A Serious Man Page #10

PICNIC AREA:

Scattered on a woodless rise above the lake are several redwood picnic tables with, next

to each, a firepit.

Here in the sun Larry glistens with sweat, as does Mel Nudell, a man of Larry’s age who

is bouncing a bag of charcoal briquettes to spill some into the firepit in the background.

Larry sits at the table in the foreground with Mimi Nudell who alone seems unaffected by

the heat—or by anything else in the physical environment. Her pale, gravely composed

Giacometti face is shaded by a large-brimmed hat.

Larry

No. Almost a year and a half since Touche Ross let him

go. He’s very good with numbers. I think his, his social

skills have held him back.

Mimi

Such a sweet man though. Such a sweet man though.

Larry

Arthur has a good heart. And he never complains, unlike

me. Sometimes I don’t give him enough credit.

Mimi

He tried to tell me about this thing he’s working on, this. . .

Larry

The Mentaculus? He says it’s a, uh. . . a probability map.

Of the universe. He asked if I could help him publish it.

Um, it was a little hard for me to evaluate.

A beat.

Mimi

Does he go out socially at all?

Larry

He tries. He’s been going to the singles mixers at Hillel

House.—Well, I should talk, I’m not doing any better.

Mimi

How is Judith?

Larry

Fine. She’s fine. I’m the odd man out.

Mimi smiles.

Mimi

Sometimes these things just aren’t meant to be. And it can

take a while before you feel what was always there, for

better or worse.

Larry

I never felt it! It was a bolt from the blue! What does that

mean! Everything that I thought was one way turns out to

be another!

Mimi

Then—it’s an opportunity to learn how things really are. —it’s an opportunity to learn how things really are.

Larry broods. Mimi softens.

. . . I’m sorry—I don’t mean to sound glib. It’s not always

easy, deciphering what God is trying to tell you. But it’s

not something you have to figure out all by yourself.

We’re Jews, we have that well of tradition to draw on, to

help us understand. When we’re puzzled we have all the

stories that have been handed down from people who had

the same problems.

Larry

I guess.

Mimi

Have you talked to Rabbi Nachtner?

Silence.

Arthur is climbing the hill from the lake, dripping wet. He projects:

Arthur

Boy! The air out here is magnificent!

Mimi, looking at Larry, responds to his dark silence:

Mimi

Why not see him?

Larry

What’s the rabbi gonna tell me?

Mimi

If I knew I’d be the rabbi.

He looks at her glumly. She laughs.

. . . Life is beautiful, Larry. Nobody’s sick. Nobody died.

You just need help remembering how to enjoy.

Mel Nudell has finished spreading and lighting the coals. He now comes and sits next to

Mimi, draping an arm over her shoulder. She strokes his hand.

. . . Where are the kids?

Mel

Woods. Exploring.

Uncle Arthur approaches, swim trunks plastered to his thighs, hair dripping, one hand

pressing his towel to the back of his neck.

Arthur

If somebody could bottle this air they’d make a million

bucks!

A white title:

The First Rabbi

SYNAGOGUE OFFICE ANTEROOM

Day. Larry sits waiting. A door opens and he rises.

Larry

Oh—Rabbi Scott.

Rabbi Scott Ginzler is the shockingly young junior rabbi.

Rabbi Scott

Hello Larry.

Larry

I thought I was going to see Rabbi Nachtner.

Rabbi Scott

He was called away on an etz monim: Ruth Brynn’s mother

is in the hospital and she isn’t doing well. Rabbi Nachtner

asked me to cover for him—come on in.

RABBI SCOTT’S OFFICE

A few minutes later. Larry sits tensely hunched.

Larry

And she wants a Gett. And she wants a Gett.

A long silence. The hum of ventilation.

At length:

Rabbi Scott

A what?

Larry

She wants a—

Rabbi Scott

Oh, a Gett. Uh-huh, sure.

Larry

I feel like the carpet’s been yanked out from under me. I

don’t know which end is up. I’m not even sure how to

react; I’m too confused.

Rabbi Scott

What reasons did she give? For the rupture?

Larry

She didn’t give—reasons. Just that, oh, you know, things

haven’t been going well.

Rabbi Scott

And is that true?

Larry

I guess. I don’t know. She’s usually right about these

things.

Rabbi Scott

Mm-hm.

Larry

I feel so. . . addled.

Rabbi Scott

Yes, I can see.

Larry

I was hoping that. . . Rabbi Nachtner. . .

Rabbi Scott

That he would. . . yes?

Larry

Well, with the benefit of his life experience. . . no

offense—

Rabbi Scott chuckles.

Rabbi Scott

No, of course not. I am the junior rabbi. And it’s true, the

point-of-view of somebody who’s older and perhaps had

similar problems might be more valid. And you should see

the senior rabbi as well, by all means. Or even Marshak if

you can get in, he’s quite busy. But maybe—can I share

something with you? Because I too have had the feeling of

losing track of Hashem, which is the problem here. I too

have forgotten how to see Him in the world. And when

that happens you think, well, if I can’t see Him, He isn’t

there any more, He’s gone. But that’s not the case. You

just need to remember how to see Him. Am I right?

He rises and goes to the window.

. . . I mean, the parking lot here. Not much to see.

It is a different angle on the same parking lot we saw from the Hebrew school window.

. . . But if you imagine yourself a visitor, somebody who

isn’t familiar with these. . . autos and such. . . somebody

still with a capacity for wonder. . . Someone with a fresh. . .

perspective. That’s what it is, Larry.

Larry

Um. . .

Rabbi Scott

Because with the right perspective you can see Hashem,

you know, reaching into the world. He is in the world, not

just in shul. It sounds to me like you’re looking at the

world, looking at your wife, through tired eyes. It sounds

like she’s become a sort of. . .

world, looking at your wife, through tired eyes. It sounds

like she’s become a sort of. . . thing. . . a problem. . . a

thing. . .

Larry

Well, she’s, she’s seeing Sy Ableman.

Rabbi Scott

Oh.

Larry

She’s, they’re planning, that’s why they want the Gett.

Rabbi Scott

Oh. I’m sorry.

Larry

It was his idea.

Rabbi Scott

Well, they do need a Gett to remarry in the faith. But—this

is life. For you too. You can’t cut yourself off from the

mystical or you’ll be—you’ll remain—completely lost.

You have to see these things as expressions of God’s will.

You don’t have to like it, of course.

Larry

The boss isn’t always right, but he’s always the boss.

Rabbi Scott

Ha-ha-ha! That’s right, things aren’t so bad. Look at the

parking lot, Larry.

Rabbi Scott gazes out, marveling.

. . . Just look at that parking lot.

EXTERIOR:
GOPNIK HOUSE

Our low angle looks across the lawn toward the front of the house. Pounding footsteps

approach and feet enter just off the lens and the person quickly recedes, cropping in as

he races up to the house: Danny. he races up to the house: Danny.

A beat later pursuing feet enter, slowing, for Danny is already mounting the front stoop.

Danny’s pursuer does not go deep enough to crop in but we might gather from the size-

eleven sneakers and the cuffed jeans that it is hulking Mike Fagle.

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