The Death Artist Page #8

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CARLA:

Do you think you or I could have

conceived of such a thing, much

less have executed it?

Leonard says nothing -

CARLA:

Well then admit it, it's a work

of genius.

LEONARD:

I admit it.

Walter heads over to Leonard -

WALTER:

We can bring it down to the

Jabberjaw.

Leonard gets up -

LEONARD:

No. Why don't you cover it up

Walter...

CARLA:

Why not?

LEONARD:

Why don't you cover it up, Walter!

Walter throws the sheet back over the sculpture -

CARLA:

What's wrong with you, why do

you want to hide it?

LEONARD:

Well, I've been thinking...

(Beat)

I didn't realize how much...talent

Walter actually had. It would be

wrong for us to show them one at

a time.

(Beat)

Dead wrong.

CARLA:

You're right. We should build a

collection first.

Leonard backs up, looking at the two of them -

LEONARD:

That's it...that's the idea!

Maybe when it's big enough we

can have a show!

Walter rushes over to Leonard -

WALTER:

A show?! Like this Sunday?

LEONARD:

N-no! Not exactly, I mean you

take years and years...

Leonard looks at the sculpture, composing himself -

LEONARD:

It will take years to make that

many statues.

(Beat)

But your work would be featured.

CARLA:

That's the idea, Walter. It's the

only way to gain recognition. All

the big art critics and art dealers

would be there, it would be an

event.

LEONARD:

Yeah then you could unload - sell

this stuff for a lot more.

WALTER:

A show..how soon can we go?

LEONARD:

These things take time Walter...

but for now you've got to break

out of this one...avenue you're

on...

Leonard heads over to Carla -

LEONARD:

Carla and I will guide you, help

develop and evolve your work...maybe

lead you toward something more abstract...

CARLA:

Abstract? With his talent for realism?

LEONARD:

You see the direction his realism

takes! It's unhealthy!

WALTER:

Look you said I was a genius! If

I'm a genius I don't want to be a

bus boy anymore!

LEONARD:

Well maybe you have a point there,

you shouldn't keep working at the

Jabberjaw. Look...

Leonard digs into his pocket and peels off TWO HUNDRED

FIFTY DOLLARS -

LEONARD:

Now look - Dead Cat's money in

the bank, I'm sure that man's going

to buy it, so here's your half

in advance - twenty five dollars.

Leonard hands the money to an ecstatic Walter -

LEONARD:

And if you need more, I've got it,

don't worry.

(Beat)

I have faith in you Walter.

Walter heads over to Carla holding up the money and smiling like a

simpleton -

WALTER:

Gee..twenty five dollars for

something I made!

CARLA:

Now you're a professional!

Leonard heads over to the door and opens it -

LEONARD:

Let's go!

Carla gives a look of attraction to Walter and heads toward the door

-

CARLA:

Good night, Walter. And keep

up the good work.

Walter smiles at her as Leonard gently takes her arm -

LEONARD:

But don't burn yourself out, Walter.

You've got all the time in the

world.

(Beat)

Let's go!

Leonard pulls Carla into the courtyard -

Walter heads over to the door -

WALTER:

Good night.

Walter closes the door and gazes at the money again - he is truly

thrilled, and begins to JUMP around the room, HOOTING and HOLLERING

-

EXT COURTYARD - NIGHT

Mrs. Swicker walks by Walter's door, overhearing him carrying on -

INT WALTER'S ROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Swicker opens the door watching Walter jumping around -

MRS. SWICKER

What's going on!

Walter SPINS around and stops jumping - he runs over to Mrs. Swicker

holding the money -

WALTER:

I'm an artist Mrs. Swicker! A

professional artist!

Walter YANKS the sheet off the statue -

Mrs. Swicker stares at the apparition, looking as if she's about to

lose her lunch -

She gently back up into the hall -

MRS. SWICKER

Good night...

Mrs. Swicker closes the door abruptly -

Walter turns around, and gleefully continues to stare at the money -

DISSOLVE TO:

INT JABBERJAW - NIGHT

Another busy night at the club - a DJ spins a hybrid assortment of

records resulting in a most irritating sound -

Leonard sits close to Carla, smoking, as she nurses a glass of wine

-

Art arrives again, looking around the room -

He passes Maxwell, who sits at a table with Mayolia, Charlie, and an

attractive blond girl - once again, Maxwell is somewhat intoxicated

-

MAXWELL:

One of the greatest advantages

to modern poetry is the overload

of sensations from which to draw,

everywhere in our minute lives,

our TV's and our information

traffic jam! The goal is to

filter those sensations to

articulate our awareness! And

I'm proud to say my poetry is

understood only by that small

minority which is...aware!

ATTRACTIVE GIRL:

Aware of what?

MAYOLIA:

Not of anything stupid! Just

aware!

Art passes Cuff and Link, sitting at a table smoking cigarettes -

CUFF:

There's that weird dude again.

LINK:

Man if this place doesn't cool

out I'm gonna hang out somewhere

else...

The singer continues to sing his song - Link then sees something -

LINK:

Get a load of this -

Then Walter walks through the front door - his look has changed

considerably - he's dressed like an eccentric artist, wearing

unusual clothes, and looking somewhat ridiculous - he strides into

the club -

People notice him and greet him as he nods to various

people -

A couple points, and talks about him -

He passes Leonard and Carla - Leonard does a double-take -

CARLA:

Hi Walter.

WALTER:

Carla...

Walter sits down at a table next to Leonard and Carla - a waiter

approaches -

WALTER:

I'll have a Taft's-Sorrel mineral

water, a piece of papaya cheese

cake, and, and a grande cappuccino.

Walter lights up a small CIGAR, looking at Carla

confidently - a piece of TOBACCO gets stuck on his lip, which he has

to spit off -

Maxwell approaches Walter's table and extends his hand -

MAXWELL:

Walter.

Walter shakes his hand -

WALTER:

Maxwell.

MAXWELL:

I see the rewards of achievement

have come your way.

Maxwell sits down -

WALTER:

Well I am starting to have some

success now, with my pieces...

Cuff and Link witness the encounter -

CUFF:

Man look at that get up !

LINK:

Looks like that cat paid

off in spades.

CUFF:

Let's check out the scene.

Cuff gets up -

LINK:

I'm with you.

Leonard stands and addresses Maxwell and Walter -

LEONARD:

I was just suggesting to Walter

that he experiment with more

abstract themes.

Maxwell looks at Leonard with contempt -

MAXWELL:

Why do you suggest anything to

Walter? Are you the spokesman

for society coming to poke

your stifling finger in his

eye!

Cuff and Link show up -

CUFF:

And a hearty good evening to ya!

Cuff and link sit down, flanking Maxwell, who shifts and looks at

the two of them - Leonard sits back down with

Carla -

MAXWELL:

Oh now who invited these two, down

from the clouds?

WOMAN'S VOICE(O.S.)

Maxwell!

Maxwell turns -

We see the shrill voice belongs to ALICE, a well-developed blonde in

a tight sweater, who makes her way toward the table -

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