Petulia Page #15

86 EXT. HOUSE

Archie runs toward the lift that will move him up the cliff. He can't get away fast enough. He climbs into the lift and pushes the button. The lift begins moving, but too slowly for him. He hops off the lift and begins scrambling up the side of the cliff.

87 INT. PETULIA'S BEDROOM

Petulia looks out the window and sees Archie scrambling up the cliff. She fits a curler into the nurse's hair.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
Going back to the house was the only thing I could do.

Scenes 87A. B. D. and E occur only in Petulia's mind.

87A EXT. ATOP CLIFF DAY

Petulia is waiting for Archie at the top of the cliff as he staggers toward her. Since everything is taking place in her mind, this is how Petulia really is.

PETULIA:
(continuing) Where else could I go? A lonely hotel room? I don't have a penny of my own. Mr. Danner promised me I'd never be left alone. I thought I'd try it for a few days. Don't be angry. It was nobody's fault. Actually, if anyone is to blame, it's you, Archie.

ARCHIE:
(gasping) Me?!!!

87B INT. FAIRMONT HOTEL NIGHT

Petulia now recreates the moment when she first met Archie. Archie is searching through his pockets for the ticket to reclaim his coat. Petulia rushes up to him, with none of the fake nonsense of the actual meeting, but with absolute desperation. Archie is dressed as he is on the hill (Scene 86).

PETULIA:
I'm Petulia. Danner ... save me like you saved Oliver ... save me from David! Don't just scramble up the hill like a bloody fool!

Archie is stunned.

ARCHIE:
I'm looking for the ticket for my raincoat.

PETULIA:
Not...

870 INT. PETULIA'S BEDROOM

From her bedroom window Petulia watches Archie scramble up the hill.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
Coming for me in that pokey little car.

87D EXT. A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY ROAD–DAY

In Petulia's mind, a great white ambulance is moving majestically through towering trees, carrying Petulia to safety.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
(continuing) Why didn't you bring a proper ambulance? As though you really meant it.

ARCHIE'S

VOICE:
I didn't know what to do. I was going from one moment to the next.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
Spectacular entrance, lousy exit. Sounds familiar, Archie.

Suddenly all the anger goes out of Petulia.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
No, it's not your fault.

87E THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE–DAY

Petulia dismisses the ambulance from her mind because she has something very serious to say to Archie. She is with him on the rocks below the bridge.

PETULIA:
I went back to the house because I owed it to David. I have a brown thumb when it comes to men. I put them on the Cross and call them Jesus. And there they hang. I don't know why I do it Not because of any high opinion of myself... oh, Archie, if you only knew...

She looks up at the bridge and instantly creates David standing there. An incredibly heroic figure in a white blazer and turtle neck sweater. Yet somehow we must sense that despite how grand David looks, at any moment in Petulia's mind he may leap to his death.

PETULIA:
Look at him. Isn't he super. A six foot three Coca Cola bottle. Empty. I did that. I'd ruin you, Archie.

87F INT. BEDROOM

We are now back in visual reality with Petulia, and the playful David who is trying to make Petulia laugh, which she does.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
David was the gentlest man I ever knew.

88 EXT. CLIFF

Archie has neared the top of the cliff. His pants are ripped, his hands are scraped, he is gasping in anguish.

PETULIA'S

VOICE:
I'd ruin you. In five weeks, I'd be running around with a black eye.

By now, Archie has reached the top of the cliff and is a complete mess. He turns for one last look at the Danner house and the yacht beyond. He shakes his fist maniacally.

89 EXT. MUIR WOODS–DAY

During the following SEQUENCE OF SCENES Archie is trying to get back to normality. He's having a nice sensible talk with Warren Smith, Polo's fiancé. It is a pleasant sunny day and a group of Indian boys are being told about the forest by an Irish guide. In the background Archie's two children are playing with Warren's child.

WARREN:
It's never too soon to think of the boys' education.

Warren winks at him knowingly.

ARCHIE:
Have you thought of doing something about that?

WARREN:
What?

ARCHIE:
That twitch.

WARREN:
What twitch? I don't have a twitch.

ARCHIE:
You do. Come and see me. Don't touch it, it'll give you a phobia. 1'll fix it for free.

WARREN:
Thanks, I will. You know, I like you more than I ever thought I would.

ARCHIE:
Warren, you're a beautiful human being.

They turn to watch the boys at play.

Nearby, the guide is explaining something to the Indians.

INDIAN:

CHILD:
What happens next?

GUIDE:
Spring.

Archie smiles hopefully.

90 INT. A MARVELOUS RESTAURANT–NIGHT

Beyond is the entire shockingly beautiful panorama of San Francisco. Archie and May are having champagne cocktails. They clink glasses and look at each other through candlelight. Archie spills some of his cocktail but May doesn't spill a drop. Archie smiles hopefully.

91 INTO DISCOTHEQUE–NIGHT

Archie dances with many girls, some hippies, some chic, all terribly young and unsmiling. Archie smiles hopefully.

92 EXT. A SAN FRANCISCO–DAY

For the first time since this sequence began, Archie is not smiling. He is looking at Petulia. Archie and his boys are riding on be of a cable car. The car has stopped at the top of the hill, as has the car going the other way. In the other car is Petulia by herself. Petulia waves first. Archie waves back. Petulia has shopping parcels.

ARCHIE:
You Look better.

PETULIA:
Feel marvelous. Michael and Stevie?

Archie nods.

ARCHIE:
We're going to see the penguins. Everything okay with you?

PETULIA:
Oh yes, fine.

The cars start down their separate ways.

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