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1
Our story begins in 1965, on a hot afternoon in August.
FADE IN EXT. IOWA LANDSCAPE - DA
Rolling green hills, lush farmland, vast open space. Not a house or sign of life in sight. On a long dusty road, a TRUCK
is driving across the screen. Clouds of dirt follow in its tracks -- its motor, the only sound we hear.
INT. TRUCK - DAY
FRANCESCA JOHNSON is sitting in the front seat of the pick-up truck. Her expression is distant. Her eyes are sad, as if
hiding a burden she can hardly bear. Her husband, RICHARD JOHNSON, is driving.
RICHARD
You feeling better Franny?
FRANCESCA
Yes. I'm fine. It's just this heat I think.
He nods, satisfied. He turns on the radio as the VOICE OF DINAH WASHINGTON sings a bluesy, haunting love song, "I'LL
CLOSE MY EYES."
DINAH WASHINGTON
(SINGS)
2
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DAY
Carolyn steps out of the doorway and heads for the car, out of which exit her brother Michael and his country girl wife
BETTY, a stout buxom chatterbox. Both boast Florida tans and fashion styles.
MICHAEL
(to Carolyn)
Explain to me again why we didn't do this in Des Moines in an air conditioned office?
CAROLYN
Mom's orders.
MICHAEL
Lawyer here?
CAROLYN
(nods)
I have some sandwich fixings if you're hungry.
BETTY
(proudly)
No, we just had lunch at the hotel with my brother and his new wife. She told me all the dirt. I forgot how interesting things can get around here. It was so good to see them. The last time we visited they were in Europe. He is doing so well. He ordered champagne. For lunch! I nearly died.
MICHAEL
I nearly died when we split the bill.
BETTY
Michael doesn't understand. People who make the kind of money my brother makes don't carry money on them. They keep it all in various accounts.
MICHAEL
Then we should have had lunch at the bank.
Carolyn tries not to laugh. Betty shoots him a dirty look, then stops to take in the house and its surroundings.
BETTY
Boy. It sure has been a long time.
MICHAEL
(correcting her)
We were here two Christmases ago.
BETTY
Well, that's a long time.
MICHAEL
It's not that long.
BETTY
(suddenly upset)
Well, why don't I just say black so you can say white!
(to Carolyn)
Don't be surprised to find your brother hasn't changed an iota. He hardly ever talks and when he does it's in that tone! You should have heard him at lunch -- not two words until the bill came and then he says, "Worth every penny."
MICHAEL
(defensive)
SO!
BETTY
(angry)
You said it in that tone! Like you were angry at me, my brother, at the world for forcing you to eat a nice lunch!
MICHAEL
Oh Jesus.
BETTY
(staring to cry)
I simply can not stand that tone!
CAROLYN
(sympathetically)
Come inside. You're just tired from
the trip.
She comforts Betty who indulges in the attention.
BETTY
I am so sick and tired of apologizing
and not knowing what I've done!
CAROLYN
I'm sure you haven't done anything.
Have some iced tea. How are the kids?
MICHAEL
He dropped them off at Betty's mom.
Where's Steve?
CAROLYN
(uncomfortably)
He's not coming.
Betty suddenly stops crying and abrasively focuses on Carolyn's problems.
BETTY
Aw, is he still cheating on you, hon?
Carolyn suddenly hoses sympathy for her.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
The lawyer hands Michael a document.
LAWYER
Just sign here as having received the contents from the safe deposit box.
(Michael does)
And this one, which clears the bank of all further responsibility fo0r the contents.
Betty whispers to Carolyn.
BETTY
This is kind of exciting. You think we'll find out your mother had secret millions lying around?
Carolyn smiles weakly. Michael hands back the papers.
LAWYER
All right. Why don't we begin.
He takes out Francesca's Last Will and Testament.
LAWYER (cont'd)
Your mother has been interred at Lakeside Funeral Home until arrangements can be made.
MICHAEL
(to Carolyn)
I thought everything WAS arranged.
CAROLYN
Well, there's a problem.
MICHAEL
What problem?
LAWYER
Your mother left explicit instructions that she wished to be cremated.
MICHAEL
Cremated?!
BETTY
Eeeww!
CAROLYN
I know. I don't understand it either.
MICHAEL
When did she decide this?
LAWYER
(reading will)
Apparently just before her death.
MICHAEL
Well, that's crazy. I don't know anybody who gets cremated.
BETTY
My Jewish friend's grandmother did.
MICHAEL
Well, no one in my family did! Dad bought cemetery plots at Oak Ridge. One for him, one for mom.
LAWYER
It clearly states in the will --
MICHAEL
I don't care what it says! Maybe Mama was delirious, you know. She didn't know what she was saying. If she wanted to be cremated, why the hell did she let dad buy two plots, huh?
LAWYER
Well, she was very specific. She wanted her ashes to be thrown over Roseman Bridge.
MICHAEL
WHAT!
BETTY
How bizarre!
CAROLYN
Mr. Peterson, are you sure mama wrote all this?
LAWYER
Well, it was notarized, and witnessed by a Mrs. Lucy Delaney. Maybe you can ask her.
MICHAEL
Who the hell is Lucy Delaney?
CAROLYN
I remember a Mrs. Delaney but Mama told me years ago she died.
MICHAEL
Well, I don't care if it's legal or not, we're not cremating her and throwing her all over some bridge where we can't even go visit her because she's going to be blown all over the place like an ashtray.
BETTY
Not to mention people driving over her and doggies doing their business --
MICHAEL
(interrupting)
We're not doing it! I'm not even sure it's Christian.
BETTY
Maybe it's an Italian thing. Their mother was Italian.
MICHAEL
Doesn't matter. Move on.
The women dare not object. The lawyer raises his eyebrows and continues:
LAWYER
Well, we'll come back to that. Shall we open the box?
JUMP CUT TO:
3
MOMENTS LATER
C.U. SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX
A key is inserted and the lid is opened. There are many papers, deeds, et. Michael begins sorting through these.
Carolyn notices a manila envelope addressed to her mother, postmarked 1965. She opens it up to find TWO LETTERS and A
PHOTOGRAPH -- FRANCESCA standing NEAR A COVERED BRIDGE, her hair wind blown, her expression serene, beautiful and sad.
She wears a RED DRESS with buttons down the front.
CAROLYN
Michael, look -- I've never seen this
picture of mama. Have you?
Betty and Michael look over her shoulder. He shakes "no."
CAROLYN (cont'd)
It was in this envelope from 1965.
BETTY
She's not wearing a bra.
(takes bridge photo)
This is Roseman Bridge in case
anyone's interested.
Interested yes, but no one thinks anything of it. Michael returns to the other papers. Betty takes the photograph for
further examination. Carolyn opens one of the letters and begins to read.
The following dialogue is heard OS, as CAMERA ANGLES ON CAROLYN reading one of the letters:
BETTY (O.S.)
It's a beautiful picture of her.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
(to lawyer)
Why are there two deeds here?
LAYER (O.S.)
One of for the original parcel your father bought and this one is for the additional acres he purchased in '59.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
And this?
LAWYER (O.S.)
Those are bills of sale from the equipment your mother sold in ..
(CONTINUES O.S.)
Throughout their conversation, we focus on Carolyn as she reads and her expression sinks into one of shock and onfusion. She flips to the last page of the letter to read who it is from. She can't believe her eyes.
BETTY (O.S.)
What's that?
Carolyn jumps a little, so engrossed in her discovery. She lies.
CAROLYN
Oh, just a old letter from a friend.
BETTY
(laughs)
No treasure maps, huh?
CAROLYN
(laughs nervously)
No.
Betty starts inspecting knit knacks around the house she might be able to take. Carolyn looks to Michael.
CAROLYN (cont'd)
Michael.
MICHAEL
(reading documents)
Yeah.
CAROLYN
Michael.
MICHAEL
(irritated)
What?!
CAROLYN
Come here a minute.
Michael crosses impatiently to Carolyn. Carolyn looks around to the others, then guides him OS into the kitchen for privacy. He protests.
MICHAEL
What? Where are we going?
They exit. Alone with the impatient lawyer, Betty examines a vase as she pumps him for info.
BETTY
Did she say anything in there about me? Leaving me anything in particular?
LAWYER
No.
Betty prattles on as she examines each item, much to the lawyer's dismay, hiding her resentment and hurt.
BETTY
I didn't expect so. She never liked me. It's okay. I always knew. Thought we married too young. Nobody broke his arm -- that's what I said but you know mothers and their sons. Also, she never liked the fact of us moving to Florida although what's where the opportunities were. Couldn't deny that. Suppose we should have visited more but you know she hardly ever made an effort to come to Tampa. Not even to see her grandchildren. She was a cold woman. They say Italians are hot-blooded but not her. She was cool as ice.
(picks up a candlestick)
She leaves these to anyone?
Michael and Carolyn re-enter the living room. Michael's expression now matches Carolyn in disbelief.
BETTY (cont'd)
What's going on?
MICHAEL
Um... we were just wondering how it might be better if me and Carolyn went over the stuff by ourselves. Not keep you two waiting around. I'll contact your office about the legal work.
Grateful, the lawyer packs up to leave.
BETTY
I don't mind waiting.
MICHAEL
Well, there's a lot of boring stuff to do. Lists of people we have to write to. Find mama's relatives addresses in Italy -- stuff like that.
BETTY
Well, I can help.
MICHAEL
I said NO!
That came out a bit aggressively. Betty is hurt.
MICHAEL (cont'd)
Why don't you go to your mothers. Or back to the hotel. Sit in some air conditioning. Take a bath.
BETTY
(near tears)
I do not need instructions from you to bathe!
(gets her bag)
I knew you'd do this! I knew I'd come all the way here and be shut out as usual! I came to be here for you! I didn't have to come!
(genuinely hurt)
Lord knows I was never much welcome in this house before. Apparently dead or alive, nothing's changed.
CAROLYN
Aw, Betty.
Carolyn feels badly for her. An impatient Michael refuses sympathy. Embarrassed, Betty starts to exit then stops at
the mantle.
BETTY
Carolyn -- you want these candlesticks?
CAROLYN
No. You can have them.
Betty grabs them both and exits. Carolyn looks at him disapprovingly. Michael takes the letter from her hand.
MICHAEL
Now what's this about?
CUT TO:
4
INT. KITCHEN - LATER
Sitting at the kitchen table, Carolyn is in the middle of reading the letter to Michael.
CAROLYN
"-- going over and over in my mind every detail, every moment of our time together and I ask myself, "What happened to me in Madison County?" I struggle to put it together in a way that allows me to continue knowing we're on separate roads. But then I look through the lens of my camera, and you're there. I start to write an article and I find myself writing it to you. It's clear to me now we have been moving towards each other, towards those four days, all our lives --
MICHAEL
(rises)
Goddamn sonofabitch! I don't want to hear anymore! Sonofabitch! Burn the damn thing! I don't want to hear it! Throw it away!
arolyn continues reading silently. Michael's curiosity gets the best of him:
MICHAEL
What's he saying now?
CAROLYN
Well, he just gets on about how if mama ever needed him, she could find him through the National Geographic magazine. He as a photographer. He promises not to write again. Then all it says is...
(beat)
I love you... Robert.
MICHAEL
Robert! Jesus! I'll kill him.
CAROLYN
That would be some trick. He's already dead. That's what this other letter is.
(takes letter and skims)
From his attorney. He left most of his things to mama and requested...
(she stops)
MICHAEL
What?
CAROLYN
That he be cremated and his ashes thrown on Roseman Bridge.
MICHAEL
DAMN HIM! I knew mama wouldn't have thought of that herself. It was some damn perverted... photographic mind influencing her! When did the bastard die?
CAROLYN
'82.
MICHAEL
Wait a minute! That was thirty years after daddy. Do you think...?
CAROLYN
I don't know. I'm completely in the dark here. That's what I get for moving away.
MICHAEL
This happened way before we both got married. I... I can't believe it.
(then, innocently)
You think she had sex with him?
Carolyn cannot believe he is this dense.
CAROLYN
(sarcastic)
My Lord. It must feel real nice living inside your head with Peter Pan and the Easter Bunny.
MICHAEL
Don't talk to me like that. She was my mother for Christsakes. And now I find out she was... She was a --!
CAROLYN
Don't say that!
MICHAEL
Well, what am I supposed to think?
CAROLYN
I can't believe she never told me? We spoke at least once a week. How could she do that?
