The Shape of Water Page #3

protests.

A PUNCH CLOCKS, Standing in line we see ZELDA, a plump

African American woman in her 30’s. She signals Elisa to getin.

Elisa runs and barely makes it. Yolanda a Latin girl,

protests.

YOLANDA:

Hey- watch it, Dummy!!

ZELDA:

Leave her alone, Woman. I was

keeping her place.

YOLANDA:

I get reported- I come looking for

you and the mute...

ZELDA:

You do that, Yolanda. You do that.

Elisa checks in-

CLACK!! 12:
00 PM

CUT TO:

14 INT. LOCKER ROOM - SAME 14

Elisa, Zelda and others get dressed in their JANITORIAL andKITCHEN / SERVICE garments.

Change their shoes to low-heeled ones.

All around them:
Propaganda posters: “Loose Lips Sink Ships”

etc

ZELDA:

My feet are killin’ me already- We

ain’t started and my feet arealready killin’ me

15 OMITTED 15

15A INT. LONG CORRIDOR 15A

6 cleaning ladies walk down the corridor in 2 lines of 3.

They split off and walk into the adjacent labs. Behind themElisa and Zelda follow and continue down the corridor.

16 INT. LONG CORRIDOR (GREEN SCREEN, NOT TRANSLIGHT) 16

ZELDA:

I wear ‘em low-heeled shoes and it

hurts just the same. My toes getall bunched up- and I feel like

dyin’. Lord.

Zelda and Elisa push into a long corridor full of

SLAUGHTERHOUSE-STYLE DOORS, each bearing a number and a

letter (B-67, C-25, etc).

A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS walks alongside a MAN IN A CANVAS

ASTRONAUT SUIT. They carry a multitude of canvas DUCTS

extruding from it.

About a DOZEN MP's guard the corridor.

17 INT. JET ENGINE LAB - SAME 17

Elisa removing a piece of chewing gum. Zelda empties a WASTEBASKET.

ZELDA:

Made Brewster pigs in a blanket

tonight before leavin’. Fresh dough-

the good sausages- thick- and Boy,

he just ate ‘em up.

(beat)

No thank-yous-no yum-yums- not a

peep, tho- Man is silent as the

grave. But if farts were flattery,

honey- he would be Shakespeare

17A INT. COMMAND CENTER - SAME 17A

Zelda and Elisa empty waste baskets.

ZELDA:

Then I get home and I make him

breakfast. Bacon and eggs and

buttered toast. I butter the man’s

toast, Elisa. Both sides- As if he

were a child... And I don’t get a

“Thank You”

18 INT. LAB - SAME 18

Zelda picks up a waste basket and a few pieces of paper-

ZELDA:

Hey- Lou- Lou! You boys mind

throwing the trash in the bin?

That’s what it’s for...

A BESPECTACLED MAN (Dr. BOB HOFFSTETLER) measures thetemperature of the water with a long, industrial thermometer.

He eyes Zelda.

ZELDA (CONT'D)

Yes. That’s what it’s for... Hard

to believe, uh?

LOU:

Alright. Alright. Sorry Zelda.

Elisa and Zelda mop and sweep around a group of workers

readying a big Filter/storage TANK of massive proportions

next to a tiled HOLDING POOL.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes