Daily Archive for November 20th, 2012

MOVIES YOU WILL SEE/ The Journey of Natty Gann/Part 5

THE JOURNEY OF NATTY GANN
by
Jeanne Rosenberg

INT ST. RITZ LOBBY LATE DAY

Sol seems apprehensive and worried as he talks with Sally at the reception desk. He keeps one eye on the door, hoping for Natty. There’s a battered suitcase at his feet.

        SOL
It won’t be so hard Sally. You
just make sure she’s eating
right. Getting to bed on time.
She’s a good kid. Practically
takes care of herself.

Sally doesn’t seem convinced.

        SOL
I’ll pay for your trouble. Soon
as I get the money. Then I’ll
send a ticket, and you can put
her on the train, and. . .

        SALLY
It’ll be extra for taking her
down to the station. And if
you’re not paying for the room
in advance, it’s 9 bucks. Not 7.

        SOL
Okay Sally. It’s a deal.
Whatever you say.

He checks the clock on the desk. He’ll have to hurry if he’s going to make the bus. He starts for the door then hesitates and turns back.

        SOL
Hey, Sally…Thanks. You’re a
life saver.

        SALLY
Yeah, sure. A real Joan of
Arc.Now go on…Get going
if you’re going.

Sol continues across the lobby to the front door and Sally stares after him, shaking her head, muttering to herself , shrugging her shoulders.

EXT ST. RITZ DUSK

Sol stops just outside the front door and looks up and down the street, still hoping to see Natty.

The regulars on the stoop, the hollow faced men, watch him with a flicker of curiosity, wondering about the suitcase in his hand.

They watch as the hope leaves his eyes. He lowers his head and moves down the stoop, walking away from the St. Ritz with a heavy heart.

EXT STREET NEAR ST. RITZ EVENING

Natty leaps off the back of the streetcar and jogs toward the St. Ritz, the puppy riding comfortably inside her jacket.

INT ST. RITZ EVENING

Natty peers into the St. Ritz lobby from just outside the front door, checks to be sure the coast is clear, then hurries inside and rushes past the reception desk.

She makes it to the stairs before the puppy YIPS.

        NATTY
Shhhhh !

She bolts up the stairs but Sally’s voice catches her in mid-flight. It booms out at her.

        SALLY
Hey Kid! Come here!

Natty turns slowly. She pushes the puppy deep into her jacket and walks to Sally with trepidation.

        SALLY
I got something for you.

Natty breathes a sigh of relief. Sally didn’t hear the puppy after all.

Sally pulls an envelope from Natty’s mail box slot.

        SALLY
Sol give it to me before he
left.

        NATTY
Left?!

        SALLY
That’s right, left. You got wax
in your ears?

Sally hands Natty the letter. Natty clutches it  and turns away. She starts slowly up the stairs.

The puppy YIPS one more time.

        SALLY
What was that?

        NATTY
Nothing.

Sally continues to listen hard as Natty quickly makes her get-away up the stairs.

INT ROOM EVENING

Natty closes the door and crosses to the bunk. She pulls the puppy from her jacket and plops him down beside her.

She tears open the envelope an reads the handwritten letter.

        SOL (VO)
Dear Natty. I got a job. A
good one, but I’ve got to take
it now. They’re shipping me out
today. To Washington Slate.
I’m sorry I didn’t get to say
good-bye, but maybe that
would have been harder. Anyway,
it’s going to be okay. And it
won’t be for long. I promise.
I’ll send for you as soon as I
can. You mind Sally. And keep
that left up, champ. Love, Dad.
P.S. This was Becky’s. I think
you should have it.

Natty shakes the envelope and a small, folding picture frame slides into her hand.

She pulls the catch and it pops open. Inside is a picture of Sol and Becky. They stand together, smiling, Becky holding an infant in her arms.

Natty clutches the picture frame. The puppy WHINES and licks her face and the building quivers as an El train passes by outside.

END PART 5

Part 6 Monday, 11/26/12

A script analysis of her favorite childhood novel – written as a USC class assignment – led Jeanne Rosenberg to her first Hollywood writing assignment on The Black Stallion. Switching from documentary filmmaker to narrative screenwriter, Jeanne studied her craft while working as a script supervisor on numerous films before completing her first original screenplay, The Journey of Natty Gann. She has been writing as well as producing and directing ever since. In addition, Jeanne has taught graduate screenwriting at USC and National University.