1995INT. SLOW BEND CAFE - PRESENT DAY - EVENING
The same saloon/restaurant of twenty-five years ago has beenturned into a modern cafe yet the original charm is stillthere.
Carolyn and Michael sit in a booth, with half-eaten dinnersbefore them. Carolyn has been reading the book to Michaelwhen she looks across from her to find -- Michael looking likea little boy who is fighting not to cry.
CAROLYNWhat's the matter?
Michael shakes his head. He can't or won't explain. He's tooupset. His eyes tear up. Carolyn feels badly for him.
MICHAELI'm going to get some air.
He exits. Carolyn smiles sympathetically. Somehow this lastpassage of their mothers doesn't affect her in the same way.
She returns to the book but first asks a passing waitress,with great urgency.
CAROLYNCan I smoke here?
The waitress nods. Carolyn needs a cigarette for the rest ofthis. She opens her bag to get her pack. Inside her bag shenotices a BUSINESS CARD. She picks it up to read IRA NEWMAN,attorney. Divorce. Pre-Nuptials. Marital Litigation. Shepauses for a moment. Then, tossing the card back inside, shelights her cigarette and takes a drag. We follow the curls ofsmoke up as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
1965INT. JOHNSON LIVING ROOMCamera moves down curls of smoke, to reveal:
Robert and Francesca in each others arms, under a blanket onthe living room floor on a bed of couch pillows, smoking acigarette after lovemaking. Francesca seems miles away --feelings of regret and guilt creeping in.
ROBERTAre you comfortable?
(she nods)Do you... want to move to thebedroom?
FRANCESCANo. I can't. Not yet.
She can't bring herself to go into her husband bed.
ROBERTYou want to eat something?
FRANCESCAAre you hungry?
ROBERTNo.
Silence. Robert shifts his body to face her.
ROBERT (cont'd)Honey. Are you all right?
She looks at him and starts to cry, shaking her head. The roomis filled with memories of her family. She nestles in his arms.
He folds her. She closes her eyes.
FRANCESCATake me somewhere.
ROBERTWhat?
FRANCESCARight now. Tell me someplace you'vebeen -- someplace on the other sideof the world. Anywhere but here.
ROBERT(thinks, then:)How about Italy?
FRANCESCAYes.
ROBERTHow about Bari?
FRANCESCAYes. Tell me about the day you gotoff the train.
ROBERTHave you ever been to that station?
FRANCESCAYes.
ROBERTYou know that little place nearbywith the striped awning that sellssandwiches and little pizzas...
The two transport themselves together to another place, wherethere is no familiar memories surrounding them to interfere.
CUT TO:
EXT. JOHNSON PORCH - NIGHTThe two sit in bathrobes on the porch looking out over thepasture. They have plates of dinner on their laps. They eatvoraciously.
ROBERTDo you have anymore of the stew?
Chewing, Francesca nods and leans over, picks a pot off theporch and ladles some more onto his plate. Too much falls outand it spills onto the robe.
FRANCESCAOh, I'm sorry.
ROBERTIt's okay. It's not that hot anymore.
Thanks God.
Fra............