英语剧本《居家男人》
时间:2007-10-27 22:00:36来源: 作者:
Family Man, The (2000)
by David Diamond and David Weissman.
by David Diamond and David Weissman.
CHAPTER ONE - EARLY HISTORY
1牋營NT. KENNEDY AIRPORT, PAN AM TERMINAL - NIGHT
SUPER: AUTUMN, 1987
A line of PASSENGERS about to board a Pan Am flight to
London.
JACK CAMPBELL, 22, head full of long unkempt hair, Tom
Selleck mustache, the hopeful look of youth in his
eyes... sitting next to...
KATE REYNOLDS, 21, pretty, Dorothy Hamill haircut...
rubbing the tears from her swollen red eyes...
KATE
I got you a few necessities...
Kate hands Jack a new copy of Vonnegut抯 揅at抯
Cradle.?
KATE (CONT扗)
Your copy was a mess...
Jack accepts the book but he抯 unable to take his eyes
off Kate.?She hands him a cassette.
KATE (CONT扗)
Every one of these songs will
remind you of me in a slightly
different way...
JACK
All in one tape?
KATE
I also put side two of London
Calling on there...
Kate leans over and kisses him passionately on the
lips.
KATE (CONT扗)
That was not officially the
goodbye kiss.營t was just an
interim kiss...
He looks at her, his eyes welling up.燞e pulls her
close, kissing her deeply.燭hen...
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
This will be the final boarding
call for Pan Am flight 4 to
London, Heathrow.
Jack takes Kate抯 hand, getting up, turning sadly to
the gate.
KATE
You have your ticket?
Jack pulls out a BLUE PAN AM TICKET ENVELOPE.?Kate
nods.燭hey embrace and kiss again.?As they separate.
JACK
I抦 not even gonna say it,
Kate.燤aybe it抣l be like
I never left...
Jack takes one lastlook at her, then heads for the
gate.
Kate stands there, watching him go.?Then...
...a moment of intuition.燬omething isn抰 right.燬he
looks at Jack, about to disappear into the jetway,
trying to decide...
KATE
Wait.
Jack turns.燢ate approaches him.
KATE (CONT扗)
I have a bad feeling about
this.
JACK
About the plane?燱hat do you
think it抯 gonna crash? Don抰
say that...
KATE
(shaking her head)
I know we抳e talked about this a
thousand times and we both agree
that going to London is the
right thing to do.燘ut in my
heart... this feels wrong.
She looks at the gate...the last few passengers are boarding,
then back into Jack抯 eyes.
KATE (CONT扗)
Don抰 go, Jack...
JACK
You mean don抰 go at all??
What about my internship?
KATE
Believe me I know what an
incredible opportunity this
is for you...
JACK
For us, Kate.
KATE
Right, for us.燘ut...I抦
afraid that if you get on
that plane...
JACK
What?
Kate looks at him, pleading with her eyes, but she can抰
say...
KATE
(torn)
Go. I抦 sorry, you should just
go...
JACK
(thinking, then...)
No, you抮e right.?What are we
doing?
KATE
We're being responsible. Go.
Get on the plane.
His eyes narrow as he measures her determination...
KATE (CONT'D)
(a smile)
Get the hell outta my sight.
You bother me.
A laugh from Jack. Kate gives him a calm smile and a
nod - it's not entirely convincing but it's enough for
Jack.
JACK
(resolute)
Okay, I'm going...
He takes her in his arms one last time and hugs her
tight. Jack looks toward the gate, the line
disappearing...Kate grasps his shirt tightly.
KATE
I can't seem to let go of
you...
JACK
You hear me complaining about
that?
A sober look in Jack's eyes.
JACK (CONT'D)
Look, we're at the airport and
no one ever thinks clearly at
the airport so we should just
trust the decision we already
made. You've been accepted to
one of the best law schools in
the country, I've got this
internship at Barclay's Bank.
We have a great plan, honey...
Kate nods, then, with resolve...
KATE
You want to do something
great, Jack? Let's flush the
plan...start our lives right
now, today...I don't know what
that life's gonna look like
but I do know it has both of
us in it. And I choose us...
Jack is jolted by her words.
KATE (CONT'D)
The plan doesn't make us
great, Jack. What we have
together, that's what makes us
great.
Her words sink in...A long moment of decision...He
looks toward the gate, only one person left in
line...back to Kate...imploring him with her eyes.
Finally...He kisses her deeply on the lips...
JACK
I love you, Kate...
...a smile from Kate...relief...then...
JACK (CONT'D)
(taking her face in
his hands)
...and a year in London's not
gonna change that. A hundred
years couldn't change that...
Jack gives her one final kiss then walks pensively to
the gate, handing the attendant his ticket, not able to
look back.
Kate watches him go, tears streaming down her face, as
the gate door closes behind him. She waits, almost
willing it to open again...waiting...waiting...but it
doesn't...
DISSOLVE TO:
1A EXT. MANHATTAN - ESTABLISHING - DAY
The skating rink at Central Park...Christmas tree at
Rockefeller Center...the view down Fifth Avenue with
Christmas decorations...Park Avenue.
2 EXT. MANHATTAN - EARLY MORNING
We close in on a spectacular pre-war doorman
building...
3 INT. JACK'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
A huge space with gleaming hardwood floors, ornate
moldings, and a great view of the Hudson and Jersey
behind it...
The place looks like a museum display...everything is
of the highest quality and meticulously maintained.
A wall of photos - Jack and Clinton, Jack with Patrick
Ewing, Jack between Alan Greenspan and Henry Kravis.
And a "Willie Mays" baseball bat encased in glass...
4 INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
...impeccably decorated and obsessively neat.
Close in on the bed where JACK CAMPBELL, now 35, sans
mustache and long hair, opens his eyes.
A FLASH of bright morning light from the window. Jack
shields his eyes, turning his head toward the bathroom
where he sees...
A WOMAN'S BACK...draped in a towel...an incredible
back, neither flabby nor overly toned, beautifully
curved...Jack focuses on it a moment. As the woman
turns to him...
PAULA. Beautiful, late 20s, a toothbrush in her
mouth...
PAULA
(holding up toothbrush)
I hope you don't mind. There
were like ten new ones in the
cabinet.
A playful smile from Paula.
JACK
It's not what you think. I
took Mentadent public...
Paula smiles, moves over to a chair and grabs a little
black dress hanging neatly over it.
PAULA
Did you really mean what you
said about Tuscany?
JACK
Of course I did.
PAULA
Last night was great...
JACK
You are an amazing lover. You
should be giving motivational
seminars.
PAULA
Thanks. You're not bad
yourself...
Jack grabs his Frank Mueller watch from the night
stand, puts it on his wrist. He looks at Paula as she
slips the dress on.
JACK
I want to see you again.
PAULA
I'd like that, too.
JACK
Tonight.
She turns to him.
PAULA
It's Christmas Eve, Jack.
JACK
So we'll get egg nog.
Paula laughs.
PAULA
(putting on her shoes)
I have to go to my parents'
house out in Jersey. Would
you like to come?
JACK
Jersey? You know what the
traffic's gonna be like?
PAULA
I'm taking the train...
Paula approaches Jack, leaning over him, her long hair
dangling on his chest.
PAULA (CONT'D)
Don't you have anywhere to go?
JACK
I've got plenty of places to
go.
He stays there, confident, sexy, waiting for an
answer...
PAULA
(a sexy laugh, then...)
Maybe I can try and sneak away
some time tomorrow morning...
(kissing him on
the lips)
Okay?
JACK
(coy)
If it's something you feel
strongly about.
Paula walks to the door, then turns back to Jack.
PAULA
It was nice meeting you, Jack...
CHAPTER TWO - MAIN TITLES
4A INT. JACK扴 APARTMENT - MORNING
Jack saunters over to a Yamaha Grand Disclavier in the
living room. He puts a disk into the piano and...
...the keys come alive with the music of BACH. Jack
hits a switch and suddenly the entire apartment is
enveloped in music...
4B INT. JACK扴 BUILDING, CORRIDOR - SAME TIME
Paula, waiting for the elevator, hears the MUSIC
emanating from Jack抯 apartment...an intrigued glance
back at the apartment door as the elevator arrives...
5 INT. JACK扴 BATHROOM - MORNING
Back抯 揚assion According to St. Matthew?is blaring
through the speakers, the music is swelling to full
orchestra...
Jack抯 at the mirror in this incredibly neat marble-
tiled bathroom, shaving with a silver-plated Hammacher
Schlemmer razor, HUMMING with the orchestra...
6 INT. JACK扴 CLOSET - MORNING
...the size of a small house, a long row of Zegna
suits, shoe trees stacked with Italian shoes, tailored
shirts everywhere.
Jack抯 still HUMMING to the music as he dresses in
front of a mirror.
7 INT. ELEVATOR - MORNING
Jack, wearing an elegant camel抯 hair overcoat and
carrying a leather briefcase, a 揗aster of the
Universe?smile on his face, now HUMMING the Bach piece
from memory...
The doors open at 6. Jack self-consciously stops
singing as ELIZABETH PETERSON, 60s, wearing a mink
coat, gets on the elevator carrying a yappy little dog.
JACK
(a charming smile)
Mrs. Peterson.
MRS. PETERSON
Hello Jack. You don抰
have to stop singing on
my account...
JACK
It抯 because I抦 shy,
Betty. So, when are you
going to leave that old
corpse Mr. Peterson and
run away with me?
MRS. PETERSON
You know you could never
satisfy me the way he
does...
The doors open to the lobby. Mrs. Peterson walks out
ahead.
8 INT. JACK扴 BUILDING, LOBBY - MORNING
TONY THE DOORMAN holds the door open for Jack and Mrs.
Peterson...
TONY THE DOORMAN
Merry Christmas, Mr.
Campbell.
JACK
How抎 you do this year,
Tony?
TONY THE DOORMAN
About four grand. And a
bottle of twenty five
year old scotch from Mrs.
Johnson in 9D. I抦
putting it all in
commercial paper like you
said.
JACK
Just until the Deutsche
Mark turns...
Jack exits the building...
9 OMITTED
9A EXT. CENTRAL PARK - MORNING
Jack抯 Ferrari racing through the park...
10 EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - MORNING
A modern Wall Street building. The sign above the
glass doors reads, 揚.K. Lassiter and Associates,
Investment House.?
The Ferrari SCREECHES to a halt. Jack gets out, heads
into the building...
10A INT. LASSITER BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
...Jack throws his keys to a nearby SECURITY GUARD with a
smile on his way to the elevators...
CHAPTER THREE - JACK THE BUSINESSMAN
DISSOLVE TO:
11 INT. LASSITER BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
The Manhattan skyline shines through the windows of
this beautiful conference room.
SIX EXECUTIVES are seated at a huge oak table littered
with coffee cups and lunch waste. At the end of the
table, ALAN MINTZ, 30s, balding, sits with a faraway
look in his eyes, three empty Diet Coke cans in front
of him.
Mintz is poking at a shiny gold cherub dangling from a
small, plastic Christmas tree, sitting in the middle of
the table.
Jack is addressing the group from the front of the
room, standing in front of a computer with a huge flat
screen monitor, covered with stock charts and tables...
JACK
...if MedTech's shares sink
any lower than...
(casually executing
a keystroke)
...forty three, we're in
trouble with the stock
valuation. So for god's sake
watch what you say to your
institutional customers...
Jack notices Alan Mintz playing with the cherub.
JACK (CONT'D)
...we still have almost a full
day of trading before zero
hour and I don't want any
trouble...
(distracted by Mintz)
...penny for your thoughts,
Alan...
Alan looks up.
ALAN
Sorry, Jack. I told Dee and
the kids I'd be home by
dinner. You know, it being
Christmas Eve and all.
JACK
Is that tonight?
A LAUGH from the group. Jack approaches Alan.
JACK (CONT'D)
You think I like being here on
Christmas Eve, Alan?
ALAN
I don't know. Maybe...
Another LAUGH. Even Jack lets out a good-natured
chuckle.
JACK
Okay, maybe I do have a touch
of tunnel vision this holiday
season. But in two days we're
going to announce one of the
largest mergers in U.S.
corporate history. Thirty
billion dollars...
(basking in the glory)
When this kind of deal turns
up you get on and you ride it
`till it's over. You don't
ask it for a vacation...
A chuckle from the group...the esprit de corps seems to
energize Jack.
JACK (CONT'D)
(to the group)
December 26th. After that
there'll be so much money
floating around here it'll be
like Christmas every day...
(smiling)
December 26th, people. If
you'd like to celebrate that
day, you all have my
blessing...
Enthusiastic nods and words of agreement from the suits
around the table...
ALAN
You're right, Jack. Sorry...
Jack approaches Alan.
JACK
I don't want you to be sorry,
Alan, I want you to be
excited. I want my gift to be
the first one you open this
year. You know why?
ALAN
Why Jack?
JACK
Because my gift comes with ten
zeroes at the end...
A MURMUR of excitement in the room, even Alan cracks a
smile. Jack puts a hand on Alan's shoulder.
JACK (CONT'D)
Good man...
12 INT. LASSITER BUILDING CORRIDOR - NIGHT
The conference room door opens and the SIX ENERGIZED
SUITS emerge, each met by an ASSISTANT handing them
messages.
Jack is the last one out. He's met in stride by
ADELLE, 50s, carrying a Filofax and a pile of phone
messages.
ADELLE
Only eight thirty? What's the
matter, had some last minute
shopping to do?
Jack pops a peppermint Lifesaver in his mouth as Adelle
hands him his messages.
JACK
You too? This holiday's about
giving, Adelle. And I'm
giving everything I've got to
this deal, so in a way, I'm
more Christmassy than
anyone...
(holding out the candy)
Lifesaver?
ADELLE
(ignoring the candy)
You're a ray of sunshine,
Jack.
They approach an office, the words, "Jack Campbell -
President" stenciled on the glass...
13 INT. JACK'S OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
...continuing past Adelle's desk, Jack looking at his
messages, and into Jack's office...
14 INT. JACK'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
A cavernous office, you could land a helicopter in it -
high tech fixtures, full bar, leather sofa, $3,000
Stairmaster...
Jack walks to an enormous, bare mahogany desk, and sits
down in a high tech ergonomic leather chair.
ADELLE
Oh, and Oxxford called...
JACK
Ooh, my suits are ready...
He gets to the last message, sees the name on it, and
reels back.
JACK (CONT'D)
Kate Reynolds...
ADELLE
Her assistant said you could
call her at home after eight.
Jack stares at the message like he's looking at a
ghost.
JACK
Her assistant?
ADELLE
Yeah Jack, her assistant...
JACK
(lost in the message)
Kate Reynolds was my
girlfriend in college. I
almost married her...
ADELLE
(a hearty LAUGH)
You? Married?
JACK
(snapping out of it)
Almost married. And almost a
junior broker at E.F.
Hutton...
ADELLE
Excuse me?
JACK
She didn't want me to go to
London. We're standing at the
airport saying goodbye and she
asks me to stay.
ADELLE
So you left her? Just like
that?
JACK
God, no. I thought about it
for practically the entire
flight...
ADELLE
Stop Jack, I'm getting all
weepy.
JACK
I took the road less traveled,
Adelle.
ADELLE
And look where it's led you...
(picking up the phone)
I'm gonna get her on the
phone...
Jack pauses, focused on the message, his mind drifting
back...
Adelle begins dialing the number. Finally, Jack
reaches out and hangs up the phone.
JACK
No...
ADELLE
No?! You almost married this
woman. Aren't you even
curious what she wants?
JACK
She's probably just having a
fit of nostalgia. You know,
lonely Christmas Eve, call the
one that got away, that kind
of thing.
Adelle rolls her eyes at him.
JACK (CONT'D)
I'm telling you, it's ancient
history...
Jack looks up as PETER LASSITER, 60s, founder and
chairman of P.K. Lassiter and Associates, saunters into
the room.
LASSITER
Eight forty-five on Christmas
Eve and Jack Campbell is still
at his desk. There's a
Hallmark moment for you...
Lassiter heads to the bar like he's done it a million
times.
JACK
Peter. I don't see you
rushing home to trim the tree.
LASSITER
(pouring himself
a scotch)
That's because I'm a heartless
bastard who only cares about
money.
JACK
And God love you for it.
Lassiter drops down in a soft leather chair opposite
Jack.
LASSITER
(sipping the scotch)
I just got a call from Terry
Haight. Bob Thomas is
nervous...
JACK
That'll happen when you're
about to spend thirty billion
dollars on some aspirin...
LASSITER
Someone's gonna have to nurse
him through this.
JACK
Why are you staring at my
breasts, Peter?
LASSITER
I need you, tiger..
JACK
Where is he?
LASSITER
Aspen.
Jack pauses for a beat.
JACK
(to Adelle)
Call Aunt Irma. Tell her I
won't be able to make it
tomorrow...
Adelle rolls her eyes at him...
LASSITER
You're a credit to capitalism,
Jack.
Jack glances at Adelle, then looks back at Lassiter.
JACK
Hey Peter, lemme ask you a
question. An old girlfriend
calls you out of the blue on
Christmas Eve...
LASSITER
You suddenly having trouble
getting dates?
JACK
Not by a long shot.
LASSITER
Then leave it in the past.
Old flames are like old tax
returns. You keep `em in the
file cabinet for three years
and then you cut `em loose.
Jack shoots Adelle a satisfied smile, crumpling up
Kate's message and tossing a perfect hook into a N.Y.
Knicks hoop.
JACK
(to Adelle)
I'll leave from the office
tomorrow afternoon. Call the
group. Schedule an emergency
strategy session for noon.
ADELLE
That'll be a nice little
holiday treat.
15 EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - NIGHT
A single light remains on in the building.
16 INT. JACK'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Jack is alone in the office working on his computer,
checking spreadsheets on a large flat screen monitor.
Jack leans back in his chair rubbing his eyes. He
checks his watch. It's past eleven. He gets up, goes
to the window, sees the city in all its Christmas
glory, then he see it...
...the message from Kate, crumpled in the
trashcan...then turns back to the window, gazing out at
the night...
17 INT. LASSITER BUILDING - NIGHT
Jack comes out of the elevator, walking past the lobby
desk where FRANK, a security guard, sits watching the
monitors.
FRANK
Mr. Campbell. Why didn't you
call down, I would've had Joe
get your ride.
Jack looks outside the front door to the snowy, quiet
street.
JACK
I'm thinking I might walk
tonight, Frank.
FRANK
Nice night for it. I'll have
Louis send your car home.
A nod from Jack.
FRANK (CONT'D)
Merry Christmas to you, sir...
JACK
Thanks. To you too...
Jack puts on a pair of soft leather gloves and heads
out into the crisp night air...
18 EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - CONTINOUS
Jack emerges from the building, walking across the
large plaza, past the fountain...snow begins to fall...
19 EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - A LITTLE LATER
Jack's walking down the nearly empty street, snow
falling down on him, a bounce in his step, looking at
the windows of the closed shops along the way.
He gets to the end of the block spots the Wong
Brothers' 24 Hour Deli across the street...
He heads toward it...
20 INT. WONG BROTHERS' DELI - SECONDS LATER
Jack walks into the brightly lit deli...
SAM WONG, 20s, is with his 80-year-old GRANDFATHER
behind the counter. There's a NERDY COLLEGE KID at the
salad bar, a drunken DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA at the
liquor display, a WOMAN with a BABY in an aisle and...
...a BLACK MAN, 30s, with a dollar sign and the name
"CASH" tattooed on his arm, stands in front of the
coffee machine...
CASH
Oh yeah...yeah, yee-ah! She's
a certified winner...paper-
thin but good as gold...
Jack notices Cash talking to himself, seemingly crazy.
Jack approaches Sam Wong at the counter.
JACK
Egg nog?
SAM WONG
(pointing)
Dairy case. Five dollar.
CASH
(in the b.g., to
Sam Wong)
Y'all do the lotto here...?
`Cause I got me a winner...I
know, I know, Lotto keeps the
black man down... but not
me...
Jack grabs a carton of egg nog, then notices Cash
handing Sam Wong his ticket. Jack heads back toward
the counter...
CASH (CONT'D)
...06...14...18...48...right
there. Four numbers...that's
two hundred and thirty eight
dollar...
(a smile)
Merry Christmas and shit...
SAM WONG
(barely looking
at ticket)
Ticket bad. You draw in lines
with pencil.
CASH
What're you talkin' about?
SAM WONG
(throwing the ticket
back)
You draw lines with pencil! I
know about this!
The woman with the baby looks over...the college kid
looks up, nervous...the drunken Santa, bottle of
bourbon in hand, starts to walk by Jack...Jack
instinctively puts an arm out, holding the Santa
back...
CASH
What!? Look at the ticket...!
SAM WONG
Get out, I call 911.
The Santa looks at Jack, confused.
CASH
You're lookin' at me, you're
not even lookin' at the
ticket!
The woman with the baby puts a loaf of bread back on
the shelf, starts nervously inching toward the door.
SAM WONG
You leave now. Take ticket
somewhere else.
(calling out)
Next customer in line...!
CASH
You first generation,
xenophobic, money-theistic,
hot pastrami sandwich
making...
SAM WONG
(screaming)
Get out!
Just watching...Cash shoves the ticket in Sam Wong's
face...
CASH
LOOK AT THE GODDAMN TICKET!!
A moment of decision for Jack. Then...
JACK
(carefully)
Let me see that ticket.
Cash turns to Jack.
CASH
(menacing)
Was I talkin' to you?!
Jack looks at the woman, the college kid, the Santa,
then...
JACK
Maybe I'll buy it from you.
Now Cash walks over to Jack...
CASH
Guy in $2,000 suit gets ass
kicked tryin' to be a hero.
Film at eleven...
(then...turning to
the coffee machine)
What?! Oh no, not another
lookie-loo. You know how big
a job this is?
The patrons exchange nervous glances...Jack watches,
confused.
CASH (CONT'D)
You're double bookin' me!
You're gonna get double
billed! Shit!
Cash throws a bottle of Perrier against the wall, it
SHATTERS. The woman reels back in terror with the
baby...
JACK
Hey, c'mon...
In a flash, Cash whips a .38 from the back of his
pants, aiming it at Jack's face. The woman SCREAMS,
covers her baby.
CASH
(in Jack's face)
Do you want to die?
Jack stares at Cash, trying his best to keep his
cool...
CASH (CONT'D)
DO YOU WANNA DIE?!
JACK
No.
CASH
(a smile)
Yes you do...
JACK
Look, I'm talking about a
business deal here. I buy the
ticket for two hundred, take
it to a store where the guy
behind the counter...
(glaring at Sam Wong)
...doesn't have a death wish
(back to Cash)
...I just made myself a quick
thirty eight dollars.
Cash gets closer...
JACK (CONT'D)
Like I said, it's a business
deal...
CASH
Damn, you are the real
thing...
Cash narrows his eyes...then, a smile as he puts the
gun back into his pants...
CASH (CONT'D)
C'mon, Jack, let's get outta
here...
(to Sam Wong)
You were lookin' at me, papa,
you shoulda been lookin' at
the ticket. That ticket was
legit, B. You're fake...
Cash starts out of the deli. Jack follows...
21 EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - MINUTES LATER
Jack and Cash walking down the street...Jack, holding
his carton of egg nog under his arm, counting out two
hundred dollars...
JACK
How'd you know my name was
Jack?
CASH
I call all you white guys
"Jack."
Jack nods...
CASH (CONT'D)
You know you seem pretty
relaxed for a guy who just had
a gun pulled on him.
JACK
There's no way I was gonna die
in that deli...
(off Cash's look)
Let's just say I've been on a
lucky streak lately.
CASH
(a big LAUGH)
A lucky streak, huh?
Jack hands him the money.
CASH (CONT'D)
Sound pretty sure of yourself,
don't you?
Jack nods.
CASH (CONT'D)
So you're telling me, you've
got a gun to your head and you
don't think for one second,
what if this, what if that,
maybe I shouldn't do this, I
shoulda done that.
