Monday, January 28, 2013

A Great Gatsby Screenplay


The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the novels students read in high school. I did enjoy the story as a teenager, but did not really appreciate the depth of the characters and environment. I enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby again. My class was asked to write a brief screenplay for one significant scene in the book. I chose a scene that I felt represented the entire book. The desperation and naivety of Gatsby, present in all of his actions, were prominent in this conversation with narrator Nick Carraway. I wanted my screenplay to reflect the original novel, with some influence from the 1974 film. Please excuse any format issues; I am unfamiliar with official screenplay format. I hope you enjoy this interpretation of The Great Gatsby.

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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