Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (1987)
Starring Steve Martin, John Candy
LAST SEEN: Neal Page inviting Del Griffith into his home for Thanksgiving. “Every Time You Go Away” playing softly in the background. Neal making out with his wife while the guy with the dead wife has to watch because he has nowhere to go.
OPENS: Del’s legacy of leaving behind shower curtain rings that didn’t fall down doesn’t happen. Traveling curtain ring salesmen are now extinct.
It’s been 31 years since that first Thanksgiving, and Del is still living with Neal Page in Chicago.
Del races to tell Neal the news. He’s gotten a job.
Neal is skeptical. He’s heard this before. Unfortunately, Del has an uncanny ability to pick professions with a short lifespan.
- First, he found work on an assembly line.
- Then he got a job as a Library tech typing library cards for the card catalog
At this point, it didn’t look like Del would be leaving the Page household anytime soon.
- Del takes a course on how to sell Laserdiscs at the mall.
- He becomes a meter-reader for the gas company. On foot.
Del is no longer a guest but a squatter. The undue stress on Neal and his wife is starting to take its toll.
- Del becomes a video store clerk
- He opens his own travel agency
Neal’s wife leaves him.
- Del is promoted to manager at the local Toys R Us.
Neal’s adult children no longer speak to him. He starts to welcome Del’s companionship and doesn’t point out that they aren’t pillows anymore.
“I’ve finally done it! I’ve found my calling. This is what I’ll do until I retire!”
“Ok, Del. What are you doing now?”
“Complete job security – I’m going to be a special advisor to President Trump!”
THE END