Chinatown Page #15

Gittes nods. He checks his watch. He looks out -- It's almost

evening. Gittes says nothing. The wife of the Red Faced Farmer

(DUBOIS) looks reproachfully at Dubois. Gittes feels the

back of his head, It obviously hurts him.

EXT. DUBOIS FARMHOUSE - EVENING

Evelyn and Gittes go out to her car, the cream colored

Packard. Dubois accompanies them -- along with the Big Farmer

who is carrying a crate of something. Gittes has cleaned

himself up a little.

DUBOIS:

-- Look here, if it's all the same

with you, we'll get your car patched

up --If you'll tell me what your

trousers run you, I'll make good on

them, Mr. Gittes.

80.

GITTES:

It's okay, Mr. Dubois.

DUBOIS,

(to Evelyn)

-- It's just that they're after

everybody out here, tearing up our

irrigation ditches -- trying to make

our land worthless so they can pick

it up for twenty-five dollars an

acre --

Gittes nods.

DUBOIS:

(continuing)

Anyway -- Earl here is sorry, too.

He wants to give you something to take back with you. Gittes

looks. Earl has the huge crate he's holding brim- full of

avocados.

GITTES:

Thanks, Earl.

INT. CAR - EVELYN & GITTES - DUSK

Evelyn driving.

GITTES:

Thanks for coming...

Gittes pulls out cigarette case, takes one -- offers one to

Evelyn who refuses.

GITTES:

-- That dam is a con job.

EVELYN:

What dam?

GITTES:

The one your husband opposed -they're

conning L.A. into building

it, only the water won't go to L.A. -it'll

go here.

EVELYN:

The Valley?

GITTES:

Everything you can see, everything

around us -- I was at the Hall of

Records today -

(MORE)

81.

GITTES (CONT'D)

(whips out papers,

turns on the car

light)

-- That bother you?

EVELYN:

No.

GITTES:

(looking over papers)

In the last three months, Robert

Knox has bought 7,000 acres, Emma

Dill 12,000 acres, Clarence Speer

5,000 acres, and Jasper Lamar Crabb

25,000 acres.

EVELYN:

Jasper Lamar Crabb?

GITTES:

Know him?

EVELYN:

No, I think I'd remember.

GITTES:

Yeah -- they've been blowing these

farmers out of here and buying their

land for peanuts -- Have any idea

what this land'll be worth with a

steady water supply? About thirty

million more than they paid.

EVELYN:

-- And Hollis knew about it?

GITTES:

It's why he was killed -- Jasper

Lamar Crabb -- Jasper Lamar Crabb -

He's pulling out his wallet, excitedly now, spilling its

contents onto the seat. He pulls out the obituary column

he'd folded up earlier in the day.

GITTES:

(continuing)

We got it. We got it, baby.

EVELYN:

What? What is it?

GITTES:

There was a memorial service at the

Mar Vista Inn today for Jasper Lamar

Crabb. He died three weeks ago.

82.

EVELYN:

Is that unusual?

GITTES:

Two weeks ago he bought those 25,000

acres. That's unusual.

EXT. MAR VISTA INN AND REST HOME - NIGHT

Evelyn's car pulls up before the elegant Spanish rest home,

its entryway illuminated by streetlights. There is a small

sign giving the name of the place in elegant neon scroll. It

sits on the rolling green lawns.

Gittes gets out of the car with Evelyn. He offers her his

arm and they go up the walkway to the entrance.

INT. MAR VISTA INN AND REST HOME - NIGHT

Gittes and Evelyn are approached by an unctuous man in his

forties, with a flower in his buttonhole. He sees

Evelyn first -

PALMER:

Hello there, I'm Mr. Palmer. Can I

help you folks?

Then he gets a clear look at Gittes -- bruised, trousers

torn, etc.

GITTES:

Yes, I sure hope so. It's Dad -(

indicating his

disheveled appearance)

-- I just can't handle him anymore,

can I, sweetheart?

Evelyn shakes her head.

PALMER:

Oh my goodness.

GITTES:

(hastily)

Nothing to do with Dad. It's me,

actually.

EVELYN:

They just don't get along very well.

Dad's a lamb with anyone else.

PALMER:

(not so sure)

Oh -- well -- I don't know -

83.

GITTES:

Naturally, I want the best for him,

money is no object -

PALMER:

-- Perhaps if we could meet your

father -

GITTES:

There's just one question.

PALMER:

Of course.

GITTES:

Do you accept anyone of the Jewish

persuasion?

Evelyn can't quite conceal her surprise at the question.

PALMER:

(very embarrassed)

I'm sorry -- we don't.

GITTES:

(smoothly)

Don't be sorry, neither does Dad.

Wanted to make sure though, didn't

we, honey?

Evelyn stares back at Gittes, amused and appalled. She

manages to nod.

GITTES:

Just to be certain, I wonder if you

could show us a list of your patients?

PALMER:

(polite but pointed)

We don't reveal the names of our

guests as a matter of policy. I know

you'd appreciate that if your father

came to live with us.

Gittes locks eyes with Palmer.

GITTES:

(confidentially)

That's exactly what we wanted to

hear.

PALMER:

Oh, good.

GITTES:

I wonder, is it too late for us to

have a look around?

84.

PALMER:

I don't think so -- be happy to show

you -

GITTES:

Would you mind if we took a stroll

on our own?

PALMER:

-- Just, if you will, confine yourself

to the main building -it's

nearly bedtime.

GITTES:

We understand, c'mon, sweetheart.

He takes Evelyn.

INT. PARLOR - EVELYN

looking. Either by accident or design, the primarily

octogenarian guests have segregated themselves. In one wing,

the men are playing pinochle, some are playing dominoes -one

elderly gentleman sits. by himself carefully peeling an

orange.

In an adjacent parlor several white-headed ladies work on a

quilt. Gittes grabs Evelyn's hand.

GITTES:

(quietly)

They're all here. Every goddam name.

Gittes points to the wall -- it says ACTIVITIES BOARD. There

are titles -- LAWN BOWLING - BRIDGE - FISHING - CROQUET -below

them are the names of the guests, entered under certain

activities, for certain days.

After Evelyn looks, she turns to Gittes.

GITTES:

(continuing; indicating

the ancients around

them)

You're looking at the owners of a

50,000 acre empire.

EVELYN:

(astonished)

They can't be.

GITTES:

They may not know it -- but they

are.

Gittes strolls toward the women knitting and working on the

quilt.

85.

GITTES:

Hello, girls.

Two of the ladies giggle. The third continues to busy herself

with her quilt, off by herself.

GITTES:

(continuing)

Which one of you is Emma Dill?

Two of them say "she is," and point in different directions.

The third gives them a curt look and goes back to her

knitting. Gittes approaches her.

GITTES:

Are you Emma?

Some old voice is singing softly, "Don't Sit Under the Apple

Tree."

EMMA:

-- Yes.

GITTES:

I've been wanting to meet you.

EMMA:

Why?

GITTES:

-- Did you know that you're a very

wealthy woman?

EMMA:

(stitching, smiles)

-- I'm not.

GITTES:

Well you own a lot of land.

EMMA:

Not anymore. Oh, some time ago, my

late husband owned a good deal of

beach property in Long Beach -but

we lost it.

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