The Family Man Part 3

INT. MACY'S, MEN'S DEPT. - DAY

Kate, pushing Josh in the stroller and holding Annie’s hand, passing
through the Men’s Dept., Jack lagging behind, a bevy of shopping
bags in hand and a beleaguered look on his face.

KATE
(back to Jack)
We’re almost done here.

ANNIE
Mary Janes, Mom. You promised.

KATE
That’s right. Okay, let’s make a quick stop at the kids’
shoe department, pick up my watch from the battery place,
then I’ll run into the linen store.

An unhappy look on Jack’s face.

JACK
Why don’t we just go to all the stores?!

Kate looks back at Jack.

JACK (CONT’D)
Every single store in this godforsaken shopping mall. We
can go to them all.

Kate gives him a look. Then.

KATE
You know what, Jack?! I’ll go with the kids. Why don’t you
just hang out here in the men’s department. okay?

Jack glances at the Men’s Dept, sighs and gives Kate a nod. She takes
off with the kids. and then he sees it.

..the Zegna section. He’s drawn to the neat rows of beautiful suits
like a moth to the light.

He approaches the rack, pulls out a dark green suit, gently touching
the soft wool.

SALESMAN (O.S.)
It’s perfect for your frame.

Jack turns and sees a SALESMAN standing behind him.

SALESMAN
Would you like to try it on?

JACK
I might want to take an inch out of the back.

SALESMAN
okay.

INT. MACY’S MEN’S DEPT. - A LITTLE LATER

Jack, at a mirror wearing the Zegna suit. It is perfect for his
frame. The color is spectacular, the line is dazzling.

Jack looks in the mirror, shutting everything else out. it’s like
he’s seeing his old self.

KATE (O.S.)
You look amazing in that suit.

Jack snaps out of his trance. He sees Kate standing behind him,
Annie and Josh happily playing a few feet away.

KATE
I mean...wow...off the charts great.

JACK
It’s an unbelievable thing. Wearing this suit actually makes
me feel like a better person. (taking one final look) I’m
gonna buy it...

Kate raises an eyebrow, then looks at the price tag.

KATE
$2,400?! Are you out of your mind?

JACK
(pointing to Annie’s new Mary Janes) She got those shoes...

KATE
Those shoes were twenty five dollars. C’mon, take it off.
We’ll go to the food court and get one of those funnel cakes
you like.

Jack looks at her...it’s a moment of decision.

JACK
No.

Kate looks at Jack, a little surprised.

KATE
No?

JACK
Do you have any idea what my life is like?

KATE
Excuse me?

JACK
I wake up in the morning covered in dog saliva...I drop the
kids off, spend eight hours selling tires retail...retail,
Kate.

Kate just stands here, aghast...

JACK (CONT’D)
I pick up the kids, walk the dog, which by the way, carries
the added bonus of carting away hermonstrous crap...I play
with the kids, take out the garbage, get six hours of sleep
if I’m lucky, and then it starts all over again...and why
is it that I always have to drive everyone everywhere? I
spend practically my entire day in that slow as hell mini
-van listening to Raffi tapes and trying to figure out how
the cup holders work...I’m sick of it.

KATE
Really.

JACK
What’s in it for me? Where are my Mary Janes?

Kate stares at him, shaking her head...

KATE
It’s sad to hear your life is such a disappointment to you,
Jack.

JACK
I can’t believe it’s not a disappointment to you!


JACK
(letting it all out)
Jesus, Kate, I could have been a
thousand times the man I became.
I could have been one of the richest
--Forbes-- How could you do this
to me ? How could you let me give
up on my dreams like this ?! Really,
I want to know.

Kate stares at him in disbelief. Then...

KATE
Who are you ?

Kate's words pierce Jack...he has to avert his eyes.

JACK
(lowering his voice)
All right, look. I'm sorry. I'm
sorry I was such a saint before
and I'm such a prick now ! But
maybe I'm just not the same guy
that I was when we got married.

KATE
You know what ? Maybe you're not.
Because the Jack Campbell I married
would not need a $2.400 suit to
feel better about his life. But
I'm telling you, if that's what
it's gonna take, then buy it.
Jeaus ! We'll take the money out
of the kids' college fund.

They stare at each other for a moment...a stand-off...

JACK
Forget it.
(taking off the jacket)
We'll get a funnel cake. It'll be
the highlight of my week.

EXT. NEW JERSEY ROAD - NIGHT

The blue mini-van makes its way down this road...

INT. MINI-VAN - NIGHT

There's an icy silence in the car...Jack is behind the wheel, Kate
next to him looking out the window, anger on her face...

CHAPTER NINE - REMINISCING

Jack checks the rear-view mirror, seas Annie and Josh in the back,
both asleep...

JACK
(to KATE)
Listen, I'm really sorry about that
back in the store. I don't want to
fight with you.


Kate just keeps looking out the window.

JACK (CONT'D)
I just sometimes wonder how we ended
up here, you know. I mean, back in
college, did you see us...
(looking around)
...here...?

She turns to him.

KATE
Life has thrown us a few surprises.
I'll give you that.

A glimmer in Jack's eye...

JACK
It really has, hasn't it ? Yeah. So,
if you had to, what would you say
was the biggest surprise ? Just out
of curiosity. I'm just asking.

She glances at the kids sleeping in the back.

KATE
Well, Annie, for one.

JACK
Surprise, we're pregnant.
(a laugh)
Yeah, that must have been. I mean,
that--that was. That was a very
unexpected moment. What are you
gonna do ?

KATE
I think it turned out all right,
don't you ?

JACK
Yeah. I really like Annie.

KATE
Well, good, Jack. Maybe we'll keep
her.

JACK
No, I love her. I love Annie. I
just-- We had a lot of good times,
didn't we ?

KATE
(a nostalgic smile)
Do you remember the place on Charles
Street where we used to go ?

JACK
Charles Street ? In the village ? When
we were living in Greenwich Village.
(off her nod)
Yeah. Yeah, Yeah. Great times. Great
place. Why did we ever leave ?

KATE
You can't really raise a kid in an
apartment in yhe village.

Jack nods, starting to piece it together.

KATE (CONT'D)
Then there was the whole trek out
to the hospital. That didn't help
either.
(looking at him)
You were great. I mean, surviving
the heart attack was one thing.

JACK
You had a heart attack ?

KATE
(a laugh)
Hey, Jack, stop that. Cause I am--
I'm still mad at you.
(a sigh)
Who knows what would have happened
if you hadn't stepped in at the
store ?

JACK
That's why I work for Big Ed.

A look from Kate.

JACK (CONT'D)
(recovering)
That's why I work for Big Ed. Yeah.

Jack looks out at the road a moment, piecing it all together in his
mind.

JACK (CONT'D)
(almost to himself)
So we had a baby, Big Ed had a
heart attack.

JACK (CONT'D)
(almost to himself)
So we had a baby, Big Ed
had a heart attack, we b
ought that house, and
I've been working for him
ever since...Sayonara,
Wall Street.

Kate looks at him a little strangely.

JACK (CONT'D)
(turning to her)
Our life in a nutshell...

KATE
If you want to look at it
that way...

JACK
How would you look at it?

She glances again at the kids in the back seat, then at
Jack.

KATE
A great success story...

A smile from Jack. He admires her outlook even if he
can't bring himself to share it.

DISSOLVE TO:

66 INT. BOWLING ALLEY - EVENING

A crowded suburban New Jersey bowling alley...

Jack stands at a lane holding a bowling ball, the
nickname "The Hammer" emblazoned over his bowling shirt
pocket...He approaches the line and throws the ball
down the lane...

It's ugly...The ball caroms off the hardwood into the
gutter.

JACK
Damn...

ARNIE
(O.S., from behind)
Jesus, Jack, this is a
league match, for god's
sake!

Jack turns. Arnie and the BOWLING TEAM are in the
scorekeeping area watching Jack make a mockery of the
sport. Jack scowls.

ARNIE (CONT'D)
Where's your follow
through? Where's your
stance?

JACK
Hey, I'm doing the best I
can...
(under his breath)
I'd like to see you hit a
squash ball after
seventeen beers...

ARNIE
You're right. Why am I
so competitive!?
Compensation, I guess.
Look, just focus, Jack.
You can still pick up the
spare...

Jack retrieves his ball, sets up, genuinely
concentrating...

JACK
(quietly, to
himself)
You are Jack Campbell.
You're better than this
sport. You shot the
rapids at Kenai. You ran
with the bulls at
Pamplona. You jumped out
of a plane over the
Mojave Desert, for
Christ's sake. You can
do this...

Jack puts everything he has into the throw, heaving the
ball down the lane with as much grace and power as he
can muster...hitting the six pin and taking out four
others.

JACK (CONT'D)
(screaming, excited)
Yeah!!

He turns, a fist pumped...But the guys could care
less...

ARNIE
(to TEAMMATE)
Okay, Pete, you're up.

67 INT. BOWLING ALLEY - LATE

Jack walks out of the men's room, heading toward the
lounge. He sees a familiar face walking toward him...a
woman in a sexy little bowling outfit, carrying a
bowling ball to a far lane.

EVELYN
Hi Jack...

A moment of confusion as he tries to place the face.
Then...

JACK
Evelyn, right?

EVELYN
Very funny. I saw you
out there on lane five.
What do you have the flu
or something?

JACK
Something like that.

EVELYN
(with a wink)
Need a nurse?

JACK
You're a nurse?

Evelyn laughs.

EVELYN
If that's what you
want...

She brushes past Jack, continuing to her lane...Jack
follows her with his eyes a moment, then...

JACK
Wait a second...

She turns.

JACK (CONT'D)
Are we...?

EVELYN
Are we what, Jack?

JACK
Is there something going
on between us?

Evelyn's surprised at Jack's directness. She stands
there a beat, then walks back toward him.

EVELYN
Are we finally being
honest?

JACK
It would help me if we
were.

EVELYN
Okay, you're right, we've
been dancing around this
for years...

Evelyn looks a little flush...she briefly fans her
face.

EVELYN (CONT'D)
God, my heart is racing.
Here goes...
(a smile)
When I get dressed for a
party and I know you're
going to be there...
well, let's just say I
don't go strapless
because my husband likes
it...

An intrigued smile from Jack.

EVELYN (CONT'D)
I've got six sets of snow
tires piled up in my
garage and I won't even
drive in the snow...And
our kids just happen to
be in the same ballet
class every year?
So, if you're asking me
whether I'd like it to be
more, the answer is
yes...

A look of surprise from Jack.

Jack starts laughing...

JACK
Thank you.

KATE
It's good, right ?

JACK AND KATE
Mm-hmm.

KATE
Oh, God !
He takes a big clump of it and smooshes it in her
They stay there a moment, lying on the stairs, feeding
each other cake, laughing.
Jack leans back on the stairs. He looks at Kate’s
face, practically covered in cake, smiling, and
realizes......he hasn’t
laughed like this in thirteen years.

JACK
Are the kids asleep ?

A sexy smile from Kate...they start kissing
passionately right there on the steps...it’s heating
up...

JACK AND KATE
Mm-hmm.

[ Chuckling ]

JACK
Mm.Mmm.Mmm.

[ Whispering ]
KATE
Say it to me, Jack.

Kate pulls away.

JACK
What ?

KATE
You know what I like to hear.

JACK
I know, baby.I know what you like to hear.

KATE
Tell me. Tell me, tell me.

JACK
You're a bad girl, baby.You make me so hot.

KATE
What ?

Jack looks up at her, he can practically see the
passion drain from her face...

JACK
Not it ?

KATE
Nice, Jack.

JACK
What ?

KATE
Sweeping me off my feet.

JACK
You make me hot.

She gets up and heads up the steps, disappearing into
the bedroom...Jack shakes his head, frustrated. Then,
he feels something licking at his hand...

He looks down and sees Lucy standing next to him,
wagging her tail, looking up at Jack with an “I’ve
gotta go” look on her face. Jack heaves a sigh,
then...

He leads the dog toward the front door...


[ Arnie On Video ]
JACK was whaching old video.The video is KATE's
birthday.
CAMELAMAN
What do you say, everyone ?
This is a little birthday party for Katie.
Happy birthday, Katie.
Good to see you kids still together.
Hello, kids.Happy birthday. Very exciting.
Evelyn, you look tremendous.

EVELYN
Thank you.

CAMELAMAN
Look what happens when I do that.
Jack ? The man. Yes. Yes.

JACK
Do you have anything to say to your
lovely wife on the day of her birth ?

JACK
You happy she was born ? Hey, hey !
Today's your birthday ?

KATE
That's funny, Jack.

JACK
You know what ?
Wow, your birthday.
It's--You're my wife.
You are my wife.
Today is your birthday.

[ Kate Laughing ]

JACK
Well, actually, I do have one
thing that I want to say to you.

KATE
And God, I hope you like it.

JACK
Bill ?

KATE
Oh, no.

[ Arnie ]
JACK
Yes. You hit it, Bill.
You wore that shirt last year, by the way. Just so you know.

JACK is singing a song to KATE for her birthday.
JACK
Many guys have come to you
With a line that wasn't true - Oh !
And you passed them by
Passed them by
Now you're in the centering and their lines don't mean a thing
Why don't you|let me try
Let me try
Now, I don't wear a diamond ring
I don't even have a song to sing
All I know is la-la-la-lala-la-la-la-la
Means I love you
La-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la
Means I love you

[ Piano Continues ]


WOMAN
Sweet.

JACK
"The things I am sayingare true-ooh-ooh And the way I
explain it to you"

Man
Get down, Jack.

JACK
"Yes, to you Listen to me La-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la means
I love you Ohh La-la-la-la la-la-la-la-la Means I love
you" Happy birthday, sweetheart.

Kate leans over, giving Jack a deep kiss. OOHS and AHHS from thecrowd
but Jack and Kate are in their own little world...

ANRIE
Yeah. Yeah, Jack! There's love in the air.He loves her. It's
official. There's love.


Jack continues to watch himself on the video, his smile fading,
becoming a look of realization...then loss...A tear at the corner of
his eye...The SOUND fades in Jack’s head as the action in the video continues...He’s left standing there...silent, still...

INT. CAMPBELL MASTER BEDROOM

Lucy licking Jack's face. Jack pushes the dog away..as..The ALARM
RINGS. Kate pushes the button to stop it.

KATE
Mmm. Come on, it's time to get up, honey...

Jack obliges without question, getting out of bed, putting on a robe
and slippers and exiting, still practically half-asleep.

INT. KITCHEN

Jack walks into the kitchen. He turns on the Mr. Coffee, gets a
bottle from the fridge, throws it in the microwave, removes it, and
heads upstairs.

INT. JOSH'S ROOM

...into Josh's room. Josh is wide awake, standing up in his crib,
like a prisoner in a cell.Jack gives him the bottle, pats his head
perfunctorily, and then walks out of the room...

INT. BEDROOM

...and back into the bedroom to find Kate, sitting on the bed, a
wrapped present in front of her and a wide smile on her face. Jack
stops, raising an eyebrow at the gift. He looks behind, as if to
ask whether it’s for him, then back to Kate.

KATE
Happy Anniversary, honey. Now, listen, before you do whatever
crazy stunt you've got planned,I want you|to open mine first.

JACK
Maybe I should wait.

KATE
No! Come on! Come on, come on, come on. Open it.

He hesitates, then begins unwrapping the package.

JACK
Zeena?

A suit, similar in color and style to the Zegna suit.

KATE
I found it at an outlet store. Look,I know it's a knock off,
but I think it's gonna look great on you...

Jack is overcome with emotion. Yes, it's a ZEENA, but this is
probably the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for him...

JACK
You...

KATE
Ah, enjoy it, sweetheart.

Jack looks at Kate’s expectant face, suddenly remembering how truly
screwed he is.

JACK
Yeah, uh..You’re probably expecting something from me...

He’s sweating bullets...watching as Kate gets a quizzical look on
her face.

JACK
Um, here’s the thing. I hadn't really planned on giving you
your anniversary gift until tonight. You know, anniversary's
good all day...

KATE
What are you talking about? You can never wait all day.
You can't even wait till it's light out.

JACK
I know. I know. That's me. It's true. And--But, um, it's
funny.

Beat. Kate looks at him like she's looking into his soul.

KATE
You forgot. You actually forgot our anniversary.

JACK
I'll fix it. I'll go out right now and get you something.
I'll make it right.


INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE KITCHEN

Jack is mixing a glass of chocolate milk. Annie, arms folded, is
waiting expectantly. He finishes, sliding the glass to her.

JACK
Let me know if there's enough chocolate in there, sweetheart.

She takes a long sip, puts the glass down, a chocolate milk mustache
on her lip.

ANNIE
Mm, not bad.

JACK
Good.

ANNIE
I should have warned you. Dad always does something really special for the
anniversary.

JACK
Like what ?

ANNIE
One year he had a star named after her.

JACK
He had a star|named after her ? Well, that's nice, but isn't that a little...
corny ?

ANNIE
Mom liked it.

JACK
Maybe there's a jewelry store|at the mall. I can pick her up a pair of
earrings or something.

ANNIE
That's good, but... you did forget the anniversary.

JACK
That's right. That is a major oversight. Okay, okay. So, if I'm Kate,
I can't afford the finer things. My husband's career is definitely a
crushing disappointment to me. I'm trapped in suburbia.
Did he ever take her to the city ?

ANNIE
Now you're getting the hang of it.

INT. THE RESTAURANT

A man play the piano.

KATE(whispering)
Jack, can we afford this place ?

JACK
I'm taking my baby out|for our anniversary.|Damn the costs.

A garcom come to table and call for orders.

JACK
We'll have the Terrine of Quail Breast with Shiitake Mushrooms to start.
Then the Veal Medallions in Raspberry Truffle Sauce. And the Sea Scallops|with
Pureed Artichoke Hearts.

A GARCON
Very good, sir. And may I say, those are all excellent selections.

JACK
You may. Also, we'll have a bottle of Lafite, '82.

KATE
Honey, that's an $800 bottle of wine.

JACK
We'll just have some red wine by the glass.

KATE
You are so not off the hook yet, Slick.

JACK
But I'm getting close, right ? You wanna dance ?

KATE
I-I don't think there's dancing here, Jack.

JACK
Sure, there is. Come on.

Jack and Kate dance.

KATE
Not bad for a tire salesman from New Jersey.

JACK
I have my moments.

KATE
You gotta try one of these.

JACK
Ahh. God, I miss that taste. I need to tell you something.

KATE
Okay.

Kate Sighs.

JACK
I think it may help us, but there's a slight chance it could make things worse.
I'm living someone else's-- I feel like I'm living someone else's life.
I remember I used to walk to work, and, uh, I had a warm bialy in my hand,
and a hot cup of coffee from Dean & Deluca, the crisp feeling of The Wall Street
Journal, the smell of leather from my briefcase. I used to be so sure about
everything, confident.

JACK
You know, I-I knew exactly who I was... and what I wanted. And then
one morning, I woke up... and suddenly it was all different.

KATE
Worse, do you mean ?

JACK
No. Well, maybe a few things, but mostly just different. And it's okay.
But I never used to be like this, Kate. I was the guy who had it all
figured out. I had no doubts. I had no regrets.

KATE
And now ?

JACK
Now I don't. I don't have it all figured out.

KATE
Me neither.

JACK
But you always seem so certain.

KATE
Do you think there aren't mornings when I wake up... and wonder, "What
the hell am I doing in New Jersey ?"

JACK
Yeah.

KATE
Yeah.

JACK
Yeah. My office is a dump. I answer my own phone, and you seen my
paycheck.

JACK
Your paycheck is a disgrace to paychecks.

KATE
Can you imagine a life... where everything was just easy ? You know,
where you ask for things, and people just bring them to you ?

JACK
It's wonderful.

KATE
I think about it too. I do. I wonder about what kind of life I would
have had if I hadn't married you.

JACK
And ?

KATE
Then I realize I've just erased all the things in my life that I'm
sure about. You and the kids.

JACK
Good things.

KATE
Yeah. What are you sure about ?

JACK
I'm sure that right now, there's nowhere else I'd rather be|than here
with you.

INT. HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY
Jack and Kate finish the dinner and come in the room with holding Kate in his
arms. Kate is pleased at the room.

KATE
Oh. Oh, Jack.

JACK
You like it ?

KATE
Ohh.

Kate looks out of the window. She looks at the arch and gasps.

KATE
This is beautiful.

Jack suddenly pulls out a cork. Kate is surprised and laugh.

KATE
You know champagne makes me do crazy things.

JACK
I'll just fill yours up to the top.

Kate sighs.

KATE
I don't know how you did it, Hoss, but you pulled it off.

JACK
I'm out of the doghouse ?

KATE
Way out.

JACK
Happy anniversary, sweetheart.

KATE
You may even get lucky tonight, Jack.

Jack looks deep into Kate's eyes and stroking Kate's hair.

JACK
You're so beautiful.

KATE
I already told you you were gonna get lucky.

Kate and Jack kiss again. Then Jack pulls back.

JACK
My God. All this time, I never stopped loving you.

Kate whispering,

KATE
That's all I wanted to hear.

Kate kisses Jack, more and more passionate.

INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, MORNING
Annie practicing her violin. Jack lowers the paper and watches Annie.
Annie strolls through the room playing her violin "Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star" badly. But Jack is humming.

INT. JACK'S CLOSET.
Jack still singing. And Jack speaks to his children.

JACK
I'm gonna wear the usual today. What are you thinking ? You
want to come to work with Dad, help me sell tires ? It's fun.
I'm pretty good at it. Who's this ? Who's that ? Who is that?
Who's on that tie ?

Annie
That's Grandpa.

JOSH
Coos.

JACK
Yes.

EXT. CAMPBELL HOUSE
Jack emerges in his work clothes, putting his coat on. Kate appears
at the door. And Kate and Jack kiss passionately. Kate smiling,
KATE
Jack !

JACK
Mmm.

KATE
Have a great day.

Jack chuckling.

EXT. BIG ED'S AFTERNOON
Pointing to a stack of radials, Jack is standing with a MAN (40s)
wearing a pale blue leisure suit.

JACK
For the money, this is hands down the best radial we carry.

The man thinking. Then,

MAN
Okay. I guess I'll take 'em.

JACK
You won't regret it.

And Jack shouting to Tommy.

JACK
Tommy. Would you set Mr. Collin up with four B.F. Goodrich
G-Force T.A.'s ?

Jack looking the man over.

JACK
Give him ten percent off for having the best costume.

MAN
Thank you.

JACK
You bet. Right this way, sir. Follow me.

MAN
Tell me, does the tire smell good ?

Jack turns toward the door. And Jack tells Woman on P.A.

JACK
Remember our Valentine's Day special:
balance and alignment for free !