Pleasantville Page #4

WIDER. LIVING ROOM.

She tugs at the remote trying to wrestle it out of his hands.

David pulls in the opposite direction as they POINT IT

DIRECTLY TOWARD THE TV.

DIFFERENT ANGLE. SPECIAL EFFECT.

A huge white light emanates from the contraption, like their

own atomic blast wave. The entire room is filled with a

BLINDING AURA for a second or two, before it actually gets

sucked into the TV.

WIDE ANGLE. LIVING ROOM.

It is suddenly empty--illuminated only by the soft glow of

the picture tube. David and Jennifer are nowhere in sight.

INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM. (PLEASANTVILLE) DAY.

David and Jennifer are standing in the middle of the 1950's

living room, dressed in Bud and Mary Sue's clothing. They

still clutch the remote control in the exact same position

that was occupied by their fictional counterparts. David and

Jennifer glance at one another, then look horrified around

the room. THE WORLD HAS TURNED TO BLACK AND WHITE...

DAVID:

(a whisper)

Oh my God.

JENNIFER:

What happened?

DAVID:

I'm not sure.

WIDER:

George Parker (Bud and Mary Sue's father) enters from the

landing whistling a happy tune. He's dressed in a gray suit

with a gray shirt, and a dark gray tie with little gray dots.

GEORGE:

(as if to his own children)

Hi Sport, hi Muffin ... Better get a

move on, you're gonna be late for school.

He continues to cross through the living room whistling into

the kitchen ...

JENNIFER:

(desperately)

What did you do?

DAVID:

I don't know.

JENNIFER:

(examining her black and white skin)

Uchh! Look at me?! I'm like so ... pasty!

He glances down at the remote control that sits lifeless in

his hand. David frantically presses the buttons but nothing

happens. All at once, there is a voice behind them.

VOICE (OS)

Psst! Over here.

DIFFERENT ANGLE.

They whirl around to see DICK VAN DYKE'S FACE smiling at them

from the TV set in the comer. It's an old '50s set with a big

round picture tube. They run over to him as he smiles. His

face is the only color in the room.

DICK VAN DYKE:

(beaming)

Told you it was your lucky day. Bet you

thought I was just a fan or something.

JENNIFER:

What happened?

DICK VAN DYKE:

A miracle.

They stare stunned at the TV set.

DICK VAN DYKE (CONT)

... See, every time I thought I'd found

someone they'd turn out to disappoint me.

They'd know the early episodes, but they

wouldn't know the later ones ... They'd

know all about Muffin but they wouldn't

know about Bud ...

DAVID:

(to the TV set)

What the hell's going on!

DICK VAN DYKE:

Shh! Can't talk like that now. You're

in ...

(smiles)

You know ...

David glances around at his black and white surroundings. His

"mother's" voice rings out from the kitchen.

BETTY (OS)

Bud. Mary Sue ... Breakfast is on the

table.

DAVID:

We're in Pleasantville?

DICK VAN DYKE:

(grinning)

Dream come true, hunh?

JENNIFER:

(panicking)

This isn't funny! I happen to have a

very important date in like five minutes!

DICK VAN DYKE:

Well, you don't have to worry about that

anymore.

FULL SHOT. TELEVISION SET. (COLOR)

All at once the scene on the TV changes and Dick Van Dyke's

picture gives way to a WIDE ANGLE SHOT of the WAGNER HOUSE.

Mark Davis is standing at the front door, BANGING on the

brass knocker. He checks his watch, shifts restlessly for a

moment or two, then turns and heads down the flagstone walk

never looking back.

MARK DAVIS:

(under his breath)

... B*tch.

INT. PARKER LIVING ROOM. (BLACK AND WHITE AGAIN)

Jennifer flings herself at the screen, as Dick Van Dyke

appears all over again.

JENNIFER:

Noooooo!

DAVID:

You--you gotta get us out of here.

DICK VAN DYKE:

(recoiling slightly)

Why would I do that?

DAVID:

Because we don't belong!

DICK VAN DYKE:

Oh sure you do ... "McIntire's

Department store" ... "Their father

dressed as Prince Charming." That was

gorgeous Bud.

DAVID:

My name's David.

JENNIFER:

(wailing on the floor)

Oh GOD ...

DICK VAN DYKE:

(a little snippy)

You know--this is a pretty strange way

of showing your appreciation.

DAVID:

Look--we appreciate it. We really do. We

just--we want to go home now.

DICK VAN DYKE:

(hurt)

But you don't know how long I've been

looking for someone like you.

A long face slowly descends on him.

DICK VAN DYKE (CONT)

I'm very disappointed ...

(deep breath)

In fact ... I'm starting to get a little

upset.

David moves toward the screen.

DAVID:

Don't get upset.

DICK VAN DYKE:

(snapping back)

Weil wouldn't you! You look for someone

for years ... You pour your heart into

it ... This is a privilege you know.

(shakes his head)

I don't think I better talk about this

right now.

DAVID:

Where are you going ...

DICK VAN DYKE:

I don't think we should discuss this

until I'm a little bit more composed.

DAVID:

WAIT A MINUTE!!

DICK VAN DYKE:

(turning his back)

Maybe in a day or so when I'm not so

emotional ...

DAVID:

COME BACK!!!

Dick Van Dyke shakes his head and walks out of the shot as

the screen goes completely BLACK. It cuts out entirely as

Jennifer and David just stare. David grabs the remote and

starts rapidly pushing buttons.

Nothing happens.

DAVID (CONT)

(dropping the gizmo)

Oh God.

JENNIFER:

What's going to happen?

DAVID:

I don't know ... It's not possible ...

(looking at her)

Is it possible?

BETTY (OS)

Bu-ud ... Mary Sue ... Your breakfast is

getting cold.

DAVID:

It can't be possible.

DIFFERENT ANGLE.

Betty (their "mother") sticks her head into the living room

wearing her black and white apron. She has a great big

Pepsodent smile.

BETTY:

Well, come on kids. You're not going off

to school without a hot breakfast inside

you ...

They just stare at her.

BETTY (CONT)

Forward march.

They exchange a strange little glance then slowly rise to

their feet. Jennifer waits for David who forces a smile then

starts toward the kitchen.

BETTY (CONT)

I just love you in that sweater Mary-Sue.

It's so flattering.

JENNIFER:

(dazed)

Thanks.

INT. KITCHEN.

David and Jennifer walk two steps into the kitchen when they

suddenly freeze--agape at the spectacle in front of them:

THEIR POV. PARKER KITCHEN.

Every breakfast food imaginable has been laid upon the table.

There are hotcakes and sausages and biscuits and eggs.

Pitchers of orange juice are dwarfed by the mountains of ham.

The table literally sags under the weight of the food. George

Parker lowers his morning paper and smiles at his children.

GEORGE:

(once again)

Morning kids. Better get a move on or

you're going to be late for school.

They nod, stunned, and wander forward into the room. Bright

sunlight streams through the kitchen window as a gentle

symphony of songbirds sings outside. David and Jennifer stare

straight ahead as their "mother" adds some waffles to the

heap.

DAVID:

(under his breath)

I don't believe this.

JENNIFER:

Neither do I.

GEORGE:

Well, c'mon. Dig in.

David and Jennifer stare at her stunned as she puts two

heaping plates at their places. Neither one moves.

BETTY:

(to Jennifer)

I put blueberries in them just the way

you like.

JENNIFER:

Actually--I'm not real ... hungry.

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