NEYTIRI: This kind of certainty comes but once
in a lifetime.
Come home, if only, for more eggs or should we
just fuck on the linoleum one last time?
-----------------------------------------------
LAWYER
Your mother left explicit instructions that she wished to be
cremated.
LAWYER
Well, she was very specific. She wanted her ashes to be thrown
over
Roseman Bridge.
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 --
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.
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.
CAROLYN
I can't believe she never told me? We spoke at least once
a week. How could she do that?
CAROLYN
"January, 1987. Dear Carolyn. I hope you're reading this with
Michael. I'm sure he wouldn't be able to read it by himself and
he'll need some help understanding all this,
especially the parts about me having sex..."
CAROLYN (cont'd)
"First, and most of all, I love you both very much and although
I feel fine, I thought it was time to put my affairs, excuse
that word, in order."
MICHAEL
I can't believe she's making jokes.
CAROLYN
Sshhh. "After going through the safety deposit box, I'm sure
you'll find you're way to this letter. It's hard to write this to
my own children. I could let this die with the rest of me,
I suppose.
(cont'd)
But as one gets older, one fears subside. What becomes more
and more important is to be known -- known for all that you
were during this brief stay. Row said it seems to me to leave
this earth without those you love the most ever really knowing
who you were. It's easy for a mother to love her children no
matter what -- it's something that just happens. I don't know if
it's as simple for children. You're all so busy being angry at us
for raising you wrong. But I thought it was important to give
you that chance. To give you the opportunity to love me for
all that I was..."
Carolyn and Michael look to each other like two school
children about to take a difficult exam. They continue.
CAROLYN (cont'd)
"His name was Robert Kincaid. He was a photographer and he
was here in 1965 shooting an article for National Geographic on
the covered bridges of Madison County. Remember when we
got that issue and looked at those bridges we'd seen for years
but never noticed? How we felt like celebrities? Remember
when we started getting the subscription?
They don't remember.
CAROLYN (cont'd)
I don't want you to be angry with him. I hope after you know
the whole story, you might even think well of him. Even grateful.
MICHAEL
Grateful!?
CAROLYN
(reads)
"... It's all there in the three notebooks. Read them in order.
If you don't want to, I suppose that's okay too. But in that case I
want you to know something -- I never stopped loving your
father. He was a very good man. It's just that my love for
Robert was different. He brought out something in me no one
had ever brought out before, or since. He made me feel
like a woman in a way few women, maybe more, ever
experience..."
CAROLYN
(reads)
"I suppose his coming into my life was, in many ways,
prepared for weeks, maybe even months before. There
was a restlessness I feeling. Out of the blue and for no
apparent reason. There's nothing more frightening to a
woman whose been settled down for almost twenty
years than to suddenly feel unsettled. I don't know when
it started ... I do remember one night in particular, a
little over a week before Robert arrived..."
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
"The following week was the Illinos State Fair. The two of you
were going with dad to exhibit Carolyn's prize steer. It was the
Sunday night you left. I know it sounds awful but I couldn't wait
for you all to leave. You were going to be gone until Friday.
Four days...
(beat)
Just four days..."
FRANCESCA
No. I was just going to have some (muffins) iced tea then
split the atom, but that can wait.
(he smiles)
I just have to get my shoes.
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
Like one?
Francesca, who doesn't usually smoke, accepts.
FRANCESCA
Sure.
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:
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
(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.
ROBERT
So you must like Iowa, 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...
ROBERT
Why did you stop?
FRANCESCA
My children. And Richard didn't like my working.
ROBERT
We're not doing anything wrong, do you.
Francesca freezes. He has read her mind again.
ROBERT (cont'd)
(smiles)
Nothing you can't tell your children about.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
"We sat sipping brandy. I thought if anybody walked through
the door now there'd be no explaining it. But I didn't care. And
I loved that I didn't care. I almost wanted it to happen. Then
there'd be no turning back. I wanted to be like him. I lived this
life of his. We talked about his wife and I was jealous -- not of
her -- but of his leaving. His fearlessness. He knew what he
wanted. How did he do that.
FRANCESCA
Do you mind if I... ask you why you got divorced?
ROBERT
Not at all. I wasn't around much... So why did I get married?
Well, I thought it was a good idea at the time. Have a home
base. Roots. You can get lost moving around so much.
FRANCESCA
So what happened?
ROBERT
I never got lost. For some reason, I'm more at home
everywhere than at one place. So I decided I'll think of myself
as some kind of world citizen. I belong everywhere and nowhere.
I'm kin to everyone, and no one in particular. See, once you get
into the habit of not needing anyone, it's kind of hard to break.
FRANCESCA
You must get lonely at times.
ROBERT
Never touch the stuff. I've got friends all over the world. Good
friends I can see when I want, if I want.
FRANCESCA
Woman friends, too?
ROBERT
I'm a loner, I'm not a monk.
Francesca averts her eyes, before continuing her investigation.
FRANCESCA
You really don't need anyone?
ROBERT
No, I think I need everyone! I love people. I want to meet them
all! I just think there are too many out there saying "This is mine.
" or "She's mine." Too many lines have been drawn. World's
breaking apart because of man's weakness for some
testosterone conquests over territory and power and people. He
wants control over what deep down he knows he has no control
over whatsoever and it scares him silly.
FRANCESCA
Why doesn't it scare you?
ROBERT
I embrace Mystery. I don't know what's coming. And I don't
mind.
FRANCESCA
Do you ever regret it? The divorce, I mean.
ROBERT
No.
FRANCESCA
Do you ever regret not having a family?
ROBERT
Not everybody's supposed to have a family.
FRANCESCA
But -- how can you just live for what you want? What about
other people?
ROBERT
I told you, I love other people.
FRANCESCA
But no one in particular.
ROBERT
No. But I love them just the same.
FRANCESCA
But it's not the same.
ROBERT
That's not what you're saying. I know it's not the same. What
you're saying is, it's not as good. Or it's not as normal or proper.
FRANCESCA
No, I'm just saying --
ROBERT
(interrupting)
I'm a little sick of this American Family Ethic everyone seems to
be hypnotized by in this country. I guess you think I'm just some
poor displaced soul doomed to roam the earth without a
self-cleaning oven and home movie.
FRANCESCA
(irritated)
Just because someone chooses to settle down and have a family
doesn't necessarily mean they're hypnotized. Just because I've
never seen a gazelle stampede doesn't mean I'm asleep in the
world.
ROBERT
Do you want to leave your husband?
Francesca is completely stunned and thrown off guard.
FRANCESCA
No. Of course not.
(rising, upset)
Beat. Awkward silence. Suddenly there is tension between them.
ROBERT
My mistake. I apologize.
FRANCESCA
What made you ask such a question?
ROBERT
I thought that's what we were doing -- asking questions.
FRANCESCA
(defensive)
I thought we were just having a conversation. You seem to be
reading all this meaning into it. Meanings I must be too simple
to, uh... interpret or something.
ROBERT
I already apologized.
FRANCESCA
Listen, I'm sorry I --
ROBERT
No, no. Forgive me. I made a mistake.
It was an inappropriate thing to ask.
FRANCESCA
(shrugs it off, then:)
... I feel like something's been spoiled now.
Robert smiles and crosses to her. He takes her hand into both
his hands.
ROBERT
It's been a perfect evening. Just the way it is. Thank you.
Francesca smiles. The possibility of a kiss hangs in the air
between them until Robert turns to get his film out of the
fridge. As he exits through the screen door, he stops.
ROBERT (cont'd)
One thing though -- don't kid yourself, Francesca. You're
anything but a simple woman.
A note sits before her as well. On it reads: "Robert. Again,
I'm sorry for last night. Would you like supper again tonight
after you're finished. I'd like it very much if I were one of
those good friends you have in the world. Anytime is fine --
Francesca... P.S. By the way, "Of what I call God and Fools
call Nature" was..." She writes the name BROWNING.
ROBERT
(w/difficulty)
Listen, don't take this the wrong way but, I'm wondering if this is such a
good idea.
Francesca's heart sinks.
FRANCESCA
Oh.
ROBERT
I uh... I had lunch in town today. Happened to cross paths with
"that Redfield woman." I apologize. I thought you were
half-joking about that.
FRANCESCA
Oh. I guess you got the whole story.
ROBERT
The cashier at the general store was very dangerous.
FRANCESCA
I think he's running for town crier next year.
ROBERT
I now know more about their affair than I remember about my
marriage. (seriously) Francesca, the last thing I want to do is
put you in any kind of situation that would... even though we
know it's just -- I mean, it's nothing like that, but if anybody
saw us or...
(can't finish)
FRANCESCA
(disappointed)
I understand.
(touched)
That's very kind of you.
Silence. Both want to meet. Both experience the idea of not
seeing each other even again in this brief moment. Someone
has to say something to save it -- but who will it be?
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
Robert?
ROBERT
Yeah?
FRANCESCA
I want you to come.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
Huh-huh. Nothing, just making myself some dinner... No what?
... Oh... I heard about him. Yeah, I hear he's some kind of
photographer.
(Robert smiles)
No, I didn't... Huh-huh... Hippie? I don't know, is that what
hippies look like?...
Robert steps closer to her, purposely reaching across her
body for a napkin.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
Oh he is, huh? Well, don't tell Floyd, he'll be out with a shotgun...
She notices a crumb on Robert's mouth and wipes it off.
Robert takes her hand and holds it, lowering it to his side.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
Well, listen, I have a pot boiling. I've got to go... No, they don't
get home until Friday morning... Well, maybe I'll give you a call.
Okay. Bye.
ROBERT (cont'd)
If you want me to stop, tell me how.
He brushes his cheek and face softly against hers. Francesca
rubs hers against him. She can barely breathe.
ROBERT (cont'd)
Francesca, I won't be sorry. I won't apologize for this.
FRANCESCA
Nobody's asking you to.
ROBERT
Are you comfortable?
(she nods)
Do you... want to move to the
bedroom?
FRANCESCA
No. I can't. Not yet.
She can't bring herself to go into her husband bed.
ROBERT (cont'd)
You think too much, you know that?
FRANCESCA
I just feel like I'm getting a little ... out of control that's all. It's
kind of frightening.
ROBERT
Why?
FRANCESCA
Why!? Because, I'm having thoughts I hardly know what to do
with. I... can't seem to... stop them.
ROBERT
Nobody's asking you to.
MICHAEL
Everything was during Betty. God we were so young. Why did
we think we had to do it all so fast? I've never cheated on Betty.
Not once we were married, I mean.
CAROLYN
Did we want to?
MICHAEL
Only about a thousand times. What do I do now? "What's good
enough for mom is good enough for me?"
CAROLYN
(pissed off)
What gets me is I'm 46 years old. I've been in this
crummy fucking marriage -
MICHAEL
Carolyn!
CAROLYN
(ignores him)
-- for over twenty years because that's what I was taught
-- you stick with it! Normal people don't get divorced. I
can't remember the last time my husband made love to
me so intensely that he transported me to Europe, for
Christ's sake -- quite frankly, I don't think he ever did!
And now I find out in between bake sales, my mother
was Anais Nin!
MICHAEL
What about me! I feel really weird. Like she cheated on me, not
dad. Isn't that sick? I don't mean I wanted to sleep with her or
anything but -- ya know -- being the only son. You're sort of
made to feel like you're the prince of the kingdom, ya know?
And in the back of your mind, you kind of think your mother
doesn't need sex anymore because she has you.
CAROLYN
You're right -- that is sick.
They drink.
MICHAEL
If she was so unhappy, why didn't she
leave?
MICHAEL (cont'd)
What paragraph were you up to?
CAROLYN
(casually)
She just made him perform oral sex on the porch.
Michael freezes. He loses his nerve. Carolyn helps.
CAROLYN (cont'd)
Go ahead, Michael. You've got to do this. Just think, "Today I
am a man."
Michael nods and takes another swig. He reads:
MICHAEL
"I'd never had a man make love to me that way before."
(stops)
Oh Jesus.
(continues)
"I couldn't believe the feelings bursting inside of me. As if I had
opened some forbidden Pandora's box."
Camera begins to move to wide angle as Francesca takes over.
FRANCESCA
"It seems, thinking about it now, that in those few days I
lived a completely different life as a completely different
woman. What was recognizable as me before Robert was
gone. We decided to spend Wednesday away from Winterset.
Away from Madison County. Away from pastures and bridges
and people too familiar and reminders too painful. We let the
day take us where it wanted..."
FRANCESCA
What were you like when you were younger?
ROBERT
(smiles)
Trouble. Why?
FRANCESCA
(laughs)
I just wondered. Why were you trouble?
ROBERT
I had a temper.
ROBERT
I can't do this, honey.
FRANCESCA
What?
ROBERT
Try and live a lifetime before Friday. Cram it all in.
(shakes his head)
FRANCESCA
Good. More coffee?
(he nods, she pours)
Robert, I hope you don't mind my asking, but I feel like I should.
ROBERT
What?
FRANCESCA
Well, these... women friends of yours... all over the world. How
does it work? Do you see some of them again? Do you forget
others? Do you write them now and then? How do you manage it?
Her facetiousness startles Robert.
ROBERT
I... What do you want?
FRANCESCA
Well, I just want to know the procedure. I don't want to upset
your routine. Do you want any jam?
ROBERT
(insulted)
Routine! I don't have a routine. And if you think that's what this
is -
FRANCESCA
Well, what is this?
ROBERT
(upset)
Well, why is that up to me? You're the one who's married. You
told me you have no intention of leaving your husband.
FRANCESCA
To do what? Be with someone who needs everyone and no one
in particular? I mean, what would be the point. Would you pass
the butter?
ROBERT
I was honest with you. I told you who
I was.
FRANCESCA
Yes. Absolutely. You have this habit of not needing and that it's
hard to break. I understand.
(beat)
Of course, in that case, why sleep -- you don't need rest or for
that matter eat, you don't need food.
She takes his plate away from him, rises and throws it into
the sink.
ROBERT
What are you doing?
FRANCESCA
(sarcastic)
Gee, I don't know. I guess I'm not cut out to be a World Citizen
who experiences everything and nothing at the same time.
ROBERT
How do you know what I experience?
FRANCESCA
(angry)
I know you! What can this possibly mean to anyone who doesn't
"need" meaning -
(mocking)
"Who goes with the Mystery" -- who pretends he isn't scared to
death.
ROBERT
Stop it!
FRANCESCA
You have no idea what you've done to me, do you? And after you
leave, I'm going to have to wonder for the rest of my life what
happened here. If anything happened at all! And I'll have to
wonder if you find yourself in some... housewife's kitchen in
Romania if you'll sit there and tell her about your world of good
friends and secretly include me in that group.
ROBERT
What do you want me to say?
FRANCESCA
(nonchantly)
I don't want you to say anything. I don't need you to say
anything.
Robert rises, knocking his chair aside.
ROBERT
STOP IT!
FRANCESCA
Fine. More eggs or should we just fuck on the linoleum
one last time?
ROBERT
(grabs her)
I told you! I won't apologize for who I am.
FRANCESCA
No one's asking you to!
ROBERT
I won't be made to feel like I've done something wrong.
FRANCESCA
(angry)
You won't be made to feel! Period. You've carved out this little
part for yourself in the world where you get to be a voyeur, a
hermit and a lover whenever you feel like it and the rest of us
are just supposed to feel so incredibly grateful for the brief time
you've touched our lives!
Well, go to hell! It isn't human not to feel lonely -- it isn't human
not to afraid! You're a hypocrite and you're a phony!
ROBERT
(cries out)
I DON'T WANT TO NEED YOU!
FRANCESCA
WHY?
ROBERT
BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE YOU!
FRANCESCA
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO
WITH IT?
He throws a cup at the wall. It breaks apart. Covering his
face, Robert turns away from her as he holds onto the sink.
Francesca reaches for him but he pulls away, embarrassed.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)
(softly)
Don't you see, I've got to know the truth, Robert. I've got to
know the truth or I'll go crazy. Either way. Just tell me. But I
can't act like this is enough because it has to be. I can't pretend
I don't feel what I feel because it's over tomorrow.
Robert, keeping his face from her, tries to tell her:
ROBERT
If I've done anything to make you think that what's
happened between us is nothing new for me -- is some
routine -- then I do apologize.
FRANCESCA
What makes it different, Robert?
Robert turns to face her. He is so hopelessly in love he can
hardly find the words. His eyes fill up with tears.
ROBERT
Because... if I even think about tomorrow -- if I...
(voice cracks) even think about leaving here without
you -- I'm not sure I can... that I -
(he shakes his head)
He can't even finish. He kneels down before her wrapping his
arms around her and burying his face into her body. Francesca
starts to cry -- out of happiness, out of pain -- holding onto
him as if for dear life.
FRANCESCA
Oh God... what are we going to do?
She kisses him -- over and over, not wanting to be even an
inch apart. As if any space between them might separate them
forever.
ROBERT
Come with me.
Francesca knew he was going to say this. Either answer she
gives frightens her.
FRANCESCA
Hold me.
ROBERT
Tell me why you're not coming with me?
Francesca stops pretending to eat. She looks at him, having
forgotten how well he can read her.
FRANCESCA
No matter how I keep turning it around in my mind -- it doesn't
seem like the right thing.
ROBERT
For who?
FRANCESCA
For anyone. They'll never be able to live through the talk.
Richard will never be able to. He doesn't deserve that. He
hasn't hurt anyone in his life.
ROBERT
(getting aggressive)
Then he can move! People move!
FRANCESCA
His family's lived for almost a hundred years. Richard doesn't
know how to live anywhere else. And the kids...
ROBERT
The kids are grown! They don't need you anymore. You told me
that. They hardly talk to you.
FRANCESCA
No, they don't say much. But Carolyn's 16. She's just about to
find out about all this for herself -- she's going to fall in love,
she's going to try and figure out how to build a life with someone.
If I leave what does that say to her?
ROBERT
What about us? What about me?
FRANCESCA
You've got to know deep down that the minute we leave here.
It'll all change.
ROBERT
Yeah. It could get better.
FRANCESCA
No matter how much distance we put between us and this house, I bring
with it with me. And I'll feel it every minute we're together. And
I'll blame loving you for how much it hurts. And then even these
four days won't be anything more than something sordid and...
a mistake.
ROBERT
(desperately)
Francesca, listen to me. You think what's happened to us
happens to just anybody? What we feel for each other?
How much we feel? We're not even two separate people
anymore. Some people search their whole lives for it and
wind up alone -- most people don't even think it exists
and you're going to tell me that giving it up is the right
thing to do? That staying here alone in a marriage, alone
in a town you hate, in a house you don't feel apart of
anymore -- you're telling me that's the right thing to do!?
FRANCESCA
We are the choices we've made, Robert.
ROBERT
(rises)
TO HELL WITH YOU!
He turns his back on her.
FRANCESCA
Robert. Please.
(desperate to explain)
You don't understand -- no one does. When a woman
makes the choice to marry, to have children -- in one way
her life begins but in another way it stops. You build a life
of details. You become a mother, a wife and you stop and
stay steady so that your children can move. And when
they leave they take your life of details with them. And
then you're expected move again only you don't
remember what moves you because no one has asked in
so long. Not even yourself. You never in your life think
that love like this can happen to you.
ROBERT
But now that you have it -
FRANCESCA
I want to keep it forever. I want to love you the way I do
now the rest of my life. Don't you understand -- we'll
lose it if we leave. I can't make an entire life disappear to
start a new one. All I can do is try to hold onto
to both. Help me. Help me not lose loving you.
She embraces him. He wraps his arms around her. He whispers.
ROBERT
Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone.
Please.
This breaks her heart, knowing how hard it is for him to say
this. She holds him tighter, until -
ROBERT (cont'd)
Listen. Maybe you feel this way, maybe you don't. Maybe it's just
because you're in this house. Maybe ... maybe when they come back
tomorrow you'll feel differently. Don't you think that's possible?
FRANCESCA
I don't know. Please...
ROBERT
I'm going to be here a few more days. I'll be at the Inn. We have some
time. Let's not say any more now.
FRANCESCA
No. Don't do this.
ROBERT
I CAN'T SAY GOODBYE YET! We'll leave it for now. We're not
saying goodbye. We're not making any decision. Maybe you'll
change your mind. Maybe we'll accidentally run into each other
and ... and you'll change your mind.
FRANCESCA
Robert, if that happens, you'll have to decide. I won't be able to.
She cries in his arms. He kisses her as if for the last time.
Then, quickly, separates himself and leaves the house.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
You all came home. And with you, my life of details.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
A day or two past and with each thought of him, a task would
present itself like a life saver, pulling me further and further
away from those four days.
INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Francesca is reading. Richard watches TV.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
I was grateful. I felt safe.
Francesca places a bag of groceries on the front seat of the
truck, then gets in herself to wait for Richard. She takes a
deep breath and removes a handkerchief from her bag to wipe
the sweat from her face. She freezes -
Through the windshield, she sees ROBERT standing beside his
truck across the street, staring at her. Her heart stops.
For a moment, she isn't even sure he's real.
The town moves about its business around them. But neither
notice or care. Whatever safety or forgetfulness she felt is
gone. Her feelings burst through. She sits there helpless
before him -- willing to go or stay depending on what he did.
He begins walking towards her. She prepares herself. Her life
will change -- it has to. There's not turning back.
But the closer Robert gets, the clearer he can see that she
is crying. And he stops.
Without any words, he realizes what taking her with him would
mean. With just a glance, he sacrifices her. With their eyes
locked in the middle of Main Street -- in front of the whole
town -- they smile and say goodbye.
Robert returns to his truck. He drives off down Main Street,
taking the first left.
Moments later, Richard throws the feed bag into the back of
his truck and gets in. Francesca is wiping her eyes.
He doesn't notice. He drives off in the same direction as
Robert.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
For a moment, I didn't know where I
was. And for a split second, the
thought crossed my mind that he
really didn't want me -- that it was
easy to walk away.
''Robert leaned over as if to get something from the
glove box.
''Eight days ago, he'd done that...
''...and his arm had brushed across my leg.
''A week ago l'd been in Des Moines, buying a new dress.''
That truck's a long way from home.
Washington State.
l'll bet it's that photographer they talked about at the cafe.
What's he waiting for?
Come on!
''Oh, no.
''The words were inside of me.
''l was wrong, Robert. l was wrong to stay, but l
can't go.
''Let me tell you again why l can't go.
''Tell me again why l should go.
''l heard his voice coming back to me:
''This kind of certainty comes but
once in a lifetime.''
MICHAEL
"We became inseparable, Lucy and I.
The funny thing is, I didn't tell her
about Robert until years later. But,
for some reason, being with her
somehow made me feel it was safe to
think about him. To continue loving
him. The town loved talking about the
two of us but we didn't care. And
neither did your father. Which I
thought was a lovely thing. I
received Robert's letter and my
photograph soon after. I always
wondered if your father found them.
I was never quite sure..."
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
I almost told him. In that moment I
felt as if I couldn't hold it back.
If he really loved me maybe he'd
understand.
She returns to her meal. The family eats in silence.
FRANCESCA (cont'd; V.O.)
But love won't obey our expectations.
Its mystery is pure and absolute.
What Robert and I had, could not
continue if we were together. What
Richard and I shared would vanish if
we were apart. But how I wanted to
share this. How would our lives have
changed if I had? Could anyone else
have seen the beauty of it?
RICHARD
Franny?
FRANCESCA
Hmm?
RICHARD
I just want to say... I know you had your own dreams. I'm
sorry I couldn't give them to you. I love you so much.
ROBERT (V.O.)
"There is a pleasure in the pathless
woods... There is a rapture on the
lonely shore... There is society
where none intrudes... By the deep
sea and music in its roar... I love
not man the less, but Nature more...
From these our interviews, in which
I steal... From all I may be, or
have been before... To mingle with the
Universe and feel... What I can
ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal."
The quote is Byron's. She smiles with pride as she cries.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
We were bound together as tightly as
two people can be. If it hadn't been
for him, I don't think I would have
lasted on the farm all these years.
Remember that dress of mine you
wanted, Carolyn -- the one you said I
never wore. Well, I know I was silly.
But to me, it was as if you were
asking to wear my wedding dress to go
to the movies.
Carolyn smiles as she holds the dress before her.
INT. MOTEL - DAY
A tired Michael finds his way through the motel to his room.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
After reading all this, I hope you
can now understand my burial request.
It was not the ravings of some mad
old lady. I gave my life to my
family. I wish to give Robert what
is left of me.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)
"I love you both with all my heart.
Do what you have to, to be happy in
this life. There is so much beauty."
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