FADE IN:
EXT. GATSBY’S GARDEN – NIGHT
In the garden of Gatsby’s house in
West Egg, the garden is decorated lavishly with lanterns and party tables.
The garden is full of well-trimmed
white and red rose bushes, shaped into simple hedges. Exotic flower bushes
surround the party tables, decorated with white silk cloths and colored bows.
The garden paths are red and gray brick with jaunty garden lights on both
sides. The tables are covered in empty champagne bottles and cocktail glasses.
Chairs are knocked eschew or lay on the grass.
DISSOLVE
TO:
EXT. GATSBY’S GARDEN- STAIRWAY -
NIGHT
NICK, a man educated in Business
Bonds and caught in the complex world of wealth and relationships, waits
awkwardly. He is dressed in formal wear: a plain evening jacket over a white
collared shirt and bow tie with black slacks.
His hair is combed neatly to one side. NICK fiddles anxiously with an
empty champagne glass, glancing at the doorway to the garden.
GATSBY, a mysterious, wealthy man
and friend of NICK, enters from stairway. He is dressed in similar formal wear,
but of obvious wealth. His jacket is slightly scuffed and his bowtie is loose
around his throat. GATSBY focuses his eyes on his feet as he descends, body
tense.
GATSBY
(Abruptly)
She
didn’t like it.
NICK
(Reassuringly,
with a touch of impatience.)
Of
course she did.
GATSBY violently shakes his head
and gestures to remains of party. His expression is a mixture of confusion and
sadness.
GATSBY
She
didn’t like it! She didn’t have a good time.
GATSBY remains silent for a moment,
while NICK stares contemplatively at GATSBY.
GATSBY
(Fusses
with hair and collar)
I
feel far away from her. It’s hard to make her understand.
GATSBY switches between staring at
the remains of the party and NICK, gesturing resignedly. NICK watches in
confusion.
NICK
You
mean about the dance?
GATSBY
(Snapping
impatiently, with a touch of scorn)
The
dance? Old sport, the dance is unimportant.
NICK watches as GATSBY paces to –
THE COCKTAIL BAR
And places his hands on the table,
shoulders hunched in frustration. After
a moment, he turns to face NICK, resting his hands on the table behind him.
GATSBY shakes his head slowly in disbelief, ignoring NICK.
INTERCUT TO GARDEN BENCH
NICK has a moment of realization
and stares in disbelief at GATSBY. NICK slowly sits on garden bench.
NICK
(O.S)
He
wants nothing less of Daisy than she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved
you.”
NICK continues to stare at GATSBY.
NICK
(O.S)
Gatsby
did not even contemplate what would happen afterwards. He clearly imagined a
sweet marriage to Daisy in Louisville, as if the past 5 years had not occurred.
INTERCUT TO COCKTAIL BAR
GATSBY
(With
intense frustration, almost rage)
And
she doesn’t understand! She used to be able to understand.
GATSBY physically sags against the
table, sorrow replacing anger.
GATSBY
We’d
sit for hours-
GATSBY abruptly stops speaking and
paces over party-littered path to—
GARDEN BENCH
NICK
(Standing)
I
wouldn’t ask too much of her.
NICK grabs GATSBY’s arm as the
distraught man paces. NICK pats his shoulder, awkwardly comforting him.
NICK
(Watching
GATSBY meaningfully)
You
can’t repeat the past.
GATSBY freezes in place. He turns
slowly to NICK and stares. GATSBY’s
mouth hangs a little open and his eyebrows lift.
GATSBY
(Slowly
in disbelief)
Can’t
repeat the past?
GATSBY’s voice rises fractionally.
GATSBY
Can’t
repeat the past? Why of course you can!
GATSBY looks around garden wildly.
His expression is exuberant with a touch of panic.
GATSBY
(Fixing
his eyes on NICK with intensity)
I’m
going to fix everything!
GATSBY nods decisively, straightening
his bow tie and jacket. His eyes glaze a little and lower to the ground for a
moment. Then GATSBY raises his eyes to NICK and his shoulder hunch defensively.
GATSBY
Just
the way it was before. She’ll see!
GATSBY abruptly leaves garden and enters
house. NICK collapses on garden bench and stares after GATSBY.
NICK
(O.S.)
(Contemplatively)
Gatsby
talked a lot about the past.
NICK pauses for a moment.
CAMERA
follows NICK’s eyes to Doorway
NICK
(O.S.)
And
I gathered that he wanted to recover something. Some idea of himself, perhaps,
that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered
since then…
INTERCUT MONOLOGUE to GATSBY
GATSBY walks determinedly down
hallway. His shoes click against the
wooden floors with each step. His expression is a mixture of desperation and
determination, focusing straight in front of him.
NICK
(O.S.)
But
if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly,
he could find out what that thing was…
CAMERA
swings to face GATSBY’s back as he continues down hallway
FADE OUT:
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