Life Page #2

BOUNCER:

Anyone asks, it wasn't me who let

you in.

Ray slides through the crowd, pausing at the bar to nibble

on the neck of a COCKTAIL WAITRESS.

COCKTAIL WAITRESS

Don't even try it.

RAY:

When do you get off?

COCKTAIL WAITRESS

I get off at two, but you ain't never

getting off.

She carries a tray of drinks into the crowd. Ray shakes his

head in wonderment at her departing form. The BARKEEP steps

up as Ray pulls out his bottle.

BARKEEP:

You can't drink that in here, Ray.

RAY:

I sure can't drink that watered-down

swill you're serving. Give me a glass

of ice.

BARKEEP:

I can't give you a glass of ice. I

can't give you anything until you

pay your damn tab.

Disregarding the warning, Ray tilts the bottle back. Shaking

his head, the barkeep moves on to a paying customer. Ray's

eyes follow a bottle of French Champagne as it is delivered

to a nearby table.

Here sits the straight-laced CLAUDE BANKS with his girlfriend,

DAISY. She's enjoying the show. He's polishing the silverware.

The WAITER pours two glasses of champagne and leaves the

bottle on ice. Claude regards his glass skeptically.

CLAUDE:

For the kind of money they charge

here, you'd think they could hire

somebody to actually wash the dishes.

DAISY:

Claude. Here's to your new job down

at the bank. I always knew you'd

make something of yourself.

CLAUDE:

Know what I'm going to buy with my

first pay check?

Daisy thinks she does. She leans in, eyes twinkling.

CLAUDE:

Season tickets to the Yankees. Right

there on the first base line.

(off her disappointment)

What's wrong, baby?

DAISY:

I was hoping you were gonna say an

engagement ring, Claude.

French Champagne shoots out of Claude's nose.

CLAUDE:

Engagement ring!

DAISY:

That's what respectable folks do.

Get a job, get married, start having

babies. That's what you want, isn't

it?

CLAUDE:

Sure it is. I just don't see any

reason to rush into things. Damn,

look at this shirt. I'll be right

back.

Claude leans in to kiss Daisy on the lips. She offers her

cheek. He departs.

OVER BY THE BAR:

Ray watches Claude make a beeline for the men's room.

INT. MEN'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Claude steps into the bathroom and approaches the sink. A

big hand falls on his shoulder and yanks him backwards into

a stall...

INT. STALL -- NIGHT

Claude is shoved down on the toilet by two BAG MEN in suits.

Suddenly, it's crowded in here.

BAG MAN #1

Congratulations, Claude. We understand

you finally got yourself a job.

BAG MAN #2

Guess that means you can pay Mr.

Riley the fifty bucks you owe him.

They rifle through Claude's jacket and quickly find his

wallet.

CLAUDE:

Now wait a second, guys. I've got a

bill to pay out there.

BAG MAN #1

Twenty-two dollars. Not bad for a

start.

They toss back his empty wallet.

CLAUDE:

Come on, fellas, that's two weeks

pay. I'm here with my girl. You gotta

leave me something.

BAG MAN #2

How about your legs?

CLAUDE:

My legs? Those are good, I'll keep

the legs...

The stall door swings shut as the bag men depart.

INT. SPANKY'S -- NIGHT

On his way into the Men's Room, Ray squeezes past the bag

men on their way out.

INT. MEN'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Glancing around, Ray spots Claude's feet under the stall

door. He steps up to the sink, washes his hands and takes a

towel from the ATTENDANT. Scanning the assortment of grooming

products, he selects a bottle of cologne and takes a sniff.

RAY:

(displeased)

You have any of that French stuff?

As the attendent bends down to retrieve a bottle of the good

stuff, Ray palms a coin from the tip basket.

ATTENDENT:

Here you go.

Ray offers the quarter, a gesture of uncommon generosity.

RAY:

Keep the change.

ATTENDENT:

Why, thank you, sir!

Ray pats the cologne on his face. A toilet flushes and Claude

steps over to the sink. Ray catches his eye in the mirror.

RAY:

Don't I know you?

CLAUDE:

I don't think so.

RAY:

Sure I do. What's your name again?

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