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Niki Wurster Visit our Movie Scripts Page screenplay 451: http://www.geocities.com/~screenplay451/ Mao Guangqin 2 1 2000-01-15T02:55:00Z 2000-01-15T02:55:00Z 70 20964 119498 Pumpkin Software 995 238 146751 9.2504 21 6 磅 5.2 磅 0 0 Chinat
GITTES
He owned the entire water supply for the city?
SECRETARY
Yes.
GITTES
(really surprised)
How did they get it away from him?
SECRETARY
(a sigh, then)
Mr. Mulwray felt the public should own the display –
the water. If you'll just read the display –
GITTES
(glances back, hums, then)
Mulwray? I thought you said Cross owned the
department.
SECRETARY
– Along with Mr. Mulwray.
GITTES
They were partners.
SECRETARY
(testily)
Yes. Yes, they were partners.
She gets up, annoyed, and goes into Yelburton's inner
office.
Gittes goes back to the photographs. He hears a SCRATCHING SOUND, apparently
coming from just outside the outer door.
He moves quickly to it, hesitates – swiftly opens the
door. workmen are behind it, scraping away Mulwray's name on the outer door –
looking up at Gittes in some surprise.
The Secretary returns, sees the workman on the floor.
SECRETARY
(to Gittes)
Mr. Yelburton will see you now.
Gittes nods graciously, heads on into Yelburton's
office.
INT. DWP – YELBURTON & GITTES
There is a subtle but perceptible difference in
Yelburton's attitude. He's now head of the department.
YELBURTON
Mr. Gittes, sorry to keep you waiting – these staff
meetings, they just go on and on –
GITTES
Yeah – must be especially tough to take over under
these circumstances.
YELBURTON
Oh yes. Hollis was the best department head the city's
ever had. My goodness, what happened to your nose?
GITTES
(smiles)
I cut myself shaving.
YELBURTON
You ought to be more careful. That must really smart.
GITTES
Only when I breathe.
YELBURTON
(laughing)
Only when you breathe... don't tell me you're still
working for Mrs. Mulwray?
GITTES
I never was.
YELBURTON
(stops smiling)
I don't understand.
GITTES
Neither do I, actually. But you hired me – or you
hired that chippie to hire me.
YELBURTON
Mr. Gittes, you're not making a bit of sense.
GITTES
Well, look at it this way, Mr. Yelburton. Mulwray
didn't want to build a dam – and he had a reputation that was hard to get
around, so. you decided to ruin it. Then he found out that you were dumping water
every night – then he – was drowned.
YELBURTON
Mr. Gittes! That's an outrageous accusation. I don't
know what you're talking about.
GITTES
Well, Whitey Mehrholtz over at the Times will. Dumping
thousands of gallons of water down the toilet in the middle of a drought –
that's news.
Gittes heads toward the door.
YELBURTON
Wait – please sit down, Mr. Gittes. We're... well,
we're not anxious for this to get around, but we have been diverting a little
water to irrigate avocado and walnut groves in the northwest valley. As you
know, the farmers there have no legal right to our water, and since the drought
we've had to cut them off – the city comes first, naturally. But, well, we've
been trying to help some of them out, keep them from going under. Naturally
when you divert water – you get a little runoff.
GITTES
Yeah, a little runoff. Where are those orchards?
YELBURTON
I said, the northwest valley.
GITTES
That's like saying they're in Arizona.
YELBURTON
Mr. Gittes, my field men are out and I can't give you
an exact location...
Gittes nods.
GITTES
You're a married man, am I right?
YELBURTON
Yes...
GITTES
Hard working, have a wife and kids...
YELBURTON
Yes...
GITTES
I don't want to nail you – I Just want to know who put
you up to it. I'll give you a few days to think it over –
(hands him a card)
– call me. I can help. Who knows? Maybe we can lay the
whole thing off on a few big shots – and you can stay head of the department
for the next twenty years.
Gittes smiles – leaves an unsmiling Yelburton.
INT. GITTES OFFICE
Gittes enters, drops his hat on Sophie's desk. Sophie
tries to tell him something but Gittes goes on into his office.
EVELYN MULWRAY
Is sitting, smoking. She looks up when he enters.
EVELYN
What's your usual salary?
Gittes moves to his desk, barely breaking stride at
the sight of her.
GITTES
Thirty-five bucks daily for me, twenty for each of my
operators – plus expenses, plus my fee if I show results.
He's sitting now. Evelyn is very pale now, obviously
very shaken.
EVELYN
Whoever's behind my husband's death, why have they
gone to all this trouble?
GITTES
– Money. How they plan to make it by emptying the
reservoirs – that I don't know.
EVELYN
I'll pay your salary plus five thousand dollars if you
find out what happened to Hollis and who is involved.
Gittes buzzes Sophie.
GITTES
Sophie, draw up one of our standard forms for Mrs.
Mulwray.
(he leans back; to Evelyn)
Tell me, did you get married before or after Mulwray
and your father sold the water department?
Evelyn nearly jumps at the question.
GITTES
(continuing)
Your father is Julian Cross, isn't he?
EVELYN
Yes, of course – it was quite a while after. I was
just out of grade school when they did that.
GITTES
– so you married your father's business partner?
Evelyn nods. She lights another cigarette.
GITTES
(continuing; staring at her, points to the ashtray)
You've got one going, Mrs. Mulwray.
