1384 lines
28 KiB
Plaintext
1384 lines
28 KiB
Plaintext
ALTERNATE SIDE OF THE STREET
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an original screenplay by Jeff Massie
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CompuServe 76474,1326
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===============================
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Copyright (c) 1986 by Jeffrey N. Massie
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WGAw Registered
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The author gives permission to download this material and make
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one copy for personal use only.
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===============================
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===============================
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This screenplay was originally written in 1974 when I was a junior
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at the New York University Institute of Film and Television. For
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various reasons, personal and otherwise, the script was never
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produced.
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I have not lived in New York since 1977. A few months ago, the
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purchase of a Manhattan guidebook at a used-book sale in LA
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reminded me of my old script. I had lost all copies of my old
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material, so I resurrected the script from memory. I think the
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result is better than the original.
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What in 1974 would have been contemporary history is now a
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nostalgic "period piece". I would be very interested in your
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comments and criticisms.
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===============================
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EXT. - DAY - BROOME STREET
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Manhattan, summer 1969. A side street off Lafayette Street,
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three blocks south of Houston Street, in an area that is just
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beginning to be known as SoHo.
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MAX, age 22, is waiting in front of a dilapidated old building.
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Max's hair comes down six inches past his shoulders; he is
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dressed in a T-shirt and dungarees.
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A taxi pulls up to the curb, and JENNY, age 24, gets out. Jenny,
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who is on her lunch hour, wears a business suit. She pays off
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the driver, and walks up to Max.
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JENNY
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This isn't such a great
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neighborhood .....
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MAX
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You haven't even seen the inside
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yet! C'mon ....
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They go inside.
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INT. - FIRST FLOOR
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There is no lobby to speak of, only a stairway.
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MAX
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Mr. Silverman said it may be a
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while before he can get the
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elevator fixed, but the stairs
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are in good shape ...
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JENNY
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That's reassuring. I'd hate to
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have the stairs go out on us ...
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They start up the stairs. Slowly.
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INT. - LOFT
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The loft is no more impressive than the rest of the building.
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There is trash everywhere. A cast-iron ladder against one wall
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leads to a trapdoor in the ceiling.
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A _very_ long pause.
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MAX
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I know the place needs work ...
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JENNY
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Oh, Max ... Max, what the place
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needs is a surgical air strike.
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Thank God you didn't sign anything
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...
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MAX
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What else are we going to find
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in Manhattan for one thirty-five
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a month?
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JENNY
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Well, we might find something
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that's legal to live in. Won't
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it be fun after we've killed
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ourselves fixing the place up,
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and nice old Mr. Silverman evicts
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us for zoning violations?
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MAX
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You've been listening to your
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father. That doesn't happen any
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more. Look at this ...
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He has uncovered an big old wooden sign, with the letters barely
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legible: "Eastern Manufacturing Co."
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JENNY
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There's no kitchen!
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MAX
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So we'll use a hot plate.
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JENNY
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And what about your car?
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MAX
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What about it?
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JENNY
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Where are you going to put it?
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Does this place come with valet
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parking?
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MAX
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I'll park on the street.
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JENNY
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You must be joking ...
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MAX
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Jenny, it's a 1962 VW. Who's going
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to steal it?
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JENNY
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Steal it? Max, they won't _find_
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it! Do you have any idea what
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street parking is like around
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here?
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MAX
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(annoyed)
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Compared with the room over your
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father's garage in Westport, I'm
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sure this place has very little
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going for it ...
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JENNY
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(pointing to the
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trapdoor)
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What's up there?
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MAX
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I don't know ... Let's see!
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Max starts up the trapdoor. Jenny tries to start after him, but
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she stumbles on her high heels.
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MAX
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(as he opens the
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trapdoor)
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Take your shoes off!
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She kicks them off, and follows him up.
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EXT. - ROOF
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A medium shot as Jenny struggles awkwardly out of the hatch,
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trying to keep her suit clean. She kneels onto the gravelled
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roof.
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JENNY
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Ouch!
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MAX
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Here ...
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Max picks her up in his arms. As he does so, the camera pulls
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back. You can see much of lower Manhattan. They are silent a
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while.
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MAX
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Well?
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JENNY
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(weakening)
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Where are we going to find
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furniture?
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MAX
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I'll build it. George told me
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about a place on Canal Street that
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rents floor sanders and stuff ...
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JENNY
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Dibs on the south wall.
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MAX
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It's yours. What for?
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JENNY
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(putting her head on
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his shoulder)
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I've seen you take over a room
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with your stuff. I need the north
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light, too ...
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MAX
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Does this mean yes?
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JENNY
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Only if we sleep up here ...
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They kiss.
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DISSOLVE TO:
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EXT. - LATE AFTERNOON - MULBERRY STREET
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About three blocks from the loft. Max, in his VW, is looking for
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a parking space.
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INT. - CAR
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Ahead, Max sees an empty parking space. He pulls in.
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EXT. - MULBERRY STREET
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Max pops the trunk and gets out of the car. He looks closely at
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the sign: "NO PARKING -- Tuesday/Thursday 8 AM-10 AM -- STREET
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CLEANING". He takes several shopping bags from the trunk and
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closes it.
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As he walks down the street, he passes an old man, sitting in a
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lawn chair directly in the middle of the sidewalk.
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MAX
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(as he steps past)
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Excuse me ...
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The old man says nothing. After Max walks out of camera range,
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the old man turns back to look after him, then turns to look at
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the car.
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CUT TO:
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INT. - LOFT
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Max enters, bags in hand. The loft shows signs of improvement.
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Jenny is painting the walls.
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JENNY
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(as Max kisses her)
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Did you talk to Mr. Hanna?
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MAX
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(unpacking groceries)
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Yes, I talked to Mr. Hanna. He
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still wants me to run errands,
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but I think I can get him to boost
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my gas allowance.
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JENNY
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That's not good enough. That car
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is getting to be a real pain in
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the ass!
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MAX
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I'm still up for an apprenticeship
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on the web press.
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JENNY
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And then what? You keep saying
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it's not what you want to do with
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the rest of your life.
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MAX
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It's a job, love, and it's a good
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one. Taste this.
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He puts a piece of salami in her open mouth.
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JENNY
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(effectively shut up
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for a second)
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Not bad. Where'd you get it?
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MAX
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New little place called Dean and
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DeLuca. Real cheap ... You
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wouldn't believe how easy it was
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to find a parking place tonight!
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JENNY
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(instantly suspicious)
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Did you check ...
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MAX
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Yes, I checked the signs. What
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kind of an idiot do you think I
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am?
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JENNY
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... No comment.
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CUT TO:
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EXT. - NIGHT - ROOF
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Max and Jenny are laying on a mattress on the roof. There is a
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full moon.
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MAX
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On Saturday I want to finish
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sanding the floors. What do you
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think of turning that sign into
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a table?
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JENNY
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(sleepy)
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Mmmm ...
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MAX
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You know that thing is solid oak?
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They don't make them like that
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any more ...
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The camera pans away from them. One light is still on in the
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building on the other side of the street.
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DISSOLVE TO:
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EXT. - MORNING - MULBERRY STREET
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Max approaches his car. There is a piece of paper under the
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windshield wiper. The note reads "DO NOT PARK HERE".
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Max looks around. From the corner of his eye, he thinks he sees
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a woman peering at him from a window across the street, but when
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he turns, there is no one there.
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He gets in his car and pulls away.
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DISSOLVE TO:
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EXT. - LATE AFTERNOON - BRONX
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Shot of a bank clock; it is 5:40 pm.
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Short montage of Max fighting traffic: on the Major Deegan
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Expressway, then on the Third Ave. Bridge, then through Harlem.
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It gets progressively darker.
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EXT. - EVENING - SOHO
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By the time Max gets to Houston Street it is after dark. He
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turns onto Mulberry Street. The space he parked in that morning
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is still open. He stops in the middle of the street, unsure of
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what to do.
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A car behind him beeps his horn. Max moves on.
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More shots of Max looking for a parking place. He is very tired
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and increasingly frustrated.
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Finally, he turns back onto Mulberry Street. The parking space
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is still open. He takes it.
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EXT. - MULBERRY STREET
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Max gets out of the car. A young boy across the street is
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staring at him. Max walks away.
