The Truman Show Page #11

TRUMAN:

(incredulous)

How do you know about that?

SYLVIA:

It doesn't matter. You've forgotten about

that boy, Truman. You got scared. Just

because something happens, doesn't mean you

can't take another chance in your life.

TRUMAN:

I don't understand.

SYLVIA:

(looking over her shoulder nervously)

There isn't much time. Just listen.

Everybody's pretending Truman. Everybody

but you.

(pointing to the

buildings on the horizon)

Look at that project. You think anybody

lives there? It's all for you, Truman.

A show. The eyes are everywhere.

TRUMAN:

(protesting)

Eyes? Where?

SYLVIA:

(frustrated, raving)

Everywhere, disguised...Truman, they're

going to fill your head with lies.

You've got to make yourself deaf, you

understand? When you're afraid the most, it

means you're on the right track. Trust that

boy. Promise me you'll do that?

Truman nods, unsure of the commitment he is making.

Suddenly a 1962 Plymouth roars towards the fountain out of

nowhere.

SYLVIA:

(scared)

I told you, Truman!

The car skids to a stop and a large MAN, 40ish, with a shock of

dark hair jumps from the car. The man yanks the frightened

Sylvia to her feet causing her cardigan to fall to the ground.

TRUMAN:

(shocked)

Hey!

MAN:

(to Sylvia)

Get in the car, Lauren!

Truman jumps up.

TRUMAN:

(to the Man)

Who are you?!

MAN:

I'm her father!

SYLVIA:

No he's not! He's just saying that!

Does he look anything like me?!

TRUMAN:

Shut your mouth!

The man backhands Sylvia roughly across the face and bundles

her into his car. Truman rushes at the man.

TRUMAN:

Leave her alone!

The man easily fends Truman off, knocking him to the ground.

He slams shut the passenger door of the Plymouth.

MAN:

(to Sylvia)

I told you not to come here anymore!

(to Truman, who is getting

to his feet)

Which one are you?

Truman is suddenly struck dumb, the doubts start crowding back

into his head.

SYLVIA:

(calling out from the car)

Don't listen to him, Truman. Make yourself

deaf. Come find me.

MAN:

(to Truman, getting into the car)

Don't bother! We're moving to Australia.

New York's done something to her head.

The Plymouth roars away. Truman stares after it and then

turns back to the cardigan left on the ground.

CHRISTOF (V.O.)

Why did he say Australia? Why couldn't he

have said New Jersey?

EXT. FLUSHING MEADOW. DUSK, PRESENT DAY.

VERONICA'S head suddenly appears back in frame beside TRUMAN.

VERONICA:

You want me to do it again? I think I

could do it better.

TRUMAN:

(coming back to reality)

No...thank you.

Truman picks up the cardigan. They return to the car.

INT. TRUMAN'S CAR. NIGHT.

TRUMAN drives VERONICA back to her turf. She smokes a

cigarette, flicking ash out of the window.

TRUMAN:

Veronica, what do you know for sure?

VERONICA:

For sure?

(taking a long drag on her cigarette

as she gives the question due

consideration)

The nuns at my school, they used to say,

"The whole of life is faith."

Truman regards his companion in a new light. He comes to a stop

at the corner where he picked her up.

VERONICA:

(giving Truman an affectionate

peck on the cheek)

On the house.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR. DAY, SEVENTEEN YEARS EARLIER.

Another televised flashback. The SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD TRUMAN

stands reflectively beside Sylvia's open and vacated locker.

CHRISTOF (V.O.)

We removed all physical trace of her

but we couldn't erase the memory...

ANOTHER SHORT BURST OF FAST-FORWARD AND THEN THE PICTURE RETURNS

TO NORMAL SPEED.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY. DAY

In a secluded corner of the library the SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD

TRUMAN sits at a table surrounded by a stack of glossy women's

magazines. By tearing out individual facial features - eyes.

nose, mouth, ears, chin, hair - from photographs of YOUNG WOMEN

in the magazine's advertisements, Truman has been able to

improvise a composite picture of Sylvia.

The montage is a passable likeness although Truman is not

completely satisfied with Sylvia's nose. He toys with

several nose examples before reluctantly settling for one.

He stares wistfully at the completed picture.

ANOTHER BURST OF FAST-FORWARD

INT. SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD TRUMAN'S HOUSE. DAY.

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD TRUMAN enters the front door. His older

sister, RAQUEL, has been awaiting his arrival.

CHRISTOF (V.O.)

When he decided to go after Sylvia, we

were forced to intervene once again...

TRUMAN:

(excited)

I've got something to tell you, Sis.

RAQUEL:

(adopting a low, serious tone)

I've got something to tell you too.

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