INT. CAB. EVENING

43:

Holden is getting in a cab. We watch it drive away. We follow it with a birds eye view through the streets. Holden's voice over is herd with street sounds in the background.

The cab was one of those ones that is vomitty looking. It's old, smells, and looks like it just went through a scrap metal yard and lived to tell it's tale. It was even worse because it was so quite and lonely out. Sometimes you would see the odd couple cross the street, or some hoodlum with his one night stand. Really dull for a Saturday night. It really made me feel lonesome and depressed. I wish I could just go on home and shoot the bull with old Phoebe. I knew I couldn't so I started up a conversation with the driver, his name was Horwitz. Hell, I figure he may know what the heck happens to the ducks in the park come winter.

We cut to a shot of the inside of the cab. The camera is facing the cab driver and we see Holden in the backseat.

Hey, Horwitz. You know that lagoon in Central Park, it's kinda like a little lake.

The what?

The lagoon with the ducks, in Central Park South.

Oh yeah, what about it?

Those ducks that swim around in it in the summer. Do you happen to know where they go come winter time?

Where who goes?

The ducks, in the lagoon, where do they go when winter comes? By any chance do you know if some guy comes by with a big truck and brings them to a zoo or farm, or do they fly south?

How the hell should I know something stupid like that?

Well don't get sore about it.

Who's sore? I'm not sore. Are you sore?

No, I'm not sore.

Then nobody's sore.

Long pause

The fish, when it freezes over the fish stay right where they are. They stay in the goddam lake.

The fish? That's different, I want to know about the ducks.

What's different? Nothing is, the fish have it a lot harder then the stupid ducks for chrissakes! Use your head there, boy!

Okay fine, so what happens to the fish?

What the hell do you what happens to the fish?

They just can't ignore the ice. People skating on it and all.

It's their nature. They freeze in a position for the whole winter. Use you head.

How do they eat?

For chrissakes boy. Their pores open up and they eat all the stuff floating around, like seaweed and crap. It's their nature. You understanding this? They just eat they stuff that goes into their pores.

So you don't know what happens to the ducks?

Jesus! Don't you listen, I just told you what happens to the ducks.

I figured I should drop it, if he was going to get all touchey about it.

Oh.

Long pause

So would you like to join me for a drink? On me.

Sorry boy. Working. How old are you? It looks like you should be in bed right now.

He must not see my mature looks and gray hair. Oh, well. I got out and went to meet old Ernie. Maybe he will want to chew the rag with me.

EXIT.

01/05/99