King of Comedy, The
Writers: Paul D. Zimmerman
FADE IN:
1 EXT: MIDTOWN MANHATTAN STREETS - DAY
Behind the opening credits, we watch a montage of RUPERT
PUPKIN making his daily rounds as a messenger delivering
manila envelopes and packages to various New York offices,
always courteous and polite in his demeanor, PUPKIN is an
attractive-looking young man just past thirty and dressed
in a stylish blue suit, broad tie and wide-collared shirt.
His shoes are neatly polished, his hair carefully groomed.
As the montage continues, we see that he has finished his
deliveries and is walking rapidly towards his destination.
It turns out to be a television theater north of Times
Square whose marquee announces THE JERRY LANGFORD SHOW.
It is dusk and the show is about to break. There is a
very small crowd already positioned at the stage door --
a few young girls, a few curious passers-by who have
stopped to see who will emerge. Three professional
autograph hunters are clustered together:
MAE, a lady in her sixties, wears a red velvet dress, a
lace hat and much too much rouge.
SIDNEY is in his mid-twenties, tall, badly-complexioned,
slicked hair but otherwise neatly dressed. He carries
a brown lunch bag.
CELESTE is an enormously fat woman in her mid-thirties.
She wears a large cape to conceal her obesity.
A middle-aged MAN, dressed in a corduroy suit, emerges
from the backstage door which is guarded by a large,
white-haired POLICEMAN. The non-professionals in the
crowd just peer at the MAN but MAE immediately steps in
front of him with her autograph book raised.
MAE
(to the MAN)
Are you somebody?
MAN
No, honey, I'm just a working stiff.
The MAN keep walking and MAE returns to her cohorts
just as PUPKIN arrives.
MAE
Hi, Rupert.
CELESTE
(coolly)
Hello, Rupert.
SIDNEY
Who did you get?
PUPKIN
(distractedly)
Nobody.
PUPKIN carefully places himself near the door, a step or
two away from the other professionals.
MAE
(to SIDNEY)
I got Mr. Raf Vallone outside 21.
CELESTE
(to SIDNEY about PUPKIN)
He'd never tell you anyway, Sidney.
MAE
Then I got him again at the
Pierre at four o'clock.
SIDNEY
Be a dear, Mae. I don't happen
to have Mr. Vallone.
MAE
You know what I want for him.
SIDNEY
But I have only six Barbra's left.
You know how difficult she is to
work with.
MAE
I don't have her even once.
CELESTE
(to MAE)
Maybe Rupert would help you.
PUPKIN shoots a hostile glance back at CELESTE.
SIDNEY
Would you do that, Rupert? You don't
feel about Barbra the way I do.
MAE
I'll give you Mr. Burt Reynolds too.
CELESTE
(needling RUPERT)
Look, Sidney, Rupert doesn't do
that sort of thing.
SIDNEY
How about it, Rupert? I'll give
you whoever you want.
SIDNEY starts pulling little white cards out of his paper
bag and reading them off.
SIDNEY
Rodney Dangerfield ... Richard
Harris ... Liza Minelli ... and
she's not so easy to work with
either ... Louise Lasser!
CELESTE
You're wasting your time.
PUPKIN has been trying to remain apart from the other
three. Finally he turns to SIDNEY.
PUPKIN
Look, Sidney. I'm just not
interested. This isn't my
whole life, you know.
CELESTE
What's that supposed to mean --
that it's my whole life, or
Sidney's or Mae's?
MAE
It is so my whole life.
CELESTE
Shut up, Mae. What about your
mother? Isn't she part of
your life?
MAE
It's her whole life too.
The show breaks. The doors swing open and people pour out.
The crowd around the backstage door swells.
POLICEMAN
(to the crowd)
If you want Jerry's autograph, give
me your piece of paper and I'll
send it backstage.
A number of people in the crowd hand in pieces of paper.
PUPKIN is standing next to a young couple, about college
age. The YOUNG GIRL has just sent in her paper.
PUPKIN
(to the GIRL)
What are you going to do with
Jerry's autograph?
YOUNG GIRL
I don't know. Maybe I'll sell it.
BOYFRIEND
I'll tell you what she's going to
do with it. She's going to pin
it on her bulletin board and
have an orgasm.
The YOUNG GIRL laughs unself-consciously.
CUT TO:
LANGFORD's limousine waits directly in front of the stage
door. MAE has engaged the CHAUFFEUR who stands at the
door of the car in conversation.
CHAUFFEUR
(wearily)
No, Mae.
MAE
I don't mean now.
CHAUFFEUR
No, Mae.
MAE
I'll get right out.
The CHAUFFEUR, smiling, shakes his head.
CUT TO:
A plain-looking GIRL in a black raincoat and black, floppy
hat stands on the street side of the limousine,
carefully watching MAE and the CHAUFFEUR talk.
CUT TO:
MAE
But I've never been in one.
We hear a cry as a celebrity emerges from the backstage
door. MAE turns and goes back towards the door.
CUT TO:
The POLICEMAN is handing out the autographs. Suddenly
LANGFORD emerges, flanked by three PAGES, husky young men
in their early twenties dressed in theater uniforms.
There is screaming and some yelling of LANGFORD's name.
LANGFORD pays no attention. Smiling nervously, he makes
his way towards the limousine. The CHAUFFEUR stands at
the rear of the car, holding the door. LANGFORD enters
the car and then suddenly springs back. The GIRL in the
black raincoat and black hat has hidden herself in the
back seat of the limousine. The three PAGES, who have
already turned and headed back toward the theater, hear
the commotion and swing around. The GIRL, who we shall
come to know as MARSHA, hides herself in the far end of
the limo, so two of the PAGES go around to the far side
of the car and start pulling her out while the third PAGE
moves into the limo from the street side. She fights
like a wildcat, but the PAGES slowly manage to drag her
out. During the struggle, LANGFORD stands amid the crowd,
a bit shaken. PUPKIN stands next to him, staring at him.
When finally catches LANGFORD's eye, PUPKIN smiles
pleasantly.
PUPKIN
(to LANGFORD who
barely listens)
How the hell did that girl get in
there? Jesus, they certainly
don't give you very good protection,
do they?
LANGFORD says nothing, glancing nervously at PUPKIN.
PUPKIN
Look at you here. Who the hell
is watching you? Any one of
these freaks could just walk
right up to you and do whatever
he wants.
A couple YOUNG GIRLS are pressing against LANGFORD.
FIRST GIRL
Oh, Jerry. How can we get to
talk to you?
PUPKIN
Just a minute. This is crazy.
PUPKIN straightens up for action.
PUPKIN
(yelling at the crowd)
Okay! Stand back!
PUPKIN wades through the crowd towards the limousine,
pushing SIDNEY and MAE among others out of the way.
LANGFORD follows in the path PUPKIN is clearing.
PUPKIN
Didn't you hear me?!? Come on,
people, have a heart.
The PAGES have succeeded in pulling the GIRL out of the
far door of the limo just as PUPKIN and LANGFORD arrive
at the near door. The CHAUFFEUR has been blocked by the
crowd from opening the door so PUPKIN opens it.
PUPKIN
Stand back! (To LANGFORD) Go ahead,
Jerry.
LANGFORD slips in quickly. He looks up at PUPKIN who is
holding the door, smiling pleasantly.
LANGFORD
Thanks. Thanks very much.
PUPKIN stares at LANGFORD for a moment and then slides
into the limo next to him, closing the door behind him.
2 INT: LIMO - NIGHT
PUPKIN
I hate to bother you like this, Jerry,
but could I speak to you for a minute.
LANGFORD
I'd like to but ...
PUPKIN
I know you're a busy man. I promise not
to take very long, really. But I need
your advice.
PUPKIN looks down at his hand which has been badly
scratched.
PUPKIN
You don't have a handkerchief, do you?
Jesus, these people will kill you for a
cufflink.
LANGFORD hands him a monogrammed handkerchief, then checks
his watch.
PUPKIN
Thanks. If you have to be somewhere, I
don't mind talking as we drive. You can
drop me off anywhere.
LANGFORD
Sorry, but I've got a strict rule never to ...
PUPKIN
I put myself on the line for you, Jerry.
Reluctantly, LANGFORD signals with his head to his
CHAUFFEUR to start moving. As the car moves through New
York traffic, PUPKIN and LANGFORD talk.
PUPKIN
Thanks, Jerry. I'm grateful for this chance
to talk to you ... I hope I'm not boring you.
LANGFORD
I'll let you know.
PUPKIN
Really? Fine. I'm Rupert Pupkin, Jerry.
I know that the name itself doesn't mean
very much to you but it means an awful lot
to me, believe me. Maybe you've seen me
outside your show and wondered who I am.
Well, right now, I'm in communications but,
by nature, I'm a stand-up comedian. I know
what you're thinking -- 'oh no. Not another
one.' And I wouldn't take up even one minute
of your time if I wasn't absolutely convinced
of my talent. I'm really good, Jerry,
believe me, I'm dynamite. Now you're probably
wondering if I'm so good why haven't you
caught my act somewhere, right?
LANGFORD
Well ...
PUPKIN
Well, up to now, I've been biding my time,
developing my act slowly and carefully so
that when my big break finally comes, I'm
ready -- like you were that night Paar got
sick and you sat in for him. I was there
that night, in the theater. That was the
most important night of my life, until
tonight, of course.
PUPKIN fishes a cigarette case out of his jacket pocket,
flips it open and offers one to LANGFORD.
LANGFORD
No thanks. I don't smoke.
PUPKIN returns the pack to his pocket.
PUPKIN
Me neither. I just carry them as a
courtesy. How about a cough drop?
LANGFORD
(smiling indulgently)
No thanks. I don't cough.
PUPKIN
I try not to but sometimes, you know
... Am I making any sense?
LANGFORD
(smiling)
Go on.
PUPKIN
Well, that night you did Paar, I walked
out of the theater like I was in a dream.
All of a sudden, I knew what I wanted.
I started catching your guest appearances
on Sullivan and taping them and, when you
got your own show, it got to be a kind of
regular thing. I studied how you built
to your one-liners, nice and relaxed like
you were chatting, and how you delivered
the jokes without leaning too much on
them, without saying "here's the punchline,
folks." And I watched the way you played
off dead audiences, how you let those long
silences build until people couldn't
stand it and then the way you got them
off the hook with that slow smile. You
were my college of comedy, Jerry, like
a kind of teacher, a friend. I know it
sounds crazy, but when you watch someone
every night ... But that's all in the
past. What I'm trying to say is this.
I'm ready now. I've finished the course.
And I'm thinking as we sit here talking
"Is this it? Is this that one big break?"
Is it, Jerry?
There is a long pause.
PUPKIN
Jerry?
LANGFORD
Look ... er ... what was the name?
PUPKIN
I'm Rupert, Jerry.
LANGFORD
Look, Rupert. I know what you're saying.
But things don't work that way. You can't
just walk onto a network show without any
experience. You've got to start at the
bottom ...
PUPKIN
But that's where I am!
LANGFORD
You've got to work your way up, learn your
trade in front of live audiences, start
playing the little clubs.
PUPKIN
But that can take years, Jerry! Look at
me. I'm already 31 years old! People my
age are way ahead of me. I've got some
catching up to do and I need your help.
What do you say, Jerry? All I'm asking
you to do is listen to my act. That's all.
Is that asking too much?
LANGFORD
I get calls from agents every day.
All they want ...
PUPKIN
I tried getting an agent. I did, Jerry.
But you know how it is. You can't get an
agent unless you're working and you can't
get work unless you've got an agent ...
or unless you know somebody. And the
only person I know is you, Jerry.
There is a long pause.
LANGFORD
Look, why don't you call my office.
PUPKIN
Could I?!? Oh, I knew you'd say that,
Jerry. You don't know how many times I've
had this conversation in my head. And this
is the way it always turns out. That's why
I had to sort of invite myself into the car
tonight. I know it's kind of presumptuous
and I really appreciate the time you've
given me. But breaks like this don't just
happen. You have to make your own breaks.
The limousine starts slowing down as it pulls up before
U.N. Plaza. It stops. LANGFORD gets out. PUPKIN follows.
3 EXT: U.N. PLAZA APARTMENTS - NIGHT
LANGFORD turn to PUPKIN, looking to get rid of him as
cleanly and gracefully as possible. LANGFORD extends
his hand. PUPKIN goes to shake it but his hand is wrapped
in the handkerchief. He extends his left hand. LANGFORD
shakes it awkwardly.
LANGFORD
Nice meeting you, Rupert. I hope it all
works out for you.
PUPKIN
Thanks, Jerry. I don't know how to repay
you. I'm a little short on cash this
evening, but, if you don't mind some good,
hearty food, I'd be honored to take you
to dinner.
LANGFORD
Thanks, but some people are waiting for me.
PUPKIN
Oh, I understand. Well, then, maybe I could
repay you with a joke.
LANGFORD is starting to walk into the building.
PUPKIN
Wait a minute. How's this? The first night
you do your show from the coast, you open
this way. "Good evening, ladies and
gentlemen, it's great to be back here in
Southern California where you can wake up
in the morning and listen to the birds
coughing ... "
LANGFORD
(nodding but unsmiling)
Not bad. Maybe.
PUPKIN calls after LANGFORD who heads for the entrance
to his building.
PUPKIN
Consider it a gift. Hey, Jerry!
How about lunch? My treat!
LANGFORD
(turning back before
he enters the building)
Call my office.
PUPKIN waves with his bandaged hand, notices LANGFORD's
handkerchief and unwraps it.
PUPKIN
(to the handkerchief)
Thanks, Jerry.
The CAMERA MOVES IN for a CLOSE-UP of PUPKIN in a kind of daze.
FADE TO:
4 INT: SARDI'S RESTAURANT - DAY
PUPKIN and LANGFORD stand at the edge of the foyer, waiting
for the Maitre d' to seat them. VINCENT, the owner, spots
them and hurries over.
VINCENT
I'm sorry, Mr. Langford. (To PUPKIN,
angrily) How did you get in?
LANGFORD
That's alright, Vincent. Mr. Pupkin's a
friend of mine.
VINCENT
(puzzled)
Oh, I see.
PUPKIN
That's alright. Now if you'd be good enough
to find us a nice table.
PUPKIN pushes a five dollar bill into VINCENT's hand.
VINCENT
Certainly. This way, please.
VINCENT leads PUPKIN and LANGFORD to the "bullpen," a
select spot in a corner of the restaurant.
VINCENT
Here you are. Enjoy your lunch, gentlemen.
LANGFORD
Is Eddie here today, Vincent?
VINCENT
I'll send him over.
A WAITER arrives and hands them the menu.
WAITER
Our specialty today is Rizzofino Dolce Acqua
a la Marinara con Spezi. Very good.
PUPKIN
Sounds like a new opera.
LANGFORD
Fine. What comes with it?
WAITER
Me.
The three laugh.
PUPKIN
Fine. For two.
WAITER
Very good.
The WAITER leaves.
PUPKIN
You look tired, Jerry.
LANGFORD
It shows, does it? It's all these problems
with the show. That and the custody suit.
PUPKIN
I was sorry to read about that, Jerry.
Charlene never should have gotten the
kids. If there's anything I can do.
LANGFORD
I appreciate it, Rube. Just talking about
it a little with you helps.
Eddie arrives. He is a small, slightly-bald man with
greying hair and a goatee. He wears a foulard under an
open-necked shirt. He carries a long sketch pad. He
immediately sets up a small easel and starts sketching.
PUPKIN
Hasn't Eddie already done you?
LANGFORD
Never mind. You were saying ...
PUPKIN
Well, I've been giving a lot of thought
to your situation, Jerry, ever since I
saw you starting to lose ground in the
ratings. And I think I know what the
problem is. Too many of the same faces.
LANGFORD
Yeah?
PUPKIN
Sure, people are getting tired of these
people who live off game shows and talk
shows and can't really do anything. They've
seen 'em and heard 'em till they can't
stand it anymore.
LANGFORD
You know, maybe you're right, Rube.
PUPKIN
I'm sure I am. When a show runs out of
surprises, it loses its audience.
A YOUNG GIRL stands before PUPKIN and LANGFORD. She hands
PUPKIN her autograph book.
PUPKIN
What's your name, dear?
GIRL
Dolores.
PUPKIN
(writing)
To Dolores, who sensed greatness.
Rupert Pupkin.
GIRL
(reading it)
Thanks, Mr. Pupkin.
The GIRL leaves.
PUPKIN
You see what I mean? What you need on the
show is some unknown quantity, some brilliant
talent making his television debut. Imagine
the suspense. Who is this young guy? How
will he do with the eyes of all America on
him? Something like that has got to help.
LANGFORD
And that's where you come in.
PUPKIN
Why not? Believe me, Jerry, I'd give you
the credit you deserve and I'll stick with
you. Anytime you need me, I'll be there,
doing a few minutes at Guild scale.
LANGFORD
I'd be grateful, Rube. I really would.
EDDIE
All finished, Mr. Langford.
EDDIE turns the caricature so PUPKIN and LANGFORD can see
it. It's a picture of the two of them, facing each other
and smiling.
PUPKIN
Oh, Jerry, you sneaky ...
LANGFORD
Looks good, Eddie.
The WAITER arrives with a bottle of champagne.
PUPKIN
What's this?
WAITER
Compliments of Mr. Sardi.
EDDIE hangs the picture of LANGFORD and PUPKIN on the wall
behind them among the hundreds of other caricatures --
from Bankhead to Sid Caesar to Bette Davis. The CAMERA
PANS over these. We hear the champagne pop.
PUPKIN'S VOICE
How does your afternoon look?
LANGFORD'S VOICE
What have you got in mind?
PUPKIN'S VOICE
Well, we've still got time to catch
the Cubs and the Mets out at Shea.
LANGFORD'S VOICE
Why not? But first, a toast. To you,
Rube and your success.
PUPKIN'S VOICE
Thanks, Jerry.
FADE TO:
5 EXT: U.N. PLAZA - NIGHT
PUPKIN
Thanks, Jerry.
PUPKIN takes LANGFORD's handkerchief and folds it
reverentially, tucking it carefully into his breast pocket.
He claps his hands together a few times for joy and
dashes into the street to hail a cab.
CUT TO:
6 INT: LANGFORD'S APARTMENT
LANGFORD enters his apartment. It is tasteful, modern,
spacious and empty. A floodlight shines on a single
setting at the end of a long dinner table. He walks over
to a large aquarium and sprinkles some food for the fish.
LANGFORD
(to the fish)
Say hello to Jerry.
On a shelf above the aquarium stand three pictures, one of
two boys, roughly eight and eleven, flanked by a shot of
each boy alone. LANGFORD walks to the end of the table
where a covered dish and a New York Post await him. He
lifts the covered dish which reveals a large, cold salmon.
LANGFORD
(to the fish)
Say hello to Jerry.
LANGFORD begins poking at the fish with his fork. The
phone rings. He answers it.
LANGFORD
Yeah.
GIRL'S VOICE
It's Marsha, Jerry. Did you get my note?
I left it on the back seat. Did you get it?
I dropped it there before they pulled me
out. Those guys hurt me, Jerry. (pause)
Jerry?
LANGFORD
(icily)
Who gave you this number?
MARSHA'S VOICE
Don't be angry with me, Jerry. I didn't
know what else to do; I've been trying
you every five minutes, I miss you,
baby ... Jerry?
LANGFORD hangs up the phone and then takes it off the receiver.
LANGFORD
Say goodbye to Jerry.
He shakes his head wearily, returns to his dinner and turns
to the inside pages of the New York Post.
CUT TO:
7 EXT: LEXINGTON AVENUE IN THE SIXTIES - NIGHT
A cab pulls up in front of an all-night florist shop.
PUPKIN dashes out of the cab and into the florist's.
The cab waits.
CUT TO:
8 EXT: LEXINGTON AVENUE IN THE SIXTIES - NIGHT
PUPKIN dashes out of the florist's clutching a single red
rose. He hops back into the cab which starts moving.
CUT TO:
9 EXT: A STREET OFF BROADWAY - NIGHT
The cab pulls up in front of Gil's Steaks and Chops, a
restaurant of little distinction that has a few checkered
tableclothed tables in the rear and a long bar at the
front. PUPKIN stares through the window of the bar at
RITA, the bargirl, an attractive, somewhat shopworn blonde
in her late twenties. PUPKIN enters.
CUT TO:
10 INT: BAR-RESTAURANT
PUPKIN goes to the near end of the sparsely-populated bar.
PUPKIN
Miss!
RITA comes over. PUPKIN smiles knowingly.
PUPKIN
A beer please, Miss. Something imported.
RITA
Heineken's alright?
PUPKIN
Fine.
RITA serves him a Heineken's. She stares at him, searching
his face.
PUPKIN
How have you been, Rita?
She stares again.
RITA
You're not Rupert Pupkin!
PUPKIN smiles broadly.
RITA
How the hell did you find me?
PUPKIN
Sally Gardner, I met her after a matinee.
Aren't you glad to see me?
RITA
Sure, sure. How is old Sally?
PUPKIN
The same, I guess. You know, two kids,
a nice husband, living in Clifton.
RITA
It figures.
PUPKIN
A lot of the kids in our class have
moved back.
RITA
What are you doing here?
PUPKIN
I just thought I'd say hello. Here,
I brought you a little something.
RITA
(recognizing his style)
Oh, yeah, Mr. Romance.
PUPKIN
Don't forget to put in an aspirin.
It lasts longer.
RITA fills a glass of water and puts in the rose.
RITA
Nothing's gonna keep it alive in this place.
PUPKIN
How have you been, dear, sweet Rita?
RITA
I don't have an aspirin.
PUPKIN
Maybe a Rolaids would work.
PUPKIN pulls out a pack of Rolaids and hands one to RITA
who smiles vaguely and drops it into the glass.
RITA
Well, what are you up to these days,
Rupert?
PUPKIN
Didn't you know you'd see me again?
RITA
You still going to the movies?
PUPKIN
You're looking as beautiful as ever.
RITA
Oh, yeah. I was a real knockout.
PUPKIN
I thought so.
RITA
Well, here I am. Local cheerleader
makes good.
PUPKIN
I voted for you for Most Beautiful.
RITA
Yeah?
PUPKIN
I didn't have the nerve to tell you then,
but I guess it's alright now.
RITA
Well, nothing terrible's gonna happen,
if that's what you mean.
There is an awkward pause. PUPKIN stares admiringly at
RITA.
RITA
Well, how are things with you, Rupert?
PUPKIN
Great! Everything's starting to break.
RITA
Is that right?
PUPKIN
Yeah. As a matter of fact, that's why
I'm here. I've known about this place
for a long time. I just didn't want
to make my move until I had something
to offer you. Everything's a question
of timing.
RITA stares at PUPKIN as he rattles on.
PUPKIN
What's the matter?
RITA shakes her head in disbelief and chuckles.
RITA
Jesus Christ, Rupert Pupkin!
PUPKIN
(smiling)
The two of us are often confused. He's
the one with the famous father.
PUPKIN waits for a laugh. RITA just keeps shaking her
head. PUPKIN looks around.
PUPKIN
(critically)
You like this place?
RITA shrugs.
RITA
Why, you got something better?
PUPKIN
Maybe.
RITA
What?
PUPKIN
What are you doing tonight?
RITA
Tonight?
RITA starts laughing.
PUPKIN
(smiling reluctantly)
What's so funny?
RITA
(still laughing)
You call me up all junior and senior year.
Night after night after night, right? And
every time I'm wondering 'when is this guy
going to stop talking and ask me out?'
Well, now I know the answer. August
twelfth, nineteen seventy-six. It only
took you ten, eleven years to work up to it.
PUPKIN
If I had asked you out? Would you
have gone?
RITA
Oh, no.
PUPKIN
Why not?
RITA starts laughing again.
RITA
Because I thought you were a jerk!
PUPKIN
You see! I was right! But that guy isn't
me anymore. I look at my picture in the
yearbook and I don't even recognize myself.
I'm not the same guy, Rita.
A bull-necked MAN in his early forties enters. He waves
a brief hello to RITA as he walks by. RITA smiles and
the MAN takes a seat at the far end of the bar.
MAN
Rita!
RITA
(to PUPKIN)
Excuse me a minute, honey.
PUPKIN
I'm not honey! I'm Rupert.
RITA goes to the far end of the bar and serves the MAN a
beer. They chat briefly as PUPKIN watches uneasily.
Finally PUPKIN downs his beer and raises his glass.
PUPKIN
Miss! Miss!
The MAN gets RITA's attention for PUPKIN. RITA returns
to PUPKIN and serves him another beer.
PUPKIN
I'm in the mood to celebrate tonight.
Why don't we go to this nice restaurant
I know, talk over and times, get to
know each other all over again.
RITA
And then?
PUPKIN
Well, tomorrow night I thought we'd
go out again, talk some more, get to
know each other even better.
RITA
How much?
PUPKIN
How much what?
RITA
How much do we have to get to know
each other?
PUPKIN
I don't understand.
RITA
(emphatically)
How much do we have to get to know each
other before we start talking about
that job?
PUPKIN
I'm not talking about any job.
RITA
Then what's this big offer you were
talking about?
PUPKIN
You'll see. Right now I'm asking you
for a date. How about it?
RITA
I'm sorry, Rupert. But I'm busy.
PUPKIN
Busy?
RITA
Yeah. Busy.
PUPKIN
But this is the biggest night of my life.
RITA
I've already got a date.
The MAN at the end of the bar raises his glass.
MAN
Rita!
RITA goes to the far end of the bar. She pours him another
beer and settles against the bar, resuming her chat with
him. PUPKIN looks for a moment and downs his beer. He
raises his glass.
PUPKIN
Miss! Miss!
RITA returns to him.
PUPKIN
Is that your date?
RITA
None of your business.
PUPKIN
What do you want to go out with him for?
RITA
He's a good friend of mine.
PUPKIN
Tell him you're busy.
RITA
What's so important about tonight?
PUPKIN
Everything! You don't understand.
RITA
No. I don't. It's been really nice
seeing you, Rupert. Thanks for dropping
in. But I've got some work to do.
RITA leaves PUPKIN and returns to the far end of the bar
where she once again resumes talking with the MAN. PUPKIN
sits for a moment, gets up slowly and heads for the john.
11 INT: THE JOHN - NIGHT
He enters the john and goes to the farthest of the three
urinals. A moment later, the MAN enters. He goes to the
nearest of the three urinals. The two men stare at the
wall before them but the obvious tension between them
renders them both incapable of relieving themselves.
PUPKIN glances over at the MAN's face, then immediately
turns back to the wall as the MAN turns to look at him.
The MAN glances quickly at PUPKIN and then returns to
staring at the wall. PUPKIN sneaks a furtive glance at
the MAN's penis. The MAN sneaks a furtive glance at
PUPKIN's penis.
CUT TO:
12 INT: THE BAR - NIGHT
PUPKIN emerges from the john, followed a moment later by
the MAN. They resume their seats at each end of the bar.
A third MAN has come in and is seated midway between PUPKIN
and the MAN.
PUPKIN
Miss!
RITA walks over reluctantly.
PUPKIN
Listen to me for a second.
RITA
I have work to do, Rupert.
PUPKIN
Just listen. I'm at the start of
something really big. I don't want
to talk about it here but it's going
to happen soon and it's going to be
great -- for both of us.
RITA
No kidding?
PUPKIN
So see that guy some other night.
MAN
Rita!
RITA turns to go.
PUPKIN
But I haven't finished!
RITA returns to the MAN and pours him another beer. PUPKIN
sits for a few moments, then downs his beer quickly. Again,
he raises his glass.
PUPKIN
Miss! Miss!
The MAN leans over the bar and tells RITA something. She
opens a bottle of beer and hands it to the MAN who slides
it down the bar towards PUPKIN. As the beer reaches the
middle of the bar, the THIRD MAN seated midway between
PUPKIN and the MAN raises his beer glass to take a sip just
as the sliding beer bottle passes under his hand. The
bottle stops right in front of PUPKIN who takes it and
slides it back with equal force. At this moment, the THIRD
MAN in the middle has finished his sip and has just placed
the THIRD MAN's glass on the counter. The beer bottle
collides with the THIRD MAN's glass, creating a mess. RITA
glares at PUPKIN as does the THIRD MAN. PUPKIN shrugs an
apology and RITA cleans up the mess.
RITA
(to the THIRD MAN)
I'll get you another one.
As RITA cleans up the mess and pours a fresh beer, the MAN
walks down the bar towards PUPKIN. He leans over him and
puts a supposedly friendly paw on his shoulder. PUPKIN
glances distastefully at the MAN's hand on him.
MAN
(to PUPKIN)
Look, friend. I'm trying to have a
nice civilized conversation with the
young lady. Be a good little lad,
huh, and give us a break.
PUPKIN looks up at the MAN who pats him on the back in a
gesture of fraudulent friendship and menace. PUPKIN burps.
With an effort, the MAN controls his temper and returns to
his seat at the end of the bar. PUPKIN instantly raises
his glass.
PUPKIN
Miss! Miss!
The MAN advances towards PUPKIN with another bottle of
beer. PUPKIN watches passively as the MAN pours half the
bottle into PUPKIN's breast pocket and slams the half-empty
bottle on the counter. The MAN walks down to the end of
the counter where a smiling RITA is waiting.
PUPKIN again gulps his beer down. RITA and the MAN stare
at PUPKIN expecting him to raise his glass and call for
another beer. PUPKIN just sits there. After a few
moments, RITA and the MAN resume their conversation, but
they keep glancing over at PUPKIN, expecting him to
interrupt them with a call for beer at any moment. PUPKIN
continues to sit there. Just as RITA and the MAN have
settled back into their conversation, PUPKIN falls like a
stone from the barstool onto the floor. He lies
motionless. RITA and the MAN look at PUPKIN for a moment
while the handful of other patrons glance at him and return
to their drinks. RITA leaves the bar and goes to the rear
of the restaurant, disappearing into the kitchen. As she
does, the MAN walks over to where PUPKIN is lying inert
and prods him cruelly with his foot.
MAN
C'mon, schmuck, wake up so I can
kick your ass outta here.
The MAN turns to the kitchen to see if RITA is returning.
As he does, PUPKIN carefully opens one eye, grabs a free
chair from a nearby cocktail table, rises and bangs the MAN
smartly over the head. The MAN falls, out cold. PUPKIN
straightens up quickly as the other patrons look on with
interest. PUPKIN brushes off his suit, which is blue, just
like the MAN's, and stands above the MAN just as the MAN
stood above him, his back to kitchen. RITA emerges from
the kitchen with the owner, MR. NICHOLS and a large black
COOK.
RITA
(to NICHOLS)
He was making trouble one minute
and the next he was on the floor.
RITA automatically reaches out as she talks for what she
thinks is the MAN's arm. Instead, PUPKIN turns around
smiling, leaving her too startled to speak. NICHOLS and
the COOK lift the MAN to his feet.
COOK
Okay, buddy, here we go.
NICHOLS and the COOK lead the MAN, who is still groggy, out
of the bar as RITA continues to stare at PUPKIN with a
mixture of curiosity and amusement.
RITA
Okay, Tarzan. Where do we eat tonight?
CUT TO:
13 INT: CHINESE RESTAURANT ON UPPER WEST SIDE - NIGHT
We are in the kitchen watching two dishes being chopped,
shredded and boiled in deep fat. The activity is frantic.
WE FOLLOW the two dishes as a WAITER carries them from the
kitchen to a booth where PUPKIN and RITA are talking. It
is a painfully plain restaurant, shaped in a rectangle,
with booths lining either side and a row of little tables
in between. At the back is the kitchen and two phone
booths, facing each other. An old Chinese WOMAN mans the
cash register by the door. The WAITER sets the dishes down
before RITA and PUPKIN and clears an enormous plate of
spare rib bones from RITA's place. RITA hands the WAITER
her empty cocktail glass. RITA and PUPKIN are facing one
another.
RITA
Another one, Chan.
PUPKIN
(to WAITER)
Chopsticks, please.
The WAITER nods and leaves.
RITA
So all this time you've been thinking
about me, huh?
PUPKIN
That's right, Rita.
RITA
What kinds of things were you thinking?
PUPKIN drops his eyes shyly. RITA starts laughing.
RITA
Oh, ho! Those kinds of things! Shame
on you, Rupert.
PUPKIN
Rita, I assure you there was ...
RITA
Rupert Pupkin is an unclean person!
PUPKIN
Come on, Rita. People will hear.
RITA
(in a whisper)
Rupert Pupkin is an unclean person. Oh,
come on, Rupert. Relax. Have a little fun.
WAITER arrives with RITA's drink and chopsticks and a beer
for PUPKIN.
PUPKIN
This is a very important evening to me,
Rita.
RITA
Did you know your nose wiggled when
you talked?
PUPKIN
It does?
RITA
Yeah. Just the tip. Like a rabbit.
(pause) Hey, are we gonna eat or
what? I'm starving.
PUPKIN serves RITA.
RITA
It always looks like they put worms
in this stuff.
PUPKIN
Just taste.
RITA tastes.
RITA
Well, I guess it won't kill me.
PUPKIN
This is supposed to be the finest
Cantonese cuisine in the city.
RITA
Yeah? Then what happened to the
tablecloths?
PUPKIN drops his eyes.
RITA
Oh, don't worry about it. This is
fine. (She takes a long drink) I'm
having a good time. So you've been
devoted to me, huh?
PUPKIN
I used to see you at the Garden
every year.
RITA
Oh, the Follies. That was the right
name for 'em. How did you know which
one was me? We all looked like chickens.
What I mean is, we all looked like the
same chicken. I thought it was gonna be
Rita Keane in the Ice Follies and I
wind up looking like Henny Penny.
RITA chuckles to herself.
PUPKIN
You just didn't get the breaks.
RITA
Breaks, bullshit! My parents didn't
have the money for the right coach.
But what difference does it make?
She starts laughing to herself.
RITA
I remember once we were down in
Atlanta and the ice machine broke
down. We did three hours of slush.
Everyone was falling on their faces
and hopping up with their arms open
for a bow like the whole thing was
planned. And the people ate it up.
PUPKIN
I liked the show.
RITA
Yeah? The Follies? You really must
have been carrying the torch. What
did you think when I got married?
You knew I got married?
PUPKIN
I knew it wouldn't last.
RITA
You think I should have married you,
instead, huh?
PUPKIN
Peter Drysdale! Really, Rita!
RITA
If he'd only been hit by a train.
He was worth a helluva lot more dead
than alive, I can tell you that.
RITA raises her glass to the WAITER who is standing nearby,
talking with another WAITER. As she does, a nice-looking
young MAN sitting in the middle aisle raises his glass of
beer to her and drinks it, as a kind of toast. RITA
smiles briefly and her eyes return to PUPKIN. The YOUNG
MAN is seated behind PUPKIN, facing RITA. The WAITER comes
over and collects the glass. Throughout the rest of the
scene, a subtle flirtation continues between RITA and the
YOUNG MAN.
PUPKIN
Are you seeing anyone?
RITA starts for a moment, thinking PUPKIN has caught her
looking at the YOUNG MAN.
RITA
What do you mean?
PUPKIN
I want to know about the competition,
that's all.
RITA
Well, tomorrow night, I've got a date
with Joe Namath -- you know Joe. And
Thursday --- let's see --
PUPKIN
I'm serious, Rita.
RITA
(imitating him)
I'm serious, Rita. (In her own voice)
Sure I see people. I'm not a nun, Rupert.
I see a lot of people.
PUPKIN
Anyone special?
RITA
(chuckling)
You mean am I "going steady"? Rupert,
I'm thirty-one years old!
PUPKIN
What about that guy tonight?
RITA
Him?
PUPKIN
Why him?
RITA
What am I supposed to do, huh? Sit
home watching TV? He's just some guy.
He's got his own aluminum siding
business. He comes into the city
sometimes, that's all.
PUPKIN
You don't go out with him for his
money?!?
RITA
Oh, horrors! Look, Rupert, what do
you think they pay me in that dump?
Ninety-five bucks. And you don't get
the world's greatest tippers in there
either. Somebody has to take care of
me.
PUPKIN
That's what I want to talk to you
about, Rita.
The WAITER arrives with RITA's drink.
PUPKIN
Who's your favorite movie star?
RITA
You are, Rupert. Especially your nose.
PUPKIN
Just tell me.
RITA
Is this some kind of game? Are you
going to tell me something about my
character?
PUPKIN
You'll see. Give me his name.
RITA
I can't think of anybody.
PUPKIN
You've got to have one, Rita. Everybody
does.
RITA
Okay. Okay. Let's see. (pause)
Marilyn Monroe.
PUPKIN slowly pulls out a leather-bound book from his
inside jacket pocket.
RITA
Oh, Rupert! Are we going to exchange
phone numbers!?
PUPKIN expertly flips to a middle page in the book and,
keeping the book open, his finger pointing under a name,
he turns the book to RITA.
RITA
That's her name.
PUPKIN
Her name! She signed this herself,
especially for me.
RITA starts flipping through the book, curious about the
other names. She isn't paying any attention to what PUPKIN
is saying.
PUPKIN
She wasn't a great actress but she had
a real gift for comedy. She died
tragically, you know, alone, like so
many of the world's most beautiful
women. I'm going to see that doesn't
happen to you, Rita.
RITA
Who's this one?
PUPKIN checks the book.
PUPKIN
Burt Reynolds.
RITA
Oh yeah, the guy with no clothes.
Who's this?
PUPKIN
Mel Brooks.
RITA
And this?
PUPKIN
Carol Burnett.
RITA
No kidding. How about this?
PUPKIN
Glenda Jackson.
RITA
Never heard of her.
PUPKIN
(pointing to other names)
And that's Woody Allen and there's
Ernie Kovacs -- he's dead -- and that
one's Lauren Bacall.
RITA
You don't really know any of these
people?
PUPKIN
Take a look at this.
PUPKIN flips to one of the back pages and shows a name to
RITA.
RITA
(squinting)
I can't make it out.
PUPKIN
Try.
RITA
This is really weird handwriting!
Exasperated, PUPKIN follows the name in question with his
index finger.
PUPKIN
Rooooper ....
RITA
(guessing)
Redford!
PUPKIN
That's Robert Redford.
RITA
It is?
PUPKIN
No! It's ... it's Rupert Pupkin
PUPKIN tears out the page and hands it to her shyly. RITA
just stares at it and back at PUPKIN.
PUPKIN
Don't lose it. It's going to be worth
something in a couple of weeks.
RITA start laughing.
PUPKIN
That's what I've been trying to tell
you. Things are really breaking for
me. I'm ticketed for stardom.
RITA laughs harder, despite efforts to be serious.
PUPKIN
Only a couple of hours ago, I was
talking to Jerry Langford, the Jerry
Langford. Stop it, Rita!
RITA pulls herself together for a moment.
PUPKIN
We were talking about my doing my act
on his show.
RITA
(suppressing a smile)
Your act?
PUPKIN
Get that guy you knew from Clifton out
of your head right now. You're looking
at Rupert Pupkin, Rita. Rupert Pupkin,
the new King of Comedy.
RITA starts laughing hysterically, in spite of herself.
RITA
(getting a grip on herself)
I'm sorry.
PUPKIN
Why not me, Rita? A guy can always
get what he wants if he's willing to
pay the price. All it takes is a
little talent and sacrifice and the
right break. If you've got a friend
in the right place, that's all it
takes. And that's exactly what I
have going for me right now. After
all, crazier things have happened.
RITA listens silently for a moment, then begins to giggle.
As PUPKIN resumes speaking, we CUT between RITA and the
YOUNG MAN. Their flirtation picks up steam. The YOUNG MAN
raises his eyebrows as if to ask, "Are you interested in
me?" She smiles. All the while, PUPKIN rattles on.
PUPKIN
You just don't realize what a shot on
the Langford Show can mean. That's
coast to coast, national TV, a bigger
audience than the greatest comedians
used to play to in a lifetime. A shot
like that means a free ticket on the
comedy circuit -- Flip Wilson one week,
Cosby the next, then Sonny and Cher or
Carol Burnett. And you've always got
those other talk shows to fall back on
-- Carson, Griffin. And all that leads
straight in one direction, Rita --
Hollywood! That's when we really start
living. How does this sound to you --
a beach house in Malibu, right on the
ocean. You'll get a beautiful tan,
believe me. And we'd keep a suite at
the Sherry. That's the only place to
stay when you're big. We could get
something on a top floor and look down
on all our old friends in Clifton and
just laugh. How does that sound to you?
RITA
It sounds wonderful, Rupert, and I
really hope you get what you want.
But it's getting late and I'm a working
girl. You know what I mean?
The telephone at the back of the restaurant starts ringing.
A WAITER in the background moves slowly to answer it.
PUPKIN
You going to spend the rest of your
life in that place? Is that what you
really want, talking about nothing with
nothings? I thought you wanted something
a little better than that and that's what
I'm offering. Every King needs a Queen,
Rita. I want you to be mine. What do
you say?
RITA
You really want to help me out? You
see this. (She points to her lower
back molar) A hundred seventy-five
bucks. If you could spare fifty, say,
until next Monday, that would keep
three people really happy -- me, my
landlord and my dentist.
During RITA's speech, the WAITER has been working his way
from the phone booth towards the front of the restaurant.
WAITER
Telephone for you, Miss.
RITA
(looking puzzled)
Me? Nobody knows I'm here. You didn't
tell anybody, did you?
PUPKIN
No.
RITA
(getting up)
What the hell's going on?
CAMERA FOLLOWS RITA, who walks to the back of the
restaurant and picks up the dangling receiver in one of
the two facing booths, the other of which is occupied.
14 INT: THE PHONE BOOTH - NIGHT
RITA
Hello?
MAN'S VOICE
Hi.
RITA
Who is this?
MAN'S VOICE
Who do you think it is? I've been
staring at you all evening.
RITA
Where are you?
The YOUNG MAN taps forcefully with his index finger on the
glass door of his booth. RITA, hearing the noise, turns
around and finds herself staring at the YOUNG MAN. She
smiles.
CUT TO:
15 INT: THE RESTAURANT - NIGHT
PUPKIN at the table looking over the check. He gets out a
ten dollar bill. RITA emerges from the booth in nervous
high spirits.
RITA
(with repressed gaiety)
You know who that was -- the bar. I
have to go back to work.
PUPKIN
How did they know you were here?
RITA
(gathering her things)
I guess I must have told them. They
need someone right away.
PUPKIN
(accusingly)
You don't even care, do you?
RITA
Oh, no. I do. Really!
PUPKIN
It's not the bar, Rita. Don't tell
me it's the bar.
RITA
Don't be angry. It has nothing to
do with you. I had a nice dinner,
really. It was great seeing you
again.
PUPKIN stare at her icily.
RITA
Come on. Let's see a smile.
PUPKIN
Why don't we finish the evening up
at the bar together? End the evening
where it began?
RITA
After what happened there?
PUPKIN
Well, I could at least drop you off!
RITA
(hurriedly making up her face)
That's okay. Really. I can manage.
Why don't you just go to a movie or
something? Don't let me spoil your
evening.
PUPKIN
But that wouldn't be right.
RITA gets up and stands before PUPKIN.
RITA
(firmly)
Look, Rupert. It's been a lot of fun,
really. I'll see you sometime, huh?
PUPKIN
But Rita!
RITA starts moving towards the door.
RITA
Come on, Rupert. I'm in a hurry.
RITA marches out with PUPKIN trailing behind. He throws
the check and the ten dollar bill at the CASHIER.
16 EXT. THE STREET - NIGHT
CAMERA FOLLOWS PUPKIN as he streaks out the door and jumps
into the adjacent doorway, immediately peering down the
street. He spies the YOUNG MAN and RITA walking about
three quarters of a block down and follows them, keeping
out of sight. They turn occasionally to see if he's
around, then stop turning. They go around the corner and
disappear into a large apartment building. PUPKIN rushes
after them, positioning himself across from the building.
He searches the windows for some clue as to where they
have gone. Finally a set of lights go on on the fourth
floor and a MAN's shadow is seen closing two sets of
blinds.
CUT TO:
17 INT: THE APARTMENT BUILDING FOYER - NIGHT
PUPKIN enters the building and finds himself in a small
entranceway. The door to the lobby is locked. Next to
the door, on the wall, are listed the tenants, their
apartment numbers and a button next to each name. There is
an intercom speaker. There are eight apartments listed on
the fourth floor, running from 4A to 4H. PUPKIN looks them
over, takes a deep breath and pushes 4A.
CUT TO:
18 INT: YOUNG MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
It is an extremely well-furnished studio apartment with all
the requirements of a contemporary bachelor pad -- an
imitation bearskin rug, nice bookshelves including an
elaborate stereo system, recessed lighting, including a
soft spotlight on the Queen-sized bed with its pseudo-satin
cover. The YOUNG MAN and RITA stand in the middle of the
room. RITA looks about uneasily. No intercom buzzer sounds.
