The Stunt Man Page #5

ELI:

(softly, to Cameron)

Now, don't get hasty. And, remember

your ass, it's just like mine...

maybe I can save them both.

- 21

PRODUCTION MANAGER

(trailing after Jake)

...but we've gotta have three days

to finish this picture...

JAKE:

(striding toward Eli)

You said you'd be gone four days

ago, before the season started. You

lie, break promises...

(he is now close enough

and shouting at Eli)

Cross, I've gone out of my way, but

this time...

A TRAM beeps, clangs and passes between them, interrupting Jake and

leaving him sputtering. As it departs, Eli seizes the moment.

ELI:

Jake, it's been a rotten morning.

You're hot and tired. Let's go in,

have us a drink and find out what's

eating you.

JAKE:

(turning beet red)

Don't treat me like these other

morons! You know goddamn well

what's eating me is that Duesenberg

on the bottom of the river with the

dead man in it!

There is silence. Eli stands thoughtfully kicking the sand with his

toe. Then Jake starts shouting again.

JAKE (CONT'D)

I mean, that is a goddamn public

bridge and a public river! You go

there without permits, without any

precautions and get a man killed!

ELI:

(gently)

Jake...

JAKE:

No more bullshit explanations. Just

go...before I figure out how to hang

you with a manslaughter charge!

ELI:

- 22

(after a pause; quietly)

No explanations...don't have any.

But, maybe he does...

(staring at Cameron)

Go ahead, ask him, Jake.

Eli's words are exploding in Cameron's mind -- that illusory event

on the bridge has crystallized into hard reality.

CAMERON:

(wide-eyed)

...Now wait!...You're not blaming me

for...

ELI:

(wheeling on Cameron)

Why not, Burt?! Because you're a

fake?! Because you're just a

goddamn daredevil with a head full

of marbles?!

Cameron vaguely understands that Eli is trying to pass him off as

Burt and that he, somehow, may be saved by going along with this

madness. Eli, turning to Jake, continues passionately...

ELI (CONT'D)

He grabs the bread, blows the shot,

screws you up...screws me up. He's

dumb, Jake, but thank God, he ain't

dead yet. So do me a favor, put

your handcuffs on this son-of-abitch

and put him some place where

he can't get hurt!

The Chief is dazed. If this is Burt, the stunt man, he is obviously

alive. Jake goes to Cameron.

JAKE:

How did you get out of the car?

ELI:

He didn't get out. Our divers got

him out...and brought him back in

the chopper.

The Chief stares at Cameron. His clothes and hair are wet. There

is a small bruise on his cheek from when he fell out of the

Duesenberg. He looks the part. Jake turns to Eli with resignation.

JAKE:

- 23

Cross, when these three days are up,

I'm going to arm my men with

shotguns and tell them it's open

season on any fruit carrying a

camera.

He walks to the waiting police car, surrounded by TOURISTS snapping

pictures. He glares at them, angry at the world. Eli puts his arm

on Cameron's shoulder and leads him through the dispersing crowd

toward the hotel. Eli is now easygoing and friendly.

ELI:

You did that very well.

CAMERON:

I didn't get a chance to say a word.

I just listened.

ELI:

There are only a few actors in the

world who have mastered that art.

Anyway, it was a good audition. You

landed the part.

CAMERON:

How? What about the crew? They

going to look at me and say, 'Hi,

Burt?'

ELI:

Unless you prefer, 'Hi, Elizabeth.'

Don't worry about my crew, they'll

call you anything I want 'em to.

Look, I'm not being callous. Burt

is a f***ing tragedy, but there's

nothing in the world I can do about

it...I've gotta have this location

for three more days...and you need a

place to hide.

They have reached the steps of the HOTEL. A BUS has stopped in

front. TOURISTS are piling out. The POLICE CAR pulls up and parks

nearby. Jake and his men can be seen surveying the crowd.

A.D.

(shouting in b.g.)

Eli! The crew's waiting. We need

the next setup!

ELI:

- 24

The hand! Close-up of the hand! Be

there in a minute!

A.D.

An Eli minute or a real minute?!

Eli turns back to Cameron as they mount the steps.

CAMERON:

By tomorrow the local cops'll know

what I look like. I can't hang

around.

ELI:

(expansively)

"Burt," stop worrying! Haven't you

heard of "movie magic?"

(pointing to the etched

glass doors of the hotel)

That door is "the looking glass,"

and inside...is Wonderland. You're

gonna pose as a stunt man, who's

posing as an actor, who's posing as

a character in a movie...who's

posing as an enemy soldier...In that

big a crowd, who's gonna notice you?

People like to believe in things and

cops are just people.

The have reached the front door. Eli holds it open for Cameron.

ELI:

(with mock confidentiality)

Frankly, your problem's so simple,

it's almost beneath me. Have faith,

'Alice.' Close your eyes and enjoy.

In exhaustion and resignation, Cameron nods and wearily closes his

eyes.

SCREEN GOES BLACK

DENISE'S VOICE

Open your eyes...and don't touch.

It's wet.

- 25

56

56A

57

INT. HOTEL BASEMENT - CLOSE ON CAMERON'S REFLECTION

His eyes open. He stares at his face in the mirror, pleased at the

subtle transformation. His hair has been cut shorter and dyed red,

somehow changing his whole aspect. He rubs the red mark on his

wrists where the bracelet has been removed.

WIDE ANGLE:

Part of the laundry room is being used for the film's Hairdressing

Department. Cameron sits in a barber chair wearing a plastic apron,

surrounded by dryers, wigs, etc. In b.g., washing machines churn

constantly. DENISE, the Hairdresser, an attractive earthy woman of

thirty-two, stands over him. He is still wary and trying not to

show it.

CAMERON:

(looking in mirror)

...Could be worse...could be

green...I think I like it.

DENISE:

Of course you like it...ask

anybody... Denise gives great hair.

Got any grass?

CAMERON:

(shaking his head)

Nope.

She touches his hair to test the dryness, holding her hand there for

a moment longer than seems necessary. He grins at her, rises and

crosses to the wall mirror to get a better look.

DENISE:

What else don't you have that I

need?

She moves to a basement window and gazes out.

POV - BEACH

Through the window, the crew is setting up a shot while Eli

rehearses with Nina and his red-haired male star, RAYMOND BAILEY,

(who Cameron earlier saw on the beach). Bailey is dressed as a

World War I British aviator and Nina as a young girl of that era.

DENISE'S VOICE

Our male star isn't going to like

you...

- 26

TWO SHOT - CAMERON AND DENISE

CAMERON:

(moving toward window)

Why not?

DENISE:

You're too good looking. His idea

of a perfect stunt double is two-

hundreds pounds of hamburger in a

red wig...

He studies the view, his attention focused on Nina.

CAMERON:

What's she like? I've seen her on

TV.

DENISE:

(irritated by his

interest in Nina)

At selling douche powder, she's

fabulous; dog food?...I'm not sure

she's sincere.

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