The Killing of John Lennon Page #3

---

the Waldorf Astoria.

Just like Holden.

I was like a boxer

in the 27th round,

all bloody and beaten.

[police radio echoing]

[Mark] It's what Holden

had fantasised about in the book -

killing the big fat guy

in the hotel,

the pimp, the phoney.

[gunshot]

[cameras click]

[newsreader] ...tonight, live.

If you've been

anywhere near a television,

you already know

that John Lennon of the Beatles is dead.

Something's

gonna be happening soon.

You're gonna hear about me.

Are you, uh...

are you famous or something?

Oh, no, no.

I'm not famous.

I just want you to be aware

that something's gonna be happening.

Here, turn left here, at 72nd.

- John Lennon lives right there.

- Oh, yeah?

You can just pull over right up here,

right around the...

- OK.

- Right around that truck will be fine.

OK, let's see. Uh...

$7.80.

You got it, sir.

How's that?

That's fine. Listen,

you have a nice time in New York City.

- You too. It was a pleasure meeting you.

- Pleasure meeting you too.

All right.

Strange guy.

- Thi... this is the Dakota, right?

- Yep.

- Where John Lennon lives?

- Yes, sir.

Wow. I can't believe I'm really standing

here, right outside where he lives.

Sixth floor, right? Robert Ryan's

old apartment. Can you see it?

Not from here.

Not from here, you can't.

Rosemary's Baby was shot here,

wasn't it?

I don't know.

That's what they say.

So is, uh...

is John in town?

I don't know, man.

I don't think so. I haven't seen him.

I think he's travelling

or something.

I'm from Hawaii.

Really? That's a pretty strong accent

you got there from Hawaii.

[Mark] I cased the whole building,

walked all the way around it twice,

just like an assassin would.

[aeroplane engine]

[Lennon] When we first moved here,

we lived in Greenwich Village,

which is the arty-farty section of town,

for those who don't know,

where all the students and the would-bes

live, and a few old poets and that.

She told me, "Yes,

you can walk on the street", you know,

and it took me two years to unwind.

[Mark] Shooting a man

is no easy thing.

It takes a lot of inner strength.

[Lennon] I can go right out this door now

and go in a restaurant.

You want to know

how great that is?

Or go to the movies. I mean, people

come up and ask for autographs or say hi,

but they won't bug you,

you know?

[man] Don't forget what the Beatles have

said. Take your records and paraphernalia

to any one of our 14 pick-up points

in Birmingham, Alabama,

and turn 'em in this week

if possible.

[Mark] I'd found my identity,

but I had lost my life.

"The phoney must die",

says The Catcher in the Rye.

"The phoney must die",

says "The Catcher in the Rye".

"The phoney must die",

says The Catcher in the Rye.

[man] Robert De Niro

in "Raging Bull".

Let's hear it for the great Jake La Motta,

ladies and gentlemen.

[man #1] He was a fighter.

[man #2] Why does he have to make it

so hard on himself?

[man #1] A winner.

A loser.

[De Niro] I've done

a lot of bad things, Joey.

[man] In this typical town,

in this comfortable home,

three ordinary people

are about to live

an extraordinary story.

[man #2] I used to figure you had

a handle for everything. You knew it all.

I know that wasn't fair, but you made us

feel like everything was gonna be all right.

I really admire you for it.

Well, don't admire people too much.

They'll disappoint you sometimes.

I love you.

I love you too.

[Mark] I had an experience

in that theatre.

Somehow, in that brief time, my rage

against John Lennon was defeated.

The volcano was capped.

I realised I had a wife at home

who loved me.

Gloria, hi. It's me.

I'm coming home.

I've won a great victory.

Your love has saved me.

I was gonna kill him,

but your love saved me.

You know what I'm talking about.

Gloria, listen. Just listen.

I was gonna kill...

John Lennon,

but our paths didn't cross.

You don't believe me.

I even got to know the doorman

where Lennon lives.

I could've done it.

Your love has saved me, Gloria.

I just wanna come back home to you.

No one else. There's no one else.

I made such a big mistake

coming here.

But I could've done it.

I really could've done it.

I lied to my wife.

I told her I threw away the gun

in the ocean, which I didn't.

I told her it was over.

And it wasn't.

16 days later, I was back.

I told my wife

I was going to find a new career.

[man] Heavenly treasures

are what the spirit of God gives.

And so the poor people are also...

They have the spirit of God in them.

No, that's what I'm saying.

That's what the Antichrist said.

[ saxophone]

[toilet flushes]

Hi. You gals

waiting for somebody?

As a matter of fact,

we were waiting for you.

It wasn't worth it.

I'm sorry.

We're only teasing.

I'm Jude. This is Jeryl.

Oh.

I know. I heard John Lennon lives here.

I was hoping to get his autograph.

- Is he around? Have you seen him?

- Um, no, but he's somewhere in the city.

Good.

I'm from Hawaii.

You came all the way from Hawaii

to see John?

- I'm a big fan.

- You must be.

Well, I'm also here on business.

I just thought I'd take a look.

Well, Jeryl and l

are considered family.

Yeah, so much so

that John and Yoko call us by name.

Sometimes they stop us on the street

to have a chat.

Wow.

I just want an autograph.

Oh, I should have brought

a book or something.

Oh. Why don't you get

Double Fantasy?

Even if you don't get an autograph,

it's a great album.

Yeah, maybe I'll do that.

They'd never believe it back home.

Uh... OK, we're going to go get something

to eat now, so it was nice meeting you.

- I'll be here until at least midnight.

- We'll see you later then.

Maybe we can all

have dinner tonight. My treat.

- Do you like Japanese?

- [girls laugh]

"He was so nice.

I just can't believe he was the one."

The more I found out,

the more angry I became.

The guy owned five luxury apartments

in the Dakota,

four farms in Virginia, Vermont

and upstate New York,

250 head of prize Holstein cattle

worth more than $100,000 each,

a vast weekend home in Florida,

a 63ft ocean-going yacht.

This from a man

who told us to imagine no possessions.

[gunshots]

[men moan]

[moaning gets louder]

[Mark] When I heard the homos next door,

I flew into a rage inside myself.

They disgusted me.

Travis was right. One day a real rain 'll

come and wash all the scum off the street.

[moaning continues]

[man] Freeze! Police!

[Mark] George C Scott,

Johnny Carson,

Jackie Onassis.

[gunshot]

[Mark] On the streets,

among all the freaks and queers

and bums and whores,

I knew Holden was right.

It was all very clear.

Here is a little man

who has nothing,

going against a giant phoney.

[voices echo]

[Mark] I wanted to

go and shoot 'em all,

and I almost did.

But what glory is there

in killing unknowns?

In the book, Holden checked out of

his miserable room in a cheap hotel.

My $16-a-night YMCA

full of queers

now became room 2374

at the Sheraton.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes