Gone Girl Page #8

next to him. He’s flipping channels like the remote is a gun.

He watches her as she tidies. She sees a shopping bag; starts

pulling out the contents: a laptop, Ipod, a dozen PS2 gaines.

AMY:

More games?

NICK:

(eyes on TV)

I felt I needed to shoot something. *

AMY *

What’s the laptop for?

NICK:

Laptopping. *

She folds her arms. Sighs. A “let’s talk” sigh.

NICK (CONT’D)

Right, I forgot. You can give your

parents $879,000 without asking me, *

but god forbid I buy Legend of *

Zelda without your permission. *

AMY:

You’re spending a lot.

NICK:

Amy, I know you don’t trust me. You

don’t trust my judgment, you don’t

trust my intentions—

AMY:

What are you talking about?

NICK:

That’s the basic tenet of a prenup,

right?

AMY:

Why are you throwing that in my

face again?

GG - Yellow Revisions 9/27/13 45.

NICK:

It’s easy to throw.

AMY:

Nick, I don’t get it. It’s like

you’re daring me to be someone I

don’t want to be. The nagging wife.

The controlling b*tch. I’m not that

person. I’m your wife.

That reaches Nick. A beat. He takes a breath.

NICK *

I’m sorry. I just— I’ve had a job *

since I was 12. I mowed lawns and *

dug post holes and flipped burgers. *

I worked all these shitty jobs so I *

could go to college, and get a job. *

I don’t know how to not have a job. *

AMY *

You’ll get another- *

His cell rings. He lets it. *

NICK *

—and it’s great that we have your *

money. At least when I had a job. *

Now it’s different. Now: I’m *

beholden to you. *

He checks display and sees who it is. Picks up. *

NICK (CONT’D)

Hey Go.. .what’s wrong?

AMY (V.0.)

Suddenly I knew everything was

about to get worse.

72 EXT. DRURY LODGE - MORNING 72

A CLOSEUP of Amy’s photo on a homemade POSTER held by a

little girl, hopping out of an SUV. The child drags it

through a busy parking lot: Two newsvans, SUV5, station

wagons. Women pile out. A strangely festive air: Many wearing

red white and blue of the 4th of JULY weekend.

TITLE CARD:

JULY 7, 2012

TWO DAYS GONE:

GG - Yellow Revisions 9/27/13 45A.

73 INT. DRURY LODGE BALLROOM - MORNING 73

Volunteers transform the dingy ballroom into the Find Amy

headquarters. PHONE BANKS plugged in; a GIANT AMY HEADSHOT is

hung; DONUTS. A few PHOTOGRAPHERS take shots. It feels like

the desperate campaign headquarters of a losing politician.

NICK enters, and FRIENDS and NEIGHBORS rush to WELCOME him.

He makes old women blush; he charms the bashful kids of old

girlfriends. Lots of hugs. A group of overtanned

FORTYSONETHINGS eye NICK, whispering like girls—their leader,

SHAWNA, catches NICK’s eye. NICK smiles, politely. From

across the room, GO sees all this and rolls her eyes: Same as

always. MARYBETH sees this and IT IS NOTED.

NICK extricates himself and spots BONEY heading to him. He

passes DESI COLLINGS, all grown up (and unrecognized). DESI

is protectively holding a handful of FLIERS with Amy’s PHOTO.

The two exchange a glance as they pass each other.

GG - Blue Draft - 8/29/13 46.

NICK:

(eyeing DESI)

You know that guy?

BONEY:

Don’t worry, we videotape everyone *

who comes in or out of these *

things. You tend to get a lot of-

NICK:

Do—gooders?

BONEY:

Freaks. Hey, meant to ask you: *

Noelle Hawthorne?

NICK shrugs:
Who?

BONEY (CONT’D)

Lives on your street? Amy’s best *

friend.

NICK:

I have never heard the name Noelle *

Hawthorne.

BONEY:

She and her husband have triplets?

NICK:

OhI Right. No. Best friend? Amy *

doesn’t even know her. I mean, to *

wave hi, but.. .no.

At the snack table, a HOMELESS GUY is stealing food. NICK

excuses himself to have words with him as GILPIN sidles up.

BONEY:

He acted like Noelle was a complete

stranger.

GILPIN:

Of course he did.

NICK hands the homeless guy a bag of bagels to go.

GILPIN CONT’D)

Oh, look, he’s being a good guy so

we can all see him be a good guy.

BONEY:

You really don’t like him.

GG - Blue Draft - 8/29/13 47.

GILP IN:

What’s to like?

Volunteers are dispersing to search sites. Each VOLUNTEER is

holding a colored piece of paper with the name of a site on

it:
FOREST GLEN. RIVERWALK. NICK spots MARYBETH and RAND

leaving and is about to head over when he gets another

glimpse of DESI—the two lock eyes.

NICK can’t quite place him, but DESI starts moving, and NICK

follows, weaving through the crowd. Exits into:

74 INT. HALLWAY - DAY 74

The hallway is VACANT. Nick’s DISPOSABLE begins buzzing. He

ducks farther down the hall. NICK is picking up just as:

SHAWNA peers around the corner. Nick abruptly ends the call.

SHAWNA:

Nick? I just wanted to introduce

myself. My name’s Shawna Kelly.

Nick nods:
thanks. He’s seething at the interruption.

SHAWNA (CONT’D)

I’m so sorry for your.. .troubles.

NICK:

That’s very kind.

He gives her an after—you gesture but she doesn’t budge.

SHAWNA:

Are you remembering to eat?

NICK:

Lotta cold cuts.

Again:
After you.

SHAWNA:

I’m going to fix you up my world

famous Chicken Frito Pie.

NICK:

That’s very sweet of you and very

unnecessary.

He tries again to get past her. He pats her on the arm as a

goodbye, she puts her hand on top of his.

GG - Blue Draft - 8/29/13 48.

SHAWNA:

You have to keep up your strength.

She digs through her handbag, grabs a cell. Jams her face

against his.

SHAWNA (CONT’D)

Say:
Chicken frito pie!

NICK—just wanting to leave—reflexively grins. CLICK. She

shows him the photo: The two of them, cheek to cheek,

Shawna’s glossed lips pouty. Without context (and even with),

the photo is wildly inappropriate, a little sleazy.

NICK:

Oh. You know what? That’s-please

delete that would you?

SHAWNA:

It’s a nice photo.

NICK:

It’s just not appropriate. Do me *

the favor, would you?

SHAWNA debates.

NICK (CONT’D) *

I’m asking you nicely: Please *

delete that photo. *

NICK tries to lean past her and hit delete. She holds the *

cell away from him—hey!—he tries to grab it.

SHAWNA:

What is wrong with you?

NICK grabs her arm. It’s the first time he seems dangerous.

NICK:

You can’t share that with anyone.

SHAWNA:

I’ll share it with anyone I like.

SHAWNA scrambles past him, shoots down the hall to the

elevator.

SHAWNA (CONT’D)

A**hole.

NICK rests his head against the wall. Breathes.

GG - Blue Draft - 8/29/13 49.

NICK:

Pull it together, Dunne.

75 INT. DRURY LODGE - DAY 75

The room is almost empty. GO is waiting, eating a donut.

GO:

Marybeth’ s pissed.

76 EXT. SAWYER BEACH - DAY 76

A small, disgusting sandbar: overflowing trash bins, dirty

diapers, a bench covered in obscene graffiti. Volunteers are

fanning along the river, searching. A SEARCH DOG is sniffing

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