Capote Page #10

down - All of the history I need.

His entire life in this Diary. His

dead mother. A brother and sister

killed themselves.

NELLE:

You tell him your mama did the same thing?

TRUMAN:

I tell him everything. We've been

talking our heads off the past

month. Sometimes, when I think how

good my book can be, I can hardly

breathe.

Green

NELLE:

Huh.

TRUMAN:

(finds what he wants)

Here's what I wanted to read to

you :

"If Called Upon to Make a Speech:" - this is exactly what I was talking

about - a speech just in case he's

ever recognized for an achievement:

"If Called Upon to Make a Speech:

I can't remember what 'I was going

to say for the life of me. I don't

think ever before have so many

people been so directly responsible

for my being so very, very glad.

It's a wonderful moment and a rare

one. Thank you!"

(beat)

There's an exclamation point on the

end of that thank you, in case you

didn't catch it...

(Silence)

Where'd you go?

We hear Nelle exhale her cigarette.

NELLE:

Christ. I guess it stopped being

funny.

TRUMAN:

I never said it was.

(turns a page)

Listen to this...

81C EXT. KANSAS CITYSCAPE - VARIOUS (TWO WEEKS ELAPSE) 81C *

8 2 IN'I. DINER, DOWNTOWN XANSAS CITY - MORNING 82 *

Truman is eating breakfast with Alvin Dewey. A WAITRESS

refills their coffees.

DEWEY:

(to waitress)

Thanks.

She leaves. An uncomfortable silence. Then:

DEWEY (cont'd)

You're nothing if not hard-working.

Green

TRUMAN:

You look good, healthy again.

DEWEY:

~ot a chance.

Dewey taps a cigarette out of his pack.

TRUMAN:

I've decided on a title for my

book. I think you'll like it -

very masculine. "In Cold Blood."

DEWEY:

(lights the cigarette)

That refers to the crime or the

fact that you're still talking to

the criminals?

TRUMAN:

The former, among other things.

DEWEY:

I see.

They eat for a moment. Then:

TRUMAN:

I've been wanting to ask if you'll

let me look at your investigation

notes.

DEWEY:

That lawyer you helped find for

your friends got them a hearing at

the Kansas Supreme Court -

TRUMAN:

I heard this morning.

DEWEY:

- on the issue of inadequate

counsel.

TRUMAN:

Alvin. Do you not want me to look

at your notes? You are permitted

to say no.

Green 11/2/05 57.

DEWEY:

(rises, takes out wallet)

I'll tell you what: if those boys

get off, I'm coming to Brooklyn to

hunt you down.

Truman can't decide whether Dewey is kidding or not. Dewey

puts money on the table.

DEWEY (cont'd)

I have to be in court at nine

o'clock.

He walks away. Over his shoulder:

DEWEY (cont'd)

Call Roy Church. He'll show you

what you want to see.

CUT TO:

8 3 INT . XSP , DEATH ROW - DAY 83 *

Truman walks down the hall. He passes Dick's cell. Dick is

lying in bed. Dick rises and smiles widely at Truman.

HICKOCK:

Hey, hey ...

Truman smiles, puts HIS FINGERS TO HIS LIPS, continues past.

He stops outside Perry's cell. Perry (looking MUCH

HEALTHIER) is drawing at his table -- a picture of the HUGE

YELLOW PARROT swooping down from the sky. Truman watches for

a few moments, then Perry looks at him.

8 4 INT. XSP, DEATH ROW, PERRY'S CELL - MOMENTB LATER 84 *

The Guard locks Truman inside with Perry.

PERRY:

Thank you.

Truman looks at the Guard - he leaves.

TRUMAN:

It was as much for me as for

anyone. I couldn't bear the

thought of losing you so soon.

Green

PERRY:

We're going to be able to use your

book for our case. You'll write we

never got to raise our insanity

plea. You wrote how terrible the

lawyer was?

TRUMAN:

I haven't written a word yet.

Beat.

PERRY:

What have you been doing?

TRUMAN:

Research. Waiting to talk to you.

PERRY:

All right.

TRUMAN:

I had hoped -

PERRY:

What are you calling it?

TRUMAN:

The book?

(looks directly at him)

I have no idea.

Pause .

TRUMAN (cont'd)

If I'm going to write about you -

if I'm going to determine how to

write about you - you need to tell

me about that night at the Clutter

house.

Perry just looks at him.

TRUMAN (cont'd)

Perry.

Perry shakes his head.

TRUMAN (cont'd)

Why? Do you worry what I'll think?

Perry looks away. A long moment.

TRUMAN:

Is that it?

Silence. Then:

PERRY:

Dick says you know Elizabeth

Taylor.

TRUMAN:

I know a lot of people.

Truman gives up for now. Sees the PICTURE OF THE YELLOW BIRD

on the desk.

TRUMAN (cont ' d)

What is that you keep drawing?

PERRY:

You must hate having to come to

this place -

TRUMAN:

Perry, I have invitations to be in

Morocco, Greece. . . . I choose to be

here. Those people have

everything, all their prayers have

been answered, yet they're more

desperate than ever. I prefer to

be here with you.

PERRY:

(looks at Truman; evenly)

I was ten, I wet the bed, the nuns

at the orphanage hated the smell.

First month one of them found me

shivering - just trying to get

through the night. The Sister

pulled back the covers and shined

her flashlight to see what I'd did.

The sheets were wet. She hit me so

many times with that flashlight she

broke it.

(he shrugs)

(MORE )

Green 11/2/05 5 9A.

PERRY (cont'd)

That night I dreamed about the

yellow bird. Tall. Yellow like

the sun.

( MORE )

Green 11/2/05

PERRY (cont'd)

It picked me up and it clawed the

Nun's eyes - and it lifted me into

the sky.

They look at each other.

8 5 EXT. BAR, DOWNTOWN X.C. - NIGHT 85 *

Truman on the street outside the club at a PAY PHONE. He

talks with Jack in Brooklyn.

TRUMAN:

I'm just missing this one piece,

Jack. Be patient with me.

JACK:

How long is that gonna take? Why

don't you try leaving him alone for

a while? Come to Spain. You can

always visit him later.

TRUMAN:

I don't know.

JACK:

Well, I'm off. I've got my own

writing to do.

TRUMAN:

Do it in Brooklyn. Wait for me.

JACK:

Too many people around.

(beat)

I'll leave the address on the

kitchen table. Truman, what do you

do there when you're not with him? - It must be awful.

Truman's watching a YOUNG GUY standing outside the bar,

looking at him.

JACK:

Think about what I said. Join me

when you can.

TRUMAN:

Iwill. Iwill. Bye.

Truman follows the YOUNG GUY into the bar.

Green

8 6 OMIT

8 7 OMIT

87A INT. HOTEL ROOM, KANSAS CITY - LATE NIGHT

Truman sleeps. He OPENS HIS EYES in bed. Turns to the

bedside table to see the drawing of Perry looking at him.

CUT TO:

87B EXT. KANSAS CITY - DAWN 87B *

A young drifter stands alone on an empty street corner. He

checks a pay phone for a coin. It's empty.

CUT TO:

8 8 INT. KSP, DEATH ROW, PERRY'S CELL - DAY 88 *

Perry is lying on his cot reading an ADVENTURE MAGAZINE - something to do with finding buried treasure off the coast of

Mexico - and sucking on the tip of his thumb. After a moment

he STARTLES and looks up.

Green 11/2/05 62.

Truman stands outside his cell. He holds a stack of books:

Perry's PERSONAL DICTIONARY and DIARY, and a new WEBSTER'S

DICTIONARY and THESAURUS.

PERRY:

I didn't see you. Jesus, you...

(stands, tucks in shirt)

Come in. Where's the guard?

TRUMAN:

I can't. I brought you some

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