PLEASANTVILLE

     He crosses into the foyer ahead of his "parents." David
     swings open the door revealing Mr. Johnson, standing on the
     porch.

                         DAVID
               Oh hi!

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Hi there. You took off so quick. I
               wasn't sure if you were okay.

                         DAVID
               Oh, yeah. Sorry. I'm fine. I just ...
               Had to get home early.

     Mr. Johnson leans in closer and speaks in a CONFIDENTIAL tone
     of voice.

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Bud ...

                         DAVID
               Yeah ...

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (sotto)
               You know how when we close up, I close
               the register, then you lower the shades,
               then I turn out the lights, then we both
               lock the doors.

                         DAVID
               Yeah ...

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (proud)
               Well you weren't around this time so I
               did the whole thing myself.

     CLOSER.

     Mr. Johnson has a strange look of "manly pride" on his face.
     His shoulders square back. His chest puffs out a little.
     There is a sudden sparkle in his eye.

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (more confidential)
               Not only that, I didn't even do it in
               the same order. First I lowered the
               shades, then I closed the register.

     He looks at David with pride then suddenly shifts his glance
     behind him.

                         MR. JOHNSON (CONT)
               Oh, hello Betty.

                         BETTY
               Hello Bill.

     Neither one says anything but neither one has to. David looks
     on in horror as his mother locks eyes with Mr. Johnson and
     his new found virility.

                         DAVID
                    (quickly)
               Well, look, thanks for coming by. I ...
               really appreciate it.

     He turns and starts hustling him down the walk just as Biff's
     convertible pulls up at the curb.

     INT. CAR. CLOSE UP. JENNIFER.

     She looks sweetly over at the driver's side of the car (OUT
     OF FRAME).

                         JENNIFER
               Well gee thanks Biff. I had a really
               wonderful time.

     ANGLE. BIFF. OTHER SIDE OF CAR.

     He sits behind the wheel with a totally dazed look on his
     face. Biff stares stunned at Jennifer, like he just got hit
     with a couple of thousand volts.

                         BIFF
               ... Me too.

     She leans over and kisses him on the cheek ... Then she bites
     his ear lobe, gently, and flashes him a big smile. Biff
     smiles back.

     EXT. CAR.

     She climbs out and shuts the door. Jennifer nods to Mr.
     Johnson as she heads up the walk.

                         JENNIFER
                    (sweetly)
               Hello Mr. Johnson.

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Oh, hello Mary Sue.

     She is wearing a big smile by the time she reaches the porch.
     David grabs her arm.

                         DAVID
                    (urgent whisper)
               What did you do to him?

                         JENNIFER
                    (innocently)
               Nothing.

     She starts up the staircase. David follows her and the CAMERA
     follows them both.

                         DAVID
               What do you mean "nothing?" That's not
               nothing. That's ...

     She reaches the top of the stairs and turns to him.

                         JENNIFER
               Relax "Bud." We had a really nice time.
                    (mock YAWN)
               ... Now I'm really tired and we gotta
               get up early for school in the morning
               so ...

     She flashes her brother an evil grin.

                         JENNIFER (CONT)
               'Night.

     She shuts the door softly in his face. David stairs at the
     gray wood in front of him.

     EXT. ELM STREET. NIGHT.

     Biff pulls up at an intersection with the same dazed look in
     his eye. The car rumbles at the stoplight for a moment or
     two, before he glances over to his right.

     CLOSE UP. BIFF.

     The stunned look turns to one of sheer amazement:

     BIFF'S POV. ROSE.

     There, against a gray picket fence, on a black and white
     street in a black and white neighborhood, A SINGLE RED ROSE
     IS BLOOMING.

                                                       CUT TO:

     AERIAL SHOT. PLEASANTVILLE. MORNING

     It would be a stunning vista if it wasn't in black and white.
     The church steeple gleams in the sunlight. The perfect little
     houses look like a row of pretty toys ...

     INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM. DAY.

     David sits parked in front of the TV furtively turning
     through the channels. He flips the dial frantically. No sign
     of Dick Van Dyke.

                         BETTY (OS)
               Bud. It's 7:30 in the morning. Are you
               watching television?

     He gives her a sheepish grin and sighs ...

                                                       CUT TO:
     INT. SCHOOL GYM. DAY.

     It is the same configuration as earlier. Everyone wears their
     Pleasantville "Lions" jerseys, white sneakers and black
     socks. David enters the Gym a little groggy. He hasn't had
     much sleep.

     CLOSER.

     He looks up and stops. David cocks his head to the side,
     staring across the gym.

     HIS POV. BIFF AND OTHER BOYS.

     They are huddled at the far end, each holding a basketball
     under his arm. Biff is in the center of the group, animatedly
     describing something that is holding their RAPT ATTENTION.

     WIDER ANGLE. INCLUDING DAVID.

                         DAVID
                    (quietly)
               Oh no ...

     Biff continues his story while they stare at him with their
     mouths open. The Coach blows his whistle.

                         COACH
               Come on men. Let's go. Big game next
               week.

     The huddle breaks up as the basketball players all wander
     toward the hoop. Ten shots go up at once but NOT ONE COMES
     EVEN CLOSE. Several clang off the rim, a couple hit the edge
     of the backboard. One slams into the side of the gym.
     Everyone stares in disbelief.

                         DAVID
               Oh my God ...

                                                       CUT TO:

     INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR. DAY.

     David stands face to face with his sister in mid
     conversation.

                         DAVID
               You can't do this, Jennifer. I WARNED
               you.

                         JENNIFER
               So what's the big deal. Oh. Okay.
               They're like not good at basketball
               anymore. Like--omigod, what a tragedy.

                         DAVID
               You don't understand. You're messing
               with their UNIVERSE.

                         JENNIFER
               Well maybe it needs to be messed with.
               Did that ever like--occur to you?
                    (beat)
               You know, they don't want to be like
               this, it's just that nobody ever helped
               them before.

                         PEGGY JANE
                    (walking past)
               "MS". How you doin'?

                         JENNIFER
               Kewl "PJ". How you doin'?

                         PEGGY JANE
                    (relishing her new word)
               "Kewl."

     Jennifer smiles at her friend as she goes by.

                         DAVID
               You have no right to do this.

                         JENNIFER
               Well if I don't who will?

                         DAVID
               They're happy like this.

                         JENNIFER
               David, nobody's happy in a Poodle skirt
               and a sweater set.
                    (pause ...)
               You like all this don't you?

     David recoils slightly.

                         JENNIFER (CONT)
               I mean, you don't think it's just like
               dorky or funny or something ... you
               really like it.
                    (shudders)
               Oh God! I am just so personally
               horrified right now ...

                         DAVID
               I just don't think we have the right
               to ...

                         JENNIFER
               David, let me tell you something. These
               people don't want to be geeks. They want
               to be "attractive." They've got a lot of
               potential, they just don't know any
               better.

                         DAVID
               They don't have that kind of potential.

                         JENNIFER
               Um--hello? You want to like take a look?

     Jennifer motions behind her to a boy and girt who are locked
     in an intimate conversation. The girl wears bobby socks and
     the boy wears a letterman's sweater, but the conversation is
     sexually charged. They speak to one another in a close
     whisper--their faces inches apart. All at once the girt gets
     shy and glances away. She blows a big bubble with her gum,
     but the BUBBLE IS BRIGHT PINK IN AN OTHERWISE GRAY FRAME.

                         BOY
               Wow. What kind of gum is that?

     CLOSE. DAVID AND JENNIFER.

     He looks over in shock as she sucks the BRIGHTLY COLORED
     BUBBLE GUM back into her mouth. Jennifer flicks her hair.

                         JENNIFER
               I gotta go. I'm meeting Biff at the
               flagpole.

     EXT. LOVER'S LANE. NIGHT.

     It is the exact same shot as before: The CAMERA STARTS ITS
     LONG SLOW TRACK behind the vehicles, except this time ALL OF
     THEM ARE ROCKING. Various limbs and articles of clothing hang
     out the open windows. MOANS of pleasure waft out over Lover's
     Lane as the pond glistens in the distance ...

                                                       CUT TO:

     INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE. DAY.

     It is a typical '50s family practice right out of Norman
     Rockwell. There is a jar of tongue depressors on the counter
     and a jar of lollipops beside them. Lisa Anne (Mary Sue's
     best friend) is being examined by Dr. Henderson. Her mother
     sits at her side.

                         DR. HENDERSON
               Let me see it again.

     Lisa Anne opens her mouth and sticks out a BRIGHT RED TONGUE.
     Everything else in the frame is Black and White, but her
     tongue literally gleams with color.

                         DR. HENDERSON (CONT)
                    (examining it)
               Well ... I don't think it's anything to
               worry about ... It'll probably just
               clear up by itself.
                    (to Lisa Anne)
               Cut down on greasy foods and chocolate.
               No french fries, that kind of thing.
                    (aside/
                    to the Mother)
               It's just a "teenage" thing.

     EXT. LOVER'S LANE. NIGHT.

     It is really rocking now. More cars are lined up along the
     edge of the lake as the REAL (AND NASTY) VERSION OF TOOTY
     FRUITY (BY LITTLE RICHARD) PLAYS OS:

                         LIL RICHARD (VO)
               "... Got a gal--her name is Sue. She
               knows just what to do ..."

     SERIES OF SHOTS. (MONTAGE)

     PARKER LIVING ROOM.

     TOOTY FRUITY CONTINUES AS DAVID FLIPS FRANTICALLY THROUGH THE
     CHANNELS LOOKING FOR DICK VAN DYKE. THERE IS ONLY A PEPSODENT
     COMMERCIAL. HE SHAKES HIS HEAD ...

     INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYM (MUSIC CONT ...)

     The Pleasantville Lions lose a game late in the second half.
     The scoreboard reads 84 to 16 ...

     INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM. (MUSIC CONT ...)

     David examines the back of the TV set ...

     INT. FURNITURE STORE. (MUSIC CONT...)

     A large group of customers is huddled in a circle, staring at
     an item on the display floor, like it is the monolith in
     "2001". They seem both confused and absolutely mesmerized as
     the CAMERA PUSHES IN TO REVEAL: a double bed ...

     INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM. (MUSIC CONT ...)

     David sits on the floor with a weird look of resignation as a
     Brillcream commercial plays in front of him ...

                         LIL RICHARD (OS)
               "... A wop bop a loo bop--a wop bam
               boom!"

     SODA SHOP. NIGHT. ON DAVID.

     He heads toward work with his apron and his paper hat, but
     he's clearly disconcerted. David stops and stares at A BRIGHT
     RED HOT ROD parked at the front door of the restaurant. He
     shakes his head.

     SODA SHOP.

     The place has been transformed. What was cheery and benign a
     couple of days before, has gotten a little bit dangerous. The
     letterman sweaters have been replaced by leather jackets. The
     Pat Boone and Johnny Mathis have given way to real Rock and
     Roll. There is a James Dean/Marlon Brando edge in the air.
     Somebody has played the flip side.

     ANGLE. DAVID.

     He enters the soda shop adjusting his paper hat. A young
     couple makes out passionately in the doorway--all tongues and
     hands. When they break David sees that the girl's cheeks are
     FLUSHED WITH RED. He stares at her for a beat as they return
     to normal. David shakes his head.

     FOLLOWING HIM.

     He crosses to the counter and grabs his pencil and little pad
     of paper. Various things have already GONE TO COLOR AROUND
     THE ROOM: The JUKE BOX ... The COKE SIGN .. THE NAUGAHIDE
     STOOLS ... David crosses to one of the booths where his
     sister's arm is draped over Biff's shoulder.

                         DAVID
               What'll it be?

                         BIFF
                    (still chipper as ever)
               Gee whizz, Bud. Guess I'll just have the
               usual. Cheeseburger and a cherry coke.

     Bud has already written it down. He glances over at his
     sister.

                         JENNIFER
               Me too. Sounds swell.

                         DAVID
                    (pointed)
               Really? It seems so fattening.

     Before she can answer he smiles to himself and crosses behind
     the counter. Bud posts the order and turns to Mr. Johnson.

                         DAVID (CONT)
               Two cheeseburgers, two cherry cokes.

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (staring straight ahead)
               There aren't any cheeseburgers.

                         DAVID
                    (exasperated)
               Look. I thought we talked about this, I
               thought we said ...

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Oh--what's the point, Bud?

     CLOSER.

     Mr. Johnson. looks up at him with a weird kind of emptiness
     in his eyes. David grabs his arm.

                         DAVID
               C'mere.

     He pulls him along the counter toward a little office
     storeroom in the back. He yanks him inside and shuts the
     door.

     INT. STOREROOM.

     It is just as cheery as the rest of the place. There is a
     small table with a telephone on it. A Texaco calendar shows a
     happy family motoring in their Rambler.

                         DAVID
               What did you say?

     Mr. Johnson glances down with a little shame and confusion.

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Well ... I'm not sure I see the point
               anymore.

                         DAVID
               What are you talking about! You make
               hamburgers! That is the point!

                         MR. JOHNSON
               No I know ... I know I do ...
                    (he pauses, then looks up)
               But it's always the same, you know?
               Grill the bun, flip the meat, melt the
               cheese ... It never changes. It never
               gets any better or worse ...

                         DAVID
               Just listen to me ...

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (not hearing him)
               ... Like the other night, when I closed
               up by myself. That was different ...

                         DAVID
               Forget about that!

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Oh ... Okay.
                    (beat/
                    lower)
               ... But I really liked it.

     Bud takes a deep breath. He stares at Mr. Johnson, then tries
     to speak softly.

                         DAVID
               Look, you can't always like what you do.
               Sometimes you just do it because it's
               your job. And even if you don't like it,
               you just gotta do it anyway.

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Why?

                         DAVID
                    (exasperated)
               So they can have their hamburgers!

     This sounds stupid even to David. He shakes his head.

                         MR. JOHNSON
                    (like a secret)
               You know what I really like?

                         DAVID
                    (warily)
               ... What's that?

                         MR. JOHNSON
               Christmastime.

     David rolls his eyes. Mr. Johnson leans closer, speaking
     furtively.

                         MR. JOHNSON (CONT)
               See every year on Dec 3, I get to paint
               the Christmas decorations in the window.
               And every year, I get to paint a
               different thing ...
                    (beat)
               One year it's the North Pole. The next
               I do Santa's workshop. Here I'll show
               you.