Meet Joe Black Page #11

A silence, everybody shifts, the Board is in shock, Drew is

trying to maintain his balance.

DREW:

(carefully)

...Sounds like you're not leaving

much room for discussion.

PARRISH:

(to the Board)

Sorry. I know it looks like I'm

reversing my field.

DREW:

That's your privilege, Bill. But

given our needs, given the absolute

necessity for growth, given the fu-

ture, the truth is... joining John

Bontecou is every bit as certain as -

Death and Taxes.

Joe interjects:

JOE:

'Death and Taxes'?

After a moment.

DREW:

Yes.

JOE:

"Death and Taxes"?

Another moment.

DREW:

Yes.

JOE:

What an odd pairing.

DREW:

It's just a saying, Mr. Black,

JOE:

Of whom?

DREW:

It doesn't matter.

JOE:

Then why did you bring it up?

Drew regards Joe.

DREW:

You're not familiar with the phrase,

"In this world, nothing is certain

but Death and Taxes"?

PARRISH:

I am now.

DREW:

Glad I could be of some help.

The Board is provoked and mystified by Joe and even more by

his presence, they cast meaningful glances at Parrish, Drew

coolly grasps the irritation of the members. Parrish breaks

the silence.

PARRISH:

Shall we adjourn?

DREW:

But the matter's still on the table,

Bill --

EDWARD SLOANE, a contemporary of Parrish's, has been warily

silent, but extremely observant. Protective of Parrish, and

sensing his burgeoning difficulty, he interrupts:

SLOANE:

Why don't we let it rest for the

moment? Give it some air?

PARRISH:

Well said, Eddie. Mr. Black, shall

we?

Joe rises.

JOE:

(to Drew)

Those cookies were excellent.

He exits with Parrish, the door closes behind them. A BABBLE

of disturbed reactions from the Board.

DREW:

Who is that guy?

Drew grabs a telephone:

DREW (cont'd)

Felicia?

FELICIA (O.S.)

Yes, sir?

DREW:

Get me a Field Background check on

Joe Black. Litigations. Bankrupt-

cies. Credit ratings. The works.

Got it?

Drew hangs up.

INT. PARRISH'S OFFICE - DAY

Parrish enters, Joe right on his heels. They both stop,

Parrish regards him.

PARRISH:

-- What's the deal here? Are you

going to be breathing down my neck

right 'til the very end?

JOE:

I don't understand.

Parrish tries to gather himself.

PARRISH:

...I'd like to be alone for a while.

JOE:

Are you sad, Bill?

PARRISH:

Yes, I am. There's a research lib-

rary on the fourth floor. Why don't

you go down and read some magazines?

JOE:

You're not thinking of going some-

where, are you, Bill?

PARRISH:

Joe, could I ask you to take a walk?

Buy a tie or something. I know I'll

be seeing you.

JOE:

Of course.

But Joe doesn't move.

PARRISH:

(prompting)

Now I'd like to be alone.

JOE:

Oh. Okay.

Parrish reaches into his pocket and hands Joe some cash.

PARRISH:

Here -- this will hold you for a

while.

Joe stares at the money as Parrish shows him the door.

PARRISH (cont'd)

You know about money, don't you?

JOE:

It can't buy happiness?

Parrish opens the door.

PARRISH:

Jennifer, give Mr. Black a map of

the city.

JOE:

No thank you, Bill. I can manage.

Joe goes.

INT. EMERGENCY ROOM AREA, NEW YORK HOSPITAL - DAY

Susan is busy giving instructions to a Nurse, a patient on

an examining table beside them. As she finishes, she

suddenly notices Joe down the corridor in the reception

area. She is startled for the moment, quickly makes a last

notation, hands a chart to the Nurse and heads down the

corridor.

SUSAN:

Joe --

JOE:

How nice you look. Is that your

uniform?

Susan regards him.

SUSAN:

Why did you come here?

Joe doesn't have an answer.

SUSAN (cont'd)

Are you ill?

JOE:

Oh goodness, no.

SUSAN:

Then why are you here, Joe?

JOE:

I came to see you.

SUSAN:

I don't have any time to see you

now. I'm doing grand rounds and

then I'm examining back-to-back

patients until dinner and then --

JOE:

Very well, I'll watch.

SUSAN:

Watch me do what?

JOE:

Whatever you do.

SUSAN:

That's impossible. I'm a doctor,

I'm --

JOE:

And I'll be a visitor.

SUSAN:

Patients have visitors, not doctors.

JOE:

I don't mind --

Visible now behind them are a Caribbean woman in her mid-

thirties, TEENA, an arm around her mother, EASTER, who is

holding her stomach and rocking back and forth in her seat,

in great pain.

TEENA:

(urgently)

Miss? Miss Doctor?

SUSAN:

(gently)

Just a minute, please.

TEENA:

Please. My momma's sicker'n he

is.

Easter looks up and sees Joe. She abruptly becomes still,

eyes wide, as if sudden recognition.

EASTER:

Obeah.

TEENA:

No, Momma.

But Easter just stares at Joe, fearful.

EASTER:

Obeah mon. I gonna die.

TEENA:

Momma, stop it. Is just a man.

Joe looks at Easter, curiously.

SUSAN:

(to Teena)

What's obeah?

TEENA:

Bad spirit. She just all fever, she

don' mean nothin'. Please help us?

SUSAN:

Have you filled out the insurance

forms?

Teena shakes her hand anxiously. Joe leans forward to

Easter and speaks softly in perfect, lilting West Indian

dialect.

JOE:

No obeah, sister. No duppy, no

jumbie. Evera ting gon' be irey.

Susan and Teena both look at him, astonished. Easter's

fearful gaze remains locked on him.

JOE (cont'd)

(to Teena)

Go wi' de doctor lady. Momma be

fine.

EASTER:

Don' leave!?

TEENA:

(pleading)

Momma.

Susan leads Teena away. Easter is riveted on Joe.

EASTER:

(with certainty)

Obeah.

JOE:

Obeah evil. I not evil.

EASTER:

What you then?

JOE:

I from dat nex' place.

EASTER:

You wait here'n to take us? Like

you bus driver to dere?

JOE:

(smiles)

No, no. I on holiday.

EASTER:

(looks around, dubious)

Some spot you pick.

She winces with pain, gasping.

EASTER (cont'd)

Pain is bad.

JOE:

I nuttin' to do wi' dat.

EASTER:

Make it go 'way.

JOE:

Doctor lady make it irey.

EASTER:

Not dis pain. Dis pain tru an' tru.

Make it go 'way.

JOE:

Can't, sistah.

EASTER:

(adamant, pleading)

Can, mistah. Take me to dat nex'

place.

Joe regards Easter, a long moment.

JOE:

Not time yet.

EASTER:

Make it time.

Joe shakes his head, a firm no. But when he looks and speaks

to Easter again, it is with concern and even regret.

JOE:

Can't feel wi' de way tings gotta

be, Easter.

Susan and Teena return with an Orderly and a wheelchair for

Easter.

EASTER:

(to Joe)

Please...

TEENA:

Come now, Momma.

Easter is helped into the wheelchair. She looks pleadingly

at Joe. The Orderly starts to wheel her away. Joe stays him,

putting his hand on Easter's arm.

JOE:

Close your eyes, Easter.

She does, her pained grimace melts into a peaceful smile.

JOE (cont'd)

Soon.

He takes his hand away, and the Orderly wheels Easter off.

SUSAN:

(to Teena)

Go with her. I'll be right there.

Teena goes. Joe remains his normal voice.

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