The overturned car scene was just the beginning of the long shoot. Immediately after, numerous shots followed for David Fincher, guiding how to handle the next segments of the film. It was two days of long filming sessions lasting until nightfall, in absolute calm, where Helena figured out the role she had to play. And although she would deny it, her time as an actress had taught her to perfect every aspect of her work.
-It seems complicated to act with so much fanfare, - David Fincher remarked, noticing it was already 2 a.m. He was under pressure to capture the dawn shots, which required the entire crew to wake up at that hour. To his displeasure, he was so restless that he couldn't sleep and woke up an hour early to start filming. With a small lamp accompanying his thoughts, he tried to close his eyes for a moment, but sleep eluded him, and now it seemed he had nowhere to rest.
-It looks complicated. What do I have to do in the next few days? - David said, taking a cup of coffee that would help him brace for the next 24 hours. A sleepless day was not unfamiliar to him, but in the upcoming twenty days, it was somewhat calculated. At the time filming began, he still had time to start his recordings.
-Let's be ready. I want to shoot a good sunset,- David Fincher said, now seeing the actors prepared for filming. Bad luck that they had to wait until dawn.
The editing team arrived with such diligence, an hour early, and each one did a great job that involved multiple tasks. Of course, it was thanks to their work that the sunset was perfectly timed and positioned.
-Alright, let's get started. Let's not waste time. There are several things we need to film ahead of schedule,- David Fincher said.
For Billy, it was pure torture. In the blink of an eye, he had to perform. If for the technicians it was torture, for the actors it was like a strange beginning where only cold water provided a possible and allowed awakening, so nothing slipped from their hands. At least afterward, he could draw and take a well-deserved bubble bath to help relax his muscles and give him a proper welcome.
-We're ready, -were Edward Norton's words, who seemed not to have slept all day.
Billy took a deep breath. Filming was always elusive and strange. It was very uncommon for directors to shoot each section in order; instead, they filmed disconnected scenes. For example, the entire building was shot last, so scenes from the first and last rooms were filmed in a confusing order. You never really know if a movie is good until it's finished — unless, of course, you have a sharp sense of how a film is shot. Even when they try to follow an order, it's impossible to tell which shot belongs to which part of the movie.
-I have everything needed to wrap up filming, -Alex McDowal, the editor in charge, said, and it could be said that his age kept him from rising to a higher position in terms of influence.
-Scene 95, take 1. -
CLOSE-UP: Jack's head jerks back as he wakes up abruptly. He looks around, trying to focus his vision...
JACK'S POV: Footprints in the sawdust on the floor, from where his body was dragged to where he is now.
CLOSE-UP: Jack tries to make sense of it. He turns his head...
TYLER'S HAND lifts the gun and places it in Jack's mouth. Jack freezes, looks around...
CUT BACK TO:
Tyler sits on Jack's lap. Tyler holds the gun in Jack's mouth, wrapping an arm around him. They are remodeling this enormous room. Tyler and Jack sit near windows that offer a spectacular view of the city.
Tyler checks his watch.
TYLER: One minute.
JACK (V.O.): I think this is where we come in.
TYLER (looking out the window): This is the beginning. We're at ground zero. Maybe you should say a few words to mark the occasion.
JACK: i... ann...iinn... ff...nnyin... Jack pulls his tongue to the corner of his mouth around the barrel.
JACK (still distorted): I still don't think about anything.
Tyler checks his watch again.
TYLER: This is getting exciting.
Jack turns to look down: 31 floors.
TYLER: Look at what we've achieved. (checks watch) Thirty seconds.
(looks out the window) From these windows, we'll see the economic collapse. One step closer to global balance. Glad you're here with me. Tyler watches the horizon, whistles along to the music, waiting.
JACK (distorted): Can't you cancel it...?
TYLER: It's not in our hands. (checks watch) That's it.
JACK: Please...
TYLER: Fifteen seconds. Can you see clearly?
10... 9... 8... Tyler looks through the windows at the surrounding buildings, excited. Jack closes his eyes, desperate.
TYLER: 5... 4... 3... 2...
Through the window, the horizon remains unchanged. Nothing. A long beat. A very dark grimace crosses Tyler's face. Jack opens his eyes. More waiting. Tyler looks genuinely surprised, angry.
TYLER: What the hell...?
JACK: Paraffin.
TYLER: What?
JACK: Paraffin. Your happy gang mixed nitro with paraffin. I saw it floating in the bomb.
JACK: They must have run out of Epsom salts. Paraffin is, at best, questionable.
Tyler stands up, removes the gun from Jack's mouth, and starts pacing. Jack rubs his sore cheek and allows himself a smile.
TYLER: Damn it! Damn it!
JACK: Not exactly going as planned.
TYLER: Do we have to do everything ourselves?!
Tyler stops and lets out a sigh of frustration. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a walkie-talkie.
TYLER: (into walkie-talkie) ... Code name Rooster. Access code, first strike... Jack's eyes widen.
JACK: NO...
TYLER: (into walkie-talkie) Proceed with remote detonation.
Jack jumps and tackles Tyler. The gun falls. Jack repeatedly elbows Tyler in the face and backs away... Jack grabs the gun, turns, and points it. Tyler stands up, sees the gun, annoyed. Jack stands.
TYLER: Didn't we already do this?
Jack FIRES TWICE. The bullets pass through Tyler. Tyler's eyes roll back, he throws the walkie-talkie to the ground and STEPS ON IT, CRUSHING IT.
JACK: (pointing) How did you do that?! You're a damn product of my imagination... you're in a psychogenic fugue state...
TYLER: Screw that, maybe you're my hallucination. Jack hesitates, pointing at Tyler's feet. There's no walkie-talkie there. Jack looks down and sees the walkie-talkie CRUSHED under his foot.
JACK: Oh... God... Jack holds his head, walking desperately.
JACK: Why... why... why...?
TYLER: Why what?
JACK: Why can't I get rid of you? Why can't I just wish you away?
TYLER: You need me.
JACK: No, no, I don't need you.
(pause)
Thank you, truly. Thanks, but I don't need you anymore.
TYLER: Look, I can be selfish, I know.
(pause)
I'm not blind to my flaws...
JACK: Nooo, please...
Jack leans against a window, numb and tired.
TYLER: From now on, we'll share Marla. We've spent too much time apart...
JACK: ... no, no, no...
TYLER: No more running without you. From now on, we do it together.
JACK: Why are you doing this?!
TYLER: I do it for us.
JACK: Please understand... I've gotten everything I can out of this, Tyler.
TYLER: (gruff) If I leave, you'll go right back to where I found you...
JACK: I swear on my life, I won't...
TYLER: You will. You know you will.
Jack looks at Tyler, tears in his eyes, and lowers his head. Looks at the gun in his hand...
TYLER: Can you live with that?
Jack stares at the gun for a long moment... then... Jack raises the gun and puts it to his mouth. Tyler tilts his head.
TYLER: What are you doing?
JACK: What have you left me?
TYLER: Why do you want to do that? Why put the gun in your mouth?
JACK: Not in my mouth. In ours.
Tyler is calm.
TYLER: This is interesting.
Tyler smiles gratefully, slowly steps forward, and stands very close to Jack.
TYLER: Why do you keep this up, Ikea boy?
JACK: It's the only way to get rid of you...
Jack cocks the gun.
TYLER: I see you feel it strongly. I feel it strongly too. (pause)
Hello, you and me. (pause) Friends again?
Their gazes lock, unblinking. Long silence.
JACK: Do something for me.
TYLER: What?
JACK: Thank something.
TYLER: What?
JACK: Look at me...
TYLER: What?
JACK: My eyes are open.
EXTREME SLOW MOTION:
Jack's finger pulls the trigger...
KABLAM! — Jack's cheeks puff with gas. His eyes bulged. Blood flows from his head. The window behind him shatters. Smoke escapes from his mouth and tear ducts. SPEED RETURNS to normal as glass falls behind Jack... Tyler stands amid the gun smoke, eyes glazed, sniffing the air...
TYLER: What's that smell...?
Jack collapses to the ground... Tyler falls... Tyler hits the floor. The back of Tyler's head explodes, revealing blood, skull, and brain. Suddenly, a group of space monkeys bursts into the room, advancing toward Jack. Tyler's body has disappeared.
TALL SPACE MONKEY: Are you okay, sir...?!
Jack trembles, holding his head; he has an irregular hole in his cheek. Bleeding heavily, but alive.
JACK: I'm fine...
Jack looks at the Space Monkeys, trying to focus his eyes. Two Space Monkeys enter with Marla. One points a gun at her as she struggles.
SHORT SPACE MONKEY: Are you sure? You look terrible, sir! What happened?
JACK: All good.
-cut. -
Edward sighed, a long scene in which he had to be made up to create a new illusion, and take this scene in continuity. They approached Edward to apply makeup — perhaps the last image Billy had of the entire remaining filming process. A true shame he wasn't surprised this film would become a cinema classic, later regarded as a cult masterpiece in the future.
...
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