Kalifornia Page #8

As Carrie frames up another shot, Early crosses in front of

her camera. Realizing he is in Carrie's photo he stops and

poses. Carrie looks to Brian.

BRIAN:

Sorry, Early... Could you step out

the way, for a second?

Early is surprised that they don't want him in the photograph.

He wanders away from the front of the house. Meanwhile, Adele

photographs the moment.

BRIAN:

The first one to die was the nine

year old daughter...

Just then... A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL comes running from around

the side of the house. She stops dead when she sees all of

them. Carrie snaps a final photo.

BRIAN:

Hello.

The little girl scans all their faces.

BRIAN:

...My name's Brian, what's yours?

The little girl remains silent. Brian rolls a look to Carrie

then back to the little girl.

BRIAN:

...Could I speak to your parents?

After an awkward pause, the little girl silently crosses the

yard to the porch and opens the front door.

GIRL:

(rudely)

Pa! There's more of them.

EXT. REAR OF HOUSE - SAME TIME

Looking into the house through a kitchen window we can see

into the entrance hall and through to the open front door.

Brian waits outside on the porch, as the little girl enters

the house looking for her father. Inside the kitchen, right

next to the window, is a side table with a telephone and a

purse on it.

Suddenly... Early's reflection appears in the window; he has

obviously seen the purse.

AT THE FRONT DOOR

Brian motions for Carrie to join him.

AT THE SWING SET

Adele watches Brian and Carrie for a moment, then loses

interest. She stands on the seat of the swing and begins

swinging.

AT THE REAR OF THE HOUSE

Early tries to push up the kitchen window. It barely lifts

three inches before jamming. Through the room we see the

little girl and her father step to the front door.

EXT. FRONT DOOR

A MIDDLE AGED FARMER with tanned leathery skin. He is not

happy. Brian extends his hand...

BRIAN:

(friendly)

Hi, my name is Brian Kessler.

The father says nothing and does not respond to the extended

hand. Brian retracts his hand.

BRIAN:

(continues -- less

confident)

I'm a writer, I'm working on a book

about famous murderers.

AT THE SWING SET

Adele swings higher. Her summer dress ripples in the wind. A

smile on her face.

EXT. KITCHEN WINDOW

Early's entire arm is through the opening. His shoulder

presses against the window pane. But still he can't reach

the purse. So, he grabs the tablecloth and begins pulling it

toward him. The purse slides closer, inch by inch. All the

while, he keeps one eye on the Farmer across the room.

EARLY'S POV (ACROSS THE ROOM) The Farmer's back is turned to

the kitchen as he listens silently to Brian.

BRIAN:

...I'm sure you're aware that this

is the Novak house...

AT THE SWING SET

Adele swings even higher. She's lost in the moment. Euphoric.

EXT. FRONT DOOR

BRIAN:

(corrects himself)

...I mean, this was the Novak house...

(pause)

With your permission I'd like to

come in and photograph...

Before Brian can finish, the man slams the door in his face.

INT. KITCHEN (ANGLE ON FARMER)

The Farmer turns away from the front door.

FARMER:

(muttering)

Goddamned ghouls...

IN THE KITCHEN:

We see that Early and the purse have gone.

EXT. FRONT DOOR

Brian is surprised. He just stands there a moment. He's not

sure whether to knock again.

EXT. SWING SET

The empty swing sways back and forth.

EXT. LINCOLN

Brian and Carrie walk back to the car.

BRIAN:

(upset)

We could have been in and out of

there in less than ten minutes...

CARRIE:

Hey, I got some great stuff... it's

okay.

Brian continues on in a huff until Carrie breaks stride and

stops. She pulls him next to her.

CARRIE:

It's okay... okay?

Brian glances back at the house. She interrupts his glance,

kisses him.

BRIAN:

(continuing on the

heel of the kiss)

...That house is part of American

history now, whether he likes it or

not.

They enter the car.

EARLY:

Forget about it Bri'. I wouldn't be

surprised if that Karma thing don't

come back and get him.

Carrie, surprised at Early's new found philosophical belief.

She looks into her side view mirror... And sees Early smiling

back at her. Carrie looks away...

CARRIE'S POV

Shifts from the mirror to the house in the background... as

the car pulls out of the driveway, the little girl watches

from her porch.

OMITTED:

Sequence omitted from original script.

EXT. - LINCOLN PULLS UP TO MOTEL AND PARKS.

INT. MOTEL RESTAURANT - NIGHT

A small roadside diner. A fair number of people inside having

dinner. Adele, Early, Carrie, and Brian are seated at one of

the tables.

AT THEIR TABLE:

Carrie watches Early eat with a kind of horrible, rude

fascination. He has no table manners at all. He eats with

his elbows on the table, fork wedged in the fist of his right

hand. All the while, he chews with his mouth open. He's

serious about his "eating."

BRIAN:

(studying his map)

Well we've come three hundred miles

so far. Not a bad day's haul.

Early doesn't bother to respond. He keeps eating.

BRIAN:

You got any family or friends in

California, Early?

CU ANGLE ON EARLY

With a piece of bread he mops up the gravy on his plate.

EARLY:

(chewing)

Nope... You?

ANGLE UNDER THE TABLE

Early's foot itches... He tries to scratch it but it doesn't

do any good.

BRIAN (O.S.)

No.

ADELE (O.S.)

Me neither. How 'bout you Carrie?

CARRIE (O.S.)

No.

ANGLE - THE GROUP

As Brian folds up the map. Early takes off his boot, then

his well-worn sock. Carrie's look of disgust grows as Early

brings his foot up onto his lap and scratches it while he

eats. Carrie puts her fork down: dinner is over for her.

ADELE:

...Well, least we got each other.

That's somethin'.

OMITTED:

OMITTED:

Brian looks up, sees Carrie's expression... Then what's

causing it... Early mops up the last bit of food on his plate.

He notices Brian and Carrie staring at him and slowly puts

his foot back down on the floor -- then the sock.

Brian picks up the check to see the total... Starts pulling

his wallet out... Isn't quite sure how to bring up the tab

to Early.

EARLY:

Thanks Bri', I'll get the next one.

(prompts Adele)

Think it's time we hit the sack.

Early winks at Brian, Carrie catches the wink. Early and

Adele get up and head for the door. Adele waves goodnight.

ADELE:

(to Carrie)

Sweet dreams.

INT. CARRIE AND BRIAN'S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Close on Carrie, she is reflected in a mirror. Reveal, Carrie

wearing only a T-shirt is at the vanity angrily brushing her

teeth. In the bathroom next to her, a bath is running. In

the adjacent bedroom, Brian is in the bed working on his

notes.

INT. BATHROOM

CARRIE:

(spits out a mouthful

of water)

You mean because I object to having

somebody take off their shoe and

scratch their foot while I'm eating

I'm prejudiced?

INT. BEDROOM - SAME TIME

BRIAN:

(reading notes)

He can't help the way he was raised.

I kinda feel sorry for him.

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