Fight Club Page #5

LEADER:

Let yourself cry.

MARLA:

Why do you do it?

JACK:

I... I don't know. I guess... when

people think you're dying, they

really listen, instead...

MARLA:

-- Instead of just waiting for their

turn to speak.

JACK:

Yeah.

Brief recognition between them, broken as the Leader passes.

LEADER:

Quietly, now. Share with each other.

Jack waits till the Leader's out of earshot.

JACK:

(warning)

It becomes an addiction.

MARLA:

Really?

Jack sighs, then pulls back.

JACK:

Look, I can't cry with a faker

present.

MARLA:

Candy-stripe a cancer ward. It's not

my problem.

JACK:

Please. Can't we do something... ?

Marla starts out of the room. Jack follows her.

LEADER:

Now, the closing prayer.

EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Marla gets to the sidewalk, moving quickly along.

JACK:

We'll split up the week. You can

have lymphoma, tuberculosis and --

MARLA:

You take tuberculosis. My smoking

doesn't go over at all.

JACK:

I think testicular cancer should be

no contest.

MARLA:

Well, technically, I have more of a

right to be there than you. You

still have your balls.

JACK:

You're kidding.

MARLA:

I don't know -- am I?

Jack follow Marla into...

INT. LAUNDROMAT - CONTINUOUS

Marla walks with authority up to an unwatched DRYER. She

takes out clothes, picks out jeans, pants and shirts.

MARLA:

I'll take the parasites.

JACK:

You can't have both parasites. You

can take blood parasites --

MARLA:

I want brain parasites.

JACK:

Okay. I'll take blood parasites and

organic brain dementia --

MARLA:

I want that.

JACK:

You can't have the whole brain!

MARLA:

So far, you have four and I only have

two!

JACK:

Then, take blood parasites. It's

yours. Now we each have three.

Marla gathers the chosen garments and heads out past Jack...

EXT. SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

Jack follows, bewildered.

JACK:

You... left half your clothes.

HONK! Jack starts. Marla's led him into the street with

traffic barreling down.

Marla walks on, oblivious as CARS screech to a halt, HORNS

BLARING. Jack dashes, following...

INT. THRIFT STORE - CONTINUOUS

Marla drops the pile of clothes on a counter. An old CLERK

sifts through the clothes, begins writing on a pad.

JACK:

You're selling those?

Marla steps down hard on Jack's foot. He winces in pain.

MARLA:

(for the Clerk to hear)

Yes, I'm selling some chothes.

The Clerk starts to ring up the assessed amounts.

MARLA:

So, we each have three -- that's six.

What about the seventh day? I want

ascending bowel cancer.

JACK (V.O.)

The girl had done her homework.

JACK:

I want ascending bowel cancer.

The Clerk gives a strange look as he hands money to Marla.

MARLA:

That's your favorite, too? Tried to

slip it by me, eh?

JACK:

We'll split it. You get it the first

and third Sunday of the month.

MARLA:

Deal.

They shake. Jack tries to withdraw his hand; Marla holds it.

MARLA:

Looks like this is goodbye.

JACK:

Let's not make a big thing out of it.

She walks to the door, pocketing money, not looking back.

MARLA:

How's this for not making a big thing?

Jack watches her go. A moment, then he follows after...

EXT. SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

Jack hesitates, unsure, then run/walks to catch up to her...

JACK:

Um... Marla, should we maybe exchange

numbers?

MARLA:

Should we?

JACK:

In case we want to switch nights.

MARLA:

I suppose.

Jack takes out a business card, writes his number on the

back, hands it to her. She takes the pen, grabs his hand

and writes her number on his palm. She walks into the

street, causing more SCREECHING and HONKING. She turns,

holds up the card.

MARLA:

It doesn't have your name. Who are

you? Cornelius? Mr. Taylor? Dr.

Zaius? Any of the stupid names you

give each night?

Jack starts to answer, but the traffic noise is too loud.

Marla just shakes her head, turns, and keeps moving. A BUS

moves into view, obscuring her.

JACK (V.O.)

This is how I met Marla Singer.

INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - DAY

The plane touches down; the cabin BUMPS. Jack's eyes open.

JACK (V.O.)

You wake up at O'Hare.

INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - DAY

Jack snaps awake again, looking around, disoriented.

JACK (V.O.)

You wake up at SeaTac.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DUSK

The rear of a CRASHED CAR sticks up by the side of the road.

Jack stands, marking on a clipboard. The SUN SETS behind.

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