The Great Gatsby Page #10

NICK:

It’s her.

PUSH IN ON GATSBY: Mind racing...

EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - DAY

Daisy’s chauffeur-driven Rolls pulls up in the muddy drive.

As Nick assists Daisy from the car...

DAISY:

Is this absolutely where you live,

my dearest one?

She looks at him with a mysterious smile.

60.

DAISY (CONT’D)

Why did I have to come alone? Areyou in love with me?

NICK:

That’s the secret of CarrawayCastle.

(playing along)

Tell your chauffeur to go far away.

DAISY:

Come back in an hour, Ferdie!

(grave murmur)

His name is Ferdie.

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - HALL - DAY

Daisy continues ahead into the living room.

Nick hangs back and listens hopefully to Daisy’s reaction atdiscovering Gatsby. He smiles as he hears a delighted...

DAISY (O.S.)

Oh--! Oh, my goodness. I... I can’tbelieve it. You-- Did you ransack agreenhouse?

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

DAISY:

(to herself)

He is in love with me...

Nick enters, but is shocked to discover that Gatsby is notthere. Daisy’s merely been admiring the flower display...

NICK:

That’s funny.

DAISY:

What’s funny?

KNOCK. KNOCK. Someone is at the door.

NICK:

One moment...

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - HALL - CONTINUOUS

Nick opens the door.

61.

Gatsby, pale as death and soaked, glares miserably at Nick.

NICK:

What are you doing?

Without a word, Gatsby stalks past him, into...

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Daisy, her back to the door, is still marvelling at theflowers. Then she turns. Sees Gatsby. A sharp intake ofbreath...

The reunited lovers stand, staring at each other for a long,

surreal, moment of disbelief. Gatsby, eyes locked to Daisy’s,

is drowning in emotion. Daisy finally manages an artificial,

choking murmur.

DAISY:

I’m certainly glad to see youagain.

Gatsby’s face is flushed; the veins stand out on his neck ashis lips spasm in a hopeless attempt to speak.

Finally, he finds words...

GATSBY:

I’m... certainly glad to see you aswell.

Their hearts pound - the tension excruciating.

EEEEKKK! The scream of a boiling kettle OFF SCREEN breaks thetension-

CUT TO:

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Gatsby reclines uncomfortably against the mantelpiece. Hiselbow rests near the mantelpiece CLOCK. Daisy sits opposite;

frozen on the edge of a chair.

The rattle of the tea tray as Nick enters only contributes tothe already unbearable tension. Gatsby manages to murmur.

GATSBY:

We've met before...

SUDDENLY the CLOCK tilts at the pressure of Gatsby’s elbow...

62.

And falls! And breaks!

GATSBY (CONT’D)

Ah... sorry...

He clumsily tries to repair the clock; but drops it again!

NICK:

(idiotically)

It's an old... clock.

DAISY:

(desperate for small talk)

Lovely though. A lovely... clock.

Gatsby finally manages to set the clock back on the mantle.

Gatsby takes a seat.

A long silent beat.

DAISY (CONT’D)

We haven't met for many years.

GATSBY:

(an automatic reflex)

Five years next November.

The precision of Gatsby's answer is acutely embarrassing.

NICK:

(abruptly)

Tea?

GATSBY:

(dying)

Thank you old sport.

DAISY:

(also mortified)

Darling thank you.

Nick pours; and they all sit stiffly, sipping their tea.

A long, terrible silence...

Suddenly Nick stands.

NICK:

I just need to... pop into town.

GATSBY:

(horrified)

Town...?

63.

NICK:

The village; I'll be right back.

As Nick leaves, Gatsby follows.

GATSBY:

I've got to speak to you...!

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Wildly following Nick, Gatsby whispers miserably:

GATSBY:

Oh, God! This is a mistake, a

terrible, terrible mistake...

NICK:

You're just embarrassed, that'sall... Daisy's embarrassed too.

GATSBY:

She's embarrassed?

NICK:

Just as much as you are.

GATSBY:

Don't talk so loud!

NICK:

You're acting like a little boy!

You're rude. Daisy's in there allalone and...

Gatsby raises his hand, looks at Nick reproachfully, andheads back into the living room.

EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - CONTINUOUS

Nick runs for a TREE whose leaves shield against the rain.

NICK (V.O.)

Looking over my story so far, I’m

reminded that for the second time

that summer...

WIDE:
Nick beneath the tree looks tiny, and very alone.

NICK (V.O.)

I was guarding other people’s

secrets.

64.

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY

LATER. Nick re-enters, bedraggled, rain-soaked.

NICK (V.O.)

Once again I was within...

He tries to get Gatsby and Daisy’s attention, to no avail...

The lovers are completely and totally absorbed in each other.

NICK (V.O.)

And without...

Nick bangs pots in the sink - still nothing.

He clears his throat:

NICK:

Its... stopped raining.

Daisy turns; a radiant smile. Every vestige of embarrassmentbetween Daisy and Gatsby is gone. Gatsby literally glows.

GATSBY:

Yes, it has...

(to Daisy)

Hasn’t it?

He stands, walks to the window and looks out across the bay.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

What do you think of that, Daisy?

Come look.

Daisy joins Gatsby and they step out onto the porch together.

EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - PORCH - CONTINUOUS

DAISY:

Look. Its my house. Just thereacross the bay...

Gatsby and Daisy’s eyes meet.

GATSBY:

I know. I have the same view from

my place.

DAISY:

Where’s your place?

Gatsby turns back to Nick.

65.

GATSBY:

Nick, I want you and Daisy both tosee my house. I’d like to show her

around.

NICK:

Are you sure you want me to come?

GATSBY:

Absolutely, old sport. Absolutely.

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - FRONT GATES - DAY

Servants swing open ivy-covered gates...

GATSBY:

(proudly)

I had the gates brought in from acastle in Normandy.

REVEAL:
Gatsby’s castle glistening in the sunlight.

CLOSE ON:
Daisy. A delighted cry.

DAISY:

Oh, Jay...!? Its so grand!

GATSBY:

Do you like it?

DAISY:

I love it...! But how do you livehere all alone?

GATSBY:

I don’t. I keep it always full of

interesting, celebrated people...

As Daisy runs ahead, Gatsby murmurs to Nick.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

My house looks well doesn’t it? Seehow the whole front catches the

light like that?

Daisy yells back...

DAUSY:

Come on you two! I want the royaltour!

DISSOLVE TO:

66.

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - GARDENS - DAY

Gatsby has transformed into a good-natured show-off, hurryingNick and Daisy through a maze of fantastical gardens, pastmagnificent fountains and into his castle...

INT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - KITCHEN - DAY

Gatbsy shows off his brand new orange-juicer.

GATBSY:

You must understand, I like all

things that are modern.

Daisy readies a cocktail shaker beneath the spout of thegiant silver orange juice machine.

GATSBY:

If you press this button here, theoranges shoot through here, arecrushed there... The juice of 200oranges extracted in one hour...!

Gatsby presses, the machine groans and juice splashes out!

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GATSBY’S BEACH - DIVING PONTOON - LATE AFTERNOON

Daisy, Nick and Gatsby drunkenly drive golf balls out towardthe bay. Nick films on the world’s first home-camcorder...

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