INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
Robert and Francesca are in the middle of dinner. But insteadof the usual silence that surrounds Johnson family eating,Francesca is mesmerized1 by Robert as he manages to eat andtell a story. The scene begins with a LAUGH FROM FRANCESCA.
ROBERT(laughs)... No, wait, it gets better.
He stands up and acts it out for her.
ROBERT (cont'd)You have to get the full picturehere. I have three cameras around myneck, a tripod in one hand and mypants down around my ankles. Ithought this was a private bush. Ilook up and this gorilla2, this femalegorilla, is staring at me with whatcan best be described as the mostlascivious expression I've ever seenon a female with so much body hair.
(Francesca laughs)I freeze. 'Cause that's what they tellyou to do. In this position. She comestowards me and... and she...
(he stops awkwardly)FRANCESCAWhat?
ROBERTShe starts sniffing3 me.
FRANCESCAOh my God...
(laughs)You're blushing.
ROBERTIt's still a very sensitive memoryfor me.
FRANCESCAThen what happened?
ROBERTWe got engaged.
FRANCESCAOh you!
She throws a napkin at him.
FRANCESCA (cont'd)None of this is true!
ROBERTNo, it is. Except for the engagementpart. She wouldn't have me, althoughI still get a Valentine every year.
Francesca is laughing so hard she can't breath. Robert lovesmaking her laugh.
FRANCESCAYou ought to write these storiesdown.
ROBERTNah. I've tried. My writing's tootechnical, I think. Problem of beinga journalist too long is you stopgiving yourself permission to invent.
I better just stick to making pictures.
FRANCESCA"Making pictures." I like that. Youreally love what you do, don't you?
ROBERT(nods, smiles shyly)I'm kind of obsessed4 by it, actually.
FRANCESCAWhy, do you think?
ROBERTI don't know if obsessions5 havereasons. I think that's why they'reobsessions.
FRANCESCAYou sound like an artist.
ROBERTNo. I wouldn't say that. NationalGeographic isn't exactly the hub ofartistic inspiration. They like theirwild life in focus and without anypersonal comment. I don't mindreally. I'm not artist. I'd faced thata long time ago. It's the course ofbeing well-adjusted. I'm too normal.
FRANCESCA(supportively)I don't think you're normal.
He looks at her in surprise. She catches herself again.
FRANCESCAI didn't mean that the way it sounded.
ROBERTWell, let's just call it a complimentand move on.
(changes subject)Did you love teaching?
FRANCESCA (cont'd)Sometimes. When there was a particularstudent who made a difference. I knowthey're all supposed to, but it's nottrue. You tend to single out one ortwo you think you can contributesomething to.
ROBERTAnd did you?
FRANCESCAI'd like to think so. I know one ofthem went on to Medical school.
ROBERTWhy did you stop?
FRANCESCAMy children. And Richard didn't likemy working.
ROBERTDo you miss it?
FRANCESCAI don't know. I've never thoughtabout it... what was the mostexciting place you've ever been to?
Unless you're tired of talking aboutit.
ROBERTYou're asking a man if he's too tiredto talk about himself? You don't getout much, do you?
Francesca smiles, a little embarrassed.
ROBERTI'm sorry. That was...
FRANCESCA(overlapping)No. It's all right. I just meant, itmight be a little dull for you,telling all this to some housewifein the middle of nowhere.
ROBERTThis is your home. It's not nowhere.
And it's not dull.
Francesca smiles again, this time relieved.
ROBERTLet's see -- my favorite place...
Francesca settles in to listen, never taking her eyes off of him.
ROBERT (cont'd)Well, it's the obvious choice, but Ithink I'd have to say Africa. It'sanother world. Not just the peopleand the cultures but the land, thecolors you see at dawns and dusks --and the life there. It charges everymolecule of air.
Francesca is fascinated, being drawn6 into his imagery.
ROBERT (cont'd)It's tangible7 -- the moment to momentof life and death, the co-habitationof man and beast, of beast and beast,who'll survive, who won't -- andthere's no judgement about it. Noright or wrong or imposed morality.
It's just life. It's a voyeursparadise really because those animalsdon't want anybody in their business.
You can watch but at a distance.
(excited)I remember one time I was on a truckheaded for the Niger.
Lights begin to dim as Francesca is so taken in by his story,she begins to actually see what he is describing.
ROBERT (cont'd)We were driving north. The truck wasold so I guess the sound of the motormuffled this kind of rumbling8 in thedistance -- until finally, it was uponus like, like a hundred thunder clapsall at once...
CU on FRANCESCA as WE BLEND THE SOUNDS OF AFRICA and --CUT TO:
EXT. AFRICA - DAYRobert and a driver are in a truck driving north. Robertturns to look out the window and sees:
A HERD9 OF GIRAFFES AND GAZELLES AND WATERBUCKS AND ZEBRA arerunning in the grasslands10 to the right of the truck. Robertexcitedly instructs the driver:
ROBERTGet us closer!!
The driver veers11 off towards the stampede as Robert opens hisdoor and makes his way to the flatbed part of the truck withhis camera. The truck takes its position within thisbreathtaking force of wildlife, as giraffes, zebras andgazelles surround it -- all going in the same direction.
Robert stands in the truck, shooting as fast as he can. Thetruck races to keep up with the animals. Robert is so pumpedhe can hardly catch his breath. Suddenly, the force andbeauty of these creatures causes him to lower his camera. Heis unable to film it because it overwhelms him. He juststands there in awe13 and lets out a primal14 scream. The animalsgradually veer12 off to where the truck can no longer follow.
Robert watches them disappear into the distance.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. JOHNSON KITCHEN - NIGHTFrancesca has seen all of this in her mind. Robert smiles ather, sensing how in tune15 with the story she was.
FRANCESCAMy God. How I'd love to see that.
ROBERTThey have safaris16 for tourists now.
Maybe you can convince your husband.
Francesca smiles. There is an awkward pause between them.
ROBERT (cont'd)It's a beautiful night. Would youlike to go for a walk?
FRANCESCAWell, it's kind of buggy out there.
ROBERT(rises)Have no fear. This Shoshone MedicineWoman taught me how to make bugrepellent tea out of tree root.
FRANCESCAYou drink bug17 repellent?
ROBERTNo, you rub it on you. I have some inthe truck. Don't go away.
She shakes her head. He runs out the screen door, not lettingit slam. Francesca looks like a teenager with first dateexcitement. 以后整天时间他就在当地的报馆里翻过期的报刊.小镇挺秀丽,有一个满舒服的县政府广场,他就坐在那里树荫下的长板凳上吃午饭,一小袋水果,一些面包,还有从街对过咖啡馆里买的一瓶可乐.
他走进咖啡馆去买可乐时刚过午后.就像在早年荒野的西部酒馆里出现了当地的枪手一样,热闹的谈话中断了,大家都打量他.他讨厌这样,觉得不自在,但这是所有小镇的标准程序有个新来的人!跟我们不一样!他是谁!他来这儿干什么?有人说他是个摄影师.说是看见他今天早晨在桥那儿,带着各式各样的相机.他卡车的牌子说他是从西部华盛顿那边来的.整个早晨都在报馆里.吉姆翻报纸找关于廊桥的资料.是啊.德士古的小费歇尔说他昨天到过那里打听去所有廊桥和路.他要知道这干什么?怎么会真有人要这些桥的照片?都挺破的,快塌了.他头发可真长,有点儿像那些'甲壳虫'的家伙,或者还有那个叫什么玩意儿来着?嬉皮士!是不是?"这句话引起后边雅座里和邻桌一阵哄笑.
金凯拿着可乐走出门去,那些目光还在盯着他.也许他请弗朗西丝卡出来是犯了一个错误,为她着想,不是为他自己.如果有人在杉树桥看见她,第二天早餐时话就会传到咖啡馆,然后由德士古加油站的小费歇尔接过过往行人的小钱之后一站一站传下去.也许比这还快.
他已经体会到千万不能低估小镇传递小消息的电传效应.对苏丹饿死二百万儿童可以完全无动于衷,可是理查德的妻子和一个长头发的陌生人在一起出现,这可是是大新闻!这新闻可以不胫而走,可以细细咀嚼,可以在听的人的心中引起一种模糊的肉欲,成为那一年中他们感觉到的唯一的波澜.
他吃完午饭走到县府广场停车场的公用电话亭,拨了她的号码,铃响三次时她接电话,稍稍有点气喘."喂,还是罗伯特.金凯."她立刻胃里一阵紧缩,她想,他来不了啦,一定是打电话来告诉我这个.我直接了当说吧.由于小镇人的好奇心,如果你今晚跟我一块出来有问题,那就别勉强.坦率地说,我对这里的人怎么想我完全不在乎,爱怎么想就怎么想,我晚些时候会到你这儿来的.我要说的是我可能不该请你出来,所以你无论如何不必勉强来,尽管我很愿意你跟我一起去."自从上次通话之后她也一直在想这个问题.但是她已一定决心."不,我想看你工作,我不担心闲话."她实际是担心的,但是自己身上有某种东西在主宰着,要做冒点风险的事.不管付出什么代价,她就是要到杉树桥去.好极了.我只是想再核实一下,呆会儿见.好吧!
他四点钟回到旅馆,在洗涤池里洗了点衣服,穿上一件干净衬衫,另外放了一件在卡车里还有一条咔叽布裤子和一双凉鞋,那凉鞋是他在一九六二年摄制关于通向大吉岭的那条微型铁路的新闻时在印度买的.在一家小酒馆买了两箱六瓶装的布德威瑟啤酒,把其中八瓶最多能放进八瓶放进冷藏箱,排在那些胶卷周围.
天很热.又真正地热起来了.依阿华午后的太阳淫威所到之处,水泥.砖.土已吸足了热气近黄昏时更火上添油,从西方火辣辣地照过来.
小酒馆很暗,还算凉快,前门开着,天花板上有大电扇,还有一台立式电扇在门口以105分贝的响声转着.不这不知怎的,那风扇的响声,阵啤酒味,电唱机的高音喇叭,还有酒吧前一张张半含敌意盯着他看的脸使他感觉这儿比实际更热.
外面公路上阳光炙人,他想的是喀斯喀特山脉和基达卡附近圣胡安.德.福卡海峡沿岸的枞树和清风.
不过弗朗西丝卡.约翰逊看起来挺凉快.她把她那辆福特卡车停在桥附近的树从后面.正倚着挡泥板站着.她还穿着那条特别合身的牛仔裤,凉鞋,那件白色针织圆领衬衫托得她身材倍加妩媚.他把车停在她的车旁,一边向她招招手.嗨!真高兴看见你.太热了!
在一个他有所动心的女人面前的老感觉又来了.除非谈严肃的事,他总是不知说什么好.虽然他很有幽默感,只是稍有点怪,但是他的思想本质上是严肃的,处事认真.他母亲常说他在四岁时就是大人了.作为一专业人员,这对他很好,但是从他的思想方法来说,这种性格在一个弗朗西丝卡这样的女人面前对他并不利.我想看你制作照片,你不管它叫'拍'.你马上就会看见的,而且你会发现这相当枯燥.至少其他人一般都这样认为.这跟听别人弹钢琴不一样,那你能参地进去共同欣赏,摄影这玩意儿,制作和表演之间要隔很长时间.今天我只是制作,等照片在什么地方登出来,那才是表演.你今天要看到的只是大量的胡摆乱弄.不过太欢迎你来了,事实上你来了我很高兴."她反复品味着最后几个字,他不一定需要说.他可以说到欢迎为止,但是他没有止于此.他是真诚地高兴看到她,这很清楚.他希望她到这儿来的本身也能使她体会到同样的意思.我能帮你什么忙吗?你可以帮着拿那个蓝背包,我拿那个土黄色的三脚架.
于是弗朗西丝卡成了摄影师助手.他刚才说的不对.可看的多着呢.这是某种表演,只是他自己没有意识到.她昨天就注意到了这一点.他把她吸引住,部分也是因为这个.他优美的风度,犀利的目光,正在工作的上臂的肌肉,特别是他移动身体的姿势.所有她认识的男人与他相比都显得笨手笨脚.
但不是他行动匆忙,相反,他完全从容不迫.他有一种羚羊般的素质,尽管她看得出他柔韧而坚强.也许他更像豹而不像羚羊.是的,豹,就是它.她感觉得出来他不是被捕食物,而是相反.弗朗西丝卡,请递给我那架有蓝背带的相机.
她打开背包,拿出相机,对这些他随随便便摆弄的昂贵的器材特别小心翼翼.相机的镀铬的取景器上刻着"尼康",左上角有一个"F"字母.
他此刻正跪桥的东北方向,三脚架调的很低,他伸出左手,眼睛没有离开取景器,她把相机递给他,看着他的手摸到相机后一把抓住镜头.他摆弄一下她昨天看见的从背心挂出来绳子的活塞,快门闪了一下,他扳了一下快门,又闪了一下.
他摸到了三架顶,拧松了螺丝钉,把相机卸下来换上了她给他的那架.他在拧紧新相机时回过头来向她笑着说:"谢谢,你是一流的助手."她脸微微红了一下.
天哪,他是怎么回事!他像从外星骑着彗星尾巴乘风而来落在她巷子口的什么生物.我为什么不能简单地说一句"不谢"?她想.我在他面前有点迟钝,但是这不是由于他的所为,是我自己,不是他.我就是不习惯和他这样思想敏捷的人在一起.
收听单词发音 |
1
mesmerized
|
|
| v.使入迷( mesmerize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
gorilla
|
|
| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sniffing
|
|
| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
obsessed
|
|
| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
obsessions
|
|
| n.使人痴迷的人（或物）( obsession的名词复数 )；着魔；困扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tangible
|
|
| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
rumbling
|
|
| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
herd
|
|
| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
grasslands
|
|
| n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
veers
|
|
| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的第三人称单数 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
veer
|
|
| vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
primal
|
|
| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
safaris
|
|
| n.游猎，陆路旅行（尤指在东非或中非）( safari的名词复数 )；类似游猎的假日旅行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
bug
|
|
| n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |