Mumford Page #3

MUMFORD:

That's not quite what I said --

NESSA:

It's a really weird thing for a shrink

to say... and then you said maybe

people'd be happier if they'd accept

that some things don't change --

that it'd be some kind of a relief

or something...

Mumford waits.

NESSA:

Well, I guess I'm just a dumb b*tch,

but how depressing is that moment --

the moment when you give up?

EXT. HIKING TRAIL, MOUNTAIN FOREST - MAGIC

The last rays of sun are fighting their way through the trees

as Mumford comes up the trail he clearly knows very well.

EXT. BIG ROCK LOOKOUT POINT - MAGIC

Mumford climbs out on the Big Rock, settles himself on the

edge and takes a long drink from a water bottle.

WHAT HE SEES:
far below at the foot of these hills, lights

just twinkling on, is the town of Mumford. He stares at it

for several long moments. Then he takes a small headlamp

from his pack and fits the straps over his head (it looks

like a miner's light). He twists the light on to test it and

turns his head to watch the beam move about.

WE CUT BACK WIDE. After a beat, Mumford settles back and

turns off the light.

INT. SCATTERGOOD'S TAVERN - NIGHT

The place is quietly busy with the regulars. Mumford has a

favorite spot at the far end of the bar. Right now he's

sitting alone, reading the remnants of a newspaper.

SKIP SKIPPERTON, the man on the skateboard, comes in. Everyone

in the bar is surprised to see Skip in here. Several patrons

greet him as he makes his way deeper inside, looking around.

He's uncomfortable. He seems relieved when he spots Mumford

and heads back there. Mumford doesn't notice Skip waiting

for his attention.

SKIP:

Hi.

Mumford looks up, smiles. Skip offers his hand.

SKIP:

You're Doc Mumford.

(Mumford nods)

Skip Skipperton.

MUMFORD:

How are you?

SKIP:

Fine. Okay. Pretty good. I've been

hoping we'd meet. I've heard a lot

about you.

Mumford waits, friendly. Skip runs out of gas, gets uneasy,

glances around.

SKIP:

Do you think we could...? Can I buy

you a drink?

CUT TO:

[...]

LATER. IN A BOOTH near the back. They've been at it a while,

but nothing is clear to Mumford, yet. Skip keeps his voice

down; he doesn't want anyone else in the bar to hear him.

SKIP:

..."Find the need and fill it" my

dad used to say -- I guess a lot of

dads say that -- but I did and it

just took off.

MUMFORD:

No kidding... Panda. Where'd that

come from?

SKIP:

Panda? I've always liked giant

pandas... I've been to China and

seen them in the wild. That's the

kind of thing I can do if I want...

now. I can do pretty much anything I

want to do these days.

Skip stares into his beer for a moment, as though the thought

depresses him. He catches himself and snaps back --

SKIP:

So now we make 23% of the modems in

the market, which is pretty good.

Skip glances around, leans in, confidential.

SKIP:

When I was growing up here, the town

was about dead. The timber business

was played out... Panda changed all

that. Now, just about everybody in

town either works for the company or

depends on it somehow. Which is kinda

the problem...

Mumford waits, watches. Skip gets uncomfortable.

SKIP:

Would you like another beer?

MUMFORD:

Nah... scotch.

SKIP:

(brightens, like a

kid)

Far out. Single malt?

(gets up)

Can I pick it?

Skip heads off to the bar. Mumford looks around. Everybody

is watching.

DISSOLVE TO:

LATER. The bar crowd has thinned. Both Mumford and Skip have

had a few. In fact, Mumford is now carefully pouring them

each another drink from a bottle of Glensomething on the

table.

MUMFORD:

You want me... to be... your friend.

Skip beams. Mumford leans forward in the same confidential

way Skip did before; he indicates that Skip should lean in

too. Mumford is almost whispering --

MUMFORD:

But that's not what's really going

on...

(Skip is excited)

...What's really going on is... you

have some problems and you want some

therapy, but you feel it could be

very bad for Panda Modem stock if

word got out that you were having

head problems.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes