Lost scenes

Larry's vision

Larry Darrell journeys to India to spend time at a Gompa in the Himalayas. Whilst meditating in the mountains, Larry appears to attain a state of enlightenment or 'Nirvana'.

The original script called for a scene more suited to Ghostbusters than The Razor's Edge.

To see this in context we need to see another cut from the film in which Larry converses with the Lama before heading off into the mountains for his experience. There is very little dialogue between Larry and the Lama simply because Chip Chip, who played the Lama could not speak English and had to practice continually to perfect the few lines he did have.

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SCENE 93K - THE VALLEY BELOW THE MONASTERY (LIKIR GOMPA)

(© John Byrum and Bill Murray)

Larry treks down from the monastery to a small waterfall on the valley floor just below. The venerable old citadel looms in the background. Above it, the snowy peaks of the silent Himalayas brood. The Lama is washing beneath the falls. Nearby, a pack and bundle of clothes lie waiting on the ground.

THE LAMA
It is a beautiful day.

LARRY
Yes.

THE LAMA
Different than the day you came to us.
The weather then was, I believe, inclement.

LARRY
I don't remember.

THE LAMA
You have studied hard. You have worked hard.

LARRY
I've been very happy here.

THE LAMA
And the world you left behind, Do you miss it?

LARRY
It seems a long way from here

THE LAMA
As though it were an illusion?

LARRY
I was reading a book last week.
About the nature of illusion. It said that...

THE LAMA
(interrupting)
...ah books. They are my weakness, too. Do you see
this water in which I bathe? It comes from the part
of the mountains that cannot be seen. Once a year,
I take my favourite books and climb to it's source.

He gestures up at the highest peak above the monastery. It looks mysterious, enshrouded by clouds. Larry stares at it.

THE LAMA
There is a hut at the top. It is like being away from
the earth. I read, I meditate. The visions flow like water.
I would like you to go there, Larry. Your books have been packed.

He gestures at the pack. Larry crosses to it and looks inside. The pack contains a dozen books, papers and pens.

LARRY
What do you want me to learn?

THE LAMA
I want you to learn more about books.

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Larry then ventures into the mountains to find the hut. It is here that we see Larry 'learn about books'. In the film, his vision is conveyed purely by Murray's facial expressions but in the script a slightly more 'trippy' alternative was planned.

John Byrum says:

"What was important in that scene was the burning of the books. We didn't have the money to do what was originally written - we just had to hope that Bill could just show it in his face and deeds".

SCENE 110

Suddenly, the WIND SHRIEKS EERILY. The candle flame flickers violently. There is a strange fluttering light as a SPECTRAL PRESENCE takes from in the little hut. Already half gone from hypothermia, Larry's eyes open as the spectre becomes the lama.

Larry stares as the strange apparition slowly reaches toward him with his hand. The hand grabs the top of the book resting sleepily in Larry's grip. The book bursts into flames. The lama dissapears.

Larry stares at the burning book. He drops it to the floor. It makes a good fire. He huddles over it, basking in its heat. Larry reaches for another book from the pile; ignites it page by page from the glow of the first one. He is beginning to grow warmer.