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DISSOLVE TO:
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INT. - LOFT
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The south end of the loft is filled with humongous pieces of
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metal, bent into various twisted, abstract shapes. In the midst
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of them, a figure wearing a welder's mask, apron and gloves is
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busy with a blowtorch.
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Max enters, at the other end of the loft. The figure with the
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mask turns off the blowtorch and lifts her mask. It is Jenny.
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JENNY
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Hello, love. You're late ...
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MAX
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Mmmpf.
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JENNY
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(removing her apron and
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gloves)
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What?
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MAX
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(loud)
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I said I know I'm late!
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JENNY
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You don't have to shout.
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MAX
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Sorry.
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JENNY
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Get yourself ready. George and
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Martha will be here in twenty
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minutes.
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MAX
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Oh, God, I forgot. I'm really not
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up to going out ...
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JENNY
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(approaching him)
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But it was your idea ... You
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feeling O. K. ?
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She puts her hand on his forehead to feel his temperature. He
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takes his hand and kisses her palm. They hug.
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MAX
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I'm really a wreck, I'm going to
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turn in early. Have a good time.
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JENNY
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I'll try not to wake you.
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Max starts up the ladder. Jenny looks up after him.
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DISSOLVE TO:
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EXT. - MORNING - MULBERRY STREET
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Max removes another note from his windshield. This one reads
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"!!! NO PARK HERE !!!! LAST WARNING OR ELSE !!!!"
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Max looks around. The old man in the lawn chair is sitting in
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his usual spot.
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Max approaches him.
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MAX
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Excuse me?
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The old man says nothing.
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MAX
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Do you know who's been leaving
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these notes on my windshield?
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OLD MAN
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(he speaks with an
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Italian accent)
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What note is that? Let me see.
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Max gives him the note. The old man takes out his glasses and
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reads it.
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OLD MAN
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'No park here ...' Have you been
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parking in someone else's place?
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MAX
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No, it's public parking.
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OLD MAN
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Perhaps the police.
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MAX
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Huh?
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OLD MAN
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Perhaps the police. They want to
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be nice, they don't want to give
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you a ticket.
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MAX
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But the sign says 'No Parking,
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Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 am
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to 10 am'. I'm not parked
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illegally.
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OLD MAN
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It's none of my business, but you
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know what I think? I think this
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note comes from someone who is
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trying to do you a favor.
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He holds out the note to give back to Max. Max hesitates, then
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takes it.
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MAX
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Okay, thank you.
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He turns quickly and walks back to his car. He gets in it and
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drives away. The old man watches.
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The camera stays on the old man for a few seconds. Then, an old
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woman (his wife) comes down the steps from the building behind
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him. {Dialogue in brackets is in Italian.}
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OLD WOMAN
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{Giorgio, did you tell him?}
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OLD MAN
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{Yes, but I don't know if he heard
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me.}
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The old woman shakes her head.
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INT. - LATE AFTERNOON - LOFT
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Jenny and Max sit on an old, used couch, the first piece of real
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furniture they have acquired. The two notes are side-by-side
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between them.
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JENNY
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I can't believe you parked there
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again ... Do you think maybe we
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should call the police?
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MAX
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These people don't take kindly
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to calling the police ...
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(Jenny glances at him)
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... you know what I mean.
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JENNY
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But they don't even know us ...
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look, maybe tonight you should
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park in a garage?
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MAX
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I don't have that kind of money.
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JENNY
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(reaching for her
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pocketbook)
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Here.
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MAX
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No!
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JENNY
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Max, please ....
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MAX
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And what am I supposed to do
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tomorrow night? And the night
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after?
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JENNY
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(putting the money in
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his breast pocket)
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You'll park somewhere else.
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Max looks at her. He does not move.
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CUT TO:
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EXT. - NIGHT - MULBERRY STREET
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Max approaches his car, and gets in. He puts the keys in the
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ignition and releases the hand brake. He stops and sits,
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wrestling with his pride.
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Suddenly, bright lights appear in his rear-view mirror. He turns
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his head.
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A very large black Cadillac is sitting in the middle of the
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street behind him, waiting, with its brights on.
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The driver's door opens. We see the shadow of a chauffeur,
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dressed in black. He gets halfway out of the car, leans against
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the door and waits.
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Max bites his lower lip.
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From the chauffeur's POV, we see Max get out of the car and lock
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the door. He starts walking down the sidewalk.
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Cut to a high shot, taken from the top of a nearby building.
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Max walks down the street toward the camera. The chauffeur
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watches him, but does not move. Max walks out of frame.
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CUT TO:
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INT. - LOFT
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Jenny is getting ready for bed. Max enters.
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JENNY
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Did you ...
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She turns to look at him. He drops the money in her lap.
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MAX
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We live here, too.
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DISSOLVE TO:
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EXT. - MORNING - MULBERRY STREET
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Max approaches his car ... and stops.
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Reverse angle, Max's POV. All four tires are flat; the rear and
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side windows are smashed. Max reads the note on the window -
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"DO NOT PARK HERE".
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CUT TO:
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INT. - LOFT
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Max is on the phone. Jenny is getting ready for work.
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MAX
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How much? ... no, I'll call you
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back.
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(hangs up phone)
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Thirty-five dollars just for the
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tow truck.
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JENNY
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What are you going to do?
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MAX
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I don't know ... I almost wish
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they'd stolen it.
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JENNY
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Don't do anything rash ... I gotta
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go. Call Mr. Hanna.
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MAX
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Yeah, okay.
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CUT TO:
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EXT. - MULBERRY STREET
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Max leans against the car, his arms crossed.
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Giorgio walks out of the building, his folding chair under his
|
||
arm. He descends the steps to the street, unfolds the chair and
|
||
sits down.
|
||
|
||
Max stands up. He is about to approach Giorgio when the tow
|
||
truck arrives. It stops, and the driver gets out.
|
||
|
||
DRIVER
|
||
Max Harrison?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Yep.
|
||
|
||
DRIVER
|
||
(inspecting the car)
|
||
Geez, someone really did a number
|
||
on you.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(loudly)
|
||
Yep, a real professional job.
|
||
|
||
The driver starts to hitch up the car.
|
||
|
||
DRIVER
|
||
Whaddya think they were looking
|
||
for, drugs or something?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(looking at Giorgio)
|
||
I have no idea.
|
||
|
||
Giorgio does not respond. Max and the driver get in the truck
|
||
and drive away.
|
||
|
||
CUT TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
INT. - AFTERNOON - GARAGE
|
||
|
||
Max is at a pay phone.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Mr. Harrison's office, please ...
|
||
yes, I'll hold ...
|
||
(long pause)
|
||
Laura, this is Max ... yes, I'll
|
||
hold ...
|
||
(another long pause)
|
||
Laura, I've got to talk to Dad,
|
||
it's important ... I'll wait ...
|
||
no, he can't call me, I'm not at
|
||
home ... yeah, give him the
|
||
message.
|
||
|
||
Max hangs up the phone.
|
||
|
||
CUT TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
INT. - EARLY EVENING - LOFT
|
||
|
||
Max is making a pot of coffee on the hot plate. Jenny is working
|
||
in the corner with a small metal drill press.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
He won't call back, you know.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
I know. I'll talk to Mom.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(turning)
|
||
You shouldn't ... what are you
|
||
doing?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
I'm going to spend the night in
|
||
the car.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
WHAT??? ... You parked there
|
||
_again_, didn't you? Are you out
|
||
of your mind?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
They won't do anything if I'm in
|
||
the car. Not right there in the
|
||
middle of the neighborhood.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
How do you know that?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(gathering his stuff)
|
||
See you later. Be sure to lock
|
||
the police lock behind me.
|
||
|
||
He leaves.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(calling after him)
|
||
I'll sleep with my machete!
|
||
|
||
DISSOLVE TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - NIGHT - MULBERRY STREET
|
||
|
||
Max has made himself as comfortable as can be expected: pillows,
|
||
blankets, food, a portable radio tuned to Bob Fass on WBAI. He
|
||
is reading Frantz Fanon by flashlight.
|
||
|
||
He throws the book in the back seat and changes the station to
|
||
WPLJ. The station is playing "Uncle John's Band" by the Grateful
|
||
Dead. Max leans back and closes his eyes. Twenty seconds later,
|
||
his head falls to the side; he is asleep.
|
||
|
||
Suddenly, the passenger door opens. Max awakens with a
|
||
frightened start.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(yelling)
|
||
Hey!
