No ratings.
A loving script. |
Simple Dreams SMD08 SPECIAL EFFECTS 1 Clouds part, the negative zoom focuses from space on earth, then the Americas, central USA, city lights, and the interior of a dim apartment. Lightening flashes and a cell divides. FADE IN: INT. - BEDROOM - NIGHT 2 The camera focuses on a nude couple in bed. They are making love 19 year-old Luke Seller and 17 year-old Cindy Lowmeyer are making love. An 1970's Elton John tune plays and slowly fades to the sounds of intimacy. CINDY Honey, I'm...again... LUCK I know... A minute later the passion settles and they kiss. CINDY (with a wink) Don't you love your little brother's graduation? I arranged it so well. LUCK Yes, 'dear'. Still, telling your mom that.. if we're caught, I'm the 'bad guy'. CINDY Bad?... Luke, we have forever love... The song, "Precious and Few (are the moments we two can share)" plays on the stereo. CINDY It's our song! Honey, before I forget, let's leave Saturday night open, but I'll be here Sunday around 1:00 PM. LUCK Sounds like we should make up for Saturday. He threw back the sheets. Cindy smiled. CINDY You better marry me in a year or so, buddy. LUCK Finish school and your a lucky bride. CINDY Remind me to bring you a book about modesty, Luke. My friend, Diane, got one for her boyfriend Skip. INT. - EARLY 80'S MODEL VAN - NIGHT 3 It was a calm moonlit spring night as he drove her home. City lights fade to a two-lane highway in the Missouri Ozarks. During the fourty minute drive, they talk about the coming summer. June was only weeks away. LUCK I've got Army summer camp starting the second week next month.. two weeks near Springfield. CINDY I hate to think of you gone that long. Waitressing and cleaning isn't much of a thrill. Can you see me on weekends? LUCK If we can take our cars I'll try, but it's 150 miles each way, honey. CINDY There are some dances those weekends. I want to be with you. I miss you when we're apart, honey. LUCK I'll do my best. They kiss and the Ozark hills pass in the moonlight. They arrive at the large red mailbox that marks her drive A rock house, surrounded by trees, sits at the end of a curved gravel drive. CINDY Goodnight honey, pleasant dreams. LUCK As long as you in them. He feels something was different as he drives away. EXT. CHURCH PICNIC - NIGHT 4 Camera pans the scene. Catholic church picnics are the social event of the region. Homecooked meals, german style beer gardens and rock and roll dances draw thousands. INT. DANCE HALL - NIGHT 5 In a darken hall, a five piece rock band plays to crowd of three hundred in their teens and early twenties. LUCK Honey, how long have Skip and Diane been going steady? CINDY About six months... why do you ask? LUCK They look happy. Paul and Mary don't have the same look. You seem a little different, are you alright? CINDY It's near 'that time of month.' I've been having headaches since April. I think 'the pill' has something to do with it. LUCK I hope you feel better. This is my camp address. Write when you can. I love our letters. I'll phone Friday evening if we're allowed off base. CINDY Hurry back. I love you and miss you. Be careful and don't get too drunk with your friends. EXT - NEAR LUCK"S VAN - NIGHT 6 LUCK Jerry is riding with me to camp tonight. He's ready and I've got to go. I love you, baby, ... take care of yourself. CINDY Phone me Friday evening if your coming back for the weekend. Be good. With that remark, they kiss goodbye. Cindy goes to her brother Steve's car and Luke motions to Jerry. INT. LUCK'S VAN - NIGHT 7 JERRY Cindy's look'in better everytime I see her -- you lucky shit. LUCK She makes me happy, we've metioned marriage. JERRY Dude, surely not you and the big M. EXT. - ARMY BASE - NIGHT 8 Luke has guard duty on the weekend and Cindy isn't home for his call. Something had changed. Luke's alone, guarding a rows of Army 'duce and a half' trucks. LUCK (to himself) I liked the months we spent becoming friends and writing, long before we became lovers. But I never understood her rush. I honestly loved her and cared for her as a person. "Three times together and we haven't had sex yet? This must be love," she said that first month. By the third month, it was clear she was going to make love. She skipped school and we were beautiful. Then she has to say, "Sometimes there's no blood the first time because of exercises and cheerleading." I knew better. She dropped her white hot pants the first night. It was obvious she'd been around. Still, we could share all the secrets and passions of 'first love.' She was my first girl in my first bed. Then he thought about their one big fight, after six months together. Ok, so your family is on your back about dating a 'college guy'. Girls mature years ahead of guys and you weren't shy when we met. That John Urich two months ago was older than me. I had a talk with him. You did more than kiss and I wrecked a fine car over it. If you still have to, parade a new dude past your folks. Get get a free movie and kiss him good night. But honey, remember your words, 'Our love is too special to share.' "I know and I love you, but I need to grow. There are so many things I want to do," she said. I'm not an oger. I want you mature and happy. If that means 'getting it out of your system'.. well, never make it your system. Love can survive a discrete 'one night stand', but your missing nothing. "Honey, I'm not trying to hurt us. If I don't do things now, I'll do them later. Please trust me," she said. Some things you don't want to do. We've lived together on weekends, but you set it up by lieing to your mom. Is that an example of trusting you? "You love it. It's the only way we can spend nights together, if that's what you want," she said. I'm happy just to date.. for now. If you lie to your family, you'll lie to anyone. Don't play me for a fool. I'm not trying to break us up. I am saying that people don't trust you, with some reason. Besides, sometimes I feel so damn outnumbered in your county. There is so much good in us. Don't ruin yourself or us with lies. Don't ruin yourself or us with guilt about things you might do behind my back. "Who knows what you do when we're apart. I don't question your dates and I don't like being called a liar." she yelled. Then don't wear the shoe! Besides, you know I'm not dating others. Cindy, we've talked long term. We've talked about marriage. We'll always love and be attracted to each other. We've shared so many 'firsts' we can share with no other. But trust is what holds people together. That's what we have to work on. I've made mistakes too. But, damn it, after we met I changed. Your the only one that ever meant that much to me. "I mean that much to you?" she questioned. You give me purpose. For every hour together, I work nearly two -- one to pay for the date, one for college studies and our future. Think about it. I'm honestly serious about us and our promises. I'm working my ass off to make it happen. "I'm sorry, Luke. I know your right. I'm such a self-centered bitch. It's how I am. I love you and I want to change," she said. Made the effort, together we can do anything. Luke stares at the trucks he's guarding -- the communists didn't get a single one. CUT TO: EXT. - CINDY"S PORCH - NIGHT 9 But as those thoughts crossed his mind, Cindy is alone with a few thoughts of her own. She had just turned down her first date in dozens, before or since Luke. She's siting on her porch. The stars show clearly, she unbuttons her blouse. CINDY At one of the church picnics when I was almost 15, dad caught me making it with nineteen-year-old Tim Rides. Dad had charges drawn on him, but I talked dad out of filing. So dad wouldn't let me date till 17. But my older sisters explained sex and helped me find ways to be with guys. They had protection when I wanted it. I was going to be a very experienced woman before those dating flood gates swung open, and not with some inbred local. I picked Luke, those broad shoulders had dated our homecoming queen. So how could Luke be so kind and caring. He was supposed to make me a woman and then stand in line with the rest. Instead, he makes me happy. I feel secure. He loves me. The first time was so gentle, later that morning, it hurt so good. By afternoon, I never wanted to leave him. 'Our love is too special to share' I had said. But I had never meant to fall in love so soon. He gave me my first ring. I can never forget him. The weeks following, we made love till I could bearly walk. When I came Christmas week, in a oral way, I quietly said I'll date others, but I never want to lose him. I've done many guys like Urich, but they don't care and can't compare. Still, it feels good to see Luke jealous. As long as Luke wants me, I can get away with anything. So, I'm on the pill, but could be knocked up. What the fuck do I do!? I refused Luke's class ring, so he's got an out. The others would laugh. The folks will kill me if I'm pregnant -- out smarted myself this time. Shit! I'm a nervous wreck! Maybe I shouldn't have written Luke about it, but who else can I talk to. He's the only guy I trust. Mary understands, but what can she do? INT. - ARMY BARRACKS - DAY 10 Mail call, Luke receives two letters from Cindy and sits on his bunk. Camera focuses on the writing he reads. Besides small talk, she missed her period and just wanted to get high. She was ask out. Luke understood the feeling he had felt in a heart beat. They had not been alone. Religion was suddenly important to her. She wanted Luke to be seen with her everywhere. Where the hell are you, Luke! Luke hesitated to open the second letter. LUCK (to self) We both knew the risks and have talked about marriage. I'm hard working and have never lied to her. But how could the pill fail? She stood by me through my first semester of college and I've CLEP tested out of a year. LUCK We're meant to be. I won't leave her, it's our commitment! Other eyes in the barracks stared. CAPTAIN Got a problem Specialist Seller? LUCK Ah.. No Sir! Just a little surprised. CAPTAIN Keep it to yourself troop. Captain Perry stomped out of the barracks. Someone mumbled "..and your horse." in the backround. INT. - CINDY'S HOUSE - TWILIGHT 11 It's Father's Day when Luke arrives at her door. Cindy throws her arms around him and breaths a sigh. She has gained weight. Judy, her mom, watches from the kitchen. JUDY Luke wasn't gone that long. CINDY (whispers) He was gone longer than you know. LUCK Baby, it's good to be back. You had me worried. CINDY I'll 'baby' you, smart ass. We've got to talk. Mom, Luke and I are going to take a drive. INT. - LUCK'S VAN - EVENING 12 Five minutes later they were at an abandon logging road where they often parked. LUCK I read your letters at camp. Are you pregnant? CINDY Well, I know I've skipped my period. Worry sometimes does that. What would you do if I were? LUCK Well.. Adam or Brenda's a nice name. CINDY (pause) Adam..? LUCK We've promised to marry, haven't we? CINDY Well.. yes .. but not before I finish