INT. JOHNSON HOUSE - EVENING
It is a week later. Francesca is making dinner. A COUNTRYSTATION is tuned in on the radio.
FRANCESCA (V.O.)"The following week was the IllinosState Fair. The two of you were goingwith dad to exhibit Carolyn's prizesteer. It was the Sunday night youleft. I know it sounds awful but Icouldn't wait for you all to leave.
You were going to be gone untilFriday. Four days...
(beat)Just four days..."Francesca's expression looks as if she needs a break from herfamily for more like four years.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)Michael! Carolyn! Richard! Dinner!
She sets down a bowl of potatoes, a plate of sausages, coffeeand corn as one by one her family enters and sits down.
Michael enters through a screen door from the back, lettingthe DOOR SLAM SHUT.
FRANCESCAMichael, what did I tell you aboutthat door?
Richard enters after Michael, letting the door SLAM THE sameway. Francesca is about to say something, but gives up.
Everyone begins eating -- in complete silence.
When Michel can't open the ketchup bottle, Francesca grabsit, palms the top skillfully and twists it off. She hands itback to Michael who makes no comment.
When Richard scans the table for something that obviouslyisn't there, Francesca is up out of her seat before he canask, at the fridge, grabbing the sour cream, closing thefridge and back at the table with incredible swiftness.
When Michel moves his big arm to reach for the salt, heknows over his cup and saucer, which Francesca catches withboth hands before they hit the floor. Her reflexes are likea trained athlete.
Finally, Francesca is able to sit and sip her coffee. Shewatches her teenage daughter fill her plate with a blankexpression that lets nothing slip through -- no indication ofall the tempests of emotions that go through a teenage girl.
FRANCESCAYou excited about going, Carolyn?
Without looking up, Carolyn fakes a smile. Looking at her,Francesca remembers Carolyn as a three-year-old girl:
FLASHBACK.
In the same kitchen, THREE-YEAR-OLD CAROLYN runs around hermother's feet completely naked, squealing with delight asFrancesca flicks her water from the tap.
FLASHBACK ENDS.
Francesca watches as Carolyn eats in silence, distant, lockedin her own secret teenage thoughts and dreams.
Francesca then looks to her son, shoveling food into hismouth at an alarming rate. She attempts a conversation.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)How was your date last night?
MICHAEL(w/o looking at her)Okay.
FRANCESCAWhat's her name?
MICHAELBetty.
FRANCESCAWhat's she like?
MICHAELOkay.
Silence. Frustrated, Francesca has a fantasy -FANTASY:
Francesca picks up a blunt butter knife, rises out of her seat,grabs her son and shoves the knife at his throat:
FRANCESCADo you like her?
Michael finally reacts with more than one word -- frightenedfor his life.
MICHAELUh... Yeah. Yeah. She's real nice.
FRANCESCAWell, what's nice about her? Tell us!
MICHAELWell, she's... she's real pretty and... and she's got a cute shape...
she's a good sport, ya know, forlaughs and(desperate)... she loves fried chicken wings andbeer.
FRANCESCAIsn't that nice? You should bring herhome to meet us!
FANTASY ENDS.
Francesca looks at Michael in disgust.
RICHARDWe better get moving.
(to Francesca)You sure you don't want to come?
Francesca looks at Richard with complete conviction.
FRANCESCAI'm positive.
RICHARDI'm going to miss you.
FRANCESCAIt's only four days.
He gives her a sweet peck on the lips. Francesca smiles,anxious for them all to leave.
INT. JOHNSON HOUSE - LATER THAT NIGHTAlone, dressed in her bathrobe, Francesca checks the frontdoor. She crosses to the living. Noticing two throw pillowson the floor, she arranged them neatly on the couch. She sitsherself in an easy chair then flicks on a reading lamp andopens her book. After five seconds, she closes the book. Shecrosses to the TV and turns it on, then turns it off beforethe picture tuned in.
She turns and leans on the TV, flicking the ON/OFF switch onand off as her mind wanders. She gets an idea. She crosses tothe hi-fi and looks through several albums she got from herColumbia Record Club. But nothing inspires her and shequickly loses the desire for music. She's antsy. She has thistime alone and she doesn't know how to spend it.
She walks through the dining room, passing a china closetfilled with fancy dishes and glasses. She stops. Shoved inthe corner behind is an old, un-opened bottle of BRANDY. Sheremoves up, setting atop the dining table to open it.
But when she catches a reflection of herself in the windowopposite her, she stops. She sees a lonely, frustrated womanin a tattered bathrobe anxious to open a bottle of liquor.
Deflated, she returns the brandy to the cupboard and exits.
EXT. BACK PORCH - NIGHTFrancesca sits on the porch with a book in her lap, gazingout over the pasture. It's a hot night. She opens the top ofher rope a bit. Feeling the air against her skin, she decidesto open it a bit more. She gets an idea.
Standing, she looks to see if anyone is around -- thoughrationally she knows there isn't a soul for miles. She turnsoff the porch light. With a brave and daring impulse, shesheds her bathrobe and stand naked under the night sky. Theair feels good against her body. She opens her arms upagainst the night sky and moon like an Indian priestess.
Suddenly, she starts hitting her body as mosquitoes beginattacking her bare torso. Thwarted, she quickly coversherself with a robe and runs into the house.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN - MORNINGFrancesca trudges into the kitchen. As if on automatic, shetakes the coffee pot and fills it with water. She gets thecoffee and begins spooning it out. She stops. She gets theidea of taking herself out for breakfast and dumps the coffeepot out.
CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN STREET; WINTERSET - MORNINGA one street town. On either side are rows of storefronts, anold coffee shop/diner, a bank, a medical center, a newspaperbuilding, a courthouse and a movie theater showing CAT BALLOU.
The steeple of the local church is the highest structure,towering over the town from the end of Main Street. 、