A Serious Man Page #8

We track toward the buses to steepen the rake. As children sort themselves and climb

into their respective vehicles, the track brings the nearest bus into the foreground. It

noisily idles with its signature squeaks and stress sounds, its low engine rumbling.

Children start climbing on.

MINUTES LATER:

Inside the bus, now moving. Engine noise bangs in louder and air roars in through open

windows. Somewhere on the bus, Jefferson Airplane plays.

We are on the driver, a sallow man in a short-sleeved white shirt with earlocks and a

yarmulka. He pitches about, stoically wrestling with the wheel and gear shift as the

vehicle bucks.

The pitching children.

Danny

I gotta get my radio back.

Mark Sallerson

Maybe the f***er lodged it up his f***ing a**hole.

Danny

I gotta get it back. Or Mike Fagle’s gonna pound the crap

out of me.

Mark Sallerson

Way up his a**hole.

Danny

And I’ll still have to get my sister the money back or she’s

gonna break four of my records. Twenty bucks, four

records.

Howard Altar

How do you buy all those records. Where do you get your

funds.

CLOSE ON LARRY LOSE ON LARRY

Standing in his yard. His eyes are darkly pouched. He is staring at something, it seems

in distress. We hear a fluttering sound.

His point-of-view: stakes are set out in the Brandts’ yard. Red ribbon connecting them

outlines a projection from the side of the house. The loose ends of the ribbon flutter in

the breeze.

Engine noise brings Larry’s look around. A car is arriving.

It is the Brandts’ car, oddly burdened. As it pulls into their driveway we see that there is

a four-point stag strapped to the hood, its head lolling over the grille.

Mr. Brandt and Mitch get out of the car in their hunting fatigues. Blood is smeared on

Mr. Brandt’s shirt.

Mr. Brandt

Go scrub up, Mitch.

Larry

Uh, good afternoon.

This brings Mr. Brandt’s look around. Apparently he is unused to talking with his

neighbor. A short beat.

Mr. Brandt

Afternoon.

Behind him is the dead buck, staring off through sightless eyes.

Larry

(lamely)

. . . Been hunting?

Mr. Brandt

Yep.

Larry

Is that a, uh. . .

He is indicating the staked area. Mr. Brandt looks around at it, looks back at Larry.

Mr. Brandt

Gonna be a den.

Larry

Uh-huh, that’s great. Uh, Mr. Brandt—

Mr. Brandt barks at Mitch, who has lingered to listen to the grown-ups:

Mr. Brandt

I said scrub up, Mitch!

The child quickly goes. Larry frowns.

Larry

Isn’t this a school day?

Gonna be a den.

Larry

Uh-huh, that’s great. Uh, Mr. Brandt—

Mr. Brandt barks at Mitch, who has lingered to listen to the grown-ups:

Mr. Brandt

I said scrub up, Mitch!

The child quickly goes. Larry frowns.

Larry

Isn’t this a school day?

Mr. Brandt

Took him out of school today. So he could hunt with his

dad.

Larry

Oh!

He nods.

. . . That’s. . . nice.

Mr. Brandt stares at him with button eyes. Small talk is not his thing.

Larry clears his throat.

. . . Um, Mr. Brandt, that’s just about at the property line,

there. I don’t think we’re supposed to get within, what, ten

feet—

Mr. Brandt

Property line’s the poplar.

Larry

. . . the. . .?

Mr. Brandt

Poplar!

Larry

. . . Well. . . even if it is, you’re just about over it—

Mr. Brandt

Measure.

We hear two pairs of pounding footsteps coming up the street.

Larry

I don’t have to measure, you can tell it’s—

Mr. Brandt

Line’s the poplar.

He indicates.

. . . It’s all angles.

. . . Well. . . even if it is, you’re just about over it—

Mr. Brandt

Measure.

We hear two pairs of pounding footsteps coming up the street.

Larry

I don’t have to measure, you can tell it’s—

Mr. Brandt

Line’s the poplar.

He indicates.

. . . It’s all angles.

Mr. Brandt turns and goes.

Larry turns, reacting to the pounding footsteps. One of the two pairs belongs to Danny

who arrives, slowing to a walk, panting, a bookbag over his shoulder.

A half-block back the pursuing boy also stops running. Husky, shaggy-haired, he

watches, scowling, as Danny goes up the walk to his house.

Larry addresses Danny’s retreating back:

Larry

What’s going on?

Danny

Nothing.

IN THE HOUSE:

Larry enters.

Judith (off)

Larry?

Larry

(projecting)

Yeah?

Judith (off)

Did you go to Sieglestein Schlutz?

Larry

No, I—not yet.

Judith (off)

Larry.

Larry

Appointment Monday.

The thud of a car door outside.

Sarah emerges from the hall and heads for the front door, pulling on a jacket. Larry is

surprised.

. . . Where are you going?

Sarah

I’m going to The Hole.

Larry

At five o’clock?

He looks out the front-door window. Four girls have emerged from a car and are coming

up the walk. They are Sarah’s age and all have dark hair and big noses.

Sarah

We’re stopping at Laurie Kipperstein’s house so I can wash

my hair.

Larry pulls open the door. From the four dark girls:

Voices

Hi, Mr. Gopnik.

Larry

You can’t wash it here?

From somewhere in the house, Jefferson Airplane starts.

As she brushes past Larry:

Sarah

Uncle Arthur’s in the bathroom.

Voice

Out in a minute!

Judith enters.

Judith

Are you ready?

Larry

Huh?

Judith

We’re meeting Sy at Embers.

Larry

se, Jefferson Airplane starts.

As she brushes past Larry:

Sarah

Uncle Arthur’s in the bathroom.

Voice

Out in a minute!

Judith enters.

Judith

Are you ready?

Larry

Huh?

Judith

We’re meeting Sy at Embers.

Larry

I am?

Judith

Both of us. I told you.

EMBERS:

Larry has his arms pinned at his sides by hugging Sy Ableman.

Sy

Larry. How are you.

Larry

Sy.

Sy

Hello Judith.

Judith

Hello Sy.

Sy releases Larry and all seat themselves at Sy’s booth—Judith next to Sy, Larry facing.

Sy

Thank you for coming, Larry. It’s so impawtant that we be

able to discuss these things.

Larry

I’m happy to come to Embers, Sy, but, I’m thinking, really,

maybe it’s best to leave these discussions to the lawyers.

Sy

Of coss! Legal matters, let the lawyers discuss! Don’t mix

apples and oranges!

Judith

I’ve begged you to see the lawyer.

Larry

(teeth grit)

I told you, I’m going Monday.

Sy

Monday is timely! This isn’t—please!—Embers isn’t the

forum for legalities, you are so right!

Judith

Hmph.

Sy

No, Judith and I thought merely we should discuss the

practicalities, the living arrangements, a situation that will

conduce to the comfit of all the parties. This is an issue

where no one is at odds.

Larry isn’t sure where this is leading:

Larry

. . . Living arrangements.

Sy

Absolutely. I think we all agree, the children not being

contaminated by the tension—the most impawtant.

Judith

We shouldn’t put the kids in the middle of this, Larry.

Larry

The kids aren’t—

Judith

I’m saying “we.” I’m not pointing fingers.

Sy

No one is playing the “blame game,” Larry.

Larry

I didn’t say anyone was!

Judith

Well let’s not play He said, She said, either.

Larry

I wasn’t! I—

Sy

All right, well let’s just step back, and defuse the situation,

—the most impawtant.

Judith

We shouldn’t put the kids in the middle of this, Larry.

Larry

The kids aren’t—

Judith

I’m saying “we.” I’m not pointing fingers.

Sy

No one is playing the “blame game,” Larry.

Larry

I didn’t say anyone was!

Judith

Well let’s not play He said, She said, either.

Larry

I wasn’t! I—

Sy

All right, well let’s just step back, and defuse the situation,

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