The Artist Page #7

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Anyway, it’s normal for the young to take over

from the old, that’s life. Make way for youth!

George is hurt. He gets up and, before he leaves, gestures

silently that if she wants his place all she has to do is

take it. She watches him leave and immediately regrets what

she's just said.

55 INT. GEORGE & DORIS’ HOUSE - DAY 55

It's the day of the films' release, October 25th.

It's morning. George opens his front door. His chauffeur is

outside. The man's expression announces bad news. He's holding

the day's press. The huge headlines talk of a stock market

crash, a black Thursday, a catastrophe.

Dressed in a robe, George is on the telephone in the living

room. He nods. The atmosphere is stifling. He hangs up. His

chauffeur looks at him inquisitively. George replies as though

lost in thought:

21.

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It would seem that we’re ruined.

The chauffeur takes it on the chin with as much reserve as he

can muster, but George continues.

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That’s the best case scenario...

He almost laughs - not so the chauffeur.

56 INT. GEORGE & DORIS’ HOUSE - DAY 56

Now wearing a suit, George is sitting at his desk. Lying in

front of him are the front pages of newspapers reporting the

Crash. He looks for something on the inside pages of one paper

and reads. Next to a large picture of Peppy there's a review of

his own film, beginning "Tears of Love, Old and Boring". He

shuts the paper and searches for something in the drawer of his

desk. He takes out a piece of paper. It's the telephone number

that Peppy had scribbled down for him. He looks at it, moves

closer to the telephone, hesitates, looks at the paper again,

then puts the scrap of paper back in the drawer without making

the call.

57 INT. PEPPY’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY 57

Peppy awakes in bed with a start. She doesn't know what has

woken her up. She looks around, looks at the phone, seems

perplexed. Then a man's arm invites her to lie back down; she

does.

(56) Still at his desk, George gets up and goes to the

window. He seems lost in thought.

58 INT. GEORGE’S STUDIO SET - JUNGLE DECOR - DAY 58

An extract from "Tears of Love" in which we see George, holding

the young woman in his arms, take part in a clich.-d African

dance with shields, spears and all the African accoutrements

attributed by Westerners at the time. George and the woman are

complacently watching the dance, when George says to the young

woman.

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Let’s go back, Norma. They’ve never seen a white

woman before and I don’t want to take any risks.

59 INT. MOVIE THEATER -“TEARS OF LOVE” SCREENING - DAY 59

There's hardly anyone in the theater. The people that are there

look bored more than anything. At the back smoking a cigarette,

George takes the failure on the chin.

22.

One couple gets to their feet and leaves the theater. As the

man reaches George, he recognizes him and casts him a glance

that seems to say "goodness old chap this one's not up to

much..." George doesn't know what to say in reply.

60 EXT. MOVIE THEATERS - LOS ANGELES - DAY 60

Outside, George comes out still smoking his cigarette. On the

sidewalk, people are cheerfully waiting in line. George walks

up the line and comes to a movie house that's playing the

"Beauty Spot" talking movie. A huge poster depicts Peppy and

the people in the line seem excited and delighted to be going

to see the film. It's visibly a success. George takes it on the

chin.

61 INT. GEORGE’S CAR (DRIVING) - LOS ANGELES STREETS - DAY 61

Inside the car, behind the implacable chauffeur, George is

talking to himself, as though he's re-running the story in

his head and searching for what he might have done better, or

differently.

62 INT. GEORGE & DORIS’ HOUSE - DAY 62

Once home, he finds a photo of himself on the floor. It has

been defaced with a scribbled moustache, spectacles and a big

nose. There's a note to him scribbled on the back. We read it

at the same time as him.

It’s over, George. You’ve got a fortnight to collect your

souvenirs together and get out of the house.

Doris

P.S.:
You should go see Beauty Spot, it’s incredible.

George takes it on the chin and leaves, revealing behind him

the portrait of himself wearing a tuxedo, smiling and waving.

63 INT. MOVIE THEATER - “TEARS OF LOVE” SCREENING - DAY 63

As for Peppy, she's in the theater, watching Tears of love.

She's with a handsome young man who seems bored.

64 EXT. JUNGLE - DAY 64

George is wearing shorts and an explorer's hat. He is sinking

in sinking sand. The young woman is screaming and the dog

barking.

23.

The Africans are panicking but there's nothing anyone can do.

George stops struggling, and looks deep into the eyes of the

young woman. He says gently:

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Farewell, Norma. I never loved you...

It's obvious he's only saying that so that she can forget him

and move on with her life, but it doesn't wash and the young

woman weeps all the more, terribly moved by this last

sacrifice on his part.

(63) In the balcony, Peppy is speechless and her face

impassive.

(64) On screen, George and the young women exchange a last

glance as George's face gradually sinks into the sand.

(63) Next to Peppy, the young man sits watching her. She sees

sad.

(64) On screen, George has disappeared into the mire. Only

one hand stays in the air for several seconds more in a

tortured pose, that of a dying man trying to hold on to the

wind.

(63) Peppy's companion seems to find the film far too long

and doesn't understand why they haven't already left.

(64) The hand has disappeared. The young woman is in a state

of shock, rigid with a look of horror on her face. She is no

doubt about to be put to certain death. The dog turns round

and walks off with head and tail lowered...

The End appears on the screen.

(63) Peppy seems moved. She is shaking her head from side to

side.

65 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREET - PICTURE OF GEORGE - EVENING 65

Evening has fallen on the town. It's raining. On the ground

lies an old page from a newspaper that bears a picture of

George. A man's feet trample the picture.

66 INT. GEORGE & DORIS’ HOUSE - NIGHT 66

George is at home. Two bottles are apparent and, obviously

drunk, he is staring out the window. The projection of

raindrops sliding down the window look like tears running down

his face. And Jack's face too. George is pulled out of his

stupor as he hears something.

24.

67 EXT. GEORGE & DORIS’ HOUSE - TOP STEP - NIGHT 67

He opens the door. It's Peppy. She immediately notices that

George is drunk. Her smile tenses a little.

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I wanted to talk, I...

George looks at her. She continues.

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I saw Tears of Love.

George nods, and answers.

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And so you’ve come to get your money back?

She smiles stiffly, not knowing how to react. He continues.

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