The Artist Page #2

9 INT. WINGS MOVIE THEATER LOS ANGELES - NIGHT 9

From the moment they parked the car onwards, we become

absorbed by what's happening around the screening of end of

this film.

Behind the screen, we've seen the actor who plays the hero -

his name is George Valentin - closely studying the reactions

of the audience. He was standing close to his dog, motioning

to it not to make a noise. The dog's name is Jack.

In the same area, we've also seen the lead actress. Her name

is Constance Gray. She too looks tense and is latched onto

the arm of a pleasant-looking man who is chewing anxiously on

a cigar. The man looks rich, but a little weak. He's surely

the producer.

10 INT. MOVIE THEATER LOS ANGELES - NIGHT 10

In the house, much of the audience is open-mouthed, excited,

immobile and often wide-eyed.

In the pit, a symphony orchestra plays to accompany the film.

(9) Now that the film is ending, and the last note is

sounding, the cast anxiously awaits the audience's verdict,

which, after two or three seconds of silence, bursts into

thunderous applause, to the great joy of the actor and the

people around him, especially the actress and the producer,

who kiss each other on the lips.

Two theater hands bring down the curtain.

(10) The lights come on. George Valentin comes onto the stage

and acknowledges the audience, they are cheering for him. He

is so happy he dances a few tap steps to express his joy then

he acknowledges the orchestra before finally motioning to

someone in the wings to join him. Jack the dog trots over in

response. The crowd laughs and cheers, George waves to the

dog, Jack waves back then waves at the audience, the people

are loving it!

In the wings, Constance is fuming with rage, but on stage,

George is pretending with his fingers to pull at the dog, who

fakes death. Thunderous applause again.

5.

Behind the actress, the producer can't hold back a smile, and

this enrages the actress still more.

Suddenly, George, hamming it up, remembers something he'd

forgotten, and asks someone from the other side of the wings

to join him. It's Constance. She comes over, smiling to the

audience, and says something to George with a smile.

Title card:
I’ll get you for that.

She waves, but we can tell that her smile is set between her

teeth. She isn't feeling comfortable. George motions firing a

gun with his fingers, but she does not fall down, merely

casts him a "very funny" glance. George looks at his fingers,

not understanding why they don't work anymore then mimes

throwing them away behind him, as though they've become

useless. Constance stalks back off into the wings in

annoyance, but the audience is ecstatic. Once in the wings,

the actress sticks up her middle finger at George, and

exaggeratedly mouths so he can read her lips: "Put this up

your ass." George, grinning broadly, responds by clapping his

hands in applause, then leaves the stage, executing a few

more dance steps as he does so. The audience is delighted.

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