Meet Joe Black Page #13

QUINCE:

But I've got to tell you, if mergers

are in the wild, I've got some great

prospects I've developed. I want to

talk to you about them next week.

PARRISH:

Next week?

QUINCE:

Yeah. Or the week after.

Quince sees Parrish hesitate.

QUINCE (cont'd)

No good?

PARRISH:

No, anything is possible.

(lightly)

It's up to Joe.

QUINCE:

Joe, you don't know how glad I am

you're aboard. Anybody who can take

some of the weight off the old man,

I'm in his corner.

JOE:

That's very gracious of you, Quince.

QUINCE:

No problem. I'll leave you two

alone. I can tell you guys have

something on the fire --

An excited Quince drains his drink and heads for Drew as

Allison appears.

ALLISON:

(to Parrish)

Did you know twenty-six members of

your rifle company are coming?

PARRISH:

Who?

ALLISON:

From the Korean War.

PARRISH:

Conflict, honey. Korean Conflict.

ALLISON:

Whatever it was, they'll be here.

We sent out invitations to everyone,

plane tickets included -- the RSVP's

are amazing. A few of them we didn't

hear from, and some of them are dead,

of course --

PARRISH:

Of course.

ALLISON:

(a moment)

You know, we're going to give this

party for you whether you like it or

not.

PARRISH:

I like it. I like it. I'm sorry I

don't seem more appreciative.

ALLISON:

(resignedly)

That's okay, Daddy.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Across the room, Quince has pulled Drew aside:

QUINCE:

...I know you're down, but you know

when you're down, Drew, there's no

place to go but up.

DREW:

Thanks, Quince.

QUINCE:

Never mind Bontecou. I've got some

other merger possibilities up my

sleeve, and I'm putting them to see

old man.

DREW:

Are you?

QUINCE:

We'll do it together. I'll clue you

in. Timing's got to be right. The

old man says it's up to Joe.

DREW:

'It's up to Joe'? Those were his

words?

QUINCE:

Yeah.

DREW:

'It's up to Joe', huh?

QUINCE:

Yeah, that's what he said.

DREW:

Well, that's very interesting.

Drew gazes intently over at Joe who is crossing to Susan,

for the moment by herself near the piano.

QUINCE:

I thought so, too. Joe's a neat

guy.

DREW:

Yeah. Neat.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Joe approaches Susan.

JOE:

I wanted to apologize, Susan --

SUSAN:

I thought you said 'Be sorry for

nothing'.

JOE:

Well, now I am sorry. For intruding

on you this afternoon.

SUSAN:

It wasn't an intrusion. And if it

was, it turned out to be welcome.

JOE:

I appreciate you --

SUSAN:

Excuse me?

JOE:

I mean I appreciate that.

SUSAN:

And I appreciate you, too.

A moment between them.

JOE:

(delighted)

You do? Well, thank you very much.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Drew crosses over to Parrish.

PARRISH:

I was a little abrupt with you this

afternoon, Drew. Forgive me. I want

you to know I value your advice.

DREW:

As much as Joe's?

Parrish doesn't answer.

DREW (cont'd)

Who is this man? He's giving

ubiquitous a bad name.

A moment.

PARRISH:

You're competitive soul, Drew.

That's what makes you a great addi-

tion to the money. Joe is just...

around.

DREW:

For how long? And why?

PARRISH:

Please. Don't worry about him. And

above all, don't antagonize him.

Drew glances over at Joe.

DREW:

Boss's orders, huh? I'm great at

following them. And I think I'll

start right now.

Allison calls out from the other side of the room:

ALLISON:

Dinner's ready, everybody!

A BUZZ as Coyle opens the doors to the dining room and the

family files in, Drew lingering behind with Joe.

DREW:

I have a confession to make to you,

Joe.

Joe just smiles in response.

DREW (cont'd)

Do you want to hear it?

JOE:

(pleasantly)

No.

DREW:

Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.

I did cheat on that exam at Groton.

But so did twenty-six other guys,

and nobody ever mentioned it until

today. And I'm expecting you won't

mention it again. I don't know who

you are and where you're getting

your information, but I'm willing to

pretend I did not hear it, and let

bygones be bygones. But can I tell

you something else, it'd be nice to

see the big guy without you next to

him. What are you, his shadow? Do

you hold his dick for him when he

goes to take a leak? You know some-

times somebody would like a few min-

utes alone with W.P. That means

without you. Okay, pal? Let's eat.

INT. DINING ROOM, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Everyone eating silently but looks are exchanged, glances

averted, Allison notices Susan and Joe looking at each

other, Drew observes Parrish watching Joe, Quince, on the

other hand, just eats.

Breaking the silence, Parrish chinks his glass, stands.

PARRISH:

-- I - uh - want to thank you all

for coming - uh - my family --

Everyone at the table is all attention.

PARRISH (cont'd)

-- Allison and Quince, Susan -- and

the other members --

He glances at Joe, stops.

PARRISH (cont'd)

-- I'm so happy when we can get

together -- I mean I know you all

have busy lives --

SUSAN:

Look who's talking.

ALLISON:

(a laugh)

Yeah, speak for yourself.

PARRISH:

Anyway -- I remember when you were

little girls --

An awkward pause. Quince chooses to fill the silence.

QUINCE:

I love little girls --

Allison elbows him.

PARRISH:

And now you're all grown up -- and

I'm - uh - um --

Parrish struggles to keep his emotions in check, Drew

clocking his behavior very carefully.

PARRISH (cont'd)

I had some words all prepared but

now I've forgotten them - uh - um -

wait a minute.

Silence, everyone waiting for Parrish to proceed.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Uh, it's gone...um -- it was on the

tip of my tongue.

SUSAN:

It'll come back, Daddy.

PARRISH:

Will it?...

Parrish looking around, searching for words he will not find.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Anyway, I'd like to go on but...

He hesitates, drifts into silence.

ALLISON:

(tentatively)

Daddy, you could sit down if you

wanted to.

A moment.

PARRISH:

There is so much I would like to say

-- but I can't --

(another moment)

So I better sit down. Carry on,

everybody.

He sits, then immediately stands up again.

PARRISH (cont'd)

One other thing -- why don't we all

have dinner again tomorrow night?

ALLISON:

Dinner? Again?

SUSAN:

Haven't you had enough of us, Dad?

PARRISH:

(with great sincerity)

No.

The word lands with effect, Susan and Allison have heard it

well.

SUSAN:

We'll be here.

QUINCE:

You bet.

ALLISON:

With bells on.

The guests try to return to their food, Susan is the most

concerned about Parrish's lapse, she does not say anything

but Drew next to her senses her empathy and, in something of

a display, gives her a pro forma hug. Joe has observed

every instant of Drew's performance, his anxiety is palpable

when Coyle leans over to serve him, offering a tray of a

roast that has been carved.

JOE:

(to Coyle)

I would prefer some peanut butter.

COYLE:

How would you like that, sir? On

some kind of toast?

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