Love at First Sight: The King and Hattie

I had to rely on AI to adapt to the Short Story Format which is what I intend.

I just thought it might be fun to review this AI moviemaking software. In terms of the screenplay below…it sucks, I will be working with AI prompts to get it better. Screenplay writing is its own science.

FADE IN:

INT. MOVIE THEATER – EVENING – 1939

A lavish but empty theater, save for KING EDWARD slouched in his seat, surrounded by a fortress of popcorn boxes and candy wrappers. On screen, GONE WITH THE WIND plays.

In the projection booth, two PROJECTIONISTS and the THEATER MANAGER crowd around their peephole like gossipping housewives.

PROJECTIONIST 1
(stage whisper)
Fifth time this week! Does His Majesty have a thing for Vivien Leigh or what?

THEATER MANAGER
(counting money)
He’s the King of England. If he wants to watch it a thousand times, we’ll just keep cranking that projector until it explodes.

YOUNG PROJECTIONIST
Can’t blame him. Look at those eyes!

Below, the King sighs deeply – not during Vivien Leigh’s scenes, but whenever HATTIE MCDANIEL appears. He mouths her lines like a teenage fan.

The Theater Manager’s jaw drops as realization hits.

THEATER MANAGER
(in exaggerated French)
Mon Dieu! Le Roi a un coup de foudre!

The Projectionist, startled, drops an armful of film canisters. They clatter down the stairs like thunder, each bounce punctuated by increasingly dramatic French cursing.

INT. PARISIAN CABARET – NIGHT

Red velvet everywhere. On stage, APACHE DANCERS perform their aggressive routine. At a private table, King Edward and HATTIE watch, both wincing and occasionally peeking through their fingers.

HATTIE
(to Edward)
And they call this entertainment? I’ve seen boxing matches more romantic.

KING EDWARD
(grinning mischievously)
What if we learned it? Every Saturday?

HATTIE
Your Highness, that would be illegal in both our countries, probably several others, and might start an international incident.

KING EDWARD
(eyes twinkling)
Perfect! I’ll book the lessons immediately.

INT. DANCE STUDIO – DAY

MONSIEUR POULARD, a choreographer who makes Lumière from Beauty and the Beast look subdued, prances around King Edward and Hattie. His ASSISTANT fans himself dramatically in the corner.

MONSIEUR POULARD
(twirling)
No, no, NO! Hattie, you must be like ze wind! Ze passionate wind! Ze wind that makes ze ladies lose their hats!

He demonstrates by spinning until he nearly falls over.

MONSIEUR POULARD
(to Edward)
And you, Your Majesty – ze bull! Ze strong bull! Ze bull who has perhaps had too much espresso!

The music starts. Hattie and Edward dance awkwardly until she stops abruptly.

HATTIE
Hold up! I got a better idea…

She grabs control, turning the Apache dance into something between the Charleston and professional wrestling. She ends by dramatically dipping the King.

ASSISTANT
(fanning faster)
Ooh, la… LA!

MONSIEUR POULARD
(wiping away a tear)
Magnifique! We have created either a masterpiece or a diplomatic crisis!

INT. CAFÉ DE LA PAIX – DAY

Hattie and BUTTERFLY sit at a table. Through the window, NAZI SOLDIERS march past, doing their best to look menacing but occasionally tripping over their own boots.

BUTTERFLY
Girl, you didn’t!

HATTIE
Oh, but I did!

BUTTERFLY
You know this makes you both criminals?

HATTIE
(grinning)
Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse! Besides, you should see him attempt the Charleston.

EXT. JOSEPHINE BAKER’S HOUSE – EVENING

A mob of REPORTERS and NAZI OFFICIALS crowd outside. A Rolls-Royce pulls up like a tipsy whale, depositing an even tipsier CLARK GABLE and VIVIEN LEIGH.

REPORTER
Mr. Gable! Your thoughts on the King and Miss McDaniel?

CLARK
(attempting dignity)
Well, y’see, what most people don’t know about love is… A lot of people don’t know this, but my…

VIVIEN
(pressing her entire hand to his face)
Shhhh-hoooosh! You’re about to say something profound and we’re way too drunk for that!

CLARK
(muffled behind her hand)
Love is Love!

VIVIEN
(to the crowd)
SOMEBODY WRITE THAT DOWN! Put it on a shirt! Put it on ALL the shirts!

The crowd falls silent as King Edward and Hattie emerge. She’s stunning in white Dior, he’s dapper in his tux. They share a kiss that makes several Nazi officials drop their notepads and one fan himself with his cap.

As they’re being arrested, Clark turns to Vivien.

CLARK
(still drunk)
Should we help?

VIVIEN
Darling, I can barely help myself stand up right now.

FADE TO:

INT. BUCKINGHAM PALACE – DAY – FORTY YEARS LATER

SUPER: “Surprisingly, everyone got over it pretty quickly. Turns out love actually is love. Who knew? The British Empire didn’t collapse, the world didn’t end, and they lived happily ever after. Take that, historical accuracy!”

FADE OUT.

THE END