The Truman Show Page #16

Marlon shrugs, unimpressed.

TRUMAN:

A guy with the same name as me in Time

Magazine. It ain't a common name so I

looked out for it. But the day it came

out, every newstand was sold out. No

library had it. I even wrote off for a

back-issue. Never seen a copy to this day.

Marlon remains unconvinced.

TRUMAN:

Maybe I'm being set up for something. You

ever feel like that, Marlon? Like your

whole life has been building to something?

Marlon looks skeptically at Truman. He hasn't had that feeling.

MARLON:

(becoming testy)

A coincidence. Haven't you ever heard

of a coincidence?

TRUMAN:

I'm a walking coincidence. I can't count 'em.

No something's happening, Marlon. I've got

to get to the bottom of it.

MARLON:

(shaking his head in exasperation)

Of what?! Why're you doing this to yourself?

TRUMAN:

I'm scared, Marlon. I'm as scared as hell.

But I've never felt more alive. It's just

like she said.

MARLON:

(suddenly intrigued)

Who?

TRUMAN:

It doesn't matter. She was too beautiful for here.

Now Marlon is really confused.

TRUMAN:

Can you lend me some money? A hundred bucks.

MARLON:

All I got on me is the takings from the machines.

Why do you need it?

TRUMAN:

I'm going away for a while.

INT. SYLVIA'S BEACH HOUSE. DUSK.

The comfortably furnished room of a writer. Walls lined with

books. Desk overlooking the sea, strewn with notes, photos and

other reference material. Sylvia's name on the spine of several

published volumes. Pages of unfinished manuscript, handwritten

in blue ink.

SYLVIA stands at a bookcase, looking for inspiration. As she

pulls out a book, a magazine falls to the floor. Truman's

missing copy of Time Magazine. His face on the cover with the

headline, "Truman Burbank and the Lost Generation".

Sylvia retrieves the magazine. In front of a nearby mirror, she

holds Truman's photographed face next to her own, for a moment

imagining them together. Then, catching herself, she quickly

lowers the magazine, left alone with her own reflection.

INT. TRUMAN'S HOUSE. NIGHT.

We see TRUMAN's disturbed face reflected in the screen of his

television set, montaged over that of ROBIN LEACH, host of

"Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous". MERYL, wearing her robe,

head against Truman's chest, sips from a bottle of beer.

MERYL:

(attempting to open him up)

What's going on, Truman? You're not yourself.

TRUMAN:

(vague)

Maybe you just don't know me very well.

INT. DINING ROOM SOMEWHERE. NIGHT.

CHRISTOF eats a sumptuous meal in an ornate private dining

room with an elegant WOMAN, thirty years his junior. Playing

silently on a monitor on an antique side table is a surveillance

shot of TRUMAN and MERYL slumped in front of their television.

CHLOE, enters the room and nods an apology to Christof's dinner

companion - a woman her own age. Christof's companion shrugs

resignedly. Christof registers Chloe's thinly disguised

resentment, enjoying the rivalry.

Chloe inserts a cassette tape into a nearby VCR. Christof

wipes his mouth with his napkin and picks up his wine glass as

he gives the television his full attention. A commercial for

"GLOBAL TRAVEL" begins to play.

INT. TRUMAN'S HOUSE. NIGHT.

TRUMAN continues to watch "Lifestyles" restlessly. However, as

he goes to get up from the sofa, MERYL starts to slide down his

chest towards his lap.

MERYL:

We could do it right here, like we used to.

The program cuts to a commercial break. The commercial

is for "Global Travel".

NARRATOR:

(from television)

Travelling Down Under? Global Travel is

turning rates to Australia upside down. Round

Trip to Sydney only $829. One way, $465.

Global Travel at Broadway and 44th...

Truman perks up at the commercial while Meryl's attention is

elsewhere.

TRUMAN:

(abruptly getting up)

Lemme go to the bathroom.

MERYL:

Don't be too long.

Truman exits the living room. However, on his way to the

bathroom he hesitates at the kitchen table. He surreptitiously

lifts the platic-coated plaid tablecloth to reveal numerous

bills laid out flat beneath it to keep the stash hidden.

INT. CHRISTOF'S BEDROOM. DAWN.

CHLOE pulls back long, white silk drapes to reveal a spectacular

view overlooking the Hollywood Hills. CHRISTOF rouses from his

enormous round bed. His DINNER COMPANION also stirs, waving

coyly to Chloe as she modestly covers herself, only mildly

perturbed by the intrusion. Chloe switches on the television

set in the extravagent bedroom. Playing on the set are TRUMAN

and MERYL still fast asleep in their own bed.

CHRISTOF:

What happened overnight?

CHLOE:

He couldn't do it, even on the sofa.

CHRISTOF:

(smiling to himself)

God, that thing of his must be psychic.

(matter-of-fact)

He didn't masturbate?

CHLOE:

Not for the last two inonths.

Chloe exits and Christof climbs out of bed.

INT. TRUMAN'S HOUSE. MORNING.

MERYL emerges from the bathroom, ready for work, surprised to

find TRUMAN sitting at the kitchen table.

MERYL:

(rubbing ointment into her wrists)

Aren't you gonna be late?

TRUMAN:

I got a call in the area.

(nodding to her wrists)

What's the case? Anything interesting?

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