“Come in, Mr. Juarez.” from the film “Being John Malcovich.” Craig gets a very strange interview from Lester. Ideal for Adult Males ranging from 30-60. 1-2 Mins.
Written By: Charlie Kaufman
LESTER and CRAIG:
INT. LESTER’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
Craig enters. Lester, a giant of an old man, sits hunched
behind his tiny desk.
LESTER
Come in, Mr. Juarez. I’d stand, but,
well, you know.
CRAIG
(extending his hand)
Actually, my name is Craig Schwartz,
Dr. Lester.
Lester flips an intercom switch.
LESTER
Security.
CRAIG
No, it’s okay, sir. Just a mixup with
your secretary.
LESTER
She’s not my secretary. She’s what
they call an executive liaison, and
I’m not banging her, if that’s what
you’re implying.
CRAIG
Not at all, Dr. Lester. I simply
misspoke.
LESTER
Tell me, Dr. Schwartz, what do you
feel you can bring to LesterCorp?
CRAIG
Well, sir, I’m an excellent filer.
LESTER
(crafty)
You think so, eh? Which comes first,
L or… Glooph?
CRAIG
Glooph is not a letter, sir.
LESTER
Damn, you are good. I tried to trick
you. Okay, put these in order.
Lester hands Craig a bunch of index cards. Craig orders
them with amazing speed and dexterity. Lester watches,
eyes wide.
LESTER (CONT’D)
(flips intercom switch)
Floris, get Guinness on the phone.
FLORIS (O.S.)
Gehginnis ondah foam?
LESTER
Forget it.
FLORIS (CONT’D)
Fork ah did?
LESTER
(flips off switch)
Fine woman, Floris. I don’t know how
she puts up with this damn speech
impediment of mine.
CRAIG
You don’t have a speech impediment,
Dr. Lester.
LESTER
Flattery will get you everywhere,
my boy. But I’m afraid I have to
trust Floris on this one. You see,
she has her doctorate in speech
impedimentology from Case Western.
Perhaps you’ve read her memoirs,
“I can’t understand a word any of
you are saying.”
CRAIG
No.
LESTER
Pity, it tells it like it is.
That’s why the eastern, read Jewish,
publishing establishment won’t touch
it. That’s a quote from the book
jacket. George Will, I think.
(beat)
I apologize if you can’t understan
a word I’m saying, Dr. Schwartz.
CRAIG
No. I understand perfectly.
LESTER
(choking up)
Thank you for being kind enough to
lie. You see, I’ve been very lonely
in my isolated tower of
indecipherable speech. You’re hired.
Any questions?
CRAIG
Just one. Why is this floor so short?
LESTER
Low overhead, m’boy. We pass the
savings on to you.
(laughs heartily)
But seriously, that’s all covered in
orientation.
