Lost in Translation Page #3

In the harsh sunlight of the big windows Bob eats breakfast

alone. Next to him is a table of TEXANS in cowboy hats. At

another table a JAPANESE COUPLE in sunglasses chain smoke

and drink coffee.

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL ELEVATOR - DAY

Bob gets into the ded elevator. He is stopped momentarily by

the Concierge who asks him if everything is fine for his

stay.

In the elevator Bob's surrounded by JAPANESE BUSINESSPEOPLE

and a FAMILY dressed for a wedding.

Across, at the other side of the elevator he sees CHARLOTTE,

a pretty Ivy-league girl in her mid-twenties, and the only

other Westerner in the elevator. Her honey-colored hair stands

out in the crowd.

She's looking at him like you do when someone new comes in

the elevator, but the Japanese look straight ahead at the

elevator doors.

Charlotte and Bob look at each other across the Japanese

heads. She smiles, from one foreigner to another. The door

opens and she gets out with the crowd. Bob watches her leave.

MISS KAWASAKI:

Mr. Harris

He is approached by a group of eight excited people from the

commercial company there waiting to take him.

PRESS AGENT:

(as they are on their

way)

We just got a request from Tanabe

Mori-he is the Johnny Carson of Japan!

It is a big honor to be invited to

his show.

Bob feigns enthusiasm briefly.

MISS KAWASAKI:

Can you stay until Friday?

BOB:

I'll have to see about that.

CUT TO:

INT. PHOTO STUDIO - DAY

Bob's back is to us as a MAKE-UP ARTIST is putting some final

touches on him. The PHOTOGRAPHER is giving her enthusiastic

direction in Japanese. Bob talks on his cell phone, not paying

attention to the make-up artist.

BOB:

Can you get me on a flight Thursday

night?

ELAINE (O.S.)

We're looking into it Bob, but they

really want you to stay to do that

talk show Friday, apparently it's a

really big deal, he's the Johnny

Carson of Japan.

BOB:

Yeah, they told me.

ELAINE (O.S.)

These people are paying you a lot,

do you think you could consider it?

BOB:

Just get me out of here as soon as

you can.

ELAINE (O.S.)

Ok, you're scheduled to leave

Saturday, but we'll hold a seat

Thursday in case, but first class is

full, you're waitlisted for an

upgrade... there might be a seat on

Lufthansa...

BOB:

Oh, great. I'll talk to you later,

bye.

He hangs up. The make-up artist dusts him with powder.

The commercial people are crowding around. Bob's chair is

swivelled around and we see him in his tuxedo, wearing too

much make-up and some weird looking eyeliner.

In front of a grey backdrop, moody lighting is being adjusted

and Bob is handed a bottle of Suntory.

small documentary crew moves in on Bob with a video camera-

the camera man is tilting the camera at his face in arty

dutch camera moves.

The agency people crowd around. The photographer is excited

and urges Bob to do dumb poses, he won't do.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Can you put hands close to face.

The photographer demonstrates a dramatic pose with his hands

at his face.

BOB:

Urn, I don't think so. How bout I

just hold the bottle.

The photographer starts shooting. Bob obviously hates the

whole thing, what you do for money.

CUT TO:

INT. PARK HYATT BAR - NIGHT

Bob, still in his tuxedo and make-up from the shoot, sits

alone having a drink. A JAZZ BAND FROM SAUSALITO performs.

The SINGER is a middle-aged woman with red wavy hair, dressed

in red, and takes her singing very seriously. She sings a

slow version of "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme".

C.U. - a golden beer is poured very slowly.

Bob drinks his scotch, hoping it will all go away.

Across the bar, Charlotte sits with JOHN, her husband (he is

in his late twenties and sloppy in a fashionable way), and

some FRIENDS - super stylish, weird Japanese fashion people

(all smoking). One of them, CHARLIE, in a shiny suit, keeps

taking pictures, and showing them magazine layouts.

JAZZ SINGER:

Thank you. We're glad to be here,

we're Sausalito.

Charlotte laughs and looks down, the Japanese audience clap

very seriously... she and Bob catch eyes - about Sausalito

and how weird it is there.

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR - LATER

The mirrored elevator doors close and Bob sees himself close-

up in the elevator's mirrored walls - noticing the heavy

makeup and weird eyeliner from the shoot which he had

forgotten about. He looks at himself.

CUT TO:

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