The Shape of Water Page #8

(beat)

But, end of the day, it is my damn

decision.

The three of them leave.

Elisa steps out. Follows them.

62 62

INT. CORRIDOR “B” (GREEN SCREEN)

ZELDA:

What were you doing in there?? Whatwere you doing in there??

Zelda is frantic. Grabs Elisa by the arm. Pulls her away.

63 INT. LOCKER ROOM - SAME 63

ZELDA:

Are you crazy? Are you out of your

damn mind?

(beat)

I will not lose my job. God knowsthe last time Brewster brought homea dollar...

Elisa looks around with utter impotence. She signs.

ZELDA (CONT’D)

If your involved- I’ll get blamed!

I’ll get sacked!! Yes- i will be!!

Elisa signs.

ZELDA (CONT'D)

Just to be on the safe side. I’m

black! They don’t need any other

reason-

Elisa walks away- grabs a bucket and a pail.

ZELDA (CONT'D)

So listen to me:
I am not covering

for you, you hear! You shouldn’t bein there when you shouldn’t be inthere- And that is that.

64 INT. COMMAND CENTER / STRICKLAND’S OFFICE - SAME 64

Elisa enters the command center- grabs a trash bin and

watches-

as GENERAL arguing with Strickland and Hoffstetler.

Elisa climbs the steps. Watches-

reads their lips-

As they move around, the subtitles pop in and out.

STRICKLAND:
Untamed- dangerous-

STRICKLAND:

(complete line)

That thing is untamed- Dangerous

HOFFSTETLER:
No. We cannot kill it- We cannot-

STRICKLAND:
Russian infiltration-

STRICKLAND (CONT’D)

(complete line)

Every day we keep it here, we risk

Russian infiltration. We should getit over with.

HOFFSTETLER:
No- we must- please-

HOFFSTETLER:

No- we must wait- please.

The General thinks, facing the window and then turns anddelivers his answer. A beat.

Hoffstetler is upset.

Elisa pretends to pick up trash. Looks up: The General and

Strickland go by.

GENERAL HOYT:

Crack the damn thing open. Learnwhat you can and close shop here.

Give yourself a good pat in the

back, Strickland. You’ve done it.

STRICKLAND:

Thank you, Sir.

She looks up:
Hoffstetler stands alone in the glass office.

64A INT. WATER CYLINDER, CREATURE 64A

The creature floats gently. Blood flows from his side

GILES:

(prelap)

Get him out???

DISSOLVE TO:

65-67 OMITTED 65-67

67A OMITTED 67A

67B OMITTED 67B

67C 67C

OMITTED:

67D OMITTED 67D

67E OMITTED 67E

INT. GILES’ APARTMENT -DAWN 68

GILES:

What are you talking about? No- No-

Absolutely not.

(she signs)

Because it is breaking the law!

That’s why.

Giles is getting dressed- in his best suit. He grooms himself

incessantly, checks his elbows for wear. Readjusts the hair.

GILES (CONT'D)

We’re probably breaking the law

right now, just- talking about it.

He walks away. She runs in front of him. Stops him: Signs.

Giles translates.

GILES (CONT’D)

Alone? What if he’s alone? What

about it? We’re all alone! If I-If

I took you to a Chinese restaurant-

would you save every crab?

(beat)

“It’s the loneliest thing you’veever seen...” Well there you go-

you just said it. It’s a thing- A

freak-

She signs.

GILES (CONT’D)

I understand what you’re-

Pushes him. Signs.

GILES (CONT'D)

OK, OK, calm down- I’ll repeat it-

to you.

(repeating out loud)

“And what am I? I move my mouth like

him- and I make no sound- like

him. What does that make me?“

(MORE)

GILES (CONT'D)

(beat)

“All that I am, all that I’ve been-

ever-brought me here- to him.”

(beat)

“Him??” What are you talking about?

That thing? It’s a “him” now?

She pushes him and re-signs, violently: “HIM”

GILES (CONT'D)

Hey! Watch it!

