Starman Page #21

STAR MAN:

Jennyhaydn!

One of the T-shirts throws him back and Burt begins to punch

him. We MOVE IN UNTIL we are CLOSE ON Jenny's face.

GROUND FLOOR:

Some of the onlookers have joined Burt in his attempt to

bring the STAR MAN down. Growling in his own language, the

STAR MAN fights back as best he can. The sleeve of his

windbreaker is torn. One of the T-shirts lands a blow on his

right shoulder that turns the STAR MAN around. He takes a

blow on the chest. Another in the kidneys. Burt gets a grip

on the STAR MAN's left wrist and holds on. The attackers

close in. Jenny's voice cuts through the din.

JENNY (O.S.)

Stop it!!! Stop it!!!

She barges into the fray and starts peeling the men away

from the STAR MAN.

JENNY:

Get away from him!! Leave him alone!!

You stupid jerks!! He's retarded!!

Can't you see that?!! Get away from

him!!

The men do. Jenny pushes the sleeve of the torn wind-breaker

back up on the STAR MAN's shoulder.

MOTHER:

He was stealing my baby...

JENNY:

You're wrong!! He would never do

anything like that!!

(takes STAR MAN's

hand)

Let's go...

MOTHER:

He had Gloria in his hands!

JENNY:

He's retarded! I shouldn't have left

him alone!

She starts to push out of the circle. Burt steps in to block

her.

JENNY:

(hisses)

Get out of my way.

She stares at him until he does, then leads the STAR MAN

down the path that opens for them in the crowd. They pass a

MALL GUARD who has just arrived.

EXT. STREET - SIOUX FALLS - DAY

JENNY:

Are you okay?

Still shaken, the STAR MAN nods. Jenny realizes that it is

comforting to him to have his hand in hers and she leads him

like a child down the sidewalk to the Mustang.

STAR MAN:

(as Jenny puts him in

the passenger seat)

Thank you.

The Mall Guard follows them down the walk-way and watches

them drive off. He scribbles the license number in his

notebook.

INT. GREYHOUND BUS STATION - SIOUX FALLS - DAY

At the counter Jenny puts her Visa card back into her wallet

while the CLERK staples the pages of a ticket into a travel

folder.

CLERK:

(handing it to her)

Gate three. It's boarding now.

JENNY:

Thank you.

CLERK:

Have a nice trip.

We FOLLOW Jenny THROUGH the people milling around the benches

in the waiting area TO the STAR MAN seated in an open-faced

coffee shop. He is watching a MOTHER feed her baby in the

booth across from him. A map of the United States is spread

out on the formica. Jenny plunks herself down catty-cornered

from him. The tear in his sleeve has been closed with safety

pins.

JENNY:

The closest I was able to get you

was Lathrop Wells...

STAR MAN:

(pointing to baby)

Is that a baby?

JENNY:

Yes.

STAR MAN:

A baby is a new person?

JENNY:

Eh... yes...

STAR MAN:

Do you have a baby?

JENNY:

No... The closest...

STAR MAN:

Why?

JENNY:

I'd love to have a baby. But I

can't...

STAR MAN:

Why?

JENNY:

I can't... Forget the baby. Okay?

The closest I was able to get you

was Lathrop Wells. You'll have to

hitchhike the rest of the way.

The STAR MAN looks at the map. Lathrop Wells is a small town

north of Las Vegas on Highway 95. From there he runs his

finger to a spot in the Funeral Range of Death Valley.

STAR MAN:

But I must go here.

JENNY:

I know that. But the buses don't go

there.

STAR MAN:

(suspicious)

What is hitchhike?

JENNY:

That's easy. I'll explain that in a

minute. This is your ticket. When

you get on the bus here, the driver

will take this part. You will ride

to Omaha. When you get to Omaha, ask

the driver. 'Salt Lake City, please.

I do not speak English.'

The STAR MAN nods that he understands.

JENNY:

Say it.

STAR MAN:

'Salt Lake City, please. I do not

speak English.'

JENNY:

The driver will...

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