"JORO" A SCREENPLAY BY VIN MARINO

Roberta Conners, A.K.A. JORO, is a 38-year-old, heroin-addicted, former great rock guitarist.  "Bert" has been defunct for 15 years: 7 spent in a foreign prison.  She has decided to get clean, and calls her best (Only) friend, Jason Barnes (Former band-mate, lover, current bar-owner) for help.  Severe withdrawal, poverty, and  a bleak future are large obstacles to staying sober.  Jay lets her clean his bar for some cash.  Bert decides to get her and Jay in a Rock n Roll Talent Show (ala American Idol), because A) She's broke with no health insurance (and a damaged liver) B) Her many screw-ups make her record-label poison C) She'll never stay clean without Jay's support D) Jay's bar could use upgrade capital.  The journey is a rough, uphill climb due to her fragile physical & emotional condition. Additional, external stressors are Jay's best friend's (also business partner and former band manager) contempt for, and Jay's girlfriend's pure hatred for Bert.  Bert already has enough self-contempt for her crime, which waisted her gigantic talent and adversely affected everyone she knew. But she still can play incredible guitar and loves to "Rip."  Bert & Jay become lovers again, but how much is genuine affection, and what is residual co-dependency.  She meets her 17-year-old neighbor, Tara, a very bright girl with a love for dance (although she has two prosthetic lower legs), an admiration for Bert's talent..and a curiosity with her past.  Nobody even knows she was in prison, let alone why (Gag Order for a confession). She & Jay's performances are epic, yet the attention is overwhelming for someone sober for the first time in 25 years.  Bert & Tara become good friends, with Tara's dance an unexpected inspiration for Bert.  Things can't - and don't - go smoothly for someone with enormous guilt, panic attacks, a decadent past and many enemies. How will things evolve and turn-out?  Well, Read!!