text / (British) Harold Pinter
translation / Mei Feng, Li Ershi
location, house, summer, night
long shot.
The camera freezes, watching the house from outside the door, panning up a short, curving driveway across from the circular gravel courtyard.
On the grass behind the house, the figures of domestic animals could be vaguely seen. The camera moves forward slowly and stops at a position inside the gate.
The house was pitch black and silent. Curtains were drawn on the lower front windows. Light filtered through the curtains and cast into the gravel courtyard. Gradually, I heard the sound of a car outside the painting in the distance.
The sound of the car is increasing.
The sound of the car was getting louder and louder, but the distance was still far away. Suddenly, there was a sudden sound of the car braking, the sound of tire friction, the sound of car crash, and the sound of glass breaking.
Silent.
The lights in the hall of the house came on.
The front door opened.
Under the light, we can see the silhouette of Stephen.
EXT, PATH, NIGHT The
camera shakes along a country road.
There was a sound of running footsteps.
The wind picked up on the dark road.
The shadows of the trees swirled, and the light and shadow swayed.
Through the hedge, I saw the field, and vaguely saw the shadow of a few cows.
A horse walks with its head held high.
The camera looks to the sky. The sky is full of stars.
EXT - END OF PATH - NIGHT
Stephen stops.
The moonlight shone brightly and clearly on his face.
EXT, CLOSE UP
BELOW CAR CAR.
The crashed car was shot from the lying down camera, with the camera facing the position of the front passenger.
A disintegrating metal car body covered with shards of shattered glass.
The two bodies were squeezed together, motionless, in the same posture.
Only the sound of the engine idling.
For the exterior,
the telephoto shot at the corner of the road and the road allows you to see the situation on the road as a whole.
The footage clearly sees the car rolling over and lying in the middle of the road. Near the hedge, mounds stand on both sides of the road.
The tree trunks stand out against the sky.
Moonlight shone softly on the car glass.
The camera slowly moves towards the car until it is almost on the body.
A telephoto shot from the opposite side of the car roof (where the driver is at the top end) to the corner of the trail. The camera caught Stephen standing there.
Stephen walked to the car. The camera follows in the car.
He temporarily disappears behind the camera.
His hands appeared, clutching the roof.
his face.
EXT, PATH,
MOONLIGHT Telephoto shows Stephen crawling to the roof of the car.
EXT. CAR
Stephen looks down through the driver's window.
The bodies of the two people were squeezed inside the car.
There is the idling sound of the engine.
In a telephoto shot from the hedge opposite the handlebar, Stephen is wriggling to open the car door.
He tried to open the door with all his might.
The door, which was clinging to the handle, sank suddenly.
He almost fell out of the car.
INTERIOR - SMALL
CABINET The limousine is rocking. The bodies of the two also swayed. A bottle of whiskey rolls off.
The camera looks up from the car.
Stephen was standing beside the open car door with a sky above his head. He looks down.
In the foreground are skirts, legs and shoes.
Stephen moved his body away, and the car shook. He poked his legs and feet into the car.
His legs dropped slowly. Engine idling sound.
The lens takes a close-up shot from above.
William's face. blood and glass.
Stephen's feet were carefully placed beside him.
The sound of the ignition being turned off is heard. Silent.
The car shook. William's head moved.
EXTERNAL, CAR
CAMERA TOP SHOT.
Stephen moved with his hand on the door frame.
EXT. CAR
CAMERA FROM BELOW.
Shattered random glass. William's head.
The camera moves through the broken glass window to William's temple.
Stephen's voice: William?
Stephen's feet were looking for a place to borrow strength, while avoiding stepping on the bodies of the two.
Moonlight filtered in through the shattered windshield.
Anna's legs are moving. She started moaning.
Stephen's voice: Anna?
Anna sobbed sobbing.
The camera pans closer to her body. Her face tensed. She sobbed and let out a short grunt. She opened her eyes. I want to get out of the car. She muttered and struggled. Stephen helped her out with both hands.
EXT. SLIDE
CAR swaying wildly in the middle of the cul-de-sac.
INT - CAMO
Anna's shoes are scattered on William's chest.
EXTERNAL,
XIAOLU DISTANCE CAMERA shows Anna slowly getting up from the car. First, the starry sky outlines her head and shoulders.
She shook her head.
There was a sudden scream from Stephen outside the picture:
Stephen: Be careful! You stepped on his face!
exterior, sedan
Close-up shot:
Stephen.
Medium shot of Stephen and Anna. They were standing beside the car. He supported her on his shoulders, held her up, and stared at her.
his face.
Her face was motionless, her eyes closed.
EXT. Xiaolu
Stephen holds Anna, walking in the moonlight.
Help her to the grass bank on the side of the road and let her lie down.
Anna lay down alone on the grass embankment.
her legs.
INT - CAMO WILLIAM'S
FACE. There was shiny shards of broken glass all over William's face and all around him. Stephen put his head against William's neck, listening to something.
The car shook. He looked up.
Anna was taller than him, stood in front of the open car door, and reached into the car.
One of his face, some feathers of Anna's clothes fell.
Stephen's and William's faces were pressed against each other, and their eyes were wide open.
Anna, leaning on the steering wheel, reached into the car and picked up her handbag.
Location, paths
Anna took the bag back to the grass embankment, and sat down. She took the handkerchief and mirror out of her handbag and began to wipe her face.
Stephen stood, looking down at her.
Anna used her fingers to remove the dirt from her face.
Stephen's voice: You can go.
Anna didn't look at him.
Stephen: I'll go make a call.
Anna took out a comb and started combing her hair.
STEPHEN (looking down at her): Can you still go?
Anna tidied her hair quietly, put the comb, mirror and handkerchief back in her handbag and closed it.
She sat motionless.
He put his hands under her elbows and lifted her up. They stood up and kept their distance.
In the background behind them is the car.
He put his hand on her elbow, and she pulled it back, but not violently. She started walking up the path alone. He followed behind.
long shot.
They walked slowly up the hill towards the house.
Stephen no longer followed. He was parallel to her, but Anna kept a certain distance between them.
They walked slowly on each side of the path, an uphill road ahead, the moonlight, the shadows of trees hanging over them, and the open sky in the distance.
Interior, house, living
room The furnishings in the house are not neat, things are placed randomly, but it is warm and comfortable. The walls were simply plastered. It can be said that it is a mix of modern and antique style, and there is nothing precious about it. The interior feels casual and relaxed.
The camera is located in the back half of the living room, near the door that opens in the living room.
The stairs lead upstairs.
Below the stairs, the storeroom door was ajar, and on the ground were broken toys, a child's steering wheel cart and a large hoop.
The silence of the moment was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.
LIVING
ROOM - NIGHT Anna sits quietly in an armchair. Her handbag was on a coffee table in front of her. An old dog stuck its head through the living room door.
LIVING ROOM
The dog walks in through the living room door, walks through the living room, sits down, and looks up at Stephen.
Stephen was sitting by the phone on the living room table, and he looked down at the dog.
- Living
Room Stephen walks in. He walked slowly towards Anna and put his hand on her forehead.
Great closeup.
His hand was on her forehead. her eyes.
STEPHEN (standing next to Anna): You're all on top of him.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: Are you driving?
Anna leaned back on the back of the armchair.
He stroked her hair.
Stephen: Don't worry.
HOUSE, KITCHEN
Stephen walks into the kitchen table with a teapot. He poured tea into the cup. Interior living room
Stephen Duanzhaochabei leaned to Anna side.
Stephen: Have some catechu.
He put the teacup next to his handbag on the coffee table. Anna sat motionless in the armchair. Stephen sat, watching her.
Silent.
The sound of a car coming by.
He turned to the window.
EXT, HOUSE, FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
A police car drives slowly along the driveway in front of the house towards the house. Stephen came out of the front door. The door was half open and half closed behind him.
The police car stopped. The two policemen got out of the car.
Stephen and the police stood for a while, talking.
- LIVING ROOM
Stephen enters the living room, followed by two police officers.
He stopped, blinked, and turned his head to the police. A policeman sat in the armchair where Anna had sat. He put his helmet on his lap and pulled out a notepad.
Stephen stood, facing the other policeman.
Stephen: Please take a seat.
Another policeman: Don't sit, it's okay.
Stephen sat down with a cigarette in his hand.
Police Voice: You are the only family around here. It seems that he must have come to see you.
Stephen: He came to see me.
Policeman: Are you waiting for him?
Stephen: Yes.
Stephen glanced at the other policeman.
Another policeman stood blankly.
The policeman sitting in the armchair, writing in his notebook, suddenly coughed violently. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his mouth.
Police: I'm sorry.
He put his helmet on the coffee table, where Anna's handbag and teacup had just been placed.
Camera shot of coffee table.
The helmet is on the coffee table.
Stephen's face.
The policeman opened his notepad.
The sight of another policeman looked through the large floor-to-ceiling glass to the dark back garden.
Policeman: Are you familiar with him?
Another policeman turned from the window.
Stephen: He is my student.
Another policeman walked back to his original position in the room.
Policeman: Is he a student of your university?
Stephen: Yes.
Stephen's face.
Stephen: He wants to discuss something with me.
The camera shot the room.
Silent.
Police officer: You noticed...
a noise coming from somewhere in the house. The duration is short. The police continued to ask questions.
Police: Did you find out at 1:45?
Stephen: He went to a party and came to visit me.
Another cop: He looked utterly drunk. The car smelled of whiskey everywhere.
Stephen's face.
Stephen: I don't know what's going on. (Pause.) I mean, I don't know what he's going to talk to me about.
The camera shot the room.
Two policemen. One is standing and the other is sitting.
There was silence.
Stephen's face.
Stephen: He might want to ask me something.
interior, living room
The room was empty. No sound.
KITCHEN
Stephen is standing at the long empty kitchen table.
Stephen: Anna?
LANDING, BEDROOM DOOR
Stephen rushes up the stairs and into the bedroom. INTERIOR
, BEDROOM
This is Stephen and Rosalind's bedroom, warmly furnished with a decidedly feminine taste and character.
The bed is an old-fashioned four-legged tent bed.
Anna lay on the four-legged tent bed.
Her legs were curled up and her skirt was lifted above her knees.
She fell asleep.
Handbags and teacups are placed on the table beside the bed.
There was no movement.
The camera and Stephen moved slowly towards Anna lying on the bed.
Anna is lying on the bed.
Stephen stood by the window, staring at the bed.
Anna fell asleep. Her body was bent.
Stephen stood at the foot of the bed.
The camera captures Anna's feet. A shoe is worn on the foot. The other shoe is being covered. ANA'S SHOES,
CAMO, STANDING ON WILLIAM'S FACE
.
The footage shows Stephen's hands touching her legs.
Stephen's Voice: Be careful!
Closeup. William's face. died.
THE UNIVERSITY, STEPHEN'S STUDY, WILLIAM'S
FACE IN THE MORNING , SMILING.
William and Stephen sat by the open window. The windows overlook the quadrangle below. A white sheep is tied to the meadow. The scene below the quadrangle is right between the two of them.
Stephen: You haven't spoken to her yet?
William: No.
Stephen: You just met her.
William: Just met. Take a walk together, for a while.
Stephen: So you like her looks?
William: Yes, I like it.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: What do you want me to do?
William: Not at all.
Stephen: Oh, okay.
William: I just want to know what you think of her, that's all.
Stephen: Did you notice that I was her mentor?
William: Of course. I realize that you are also my mentor.
Stephen: As her mentor, her moral safety had to be my first consideration.
William: Ah. You mean that you are not only her mentor, but also her protector.
Stephen: I mean, I don't support nor encourage the harm that male desire can do to my female students.
William: Well said.
Stephen; thank you.
William: Anyway, for God's sake, can you tell her name?
Stephen: Her name? her name. Ah yes. I remember her name. Her name is Anna von Graz Yond Leoben.
Pause for a while.
William: German.
Stephen: Austrian.
Pause for a while.
William: Okay, let's talk! What do you think of her?
Stephen: I didn't think about it.
William: I thought thinking was your job!
Stephen: Didn't think about that.
William: You're not too old, are you? Still getting old?
From the same point of view of the camera just now, Anna appears in the quadrangle below. She stopped to talk to the sheep.
William stood up.
William: It's her.
Stephen: She's here for her second mentoring session.
William: You didn't tell me.
Stephen: Wait a minute, I'll introduce you to each other.
William: She's talking to the sheep.
Stephen: They speak German.
Anna stroked the Aries. Two men are standing by the window.
William stood by the door.
William: No, not now. Really don't have to.
Stephen: You want to introduce yourself, right? Don't bother others?
William: Yes.
Stephen stood alone in the center of the study. He turned to the window and looked down. Stephen's head appeared in the window. He watched Anna walk across the lawn towards the campus.
William crossed the lawn, but kept his distance from her.
Anna disappeared under the window.
William stopped beside the goat and leaned his head against it.
IN THE STUDY
Anna sits with her knees together with a notebook on it.
Her face, the way she listened.
Stephen's Voice: Philosophy is simply a process of questioning. It does not attempt to find and give specific answers to specific questions.
Closeup. His face, looking at her.
INTERIOR, HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - PM
CLOSE-UP OF CLARISSA'S (3 YEARS OLD) FACE.
She steps away from the camera and sprints into her mother's arms, looking at the camera over her shoulders.
Stephen stood at the door. Rosalind sat, Clarissa on her lap. Ted (age seven) was lying on the floor with a book in hand, looking up. The dog lay on the floor and fell asleep.
Stephen: She loves her dad.
Rosalind: She didn't eat anything today.
Rosalind is pregnant. She is sewing clothes. The floor is littered with paint boxes, slips of paper, scissors, children's books, a doll, and several toy cars.
Stephen looked at the floor, then walked through the house. He kicked Ted as he passed him.
Stephen: Hello.
Ted: Hello, Dad.
Stephen sat down.
Stephen: What did she eat?
Rosalind: Had some milk pudding for lunch.
Stephen: OK, that's fine too.
Stephen shouted "Hoo!" at Clarissa while clapping his hands.
Clarissa rushed towards him, hugging his legs.
Stephen: Hello.
Ted: How many moons does Jupiter have in total?
Stephen: I don't know.
Ted: 12.
Stephen: 12 satellites?
Ted: Yes.
Clarissa: 12 satellites.
STEPHEN (to Ted) Do you want to read that book about elephants again?
Ted: Good!
Ted ran across the room, filled with books, and started rummaging around.
Rosalind is still sewing.
Stephen sat down while placing Clarissa on his lap.
Stephen: I have a new student.
Rosalind: Oh?
Stephen: She's an Austrian princess.
Rosalind: Really?
Clarissa: A princess?
STEPHEN (to Clarissa): I think so.
Rosalind: How do you know she's a princess?
Stephen: She has a very long name.
Rosalind: Does she have blonde hair?
Stephen: Oh... no.
Rosalind: Then she's fake.
Ted stood in front of the stack of books, looking for books.
Ted: I found it! (Frowning) I think it's this one.
Stephen took Clarissa in his arms.
Stephen: She's very tanned.
Rosalind: Then she's definitely not a princess anymore.
Stephen: Why not?
Clarissa: She's a princess!
Rosalind: The princess will keep her skin...very fair.
Stephen: Your skin is very fair.
Rosalind: I know.
Ted found the book, ran from the house, and sat in Stephen's arms.
Ted: I know I'll find it.
Stephen is holding two children.
Stephen: Where do you want to start?
Ted: You start.
Stephen: From where?
Ted: Here.
Rosalind: Did she court you?
Stephen: Oh, no. I am too old.
Rosalind: You're not too old for me.
Stephen: I know. (to the kids) Let's start now. Who will read first?
Rosalind stood up and walked towards them.
Clarissa: Let me begin.
Ted: She can't read!
Rosalin leaned over Stephen.
Rosalind: And I'm not too old for you.
UNIVERSITY, STUDY - DAY
Ana sits with a notebook in hand. What is she writing at the moment. The camera pulls back to capture Stephen. He was lying on his back in the reclining chair, his legs resting on the table.
No sound.
Stephen: Write a paper about what kind of problem...or what you might call a problem.
He raised his head and looked at her.
Stephen: Okay?
Anna smiled.
Anna: I'll try.
UNIVERSITY, Mentors Lounge
Stephen, Charlie, the Provost and Hedges, a scientist, sitting in armchairs, reading. Charlie is reading a newspaper; the rest are reading books.
Silent.
Charlie: According to the data analysis, the data on sexual intercourse between students at Corenzo University in Milwaukee, USA, shows that 70% of the sexual intercourse occurred in the evening, 29.9% occurred between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and 0.1% occurred on Aristotle. lecture time.
Pause for a while.
Provost: I'm surprised Aristotle's name is on the Wisconsin syllabus.
Silent.
Charlie (still reading the news): The bus driver was found sleeping on the student's bed.
Pause for a while.
Provost: But were any students found lying on the bus driver's bed?
Pause for a while.
Provost: Have you heard the story of my predecessor, Provost Jones, and that movable staircase?
Pause for a while.
Provost: This is a strange story. You will be interested. Dean Jones and his beautiful girl decided one day to buy a movable staircase.
EXTERIOR - BANK, DAY HOT DAY
, punts and canoes come and go in the river. Stephen walked along the river.
Young men and women on the boat greeted each other.
Stephen's head.
He walked quickly.
Sparkling on the water.
The girls appeared on the boat. Laughter from a distance.
A voice shouted, "Stephen!"
Stephen stopped and turned his head.
In the punt under the tree are William and Anna.
Anna was wearing a white dress with many gaps in the fabric.
Stephen's eyes were fixed.
William: Hello.
Stephen leaned over to the two of them under the willow tree.
The flat-bottomed boat swayed slightly, and spots of light danced around it. Anna smiled and lay on her back on the boat.
William: You shouldn't wear a suit like this in such weather. It's funny.
Stephen: I thought you didn't know each other.
William: We met. (to Anna) Right?
Anna: Hmm.
William: Come on up.
Stephen: Me?
William: Come on. We head up the river.
A telephoto shot of Stephen stepping into the punt.
The punt rocked. William propped up the bamboo pole. Stephen squatted beside Anna.
The camera shot the punt.
William's legs.
Seeing through the middle of his legs, Anna was sitting, Stephen reclining on the side of the punt, his head resting on the cushions next to Anna's hips.
Stephen's head rested on her hip.
Anna is barefoot and her legs are crossed. Water vapor wrapped around her legs. In the background on the left is Stephen's head. Above his body is Anna's back. Her hair was fluttering and radiant.
At the other end of them stood William, punting.
Her arms were still.
Her arms are moving. her armpits. Fleece underarm hair. The slit at the top of her skirt.
Stephen's body straightened.
her buttocks. his head.
Her eyes closed.
Rod into the water.
The back of Stephen's head. his ears.
William propped up the pole, stooping and standing upright.
far lens.
The punt sailed to an island.
Stephen stood up and leaned over to grab the branches.
EXTERNAL - Quadrangle - DAY
Stephen and William emerge from the arcade towards the quadrangle.
Stephen was wearing a wet suit and walking with his back straight. William holds his gown.
William: You look so majestic.
Stephen: I feel soaked.
William: You don't look that wet.
Stephen stopped and looked at him.
Stephen: Don't I look wet?
William: No one's staring at you because you're wet, right? They think you are perfectly normal.
They walked across the lawn. Stephen lifted his pants.
Stephen: It's all my fault, I'm standing too far from the boat.
ARCADE DOORS OUTSIDE THE QUARTER
They enter into the sunless place.
Stephen yelled at William.
Stephen: I'm getting old! Don't you understand? Getting older. my muscles. muscles of the body.
INT - UNIVERSITY - STAIR CLIMB
They climb the stairs.
Stephen: No judgment. Judgment without a sense of distance. These are gone. Disappeared!
His voice echoed on the stone staircase.
UNIVERSITY -
STEPHEN'S STUDY - PM STEPH changes into a sweater and light trousers.
William stood at the window.
William: I think 40 is the beginning of life. I mean, I wouldn't say you look old. You still have a beautiful figure. But what I want to tell you is, why don't you play squash for an hour every morning? This will benefit your health.
Stephen jerked up his trousers.
William: Would you like to borrow my harness?
STEPHEN (indifferently) If you're going to be a farmer after college, why the hell are you taking a philosophy class?
William: So maybe I can talk to the cow, won't I?
Stephen's Study - Dusk
Stephen and William are sitting by the window, looking down, with glasses of whisky in each hand.
William: Really nice to meet you, you know. You're not a bad guy for a philosophy teacher like you. (Pause) I already have a lot of friends.
Stephen: That's because you're an aristocrat.
William: Ah.
Stephen: The nobles are for...
He pauses for a moment.
William: Do what?
Stephen: Accept the slaughter.
Pause for a while.
William: Oh.
He stared at Stephen's face, shrouded in a layer of sunset light.
Stephen: Do you like her?
William: Yes.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: Why didn't you bring her to my house on a certain Sunday.
William: Great.
Stephen: Come and have lunch.
William: Excellent. Shall I invite her?
Stephen: No, no, I'm the one to invite.
UNIVERSITY - STEPHEN'S STUDY - MORNING
Anna sits on the floor next to the bookshelf, scouring the books on the bottom shelf.
