Joe Versus the Volcano Page #9

Joe, weaving ever so slightly, walks up the street and

approaches the hotel. The MUSIC CONCLUDES.

52INT. THE PIERRE HOTEL - JOE'S SUITE - NIGHT52

The lights are out. Joe's in bed, staring at the

ceiling. We look DOWN on him. It's very, very silent.

Finally, he closes his eyes and turns his head.

53EXT. AMERICAN AIRLINE IN FLIGHT - DAY 53

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 5/16/8942A.

54INT. AMERICAN FLIGHT - FIRST CLASS CABIN - DAY 54

In the flight to L.A. Joe is sitting on the aisle. Next

to him is a grey-haired, wholesome priest named FATHER

CONROY. The clergyman is most way through a drink,

wrapped up in his own thoughts. Joe is deeply aware that

he's sitting next to a priest; he's uneasy, shifting in

his chair. The STEWARDESS notices Joe and approaches.

STEWARDESS:

Can I get you anything, sir?

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 1/15/89 43.

54CONTINUED:
54

JOE:

No, thank you. No, I changed

my mind. Some club soda,

please.

STEWARDESS:

Alright.

Father Conroy catches her eye and slightly raises his

almost empty drink.

FATHER CONROY:

I think I'll have one more.

STEWARDESS:

Alright.

The Stewardess heads off, down the aisle. Joe catches

the priest's eye.

JOE:

Have you ever been to

California before?

FATHER CONROY:

Oh, many times.

JOE:

I've never been anywhere.

FATHER CONROY:

I was a chaplain there, years

ago. For the Marines. Camp

Pendleton.

JOE:

I don't believe in God

FATHER CONROY:

Okay.

JOE:

I did when I was a kid, but I

lost my faith in high school.

FATHER CONROY:

Uh-huh.

JOE:

And then, when I was in danger

- I was a fireman - in the

middle of the fire, I never

like turned around and fell to

my knees and started praying.

(CONTINUED)

44.

54CONTINUED:
(2) 54

FATHER CONROY:

No?

JOE:

No. There are atheists in

foxholes.

FATHER CONVOY:

I'm sure there are.

JOE:

But I've come to a place in my

life where I've come face to

face with the facts of life

and death. I mean, it's a

chance happening I'm alive,

it's a miracle, I'm so lucky!

And it's not going to last.

It's like a shooting star. So

beautiful, so fleeting, make a

wish before it's gone, you

know? I'm so moved. But cut

off. If there is a God, if

there is some kind of music

going through everything, I

can't hear it. I'm alone. I

really feel I'm alone. I'm

walking down this little path

by myself.

FATHER CONROY:

Yes.

JOE:

Can you help me?

The Stewardess has returned with their drinks.

STEWARDESS:

Hi. I have your drinks.

JOE:

Oh, yeah. Thank you.

She serves the priest a little bottle of bourbon and a

glass of ice. He gives her his old glass.

FATHER CONROY:

Thank you.

Joe is still focussed on Father Conroy. The good Father

carefully pours the little bottle of bourbon over the

ice. Joe is very intense.

JOE:

Can you help me?

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 6/2/89 45.

54CONTINUED:
(3) 54

FATHER CONROY:

Do you see an analyst of some

kind?

JOE:

I don't need an analyst.

That's not the kind of problem

I have.

Inspirational light shines through the cabin window.

FATHER CONROY:

If you need a guide. If

you're a seeker and you need a

guide, someone to counsel you

so you can find your way

forward into a spiritual

realm. And you're on an

airplane. Don't look in first

class.

Father Conroy raises his glass of bourbon in a little

toast to Joe, and then takes a healthy swallow.

55EXT. L.A. AIRPORT - RUNWAY - DAY 55

The American flight lands.

56INT. L.A. AIRPORT TERMINAL - DAY 56

Joe and his fellow travellers are just entering the

terminal proper. A commercial airplane presses its nose

inquisitively against a visible window. It is surrounded

by orange trees. Joe is surrounded by blond California

guys as he gets off the plane. We see a homemade banner

"Welcome to L.A. St. Dymphna's Girls Academy." Of the

six people waiting, five of them look like Brezhnev. The

sixth is ANGELICA, she is holding aloft a sign which

reads "JOSEPH BANKS." She looks like Dede. Joe does a

take, he goes to her. Several Catholic school girls run

by.

JOE:

Hi.

ANGELICA:

Hi, are you Joe Banks?

JOE:

Yeah. Who are you?

ANGELICA:

I'm the daughter of the guy

who hired you. Angelica

Graynamore.

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 6/2/89 46.

56CONTINUED:
56

Joe shakes her hand.

JOE:

Nice to meet you. Again.

ANGELICA:

What?

Joe shakes his head.

ANGELICA:

Daddy told me to tell you that

I don't know what he hired you

for, and not to tell me. That

I'm totally untrustworthy.

I'm a flibberti-gibbet.

C'mon, let's get outta here.

JOE:

I've got some luggage.

56A OMITTED56A

&&

57 57

58EXT. TAXI FULL OF STEAMER TRUNKS - DAY58

The taxi is going along a highway. We LEAVE the taxi and

MOVE FORWARD TO a red convertible. In the red

convertible are Angelica at the wheel, and Joe beside

her. They are driving alongside the blue ocean. Green

palm trees wave overhead. All is beautiful and fresh.

JOE:

I've never been to L.A.

before.

ANGELICA:

What do you think?

JOE:

It looks fake. I like it.

59EXT. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL - SUNSET 59

The red convertible pulls up to the entrance and we hear

Angelica say:

ANGELICA (O.S.)

Daddy wanted to put you up in

Bel Air, but I said no way!

Shangri-la, Shangri-la!

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 6/2/89 46A.

59CONTINUED:
(Al) 59

The taxi pulls up behind them. Angelica gets out of the

car and goes back to the cab.

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 5/16/89 47.

59CONTINUED:
59

She gives the DRIVER money.

ANGELICA:

Thanks. That's for you. And

put everything on the curb,

please.

DRIVER:

Thank you.

Joe gets out of the convertible. Two deco-porters emerge

from the hotel with luggage carriers, and assist the

Driver in transferring the trunks. Angelica jumps back

in her car and calls to Joe.

ANGELICA:

Check in, fresh up, I'll be

back for you at seven. We'll

have dinner.

Angelica drives off. Joe looks after, then turns and

goes into the hotel.

60INT. CHINOIS - NIGHT 60

Fancy "fun" restaurant. A big platter of Dungeness crabs

being carried through the restaurant. It's placed on a

table where Joe and Angelica are sitting. There are

already two other platters of exotic food on the table.

Now we see the waiter and waitress, a slick blond named

RALPH and a redheaded waitress named RITA.

RITA:

Black bread with sour cream

and golden caviar.

RALPH:

The Dungeness crabs.

Joe looks at this dish with alarm. Ralph and Rita depart.

ANGELICA:

What's the matter?

JOE:

Nothing.

ANGELICA:

They do look like little

monsters or something.

(picks one up and

attacks it)

But they're good little

monsters.

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 6/2/89 48.

60CONTINUED- 60

Joe tentatively takes one, and small portions of the

other dishes.

ANGELICA:

What'd you do before you

signed on with Daddy?

JOE:

I was an advertising librarian

for a medical supply company.

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