The Next Minute

OK, some classic films reconsidered. What happened AFTER the ending ...

CITIZEN KANE

INT. CELLAR - XANADU - NIGHT - 1940

A large furnace, with an open door, dominates the scene. Two laborers, with shovels, are shoveling things into the furnace. Raymond is about ten feet away.

RAYMOND: Throw that junk in, too.

Camera travels to the pile that he has indicated. It is mostly bits of broken packing cases, excelsior, etc. The sled is on top of the pile. As camera comes close, it shows the faded rosebud and, though the letters are faded, unmistakably the word "ROSEBUD" across it. The laborer drops his shovel, takes the sled in his hand and throws it into the furnace. The flames start to devour it.

EXT. XANADU - NIGHT - 1940

No lights are to be seen. Smoke is coming from a chimney.

Camera reverses the path it took at the beginning of the picture, perhaps omitting some of the stages. It moves finally through the gates, which close behind it. As camera pauses for a moment, the letter "K" is prominent in the moonlight.

Just before we fade out, there comes again into the picture the pattern of barbed wire and cyclone fencing. On the fence is a sign which reads:

"PRIVATE - NO TRESPASSING"

FADE OUT:

THE END

RAYMOND: (O.S.) Hey, wait a minute!

We go back to --

INT. CELLAR - XANADU - NIGHT - 1940

RAYMOND: Get that thing out of there!

WORKER: What thing?

RAYMOND: That sled. Get it out of there!

WORKER: Yeah, yeah. OK. Ow. I got it. What’s the …

RAYMOND: Well, look at it! See? It says Rosebud?

WORKER: Oh, yeah. Rosebud. That reporter guy kept talking about Rosebud.

RAYMOND: Hey Thompson! Get back in here. Thompson!

THOMPSON runs in, followed by the other photographers and reporters.

THOMPSON: Yeah, yeah. I'm here already! Keep your shirt on. What's the beef?

RAYMOND: Rosebud! We got it!

WORKER: Yeah!

THOMPSON: What are you talking about?

The WORKER holds up the sled.

THOMPSON: That's it? Rosebud's a sled?

WORKER: Yeah.

THOMPSON: It's just a lousy sled?

WORKER: Guess Mr. Kane was just feeling sad about the loss of his innocent childhood and all that stuff.

The cynical REPORTERS and PHOTOGRAPHERS all groan. RAYMOND snatches the sled from the WORKER.

RAYMOND: Gimme that! I saw it first.

He holds it out to THOMPSON.

RAYMOND: You want to take it?

THOMPSON: "How much you want for it?" That's what you mean?

RAYMOND: How much?

THOMPSON: Not one red cent.

The REPORTERS laugh.

RAYMOND: You're kidding! This is your whole story --

THOMPSON: The story stinks. Corny, you know? My readers hate that crap. I give 'em the big build-up -- and it's just a lousy sled? They'll run me out of town.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Too bad it wasn't a dame or something.

THOMPSON: Ah. Let's blow this pleasure dome.

THOMPSON and the REPORTERS and PHOTOGRAPHERS leave.

RAYMOND: Here. (roughly hands sled to WORKER) Throw it back in.

WORKER: Sure thing, boss.

He throws it in.

EXT. XANADU - NIGHT - 1940

No lights are to be seen. Smoke is coming from a chimney.

Track out as before.


THE WIZARD OF OZ

INT - DOROTHY's BEDROOM - DAY
Dorothy surrounded by Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and the farmhands, Zeke, Hunk and Hickory. Dorothy is explaining that the Land of Oz wasn’t a dream. The assembled people look at her like she’s nuts. They laugh and try to humor her. But Dorothy holds firm.

DOROTHY: No, Aunt Em -- this was a real, truly live place. And I remember that some of it wasn't very nice....

MCU -- Dorothy -- Camera shooting down past Aunt Em --

DOROTHY: ...but most of it was beautiful. But just the same, all I kept saying to everybody was, I want to go home. And they sent me home.

MLS -- Dorothy lying in bed -- Aunt Em sitting by her – Professor at window -- Uncle Henry -- Zeke -- Hunk and Hickory standing by -- they laugh -- Toto jumps up on to bed -- Dorothy takes Toto in her arms --

DOROTHY: Doesn't anybody believe me?

UNCLE HENRY: Of course we believe you, Dorothy.

DOROTHY: Oh, but anyway, Toto, we're home!

MCU -- Dorothy holding Toto in her arms -- Camera shooting past Aunt Em at right f.g. -- Dorothy looks around room -- speaks -- tears come to her eyes -- Aunt Em rises -- puts her arm around Dorothy -

DOROTHY: Home! And this is my room -- and you're all here! And I'm not going to leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all! And -- Oh, Auntie Em -- there's no place like home!

FADE OUT:

FADE IN -- THE END -- FADE OUT

DOROTHY: (O.S.) Wait a minute.

FADE IN --

INT - DOROTHY'S BEDROOM - DAY

A face appears at the window. JOE.

DOROTHY: I don't remember you.

JOE smiles.

DOROTHY: Who are you?

JOE: Why I’m Joe.

DOROTHY: Joe?

JOE: Uh, yeah. Joe. Joe Dickinson, the Edwards County Animal Control Officer.

DOROTHY: Huh?

JOE: That’s right, little girl. Gosh, I’m sorry. I’ll need to take Toto.

DOROTHY: What?

JOE: I’m real sorry. (holds out official form) I’ve got the order to destroy right here. Miss Gulch’s complaint against your dog still stands.

HUNK: Say, you leave her alone. This kid’s been through a lot.

JOE: I’m sorry. But it’s my job. Now … now you guys stand back! I’ll come back here with the Sheriff if I have to. I don’t want to, but I –

Sound: WHANG!

JOE: Uggggh.

Joe crumples. Zeke stands there holding a bloody shovel.

DOROTHY: Zeke!

HUNK: Jeez, Zeke. He ain't breathing.

ZEKE: Run, kid. Run. Take the dog. You got your whole life ahead of you. Me, I’m already dead. Can you take her with her Professor?

PROFESSOR: (too eagerly) Oh yes, yes certainly. I’ll find something … useful for Dorothy to do.

ZEKE: Now go, already. Go!

DOROTHY: But I just got home!

ZEKE: There's no place like home. Not for you, kid. Now go!

Dorothy grabs Toto and runs out weeping with the Professor. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry weep. We hear sirens.

HICKORY: Gee. Too bad she had to wake up, huh?

ZEKE: Guess I wasn't thinking.

HUNK: Guess not.

ZEKE: I'm sorry, fellas. I can't go back.

HICKORY: Zeke -- Zeke no!

ZEKE: I always was a coward.

He puts a revolver in his mouth and shoots himself.


THE PLANET OF THE APES

CLOSE ANGLE - TRACKING WITH TAYLOR AND NOVA.
As they round the promontory, the tip of a strange rock formation comes into view. it appears to be jutting from the sea.

REACTION SHOT - TAYLOR

He reins in momentarily, baffled by what he sees. Then he rides on.

THE STRANGE FORMATION - AS SEEN BY TAYLOR

An immense column juts from the beach at a thirty-degree angle. We can now see that it is not rock, but metal. Green metallic tints show through its gray salt-stained surface. As we draw closer, the object takes on the appearance of a massive arm, its top shaped like a hand holding a torch.


REVERSE ANGLE - FAVORING TAYLOR

Frowning with consternation. His horse proceeds at a slow walk.

TRACKING WITH TAYLOR - WHAT HE SEES:

Near the base of the column, where the shore and water meet, are a row of metal spikes. From this angle they look like tank traps.

ANGLE DOWN ON TAYLOR. ZOOM IN.

We see Taylor through V-shaped spikes. The horse stops.

CLOSER - TAYLOR

Dumbfounded, he slides from his saddle, approaches the spikes. Nova dismounts and follows him. Taylor stands in the water looking up.

MID-SHOT TAYLOR

TAYLOR (dumbfounded)Oh, my God. I'm back! I'm home. All the time, it was...

Taylor falls to his knees, buries his head in his hands. He pounds the sand in impotent rage. Nova looks on sadly behind him. Feeling his pain but not understanding it.

TAYLOR: We did it. We finally really did it. You murderers! You blew it up!God damn you! God damn you all to hell!

Nova looks at him sadly. Looks up. Looks at what Taylor sees.

CAMERA SLOWLY DRAWS BACK AND UP to a HIGH ANGLE SHOT --
The camera discloses what Taylor has found. Half-buried in the sand and washed by the waves is the Statue of Liberty.

FADE OUT: THE END

ANGLE ON STATUE OF LIBERTY.

Dodge and Landon appear in the windows of the statue’s tiara. Astronauts that Taylor thought the Apes had killed.

LANDON: How’s it hanging, Taylor?

TAYLOR: Oh my God!

DODGE: Man, you say that a lot.

LANDON: Yeah, it's irritating.

TAYLOR: You're alive!

DODGE: You screwed the pooch, Taylor.

LANDON: Screwed the monkey, you mean.

They share a laugh.

DODGE: We gotcha buddy. Gotcha good.

TAYLOR: What .. what the hell is going on?

DR. ZAIUS appears, walking up the beach. Smiles. Removes his oranguatan mask. He’s fully human.

DR ZAIUS: Smile, Taylor. You’re on Candid Camera.