The Family Man Page #8

KATE:

You know what, Jack?

It’s not funny this

time. I’m really angry.

She stares him down, expecting an answer. But he has

no answer.

KATE (CONT’D)

(loudly)

Jack!

Jack takes the bell out of the plastic bag that Cash

gave him, holds it up in front of her and starts

RINGING it furiously.

Then...Annie rides into the room on her new bike.

ANNIE:

(re:
bell)

What’s that?

Jack watches as she pedals over, reaches into his hand

and takes the bicycle bell...

ANNIE (CONT’D)

(examining the bell)

I like this...

(jumping up and

giving hima peck

on the cheek)

...thanks, Dad!

Annie rides excitedly out of the room on her bike.

Leaving Jack and Kate alone again...

KATE:

You missed the whole

thing, Jack. The

pancakes, the

presents...you spent six

hours putting that bike

together and you didn’t

even get to see the look

on Annie’s face when she

opened it...

Jack sees the disappointment on her face...

KATE (CONT’D)

You missed Christmas,

Jack.

Jack looks down, almost ashamed...he relents, giving in

to the moment...

JACK:

I’m...I’m sorry.

Kate looks at him. He seems sincere enough...

KATE:

Look, we don’t have time

for this right now, we’ll

talk about it later. Now

get dressed...

(pointing to his

outfit)

You’re not wearing that

to the Thompsons’ party.

I don’t care how

hilarious you think it

is...

JACK:

Party? Oh no, I can’t go

to a party...

KATE:

You look forward to this

party all year. What’s

with you today?

JACK:

Trust me on this Kate. I

really don’t think going

to a party is the right

move for me at the

present time.

Kate looks at him a moment, then shakes her head.

KATE:

Fine. Do whatever you

want.

She picks up the phone, starts dialing...

JACK:

What are you doing?

KATE:

Telling my mother she

doesn’t have to stay with

the kids.

JACK:

Why not?

KATE:

Because you’ll be here.

Kate just looks at him.

JACK:

I’ll be ready in ten

minutes.

He walks past her...toward a hallway door, Kate

watching him...

He opens the door...it’s a closet.

JACK (CONT’D)

Christ...

(turning around)

Where the hell is the

bathroom?

KATE:

Funny, Jack. I’m

laughing on the inside.

39INT. BATHROOM - MINUTES LATER

The light comes on...

Jack walks in, looks in the mirror, determined to

collect himself...but something’s not right...

He glances around...the bathroom is small and it’s

cluttered with Kate’s razors, loofah, skin creams...

...none of this stuff is his...

...he looks in the mirror again, his face revealing a

forlorn sense of displacement...

...he stares at himself until...he starts to lose it...

anger, confusion...sadness...finally, he begins breaking down...

After a moment, he turns on the water, rinsing his

face...

40INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, BEDROOM CLOSET - MINUTES LATER

Jack at the closet door, looking at a row of Hagar

slacks, Docker sport coats and imitation leather

shoes...

He reaches in and touches the fabric on one of the

sport coats.

JACK:

This is just...

(searching for

the words)

...this is sub-par...

Annie appears at the bedroom door, watching Jack at the

closet.

He turns...sees Annie watching him...a look

exchanged... then, Annie runs away...

Jack turns back to the closet and mournfully takes a

pair of the slacks...

41EXT. THOMPSON HOUSE - NIGHT

Jack and Kate, a casserole dish in her hand, walk up

the path to this tacky but large house, its outside

decorated with the most garish display of Christmas

decorations this side of Pasaic.

Kate RINGS the doorbell...

EVELYN THOMPSON, 30s, wearing a dress that’s a bit too

tight and a bit too low cut, opens the door...

EVELYN:

Kate! Jack!

(turning around,

to guests)

Everybody, Jack and Kate

are here!

Jack looks right past her...to the house filled with 50

GUESTS.

A loud WHOOP from the guests...Jack has the look of a

condemned man on his face as he follows Kate inside...

41AINT. THOMPSON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

As Kate heads into the living room, Evelyn takes Jack’s

arm...

EVELYN:

(suggestively)

Like the dress...?

JACK:

(glancing at it)

It’s lovely...

EVELYN:

(a satisfied smile)

I thought I saw you

notice it at the kids’

recital.

Jack shoots her a confused look...then walks in, trying

to catch up with Kate...

42INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER

The party is in full swing, Christmas music in the

b.g., GUESTS talking, laughing, drinking egg nog...

Jack’s eyes dart around the room...it’s large, neater

than his and Kate’s house but still very lived in...The

Thompson KIDS run in and out of the room, playing with

new toys... nobody is wearing or eating anything

imported from Europe, but everyone’s having a good

time...

...everyone except for Jack, standing with Arnie and

THE GUYS, having his ear chewed off by NICK CARELLI, a

walking advertisement for Levi’s Cotton Dockers...

NICK:

Did you see Van Horn last

night? This kid’s gonna

single-handedly save

basketball in the state

of New Jersey...

JACK:

The Nets? You’re kidding,

right...?

Nick looks at him in disbelief.

JACK (CONT’D)

(recovering)

Well...they’re certainly

due.

BILL KRAMER, a huge pile of fried chicken wings on his

plate, tugs at Jack’s shirt.

BILL KRAMER:

So tomorrow’s the big

day, Jackie...

JACK:

Okay...why?

BILL KRAMER:

Triple bypass. I’m going

under the knife. I told

you, didn’t I?

JACK:

Triple bypass?

(pointing to his

plate)

You really think you

should be eating all

that?

BILL KRAMER:

Why not? I figure I’m

going in for a cleaning

tomorrow, I might as well

load up on the fried

stuff tonight...

ARNIE:

Good thinking, Bill.

Have another drink.

(whispering to Jack)

He’ll be lucky if he

lives through the

night...

Nick reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of

Dutch Masters cigars. He shows them to Jack, Jack nods

politely. Nick eagerly hands him one...

Nick lights Jack’s cigar, then his own...enjoying that

first puff...smiling at Jack...Jack dutifully takes a

puff of the cigar...nods back at Nick...but it’s an

effort...

Evelyn Thompson approaches, a tray of MUSHROOM PUFFS in

hand...

EVELYN:

(holding out a

puff to Jack)

Finger food...?

JACK:

I don’t think so, thank

you...

EVELYN:

(suggestively)

C’mon, as soon as I put

them down, you’re gonna

grab a couple...you

always do...

Kate sees Evelyn and Jack from her position on the

other side of the room...Kate watches as...

Evelyn holds the puff up to Jack’s mouth, slowly

putting it near his lips...

EVELYN (CONT’D)

Let me. They’ll melt in

your mouth...

He instinctively opens his mouth as Evelyn pushes the

treat inside...

EVELYN (CONT’D)

Good?

On Jack’s face...if freezer burn were a facial

expression, this would be it...

JACK:

(forcing a smile)

They’re great! Thank

you!

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