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"Her Admirer"

FADE IN:

EXT. ROADSIDE DINER – DAY

It’s early in the morning; only a few cars are out front.  A faded ‘OPEN’ sign stares into the parking lot.

A Chevy Caprice pulls into the lot.  The door opens, and HARRY MURPHY climbs out, dressed in a crisp blue suit.  With a few uneven steps, he finds his way to the front door.

INT. ROADSIDE DINER – DAY

JO ANNE is standing behind the lunch counter of the diner, filling a sugar bowl, and talking with the other waitress, KATE.

                    JO ANNE
            …yeah, well, I say, if you took care
            of your kids like you’re s’posed to…

She notices Harry.

                    JO ANNE
            …aw, Jesus…

                    KATE
            What?

                    JO ANNE
            That knife salesman.

She steps out from behind the counter and walks to the door.  As she approaches, Harry passes her and sits at the counter.

Jo Anne returns behind the counter with a menu and a pot of coffee.  She pours some into a mug.

                    JO ANNE
            You need some time?

                    HARRY
            Uh, Jo Anne?  Could Kate possibly —

                    JO ANNE
            She’s busy.  I’ll take your…

                    KATE
            I’ll wait on him, Jo Anne.

Jo Anne glares at Kate.

                    JO ANNE
            Could you help me in the back?

                    KATE
            With what?

Jo Anne grabs Kate by the elbow, and begins to pull her into the kitchen.

                    JO ANNE
            It’s a surprise.

INT. DINER KITCHEN – DAY

Jo Anne leads Kate through the swinging door.

                    MORNING COOK
            What’s all this?

                    JO ANNE
                (to the cook)
            Stop burnin’ the damned bacon.  

The cook scowls as he turns his attention to the grill.

                    JO ANNE
                (to Kate)
            Let me handle the deadbeat.

                    KATE
            Deadbeat?  You mean Harry?

                    JO ANNE
            Yeah, Harry.

                    KATE
            Harry’s nice.

                    JO ANNE
            Nice?  Come on, Kate.  Guys like that
            aren’t nice, not down deep.

                    KATE
            Guys like who?  

                    JO ANNE
            Like Harry.

Kate chuckles.    


                    KATE
            I’m a grown-up, for cryin’ out loud.  
            I can make up my own mind and everything.
            
                    JO ANNE
            Kate, sweetie, I just –

                    KATE
            - need to back off.  Please.

                    JO ANNE
               (after a moment)
            Fine.  Do whatever you want.

Harry is still sitting at the counter, his hands folded in front of himself, as Kate approaches him from the other side of the counter.

                    KATE
            Hi ya, Harry.

                    HARRY
                (with a big smile)
            Hey, Kate.  How’s it going?

                    KATE
            Same ol’, same ol’.  Whadda ya have?

                    HARRY
            Same ol’, same ol’.

Kate laughs a little, which raises Jo Anne’s ire a bit.

                    KATE
            You sure you don’t want something
            different?

                    HARRY
            Nah.  No need to change now.

Kate scribbles his order on a notepad, and takes it to the counter.

                    HARRY
            Uh, Kate, I’ve been wanting to talk
            to you –
    
She turns to face him, and as she leans in and his lips begin to quiver, A RED-BEARDED TRUCKER stomps into the place.  He flops down next to Harry.

                    TRUCKER
            How’s it goin’, Harry?  

                    HARRY
            Fine.
            
                    TRUCKER
            Good.  Katie, darlin’, could you rustle
            up a half-dozen eggs and a quarter-slab
            of bacon for me?

                    KATE
            Yeah, sure.  You were saying, Harry?

                    HARRY
            I – I can wait.

Kate scurries off to the kitchen.  The trucker notices Harry’s clouding expression.

                    TRUCKER
            I interrupt something?                

                    HARRY
            No.
                    
                    TRUCKER
            Oh, man.  You were gonna tell her.

Seconds later, A QUINTET OF WHITE-HAIRED LADIES, GOSSIPING LOUDLY, pour in to the room and take a booth.  

                    JO ANNE
            Kate, I need you!

Kate rushes out of the kitchen, notepad ready.  

                    TRUCKER
            Get her attention.  Jo Anne can handle
            them.

                    HARRY
            Kate?!  Can I talk to –

At that, A DOZEN TOURISTS push into the diner.  Kate rushes to help as many of them as she can.  Once in a while, she looks back at Harry’s sad face.

Soon she can’t find Harry.  Her eyes search the crowd for him, and then she finally sees him through a window trudging to his car.  She drops her notepad to the floor and goes after him.

                    JO ANNE
            Kate!  Where the hell are you going?

EXT. ROADSIDE DINER – DAY

As the crowd clamors inside, and Jo Anne shouts after her, Kate runs up to Harry.

                    KATE
            Harry!  Harry, wait!

                    HARRY
            I’m sorry – you have to work.

                    KATE
            Harry, don’t leave – you wanted to
            tell me something?


                    HARRY
            It doesn’t matter.

                    KATE
            Just tell me.

INT. ROADSIDE DINER – DAY

The crowd is pressed against the windows, transfixed on the proceedings outside.  Jo Anne frowns and stomps to the door.

Just then, the trucker grabs her arm. She turns and fires a scowl at him, but he doesn't budge.

                    TRUCKER
                (gently)
            Jo Anne, have you heard about my
            utility knife?


                    JO ANNE
            Your utility knife?  Why, no!
                (beat)
            This is no time to –


                    TRUCKER
                (continuing)
            Six months ago, Harry there’s trying
            to sell me some knives. I don’t need
            ‘em, I say, but he didn’t quit.  And
            when I say he didn't quit - well,
            you've seen him pitching.


                    JO ANNE
            Typical salesman BS.

                    TRUCKER
            That’s what I thought. But then he
            gives me this utility knife.

The trucker reaches into a hip pocket and withdraws a weathered blade.

Jo Anne snorts.

                    JO ANNE
             Real impressive.

                    TRUCKER
             Actually, it is. See, when he gave it
             to me, it was all glossy and shiny,
             like the pictures in the catalogs he
             was passing around.
                (beat)
             I didn't think it'd last a week in my
             hands. Told him so, too. Know what he
             said?

Jo Anne is silent.

                    TRUCKER
             He said give it a chance.

Jo Anne keeps her focus on the pair outside.  Most of it, anyway.


EXT. DINER – DAY

Harry gathers all his courage, then:

                    HARRY
            The company’s changing my route.

                    KATE
            Oh.  Where?

                    HARRY
            The Midwest region.  Mostly Minnesota
            and Iowa. Some Wisconsin.  Anyway, I
            won’t be coming back to work here.    

                    KATE
            Really.

                    HARRY
            Yeah.  I wouldn’t mind it so much,
            but...

His voice falls silent, his eyes try to drift away.  But Kate won't let them go.

                    KATE
            ...but...

Harry takes a breath.
     
                    HARRY
            But I’m going to miss you. I’m

            going to miss seeing your face.

He notices that she’s begun to blush, then notices he has too.

INT. DINER – DAY

Jo Anne is still staring out the window, with the trucker right on her elbow.

                    JO ANNE
            Goddammit.

                    TRUCKER
            You didn't like my story?

She whirls around to face him.


                    JO ANNE
            So what?  He sold you a knife that didn't
            break.  Call the book of records people.

She turns her attention to the window again.


                    TRUCKER
            He’s an upstanding guy, Jo Anne.  
            Why can’t you see that?         


                    JO ANNE
            I promised her that I’d watch out
            for her.  I’m keeping my word.

                    TRUCKER
            What are you gonna do, send her to
            her room?

                    JO ANNE
            You weren’t around for the last year
            and a half.  Sleeping on her couch,
            worrying about every phone call or
            knock on the door...


                    TRUCKER
            Harry’s not her ex, Jo Anne.

He releases her arm and heads back to the counter.  She can't look away from the sight out the window.

                    JO ANNE
            He might as well be.

EXT. ROADSIDE DINER – DAY

Kate smiles at Harry.  

                    KATE
                                     (softly)
            That's a compliment, right?

                                                  HARRY
            I certainly hope so.

                    KATE
            I don't get those a lot.


                    HARRY
            That's just - wrong.

Their faces simultaneously fill with joy.

                    KATE
            How much longer are you in town?

                    HARRY
            Until tomorrow at the latest.  Then
            I have to hit the road.

Kate takes a spare notepad from her apron.

                    KATE
            I’m writing down my address.  I’ll
            be home after six if you can drop by.

His smile brightens even more, which makes her smile grow.

                    HARRY
            I’ll be there at six-thirty.  I promise.

INT. ROADSIDE DINER – DAY

Jo Anne sees Harry fold up the paper, a smile on his face.  She turns to see the trucker watching her.  She shakes her head and goes back to work as Kate walks back in to the diner.  She goes after her older friend.

                    KATE
            Jo Anne?

Jo Anne turns.  Her expression is cold.

Kate sees this, and leans toward her.

                    KATE
            I have to know.


Jo Anne shakes her head and disappears into the kitchen, leaving Kate alone with the clamor of the customers and the clatter of the bell from the pick-up window.

INT. SMALL HOUSE – NIGHT

Kate holds her BABY BOY on her lap, and her OLDER SON plays a NOISY VIDEOGAME.  There is a KNOCK.  Cradling the baby, Kate walks to the door, and when she opens it she sees...

KATE’S P.O.V.

...Harry in that same suit from this morning, with a happy smile across his face, carrying a boxed Deluxe Butcher’s Block with a big red bow on it.

 

                                                    FADE OUT.

                                                    THE END.



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