New York City, 1989.
A city pulsing with excess, neon lights, and whispered secrets. At the center of it all is Julian Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire throwing decadent parties in a high-rise penthouse above Manhattan's elite. Some say he's the hei...
WILLIAM MCMAHON (70s), a forgotten academic, scribbles into a journal with trembling hands. His room is lined with faded articles and photos-all connected to Jay Gatsby. On the wall: a blown-up NYT obituary for Nick Carraway.
The door opens.
Eliza Carraway enters quietly, holding Nick's journal.
ELIZA You wrote to him. My uncle. Do you remember?
William stares at her. Then starts laughing-a hollow, bitter sound.
WILLIAM (he pauses... eyes wide) You saw him, didn't you? You saw-
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
⸻
INT. ELIZA'S APARTMENT - EARLY MORNING
Eliza wakes up on the couch surrounded by notes, clippings, and Nick's writings. There's a knock. It's her roommate JUNO WELLS, a fast-talking, queer, aspiring fashion designer with a conspiracy podcast on the side.
JUNO Please tell me you're not going full Zodiac wall.
ELIZA I think Gatsby was involved in a cover-up going back decades.
JUNO (half-joking) Cool. Want coffee or tinfoil?
But Eliza holds up a photo: Julian standing next to a senator... from 1959.
Juno stares. Stops joking.
⸻
INT. BUCHANAN TOWER - RENEE'S OFFICE
Renee meets with ALISTAIR BLACK, a sleek legal enforcer with ties to blackmail rings.
RENEE Gatsby is dangerous because he believes his myth. (beat) I don't care if he's real, a clone, or a vampire-break the legend.
Alistair opens a file: surveillance of Eliza.
ALISTAIR She's stirring the ashes. (leans in) Do I snuff the spark?
RENEE (coldly) Not yet. Let's see what ghosts she wakes.
⸻
INT. GATSBY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
Julian hosts a "quiet" salon: poets, models, Wall Street wolves.
In the corner, Leo approaches with a heavy look.
LEO The girl. Carraway. She's asking questions.
JULIAN (gently sipping bourbon) Let her ask. People don't want the truth. (smiles faintly) They want Gatsby.
⸻
INT. ST. LUKE'S - BACK HALLWAY - LATER
Eliza sneaks into the closed wing of the psychiatric hospital. She finds Room 7. Inside: dusty boxes with Nick's name.
