Big Fish Page #6

(beat)

So I guess, just, if you could get itover with quick. Because I’m not much

for pain, really.

Edward closes his eyes, hands at his side, ready to be eaten.

Karl just stares at him, not sure what to do.

After a beat, Edward opens his eyes a tiny bit, just to seewhat the giant is doing. Relieved to see he’s not lickinghis chops -

EDWARD (cont’d)

Look, I can’t go back. I’m a human

sacrifice. If I go back, everyone willthink I’m a coward. And I’d rather be

dinner than a coward.

Karl sits down with a BOOM, dejected.

EDWARD (cont’d)

Here, start with my hand. It’ll be an

appetizer.

Reaching up, Edward shoves his hand into Karl’s mouth. But

the giant spits it back out.

KARL:

I don’t want to eat you. I don’t want

to eat anybody. It’s just I get sohungry. I’m too big.

30.

And that’s the sad truth. Karl is less a monster than a

freak -- a giant man, but in the end, just a man.

Edward takes a seat beside him.

EDWARD:

Did you ever think maybe you’re not toobig? Maybe this town’s just too small.

I mean, look at it.

Circling behind them, we look down at Ashton -- a tiny townin a tiny valley.

EDWARD (cont’d)

Hardly two stories in the whole place.

Now I’ve heard in real cities, they’vegot buildings so tall you can’t evensee the tops of ‘em.

KARL:

Really?

EDWARD:

Wouldn’t lie to you. And they’ve gotall-you-can-eat buffets. You can eat a

lot, can’t you?

KARL:

I can.

EDWARD:

So why are you wasting your time in asmall town? You’re a big man. You

should be in the big city.

Karl smiles, but then it fades. A certain sad suspicion -

KARL:

You’re just trying to get me to leave,

aren’t you? That’s why they sent youhere.

EDWARD:

What’s your name, Giant?

KARL:

Karl.

EDWARD:

Mine’s Edward. And truthfully, I dowant you to leave, Karl. But I want to

leave with you.

(closer)

(MORE)

31.

EDWARD (cont'd)

You think this town is too small for

you, well, it’s too small for a man ofmy ambition. I can’t see staying herea day longer.

KARL:

You don’t like it?

EDWARD:

I love every square inch of it. But I

can feel the edges closing in on me. A

man’s life can only grow to a certainsize in a place like this.

(beat)

So what do you say? Join me?

Karl thinks a moment. Then -

KARL:

Okay.

EDWARD:

Okay.

They shake on it.

EDWARD (cont’d)

Now first, we gotta get you ready forthe city.

EXT. RIVER - DAY

IN A SINGLE SHOT, Karl cuts his hair with hedge clippers,

while Edward cuts up a surplus army tent to make him a shirt.

EXT. MAIN STREET OF ASHTON - DAY

Spirits buoyed by the high school MARCHING BAND, all the goodCITIZENS of Ashton are gathered to see off Edward and Karl.

There’s a few tears amid the familiar faces.

MAYOR:

(loudly, for the crowd)

Edward Bloom, first son of Ashton, it’swith a heavy heart we see you go. But

take with you this Key to the City, andknow that any time you want to comeback, all our doors are open to you.

Edward ducks a bit so the Mayor can put the key around hisneck. The crowd CHEERS. And with that, Edward and Karlstart walking, waving as they go.

32.

Only DON PRICE, smoking on the corner, isn’t sad to seeEdward go. He crushes his cigarette under his heel. He

wishes he could crush Edward.

Many of the townfolk come onto the street to hug Edward orshake his hand.

EDWARD (V.O.)

That afternoon as I left Ashton,

everyone seemed to have advice.

VARIOUS TOWNFOLK

Find yourself a nice girl! Don’t trust

anyone in Kentucky! Watch your pride,

Edward Bloom!

EDWARD (V.O.)

But there was one person whose counselI held above all others.

As the crowd parts, he finds himself face to face with

THE OLD WOMAN.

The ruckus slows and quiets, as if a strange spell has beencast. She motions for Edward to lean down, so she canwhisper something to him. Although we’re VERY CLOSE, wecan’t hear her voice.

EDWARD (V.O.) (cont’d)

She said that the biggest fish in theriver gets that way by never beingcaught.

The advice only succeeds in confusing Edward.

EDWARD (cont’d)

(to the Old Woman)

Okay. Thanks.

Edward and Karl keep walking. The Old Woman shuffles off,

somehow knowing her advice will go unheeded.

KARL:

What did she say?

EDWARD:

Beats me.

EXT. ROAD - DAY

We TILT UP from the road to reveal Edward and Karl walkingout of Ashton. Each wears a backpack with all his earthlypossessions.

33.

EDWARD (V.O.)

There were two roads out of Ashton, anew one which was paved, and an olderone that wasn’t. People didn’t use theold road anymore, and it had developedthe reputation of being haunted.

Edward and Karl come to a bend, where the paved road veersleft and an overgrown dirt road runs straight. The old road

is blocked with signs and warnings of danger.

EDWARD (V.O.) (cont’d)

Since I had no intention of ever

returning to Ashton, this seemed asgood a time as any to find out what laydown that old road.

Karl looks at the dirt road, wary.

KARL:

You know anyone’s who’s taken it?

EDWARD:

That poet, Norther Winslow did. He was

going to Paris, France. He must have

liked it, because no one ever heardfrom him again.

(beat)

Tell you what. You take the other wayand I’ll cut through here. Meet you onthe far side.

A little paranoid...

KARL:

You’re not trying to run away?

EDWARD:

Just to be sure, you can take my pack.

Karl perks up, even though it means more for him to carry.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY

The road is overgrown, but not altogether creepy. The sun is

still shining, and the birds still CHIRPING.

Spinning the Key to the City, Edward WHISTLES, because it’s aday meant for whistling.

34.

EXT. FURTHER ALONG - ROUGH PATH

The road has narrowed to a rough path. Spikes of sunlightbreak through the thick canopy, catching particles in theair. Still, Edward WHISTLES.

Coming around a bend, his PITCH DROPS as he sees thick,

thorny vines growing across the path. He stops. For the

first time, he realizes the birds have stopped singing. The

forest is dead quiet.

He looks back the way he came. It’s tempting to go back. It

would be easier to go back. But Edward presses on.

He carefully steps through the thorns. His trouser legscatch on the barbs. We can hear the fabric TEAR.

FURTHER ALONG:

A scratched and sweaty Edward waves off various STINGING BUGSflying at him, finally whipping off his hat to swat at them.

Just then a CAWING crow swoops down and grabs the hat rightout of his hands.

EDWARD:

You stupid sonofa...

He stops his swearing, but grabs a rock and throws it. The

stone ricochets off a tree and into a BEE’S NEST. The swarm

roars out.

Edward high-tails it, each step still precarious.

EXT. THE DARK FOREST - DAY [LATER]

Edward is bruised, battered and bee-stung.

A half-broken sign lies in the road. Edward picks it up.

Reads it:

WARNING!

JUMPING SPIDERS!

Sure enough, up ahead he sees the path is overgrown withthick cobwebs, heavy from the rain.

EDWARD (V.O.)

There comes a point where a reasonableman will swallow his pride and admithe’s made a terrible mistake. The

truth is, I was never a reasonable man.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes