Daily Dialogue — August 5, 2014
For a moment her eyes meet Chuck’s. This is really what he missed. And Kelly knows it and feels it.
KELLY: So. What now?
CHUCK: I don’t know. (beat) I really don’t know.
Chuck gets into the driver’s seat. Kelly stands by the door, leaning down on it, watching him, really close now. He turns the key and starts the engine. She’s staring at him, all the emotion bubbling up. His hand goes to her face, his eyes saying, you are so beautiful.
KELLY: Right back, you said you’d be right back.
CHUCK: I’m so sorry.
KELLY: Me, too.
They have a sweet kiss through the window, safe with the car door between them. Then it has to be over and it is. He looks at her with as much of a smile as he can muster. Then he puts the car in reverse and backs out into the rain. We stay with Kelly as it backs out and onto the road. Then it stops, goes in gear and starts to move forward — slowly, as if Chuck can’t quite bear to leave. But she can’t stand it. She runs after him, into the rain.
KELLY: Chuck!!!
EXT. KELLY HOUSE — SAME:
Kelly runs down the driveway, but the Jeep is gone. Suddenly it backs into frame! Chuck jumps out and runs toward her through the rain. She comes into his arms. They’re both soaked. She kisses him totally and utterly, and he her back. Chuck holds her tight. God, how he dreamed of this. For the longest time we watch them embrace in the rain, water pouring off them. Then he helps her into the car.
INT. CHUCK’S CAR — SAME:
She’s breathing hard, her hair soaked, tears and rain on her face. She tries to explain, her breath coming in gasps.
KELLY: I always knew you were alive. I knew it. But they said I had to stop saying that. I had to give you up. So I tried. Jerry was there for me. He’s so good. A good father. I love him (beat) But I’ve always loved you. You’re the love of my life. (beat) Oh God, I don’t know what to do.
Now it’s up to Chuck.
CHUCK: I love you, Kelly. (beat) More than you’ll ever know.
Chuck starts the car.
KELLY: Chuck…
He looks at her for a long time. This is the moment. Forward, together. Or back, to her house. With him. Or with them.
CHUCK: You have to go home.
He puts the car in gear. And pulls into the driveway.
EXT. KELLY HOUSE — NIGHT — CONTINUOUS:
And the car drives back toward Kelly’s house. It reaches the garage and stops. For the longest moment we watch it sit there, in the rain. Then the passenger door opens and Kelly gets out. Kelly stands watching in the rain as Chuck pulls out and drives down the street. Good-bye.
— Cast Away (2000), written by William Broyles Jr.
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The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Grief. Today’s suggestion by Jon Raymond.
Trivia: In the scene where Noland squats on the ground, contemplating an item that has washed up on shore, the shot is composed as an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), reportedly Tom Hanks’ favorite film.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from Jon: “This scene is incredibly powerful. Mostly I attribute this to the actors. Although the dialog and action certainly give them a framework. The rain, him driving away, and her running after him is a very poetically dramatic and symbolic departure. The minimalistic dialog, alone, is not that all that dramatic. But it hits the core points of “I love you” and “You have to go.” The action is similar with her running to him; and their long heartfelt, tearful, futile embrace standing in the rain. It has everything to do with how it’s played. It’s completely about the history of the characters and how they got to this place. This is the death of their romance. It’s as grieving as it would be had one of them died, maybe more so. For me, this is really what the entire movie is about.”
If you have any suggestions for this week’s theme, please post in comments.
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