Life Page #5

---

It's travel, Dennis.

You'll love it.

Ah, god damn...

I, uh...

I promised my son that I'd do

something with him this weekend.

Well, you have to be

in Japan in four days.

You can buy something real nice

for him with all that money.

OK.

You're such an a**hole.

You never see anything through.

You told him you were coming

for at least two weeks,

and now you're leaving

after less than one?

You made him a promise.

Norma, it's no big thing.

Tell him it's no big thing.

Piece of sh*t.

Hey, Rod. Rodney?

Hey, little bud . Um...

Hey, did you hear any of that?

You know...

Uh...

Do you know where Japan is?

Yes. It's far.

Nah... it's not... you know,

it's not that far, it's uh...

I can be back in two days right.

Ugh!

Mom! Mom! Mom, look!

Hey, Rodney...

Oh no, Dennis!

What did you do?

Ugh!

Let's hurry up, we're

gonna be late. Come on.

Oh...

You alright?

What are you doing here?

Uh, well, I've been thinking.

Why don't we go to Indiana now?

Before the Premiere,

and that way you can still

make your deadline.

We... we can

experience some real life.

Take some photos.

Jimmy, I can't

even think straight.

Well... well, you don't

have to think at all.

We've got Times Square

tomorrow morning.

Think that about does us.

OK.

OK.

You feeling alright?

I vomited on my son.

- Hey uh, hey Jimmy, I'm...

- Yeah.

I don't think "Life"

is going to want the shots.

I don't know why.

Except...

I mean, they're, I mean

they're not good enough.

Um...

I'm sure they're ok.

Yeah, well, I...

I thought I'd just come

because we organized it.

And to say goodbye.

Well, you know, this is where

the "East of Eden" Premiere is?

Yeah, I know.

I'd love to be here.

I just booked an

assignment in Japan though.

Then I go back to LA.

Well, you won't miss much.

I think my big idea

was this'd be, like...

some kind of symbolic site.

Or the ultimate goal

for the young actor.

If I could get our

photos in "Life"...

Kind of my goal.

You know?

Make me feel like an artist.

And if anything was going to

capture their attention it's...

going to be Times Square.

We live in hope.

Wow, it sure is pretty, though.

I was picturing sunshine.

Let me ask you something.

What made you want

to start taking photos?

I had to do something.

You know, I... just needed a job.

I... I joined the Navy at 16,

Um, my dad just died,

so I had to find a living.

You were in the Navy?

Well... Philadelphia Coast Guard.

Yeah, the Coast Guard

had a darkroom,

and I figured that was as

good a place as any to hide.

I just went to the library,

read everything I could,

started selling

portraits to sailors,

a dollar a pop.

Everybody wants a record

of themselves.

Photography...

You know, it's a...

It's a good way of saying...

"I've been here,

and you've been here," I guess.

And this job in Japan...

you going off to be an artist?

Would you mind getting wet?

We'll do the photos anyway.

Well, I mean, we're here, right?

Come on.

Okay, just keep coming at me.

Alright, just keep

walking toward me.

That was great, Jimmy.

Are you still going to Indiana?

Uh, tonight.

Yeah, I think I wanna come.

Now we're in business.

Here's your food, gentlemen.

Anything else?

- Uh, no.

Thanks.

Well are you gonna say Grace?

Uh...

Two, four six, eight,

dig in, don't wait?

Alright.

I like it.

- You never heard that one?

- No, it's new to me.

Your folks religious?

Quakers.

They're the nice ones, right?

They're the only ones

that everybody likes.

They do anything special?

Anything I need to know?

No, they're quiet.

You know, when my mom died,

my dad, well, he had to...

He had to keep working.

So, he sent me

back home to Indiana.

From where?

Grandma came to take me

back from Los Angeles.

I remember my dad

at the station, he um...

He held my hand.

And leaned over and

kissed my mom's coffin.

It was the only time

I ever saw him cry.

And then he hugged me goodbye.

And me and Grandma got on the

train and went to Indiana.

Because everything

ends up in Indiana.

You might not know that.

You went with the coffin?

Yeah, how else do

you think it works?

And every time we'd stop in...

Albuquerque or...

Kansas City...

my grandma let me run down to

the end of the platform, and...

and I'd sneak into

the freight car.

And it was...

it was like Aladdin's cave.

Just stuff.

Crates and boxes.

And then, way up the back...

was my mom's coffin, kind of

strapped to the wall.

And there was

this old conductor there.

And he uh... he took his little

conductor's cap...

and uh... he'd say,

"step right in, sir."

And he was utterly...

And he was utterly kind.

What did you do in there?

I touched the coffin.

And I stood there.

And then, after a minute,

he'd come up and he'd say uh...

"Well, you better

run on up, kid . I'll...

I'll see you in Fort Madison,"

or "I'll see you

in Chicago ."

And then I'd sprint all the way

back up the platform.

I can remember, I...

I just kept thinking...

"Who am I going

to play with?"

Because that's all

we'd ever do. She'd um...

She taught me how to play.

On rainy days,

she'd take blankets,

and she'd drape them over...

tables and chairs

and sofas, and uh...

and she'd sit in there with me.

Like the whole day long.

And we'd be all

different characters.

And it was like a palace.

Not a cubby house.

And then suddenly in Chicago,

I didn't want to run

back there again.

It's not as if

I didn't miss her I...

I still miss her now,

it's just...

At a certain point, I...

I got to the front of the train.

And it started picking up speed.

And we were moving so fast.

And it felt so good.

How is everything, gentlemen?

Yeah, great.

Uh... I let my food go cold.

What's your story, Dennis Stock?

Don't talk with your mouth full,

it's disgusting.

Next stop, outward bound train.

Next stop, Lafayette, Indiana.

All aboard, please.

Whey... Sir.

Jim.

Hey, little partner.

Dennis, Markie.

Hey, kid.

Uh, Dennis Stock,

this is my uncle,

Marcus Winslow.

- Very pleased to meet you.

- You too.

Let me take your bongo, Jimmy.

There's a sentence

I never thought I'd say!

Actually, that's a conga.

Come here, you.

Jimmy! Look who's here!

Oh, Jimmy, good to see you again.

Oh, uh, this is Dennis Stock.

He's a photographer

for "Life" magazine.

- This is my Aunt Ortense.

- Hello!

- And my grandpa.

- Hello.

- And Grandma Dean.

- Mr. Stock.

Come on in and get warm!

Come on in. Come on in.

In you go.

Hey grandma,

Dennis has never been

on a farm before.

Shall we say Grace?

Lord Jesus Christ,

be thou our guest,

and share the food

which thou has blessed.

Amen.

Oh, Dennis knows a beautiful Grace.

Maybe you should uh... lead

Grace tomorrow night, Dennis.

That'd be lovely.

How does it go again?

Um...

Oh, you know what,

save it for tomorrow night.

It'll be a surprise.

Which church do you

belong to, Dennis?

Um...

Well...

None, really.

Hm.

Now, Jimmy,

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes