The Death Artist Page #12

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MAXWELL:

After that we go no more!

WALTER:

Hiya Maxwell.

Maxwell pats Walter's arm -

MAXWELL:

I won't say good luck, Walter.

WALTER:

Why not?

MAXWELL:

It would imply you could not

succeed on your ability alone!

Maxwell dramatically exits -

Walter watches him, then heads over to Carla, and smiles -

CARLA:

You look so handsome.

Walter looks down at his outfit -

WALTER:

I do?

Walter then looks at Carla -

WALTER:

So do you.

Cuff and Link crack up at his comment -

WALTER:

I mean, you look so pretty.

CARLA:

Thank you.

WALTER:

Are you ready?

CARLA:

Ready? We've got plenty of time.

WALTER:

I know. But I wanted to talk to

you.

Carla looks at Walter for a beat -

CARLA:

Ok...

Carla grabs her coat and bag -

CARLA:

We can go now if you like.

Walter and carla head out -

CARLA:

(to the others)

Goodbye.

WALTER:

Bye!

LINK:

(dryly)

Break a leg.

Walter and Carla head out, closing the door behind them -

CUFF:

Man, why do you suppose Walter

wants to get her alone?

(Beat)

You suppose he could be physically

attracted to her?

LINK:

No man, he ain't the type. He

don't get enough vitamin E.

CUFF:

Maxwell gave him a bottle of

wheat germ oil. Maybe he started

taking it.

EXT STREET - NIGHT

Walter and Carla walk down the street - Walter says

nothing -

CARLA:

Nice night out...

WALTER:

Hm...

The two say nothing for a beat -

CARLA:

Well...what did you want to

talk to me about?

WALTER:

Well...w-what kind of people do

you like, Carla?

CARLA:

Oh, I don't know. Smart people.

Creative people I guess.

WALTER:

You think I'm creative?

CARLA:

Of course I do!

WALTER:

That means you like me!

Carla looks at Walter -

CARLA:

I like you very much, Walter.

WALTER:

I thought you did on account of

you kissed me the other night!

Carla sees where this is going and doesn't like it - the two stop

walking -

CARLA:

Well that was for your sculpture

of the girl. Your nude in the

chair.

WALTER:

Carla -

Walter tries to arrange his thoughts -

WALTER:

I, uh, I've been alone for a

long time, and I know you've

been alone because you never

seem to go out with anybody -

Walter looks nervously at his hands -

WALTER:

- even though Leonard's always

asking you to go out with him and

I - just -

CARLA:

What are you trying to say?

Walter gestures for Carla to sit down at a nearby bench -they sit

down -

Walter swallows appearing very nervous -

WALTER:

Carla...

(Beat)

I don't want to make statues

anymore!

CARLA:

You don't?

WALTER:

No.

(Beat)

I want to get married.

(Beat)

To you.

Carla senses trouble -

CARLA:

Uh...

(Beat)

...how long have you been thinking

about this, Walter?

WALTER:

Oh...f-for a long time. Ever

since you first came to the club.

Carla looks down at the ground -

WALTER:

You were the only one who was

ever nice to me!

(Beat)

I didn't know you loved me

until you kissed me.

Carla suddenly feels very awkward - she takes a deep breath and

prepares for the rejection -

CARLA:

Walter, I really do like you.

And I did kiss you. But...

that was because of your work.

Walter listens intently to every word -

CARLA:

There's more to being in love

than just that.

Carla gives a sympathetic look to Walter - Walter doesn't react for

a beat, as if putting two and two together -

WALTER:

You mean...you don't love me?

Carla looks down at the ground -

CARLA:

I'm afraid that's what I mean.

Walter begins to get very upset -

WALTER:

But you gotta love me!

(Beat)

Why do you think I made that

statue of Alice?!

CARLA:

Walter, I'm sorry...

WALTER:

You just can't be sorry! I wanna -

I wanna marry you!

Carla looks around -

CARLA:

Now calm down Walter!

(Beat)

Now, let's go in there, and

when the show's over, maybe we

can talk about it.

WALTER:

No! I want to talk about it now!

CARLA:

Walter...

(Beat)

I don't want to hurt your feelings

but there is no way we're ever going

to get...together. You know what I

mean?

WALTER:

Why not?!

CARLA:

Because...

(Beat)

We're just friends. That's all.

Just friends.

WALTER:

I get it. I see the whole thing

now. No one knows if Walter Paisley

is born!

CARLA:

Jeez, what is your problem all of a

sudden?

WALTER:

Oh sure, let's string along poor

Walter, see how far it will take us!

Carla gets up -

CARLA:

You're starting to freak me out,

Walter. I'll see you there.

Carla heads off - Walter watches her leave -

WALTER:

You have to love me, Carla...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT JABBERJAW - NIGHT

The hoi polloi of the art community mingle at the private party -

On display are Walter's creations - Dead Cat, Murdered Man,

Strangled Girl and his bust of the carpenter's head -

People talk about the works in muted voices, as if they are

serious works of art -

Art, the undercover cop, is also there, eyeing the room -

Maxwell takes an hors d'oeurve off a passing tray, and nods to

someone offscreen -

Walter sits alone, dejected - a waitress presents him with a tray of

champagne glasses -

Walter looks up at the tray -

WALTER:

No thanks.

The waitress walks away -

The plump man talks to an ART CRITIC -

CRITIC:

We have many artists about but

no craftsmen.

The critic gestures to the voluptuous figure of Strangled Girl -

CRITIC:

This man knows his anatomy.

PLUMP MAN:

I'd give five thousand for

this.

CRITIC:

After you've read my review it will

probably cost you ten thousand.

The critic and the plump man laugh -

Maxwell swaggers over to Walter, putting his empty glass of

champagne on a passing tray and grabbing up another -

He puts his hand on Walter's shoulder -

MAXWELL:

So what's the problem?

Leonard watches them from across the room -

MAXWELL:

Why on Earth should you be so

depressed? Have you heard some

of the things they've been saying?

You can make fifty thousand

on these pieces alone!

WALTER:

I thought you didn't respect money!

MAXWELL:

I don't! But fifty thou? That's

not money, that's manna!

Walter gets up -

WALTER:

Leave me alone.

Walter sees Carla -

He gets up and heads over to her -

Carla glares back at him - Walter looks at her with a strange gaze

in his eyes -

WALTER:

I'm sorry about what I said before.

CARLA:

(softening)

Forget it.

WALTER:

I've been thinking...

(Beat)

Carla, would you do one favor

for me?

CARLA:

Just about anything, Walter.

WALTER:

Would you let me make...a statue

of you?

Carla smiles -

CARLA:

Would you really like to? That

would make me very happy.

WALTER:

Ok...tonight. I'll make a

statue of you tonight, OK?

Carla smiles and nods - then her smile fades -

Leonard takes a sip of champagne and notices something across the

room -

Cuff and Link have crashed the party - they head over and take a

look at Murdered Man -

Leonard puts his glass down and heads over to them -

Cuff takes his cigarette and jams it in the mouth of Murdered Man -

Leonard approaches -

LINK:

Man, we've come to make the scene.

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