MARTHA CAVENAUGH, the shop manager, a robust earth-mother who loves books and her job, offers cookies to Julie, Betsy, Lipsky and Patty while David looks over his reading selection.
MARTHA:
You sure I can’t get you something to drink?
DAVID:
Do you have any artificial spit?
Everyone laughs, perhaps a little too heartily.
DAVID:
No, it’s an actual pharmaceutical product. Zero-Lube.
LIPSKY:
Really? Artificial saliva?
DAVID:
Yeah, but it’s way better ‘cause it lubricates. You don’t get that clicky sound you do with dry mouth.
He demonstrates.
MARTHA:
I’ll have to remember that.
DAVID:
Next tour, I bring a case.
MARTHA:
In the meantime, what can I get you?
DAVID:
Water? No ice?
Martha goes to fetch it.
Lipsky and Betsy.
LIPSKY:
Are you a fiction writer, too?
BETSY:
I’m a poet, actually.
LIPSKY:
Oh, wow.
45.
BETSY:
Just got my first poem published inthe Kenyon Review.
Really!
LIPSKY:
Wow! Congratulations!
David observes Lipsky chatting animatedly with Betsy, disapproval registering on his face.
66A INT. HUNGRY MIND BOOKSTORE - ST PAUL - 1996 - LATER 66A Martha leads them to the side of the podium. On the move:
DAVID:
I don’t mean to be a prima donna, but I’d really prefer it if we didn’t have a Q & A.
