Scenes From A Screenplay

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The Scene>>

Its finally time for an age-wise Bill Parrish to leave behind his remarkably loving
life and go with a human experience-altering Joe Black (Death) at the end of the film.
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   On a distant fringe of the party, a grass terrace that still
   commands a view of the dance floor, is Joe. His eyes are on
   Parrish and Susan, he watches them admiringly yet ruefully.
   A Waiter passes, catches sight of Joe, stops.

    WAITER
      Can I get you anything, sir?

   Joe regards the Waiter for a moment.

          JOE
      Do you have any peanut butter?

   The Waiter hesitates.

   WAITER
      I don't think so, sir.

          JOE
      Thank you, anyway.

   The Waiter moves off. Joe's attention returns to Parrish and
   Susan, the dance number ends, a BOOM.

   ANOTHER ANGLE

   On the dance floor.

          PARRISH
      What was that?

          SUSAN
      The fireworks are about to start.

   Parrish looks up, sees Joe up on the terrace, waiting.

          SUSAN (cont'd)
         (to Parrish)
      Shall we?

          PARRISH
      You go ahead, honey, I'm going to
      catch my breath.

   Suddenly he hugs her, holds her very close. She looks at
   him, he smiles, nods, but doesn't release her until she
   smiles back. Now she heads out with the crowd for the
   fireworks. When Parrish senses she is on her way, he turns
   and heads up towards Joe.

   Joe rises to meet Parrish as he approaches.

          JOE
      Happy Birthday, Bill.

          PARRISH
      Thank you.

   They watch the guests gathering to view the fireworks.
   Joe's gaze lingers.

          PARRISH (cont'd)
      Did you say goodbye?

          JOE
      Not exactly.

          PARRISH
      I guess you have your reasons.

          JOE
      Yes.

   Silence.

          PARRISH
      Now that we have a moment, would you
      mind if I expressed my gratitude for
      what you did for Susan?

   Joe waits.

          PARRISH (cont'd)
      I never heard her speak of any man
      as she spoke of you -- It was always
      what I wanted for her -- but what
      happens to her now?

          JOE
      I wouldn't worry about it, Bill.
      These things have a way of working
      out.

   Joe regards Parrish, waits until he has a sense that Parrish
   has accepted what Joe has said, then Joe continues:

          JOE (cont'd)
      And would you mind if I expressed my
      gratitude...?

   Parrish waits.

          JOE (cont'd)
      For you. For the time you've given
      me. For the person you are.

   A moment.

          PARRISH
      Don't blow smoke up my ass, you'll
      ruin my autopsy.

   Joe barely manages a smile, now looks back longingly at the
   crowd below, searching.

          PARRISH (cont'd)
      It's hard to let go, isn't it?

          JOE
      Yes.

          PARRISH
      That's life. What can I tell you?

   A silence, an understanding there is nothing more to say.
   Joe looks inquiringly at Parrish as if to say "Shall we?",
   Parrish nods and Joe turns with him. They set off now away
   from the party, up a meadow that leads to a hill overlooking
   the river.

   ANOTHER ANGLE

   Down below, the party guests' faces are lit by the initial
   fireworks display. Among them is Susan, but her interest
   isn't there. Not something pulls her attention, an over-
   powering feeling that compels her to turn and see, at a
   distance, Parrish and Joe walking away up the meadow. Some-
   thing about the sight saddens and at the same time frightens
   her, she turns back to the party, dazed, tracing on the
   fireworks.

   ANOTHER ANGLE

   Up the hill Parrish's step slows, Joe slowing with him.

          PARRISH
      I'm getting a little dizzy, I can
      feel my heart pumping --

   But Parrish doesn't wait for a response, just continues on
   up the meadow, towards the rise of the hill, Joe in step
   with him.

          PARRISH (cont'd)
      Should I be afraid?

   Joe stops, Parrish stops with him.

          JOE
      Not a man like you.

   Parrish smiles faintly, takes a deep breath, he strides
   out again, Joe right with him. In tandem they continue
   on and disappear over the crest of the hill. A barrage
   of fireworks lights up the sky.

	Author	Topic: Scenes From A Screenplay (Read 708 times)
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