Brazil Page #13

SAM and the GIRL stand looking at each other uneasily for

a moment.

SAM:

Er ... Thanks ...

GIRL:

It's reply paid.

SAM:

Oh ...

(he sings uncertainly)

Thank you very much, mother, but

actually -

GIRL:

You don't have to sing it.

SAM:

Oh, right ...

The GIRL begins to dance again - but this time in a rather

strange strangled fashion.

SAM:

(he looks at his watch)

Aren't you a bit late? - the party

started half an hour ago.

GIRL:

Yes, I know. It's the backlog,

everybody complains. Was it all right

otherwise?

SAM:

Yes, it was ... very nice ... thank

you.

GIRL:

Do you mind if I use your bathroom?

55 INT. MOTHER' S CORRIDOR NIGHT 55

SAM rings the doorbell to his mother's flat. He is

wearing. an unstylish tuxedo and bow tie - obviously his

only dress outfit. The door is opened by a LIVERIED FLUNKY

who's about to speak when an attractive 40-year old

woman's face appears over his shoulder and addresses SAM

over the threshold.

WOMAN:

Sam, I'm so glad you came. Do come

in.

56 INT. MOTHER'S FLAT NIGHT 56

SAM steps inside, where the flunky proceeds to search him.

The place is full of sleek people - smartly but less

formally dresses than SAM. It is an elegant baroque room -

lavishly appointed but still violated by the ubiquitous

Central Service ducts that thrust through antique

tapestries and gilt mirrors with little regard for

aesthetics or the interior decorator's feelings.

SAM:

(bewildered)

Mother? Is that you?

MOTHER:

(taking his arm - looking

slightly askance at his

clothes)

Of course. Isn't it wonderful? The

bandages came of this afternoon. Come

and join the fun. Everybody's here.

SAM:

Is Mr Helpmann here?

MOTHER:

Yes he is - he wants to talk to you.

SAM:

I want to talk to him.

SAM pushes away the FLUNKY who is by now passing a metal

detector over him.

MOTHER:

It seems you're the first person ever

to turn down a promotion. He thinks

you should see a doctor.

SAM:

Actually, I've decided ...

DR JAFFE hoves into view.

MOTHER:

Oh, Louis! You know Sam.

DR JAFFE is no longer suave. He has been transformed by

drink and success. Mostly by drink.

DR JAFFE:

(as high as a kite)

Can you believe it?! Just me and my

little knife! Snip - snip - slice -

slice - Can you believe it?

SAM:

(repelled)

Congratulations ...

DR JAFFE:

And this is just the beginning!!

SAM:

Really?

DR JAFFE:

Chirst yes, you've seen her with her

clothes off. Faces are a doddle

compared to tits and arse.

(explains)

No hairline.

MOTHER:

(primly)

Really, Louis.

A handsome young piece of BEEFCAKE delivers a drink to

MOTHER.

BEEFCAKE:

I've been looking everywhere for you,

Ida.

The BEEFCAKE takes MOTHER away.

DR JAFFE:

Ah, dear boy ... And what do you

think of your mother now?

VOICE (off camera)

It will never last.

SAM and DR JAFFE turn to see who is speaking. It is DR

CHAPMAN a tall, pipe-smoking, professional-looking gent.

DR JAFFE:

(a trifle haughtily)

Excuse me, Dr Chapman, did you say

something?

DR CHAPMAN:

That technique ... I've tried it. A

nice effect. But highly unstable. In

six months she'll look like Grandma

Moses.

SAM wishing to escape from this bitchery turns away but

suddenly freezes - the reflection in the large wall mirror

next to him is not that of the party guests - but of the

GREY PRISONERS in his dream - they are massed in the room

looking pleadingly towards him.

DR JAFFE:

(unsuave again)

Now see here, Chapman. At least mine

don't look like they've been mugged.

Through the GREY PRISONERS pushes MRS TERRAIN.

MRS TERRAIN:

(calls)

Sam!

SAM turns around to see her pushing through the party

guests.

MRS TERRAIN is limping and is even more heavily swathed in

bandages than the last time.

DR CHAPMAN hastily moves away as MRS TERRAIN comes up. She

claims SAM, taking his arm.

SAM:

(looking at her worriedly)

Whatever happened to you?

MRS TERRAIN:

There was a slight complication. Dr.

Chapman says it often happens with a

delicate skin like mine. Nothing to

worry about. He's promised me I'll

have these bandages off in a ...

SAM:

(trying to disengage)

Actually, there's someone I want to

meet ...

MRS TERRAIN:

(roguishly)

I know, I know ...!

She drags SAM through the party and we arrive at her

daughter, SHIRLEY, who is, of course, a wallflower.

MRS TERRAIN:

Here we are! I'm going to leave you

two lovebirds in peace.

SAM:

I ... uh ...

But he is alone with SHIRLEY, standing at the entrance to

his MOTHER's embarrassingly rampant boudoir style bedroom.

In amongst the diaphanous curtains enclosing the bed

MOTHER is playing hide and seek with a YOUNG STUD.

SAM:

Can I get you a drink, Shirley?

SHIRLEY looks at him terrified.

SAM:

Look ... Shirley ... your mother ...

and my mother ... they seem to have

got the idea ... I mean, I'm terribly

flattered, of course, but, um, the

thing is, I don't want you to be

under any false ...

SHIRLEY:

{struggling into speech

shyly)

It's ... it's ... all right ... I

don't like you either ...

This isn't what SAM expected. He smiles weakly at her.

VOICE (off camera)

Sam!

SAM turns round, to see JACK LINT a few paces away.

SAM:

Hello, Jack!

JACK:

You remember Alison?

He indicates his cute blonde perfect junior executive's

WIFE:

SAM:

Hello, Alison. You look different.

ALISON:

Well, I'm two years older.

JACK:

And she's been to Dr. Jaffe!

ALISON locks displeased.

JACK:

{winking at Sam)

She doesn't like me telling anyone

but she's pleased as anything really.

SAM:

Er, I knew you looked different.

JACK:

Remember how they used to stick out?

SAM:

What? - Oh, yes - vividly. I used to

wonder if they were real.

ALISON:

What, my ears?

SAM:

Your ears?

JACK:

Dr. Jaffe has pinned her ears back.

SAM:

(covering up hopelessly)

Quite, absolutely - I always thought

they were false.

JACK:

(looking past Sam)

Mr Helpmann!

SAM spins round and sees a very pleasant-looking

distinguished OLD MAN moving in their direction. He is in

a wheelchair.

HELPMANN:

Hello, Jack.

JACK:

You remember my wife ... Alis -

HELPMANN:

Of course. Barbara isn't it? How are

you?

ALISON:

Um ...

JACK:

(instantly. Conveying to

Alison that she mustn't

object)

Barbara's very well, thank you, sir.

How are you?

HELPMANN:

Fine, thank you. Hello, Sam. Ida said

you might be here. Have you got a

minute?

(to Jack)

Would you excuse us?

JACK is taken aback, envious and eager to please.

JACK:

Of course .... of course ... Come on

Alison - Barbara

JACK propels his WIFE away.

HELPMANN I need your help, Sam.

57 INT. BATHROOM NIGHT 57

It's the sort of bathroom you would expect of MOTHER, an

adjunct to her boudoir. The pink or purple lavatory is in

the process of flushing, while SAM holds MR HELPMANN

vertical, grasping him under the armpits, while MR

HELPMANN is zipping his fly.

HELPMANN:

Thanks very much Sam.

SAM:

That's all right Mr Helpmann. Glad to

help.

He is lowering HELPMANN into the wheelchair.

HELPMANN:

If I can help you ...

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