly unhappy and frustrated artist who wants to transcend his fate. Gut wrenching, enlightening and wholly remarkable.' Margaret Cahn

'Most sympathetic, honest and insightful portrait of Elvis you'll ever see.' Douglas Basley

'Boscutti takes the reader into the private world of Elvis Presley. A world away from the blinding glare of publicity and persona.' Ray Fadden

'Brilliant, beautifully written biopic proves essential reading not only for the fans but anyone curious about the price of fame in America.' Christine Green

'Deep, honest portrayal of a man who was a true American original.' Jim Stanton

'Solid, insightful, and incredibly engaging book. Easy to read and impossible to put down.' Nelson Clarke

"Boscutti's Elvis Presley" (Screenplay) was a finalist in Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope Screenwriting Contest. The screenplay format is beyond the industry standard. It simplifies the technical parameters so it’s easier and more enjoyable for you to read.

'You don't need to be an Elvis fan to love the man. He was the embodiment of the American dream. I wrote this biopic to find out what drove a boy from Tupelo, Mississippi, to become Elvis Presley. What drove a man to become a king. I want to show you a side of Elvis only a handful of people ever saw. I want you to see the true Elvis.' Stefano Boscutti

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stefano Boscutti
• Release date: Nov 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9780980712551

Stefano Boscutti

STEFANO BOSCUTTI is an award-winning writer and director.He loves stories about true mavericks and outsiders who want to change the world. Larger than life characters who either wildly succeed or go down in flames. (Often both at the same time.) Boscutti's stories are usually laced with humor and a ton of irony.

Book preview

'The image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.' Elvis Presley

BOSCUTTI’S ELVIS PRESLEY

Stefano Boscutti

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Stefano Boscutti

All rights reserved ISBN 978-0-9807125-5-1

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Discover more titles by Stefano Boscutti at boscutti.com

This is a work of fiction. While many of the characters portrayed here have counterparts in the life and times of Elvis Presley, the characterizations and incidents presented are products of the author's imagination.

BOSCUTTI’S ELVIS PRESLEY

Sounds of BLACK VOICES working cotton fields as they sing out Sister Rosetta Tharpe's two-beat gospel hymn 'Up Above My Head.'

FADE IN:

TUPELO - COTTON FIELDS - DAY (1937)

High summer sun streaks down through perfect white clouds.

INFANT ELVIS, 2, lays back on a bed of pure white cotton flowers and looks up into the sun with his pristine blue eyes. His mother's voice rolls over him as white cotton flowers flutter down like tufts of clouds.

GLADYS PRESLEY (O.S.)

You got the destiny to do great things. You is living for two people. You have the power of two people inside you.

GLADYS PRESLEY, 25, picks cotton under the bright sun.

Along with the other FIELD WORKERS, she drags behind her a large burlap tow sack she fills with cotton flowers. On top rests her young son.

GLADYS PRESLEY

Elvis, you is real, real special 'cause when God took your twin brother into heaven, you took over. You took over his soul and you took over his spirit.

Infant Elvis looks at his mother.

GLADYS PRESLEY

One day we'll all be back together again.

Rows of cotton bushes taper back either side of Infant Elvis.

GLADYS PRESLEY (O.S.)

But on this Earth you is real, real special 'cause you is special as two people, not just one.

Infant Elvis looks up into the dazzling sun.

GLADYS PRESLEY (O.S.)

God chose you. You is the chosen one, Elvis.

Blinding sun flares in.

Sounds of distant record player spinning Elvis Presley's 'Blue Christmas.'

MEMPHIS - GRACELAND - DAY (1970)

Winter sun flares out under brooding clouds.

Elvis' home is festooned with Christmas decorations left, right and center. Santas and reindeers and sleds and candles. Two interlocking wreaths of holly hang off the front double doors. Sounds of record player spinning Elvis Presley's 'Blue Christmas' from inside.

VERNON PRESLEY (O.S.)

Christ, son, Thirty-eight thousand dollars in one month! Thirty-eight thousand dollars for guns!

ELVIS (O.S.)

Daddy, you know I got damn death threats hanging over my head.

VERNON PRESLEY (O.S.)

You let the guys worry about that!

ELVIS (O.S.)

Daddy, get off my damn case!

VERNON PRESLEY (O.S.)

Jesus, that's what they is paid for!

ELVIS (O.S.)

Daddy, I damn well mean it.

VERNON PRESLEY (O.S.)

That's why they is your damn bodyguards!

ELVIS (O.S.)

Daddy, I ain't going to tell you again, goddamnit.

VERNON PRESLEY (O.S.)

Not to mention you bought a bunch of guns you ain't even allowed to have!

ELVIS (O.S.)

Maybe one or two.

VERNON PRESLEY (O.S.)

Seven! Elvis, you bought seven machine guns, that is damn illegal!

ELVIS (O.S.)

So! So! I got a badge!

MEMPHIS - GRACELAND - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - DAY

VERNON PRESLEY, 54, limply holds a receipt in his hand.

VERNON PRESLEY

Son, you ain't got no police badge for no machine guns.

ELVIS PRESLEY, 35, storms into his bedroom.

ELVIS

Goddamnit, Daddy, whose side is you on anyway?

VERNON PRESLEY

Just you wait until The Colonel hears about this.

Elvis stops dead in his tracks, spins on his heels.

ELVIS

Fuck The Colonel! Fuck it! Tear up the goddamn contract for all I care! Rip it to kingdom come! I don't need no one telling me what I can and cannot do!! I don't need no one telling me nothing no more!

Elvis slams his bedroom door shut.

VERNON PRESLEY

Jesus Christ, why you got to be such a goddamn selfish sumbitch?

Elvis tears the door open.

ELVIS

What the fuck did you call me?

VERNON PRESLEY

Jesus, Elvis, calm down.

ELVIS

I swear, you bad-mouth Mama one more time, I am going to outright kill you. I don't care how illegal it is.

Elvis slams the door again and immediately opens it again.

ELVIS

Cancel the damn shows! It's over!!

VERNON PRESLEY

Elvis --

ELVIS

Don't you 'Elvis' me!

Elvis slams the door real hard.

MEMPHIS - GRACELAND - ELVIS' BEDROOM - DAY

Elvis rifles through his wardrobe until he finds his favorite makeup case. Flips it open and empties the contents onto the king-size bed.

Elvis drags out drawers full of handguns and prescription drugs and spiritual books and police badges and empties them on top of what's already sprawled on the bed.

Elvis chews his fingernails as he decides what to pack.

Elvis picks out a dozen police badges and tosses them into his makeup case. Tosses in one, two, three, four, five, six, seven vials of pills. Tosses in a bunch of ammo. Tosses in two books.

Elvis can't close the lid on his makeup case. Throws out the books. About to close the lid again when he spots the framed black and white photo of his dead mother, Gladys Presley, on his bedside table. He gently picks it up and lovingly places it inside his makeup case and carefully snaps the lid closed.

Elvis picks