EXT. WINTERSET - MAIN STREET - DAY
Richard and Francesca drive up to the general store to buygroceries. Francesca heads for the store as Richard crossesthe street.
FRANCESCAWant anything special for dinner
RICHARDHmm. How about that brown sugar meatloaf you make
FRANCESCA(smiles)Okay.
She enters the store.
INT. GENERAL STORE - DAYFrancesca makes small talk with the grocery lady as she buyswhat she needs.
EXT. MAIN STREET - DAYFrancesca places a bag of groceries on the front seat of thetruck, then gets in herself to wait for Richard. She takes adeep breath and removes a handkerchief from her bag to wipethe sweat from her face. She freezes -Through the windshield, she sees ROBERT standing beside histruck 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 neithernotice or care. Whatever safety or forgetfulness she felt isgone. Her feelings burst through. She sits there helplessbefore him -- willing to go or stay depending on what he did.
He begins walking towards her. She prepares herself. Her lifewill change -- it has to. There's not turning back.
But the closer Robert gets, the clearer he can see that sheis crying. And he stops.
Without any words, he realizes what taking her with him wouldmean. With just a glance, he sacrifices her. With their eyeslocked in the middle of Main Street -- in front of the wholetown -- 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 ofhis truck and gets in. Francesca is wiping her eyes.
He doesn't notice. He drives off in the same direction asRobert.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)For a moment, I didn't know where Iwas. And for a split second, thethought crossed my mind that hereally didn't want me -- that it waseasy to walk away.
As they pass the corner where Robert made his left turn,Francesca turns to look and sees
ROBERT'S TRUCK IS PARKED just off the corner. As if he had todrive away to get out of sight, but couldn't bring himself todrive any further.
The sight of him hiding there breaks Francesca's heart, sheturns away from her husband to hide the tears.
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DAYWE REPLAY THE OPENING SCENE FROM THE MOVIE
Carolyn is in the yard picking vegetables. Her parents driveup in their truck. She steps out with her bag of groceriesand walks briskly into the house. Richard follows more slowlywith his bag of feed, stopping at the gate to pick up thebutton from Francesca's red dress.
INT. KITCHENFrancesca enters and places her groceries on the counter. Shetries to compose herself. She sees the radio before her. Sheturns it on. The Dinah Washington song "I'LL CLOSE MY EYES"evokes every feeling of love and loss within her. She beginsto cry.
She hears Richard enter the house. She stands out of sight,holding her hand to her mouth to muffle her crying. She hears
MICHAEL (O.S.)Dad! You bought the wrong feed
RICHARDWhat
She hears Richard exit the house.
EXT. LUCY REDFIELD'S HOUSE - NIGHTA hand knocks on a door. Lucy Redfield opens it to findFrancesca standing there with a cake.
FRANCESCAHi. I'm Francesca Johnson. I justfeel awful I haven't come to visitsooner. I hope I'm not interruptinganything. Is it too late
Lucy is shocked and moved at the same time.
LUCYNo. Not at all.
FRANCESCAI was wondering if... maybe you'dlike some company.
almost manic)I baked a cake
Lucy looks at the cake. She's a little dazed by all this.
LUCYUh... sure. Please. Come in. I'llmake coffee.
Francesca enters. Lucy closes the door.
CUT TO
EXT. IOWA LAKEFRONT - DAWNMichael continues reading beside Carolyn as the sun rises.
MICHAEL"We became inseparable, Lucy and I.
The funny thing is, I didn't tell herabout Robert until years later. But,for some reason, being with hersomehow made me feel it was safe tothink about him. To continue lovinghim. The town loved talking about thetwo of us but we didn't care. Andneither did your father. Which Ithought was a lovely thing. Ireceived Robert's letter and myphotograph soon after. I alwayswondered if your father found them.
I was never quite sure..."INT. KITCHEN - EVENINGAt dinner, Richard remembers the button he found.
RICHARDOh, Franny, is this yours
Francesca sees the button. She speaks her original lines MOSas HER NARRATION is hard
FRANCESCA (V.O.)I almost told him. In that moment Ifelt as if I couldn't hold it back.
If he really loved me maybe he'dunderstand.
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 notcontinue if we were together. WhatRichard and I shared would vanish ifwe were apart. But how I wanted toshare this. How would our lives havechanged if I had? Could anyone elsehave seen the beauty of it
INT. JOHNSON KITCHEN - NIGHTFrancesca moves about the kitchen with a frantic pace as sheputs the finishing touches on a cake. Placing the frostingbowl in the sink, she hears someone upstairs exiting theirbedroom. She quickly gathers the cake and her bag and exitsthrough the screen door.
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - NIGHTFighting tears, she walks to the truck from around the house.
She gets in and starts it. She vaguely hears her daughterfrom the front door.
CAROLYNMom
But she doesn't acknowledge it and drives away.
EXT. MOTOR INN - NIGHTHer truck approaches and then speeds past the Inn whereRobert is staying. We can see his truck in the parking lot.
INT. JOHNSON BEDROOM - NIGHTAnd older Francesca cares for a sickly Richard. He lies in bedbeside an array of medicines and tonics. She wipes hisforehead with a cool cloth as he takes his pills.
FRANCESCABetter
He nods. She smiles. She shuts off the light and lays besidehim.
RICHARDFranny
FRANCESCAHmm
RICHARDI just want to say... I know you hadyour own dreams. I'm sorry I couldn'tgive them to you. I love you so much.
Francesca turns to him. She is so touched, tears fill hereyes. She nestles close to him, wrapping her arms around him.
EXT. DES MOINESFrancesca eats at the same restaurant she shared with Robert.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)After your father died, I tried toget in touch with Robert but foundout he had left the NationalGeographic soon after the MadisonCounty. No one seemed to know wherehe was. My only connections to himwere the places we'd been to that oneday. And so each week, I'd re-visitthem.
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DAYFrancesca greets a UPS man with an envelope and a package.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)And then one day, I received theletter from his attorney, with apackage.
INT. JOHNSON LIVING ROOMFrancesca reads the letter informing her of Robert's death.
She then unwraps the package to reveal a MEDALLION with hername inscribed and A PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK; a published collectionof black and white photos by Robert Kincaid entitled "FourDays." Beautiful, dramatic black and white representations oflove and passion, loneliness and pain, and union. On thefront page there reads an inscription "FOR F."ROBERT (V.O.)"There is a pleasure in the pathlesswoods... There is a rapture on thelonely shore... There is societywhere none intrudes... By the deepsea and music in its roar... I lovenot man the less, but Nature more...
From these our interviews, in whichI steal... From all I may be, orhave been before... To mingle with theUniverse and feel... What I canne'er express, yet cannot all conceal."The quote is Byron's. She smiles with pride as she cries.
CUT TO
EXT. IOWA LAKEFRONT - EARLY MORNINGMichael sits with his arm around Carolyn as they look outover the lake. The notebooks are closed, but Francesca'snarrations continue over the next few scenes.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)There has not been a day since thatI have not thought of him. When hesaid we were no longer two people, hewas right.
INT. JOHNSON BEDROOMCarolyn, looking through her mom's closet, finds the summerdress she bought in Des Moines to wear for Robert.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)We were bound together as tightly astwo people can be. If it hadn't beenfor him, I don't think I would havelasted on the farm all these years.
Remember that dress of mine youwanted, Carolyn -- the one you said Inever wore. Well, I know I was silly.
But to me, it was as if you wereasking to wear my wedding dress to goto the movies.
Carolyn smiles as she holds the dress before her.
INT. MOTEL - DAYA tired Michael finds his way through the motel to his room.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)After reading all this, I hope youcan now understand my burial request.
It was not the ravings of some madold lady. I gave my life to myfamily. I wish to give Robert what isleft of me.
INT. MOTEL ROOMMichael enters to find his two children watching TV and anangry Betty folding clothes.
CHILDRENHey, Dad
He looks at them lovingly, then at Betty who angrily motionsfor him to follow her into the bedroom.
She slams the door behind him and talks in a irate whisper.
BETTYYou have been out all night long! DoI have a right to ask where you'vebeen or is this a family secret
Michael just looks at her. He gently takes her hand.
MICHAELNo. No more secrets.
He kisses her hand. Betty is floored.
MICHAEL (cont'd)Do I make you happy, Betty
she is stunned)Because I want to. I want to morethan anything.
He gently kisses her cheek then embraces her. Betty -- for thefirst time in her life -- is utterly speechless.
INT. JOHNSON BEDROOMWearing her mother's dress, Carolyn sits on the bed holdingthe phone, waiting for Steve to pick up. In her other hand,she holds the divorce lawyers card.
CAROLYN(on the phone)Hi, Steve? It's me. Good. You?...
Listen, we have to talk... Well,how about you?... Uh, no -- I'vedecided I'm going to stay for awhile... I don't know how long...
No, I won't be coming back...
I'm not angry, Steve. I'm not angryat all.
smiles)CUT TO
EXT. ROSEMAN BRIDGE - DAYMichael and his family stand beside Carolyn and a Priest.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)"I gave Lucy his photography book. Ifyou're interested, take a look. If mywords still leave something unclear,perhaps his pictures can illuminate.
After all, that's what an artist doesbest... "Michael receives the urn from the priest. He and Carolyn walkaway from the group towards the bridge. They stop. Carolynremoves the lip. Michael sets his mother's ashes free.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)"I love you both with all my heart.