Hardcore Page #7

We HEAR Mast's telephone VOICE as Jake gets out of his car

and enters the house.

MAST (V.O.)

I took a side trip to Mexico City.

It was just a long shot, but it didn't

pay off. So I'm back in L.A.

(a beat)

Yeah, the money came on time.

CUT TO:

INT. DE JONG HOME - DAY

Jake, carrying a wrapped present, walks into the kitchen.

Anne, Joe and John, sitting around the table, greet him as

he enters. A large birthday cake sits in the center of the

table.

Jake says, "Hi, Sis," and nods to the others.

JAKE:

Where's Marsha?

ANNE:

(calling)

Marsha!

Marsha walks in, smiling when she sees her uncle:

MARSHA:

Uncle Jake.

JAKE:

(gives her present)

Happy birthday, Marsha.

CUT TO:

EXT. DE JONG FRONT PORCH - DAY

Jake and Joe sit on chairs on the porch. Wes and Willem rest

on the rickety swing. All are drinking coffee, finishing

pieces of birthday cake and enjoying a fine spring Sunday.

Harold Jay watches quietly from the railing.

JOE:

(sets down plate)

Spring's early. Without a frost we'll

have a good year.

WES:

Not as good as last.

JOHN:

Lord's been good to us.

Across the street, two junior high boys, pushing their bikes,

follow two female classmates. The girls dressed in tight

halters and shorts try to ignore them.

JOE:

Never had to make a dishonest dollar

in my life. Never cheated an employee.

WES:

How could you? They're all your

relatives.

He laughs.

JOE:

The Lord got his share, too.

Joe gets up to refill his coffee cup. Wes turns to Jake, who

is watching the couples across the street.

WES:

How's your business, Jake?

JAKE:

(absentminded)

Pretty good.

WES:

You should come around more often.

You haven't been around for weeks.

Anne complains she doesn't see you

anymore.

Jake, looking away, doesn't answer. Wes contemplates something

he's been planning to say.

WES:

(continuing)

You can't dwell on Kristen all the

time, Jake. Sometimes we can't

understand the Lord's ways. He is

testing you. You have to have faith.

Jake turns and looks back at Wes:

JAKE:

Would you?

(a beat)

Could you?

He looks away again.

CUT TO:

INT. JAKE'S OFFICE - DAY

Jake is at his desk when the PHONE RINGS. He picks up the

receiver.

JAKE:

Hello?

MAST (O.S.)

Mr. Van Dorn?

JAKE:

Mast?

MAST (O.S.)

Yeah.

JAKE:

Where are you? The connection sounds

very good.

MAST (O.S.)

I'm back in Grand Rapids.

JAKE:

In G.R.? Why?

MAST (O.S.)

Can you meet me in about an hour? At

the Pantlind Hotel?

JAKE:

I've got a meeting...

MAST (O.S.)

What are you paying me for?

JAKE:

I'll be there.

CUT TO:

EXT. DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS - DAY

Jake and Mast walk out of the Pantlind and walk up Monroe

Avenue. The heart of Grand Rapids, like that of many Mid-

western cities, is a ghost town. The major businesses have

one by one gone broke or moved out to the suburban malls,

leaving the core of the city to cut-rate stores, parking

lots and federally-subsidized government buildings.

MAST:

This used to be a real city. I was

here about fifteen years ago.

Embezzlement case. It was always a

little religious for my taste, but

at least it was a city. With a

downtown and all.

JAKE:

What have you found out?

MAST:

I've got some news. Your daughter's

all right. At least I think she is.

JAKE:

Where is she?

MAST:

I don't know.

JAKE:

What do you mean?

MAST:

Have you ever seen any, ah,

pornographic movies, Jake?

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