Adaptation · written by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman · 2002

Laroche tells Orlean that orchid collecting becomes a sickness, while she resists his enthusiasm.

Scene 57 of 202 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Laroche
Orlean

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 35 min into a 1:57 film

The story so farBefore scene 57

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.
Scene 31
Donald’s rivalry and affection give Charlie a living counterpoint to his isolated view of himself.
Just before
Scene 54
At the orchid show, Charlie sees women rather than flowers as Orlean describes people’s consuming passion for orchids.
Scene 55
Teenage Laroche photographs an orchid with his mother and continues his count toward cataloguing every Florida species.
Scene 56
Charlie tells his therapist he wants to be loved for himself, then catches himself staring at her body.
Scene 57
This scene

57INT. SHOW HALL - DAY

Crowded with orchid lovers. Noisy chatter and calliope music. Elaborate displays include orchids on a ferris wheel, plastic clowns, and a booth that looks like a circus big top.

LAROCHE

Once you get the sickness, it takes over

your life. I started out just

photographing 'em. Now look at me.

(dramatic pause)

It'll happen to you. You'll see.

ORLEAN

I don't think so. I'm not prone to --

Laroche runs over to a flower.

LAROCHE

Angraecum sesquipedale! Beauty! God!

Darwin wrote about this one. Charles

Darwin? Evolution guy? Hello?

ORLEAN

(annoyed)

I know who Darwin is.