EXT. BUNGALOW HOUSE – ADELAIDE DRIVEHere is the scene in the movie up through the shocking revelation:
Gittes pulls up in Mulwray's Buick. He hurries to the front
door, pounds on it.
The Chinese servant answers the door.
CHINESE SERVANT
You wait.
GITTES
(short sentence in
Chinese)
You wait.
Gittes pushes past him. Evelyn, looking a little worn but
glad to see him hurries to the door. She takes Gittes' arm.
EVELYN
How are you? I was calling you.
She looks at him, searching his face.
GITTES
Yeah?
They move into the living room. Gittes is looking around it.
EVELYN
Did you get some sleep?
GITTES
Sure.
EVELYN
Did you have lunch? Kyo will fix you
something.
GITTES
(abruptly)
Where's the girl?
EVELYN
Upstairs. Why?
GITTES
I want to see her.
EVELYN
...she's having a bath now... why do
you want to see her?
Gittes continues to look around. He sees clothes laid out
for packing in a bedroom off the living room.
GITTES
Going somewhere?
EVELYN
Yes, we've got a 4:30 train to catch.
Why?
Gittes doesn't answer. He goes to the phone and dials.
GITTES
J. J. Gittes for Lieutenant Escobar
EVELYN
What are you doing? What's wrong? I
told you we've got a 4:30.
GITTES
(cutting her off)
You're going to miss your train!
(then, into phone)
Lou, meet me at 1412 Adelaide. It's
above Santa Monica Canyon... yeah,
soon as you can.
EVELYN
What did you do that for?
GITTES
(a moment, then)
You know any good criminal lawyers?
EVELYN
(puzzled)
No...
GITTES
Don't worry. I can recommend a couple.
They're expensive but you can afford
it.
EVELYN
(evenly but with great
anger)
What the hell is this all about?
Gittes looks at her, then takes the handkerchief out of his
breast pocket. Unfolds it on a coffee table, revealing the
bifocal glasses, one lens still intact. Evelyn stares dumbly
at them.
GITTES
I found these in your backyard... in
your fish pond. They belonged to
your husband, didn't they?... didn't
they?
EVELYN
I don't know. I mean yes, probably.
GITTES
Yes positively. That's where he was
drowned...
EVELYN
What are you saying?
GITTES
There's no time for you to be shocked
by the truth, Mrs. Mulwray. The
coroner's report proves he was killed
in salt water. Just take my word for
it. Now I want to know how it happened
and why. I want to know before Escobar
gets here because I want to hang
onto my license.
EVELYN
I don't know what you're talking
about. This is the most insane...
the craziest thing I ever...
Gittes has been in a state of near frenzy himself. gets up,
shakes her.
GITTES
Stop it! I'll make it easy. You
were jealous, you fought, he fell,
hit his head. It was an accident,
but his girl is a witness. You've
had to pay her off. You don't have
the stomach to harm her, but you've
got the money to shut her up. Yes or
no?
EVELYN
...no...
GITTES
Who is she? And don't give me that
crap about it being your sister. You
don't have a sister.
Evelyn is trembling.
EVELYN
I'll tell you the truth...
Gittes smiles.
GITTES
That's good. Now what's her name?
EVELYN
Katherine.
GITTES
Katherine?... Katherine who?
EVELYN
She's my daughter.
Gittes stares at her. He's been charged with anger and when
Evelyn says this it explodes. He hits her full in the face.
Evelyn stares back at him. The blow has forced tears from
her eyes, but she makes no move, not even to defend herself.
GITTES
I said the truth!
EVELYN
She's my sister.
Gittes slaps her again.
EVELYN
She's my daughter.
Gittes slaps her again.
EVELYN
My sister.
He hits her again.
EVELYN
My daughter, my sister.
He belts her finally, knocking her into a cheap Chinese vase
which shatters and she collapses on the sofa, sobbing.
GITTES
I said I want the truth.
EVELYN
(almost screaming it)
She's my sister and my daughter!
Kyo comes running down the stairs.
EVELYN
(continuing; in Chinese)
For God's sake, Kyo, keep her
upstairs, go back!
Kyo turns after staring at Gittes for a moment then goes
back upstairs.
EVELYN
My father and I, understand, or is
it too tough for you?
Gittes doesn't answer.
EVELYN
...he had a breakdown... the dam
broke... my mother died... he became
a little boy... I was fifteen...
he'd ask me what to eat for breakfast,
what clothes to wear!... It
happened... then I ran away...
GITTES
To Mexico...
She nods.
EVELYN
Hollis came and took... care of me...
after she was born... he said... he
took care of her... I couldn't see
her... I wanted to but I couldn't...
I just want to see her once in a
while... take care of her... that's
all... but I don't want her to
know... I don't want her to know...
GITTES
...so that's why you hate him...
Evelyn looks slowly up at Gittes.
EVELYN
No... for turning his back on me
after it happened! He couldn't face
it...
(weeping)
I hate him.
Gittes suddenly feels the need to loosen his tie.
GITTES
Yeah... where are you taking her
now?
EVELYN
Back to Mexico.
GITTES
You can't go by train. Escobar'll be
looking for you everywhere.
EVELYN
How about a plane?
GITTES
That's worse... Just get out of here.
Walk out, leave everything.
EVELYN
I have to go home and get my things.
GITTES
I'll take care of it.
EVELYN
Where can we go?
GITTES
...where does Kyo live?
EVELYN
With us.
GITTES
On his day off. Get the exact address.
EVELYN
Okay...
She stops suddenly.
EVELYN
Those didn't belong to Hollis.
For a moment Gittes doesn't know what she's talking about.
Then he follows her gaze to the glasses lying on his
handkerchief.
GITTES
How do you know?
EVELYN
He didn't wear bifocals.
Gittes picks up the glasses, stares at the lens, is
momentarily lost in them.
EVELYN
From the stairs. She has her arm around Katherine.
EVELYN
Say hello to Mr. Gittes, sweetheart.
KATHERINE
(from the stairs)
Hello.
GITTES
Rises a little shakily from the arm
of the sofa.
GITTES
Hello.
With her arm around the girl, talking in Spanish, Evelyn
hurries her toward the bedroom. In a moment she re-emerges.
EVELYN
(calling down)
He lives at 1712 Alameda... do you
know where that is?
REACTION – GITTES
He nods slowly.
GITTES
Sure. It's Chinatown.
I suspect most of us remember this scene because of the big reveal itself, but the scene is critical for two other reasons. The first has to do with the Plotline: Instead of having Evelyn arrested, Gittes chooses to let her leave with Katherine, a decision that eventually leads to the famous final scene of the movie. The second thing is about the Themeline or the emotional life of the story: For while the plot winds its way through the manipulative schemes of "the powers that be" in Los Angeles, backroom deals and bribes, it is Gittes' relationship with Evelyn - and now extending to her daughter (and her sister) Katherine - that provides an emotional touchstone for the audience. This pivotal moment, where Gittes learns of the unspeakable horror perpetrated on Noah Cross' daughter by Cross himself, is a massive gut check for Gittes, who up to this point has not demonstrated himself to be much of a stand-up guy, at least morally. Now he does, displaying a side of his humanity we had not seen before.
Of course, we can't discuss this scene without drawing the obvious symbolism: What Cross did to Evelyn, literally screwing her, is the same thing that he and his political and business cronies are in the process doing to Los Angeles, laying the groundwork for the sprawling mess the city became, all to fatten their wallets.
What are you thoughts about this great scene from Chinatown?
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2 comments:
In the movie,the line where Evelyn tells Gittes about her father is more mysterious than the line in this draft.
Only two words are used.
My father and I ... Understand?
Then Gittes asks her if he raped her and she responds negatively.
This is teaches us about the power of mystery and subtext.
Don't you agree Mr Scott?
I think it shows that any topic can be done without too much consternation.
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