Speaking Parts

Synopsis: A struggling actor's job as a hotel custodian is a front for his real job: being rented out as a gigolo by his supervisor. A co-worker is obsessed with him, but he ignores and avoids her. He leaves his acting resume in the hotel room of a screenwriter, who is casting for a TV movie based on the true story of her deceased brother. She hires him to play the lead and the two begin an affair. She becomes increasingly distraught as it becomes evident that the movie's producer is changing her story. Egoyan's trademark tangle of bizarre relationships surrounds the protagonists on their way to a mind-blowing conclusion. A hypnotic, fascinating film.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director(s): Atom Egoyan
Production: Zeitgeist Films
  1 win & 7 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
Year:
1989
93 min
88 Views


- Hi.

I didn't mean to scare you.

I brought you some hand towels.

They were the last ones.

I saved them for you.

- How did you like it?

- It was okay.

- You can keep it overnight.

Most people do.

It's only partially wound.

Did it bore you?

- No.

- Then what's the problem?

- There isn't a problem.

- You always bring them back

like this.

I mean, I can usually

figure people out.

I try to build up a character profile

watching what customers take out.

The thing about you is,

There's no consistenc y.

I mean, look at these titles.

You got horror, drama, comedy.

Even a bit of porn.

And you've taken most of these

out at least... 20 times.

- This is my lover.

- Yeah?

- He's an actor.

That's the list of movies

he's been in.

I like to watch his scenes.

- So he's your...

- he's my lover.

I'm in love.

- What about him?

- You don't believe me.

- I didn't say that.

- We work at the same place,

a hotel.

That's his day job.

- And he does his acting at night?

- And days off.

Sometimes he calls in sick.

- He sounds dedicated.

- He is.

- But he's just a extra.

- What do you mean?

- Well, he may be in these movies

but he doesn't have a speaking part.

He doesn't talk in them.

- He's on screen.

There is nothing special

about words.

- And then, there are those who complain

that you're not vocal enough.

I'm not talking about noises

here or anything crude.

It's just that some people

thrive on compliments.

And ultimately, that's what

we're all here to do.

Compliment our guests

while they stay with us.

Good.

Now, I have a friend

coming in at two.

- A good friend?

- Oh, I think you'll find

this friend very good.

- All right.

- How are things with Lisa?

- Fine.

- Is she still bothering you?

- Not really.

- I could have her let go.

Find some excuse.

- It's not worth it.

- It's not difficult to make each

other's lives more complicated, Clara.

- That's not what I'm saying.

- That's what you're doing.

- They've already started casting.

- Nothing's been finalized.

You can make any suggestions

you want.

We're here to complement

each other's efforts.

That's why I sent you up there.

To become more involved, to help.

- How?

- Any way you want.

If there's a location you see,

If there's someone you want

to audition, feel free.

We're all working together on this.

Okay?

Good.

So, how do you like the hotel?

- It's fine.

- Didn't I tell you?

It's very special.

So intimate.

- This one gets taken out a lot.

- Is it any good?

- I wouldn't be able to tell you.

- Why not?

- I never watch these things.

- Then how do you know

what to recommend?

- Well, I don't.

People check out the covers

and take what they want.

- Do you like working here?

- Not this part.

- What other part is there?

- Well, we rent equipment out.

- What for?

- People want things recorded.

Parties, weddings. The usual.

And the not-So-Usual.

Sometimes, I do it for them.

- Is this how you usually

get auditions?

Slipping your picture

under some stranger's door?

- Well, I don't have an agent.

- Well then, how did you

get in touch?

- I work at the hotel, part-time,

as a consultant.

- What do you do?

- I help to book entertainment.

- So how do you know who I am?

- Well, I don't... exactly.

I mean, I know

you're involved with movies.

I get a list of names of people

in the entertainment field

Who are staying at the hotel.

But I don't know exactly

what it is that you do.

- I could be a secretary.

- Then why would you

be doing this?

- I could think of reasons.

Well, I'm not a secretary.

- That's good.

- So, let's start.

I'll read with you.

If you could just look

into the camera.

- Sure.

- How do you know what to film?

- You don't.

You just go in there with your camera

and get whatever you can.

- What's happening here?

- Oh. I usually try to find a room

Where I can take people

and get them to talk.

This is the bride's dad.

Everyone's having a great time.

- Thank you.

- Is she your only daughter?

You've enjoyed a lot of applause

in your career.

But something extraordinarily

dramatic is happening to you today.

Can you give us any indication -

And I know this is not

the best time to ask -

Of what's going through your mind?

This must be a very happy day

for you.

I can honestly say that this is

the best wedding I've ever taped.

- Is that true?

- Of course not.

You've seen one,

you've seen them all.

- There's nothing to be scared of.

You've done this sort

of operation before.

- I couldn't forgive myself

if anything happened to you.

- Why should anything go wrong?

- The doctor said...

- there's a risk, that's all.

And it's a risk I have to take.

You're my sister.

I'm not gonna watch you die.

Okay?

- Yes.

- How was it?

- Fine.

- Do you want me to read it again?

- All right.

- I have a question.

- Yes.

- Do I find out that

you're dying in the scene?

- What?

- Is this the scene where

I find out that you're dying?

- No. No.

You've found that out before.

- I'd...

do anything in the world

to make her happy.

- Well, I think you have.

- Thank you.

- And now, she's leaving the nest,

About to embark in a new life.

And let me tell you,

she'll never forget this.

- That's amazing.

- What?

- That you got him to do that.

- It's not too difficult.

Just got to know

what buttons to push.

- You don't have to say a word.

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Atom Egoyan

Atom Egoyan, CC is a Canadian director, writer, producer and former actor. Egoyan made his career breakthrough with Exotica, a film set primarily in and around the fictional Exotica strip club. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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    "Speaking Parts" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/speaking_parts_18626>.

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