Adaptation · written by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman · 2002

Charlie finds his twin Donald at home; Donald announces that he plans to become a screenwriter.

Scene 27 of 202 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Kaufman
Donald

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 14 min into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 27

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.
Scene 10
Valerie and Margaret give Charlie the assignment to adapt The Orchid Thief.
Just before
Scene 24
Orlean drives through Florida’s unstable edge between expanding development and disappearing wilderness.
Scene 25
A young girl swings while her loving parents kiss between pushes.
Scene 26
Charlie hears two passing girls laugh and imagines they called him “Fatso.”
Scene 27
This scene

27INT. EMPTY HOUSE - A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER

Kaufman passes a hall mirror, regards himself glumly, and climbs the stairs.

KAUFMAN (V.O.)

I am fat. I am repulsive. I cannot bear

my own reflection.

At the landing Kaufman comes upon Donald, his identical twin brother, on his back in pajama bottoms, opening a gift box.

DONALD

Did you open your present from mom yet?

KAUFMAN

What's with you?

DONALD

My back.

Kaufman nods vaguely, continues down the hall. Donald pulls a purple sweater from the box, calls after Kaufman.

DONALD (cont'd)

Hey, Charles, you'll be glad, I have a

plan to get me out of your house pronto.

KAUFMAN

A job is a plan. Is your plan a job?

DONALD

(big build up)

I'm gonna be a screenwriter! Like you!

Kaufman doesn't respond, enters his bedroom.

DONALD (cont'd)

I know you think this is just one of my

get-rich-quick schemes. But I'm doing it

right this time. I'm taking a seminar!