The Great Gatsby Page #9

INT. SEELBACH HOTEL - BATHROOM - MORNING

In the bath, Daisy’s grips the letter in her trembling hands.

NICK (O.S.)

What was in the letter?

A deep breath, a last look, and then, Daisy opens her hand...

The letter comes to pieces like snow.

JORDAN (O.S.)

I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me.

But before the letter disappears completely we read one moreline: “The truth is...”

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. LOUISVILLE CHURCH - FRONT STEPS - LATE AFTERNOON

Daisy and Tom, newly married, pose for photos.

JORDAN (O.S.)

Anyways, that day, at five o’clock,

Daisy Faye married Tom Buchananwith more pomp and circumstancethan Louisville had ever seen...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. TIMES SQUARE - NIGHT

Jordan and Nick stroll beneath the soaring electric signs.

JORDAN:

After the honeymoon, I saw them inSanta Barbara. It was touching,

actually...

(MORE)

54.

JORDAN (CONT'D)

I’d never seen a girl so in love

with her husband.

(muses cynically)

A week later, Tom crashed his car.

The girl with him was a chambermaid

at the Santa Barbara Hotel. It gotinto all the papers...

As Jordan and Nick approach the curb, waiting for a cab, Nickturns to Jordan; he’s struck by a... sudden, puzzled thought.

NICK:

It’s a strange coincidence, isn’t

it? Gatsby’s house being justacross the bay...

Jordan whirls round-

JORDAN:

It’s no coincidence. He bought thathouse to be near her, he threw all

those parties hoping she’d wander

in one night. He constantly askedabout Daisy... I was the first onewho knew her.

Nick takes this in; as if seeing Gatsby for the first time.

NICK:

All that for a girl he hasn’t seen

in five years...? And now he justwants me to have her for tea...?

(to himself)

The modesty of it.

JORDAN:

Kind of takes your breath away,

doesn’t it?

A cab pulls up, and Nick opens the door...

INT. TAXI - CONTINUOUS

Jordan slides in...

TAXI DRIVER:

Evening sweethearts! Where to?

JORDAN:

Long Island, please.

55.

NICK:

And you think I should? I mean,

does Daisy want to see Gatsby?

JORDAN:

(a stern whisper)

She’s absolutely not to know. You

are just supposed to invite herover so he can “happen to drop by.”

CLOSE ON:
Nick, unsure...

NICK (V.O.)

I remember feeling torn. Was itright to bring my cousin Daisy, amarried woman, together with a manI hardly knew?

As Nick wonders, the taxi floats across Times Square, underthe cool eyes of the man in the Arrow shirt...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DIRT TRACK TO NICK’S BUNGALOW - NIGHT

Nick’s taxi pulls past Gatsby’s mansion, ablaze with light.

NICK (V.O.)

When I returned home, Gatsby’s was

lit, from tower to cellar, as if

for another wild party. But...

There wasn’t a sound.

EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - NIGHT

As Nick’s taxi groans away, Gatsby appears striding through

the illuminated trees toward Nick.

NICK:

Your place looks like the World’s

Fair... or Coney Island!

GATSBY:

(terribly anxious)

Ah, does it? I’ve... I’ve just been

glancing into some rooms... Let’s

go to Coney Island, old sport, wecan take my car-

NICK:

It’s too late tonight.

56.

GATSBY:

Or we can take a plunge in theswimming pool? I haven’t made use

of it all summer...

NICK:

I must go to bed...

Gatsby looks crestfallen. Nick puts him out of his misery.

NICK (CONT’D)

Happy to do it. Jay-- I'm going tocall Daisy and invite her to tea.

GATSBY:

Oh, that’s alright. I don’t want to

put you to any trouble...

NICK:

What day would suit you?

GATSBY:

What day would suit you...? I don’twant to put you to any trouble...

NICK:

Day after tomorrow alright?

GATSBY:

Day after tomorrow? Well, I’d...

I’d want to get the grass cut.

They both look at the grass - there is a sharp line whereNick’s ragged lawn ends and Gatsby’s manicured one begins.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

There’s another little thing... I

thought-- Look here, old sport--

You don't make much money, do you?

NICK:

Not really.

GATSBY:

If you’ll pardon my... You see, I

carry on a little business on theside - a sort of sideline - youunderstand what I’m saying right?

You’re selling bonds, aren’t you,

old sport?

NICK:

Trying to.

57.

GATSBY:

Well, this might interest you... Ithappens to be a rather confidentialsort of thing... But you might pickup a nice bit of money.

NICK:

I've got my hands full.

Gatsby’s face falls.

GATSBY:

You wouldn't have to do anybusiness with Wolfsheim. I assure

you.

NICK:

No, no, no... Its a favor Jay. Justa favor.

Nick’s sincerity disarms Gatsby; a tiny, embarrassed nod.

NICK (CONT’D)

Happy to do it.

GATSBY:

A favor?

NICK:

Yes.

As if no one has ever done him a favor before in his life...

GATSBY:

Ah, right, right... Goodnight.

NICK:

Goodnight.

With this, Gatsby turns and strolls back toward his blazingcastle. Nick’s gaze falls upon the unkempt lawn. He smiles.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - FRONT LAWN - DAY

TOP SHOT:
An enormous mower clatters through frame, carvingNick’s unkempt lawn into a fresh, broad, band of green.

REVEAL:
An army of gardnders giving Nick’s lawn and garden amake-over, fresh paint, new flowers, trimmed hedges...

DISSOLVE TO:

58.

EXT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - FRONT LAWN - THE FOLLOWING DAY

Heavy rain now falls.

Gatsby, dressed in white flannel suit, silver shirt, and goldtie, leads a dozen umbrella-holding servants across the lawn.

Herzog holds an umbrella over Gatsby; the other servantsshelter extravagant floral arrangements in crystal vases...

Nick watches the parade through his window, opening his doorjust as Gatsby arrives; the servants continue inside.

On the porch, Gatsby looks around distractedly.

GATSBY:

One of the papers said they thoughtthe rain would stop about four. Ithink it was the Journal...

An awkward beat.

NICK:

The grass looks fine.

GATSBY:

Grass?

Gatsby looks at Nick without really comprehending, or seeing.

GATSBY (CONT’D)

What Grass?

SUDDEN CUT TO:

INT. NICK’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY

TIGHT ON:
A mantelpiece clock, ticking in the tense silence.

WIDER:
The room is crowded with absurdly extravagant floralarrangements. Nick sits watching as Gatsby intensely paces.

The silence stretches, and stretches... Finally...

GATSBY:

Have you got everything you need?

NICK:

Perhaps more flowers?

GATSBY:

I think they did a fine job, don’t

you?

59.

NICK:

Beautiful.

GATSBY:

You think it’s too much?

NICK:

I think it’s what you want.

GATSBY:

I think so too... She’ll be

impressed, won’t she old sport?

NICK:

I am.

With this, Gatsby straightens his suit, sits, and hurriedlychecks his watch. Another long silence...

PUSH IN ON:
Gatsby... SUDDENLY! He leaps to his feet!

GATSBY:

I can’t wait all day. I’m leaving!

NICK:

Don’t be silly. It’s just two

minutes to four...

But Gatsby heads for the door...

GATSBY:

Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too

late!

BEEEEEP! Gatsby glimpses Daisy’s Rolls Royce arriving out

front, and turns to Nick, flushed with fresh panic.

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