Lost in America Page #6

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JACK MARTIN:

Well, well.

NANCY:

I didn't know you were going to

come.

JACK MARTIN:

(he gives her a

paternal hug)

One employee we are certainly

going to miss.

CAROL:

(to Nancy)

I think it sounds wonderful.

CUT TO:

16INT. OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM

A group of men are gathered around David. One of

David's friends at work, JIM, is speaking:

JIM:

You were great. Man, it was great.

It was like "Network" and "Take

This Job and Shove It," all rolled

into one. When you left, we all

wanted to go with you. Really.

People really had to think for a

minute. They were ready to leave.

DAVID:

Did anyone else leave?

JIM:

No. I mean after a few minutes,

people just went back to work,

but for the moment, it was real

exciting.

DAVID:

Well, when the time's right, if

people want to leave, they will.

JIM:

Of course. I believe that. I

got to be honest with you, though.

I was thinking about my situation

and I don't think I have the guts.

DAVID:

I don't know that it's guts. It

just takes a certain kind of person.

JIM:

Yeah, maybe it has nothing to do

with guts. 'Cause I think I have

guts. I guess I'm not that kind

of person. Let's say that I like

expensive things and I guess I

need my job to get what I like.

DAVID:

Whatever makes you happy.

JIM:

Right. I guess expensive things

make me happy. These shoes make

me happy. Do you like them?

He shows David his shoes. They look very expensive.

For a moment, David forgets he will no longer partic-

ipate in this world.

DAVID:

Beauties. What are they? Bally's?

JIM:

A Bally copy. Bally's would be

three hundred bucks. These were

a hundred and eighty. Can't tell

the difference. The sole's just

as thick. Look, feel the sole.

DAVID:

(starts to touch the

bottom of his shoe

and then stops)

No, I don't know where you've been,

Jim. I don't want to touch your

shoe. They're beautiful. Good

thick sole.

Nancy calls across the room to David.

NANCY:

Honey?

David walks over and recognizes one of her bosses, Jack

Martin.

DAVID:

Hello, Jack. How are you?

JACK:

Daniel Boone, as I live and

breathe. Dan, you know my wife,

Carol.

DAVID:

(shakes hands)

Hi, Carol.

JACK:

So, Mr. Boone, you leave in the

morning, uh?

DAVID:

Let's call me David from now on.

Just for old times sake.

JACK:

Oh, come on, I'm just playing with

you. Listen, I'll tell you

something. What you and your

wife are doing, well, it's wonderful.

Carol and I were driving over here

tonight, and talking seriously

about breaking the mold ourselves.

DAVID:

Really?

JACK:

You bet. We haven't been that

happy lately. Have we, honey?

How can a person respond to this? Carol just stares

at him.

JACK:

(continuing)

I told her, if I can get some time

off, we're going to try to get down

to La Costa for a weekend and just

let it all out.

David now realizes that breaking the "mold" has many

different meanings to different people.

DAVID:

La Costa? For a whole weekend,

huh? That's great.

JACK:

That's if I can get away. If not,

at least for an afternoon. Just

the idea of getting to San Diego,

maybe take in Sea World. Anyway,

did Nancy tell you what Robinson's

plans to do?

DAVID:

Actually we haven't talked too much

about American business lately.

JACK:

Well, there is a rumor and I would

appreciate you not telling anyone

this, but our store may just be

buying up the May Company. This is

just the kind of expansion that can

make a man like me very, very

wealthy.

DAVID:

Well, if it's good for you, I'm

real happy.

JACK:

Well, let's just say it could make

me a million dollars, minimum. But,

David, please keep this down. God,

I probably shouldn't have said

anything.

DAVID:

Jack, we're not going to be around

people who will care. I promise

you. I don't think a guide at

the Grand Canyon knows or cares

too much about the acquisition of

a department store in L.A.

JACK:

You want a surprise? You want to

know about the Grand Canyon and

business? The 7-Eleven at the

Grand Canyon does more volume

business per year than any other

7-Eleven in the country, especially

around Muscular Dystrophy time.

DAVID:

Well, that's good to know.

JACK:

I think it has something to do

with the hiking and the tragedy

of the children who can't hike.

I don't know, but last year they

did two million, eight-hundred

thousand. Now, of course, there

are no other quickie stores around

so they have a good one there. A

lot of people moving in and out

of that canyon. Have you seen

these new U-Tote-M stores?

DAVID:

Jack, I don't want to be rude but

I can't talk business anymore. I

hate to sound "sixties" to you

but I'm in a different place.

JACK:

Hey, I understand. I remember

the sixties.

As a matter of fact, the concept

of U-Tote-M is a sixties concept.

See, the 7-Eleven is a rush-rush

place. U-Tote-M is lay-back. Their

store in Tarzana this year is

going to gross almost...

DAVID:

(interrupts)

Jack, please?

Pete Hirsch yells from across the room.

PETE:

I'd like to make a toast.

People mumble, "Great." "Good." "It's about time."

Everybody gathers around. People raise their glasses

up.

PETE:

(continuing)

To our beautiful friends, David

and Nancy Howard... Good luck!

He drinks.

DAVID:

That's it, huh? What a well thought

out toast. Thank you, Pete.

People laugh. Scattered laughter around the room.

DAVID:

(continuing)

Well, I think it's time for me

to say something right now.

We hear a little applause. "Speech! Speech!"

DAVID:

(continuing; calling

Nancy over)

Sweetheart, would you come here?

David and Nancy stand together, arm-in-arm.

DAVID:

(continuing)

I have a surprise for my wife and

I would like to share it, not only

with her, but with you, who we

consider our closest friends. We

do have some other close friends.

I'm sure they got lost.

People laugh.

DAVID:

(continuing)

When Nancy and I were married we

had dreams and plans and I guess

in the pursuit of those things,

we kind of lost each other.

Tomorrow morning, when we leave

here, we have no destination.

Our only goal is to find out who

we really are and what it is that's

really out there. We're going to

be adventurers in the classic sense

of the word, but there is one place

that we will stop at first.

(reaches into his

pocket and takes

out a little box)

That place is Las Vegas, Nevada.

NANCY:

(her eyes open up

wide; excited)

Las Vegas? Really?

DAVID:

Well, if this is to be a new

beginning, I think there's only

one way to really show it to this

woman that I love. So, tomorrow

evening my wife and I are going

to be remarried.

People applaud. Nancy is overwhelmed. She opens the

little box and there is a ruby ring.

NANCY:

Oh, my God! Oh! My!

People are trying to get a glance at the ring. We can

hear OOHING and AAHING.

NANCY:

(continuing)

This is the most beautiful thing

you've ever done.

DAVID:

Well, I'd like to say it was

nothing, but that small little

ruby cost a fortune.

People laugh.

DAVID:

(continuing)

That's okay, it's budgeted for.

A little laughter again.

DAVID:

(continuing)

And now, I would like to propose

a toast.

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