Screen adaptation

Among the stories included in this book, I think "Fair Extention" would make a great movie.

It tells us about Dave Street, a man with brain cancer, who has only a couple of months left. One day on his way home he notices a tent with a sign "Fair Extension". When he enters, the salesman, called Elvid (devil backwards) tells him that he sells any kind of extensions: money extensions, nose extensions, even life extension. So Dave thinks this man is crazy and wants to leave, but the salesman promises to cure his cancer for a week to prove it's real.

When Dave goes to a doctor he shocks everyone - the tumor is gone! Streeter returns to the Fair Extension and decides to make a deal with the devil. All he needs to do is to transfer 15 per cent of his monthly income to some charity fund and he also need to name a person he really hates to balance the scales of fate. This person turns out to be his best friend since school, Tom Goodhugh, who had more luck than Dave and became rich and successful.

After the deal is signed Dave returns home, his cancer is cured and moreover, his family gets more and more successful, while terrible things begin to happen with Tom Goodhugh's family. His wife gets cancer and dies in a month, his son who was a decent sportsman gets brain damage and becomes mentally challenged. Tom looses his money, his company and family. But Dave doesn't even feel guilty. He and his family are very happy and rich now, but Streeter isn't happy with what he already has, he wants more.

The whole story is very dark and gloomy. It could make a good noir movie. From the middle of the book the feeling of despair is rising. And the ending would look very good on a screen:

He turned to Janet and saw that she was crying. He tilted her chin toward him and solemnly kissed the tears away. That made her smile. 

“What is it, honey?”

“I was thinking about the Goodhughs. I’ve never known a family to have such a run of bad luck. Bad luck?” She laughed. “Black luck is more like it.”

“Life is fair. We all get the same nine-month shake in the box, and then the dice roll. Some people get a run of sevens. Some people, unfortunately, get snake-eyes. It’s just how the world is.”

She put her arms around him.

“I love you, sweetie. You always look on the bright side.”

Streeter shrugged modestly.

“The law of averages favors optimists, any banker would tell you that. Things have a way of balancing out in the end.”

Venus came into view above the airport, glimmering against the darkening blue.

“Wish!” Streeter commanded.

Janet laughed and shook her head.

“What would I wish for? I have everything I want.”

“Me too,” Streeter said, and then, with his eyes fixed firmly on Venus, he wished for more.

P.S. There's also a good trailer, made by a group of amateur directors: