State And Main Page #14

We hear crying from the next room. Walt opens the door

quietly.

WALT:

Claire...? Claire...?

(to Uberto)

Just figure out how to take the shot.

Claire... Claire...? It's Wally.

(pause)

May I come in...?

Beat. He motions his entourage to stand back.

INT. PROD. OFC. - WASH ROOM - DAY

He enters the room. Camera follows.

WALT:

(softly)

What is it, Pal...?

Pause. Claire mumbles.

WALT:

What...?

CLAIRE:

I can't do it, Walt.

WALT:

You can't do what?

CLAIRE:

It isn't right. I can't... I... I

know I si... I, they, I don't know

if they told me it was in the con...

WALT:

Forget the contract. Claire. What is

it?

CLAIRE:

I don't want to take my shirt off in

that con... What are these things

that they're asking of me...? Wha...

wha... wha... I try to be good; the

only thing I care about is...

WALT:

I know that...

CLAIRE:

Is... is the movie!

As they talk, the A.D.'s come in and hand him sheets to

approve.

WALT:

I know that, Claire. I, we all know...

CLAIRE:

Everybody, they, they, they treat me

like a...

WALT:

...no, they don't...

CLAIRE:

...they treat me like a child. I,

I... to bare my body.

WALT:

Now, look. Claire: Listen to me.

(he takes her hand in

his)

I want to tell you a story.

The door to her room opens. A P.A. brings in a bunch of

lilacs, hands them to Walt.

WALT:

F*** flowers, we aren't talking about

flowers, we're talking about a human

being.

CLAIRE:

I... I...

WALT:

Who are these from?

PROD. ASST.

Marty.

WALT:

Well that's very thoughtful of him.

Elanora Duse...

CLAIRE:

...I can't do it, Wally...

WALT:

Listen to me:
Elanora Duse was playing

Hamlet in London in 1905, and Royalty

could not get a ticket. She said,

"I'm not doing the seven shows a

week I signed for." She said, "I

cannot bare my soul seven times a

week. I am an artist. I'll do four

shows a week."

(pause)

The greatest actress of her time.

You know what her Producer said?

CLAIRE:

(pause, softly)

What?

WALT:

Nothing. He held her and he wept.

Because he...

CLAIRE:

...I...

WALT:

Because he understood. That was her

life's blood on the stage.

Claire nods, breaks into sobs.

WALT:

...I know... I know...

CLAIRE:

(pause)

...and, and, and did she...? And she

did the seven shows...

WALT:

No, she didn't Claire. But I think

you should do the scene.

Secretary comes in with memos and Walt deals with them, while

comforting Claire.

Beat. She sobs. She shakes her head. She brings herself under

control.

CLAIRE:

Wally...

WALT:

I know, I know.

He puts his arm around her, starts walking toward the door.

WALT:

I know, it's the hardest thing in

the world, and it seems everybody

wants...

CLAIRE:

...yes...

WALT:

...wants a piece...

CLAIRE:

Yes.

WALT:

And you know what...?

CLAIRE:

We, we have to give it.

WALT:

(nods)

...and my heart goes out to you,

because I know...

INT. PROD. OFC. - BACK ROOM - DAY

He opens the door. We hear the First A.D. and the Costume

Designer chatting outside the door as they walk out.

WALT:

That, that's your life's blood on

the st...

FIRST A.D.

I don't know what she's bitching

about, she's flashed her tits in the

last five movies... she'd bare her

breasts to do a voice over.

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