My screenplay is a snippet from Chapter 7, after the death of Myrtle.
----
Fade in:
EXT. DAISY AND TOM'S HOUSE - NIGHT
In the red haze of the radioactive war district, a car's dim headlights breaks through the thick chemical fog as it pulls into the debris ridden drive way.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - NIGHT
The shadowed passengers pull on their gas masks and affix the mini portable oxygen tanks to their belts.
TOM, still rattled by the lost of his mistress, is revealed to be the first to exit the car as he steps into the light from his house.
TOM
(mutters)
Daisy's home.
JORDAN, and NICK, cautiously exit the car watching Tom.
TOM
I ought to have dropped you in West Egg, Nick. There's nothing we can do tonight.
The group walks through the hazardous fog, the sound of their breathing through the masks fills the silence, until they arrive at -
THE PORCH
Tom looks back towards Nick, before he opens the heavy protective door.
TOM
(impatient)
Won't you come in?
NICK
(hesitant)
No thanks. But I'd be glad if you'd order me a taxi…
JORDAN
(confused)
It's only half past nine.
Jordan puts her hand on Nick's shoulder, motions for him to follow.
NICK
(tired but stern)
No thanks.
Nick and Jordan stare at each other in silence through their masks, and Jordan abruptly turns away through the door.
Tom follows after Jordan, looks back at Nick one last time before shutting the heavy door.
Nick watches their silhouettes move through the windows, sighs, and makes his way towards the street.
DISSOLVE TO:
SIDE OF THE ROAD - NIGHT
The thick red haze swallows up the streetlights, the house is barely visible in the background.
Nick walks along the pathway to the curb to wait beneath the dim streetlight.
Nick goes to sit down on a pile of rubble, left from the war.
GATSBY, a man who's known to throw lavish parties for the survivors, walks out from behind the debris.
NICK
(caught by surprise and stands)
What are you doing here?
GATSBY
(uneasy, fidgeting)
Just standing here, old sport.
(pause)
Did you see any trouble on the road?
NICK
(suspicious)
Yes.
(begins to step away)
GATSBY
(steps closer)
Was she killed?
NICK
(long pause)
Yes.
(Getting frustrated)
What happened?
GATSBY
(fumbling with his words, incomplete thoughts)
Daisy wanted to...I tried to swing the wheel-
Daisy wanted to...I tried to swing the wheel-
NICK
(shocked, cuts off Gatsby)
Was Daisy Driving?
GATSBY
Yes.
(pause)
She was very nervous, and thought it would steady her to drive, and this woman rushed out just as-
The taxi's eerie red lights break through the fog, the sound of the motor approaches.
Nick and Gatsby watch the taxi pull up to the curb.
Gatsby looks to Nick, but Nick dismisses him, shakes his head and enters the taxi without a word.
Gatsby looks back towards the house.
PAN OUT AS TAXI DRIVES AWAY INTO FOG.
FADE TO BLACK.
No comments:
Post a Comment