Lesson 27

[Firdaus Bilimoria]

Firdaus F Bilimoria – Lesson 27

SCENE REWRITE

INT. STAGE IN VENICE FILM FESTIVAL AUDITORIUM, NIGHT – NIGHT
An audience of well-dressed film festival goers are seated waiting for the interview to begin. The stage has two chairs.

CARLEY, early 40s, chic and intellectual-looking, and MARCUS, 50s, stylish in a professorial manner, enter.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Please welcome Carley Horner, well known auteur-director, and Marcus Thomas, the famously erudite and incisive film critic.

The crowd claps for a long minute. Carley and Marcus smile and acknowledge the applause. Carley nods politely at Marcus and at the crowd. Marcus gestures to Carley to sit. They sit.

MARCUS
Thank you Carley for joining us. Your new film, Angels in Disguise, has been very well received here at the Venice Film Festival. Congratulations on yet another great film.

CARLEY
Thank you Marcus.

MARCUS
I must say I was very impressed by your very unique interpretation of day to day people, mediocre in every respect, at least to some of us. Yet you have successfully made a compelling story of such… ordinariness.

Marcus delivery could be interpreted in many different ways, perhaps even as being condescending. Carley’s eyes narrow.

CARLEY
(coolly)
Thank you Marcus, coming from you that is a great boost to my fragile ego. And I must compliment you on being very perceptive of my the quality of my work, ordinary or mediocre as it might appear to some.

Marcus shifts nervously. He didn’t want the interview to turn hostile.

MARCUS
So tell me Carley, how did you transform these regular day to day people, into characters of compelling..

CARLEY
(interrupts Marcus)
I remember your review of my very first film, Marcus. It was so brutal and almost aborted my career before it started.

Gasps in the audience. Someone laughs out loud.

MARCUS
Brutal you say…

CARLEY
Brutal and vicious if I may say so.

MARCUS
Well brutal and vicious is often how your films are described.

CARLEY
Yes! Because I recognize the brutality of life and explore these dark themes in my work!

MARCUS
Well brutal and vicious is a compliment, of course, and that characteristic tone and visual coloring is why audiences, and I, respect your work and find it so compelling.

CARLEY
Brutal and vicious, ordinary and mediocre.

Marcus smiles and gestures helplessly.

MARCUS
I meant that in a metaphorical sense…

CARLEY
(expressive with exaggerated hand gestures)
I apologize I was rude in my first reaction. Its just I am overwhelmed by the great presence of Marcus Thomas, the great film critic and historian.

MARCUS
(smiles)
Are you being sarcastic?

CARLEY
How could you tell? Was I too obvious?

MARCUS
Correction, perhaps you were being passive-aggressive.

CARLEY
I would describe it as aggressive-aggressive, I don’t fool around. Unlike your film critiques which are all over the map, and leave the reader wondering what you really mean.

MARCUS
(laughs)
So I wasn’t that obviously one-sided in my critique of your earlier work. (interrupts Carley as she begins to retort) And by the way, that was a very perceptive critique of my critique style.
Marcus flashes a smile at Carley and at the audience. The audience laughs.

Carley smiles in spite of herself. Carley and Marcus stare at each other.

MARCUS
So let us explore your reaction to my earlier critique, which demolished your life and almost derailed your career. Was it that traumatic?

CARLEY
You are mocking me.

MARCUS
No indulge me, was it really hard on the younger Carley. I don’t know whether I should be more cognizant of the impact of my work on the artists that I critique.

CARLEY
You are making fun of me.

MARCUS
Maybe just a little bit. But wasn’t my approach similar to yours? You are known for your brutal honesty and couldn’t care less for the impact on the viewers’ sensibilities.

CARLEY
I am brutally honest when I present characters in heart-wrenching circumstances faced with difficult choices and impossible imperatives in life! The characters and the stories deserve the brutal honesty from me as the artistic creator!

MARCUS
But a critic like myself faces similar choices. No?

CARLEY
No! Because the critic is merely a second-hand channel for describing the original creator’s work!

MARCUS
Ouch! Second hand channel. Tell us how you really feel! (to the audience) Ms. Carley is pulling no punches here, and I deserve it.

The audience laughs, somewhat nervously.

CARLEY
Ok that was a bit much. I shouldn’t have said it. I apologize.
(beat)
Really. I mean it.

Marcus smiles gently.

MARCUS
So tell me, apart from the disastrous early critique from me, what other trauma has life thrown your way? And don’t get me wrong! Your work is powerful and recognizes the underlying harshness and cruelty of life, that even the most shallow of viewers find compelling and thought-provoking. What is the source of this perspective, this vision? What experiences have led you to this state of perceptiveness and compassion, which I think underlines all your work?

Carley looks at Marcus, almost touched by the question.

MARCUS
(laughs gently)
We are listening.

Carley laughs.

CARLEY
You sound like a shrink.

MARCUS
That is part of my job description you know.

CARLEY
And mine as well.

They smile at each other, recognizing a common ground for the first time.

CARLEY
(slowly)
We have all had our tough times, experiences, abuse, heartbreaks, breakdowns…

Carley pauses. Marcus smiles gently, waits for her to continue.

CARLEY
I guess my life has not been easy at times, and I channel it in my work… But… One of the outcomes, in a good way, is one can learn that life is not easy and recognize it, and bring that to life through our characters.

Marcus waits. He smiles at Carley with compassion and understanding.

CARLEY
I would like to think that my work is not all brutal and harsh, but rather…

MARCUS
Go on…

CARLEY
Rather, I would like to think there is some poignancy, some hope, some better outcome it can lead to…

MARCUS
(gently)
That was very well said Carley. And also I think there is a lesson for all of us in life…

Carley and Marcus stare at each other in understanding.

CARLEY Yes…

The audience applauds.

INT. AFTER PARTY AT VENICE HOTEL, NIGHT
The party is in full swing with the well-heeled crowd of celebrities and movie actors, creatives, producers and business people, in the old-fashioned but swanky hotel dock facing the Venice mainland over the canal.

Carley and Marcus are at opposite ends of the crowd. They notice each other and smile. They walk away from the crowd towards the part of the waterfront which is secluded.

CARLEY
Sorry about being so hard on you.

MARCUS
If I can dish it , I can also take it.

CARLEY
You were insightful.

MARCUS
Part of the job.

They stand by the gentle water in the moonlight. It is tranquil and soothing.

They smile at each other. They continue to stare at each other, recognizing a mutual attraction and passion.

Marcus smiles, but won’t make the first move. Carley touches his shoulder, then his face. They kiss.