The Fisher King Page #20

The GAY BUM take notice of her outfit - a cordoroy, forest green

jumper with a lime green turtleneck -

GAY BUM:

You MUST be the one.

LYDIA:

Huh?

GAY BUM:

(sings to the tune of "WILKOMMEN")

WELCOME - LYDIA - WELCOME....

HE lets go the balloons...PEOPLE'S head pop up from cubicles...

GAY BUM:

...WELCOME TO VIDEO STOP - VIDEO RENTALS...

YOU HAVE...JUST WOOOON..A FREE MEMBERSHIP...

FOR MORE..DETAAAILS...LALALALALALLA...DA!..DA!

HE hands her a card with the information. LYDIA, paralyzed

with embarassment, takes it. A group of office girls are hysterical.

GAY BUM:

(BIG FINISH)

WELCOME! LYDIA!!! WELCOME!!!

(dance/kicking his way out)

TO VIDEO STOP...TO VIDEO STOP

FOR VIDEO RENTAALLLLSSS!

(drops the act and exits)

Jesus...

Stunned, LYDIA looks down at the information card she holds

frozen in her hand.

CUT TO:

INT. VIDEO STOP - 5:30 THE NEXT DAY.

CAMERA PANS ANNE behind the counter arranging boxes of movies -

JACK with one eye on the door and one eye on a receipt he's

filling out - and PARRY; clean shaven, his hair slicked back -

Except for a slightly nerdy awkwardness, he looks almost handsome.

LYDIA cautiously enters the store.

Behind the counter, JACK spots her immediately and nudges ANNE.

When SHE turns to look, her bra straps are visible. JACK fixes

them quickly. PARRY already has his eyes locked on LYDIA.

LYDIA:

Hello. My name is Lydia Sinclair.

JACK:

Yes. Hi. Congratulations. Jack Lucas.

Nice to meet you finally. This

is Anne Napolitano, the owner of

Video Stop.

ANNE:

(overly friendly)

Hello..Congratulations.

LYDIA just nods.

JACK:

And this is our other..uh...worker..

Parry..uh...

(no last name)

Parry.

PARRY looks at her in awe. HE can think of no words to say in

his excitement.

LYDIA seems unnerved by his stare, but quickly shrugs it off and

turns back to JACK.

LYDIA:

(snotty)

So how do we do this?

JACK is once again surprised by her abrupt manner.

JACK:

Well...um...you get an official

membership card...

(takes one out)

Just sign that and we'll laminate

it right here...Parry? You want

to laminate Miss Sinclair's card?...

PARRY stands still, in shock

JACK:

....Parry?

PARRY snaps out of it and crosses from behind the counter to

the laminating machine next to JACK.

ANNE:

This will last you one year after

which you have the option to renew if

you like at a membership discount.

LYDIA:

(defensive)

But now it's free, right?

ANNE:

Yeah.

ANNE backs off. SHE stands next to an equally perplexed JACK as

they watch LYDIA fill out the card. Her abrasive demeanor is not

what they expected. LYDIA finishes the card and pushes it toward

them.

LYDIA:

Now what?

JACK:

Uh...you...you can pick out up to ten movies....

LYDIA:

Free?

JACK:

Yes. They're free.

ANNE:

(butts in)

Only the first ten. After that

they're 2.99 a rental.

LYDIA eyes ANNE suspiciously, then turns to survey the shelves.

PARRY picks up her card and laminates it - all the while, keeping

his eyes fixed upon LYDIA'S every move. ANNE and JACK, having

set the trap, watch with interest.

LYDIA surveys the film boxes, H-L. SHE spots one of interest

and pulls it off the shelf - causing two other boxes to fall down

on her. She catches one box and, as she replaces it back on the

shelf, causes three more to fall. SHE catches two of the three.

PARRY, ANNE and JACK watching with an odd fascination.

JACK nudges PARRY to forget the laminating and go help her.

PARRY gathers up his nerve and moves from around the counter,

up behind her.

PARRY:

...Can...can I help you?

LYDIA quickly turns - she is uncomfortable by his closeness.

LYDIA:

No. No...I can look myself...

SHE moves away abruptly - like a fox terrier who pretends to

ignore the mess she made on the living room rug.

PARRY turns to JACK and ANNE, as if to say "what do I do now?"

JACK encourages him to keep trying. PARRY organizes the boxes and

picks one out.

PARRY:

(reads)

How about...ZBIEGNEW SPEIZAK'S "THE PURPLE BREAD".

'an intensely portrayed tale of

love and envy set against the sweeping

background of a Polish bakery.' In subtitles.

LYDIA:

I don't like ... uh ...

(finding it hard to categorize)

Polish love stories...

SHE turns her back on him, but adds:

LYDIA:

...I like musicals.

PARRY:

(encouraged)

Well, we have plenty of those. Right over here.

(LYDIA follows him)

We got the MGM series, Astaire and

Rogers. the Judy Garlands, -

LYDIA:

Got any Ethel Merman?

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