|
A HOMELESS MAN is lying in a doorway on top of an open
grate, surrounded by bags of garbage and a shopping cart. A
cardboard sign is attached to the front of the cart: I AM
HOMELESS AND HUNGRY PLEASE HELP ME. A small, thin dog lies
next to him.
He is black, dressed in a stained, torn, lime-green
polyester pants suit with jeans worn over the pants.
BATEMAN
(Offering his hand) Hello. Pat Bateman.
The Homeless Man stares at Bateman, struggling to sit up.
BATEMAN
You want some money?. Some...food?
The Homeless Man nods and starts to cry. Bateman reaches
into his pocket and pulls out a $10 bill, then changes his
mind and holds out a $5 instead.
BATEMAN
Is this what you need?
The Homeless Man nods, looks away, wipes his nose.
HOMELESS MAN
I'm so hungry.
BATEMAN
It's cold out, too, isn't it?
HOMELESS MAN
I'm so hungry.
BATEMAN
(Holding the bill just out of the man's reach)
Why don't you get a job? If you're so hungry, why don't you
get a job?
HOMELESS MAN
(Shivering and sobbing)
I lost my job...
BATEMAN
Why? Were you drinking? Is that why you lost it?
Insider trading? Just joking. No, really-were you drinking on
the job?
HOMELESS MAN I was fired. I was laid off.
BATEMAN
Gee, uh, that's too bad.
HOMELESS MAN
I'm so hungry.
The dog starts to whimper.
BATEMAN
Why don't you get another one? Why don't , you get another job?
HOMELESS MAN
I'm not...
BATEMAN
You're not what? Qualified for anything else?
HOMELESS MAN
I'm hungry
BATEMAN
I know that, I know that. Jeez, you're like a broken record.
I'm trying to help you.
HOMELESS MAN
I'm hungry.
BATEMAN
Listen, do you think it's fair to take money from people who
do have jobs? From people who do work?
HOMELESS MAN
What am I gonna do?
BATEMAN
Listen, what's your name?
HOMELESS MAN
Al.
BATEMAN
Speak up. Come on.
HOMELESS MAN
Al.
BATEMAN
Get a goddamn job, Al. You've got a negative attitude.
That's what's stopping you. You've got to get your act together.
I'll help you.
HOMELESS MAN
You re so kind, mister. You're kind. You're a kind
man. I can tell.
BATEMAN
(Petting the dog)
Shhhh...it's okay.
HOMELESS MAN
(Grabbing Bateman's wrist)
Please...I don know what to do. I'm so cold.
BATEMAN
(Stroking his face, whispering)
Do ,you know how bad you smell? The stench, my God.
HOMELESS MAN
I can't...I can't find a shelter
BATEMAN
You reek. You reek of...shit. Do you know that?
(Shouting)
Goddammit, Al-look at me and stop crying like some kind of
******. Al...I'm sorry.
Bateman carefully puts the money back in his wallet.
BATEMAN
It's just that...I don't know I don't have anything in common
with you.
He opens his briefcase and pulls out a long thin knife with
a serrated edge. He pushes up the sleeve of his jacket to
protect it.
*********
I like the insider trading part the best 
|