EVELYN
– Oh.
She quickly stubs one out.
GITTES
Is there something upsetting about my asking about
your father?
EVELYN
No!... Yes, a little. You see Hollis and my fa – my
father had a falling out...
GITTES
Over the water department – or over you?
EVELYN
(quickly)
Not over me. Why would they have a falling out over
me?
GITTES
(noting her nervousness)
– Then it was over the water department.
EVELYN
Not exactly. Well, I mean, yes. Yes and no. Hollis
felt the public should own the water but I don't think – my father felt that
way. Actually, it was over the Van der Lip. The dam that broke.
GITTES
– Oh, yeah?
EVELYN
Yes. He never forgave him for it.
GITTES
Never forgave him for what?
EVELYN
For talking him into building it, he never forgave my
father... They haven't spoken to this day.
GITTES
(starts a little)
You sure shout that?
EVELYN
Of course I'm sure.
GITTES
What about you – do you and your father get along?
Sophie comes in with the form, cutting off Evelyn's reply. Gittes places two copies on a coffee table in front of Evelyn.
GITTES
Sign here... The other copy's for you.
She signs it. When she looks back up, Gittes is staring intently at her.
EVELYN
What are you thinking?
GITTES
(picking up one of copies, folding it, putting it in his pocket)
Before this – I turned on the faucet, it came out hot
and cold, I didn't think there was a thing to it.
INT. SEAPLANE
The engines make the small cabin vibrate. Gittes threads his way down the tiny aisle of the eight passenger cabin, which is full of middle-aged men in old clothes and their fishing gear. Gittes is poked by a pole – has to move along.
One of the old men says something to him.
GITTES
(above the engines)
What?
OLD MAN
You'll have to sit with the pilot.
Gittes moves forward into the cockpit, the PILOT looks up – nods for
Gittes to sit down, first moving a half- eaten cheese sandwich out of Gittes'
seat.
EXT. HARBOR- SEAPLANE
Taxiing down the ramp into the sea. In a moment, it
kicks up a spray of foam and takes off.
INT. COCKPIT
The island gradually looming larger before the Pilot
and Gittes.
The Pilot glances over at Gittes – who, as usual, is impeccably dressed – a contrast to the others on the plane.
PILOT
(above the engines)
Well, you're not going fishing.
Gittes shakes his head.
GITTES
Not exactly.
PILOT
(winks)
But that's what you told your wife –
The Pilot laughs raucously. Gittes laughs politely.
– lots of fellas do. Tell the little woman they're
going on a fishing trip, then shack up with some little twist on the island...
she pretty?
GITTES
(abruptly)
I'm going to see a man called Julian Cross – ever
heard of him?
PILOT
Is the Pope Catholic? Who are you, mister?... I ask
because he doesn't see a whole lot of people.
GITTES
I'm working for his daughter.
PILOT
(surprised)
That right?... She used to be some looker.
GITTES
She ain't exactly long in the tooth now.
PILOT
She must be about thirty-three, thirty-four.
GITTES
You must be thinking of a different daughter –
PILOT
No, he's only got one, I remember her age, I read it
in the newspapers when she ran away.
GITTES
She ran away?
PILOT
Oh yeah, it was a big thing at the time – Julian
Cross' daughter. God almighty. She was a wild little thing.
He gives a sidelong glance to Gittes, a little concerned he's said too much.
PILOT
(continuing)
Course, she settled down nicely.
GITTES
(smiling a little)
Well, you never know, do you?
PILOT
(loosening up)
That's for sure.
GITTES
Why'd she run away?
PILOT
Oh, you know – she was sixteen or seventeen.
GITTES
(nudging him)
We missed the best of it, didn't we, pal?
Both men laugh a little lewdly.
PILOT
She ran off to Mexico – rumor was she was knocked up
and didn't even know who the father was – went there to get rid of it.
GITTES
You don't say?
PILOT
Cross was looking for her all over the country –
offered rewards, everything. Felt real sorry for him, with all his money.
ALBACORE CLUB – DAY
A pleasant but unobtrusive clapboard blue and white building on the bay overlooking the harbor. The seaplane lands. A motor launch with a burgee of a fish flying from it turns and heads in the direction of the plane.
EXT. WINDING ROAD – RANCHO DEL CRUCE
Gittes, driven in a station wagon, passes under the sign with a cross painted below the name.
The ranch itself is only partially in a valley on the island – as
the wagon continues one can SEE that it is actually a miniature California, encompassing desert,
mountains and canyon that tumble down palisades to the windward side of the
sea.
The wagon comes to a halt where a group of hands are clustered
around a corral. The circle of men drift apart, leaving JULIAN CROSS standing, using a
cane for support, reedy but handsome in a rough linen shirt and jeans. When he
talks his strong face is lively, in repose it looks ravaged.
EXT. BRIDLE PATH – GITTES & CROSS
Walking toward the main house – a classic Monterey. A horse led on a halter by another ranch hand slows down and defecates in the center of the path they are taking. Gittes doesn't notice.
CROSS
Horseshit.
Gittes pauses, not certain he has heard correctly.
GITTES
Sir?
CROSS
I said horseshit.
(pointing)
Horseshit.
GITTES
Yes, sir, that's what it looks like – I'll give you
that.
Cross pauses when they reach the dung pile. He removes his hat and waves it, inhales deeply.
