State And Main Page #10

Pause.

ANN:

No, of course, you don't want to

talk about it.

JOE:

(hands her the script)

It's about a man who gets a second

chance.

The cop, Cal, passes.

CAL:

Evening, Annie.

ANN:

Evening, Cal.

(to Joe)

Would you tell me about it?

JOE:

I...

ANN:

No, of course, you want to get out

of town.

JOE:

It's...

He starts to walk, she puts the typewriter down on the ground.

Joe hesitates. He puts the script under the typewriter. Pause.

He shakes his head.

ANN:

It's okay...

They walk on.

EXT. SPORTING GOODS STORE - DAY

The OWNER is closing up.

OWNER:

Evening, Annie. See you at rehearsal.

ANN:

You know your line?

OWNER:

"Rise, one need not bend the knee

before the throne of justice."

ANN:

Go you Huskies.

He walks away.

JOE:

(of the clothing on

the rack)

They leave it out all night?

He tries on a jacket. One sleeve is one foot shorter than

the other.

ANN:

Not worth stealing. Only thing in

town worth something, stained glass

window.

She gestures at the Firehouse.

JOE:

Ever wonder why the dalmation's the

symbol of the firehouse?

ANN:

First organized fire department was

on the border of Dalmatia and Sardinia

in the year 642.

JOE:

But why the dalmation?

ANN:

It was either that, or a sardine.

He nods. Beat. He looks down at the jacket with one sleeve

too short.

ANN:

You get what you pay for.

JOE:

That's true. You grow up here?

ANN:

Central High, 'n' matinees, the Bijou

Theatre.

They walk past the firehouse. She gives a dog biscuit to the

firedog who runs out of the firehouse to her.

JOE:

Nice town.

Beat. He gets a bit choked up.

ANN:

You want to talk about it?

Joe shakes his head. They walk off.

EXT. RAILROAD CROSSING - DAY

JOE:

...that... that he prayed for a second

chance. But... do you see?

ANN:

Yes.

JOE:

That, he says, there are no second

chances... that he's been presented

what he prayed for... and: he's ruined

it.

ANN:

Yes...

JOE:

But, but but but...

ANN:

No, no, I see...

JOE:

That:
in an act of...

ANN:

Yes...

JOE:

Of mercy... off...

ANN:

I understand...

JOE:

...that... he sees that...

ANN:

As the Old Mill goes around...

JOE:

Of course, of course that's what I'm

saying. As the Old Mill goes around,

he sees...

ANN:

Of course.

JOE:

...that it has been vouchsafed to

him.

ANN:

That's that's that's that's

beautiful...

JOE:

And you're the only one who'll ever

hear that speech.

(pause)

Just you.

Beat. They stop and look at each other. Beat. A railroad

crossing bar comes down behind them, as we hear the DINGING

and realize we are at a railroad crossing.

ANN:

Well. It was a pleasure meeting you.

JOE:

And likewise.

ANN:

Goodbye.

JOE:

Goodbye.

Pause.

We see the train pass in the b.g. We hear the train whistling.

It's way off.

ANN:

(pause)

Next train in'nt for two hours.

They walk on away from the station. In the b.g. we see the

stationmaster. He and Ann wave. They walk past the shingle

for Doc Wilson.

ANN:

So that the Old Mill, the Old Mill

represents... the wheel of fate is

that too...

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