Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation
Written by
Brent Dunham
Address
Phone Number
1.
FADE IN:
CUT TO:
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BOB
Turn left or right?
The Translator blots her face with a tissue, and asks the
director in a Japanese sentence 5 times as long. The Director
answers her in a long excited phrase.
TRANSLATOR
Right side. And with intensity.
BOB
Is that everything? It seemed like
he was saying a lot more.
The excited Director says more in Japanese. Translator nods
in understanding. Bob doesn't really know what's going on.
TRANSLATOR
Like an old friend, and into the
camera.
DIRECTOR
(to Bob)
Suntorу Time!
They get ready, and roll camera:
Bob turns and looks suavely to the camera:
BOB
For relaxing times, make it Suntory
Time.
The Director yells something about ten sentences long. The
translator nods.
5.
TRANSLATOR
Could you do it slower, and with
more intensity?
BOB
Okay.
The Translator answers for him in four sentences.
ON THE MONITOR -- we see the next take: the moody lighting
shines on Bob, the camera gets closer as he stares into
camera and gives them the line.
BOB
For relaxing times, make it Suntory
Time!
CUT TO:
Bob comes back to his room- The maids have left everything
perfect, his beige bed is turned down, and the TV has been
left on to a channel playing a montage of flower close-ups in
nature while sad violin music plays. It's supposed to be
relaxing, but it's just sad.
CUT TO:
Bob lies in bed. He flips through TV channels from the remote
control. He passes a Japanese game show, to an 80s Cannon
Ball run-type movie with him in it dubbed into Japanese. He
turns it off as he hears a knock at the door.
He goes to the door, and opens it part way.
WOMAN (О. C.)
(raspy Japanese voice)
Mr. Harris?
BOB
Yes?
WOMAN
Mr. Kazuzo sent me.
BOB
Oh?
WOMAN
Can I enter?
He pauses, then opens the door.
A WOMAN in her forties in a short tight leather mini skirt
and stockings comes in. She is wearing '60s style make-up.
BOB
I don't think so.
WOMAN
Mr. Kazuzo send Premium Fantasy.
She pushes him back onto the bed. He hesitates, but then goes
along with it passively.
WOMAN
My stockings.
BOB
Yes?
WOMAN
Take them.
He pulls his hands away. She grabs them and puts them back on
her, and keeps struggling dramatically. They wrestle around
awkwardly, her pretending to try to get away, but not letting
him go. She rips her stockings and falls off the bed in fake
defense.
WOMAN
Let me go!
She pulls a confused Bob down on top of her. He doesn't know
what she wants.
She rips another stocking and pins him on the ground. He
tries to crawl away, she grabs his leg and trips him. He
grabs a nearby table leg as he falls, the lamp crashes to the
floor, the room goes black.
BOB
I think you should leave.
CUT TO:
MISS KAWASAKI
Mr. Harris!
He is approached by a group of eight excited people from the
commercial company there waiting to take him.
PRESS AGENT
(as they are on their
way)
We just got a request from Tanabe
Mori, he is the Johnny Carson of
Japan! It is a big honor to be
invited to his show.
Bob feigns enthusiasm briefly.
MISS KAWASAKI
Can you stay until Friday?
BOB
I'll have to see about that.
CUT TO:
ELAINE (O.S.)
We're looking into it Bob, but they
really want you to stay to do that
talk show Friday, apparently it's a
really big deal, he's the Johnny
Carson of Japan.
BOB
Yeah, they told me.
ELAINE (O.S.)
These people are paying you a lot,
do you think you could consider it?
BOB
Just get me out of here as soon as
you can.
10.
ELAINE (O.S.)
Ok, you're scheduled to leave
Saturday, but we'll hold a seat
Thursday in case, but first class
is full, you're wait listed for an
upgrade -- there might be a seat on
Lufthansa --
BOB
Oh, great. I'll talk to you later,
bye.
He hangs up. The make-up artist dusts him with powder.
The commercial people are crowding around. Bob's chair is
swivelled around and we see him in his tuxedo, wearing too
much make-up and some weird looking eyeliner.
The sun is starting to come up. Below she watches cars going
places.
CUT TO:
"BOB-
YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WHICH SHELVES YOU WANT
IN YOUR STUDY. PLEASE PICK ONE OUT AND
LET ME KNOW. I'M HAVING LOTS OF QUALITY
TIME WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CREW. HOPE
YOU'RE HAVING FUN THERE. LOVE, L"
Three pages of shelf diagrams follow.
CUT TO:
The gym is empty except for an old man vacuuming. Bob passes
piles of little towels and bottles of water. He takes a water
for his workout.
He approaches an exercise machine and puts the water in the
drink holder of the machine. He looks at the lit-up
instruction panel, it is all in Japanese.
He pushes a button, and the machine starts beeping, then a
soothing woman's voice recites instructions in Japanese.
13.
He gets on it, and sinks. He tries to make the arms and foot
peddles coordinate. He pushes a button and it starts moving
too fast. In an upward rotation he tries to reach the control
panel, but is not fast enough. The soothing woman's voice
continues instruction.(she occasionally includes an English
word, gently, gently, vigorous) He tries to keep up with it,
and tries again to push the right button to slow it down, but
the machine steps starts going swiftly backwards instead.
CUT TO:
BOB
(everything's fine)
Good morning.
Miss Kawasaki notices his limp with concern as they leave the
hotel.
CUT TO:
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CHARLOTTE
Oh.
She lifts a cigarette, he lights it for her.
CHARLOTTE
I'll just have a beer.
He makes small talk about the pickled seaweed breakfast and
jet lag, they commiserate about having not slept in days.
BOB
What about you? Why are you here?
CHARLOTTE
My husband's here for work, he's a
photographer and I just came along
-- I'm not really doing anything
right now, and we have some friends
who live here.
BOB
How long have you been married?
CHARLOTTE
Two years.
BOB
Try twenty-five.
CHARLOTTE
You're probably just having a mid-
life crisis. Did you buy a Porche?
BOB
I'm thinking about it.
CHARLOTTE
25 years -- that's a long time --
Are you still in love with your
wife?
BOB
16.
BOB
Me, too.
CUT TO:
KELLY
John! What are you doing here!?
JOHN
I'm just here shooting this band,
what about you?
KELLY
Promoting that action movie I did -
-
She does a karate chop and laughs.
KELLY
-- doing like twenty million
interviews a day -- It's soo good
to see you. How long are you here
for?
JOHN
We're here for the week. I'm
shooting in Osaka for a few days.
KELLY
It's amazing there!
JOHN
Have you met Charlotte? My wife.
KELLY
No! Hi! So great to meet you!
CHARLOTTE
Hi, nice to meet you.
KELLY
18.
JOHN
Oh no --
KELLY
(with a big smile)
-- Well, I have the worst headache,
I have to go find some aspirin.
But, call me, let's have a drink,
I'm under Evelyn Waugh.
Kelly giggles. Charlotte smirks.
JOHN
Ok, see you later.
And Kelly and her make-up artist and publicist are off. John
and Charlotte continue.
CHARLOTTE
Evelyn Waugh?
JOHN
What?
CHARLOTTE
Evelyn Waugh was a man.
John shrugs.
JOHN
Oh, c'mon, she's nice. Not everyone
went to Yale.
Charlotte shoots him a look.
JOHN
19.
PRODUCER
(looks at his watch)
We should get going.
JOHN
OK, I'll see you later.
He kisses her on the cheek, and is gone.
CUT TO:
MOTHER (O.S.)
(sochi)
Hello darling, hope you're having a
fabulous time in Japan! How
exciting, and hope you and your
adorable husband are enjoying it --
I was sitting next to Cathryn Myles
last night at this dinner and she
was telling me about her daughter
who had this awful boyfriend and a
messy break-up and how hard it
is,and now she's single and wants
to start a family, I'm so glad that
you're settled, and not in that
situation. Anyway, call me when you
have a chance, I'm trying to put
Thanksgiving plans together,
whether we want to go skiing or,
Daddy wants to stay home and have
it here, which might be easier with
Lauren and the children, but let me
know what your feelings are, I do
hope you and John can make it. Call
me, I love you.
Charlotte pushes a button.
VOICE MAIL (O.S.)
To hear the next message, press --
Charlotte hangs up.
CUT TO:
Charlotte lies on the bed, in the knit scarf and underwear.
She's doing a quiz in a magazine:
21.
CUT TO:
CHARLOTTE
Like popcorn?
JOHN
I got some hair stuff.
She looks at him funny.
CHARLOTTE
Hair stuff?
JOHN
I gotta go to work.
He grabs her, kissing her good-bye, she wraps her arms around
him, when his cell phone rings.
28.
JOHN
I'll be right down -- I'm just
leaving -- ok.
He kisses her, and leaves.
JOHN
See you later.
CHARLOTTE
Bye.
CUT TO:
She makes a call. We see her back and hair, as she looks out
the bright window.
CHARLOTTE
Lauren?
LAUREN (O.S.)
Charlotte?! How's Tokyo?
CHARLOTTE
It's cool -- but, I don't know -- I
went to a shrine today and all
these little monk's were chanting -
- and, I didn't feel anything -- I
even tried ikebana, -- and John's
using hair product -- I don't know
who I --
LAUREN'S call waiting beeps, cutting off her sentence.
LAUREN
Oh, wait, can you hold on one sec?
CHARLOTTE
Sure.
Charlotte waits.
LAUREN
Sorry about that, what were you
saying?
In the background a baby starts crying.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, it's nothing -- I better go,
I'll talk to you later.
LAUREN
29.
CHARLOTTE
Oh -- that's nothing, someone gave
it to me.
JOHN
You don’t have to be embarrassed.
CHARLOTTE
I'm not. It's just corny, but I'm
not into it.
JOHN
It's ok if you are.
He kisses the side of her face and her shoulder like a cute
pet, and then continues getting his stuff together.
John sets two bottles of Cristal on the bed next to her, not
really seeing her.
JOHN
Oh, the record company sent these -
-
CHARLOTTE
Mmm, I love Cristal, let's have
some.
JOHN
I gotta go -- and I don't really
like champagne.
As he unplugs his cell phone from the wall.
JOHN
Are you sure you want to stay?
33.
CHARLOTTE
Are you sure you have to go?
He looks at her, like don't make it harder.
CHARLOTTE
Yeah, I know you have to work the
whole time, I'll probably have more
fun here. I'll call Charlie and
those guys.
JOHN
Ok, definitely call them, I'll be
back Friday. I love you.
They kiss.
CHARLOTTE
I love you.
He tackles her, kisses her, bites her, grabs her ribs,
tickling her in a burst of affection. She laughs, her arms
around his neck.
CHARLOTTE
I miss you.
JOHN
It'll just be a few days.
He kisses her and is off.
Charlotte sits there alone with the unopened bottles of
champagne.
CUT TO:
BOB
(awkward, but glad to run
into her)
Hi. Did you have a nice swim?
CHARLOTTE
Yeah. Did you get some sleep?
BOB
No, how about you?
CHARLOTTE
Not really. How long are you here
for?
BOB
I'm here for the week.
CHARLOTTE
Oh,good. Do you want to go to a
party tonight with me and some
friends who live here?
BOB
Ok.
CHARLOTTE
See you later.
He watches her go.
CUT TO:
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CHARLOTTE
Thanks, you guys should come back
sometime.
BAMBI
Yes.
He tries wigs on her. He puts a light pink wig on her and
beams. Bob smokes and watches.
BAMBI
Hawaii.
(Hawaii means "cute")
She smiles a lovable smile at Bambi.
CUT TO:
CHARLOTTE
I don't want to go home.
BOB
I know. I don't either.
CUT TO:
He puts her on her bed. He takes her shoes off for her and
pulls a blanket over her.
He looks at her lying on the bed.
She opens her eyes to smile at him. He wants to kiss her, but
he leaves.
CUT TO:
LYDIA (O.S.)
Oh, yeah? I wish I had seen it.
BOB
He was this fashion guy, and there
were all these Japanese fashion
people, it's a whole other world,
and I was talking to these Japanese
surfers -- He was playing all this
great music- I have to find out
what it was --
LYDIA (O.S.)
That sounds great -- can you hold
on --
(talks to daughter)
What Zoe?
ZOE (O.S.)
I don't want it.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Well, you have to have something
for breakfast. Do you want cereal?
ZOE (O.S.)
No.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Just trying to get her to eat
something -- I'm glad you're having
fun.
BOB
Yeah, its really different here.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Well, that's good. I have to get
the kids off for school. Can I call
you in a little while?
BOB
It's four in the morning -- I'm
going to go to sleep.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Ok, well -- I love you.
BOB
I love you, too, good-night, or
good morning.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Good-night.
43.
He hangs up.
FADE OUT:
BOB
But the first time I saw you was in
the elevator.
CHARLOTTE
Really?
BOB
Yeah, you don't remember?
She shrugs.
CHARLOTTE
Did I scowl at you?
BOB
No, you smiled.
CHARLOTTE
I don't remember.
BOB
I know, I kind of blend in here.
CUT TO:
Pan the view of Tokyo at night as we hear their conversation:
CHARLOTTE (O.C.)
Why do they switch the r's and l’s
here?
BOB (O.C.)
I don't know. My fax said "have a
good fright".
CHARLOTTE (O.C.)
Let's never come here again,
because it would never be as much
fun.
BOB (O.C.)
Ok, whatever you want.
CHARLOTTE (O.C.)
Did you see Hiromix last night
dancing with Bambi?
BOB (O.C.)
No, I was looking at you.
CHARLOTTE (O.C.)
47.
BOB
You'll figure it out. I'm not
worried about you. Keep writing.
CHARLOTTE
But, I'm mean.
BOB
That's ok.
CHARLOTTE
And marriage, does that get easier?
BOB
It's hard. We started going to a
marriage counselor.
CHARLOTTE
Did that help? Did you learn
anything?
BOB
We established that we have no
communication.
CHARLOTTE
Oh.
BOB
We used to have fun, she used to
like to go to places with me for my
movies and we would laugh at all
the weirdos, but now she's tired of
it all. She never wants to leave
the kids, she doesn't need me, and
they don't need me, I feel like I'm
in the way. It gets complicated
when you have kids -- that changes
everything.
CHARLOTTE
That's too scary.
BOB
When they're born its like Vietnam.
It's terrifying.
CHARLOTTE
(getting tired)
No one ever tells you that --
BOB
49.
Bob watches the strange scene in the street for a moment, and
then makes his way past.
CUT TO:
BOB
They really have to work on that
street name thing.
A perky recording voice says "Kornichiwa!" from his pocket.
CHARLOTTE
What's that?
He pulls a pink Hello Kitty watch from his pocket.
BOB
It's for my daughter.
CHARLOTTE
How old is she?
52.
BOB
Four.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, she'11 love it.
The Sushi Chef gives him perfect little pieces of sushi on a
banana leaf.
Charlotte takes a bite of a piece, but it won't break, so she
has to stuff the whole thing in her mouth, embarrassed. Bob
makes fun of her gracelessness.
BOB
Nice one.
CHARLOTTE
(mouth full)
Fuck off.
They have lunch, he makes her laugh.
He looks down at her feet in flip flops, her toe is purple.
BOB
What happened to your toe?
CHARLOTTE
I don't know, I think maybe I broke
it? I knocked into something the
other day --
She slips her shoe off and shows it to him, her middle toe is
black and blue.
BOB
That doesn't look good.
She enjoys the sympathy.
CHARLOTTE
It's bad isn't it?
BOB
We should get you to the doctor.
CHARLOTTE
You think so?
BOB
Yeah, look at that thing.
She smiles at him.
53.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
ELAINE (O.S.)
So, we got you on an earlier
flight, but I really think you
should think about staying for that
talk show.
BOB
Ok.
ELAINE (O.S.)
You'll do it?
BOB
Yeah, I'll stay.
CUT TO:
55.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Bob?
BOB
Hi, Lydia.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Is this a bad time?
BOB
Uh, no.
LYDIA (O.S.)
It's really hard to reach you --
Did you get the carpet samples? I
like the burgundy.
56.
BOB
Ok, whatever you think -- I'm lost.
LYDIA (O.S.)
It's just carpet.
BOB
That's not what I'm talking about.
LYDIA (O.S.)
What are you talking about?
BOB
I don't know.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Is there anything I can do?
BOB
I don't know -- I want to be more
healthy. I want to eat better.
LYDIA (O.S.)
What?
BOB
You know, eat healthier.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Alright?
BOB
Not all that pasta.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Fine.
