(Francesca smiles)
Whereabouts in Italy?
FRANCESCA
Small town on the Eastern side no one's ever heard of called Bari.
ROBERT
Oh yeah, Bari. I've been there.
FRANCESCA
(surprised)
No, really?
ROBERT
Oh, yeah. Actually, I had an assignment in Greece and I had to go through Bari to get the boat at Brindisi. But it looked so pretty I got off and stayed for a few days. Breathtaking country.
Francesca is overcome by the idea of such freedom.
FRANCESCA
You just... got off the train because it looked pretty?
ROBERT
Yeah. Excuse me a sec.
He reaches over with one arm, brushing slightly against her thigh. He opens the glove compartment and pulls out a pack of Camels and a Zippo lighter.
ROBERT
Like one?
Francesca, who doesn't usually smoke, accepts.
FRANCESCA
Sure.
She takes a cigarette out of the pack. Robert drops the pack and, with the same hand, flicks open the Zippo and ignites it. Francesca leans over. The road is bumpy and a breeze blows through both windows.
She cups her hands around his to shelter the flame. She feels his skin for a brief moment.
She sits back and enjoys the ride and her cigarette as Robert lights up. Silence. They drive.
ROBERT
So, how long you've been living here?
FRANCESCA
Long.
(changes subject)
You just got off the train and stayed without knowing anyone there?
ROBERT
(laughs)
Yeah.
9
EXT. ROSEMAN BRIDGE - DAY
The truck stops. They exit. Robert takes out some equipment.
ROBERT
This won't take long. I'm shooting tomorrow morning. I just need to do some prep work.
FRANCESCA
I don't mind waiting.
He smiles and takes his equipment to the bridge. Francesca slowly follows. She watches his body move. Catching herself, she stops.
Robert sets up a tripod in the small ravine beneath the bridge, pointing a view finder up as he plans his shots. Francesca walks through the bridge, noticing lovers names scrawled on the inside: CATHY & BUDDY 4 EVER... ROSIE AND
HANK TILL THE END OF TIME. Through a crack in one of the wooden planks, Francesca watches like a voyeur as Robert
works. She sees him take out a handkerchief and wipe the sweat off his neck, then inside his shirt and around his chest.
Without knowing where Francesca is, Robert speaks aloud:
ROBERT
Is it always this hot?
Francesca moves quickly away from the plank, like a Peeping Tom who's been caught.
FRANCESCA
This time of year.
ROBERT
Would you do me a favor and go to the truck? Inside that leather bag with the pockets is a package of lens cleaners. Would you grab me one?
Francesca obliges, grateful for something to occupy her.
Inside the truck, she scans for the leather bag. She sees it next to a duffel bag. The bag' zipper is opened. She glimpses inside as Robert's personal things -- clothes, socks, underwear, shaving kit. Life magazines from July and August, one depicting the death of Aldai Stevenson; the other a cover photo of the Watts riots. She grabs the leather bag and opens it.
At the bridge, Francesca looks for Robert in the raving but he is gone. She looks through the bridge to the other end
and sees only the tripod. No Robert. She walks through the bridge and out the other end. She finds Robert bent over,
picking flowers.
FRANCESCA
Oh there you are.
ROBERT
Oh! You caught me.
He rises with a bouquet of wildflowers for her.
ROBERT
Thanks for your help.
Francesca smiles, not knowing how to take this.
ROBERT
Men sill give women flowers, don't they? I mean, as a sign of appreciation? I'm not that out of date, am I?
FRANCESCA
No, not at all --
(suddenly)
except those are poisonous.
ROBERT
WHAT!
He flings the flowers down. He wipes his hands furiously.
FRANCESCA
I'm sorry. I was kidding.
Robert looks at her with a shocked smirk, secretly liking her strange behavior.
FRANCESCA
I'm sorry. I don't know what -- I'm sorry. Really. They're lovely.
She begins picking up the flowers.
ROBERT
(smiling)
Are you by nature a sadistic person?
FRANCESCA
No, I'm not.
(trying not to laugh)
I don't know why I said that. I've been in a very... strange mood all day. I've never done anything like that before. It's... I'm just...
(looking for excuse)
Well, you know, the whole world is just going nuts.
Robert looks at her like she's nuts. Francesca tries to dig herself out of her hole. Robert enjoys offering no help.
FRANCESCA
What with those riots in Los Angeles and people burning draft cards and ... Adlai Stevenson dying last month.
She rises with the flowers. Robert gives her a friendly pat on the arm.
ROBERT
Shouldn't let things get to you so much.
He continues with his work. Francesca expresses relief and embarrassment behind his back.
INT. TRUCK - LATER
Driving back, Francesca sits with her feet up on the dashboard. Robert drives while he fiddles with the radio. All
he can find are country stations.
FRANCESCA
Looking for something in particular? There's not much of a selection.
ROBERT
I found this Chicago station before. Wait a minute...
(he tunes it in)
Here it is.
We hear a BLUES SINGER with a sax arrangement.
FRANCESCA
Oh, that's nice.
ROBERT
Want another cigarette?
FRANCESCA
Sure.
Francesca's having a great time.
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DAY
Robert's truck drives down the road and into the driveway.
ROBERT
Well, thank you for all your help,
Mrs. Johnson.
FRANCESCA
Francesca.
ROBERT
Francesca. Robert.
Francesca nods, as if to say hello and goodbye in the same
moment. She gets out of the car, closes the door, then asks:
FRANCESCA
Would you like some iced tea?
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Robert fiddles with the kitchen radio, tuning in to the
Chicago station. Francesca is making iced tea. Robert sits
back down at the kitchen table.
FRANCESCA
Lemon?
ROBERT
Sure.
With her back to him, Robert never takes his eyes off her.
She turns and crosses to him, with the tea.
ROBERT (cont'd)
Thanks.
Francesca smiles and sips her own. She watches him gulp down
the tea so fast, some of it dribbles down the side of his
face and neck. Francesca finds it sexy. He empties it.
FRANCESCA
Would you like another one?
Robert nods and he pulls out his cigarettes.
ROBERT
Mind if I smoke?
FRANCESCA
(at the sink)
Not at all.
Robert lights up as he watches her fix another iced tea. He watches her slip off one boot, then the other -- never missing a beat of her preparation. He can't help eyeing her body. When she returns, she also has the flowers he picked for her arranged in a Casper the Friendly Ghost jelly glass. She places them on the table and sits.
ROBERT
Sure you want to keep those in the house?
FRANCESCA
I'm so sorry about that. It was rude. I think I just got nervous for some reason.
ROBERT
I thought it was funny.
She likes that.
FRANCESCA
Where are you staying while you're here?
ROBERT
A little place with cabins. The something-Motor Inn. I haven't checked in yet.
FRANCESCA
And how long are you here for?
ROBERT
As long as it takes, I might stay a week. No more I don't think. Where's your family?
FRANCESCA
My husband took the kids to the Illinos State Fair. My daughter's entering a prize steer.
ROBERT
Oh. How old?
FRANCESCA
About a year and a half.
ROBERT
No, your kids.
FRANCESCA
Oh. Michael's 17 and Carolyn's 16.
ROBERT
Must be nice having kids.
Francesca looks at him and FANTASIZES SAYING:
FANTASY:
FRANCESCA
Not any more. It's awful. They're awful. I can't stand them.
END OF FANTASY:
But in reality, Francesca chooses instead to say:
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
They're not kids anymore. Things change.
ROBERT
Everything does. One of the laws of nature. People are always so afraid of change. But if you look at it like it's something you can count on happening, it's actually a comfort. Not many things you can count on for sure.
FRANCESCA
I guess. Except I'm one of the people it frightens.
ROBERT
I doubt that.
FRANCESCA
Why?
ROBERT
Italy to Iowa? I'd call that a change.
FRANCESCA
(explaining)
Richard was in the army. I met him while I was living in Naples. I didn't know where Iowa was. I only cared that it was America. And of course, being with Richard.
ROBERT
What's he like?
10
As Francesca thinks of an answer, she looks over to the entranceway between the kitchen and the front hall and sees:
FANTASY:
Richard standing there in his underwear, reaching over his shoulder.
RICHARD
Franny, could you clean out my boil again?
