The Family Man Part 2

EXT. LASSITER BUILDING, PLAZA
Jack walks through the plaza like a zombie, his face registering
nothing. Jack crosses the street, moving toward the car. And tires
screeching. Hearing CD: "La Donna EMobile" from the car.

JACK
That's my car !

CASH
Hi, Jack.

JACK
You stole my car.

CASH
I know this whole thing is really bizarre to you... and
you're feeling quite shocked, but just hop in. I'll explain
everything to you, okay ? Come on.

Cash reaches over and opens the door. Jack hesitates.

CASH
Come on. You're probably gonna wanna buckle up, Jack. This
thing moves.

The CD ends. Jack gets in.

JACK
What's happening to me ?

Cash hands Jack a paper bag.

CASH
Breathe into the bag, Jack.

Jack starts breathing into the bag.

CASH
This kind of thing makes a lot of guys have to throw up. I
seen it happen before. So if you feel the urge, you roll down
the window and do it out there.

Cash looks over at Jack. Jack is really losing it, sobbing into the
bag, almost hyperventilating. Cash smiles.

CASH
Try not to get so worked up, Jack. After all,you brought this
on yourself.

JACK
Brought what on myself ? I didn't do anything !

CASH
" I got everything I need." That sound familiar ?

JACK
You mean'cause you thought I was cocky,I'm now on a permanent
acid trip ?

CASH
Bag yourself, Jack.

Jack screaming.

JACK
Oh, my God! Ah !

Cash gets a laugh out of Jack’s overreaction.

CASH
The way you intervened in that store last night, you did a
good thing there, Jack.


CASH
I mean, it was incredibly impressive all the way across the board...

JACK
Oh, God !

CASH
--to the upper echelons of the organization.
I
JACK
Please. Just tell me what’s happening to me. In plain English...
without the mumbo-jumbo.

CASH
This is a glimpse, Jack.

JACK
A glimpse ?I--A glimpse of what ?

CASH
You're gonna have to figure that out for yourself and you got plenty of time.

JACK
How much time?

CASH
As much time as it takes,

JACK
Okay, look, look. I-I-I just want my life back, okay ?Now what’s it gonna take? You wanna talk turkey?
Let’s talk turkey! How much money...?


Cash looks at Jack, relishing the moment. He flashes Jack a smile.

CASH
It doesn’t work like that and I can’t tell you why.

JACK
Why not?

CASH
Because you have to figure this for yourself. Are you listening to me?

JACK
Figure it out, figure out what?

Cash just stares at him...Jack faces Cash, simmering...with frustration.

JACK
Let it come to you, man. I don't have time for this right now.

CASH
I'm in the middle of a deal. Well, you're working on a new deal now, baby.


SCREECH...Cash slams on the brakes...practically sending Jack through the windshield.
Jack recovers, looks up...the car is parked right next to the mini-van.
Cash pulls out a small plastic bag, holding it out to Jack...
Jack looks inside the bag, pulls out a BARBIE BICYCLE BELL. He looks at it curiously.

JACK
What's this ?

CASH
Open it.

JACK
What is it, some kind of a signal ? Will you come whenever I ring it?

CASH
Now you gotta get out of the car, Jack.

Cash reaches across Jack and opens the door.

JACK
But what do I do?

CASH
I'm sorry. I can't spendany more time with you.I got some other business
I gotta take care of.

JACK
No, y-y-you did this to me.

Jack looks out to the lonely street outside, then back to Cash.

JACK
You can't just leave me like this.

Cash looks at Jack, the desperation on his face.

CASH
Okay. Look, you wanna get some air ? Let's get outside, get some air.We'll walk and
I'll explain everything to you, okay ?

Jack’s still a little unsure...he sees Cash open the driver side door...

JACK
Thanks, man...

CASH
Sure.

Jack gets out of the car...and before he can even turn around, Cash's door slams shut and
the car takes off in a blast of horsepower...
Jack stands there gazing down the street, listening to the sound of the Ferrari shifting gears,
disappearing...

The wind whips up...shivering, Jack looks toward the Lassiter Building, then to the plastic bag in his hand,
and finally to the mini-van.

34 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE MORNING

The blue mini-van snakes through the curved streets of the neighborhood, almost all the houses decorated for
Christmas.

35 INT. MINI-VAN - SAME TIME

Jack’s trying to find the house, a map unfolded on the steering wheel and the car’s registration in his hand...

He spots ARNIE BENDER, late 30s, carrying an empty science kit box to the trash. His wife, JEANNIE, also
late 30s, is getting in a Ford Taurus wagon, a bowl of fruit in hand...
Jack pulls up to the curb near Arnie, rolling down the window.

JACK
Excuse me. Do you know where Merrison Street is?


EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE MORNING

The blue mini-van snakes through the curved
streets of the neighborhood, almost all the
houses decorated for Christmas.

INT. MINI-VAN - SAME TIME

Jack's trying to find the house, a map
unfolded on the steering wheel and the
car's registration in his hand...

He spots ARNIE BENDER, late 30s, carrying
an empty science kit box to the trash.
His wife, JEANNIE, also ate 30s, is
getting in a Ford Taurus wagon, a bowl of
fruit in hand...

Jack pulls up to the curb near Arnie,
rolling down the window.

JACK
Excuse me. Do you know where
Merrison Street is?

Arnie looks up and sees Jack in the van.
Arnie turning to his wife with chuckles.

ARNIE
Jeannie! I found Jack!

Jannie stands and speaks beside a car.

JEANNIE
Oh,there you are ,stranger.

Arnie speak to Jack.

ARNIE
Where you been?

Jack sighs.

INT. BENDER HOUSE, DEN - A LITTLE LATER

Jack follows Arnie into the den of this
garishly decorated suburban home,
Arnie's arm around his shoulder.

ARNIE
You look terrible...

Jack takes in the decor. It's a male
leisure time fantasy. old pinball
machine, wide screen TV, dart board,
and kitschy '50s style bamboo bar...

ARNIE
Truth is I expected you.
Kate called before and
asked if I knew where you
were.

Arnie notices Jack's fascination with the room...

ARNIE
Oh, Barca-lounger into the
corner. It's throwin'
everybody off. What do
you think?

Jack speaks with a nods.

JACK
It's a great room.
Great room...

A satisfied smile from Arnie, Jack's
approval means something to him.

ARNIE
You and me, buddy.
We know how to live,huh?
Come on.

Arnie clutches smiling at a jack.

ARNIE
Come on,Jack.
Come on...

Arnie talks laughing and holds the
shoulder of a jack.

ARNIE
Whoo!
Come on,buddy.Take your seat.

Arnie shepherds Jack onto a bar stool
and pours a drink out of a bamboo
bottle holder.

ARNIE
Are you okay?

Jack doesn't respond, his eyes drawn to
a softball team photo on the bar...
Jack and Arnie kissing a huge trophy with
the caption,"Plainfield, N.J. Softball
League Champs,1994."

ARNIE
I mean you leave the house on
Christmas morning, you don't tell
anyone where you're going...

Jack looks over from the photo to Arnie...

JACK
We're friends ?

Arnie makes a fist and gestures to his heart.
Jack nods.

ARNIE
Talk to me...

A moment of decision for Jack as Arnie stands there,
open eyed, ready to listen.

JACK
I'm having kind of a bad day.

Arnie nods Jack's talk and.

ARNIE
You know,I read somewhere that
the suicide rate doubles during
the holidays...

A raised eyebrow from Jack.

ARNIE
What am I saying? You don't
need to hear that.Come on.

JACK
Is it...?

ARNIE
Trouble at work?

JACK
I...I don't think so.

ARNIE
Well,It's not Kate, is it?

Jack pauses at the mention of Kate.
Arnie's eyes widen...

Arnie speaks proudly.

ARNIE
You see,huh? It's like we're
in each other's heads...

JACK
Kate's my wife...

Jack looks at Arnie as if he's seeking
confirmation.Arnie speaks with a playful smile.

ARNIE
Just keep saying it,Jack, like a mantra.

Arnie comes out from behind the bar, taking
Jack by the arm.

EXT. ARNIE'S YARD - SECONDS LATER

Arnie walks Jack through his backyard...

ARNIE
Look, you fit the profile exactly.
30s,house, kids, financial
responsibilities.

ARNIE
You start thinking this isn't the life I dreamt about. Where's
the romance, you know ? Where's the joie de vivre ? Suddenly
every lingerie ad in the Newark Star-Ledger... represents a
life that you can't have.

JACK
It's just two kids, right ?

A chuckle from Arnie.

ARNIE
Come on. Come on.All right, sometimes it feels like you gave
up the whole world. I know that. But look what you got.

They arrive at...the backyard of the Campbell house... cluttered with
a swing set, a dog run with chewed up lawn, and a wooden sun deck in
the process of being built...

ARNIE
Look at that: four bedrooms,two-and-a-half baths, a partially
finished basement.

Jack trips over a wayward BIG WHEEL.

ARNIE
And good kids.

Arnie leads Jack toward the house.

Look. You know what ? You probably don't wanna hear this right
now. But remember last summer when I almost had that thing
with Arnie, Jr.'s speech therapist ?

A blank stare from Jack as they arrive at the sliding glass door...
Arnie faces Jack squarely, grabbing his shoulders and looking him in
the eye.


You remember what you said to me ? You said, "Don't screw up
the best thing in your life...just because you're a little
unsure about who you are." Okay ? Go get 'em, tiger.

Arnie gives Jack a gentle hug...then gives him a little push toward the
door...



INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, DEN - CONTINUOUS

Jack steps inside. He turns back to the door but Arnie's gone.
Then, Kate enters the room, holding a portable phone...

KATE
Could you hold on a second?

A curious look from Kate.

KATE
Um, never mind because-- because he just walked in. Thank you.
Thank you.

Jack grimaces as she resolutely hangs up the phone then stares him down
angrily.

KATE
Do you... have any idea what you put us through today ? You
walk out of here at 7:30 in the morning. You don't tell me
where you're going, or even that you're going. And I don't see
you till hours later ? I called all of our friends. I had the
state troopers looking for you. I was on the phone with the
hospital, for God's sakes.

Jack watches her vent, the frustration on his face building.

KATE
What kind of man leaves his family Christmas morning without a
word about where he's going ?


KATE (CONT’D)
What kind of a man does that, Jack?

JACK
(jumping in)
I don’t know. Could you-Could you
please stop yelling at me?

She looks at him curiously.

KATE
Where were you?

JACK
I was in the city.

KATE
The city? New York City? Why?

JACK
Yeah.

KATE
Why?

JACK
Because that's where I live.

KATE
Don’t start, Jack. Don't.

JACK
Look, you don’t understand. I woke
up this morning here. And this is very
strange because...this isn't my house.

A raised eyebrow from Kate. Jack moves around the room...

JACK (CONT’D)
(pointing upstairs)
And those aren't my kids. I'm not Dad.
I-I-I'm not a dad. You're not my wife.

Kate looks him over, assessing, then...

KATE
You know what, Jack. It’s not funny this
time...because I am really mad. I mean,
really mad. I mean it. I don't even-

Jack takes the bell out of the plastic bag that Cash gave him, holds it up in front of her and starts
RINGING it furiously.

Then...Annie rides into the room on her new bike.

JACK
What--

ANNIE
(re: bell)
What’s that?

Jack watches as she pedals over, reaches into his hand and takes the bicycle bell...

ANNIE (CONT’D)
(examining the bell)
I like it.
(jumping up and giving hima peck
on the cheek)
Thanks, Dad.

Annie rides excitedly out of the room on her bike.Leaving Jack and Kate alone again...

KATE
You missed the whole thing-- the pancakes,
the presents. You spent six hours putting
that bike together for Annie. and then
you didn’t even get to see the look on
her face when she opened it.

Jack sees the disappointment on her face...

KATE (CONT’D)
You missed Christmas, Jack.

Jack looks down, almost ashamed...he relents, giving in to the moment...

JACK
I’m sorry.

Kate looks at him. He seems sincere enough...

KATE
You know, we don’t even have enough time
for this.

KATE
And at least you're okay.I'm okay, we're okay.But you've
gotta get dressed for the Thompson party. And you are
not wearing that.I don't care how hilarious you think
it is.

JACK
Party ? No, I'm not going to a party.

KATE
You look forward to this party all year. What is it with
you today ?

JACK
Believe me, Kate.I really don't thinkthat going to a party...
is the right move for me|at the present time.

KATE
Okay, fine. You know what ?Then you just do whatever you
wanna do.

JACK
What are you doing ? Telling my mother she doesn't have to stay
with the kids.Why not ?

KATE
Because you'll be here.

Kate just looks at him.

JACK
I'll be ready in ten minutes.

He walks past her...toward a hallway door, Kate watching him...
He opens the door...it's a closet.



INT. BATHROOM - MINUTES LATER

The light comes on...Jack walks in, looks in the mirror,
determined to collect himself...but something's not
right...
He glances around...the bathroom is small and it's
cluttered with Kate's razors, loofah, skin creams...
...none of this stuff is his...
...he looks in the mirror again, his face revealing a
forlorn sense of displacement...
...he stares at himself until...he starts to lose it...
anger, confusion...sadness...finally, he begins breaking down...
After a moment, he turns on the water, rinsing his face...

INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, BEDROOM CLOSET - MINUTES LATER

Jack at the closet door, looking at a row of Hagar slacks,
Docker sport coats and imitation leather shoes...

He reaches in and touches the fabric on one of the sport coats.

JACK
This is--This is just subpar.

Annie appears at the bedroom door, watching Jack at the closet.
He turns...sees Annie watching him...a look exchanged... then,
Annie runs away...

Jack turns back to the closet and mournfully takes a pair
of the slacks...


EVELYN
Lance, here you go.

KATE
Excuse me.

He turns...sees Annie watching him...a look exchanged... then,
Annie runs away...

Jack turns back to the closet and mournfully takes a pair
of the slacks...

JACK sings songs loudly.

JACK
Let it snow, let it snow Let it snow
It doesn't show signs of stopping

EXT. THOMPSON HOUSE - NIGHT

Jack and Kate, a casserole dish in her hand, walk up the path
to this tacky but large house, its outside decorated with
the most garish display of Christmas decorations this side of
Pasaic.

Kate RINGS the doorbell...

EVELYN THOMPSON, 30s, wearing a dress that's a bit too tight
and a bit too low cut, opens the door...

EVELYN
Kate. Jack. Evelyn.Come in. Hey, everybody, Kate and
Jack are here.

Jack looks right past her...to the house filled with 50 GUESTS.

A loud WHOOP from the guests...Jack has the look of a condemned
man on his face as he follows Kate inside...

KATE
Hey ! Jeannie.

JACK
Merry Christmas.Merry Christmas.

EVELYN
Jack, Merry Christmas. Whoops. Here.

INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

As Kate heads into the living room, Evelyn takes Jack's arm...

EVELYN
So, like the dress ?

JACK
Oh, it's lovely.

EVELYN
I thought I saw you notice it at the kids' recital.

JACK
It's lovely. It's lovely.



INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER

The party is in full swing, Christmas music in the
b.g., GUESTS talking, laughing, drinking egg nog...

Jack's eyes dart around the room...it's large, neater
than his and Kate's house but still very lived in...The
Thompson KIDS run in and out of the room, playing with
new toys... nobody is wearing or eating anything
imported from Europe, but everyone's having a good
time...

...everyone except for Jack, standing with Arnie and
THE GUYS, having his ear chewed off by NICK CARELLI, a
walking advertisement for Levi's Cotton Dockers...


ARNIE
There he is.
Hey, Jack. Happy holidays, man.

JACK
Yeah.

ARNIE
Jack, come on over. Hey, Jack.
Cheers, baby.



NICK
You guys see Van Horn last
night?

ARNIE
Thirty-two points.

NICK
This kid's gonna
take the Nets to the championship.

JACK
The Nets? Are you kidding?

Nick looks at him in disbelief.

JACK (CONT'D)
(recovering)
They suck. But they're due. they're certainly
due.

BILL KRAMER, a huge pile of fried chicken wings on his
plate, tugs at Jack's shirt.

BILL KRAMER
So tomorrow's the big
day, Jackie.

JACK
Okay.Why?

BILL KRAMER
My triple bypass. I'm going
under the knife tomorrow. I told
you that, right?

JACK
Triple bypass.

BILL KRAMER
Yeah.

