Meet Joe Black Page #24

PARRISH:

He is --

JOE:

I'll take it from here --

(to Drew)

I am --

PARRISH:

-- An IRS man.

Drew is stunned, Joe glances at Parrish, hesitates.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Yes, he is. He's an -- IRS man.

Aren't you, Joe?

Joe is at a loss, Parrish's eyes are glued to his, Joe gets

the hint.

JOE:

Yes, I am.

(to Drew)

IRS man.

Drew's head swivels from Joe to Parrish and back again.

PARRISH:

The Treasury Department asked

my cooperation in his undercover

investigation of John Bontecou.

They were convinced that Bontecou,

on past deals, had structured his

mergers and acquisitions in sus-

picious and complicated ways so as

to evade paying the taxes he is

liable for. The IRS wanted to go

after him, and this deal offered

them the opportunity.

(a moment)

I agreed to cooperate.

JOE:

(to Parrish)

And we're very grateful.

PARRISH:

Moreover, Agent Joe Black here --

of course that's not his real name

-- smelled out your involvement,

Drew. He developed evidence you

were working both sides of the

fence. Unfortunately, that's known

as a conflict of interest --

JOE:

Undisclosed conflict of interest --

PARRISH:

An offense --

JOE:

An indictable offense.

Silence.

DREW:

I think I'd like to talk to my

lawyer --

PARRISH:

No lawyers, Drew. We're going to

offer you a deal.

Drew is all attention.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Confess to the Board every details of

your participation and then submit

your resignation.

DREW:

And what do I get?

PARRISH:

You get not to go to jail.

DREW:

You're talking through your hat.

You're offering a deal because

you've got no proof.

PARRISH:

Proof? We've got plenty of proof.

JOE:

(to Drew)

And he's talking through his lips.

Joe steps forward.

JOE (cont'd)

Make no mistake, Drew, if you choose

to test my resolve in this matter,

you'll be looking at an outcome that

will have a finality that is beyond

your comprehension, and you'll not

be counting the days or the months

or the years, but millenniums in the

house with no doors.

Drew slumps.

DREW:

All right, you win. As soon as I

get back to the city, I'll meet with

the Board.

Sloane's voice erupts over the SPEAKERPHONE.

SLOANE (O.S.)

You're meeting with the Board right

now, Drew. Resignation accepted.

Moreover, I propose a motion to re-

confirm William Parrish as Chairman

of the Board of Parrish Communica-

tions as well as a rejection of the

merger with Bontecou International.

How say you, Board?

A chorus of thunderous "Yes"es resounds through the

SPEAKERPHONE.

SLOANE (O.S., cont'd)

The motion is passed.

PARRISH:

Well, thank you, that's great, but

it's more than I bargained for. I

just wanted to set the record

straight.

SLOANE (O.S.)

But we want you back, Bill. Mean-

while, enjoy your party, celebrate,

we'll attend to the nasty details.

And Mr. Black, may we say thank you.

JOE:

My pleasure. This is an IRS Agent's

dream. I'll be promoted to Chief of

Section off of this.

Parrish clicks the speakerphone off. Drew is staring at

Joe, shaking his head.

DREW:

Who would've ever believed it? You,

an IRS Agent --

Silence. Joe shrugs, smiles.

JOE:

'Death and Taxes'.

The door flies open, an anxious Allison appears.

ALLISON:

Daddy! We've been looking all over

for you - this is your party - what

are you doing in here? Never mind.

You're on. Let's go.

She pulls him out of his chair, hustles him out of the room,

Joe right behind them.

EXT. LAWNS, COUNTRY ESTATE - NIGHT

The guests have formed themselves into a huge audience, the

orchestra strikes up "Happy Birthday" as Parrish appears

with Allison. An enormous cake is unveiled with one great,

lit candle, Parrish beams then laughs. He pauses over the

cake, now blows the candle out. APPLAUSE, cries of "Speech!

Speech!", Parrish tries to demur but the request becomes

loud and rhythmic, he holds up his hand, nods, quiets the

crowd. Joe observes from the fringe.

PARRISH:

(to the guests)

I thought I was going to sneak away

tonight...

YELLS of "No!" "Never!"

PARRISH (cont'd)

...What a glorious night, every

face I see is a memory. It may not

be a perfectly perfect memory --

sometimes we had our ups and downs

-- but we're all together, and

you're mine for a night.

(a moment)

-- And I'm going to break precedent,

and tell you my one-candle wish --

that you would have a life as lucky

as mine, where you can wake up one

morning and say "I don't want

anything more."

(another moment)

Sixty-five years - don't they go by

in a blink?

Parrish hesitates, waves and steps away, APPLAUSE that grows

into CHEERS, the music resumes, another dance tune. Quince

grabs him, pumps his hand and claps him on the back. Now

Parrish spots Allison, he wraps her in a tight embrace, they

hold each other close for a moment, but then are separated

by a surge of guests. Parrish sees Susan, she smiles but

there is a tinge of sadness about her. He heads towards her,

they are somehow situated as if they were alone in this crowd.

SUSAN:

What a night.

PARRISH:

I'm having a helluva time.

A moment.

SUSAN:

You were right about Joe, he is

going somewhere --

PARRISH:

(gently)

I'm sorry.

Susan is examining Parrish very closely.

SUSAN:

Are you relieved?

PARRISH:

Yes, but --

Parrish hesitates.

SUSAN:

But what?

PARRISH:

I want you to know how much I love

you. That you've given a meaning

to my life that I had no right to

expect, and that no one can ever

take from me.

SUSAN:

Daddy --

PARRISH:

No -- I love you so much and I want

you to promise me something. I

don't want you to ever worry about

me. If anything should happen, I'm

going to be fine and everything's

going to be all right.

(a moment)

-- And I have no regrets.

Susan is in pain now, she can't summon an answer.

PARRISH (cont'd)

And I want you to feel that way,

too.

SUSAN:

I love you, Daddy --

PARRISH:

That's why it's okay.

They drift into silence.

PARRISH (cont'd)

No regrets?

After a moment.

SUSAN:

'No regrets'.

A long silence, Susan smiles.

PARRISH:

It's a good feeling, isn't it?

Silence again.

SUSAN:

Everybody's saying goodbye...

They regard each other, a long pause, they have reached an

understanding.

PARRISH:

I'm still here.

(a moment)

Would you like to dance with me,

Susan?

SUSAN:

Oh, yes --

He starts to lead her to the floor, immediately stops.

PARRISH:

If you don't mind dancing with an

old fogey like me.

SUSAN:

Oh, Dad, you're not old. You'll

never be old.

He takes her in his arms and they dance away.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

On a distant fringe of the party, a grass terrace that still

commands a view of the dance floor, is Joe. His eyes are on

Parrish and Susan, he watches them admiringly yet ruefully.

A Waiter passes, catches sight of Joe, stops.

WAITER:

Can I get you anything, sir?

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