Bottle Rocket Page #19

MR. HENRY

Look at that woman. She's what?

Fifty? Fifty-five? But she hasn't

let herself go. I appreciate an

older woman who has a commitment to

her body.

ANTHONY:

So do I.

They watch her ride down the street.

MR. HENRY

Tell me something. What the hell

kind of name is Dignan?

ANTHONY:

I'm not really sure. I think it's

Irish. Or maybe --

MR. HENRY

I guess what I'm trying to say is

what the hell kind of person is

this Dignan?

ANTHONY:

What do you mean what kind of

person? He's a good person.

MR. HENRY

Sure, sure. He's a great person,

and I'd call bullshit on anybody

who said differently. But I wonder

if the kid has the goods

(taps his temple)

up here.

. ANTHONY

(long pause)

I don't think you're giving him

enough credit. I know sometimes he

doesn't think an idea through. He

gets too excited. But --

MR. HENRY

As far as I can tell he hasn't

thought his life through. He'd be

fine cutting my grass or parking my

car. But business?

(looks at Anthony)

You I can work with. You I could

groom. Dignan's not going to make it.

Anthony stops running. Mr. Henry stops ahead of him and

looks back, jogging in place. Pause.

ANTHONY:

You're wrong about Dignan.

Mr. Henry stops jogging in place.

ANTHONY:

And you're wrong if you think, I'd

turn my back on a friend.

MR. HENRY

Hold it.

Mr. Henry walks to Anthony and puts his hand on his shoulder.

Anthony knocks it off.

MR. HENRY

Anthony. I want.to say one thing to

you.

Mr. Henry looks Anthony right in the eye.

MR. HENRY

Congratulations. You passed the test.

ANTHONY:

What do you mean?

MR. HENRY

The Abe Henry double-cross test.

You just made a perfect score.

Anthony has to recover.

ANTHONY:

That was a test?

MR. HENRY

Take a deep breath.

Anthony takes a deep breath. Mr. Henry massages Anthony's

shoulders. He takes Anthony's head in his arms and does a

quick pull to one side: cracks his neck. Then the other side.

MR. HENRY

How does that feel?

ANTHONY:

It feels good.

Anthony rubs his hands on his neck and moves his head around.

ANTHONY:

Did Dignan take the test?

MR. HENRY

(pause)

Yes, he did.

ANTHONY:

How'd he do?

They start jogging again.

MR. HENRY

Well, he agreed 100% that Bob

should be dropped. And he also

agreed you were a liability. But he

felt his talent would make up for

your weaknesses.

ANTHONY:

That sounds like Dignan.

They veer away from the tracks, picking up the pace, and

head into a field toward Mr. Henry's warehouse.

EXT. ROOFTOP. NIGHT

They're having a party at Mr. Henry's warehouse. There are

tables and a BBQ on the roof, with white Christmas lights

strung up and music playing. Anthony, Dignan, Bob, Kumar,

and Mr. Henry are there. Plus a couple of young GIRLS,

eighteen or nineteen years old. Mr. Henry's got a name tag

that says, Hi, my name is Mr. Henry. Everyone's mingling on

the rooftop. Rowboat is at the grill. Applejack comes up the

stairs with a grocery bag under his arm.

MR. HENRY

Woah. There he is. Applejack! What

it is.

Mr. Henry and Applejack shake hands.

APPLEJACK:

Is my car OK out there?

MR. HENRY

I love it. He always wants to know

if the car's OK. Get a hot dog.

APPLEJACK:

I don't eat pork.

MR. HENRY

Super K. Kumar. Come here.

Mr. Henry goes over to Kumar and throws his arm around him.

APPLEJACK:

I don't know why the f*** we're

having a party. The damn job's not

over yet.

DIGNAN:

Well, this isn't really a party per

se.

APPLEJACK:

You don't celebrate til it's over.

DIGNAN:

True.

Dignan's solemn for a minute. He takes a bite of a hot dog.

APPLEJACK:

What the f*** are you doing?

Dignan hesitates. He takes the hot dog away from his mouth.

He's embarassed. Applejack shakes his head, disgusted. He

walks away.

ROWBOAT:

What was that all about?

DIGNAN:

Ramedan.

Anthony and Mr. Henry are standing together in a doorway. Mr.

Henry's got a martini.

MR. HENRY

I'll tell you, Anthony. Times like

this I get philosophical. What does

it mean? What's it all about? Are

you afraid to die?

ANTHONY:

Me?

MR. HENRY

No, that door over there.

ANTHONY:

I don't want to die.

MR. HENRY

Are you afraid?

ANTHONY:

Yeah. I mean, I don't think about

it all the time. But once in awhile

I kind of go, Woah. Man.

MR. HENRY

Exactly. Woah.

ANTHONY:

Death.

MR. HENRY

The fear of death, The pain of

consciousness.

(taking a sip)

Did you mix this martini?

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