EXT. ROSEMAN BRIDGE - DAY
The truck stops. They exit. Robert takes out some equipment.
ROBERTThis won't take long. I'm shootingtomorrow morning. I just need to dosome prep work.
FRANCESCAI don't mind waiting.
He smiles and takes his equipment to the bridge. Francescaslowly follows. She watches his body move. Catching herself,she stops.
Robert sets up a tripod in the small ravine beneath thebridge, pointing a view finder up as he plans his shots.
Francesca walks through the bridge, noticing lovers namesscrawled on the inside: CATHY & BUDDY 4 EVER... ROSIE ANDHANK TILL THE END OF TIME. Through a crack in one of thewooden planks, Francesca watches like a voyeur as Robertworks. She sees him take out a handkerchief and wipe the sweatoff his neck, then inside his shirt and around his chest.
Without knowing where Francesca is, Robert speaks aloud
ROBERTIs it always this hot
Francesca moves quickly away from the plank, like a PeepingTom who's been caught.
FRANCESCAThis time of year.
ROBERTWould you do me a favor and go to thetruck? Inside that leather bag withthe pockets is a package of lenscleaners. Would you grab me one
Francesca obliges, grateful for something to occupy her.
Inside the truck, she scans for the leather bag. She sees itnext to a duffel bag. The bag' zipper is opened. Sheglimpses 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 coverphoto of the Watts riots. She grabs the leather bag andopens it.
At the bridge, Francesca looks for Robert in the raving buthe is gone. She looks through the bridge to the other endand sees only the tripod. No Robert. She walks through thebridge and out the other end. She finds Robert bent over,picking flowers.
FRANCESCAOh there you are.
ROBERTOh! You caught me.
He rises with a bouquet of wildflowers for her.
ROBERTThanks for your help.
Francesca smiles, not knowing how to take this.
ROBERTMen sill give women flowers, don'tthey? I mean, as a sign ofappreciation? I'm not that out ofdate, am I
FRANCESCANo, not at all --(suddenly)except those are poisonous.
ROBERTWHAT
He flings the flowers down. He wipes his hands furiously.
FRANCESCAI'm sorry. I was kidding.
Robert looks at her with a shocked smirk, secretly liking herstrange behavior.
FRANCESCAI'm sorry. I don't know what -- I'msorry. Really. They're lovely.
She begins picking up the flowers.
ROBERT(smiling)Are you by nature a sadistic person
FRANCESCANo, I'm not.
trying not to laugh)I don't know why I said that. I'vebeen in a very... strange mood allday. I've never done anything likethat before. It's... I'm just...
looking for excuse)Well, you know, the whole world isjust going nuts.
Robert looks at her like she's nuts. Francesca tries to digherself out of her hole. Robert enjoys offering no help.
FRANCESCAWhat with those riots in Los Angelesand people burning draft cards and... Adlai Stevenson dying last month.
She rises with the flowers. Robert gives her a friendly paton the arm.
ROBERTShouldn't let things get to you somuch.
He continues with his work. Francesca expresses relief andembarrassment behind his back.
INT. TRUCK - LATERDriving back, Francesca sits with her feet up on thedashboard. Robert drives while he fiddles with the radio. Allhe can find are country stations.
FRANCESCALooking for something in particular
There's not much of a selection.
ROBERTI found this Chicago station before.
Wait a minute...
he tunes it in)Here it is.
We hear a BLUES SINGER with a sax arrangement.
FRANCESCAOh, that's nice.
ROBERTWant another cigarette
FRANCESCASure.
Francesca's having a great time.
EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DAYRobert's truck drives down the road and into the driveway.
ROBERTWell, thank you for all your help,Mrs. Johnson.
FRANCESCAFrancesca.
ROBERTFrancesca. Robert.
Francesca nods, as if to say hello and goodbye in the samemoment. She gets out of the car, closes the door, then asks
FRANCESCAWould you like some iced tea
INT. KITCHEN - DAYRobert fiddles with the kitchen radio, tuning in to theChicago station. Francesca is making iced tea. Robert sitsback down at the kitchen table.
FRANCESCALemon
ROBERTSure.
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 downthe tea so fast, some of it dribbles down the side of hisface and neck. Francesca finds it sexy. He empties it.
FRANCESCAWould you like another one
Robert nods and he pulls out his cigarettes.
ROBERTMind if I smoke
FRANCESCA(at the sink)Not at all.
Robert lights up as he watches her fix another iced tea. Hewatches her slip off one boot, then the other -- never missinga beat of her preparation. He can't help eyeing her body.
When she returns, she also has the flowers he picked for herarranged in a Casper the Friendly Ghost jelly glass. Sheplaces them on the table and sits.
ROBERTSure you want to keep those in thehouse
FRANCESCAI'm so sorry about that. It wasrude. I think I just got nervousfor some reason.
ROBERTI thought it was funny.
She likes that.
FRANCESCAWhere are you staying while you'rehere
ROBERTA little place with cabins. Thesomething-Motor Inn. I haven'tchecked in yet.
FRANCESCAAnd how long are you here for
ROBERTAs long as it takes, I might stay aweek. No more I don't think. Where'syour family
FRANCESCAMy husband took the kids to theIllinos State Fair. My daughter'sentering a prize steer.
ROBERTOh. How old
FRANCESCAAbout a year and a half.
ROBERTNo, your kids.
FRANCESCAOh. Michael's 17 and Carolyn's 16.
ROBERTMust be nice having kids.
Francesca looks at him and FANTASIZES SAYING
FANTASY
FRANCESCANot any more. It's awful. They'reawful. I can't stand them.
END OF FANTASY
But in reality, Francesca chooses instead to say
FRANCESCA (cont'd)They're not kids anymore. Thingschange.
ROBERTEverything does. One of the laws ofnature. People are always so afraidof change. But if you look at it likeit's something you can count onhappening, it's actually a comfort.
Not many things you can count on forsure.
FRANCESCAI guess. Except I'm one of the peopleit frightens.
ROBERTI doubt that.
FRANCESCAWhy
ROBERTItaly to Iowa? I'd call that a change.
FRANCESCA(explaining)Richard was in the army. I met himwhile I was living in Naples. Ididn't know where Iowa was. I onlycared that it was America. And ofcourse, being with Richard.