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EXT. JEN'S AUNT'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jay's blue Honda pulls up in front of a nice old brick house.
INT. JAY'S CAR - NIGHT
Jay looks down at the napkin on his finger which is totally soaked with
blood.
JAY
Oy
gevult!
A SUPERIMPOSED SUBTITLE APPEARS: "The pain and suffering that my
people have endured."
Jay pulls the napkin from his finger and blood starts running down his
palm. He quickly replaces the napkin.
EXT. JEN'S AUNT'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jay steps up to the door and knocks.
Jen answers looking terrific.
JENNIFER
Hi.
JAY
Hi.
You look great.
JENNIFER
Thanks.
(they
walk to Jay's car)
What's
all over your sleeve?
JAY
Grease.
Would you mind driving?
JENNIFER
No
--
JAY
--
Great --
JENNIFER
--
Except my car's in the shop. Something wrong
with
yours?
JAY
No,
no, it's fine.
(waves
his hand)
Not
a problem.
JENNIFER
(concerned)
What's
wrong with your finger?
JAY
I
cut it. It's no big deal.
He removes the napkin and blood drips down.
JENNIFER
You
know, I took first aid classes, if you've got a
needle
and thread I could sew it up.
Jay opens the passenger door for Jen and she gets in.
JAY
It's
not that deep.
He goes around to the driver's door, gets in, turns the key and . .
. Click! Jay turns to Jen and forces a smile.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Jay and Jen sit at a booth. A waitress goes walking by.
Jay raises his hand to get her attention and we now see two bloody
napkins on two of his fingers.
JAY
(to
waitress)
Excuse
me . . .
The waitress walks right past.
JAY
(perturbed)
Well
. . .
(turns
to Jen)
So,
what do you do?
JENNIFER
I'm
a graphic designer.
JAY
Oh,
is that like business cards and stationary
and
stuff?
JENNIFER
It
could be, but that's not what I do. I do corporate
logos,
TV bumpers, film credits, that kind of thing.
Jay isn't paying attention. He's looking at his injured fingers.
JAY
These
damn things won't stop bleeding.
(looks
up, annoyed)
And
where the hell is the waitress? What do we
gotta
do, send up a flare? So, like, if I needed
stationary,
you could do it for me?
JENNIFER
Yeah,
I guess. Do you need stationary?
JAY
No.
(sticks
his arm straight up)
Hello!
Jeez, usually the service is just fine here,
I
don't know what's gotten into them?
JENNIFER
So,
what do you do?
JAY
I'm
the assistant manager of a dinette store.
JENNIFER
(uninterested)
Really?
JAY
(smiles)
Yeah,
it's not half as interesting as it sounds.
JENNIFER
(smiles
back)
Do
people still buy dinette sets?
JAY
Only
the ones that want to eat at tables while
sitting
in chairs.
JENNIFER
Do
you have any hobbies?
JAY
I
write.
JENNIFER
Write
what?
JAY
I'm
writing a novel. Or, let me say, I'm rewriting
it.
It's already written.
JENNIFER
(interested)
That's
fascinating. What's it about?
JAY
Well,
ostensibly, it's about Heinrich Himmler. But
it's
really about his best friend who ends up killing
him.
The theme is friendship and betrayal. It begins
in
1933 when the National Socialists came into power
and
--
JENNIFER
--
National Socialists?
JAY
The
Nazis.
JENNIFER
Oh.
So it's about World War Two?
JAY
World
War Two is just a sub-plot.
JENNIFER
Sounds
ambitious.
JAY
(smiles)
Thanks.
(his
smile fades)
If
we don't get served soon we'll miss the movie.
(looks
up)
Hey!
Could we get some service around here or
what?!!
Jen winces.
EXT. MOVIE THEATER - NIGHT
A green and white Checker cab pulls up in front of a movie theater.
Jay and Jen get out of the cab and head over to the box office.
INT. THEATER LOBBY - NIGHT
Tickets in hand, Jay and Jen cross the lobby and pass a poster for Akira
Kurasowa's KAGEMUSHA.
INT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
We hear the film's soundtrack: the sound of wind blowing and the occasional,
grunted, monosyllabic word in Japanese. Jay sits in the dark completely
enraptured by the movie, his eyes wide, his mouth open. Jen looks
bored. She glances over at Jay, then down at her watch, sighs,
then looks back up at the screen. Jen starts to get out of her
seat. Jay glances over, not wanting to look away from the screen.
JAY
(whispering)
Something
wrong?
JENNIFER
(whispering)
I've
got to go to the bathroom.
Jay nods and turns back to the movie. Jen stands and walks up
the aisle.
INT. THEATER LOBBY - NIGHT
There are two closed doors leading into the auditorium. Jen comes
out the right door at the exact same moment that Pete comes out the
left door. They see each other and do double-takes.
PETE
Jennifer?
Jen points at Pete indicating she knows him, then snaps her finger indicating
she can't remember his name. He helps her.
PETE
Pete.
JENNIFER
(sighs)
Pete
Harold.
PETE
(corrects
her)
Herman.
JENNIFER
(confused)
Herman
Harold?
PETE
No,
Pete Herman.
JENNIFER
Right.
What're you doing here?
PETE
I
heard this was a good movie.
JENNIFER
Me,
too.
They both start to laugh. Pete walks over to a bench and Jen follows.
They both sit down.
PETE
How
are you? It's great seeing you.
JENNIFER
I'm
fine. It's good to see you, too. What's
happening?
PETE
Well,
I've actually tried to call you, but there was
a
recording. I called that number and got some
weird
foreign guy.
JENNIFER
Yeah,
that was the guy I moved in with.
PETE
(quickly
depressed)
Oh.
JENNIFER
But,
I've already moved out.
PETE
(quickly
happy)
Oh.
Where are you living now?
JENNIFER
(shakes
her head)
Well
. . . I'm staying at my aunt's house, which
is
completely impossible. See, my parents moved
out
of town, so I've got nowhere to go home to for
the
first time in my life. So, I guess I'm looking for
a
place.
PETE
Really?
Well, ya know, I have a two-bedroom
apartment
and my asshole, metalhead roommate
just
moved out last month, so, ya know, if you
want
to move in, you're perfectly welcome.
JENNIFER
(lighting
up)
Really?
I'm interested.
PETE
(grinning)
You'll
have to redecorate.
JENNIFER
Big
deal.
PETE
(curious)
You're
moving in doesn't mean we can't date
while
you're there, though, does it?
JENNIFER
Well
. . . no, I guess. But if I move in it's strictly
as
a roommate.
PETE
Right,
of course. What do you say we start this
dating
process right now, go over to Union Street
and
get a drink?
JENNIFER
I'm
here with someone. I'm on a date.
PETE
(embarrassed)
Oh.
JENNIFER
It's
not serious, just a date. Why don't you give
me
your number and I'll call you.
PETE
Sure.
Pete and Jen both write their numbers on the back of flyers and exchange
them. Jen stands.
JENNIFER
I'll
call you. It was nice seeing you again, Pete.
PETE
You,
too, Jen.
JENNIFER
And
thanks for the offer.
PETE
Not
a problem. 'Bye.
JENNIFER
(smiles)
Sayonara.
Jen goes back into the auditorium. Pete sits there for a moment
grinning to himself. Finally, he shrugs.
PETE
Well,
maybe I'll watch just a little more.
Pete goes back into the auditorium as well.
INT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
Pete walks down the aisle. The wind is still blowing and there
is still the occasional Japanese grunt. Pete looks for Jen in
the crowd. He spots her, grins and waves. Jen sees him and
waves back. The fellow beside her turns back toward the screen
and Pete sees that it's Jay. Pete's face goes stony. He
quickly turns and leaves. Jen watches him go with a confused expression.
Jay is oblivious.
INT. PETE'S CAR - NIGHT
Pete's hand pounds the steering wheel. He looks very pissed off.
PETE
That
really burns my ass!
EXT. MOVIE THEATER - NIGHT
Jay and Jen exit the theater. Jay looks very pleased, Jen looks
confused. They walk along the sidewalk.
JAY
I
don't know what kept you so long in the
bathroom,
but you missed the best part. I
love
that movie.
JENNIFER
Are
you friends with Pete Herman?
JAY
Yeah,
we're good friends, why?
JENNIFER
I
ran into him recently. I was just curious.
JAY
Pete
and I have been friends since we were kids.
He's
my best friend. You couldn't find a nicer
guy
if you tried. So, you wanna get a cup of coffee
or
something?
JENNIFER
No,
I'm tired. I'd like to go home if that's O.K.
with
you?
JAY
Sure,
fine. What's the matter? You didn't like
the
movie?
JENNIFER
No,
it was great. I'm just tired.
JAY
Whatever
you'd like. So, what are you doing
tomorrow?
JENNIFER
Well,
I'm not sure. I may have something.
JAY
I'll
call you.
JENNIFER
(shrugs)
Well
. . . All right.
EXT. BUS STOP - NIGHT
They have arrived at the bus stop.
A bus pulls up, stopping with a hiss of it's air brakes.
DISSOLVE:
INT. JAY'S KITCHEN - EVENING
Jay sits at the kitchen table reading The Rise and Fall of the Third
Reich and taking notes. He puts the book down, picks up the
telephone and dials. The phone rings and rings, then the machine
gets it.
PETE'S
VOICE
(O.S.;
recorded)
Yeah,
what do you want?
INT. PETE'S APARTMENT - EVENING
We see the answering machine on Pete's desk with its lights lit up and
its tape spinning. It beeps. As we hear Jay's voice leaving
a message our view moves away from the machine and roams across Pete's
apartment where we see a number of cardboard boxes sitting on the floor.
JAY
(O.S.)
Hey,
motherfucker, just calling to see what's goin'
on?
Thought we might get together and, ya know,
have
a meeting with Mr. Green. So, give me a call
when
you get in. 'Bye.
Our view stops at the front window, where, out in front of the building,
Pete is helping Jen unload the boxes from her car. They both grab
as much as they can hold and carry it into the apartment.
They get inside and set the stuff down. Winded, they both sit
down. Pete can't stop looking at Jen and grinning.
JENNIFER
Do
you have a washer and dryer?
PETE
In
the basement. It takes quarters.
JENNIFER
(Jen
nods)
Good,
I hate laundrymats, they seem so desperate.
PETE
Be
careful in the basement, though, there's giant
bugs
from the Pleistocene era.
(grins)
So,
for dinner, I'm going to make you my
specialty
-- Chicken a la Herman Supreme, and
I
bought a bottle of wine. Two, as a matter of
fact.
JENNIFER
That's
fine, but I'm still just here as a roommate.
PETE
I
know, I know. That doesn't mean I can't try.
Besides,
now I get to go out on dates without
leaving
home. Think of the money I'll save in
gas.
(Jen
smiles. Pete continues
conversationally)
So,
uh, what were you doing out with Jay the other
night?
JENNIFER
You
have a problem with that?
PETE
No,
no. Don't get me wrong, Jay's a great guy, but
where
did you meet him?
JENNIFER
You
introduced us, don't you remember?
PETE
I
mean recently?
JENNIFER
(stands
up)
Oh.
At Kaye's party.
Jen grabs a box and walks out of the room. Pete sees the light
on the phone machine blinking. He pushes the button and hears
Jay's message.
JAY
(O.S.)
Hey,
motherfucker, just calling to see what's goin'
on?
Thought we might get together and, ya know,
have
a meeting with Mr. Green. So, give me a call
when
you get in. 'Bye.
PETE
(angry)
I
think my Gramma's gonna be sick for a while,
motherfucker!
INT. PETE'S SPARE ROOM - NIGHT
Jen stands in Pete's spare room holding a box and looking around in
amazement. The walls are completely covered with pictures of heavy
metal musicians.
DISSOLVE:
EXT. WOODED COURT - DAY
Our view tilts down from the sky to the wooded court to find Pete standing
there by himself. He kicks at some pebbles looking troubled.
After a moment, Jay's car comes driving up. Pete doesn't move
as Jay goes around the cul-de-sac and pulls up beside him. Jay
gets out of the car.
JAY
Hey,
man.
PETE
Hey.
How ya doin'?
JAY
O.K.
Where you been?
PETE
Been?
JAY
Yeah,
for like the last two weeks? I keep calling
and
leaving messages and you don't call me back.
In
fact, I don't know where anyone's been. It's like
everybody
went on vacation and forgot to tell me.
It's
like a "Twilight Zone" episode. So where've
you
been?
Pete looks away, troubled.
PETE
Well
. . .
JAY
Yeah?
PETE
.
. . I've been seeing Jen.
JAY
You've
been seeing her? Where?
PETE
What
do you mean, where?
JAY
Well,
there's been no answer at her aunt's house
for
a week. Where have you seen her?
PETE
Well
. . . I've seen her in a number of places.
Like
my place, for instance.
JAY
(eyes
widening)
You're
place. Are you sleeping with her?
Pete pauses and bobs his head around like it's on a spring.
PETE
Maybe
I am, what's it to you?
JAY
(furious)
You
fucker! You little fucking motherfucker!
How
could you do this to me? I was going out
with
her!
PETE
But
I told you not to! You went and did it anyway,
not
even thinking about my feelings, so don't play so
pouty
and hurt. You stabbed me in the back without
a
second thought and I'm your best friend.
JAY
So
now you're stabbing me back, huh?
PETE
I'm
not doing anything to you. This is something
Jen
and me are doing to each other. She really likes
me,
what can I say? I didn't force her to move in.
JAY
(eyes
widen again)
Move
in?
PETE
That's
right.
JAY
Jesus
fuckin' Christ! I'm losin' my mind!
