The Fabulous Baker Boys Page #11

SUSIE:

He do that every year?

JACK:

Every year.

SUSIE:

Aren't the kids asleep?

JACK:

Every year.

SUSIE:

So why's he do it?

JACK:

I guess in case one year they're not.

Jack looks into Susie's eyes, then crosses to the

door and exits. Susie watches him go, then turns to

the desk clerk.

SUSIE:

Call me a cab, will ya?

INT. JACK'S APARTMENT

As Jack enters his apartment, he senses a presence in

the room and looks over to the old phone booth.

Nina is sitting inside on the little stool, her head

tilted against the glass. Jack studies her a moment,

then takes the carton of eggnog he's carrying into the

kitchen and grabs a pair of glasses. He pulls a chair

over to the phone booth and sits down.

NINA:

How'd the show go?

JACK:

Okay. How'd yours go?

NINA:

Not so good.

Jack looks at Nina's face, tender and young in the

soft shadows of the booth. After a moment, her eyes

shift to the carton in his hand.

NINA:

Eggnog?

Jack nods.

NINA:

(continuing)

From Hurley's?

JACK:

Eighty proof. What d'ya say?

Think you can handle it?

Nina nods. Jack begins to fill the two glasses.

NINA:

Jack.

JACK:

Yeah?

NINA:

Can I stay here tonight? Even if

she comes here?

Jack pauses a moment, then closes the carton and sets

it aside.

JACK:

Sure.

He hands Nina her glass, then takes his own.

NINA:

Merry Christmas, Jack.

JACK:

Merry Christmas.

INT. JACK'S APARTMENT - NEXT MORNING

Jack and Nina are standing in the middle of the room,

looking down at something.

NINA:

What do you think?

Eddie, outfitted in a brand new, spanking red dog

sweater, stares up at Jack and Nina, wondering why

he's the object of so much attention.

JACK:

Very cool.

EXT. CEMETERY - JACK, NINA AND EDDIE

(sporting his new sweater)

make their way across an empty cemetery.

Nina is swinging a bottle of whiskey.

NINA:

(looking around)

There were more flowers last year. Mr. Rinaldi

down at the drugstore says it's going to snow

by New Year's. Says he can feel it in his elbows.

I hope it snows. I want to make a snowman.

You ever make a snowman, Jack?

JACK:

Sure.

NINA:

That's what I want to do.

I want to make a snowman.

As they come to a plot of ground, they stop.

There are two matching headstones, one for Jack's father,

fully engraved, and another for Jack's mother, bearing

only her name. Jack studies the plot a moment, then

crouches before his father's marker: "ANDREW S. BAKER.

Adoring Husband of Eleanor, Loving Father of Franklin

and John." Jack brushes some dirt from the face of the

stone, then stands.

NINA:

(continuing)

Now?

Jack nods. Nina uncaps the whiskey bottle and pours

it onto the dead man's grave.

NINA:

(continuing)

Merry Christmas, Mr. Baker.

They stand another moment, just looking, then turn away.

As they begin to walk, Jack sees Eddie in his new

sweater sniffing at a gravestone.

JACK:

Hey, Eddie. Have some respect,

will ya?

EXT. BUILDING

Jack is sitting on a suitcase in front of his building.

A moment later, Frank pulls the car up to the curb and

Jack gets in. Susie is sitting up front.

INT. CAR

Frank, burning with the afterglow of a holiday spent

with family, cheerfully maneuvers the car

through the city.

FRANK:

So. How was everyone's Christmas?

Jack and Susie stare disconsolately out the window.

FRANK:

(continuing)

Too early, huh? Well, there's coffee and donuts

for whoever wants them.

How about a maple bar, Jack?

Jack shakes his head and takes out a cigarette.

FRANK:

(continuing)

Uh, Jack ... if you don't mind.

Jack stares at the back of Frank's head,

then puts the cigarette away. Susie takes a peek in

the donut bag and looks a little sick.

FRANK:

(continuing)

By the way, if anyone gets bored,

Donna packed some travel games.

They work wonders with the kids.

Frank reaches under the seat and hands Susie a sack

full of magnetic games, puzzles, and plastic cubes.

FRANK:

(continuing)

You two could play checkers.

SUSIE:

Maybe we should just listen to the radio.

FRANK:

Sorry. It only plays static.

Susie looks at the radio,

then at the games in her hands.

SUSIE:

How long did you say it takes to

get to this place?

INT. CAR - FEW HOURS LATER

Jack is staring out the window at the winter landscape,

an unlit cigarette dangling from his lip.

Susie is gnawing on a donut, deeply obsessed with an

elaborate plastic puzzle.

FRANK:

Any more coffee?

Susie snaps out of her trance and shakes the Thermos.

SUSIE:

Uh-uh. Hey, what's this?

Susie notices an old, leather-bound ledger. Inside,

there are hundreds of tiny entries.

SUSIE:

(continuing)

You play all these places?

FRANK:

Baker's unabridged.

SUSIE:

Jesus, you fellas've made a lot of

noise. What's with the stars?

FRANK:

Virgins.

SUSIE:

Virgins?

FRANK:

First times. Hey, look at this.

A crepe-covered car surrounded by several other

HONKING VEHICLES passes by. Jack stares at the beaming

newlyweds as they glide past his window,

two kids starting life in a beat-up Eldorado

covered with toilet paper.

FRANK:

(continuing)

When's the last time we played a

wedding, Jack?

JACK:

Two years ago. March.

SUSIE:

(consulting the ledger)

He's right.

FRANK:

He's always right. Go ahead. Pick a virgin.

Susie looks at Frank curiously.

FRANK:

(continuing)

Go ahead.

SUSIE:

(scanning the book)

Okay.The Fantasy Inn.

FRANK:

Jack?

JACK:

(staring out the window)

November. '71.

FRANK:

First night?

JACK:

Day. Wednesday.

FRANK:

Last?

JACK:

Sunday.

SUSIE:

I don't believe it.

FRANK:

I told you, he's got the gift. Same with music.

Hears it once and he's got it.

Frank smiles into the rear view mirror.

FRANK:

(continuing)

My brilliant little brother.

EXT. HOTEL

The hotel, done in a sort of King Arthur motif,is

built right on the ocean. Frank guides the car down

a simulated cobblestone drive and the three get out.

FRANK:

Will you listen to that ocean?

It's LOUD. Frank takes a deep breath.

FRANK:

(continuing)

And how about this air? I'm telling you,

a few days in this place'll put five years

on your life.

SUSIE:

Smells like fish.

FRANK:

Of course it smells like fish.

We're on the ocean.

What'd you expect, Chanel number five?

SUSIE:

(to herself)

Smells like tuna number two to me.

FRANK:

It's paradise. That's what it is.

Paradise.

As Susie and Jack follow Frank up the drive, Jack

notices the beat-up Eldorado in the parking lot,

its toilet paper streamers blowing

gently in the ocean breeze.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY

The lobby is done in royal reds and blues and there

are a lot of swords on the walls.

Franks steps up to the front desk.

FRANK:

Hi, we're the Fabulous Baker Boys.

CLERK:

Glad to meet you. I'm Terrific

Tom.

FRANK:

No. We're the entertainment.

TOM (CLERK)

Oh, right, gotcha. You got bags?

FRANK:

Outside. Blue Chevy.

TOM:

(ringing a bell)

Cyril. Chevy. Blue. Take 'em up

to the Guinevere Suite.

A lanky boy in velvet jodhpurs and high stockings ambles

out for the bags. Tom hands Frank the room keys.

TOM:

(continuing)

Right on the ocean, Mr. Baker.

You can practically dangle your toes

in the water.

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