The Death Artist Page #4

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LEONARD:

Alright get a grip on yourself

Now since you're here why don't

you start early, the kitchen

needs cleaning.

WALTER:

Sure!

Walter heads off then turns and faces Leonard and Carla -

WALTER:

You really like it?

CARLA:

Of course...it's wonderful.

LEONARD:

I can barely contain myself.

Now chop chop!

Walter heads into the back -

INT JABBERJAW - NIGHT

The scene is happening, strange music plays in the background -

Art walks into the club - Walter passes him -

WALTER:

Did you see my cat?

ART:

Why, is he lost?

WALTER:

No, I uh...

Walter walks away -

In the alcove sits Dead Cat - a young man wearing a beret and

leather jacket inspects the work - he seems zonked out on some

chemical - Walter approaches him -

WALTER:

You like my cat?

YOUNG MAN:

Yeah...it's like out there,

you understand what I'm saying?

WALTER:

Sure. You want to buy it?

YOUNG MAN:

No man, I don't have the funds

to be buying various pieces of

artwork, you understand what I'm

saying?

Leonard approaches -

WALTER:

Sure.

The young man heads off - Walter faces Leonard -

WALTER:

People seem to like my cat.

LEONARD:

Enough already about it - get to

work!

Walter heads off - Leonard lights a cigarette and looks at the

sculpture -

Walter busses a table -

CHARLIE(O.S.)

Hey Walter, come here!

Walter heads over to a table - seated are Maxwell, Carla, Charlie,

and another attractive blonde woman - Maxwell appears clearly

intoxicated -

CHARLIE:

Congrats, Walter.

CARLA:

Walter everyone's talking about

it.

Maxwell turns and focuses on Walter -

MAXWELL:

I saw your...cat.

WALTER:

Did you like it Mister Brock?

MAXWELL:

Call me...Maxwell.

CHARLIE:

How'd ya do it Walter?

WALTER:

Oh, I just got some plaster,

and fixed it up.

CHARLIE:

Papier mache?

WALTER:

Uh, no. Plaster.

Charlie laughs - Maxwell stares at Walter, then staggers to his feet

- looks at the room -

MAXWELL:

Attention everyone! Everybody!

Some people pay attention -

MAXWELL:

(drunkenly)

As you pass through these yellow

portals I am sure you noticed

on your right a small plaster

figure, and assumed this

transfixed effigy to be the work

of a master sculptor. Indeed,

so it is. And that bright, new

creator is in our midst. He's

none other than Walter Paisley,

our very own bus boy, whose

undiscovered hands of genius have

been carrying away your empty

cups of frustration!

People look at Walter, who sheepishly accepts the praise -

MAXWELL:

Remember him. His is the silent

voice of creation. Within the

dark rich soil of humility, he

blossoms as the hope of our

nearly sterile times.

Charlie and Carla clap -

MAXWELL:

(to Walter)

Bring me a gimlet.

Maxwell sits back down -

Walter passes a table where Cuff, Link and Mayolia are sitting -

Cuff stops him -

CUFF:

Hey congrats on the cat Walter.

I wonder where you got the idea

of dead animals.

WALTER:

Huh ?

LINK:

Yeah, can you say plagiarism?

CUFF:

Not only that, he copied us!

MAYOLIA:

Oh nonsense! Your works hit the

viewer over the head. They're

so...obvious.

Mayolia then looks up at Walter -

MAYOLIA:

I get it Walter. I get it.

WALTER:

What do you get?

MAYOLIA:

Your work, the layers of

irony.

Just then several people approach Walter and begin asking him

questions -

Art watches the commotion -

Leonard also watches the commotion with a completely dumbfounded

expression on his face -

Art dealers talk to Walter, as well as artists -

Just then Lou walks in, stands next to Art -

LOU:

What the hell's going on?

ART:

Everyone wants to meet the

bus boy.

LOU:

What did he do?

ART:

He made a cat.

Lou looks at Art, who returns the stare -

ART:

Outta plaster.

Lou walks in -

LOU:

See you later -

ART:

Righto.

Art leaves - Leonard looks at Walter -

Walter uncomfortably enjoys the attention -

Just then the old couple chimes in - the older man looks around -

OLDER MAN:

Where's my mocha latte double

grande!

Leonard drops his cigarette and crushes it with his foot -

He heads over to Walter and escorts him away from the

people - Walter accepts someone's BUSINESS CARD -

Leonard takes him aside -

WALTER:

Did you hear that Mr. De Santis?

Everyone's really crazy about

Dead Cat.

LEONARD:

Yes they are, aren't they? Look,

why don't you take the rest of the

night off, you look tired.

WALTER:

Well I don't know -

LEONARD:

No, it's Ok...you came in early.

(Beat)

Besides, you're creating an incident.

When people are applauding they don't

order anything.

WALTER:

Well...

LEONARD:

Look, go home and...work on something.

Make another cat.

WALTER:

I don't have another cat!

LEONARD:

Well make a dog, make a parakeet!

I'm sure you'll think of something.

WALTER:

A parakeet?

Leonard begins to lose his patience - he yanks the tray out of

Walter's hand -

LEONARD:

Go home.

WALTER:

OK...good night Mr. De Santis!

LEONARD:

Good night Walter.

MAYOLIA(O.S.)

Wait - Walter!

Walter begins to head out the door but is stopped by

Mayolia - Walter turns around and faces her - she gets

close -

WALTER:

Hello Mayolia.

MAYOLIA:

Walter, you did something to me

with your work tonight.

WALTER:

With Dead Cat?

MAYOLIA:

With Dead Cat. Like a breath

of fresh air. I could just -

babble on about it for hours.

WALTER:

Really?

Mayolia gives him "that" look -

MAYOLIA:

Yeah. I really could. I'm not

just saying that.

Mayolia gets closer making her heaving cleavage more accessible to

Walter's eyes -

MAYOLIA:

It's like...you've turned on.

WALTER:

T-turned on?

MAYOLIA:

A hot light bulb is burning inside

of you.

(Beat)

I want to be warmed by it.

WALTER:

That's really nice of you

Mayolia.

MAYOLIA:

Let me into your world Walter...

let me into that white hot

inspired world.

WALTER:

I can't. I gotta go home.

Mayolia presses herself against Walter, who awkwardly

reacts -

MAYOLIA:

Well, I'll go home with you.

WALTER:

Oh no, I couldn't do that. Mrs.

Swicker would start asking questions.

She's my landlady.

Art sits at a table, watching the encounter -

MAYOLIA(O.S.)

Isn't there anything I can do

for you?

Mayolia reaches out and touches Walter -

WALTER:

I don't think so Mayolia.

MAYOLIA:

I want to be part of it, I want

to inspire you, I want to do -

something!

WALTER:

You don't have to do anything!

MAYOLIA:

(Beat)

Then let me give you something

then...

Walter watches, perplexed, as Mayolia reaches into her cleavage -

Lou watches the transaction carefully -

Mayolia takes out a CAMEO NECKLACE, takes it off her neck -

MAYOLIA:

Maybe this will give you some

inspiration, change your

perception of reality...

Mayolia looks around, and hands the necklace to Walter -

MAYOLIA:

I want you to have it. There's

a little something for you in

here...

WALTER:

Gee. Thanks.

MAYOLIA:

Let it inspire you. Maybe it

will let you think of me.

She wraps Walter's hand around the necklace -

MAYOLIA:

If you have to go, go.

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