The Shape of Water Page #13

ZELDA:

For good reason- what if you caughtus in an inconvenient moment?

HOFFSTETLER:

I need to know that he is

alright...

He hands them a container with Algae.

ZELDA:

He is.

HOFFSTETLER:

Good. When will you release him?

Elisa signs. A phone rings in the distance.

ZELDA:

Soon-When the rain fills the canal-

that opens to the sea... But If youwanna see him-we keep him in-

HOFFSTETLER:

No, no- I don’t want to know where

you keep him- I just want to knowthat he’s well...

He slides a card. A noise. Footsteps. He moves away.

HOFFSTETLER (CONT’D)

If you need anything.

She takes the card. A phone rings in the distance

HOFFSTETLER (CONT’D)

Release him. Soon.

Elisa signs.

HOFFSTETLER (CONT’D)

What did she say?

ZELDA:

She said:
You’re a good man, DoctorHoffstetler.

Hoffstetler smiles quietly. Moved.

HOFFSTETLER:

My name is- Dimitri. Honored to

meet you.

He leaves. Yolanda appears.

YOLANDA:

Hey, Dummy! Phone call for you!

CUT TO:

OMITTED:

163A OMITTED 163A

164 INT. APARTMENTS CORRIDOR - NIGHT 164

Elisa runs the length of the corridor.

165 INT. ELISA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT 165

She finds Giles there, bleeding from the wound.

GILES:

I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m

fine. I’m fine... He ate pandora

but not the pie. He was hungry but

not stupid. He’s a wild creature.

We can’t expect him to be anything

else.

Elisa’s eyes widen in horror- there’s a pool of blood underGiles’ feet.

GILES (CONT’D)

Go find him. He’s terrified. Go! Go

find him.

(to cat)

You’re lucky.

166 166

OMITTED:

166A OMITTED 166A

166B EXT. STREET - NIGHT 166B

She looks first one way, then another down the street. Behind

her, she can hear the MOVIE from the CINEMA.

The Usher is deep asleep at the ticket office with an

crossword in hand.

The theatre door is open.

167 INT. CINEMA - NIGHT 167

Elisa enters. It’s dark. THE STORY OF RUTH plays in the empty

theatre.

On the screen:
the IDOL of a Pagan God topples. Christian

Slaves are crushed and screams!!

She looks out over the seats. No one. No patrons.

Save for one.

She goes down to where Amphibian Man cowers, hiding like a

dog that’s been bad. Wheezing.

The Slave on the screen howls in pain. The creature covers

his ears.

GILES’ VOICE

Later, Elisa would tell me that

when she saw him there-standing

alone, blood-stained but unburdened

and unmarred, like nature- right

then, she knew that he was the one

man that would never lie to her-

that would never pretend to be

anything other than himself....

With great care, she reaches out, touches him. He looks up,

stands down- grateful. Mercy.

He wheezes rapidly. He’s beginning to have trouble breathing.

She takes his hand.

On the screen behind them: A moment of pious peace.

DIALOGUE:

“Trouble your heart no more... Be

strong through this time- for from

the widow of your son will issue

children, and children’s

children...”

168 INT. ELISA’S APARTMENT - DAWN 168

Elisa readies some iodine and bandages.

GILES:

I stayed awake as long as I could

but, well I’m not a young man, you

know. Is he alright? You sure?

Elisa leaves to go to her apartment. The creature plays withthe cars.

GILES (CONT’D)

Where are you going? Elisa? Where

are you going?

(to the Amphibian Man)

No. No. Kitty. No kitties. Don’t

play with the kitties.

He approaches Giles- Mortified. The Amphibian Man practically

crawls. It retracts its claws, takes Giles hand and places it

on its own head, and then holds Giles’ head- tenderly.

GILES (CONT’D)

That’s very nice. Thank you.

The Amphibian Man takes his hand and places it over Giles’

open wounds on his arm.

GILES (CONT’D)

I- uh- thank you. Beautiful gesture

but- ah-I don’t think that’s

sanitary. Oh- ha- ha- Good boy.

Off. Off. Not the cats. Not the

cats.

It retreats and goes back towards the cars. Elisa returns

with a basin of water.

GILES (CONT’D)

I think we need to clean this

again. Interesting fella.

169 INT. BATHROOM - DAWN 169

She pours salt.

Elisa gets Fish Man settled back in the tub where he canbreathe.

She touches his face. Gently.

Her hand lingers.

He “blushes,” changing colors.

Water drips down.

The creature stares at her.

She blushes.

She looks at the creature. She reaches out, touches its

chest. He touches her. BEADS of water rush from his skin to

hers.

WATER seems to inundate her and the entire room. ENGULFING IT

ALL...

Flustered, she gets up.

Leaves.

The creature watches.

She closes the door. Leans on it. Thinks. Sighs.

On the soundtrack: LA JAVANAISE by Madeleine Peyroux.

169A 169A

OMITTED:

169B INT. ELISA’S BEDROOM / BATHROOM - DAWN 169B

Elisa is alone- ready to sleep on the sofa. It’s dark but

she’s awake, wired. She has her night mask on her forehead.

Winds up her clock.

She eyes the bathroom door.

She gets up, disrobes.

Elisa pulls the curtain back on the bathtub. Amphibian Man

opens his eyes. She gets in, pulls the curtain shut.

His markings light up. She closes the curtain. They makelove. Water splashes all around.

CUT TO:

169C OMITTED 169C

169D INT. BUS - NIGHT 169D

The Bus seems magical- bathed by multicolored lights.

Elisa leans against the cold glass and contemplates the beads

of dew rolling on the window.

Camera gets closer and closer to one of them. We enter amacro view of it. The Water seems to cede and

169E OMITTED 169E

170 INT. LONG CORRIDOR - NIGHT 170

Elisa pushing her cart- wearing the red shoes- Zelda catches

up.

ZELDA:

Why you smiling, hon?

Elisa tries to suppress her smile.

ZELDA (CONT’D)

Stop looking like that. What

happened?

Beat. Elisa smiles. Zelda understands.

ZELDA (CONT’D)

Why?

(beat)

How??

Elisa makes a gesture- indicating the peculiar anatomy

details.

ZELDA (CONT’D)

Does he? Have a-?

(beat)

Lord! Never trust a man. Pfft- Even

if he looks flat down there...

Suddenly 3 MP’s are standing in front of them. With them:

FLEMING:

Zelda, Elisa:
Come with me.

CUT TO:

171 INT. STRICKLAND’S OFFICE - NIGHT 171

Yolanda and Duane are leaving. Zelda and Elisa enter.

Strickland is tired. He looks it. This is clearly routine. He

rubs his eyes and almost yawns as he speaks

STRICKLAND:

If you know something about whattranspired here last Wednesday

night, if you saw anything out ofthe ordinary, it is your obligationto report it.

Under the desk, he removes his shoes- stretches his legs.

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

Any detail- no matter how small or

trivial it seems... Zeldelilah

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