Being There Page #15

HONEYCUTT:

Highly unlikely, sir... In

fact, the boys around the Bureau

feel that the only person capable

of pulling it off would be an ex-

F.B.I. man.

BALDWIN:

(a look to Honeycutt)

I don't think that's entirely

true, Grover.

PRESIDENT:

(to Baldwin)

And what do the boys around

Intelligence think?

BALDWIN:

Well, Mr. President... They

don't know quite what to think.

More silence, more looks.

115INT. RAND LIMOUSINE - NIGHT

Chance watches TV. Eve sits beside him, her hand on his

thigh.

EVE:

I feel so close to you, so

safe with you, Chauncey...

and Benjamin understands that,

dearest... He understands and

accepts my feelings for you...

CHANCE:

Yes. Ben is very wise.

Eve moves her hand up higher on Chance's thigh, there is

no reaction.

116INT. RAND MANSION - 3rd FLOOR HALLWAY - NIGHT

Eve and Chance stand close together in the hallway.

EVE:

...It's difficult to say good

night to you, Chauncey - it's

very hard for me to leave you.

CHANCE:

It's very hard for me, too, Eve.

EVE:

...Oh.

Flustered at the thought, Eve turns and leaves. Chance watches

her go, then moves off to his room.

117INT. CHANCE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Chance is propped up in bed, watches an old movie on tele-

vision. The hero gives his lady a passionate kiss and embrace.

The scene seems to 'sink into' Chance's mind. Suddenly, Eve,

robe over her nightgown, comes into the room.

EVE:

Oh, Chauncey - I just couldn't stand

it any longer.

She goes to the bed, takes Chance in her arms, starts to kiss

him, when he abruptly takes Eve into his arms and kisses her

full on the mouth. Once done, Chance's attention returns to

the television while Eve is in a frenzy of passion. She

holds him, kisses him, runs her hands over his body.

Chance neither resists nor responds, he just watches

television. Suddenly Eve stops, lets her head fall on

Chance's chest.

EVE:

...You don't want me, Chauncey...

You don't feel anything for me...

Nothing at all...

Chance, feeling her sadness, gently strokes her hair as he

looks at TV.

EVE:

...I just don't excite you...

I don't know what you want.. I

don't know what you like...

CHANCE:

I like to watch.

EVE:

(not understanding)

To watch...? To watch me...?

CHANCE:

Yes. I like to watch.

EVE:

(uncertain)

...Is that all you want...?

(a hesitation)

...To watch me...?

CHANCE:

Yes. It's very good, Eve.

EVE:

...But I've never done...

(another hesitation)

...You mean...? When... When...

When I do it?... When I touch

myself...?

Eve slowly gets up from the bed, nervously paces the bed-

room as Chance watches TV. She makes a decision, moves

to Chance, kisses him.

EVE:

(getting aroused)

Oh, Chauncey... I do love you so

much.

She steps back, slips off her robe. She does not undress

any further, instead, leans close to Chance.

EVE:

One of those little things you

don't know about me yet, darling -

I'm a little shy.

She smiles, drops to the floor. Chance divides his attention

between Eve and the TV, watching both with an equal detach-

ment. Eve becomes more and more involved with herself,

finding immense pleasure with her own body. Chance changes

the channel with the remote control. Eve reaches orgasm, her

body shaking violently, then a delicate tremor. Then she is

still. Chance turns off the TV with the remote, turns over

in bed.

CHANCE:

Good night, Eve.

A low purr is heard from Eve.

118INT. RAND'S ROOM - MORNING

There is a feeling of urgency as Allenby and the nurses

attend to Rand.

ALLENBY:

(to nurses)

Get set up for a transfusion

right away.

RAND:

(very weakly)

...No more, Robert - no more

needles...

ALLENBY:

It's not good, Ben - I'm

sure you can feel it.

RAND:

I know, Robert... I know...

119INT. RAND MANSION - PATIO - MORNING

A light snow is falling. Eve is in a fur coat, holds a

steaming cup of coffee. Chance stands near her next to

the railing. He reaches out, catches snowflakes as they

fall.

EVE:

...And I feel so free now,

Chauncey. I never felt so

acknowledged by a man...

Until I met you, I always

had the feeling that I was

just a vessel for a man,

something that he could take

hold of, pierce, and pollute.

I was merely an aspect of

somebody's lovemaking. Do

you know what I mean?

Chance turns to her, says nothing, presses the cold snow-

flakes to his face.

EVE:

You uncoil my wants; desire

flows within me, and when you

watch me my passion dissolves

it. You set me free. I

reveal myself to myself and I

am drenched and purged.

Teresa appears in the doorway.

TERESA:

Mr. Gardiner. Mr. Rand would

like to see you.

CHANCE:

Yes. I would like to see Ben.

Chance gives Eve a warm smile, then follows Teresa into

the house.

120INT. RAND'S ROOM - MORNING

Allenby, with nothing more he can do to prolong Rand's

life, stands close to him, grips his hand tightly. Teresa

shows Chance into the room and Allenby motions to the nurses

to leave. Chance, with a smile, goes to Rand's bedside.

RAND:

(slowly)

...Chauncey... Chauncey...

CHANCE:

Yes, Ben - are you going to die now?

Allenby winces.

RAND:

(a weak smile)

...I'm about to surrender the

Horn of Plenty for the Horn

of Gabriel, my boy...

CHANCE:

I see.

RAND:

(reaches out to him)

Let me feel the strength in

your hand, Chauncey... Let me

feel your strength...

(holds Chance's hand)

Yes, that's good... I hope,

Chauncey - I hope that you'll

stay with Eve... Take care of

her, watch over her, she's a

delicate flower, Chauncey...

CHANCE:

(smiling)

A flower...

RAND:

She cares for you and she needs

your help, Chauncey... there's

much to be looked after...

CHANCE:

Yes. I would like to do that.

RAND:

...My associates, Chauncey - I've

talked with them about you...

They're eager to meet with you...

very eager...

(trails off)

...Tell Eve..

Rand slumps down, dead. Allenby checks his pulse, turns

to Chance.

ALLENBY:

...He's gone, Chauncey.

CHANCE:

Yes, Robert. I have seen it

before. It happens to old

people.

ALLENBY:

(covers Rand's face)

Yes, I suppose that's true.

Chance reaches out, uncovers Rand's face, gently touches

the man's forehead, feels the coldness. Allenby eyes him

as Chance stays with Rand for a moment, then replaces the

sheet.

CHANCE:

(turns to Allenby)

Will you be leaving now, Robert?

ALLENBY:

In a day or two, yes.

CHANCE:

Eve is going to stay. The house

will not be closed.

ALLENBY:

(a moment, a look)

...You've become quite a close

friend of Eve's - haven't you...

(a beat)

...Chance...?

CHANCE:

Yes. I love Eve very much.

ALLENBY:

I see...

(another beat)

...And you really are a gardener,

aren't you?

CHANCE:

(brightens)

Yes, Robert - I am.

(a smile at Allenby)

I'll got tell Eve about Ben now,

Robert.

Chance leaves the bedroom. Allenby watches him go, then

sits back in a chair, his head spinning.

121EXT. RAND ESTATE - DAY

Rand's funeral services are being held on a hill overlooking

the mansion. Six distinguished-looking men stand near Rand's

casket, which is placed on a concrete block. They are the

PALLBEARERS. The Rand mausoleum is fifty yards further up

the hill, while the MOURNERS, all close friends and associates

of Rand's, stand fifty yards down the hill from the pallbearers.

Chance stands with Eve and Allenby. The President of the

United States is before the microphone, which feeds loudspeakers

for the Rand servants lined up in front of the mansion.

Rate this script:2.0 / 1 vote