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Family Man, The (2000)

by David Diamond and David Weissman.

More info about this movie on IMDb.com


FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY


CHAPTER ONE - EARLY HISTORY

1   INT. KENNEDY AIRPORT, PAN AM TERMINAL - NIGHT

SUPER:  AUTUMN, 1987

A line of PASSENGERS about to board a Pan Am flight to
London.

JACK CAMPBELL, 22, head full of long unkempt hair, Tom
Selleck mustache,  the hopeful look of youth in his
eyes... sitting next to...

KATE REYNOLDS, 21, pretty, Dorothy Hamill haircut...
rubbing the tears from  her swollen red eyes...

		KATE
	I got you a few necessities...

Kate hands Jack a new copy of Vonnegut’s “Cat’s
Cradle.”

		KATE  (CONT’D)
	Your copy was a mess...

Jack accepts the book but he’s unable to take his eyes
off Kate.  She hands him a cassette.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Every one of these songs will
	remind you of me in a slightly
	different way...

		JACK
	All in one tape?

		KATE
	I also put side two of London
	Calling on there...

Kate leans over and kisses him passionately on the
lips.

		KATE  (CONT’D)
	That was not officially the
	goodbye kiss. It was just an
	interim kiss...

He looks at her, his eyes welling up. He pulls her
close, kissing her deeply. Then...

		ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
	This will be the final boarding
	call for Pan Am flight 4 to
	London, Heathrow.

Jack takes Kate’s hand, getting up, turning sadly to
the gate.

		KATE
	You have your ticket?

Jack pulls out a BLUE PAN AM TICKET ENVELOPE.  Kate
nods. They embrace and kiss again.  As they separate.

		JACK
	I’m not even gonna say it,
	Kate. Maybe it’ll be like
	I never left...

Jack takes one lastlook at her, then heads for the
gate.

Kate stands there, watching him go.  Then...

...a  moment of intuition. Something isn’t right. She
looks at Jack, about to disappear into the jetway,
trying to decide...

		KATE
	Wait.

Jack turns. Kate approaches him.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I have a bad feeling about
	this.

		JACK
	About the plane? What do you
	think it’s gonna crash? Don’t
	say that...

		KATE
		(shaking her head)
	I know we’ve talked about this a
	thousand times and we both agree
	that going to London is the
	right thing to do. But in my
	heart... this feels wrong.

She looks at the gate...the last few passengers are boarding,
then back into Jack’s eyes.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Don’t  go, Jack...

		JACK
	You mean don’t go at all? 
	What about my internship?

		KATE
	Believe me I know what an
	incredible opportunity this
	is for you...

		JACK
	For us, Kate.

		KATE
	Right, for us. But...I’m
	afraid that if you get on
	that plane...

		JACK
	What?

Kate looks at him, pleading with her eyes, but she can’t
say...

		KATE
		(torn)
	Go. I’m sorry, you should just
	go...

		JACK
		(thinking, then...)
	No, you’re right.  What are we
	doing?

		KATE
	We're being responsible.  Go.
	Get on the plane.

His eyes narrow as he measures her determination...

		KATE (CONT'D)
		(a smile)
	Get the hell outta my sight.
	You bother me.

A laugh from Jack.  Kate gives him a calm smile and a
nod - it's not entirely convincing but it's enough for
Jack.

		JACK
		(resolute)
	Okay, I'm going...

He takes her in his arms one last time and hugs her
tight.  Jack looks toward the gate, the line
disappearing...Kate grasps his shirt tightly.

		KATE
	I can't seem to let go of
	you...

		JACK
	You hear me complaining about
	that?

A sober look in Jack's eyes.

		JACK (CONT'D)
	Look, we're at the airport and
	no one ever thinks clearly at
	the airport so we should just
	trust the decision we already
	made.  You've been accepted to
	one of the best law schools in
	the country, I've got this
	internship at Barclay's Bank.
	We have a great plan, honey...

Kate nods, then, with resolve...

		KATE
	You want to do something
	great, Jack?  Let's flush the
	plan...start our lives right
	now, today...I don't know what
	that life's gonna look like
	but I do know it has both of
	us in it.  And I choose us...

Jack is jolted by her words.

		KATE (CONT'D)
	The plan doesn't make us
	great, Jack.  What we have
	together, that's what makes us
	great.

Her words sink in...A long moment of decision...He
looks toward the gate, only one person left in
line...back to Kate...imploring him with her eyes.

Finally...He kisses her deeply on the lips...

		JACK
	I love you, Kate...

...a smile from Kate...relief...then...

		JACK (CONT'D)
		(taking her face in
		 his hands)
	...and a year in London's not
	gonna change that.  A hundred
	years couldn't change that...

Jack gives her one final kiss then walks pensively to
the gate, handing the attendant his ticket, not able to
look back.

Kate watches him go, tears streaming down her face, as
the gate door closes behind him.  She waits, almost
willing it to open again...waiting...waiting...but it
doesn't...

DISSOLVE TO:

1A   EXT. MANHATTAN - ESTABLISHING - DAY

The skating rink at Central Park...Christmas tree at
Rockefeller Center...the view down Fifth Avenue with
Christmas decorations...Park Avenue.

2   EXT. MANHATTAN - EARLY MORNING

We close in on a spectacular pre-war doorman
building...

3   INT. JACK'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

A huge space with gleaming hardwood floors, ornate
moldings, and a great view of the Hudson and Jersey
behind it...

The place looks like a museum display...everything is
of the highest quality and meticulously maintained.

A wall of photos - Jack and Clinton, Jack with Patrick
Ewing, Jack between Alan Greenspan and Henry Kravis.

And a "Willie Mays" baseball bat encased in glass...

4   INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

...impeccably decorated and obsessively neat.

Close in on the bed where JACK CAMPBELL, now 35, sans
mustache and long hair, opens his eyes.
A FLASH of bright morning light from the window.  Jack
shields his eyes, turning his head toward the bathroom
where he sees...

A WOMAN'S BACK...draped in a towel...an incredible
back, neither flabby nor overly toned, beautifully
curved...Jack focuses on it a moment. As the woman
turns to him...

PAULA.  Beautiful, late 20s, a toothbrush in her
mouth...

		PAULA
		(holding up toothbrush)
   I hope you don't mind.  There
   were like ten new ones in the
   cabinet.

A playful smile from Paula.

		JACK
   It's not what you think.  I
   took Mentadent public...

Paula smiles, moves over to a chair and grabs a little
black dress hanging neatly over it.

		PAULA
   Did you really mean what you
   said about Tuscany?

		JACK
   Of course I did.

		PAULA
   Last night was great...

		JACK
   You are an amazing lover.  You
   should be giving motivational
   seminars.

		PAULA
   Thanks.  You're not bad
   yourself...

Jack grabs his Frank Mueller watch from the night
stand, puts it on his wrist.  He looks at Paula as she
slips the dress on.

		JACK
   I want to see you again.

		PAULA
   I'd like that, too.

	JACK
   Tonight.

She turns to him.

		PAULA
   It's Christmas Eve, Jack.

		JACK
   So we'll get egg nog.

Paula laughs.

		PAULA
		(putting on her shoes)
   I have to go to my parents'
   house out in Jersey.  Would
   you like to come?

		JACK
   Jersey?  You know what the
   traffic's gonna be like?

		PAULA
   I'm taking the train...

Paula approaches Jack, leaning over him, her long hair
dangling on his chest.

		PAULA (CONT'D)
   Don't you have anywhere to go?

		JACK
   I've got plenty of places to
   go.

He stays there, confident, sexy, waiting for an
answer...

		PAULA
		(a sexy laugh, then...)
   Maybe I can try and sneak away
   some time tomorrow morning...
		(kissing him on
		 the lips)
   Okay?

		JACK
		(coy)
   If it's something you feel
   strongly about.

Paula walks to the door, then turns back to Jack.

		PAULA
	It was nice meeting you, Jack...

CHAPTER TWO - MAIN TITLES

4A   INT. JACK’S APARTMENT - MORNING

Jack saunters over to a Yamaha Grand Disclavier in the
living room.  He puts a disk into the piano and...

...the keys come alive with the music of BACH.  Jack
hits a switch and suddenly the entire apartment is
enveloped in music...

4B   INT. JACK’S BUILDING, CORRIDOR - SAME TIME

Paula, waiting for the elevator, hears the MUSIC
emanating from Jack’s apartment...an intrigued glance
back at the apartment door as the elevator arrives...

5   INT. JACK’S BATHROOM - MORNING

Back’s “Passion According to St. Matthew” is blaring
through the speakers, the music is swelling to full
orchestra...

Jack’s at the mirror in this incredibly neat marble-
tiled bathroom, shaving with a silver-plated Hammacher
Schlemmer razor, HUMMING with the orchestra...

6   INT. JACK’S CLOSET - MORNING

...the size of a small house, a long row of Zegna
suits, shoe trees stacked with Italian shoes, tailored
shirts everywhere.

Jack’s still HUMMING to the music as he dresses in
front of a mirror.

7   INT. ELEVATOR - MORNING

Jack, wearing an elegant camel’s hair overcoat and
carrying a leather briefcase, a “Master of the
Universe” smile on his face, now HUMMING the Bach piece
from memory...

The doors open at 6.  Jack self-consciously stops
singing as ELIZABETH PETERSON, 60s, wearing a mink
coat, gets on the elevator carrying a yappy little dog.

		JACK
		(a charming smile)
   Mrs. Peterson.

		MRS. PETERSON
   Hello Jack.  You don’t
   have to stop singing on
   my account...

		JACK
   It’s because I’m shy,
   Betty.  So, when are you
   going to leave that old
   corpse Mr. Peterson and
   run away with me?

		MRS. PETERSON
   You know you could never
   satisfy me the way he
   does...

The doors open to the lobby.  Mrs. Peterson walks out
ahead.

8   INT. JACK’S BUILDING, LOBBY - MORNING

TONY THE DOORMAN holds the door open for Jack and Mrs.
Peterson...

		TONY THE DOORMAN
   Merry Christmas, Mr.
   Campbell.

		JACK
   How’d you do this year,
   Tony?

		TONY THE DOORMAN
   About four grand.  And a
   bottle of twenty five
   year old scotch from Mrs.
   Johnson in 9D.  I’m
   putting it all in
   commercial paper like you
   said.

		JACK
   Just until the Deutsche
   Mark turns...

Jack exits the building...

9   OMITTED

9A   EXT. CENTRAL PARK - MORNING

Jack’s Ferrari racing through the park...

10   EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - MORNING

A modern Wall Street building.  The sign above the
glass doors reads, “P.K. Lassiter and Associates,
Investment House.”

The Ferrari SCREECHES to a halt.  Jack gets out, heads
into the building...

10A  INT. LASSITER BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

...Jack throws his keys to a nearby SECURITY GUARD with a
smile on his way to the elevators...

CHAPTER THREE - JACK THE BUSINESSMAN

DISSOLVE TO:

11   INT. LASSITER BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

The Manhattan skyline shines through the windows of
this beautiful conference room.

SIX EXECUTIVES are seated at a huge oak table littered
with coffee cups and lunch waste.  At the end of the
table, ALAN MINTZ, 30s, balding, sits with a faraway
look in his eyes, three empty Diet Coke cans in front
of him.

Mintz is poking at a shiny gold cherub dangling from a
small, plastic Christmas tree, sitting in the middle of
the table.

Jack is addressing the group from the front of the
room, standing in front of a computer with a huge flat
screen monitor, covered with stock charts and tables...

		JACK
   ...if MedTech's shares sink
   any lower than...
		(casually executing
		 a keystroke)
   ...forty three, we're in
   trouble with the stock
   valuation.  So for god's sake
   watch what you say to your
   institutional customers...

Jack notices Alan Mintz playing with the cherub.

		JACK (CONT'D)
   ...we still have almost a full
   day of trading before zero
   hour and I don't want any
   trouble...
		(distracted by Mintz)
   ...penny for your thoughts,
   Alan...

Alan looks up.

		ALAN
   Sorry, Jack.  I told Dee and
   the kids I'd be home by
   dinner.  You know, it being
   Christmas Eve and all.

		JACK
   Is that tonight?

A LAUGH from the group.  Jack approaches Alan.

		JACK (CONT'D)
   You think I like being here on
   Christmas Eve, Alan?

		ALAN
   I don't know.  Maybe...

Another LAUGH.  Even Jack lets out a good-natured
chuckle.

		JACK
   Okay, maybe I do have a touch
   of tunnel vision this holiday
   season.  But in two days we're
   going to announce one of the
   largest mergers in U.S.
   corporate history.  Thirty
   billion dollars...
		(basking in the glory)
   When this kind of deal turns
   up you get on and you ride it
   `till it's over.  You don't
   ask it for a vacation...

A chuckle from the group...the esprit de corps seems to
energize Jack.

		JACK (CONT'D)
		(to the group)
   December 26th.  After that
   there'll be so much money
   floating around here it'll be
   like Christmas every day...
		(smiling)
   December 26th, people.  If
   you'd like to celebrate that
   day, you all have my
   blessing...

Enthusiastic nods and words of agreement from the suits
around the table...

		ALAN
   You're right, Jack.  Sorry...
   Jack approaches Alan.

		JACK
   I don't want you to be sorry,
   Alan, I want you to be
   excited.  I want my gift to be
   the first one you open this
   year.  You know why?

		ALAN
   Why Jack?

		JACK
   Because my gift comes with ten
   zeroes at the end...

A MURMUR of excitement in the room, even Alan cracks a
smile.  Jack puts a hand on Alan's shoulder.

		JACK (CONT'D)
   Good man...

12   INT. LASSITER BUILDING CORRIDOR - NIGHT

The conference room door opens and the SIX ENERGIZED
SUITS emerge, each met by an ASSISTANT handing them
messages.

Jack is the last one out.  He's met in stride by
ADELLE, 50s, carrying a Filofax and a pile of phone
messages.

		ADELLE
   Only eight thirty?  What's the
   matter, had some last minute
   shopping to do?

Jack pops a peppermint Lifesaver in his mouth as Adelle
hands him his messages.

		JACK
   You too?  This holiday's about
   giving, Adelle.  And I'm
   giving everything I've got to
   this deal, so in a way, I'm
   more Christmassy than
   anyone...
		(holding out the candy)
   Lifesaver?

		ADELLE
		(ignoring the candy)
   You're a ray of sunshine,
   Jack.

They approach an office, the words, "Jack Campbell -
President" stenciled on the glass...

13   INT. JACK'S OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

...continuing past Adelle's desk, Jack looking at his
messages, and into Jack's office...

14   INT. JACK'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

A cavernous office, you could land a helicopter in it -
high tech fixtures, full bar, leather sofa, $3,000
Stairmaster...

Jack walks to an enormous, bare mahogany desk, and sits
down in a high tech ergonomic leather chair.

		ADELLE
   Oh, and Oxxford called...

		JACK
   Ooh, my suits are ready...

He gets to the last message, sees the name on it, and
reels back.

		JACK (CONT'D)
   Kate Reynolds...

		ADELLE
   Her assistant said you could
   call her at home after eight.

Jack stares at the message like he's looking at a
ghost.

		JACK
   Her assistant?

		ADELLE
   Yeah Jack, her assistant...

		JACK
		(lost in the message)
   Kate Reynolds was my
   girlfriend in college.  I
   almost married her...

		ADELLE
		(a hearty LAUGH)
   You?  Married?

		JACK
		(snapping out of it)
   Almost married.  And almost a
   junior broker at E.F.
   Hutton...

		ADELLE
   Excuse me?

		JACK
   She didn't want me to go to
   London.  We're standing at the
   airport saying goodbye and she
   asks me to stay.

		ADELLE
   So you left her?  Just like
   that?

		JACK
   God, no.  I thought about it
   for practically the entire
   flight...

		ADELLE
   Stop Jack, I'm getting all
   weepy.

		JACK
   I took the road less traveled,
   Adelle.

		ADELLE
   And look where it's led you...
		(picking up the phone)
   I'm gonna get her on the
   phone...

Jack pauses, focused on the message, his mind drifting
back...

Adelle begins dialing the number.  Finally, Jack
reaches out and hangs up the phone.

		JACK
   No...

		ADELLE
   No?!  You almost married this
   woman.  Aren't you even
   curious what she wants?

		JACK
   She's probably just having a
   fit of nostalgia.  You know,
   lonely Christmas Eve, call the
   one that got away, that kind
   of thing.

Adelle rolls her eyes at him.

		JACK (CONT'D)
   I'm telling you, it's ancient
   history...

Jack looks up as PETER LASSITER, 60s, founder and
chairman of P.K. Lassiter and Associates, saunters into
the room.

		LASSITER
   Eight forty-five on Christmas
   Eve and Jack Campbell is still
   at his desk.  There's a
   Hallmark moment for you...

Lassiter heads to the bar like he's done it a million
times.

		JACK
   Peter.  I don't see you
   rushing home to trim the tree.

		LASSITER
		(pouring himself
		 a scotch)
   That's because I'm a heartless
   bastard who only cares about
   money.

		JACK
   And God love you for it.

Lassiter drops down in a soft leather chair opposite
Jack.

		LASSITER
		(sipping the scotch)
   I just got a call from Terry
   Haight.  Bob Thomas is
   nervous...

		JACK
   That'll happen when you're
   about to spend thirty billion
   dollars on some aspirin...

		LASSITER
   Someone's gonna have to nurse
   him through this.

		JACK
   Why are you staring at my
   breasts, Peter?

		LASSITER
   I need you, tiger..

		JACK
   Where is he?

		LASSITER
   Aspen.

Jack pauses for a beat.

		JACK
		(to Adelle)
   Call Aunt Irma.  Tell her I
   won't be able to make it
   tomorrow...

Adelle rolls her eyes at him...

		LASSITER
   You're a credit to capitalism,
   Jack.

Jack glances at Adelle, then looks back at Lassiter.

		JACK
   Hey Peter, lemme ask you a
   question.  An old girlfriend
   calls you out of the blue on
   Christmas Eve...

		LASSITER
   You suddenly having trouble
   getting dates?

		JACK
   Not by a long shot.

		LASSITER
   Then leave it in the past.
   Old flames are like old tax
   returns.  You keep `em in the
   file cabinet for three years
   and then you cut `em loose.

Jack shoots Adelle a satisfied smile, crumpling up
Kate's message and tossing a perfect hook into a N.Y.
Knicks hoop.

		JACK
		(to Adelle)
   I'll leave from the office
   tomorrow afternoon.  Call the
   group.  Schedule an emergency
   strategy session for noon.

		ADELLE
   That'll be a nice little
   holiday treat.

15   EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - NIGHT

A single light remains on in the building.

16   INT. JACK'S OFFICE - SAME TIME

Jack is alone in the office working on his computer,
checking spreadsheets on a large flat screen monitor.

Jack leans back in his chair rubbing his eyes.  He
checks his watch.  It's past eleven.  He gets up, goes
to the window, sees the city in all its Christmas
glory, then he see it...

...the message from Kate, crumpled in the
trashcan...then turns back to the window, gazing out at
the night...

17   INT. LASSITER BUILDING - NIGHT

Jack comes out of the elevator, walking past the lobby
desk where FRANK, a security guard, sits watching the
monitors.

		FRANK
   Mr. Campbell.  Why didn't you
   call down, I would've had Joe
   get your ride.

Jack looks outside the front door to the snowy, quiet
street.

		JACK
   I'm thinking I might walk
   tonight, Frank.

		FRANK
   Nice night for it.  I'll have
   Louis send your car home.

A nod from Jack.

		FRANK (CONT'D)
   Merry Christmas to you, sir...

		JACK
   Thanks.  To you too...

Jack puts on a pair of soft leather gloves and heads
out into the crisp night air...

18   EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - CONTINOUS

Jack emerges from the building, walking across the
large plaza, past the fountain...snow begins to fall...

19   EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - A LITTLE LATER

Jack's walking down the nearly empty street, snow
falling down on him, a bounce in his step, looking at
the windows of the closed shops along the way.

He gets to the end of the block spots the Wong
Brothers' 24 Hour Deli across the street...

He heads toward it...

20   INT. WONG BROTHERS' DELI - SECONDS LATER

Jack walks into the brightly lit deli...

SAM WONG, 20s, is with his 80-year-old GRANDFATHER
behind the counter.  There's a NERDY COLLEGE KID at the
salad bar, a drunken DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA at the
liquor display, a WOMAN with a BABY in an aisle and...

...a BLACK MAN, 30s, with a dollar sign and the name
"CASH" tattooed on his arm, stands in front of the
coffee machine...

		CASH
   Oh yeah...yeah, yee-ah!  She's
   a certified winner...paper-
   thin but good as gold...

Jack notices Cash talking to himself, seemingly crazy.

Jack approaches Sam Wong at the counter.

		JACK
   Egg nog?

		SAM WONG
		(pointing)
   Dairy case.  Five dollar.

		CASH
		(in the b.g., to
		 Sam Wong)
   Y'all do the lotto here...?
   `Cause I got me a winner...I
   know, I know, Lotto keeps the
   black man down... but not
   me...

Jack grabs a carton of egg nog, then notices Cash
handing Sam Wong his ticket.  Jack heads back toward
the counter...

		CASH (CONT'D)
   ...06...14...18...48...right
   there.  Four numbers...that's
   two hundred and thirty eight
   dollar...
		(a smile)
   Merry Christmas and shit...

		SAM WONG
		(barely looking
		 at ticket)
   Ticket bad.  You draw in lines
   with pencil.

		CASH
   What're you talkin' about?

		SAM WONG
		(throwing the ticket
		 back)
   You draw lines with pencil!  I
   know about this!

The woman with the baby looks over...the college kid
looks up, nervous...the drunken Santa, bottle of
bourbon in hand, starts to walk by Jack...Jack
instinctively puts an arm out, holding the Santa
back...

		CASH
   What!?  Look at the ticket...!

		SAM WONG
   Get out, I call 911.

The Santa looks at Jack, confused.

		CASH
   You're lookin' at me, you're
   not even lookin' at the
   ticket!

The woman with the baby puts a loaf of bread back on
the shelf, starts nervously inching toward the door.

		SAM WONG
   You leave now.  Take ticket
   somewhere else.
		(calling out)
   Next customer in line...!

		CASH
   You first generation,
   xenophobic, money-theistic,
   hot pastrami sandwich
   making...

		SAM WONG
		(screaming)
   Get out!

Just watching...Cash shoves the ticket in Sam Wong's
face...

		CASH
   LOOK AT THE GODDAMN TICKET!!

A moment of decision for Jack.  Then...

		JACK
		(carefully)
   Let me see that ticket.

Cash turns to Jack.

		CASH
		(menacing)
   Was I talkin' to you?!

Jack looks at the woman, the college kid, the Santa,
then...

		JACK
   Maybe I'll buy it from you.

Now Cash walks over to Jack...

		CASH
   Guy in $2,000 suit gets ass
   kicked tryin' to be a hero.
   Film at eleven...
		(then...turning to
		 the coffee machine)
   What?!  Oh no, not another
   lookie-loo.  You know how big
   a job this is?

The patrons exchange nervous glances...Jack watches,
confused.

		CASH (CONT'D)
   You're double bookin' me!
   You're gonna get double
   billed!  Shit!

Cash throws a bottle of Perrier against the wall, it
SHATTERS.  The woman reels back in terror with the
baby...

		JACK
   Hey, c'mon...

In a flash, Cash whips a .38 from the back of his
pants, aiming it at Jack's face.  The woman SCREAMS,
covers her baby.

		CASH
		(in Jack's face)
   Do you want to die?

Jack stares at Cash, trying his best to keep his
cool...

		CASH (CONT'D)
   DO YOU WANNA DIE?!

		JACK
   No.

		CASH
		(a smile)
   Yes you do...

		JACK
   Look, I'm talking about a
   business deal here.  I buy the
   ticket for two hundred, take
   it to a store where the guy
   behind the counter...
		(glaring at Sam Wong)
   ...doesn't have a death wish
		(back to Cash)
   ...I just made myself a quick
   thirty eight dollars.

Cash gets closer...

		JACK (CONT'D)
   Like I said, it's a business
   deal...

		CASH
   Damn, you are the real
   thing...

Cash narrows his eyes...then, a smile as he puts the
gun back into his pants...

		CASH (CONT'D)
   C'mon, Jack, let's get outta
   here...
		(to Sam Wong)
   You were lookin' at me, papa,
   you shoulda been lookin' at
   the ticket.  That ticket was
   legit, B.  You're fake...

Cash starts out of the deli.  Jack follows...

21   EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - MINUTES LATER

Jack and Cash walking down the street...Jack, holding
his carton of egg nog under his arm, counting out two
hundred dollars...

		JACK
   How'd you know my name was
   Jack?

		CASH
   I call all you white guys
   "Jack."

Jack nods...

		CASH (CONT'D)
   You know you seem pretty
   relaxed for a guy who just had
   a gun pulled on him.

		JACK
   There's no way I was gonna die
   in that deli...
		(off Cash's look)
   Let's just say I've been on a
   lucky streak lately.

		CASH
		(a big LAUGH)
   A lucky streak, huh?

Jack hands him the money.

		CASH (CONT'D)
   Sound pretty sure of yourself,
   don't you?

Jack nods.

		CASH (CONT'D)
   So you're telling me, you've
   got a gun to your head and you
   don't think for one second,
   what if this, what if that,
   maybe I shouldn't do this, I
   shoulda done that.

		JACK
   I don't do that.  That's just
   not for me...

Cash looks at him, then smiles.

		CASH
   Okay, Jack.  Nice doing
   business with you...
   Cash is about to take off...

		JACK
   Hey...

Cash turns around.

		JACK (CONT'D)
   What do you want to carry that
   gun around for, anyway?
   You're just gonna do something
   you'll regret...

		CASH
   You want to talk about
   regrets, you're talking to the
   wrong person.

Jack casually takes the egg nog out of the bag, opens
the carton...

		JACK
   I'm just saying that you seem
   like a smart guy.  At a
   certain point you're gonna do
   something, and then there's no
   turning back...

		CASH
   Yeah, in most cases that'd be
   true.

Jack takes a sip of the egg nog.

		JACK
   I mean there must be programs
   out there, opportunities...

		CASH
		(a deep laugh)
   Wait a minute, wait a
   minute... you're tryin' to
   save me?

A look from Jack...

		CASH (CONT'D)
   Oh man, you're serious...
		(out to the street)
   This man thinks I need to be
   saved!

		JACK
   Everyone needs something.

Cash looks at Jack...

		CASH
   Yeah?  What do you need?

		JACK
   Me?

		CASH
   You just said everyone needs
   something.

		JACK
   I've got everything I need.

		CASH
   Wow.  It must be great being
   you.  You got it all.

Cash looks at Jack.  He smiles and shakes his head.

		JACK
   Look, I'm not saying you'd be
   able to do it without some
   hard work...

		CASH
		(a hearty LAUGH)
   You still think this is about
   me, don't you?

		JACK
   Sure it's about you.  But it's
   about society, too.

		CASH
   Oh man, I'm gonna enjoy this
   one... Just remember, Jack,
   you did this.  You brought
   this on yourself...

And with that, Cash turns and leaves Jack alone on the
street with his egg nog...

22   INT. JACK'S APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT

Jack walks in and throws his keys on a table.  He takes
off his gloves and overcoat, glances at the mail, then
heads into the bedroom.

Through the large windows we see snow falling...

23   INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

Jack, flat on his back in bed, fast asleep...

CHAPTER FOUR - A DIFFERENT LIFE

DISSOLVE TO:

24   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, MASTER BEDROOM - MORNING

Close in on Jack’s face, bathed in morning light...he
opens his eyes...feels something strange...

Jack looks down...there’s a woman’s head resting on his
chest.

A look of confusion crosses his face...trying to
remember... did he meet a woman last night...?

He turns his head to find a large MUTT sitting
faithfully beside the bed, wagging his tail...

...did she have a dog?

He looks down at the woman again, craning his neck to
get a look at her face.  And then he sees her...

...KATE REYNOLDS...

...now 34 and even more beautiful, a look of utter
contentment on her radiant face, sleeping soundly...

His head darts around the room - it’s cramped and lived
in, clothes and toys are strewn about, family photos on
the dresser, Laura Ashley curtains, a tiny poster bed
and a charming little bay window.

He instinctively reaches for his Franck Mueller watch
on the night stand, but it’s not there.  It’s a Timex
Indiglo and it reads, “7:57 A.M...”

Jack looks back at Kate...he rubs his eyes...maybe it’s
a dream...but nothing changes.  Then, Kate stirs...

		KATE
   Mmmm...ten more minutes,
   Jack... it’s Christmas...

Jack jumps as he hears Kate talk for the first time...

Suddenly, the door bursts open...A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL,
ANNIE, in a little nightgown, walks into the room
carrying an 18 MONTH OLD BOY, JOSH, SINGING at the top
of her lungs...

		ANNIE
   Jingle bells, Santa s
   mells, Rudolph laid an
   egg...la la la, la-la la
   la, la la la la la...

Annie places Josh on the bed and then jumps up
herself.  She gestures to the dog, patting the bed.

		ANNIE (CONT’D)
   You too, Luce...

The dog faithfully jumps on the tiny bed, joining
everybody else and leaving very little room.  Annie
starts jumping.

		ANNIE (CONT’D)
   Rise...and...shine...!

		KATE
		(stirring)
   You’re jumping,
   sweetheart...

Jack looks at this activity like a man at his own
funeral.

		ANNIE
   Mom, don’t you think we
   need to open the
   presents?

		KATE
		(groggy)
   Mommy needs five more
   minutes in la la land.
   That could be her
   present...

Josh crawls directly up to Jack’s stomach, climbing
on.

		ANNIE
   C’mon, Dad.  Get up!

She said “Dad.”

That’s it.  Jack moves the baby gingerly over, then
gets out of bed, stumbling over a baseball bat lying
next to it.

He picks up the bat...the same Willie Mays autograph
bat that was encased in glass in his N.Y. apartment.

Frightened, Jack drops the bad, looking down at himself
for the first time...he’s naked...

...a mortified look on his face as he sees the kids on
the bed...

...he quickly grabs a pair of sweat pants and a yellow
cardigan off the chair and throws them on...

Kate, still half asleep, reaches out her hand.

		KATE
   Jack...?

Jack turns by instinct.  Kate grabs him, drawing him
near.  A look of fear on his face as Kate opens her
eyes...

Eye contact...Jack’s certain he’s about to hear her
scream...

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(still groggy)
   Strong coffee, okay?

She lets him go as Jack backs out the door...

25   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE LIVING ROOM - SECONDS LATER

A garishly decorated Christmas tree sits in the middle
of this messy and disorganized living room, a bevy of
gifts underneath and four red stockings over the
fireplace.

Jack darts to the top of the steps...

		KATE (O.S.)
		(calling from
		 the bedroom)
   Use an entire can if you
   have to!

He looks back at the bedroom, then at the
stairs...quickly heading down the CREAKY steps, still
in shock.

He grabs an overcoat from a hook by the front
door...about to step out when he looks down and
realizes...

...he’s barefoot.  He glances at a pair of rubber over-
boots sitting by the door, slips them on, just about to
leave when...

He hears the sound of a KEY TURNING in the door
lock...Jack looks at the door, not quite sure what to
do...

The door opens...into the house, arms laden with
wrapped gifts, walk BIG ED and LORRAINE REYNOLDS (both
60s), Kate’s parents.  Big Ed’s wearing a ten gallon
hat and a suede overcoat.  Lorraine has a cigarette
dangling from her mouth.

		JACK
		(drawing on a
		 memory)
   Ed?  Lorraine?

Big Ed hugs Jack as best he can with an armful of
gifts.

		BIG ED
   Jack you ol’ bird dog.
   Merry Christmas to ya’...

Lorraine plants a big fat kiss on Jack’s cheek.

		LORRAINE
   Talk to him, Jack.
   Please.  One day a year
   away from the Ponderosa.
   I don’t think that’s too
   much to ask.

		BIG ED
   I heard that.  This is
   who I am, woman!
		(a wink to Jack)
   Tell her, Jack!  You’re
   the only one who gets me,
   for god’s sake!

Jack, still holding the door open, plotting his escape.

		LORRAINE
   I need some egg nog...

		BIG ED
   ‘Course you do.  Hell,
   it’s almost 8 a.m.
		(shouting upstairs)
   Where are my two l’il
   pardners?  Annie!  Josh!
   Giddy up, Bid Ed’s here!

		JACK
   Excuse me.

Jack dashes out the door.

		LORRAINE
   Where are you going,
   Jack?
		(to Big Ed)
   Where’s he going?

		BIG ED
   Damned if I know...

They start to remove their coats, when...

The door flies back open...

		JACK
   Where’s my car?!  Where’s
   my Ferrari!?

		BIG ED
   What the hell are you
   talking about?
		(to Lorraine)
   What’s he talking about?

		JACK
   Look, can I just borrow
   your car?!  I promise
   it’ll be returned!

		BIG ED
   The Caddy?  Why don’t you
   take your own damn car!

		LORRAINE
   Oh just let him borrow
   your precious Cadillac,
   for god’s sake.

Jack spots a set of keys hanging on a hook.

		BIG ED
   He’s got a perfectly good
   mini-van sitting out
   there in the driveway!

Jack grabs the keys off the hook...darts back outside...

26   EXT. CAMPBELL HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Jack emerges from this charming, suburban two-story
house, some tasteful Christmas lights decorating a tree
in the center of the snow-covered lawn...

He races to a blue Dodge mini-van sitting in the
driveway, a “My Ferrari Is In The Shop” sticker on the
rear bumper.  He climbs into the mini-van and peels out
of the driveway...

27   INT. MINI-VAN - SECONDS LATER

Jack sees a sign, “George Washington Bridge - 3 miles”...

28   INT. MINI-VAN - MINUTES LATER

Jack driving over the bridge.  A sigh of relief as he
passes under a sign for “Manhattan.”

29   EXT. MANHATTAN STREET - EARLY MORNING

The mini-van pulls up near Jack’s apartment building.
Jack, still wearing pajamas under the coat, leaps out,
running toward the grand entrance where Tony stands
sternly in front.

		JACK
   Tony, thank god...

Jack starts to walk past but Tony blocks the way.

		TONY THE DOORMAN
   Sorry, pal.  Entrance is
   for residents and guests
   only...

		JACK
   What are you talking
   about?  It’s me, Jack
   Campbell.  Penthouse C.
   I put you into commercial
   paper!

		TONY THE DOORMAN
		(not moving)
   Uh-huh...

Just then, Mrs. Peterson walks to the door with
her little DOG.  Tony opens the door for her...

		JACK
   Elizabeth Peterson!

The little dog starts BARKING ferociously at Jack.

		MRS. PETERSON
		(to Tony re:
		 Jack, annoyed)
   Who is this man?

Tony shrugs his shoulders.

		JACK
   You know me, Betty.  You
   do.  Jack Campbell.
   We’re on the co-op board
   together.  We fought side
   by side for garbage
   disposals.  Every morning
   we exchange quasi-sexual
   witty banter.  Think...

She looks at Jack with a raised eyebrow, the dog still
YAPPING.

		TONY THE DOORMAN
		(to Mrs. Peterson)
   Should I call the cops?
   I’m gonna call the
   cops...

Jack pleads to her with his eyes.

		MRS. PETERSON
		(raising a hand
		 to Tony)
   No...

		JACK
		(a sigh of relief)
   Thank you, Betty.  I know
   if I can just sleep this
   off, I’ll be fine...

		MRS. PETERSON
   And sleep you shall.
   Noblesse oblige is not
   dead.  Not yet
   anyway...Come, let’s get
   you some help.  Surely
   there must be a shelter
   somewhere in this city.

		JACK
   A shelter?!  I’m the
   richest guy in the
   building...I’ve got twice
   the square footage you
   have!

Mrs. Peterson shakes her head at him, a look of pity on
her face.

Frustrated, Jack turns and runs back to the mini-van...

CUT TO:

30   EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - MINUTES LATER

Jack pulls up across the street and gets out of the
van.  Running across the empty plaza toward the
building entrance...

31   INT. LASSITER BUILDING, LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

Jack bursts through the door, approaching the lobby
desk where FRANK the security guard sits.

Frank spots Jack and blocks his way.

		FRANK
   Whoa, whoa, whoa...hold
   it right there...

		JACK
   Frank.  Where’s Alan
   Mintz?  Is he here yet?

		FRANK
   Mr. Mintz?
		(a knowing chuckle)
   I don’t think
   so...building’s closed
   pal.  You’ll have to come
   back tomorrow.

		JACK
   Look, I don’t know what’s
   going on here but I am
   Senior Vice President of
   this company.

		FRANK
   I don’t care who you
   are.  It’s Christmas and
   like I told you the
   building is closed.

		JACK
   Maybe you’re not hearing
   me.  I am Jack
   Campbell...
		(approaching the
		 building directory)
   Right here.  Jack
   Campbell, President...

And then he sees it...”ALAN MINTZ - PRESIDENT,” listed
plain as day on the building director...

Jack looks at Frank, then back to the building
directory...

A pitying look from Frank...Jack stands there, in
shock...

CHAPTER FIVE - WHAT’S HAPPENING?

32   EXT. LASSITER BUILDING, PLAZA - MOMENTS LATER

...it’s desolate...

Jack walks through the plaza like a zombie, his face
registering nothing.  He crosses the street, moving
toward the mini-van...oblivious...when...

SCREECH...a Ferrari 456M stops within inches of Jack’s
torso...a VOICE from the car...

		VOICE (O.S.)
   Hey!  Watch where you’re
   walking!

Jack turns...sees the DRIVER low in the seat...can’t
quite make out the face...

		VOICE
   You almost dented my two
   hundred thousand dollar
   car!

Jack...still stunned...looks at the car, very
familiar...the voice of the driver, also familiar...

		VOICE (CONT’D)
   That’s right!  My new
   car’s worth more than
   your shitty house!

A look of realization on Jack’s face...

		VOICE (CONT’D)
   I feel like I really did
   win the lottery!

...it’s Cash, and he’s in Jack’s car...

Jack moves over to the passenger window in shock...a
smile from Cash...

		CASH
   Miss me, Jack?

		JACK
   That’s my car!  You stole
   my car!

		CASH
   It’s a callable asset
   seized in accordance with
   the acquisition by-laws
   of your alt-fate
   contract...

		JACK
   What?!

		CASH
   Basically, it’s my car
   now.  Get in.

Cash reaches over and opens the door.  Jack
hesitates...

		CASH (CONT’D)
   Look, I don’t make the
   rules, Jack.  This is how
   it works.  Get in.

Cash gives him a reassuring look.  Jack gets in...

33   INT. FERRARI - CONTINUOUS

Jack closes the door...Cash joyfully drives off in a
burst of acceleration...Jack practically ends up in the
back seat...

		CASH
   Might wanna fasten your
   seat belt, Jack...

		JACK
		(recovering)
   What the hell is
   happening to me?!

Jack’s freaking out and Cash is enjoying every minute
of it.  Cash hands Jack a paper bag.  Jack starts
breathing into the bag.

		CASH
   This kinda thing makes a
   lotta guys throw up.
   Seen it happen.  So if
   you get the urge, do it
   out the window.
		(with a taunting
		 laugh)
   I don’t want you marring
   this exquisite leather
   interior...

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

		CASH (CONT’D)
   Look, I don’t know what
   you’re getting so worked
   up about, you did
   this...you brought this
   on yourself.

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

		CASH
   No?  C’mon, Jack...I’ve
   got everything I need, I
   don’t have regrets,
   that’s just not for me...
   sound familiar?

		JACK
   You mean because you
   thought I was cocky I’m
   now on a permanent acid
   trip?!!

Cash gets a laugh out of Jack’s overreaction...

		CASH
   Everyone else in that
   store is a statue, they
   see their lives passing
   in front of their eyes,
   but not you.  You’re
   making a business deal...

		JACK
		(enraged)
   Give me my goddamn life
   back!

		CASH
   You?  What about me?  I’m
   working hard for you
   here, Jack.  On Christmas
   too!  Now you did a good
   thing last night,
   intervening that way.  I
   was moved...

		JACK
		(interrupting)
   Please.  Just tell me
   what’s happening to me.
   In plain English.  None
   of that mumbo jumbo...

Cash turns to Jack.

		CASH
   It’s a glimpse, Jacko.

		JACK
   I glimpse?  A glimpse of
   what!?  What glimpse?!
   Glimpse!

		CASH
   Look, eventually,
   everybody gets one...some
   of ‘em take a couple
   seconds...
		(looking at Jack)
   ...some of ‘em take a lot
   longer...

		JACK
   I asked you a direct
   question!  A glimpse of
   what?!

A look from Cash.

		CASH
   Figure it out.  You got
   plenty of time.

		JACK
   How much time?!

		CASH
   As long as it takes to
   figure it out.  Which, in
   your case, could be
   considerable.

		JACK
   Look, I just want my life
   back.  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
   Do I look like I need
   your money.  It doesn’t
   work like that and I
   can’t tell you why.

		JACK
   Why not?

		CASH
   Because you got to figure
   it out for yourself.
		(beat)
   Are you listening to me?

		JACK
   Figure it out?  Figure
   what out?!

Cash just stares at him...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   That’s it?  That’s all I
   get?!  A glare?!

		CASH
   Look Jack, in my
   experience the best way
   people deal with this is
   to just relax and breathe
   through it...let it come
   to you.

Jack faces Cash, simmering...with frustration.

		JACK
   Look, I don’t have time
   for this right now.  I’m
   in the middle of a
   deal...
		CASH
   Oh you’re working on a
   new deal now...did I
   mention that?

		JACK
   You know what?  I’ve had
   it with you.  I’ve had it
   with all of this shit...

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...

		CASH
   Here...

Jack looks inside the bag, pulls out a BARBIE BICYCLE
BELL.  He looks at it curiously.

		JACK
   What’s this, a signal?
   Will you come whenever I
   ring it?

		CASH
   Do I look like I live in
   a bottle?

Cash reaches across Jack and opens the door.

		JACK
		(lost)
   But what do I do?

		CASH
   Look Jack I’m late.  I’d
   love to help you out some
   more but I gotta go
   handle my business...
		(gesturing to
		 the mini-van)
   Happy trails.

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

		JACK
   Hey, you did this to me,
   you can’t just leave me
   like this.

Cash looks at Jack, the desperation on his face.

		CASH
   Fine.  You want to know
   everything, I’ll tell you
   everything.  But not
   here.  Let’s get some
   air...

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

		JACK
		(relieved)
   Thanks, man...

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?

Arnie looks up and sees Jack in the van.

		ARNIE
		(turning to his wife)
   Jeannie!  I found Jack!

36   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 (CONT’D)
   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 (CONT’D)
   I know, I moved the
   Barca-lounger into the
   corner.  It’s throwin’
   everybody off.  What do
   you think?

		JACK
		(with a nod)
   Great room...

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

		ARNIE
   You and me, buddy.  We
   know how to live...

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

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   So Jack, 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 (CONT’D)
   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, aren’t we?

		ARNIE
   Maybe I don’t say it
   enough but you moving in
   next door to me...

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

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   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
		(nodding)
   I read somewhere that the
   suicide rate doubles
   during the holidays...

A raised eyebrow from Jack.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
		(to himself)
   What am I saying?  You
   don’t need to hear
   that...
		(back to Jack)
   All I meant was a lot of
   people have a hard time
   dealing with all the
   forced reverie, that’s
   all.  Is that you?

		JACK
   Is it...?

		ARNIE
   Trouble at work?

		JACK
   I don’t think so.

		ARNIE
   It’s not Kate, is it?

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

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
		(proudly)
   You see, 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
		(a playful smile)
   Just keep saying it,
   Jack, like a mantra.

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

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   C’mon, I better walk ya
   home.  She’s mad enough
   as it is, right...?

37   EXT. ARNIE’S YARD - SECONDS LATER

Arnie walks Jack through his backyard...

		ARNIE
   Look, you fit the profile
   exactly.  Thirties,
   house, kids, financial
   responsibilities.  You
   start thinking...this
   isn’t the life I dreamt
   about.  Where’s the
   romance, where’s the joie
   de vivre?  Suddenly,
   every lingerie ad in the
   Newark Star Ledger
   represents a life you
   can’t have...

		JACK
		(thinking, then...)
   It’s just two kids,
   right?

A chuckle from Arnie.

		ARNIE
   You made a choice, Jack,
   a promise to your wife.
   Maybe sometimes it seems
   like you gave up the
   world, 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 (CONT’D)
   Four bedrooms, two and a
   half baths, and a
   partially finished
   basement...

Jack trips over a wayward BIG WHEEL.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
		(shaking his head)
   Kids...

Arnie leads Jack toward the house.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   Okay look, you probably
   don’t want to hear this
   right now but remember
   what you told me 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.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   Don’t screw up the best
   thing in your life just
   because you’re a little
   unsure about who you
   are.  Okay?

Arnie gives Jack a comforting smie...

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   God, it feels so good to
   finally give something
   back to you...

Arnie turns Jack toward the door and slides it open.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
   I’m gonna hug you now...

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

38   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
		(into phone)
   Hold on a second...

She cups the receiver.  Jack looks at her, she’s
dressed now, nothing fancy but she looks great.

		JACK
   You cut your hair...

A curious look from Kate.

		KATE
   Ten years ago...

Kate just stands there looking at Jack, giving away
nothing.

		KATE (CONT’D)
   Are you okay?

		JACK
   Yeah...fine.

She gives him a resolute nod, then...

		KATE
		(into phone)
   Never mind, he just
   walked in...

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

		KATE (CONT’D)
   Do you have any idea what
   you put us through
   today?!  You walk out of
   here at 7:30 in the
   morning, don’t tell me
   where you’re going, or
   even that you’re going,
   and I don’t see you ‘til
   hours later.  I had state
   troopers looking for
   you!  I called
   hospitals...
		(pointing at
		 the phone)
   ...I was just on the
   phone with the morgue
   for god’s sake!

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

		KATE (CONT’D)
   What kind of man leaves
   his family on Christmas
   morning without a word
   about where he’s going?

Jack’s almost to a breaking point.

		KATE (CONT’D)
   What kind of man does
   that!?

		JACK
		(jumping in)
   I don’t know!  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
   Because that’s where I
   live.

		KATE
   Jack...don’t even
   start...

		JACK
   Look, you don’t
   understand.  I woke up
   here...and this is very
   strange ...this is not my
   house...

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

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(pointing upstairs)
   I’m not “Dad...”.  Kate,
   you’re not my wife...

Kate looks him over, assessing, then...

		KATE
   You know what, Jack?
   It’s not funny this
   time.  I’m really angry.

She stares him down, expecting an answer.  But he has
no answer.

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(loudly)
   Jack!

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.

		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 this...
		(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, Jack.  The
   pancakes, the
   presents...you spent six
   hours putting that bike
   together and you didn’t
   even get to see the look
   on Annie’s 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...I’m sorry.

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

		KATE
   Look, we don’t have time
   for this right now, we’ll
   talk about it later.  Now
   get dressed...
		(pointing to his
		 outfit)
   You’re not wearing that
   to the Thompsons’ party.
   I don’t care how
   hilarious you think it
   is...

		JACK
   Party?  Oh no, I can’t go
   to a party...

		KATE
   You look forward to this
   party all year.  What’s
   with you today?

		JACK
   Trust me on this Kate.  I
   really don’t think going
   to a party is the right
   move for me at the
   present time.

Kate looks at him a moment, then shakes her head.

		KATE
   Fine.  Do whatever you
   want.

She picks up the phone, starts dialing...

		JACK
   What are you doing?

		KATE
   Telling my mother she
   doesn’t have to stay with
   the kids.

		JACK
   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.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Christ...
		(turning around)
   Where the hell is the
   bathroom?

		KATE
   Funny, Jack.  I’m
   laughing on the inside.

39   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...

40   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 just...
		(searching for
		 the words)
   ...this is sub-par...

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...

41   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!
		(turning around,
		 to guests)
   Everybody, Jack and Kate
   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...

41A  INT. THOMPSON HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

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

		EVELYN
		(suggestively)
   Like the dress...?

		JACK
		(glancing at it)
		 It’s lovely...

		EVELYN
		(a satisfied smile)
   I thought I saw you
   notice it at the kids’
   recital.

Jack shoots her a confused look...then walks in, trying
to catch up with Kate...

42   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...

		NICK
   Did you see Van Horn last
   night?  This kid’s gonna
   single-handedly save
   basketball in the state
   of New Jersey...

		JACK
   The Nets?  You’re kidding,
   right...?

Nick looks at him in disbelief.

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(recovering)
   Well...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
   Triple bypass.  I’m going
   under the knife.  I told
   you, didn’t I?

		JACK
   Triple bypass?
		(pointing to his
		 plate)
   You really think you
   should be eating all
   that?

		BILL KRAMER
   Why not?  I figure I’m
   going in for a cleaning
   tomorrow, I might as well
   load up on the fried
   stuff tonight...

		ARNIE
   Good thinking, Bill.
   Have another drink.
		(whispering to Jack)
   He’ll be lucky if he
   lives through the
   night...

Nick reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of
Dutch Masters cigars.  He shows them to Jack, Jack nods
politely.  Nick eagerly hands him one...

Nick lights Jack’s cigar, then his own...enjoying that
first puff...smiling at Jack...Jack dutifully takes a
puff of the cigar...nods back at Nick...but it’s an
effort...

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

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

		JACK
   I don’t think so, thank
   you...

		EVELYN
		(suggestively)
   C’mon, as soon as I put
   them down, you’re gonna
   grab a couple...you
   always do...

Kate sees Evelyn and Jack from her position on the
other side of the room...Kate watches as...

Evelyn holds the puff up to Jack’s mouth, slowly
putting it near his lips...

		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)
   They’re great!  Thank
   you!

...Evelyn licks her fingers suggestively then hands
Jack the entire tray with a sexy smile...

A raised eyebrow from Kate, still watching...

		EVELYN
   Mushroom puffs aren’t the
   only thing I do well...

		JACK
   Well do whatever it is
   you do well, and
   just...just do it.
   Excuse me...

Evelyn nods as Jack walks toward the staircase...

Kate follows Jack with her eyes as he climbs the
stairs...

43   INT. THOMPSON HOUSE, DEN - NIGHT

Jack is sitting on the arm of a couch filled with
guests’ coats, talking on a FOOTBALL SHAPED
telephone...the tray of mushroom puffs on the table...

		JACK
		(loudly, into phone)
   ...what do you mean he
   won’t come to the phone?!
		(standing, indignant)
   Do you realize how much
   money I’ve made for that
   sonuvabitch in the last
   eight years?!

Click.  A dial tone.  Jack slams the phone down...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Damnit!

He slams the phone again...and again...and again...

		KATE (O.S.)
   Jack...?

Jack turns, sees Kate standing in the doorway, watching
him take his frustrations out on the phone, concern on
her face.

		KATE
   Are you sure you’re
   okay...?

A forced smile from Jack.

		JACK
   Yes, I’m fine.  It’s just
   this god awful football
   phone!  Who has a phone
   like this anyway?!

		KATE
		(doubtful)
   Uh huh...

Kate notices the tray of mushroom puffs on the table.

		KATE (CONT’D)
   You must really love
   Evelyn’s mushroom puffs,
   huh?
		(with a wink)
   You know they’re not
   real...

She turns and leaves...Jack looks at her, confused...

44   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
		(to guests)
   ...then she asks me to
   put this sweater on.
   What choice do I have,
   right?

Jack watches as Kate charms the crowd...

		KATE (CONT’D)
   But as I’m slipping it on
   I notice she’s misspelled
   the word “lawyers.”
		(laughing)
   I had to go through the
   entire day wearing a hand
   embroidered sweater that
   said, “Non-Profit Layers
   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.  Nobody
   makes a dime.  Well,
   bravo...

Blank stares from everyone, including Kate...

CUT TO:

45   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)
   Here you go...

		JACK
   You’re kidding me...

		KATE
   She’s your dog, Jack.

		JACK
   No, she’s not.

		KATE
   Fine, she’s the kid’s
   dog.  Let’s go wake Josh,
   see if he wants to walk
   her.

		JACK
   But it’s twenty degrees
   outside...

		KATE
		(sympathetic)
   You’re having a bad day,
   I’ll go with
   you...actually, there’s
   no way in hell you’re
   gettin’ me back out
   there...

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

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(heading up the
		 stairs)
   Make sure you reward her
   verbally when she does a
   number two...

CUT TO:

46   EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE NIGHT

The sound of CRICKETS.

Jack, wearing a down jacket, is being dragged down the
street by Lucy, his breath condensing in the cold
winter air.  The dog sniffs at a hydrant and a couple
of garbage cans, but isn’t doing her business.

		JACK
   Figure it out...I’m s
   crewed...don’t have to
   be a genius to figure
   that out...

The dog stops, sniffing at a manicured lawn...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(to Lucy)
   It’s as good a place as
   any...

But the dog keeps moving, pulling Jack with her.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   ...but obviously not up
   to your high standards...
		(to himself)
   Okay...he said you’re
   working on a new deal
   now...fine, you’ve done a
   thousand deals, what’s
   the first thing you do?

Lucy’s sniffing around someone’s Christmas display but
Jack’s too wrapped up in his thought process to notice.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Triage.  It’s your
   signature.  You survey
   the damage, find out
   everything you can, you
   probe, leave nothing to
   chance.  I’m just gonna
   have to go detective.
   How did you get
   Mentadent?  You learned
   everything there was to
   know about toothpaste and
   then you pounced...

Jack narrows his eyes, thinking about that deal...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   That’s our play here...

Resolute, Jack turns to the dog.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   If you could take a dump
   some time in this
   century, then we could go
   home where it’s warm...

Jack looks around at the unfamiliar houses...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   That is if I can even
   remember how to get
   home...
		(to Lucy)
   You remember, don’t you
   girl?

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

47   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...

CHAPTER SIX - BEING A PARENT

48   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...

49   INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

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

		JACK
   Hello?

No answer...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(louder, over music)
   Hello!

		KATE
		(singing)
   ...my feet are hurtin’...

		JACK
		(yelling)
   HEY!

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 (CONT’D)
   Uh...that baby’s crying...

		KATE
		(unimpressed)
   And...?

...her expression makes Jack turn his gaze from her
naked body.

		KATE (CONT’D)
   Don’t give me that look,
   Jack, Tuesday’s your day
   and you know it.  And try
   to get Josh to day care
   on time, okay?  He missed
   the macaroni painting
   last week...

She closes the curtain and turns the radio back up.

CUT TO:

50   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
   Pull tape...

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 (CONT’D)
   Holy mother of god!

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.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   You must be kidding...

Annie stares at him a beat.  Then...

		ANNIE
   You’re not really our
   dad, are you?

Jack turns to her.  She’s looking back at him with
complete earnestness.  They stare at each other another
moment.  Then...

		JACK
   No, I’m not.

A look of curiosity from Annie.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   I work on Wall Street,
   you know with the big
   buildings...?

No response from Annie...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   I live in an apartment
   house with a doorman, I
   can buy just about
   anything I want...

Annie nods at Jack, still suspicious.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   This isn’t my real life.
   It’s just a glimpse...

		ANNIE
   Where’s my real dad?

		JACK
   I don’t know...

A concerned look on Annie’s face, Jack’s petrified that
she’s about to cry.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   But don’t worry, he loves
   you and I’m sure he’ll be
   back very soon...
		(to himself)
   ...very, very soon...

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
   Uhh...thanks...slightly
   better looking though,
   right?

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

		JACK (CONT’D)
   You’re not going to start
   crying, are you?  Because
   I’m not really sure I
   could 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
   You know how to make
   chocolate milk?

		JACK
   I think I could figure it
   out.

		ANNIE
   You promise not to kidnap
   me and my brother and
   implant stuff in our brains?

		JACK
   Sure.

Beat.  Then...a smile from Annie.

		ANNIE
   Welcome to earth.

51   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.

		ANNIE
   Stop here...

Jack stops the van outside the Playland Day Care
Center.

		ANNIE (CONT’D)
   This is day care.  It’s
   where babies go when
   their parents are at
   work.

		JACK
   Check...

He gets out of the van...

52   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.

53   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 camp until
   four, then ballet until
   five thirty.

		JACK
   Five thirty.  Okay.

		ANNIE
   Try not to be late
   because kids don’t like
   to be the last one picked
   up.

		JACK
   Got it.  Good tip.

		ANNIE
   Bye...

CHAPTER SEVEN - A TIRE SALESMAN

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

		JACK
		(calling out window)
   Hey!  Annie!

Annie turns back toward him.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Where do I go now?

		ANNIE
   Big Ed’s.

		JACK
   Big Ed’s?  Big Ed’s
   Tires?
		(suspicious)
   Why...?

		ANNIE
   That’s where you work.

A beat.  Then...

		JACK
   You mean I sell tires...

She shrugs her shoulders and walks off.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   That’s what I do.  I’m a
   tire salesman...

CUT TO:

54   INT. MINI-VAN - A LITTLE LATER

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 gallon hat, lassoing a tire...

55   EXT. BIG ED’S TIRES - MOMENTS LATER

Jack approaches Big Ed’s from the parking lot...slowly,
taking it all in...

It’s like a Pep Boys with a Texas theme.  A big retail
store for tires and auto parts, and a repair bay for
everything from alignments to brake jobs...

Jack walks to the tire bay where HECTOR, 40s, a
Guatemalan mechanic in grease-stained coveralls, stands
with TOMMY the salesman.

		TOMMY
   Hey Jack, you happen to
   know the stock number on
   those new Michelin X1's?

		JACK
   Uh...lemme get back to
   you on that one...
		(looking at his
		 name tag)
   Tommy...

		HECTOR
		(to Tommy)
   Thomas, why you bother
   Jack about that.  Look it
   up yourself...
		(to Jack)
   Okay Jack, we talk
   later...

Jack nods amiably then continues into the store...

56   INT. BIG ED’S TIRES - CONTINUOUS

Jack walks in...looks around...the store is teeming
with activity, a post-holiday sale in progress...

Big Ed, in his signature ten gallon hat, sees Jack from
behind the counter...

		BIG ED
   Jack my boy!  You are
   looking mighty worse for
   the wear...Hey, guess who
   I played bridge with two
   nights ago...?

Jack stares blankly at Big Ed...

		BIG ED (CONT’D)
   Hell, you’ll never
   guess.  One Sydney
   Potter.  That’s Sydney
   Potter, Chief Executive
   Officer of BuyRite
   Transport.  Only the
   third largest trucking
   company in the state.  I
   even let the sonuvabitch
   win, which wasn’t easy
   because the guy’s been
   bashed in the head by
   Teamsters so many times
   his brain’s like
   porridge.  Anyhoo, he’s
   looking for a new parts
   supplier... we can handle
   that kind of volume,
   right?

Jack considers this briefly.

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

Big Ed makes a gun gesture with his forefinger, winking
at Jack, then turns back to the activity at the counter
as...

Jack spots KENNY, a very young sales associate, walking
by.  He reaches out and taps Kenny on the shoulder.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Do I have a private
   office somewhere in the
   building?

		KENNY
   Uh...sure Jack...
		(nervously pointing)
   Right back there...

		JACK
   Thank you.

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

57   INT. JACK’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

There’s no Stairmaster here, no leather sofa or
bar...it’s small, cramped and cluttered, the walls
littered with tire inventory and price lists...

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 calendar
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...

He sees the bottom line and winces, then puts it
back...

Jack picks up the “Bowlers Do It In An Alley” figurine
and gives it a good look...

		JACK
   Bowlers do it in an
   alley?...Non profit
   lawyers do it for free...
   what is it with these
   people?  Don’t they
   realize this refers to
   sex?

He replaces the figurine then opens the bottom drawer
where he spots a bottle of Glenfiddich.  He lifts it
out...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   At least you splurged on
   some decent scotch...

He takes a paper cup and pours himself a shot.  He
drinks it down in one gulp and then crumples up the
cup, throwing it toward the NET’S basketball
hoop/garbage can near the door.

He misses...

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 (CONT’D)
		(to Jack in
		 the photo)
   What are you smiling
   about...?

He turns his head...spots a small plaque on the wall
behind him.  It reads, “Jack Campbell - E.F. Hutton #1
Junior Sales Associate, 1988.”  Jack raises an
eyebrow...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Number one...not bad.

He grabs it off the wall and looks at it more
carefully...

		JACK (CONT’D)

   1988...?  I was in London
   in 1988...

Jack’s jarred into reality...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(to Jack in the photo)
   You never went to London...
		(picking up the photo)
   ...you never got on that
   plane...

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

The P.A. system comes to life...

		ESTELLE
		(over P.A.)
   Jack to mag
   wheels...Jack, you’re
   needed in mag wheels,
   customer waiting!

CUT TO:

58   INT. BIG ED’S TIRES, MAIN FLOOR - MINUTES LATER

Kenny leading Jack toward the “Mag Wheels” section.

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

		KENNY
   No, I didn’t...that’s
   great.

		JACK
   That’s the kind of thing
   you can really build
   on...

		KENNY
   Uh huh...

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

They approach “Mag Wheels” where TOMMY, a slick sales
associate, stands with a CUSTOMER looking at the
displays...

		KENNY
   Here we are, mag wheels...
		(a little concerned)
   Hey Jack, are you sure
   you’re okay?

		JACK
   Well, I’m just a little
   confused right now about
   why I work here...

Kenny looks at him nervously.

		KENNY
   Uh...I just started here
   last Tuesday.

Jack nods compassionately.  Kenny takes off leaving
Jack alone with his thoughts as Tommy approaches with
the customer.

		TOMMY
		(to the customer)
   So you’re all set on the
   Skip Shift eliminator and
   the Brembo rotors.
   Jack’s our point man on
   alloy wheels...

		JACK
		(turning to Tommy)
   Do you know why do I work
   here...?

		TOMMY
   Because you’re the best
   damn tire guy in the
   state of New Jersey...
		(proudly, to the
		 customer)
   Jack taught me everything
   I know about the
   business...

The customer nods, impressed.

		JACK
   I taught you the business?

Another nod to the customer.

		TOMMY
   And he’s a crack-up.

		JACK
   Everything I taught you.
   I want to hear it all,
   right now.

Tommy’s confused.

		CUSTOMER
   Hey, I’m ready to buy
   here...

		JACK
		(to the customer)
   What do you want?

		CUSTOMER
   I want some alloy wheels.

Jack grabs one of the alloy rims off the shelf, holding
it out to the customer.

		JACK
   Here.  These are great.
   You’ll need four.

The customer takes the wheel from Jack, looks at it
confused...

		CUSTOMER
   But I don’t like these...

		JACK
   Hey, you heard the guy,
   I’m the best damn tire
   guy in the state of New
   Jersey.
		(turning to Tommy)
   Everything.

		TOMMY
   Okay...
		(hesitating)
   Rule number one, the
   customer is always
   right...

A satisfied smirk from the customer.

59   INT. BIG ED’S TIRES, JACK’S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON

Jack is behind his desk, his tie loosened, on the
phone...

		JACK
		(into phone)
   ...I have no idea what
   our inventory level is,
   that’s why I’m asking
   you...

A KNOCK at the door...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Look, just send us what
   you sent us last month,
   okay...?  And keep doing
   that until further
   notice...

He hangs up the phone as the door opens.  Big Ed sticks
his head in...

		BIG ED
   Got a minute, Jack?

		JACK
   I’ve got all the time in
   the world...

Big Ed walks in, followed by SYDNEY POTTER, 60s, a
tough looking man...

		BIG ED
   Jack, meet Sydney Potter,
   BuyRite Transport, one of
   Jersey’s top
   businessmen...

Potter extends a hand, Jack rises from his chair,
trying to place the name.  Then...

		JACK
   ...and a helluva bridge
   player.  Ed’s told me a
   lot about you...

They shake hands.  Potter nods his head at Jack,
immediately impressed.  Big Ed is beaming.

		POTTER
		(in a heavy Jersey
		 accent)
   Lucky in cards, lucky in
   business, lucky in love.
   My cup runneth over...
		(to Big Ed)
   He’s a nice looking
   boy...

		BIG ED
   My daughter’s no slouch
   either...

A smile from Potter, then a serious look.

		POTTER
   Let’s cut to the chase,
   Jack.  Big Ed tells me
   you’re the grease that
   makes the wheels turn
   around here.  I need a
   new parts supplier for my
   fleet.  You seem to have
   the parts.  That we
   know.  What we don’t know
   is why the hell I should
   buy them from you.

Potter stares Jack down.  But Jack’s not about to be
intimidated by him.  He pauses, matching Potter’s
stare.  Then...

		JACK
   I have no idea...

A surprised look from Potter.  An anxious laugh from
Big Ed.

		BIG ED
		(nervous)
   C’mon Jack...

		JACK
		(to Potter)
   I mean it.  From what I
   can tell, we’re a mom and
   pop operation, we’re
   already over-extended in
   sales, and any price
   advantage we could offer
   would easily be matched
   by a larger supplier...

Jack continues to stare down Potter.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   So like I said, I don’t
   have any idea why you
   should buy your parts
   from us...

The staring match continues.  Big Ed’s getting more
nervous.  Potter’s the first to blink.

		POTTER
   Okay, you got my
   attention...

		JACK
   Except for rule number
   one...

Jack smiles.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   The customer is always
   right.  A cliché?  Sure.
   The difference is, we
   mean it.  We’re small, we
   need our customers.  We
   can’t afford to
   disappoint them, ever.
   Yeah, you could go to
   some leviathan supplier,
   probably save a few
   pennies on the price of
   oil filters, but with us
   you get more than a
   supplier, you get a
   bridge partner...

A smile from Potter.  Jack gives Ed a wink.  Ed
watches, thrilled...

		JACK (CONT’D)
   You want to bid hearts,
   we’re right there with
   you.  You feel the need
   to redouble, you’re not
   going to get any argument
   from us...

Potter nods at Jack.  Jack moves in for the kill.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   The big guys may have the
   high cards, but you know
   as well as I do, Sydney,
   high cards don’t always
   take the trick.

Potter pauses a minute, then...

		POTTER
		(to Big Ed,
		 re: Jack)
   I like him...

Big Ed smiles, letting out a relieved sigh.

		BIG ED
		(a wink to Jack)
   That’s my boy...
		(an arm around Potter)
   C’mon, lemme show you the
   rest of the ranch...

Big Ed and Potter exit the office...

		BIG ED (CONT’D)
		(turning back to Jack)
   Nice shootin’, Jack...

...leaving Jack there with a satisfied smile on his
face.

60   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.)
   ...advancers led
   decliners by a nine to
   four ratio and 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 (CONT’D, 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.  Though neither
   side expressed
   significant regulatory
   concerns at the
   announcement press
   conference, it is
   believed that both the
   FDA and the FTC will be
   closely scrutinizing the
   marriage, 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 (CONT’D, 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 T
   homas struck up a
   dialogue about the need
   for consolidation in the
   rapidly growing health
   care industry and two
   months later, the deal
   with MedTech was born...

		JACK
   What?!  That’s my deal?

		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.
   But as the trading
   session drew to a close,
   the profit takers stepped
   in and the long bond
   closed at ninety seven
   even, up only two ticks,
   the yield inching down to
   six point zero seven
   percent...

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 (CONT’D)
   Jack.  I said the kids
   are asleep...

		JACK
		(distracted)
   Well that’s just
   great...those little
   monkeys can be a real
   handful...

Kate shuts off the TV.

		JACK (CONT’D)
   Hey!  I was watching
   that!

		KATE
   I thought we had a deal
   about you watching CNBC
   in bed.

		JACK
   I’m working on a new deal
   now...

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
   It’s ten thirty, Jack.
   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 momentarily pulls back and looks at her...it’s
like the first time he’s really looked at her in eleven
years...


		JACK (CONT’D)
   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...
		(lost in her)
   ...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
		(nervous)
   Do 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 (CONT’D)
   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...

At once charmed and disappointed, Kate sighs.  She
turns off the CD player and heads into bed.

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

		KATE (CONT’D)
   ‘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...

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE MEN’S DEPARTMENT

DISSOLVE TO:

61   EXT. MALL - DAY

It’s mid-January and all signs of the Christmas season are
gone except for the snow on the ground in the busy parking
lot.

62   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?

CUT TO:

63   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 her
	monstrous 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!
		(letting it all out)
	Jesus, Kate, I could’ve
	been a thousand times the
	man I became.  How could
	you do this to me?  How
	could you let me give up
	on my dreams like this?!

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)
	Look, I’m sorry.  I’m
	sorry I was such a saint
	before and I’m such a
	prick now.  Maybe I’m
	just not the same guy I
	was when we got
	married...

		KATE
	Maybe you’re not.  The
	Jack Campbell I married
	wouldn’t need a $2400
	suit to make himself feel
	better about his life,
	but if that’s what it’s
	gonna take, then buy it.
	Just buy the goddamn
	suit ...we can 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...

64   EXT. NEW JERSEY ROAD - NIGHT

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

65   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, sees Annie and Josh
in the back, both asleep...

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

Kate just keeps looking out the window.

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

She turns to him.

		KATE
	I’ll give you this, life
	has thrown us a few
	surprises...

A glimmer in Jack’s eye...

		JACK
	It really has, hasn’t
	it?  So if you had
	to...what would you say
	was the biggest surprise?

She glances at the kids sleeping in the back.

		KATE
	Well...Annie for one.

		JACK
	Surprise.  We’re
	pregnant...
		(a laugh)
	Yeah...that must’ve
	been...I mean that was
	very unexpected.  But
	what are you gonna do,
	right?

		KATE
	I think it worked out
	okay, don’t you?

		JACK
	Sure.  I really like
	Annie.

		KATE
	Good, Jack.  Maybe we’ll
	keep her.

		JACK
	No, I love Annie.  We had
	a lot of good times,
	didn’t we?

		KATE
	We were young...
		(a nostalgic smile)
	Remember that little
	place on Charles Street
	we used to go to?

		JACK
	Charles Street?  In the
	Village?  When we were
	living in Greenwich
	Village...?
		(off her nod)
	Great times.  Why’d we
	ever leave?

		KATE
	You can’t really raise a
	kid in an apartment in
	the Village...

Jack nods, starting to piece it together.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	The trek out to the
	hospital every day didn’t
	help either...
		(looking at him)
	You were great.
	Surviving the heart
	attack was one thing...

		JACK
	You had a heart attack?

		KATE
		(a laugh)
	Jack, stop that. I'm
	still mad at you...
		(a sigh)
	...who knows what
	would’ve 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)
	I mean, that’s why I work
	for Big Ed...

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, 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?

She picks a piece of lint off his shirt.

		EVELYN (CONT’D)
	So, if you’re asking me
	whether I’d like it to be
	more, the answer is
	yes...

A look of surprise from Jack.

		EVELYN (CONT’D)
	...and Kate would never
	have to know.

Jack considers this for a moment.

		JACK
	Do I have your number?

A wide smile from Evelyn.

		EVELYN
	Steve’s out of town with
	the kids this week.  Why
	don’t you just stop by...

She turns, leaving Jack standing there, watching her
sashay back to her lane.

68   INT. BOWLING ALLEY, LOUNGE - SECONDS LATER

Jack walks into the lounge, a little dazed.  He heads
over to Arnie who’s having a beer at the bar.

		ARNIE
		(looking at Jack)
	Hey Jack, you’re all
	flush.  I guess that
	seventy-one took a lot
	outta you.

		JACK
		(sitting down)
	I just saw Evelyn
	Thompson.

		ARNIE
	She is relentless.

		JACK
	She wants to have an
	affair with me.

		ARNIE
	She said that?

		JACK
	Pretty much.

		ARNIE
	Oh yeah...
		(shaking his head)
	What is it about you?

		JACK
		(pushing over a
		 napkin)
	So could you write down
	her exact address?

		ARNIE
	Whoa...whoa...wait a
	second, Jack.  You’re not
	actually gonna cheat on
	Kate?

		JACK
	It wouldn’t really be
	cheating...
		(off Arnie’s
		 doubtful  look)
	It’s complicated.

		ARNIE
	Look, maybe I’m not as
	good a consigliere as you
	are but you have to trust
	me on this one.  A little
	flirtation’s harmless but
	you’re playing with fire
	here.  The Fidelity Bank
	and Trust is a tough
	creditor.  You make a
	deposit somewhere else,
	they close your account
	forever.

		JACK
	I’m telling you, those
	rules don’t apply to me,
	Arn.

		ARNIE
		(a chuckle)
	Screw the rules.  I’m
	talking about the choice.

Jack looks at him curiously.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
	C’mon, Evelyn Thompson’s
	got no class.  She
	doesn’t marry Dr. Steve,
	the woman’s living in a
	trailer.

		JACK
	Hey, is that really
	necessary?

		ARNIE
	All I’m saying it there
	isn’t a guy in Union
	County who wouldn’t give
	his left nut to be
	married to Kate...

Arnie takes one last swig of his beer and gets up...

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
	I’ll see ya later,
	Jack...

He leaves Jack alone, thinking...

CHAPTER TEN - CAKE WARS

69   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE - NIGHT

Jack walks into the house carrying his bowling bag.  He
dumps the bag in the coat closet and walks into the
kitchen where...

Kate is at the counter, her back to him, poring over
some legal documents.

		KATE
		(not looking up)
	How was the game, honey?

		JACK
		(opening the fridge)
	Long, boring, and
	generally pretty sad.
	Arnie seemed to enjoy
	it...
		(peering inside)
	Hey, where’s that chocolate
	cake...?

Kate turns around, revealing a huge hunk of chocolate
cake on a plate in front of her, a bite ready to go
into her mouth.

		KATE
		(with a smile)
	You mean this chocolate
	cake?

		JACK
	That’s my piece.  I was
	saving it because I got
	nauseated from that store
	bought chicken.

Kate takes the bite, a little piece of icing sticks to
the side of her mouth.

		KATE
	It’s good...

Jack approaches the counter.

		JACK
	Gimme that cake.

She takes another bite.

		KATE
	No way.

He makes a grab for the plate but she holds it out
where he can’t reach it.

		JACK
	C’mon.

		KATE
	Sorry, Jack.  It’s too
	important to me.

They stare each other down a moment.  Then...

He tries to swipe the plate.  Kate jumps out of her
chair, running out of the kitchen with the cake,
laughing...

Jack takes off after her...chasing her through the
house... just about the catch up to her when...

She darts up the stairs, still laughing...he follows
her...

		JACK
	I want that cake!

...reaches up...grabs her shirt...pulls her down
playfully on top of him...

		KATE
		(laughing)
	You want the cake!?

		JACK
		(out of breath)
	I want it...

She looks at him, then takes the whole piece in her
hand and smooshes it right in his mouth...

Beat.  Then, Jack starts laughing...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Thank you...

		KATE
	It’s good, right?

He takes a big clump of it and smooshes it in her
mouth.

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.
Then...

		JACK
	Are the kids asleep?

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

		KATE
		(caught up in the
		 moment)
	Say it, Jack...

		JACK
	What...?

		KATE
	C’mon, you know what I
	like to hear...

		JACK
		(in the throes
		 of passion)
	Yeah, baby, I know what
	you like to hear...

		KATE
		(kissing him)
	Then say it...just say it
	to me...!

		JACK
		(swept up in the
		 moment)
	Oh yeah, you’re a bad
	girl, baby... You make me
	so hot...I’m gonna take
	you to that special
	place...

Kate pulls away.

		KATE
	What...?

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

		JACK
	Not it...?

		KATE
	Nice, Jack.  You’re
	sweeping me off my feet.

		JACK
	What? 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...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	C’mon, Lucy, maybe one of
	us can get a little
	relief tonight...

He leads the dog toward the front door...

70   EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - MINUTES LATER

Jack is walking Lucy.  He passes a house that looks
familiar to him.  Then he sees it...

...the name “THOMPSON” etched on the mailbox...

It’s the Thompson house, now sans the garish Christmas
decorations, a drying Christmas tree tied up on the
curb, ready to be picked up as garbage...

Jack stops, pulling the dog back, looking up at the
house...

He sees a light on in the upstairs bedroom...the faint
outline of a woman reading by the window...

EVELYN THOMPSON...

Jack looks around, sees the street is empty, then
nudges the dog, leading her up the path to the house.

He gets to the front door...moves his hand up to the
doorbell...but it’s a tentative move...he keeps it
there a moment, perched at the button...but for some
reason he can’t bring himself to push it...

He looks down the street, toward his own house, then to
the window upstairs.  Finally, he turns...

		JACK
		(pulling the leash)
	C’mon, girl, let’s go
	home...

71   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE FOYER - MINUTES LATER

The front door opens and Jack walks in with Lucy on a
leash, his face red from the cold outside.

He gives the dog a pat on the rump, then takes off his
coat, hanging it and the leash on a hook by the door...

He walks through the quiet house, into the living room,
rubbing his hands together to warm them up.

CHAPTER ELEVEN – HOME MOVIES

He goes over to a glass bar stand and pours himself a
scotch, taking a sip, letting the alcohol warm him...

He strolls through the room, looking at some of the
family photos framed and hanging on the wall, focusing
on his own face in the pictures, studying the
expressions...

He moves to a pile of video tapes sitting on a shelf,
marked with titles like, “Trip to Yosemite, ‘96" and
“Josh’s 1st Birthday.”  He runs his fingers along the
tapes, stopping at one marked, “Jack Singing.”  His
eyes linger there a moment...

He puts his drink down and pops the tape in the VCR...

ON TV:

It’s a party for Kate’s birthday thrown at the Kramers’
house...same crowd of people as the Christmas party,
cheesy “Happy Birthday” decorations.

The image jerks up and down, surveying the crowd...

Bill Kramer at the piano, playing some light cocktail
music ...Kate talking with a group of friends...

		ARNIE (O.S.)
	Jesus, Bill, this thing
	is an antique.  Don’t you
	even have image
	stabilization?

Bill stops playing and looks up at Arnie.

		BILL KRAMER
	Four hundred bucks at Best
	Buy, Arn.

Then...Jack comes into frame, a confident smile on his
face.

		JACK
	And everyone knows image
	stabilization is for the
	weak...

Jack is jarred by the image of himself on the video...

Jack on TV...he smiles as Kate walks into frame, easily
putting an arm around Jack...

		ARNIE
	So Jack, it’s your wife’s
	birthday, got anything to
	say to her?

		JACK
		(to Kate)
	It’s your birthday?
	Today?  What’s your
	name?  Where were you
	born?

		KATE
	Jack.

		JACK
	Wait a minute.  You’re my
	wife?

She slaps him playfully on the arm...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I do have one thing I
	wanna say...

Kate looks at him expectantly.  Then...

		JACK (CONT”D)
		(singing to her)
	Oh those fingers in my
	hair, that sly come
	hither stare, strips my
	conscience bare, it’s
	witchcraft...

Jack doesn’t have the greatest voice in the world but
he’s not the least bit self-conscious...and Kate seems
to like it, there’s a twinkle in her eye...some of the
guests focus their attention on Jack and Kate.

Jack winces, embarrassed, as he watches himself sing...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...and I’ve got no
	defense for it, that heat
	is too intense for it,
	what good would common
	sense for it do...

Bill Kramer still at the piano, chimes in with the
basic chords for “Witchcract,” sounding it out as he
goes along...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...‘Cause it’s
	witchcraft, wicked
	witchcraft...and although
	I know it’s strictly
	taboo...when you rouse
	the need in me, my heart
	says yes indeed in me,
	proceed with what you’re
	leadin’ me to...

The camera catches the reactions of guests in the
crowd... the women, smiles on their faces, wrapped up
in the romance of the moment.  Envy on the men’s faces
as they watch Jack serenade his wife...

A musical interlude from Bill as Jack takes off his
jacket...some HOOTS and HOLLERS from the crowd...Arnie
captures the image of Kate whistling at her husband...

Arnie follows with the camera as Jack strolls in front
of the gathered guests...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	It’s such an ancient
	pitch, but one that I’d
	never switch, there ain’t
	no nicer witch than
	you...

Jack watches himself move gracefully.  But it’s no
longer embarrassment on his face, it’s fascination...

Back in the video, the camera catches Evelyn Thompson
watching longingly as Jack moves back toward
Kate...Evelyn can’t take it anymore, she abruptly turns
and walks toward the kitchen...

Jack raises an eyebrow...

In the video...Jack approaches Kate, she couldn’t have
a more delighted look on her face.  He picks up the
verse...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	‘Cause it’s witchcraft,
	that koo koo
	witchcraft...and although
	I know it’s strictly
	taboo...

The camera pans across the crowd, even the men are
getting into it, focused on Jack as he sings lovingly,
unashamed, to his wife...Nick Careli mouths the words
along with Jack, almost as if he’s studying him,
revering him...

Jack watches the TV, seeing Nick do this...maybe he
underestimated his alter ego...

On the video...Jack staring into Kate’s eyes...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...when you rouse the
	need in me, my heart says
	yes indeed to me, proceed
	with what you’re leadin’
	me to...

Jack and Kate exchange a sexy smile...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	It’s such an ancient
	pitch, but one that I’d
	never switch...

Jack kisses her on the lips...HOOTS and HOLLERS from
the crowd.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	‘Cause there’s no nicer
	witch than you...

Kate brushes a hand across Jack’s face...

Smash cut to Jack watching this...seeing the
connection, the heat between them...coveting it...

Back to the video...the music building...the crowd
completely in the palm of Jack’s hand...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...than you...

The camera closes in on Jack and Kate as the music
builds to a crescendo...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...than you...

A little musical flourish from Bill as the crowd breaks
out into huge CHEERS and APPLAUSE...

Jack, watching this other version of himself in the video,
the center of attention, larger than life, focused on Kate...

Back on video...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(speaking quietly
		 to Kate)
	Happy Birthday
	sweetheart...I love you.

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

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...

DISSOLVE TO:

72   INT. CAMPBELL MASTER BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

Lucy licking Jack’s face.  Jack pushes the dog
away...as...

The ALARM RINGS.  Kate pushes the button to stop it.

		KATE
		(groggy)
	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.

73   INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER

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.

74   INT. JOSH’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

...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...

CHAPTER TWELVE - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

75   INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

...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...

Terror on Jack’s face.

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(pushing the gift
		 forward)
	Before you do whatever
	crazy stunt you’ve got
	planned I want you to
	open mine...

Jack musters up a smile, then approaches the gift.

		JACK
	Maybe I should wait...

		KATE
	No, open it...

He hesitates, then begins unwrapping the package,
revealing...

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

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I found it at an outlet
	store.  I know it’s a
	knock-off, but I think
	it’ll look great on
	you...

		JACK
		(examining the label)
	Zeena...

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

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(tearing up)
	You really are
	incredible...

		KATE
	Enjoy it, sweetheart...

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

		JACK
	You’re probably expecting
	something from me...

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

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Here’s the thing.  I
	really hadn’t planned on
	giving you your...uh...
	anniversary gift until
	tonight.
		(an uncomfortable
		 smile)
	You know, anniversary’s
	good all day...

		KATE
	What are you talking
	about?  You never wait
	all day.  You can barely
	wait until it’s light
	out.

		JACK
	I know that, but...

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

		KATE
	You forgot.

Jack stands there, silent.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	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.

That didn’t help.

		KATE
		(holding back
		 the tears)
	Jesus, Jack...Is this
	where we are now?  Is
	this our marriage?
	Suddenly I’m the wife who
	has to drop hints two
	weeks before her
	anniversary so her
	husband doesn’t fuck it
	up?

Jack sees a tear run down her face...a pang of guilt on
his...

		JACK
	Please don’t cry...

Kate wipes the tear away but they just keep coming.

		KATE
		(shaking her head,
		 crying)
	I don’t want to be that,
	Jack...

Jack approaches her, holding out a hand but Kate pushes
it away, gets up and walks toward the bathroom...

Jack is left standing alone, holding Kate’s gift...

CUT TO:

76   INT. FRONT PORCH - MINUTES LATER

Jack emerges from the house, steps out onto the porch
for some air...

He shakes his head, a mixture of frustration and self-
pity on his face.

He notices Annie’s bike leaning against the side of the
porch, and the bell that Cash gave him sitting on its
handle bar.

He takes a step toward it, and gives the bell a gentle
RING ...he looks around, as if he’s expecting someone
to appear ...but there’s no one.  He RINGS the bell
again, louder this time, really trying to attract
someone’s attention.

		JACK
	C’mon...c’mon...

Nothing.  Finally, he lifts the bike up in the air,
RINGING the bell with everything he’s got...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(shouting to the
		 sky)
	C’mon, goddamnit, how was
	I supposed to know the
	date of their
	anniversary!?  I never
	married her!

Pull back...Annie in the doorway...looking at him.

		ANNIE
		(slowly)
	Put the bicycle back on
	the ground...

Jack turns and sees her, gently lowering the bicycle.

77   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE KITCHEN - MORNING

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

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

		ANNIE
	Not bad...I shoulda
	warned you.  Dad always
	does something really
	special for their
	anniversary.

		JACK
	Like what?

		ANNIE
	One year he had a solar
	system named after her...

		JACK
	Don’t you think that’s a
	little gimmicky?

		ANNIE
	Mom liked it.

Jack raises an eyebrow.

		JACK
	Maybe there’s a jewelry
	store back at the mall.
	I could get her a pair of
	earrings or something.

		ANNIE
	That’s good but...you did
	forget the anniversary.

		JACK
	Right.  That’s a major
	oversight...
		(thinking aloud)
	So if I’m Kate...I can’t
	really afford the finer
	things, my husband’s
	career is a crushing
	disappointment to me,
	I’m trapped in suburbia...

Then...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Did he ever take her to
	the City?

Annie smiles, impressed.

		ANNIE
	You’re really gettin’ the
	hang of this.

Suddenly, a look of confidence comes over Jack’s face.
For the first time, he seems like a man in control.

78   INT. BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

Annie is sitting on the bed watching her mother get
dressed.

Kate, wearing a silky slip, walks out of her closet
carrying two dresses on hangers, a red one and a sexy
little black one.

Kate holds out the two dresses to Annie.

		KATE
	Which do you think?

Annie thinks about it for a moment, taking it very
seriously...

		ANNIE
	The black one...

Kate nods.  She’s about to put it on when she looks at
Annie...

		KATE
	Fighting’s a part of it,
	Annie.  You know that,
	right?

		ANNIE
	I’m not worried, Mom.
	He’s still learning our
	ways...

Kate looks at her with a raised eyebrow, then nods.
It’s true.  She puts down the dress and holds out a
hand to Annie.

		KATE
	C’mere.

Kate leads her to the makeup table, then opens a
lipstick...

		ANNIE
		(excited)
	Really?

Kate nods then applies some red lipstick to Annie’s
lips.

		KATE
	Now go like this...

Kate rubs her lips together, showing Annie how to do
it.  Annie mimics her Mom, then Kate looks at her –
Annie’s beaming.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	You’re gonna break a lot
	of hearts, you know.

A smile from Annie...

Pull back to reveal...Jack standing at the door,
watching ...appreciating the kind of mother Kate is...

79   OMITTED

80   EXT. LOIRE - NIGHT

A small, elegant French restaurant hidden on a tree-
lined lower Manhattan street.

81   INT. LOIRE - SAME TIME

Jack is wearing the suit Kate gave him.  It’s not a
Zegna, but he looks pretty damn good.

He leads Kate toward the cloak room at this intimate
restaurant...

He helps her off with her coat.  Kate’s wearing the
sexy little black dress and we can immediately see its
effectiveness...

		JACK
	You look beautiful...

A charmed smile from Kate as she hands Jack her coat.

Jack hands the coats over to the COAT CHECK GIRL...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(instinctively)
	Thanks, Catherine...

Jack fakes a SNEEZE, trying to cover up...Kate gives
him a pat on the back...

		KATE
	You okay?

He takes Kate by the arm...

		JACK
	Fine...

He leads her to the main room.

She looks out at the room, elegant tables, French
country decor, a PIANIST playing Cole Porter...

		KATE
		(quietly to Jack)
	Jack...can we afford all
	this?

		JACK
	What’s the difference?
	I’m taking my baby out
	for our anniversary, damn
	the costs...

		KATE
	How do you even know
	about this place?

Jack’s caught for a moment.  Then...

		JACK
	Arnie...
		(insistent)
	Arnie.  He’ll throw you a
	curve ball once in a
	while, that’s for sure...

Jack puts his arm around her and kisses her on the
cheek...

82   INT. LOIRE - A LITTLE LATER

Jack and Kate sit at a secluded table, a WAITER
standing next to them.  Jack’s not even looking at the menu.

		JACK
	We’ll have the tureen of
	quail breast with
	shiitake mushrooms to
	start, then the veal
	medallions in raspberry
	truffle sauce and the sea
	scallops with pureed
	artichoke hearts...sea
	scallops, North of the
	Caspian...

Kate looks at Jack, a mixture of confusion and awe on
her face.

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

		JACK
	You may...
		(perusing the
		 wine list)
	Also, we’ll have a bottle
	of Lafite, 1982.

Kate reaches over and pulls down the wine list, reading
it upside down.

		KATE
	It’s five hundred and
	fifty dollars, Jack!

A wince from Jack...for a moment there it was almost
perfect.

		JACK
	Just a glass of red wine
	for each of us...

The waiter nods, then walks toward the kitchen...

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

		JACK
	But I’m gettin’ close, right?

A noncommittal nod from Kate.  Then Jack notices her
look over at the pianist, drawn in by the music.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	You want to dance?

A puzzled look from Kate.  There’s nobody else
dancing.  There isn’t even much room to dance...

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

Jack gets up and holds out a hand.

		JACK
	Sure there is...

Kate looks around again, then she smiles.

Kate rises, taking his hand.  Jack takes her in his
arms, swaying slowly in the limited amount of space,
confident and self-assured.

The pianist looks up, smiling, appreciating their role
in this romantic moment.

Kate moves with Jack, following his lead comfortably.
They look good together...in sync with each other...

People are watching them...some of the men are
impressed, others are scoffing, but the women are
clearly charmed...

		KATE
		(whispering to
		 Jack)
	Pretty good for a tire
	salesman from Jersey...

Jack flashes her his most charming smile.

		JACK
	I have my moments...

They continue to dance, in a world of their own...

83   INT. LOIRE - LATE

Jack and Kate at the table enjoying a gourmet meal.
Jack holds out a fork with a piece of veal for Kate.
She takes a bite.

		KATE
	Mmmm...
		(spearing a scallop)
	...here, try one of
	these...

Jack takes a scallop from Kate’s fork.

		JACK
		(savoring the scallop)
	God I missed that
	taste...

Kate laughs.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Why are you laughing?

Kate shoots him a look of curiosity.  Jack looks back
at her, sees the trust in her face...He puts down his
fork.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I need to tell you
	something.

		KATE
	Okay...

		JACK
	I think it may help us
	but there’s a slight
	chance it could make
	things worse.

She hears the seriousness in his voice.

		KATE
	Now I’m worried...just
	say it.  Whatever it is
	we’ll deal with it.

		JACK
	Are you sure?

She nods.  Jack searches his mind for the right words.
Then...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I feel like I’m living
	someone else’s life...

Jack looks to her, expecting the worst.  But she just
nods reassuringly.  He continues...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I used to be so sure
	about everything, you
	know?  I knew exactly who
	I was and what I wanted.
	Then one morning I woke
	up and suddenly it was
	all different...

		KATE
	Worse, you mean...

		JACK
	No.  Well, maybe a few
	things.  But mostly just
	different...

Jack lets out a small smile.  Now he’s the one who’s
reassuring Kate.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I never used to be like
	this, Kate.  I had it all
	figured out.  No doubts,
	no regrets.

		KATE
	And now...?

		JACK
	Now...I don’t...

He looks at her, staring into her eyes, almost
desperate for understanding.

		KATE
	Me neither.

A raised eyebrow from Jack.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I think it’s good to be a
	little unsure about who
	you are.  It’s very
	human.

		JACK
	But you always seem so
	certain.

		KATE
	C’mon, Jack, you think
	there aren’t mornings
	when I wake up and wonder
	what the hell I’m doing
	in New Jersey...

		JACK
	That’s a big one for me,
	too.

		KATE
	My office is a dump, I
	answer my own phone...and
	you’ve seen my pay check.

		JACK
	Your pay check is a
	disgrace to pay checks.

		KATE
	I mean yes, I help people
	that need it...

		JACK
	I guess...some of them
	are probably faking.

		KATE
		(a laugh, then...)
	God, sometimes I think it
	would be so nice not to
	have to stretch ground
	beef or maybe drive a car
	with a CD player...

He smiles, right there with her.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Imagine having a life
	where everything was
	easy...where you asked
	for things and people
	just brought them to
	you...

		JACK
	It’s wonderful...

Kate laughs, nodding.

A pause, then...

		KATE
	I think about it, too,
	Jack.  I do.  I think
	about the kind of person
	I’d be if I hadn’t
	married you...

It’s as if she’s inside his head.  They stay like this
for a moment, looking into each other.

		JACK
	And...?

She stops a moment, considering.  Then...

		KATE
	And I realize I’ve just
	erased the things in my
	life I’m most sure
	about.  You, the kids...

Jack nods.

		JACK
	Good things...

		KATE
	What are you sure about?

Jack looks into Kate’s eyes.

		JACK
	I’m sure that right now
	there’s nowhere I’d
	rather be than here with
	you...

Kate smiles at Jack, a loving, secure smile.  It’s been
a while.

CUT TO:

84   EXT. PENSION - NIGHT

The mini-van parked outside a small brownstone right on
the square.  It’s like something out of a Henry James
novel... charming, meticulously maintained, elegant...

85   INT. PENSION, SUITE - A LITTLE LATER

The door opens and Jack, carrying Kate in his arms,
enters...

Jack puts Kate down and she takes in the room, antique
furniture...it’s like walking into another world...

		KATE
	This is so beautiful...

Jack smiles as he opens a champagne bottle sitting on a
silver ice bucket...

		KATE (CONT’D)
	You know champagne makes
	me do crazy things.

		JACK
		(pouring)
	I’ll just full yours up
	to the top.
		(handing her a
		 glass)
	Happy anniversary,
	sweetheart.

Kate smiles, clinking her glass with Jack’s.

		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...

Kate saunters into the bedroom, looking at the king-
size poster bed, feeling the down quilt.  Jack follows
her...

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(turning to him)
	You may even get lucky
	tonight...

Kate kisses him...when their lips separate, we can see
the powerful effect it has on him.

Jack looks deep into her eyes, stroking her hair, lost
in her.

		JACK
	You’re so...beautiful...

		KATE
	I already told you you
	were gonna get lucky,
	Jack...

They kiss again, a long soulful kiss.  Then...

Jack pulls back, a look of realization on his face...

		JACK
	My god, all this time...I
	never stopped loving
	you...

		KATE
		(a wide smile)
	That’s all I wanted to
	hear...

She kisses him, their bodies intertwined...hands
caressing ...more and more passionate...then reaches
behind her to the light.  The room goes dark...

DISSOLVE TO:

86   INT. PENSION, SUITE - MORNING

Morning sun streams onto Jack and Kate in bed...

Kate, in Jack’s arms, her head on his chest, a
contented smile on her face...

Jack’s eyes open...adjust to the light.  He looks over
at Kate.

There’s something different in his eyes...something
deeper.  Jack smiles...a broad, “I’m in love” kind of
smile.

Kate stirs, gently stroking Jack’s chest.

		KATE
	Mmmm...Jack...

Kate lifts her head, turning to face Jack.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I feel like I should give
	you money...

Jack laughs.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I mean, my god, Jack you
	were always good but
	this...this was... like a
	porno movie.

Kate lays her head back on Jack’s chest, looking at
Washington Square through the window.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I could stay here
	forever...

		JACK
	I don’t think I’d fight
	you on that one...

Kate lifts her head and looks at him expectantly.  They
kiss.

87   EXT. NEW JERSEY STREET - NIGHT

The mini-van passes a sign that reads, “Welcome to
Teaneck.”

88   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, VARIOUS - MORNING

Annie walking through the downstairs of the house,
practicing her violin...it’s a noise bordering on
MUSIC, but not quite...

She walks into the kitchen where...

Jack stands at the counter in his robe, reading the
Newark Star Ledger and drinking a cup of coffee.

He lowers the paper, watches Annie with a smile as she
strolls through the room playing her violin badly...he
goes back to his paper.

89   INT. JACK’S CLOSET - MINUTES LATER

Jack, still singing, donning his Dockers and short-
sleeve oxford...

89A   EXT. CAMPBELL HOUSE - MORNING

The front door of the Campbell House...

Jack emerges in his work clothes, putting his coat on,
a bagel in his mouth...

He disappears from frame, the screen door closing
slowly behind him...

In a moment...Kate appears at the door, a cup of coffee
in her hand...she follows Jack with her eyes as he
heads to the car.

Then...a smile from Kate...

In a moment...Jack returns to frame and heads straight
into Kate’s arms...

...a passionate kiss as she leans against the door
post...

		KATE
	Have a good day...

A smile from Jack as she pats him on the ass and sends
him on his way...

90   EXT. BIG ED’S - AFTERNOON

Jack, pointing to a stack of radials, is standing with
a MAN (40s) wearing a pale blue leisure suit and a pair
of high top Nike Air Jordans.

		JACK
	For the money, they’re
	hands down the best
	radial we carry...

		MAN
		(thinking, then...)
	Okay, I’ll take them...

		JACK
	You won’t regret it...
		(shouting to Tommy)
	Tommy!  Set Mr. Conlin up
	with four B.F. Goodrich
	G-Force T/A’s...
		(looking the man
		 over)
	...and give him ten
	percent off for having
	the best costume...

Just then, a black ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SERAPH pulls into
the lot, its front left tire riding on the rim...

		ESTELLE (O.S.)
		(over P.A. system)
	Jack, Kate on line two!
	Jack pick up two!

Jack turns toward the door, but then looks curiously
back at the Rolls...something familiar about it...

Then...Peter Lassiter gets out of the car...

		KENNY
		(walking out to Jack)
	Kate’s on two, Jack.
		(on seeing the Rolls)
	Nice ride...

		JACK
		(staring at Lassiter)
	If you’re into that kind
	of conspicuous
	consumption...

		KENNY
	You want me to handle
	him?  I think I’m
	ready...

		ESTELLE (O.S.)
		(over P.A. system)
	Jack!  Kate still holding
	on line two...

		JACK
	Sure...be careful, he
	looks like a tough
	negotiator...

Jack walks inside...

91   INT. BIG ED’S TIRES - CONTINUOUS

...but he’s still focused on Lassiter through the
window, can’t take his eyes off him...

He gets to the phone...sees the light for line two
blinking ...he looks back outside, sees Kenny approach
Lassiter...

...back to the blinking phone light...he picks up the
phone...

But can’t bring himself to hit the blinking light.
Then...

		JACK
		(to Estelle, into
		 intercom)
	Tell Kate I’ll call her
	back...

INTERCUT WITH ESTELLE IN HER OFFICE

		ESTELLE
		(into intercom)
	It sounded pretty
	important.

		JACK
		(into intercom)
	I’m with a customer.
	I’ll call her back.

He takes his hand away from the phone and walks back
outside the store...

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - PETER LASSITER

92   EXT. BIG ED’S TIRES - CONTINUOUS

...towards Kenny and Lassiter.

		LASSITER
		(to Kenny)
	I seem to have had some
	kind of blow out...

Jack approaches, tapping Kenny on the shoulder.

		JACK
	Why don’t you let me take
	this one, Kenny?

		KENNY
	Okay, chief.

Kenny nods then heads back inside...

		JACK
	Peter Lassiter...

		LASSITER
		(surprised)
	Do I know you?

		JACK
	Not exactly. I’ve seen you
	on CNBC.
		(with a smile)
	You look taller in real
	life...

CUT TO:

93   INT. BIG ED’S TIRED, JACK’S OFFICE - LATE

Jack leaning back in his chair, behind the desk of his
cluttered, cramped office.

		JACK
	...truth is, Mintz was so
	busy timing his wife’s
	breathing he didn’t see
	that MedTech needed
	Global more than the
	other way around.  Ten
	days, two weeks tops,
	they would’ve approached
	you with an offer, and
	I’d bet anything it
	would’ve been thirty
	billion, not twenty
	nine...
		(a knowing smile)
	Problem was, Peter, you
	had a pussycat running
	the show. What you needed
	was a rottweiler.

Lassiter, sitting on the little chair across from Jack,
an intrigued look on his face...

		LASSITER
		(nodding)
	Well, I’m impressed.

A smile from Jack.

		LASSITER (CONT’D)
	I really am...

Jack savors the moment, until...

		LASSITER (CONT’D)
	So, about my car...

He’s jarred back to reality, a little crestfallen...

		JACK
	Sure. We’re going to
	have to special order
	that tire. It’ll be
	ready in about two days.

Lassiter nods, then takes a business card out of his
wallet.

		LASSITER
	This has my office address
	on it...
		(thinking, then...)
	Why don’t you drop it off
	yourself?

A smile from Jack.

CUT TO:

94   INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, JACK’S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

Kate, sound asleep in bed...

Pan across to Jack, his eyes wide open, lost in
thought...

95   INT. BIG ED’S, JACK’S OFFICE - DAY

Jack wearing his Zeena suit, sitting behind his desk,
distracted, as he listens to HECTOR, 40s, the
GUATEMALEN MECHANIC.

		HECTOR
	...I say to her, Margarita,
	we already have four kids,
	why do we need more?

Jack is shaking his leg anxiously under the desk as he
eyes the door...

		HECTOR (CONT’D)
	But she say she want an
	even number. I say four
	is an even number! But
	she say she want six.

Jack checks his watch...

		HECTOR (CONT’D)
	I tell her, Margarita, I
	just got my green card,
	I like to sit back and
	rest a little bit...

		JACK
		(interrupting)
	Hector...do I usually
	listen to your personal
	problems?

		HECTOR
	Sure, Jack, all the time...

Jack nods, then...

		JACK
	Look, I have some business
	that I have to take care
	of in the city so I’m
	leaving early...
		(getting up)
	My advice to you...follow
	your dreams.

CUT TO:

96   EXT. LASSITER BUILDING - AFTERNOON

Jack pulling up to the building in Lassiter’s Rolls...

He gets out of the car, walks to the building, feeling
good, confident, stopping to gaze up at the
skyscraper...he breathes in deeply, then heads
inside...

96A  INT. LASSITER BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

Jack enters, instinctively tossing the car keys to the
SECURITY GUARD...the guard looks at him like he’s
crazy...

97   INT. LASSITER BUILDING CORRIDOR - MINUTES LATER

Jack and Lassiter walk together...

		LASSITER
	...we’re really more of a
	boutique operation, as
	you can see...

		JACK
	But you’re not interested
	in boutique dollars...
		(a smile)
	I get it...

They walk into...

98   INT. ALAN MINTZ’S OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Past the assistant’s desk...

		MINTZ’S ASSISTANT
		(seeing Lassiter)
	He’s expecting you, Mr.
	Lassiter...

Lassiter doesn’t even slow down...

99   INT. ALAN MINTZ’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

It’s Jack’s old office but you wouldn’t know it from
the decor...lots of country pine, a fabric sofa, and a
play pen where the bar used to be.  Jack enters,
immediately struck by the difference...

		LASSITER
		(to Mintz)
	Alan, this is Jack
	Campbell...the one I was
	telling you about...

Mintz, a confident look on his face, gets up from the
desk and goes to shake Jack’s hand.

		ALAN
	Jack, of course.

They shake hands.

		JACK
		(appropriately
		 deferential)
	Mr. Mintz.

		ALAN
	Please, call me Alan. We
	try to cultivate a casual
	atmosphere around here...

		JACK
		(re: play pen)
	I can see that, Alan.

A chuckle from Mintz.

		ALAN
	You have kids, Jack?

		JACK
		(hesitating, then...)
	Uh...actually, yes. Two...
	good ones.

Another laugh from Mintz.

		ALAN
	That’s great...
		(gesturing to
		 the sofa)
	Why don’t you have a seat?

Jack nods, sits down on the plush sofa, Mintz and
Lassiter take the chairs.

		ALAN (CONT’D)
	So, Peter mentioned that
	you were an avid CNBC
	watcher but didn’t say
	whether you had any
	actual Wall Street
	experience?

Jack’s a little taken aback by the question, not
realizing he was walking into an interview...

He crosses his legs, trying to get comfortable.

		JACK
	I was a sales associate,
	at E.F. Hutton.

		ALAN
	A broker? Really. And now
	you’re in the tire
	business?

		JACK
	That’s right. And auto
	supply...

		ALAN
	Uh huh. The retail end, I
	understand.

Jack nods...

		JACK
	Uh...we actually get about
	sixty percent of our
	business from automotive
	service.

		ALAN
	Mind if I ask what kind of
	sales you did last year?
	Ballpark...

		JACK
	We did one point seven
	million in total revenue...

		ALAN
	Uh huh...one point seven.
	And what do you project for
	this year?

Jack pauses, analyzing the situation...the patronizing
questions, the smirk on Mintz’s face...


		ALAN (CONT’D)
	Any thoughts at all on
	that?

As Jack stares into their faces, he realizes the extent
of his handicap...

		ALAN (CONT’D)
	Jack?

He stops, takes a moment, looking at Mintz and Lassiter
then ...a confident smile.

		JACK
	Well, Alan, I think we’re
	gonna have a banner year.
	Sales are up almost
	twenty percent in the
	first quarter and we just
	landed a major trucking
	company account.

		ALAN
	Really. So you’re
	projecting what, a tad
	over two million?

A gleam in Jack’s eye.

		JACK
	That’s right. And that
	would make us number one
	in our market...
		(getting up)
	You mind if I stand?

A raised eyebrow from Mintz.

Mintz and Lassiter follow Jack with their eyes as he
crosses the room to the desk, pours himself a glass of
water...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Look, I know our paltry
	little two million in
	sales is about what you
	spend on office supplies
	in a year.  And I know
	some regional trucking
	company account is
	nothing compared to a
	sixty billion dollar
	merger...

		ALAN
	I’m not trying to knock
	the tire business, Jack.

		JACK
		(a confident chuckle)
	It’s okay, Alan. I get it.
	I’m in your shoes, I’m
	thinking exactly the same
	thing...but here’s the
	thing. Business is
	business.  Wall Street,
	Main Street, it’s all
	just a bunch of people
	getting up in the morning,
	trying to figure out how
	the hell they’re gonna
	send their kids to
	college.  It’s just
	people...

Jack’s confidence is throwing Mintz off, but Lassiter
appears intrigued...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And I know people.

		ALAN
	I’m sure you do...

		LASSITER
		(intervening)
	Let’s let the man have
	his say...

Mintz covers his embarrassment with a smile...

		JACK
		(to Mintz)
	Take you, for instance...

		ALAN
		(defensive)
	What about me?

		JACK
	You drink about sixteen
	Diet Cokes a day. You’re
	an excellent father, but
	you feel guilty about the
	time you spend away from
	home. You drink bourbon,
	but you offer your
	clients scotch...

Jack looks around the office then back to Mintz.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And your wife decorated
	this office...

A laugh from Lassiter as Mintz sits there stewing, a
caught look on his face.

		LASSITER
	He certainly has your
	number, Alan.

		JACK
		(turning to Lassiter)
	You’re a little tougher,
	Peter.

A raised eyebrow from Lassiter, but he’s game...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	For one thing, you like
	expensive things.

		LASSITER
		(smiling proudly)
	That’s easy. You’ve seen
	my car.

		JACK
		(a chuckle)
	Okay...you smoke Hoyo de
	Monterreys. You’re a
	scotch man, single malt,
	not because it’s trendy
	but because you’ve been
	doing it for forty years,
	and you stay with what
	works. You have two great
	loves in your life, your
	horses and this company.
	You wept openly the day
	the Dow hit ten thousand...

Lassiter’s impressed.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And you’re a man who
	prides himself on finding
	talent in unusual
	places...


		LASSITER
	Oh? And how would you
				  know that?

Jack smiles.

		JACK
	Because I’m here.

On Lassiter...nodding his head. Mintz, a plastered-on
smile.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I’m prepared to do
	anything it takes to get
	this job. Start anywhere
	you need me to start.
	I’ll park cars if I
	to...
		(into Lassiter’s
		 eyes)
	The biggest part of
	judging character is
	knowing yourself. And I
	know this, I can do this
	job. Give me a chance,
	Peter, I won’t let you
	down.

Lassiter returns Jack’s gaze with equal intensity. In a
moment, he turns to Mintz.

		LASSITER
		(to Mintz)
	Alan, why don’t you show
	Jack around a bit...

		ALAN
	I’d love to.

CUT TO:

100  INT. LASSITER BUILDING CORRIDOR - MINUTES LATER

Jack and Alan walking side by side down the hallway...
EMPLOYEES passing them by, greeting Mintz, Mintz waving
back...

		ALAN
		(pointing)
	...that’s our war room.
	We did seven major deals
	last year, three of them
	hostile.

		JACK
		(not particularly
		 impressed)
	Seven.  Really.

They turn a corner, coming into a deserted section of
the corridor.

Mintz stops, turning to Jack.  Jack returns Mintz’s
gaze with a quizzical look.

		ALAN
	Let’s cut the shit, huh
	Campbell? What, did you go
	through his wallet or
	something?

Jack’s a little taken aback.

		ALAN (CONT’D)
	No matter. That circus
	act back there may have
	dazzled Lassiter
	momentarily but it
	doesn’t do shit forme.
	Even if you get this job,
	which I highly doubt, let
	me warn you, Lassiter
	loses interest in his pet
	projects very quickly.
	I’m in the big office
	because I’ve proved
	myself to him year after
	year and nobody is going
	to come in here and start
	turning the old man’s
	head. Especially not some
	tire salesman from New
	Jersey. So you watch
	yourself and stay away
	from Lassiter, and maybe,
	just maybe, I’ll keep you
	on after he gets tired of
	you. Do we understand
	each other?

Jack stands there, staring at Mintz, silent,
expressionless.

		ALAN (CONT’D)
	Do we?!

Then, a broad smile from Jack.

		JACK
	God, you really are
	different, aren’t you...
		(nodding)
	I mean...wow...I am
	impressed.

Now it’s Mintz’s turn to look quizzical.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Good for you. Why shouldn’t
	you protect what’s yours.

		ALAN
	I don’t think you’re hearing
	me.

		JACK
	Oh, I’m hearing you, Alan.
	That’s not the problem.
	The problem is that what
	you think is yours, is
	really mine.  And I don’t
	care how low on the totem
	pole I start, I will get
	it back...
		(poking him in
		 the chest)
	So do yourself a favor and
	don’t get too attached to
	that view because sometime
	soon, maybe very soon, you
	and your French country
	antiques, your chintz sofa,
	and your little play pen
	are gonna be moving out of
	that office.

Jack smiles at Alan one more time, then turns...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Oh, and by the way, you
	try selling tires for a
	living.  I promise you,
	you’d starve.

Jack heads down the corridor, whistling a happy tune,
leaving Mintz standing there, bewildered.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - A PERFECT LIFE?

CUT TO:

101  INT. CORPORATE APARTMENT - DAY

A double door opens and Jack leads Kate into this huge
duplex.  Kate looks around, taking the place in.

		JACK
	Welcome to Xanadu...

The place is incredible...marble floors, architectural
lines, high tech fixtures, elegant modern furniture...
it’s striking but not at all homey like the Jersey
house.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Pretty incredible, isn’t
	it?

		KATE
	It’s like a museum.

Jack nods.

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(turning to Jack)
	So what’s the big
	surprise? You didn’t
	rent this place for
	the weekend, did you?

		JACK
	Think bigger.

		KATE
	For the week?

Jack chuckles.

		JACK
	This place is a perk,
	Kate.

		KATE
	A perk for what?

		JACK
	A company called P.K.
	Lassiter and Associates
	Investment House uses it
	to attract new
	executives...

Kate’s confused.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	You’re talking to their
	new Vice President of
	Mergers and Acquisitions.

		KATE
	What are you talking
	about, Jack?


		JACK
	I’m going into arbitrage,
	honey.  Turns out I have
	a knack for it.  I’ll be
	making two hundred grand
	a year plus a hefty bonus
	and that’s just to
	start.  And, we can live
	in this apartment
	practically rent free for
	as long as we want.

Jack measures her reaction. It’s not good...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	We can finally afford to
	move back into the city.
	In style.

Kate just looks at him, in shock. Then...

		KATE
	Are you out of your mind?

		JACK
	I don’t think so. This
	is going to be a better
	life for all of us,
	honey.  We’ll put Annie
	and Josh in private
	schools...

		KATE
	Annie goes to a great
	school.

		JACK
	I’m talking about the
	best schools in the
	country here, Kate...

		KATE
	Jack, what could you
	possibly be thinking?
	What about my job?

		JACK
	This is New York City,
	it’s like the needy
	people capital of the
	world.  Those Jersey
	clients of yours aren’t a
	tenth as pathetic as the
	ones you could get
	here...

		KATE
		(cutting him off)
	I can’t believe you want
	to move back into the
	city.  I thought the
	reason we left was
	because we didn’t want to
	raise the kids here?

		JACK
	No, this is the center of
	the universe.  If I were
	living in Roman times, I
	would live in Rome, where
	else?  Today, America is
	the Roman Empire and New
	York is Rome itself.
	John Lennon.

		KATE
		(cutting him off)
	Jack.

Jack’s starting to struggle...

		JACK
	Look, I’m detecting a
	kind of funky tension
	here...We don’t have to
	live in this apartment.
	I don’t need this...I’ll
	commute...I’ll drive to
	work...

Jack’s back on his heels...seeing his dream picked
apart...

		KATE
	In traffic?  It’s over an
	hour each way?  That’s
	almost three hours a
	day.  When are you going
	to see the kids?

He’s frustrated...he pauses a moment to gather
himself. Then...

		JACK
	Kate. You’re not
	understanding me. I’m
	talking about a great
	life.  A perfect life.
	Everything we pictured
	when we were young. The
	whole package. You said
	it yourself, life has
	thrown us surprises, and
	so we made sacrifices.
	But now I can finally get
	us back on track...

A sad chuckle from Kate.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I can do that.  I want to
	do that.  For all of us.
	I need to do that as a
	man...
		(imploring her)
	Think about it.  No more
	lousy restaurants, no
	more clipping coupons, no
	more shoveling snow...

		KATE
	Then get a goddamn snow
	blower!

Jack’s taken aback by the intensity of her tone.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Don’t get a new career
	without even telling me.
	Don’t take Annie out of a
	school she loves.  Don’t
	move us out of a house
	we’ve become a family
	in...

Kate stands there, wounded...

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(quietly)
	Don’t do that...

		JACK
	Look, you’re making this
	into something it’s not.
	This isn’t a referendum
	on our lives, Kate. It’s
	a step forward...
		(appealing to her)
	Don’t you see?  I’m
	talking about us finally
	having a life other
	people envy.

Silence.  Kate looks him in the eye – a deep, piercing
look...

		KATE
	They already do envy us,
	Jack...

Kate picks up her bag and walks out of the apartment.

102  OMITTED

103  INT. ANNIE’S ROOM - NIGHT

Annie is in a nightgown, practicing her violin. Jack
walks in.

It’s all he can do to hold back cringing at the missed
notes. Annie finishes the piece, lowering the bow.

		JACK
	Very nice. What is it?

		ANNIE
	Mary Had A Little Lamb.

		JACK
	Ah. A classic...

Annie starts PLAYING again as Jack looks at the
dresser. She has 20 or so family photos lined up and
down its sides...

Jack studies them...in every one Jack’s face is totally
contented.  Jack studies them, looking at his own face.

Annie lowers the bow, watching him...

Jack turns to her.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Please don’t stop...

She smiles, then starts PLAYING again.  He turns back
to the pictures...

104  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, DEN - LATE

Jack...standing in front of the desk, nursing a drink.

He looks at Lassiter’s business card, sitting on the
surface of the desk...

He gazes around the room...his eyes coming to rest on a
bookshelf...a book...

He moves toward it...looking at its spine...it’s a
tattered copy of Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle.”  He pulls
it off the shelf, there’s something inside...a
bookmark...

...a PAN AM ticket jacket sleeve...

...inside...a boarding pass...”From: London/Heathrow,
To: New York/JFK, 10/4/87.”

He looks at it...something’s not right...

		JACK
	From London to New York...?
		(looking up)
	I came back...

Then...a NOISE...

Jack turns and sees Kate walking into the doorway,
standing there...She sees Jack holding the Pan Am
ticket sleeve.

		KATE
	Our finest moment,
	right...

A quizzical look from Jack.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	When you got on that
	plane I was sure it was
	over.  I left the airport
	afraid I’d never see you
	again.  And then you
	showed up the very next
	day...
		(a wistful smile)
	That was a good
	surprise...

She continues into the room, leaning against a
bookshelf.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I think about you on that
	plane, about what must
	have been going through
	your mind...you sitting
	there imagining our life
	together, our life
	apart...I think about the
	decision you made...

Jack watches her as she lets out a small sigh.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Maybe I was being naive
	but I believed we’d grow
	old together in this
	house.  That we’d spend
	holidays here, have g
	randchildren visit us
	here.  I had this image
	of us all grey and
	wrinkly, me working in
	the garden, you
	repainting the deck...

Kate smiles gently as she pictures this.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Things change, right?
	People change...
		(pausing)
	If you need this, Jack, I
	mean really need this, I
	will take these children
	from a life they love,
	and take myself from the
	only home we’ve ever
	shared, and move wherever
	you need to go.  I’ll do
	that because I love
	you...

The words are like a warm embrace for Jack...

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I love you, Jack. And
	that’s more important to
	me than our address...

Kate smiles lovingly at Jack...she walks over to him,
kisses him gently on the forehead.

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I choose us.

She turns and heads out of the room, leaving him there,
the boarding pass still in hand, staring lovingly at
her as she goes...

105  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE MASTER BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

Jack walks into the room...

The lights are off, Kate already in bed sleeping.

He undresses for bed, unable to take his eyes off Kate.

Finally, he lifts the covers and climbs into bed next
to her, moving closer to her, putting an arm around
her, drawing her in...

In her sleep, Kate nestles in Jack’s embrace.  He
savors the feeling, then closes his eyes as...

They lay there...side by side...together...a single
person.

DISSOLVE TO:

106  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE MASTER BEDROOM - MORNING

The morning light streams into the room.  Kate opens
her eyes.  Jack’s not in bed.  A look of curiosity.

Then, she hears LAUGHTER from outside.

She goes over to the window...opens the blinds...
revealing...

Jack in the backyard, LAUGHING with joy, playing in the
snow with Annie and Josh.

Kate watches...a satisfied smile sweeping across her
face...

107  EXT. CAMPBELL HOUSE BACKYARD - SAME TIME

...Jack reaches out and snags Annie...she CACKLES in
delight...

The three of them fall over onto the soft white snow...

The laughter from the kids is uncontrollable, Jack’s
joy is just as palpable...

Finally, Annie stops laughing and grabs Jack around the
neck, hugging his tight.

		ANNIE
		(whispering in
		 Jack’s ear)
	I knew you’d come back...

DISSOLVE TO:

108  INT. GARAGE - NIGHT

Jack walks over to a utility shelf, fishing around
until he finds a bag of rock salt...he grabs it, sees
it’s empty...

And then he hears it...the sound of a BICYCLE BELL
RINGING, echoing through the room.

A shudder passes through his body...

He turns and sees Annie at the open garage door,
sitting on her bike, ringing the BELL.

It’s an eerie moment for Jack...

		JACK
	What are you doing?

		ANNIE
		(a curious look)
	Ringing my bell...

On Jack’s anxious face...

109  OMITTED

CHAPTER FIFTEEN – SAYING GOODBYE

110  INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - NIGHT

On Jack...crouched down in an aisle of this local
convenience store...checking out the bags of rock
salt...

He looks at the price tag on one of the bags...

		JACK
	Four ninety nine?! It’s just
	salt for god’s sake...

On the entrance to the store...the door opens, a YOUNG
GIRL, 17, enters, an average suburban teenager...

She glances at a fashion magazine, picks up a package
of gum...

From the POV of the cashier, we see the girl approach
the counter...

On Jack, crouched down in the aisle. He grabs a bag of
salt from the shelf, when...

		CASH (O.S.)
	That’ll be sixty five cents,
	little angel...

Jack registers the voice...he rises slowly, looking
over to the front counter...where he sees...

Cash, dressed in a typical chain convenience store
uniform, ringing up the teenager...

An excited smile from Jack at the sight of Cash...

		JACK
	You...!

Then...the color drains from Jack’s face...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	What are you doing here...

Jack moves toward Cash at the counter...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	You’re not sending me
	back...

The girl eyes Jack curiously, then removes a dollar
bill from her pocket and slides it across the counter
to Cash...

		CASH
	Jack, it’s good to see
	you...

Cash reaches into the register, taking out change for
ten dollars...he hands the girl $9.35...

		CASH (CONT’D)
		(to the girl)
	Thank you darlin’...

The girl looks at the money, realizing that Cash has
given her the wrong change...

		CASH (CONT’D)
		(back to Jack,
		 seeing the
		 rock salt)
	What do you got there,
	rock salt?  Look at you,
	all domestic and shit...
	You really figured some
	things out, huh?

The girl looks at Cash talking to Jack...

		JACK
	I’m not going back...

The girl hesitates...Cash turns to her...

		CASH
		(to the girl)
	Everything okay...?

She looks at him, a moment of decision, then...

		TEENAGE GIRL
	Yeah...fine.

		JACK
		(raising his voice)
	Hey! Did you hear me...?!

Cash ignores Jack, watching the girl as she heads to
the door, hesitates a moment, then walks out...

A look of disappointment on Cash’s face as he reaches
into his pocket, pulling out a little notebook...

Cash looks at Jack.

		CASH
		(making a note
		 in his book)

	That was a character issue...
		(shaking his head)
	...and for nine dollars?
	That’s just sad...

		JACK
	Hey, I’m talking to you!
	I am not going back, do you
	understand...?!

Cash looks at him, compassion on his face.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	You can’t do this. You
	can’t keep coming in and
	out of people’s lives,
	messing things up...

		CASH
	C’mon, Jack...

Jack throws six bucks on the counter...

		JACK
	I’ve got kids, I’m going
	home...

		CASH
	You know what the word
	glimpse means, J? It’s
	by nature an impermanent
	thing.

Jack walks determinedly toward the exit. He stops and
turns at the door...

		JACK
		(pointing at
		 Cash)
	I’m staying.

Cash follows him with his eyes, a proud look on Cash’s
face as Jack leaves...

111  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, JOSH’S ROOM - LATE NIGHT

Jack walks to Josh.  He’s sleeping soundly.

Jack gently kisses Josh on the head, careful not to
wake him.

112  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE, ANNIE’S ROOM - LATE NIGHT

Jack is standing over Annie, kissing her on the cheek.

		ANNIE
		(stirring, groggy)
	Is it morning yet?

		JACK
	No, honey. Go back to
	sleep.

She closes her eyes as Jack stands there for a moment
looking at her, sadness all over his face.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Take care of yourself,
	Annie.  I’m going back to
	the mother ship...

Finally, he turns to go...

113  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE MASTER BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

The clock reads, “11:17.”  Kate is already in bed as
Jack walks in.

		KATE
		(looking up from
		 her book)
	Hey...

Jack approaches her, sitting on the bed...

		JACK
	These last weeks, Kate, I
	know that I’ve done
	some...some unusual
	things.

Kate nods.

		KATE
	It’s been interesting,
	that’s for sure.

		JACK
	But I’ve done some good
	things too, haven’t I?

		KATE
	You’ve been Jack
	Campbell.  And that’s
	always a good thing...

She kisses him on the cheek.

He takes her arms in his hands and looks her in the
eyes.

		JACK
	I need you to remember
	me, Kate.  How I am right
	now, right this very
	moment.  I need you to
	put that image in your
	heart and keep it with
	you, no matter what
	happens.

		KATE
	Are you okay, Jack?

		JACK
	Please, just promise me
	you’ll do that. You have
	to promise, Kate.
	Because if you don’t,
	then it’s like it never
	happened and I don’t
	think I could live with
	that.

She’s a bit confused but she couldn’t be more in love
with him.

		KATE
	I promise, Jack...

		JACK
	Promise me again...

		KATE
	I promise. Come to bed,
	honey.

Jack stands up, heading toward the door.

		JACK
	Soon...

114  EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - LATE NIGHT

Snow begins to fall...

Jack with Lucy on a leash, walking side by side, his
mind elsewhere...

Lucy leads him around a corner...to a large open
field...

Lucy stops.  She looks back at Jack, then out to the
open field.

Jack removes the leash. The dog bounds happily out
into the field, looking for just the right spot.

Jack puts his hands in his coat pocket...pulls out a
half-eaten roll of PEPPERMINT LIFESAVERS, puts one in
his mouth...

He looks up at the sky, snow gently falling onto his
face. It’s cold, but it’s beautiful...peaceful and
still...the air clean and crisp...

He breathes in the fresh air, the Lifesaver dissolving
in his mouth, watching the dog...

115  INT. CAMPBELL HOUSE MASTER BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

The room is dark...

Jack enters, sees Kate sleeping soundly in bed.

He sits down in a chair and watches Kate asleep, a sad
look in his eyes...

As he continues to watch her, to listen to her, his own
eyelids appear to grow heavy...

He tries to fight the sleep...opening his eyes...
focusing on her...but it’s no use...

Finally, he closes his eyes...falling into a deep
sleep...

CHAPTER SIXTEEN – THE OLD LIFE

DISSOLVE TO:

116  INT. JACK’S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - MORNING

A PHONE RINGING

Jack, flat on his back in bed...Light streams onto
his face ...he stirs...

THE PHONE STILL RINGING...

Jack reaches over to Kate’s side...there’s no one
there.

Pull back to reveal...his old Manhattan apartment...
his old dressy clothes strewn on the floor...

Jack, sleep still in his eyes, reaches over...he’s not
wearing any pajamas...picks up the phone...

		JACK
		(groggy, dazed)
	Yeah...okay, send her
	up...

He drops the phone...turns back over...let’s his eyes
stay closed for another moment...then...

His eyes open...

He looks around...sees his shirtless torso...then his
old apartment...tailored clothes on the floor.

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(sadly)
	Damnit.

Jack looks at the clock, “9:23 a.m.”  He gets out of
bed, throwing on pants and a pair of shoes, and leaves
the room...

117  INT. JACK’S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

...Jack walks to the door just as...

The doorbell RINGS.  He stops, then cautiously opens
the door, seeing...

PAULA, wearing a long overcoat and a wide smile on her
face.

		PAULA
	Waiting for me by the door,
	huh?

Jack looks at her.

		JACK
	Paula...

Paula opens her coat – the only thing she has on
underneath is a sexy little teddy.

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(momentarily
		  distracted)
	That’s totally see through...

		PAULA
		(smiling)
	Merry Christmas...

		JACK
		(confused)
	Christmas?  It can’t be
	Christmas...

Jack stares at her, totally confused...

		PAULA
		(lasciviously)
	It’s whatever you want it
	to be, Jack...

Jack grabs a leather jacket then walks right by a
shocked Paula and heads out the door, practically
running down the corridor.

		PAULA (CONT’D)
	Jack?...Jack!

CUT TO:

118  EXT. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE - MORNING

Jack’s Ferrari speeds down the bridge, toward Jersey...

119  EXT. CAMPBELL HOUSE - MORNING

Jack’s Ferrari pulls up in the driveway and he hops
out. He races to the front door, POUNDING on it...

A MAN in a Van Heusen shirt and Hagar slacks answers.
Jack stares at him in shock.

		MAN
	Can I help you?

		JACK
	Is Kate here? Does Kate live
	here?!

		MAN
	Kate? No, there’s no one here
	named Kate.  Is that good
	enough for you?

Jack starts rapping his head against the door post,
much to the shock of the guy standing there.

		JACK
	Damn...damn...damn...

		MAN
	Hey, are you okay?

		JACK
	No...I’m not...

		MAN
	Is there anything I can do
	for you?

Jack shakes his head mournfully.

		MAN (CONT’D)
	Hey, my wife’s in the kitchen.
	You got a cigarette?

		JACK
	I’m sorry, no...

Jack walks off, beleaguered...

120  EXT. ARNIE’S HOUSE - MINUTES LATER

Jack’s car drives by as Arnie carries a bicycle box out
to the garbage.  The car screeches to a halt in front
of the driveway.

		ARNIE
		(shouting at Jack)
	Hey, you can’t park that
	thing here.

		JACK
		(out the window)
	It’s me, Jack...

		ARNIE
	I don’t care if you’re Tim
	Allen with your fancy car
	and all your tools, you
	still can’t park here.

		JACK
	Tell me you recognize me,
	Arnie.  Please...

		ARNIE
	How’d you know my name?

		JACK
	We bowl together. We’re
	bowlers ...we won a
	championship...we’re winners.

		ARNIE
	I never won anything in
	bowling.

Arnie peers at Jack through the window.

		ARNIE (CONT’D)
	Wait a second...
		(thinking)
	Jack...Jack...

		JACK
	Yes...Jack Campbell...

		ARNIE
	Of course. Jack Campbell. I
	went to high school with
	you...you played baseball,
	right?
		(at the Ferrari)
	You’re doing well...

		JACK
		(remembering)
	Yes, that’s it...yes, we
	went to high school together.

		ARNIE
	You never really talked to
	me.  I wanted to talk to
	you, man...

		JACK
	Yeah...I guess I just
	wanted you to know, we
	could’ve been really good
	friends...

120A INT. FERRARI - DAY

Jack driving...a CELL PHONE RINGS.

A curious look on Jack’s face, it’s been a while since
he’s heard that sound.

		JACK
		(answering phone)
	Hello?

		ADELLE (O.S.)
	Hey Santa, where are you?
	Everybody’s here.

		JACK
	Adelle?

		ADELLE (O.S.)
	You were supposed to be here
	half an hour ago...the
	emergency strategy session?
	Your trip to Aspen? They’re
	all panicked here...

Silence from Jack...

		ADELLE (CONT’D, O.S.)
	Jack...? Are you going through
	the tunnel?

Finally, Jack shakes his head, defeated.

		JACK
	I’ll be there in twenty
	minutes...

CUT TO:

121  INT. LASSITER BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM - NOON TIME

It’s a beehive of activity...

Jack’s TEAM, anxiously going over reports and flow
charts, working the phones, drinking coffee...

Jack enters, still reeling from his experience, taking
a moment to observe the action...

Mintz spots him...

		ALAN
		(into phone)
	Thank god, Jack’s here. I’ll
	call you right back...

He hangs up the phone as all eyes in the room turn to
Jack, immediately fixating on how disheveled he looks.

		ALAN (CONT’D)
		(approaching)
	Jack, are you okay?

		JACK
		(in a daze)
	What’s going on here?

		ALAN
	It’s not good.  Bob Thomas
	has secretly been talking to
	a European drug company.
	We’re not sure which one,
	Julia’s on it right now.
	Word is they’re willing to
	let him buy a minority stake
	and keep running the entire
	company.  The Global people
	are up in arms.  They say
	we should’ve been prepared
	for this.  We’re in trouble
	here, Jack...

Jack looks at Alan for a minute.

		JACK
	You know something, Alan.
	There’s a much more assertive
	person somewhere inside of
	you...

Alan looks at him, confused.

		ALAN
	Excuse me?

		JACK
	But I think I like you better
	this way...

		ALAN
	Is this another one of those
	Sun Tzu “Art of War” tricks?

A sad laugh from Jack.

		JACK
	No.

		ALAN
	So what are we gonna do,
	Jack?

Jack wallows for another moment in his own sadness...

		ALAN (CONT’D)
	Jack...?

Jack snaps out of it, turning to Alan and the rest of
the group...

		JACK
	I’ll tell you exactly what
	we’re going to do.  You’re
	going to do whatever you
	have to do to find out which
	European company he’s been
	talking to.  Then I’m going
	to clean myself up, fly to
	Aspen, and drink egg nog
	with Bob Thomas.  His wife
	and kids will be playing in
	the background while I spend
	Christmas day convincing him
	that the European company is
	the devil and Global is the
	answer to his prayers, after
	all...
		(growing wistful)
	Then I’m going to spend four
	hours skiing. Alone. On
	Christmas day. Completely
	and utterly alone. I’m going
	to do that because that is
	my life, that is what’s
	real, and there is nothing
	I can do to change that...

Jack leaves the office to the shocked stares of his
team.

122  EXT. BROADWAY - DAY

Jack’s limo makes its way downtown.

123  INT. LIMO - SAME TIME

Jack in the back seat of the limo, sadly looking out
the window, watching the buildings pass by...

He turns away, looks at the phone...haltingly picks it
up...

		JACK
		(dialing 411)
	For Manhattan...Kate
	Reynolds...I need an address
	too...

Jack jots something down on a business card.  Then he
hangs up the phone, thinks a moment, looks out the
window, then turns to the driver...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Make a right here...

		DRIVER
	But the airport’s the other
	way...

		JACK
	We’re not going to the
	airport...

CUT TO:

123A EXT. KATE’S BUILDING - DAY

Jack’s limo pulls up outside this house on Washington
Mews...

Jack gets out...

124  INT. EAST SIDE APARTMENT BUILDING, HALLWAY - AFTERNOON

Jack stands outside an apartment door.  He hears The
Clash’s “London Calling” BLARING from inside.

He rings the bell...the volume of the music gets
lower...

Kate’s assistant, LORI, 20s, opens the door...Jack
exchanges a curious look with her.

		LORI
	Are you from the shipping
	company?

		JACK
	I’m Jack Campbell...I’m an
	old... friend of Kate’s.
	I just called.

The woman looks at him, then walks back inside...

		LORI (O.S.)
	Kate! Some guy’s here!

Beat. Jack waits anxiously at the door. Then...

		KATE (O.S)
		(to Lori)
	Did you call the airline
	like I asked?!

Jack’s eyes come alive as Kate appears wearing jeans
and a white blouse...except for her hair, she looks the
same.

		JACK
	Kate...

		KATE
	Jack...God, it’s been so
	long...You look...

She searches for a kind word, but he looks terrible.

		JACK
	You look great.

		KATE
	It’s good to see you...

She looks at him another moment, then turns...

		KATE (CONT’D)
		(yelling inside)
	Lori! Where’s that box?!

Kate walks inside, Jack follows her in sheepishly.

125  INT. KATE’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

...Jack accidentally knocks into a stack of boxes,
sending a GLASS CANDY DISH CRASHING to the floor,
SHATTERING it...

		JACK
		(bending down)
	I'm sorry...

		KATE
	Don’t worry about it, Jack...

Jack looks up at...a beehive of activity – Lori on the
phone, boxes stacked everywhere, TWO MOVERS packing
up...

		JACK
	What’s going on?

		KATE
		(searching around)
	I’m moving to Paris...it was
	right here...
		(to Lori)
	It’s a box marked “Jack.”  I
	put it in the stack for the
	Salvation Army...

		JACK
	Paris?

		LORI
		(to Kate, with
		 attitude)
	Do you want me to look for
	the box or call the airline?

		KATE
	Hey, kind of under a little
	pressure here.

		LORI
	Hey, kind of giving up
	Christmas day for my ex-boss
	here.

Jack watches this back and forth.

		KATE
	You didn’t seem to mind
	offering to help me on
	Christmas day when you were
	unwrapping that Prada bag
	I gave you.

		LORI
	Maybe it’s by the wardrobe
	boxes...

Kate heads over to some tall wardrobe boxes.

		JACK
	You’re moving...

		KATE
	Uh huh. To Paris. My firm
	has an office there and
	I’m going to be heading
	it up.

		JACK
		(stunned)
	To Paris. Paris, France.

		KATE
		(searching the
		 boxes)
	That’s the one...

		JACK
	So you’re not at a non-
	profit firm?

		KATE
		(a chuckle)
	Not with what they pay me...

		JACK
	You’re not married, are
	you?

		KATE
	No, Jack, I never got
	married. You?

		JACK
	Not exactly...
		(looking around)
	Can we just take a minute
	here?  Maybe get a cup of
	coffee or something...?

		LORI
		(yelling)
	I’ll go for a cup of coffee!

		KATE
	Yes!

A relieved smile from Jack...

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I found it!

		LORI
	Congratulations. The La
	Guardia flight’s canceled
	but I got you out of
	Kennedy on United at nine.
	Am I good or what?

Jack’s smile disappears as Kate hands him a sealed box
marked, “Jack”...

		KATE
	Here you go.  It’s just
	some old things of yours...

Jack stands here, looking at the box, then at Kate...

		JACK
	Do you ever think about us,
	Kate?  About what might
	have happened...?

A bemused LAUGH from Kate.  Then she sees he’s not
laughing...

		KATE
	You’re serious...

A nod from Jack...

		KATE (CONT’D)
	I’ll tell you what, Jack,
	if you’re ever in Paris,
	look me up. Maybe we’ll
	go for that cup of coffee.

One of the movers passes by Jack carrying a box...

Jack looks at Kate, flush with the realization that
this isn’t the same woman he knew thirteen years
ago, or left yesterday.

		JACK
	Sure. Goodbye, Kate.

He leaves...

CUT TO:

126  INT. JACK’S APARTMENT - EVENING

A scratchy Zeppelin album, the song “All Of My Love,”
fills the room. Jack, a fifth of Bushmill’s by his
side, goes through the box Kate gave him.

He removes a worn leather jacket, feeling the soft
material, then a “Mondale for President” button, which
Jack smiles upon seeing, a couple Neil Young concert
ticket stubs...

He puts the leather jacket on, then sticks the Mondale
button on the lapel.  He digs back into the box,
finding...

A messy, dog-eared copy of “Cat’s Cradle”...not the one
Kate gave him at the airport, the one she replaced...

Jack looks at it for a moment...lost in his sadness...
then...

He looks over at the clock, it reads, “8:29.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – ONE LAST TRY

CUT TO:

127 EXT. VAN WYCK EXPRESSWAY - NIGHT

Jack in his Ferrari, racing down the highway at 120
MPH...

He looks at the clock, it reads, “8:46.” He opens up
the throttle...

128 EXT. KENNEDY AIRPORT, UNITED TERMINAL - MINUTES LATER

Snow is falling as Jack’s car races up to the terminal
then stops. He jumps out. An AIRPORT SECURITY GUARD
sees him...

		AIRPORT SECURITY GUARD
	Hey, you can’t leave that
	there!

Jack runs into the terminal, ignoring the guard...

129 INT. UNITED TERMINAL - SECONDS LATER

Jack looking at the board. The nine o’clock to Paris -
Gate 8A. Jack sprints toward the gate...

130 INT. UNITED TERMINAL, GATE AREA - SECONDS LATER

...and gets there just as the flight is boarding.
Jack looks through the crowd, spotting Kate near the
front of the line, about to hand her ticket to the gate
attendant.

He pushes through the throng of people, drawing some
annoyed stares, finally making his way over to Kate.

		JACK
		(calling out)
	Kate!

Kate turns and sees Jack, a look of puzzlement on her
face.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	You can’t go!

		KATE
	Jesus, Jack...

		JACK
	Don’t get on that plane!

		KATE
	Jack.

		JACK
	Please. Let’s just go have
	a cup of coffee. That’s all
	I’m asking for. I’m sure
	there’s another flight to
	Paris tonight.

		KATE
	What do you want from me?
	You want me to tell you
	everything that happened
	was okay?

Jack just stands there, unsure...

		KATE (CONT’D)
	Well it is. Yes, I was
	heartbroken ...But I got
	over it. I moved on.
	People change, Jack. I
	changed. I don’t know
	why you suddenly feel the
	need to revisit that time
	in our lives but I assure
	you, it’s over...

Kate turns her back to Jack, leaving him standing
there...

He watches her walk to the podium, realizing she’s
right...

He sees Kate reach the podium...hand her ticket to the
attendant...

Finally, a look of determination crosses his face...

		JACK
		(at Kate)
	We have a house in Jersey!

Kate turns to him with a look that could kill.

		KATE
	Don’t do this, Jack...
	But he continues...

		JACK
	We have two kids, Annie and
	Josh...

...Kate looks at him, half-mortified, half-
interested...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...Annie’s not much of a
	violin player but she
	tries really hard. She’s a
	little precocious but that’s
	only because she says what’s
	on her mind. And when she
	smiles...

Jack shakes his head, remembering, fighting back the
tears...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And Josh...he has your eyes.
	He doesn’t say much but we
	know he’s smart...
		(lost in the memory)
	...he’s always got his eyes
	open, always watching us...
	sometimes you can look at
	him and just know that he’s
	learning something new...
	it’s like witnessing a
	miracle...

Kate’s expression has sifted from annoyance to
curiosity.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...the house is a mess, but
	it’s ours...
		(chuckling)
	...well, after a hundred
	twenty two more payments
	it will be...

Jack begins walking slowly toward Kate...the world of
the airport going on around him, Jack not caring...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And you...you’re a non-
	profit lawyer. That’s right,
	completely non-profit. But
	that doesn’t seem to bother
	you...

Kate raises an eyebrow. It’s something she’s thought
about.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And we’re in love. After
	thirteen years of marriage
	we’re still unbelievably
	in love...
		(with a chuckle)
	You won’t even let me touch
	you until I’ve said it...

Jack gets closer and closer...Kate’s spellbound now...
imagining the picture Jack’s painting...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...I sing to you...not all
	the time but definitely on
	special occasions...

Jack walks into a piece of carry-on luggage sitting by a
row of passengers...

		JACK (CONT’D)
		(off hand, to passenger)
	Excuse me...
		(to Kate)
	We made a lot of sacrifices,
	dealt with our share of
	surprises, but we stayed
	together...

Jack’s nearly there...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	You see, you’re a better
	person than I am...

Not in this life, and Kate knows it...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	...and it made me a better
	person to be around you...

Kate is perfectly still, Jack’s words echoing in her
ears.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Maybe it was all a
	dream. Maybe I went to
	bed one lonely night in
	December and imagined it
	all. But I swear,
	nothing’s ever felt more
	real to me...

He’s right in front of her. She can’t take her eyes
off him.

		JACK (CONT’D)
	And if you get on that
	plane right now, it’ll
	disappear forever.

Silence. Jack and Kate in their own little
world...airport business going on around them...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	I know we can both go on
	with our lives. And we’d
	both be fine. But I’ve
	seen what we can be like
	together...And I choose
	us...

Jack’s words resonate in her ears. He gently touches a
hand to her arm...

		JACK (CONT’D)
	Please, Kate, one cup of
	coffee. You can always go
	to Paris. Just please, not
	tonight...

She stands there, frozen, staring into Jack’s eyes,
searching for the answer.

		KATE
	Okay, Jack...

DISSOLVE TO:

131 INT. AIRPORT - LATE NIGHT

Jack and Kate, framed in the window of a nearly empty
airport coffee shop...through the window, we see snow
falling outside.

From a distance we see them...TALKING and LAUGHING over
a cup of coffee...

FADE OUT.
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