Five Minutes from the Station
FADE IN
INT. AN OFFICE IN THE CITY - DAY
Meek but good-hearted white collar employee BERT ADAMS rattles the hook of his
telephone as he sits at his desk, trying to place a call. His big, white-
haired boss, a man of tremendous presence and authority, MR. MASON, stands
over him, watching.
MR. MASON
Maybe she isn't home.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, yes, she is.
MR. MASON
Well, perhaps another time may be
better. Your wife may not like
springing a dinner guest on her this
way.
BERT ADAMS
You don't know her. If there's one
thing she loves, it's company. "Why
don't you bring Mr. Mason out to
dinner sometime?" That's what she's
always saying.
Mason nods.
BERT ADAMS
(into the phone)
I gave you the number, didn't I?
Hadleyville 947, ring three. ...
Yeah, yes, ring three.
CUT TO:
INT. ADAMS' FOYER - CONTINUOUS
Somewhere in the suburbs. A small room in which a phone rings. Bert's wife
CARRIE ADAMS, wearing a plain house dress and carrying a sleeping baby in her
arms, answers curtly.
CARRIE ADAMS
Well, what do you want?
Throughout the PHONE CALL, we CUT BACK AND FORTH between Carrie in the foyer
and Bert and Mr. Mason (who paces around nearby, smoking a cigar) in the
office:
BERT ADAMS
(to Mr. Mason)
I got her, I got her.
(to Carrie)
Hello? Hello, ducky! It's me!
CARRIE ADAMS
(wearily)
Oh, hello, Bertie. What are you
calling up about?
BERT ADAMS
Well, for heaven's sake, can't I
call my best girl up once in a while
without giving a reason?
CARRIE ADAMS
(knowingly)
Who are you talking in front of?
BERT ADAMS
(chuckles)
Don't you wish you knew?
MR. MASON
(amused)
Ha ha ha! That's right. Keep her
guessing.
CARRIE ADAMS
Well, what's the bad news? Kept at
the office again by that old slave
driver?
BERT ADAMS
Ah, no, no, honey, I - I just called
you up to tell you that I'll be home
on the 5:15 tonight.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, well, if that's all, then goodbye.
She starts to hang up.
BERT ADAMS
Wait a minute - wait a minute! I -
er, what's your hurry? I got a
surprise for ya. Guess what it is.
CARRIE ADAMS
Mr. Mason fell dead and left you a
million.
Bert shoots a nervous glance at Mr. Mason.
BERT ADAMS
No-o. But you're on the right track
all right. Heh. Guess again.
CARRIE ADAMS
You don't mean to say he's come
across with that raise he's been
promising you for the last--?
BERT ADAMS
No, no, no. No, that isn't it, that
isn't it.
CARRIE ADAMS
Well, then what is it?
BERT ADAMS
Well, all right, honey, listen. Mr.
Mason -- the big boss, you know --
is coming out to dinner with me on
the 5:15 tonight.
(pause, chuckles, to Mason)
She's so tickled, she don't know what
to say.
MR. MASON
Is she? Well, that's great.
CARRIE ADAMS
(deeply annoyed)
Listen, here, neither you or that
boss of yours gets a meal out of
this house tonight!
Mason, checking his pocketwatch, watches Bert's face fall.
BERT ADAMS
(awkwardly, to Carrie)
Yeah, all right, honey. Uh, we're
leaving now. Ta ta, ducky. ... Yes,
I'll tell him.
(chuckles, his voice breaks)
Goodbye.
Bert hangs up.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXT. ADAMS' HOUSE - EVENING
A cozy suburban bungalow -- lower middle class but nice enough. Bert and Mason
arrive and pause at the front gate.
BERT ADAMS
Well, there you are. There's the
little home.
MR. MASON
Nice little place, my boy.
Mason gives Bert a congratulatory pat on the shoulder. Bert opens the small,
wooden gate so that Mason may enter.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Bert enters and stands in the room's doorway, calling nervously to Carrie.
BERT ADAMS
Ducky? Duckeeeee?
(to Mason, behind him)
She isn't here. Well, come in. Come
on in.
Bert guides Mason into the room where they discover the dinner table set for
three. Bert seems rather relieved.
BERT ADAMS
Well, everything is okay. I guess
we'll have something to eat in a
jiffy.
MR. MASON
Ah, what a pretty little room.
BERT ADAMS
Not bad. Not bad. Wonder if Carrie
put some of that watermelon rind
pickle on.
Bert approaches the table. Carrie, visible through a doorway, works in the
adjacent kitchen.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, Carrie?
Carrie enters the living room and removes her apron. She's no longer in her
house dress, having put on something fancier for company. She's now well-
groomed and no longer in a sour mood: polite, pleasant, and a bit shy.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh! Oh, you're - you're here.
BERT ADAMS
Sure, we're here. Meet Mr. Mason.
MR. MASON
(shakes her hand, apologetic)
This is a sort of imposition on you.
CARRIE ADAMS
Not at all. Glad to have you.
BERT ADAMS
(to Mason)
Didn't I tell ya?
CARRIE ADAMS
I had to run over to Mrs. Dickie's
for just a second.
BERT ADAMS
Well ... when do we eat?
CARRIE ADAMS
Everything's ready.
MR. MASON
Well, I - er - I wonder if I could
wash up?
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, yes, indeed. Bertie'll show you.
Bert leans in and quietly speaks to Mason, a little self-consciously.
BERT ADAMS
Yeah, it's, uh, right at the head of
the stairs.
MR. MASON
(nods)
Oh.
Mason exits. Bert tries to take Carrie's hands in gratitude.
BERT ADAMS
Well, you little world's wonder.
But she pulls away from him, upset.
CARRIE ADAMS
Don't you dare speak to me, Bert
Adams.
BERT ADAMS
Well, what--? I thought--
CARRIE ADAMS
Yes. You thought! Where did you
think I was gonna get any food
from?
BERT ADAMS
Well, I don't know. You have plenty,
haven't you?
CARRIE ADAMS
And how did I get it? Going from
door to door to the neighbors,
begging for it, that's what I did.
BERT ADAMS
Well, this ought to fix me for that
vacancy for the head of the shipping
department. It's still open.
CARRIE ADAMS
(suddenly intrigued)
You don't suppose you could land
that, do you?
BERT ADAMS
Well, I don't know. Some of the boys
say it's as good as mine.
CARRIE ADAMS
(pleased)
Bert! Do you really think so?
BERT ADAMS
Well, what else would the old fella
come all the way down here for if it
wasn't to hand me the good news?
CARRIE ADAMS
Maybe I could get an electric
washing machine.
BERT ADAMS
(chuckles)
Get two of them.
CARRIE ADAMS
And a new kitty coop.
BERT ADAMS
You betcha.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, Bertie, wouldn't it be wonderful?
Carrie and Bertie hug one another happily. Mr. Mason returns, pausing in the
doorway at the sight of the couple's lingering embrace.
MR. MASON
(clears throat)
Excuse me.
The couple break their clinch, a trifle embarrassed.
CARRIE ADAMS
Well, Bert, you'd better run along
and juggle some ice and orange juice.
BERT ADAMS
(grinning at her)
Yeah. Yeah.
Bert exits into the kitchen as Carrie plays hostess.
CARRIE ADAMS
Well, sit down, Mr. Mason. Make
yourself at home.
MR. MASON
Thanks.
Carrie and Mason sit at the dinner table.
CARRIE ADAMS
Everything's pushed back on the
stove so I guess it won't burn.
MR. MASON
You have a lot on your hands getting
up fancy meals for company, haven't
you?
CARRIE ADAMS
(nervous, modest)
This is isn't fancy. I hope you like
chicken croquettes.
MR. MASON
Oh, I love them.
CARRIE ADAMS
(relieved)
Oh, that's good.
(hesitantly)
Um ... Bert's been with you for
quite a while now, hasn't he?
MR. MASON
Oh, about three years, I believe.
He's a good steady fellow.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, and he's smart, too.
MR. MASON
Is he?
CARRIE ADAMS
Yes, he's awfully smart. Bertie
rigged up his own radio set.
MR. MASON
You don't say so.
CARRIE ADAMS
Made it for next to nothing. 'Course
it - it doesn't work quite right yet
but--
MR. MASON
It doesn't, hey?
CARRIE ADAMS
(chuckles)
Well--
Bert calls in from the kitchen.
BERT ADAMS (o.s.)
Carrie?
CARRIE ADAMS
Yes?
BERT ADAMS (o.s.)
Where are the oranges?
CARRIE ADAMS
(chuckles, to Mason)
Oh, he can't find anything.
(calls to Bert)
Back of the flour barrel, darling.
(to Mason)
I sometimes tell him he wouldn't
find his head in the morning if it
wasn't screwed on.
Bert enters with an empty bottle.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, I found the bottle, honey, but
it's empty.
CARRIE ADAMS
(takes bottle, brusquely)
Oh, give it to me. Jim Page sure has
more than he needs.
Carrie rises and exits into kitchen, leaving Bert alone with Mason.
BERT ADAMS
Well, what do you know about that?
MR. MASON
Have a cigar.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, don't mind if I do.
Bert takes the offered cigar and pockets it.
MR. MASON
Well, business is picking up.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, yes, yes, sir. Business is
certainly fine in my department.
Bert takes a seat at the table.
MR. MASON
What do you think about putting on
some new men?
BERT ADAMS
Oh, we could certainly put 'em to
work.
MR. MASON
Well, what about ten for a start?
BERT ADAMS
Well, that would be about right.
I've been thinking it over during my
lunch hour at the automat--
MR. MASON
Oh, by the way, there's that vacancy
in the shipping department. Now,
Adams, I want to talk to you about
that. That's a big department, a
very big department.
BERT ADAMS
Yes, sir. I'll say it is.
MR. MASON
And we've got to find just the right
man for that place.
Carrie returns with the bottle filled.
CARRIE ADAMS
Jim wasn't home. The best I could
get was ginger ale.
The men rise and Bert pours drinks for all.
BERT ADAMS
Aw, that'll be all right. Well,
let's go. We'll drink to the success
of the shipping department.
MR. MASON
Oh, no, no, no. Not the shipping
department. We'll drink to something
far more interesting. We'll drink to
our charming hostess.
CARRIE ADAMS
(chuckles, flattered)
Oh, thank you.
The men toast Carrie. Then everyone drinks their ginger ale.
BERT ADAMS
(to Mason)
Well ... sit down, won't you?
CARRIE ADAMS
Yes, do sit down. I - I'll bring
everything.
MR. MASON
Thanks.
Carrie exits into the kitchen. Mason sits. Bert nervously presents Mason with
a dish of pickles.
BERT ADAMS
Would you, uh, like to have a pickle?
MR. MASON
Hm? Oh.
Mason stabs himself a pickle and puts it on his plate. Bert sits.
BERT ADAMS
You were saying just before Carrie
came in?
MR. MASON
Oh, yes, uh, what was I saying?
BERT ADAMS
Uh, you were saying about the, uh,
shipping department.
MR. MASON
Oh, yes, yes. That vacancy. That's
worrying me. About time it was filled,
eh, Adams?
BERT ADAMS
Yes, sir, 'bout time it was filled.
Carrie enters with two bowls of soup for the men.
CARRIE ADAMS
Bert, you run and get my plate. It's
all dished out on the table.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, sure.
Bert hurries into the kitchen. Mason picks up a spoon to start on his soup but
hesitates.
CARRIE ADAMS
(to Mason)
Well, start right in before it cools.
Mason smiles and shows the spoon to Carrie who laughs nervously and rises.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, I forgot to give you a soup spoon.
Carrie quickly pulls the right spoon from a nearby drawer and rejoins Mason at
the table, chuckling self-consciously.
CARRIE ADAMS
Well, I tell you, living certainly
costs a lot these days.
MR. MASON
Indeed, it does.
CARRIE ADAMS
Money doesn't go very far unless
you've got lots of it.
MR. MASON
You have to be a darn good manager.
Bert joins the conversation as he returns and gives Carrie her soup.
BERT ADAMS
Well, that's what she is, all right,
all right.
CARRIE ADAMS
Yes, but even counting the pennies
the way I do doesn't get you half
your needs. Why, last week our meat
bill was--
Bert interrupts her as he takes his seat.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, for heaven's sake, Carrie, what
does Mr. Mason care about our meat
bill?
MR. MASON
Why, of course I care.
CARRIE ADAMS
(pointedly, to Bert)
Of course he cares.
(continues, to Mason)
And it isn't only food. Baby's
clothes -- they cost something awful.
Bert waves her off, trying to stop her.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, say, don't--
Mason looks at Bert who makes an apologetic face to his boss. Carrie makes an
insistent one to Bert and points to Mason for emphasis when Mason isn't
looking.
CARRIE ADAMS
And, uh, Bert's commutation ticket
costs, uh--
BERT ADAMS
(reluctantly following
Carrie's lead)
Yeah, it certainly does make a dent
in the little ol' bankroll.
CARRIE ADAMS
(chuckling awkwardly)
There's nothing left to put in the
bank.
BERT ADAMS
(changing the subject,
to Carrie)
Oh, Mr. Mason was just talking about
that vacancy in the shipping
department.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, yes?
BERT ADAMS
But he didn't get a chance to finish.
MR. MASON
Oh, well, there's no hurry.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, don't let me interrupt you. I
know Bert just loves to talk
business. He eats business.
Honestly, he--
BERT ADAMS
When it comes to eating business,
you gotta hand it to the boss.
MR. MASON
And I flatter myself that I'm a
darn good picker, too.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, you certainly are. You always
find the right man for the right
place.
MR. MASON
Yes, and that's just why I came out
here. To find the right man for the
right place.
Carrie smiles broadly at Bert.
CARRIE ADAMS
(quietly, with delight)
Bertie ... !
MR. MASON
Adams, you've been with us quite a
while now, haven't you?
BERT ADAMS
Yes, sir.
MR. MASON
You've watched that department grow.
BERT ADAMS
Yes, sir, I have.
MR. MASON
And you ought to know it from
beginning to end now.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, well ...
MR. MASON
And you ought to know every man in
it.
BERT ADAMS
I do that.
MR. MASON
Well, that's just why I came to you
in my search for the right man for
that place. Now, Adams, what would
you say ...
Mason pauses. Bert leans forward expectantly. Carrie can barely contain
herself.
CARRIE ADAMS
Yes?
MR. MASON
What would you say if I were to put,
er, Henry Jacobs at the head of that
department?
Bert is stunned. He glances at Carrie, then back to Mason.
BERT ADAMS
Jacobs?
Mason nods. Carrie is confused but sympathetic.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, Bertie, I thought--
Bert thinks it over.
BERT ADAMS
(hesitantly)
Why, I think he's the - best
possible man for that place, sir.
Carrie lowers her head in disappointment.
MR. MASON
Is that so? Now, that's fine. You
know, I've been watching him for a
long time and he seems to be very
capable.
BERT ADAMS
(firmly)
He is.
Mason sniffs the air, looks around.
MR. MASON
Well, what's that?
BERT ADAMS
What's what?
MR. MASON
Isn't there something burning?
Carrie rises, in tears.
CARRIE ADAMS
It - it's the dinner!
Carrie rushes to the kitchen.
CUT TO:
FLASH CUTS
The stove and the oven. Steam pours out of a kettle. The chicken has burned.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM
Bert sits alone with Mason.
BERT ADAMS
(genuinely)
Mr. Mason, you haven't anybody in
your concern as good as Jacobs for
that place.
MR. MASON
I'm very glad to hear you say that.
BERT ADAMS
Yes, sir. He's a fine man.
MR. MASON
You've been with us long enough for
me to value your opinion, Adams. Oh,
by the way, how about the trains
back to town? I have an appointment
at nine o'clock.
Mason checks his watch, Bert pulls out his train schedule and consults it.
BERT ADAMS
Well, there's one - one at seven-
fifteen. That's a theater train. The
next one is at, uh-- No, that only
runs on holidays. Next one is eleven-
twenty.
MR. MASON
Eleven-twenty? Great Scott, that's
terrible. Well, I've simply got to
get that seven-fifteen back, then.
It's a shame but I--
BERT ADAMS
All right, sir. If you really feel
you have to go.
The men rise.
BERT ADAMS
I'll call you a taxi.
MR. MASON
(nods)
Thanks, if you will.
