Gran Torino Page #8

KAREN:

There’s these great places now,

these communities where you don’t

have to worry about mowing the

lawn or shoveling snow. People

who are like you, alert, active,

but are alone and would benefit by

being with other folks their own

age.

(CONTINUED)

44.

40 CONTINUED:
(2) 40

MITCH:

Dad, take a look. We brought some

pamphlets.

CUT TO:

41 EXT. WALT’S HOUSE - SECONDS LATER 41

Mitch and Karen storm out to their Land Cruiser. Mitch

carries the Gopher Grabber Tool and Karen has the big

numbered phone in her hand.

MITCH:

I told you, I told you this was a

bad idea.

KAREN:

I know, you were right.

MITCH:

Son of a b*tch! He just won’t let

anyone help him.

KAREN:

Well, we tried. Now we can just

drop it. No one can say we didn’t

try.

MITCH:

To hell with him, kicking us out

on his birthday?! We should’ve

stayed home with Ashley and Josh.

They knew better, they wouldn’t

even come. The goddamned kids are

smarter than we are!

Mitch screeches the tires as they take off. Walt waits

for them to clear out, before coming out on the porch

with a can of Pabst.

Daisy comes out and lies at his feet.

Walt covers his mouth as he coughs. A dime-sized circle

of dark, red blood is left in the palm of his hand.

Walt looks at the blood as he takes another sip of beer.

42 EXT. WALT’S PORCH -EVENING 42

Walt continues to sit on his porch, a long row of empty

Pabst beer cans are lined up on the railing.

(CONTINUED)

45.

42 CONTINUED:
42

Walt looks at a photo in his wallet, his and Dorothy’s

wedding photo. Walt looks down at Daisy -

WALT:

We miss Momma, don’t we, Daisy.

A vehicle pulls up to Tao’s house. A party is in full

swing.

Sue comes out and helps the Hmong women unload big

platters of food and carry them to the house.

Sue catches Walt’s gaze and steps over to his porch.

SUE:

Hey, Walt, what are you up to?

Walt points his index finger at the can of Pabst in his

hand.

SUE:

We’re having a barbecue. You want

to come over?

WALT:

What do you think?

SUE:

There’s tons of food.

WALT:

I’ll bet. Just keep your paws off

my dog.

SUE:

No worries, we only eat cats.

WALT:

Really?

SUE:

No, I’m kidding, you moron. Come

on, come on over. You can be my

special guest.

WALT:

I’m fine right here.

Walt reaches into the cooler for another beer. It’s

empty, just water and ice.

WALT:

Son of a b*tch.

(CONTINUED)

46.

42 CONTINUED:
(2) 42

SUE:

What have you had to eat today,

Walt?

WALT:

A piece of cake and some beefjerky.

SUE:

Come on over and get something to

eat. We’ve got beer, too.

Walt exhales loudly -WALT

Oh, what the hell. It’s mybirthday, I may as well drink withstrangers instead of myself.

Walt gets up and walks with Sue towards her house.

SUE:

Happy Birthday, Wally.

WALT:

Don’t call me Wally.

43 INT. TAO’S HOUSE -KITCHEN 43

Inside are thirty Hmong and Walt, who sticks out like asore thumb. Total fish out of water.

Walt looks in the refrigerator, Sue looks over hisshoulder.

WALT:

You do have a lot of beer, but no

Pabst.

SUE:

As they say, When in Hmong.

WALT:

Ha ha. Are you sure it’s okay I’m

here? Everyone keeps looking atme and when I look back, they lookat the ground.

It’s fine.

SUE:

Phong appears from the crowd and points at Walt.

(CONTINUED)

47.

43 CONTINUED:
43

PHONG:

(subtitled)

You, get out. Out of our house!

(to Sue)

What is he doing here?

Walt cringes at her presence.

WALT:

What’d she say?

SUE:

She said welcome to our home.

WALT:

No she didn’t.

SUE:

No, she didn’t.

PHONG:

(subtitled)

Why is this white man in our home?

A man like him brings nothing,

nothing but sorrow and death.

Several relatives usher Phong away from Walt.

relatives are embarrassed at the outburst.

The

She hates me.

WALT:

SUE:

Yes, she hates you.

WALT:

What did I do?

A little Hmong girl walks past and Walt pats her on thehead. Everyone in the room looks in horror at Walt.

WALT:

What?! What the hell are all youfish heads looking at?!

Sue looks around and then pulls Walt out of the room.

SUE:

Maybe we should go in the other

room.

44 INT. DINING ROOM -SECONDS LATER 44

Sue explains a few facts to Walt.

(CONTINUED)

48.

44 CONTINUED:
44

SUE:

A lot of the people in this house

are very traditional. Number one,

never touch a Hmong person on the

head, not even a child. Hmong

people believe that the soul

resides in the head, so don’t do

that.

WALT:

That’s dumb, but fine.

SUE:

Hmong people also consider looking

someone in the eye to be rude.

That’s why everyone looks away

when you look at them.

WALT:

Swell. Anything else?

SUE:

Yeah, some Hmong smile or grin

when they’re yelled at or get into

a confrontation. It’s a cultural

thing. It expresses embarrassment

or insecurity, not that they’re

laughing at you.

WALT:

Good God, you people are all nuts.

45 INT. LIVING ROOM 45

Walt opens another beer, as Sue speaks Hmong to a

relative. Walt notices an Old Hmong Man staring at him.

Walt interrupts Sue.

WALT:

Hey, Sue.

SUE:

What?

WALT:

You said you guys don’t look you

in the eye, but that guy keeps

staring at me.

Sue laughs and gestures to the Old Hmong Man. The Old

Hmong Man steps over and nods to Walt.

(CONTINUED)

49.

45 CONTINUED:
45

SUE:

This is Kor Khue. He’s the Lor

family shaman.

WALT:

Witch doctor?

Sue smiles and nods.

SUE:

Something like that. The Hmong

hold their clan Shaman in very

high regards.

WALT:

Boo-ga, boo-ga.

Kor Khue says something to Sue in Hmong. She turns and

translates to Walt.

SUE:

Kor Khue is interested in you, he

heard what you did. He says he

would like to read you.

WALT:

Huh?

SUE:

He wants to read you. Tell you

your soul. It’d be rude not to

allow him this, it’s a great

honor.

WALT:

Tell Kor to be my guest, fire

away.

Sue speaks Hmong to the Shaman. The Shaman responds and

sits down across from Walt. He looks at Walt for a long

time.

Walt stares straight back at him. The Shaman mumbles to

himself.

Finally the Shaman turns to Sue and speaks very rapidly.

As Sue translates, the Shaman watches Walt’s reaction.

SUE:

Kor Khue says that you think

you’ve been disrespected. You do

not live your life. Your food has

no flavor. You are scared of your

past.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

50.

45 CONTINUED:
(2) 45

SUE (CONT'D)

You stopped living years and years

ago. Kor Khue says you’re not at

peace.

Walt looks like he’s been hit by a truck. The Shaman

watches Walt closely, he knows he hit the nail on the

head.

Walt looks pale. He’s been spooked good. He wipes sweat

from his forehead.

WALT:

Excuse me.

Walt gets up and steps into the kitchen. He takes

several deep breaths. He’s pretty shook up.

WALT:

Je --zuz --Christ.

Walt looks around at all the Hmongs eating and carrying

on.

Walt sees a young man give up his seat to an Elder.

Walt sees a young woman go to each of the older folks and

offer tea and cookies from a tray.

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