Big Eyes Page #27

WALTER:

I've always taken care of myself, Your

Honor. And I don't need a bunch of

rent-a-suits to defend my good name!

(BEAT)

Let's PROCEED!

CUT TO:

INSERT - WIRE SERVICE TELETYPE MACHINE

Words type out:
"AP - HONOLULU - KEANE TRIAL TAKES STARTLING

TURN"

102.

INSERT - ANOTHER WIRE SERVICE MACHINE

More words type out: "UPI - HONOLULU - HE'S A PAINTER... AND A

LAWYER?"

INT. DICK NOLAN'S OFFICE - DAY

Dick frantically types at his typewriter.

DICK (V.O.)

I'm concerned about my old pal Walter

Keane. The Hawaiian heat may have

cooked his brain! The only thing he

knows about courtrooms and lawyers

comes from watching Perry Mason on

television!

CUT TO:

INT. COURTROOM - LATER

Walter stands down front. Like a Broadway star, center-stage.

WALTER:

I'm the sole creator of my art. This

is my total life. My contribution to

the world --

JUDGE:

Mr. KEANE! I've told you, you must

ask the witness questions! If you're

acting as your own attorney, you

cannot make statements at this time.

WALTER:

Oh. Right! Ah, sorry, Your Honor.

(BEAT)

It's hard to keep this all straight...

Walter gathers his thoughts -- then turns to the WITNESS

STAND. Sitting in it... is Margaret.

WALTER:

Mrs. Keane. It seems impossible that

you'd expect anybody to swallow your

fantastic story --

JUDGE:

MR. KEANE!!

Walter grimaces. He tries again, choosing his words.

WALTER:

Mrs. Keane. You seem like a lucid

woman. Reasonably intelligent... So

how could you possibly have gone along

with such a far-out scheme?

103.

We slowly MOVE IN ON MARGARET.

This is her moment. And then -- quietly, she speaks.

MARGARET:

I was forced into it. You had --

She stops, bothered by this awkwardness. She looks away from

Walter, to the Jury instead.

MARGARET:

He had me dominated. He would rant

and rave if I didn't do what he

wanted. I was afraid. I didn't see

any option, so I went along. I felt

very bad...

WALTER:

(like a TV lawyer)

I want to remind you you are under

oath.

The Judge SLAMS his fists down, enraged. Walter jumps.

WALTER:

S-sorry.

Margaret turns back to the Jury.

MARGARET:

I just gave in. I allowed him to take

credit for the big eyes. They

reflected all my feelings... and... it

was like losing a child...

(SHE SIGHS)

I was weak. I didn't feel I could

leave and support myself and my

daughter. He said nobody would buy

the paintings without his personality.

(SOFT)

Maybe he was right...

(TO WALTER)

You were very talented at being

charming. You were a genius at

salesmanship and promotion.

WALTER:

Hm! It sounds like you've described

two different men. One a sadistic

ogre... and the other a delightful bon

vivant.

Margaret stares him in the eyes.

MARGARET:

That's you, Walter. Jekyll and Hyde.

104.

WALTER:

What an outrageous statement! I

demand we strike that from the record!

JUDGE:

(he SLAMS his fist)

Overruled!!

MARGARET:

(she loses her temper)

No! You're outrageous! Constantly

criticizing! Wearing me down! Saying

I'd be "knocked off" if I ever told

the truth!!

The Jury GASPS.

Walter throws out his hands.

WALTER:

Your HONOR! I ask for a mistrial!

Both Keanes starts QUARRELING. The Judge STANDS.

JUDGE:

HEY! This is not a domestic squabble!

Or -- maybe it is. But the rest of us

have no interest in watching you two

go at it.

Walter calms himself, contrite.

WALTER:

I'm sorry for the emotions. I'm an

artist.

The Judge stares harshly.

JUDGE:

Maybe.

IN THE BACK OF THE COURTROOM

Two SKETCH ARTISTS are busy, drawing the trial. One guy pokes

the other one, to show off his work.

His SKETCH is a typical courtroom drawing, except everyone is

drawn with big ridiculous Keane eyes.

The second guy GIGGLES. His buddy grins, then quickly erases

the silly eyes before anyone sees it.

CUT TO:

INT. COURTROOM - LATER

Margaret is back at the litigant's table, with her lawyer.

105.

Walter stands, at his table. He shouts out.

WALTER:

I call as my witness... Mr. Walter

Stanley Keane!

A strange beat. The Jurors glance at each other.

Walter reacts, like he just heard his name. He strides

jauntily over to the witness stand.

The BAILIFF gives the Judge a weird look. Then, he pulls out

a Bible. Walter slaps down his hand.

BAILIFF:

Do you swear to the tell the truth,

the whole truth, and nothing but the

truth, so help you God?

WALTER:

YESSS!

Walter bounces out, a bit manic. He runs back to his lawyer

table, then spins to address the empty witness stand.

WALTER:

Mr. Keane. There has been a lot of

innuendo and contradictory testimony

about the genesis of the "big-eyed

waifs." Would you mind clarifying to

this court, once and for all, who

spawned these paintings?

Walter sprints back into the witness stand. He sits, then

reacts coyly, as if he's surprised.

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