The Great Gatsby Page #6
At the landing, half way up the steps, the man takes a drinkfrom a waiter’s tray and hands it to Nick...
34.
MAN:
I’m afraid I’m not a very goodhost, old sport... I’m Gatsby.
CLOSE ON:
Nick - his face drops.NICK:
(muttering apologies)
Oh.. I’m very sorry-- I... I’ve had
so much to drink...
The delirious opening chords of Tostoff’s “History” coincide
with a gorgeous explosion of fireworks in the night sky!
GATSBY:
(apologetically)
I thought you knew, old sport.
Gatsby smiles a dazzling smile; sound fades to a serene hum.
NICK (V.O.)
His smile was one of those rare
smiles that you may come acrossfour or five times in life. It
seemed to understand you and
believe in you just as you wouldlike to be understood and believed
in.
All at once the bubble bursts, a silver-haired, fifty-ish manin an immaculate tail-suit, (HERZOG) leans into Gatsby.
HERZOG:
Excuse me sir; Chicago on the wire.
Gatsby nods, but before he departs he smiles at Nick.
GATSBY:
I’m trying out my new hydroplane inthe morning. Want to go with me,
old sport?
Nick shakes himself from his reverie.
NICK:
What time?
GATSBY:
Any time that suits you.
Gatsby turns, and catches for the first time, Jordan.
GATSBY (CONT’D)
Lovely to see you Miss Baker.
35.
He kisses her lightly on the hand.
GATSBY (CONT’D)
(to Nick)
If you need anything, just ask forit, old sport. I will rejoin youlater... Excuse me.
As Nick watches Gatsby walk away, he whispers with amazement.
NICK:
I expected him to be...
JORDAN:
Old and fat?
NICK:
Well, yes; young men don’t just
drift coolly out of nowhere and buya palace on Long Island.
JORDAN:
He told me once he was an Oxford
man. However, I don't believe it...
NICK:
Why not?
JORDAN:
I don’t know... I just don’t
believe he went there...
Jordan is interrupted by a voice.
HERZOG:
I beg your pardon...
She and Nick jump to find Herzog suddenly beside them.
HERZOG (CONT’D)
Miss Baker; Mr. Gatsby would liketo speak to you... Alone.
JORDAN:
(surprised)
Me?
HERZOG:
Yes, madame.
As Vladimir Tostoff’s erotic, ominous chords build, Jordan
crosses the now empty dance floor toward the silhouette ofGatsby in the library window...
36.
Nick, unsettled, watches her go...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - MAPROOM - LATER
Alarmingly drunk girls sprawl at the feet of the grand piano.
Klipspringer plays, a weeping woman attempts to slur along,
and as a dejected Nick passes them toward the front stairs,
the library door opens, and Jordan emerges alone...
Seeing Nick, she rushes to him...
JORDAN:
Nick! Nick! I've just heard the
most shocking thing; it all makes
sense...
Teddy and the other East Eggers accost Jordan.
TEDDY:
Where have you been!? The car’s
waiting!
Jordan is dragged out the door... Nick, on tenterhooksfollows, as Jordan calls back...
JORDAN:
Simply amazing! It all makes sense.
It all makes sense...
EXT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - NIGHT
The night has devolved into drunken mayhem as cars jam thedriveway and intoxicated guests search for their vehicles.
Nick chases Jordan down the marble stairs.
NICK:
What makes sense...?
JORDAN:
Everything... But here I am
tantalizing you...
The East Eggers and Jordan pile into their limousine. Jordan,
a mysterious smile as she leans out the window.
JORDAN (CONT’D)
And I swore I wouldn’t tell.
37.
NICK:
But...
JORDAN:
Nick. I’m sorry, I swore I wouldn’t
tell.
The car takes off and Nick is left staring; mystified...
A voice startles him.
GATSBY:
Sorry to keep her from you, oldsport. Don't forget; we're going upin the hydroplane tomorrow morning.
Herzog appears behind Gatsby.
HERZOG:
Philadelphia on the phone, sir.
Gatsby nods, then smiles that intoxicating smile.
GATSBY:
Good night, old sport...
NICK:
Good night. Thank you.
Gatsby nods warmly, and turns inside.
As Nick walks away he is confronted by a bizarre scene: a big
crowd gathers around a COUPÉ, resting on its side in a ditch.
SUDDENLY! Owl Eyes pops from the wreck. He leers drunkenly...
OWL EYES:
Whazza matter!? We run outta gas!?
The beep of a horn catches Nick’s attention. Jordan, leaningout of the window of her car as it sweeps away, calls to him.
JORDAN:
Come and see me... We’ll have tea!
I’m in the phone-book!
Nick waves, smiles, and cuts across the lawn.
CLOSE ON:
Nick. As he reaches the stone-pass separating hisyard from Gatsby’s, he stops; a familiar feeling...
38.
INT. GATSBY’S CASTLE - TOWER - CONTINUOUS
High up in the window, the shadowy figure of Gatsby stands,
phone pressed to his ear, watching Nick. After a moment, heraises his hand in formal farewell.
NICK (V.O)
We rode in the hydroplane... And Iattended two more of his parties,
even made use of his beach. But I
soon realized that I knew
absolutely nothing about Gatsby atall, until...
INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - MORNING
Nick is eating breakfast, studying bonds, when his glass oforange juice begins to rattle and shake.
Puzzled, Nick hurries to the window...
EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - CONTINUOUS
Gatsby’s yellow Duesenberg hurtles up Nick’s drive and skids
to a stop.
Nick emerges to his porch.
Gatsby leaps out!
GATSBY:
Its pretty isn’t it, old sport...?
Haven’t you seen it before? Its alla custom job. Supercharged engine.
Get dressed... We’re having lunch!
SLAM CUT TO:
I/E. GATSBY’S CAR - LONG ISLAND COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
The Duesenberg whips and winds along a tree-lined road...
Gatsby, beyond nervous, drives with reckless intensity.
GATSBY:
Ah... well... Ah... Look here, old
sport... What's your opinion of me,
anyhow?
NICK:
My... opinion?
39.
GATSBY:
Yes, yes, your opinion!
Gatsby yanks the wheel; Nick hangs on for dear life!
GATSBY (CONT’D)
I don't want you to get the wrongimpression from all those bizarreaccusations you must be hearing. Apack of lies I assure you. You’ve
heard the stories...?
NICK:
Well-
GATSBY:
I’ll tell you God’s truth. God’s
truth about myself!
(raises right hand)
I am the son of some very wealthypeople from the Middle-West; sadly,
all dead now... I was brought up inAmerica, but educated at Oxford;
because all my ancestors have beeneducated there for many years. Yousee, it’s a... a family tradition.
As Gatsby’s speech continues at breakneck speed... Nick’s
V.O. fades up.
NICK (V.O.)
The way he spoke... No wonderpeople thought he was lying...
GATSBY:
After that I lived like a youngPrince in all the capitals ofEurope!
NICK:
Europe?
Barrelling around a blind turn, Gatsby wrenches at the wheeland maniacally overtakes a truck laden with farmhands...
GATSBY:
Yes, Europe! Paris; Venice; Rome;
Vienna, Zurich, Helsinki...
Collecting jewels, chiefly rubies,
hunting big game, painting, alittle, things for myself mostly,
and trying to forget something verysad that happened to me long ago...
40.
PAN UP:
The Duesenberg rockets forth; in the far distance thelush green countryside cedes to the lifeless Valley of Ashes.
Translation
Translate and read this script in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Citation
Use the citation below to add this screenplay to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"The Great Gatsby" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_great_gatsby_589>.
Discuss this script with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In