The Great Gatsby Page #14

NICK:

Jay... You can’t repeat the past.

Gatsby wheels around...

GATSBY:

Can’t repeat the past?

NICK:

No.

GATSBY:

Why of course you can. Of courseyou can. You’ll see. I am going to

fix things just the way there werebefore. Everything’s been so... so

confused since then...

Gatsby looks out to the green light.

87.

NICK (V.O.)

He talked a lot about the past...

As if he wanted to recover

something...

GATSBY:

If I could just get back to thestart... If I could just get backto the start I could find it again.

NICK (V.O.)

Some vision of himself that he had

put into loving Daisy...

IN THE CLOUDS, AMONG THE STARS, THE IMAGE OF DAISY’S HOUSE IN

LOUISVILLE APPEARS, as if frozen in time...

DISSOLVE TO:

I/E. DAISY’S HOUSE - LOUISVILLE - NIGHT

PUSH TOWARD:
A wide veranda, strung with banners in supportof the American war effort, and beyond into a parlour; prettySouthern girls and fresh-faced soldiers, dancing, clapping...

NICK (V.O.)

Five years ago Gatsby found himselfat Daisy’s house by colossal

accident.

Amidst the many revellers, DISCOVER: Daisy, hurrying throughthe crowd.

GATSBY (BY THE POOL)

I went to her house first with some

of the other officers from CampTaylor... I’d never been in such a

beautiful house before...

Daisy rushes up the steps, and looks back...

At the bottom of the steps, smiling up, is: THE OBJECT OF HERAFFECTION, Young Gatsby in officer’s uniform.

NICK (V.O.)

But his uniform his the truth. That

he was a penniless young man withonly that grand vision of himself.

Daisy’s Mother stops her on the steps.

88.

DAISY MOM:

Daisy, don’t scamper.

(whispers)

There’s so many dashing youngofficers here, and from such

illustrious family’s...

CLOSE ON:
Gatbsy, watching Daisy...

GATSBY (BY THE POOL)

I always knew that I could climb...

But I could only climb if I climbedalone.

Against his better judgement he follows Daisy up...

INT. DAISY’S HOUSE - CONSERVATORY/ATRIUM - NIGHT

Checking to make sure no one has seen, Daisy slips quietlythrough a set of doors, into the conservatory... Gatsby isnot far behind... A secret rendezvous.

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - POOL - NIGHT

GATSBY:

I knew that, that when I kissed

this girl, I would... be foreverwed to her...

INT. DAISY’S HOUSE - CONSERVATORY/ATRIUM - NIGHT

Daisy throws herself in to Gatsby’s arms...

About to kiss, Gatsby is struck by a sudden instinctivethought...

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - POOL - NIGHT

Gatsby remembers...

GATSBY:

So I stopped. And I waited... Iwaited...

INT. DAISY’S HOUSE - CONSERVATORY/ATRIUM - NIGHT

Gatsby’s eyes drift up...

89.

GATSBY (BY THE POOL)

I waited for a moment longer.

He looks out the dark, crystal windows, beyond the trees...

to a staircase of moonlight, climbing up, up, up...

NICK (V.O.)

He knew that if he kissed this girlhis mind would never again be freeto romp like... the mind of God...

That falling in love would changehis destiny... forever.

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - POOL - NIGHT

GATSBY:

And then I just let myself go.

INT. DAISY’S HOUSE - CONSERVATORY/ATRIUM - NIGHT

With sudden resolve Gatsby kisses Daisy...

In ravenous embrace, they fall onto the long sofa lounge.

NICK (V.O.)

She blossomed for him like a

flower...

ECU:
Daisy, her lips tremble, eyes wide, breath quickening..

NICK (V.O.)

And the incarnation was complete.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - POOL - NIGHT

The other layers of IMAGERY IN THE CLOUDS MELT AWAY, leavingNick and Gatsby standing by the pool.

GATSBY:

I knew it was a great mistake for aman like me to fall in love. A

great mistake. I’m only 32... I

might still be a great man if Icould only forget that I once lostDaisy. But my life, old sport, mylife has got to be like this...

He draws a slanting line from the lawn to the stars.

90.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

It’s got to keep going up.

Gatsby looks to the green light.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

She has to go to Tom and tell himshe never loved him... I need to

give her more time. I just need togive her more time...

He turns to Nick, reassuring both of them.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

Don’t worry old sport, don’t worry.

I can protect her here. Good night

old sport...

Gatsby heads for his castle, and turns and calls...

GATSBY (CONT’D)

You’re wrong about the past, old

sport...!

Gatsby’s POV:
The green light across the bay.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

You’re wrong.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SANITARIUM - DOCTOR’S OFFICE - EARLY SPRING - MORNING

The first day of spring; out the window, birds chirp.

Nick is writing and reading aloud...

NICK (READS)

There had been music from my

neighbor’s all summer. In his blue

gardens, men and girls came and

went like moths among the

whisperings and the laughter and

the stars...

He struggles for a more poetic phrasing...

NICK (CONT’D)

Laughter... No... No... Among the

whisperings and the champagne and

the stars...

(MORE)

91.

NICK (CONT’D)

(that’s the one)

But after Tom and Daisy visit...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - FRONT GATES - LATE AFTERNOON

Gatsby’s castle cuts a grave silhouette against a stormy sky.

NICK (V.O.)

There were no more parties...

His lights flicker and go out.

NICK (V.O.)

Gatsby’s lights went out one by

one.

At the gates flashbulbs flash! Hordes of press have gathered.

NICK (V.O.)

Daisy visited discreetly. But...

As the gates creak open, Daisy’s limo slides up the drive...

FADE IN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES: “PARTY PALACE GOES DARK!”

NICK (V.O.)

The very same fame that had oncebeen a source of satisfaction to

Jay Gatsby, became... a threat.

As the reporters crowd the limo, shouting questions...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - BEFROOM - NIGHT

Locked away deep in the castle, Gatsby and Daisy make love.

FADE IN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES: “WHO IS THE MYSTERY WOMAN?”

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - WHARF - DUSK

At the end of the wharf, Gatsby and Daisy look out across thebay, watching as the sun slides into the horizon, and thegreen light pulses...

CLOSE ON:
Daisy. She leans to Gatsby and whispers...

92.

DAISY:

I don’t want to go home.

Gatsby hold her tighter.

GATSBY:

Then don’t.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - BALLROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

Long shafts of light cut through the high, empty windows...

WIDE SHOT:
An OLD EUROPEAN WOMAN crosses the ballroom, tea

tray in hand. The room is lined with thuggish, dark-suited

men.

We hear a phone conversation between Nick and Gatsby...

GATSBY (O.S.)

I’ve been meaning to call you up.

I’m sorry, I’ve been... so busy.

NICK (O.S.)

Is everything alright?

INT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - MAPROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

An unshaven Gatsby in trousers and a black silk robe sits ina large arm-chair, under a vast wall of magnificentpaintings. He hunches over the phone...

GATSBY:

Yes... Daisy and I are very much inlove.

NICK (O.S.)

I hear you fired all your servants?

GATSBY:

Daisy comes over sometimes in theafternoons and I wanted some peoplewho wouldn’t gossip... until we

decided what we’re going to do...

You see these two towns are prettyclose together. And it gets in thepapers... You understand?

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