YOUNG MAN
Welcome to the pleasure dome.
RITA
You don't kid around, do you?
YOUNG MAN
(smiling)
I do alright. What's your libation?
RITA
Huh?
YOUNG MAN
Your potion. Your drink.
RITA
Bourbon and soda. Make it light.
The YOUNG MAN goes to his chic little bar and starts fixing
RITA a strong bourbon and soda. He also fixes himself a
strong scotch and water. As he works, they talk.
YOUNG MAN
You from the South?
RITA
Me?
YOUNG MAN
That's what Southern people drink.
Lots of bourbon.
RITA
What do people from Jersey drink?
YOUNG MAN
I make it a point to study things
like that. It's important to know
people's backgrounds, their tastes,
their culture. It gives you a little
head start.
The YOUNG MAN turns from the bar and hands RITA her drink.
YOUNG MAN
I'm Chet. Whom do I have the
pleasure of serving?
RITA
I'm Mary.
YOUNG MAN
Pleased to meat you, Mary. (He lifts
his glass) To our evening.
CUT TO:
19 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN stands before the intercom.
WOMAN'S VOICE
Who?
PUPKIN
Rita Keane. I want to talk to her.
WOMAN'S VOICE
Rita Keane?
PUPKIN
That's right. Oh, never mind. I
must have the wrong apartment.
WOMAN'S VOICE
There's no Rita here.
PUPKIN
I know. I know. I'm sorry to bother
you.
WOMAN'S VOICE
You must have the wrong apartment.
PUPKIN
I'm sorry.
PUPKIN pushes 4B.
CUT TO:
20 INT: YOUNG MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
RITA is seated on the couch. The YOUNG MAN is putting a
record on the phonograph. Once again, the intercom doesn't
sound. PUPKIN has drawn another blank.
YOUNG MAN
Leisure is America's fastest growing
industry. Did you know that? Think
about it. Short work weeks, more
vacation. People need something to
do with all that time and that's where
I come in. Leisure Villages, Inc.
We buy land an hour or so outside
your metropolitan centers. We set
up the bungalows, dig some lakes, lay
out a golf course, you know, fix the
whole place up so it's usable. Then
young, personable guys like me show
the people around. It the guy seems
tight, we point out the investment
factor. If he's a swinger, well,
the bungalows are very private. If
he's a sports nut, we talk up skiing
and fishing and tennis.
The phonograph starts playing Burt Bachrach.
YOUNG MAN
What's your work, Mary?
The YOUNG MAN walks back to her and stands over her.
RITA
Me. I fly for National.
YOUNG MAN
(delighted)
No kidding?
RITA
What's that smell?
YOUNG MAN
Sandalwood incense. It seemed very
you.
CUT TO:
21 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN yells into the intercom.
PUPKIN
I said I'm sorry!
We hear the intercom at the other end click off. PUPKIN
pauses a moment and pushes 4C.
CUT TO:
22 INT: YOUNG MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
RITA and the YOUNG MAN are seated on the couch. Still no
buzzer. As the YOUNG MAN talks, RITA is staring at a
woman's shoe lying underneath a small table that holds a
lamp.
YOUNG MAN
Did you know that you have remarkable
hair?
RITA
Yeah? You know what? I feel like
going to a movie.
YOUNG MAN
Now?
RITA
Sure. Why not? It's only twenty of
ten. We can make a ten o'clock show.
The YOUNG MAN takes her hands and looks deep into her eyes.
YOUNG MAN
Why don't we make our own movie?
RITA
No. I don't think so.
YOUNG MAN
Don't be so uptight. Give it a chance.
RITA
I want to go to the movies, that's all.
YOUNG MAN
We can go to the movies later.
RITA pulls her hands away.
RITA
Let's stop playing games, okay.
I'm not a kid.
YOUNG MAN
You have something against pleasure?
RITA
I'm just not interested in being
tonight's ritual sacrifice, okay?
YOUNG MAN
Shall I freshen up your drink?
RITA shakes her head.
YOUNG MAN
(growing irritated)
What exactly did you think we were
going to do up here?
CUT TO:
23 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN pushes 4D and waits.
MAN'S VOICE
Yeah?
CUT TO:
24 INT: YOUNG MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The YOUNG MAN is practically sitting on RITA's lap. He
has RITA backed up against the end of the couch.
YOUNG MAN
Look, if you've got sexual problems
let's talk about them. It helps
clear the air.
RITA
There's nothing wrong with me.
YOUNG MAN
Then it's me?
RITA
I don't even know you.
YOUNG MAN
Then find out. Sex is a great way
of breaking down barriers.
RITA
I don't think so.
YOUNG MAN
I'm sure this could lead to something
beautiful.
The YOUNG MAN kisses RITA roughly.
YOUNG MAN
Passive resistance, huh?
RITA
Let's just write this thing off as
a big mistake. What do you say?
YOUNG MAN
What's wrong with me?
RITA
Nothing. I just want to go home.
YOUNG MAN
I can see I'm not turning you on.
RITA
(smiles)
You noticed that, huh?
YOUNG MAN
Come on. What's wrong with me?
RITA
You really want to know?
YOUNG MAN
Yeah.
RITA
How can I put it? Well, it's like
you've got your fly open and your
tongue hanging out.
CUT TO:
25 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN, growing more frantic, pushes 4E.
CUT TO:
26 INT: YOUNG' MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The YOUNG MAN is all over RITA. No buzzer sounds.
YOUNG MAN
I'm really a very sensitive person.
RITA
Come on. Get offa me.
YOUNG MAN
Sometimes I write poetry.
RITA pulls herself away.
RITA
No!
YOUNG MAN
So you wanna play hard to get, huh?
The YOUNG MAN grabs her.
CUT TO:
27 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN, even more desperate, pushes 4F.
OLD LADY'S VOICE
¿ Que es, por favor?
CUT TO:
28 INT: YOUNG MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The YOUNG MAN is strong-arming RITA who is beginning to
get frightened.
RITA
Come on. Let's talk this over.
YOUNG MAN
I admire you very much. I respect
you, Mary.
RITA
(her eyes beginning to fill
with terror)
You're hurting me.
YOUNG MAN
I'm only doing what you want.
RITA
(pleading, on the verge
of tears)
Oh, please.
CUT TO:
29 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN, frantic, pushes 4G.
CUT TO:
30 INT: THE YOUNG MAN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The YOUNG MAN has RITA securely pinned and is starting to
undo her blouse. She is desperate.
YOUNG MAN
Afterwards, you'll thank me.
The buzzer sounds with great force. It is one, long,
protracted blast that breaks the YOUNG MAN's concentration.
RITA takes advantage of the distraction to grab her bag
and rush out as the buzzer continues to sound.
CUT TO:
31 INT: THE ENTRANCEWAY - NIGHT
PUPKIN still has his finger on 4G as RITA rushes out the
EXIT door next to the elevator and comes rushing towards
him. She is numb and emotionally exhausted.
PUPKIN
Rita!
RITA
(in desperation)
What do you want?
RITA keeps walking out of the entranceway and onto the
street. PUPKIN is at her side.
PUPKIN
Don't be angry with me. I was worried
about you, that's all.
RITA
Just go home and leave me alone.
PUPKIN take off his jacket and puts if around RITA's
shoulders.
PUPKIN
(quietly)
Here. You'll need this. It's getting
chilly.
RITA
I'm so bad. I'm such a dummy.
PUPKIN
Don't say that, Rita. Everyone
does crazy things.
RITA
Not all the time.
PUPKIN
I'll get us a cab.
PUPKIN rushes into the street and hails a cab.
CUT TO:
32 EXT: WEST 56th STREET BETWEEN EIGHTH AND NINTH AVENUES -
NIGHT
WE SEE the taxi pull up in front of one of those middle-
class tenements -- a fairly well-preserved six-story
building with a fire escape running up the front. PUPKIN
helps RITA out of the taxi. A dime bounces at PUPKIN's
feet.
CAB DRIVER'S VOICE
Stuff it, big spender!
PUPKIN pays no attention. He walks RITA to her front
stoop.
RITA
Well, I guess you're entitled to come
up for coffee.
PUPKIN
That's okay, Rita. You're tired and
I know I'm not always the easiest guy
to be with.
There is a pause.
RITA
(puzzled)
What do you want, Rupert?
PUPKIN
(softly)
You don't understand anything, do you?
I love you, Rita. I want to change
your life ... if you'll only give me a
chance.
RITA just shakes her head sadly.
PUPKIN
Look, what if I arranged it so you
could meet Jerry? You'd have to
believe me if you heard it from him.
RITA
There's no ...
PUPKIN
I'll arrange that, Rita. We'll all
go out to dinner some night or maybe
out to his place, on a weekend. You'll
see. The trouble with you is you've
got no faith. Now go to bed and get a
good rest and I'll see you in a couple
of days.
PUPKIN gives RITA a very gentle, sweet kiss on the
forehead.
PUPKIN
(gently)
Now run along in.
RITA just stares at him.
PUPKIN
Go on.
RITA turns slowly and goes in. She looks back. PUPKIN is
gone.
FADE TO:
33 EXT: MADISON AVENUE AND 48th STREET - DAY
PUPKIN carries a large manila folder into 424 Madison. As
usual, he is impeccably dressed.
CUT TO:
34 INT: OFFICES OF KOERNER-LIBERMAN TRAVEL - DAY
It is a large corner office, broken up by glass dividers.
A RECEPTIONIST sits at a desk facing the door. PUPKIN enters.
RECEPTIONIST
Yes.
PUPKIN hands the RECEPTIONIST the package.
PUPKIN
I need somebody to sign. You can sign
anything you want -- Cary Grant, Art
Carney, I don't care.
The RECEPTIONIST signs.
PUPKIN
Would you mind very much if I used
your phone? It's local.
RECEPTIONIST
Don't be, long. Dial nine.
PUPKIN takes out a little piece of paper from his suit
pocket and dials a number.
PUPKIN
(tense, nervous)
May I speak to Jerry Langford, please?
Thanks ... Jerry Langford, please.
Rupert Pupkin ... Jerry knows. I'm
calling at his request ... I see.
That's alright. I'll call him again.
RECEPTIONIST
That's not Jerry Langford, the ...
PUPKIN
(smiling proudly)
That's right. Thanks for your phone.
CUT TO:
35 EXT: TIMES SQUARE - DAY
PUPKIN approaches Times Square phone booth. He rests a
few folders on a trash basket just outside the booth. He
enters the booth and dials.
PUPKIN
Jerry Langford, please ... May I speak
to Jerry Langford, please ... Rupert
Pupkin, I called earlier ... I see.
How long do you expect that'll last?
Oh, fine. I'm at (PUPKIN checks the
number on the phone) CH 4-1482 ... I'll
be here for another half hour, forty-
five minutes. Please be sure he gets
my message. Thanks.
PUPKIN hangs up.
CUT TO:
36 EXT: TIMES SQUARE - DAY
A SHOT of the clock on the Allied Chemical Building. It
reads 10:10. A nearby record store starts blasting music
into the street through a loudspeaker. The music serves
as background for a montage in which we CUT BETWEEN the
clock, which moves in bites towards 11:30 to Broadway as
it looks to PUPKIN in the booth -- that cavalcade of
hustlers, whores, housewives, kids, weirdos and working
people; and SHOTS of various people waiting to use the
phone -- their impatience, anger, disgust. Each time one
of them arrives, PUPKIN pretends to thumb through the phone
book and dial a number. WE WATCH him chatting with
animation until the waiting party leaves. Then WE SEE him
push the coin return to retrieve his dime. Finally, PUPKIN
takes a last look at the clock. WE SEE that it reads
11:30. He leaves the booth and goes to the trash basket.
