The Great Gatsby Page #4

Madame, le diner est servi!

As Jordan WHACKS a golf ball into a makeshift cup - a trophyon the floor - waiters sweep open the doors and the curtainsflutter up again.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. BUCHANAN MANSION - TERRACE - NIGHT

Daisy, Nick, Jordan and Tom sit at a long, sumptuously laidtable. Food, wine, laughter, smoking...

DISSOLVING ABSTRACTLY: Through fragments of conversation...

12.

DAISY:

Would you like to hear a familysecret? Its about the butler’s

nose...

JORDAN:

Things went from bad to worse...

DAISY:

Nicky... I heard a rumor, that youwere getting married to a girl out

west...

NICK:

Its a libel, I’m too poor.

JORDAN:

They have to be old so they diequickly...

NICK:

Can’t we talk about something else?

Anything? Crops? You’re making me

feel uncivilized Daisy-

This draws a strangely violent interjection from Tom.

TOM:

Civilization's going to pieces!

Have you read 'The Rise of theColored Empires' by this fellowGoddard?

NICK:

Why no...

Tom stands and begins to pace-

TOM:

Everyone ought to read it. The ideais that its up to us, the dominantrace, to watch out, or these other

races...

Tom straightens the bow-tie on his black servant-

TOM (CONT’D)

Will have control of things.

DAISY:

(wickedly)

Tom’s been very profound lately. Hereads deep books with long words inthem

13.

TOM:

It’s been proved. Its scientific.

DAISY:

(subtly mocking Tom)

We’ve got to beat them down.

SUDDENLY, BRINNNGGG! The telephone. All freeze. Another ring.

BRINNNGGG!

TOM:

Excuse me... I’ll be right back.

He goes inside.

An embarrassed moment; suddenly Daisy throws her napkin down.

DAISY:

I’m sorry...

She follows Tom into the house.

Nick, at a loss, turns to Jordan.

NICK:

Well, this Mr. Gatsby you spoke ofis my neighbor...

JORDAN:

Shhhh... Don’t talk. I want to hear

what happens.

A subdued, impassioned murmur is audible in the room beyond.

NICK:

Is something happening?

JORDAN:

I thought everybody knew.

NICK:

I don’t.

JORDAN:

Tom's got some woman in New York.

NICK:

Got some woman?

JORDAN:

She might have the decency not totelephone at dinner-time... Don’t

you think?

14.

Almost before Nick has grasped her meaning, the doors bangopen and Tom and Daisy return to the table.

DAISY:

(a tense gayety)

I just love seeing you at my tableNicky. You remind me of a rose, anabsolute rose... Doesn’t he?

NICK:

I’m not even faintly like a rose-

TOM:

So... After dinner Nick wanted to

go into town. Right Nick? To theYale club.

DAISY:

Nicky, stay-

NICK:

I have to work early.

TOM:

Nonsense. Its only for a drink or

two.

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