Adaptation · written by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman · 2002

Laroche tells Orlean she should have gone with him; Valerie praises the line in Orlean’s published article.

Scene 115 of 202 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Laroche
Valerie

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 57 min into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 115

Unable to find a conventional story in The Orchid Thief, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman turns his own crisis into an increasingly self-referential adaptation.

Scenes 1–9
Charlie inhabits an isolated, self-condemning world while Orlean’s book supplies a distant model of obsession.
Scenes 10–88
Charlie wants to write honestly and make flowers matter, while also longing to be desired and understood.
Scenes 89–105
He leaves his familiar writing room and goes to Florida to search for the story firsthand.
Just before
Scene 112
Charlie drives past familiar chain stores and stops outside a Florida California Pizza Kitchen.
Scene 113
A Florida waitress smiles at Charlie but looks through him.
Scene 114
Charlie highlights Orlean’s writing and stares at her author photograph.
Scene 115
This scene

115INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Orlean, dirty from the swamp, is on the phone.

LAROCHE (PHONE VOICE)

(beat,clears throat)

Jesus Christ, of course there are ghost

orchids out there! I've stolen them!

(beat, a cleared throat)

You should have gone with me.

CLOSE-UP OF MAGAZINE

The line: "... then he cleared his throat and said: 'You should have gone with me.'"

VALERIE (O.C.)

Beautifully written. A really unique

piece.

PULL BACK TO: