Hancock Page #18

ROHEIM:

-Couldn't find my keys. Must've dropped

them'in the fight.

(feels his lip)

Sh*t...

He works himself off the chair. Heads inside the bathroom.

HORUS:

What're you doing?

81.

ROHEIM:

(into the mirror)

the old man

Look at what they did.. gave

a fat lip to match his big mouth. I'm for

sh*t.

HORUS:

(FRUSTRATION)

Sit down

Could you knock it off, please.

so I can clean the cuts.

He leads the old wretch back to the chair.

ROHEIM:

I'm a waste of time...

HORUS:

Stop.

ROHEIM:

I'm too old for this.

HORUS:

You're not old.

ROHEIM:

What am I... I'm biologically challenged.

Any way you look, I'm a waste of effort.

(BEAT)

I:

Use to be, I blame the job. The job.

think, bullshit job. Not right for a man.

"To observe and record..." I say, what a t's for

the hell is DIo nly

dogs. They got a d o o gs in t g g hisn

reason we're he d re, we don't sh*t on the

carpet.

Horus looks away. Doesn't want to hear it.

ROHEIM (CONT'D)

(CONTINUING)

But you know what, Horus. That's all

wrong. It ain't the job. The job don't

make the man. It's me. Not the uniform.

It starts right here... 'cause I can't do

anything right. F*** up my ABC's.

(a beat; at Horus)

But you. Why do you put up with this

crap? A wife. A kid. There... waiting for

you at home.

Horus - he just doesn't know anymore.

82.

EXT. KILLYBEGS TEXTILES - NIGHT

On the rooftop of this building - Hancock, on another end of a

Marlboro. Eyes red. Hair in wet dishevelment. He's a mess.

HANCOCK:

got to do what you got to do.

He paces with nervous energy, pounding his fist into the other

hand. We sense a decision brewing...

INT. THE LONGFELLOW BEDROOM - NIGHT

A desk clock points to 2:30 am.

Mary - awake undercover. She twists, turns...

A shadow engulfs the side of her wall, smothering the light in

the room. Mary catches it. Rises above her blanket.

What she sees - outside the window, Hancock hanging there in non-

gravity. He stares directly at her.

HANCOCK:

I know you're up, Mary. I know you can

hear me. Please meet me on the boardwalk

tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock. It's

important that I talk to y ou, then.

(GRAVELY)

Please, Mary.

And with that, he's off and away. Mary.- stunned.

CUT TO:

INT. ROHEIM'S APARTMENT - DAY

We're in the staircase - where Horus is, supporting Roheim up

the stairs.

ROHEIM:

They're going to can me.

HORUS:

No one's canning anyone. No one saw us...

watch your step... leave.

ROHEIM:

Should be an extra key over the door.

83.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

In the kitchen, Mary and Aaron - the morning routine. Something

is off this morning, like someone threw a wrench into the

machinery.

Mary appears a bit frazzled, handing her son toasts. She rushes

back to the stove - her eggs beckoning.

AARON:

The toast's burnt.

MARY:

What?

Aaron inspects his Superman lunchbox.

AARON:

We're late... you forgot the corn chips.

Mary serves up-the eggs - sunny side up. 1. and down... and all

over the place.

MARY:

Eat... and we'll go.

(checks her watch)

Where's your father?

She grabs a comb and proceeds to part Aaron's hair.

AARON:

You forgot the corn...

(the comb snags)

. ouch!

MARY:

I'm'sorry, honey. I was hoping daddy'll

be home before we leave. I'm sorry.

AARON:

You having your period, mom?

She responds with a brisk slap to the head... SMACK.

INT. ROHEIM'S APARTMENT - DAY

We enter an anal-retentively neat and manicured living room.

Horus ushers Roheim in...

ROHEIM:

Shoes.

The two pause. Remove their shoes. Proceed into bedroom.

84.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Horus sets Roheim down on the bed. Tucks him under.

HORUS:

You're going to be okay?

ROHEIM:

I don't know. You might have solo act

tomorrow night.

HORUS:

Get some sleep.

ROHEIM:

You're a good man, Horus.

HORUS:

(washing over it)

I have to get home, now. I'll call.

Roheim grabs on to his sleeve.

ROHEIM:

You know what Olga said before she walked

out on me? Her last words to me. She

turned at the front door. Looked around

the room and she says, "keep it clean."

That's it, can you believe it? Then out

the door.

(BEAT)

But like a.shmuck,.I keep the place

spotless... in case she walks through

that door one day.

(at Horus; with pain)

I don't think she's coming back.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Horus struggles homeward - his mind in a headlock with anger,

despair, a combination thereof.

He moves down his street. Looks ahead - where Clyde stands,

pillaging his morning paper. Clyde Spots Horus on the approach.

Smiles at him, with impunity. Goes back in.

On Horus - you can boil an egg in his seething mouth.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

Fist clenched, the morning paper under his arm - Horus. steadies

down the hallway. His eyes target the door at the end of the hall, seeing red.

85.

He gets there, the door. He swallows. Wipes sweat off his hand.

KNOCK. And again, KNOCK.

�ow

He fidgets in his spot - courage evaporating with every elapsed

second. Until finally, Horus is a pile of dung.

The door opens.

And Clyde emerges, tall and ugly. He's holding up his pants with

one and the SPORTS PAGE with the other.

Caughtin mid-defecation, he is none too happy.

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