April 24, 1998
WONDER BOYS
Screenplay by Steve Kloves
Based on novel by Michael Chabon
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
Professor GRADY TRIPP, 45, novelist, pothead and insomniac, teaches an advanced writing course at a Pittsburgh University where WORDFEST WEEKEND is beginning. Grady’s 3rd wife, EMILY, has left him that morning. His best friend and book editor TERRY CRABTREE, a promiscuous gay close to losing his job, arrives in town with a transvestite he met on the plane, ANTONIA SLOVIAK, in tow. They attend the opening night cocktail party held by WALTER GASKELL, the head of English department, and his wife SARA, the Chancellor, who is having an affair with Grady and informs him that she is pregnant.
Grady introduces his prize student, JAMES LEER, 19, a depressed genius and pathological liar, to editor Crabtree. Sexy student HANNAH GREEN attracts all the men at the party. She rents a room from Grady and has a crush on him. When the Gaskell’s dog, POE, attacks Grady’s ankle, James shoots him with a small pistol. Together, Grady and James put the corpse in Grady’s car. At the opening ceremonies, Walter introduces famous author Q, Grady passes out in the hallway, and Crabtree dumps Antonia and picks up James. Grady drives Antonia home and gets drunken James away from Crabtree. A crazy, drunken man, VERNON, says Grady’s car is his. When Grady retrieves James’ backpack, he finds James’ manuscript and Gaskell’s prize Marilyn Monroe wedding jacket. In the morning, OFFICER PUPCIK shows up at Grady’s door inquiring about the dog and jacket. Grady, with hungover James along for the ride, goes to his in-laws’ house to find Emily. She’s not there, so he calls Sara and tells her he’s going to tell Emily everything in hopes of a reconciliation. Emily’s parents, DR. HANK and IRENE WINTERS return home, without Emily who is in Philadelphia seeing DOROTHY ASHBY, her neurologist college roommate. Grady and James stop for coffee and Grady secretly calls James’ parents, FRED and AMANDA LEER, to come pick him up. Reluctantly, James leaves with them, forgetting his backpack.
Grady reads James’ novel “The Love Parade.” Then, he returns home to find a party going on and Hannah reading his own manuscript. He learns the police found blood and suspect James of shooting Poe. Grady and Crabtree sneak James away from his parents and leave Poe’s corpse hidden under his bedclothes. At home, Crabtree beds James, Hannah sleeps naked, and Grady calls Walter, telling him that he loves Sara. Furious, Walter demands a meeting Monday morning. Later, Sara shows up, demanding the jacket, but Grady’s car has been stolen and it was in the back seat. Officer Pupcik shows up to take James to Walter. Crabtree tells James he wants to publish his book. Grady and Crabtree retrieve his car and jacket from VERNON and OONA, but lose Grady’s manuscript. Grady realizes his manuscript was crap anyway. After the closing ceremonies, Grady faints again from all his anxiety and lack of sleep. Sara rescues him After leaving the hospital and deciding to change his lifestyle, he and Sara decide to have the baby and be together.
Summary Criticism: Hysterical and sophisticated, this outstanding screenplay portrays original characters involved in extreme human situations.
Wonder Boys (2000) - imdb
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