19
ALBERT
It's an incredible story. We just want to help you get it
told as it should be.
NINA
Exactly. Brian's book ,"Exploration Fawcett",
sold a few
copies but really it hid the true story. Because Brian is
jealous of his father and brother. Brian's life has been a
failure, you know. It's such a shame because he has
some talent. But he resists success as if it were poison.
I'm so glad you've come to
me about
your project,
because Brian won't help you one jot.
ALBERT
Our film would get your husband's name back on the
world stage, where it deserves to be.
NINA
Yes. An epic. Hollywood has beckoned so many times
and Brian always puts them off. We never hear again
after the first enquiry. Why
shouldn't money be made
out of this? I helped Brian with "Exploration Fawcett."
He paid me not a penny.
I have a right surely of some
humble remuneration for the years…the years of…just
managing in "genteel poverty" in boarding houses all
over Britain, craving the recognition, the
acknowledgement of a loyal wife. Dreaming of the
wealth of lost cities that was always just beyond his
reach. Don't I deserve something for all my patience?
Something better than
existence in a boarding house,
among potty old people all waiting for death. But I
won't be dragged down. I know my husband will return
to me. And in the meantime I want to keep his
memory in the public mind and make some money out
of it. What is so wrong with that?
JESS
Albert's going to need access to the "secret archive."
How do we get it if Brian's so protective?
NINA
Leave it to me. I'll just say I want to borrow some of
the crucial documents. They
are actually my property
after all. I'll phone him right now…
20
She starts to wheel herself out and then pauses.
NINA
You don't think my husband was a failure do you?
ALBERT
Oh God, no!
NINA
Oh good. I won't be long.
She leaves.
JESS
A failure. Yes, Al. She hit the nail on the head. He
never found one shred of evidence and The Royal
Geographical Society just think he was a nutter.
ALBERT
Keep your voice down.
They continue talking in a hushed intensity.
JESS
….like it seems several other members of his family.
ALBERT
You
cannot deny it's a fantastic story! Looking for lost
cities, still inhabited by ancient unknown races!
JESS
People don't want films about failure. He failed.
ALBERT
You don't know whether he failed!
JESS
Haven't you learned anything, Al?
After all your time
in this business? You could really make your name with
something more commercial. This is a
dead end!
ALBERT
You really are the kiss of death.
21
JESS
Thanks very much.
ALBERT
To anything with fire and excitement. You're
passionless.
JESS
Thanks very much.
ALBERT
Sorry. I didn't mean…
He tries to touch her affectionately. She moves away abruptly.
ALBERT
(Fiercely) OK. I wouldn't dream of touching you… You
did say we'd take this to your friend Ida de Milt in L.A.
as a final shot!
JESS
Did I? Ida is now producing musicals and adventure
movies packed with sex and violence.
ALBERT
If I re-thought it so it fell in with your and her concept
of entertainment. And yet somehow protected the
story's fragile priceless quality.
JESS
Oh, yeah.
ALBERT
If I made her a version that fitted her formula...
JESS
So suddenly you're throwing away your precious
integrity and going all commercial.
ALBERT
(Smiling) Yes.
22
JESS
(
Laughing at him) You're lying!
(Suddenly going
serious) I've lived with you
and the Fawcett project for
too long. It's got nowhere.
We've got nowhere. It's
fucked your life up. It's not going to fuck up mine.
ALBERT
(Exaggerating to make her laugh more) Ida de Milt is
going to have a script
crammed with sex, violence and
fucking musical song and dance numbers…
JESS
As if !!
ALBERT
She can have anything she
fucking wants to make this
into a fucking HOLLYWOOD EPIC!
JESS
'Can't believe what I'm hearing…….Alright. I'll do one
last thing for Fawcett. I'll ring Ida. But then that's it.
ALBERT
(Calmed down) Thank you….Suddenly I feel great. Let's
go for a drink.
They start to leave as the light fades on them and comes up on BRIAN.
SCENE SEVEN. CARLISLE. BRIAN'S BUNGALOW.
BRIAN
is on the phone..
BRIAN
Joan!… Mother has gone stark raving mad. She's just
phoned trying to wheedle some of Daddy's secret
papers out of me. Pretending they were for her to
read, but I know she wants
to lend them to a certain
slimy TV director! You know what TV has tried to do
with Daddy's story? Mother knows only too well how
Hollywood has tried to turn Daddy into Indiana Jones!
I'm not having it. Daddy's real story is top secret and