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                       THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
                         


                                 Written by
                         
                                Steve Conrad

                         
                         
                         
                         
                                                               3/16/11


           "Too much happens... Man performs, engenders so much more
          than he can or should have to bear. That's how he finds that
          he can bear anything."
                         
          - William Faulkner
                         
          INT. WALTER'S APARTMENT, BROOKLYN - MORNING
                         
          Walter Mitty (30s) sits at his small kitchen table, balancing
          his check book. We see his last several expense entries:
                         
          Mom's new apt. deposit
                         
                         EHARMONY SIGN-UP
                         
          O's braces (2nd installment)
                         
                         PIANO MOVERS
                         
                         PIANO STORAGE
                         
          Piano delivery to Mom's new apt.
                         
          In-piano humidity control system
                         
          EXT. CORNER 5TH AVENUE, 43RD STREET, NYC - DAY
                         
          During the morning rush hour, a crowd of businessmen waits on
          the corner to cross the street. Walter is among them, dressed
          in a short-sleeve business shirt and tie and with a briefcase
          on hand. Nothing happens. Then Walter's head explodes.
                         
                         CREDITS BEGIN
                         
          Up toward the clouds, propelled skyward, were the contents
          (ideas and images) of Walter's head; they've begun to float
          toward the ground.
                         
          INT. SKYSCRAPER, NYC - SAME
                         
          Some office work is going on. Then past the window (outside)
          comes floating down, in slow motion, Juan Valdez the
          Colombian Coffee guy (his donkey's floating down way in the
          distance).
                         
          This happens outside other high-rise and professional
          building windows - a floating Bishop Desmond Tutu, the
          silver Monopoly piece Top Hat, Statler and Waldorf (the two
          elderly curmudgeons from The Muppet Show) and additional
          detritus from Walter's mind such as Manute Bol, The Beastie
          Boys, etc. CREDITS PLAY.
                                                                    2.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. STARBUCKS, MIDTOWN NYC - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter sits at a Midtown Starbucks. He's got his laptop out
          and he's in the middle of a phone call.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    You know, you didn't really provide
                    much detail about your occupation.
                    Most people put theirs on their
                    eHarmony page. You don't care to?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Is that like a must? Can't I just
                    say like "I'm employed" or
                    something?
                         
                                              EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                        (like okay but that's not
                          a great idea)
                    Sure.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    My work's not really that
                    interesting. To women. Um. Or men.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    What do you do?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm a Practical Asset Manager. For
                    a corporation.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                        (sounds like he agrees
                         it's not interesting)
                    ....okay. What do you do when
                    you're not working?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Mostly I guess I commute to work?
                    It's like an hour and--
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Okay. No worries. I'll submit this
                    information, then check back in the
                    afternoon for your possible
                    eHarmony matchups. That's exciting,
                    huh?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It is, Todd. Yeah. Hey, when can I
                    leave a "wink" for someone? To see
                    if they "wink" back, or..?
                                                                    3.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter's looking at his laptop. On screen is the eHarmony
          dating page for CHERYL M. (34), pretty but she looks like the
          sort of pretty girl who takes the bus; text beside her photo
          reads "Leave a wink for Cheryl M. to indicate your
          interest..."
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    I'll have your eHarmony profile all
                    uploaded in a minute.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Cool.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    So like in two minutes. But hey,
                    you're a little light, if you don't
                    mind me saying this, in your "Been
                    There, Done that" column.
                         
          Part of the eHarmony client profile has a section Been There,
          Done That - where people list their accomplishments, travels,
          etc.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I forgot what I put there?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    ...Nothing.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Oh, okay.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    We should beef that up. If you can
                    think of anything to add that would
                    make it, you know, not blank....
                    give me a ring, I'll add it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I sure will.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                        (like he's a little
                                        CONCERNED)
                    ...Are you okay, man?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (doesn't know the guy,
                         surprised he asked)
                    ...Me?
                         
                                               EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Yeah.
                                                                    4.
                         
                         
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Yeah. Why?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    You sound, I don't know, a little
                    stressed?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (thinks its odd this guy's
                         taking a personal
                                        INTEREST)
                    No, I just had some stuff on my
                    mind. The past couple months.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    ....What kind of stuff?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (still thinking this
                         personal interest is a
                                        LITTLE ODD)
                    Just, you know... life stuff.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Yeah, I get that.
                         
          Some awkward moments pass as Walter's unsure about following
          through on heavy conversation with a stranger.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...okay thanks for asking, I guess,
                    um, Todd was your name?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Todd Mahar. I'll be your eHarmony
                    counselor, while you're with us
                    here at eHarmony.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay. Cool.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                                       (GETS IT)
                    Yeah. Hey, let's hope you'll have a
                    special lady on your mind later
                    today.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Sounds good, Todd.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Later, Walter.
                                                                      5.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Later... Todd.
                         
          They finish their call. Walter looks at the computer picture
          of Cheryl M., then out the window at actual Cheryl M. (CHERYL
          MELHOFF, 34) crossing the street just outside the window for
          the Time-Life building lobby. Then as Walter stands to go,
          outside the Starbucks window, a grand piano (exploded from
          Walter's head) falls from the sky onto the middle of the 53rd
          street.
                         
          EXT. 6TH AVE, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's out on 6th among a crowd waiting for a light to
          cross. Then a black and white New Orleans Jazz Funeral
          procession passes in front of him - black and white in the
          sense everyone in it and all their instruments and lively
          waving umbrellas are in black and white. Walter and the
          business people around them are in color. CREDITS END. The
          title appears: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
                         
          INT. TIME-LIFE BUILDING, LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter crosses the expansive lobby and passes a colleague ROY
          on his way to the building elevators.
                         
                                             ROY
                    Walter.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    What's up, Roy?
                         
                                             ROY
                    Hey. We just got acquired. Our
                    company. This morning.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (SURPRISED)
                    Our whole company did?
                         
          Walter wasn't expecting this; it's thrown him some.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR, TIME-LIFE BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter's in an elevator with two other guys in suits. He
          addresses the first one (GARY MANNHEIM)
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Gary? You're Vice President of
                    Acquisitions. Right?
                         
                                             GARY
                    Yeah.
                                                                    6.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ... we just got acquired. Did you
                    know that? Roy said.
                         
                                             GARY
                    The company that I'm supposed to be
                    acquiring companies for? It just
                    got acquired?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah, Roy said.
                         
                                             GARY
                    Okay, that's not promising for me
                    probably.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah, they probably have their own
                    acquiring guy.
                         
                                             GARY MANNHEIM
                    He's probably the guy who acquired
                    us.
                         
                              SECOND MAN IN A SUIT
                    Yeah. That was me. Ted Hendricks.
                    Hey.
                         
          This is the second man in a suit (TED HENDRICKS) who's been
          with them all the while. They all shake hands.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Ted Hendricks. Vice President of
                    Acquisitions.
                         
                                             GARY MANNHEIM
                                       (AWKWARD)
                    Gary Mannheim. Um. Vice President
                    of Acquisitions. Too. So what are
                    you going to be doing at the
                    company, Ted?
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Managing the acquisition.
                    Identifying overlap. Reducing staff
                    where we find redundancy. What's
                    your focus been here, Gary?
                         
                                             GARY MANNHEIM
                    ...I've been managing acquisitions.
                    Identifying overlap. Then reducing
                    staff where I find redundancy.
                                                                    7.
                         
                         
                         
          Further awkward moments pass.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Wow, okay. That's not...
                         
                                             GARY MANNHEIM
                    Yeah, that's not good.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    No.
                                       (TO WALTER)
                    What do you do?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm a Practical Asset Manager.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Do you play an important role here?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I do. Yeah. Totally. I work in a
                    one-on-one basis (on a one-on-one
                    basis I mean) with all our
                    photographers.
                         
          Ted just looks at him for a moment.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    I'm sorry. I was really getting
                    into this song. What were you
                    saying?
                         
          Walter listens to the elevator muzak Ted just referred to.
          It's like Maneater in muzak; no one could get into it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I was just saying I manage our film
                    negatives from the moment they arri-
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                        (starting to leave)
                    Let's talk later. We have a
                    specific time set aside to
                    conference with employees of the
                    former company.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    What time is that?
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    I'm not sure. But it's not at this
                    time.
                                                                    8.
                         
                         
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Okay.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    I have to see the board and start
                    evaluations now.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Okay. Thank you.
                        (flustered, feeling that
                         was a dumb thing to say)
                    I mean "not thank you." I mean like
                    "looking forward to it" I should
                    have said.
                         
          Ted just looks over. The door's closing.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the closing
                                        DOORS)
                    Looking forward to it.
                         
          The doors are almost closed.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    I'll come by sometime this week.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Awesome.
                         
                                             GARY MANNHEIM
                    Are you going to come by my...um?
                         
          The doors close. Ted's not coming by Gary's office.
                         
          INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
                         
          Walter walks up a long hallway toward his department floor;
          on the walls are hugely blown up Life Magazine photographs.
          Twelve foot high Muhammad Ali, Morgan Freeman (Oscar pose),
          Moon Landings. - Walter looks small compared. The last photo
          he passes is familiar - a black and white of a New Orleans
          Jazz Funeral.
                         
          INT. WALTER'S DIVISION FLOOR, LIFE - LATER
                         
          The division Walter works in has fifty employees seated
          around an open floor plan - fifty cubicles in view. Walter's
          arrived at his to find on his desk a wrapped gift with a note
                         READING:
                                                                    9.
                         
                         
                         
          Heard rumbling's Life's over. Wanted to give you something
          cool if this is the last photo batch. Hope when you open it
          and look inside you'll think it's pretty special.
                         
          Walter's unwrapped the gift.
                         
          It's a leather wallet. Its front is embossed with the
          inscription from S.O. to Walter Mitty - thanks for the great
          work.
                         
          Walter looks back at the letter; it finishes - by the way,
          neg 12 is my best ever. Landmark. The Absolute Quintessence
          of Life. .... the rest of the batch kind of sucks. Sean
                         
          INT. RECEIVING ROOM, LIFE MAGAZINE - LATER
                         
          Walter has been working through a Life photo order negative
          box - it's marked Sean O'Connell. There's a co-worker
          (HERNANDO) cleaning up in the distance. Walter has been
          examining a negative roll with his loupes (magnifiers worn as
          eye glasses). THEN HE NOTICES SOMETHING THAT STOPS HIM. The
          negative roll, where the 12th negative should be, has been
          cut; 12 is missing.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, Hernando-
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    Yeah?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    This 12th neg? From this last Life
                    roll?
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's not here.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    What's it of?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    It's of something that's the
                    Absolute Quintessence of Life. Or
                    something.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    What's "quintessence?"
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It means like the best ever.
                                                                   10.
                         
                         
                         
          A moment goes by.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    And you can't find it?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Um no.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    Wow. That's not going to go over
                    well with the new asshole.
                         
          The storage room is separated from the greater division floor
          by a wide glass window wall. At that moment, Walter has
          noticed new supervisor Ted Hendricks on the other side of the
          glass. He's holding a conversation with a LIFE EDITOR there.
          Walter can hear it (muffled).
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    How's the issue shaping up?
                         
                                              EDITOR
                    We got an email from Sean
                    O'Connell.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    The photographer?
                         
                                             EDITOR
                    Yes. He said he got the cover shot.
                    His best. The Quintessence of Life.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    What does Quintessence mean?
                         
                                             EDITOR
                    Like the best ever.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Okay. Awesome.
                         
          Ted starts to walk away.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS (CONT'D)
                        (repeating to himself for
                                        SOME REASON)
                    Quintessence.
                         
          This has Walter concerned.
                                                                   11.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. LIFE MAGAZINE CAFETERIA - LATER
                         
          The cafeteria is a large white room, with massive black and
          white Life photographs serving essentially as wallpaper.
          Particularly, they are images of physical and human immensity
          (photographs of the summitting of K2 and the beachheads of
          Normandy) and make the office workers here (Life magazine's
          low-level corporate workers among whom Walter is one) seem
          tiny in terms of their personal accomplishments but also
          physically. Walter and a co-worker TIM NAUGHTON sit in front
          of the Massive K2 mountain summit photograph.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Tim, did you find out anything
                    about Negative Box 2-6? Where it
                    was sent from?
                         
                                              TIM NAUGHTON
                        (like he's a real big
                                        DEAL)
                    That's the Sean O'Connell
                    commission?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah, the guy who took this--
                         
          Walter gestures to the K2. It's taken from above a guy who
          just summitted.
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    There's nothing in shipping. The
                    box just showed up it seems like.
                    There's no receipt.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...I'm getting nervous with these
                    new guys around. Lost negative. But
                    I'm not going to freak out. I think
                    my work here the last nine years
                    speaks for itself. I've made my
                    mark.
                         
          Then new superior Ted Hendricks walks past, accompanied by
          Life's EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATORS.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Who am I evaluating next?
                         
                                             EXECUTIVE
                        (holding an employee file
                         labeled W. Mitty)
                    W. Mitty.
                                                                    12.
                         
                         
                         
                                             SECOND EXECUTIVE
                    Who's that?
                         
                                              EXECUTIVE
                    He's the black guy from Accounts.
                         
                                             THIRD EXECUTIVE
                    ...He's not black.
                         
                                             EXECUTIVE
                    Are you sure?
                         
                                             THIRD EXECUTIVE
                    Yeah. He's just a white guy. With a
                    mustache.
                         
                                             SECOND EXECUTIVE
                    He doesn't have a mustache.
                         
                                             FIFTH EXECUTIVE
                    Of course he doesn't have a
                    mustache. He's a woman.
                         
          They've walked past Walter and out of the cafeteria - but
          Walter's heard every word - not promising.
                         
          EXT. TIME-LIFE BUILDING, 6TH AVE, NY - LATER
                         
          Walter sits at the cement bench on 6th just out front of the
          Time-Life building. He's looking at a photograph he's taken
          from his briefcase. It's a bad print - the kind someone takes
          before their camera's set - over exposed, out of focus - it's
          impossible to discern the subject.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (WONDERING)
                    What is this?
                         
          Cheryl Mellhoff sits down beside Walter.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    What is this?
                         
          He hands her the foggy print - it's clear they have an
          established working friendship.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I think it's either a man with one
                    sideburn. Or a candelabra. Or a
                    Happy Days lunch box.
                                                                   13.
                         
                         
                         
                                             CHERYL
                        (can't make it out clearly
                                        EITHER)
                    It's... is it two badminton
                    racquets? What's it supposed to be?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's the Quintessence of Life. So I
                    don't think it's two badminton
                    racquets. Sean O'Connell took this
                    just before he took another one we
                    lost.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                        (like that's significant)
                    You lost a Sean O'Connell?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (looking at the out of
                                        FOCUS PRINT)
                    ...I'm trying to figure out what
                    this picture is. I think he
                    focused, set his lens then took the
                    missing picture. It's just a better
                    picture of this. What is this?
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Maybe Sean has it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The negative? Yeah, I tried to
                    reach him. He's always in Bahrain.
                    Or a shanty town or somewhere - I
                    got one email off.
                         
          Walter shows Cheryl an email exchange from Sean O'Connell -
                         
          It reads - in need of info for neg 12 of neg roll three, box
          2-6.
                         
          Sean's reply - Best picture I've taken. The total F'ing
          Quintessence of Life. I hope you're as happy with it as I am.
                         
          Walter's reply = Cool, but can't find it.
                         
          Sean's reply - Out of Office. This is an auto reply. Sean
          O'Connell will be out of the office through the month of
          November.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    No cell phone. He's out on a
                    freelance. I'd really like to find
                    him.
                                                                     14.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter has taken further photographs from his briefcase
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    These are pictures from the last
                    roll he sent in. I'm trying to draw
                    a bead on his location by analyzing
                    these.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Have you figured anything out?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Not yet. Because my trail is...
                    water.
                         
          Walter starts showing Cheryl the photographs. The first of
          which is water - just a picture of water, could be an ocean,
          lake, or pool (puddle).
                         
                                              WALTER (CONT'D)
                    A Starbucks, which I don't know
                    which one.
                        (flipping to the next one)
                    And a man (or woman's) thumb.
                         
          This is a picture of a thumb.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I've been trying to figure out the
                    gender (of the thumb), as I sat
                    here. How many people in the world?
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Six billion.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Everyone's got two, too.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Two, too, what?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Thumbs.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Yeah. But I think there are more
                    Starbucks, so I don't know if
                    that's what you'd call a hot trail--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Look what Sean gave me.
                                                                   15.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter has taken the gift wallet out - S.O. to Walter Mitty -
          thanks for the great work.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Because we covered, you know, so
                    many hotspots together the last 9
                    years...
                        (a little more quietly)
                    ...boldly
                         
                                             CHERYL
                        (having some fun with
                                        WALTER)
                    You guys covered the hotspots
                    together boldly?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    As a team. Yeah. By Sean actually
                    going to the hotspots, and by me
                    staying here waiting for the
                    pictures of hotspots to come back
                    so I can boldly transfer them to
                    magazine format.
                         
          Cheryl's laughed.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    ...What did you do this weekend?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    We're moving my mom here. I went
                    and packed her house up. What about
                    you?
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    My son and I went on a bike ride in
                    Lake Valhalla. Jersey. We brought
                    lunch. Had lunch in an actual
                    field, of grass. We went swimming.
                    My friend Marny lives on the lake.
                        (getting to what's on
                         everyone's minds around
                                        THERE)
                    ...This is going to be the last
                    issue. Life's going to be strictly
                    online after this merger. No new
                    photographs. We're just going to be
                    an internet photo storehouse.
                    That's what I'm hearing. They're
                    going to let most of us go.
                         
          Walter sits there for awhile. That's tough news. He's got a
          lot on his mind. Then he gets a text: From Odessa, it reads:
                                                                   16.
                         
                         
                         
          - piano a-holes want 300 more dollars to take the piano back,
          come down. I have to go. Like right now.
                         
          INT. LOBBY, TIME-LIFE BUILDING - SAME
                         
          Walter's running through the huge Time-Life lobby for the
          50th St. glass exit doors, but outside the lobby it's not New
          York right now. It's Sana'a, Yemen. And running parallel to
          Walter, along the window glass wall beside him, is rugged war
          photographer SEAN O'CONNELL, loaded with camera gear. Walter
          runs out the building entrance and is now running side by
          side with Sean in Sana'a, Yemen in the midst of an anti-
          American rally, making a desperate dash together out of there
          under a volley of middle-eastern shoes.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    What's with all these shoes?
                         
          Angry Middle-easterners are throwing their shoes at Walter
          and Sean as they sprint by.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's a sign of disdain here.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    That's a lot of shoes, man.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    They've been targeting western
                    journalists all summer. It's been a
                    real hot August.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    Thanks for doing all the field work
                    here and risking your ass and
                    getting hit by shoes and stuff.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Let's just get this camera bag out
                    of here. We can shoot the shit
                    later, O'Connell. Over whiskeys.
                         
          There are in Sana'a, Yemen, but they're chasing an actual NYC
          metro south. Walter has finally reached its doors, though
          he's continuously struck by shoes.
                         
          INT. 104 BUS, NYC - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter's slightly out of breath. He's caught the bus. It's
          just New York again. Walter walks up the crowded bus aisle
          and finds a seat. Some time passes. Walter looks out the
          window, his daydream has faded.
                                                                   17.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. 104 BUS, MOVING, NYC - LATER
                         
          A little later, Walter's got his lap top out, trying to leave
          a "wink" for Cheryl M. (Cheryl Mellhoff) on eHarmony . It
          doesn't work: unable to perform request. Walter looks at it -
          it's not the smooth next step he was expecting. He tries
          again. Same result.
                         
          INT. 104 BUS, MOVING - LATER
                         
          Walter's in the midst of a phone call.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I tried to leave a "wink." For
                    someone. But it didn't work.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Well, they're not required to
                    respond to you favorably. We can't
                                   FORCE--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    No, it says "unable to perform
                    request," Todd. So I don't think my
                    wink really went through. Do I have
                    like a broken page or something?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Broken page? I've never heard of
                    that.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Well, okay, something's not
                    working. On my page.
                         
                                              EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Yeah, let me look here
                                        (KEYBOARD NOISE)
                    Okay, we received your application
                    breaking your personality into 29
                    different dimensions, and, okay, I
                    see the problem. You don't have
                    any.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Any what?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Dimensions.
                         
          Further time passes.
                                                                    18.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...I don't have any dimensions?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Not that we can determine. Through
                    our models. You're just lacking
                    distinguishing features as our
                    system sees it. Based on our really
                    extensive evaluation, you seem, to
                    us, a little too indistinguishable
                    from everybody else.
                         
          A pretty long time passes as Walter wrestles with this
          consideration.
                         
                              EHARMONY COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
                    You're not standing out. In a way
                    that would allow anyone to actually
                    notice you. So hey, let's enhance
                    your profile. Let me ask you, did
                    you always want to be a practical
                    asset manager?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I don't want to be one now. I just
                    am one.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Why do you do it?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's an occupation. When I became
                    an adult I thought that would be
                    possibly a good thing to have.
                    Because I keep getting bills from
                    places.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    What are some of your
                    accomplishments?
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (AFTER THINKING)
                    ...I studied music.
                         
                                               EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    How long?
                         
                                               WALTER
                    April.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    April? One April?
                                                                   19.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah. But I was working at Orange
                    Julius to save money for college.
                    That April. And my hands were
                    always sore from working the
                    Frother.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Can you play any pieces?
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Sure.
                         
                                                EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Which?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    A piece of Cheers. The first piece.
                    Part.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    I don't know if we should list
                    that.
                         
          Walter gets a text from Odessa that says I'm leaving.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, Todd. I have to go. I have a
                    piano situation I have to take care
                    of.
                         
                                                EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Okay, man.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Um hey, can I have my four hundred
                    dollars back?
                         
          EXT. BATTERY PARK, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter walks up to Battery Park to find (really) a grand
          piano sitting in the park. He stops and stares at it awhile.
                         
          EXT. BATTERY PARK, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter sits at the abandoned piano (in pristine shape).
          Regular NY foot traffic passes around him. He absentmindedly
          starts playing the first bars of Cheers. Then he just keeps
          doing it because he's thinking of other things.
                         
                              GUY IN PARK
                    Stop playing Cheers, Dick.
                                                                   20.
                         
                         
                         
          Then Walter sees Cheryl Mellhoff and her son RICH (9), headed
          his way from across Bridge Street. They've got two
          skateboards. Walter smiles when he sees them and waves.
                         
          EXT. BRIDGE STREET - LATER
                         
          Cheryl, Walter and Rich push the grand piano toward quiet
          Bridge Street. It's on its wheels and a couple skateboards.
          It's rolling down the street pretty well. They're about to
          push it out onto the street.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Rich, are you ready to push a piano
                    down a street and get honked at by
                    everybody in New York?
                         
                                              RICH
                        (like it's going to be
                                         FUN)
                    Yeah.
                         
          They do. The honking begins right away, but they keep rolling
          the grand piano down Bridge Street. It looks like it might be
          fun.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    I can't believe they left it in the
                    park. How old is this?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Her dad bought it for her when she
                    was six. It's seventy-years-old.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Your sister just took off?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    My sister's not the responsible one
                    in the family.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    No kidding, man.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    She told them no steps. I paid them
                    for a first floor move. But she
                    screwed up and got my mom a
                    apartment on the 15th floor. The
                    movers weren't equipped to get it
                    up there. She didn't have the money
                    for them to take it back. She had
                    to get her braces adjusted, so she
                    just took off.
                                                                     21.
                         
                         
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Braces. How old is she?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    36.
                         
          EXT. BRIDGE STREET - LATER
                         
          It's pretty late now. Walter has placed a tarp over the
          piano. They rolled it into a city parking space.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    You're sure this is your sister's
                    parking space?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah. Hey, Rich. You're pretty good
                    on that.
                         
          Rich is skateboarding around a little.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I used to skateboard a little.
                         
                                              CHERYL
                        (something about the idea
                          makes her smile)
                    When?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Maine. When I was a kid.
                        (trying to unburden her of
                         the other skateboard)
                    Hey. I'll bring it in tomorrow. I
                    don't want you to have to carry it
                    all the way home. I got it.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Thanks.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You helped me move a piano. I can
                    carry this. See you Rich. Thanks
                    for putting your back into it.
                         
                                             RICH
                    What does that mean?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Just, you know... helping out, man.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    See you tomorrow.
                                                                   22.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
          Walter's got the piano all tarped. Cheryl and Rich take off.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Are you sure I can't walk you home?
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    I'm going to drop Rich at his
                    Dad's. Thanks, Walter.
                         
          Walter hangs out a moment. He's watching them go. Then he
          starts walking off with Rich's skateboard.
                         
          EXT. CORNER, BRIDGE AND STATE NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's alone again. He's back near the park in the city,
          waiting to cross State. He puts the skateboard down and
          starts kind of messing around with it a little, moving around
          on it a little bit. Then he takes off on it pretty well, then
          he grinds the low garden curb - nicely done.
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          THIS IS A CLOSE UP OF THE NON-SPECIFIC PHOTOGRAPH OF WATER
                         
          INT. FILM PROCESSING ROOM, TIME-LIFE BLDG - DAY
                         
          Walter's got the water photo under a light lamp. He's
          scrutinizing it, hoping to gain some information.
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (quietly, to himself)
                    Is this the Arctic Ocean..? A glass
                    of Sprite.
                         
          Then he finds something. There's been a light leak at the
          edge of the frame. Here, with the picture blown-up and light
          poured on, Walter can make out something reflected in the
          water. It's the stern of a fishing trawler. Its vessel name
          and registry number are visible. She's the Erkigsnek SO709.
          Her port home is almost visible painted beneath, but only the
          first two letters are legible due to the light leak - Nu.
                         
          INT. BREAK ROOM, LIFE MAGAZINE - LATER
                         
          Walter and his colleague Tim Naughton have met up in their
          breakroom, having some coffee.  On the wall beyond them is a
          massive photo of Evel Knievel on fire.
                                                                     23.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey were you able to use the
                    Circulation computer to find that
                    ship? That boat?
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    Yeah, it's registered in Nuuk.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Nuuk?
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    That's a town. I think the town in
                    Greenland. It's a coastal fishing
                    vessel.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ....Greenland.
                         
          Walter considers that. It connects to nothing for him. He
          turns to other matters.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Tim, what would you say is a good
                    accomplishment of yours, like
                    something that you'd put on an
                    online dating page?
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    I don't know.
                         
          Tim considers this.
                         
                              TIM NAUGHTON (CONT'D)
                    I broke Adam Lopez's record for
                    hitting the highest singing note
                    for a male, I guess.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Seriously?
                         
                                                TIM NAUGHTON
                    Yeah.
                         
          After a moment, Gary hits the highest singing note ever
          recorded for a male.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Wow...
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    But I don't know if I'd put that on
                    eHarmony.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                   24.
                         
                              TIM NAUGHTON (CONT'D)
                    I just don't think that's really
                    going to do a lot for the ladies.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah. How did you know you can do
                    that?
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    My voice goes way up there when I'm
                    emotional, or whatever, can't
                    really control it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I was thinking about putting that
                    I've never really been late coming
                    back from lunch.
                         
                                              TIM NAUGHTON
                    ...I don't know. Kind of weak.
                    That's not exactly winning the Tour
                    de France.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...Yeah
                         
          EXT. CHOPPED SALAD, CHAIN SALAD FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - LATER
                         
          Walter is visible at a table for one. He's finishing up
          lunch. He checks his watch. Then he stands to leave to get
          back to work on time.
                         
          EXT. STATE STREET - LATER
                         
          Walter's running to the subway station a half-block ahead.
          Then he passes a man who's just standing there silently
          extending (to Walter) a cup of water. Walter takes it without
          breaking stride, drinks it and drops the cup on the sidewalk
           it was unusual. Then Walter hustles down the subway steps
          and checks his watch to ensure he's running on time.
                         
          INT. SUBWAY MOVING - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter has taken his subway seat. Then a shirtless, beaming
          Frenchman leans into view (in the seat behind Walter's) and
          offers Walter pats (congratulatory) on the back.
                         
          EXT. 6TH AVE, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's made it to the corner of 6th and 49th. He looks up
          ahead at the Time-Life building (his destination). Then he
          checks his watch and finds he'll be on time. He's relieved
          Then a Frenchman comes up and sprays Walter in the face with
          Champagne. Then multiple Frenchmen mob Walter, fighting for
          turns at congratulating him through frantic head rubs.
                                                                   25.
                         
                         
                         
          EXT. 6TH AVE, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter is carried on the group of Frenchmen's shoulders as
          they run him up 6th avenue, chanting.
                         
                                             FRENCHMEN
                        (European sports chant)
                    Wal-ter Mi-tty.
                         
          INT. LOBBY, TIME-LIFE BUILDING - LATER
                         
          The French mob jogs through the lobby with Walter atop their
          shoulders.
                         
                                             FRENCHMEN
                        (European sports chant)
                    Wal-ter Mi-tty.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR, MOVING - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Among more serious-looking businessmen and woman, the raucous
          tour-de-France style congratulations party continues.
          Walter's just being mobbed by ecstatic Frenchmen.
                         
          INT. FORTIETH FLOOR, ELEVATOR LOBBY - LATER
                         
          No one's around. We hear the quiet "ding" of the elevator
          arriving. Then Walter gets out. There are no crowds anywhere -
          just Walter in his short-sleeve dress shirt, tie and
          briefcase. He reaches his division floor offices door and
          enters his pass-key. Then his mom walks up - EDNA MITTY, 76.
                         
                                                EDNA
                    Hi, honey.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (noticing her, surprised)
                    Hey, Mom.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Hi, Walter. Is it all right I'm
                    dropping by?
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Sure,
                        (meaning the open office
                                         AREA)
                    we'll just go through here to my
                    office.
                                                                   26.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. DIVISION FLOOR - CONTINUOUS
                         
          As Walter and Edna enter the division floor, colleague Tim
          Naughton walks past.
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                                       (TO WALTER)
                    They just called a conference.
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (following Tim, with his
                         mom at his side, to her)
                    Hey, your new place is almost
                    ready. We just had a little hiccup
                    due to Odessa just not getting the
                    right one.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Well, she's the artist...
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Why did she get the cool name? She
                    got to turn out cool.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    I named her after a wonderful visit
                    your Dad and I had to Odessa, our
                    family's homeland, one summer, in
                    southern Ukraine. There's a
                    beautiful river there also named
                    Odessa.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Why did you name me Walter?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    I named you after Walter Matthau
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (noticing that a
                         conference is starting)
                    Okay. This is starting I think. We
                    should probably just stop here to--
                         
          They've walked out onto the division floor where a group of
          forty or so employees has been gathered together to allow Ted
          Hendricks a speech (which he's forcing a colleague to make).
          They stand a short distance away, in the middle of letting
                         THEM KNOW:
                                                                   27.
                         
                         
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE
                    This will only take a moment. I
                    just wanted to inform you all,
                    reluctantly, that this month's
                    issue will be the last.
                         
          The employees have been expecting this. Nonetheless, the news
          saddens and concerns them.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE (CONT'D)
                    You are all valued employees. But
                    as we undergo this transition we
                    wanted to be candid with you that
                    some of you will be--
                         
                                              TED HENDRICKS
                        (correcting him, a little
                          more quietly, just to
                                         HIM)
                    Most.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE
                        (to Ted, quietly)
                    What's that?
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Most of them.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE
                    We wanted to be clear that most of
                    you will be determined non-vital to
                    the new partnership. The remaining
                    few employees will carry over into
                    the new organization. We'll be
                    deciding which category your
                    positions fall into over the course
                    of the next week.
                         
          Tim Naughton, among the gathered (soon to be former)
          employees, has begun a quiet, high-pitched, weeping. Walter
          has had to field this news while his mother stands beside
          him.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE (CONT'D)
                    Now for some good news. We're very
                                   EXCITED TO--
                         
          At this point, Ted Hendricks nudges the guy to move over so
          Ted can assume the speaking part for the good news portion.
                                                                   28.
                         
                         
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Okay. So, we're very excited to
                    play a part in publishing what will
                    be the very last issue of Life
                    Magazine, which has been an
                    American Institution for 75 years
                    and whose renowned covers have
                    touched us all really touching
                    ways. And for the final issue, our
                    cover is going to be something
                    which is...
                        (he forgot the word, looks
                         at the editor for help)
                    What was that word?
                         
                                             EDITOR
                                       (WHISPERING)
                    Quintessence.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Our cover will probably be the most
                    famous ever because it really has
                    the awesome quintessence of Life.
                    And we're all going to be a part of
                    this historic happening. Even those
                    of you who will, right after the
                    happening, be asked to leave. Thank
                    you.
                         
          Ted begins to clap (for some reason). So the gathered
          employees also begin some watered-down clapping. Walter is
          among them, standing beside his mom, who is clapping too.
          Then they all stop the fake good cheer and head back to work.
                         
          INT. STORAGE ROOM, PRACTICAL ASSETS, LIFE - LATER
                         
          Later, Walter's mom is with him in his work area, back in the
          storage area of practical assets.
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (to colleague Hernando,
                          little rattled about the
                          quintessence cover news)
                    Check for negative 12 in the wash
                    bins.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    So the moving bill came, for my
                    move down here. I wanted to bring
                    it by. Thank you so much Walter.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Mom, come on. It's nothing.
                                                                      29.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter takes his mom's bill. He's paying it. He seems a
          little worried about money. Hernando comes back into the
          area.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                        (about the negative)
                    It's not in there, Walter.
                         
          It's bad news. Walter is going to have to tell his superiors
          the negative is lost.
                         
          EXT. TED HENDRICK'S OFFICE, LIFE - LATER
                         
          Walter has approached (reluctantly) Ted Hendrick's office to
          confess the negative's gone. But he finds Ted on the phone
          and waits politely in the open doorway for Ted to finish the
          call. (Ted has his back to Walter).
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Yes, sir. It's gone very smoothly.
                    The last issue's underway.
                                       (LISTENING)
                    The cover? Yeah. It's amazing. It's
                    so quintessence. It encapsulates
                    majesty. Totally. It has some
                    splendor, in it, too, probably.
                    Also, I'm pretty sure it's
                    illustrious and just really
                    awesome. It took my breath away.
                    And I haven't even seen it yet.
                                       (LISTENING)
                    We're getting it processed from
                    practical assets now.
                                       (LISTENING)
                    Yes, sir. We're going to retain
                    eleven employees. I'm going to be
                    evaluating them over the next week.
                         
          His situation worsened, Walter turns and leaves.
                         
          INT. STORAGE ROOM, PRACTICAL ASSETS, LIFE - LATER
                         
          Walter has returned to the storage room. He's looking at his
          laptop at a map of Earth. Specifically, at Greenland.
          Hernando's working in the distance.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You know, the thing about
                    Greenland... it's really not that
                    far, man.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    What's that?
                                                                   30.
                         
                         
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Greenland.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    What's Greenland?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's a country/island. Sean might
                    be there. It's not as close as
                    Canada but it's really not as far
                    as it sounds. When you hear it.
                    Look.
                         
          Hernando looks at the map. It is (actually) really not that
          far from Canada.
                         
                                             HERNANDO
                    Yeah, it's not that far.
                         
          Then Walter leaves the room.
                         
          INT. WALTER'S DIVISION FLOOR - LATER
                         
          Everyone's at work, in the cubicle spaces. Walter comes
          walking through the area, with his briefcase, on his way out.
                         
          EXT. 6TH AVE, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's out walking among the crowds. But he's moving with
          some purpose, somewhere specific. All he's got is his
          briefcase.
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          CLOSE ON AN EMAIL REPLY
                         
          Walter Mitty is Out of the Office. This is an automatic reply
                         
          INT. AIR GREENLAND 747, JFK - SAME
                         
          The plane is mostly empty. But Walter's on it. And just one
          other guy. But he's sitting in the seat beside Walter. The
          Captain's speaking Danish. Walter's looking at his iphone
          email from the photographer Sean O'Connell - Best picture
          I've taken. The total "F"ing quintessence of Life. Walter
          looks at this message like there's hope there, like finding
          this thing might save his job. The plane takes off now,
          soars.
                                                                   31.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. AIR GREENLAND 747, FLYING - LATER
                         
          The plane's midair. Walter's looking at the photo print the
          image of which (out of focus) he can't make out, trying to
          unlock some idea of what it is.
                         
          EXT. GREENLAND CAPITAL NUUK - DAY
                         
          The capital, coastal town of Nuuk looks like it's made out of
          Victorian toys. Walter's plane drops into view and descends
          over these handsome little buildings.
                         
          INT. PUB, NUUK, GREENLAND - LATER (EVENING)
                         
          Walter has somehow gotten involved in a Danish folkdance
          which involves (exclusively) linking arms with elderly
          Greenlanders in colorful vests (the only colorful part of the
          event) and shuffling slowly from side to side while making a
          large moving (slow) outer circle. Also they chant in Danish.
          Walter performs this holding his briefcase.
                         
          EXT. PUB, NUUK - LATER
                         
          Outside the pub, Walter has been showing Greenlander teens
          his overexposed photograph.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    This looks like a chair. Here.
                         
          It doesn't really look like a chair.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Have you seen this chair?
                         
                                             TEEN
                    That's not a chair.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I think it's a chair. Or a pipe. A
                    man's pipe.
                         
          No one says anything.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Have you seen this pipe?
                         
                                             TEEN
                    That's not a pipe either.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (showing them another
                                        PHOTO)
                    Have you seen this Starbucks?
                                                                   32.
                         
                         
                         
                                             SECOND TEEN
                    I don't know. Possibly.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (ANOTHER PHOTO)
                    Have you seen this man (or woman's)
                    thumb?
                         
          INT. COFFEE SHOP, NUUK - MORNING
                         
          It's a fresh morning. Walter's sitting in a coffee shop,
          looking out on the capital town street. Then he sees a cab
          pull up for him.
                         
          INT. CAB, MOVING - LATER
                         
          Walter sits in back. The older female cabby cruises the car
          past some open, pretty fields.
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Greenland is the least densely
                    populated country in the world.
                    There's only 56,000 people. Lots to
                    do. Most of us work a few different
                    jobs, to cover everything. For
                    example I drive this cab.
                         
          A moment passes.
                         
                              CAB DRIVER (CONT'D)
                    I'm also the Queen.
                         
          Walter has been surprised.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...You're the Queen of Greenland?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Yeah. Oh, there goes my meter.
                         
          Her meter's gone out.
                         
                              CAB DRIVER (CONT'D)
                    You want to just a call it 93
                    kroner? Flat rate.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's cool... your Majesty.
                         
          An awkward moment passes.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Should I call you that?
                                                                   33.
                         
                         
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Sure.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Is there anything around here that
                    a renowned photographer might be
                    photographing?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    No.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Are you sure?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I think he was here.
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Well, possibly if he was mistaken,
                    he might have thought the Musk Ox
                    migration was worth photographing.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can we see that?
                         
          INT. CAB, MOVING, OUTSKIRTS, NUUK, GREENLAND - LATER
                         
          Walter and the Queen continue their peaceful drive through
          the outskirts of Nuuk, Greenland.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    So are you Queen for life?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's a good gig. They're making
                    some changes at work. My work.
                    They're letting most of the
                    divisions go.
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    How long have you been there?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Nine years.
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    That's tough.
                                                                   34.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    How'd you get to be Queen?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    My dad was King.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...My dad sold ice cream.
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Here we are.
                         
          Walter looks out the window. In a field they've parked
          beside, there are a few indigenous Oxen (they look like huge
          Jim Henson muppets) walking slowly.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's the Musk Ox migration?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    There's just three of them.
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Where are they migrating?
                         
                                             CAB DRIVER
                    To the other side of the island.
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (like it's not that big a
                                        DEAL)
                    Yeah, I don't think Sean would
                    cover this, so much. Can you just
                    take me to the boat wharf place?
                         
          EXT. WHARF, NUUK - LATER
                         
          At the end of a dock, with western Nuuk in the distance
          behind them and the Atlantic all around, Walter holds a
          conversation with an older BOAT CAPTAIN. The cab waits in the
          distance.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You're the captain of the
                    Erkigsnek? I don't know how to
                    pronounce that.
                                                            35.
                         
                         
                         
                                             BOAT CAPTAIN
                    That wasn't right. But yeah, I know
                    what you're trying to say. Yeah. I
                    am.
                         
          Walter shows him the water photo.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You're boat was photographed. In
                    the past four days. Do you know
                    where?
                         
          He looks at the photo for a while.
                         
                                             BOAT CAPTAIN
                    We've been out in the Atlantic the
                    last four days. I have no idea when
                    this was taken.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can you guess from where?
                         
                                             BOAT CAPTAIN
                    Where it was taken from?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             BOAT CAPTAIN
                    ...another ship? Which I can't say.
                    We passed a lot of them. You should
                    check the mail logs at the post
                    office.
                         
          INT. POST OFFICE, NUUK - LATER
                         
          Walter's at the desk of the small post office.
                         
                                             POSTAL CLERK
                    Are you a detective?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Yep.
                         
          Some moments pass.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Did I just say "yep?" I'm sorry. I
                    meant "nope." I'm an office worker.
                    We're trying to secure a photograph
                    he might have, that's valuable to
                    my company.
                                                                   36.
                         
                         
                         
                                             POSTAL CLERK
                    Well, these are the airmail records
                    from this last week.
                        (checking a large
                                        REGISTER)
                    They helicopter mail in. As the
                    shipping freighters go by. We had
                    fifty three pick ups. That's fifty
                    three freighters. He could have
                    been on any one of them.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    So he just went by us?
                         
                                             POSTAL CLERK
                    If he was on a freighter, he went
                    right by us.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    So there's no one here who might
                    have had contact with him, who
                    might know where he's going.
                         
                                             POSTAL CLERK
                    I'm afraid I can't help you.
                         
          A moment passes.
                         
                              POSTAL CLERK (CONT'D)
                    Unless you want to mail something.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (just standing there)
                    No, I don't have any... mailing
                    needs.
                         
          INT. PUB, NUUK, GREENLAND - EVENING
                         
          Learning Sean has slipped into the unknown again, Walter's
          despondent; he sits at the bar, drinking a beer out of what
          looks a glass, woman's boot (it's huge). The same folk dance
          dance is going on behind him. But he's not engaged. He's
          looking at the blown up photograph of "the thumb." He's just
          staring at it like it's never going to grant him anything - a
          thumb - then after a moment a real thumb that looks just like
          that thumb appears beside it, attached to the hand of a guy
          who's just walked up to the bar and put his hand on it (on
          the bar beside the photo). The two thumbs rest beside one
          another. They're the same thumb. After a brief moment, Walter
          notices the resemblance. Then he turns and looks at the guy.
          The guy looks back.
                                                                   37.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can I ask you a question?
                         
                                                MAN (PILOT)
                    Sure.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Where was your thumb like four days
                    ago?
                         
          EXT. PUB, NUUK, GREENLAND - LATER
                         
          Walter has come outside the pub to talk to this guy. There's
          a helicopter parked in the field beyond the pub. The thumb
          guy is its PILOT.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I can't believe I found one thumb.
                         
                                             PILOT
                    Well, it's the least densely
                    populated country on earth. It's a
                    good place to find a thumb. He's on
                    the Dolores. I helicopter dropped
                    and picked up mail from her
                    Tuesday. He's a strange guy.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Sean?
                         
                                             PILOT
                    Yeah. He took a picture of my
                    thumb.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Yeah, why?
                         
                                             PILOT
                    He saw I worked my controls with
                    it. He's shooting photos of people
                    working. That's why he's on that
                    ship. I'm taking some radio parts
                    out there in fifteen minutes. Their
                    radio's fucked.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Man, I really need to contact him.
                    We're in a transition period and--
                         
                                             PILOT
                    You could contact him by coming
                    with me. Then contacting him. In
                    person. On the boat.
                                                                   38.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...Can't we just call them? I could
                    ask him on like the boat phone.
                         
                                             PILOT
                    The Ship to shore.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can I just ask him on the "ship to
                    shore?" Instead of going on that
                    old-looking helicopter?
                         
                                             PILOT
                    Well, their radio's fucked. That's
                    why I'm flying out.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You're leaving now?
                         
                                             PILOT
                    After I finish my beer.
                         
          That makes Walter pause.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The weather doesn't seem great.
                    Feels like there a storm "moving
                    in." "Brewing."
                         
                                             MAN
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    But you're just going to finish
                                   YOUR BIG-GLASS-WOMAN'S-BEER-BOOT
                    and then fly?
                         
                                             PILOT
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay. I'm not going to go with you.
                         
          INT. PUB, NUUK, GREENLAND - LATER
                         
          The pilot sits at the bar finishing his boot beer. Walter's
          in the background, looking in through the window, watching
          the pilot drink.
                         
          EXT. FIELD BESIDE THE PUB - LATER
                         
          A little while later, the pilot's in the pilot's chair of the
          helicopter. The blades are spinning.
                                                                   39.
                         
                         
          He's about to lift off out of Nuuk. Walter's in the distance,
          standing thirty yards away near the pub, looking over. He's
          not going. Then the helicopter starts to lift at the same
          moment Walter has a change of heart and starts to run toward
          it to come along.
                         
          The helicopter begins to ascend (the environment around the
          pub is pretty, different than what we've seen). We also
          haven't seen Walter sprinting before, which he is now
          (briefcase), arriving, then leaping three feet up into the
          passenger seat of the helicopter.
                         
          INT. HELICOPTER, FLYING - LATER
                         
          Walter's high above Greenland, flying over a fjord. It's
          breathtaking. He yells to be heard from the passenger seat to
          the pilot.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Is that a fjord?
                         
                                             PILOT
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I've seen pictures of fjords. But
                    I've never actually seen a fjord. I
                    don't think I've ever even said the
                    word fjord out loud--
                         
                                             PILOT
                    Stop saying fjord. It's annoying.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay.
                         
          EXT. VIEW DOWN ON ATLANTIC - LATER
                         
          This is a look from way up at an international shipping
          vessel mid-sea. The weather around it's getting rocky. On
          deck, they're prepping a life raft.
                         
          INT. HELICOPTER, GREENLAND, SKY, MOVING - LATER
                         
          Walter's getting rocked a little in the helicopter passenger
          seat. The weather's getting rough. They're in some low lying
          storm clouds.
                         
                                             PILOT
                        (yelling over the blades)
                    We're not going to be able to land
                    on the freighter. I've got to drop
                    the radio parts and you in a life
                    raft.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                   40.
                         
                                             PILOT (CONT'D)
                    It's a short drop, but your
                    decision. You can just fly back
                    with me.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (yelling over the blades)
                    I'd really like to get my hands on
                    this property. They're making some
                    changes at the office. It's going
                    to reflect poorly on my work. I
                    might get let go. And I have a
                    mounting piano situation that's--
                        (rocked big time)
                    Whoa...
                         
          The pilot carries on to the freighter. Walter seems to be
          calling on his reserves to see this through.
                         
          INT. HELICOPTER - LATER
                         
          It's noisy. The weather's rough. There is lots of lifting and
          dropping. Walter's steadying himself in the cargo hold,
          preparing to jump..
                         
                                             PILOT
                    You're doing great. We're only six
                    feet up. Just jump out the door,
                    Walter.
                         
          EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - SAME
                         
          This is wide view of what's going on. We see the back of the
          hovering helicopter. To its left is the international
          shipping vessel the Dolores which has placed a life raft
          between it and the helicopter. There is still some space to
          the right of the frame where there's open water. That's the
          side of the helicopter Walter mistakenly jumped from. After
          he surfaces, he starts to drift away from the freighter.
                         
          EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - LATER
                         
          Walter's treading water a fair distance from the freighter.
          The crew (Chilean) has gathered at the bow of the freighter.
          The captain calls out to Walter through a megaphone.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN
                    We're sending a pontoon. Try to
                    remain calm.
                         
          At this point a fin passes behind Walter.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone)
                    Okay, if that's a porpoise--
                                                                   41.
                         
                         
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (sort of to himself,
                                         LOOKING AROUND)
                    If what's a--
                        (noticing the fin)
                    what?
                         
                                              CAPTAIN
                    If that is a porpoise, befriend it.
                    Porpoises are mammals with rare
                    intelligence and sympathy. They
                    often protect swimmers from
                    predators.
                         
          The fin circles by again.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
                    If that's a shark, strike it. Their
                    snouts are sensory hubs.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (CALLING OUT)
                    How do you-- I just see a fin. Can
                    you get a bead on some more
                    information?
                         
          On board the crew has a brief consultation.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN
                        (then, to Walter through
                                        THE MEGAPHONE)
                    We're confident that's a shark.
                         
          The fin comes nearer. Walter steels himself. Then he finds
          some presence of mind and power and is able to deter the
          thing away by thrashing at it with a few decent punches.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
                        (after a moment)
                    Okay, now we think that was a
                    porpoise.
                         
          After another moments, another fin shows up.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
                    That probably is a shark.
                         
          At this point, though, the pontoon arrives and Walter
          scrambles into it (he still has his briefcase).
                                                                    42.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - LATER
                         
          Walter has dried off. He's being tended to by some young
          Chilean sailors. He's been sounding them out about where Sean
          O'Connell is.
                         
                                             CHILEAN SAILOR
                    Sean O'Connell? He was picked up.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    From your ship?
                         
                                             CHILEAN CAPTAIN
                    A pilot boat came. They took him.
                    Four hours ago.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Took him where?
                         
                                             CHILEAN CAPTAIN
                    I don't know.
                         
          It's dawned on Walter that he's missed Sean. Just by a
          little.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can we radio them? There's
                    something I need to discuss with--
                         
                                             CAPTAIN
                    You jumped into the ocean with our
                    radio components. No. We are, as
                    you say, "on our own."
                         
          EXT. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING FREIGHTER THE DOLORES - LATER
                         
          The freighter's hauling automobiles. The surface of the ship
          looks like a mall parking lot. One of the Chilean sailors
          accompanies Walter on a walk among the car rows.
                         
                                             CHILEAN SAILOR
                    You can sleep where Sean did.
                         
          They stop alongside a Subaru. The Sailor opens the driver's
          door. He means this is where Sean slept. In this Subaru.
          Walter's confused.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Sean slept here?
                         
                                             CHILEAN SAILOR
                    Yes.
                                                                      43.
                         
                         
                         
                                                WALTER
                       In this Subaru Outback?
                         
                                                CHILEAN SAILOR
                       Yes. That's where our undocumented
                       laborers sleep. Our Stevedores.
                       He was photographing our workers.
                         
                                                WALTER
                       He was photographing Chilean
                       Stevedores?
                         
                                                CHILEAN SAILOR
                       Yeah.
                         
                                                WALTER
                           (about the Outback)
                       This was his room/car?
                         
                                                CHILEAN SAILOR
                       Now it will be your room/car.
                         
          INT. SUBARU OUTBACK - SAME
                         
          Walter has gotten in. There are five Chilean Stevedores in
          the back in different states of rest - sleeping, reading,
          playing chess.
                         
                                                WALTER
                       Hey. Walter.
                         
          They wave.
                         
                                                WALTER (CONT'D)
                       Did you guys, were you living in
                       this car back seat when Sean
                       O'Connell lived in the front seat?
                         
          Walter starts miming taking photographs.
                         
                                                WALTER (CONT'D)
                       Sean?
                         
                                 BACK SEAT CHILEAN
                       La Quintasencia....
                         
          The guy's pointing to where Walter is in the front seat.
                         
                                 SECOND BACK SEAT CHILEAN
                       La Quintasencia.
                         
                                                WALTER
                       Is that-- Are you saying quin--
                                                                      44.
                         
                         
                         
                              SECOND BACK SEAT CHILEAN
                    La Quintasencia...
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Are you saying Quintessence? In the
                    Spanish form? Yeah. Sean says that.
                         
          A deck Squall Alarm sounds. These guys leave the car quickly
          (to perhaps batten something down). Walter notices the
          breaktime snack they were enjoying - half's been left behind.
                         
                                              WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Is that Clementine cake? My mom
                    makes-- I didn't know anyone else
                    made that.
                         
          Walter's alone in the Subaru.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Clementine cake. Wow.
                         
          He reaches for some cake, it's been sliced into pieces,
          wrapped bakery style in some stray paper from the backseat.
          Walter takes one such slice. While the storm lifts and lowers
          the ship, Walter enjoys some clementine cake, then he notices
          something about the paper scrap it's wrapped in. There's
          handwriting on it. Walter examines it.
                         
          What Walter's holding is a half-torn page bearing cursive
          handwriting. There is a date beside the word:
          Eyjafjallajökull. Then TTL shoemount flash. Zoom bounce
          flash. Nikon Camera....
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    This is Sean's.
                         
          There is a later destination and date on the paper - and some
          scrawl beside it.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                                       (EXCITED)
                    ...this is an itinerary.
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          A CLOSE UP OF THE WORD EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL
                         
          EXT. SHIP CROW'S NEST - LATER
                         
          During this storm, Walter has climbed up the crow's nest
          ladder and stands in the crow's nest with the English-
          Speaking Chilean Sailor who escorted him to the Subaru.
          Walter's showing him the paper - Eyjafjallajökull
                                                                    45.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's where Sean is. Tomorrow.
                    This gibberish. I have to crack it.
                         
                                 ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    Crack?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I have to crack the gibberish.
                         
                              ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    You don't have to crack anything.
                    It's a volcano. In Iceland. That's
                    the name. Eyjafjallajökull.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...Sean's in Iceland. We're going
                    past there, right? Can we land
                    there?
                         
                              ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    We can get you there.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can you get me there tomorrow?
                         
                              ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    We can get you there tomorrow, yes.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Would you like some Clementine
                    cake?
                         
          Walter's brought the cake up with him.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    It's very good. It tastes, man,
                    exactly like my mom's. I didn't
                    know Chilean mom's made this. Small
                    world.
                         
                              ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    No thank you. I have to actually
                    perform a function up here, during
                    the storm. That's why I'm up here.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Oh. Sorry.
                         
                              ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    I have to monitor the mooring
                    winches and wind Lasses.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                   46.
                         
                              ENGLIGH SPEAKING CHILEAN SAILOR
                    And you're standing, I'm sorry,
                    like right where I'm supposed to be
                    looking.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay, I'm going to go, take my cake
                    and.....
                         
          Walter starts to descend the crow's nest ladder.
                         
          EXT. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING VESSEL - LATER
                         
          The storm has broken. The sea is calm. The sun is out. This
          is a huge ship. Walter's sitting on the bow, all by himself.
          His briefcase is beside him. It's quiet. He's looking out at
          the water, then (oddly) his cell phone rings.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    ...Hello?
                         
                                               MAN'S VOICE
                    Walter.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             MAN'S VOICE
                    Todd Mahar. From eHarmony.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...Oh. Hey.
                        (like it's weird to be
                         getting a call out here
                         from Todd Mahar)
                    Um, do I owe you guys money?
                    Because your supervisor was clear I
                    can't get my 400 dollars back. But
                    I don't think I'm going to renew-
                         
                                              EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    No, I just wanted to see how you
                    were doing. You didn't sound great
                    last time.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The last time we talked? The time
                    you told me I have no personality?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Well, you know, you just left your
                    application so empty. Share
                    something about yourself. It
                    doesn't have to be major league.
                                             (MORE)
                                                             47.
                         
                              EHARMONY COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
                    Life's full of small
                    accomplishments. What do you strive
                    to do everyday, that you take pride
                    in? Can I ask you that?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Well, I take my work seriously.
                    Also keeping a tidy apartment. I
                    help my sister out paying her bills
                    now and then. But can we not list
                    that? None of that stuff really
                    seems like an accomplishment.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    You know there's a way to consider
                    it where the tasks you accomplish
                    (paying some of your sister's rent--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Braces.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    What's that?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    She hasn't asked me for rent money.
                    For like a year. But I did pay for
                    her braces. She's 36.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Well, taking care of yourself and
                    your household, your mom, after you
                    do that without ever failing, for a
                    long time, hey that becomes an
                    accomplishment.
                         
          Some time passes. A bird flies by.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I fought a dolphin.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Today?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Aren't they supposed to be nice?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    They are. I think they're probably
                    the best mammal.
                                                                   48.
                         
                         
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                        (meaning like aren't we
                                        THE BEST)
                    We're mammals.
                         
          Walter doesn't say anything about us being the best. Life's
          heavy for him right now.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    This mammal tried to protect me.
                    And most of the other mammals I
                    know, like the mammals at the
                    office, they're dicks.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Why are you near dolphins?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm on a ship.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Where?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Near Greenland. I tracked a thumb
                    here. To Nuuk, Greenland. I located
                    the thumb. Now I'm fortunately
                    going to Iceland to correct an
                    oversight.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Well, I'm going to tweak your
                    profile, add "sailing" or whatever
                    to your Done Thats. I'll put Swims
                    with Dolphins, too.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It was just one.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    I can really put Swims with
                    Dolphin. That sounds like you have
                    a pet dolphin you swim with
                    everyday. Can I handle this please?
                    It's my job.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay, Todd.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    You sound a little better?
                                                                   49.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Do I? Because I think I'm a little
                    worse.
                         
          EXT. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING FREIGHTER - DAY (LATER)
                         
          Walter's been equipped with a kayak pole and life vest. Some
          of the crew assist him down a ladder to the ocean; others
          keep watch over a kayak waiting there.
                         
                                             CAPTAIN
                                       (TO WALTER)
                    It's a mile and half to Iceland.
                    It's as far in as we can get with
                    our hull size.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    So. Okay. I'm supposed to kayak in?
                         
                                             CAPTAIN
                    Reykjavik is due north. You'll be
                    there by 9 am.
                         
          EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - LATER
                         
          Walter's quietly kayaking through an empty expanse of the
          Atlantic. His paddle makes noise; that's it. Then Cheryl
          Mellhoff emerges from underwater - but she's giant. She takes
          up the whole horizon. She's catching her breath like she's
          been underwater for a while. Then her son Rich (giant) pops
          up from underwater beside her. He catches his breath, too,
          but he's pleased.
                         
                                             RICH
                    I stayed under longer.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Just barely.
                         
                                             RICH
                    Let's do it again.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Okay. One, two, three.
                         
          Cheryl fakes going underwater on three. Rich has. She's still
          above water. She's cheating. She stays there for a while,
          smiling. Then Rich pops up.
                         
                                             RICH
                    You're cheating.
                                                                      50.
                         
                         
                         
                                             CHERYL
                                       (LAUGHING)
                    Okay, okay. One two three.
                         
          They both get caught faking it this time, and they start   to
          laugh. Then they both go underwater. They're under for a   long
          time. A pretty long time, in fact. Then Cheryl surfaces.   But
          Rich doesn't. She's breathing again, but she expected to   see
          Rich and doesn't, and now she's concerned.
                         
                                               CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Rich...?
                         
          He's nowhere.
                         
                                               CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Rich?
                         
          Finally, he pops up. But he's coughing, was under too long
          and has taken in some water; he's scared.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    It's okay. Come here. Hey come
                    here.
                         
          She hugs him.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Hey, it's okay.
                         
          He's freaked, he's crying a little.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Hey, don't worry. You're good.
                    Don't worry. Hey...
                         
          After a moment, she begins to sing to distract him. She's
          singing Bob Marley's Three Little Birds pretty well.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Don't worry, about a thing, `cause
                    every little thing, is gonna be all
                    right. Don't worry. About a
                    thing...
                         
          Walter looks on from (from his kayak). He's worried about a
          lot of things, but what he's picturing soothes him too. The
          day dream fades. Walter keeps kayaking. It looks desolate,
          then a guy in a rubber triathlon swimsuit swims by. Then
          another one does.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    ....shit.
                                                                   51.
                         
                         
                         
          A wide shot shows that Walter has kayaked near to the coast
          of Reykjavik, Iceland during the swimming portion of a
          triathlon. Now he's in the midst of a hundred pissed guys in
          rubber swim suits.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Fuck. Sorry.
                         
          INT. ICELANDIC CAB, MOVING, REYKJAVIK ICELAND - DAY
                         
          Walter's in the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland, driven through
          the city. He's taking in the sights, looking around through
          the cab window, when his phone rings again. He checks his
          caller I.D
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (CLICKING OVER)
                    Hey, Mom.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Hi, Walter.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    What's up?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Oh, I'm just making some yogurt.
                    With some banana.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay. Cool.
                         
                                              EDNA
                    It snowed today. Didn't expect
                    that. Not much. Just a light little
                    cover. Very pretty. Less than an
                    inch even.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's awesome.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    My piano got towed, Walter.
                         
          A moment goes by.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...Your piano got towed?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Yes. Odessa said it wasn't there.
                    Where you said it was going to be.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                     52.
                         
                                             EDNA (CONT'D)
                    She said possibly that it got
                    towed. That that's not her space
                    anymore.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I lent her money for that space.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Where are you, honey?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    In Iceland.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    That's nice.
                         
          EXT. REYKJAVIK - LATER
                         
          Walter's out front of the capital building in Reykjavik
          texting Odessa.
                         
          Walter writes - Wtf on mom's p.?
                         
          He waits. This comes back - I had to go last minute to yoga
          workshop out of town. Can you handle?
                         
          Walter sends - Can you please take care of this - I am in
          Iceland. I repeat. Iceland.
                         
          He gets back - thanks lots :) I'll have my phone off
          forseeably. Love, O.
                         
          Walter just sits there for a while - tending to the piano
          has been left to him - at this critical moment. He turns
          around. You can see the volcano (where Sean O'Connell is)
          looming way in the distance.
                         
          INT. AIRPLANE - LATER
                         
          Walter has left. He's taken off. He's looking out the small
          window, down at Iceland as he goes, down at Eyjafjallajökul
          the volcano he nearly reached. It's getting smaller. Walter
          watches as it does.
                         
          INT. AIRPLANE, LANDING - NIGHT
                         
          Home now, Walter lands at JFK. He's in economy, taking out
          his laptop.
                         
                                             FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                    It is now safe to turn on portable
                    electronic devices.
                                                                     53.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter's laptop is on. So he goes on eHarmony. Again, he
          tries to leave a wink for Cheryl. The reply he gets, again,
          is "unable to perform request."
                         
          INT. JFK, AIRPORT - LATER
                         
          It's two a.m. Walter is alone on a terminal moving walkway.
          He hasn't changed since we met him - he's still got hold of
          his briefcase. He's looking (again) at the out of focus
          picture. He can't draw anything out of it.
                         
          EXT. PORT AUTHORITY CAR IMPOUND LOT, NEWARK, NJ - LATER
                         
          Walter hurries through a car impound facility. Among the rows
          of impounded cars, there is his mom's grand piano.
                         
          INT. OFFICE, PORT AUTHORITY CAR IMPOUND LOT - LATER
                         
          It's Walter's turn in line.
                         
                              CAR IMPOUND OFFICER
                    Retrieving..?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    My mom's piano.
                         
                              CAR IMPOUND OFFICER
                    ...Make and color?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (doesn't really understand
                         the question in regard to
                                        A PIANO)
                    It's a Baldwin? Um, Walnut, I
                    guess? A Walnut Baldwin. Piano.
                         
          A moment goes by.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    It's a piano.
                         
                              CAR IMPOUND OFFICER
                    I heard you.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's right out there. I just walked
                    by it. Do you have more than one
                    piano?
                         
                              CAR IMPOUND OFFICER
                    Impound fees. I'm making your fees.
                    Heavy duty tow fee. $370. Two
                    nights overnight. $80.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                     54.
                         
                              CAR IMPOUND OFFICER (CONT'D)
                    Failure to display city vehicle
                    inspection sticker. $112.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's a piano.
                         
          The guy just keeps adding.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    It's not a car. Its a musical
                    instrument. I should have had my
                    musical instrument inspected? By a
                    government.
                         
          The guy ignores Walter. He just stays at his task which is
          adding money Walter doesn't have.
                         
          EXT. PORT AUTHORITY CAR IMPOUND LOT, NEWARK, NJ - LATER
                         
          Walter looks on while movers consider how to load his mom's
          piano into the back of their moving van.
                         
                                             MOVER
                    Where are we taking it?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    We can't move into my mom's until
                    tomorrow.
                         
                                             MOVER
                                       (SARCASTICALLY)
                    Well, what do you want me to do?
                    Drive really slowly? We can store
                    it at our warehouse and move it in
                    the morning. But that's two moves.
                    Separate billings.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (QUIETLY)
                    Man.... You know what?
                        (meaning they can leave
                         without the piano)
                    Don't worry about it.
                         
                                             MOVER
                    What are you talking about?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Don't worry about it.
                         
          Walter walks over, lowers himself beneath the keyboard, finds
          a grip, then rises and lifts the piano up by himself.
                                                                   55.
                         
                         
                         
          EXT. NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE - LATER
                         
          Walter's carrying the piano on his back, walking down the
          middle of the New Jersey Turnpike, slowing down traffic.
                         
          EXT. SUBWAY STATION, NY - LATER
                         
          Walter climbs a set of stairs to the subway with the piano on
          his back.
                         
          INT. SUBWAY STATION - LATER
                         
          Walter sits on a bench waiting for the train. The Grand Piano
          is beside him.
                         
          INT. SUBWAY, MOVING - LATER
                         
          Walter has brought the piano onto the subway. Then the subway
          hits one of those mid-tunnel stops where the train stops, and
          the lights go on and off. When the lights return we see the
          piano's gone. Walter's still there though.
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          A CHECK BOOK EXPENSE ENTRY
                         
          Piano move (third) - $1,100.00
                         
          INT. APARTMENT - DAY
                         
          This is an empty (small) apartment. Walter and his sister
          ODESSA sit on the carpet. She's pretty, good spirit, a little
          flighty (also she's wearing braces). She's watching Walter
          write this piano moving check. But she's looking at a
          checkbook entry a few entries above it.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    Does that say eHarmony? Four
                    hundred dollars.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                        (a little amused)
                    Are you on eHarmony?
                         
                                                WALTER
                    No.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    Then why did you give them four
                    hundred dollars?
                                                                   56.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I tried to join, but-- I don't
                    really even want to be on it. I'm
                    just trying to do this thing with
                    someone at work.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                        (meaning do what)
                    What?
                         
          At this point we see a piano float up into view outside the
          living room window beyond them, odd because they're fifteen
          stories up.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm trying to do that Piña Colada
                    thing?
                        (singing pretty well)
                    "If you like Piña Coladas, and
                    getting caught in the rain while
                    wearing a cape--"
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    That's not how it goes.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Well, the guy answers a personal ad
                    and finds out it's his wife. They
                    have a good laugh, then they make
                    love on the cape while drinking
                    Piña Coladas or something, and
                    wearing capes, I think. Anyway. I'm
                    hoping she'll click my profile and
                    not realize that she works in my
                    office area. Then we can realize it
                    and have a good laugh. Then--
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    Make love on a cape? While wearing
                    capes? Because that's not what they
                    do in the song.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    No, then we can know that we picked
                    each other out, you know, from the
                    whole planet. Not just the
                    cafeteria.
                         
          Walter's quiet for a moment.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    ... We're friends. I'd like there
                    to be more.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                   57.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I was hoping this web site (that
                    they won't let me be on) would show
                    her more.
                         
          Walter is putting his checkbook back in his briefcase. Odessa
          has noticed the out-of-focus photo Walter carries in it.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                        (about the picture)
                    What's that?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I don't know. What do you think it
                    is?
                         
          Odessa looks the photo for a while.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                        (trying to make it out)
                    ...Triple A batteries working, as a
                    team, to carry a fish tank up some
                    apartment stairs.
                         
          Out the window we see that the piano is attached to a crane.
          Movers have lifted it up to the fifteenth floor. Walter looks
          out at it from the small, small room they're in.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    We better tell them they need to
                    shift that over to outside the big
                    room.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    What big room?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (sensing there is going to
                         be some problem)
                    The big room where the big piano is
                    going to go.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    This is the big room.
                         
          Walter's surprised. There's no way the piano fits in this
          space.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, Odessa?
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    Yeah.
                                                                     58.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You know when I asked you to pick
                    the apartment out for Mom, you
                    understood that she was taking her
                    piano along.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    I did not understand that.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (PISSED)
                    Oh, I thought I made that clear
                    when I said the English sentence to
                    you Mom's bringing her piano with
                    her. A month ago.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    I think when we were having that
                    conversation I was using my
                    blender, for a juice drink. It's
                    quite a noisemaker.
                         
          Walter's trying to keep his composure (as a grand piano
          dangles out the window nearby).
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Did you enjoy that juice drink?
                    That you were making (for some
                    reason) simultaneous to me talking
                    to you about important matters?
                    So, okay, right now the piano is
                    hanging in the air, above a city,
                    we can't fit it in here, and I'm
                    not sure I can afford to move it
                    anywhere else. So I hope you
                    enjoyed that juice drink.
                         
          INT. APARTMENT - LATER
                         
          A retirement facility administrator has joined them to deal
          with the piano problem. They're all convened at the kitchen
          counter.  The piano's in view out the window, dangling there.
                         
                              RETIREMENT HOME ADMINISTRATOR
                    The instrument will fit in one of
                    our Villa apartments. Those units,
                    though, are more spacious, and more
                    highly priced.
                         
          Quietly, Walter's getting really worried about money.
                                                                      59.
                         
                         
                         
                              RETIREMENT HOME ADMINISTRATOR (CONT'D)
                    Or you can remain with the unit
                    lease you have, the less expensive
                    one, and possibly sell the piano?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    We can't. It's the only thing she
                    really wanted to take along. I
                    think it's really best for her.
                    She can still play. Reading's not
                    that easy for her now. She doesn't
                    really have any friends in New
                    York.
                         
                              RETIREMENT HOME ADMINISTRATOR
                    Well, a Villa Apartment comes open
                    in three weeks.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    What's that move-in like. In terms
                    of deposits and-- for Villa living?
                    In a Villa situation?
                         
                              RETIREMENT HOME ADMINISTRATOR
                    On your move-in we'll need first
                    month's, last month's and your full
                    deposit. $6,300.
                         
          This is a little more than Walter has around. He's starting
          to show it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    How much should I make this deposit
                    for today? To reserve it.
                         
                                             BILLING DIRECTOR
                    Nine hundred.
                         
          Walter's writing the word Villa in the memo space of his
          check.
                         
          Then he checks his balance -   he has $7,100 in there.
                         
          THIS IS A SERIOUS REALIZATION FOR WALTER. THIS EXPENSE WILL
          TAKE NEARLY EVERYTHING HE HAS.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR, DESCENDING, RETIREMENT HOME - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter and Odessa ride the elevator down. Walter's pretty
          stressed.
                                                                   60.
                         
                         
                         
                                               WALTER
                      Where's that frigging Clementine
                      cake wrapper thing...
                         
          Walter takes out the torn piece of paper Sean O'Connell had
          written some of his itinerary on (also that was wrapped
          around cake). Walter's now concentrating on the destination
          under Iceland. The one where the destination name has been
          torn off. It just has the dates and words:
                         
                         KLIPSPRINGER
                         
                         KOOFIYAD
                         
                         FAKR AD-D
                         
          And one that looks like Warlock.
                         
          Then letters from a strange looking alphabet.
                         
                                                WALTER (CONT'D)
                          (trying to figure it out)
                      Warlock...
                         
                                               ODESSA
                          (meaning the paper)
                      What is that?
                         
                                               WALTER
                      I almost found someone I was
                      looking for. For work. In Iceland.
                      This is where he's going next. I
                      just don't know where it is.
                          (looking at the paper)
                      Warlock. Little weird deer. Like
                      kind of a fez-style hat.
                         
                                               ODESSA
                      What are you talking about?
                         
                                               WALTER
                      That's what these things are.
                      Klipspringer. Koofiyad. I just
                      don't know what they add up to. I
                      put them all in Google nothing
                      comes up.
                         
          EXT. BATTERY PARK - LATER
                         
          Walter and Odessa are back in Battery Park. The piano is
          still across the street dangling from a winch 15 stories up.
          Walter has just written (yet) another check to the mover.
                                                                   61.
                         
                         
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    ...Is everything okay? At work? Are
                    you sure?
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (trying to seem confident)
                    Yeah. Don't worry.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                    Hey. Happy birthday, Walter.
                         
          Odessa has handed him two wrapped gifts. Walter begins to
          unwrap them. Inside are two toys: A Stretch Armstrong and,
          from yesteryear, the cheap drawing tablet where little metal
          filings are moved about with a magnetic wand to add features
          to a cartoon face.
                         
                                             ODESSA (CONT'D)
                    Those were your favorite toys when
                    you were a kid. You don't remember?
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (TOUCHED)
                    Yeah, I do.... Thanks.
                         
          Odessa gives Walter a kiss.
                         
          INT. SUBWAY, MOVING, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's riding the subway to work. Everything looks pretty
          normal except there's a small African Antelope walking
          around.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR, TIME-LIFE BUILDING - LATER
                         
          Walter gets in the elevator - but already in there are Ted
          Hendricks and the executive board member guys. Walter has
          been caught off guard. He's holding toys - the Stretch
          Armstrong and drawing tablet.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Oh. Hey.
                         
          Walter offers his hand to Ted.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    You know we haven't really had a
                    chance to talk yet. I know you're
                    deciding who's vital to the
                    transition. And I wanted to let you
                    know what I do--
                                                                   62.
                         
                         
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    You're vital here?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I am. Totally.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Why are you holding toys?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...It's my birthday.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    ...you wanted toys.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    No... Um, my sister gave me these.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                        (nodding at Walter's
                                        STRETCH ARMSTRONG)
                    What does that do?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    My...
                        (doesn't want to call it a
                                         TOY)
                    ...item?
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Yeah, you're toy.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    His arms and legs stretch outward.
                    Um. But that's not-- I wanted,
                    before we have the chance to talk,
                    I need to discuss an asset
                    situation with you.
                         
          Walter begins to open his briefcase to stash the toys, but
          he's nervous so it drops.
                         
          INT. TED HENDRICK'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter's in Ted's glass partitioned work space.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                        (after being told it's
                         lost, pissed)
                    A photographic negative? I thought
                    those had all been processed?
                                                                     63.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I've processed the digitization of
                    every single photograph in Life's
                    library. Two million and eleven.
                    But we haven't been able to locate
                    this last negative.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    I know. Because I've been asking
                    for it. Because it's the
                    Quintessence fucking one that I
                    told my boss we had. It's the
                    cover. You seriously lost a
                    photographer's work? At Life?
                         
          WALTER' MOM APPEARS ONCE MORE IN THE HALLWAY; she's out
          there, peeking into this office.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm confident we'll find it.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Why are you confident we'll find
                    it?
                         
          Walter has no reason to be confident he'll find it. So he
          doesn't say anything.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS (CONT'D)
                    That doesn't give me confidence, a
                    no-answer. You're in assets, I
                    guess?
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    This doesn't reflect very well on
                    you.
                         
          Walter's at a loss.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS (CONT'D)
                    During an evaluation week.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I've been here nine years--
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                        (gesturing out his cell
                                        PHONE)
                    Here. Call Helmut Newton. Tell him
                    you lost his picture.
                                                            64.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Helmut Newton didn't--
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Don't Helmut Newton me.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I didn't Helmut Newton you.
                         
          An awkward moment passes.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I didn't Helmut Newton anyone. I
                    was saying I haven't misplaced a
                    negative in nine years. I've
                    handled every negative in our
                    library and prepared them for our
                    archive. I've overseen their
                    digitization, catalogued each
                    photographer's period-specific film
                    and photo equipment. And I've
                    managed the preservation of the
                    original vision of each photograph.
                    I've never mishandled a single nega-
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Hey. We've held up publication of
                    this issue because I told my boss
                    that photo was fucking amazing.
                    Okay? We've spent a hundred and
                    nine thousand dollars because of
                    the overage. You lost an amazing
                                   PHOTO--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I know where he is. Sean.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Where is he?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Somewhere-- I haven't pieced it
                    together, somewhere were there are
                    (I think) little deers and
                    Warlocks.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Do you know what "fired with cause"
                    means?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                                                                   65.
                         
                         
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    I have cause to fire you. You won't
                    pick up another check. I can let
                    you go without severance because-
                         
                                             WALTER
                                   THAT'S NOT--
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    You lost a Sean O'Connell. It was
                    quintessence. He's a war
                    photographer? Cubicle, you're going
                    to tell this brave photographer,
                    risks his life, that you, a male
                    sitting in an office, lost--?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Did you call me Cubicle?
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Do you work at one?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Well, yeah, but I'm not named after
                    one.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    What are you named?
                         
          Ted turns around (his back to Walter) to pour himself some
          Fiji.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS (CONT'D)
                    What's your name?
                         
          While Ted is turned around, Walter leaves. So when Ted turns
          back, he finds Walter gone.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR, DESCENDING - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter and his mom ride the elevator down.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Mom, why are you-- did you need
                    something?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    I just wanted to thank you for my
                    Villa. Odessa told me all about it.
                    It sounds so pleasant. Villa. That
                    guy was a real dick.
                                                           66.
                         
                         
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Anyway, hon, you've really become
                    the man of the family, and I wanted
                    to say I love you, and Happy
                    Birthday.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...thanks, Mom.
                         
          Walter's in a desperate state.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    What a dick. Big man. Big warlord
                    of the fortieth floor--
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Warlord?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    I was just discussing them. Last
                    week. They rule over small areas of
                    land using threats, and force
                    bribes of livestock or
                    klipspringers.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (strange, his mom's using
                         words from the clementine
                                        ITINERARY)
                    ...Klipspringers?
                         
                                              EDNA
                    Yes.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Why did you just say that word?
                         
                                              EDNA
                    In some parts of the world they
                    carry small deer like we carry,
                    say, quarters. To pay bribes. Also,
                    blankets or clothing items like
                    koofiyads.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (this is getting bizarre)
                    ...koofiyads.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Yes, for the warlords.
                                                                      67.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (something important has
                         dawned on him)
                    ...Warlord.
                         
          INT. STARBUCKS, 5TH AVENUE - LATER
                         
          Walter's in Starbucks, on his laptop. He's in google. He's
          put in the words: klipspringer, koofiyad,, and he's looking
          at the Clementine cake paper scrap that says warlock but he's
          beginning to maybe realize it says Warlord. So Walters enters
          it in google with the other clues.
                         
          The first result is the Wikipedia page for...
                         
          Mogadishu, Somalia.
                         
          Walter processes this. Not great. On a nearby customer's
          laptop, a youtube clip plays:
                         
                         YOUTUBE CLIP
                         
          Of David After Dentist.
                         
          But Walter has been miniaturized and morphed into a little
          boy, so finely done he's recognizable both as Walter and as
          famous little drugged-up, young David from the youtube
          phenomenon clip David After Dentist wherein a five-year-old
          boy was videotaped by his dad in a post-dental-visit
          painkiller haze. He's in a kid-seat in the back of an SUV
          trying to get his mental bearings (unsuccessfully).
                         
                               WALTER AS DAVID AFTER DENTIST
                    I feel funny. Why is this
                    happening?
                                       (EXISTENTIALLY BEWILDERED
                         about where he is)
                    ...Is this real life?
                         
          Soon after, David arches up and roars some noise meant to
          express kid rage that he can't control his situation - but
          we're watching a grown man do it and it applies specifically
          to the frustrations and challenges of his grown-up life.
                         
          Then, in Starbucks, Walter takes out his gift wallet from
          photographer Sean O'Connell. He looks at the inscription:
                         
          From S.O. To Walter Mitty - Thanks for the great work.
                                                                     68.
                         
                         
                         
          Then Walter looks at a further embossment on the back. It
          says Life's Purpose. It's the mission statement of his
          company. Walter believes in it.
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          WHAT FOLLOWS IS A MONTAGE OF THE MOST CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHS
                         
          ...on proud display at Life. These aren't simply celebrities
          or commemorations of familiar events - these are the results
          of the painstaking quest to fulfill the pledge of Life at its
          inception. Amid the pictures we glimpse parts of Life's
          Purpose engraved on the lobby wall.
                         
          "To see life; 
                         
          to see the world; 
                         
          to eyewitness great events; 
                         
          to watch the faces of the poor 
                         
          More photos that reach this standard pass - American faces.
          Faces from all over the world.
                         
          "to see man's work ­ 
                         
          his towers, 
                         
          discoveries and labor
                         
          We see photos of men and women in pain, moments of deep
          pride, fear, uncertainty, glory.
                         
          things hidden behind walls 
                         
          These are depictions of American plights - what devastating
          weather wrought, the sequestered lives of the deeply poor.
                         
          things dangerous to come to; 
                         
          to see and to take pleasure in seeing; 
                         
          to see and be amazed; 
                         
          That is the purpose of Life.
                         
          EXT. JFK, AIRPORT, TERMINAL - LATER
                         
          Walter walks up a white terminal with his briefcase. He
          stops. He unsure he's going to go forward. Then he looks at
          his wallet again.
                                                                   69.
                         
                         
          Specifically the phrase Life's Purpose - to see the World.
          Things dangerous to come to. He's looking hard at the things
          dangerous to come to part.
                         
          INT. EMIRATES AIRLINES DESK, JFK - LATER
                         
          Walter buys a ticket at the desk of the national airline of
          the United Arab Emirates at the far western edge of terminal
          three.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I need to buy a ticket, I think to
                    Dubai. Because I'm going, actually,
                    to Mogadishu (shit) which I think,
                    I'm not allowed to do from here,
                    because it's illegally dangerous.
                         
                                             TICKET CLERK
                    Yeah..
                        (punching in some stuff)
                    That's right more or less..
                         
          INT. EMERITUS AIRLINE 747 - LATER
                         
          Walter's the only guy on here without a headdress. He's still
          looking at the out of focus photograph he printed way back,
          hoping yet, that it will give him some indication of what the
          missing picture is.
                         
          EXT. BAGGAGE CLAIM, DUBAI AIRPORT - DAY
                         
          Walter is waiting for his bags to come around on the luggage
          carousel. They do - it's just his briefcase he's had with him
          for the film's entirety. But as he retrieves it, he makes the
          acquaintance of a group of traveling Danish teens by helping
          them lift their heavy backpacks from the carousel.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Here you go.
                        (like it's heavy)
                    Whoa, what do you have in there?
                         
                                             ULF
                    Skateboards. Some switch out
                    boards.
                         
          These teens are boys Knud, Soren and Ulf. And girls Grys and
          Denll.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I like your trucks. I used to
                    skateboard. Where are you guys
                    headed?
                                                                   70.
                         
                         
                         
                                             SOREN
                    Into Dubai.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, do you guys know anyplace to
                    stay, that's not like an arm and a
                    leg.
                         
          INT. TRANSPORT VAN, MOVING - LATER
                         
          The group of teens (and Walter) tour into Dubai in a gypsy
          van.
                         
          EXT. SKATE PARK, DUBAI - LATER
                         
          Walter's in a skate park with Danish teens Knud, Soren and
          Ulf. And girls Grys and Dnll. And skateboarding around them
          are Middle-Eastern Emiratis, performing familiar skateboard
          moves like "ollies," and "shuvits" but in traditional Arab
          robes and headdresses. It's a lot to take in. Walter seems
          pleased to be doing it.
                         
          INT. YOUTH HOSTEL, DUBAI - EVENING
                         
          The group (including Walter) waits to register at a youth
          hostel. Late teens and kids in their early twenties mill
          about the lobby. Walter's the oldest guy around. The clerk
          has been speaking to Soren in Arabic. Soren seems to know
          him. They seem to have been talking about Walter. Then they
          stop. Then Soren turns to Walter.  note - Walter has a
          skateboard with him now (with Arabic graphics on it); he'll
          have it with him for a while.
                         
                                             SOREN
                    He said you're too old to sleep in
                    a room, but you can sleep in the
                    stairwell, hallway or business
                    center.
                         
          Walter stands there for a moment.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Business center.
                         
          INT. BUSINESS CENTER, DUBAI YOUTH HOSTEL - NIGHT
                         
          Walter's laying in the business center of the Dubai youth
          hostel. It looks like he's possibly sleeping on a copier
          machine. Audio from the succeeding scene can be heard.
                         
                              NEWSCASTER (O.S.)
                    ...evacuations began in earnest
                    Wednesday the third.
                                                                   71.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. CHERYL'S STUDIO APT, BROOKLYN - NIGHT
                         
          Cheryl's watching the nightly news - specifically a report
          about escalating violence in Somalia.
                         
                              NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
                    In a city already long ago
                    descended into chaos--
                         
          Against the news report, we see news video from Mogadishu -
          car tire fires mid-city, skinny goon squads, gun-toting 11-
          year-olds, and in each of them there is a glimpse of Walter
          Mitty, usually in the far background and generally just
          hustling (but not running) just hustling across the street in
          his short-sleeve shirt and briefcase presumably to do some
          sort of business there. Cheryl has noticed this.
                         
          EXT. MOGADISHU, CITY PARK    - DAY
                         
          Walter's sitting in a shitty park in Mogadishu. Walter once
          had a dream like this - where he was in a hotspot like this.
          Now he is. He's speaking to a Somalian sitting on the bench
          facing his.  occasionally, people pass by carrying small
          deers.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Do you know-- are there American
                    journalists working here? What
                    would someone want to photograph
                    here?
                         
                                             SOMALIAN
                    The evacuations.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Who's evacuating?
                         
                                             SOMALIAN
                    The peacekeepers.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (like that's not good)
                    The peacekeepers?
                         
                                             SOMALIAN
                    Yeah, they're evacuating.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Like right now?
                         
                                             SOMALIAN
                    All week. The Koreans are leaving
                    from the soccer field.
                                                                      72.
                         
                         
                         
          The guy has pointed a block east of there.
                         
          EXT. SOCCER FIELDS - LATER
                         
          Walter has run up to the Mogadishun soccer field to find a
          group of Korean soldiers amassed at midfield. Then he makes
          out a blond white photographer among them. Walter has started
          running across the soccer field.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    ...Sean?
                         
          EXT. SOCCER FIELD - LATER
                         
          Across the field, SEAN O'CONNELL (42) is in a squatted,
          interlocked arm embrace with four Korean soldiers. There's
          aircraft noise above them.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Sean?
                         
          The photographer turns around.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Sean O'Connell?
                         
          Sean looks at Walter coming nearer. He doesn't recognize
          Walter.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Hey. Walter Mitty. From the office.
                         
                                              SEAN
                    Walter?
                         
          Walter has reached the group.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    ...Yeah. Hey. Man, I've really been
                    trying to reach you.
                         (to the Koreans)
                    Hey.
                                        (TO SEAN)
                    It's good to finally meet you.
                    Thanks for the wallet, man, by the
                    way. Sean, do you happen to know
                    where that negative 12 is. 2-6? On
                    the roll three?
                         
                                             SEAN
                    ...you have it.
                                                                   73.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You know what, we don't. I've
                    looked in every neg box and even
                    every camera bag and we have in the
                    warehouse. I even double-checked
                    the Teaneck warehouse.
                         
                                             SEANN
                    You have it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I really don't.
                         
                                             SEAN
                                       (PROUD)
                    No, it's not in the neg box. That
                    one was special. Favorite ever. You
                    have it. Seriously. Loan me five
                    bucks.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Loan you... what?
                         
                                             SEAN
                    Loan me five bucks.
                         
          Walter doesn't know why this became important to Sean just
          now. But he reaches for his wallet, but when he looks up, he
          finds that Sean and the Korean guys he's attached to have
          been lifted as a group briskly into the air. They've been
          tethered to a hovering rescue helicopter that's withdrawing
          quickly. Sean's yelling something down. It's unclear. They
          ascend further as a unit, way up, way out of reach, getting
          smaller. Walter, though remains down on the soccer field.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (QUIETLY)
                    Fuck...
                         
          SOCCER FIELD - LATER
                         
          Moments later, Walter remains there, holding five bucks
          that's flapping in the wind. He's watching the Koreans and
          Sean floating away. They're very small and very far away.
                         
          EXT. MOGADISHU - LATER
                         
          Walter is skateboarding through Mogadishu. There are random
          tire fires going on in the distance. A tire on fire rolls
          by.
                                                                   74.
                         
                         
                         
          EXT. MOGADISHU - LATER
                         
          Walter's back in the city park, talking to the same Somalian
          who told him where to find the Koreans.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Do you have any sense how I could
                    get back to America if I can't
                    afford a plane ticket right now?
                    Totally?
                         
                                             RODNEY
                    ...Yeah, my brother William. Two
                    dollars.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I give your brother two dollars and
                    then he'll tell me how to get back
                    to America?
                         
                                             RODNEY
                    Two dollars. To go to America.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...I can go to America for two
                    dollars?
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          EXT. CAR - DAY
                         
          Walter's behind the wheel of a small car. But as the camera
          pulls back, we see that he's behind the wheel of a small car
          parked on another large shipping vessel (Chinese this time).
                         
          EXT. INDIAN OCEAN - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Still sitting in one of the cars, Walter's made a phone call.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Eharmony. Todd Mahar.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, Todd. It's Walter. Mitty.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    What's up, Walter?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey I wanted to add a couple items?
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Okay.
                                                                   75.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    To my Been There, Done Thats. If
                    that's cool.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    It's really cool. What do you got?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay. Mogadishu?
                         
                                                EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Been there.
                         
          The shot lifts up and we see the full scope of what Walter is
          willing to do to keep his job, sleep in a Chinese car on a
          Chinese boat, on a slow trip back home.
                         
          INT. LOBBY, APARTMENT HIGHRISE, NEW YORK - LATER
                         
          Walter walks up to the front desk of a residential apartment
          building.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Cheryl Mellhoff.
                         
                                 FRONT DESK LADY
                    Your name?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Walter Mitty.
                         
          She dials the inner-building phone, then has a brief
          conversation with Cheryl. Walter waits quietly.
                         
                              FRONT DESK LADY
                                       (TO WALTER)
                    Have a seat. She'll be right down.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Thanks.
                         
          Walter's holding the Arabic skateboard.
                         
          INT. LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Cheryl and her son Rich have entered the lobby waiting area
          to greet Walter.  We're only on her for the top of the
                         FOLLOWING EXCHANGE
                                                                   76.
                         
                         
                         
                                               CHERYL
                    Hey.
                         
                                WALTER (O.S.)
                    Hey.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Did you find the Quintessence of
                    Life?
                         
                                WALTER (O.S.)
                    Almost...
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Man, I'm sorry.
                        (concerned about him)
                    How are you feeling?
                         
                              WALTER (O.S.)
                    ...I'm okay.
                         
          Now we see Walter; he's a short distance away in the seating
          area, but he's not seated because he's a human cubicle. He's
          shaped like a cubicle.
                         
                              WALTER AS A CUBICLE
                        (gesturing with the Arabic
                                        SKATEBOARD)
                    Hey, I picked this up for you,
                    Rich. It's got some cool Arabic
                    writing on it. I don't know what it
                    means. But it looked cool.
                         
          EXT. AVENUE A, NYC - LATER
                         
          They've gone out among the throngs of New Yorkers, walking up
          the sidewalk of Avenue A. Walter is with Cheryl and Rich but
          he's remained a cubicle.
                         
          EXT. SKATE PARK, WEST SIDE, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter (real Walter again) and Cheryl are sitting on the lip.
          Rich is out using the Arabic skateboard.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                        (impressed about the
                                        BOARD)
                    ...Walter. You go to Mogadishu, and
                    you think about bringing a gift
                    home to my son?
                                                                     77.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I got the board in Dubai. Hey,
                    Rich. Here watch. The board's going
                    to come up. You don't have to try
                    to lift it.
                         
