It’s often referred to as a “perfect script”: Chinatown, written by Robert Towne (with uncredited contributions from director Roman Polanski). Looked at one way, it’s simply a murder mystery, but there’s nothing simple about this movie’s plot or the characters, as this famous scene conveys — one of the most memorable plot twists in American movie history:
EXT. BUNGALOW HOUSE – ADELAIDE DRIVE
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.
Here is the scene in the movie up through the shocking revelation:
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?
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.