The Truman Show Page #13

SECURITY GUARD 2

You gotta leave.

The Guards frog-march Truman out of the huge facade towards an

Emergency Exit.

TRUMAN:

(not going quietly)

Just tell me what the hell's going on?

SECURITY GUARD 1

We're re-modelling.

TRUMAN:

Like f***! What're they doing?

EXT. LOWER MANHATTAN STREET. DAY.

TRUMAN continues to struggle as the GUARDS usher him to the

street.

TRUMAN:

You don't tell me, I'll get you investigated!

SECURITY GUARD 2

Investigate what? You're trespassing!

Truman sees there is no point in arguing further. His

shouts are attracting the interest of PASSERS-BY. A thought

occurs to him.

He starts to run along the street, suddenly entering another

building at random. An office block with a bank on the ground

floor. As he skirts the bank, he feels the eyes of the BANK

STAFF and CUSTOMERS on him. Is he so suspicious-looking or

were they expecting him?

Truman rushes to the elevators. The lights above the doors

show all the elevators on upper floors. Frantic pressing

of the elevator button gets no response. Truman heads for the

stairs but is intercepted by a BANK OFFICIAL who bars his way.

OFFICIAL:

You can't--

TRUMAN:

(anticipating his response)

--I know.

Truman backs away out of the office and continues to run down

the streets of Lower Manhattan's financial district. Every

building he encounters seems to have a SECURITY GUARD

anticipating his arrival or a building OFFICIAL hanging a CLOSED

FOR BUSINESS sign on the front door.

He feels the eyes of PEDESTRIANS. Is he simply drawing

attention to himself by his behavior? Truman wheels around,

trying to make eye contact with passers-by. They shy away.

Truman stops still, his head reeling.

INT. INSURANCE COMPANY. DAY.

From the office window on the twelfth floor, TRUMAN can observe

the glass building down the street. He ponders the black,

mirrored box. LAWRENCE appears at his side.

TRUMAN:

You ever been into the AMT Building?

LAWRENCE:

(following Truman's gaze)

Not since they begun reconstruction.

(referring to the file

in Truman's hands)

What're you doing with that?

TRUMAN:

(defensive)

I'm going to visit a site.

LAWRENCE:

What for?

TRUMAN:

Because I never do.

LAWRENCE:

(placing a hand on Truman's arm)

That's why we got adjusters.

TRUMAN:

(looking at Lawrence's hand

on his arm)

You got a problem with me going?

LAWRENCE:

I got a problem with you not doing your job,

Burbank. You already screwed up once this week.

TRUMAN:

Let me worry about that.

Truman exits with the report. After waiting only a matter of

seconds for an elevator, he impatiently enters the stairwell.

As soon as he disappears from sight, a grim CHRISTOF emerges

from a nearby office, shadowed as always by CHLOE. They

approach Lawrence with the familiarity of business associates.

LAWRENCE:

680 West 89th.

Christof nods. Chloe opens a flip-phone to make a call.

INT. INSURANCE CO. - STAIRWELL. DAY.

An out-of-breath TRUMAN arrives on the second floor landing of

the stairwell to find two burly MOVERS blocking his path

with a large office desk they are attempting to transport.

Truman considers retracing his steps, then without warning

clambers over the mahogany barrier.

MOVER 1

Hey, would it kill ya to wait?!

INT. SUBWAY. DAY.

TRUMAN paces impatiently on an empty subway platform with other

frustrated passengers. He loses patience and suddenly

turns and runs up the stairs.

INT. TAXI CAB. DAY.

TRUMAN sits seething in a traffic jam that exists for no

apparent reason.

TRUMAN:

(impatiently to driver)

Is there another way? Can't you get around

this?

EXT. A CHARRED APARTMENT BUILDING ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE. DAY.

TRUMAN exits his taxi and takes in the scene. A partially

burnt building, waterlogged, still faintly smoldering. Truman

checks the address on his file. A small, serious-looking BOY

straddles his bicycle on the sidewalk.

TRUMAN:

(to the boy)

When was the fire?

BOY:

(shrug)

Week ago.

TRUMAN:

How come it's still smoking?

BOY:

Started up again.

(dismissive)

Kids.

TRUMAN:

(referring to his claims report)

Says here it burnt to the ground.

BOY:

Wishful thinking maybe?

The boy is wise well beyond his years. Truman fixes him with a

glare.

TRUMAN:

Someone send you to tell me all this?

BOY:

(unfazed)

You the one askin' questions.

The boy casually rides away.

EXT. CITY PARK. DAY.

TRUMAN wanders aimlessly through a city park, observing. We

sense, truly observing for the first time.

A group of YOUTHS play a pick-up game of basketball. A YOUNG

WOMAN walks a pair of AFGHAN HOUNDS. An OLD MAN answers the

incessant questions of his GRANDCHILD. Nothing appears amiss.

EXT. TIMES SQUARE. DAY.

TRUMAN stands amidst a throng of TOURISTS and COMMUTERS marooned

on Times Square. Mesmerized by the two fast-moving rivers of

vehicles flowing through the intersection.

Truman stares down at the street, contemplating stepping out

into the traffic. However as his foot is poised, the stream

of cars that passed so close by seconds earlier, now appear to

be giving him a wider berth. He steps off the sidewalk and.

to an acompaniment of car horns, begins to wander back and forth

without fear through the traffic, confident that each vehicle

will take evasive action.

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