[Quick Summary: After his family goes away for the summer, a book publisher with an overactive imagination is left in NYC with a new gorgeous neighbor upstairs.]
Billy Wilder scripts are exceptional - unexpectedly layered and multi-tasking.
For example here, Richard's wife and son have just left for the summer. He meets his pretty new neighbor upstairs who is subletting.
On his first night alone, he has an imaginary conversation with his wife about what a loyal husband he is. In fact, he's had to chase women off.
When his imaginary wife scoffs at this, he uses his overactive imagination to conjure up a series of "dream bubble" scenarios to prove his point.
Notice how this scene below refutes the imaginary wife's argument that he's not super-desirable AND shows what Richard wishes would happen:
DREAM BUBBLE (1) - RICHARD'S OFFICE - DAY
Richard stands at the desk in his shirt sleeves, reading a letter. Miss Morris enters.
RICHARD (barely looking up): Miss Morris, did you type this letter?
MISS MORRIS (tensely): Yes, Mr. Sherman.
RICHARD: There are six typographical errors in the first paragraph alone. What is the matter iwth you, Miss Morris? (pause) Come now, Miss Morris. What is the matter with you?
MISS MORRIS: I'll tell you what's the matter with me. I'm in love with you. That's what's the matter with me. I have been - since the first day I came here. Deeply...madly...desperately...all consumingly! And you - you've never even noticed me! To you I'm just nothing...a piece of office furniture...a dictaphone...ten fingers to type your miserable letters...
Suddenly, she tears off her glasses, rips the comb out of her hair so that it comes tumbling wildly down over her shoulders.
MISS MORRIS (out of control): Look at me, Mr. Sherman. I'm a woman! A woman, do you hear me? With flesh and blood and nerves and feelings! I love you, I need you, I want you, want you, want you, want you!
She grabs him around the shoulders and kisses him violently. There is the sound of cloth being torn. he stands there, quite cool about the whole thing. Finally when her passion is spent -
RICHARD (unruffled): That will be all, Miss Morris.
He hands her back the letter. She runs out of the room, sobbing hysterically. He looks after her, slowly turning his back to the camera. The back of his shirt is torn. He flexes the muscles of his back. For a moment he is Marlon Brando in STREEETCAR.
The camera has started moving in again. The Dream Bubble bursts and we are back on -
RICHARD - ON THE TERRACE - EVENING
He is lying on the chaise, grinning in delight over his little fantasy.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I was quite amazed how much of this script was dream bubbles and Richard's fantasy life. It could've easily been a cliche, but was not.
The Seven Year Itch (1955)(final draft, 8/10/54)
by George Axelrod and Billy Wilder
Based on the play by George Axelrod
No comments:
Post a Comment