The Game Page #2

WAITRESS:

Ready to order, sir?

NICHOLAS:

I'm still waiting...

Nicholas points out the other plate. The waitress leaves.

NICHOLAS:

Excuse me...

She returns. He slides his empty glass toward her.

NICHOLAS:

This was iced tea.

He's returned to his report. The waitress takes the glass

and leaves, irritated. Nicholas checks his watch. An

EXAGGERATED SNEEZE is HEARD and liquid hits the back of his

neck -- AH-CHOO!...

Nicholas jumps, sickened, turning to face CONRAD, who holds

a spray bottle and smiles.

CONRAD:

Hey there, Nickie.

NICHOLAS:

(repulsed)

Conrad, what a surprise. Gesundheit.

CONRAD:

Happy Birthday, man.

NICHOLAS:

(nods)

"Seymour Butts." I never get tired

of that one.

CONRAD:

That's why it's a classic. Come on,

man... how 'bout a hug... ?

Nicholas is wiping his neck with a napkin as Conrad forces a

hug on him. Conrad takes a seat, good-lookingm unkempt,

tan, wearing a too-big suit jacket.

CONRAD:

They gave me a free jacket at the

door.

NICHOLAS:

They'll be wanting it back.

CONRAD:

Not after I'm done with it.

(laughs)

Actually, I've been here. In

grad-school I bought crystal-meth

from the maitre d'.

NICHOLAS:

Which grad-school?

Conrad smiles. The brothers take each other in for a

moment. Long moment. They're a bit stunned to be reunited.

NICHOLAS:

You look good.

CONRAD:

So do you. And to think I was

worried...

NICHOLAS:

About me?

CONRAD:

How long's it been? Since mom

died... four years? How are you?

NICHOLAS:

Never better.

CONRAD:

Elizabeth?

NICHOLAS:

Divorced. Remarried to some

pediatrician or gynecologist, or

pediatric gynaecologist, in Sausalito.

CONRAD:

Too bad, I liked her. So, you're all

alone in the House of Pain?

NICHOLAS:

I redecorated. What about you?

CONRAD:

Nowhere in particular. Don't you

keep track of my whereabouts anymore?

NICHOLAS:

Connie... what brings you here? Is

everything alright?

CONRAD:

Yeah.

NICHOLAS:

You need anything?

CONRAD:

No.

NICHOLAS:

Really?

CONRAD:

I don't need anything from you. I

was laying on a beach somewhere in

Spain, naked, and, it hit me --

Nickie's birthday. So, here I am,

four layovers, twenty-seven hours

flying and one donkey ride later.

Not necessarily in that order.

Conrad drops an envelope on the table.

CONRAD:

For you.

NICHOLAS:

You shouldn't have.

Nicholas opens it, takes out a sappy, Hallmark B-day card.

A BUSINESS CARD falls out. Nicholas picks it up...

CONRAD:

What do you get for the man who has

just slightly more than everything?

The card:
"Consumer Recreation Services." With a

PHONE NUMBER and ADDRESS below.

CONRAD:

Call that number.

NICHOLAS:

"Consumer Recrreation Services."

What, do they make golf clubs?

CONRAD:

Trust me. Call that number.

NICHOLAS:

Why?

CONRAD:

They make your life fun. Their only

guarantee is you will not be bored.

NICHOLAS:

Fun?

CONRAD:

You've heard of it. You've seen

other people having it. They're an

entertainment service, but more than

that.

NICHOLAS:

This isn't an escort service?

CONRAD:

It's a profound life experience.

NICHOLAS:

Like a stroke?

CONRAD:

Call them. Trust me.

The waitress shows up with Nicholas' iced tea, spills some.

Nicholas blots it up with a napkin.

WAITRESS:

Sorry. Let me get you another

napkin.

NICHOLAS:

I'll be fine... if we could just...

She moves off as Nicholas raises a finger to order, ignored.

CONRAD:

Tell me you'll call.

NICHOLAS:

Okay.

CONRAD:

Will you?

NICHOLAS:

I said I would...

CONRAD:

But, will you?

NICHOLAS:

Are you still on mediction?

CONRAD:

(taken aback)

Why would you say that?

The waitress arrives.