JACK
I don't do that. That's just
not for me...
Cash looks at him, then smiles.
CASH
Okay, Jack. Nice doing
business with you...
Cash is about to take off...
JACK
Hey...
Cash turns around.
JACK (CONT'D)
What do you want to carry that
gun around for, anyway?
You're just gonna do something
you'll regret...
CASH
You want to talk about
regrets, you're talking to the
wrong person.
Jack casually takes the egg nog out of the bag, opens
the carton...
JACK
I'm just saying that you seem
like a smart guy. At a
certain point you're gonna do
something, and then there's no
turning back...
CASH
Yeah, in most cases that'd be
true.
Jack takes a sip of the egg nog.
JACK
I mean there must be programs
out there, opportunities...
CASH
(a deep laugh)
Wait a minute, wait a
minute... you're tryin' to
save me?
A look from Jack...
CASH (CONT'D)
Oh man, you're serious...
(out to the street)
This man thinks I need to be
saved!
JACK
Everyone needs something.
Cash looks at Jack...
CASH
Yeah? What do you need?
JACK
Me?
CASH
You just said everyone needs
something.
JACK
I've got everything I need.
CASH
Wow. It must be great being
you. You got it all.
Cash looks at Jack. He smiles and shakes his head.
JACK
Look, I'm not saying you'd be
able to do it without some
hard work...
CASH
(a hearty LAUGH)
You still think this is about
me, don't you?
JACK
Sure it's about you. But it's
about society, too.
CASH
Oh man, I'm gonna enjoy this
one... Just remember, Jack,
you did this. You brought
this on yourself...
And with that, Cash turns and leaves Jack alone on the
street with his egg nog...
22 INT. JACK'S APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT
Jack walks in and throws his keys on a table. He takes
off his gloves and overcoat, glances at the mail, then
heads into the bedroom.
Through the large windows we see snow falling...
23 INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT
Jack, flat on his back in bed, fast asleep...
CHAPTER FOUR - A DIFFERENT LIFE
DISSOLVE TO:
24 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, MASTER BEDROOM - MORNING
Close in on Jack抯 face, bathed in morning light...he
opens his eyes...feels something strange...
Jack looks down...there抯 a woman抯 head resting on his
chest.
A look of confusion crosses his face...trying to
remember... did he meet a woman last night...?
He turns his head to find a large MUTT sitting
faithfully beside the bed, wagging his tail...
...did she have a dog?
He looks down at the woman again, craning his neck to
get a look at her face. And then he sees her...
...KATE REYNOLDS...
...now 34 and even more beautiful, a look of utter
contentment on her radiant face, sleeping soundly...
His head darts around the room - it抯 cramped and lived
in, clothes and toys are strewn about, family photos on
the dresser, Laura Ashley curtains, a tiny poster bed
and a charming little bay window.
He instinctively reaches for his Franck Mueller watch
on the night stand, but it抯 not there. It抯 a Timex
Indiglo and it reads, ?:57 A.M...?
Jack looks back at Kate...he rubs his eyes...maybe it抯
a dream...but nothing changes. Then, Kate stirs...
KATE
Mmmm...ten more minutes,
Jack... it抯 Christmas...
Jack jumps as he hears Kate talk for the first time...
Suddenly, the door bursts open...A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL,
ANNIE, in a little nightgown, walks into the room
carrying an 18 MONTH OLD BOY, JOSH, SINGING at the top
of her lungs...
ANNIE
Jingle bells, Santa s
mells, Rudolph laid an
egg...la la la, la-la la
la, la la la la la...
Annie places Josh on the bed and then jumps up
herself. She gestures to the dog, patting the bed.
ANNIE (CONT扗)
You too, Luce...
The dog faithfully jumps on the tiny bed, joining
everybody else and leaving very little room. Annie
starts jumping.
ANNIE (CONT扗)
Rise...and...shine...!
KATE
(stirring)
You抮e jumping,
sweetheart...
Jack looks at this activity like a man at his own
funeral.
ANNIE
Mom, don抰 you think we
need to open the
presents?
KATE
(groggy)
Mommy needs five more
minutes in la la land.
That could be her
present...
Josh crawls directly up to Jack抯 stomach, climbing
on.
ANNIE
C抦on, Dad. Get up!
She said 揇ad.?
That抯 it. Jack moves the baby gingerly over, then
gets out of bed, stumbling over a baseball bat lying
next to it.
He picks up the bat...the same Willie Mays autograph
bat that was encased in glass in his N.Y. apartment.
Frightened, Jack drops the bad, looking down at himself
for the first time...he抯 naked...
...a mortified look on his face as he sees the kids on
the bed...
...he quickly grabs a pair of sweat pants and a yellow
cardigan off the chair and throws them on...
Kate, still half asleep, reaches out her hand.
KATE
Jack...?
Jack turns by instinct. Kate grabs him, drawing him
near. A look of fear on his face as Kate opens her
eyes...
Eye contact...Jack抯 certain he抯 about to hear her
scream...
KATE (CONT扗)
(still groggy)
Strong coffee, okay?
She lets him go as Jack backs out the door...
25 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE LIVING ROOM - SECONDS LATER
A garishly decorated Christmas tree sits in the middle
of this messy and disorganized living room, a bevy of
gifts underneath and four red stockings over the
fireplace.
Jack darts to the top of the steps...
KATE (O.S.)
(calling from
the bedroom)
Use an entire can if you
have to!
He looks back at the bedroom, then at the
stairs...quickly heading down the CREAKY steps, still
in shock.
He grabs an overcoat from a hook by the front
door...about to step out when he looks down and
realizes...
...he抯 barefoot. He glances at a pair of rubber over-
boots sitting by the door, slips them on, just about to
leave when...
He hears the sound of a KEY TURNING in the door
lock...Jack looks at the door, not quite sure what to
do...
The door opens...into the house, arms laden with
wrapped gifts, walk BIG ED and LORRAINE REYNOLDS (both
60s), Kate抯 parents. Big Ed抯 wearing a ten gallon
hat and a suede overcoat. Lorraine has a cigarette
dangling from her mouth.
JACK
(drawing on a
memory)
Ed? Lorraine?
Big Ed hugs Jack as best he can with an armful of
gifts.
BIG ED
Jack you ol?bird dog.
Merry Christmas to ya?..
Lorraine plants a big fat kiss on Jack抯 cheek.
LORRAINE
Talk to him, Jack.
Please. One day a year
away from the Ponderosa.
I don抰 think that抯 too
much to ask.
BIG ED
I heard that. This is
who I am, woman!
(a wink to Jack)
Tell her, Jack! You抮e
the only one who gets me,
for god抯 sake!
Jack, still holding the door open, plotting his escape.
LORRAINE
I need some egg nog...
BIG ED
慍ourse you do. Hell,
it抯 almost 8 a.m.
(shouting upstairs)
Where are my two l抜l
pardners? Annie! Josh!
Giddy up, Bid Ed抯 here!
JACK
Excuse me.
Jack dashes out the door.
LORRAINE
Where are you going,
Jack?
(to Big Ed)
Where抯 he going?
BIG ED
Damned if I know...
They start to remove their coats, when...
The door flies back open...
JACK
Where抯 my car?! Where抯
my Ferrari!?
BIG ED
What the hell are you
talking about?
(to Lorraine)
What抯 he talking about?
JACK
Look, can I just borrow
your car?! I promise
it抣l be returned!
BIG ED
The Caddy? Why don抰 you
take your own damn car!
LORRAINE
Oh just let him borrow
your precious Cadillac,
for god抯 sake.
Jack spots a set of keys hanging on a hook.
BIG ED
He抯 got a perfectly good
mini-van sitting out
there in the driveway!
Jack grabs the keys off the hook...darts back outside...
26 EXT. CAMPBELL HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Jack emerges from this charming, suburban two-story
house, some tasteful Christmas lights decorating a tree
in the center of the snow-covered lawn...
He races to a blue Dodge mini-van sitting in the
driveway, a 揗y Ferrari Is In The Shop?sticker on the
rear bumper. He climbs into the mini-van and peels out
of the driveway...
27 INT. MINI-VAN - SECONDS LATER
Jack sees a sign, 揋eorge Washington Bridge - 3 miles?..
28 INT. MINI-VAN - MINUTES LATER
Jack driving over the bridge. A sigh of relief as he
passes under a sign for 揗anhattan.?
29 EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - EARLY MORNING
The mini-van pulls up near Jack抯 apartment building.
Jack, still wearing pajamas under the coat, leaps out,
running toward the grand entrance where Tony stands
sternly in front.
JACK
Tony, thank god...
Jack starts to walk past but Tony blocks the way.
TONY THE DOORMAN
Sorry, pal. Entrance is
for residents and guests
only...
JACK
What are you talking
about? It抯 me, Jack
Campbell. Penthouse C.
I put you into commercial
paper!
TONY THE DOORMAN
(not moving)
Uh-huh...
Just then, Mrs. Peterson walks to the door with
her little DOG. Tony opens the door for her...
JACK
Elizabeth Peterson!
The little dog starts BARKING ferociously at Jack.
MRS. PETERSON
(to Tony re:
Jack, annoyed)
Who is this man?
Tony shrugs his shoulders.
JACK
You know me, Betty. You
do. Jack Campbell.
We抮e on the co-op board
together. We fought side
by side for garbage
disposals. Every morning
we exchange quasi-sexual
witty banter. Think...
She looks at Jack with a raised eyebrow, the dog still
YAPPING.
TONY THE DOORMAN
(to Mrs. Peterson)
Should I call the cops?
I抦 gonna call the
cops...
Jack pleads to her with his eyes.
MRS. PETERSON
(raising a hand
to Tony)
No...
JACK
(a sigh of relief)
Thank you, Betty. I know
if I can just sleep this
off, I抣l be fine...
MRS. PETERSON
And sleep you shall.
Noblesse oblige is not
dead. Not yet
anyway...Come, let抯 get
you some help. Surely
there must be a shelter
somewhere in this city.
JACK
A shelter?! I抦 the
richest guy in the
building...I抳e got twice
the square footage you
have!
Mrs. Peterson shakes her head at him, a look of pity on
her face.
Frustrated, Jack turns and runs back to the mini-van...
CUT TO:
30 EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - MINUTES LATER
Jack pulls up across the street and gets out of the
van. Running across the empty plaza toward the
building entrance...
31 INT. LASSITER BUILDING, LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Jack bursts through the door, approaching the lobby
desk where FRANK the security guard sits.
Frank spots Jack and blocks his way.
FRANK
Whoa, whoa, whoa...hold
it right there...
JACK
Frank. Where抯 Alan
Mintz? Is he here yet?
FRANK
Mr. Mintz?
(a knowing chuckle)
I don抰 think
so...building抯 closed
pal. You抣l have to come
back tomorrow.
JACK
Look, I don抰 know what抯
going on here but I am
Senior Vice President of
this company.
FRANK
I don抰 care who you
are. It抯 Christmas and
like I told you the
building is closed.
JACK
Maybe you抮e not hearing
me. I am Jack
Campbell...
(approaching the
building directory)
Right here. Jack
Campbell, President...
And then he sees it...擜LAN MINTZ - PRESIDENT,?listed
plain as day on the building director...
Jack looks at Frank, then back to the building
directory...
A pitying look from Frank...Jack stands there, in
shock...
CHAPTER FIVE - WHAT扴 HAPPENING?
32 EXT. LASSITER BUILDING, PLAZA - MOMENTS LATER
...it抯 desolate...
Jack walks through the plaza like a zombie, his face
registering nothing. He crosses the street, moving
toward the mini-van...oblivious...when...
SCREECH...a Ferrari 456M stops within inches of Jack抯
torso...a VOICE from the car...
VOICE (O.S.)
Hey! Watch where you抮e
walking!
Jack turns...sees the DRIVER low in the seat...can抰
quite make out the face...
VOICE
You almost dented my two
hundred thousand dollar
car!
Jack...still stunned...looks at the car, very
familiar...the voice of the driver, also familiar...
VOICE (CONT扗)
That抯 right! My new
car抯 worth more than
your shitty house!
A look of realization on Jack抯 face...
VOICE (CONT扗)
I feel like I really did
win the lottery!
...it抯 Cash, and he抯 in Jack抯 car...
Jack moves over to the passenger window in shock...a
smile from Cash...
CASH
Miss me, Jack?
JACK
That抯 my car! You stole
my car!
CASH
It抯 a callable asset
seized in accordance with
the acquisition by-laws
of your alt-fate
contract...
JACK
What?!
CASH
Basically, it抯 my car
now. Get in.
Cash reaches over and opens the door. Jack
hesitates...
CASH (CONT扗)
Look, I don抰 make the
rules, Jack. This is how
it works. Get in.
Cash gives him a reassuring look. Jack gets in...
33 INT. FERRARI - CONTINUOUS
Jack closes the door...Cash joyfully drives off in a
burst of acceleration...Jack practically ends up in the
back seat...
CASH
Might wanna fasten your
seat belt, Jack...
JACK
(recovering)
What the hell is
happening to me?!
Jack抯 freaking out and Cash is enjoying every minute
of it. Cash hands Jack a paper bag. Jack starts
breathing into the bag.
CASH
This kinda thing makes a
lotta guys throw up.
Seen it happen. So if
you get the urge, do it
out the window.
(with a taunting
laugh)
I don抰 want you marring
this exquisite leather
interior...
Cash looks over at Jack...he抯 really losing it,
sobbing into the bag...almost hyperventilating...Cash
smiles...
CASH (CONT扗)
Look, I don抰 know what
you抮e getting so worked
up about, you did
this...you brought this
on yourself.
JACK
Brought what on myself?!
I didn抰 do anything!
CASH
No? C抦on, Jack...I抳e
got everything I need, I
don抰 have regrets,
that抯 just not for me...
sound familiar?
JACK
You mean because you
thought I was cocky I抦
now on a permanent acid
trip?!!
Cash gets a laugh out of Jack抯 overreaction...
CASH
Everyone else in that
store is a statue, they
see their lives passing
in front of their eyes,
but not you. You抮e
making a business deal...
JACK
(enraged)
Give me my goddamn life
back!
CASH
You? What about me? I抦
working hard for you
here, Jack. On Christmas
too! Now you did a good
thing last night,
intervening that way. I
was moved...
JACK
(interrupting)
Please. Just tell me
what抯 happening to me.
In plain English. None
of that mumbo jumbo...
Cash turns to Jack.
CASH
It抯 a glimpse, Jacko.
JACK
I glimpse? A glimpse of
what!? What glimpse?!
Glimpse!
CASH
Look, eventually,
everybody gets one...some
of 慹m take a couple
seconds...
(looking at Jack)
...some of 慹m take a lot
longer...
JACK
I asked you a direct
question! A glimpse of
what?!
A look from Cash.
CASH
Figure it out. You got
plenty of time.
JACK
How much time?!
CASH
As long as it takes to
figure it out. Which, in
your case, could be
considerable.
JACK
Look, I just want my life
back. Now what抯 it
gonna take? You wanna
talk turkey? Let抯 talk
turkey! How much
money...?
Cash looks at Jack, relishing the moment. He flashes
Jack a smile.
CASH
Do I look like I need
your money. It doesn抰
work like that and I
can抰 tell you why.
JACK
Why not?
CASH
Because you got to figure
it out for yourself.
(beat)
Are you listening to me?
JACK
Figure it out? Figure
what out?!
Cash just stares at him...
JACK (CONT扗)
That抯 it? That抯 all I
get?! A glare?!
CASH
Look Jack, in my
experience the best way
people deal with this is
to just relax and breathe
through it...let it come
to you.
Jack faces Cash, simmering...with frustration.
JACK
Look, I don抰 have time
for this right now. I抦
in the middle of a
deal...
CASH
Oh you抮e working on a
new deal now...did I
mention that?
JACK
You know what? I抳e had
it with you. I抳e had it
with all of this shit...
SCREECH...Cash slams on the brakes...practically
sending Jack through the windshield.
Jack recovers, looks up...the car is parked right next
to the mini-van.
Cash pulls out a small plastic bag, holding it out to
Jack...
CASH
Here...
Jack looks inside the bag, pulls out a BARBIE BICYCLE
BELL. He looks at it curiously.
JACK
What抯 this, a signal?
Will you come whenever I
ring it?
CASH
Do I look like I live in
a bottle?
Cash reaches across Jack and opens the door.
JACK
(lost)
But what do I do?
CASH
Look Jack I抦 late. I抎
love to help you out some
more but I gotta go
handle my business...
(gesturing to
the mini-van)
Happy trails.
Jack looks out to the lonely street outside, then back
to Cash.
JACK
Hey, you did this to me,
you can抰 just leave me
like this.
Cash looks at Jack, the desperation on his face.
CASH
Fine. You want to know
everything, I抣l tell you
everything. But not
here. Let抯 get some
air...
Jack抯 still a little unsure...he sees Cash open the
driver side door...
JACK
(relieved)
Thanks, man...
Jack gets out of the car...and before he can even turn
around, Cash抯 door SLAMS shut and the car takes off in
a blast of horsepower...
Jack stands there gazing down the street, listening to
the sound of the Ferrari shifting gears,
disappearing...
The wind whips up...shivering, Jack looks toward the
Lassiter Building, then to the plastic bag in his hand,
and finally to the mini-van.
34 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE MORNING
The blue mini-van snakes through the curved streets of
the neighborhood, almost all the houses decorated for
Christmas.
35 INT. MINI-VAN - SAME TIME
Jack抯 trying to find the house, a map unfolded on the
steering wheel and the car抯 registration in his
hand...
He spots ARNIE BENDER, late 30s, carrying an empty
science kit box to the trash. His wife, JEANNIE, also
late 30s, is getting in a Ford Taurus wagon, a bowl of
fruit in hand...
Jack pulls up to the curb near Arnie, rolling down the
window.
JACK
Excuse me. Do you know
where Merrison Street is?
Arnie looks up and sees Jack in the van.
ARNIE
(turning to his wife)
Jeannie! I found Jack!
36 INT. BENDER HOUSE, DEN - A LITTLE LATER
Jack follows Arnie into the den of this garishly
decorated suburban home, Arnie抯 arm around his
shoulder.
ARNIE
You look terrible...
Jack takes in the decor ?it抯 a male leisure time
fantasy ?old pinball machine, wide screen TV, dart
board, and kitschy ?0s style bamboo bar...
ARNIE (CONT扗)
Truth is I expected you.
Kate called before and
asked if I knew where you
were.
Arnie notices Jack抯 fascination with the room...
ARNIE (CONT扗)
I know, I moved the
Barca-lounger into the
corner. It抯 throwin?
everybody off. What do
you think?
JACK
(with a nod)
Great room...
A satisfied smile from Arnie, Jack抯 approval means
something to him.
ARNIE
You and me, buddy. We
know how to live...
Arnie shepherds Jack onto a bar stool and pours a drink
out of a bamboo bottle holder.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
So Jack, you okay?
Jack doesn抰 respond, his eyes drawn to a softball team
photo on the bar...Jack and Arnie kissing a huge trophy
with the caption, 揚lainfield, N.J. Softball League
Champs, 1994.?
ARNIE (CONT扗)
I mean you leave the
house on Christmas
morning, you don抰 tell
anyone where you抮e
going...
Jack looks over from the photo to Arnie...
JACK
We抮e friends, aren抰 we?
ARNIE
Maybe I don抰 say it
enough but you moving in
next door to me...
Arnie makes a fist and gestures to his heart. Jack
nods.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
Talk to me...
A moment of decision for Jack as Arnie stands there,
open eyed, ready to listen.
JACK
I抦 having kind of a bad
day.
ARNIE
(nodding)
I read somewhere that the
suicide rate doubles
during the holidays...
A raised eyebrow from Jack.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
(to himself)
What am I saying? You
don抰 need to hear
that...
(back to Jack)
All I meant was a lot of
people have a hard time
dealing with all the
forced reverie, that抯
all. Is that you?
JACK
Is it...?
ARNIE
Trouble at work?
JACK
I don抰 think so.
ARNIE
It抯 not Kate, is it?
Jack pauses at the mention of Kate. Arnie抯 eyes
widen...
ARNIE (CONT扗)
(proudly)
You see, it抯 like we抮e
in each other抯 heads...
JACK
Kate抯 my wife...
Jack looks at Arnie as if he抯 seeking confirmation.
ARNIE
(a playful smile)
Just keep saying it,
Jack, like a mantra.
Arnie comes out from behind the bar, taking Jack by the
arm.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
C抦on, I better walk ya
home. She抯 mad enough
as it is, right...?
37 EXT. ARNIE扴 YARD - SECONDS LATER
Arnie walks Jack through his backyard...
ARNIE
Look, you fit the profile
exactly. Thirties,
house, kids, financial
responsibilities. You
start thinking...this
isn抰 the life I dreamt
about. Where抯 the
romance, where抯 the joie
de vivre? Suddenly,
every lingerie ad in the
Newark Star Ledger
represents a life you
can抰 have...
JACK
(thinking, then...)
It抯 just two kids,
right?
A chuckle from Arnie.
ARNIE
You made a choice, Jack,
a promise to your wife.
Maybe sometimes it seems
like you gave up the
world, but look what you
got...
They arrive at...the backyard of the Campbell house...
cluttered with a swing set, a dog run with chewed up
lawn, and a wooden sun deck in the process of being
built...
ARNIE (CONT扗)
Four bedrooms, two and a
half baths, and a
partially finished
basement...
Jack trips over a wayward BIG WHEEL.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
(shaking his head)
Kids...
Arnie leads Jack toward the house.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
Okay look, you probably
don抰 want to hear this
right now but remember
what you told me last
summer when I almost had
that thing with Arnie
Jr.抯 speech therapist.
A blank stare from Jack as they arrive at the sliding
glass door...Arnie faces Jack squarely, grabbing his
shoulders and looking him in the eye.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
Don抰 screw up the best
thing in your life just
because you抮e a little
unsure about who you
are. Okay?
Arnie gives Jack a comforting smie...
ARNIE (CONT扗)
God, it feels so good to
finally give something
back to you...
Arnie turns Jack toward the door and slides it open.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
I抦 gonna hug you now...
Arnie gives Jack a gentle hug...then gives him a little
push toward the door...
38 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, DEN - CONTINUOUS
Jack steps inside. He turns back to the door but
Arnie抯 gone.
Then, Kate enters the room, holding a portable phone...
KATE
(into phone)
Hold on a second...
She cups the receiver. Jack looks at her, she抯
dressed now, nothing fancy but she looks great.
JACK
You cut your hair...
A curious look from Kate.
KATE
Ten years ago...
Kate just stands there looking at Jack, giving away
nothing.
KATE (CONT扗)
Are you okay?
JACK
Yeah...fine.
She gives him a resolute nod, then...
KATE
(into phone)
Never mind, he just
walked in...
Jack grimaces as she resolutely hangs up the phone then
stares him down angrily.
KATE (CONT扗)
Do you have any idea what
you put us through
today?! You walk out of
here at 7:30 in the
morning, don抰 tell me
where you抮e going, or
even that you抮e going,
and I don抰 see you 憈il
hours later. I had state
troopers looking for
you! I called
hospitals...
(pointing at
the phone)
...I was just on the
phone with the morgue
for god抯 sake!
Jack watches her vent, the frustration on his face
building.
KATE (CONT扗)
What kind of man leaves
his family on Christmas
morning without a word
about where he抯 going?
Jack抯 almost to a breaking point.
KATE (CONT扗)
What kind of man does
that!?
JACK
(jumping in)
I don抰 know! Please
stop yelling at me!
She looks at him curiously.
KATE
Where were you?
JACK
I was in the city.
KATE
The city? New York
City? Why?
JACK
Because that抯 where I
live.
KATE
Jack...don抰 even
start...
JACK
Look, you don抰
understand. I woke up
here...and this is very
strange ...this is not my
house...
A raised eyebrow from Kate. Jack moves around the
room...
JACK (CONT扗)
(pointing upstairs)
I抦 not 揇ad...? Kate,
you抮e not my wife...
Kate looks him over, assessing, then...
KATE
You know what, Jack?
It抯 not funny this
time. I抦 really angry.
She stares him down, expecting an answer. But he has
no answer.
KATE (CONT扗)
(loudly)
Jack!
Jack takes the bell out of the plastic bag that Cash
gave him, holds it up in front of her and starts
RINGING it furiously.
Then...Annie rides into the room on her new bike.
ANNIE
(re: bell)
What抯 that?
Jack watches as she pedals over, reaches into his hand
and takes the bicycle bell...
ANNIE (CONT扗)
(examining the bell)
I like this...
(jumping up and
giving hima peck
on the cheek)
...thanks, Dad!
Annie rides excitedly out of the room on her bike.
Leaving Jack and Kate alone again...
KATE
You missed the whole
thing, Jack. The
pancakes, the
presents...you spent six
hours putting that bike
together and you didn抰
even get to see the look
on Annie抯 face when she
opened it...
Jack sees the disappointment on her face...
KATE (CONT扗)
You missed Christmas,
Jack.
Jack looks down, almost ashamed...he relents, giving in
to the moment...
JACK
I抦...I抦 sorry.
Kate looks at him. He seems sincere enough...
KATE
Look, we don抰 have time
for this right now, we抣l
talk about it later. Now
get dressed...
(pointing to his
outfit)
You抮e not wearing that
to the Thompsons?party.
I don抰 care how
hilarious you think it
is...
JACK
Party? Oh no, I can抰 go
to a party...
KATE
You look forward to this
party all year. What抯
with you today?
JACK
Trust me on this Kate. I
really don抰 think going
to a party is the right
move for me at the
present time.
Kate looks at him a moment, then shakes her head.
KATE
Fine. Do whatever you
want.
She picks up the phone, starts dialing...
JACK
What are you doing?
KATE
Telling my mother she
doesn抰 have to stay with
the kids.
JACK
Why not?
KATE
Because you抣l be here.
Kate just looks at him.
JACK
I抣l be ready in ten
minutes.
He walks past her...toward a hallway door, Kate
watching him...
He opens the door...it抯 a closet.
JACK (CONT扗)
Christ...
(turning around)
Where the hell is the
bathroom?
KATE
Funny, Jack. I抦
laughing on the inside.
39 INT. BATHROOM - MINUTES LATER
The light comes on...
Jack walks in, looks in the mirror, determined to
collect himself...but something抯 not right...
He glances around...the bathroom is small and it抯
cluttered with Kate抯 razors, loofah, skin creams...
...none of this stuff is his...
...he looks in the mirror again, his face revealing a
forlorn sense of displacement...
...he stares at himself until...he starts to lose it...
anger, confusion...sadness...finally, he begins breaking down...
After a moment, he turns on the water, rinsing his
face...
40 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, BEDROOM CLOSET - MINUTES LATER
Jack at the closet door, looking at a row of Hagar
slacks, Docker sport coats and imitation leather
shoes...
He reaches in and touches the fabric on one of the
sport coats.
JACK
This is just...
(searching for
the words)
...this is sub-par...
Annie appears at the bedroom door, watching Jack at the
closet.
He turns...sees Annie watching him...a look
exchanged... then, Annie runs away...
Jack turns back to the closet and mournfully takes a
pair of the slacks...
41 EXT. THOMPSON HOUSE - NIGHT
Jack and Kate, a casserole dish in her hand, walk up
the path to this tacky but large house, its outside
decorated with the most garish display of Christmas
decorations this side of Pasaic.
Kate RINGS the doorbell...
EVELYN THOMPSON, 30s, wearing a dress that抯 a bit too
tight and a bit too low cut, opens the door...
EVELYN
Kate! Jack!
(turning around,
to guests)
Everybody, Jack and Kate
are here!
Jack looks right past her...to the house filled with 50
GUESTS.
A loud WHOOP from the guests...Jack has the look of a
condemned man on his face as he follows Kate inside...
41A INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
As Kate heads into the living room, Evelyn takes Jack抯
arm...
EVELYN
(suggestively)
Like the dress...?
JACK
(glancing at it)
It抯 lovely...
EVELYN
(a satisfied smile)
I thought I saw you
notice it at the kids?
recital.
Jack shoots her a confused look...then walks in, trying
to catch up with Kate...
42 INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER
The party is in full swing, Christmas music in the
b.g., GUESTS talking, laughing, drinking egg nog...
Jack抯 eyes dart around the room...it抯 large, neater
than his and Kate抯 house but still very lived in...The
Thompson KIDS run in and out of the room, playing with
new toys... nobody is wearing or eating anything
imported from Europe, but everyone抯 having a good
time...
...everyone except for Jack, standing with Arnie and
THE GUYS, having his ear chewed off by NICK CARELLI, a
walking advertisement for Levi抯 Cotton Dockers...
NICK
Did you see Van Horn last
night? This kid抯 gonna
single-handedly save
basketball in the state
of New Jersey...
JACK
The Nets? You抮e kidding,
right...?
Nick looks at him in disbelief.
JACK (CONT扗)
(recovering)
Well...they抮e certainly
due.
BILL KRAMER, a huge pile of fried chicken wings on his
plate, tugs at Jack抯 shirt.
BILL KRAMER
So tomorrow抯 the big
day, Jackie...
JACK
Okay...why?
BILL KRAMER
Triple bypass. I抦 going
under the knife. I told
you, didn抰 I?
JACK
Triple bypass?
(pointing to his
plate)
You really think you
should be eating all
that?
BILL KRAMER
Why not? I figure I抦
going in for a cleaning
tomorrow, I might as well
load up on the fried
stuff tonight...
ARNIE
Good thinking, Bill.
Have another drink.
(whispering to Jack)
He抣l be lucky if he
lives through the
night...
Nick reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of
Dutch Masters cigars. He shows them to Jack, Jack nods
politely. Nick eagerly hands him one...
Nick lights Jack抯 cigar, then his own...enjoying that
first puff...smiling at Jack...Jack dutifully takes a
puff of the cigar...nods back at Nick...but it抯 an
effort...
Evelyn Thompson approaches, a tray of MUSHROOM PUFFS in
hand...
EVELYN
(holding out a
puff to Jack)
Finger food...?
JACK
I don抰 think so, thank
you...
EVELYN
(suggestively)
C抦on, as soon as I put
them down, you抮e gonna
grab a couple...you
always do...
Kate sees Evelyn and Jack from her position on the
other side of the room...Kate watches as...
Evelyn holds the puff up to Jack抯 mouth, slowly
putting it near his lips...
EVELYN (CONT扗)
Let me. They抣l melt in
your mouth...
He instinctively opens his mouth as Evelyn pushes the
treat inside...
EVELYN (CONT扗)
Good?
On Jack抯 face...if freezer burn were a facial
expression, this would be it...
JACK
(forcing a smile)
They抮e great! Thank
you!
...Evelyn licks her fingers suggestively then hands
Jack the entire tray with a sexy smile...
A raised eyebrow from Kate, still watching...
EVELYN
Mushroom puffs aren抰 the
only thing I do well...
JACK
Well do whatever it is
you do well, and
just...just do it.
Excuse me...
Evelyn nods as Jack walks toward the staircase...
Kate follows Jack with her eyes as he climbs the
stairs...
43 INT. THOMPSON HOUSE, DEN - NIGHT
Jack is sitting on the arm of a couch filled with
guests?coats, talking on a FOOTBALL SHAPED
telephone...the tray of mushroom puffs on the table...
JACK
(loudly, into phone)
...what do you mean he
won抰 come to the phone?!
(standing, indignant)
Do you realize how much
money I抳e made for that
sonuvabitch in the last
eight years?!
Click. A dial tone. Jack slams the phone down...
JACK (CONT扗)
Damnit!
He slams the phone again...and again...and again...
KATE (O.S.)
Jack...?
Jack turns, sees Kate standing in the doorway, watching
him take his frustrations out on the phone, concern on
her face.
KATE
Are you sure you抮e
okay...?
A forced smile from Jack.
JACK
Yes, I抦 fine. It抯 just
this god awful football
phone! Who has a phone
like this anyway?!
KATE
(doubtful)
Uh huh...
Kate notices the tray of mushroom puffs on the table.
KATE (CONT扗)
You must really love
Evelyn抯 mushroom puffs,
huh?
(with a wink)
You know they抮e not
real...
She turns and leaves...Jack looks at her, confused...
44 INT. THOMPSON HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - A LITTLE LATER
Jack comes down the stairs, a lost look in his eyes.
He looks across the room and sees...
Kate, with a group of GUESTS, looking great in her
jeans and white blouse, the center of attention.
Jack passes through the guests, people waving to him,
slapping him on the back as he approaches Kate...
He catches Kate抯 eye...she gives him a subtle smile.
KATE
(to guests)
...then she asks me to
put this sweater on.
What choice do I have,
right?
Jack watches as Kate charms the crowd...
KATE (CONT扗)
But as I抦 slipping it on
I notice she抯 misspelled
the word 搇awyers.?
(laughing)
I had to go through the
entire day wearing a hand
embroidered sweater that
said, 揘on-Profit Layers
Do It For Free.?
The guests laugh again. Even Jack finds himself
laughing, until...
JACK
(to Kate, off-hand)
So you抮e a lawyer...?
A chuckle from the group. Kate抯 confused.
JACK (CONT扗)
A non-profit lawyer...
People are starting to LAUGH.
KATE
(a little embarrassed)
Jack...
JACK
Pro bono. You don抰 get
paid at all. Nobody
makes a dime. Well,
bravo...
Blank stares from everyone, including Kate...
CUT TO:
45 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, FOYER - LATE NIGHT
Kate and Jack walk in the front door...the dog greets
them happily, jumping up on Jack, a weary look on his
face.
KATE
I better go wake my
mother...
Kate grabs a leash off a hook and hands it to Jack.
KATE (CONT扗)
Here you go...
JACK
You抮e kidding me...
KATE
She抯 your dog, Jack.
JACK
No, she抯 not.
KATE
Fine, she抯 the kid抯
dog. Let抯 go wake Josh,
see if he wants to walk
her.
JACK
But it抯 twenty degrees
outside...
KATE
(sympathetic)
You抮e having a bad day,
I抣l go with
you...actually, there抯
no way in hell you抮e
gettin?me back out
there...
Jack looks at the dog抯 face. Lucy couldn抰 be more
excited. Finally, Jack shakes his head and takes the
leash.
KATE (CONT扗)
(heading up the
stairs)
Make sure you reward her
verbally when she does a
number two...
CUT TO:
46 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE NIGHT
The sound of CRICKETS.
Jack, wearing a down jacket, is being dragged down the
street by Lucy, his breath condensing in the cold
winter air. The dog sniffs at a hydrant and a couple
of garbage cans, but isn抰 doing her business.
JACK
Figure it out...I抦 s
crewed...don抰 have to
be a genius to figure
that out...
The dog stops, sniffing at a manicured lawn...
JACK (CONT扗)
(to Lucy)
It抯 as good a place as
any...
But the dog keeps moving, pulling Jack with her.
JACK (CONT扗)
...but obviously not up
to your high standards...
(to himself)
Okay...he said you抮e
working on a new deal
now...fine, you抳e done a
thousand deals, what抯
the first thing you do?
Lucy抯 sniffing around someone抯 Christmas display but
Jack抯 too wrapped up in his thought process to notice.
JACK (CONT扗)
Triage. It抯 your
signature. You survey
the damage, find out
everything you can, you
probe, leave nothing to
chance. I抦 just gonna
have to go detective.
How did you get
Mentadent? You learned
everything there was to
know about toothpaste and
then you pounced...
Jack narrows his eyes, thinking about that deal...
JACK (CONT扗)
That抯 our play here...
Resolute, Jack turns to the dog.
JACK (CONT扗)
If you could take a dump
some time in this
century, then we could go
home where it抯 warm...
Jack looks around at the unfamiliar houses...
JACK (CONT扗)
That is if I can even
remember how to get
home...
(to Lucy)
You remember, don抰 you
girl?
But the dog ignores him, dragging Jack along...
47 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT
Kate is in bed, fast asleep.
Jack walks into the room, his face still red from the
cold outside. He looks over at Kate, sleeping happily.
He takes off his shirt and khakis, laying them neatly
on the chair. He looks over at the pair of flannel
pajamas folded on the dresser. He shakes his head,
resigned, then dons the pajamas and climbs into bed...
CHAPTER SIX - BEING A PARENT
48 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - MORNING
Morning light streams into the room. The clock reads,
?:14.?
Jack opens his eyes ?a burst of light hitting them
from the window...like the morning light in his
Manhattan loft...
He reaches across the bed...it抯 empty...
A smile of hope from Jack as he puts his head back on
the pillow...maybe it was only a day...Then...
The sound of a baby CRYING from the next room...A
pained look on Jack抯 face as he realizes he抯 still in
Jersey.
Now the baby is WAILING...Jack lies still a moment,
hoping it抣l stop...it doesn抰. Then, he hears the
sound of the SHOWER TURN ON in the bathroom.
He gets out of bed and walks to the bathroom...
49 INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
The shower is running, a tape player is BLASTING 揃east
of Burden.? Kate is in the shower SINGING LOUDLY with
the song...
JACK
Hello?
No answer...
JACK (CONT扗)
(louder, over music)
Hello!
KATE
(singing)
...my feet are hurtin?..
JACK
(yelling)
HEY!
Finally, the music is turned down and Kate pulls the
shower curtain open...
Jack sees her naked body...raises an eyebrow...that抯
something he抯 missed...then...
JACK (CONT扗)
Uh...that baby抯 crying...
KATE
(unimpressed)
And...?
...her expression makes Jack turn his gaze from her
naked body.
KATE (CONT扗)
Don抰 give me that look,
Jack, Tuesday抯 your day
and you know it. And try
to get Josh to day care
on time, okay? He missed
the macaroni painting
last week...
She closes the curtain and turns the radio back up.
CUT TO:
50 INT. JOSH扴 ROOM - MORNING
Annie抯 watching from a baby-size Laz-E-Boy lounger
as...
Jack, in a robe, stands in front of a changing table,
Josh laying happily on his back, playing with a set of
plastic keys.
Jack takes a fresh Huggies diaper and puts it next to
the baby. He surveys Josh, scratching his chin and
rubbing his hands like Indiana Jones. Josh playfully
grabs at Jack抯 nose.
He looks over to Annie. She抯 still staring at him
like he抯 a Martian. He looks at the instructions on
the box of Huggies.
JACK
Pull tape...
Jack searches the diaper for the tabs of tape, then
gingerly pulls them apart, releasing the diaper from
the baby抯 bottom, and seeing what抯 inside.
JACK (CONT扗)
Holy mother of god!
Jack holds the diaper out away from him, searching for
a place to put it. Annie points to a Diaper Genie by
the dresser.
Jack throws the diaper in, then quickly replaces the
lid. Annie points to the container of Baby Wipes.
JACK (CONT扗)
You must be kidding...
Annie stares at him a beat. Then...
ANNIE
You抮e not really our
dad, are you?
Jack turns to her. She抯 looking back at him with
complete earnestness. They stare at each other another
moment. Then...
JACK
No, I抦 not.
A look of curiosity from Annie.
JACK (CONT扗)
I work on Wall Street,
you know with the big
buildings...?
No response from Annie...
JACK (CONT扗)
I live in an apartment
house with a doorman, I
can buy just about
anything I want...
Annie nods at Jack, still suspicious.
JACK (CONT扗)
This isn抰 my real life.
It抯 just a glimpse...
ANNIE
Where抯 my real dad?
JACK
I don抰 know...
A concerned look on Annie抯 face, Jack抯 petrified that
she抯 about to cry.
JACK (CONT扗)
But don抰 worry, he loves
you and I抦 sure he抣l be
back very soon...
(to himself)
...very, very soon...
Annie approaches Jack, climbing up on a little chair
and tugging firmly at his hair.
ANNIE
They did a pretty good
job.
JACK
Who did?
ANNIE
The aliens...In the
mother ship. You look
just like him.
JACK
Uhh...thanks...slightly
better looking though,
right?
Annie抯 now stone faced, trying to decide about Jack.
JACK (CONT扗)
You抮e not going to start
crying, are you? Because
I抦 not really sure I
could deal with that
right now.
She thinks about it for a moment.
ANNIE
Do you like kids?
JACK
On a case by case
basis...
ANNIE
You know how to make
chocolate milk?
JACK
I think I could figure it
out.
ANNIE
You promise not to kidnap
me and my brother and
implant stuff in our brains?
JACK
Sure.
Beat. Then...a smile from Annie.
ANNIE
Welcome to earth.
51 INT. MINI-VAN - MORNING
Jack抯 driving, Annie buckled in the front seat...
Josh, in the baby seat, looks like he was dressed by
monkeys ?his shirt buttons are off by one, and they抮e
clearly supposed to be in the back.
ANNIE
Stop here...
Jack stops the van outside the Playland Day Care
Center.
ANNIE (CONT扗)
This is day care. It抯
where babies go when
their parents are at
work.
JACK
Check...
He gets out of the van...
52 EXT. MINI-VAN - CONTINUOUS
...he pulls Josh out and walks quickly toward the
building, holding the baby away from his body.
He gets to the door and holds Josh out to the DAY CARE
LADY. She stares at Josh抯 outfit...
JACK
Do I get a receipt or
something...?
The woman looks at Jack like he抯 crazy.
53 EXT. YMCA - A FEW MINUTES LATER
The mini-van pulls up to the drop-off point at this
suburban New Jersey Y. Annie opens the door.
ANNIE
I have winter camp until
four, then ballet until
five thirty.
JACK
Five thirty. Okay.
ANNIE
Try not to be late
because kids don抰 like
to be the last one picked
up.
JACK
Got it. Good tip.
ANNIE
Bye...
CHAPTER SEVEN - A TIRE SALESMAN
Jack watches her as she runs toward the building.
Then...
JACK
(calling out window)
Hey! Annie!
Annie turns back toward him.
JACK (CONT扗)
Where do I go now?
ANNIE
Big Ed抯.
JACK
Big Ed抯? Big Ed抯
Tires?
(suspicious)
Why...?
ANNIE
That抯 where you work.
A beat. Then...
JACK
You mean I sell tires...
She shrugs her shoulders and walks off.
JACK (CONT扗)
That抯 what I do. I抦 a
tire salesman...
CUT TO:
54 INT. MINI-VAN - A LITTLE LATER
Jack抯 driving down a busy commercial street when he
spots something a hundred yards down the road...
JACK
Good Lord...
...a huge, three-story-tall plastic likeness of Big Ed
Reynolds, ten gallon hat, lassoing a tire...
55 EXT. BIG ED扴 TIRES - MOMENTS LATER
Jack approaches Big Ed抯 from the parking lot...slowly,
taking it all in...
It抯 like a Pep Boys with a Texas theme. A big retail
store for tires and auto parts, and a repair bay for
everything from alignments to brake jobs...
Jack walks to the tire bay where HECTOR, 40s, a
Guatemalan mechanic in grease-stained coveralls, stands
with TOMMY the salesman.
TOMMY
Hey Jack, you happen to
know the stock number on
those new Michelin X1's?
JACK
Uh...lemme get back to
you on that one...
(looking at his
name tag)
Tommy...
HECTOR
(to Tommy)
Thomas, why you bother
Jack about that. Look it
up yourself...
(to Jack)
Okay Jack, we talk
later...
Jack nods amiably then continues into the store...
56 INT. BIG ED扴 TIRES - CONTINUOUS
Jack walks in...looks around...the store is teeming
with activity, a post-holiday sale in progress...
Big Ed, in his signature ten gallon hat, sees Jack from
behind the counter...
BIG ED
Jack my boy! You are
looking mighty worse for
the wear...Hey, guess who
I played bridge with two
nights ago...?
Jack stares blankly at Big Ed...
BIG ED (CONT扗)
Hell, you抣l never
guess. One Sydney
Potter. That抯 Sydney
Potter, Chief Executive
Officer of BuyRite
Transport. Only the
third largest trucking
company in the state. I
even let the sonuvabitch
win, which wasn抰 easy
because the guy抯 been
bashed in the head by
Teamsters so many times
his brain抯 like
porridge. Anyhoo, he抯
looking for a new parts
supplier... we can handle
that kind of volume,
right?
Jack considers this briefly.
JACK
I抦 gonna have to get
back to you on that...Ed.
Big Ed makes a gun gesture with his forefinger, winking
at Jack, then turns back to the activity at the counter
as...
Jack spots KENNY, a very young sales associate, walking
by. He reaches out and taps Kenny on the shoulder.
JACK (CONT扗)
Do I have a private
office somewhere in the
building?
KENNY
Uh...sure Jack...
(nervously pointing)
Right back there...
JACK
Thank you.
Jack walks into the office with his name on the door...
57 INT. JACK扴 OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
There抯 no Stairmaster here, no leather sofa or
bar...it抯 small, cramped and cluttered, the walls
littered with tire inventory and price lists...
Jack takes a slow, sad lap around the office.
He makes it to the small wooden desk at the far end of
the room and sits down behind it...
On the desk are photos of Jack, Kate and the kids, a
plastic Michelin Man model, a tire-themed day calendar
and a small plastic figurine of a BOWLER, the word,
揃owlers Do It In An Alley?embossed on its base...
He surveys the desktop briefly, then opens the top
drawer, finding a personal checkbook and looking
inside...
He sees the bottom line and winces, then puts it
back...
Jack picks up the 揃owlers Do It In An Alley?figurine
and gives it a good look...
JACK
Bowlers do it in an
alley?...Non profit
lawyers do it for free...
what is it with these
people? Don抰 they
realize this refers to
sex?
He replaces the figurine then opens the bottom drawer
where he spots a bottle of Glenfiddich. He lifts it
out...
JACK (CONT扗)
At least you splurged on
some decent scotch...
He takes a paper cup and pours himself a shot. He
drinks it down in one gulp and then crumples up the
cup, throwing it toward the NET扴 basketball
hoop/garbage can near the door.
He misses...
He looks more closely at the photographs...most are
family photos, a happy Jack with Kate, with Annie at
the pony rides, at Josh抯 birth...in every one of them,
Jack is smiling...
JACK (CONT扗)
(to Jack in
the photo)
What are you smiling
about...?
He turns his head...spots a small plaque on the wall
behind him. It reads, 揓ack Campbell - E.F. Hutton #1
Junior Sales Associate, 1988.? Jack raises an
eyebrow...
JACK (CONT扗)
Number one...not bad.
He grabs it off the wall and looks at it more
carefully...
JACK (CONT扗)
1988...? I was in London
in 1988...
Jack抯 jarred into reality...
JACK (CONT扗)
(to Jack in the photo)
You never went to London...
(picking up the photo)
...you never got on that
plane...
He stays there a moment...in shock. Then...
The P.A. system comes to life...
ESTELLE
(over P.A.)
Jack to mag
wheels...Jack, you抮e
needed in mag wheels,
customer waiting!
CUT TO:
58 INT. BIG ED扴 TIRES, MAIN FLOOR - MINUTES LATER
Kenny leading Jack toward the 揗ag Wheels?section.
JACK
...I was the number one
junior sales associate at
E.F. Hutton in 1988. Did
you know that?
KENNY
No, I didn抰...that抯
great.
JACK
That抯 the kind of thing
you can really build
on...
KENNY
Uh huh...
JACK
I mean sales has always
been a feeder for M and
A, always...
They approach 揗ag Wheels?where TOMMY, a slick sales
associate, stands with a CUSTOMER looking at the
displays...
KENNY
Here we are, mag wheels...
(a little concerned)
Hey Jack, are you sure
you抮e okay?
JACK
Well, I抦 just a little
confused right now about
why I work here...
Kenny looks at him nervously.
KENNY
Uh...I just started here
last Tuesday.
Jack nods compassionately. Kenny takes off leaving
Jack alone with his thoughts as Tommy approaches with
the customer.
TOMMY
(to the customer)
So you抮e all set on the
Skip Shift eliminator and
the Brembo rotors.
Jack抯 our point man on
alloy wheels...
JACK
(turning to Tommy)
Do you know why do I work
here...?
TOMMY
Because you抮e the best
damn tire guy in the
state of New Jersey...
(proudly, to the
customer)
Jack taught me everything
I know about the
business...
The customer nods, impressed.
JACK
I taught you the business?
Another nod to the customer.
TOMMY
And he抯 a crack-up.
JACK
Everything I taught you.
I want to hear it all,
right now.
Tommy抯 confused.
CUSTOMER
Hey, I抦 ready to buy
here...
JACK
(to the customer)
What do you want?
CUSTOMER
I want some alloy wheels.
Jack grabs one of the alloy rims off the shelf, holding
it out to the customer.
JACK
Here. These are great.
You抣l need four.
The customer takes the wheel from Jack, looks at it
confused...
CUSTOMER
But I don抰 like these...
JACK
Hey, you heard the guy,
I抦 the best damn tire
guy in the state of New
Jersey.
(turning to Tommy)
Everything.
TOMMY
Okay...
(hesitating)
Rule number one, the
customer is always
right...
A satisfied smirk from the customer.
59 INT. BIG ED扴 TIRES, JACK扴 OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON
Jack is behind his desk, his tie loosened, on the
phone...
JACK
(into phone)
...I have no idea what
our inventory level is,
that抯 why I抦 asking
you...
A KNOCK at the door...
JACK (CONT扗)
Look, just send us what
you sent us last month,
okay...? And keep doing
that until further
notice...
He hangs up the phone as the door opens. Big Ed sticks
his head in...
BIG ED
Got a minute, Jack?
JACK
I抳e got all the time in
the world...
Big Ed walks in, followed by SYDNEY POTTER, 60s, a
tough looking man...
BIG ED
Jack, meet Sydney Potter,
BuyRite Transport, one of
Jersey抯 top
businessmen...
Potter extends a hand, Jack rises from his chair,
trying to place the name. Then...
JACK
...and a helluva bridge
player. Ed抯 told me a
lot about you...
They shake hands. Potter nods his head at Jack,
immediately impressed. Big Ed is beaming.
POTTER
(in a heavy Jersey
accent)
Lucky in cards, lucky in
business, lucky in love.
My cup runneth over...
(to Big Ed)
He抯 a nice looking
boy...
BIG ED
My daughter抯 no slouch
either...
A smile from Potter, then a serious look.
POTTER
Let抯 cut to the chase,
Jack. Big Ed tells me
you抮e the grease that
makes the wheels turn
around here. I need a
new parts supplier for my
fleet. You seem to have
the parts. That we
know. What we don抰 know
is why the hell I should
buy them from you.
Potter stares Jack down. But Jack抯 not about to be
intimidated by him. He pauses, matching Potter抯
stare. Then...
JACK
I have no idea...
A surprised look from Potter. An anxious laugh from
Big Ed.
BIG ED
(nervous)
C抦on Jack...
JACK
(to Potter)
I mean it. From what I
can tell, we抮e a mom and
pop operation, we抮e
already over-extended in
sales, and any price
advantage we could offer
would easily be matched
by a larger supplier...
Jack continues to stare down Potter.
JACK (CONT扗)
So like I said, I don抰
have any idea why you
should buy your parts
from us...
The staring match continues. Big Ed抯 getting more
nervous. Potter抯 the first to blink.
POTTER
Okay, you got my
attention...
JACK
Except for rule number
one...
Jack smiles.
JACK (CONT扗)
The customer is always
right. A clich? Sure.
The difference is, we
mean it. We抮e small, we
need our customers. We
can抰 afford to
disappoint them, ever.
Yeah, you could go to
some leviathan supplier,
probably save a few
pennies on the price of
oil filters, but with us
you get more than a
supplier, you get a
bridge partner...
A smile from Potter. Jack gives Ed a wink. Ed
watches, thrilled...
JACK (CONT扗)
You want to bid hearts,
we抮e right there with
you. You feel the need
to redouble, you抮e not
going to get any argument
from us...
Potter nods at Jack. Jack moves in for the kill.
JACK (CONT扗)
The big guys may have the
high cards, but you know
as well as I do, Sydney,
high cards don抰 always
take the trick.
Potter pauses a minute, then...
POTTER
(to Big Ed,
re: Jack)
I like him...
Big Ed smiles, letting out a relieved sigh.
BIG ED
(a wink to Jack)
That抯 my boy...
(an arm around Potter)
C抦on, lemme show you the
rest of the ranch...
Big Ed and Potter exit the office...
BIG ED (CONT扗)
(turning back to Jack)
Nice shootin? Jack...
...leaving Jack there with a satisfied smile on his
face.
60 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jack is in bed watching CNBC...On the TV a young woman
REPORTER at the anchor抯 desk...
CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
...advancers led
decliners by a nine to
four ratio and the
closing tick was a mildly
bullish plus seventy
six. Much of the
market抯 action today was
fueled by the latest
round of merger mania to
hit Wall Street...
The Global Health Systems and MedTech logos appear on a
graphic in the corner of the screen...
CNBC REPORTER (CONT扗, ON T.V.)
...when Global Health
Systems and MedTech
Pharmaceutical announced
their intentions to join
forces in a massive one
hundred and twenty two
billion dollar stock swap
deal. Though neither
side expressed
significant regulatory
concerns at the
announcement press
conference, it is
believed that both the
FDA and the FTC will be
closely scrutinizing the
marriage, the largest
ever in the health care
industry. When asked
about possible anti-
competitive implications,
Global Chairman Bob
Thomas referred reporters
to P.K. Lassiter and
Company President Alan
Mintz, the original
architect behind the
deal...
Jack stares in shock as the image changes to a super
confident looking Mintz shaking Bob Thomas?hand at the
press conference.
CNBC REPORTER (CONT扗, ON T.V.)
Ironically, Mintz first
met Thomas at a Lamaze
class...
JACK
A Lamaze class...!?
CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
...while coaching their
pregnant wives, Mintz and T
homas struck up a
dialogue about the need
for consolidation in the
rapidly growing health
care industry and two
months later, the deal
with MedTech was born...
JACK
What?! That抯 my deal?
CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
In other business news,
U.S. Labor Department
officials announced today
that two hundred and
seventy-five thousand new
jobs were created last
month, twenty-five
thousand less than
economists were
predicting, leading to a
mild rally in the bond
markets before midday.
But as the trading
session drew to a close,
the profit takers stepped
in and the long bond
closed at ninety seven
even, up only two ticks,
the yield inching down to
six point zero seven
percent...
Kate comes into the room from the hallway wearing only
Jack抯 NYU sweatshirt...
KATE
The kids are asleep...
She goes over to the window and draws the blinds. Jack
looks up at her, nods, then goes back to the TV.
KATE (CONT扗)
Jack. I said the kids
are asleep...
JACK
(distracted)
Well that抯 just
great...those little
monkeys can be a real
handful...
Kate shuts off the TV.
JACK (CONT扗)
Hey! I was watching
that!
KATE
I thought we had a deal
about you watching CNBC
in bed.
JACK
I抦 working on a new deal
now...
Kate throws a Kate Bush抯 揟he Sensual World?into the
CD player.
KATE
Fine, but not tonight...
She climbs onto the bed, a seductive look on her face.
JACK
Wait a second. You want
me, don抰 you?
KATE
That is the general idea,
yes...
Kate starts kissing him...but Jack抯 a little
uncomfortable with the sudden intimacy...he pulls back,
a little nervous.
JACK
Shouldn抰 we grab some
dinner first? Maybe a
bottle of wine...?
KATE
It抯 ten thirty, Jack.
By eleven you抮e gonna be
sprawled out on the bed
snoring your head off.
We don抰 have time for
wining and dining.
JACK
Whatever you say...honey.
She starts kissing him again...but this time he just
goes with it, and as her hands run through his hair
he抯 brought back to a different time and place...
Jack momentarily pulls back and looks at her...it抯
like the first time he抯 really looked at her in eleven
years...
JACK (CONT扗)
God...you抮e beautiful...
She smiles at him, almost uncomfortable with the
compliment...
KATE
Thanks, Jack...
JACK
No, I抦 serious...you抮e
really stunning...
KATE
This is good stuff, Jack,
keep it coming...
JACK
I mean back in college,
you were a very pretty
girl, there抯 no question
about that. But this...
(lost in her)
...you抳e really grown
into a beautiful woman...
Jack stares at her, entranced...Kate pulls back,
reacting to the intensity in his stare...
KATE
How can you do that?
JACK
(nervous)
Do what?
KATE
Look at me like you
haven抰 seen me every day
for the last twelve
years...
Jack freezes. There抯 love in her eyes but it抯 not
meant for him...
She kisses him...
KATE (CONT扗)
Don抰 move.
She gets up off the bed and heads for the bathroom...
He looks around...not sure what to do...Finally...
He turns onto his side and closes his eyes...
Kate emerges from the bathroom, she sees Jack on the
bed, hears his breathing heavy with sleep...
At once charmed and disappointed, Kate sighs. She
turns off the CD player and heads into bed.
She pulls the covers up over Jack, shutting off the
light... She puts an arm around him, kissing him
sweetly on the neck...
KATE (CONT扗)
憂ight, honey...
Close in on Jack抯 face...turned away from Kate...he
opens his eyes...looks down at her arm...loneliness on
his face...
CHAPTER EIGHT - THE MEN扴 DEPARTMENT
DISSOLVE TO:
61 EXT. MALL - DAY
It抯 mid-January and all signs of the Christmas season are
gone except for the snow on the ground in the busy parking
lot.
62 INT. MACY扴, MEN扴 DEPT. - DAY
Kate, pushing Josh in the stroller and holding Annie抯
hand, passing through the Men抯 Dept., Jack lagging
behind, a bevy of shopping bags in hand and a
beleaguered look on his face.
KATE
(back to Jack)
We抮e almost done here...
ANNIE
Mary Janes, Mom. You
promised.
KATE
That抯 right. Okay,
let抯 make a quick stop
at the kids?shoe
department, pick up my
watch from the battery
place, then I抣l run into
the linen store...
An unhappy look on Jack抯 face.
JACK
Why don抰 we just go to
all the stores?!
Kate looks back at Jack.
JACK (CONT扗)
Every single store in
this godforsaken shopping
mall. We can go to them
all.
Kate gives him a look. Then...
KATE
You know what, Jack?!
I抣l go with the kids.
Why don抰 you just hang
out here in the men抯
department... okay?
Jack glances at the Men抯 Dept., sighs and gives Kate a
nod. She takes off with the kids...and then he sees
it...
...the Zegna section. He抯 drawn to the neat rows of
beautiful suits like a moth to the light...
He approaches the rack, pulls out a dark green suit,
gently touching the soft wool.
SALESMAN (O.S.)
It抯 perfect for your
frame...
Jack turns and sees a SALESMAN standing behind him.
SALESMAN
Would you like to try it
on?
CUT TO:
63 INT. MACY扴 MEN扴 DEPT. - A LITTLE LATER
Jack, at a mirror wearing the Zegna suit. It is
perfect for his frame. The color is spectacular, the
line is dazzling.
Jack looks in the mirror, shutting everything else
out... it抯 like he抯 seeing his old self...
KATE (O.S.)
You look amazing in that
suit...
Jack snaps out of his trance. He sees Kate standing
behind him, Annie and Josh happily playing a few feet
away.
KATE
I mean...wow...off the
charts great.
JACK
It抯 an unbelievable
thing. Wearing this suit
actually makes me feel
like a better person.
(taking one final
look)
I抦 gonna buy it...
Kate raises an eyebrow, then looks at the price tag.
KATE
$2,400?! Are you out of
your mind?
JACK
(pointing to Annie抯
new Mary Janes)
She got those shoes...
KATE
Those shoes were twenty
five dollars. C抦on,
take it off. We抣l go to
the food court and get
one of those funnel cakes
you like.
Jack looks at her...it抯 a moment of decision.
JACK
No.
Kate looks at Jack, a little surprised.
KATE
No?
JACK
Do you have any idea what
my life is like?
KATE
Excuse me?
JACK
I wake up in the morning
covered in dog saliva...I
drop the kids off, spend
eight hours selling tires
retail...retail, Kate.
Kate just stands here, aghast...
JACK (CONT扗)
I pick up the kids, walk
the dog, which by the
way, carries the added
bonus of carting away her
monstrous crap...I play
with the kids, take out
the garbage, get six
hours of sleep if I抦
lucky, and then it starts
all over again...and why
is it that I always have
to drive everyone
everywhere? I spend
practically my entire day
in that slow as hell
mini-van listening to
Raffi tapes and trying to
figure out how the cup
holders work...I抦 sick
of it.
KATE
Really.
JACK
What抯 in it for me?
Where are my Mary Janes?
Kate stares at him, shaking her head...
KATE
It抯 sad to hear your
life is such a
disappointment to you,
Jack.
JACK
I can抰 believe it抯 not
a disappointment to you!
(letting it all out)
Jesus, Kate, I could抳e
been a thousand times the
man I became. How could
you do this to me? How
could you let me give up
on my dreams like this?!
Kate stares at him in disbelief. Then...
KATE
Who are you?
Kate抯 words pierce Jack...he has to avert his eyes.
JACK
(lowering his voice)
Look, I抦 sorry. I抦
sorry I was such a saint
before and I抦 such a
prick now. Maybe I抦
just not the same guy I
was when we got
married...
KATE
Maybe you抮e not. The
Jack Campbell I married
wouldn抰 need a $2400
suit to make himself feel
better about his life,
but if that抯 what it抯
gonna take, then buy it.
Just buy the goddamn
suit ...we can take the
money out of the kids?
college fund.
They stare at each other for a moment...a stand-off...
JACK
Forget it...
(taking off the
jacket)
We抣l get a funnel cake.
It抣l be the highlight of
my week...
64 EXT. NEW JERSEY ROAD - NIGHT
The blue mini-van makes its way down this road...
65 INT. MINI-VAN - NIGHT
There抯 an icy silence in the car...Jack is behind the
wheel, Kate next to him looking out the window, anger
on her face...
CHAPTER NINE - REMINISCING
Jack checks the rear-view mirror, sees Annie and Josh
in the back, both asleep...
JACK
(to Kate)
Listen, I抦 sorry about
that back in the store.
I really don抰 want to
fight with you...
Kate just keeps looking out the window.
JACK (CONT扗)
But you must sometimes
wonder how we ended up
here. I mean back in
college, did you see
us...
(looking around)
...here...?
She turns to him.
KATE
I抣l give you this, life
has thrown us a few
surprises...
A glimmer in Jack抯 eye...
JACK
It really has, hasn抰
it? So if you had
to...what would you say
was the biggest surprise?
She glances at the kids sleeping in the back.
KATE
Well...Annie for one.
JACK
Surprise. We抮e
pregnant...
(a laugh)
Yeah...that must抳e
been...I mean that was
very unexpected. But
what are you gonna do,
right?
KATE
I think it worked out
okay, don抰 you?
JACK
Sure. I really like
Annie.
KATE
Good, Jack. Maybe we抣l
keep her.
JACK
No, I love Annie. We had
a lot of good times,
didn抰 we?
KATE
We were young...
(a nostalgic smile)
Remember that little
place on Charles Street
we used to go to?
JACK
Charles Street? In the
Village? When we were
living in Greenwich
Village...?
(off her nod)
Great times. Why抎 we
ever leave?
KATE
You can抰 really raise a
kid in an apartment in
the Village...
Jack nods, starting to piece it together.
KATE (CONT扗)
The trek out to the
hospital every day didn抰
help either...
(looking at him)
You were great.
Surviving the heart
attack was one thing...
JACK
You had a heart attack?
KATE
(a laugh)
Jack, stop that. I'm
still mad at you...
(a sigh)
...who knows what
would抳e happened if you
hadn抰 stepped in at the
store.
JACK
That抯 why I work for Big
Ed?
A look from Kate.
JACK (CONT扗)
(recovering)
I mean, that抯 why I work
for Big Ed...
Jack looks out at the road a moment, piecing it all
together in his mind.
JACK (CONT扗)
(almost to himself)
So we had a baby, Big Ed
had a heart attack, we b
ought that house, and
I抳e been working for him
ever since...Sayonara,
Wall Street.
Kate looks at him a little strangely.
JACK (CONT扗)
(turning to her)
Our life in a nutshell...
KATE
If you want to look at it
that way...
JACK
How would you look at it?
She glances again at the kids in the back seat, then at
Jack.
KATE
A great success story...
A smile from Jack. He admires her outlook even if he
can抰 bring himself to share it.
DISSOLVE TO:
66 INT. BOWLING ALLEY - EVENING
A crowded suburban New Jersey bowling alley...
Jack stands at a lane holding a bowling ball, the
nickname 揟he Hammer?emblazoned over his bowling shirt
pocket...He approaches the line and throws the ball
down the lane...
It抯 ugly...The ball caroms off the hardwood into the
gutter.
JACK
Damn...
ARNIE
(O.S., from behind)
Jesus, Jack, this is a
league match, for god抯
sake!
Jack turns. Arnie and the BOWLING TEAM are in the
scorekeeping area watching Jack make a mockery of the
sport. Jack scowls.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
Where抯 your follow
through? Where抯 your
stance?
JACK
Hey, I抦 doing the best I
can...
(under his breath)
I抎 like to see you hit a
squash ball after
seventeen beers...
ARNIE
You抮e right. Why am I
so competitive!?
Compensation, I guess.
Look, just focus, Jack.
You can still pick up the
spare...
Jack retrieves his ball, sets up, genuinely
concentrating...
JACK
(quietly, to
himself)
You are Jack Campbell.
You抮e better than this
sport. You shot the
rapids at Kenai. You ran
with the bulls at
Pamplona. You jumped out
of a plane over the
Mojave Desert, for
Christ抯 sake. You can
do this...
Jack puts everything he has into the throw, heaving the
ball down the lane with as much grace and power as he
can muster...hitting the six pin and taking out four
others.
JACK (CONT扗)
(screaming, excited)
Yeah!!
He turns, a fist pumped...But the guys could care
less...
ARNIE
(to TEAMMATE)
Okay, Pete, you抮e up.
67 INT. BOWLING ALLEY - LATE
Jack walks out of the men抯 room, heading toward the
lounge. He sees a familiar face walking toward him...a
woman in a sexy little bowling outfit, carrying a
bowling ball to a far lane.
EVELYN
Hi Jack...
A moment of confusion as he tries to place the face.
Then...
JACK
Evelyn, right?
EVELYN
Very funny. I saw you
out there on lane five.
What do you have the flu
or something?
JACK
Something like that.
EVELYN
(with a wink)
Need a nurse?
JACK
You抮e a nurse?
Evelyn laughs.
EVELYN
If that抯 what you
want...
She brushes past Jack, continuing to her lane...Jack
follows her with his eyes a moment, then...
JACK
Wait a second...
She turns.
JACK (CONT扗)
Are we...?
EVELYN
Are we what, Jack?
JACK
Is there something going
on between us?
Evelyn抯 surprised at Jack抯 directness. She stands
there a beat, then walks back toward him.
EVELYN
Are we finally being
honest?
JACK
It would help me if we
were.
EVELYN
Okay, you抮e right, we抳e
been dancing around this
for years...
Evelyn looks a little flush...she briefly fans her
face.
EVELYN (CONT扗)
God, my heart is racing.
Here goes...
(a smile)
When I get dressed for a
party and I know you抮e
going to be there...
well, let抯 just say I
don抰 go strapless
because my husband likes
it...
An intrigued smile from Jack.
EVELYN (CONT扗)
I抳e got six sets of snow
tires piled up in my
garage and I won抰 even
drive in the snow...And
our kids just happen to
be in the same ballet
class every year?
She picks a piece of lint off his shirt.
EVELYN (CONT扗)
So, if you抮e asking me
whether I抎 like it to be
more, the answer is
yes...
A look of surprise from Jack.
EVELYN (CONT扗)
...and Kate would never
have to know.
Jack considers this for a moment.
JACK
Do I have your number?
A wide smile from Evelyn.
EVELYN
Steve抯 out of town with
the kids this week. Why
don抰 you just stop by...
She turns, leaving Jack standing there, watching her
sashay back to her lane.
68 INT. BOWLING ALLEY, LOUNGE - SECONDS LATER
Jack walks into the lounge, a little dazed. He heads
over to Arnie who抯 having a beer at the bar.
ARNIE
(looking at Jack)
Hey Jack, you抮e all
flush. I guess that
seventy-one took a lot
outta you.
JACK
(sitting down)
I just saw Evelyn
Thompson.
ARNIE
She is relentless.
JACK
She wants to have an
affair with me.
ARNIE
She said that?
JACK
Pretty much.
ARNIE
Oh yeah...
(shaking his head)
What is it about you?
JACK
(pushing over a
napkin)
So could you write down
her exact address?
ARNIE
Whoa...whoa...wait a
second, Jack. You抮e not
actually gonna cheat on
Kate?
JACK
It wouldn抰 really be
cheating...
(off Arnie抯
doubtful look)
It抯 complicated.
ARNIE
Look, maybe I抦 not as
good a consigliere as you
are but you have to trust
me on this one. A little
flirtation抯 harmless but
you抮e playing with fire
here. The Fidelity Bank
and Trust is a tough
creditor. You make a
deposit somewhere else,
they close your account
forever.
JACK
I抦 telling you, those
rules don抰 apply to me,
Arn.
ARNIE
(a chuckle)
Screw the rules. I抦
talking about the choice.
Jack looks at him curiously.
ARNIE (CONT扗)
C抦on, Evelyn Thompson抯
got no class. She
doesn抰 marry Dr. Steve,
the woman抯 living in a
trailer.
JACK
Hey, is that really
necessary?
ARNIE
All I抦 saying it there
isn抰 a guy in Union
County who wouldn抰 give
his left nut to be
married to Kate...
Arnie takes one last swig of his beer and gets up...
ARNIE (CONT扗)
I抣l see ya later,
Jack...
He leaves Jack alone, thinking...
CHAPTER TEN - CAKE WARS
69 INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE - NIGHT
Jack walks into the house carrying his bowling bag. He
dumps the bag in the coat closet and walks into the
kitchen where...
Kate is at the counter, her back to him, poring over
some legal documents.
KATE
(not looking up)
How was the game, honey?
JACK
(opening the fridge)
Long, boring, and
generally pretty sad.
Arnie seemed to enjoy
it...
(peering inside)
Hey, where抯 that chocolate
cake...?
Kate turns around, revealing a huge hunk of chocolate
cake on a plate in front of her, a bite ready to go
into her mouth.
KATE
(with a smile)
You mean this chocolate
cake?
JACK
That抯 my piece. I was
saving it because I got
nauseated from that store
bought chicken.
Kate takes the bite, a little piece of icing sticks to
the side of her mouth.
KATE
It抯 good...
Jack approaches the counter.
JACK
Gimme that cake.
She takes another bite.
KATE
No way.
He makes a grab for the plate but she holds it out
where he can抰 reach it.
JACK
C抦on.
KATE
Sorry, Jack. It抯 too
important to me.
They stare each other down a moment. Then...
He tries to swipe the plate. Kate jumps out of her
chair, running out of the kitchen with the cake,
laughing...
Jack takes off after her...chasing her through the
house... just about the catch up to her when...
She darts up the stairs, still laughing...he follows
her...
JACK
I want that cake!
...reaches up...grabs her shirt...pulls her down
playfully on top of him...
KATE
(laughing)
You want the cake!?
JACK
(out of breath)
I want it...
She looks at him, then takes the whole piece in her
hand and smooshes it right in his mouth...
Beat. Then, Jack starts laughing...
JACK (CONT扗)
Thank you...
KATE
It抯 good, right?
He takes a big clump of it and smooshes i