Pleasantville Page #7

He stops wiping for a moment, holding the towel in his hand.

MR. JOHNSON (CONT)

I didn't know what to do.

He stares at the rag a little troubled.

DAVID:

What's wrong?

MR. JOHNSON

Well--I always wipe down the counter and

then you set out the napkins and glasses

and then I make the french fries ...

DAVID:

(confused)

Yeah ...

MR. JOHNSON

But you didn't come so I kept on wiping.

He looks down at the towel clearly disturbed. David pauses

for a moment then starts toward him.

DAVID:

I'm sorry.

He crosses to Mr. Johnson who has polished one section of the

counter right down to the wood. David takes the towel out of

his hand and folds it neatly in front of him.

DAVID (CONT)

(gently)

You know, if this ever happens again,

you can make the fries even if I haven't

put out the napkins yet.

MR. JOHNSON

I'm so glad you're here.

DAVID:

I understand.

EXT. PARKER HOUSE. NIGHT.

Biff's convertible rolls up to the curb with Pat Boone

playing on the radio. He runs a comb through his short blonde

hair before grabbing the bouquet of flowers next to him and

heading up the walk. Biff rings the doorbell and, a moment

later, Jennifer's silhouette appears in the doorway ...

BIFF:

Oh. Mary Sue ...

EXT. SODA SHOP. NIGHT.

The place is really hopping now. All the spots in the parking

lot are filled with vintage "jalopies" and several patrons

are streaming through the door. The SAME JOHNNY MATHIS SONG

is still PLAYING on the juke box, and the neon ice cream soda

sign blinks against the sky.

INT. SODA SHOP.

David is trapped behind the counter, furiously working to

keep up with the load. Several clean cut teenagers pepper him

with orders while he yanks at the pumps and spiggots. It's

clear he isn't used to this.

DAVID:

(frazzled)

Peppermint shake, chocolate soda, two

orders of fries and a split?

TEEN AGE GIRL:

Peppermint soda, two chocolate shakes,

order of fries, and we'll split it.

David nods quickly, wiping some sweat from his brow. He

scoops some ice cream into the metal blender as Mr. Johnson

comes up beside him.

MR. JOHNSON

There aren't any cheeseburgers.

DAVID:

(turning)

What?

MR. JOHNSON

Well, usually I put out the burger and

then you finish with the lettuce ...

DAVID:

Listen to me!

Mr. Johnson recoils slightly.

DAVID (CONT)

Do you have the lettuce?

MR. JOHNSON

... Yeah.

DAVID:

Have you cooked the burgers?

MR. JOHNSON

(quieter)

Yes.

DAVID:

Well you can just put on the lettuce,

finish the burger and pretend it was me

doing it all along.

Mr. Johnson stares at him.

DAVID (CONT)

Really. It's fine.

DIFFERENT ANGLE. SODA SHOP ENTRANCE.

The screen door swings open and is held there by the end of a

Letterman's sweater. A moment later, Jennifer sashays

through, parading her new Jane Russell profile. Her

"girlfriends" TITTER from the comer as Biff rushes up to a

table, and pulls out a chair. She sashays into it, brushing

against him as she goes.

ANGLE. DAVID.

He stares motionless at the spectacle--concerned and

apprehensive. David holds a hot fudge sundae under the soda

spiggot and jerks back on the lever blowing ice cream all

over his chest.

FULL SHOT. TABLE.

Biff stares across the table at Jennifer with the wholesome

devotion of a labrador retriever. He looks like a cross

between Troy Donahue and a mannequin.

BIFF:

(haltingly)

I sure am glad you said you'd come out

with me tonight Mary Sue.

JENNIFER:

(full blown "Mary Sue")

Well "gee whizz" Biff. I sure am glad

you asked me.

He guffaws for a moment or two before speaking again.

BIFF:

I don't know if I ever said this to you

before, but, well ... I think you're

just about the keenest girl in the whole

school ...

JENNIFER:

Really Biff? The keenest?

BIFF:

Oh yeah.

JENNIFER:

(all sarcasm)

Gosh. I hardly know what to say.

DAVID (OS)

What can I get you two?

WIDER.

He stands at their table holding a little white pad of paper

and a pencil. Jennifer looks up at her brother and almost

bursts out laughing. He wears his soda jerk hat at a jaunty

angle with large white apron tied around his neck.

BIFF:

Oh, I dunno Bud. Guess I'll have my

usual cheeseburger and a cherry coke.

More goony laughs. David turns to Jennifer who puts on the

same dopey countenance.

JENNIFER:

Oh, I dunno Bud. Guess I'll just have a

salad and an Evian Water.

He shoots her a dirty look. Jennifer just smiles at him.

JENNIFER (CONT)

Cheeseburger it is.

ANGLE. FOLLOWING DAVID.

He glowers at her all the way back to the counter. David

posts the order in the little carousel clip board, keeping an

eye on the table the entire time ...

RESUME. TABLE.

Biff gazes across the table at Jennifer with an adoring look

on his face. His hands are properly folded in front of him.

She's still trying to do her best "Mary Sue."

BIFF:

See the whole time we were in civics

together, I really wanted to sit next to

you--but you were always sitting between

Peggy Jane and Lisa Anne.

There is some TITTERING behind her. Jennifer doesn't respond.

BIFF (CONT)

... And you always seemed so smart and

everything. Like that report you did on

"Our Town Hall." Gosh. I didn't know

what I'd talk to you about.

JENNIFER:

Well, sometimes talking's over-rated.

Don't you think?

BIFF:

Hunh?

(goony laugh)

Oh, right ...

He still doesn't understand. Biff GUFFAWS for a moment or two

then glances down at the table top. There is a momentary

break in the Music as Johnny Mathis' "MISTY" starts up all

over again. It's enough to make you shoot yourself.

BIFF (CONT)

So I know I haven't been steady with

anybody, but I just don't want to rush

it. You don't want to make a mistake

with something that important.

JENNIFER:

Oh, gosh no.

BIFF:

I mean, there's kids that are even

holding hands already but I figure

there's plenty of time for that kind of

thing later on. Don't you?

JENNIFER:

Oh you bet.

(beat)

Will you excuse me for a sec?

Jennifer gets up in a daze and heads toward the bathroom.

ANGLE. DAVID.

He freezes behind the counter and watches as his sister

practically stumbles through the bathroom door.

INT. BATHROOM.

Of course there aren't any toilets. Jennifer gropes her way

to the sink and leans against the counter.

JENNIFER:

Jesus Chirist ...

She turns and sits against the sink for a moment with a

dumbstruck look on her face. Jennifer shakes her head for a

moment or two, when the door to the bathroom bursts open.

GIRL'S VOICES

(overlapping)

"Did he give it to you ... Did he give

it to you ... I bet he gave it to her

... Did he give it to you?"

JENNIFER:

(straight ahead)

I don't think he knows how.

They TITTER away, even though they don't get it either. It

sounds like an aviary.

LISA ANNE:

I bet he's gonna take her to Lover's

Lane.

PEGGY JANE:

I bet he is. I bet he is.

BETTY JEAN:

I bet he's even gonna hold her hand!

They TITTER some more as Jennifer shakes her head.

INT. SODA SHOP.

David is standing beside their table as she retums from the

bathroom.

DAVID:

(chipper)

Couple of cheeseburgers and two cherry

cokes.

(pointedly)

If you need anything, I'll be right over

there.

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