EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY
The mother stands on the street frantically1 calling for herdaughter.
MOTHERREBECCA!
The Maitre'd, Francesca and Robert exit the restaurant.
MOTHEROh my God...!
FRANCESCAWhat happened?
MOTHERI was paying the check. She ranoutside. I told her to wait for meright here! Oh God, where is she?
Rebecca!
The sidewalk is filled with people. Francesca looks toRobert. He recognizes the concern in her expression. Goinghome will have to wait.
ROBERTI'll check down here. Someone callthe police.
The Maitre'd goes back inside. Francesca comforts the mother.
FRANCESCAThink for a second. Is theresomeplace she said she wanted to go?
MOTHERI don't remember!
EXT. STREETRobert searches through the street, poking2 in and out ofstorefronts, looking across the street.
EXT. RESTAURANTFrancesca and the mother search in the opposite direction.
EXT. STREETThrough the crowd of people, Robert looks across the fourlane Main Street to a LARGE CITY PARK. He crosses to it.
INT. RESTAURANT - AN HOUR LATERFrancesca sits with the mother as TWO POLICEMEN take down adescription. The mother is crying. A waiter brings over somewater for her. The Maitre'd stands by.
MOTHERShe was right outside. I turned myhead for a second.
POLICEMANWhen was this?
FRANCESCAAbout an hour ago.
MOTHERThey're not going to find her!
FRANCESCAYes, they are.
At that moment, the mother looks up and cries.
MOTHERREBECCA!
She jumps out of her seat as all turn to see:
Robert holding the little girl in his arms, entering therestaurant. He carefully hands her over to the mother. Thetwo wrap their arms around each other. Francesca looks toRobert, loving him even more now.
FRANCESCAWhere was she?
ROBERTAcross the street. She went into thepark and got turned around and didn'tknow her way out.
MOTHERYou crossed the street by yourself?!
REBECCA(crying)It was a green light.
The mother is too relieved3 to be mad. Robert sits down.
MOTHERThank you so much!
ROBERT(frazzled)I need a drink.
Everyone laughs out of relief. Francesca wraps her arm aroundhis shoulder and kisses his forehead. He kisses her back.
INT. TRUCK - DUSKRobert drives as Francesca sits inside his arm. Neither speaks.
INT. JOHNSON HOUSE - DUSKFrancesca calmly leads Robert up to her bedroom.
INT. JOHNSON BEDROOMNaked, Francesca guides Robert into bed beneath the covers.
They begin to make love -- softly4, lovingly -- like a couplethat are beyond the erotic, discovery stage; a couple thathave been together and in love for years.
LATER -Francesca puts her arm around him as he nestles his head toher breast. Francesca strokes5 his hair as Robert closes hiseyes.
ROBERTI don't know why I'm so tired all ofa sudden.
FRANCESCALong day. Go to sleep.
ROBERTAm I too heavy for you?
FRANCESCANo.
Robert settles into her. But Francesca is wide awake.
Something is on her mind -- "Tomorrow? What happens aftertomorrow?"INT. KITCHEN - MORNINGFrancesca is serving Robert breakfast, then sits down besidehim. Silence. We can sense some tension6 between them -- thisbeing their last day together.
Francesca seems ingeniously7 friendly. Robert is suspicious8.
FRANCESCASleep all right?
ROBERTYes, thanks.
FRANCESCAGood. More coffee?
(he nods, she pours)Robert, I hope you don't mind myasking, but I feel like I should.
ROBERTWhat?
FRANCESCAWell, these... women friends ofyours... all over the world. Howdoes it work? Do you see some of themagain? Do you forget others? Do youwrite them now and then? How do youmanage it?
Her facetiousness9 startles10 Robert.
ROBERTI... What do you want?
FRANCESCAWell, I just want to know theprocedure. I don't want to upset yourroutine. Do you want any jam?
ROBERT(insulted)Routine11! I don't have a routine. Andif you think that's what this is -FRANCESCAWell, what is this?
ROBERT(upset)Well, why is that up to me? You'rethe one who's married. You told meyou have no intention of leaving yourhusband.
FRANCESCATo do what? Be with someone who needseveryone and no one in particular? Imean, what would be the point. Wouldyou pass the butter?
ROBERTI was honest with you. I told you whoI was.
FRANCESCAYes. Absolutely. You have this habitof not needing and that it's hard tobreak. I understand.
(beat)Of course, in that case, why sleep --you don't need rest or for thatmatter eat, you don't need food.
She takes his plate away from him, rises and throws it intothe sink.
ROBERTWhat are you doing?
FRANCESCA(sarcastic)Gee, I don't know. I guess I'm notcut out to be a World Citizen whoexperiences everything and nothingat the same time.
ROBERTHow do you know what I experience?
FRANCESCA(angry)I know you! What can this possiblymean to anyone who doesn't "need"meaning -(mocking)"Who goes with the Mystery" -- whopretends he isn't scared to death.
ROBERTStop it!
FRANCESCAYou have no idea what you've done tome, do you? And after you leave, I'mgoing to have to wonder for the restof my life what happened here. Ifanything happened at all! And I'llhave to wonder if you find yourselfin some... housewife's kitchen inRomania if you'll sit there and tellher about your world of good friendsand secretly include me in that group.
ROBERTWhat do you want me to say?
FRANCESCA(nonchantly)I don't want you to say anything. Idon't need you to say anything.
Robert rises, knocking his chair aside.
ROBERTSTOP IT!
FRANCESCAFine. More eggs or should we justfuck on the linoleum12 one last time?
ROBERT(grabs her)I told you! I won't apologize for whoI am.
FRANCESCANo one's asking you to!
ROBERTI won't be made to feel like I'vedone something wrong.
FRANCESCA(angry)You won't be made to feel! Period.
You've carved out this little partfor yourself in the world where youget to be a voyeur13, a hermit14 and alover whenever you feel like it andthe rest of us are just supposed tofeel so incredibly grateful for thebrief time you've touched our lives!
Well, go to hell15! It isn't human notto feel lonely -- it isn't human notto afraid! You're a hypocrite andyou're a phony!
ROBERT(cries out)I DON'T WANT TO NEED YOU!
FRANCESCAWHY?
ROBERTBECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE YOU!
FRANCESCAWHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH IT?
He throws a cup at the wall. It breaks apart. Covering hisface, Robert turns away from her as he holds onto the sink.
Francesca reaches for him but he pulls away, embarrassed. 灰烬夜幕降临麦迪逊县.那是一九八七年，她六十七岁生日,弗朗西丝卡已经躺在床上两个小时了.二十二年前一切的一切她都还看得见,摸得着,闻得到.
她记得,又记得.在依阿华九十二号公路上,在雨和雾中向西驶去的红色尾灯把她定住了二十多年.她摸自己乳房,还能感受到他的胸肌滑过那里.天哪,她多么爱他.那时她爱他,超过她原以为可能的程度,现在她更加爱他了.为了她,她什么都故意做,除了毁掉她的家庭,或者连同把他也毁掉.
她下楼坐到厨房那张黄色贴面的旧餐桌边.理查德曾买过一张新桌子,坚持非买不可.不过她也要求把那张旧桌子留下来放到机器棚里,在挪走之前她仔细地用塑料薄膜包好.我真不知道你为什么这么舍不得这张旧桌子.迈可又帮她把这张桌子又抬进屋子,从来没有问过她为什么要拿这张旧桌子换那新的.他只是用发问的眼光看着她,她没吭声.
现在她坐在桌旁.然后走到柜子边,从里面拿出两只白蜡烛和一对小铜烛台.她点上蜡烛打开收音机,慢慢地调频道,找到播放的轻柔音乐.
她在洗涤池旁了良久,头微微朝上,看着他的脸,轻声说:"我记得你,罗伯特.金凯.也许高原沙漠之王的话是对的,也许你是最后一个,也许眼下那些牛仔们都已濒临灭绝."理查德死之前,她从来没有设法给金凯打过电话或者写过信,尽管多少年来她每天都在刀刃边缘上权衡.如果她再跟他谈一次话,自己就会去找他.如果她给他写信,他就会来找她.事情就在这一发之际.这些年来,他给她寄过一包照片和那遍文章之后就再也没有来过信.她知道他理解她的感情,也理解他可能给她带来的生活中的麻烦.
从一九六五年起她订了<地理杂志>.关于廊桥的文章是第二年刊出的,有暖色的晨光中罗斯曼桥的照片,就是他发现她的字条的那天早晨照的.封面是他照的那一群马拉车走向猪背桥的照片,配图的文章也是他写的.
杂志背面常有介绍作者和摄影师的特写,有时还登他们的照片.他间或也出现其中.还是那银长发,手镯,牛仔裤,照相机从肩上挂下来,胳膊上青筋可见.在非洲卡拉哈里沙漠中,在印度查普尔的大墙上,在危地马拉的独木船上.在加拿大北部.大路和牛仔.
她把这些都剪下来,连同刊登廊桥的那期<地理杂志>,他的文章,两张照片,还有他的信,都放进一个牛皮纸信封中.他把信封放在梳妆台抽屉的内衣下面,这里理查德是决不会看的地方.她像一个远方的观察者年复一年跟踪观察罗伯特.金凯,眼看他渐渐老起来.
那笑容宛在,就是那修长,肌肉结实的身材也依然如故.但是她看得出他眼角的纹路,那健壮的双肩微微前俯,脸颊逐渐陷进去.她能看得出来,她曾经仔细研究过他的身体,比她一生中对任何事物都仔细,比对自己的身体还仔细.他逐渐变老反而使她更加强烈地渴望要他,假如可能的话,她猜想-不,她确知-他是单身.事实的确如此.
在烛光中,她在餐桌上仔细看那些剪报.他从遥远的地方看着她.她从一九六七年的一期中找出一张特殊的照片.他在东非的一条河边正对摄像机,而且是近镜头,蹲在那里好像正准备拍摄什么.
她多年前第一次见到这张照片时还看得出他脖子里的银项链上系着一个小小的圆牌.迈可离家上大学去了,当理查德和卡洛琳去睡觉之后,她把迈可少年时集邮用的高度放大镜拿出来放到照片上.天哪,谅了他.以后所有他的照片上都有这个小圆牌挂在银项链上.
一九七五年之后她再也没在杂志上看见过他.他的署名也不见了.她每一期都找遍了,可是找不到.他那年该是六十二岁.
理查德一九七九年世,葬礼完毕,孩子们都各自回到自己家里以后,她想起给罗伯特金凯打电话.他应该是六十六岁,她五十九岁.尽管已经失去了十四年,还来得及.她集中思考了一星期,最后从他的信头上找到了电话号码,拨了号.
电话铃响时她心脏几乎停止跳动.她听到有人拿起话筒,差点儿又把电话挂上.一个女人的声音说:"麦克格雷格尔保险公司."弗朗西丝卡心沉下去了,不过还能恢复得过来问那女秘书她拨的号码对不对,就是这个号码.她谢谢她,挂了电话.
下一步,她试着打华盛顿贝灵汉的电话问讯处.登记名单上没有.她试打西雅图,也没有.然后是贝灵汉和西雅图的商会办公室.她请他们查一查本市指南,他们查了,也没这个人.她想他哪儿都可能去的.
她想起杂志来,他曾说过可以通过那里打听.接待员很有礼貌,但是新人,得找另外一个人来回答她的要求.弗朗西丝卡的电话转了三次才跟一位在杂志工作过二十年的编辑通上话她问罗伯特.金凯的下落.
那编辑当然记得他."要找到他在哪里吗,呃?他真是个该死的摄影师,请原谅我的语言.他的脾气可不好,不是坏的意思,就是非常固执,他追求为艺术而艺术,这不大合我们读者的口味,我们的读者要好看的,显示摄影技巧的照片,但是不要太野的."我们常说金凯有点怪,在他为我们做的工作之外,没有人熟悉他.但是他是好样的.我们可以把他派到任何地方,他一定出活儿,尽管多数情况下他都不同意我们的编辑决策.至于他的下落,我一边讲话一边在翻他的档案.他于一九七五年离开我们杂志,地址电话是....他念的内容和弗朗西丝卡已经知道的一样.在此之后,她停止了搜寻,主要是害怕可能发现的情况她听其自然,允许自己越来越多地想罗伯特.金凯.她还能开车,每年有几次到得梅因去,在他曾带她去的那家饭店吃午餐.有一次,她买回来一个皮面白纸本,于是开始用整齐的手写体在这些白纸上记下她同他恋爱的详情的对他的思念.一共写了三大本她才感到完成任务.
温特塞特在前进.有一个艺术协会,成员多数是女性,要重新装修那些桥的议论也进行了几年了.有些有兴趣的年轻人在山上盖房子.风气有所开放,长头发不再惹人注目了,不过男人穿凉鞋的还是少见,诗人也很少.
除了几个女友外,她完全退出了社交.人们谈到了这一点.而且还谈到常看见她站在罗斯曼桥边,有时在杉树桥边.他们常说人老了常常变得古怪.也就满足于这一解释.
一九八二年二月二日,有一辆联合邮包服务公司的卡车驶进她的车道.她并没有邮购什么东西,感到惑然不解.她签过收条,看邮包上的地址:"依阿华,温特塞特,R.R.2,50273"寄信人地址是西雅图一家律师事务所.
邮包包得很整齐,并加了额外保险.她把它放在厨房桌子上,小心地打开.里面有三个盒子,安全地包在泡沫塑料之中.一只盒子顶端用胶条粘着一个厚信封,另一个盒子上有一封公文信,收信人是她,寄信人是一家法律事务所.
一九八二年一月二十五日弗朗西丝卡.约翰逊女士依阿华.温特塞特R.R.2,50273亲爱的约翰逊女士:
我们是一位最近去世的罗伯特.金凯先生的财产代理人....
弗朗西丝卡把信放在桌上.外面风雪扫过冬天的原野,她眼望着它扫过残梗,带走玉米壳堆在栅栏的角落里.她再读一遍那几行字:
我们是一位最近去世的罗伯特.金凯先生的财产代理人....
哦,罗伯特,罗伯特,....别.....,她轻声说着,低下了头.
一小时之后她才能继续读下去.那直接了当的法律语言,那准确的用词使她愤怒.
我们是......代理人一个律师执行一个委托人的委托.
可是那力量,那骑着彗星尾巴来到这世上的豹子,那个在炎热的八月的一天寻找罗斯曼桥的沙曼人,还有那个站在名叫哈里的卡车踏板上回头望着她在一个依阿华农场的小巷的尘土中逝去的人,他在哪里呢?在这些词句中能找到吗?
这封信应该有一千页之长,应该讲物种演变的终点和自由天地的丧失,讲牛仔们在栅栏网的角落里挣扎,像冬天的玉米壳.
他留下的唯一遗嘱日期是一九六七年七月八日.他明确指示把这些物件寄给您.如果找不到您,就予销毁.
在标明"信件"的盒子里有他于一九七八年留下的给您的信.信是由他封口的,至今末打开过.
金凯先生的遗体已火化,根据本人遗愿,不留任何标记.他的骨灰也根据本人遗愿撒在您家附近,据我所知该地称作罗斯曼桥,已由我事务所一职员执行.
如有可效劳之处,请随时与我们联系.
律师:爱伦.奎本谨启她喘过气来,擦干了眼睛,开始审视盒子里的东西.
她知道那软信封里是什么,她确知无疑,就像她确知春天一定会再来一样.她小心打开信封,伸进手去,出来的是那银项链,上面系着的圆牌子上刻着"弗朗西丝卡",背面用蚀刻刻出小得不能再小的字:"如捡到,请寄往美国依阿华州温特塞特R.R.2,弗朗西丝卡.约翰逊收."信封下面还有他的银手镯,包在餐巾纸里.有一张纸条和手镯包在一起,那是她的笔迹:当白蛾子张开翅膀时可以过来,什么时候都行.
这是她钉在罗斯曼桥上的纸条.他连这也留下做纪念了.
然后她想起来,这是他唯一拥有的她的东西,是证明她存在的唯一见证,此外就只有逐渐老化的胶片上日益模糊的她的影像了.这罗斯曼桥上的小条上面有斑点,有折痕,好像在皮夹里放了很久.
收听单词发音 |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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relieved
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| a.如释重负的 | |
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softly
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| adv.柔和地，静静地，温柔地 | |
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strokes
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| 中风； a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain.； （游泳或划船的）划( stroke的名词复数 )； 中风； （打、击等的）一下； （成功的）举动 | |
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tension
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| n.(紧张)状态；拉(绷)紧；张力，拉力 | |
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ingeniously
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| adv.天才地，独创地 | |
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suspicious
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| adj.可疑的，容易引起怀疑的，猜疑的，疑心的 | |
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facetiousness
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| n.滑稽 | |
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startles
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| n.使惊跳，使大吃一惊( startle的名词复数 )v.使惊跳，使大吃一惊( startle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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routine
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| n.例行公事，惯例；adj.例行的，常规的 | |
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linoleum
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| n.油布，油毯 | |
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voyeur
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| n.窥淫狂者，窥隐私者 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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hell
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| n.地狱，阴间；用以咒骂或表示愤怒，不满 | |
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