Big Eyes Page #3

WALTER:

"...Ulbrich."

(IMPASSIONED)

You know, Margaret Ulbrich, you're

undervaluing yourself. Lemme show you

how it's done.

Walter spins to Jane. He SHOUTS out, like a carnival barker.

WALTER:

Little Girl! How would you like your

portrait sketched by the World-

Renowned Margaret Ulbrich?! Queen of

the Bay! In mere minutes, she will

capture your soul!

Hm. Jane shrugs, unimpressed.

JANE:

Nah.

WALTER:

"Nah"?!

(he grabs a PAINTING)

Don't you wish this were you in this

beautiful painting??

JANE:

But that IS me! And that's me...

(she POINTS all over)

And that one started as me, but then

Mother turned it into a Chinese boy.

Huh? Walter peers at Jane... then at Margaret. And then --

it hits him. He grimaces, embarrassed.

WALTER:

Oh, you're Mommy! My apologies,

Honey. I misconstrued the situation.

(SHEEPISH)

Well I'll just mosey along, before Mr.

Ulbrich comes back and socks me in the

eye.

ON MARGARET:

A gut decision. She stares at Walter, then smiles slyly.

MARGARET:

Mr. Ulbrich is out of the picture...!

9.

ON WALTER:

His face slowly lights up. Ah! Sun breaking through clouds.

CUT TO:

EST. FRENCH BISTRO - NIGHT

INT. BISTRO - NIGHT

An enchanting bistro. Wine barrels, laughing, twinkly tivoli

lights. Perfection. Walter flamboyantly enters, escorting

Margaret. Instantly, the STAFF ERUPTS in excitement:

"Monsieur Keane! Ah, Monsieur Keane is here! Bonsoir!"

WALTER:

Bonsoir, gang! Henri! Sorry I didn't

call first. Est-ce que tout va bien?

MAITRE'D

Je vais bien, merci! Comment allez-

vous?

WALTER:

Je vais bien! I'm with a beautiful

woman! Could life be any grander??

They get led in. Margaret is dazzled. Walter whispers.

WALTER:

And I don't even have to pay! I'm set

because I gave the chef a painting.

You know what he said? "Nobody paints

Montmartre like Walter Keane!"

LATER:

Margaret and Walter enjoy an intimate dinner. The wine flows.

MARGARET:

I can't believe you lived in Paris.

WALTER:

Best time of my life...

MARGARET:

I've never even been on an airplane.

WALTER:

Well you have to experience these

things! Grab 'em!!

(JOCUND)

I wanted to be an artist, so I just

went! Studied painting at the Beaux-

Arts. Lived in a Left Bank studio. I

survived on bread and wine...

10.

MARGARET:

You're a romantic.

WALTER:

Damn right!

A wistful shrug. He chugs his glass.

WALTER:

Of course, walkin' away from the

bourgeois scene wasn't a snap. I had

to quit my job. Leave my wife. These

choices aren't easy...

She stares at her wine.

MARGARET:

I've never acted freely. I was the

daughter. The wife. The mother...

(SHE SIGHS)

All my paintings are of Jane, because

she's all I know.

WALTER:

You shouldn't knock your work. I'd

give an eyetooth to have your talent.

Margaret is taken aback. He's absolutely sincere.

WALTER:

You can look into someone and capture

them on canvas! You paint people!

(he gestures sadly)

I can only paint -- things. My street

scenes are charming... but at the end

of the day, it's just a collection of

sidewalks and buildings.

Walter goes silent. He has revealed his fears.

ANGLE - MARGARET

She doesn't know what to say. Gently, she takes his hand.

MARGARET:

Walter, I'd bet you could paint

anything.

WALTER:

(INTENSE)

Whew... Baby, when you look at me

like that, I could fall hard.

Margaret gulps. Afraid to talk.

11.

MARGARET:

This is moving fast. You're my first

date in a long time...

Neither of them speaks. The tension builds --

There is a spark between them...

CUT TO:

EXT. PALACE OF FINE ARTS - DAY

A lush green knoll, overlooking the park. Margaret and Walter

have set-up TWO EASELS. They both smoke cigarettes. Margaret

is spattered with paint, stirring colors. Walter paces about,

framing the scene with his fingers.

Jane sits in front of them, playing paddleball. Bonk! Bonk!

MARGARET:

Sweetie, could you stop fidgeting?

JANE:

Mother, after all this time, you MUST

know what my face looks like.

Margaret winces. Walter laughs. She gets busy, penciling in

LARGE OVAL EYES. Then -- quick marks for the mouth and nose.

Impatient, Jane spies on Walter's canvas.

JANE:

Hey! Your canvas is blank!

WALTER:

Er, you can't rush inspiration --

MARGARET:

Jane! Don't bother Mr. Keane. You

know creativity has to well up from

the inside...

WALTER:

Don't worry. She's not bothering

me...!

Walter leaves Jane. He points at Margaret's canvas.

WALTER:

There's something I gotta ask you.

What's with the big crazy eyes...?

MARGARET:

I believe things can be seen in eyes.

They're the windows of the soul --

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