Great Scene: “Chinatown”
Jake wrangles a shocking truth from Evelyn.
Jake wrangles a shocking truth from Evelyn.
It’s often referred to as a “perfect script”: Chinatown, written by Robert Towne (with uncredited contributions from director Roman Polanski). Looked at one way, it’s simply a murder mystery, but there’s nothing simple about this movie’s plot or the characters, as this famous scene conveys — one of the most memorable plot twists in American movie history:
224 EXT. BUNGALOW-HOUSE — ADELAIDE DRIVE
Gittes pulls up in Mulwray’s Buick. He hurries to the
front door, pounds on it.
The Chinese servant answers the door.
CHINESE SERVANT
You wait.
GITTES
(short sentence in
Chinese)
You wait.
225 Gittes pushes past him. Evelyn, looking a little worn but
glad to see him hurries to the door. She takes Gittes’
arm.
EVELYN
How are you? I was calling you.
She looks at him, searching his face.
GITTES
— Yeah?
They move into the living room. Gittes is looking around
it.
EVELYN
Did you get some sleep?
GITTES
Sure.
EVELYN
Did you have lunch?
Kyo will fix you something —
GITTES
(abruptly).
— where’s the girl?
EVELYN
Upstairs. Why?
GITTES
I want to see her.
EVELYN
…she’s having a bath now… why
do you want to see her?
Gittes continues to look around. He sees clothes laid out
for packing in a bedroom off the living room.
GITTES
Going somewhere?
EVELYN
Yes, we’ve got a 4:30 train to
catch. Why?
Gittes doesn’t answer. He goes to the phone and dials.
GITTES
J. J. Gittes for Lieutenant
Escobar
EVELYN
What are you doing? What’s wrong?
I told you we’ve got a 4:30 —
GITTES
(cutting her off)
You’re going to miss your train!
(then, into phone)
Lou, meet me at 1412 Adelaide
— it’s above Santa Monica
Canyon… yeah, soon as you can.
EVELYN
What did you do that for?
GITTES
(a moment, then)
You know any good criminal lawyers?
EVELYN
(puzzled)
— no…
GITTES
Don’t worry — I can recommend a
couple. They’re expensive but you
can afford it.
EVELYN
(evenly but with
great anger)
What the hell is this all about?
Gittes looks at her — then takes the handkerchief out
Of his breast pocket — unfolds it on a coffee table,
revealing the bifocal glasses, one lens still intact.
Evelyn stares dumbly at them.
GITTES
I found these in your backyard —
in your fish pond. They belonged to
your husband, didn’t they?… didn’t
they?
EVELYN
I don’t know. I mean yes, probably.
GITTES
— yes positively. That’s where
he was drowned…
EVELYN
What are you saying?
GITTES
There’s no time for you to be
shocked by the truth, Mrs. Mulwray.
The coroner’s report proves he was
killed in salt water. Just take my
word for it. Now I want to know
how it happened and why. I want
to know before Escobar gets here
because I want to hang onto my
license.
EVELYN
— I don’t know what you’re talking
about. This is the most insane…
the craziest thing I ever…
Gittes has been in a state of near frenzy himself.
gets up, shakes her.
GITTES
Stop it! — I’ll make it easy. —
You were jealous, you fought, he
fell, hit his head — it was an
accident — but his girl is a
witness. You’ve had to pay her
off. You don’t have the stomach
to harm her, but you’ve got the
money to shut her up. Yes or no?
EVELYN
… no…
GITTES
Who is she? And don’t give me that
crap about it being your sister.
You don’t have a sister.
Evelyn is trembling.
EVELYN
I’ll tell you the truth…
Gittes smiles.
GITTES
That’s good. Now what’s her name?
EVELYN
— Katherine.
GITTES
Katherine?… Katherine who?
EVELYN
— she’s my daughter.
226 Gittes stares at her. He’s been charged with anger and
when Evelyn says this it explodes. He hits her full in
the face. Evelyn stares back at him. The blow has forced
tears from her eyes, but she makes no move, not even to
defend herself.
GITTES
I said the truth!
EVELYN
— she’s my sister —
Gittes slaps her again.
EVELYN
(continuing)
— she’s my daughter.
Gittes slaps her again.
EVELYN
(continuing)
— my sister.
He hits her again.
EVELYN
(continuing)
My daughter, my sister —
He belts her finally, knocking her into a cheap Chinese
vase which shatters and she collapses on the sofa,
sobbing.
GITTES
I said I want the truth.
EVELYN
(almost screaming it)
She’s my sister and my daughter!
Kyo comes running down the stairs.
EVELYN
(continuing;
in Chinese)
For God’s sake, Kyo, keep her
upstairs, go back!
Kyo turns after staring at Gittes for a moment then
goes back upstairs.
EVELYN
(continuing)
— my father and I, understand,
or is it too tough for you?
Gittes doesn’t answer.
EVELYN
(continuing)
… he had a breakdown… the
dam broke… my mother died…
he became a little boy… I was
fifteen… he’d ask me what to
eat for breakfast, what clothes
to wear!… It happened… then
I ran away…
GITTES
to Mexico…
She nods.
EVELYN
Hollis came and took… care
of me… after she was born…
he said… he took care of her…
I couldn’t see her… I wanted to
but I couldn’t… I just want to
see her once in a while… take care
of her… that’s all… but I don’t
want her to know… I don’t want
her to know…
GITTES.
… so that’s why you hate him…
Evelyn looks slowly up at Gittes.
EVELYN
— no… for turning his back on
me after it happened! He couldn’t
face it…
(weeping)
I hate him.
Gittes suddenly feels the need to loosen his tie.
GITTES
— yeah… where are you taking her
now?
EVELYN
Back to Mexico.
GITTES
You can’t go by train. Escobar’ll
be looking for you everywhere.
EVELYN
How about a plane?
GITTES
That’s worse… Just get out of
here — walk out, leave everything.
EVELYN
I have to go home and get my things —
GITTES
— I’ll take care of it.
EVELYN
Where can we go?
GITTES
…where does Kyo live?
EVELYN
— with us.
GITTES
On his day off. Get the exact
address.
EVELYN
— okay…
She stops suddenly.
EVELYN
Those didn’t belong to Hollis.
For a moment Gittes doesn’t know what she’s talking
about. Then he follows her gaze to the glasses lying on
his handkerchief.
GITTES
How do you know?
EVELYN
He didn’t wear bifocals.
Gittes picks up the glasses, stares at the lens, is
momentarily lost in them.
227 EVELYN
from the stairs. She has her arm around Katherine.
EVELYN
Say hello to Mr. Gittes, sweetheart.
KATHERINE
(from the stairs)
Hello.
228 GITTES
rises a little shakily from the arm of the sofa.
GITTES
Hello.
With her arm around the girl, talking in Spanish,
Evelyn hurries her toward the bedroom. In a moment she
re-emerges.
EVELYN
(calling down)
— he lives at 1712 Alameda… do
you know where that is?
229 REACTION — GITTES
He nods slowly.
GITTES
— sure. It’s Chinatown.
Here is the scene in the movie up through the shocking revelation:
I suspect most of us remember this scene because of the big reveal itself, but the scene is critical for two other reasons. The first has to do with the Plotline: Instead of having Evelyn arrested, Gittes chooses to let her leave with Katherine, a decision that eventually leads to the famous final scene of the movie. The second thing is about the Themeline or the emotional life of the story: For while the plot winds its way through the manipulative schemes of “the powers that be” in Los Angeles, backroom deals and bribes, it is Gittes’ relationship with Evelyn — and now extending to her daughter (and her sister) Katherine — that provides an emotional touchstone for the audience. This pivotal moment, where Gittes learns of the unspeakable horror perpetrated on Noah Cross’ daughter by Cross himself, is a massive gut check for Gittes, who up to this point has not demonstrated himself to be much of a stand-up guy, at least morally. Now he does, displaying a side of his humanity we had not seen before.
Of course, we can’t discuss this scene without drawing the obvious symbolism: What Cross did to Evelyn, literally screwing her, is the same thing that he and his political and business cronies are in the process doing to Los Angeles, laying the groundwork for the sprawling mess the city became, all to fatten their wallets.
What are you thoughts about this great scene from Chinatown?