Ed Wood Page #31

EXT. THEATER - SAME TIME

The gang frantically runs out, scared for their lives.

They look over. Some JUVENILE DELINQUENTS are stripping the

hearse.

VAMPIRA:

We're gonna die.

The theater doors CRASH open. The angry mob pours out.

Ed spins wildly around... and sees a cab approaching.

ED:

Stop!

KATHY:

STOP!

Kathy runs frenziedly into the street and throws herself at the

cab. It screeches to a halt.

Everybody sprints over and jumps in. The cab ROARS away.

INT. CAB - SAME TIME

All of them are breathing heavily. They watch in the rear

window as they drive away from the rampage.

A nervous silence. Until Bela speaks.

BELA:

Now that was a premiere.

All of them LAUGH.

CUT TO:

EXT. HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD - DAY

Bela and Ed stroll down the street, in high spirits. Bela

smokes a big fat cigar.

BELA:

Last night was quite a romp.

ED:

Did you see that kid grab Vampira's

tits?

BELA:

I envied him.

(he chuckles)

Hell, I envied you too, having a

girlfriend that would jump in front

of a car like that.

ED:

Yeah, she's really somethin'.

BELA:

I know none of my wives would've.

Ed laughs. Bela puffs his cigar.

BELA:

Eddie, I want to thank you. These

last few days have been a good time.

ED:

I just wish you coulda seen the

movie.

BELA:

No problem. I know it by heart...

Bela stops walking. And in a BOOMING, THEATRICAL VOICE, he

suddenly launches into his impassioned, climactic speech from

"Bride Of The Monster."

BELA:

"Home. I have no home. Hunted...

despised... living like an animal

-- the jungle is my home! But I

will show the world that I can be

its master. I shall perfect my own

race of people... a race of atomic

supermen that will conquer the

world!"

Ed is touched.

A few people around them APPLAUD.

Bela's face lights up, proud. An awed MIDWESTERN TOURIST hands

him a pen and paper.

TOURIST:

Mr. Lugosi, could I have your

autograph?

BELA:

Certainly.

TOURIST:

Boy, that was incredible. You're

just as good an actor as you always

were.

Bela puffs out his chest majestically.

BELA:

Better.

(beat)

I'm seventy-four, but I don't know

it. If the brain is young, then the

spirit is still vigorous... like a

young man.

Bela turns and smiles wanly at Ed.

Ed smiles back.

CUT TO:

INT. ED'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Ed and Kathy stand in his kitchen, making dinner. She sticks

her finger in a pot.

KATHY:

Ed, this spaghetti sauce is

delicious.

ED:

Thanks. It's actually the only thing

I know how to make.

(he motions)

Hey, can you grab that strainer?

She holds a strainer. Ed pours the spaghetti over it.

Suddenly the PHONE rings. Ed groans.

ED:

Ugh! Always at the wrong time.

(he ANSWERS the phone)

Hello?

He listens.

And then, he gets a very somber expression.

ED:

Oh no...

Ed HANGS UP the phone. He looks pained.

KATHY:

What was that?

ED:

(quiet)

Bela died.

CUT TO:

INT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY

It's Bela's funeral.

Ed sits crying in the front row, with Kathy at his side.

All Bela's friends are there. They're very subdued.

THE CASKET:

Bela lies inside, made up in his full Dracula outfit. His hair

is died black, and he wears the famous cape.

EXT. HOLY CROSS CEMETERY - DAY

On a grassy hill, Bela is laid to rest. The small crowd of

mourners stands silhouetted against the dark gray clouds.

The coffin is lowered into the ground. Ed stands at the front,

silently watching.

AT A DISTANCE:

A few TABLOID PHOTOGRAPHERS snap pictures.

PHOTOGRAPHER #1

Whose crazy idea was it to bury him

in the cape?

PHOTOGRAPHER #2

I heard it was in the will. It was

how he wanted to be remembered.

CUT TO:

INT. SCREENING ROOM - DAY

Ed is alone in a darkened screening room, depressed.

Playing on the SCREEN is the last footage of Bela: Bela

stumbles around in front of his house and smells the flower.

Ed drinks out of a flask.

The film runs out. A VOICE comes over a loudspeaker.

VOICE:

Do you want me to run it again?

Ed silently nods.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Ed's apartment has gone to hell. Ed is in a robe, unshaven and

clutching a bottle of whiskey. Newspapers are everywhere.

Bela's and Ed's dogs eat out of the trash.

Kathy tries to straighten things up. Ed stares listlessly.

ED:

I'd seen him in a coffin so many

times, I expected him to jump out...

KATHY:

Ed, you've got to snap out of this.

Bela's dead -- you're not!

ED:

I might as well be. I made shitty

movies that nobody wanted to see.

(beat)

I blew it. All he wanted was a

comeback... that last glory...

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