The Fisher King Page #12

ANNE:

You didn't kill anybody. Stop.

JACK:

I wish there was some way I could..

just...pay the fine and go home.

(eyes fill with tears)

ANNE crosses to JACK and gently touches him. JACK turns and

clutches her to him tightly. Lowering his head to hers, he cries...

ANNE:

I know. I know honey.

CUT TO:

INT. PARRY'S BASEMENT - THE NEXT DAY.

JACK is alone in the basement.

JACK:

Anybody here?..Uh...Parry?

HE slowly walks around the room - picking up little items

here and there, as if trying to discover some clue to PARRY.

HE crosses to the dumpster. HE looks at the CHUTE. HE figures,

"what the hell"...

JACK:

(to the chute)

Hey there!

VOICE (OC)

YEAH - Can I help you?

JACK, startled, turns around - to find FRANK standing at boiler.

JACK:

Oh, it's you...I'm...just looking

for Parry...

FRANK:

He's not here.

(beat)

Ya mind my asking what your doing

with this guy - I mean, you seem

like a regular person.

JACK:

I'm sort of...an old acquaintance of

his wife's.

FRANK throws garbage in the dumpster as he speaks:

FRANK:

Oh. Beautiful woman...

JACK:

Yeah...I guess, there's nothing of

hers' here, huh?

FRANK:

No. I got that stuff upstairs.

The hospital said it'd be better.

JACK looks to the mural, then back at FRANK.

JACK:

Can I see it?

CUT TO:

INT. FRANK'S APARTMENT.

C.U. DUFFEL BAG OF PARRY'S THINGS before JACK.

JACK looks through the items: various textbooks entitled "MYTH

AND LEGEND", "HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES"...a masters degree

in Mythology...Another in Romance Literature...A torn picture

with PARRY standing near a bar-be-que with an apron that reads-

FIRST ANNUAL DOG BAR-BE-QUE...a man's wedding ring...a

beautiful photographic portrait of PARRY'S WIFE.

FRANK:

She was a beautiful girl...He

was crazy about her.

JACK looks at the photograph.

CUT TO:

EXT. GREAT JONES ALLEY - DAY.

The BLACK, the IRISHMAN and the HIPPY are in their usual

place. THEY lean against the wall, observing the afternoon

life that walks by. JACK enters the scene and asks them where

PARRY is. The HIPPY begins to speak and points to his right.

JACK nods in appreciation and hands them a couple of dollars.

CUT TO:

EXT. CORNER OUTSIDE OFFICE BUILDING - LATER THAT DAY.

JACK sees PARRY from across the street; waiting near a hot dog

vendor and eyeing the entrance to a midtown office building.

JACK approaches.

JACK:

Parry?

PARRY turns and smiles, acting as if he knew JACK would come.

JACK:

(reaching into his pocket)

Hi. Listen, I thought maybe you could use-...

PARRY:

Sshhh.

HE pulls JACK to his side. THEY sit on the hood of a parked

car and watch the entrance to the office building.

CUT TO:

EXT. ENTRANCE OFFICE BUILDING.

Several business men and women, secretaries, etc...make their

way out for lunch. Among them is PARRY'S damsel in distress:

LYDIA - a dowdy, waif-like sparrow of a thing, who waits for

several more aggressive co-workers to pass through the

revolving doors before she gets up enough nerve to go herself.

PARRY:

Isn't she a vision?

"A VISION" is not exactly the phrase that would come to mind in

describing LYDIA - torturously self-conscious, painfully shy,

clumsy, formless, plain - these are much more in keeping with

LYDIA'S persona. SHE wears loose frocks that give her no

figure and make her appear to be swimming in material..SHE

wears no make-up; her stringy unstyled hair is kept in place by

a beret that keeps sliding off her head and her contact lens are

always dry, causing her to constantly blink and use eye drops.

PARRY:

Let's go.

JACK:

NO...wait, really. I just wanted to give you...

JACK pulls out some money, but PARRY is off camera.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - DAY.

Behind the glassed-in exterior, we can see LYDIA sitting by

herself eating lunch. CAMERA PANS OUT TO STREET where PARRY and

JACK are sitting on the hood of another car, watching.

PARRY:

She's loves dumplings. It's

her Wednesday ritual.

LYDIA raises a dumpling to her lips with a pair of chopsticks.

SHE then accidentally drops it into a dish of soy sauce and

splatters her dress. Unnerved, she hastily wipes herself down

knocking over a water glass when she removes the napkin.

PARRY:

Isn't she sweet? She does that everytime.

JACK squints at LYDIA as if trying to see what PARRY sees.

CUT TO:

INT. BOOK STORE - DAY.

JACK and PARRY have followed LYDIA into a book store. SHE stands

browsing through romance novels. THEY watch from a safe distance.

PARRY:

She buys a new book every two days.

LYDIA reads the cover of a book entitled, LOVES' LUSTY LONGINGS.

PARRY:

(smiles, says with great affection)

She's into trash. Whadda you gonna do?

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