Simone Page #5

VIKTOR:

Hello, Lainey.

Viktor goes to pay for the taxi but doesn't have quite enough

cash. Lainey pays herself.

VIKTOR:

Your mother couldn't make it?

LAINEY:

She's at the premiere of "A Cold

Day In Hell". But I think she send

someone from Acquisitions.

VIKTOR:

She still with Kent?

LAINEY:

This week anyhow.

VIKTOR escorts Lainey down the empty red carpet, regarding

the pathetic premiere. As they walk by, the bulb in Viktor's

sole spotlight expires.

VIKTOR:

Not quite how I imagined it --

LAINEY:

(looking on the bright

side)

-- You finished the film on your

own terms, that's what matters.

Did you really do all the post

yourself?

VIKTOR:

There was no other way.

LAINEY:

I missed you. I wondered if you

were ever coming back.

VIKTOR:

Me too.

LAINEY:

(regarding the makeshift

poster, trying to lift

his spirits)

Well, I can't wait to meet

Simone... what's her last name?

VIKTOR:

You know, I... don't know.

LAINEY:

Is she here tonight?

VIKTOR:

She can't watch herself.

They are interrupted by the THEATER OWNER.

THEATER OWNER:

-- Hey, we have to start. I've got

"Tough Love 2" playing at ten.

EXT. PIER - "SUNRISE, SUNSET" - MORNING

A foggy, empty pier. A MAN is running through the mist,

shouting desperately.

HAL:

Valarie! VALARIE!

Finally, out of the fog -- a young woman in a black cape and

hood, her back to us. The camera pushes in, music swells and

she turns. SIMONE. She is exquisitely, ethereally

beautiful. Perfect.

INT. RUNDOWN DOWNTOWN CINEMA - AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

In the near-empty, dilapidated theater, "SUNRISE, SUNSET" is

playing ON THE SCREEN.

When Simone's face appears, the faces of the AUDIENCE MEMBERS

change. They are all visibly moved, including the THEATER

OWNER. Some weeping, some with curious smiles on their

faces, some opened-mouthed.

HAL:

(ON SCREEN, approaching)

Valarie, what are you running from?

SIMONE:

(enigmatic smile)

From Valarie.

Suddenly a GUNSHOT rings out. Simone collapses to the

ground.

HAL:

(running to her)

Valarie! No!

INT. THEATER LOBBY - NIGHT

VIKTOR, unable to watch, paces up and down, chain-smoking

while worriedly shoving popcorn in his mouth. Viktor finally

musters the courage to look inside the auditorium.

INT. BEDROOM - "SUNRISE, SUNSET" - NIGHT

The same scene that played in the studio screening room.

However now when we cut from the leading man, HAL, to the

leading lady it is not NICOLA but the newly cast SIMONE.

SIMONE:

-- Why are we here? Is that what

you're asking, Jack?... Why are we

here? No why. Just here.

INT. AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

ON SCREEN SIMONE lies dying. Now even LAINEY is affected by

Simone's performance. She wipes a tear from her eye.

VIKTOR watches the backs of the heads, trying to gauge the

audience reaction. Finally the credits roll.

A dedication, "For HANK".

No one moves from their seats. Viktor permits himself a

brief smile of satisfaction as he sees his name appear in the

credits:

A Film By VIKTOR TARANSKY

Still no one moves from their seats. Viktor cannot stand it

any longer. He runs to the restroom.

INT. THEATER RESTROOM - NIGHT

Face over the stained sink, VIKTOR splashes himself with

water. He looks to the mirror, horrified by his own

reflection. He rehearses a courtroom speech.

VIKTOR:

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I

may be guilty of a crime, but it

was committed with the purest of

intentions, to send a message to

the acting community who put

themselves above the work and

above --

Three AUDIENCE MEMBERS enter the restroom. They approach the

urinals.

AUDIENCE MEMBER 1

(continuing their

conversation from the

lobby)

-- So fake.

AUDIENCE MEMBER 2

-- Totally artificial.

Viktor looks at the men aghast and hurriedly exits, missing

the end of their conversation.

AUDIENCE MEMBER 1

We're really supposed to believe

that was 19th Century Lisbon?

AUDIENCE MEMBER 3

Who's looking at the sets when she

is on the screen?

All three nod in agreement and begin to urinate.

INT. THEATER LOBBY - NIGHT

VIKTOR exits the restroom. Almost all the AUDIENCE MEMBERS,

including LAINEY, are waiting for him.

LAINEY:

(pointing out her father)

There he is. That's my dad, Viktor

Taransky.

Viktor is about to run for the exit when the small group

spontaneously applauds. They rush to shake his hand.

AUDIENCE MEMBER 4

-- She is magnificent.

AUDIENCE MEMBER 5

-- Absolutely unreal.

Viktor appears uncomfortable with their compliments.

VIKTOR:

She wasn't too... cartoony?

AUDIENCE MEMBER 6

-- Who? The nun?

AUDIENCE MEMBER 7

-- Or are you talking about the

mother?

AUDIENCE MEMBER 8

-- A star like that, who cares

about the supporting cast?

AUDIENCE MEMBER 9

-- Congratulations again. She

was... not of this earth. You

should be very proud.

VIKTOR:

"Not of this earth". A good way of

putting it. And the film as a

whole -- ?

The group drifts away, leaving LAINEY and VIKTOR alone.

LAINEY:

She's a miracle, Dad. Where did

you find her?

VIKTOR:

(vague)

I saw her picture on the, er...

internet.

(interrogating his

daughter's face)

You really didn't notice anything --

unusual?

LAINEY:

Only her brilliance. To be honest,

with what you had to work with, I

was expecting a train wreck. You

really pulled it off.

Lainey regards the makeshift poster.

LAINEY:

I have a feeling mom is going to

take you back after this.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes