Big Eyes
Page 9
Loosen up, Mom! You’re impossible! You move me all the way to Hawaii. Then I actually make some friends, and all you do is complain about them.
(cutting)
Maybe you need to make some.
MARGARET
Y-you know I can’t have people over to the house.
JANE
That’s right! Or they’d see the precious paintings!!
Margaret has no response. Jane runs off.
INT. HAWAIIAN HOUSE—DAY
Margaret is alone, pouring a drink. She mixes in some ice—then sees something odd.
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW
Coming down the long driveway are two FIGURES. Two small WOMEN, patiently walking toward the isolated house.
Margaret stares, puzzled. The women come closer. They are Asian, dressed in formal dresses. Curious, Margaret creeps over, spying on them…
They walk up and ring the bell. DING-DONG! An unsure beat … then Margaret opens the door. The ladies smile politely.
ASIAN LADY #1
Hello. We’re visiting everyone in this neighborhood with an important message. No doubt you’re busy, so we’ll be brief.
Huh?
Margaret stares at them deadpan, highball in her hand.
ASIAN LADY #2
We have something to share with you about the wonderful things that God’s Kingdom will do for mankind.
Margaret’s face darkens.
MARGARET
I’m not interested.
She starts to close the door … but they continue.
ASIAN LADY #1
Do you mean that you are not interested in the Bible, or in religion in general?
MARGARET
I’m not interested in whatever you’re selling.
The lady glances at Margaret’s glass. She smiles gently.
ASIAN LADY #2
But we’re not selling anything. We’re just here to share the good news.
MARGARET
(dour)
From where I’m standing, I don’t see much good anywhere. Just a lot of pride, and thievery, and people treating each other poorly.
ASIAN LADY #2
Yes! Exactly! That is the good news!
What? Margaret is lost. The ladies grab the opening.
ASIAN LADY #1
Bad things in the world are a sign. They show us that earthly Paradise is at hand.
ASIAN LADY #2
Do you know what it says in Timothy 3:1–5?
(she pulls out a BIBLE and quickly thumbs to a page)
“In the last days, critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves. Lovers of money. Self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient—”
MARGARET
Sounds like my ex-husband.
Margaret laughs. Surprised, the women laugh, too.
Margaret peers at them. At their Bible.
MARGARET
Would you like to come in?
CUT TO:
LATER
The three women sit. Margaret gazes…
MARGARET
It’s been so long since I’ve been happy. But, I don’t even know why I’m telling you … two complete strangers.
ASIAN LADY #1
It’s our mission to comfort those in mourning. Jehovah wants us to help the brokenhearted.
MARGARET
So you’re—Jehovah’s Witnesses?
The ladies nod.
Margaret thinks.
MARGARET
I’ve explored so many religions. But they all had their flaws…
ASIAN LADY #2
Then they’re wrong for you. Read your Bible—you might be surprised by the answers it gives.
(gentle)
Margaret, you can’t go down a path unless you know, in your heart, it’s the right one.
MARGARET
And how do you know …?
ASIAN LADY #2
(she smiles)
Because our beliefs are supported by the Scriptures. Jehovah is the God of truth.
Beat.
Margaret glances over at a half-completed “Keane” on the easel. A strange pause.
MARGARET
What does that mean, exactly?
ASIAN LADY #2
(emphatic)
Honesty leads to self-respect. A feeling of well-being.
Margaret is piqued. Her eyes widen. Like a Keane.
CUT TO:
INT. HAWAIIAN HOUSE—NIGHT
Margaret is enthralled, avidly perusing a happy-looking booklet, “The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life.”
MARGARET
It says here a worshiper of Jehovah must be honest in all things.
Jane snorts.
JANE
I just can’t believe you let people in the house.
MARGARET
I have nothing to hide!
(torrid)
It also says no lies. “Speak truth. Let the stealer steal no more.”
Margaret and Jane lock eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. WOODSIDE HOUSE—DAY
Loud JAZZ plays. Back home, Walter is living a Man’s, Man’s World. He’s partying, drinking, and dancing with two cute HIPPIE CHICKS in bikinis.
The place is like a WAREHOUSE, Keane PRINTS stacked everywhere.
HIPPIE CHICK
Shit, this is crazy! All these copies … you’re like Warhol!
WALTER
Nah, Warhol’s like me. That fruit fly stole my act! “The Factory”? I had a factory before he had a soup can!
The girls scrunch their faces, lost.
Then—DING-DONG! Walter peeks out the window, then grins.
WALTER
Ah! It’s my art supplies.
INT. PAINTING ROOM—SECONDS LATER
Alone, Walter eagerly pries open a GIANT CRATE. He pulls out padding. Wadded Honolulu newspapers. Then … a PAINTING.
Ah! A new WAIF, surrounded by colorful tropical plants. Walter smiles triumphantly—until—his happiness melts into confusion. Then horror.
We ZOOM IN ON the painting’s SIGNATURE. It says “MDH Keane.”
Walter freaks.
WALTER
AAAGGGGHH!
CUT TO:
INT. HAWAIIAN KINGDOM HALL—DAY
The JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES sing a joyous, high-spirited PSALM:
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
“Tremble not before your foe,
Let all lovers of truth know!
That my reigning Son, Christ Jesus,
From the heav’ns has cast the foe.
Soon will bind the Devil, Satan,
Letting all his victims go!”
Margaret and Jane are singing happily.
INT. HAWAIIAN HOUSE—DAY
Margaret pours her liquor down the sink.
Margaret tosses her cigarettes in the trash.
Margaret swells, feeling a burst of power. Then a VOICE:
D.J. (O.S.)
Oh yeah! We got a special guest today. A world-famous celebrity who just called up and asked to come in…!
INT. RADIO BOOTH—DAY
Angle on BIG LOLO, a gregarious Hawaiian D.J. in headphones.
D.J.
She’s malihini! Moved to the islands a couple months ago … so let’s give a big aloha to Margaret Keane!
He pops in a cart. Canned APPLAUSE plays. We reveal across from him … Margaret. He grins.
D.J.
So is it true your husband Walter is the top-selling painter in the world?
We SLOWLY PUSH IN to her. Tentative, she speaks.
MARGARET
No … Big Lolo. Everything you just said is false.
Margaret takes a deep breath. Working up her courage.
MARGARET
One: Walter is no longer my husband.
(a long pause)
And two: He’s not … a painter.
Margaret exhales.
The D.J. is confused. He checks his notes.
D.J.
But, am I … mixed-up? Ain
’t he the guy who does the crazy eyes?
MARGARET
No. Though he’s been taking credit for ten years.
(strong)
I’m the only painter in the family.
Margaret slowly smiles.
And then … a calmness comes over her. Like a cloud has lifted.
INT. RADIO STATION HALLWAY—DAY
Margaret and Jane walk away. Jane beams proudly, then gives her mother a warm hug.
Then—LOUD CLICKING:
CUT TO:
INT. NEW YORK TIMES—DAY
John Canaday stands over a WIRE SERVICE TELETYPE MACHINE. He stares at a printout, incredulous.
CANADAY
You have got to be kidding!
INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT—DAY
TIGHT—The San Francisco Examiner. A small headline says “EYE DID IT! CLAIMS WIFE”
We PULL OUT, revealing Dee-Ann. She grins in disbelief.
DEE-ANN
I knew it!!!
INT. SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER—DICK’S CUBICLE—DAY
Dick Nolan reads the article—and SPITS UP his martini.
INT. HUNGRY I—DAY
Banducci CACKLES, terribly amused.
INT. ART GALLERY—DAY
Ruben SHRIEKS at the article.
RUBEN
Who would WANT credit?!
INT. COFFEE SHOP—DAY
Walter sits in his favorite haunt, eating lunch and reading a NEWSPAPER. Suddenly—he GASPS.
WALTER
Holy mother of GOD!
Walter JERKS UP—feral—like an animal sensing danger.
He whirls and looks around. Paranoia ratcheting. Is everybody staring at him? Walter starts shaking in horror. Then—he jumps and BOLTS OUT.
INT. BAR—NIGHT
Walter sits with Dick. Walter’s desperate, sweaty.
WALTER
Margaret’s gone berserk! You gotta help me! I need a story, a wire story—national!—to calm things down.
Dick peers shrewdly.
DICK
I don’t know … Walter. What she has said is pretty inflammatory.
WALTER
But it’s nuts! It doesn’t even make sense. When I was studying art at the Beaux Arts in Paris, she was still a kid in Tennessee!
Dick reacts. Walter whips out the Tomorrow’s Master’s BOOK.
WALTER
Look! These are my early sketches.
(he flips pages, like a magician)
See?! Berlin orphans, 1946!
DICK
(piqued)
But … how could she…
WALTER
Exactly! It’s impossible! We didn’t meet for another nine years! After she busted her first marriage.
(he shrugs)
Hell, she busted OUR marriage! Sleeping around with whatever trash she could find!!
Dick’s head is spinning.
Gossip columnist Dick Nolan hears Walter’s side of the tale.
DICK
I—I, but … why would Maggie do this?
WALTER
She’s unhinged! She left me and moved into the jungle. She fell in with a bunch of religious zealots:
(whispering)
Jehovah’s Witnesses.
DICK
I really don’t know much about them…
WALTER
Oh! These people are gone! Solid gone! They don’t celebrate Christmas, they can’t salute the flag … they won’t even let Janie go to the prom!
Dick is startled.
INT. HAWAIIAN HOUSE—DAY
Margaret sits with a GROUP of her Witness friends. She is sorrowful. Confused. Clutching ASSORTED NEWSPAPERS.
MARGARET
He made me sound crazy!!
ASIAN LADY #2
Just rise above it.
MARGARET
But how can I?! He claims I copied HIM! That he taught ME how to paint!
(reading the NEWSPAPER)
“She used a slide projector to trace my work and fill in the colors.”
ASIAN LADY #1
And which part of that is untrue?
MARGARET
ALL OF IT!
(impassioned)
When I finally told the truth, I felt good about myself for the first time in years!! I’m not going to let him take that away.
Nobody is sure what to say. Until—Jane pipes up:
JANE
Hey. Is Jehovah okay with suing??
CUT TO:
EXT. HONOLULU FEDERAL COURTHOUSE—DAY
The mighty courtroom steps are SWARMING WITH PEOPLE. It’s a circus. LOCAL TV NEWS CREWS do stand-ups:
REPORTER #1
Seventeen million dollars!
(beat)
The art world is abuzz! Is it possible that the decade’s top-selling painter can’t even paint??!
REPORTER #2
Or is Mrs. Keane simply a bitter ex-wife, trying to steal her husband’s fame and fortune?
(beat)
Today in Federal Court, lawyers present their opening arguments in the case of Margaret Keane vs. Walter Keane and Gannett Newspapers. A trial that could produce the largest libel and slander award in Hawaiian history.
Margaret, Jane, Margaret’s LAWYER, and her FRIENDS walk up. Margaret glances over—and spots FEMINIST SUPPORTERS smiling at her. They hold up signs: “Stand Up and Be Counted!”
Margaret is bewildered. She hurries in.
AT THE CURB
Walter and a POSSE OF LAWYERS exit a Town car. The REPORTERS charge over, as Walter puts on a confident face.
REPORTER #1
Mr. Keane! Are you at all concerned about the charges?
WALTER
I’m angry as hell! But I’m lucky to have the mighty Gannett News Company watching my back. I expect to have this whole trial dismissed by noon.
(beat)
Truthfully, my only concern is that somebody get this woman some psychiatric care. She needs it!
CUT TO:
INT. FEDERAL COURTROOM—LATER
The EIGHT JURORS watch attentively. Walter sits with the table of slick Gannett lawyers. The lead lawyer stands in front of the irritable Chinese JUDGE.
GANNET LAWYER
Margaret Keane is a public figure. And as such, she has to prove that our newspapers published statements, aware of probable falsity.
(beat)
But there is no evidence that our editors could have known that the assertions were untrue.
(beat)
We would like to submit 692 articles and interviews in which Mrs. Keane credits Mr. Keane as the painter of the so-called “big eye” children.
His Associate hands two massive bound PILES OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES to the BAILIFF.
Margaret winces.
Walter grins, eating it up.
The Judge stares sourly at the piles.
JUDGE
How many years back do these go?
GANNETT LAWYER
Mrs. Keane has been making these statements since 1958.
Beat.
JUDGE
This is a very strange case. These paintings hang in museums all over the world, attributed to Mr. Keane. And regardless of the truth, Mrs. Keane has contributed immeasurably to the confusion…
The Judge stares off … then makes a decision.
JUDGE
It seems impossible that Gannett’s actions would ever meet the legal standard for libel. So—the charge against them is dismissed.
WIDE
The Lawyer smiles, relieved.
GANNETT LAWYER
Thank you, Your Honor!
Walter peers, comprehending … and then, a realization slowly kicks in. His face turns to horror.
The Lawyer nods humbly, then spins away. He smirks at Walter.
GANNETT LAWYER
Good luck, Keane.
AT THE DEFENSE TABLE
The ENTIRE LEGAL TEAM jumps up and begins packing their briefcases.
Walter sputters in astonishment.
WALTER
“Good luck”? W-where the hell are you going?!
GANNETT LAWYER
We were charged with libel. You’re charged with slander.
(blasé)
Just dance your way out of it.
The Lawyers file out, leaving Walter alone at the table.
He looks very small and pale. The Judge peers quizzically.
JUDGE
Mr. Keane, you appear to be without counsel. Would you like a postponement, in order to get your affairs in order?
Walter glances over at Margaret. She stifles a laugh.
He glares daggers. Then, cocksure, foolhardy, he jumps to his feet.
WALTER
I’ve always taken care of myself, Your Honor. And I don’t need a bunch of rent-a-suits to defend my good name!
(beat)
Let’s PROCEED!
CUT TO:
INSERT—WIRE SERVICE TELETYPE MACHINE
Words type out: AP—HONOLULU—KEANE TRIAL TAKES STARTLING TURN
INSERT—ANOTHER WIRE SERVICE MACHINE
More words type out: UPI—HONOLULU—HE’S A PAINTER … AND A LAWYER?
INT. DICK NOLAN’S OFFICE—DAY
Dick frantically types at his typewriter.
DICK (V.O.)
I’m concerned about my old pal Walter Keane. The Hawaiian heat may have cooked his brain! The only thing he knows about courtrooms and lawyers comes from watching Perry Mason on television!
CUT TO:
INT. COURTROOM—LATER
Walter stands down front. Like a Broadway star, center-stage.
WALTER
I’m the sole creator of my art. This is my total life. My contribution to the world—
JUDGE
Mr. KEANE! I’ve told you, you must ask the witness questions! If you’re acting as your own attorney, you cannot make statements at this time.