Stephen's legs stood beside her.
Stephen looked down at her with a book in his hand.
Stephen: This book might interest you.
She looked up.
Stephen: In general, the book expresses a different point of view... Do you know the author, Charlie Hall?
Anna: Yes, I think...
Stephen: Zoologist.
Anna: Right. I have met him.
Stephen: But this is a novel. You know, he also writes novels. And also on TV.
Anna: Is it?
STEPHEN (grinning): He's a generalist. Read it. I don't think so, but maybe you'll read into it.
He stretched out his hand to her.
Stephen: Get up.
He took her hand and gently pulled her to her feet. Anna took the book.
Anna: Thank you.
She picked up her notebook from the desk and put the book and book back in the bag. He stared at her.
Stephen: Would you like to come to my house for lunch on Sunday?
Anna: That's great.
STI: You'll also see my wife, and my children.
Anna: OK.
Pause for a while.
Anna cleared her throat.
Stephen: Maybe William can drive you here.
Anna: Ah. Yes.
Stephen: I told him. HOUSE
, BEDROOM -
EVENING Rosalin lies on an old-fashioned four-legged tent bed. The curtains are down. Stephen and the camera slowly moved closer to the bed. He sits on the bed. She opened her eyes and smiled.
Rosalind: Hello.
Stephen: How does it feel?
Rosalind: All right.
She pulled his head down and kissed him quickly.
The voices of children came from the garden.
Rosalind: What are they doing?
Stephen: They're all right.
He kissed her finger.
A dog barked.
Stephen: So noisy, are you resting?
Rosalind: Rest well.
He continued to kiss her fingers.
Stephen: Oh, I invited some people over on Sunday. (He looks at her.) Is that appropriate? (Pause.) Huh?
Rosalind: Who?
Stephen: Oh...William...you know...
Rosalind: Huh?
Stephen: And Anna von Graz. (Pause.) You know, the girl...
Rosalind: The princess.
Stephen: Yes. She is William's girlfriend.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: What do you think?
Rosalind: I'm not good at dealing with nobles.
Stephen: She's not really a princess. Don't be silly.
Rosalind: I'm not stupid.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: Just came for lunch, that's all. But I can also easily push them off.
Rosalind: Hmm.
She got up from the bed.
Stephen: What are you going to do?
Rosalind: I'm going downstairs.
She took a long nightgown from behind the door. This long nightgown is embroidered with lace at the cuffs. She puts it on.
Interior, room house, stairs
Luo Salin down the stairs, followed by Stephen back.
Silent. HOUSE -
KITCHEN
Rosalin picks up the kettle and fills it with water.
Stephen stood inside the door and looked at her.
She put the teapot on the stove and lit the gas.
Stephen: Well, what do you think?
Rosalind: About what?
Stephen: What about dinner on Sunday? I can also push it off.
Rosalind: Why are you pushing them away?
Rosalind cuts bread on the bread rack.
Stephen: Then you have to... cook or something... if you're feeling unwell.
Rosalind: I'm fine. Why don't you stick to this party advice? Let them come.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: All right.
She goes to the back window and yells, "Ted, Clarissa! Tea time!"
EXTERNAL, PATH, CROSSOVER, THE SAME AREAS OF THE EARLY CAR Crash
scene in the morning .
The dog ran across the road towards the mound.
Stephen's voice: "Mike! Come back!"
Ted chased the dog behind.
Ted: Come back!
Ted drives the dog off the mound. They continued to run towards the grass bank. Stephen appeared on camera, following behind them.
far lens.
Hot weather.
Stephen, Ted, and the dog walked slowly up the slope of the path, in the direction of home.
EXT, HOUSE, GARDEN GATE
They pass the gate and begin to walk down the driveway, overgrown with bushes.
William's car can be seen parked in the courtyard.
The dog burrows in the bushes. Ted was with the dog and bent over.
Ted: What is this, Mike?
Stephen walked ahead.
He appeared in a corner of the bush, where the entire house and courtyard could now be seen.
He stood motionless.
A white sports car was parked on the edge of the hedge on the left side of the house.
Anna, wearing sunglasses, stood beside the car with Charlie, and they talked quietly.
The light on the body is dazzling. A strong, blinding light flickered. Both men and the car were motionless, in bright light and heat.
Stephen's face, his eyes twinkling in the sun, his eyes fixed on something, his face was wrinkled.
The exterior scene, the courtyard
is still the same scene, there is no movement at all. The two were still standing by the car.
Stephen stood. Ted and the dog ran by, then ran away along the side of the house. Charlie and Anna turned around and saw Stephen.
Charlie raised his hand.
Stephen walked across the gravel to them. He walked up to them. Charlie smiled.
Stephen: Hello, Anna. Is William here?
Anna: Here, he's inside. What a day.
Location, in front of the house room
Ted and dogs stay in the corner.
Anna: Is that your son?
Stephen: Yes.
Anna walked over, with Ted and the dog.
Stephen and Charlie stayed by the car.
Charlie sat on the sill and stretched out his arms.
Anna's Voice: What's your name?
Ted: Ted. How about you?
Anna: Anna. What about it?
Ted: Mike.
Stephen and Charlie smiled at each other.
Stephen: What are you doing here?
Charlie: Pass by, stop by.
Stephen: After?
Charlie: Yes, just passing by. Just passing by.
There came the voices of Ted and the dog.
Charlie chased Ted and the dog to the corner of the house.
Charlie: Hi! Hi! Hi!
Anna is no longer there.
Stephen stood beside the car. HOUSE
, KITCHEN
Rosalind and William are peeling vegetables.
William: Hello.
Stephen: Hello, William. Charlie is here too.
Rosalind (laughing): We got it.
Stephen: Will he stay for lunch?
Rosalind: Of course.
Through a kitchen window, they watched Charlie throw a big ball. Ted, Clarissa and the dog ran to chase. Charlie was running behind them, crawling, kneeling, moving busy back and forth.
Anna appears on the lawn. Charlie kicks the ball to her. She slapped the ball.
STEPHEN (to Rosalind) How can I help?
EXTERIOR,
BACK GARDEN, LAWN, in the afternoon with the camera slowly rising and pushing along the lawn. The garden is very long and extends into the woods. The lawn is mostly grass, but also some flowers.
Time is after lunch. Coffee cups, brandy glasses on the grass. Some of them lay on their sides on the grass. The weather is very hot.
William was lying too, propped up on his elbows, his fingers running through the grass, next to Charlie. Charlie lay on his back. Rosalind was lying on an armchair in the garden, feet up. Anna is sitting, making a wreath with Clarissa. Ted and Stephen weed the lawn.
There was silence.
William and Charlie.
William: What are you writing now?
Charlie: A novel.
Pause for a while.
The dog wandered among them, inhaling hard, and walked towards Anna.
William: I also want to write a novel.
Charlie: You're going, eh?
William: But I can't.
Charlie: Writing novels is a child's trick. You just need a start, it's that simple.
William: Oh.
Pause for a while.
Charlie: Here, for example.
William: Where?
Charlie: Right here from the lawn. What are we all doing?
William: I know what I'm doing.
Charlie: What?
William: Anna and I were invited to lunch here. We just ate.
