The Fisher King Page #4

JACK'S face turns white.

CUT TO:

INT. SIDE BAR - NIGHT

The bar's glass has been blasted. Tables are overturned.

Paramedics are running about.

REPORTER:

Seven people were killed before

Mr. Malnick...

A PICTURE OF EDWIN MALNICK is shown as the REPORTER continues.

...turned the gun on himself and

shot a hole through his head...

EDWIN MALNICK looked sad and harmless. JACK quickly grabs the

PHONE and RE-PLUGS it. HE is about to make a call when he is

stopped by the REPORTER mentioning his name...

REPORTER (ON TV)

The last person Mr. Malnick spoke

to was Jack Lucas. Representatives

of Mr. Lucas expressed regret,

however, no formal comment has

been made. But a lonely man

reached out to a world he knows

only through his radio - looking

for friendship...finding only pain

...and tragedy. This is Mark

Shaffer...Channel Ten news.

JACK is frozen. His breathing grows heavy. HIS phone begins

to ring, but JACK is unable to move.

CUT TO:

EXT. VIDEO STOP - DAY

WE SUPER:
A YEAR or so LATER.

CUT TO:

INT. VIDEO STOP - DAY.

CAMERA PANS the CUSTOMERS at the counter of the video store.

PUDGY WOMAN:

(to counter person)

I can't watch foreign movies when

I eat - they make me nauseous.

CAMERA PANS TO a variety of CUSTOMERS looking through the

shelves.

CUT TO:

INT. VIDEO STOP OFFICE - SAME TIME

CLOSE UP - THE HEADLINE OF A SENSATIONALIST (NATIONAL ENQUIRER) T

WOMAN KILLS PLASTIC SURGEON, THEN SELF

TOLD FRIENDS; I CAN'T BLINK WITHOUT PAIN

The picture of a bug-eyed society woman is below the caption.

ANNE, the owner of the store, enters abruptly - closing the

office door behind her, a cigarette dangling for her mouth.

Her desk is organized litter - her walls are filled with porno

tapes. SHE searches for one as she talks.

ANNE:

These people are insane today.

They took insane pills...

A bit about ANNE as she searches for a video.

ANNE is in her mid-to-late thirties....and she is all woman.

She has a raw, earthy, unmistakable sensuality. Her red

lipstick matches her red nail polish like a hat and glove set.

Inlaid on each nail is a rhinestone design of a little star.

Her angora sweaters are tight and clinging, giving her breasts

a decided lift and perkiness. Her tight slacks and backless

pumps that slap the ground, encourage her buns to have a life

of their own. A half-smoked cigarette hangs out of her mouth

with great expertise - a skill ANNE obviously picked up in a

high school bathroom. Her voice is thick with a delicious

Brooklyn twang. SHE is pure street-wise in attitude, philosophy

and emotions.

SHE turns and speaks to the man behind the tabloid.

ANNE:

Hey! Mr. Happiness!

THE MAN LOWERS THE NEWSPAPER:

It is JACK LUCAS. No longer the aggressive radio star, but more

a man who looks like he hasn't slept in months. Rings under

the eyes, a sullen yet cynical expression across his face. An

intolerant and self-pitying misanthrope..The outrageous articles

fascinate him. HE stares back at her pitifully.

ANNE:

Are we going to work a little

today or are ya gonna act like

your puppy's been run over by a

truck? Hmm?

JACK rises to stand before her. HE notices, with some

annoyance, that her bra straps are showing out from her sweater.

He fixes them.

JACK:

Are you going for a specific look

with this?

SHE makes a face and exits. JACK raises his eyebrow and

follows.

CUT TO:

INT. VIDEO STOP - COUNTER

JACK'S POV - CAMERA moves "cautiously" out into the video store,

taking in the crowd as they move about the hundreds of boxes

of movies. Suddenly, the GIANT FACE OF A FRUMPY SECRETARY who

looks like she rents movies in lieu of no dates - POPS INTO

FRAME.

WOMAN:

(to JACK)

Can you help me? I don't know

what I'm in the mood for. Uh...I

sort of want a Katherine Hepburny

kinda Cary Granty kinda thing -

something sorta nutty and

screwbally, ya know? Nothing

heavy...I couldn't take heavy.

Ya have something like that?

JACK:

(very low key)

Uhh....

WOMAN:

(acting helpless)

I don't know...Uh...

JACK seems frightened by the stupidity of this woman.

WOMAN:

Maybe something more modern. Like

a Goldie Hawny - Chevy Chasey

kinda thing, huh?

JACK is growing angry. HE stares at the woman menacingly.

WOMAN:

Or maybe a musical -

(leans into close-up)

Ya got SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER?

JACK just stares at her in silent rage from behind the counter.

JACK:

Well...what will it be?

WOMAN:

Well, like I said - maybe a

musical.

(laughs then flirts)

I'm not sure. What are you in

the mood for?

JACK stares at the woman manically then turns to look at the

shelves of returned movies behind the desk. HE selects one and

hands it to the woman.

WOMAN:

Great...

(reading box aloud)

"ORDINARY PEEPHOLES"

THE WOMAN'S eyes go wide. JACK just stares at her deadpan.

JACK:

It's kind of a - Big Titty -

Spread Cheeky kinda thing...I

cried all the way through it...

ANNE has been listening to this entire exchange. SHE hastily

crosses up beside JACK.

ANNE:

(to WOMAN)

...I'm sorry. I need to borrow

him for a moment.

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