Mister Joseph and Miss Cathy — Screenplay (Part XIV)

In the light of the headlamps they can see the slightly ascending road for some five hundred feet, when then begins to descend.

CATHY

There are only a few steps to the hilltop. We'll clear up there.

MISTER JOSEPH

I need to warn you, dear missy, that there are circumstances in one's life when some things are better to remain unclear.

CATHY

Look over there beyond the hill.

Mister Joseph looks along the road. At a distance the sky is gleaming, like above a big city.

CATHY

You know what the sky looks like? It's just like the night when I was getting closer to Santiago in Chile. Glimmering. So, don't worry, Mister Joseph. Many times things clear up for the best.

MISTER JOSEPH

(rather skeptically)

May they be so as you say. But I have to tell you the sky could glimmer because of the stars. All the more in a moon lit night, as you can see this night is.

Mister Joseph turns the headlamps off; the night seems phosphorescent.

MISTER JOSEPH

Look at this light! One almost could read. — Hem! Sure, it's not about me, dear young lady. But you... please tell me whether you couldn't read. — So, where you were?

CATHY

I just told you that often things clear up for the best.

MISTER JOSEPH

And I just told you that even more often things clear up for the worst. And one more thing! Never take as true what the moon says, dear young lady. Like now, for instance. Look around and tell me honestly.

The ground looks white in the night.

MISTER JOSEPH

Judging by how white is everything around in the moonlight, wouldn't you swear we are standing on sandy ground?

CATHY

(enigmatically smiling)

While, actually?

MISTER JOSEPH

While, actually it's but... (Scornfully.) ...ordinary soil, just like any other soil!

Expecting a surprising reply, he suspiciously scrutinizes Cathy who cryptically smiles.

MISTER JOSEPH

What? You're not sure of it?

CATHY

(faking detached)

Mister Joseph, what you take as sand is actually snow.

MISTER JOSEPH

(in exaggerate amazement)

Snow? Did I hear right, dear young lady? You've uttered the word snow?

Cathy enjoys so much of Mister Joseph's amazement, that she claps her palms.

CATHY

(faking detached)

You heard correctly. What you see outside is snow.

MISTER JOSEPH

(in exaggerate amazement)

I can't believe it!

Mister Joseph gets out the car and goes to reach down to the edge of the road...

...From where he turns in amazement to Cathy, holding snow in his palm.

MISTER JOSEPH

Snow! You were right! — And what I did? I doubted the sharpness of your eyes! — Certainly, the thought should have crossed my mind that you couldn't be wrong. You, who are so young and have such a good sight! — How could I compete with you, me, a person a little bit aged, so to speak? I realize there are circumstances when a whole life experience isn't worth a pin. What else could I say?

Cathy quickly gets out the car and tenderly takes Mister Joseph by the hand.

They both begin to walk along the road to the hilltop.

Mister Joseph and Cathy have reached the top of the hill. The fascinating view over the sea of a big city lights opens before them for a long distance. They both stand and delightfully stare in silence.

MISTER JOSEPH

Aren't you cold, dear missy?

CATHY

(without showing signs she has heard him)

What a pity we didn't have the chance to get to the top by car. There is just a little bit of road left. And from here on we wouldn't have needed gas — would we, Mister Joseph?

They can see the road winding down to the city.

MISTER JOSEPH

You know the answer is yes. I don't see what do you ask me for. Just to vex me for nothing?

CATHY

(straining her hearing for some distant sound)

Just a minute!

They can hear at a distance the sound of an axe.

MISTER JOSEPH

(hopefully)

What, missy? A car? Do you think they would tow us?

CATHY

(listening on)

I can hear an axe chop.

MISTER JOSEPH

Stop bothering me with your axe chopping! Do you think I need axes, now when my transactions are going to go to the dogs? What bad habits you have, dear missy, forgive me for speaking so bluntly! First you give some one hopes, then you merciless shatter them!

The sound of axe chopping wood can now be heard distinctly through the dense winter air.

CATHY

Some households reach up here, almost to the top. People seem to live like in the country here.

MISTER JOSEPH

I don't care of your households in the least, dear lady. I'd prefer to know whether you could see any garage within those households which captivate you so much. And if you do, I'd like to ask you: is there possibly anything within them? And if it were, I'd like to know what is it: is it a car on jacks, or a working car? And the last thing and the most important is: if the car were not on jacks, would the owner be ready to let us use it? Or, say... to rent it? You see, dear young lady, there are a lot of questions I'd ask myself instead of wasting my time to listen to your axe chopping!

Mister Joseph begins resolutely going down the road. Cathy runs after him and takes him by the hand. After some steps something ahead catches her eyes.

CATHY

But... (Enigmatically.) Maybe we don't need a car.

MISTER JOSEPH

I'm not interested in your opinion, dear missy. I don't have time to waste, mind you. Here we are almost to the first house.

Down the road they can see a few faintly lighted small square windows.

Cathy pulls Mister Joseph by the hand to make him hurry up.

CATHY

Let's hurry up.

From this point on the road is lit by street lamps.

MISTER JOSEPH

You know what, dear young lady? It's true there are a lot of jobs I have to do this night, but on the other hand I'm not a racehorse. I'm the same person a little bit aged, so to speak. Besides, I don't see what the hurry is for. That honest person's little house won't move away, if you allow me make such an assumption.

CATHY

But, Mister Joseph, that isn't a house.

MISTER JOSEPH

Then what is it, in your opinion?

CATHY

It's a bus.

MISTER JOSEPH

Dear me! Don't play with my heart, missy! I have a lot of further transactions to conclude. And don't tug at my hand.

Mister Joseph has already begun to pant.

CATHY

Would you like us stop a little bit to let you catch your breath?

MISTER JOSEPH

What the use, missy? How could I breathe? — How could I breathe... if you wore me down?

(Shouting to the bus)

Hey! — Hey! Don't leave! Wait!

CATHY

Don't shout, Mister Joseph. You shouldn't harm yourself.

MISTER JOSEPH

Then you shout! Someone... has to shout, hasn't one? Otherwise... we could find that... it leaves just before we catch it. I for one... never trusted... drivers, missy... Mind you.

CATHY

I think they already saw us. Really, don't talk. Anyway, you don't say...

She instantly stops talking, scared of having been about to make a blunder.

MISTER JOSEPH

(who still guessed; reproachfully completing her words)

...Anything interesting! Nice of you, what could I say? — And please don't try to... put it right.

They can see now the bus is quite near.

MISTER JOSEPH

I forgive you only if you promise me... you would take care... they put right here for me a memorial plaque... in case I fail to reach there... Do you promise me, dear lady? — Write on it... that...

A MAN'S VOICE IN THE DARK

Why so hurried?

At the road edge, a light of a cigarette can be seen increasing and decreasing. A man holding a cigarette emerges from under a tree.

CATHY

We were running to catch the bus.

THE MAN WITH THE CIGARETTE

(getting closer)

Well, you caught it now. I'm the driver.

He comes to the street light.

THE MAN WITH THE CIGARETTE

You have plenty of time.

All three head for the bus, which is parked in a road loop.

THE MAN WITH THE CIGARETTE

You may even drink a beer.

MISTER JOSEPH

(quickly, almost unwillingly)

Where?

On remembering something, he regretfully slaps his forehead and turns to Cathy.

MISTER JOSEPH

Dear me! I forgot it! I forgot the other bottle, too, in the car! It was the last one! And what a beer! I don't even notice the brand, though I'm sure I'll never ever find anything like that. Please believe me, dear young lady, that I lost many things throughout my long and tumultuous life. So, I'm accustomed to lose. But I never had such a big loss.

Cathy looks at him with a mysterious smile.

CATHY

You were talking about this?

She instantly takes a bottle of beer out from behind her back and raises it to Mister Joseph's sight.

MISTER JOSEPH

Oh, dear missy! Ten years of favors done to you wouldn't suffice to reword you for the joy you have given me!

THE DRIVER (THE MAN WITH THE CIGARETTE)

What kind of beer is that, let me see.

He reaches for the bottle, and Cathy hands it to him.

MISTER JOSEPH

Be careful, mister!

The Driver lights a lighter which has a huge flame, and checks the label on the bottle.

THE DRIVER

I never saw this brand.

The Driver hands back the bottle to Cathy; he takes advantage of the lighter flame to better scrutinize them both.

THE DRIVER

Well, you both seem to need a hot tea rather than a beer.

(To Mister Joseph)

And your granddaughter might even need a mustard compress.

MISTER JOSEPH

Excuse me! This lovely young lady is not my granddaughter, mind you! Though I'd be honored if she would!

They three reached the bus.

THE DRIVER

(gets in; to Cathy)

You may have a chance to get warm. Just at the last drive a woman forgot a jacket.

From behind the driver's seat he takes out a jacket, twin to that one Cathy had lost; he hands it to Cathy, who has stepped in the bus, followed by Mister Joseph.

CATHY

Oh! What a surprise! (Turning to Mister Joseph.) It looks perfectly like my jacket, doesn't it, Mister Joseph?

MISTER JOSEPH

Yeah, it looks like.

Mister Joseph examines the jacket.

THE DRIVER

Let your granddaughter quickly put the jacket on.

Mister Joseph is about to protest for being taken as a grandfather. But he suddenly changes his mind and softens his voice when he speaks to The Driver.

MISTER JOSEPH

Is it possible that a gentleman forgot his overcoat during your last drive?

THE DRIVER

No. I'm sorry. — Please take your seats.

MISTER JOSEPH

Thank you.

Mister Joseph is about to step to the middle of the bus but he suddenly remembers something important and turns back to The Driver.

MISTER JOSEPH

Ah! I remembered one thing. — You see, there could be one more little problem. — You know, we left home in a hurry and... It was dark and, moreover, they had just cut off the gas, so... You see, I hope you'll understand me...

THE DRIVER

You have no money!

MISTER JOSEPH

Dear sir, please believe me that I would sign right away a check...

THE DRIVER

(roaring)

A check! — I'm your chance, mister. I'm the type who believes any cock-and-bull stories.

MISTER JOSEPH

But it isn't a cock-and-bull story, I swear...

THE DRIVER

Come on. — Take your seats.

The Driver sits down behind the steering wheel still smoking, while Mister Joseph and Cathy take seats in the bus.

MISTER JOSEPH

(to The Driver, after a pause)

I hope you're not going to wait much longer, mister. You know, I'm in a hurry. I have a lot of jobs to do at my place.

THE DRIVER

(in a singing tone)

Yeah, I know.

The Driver tosses away the cigarette stub through the open door and shuts it.

THE DRIVER

Don't worry about that. I'm going to take you so fast that you won't notice when you'll get home.

He starts the engine and turns on the headlights.

THE DRIVER

Ready? Hold tight!

In the headlamp light they can see a house adorned for the New Year with fir Christmas wreaths and garlands of colored Christmas lights. The bus leaves the loop and noisily enters into the street...