PLEASANTVILLE

                         DAVID
                    (thinks ...)
               Honestly ... no.

     They both smile.

                         DAVID (CONT)
               You got the admissions letter.

                         JENNIFER
               Right here.

                         DAVID
               And you're sure about this?

                         JENNIFER
               I've done the slut thing, David.
               It's really kinda old.

     David nods.

                         DAVID
               I'll come back and check on you
               in a month.

     Jennifer nods and gives him a hug. She holds on tight for a
     couple of seconds.

                         JENNIFER
               You're like the coolest brother
               in the world.

     David smiles. Never been called cool before. They suddenly
     hear the SOUND of a motor and look to their left. A huge
     Greyhound bus lumbers up the highway, pulling to a halt at
     the sign. The doors open beckoning her in. Jennifer smiles at
     her brother, then turns toward the door ...

     EXT. MARGARETS HOUSE. DAY.

     She clutches her umbrella at her side. David holds a bag of
     oatmeal cookies. Each one clings on to the other one's
     clothing. Their faces are inches apart.

                         MARGARET
               You're gonna forget about me.

                         DAVID
               No I won't. I swear.

     Margaret nods. She looks at him for a moment then wraps her
     arms around his neck. They meet in a long, rich, wet, soft
     kiss. The umbrella falls to the ground ...

                         MARGARET
                    (a whisper)
               I like calling you David.

                         DAVID
               I like it too.

     INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM.

     David stands in front of the television with Mr. Johnson at
     his side. He holds the remote control in his hand. Mr.
     Johnson seems pretty amazed at the whole idea.

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Well how do you know it won't go
               back to the way it was?

                         DAVID
               You're gonna keep painting aren't
               you?

     Mr. Johnson nods.

                         DAVID (CONT)
               Well ...

     He nods again and thinks about it. They smile at each other
     one last time.

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (remembering something)
               Oh.
                    (reaching into his pocket)
               I've got something for you.

     He pulls out a folded piece of paper. Mr. Johnson extends it
     to David who unfolds it and instantly smiles.

     INSERT. PAPER.

     It is a small painted replica of their mural in the same
     vibrant colors. Everything is scaled perfectly, exactly like
     the one on the wall.

     SHOT. DAVID.

                         DAVID
               It's beautiful.

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Just a little--You know.

     David looks up at him and smiles. All at once he glances
     toward the door.

     WIDER.

     Betty is standing there holding a brown paper bag. A sweater
     is draped over her arm.

                         BETTY
                    (extending the bag)
               I made you these for the trip.
               They're marshmallow rice squares.

                         DAVID
               Thanks. I thought you weren't
               gonna ...

                         BETTY
                    (painful/
                    quieter)
               I had to say goodbye.

     She looks up at David and their eyes lock. Betty hands him
     the bag.

                         BETTY (CONT)
               There's a meatloaf sandwich in
               there too. Don't go skipping
               dinner just 'cause you're not
               here anymore.

                         DAVID
               I won't.

                         BETTY
                    (voice quivering)
               And ... wear this on the trip in
               case it gets cold.

                         DAVID
                    (nodding)
               ... It's a pretty short trip.

     She nods as well. Betty puts the sweater around his shoulders
     anyway and fusses with the collar for a second or two. Then
     she throws her arms around his neck.

                         BETTY
               I'm so proud of you, Bud.

                         DAVID
               Thanks ... I love you.

                         BETTY
               I love you too.

     She clings on tight for a second or two then lets go. Betty
     flicks away a tear and draws a deep breath.

                         BETTY (CONT)
               Well ...

     She steps back and looks at him. David glances down at the
     remote.

                         DAVID
               You better stand back a little.

     Betty and Mr. Johnson cross toward the comer of the room.
     David points the remote at the TV ...

                                                       CUT TO:

     EXT. MODERN HOUSING TRACT. DAY.

     All the ersatz Spanish houses stretch out toward infinity. A
     WESTEC security patrol cruises by them at a crawl. A second
     or two later, all the sprinklers turn on in uniform
     synchronization.

     INT. DAVID'S LIVING ROOM.

     He stands in the middle of the living room looking at his
     new/old surroundings. Everything is the same as it was. The
     black onyx coffee table. The clean burbur rug. The big screen
     TV in its sleek black cabinet. David looks at it and smiles.
     The place is inadvertantly in black and white.

     CLOSER.

     He reaches forward and turns on the TV (by hand) flipping
     around the dial. Jerry Springer is berating a prostitute ...
     Tony Robbins hawks self-improvement in an infomercial ...
     Court TV is doing an O.J. recap. David unfolds Mr. Johnson's
     sketch and glances down at it. He smiles to himself. A
     different kind of nostalgia ...

                              END