Joe Versus the Volcano Page #2

Synopsis: Joe versus the Volcano is a fable which opens with somewhat surrealistic scenes of the dehumanization of Joe Bank's job and work environment (at a company whose product rather literally screws people) with imagery that seems to have been inspired by the classic film Metropolis. Joe is diagnosed with an incurable disease, quits his dehumanizing job, and accepts an offer to briefly "live like a king, die like a man" - but to fulfill his agreement he must willingly jump into a live volcano on the island of Waponi Woo in order to appease the volcano god. En route to the island, Joe meets a series of interesting characters in NYC and LA, then boards a yacht, captained by Patricia Graynamore. During the voyage Joe and Patricia survive disaster, fall in love, and finally arrive at the island where they face their destiny.
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Production: Warner Home Video
  1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
5.7
Metacritic:
45
Rotten Tomatoes:
62%
PG
Year:
1990
102 min
1,656 Views


WATURI:

Yeah, Harry, but can he do the

job? I know he can get the

job, but can he do the job?

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you

Mr. Waturi waves absently at Joe and goes on talking into

the phone.

WATURI:

Who told you that? No. I

told you that. Me. What?

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Joe hangs up his coat on the coat rack and goes to the

coffee set-up at the rear of the office. He snaps a

disposable plastic coffee cup into a permanent plastic

holder. He puts a spoonful of instant coffee in the cup.

Then a spoonful of powdered creamer. Then two spoonfuls

of sugar. He takes a plastic stirrer and stirs the

powders. He pours in the hot water and stirs. Little

clumps of undissolved stuff rise to the top. Joe tries

to break them up with the stirrer and partially succeeds.

He feels the glands in his throat. Maybe they're a

little swollen. He rubs his eyes. They're burning a

little. He takes his coffee and walks past Mr. Waturi

and into his own office.

4 INT. ADVERTISING LIBRARY - JOE'S OFFICE - DAY 4

The same fluorescent lighting. There's a small wooden

desk which has on it an old electric typewriter and an

out-of-place lamp; it's a lamp Joe brought from home. The

rest of the office is almost entirely taken up with grey

industrial shelving. On these shelves are brochures

depicting various medical instruments. Samples of each

brochure are taped to the appropriate shelf. Behind

Joe's desk is a pipe that runs floor-to-ceiling and is

painted fire-engine red.

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - 5/16/89 4.

4 CONTINUED:
4

In the center of this pipe is a big wheel valve. Hanging

from this valve is a printed metal sign.

The sign reads:
THE MAIN DRAIN. Another sign reads: Do

Not Touch. Joe turns on the lamp, which casts a small

ring of golden light, and sits down with his coffee. He

takes off his shoe and examines it. He tries to huddle

close to the lamp, like a cold creature trying to get

warm. Dede comes in.

JOE:

Good morning, Dede.

DEDE:

Hi, Joe. What's with the

shoe?

JOE:

I'm losing my sole.

DEDE:

Yeah. How you doin'?

JOE:

I'm a little tired.

DEDE:

Yeah.

(she hands him some

labels)

Here. Each one gets sent five

catalogs.

JOE:

Can't do it.

DEDE:

Why not?

JOE:

I only got twelve catalogs

left altogether.

DEDE:

Okay.

She leaves. Joe puts his shoe back on. Mr. Waturi comes

in. Joe cowers. He's threatened by Mr. Waturi.

WATURI:

How you doin', Joe?

JOE:

Well, I'm not feeling very

good, Mr. Waturi.

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 5/16/89A4A.

4 CONTINUED:
(A1A) 4

Mr. Waturi chuckles.

(CONTINUED)

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO - Rev. 1/15/89 4A.

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John Patrick Shanley

John Patrick Shanley is an American playwright, screenwriter, and theatre and film director. His play Doubt: A Parable won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play. more…

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