Charlie: Ah.
Pause for a while.
William: What are you doing here?
The camera shoots Anna and Clarissa.
Clarissa: We're going to go to Grandma's house on Tuesday.
Anna: Is it?
Clarissa: Ted, mom and me.
Anna: Are you going for a long time?
Clarissa: We're going for three weeks. You know, mom is going to have a baby. If you're having a baby, you need to rest.
Anna: Of course.
Shots of William and Charlie.
Charlie: Describe what we all do.
William looked around the garden.
William: Rosalind lay there. William is weeding. Anna is making a wreath. We are chatting.
Charlie: Good. But you can go a step further. Rosalind is pregnant. Stephen has an affair with a girl from Oxford University. He was old enough not to get involved with Oxford girls.
William: What?
Charlie: But, of course he feels guilty. So he made up a story.
William: What story?
Charlie: That's the story.
William: What are you talking about?
Charlie sat up and tried to drive the flies away.
Charlie: Oh, those flies are horrible.
William: What flies? No flies were seen.
Charlie: They're flies on Sicilian horses from Corsica.
Charlie yelled across the lawn.
Charlie: Did you hear our conversation?
Stephen is weeding.
Stephen: Yes!
Rosalind lay with his eyes closed.
Rosalind: Yes.
Anna carefully wrapped the wreath around Clarissa's neck.
EXT.
TENNIS COURT William slams the ball hard over the net.
The tennis court is located on the edge of the back garden. There are many holes in the net. The field is overgrown with weeds.
Charlie and Anna against William and Stephen. Charlie goes barefoot.
Rosalin sat in the chair, watching the game.
The tennis ball flies back and forth.
William hit the ball and hit Charlie.
Charlie serves. Anna guards the net. The tennis ball hits Ana's ass. Charlie smiled.
Stephen served and the ball was caught.
Stephen rushed to the net. Ana moves back and forth on the other side of the net.
Lens shoots sunlight.
William hits the ball between Charlie and Anna.
Ana tried desperately to get the ball back, only to throw it out of bounds and into the bushes.
Stephen hit a lob at the net. Charlie headed back.
Charlie serves and hits Ana.
William threw the ball hard and hit Charlie, who was hit on his back.
A telephoto shot across a tennis court.
Rosalind's chair was empty, and she was gone. HOUSE -
KITCHEN
Rosalin is cutting a sandwich. Stephen came in.
Stephen: What are you doing?
Rosalind: Make refreshments.
Stephen: I asked them to stay for dinner.
She looked at him.
Rosalind: Dinner?
Stephen: No, dinner. Cold cuts dinner.
Rosalind: Are they going to stay?
Stephen: I don't know. But I will prepare. I'm here to... make dinner.
Kettle turned on.
Rosalind: Mention the kettle.
Stephen went to carry the kettle.
EXTERIOR,
BACK GARDEN, LAWN, WEST SHADOW at dusk . A cart with refreshments.
Anna and Stephen were reclining on the grass next to cups, saucers, leftover sandwiches and cakes.
William was standing near them, practising hitting the ball with the child's cricket bat.
Stephen: Do you have any... siblings?
Anna: A younger sister.
Stephen: Is she pretty?
Anna: Yes.
William leaned over to Anna.
William (to Anna) Go for a walk, eh?
Anna: Oh, I'm very comfortable like this.
William straightened up and stood there for a moment. Then he picked up a tennis ball and played with it. Then he hit it with the bat against the wall of the house. He strolled over to look for the ball.
Anna looked at Stephen and smiled.
Anna: It's really nice here.
Stephen: Yes...that's it.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: I want to go for a walk.
Anna: I'll go with you.
Stephen lowered his hand towards her. She jumped up herself. She laughed.
He led her across the lawn to the bushes.
EXT. PATH Across the grass
Stephen and Anna walk through a grass field on the edge of the tennis court and are walking up the hill.
Blades of grass were swishing from their legs.
Stephen: Do you like William?
Anna: Why are you asking?
Speechless. Their legs are moving.
Anna's face.
Anna: Are many mentors like you?
Stephen: Of course not.
Location, a hybrid woods
a long shot.
They appear in the shot, through changing light, through the woods, and into a small bush.
Fading sunlight refracted from the jungle. They were silent.
The sound of their footsteps through the bushes. Bird calls. The sound of insects coming from the ground.
Anna stopped, clutching a branch in her hand.
The two were silent. Various sounds of nature.
Stephen: Watch out. There's a spider web here.
Anna watched him.
Anna: I'm not afraid.
She walked away slowly. He followed.
EXT. SECTION OF PIGGED EDGE A section of staked fence
overlooks a valley.
They stood by the stake fence.
Anna: What a beautiful view.
Stephen: I think you'll enjoy seeing it here.
Their hands rested on the stake fence, and although they were close together, they were not together.
Anna: It's so kind of you to invite me here to enjoy the view.
Silent.
Stephen's hand gripped the stake fence.
He looked at her.
Stephen: No, don't say that. It's a pleasure to see you.
They stood silently. He stared at her. She stared at the scene in front of her. She turned to look at him.
Anna: Should we go back now?
Stephen: Alright.
KITCHEN
Charlie opens a bottle of beer. Rosalind came in.
Rosalind: Oh, hello.
Charlie: Hello. how do you feel?
Rosalind: All right. How is Laura?
Charlie: Good. It's ok...you know...I really don't know...I can't see her anymore.
Pause for a while.
Charlie: I'm always busy. You know . . . one thing after another.
Rosalind: You look terrible.
Charlie: Me? I feel great.
Rosalind poured beer into his glass.
Rosalind: Well, drinking too much hurts the body.
Charlie: I know.
EXT - PATH THAT CUTS THE MEDICAL PATH THEY ARE WAYING BACK
.
long shot.
Stephen: Would you like to stay for dinner?
Anna: I would, but I don't know what William is going to do.
Stephen: He will stay.
HOUSE, KITCHEN - Twilight
Charlie drinks beer. Stephen came in.
Stephen: Did you see William?
Charlie: No. How are you doing?
Stephen: All right. What do you want to say?
Charlie pours beer. Stephen opened a bottle.
Charlie: What did Rosalin think?
Stephen poured beer.
Stephen: What do you think?
William's eyes were on the door.
William: Did you see Anna?
Charlie and Stephen: No.
They looked at each other. Charlie left the kitchen.
Stephen: Stay for dinner, okay?
William: We should go.
Stephen: It's all arranged.
HOUSE, DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Stephen opens the wine bottle in the sideboard. He set the salad bowl on the table. He walked quickly to the sideboard, took out a bottle of whisky, filled himself with a large glass, and took a sip.
There was a voice from the front of the house.
He went to the window.
In the twilight, Rosalind and Anna walked into the driveway, with the dog by their side, talking softly as they walked.
Stephen leaned out of the window.
Stephen: Where are the kids?
The two ladies stopped.
Rosalind: Not yet. Went outside for tea.
Stephen (talking to himself): How come I don't know.
Rosalind: How was dinner?
Stephen: Almost ready.
Stephen took the whisky bottle and went out the door.
- LIVING ROOM
Stephen walks through the living room to the living room.
Rosalind and Anna walked through the front door.
Rosalind: I think it's been about 10 years.
Anna: You are a natural couple.
HOUSE, LIVING ROOM
Charlie and William are reclining in chairs with beer. Stephen came in with the bottle.
Stephen: Have some whiskey.
INTERIOR, HOUSE, RESTAURANT,
NIGHT The men are sitting at the table.
Anna and Rosalin are clearing out the soup plate and replacing it with the main plate.
The bottle of whisky is empty. There are two empty wine bottles and half of the wine bottles left on the table.
Stephen: Who made that soup? I didn't make any soup.
Charlie: Your wife! This stunning soup from your beautiful wife! This is such a delicious soup. My wife is beautiful too, isn't it, Rosalind?
Rosalind: Yes.
Charlie (to Anna): As pretty as that soup.
William wobbled in his seat.
Charlie (to Anna): She's rich, smart, and beautiful. And we already have three kids. Don't forget this. And she understands me...
Stephen: And.
Charlie: And...we're all old friends. him and his wife. Me and my wife. Don't forget this.
Stephen: But he's more successful than me because he's been on TV.
Anna (to Charlie) Did you speak on TV?
Charlie: What do you think I'm doing on TV, playing the flute?
Anna: What are you talking about?
Charlie: I'll talk about whatever comes to your mind.
Stephen: He talks about history, zoology—
Charlie: Anthropology, sociology. . .
Stephen: Sociology!
Charlie: Eat all day at school!
Stephen: And sex. in this order.
Rosalind: He's a good fit for the media.
STEPHEN (to Rosalind) You mean I'm not suitable for the media.
Charlie: They won't let you near the media at all.
Stephen stretched his arm and pointed to Charlie at the opposite table.
Stephen: Your producer is seeing me next week.
Charlie: My producer?
Stephen: Your producer.
William collapsed on the dining table. Rosalin got up and walked to Anna. They whispered.
Charlie: What, with old Bill Smith?
Stephen: He asked me to meet him.
Charlie: Are you going to be on the show I was on?
Stephen: I'm going to squeeze you out completely, boy.
Rosalind: Stephen, he wants to drive back.
Stephen: Who is driving?
Rosalind: William.
Stephen: Impossible. He is drunk.
Anna: I'll drive.
Charlie: You don't have a driver's license yet.
Anna: William, can I drive?
Rosalind: Farewell. You all have to stay.
William: I want to drive.
Anna: Oh, we'd better stay.
Stephen: Let me go.
Rosalind: No, you don't too.
Stephen: Charlie can drive!
William stood up. His chair fell too.
William: Oh, hell...
Stephen got up and walked over to him.
Stephen: Listen, silly boy. You are a little drunk. You can stay.
William: Why the fuck do you want us to stay?
Rosalind took William's arm.
Rosalind: Oh, don't be too arrogant.
She took him out. Anna followed.
Stephen leaned against the table. He stared at Charlie across the table, and he stared back at him.
Relatively silent.
Stephen walked to the door.
Stephen: Excuse me?
Charlie: Of course, dear man.
INT, KITCHEN,
NIGHT The sink tap is fully open. Stephen's head was bent under the faucet. He turned off the faucet, put the towel over his head, and slumped into the chair.
Charlie came in, wobbly, and leaned against the door frame.
Charlie: They stayed.
Silent.
Charlie: In which room is everyone... arranged?
Pause for a while.
Stephen: How the hell did I know that?
Pause for a while.
Charlie: What a wonderful day.
STEPHEN (carefully): It's a great comfort to know that you're having a good time here. Good night.
Charlie: Good night.
Charlie walked out the kitchen door.
KITCHEN - LATER The
dog is looking up.
Stephen slumped into the chair, woke up suddenly, and looked at his watch. He stood up, closed his eyes, and walked to the door.
- Living Room
Stephen has turned off the living room lights. He looked at the stairs. With the dim light at the top of the stairs, he saw a woman in a long nightgown with embroidered cuffs coming upstairs. He stared back. She is gone.
BEDROOM
He enters the bedroom, closes the door, and stands still.
A woman is lying on an old-fashioned drapery bed.
He was a little surprised, but also a little happy.
He spoke softly:
Stephen: Anna.
He walked to the bed, and when he looked down, it was Rosalin.
- BEDROOM
Stephen climbs into bed. He stroked his wife.
STEPHEN (softly speaking) Rosalind. (Pause.) Honey?
Rosalind (giggling): What?
Stephen: I love you.
INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION BUILDING - DAY
Stephen is seated at a low table in the all-glass reception room on the third floor. A receptionist sat behind his desk, some distance from him. Stephen flipped through the magazine. It was a business magazine.
The camera took a picture of Charlie and a few others, titled "The Talk Show."
the phone is ringing. The receptionist picks up the phone.
Receptionist: Front desk reception...yes...I understand...thank you.
She put down the phone.
Receptionist (to Stephen): I'm sorry Mr Smith isn't here. Would you like to meet Mr. Bell?
Stephen: Oh... ok, no problem.
Receptionist (pointing to hallway): He's on the fifth floor, go left.
- Corridor
Stephen walks down the hallway. On either side are some box-like offices made of wood and glass. As he walked past, various voices came from the office.
A door marked: Mr. Bell, Assistant, Parlor.
BELL'S OFFICE -
BELL 'S OFFICE Bell rises from behind his desk. The secretary is sitting in the corner, typing. There was an indistinct noise from the next office. A construction site can be seen from the window behind Bell. Cranes, bulldozers and more. Bell is wearing a cardigan.
Bell (holding hands): Hello... I'm Bell. remember me? I am Bell.
Stephen: Oh oh...
Bell: I went to Oxford.
Stephen: Of course. How are you doing?
Bell: Bill Smith is sick. He is hospitalized.
Stephen: Oh, I'm sorry.
Bell: I'm about to go and see him. Please take a seat. (to secretary) Got that folder?
The secretary went to the file cabinet. Stephen sat down.
Stephen: I really...don't know him very well.
Bell: You don't know him?
Bell took the folder and rummaged through it.
Bell: What does he want you to do, you know?
STEPHEN: I think he... um...
Bell (flips through folder): Have you ever met Francesica?
Stephen: Who?
Bell: Francesica. The Provost's daughter. Daughter of the Provost of Oxford University.
Stephen: Ah... yes. No, haven't seen it.
Bell (smiles across): You know her well.
Stephen: I have been married for several years.
Bell: OK. (Finds the letter.) Ah... Found it. Bill wants you to be on the "talk show." I'm going to visit him in a while. He was very sick.
A man hurried into the office.
Man: What happened to Bill?
Bell: He's very ill. Live in the hospital.
man: what!
The man slumped down. the phone is ringing.
Secretary (answering the phone): I'm Mr. Bell's secretary.
Stephen: Okay...
Secretary (answering the phone): I guess he remembered me.
Man: He was fine yesterday. I also had a drink with him.
The secretary put his hand on the receiver.
Secretary: Mr. Deiss.
Bell waved his hand impatiently.
Man: It's unbelievable.
Secretary (to phone): No, sorry he's not here.
Bell: Listen, what I want to tell you is that I don't know what his plan is, you know.
Man: What happened to him?
Secretary (on the phone): Okay, I'll pass the news to him.
Bell stood up.
Bell: Maybe I should tell you. (To the man.) He broke down last night. Look, why don't you come along and see him too? I am now planning to visit him in the hospital.
Man: When are you going?
Bell: I'm leaving now. (Shakes hands with Stephen.) Well, that's it. Really Sorry. Say hello to Francesica for me.
Stephen: I didn't see her.
Man: You're leaving right now, right?
Bell: I told you, and I'll go right away. I'll go now.
TELEPHONE BOOT
His bow tie is reflected in a square mirror.
He is dialing the phone. The sound of the phone dialing. no answer. He changed hands to hold the microphone.
A voice suddenly came from the receiver: "Hello".
He held on to the phone and didn't move.
Phone voice: "Hello".
He raised the phone and spoke.
Stephen: Francesica?
EXT. STREET OF THE APARTMENT - NIGHT
Stephen walks to the door of the apartment. He stopped and walked to the edge of the sidewalk. He went through the door and stopped.
He turned around and walked in.
The next scene with him and Francesica is silent. The only dialogue heard is the sound superimposed on the screen at fixed moments. These voices are fragments of real conversations. They are not ideas. But these sounds are not accompanied by the actor's lips moving. They appear in conjunction with the scene to form a commentary on the action when the body is separated from the speech.
FRANCESICA'S APARTMENT, NIGHT LIVING ROOM
.
Francesica walked to the wine table. She smiled. She is no longer young.
Her Voice (Voiceover): You haven't changed at all! Not at all!
A record was played on the player.
Stephen stood, his eyes following her figure, his eyes surveying.
His voice-over (happily): It's so nice to meet you!
Francesica took a wine glass, handed it to him, and poured some soda into it.
Her Voice (Voiceover): I was in the shower when you called!
She turned around and went back to get the wine.
Stephen was sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine.
HIS VOICE (Voiceover): How should I put it, about 10 years.
Francesica stood at the wine table, looking thoughtful, pouring soda water into the wine glass at the same time.
Her Voice (Voiceover): 10 years! Can't even imagine!
They were sitting on the sofa, clinking glasses.
Her Voice (Voiceover): I can't imagine it, but it's been 10 years.
HIS VOICE (Voiceover): There must be.
Her Voice (Voiceover): Yes.
Francesica turned off the silent record player.
She went to the bedroom. When she was gone:
His voice (voiceover): You don't look old at all.
Her Voice (Voiceover): Oh yeah? I have gained 10 years.
Francesica took her coat on as she came out of the bedroom.
Stephen walked up to her and helped her put on her coat. She leaned back, pressed her cheek to his, and kissed his cheek.
Her voice (off-screen): How is your wife?
The apartment door was closed. The lights also went out.
living room. Only the night light from the window.
The house is also empty.
His Voice (Voiceover): What a beautiful dress, what a beautiful coat! You look radiant. RESTAURANT - NIGHT Stephen and Francesica are sitting
at the
dining table.
The waiter is pouring wine into glasses.
Stephen and Francesica looked at each other.
His face, eyes fixed.
her face, gaze.
Her Voice (Voiceover): I joined consumer research. do you know? Very interesting.
Francesica laughs while rejecting the potatoes offered by the waiter.
Stephen asked the waiter for more potatoes and grinned.
His voice-over (gently): Remember those times in the car? remember? Remember?
Francesica is eating.
Her voice-over (gently): Of course I do.
The two chatted while eating.
Her voiceover (softly): I remember.
Francesica took the cigarette Stephen handed her.
She looked at him, cigarette in her mouth, as he searched for a lighter in his pocket.
Her voiceover: I should be on a diet, I'm too fat.
He lights a cigarette for her.
Her Voice (Voiceover): So you already have three? three children. It's amazing.
EXT, RESTAURANT - NIGHT A
doorman opens the taxi door for them. Stephen handed him the tip.
His voiceover: You are not fat.
FRANCESICA'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM, DIMENSIONAL TABLE LIGHT AT NIGHT
. Stephen sat, leaning forward.
Her Voice (Voiceover): I'm happy.
The bathroom door opened. She came out, walked across the house, towards him.
Her Voice (Voiceover): My life is happy.
Interior, bedroom, night
Francesca Sica and Stephen lying in bed, naked. His eyes are open. She was lying in his arms with her eyes closed.
Her Voice (Voiceover): Have I changed?
His Voice (Voiceover): You're still the same.
Her Voice (Voiceover): Still the same as me? Is it still the same as I used to...?
His voice (voiceover): Same.
HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Stephen turns on the lights in the living room. He slumped down at the table in the living room, holding his head in his hands.
There is a pile of letters on the table.
Silent.
There was a creaking upstairs.
He looked up warily.
There was another noise.
He stood up, nervous, and looked around for something.
There were footsteps coming downstairs. He looked up.
Charlie's gaze was over the balustrade. He went downstairs and sat down halfway down. He was wearing a nightgown.
Charlie: Hello.
Pause for a while.
Stephen: Hello. I just got back from London.
Charlie: I know.
Ana appears at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a singlet and trousers and had bare feet.
Stephen looked up at her.
Finally his eyes fell on Charlie.
Stephen: I went to meet the people at the TV station.
Anna didn't move. Silent.
Charlie: Did you see them?
Stephen: I'm hungry.
Stephen walked down the aisle to the kitchen.
INT - KITCHEN
TABLE CLEARING A BREAKFAST PLACE.
Stephen walked to the refrigerator. The refrigerator light reflected his face. He takes out the eggs. Stephen stood with the egg in his hand.
Anna and Charlie are standing by the kitchen door. Anna whispered something to Charlie.
Stephen cracked the eggs in a bowl and removed a frying pan.
Stephen: I'm going to make an omelette.
Charlie: We don't want to eat anything.
Stephen poured butter into the bottom of the pan.
Anna: Shall I fry?
Charlie: Will you?
Anna sat at the table, took out a crumpled cigarette case and matches from her trouser pocket, and lit a cigarette.
Charlie: Can I have a cigarette?
She slid the pack of cigarettes across the table. He lit one.
Stephen heated the pan and started frying the eggs.
Charlie: I wrote you a letter. The letter is in the living room outside. You haven't seen it yet.
Stephen: I left early in the morning.
CHARLIE (to Anna): Bring the letter.
She sat motionless. Charlie grinned and went into the living room.
Stephen cracked the egg at the bottom of the pot. Anna smokes.
Charlie came back with two letters and threw one of them on the table.
Charlie: This is it. (Looking at the other one.) Here's another letter from you. My wife wrote to you. A personal letter. Open it.
Stephen held the handle of the pot. Charlie opened the letter and began to read.
Silent.
Stephen shook the pot.
Charlie (reading aloud): B-dah, b-d-dah, b-d-dah, b-dah…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You don't have to show him that this is the greatest thing in his life. Sooner or later you might hint to him that he'll be utterly bored of her. I certainly believe it, but it's certainly embarrassing to suggest that in the situation I'm in right now. I've always been worried that if things got to this point, I'm sure it would ruin everything. I love you, Laura. P.S.: For God's sake, don't say I wrote you a letter.
Charlie threw the letter on the table and grinned at Anna and Stephen. Stephen put the omelette plate on the table. Charlie sat down to eat eggs. Pause for a while.
Anna: I thought you didn't want to eat anything.
Charlie: I don't want to.
Anna: Then why do you still eat?
Charlie: Mind your own damn business!
Charlie pushed the plate aside.
Stephen sat at the table and continued to eat fried eggs.
The three of them sat at the table.
Stephen pushed the plate away and left the kitchen.
INT, STAIRS, PLATFORMS
Stephen stands at the landing and surveys the guest room along the aisle.
The room door is open.
He walked to the door and entered.
- Guest Room
Stephen looks around. Sheets and pillows on the bed were messy. Sheets and blankets fell to the floor. Charlie's clothes were thrown on the chair. Anna's shoes are on the floor. Handbags and tissue paper rest on the dressing table. He left the room and walked to the bathroom.
BATHROOM
Stephen looks at his face in the mirror, wipes his mouth neatly with a towel, then looks for a bath towel. He glanced around the bedroom. A bath towel was thrown on the ground. There was the sound of dripping water from the bathroom.
Anna passed the bathroom door.
LANDING
Stephen is standing on the landing, looking down the aisle to view the guest room. Anna is making the bed.
Charlie's voice came from downstairs: "Hello, hello, yes, this is 146 Palin Road... hello."
INTERNATIONAL GUEST ROOM
Anna is leaning over the bed to clean up. She looked up.
Stephen: What are you doing?
Anna: Make the bed.
Stephen: There's no need to do this. Every morning someone comes to clean up.
Anna: I can do it.
Stephen: Please let it go.
She stopped, walked over to her handbag, and put tissue paper in it.
Anna: We're leaving.
Charlie's voice came downstairs: "Yes, a taxi. Now. Go to Oxford."
Stephen: You'd better stay here. It's getting late.
Anna and Stephen looked at each other.
Charlie's voice: "Right now. Okay. That's it."
Anna and Stephen continued to look at each other.
Charlie's voice, going up the stairs: "Anna! I've already called a taxi."
INT . LANDING CAMERA
shows Anna and Stephen standing in the house.
Charlie walked down the aisle to the guest room.
INTERIOR, ROOM
Charlie is at the door of the house.
Charlie: The taxi is on its way.
Anna: I'm waiting downstairs.
Anna is out.
Charlie: Shut the door, for God's sake.
Stephen closed the door. Charlie started getting dressed quickly.
Charlie: It was her idea. She knew Rosalind wasn't there, and she said you wouldn't mind.
Stephen: I don't mind. This has nothing to do with me.
Charlie: This is your fucking house!
Charlie barely got dressed.
Charlie: Anyway, I wrote you a letter, but you didn't get that damn letter.
Stephen: When did it start?
Charlie: What? Oh, a few weeks ago. I always go to her room in the afternoon. The door wasn't even locked. Anyone can go in. One time someone went in. a girl. Can you imagine?
Charlie picked up his socks and sat on the bed.
Charlie: I basically sleep in Oxford now. There's no way to host her there, right? So where the hell am I going to date her?
Stephen: I thought she and William...were a close couple.
Charlie: They are! But just friends. doesn't mean anything. She is not a prostitute.
He puts on his shoes.
Charlie: I don't know what to do, you know. I couldn't resist her temptation.
There was the sound of a taxi.
Stephen walked to the window and lifted the curtains.
Saw a taxi parked. The driver got out of the car and walked to the front door. A beam of light shone on the gravel outside.
Charlie: I don't know what to do.
The driver walked back to the taxi and sat in the car waiting.
Stephen turned from the window.
Stephen: Where's your car?
Charlie: Laura is driving.
Stephen: I'm going to see Rosalind tomorrow. She lives at her mother's house. Then, I'll go to William's house. He invited me to his place. You can take her over the weekend.
Pause for a while.
Charlie: Thank you.
He put on his jacket and brushed his hair.
Charlie: It's because of the kids, you know. I haven't been there yet. They miss me too.
From downstairs came Anna's call: "The taxi is waiting."
Charlie shouted: "Come on!"
Charlie picked up his pajamas and handed it to Stephen.
This is your pajamas.
STEPHEN (takes it): May I ask you a question?
Charlie: What?
Stephen: How did you get in at night?
Charlie: Through the bathroom window.
Stephen: You're too old for this.
Charlie: Yes, I'm getting old.
Stephen: Here's a key for you.
Charlie: Thank you.
Charlie walked to the door.
Stephen: One more question.
Charlie (with weariness): What?
Stephen: Last Sunday night, you all stayed overnight. Did you sleep here with her?
Pause for a while.
Charlie: Of course yes.
COUNTRY ROSALIN'S MOTHER'S HOUSE, GARDEN, DAY
Stephen and Rosalind on a bench.
He closed his eyes. The sun is shining.
Rosalind (drowsily) Did you see anyone in London?
Stephen: No.
Pause for a while.
Rosalind: What about the people at the TV station?
Stephen: Nothing. have nothing to say. (He looks at her.) You look in good spirits.
Rosalind: I feel good. I feel great.
Pause for a while.
Rosalind: I hope you can stay.
Stephen: I think so too.
Rosalind: You'll have a good time with William, though, won't you? All the aristocrats came.
Stephen grunted contemptuously and sat down on the deck chair.
She looked at him.
Rosalind: What's the matter?
EXT - CHARLIE AND LAURA'S COUNTRY HOUSE, GARDEN, DAY
A hose runs from the lawn to the flowerbed.
Water is spraying.
Stephen walked into the garden through the back door.
He walked through the garden.
Laura came into the camera and she stopped. He waved and walked over.
Laura watched him approach.
Stephen: Hello, Laura.
Laura: Hello, Stephen.
Stephen: The door is open. Are you OK?
Laura: All right.
He looked at the water pipe.
Stephen: What are you doing?
Laura: Charlie's not here.
Stephen: I got your letter.
Pause for a while.
Laura: I'm tidying up the garden.
Stephen: How would you fix the garden?
Laura: Take good care of them.
EXT, ROSALIN'S MOTHER'S HOUSE, GARDEN
Shots of Stephen and Rosalind.
Stephen: I came home from London and found Charlie and Anna there.
Rosalind: Charlie and Anna?
Stephen: Yes.
Rosalind: Are they together? in the house?
Stephen: Yes. I came home late and a little drunk. I'm so...surprised.
Rosalind: Why are you drunk?
Stephen: Oh, my dinner with Francesica. Do you remember. Do you remember Francesica?
Rosalind: I remember.
Stephen: Just called her, you know. The meeting was very pleasant.
Pause for a while.
Rosalind: He slept with her, didn't he?
Stephen: Who?
Rosalind: Charlie and Anna.
Stephen: Definitely.
Rosalind: It's so boring.
Stephen: What do you mean?
Rosalind: Poor stupid old man.
Stephen: He's not old.
Rosalind: Stupid idiot.
Pause for a while.
Rosalind: Does Laura know?
Stephen: Yes.
Rosalind: What about the child? Did you tell them?
EXT - LAURA'S HOUSE, GARDEN
Laura repositions the water pipes in the flowerbed. Stephen stood aside.
Stephen: It's okay...you know.
Laura: Wha
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