EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY
The mother stands on the street frantically calling for herdaughter.
MOTHERREBECCA
The Maitre'd, Francesca and Robert exit the restaurant.
MOTHEROh my God...
FRANCESCAWhat happened
MOTHERI was paying the check. She ranoutside. I told her to wait for meright here! Oh God, where is she
Rebecca
The sidewalk is filled with people. Francesca looks toRobert. He recognizes the concern in her expression. Goinghome will have to wait.
ROBERTI'll check down here. Someone callthe police.
The Maitre'd goes back inside. Francesca comforts the mother.
FRANCESCAThink for a second. Is theresomeplace she said she wanted to go
MOTHERI don't remember
EXT. STREETRobert searches through the street, poking in and out ofstorefronts, looking across the street.
EXT. RESTAURANTFrancesca and the mother search in the opposite direction.
EXT. STREETThrough the crowd of people, Robert looks across the fourlane Main Street to a LARGE CITY PARK. He crosses to it.
INT. RESTAURANT - AN HOUR LATERFrancesca sits with the mother as TWO POLICEMEN take down adescription. The mother is crying. A waiter brings over somewater for her. The Maitre'd stands by.
MOTHERShe was right outside. I turned myhead for a second.
POLICEMANWhen was this
FRANCESCAAbout an hour ago.
MOTHERThey're not going to find her
FRANCESCAYes, they are.
At that moment, the mother looks up and cries.
MOTHERREBECCA
She jumps out of her seat as all turn to see
Robert holding the little girl in his arms, entering therestaurant. He carefully hands her over to the mother. Thetwo wrap their arms around each other. Francesca looks toRobert, loving him even more now.
FRANCESCAWhere was she
ROBERTAcross the street. She went into thepark and got turned around and didn'tknow her way out.
MOTHERYou crossed the street by yourself
REBECCA(crying)It was a green light.
The mother is too relieved to be mad. Robert sits down.
MOTHERThank you so much
ROBERT(frazzled)I need a drink.
Everyone laughs out of relief. Francesca wraps her arm aroundhis shoulder and kisses his forehead. He kisses her back.
INT. TRUCK - DUSKRobert drives as Francesca sits inside his arm. Neither speaks.
INT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DUSKFrancesca calmly leads Robert up to her bedroom.
INT. JOHNSON BEDROOMNaked, Francesca guides Robert into bed beneath the covers.
They begin to make love -- softly, lovingly -- like a couplethat are beyond the erotic, discovery stage; a couple thathave been together and in love for years.
LATER -Francesca puts her arm around him as he nestles his head toher breast. Francesca strokes his hair as Robert closes hiseyes.
ROBERTI don't know why I'm so tired all ofa sudden.
FRANCESCALong day. Go to sleep.
ROBERTAm I too heavy for you
FRANCESCANo.
Robert settles into her. But Francesca is wide awake.
Something is on her mind -- "Tomorrow? What happens aftertomorrow?"INT. KITCHEN - MORNINGFrancesca is serving Robert breakfast, then sits down besidehim. Silence. We can sense some tension between them -- thisbeing their last day together.
Francesca seems ingeniously friendly. Robert is suspicious.
FRANCESCASleep all right
ROBERTYes, thanks.
FRANCESCAGood. More coffee
he nods, she pours)Robert, I hope you don't mind myasking, but I feel like I should.
ROBERTWhat
FRANCESCAWell, these... women friends ofyours... all over the world. Howdoes it work? Do you see some of themagain? Do you forget others? Do youwrite them now and then? How do youmanage it
Her facetiousness startles Robert.
ROBERTI... What do you want
FRANCESCAWell, I just want to know theprocedure. I don't want to upset yourroutine. Do you want any jam
ROBERT(insulted)Routine! I don't have a routine. Andif you think that's what this is -FRANCESCAWell, what is this
ROBERT(upset)Well, why is that up to me? You'rethe one who's married. You told meyou have no intention of leaving yourhusband.
FRANCESCATo do what? Be with someone who needseveryone and no one in particular? Imean, what would be the point. Wouldyou pass the butter
ROBERTI was honest with you. I told you whoI was.
FRANCESCAYes. Absolutely. You have this habitof not needing and that it's hard tobreak. I understand.
beat)Of course, in that case, why sleep --you don't need rest or for thatmatter eat, you don't need food.
She takes his plate away from him, rises and throws it intothe sink.
ROBERTWhat are you doing
FRANCESCA(sarcastic)Gee, I don't know. I guess I'm notcut out to be a World Citizen whoexperiences everything and nothingat the same time.
ROBERTHow do you know what I experience
FRANCESCA(angry)I know you! What can this possiblymean to anyone who doesn't "need"meaning -(mocking)"Who goes with the Mystery" -- whopretends he isn't scared to death.
ROBERTStop it
FRANCESCAYou have no idea what you've done tome, do you? And after you leave, I'mgoing to have to wonder for the restof my life what happened here. Ifanything happened at all! And I'llhave to wonder if you find yourselfin some... housewife's kitchen inRomania if you'll sit there and tellher about your world of good friendsand secretly include me in that group.
ROBERTWhat do you want me to say
FRANCESCA(nonchantly)I don't want you to say anything. Idon't need you to say anything.
Robert rises, knocking his chair aside.
ROBERTSTOP IT
FRANCESCAFine. More eggs or should we justfuck on the linoleum one last time
ROBERT(grabs her)I told you! I won't apologize for whoI am.
FRANCESCANo one's asking you to
ROBERTI won't be made to feel like I'vedone something wrong.
FRANCESCA(angry)You won't be made to feel! Period.
You've carved out this little partfor yourself in the world where youget to be a voyeur, a hermit and alover whenever you feel like it andthe rest of us are just supposed tofeel so incredibly grateful for thebrief time you've touched our lives
Well, go to hell! It isn't human notto feel lonely -- it isn't human notto afraid! You're a hypocrite andyou're a phony
ROBERT(cries out)I DON'T WANT TO NEED YOU
FRANCESCAWHY
ROBERTBECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE YOU
FRANCESCAWHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH IT
He throws a cup at the wall. It breaks apart. Covering hisface, Robert turns away from her as he holds onto the sink.
R.R.