More often than not, the final product shown in movie theaters is a far cry from the screenwriter’s initial intentions. Only The Jest has a peek at the original movie endings; up this week…

Se7en

Starring Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow & Morgan Freeman

EXT.  MARSHLANDS, INDUSTRIAL ROAD -- EARLY EVENING

The deliveryman takes a brown package, about a foot square, from
the van.

        DELIVERYMAN
    This guy paid me twenty bucks to
    bring it out here.  He wanted it here at
    exactly seven o'clock.

        SOMERSET
    Put it down.  Put it on the ground.

        DELIVERYMAN
    Okay...

He puts it on the road and backs away, holding up his hands.

Somerset glances into the field to see Doe on his knees with
Mills behind him.  Somerset looks at the package.  Written on
top: DETECTIVE WILLIAM SOMERSET -- HANDLE WITH CARE.

        SOMERSET
            (to deliveryman)
    Go.  Get out of here!

The deliveryman backs off, then scrambles into the van.  Somerset
pulls back his bullet-proof vest and speaks into the mic.

        SOMERSET
    There's a package here.  It's from John Doe.

The van tears away.  Somerset doesn't know what to do.  He walks
around the package, reholsters his gun.

        SOMERSET
    I don't know... I don't know...

He looks out towards Doe and Mills.

INT.  HELICOPTER -- EARLY EVENING

California waits, listening, looking into the blood-red sky.

        SOMERSET (.o.)
            (through headset)
    I'm going to have to open it.

Somerset pulls his switchblade, clicks it open.

He cuts across the top of the box, hands shaking, cuts quickly.
He pulls the box open, pulls at some bubble-wrap inside.

INT.  POLICE HELICOPTER -- EARLY EVENING

The pilot grits his teeth.

        PILOT
            (into helmet mic)
    Let's go!

        CALIFORNIA
    We are going to wait!

California listens.

        SOMERSET (v.o.)
            (through headset)
    Oh, Christ... oh, Christ...

EXT.  MARSHLANDS, INDUSTRIAL ROAD -- EARLY EVENING

Somerset stumbles backwards, away from the open box.  He leans against
his car for support, holds the back of his hand to his mouth.

        SOMERSET
    No...

ZOOM INSIDE THE BOX TO REVEAL A BIRTHDAY CAKE.

                JOHN DOE/MILLS/PILOT/CALIFORNIA
    Surprise!

            SOMERSET
    I can't believe this.  How'd you guys know?!

                JOHN DOE
    A little birdy told us.  Eat up!  It's ice cream, your favorite.

Somerset shakes his head, laughing.  Mills and John Doe high-five, as we...

                                                            FADE TO:  BLACK.

                                  THE END.