Big Eyes Page #22

(MISTY-EYED)

Until today, we've always been on the

outside, looking in. But when we

enter... we will belong.

MARGARET:

I was happier selling paintings in the

park.

He gapes, appalled.

WALTER:

You are one crazy b*tch.

Walter spins and grandly enters. He grabs two CHAMPAGNES from

a server.

WALTER:

So maybe you have problems with the

choices we made... but -- c'mon!

Wednesday, the World's Fair opens.

Thursday, our book goes on sale!

MARGARET:

Friday, I file for divorce.

WALTER:

Aw, why are you always so miserable?

(IRRITATED)

Well, I'm gonna enjoy my afternoon!

The HOSTESS is a bejeweled dowager. Walter makes a beeline.

82.

WALTER:

Mrs. Teasdale! Walter Keane. I just

want to thank you for hosting this

absolutely enchanting soiree.

Walter takes the woman's hand. She smiles stiffly, silently

horrified. She glances around for help.

She catches a SOCIETY MAN's eye, and he hurries over.

SOCIETY MAN:

Hey, Keane. Have you seen the Times?

WALTER:

Er, no. Honestly, I've been so busy

all day preparing for this lovely --

SOCIETY MAN:

I think you should read the Times.

The Man gestures. Perplexed, the Keanes follow him into a

INT. DEN - SAME TIME

The room looks like a hunting lodge. On the desk are all the

DAILY PAPERS. Walter grabs the NEW YORK TIMES -- then gasps.

INSERT - NEW YORK TIMES

It's open to a reproduction of "Tomorrow Forever," above a

scathing REVIEW.

THE KEANES:

stare, then turn pale.

INSERT - REVIEW

A BLIZZARD of WORDS assaults us:

"GROTESQUE" "APPALLING"

"TASTELESS"

"Lowest common denominator"

MARGARET AND WALTER'S

faces drop, terribly hurt.

MARGARET:

How could anyone... say something so

cruel?

83.

WALTER:

(a seething fury)

What do YOU care?! That's MY name

being dragged through the mud!

Walter CRUSHES the newspaper. He spins on the guy.

WALTER:

Is he here?

SOCIETY MAN:

Er... yes. Which is perhaps why it

would be best for everybody if you --

Walter STORMS out. The guy futilely chases --

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME

Walter barrels in. The ROOMFUL OF GUESTS are all staring.

WALTER:

WHO WROTE THIS SH*T?

People cower.

Walter scans the crowd... and spots a cluster. Ah-hah! There

is Canaday. Possessed, Walter strides over. Canaday stares,

defiant. It's tense -- until he clears his throat.

CANADAY:

Mr. Keane, this is not the venue.

Perhaps you'd like to write a letter

to the editor.

Walter's throat tightens. He steps right into the guy's face.

Women GASP. Tension bristles -- like a fight's about to erupt.

WALTER:

What are you afraid of??

(MALEVOLENT)

Just because people like my work, that

means it's automatically bad??

CANADAY:

No. But that doesn't make it art

either.

Walter shudders. Canaday asserts himself.

CANADAY:

Art should elevate -- not pander!

Particularly in a Hall of Education!

WALTER:

(OFFENDED)

You have no idea!

(MORE)

84.

WALTER (CONT'D)

Why does a man become a critic --??

Because he can't create! You don't --

CANADAY:

Ugh! That moldy chestnut --

WALTER:

Don't interrupt! You don't know what

it's like! To put your emotions out

there, naked, for the world to see.

CANADAY:

What emotions?! It's synthetic hack

work!

(he loses it)

Your "masterpiece" has an infinity of

Keanes -- which just makes it an

infinity of kitsch!

Crazed, Walter grabs a FORK off the buffet.

He lunges, like he's about to STAB Canaday!

WIDE:

Women SCREAM.

A few MUSCULAR MEN start to break through, to help.

WALTER:

looks around -- then quivers, realizing he's out of control.

Shamed, he slowly drops the fork.

People breathe a sigh of relief.

MARGARET:

is mortified. This is all too awful. Silent, she watches

Walter back out of the party...

CUT TO:

INT. WORLD'S FAIR HALL OF EDUCATION - DAY

"Tomorrow Forever" gets TAKEN DOWN. Burly WORKMEN slide the

painting into a huge WOODEN BOX.

INT. KEANE HOUSE - NIGHT

The house is dark. Walter is raging, in an alcoholic fury.

85.

WALTER:

What's wrong with lowest common

denominators?! That's what this

country was built on!!

He KNOCKS over a lamp. Crash!

WALTER:

I'm gonna sue EVERYBODY! I'll sue

that pansy critic! And the World's

Fair! And -- Unicef!

(CRAZED)

Yeah! I'll take down Unicef, and all

their precious little boxes of dimes!

Walter RUSHES BY. In a dim alcove, we make out Margaret and

Jane, huddled in the shadows.

Jane looks up at her mother with wide, frightened eyes.

Suddenly -- Walter LUNGES at them!

They SCREAM, startled.

WALTER:

But I can't sue you, can I?

(in Margaret's face)

You were the ultimate betrayal! You

FAILED me with that painting!

Suddenly, he pulls out a BOOK OF MATCHES. He lights a MATCH

and waves it sinisterly --

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