Trumbo Page #5

CUT TO:

EXT. LAZY-T RANCH - CORRAL - DAY

Mountain, meadow and sky dwarf this fine spread. Trumbo

walks along the fence while Niki rides a horse next to him.

NIKI:

So, are you a Communist?

DALTON TRUMBO:

I am.

NIKI:

Is it against the law?

DALTON TRUMBO:

It is not.

NIKI:

That lady with the big hat said

you’re a “dangerous radical.” Are

you?

DALTON TRUMBO:

Radical, maybe. Dangerous, only to

men who fling Cokes.

NIKI:

You don’t want to overthrow the

government?

DALTON TRUMBO:

No, we have a good government. But

anything good can be better, don’t

you think?

NIKI:

Is Mom a Communist?

(CONTINUED)

TRUMBO - JOHN MCNAMARA 12.

CONTINUED:

DALTON TRUMBO:

No.

NIKI:

Am I?

DALTON TRUMBO:

Let’s give you the official test.

Mom packs your favorite lunch...

NIKI:

Salami.

DALTON TRUMBO:

...and you see someone at school

with no lunch -- what do you do?

NIKI:

Share?

DALTON TRUMBO:

You don’t tell them to get a job?

NIKI:

(aware she’s being teased)

No.

DALTON TRUMBO:

Offer a loan at six percent?

NIKI:

Dad.

DALTON TRUMBO:

Then just ignore them.

NIKI:

No.

He studies his oldest daughter with great affection.

DALTON TRUMBO:

Well, well. You little Commie.

INT. EDWARD G. ROBINSON’S MANSION - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Elegant, tasteful, its walls glowing colorfully with: Six

spotlit French Impressionist paintings. Seated under a

Renoir, Trumbo is debating with Robinson and a small

gathering of DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, ACTORS and WRITERS.

(CONTINUED)

TRUMBO - JOHN MCNAMARA 13.

CONTINUED:

EDWARD G. ROBINSON

Trumbo, as usual, you only make

sense to you. Let ’em call you a

Communist, me a Democrat -- both

legitimate parties, yours is just

meaner and duller but nothing

illegal about any of it.

DALTON TRUMBO:

Yet.

EDWARD G. ROBINSON

Hunter, tell your friend to dial

down the paranoia and have a drink.

This to screenwriter IAN McLELLAN HUNTER, 32, quick mind, sad

eyes, sharp wit, always puffing on a pipe:

IAN MCLELLAN HUNTER

I don’t think he’s being paranoid

enough.

EDWARD G. ROBINSON

Not you, too.

Trumbo pulls several booklets of mimeoed paper from a valise.

DALTON TRUMBO:

I’ve drawn up a little pamphlet.

(passing them out)

Subject:
“Congress Unaware of

Little Thing Called First

Amendment.”

ARLEN HIRD (O.S.)

They’re aware...

Everyone turns to the man saying:

ARLEN HIRD (CONT’D)

...they just don’t give a sh*t.

ARLEN HIRD is 40s, caustic, dyspeptic; the BUTLER offering

him a canape, which he waves off --

ARLEN HIRD (CONT’D)

All they care about is this nice,

new war of theirs -- these guys

Rate this script:4.2 / 5 votes