Trumbo Page #4

DALTON TRUMBO (ON SCREEN)

...this is what angers and

frightens the studios!

DOWN IN THE THEATRE

The Trumbo family is silently stunned. Trumbo’s own jaw

slackens just a bit at the surreal sight of himself up on

screen, then he quickly regains his composure. But his

oldest child can’t help herself -

NIKI:

Dad, is that you?

He nods curtly, pats her arm and the tiny, color, real Trumbo

down here watches:

THE ENORMOUS BLACK & WHITE FACE OF TRUMBO - UP ON SCREEN

Delivering this searing union rallying cry to the assembled,

among whom we glimpse an APPLAUDING Edward G. Robinson:

DALTON TRUMBO (ON SCREEN)

We’ve discovered where our true

power lies! Builders, cameramen,

painters, drivers, writers, actors,

directors! We are a single,

indivisible brotherhood of workers.

Bargain with a few of us, you

bargain with all of us! Threaten

one, you threaten us all and it’s

war! We are many but from this day

forward --we are one!

The Picketers and Movie Stars UP ON SCREEN begin to CHEER

Trumbo as -

HEDDA HOPPER (V.O.)

This is writer Dalton Trumbo. Who

is...

(CONTINUED)

TRUMBO - JOHN MCNAMARA 10.

CONTINUED:
(3)

A new CLOSE-UP of Hedda Hopper in her office:

HEDDA HOPPER (ON SCREEN)

...like many of those strikers --

and their supporters -- a

registered Communist.

BACK TO TRUMBO AND NIKI

As daughter looks at father, surprised --is that true?

Trumbo doesn’t meet her questioning gaze, just smokes and

stoically takes in:

HEDDA HOPPER - UP ON SCREEN

Dwarfing him:

HEDDA HOPPER (ON SCREEN)

Which is why we must know: Who

exactly was behind that walk-out...

and why?

The scene now CUTS TO various CONGRESSMEN, INVESTIGATORS and

AIDES mounting the stairs of the U.S. Capitol.

HEDDA HOPPER (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Our elected leaders will find out.

The CAMERA SINGLES OUT a bald, fifty-ish New Jerseyite -

HEDDA HOPPER (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Congressman J. Parnell Thomas and

his House Un-American Activities

Committee.

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS (ON SCREEN)

Communism is not some faraway

threat; its most dangerous agents

are here, controlling the airwaves

and movie screens, taking over its

employees and their unions. They

need to be identified as the

enemies they are.

INT. MOVIE THEATRE - LOBBY - LATER THAT NIGHT

The five Trumbos stream out with the audience. When

suddenly -

A YOUNG FATHER WITH HIS KIDS

Hey, that you in the newsreel...?

(CONTINUED)

TRUMBO - JOHN MCNAMARA 11.

CONTINUED:

DALTON TRUMBO:

It was, yes -

The Father FLINGS Coke into Trumbo’s face, SPLATTERING him --

YOUNG FATHER:

Traitor -

-- terrifying Cleo and the kids before taking off.

DALTON TRUMBO:

(dripping, calm)

No harm done, everybody okay?

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