Ed Wood Page #21

WRESTLING COACH:

Tor, you got a phone call!

TOR:

Heh? NOW?

WRESTLING COACH:

They said it was an emergency!

He hands sweaty Tor the phone. Tor speaks into it.

TOR:

Hallo?

ED'S VOICE

Tor, this is Ed! Glad I could find

you! I got the money, and we resume

shooting tomorrow morning!

TOR:

But I'm in Utah.

ED'S VOICE

Then you'll have to drive all night!

I'm counting on you, big guy.

Breakfast is at seven.

CLICK. Ed hangs up. Tor is flabbergasted.

CUT TO:

INT. SOUNDSTAGE - EARLY MORNING

"Bride Of The Atom" is back in production! Ed's stock company

is reunited. People drink coffee and gossip.

PAUL MARCO:

This is unbelievable! I woulda bet

a million bucks that Ed wouldn't

finish this picture.

CAMERAMAN BILL:

It ain't finished yet. Anything

could happen.

The stage door opens and standing there, in silhouette, is

Dolores. Everybody quiets. People glance nervously at

Loretta.

BUNNY:

Uh-oh. Stay out of scratching

distance.

AT DOLORES:

Ed runs over. Dolores is beautifully made-up, and wearing a

furry angora sweater. Ed speaks, awkwardly.

ED:

Honey, you made it! I wasn't sure

you got my message.

DOLORES:

(icy)

Of course I'm here. Today is the

file clerk's big scene.

ED:

That's right...

DOLORES:

I see the usual gang of misfits and

dope addicts are here.

(she looks around)

Say, who's the lug?

In a corner, standing by himself, is dumb TONY McCOY, Old Man

McCoy's worthless son. He's a good-looking, moody hunk. Tony

is practicing his lines from a script, but he's terribly stiff.

TONY:

"Now Janet, I want you straying away

-- oops -- staying away from the old

Willows Place."

Ed shrugs.

ED:

That's Tony McCoy. He's playing

Lieutenant Dick Craig.

DOLORES:

Oh really? How much money did he put

up?

ED:

None.

(beat)

But his dad gave me fifty grand.

DOLORES:

(snide)

Wood Productions. The mark of

quality.

ED:

Hey, the movie's getting made.

That's the main thing.

Dolores shakes her head contemptuously. Then she strides off.

Ed stands alone, feeling bad.

WIPE TO:

ON STAGE:

The set is a one-wall "office hallway": A doorway and a water

cooler. Loretta sits in a make-up chair, as Harry works on

her.

DOLORES (O.S.)

Hey Harry -- long time no see.

Harry turns, surprised. Dolores stands behind him. There's a

thick tension. He smiles anxiously.

MAKE-UP MAN HARRY

Hi Dolores...

LORETA:

Oh, you're Dolores?! I've heard so

much about you! I'm Loretta King.

(she chipperly jumps up)

Here, take the chair.

DOLORES:

(bitchy)

Don't be silly -- let Harry finish.

You still need more work.

LORETTA:

No, I'm done. All I needed was a

touch-up.

DOLORES:

Mm, that mole still shows.

Loretta frowns. Ed quickly steps in.

ED:

Ladies! You both look fine. Why

don't we talk about the scene?

(beat)

Okay. Janet Lawton has discovered

that Dr. Vornoff bought the old

Willows estate. So now she wants to

prove that all the monster stories

are true.

Dolores nods sourly. She s in a trouble-making mood.

DOLORES:

Eddie, what's my motivation?

ED:

(thrown off)

Oh. Er... well you're the file

clerk. You're hurrying into the

next room, when you bump into Janet.

DOLORES:

But what's our relationship? Are

we good friends, or is she just a

casual acquaintance?

ED:

(annoyed)

Dolores, I got five days to shoot

this movie. Quit kidding around.

WIPE TO:

INT. SCREENING ROOM - NIGHT

We're watching DAILIES. Projected ON SCREEN, a camera

assistant claps the slate. We hear Ed yell: "Action!"

Loretta hurries down the hallway. Dolores sees her run past

and shouts out.

DOLORES (as File Clerk)

"Janet, the boss has been looking

for you."

LORETTA (as Janet Lawton)

"Thanks."

Loretta runs out. Dolores just stands there. We HEAR Ed:

"CUT! PERFECT!"

Dolores turns deadpan to the camera.

DOLORES:

Of course it was.

The FILM runs out.

ON THE AUDIENCE:

The screening room lights come up on the crew. Ed sits in

gloomy haze.

Suddenly, there's loud CLAPPING from the back of the room.

CRISWELL:

Bravo! Bravo! Magnifico!

ED:

(he smiles)

Cris, you made it. Thanks a lot.

CRISWELL:

My pleasure. I'm always happy to

assist in a little larceny.

CUT TO:

INT. CADILLAC - NIGHT

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