His packages have been swiped.
CUT TO:
37 EXT: AN UPPER BROADWAY HIGH-RISE OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
WE SEE PUPKIN enter. He is watched by a plain girl of
about twenty in a black raincoat and a floppy black hat
whom we recognize as MARSHA.
CUT TO:
38 INT: A CORRIDOR IN THE HIGH-RISE OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
PUPKIN emerges from the elevator and walks down the
corridor looking for the door the Jerry Langford Show
offices. He finally finds it and enters.
CUT TO:
39 INT: THE RECEPTION AREA OF THE JERRY LANGFORD SHOW
OFFICES - DAY
A bored, plump, middle-aged RECEPTIONIST sits behind a
large desk that holds a phone receiver connected to a
small switchboard. PUPKIN presents himself.
RECEPTIONIST
Yes sir?
PUPKIN
Mr. Langford, please.
RECEPTIONIST
Your name?
PUPKIN
Pupkin. Rupert Pupkin.
The RECEPTIONIST puts a call through. Wide-eyed, PUPKIN
observes the blow-ups of Langford talking with various
celebrities.
FADE TO:
40 INT: A TELEVISION STUDIO - DAY
LANGFORD is seated at his desk on stage and PUPKIN is his
guest. WE SEE television cameras and in the background,
the control room.
PUPKIN
You know the secret of dieting, Jerry?
Grapefruit. It's good for you. It's
filling. And it's low in calories.
LANGFORD
(to the camera)
Take note of that, you ladies.
PUPKIN
As a matter of fact, yesterday I went
to the outdoor market near where I
live and I bought twenty grapefruit.
The grocer looked at me and said,
"What are you gonna do with all those?"
So I bent over and told him (in a
confidential tone) "I'm gonna take 'em
back to Florida and set 'em free!"
LANGFORD and the AUDIENCE laugh heartily.
FADE TO:
41 INT: THE RECEPTION AREA -- DAY
RECEPTIONIST
(holding the phone and
talking to PUPKIN)
I'm sorry, Mr. Pupkin, but Mr. Langford's
secretary has no record of any appointment.
PUPKIN
Pardon me?
RECEPTIONIST
Mr. Langford's secretary has no
record of any appointment.
PUPKIN
Well, technically speaking, I don't
actually have an appointment. Jerry
asked me to call him today and when
I couldn't get through, I thought ...
As PUPKIN talks, a VISITOR has entered and stands behind
him waiting for the RECEPTIONIST's attention.
RECEPTIONIST
I see. (Into the phone) He says Mr.
Langford asked him to call. (To
PUPKIN) Mr. Langford's secretary wants
to know what this is in reference to.
The RECEPTIONIST glances past PUPKIN to the VISITOR
waiting.
RECEPTIONIST
(to PUPKIN)
Would you mind talking to her yourself?
The RECEPTIONIST hands the phone to PUPKIN and occupies
herself with the VISITOR.
PUPKIN
Hello? ... Jerry and I discussed
my being on the show last night and
he told me to call ... No. I don't
mind.
PUPKIN hands the phone back to the RECEPTIONIST.
PUPKIN
I'm supposed to wait.
The RECEPTIONIST listens to the phone for a moment and then
hangs up. The VISITOR has just disappeared into the back
offices. PUPKIN stands there, smiling politely at the
RECEPTIONIST who returns a professional smile.
PUPKIN
Who was that gentleman? (PUPKIN
indicates with a glance to the
entrance to the back offices that
he is referring to the VISITOR)
RECEPTIONIST
Mr. Gangemi.
PUPKIN draws a complete blank but wants to appear
knowledgeable.
PUPKIN
Oh, I see. Mr. Gangemi.
RECEPTIONIST
He takes care of our air conditioning.
CATHY LONG emerges from the back offices. She is a tall,
modishly-dressed, attractive woman in her early thirties.
CATHY LONG
Uh ... Mr. Pupkin?
PUPKIN
Yes?
CATHY LONG
I'm Cathy Long.
PUPKIN
I'm Mr. Pupkin.
CATHY LONG
Can I help you?
PUPKIN
I'm sorry, but you are?
CATHY LONG
I'm Bert Thomas' assistant.
PUPKIN
Bert Thomas?
CATHY LONG
He's our executive producer.
PUPKIN
Oh, yes. I'm sure he is. But, you
see, I've already talked directly
with Jerry about my being on the show
and he told me to get in touch with
him. I'm just here to follow up on
that.
CATHY LONG
What do you do, Mr. Pupkin?
PUPKIN
Stand-up comedy.
CATHY LONG
Fine. Where are you working?
PUPKIN
Well, right now I'm developing new
material.
CATHY LONG
I see. Well, as soon as you start
performing again, let us know where
you are and I'll send my assistant
down to check you out.
PUPKIN
Sure. Sure. But that's not necessary,
Miss Long. Jerry and I already went
over all this.
CATHY LONG
Does Jerry know your work?
PUPKIN
(nodding)
Yes. I don't think he does.
CATHY LONG
You don't happen to have a tape or a
demo that we might listen to?
PUPKIN
Oh, sure. I've got lots of tapes.
That's no problem.
CATHY LONG
Good. Why don't you just send one
to us and I assure you we'll listen
to it promptly.
PUPKIN
Great. I'll do that. I can see
that'd be a lot easier for Jerry.
Thanks a lot, Miss Long.
CATHY LONG
Don't mention it, Mr. Pupkin. Now,
if you'd excuse me ...
PUPKIN
Sure. Sure. Thanks again.
CATHY LONG leaves. PUPKIN, left standing there, smiles at
the RECEPTIONIST who returns another professional smile.
PUPKIN
(to the RECEPTIONIST)
Thanks.
CUT TO:
42 EXT: THE UPPER-BROADWAY HIGH-RISE OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
PUPKIN comes out of the building elated. He is immediately
confronted by MARSHA. PUPKIN continues to walk as MARSHA
skips beside him.
MARSHA
I've got to speak to you for a minute.
I'm Marsha.
PUPKIN
Yeah. I know.
MARSHA
Look. Did Jerry say anything about
me last night?
PUPKIN
I'm really in a hurry, Marsha ...
MARSHA
Was he angry? ... In the car last night,
I saw you. Did he talk about me?
PUPKIN
I thought that was you. That was
some stunt.
MARSHA
What did he say?
PUPKIN
We didn't talk about you.
MARSHA
You know Jerry?
PUPKIN
Yeah.
MARSHA thrusts an envelope into PUPKIN's hands.
MARSHA
Give him this for me.
PUPKIN
Why don't you ...
MARSHA
Because I can't! Please. I need
your help. You'll be my friend forever.
Come on. I'll buy you something.
What do you want?
She takes a great messy bunch of bills out of her raincoat
pockets and jams them into PUPKIN's hands.
PUPKIN
I don't want this.
MARSHA
Take it. I can get all I want.
PUPKIN shrugs and pockets the money.
PUPKIN
Okay. I'll try.
MARSHA
(turning cold)
Don't try. Do it. Remember. We
just made a deal.
PUPKIN stares at the envelope.
MARSHA
And don't open it. It's private.
PUPKIN
Okay. Okay.
MARSHA
How soon can you get it to him?
PUPKIN
I don't know. Couple a days.
MARSHA
(menacingly)
You'd better.
MARSHA turns and walks in the direction from which they
came. CAMERA FOLLOWS PUPKIN who walks on for a block or
so, then opens the envelope. It contains a set of
apartment keys, a scrap of hand-knitted woolen cloth and a
note in lipstick that reads: "I've made you a sweater,
honey. Come try it on. I miss you. Love, M. 74 East
83rd Street, Apartment 2B!" He takes out the money
MARSHA
gave him. There are wads of tens, twenties and fifties
with a sprinkling of fives and ones.
CUT TO:
44 EXT: A TIMES SQUARE HOTEL - DAY
The hotel is just one step up from a flophouse. WE SEE
PUPKIN enter.
CUT TO:
45 INT: PUPKIN'S ROOM - DAY
PUPKIN enters. WE SEE that it is a small room, furnished
by the hotel in the plainest way. Nicely-done home-made
collages of show business figures decorate the drab green
walls. The room is neat and clean. PUPKIN goes directly
to a plain table which holds two tape recorders -- one a
small cassette the other a large table tape recorder. He
picks up the microphone of the larger one and speaks into
it.
PUPKIN
Testing. Testing. Testing.
In the following montage, we hear in the background the
replay of his "testing, testing testing" and various
other noises -- a bit of his voice taped, a burst of
laughter, the squeal of a tape recorder sent fast-forward,
a sudden burst of applause, a scrap of theme music. At the
same time, the CAMERA PANS about the room. We look
at the collages which include all the obvious show business
figures, with a heavy emphasis on comedians from Chaplin
and Keaton to Sid Caesar and Woody Allen. The collages
also include such varied figures as Jimmy Carter, Julia
Childs, Tom Seaver, David Brinkley, Muhammad Ali, Clifford
Irving, Walter Cronkite and Mark Spitz. There is a special
Kennedy section -- John F. and Bobby framed in black,
Jackie in mourning and a picture of Teddy. There is also a
trio of assassins -- Sirhan, Oswald and James Earl Ray.
There is also a talk show collage with a photo of Langford
in the center like a sun surrounded by Snyder, Walters,
Carson and Griffin. One bookshelf holds a veritable
library of comedy -- joke books, biographies of comedians,
treasuries of American humor. Another shelf holds scores
of tapes in their own little boxes, each one neatly marked,
i.e., "LANGFORD MONOLOGUES: 7/5/72 to 9/9/72." "MISC.
MONOLOGUES 6/13/68 to 8/1/69."
CUT TO:
PUPKIN sitting before the tape recorder lost in thought.
Finally, he starts the larger recorder and lifts the mike.
PUPKIN
First, Miss Long. Thanks very much
for your help at the office and for
passing this along to Jerry. I
appreciate it more than you know.
PUPKIN stops the tape recorder and thinks again for a few
beats. He then starts the large recorder.
PUPKIN
Now, Jerry. Before I begin, I just
want to thank you for listening to
this material and for the opportunity
that you've given me. You know, lots
of people think that guys like you,
you know, people who have made it,
lose their feeling for struggling
young talent such as myself. But
now I know from experience that those
people are just cynics, embittered
by their own failure. I know, Jerry,
that you're as human as the rest of us,
if not more so. (pause) Oh well, I
guess there's no point going on about
it. You know how I feel. So let's get
on with the show. The best of Rupert
Pupkin! I've sketched out this little
introduction in order to save you a
little time. So close your eyes and
imagine it's exactly six o'clock.
You're standing in the wings and we
hear Rick Ross and the Orchestra strike
up your theme song.
PUPKIN pushes a button on the cassette and we hear the
theme song of the Jerry Langford Show, followed by the
voice of BERT CANTER, the announcer.
BERT CANTER'S VOICE
And now, direct from New York, it's
the Jerry Langford Show! Tonight,
with Jerry's special guest ...
PUPKIN deftly shuts off the cassette and substitutes his
own voice for that of CANTER's. The large tape recorder
keeps rolling.