JACK
You really think you should
be eating all that?

BILL KRAMER
Eh. Figure I'm going in for
a cleaning tomorrow. Might
as well load up on the fried
stuff tonight, right?

ARNIE
That's good thinking, Bill.
Have another drink. Some fried pork,
mashed potatoes.
(whispering to Jack)
He'll be dead by morning.

Nick reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of
Dutch Masters cigars.

NICK
How 'bout a cigar, Jack ?

JACK
Oh, no, thank you. I'm cutting down.

NICK
Come on. They're American made, not Cuban.

JACK
Oh, really ?

NICK
Come on.


Nick eagerly hands him one.


JACK
Very nice.

NICK
I thought you'd like 'em.


Nick lights Jack's cigar.


JACK
Mm. Mmm ! Superb.

NICK
How 'bout you, Arnie ?

ARNIE
I'm all right. Thanks.


Evelyn Thompson approaches, a tray of MUSHROOM PUFFS in
hand...

EVELYN
(holding out a
puff to Jack)
Finger food?

JACK
No, thank you.I'm fine.

EVELYN
(suggestively)
Come on. Soon as I put
them down, you're gonna
grab a couple. you always do.

JACK
No, I'm okay.

EVELYN (CONT’D)
Let me. They’ll melt in your mouth...

He instinctively opens his mouth as Evelyn pushes the
treat inside...

EVELYN (CONT’D)
Good?

On Jack’s face...if freezer burn were a facial
expression, this would be it...

JACK
(forcing a smile)
Fabulous.

INT. THOMPSON HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - A LITTLE LATER
Jack comes down the stairs, a lost look in his eyes.
He looks across the room and sees...

Kate, with a group of GUESTS, looking great in her
jeans and white blouse, the center of attention.

Jack passes through the guests, people waving to him,
slapping him on the back as he approaches Kate...

He catches Kate’s eye...she gives him a subtle smile.

KATE
At the end of this whole thing, she made me this
hand-embroidered sweater.It was really lovely.

JEANNIE
How nice.

Jack watches as Kate charms the crowd...

KATE (CONT’D)
So I'm slipping it on and I notice that she's misspelled
the word "lawyers".Uh-oh. I spend the entire day walking
around... with a sweater that said, "Nonprofit lawyers
do it for free".

The guests laugh again. Even Jack finds himself laughing, until...

JACK
(to Kate, off-hand)
So you’re a lawyer...?

A chuckle from the group. Kate’s confused.

JACK (CONT’D)
A non-profit lawyer...

People are starting to LAUGH.

KATE
(a little embarrassed)
Jack...

JACK
Pro bono. You don’t get paid at all?
Nobady makes a dime?

KATE
Jack?

JACK
"Any hoo...."

Blank stares from everyone, including Kate...

CUT TO:
INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, FOYER - LATE NIGHT
Kate and Jack walk in the front door...the dog greets
them happily, jumping up on Jack, a weary look on his face.

KATE
I better go wake my mother...

Kate grabs a leash off a hook and hands it to Jack.

KATE (CONT’D)
There you go...

JACK
Uh, I don't think so.

KATE
She’s your dog, Jack.

JACK
No, she’s not.

KATE
You're right. She's the kids' dog. Maybe we should go
walk Josh and make him walk her.

Jack looks at the dog’s face. Lucy couldn’t be more
excited. Finally, Jack shakes his head and takes the leash.

JACK (CONT’D)
If you take a dump sometimes in this century, then we
could go home where it's warm. If I can even remember
how to get home.
(to Lucy)
You remember, don’t you.

But the dog ignores him, dragging Jack along...

INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT
Kate is in bed, fast asleep.

Jack walks into the room, his face still red from the
cold outside. He looks over at Kate, sleeping happily.

He takes off his shirt and khakis, laying them neatly
on the chair. He looks over at the pair of flannel
pajamas folded on the dresser. He shakes his head,
resigned, then dons the pajamas and climbs into bed...


INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - MORNING
Morning light streams into the room. The clock reads,
"7:14."

Jack opens his eyes ? a burst of light hitting them
from the window...like the morning light in his
Manhattan loft...

He reaches across the bed...it’s empty...

A smile of hope from Jack as he puts his head back on
the pillow...maybe it was only a day...Then...

The sound of a baby CRYING from the next room...A
pained look on Jack’s face as he realizes he’s still in
Jersey.

Now the baby is WAILING...Jack lies still a moment,
hoping it’ll stop...it doesn’t. Then, he hears the
sound of the SHOWER TURN ON in the bathroom.

He gets out of bed and walks to the bathroom..

The shower is running, a tape player is BLASTING “Beast
of Burden.” Kate is in the shower SINGING LOUDLY with
the song...

JACK
Hello!

She is singing.

JACK
HEY!

KATE
What?

Finally, the music is turned down and Kate pulls the
shower curtain open...
Jack sees her naked body...raises an eyebrow...that's
something he's missed...then...

JACK
Oh. That baby's crying.

KATE
And ? Don't give me that look, Jack. Tuesday's
your day and you know it. And listen, try and get
Josh to daycare on time, okay ?

INT. JOSH'S ROOM - MORNING

Annie’s watching from a baby-size Laz-E-Boy lounger
as...
Jack, in a robe, stands in front of a changing table,
Josh laying happily on his back, playing with a set of
plastic keys.
Jack takes a fresh Huggies diaper and puts it next to
the baby. He surveys Josh, scratching his chin and
rubbing his hands like Indiana Jones. Josh playfully
grabs at Jack’s nose.
He looks over to Annie. She’s still staring at him
like he’s a Martian. He looks at the instructions on
the box of Huggies.

JACK
Yeah. All right.

Jack searches the diaper for the tabs of tape, then
gingerly pulls them apart, releasing the diaper from
the baby’s bottom, and seeing what’s inside.

JACK
Holy mother of god! Ohh!

Jack holds the diaper out away from him, searching for
a place to put it. Annie points to a Diaper Genie by
the dresser.
Jack throws the diaper in, then quickly replaces the
lid. Annie points to the container of Baby Wipes.
Annie stares at him a beat. Then...

ANNIE
You're not really my dad, are you?

JACK
No, I'm not.I work on Wall Street,you know,
with the big buildings.I live in an apartment
with a doorman,And I can buy just almost anything
I want.This isn't my life.It's just a glimpse.

ANNIE
Where's my real dad?

JACK
I don't know.But don't worry.He loves you,
and I'm sure he'll be back very soon.What
are you doing?

Annie stands on a chair, grabs Jack's nose and wiggles it.
Then she looks at both sides of his face carefully.

ANNIE
They did a pretty good job.

Annie approaches Jack, climbing up on a little chair
and tugging firmly at his hair.

ANNIE
They did a pretty good job.

JACK
Who did?

ANNIE
The aliens...In the mother ship.
You look just like him.

JACK
Oh,thanks.Slightly better looking though, right?

Annie’s now stone faced, trying to decide about Jack.

JACK
Oh,no,you’re not gonna start crying, are you?
I don't think I could really deal with that right now.

She thinks about it for a moment.

ANNIE
Do you like kids?

JACK
On a case by case basis.

ANNIE
Do you know how to make chocolate milk?

JACK
I think I could figure it out.

ANNIE
Promise you won't kidnap me and my brother...
and plant stuff in our brains?

JACK
Sure.

Beat. Then...a smile from Annie.

ANNIE
Welcome to earth.

INT. MINI-VAN - MORNING

Jack’s driving, Annie buckled in the front seat...

Josh, in the baby seat, looks like he was dressed by
monkeys ? his shirt buttons are off by one, and they’re
clearly supposed to be in the back.

Jack stops the van outside the Playland Day Care Center.

ANNIE
This is where babies go when
their parents are at work.

JACK
Check...

He gets out of the van...

EXT. MINI-VAN - CONTINUOUS

he pulls Josh out and walks quickly toward the
building, holding the baby away from his body.
He gets to the door and holds Josh out to the DAY CARE LADY.
She stares at Josh’s outfit...

JACK
Do I get a receipt or something?

The woman looks at Jack like he’s crazy.

EXT. YMCA - A FEW MINUTES LATER

The mini-van pulls up to the drop-off point at this
suburban New Jersey Y. Annie opens the door.

ANNIE
I have winter camping til 4:00 and
ballet class until 5:30.

JACK
5:30. Okay.

ANNIE
And try not to be late...'cause kids don’t like
to be the last one picked up.

JACK
Got it. Good tip.

ANNIE
Bye.

JACK
Bye.


Jack watches her as she runs toward the building. Then...

JACK
Hey! Annie!

Annie turns back toward him.

JACK
Where do I go now?

ANNIE
Big Ed's.

JACK
Big Ed's? Big Ed's Tires? Why?

ANNIE
'Cause you work there.

A beat. Then...

JACK
You mean I sell tires.

She shrugs her shoulders and walks off.

JACK
That's what I do. I'm a tire salesman.

Jack's driving down a busy commercial street when he spots something
a hundred yards down the road...

JACK
Good Lord!

...a huge, three-story-tall plastic likeness of Big Ed Reynolds, ten
gollon hat, lassoing a tire.

EXT.BIG ED'S TIRES

Jack approaches Big Ed's from the parking lot...slowly, taking it
all in. Jack walks to the store.

A MAN
Morning, Jack.

JACK
Hi.

ANOTHER MAN
Good morning, Jack.

JACK
Hi.

TOMMY
Hey, Jack.

INT.BIG ED'S TIRES

Jack walks in...look around...the store is teeming with activity,
a post-holiday sale in progress. Big Ed sees Jack and speaks to him.

BIG ED
Jack, my boy. Hey, guess who I played bridge with two
night ago.

Jack stares blankly at Big Ed.

BIG ED
Hell, you'll never guess. One Sydney Potter.
That's Sydney Potter, C.E.O., Buy Rite Transport. Only the
third biggest trucking outfit in the state. "Any hoo, "
he's looking for a new parts supplier. We can handle volume
like that, now can't we, Jack?

Jack considers this briefly.

JACK
I'm gonna have to get back to you on that, Ed.

BIG ED
Right on.

JACK
Right on.

Big Ed makes a gun gesture with his forefinger, winking at Jack, then
turns back to the activity at the counter. Jack spots KENNY, a very
young sales associate, walking by. He reaches out and taps Kenny on
the shoulder.

JACK
Excuse me. Uh, do I--do I have a private office somewhere
in the building?

KENNY
Sure, Jack.

JACK
Where is it?

KENNY
Oh, uh, it's--it's right back--right back there.

JACK
Thank you.

KENNY
Yeah.

Jack walks into the office with his name on the door.

INT.JACK'S OFFICE

Jack takes a slow, sad lap around the office. He makes it to the
small wooden desk at the far end of the room and sits down behind it.
On the desk are photos of Jack, Kate and the kids, a plastic Michelin
Man model, a tire-themed day calender and a small plastic figurine of
a BOWLER, the word, "Bowlers Do It In An Alley" embossed on its base.
He surveys the desktop briefly, then opens the top drawer, finding a
personal checkbook and looking inside.

JACK
Oh, no.

He spots a bottle of Glenfiddich. He lifts it out. He takes a paper
cup and pours himself a shot. He drinks it down in one gulp.

JACK
You must've needed this every day.

He crumples up the cup, throwing it at the garbage. He looks more
closely at the photographs...most are family photos, a happy Jack
with Kate, with Annie at the pony rides, at Josh's birth...in every
one of them, Jack is smiling.

JACK
What are you smiling about?

He turns his head...spots a small plaque on the wall behind him. He
grabs it off the wall and looks at it more carefully.

JACK
Eighty-eight? I was in London in 1988. You never went to
London.

He stays there a moment in shock. Then...

WOMAN
Jack, you're needed in mag wheels. Customer waiting.

INT.BIG ED'S TIRES, MAIN FLOOR

Kenny leading Jack toward the "Mag Wheels" section.

JACK
I was the number one junior sales association for E.F. Hutton
in 1988. Did you know that?

KENNY
Uh, no. No, I didn't. That's great.

JACK
That's the kind of thing you could really build on, you know?

KENNY
Uh-huh. Yeah.

JACK
I mean, sales has always been a feeder for M&A. Always.

They approach "MAG Wheels" where TONNY, a slick sales associate,
stands with a CUSTOMER looking at the displays.

KENNY
Uh-huh. Well, look, here we are. The mag wheels. Mag wheels.

JACK
Oh. So.

KENNY
Hey, Jack, um, are you sure you're okay?

JACK
Well, I'm just started here last Tuesday, so--

INT.CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jack is in bed watching CNBC...On the TV a young woman REPORTER
at the anchor's desk.

REPORTER
The closing tip was a mildly bullish plus-76. Much of the
market's action today was fueled by the latest round of
merger mania.

INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jack is in bed watching CNBC...On the TV a young woman REPORTER
at the anchor's desk...

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
The closing tick was a mildly bullish plus seventy six. Much
of the market's action today was fueled by the latest round
of merger mania to hit Wall Street...

The Global Health Systems and MedTech logos appear on a graphic in
the corner of the screen...

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
When Global Health Systems and MedTech Pharmaceutical
announced their intentions to join forces in a massive one
hundred and twenty two billion dollar stock swap deal, the
largest ever in the health care industry. When asked about
possible anti-competitive implications, Global Chairman Bob
Thomas referred reporters...to P.K. Lassiter and Company
President Alan Mintz, the original architect behind the deal.

Jack stares in shock as the image changes to a super confident
looking Mintz shaking Bob Thomas'hand at the press conference.

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
Ironically, Mintz first met Thomas at a Lamaze class...

JACK
A Lamaze class...!?

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
While coaching their pregnant wives, Mintz and Thomas...

JACK
What?

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
struck up a dialog, and two months later, the deal with
MedTech was born...

JACK
He wasn't the architect! I'm the architect!

CNBC REPORTER (ON T.V.)
In other business news, U.S. Labor Department officials
announced today that two hundred and seventy-five thousand
new jobs were created last month, twenty-five thousand
less than economists were predicting, leading to a mild
rally in the bond markets before midday.

Kate comes into the room from the hallway wearing only Jack's
NYU sweatshirt...

KATE
The kids are asleep...

She goes over to the window and draws the blinds. Jack looks up
at her, nods, then goes back to the TV.

KATE
Jack. I said the kids are asleep...

JACK
Well that's just great...those little monkeys can be
a real handful...

Kate shuts off the TV.

JACK
Hey! I was watching that!

Kate throws a Kate Bush's "The Sensual World" into the CD player.

KATE
Fine, but not tonight...

She climbs onto the bed, a seductive look on her face.

JACK
Wait a second. You want me, don't you?

KATE
That is the general idea, yes...

Kate starts kissing him...but Jack's a little uncomfortable
with the sudden intimacy...he pulls back, a little nervous.

JACK
Shouldn't we grab some dinner first? Maybe a bottle
of wine...?

KATE
By eleven you're gonna be sprawled out on the bed
snoring your head off. We don't have time for wining
and dining.

JACK
Whatever you say...honey.

She starts kissing him again...but this time he just goes with
it, and as her hands run through his hair he's brought back to
a different time and place...

JACK
God...you're beautiful...

She smiles at him, almost uncomfortable with the compliment...

KATE
Thanks, Jack...

JACK
No, I'm serious...you're really stunning...

KATE
This is good stuff, Jack, keep it coming...

JACK
I mean back in college, you were a very pretty girl,
there's no question about that. But this...you've really
grown into a beautiful woman...

Jack stares at her, entranced...Kate pulls back, reacting to the
intensity in his stare...

KATE
How can you do that?

JACK
What?

KATE
Look at me like you haven't seen me every day for the last
twelve years...

Jack freezes. There's love in her eyes but it's not meant for
him...She kisses him...

KATE
Don't move.

She gets up off the bed and heads for the bathroom...

He looks around...not sure what to do...Finally...He turns onto
his side and closes his eyes...

Kate emerges from the bathroom, she sees Jack on the bed, hears
his breathing heavy with sleep...

She pulls the covers up over Jack, shutting off the light...
She puts an arm around him, kissing him sweetly on the neck...

KATE
Good night, honey...

Close in on Jack's face...turned away from Kate...he opens his
eyes...looks down at her arm...loneliness on his face...

KATE (CONT’D)
Good night, honey.

Close in on Jack’s face. turned away from Kate. he opens his eyes.
looks down at her arm...loneliness on his face.