The Family Man Page #16

Jack kisses her on the lips...HOOTS and HOLLERS from

the crowd.

JACK (CONT’D)

‘Cause there’s no nicer

witch than you...

Kate brushes a hand across Jack’s face...

Smash cut to Jack watching this...seeing the

connection, the heat between them...coveting it...

Back to the video...the music building...the crowd

completely in the palm of Jack’s hand...

JACK (CONT’D)

...than you...

The camera closes in on Jack and Kate as the music

builds to a crescendo...

JACK (CONT’D)

...than you...

A little musical flourish from Bill as the crowd breaks

out into huge CHEERS and APPLAUSE...

Jack, watching this other version of himself in the video,

the center of attention, larger than life, focused on Kate...

Back on video...

JACK (CONT’D)

(speaking quietly

to Kate)

Happy Birthday

sweetheart...I love you.

Kate leans over, giving Jack a deep kiss...OOHS and

AHHS from the crowd...but Jack and Kate are in their

own little world...

Jack continues to watch himself on the video, his smile

fading, becoming a look of realization...then loss...

A tear at the corner of his eye...

The SOUND fades in Jack’s head as the action in the

video continues...

He’s left standing there...silent, still...

DISSOLVE TO:

72INT. CAMPBELL MASTER BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Lucy licking Jack’s face. Jack pushes the dog

away...as...

The ALARM RINGS. Kate pushes the button to stop it.

KATE:

(groggy)

Time to get up, honey...

Jack obliges without question, getting out of bed,

putting on a robe and slippers and exiting, still

practically half-asleep.

73INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER

Jack walks into the kitchen.

He turns on the Mr. Coffee, gets a bottle from the

fridge, throws it in the microwave, removes it, and

heads upstairs.

74INT. JOSH’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

...into Josh’s room. Josh is wide awake, standing up

in his crib, like a prisoner in a cell.

Jack gives him the bottle, pats his head perfunctorily,

and then walks out of the room...

CHAPTER TWELVE - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

75INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

...and back into the bedroom to find Kate, sitting on

the bed, a wrapped present in front of her and a wide

smile on her face.

Jack stops, raising an eyebrow at the gift. He looks

behind, as if to ask whether it’s for him, then back to

Kate.

KATE:

Happy Anniversary,

honey...

Terror on Jack’s face.

KATE (CONT’D)

(pushing the gift

forward)

Before you do whatever

crazy stunt you’ve got

planned I want you to

open mine...

Jack musters up a smile, then approaches the gift.

JACK:

Maybe I should wait...

KATE:

No, open it...

He hesitates, then begins unwrapping the package,

revealing...

...a suit, similar in color and style to the Zegna

suit...

KATE (CONT’D)

I found it at an outlet

store. I know it’s a

knock-off, but I think

it’ll look great on

you...

JACK:

(examining the label)

Zeena...

Jack is overcome with emotion...Yes, it’s a ZEENA, but

this is probably the nicest thing anyone’s ever done

for him...

JACK (CONT’D)

(tearing up)

You really are

incredible...

KATE:

Enjoy it, sweetheart...

Jack looks at Kate’s expectant face, suddenly

remembering how truly screwed he is.

JACK:

You’re probably expecting

something from me...

He’s sweating bullets...watching as Kate gets a quizzical

look on her face...

JACK (CONT’D)

Here’s the thing. I

really hadn’t planned on

giving you your...uh...

anniversary gift until

tonight.

(an uncomfortable

smile)

You know, anniversary’s

good all day...

KATE:

What are you talking

about? You never wait

all day. You can barely

wait until it’s light

out.

JACK:

I know that, but...

Beat. Kate looks at him like she’s looking into his

soul.

KATE:

You forgot.

Jack stands there, silent.

KATE (CONT’D)

You actually forgot our

anniversary.

JACK:

I’ll fix it. I’ll go out

right now and get you

something. I’ll make it

right.

That didn’t help.

KATE:

(holding back

the tears)

Jesus, Jack...Is this

where we are now? Is

this our marriage?

Suddenly I’m the wife who

has to drop hints two

weeks before her

anniversary so her

husband doesn’t f*** it

up?

Jack sees a tear run down her face...a pang of guilt on

his...

JACK:

Please don’t cry...

Kate wipes the tear away but they just keep coming.

KATE:

(shaking her head,

crying)

I don’t want to be that,

Jack...

Jack approaches her, holding out a hand but Kate pushes

it away, gets up and walks toward the bathroom...

Jack is left standing alone, holding Kate’s gift...

CUT TO:

76INT. FRONT PORCH - MINUTES LATER

Jack emerges from the house, steps out onto the porch

for some air...

He shakes his head, a mixture of frustration and self-

pity on his face.

He notices Annie’s bike leaning against the side of the

porch, and the bell that Cash gave him sitting on its

handle bar.

He takes a step toward it, and gives the bell a gentle

RING ...he looks around, as if he’s expecting someone

to appear ...but there’s no one. He RINGS the bell

again, louder this time, really trying to attract

someone’s attention.

JACK:

C’mon...c’mon...

Nothing. Finally, he lifts the bike up in the air,

RINGING the bell with everything he’s got...

JACK (CONT’D)

(shouting to the

sky)

C’mon, goddamnit, how was

I supposed to know the

date of their

anniversary!? I never

married her!

Pull back...Annie in the doorway...looking at him.

ANNIE:

(slowly)

Put the bicycle back on

the ground...

Jack turns and sees her, gently lowering the bicycle.

77INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE KITCHEN - MORNING

Jack is mixing a glass of chocolate milk. Annie, arms

folded, is waiting expectantly. He finishes, sliding

the glass to her.

She takes a long sip, puts the glass down, a chocolate

milk mustache on her lip.

ANNIE:

Not bad...I shoulda

warned you. Dad always

does something really

special for their

anniversary.

JACK:

Like what?

ANNIE:

One year he had a solar

system named after her...

JACK:

Don’t you think that’s a

little gimmicky?

ANNIE:

Mom liked it.

Jack raises an eyebrow.

JACK:

Maybe there’s a jewelry

store back at the mall.

I could get her a pair of

earrings or something.

ANNIE:

That’s good but...you did

forget the anniversary.

JACK:

Right. That’s a major

oversight...

(thinking aloud)

So if I’m Kate...I can’t

really afford the finer

things, my husband’s

career is a crushing

disappointment to me,

I’m trapped in suburbia...

Then...

JACK (CONT’D)

Did he ever take her to

the City?

Annie smiles, impressed.

ANNIE:

You’re really gettin’ the

hang of this.

Suddenly, a look of confidence comes over Jack’s face.

For the first time, he seems like a man in control.

78INT. BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

Annie is sitting on the bed watching her mother get

dressed.

Kate, wearing a silky slip, walks out of her closet

carrying two dresses on hangers, a red one and a sexy

little black one.

Kate holds out the two dresses to Annie.

KATE:

Which do you think?

Annie thinks about it for a moment, taking it very

seriously...

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