PUPKIN
... the comedy find of the year making
his television debut, Rupert Pupkin, the
King of Comedy!
PUPKIN rapidly races the cassette tape forward, then pushes
down the "play" button. We hear a burst of thundering
applause. PUPKIN lets the applause run for a while and
then shuts it off. The large recorder keeps rolling.
PUPKIN
Now you come on, Jerry, and do your
monologue. Then, when the time comes,
this is how I see you introducing me.
You'll say something like this.
"Ladies and Gentlemen we're going to
do something a little bit different
tonight. It isn't often that you can
call someone a sure thing in the
entertainment business. After all,
the verdict is always in your hands.
But I think after you've met my next
guest, that you'll agree with me that
he's destined for greatness. So,
now, will you please give your warmest
welcome to the newest King of Comedy,
Rupert Pupkin!!!"
PUPKIN pushes the cassette and we hear another enormous
burst of applause. PUPKIN lets it run, listening intently.
He stands up and faces a wall of his room, still holding
the microphone. WE SEE that the wall is covered by a huge
blow-up of an audience laughing and applauding.
CUT TO:
45 INT: THE LANGFORD TELEVISION STUDIO - NIGHT
WE SEE a real audience laughing and applauding.
CUT TO:
PUPKIN strides triumphantly onto the stage, nodding to
acknowledge the applause. He stops center stage as the
television cameras maneuver about him.
CUT TO:
A SHOT of the "APPLAUSE" sign flashing, then stopping.
Still, the applause goes on.
CUT TO:
PUPKIN raises his hands to quiet the audience. After a few
moments the applause dies down, except for a pair of hands
in the center of the orchestra. PUPKIN peers out to see
who is still applauding.
CUT TO:
RITA, in the middle of the audience, applauds
enthusiastically.
CUT TO:
PUPKIN on stage. PUPKIN gives RITA a special smile and
nod.
PUPKIN
Will somebody tell that lovely lady
that the applause sign is off.
The audience laughs.
CUT TO:
46 INT: PUPKIN'S ROOM - DAY
PUPKIN stands facing the "audience" still holding the mike.
PUPKIN
That's a possible introduction, Jerry.
Now let's move on to my act.
CUT TO:
47 INT: THE RECEPTION AREA OF THE LANGFORD SHOW - DAY
PUPKIN is pacing. He is wearing another suit, this one a
broad-lapelled-grey. He is freshly shaved, is hair neatly
combed, his shoes carrying a bright shine. He clutches a
small flat box, neatly wrapped with the words 'FOR JERRY
LANGFORD" written clearly across the top in large print.
CATHY LONG emerges from one of the back corridors into the
reception area.
CATHY LONG
Yes?
PUPKIN
(suddenly a bit shy)
I didn't want to take any chances
with this ... uh ... Miss Long, so I
... uh ... thought I'd just bring it
here myself.
He hands CATHY LONG the package as though it contained
nitroglycerine.
CATHY LONG
We talked about this this morning,
did we, Mr. ... ?
PUPKIN
Pupkin. Rupert Pupkin.
CATHY LONG
Oh, yes. It's been some day. (pause)
Well, I certainly appreciate your
bringing this over, Mr. Pupkin, and
we'll listen to it as soon as possible.
PUPKIN
Fine. Er ... you don't have any idea
how soon that might be?
CATHY LONG
Well, you can try checking with us
tomorrow. We might know something
by then. Otherwise, it'll have to
be Monday.
PUPKIN
What if I just sort of waited around
here today, just in case? I'll stay
out of the way.
CATHY LONG
You'd just be wasting your time,
Mr. Pupkin. We won't know anything
until tomorrow at the earliest.
PUPKIN
Oh, I wouldn't consider it a waste of
time at all. I'd be glad to do it.
CATHY LONG
Look, why don't you try us tomorrow.
Okay?
PUPKIN
Tomorrow? ... Right. I'll do that.
Thanks a lot, Miss Long. And thank
Jerry.
CATHY LONG smiles at PUPKIN and goes, leaving PUPKIN
staring at a picture of LANGFORD on the wall. WE FIX on
LANGFORD a moment and PULL BACK to see LANGFORD in what
PUPKIN would imagine his office to be.
48 INT: AN OFFICE - DAY
A large, corner office furnished in royal red, with high
ceilings and a huge desk. Potted palms and hydrangeas rest
on a marble floor. LANGFORD is moving about restlessly,
clutching PUPKIN's tape in one hand and waving it about.
PUPKIN is seated on a comfortable couch.
LANGFORD
Dynamite! This is dynamite!
PUPKIN
(shyly)
You think so, Jerry?
LANGFORD
Look, I've been at this for fifteen
years, Rupert, and I haven't come up
with anything like this -- not me,
not any of my writers.
PUPKIN
(smiling with obvious
pleasure)
Well, I'm glad you like it, Jerry.
LANGFORD
Tell me something, Rube. (pause)
How do you do it? I'm not asking
to use the material myself. I just
want to know how you (LANGFORD waves
his arms in a gesture of frustration)
how you do it.
PUPKIN
Well, I don't know if I can explain
it, really.
LANGFORD
Come on. Try, Rube.
PUPKIN
Well, it just sort of comes. I think
about my life, see, mainly about the
worst parts, all the awful things, and
I just try to see them in a funny light.
That's all.
LANGFORD
(eagerly)
Is that what you do? The worst parts,
and then you look at them in a funny
light? Is that what you do?
PUPKIN
More or less. It's hard to describe
how its happens.
LANGFORD
But that's just it, Rube. It doesn't
happen for me. Why do you think the
show is in so much trouble? By the
time I've done my monologue, everyone
has switched to Carson. Maybe if you
did a little writing ... ?
PUPKIN
Sure, Jerry, I'd do anything I could
to help out.
LANGFORD
You would? Great. Why don't you
come out to my place this weekend
and we'll hash it out. I'm having
a few of my friends but we should be
able to get a little work in.
PUPKIN
Would you mind if I brought someone?
LANGFORD
(smiling)
A girl, Rube?
PUPKIN
A very special girl, Jerry.
LANGFORD
I'd love to meet her.
49 THE HIGH-RISE OFFICE BUILDING ON UPPER BROADWAY - DAY
PUPKIN emerges, lost in thought. Suddenly he notices
MARSHA waiting nearby. She doesn't see PUPKIN. He sneaks
off.
CUT TO:
50 EXT: U.N. PLAZA - DAY
It is a bright morning. LANGFORD, attempting to camouflage
himself by wearing a cap over his eyes and his trench coat
collar turned up, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses,
walks out of the building. A DOORMAN is standing by the
door.
DOORMAN
Cab, Jerry?
LANGFORD
That's alright, thanks.
WE FOLLOW LANGFORD as he walks. Some people don't notice.
Others stare but leave him alone, a few commenting to their
companions and pointing at him. A CAB DRIVER pulls
alongside.
DRIVER
Hey, Jerry. My brother can sing
and juggle at the same time. How
about puttin' him on your show?
LANGFORD keeps walking.
DRIVER
How about it, Jerry?
LANGFORD
Sorry, I'm off duty.
CUT TO:
51 EXT. A MANHATTAN STREET - DAY
LANGFORD stands at the corner, next to a middle-aged
COUPLE.
WOMAN
You're Jerry!!
LANGFORD pulls his cap a little more tightly around his
eyes.
WOMAN
You know something. (She giggles)
I undress in front of you every night
and Larry here doesn't mind at all.
LARRY
I can't get anything started with her
until you're off the air. Your show
is ruining my sex life, Jerry.
LANGFORD
Well then, you'll just have to put
on a better show than I do.
CUT TO:
52 EXT: BROADWAY, A FEW BLOCKS SOUTH OF LANGFORD'S OFFICES -
DAY
WE WATCH LANGFORD continue to walk, feeling what it is to
be a celebrity out in public. After a few beats, we
CUT TO:
53 EXT: BROADWAY - DAY
WE SEE MARSHA trailing LANGFORD. LANGFORD notices her and
starts walking quickly. MARSHA walks quickly. LANGFORD
starts jogging. MARSHA starts jogging. Finally, LANGFORD
breaks into a sprint. MARSHA runs after him. LANGFORD
disappears into his office building. MARSHA arrives
several seconds later.
MARSHA
Jerry! God damnit!
Just as MARSHA turns around, PUPKIN, unaware of her, walks
cheerfully into the building.
CUT TO:
54 INT: RECEPTION AREA OF JERRY LANGFORD SHOW OFFICES - DAY
PUPKIN enters. The same middle-aged, plump RECEPTIONIST
is seated behind the desk.
RECEPTIONIST
Yes, sir? (recognizing him) Oh, hi.
PUPKIN
Hi. How are you?
RECEPTIONIST
Not bad.
PUPKIN
I'm fine.
RECEPTIONIST
Can I help you?
PUPKIN
I'd like to see Jerry, please.
RECEPTIONIST
You are ... ?
PUPKIN
Mr. Pupkin.
RECEPTIONIST
Just a minute.
The RECEPTIONIST dials a number.
RECEPTIONIST
Mr. Pupkin is here ... That's right
... (to PUPKIN) She'll be with you
in a minute.
PUPKIN
Who?
RECEPTIONIST
Miss Long.
PUPKIN
But I wanted to see Jerry.
RECEPTIONIST
Mr. Langford's not in. Miss Long
will take care of you.
PUPKIN
Alright.
PUPKIN paces for a few beats. He smiles at the
RECEPTIONIST. A beat later, CATHY LONG comes out,
carrying the tape in its box.
CATHY LONG
Mr. Pupkin?
PUPKIN
How are you today?
CATHY LONG
Fine, Mr. Pupkin. Thank you for
your tape. We listened to it with
great interest. And, frankly, Mr. Pupkin,
we saw a lot of good things in what
you're doing. We feel you have good
potential. Very good potential.
PUPKIN
(smiling)
Thanks.
CATHY LONG
That's why I'll be honest with you,
Mr. Pupkin ...
PUPKIN
Yes?
CATHY LONG
We just don't think you're ready yet.
PUPKIN
(baffled)
Not ready?
CATHY LONG
Well, we just don't feel right now
that you're right for Jerry.
PUPKIN
(rapidly, half-listening)
Right for Jerry. Sure.
CATHY LONG
Some of the material ... some of the
one-liners, for instance ...
PUPKIN
Yes?
CATHY LONG
... were not very strong.
PUPKIN
You didn't care for some of the jokes,
is that it?
CATHY LONG
That"s right.
PUPKIN
Good. Good. I can take care of
that right way. Thanks. Just tell
me the ones you think should go.
That would be a big help. (to the
RECEPTIONIST) This is great. (to
CATHY LONG) Which ones?
CATHY LONG
Well, it's not just that, Mr. Pupkin.
You see, Jerry likes to panel his
guests, you know, chat with them
afterwards.
PUPKIN
Sure. Sure.
CATHY LONG
And frankly, we just don't feel you've
got very much to talk about right now.
PUPKIN
But I've got my whole life to talk
about!
CATHY LONG
Which is interesting to you, I'm sure
and to your wife ... and to a few
friends. But we feel that you should
keep developing your act. Test it in
some live situations. There are a
number of clubs in the city you can
try. And after a reasonable period,
get in touch with us again and we'll
be glad to send someone down to check
out your progress.
PUPKIN stares at her for a few moments as the tension grows.