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(getting in)
|
||
Calm down, it's only me.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Jesus, you scared me ...
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
Sorry. I was ...
|
||
(holding out a paper
|
||
bag)
|
||
I brought some cookies.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(taking one)
|
||
Thanks.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
Your mom called, I told her about
|
||
the car.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
What did she say?
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
What do you think she said? "Get
|
||
out of there before they kill
|
||
you!" She also said she'd talk
|
||
to your father but it would help
|
||
if you got a haircut.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(ironically)
|
||
Good old Mom. She always comes
|
||
through ...
|
||
|
||
A long pause. Neither of them looks at each other.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Something on your mind?
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
... I'm worried about us. It's
|
||
-- so goddamned _lonely_ down here!
|
||
No one ever comes to visit us.
|
||
We don't know anyone south of 14th
|
||
Street ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
That'll change once we have some
|
||
work to show. Once the loft is
|
||
finished ...
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
The loft will _never_ be finished!
|
||
That's just an excuse, and you
|
||
know it! ... You haven't done any
|
||
painting since we moved here.
|
||
You're always too tired, or you're
|
||
worried about this car or your
|
||
job ...
|
||
|
||
Max says nothing.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
If we're going to be artists,
|
||
let's be artists. If we're not
|
||
going to be artists, then let's
|
||
live somewhere where you don't
|
||
have to sleep in your car to
|
||
defend your turf!
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Do you want to move back to
|
||
Westport?
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
That's not what I said! I just
|
||
think ...
|
||
|
||
Suddenly the inside of the car is lit up like daylight.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(pulling Jenny down into
|
||
the well)
|
||
GET DOWN !!!!
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
What the hell ...
|
||
|
||
It's the black Cadillac again, with its brights on. Max turns
|
||
the radio off.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(whispering)
|
||
It's the car that was here last
|
||
night!
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(a little hysterical)
|
||
Oh, my God ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Shhhh!
|
||
|
||
The camera holds on them as they hear the Cadillac door slam.
|
||
There is silence for several seconds. Finally, Max peeks out.
|
||
|
||
The chauffeur is at the landing of Giorgio's building, talking
|
||
with Giorgio, who is in his bathrobe. Nothing can be heard, but
|
||
they seem to be arguing. Each of then occasionally gesticulates
|
||
in the direction of Max's car.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(starting to get up)
|
||
What's going on ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(pushing her down again)
|
||
Down!
|
||
|
||
The chauffeur walks back toward the car. As he walks past he
|
||
kicks the rear fender, hard.
|
||
|
||
Jenny gives a little yelp. The chauffeur stops, thinking he
|
||
heard something. He shrugs, and gets back in the Cadillac. The
|
||
car drives away.
|
||
|
||
Max gets up.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
They're gone ...
|
||
|
||
It sounds like Jenny is crying, but as she gets up we see she is
|
||
laughing.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(smiling)
|
||
What's so funny?
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
I was thinking about your mother
|
||
...
|
||
|
||
DISSOLVE TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - EARLY MORNING - MULBERRY STREET
|
||
|
||
It is 5:30 am. Max and Jenny are asleep in each other's arms.
|
||
The alarm clock on the dashboard rings. Max turns it off.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Time to hit the road.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(trying to stretch)
|
||
We must do this again sometime.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
No, thanks.
|
||
|
||
CUT TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - LAFAYETTE STREET
|
||
|
||
Stiff and bedraggled, Max and Jenny look not unlike a couple of
|
||
"street people" as they trudge home, carrying all the stuff from
|
||
the car.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
I was thinking ... what if I just
|
||
quit and sell the car?
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
Why?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Maybe it's just not worth the
|
||
hassle ... I'm turning into my
|
||
father, Mr. Commuter.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
I'm not worried too much about
|
||
you turning into your father.
|
||
Let's not rush into anything ...
|
||
(she stops walking for
|
||
a second)
|
||
God, I love the city this time
|
||
of morning.
|
||
|
||
Max stops also. They look around, then at each other.
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
And I love you.
|
||
|
||
DISSOLVE TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - MORNING - MULBERRY STREET
|
||
|
||
About an hour and a half later, Max approaches his car. He is
|
||
freshly showered and shaven, and wearing a jacket and tie; most
|
||
noticeably, his hair is considerably shorter.
|
||
|
||
Giorgio is in his usual spot.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(as he passes)
|
||
Good morning!
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Good morning ...
|
||
(notices the change)
|
||
Well!
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
I thought you'd approve ...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
What's the occasion?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(not at all sure why
|
||
he's telling him this)
|
||
I'm ... seeing my father today.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
(laughing)
|
||
I'm sure _he'll_ approve!
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(smiling in spite of
|
||
himself)
|
||
Yeah, well ... I have to be
|
||
getting to work ...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Work? Where do you work?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Hanna Offset Printing, in
|
||
Scarsdale.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
(impressed)
|
||
A printer. That is an honorable
|
||
profession.
|
||
(sternly)
|
||
Are you a union member?
|
||
|
||
Max takes out his wallet and pulls out a card.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(with sincere pride)
|
||
Allied Trades, Local 143!
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Good for you! For twenty-three
|
||
years I was the shop steward for
|
||
Eastern Manufacturing.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
That's very interesting. Listen
|
||
...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Go, get to work, you'll be late.
|
||
We'll talk later.
|
||
|
||
Max gets in his car and leaves. Giorgio looks thoughtful.
|
||
|
||
DISSOLVE TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - LATE AFTERNOON - MULBERRY STREET
|
||
|
||
Giorgio is sitting just where he was this morning. A radio is
|
||
playing "Cavalleria Rusticana". Max approaches.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Where's your car?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
I ... parked somewhere else.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
You found a spot? Where?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Third Street and Avenue D.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Ah ... Where is that?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Good question ... Is that
|
||
Bjoerling?
|
||
(referring to the music)
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
No, Gigli ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
... Listen, I was thinking about
|
||
something. Did you say this
|
||
morning you used to work for the
|
||
Eastern Manufacturing Company?
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
That's right. So did many of the
|
||
people in this neighborhood.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
... I'm sorry. I didn't know ...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
(smiling)
|
||
You speak as if you had done us
|
||
some injury. _You_ didn't send the
|
||
work away.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Yes, but ... I don't think it ever
|
||
occurred to me that anyone had
|
||
ever been in that building before
|
||
us ... You seemed surprised that
|
||
I worked for a living ...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
We all thought you went to the
|
||
university ... My wife sees your
|
||
girl, she sees that she wears no
|
||
ring ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Ah ...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
So you see, we are all guilty of
|
||
not understanding each other ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
I guess we haven't come off too
|
||
well with you ...
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Listen to me, young man. My
|
||
children and my neighbors'
|
||
children, they have grown up and
|
||
moved away. We wanted them to
|
||
come back and let us give them
|
||
what we have made, what is theirs
|
||
to have. But if they won't, why
|
||
should it not go to those who will
|
||
take good care of it?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
How do you know we'll stay?
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
You'll stay. You like it here,
|
||
I can see it in your faces. When
|
||
enough of you are here, the
|
||
neighborhood will be yours. And
|
||
we will hate you for it.
|
||
(He takes a card from
|
||
his pocket and gives
|
||
it to Max)
|
||
Tomorrow morning, go see my friend
|
||
at the garage on Grand Street.
|
||
|
||
The card is imprinted: "Giorgio DiPalma, 175 Mulberry Street".
|
||
On the other side is written "Frank Lorenzo, 195 Grand St.".
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Thanks, but I _know_ I can't afford
|
||
to park in a garage.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
(kindly but firmly)
|
||
Please, go see him.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
O.K., I will. Thank you very much.
|
||
|
||
GIORGIO
|
||
Oh, and listen ... don't forget
|
||
to cover up when you sleep at
|
||
night.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(looking at the card)
|
||
Yes, thank you.
|
||
|
||
CUT TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - BROOME STREET
|
||
|
||
Max walks home, still thinking about what Giorgio said. He
|
||
stops.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(to himself)
|
||
Cover up ...
|
||
|
||
A look of total horror crosses his face. He starts to run.
|
||
|
||
CUT TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - ROOF
|
||
|
||
Jenny is sunbathing on the roof, topless. Max bursts through the
|
||
trapdoor.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Jenny, for God sakes! They can _see_
|
||
us up here!
|
||
|
||
It takes Jenny a second to react; then, she shrieks and covers
|
||
herself.
|
||
|
||
CUT TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - MORNING - GRAND STREET
|
||
|
||
Max drives up to the garage and gets out. There is no one there.
|
||
|
||
He looks at the rate sign. The monthly parking rate is two
|
||
hundred and nineteen dollars.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(to himself)
|
||
Jesus Christ ...
|
||
|
||
The garage man approaches from behind; a short man in a blue
|
||
uniform, with an unlit cigar in his mouth.
|
||
|
||
GARAGE MAN
|
||
Whaddya want?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(startled)
|
||
Uh ... hello.
|
||
|
||
GARAGE MAN
|
||
You wanna park, or what?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(reaches in his pocket)
|
||
Are you ...
|
||
(finds the card)
|
||
... Frank Lorenzo?
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
The same ...
|
||
|
||
Max hands him the card. Frank looks at the card, then he looks
|
||
at Max. Then he looks at the card again; then he looks at Max
|
||
again. Finally he looks at the car.
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
This your heap?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Yes.
|
||
|
||
Frank growls. He steps into his booth and sticks the business
|
||
card into the time clock.
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
Top floor, space 218. _No_ valet
|
||
service, _no_ gas, _no_ washing, _no_
|
||
waxing. The garage is not
|
||
responsible for damage. The garage
|
||
is not responsible for personal
|
||
items left in the car.
|
||
(he hands Max a piece
|
||
of paper and points
|
||
at the car)
|
||
Sign that and _move it!_
|
||
|
||
He starts to walk away.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Uh ...
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
_Now_ what?
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
How much is it?
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
HOW MUCH IS IT ???
|
||
(his face starts to turn
|
||
deep red)
|
||
HOW ... MUCH ... IS ... IT ?????
|
||
(He swallows. The next
|
||
line is spoken very,
|
||
very softly)
|
||
Seventy-five a month.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(he knows he didn't hear
|
||
that right)
|
||
I'm sorry, what did you say?
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
(screaming)
|
||
I SAID SEVENTY-FIVE A MONTH!
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(incredulous)
|
||
That can't be right ...
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
(with clenched teeth)
|
||
It's our neighborhood discount
|
||
rate ... and if you _ever_ breathe
|
||
a word of this to anybody I'll
|
||
grind your face into the sidewalk.
|
||
_Capisce?_
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(meekly)
|
||
Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
|
||
|
||
He goes to move the car.
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
Oh, and kid ...
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Yes?
|
||
|
||
FRANK
|
||
(with total contempt)
|
||
Welcome to the fucking
|
||
neighborhood ...
|
||
|
||
DISSOLVE TO:
|
||
|
||
|
||
EXT. - NIGHT - ROOF
|
||
|
||
It is now September. In the streets, the Feast of San Gennaro is
|
||
in full bloom. The sounds and smells waft their way up to where
|
||
Max and Jenny are having a candlelit dinner. They have brought
|
||
their stereo speakers up to the roof, where they are playing
|
||
the finale to Act II of "La Boheme". Max is dressed in a tuxedo;
|
||
Jenny is wearing a strapless evening gown.
|
||
|
||
Max opens and pours a bottle of champagne.
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
(proposing a toast)
|
||
To Art!
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(as they clink glasses)
|
||
To Art! ...
|
||
(They drink)
|
||
... especially _your_ art. You're
|
||
a painter again!
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
Hardly ...
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
Yes, you are! That's a work of
|
||
art!
|
||
|
||
MAX
|
||
After a fashion, I suppose ...
|
||
|
||
JENNY
|
||
(indicating the street
|
||
sounds)
|
||
The opening's a success. Listen
|
||
to your audience applaud!
|
||
|
||
Max walks up to the edge and takes a deep bow.
|
||
|
||
Reverse angle from the street. We can see Max bowing, a small
|
||
figure on the roof. Hanging below him is his new masterpiece, a
|
||
carefully painted and refurbished sign, restored to its place of
|
||
honor where it used to hang, on the front of the building :
|
||
"Eastern Manufacturing Co."
|
||
|
||
FADE TO BLACK
|
||
|