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127INT. EMPTY BEDROOM - NIGHT

Kaufman lies half-awake in bed, sweating, his eyes darting back and forth. He looks over at the clock. It's 3:32.

KAUFMAN

Damn it.

Donald snores happily off-screen. Kaufman switches on a lamp, pulls The Orchid Thief from his bag, flips through it. There are now many yellow hi-lited passages. He reads one.

KAUFMAN (V.O.)

There are too many ideas and things and

people, too many directions to go. I was

starting to believe the reason it matters

to care passionately about something is

that it whittles the world down to a more

manageable size.

KAUFMAN

Such sweet, sad insights. So true.

Kaufman flips to the glowing, smiling author photo.

KAUFMAN

And you're... I like looking at you.

He stares at the photo. Its smile broadens. It talks.

ORLEAN PHOTO

I like looking at you, too. Charlie.

The photo smiles warmly at him. Kaufman begins to jerk-off. He closes his eyes.

Then: Kaufman and Orlean are in his bed together, making love. She smiles at him throughout. They finish.

Then: Kaufman is alone in bed, heaving. He looks at the still smiling photo. It somehow seems sleepy now.

KAUFMAN

I don't know how to do this. I'm afraid

I'll disappoint you. You've written a

beautiful book. I can't sleep. I'm

losing my hair. I'm fat and repulsive --

ORLEAN PHOTO

Shhh. You're not. Whittle it down,

focus on one thing in the story, find the

thing you care passionately about and

write about that.

Kaufman studies her delicate, melancholy face. He's in love.

ORLEAN PHOTO (cont'd)