Whitey Ossein (from Western Road Trip)

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Whitey Ossein (57)

Project: Comedy film (Western Road Trip)

Known as: Whitey

Real name: Barney Ossien

Group affiliation: Demon Beasts motorcycle gang

Physical description: Whitey is small and thin. He has few remarkable features, which assists in his skills of disguise. He has always had pure white hair, so even when not in disguise people are often wrong about his age.

Personality: Immoral and selfish, Whitey is a bad dude. There is not much he wouldn’t do if he felt there was an eventual payoff. He is not particularly egotistical and is large immune to disgust. This means he doesn’t mind spending a long time in disguise, hiding in sewers, and is usually the member of the gang who does the truly dirty work.

History: When we meet Whitey, he is in the midst of a long con. In order to ingratiate himself with an older, infirm woman with no family he has disguised himself as an elderly woman as well. Under a false identity, he has become friends with the woman and has commenced swindling – with an eye towards convincing her to update her will.

On a break from their journey, Trip, Sun and Hawg are at a park when Sun spies Whitey and his mark. Sun recognizes Whitey from prison (although his disguise is very good) and in typical Sun directness walks up and punches Whitey in the face. Thinking Sun has just assaulted an old woman, Hawg attacks Sun. While they are fighting, the women make their escape. Ultimately Trip separates Sun and Hawg before Sun soundly trounces Hawg.

Trip is upset with Sun, even though Sun explains it was an ex con he knew. Hawg is adamant that it was just an old woman and Trip has his doubts. Minimally, Trip would have expected more caution from Sun. After the falling out, Trip leaves the group (don’t worry – he’ll be back). Meanwhile, Whitey reaches out to some of his biker buddies…

Role in the narrative: Antagonist. Also causes conflict in the group.

Abilities: Very gifted at disguise and mimicry.

Inspirations: The White Bone Spirit (Baigujing) can change its shape and appears as three different women. Sun Wukong with his fiery eyes can see the demon behind the disguise and the others cannot. This causes Tripitaka to chastise Sun Wukong for slaying random people. Sun Wukong leaves the group – but he is needed later. I made Whitey part of a motorcycle gang (Demon Beasts) as many of the villains in Journey to the West are demons with animal ties/motifs.