EXT. IOWA LAKEFRONT - NIGHT
Michael and Carolyn have parked in a secluded area near alake. Some place where the moonlight and the scenery createa beautiful backdrop. They sit on the ground, leaving theheadlights and the radio on. They are getting drunk sharinga bottle of whiskey.

　　MICHAELI used to love this place. I used totake Kathy Reynolds down here.

　　CAROLYNYou never dated Kathy Reynolds!

　　MICHAELNot officially. Her and Steve Kendallwere pinned at birth. But I was crazyabout her. And for about three months,I managed to catch her during her"exploring" stage.

　　CAROLYNI never knew that.

　　MICHAEL(sadly)Nobody did.

　　CAROLYNWas this during Betty?

　　MICHAELEverything was during Betty. God wewere so young. Why did we think wehad to do it all so fast? I've nevercheated on Betty. Not once we weremarried, I mean.

　　CAROLYNDid we want to?

　　MICHAELOnly about a thousand times. What doI do now? "What's good enough for momis good enough for me?"CAROLYN(pissed off)What gets me is I'm 46 years old.

　　I've been in this crummy fuckingmarriage -MICHAELCarolyn!

　　CAROLYN(ignores him)-- for over twenty years becausethat's what I was taught -- you stickwith it! Normal people don't getdivorced. I can't remember the lasttime my husband made love to me sointensely that he transported me toEurope, for Christ's sake -- quitefrankly, I don't think he ever did!

　　And now I find out in between bakesales, my mother was Anais Nin!

　　MICHAELWhat about me! I feel really weird.

　　Like she cheated on me, not dad.

　　Isn't that sick? I don't mean Iwanted to sleep with her or anythingbut -- ya know -- being the only son.

　　You're sort of made to feel likeyou're the prince of the kingdom, yaknow? And in the back of your mind,you kind of think your mother doesn'tneed sex anymore because she has you.

　　CAROLYNYou're right -- that is sick.

　　They drink.

　　MICHAELIf she was so unhappy, why didn't sheleave?

　　They look to each other without an answer. Then simultaneouslythey reach for the notebooks.

　　MICHAEL (cont'd)Can I read it now? I think I'm ready.

　　Carolyn offers him the book then lays back in a relaxedposition in order to listen. Michael flips to an ear markedpage.

　　MICHAEL (cont'd)What paragraph were you up to?

　　CAROLYN(casually)She just made him perform oral sex onthe porch.

　　Michael freezes. He loses his nerve. Carolyn helps.

　　CAROLYN (cont'd)Go ahead, Michael. You've got to dothis. Just think, "Today I am a man."Michael nods and takes another swig. He reads:

　　MICHAEL"I'd never had a man make love to methat way before."(stops)Oh Jesus.

　　(continues)"I couldn't believe the feelingsbursting inside of me. As if I hadopened some forbidden Pandora's box."Camera begins to move to wide angle as Francesca takes over.

　　FRANCESCA"It seems, thinking about it now,that in those few days I lived acompletely different life as acompletely different woman. What wasrecognizable as me before Robert wasgone. We decided to spend Wednesdayaway from Winterset. Away fromMadison County. Away from pasturesand bridges and people too familiarand reminders too painful. We let theday take us where it wanted..."1965INT. DES MOINES MOVIE THEATER - DAYVIVIEN LEIGH is walking down a ships stairs in the 1965 film"SHIP OF FOOLS." She is alone on screen. She walks, slightlyintoxicated. Suddenly, Charleston music plays out of nowhereand she begins to dance, by herself, without any self-consciousness.

　　In the movie theatre, Robert sits with his arm aroundFrancesca like teenage lovers. Her head is nestled in hischest as she eats from a bag of popcorn. Robert barely keepshis eyes on the screen, staring at Francesca and stroking herhair.

　　EXT. DOWNTOWN DES MOINES STREET - DAYFrancesca and Robert walk hand-in-hand, window shopping andtaking in the sights. For Francesca, it is as if she isseeing everything for the first time.

　　INT. B............