The Great Gatsby Page #7

DISSOLVE TO:

I/E. GATSBY’S CAR/THE VALLEY OF ASHES - DAY

Gatsby hasn’t stopped for breath...

GATSBY:

Then came the war, old sport...

NICK (V.O.)

Just when I thought it couldn’t be

any more fantastical...

GATSBY:

It was a great relief and I triedvery hard to die, but I seemed tobear an enchanted life...

NICK (V.O.)

He became a war hero, singlehandedly

defeating the German army!

CLOSE ON:
Gatsby. He speaks with sudden, subdued emotion.

GATSBY:

In the Argonne Forest I took mymachine gun detachment so farforward... We were outnumbered five

to one. There was a half mile gapon either side of us where the

infantry couldn’t advance. We

stayed there two days and twonights, 130 men with only 16 Lewis

guns...

Something catches Nick’s eye...

NICK’S POV:
Myrtle Wilson pumps gas outside Wilson’s Garage.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

...When the infantry came up atlast they found the insignia of 3German divisions among the piles ofthe dead.

SCREEECHHH!!! Gatsby slams to halt at the train crossing!

41.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

I was promoted to Major and everyAllied government gave me adecoration; even Montenegro! LittleMontenegro down on the AdriaticSea.

SLAM! A medal is suddenly in Nick’s lap.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

Here! That’s the one from

Montenegro.

It looks authentic.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

Turn it.

NICK:

(reads)

Major Jay Gatsby. For ValorExtraordinary.

GATSBY:

That’s right.

SLAP! A photograph joins the medal.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

Here’s another thing that I always

carry. A souvenir of my Oxforddays; the man on my left is now theEarl of Doncaster.

CLOSE ON:
The photograph. Young men in blazers loaf in frontof Oxford College. Gatsby stands with a cricket bat in hand.

NICK (V.O.)

What could I say...? The photographwas undoubtedly authentic. Could itall be true?

DING! The gate lifts. And as Gatsby peels out, towards NewYork, he continues...

GATSBY (O.S.)

But don’t take my word for it. At

lunch, I’m going to introduce you

to one of New York’s most

distinguished businessmen; myfriend, Mr. Meyer Wolfsheim, whowill confirm all I’ve told you, andvouch for my good character...

42.

I/E. GATSBY’S CAR - ASTORIA - DAY

Gatsby weaves between the pylons of the elevated highway.

NICK:

I’m sure that’s not necessary...

Gatsby wheels to Nick, smiling with charming intensity.

GATSBY:

Oh but it is though...! You see, Ithought you ought to know somethingabout my life. I... I don’t want

you to think I’m just some... some

nobody. You see, old sport, I’m

going to make a very big request ofyou today.

NICK:

A big request?

GATSBY:

Yes. Yes... Miss Baker will explaineverything when you take her to teathis afternoon.

NICK:

(caught off guard)

Jordan...? What’s she got to do

with it?

GATSBY:

Oh, I assure you it’s nothingunderhand. Miss Baker’s an honest

sportswoman; she’d never do

anything that wasn’t alright...

RRIIIRRRAA! A shrieking police siren! Before Gatsby cancontinue, a MOTORCYCLE COP pulls alongside.

COP:

Pull over!!! Pull over to the curb!

GATSBY:

(calmly)

All right, old sport! Alright.

Without slowing, Gatsby takes a card from his pocket...

COP:

(embarrassed)

Right you are... Know you nexttime, Mr. Gatsby. Excuse me!

43.

The cop peels off; and the Duesenberg, carrying an absolutelymystified Nick, rockets towards the Queensboro Bridge!

NICK:

One of your old Oxford pals?

GATSBY:

Well... actually, I was able to dothe Commissioner a favor once; he

sends a Christmas card every year.

(adds proudly)

I imagine he’ll be at lunch too...

NICK:

By the time we reached the bridge Iwas impossibly confused...

Nick turns to see: A Rolls Royce in which two stylish AFRICANAMERICAN MEN and a WOMAN haughtily quaff champagne. They aredriven by a WHITE CHAUFFEUR.

An orchestral melody surges...

NICK (V.O.)

I didn’t know what to think... But

the city seen from the QueensboroBridge is always the city seen forthe first time, in its first wild

promise of all the mystery and thebeauty in the world. Anything canhappen now that we've slid overthis bridge, I thought; anything atall...

As the orchestra builds, Gatsby’s car shoots into Manhattan,

through Times Square and beneath the famous advertisement ofthe man in the Arrow shirt. We follow, sweeping high overskyscrapers. The Duesenberg pulls up on the street below...

SUDDENLY THE CAMERA PLUMMETS with startling velocity...

NICK (V.O.)

Even Gatsby could happen...

BAAAAM! A fat beat kicks as we explode through a grate, into:

INT. THE ANGRY DIAMOND SPEAKEASY - DAY

The sweaty grind of music shakes the air. On stage a pianist,

THE PROFESSOR, bangs out a sizzling tune!

PULL THROUGH A DOUBLE-GLASS MIRROR INTO:

44.

INT. DICK DIVER’S CUTS BARBERSHOP - CONTINUOUS

DISCOVER:
Nick and Gatsby entering the cramped shop...

In the center of the room a tall, distinguished, grey-beardedman in an exquisitely cut suit, and with gold rings on everyfinger, is having a beard trim. This, is MEYER WOLFSHEIM.

WOLFSHEIM:

Ah my boy...!

They embrace.

GATSBY:

Meyer, Meyer...

WOLFSHEIM:

You smell so good.

GATSBY:

Mr. Carraway; my friend, Mr.

Wolfsheim.

Gatsby guides Nick and Wolfsheim toward the back of the shop.

WOLFSHEIM:

A wonderful pleasure, Mr. Carraway.

I know all about you.

NICK:

Really?

WOLD:

Of course! Mr. Gatsby is alwaystalking about you.

Gatsby raps a coded knock on a hidden door at the back of theshop. The door slides open, the rumble of music pours out...

WOLFSHEIM:

(sinister)

Come, join us for a little lunch...

INT. THE ANGRY DIAMOND SPEAKEASY - CONTINUOUS

Gatsby ushers Wolfsheim and Nick down narrow creaking stairs,

through the crowd and into the smoke-filled speakeasy...

ECU:
Nick, taking in his NEW, SEEDY surroundings.

45.

WOLFSHEIM:

(whispers to Gatsby)

Tell Walter Chase; “he shuts his

mouth or he doesn’t get a penny...”

GATSBY:

We’ll talk about that later...

The HEAD WAITER appears.

HEAD WAITER:

Highballs, Mr. Gatsby?

GATSBY:

Yes, highballs it is.

(points to Nick)

You take good care of my friendhere!

A portly man of obvious stature, surrounded by scantily cladflappers, yells from a corner booth.

COMMISSIONER:

Hey Jay...! You’re under arrest!!!

Gatsby smiles and tips his hat.

GATSBY:

You be careful now. You’re turning

into a real Jazz-Hound

Commissioner.

(to Nick)

See, that’s the Commissioner back

there.

Gatsby, the king here, greets patrons high and low...

He sees SENATOR GULICK at the craps table.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

You be careful at those tables now

Senator!

SENATOR GULICK:

Of course! I’ll put a bet on for

you Jay!

Waiters clear a front row table - best seat in the house -

Gatsby helps Wolfsheim to his. Wolfsheim eyes the girls onthe stage.

Gatsby flashes Nick a charming smile.

46.

GATSBY:

Shall we order?

(to the waiter)

Lobster tails all round.

(to Nick)

They decorate it with truffleslices and fine herbs. Veryartistic.

Wolfsheim glances to Gatsby, and then turns again to Nick...

WOLFSHEIM:

So... How is the bond business Mr.

Carraway?

Rate this script:3.9 / 12 votes