The Family Man Page #11

JACK (CONT’D)

Do I have a private

office somewhere in the

building?

KENNY:

Uh...sure Jack...

(nervously pointing)

Right back there...

JACK:

Thank you.

Jack walks into the office with his name on the door...

57INT. JACK’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

There’s no Stairmaster here, no leather sofa or

bar...it’s small, cramped and cluttered, the walls

littered with tire inventory and price lists...

Jack takes a slow, sad lap around the office.

He makes it to the small wooden desk at the far end of

the room and sits down behind it...

On the desk are photos of Jack, Kate and the kids, a

plastic Michelin Man model, a tire-themed day calendar

and a small plastic figurine of a BOWLER, the word,

“Bowlers Do It In An Alley” embossed on its base...

He surveys the desktop briefly, then opens the top

drawer, finding a personal checkbook and looking

inside...

He sees the bottom line and winces, then puts it

back...

Jack picks up the “Bowlers Do It In An Alley” figurine

and gives it a good look...

JACK:

Bowlers do it in an

alley?...Non profit

lawyers do it for free...

what is it with these

people? Don’t they

realize this refers to

sex?

He replaces the figurine then opens the bottom drawer

where he spots a bottle of Glenfiddich. He lifts it

out...

JACK (CONT’D)

At least you splurged on

some decent scotch...

He takes a paper cup and pours himself a shot. He

drinks it down in one gulp and then crumples up the

cup, throwing it toward the NET’S basketball

hoop/garbage can near the door.

He misses...

He looks more closely at the photographs...most are

family photos, a happy Jack with Kate, with Annie at

the pony rides, at Josh’s birth...in every one of them,

Jack is smiling...

JACK (CONT’D)

(to Jack in

the photo)

What are you smiling

about...?

He turns his head...spots a small plaque on the wall

behind him. It reads, “Jack Campbell - E.F. Hutton #1

Junior Sales Associate, 1988.” Jack raises an

eyebrow...

JACK (CONT’D)

Number one...not bad.

He grabs it off the wall and looks at it more

carefully...

JACK (CONT’D)

1988...? I was in London

in 1988...

Jack’s jarred into reality...

JACK (CONT’D)

(to Jack in the photo)

You never went to London...

(picking up the photo)

...you never got on that

plane...

He stays there a moment...in shock. Then...

The P.A. system comes to life...

ESTELLE:

(over P.A.)

Jack to mag

wheels...Jack, you’re

needed in mag wheels,

customer waiting!

CUT TO:

58INT. BIG ED’S TIRES, MAIN FLOOR - MINUTES LATER

Kenny leading Jack toward the “Mag Wheels” section.

JACK:

...I was the number one

junior sales associate at

E.F. Hutton in 1988. Did

you know that?

KENNY:

No, I didn’t...that’s

great.

JACK:

That’s the kind of thing

you can really build

on...

KENNY:

Uh huh...

JACK:

I mean sales has always

been a feeder for M and

A, always...

They approach “Mag Wheels” where TOMMY, a slick sales

associate, stands with a CUSTOMER looking at the

displays...

KENNY:

Here we are, mag wheels...

(a little concerned)

Hey Jack, are you sure

you’re okay?

JACK:

Well, I’m just a little

confused right now about

why I work here...

Kenny looks at him nervously.

KENNY:

Uh...I just started here

last Tuesday.

Jack nods compassionately. Kenny takes off leaving

Jack alone with his thoughts as Tommy approaches with

the customer.

TOMMY:

(to the customer)

So you’re all set on the

Skip Shift eliminator and

the Brembo rotors.

Jack’s our point man on

alloy wheels...

JACK:

(turning to Tommy)

Do you know why do I work

here...?

TOMMY:

Because you’re the best

damn tire guy in the

state of New Jersey...

(proudly, to the

customer)

Jack taught me everything

I know about the

business...

The customer nods, impressed.

JACK:

I taught you the business?

Another nod to the customer.

TOMMY:

And he’s a crack-up.

JACK:

Everything I taught you.

I want to hear it all,

right now.

Tommy’s confused.

CUSTOMER:

Hey, I’m ready to buy

here...

JACK:

(to the customer)

What do you want?

CUSTOMER:

I want some alloy wheels.

Jack grabs one of the alloy rims off the shelf, holding

it out to the customer.

JACK:

Here. These are great.

You’ll need four.

The customer takes the wheel from Jack, looks at it

confused...

CUSTOMER:

But I don’t like these...

JACK:

Hey, you heard the guy,

I’m the best damn tire

guy in the state of New

Jersey.

(turning to Tommy)

Everything.

TOMMY:

Okay...

(hesitating)

Rule number one, the

customer is always

right...

A satisfied smirk from the customer.

59INT. BIG ED’S TIRES, JACK’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

Jack is behind his desk, his tie loosened, on the

phone...

JACK:

(into phone)

...I have no idea what

our inventory level is,

that’s why I’m asking

you...

A KNOCK at the door...

JACK (CONT’D)

Look, just send us what

you sent us last month,

okay...? And keep doing

that until further

notice...

He hangs up the phone as the door opens. Big Ed sticks

his head in...

BIG ED:

Got a minute, Jack?

JACK:

I’ve got all the time in

the world...

Big Ed walks in, followed by SYDNEY POTTER, 60s, a

tough looking man...

BIG ED:

Jack, meet Sydney Potter,

BuyRite Transport, one of

Jersey’s top

businessmen...

Potter extends a hand, Jack rises from his chair,

trying to place the name. Then...

JACK:

...and a helluva bridge

player. Ed’s told me a

lot about you...

They shake hands. Potter nods his head at Jack,

immediately impressed. Big Ed is beaming.

POTTER:

(in a heavy Jersey

accent)

Lucky in cards, lucky in

business, lucky in love.

My cup runneth over...

(to Big Ed)

He’s a nice looking

boy...

BIG ED:

My daughter’s no slouch

either...

A smile from Potter, then a serious look.

POTTER:

Let’s cut to the chase,

Jack. Big Ed tells me

you’re the grease that

makes the wheels turn

around here. I need a

new parts supplier for my

fleet. You seem to have

the parts. That we

know. What we don’t know

is why the hell I should

buy them from you.

Potter stares Jack down. But Jack’s not about to be

intimidated by him. He pauses, matching Potter’s

stare. Then...

JACK:

I have no idea...

A surprised look from Potter. An anxious laugh from

Big Ed.

BIG ED:

(nervous)

C’mon Jack...

JACK:

(to Potter)

I mean it. From what I

can tell, we’re a mom and

pop operation, we’re

already over-extended in

sales, and any price

advantage we could offer

would easily be matched

by a larger supplier...

Jack continues to stare down Potter.

JACK (CONT’D)

So like I said, I don’t

have any idea why you

should buy your parts

from us...

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