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Susan is staring at him now, he smiles, all open and

vulnerable.

SUSAN:

I've got to go --

YOUNG MAN:

Did I say something wrong?

SUSAN:

No, it was so right it scares me.

YOUNG MAN:

I've been thinking... I don't want

you to be my doctor. Because I

don't want you to examine me.

SUSAN:

Why?

YOUNG MAN:

Because I like you so much.

(a moment)

You have coffee here every morning,

don't you? If I came by, could you

give me the name of a doctor?

Another moment.

SUSAN:

Sure, I'll give you the name of a

doctor.

(a moment)

...And I don't want to examine you.

YOUNG MAN:

Why not?

SUSAN:

Because I like you so much. Now

I've got to go.

She hurries away down the sidewalk, the Young Man watching

her. Now he turns and starts off in the opposite direction.

ANOTHER ANGLE - SUSAN

She looks back at the Young Man, then turns and walks on.

ANOTHER ANGLE - THE YOUNG MAN

He looks back at Susan as the distance between them widens,

now he turns and walks on.

ON SUSAN:

She looks around once more but the Young Man is still headed

in the opposite direction, his back to her. She turns the

corner and continues on.

ON THE YOUNG MAN

Approaching the corner, he looks back for Susan yet again,

but she is gone, still turned he steps off into the street

and a hospital supplies truck, speeding down the curb lane,

HITS HIM BROADSIDE, a horrific impact, the THUD echoes as

his body arcs through the air.

Another sickening THUD as it lands, the Young Man lies

crumpled, still.

CUT TO:

INT. SALON, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE, NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT

A beautiful space adjacent to the dining room, it has a

glass roof which offers a superb view of the Manhattan sky-

line. The hour is before dinner: gathered on one side of

the room are Allison and Parrish, on the other side Drew and

Quince. COYLE, a butler, and LUISA, the housekeeper, pass

hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

ALLISON:

...Music, I know how you love music,

Daddy, and I want to have music that

pleases you -- and of course doesn't

put a thousand other people to sleep

-- I've agonized over this and

finally settled on Sidney Brown,

twenty-four men, very eclectic, plus

I'm feathering in a Latin sextet on

their breaks - Tito Puente, Trini

Lopez-zy, I forget their names --

Parrish has tuned Allison out, he tried to stay with it, but

his mind has wandered, the event of the day too much with

him.

ALLISON (cont'd)

You haven't heard a word, have you?

I keep talking and all you do is nod

like Mr. Himmelfass in The

Nutcracker.

Parrish still doesn't answer.

ALLISON (cont'd)

You don't care, do you?

PARRISH:

What, honey?

ALLISON:

I lay awake nights in a cold sweat,

I want this party to be like some-

thing Mom would have made for you,

I want it to be perfect --

PARRISH:

(attentive now)

I know you do, darling.

ALLISON:

And you could care less --

PARRISH:

Oh, you couldn't be more wrong,

sweetheart. I can' tell you how

much I appreciate it and how I'm

looking forward to it.

ALLISON:

Good. Songs. What songs should

Sidney -- Pancho and his six men we

can forget about -- what songs do

you think he should play?

A stab of pain, Parrish discreetly grabs his upper arm but

manages to keep his attention on Allison.

PARRISH:

Tell it to me again.

Suddenly, the Voice cuts in:

VOICE (V.O.)

...Yes.

Parrish's head snaps, startled by the SOUND.

VOICE (V.O., cont'd)

(to Parrish)

Did you miss me?

Parrish reacts once more, aware again he is the only one who

has heard the Voice, as an oblivious Allison continues:

ALLISON:

(to Parrish)

Never mind. Leave it to me.

Parrish ignores her, his attention has been taken by the

Voice. His eyelids flutter, nonplused, edgy and fearful.

LUISA:

Mr. Parrish, dinner is served.

ALLISON:

(to Quince and Drew,

across the room)

Chow-time, you guys.

Parrish is confounded. Blindly and disconcerted, he follows

Allison and Drew and Quince.

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

As a disturbed Parrish approaches the table, he hears the

Voice once more:

VOICE (V.O.)

What are you looking so provoked

about? 'Did you miss me?' It's

a normal question. I missed you.

But what do I get back? 'Not an

ounce of excitement, not a whisper

of a thrill --'

Parrish sits.

VOICE (V.O., cont'd)

'-- This relationship has all the

passion of a pair of titmice'.

Parrish is on the edge of his seat, struggling to hide his

panic.

VOICE (V.O., cont'd)

I'm waiting outside.

The conversation swirls on around Parrish, he is deaf to it:

ALLISON:

(to Drew)

Did you speak to the Governor?

DREW:

He's coming.

ALLISON:

His wife?

DREW:

Unfortunately. I sat between them

at the Bronx Zoo benefit -- it was

better than Seconal.

VOICE (V.O.)

I'm waiting outside. Won't someone

come to the door?

Parrish is in shock, still striving to gain control of

himself. As Coyle serves him, Parrish turns to Luisa:

PARRISH:

Is somebody waiting outside, Luisa?

LUISA:

I didn't hear a ring, sir.

PARRISH:

Please have a look --

Luisa goes as Coyle continues serving.

ALLISON:

(to Quince)

What about the Mayor?

QUINCE:

He said he would be there with bells

on.

DREW:

Good, maybe they'll drown him out.

Parrish is still not hearing a word, preoccupied with the

return of Luisa.

ALLISON:

Please don't be negative, Drew, we

have an acceptance list that would

do The White House proud -- The

Secretary-General of the UN, the

Chairman of the FCC, nine Senators,

I don't know how many Congressmen,

and at least twelve of the Fortune

'500'.

QUINCE:

No jocks? A twenty-game winner or a

Masters champion? Someone I could

talk to.

(a moment)

Or would talk to me.

Luisa returns to Parrish as the others' conversation drones

on:

LUISA:

You're right, Mr. Parrish. There

was a gentleman at the door. He's

waiting for you in the foyer.

Parrish is stunned.

PARRISH:

(after a moment)

Show him into the library, tell him

I'll be right there.

Parrish, spinning with anxiety, tries to summon up his courage

to go as Allison continues:

ALLISON:

I've arranged for favors -- silver

charm bracelets for the women,

platinum keychains for the men --

all engraved 'W.P.' -- but now I'm

thinking of scrubbing them, they

seem so ordinary.

Finally Parrish rises from the table, starts out.

ALLISON (cont'd)

Are they ordinary? Do they seem

that way to you, Daddy?

PARRISH:

Uh -- I don't know. No - uh - I

don't...

Allison is about to press the point, but then drifts into

disappointed silence as Parrish leaves the room.

DREW:

(to Allison)

You're overthinking it --

QUINCE:

I don't think they're ordinary. I

love keychains.

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LIBRARY, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Parrish moves deliberately down the hall, slows as he nears

the doorway to the library. The door is open. He hesitates

before he crosses the threshold, taking in as much as his

eye can see, now tentatively, he enters.

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