          Walter has walked out to show Rich how to ollie. Walter does
          it pretty well.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    You really just have to think about
                    landing. Both feet. Same time.
                         
                                             RICH
                    Thanks, Walter.
                         
          Rich starts trying his best. Walter sits back down.
                         
                                              CHERYL
                         (about Sean O'Connell)
                    Do you have any idea where Sean is
                    now?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    No, I lost him. He said I had it
                    though. Like he knew. He smiled. He
                    said "you have it." "You." What's
                    he talking about?
                         
          At this point, Rich wipes out. He's scared. He slid on the
          pavement pretty far and he's shaken up. He bumped his
          shoulder pretty hard, and he's privately started to cry.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Honey. Hey. Come here. That was
                    great.
                         
          Rich has come over.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    That was really great. Here.
                         
          She means Rich to sit beside her. She puts her arm around
          him. He's trying not to cry, but he's crying.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Hey. Don't worry. You're going to
                    feel fine in five minutes. Don't
                    worry. Hey.
                         
          She wraps him up. She starts rubbing his back. Then she
          starts singing.
                                                                   78.
                         
                         
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Don't worry, about a thing, `cause
                    every little thing is going to be
                    all right. Don't worry.....
                         
          Walter's sitting right there with them. He knew she knew this
          song, and that she used it with Rich. He doesn't know why he
          knew it, but he did. They just sit there for a while, while
          Rich calms down. The song's pretty much worked, Walter's
          enjoyed being there as much as Rich.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                        (quietly, to Walter)
                    You know, all hell broke loose this
                    week, while you were gone.
                         
          EXT. 6TH AVE, NYC - DAY
                         
          Walter walks south up 6th amid foot traffic. Coming past him,
          though is a huge black and white Morgan Freeman (it's a mover
          carting off the Life Morgan Freeman photo, but he's hidden
          behind the picture, so this Morgan Freeman has a surreal,
          lifelike quality.
                         
          Elsewhere up 6th, Walter is passed likewise by the Beatles,
          Winston Churchill and a huge Warhol Soup can color photo.
                         
          INT. WALTER'S DIVISION FLOOR, CORRIDOR - LATER
                         
          Walter tries his pass key to enter the division floor. It's
          not working.  More huge photos have been carried past Walter
          during this time: "Nixon eating with chopsticks." Then "Ruby
          shooting Oswald." Then Ted Hendrick's colleague comes out,
          he's with a guy we haven't seen yet. They're both dressed for
          squash.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Excuse me. Can you pass key me in?
                    I need to see Ted. My pass key
                    isn't working. I need to let him
                    know I verified that I have
                    negative 12. I just didn't verify
                    where I have it.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE
                    You're Walter Mitty?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE
                    Practical Assets.
                                                                      79.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                              TED HENDRICKS COLLEAGUE
                    Your pass key's not working because
                    you've been let go. With cause.
                         
          Walter is shaken.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I need to speak to Ted. I found
                                   SEAN O'CONNELL--
                         
                                             NEW GUY
                    Ted's been let go. We had an
                    overage of 280,000 dollars. Due to
                    this publishing delay.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Is there someone who took over
                    Ted's responsibilities? On a
                                   PERMANENT--
                         
                                             NEW GUY
                    Yeah, that's me Steve Penders.
                        (starting to leave)
                    We're late for Squash.
                         
          INT. SQUASH COURT, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's on the squash court holding a conversation with
          these two guys who are trying to play squash.
                         
                                              STEVE PENDERS
                    This is the last-Life-cover
                    situation?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    You lost an asset. You cost that
                                   COMP--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I didn't lose it. I have it. The
                    photographer told me. I just don't
                    know where I have it.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    Those are grounds--
                                                           80.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Those are no grounds. You can't
                    fire me for not having something
                    that I have.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    I'm not following you.
                         
          Steve serves into Walter.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I have it. I always have had it.
                    When you fired me, I had it. Why
                    are you trying to hit me with
                    Squash balls?
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    You're on a squash court. I'm
                    trying to play--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    No one's informed me that I've been
                    let go.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    I'm informing you.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I should be sent my November check.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    Fired with cause. No picture. No
                                   CHECK
                         
                                             WALTER
                    There's no cause to keep my salary.
                    Ow.
                         
          Penders just served into Walter again.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    Can you get off the fucking court
                    here?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'd like to speak to your
                    supervisor.
                         
                                                STEVE PENDERS
                    You can't.
                                                                   81.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I demand to speak to your
                    supervisor.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    You can't do that either.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'd like to demand to speak to your
                    supervisor.
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    I don't work at Comcast. I don't
                    have a supervisor you can just talk
                    to. My supervisor is Mark Chatham.
                    He owns The Timms Company. Which is
                    a holding company that holds
                    conglomerates. He's in Los Angeles
                    for the G8 summit, and he wouldn't
                    talk to you anyway even if you were
                    stuck in a fucking elevator. That's
                    my supervisor.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The Purpose of Life--
                         
                                             STEVE PENDERS
                    Go.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, fuck you, man.
                         
          There's been a little bit of a shoving, shoulder thing. It's
          getting a little hot.
                         
          INT. BUS, MOVING, NY - LATER
                         
          Walter's on the bus. He's looking at the out of focus print
          again.
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (TO HIMSELF)
                    What is this?
                         
          Some time passes. Then Walter puts on his loupes (eye glasses
          with a center magnifying lens). Then his cell phone vibrates.
          He's got an email. He reads it.
                                                                   82.
                         
                         
                         
           it looks weird because we're seeing it through Walter's
          magnifying loupes - but much of it is clear: It's from human
          resources and reads in part: because you have been terminated
          with cause you do not qualify for severance or to salary
          beyond your last day of work. This message confirms that
          today's date (11/12/11) constitutes the last day of your.....
                         
          Walter is stunned.
                         
          EXT. STREET, BROOKLYN - LATER
                         
          Walter's among some others, walking up a sidewalk home, but
          he's been so thrown by being fired in this manner that he's
          forgotten to take his head-mounted loupes off. It's an
          unusual image.
                         
          This is a view through Walter's loupes as he walks through
          Brooklyn trying to get his head together. The middle images
          are magnified but the outside circumference isn't - it's
          unusual and sort of pretty - to see people pass by, sometimes
          enhanced, then not, all a little dizzy, like Walter's
          feeling.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR, WALTER'S BUILDING - LATER
                         
          Walter rides up the elevator with some normal-looking
          residents in his head-mounted loupes.
                         
          INT. WALTER'S APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter walks into his apartment. He sits down in the small
          living room (he's still wearing the loupes). Some time
          passes. Nothing seems to happen. Then, slowly, after
          considerable time, a look of powerful and complete
          astonishment comes over him. He's looking at something that
          has just shifted his world.
                         
          We see things from Walter's perspective (through the loupes).
          Most everything is out of focus because he's wearing them.
          But he's looking, in real life (in his apartment), at exactly
          the out of focus image that he has been carrying around a
          photo of. The object is in his apartment. He looks at this
          out of focus (because of the loupes) real object. Then he
          looks at the photo he still holds. They are indisputably the
          same. Then he looks back at the real object and removes his
          loupes to bring it into focus. It's the piano.
                         
          Some time goes by.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    ....Mom?
                                                           83.
                         
                         
                         
                              EDNA (O.S.)
                    Yes?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, did-- did a guy take a picture
                    of your piano? Like a week ago?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Sean?
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (SURPRISED)
                    ...yeah.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    No. I took it. With Sean's camera.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Where did you get Sean's camera?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    From Sean. He came to visit.
                         
          Edna has entered the room.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Sean O'Connell?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    He came to visit. To talk about
                    you.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Me?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Yeah. He asked me some questions
                    about you? What your work schedule
                    was, when you left, when you came
                    home. He said you really understood
                    Life. He wanted to know about your
                    work. He said you "got Life."
                         
          Walter listens.
                         
                                             EDNA (CONT'D)
                    I just sent him my recipe for
                    Clementine cake? To his email. I
                    packed him some when he left. He
                    just loved it. We snacked on some
                    during our Warlord conversation.
                                                                   84.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Do you know where--
                         
                                             EDNA
                    He's in Nepal now, I think.
                    Photographing snow leopards. Let me
                    think. Yes. Ship. Iceland.
                    Mogadishu. Nepal. That's what he
                    said.
                         
          The information's been right there. Walter thinks about that
          for a while.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Man, I've been desperately
                    searching for him. For a long time.
                    Thanks, mom.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    I didn't know that. You don't talk
                    about work that often.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I know. I don't want you to worry.
                    It's not always cool and easy.
                    ... why did you take a picture of
                    your piano?
                         
                                             EDNA
                    I was concerned we couldn't keep
                    it, Dear. I know it's a burden. I
                    didn't know if we could manage. So
                    I thought I might not see it again.
                    I wanted a picture.
                         
          She smiles at Walter. Then Edna looks at the out of focus
          print.
                         
                                             EDNA (CONT'D)
                    That's not a very good picture. But
                    that's okay. She's right here.
                         
          Edna pats her actual piano. Then she looks at Walter with
          great affection.
                         
                                             EDNA (CONT'D)
                    You know, I wonder sometimes... you
                    had to start work so early. Orange
                    Julius. Then all through college.
                    At Avis. Then Pizza delivery. That
                    shitty pizza. Then at this company.
                                             (MORE)
                                                                   85.
                         
                                             EDNA (CONT'D)
                    I wish maybe you had the chance, a
                    greater chance to pursue your
                    dreams.
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (smiling, cheering her)
                    Mom. Hey. Come on. I like my job. I
                    mean it's not my dream job. So
                    what?
                        (meaning no one really
                          gets that wish)
                    I have a lot of company.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    What did you want to be, when you
                    younger?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...I don't even remember.
                         
                                             EDNA
                    Sure you do. Everybody does.
                         
          Walter thinks about it. Then Edna kisses him.
                         
                                             EDNA (CONT'D)
                    Thanks for taking care of us,
                    Walter.
                         
          Walter sits there for a moment. He is the man of the family.
          He's got to go out into the world and get something done.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (rising to leave)
                    I have to go somewhere, mom.
                    Possibly I'll be reachable by
                    phone.
                         
          EXT. NYC - LATER
                         
          This is New York at lunch hour. Walter's out there with
          everybody. It's the same kind of Manhattan scene we've seen
          before, but here everybody around Walter's walking to their
          dream jobs. There's a large female jockey. A black matador,
          an elderly magician, etc. A wider view reveals a block full
          of men and women headed for jobs that were not "fall back"
          jobs but longed-for walks of life - astronaut, beekeeper,
          rodeo clown, Supreme Court Judge, a city-block full of who
          are visibly living dreams. It's a colorful environment.
          Except for one normal looking guy beside Walter.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    What are you?
                                                                   86.
                         
                         
                         
                                             NORMAL GUY
                    Stay at home dad.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Cool.
                         
                                             NORMAL GUY
                    Congratulations.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Thanks, man.
                         
          Walter looks normal. But he's holding a trophy. This is what
          he's just been congratulated over.
                         
                                             NORMAL GUY
                    Is that a Grammy? Or a Nobel--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Grammy. Best male R & B vocal
                    performance.
                         
                                                NORMAL GUY
                    Way to go.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    You, too.
                         
          Walter (with his trophy) crosses the street with the whole
          massive host of dream job-going New York commuters - a
          thousand of them.
                         
          EXT. SUBWAY STATION, BROOKLYN - LATER
                         
          Walter back in the working world, runs up a platform to catch
          a train that's nearly leaving.
                         
          INT. TERMINAL, JFK - LATER
                         
          Walter's at Etihad Airways booking desk. It's a shabby
          airline. It's a shabby-looking desk. There's only one clerk
          and Walter's the only one in line.
                         
                                             ETIHAD CLERK
                    There's only one flight to Nepal,
                    in the next 18 hours.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's okay.
                         
                                             ETIHAD CLERK
                        (checking his computer)
                    But there aren't any seats left.
                                                                   87.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (DISAPPOINTED)
                    None?
                         
                                             ETIHAD CLERK
                    I'm afraid not.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...Not one?
                         
                                             ETIHAD CLERK
                    Well, there's one seat, but...
                         
          He looks around like he shouldn't be selling it, like it's
          not by the books, but he'll do it.
                         
          INT. LAVATORY, ETIHAD AIRLINE FLIGHT, FLYING - DAY
                         
          Walter's sitting in the airplane lavatory. He's not using it.
          He's just riding on it. It's the seat he just bought. Someone
          knocks. So Walter has to get up and leave for a moment.
                         
          We jump cut through Walter doing this several times. Then we
          find him during a nice quiet stretch, where he can sit on the
          lavatory seat uninterrupted for a couple minutes. During this
          time we watch him take out his wallet - the gift from Sean
          O'Connell. Walter looks at it
                         
          CLOSE ON THE "LIFE'S PURPOSE" CREDO
                         
          Specifically we're looking at the line "...the Purpose of
          Life."
                         
          Walter's looking at this embossment on his wallet. He's lost
          faith anyone besides him takes it to heart. Walter no longer
          does either. So he discards the wallet in the lav trash. Then
          someone knocks on the lav door after which Walter must rise
          and leave the lavatory once more.
                         
          EXT. ZHENGMO, NEPAL - DAY
                         
          A small bus drives slowly up the single mountain road through
          the town of Zhengmo, Nepal.
                         
          INT. BUS, MOVING, ZHENGMO - SAME
                         
          Walter rides on this bus. There is a great deal to look at
          and marvel over out the window. Walter's doing that.
                         
          EXT. VILLAGE TRAVELING LODGE, VILLAGE OF QUENN, NEPAL - LATER
                         
          The bus has stopped in a remote village.
                                                                   88.
                         
                         
                         
          INT. VILLAGE TRAVELING LODGE - SAME (NIGHT)
                         
          Walter speaks with a mountain guide near the lodge fireplace.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm trying to locate a
                    photographer.
                         
                                             GUIDE
                    How can I help?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The information I have (from my
                    mom) is that he's working with a
                    guide named Stepit. Any idea... is
                    that enough of a clue where they
                    might be? I know they're
                    photographing snow leopards, and
                    this is the snow leopard region--
                         
                                             GUIDE
                    They'll be in the Kosi forest.
                    That's where Stepit was raised.
                    When he's booked it's to go there.
                    It's dangerous. Only he can take
                    you there safely.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I need to go there.
                         
                                             GUIDE
                    I can take you. For a fee.
                         
          There is a pause.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Didn't you just say that only that
                    other guy can take you through
                    there? Safely?
                         
                                             GUIDE
                        (he's a huckster)
                    ...Did I say that?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             GUIDE
                    I didn't mean that. I meant that
                    only he and I are the guys who can
                    do that.
                         
          Walter looks skeptical.
                                                                      89.
                         
                         
                         
          EXT. SNOWFIELDS, FOREST, QEEUNG NEPAL - LATER
                         
          Walter and the guide drive snowmobiles up into the hilly
          distance of Nepal.
                         
          EXT. FOREST AND SNOWFIELDS - LATER
                         
          They've gotten off their snowmobiles. Walter has started
          walking west - all we see that way is snow, mountains and
          forest.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    This way?
                         
                                               GUIDE
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Aren't you coming?
                         
                                             GUIDE
                    I can't walk in the snow. It's hard
                    as shit.
                                       (POINTING)
                    Just go that way.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That's-- that's how you're guiding
                    me? By pointing and saying go that
                    way?
                         
          Walter has pointed to make a point. But his guide adjusts the
          direction of Walter's sarcastic point slightly.
                         
                                             GUIDE
                    A little-- to the left.
                        (as Walter does it)
                    There. Yeah.
                         
          After a moment, Walter starts to go that way.
                         
          EXT. SNOWFIELDS, FOREST - DAY
                         
          A massive snow scape. You can only see a snow horizon and
          bare forest, and Walter walking across it (with his
          briefcase). Total middle of nowhere. He walks for a while,
          then his phone begins to ring.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    ...Hello.
                         
                                               EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Hey.
                                                 90.
                         
                         
                         
                                    WALTER
              (they know each others
               voices by now)
          Hey, Todd.
                         
                                      EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          What's up?
                         
                                      WALTER
          Not much.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Good news. I think we're going to
          be able to get you on eHarmony.
                         
                                   WALTER
          Okay. Cool.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Your profile has rounded out a
          little. I put your travels in.
          There's enough going on in your
          profile so now we can submit you.
                         
                                   WALTER
          Great, man.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Where are you now? It sounds cold.
                         
                                   WALTER
          It even sounds cold?
                         
                                      EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Yeah.
                         
                                      WALTER
          Nepal.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Hey, Walter. Why didn't you submit
          any pictures? Most people have
          photos of them with friends, out on
          the town.
                         
                                   WALTER
          I don't really do a lot of, you
          know, swinging.
                         
                                      EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Swinging?
                                                 91.
                         
                         
                         
                                     WALTER
          Yeah.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Swinging means fucking married
          people. When you're married.
                         
                                   WALTER
          Oh. I don't mean that.
                         
                                     EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          No.
                         
                                   WALTER
          I meant like partying, I guess. I
          used to like to be at work at 8.
          And I have some family demands that
          keep me pretty busy.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Your mom and sister.
                         
                                     WALTER
          Yeah.
                         
                                    EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          You know. People don't know they're
          leaning on you. Until you move. And
          they fall.
                         
                                   WALTER
              (not in the mood for
                              ADVICE)
          Are you Chinese? You're so wise.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          I'm neither. But I know you,
          Walter. I've been studying you
          here. You seem to carry a lot of
          weight.
                         
                                   WALTER
          Well, I'm not going to move and let
          the people who lean on me fall,
          because the people who lean on me
          are my mom and my sister.
                         
                                   EHARMONY COUNSELOR
          Are you in a bad mood?
                         
                                     WALTER
          A little.
                                                                   92.
                         
                         
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    Well, let's keep rounding this
                    profile out. What do you do during
                    your downtime?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I don't get a lot. But I guess if I
                    had to say - mostly I just consider
                    thoughts... for my visions for
                    ideas and scenarios about the
                    world.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                        (like that sentence
                         doesn't actually mean
                                        ANYTHING)
                    You consider thoughts for your
                    visions for ideas and scenarios
                    about the world?
                         
                                              WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    You daydream?
                         
          Todd has gotten to the heart of the matter.
                         
                              EHARMONY COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
                    You know, studies show that people
                    who spend a great deal of time
                    fantasizing and daydreaming,
                    doodling and shit they're not
                    really that happy.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    ...Hey, man, do you mind?
                         
