Meet Joe Black Page #8

ALLISON:

He's cute.

DREW:

Very.

Susan's eyes are still on the door where Joe exited, her

face reflecting her irritation and bewilderment, as well as

a tinge of excitement.

INT. HALLWAY, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Parrish leads the way, Joe beside him as they progress through

the huge house.

PARRISH:

...I'm sorry, I'm a little discon-

certed, that stuff between you and

Susan -- uh -- threw me.

JOE:

'Threw' you? Where?

PARRISH:

Shook me up. I mean that you knew

her and everything --

JOE:

I didn't know her. The body I took

knew her. The man she met in the

coffee shop this morning. I - uh -

took him.

PARRISH:

So there's nothing between you and

Susan?

JOE:

No.

PARRISH:

I wish you had said something to me

about staying here --

JOE:

It hadn't occurred to me until then.

I was just having such a wonderful

time -- Besides, isn't this what I'm

here for?

Parrish suddenly looks very anxious, Joe stops.

JOE (cont'd)

You seem uncomfortable, Bill.

PARRISH:

No, I'm okay with this - uh - I

think. So --

He opens a door.

INT. MASTER GUEST SUITE, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

PARRISH:

(to Joe)

Bathroom...tub...towels, sauna --

Parrish turns back to the bedroom.

PARRISH (cont'd)

...Chair, lamp, bed --

Parrish is in a stunned state, chatters on unconsciously:

PARRISH (cont'd)

Box springs, they're assembled in

Jakarta. Had to stay in a station

manager's house there unexpectedly

- best night's sleep I ever had.

Ordered twenty, they filled a con-

tainer and shipped them right over,

I've put one in every bedroom here

and in the country.

Joe tests the springs.

JOE:

What a good idea.

PARRISH:

Thank you. Would you like the man's

name?

JOE:

No.

Parrish glances around, a room in which the occupant could

not want for anything.

PARRISH:

If there is anything else, don't

hesitate --

JOE:

I won't.

PARRISH:

How long have I got?

JOE:

You're putting me on the spot, Bill.

A moment.

JOE (cont'd)

Let's put it this way. When I go,

you go.

PARRISH:

When you go, I go.

JOE:

That's the best I can do.

(a moment)

...but minute-by-minute, I find

myself lingering.

PARRISH:

...I just saw my doctor, he told me

everything was fine.

JOE:

Your doctor?

(icily)

Did your doctor say anything about

a tiny, undetectable hole in your

aorta? Did he mention an irreparab-

ly weak vein in the further reaches

of your famous brain? Were there any

prognostications about the possibil-

ilites of a fatal collision on a golf

cart or suffocating in an avalanche

on a ski vacation in Gstaad?

PARRISH:

No --

JOE:

I hope you realize, Bill...in your

office this morning, that was your

time.

PARRISH:

Closer than that.

Parrish keeps still, trying to cool the heat of Joe's

temper.

JOE (cont'd)

...But meanwhile, you are still

here. Count your blessings. Call

it gravy, frosting on the cake,

whatever it is you say.

PARRISH:

Well, thank you for letting me know.

JOE:

Not at all.

PARRISH:

And - uh - I guess, 'goodnight'.

JOE:

Good night to you, Bill.

Parrish gently closes the door.

Joe looks around, checks out his surroundings: curious,

attentive.

INT. HALLWAY, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Parrish, unsteady, starts back down the hall, Luisa appears.

LUISA:

...Miss Allison asked if you would

like to have your dinner kept warm?

PARRISH:

No. Thanks, Luisa.

LUISA:

Very good, sir.

Luisa turns:

PARRISH:

Luisa --

She stops.

PARRISH (cont'd)

Mr. Black's luggage was misplaced by

the airlines. Would you mind get-

ting a few things together for him?

A couple of suits, some shirts,

ties, underwear, shoes. Have Coyle

take his measurements off what he is

wearing tonight.

LUISA:

Certainly, sir.

Luisa nods, and heads back downstairs. Parrish enters

his den, takes a seat in his chair, stares into the middle

distance, ruminates.

INT. GUEST ROOM, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Joe has been examining his room, full of curiosity and

wonderment at the oddest things, the handle on a casement

window, the hem and weight of the fabric of a drape, hinges

on the bedroom door. In the process he opens this door,

steps out into the hallway.

INT. HALLWAY, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

Joe wanders down the hallway past the occasional Dufy or

Miro, a Venetian tapestry cheek-by-jowl with a miniature

Ming vase, and even a Bonsai garden with a trickling vein

of water.

INT. KITCHEN HALLWAY, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

In the "back" of the house now, utilitarian paint and decor,

the SOUND of laughter and a glare of light. Joe enters.

INT. KITCHEN, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT

The staff is at ease, some smoking, remains of food around.

Coyle, the butler, has his back to Joe and does not see him

for a moment. In front of Coyle, an open jar of peanut but-

ter which he is spreading in generous hunks of Wonder Bread.

Joe is fascinated by the process. Coyle suddenly hears the

silence, looks up and see Joe, standing up embarrassedly.

COYLE:

Yes, sir?

JOE:

Hello. I'm Joe Black. Nice to meet

you.

COYLE:

Yes sir, Mr. Black, a pleasure.

The staff all mumble expansive "Good evening, sir"s to Joe.

He motions to them to sit, they do but Coyle does not. Coyle

shifts from foot-to-foot, the staff is not used to having

Parrish family or guests in this part of the house.

JOE:

(to Coyle)

What are you eating.

COYLE:

You mean this, sir?

Coyle regards his peanut butter sheepishly.

COYLE (cont'd)

Laura Scudder's Peanut Butter.

JOE:

(carefully)

'Laura Scudder's Peanut Butter'.

(a moment)

You like it?

COYLE:

I would say, sir, it is right up

there with Jif and Skippy. But

miles ahead of Peter Pan.

(another moment)

Like a taste?

Joe nods, Coyle fashions a spoonful, offers it to Joe. Joe

swallows it. But he has not yet found a comfortable way of

masticating, his mouth and tongue go every which way, the

staff observes him, fascinated.

COYLE (cont'd)

You're a peanut butter man now, eh,

sir?

JOE:

Yes, I am. I thoroughly enjoyed

this - uh - peanut butter.

(to the staff)

And I thoroughly enjoyed meeting

you.

Joe raises the spoonful of peanut butter in a kind of toast

to the staff.

JOE (cont'd)

I'll be moseying on.

He heads out, with the spoonful of peanut butter, to cheer-

ful "Goodnight, Mr. Black"'s, his tongue again licking the

edges of the spoon.

INT. SWIMMING POOL, PARRISH TOWNHOUSE - DAY

A spectacular indoor Olympic pool, window commanding views

of the skyline.

Susan is swimming laps, looking very professional in a black

Speedo suit, Joe wanders in, still licking his peanut butter.

He observes her, but she is unaware of him, however now, as

she makes a barrel turn, his shadow falls over a reflection

from a window, she aborts her lap, looks up to see who it is.

SUSAN:

What are you doing here?

JOE:

I'm lost.

SUSAN:

-- Can't seem to escape you today.

JOE:

I'm sorry.

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