PETE
Hey,
come on. You and her only went out once,
and
you didn't even have a very good time.
JAY
I
had a great time!
PETE
Well,
she didn't. She doesn't like KAGLAMANCHA
and
neither did I.
JAY
(indignant)
Hey!
Fuck you!! It's KAGEMUSHA and it's a great
fuckin'
movie! What do either of you know? Besides,
she
missed the best part!
PETE
Jay,
look, just accept it. Jen and I are living together.
That's
how it is.
Jay gets back in his car.
JAY
Oh
yeah? Like hell I will! Fuck you and fuck her!
(Jay
turns the key and
gets
nothing but a click)
And
another thing, you owe me fifteen bucks!
Jay pops the hood release and gets out of the car.
PETE
Oh,
really? As it turns out, I talked to Bill and that
bag
was only sixty-five. You over-charged me by
ten
bucks.
Jay goes under the hood.
JAY
All
right, fine. You still owe me five bucks.
Cough!
PETE
I
haven't got it, but I'll get it to you.
Jay sticks his hand into the engine -- ZZZING! -- the engine starts.
JAY
Holy
shit!!
He pulls his hand out and it's bleeding. Pete starts to laugh.
PETE
Are
you all right?
Jay pushes his way past Pete and gets in his car.
PETE
Come
on, Jay. Don't be like this.
Jay burns rubber and peels up the street, spraying gravel.
Pete is left standing by himself in a cloud of dust. He waves
the dust away and watches Jay's car disappears.
DISSOLVE:
INT. PETE'S APARTMENT - DAY
Pete is getting dressed for work: black leather shoes, khaki pants,
a V-neck sweater, a white shirt and a tie. Once he's done he leaves
the bedroom.
Pete steps into the living room and finds Jen sitting at the desk in
front of her computer.
JENNIFER
Pete,
what exactly do you do?
PETE
I'm
an artist.
JENNIFER
I
thought you worked for a petroleum company.
PETE
I
do. But in my heart I'm an artist.
JENNIFER
(exasperated)
Really?
And what is it you do for this petroleum
company?
PETE
I'm
one of their top sales representatives.
Jen nods, kind of impressed.
EXT. GAS STATION - DAY
Pete is pumping gas into a car.
PETE
Would
you like me to clean the windows?
We hear a customer's VOICE.
VOICE
(O.S.)
Sure,
and check the oil, too.
PETE
You
got it.
INT. GAS STATION - DAY
Pete comes into the station. Sitting inside is BEAR, a
big guy with a very long beard. He is chain-smoking cigarettes.
BEAR
So,
you finally got a broad to move in with
you,
eh, pal? That's a big accomplishment.
How'd
ya do it?
PETE
(shrugs)
It
just happened.
BEAR
Did
you lie to her about workin' in a gas station?
PETE
(patiently)
No,
Bear, I didn't. She did it because she likes me.
BEAR
Wow!
You mean there really is a broad in the
world
that actually likes a guy that works in a
gas
station. I'm impressed.
PETE
(condescending)
What
can I say, Bear, some guys got it and some
don't.
I guess she just respects me for who I am.
(a
customer steps up
to
the window)
.
. . Hold on a second.
(Pete
turns and finds
Jen
standing there. He
blushes
and stutters)
Uh,
uh, uh, Jen. Hi.
JENNIFER
(flatly)
Hello,
Pete. So this is where you work?
PETE
Yeah,
come on in.
Jen comes inside. Bear watches with amusement. Jen looks
around.
JENNIFER
Is
this the regional sales office?
PETE
Uh,
no, not really. Jen, I'd like you to meet Bear.
Bear,
Jen.
Bear plugs a butt in his face and shakes Jen's hand.
BEAR
Lookin'
good, hon. What'cha doin' with a loser like
Pete?
JENNIFER
(cold)
None
of your business, weird-beard!
(to
Pete)
Top
sales representative?
(points
at Bear)
Who's
he? The CEO?
PETE
O.K.
I'm sorry. I lied.
JENNIFER
But
why didn't you just tell me the truth?
PETE
I
don't know.
(glances
at Bear)
Uh,
look, could we talk about this later?
JENNIFER
Sure.
I mean, it doesn't matter to me anyway.
We're
just roommates. I don't care what you do.
PETE
(leans
toward Jen and
whispers)
You
know, I really like you. A lot.
JENNIFER
(nods)
I'll
take ten dollars on pump three.
Jen hands him a ten dollar bill.
PETE
Right.
I'll see you at home when I get off.
Jen nods and goes out the door. Pete punches up the gas purchase.
Pete turns and finds Bear staring at him, grinning.
PETE
Up
yours!
DISSOLVE:
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