Lost in America Page #15

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DAVID:

Alright. That sounds right. Good.

Good idea.

NANCY:

Let's say we meet back here no

later than five o'clock.

DAVID:

Five o'clock. Good.

NANCY:

(kissing him)

I can't wait for five o'clock.

Nancy exits. David stands at the door calling out to

her:

DAVID:

Good luck! Go for the high pay!

NANCY:

I know.

DAVID:

And buy a cheap lunch!

NANCY:

Don't worry.

DAVID:

I love you.

NANCY:

I love you, too.

DAVID:

I mean it! Cheap lunch!

We see Nancy wave as she walks off into the distance.

CUT TO:

45EXT. PRESCOTT, ARIZONA STREET - MORNING

David is walking down the street staring into various

stores. He stops in front of a pharmacy. There's a

sign that says:
"DELIVERY MAN WANTED." David enters

the store.

CUT TO:

46INT. PHARMACY

David approaches PHARMACIST.

DAVID:

Hello?

PHARMACIST:

Yes sir.

DAVID:

The delivery job, I'm interested

in it.

PHARMACIST:

This is for your son?

DAVID:

No, for me.

PHARMACIST:

For you? Well, you have your own

car? -

DAVID:

No.

PHARMACIST:

Gee, I'm sorry, but it's a delivery

job. You would need a car.

DAVID:

Well, I have transportation. I

own a motor home.

PHARMACIST:

A motor home?

DAVID:

Yes.

PHARMACIST:

I don't really think that would

suit this particular job. I have

just a few small deliveries a

day. Those things aren't too

efficient and you probably wouldn't

be able to pay for gas with what

I'd pay you.

DAVID:

Oh, I didn't know I'd have to pay

for my own gas.

PHARMACIST:

Yes. Actually, my intention was

to get a high school kid with a

Rabbit or something.

I think an older man with a motor

home would be impractical for the

both of us. You understand, I don't

have that many deliveries. Also,

you'd have trouble parking. I

don't think this would work out.

DAVID:

I agree.

PHARMACIST:

You know what I should do? I should

cross out "man" and put "boy,"

"delivery boy" is more correct.

I guess "delivery man" is misleading.

DAVID:

No, the sign's alright. It looks

fine. You don't know of any

immensely high-paying jobs in the

immediate area, do you?

PHARMACIST:

Um, let me think. No, not in the

immediate area.

DAVID:

What about in the outlying areas?

PHARMACIST:

Uh, no. I don't know of any high-

paying jobs anywhere in the whole

country. Do you?

DAVID:

Um, no. Not now. Well, good day.

PHARMACIST:

Good day to you.

DAVID:

Is there an employment agency in

this town?

PHARMACIST:

Yes. Just continue down this

street about half a mile. It's

a small building but you can't

miss it.

CUT TO:

47 INT. EMPLOYMENT OFFICE

It's a small employment agency befitting a small town.

David is just sitting and waiting his turn along with

various other types. David looks a little out of

place in that the others look like they want some job

relating to alcohol. The AGENT steps out of a small

glass cubicle and asks David to step in. David does

and sits down.

AGENT:

So. What can we do for you?

DAVID:

Well, I'm originally from Los

Angeles and I'm now living here.

I need a job.

AGENT:

Alright.

He takes out a piece of paper and begins to write down

information.

AGENT:

(continuing)

What was your previous working

experience?

DAVID:

Well, for the last eight years I

was a major executive with one of

the biggest advertising agencies

in the country.

AGENT:

Oh, I see. And your previous salary?

DAVID:

Seventy thousand dollars.

AGENT:

(looks up; he hasn't

heard this figure

in a long time)

You said seventy thousand?

DAVID:

Yes.

AGENT:

Over how long a period are we

talking about?

DAVID:

A year. Seventy thousand a year.

The Agent begins to laugh.

DAVID:

(continuing)

What's so funny?

AGENT:

Nothing. That's very good. So,

what brings you around these parts?

Trying to double up that income?

Agent laughs again.

DAVID:

No. I came here to live. I

wanted to change my life.

AGENT:

You couldn't change your life

on seventy thousand?

DAVID:

Could we just get back to what

we're doing here?

AGENT:

Sure. Uh, I don't think I have

anything at all right now. I

mean the only thing I have, you

wouldn't be interested in. Why

don't you check back with me in

a month?

DAVID:

Well, you don't know what I'd be

interested in. Why don't you just

tell me what you have?

AGENT:

I don't think that coming from

your position and your salary

you'd be interested in it.

DAVID:

Well, you don't know me. What is

it?

AGENT:

It's a crossing guard.

DAVID:

A crossing guard? You mean at a

school?

AGENT:

Yes. Where else do you see them

work?

DAVID:

No, I just didn't know if there

were different kinds. Well, what

does that pay?

AGENT:

A hundred thousand dollars.

He starts to laugh. David laughs along with him.

DAVID:

But, really, what does it pay?

AGENT:

It pays three twenty-five an hour,

plus benefits.

DAVID:

Benefits meaning what?

AGENT:

Benefits meaning you can get a

ride to and from work if you need

it.

DAVID:

Well, listen, I've just started

looking for work and I don't want

to rule anything out but I think

I probably can find something where

I can use my ability a bit more.

Would you have another kind of

file, like an executive box or

something?

AGENT:

What kind of box would that be?

DAVID:

You know, a box of higher-paying

jobs.

AGENT:

My goodness, I forgot. Sure.

You mean the hundred thousand

dollar box?

Agent begins to laugh again.

DAVID:

(getting up)

Well, I'm happy I could provide

you with your morning's entertainment.

You can laugh at me but let me

tell you something. I made a

statement. You understand what

I'm saying? I made a statement.

AGENT:

A statement?

DAVID:

Never mind. Thank you.

AGENT:

Thank you. Good luck.

CUT TO:

48 EXT. TRAILER PARK - LATER THAT DAY

David is walking dejectedly towards home. Nancy is

inside fixing dinner.

49INT. MOTOR HOME

As he enters, she turns around excited. She runs up

and gives him a hug.

NANCY:

Guess what?

DAVID:

(perking up a bit;

at least one of

them sounds like

they had success)

A job?

NANCY:

Sure looks like it.

DAVID:

Fantastic!

(he sits down)

Tell me everything. What is it?

How much do you get? When do

you start?

NANCY:

I won't know anything for sure

until tomorrow. I don't want to

say anything until then.

DAVID:

Oh come on! Tell me? At least

tell me what the job is.

NANCY:

Please. We'll get all excited and

then what if I don't get it? Let's

just wait.

DAVID:

Just give me a hint!

NANCY:

Well... alright. I would be

an assistant manager.

DAVID:

Jesus! After one day? Assistant

manager! Where?

NANCY:

That's all I'm saying. The manager's

thinking it over. He said he'll let

me know tomorrow. I don't want to

jinx it. Now, come on. Let's hear

about you. What happened?

David can't get over the words "Assistant Manager." His

own search hasn't brought him words of that caliber.

He hedges.

DAVID:

Well, I'm not saying anything

either, but I'll also know in

the morning.

NANCY:

I gave you a hint, you have to

give me one.

DAVID:

I can't. I have too many leads.

I've had many firm offers and

right now I'm just mulling them

over.

NANCY:

What kind of offers?

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