The Great Gatsby Page #3

---

the wrong impression from stories.

Why me?

I'm the son of wealthy people

from the Midwest, all dead.

Where in the Midwest?

I was raised in America but educated

at Oxford. It's a family tradition.

My family died,

and I came into a great deal of money.

Then I lived in many European capitals,

trying to forget something sad

that happened long ago.

And then came the war.

I was promoted to Major

after I distinguished myself in battle.

Every Allied government

gave me a decoration,

even little Montenegro,

down on the Adriatic Sea.

Turn it.

"Major Jay Gatsby,

for valour extraordinary."

Why are you telling me this?

You don't make much money, do you?

You sell bonds?

- I try to.

- I run a small business on the side.

I thought you might want to pick up

an extra bit of money.

What kind of business, exactly?

I'd like you to meet a friend of mine.

This is a nice restaurant

but I like across the street better.

- It's too hot over there.

- And small, but full of memories.

- What place is that?

- The old Metropole.

Filled with faces now dead and gone.

Filled with friends, gone forever.

I'll never forget

when they shot Rosy Rosenthal.

There were six of us.

Rosy had eaten and drunk a lot.

A waiter says,

"Somebody wants to see you outside."

"All right," says Rosy, starts to get up.

I pull him down.

"Let the bastards come in here.

"Don't you make a move

out of this room."

It was 4 a.m. If we'd raised the blinds,

we could've seen daylight.

- Did he go?

- Sure he went!

He said, "Don't let the waiter

take my coffee."

They're on the sidewalk,

shot him three times, drove away.

- Looking for a business connection?

- We'll talk about that later.

This is a friend. We'll talk another time.

I beg your pardon,

I had the wrong man.

Gatsby...

Excuse me, please.

He has to telephone.

Fine fellow, isn't he?

- Handsome, and a perfect gentleman.

- Yes.

He went to Oxford College in England.

You know Oxford College?

Have you known Gatsby a long time?

Known him? I made him.

I made his acquaintance

just after the war.

So poor, he wore his uniform

'cause he couldn't buy clothes.

But I thought,

"That's a man to bring home,

"introduce to your mother

and your sister."

I see you're looking at my cuff button.

Finest specimen of human molars.

- Well, that's a very interesting idea.

- Yes.

Did you... Were you

and Mr Rosenthal close friends?

- Thick like that in everything.

- I'm sorry.

Why? Let us show friendship for a man

when he's alive, not after he's dead.

After that, my own rule

is to let everything alone.

Everything's fine.

- I enjoyed lunch.

- Don't hurry.

You're very polite,

but I belong to another generation.

You sit and discuss your sports

and your young ladies and...

As for me, I'm 60 years old and

I won't impose myself on you any longer.

He becomes very sentimental

sometimes.

What is he, anyway? A dentist?

Meyer Wolfsheim?

No, no... He's a gambler, old sport.

He's the man who fixed

the 1919 World Series.

I never thought a man fixed it.

I imagined it just happened.

- He just saw the opportunity.

- Why isn't he in jail?

They can't get him. He's too smart.

Look, I.

- Let me get this.

- Nonsense.

Nick! Where have you been?

Daisy's furious you haven't called.

- This is Mr Gatsby. Mr Buchanan.

- How are you?

How does a bond salesman

afford to eat with business types?

I just came down here

to have lunch with Mr Gatsby.

- This is where you hide.

- Jordan!

Listen, I have the most

astonishing thing to tell you!

He wants to know if you'll ask Daisy

to your house and let him come over.

- Who?

- Gatsby.

If that's what he wanted,

why didn't he ask me?

I think he was afraid.

He's waited so long,

he thought you might be offended.

Why me? Why didn't he ask you

to arrange the meeting?

He wants her to see his house.

- You live next door.

- That's ridiculous.

I think he expected her

to wander into one of his parties.

But she never did.

Then he began asking people

if they knew her.

I was the first one he found.

He says he's read the papers for years,

just to catch a glimpse of her name.

I wonder why.

Daisy ought to have

something in her life.

- Does Daisy want to see him?

- She's not to know about it.

You're just supposed to invite her to tea.

But does she want to see Gatsby?

Your cousin will thank you,

thank you, thank you...

Nick!

- Your place looks like the World's Fair.

- I was looking in some of my rooms.

- I spoke to Miss Baker.

- Yes?

I'll call Daisy tomorrow and invite her

for tea. What day would suit you?

What day would suit you?

I don't want to put you to any trouble.

- Come in out of the rain.

- No, I have to go back.

- What do you...

- What about the day after tomorrow?

Well... I have to get the grass cut.

- You mean my grass.

- Right.

They are connected.

- There's that other thing...

- What thing?

Our business relationship.

Any favours that I do for you

don't need any payment.

Well, thank you. Goodnight, Nick.

Nick, my darling!

Where are you calling from, China?

I can barely hear you.

Of course I'll come.

Don't bring Tom?

Tom who?

Yes... Goodbye, my darling.

Thank you.

- Mr Carraway?

- Yes.

Mr Gatsby sent me over

to cut the grass.

Yes, quite all right. Go ahead.

- From Mr Gatsby.

- I know.

- From Mr Gatsby.

- Pass.

- Everything all right?

- The grass looks fine.

What grass? It looks good.

Do you have all you need in the way of...

- Tea.

- Will this do?

Yes, of course.

But I took the liberty of...

I took the liberty of...

I took the liberty

of having some things sent over.

- I'm going home.

- What for?

There's nobody coming. It's too late.

Don't be silly.

It's only five minutes to 4:00.

This is a mistake.

This is a terrible mistake.

Is this absolutely where you live,

my dearest one?

I adore it!

- Are you in love with me?

- Yes.

Is that why I had to come alone?

That is the secret of Castle Rackrent.

It's delicious, Nick!

- And what beautiful flowers!

- That's funny.

White... My favourite colour.

Daisy, I'd like you to meet my

neighbour, Mr Jay Gatsby.

- Mr Gatsby, this is my cousin Daisy...

- We've met...

Before.

We haven't met for many years.

Eight years...

Next November.

Well...

Shall we have some tea?

- it's stopped raining.

- Has it?

- What do you think of that?

- I'm glad, Jay.

- Would you like tea?

- Nick, darling! I feel...

Today's like someone's birthday.

Let's have champagne.

I want you both to come to my house.

I'd like to show her around.

- Sure you want me to come?

- Absolutely.

Nick, I'd just like to wash up.

Look. My house shows up well,

doesn't it?

It's splendid.

It took me three years

to earn the money that bought it.

I thought you said

you inherited your money.

I did, old sport,

but I lost most of it in the big panic.

In the panic of the war.

- What business are you really in?

- That's my affair.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry...

I've been in several things.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes