Living in Oblivion Page #11

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WANDA:

OK, here we go. Camera back to One.

Action on the smoke.

The Gaffer turns on the smoke machine which emits a pathetic

wisp of smoke that immediately dissipates.

WANDA:

And roll sound.

NICK:

Hold it, Wanda. Can we get a little

more smoke? Is that possible?

GAFFER:

Oh, sure.

The Gaffer adjusts a knob and another thin puff of smoke

wheezes out.

NICK:

Good. Call it, Wanda.

WANDA:

Going for picture. Lock it up. And

roll sound.

SOUND:

Speed!

WANDA:

Roll camera!

AC:

Rolling!

CLAPPER:

Scene six, take one!

NICK:

And, action.

INT. THE DREAM. TAKE ONE. DAY

Nicole stands motionless in the middle of the empty set. Her

white wedding gown stands out sharply against the deep red

walls. A sad shred of smoke drifts by her head.

NICOLE:

I am so hungry.

Tito opens the door and walks in, staring hard at Nicole.

His sky-blue tuxedo gleams in the rich light. He walks around

her in a circle holding the golden apple just beyond her

reach. He stops on his mark and the camera dollies into a CU

of him. He doesn't laugh. Nick watches this for a moment in

intense concentration.

INT. THE SET. DAY

NICK:

And... cut.

WANDA:

That's a cut. Nick; comments?

NICK:

Yeah, just a couple. I thought that

was uh... good. Tito, that was very

good, man, really. You didn't feel

like laughing?

TITO:

I laughed.

NICK:

Oh, OK; I guess I missed it. You

could make it bigger if you want.

And Ellen, maybe just a little more

tension when you see him.

NICOLE:

I thought I didn't see him.

NICK:

Right, maybe you see him a little

bit.

NICOLE:

Alright, I'm confused. Do I see him

or not?

NICK:

You see him.

NICOLE:

OK, what is the tension? Who is Toto?

TITO:

(hard)

It's Tito.

NICOLE:

(alarmed)

What did I say?

TITO:

Toto.

NICOLE:

Oh, God. I'm sorry, Tito. I don't

know why I'm doing that. I'm really

sorry.

NICK:

Ellen, come on now; concentrate.

Remember; you're marrying Damian

tomorrow. You're a little anxious.

You have this dream. Let's call it

an Anxiety Dream, and Tito represents

the anxiety.

CU Tito looking none too happy about this representation.

NICK:

OK? It seems pretty simple.

NICOLE:

Let's just try it.

NICK:

Good. And Bob, let's really have

some smoke on this one.

GAFFER:

OK, more smoke.

WOLF:

I still think it should be hand-held.

NICK:

Yeah, well, I don't want it hand-

held. I want it on the dolly. Where's

my notebook, Wanda?

WANDA:

On it's way, Nick.

NICK:

Good. Call it, Wanda.

WANDA:

Lock it up. Going for picture. And

roll sound.

SOUND:

Speed!

WANDA:

Roll camera!

AC:

Rolling!

CLAPPER:

Scene six, take two!

NICK:

And, action.

INT. THE DREAM. TAKE TWO

Nicole stands motionless as a few more emaciated puffs of

smoke hang in the air.

NICOLE:

I am so hungry.

Tito enters, walks around her holding the apple just beyond

her reach then moves to his mark. The camera dollies into a

CU. He does not laugh.

INT. THE SET. DAY

NICK:

Cut.

WANDA:

That's a cut. Going again, Nick?

NICK:

Yes.

WANDA:

Going again, please stand by.

NICK:

OK, Ellen, good. You're on to

something there.

NICOLE:

No, something's not right. It all

feels fake to me.

Nick's tone with Nicole suddenly takes on an almost

imperceptible edge, tinged with annoyance.

NICK:

Well, it's not fake; it's real. Just

remember, you really want the apple.

Tito, I still think we could see

more of a laugh at the end.

TITO:

What kind of laugh?

NICK:

Just a laugh.

TITO:

Show me.

NICK:

Oh, OK. A laugh. I'm thinking maybe

like this. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Everyone watches Nick demonstrate the laugh. He seems unaware

he resembles a drunken, slightly annoyed idiot.

NICK:

Something like that. OK? And remember,

Tito, this is a dream. Not everything

has to make sense. A laugh right

there heightens our sense of... of...

TITO:

Anxiety.

NICK:

Exactly. Wolf, how was that for you?

WOLF:

I still think it should be hand-held.

NICK:

(snaps)

Well, God damn it! It's not going to

be! It's on the dolly so just forget

about it!

There is a strained moment of silence on the set as everyone

witnesses this rebuke.

NICK:

And Bob, what the f*** is that smoke?

Might as well get a couple hamsters

in here blowing smoke rings for

Christ's sake.

GAFFER:

The septic valve wasn't open. I got

it now. We're going to see some smoke

now.

NICK:

Alright, let's try another take.

WANDA:

And, lock it up.

WOLF:

Nick, could I talk to you for a

minute?

NICK:

What?!

WOLF:

In private.

NICK:

(sighs in exasperation)

Alright.

Nick follows Wolf off the set.

WANDA:

Release the lock-up. Everyone stand

by.

GAFFER:

We'll see some smoke now.

AC:

Way to go, Bob.

INT. A CORNER. DAY

As soon as Wolf and Nick reach the darkened corner, Wolf

whirls to face Nick.

WOLF:

I really don't like being spoken to

like that, Nick!

NICK:

Yeah, well I don't like your attitude!

WOLF:

I don't have an attitude!

NICK:

The hell you don't! Every time I ask

you to do something all I get is No,

No, No and I'm sick of it! I hired

you to do a job; if you're not going

to do it you better let me know right

now!

Wolf is about to yell back at Nick when suddenly he stops

and lets out a deep, painful sigh.

WOLF:

I'm sorry, Nick. I'm going through

some heavy sh*t.

NICK:

What do you mean?

WOLF:

I can't really go into it. It's pretty

heavy.

NICK:

Personal?

Wolf makes a slight motion with his head toward Wanda who is

standing some distance away watching them. Seeing the two

men looking at her Wanda shoots them a hard glare which

prompts Wolf and Nick to turn away quickly.

WOLF:

Personal, professional, emotional.

It's doing a number on me. And now

you're telling me you're going to

fire me.

NICK:

I didn't say that, Wolf. Come on,

I'm not going to fire you. You're

doing a great job here.

WOLF:

Am I?

NICK:

Yeah, I don't know what I'd do without

you, man. You've got a great eye. I

just hope it's not the one under

that eyepatch.

Nick lets out a tense, strained laugh but Wolf's only response

is to stare back at him sadly.

NICK:

Listen, Wolf. Let me tell you one

thing I've learned; sometimes you

just have to roll with things. You

know?

WOLF:

You're right.

NICK:

Roll with it, man. You'll be OK.

Wolf lets out another deep sigh.

WOLF:

Thanks, bro.

INT. A CORNER OF THE SET. DAY

The Gaffer, Boom man, and AC kneel around the smoke machine.

A can of gas and a quart of oil stand beside them.

BOOM:

That's where the oil goes.

GAFFER:

No, that's where the gas goes.

BOOM:

I'm tellin' you, Bob. That's where

the oil goes.

SOUND:

Lester, don't you think Bob knows

where the oil goes?!

GAFFER:

I don't remember using oil in '85.

AC:

Maybe both the oil and gas go in

there?

The Gaffer and Boom man turn and look at the AC for a long

moment.

BOOM:

I think he's right.

GAFFER:

I think he is too. OK, three parts

gas, one part oil.

The Gaffer and Boom man pour liberal amounts of gas and oil

into the T-160.

INT. THE SET. DAY

Nick rushes up to his position by the camera.

NICK:

Is my notebook here yet, Wanda?

WANDA:

Any minute, Nick.

NICK:

Good. Call it, Wanda.

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