CHARACTERS SALESMAN: willie lomany BASIL: early 70s, creaky, retired actor
EXT. SIDEWALK - SUNSET BLVD
- SALESMAN
- Excuse me, sir. Can I trouble you a moment?
- BASIL
- No, no thank you.
- SALESMAN
- Just for a moment, old boy.
- BASIL
- No thank you. I'm off to an appointment.
- SALESMAN
- Well actually that's how I can help. You walk with a cane, I see. But it's too short.
- BASIL
- Excuse me?
- SALESMAN
- Your cane - it's too short for your frame. I know because I'm in the game.
- BASIL
- You're in the cane game? Your're a cane salesman?
- SALESMAN
- Well medical supply, sure. Of a sort.
- BASIL
- "Of a sort," eh?
Basil resumes walking.
- SALESMAN (catching up)
- Well, specialty. It's self-defense but that cuts across a lot of truly high-quality and useful items. Canes for sure, sir.
- BASIL
- I'm sorry. You sell self-defense canes?
- SALESMAN
- I sure do, sir. They're canes but with the finest steel blades. Sheathed inside, of course. Very safe. It's a crazy place, this world. One must prepare.
- BASIL
- Oh, I don't know that it's all that crazy.
- SALESMAN
- What? Vietnam and now they killed Kennedy, too? That sounds crazy to me.
- BASIL
- Kennedy? What's that supposed to mean?
- SALESMAN
- Oh, sir. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you but yes, President Kennedy was shot dead this morning. In Texas.
- BASIL
- I'm to believe an American President was assassinated hours ago and you're out selling knives to old men? Good day, sir.