Tom Hanks - Uncommon Type - Some Stories

Tommy divorced three years ago. Has a little girl. Gave up smoking last summer. Reads a lot.

Got it. Thanks.

Off she goes with Tommy Boyer.

Once again, the Motel Olympus works its magic spell.

(rising)

I’m going to clean up. You men waste time like you always do when women start cleaning up.

Okay.

(then to F.X.R.)

Care to patrol the perimeter?

EXT. MOTEL OLYMPUS—EDGE OF PROPERTY—NIGHT

Out on the perimeter of the motel property, Phil and F.X.R. walk.

(pointing)

I was hoping to do something with those ten acres over there, but nothing ever came of it. I once almost put in a snake hut.

A snake hut?

Yeah. We’d have signs out on Eighty-eight—“Visit the Snake Hut: 140 miles.” “Snake Hut: 62 miles. Air-Conditioned!” But then Bea pointed out that I knew very little about raising snakes. So, we just made do with the motel.

It’s a lovely motel. An hospitable little place. I love the name.

Can’t stay here 24/7 without going nuts. One day a week, each of us gets a solo trip to Chesterton to go to the bank, do some shopping. Use the wi-fi at Theo’s Coffee Hutch. Connect to the outside world a couple of hours a week.

(wistful)

That’s the way to do it.

(recovers his“folksy” personality)

If I ever get one of those laptop computer pads, I’ll try that.

Phil eyes F.X.R. as they walk.

What middle name starts with X ? Other than Xavier?

(then)

Francis Xavier Rustan.

F.X.R. stops. Knows he’s been busted.

Bea fingered you, when you signed the register. F.X.R. You ever heard the phrase ‘nom-dee-plume’?

(no longer “folksy”)

I’m sorry I was dishonest with you.

You weren’t. Other than being a rich and famous man in a poor man’s car.

(then)

You on some incognito vacation lark?

Well, no.

You going to sue us over the name, like Olympus is a trademark you own?

I don’t operate that way.

You’re one of the few.

I’m looking for land and sunshine.

Lotta both around here. The land will cost you. The sun is free.

(then, pointing)

We own from over there to over there. We ain’t going to be around much longer, according to both the doctors and common sense. We would like to close out our days someplace as nice as what we’ve had here.

So, should I make you an offer?

(stopping him with a hand)

You talk business with Bea. She’s my boss.

(then)

I’m going to head back for a cup of Ovaltine.

F.X.R. watches the old man go.

EXT. MOTEL OLYMPUS, PARKING LOT—NIGHT

The hood is up on the Buick. Ms. Mercury is holding the light for Tommy Boyer, passing him tools.

So, the metric tools are different from standard tools?

Them’s the facts.

(then)

Okay. Try to start ’er up.

She hops behind the wheel.

Okay! Startin’ me up!

She turns the key. The Buick roars into life!

Hot damn! You must have read a lot of books on car fixing!

F.X.R. walks up.

Boss! Tommy Boyer and me are going to take the car out…for a test drive.

We are?

Gotta see how it handles a long stretch of Eighty-eight! We’ll be gone for a while. So don’t wait up. Not that you would. Wait up. For me to come back. From test driving the car…

(finally, to Tommy)

Wanna take shotgun?

Tommy gets in the car and buckles his seat belt. Ms. Mercury hits the RADIO on and then gears into REVERSE. She and Tommy peel out into the night.

MUSIC: “We’ve Only Just Begun” by the Carpenters

INT. MOTEL OFFICE—NIGHT

TYPING is heard. F.X.R. enters to find Bea at a desk pecking on a typewriter. An Olympia.

It true you have Ovaltine?

The hot plate.

F.X.R. finds a pan of milk, a cup, a jar, and makes himself a hot malty beverage.

I’m gouging you a little on the facilities, knowing you’ll tear everything down anyway.

You planning on getting all the land around here?

If I can.

Then we’ll be your first purchase. Kind of an honor for us.

He looks at the photograph of Bea and Phil, the original source for the dead sign out front.

How old were you when this was taken?

She sees him looking at that photo.

I was nineteen. Phil was twenty-three. Our honeymoon. In Greece. An island so warm, so quiet we didn’t want to leave. Had to, of course. He went into the Air Force. I finished school. Came driving up old Eighty-eight and saw a place to sink all our savings into. Worked out pretty well.

She pulls the paper from the machine and hands it to him.

Your lawyers will put their fingerprints all over this, but it’s the basics—take it or leave it.

He doesn’t even look at it.

Ever go back to Greece? On vacation?

We’re moteliers. Every day is a vacation.

EXT. MOTEL OLYMPUS, PHRYGIA—PARKING LOT—LATER

F.X.R. folds a typed piece of paper, tucks it into his breast pocket as he walks back to his room. Behind him, the lights go off in the office, and the dim spotlight goes out on the old sign.

He pauses in the quiet night…

MUSIC: “Mi Reina y Mi Tesoro”

SUBTITLES: “Now I know

That I truly love her… ”

EXT. MOTEL OLYMPUS, PHRYGIA—EARLY EVENING

The sun is well down as the light of day fades to blue.

SUBTITLES: “I will work hard

To conquer her heart…”

A PARTY is going on. LIGHTS strung across the parking lot bring a magic to the growing night.

Jesus Hildalgo is there with his BAND playing to COUPLES dancing. As he sings about his queen and loving her with all his heart, his extended family is there, with KIDS splashing in the newly filled swimming pool.

Tommy Boyer is there with his little DAUGHTER and her PALS playing JUMP ROPE with a very different looking Ms. Mercury, who now sports jeans and a halter top.

WORKMEN swarm around trucks, storing away tools, finally quitting work for the day.

Nicholas, the room service waiter, puts the finishing touches on a superb dinner that looks like something served on the lido deck of the Love Boat.

LOCALS from as far away as Chesterton have come around for the big party, having brought their own lawn chairs.

F.X.R. is dressed in a fine, yet casual suit. He is talking over plans on a blueprint with a HALF DOZEN ARCHITECTS.