Big Fish Page #3

We LOOK DOWN at the river, where Edward’s reflection iscaught in the dark water. As the water ripples past,

something changes.

Sure enough, as we LOOK UP again, it’s a younger EDWARDBLOOM, 20’s, staring into the water. He’s not just handsome,

not just charming. It’s as if all the forces of the natural

world had conspired to create him.

WILL (V.O.) (cont’d)

It doesn’t always make sense, and mostof it never happened.

Suddenly, this Edward thrusts both hands into the water,

grabbing hold of

THE BEAST.

He brings the catfish up to his face. Looks it right in the

eye. A beat, then the Beast spits out Edward’s gold ring.

WILL (V.O.) (cont’d)

But that’s what kind of story this is.

Smiling, Edward takes the ring, then throws the Beast backinto the water with a splash.

TITLE OVER:

BIG FISH:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Young Dr. Bennett stands between the Wife’s legs. She’s

flustered and sweating, but the doctor has a comfortingbedside manner...

8.

YOUNG DR. BENNETT

Now, Mrs. Bloom, I’ll need you to giveme one good push. On three. One...

Suddenly, we hear a POP as a slimy mass of human beingrockets into the doctor’s unprepared hands. Bennett tries to

hold tight, but the infant is slippery like a fish. It

shoots up into air.

The NURSES and the Husband try to grab the baby, but no onecan hold it. As the newborn sails upward TOWARDS CAMERA, wecan see a GIGGLING SMILE on its face.

As it falls, the newborn knocks over a tray, which providesit a ramp to slide right out of the room. Everyone racesafter it.

INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - DAY

Bursting through the doors -

YOUNG DR. BENNETT

Grab that baby!

A NURSE finally scoops up the slippery baby. Everyone letsout a collective sigh of relief.

WILL (V.O.)

My father’s birth would set the pacefor his unlikely life. No longer thanmost men’s, but larger. And as strangeas his stories got, the endings werealways the most surprising of all.

INT. HALF-DARK PARIS APARTMENT - (PRESENT) DAY

Over the sound of rain, a phone RINGS on a chair. By thetone of the ring, we know we’re not in the U.S. -- it hasthat insistent European sound.

As it keeps RINGING, we look to see the apartment is mostlyempty, just a few half-unpacked boxes. A cradle is still in

its carton.

KEYS in the lock. LAUGHTER in the hallway. The door swingsopen to reveal a drenched Will (29) carrying four sacks ofgroceries, the bottoms collapsing from the rain. His wife

Josephine (28) pushes past him to get the phone.

JOSEPHINE:

Allo oui?

9.

Will begins stripping out of his wet clothes, each layerunleashing a new drizzle. He plays it up, trying to get areaction out of Josephine.

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