Scene Three: How's it Going to End?

Meryl and Marlon leave Truman to continue studying in the library. Instead, he notices Sylvia (Lauren) at the desk next to him.
 
TRUMAN
Hi.

Sylvia looks up from her books and smiles. Truman looks at the books she has been studying.
 
TRUMAN
Konichi-wa.

SYLVIA
What?

TRUMAN
Oh, you take Japanese.

Sylvia looks at the books in front of her.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SYLVIA
Oh yes, yes.

TRUMAN
Lauren, right? It's on there-
(points to the name on one of her books)

SYLVIA
Lauren. Right, right

TRUMAN
I'm Truman Burbank.

SYLVIA
Yeah. I know. You know Truman, I'm not allowed to talk to you.

TRUMAN

Really? Yeah, well I can understand it, I'm a pretty dangerous character.

SYLVIA
I'm sorry, it's not up to me.

TRUMAN

A girl's gotta be careful. You have a boyfriend, right? Of course.

SYLVIA

No, it's not that.

TRUMAN

Is it, was it Meryl, the girl that was with me? We're not, we don't, we're not , we're not fr-, we're just, we're friends.

SYLVIA

It's nothing like that.

TRUMAN

It's how I look? Not your type?

SYLVIA

No.






 

Truman notices the "How's it Going to End?" pin on her sweater.
 
 
TRUMAN
I like your pin. I was wondering that myself. Would you wanna maybe possibly sometime go out for some pizza or something like Friday? Saturday?
SYLVIA
I can't.
TRUMAN

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday?

Sylvia writes "NOW" on her notepad.
 

TRUMAN
We have finals tomorrow.

SYLVIA

I know.
(leans in, whispering)
If we don't go now, it won't happen. Do you understand? So what do you want to do?

The two of them walk towards the exit of the library. Sylvia is eyeing the hidden camera as they pass. They disappear behind a pillar. The camera pans to watch them emerge but they are not there. It pans sharply to the left in time to see Truman being dragged out a side door. Outside, another camera searches for them and then zooms in to catch them, disappearing through some trees.

We next see Sylvia and Truman at the top of a bank looking down on the beach. Truman and Sylvia hold hands as they run down the sandy slope.
 

TRUMAN
Please keep your hands inside the car!

Sylvia takes her sweater off and waves it in the air. As they stop near the water, Sylvia looks around anxiously.
 
TRUMAN
This is my favorite pizza place. Tony, one large, extra plankton.

SYLVIA

We have so little time. They're gonna be here any minute.

TRUMAN

Who are?

SYLVIA

They don't want me talking to you.

TRUMAN

Then don't talk.

They kiss. The sound of a car's engine is heard.
 
SYLVIA
They're here. Truman-

TRUMAN

What do they want?

SYLVIA

Listen to me, everybody knows about it, everybody knows everything you do. They're pretending Truman. Do you understand? Everybody's pretending.

TRUMAN

Lauren I don't know-

SYLVIA

No no no, my name's not Lauren. Sylvia, my name's Sylvia.

TRUMAN

Sylvia?

SYLVIA

Yeah.

The car comes to a halt just in front of them and the driver quickly gets out.
 

 
 
 
 

MAN
Lauren, sweetheart, not again.
TRUMAN
Hey wait a minute, who are you?

MAN

I'm her father?

TRUMAN

What?

SYLVIA

I've never even seen him before.

MAN

Come on sweetie.

TRUMAN

We weren't doing anything.

SYLVIA
(as she's being dragged away)

He's lying. Truman, please, don't listen to him. Everything I've told you is the truth.
(bends down and picks up a handful of sand)
This, it's it's fake, it's all for you. 

TRUMAN

I don't understand.

SYLVIA

And the sky and the sea, everything, it's a set, it's a show, everyone is watching you. Please don't listen to him. He's going to lie to you. They're watching us right now.

The man shoves Sylvia in the car and shuts the door.
 

 
 
 
 

TRUMAN
I really would like to know what's going on!

MAN

Schizophrenia. She has episodes.

TRUMAN

Schiz- What?

LAUREN

Please! No!

MAN

We've tried everything, hypnotism, everything, shock therapy...

LAUREN

No, don't listen to him Truman. Truman!

MAN

Don't worry. Don't worry! You're not the first. You're not the first.

LAUREN

Truman!

MAN

She brings all her boyfriends down here.

LAUREN

What's he saying? Truman, he's lying!
(leans out of the car and whispers)
Get out of here. Come and find me.

MAN

Don't worry. 

TRUMAN

I'll see you in school!

MAN

We're going to Fiji. Fiji. We're moving to Fiji.

SYLVIA

There is no school.

TRUMAN

Fiji?

 
 
 
 
 

 

The car drives away. As Truman looks around, he notices that Sylvia left her sweater. He waves it at the disappearing car in vain.


BACK