The Fisher King Page #18

...What was I saying?

JACK is as surprised as he is. PARRY'S face is frightened and

confused again. There is panic in his voice.

...What was I saying?

JACK grows anxious at PARRY'S discomfort, so he covers:

JACK:

Nothing...Listen, how come you've

never asked that girl for a date?

...Parry?

But JACK'S VOICE BEGINS TO FADE AWAY FOR PARRY.

HE raises his head, looks to the outskirts of the field and

sees:

THE DARK SILOUETTE OF THE RED KNIGHT UPON HIS HORSE. Staring

-knowing exactly where PARRY lies even though it's dark. HE

pauses for a moment then gallops off.

PARRY watches the RED KNIGHT ride off. HE looks frightened as

he lays his head back down.

JACK'S VOICE COMES BACK AND SNAPS HIM OUT OF IT.

JACK:

How come you've never asked that

girl for a date?

PARRY snaps out of it somewhat.

PARRY:

I don't know. I thought it might

upset our relationship.

JACK:

Well...would you go on a date with

her if it...happened?

PARRY:

God yeah.

(he hears something)

SShhh.

THEY turn on their stomachs and look to the trees.

CUT TO:

THREE BLACK YOUTHS, silhouetted by a park lamp, making a deal

beneath a tree.

CUT TO:

A frightened JACK and a suddenly confident PARRY. PARRY picks

up his sling shot, loads a rock, takes aim and fires.

CUT TO:

The rock hitting a nail, whose point secures a rope. The nail

flies off, releasing the rope.

CUT TO:

WIDE ANGLE - THE TREE and surrounding area - as the nets spring

up out of the ground and catapult the youths up into the trees.

BLACK YOUTHS:

HEY! WHAT THE F***! SH*T! GET

ME THE F*** DOWN FROM HERE!!

THEY continue to complain and curse OC AS WE

CUT BACK TO:

PARRY and JACK, who suddenly feels safe and more confident.

THEY lie back down on the grass to continue their cloudbusting.

CUT TO:

The billowy night clouds slowly drifting apart.

JACK (OC)

Ha...Look they're moving.

(beat)

Am I doing that?

CUT TO:

INT. LOBBY, OFFICE BUILDING - MORNING.

JACK waits near the elevators as the nine-to-five crowd make

their way into the building. HE spots LYDIA and follows her in.

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR -

The elevator is packed with the lunch crowd. JACK stands at the

rear. LYDIA is nuzzled against the floor buttons facing front.

THE DOORS OPEN. LYDIA gets off with two leggy business women.

JACK follows. SHE walks through two glass doors with the words

HOWARD BOOK PUBLISHING INC. written in gold letters and enters

the office...JACK waits until she had disappeared into the office

then enters the reception area.

JACK:

Could you help me - what was the name

of that girl who just came in...

RECEPTIONIST:

I didn't notice. What girl?

JACK:

Uh..she was wearing a kind of a

flouncy...uh...plain...uh...

HE makes big gestures with his arms to describe the dress, then

"stringy" gestures with his fingers to describe her hair.

RECEPTIONIST:

(winning at Charades)

Oh, Lydia.

JACK:

Lydia. Lydia what?

RECEPTIONIST:

God...I have no idea. She's worked

here for fifteen years and I have

no idea...Wait, I'll call her...

JACK:

NO..no..that's all right...I thought

I knew her....Thanks...

HE starts to leave. HE glances through the glass doors into the

office just as LYDIA disappears behind a cubicle partition.

CUT TO:

INT. ANNE'S OFFICE - DAY.

JACK is on the phone, with an open yellow pages beside him.

JACK:

Yes. Howard Publishing? May I speak

to Lydia please.

HE waits. ANNE enters. SHE is obviously very irritated with him.

ANNE:

Can I have my desk please.

JACK:

I just have to make this...

(to phone)

Hello, I'd like to speak to Lydia?

ANNE:

Lydia?! Lydia who!?

JACK:

(to ANNE)

I don't know her last name...

I'll be off in a second.

ANNE:

You're calling LYDIA in MY office.

You must think I'm some dope.

You f***in bastard.

(she punches his arm)

You stay out all night long...

JACK:

(overlapping, to phone)

What..No..Lydia...I want to speak to her

name is Lydia...I..uh...

ANNE:

(overlapping)

...I don't get a friggin phone call.

You stroll in here at noon..I got...

...Two people out sick. Ya think

I need this? I Do Not Need This!

JACK:

...FORGET IT...GOODBYE!

(HE hangs up)

ANNE sits down at her desk. SHE is waiting for an explanation.

JACK:

I was not with a woman last night.

I was out with Parry.

ANNE:

The moron?

JACK:

He's not a moron.

ANNE:

And who's Lydia?

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