(beat)

“The way he looks at me. He doesn’tknow what I lack... Or how I am

incomplete. He just sees me for

what I am. As I am. And he is happyto see me, every time. Every day.”

(beat)

“And now I can either save him now

or let him die. Never see his eyes,

see me again. I will not let thatgo...”

He holds her hands.

GILES (CONT’D)

I am leaving- stop talking. This isimportant for me, Elisa- Maybe asecond chance for me- I have to go-

He picks up the illustration.

GILES (CONT'D)

And when I come back I- We will not

talk about this. Again. There’s

nothing we can do. What are we,

Elisa? You and I? Nothing. What canwe do? Nothing.

(beat)

And- I am sorry. But it is not evenhuman.

She trembles in rage as she signs. Subtitled: “If we don’t do

something... Neither are we.”

69-72 OMITTED 69-72

72A EXT. AD AGENCY / PARK- DAY 72A

BERNIE:

Giles!

GILES:

Hey- I was waiting-

BERNIE:

I know, I’m sorry-

GILES:

We’re going in?

BERNIE:

Not right this second- you’reearly.

GILES:

No. It’s Monday. You said Monday-

BERNIE:

I know- I know I said that- You

should’ve just mailed the art.

GILES:

Why? I wanted to show it to you. Tothe team- In person. It’s some ofmy best work-

BERNIE:

This is not a good time. Maybe

later.

Giles figures it out.

GILES:

Sure. No problem. What time is goodfor you, Bernie?

Bernie removes his eyeglasses. Saddened.

CUT TO:

INT. DIXIE DOUG’S PIES - DAY 73

Giles drinks milk on the counter. By his side: his art.

PIE GUY:

You painted that?

He comes to Giles table, carrying a slice of pie. Giles nods.

PIE GUY (CONT’D)

Wowee- You’re good.

GILES:

Not as good as a photograph,

apparently. But it is good, isn’tit?

PIE GUY:

Pfft-I couldn’t paint that. Here:

on me.

Serves him the pie.

GILES:

For me?

PIE GUY:

It’s not key lime- but it’s good.

GILES:

Thank You.

PIE GUY:

Don’t mention it. We don’t get manylike you in here. You seem very

educated. I like talking to you.

GILES:

Oh, well- The thing is... That’sthe thing, I really come here for-

mostly- For the-

PIE GUY:

The conversation... And the pie is

mighty fine, ain’t it?

GILES:

OH, mmmh- I work alone and my best

friend is not much of a...

conversationalist.

An African-American couple with their kid, enters.

PIE GUY:

See? That’s part of the job here.

Like being a bartender. You servepeople pie, listen to their

problems. Get to know them.

Quickly, before he loses his nerve, Giles reaches out and

sets his hand on top of one of Pie Guy’s hands.

GILES:

I would like- to know you. Better.

Pie Guy, beginning to get a glimmer of what’s going on,

slowly pulls his hand away.

PIE GUY:

What are you doing, Old man?

Giles realizing his mistake, freezes.

GILES:

I- er- you- bought me pie.

PIE GUY:

I bought pie- For everyone. ‘cause

I got engaged last night. To thatyoung lady over there.

Points at a YOUNG WAITRESS.

GILES:

I see...

The Pie Guy addresses the African-American family.

PIE GUY:

Hey, no- Not the counter- Just takeout. You can’t sit there. You want

something, you order, you take it

out.

MOTHER:

But it’s empty... The counter is-

PIE GUY:

All reserved. All day. You don’tsit down.

The family leaves.

PIE GUY (CONT’D)

“Y’all come back, Y’hear?”

GILES:

You don’t have to talk to them like

that.

PIE GUY:

You should leave too. And don’t

come back. This is a family

restaurant.

Giles spits the pie. Starts leaving.

PIE GUY (CONT’D)

Hey- You left this

Picks up Giles painting

GILES:

No. Keep it. It’s perfect for you.

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