Woman in Gold Page #4

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And as they enter the house, Randy throws a quick glance at

his watch. He really doesn’t have the time for this.

INT. MARIA’S LIVING ROOM. DUSK.

Randy is walking around Maria’s living room, taking it all

in. It’s as if a small part of pre-war Vienna has been

transported to the suburbs of L.A. He’s looking at an old

family picture on the wall from the 1920s when Maria

approaches with a slice of strudel for him.

MARIA:

My sister is the pretty one on the

right.

INT. LIVING ROOM, ELIZABETHSTRASSE. DUSK.

The photo comes to life: it is the 1920’s and the Bloch-

Bauers are posing for the photographer: CHILD MARIA and her

sister CHILD LUISE, GUSTAV and THERESE, their parents,

FERDINAND and ADELE, their uncle and aunt. As each one is

mentioned, we see them in close-up as they prepare to have

their photograph taken.

MARIA (V.O.)

I’m the moody one in the middle. My

parents, my uncle Ferdinand, and

my aunt Adele.

ADELE ADELE (CONT’D)

Come and sit next to me, Komm, setz dich neben mich,

Maria, darling. Maria, Liebling.

MARIA (V.O.)

Adele did not have children, we

were like one big family ; I had

two sets of parents.

GUSTAV GUSTAV (CONT’D)

Try to smile Maria, it’s Versuche wenigstens einmal im

good to exercise your facial Jahr zu lächeln Maria, es ist

muscles at least once a year! eine gute Übung für deine

Gesichtsmuskeln!

They all laugh and there’s a flash as the photo is taken.

MARIA (V.O.)

The Bloch-Bauers.

RANDY (V.O.)

The famous Bloch-Bauers.

INT. MARIA’S LIVING ROOM. DUSK.

And now they’re sitting and he’s finished the cake, puts the

plate down. Maria hands him a big bundle of letters, tied

with a string. He is polite but it’s not easy, he doesn’t

want to be here.

MARIA:

I found these amongst my sister’s

belongings. I’ve translated them

for you on the back.

He starts to scan them, notices the date.

RANDY:

1948.

MARIA:

From our family lawyer in Vienna,

Johann Rinesch. All about our

paintings which were stolen by the

Nazis.

RANDY:

Okay.

MARIA:

A month ago I read in the New York

Times that things are changing in

Austria.

RANDY:

How are they changing?

MARIA:

They’re redrafting the art

restitution laws. Reviewing old

cases.

INT. MARIA’S DINING ROOM. DUSK.

The dining room basks in late afternoon light as Maria opens

the sliding doors to it, and it’s madness - all of her

sister’s belongings take up the whole room, books and boxes

piled high on the floor and on the table. Randy follows her

into the room.

MARIA:

My sister finally moves in with me.

Only problem is she decides to do

it when she’s dead.

RANDY:

Well, at least you won’t be having

any arguments that way.

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