Monday, October 01, 2007

Deleted Scene: Magnolia, Jimmy Gator & Paula

A subplot that was dropped. The part of Paula was to be played by David Mamet's wife, actress Rebecca Pidgeon, who dropped out of the role due to pregnancy.


INT. JIMMY'S OFFICE - THAT MOMENT

      Jimmy and a woman named PAULA (3Os) sit in his office. SLOW DOLLY IN
     ON EACH thru scene;

                                 JIMMY
                      You look great.

      BEAT.

                                 PAULA
                      What the fuck is this, Jimmy?

                                 JIMMY
                      ...you know...

                                 PAULA
                      Did your wife find out?

                                 JIMMY
                      No.

                                 PAULA
                      Then what?

                                 JIMMY
                      It's just...too late for me to be
                      fuckin' around.  I gotta stop.
                      I gotta clean my brain of all the
                      shit I've done that I shouldn't have done --

                                 PAULA
                      -- that you shouldn't have done?
                      That you regret, what? This? What's
                      this? Fuck, man, c'mon.  Treat me
                      like an asshole, but treat me like
                      an asshole.

                                 JIMMY
                      I don't wanna have to lie to anyone.
                      I don't want to hurt anyone else, anymore.

      She doesn't respond. BEAT. THEN:

                                 JIMMY
                      Thirty fuckin' years I've been with
                      Rose, don't -- y'know -- with
                      this, and I know what you think --

                                 PAULA
                      All your other fluzzies?

                                 JIMMY
                      Yeah. Yes.

                                 PAULA
                      You're making me feel so dirty and shitty.
                      I feel like a big piece of shit right now.

      BEAT.

                                 PAULA
                      Are you gonna tell her what you've done?

                                 JIMMY
                      Yes.

                                 PAULA
                      Will you say my name?

                                 JIMMY
                      If she asks me any question I want
                      to tell her.  I want to tell her
                      everything I've done.

                                 PAULA
                      Well can you do me one favor and
                      don't do that.

      Jimmy doesn't answer.

                                 PAULA
                      Come and tell me it's over and I'll
                      walk away, Jimmy.  I've fucked you
                      behind your wife's back for three
                      years, and you've fucked teenage girls
                      behind mine for the same amount of
                      time -- I'll walk away, you need something
                      for your life, for your conscience,
                      but don't put me in the middle --

                                 JIMMY
                      I won't.

                                 PAULA
                      What happened to you?

                                 JIMMY
                      I got in trouble at school.

      She stands and walks over to him, moves to give him a hug.

                                 PAULA
                      Are you ok?

                                 JIMMY
                      Fuck no.

      There's a KNOCK at the door and then it's opened by BURT RAMSEY (60s)

     He's the producer of the show; (WHIP TO HIM)

                                 BURT
                      Ready to run.  Paula.

                                 PAULA
                      Burt.

      Jimmy takes a quick shot, moves to Paula, gives her a tap on the
     cheek and says;

                                 JIMMY (to Paula)

                      You're a good one arentcha?

1 comment: