The Death Artist Page #7

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Leonard and Walter notice Carla -

WALTER:

Hiya Carla.

LEONARD:

What am I doing? I'm just telling

Walter the truth.

Carla sits down and listens -

LEONARD:

A man came in here and wanted to

pay me fifty dollars for the cat.

In fact, he took it home to show

to his wife, in case you're wondering

where it was.

Carla looks at Walter -

LEONARD:

You know what that proves?

WALTER:

What, Mr. De Santis?

LEONARD:

It proves I've underestimated

Walter's ability. His work has

hit a nerve in the collective

zeitgeist of the art community.

It has enormous realism - you can

hardly tell it from the real

thing!

LINK:

Sounds like he's busting your

chops, Walter.

CARLA:

Are you trying to be funny?

LEONARD:

I'm totally serious!

Leonard gets close to Walter - puts his hand on his

shoulder -

LEONARD:

The question is what are you going

to make next, Walter? Did you

make that dog yet, or that parakeet?

(beat)

How about making something out of

the cockroaches in your room?

WALTER:

I-I already got a new one!

CARLA:

Great! What is it?

WALTER:

It's a...full length life-size

figure!

CARLA:

What's it called?

WALTER:

(Beat)

Murdered man.

Leonard takes his hand off Walter's shoulder -

LEONARD:

Murdered...man?...

CARLA:

When do we get to see it?

WALTER:

Well...any time, I guess.

LINK:

(sarcastically)

Man that's a trippy name, kinda

like the Warhol mayhem series...

CUFF:

I saw a statue once called The Third

Time Phyllis Saw Me She Exploded.

LINK:

Now what kind of statue was that?

CUFF:

I don't know it was made out of

driftwood and dipped in sulfuric

acid. It was out there...

LEONARD:

Well...why murdered man?

WALTER:

I don't know, it just happened,

I guess.

(Beat)

I didn't mean to.

LEONARD:

You didn't mean to what?

WALTER:

Well, I mean it could have been

something else, but it just

worked out that way.

CARLA:

It's called spontaneity, Leonard.

Get with the program.

WALTER:

Yeah it was all just an accident.

Leonard has suddenly become pale - he gets up -

CARLA:

Are you alright?

LEONARD:

Yes...I'm uh...I'm fine.

LINK:

You don't look so hot...

CUFF:

You must have had some of the

food -

Cuff drops a chunk of whole wheat bread onto his plate -

Leonard composes himself -

LEONARD:

Excuse me...

Leonard heads off -

CARLA:

I think he really is sick...

LINK:

So who isn't around here?

Leonard heads over to the other end of the club -

A PLUMP MAN enters the club, looking around -

He spots Leonard, and makes his way toward him -

Leonard takes a deep breath - the plump man approaches -

PLUMP MAN:

I tried to contact you by phone

but I couldn't...

LEONARD:

Excuse me I have to make a call...

Leonard picks up the phone and dials a number -

PLUMP MAN:

I want that cat. I'll pay you one

thousand dollars - cash.

LEONARD:

(on the phone)

I'm trying to reach Lieutenant

Beldere...

PLUMP MAN:

What offers have you got for it?

I won't be out-bidded. I'm a

wealthy man and I don't mind

paying for something I want.

LEONARD:

I can't talk right now.

PLUMP MAN:

What do you want for it? Two thousand?

Three thousand?

LEONARD:

No...look I'm busy...

PLUMP MAN:

Listen to me...I don't want to

lose this piece -

LEONARD:

(on the phone)

I'm holding for Lieutenant Beldere!

PLUMP MAN:

Listen to me, listen to me...I've

been collecting art pieces all over

the world for years and let me tell

you something. This newcomer

Walter Paisley has it, whatever it

is, the X factor, that indefinable

quality that separates the greats from

the hacks, and I want that cat in

my hands. Are you listening to me?

LEONARD:

Can't you see I'm busy here?

The plump man reaches inside his jacket -

PLUMP MAN:

Alright you want to play hard...

to insure I get that cat I'll give

you five thousand dollars - cash,

right here, right now...

The plump man pulls an envelope out of his jacket - this gets

Leonard's attention -

PLUMP:

Two thousand for the cat, and

a first look at the kid's next

stuff.

Leonard looks at the plump man -

VOICE ON PHONE(V.O.)

Lieutenant Beldere.

Leonard hangs up and faces the plump man -

LEONARD:

Someone has the cat just now but

I'll have him back in a few days.

(Beat)

And you can have it for five thousand

dollars.

The plump man breaks into a smile, pats Leonard on the arm and

shakes his hand -

PLUMP MAN:

Alright...thank you sir, I

consider it a bargain.

The plump man gives Leonard his card, and heads out -

PLUMP MAN:

Call me when you're ready...

good night.

Leonard watches him leave - Leonard takes a deep breath as carla

approaches him -

CARLA:

Are you feeling better Leonard?

Leonard looks at her -

LEONARD:

Yeah, I'm feeling a lot better.

CARLA:

Listen, I'm going over to Walter's

after the place closes. I want to

get a look at Murdered Man. Do you

want to come along?

Leonard looks at her for a beat, then nods -

Onstage, the industrial musician finishes up his song, and the crowd

applauds -

DISSOLVE TO:

INT WALTER'S ROOM - NIGHT

The door opens and Walter walks in, followed by Carla and Leonard -

Walter turns on the overhead lamp - Int the center of the room is a

TALL OBJECT covered by a sheet -

Leonard closes the door behind him -

Carla looks at the object -

CARLA:

Look at the size of it!

WALTER:

It's not really that big I got

it on kind of a stand...

CARLA:

Let's see it.

WALTER:

Uh, well, I'm a little nervous,

I never did a person before.

CARLA:

You can do anything you want if

you set your mind to it.

Leonard leans back against the door and swallows -

LEONARD:

It's hot in here...

WALTER:

You want me to open a window or

something?

CARLA:

Come on Walter, take off the

sheet.

Walter obliges, pulling down the sheet to reveal his creation -

It is LOU, standing upright and looking down at the three spectators

- his skull is CLEAVED right down the middle from the top of his

head to the bridge of his nose -

Leonard and Carla stare in dumbstruck silence -

Walter looks at their expressions, clutching the sheet -

WALTER:

Don't you like it?

Carla continues to stare for a beat -

CARLA:

Like it?

(Beat)

It's a masterpiece. I've never

seen anything like it before...

and I hope I never see anything

like it again.

Walter smiles and looks at his creation -

WALTER:

Me too.

LEONARD:

I have to sit down.

Carla walks around the statue -

CARLA:

Take it in...in it's eloquence...

modern man in all his...self

pity...

Leonard drops down onto a hardwood chair -

CARLA:

How did you ever find it all

in yourself, Walter?

WALTER:

It wasn't easy.

Carla looks back at Leonard, who has an ashen look on his

face -

CARLA:

What's the matter with you?

LEONARD:

Nothing...nothing at all.

CARLA:

I've never seen anyone so...

squeamish.

(Beat)

Well, what's your opinion,

Leonard?

LEONARD:

Don't ask.

CARLA:

Oh come on! Even you can see

its value.

The head stares back at the two -

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