Trumbo Page #2

DALTON TRUMBO (O.S.)

(dryly)

Well, I think... money.

Cleo Trumbo turns to that second VOICE with minor dread and

as she does, she and Robinson clock one another with the same

thought:
Jesus, here we go...

As they both zero in on:

Director Sam Wood, more than a little drunk.

SAM WOOD:

Laugh it up. I had no crew! I

couldn’t work -

(shouting at Trumbo)

-- you wouldn’t work, God forbid

you cross a picket line. For set

builders. What do set builders

have to do with writing?

DALTON TRUMBO:

What writers write, builders build.

What they build, you film. You

make all the money you possibly

can, so do I, why shouldn’t they?

And why can’t we help them? In the

long run, it’s better for everyone -

(CONTINUED)

TRUMBO - JOHN MCNAMARA 6.

CONTINUED:
(2)

SAM WOOD:

-- said the Swimming Pool Soviet.

DALTON TRUMBO:

(calmly)

Sam. You won. The strike’s over,

the union’s history. We’ve all

gone back to being good little

worker bees making sweet movie

honey and you --

(now, just a little sharp)

-- might just try being a gracious

winner.

That last comes with a gentle poke into Wood’s lapel from

Trumbo’s fingers, which hold his cigarette. Wood does not

appreciate the jab or the accompanying smoke in his face.

SAM WOOD:

It’s never over with you people --

strike, after strike, after strike!

Wood is SHOUTING now. Among the Guests: HEADS turn... SMILES

falter... CONVERSATIONS stop.

SAM WOOD (CONT’D)

Y’know what? I’m going on strike --

against people WHO GO ON STRIKE!

DALTON TRUMBO:

And I won’t cross your picket line,

either.

Wood might just shove Trumbo now, he’s so angry, but --

-- suddenly, Robinson is there to get Wood’s arm in a

friendly grasp.

EDWARD G. ROBINSON

(with jovial aplomb)

Sam, Sam, Sam, we’ve got to talk

about those scenes tomorrow,

disaster, who the hell wrote that

crap?

(a wink at Trumbo, steering

Wood away)

But first, may I have this

dance...?

At the same time, Cleo takes her husband’s hand and moves him

in the opposite direction.

(CONTINUED)

TRUMBO - JOHN MCNAMARA 7.

CONTINUED:
(3)

CLEO:

Having fun?

DALTON TRUMBO:

Eternally.

They kiss and move to the bar, passing -

-- a tall, broad MAN of 39 who eyes Trumbo the way a western

sheriff would a gunfighter. We don’t know it yet, but:

This is JOHN WAYNE.

And as his eyes follow the Trumbos, he meets the gaze of a

WOMAN. Late middle years, trim, striking, grand yet folksy,

always in a stylish hat. Wayne and she share a moment of

silent understanding. We don’t know it yet, but:

This is HEDDA HOPPER.

CUT TO:

INT. LOS ANGELES MOVIE THEATRE 1 - NIGHT

UP ON THE MOVIE SCREEN - A NEWSREEL

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