Sweet November Page #5

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MR. LEACH

(proudly)

No. We are America's favorite

hot dog, son.

He keeps moving toward the door, and Nelson finally snaps.

NELSON:

Were. You're a dinosaur. You're

flatlining. You're dead meat.

MR. LEACH

(spins around,

furious)

You just went too far, you littlepunk. I'm gonna tell you what Ireally think of your campaign.

It's cheap, tasteless crap.

NELSON:

Well that's funny, 'cause so isyour product.

DUNNE:

Nelson, stop it -

MR. LEACH

I sell a wholesome hot dog, youprick -

NELSON:

It's mystery meat!

DUNNE:

Nelson, I'm warning you -

As Leach's minions hustle him out of the room, Vince and

two other ad guys hold Nelson back. He shouts to Leach's

departing figure.

NELSON:

It's toxic waste in a tube!

You're killing me! You're

killing us!

33 INT. JABE AND DUNNE - DUNNE'S OFFICE - DAY 33

Dunne storms in, followed quickly by Nelson.

DUNNE:

What the hell happened in there?

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

I know -- can you believe thatasshole -

DUNNE:

I've always said you're brilliant,

Nelson. A goddamn machine, butone of these days you're gonna snap,

and we're all gonna burn.

NELSON:

What are you talking about, burn?

DUNNE:

Do you have any idea what was atstake here? How many millions ofdollars we just lost? You justran my agency's name through the

gutter -

NELSON:

Gutter? I'm the best thing thisagency's got!

DUNNE:

Do you have any idea what was atstake here? How many millions ofdollars we just lost? You justran my agency's name through the

gutter -

NELSON:

Gutter? I'm the best thing thiscompany's got!

DUNNE:

Confusing style for substancedoesn't make you best. It makes

you a wreck. You need a vacation.

Now.

NELSON:

Screw vacation! Give me another

account!

DUNNE:

Nelson, did you hear me? Take a

vacation -- short or permanent,

your choice!-

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

Are you threatening me?

(laughs manically)

That's hilarious. I'm two Clios

ahead of the game, Ray, you can'tafford to lose me -You're

fired.

DUNNE:

There's a dead silence for a few beats.

NELSON:

Say that again, I don't think Iheard you.

DUNNE:

I said you're fired!

34 INT. JABE AND DUNNE - LOBBY - DAY 34

Nelson hurtles through the lobby. Elevator doors open,

Vince charges out. THROUGH plate glass window, seesNelson outside.

Nels!

VINCE:

Nelson, wait!

35 OMITTED 35

36 INT. NELSON'S APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - DUSK 36

Nelson tries to unlock his door, his hands are shaking sobadly he fumbles with the key, labors to breathe.

37 INT. NELSON'S APARTMENT - DUSK 37

The door opens and Nelson enters, instantly deflating.

He's very relieved to find Angelica emerging from thebedroom.

NELSON:

God, am I glad to see you.

ANGELICA:

You are?

He notices she is carrying an overnight bag.

her strength, mind made up.

She musters

(CONTINUED)

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ANGELICA:

No muss, no fuss. Let's try to dothis with a little dignity, shallwe?

She crosses toward the door, past him. He is shocked.

NELSON:

This is not a good time for this,

Angelica.

ANGELICA:

Hard to believe but it's not yourcall, Nelson. I just finallyrealized... I can't stayinvolved with a man who doesn't

even know he's not involved.

(awkwardly)

So I guess this non-relationshipis officially a non-relationship.

All her efforts to be cool are cracking. She looks away,

pushing the corners of her eyes, trying to stop a tear.

ANGELICA:

I tried to get close to you. I

did.

NELSON:

(panicking)

Wait -- please -- whatever I did -or

said, I didn't mean, I'll be

better -

She knows he's lying, that's even more humiliating toher.

NELSON:

Please -- don't go.

ANGELICA:

I'm not staying just because youdon't want to be alone.

She exits, leaving Nelson alone in the silent penthouse.

He approaches his display of glass and ceramics andstares at them blankly. Then, with a sudden, violent

swipe, Nelson sends the entire collection crashing.

Someone KNOCKS on the door.

MANNY (O.S.)

Mr. Moss? You okay?

(CONTINUED)

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I'm fine.

NELSON:

Blood seeps from a cut on Nelson's hand.

MANNY (O.S.)

You gotta delivery.

NELSON:

Leave it!

MANNY (O.S.)

I'm not sure you want me do that,

sir. It's from the loco lady?

The other night? She said I don't

deliver it personal, she gonna -(

voice lowers)

I'm too shy to say it, Mister Moss.

NELSON:

I said leave it!

Nelson wraps a towel around his hand. Opening the door,

he finds a tattered box. Stamped on the lid: NOVEMBER.

The box starts to move. Horrified, Nelson lifts the

lid!-- a Jack Russell puppy has a ridiculous-lookingHalloween hat tied to its head -- dangling from the hatis a key.

38 INT. NELSON'S BUILDING - LOBBY - DUSK 38

Nelson storms off the elevator carrying the box with theWHINING PUPPY inside.

NELSON:

Manny! Manny!

Gone for the night, Manny has left a Polaroid of himselfin costume on a sign that reads, "Manny Say HappyHalloweens!" Activated by Nelson's movements, anelectric GOBLIN next to the sign CACKLES demonically.

NELSON:

Sh*t!

39 INT. NELSON'S APARTMENT - DUSK 39

On the phone, Nelson paces as the hyperactive PUPPY racesthrough the apartment -- sees the fish in the tank andstarts madly BARKING.

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

You're a delivery service.

deliver things.

(to dog)

Stop it! Shut up!

You

DISPATCHER (V.O.)

Not live animals, sir. Too

dangerous.

NELSON:

So what you're saying is, if Ikill the dog, you'll take it.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)

Please don't kill the dog, sir.

Nelson slams the phone down and watches in horror as theBARKING PUPPY lifts a leg and pees all over the carpet.

40 EXT. NELSON'S BUILDING - NIGHT 40

Holding the box, Nelson leans over to talk to a CABBY.

NELSON:

I have an unusual request. But I

will pay you two hundred dollars.

CABBY:

Get lost, you sick son-of-a-b*tch.

As the CAB SCREECHES away, Nelson becomes unhinged.

Starts howling in rage. Inside the box, the PUPPY BARKS

in unison.

41 INT. SARA'S LOFT - NIGHT 41

CHURCH BELLS RING at the stroke of midnight as Sara packsa trunk. Seeing beyond the area from night before -- theloft includes an office cluster and a large bed. A keyturns in the door. The door swings open. Nelson stands

there looking like a disheveled madman. He carries the

box over to Sara.

NELSON:

Do me a favor. Stay out of mylife. Good-bye.

She removes the puppy from the box, kisses it, thenflashes one of her winning, adorable smiles.

(CONTINUED)

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SARA:

Did you think about my offer?

NELSON:

The last thing I feel like doingright now is playing the SaraDeever Mad Hatter Game.

He puts the box down and moves towards the door.

What happened to your hand?

SARA:

Nothing.

NELSON:

SARA:

May I look at it?

Why?

NELSON:

Ernie has exhausted himself, collapses on the floor.

SARA:

Because I'm a vampire. I know

some things about first aid.

Nelson warily allows her to examine his hand.

NELSON:

What are you after? What do youwant from me?

She leads him to the bathroom as he studies her

suspiciously.

42 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT 42

Sara treats Nelson's hand.

SARA:

So what'd you do today?

NELSON:

What'd I do today?

(pauses)

I got fired.

(pauses)

They took the company car.

(pauses)

And my girlfriend left me.

(CONTINUED)

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