Bert exits. Carrie enters, dejected, and joins Mason.
CARRIE ADAMS
Everything's spoiled. Burned to a
crisp.
MR. MASON
Oh, that's too bad.
CARRIE ADAMS
I got so excited listening to you.
(suddenly, with passion)
Oh, Mr. Mason, what's the matter with
Bert that he didn't get that job? He
had his heart set on it. And he's
worked so hard. Sometimes I think
I'll go crazy if I listen to that -
that alarm another morning. But he's
so afraid of being late. At night,
he comes home with reports and sits
around figuring until it's time to
go to bed. I beg him to take me to
the movies but he won't. I can't
get him outside the house.
(lowers her head, sadly)
This is what he gets for it.
(bitterly)
Someone else gets shoved in ahead
of him.
Halfway through Carrie's speech, Bert returns and pauses reluctantly in the
background.
BERT ADAMS
Carrie, don't.
(to Mason)
Don't listen to her, Mr. Mason.
CARRIE ADAMS
He will listen to me! What right's
he got to pass you over? He wants a
good man for the job. Why doesn't he
see the best man in the world right
in front of his nose?
BERT ADAMS
Stop, Carrie. Mr. Mason, don't mind
her.
MR. MASON
(coolly)
Oh, but I do.
BERT ADAMS
(taken aback)
Aw, you--
(more disappointed
than angry, to Carrie)
Now, you see what you've done?
CARRIE ADAMS
(turns on Bert, angry)
I don't care! I - I'd rather you'd
starved to death than work for him
any more! If you had any nerve,
you'd speak up and say that you feel
the way I do. But, no! You'd rather
sit around being a clerk all your
life.
MR. MASON
Don't you worry, Mrs. Adams. He
won't be a clerk in my employ much
longer.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, you don't mean to say, sir,
you're lettin' me go just because
she--
MR. MASON
Certainly I'm gonna let you go. I
won't have discontented people
around me. From now on, your desk
will be vacant, Adams, and you'll
move into my outer office.
Bert and Carrie look at Mason in stunned disbelief.
BERT ADAMS
Your - your - ? What'd you say?
MR. MASON
You're going to be my assistant from
now on.
CARRIE ADAMS
Assistant?!
MR. MASON
Certainly. I was going to put him
there. But I first wanted to find
out what sort of stuff he was made
of.
Bert and Carrie chuckle nervously. Bert holds out an arm to Carrie.
BERT ADAMS
Pinch me, will ya? I'm dreaming.
MR. MASON
I knew you had brains but I doubted
just how much initiative you had
until tonight.
BERT ADAMS
Oh, but I don't see--
MR. MASON
Why, the minute you picked up the
phone to call your wife, I knew
that she'd forbidden you to bring
me out here.
CARRIE ADAMS
You knew that?
MR. MASON
Why, certainly, from the look on his
face.
(chuckles)
Oh, that's all right. I knew very
well that just showed me what sort
of a wife he had. One who would help
him to get along, who could forget
her grouch and put on a dinner with
a moment's notice.
CARRIE ADAMS
Oh, and what a dinner. If - if
you'll wait, I'll cook up some eggs
and bacon.
MR. MASON
Thank you, I'd like to but some
other time. And another thing, Adams,
you've proven yourself to be a great
asset to the firm. Much bigger than
you guess. I knew you had your eye
on that shipping room job but when
I proposed someone else whom I
thought better equipped, did you
run him down? No, you did not. You
showed that you had real heart
interest in the business. Takes a
pretty big man to boost another
fellow for the job that he wants
himself.
BERT ADAMS
(clutching Carrie,
delighted and stunned)
I'm going around in circles.
MR. MASON
And you, Mrs. Adams, you proved that
you wouldn't let anybody, boss or no
boss, trample on your husband. Now,
together, you two young folks ought
to go very far. Well, you move into
your new quarters on Monday, Adams.
CARRIE ADAMS
I'm gonna kiss you if they shoot me
for it!
Carrie embraces Mason and kisses him. They share a chuckle. Meanwhile, Bert is
speechless.
BERT ADAMS
I, uh, I - I -
MR. MASON
(clears his throat)
Adams, you'll find a substantial
raise in your envelope next week.
FADE OUT