Big Eyes Page #4

12.

WALTER:

Yeah, but, c'mon! You draw 'em like

pancakes! I mean, they're WAY out of

proportion!

He's having fun, but she remains serious.

MARGARET:

Eyes are how I express my emotions.

That's how I've always drawn them.

(EARNEST)

When I was little, I had surgery that

left me deaf for a period. I couldn't

hear, so I found myself staring...

Relying on people's eyes...

She smiles shyly. Understanding, he smiles back. Then --

VOICE:

Walter? Hey -- Walt!

Walter spins, startled. A FRIENDLY GUY in a suit strolls up.

FRIENDLY GUY:

I thought that was you!

WALTER:

(EMBARRASSED)

Oh! Uh... er, hi, Don.

FRIENDLY GUY:

Boy, I'm glad to see you! Have we

heard back from the city, on that

setback? My guys really need the

variance, for the first floor retail.

Walter is mortified. He turns away from Margaret.

WALTER:

Um... we should hear from Permits by

Thursday.

FRIENDLY GUY:

Yeah? Well that's terrif'! I'll tell

the architects!

Pleased, the guy cheerily strides away.

ON WALTER AND MARGARET

He is stricken. Something ominous just happened.

MARGARET:

What was that??

13.

WALTER:

(ASHAMED)

I -- I didn't want you to know...

A long, horrible pause. Walter's face turns gray. We SLOWLY

PUSH IN. This revelation is churning. Agony.

WALTER:

I'm in commercial real estate.

A stunned beat.

MARGARET:

You're a -- Realtor?

WALTER:

(CONTRITE)

YES! A hugely successful Realtor!

Top earner in the Downtown office

three years running!

MARGARET:

And you're... ashamed?

WALTER:

Of course! Any blockhead can arrange

a sublet!

(HEARTFELT)

All I ever wanted was to support

myself as an artist...

(SAD; BEAT)

I tried to make a clean break, but

couldn't cut it. I'm just a goddam

Sunday painter. An amateur.

Margaret looks at him, touched by his vulnerability.

CUT TO:

INT. MARGARET'S APARTMENT - DUSK

End of the day. Golden light slants in through the windows of

this small tidy apartment.

The door opens. Margaret holds it for Walter, who

chivalrously staggers in, carrying all her supplies: Easel,

paints, cans. He carefully puts it all down -- then turns.

Beat. Walter stares at Margaret, their faces caught in the

warm light. Then, enchanted, he kisses her.

Silence.

Margaret smiles, captivated. Caught in his glow. The moment

could last forever...

14.

IN THE DOORWAY:

Jane stares unhappily. Threatened.

JANE:

A-hem!

ON MARGARET:

She turns, startled. Feeling guilty, Margaret rushes from

Walter. Busying herself, she skims through the MAIL.

Jane shakes her head and marches out.

Margaret flips through envelopes -- until one stops her. On

edge, she slowly removes an official DOCUMENT. She scans

it... and her face drops. Crushed. Something terrible...

Walter is worried.

WALTER:

What's wrong...?

MARGARET:

(SOFT)

Frank wants to take away Jane. He

says I'm an unfit mother...

Walter is taken aback.

WALTER:

You're a perfect mother.

MARGARET:

He told the court Jane doesn't have a

proper home. It's beyond my abilities

as a single woman...

Margaret trails off, shaken.

Walter gulps unsurely. Then, he takes her in his arms. We

SLOWLY PUSH IN.

WALTER:

Marry me.

MARGARET:

(SHE GASPS)

Walter! I --

WALTER:

(he puts a finger to her lips)

Shh. Don't think of a reason to say

no. 'Cause I've got a million reasons

to say yes.

(he gives a winning smile)

I know it makes no sense!

(MORE)

15.

WALTER (CONT'D)

But just think of the fun we'll

have..! And I'll take care of you

girls.

Margaret stammers, speechless. She doesn't know what to say.

Walter pulls out his ace. In a debonair move, he creakily

drops to his knee. He exudes a hammy, wonderful romance:

WALTER:

Margaret, I'm on my knee! C'mon,

whatdya say? Let's get married! We

can be in Hawaii by the weekend.

MARGARET:

"Hawaii"? M-marriage?

(EMOTIONAL)

Walter, I'm crazy about you... but I'm

overwhelmed. Why would we go to

Hawaii?!

WALTER:

(BEGUILING)

Because you're a princess... and you

deserve to get married in paradise.

CLOSEUP - MARGARET

Margaret shudders, tears in her eyes. Hawaiian MUSIC begins...

DISSOLVE TO:

STOCK FOOTAGE - DAY

A propeller-driven PAN AM airplane soars through the sky.

EXT. HAWAII - DAY

Hawaii, 1958. Heaven on earth. Blossoming flowers, rare

birds, lush greenery. Margaret is experiencing total bliss.

We widen. She and Walter stand in front of a waterfall,

getting married. Jane is Maid-of-Honor. A PRIEST smiles, and

Walter places a ring on Margaret's finger. They kiss.

EXT. BEACH - SUNSET

Margaret and Walter lie on the sand, making out. Cuddling,

running their fingers along each other's bodies. She stares

up, endlessly happy.

MARGARET:

You're right... this is paradise.

Only God could make those colors.

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