INT. COFFEE SHOP/DINER - MORNING
Dressed in jeans and a light summer blouse, Francesca sitsalone -- treating herself to breakfast and the paper. Some ofthe gossip news includes rumors of Frank Sinatra, 49,marrying Mia Farrow, 19: Cary Grant 61, marrying DYAN CANNON,27. Francesca shakes her head in disbelief at such news.

　　She tries to continue reading, but is distracted by the loudconversation in the booth beside her:

　　TWO MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN and ONE MIDDLE-AGED HUSBAND sit afterbreakfast discussing the local gossip.

　　ELEANOROh, this heat! Times like this I wishwe took that offer from your brotherand moved on up to Michigan.

　　HENRYThey got heat in Michigan.

　　ELEANORNot this kind of heat.

　　HENRYHeat is heat.

　　ELEANORHeat is not heat! There's differentkinds! And this heat is much hotterthan what they got in Michigan. Yougo and call your brother and see ifhe don't say the same thing.

　　HENRYI'll get right on it.

　　Mrs. Delaney, an attractive well-off woman in her forties,enters the shop and heads for the counter.

　　GLADYS(whispers)Mrs. Delaney.

　　(Eleanor looks)Did you hear the latest?

　　ELEANORNo, what?

　　GRADYSApparently, she caught them.

　　(Eleanor gasps)Ran right into them in Des Moines inthe middle of her shopping.

　　ELEANOROh, what a horror. Poor woman. ThatRedfield girl's got no businessshowing her face in daylight.

　　GRADYSI don't know how that tramp standsliving here. No one can bear evenspeaking to her. She has no friends.

　　HENRYWell, nobody put a gun to his head.

　　ELEANOROh, shut up! It's the woman who's incontrol of these situations. Mendon't know which end is up till awoman points.

　　Mrs. Delaney acts as if nothing is wrong. Yet, she knowseveryone knows and everyone knows she knows they know, yet noone says a word. She sits at the counter.

　　MRS. DELANEYJust coffee, please.

　　Francesca hears the gossip continue in hushed tones:

　　GLADYSSee. Money don't buy happiness. Imust say, she's taking it well.

　　ELEANORI'd kill him. Him and that Redfieldwoman. Together. First one then theother. And then I'd laugh.

　　GLADYSI'd laugh first then I'd kill them.

　　Make sure they heard me laughing.

　　Eleanor nods. Not being able to stand it, Francesca rises.

　　She must pass them on the way to the counter, in order topay. Eleanor immediately stops her.

　　ELEANORFrancesca! So, everybody got off okaylast night?

　　FRANCESCAYes, thanks.

　　GLADYSWhat you going to do all alone forfour days -- a woman of leisure?

　　FRANCESCAOh, you know there's always somethingto be done. Have a good day. Henry.

　　Henry nods back. As she exits, they whisper.

　　ELEANORShe's changed.

　　GLADYSOh, yes.

　　ELEANORShe used to be so friendly.

　　HENRYMaybe she's going through "thechanges."Eleanor hits him in the chest.

　　ELEANORWhat do you know about "the changes"?

　　HENRYWell, I didn't know they was a secretclub.

　　ELEANORDon't talk about what you don't know.

　　Besides, she's too young for "thechanges."GLADYSMy niece had "the changes" when shewas thirty-one.

　　ELEANORNo. What a tragedy. What happened?

　　GLADYS(wisely)She changed.

　　At the counter, Francesca pays up. She looks to Mrs. Delaneyand tries to smile, but Mrs. Delaney works hard at not makingeye contact with anyone. Suddenly, she rises telling thewaitress:

　　MRS. DELANEYExcuse me for a moment, I leftsomething in the car.

　　She exits quickly. Francesca pays up as the waitress adds:

　　WAITRESSPoor woman.

　　EXT. COFFEE SHOP/DINER - MORNINGFrancesca exits and heads for her truck. As she crosses fromone corner to another, she notices down the side street --Mrs. Delaney sitting alone in her own car, sobbing. Unable tobear the humiliation, she stole herself away to cry.

　　Francesca wants to help but feels useless. She quickly headsfor her truck.

　　CUT TO:

　　EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DAYFrancesca sits on the front porch with some iced tea, tryingto cool herself off. It is a scorcher. She is barefoot, herblouse hanging out of her jeans, her hair fastened up by atortoise shell comb.

　　Camera begins a slow move into close-up, as she sips her teaand lets her mind wander. WE INTERCUT HER FANTASIES WITH HERON THE PORCH:

　　FANTASY: Back in town, Francesca slides into Mrs. Delaney'scar. She embraces the woman who cries into her arms.

　　-- Francesca on the porch.

　　FANTASY: Mrs. Delaney's car is surrounded by townpeoplestaring into it. Francesca hugs Mrs. Delaney closer to her indefiance.

　　-- Francesca on the porch.

　　FANTASY: Mrs. Delaney's car drives up to a train station. Sheand Francesca exit with suitcases. They are surrounded bynews reporters as they make their way to the train.

　　REPORTERMrs. Johnson! Mrs. Johnson! Is ittrue Cary Grant has proposed to you?

　　FRANCESCAYes. And I've accepted.

　　REPORTERWhat about his engagement to DyanCannon?

　　FRANCESCAI said to him Cary you're beingridiculous. You're more than half herage. He said no one had ever beenthat honest with him and he falls inlove with me.

　　REPORTERWhat about your husband?

　　FRANCESCAI'm very sad but Richard said thatsince it's Cary Grant, he completelyunderstands. I'm also taking Mrs.

　　Delaney away from this town. She'llbe living with Cary and I in BeverlyHills.

　　She boards the train with Mrs. Delaney.

　　END OF FANTASIES.