Ed Wood Page #29

BELA:

So Eddie, don't we need a sound crew?

ED:

No, this is just the second unit.

We'll do the main footage later.

BELA:

Oh. So what is the scene about?

ED:

(improvising)

Uh... you're a very important and

respected man. You're leaving your

house... and you're in a hurry to a

big social event.

Bela nods. He mulls this over.

BELA:

Okay. But what if I'm not in too big

a hurry? What if I take a moment to

slow down and savor the beauty of

life? To smell a flower?

ED:

(he smiles)

That's great. Let's do a take.

WIDE:

Bela goes in the front door. Ed gets behind the camera, then

turns it ON.

ED:

Okay, roll camera! Rolling. Scene

One, Take One!

(pause)

And... ACTION!

There's a moment. And then Bela slowly steps outside, calm,

dignified, walking with a cane. He looks about -- and then

something catches his eye. He leans down and picks a flower.

Bela smells the flower, then abruptly drops it. He starts

crying. A pause, and then he composes himself. The old man

slowly shuffles out of frame.

Ed peers emotionally from behind the camera.

ED:

And, cut...

BELA:

Eddie, how was I?

ED:

(quiet)

Perfect.

Bela is pleased.

BELA:

Good.

(beat)

Now what about my close up?

CUT TO:

EXT. HOLLYWOOD DUPLEX - DUSK

Ed's Nash convertible pulls up outside a neat little duplex in

a nice neighborhood. Ed is dressed up for a date. He checks

his hair nervously in the mirror, revealing an anxious

boyishness we've never seen before.

Ed carries a bouquet of flowers to the front door. He rings

the bell. Kathy opens the door. She looks very pretty in a

full skirt with a crinolin.

KATHY:

Oh, flowers! I didn't know you were

so traditional.

ED:

(a little embarrassed)

I just picked them up on the way

over...

KATHY:

They're very nice.

(she smiles sweetly)

Let me get my coat.

EXT. CARNIVAL - NIGHT

Ed and Kathy are at a tattered traveling carnival. Rattling

steel rides and flashing lights spin about them. They stroll

through the crowds eating cotton candy. Kathy wears one of

Ed's flowers on her dress.

KATHY:

So have you always lived in L.A.?

ED:

No. I'm from back east. You know,

All-American small town... everybody

knew everybody, I was a Boy Scout,

my dad worked for the post office...

KATHY:

Sounds like you lived in Grovers

Corners.

INT. SPOOK HOUSE - NIGHT

Ed and Kathy ride through the old mechanical spook house.

KATHY:

Did you find it boring?

ED:

Nah, 'cause I had my comic books.

And I read pulp magazines. And I

listened to the radio dramas...

A wooden WITCH jumps out at them. They ignore it.

KATHY:

Oh. I loved those shows! "Inner

Sanctum"... "The Shadow" --

ED:

(getting excited)

Yeah! Don't forget "Mercury

Theatre"... And then every Saturday,

I'd go to the little movie theater

down the street. I even started

ushering there.

A creaky GHOST flies overhead.

KATHY:

You're not gonna believe the first

picture I ever saw. Your friend's.

ED:

What do you mean?

KATHY:

"Dracula."

Ed freaks out.

ED:

That's INCREDIBLE! That's the first

picture I ever saw!!

WIDE:

Mechanical BATS drop down and flap around them.

KATHY:

That is incredible!

(beat)

You know, I had to sleep with the

lights on for a week after seeing

that movie.

ED:

I had to sleep with the lights on for

a month.

(he smiles)

But I never missed a Lugosi picture

after that.

KATHY:

A few years ago, I actually saw him

do "Dracula" live. I thought he was

much scarier in person.

CLOSEUP - ED

He starts at Kathy in wonder. He is overcome.

Their car SMASHES through the tin exit doors.

EXT. SPOOK HOUSE - SAME TIME

Ed and Kathy's little car comes to a stop. He gets very

serious.

ED:

Kathy, I'm about to tell you

something I've never told any girl

on a first date. But I think it's

important that you know.

(beat)

I like to wear women's clothes.

KATHY:

Huh?

ED:

I like to wear women's clothes:

Panties, brassieres, sweaters,

pumps... it's just something I do.

And I can't believe I'm telling you,

but I really like you, and I don't

want it getting in the way down the

road.

Kathy is amazed. She contemplates all this.

KATHY:

Does this mean you don't like sex

with girls?

ED:

No! I love sex with girls.

KATHY:

Oh. Okay.

ED:

(surprised)

Okay?

Kathy slyly grins.

KATHY:

Okay.

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