Jericho Page #3

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NORMAN:

You were not promised, Mr. Cale.

SHEP:

I’m not talking to you, Mr. Perry.

MAYOR GREEN:

“Mr. Perry? Mr. Cale?” For God’s

sake, you two used to get drunk in

high school together. Remember?

Look, that factory keeps this town

alive. So, I don’t want to hear

anything about strikes or lock

outs. I want you two to sit down

like gentlemen and talk this thing

through. That’s what we do in

Jericho. We don’t feud.

Shep and Norman look off screen. Then...

SHEP:

We don’t feud, huh?

The Mayor looks confused until he turns to the doorway to

find... Jake. The Mayor turns instantly chilly.

MAYOR GREEN:

You’re early.

END OF TEASER:

12.

ACT ONE:

20 INT. GREEN FAMILY HOUSE - LATER 20

The door opens to reveal Peter's wife, ANN GREEN, 33,

Jericho's answer to Hillary Clinton when she moved to

Arkansas. Normally, the Green family would stop to say

hello, but right now, they are too busy with...

MAYOR GREEN (O.S.)

... don’t you know I’m fighting for

my political life?

JAKE (O.S.)

Dad, I am not here to interfere

with your campaign. All I want is

your signature, then I’ll visit

grandpa, then-

PETER:

After 5 years? That’s all you have

to say to dad?

JAKE:

Peter, it’s none of your business.

MAYOR GREEN:

It is his business. It’s all our

business. What you have put this

family through-

GAIL:

Johnston, please.

MAYOR GREEN:

No, Gail. He could have been a-

JAKE:

Dad, we could spend a week talking

about what I could have been. I

have apologized. I have made

amends. This is me now. I have a

plan. But I need my money to-

MAYOR GREEN:

It isn’t your money. It’s yourgrandfather’s money.

JAKE:

I know it’s his, dad. I didn’t ask

for it. But he gave it to me for a

reason.

13.

MAYOR GREEN:

And he gave me authority over it

for a reason. So, when youconvince me you’re leading a more

productive life-

JAKE:

That’s why he gave me the mone-

MAYOR GREEN:

You start the new life. Then, youget the money. It doesn’t work the

other way around.

PETER:

That’s right, Jake.

JAKE:

Peter, we were both born on 3rd

base. Stop pretending you hit a

triple.

Peter is silent. Jake turns back to his father.

MAYOR GREEN:

You always look for the easy road,

Jake. And I can’t let you this

time. I can’t give you something

and watch you squander it again.

It’s like that time I gave you my

swiss army knife from the war, and-

Jake produces the new swiss army knife he bought at Gracie’s

store from his pocket and hands it to his father.

JAKE:

I know the next 50 things you’re

going to say, dad. I wish I could

give you back the real one, but I

can’t. I am not here to fight. I

just want to make grandpa proud.

So, just sign the papers, so we can

all get on with our lives.

The Mayor looks at the knife, then hands it back to Jake.

JAKE (CONT'D)

Dad, when are you going to realize

that I’m 27 years old?

MAYOR GREEN:

When you do.

14.

With that, the Mayor goes into his den and closes the door.

JAKE:

Peter, you know this is unfair.

Peter, the loyal daddy’s boy, says nothing. He leaves the

house with Ann, who shrugs. “Sorry, Jake.” Gail approaches.

GAIL:

Let’s visit your grandfather.

21 EXT. BAPTIST CEMETERY - LATE AFTERNOON 21

The tombstone reads... "Peter Jake Green: Beloved Father.

Grandfather. Mayor." Jake takes the bouquet of flowers he

bought at Gracie’s store, then kneels down. He places the

flowers on his grandfather’s grave. It’s a painful moment

for him. Gail is a rock for him.

JAKE:

Mom, I’m sorry I couldn’t come to

the funeral.

GAIL:

It’s okay. I understand. And

don’t worry about dad. I’ll work

on him. In the meantime...

Gail holds out a handful of bills. Jake shakes his head, no.

JAKE:

Thanks, but I didn’t come here for

charity.

GAIL:

Are you sure you can’t stay?

JAKE:

I have to get back by tomorrow.

You know that.

They move to his Mustang. They hug for a long time. Gail

quietly slips the wad of bills into Jake’s coat pocket.

GAIL:

When will I see you again?

JAKE:

Whenever you can visit Santa Fe.

(off her look)

Mom, I can’t start a new life in

the old one. This is the last day

I’ll ever spend in Jericho.

15.

One kiss. Jake climbs into his car. Gail smiles, sadly.

Oh, mom.

JAKE (CONT’D)

One more thing...

Gail walks up to the driver’s side window.

bills back in her hand. And smiles.

Jake puts the

JAKE (CONT’D)

You have clumsy hands.

She smiles. Jake pulls away. Gail watches her boy go down

the foothills and to the horizon as the sun begins to set.

22 INT. GREEN FAMILY HOUSE - DUSK 22

Gail walks into the house to find a very angry Mayor Green.

GAIL:

Johnston, when you give birth, you

can tell me about taking sides.

The law is laid down. The two sit down in front of the TV as

the State of the Union Address begins. The page shouts,

“Ladies and gentleman. The President of the United States!”

23 INT. PETER AND ANN GREEN'S HOME - MOMENTS LATER 23

Applause. The President takes the podium as Peter puts his

arm around his wife, Ann, holding their 6 MONTH OLD BABY.

PETER:

(hurt)

Jake’s going to tell me about

things being unfair.

24 INT. PETERSON FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER 24

The President drinks in the applause as Stanley Peterson

approaches his parents in the living room. MR. and MRS.

PETERSON, 54, both salt of the earth, shake their heads.

They hand the final IRS bill to Stanley. $131,852.

Stanley looks over at Bonnie, who is text messaging her

boyfriend. “We’re going to lose the farm.”

25 INT. JIMMY'S LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 25

The President holds up his hands and the applause slowly dies

down. Jimmy, Bill, and their respective kids watch the TV.

Jimmy's son, WOODY, 9, looks up at Jimmy.

16.

WOODY:

Do we have to watch this?

Jimmy and Bill look into the kitchen at their two ball-

breaking wives, both named MARGARET, giving them the eye.

JIMMY:

Sorry, kid. Mom wants us to

improve ourselves.

26 INT. GRACIE LEIGH'S STORE - MOMENTS LATER 26

The President begins, "Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker,

members of Congress, my fellow Americans..."

Dale Turner gets ready to leave for the night as Gracie Leigh

gossips into the phone.

GRACIE LEIGH:

... You heard me. Minor leaguebaseball. He and Emily were

talking right outside here.

(to Dale Turner)

Thanks, Dale. See you tomorrow.

Dale Turner waves, then leaves the store. Back to the phone.

GRACIE LEIGH (CONT’D)

Everyone thought they were going to

get married back in the day...

27 INT. EMILY SPENSER'S NEW HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER 27

"... by law and custom, we meet here once a year in this

sacred chamber to discuss the state of our union...

Emily looks at an old YEARBOOK picture of Jake. The

inscription reads. “Emily, I’ll love you until the day I

die.” She shakes herself out of her nostalgia, turns up her

iPod, and goes back to the champagne, flowers, and candles to

make her fiancé’s arrival perfect. The post-it note reads...

Roger’s flight. Kansas City Airport. 11:00pm.

28 INT. JAKE'S MUSTANG - MOMENTS LATER 28

“Tonight, with a growing economy, with...”

Jake switches off the radio and continues to move down the

rural road. He sighs.

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