Hero Page #2

JOEY:

Wow! Look at that one!

JOEY is indicating the next cage where a BLACK PANTHER is pacing

restlessly to and fro.

JOEY:

If you were in there, he'd kill you,

wouldn't he...Dad?

As Bernie looks at the PANTHER, the muscular beast looks right

into BERNIE'S eyes with the furious yellow stare as if to say

"I'm waiting."

BERNIE:

Yeah, yeah, something like that.

INT. FLUKY'S RESTAURANT - AN HOUR LATER (DAY)

BERNIE and JOEY facing each other in a booth, eating burgers.

BERNIE:

This guy, this "friend" your

mother's seeing, he's a fireman,

huh? He ever... spend the night,

whatsisname?

JOEY:

Sometimes. His name's Elliot. He

saved a guy's life one time. In

a fire.

BERNIE:

Oh yeah? A hero, huh?

(a beat, then...)

Was he in the 'Nam, this guy Elliot?

JOEY:

"The Nomm"? What's that?

BERNIE:

It was this war. Viet Nam. Doesn't

matter.

JOEY:

Were you in it? In the war?

BERNIE:

You never saw that picture, huh?

JOEY:

What picture?

BERNIE:

Me in my uniform. Used to be on

the bookcase.

INT. MEN'S ROOM/FLUKY'S - TEN MINUTES LATER (DAY)

Deserted except for BERNIE and JOEY side by side at the urinals.

BERNIE glances at JOEY.

BERNIE:

Whatcha gotta do there, buddy, is

ya gotta get in close so ya don't

piss on yer shoes.

It don't matter now cause you're

wearin' them sneakers but the time's

gonna come when you're gonna be

wearin' good shoes, expensive ones,

and you don't wanna piss on them,

you wanna protect 'em. From piss,

from tough guys, from everything.

-- ALTERNATE VERSION --

BERNIE:

What I don't like about public

restrooms is how you're always

standing in piss. It don't matter

to you, you got those sneakers but

I'm standing in piss in very

expensive shoes. It's a breakdown

in custodial services.

JOEY steals a glance at BERNIE, sees him "shake it off" and zip

up. JOEY does likewise.

JOEY:

Are you gonna take me somewhere next

weekend?

BERNIE:

I'm working on that. It's just I

got some business problems and...

whatsa matter?

JOEY is heading for one of the stalls. He reaches underneath

and pulls out a wallet.

JOEY:

Somebody lost a wallet.

BERNIE is extremely interested, takes the wallet JOEY holds out

and glances inside.

Cash. A couple of fifties.

INT. FLUKY'S - SECONDS LATER (DAY)

BERNIE and JOEY exit the Men's Room and head for the door to

the parking lot, BERNIE explaining...

BERNIE:

You give it to the manager, he

pockets the dough, throws the wallet

away. Most people who work in

supervisory positions... I'm not

saying all... are crooks.

JOEY casts a hasty glance at TEENAGER who's wearing the

Manager Badge. The youth could not look more innocent if he

wore a halo.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

A BAG LADY pushing two shopping carts through the parking lot

spots BERNIE and JOEY crossing her path...

BAG LAOY:

Excuse me, sir, could you spare...?

BERNIE:

No way, lady, not a chance.

BERNIE hurries past her, notices JOEY looking back at the

miserable woman.

BERNIE:

You gotta resist the urge to be nice

to those people, they're con

artists, they take advantage of the

soft heart. A lot of 'em are

financially better off than the

rest of us.

Arriving at an ancient, battered Toyota, BERNIE searches for

his keys and then fusses with the lock.

BERNIE:

What I'm gonna do on this wallet

thing is, Monday, day after

tomorrow, I'm gonna have my

secretary phone this guy up from

the name on his driver's license

Let the guy come and get his wallet

and make sure you get a reward.

You deserve a reward. You want

one, doncha? A reward? Gwan, get

in.

INT. TOYOTA/MOVING/FREEWAY - TWENTY MINUTES LATER (DAY)

BERNIE is at the wheel, the car is gasping, struggling.

BERNIE:

Whatcha gotta do, you gotta look

out for number one. It sounds

harsh, but it's a goddamn (excuse

the vulgarity) jungle out there,

kid. That's why you gotta keep a

low profile! Right? A low

profile!

It's where you don't give nobody

nothin' to shoot at, stay outta

sight, be parta the woodwork, don't

ever tell 'em your name, they'll

use it against you.

JOEY is looking for the right exit sign. He spots it.

JOEY:

Here. Get off here.

BERNIE:

(a look at Joey)

Thanks. Thanks, pal.

JOEY looks pleased.

EXT. EVELYN'S HOUSE/INT. TOYOTA - LATER - DAY

BERNIE is turning onto a suburban street, checking the houses.

BERNIE:

Listen, buddy, I'm really enjoying

this relationship we got going here.

I been missing out on not knowing

you better. Thing is, I got all

this business stuff...

JOEY:

I could go to a movie Thursday

night. 'Cause we don't have

school on Friday.

BERNIE pulls the car up in front of a single story two bedroom

house.

Rate this script:1.6 / 9 votes