WAITRESS:

Ready to order, gentlemen?

NICHOLAS:

(ignores, to Conrad)

I didn't mean it like it sounded...

CONRAD:

I'm not on anything anymore. I'm not

even seeing a shrink. I'm happy.

(notices waitress,

turning to her)

Do you mind... ?!

The waitress gives him a look, leaves.

CONRAD:

(to Nicholas)

I thought you'd like this. Best

thing I ever did. If you don't want

to do it, DON'T...

NICHOLAS:

I'll call them, okay?

CONRAD:

It doesn't matter...

NICHOLAS:

I'm going to call.

CONRAD:

Do it for YOU.

NICHOLAS:

Okay, okay... okay?

(pause, studies card)

I just... you know I hate surprises.

CONRAD:

I know...

Conrad CLINKS his fork against a glass, motioning...

Behind Nicholas, WAITERS, WAITRESSES and BUS-BOYS, lying in

wait, now come to SING "HAPPY BIRTHDAY."

Conrad stands, loving it. Nicholas forces a fake smile.

CUT TO:

EXT. NICHOLAS' NEIGHBORHOOD -- NIGHT

The Bentley cruises hilly streets, ESTATES on all sides.

INT. NICHOLAS' BENTLEY -- NIGHT

Nicholas is on his CELLULAR PHONE. CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS.

FEMALE VOICE (v.o.)

(from cellular)

... seen the profitability report.

No one's happy with the numbers.

NICHOLAS:

(into cellular)

Imagine how much MORE unhappy I am.

FEMALE VOICE (v.o.)

You'll deal with Alan?

NICHOLAS:

Correct.

FEMALE VOICE (v.o.)

Okay, Nicholas. Sleep well.

NICHOLAS:

I plan to.

He increases VOLUME on the CLASSICAL MUSIC, makes a turn.

He looks out his window, watching the street roll past...

FLASHBACK/GRAINY HOME MOVIES -- 1960'S -- DAY

SILENT, HOME MOVIE-ISH IMAGES as before: YOUNG NICHOLAS, 10,

peers out from a LIMOUSINE, watching his neighborhood

pass... PERIOD FASHIONS, PERIOD CARS and HOUSES...

BACK TO SCENE, IN THE BENTLEY

Nicholas faces front. The Bentley comes to the formidable

FRONT GATE of the mansion. The gate begins to slide open.

Nicholas stares ahead, expressionless.

FLASHBACK/GRAINY HOME MOVIES -- 1960'S -- DAY

The LIMOUSINE pulls up the ungated driveway. Young Nicholas

emerges, carrying books, waving goodbye to the CHAUFFEUR.

Young Nicholas runs past rose bushes, heading to the house,

but slows, looking up...

High up, Nicholas' FATHER, in a robe, stands on a balcony

railing, looking to hte sky. He's weary, lowers his gaze...

Young Nicholas is puzzled, gives a tentative wave.

Father just stares, eyes dead, expression blank.

BACK TO SCENE, IN THE BENTLEY

Nicholas looks down, puts the car in gear and drives...

THRU THE WINDSHIELD: the Bentley's headlights sweep the

stately Van Orton house.

CUT TO:

EXT. VAN ORTON MANSION, BACKYARD -- NIGHT

Nicholas exits the garage, walks up the garden path. Ahead,

Ilsa's leaving through the kitchen door of the house,

heading across the yard to the GUEST HOUSE.

ILSA:

Dinner's in the oven.

NICHOLAS:

Thank you. Goodnight.

At the rear door, Nicholas stops himself.

NICHOLAS:

Oh, I saw Conrad today.

Ilsa stops, looking back. They're far from each other.

ILSA:

You did? How is he?

NICHOLAS:

Okay. I think he's into some sort of

new personal improvement cult.

ILSA:

(nods, at a loss)

Well... send my love, if you see him

again.

Nicholas nods. Ilsa leaves.

CUT TO:

INT. VAN ORTON MANSION, KITCHEN -- NIGHT

Nicholas uses mitts to remove a dinner plate from the oven,

sets it on a waiting tray: huge cheeseburger and hand-cut

french fries, perfectly presented.

Nicholas picks up a CUPCAKE with a B-day candle in it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes