The Stunt Man Page #11

91

SPECIAL EFFECTS MAN

Looking up from the ground, he yanks a control rope.

92

CAMERON:

The bracket holding the down spout breaks loose. The spout starts

to fall away from the side of the building. Cameron clings to it,

riding its downward arc as though it were a falling tree.

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- 56

AWNING:

At the end of the arc, Cameron throws himself free for a safe

landing and smashes against the awning. Instead of holding, it rips

apart like paper and, in that unexpected instant, Cameron's eyes

widen in genuine terror as he plummets through the shredded canvas

toward a skylight one floor below.

SKYLIGHT:

Exploding in a shower of glass and wood as it is struck by Cameron's

body. He hurtles downward toward a blur of images.

ANGLE ON COT:

Collapsing from the impact of Cameron's fall. The MAN and WOMAN who

were making love on the cot have been flung to the ground and roll

entwined with him. Cameron is dazed. Like a drowning man, he rages

to free himself from the tangle of naked limbs and smothering flesh.

A painted face shrieks in laughter -- as the door to the room he is

in is thrown open, revealing:

BROTHEL SET – INT. MUNICIPAL BUILDING

Cameron has fallen into a cubicle in what appears to be a World War

I German army brothel. In the high-ceilinged room, there is a row

of cots separated by makeshift screens. COUPLES jump up from the

cots startled. A line of partly naked GERMAN SOLDIERS waiting their

turn at the whores have broken into shouts and laughter at Cameron's

unorthodox entrance. They crowd around the cubicle where Cameron

fell and now struggles with the couple.

ANGLE ON CAMERA CREW

Gabe at the EYE PIECE, Eli beside him, photographing the scene.

ELI:

Keep rolling!

(calling out to soldiers)

The clothes!...Do the clothes!

ANGLE ON CAMERON

The men tear him free from the couple shouting playfully.

ONE MAN:

(dialect)

What are you a field marshal?

- 57

SECOND MAN:

(dialect)

Wait your turn like the rest!

Cameron's confusion changes to helpless fury as he kicks and

struggles against a forest of grasping hands ripping his clothes

away, passing him back toward the rear of the line.

THIRD MAN:

(dialect)

Where are your manners?

WHORE:

(dialect)

This is a whorehouse, not a stable.

Whores have left their cots to join in the assault, screeching in

glee. As he maniacally lashes out at his good-natured molesters,

the blood from Cameron's face smears a whore's body.

ELI'S VOICE

Cut!

Instantly everything stops. Cameron is sprawled half-naked on his

knees at the end of the line. Enraged, he whirls toward Eli who has

caused this humiliation. Then the CLAPPING begins, the CAST and

CREW applauding his stunt. People slap him on the back admiringly.

A robe is thrown around him. He is helped to his feet. Suddenly

Nina is there flinging her arms about him and kissing him on the

mouth.

NINA:

I'm so proud of you...I could just

die!

He is pulled away from her by the backslappers. Now Cameron is

responding to this strange new sensation -- the warmth of public

acclaim. He regains his poise, hoping his embarrassing anger wasn't

noticed. Chuck is now beside him, reaching up to the wound on

Cameron's face and pulling away the plastic makeup patch with fake

blood inside; the "wound" is gone. He starts feeling Cameron's

shoulders, arms and ribs for possible damage.

CAMERON:

(quietly to Chuck,

wincing in pain)

Why didn't you tell me about the

awning? I could have been killed.

- 58

CHUCK:

No chance. You were in your

mother's arms from the time you hit

the sugarglass skylight. Those

stunt men you fell on would have got

you out of anything.

CAMERON:

Stunt men?

CHUCK:

The one with the tits and the other

guy.

CAMERON:

Why didn't you tell me? Afraid I'd

chicken out?

CHUCK:

Eli likes some things spontaneous.

Makes 'em more believable. You're

okay. Whaddya want?

CAMERON:

Not to think I'm going crazy.

ANGLE ON ELI:

He is moving through the crowd.

ELI:

(yelling)

Where's Raymond? Raymond, were you

watching that closely?

RAYMOND:

(appearing)

What can I tell you? I'm a brave

son-of-a-b*tch.

There is general laughter. Eli, raising his arm like a referee.

ELI:

All right. We're doing the

coverage. Camera here.

Eli continues toward Cameron. Chuck is spraying ethyl chloride on

his bare tattooed shoulder.

99A

- 59

ELI (CONT'D)

(to Chuck)

Careful. Don't blind the eagle.

(to Cameron)

I owe you six hundred bucks.

CAMERON:

(acknowledging the

compliment)

If anything bothered you, be happy

to do it again.

Eli laughs and moves off, Cameron staring after him.

CAMERON:

(to Chuck)

I can't take my eyes off the son-of

a-b*tch. Everybody does what he

wants them to, even me. I feel like

thankin' him 'cause I fell on my

ass.

CHUCK:

(sarcasm)

...It's just a crush. You'll get

over it.

ANGLE ON SAM:

Approaching Eli, who turns to Sam, eager, vulnerable.

ELI:

What did you think?

SAM:

You are a smug, insufferable son-of

a-b*tch. When I read the insane

asylum scene to my wife and four

children, my wife cried, my oldest

son shook my hand for the first time

in his whole life. So, why is it,

Eli, that this vulgar little scene

turns out to be so much...stronger,

more moving?

- 60

ELI:

(touched)

God knows, Sam. Maybe...because you

get the feeling that the enemy might

just be some poor horny slob like

you, lookin' for the nearest

whorehouse.

(putting his arm around

Cameron)

How about that, Lucky? When that

stunt man's boob hit you in the

mouth, was it just another boob...or

did it taste like kraut?

The crew laughs and so does Nina. Cameron feels humiliated by Eli's

patronizing tone.

CAMERON:

It tasted lousy. But what do I

know? You try it, Eli. You're the

expert in bad taste.

ELI:

(for the group)

Uh-oh, sounds like the soldier's got

his feelings hurt.

CAMERON:

Naw, naw. I just don't know about

Germans. Where I was we only raped

gooks.

100 INT. HOTEL GARAGE - CLOSE ON ELI

As though continuing previous dialogue.

ELI:

(genially)

Oh, is that why the cops are after

you? ...After all this time?

CAMERON:

(sarcastic)

Damn! You finally guessed it!

100A

WIDER ANGLE:

Revealing Eli and Cameron walking through the hotel GARAGE toward a

replica of the lost Duesenberg which a MECHANIC works on.

ELI:

- 61

...Really? Rape? No. I think

you're putting me on. Come on, now,

no more hints.

(he thinks)

Let's see...Christ, could be

anything. I know a guy in this

state got 20 years for having

cunnilingus with his wife.

(studies Cameron)

No...I guess you're not the type.

More likely some hideous crime of

violence...

Eli is getting under Cameron's skin. They stop at car.

ELI:

(to mechanic)

Have you seen Harvey?

MECHANIC:

I think he's in there.

Mechanic nods toward a door at the rear of the garage. Eli pats the

fender of the Duesenberg. Cameron views it with a strange sense of

unease. Putting his arm around Cameron's shoulder, Eli leads him

toward the back door yelling to mechanic.

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