PUPKIN
May I ask you a question, Miss Long?
CATHY LONG
Of course.
PUPKIN
Are you speaking for Jerry?
CATHY LONG
Let's put it this way, Mr. Pupkin.
Mr. Langford has complete faith in
our judgment.
PUPKIN
I'm sorry to have to say this, Miss
Long, and I certainly don't want you
to take it personally, but I have to
tell you that I don't ... I don't
have faith in your judgment.
CATHY LONG
Well, I'm sorry you feel that way,
Mr. Pupkin. But I'm afraid there's
nothing that can be done about that.
PUPKIN
No ... No ... I'm afraid I'll have
to disagree with you again.
CATHY LONG
(with strained politeness)
That's your privilege, Mr. Pupkin.
Now, if you'll excuse me, please, I
have some things to do. I'm sorry
the news isn't better.
CATHY LONG turns to go.
PUPKIN
Miss Long?
CATHY LONG turns back.
PUPKIN
When are you expecting Jerry in?
CATHY LONG
He won't be in until very late this
afternoon.
PUPKIN
That's fine. Thank you.
CATHY LONG stares at PUPKIN for a moment, glances at the
RECEPTIONIST and then goes. PUPKIN takes a seat in the
reception area. He smiles once more at the RECEPTIONIST.
The RECEPTIONIST drops her eyes. A few beats go by. CATHY
LONG passes by the entranceway and glances at PUPKIN.
PUPKIN continues sitting there.
RECEPTIONIST
Is there anyone else you would
like to see?
PUPKIN
That's alright. I'm happy just
waiting.
A few beats pass in silence.
RECEPTIONIST
Well, would you mind waiting outside,
please, Mr. Pupkin? This is a reception
area, not a waiting room.
PUPKIN
I understand.
PUPKIN remains seated. A few more moments pass. Several
OFFICE PERSONNEL pass by the entranceway and glance at
PUPKIN. After a few more beats, a large, plainly-dressed
MAN in his mid-fifties emerges from the back offices. He
goes over to PUPKIN, who stands.
OFFICIAL
Mr. Pupkin? I'm Raymond Wirtz, in
charge of security for the Langford
organization.
WIRTZ puts his arm on PUPKIN's shoulder and, as the
following dialogue unfolds leads him out the door, down
the corridor and into the elevator.
WIRTZ
Now I think you understand that we
have certain rules here that are
essential to the smooth functioning
of our operation.
PUPKIN
Sure. Sure.
WIRTZ
And that without these rules, we really
wouldn't be able to function at our
best. You follow my point?
PUPKIN nods.
WIRTZ
Now one of these rules is that only
authorized personnel and those having
official business with our organization
are permitted on our premises. And
that's why I'm asking you, Mr. Pupkin,
to cooperate with us.
They have reached the elevator and WIRTZ has pushed the
button.
PUPKIN
You want me to leave the building.
WIRTZ
That's right. It's nothing personal,
Mr. Pupkin. Just doing my job.
The elevator arrives. WIRTZ signals with his head that
PUPKIN should enter. PUPKIN gets in.
WIRTZ
Have a pleasant day.
CUT TO:
55 EXT: STREET OUTSIDE THE LANGFORD BUILDING - DAY
PUPKIN comes out and takes up a position outside the door,
preparing to wait for LANGFORD. MARSHA sees him and comes
over to him.
MARSHA
Well, did you give it to him?
PUPKIN
(out of a daze)
Huh?
MARSHA
Did you get my letter to him?
PUPKIN
He's not in there.
MARSHA
Look, if you don't want to give it
him, okay. I'll get somebody
else. But don't try to con me.
PUPKIN
I told you I'd try and I will. I'm
going to wait for him right here.
MARSHA
Give me the envelope, huh?
PUPKIN
Sure, but ...
MARSHA
I saw him go in myself!
PUPKIN
Who?
MARSHA
Jerry!
PUPKIN
But they said he wasn't in.
MARSHA
Just give me the envelope.
PUPKIN
When did he go in?
MARSHA
Ten minutes ago! That's when.
PUPKIN
You sure?
MARSHA
Look, I saw him my ...
PUPKIN
And he hasn't come out?
MARSHA
I've been standing right here. Now
how about it?
PUPKIN turns and goes back into the building. MARSHA yells
after him.
MARSHA
I'm staying right here!
CUT TO:
56 INT: RECEPTION AREA OF THE JERRY LANGFORD OFFICES
PUPKIN enters briskly and goes up to the RECEPTIONIST.
PUPKIN
(with authority)
Tell Jerry Langford I'm here, please.
RECEPTIONIST
I'm sorry, sir. Mr. Langford's not in.
PUPKIN
I happen to know he is. So would you
please tell him I'm here.
RECEPTIONIST
I'm sorry. He's not in.
PUPKIN
You're putting your job on the line,
lady.
The RECEPTIONIST starts making a call inside. PUPKIN
glances at her and walks right in to the inner corridors.
He starts peering into the open doors of the offices that
line the corridor. The whole place is like a gigantic
maze. OFFICE PERSONNEL pass by him, taking no notice of
him. He continues wandering around desperately, completely
lost. A few beat later, he spots WIRTZ leading a pair of
SECURITY GUARDS. PUPKIN keeps peering into offices quickly
as he flees. The GUARDS and WIRTZ finally catch up to
PUPKIN at the steno pool and, after a brief chase around
the pool, they catch PUPKIN and subdue him. They start
dragging him out past the eyes of the OFFICE PERSONNEL.
PUPKIN
(calling as he is dragged)
Jerry! Jerry! (to WIRTZ) You're
going the have a hell of a lot of
explaining to do! (calling) Jerry!
WIRTZ
You had your warning, Mr. Krupkin.
PUPKIN
Jerry! Help me. Jerry!
CUT TO:
A CLOSE-UP of PUPKIN as he is dragged out.
PUPKIN
(screaming)
Jerry!
CUT TO:
57 EXT: LANGFORD BUILDING LOBBY AND EXIT - DAY
WE WATCH the SECURITY GUARDS and WIRTZ pitch PUPKIN out
into the street.
WIRTZ
If we see your face again, Mr. Pupkin,
we'll call the police.
PUPKIN
Start looking for a new job!
MARSHA comes straight up to PUPKIN who is brushing himself
off. His eyes are glazed and distant.
MARSHA
Well?
PUPKIN
Huh?
MARSHA
Does he have it?
PUPKIN
(abstractedly)
Don't worry. I'll get it to him.
MARSHA
Yeah? When?
There is a pause.
PUPKIN
This weekend. He asked me to go out
there, to his house.
CUT TO:
58 THE BAR-RESTAURANT WHERE RITA WORKS - DAY
PUPKIN enters the bar-restaurant. Through the window WE
SEE him talking to RITA. He is voluble, animated. She
looks skeptical, with a wry smile on her face. Finally WE
WATCH him extract an answer from her. She shrugs, smiles
and says yes. He comes walking out the door, his hounded
expression softened by a smile.
CUT TO:
59 INT: THE FITTING AREA OF A MEN'S STORE - DAY
WE WATCH PUPKIN getting fitted in a new suit, attended by
a SALESMAN and a TAILOR.
CUT TO:
60 INT: LUGGAGE SHOP - DAY
WE WATCH PUPKIN buy a suitcase.
CUT TO:
61 INT: CARTIER'S JEWELERS - DAY
WE WATCH PUPKIN perusing the beautiful diamond, sapphire,
and emerald rings and we take a few moments to PAN OVER
these beautiful jewels as he sees them. Finally, he picks
out a splendid ring with a single, middle-sized sapphire
and hands a surprised SALESLADY the money in cash.
CUT TO:
62 INT: SUBURBAN TRAIN - DAY
PUPKIN and RITA are seated side by side. Since it is
Saturday morning, the train is sparsely populated. A
CONDUCTOR has just finished taking PUPKIN's tickets. RITA
is edgy. PUPKIN is strangely calm and a little remote.
He is wearing his new suit.
RITA
What are we going to do?
PUPKIN
(patiently)
Look, I told you, I've got some work
to discuss with him. That's all.
RITA
But what about me?
PUPKIN
You're with me.
RITA
That's fine, but while you two are
talking, what am I going to do?
PUPKIN
You can chat with the other guests.
RITA
I'm sure they'll be thrilled hearing
about the wonderful world of draft beer.
(pause) Let's tell 'em I'm a model,
okay?
PUPKIN
What?
RITA
If they ask what I do, let's just say
I model. You don't mind pretending
just a little, do you?
PUPKIN
If it make you feel better.
There is a pause.
RITA
This is a gas! Too bad nobody'll
believe it. (pause) After you guys
are done working, what happens? Are
we going out someplace, or what?
PUPKIN
I'm sure Jerry has something arranged.
There is another pause.
RITA
What do these people do for fun?
Do they party or do freaky things
or just get drunk or ... I mean,
What do they do?
PUPKIN
I guess they just sit around and talk
and enjoy each other's company, like
anybody else.
RITA
Talk?!? What can you talk about
for three or four hours?!
PUPKIN
What do you mean? They've got plenty
to talk about. They do things. All
kinds of interesting things happen
to them and then they talk about them.
What do you think Jerry's show is all
about?
RITA
Yeah, a cocktail party with no drinks.
That's what all those shows are. At
least they help you get to sleep.
There is a pause.
RITA
(glumly)
Boy, this is going to be some great
weekend. I thought we were gonna
have some fun.
PUPKIN
(smiling)
Just take it easy, Rita. Everything's
going to be fine.
WE MOVE IN for a CLOSE-UP of PUPKIN who is fading out.
FADE TO:
63 EXT: A NEO-CLASSICAL MANSION
It is a large white house with colonial columns set in the
middle of a palatial estate whose rolling lawns are
punctuated with fine old trees. We circle around to the
back where LANGFORD, a handful of his FRIENDS (which can be
familiar television celebrities) and PUPKIN and RITA are
just finishing a lavish lunch on the patio. A pair of
SERVANTS are clearing the table and serving the coffee and
desert as the scene unfolds. As we arrive, we hear a loud
burst of laughter. PUPKIN is regaling the COMPANY with
stories.
PUPKIN
Oh, you have no idea how bad it's
gotten in New York. Now the muggers
are so efficient that, each time
they jump you, they take your name
and address and put you on a mailing
list. (the COMPANY chuckles) And
once you're on the list, you're in
real trouble, like this friend of
mine who was mugged thirty-two times
on his way home from work. (a little
laughter from the COMPANY)
A SERVANT places the desert, a little, elegant tart, in
front of PUPKIN and RITA.
PUPKIN
(to SERVANT)
Thanks.
The SERVANT smiles. As PUPKIN continues his story, he
glances occasionally at RITA who has begun to nibble at her
tart. PUPKIN also glances conspiratorially at LANGFORD
who smiles back.
PUPKIN
So what my friend does is get himself
a dog, one of those huge German
Shepherds. One night, he's walking
the dog in Central Park when he hears
this voice behind him. (in a German
accent) Okay, Harry, drop your
vallet and keep your hantz over your
head or I bite your little fanny off.
The COMPANY breaks up.
ONE GUEST
(to LANGFORD)
Looks like you've found yourself a
winner, Jerry.
LANGFORD
(looking at PUPKIN)
He's the one who found himself
a winner.
RITA looks up, smiles and blushes. The rest of the COMPANY
smiles benignly and grows attentive as RIT