The Family Man Page #6

FRANK:

I don’t care who you

are. It’s Christmas and

like I told you the

building is closed.

JACK:

Maybe you’re not hearing

me. I am Jack

Campbell...

(approaching the

building directory)

Right here. Jack

Campbell, President...

And then he sees it...”ALAN MINTZ - PRESIDENT,” listed

plain as day on the building director...

Jack looks at Frank, then back to the building

directory...

A pitying look from Frank...Jack stands there, in

shock...

CHAPTER FIVE - WHAT’S HAPPENING?

32EXT. LASSITER BUILDING, PLAZA - MOMENTS LATER

...it’s desolate...

Jack walks through the plaza like a zombie, his face

registering nothing. He crosses the street, moving

toward the mini-van...oblivious...when...

SCREECH...a Ferrari 456M stops within inches of Jack’s

torso...a VOICE from the car...

VOICE (O.S.)

Hey! Watch where you’re

walking!

Jack turns...sees the DRIVER low in the seat...can’t

quite make out the face...

VOICE:

You almost dented my two

hundred thousand dollar

car!

Jack...still stunned...looks at the car, very

familiar...the voice of the driver, also familiar...

VOICE (CONT’D)

That’s right! My new

car’s worth more than

your shitty house!

A look of realization on Jack’s face...

VOICE (CONT’D)

I feel like I really did

win the lottery!

...it’s Cash, and he’s in Jack’s car...

Jack moves over to the passenger window in shock...a

smile from Cash...

CASH:

Miss me, Jack?

JACK:

That’s my car! You stole

my car!

CASH:

It’s a callable asset

seized in accordance with

the acquisition by-laws

of your alt-fate

contract...

JACK:

What?!

CASH:

Basically, it’s my car

now. Get in.

Cash reaches over and opens the door. Jack

hesitates...

CASH (CONT’D)

Look, I don’t make the

rules, Jack. This is how

it works. Get in.

Cash gives him a reassuring look. Jack gets in...

33INT. FERRARI - CONTINUOUS

Jack closes the door...Cash joyfully drives off in a

burst of acceleration...Jack practically ends up in the

back seat...

CASH:

Might wanna fasten your

seat belt, Jack...

JACK:

(recovering)

What the hell is

happening to me?!

Jack’s freaking out and Cash is enjoying every minute

of it. Cash hands Jack a paper bag. Jack starts

breathing into the bag.

CASH:

This kinda thing makes a

lotta guys throw up.

Seen it happen. So if

you get the urge, do it

out the window.

(with a taunting

laugh)

I don’t want you marring

this exquisite leather

interior...

Cash looks over at Jack...he’s really losing it,

sobbing into the bag...almost hyperventilating...Cash

smiles...

CASH (CONT’D)

Look, I don’t know what

you’re getting so worked

up about, you did

this...you brought this

on yourself.

JACK:

Brought what on myself?!

I didn’t do anything!

CASH:

No? C’mon, Jack...I’ve

got everything I need, I

don’t have regrets,

that’s just not for me...

sound familiar?

JACK:

You mean because you

thought I was cocky I’m

now on a permanent acid

trip?!!

Cash gets a laugh out of Jack’s overreaction...

CASH:

Everyone else in that

store is a statue, they

see their lives passing

in front of their eyes,

but not you. You’re

making a business deal...

JACK:

(enraged)

Give me my goddamn life

back!

CASH:

You? What about me? I’m

working hard for you

here, Jack. On Christmas

too! Now you did a good

thing last night,

intervening that way. I

was moved...

JACK:

(interrupting)

Please. Just tell me

what’s happening to me.

In plain English. None

of that mumbo jumbo...

Cash turns to Jack.

CASH:

It’s a glimpse, Jacko.

JACK:

I glimpse? A glimpse of

what!? What glimpse?!

Glimpse!

CASH:

Look, eventually,

everybody gets one...some

of ‘em take a couple

seconds...

(looking at Jack)

...some of ‘em take a lot

longer...

JACK:

I asked you a direct

question! A glimpse of

what?!

A look from Cash.

CASH:

Figure it out. You got

plenty of time.

JACK:

How much time?!

CASH:

As long as it takes to

figure it out. Which, in

your case, could be

considerable.

JACK:

Look, I just want my life

back. Now what’s it

gonna take? You wanna

talk turkey? Let’s talk

turkey! How much

money...?

Cash looks at Jack, relishing the moment. He flashes

Jack a smile.

CASH:

Do I look like I need

your money. It doesn’t

work like that and I

can’t tell you why.

JACK:

Why not?

CASH:

Because you got to figure

it out for yourself.

(beat)

Are you listening to me?

JACK:

Figure it out? Figure

what out?!

Cash just stares at him...

JACK (CONT’D)

That’s it? That’s all I

get?! A glare?!

CASH:

Look Jack, in my

experience the best way

people deal with this is

to just relax and breathe

through it...let it come

to you.

Jack faces Cash, simmering...with frustration.

JACK:

Look, I don’t have time

for this right now. I’m

in the middle of a

deal...

CASH:

Oh you’re working on a

new deal now...did I

mention that?

JACK:

You know what? I’ve had

it with you. I’ve had it

with all of this sh*t...

SCREECH...Cash slams on the brakes...practically

sending Jack through the windshield.

Jack recovers, looks up...the car is parked right next

to the mini-van.

Cash pulls out a small plastic bag, holding it out to

Jack...

CASH:

Here...

Jack looks inside the bag, pulls out a BARBIE BICYCLE

BELL. He looks at it curiously.

JACK:

What’s this, a signal?

Will you come whenever I

ring it?

CASH:

Do I look like I live in

a bottle?

Cash reaches across Jack and opens the door.

JACK:

(lost)

But what do I do?

CASH:

Look Jack I’m late. I’d

love to help you out some

more but I gotta go

handle my business...

(gesturing to

the mini-van)

Happy trails.

Jack looks out to the lonely street outside, then back

to Cash.

JACK:

Hey, you did this to me,

you can’t just leave me

like this.

Cash looks at Jack, the desperation on his face.

CASH:

Fine. You want to know

everything, I’ll tell you

everything. But not

here. Let’s get some

air...

Jack’s still a little unsure...he sees Cash open the

driver side door...

JACK:

(relieved)

Thanks, man...

Jack gets out of the car...and before he can even turn

around, Cash’s door SLAMS shut and the car takes off in

a blast of horsepower...

Jack stands there gazing down the street, listening to

the sound of the Ferrari shifting gears,

disappearing...

The wind whips up...shivering, Jack looks toward the

Lassiter Building, then to the plastic bag in his hand,

and finally to the mini-van.

34EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE MORNING

The blue mini-van snakes through the curved streets of

the neighborhood, almost all the houses decorated for

Christmas.

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