Script Truman

Original Screenplay by Andrew Niccol Transcript by Dana Franklin and Kevin Simpson v2.1 Back to Transcript Page Back to Truman Main Page Official / Trailer / Cast and Crew / Reviews / About / Links / Rings / Fan Fiction / Awards / Multimedia / Soundtrack / Message Board email me at: unomaster@un-official.com This is the full transcript of The Truman Show. It in no way intends to infringe upon the rights of the writers, producers, distributors, exhibitors, etc., of the movie. The Lunar Room CHRISTOF We've become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. We're tired of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he inhabits is in some respects counterfeit, there's nothing fake about Truman himself. No scripts, no cue cards...It isn't always Shakespeare but it's genuine. It's a life. Truman's Bathroom TRUMAN (to mirror cam) I'm not going to make it. You're going to have to go on without me. No way, mister, you're going to the top of this mountain...Broken legs and all. The Lunar Room CHRISTOF We find many viewers leave him on all night for comfort. Truman's Bathroom TRUMAN (to mirror cam) You're crazy, you know that? Interview MERYL Well, I mean, there is no--there is no difference between a private life and a public life. My--my life is my life, is The Truman Show. The Truman Show is...a lifestyle. It's a noble life. It is...a truly blessed life. Truman's Bathroom TRUMAN (to mirror cam) I'm not going to get to the top. All right, promise me one thing though: If I die before I reach the summit, you will use me as an alternative source of food. Eeeewwww, gross. Interview MARLON It's all true. It's all real. Nothing here is fake. Nothing you see on this show is fake. It's merely controlled. Truman's Bathroom TRUMAN Eat me, dammit. That's an order. Maybe just my love handles. I have love handles.....little ones. MERYL (O.S) Truman! You're going to be late! TRUMAN Okay!! (sighs) On Truman's Porch TRUMAN Good Morning! MRS. WASHINGTON Good Morning! WASHINGTON KID Good Morning! TRUMAN Oh! And in case I don't see ya'! Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Goodnight! (laughs jovially) Yeah...yeah... SPENCER Good morning Truman! TRUMAN Good mornin', Spencer! PLUTO (the dog) (barks at Truman) TRUMAN Hey Pluto. Hey Pluto! Hey Pluto! SPENCER Hey...c'mon, buddy. Get back here. TRUMAN Get down! 'at a girl...I know... It's just me.. SPENCER C'mon, Pluto! TRUMAN (re: light from sky) Oh my God! Truman's Car RADIO Here's a news flash just in: an aircraft in trouble began shedding parts as it flew over Seahaven just a few moments ago. TRUMAN Nnnnnnn... RADIO Wow. Luckily no one was hurt. But hey! How do you feel today? TRUMAN Mmm-mmm. (okay) RADIO That's good. You thinking of flying anywhere? TRUMAN Nope. RADIO O-o-oh, good. (The weather?)Sit back and let this music calm you down. Newspaper Stand CUSTOMER Dog Fancy please...Why thank you. Thank you very much. TRUMAN Ohhh. Get a paper there, will you, Harold? Oh, and uh...one of these - for the wife. Loves her fashion mags. HAROLD Will that be all for you, Truman? TRUMAN That's the whole kit 'n' caboodle. HAROLD Catch ya' later. TRUMAN Of course. Yeah... In Front of Chicken Ad TRUMAN Good morning. RON OR DON? Hey! Good morning, Truman. RON OR DON? Good morning, Truman. RON OR DON? Good morning, Truman! TRUMAN Hey! How are you guys? RON OR DON? Beautiful day, in't it? TRUMAN Ah...always. RON OR DON? Ah. And how's your lovely wife? TRUMAN s'Good. Good. How about yours'? RON OR DON? Ohhh...Couldn't be better! TRUMAN Ahhhh... RON OR DON? Uh..nice talkin' to ya', Truman. TRUMAN You too, you too. RON OR DON? But we must go now. TRUMAN Hey, think about that policy! RON OR DON? Yes, we'll think about it. TRUMAN Okay, that's two for one, that's a good deal. Doppelganger Special. At the Revolving Door, Truman's Office TRUMAN Hey, fella's, going in? Go ahead.... Hey, whoa....I'm not that anxious to get there. Truman's Office TRUMAN (on phone) Uh, could I have directory assistance for Fiji, please? Fiji Islands... OFFICE NEIGHBOR (re: Newspaper article "SEAHAVEN THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH!") Truman, did you see this? TRUMAN (on phone) All right, sure ma'am, if--if uh..he's in a coma he's probably uninsurable! (whispering) Yes, uh..Fiji please. Do you have a listing for a Lauren Garland?....unlisted....okay.. Do you have a Sylvia Garland? S for Sylvia. None...okay, thank you. (hangs up phone) OFFICE NEIGHBOR Let's see, Burbank, got a prospect in Wells Park for you to close. TRUMAN Wel-Wells Park? On uh...Harbor Island? OFFICE NEIGHBOR You...know another one? TRUMAN Well, I can't do it. I uh...have an appointment. Dentist. OFFICE NEIGHBOR Really? TRUMAN Yeah. (Toothy grin) OFFICE NEIGHBOR You're going to lose a lot more than your teeth if you don't meet your quota. Truman. They're making cutbacks in here this month. TRUMAN Cutbacks? OFFICE NEIGHBOR Yeah. You need this. 'sides, half hour across the bay, a little sea air..do you good. TRUMAN Hey, thanks. At the Docks TRUMAN Hello! Ferry's still here, huh? Well, I'm headin' to sea. TICKETPERSON One way or return? TRUMAN (like duh) Return. TICKETPERSON Here you go, sir. FERRY STAFF (re: Truman's faint condition) Do you need any help, sir? TRUMAN You go ahead, I'll-I'll be fine. Truman's Lawn MERYL I'm home, Truman! Look what I got for you at the checkout. It's a Chef's Pal. It's a dicer, grater, peeler all in one. Never needs sharpening. Dishwasher safe. TRUMAN Wow. That's amazing! MERYL Truman. Missed a spot. Unfinished Bridge MARLON Mm. THAT is a beer. TRUMAN You know, I've been thinking about gettin' out, Marlon. MARLON Yeah? Out of what? TRUMAN Out of my job. Out of this city. Off this island. Out. MARLON Out of your job? What the hell is wrong with your job? You have a great job, Truman. You have a desk job. I'd kill for a desk job. (re: beer) Here ya' go. (continuing) You should try stocking vending machines for a living. TRUMAN No thanks. MARLON Now there's excitement. TRUMAN Don't you ever get restless? Itchy feet? MARLON Where is there to go? TRUMAN Fiji. MARLON Where the hell is Fiji? Near Florida? TRUMAN (using golf ball as Earth) See here? MARLON Mmmhm.. TRUMAN (finger on one point of ball) This is us...and all the way around here.. (finger slides around to opposite point) Fiji. MARLON Mmmm... (Oh...) TRUMAN can't get any further away before you start coming back.....You know, there are still islands in Fiji where no human being has ever set foot? (question to Andrew Niccol: is Fiji a reference to Lister's, a character on the British Sci-fi comedy "Red Dwarf," dream of building a farm in Fiji?) MARLON hoo..So, when're you gonna go? TRUMAN It's not that simple. It takes money. Planning. Can't just..up and go. MARLON Right. TRUMAN I'm gonna' do it. Don't worry about that. You know, bonus time's just around the corner. MARLON Hmmm. Hey, you comin' for a drink? TRUMAN No. Can't.. Flashback to Ocean KIRK I don't like the look of that weather, son. I think we should head back. YOUNG TRUMAN Oh no, Dad. KIRK No..we should go back. YOUNG TRUMAN Just a little further. Please. KIRK Okay. YOUNG TRUMAN Yeah. THUNDER (boom) YOUNG TRUMAN Daddy! Beach TRUMAN Ugh. Ha ha ha ha ha! Ahhhhhhhh! Truman Home MERYL You're soaked! Where have you been? TRUMAN I figured we could scrape together eight thousand dollars-- MERYL Every time you and Marlon get together something-- TRUMAN We could bum around the world for a year on that. MERYL And then what, Truman? We'd be where we were five years ago. You're talking like a teenager. TRUMAN Maybe I feel like a teenager. MERYL We have mortgage payments, Truman. We have car payments. What? We're just going to walk away from our financial obligations? TRUMAN We need adventure.. MERYL I thought we were going to try for a baby. Isn't that enough of an adventure? TRUMAN That can wait. I need to get away. See some of the world. Explore! MERYL You want to be an explorer...This'll pass. We all think like this now and again. Let's get you out of these wet clothes, huh? And into bed. Security Garage SECURITY GUARD You never see anything anyway. They always uh..turn the camera, and..play music and...you know, the wind blows and then the curtain moves. You don't see anything. Newspaper Stand TRUMAN Ooohhhhh...and I'll pick one of these up while I'm at it. HAROLD For the wife. TRUMAN She's gotta' have 'em. HAROLD Anything else? TRUMAN That's the whole ball o' wax. HAROLD See ya' later Truman. On the Street TRUMAN Dad?........Hey. What're you doing? Hey! Oh! Oof! Ah! Move out of the way! Stop them! Oh! Oh. Oof. No no wait! Stop! Stop! Hey! Open the doors! Open the...! Somebody stop the bus! Stop the bus! Somebody stop it! Truman's Mother's House MOTHER It doesn't sound insane at all, Truman. I see him ten times a week, in a hundred different faces. You know I almost hugged a perfect stranger in the salon last Thursday. TRUMAN It was dad. I swear! Dressed like a homeless man! And you know what else was strange? A business man and a woman with a little dog came out of nowhere and forced him onto a bus. MOTHER Well! It's about time they cleaned up the trash downtown before we become just like the rest of the country. TRUMAN They never found Dad's body. Maybe somehow... MOTHER Oh no...! TRUMAN I'm telling you, if it wasn't him, it was his twin. Did dad have a bother? MOTHER Truman, you know perfectly well that your father was an only child, just like you. No sweetie, you're just feeling bad because of what happened. You, sailing off into that storm....But I never blamed you, Truman. And I don't blame you now. Truman's Basement MERYL What're you doing down here? TRUMAN Fixin' the mower....I saw my father today. MERYL I know.... (in response to Truman's paranoid look) Your mother called. You REALLY shouldn't upset her like that. TRUMAN Did you want--? What did you want? MERYL (super happy) I made macaroni! TRUMAN I'm not hungry. MERYL You know..you really oughta' throw out that mower. Get one of those new Elk Rotaries. The Truman Bar WAITRESS (re: Truman holding red sweater) What's he doing? WAITRESS See, they got rid of her, but they couldn't erase the memory. WAITRESS The memory of who? WAITRESS shh shh shh shh shh shh... Flashback: In Front of Truman's College (Go Seahorses) CHEERLEADERS (O.S.) S! E! A! H! O! R! S! E! S! MERYL (stumbling into Truman) Ow! Ouch! TRUMAN Oh! Ohhhh! MERYL Ouch! TRUMAN You okay? MERYL Excuse me! Hi! TRUMAN Hi! MERYL Oh..I'm so sorry I fell on you. TRUMAN It's okay. MERYL I'm just--I've just..been a klutz all day. TRUMAN It's all right. MERYL I think I...sprained my ankle. I could be... sorry...I'm so sorry for falling on you like that. TRUMAN It's all right. MERYL I--I'm Meryl. TRUMAN Hi. It's... Truman. MERYL Hey, nice to meet you... College Dance Twentieth Century Boy plays here. Library MERYL Let's go. TRUMAN Shh. MERYL You can study later. C'mon. TRUMAN No. I gotta' commit this to memory. MARLON C'mon, Truman. Let's go for a brewski. C'mon. C'mon. TRUMAN You're going to hafta' copy off me so be careful. MERYL No..? ...Better person than I am. I'll see you later, kay? Bye. TRUMAN Bye. MARLON See ya' later, loser. TRUMAN Ow! Shhhh! *sigh*....... Hi...Konichiwa? LAUREN What? TRUMAN You take Japanese. LAUREN Oh! Yes. Yes.. TRUMAN Lauren, right?....It's on your book. LAUREN Lauren. Right. Right. TRUMAN Well, I'm Truman. LAUREN Yeah. I know. Look, Truman, I'm not allowed to talk to you. You know. TRUMAN Yeah, well, I can