Big Eyes Page #8

27.

Walter glances sideways. Gauging their reactions...

Until -- a swinging middle-aged guy in horn rims and a suit

lopes up. DICK NOLAN: A man who hides his bored emptiness

under a veneer of booze and broads. Dick leans in.

DICK:

Yes sir! Whew. That was quite a load

of horseshit you gents were layin' out

there.

(LONG BEAT)

Dick Nolan. The Examiner.

Walter freezes up. Until -- Dick grins conspiratorially.

DICK:

Hey pal, don't lose any sleep. I eat

this stuff with a spoon! It gives me

something to type about, in my column.

WALTER:

(he laughs, relieved)

I thought you only did celebrities.

DICK:

Well, Banducci's famous -- and you hit

him! So you're a celebrity, once-

removed.

(HE CHUCKLES)

Buy me a drink?

WALTER:

Huh? Uh, sure --

Dick smoothly drags him to the bar. Dick waves the bartender.

DICK:

Gary! I'll have a Ward Eight, in a

frosted high boy. My friend'll have

the same.

(he beams, then turns)

So! Walter, tell me about your work --

WALTER:

Well, when I was in Paris...

DICK:

Jesus, not those! I mean the little

hobo kids.

What?! Walter frowns, peeved. He considers this indignity...

then decides to stomach it. He smiles fakely, effusively.

WALTER:

What do you wanna know...?!

CUT TO:

28.

INT. BERKELEY APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT

Margaret is asleep. Suddenly Walter bursts in, drunk and

jocular. He FLIPS on the lights.

WALTER:

Ding-a-ling! Wake up, we're a HIT!

Margaret rolls over, groggy. Walter jumps on the bed,

grinning. He tosses her a HANDFUL OF MONEY.

WALTER:

What a night! I sold out all your Big

Eyes!!

She rubs her eyes, amazed.

MARGARET:

There must be two-hundred dollars...

WALTER:

They adore you! Cause of that

article, the joint was PACKED. And

then, a famous journalist showed up,

and -- I need more paintings! Now!

He hungrily KISSES her. She laughs.

MARGARET:

Walter, they take at least a week.

There's layering, shading --

WALTER:

Of course! But, this is opportunity!

Ah, we're gonna make a crackerjack

team:
Me schmoozing up the club, while

you're back here, doing what you love!

She stares at him -- then smiles. MUSIC...

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Margaret happily paints away. At peace, lost in her art...

INT. HUNGRY I - NIGHT

Walter sells Big Eyes. Shoving cash into a cigar box.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

Margaret works, HUMMING serenely. On the easel is a half-

finished blonde girl in a blue dress.

29.

INT. TAILOR'S - DAY

Walter buys a new suit. A TAILOR measures him.

INT. APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT

Margaret finishes painting a sad boy, using a fine brush to

add a watery rim to his eyes. Magically, this detail brings

the picture to life. She's pleased.

Margaret signs "KEANE." There are two finished canvases, the

sad little girl and boy. Margaret smiles, her heart swelling.

She loves them. Then, she looks about. Nobody is there to

share the moment.

Hm. She thinks -- then picks up the PHONE. She dials.

MARGARET:

Mrs. Cava, I'm sorry to bother you so

late... but would you mind watching

Jane?

INT. TAXI - NIGHT

Margaret rides in the back seat, smiling, her gaze faraway.

She proudly hugs the bundled paintings to her chest.

INT. HUNGRY I - NIGHT

The club is pounding. Margaret enters the throng, carrying

her work. She looks up -- and has her breath taken away. The

ENTIRE CLUB, EVERY WALL, IS NOW HUNG WITH KEANE PAINTINGS!

Whoa...! Pure joy envelops her.

Then -- she gets jostled. Margaret notices Walter holding

court with some GROUPIES. She approaches, unnoticed:

WALTER:

...yeah, eyes are powerful. A poet

said they're the windows of the soul.

Margaret smiles, touched. She comes closer....

GROUPIE:

They hold so much feeling.

WALTER:

You got it! That's why I paint 'em so

big.

(BEAT)

I've always done it that way.

CLOSEUP - MARGARET

She GASPS, stunned. The room starts spinning.

30.

HER POV:

WALTER:

If you like this style, I'm working on

a few new pieces. I've got a little

blonde girl in a blue dress that'll

tear your heart out.

ANGLE - MARGARET

Her face goes ashen. Dizzy, she clutches for support.

What to do?? Overcome, she shrinks away... disappearing...

ending up alone in a corner. She cowers, childlike.

ACROSS THE ROOM:

Walter LAUGHS at a joke, then backslaps the group. He

jovially strides away... passing by Margaret... when --

MARGARET:

Walter...?

He spins -- shocked at her presence.

WALTER:

Baby!

(DISCOMBOBULATED)

Hey, uh, what are you doing here? I

UM --

MARGARET:

Why are you lying?

For once, Walter has no answer.

She bores in, emotions racing. Confused. Hurt.

MARGARET:

You're taking credit for something

that isn't yours.

He looks ill. Wheels spinning, looking for an out --

WALTER:

I was... trying to close the deal --

MARGARET:

Those children are part of my being!

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