The Fisher King Page #15

PARRY:

(helping him up)

It was a crime.

GAY BUM:

Leave me alone...I wanna go...

PARRY lifts him up - he looks to JACK for help.

PARRY:

Will you get the other side.

(JACK hesitates)

Jack?

The man's cuts and suicidal demeanor turn JACK off.

JACK:

Listen, he just needs to sleep

it off. Someone will take care

of him.

PARRY:

Who?

JACK:

Well, maybe he wants to stay here.

(to bum)

Do...do you want to stay here?

GAY BUM:

(suddenly lucid and

pissy)

Oh, yes, thank you - I really love

bleeding in horseshit. How very

Gandhiesque of you.

PARRY looks to JACK, who then begrudgingly helps the BUM to his

feet.

CUT TO:

INT. BELLEVUE EMERGENCY ROOM - LATER

In a room at the end of the line of chairs, PARRY sits next to

the GAY BUM. JACK stands a safe distance away, unable to take

his eyes off the scene before him. Seated against the wall are

an assortment of derelicts, drunks, screaming withdrawal victims

and jacketed schizophrenics. JACK has a hard time moving.

PARRY:

(to JACK, referring to

GAY BUM)

Will you watch him for a minute?

Before JACK can respond, PARRY is up and about - introducing

himself to the various patients as JACK watches on.

PARRY moving down the line...saying hello, wiping people's

brows, holding the hands of an angry bag lady mumbling

incoherently.

What seems extraordinary to JACK is the soothing affect PARRY

seems to have on them.

JACK, somewhat inspired. HE tries to communicate to the GAY

BUM.

BUM:

I wanna go...just let me go...

JACK:

Uh...Where...where do you want

to go?

BUM:

(upset)

Ah...can't get there. Not tonight.

JACK:

(being positive)

Well, maybe you can. Where do

you want to go?

BUM:

Venice. Like Katherine Hepburn

in SUMMERTIME.

(JACK is speechless)

Why can't I be Katherine Hepburn?

(cries again)

JACK:

(trying to make

conversation)

Well...What ...what did you do?

You know, what...were you?

GAY BUM:

(enjoying talking about

himself)

I was a singer. Ya know, stage...

summer stock...God.

(disgusted)

I could do CABARET - backwards

- every part. But what does it

all mean?

HE genuinely asks. JACK is at a loss, his expression obviously

replying "nothing." The GAY BUM regains his sarcasm for a

moment.

GAY BUM:

(eyebrow raised)

You know, you always have such

a cheerful effect on me.

(cries again)

I wanna die...I just wanna...

die...

JACK, against all better judgement, pats the BUM'S hand in

comfort. The BUM leans his head on JACK'S shoulder and cries.

JACK, wide-eyed with embarassment, looks over to PARRY -

POV:

PARRY is now playing charades with a STREET BUM, A YOUNG MAN

IN A STRAIGHT JACKET, and a BAGLADY who is arguing to herself.

PARRY is trying to be PINNOCHIO, by miming a long nose...

BUM:

(guessing)

HORN...A HORN...

THE YOUNG MAN in the straight jacket just looks on in wonder.

BAG LADY:

(talking to herself)

Where the hell am I gonna put the

children? Goddamn daughter-in-law!

Comes into my house looking for

dustballs!

PARRY mimes the loose movements of a marionette...

BUM:

Thorazine!

CUT BACK TO:

JACK, who turns his attention back to the bum, takes a deep

sigh, and eases his arm around the despairing GAY MAN. HE sits

patiently.

BAG LADY (O.C.)

PINNOCHIO...GODDAMN IT!

After a moment, PARRY rushes by JACK.

PARRY:

Come on, Jack. We're going to

be late. It's almost five!

Before JACK can ask why, PARRY is already out the door,

YELLING...

...Hurry up! We'll miss her!

JACK:

(whispers to BUM)

Um...I've got to run. I've been

doing this all day. Are you going

to be all right?

The BUM sits up, sniffling, with a "stiff upper lip" attitude:

GAY BUM:

Please - I was born a Catholic

in Brooklyn...I've been to hell

and I survived...It's O.K...

JACK nods and rises, when the BUM adds quite sincerely:

...Thanks...You're a gem.

JACK nods, a little self-consciously, and exits.

CUT TO:

INT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - RUSH HOUR

PARRY and JACK sit on the floor enjoying a cup of coffee. A

KOREAN VET in a wheelchair with no legs sits near the opposite

wall, along with at least fifteen other homeless beggers.

Another MAN sits against a cash machine, crying. A WOMAN passes

by and drops some change in the VET's cup without saying a word.

The VET smiles broadly and says - GOD BLESS - HAVE A NICE DAY!

JACK:

You'll never see her in this

crowd.

PARRY:

She walks the same trail every

day. Just keep your eyes on the

newsstand.

JACK looks to the newsstand, doesn't understand, then looks

away. HE watches as a BUSINESSMAN drops some change into the

VET'S cup.

JACK:

(referring to

"change-droppers")

They don't even look at him.

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