Big Eyes Page #26

98.

DICK:

I-I, but... why would Maggie do this?

WALTER:

She's unhinged! She left me and moved

into the jungle. She fell in with a

bunch of religious zealots:

(WHISPERING)

Jehovah's Witnesses.

DICK:

I really don't know much about them...

WALTER:

Oh! These people are gone! Solid

gone! They don't celebrate Christmas,

they can't salute the flag... they

won't even let Janie go to the prom!

Dick is startled.

INT. HAWAIIAN HOUSE - DAY

Margaret sits with a GROUP of her Witness friends. She is

sorrowful. Confused. Clutching ASSORTED NEWSPAPERS.

MARGARET:

He made me sound crazy!!

ASIAN LADY #2

Just rise above it.

MARGARET:

But how can I?! He claims I copied

HIM! That he taught ME how to paint!

(reading the NEWSPAPER)

"She used a slide projector to trace

my work and fill in the colors."

ASIAN LADY #1

And which part of that is untrue?

MARGARET:

ALL OF IT!

(IMPASSIONED)

When I finally told the truth, I felt

good about myself for the first time

in years!! I'm not going to let him

take that away.

Nobody is sure what to say. Until -- Jane pipes up:

JANE:

Hey. Is Jehovah okay with suing??

CUT TO:

99.

EXT. HONOLULU FEDERAL COURTHOUSE - DAY

The mighty courtroom steps are SWARMING WITH PEOPLE. It's a

circus. LOCAL TV NEWS CREWS do standups:

REPORTER #1

Seventeen million dollars!

(BEAT)

The art world is abuzz! Is it

possible that the decade's top-selling

painter can't even paint??!

REPORTER #2

Or is Mrs. Keane simply a bitter ex-

wife, trying to steal her husband's

fame and fortune?

(BEAT)

Today in Federal Court, lawyers

present their opening arguments in the

case of Margaret Keane vs. Walter

Keane and Gannett Newspapers. A trial

that could produce the largest libel

and slander award in Hawaiian history.

Margaret, Jane, Margaret's LAWYER, and her FRIENDS walk up.

Margaret glances over -- and spots FEMINIST SUPPORTERS smiling

at her. They hold up signs: "Stand Up and Be Counted!"

Margaret is bewildered. She hurries in.

AT THE CURB:

Walter and a POSSE OF LAWYERS exit a towncar. The REPORTERS

charge over, as Walter puts on a confident face.

REPORTER #1

Mr. Keane! Are you at all concerned

about the charges?

WALTER:

I'm angry as hell! But I'm lucky to

have the mighty Gannett News Company

watching my back. I expect to have

this whole trial dismissed by noon.

(BEAT)

Truthfully, my only concern is that

somebody get this woman some

psychiatric care. She needs it!

CUT TO:

INT. FEDERAL COURTROOM - LATER

The EIGHT JURORS watch attentively. Walter sits with the

table of slick Gannett lawyers. The lead lawyer stands in

front of the irritable Chinese JUDGE.

100.

GANNETT LAWYER:

Margaret Keane is a public figure.

And as such, she has to prove that our

newspapers published statements, aware

of probable falsity.

(BEAT)

But there is no evidence that our

editors could have known that the

assertions were untrue.

(BEAT)

We would like to submit 692 articles

and interviews in which Mrs. Keane

credits Mr. Keane as the painter of

the so-called "big eye" children.

His Associate hands two massive bound PILES OF NEWSPAPERS AND

MAGAZINES to the BAILIFF.

Margaret winces.

Walter grins, eating it up.

The Judge stares sourly at the piles.

JUDGE:

How many years back do these go?

GANNETT LAWYER:

Mrs. Keane has been making these

statements since 1958.

Beat.

JUDGE:

This is a very strange case. These

paintings hang in museums all over the

world, attributed to Mr. Keane. And

regardless of the truth, Mrs. Keane

has contributed immeasurably to the

confusion...

The Judge stares off... then makes a decision.

JUDGE:

It seems impossible that Gannett's

actions would ever meet the legal

standard for libel. So -- the charge

against them is dismissed.

WIDE:

The Lawyer smiles, relieved.

GANNETT LAWYER:

Thank you, Your Honor!

101.

Walter peers, comprehending... and then, a realization slowly

kicks in. His face turns to horror.

The Lawyer nods humbly, then spins away. He smirks at Walter.

GANNETT LAWYER:

Good luck, Keane.

AT THE DEFENSE TABLE

The ENTIRE LEGAL TEAM jumps up and begins packing their

briefcases.

Walter sputters in astonishment.

WALTER:

"Good luck"? W-where the hell are you

going?!

GANNETT LAWYER:

We were charged with libel. You're

charged with slander.

(BLASE)

Just dance your way out of it.

The Lawyers file out, leaving Walter alone at the table.

He looks very small and pale. The Judge peers quizzically.

JUDGE:

Mr. Keane, you appear to be without

counsel. Would you like a

postponement, in order to get your

affairs in order?

Walter glances over at Margaret. She stifles a laugh.

He glares daggers. Then, cocksure, foolhardy, he jumps to his

feet.

Rate this script:3.5 / 2 votes