Pleasantville Page #26

BIG BOB:

That's not going to happen!

DAVID:

But it could happen.

BIG BOB:

No it couldn't!

Big Bob looks at David and starts to tremble. It starts

around the base of his neck, spreads quickly up the rest of

his head. After a moment or two, Big Bob has gone completely

RED IN THE FACE.

WIDER.

A gasp goes through the courtroom. David looks at him and

just smiles. The crowd reaction turns almost to a ROAR as Big

Bob turns and catches his reflection in the window.

CLOSE UP. BIG BOB.

He sees the ruddy image staring back at him, then looks down

at his hands. They have gone completely RED as well. Big Bob

freezes for an instant then bolts from the bench in panic and

flees the room--flinging open the doors to the courtroom.

ANGLE. DOORWAY.

As Big Bob flees, he reveals an amazing sight: the Town

Square GLISTENS IN LIVING COLOR. The huge lawn is a rich deep

green. The sky is a dense opaque blue. Dozens of spectators

bolt from their seats and rush to the doorway as the crowd

moves outside.

EXT. PLEASANTVILLE. (FULL COLOR!)

All the birds are really chirping. Red Brick, Yellow cars,

Green hats ... The barber pole in front of Gus' has finally

turned to red, white and blue--he can't help smiling. David

walks out into the sunlight and stares in wonder at his

creation. The whole town is washed in joy.

WIDER.

Margaret comes up and throws her arms around him. They meet

in a rich passionate kiss (in direct defiance of the code of

conduct). Several people around them actually clap, like

spectators at a wedding. Jennifer moves up next to them and

looks at her brother making out.

JENNIFER:

Uch ... I am like gonna hurl ...

David turns and looks at her. Both of them laugh. David

throws his arms around his sister as more and more people

stream out of the courtroom into the sunlight ...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MAIN STREET. DAY.

David and Jennifer stand together on the edge of town. She

clutches a valise in her hand. He holds the remote control.

DAVID:

Are you sure?

JENNIFER:

I told you. I'm like positive.

DAVID:

This thing works. We could go

home right now.

JENNIFER:

I'm not ready yet. I gotta do

this for a little while.

WIDER.

They stand on the edge of town (which finally has an edge).

A large sign says: "Springfield 12 Miles" and for the first

time, the end of Main Street is no longer the beginning.

Jennifer is dressed in Mary Sue's clothes with a little bit

of style thrown in. Rich fields of wheat spread out in the

distance.

JENNIFER:

Besides. You think there's like

a chance I'm gonna get into

college back there?

DAVID:

(thinks ...)

Honestly ... no.

They both smile.

DAVID (CONT)

You got the admissions letter.

JENNIFER:

Right here.

DAVID:

And you're sure about this?

JENNIFER:

I've done the slut thing, David.

It's really kinda old.

David nods.

DAVID:

I'll come back and check on you

in a month.

Jennifer nods and gives him a hug. She holds on tight for a

couple of seconds.

JENNIFER:

You're like the coolest brother

in the world.

David smiles. Never been called cool before. They suddenly

hear the SOUND of a motor and look to their left. A huge

Greyhound bus lumbers up the highway, pulling to a halt at

the sign. The doors open beckoning her in. Jennifer smiles at

her brother, then turns toward the door ...

EXT. MARGARETS HOUSE. DAY.

She clutches her umbrella at her side. David holds a bag of

oatmeal cookies. Each one clings on to the other one's

clothing. Their faces are inches apart.

MARGARET:

You're gonna forget about me.

DAVID:

No I won't. I swear.

Margaret nods. She looks at him for a moment then wraps her

arms around his neck. They meet in a long, rich, wet, soft

kiss. The umbrella falls to the ground ...

MARGARET:

(a whisper)

I like calling you David.

DAVID:

I like it too.

INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM.

David stands in front of the television with Mr. Johnson at

his side. He holds the remote control in his hand. Mr.

Johnson seems pretty amazed at the whole idea.

MR. JOHNSON

Well how do you know it won't go

back to the way it was?

DAVID:

You're gonna keep painting aren't

you?

Mr. Johnson nods.

DAVID (CONT)

Well ...

He nods again and thinks about it. They smile at each other

one last time.

MR. JOHNSON

(remembering something)

Oh.

(reaching into his pocket)

I've got something for you.

He pulls out a folded piece of paper. Mr. Johnson extends it

to David who unfolds it and instantly smiles.

INSERT. PAPER.

It is a small painted replica of their mural in the same

vibrant colors. Everything is scaled perfectly, exactly like

the one on the wall.

SHOT. DAVID.

DAVID:

It's beautiful.

MR. JOHNSON

Just a little--You know.

David looks up at him and smiles. All at once he glances

toward the door.

WIDER.

Betty is standing there holding a brown paper bag. A sweater

is draped over her arm.

BETTY:

(extending the bag)

I made you these for the trip.

They're marshmallow rice squares.

DAVID:

Thanks. I thought you weren't

gonna ...

BETTY:

(painful/

quieter)

I had to say goodbye.

She looks up at David and their eyes lock. Betty hands him

the bag.

BETTY (CONT)

There's a meatloaf sandwich in

there too. Don't go skipping

dinner just 'cause you're not

here anymore.

DAVID:

I won't.

BETTY:

(voice quivering)

And ... wear this on the trip in

case it gets cold.

DAVID:

(nodding)

... It's a pretty short trip.

She nods as well. Betty puts the sweater around his shoulders

anyway and fusses with the collar for a second or two. Then

she throws her arms around his neck.

BETTY:

I'm so proud of you, Bud.

DAVID:

Thanks ... I love you.

BETTY:

I love you too.

She clings on tight for a second or two then lets go. Betty

flicks away a tear and draws a deep breath.

BETTY (CONT)

Well ...

She steps back and looks at him. David glances down at the

remote.

DAVID:

You better stand back a little.

Betty and Mr. Johnson cross toward the comer of the room.

David points the remote at the TV ...

CUT TO:

EXT. MODERN HOUSING TRACT. DAY.

All the ersatz Spanish houses stretch out toward infinity. A

WESTEC security patrol cruises by them at a crawl. A second

or two later, all the sprinklers turn on in uniform

synchronization.

INT. DAVID'S LIVING ROOM.

He stands in the middle of the living room looking at his

new/old surroundings. Everything is the same as it was. The

black onyx coffee table. The clean burbur rug. The big screen

TV in its sleek black cabinet. David looks at it and smiles.

The place is inadvertantly in black and white.

CLOSER.

He reaches forward and turns on the TV (by hand) flipping

around the dial. Jerry Springer is berating a prostitute ...

Tony Robbins hawks self-improvement in an infomercial ...

Court TV is doing an O.J. recap. David unfolds Mr. Johnson's

sketch and glances down at it. He smiles to himself. A

different kind of nostalgia ...

END:

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