END OF FANTASY:
Francesca answers Robert, half of her still in fantasy --
FRANCESCA
He's very... clean.
ROBERT
Clean?
FRANCESCA
(catching herself)
No. I mean yes, he's clean but he's also other things. He's a very hard worker. Very honest. Very caring. Gentle. Good father.
ROBERT
And clean.
FRANCESCA
Yes. Very clean.
They drink. Francesca thinks she sounds like an idiot.
ROBERT
So you must like Oiwa, I guess.
Francesca looks at him. She wants to tell the truth, but holds back.
FRANCESCA
It's... uh... uh...
She stops. Robert smiles.
ROBERT
Go ahead. I won't tell anyone.
Surprised, Francesca looks at him oddly -- as if he already knows and is giving her permission.
FRANCESCA
It's...
(tries again)
I...
(finally)
I hate it!
She covers her mouth, like a reflex -- worried someone heard. Robert just smiles and nods.
Francesca is so taken by his understanding and acceptance, she lets the flood gates open, speaking faster than her mind
can keep up --
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
(without a pause)
I hate it! I hate it! I HATE IT! I hate the corn and the dust and the town and the cows and that SMELL that you love! I hate the people. Everybody knows everybody's business, I mean it's nice now and then, they're always there to help out, but that's just it, it's like they're waiting for something awful to happen to help out and when nothing awful is happening, then they just sit around and talk about what is happening which is none of their business. I want to kill them sometimes for how cruel they can be --
Camera begins slowly moving out to a wider angle...
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
-- everybody's talking about poor Mrs. Delaney whose husband is having an affair with that Redfield woman and "isn't it a shame," and "isn't it awful," and the truth is THEY'RE LOVING IT! Poor woman can't even be cheated on without the grocery man knowing about it -- no one respects anyone's privacy. You're not even safe in your own home! They think
they can just walk right into your house because they BAKED you something. It's like they have a secret password and YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM OUT! I live in fear of that door opening and having a peach cobbler shoved at me...
(CONTINUES MOS IF NEEDED)
Throughout this rapid fire monologue, camera has moved to a wide angle as Robert just sits and listens, letting her get it all off her chest. She continues as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM
Francesca is lying on the couch as Robert places a cold cloth on her head. Her "confession" took a lot out offer.
ROBERT
Feeling better?
FRANCESCA
Much.
ROBERT
Is the dizziness gone?
FRANCESCA
I think so.
She sits up. She feels exposed. But also, relieved.
ROBERT
I better go. You sure you're all right?
(she nods)
It's been a pleasure. Sincerely.
FRANCESCA
I feel so embarrassed.
ROBERT
Why? You uncorked a bottle. From what I can tell, I got here just in time. Any later and you'd have made the
front page, running down Main Street naked, smoking Camels out of your butt.
FRANCESCA
(laughs)
But I... We don't even know each other.
ROBERT
(sincerely)
You have no reason to feel ashamed. You haven't said anything you don't have a right to. And if anybody tells you different -- you just send them to me.
She smiles. He turns to exit.
ROBERT (cont'd)
Better get my stuff.
Francesca surprises herself. She doesn't want him to go.
FRANCESCA
Would you like to stay for dinner?
(he turns)
There aren't many choices in town and... anyway, you'd have to eat alone. So would I.
ROBERT
That's very nice of you. I don't get many dinner invitations on the job. It would be a welcome change. Thanks.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - LATER
Francesca rushes in and starts to disrobe, getting ready to shower and change for dinner. She glances out the window and
sees:
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE
Robert is at the water pump. His shirt is off and he is washing himself. (WE INTERCUT THE TWO.)
Francesca finds herself staring, a bit open mouthed. He has a muscular, firm body. She watches how the water cascades
over his body. How he seems so unashamed, so "in his skin," moving with such strength and grace.
Robert pauses and looks out over the open pasture. The cold water feels good. Since the pump is the back of the house, hidden from the road, no one can see him. He decides to take off his pants and cool himself further.
Francesca begins watching this in shock until she has to literally pull herself away from the window with such a force
that she rams herself into a chest of drawers, knocking over an array of perfume bottles and a mirror. She deftly catches a falling bottle and freezes. Taking a breath, she pulls herself together.
