Meet Joe Black Page #10

PARRISH:

You know, I got to thinking last

night -- with you here, and seem-

ingly occupied, how's your work

going - uh - elsewhere?

A flicker from Joe. He has heard what Parrish has said, his

eyes busy with the grift and the sparkle of the Avenue, but

he is concentrating on Parrish's words.

JOE:

When you were shaving this morning,

you weren't just shaving, right?

PARRISH:

What do you mean?

JOE:

You were hatching ideas, making

plans, arriving at decisions, right?

PARRISH:

I guess so.

JOE:

So you understand the concept then.

When you're busy here, your work,

what your task is, is being executed

elsewhere.

PARRISH:

Of course.

JOE:

So you've grasped the idea. Con-

gratulations. Now multiply it by

infinity and take it to the depth

of forever, and you still will

have barely a glimpse of what I

am talking about.

Parrish falls silent, chewing over Joe's admonition.

PARRISH:

Joe --?

JOE:

Yes, Bill.

PARRISH:

How about giving a guy a break?

JOE:

Make an exception?

PARRISH:

There's one to every rule.

JOE:

Not this.

They stride on, cutting through the crowd, Joe all at home

in his new surrounding, but Parrish just the opposite, un-

characteristically uncomfortable, phrases forming on his

lips but unspoken, then suddenly he blurts out:

PARRISH:

-- I don't deserve this. I'm still

young, this is not my time --

JOE:

That's what everybody says.

PARRISH:

I'm not everybody.

JOE:

That's what everybody says.

Parrish is trying to control himself, glances at Joe.

PARRISH:

I want to live.

JOE:

I understand.

A moment.

JOE (cont'd)

But you can't.

A sudden silence between them. Parrish's shoulders appear

to have stopped slightly, the courage he displayed at rais-

ing these issues has vanished.

PARRISH:

What's it like?

JOE:

What do you mean?

PARRISH:

What's it like where I'm going?

JOE:

Can you keep a secret?

PARRISH:

Yes.

JOE:

So can I.

They turn into Parrish's office building.

INT. LOBBY, PARRISH COMMUNICATIONS - DAY

As Parrish and Joe enter, Parrish is hailed by JAIME, the

Elevator Starter.

JAIME:

Good morning, Mr. Parrish.

PARRISH:

Good morning, Jaime.

JAIME:

Knight's Reward in the 4th at

Calder --

A bemused Parrish walks on, Joe beside him, Jaime pursuing

them.

JAIME (cont'd)

-- A closer in today with cheap

speed. The colt will come from the

clouds and boom! Fifty-eight dollar

horse. I get you down, Mr. Parrish,

just say the word.

PARRISH:

(smiles)

I'm sorry, not today, Jaime.

Parrish and Joe arrive at the bank of elevators. Jaime,

back at his post, hits a button.

PARRISH (cont'd)

(to Joe)

You know, everyday I've walked into

this building, Jaime gives me a

horse.

(a moment)

I wonder if any of them won.

The elevator materializes, Parrish and Joe step on.

INT. PARRISH COMMUNICATIONS, OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN - DAY

Parrish and Joe emerge from the executive elevator, Jennifer

is waiting as usual with her pad, "Good morning"s, etc. As

Parrish strides down the hall, Joe right beside him, he passes

instructions back to Jennifer who, scribbling, hurries along

behind them.

PARRISH:

-- And call my family, I'd like them

to come over for dinner tonight.

JENNIFER:

Didn't the family get together last

night --?

PARRISH:

(remonstrating, gently)

Jennifer.

JENNIFER:

Of course, Mr. Parrish. Right away.

Jennifer wheels and heads right back to the office as

Parrish arrives at the door to the Board Room.

PARRISH:

(to Joe)

Perhaps you would like to wait in my

office --?

JOE:

No.

PARRISH:

What I'm trying to say is this is a

Board meeting and you are not a mem-

ber of the Board.

JOE:

I'm sure you'll see to it that it

won't be a problem.

Parrish hesitates, nods, conceding the point, reaches for

the doorknob.

INT. BOARD ROOM, PARRISH COMMUNICATIONS - DAY

Parrish enters, Joe following right behind him. A euphony

of "Good morning"'s from the various members of the Board,

including Quince. Everyone sits when Parrish does but Joe,

right at home, spots a tray of refreshments: coffee, pas-

tries, he heads for them.

PARRISH:

(to the Board)

-- This is Joe Black, a personal

associate of mine - uh - he'll be

joining us today. I know it's --

uh -- unusual, and my apologies --

and Drew -- uh -- carry on.

Immediately indications of surprise on Board members' faces at

Parrish bringing in an 'observer', Drew's reaction guarded

but intense.

DREW:

(after a moment, to

Joe)

Nice to see you. I didn't expect

you, but certainly you can't get

enough of a good thing.

JOE:

Thank you.

DREW:

(to the Board)

The Board of Parrish Communications -

is hereby called to order. Our sole

order of business is an acceptance

of John Bontecou's generous offer

and --

JOE:

(to Drew)

Do you have any more of these deli-

cious cookies?

A hushed silence at the inappropriateness of Joe's inter-

ruption.

JOE (cont'd)

And a cup of tea. With milk, I

think. I'd like to try it English-

style. Yes, a cup of tea with milk.

DREW:

Anything else, Mr. Black? How about

some water?

JOE:

Why yes, thank you.

DREW:

Hot or cold.

JOE:

Cold.

DREW:

And a glass.

Drew indicates to the Board's Stenographer to arrange Joe's

refreshments.

PARRISH:

(quietly, indicating a

chair)

Would you like to sit down, Joe?

JOE:

Yes.

Joe sits.

DREW:

To review -- we're really crossing

the 't's and dotting the 'i's here.

Bill had a great and conclusive

meeting with John Bontecou yester-

day, all that remains for us is to

put it to a vote.

Smiles and murmurs of a congratulatory receptiveness from

the Board at Drew's news.

PARRISH:

(emptily)

Thank you, Drew.

Parrish takes a moment, draws himself up to say something

official then stops himself, what follows is spontaneous,

reflective, deeply felt.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Umm -- I did enjoy -- or rather I

was interested in meeting John yes-

terday -- impressive... I suppose...

But it did get me to thinking. I

started in this business because

this is what I wanted to do. I knew

I wasn't going to write the Great

American Novel, but I also knew

there was more to life than buying

something for a dollar and selling

it for two. I wanted to give the

news to the world, and I wanted to

give it unvarnished. The more we

all know about each other, the

greater the chance we will survive.

Sure, I want to make a profit, you

can't exist without one but John

Bontecou is all profit. If we give

him license to absorb Parrish

Communications, and he has his eye

on a few others after us, we'll be

appointing him to the position he

craves -- Gatekeeper. In order to

reach the world you will have to go

through John Bontecou. And not only

will you have to pay him to do this,

far more expensive, you'll have to

agree with him. Reporting the news

is a privilege and a responsibility

and it is not exploitable. Parrish

Communications has earned this priv-

ilege, John Bontecou wants to buy

it. As your chairman, I urge you to

agree this company is not for sale.

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