BOB
Like Japanese food.
LYDIA (O.S.)
(sarcastic)
Why don't you just stay there, and
you can have it everyday.
BOB
Oh, come on.
LYDIA (O.S.)
I have to go, Adan's tormenting
Zoe, I'll talk to you later. Are
you going to be Ok?
BOB
57.
Charlotte shows up with Charlie and the other guys. She sits
down next to him, and gives him an 'are you going to kill me?
look.
CHARLOTTE
How long have you been here?
He looks at her like it's been forever. She smiles for
forgiveness.
They look over and see a WEIRD GUY in the corner getting a
lap dance, they look at each other, sharing the joke of the
place, but both uncomfortable about the sexuality of it.
Through a beaded curtain, Charlie and Bambi get lap dances in
a dark corner of pillows.
CHARLOTTE
Rough night?
He's not in the mood, he looks at her like he already hates
himself, doesn't need more help.
CHARLOTTE
I'm going to Daikanyama, do you
want to come walk around?
BOB
Yes, but no, I can't right now.
The singer starts singing again in the background.
Charlotte gives Bob a look.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, I guess you're busy, huh.
BOB
I don't want to be.
He watches Charlotte walk away down the beige hall.
CUT TO:
LYDIA (O.S.)
Hello, Bob, it's me.
BOB
(can't hear)
Hello?
LYDIA (O.S.)
It's Lydia, your wife.
BOB
I couldn't hear you. How are you?
LYDIA (O.S.)
(sighs)
Fine. Is it going ok?
BOB
63.
It's ok.
LYDIA (O.S)
Do you want to --
(garbled)
BOB
What?
LYDIA (O.S.)
Do you want to talk to Zoe?
BOB
Yeah.
LYDIA (O.S.)
(calls in background)
Zoe, come say hello to your father
--
A little girl's voice shouts "No!" in the background.
LYDIA
I guess she's busy.
BOB
That's ok.
LYDIA (O.S.)
When are you coming home?
BOB
Tomorrow.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Her ballet recital is Saturday,
don't forget.
BOB
Ok.
In the background the daughter calls for her Mommy over and
over and a dog starts barking.
LYDIA (O.S.)
Ok, well, travel safely. See you
soon.
BOB
Bye.
CUT TO:
64.
BOB
We'll have two of these.
He makes some small talk, she is bugged.
BOB
What do you want to drink?
CHARLOTTE
A coke.
He orders the drinks.
BOB
So, where'd you go today.
CHARLOTTE
Around.
"This is the End" by The Doors starts playing on the stereo.
The waitress brings two huge trays of sliced raw beef. Steam
rises from the pot on the table.
The song ends, and another Doors song comes on.
CHARLOTTE
They're not going to play the whole
album, are they?
They look across the table, over the steam and meat, at each
other, the whole thing is awful.
FADE OUT.
CHARLOTTE
That lunch was the worst, huh.
He laughs.
She looks down at his feet stuffed into the little hotel
slippers.
CHARLOTTE
When are you leaving?
BOB
Tomorrow.
CHARLOTTE
(friendly)
I'm going to miss you.
BOB
That's what you said the other
night.
CHARLOTTE
Well, I mean it more now.
CUT TO:
NEW SINGER
Good Evening. I'm Carl West, and
we're thrilled to be joining you
this week, here at the NY bar in
Shinjuku.
He sings "Where or When" with all his heart.
Now, old-timers there, Bob and Charlotte look at each other
and chuckle.
SINGER
It seems we stood and talked like
this before, we looked at each
other In the same way then, but I
cant remember where or when --
67.
The elevator continues up, and stops on her floor. They kiss
good-night again and she gets out before the door closes.
He watches the door close on her as she makes her way down
the long beige hall.
FADE OUT.
CUT TO:
CUT TO:
CHARLOTTE
That's it?
The concierge tells him his car is here.
CHARLOTTE
You're leaving right now?
BOB
Yes.
CHARLOTTE
Well -- have a good flight.
BOB
Thanks.
CHARLOTTE
(hurt)
Ok, bye.
She walks away.
A hotel manager asks Bob about his luggage, another asks if
he had a pleasant stay. Charlotte gets in the elevator to go
out, the doors close on her back.
CUT TO: