25 October 2013

Deleted Scene: A Satisfied Client's Wife

Jake and Evelyn's conversation in the Brown Derby is interrupted by the fallout from one of Jake's recent investigations.
 Evelyn turns into Gittes.
EVELYN
You must've had a reason to ask me that. 
GITTES
(shrugs) 
No. I'm just a snoop.
EVELYN
You seem to have had a reason
for every other question.
GITTES
No, not for that one.
EVELYN
I don't believe you.
Gittes suddenly turns sharply in to Evelyn.
GITTES
(moving in)
Do me a favor. Sit still and
act like I'm charming.
Evelyn involuntarily draws back.
GITTES
(continuing)
There's somebody here. Say
something. Anything. Something
like we're being intimate.
125 Evelyn reluctantly allows Gittes to move closer and
dangle his hand in front of their faces. She stares at him.

EVELYN
(meaning his nose)
How did it happen?
GITTES
(quietly)
Been meaning to talk to you
about that.
EVELYN
(quietly)
Maybe putting your nose in other
people's business?

GITTES
(quietly)
More like other people putting
their business in my nose.
Evelyn actually smiles a little.
WOMAN'S VOICE
You son of a bitch.
Gittes looks up and flashes his smile.
GITTES
Mrs. Match. How're you?
Mrs. MATCH is swaying over the table, a plump woman with
a glass of whiskey in one hand, a large purse in the
other, and a menacing look in her eye.
MRS. MATCH
Don't give me that, you son of
a bitch.
GITTES
Okay.
Gittes turns back to Evelyn.
EVELYN
(softly)
Another satisfied client?
GITTES
Another satisfied client's wife.
MRS. MATCH
Look at me, you son of a bitch.
You... you bastard. Are you
happy, are you happy now?
126 She tries to take a swipe at Gittes with her purse.
Gittes covers himself. Waiters rush over.
MRS. MATCH
-- You smug son of a bitch. My
husband's so upset he sweats all
night! How do you think that makes
me feel?
GITTES
Sweaty?
Mrs. Match swings at Gittes again and again. She catches
him on the nose. It hurts. He covers it -- then swings
his leg out from under the table and deftly kicks her
in the shin.
Mrs. Match drops her purse and spills her drink. She
grabs her shin, hopping around a little. The waiters
who had tried to restrain her now try to keep her from
falling over.
GITTES
Let's get out of here before she
picks up her purse.
They rise and move toward the door.
EVELYN
(quietly)
Tough guy, huh?
Gittes looks, sees she's kidding, and nods.


 The colour photos above have appeared widely, but do not depict action from the finished film itself - Jake and Evelyn are also sitting in opposite places at the table to where they are in the film. 

The black and white photo is from The Films of Jack Nicholson by Douglas Brode, and to my knowledge, is the only publicly available picture of the character Mrs Match (actress unknown).

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