Big Eyes Page #9

WALTER:

I'm just a salesman! You know, buyers

pay more if they meet the painter --

MARGARET:

They couldn't meet me, because you

told me to stay home!!

31.

WALTER:

Shh, QUIET!

He grabs her, pulling her behind a curtain. He's desperate.

WALTER:

Don't blow this! Look, we're makin'

money! Your pocket, my pocket?

What's the difference?!

MARGARET:

(TREMBLING)

You take this so lightly --

WALTER:

Not all all! But it's not about ego!

You wanna say you did the street

scenes? Fine! I don't care! Say a

monkey painted it!

She breaks into tears, sobbing.

MARGARET:

I'm glad you can dash off your pieces

without any emotional connection...!

WALTER:

Ah, honey! I just wanna share them

with the world!

(BEAT)

Would you rather have your children

piled in a closet... or hanging in

someone's living room?

Silence.

Then -- FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!

Walter turns. And -- his eyes pop, astonished.

AT THE DOOR:

Is an incredible sight. Like a moment from "La Dolce Vita," a

fabulously dressed ITALIAN MAN with THREE BLONDES floats down

the stairs, into the club. Cameras FLASH.

Walter gapes, transfixed. He grabs Banducci.

WALTER:

Hey. Who is that remarkably handsome

and confident man?

BANDUCCI:

That's Dino Olivetti -- as in Olivetti

typewriters.

(HE SMIRKS)

(MORE)

32.

BANDUCCI (CONT'D)

Don't even try, Walter. He doesn't

speak a lick of English.

Walter stares hungrily.

ANGLE - OLIVETTI

glides into the club -- a vision of perfection with his slick

hair and sunglasses. He approaches closer, closer... when he

gets distracted. By one of Margaret's Big Eye PAINTINGS.

Walter gasps. He nudges Margaret.

Olivetti peers at the artwork. Intrigued. Then -- excited.

He starts gesturing and yapping in ITALIAN. The Blondes shout

back. Everyone is getting worked-up.

The big-bosomed Blonde turns to Walter.

EUROPEAN BLONDE:

Mr. Olivetti is enchanted with the

painting. He would like to know...

who is the artist?

ANGLE - MARGARET AND WALTER

The moment of truth. Margaret opens her mouth... and no sound

comes out. She clenches up. Stomach tight. Mute.

Walter gives her a second -- tick tock tick tock. Then -- he

leaps into Opportunity. He SMACKS his hands.

WALTER:

I am!

Walter swoops over and grabs Olivetti in a hearty clasp.

WALTER:

It's a delight to meet you, Signore!

Buon giorno! Have you been an art

lover for long..?

We move in tight on MARGARET, as the SOUND DIALS DOWN.

WALTER'S VOICE

I call that piece "The Waif." Isn't

it striking? With its juxtaposition

of girl, cat, and stairs... and its

almost Flemish use of underpigment...

The SOUND dims... then goes SILENT.

Margaret stares in shock, unmoving.

Time seems to stop. She is frozen in grief. Until --

33.

WALTER'S VOICE

Baby! Baby! Can you believe it?!!

CUT TO:

MINUTES LATER:

Time has passed. Walter happily clutches Margaret.

WALTER:

We made five grand!! Five THOUSAND

dollars...!!!

(GIDDY)

And that wasn't even one of your good

ones!

Margaret blinks, lost.

In the b.g., Olivetti holds the painting, now wrapped-up in

newspaper and twine. A pleased customer.

Margaret's face darkens.

MARGARET:

Don't you mean... one of your good

ones?

WALTER:

No. No no! One of -- OUR good ones.

(the spirit of generosity,

he hands her a CHECK)

Look at those zeroes! We've hit the

big time! We are now hanging in the

collection of Italian industrialist

Dino Olivetti! With his patronage

comes credibility! And with

credibility comes RESPECT!

Margaret stares at the check in her hands. At all the zeroes.

MARGARET:

What about... honesty?

WALTER:

Aw c'mon! The paintings say "Keane"!

I'm Keane, you're Keane. From now on,

we are one and the same.

Walter pulls her tight. She doesn't resist.

CUT TO:

SERIES OF SHOTS:

34.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

Upbeat MUSIC. Walter frantically tosses all the BROCHURES of

him and Margaret into a FIREPLACE. They burn to ash.

INSERT - NEWSPAPER

We ZOOM into Dick Nolan's SOCIETY COLUMN. Under a caricature

of Dick is a highlighted ITEM. We hear TYPING:

DICK'S HUSHED VOICE

"What exactly is local painter Walter

Keane up to? My spies tell me a big

announcement is forthcoming...!"

EXT. CITY HALL - DAY

Walter proudly hands a painting to the confused-looking MAYOR.

WALTER:

On behalf of the children of the

world, we present this painting to

Mayor Christopher!

EXT. PUBLIC BUILDING - DAY

Walter thrusts a painted Ballerina at a SOVIET DIPLOMAT.

WALTER:

In the interest of peace through

culture, we donate this painting to

the people of Russia!

INT. PHONEBOOTH - NIGHT

Dick whispers into a phone.

DICK:

The Purple Onion. 9:30. Joan

Crawford has a dinner reservation.

INT. PURPLE ONION - NIGHT

JOAN CRAWFORD is eating with friends. Suddenly Walter lunges

into view, startling her. He lugs a painting.

WALTER:

Miss Crawford! In recognition of your

cinematic craft, we bestow this

painting, "The Lion and the Child"!

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