Meet Joe Black Page #7

YOUNG MAN:

Then don't.

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

As Parrish and the Young Man enter, Allison is heard in the

background.

ALLISON:

...Well, here's another possibility.

It's a little last minute, but how does

this strike you? Kaleidoscopes. Little

gold kaleidoscopes. Some German firm

went kerplunkt, Tiffany's picked these

things up, they're perfect party favors,

however they're not personal, they're

winter scene or something, snow-flakes

and dachshunds...

Parrish and the Young Man appear at the table, an awkward

pause ensues, the unannounced guest's presence at a family

dinner being noted, and the guest himself carefully survey-

ed. Finally, Allison breaks the ice:

ALLISON (cont'd)

(to the Young Man)

Hi there --

YOUNG MAN:

Hello.

Parrish is horribly uncomfortable as the Young Man looks at

each person as if he were discovering a face for the first

time.

PARRISH:

Uh -- sorry -- to have stepped away

for so long -- uh -- this is a

friend of mine I asked to drop by --

we got to talking and stuff -- uh --

he's going to join us for dinner --

um --

Parrish drifts into another awkward pause.

ALLISON:

(to the Young Man)

Hello, how nice to meet you. And

wouldn't it be nicer if my father

would introduce you?

YOUNG MAN:

(to Allison)

'...How nice to meet you.'

PARRISH:

Oh, I'm sorry. This is my daughter,

Allison, and her husband, Quince,

Drew, my number one, works with me...

Parrish drifts off as the Young Man awkwardly shakes hands

with each person.

ALLISON:

(prompting)

Daddy. Does your friend have a name?

PARRISH:

A name?

DREW:

(pleasantly, going

along with the joke)

Yeah, something he goes by --

PARRISH:

Oh, excuse me. This is -- uh --

this is --

ALLISON:

Daddy! Come on, a name.

DREW:

Yeah, Bill, the suspense is killing

me.

PARRISH:

Sorry...um - you - you know it's gone

right out of my head --

DREW:

What?!

PARRISH (cont'd)

I'm sorry. This is - uh - uh...

The group waits patiently.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Joe!

ALLISON:

Joe...

Parrish once more drifts into silence. (The YOUNG MAN is now

identified as "JOE".)

DREW:

Just plain 'Joe'?

ALLISON:

Love that name.

QUINCE:

Me, too. Hey, buddy!

Joe, turned on by Quince's broad smile, reacts to it as Drew

squints observingly at Joe.

DREW:

'Joe...'

PARRISH:

Yes.

DREW:

Is there any more to it?

PARRISH:

(alarmed)

What do you mean?

DREW:

Like 'Smith' or 'Jones --'

Parrish's face reveals a desperate searching for a last name,

a furtive glance at Joe. Parrish's brow darkens and a name

tumbles from his lips:

PARRISH:

-- Black.

ALLISON:

Whew, at last. Nice to meet you,

Mr. Black.

QUINCE:

'Joe Black'. Won fifteen and lost

two for the Brooklyn Dodgers in

1952.

JOE:

Yes?

QUINCE:

(to Joe)

You bet. I'm king of my Rotisserie

League.

JOE:

Are you?

PARRISH:

He is! Let's sit down --

Luisa has set a plate in front of Joe, and Parrish's, which

was taken to the kitchen to be warmed, has been returned.

Joe looks over at the other guests, then picks up his uten-

sils gingerly, strives to copy the others, stops, staring at

his food.

ALLISON:

(to Joe)

Paillarde of veal.

QUINCE:

Yeah, they hit the calf over the

head with a mallet and then Luisa

hits it again in the kitchen.

ALLISON:

Honey --!

QUINCE:

You know what I'm saying, Joe?

JOE:

No --

PARRISH:

(laughing emptily)

Joe knows what you're saying, just

being polite --

Drew is studying Joe.

DREW:

(to Joe)

Have we met?

PARRISH:

Uh -- he's from out of town --

QUINCE:

How long you here, Joe?

JOE:

As long as it takes.

Drew is provoked by the response, but remains polite:

DREW:

You and Bill old friends?

Parrish jumps in:

PARRISH:

No --

DREW:

(to Joe)

I get the feeling you've done some

business before.

JOE:

We have an arrangement now.

DREW:

What side of the industry did you

say you were on?

JOE:

I didn't say.

DREW:

(to Parrish)

Joe sounds like a ringer, Bill. I

have the feeling you guys got the

broad strokes already. Need any

help with the details?

Parrish falls silent again, looking for an answer.

DREW (cont'd)

I'm sorry -- business at dinner...

(to Joe)

Forgive me for being so rude.

JOE:

Sure.

The doors to the dining room open, Susan appears.

SUSAN:

Hi, everybody. Sorry to be late --

had to have dinner with my depart-

ment chief --

ALLISON:

You ate?

SUSAN:

...I'm here, aren't I? Wouldn't

miss a loose end meeting. What's on

the table for discussion? Party

favors, flowers -- hi Dad, hi Drew --

She kisses Drew in some light, humorous way they have ob-

viously done before, their heads bobbing like plastic water

toys and their lips meeting mid-air.

At the kiss's conclusion Susan suddenly notices Joe is

present and has been watching. She is shocked, embarrassed,

pleased, conflicted, an instant and wide spectrum of emotions.

SUSAN (cont'd)

What are you doing here?

Silence.

PARRISH:

(stunned)

You know each other?

SUSAN:

(lightly)

We've met.

PARRISH:

What?!

SUSAN:

-- This morning. The Corinth Coffee

Shop. He was looking for a doctor.

QUINCE:

Well, I guess he's found one.

DREW:

Joe, you do get around.

Joe is happily confounded by all the interaction.

SUSAN:

That's your name?

ALLISON:

And isn't it a lovely one? So

sturdy, so straight --

Joe has heard Susan's question but, as he studies her,

doesn't answer.

DREW:

Incidentally, Joe, where're you

staying?

JOE:

Here...

DREW:

'Here'?

SUSAN:

In this house?

QUINCE:

Great!

Parrish pushes his plate away.

PARRISH:

Uh - will that hold you, Joe?

SUSAN:

Incidentally, 'Joe' what?

JOE:

Black.

QUINCE:

Hey, this is fun.

SUSAN:

So, what are you doing here?

Parrish tenses, but Joe doesn't answer.

SUSAN (cont'd)

Cat got your tongue? You weren't so

silent this morning.

Drew reacts to this allusion of intimacy.

ALLISON:

Now, I'm getting interested. I want

to know more ---

PARRISH:

(to Joe)

We've got some things to discuss.

Parrish stands, motions for Joe to rise.

DREW:

(to Joe)

-- Did I hear 'business'?

SUSAN:

What 'business'?

QUINCE:

Don't bother asking, we already

tried.

JOE:

It's so very nice to see you again.

SUSAN:

Funny, I don't get that feeling.

Maybe it's because you found out

I'm Bill Parrish's daughter.

PARRISH:

Cut it out, Susan.

(to Joe)

You and I've got to talk. Big day

tomorrow, everybody. Joe, let's go.

Joe rises, follows Parrish to the door, stops:

JOE:

(to Susan)

Susan.

(to Allison)

Allison.

(to Quince)

Quince.

(to Drew)

Drew.

(to Parrish)

Bill...

(to the group)

Thank you.

He makes an awkward little bow, then heads for the nearest

door.

PARRISH:

Joe, that's the kitchen.

JOE:

Thank you.

Joe pivots, and he follows Parrish out the proper door.

DREW:

That was 'Joe'.

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