The Family Man Page #12

The staring match continues. Big Ed’s getting more

nervous. Potter’s the first to blink.

POTTER:

Okay, you got my

attention...

JACK:

Except for rule number

one...

Jack smiles.

JACK (CONT’D)

The customer is always

right. A cliché? Sure.

The difference is, we

mean it. We’re small, we

need our customers. We

can’t afford to

disappoint them, ever.

Yeah, you could go to

some leviathan supplier,

probably save a few

pennies on the price of

oil filters, but with us

you get more than a

supplier, you get a

bridge partner...

A smile from Potter. Jack gives Ed a wink. Ed

watches, thrilled...

JACK (CONT’D)

You want to bid hearts,

we’re right there with

you. You feel the need

to redouble, you’re not

going to get any argument

from us...

Potter nods at Jack. Jack moves in for the kill.

JACK (CONT’D)

The big guys may have the

high cards, but you know

as well as I do, Sydney,

high cards don’t always

take the trick.

Potter pauses a minute, then...

POTTER:

(to Big Ed,

re:
Jack)

I like him...

Big Ed smiles, letting out a relieved sigh.

BIG ED:

(a wink to Jack)

That’s my boy...

(an arm around Potter)

C’mon, lemme show you the

rest of the ranch...

Big Ed and Potter exit the office...

BIG ED (CONT’D)

(turning back to Jack)

Nice shootin’, Jack...

...leaving Jack there with a satisfied smile on his

face.

60INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jack is in bed watching CNBC...On the TV a young woman

REPORTER at the anchor’s desk...

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)

...advancers led

decliners by a nine to

four ratio and the

closing tick was a mildly

bullish plus seventy

six. Much of the

market’s action today was

fueled by the latest

round of merger mania to

hit Wall Street...

The Global Health Systems and MedTech logos appear on a

graphic in the corner of the screen...

CNBC REPORTER (CONT’D, ON T.V.)

...when Global Health

Systems and MedTech

Pharmaceutical announced

their intentions to join

forces in a massive one

hundred and twenty two

billion dollar stock swap

deal. Though neither

side expressed

significant regulatory

concerns at the

announcement press

conference, it is

believed that both the

FDA and the FTC will be

closely scrutinizing the

marriage, the largest

ever in the health care

industry. When asked

about possible anti-

competitive implications,

Global Chairman Bob

Thomas referred reporters

to P.K. Lassiter and

Company President Alan

Mintz, the original

architect behind the

deal...

Jack stares in shock as the image changes to a super

confident looking Mintz shaking Bob Thomas’ hand at the

press conference.

CNBC REPORTER (CONT’D, ON T.V.)

Ironically, Mintz first

met Thomas at a Lamaze

class...

JACK:

A Lamaze class...!?

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)

...while coaching their

pregnant wives, Mintz and T

homas struck up a

dialogue about the need

for consolidation in the

rapidly growing health

care industry and two

months later, the deal

with MedTech was born...

JACK:

What?! That’s my deal?

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)

In other business news,

U.S. Labor Department

officials announced today

that two hundred and

seventy-five thousand new

jobs were created last

month, twenty-five

thousand less than

economists were

predicting, leading to a

mild rally in the bond

markets before midday.

But as the trading

session drew to a close,

the profit takers stepped

in and the long bond

closed at ninety seven

even, up only two ticks,

the yield inching down to

six point zero seven

percent...

Kate comes into the room from the hallway wearing only

Jack’s NYU sweatshirt...

KATE:

The kids are asleep...

She goes over to the window and draws the blinds. Jack

looks up at her, nods, then goes back to the TV.

KATE (CONT’D)

Jack. I said the kids

are asleep...

JACK:

(distracted)

Well that’s just

great...those little

monkeys can be a real

handful...

Kate shuts off the TV.

JACK (CONT’D)

Hey! I was watching

that!

KATE:

I thought we had a deal

about you watching CNBC

in bed.

JACK:

I’m working on a new deal

now...

Kate throws a Kate Bush’s “The Sensual World” into the

CD player.

KATE:

Fine, but not tonight...

She climbs onto the bed, a seductive look on her face.

JACK:

Wait a second. You want

me, don’t you?

KATE:

That is the general idea,

yes...

Kate starts kissing him...but Jack’s a little

uncomfortable with the sudden intimacy...he pulls back,

a little nervous.

JACK:

Shouldn’t we grab some

dinner first? Maybe a

bottle of wine...?

KATE:

It’s ten thirty, Jack.

By eleven you’re gonna be

sprawled out on the bed

snoring your head off.

We don’t have time for

wining and dining.

JACK:

Whatever you say...honey.

She starts kissing him again...but this time he just

goes with it, and as her hands run through his hair

he’s brought back to a different time and place...

Jack momentarily pulls back and looks at her...it’s

like the first time he’s really looked at her in eleven

years...

JACK (CONT’D)

God...you’re beautiful...

She smiles at him, almost uncomfortable with the

compliment...

KATE:

Thanks, Jack...

JACK:

No, I’m serious...you’re

really stunning...

KATE:

This is good stuff, Jack,

keep it coming...

JACK:

I mean back in college,

you were a very pretty

girl, there’s no question

about that. But this...

(lost in her)

...you’ve really grown

into a beautiful woman...

Jack stares at her, entranced...Kate pulls back,

reacting to the intensity in his stare...

KATE:

How can you do that?

JACK:

(nervous)

Do what?

KATE:

Look at me like you

haven’t seen me every day

for the last twelve

years...

Jack freezes. There’s love in her eyes but it’s not

meant for him...

She kisses him...

KATE (CONT’D)

Don’t move.

She gets up off the bed and heads for the bathroom...

He looks around...not sure what to do...Finally...

He turns onto his side and closes his eyes...

Kate emerges from the bathroom, she sees Jack on the

bed, hears his breathing heavy with sleep...

At once charmed and disappointed, Kate sighs. She

turns off the CD player and heads into bed.

She pulls the covers up over Jack, shutting off the

light... She puts an arm around him, kissing him

sweetly on the neck...

KATE (CONT’D)

‘night, honey...

Close in on Jack’s face...turned away from Kate...he

opens his eyes...looks down at her arm...loneliness on

his face...

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE MEN’S DEPARTMENT

DISSOLVE TO:

61EXT. MALL - DAY

It’s mid-January and all signs of the Christmas season are

gone except for the snow on the ground in the busy parking

lot.

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