Human Nature Page #22

NATHAN:

(cheerily)

Very well.

LILA:

(awkwardly)

Very well.

PUFF:

(looking down)

Very well.

CHESTER'S WAITRESS

Good enough! What can I get for you?

NATHAN:

Puff, why don't you order first?

PUFF:

(looking at menu)

Uh, what's a Reuben, please?

The waitress leans over to study the menu. Her breasts are

in Puff's face.

CHESTER'S WAITRESS

The what, honey? Oh, the Reuben?

That's a sandwich with corned beef

and sauer...

PUFF:

That's fine. That's what I'll have.

Corned beef is a good food.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Lila, Nathan, and Puff walk along.

NATHAN:

Puff, I'm proud of you! You did

remarkably well under difficult

circumstances.

LILA:

Absolutely!

Puff jumps up and down excitedly.

PUFF:

Did I? I tried so hard! I really

concentrated! Oh, I'm so happy!

NATHAN:

And because you did so well, we have

a little surprise for you.

PUFF:

(happily)

Extra dessert?

NATHAN:

Even better.

CUT TO:

INT. LAB - DAY

Lila, Nathan, and Puff enter. Puff sees his Lucite case.

It has been transformed into a bachelor pad. Inside is a

king-size bed, a TV, a couch, coffee table, shelves lined

with books, a small kitchenette. There is a curtain which

can be drawn for privacy. Puff is taken aback.

NATHAN AND LILA:

Surprise!

Puff gasps and runs into the room. He is thrilled. Nathan

holds up a key.

NATHAN:

Free to come and go as you please.

There's some "mad money" in the night

table drawer.

PUFF:

(taking the key,

hugging Nathan)

It's wonderful! Do you think I'm

ready? Do you really?

NATHAN:

I trust that you'll make good, mature

decisions. I trust that you'll do

the proper thing.

PUFF:

Oh, I will!

(gravely)

Your very trust has instilled an

enormous sense of responsibility in

me. I don't want to disappoint you.

NATHAN:

Good. Remember, when in doubt: Don't

ever do what you really want to do.

PUFF:

(taking it in)

Got it.

CUT TO:

INT. LILA AND NATHAN'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Lila and Nathan sit as far as possible from each other and

read books. Nathan looks at his watch.

CUT TO:

INT. PUFF'S CASE - NIGHT

Puff, dressed identically to Nathan, reads Moby Dick and

smokes a pipe. He distractedly taps his foot, stands and

studies a Monet print on the wall. His foot is still nervously

tapping. He checks his watch.

CUT TO:

INT. LILA AND NATHAN'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Nathan stands.

NATHAN:

I'm going to go down and check on

Puff. See how he's holding up.

LILA:

(stretching)

Should I come with?

NATHAN:

Nah. You just relax. How's the book?

LILA:

(lazily, happily)

Ummm. It's good.

Nathan kisses Lila on the forehead.

NATHAN:

I won't be long.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Nathan drives with a determined look on his face.

CUT TO:

INT. GABRIELLE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The apartment is a mess. Every single light is on.

Gabrielle is lounging in a stained nightshirt with a dopey

cartoon bear on the front. She's got some sort of pimple

medication dabbed on her face. She unconsciously but

ferociously bites her nails as she watches TV and talks on

the phone. There is no trace of a French accent.

GABRIELLE:

(into phone)

You're kidding! Holy sh*t.

(beat)

Yeah, no duh! I had a wild hair up

my ass over that for a month.

There's a knock at the door.

GABRIELLE:

Yeah? What?

NATHAN (O.S.)

Hi. It's Nathan.

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