          Walter has come upon, without realizing it, some kind of snow
          nest camp, camouflaged among trees. Photographer Sean
          O'Connell is camped there with his gear. Walter looks at him.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                    I'm trying to photograph a snow
                    leopard.
                         
                                              WALTER
                    ...Sean?
                         
                                              SEAN
                    Yeah.
                                                           93.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (TO TODD)
                    Hey, I got to go.
                         
                                             EHARMONY COUNSELOR
                    No problem. Congratulations. You're
                    on eHarmony.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Cool.
                         
          Walter hangs his phone up. He looks at Sean.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Sean O'Connell?
                         
                                               SEAN
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Walter. Mitty.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    Walter. Seriously. What the fuck?
                    What are you--
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I've been looking for you.
                         
                                               SEAN
                    Sit down.
                         
          Walter sits by the fire with Sean.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                    ...Are you okay?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah, warming up.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    Take your time.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey, Sean. I really need that
                    picture. I'm taking a lot of heat
                    at work. Over that.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    That negative you asked me about.
                         
                                               WALTER
                    Yeah.
                                                           94.
                         
                         
                         
                                               SEAN
                    12?
                         
          A moment goes by.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                    You're sitting on it.
                         
          Walter doesn't understand.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Why am I sitting on it?
                         
                                             SEAN
                    Because it's in your wallet.
                         
          Walter's listening.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                    That was the gift. The picture. The
                    wallet was just someplace to keep
                    the picture. I put it in the little
                    picture slot in the wallet. The
                    little picture holder. I thought
                    that would be cute. I said "look
                    inside." In the note.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I thought that meant inside the
                    wrapping paper. I never opened it.
                    Goddmanit. The wallet. I left the--
                         
                                             SEAN
                                       (WHISPERING)
                    Shhh...
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Oh, yeah...
                                       (WHISPERING)
                    Fuck.
                         
                                               SEAN
                    What?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I-- can you believe it - I just
                    this morning I put it in a
                    receptacle thing.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    The picture?
                                                                   95.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Well, I didn't know I was throwing
                    that out, but... yeah.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    The wallet?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I just didn't believe in Life's
                    Purpose anymore. So I fucking (I
                    cannot believe it) chucked it.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    So you have no idea what it is?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    No...
                         
                                             SEAN
                    The picture?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    No.
                         
          Walter's dispirited (and cold).
                         
                                              SEAN
                    Do you want to know what it was? It
                    was great.
                         
          Walter thinks about it. Then he shakes his head. Some time
          goes by.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                    Hey.
                         
          Walter turns.
                         
                                              SEAN (CONT'D)
                        (kind of excited, smiling)
                    Real life.
                         
          Sean points up ahead at a tree line. What they find there, a
          pretty good way off, are two snow leopards. Sean gestures for
          Walter to recline. Sean does too.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                    They're pretty rare.
                         
          Sean has his camera rigged up. He just shifts it a little as
          the snow leopards draw nearer. This all thrills a part of
          Walter. Sean nods at the camera to mean that Walter should
          take the picture, if he'd like.
                                                                   96.
                         
                         
          Walter seems to like that idea. He looks through the lens, he
          prepares to take the picture. He's smiling.
                         
                                             SEAN (CONT'D)
                                       (WHISPERING)
                    Your hand's over the lens.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Oh.
                         
                                             SEAN
                    There you go.
                         
          Walter takes the picture. Then he sits up. Then both guys
          watch the snow leopards for real- it's a little thrill.
                         
          INT. LAX AIRPORT, LOS ANGELES - DAY
                         
          Walter has landed in Los Angeles. He looks exhausted. He's
          sitting in a terminal chair, on the phone with his sister.
          He's all alone. It's quiet there.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...We may have to sell Mom's piano,
                    in order to pay for the Villa. This
                    week.
                         
                              ODESSA (O.S.)
                    But didn't we get the Villa so we
                    can put Mom's piano in it?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
          The situation makes no sense. But it's where they've found
          themselves.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    It's "f"d up. I know. But if I
                    don't get my severance I'm going to
                    have to forfeit that deposit,
                    because I can't afford the room.
                    And I won't have enough to get her
                    another place. Another decent
                    place.
                         
                              ODESSA (O.S.)
                    So we may end up having to pay for
                    a bigger room because it can hold a
                    piano by selling that piano? And
                    then having to pay for the bigger
                    empty room for a year.
                                                 97.
                         
                         
                         
                                   WALTER
          Yeah.
                         
                    ODESSA (O.S.)
          ....Did you get everything you
          wanted? For your birthday.
                         
                                   WALTER
          Almost?
                         
                    ODESSA (O.S.)
          What's left?
                         
                                   WALTER
          Nothing I just want everyone in the
          world to be Morgan Freeman. So it
          would just be me and Morgan
          Freemans, in the whole world.
                         
                    ODESSA (O.S.)
                             (SMILING)
          What about me?
                         
                                   WALTER
          You'd be you. But like a combo with
          him. Just a little calmer, more
          quiet. Gentler.
                         
                    ODESSA (O.S.)
          Would I have push-back hair and
          freckles?
                         
                                   WALTER
          Yeah.
                         
                    ODESSA (V.O.)
          Where are you?
                         
                                   WALTER
          Los Angeles.
                         
                    ODESSA (O.S.)
          Are you okay? You sound tired.
                         
                                   WALTER
          I'm okay. I'm going to take the
          train to my hotel. Try to get home
          tomorrow.
                         
                    ODESSA (O.S.)
          I love you.
                                                                    98.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I love you, too.
                         
          EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - LATER
                         
          This is a huge shot of downtown. We pan back around and find
          we're in a metro train. Walter's there. He's nearing his
          stop. So he rises, and he walks past his rowmate to the
          aisle, but he's jostled her accidentally.
                         
                                                WALTER
                    I'm sorry.
                         
          She's a fifteen-year Puerto Rican girl (who's Morgan
          Freeman).
                         
                              15-YR-OLD-PUERTO-RICAN GIRL MORGAN
                                             FREEMAN
                        (Morgan freeman's voice)
                    Don't worry about it.
                         
          She's been morphed with Morgan Freeman -- still Puerto Rican
          but also Morgan Freeman. We notice elsewhere around Walter
          this has happened; everyone in his vicinity (the train he's
          walking off) has a combination with Morgan Freeman's features
          - Korean Morgan Freemans, Transit Police Freemans, six-year-
          olds. Black ones. Everyone around, morphed with the familiar
          characteristics of the dignified and peaceful actor. Walter
          has a hundred Morgan Freemans around him. It's a good world.
          Walter walks in the midst of it all.
                         
          EXT. 2ND STREET, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - LATER
                         
          Walter, walking with his briefcase, has reached a street
          corner farther east in downtown L.A. The Morgan Freemans have
          left him. It's the regular world. Walter's trying to cross up
          2nd Street, but he's found a police barricade there.
                         
                                             COP
                    You can't go this way without a
                    summit pass.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    What's a summit pass?
                         
                                             COP
                    For the G8.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm trying to get to my hotel.
                         
                                             COP
                    ... protests are on 3rd street.
                                                                   99.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter watches a series of limos drive by; they're bound for
          their downtown hotel and the summit there. Walter recalls an
          association to this. The director of his corporation's
          attending.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    My boss, the guy who runs my
                    company is here. Is it cool if I
                    talked to him. Am I allowed?
                         
                                             COP
                    This is America. You can do
                    whatever you want as long as you
                    stay on the far sides of the
                    barricades on 3rd.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    There's a work situation I want to
                    clue him in on. I was let go with
                    cause. But there wasn't--
                         
                                              COP
                    Hey. Keep walking, okay? I've got a
                    job to do.
                         
          INT. TIME-LIFE BUILDING, NYC - LATER
                         
          The TVs are on in the corporate board rooms, no one's
          watching but if they were, they'd see news report from MSNBC
          from the G8 summit in Los Angeles
                         
                              FEMALE NEWS REPORTER
                    It's a tense environment. To be
                    sure. There are fears of a repeat
                    of the violence in Seattle at the
                    WTO. And there are three thousand
                    more protestors here today.
                         
          Behind her you can see a great number of young people, anti-
          establishment and anti-capitalist chanters. It looks like a
          hot environment already.
                         
                              FEMALE NEWS REPORTER (CONT'D)
                    There's an outdoor concert
                    scheduled just a block away from
                    the hotel where the summit is held,
                    which summit organizers say is a
                    deliberate provocation, but which
                    concert promoters and protestors
                    say is within their freedom to
                    assemble.
                                                                    100.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter walks by her. He's still dressed the same. Still with
          his briefcase, now in Los Angeles at the G8.
                         
          EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - SAME
                         
          The G8 summit attendees (business leaders and government
          leaders from across the industrialized world) are being
          hustled past the crowds of chanting young people. Some are
          fielding reporter's questions hastily, then heading up the
          hotel steps for the summit. There's a huge number of people
          here, protestors, reporters, police (many). It already feels
          a little like mayhem.
                         
          Business leader MARK CHATHAM is wrapping up an exchange with
          CNN on the sidewalk outside the steps, then he starts being
          peppered with a request from Walter who's amid the chanting
          protestors on the other side of the barricades.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Sir, can I have two secs? Mr.
                    Chatham, Can I have two secs? I'm a
                    former employee of one of your
                    companies. Mitty?
                         
          Chatham has noticed Walter. The CNN reporter looks on.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Just two secs? Former employee?
                    Mitty? I was let go with cause. But
                    I don't think that's actually what
                    should have happened.
                         
          It's awkward for Chatham, observed and on camera by CNN. He
          can't blatantly ignore Walter now.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    Where did you work?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The Life corporation. Two secs?
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                        (gesturing for Walter to
                                        "HOLD ON")
                    One minute.
                         
          Mark says something to an aide. The guy begins to make a
          phone call. Walter waits as Chatham finished his CNN
          exchange. Walter's jostled by the crowd. The police are in
          the midst now, trying to push people back. It's getting a
          little rough, ugly.
                                                                  101.
                         
                         
                         
          When Chatham finishes with CNN, his aide hangs up his phone
          and he says something to Chatham that Walter overhears.
                         
                                             AIDE
                    There was a Mitty there, but she's
                    a black woman.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                                   OKAY
                        (leaving, to Walter)
                    Nice try.
                         
          Chatham heads up to the hotel. He's brushed Walter off. A
          cop's trying to move Walter back. Walter's resisting, needing
          Chatham.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Wait. No. I'm Walter Mitty! I'm a
                    man!
                         
          Chatham's a little farther away.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                                       (YELLING OUT)
                    I'm Walter Mitty!
                         
          Walter has passed the barrier. The cop's getting hard with
          him.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (really having to yell
                                        NOW)
                    I'm Walter Mitty! I'm a man!
                         
                                             POLICE OFFICER
                    Get the fuck behind the barricade.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (meaning the young
                                        PROTESTORS)
                    I'm not with them.
                         
          It's at this point one of the young Danish teens Walter
          befriended in Dubai comes up to Walter, glad to see him.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (pleased to see Ulf even
                         in the midst of this)
                    Hey, Ulf.
                         
          Now the cop's convinced Walter means harm. He's just shoved
          Walter in the chest with his nightstick.
                                                                  102.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    What the fuck?
                         
          Something has snapped beyond them. Some real violence has
          started. The cops are bearing down. Walter gets jacked in the
          thigh with a nightstick.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Ow, fuck, man. Hey, I have a scaled-
                    back co-pay medical plan.
                         
          A phalanx of police has moved in. They're a straight-across
          line of force, there to push the protestors back. During this
          scrum, Walter becomes separated from his briefcase.  He's
          literally held it throughout the movie - Greenland, Dubai,
          Mogadishu, Nepal; now it's been torn from his hands.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Hey.
                         
          New desperation comes over him.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Hey, my briefcase.
                         
          Walter's being pushed farther back. There is great noise
          around and an antic vibe of violence brewing.
                         
                                              WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Seriously. Can I just-- I need my
                    briefcase.
                         
          Walter, during the mayhem finds an abandoned megaphone at his
          feet. He starts to use it.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone, to
                         the gathering police)
                    Okay. Hey can I just get my
                    briefcase. It's behind you guys.
                         
          Walter really has to fight to even hold his ground here.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone)
                    My briefcase? It has assets in
                    there that belong to the company
                    that-- a negative roll. Can all you
                    people stop for one second so I can
                    get my goddamned briefcase. Horses?
                                                                     103.
                         
                         
                         
          A new line of mounted riot police have moved in, filling the
          space left between Walter, the riot police wall and Walter's
          briefcase laying there on the pavement. The horses endanger
          it. They gather around it, precariously close to damaging
          what it holds.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone)
                    There're assets in that bag.
                    They're my responsi--
                         
          Two police officers have moved in on Walter because he's the
          only protestor holding his ground and not fleeing (because he
          wants his briefcase)
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone)
                    I'm just trying to finish my job.
                    Ask. I'm Walter Mitty. I'm a man.
                         
          A TEAR-GAS CANNISTER LANDS AT WALTER'S FEET. But he remains
          there. He starts to call over (through the megaphone) to Mark
          Chatham forty yards away on the hotel steps.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone)
                    Sir? I'm Walter Mitty! I'm a man!
                         
          The cops are getting rough with him.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (through the megaphone)
                    I am Walter Mitty! I'm a man! I
                    need to just snag my briefcase. I'm
                    a man! Let me do my fucking job!
                         
          Walter has fought through the cops, now he fights through the
          horses to reach his briefcase.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Horses!
                         
          Walter's choking on the teargas but he won't quit. He's
          finally fought his way to his briefcase.
                         
          INT. TIME-LIFE BUILDING, NYC - LATER
                         
          They're watching this on the news at Life. It's a riot. Like
          Seattle. On screen, Walter's image has a beautiful thing to
          it - it's like Tank Man.
                                                                  104.
                         
                         
                         
          A company man standing there in a short-sleeve dress shirt,
          getting tear-gassed, fighting to get out of there with his
          briefcase.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm Walter Mitty! I'm a man!
                         
          Ulf and Soren arrive at his side and try to drag him back
          from an approaching flank of LA riot police. They want these
          kids stepping back. Walter's not. When they reach him,
          there's a dust-up with Ulf. More kids get in the mix. It's
          going to get out of hand; the police are too rough, the kids
          too dumb to move. Walter's in the middle of it all. Soon,
          there are some wild punches. Then everyone in the scrum must
          fight to keep their teeth in their mouth. It's all broken
          loose. Walter's fighting it out like everyone else. More kids
          have run in. Some others, too, older.
                         
                                                PROTESTOR
                    I'm a man!
                         
          The kids start yelling this, too.
                         
                                                YOUNGER PROTESTORS
                    I'm a man!
                         
          There's like eight people yelling this now.
                         
          Over where there's just a lot of people safely observing,
          along the sidewalks, some more down to earth types, older
          people, family people, this message is starting to hit.
          There's a 60-year-old WORKING MAN there. He's admiring
          Walter's guts.
                         
                                             WORKING MAN
                    ...you're goddamned right.
                         
          INT. TIME-LIFE BUILDING, NYC - SAME
                         
          Back on the boardroom TVs we see that CNN is broadcasting a
          report on the riot.
                         
                                             REPORTER
                    Known only as "I'm a man Man." This
                    brave protestor was tear-gassed
                    then just "f"ing hammered with
                    nightsticks. I'm sorry I'm losing
                    some professionalism. But this guy
                    just wouldn't back down. Let him
                    get his briefcase. Jeez.
                                                                  105.
                         
                         
                         
          On screen, there is further footage from the G8. Walter's in
          the middle of a pack really getting worked over by fired-up
          police.
                         
          EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - SAME
                         
          We have a helicopter view of the G8 scene, there's a huge
          concert going on, the summit across the street and the street
          in between swelling with a mob of people.
                         
                              RADIO HOST (O.S.)
                    All right Los Angeles County.
                    You're on Talk 360. What do you
                    think of "I'm a man" Man?
                         
                                             CALLER
                                       (LATINO)
                    Like the guy's style. He's just
                    letting the world now "don't walk
                    all over me." Wasn't that on one of
                    our old flags and shit?" He's a
                    human man. Those corporations own
                    the cops, man. You know that. Do
                    you not?
                         
          EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - SAME
                         
          On the streets, outside the summit, lots of the crowd is
          yelling "I'm a man." You can hear Rage Against the Machine
          soundchecking across the street.
                         
          EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - LATER
                         
           it's important to note that the source footage for most of
          what follows is the actual hand-held video captures of the
          cop-baiting Rage Against the Machine daytime concert staged
          among five city blocks outside the Democratic National
          Convention in Los Angeles. Five thousand angry, anti-
          establishment young people - 2,000 police officers wearing
          riot gear, as well as additional horses, motorcycles, squad
          cars and police helicopters, all captured in raw frames
          Walter has been very naturally included in. He's trying to
          walk through the crowd, find his way home through it (this is
          the free provocative downtown concert the reporter mentioned)
          but he's being recognized.
                         
                                             KID
                    It's I'm a Man Man.
                         
          Walter's trying to find his Danish friends.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Ulf?
                                                                     106.
                         
                         
                         
          Walter's being rubbed on the head by way of congratulations,
          recognized from what he did earlier. Pretty soon he's up
          (sort of against his will) on their shoulders. Rage Against
          the Machine has begun Bulls On Parade - it's an anti-
          establishment classic. On stage:
                         
                              LEAD SINGER ZACH DE LA ROCHA
                    Brothers and sisters, Our democracy
                    has been hijacked. All your true
                    freedoms in this country are over,
                    as long as it's controlled by
                    corporations.
                                       (NOTICING WALTER)
                    Is that that motherfucker from the
                    fight?
                         
          Back in the crowd, they're riled up. They start passing
          Walter forward (atop them) like a beach ball.
                         
                              ZACH DE LA ROCHA
                    Pass him up here.
                        (starting the song)
                         
          The song kicks in. It's an electric area now. The song's
          powerful. The crowd's starting to feel like a mob. Walter's
          still a beach ball they're sending up to the stage. He
          crosses seventy feet on his back, passed up by a couple
          hundred hands. Soon the crowd has him on the stage. Right
          among the band.
                         
                                ZACH DE LA ROCHA (CONT'D)
                    Hey, man.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey. Walter Mitty. How are you?
                         
                              ZACH DE LA ROCHA
                        (gesturing to the crowd)
                    Tell them who you are.
                         
                                              WALTER
                        (into the mic Zach handed
                                         HIM)
                    I'm Walter Mitty! I'm enjoying the
                    show!
                         
          The music keeps playing.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                                       (TO ZACH)
                    I know all the words.
                                                                  107.
                         
                         
                         
                              ZACH DE LA ROCHA
                        (can't hear him)
                    What?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I love this song. I know all the
                    words.
                         
                              ZACH DE LA ROCHA
                        (hading him the mic and
                                        MEGAPHONE)
                    Well sing them.
                         
          Walter takes the gear.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Sing them out, Walter. Sing out,
                    Man!
                         
          The music has some drive for sure. Walter's getting pumped.
          He looks at the crowd - all anti-establishment jumping up and
          down.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                        (starting the song)
                    Come with it now.
                         
          Walter performs the first sets of verses, mic through a
          megaphone. He's got some decent body language and an okay
          metal-rap flow (and he still has his briefcase).
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Rally round the family, with a
                    pocket full of shells.
                         
          The crowd's liking it. Soon, they want Walter to stage dive
          and join them. He does it.
                         
          There's no way that this crowd stays inside the concert
          grounds, and its energy level won't keep things safe. Soon
          enough the sparks of a riot start when some folding chairs
          start flying from the crowd over to the police, now flying
          cups of ice and water. Then there's face to face, cop-
          protestor taunting. There are five thousand young people in
          the street (and Walter) and they're too close to the sedans
          that drove the business leaders there. When a folding chair
          hits a lady cop it's a riot.
                         
          Down in the middle of it, Walter's got some mixed-feelings -
          some fear, but the mayhem's releasing something pent up that
          makes him feel good. He's thrashing around as hard as
          anybody. He's pushed past a news camera whose feed we have
          the perspective of.
                                                                  108.
                         
                         
                         
                                              WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Hi, Mom.
                         
          They all spill into the LA street next door. So, it's one of
          those fifteen minutes where rules don't work anymore. The
          music, sun, collective anger. Someone throws a chair through
          a Starbucks window. Walter gets involved in some property
          destruction, all caught up in this big feeling. He tries to
          kick over a post office drop box, but it's welded in there,
          so he can't. Then he gets arrested.
                         
                                              WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Shit....
                         
          Walter's down on the pavement with a policeman's knee in his
          back.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Oh, that's my shoulder blade.
                         
          INT. PADDY WAGON, POLICE TRANSPORTER - LATER
                         
          Walter's alone in the back of the police wagon. His arms are
          shackled. He's sitting on the built in metal bench, until the
          transporter hits a bump and he falls to the metal floor. It's
          not easy to stand when your hands are cuffed. But Walter
          struggles up. But he's standing without any means to
          stabilize himself and every time the wagon turns he gets
          chucked around.
                         
          INT. POLICE STATION, LA - LATER
                         
          Walter has just been booked. The police clerk hands him a
          phone.
                         
                                             POLICE CLERK
                    Make your call.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Um, shoot, I don't have my cell
                    phone. I think I only know like one
                    number by heart.
                         
          After a moment, Walter calls this number. He waits while it
          rings.
                         
          INT. POLICE STATION, LA - LATER
                         
          Walter's being released. His short-sleeve dress shirt is
          torn. Worked over. He's worked over. He doesn't look like
          much of a businessman anymore. Just the contours. His
          briefcase is being released back to him, ticking off its
          contents.
                                                                  109.
                         
                         
                         
                                             POLICE CLERK
                    One negative roll. Five
                    photographic prints. One laptop.
                    Stretch Armstrong. Cell phone. An
                    orange.
                         
          EXT. POLICE STATION, LA - LATER
                         
          There is a young man waiting on the steps of the downtown
          police station. Walter comes down the steps his way.
                         
                                             YOUNG MAN
                    Walter Mitty?
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             YOUNG MAN
                    Todd Mahar. eHarmony.
                         
          After a moment, they hug.
                         
          INT. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES - LATER
                         
          Todd and Walter catch a late bite at IHOP. They got a good
          booth.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Do you like working in Los Angeles?
                         
                                             TODD MAHAR
                    Yeah. Traffic's tough. But it's a
                    cool city. If you get bored here,
                    man, it's your fault.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    You look different.
                         
                                                TODD MAHAR
                    Than what?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Than I pictured. I pictured you
                    wearing an old time judge's wig.
                    The whole time.
                         
                                             TODD MAHAR
                    The whole time we talked you
                    pictured me in a judge's wig?
                         
          Walter's cell has started ringing.
                                                           110.
                         
                         
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Hello?
                         
                                             WOMAN'S VOICE
                    Hi this is Cynthia Despihg. With
                    Etihad Airlines. Is this Walter
                    Mitty?
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Yeah, hey.
                         
                                             WOMAN'S VOICE
                    We found your wallet. I think.
                         
          This has surprised Walter. He's gone quiet.
                         
                              WOMAN'S VOICE (CONT'D)
                    Are you a Walter Mitty who flew to
                    Nepal Wednesday the 15th?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes I'm a Walter Mitty who did
                    that.
                         
                                             WOMAN'S VOICE
                    We have your wallet. It's at our
                    Los Angeles terminal office.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm in Los Angeles. With pancakes.
                        (after a moment)
                    I don't know why I just said that.
                    I'm excited.
                         
                                             WOMAN'S VOICE
                    It's exciting to get your wallet
                    back when you thought you lost it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    ...for sure.
                         
                                             WOMAN'S VOICE
                    Maintenance found it in a trash
                    receptacle. You must have
                                   ACCIDENTALLY--
                         
                                                WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             WOMAN'S VOICE
                    Our luggage delivery car can get it
                    to you. She's going out now.
                                                                  111.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                                       (NEARLY OVERWHELMED)
                    ...thank you.
                         
          EXT. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES, LOS ANGELES - LATER
                         
          Walter and Todd Mahar wait out in front of IHOP, under the
          IHOP overhang, waiting for Walter's wallet to arrive in the
          parking lot.  every once in a while, when Walter looks at
          Todd, Todd's wearing an old time judge's wig.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Do I look like you pictured?
                         
                                             TODD MAHAR
                    Yep. Pretty normal looking guy.
                         
          This didn't really jack Walter up.
                         
                              TODD MAHAR (CONT'D)
                    You look normal. But you're not.
                    You're a pretty interesting guy
                    Walter.
                         
          A car pulls up.
                         
                              TODD MAHAR (CONT'D)
                    I'm glad you got out of the office.
                    It's good to meet you.
                         
          A young woman (middle-eastern, 20s) has left the small car.
          She's walking up to Walter; she's got his wallet.
                         
                              ETIHAD AIRLINES LUGGAGE GIRL
                    Are you Walter Mitty?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                              ETIHAD AIRLINES LUGGAGE GIRL
                    Here you go.
                         
          She hands Walter his wallet.
                         
                              ETIHAD AIRLINES LUGGAGE GIRL (CONT'D)
                    That's really beautiful.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    What's that?
                         
                              ETIHAD AIRLINES LUGGAGE GIRL
                    What it says. Life's Purpose.
                                                                    112.
                         
                         
                         
          She looks at Walter for a while.
                         
                              ETIHAD AIRLINES LUGGAGE GIRL (CONT'D)
                    To see things hidden behind walls,
                    to take pleasure in seeing, to see
                    and be amazed, that is the purpose
                    of Life. I really like that. I'm
                    glad you got it back.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah. I appreciate it. That was
                    cool of you guys.
                         
                              ETIHAD AIRLINES LUGGAGE GIRL
                                       (LEAVING)
                    Have a nice night.
                         
          INT. TODD MAHAR'S CAR, MOVING, LOS ANGELES - LATER
                         
          They're driving through nighttime Los Angeles. Walter's just
          opened his wallet. He's looking at the little picture sleeve.
          There's a small white envelope in there. Walter removes it.
          Then he takes a film negative from the envelope. Just to
          check it's there. Then he puts it right back in the envelope
          without examining it.
                         
                                             TODD MAHAR
                        (in a judge's wig here)
                    What is it?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I don't know. I don't care. I have
                    it.
                         
          Walter and Todd ride along for a while.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    Can you drop me off at like...
                    where would that guy stay? Who owns
                    my company? Mark Chatham.
                         
                                             TED HENDRICKS
                    Want to try the Four Seasons?
                         
          INT. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter has walked up to the front desk of the Four Seasons
          lobby.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Mark Chatham?
                         
          The young desk clerk picks up the house phone. A ring.
                                                                    113.
                         
                         
                         
                              FOUR SEASONS CLERK
                    I'm a Man Man's here?
                         
          The clerk listens for a moment. Walter waits to see if he'll
          be allowed up. He will.
                         
                              FOUR SEASONS CLERK (CONT'D)
                    Room Seven Ten.
                         
          INT. HOTEL 7TH FLOOR - LATER
                         
          Walter waits just outside a Four Season's hotel room door.
          He's just finished knocking. The guy who holds conglomerates
          Mark Chatham answers the door.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Hey. Man, I'm sorry. I was hoping I
                    could talk to you for two secs?
                         
          A moment goes by.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I'm Walter Mitty.
                         
          Mark looks at him.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I'm not a black woman, with a
                    mustache. I'm a man who used to
                    work for your company.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    Your the guy from TV? I'm a Man
                    Guy?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I don't know. I was in jail. We
                    didn't get TV.
                         
                                              MARK CHATHAM
                    You are.
                         
          You don't know which way Chatham's going to go. But he
          respects Walter. He extends his hand. Walter takes it.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Can I just talk to you for two
                    secs.?
                         
          A moment passes.
                                                                  114.
                         
                         
                         
                                              MARK CHATHAM
                    Not in my room. Because you're
                    freaking me out a little. Can we
                    maybe sit out here. Indian style or
                    something?
                         
          INT. HALLWAY - LATER
                         
          Mark and Walter sit Indian Style facing each other in the
          Four Seasons fifth floor hallway. Chatham's holding a
          negative roll.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    There was one absent from the roll.
                    But I have it.
                         
          Walter hands the small envelope over.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    That's the one Sean O'Connell wants
                    for the cover? The Quintessence
                    one?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah. For the last issue. That's
                    the complete roll.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    What was in the briefcase? Out on
                    the street, when you were getting
                    cracked in the neck by police
                    sticks.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (meaning the roll)
                    Those.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    Well, thanks.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    That last one's pretty late. Nine
                    days late. There was an unforeseen
                    set of unbelievable shit that
                    happened.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    Why do people think that you're a
                    black woman?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I sit way in the back. Maybe that's-
                                                                  115.
                         
                         
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    What does tear gas really feel
                    like?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    It's a pretty intense burn. It's
                    like having Cajun eyes. Spicy eyes.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    I saw you on TV fighting a mailbox.
                         
          A long time passes.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Was that a question?
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    Not like in the form that I just
                    said it. But...
                         
          Walter still doesn't say anything about his participation in
          a riot. So Mark rephrases it.
                         
                              MARK CHATHAM (CONT'D)
                    Why were you fighting a mailbox?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I guess I was revved up.
                         
                                                MARK CHATHAM
                    From what?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    From fighting with a piano for a
                    month and trying to get someone at
                    my company to evaluate my position
                    there based on understanding what I
                    actually do.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    You fight pianos, too?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Not in the way that I fought the
                    mailbox, but just in the way that
                    I've been struggling with one.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                        (recounting Walter having
                         told him this moments
                                        AGO)
                    You rode in a car on a boat?
                                                                  116.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    You slept on a copier in a business
                    center?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yes.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    You're an interesting guy.
                         
                                             WALTER
                        (pleased to hear this)
                    Someone else told me that. An hour
                    ago. Hey, I don't want to take up
                    too much more of your time. But I'd
                    like my severance. There's no cause
                    to keep it from me. That's what I
                    was trying to tell you downtown. I
                    did my job well for nine years.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    That's all you were trying to say
                    downtown?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
          Some moments go by next, while Mark and Walter sit Indian
          style with the Sean O'Connell photo of Walter sitting between
          them.
                         
                                             MARK CHATHAM
                    I'm going to run some numbers.
                         
          Mark has stood up and started in to his hotel room. Walter's
          been following him.
                         
                              MARK CHATHAM (CONT'D)
                        (meaning don't follow me
                                        IN)
                    Not right now. I don't even know
                    where the numbers are. There in
                    some guy's computer. Show up
                    Monday, let's see.
                         
          The door closes, Walter's left out there to wait.
                                                                  117.
                         
                         
                         
          EXT. SUBWAY STATION, BROOKLYN - NIGHT
                         
          Walter has returned to Brooklyn; he's heading up a set of
          Subway stairs up to a neighborhood street.
                         
          INT. TIME-LIFE BUILDING, NYC - DAY
                         
          Walter crosses the huge lobby, dressed as always for work.
                         
          INT. ELEVATOR - MOMENTS LATER
                         
          Walter has entered the elevator. He's alone. It won't work
          without his floor elevator key (which stopped working once he
          was let go). Walter waits a moment. Then he tries his key.
          The button illuminates. Walter starts to ascend.
                         
          INT. WALTER'S DIVISION FLOOR, CORRIDOR - LATER
                         
          Walter has reached the floor elevator corridor door to his
          division floor office. He's just tried his pass key. That
          functions as well.
                         
          INT. ACCOUNTING OFFICE - LATER
                         
          Walter waits in a line at an accounting office window counter
          (like a DMV) behind recently let-go colleagues Tim Naughton
          and Gary Mannheim. Tim speaks to the accounting clerk.
                         
                                             TIM NAUGHTON
                    Tim Naughton? Severance package?
                         
          She hands Tim his check. He's sad, but he takes it and heads
          off.
                         
                                             GARY MANNHEIM
                    Gary Mannheim. Same.
                         
          After a moment, Gary gets his severance. He's also blue about
          it. Then Walter steps up.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Walter Mitty? Is there a...
                    possibly there's a severance
                    package for me?
                         
          She starts typing into her keyboard.
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    I was fired for cause, but then I
                    think I maybe gave them cause to
                    provide me with a severance
                    package.
                                                                  118.
                         
                         
                         
                                             ACCOUNTING CLERK
                    It's not really a package. It's
                    just one check. For forty two
                    hundred dollars. That's what
                    everybody's getting.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Okay. Possibly there's that? For
                    me?
                         
          She's typed additional stuff. Then she roots around in a
          check stash. Then she hands Walter an envelope. He takes it.
          He looks at it for a while. For the first time in a long
          while, he seems relieved.
                         
          EXT. CENTRAL PARK, NYC - LATER
                         
          Walter's just walking through the park. He looks at peace.
          There are many others around, all coming and going at a
          normal pace, but the earth around them transforms from winter
          to summer smoothly over the course of thirty seconds as they
          naturally inhabit the park in their regular ways. So when
          Walter sits at a bench. It's all midsummer around him. He's
          smiling from relief.
                         
                                                                           CUT TO:
                         
          A FLOATING PIANO
                         
          This is a grand piano mid-air in Manhattan.
                         
          EXT. BATTERY PARK - LATER
                         
          There's a winch machine, a huge rig, lifting this piano to
          the 7th floor of the residential building Walter secured for
          his mom. Walter and Odessa stand in Battery Park, looking up
          at the piano. The movers are setting it into the removed
          window space. It looks like it's going to fit.
                         
          INT. VILLA, ROOM, RETIREMENT - LATER
                         
          The piano has fit easily here. Odessa and Edna are
          straightening up, putting the last few things away. The
          room's in good shape. It's really pretty nice. Edna seems at
          home.
                         
                                             ODESSA
                                       (TO WALTER)
                    Hey, babe, come on. We'll go grab
                    lunch.
                         
          Odessa and Edna head out the door.
                                                                  119.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'll be right out.
                         
          They go. The room is quiet. Walter looks around again. Making
          it happen took considerable effort no one but Walter will
          know about. After a moment, he goes and sits at the piano.
          Some time passes. Then Walter plays the beginning of Cheers.
          Then he gets up and follows his sister and mom out.
                         
          EXT. 5TH AVENUE - LATER
                         
          Walter's walking with Odessa and Edna. They've come past a
          newsstand with magazine displays. Walter was going to walk
          right on by like Edna and Odessa did. But he's noticed
          something on the magazine racks that's stopped him. He stands
          there for a while looking at it.
                         
          It's the last issue of Life Magazine. Its cover is a black
          and white photograph of Walter siting on a cement bench out
          front of the Time-Life building. He's got his lunch in a
          brown bag beside him; he's looking over photo prints with his
          loupe, working carefully on some day in the past to fulfill
          the wishes of Life's photographers- a person who's work the
          world never knew took place. It's really good. You can see
          the word LIFE on the building sign above the bench. So the
          last photograph, on the last cover of Life, elegantly honors
          the people who quietly worked there and cared for it.
                         
          Walter stands in front of the newsstand looking at it. It's
          the first time he's seeing it. It's a message that to Sean,
          at least, and possibly to others his work was meaningful.
                         
          EXT. BATTERY PARK, NYC - DAY
                         
          On another day, Walter's sitting in Battery Park across the
          little street where his mom lives. He's with Cheryl. Her son
          Rich skateboards around the park.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    How'd the move go?
                         
                                               WALTER
                    All done.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Everybody's good?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Everybody's good.
                         
          Time passes.
                                                                  120.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER (CONT'D)
                    How's Life?
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    The company or the... thing.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Both.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    The company's okay. The thing's
                    tough.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Are you glad you're not there
                    anymore?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I'm excited. About the new stuff.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    What's the new stuff?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    I don't know yet. Would you have
                    lunch with me? Somewhere not in the
                    cafeteria. For once. Out somewhere?
                    In the world. I was wondering that.
                         
          She smiles at Walter.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Yeah...
                         
          She starts looking in her scheduler.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    The ninth? Is that good? Two days?
                         
                                             WALTER
                    The ninth. Yeah.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    Yeah, cool.
                         
          Walter seems pleased. Rich skates by and does a move. Cheryl
          and Walter sit there a while. They can hear piano music.
                         
                                             CHERYL (CONT'D)
                    Is that your mom?
                                                                  121.
                         
                         
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
                                             CHERYL
                    She's good.
                         
                                             WALTER
                    Yeah.
                         
          Some time goes by. Walter looks tired, worn out from his
          extended journey and his large efforts to keep the lid on the
          critical matters of his life. But he also looks relieved and
          satisfied. Piano music continues. The title appears again:
          The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Then CREDITS BEGIN.
                           


Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The



Writers :   Steve Conrad
Genres :   Adventure  Comedy  Drama


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