school. There's still some growing I want to do. LUCK Nature decides what grows. Surly your not thinking of getting rid of our child? CINDY I didn't say that... but I don't know what to do. How would you or I face our families? LUCK As a family..together. CINDY Anyway, it's probably just a false alarm. The body changes on 'the pill'. I've been feeling better lately... really. LUCK Babe, we've done many things and made many promises. Maybe 'the guy upstairs' is calling our hand. Have you told anyone else? CINDY No! Well.. my friend Mary, she and her boyfriend have been through this before. I had to talk to someone and you weren't around. She really calmed me down. LUCK When's your next period? CINDY Around the Fourth of July. LUCK Try to stay calm until then.. OK? CINDY Honey, I don't want to talk about this any more. I want to make love only to you. LUCK I should hope it's only 'to me'. You weren't with anyone else in May... were you? CINDY Just make love to me. It's been days. Luke didn't pursue his question. Reality faded for an hour and they were smiling when they returned to her house. EXT. - CINDY'S HOUSE - FOURTH OF JULY 13 Days pass and it's the Fourth of July. Independance Day held mixed meaning that sultry afternoon. Her older brothers and sisters are lighting fireworks in the yard when Luke arrives. Cindy drags him to the porch. CINDY Luke, there's no still period and I'm throwing up some mornings. Mom questions me about my moods and appearance. I think she suspects! I told my brother, Jeff. We have to do something! LUCK We already did. Can you get a doctor's exam through Planned Parenthood? CINDY I think so. I sure as hell can't go to our family doctor. LUCK Ok..Ok. Just get an appointment -- my doctor if we have to and find out for sure. What does Jeff say? CINDY Maybe you should ask him. Hey, Jeff.. got a minute? Jeff came to the porch with a pair of beers. Luke spoke first. LUCK Hi Jeff... let's talk someplace. JEFF Sure, we'll take a ride after the meal. Cindy told .. Jeff stopped short as his dad, Fred, walked through the door. FRED What's the huddle about? CINDY Luke and Jeff were going to get some more beer. FRED I've got another case in the basement, but I don't want anyone getting drunk around here. CINDY Don't worry. I haven't had a drop. FRED That's good. You wouldn't want to put on any more weight. CINDY None of us are skin-and-bones around here. FRED No, but Luke seems to stay trim. Been working any hay? LUCK Dad and I put up 300 bales yesterday... JEFF Let's check on the barbeque, Luke. Jeff gets Luke away from Fred as Judy calls everyone to the tables. They're filled with pork steaks, baked beans, potatoe salid, cole slaw -- the works. After the feast, Jeff takes Luke for a ride. INT. - JEFF'S CAR - NIGHT 14 They park on a side road piled with gravel for road maintenance. Jeff clears his throat. JEFF Cindy told me last year that you two were making it. Now she thinks she's pregnant. What are you going to do if she is? LUCK I'd marry her in Arkansas. I love her and we're promised. JEFF She's young and dad would anull it. Have you thought about abortion? LUCK She'd be 18 before the child's born. It's not right to end that life. Even adoption is better then the tramma abortion could cause. I have a job and good grades. We'd be happy. We want to marry in a year anyway. JEFF (yelling) Get marriage out of your head! If Fred wants, you won't be walking around. Arrange an abortion soon as you can. It's what Cindy wants and your only way out. LUCK She didn't say that! What about your Catholic religion? JEFF Religion is for church, but this is life. Dad has drawn charges on a guy before you, Luke. LUCK Interesting. Maybe I'm not that involved in this at all! JEFF Your involved. People have seen you two together since last year. And your kind of alone in this county. Luke doesn't like the direction of the discussion at all. LUCK I'll help her with a checkup. Maybe there isn't a problem. JEFF Find out for sure and do it soon. Your a good guy, but this is serious. Jeff starts the car. They say little on the way back. Steve's lighting fireworks when they return and mets them at the car. STEVE Did Jeff explain things? This shouldn't have happened, pill or not. Let's hope it hasn't. LUCK (to himself) Right, pal -- I've been to one of your CMS frat parties. You and Jeff screw anything suspected wearing a bra. INT. - COLUMBIA CLINIC - DAY 15 It's 4:40 PM. Mike sits among pregnant women in the reception room. Cindy is being examined by an intern in a room down the hall. DR. VOSS Mrs. Seller, you are in good health and in the third month of a normal healthy pregnancy. Camera pans ultra sound viewer and the image of her child. Adam's heartbeat fills the backround. CINDY (tears, but firm) ..Are you sure? DR. VOSS You can see for yourself. CINDY I want to see a counselor. DR. VOSS You can get dressed. We're finished here. It's the door to the left. INT. - COUNSELOR'S ROOM - DAY 16 Small room with a single desk. The counselor scans Voss's report. MISS VILAR Your too far along for our policy, Cindy. But I could try a call to Kansas. CINDY Anywhere.. I want an abortion. It's my future. I'm not going through the humiliation... MISS VILAR I understand. This is no way to be alone. I'll make the call. INT. - LUCK'S VAN - EVENING 17 CINDY This is the address of the hospital. The operation is set for Saturday at noon. I'm a nervous wreck and this is my best way out. LUCK Honey, you could have a GED before he's due, even take college courses by correspondense. I love kids. This isn't right. CINDY You said you wouldn't leave me and I've decided. But a small, yet growing, voice doesn't decide. Cindy is good with arrangements. CINDY Steve will tell mom we're taking a trip to see our uncle in Kansas City on the weekend. LUCK I don't like this. I won't leave you, but only if you vow that we will marry. This life is only being postponed. He would be my firstborn, but I can't stop what you do with your body. CINDY I promise to marry you, Luke. But I just can't face pregnancy now. LUCK We've made promises that we must keep. INT. - LUCK'S VAN - DAY 18 Four days later it's Saturday the 15th and a long silent drive on I-70 to Kansas. Darkened skys and somber moods mark the trip. LUCK I know your scared. I am too. If anything happens to you, I don't know what I'd do. I love you. CINDY I know, I love you too. It will be over this afternoon. EXT. - K.C. DOUGLAS HOSPITAL - DAY 19 Camera pans: Douglas Hospital stands in the inner city. Filth ladden brick walls provide the latest graffite. They park under a lamp nearest the main entrance. Black teenagers roll hubcaps to a melody of sirens. It is not a family place. LUCK Cindy, this doesn't look good. CINDY I know. Hold me. Please hold me. INT. - DOUGLAS HOSPITAL - DAY 20 The interior mirrors the exterior -- dirty and without life. CINDY Where is Room 269? A lone security guard points to a trafficless set of stairs. GUARD Left and end of the hall, next to pathology. Mother leds the way. INT. - ROOM 269 - DAY 21 The reception room offers no comfort. Stained wooden benches face and flank a smudged counter. Slats of light escape venetian blinds on an outer wall. Three, with child, of African descent compliment the decor. A single white receptionist expects money. Cindy and Luke take their seats. RECEPTIONIST Mrs. Cindy Seller? CINDY Yes. RECEPTIONIST The bill is 380 dollars, in advance. Cindy hands her Luke's fall college tuition, in cash. CINDY Here it is. RECEPTIONIST Please sign the receipt. Cindy signs the receipt and graps the carbon copy. RECEPTIONIST Up the stairs and first door to your left. The documents she had forged notarized go back in her purse. Cindy climbs four steps and disappears behind an oblique door. RECEPTIONIST Don't look so glum, Mr. Seller. It will only be twenty minutes. Oh, this the spouse's copy. Luke collects the paper and returns to his seat. INT - OPERATING ROOM - DAY 21 Camera pans a white room. In the center, a stainless steel table with stirups. A tray and drum-like machine with tubes are adjacent to the table, as is a small stool and waste basket. DOCTOR Please change into the glown behind the divider. She returns in a white thigh high paper gown. CINDY Will it take long? DOCTOR No, lie on the table and turn to your side. I'm going to give you a shot that will numb your pelvic region. CINDY I've nervous. Oh.. DOCTOR Try to stay calm. There, now place your feet in stirups. Soon you will hear something that sounds like a vacuum cleaner. It will not hurt you. Do you feel anything? CINDY Not really. DOCTOR Fine, we'll be finished in a few minutes. The doctor begins his work. A narration begins from off camera. Special effects of a blurred child-like figure and stars cloud the camera. CHILD'S VOICE He knew something was wrong. Instinctively, all had been following a natural plan. True, there had been unsettling periods -- long periods, but he had grown and controlled his surroundings. He clearly noticed cycles of activity and rest. He was conscious of being from two parts, yet complete. He was limitless, unique and good. It hurt. He felt new and terrible sensations -- fear, confusion, terror, despair -- all piercing his consciousness. A tearing sound. Something unnatural and cold. Something out of place and purpose. It consumed and devoured with blinding light and crushing pain. He dodged and fought for the longest period of his life. Minutes were hours. He screamed in silence. Something tasted salty. Then vapors and mists surrounded him. A chill rushed throughout his being. Suddenly, dark was light and all was painless. He entered a different world. There were no uncertainties or fears. Life was no longer bounded by tissue, yet he was in a parallel time. He could see Cindy and Luke. He knew who they were and who he was, but Adam did not understand. Cindy was calm. The tingle of anesthesia numbed the operation. She did not think. CUT TO: INT. - RECEPTION ROOM - DAY 22 Mere steps away, all Luke can do is think. Camera focuses on face and body language. LUCK (to himself) It's been thirty minutes. Why had the 'pill' failed. Was she alright? What about her negative RH factor? Was she hemmoraging? Could they ever forget? What if others found out? Why would she do this? How many years for kidnaping? How many more for ending a life? Why had he aided her? Was she alright? She had to be alright. Would they ever forgive each other? Fourty minutes past. She always chose when they made love. Why had she chosen this? Could she bare children again? How could this be happening? For a moment, Luke feels her pain and thoughts. The transference numbs his being -- she is calm. Does she feel his pain. INT. - OPERATING ROOM - DAY 23 Fifty minutes pass and that was it. Luke bursts past the receptionist and rushs up the stairs. He opens the door. Cindy is in a hospital gown sitting near the operating table. Her face says it is over. Luke drops his eyes in prayer. But instead, he sees the earthly remains of their firstborn in a paper-lined wastebasket. LUCK Cindy... DOCTOR Young man, you had better leave. Luke glances again into Cindy's eyes and leaves the operating room. INT. - RECEPTION ROOM - DAY 24 Ten minutes later Cindy was dressed and at his side. They kiss. LUCK Are you ... postponed? CINDY(whisper) Yes... RECEPTIONIST Young lady, guys seldom show or seem to care. You better keep that one. CINDY I know...Luke, I love you. LUCK I love you. We have promises to keep. INT. - VAN SPEEDING DOWN I-70 25 I-70 was a blur. Just leave and forget are the thoughts. Leave the city and 'trip'. Such simple goals. LUCK Honey, let's get you some food. CINDY I don't feel like eating. LUCK You need to get your strenght back. Let's splerg at a fancy mall. Just the sight of shoppers will give you an appetite. CINDY Well...I am hungry. LUCK And beautiful, but who's counting? She smiled and was coming back. INT. - MALL CAFATERIA - AFTERNOON 26 The mall is hectic and the cafeteria boasts a hundred choices. Luke knew they were still in another state. LUCK Please eat, honey. I'm trying to help. This tasty looking dish is just what you like. Luke put the fillet of sole on her tray. What would go with this, honey? CINDY Well... some lemon and .. Cindy begins to choose. Luke follows grabbing his meat and potatoes. They find a table near the wall and ate. LUCK Did you know the color is is back in your cheeks? CINDY Well.. I feel better. LUCK I can tell. Your about to give me a hard time. CINDY I'm not... but that doesn't mean you don't deserve one. She starts eyeing the lobster on the menu. Her uncanny nack of spotting the most expensive item in any setting grabs his attention. LUCK Ok, ok, my lunch is over. I can't afford the lobster, but this beef is delicious. They switch plates, finished eating, and leave. INT. - RECORD SHOP - AFTERNOON 27 Luke notices a record shop and guides her in. LUCK Remember your first letter to me. You hand copied the lyrics of an entire Tull album? CINDY Of course. LUCK Would you like an older album of theirs? CINDY You know I would. LUCK Well, let's add this one to the collection. The cashier rings up charges to a little number called "Thick as a Brick." CUT TO: INT. - LUCK'S APARTMENT - EVENING 28 Luke phones Cindy's brother. LUCK We're back and the operation is over. She appears alright. STEVE I'll spend the night at your place. INT. - CINDY'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON 29 The following morning brother and sister return from the 'visit with their uncle and a fun airplane ride.' Luke keeps his Sunday date as if nothing had happened. LUCK Is everything ok? CINDY No one seems to suspect, but we should be seen around. Let's shoot the shit downtown, maybe stop at the Meta picnic. Cindy goes back on the pill. INT. - SUSIE BUYMEYER'S PARTY - NIGHT - TWO WEEK'S LATER 30 SUSIE Did you hear that Cindy Lowmeyer had an abortion? MARY Sure did. She thought she was pregnant for months and her tits got a damn sight bigger. You could tell - she was beginning to show. Dorthy and Diane noticed too. Now she runs around with that Seller without a care in the world. SUSIE So, the snotty little bitch had one then. Hope it hurt. I turned down Seller, you know. MARY He must be hung to keep her cow-eyed. I'll have to find out sometime. INT. - LUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - THREE MONTHS LATER 31 The couple in bed. Led Zepplin plays in the backround. CINDY Happy anniversary, one year already - just fifty to go. I'm gonna make you a good wife. We're so happy together, even the months without making love were as good as the others. LUCK I read, that in some religions, when people promise to marry, their married in God's sight, not to mention pregnancy. CINDY I know... if I ever hurt you, just smack me. LUCK Sounds like fun.. kidding. Anyway, I'm looking at a dean's list semester. You'll be 18 soon and our folks can get off our backs for good. CINDY We're incedible, a whole year together. I owe you for the 15th. Sometimes I didn't think I would made it. LUCK We are part of each other. That's how it will always be. With trust, we can do angthing. ADAM (off camera) One day, I will return. INT. - META PARTY - NIGHT - SIX WEEKS LATER 32 The small town two-bedroom house takes a beating from the new Pioneer stereo. A keg of beer in the kitchen is the center of attention. Twenty people, mostly guys, mill about. Throwing a party was Steve Lubber's purpose in life. He was a friend of her brother Jeff's and he had just lost Kathy Crammer, a past homecoming queen. Now Cindy caught his eye. STEVE Like the new Stone's album, Cindy? CINDY I like all the Stone's albums. STEVE You've grown. Didn't see you around much this summer. CINDY I was around. You don't come by to see Jeff much anymore. STEVE I can't hear you. Let's go in back where we can talk. Several guys notice as they walk to his bedroom. Inside the darkened room, they sat on the bed. STEVE Jeff says you've been seeing some guy. CINDY We date, but we're not going steady. STEVE I'm glad to hear that. He kisses her. CINDY (to herself) I told Luke I had some growing to do. They hold a long kiss. He slides his hand along her thigh. STEVE You've always been special to me CINDY I had a crush on you once. She likes the attention. "Precious and Few " plays on the stereo. She's naked. Cindy wants new love and this is a good start. He pulls down his jeans and there is little foreplay. CINDY Don't hurry. In minutes it is over. ADAM (O. S.) Instinctivly, Adam knew this was wrong. He was not Luke and nothing matched. Mom knew this. For the first time, his world began to cloud. STEVE Your special. He zips his pants. STEVE I'll get a beer. CINDY Hurry. He motions Jim to the hallway. STEVE Cindy's hot and putting out. Don't say anything. Just grab low. I'll tell Ron. Jim steps inside the room and she tenses slightly. He gets in bed and follows the advice. He fondles her and minutes later they are together. Adam's world went dark and he cried. STEVE Cindy's pulling a train. Tell the guys. DORTHY Where's Cindy? STEVE She's feeling tired and resting. Diane and Linda quit drinking. Jim finished and kissed Cindy on the tit. JIM Your a nice piece of ass. CINDY The best you'll ever get. Ron has his shirt off when Ted opens the door. All pretense is gone. Ron drops his jeans. It was over in minutes and Cindy watches. Adam was numb. Ron opens the door and Ted walks in. Cindy stretches, but stalls as Ted slips out of his pants. He jerks the covers. TED It's what you wanted. From now on it doesn't make any difference. CINDY I know but... TED You will or we'll tell everyone. Cindy thought of her family and Luke. Ted had his way. She was still, but moved as he let out a groan. TED There, that wasn't so bad. Cindy was silent. Others come and go. No one bothers to close the door. Adam can't see through the darkness. Dorthy is aroused and about to let Steve have his way. Then she sees the others. She crosses her legs and slaps Steve. Cindy stares at Tom. Then she closes her eyes. Tom feels he can't live down the opportunity. He shuts his eyes and finishes in seconds. Neither notice as Steve snaps a picture. Tom pulls up his pants and walks out. The other guests return to the keg. The music has stopped. CINDY My God. His little sister is in my class. She got out of bed and shut the door. Then she turned on the light and looked for her clothes. As she did, she looked in the mirror. Her makeup needed a redo. Her fine blonde hair was wet and needed combing, but she felt no remorse. She was being herself. Then she shed a pair of tears. The clouds never left Adam's world. INT. - LUCK'S APARTMENT -NIGHT 33 Luke has received a letter which he can't believe. Their date will explain the misunderstanding. CINDY I had sex with Steve Lubber and others at a party. I was being myself. LUCK What? We're happy. How could you do such a thing? CINDY I know I hurt you deeply and now I kick you. I'm a bitch, but I want to change. I wish July 15 had never happened, I could have kept you. But you might not have wanted that. Luke(to self) She needed help. There was no reason. A hundred love letters. A thousand memories. They had stood together before and would stand together again. No woman could share what they had for over a year and be this way. At least no one that he could have loved. LUCK This can't be. Anyone can say they screwed you from now on and be believed. That's lower than a whore -- at least they are making a living. Your not really like that, Cindy. CINDY Luke, your just too fucking kind. LUCK What about us, our plans, and our marriage and child? She begins to cry. A smaller voice has never stopped. LUCK(to self) It times like a semester, every four plus months she fucks me over. New rumors began and never ceased. Luke took her home. He had tests and finals the coming weeks. It was all he could bear. INT - CINDY'S HOUSE - NIGHT - CHRISTMAS 34 CINDY We've had so much love these past weeks. Thanks, Luke, your so fantastic. LUCK Christmas was good, but I've got to be getting home. INT. - MIKE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SICK, BIRTHDAY 35 LUCK (to self) The things they called her and I at the parties. It was a one time delayed response to the abortion. They don't know. She was only trying to cool the fires. It was impossible to accept. But deep inside...he had no idea what to do. Time heals all they say. She wasn't really 18 yet. She is the only girl I've ever loved and cared about. But, people are basically good or bad, long before high school. They seldom change and often it's for the worse. In truth, Cindy is a liar and now a gang banging slut and people know. Whore is a shorter term. And he was the 'only man she could ever love'. What a mother. She aborts her firstborn near the second trimester and gang bangs the scars near the third. Is this permanent or temporary insanity, or just evil -- and what is it doing to him, her, and them inside? She is hiding behind her age. Yet our time together is fantastic. There's laughter and conversation, but when would she drop the next pyscodic bomb? Then she thanks him for 'letting her be herself -- it's all the love anyone can give' in a letter? Then another letter. She had an 80% on a chemistry quizz. She ask the teacher for the correct answers. When he gave her the answer book, she copied the answers to the next three quizzes. And behind his back called him dumb for trying to help her. But both love and hard work are blind. Luke had bought his ticket -- a year, life, or a lifetime. The difference seemed to blur. It's not that complicated -- keep your word or don't give your word, Cindy. Maybe it was a one-time horror. He had to seek other pastures if it wasn't. Time, all they needed was time. INT. - LUCK'S APARTMENT - THREE MONTHS LATER 36 Cindy has turned 18 and Valentine's Day marked an early birthday in Adam's world. His spirit paralleled a new level. What had not yet physically manifest was compensated for in understanding. His return would come. They and he were together. Luke has just attended 'Hamlet'. Cindy played the queen. LUCK Your a born actress -- you were superb. CINDY You give my life joy and meaning. I love you. LUCK We are happy together, this is the way we naturally are. But Adam sees new clouds. LUCK(to self) She was the finest actress Mike had ever seen. Deceit was her being. It scares the hell out of me. EXT. - PARKING LOT - DAY 37 Cindy has graduated high school with honors and att is so proud. She was saving for a used VW at her first full time job as a waitress. That summer, she took the maximum amount of tips and student loans -- plus the minimum amount of college classes in the coming fall. They are sleeping together nearly every night and going steady. A marriage in the coming spring. Then Adam sees more clouds and his feelings find Luke. LUCK( to self) Why am I stopped here? We spent Saturday at the Lake of the Ozarks and our first night in a motel. I'm tired. I don't know anyone at these apartments. It's too beautiful of a July day to waste. As he starts the van, a dark green MG sports car pulls into the parking lot. Cindy and a dark-haired guy leap out of the convertible and run inside. Now Luke understands why he's there and is too angry to think. INT. - LUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 38 LUCK I phoned you at work yesterday and they said you were gone. CINDY I was tired from the Lake and left early. LUCK Where did you go? CINDY Well .. I went home, where else would I go? LUCK I was just worried about you, that's all. Luke watches her lie and not blink an eye. Not even a trace of deceit or remorse. LUCK( to self) Damn, she's as two-faced as her mom. Judy would joke with him to his face and tell Cindy to dump him behind his back. And as crazy. Do I want the sadness in Fred's eyes for a lifetime? CINDY What's wrong? LUCK What could be wrong? CINDY Well then, let's make love, big guy. She begins unbuttoning her blouse. Luke bites her tit and makes it hurt for hours. INT. - LUCK'S VAN - NIGHT - ONE WEEK LATER 39 During the week he sees her in the MG with the same guy again, a John something. He doesn't know how she can live with herself. Neither does Adam. There are more clouds. They don't talk about marriage any more. He is going to ask a girl out, Christy Marken, his first new date in two years. CINDY Why suddenly date another girl? You know I love you and we're so happy together. LUCK I both work and study engineering full time, and you could care. I want a date with someone new, hopefully, someone with a sports car. A flash of guilt crosses Cindy's eyes and she says nothing. LUCK I want you to be honest with me, Cindy. We've shared too much for this petty shit. CINDY I don't want to talk about it anymore. Luke is amazed by the double standards she feels the world and Luke owe her. Luke takes back his ring. There are rumors she had a "party sex with the Boe's boys and others" in Linn. Luke has a one night affair. Adam saw many more clouds. INT. - LUCK'S APARTMENT - HIS 21TH BIRTHDAY Still, they continue to date each other every week. Mary had been telling Cindy for a year that Luke was going to leave her at school in Columbia. Cindy was flirting with her brother's fraternity 'brothers' at Christmas again. LUCK If you cheat on us again, I won't be around you in the long run. I mean it. CINDY I just make love to you. LUCK Honey, you've known for a year that I can only finish my degree in Columbia and you can 'only marry a graduate.' I'm just starting a semester ahead of you. I'll be studying a dozen hours a day just to pass. You know how hard that engineering school is. CINDY I want us to date every week. Why don't you? LUCK Cindy, it's not a question of what I want. I won't have any money coming in and you'll be twice as far away. When I get an apartment, you can stay all you want. We could study together. They date a couple weekends a month and stay in touch. She visits her brothers at the fraturnity. The college of engineering has Luke stressed to the max. Adam is a year old and walking in his dimension when more storms struck. There were more clouds and wrongs. They fill his being. This time the parties were called a fraternities. He doesn't like the part of him from Cindy. INT. - LUCK'S VAN - NIGHT 40 Luke is studying and fighting for his academic life. His study partner talks him back into school after midterms. It's the day before finals when Adam's crys drive Luke to Cindy's house. They park on a deserted logging road. LUCK I had a terrible feeling -- a deep depression. A premonition that you were hurt. Are you alright? CINDY I'm fine... I can't imagine what you felt. LUCK Maybe it's just nerves. You know I blew midterms. These finals have me climbing a wall and some frats have stolen the old exams. If I can just pull off the next three days, we'll have summer and the coming semesters together when you transfer. CINDY You've made it this far, honey. You'll make it. After all, your the only man I could ever love. With that remark they embraced repeatedly. But then Adam could glipse the hortizon and he slowly understood an old word. It was not a good word. Luke took Cindy home and they kissed goodnight. Luke saw a tear in her eye as he drove away. Adam saw a whore. Luke was at the books ninty minutes later. The morning exam left him sweating, but the afternoon went better. Luke spent ten hours cramming the books that night. Cindy spent five cramming the frats. INT. - TAN-TAR-A - GREEK PARTY - FOLLOWING NIGHT 41 Camera pans: They revel at the Greek Spring Formal. The party is at the Lake and two years since spring lightning. Cindy becomes a 'little sister' for her talents. She is an experienced little engine that knows it can. It's a photo opportunity. CINDY Who's on first...? For now she knew. If she could screw the many, she could keep a whip on any one. Her future was assured. It was so easy. They all came and went with a smile. ADAM (O. C.) She plunged my world into an unnatural darkness, as unnatural as a mother that murdered her young. Something had changed. But even in a world of spirits, many fell by the wayside, will dissipated by an absense of substance. Adam needed to grow. He needed the odd mesh of mirror opposites in Luke and Cindy -- for a while longer anyway. INT. - LAKE CABIN - DAY 4TH OF JULY 42 Finals were over and Luke passes with a tenth of a point to spare. Immediately, he and Cindy were together everywhere. And everywhere included a wild Fourth of July bash. Birds were singing as the morning sun broke the stillness of layered bay windows. CINDY I love you, Luke. I've never been so happy. We will always be together. I'll make you a good wife. LUCK Life is good. Some things take a lifetime. EXT. - CHURCH PICNIC - NIGHT 43 Linn was the county seat and largest city. The church picnic drew thousands, including Luke and Cindy. Adam's spirit was growing and his image approached a year and a half. It was time to again seed the subconsious. As Luke and Cindy toured the grounds, Adam planted a feeling while Cindy used the john. Luke paused behind a corner and overheard a Greek conversation. FRAT 1 Seller doesn't know? Does this guy need a roll of pictures? He's like Rice. Like the pilgram in 'Slaughter House Five -- unstuck in time.' FRAT 2 Pictures probably wouldn't phase him. Lord knows what all she's done, or him, for that matter. The laughter subsides and the topic changes. Luke backs away. Cindy returns. LUCK When you visited your brother's at CMS, what did you do? CINDY They took me to some keggers, but you know I don't drink much. Some of those guys are just old family friends. LUCK Old family friends.. Lets skip the dance and go home. I always miss you, but refusing my ring says something. CINDY Let's not go through that again. We'll be together in Columbia. LUCK Don't forget that, or me at camp. He dropped her off and took the long way home. His thoughts were about fraternities and the coming summer camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. INT - ARMY BARRACS - NIGHT 44 Cindy wrote Luke five beautiful letters during the summer camp -- dreams of being together always. It was the second week of camp and Luke was passing by a poker game. SOLDIER 1 I had some good pussy at a CMS frat party. Cindy Joemeyers.. something like that. SOLDIER 2 Cindy, the big tited blonde from around Osage county? I did her too. Hell, her own brothers were Sig Pi's. SOLDIER 1 Were you at a party in that big house east of the fraternity building? Two kegs going on the back porch. SOLDIER 2 Yes, Lowmeyer pulled a train upstairs. SOLDIER 1 Damn -- and I thought I was the only one. Luke heard enough. He thought of how she traveled three times as far to see her 'brothers' on weekends when he needed her support the prior semester. And he thought about the conversation at the Linn picnic. Thirty-four months were enough. INT. - LUCK'S VAN - NIGHT FOUR DAYS LATER 45 When camp ended, he picked Cindy up in the van. They parked on the old logging road. LUCK At camp, soldiers talked about screwing you at CMS. Do you have a general idea of how many there were? CINDY(stunned) I had a couple dates, but there was really only one guy. LUCK Your name was passed around an Army camp in another state like a whore. Why didn't you just put it in the paper? CINDY I can't help what people say. I love you, Luke. LUCK We had something precious, something priceless. Why do you have to fuck it away. Why do you hate us? How many diseases do you want?" CINDY Don't say that! LUCK Meanwhile, our friends have been going steady and planning futures. They have let the love and fidelity develope and are engaged. Cindy runs out of the van crying. Luke is angry and about to toss her purse out when it drops on the passenger seat. Pills and brushes and whatever fall out, even a notebook. Luke glances inside and spots a pair of entries: May 9 - Luke came to Argile May 10 - Went to Spring Formal at Lake with Gary Rice Made 'little sister'... too much champaign Had fresh strawberries and back to room Made love again... Luke throws the items back in the purse when he hears Cindy thrashing back to the van. He wonders how many frats it took to 'make' a 'little sister' and how many guys had how many pictures for the rest of how many lifetimes. CINDY I'm so sorry, honey. Don't throw it all away because I made a mistake. LUCK There's no mistake. For years you've two-timed the one man who honestly loved you. The 'kindest man you've ever met'. Does lieing and whoring mean that much to you? Is that what we build on? We were going to have our child. CINDY I'm sorry about the way I am, but I do love you. I'm older and I'm changing. LUCK Why, just why? I'll never forget you. Then again, Cindy, I doubt anyone will. CINDY We can try again together in Columbia -- I'll be good to you. INT. - LUCK'S COL. APART. - NIGHT 46 Weeks later, they moved to Columbia. She lived in a dorm, him an apartment. They made love dozens of times a week for months and pass the semester. CINDY There is so much light between us, yet only the dark shows. All I can do is apologize. It's all anyone can do. I love only you, Luke. We are so happy together. It's the easiest most natural thing I'll ever do. LUCK I'm happy, I want to trust you as I love you. EXT. - ISLAND IN MIAMI BAY - DAY 47 For spring break, the couple split a ride with students to Miami, Florida. Luke's uncle gives them a place to stay and his boat. It is a perfect day as they cruise the bay and anchor at a small island. A tire swing hung from a palm tree. Surf and sea breeze follow the beach. LUCK This is ideliic. Pretend it's 'wagon bridge' creek back home, because we're going to make love on the shore. CINDY Suprising -- what they teach engineers today. They make love on the beach, over and over. Adam bathes in the return of light. Spring lightning struck. In days, all would be ready in his prior world. It had just been a long way home. But that world had scarred -- a faint miscarriage of hope. Something had changed -- the trip continued. LUCK Cindy, you seem different. CINDY Just a little depressed. It must be that time again. The Everglades and Key West display nature's beauty. A beauty not fully enjoyed amid the slightest of tears. The feeling was passed to Luke and Cindy said nothing. The return to Missouri was uneventful, except for a near auto accident passing through Georgia. INT. - DORM MAIL BOXES - DAY 48 A week later, a pleasant feeling brings Luke to her dorm. He's about to walk Cindy to classes when a letter from Gary Rice fell out of her mail. Luke stormed through the dorm and didn't care about the rules. Her desk was covered with dozens of letters from Rice. LUCK (screaming) This shit stops now! CINDY(wimpering) I'll write him not to write. LUCK Our fourth year and your in love with another guy while sleeping with me dozens of times a week. Are you my curse? Or just a curse? Why must you betray us? Why are you killing me and us and yourself inside? CINDY Because..... I'm a bitch. LUCK Your twenty years old and that won't get it. I knew you when you seemed kind and open. You changed. I'm the one person on earth with a right to know why. Please tell me. You were about to say something... She broke into a thousand tears. Luke goes back to his classes and studies for his life. He also has a one night affair with a friend of a friend. Cindy apologizes and he didn't fight her. They still remained great in bed. Job interviews dry up. He simply makes dean's list and graduates that May, in the middle of a recession. INT. - DALLAS TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT 49 That summer, Luke lands a chemical engineer-in-training position in Dallas, Texas. Cindy expects him to marry her. Luke expects to lead a happy life. Cindy's relatives had given him weeks of housing during his job search and he owes her. Luke flew her there for a long weekend. Clark and George, his room mates and co-workers, find her attractive. CINDY This is the most exciting weekend of my life. The resturants, the malls, the clubs, the flight, the love... LUCK We're happy together. I've missed you. CINDY I could go to school here. I hate having so many miles between us, husband-to-be. LUCK Cindy, I haven't had a job in twenty months while finishing school. I'm in debt to my family and bank. I need a year plus of engineering internship experience. I will never again search for a professional job without a professional experience record. CINDY But we love each other. I'm not doing anything to hurt us. LUCK Have you checked the out-of-state tuition? My field training has me in a different motel every week living out of a suitcase. I couldn't marry anyone until next fall. CINDY What's fifteen months compared to fifty years. LUCK If your faithfull, we will have the remainder of our lives together. Cheat and leave -- we've been on this road before. CINDY I'll be twenty-one and you can trust me. Who else can ever make and watch me grow into a woman? Luke sighed as he watched her plane leave. She would be 21 and people can change they say. Her letters and actions would tell. Meanwhile, he had a profession to learn and places to be. Months passed and they wrote and phoned several times each week. Luke cared for no one else and was traveling too much to try. She wrote of her fidelity and love. Also, that their old friends, Skip and Diane, were tieing the knot. Cindy was her neighbor's bride's maid. LUCK( to self) Skip and Diane had once been apart three months at a time, yet they had trust. She studied and enjoyed her girl friends. Diane didn't lie and her looks made Cindy a runner up. Diane was younger than Cindy, yet finishing her honors journalism degree by going to school year round. Skip was a tradesman. They honestly loved each other. In the end, Skip and Diane spent two years going steady. If Cindy had kept her word, it would be a double ceremony. Instead, Cindy had to 'extend herself' in high school and 'date around' in college. What had she left them or Luke? INT - CINDY'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON 50 Luke drove to Missouri for the wedding. Cindy fainted at the ceremony and could only talk of marriage hereafter. CINDY Wasn't the wedding beautiful? I want a six maid wedding just like it. LUCK They went steady for years and made plans. They were sexually faithful, which built love and trust. Why shouldn't it be beautiful? Cindy seemed puzzled and was silent. Their letters were beautiful on Luke's return to Texas. As usual, Luke spent more on seeing her and phoning then his own food or clothing. After four weeks in west Texas, Luke came home for Christmas to see his family in Missouri. INT. - LUCK'S FARM HOME - AFTERNOON XMAS DAY 51 Luke's dad is happy. His son was making the years of college pay and traveling. His eighth year education had fostered a college graduate and Luke's sister and brother would follow suit. Still, there was that girl Luke was wasting his money on. JIM Son, I'm proud of you. I don't know about college, but I know you worked hard for what you have. LUCK Thanks dad, maybe it didn't look like I had any direction for a while. But you did your best. I'll never forget how you signed for my first car, but told me it was expensive. I paid for it in the end and you never said 'I told you so'. I respect you so much. A tear crossed Jim's eye. JIM You have your life and a woman is important. But please son, that Cindy... My brother married the same kind of woman and it didn't work. The car I signed for you wrecked after meeting her. I told you then. Mom knows she's a 'skirt.' She's not as young, but Cindy can't change. Luke hold his peace. Dad is more honest and much wiser than any college. LUCK I know what you mean. INT - CINDY'S HOUSE - EVENING 52 The conversation hangs on his mind as he drives to Cindy's Christmas. It was a suspicious gayiety. No longer are the fraternity 'brothers' present or mentioned. Cindy is aglow with love for her only man of over four years. Luke relaxes and commits to nothing. CINDY This is the season where people show their love and I love you so much, honey. I bought this for you. Luke opened the case and gazed at a stainless steel watch. LUCK Thank you, honey... I didn't expect this. But just in case. Luke handed her a brightly wrapped gift. "You shouldn't have," she replied. Inside lay the the highest quality pair of leather boots she would ever own. CINDY They are ..beautiful. LUCK I know how fashionable you are. I hope they fit. Luke thought about the only ring she had ever accepted from him. They had walked past a jewlry store. He opened the door. She sized up the counters and circled a ring. It was on her finger as he bought it. It was their third month together. Meanwhile, her family is on their best behavior. Passing the only daughter they have never trusted is the high priority. Luke holds back the tears. Everyone plays a part. Finally, the holidays are over and she is 21. EXT. - WEST TEXAS - DAY 53 He phones Cindy. LUCK Your letters are great. I'm glad you and your room mates get along so well. It's been miserable here. You may receive some letters that aren't to cheery. CINDY If it's that bad, why don't you look for another job? I know it's hard on you. LUCK Job search from a suitcase in West Texas? Just six more months and I'll have a experience record. Maybe they'll put me on a job in Missouri, like they promised. CINDY You know I'd like that. INT - CINDY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 54 Luke flies by to see her in February. She is a physically attractive woman, he admits. Men seldom say that about someone they have slept with for years. He wonders why had she made the inside so deceitful. Perhaps nature must have balance. Camera focuses on them making love. She is nude on a small cot. Her heels touch the floor. LUCK I've only got two days in town, honey. CINDY Well, get started. I'm ready and I can tell you are. LUCK Just a few months and we'll do this every night. CINDY I'll live with you this summer, where ever you are. LUCK That is arousing. Then again, so is this. CINDY Oh.. Luke .. don't stop. Adam turns three in his clouded world. INT - MOTEL ROOM - SAN ANTONE - NIGHT 55 Cindy visits Luke during March on spring break. After they tour Dallas, Luke takes her to the romantic river walk of San Antone. They are simply happy together. Always talking, always teasing, always laughing, never a loss for words. Every sight, every sound -- they feel love. Luke surpises her in the motel with champaign and dellie delights. She cries with surprise. They feast for hours with various foods and positions. CINDY Honey, this is the most fantastic spring break ever. I never want to wake without you. We should get married soon. LUCK I feel the same. Just four months and I'll find a way out of this outstate Texas madness. We can't build a future living out of a suitcase. I paid my parents back for college. Things will be a lot better by summer. I'll even have some vacation time by then. CINDY Let's make the most of our 'Precious and Few' moments. I still cry when I hear that song. LUCK I do too. When Luke brings her to her ride, he wants to keep her from leaving. She remains the only woman he has ever loved. INT - MOTEL, HOUSTON - NIGHT 56 As the weeks pass in empty motels, the travel wears him down. He couldn't forget the joy they feel together. He phones her from Houston. LUCK Honey, it may sound strange like this, but I miss you and have to know - would you marry me? CINDY Yes. LUCK I'll try to be with you at Easter. We need to get together and make plans. But before they get together, things change. Luke suffers poisoning in a refinery accident. He is unable to travel those 1600 round trip miles Easter weekend. INT. - LUCK'S TOWN HOUSE - NIGHT 57 Cindy thinks he lied to her. Luke resents what she implied over the phone. LUCK Honey, I'm really sick. I'll be able to see you next month. I can't argue. Babe, I love you. CINDY ..I love you too... Adam timed Luke's next phone call. Her roommates didn't know where she was. She hadn't come home last night. That evening she answered the phone. LUCK I phoned this morning. Where were you? CINDY I was with friends, don't you or mom worry about it. I sometimes don't come home at night. LUCK I shouldn't worry? Maybe you should marry one of your friends. Your letter's say you will live with me this summer. Don't 'set me up' to 'hurt me deeply' again. All I can do from here is wish you well with finals and ask you to be honest with us. I love you. CINDY I still love you. INT - CINDY'S HOUSE - MISSOURI - NIGHT 58 In May, Luke visits her on three weekends, once with his technician George. They enjoy each other, but she won't look for a ring or talk about marriage. From a friend with music contacts, Luke finds out that she had started dating Chris Marken. Luke finds her diaries and confronts her. LUCK Don't break us up. It's just the distance. We've been together four and a half years simply because we chose to be -- no contracts, no wedlock. Through better nad worse. That's priceless. Forget Marken. We've grown up together. There are 'firsts' only we have shared and can share with no other. There's a child we postponed. Live with me this summer as you promise. We can make wedding plans. In three months I'll have my year of experience and some savings. CINDY I know and will always love you, but I've changed my mind. Adam knew she had thrown away more than years. This mother always did. At least dad had a chance -- at least, without her. Luke knew he could always count on her. EXT - A PIPELINE IN ALABAMA - DAY 59 The company transfers Luke to Atlanta, Georgia and assigns him to a project in Alabama. Two dozen men and red clay make a nightmare. The sun beat down on Luke and his crew. LUCK Damn, we have to redo a mile of readings along the pipeline because you screwed up the reference! TOM Let's fake it. LUCK I'm responsible and there's a construction crew of twenty behind us. It gets done right, or you can walk. So it went. At night, Luke provides the corrupt client with dinners and booze as kickbacks to keep the project going. But, he too was becoming fond of Southern Comfort. On weekends, Luke studied for graduate school entrance exams to be given in November. They write and phone, but Cindy never visits. Luke thinks about her and misses her in the quiet moments. There are too many quiet moments. INT - CHRIS'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 60 Cindy misses nothing as she slept with Chris Marken and has Ben Boyd on the side. Same picnics, same dances, same sex. CINDY I love you Chris, your the only man I could ever love. CHRIS Your so special. He rolls off. Adam watches and knows he will never physically exist. ADAM She ended all natural things, including me. She received the gift of life and betrayed all. Then begins the cycle again. She will meet herself. Joe Simon is Luke's boss and roommate. He knew Luke had paid his dues. Florida work and a solid technician would balance the scales. In August, Luke finishes his year of internship on the Florida shores. Mark Milson, his wealthy technician, taught Mike sailboating in Miami. Luke was content in August. He writes Cindy for old times sake. EXT - DAYTONA INN - DAWN 61 He and Mark drive to Daytona Beach the following week. The beach is covered with mist. There was time to think in the dawn air. Luke is tired, yet he understands. LUCK( to self) They were different. He wanted to build, Cindy wanted to cheat. When she carried their child, she had three choices -- to keep her word and marry, to place the child for adoption, or to abort it. If she simply flipped a coin, it would be two to one for life. Honest marriage and raising a child wouldn't have cost more than dating her. Sadly, he knew that if the child's father was wealthly, Cindy would have married immediatly -- at any age -- and kept the child as insurance. But it was simplier than that. Cindy could keep her word or lie. The kid never had a chance. I felt worked-to-death just dating her. What did Cinderella have in mind when he's under contract and she held his checkbook? She publicly humiliates herself and us by lieing and screwing dozens of men for four some years. Then decides he gets to marry her. But only if he's earning lots of money and can take her away from herself and her reputation. How can nature allow such a whore? INT. - CINDY'S HOUSE - NIGHT 62 Rude awakenings greeted Cindy that same summer. Luke had shown her the bright lights and she wanted to transfer to Dallas. CINDY(to self) Damn, Luke was right again. Out-of-state tuition is six times the University of Missouri. He knew I'd bust him and I could have screwed a lot of new guys while he was on the road. These summer studs could give a shit and I'm alone. The frats only take and I'm beyond Mid-Missouri, with no man to pay for it. I'll write Luke. But, the cost is about the same at MU in St. Louis. INT - STEW'S TOWN HOUSE - NIGHT 63 She transfers and becomes the fourth roommate with three stewardesses in a townhouse near Lambert field. Deme is her favorite roomie and they share many blind dates. DEME You'll have some good times with Bill. CINDY Bill can have some good times with me. INT - HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT 64 When the stew's are gone, Cindy frequents the bars in search of wealthy men. She also works the Ramada Hotel. For three figures, she delivers a lonely business man a nightcap. She's not really a waitress anymore. CINDY Where are you from? JOHN L.A., I'm a manager with Annheiser Bush. CINDY This bush is for you. He places a C note on the night table. INT. - BANK - DAY 65 It had been a long business summer for Luke when he started the crew in Tallahasssee. There were a couple dances at a local bar the night before. The crew needed expenses and he found a local bank to cash a check. BARB Hi, I'm Barb Kennedy, we danced last night. LUCK Well...we should dance tonight. BARB Same place, about 9:00. INT - MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT 66 The couple are having sex. BARB You feel so good. How long will you be around? LUCK I'll tell the crew we need to recheck some readings. That should take about two days. BARB Get an extra room key and I'll be waiting. LUCK I'm really not that kind of guy, but I do lose keys. Summer ends on a high note. Luke feels alive again. At the end of the month, Enco gives Luke their biggest project, the Hess Oil Refinery in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is the largest refinery in the hemisphere. INT - RAMADA OFFICE - DAY 67 Cindy is concerned. She was walking into a room in the Ramada when a guy she dated saw her. He made enough of a scene that management caught on. MR. JOHNSON Miss Lowmeyer, your episode in the hall last night caused a stir. Management has checked with night staff and finds this wasn't your first 'night cap'. CINDY But I can explain.. MR. JOHNSON I think not. This is your final check. You are terminated for "unauthorized use of facilities." I believe the police call it soliciting. Your number is in the computer, so I suggest you avoid reputable hotels. How long did you think you could get away with it? CINDY As long as guys are horny, Mr. Johnson. MR. JOHNSON Get your ass off this property. CINDY You act like you don't 'get enough'. Goodbye, it's like you never existed. Cindy didn't know much about computers, but she knew her social security number wouldn't change. Whatever name, computers were networks and her best 'cocktail' days were over. She wouldn't honestly waitress again and she was a senior. She was never going to pay her student loans. That was man's work. She had to move quick. INT - MAC DOUGLAS PARTY - NIGHT 68 Gary Cost is his name. A hardworking 22 year-old Mac Douglas engineer who went to all the company events. She and Gary slept together for a month and he was 'The only man I could ever love'. Cindy is on his arm at a company contract party when she met John Price. John is a marketing manager. At six foot eight, with glasses and graying hair, he ozzes money and security. Cindy pushes the introduction. GARY Mr. Price, I'd like you to meet Cindy Lowmeyer. JOHN Cindy, call me John. CINDY Gary never mentioned management was so young. JOHN This woman has a place in marketing, Gary. CINDY Gary, would you get me a drink? As Gary finds a drink, Cindy and John exchange addresses and phone numbers. INT - STEW TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT 69 The following week, Cindy tells Gary they have the right to date around and she would always love Gary. That weekend she balls John raw at the stew townhouse. Adam watches. CINDY No one has ever made me feel the way you do, John. JOHN We're good together Cindy. My separation with Windy will start next week. In a few months the divorce papers will be final and I'll be a free man. CINDY This is what you can expect forever. She rises from his thighs and mounts him from on top. INT - HOTEL LOUNGE - NIGHT 70 Breezes off the Carribbean greet Luke and Joe in San Juan, PR and St. Criox. It is paradise. Luke mades the top in thirteen months -- small corporation, fast lane. JOE Be good to Hess, Luke. We're billing them double. LUCK They'll get the best. I've been in worse places then this. There were lectures and business lunches. Then Luke was left alone without even a technician. He hired a local when Joe flew back. Hard work and lonely weeks passed. A three day job in Puerto Rico lent a respite and a bit of gambling in the casinos. Customs gave him a hard time with his equipment. Luke was exhausted when the plane touched down back in St. Croix. Then the Christiansted Hotel has rented out his room. LUCK I held reservations for the weekend. He snapped at the clerk. CLERK We're so sorry, Mr. Seller. Perhaps we can make it up to you with the honeymoon suite. LUCK Whatever, just give me the key. He got the key and found the room. It was like nothing he had ever seen before -- split levels, flowers, love seat and stainless-glass portals overlooking the Caribbean. It was no place to be alone. After a shower, he caught his second wind. An hour or two of the harmonies of Bachman and Zeman at the Outrigger Club would be a nice close to Saturday evening. INT - OUTRIGGER BAR - NIGHT 71 The tunes of Seal's and Croft mingled with a couple rum specials have him relaxed. A five minute drive to the hotel and eight hours of sleep are in order. He pays the tab, a feeling gives him pause -- just ten more minutes Adam thought. The set was beginning when two beautiful young ladies sit at the table with him. The three strike a conversation immediately. LUCK 'Summer Breeze' is a pretty song. SUSIE Yes it is. LUCK I'm Luke and you are.. SUSIE I'm Susie and this is Martha. We noticed your tan and wondered if you live here? We just arrived. LUCK I've been here about a month. I'm a consulting engineer working at the Hess oil refinery. What brings you to 'America's Paradise'?" MARTHA We're nurses from Atlanta and this trip is a graduation present. We've seen Martinique and Barbados so far. LUCK Congradulations!..Would you believe I'm from Atlanta also? GIRLS Your kidding! LUCK I live in Decatur and work with Enco Engineering. The girls looked at each other. MARTHA We live in Decatur at the Alpine Apartments. LUCK Let's celibrate. May I order you two some drinks? They nod and three 'house specials' are on the way. The girls take turns dancing with Luke and every one is friends long before the last set. SUSIE "They don't water down the drinks here, do they. LUCK There's a drought on the island and rum is cheaper than water. More twists on paradise. SUSIE I need some food and coffee before we get back to the Drake Hotel. Is any place open? LUCK Follow me. There's a resturant and bar called Hamilton's a few blocks away. It's open 24 hours a day. INT. - HAMILTONS - NIGHT 72 He helps Susie out of her chair. Marty is at Luke's side as the three some navigate the darkened streets. They are finishing their coffee and cresants. MARTY We've had a great time and I don't want you driving, Luke. You could stay over in our room and we'll do something tomorrow. Luke isn't about to argue as Marty and Susie lead the way. There are two beds in their room and no complaints. Luke knew he wanted to see Marty again, in Atlanta or anywhere. Smiles battled headaches as the morning sun came up too soon. Luke arranges a sailboat tour of Buck Island when he got a change of cloths at his hotel. EXT. - SAILBOAT - DAY 73 A squall hit the thirty foot sailboat. Luke and friends white-nuckled the railing and were very pale. Suddenly, the sea was calm. The ship anchored and they were gazing through twenty feet of crystal clear ocean. The world's only under- water national park lay beneath them. Coral of all colors and shapes greeted the snorkling tour. The threesome enjoy every minute. MARTY Honey, this is the most fun we've had. It's so beautiful. LUCK You'll turn my ear with talk like that. MARTY I can turn more than that. LUCK Yes you can princess, yes you can. SUSIE Why don't you love birds save it for the hotel and keep snorkling. A speedboat ride in the bay ends the afternoon. Luke took the women to the Drake and took Marty to dinner that evening. INT - HOTEL RESTURANT - EVENING 74 LUCK Try the lobster with scallops on the side. MARTY That's awfully rich and I'm watching my waist. LUCK So am I. The past twenty hours with you have been fantastic. MARTY You ain't seen noth'in yet. I never believed in fate, but it must be in the Islands. They finish dinner and Luke took her to his room. Sea breezes and flowers surrounded them as they gazed on the beach from the love seat. She was so petite, she was so kind. Her blonde hair glistened in the moonlight. Minutes were hours as they explored each other. When they became one, they knew it was not in passing -- it was destined. They renewed the moment many times. LUCK Marty, I want us to spend a lot of time together in Atlanta. MARTY Honey, you could live with me at our apartment. Susie may be moving in with her boy friend. LUCK Honey, I'll help you with the rent and anything your little heart desires. MARTY I'm serious, Luke. LUCK I am too, Martha. Luke took her to her motel in the early morning sun. He clutched her address and phone number as the 1:00 PM flight passed over the refinery that afternoon. Her face was in every window. INT. - JOHN'S CONDO - NIGHT 75 John put Cindy up in the condo he started leasing. She had it made, but begins to resent some of his week long trips to Los Angels. CINDY John, I don't want you gone all the time. JOHN Cindy, it's my job. It pays for everything. CINDY I know, but that doesn't change how I feel. JOHN Join the real world, unless your independently wealthy. Not one to be alone, she started spenting time at the West Port Plaza. She always kept a couple airline bottles of champaign and condoms in her purse. Spending money came when it came. Her home economics mid terms were no problem, but she sensed something wrong about John. He never mentioned his little boy, Sam. She had to find that out from Gary, who phoned her from time to time. And John's lawyer hadn't got the papers on the court docket yet. INT - AIRCRAFT - DAY 76 Luke finished another two weeks of work in the Caribbean and called Marty each week. Her new job at Memorial Hospital demanded odd hours and she was studying for operating room certification. Luke changed islands and missed some of her letters. Navy and Union Carbide jobs keep him on the move. LUCK( to self) Marty never questions him. 'Return when you can. I've set aside space in the apartment for your things. Susie is moving out with a guy,' she said. I trust a woman that respect her man and acts accordingly. INT. - MARTY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 77 It was October 4th when Luke got back. Marty met him at the airport and he moves in the next day. MARTY Honey, you're a good man. I'm so happy in your arms. LUCK We've got so much. I trust you. You may change the cut of your hair or hem of your skirt, but please -- never change what's inside you. MARTY I love you, your my man. Jobs kept Luke in the Atlanta area for over a month and he passed his graduate school exam. Marty was slowly introducing him to art, the symphony, and family friends. He never realized just how intelligent and sophisticated the young lady was. She was not Cindy. They are in bed. LUCK Honey, your a goddess. How do you put up with a blunt hard working guy like me? MARTY Luke, I know a diamond when I see one. Your too modest, but I wouldn't want that to change. Now pretend it's September 20th and we're in the honeymoon suite. I've never felt that way before. LUCK Do you mean the night you took advantage of me on that little island? MARTY Right, Luke ... sort of ... just love me. Reality doesn't fade, it is only enhanced. INT. - JOHN'S CONDO - NIGHT 78 Cindy is pissed. John wouldn't meet her family at Thanksgiving. He said he had to make an appearance with his wife, for legal reasons. CINDY What legal reasons. We've been together for months and I want the family to meet you. JOHN Honey, these things take time. I have reasons and that's how it is. You've got nothing to bitch about and I don't need to hear it if you think you do. I've got a plane to Houston and I'm already late. CINDY I just want to be with you all the time. What's wrong with that? JOHN Nothing, when it's not impossible. I'll phone you tonight. With that, John is out the door. CINDY(to self) Damn men, at least when Luke had to leave, he obviously missed me and wrote. Not so with these 'executives'. These desk jockies aren't so hot in bed either. I'll make up something about John when I see the family. INT. - ATLANTA ART MUSEUM - DAY 79 Luke was struggling to keep Monet and Chanzant clear in his mind. Marty dances about the Atlanta museum with a history behind every picture and artist. LUCK Babe, Rome wasn't built in a day. So much of this is new to me. Should I explain Maxwell's Theorem to you again? MARTY Ok, I understand. It's just that my dad collects art and I want you and him to get along from the start. LUCK I thought he was a lawyer. MARTY He's lots of things, but art is his passion. LUCK He's not going to auction me off if I fail, is he? MARTY I'm not sure. His daughter's never lived with anyone before. LUCK Let's look at that French painting again. But better yet, there's a project I'm scheduled for next week in the North Sea. Why don't you tell me what to see in Britain? MARTY Did you really get the assignment? LUCK Yes. MARTY Why don't I use some vacation and let my older sister, Dorthy, fill in. We could see Paris. LUCK I don't think I could swing your ticket and it's during Thanksgiving, honey. MARTY That's alright, I have some 'frequent flier' miles I could use. How long is the job? LUCK About a week. MARTY Then let's do it, I haven't been to Paris in years. This is fantastic. LUCK You move quickly, Marty. MARTY When I know who and what I want. Luke pondered that remark. Something was happening way too fast. Barely two months and their going to Europe? MARTY Father's out of town, but mom must meet you before we could leave. We can catch her before her bridge game. EXT - DOW ESTATE - NIGHT 80 It was dark as they pulled into a long driveway. White pillars and magnolias fronted the Georgia mansion. A middle-aged woman was getting into a Mercedes. Marty honked. All three got out of their cars. Luke was stunned. Mrs. Dow is more like Marty's sister than mother. MARTY Mother, is the bridge game early? LIZ No, Joan Peerson's boy broke his arm and I'm going to stop by the hospital on the way. MARTY This is Luke Synder. Luke this is Elizabeth, but everyone calls her Liz. I've spoken of him often. LIZ I should say you have. Marty mentioned you were a very special young man. LUCK I'm pleased to meet you, but I believe your daughter has the corner on special. It's easy to see why. LIZ My, my, do keep this one Martha. I don't mean to be abrupt, but I must be going. I want you two over some evening soon. With that remark, she is in the car and gone. LUCK That was painless. MARTY Honey, she likes you. INT. - CINDY'S FARM - DAY 81 No one is smiling for Cindy at the family farm that Thanksgiving. FRED Your dating a man who's still married? Just six months ago you were with Luke for four years. He wasn't a criminal and he wasn't married. What happened? CINDY Four and a half...I changed my mind. FRED Maybe you shouldn't have dated half of state for years. Well, I want to meet this 'separated' John. Thirty-five year old men don't usually change horses in mid-stream. CINDY Thanks for the thought. You don't seem to remember what it's like to be in love. FRED I've fathered seven kids, including you, and I know plenty about love young lady. Cindy drove downtown to catch up on the local gossip before Thanksgiving meal. Most of her classmates and old dates were married. Her brothers didn't make it for dinner. She left for St. Louis in the evening. INT. - LUCK'S OFFICE - DAY 82 Luke answers the phone in his office as he's about to leave. LUCK Hello, this is Luke Seller. PAT Luke, this is Pat Dow, Martha's father. I'm in Houston, but thought I should call. Martha says your taking her to Paris. LUCK Yes, sir. PAT Call me Pat. There's a picture of you two in her room. What are your plans? LUCK We'll spend the weekend in Paris. I'll be on North Sea oil platforms during the week, while she's touring England. PAT No, no son.. are you serious about my girl? I won't have her hurt. LUCK ..I love and trust her, Pat. PAT Good answer. But what do you really know about her? LUCK She loves me. She graduated Emory with honors. And she doesn't lie to me. Is there something I should know? PAT Well... no Luke....What's your backround? LUCK My dad's a farmer in Missouri. I worked my way through a BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri and a minor in business. I've been with Enco in Houston and here. I've been accepted by the MBA program at Georgia Tech. PAT Mid-Westerner. Well.. you and Marty have a good trip, Oh, what do you think of Houston? LUCK It's a boom town that better not lose the oil money. PAT I agree. We'll see you two next month. INT. - PARIS HOTEL - DAY 83 Luke and Marty left for Heathrow the Friday before Thanksgiving and checked into the Winsor in London. Marty had them on a plane to Paris that evening. They were going to spend the whole weekend in Paris. It was 10:00 AM when they bested the jet lag, but when Luke looked out the hotel window he understood. Paris was gorgious. A cloudless sky and the smell of pastries greeted the senses. Vendors and artists lined the park near the Seine. He had never felt so alive. He went back to bed and and awakened Marty very slowly. Eventually, she gasp something in French that is understood in any language. MARTY First, we should take a cab to the Louve. We can grab something to eat along the way. She dictates while loading her camera. LUCK Babe, good morning. And good morning to you too, honey. MARTY I'm sorry, but there's so much to do. LUCK We always get things done. There are bi-daily shuttles to the North Sea platforms and I kept Monday open, in case of travel sickness. MARTY You little schemer. There are things I don't know about you. LUCK Like I don't come in heat until spring? MARTY Really.... how interesting ... what were the past months? LUCK Hibernation! MARTY Your reprehensible ... Marty knew enough French to get a cab to the museum with a minimum of extra fare. Paintings and people spotted the plaza by the entrance as Marty continued snapping pictures. Inside, Luke was in awe. The finest paintings and sculptures of the world graced every hall. Fourty foot stone walls supported skylights in every room. Marty was beside herself and has to be steadied. MARTY I was only a freshman in high school when I was here before. I couldn't comprehend what I witnessed. LUCK No age can do it justice, honey. The Mona Lisa was the finale of the hours. A timeless beauty with a section to itself. Marty seemed faint and Luke takes her outside. LUCK We'll be back tomorrow. Meanwhile, let's try some of the French loaf sandwiches. Her color returns as they munch and rest on a bench. MARTY Luke, you are amazing. You put yourself down about your backround, yet you obviously appreciate and learn from all you see. Few men are capable of that. You should be proud. LUCK I've been raised by women and religion that said 'not good enough' in one way or another. It's hard to rewrite the past. 'Give me a man's first five years and he is mine for life' the Jesuits said. It leads to being defensive, I guess. You are kind and positive and I can respond in like manner. Don't ever change Marty. I was nearly married to a woman whose true nature was not what she displayed. MARTY What you see is me, honey. A bitch in the past is just a bitch in the past. That 'Cindy' name you sometimes mumble is gone forever. But I've seen my father play both ends against the middle, it's not just the women. Luke held her against his breast and something got in his eye. It was dark when they made it back to the hotel. The 'City of Lights' was well named. They rested for two hours and walked the streets. A stunning 'can can' review at the Molon Rouge capped the evening. Both were asleep in the room by 2:00 AM. INT. - HOTEL - DAY 84 They enjoyed breakfast at a sidewalk cafe,then back to the Louve. The feeling and beauty behind the works of art bond the young lovers. Luke recites Marty's analysis of various works from the day before. MARTY You have a kack for art, honey. And I mean that. LUCK Well .. you know I have an eye for beauty. MARTY Keep talking like that and you'll have a wife. Marty said while looking him straight in the eye. Luke didn't bat a lash. LUCK Ah.. let's see the Arch de Triumph and Eiffle Tower. MARTY Then we could ride the Metro and see Notre Dame. Marty hailed a cab and they rode through the Arch and arrived at the Effiel tower expanse. The view from the top was indescribable. The city stretches for miles under a fall sun. MARTY You can see everything from here. MARTY Even heaven would be pressed for such a view. When they reached the foot of the tower, they hailed a cab and went to Notre Dame. The afternoon sun lit the stainless glass expanses. Splendid arches and lights filled her camera. MARTY I want us in a few more pictures. She hands the camera to a passing Japanese tourist. He works the camera effortlessly. After a change of clothes at the hotel, they took the Metro to a resturant near the Central Theater. One could hear a gentle symphony complimenting the taste of duck and escargo. They are exhausted upon returning to the hotel. LUCK I've been checking the map and we could see the Palace of Versales before we catch the afternoon fight to Heatrow. MARTY That's a great idea. I've never been there. In the morning they made love with an intimacy they had never expressed. As Luke checked them out of the hotel, Marty spied a jewlry store down the block. INT. - STORE - DAY 85 Luke looked at the souveneers and Marty picks out a display of rings. MARTY This one is the one. It's what I want. LUCK Honey, that's a diamond. If I buy that for you we're going to have to get married. MARTY I do. LUCK Then this engagement ring will do fine, Mrs. Seller. Luke bought her ring as they kissed. She paid more attention to him and the ring then the Palace. Not even the hall of mirrors could break her gaze for long. They caught the afternoon flight with but minutes to spare. Luke spend four days on a series of oil platforms while Marty collected Britain on film and phoned her mom. They left Britain Sunday, after a Saturday about London, a night in Picadilly Square and a tour of Parliment. Sunday night they are sound asleep in Atlanta. INT. - ENCO - DAY 86 Luke was at work early the next Morning uploading North Sea data to the main computer. Joe steps in his office. JOE Congradulations. I didn't realize you and Marty were engaged. I guess you wouldn't be with us much longer. LUCK Joe, what do you mean..we just decided last week.. JOE Luke, haven't you seen the Sunday paper? Joe handed Luke a copy of the Journal Society section. Luke is stunned as he reads: Mr. Donald 'Pat' Dow, of Dow Industries, and his wife, Liz, announce the engagement of their daughter, Martha Pricella, to Mr. Luke Donald Seller. Mr. Seller is a consulting engineer presently with Enco Inc. of Decatur. Wedding plans include a spring ceremony and stay in Europe. JOE Luke, didn't you know she from one of the oldest and wealthiest families in Atlanta?" LUCK I knew she wasn't poor. JOE Luke, her dad could buy Enco with his personal checkbook. Luke didn't get much work done the rest of the morning. Life doesn't work this way, not for him. But again, maybe years of hard work are rewarded. Just as long as Marty wasn't a new Cindy setting him up. Whatever he was doing right, he didn't plan to change. He copied the announcement and writes short letters to his family and a couple of friends. Adam smiles. INT. - JOHN'S CONDO - NIGHT 87 Cindy didn't study much for finals. John stays at the condo, but is always working on reports. CINDY John, can't you do your work at the office? JOHN I work hard. So does everyone else. Don't you have finals? He went to see his parents in Cincinnati during the holidays. He couldn't met her family until spring when the devorce was final. Cindy barely passed her finals and wanted out of the city. It was back to Argile for Christmas and New Years. Adam smiles. INT. - DOW ESTATE - DAY 87 Marty formally introduces Luke to her parents and family. PAT What did you think of the Louve, Luke. LUCK It was spectacular, in fact, I think the Mona Lisa would look good in your West wing dinning room. PAT I've thought the same thing. Pat replied in all seriousness. Luke could only wonder. He enjoyed his inlaws to-be, even her brother Ron, who loved his Southern Comfort. But there was always the thought that things were too good to be true. Her family was truly rich and powerful. Luke didn't want to scratch what might be under that charming southern veneer. Luke did some follow up work on a job in Miami the week before Christmas. Marty flew down for the weekend sun. Christmas dinner was at the Dows and Luke was again under a microscope. This time it was the grandparents on her mom's side. Bert and Blanch are from a civil war museum. BERT Your family fight for the South? LUCK All the Ozarks fought for the South. Marty kicks him in the leg. BERT I figured as much. They do alot of feud'in round there. Near as much as us Georgia crackers you know. Me and Blanch are still from opposites out east of Stone mountain, you know. Our kids put us in Fort Meyers to be rid of the fight'in you know. BLANCH Now how would this Luke feller know all these things? BERT He knows possome.. he knows. MARTY Speak'in of fued'in, Luke and I have to leave and pack for a trip to meet his family. I'll tell you if the Ozarks are true Southerners when we get back. BERT Hill folk is hill folk you know. LUCK (under breath) Honey, I wish I knew all the things Bert thinks I know. MARTY You know. EXT. - LUCK'S FARM - EVENING 88 Working at Enco had been extremly pleasant since the engagement announcement. No problems with expense accounts, best projects, free personal use of the company car -- all the way to Missouri. They gaze from a gravel drive above Luke's family farm. LUCK Look around you. All the land - as far as the eye can see - belongs to the Seller family and others. MARTY Very cute. I'm nervous. LUCK First time I met my mom I was too. MARTY Get serious! I want to made a good impression. LUCK No problem, say your a virgin that wore out the family Bible. Don't say that we use mechanical devices during oral sex. MARTY Your piss'in me off! LUCK Alright. My father, Jim, will be the kindest person you've ever met. You will be accepted for yourself. Be nothing else. My mother, Betty, will see right through you and find all the faults you ever suspected you had. Just be polite, passive, and never witty. Always be religious. My brother, Paul, will consider you rich and wonder if you have a sister his age. My sister, Diane, will talk to you about medicine, fashions, and become your friend. But never take your eye off Samson, our prize bull. MARTY Luke! This is important. Do I look religious? LUCK Almost immaculate. INT. - LUCK'S FARM - DAY AFTER XMAS 89 JIM Hi son. This must be Martha. Come on in. How was the drive? LUCK Pretty good, except for some passes in Tennessee. Everyone this is my fiancee, Martha Dow. The family says 'hi'. Beth, Luke's mom, eyes Martha closely. BETH Pleased to meet you, Martha. Luke's written us about you. Your a nurse?' MARTY Yes, nursing is very satisfying. BETH Luke says you two were in Paris when he proposed. That must have been romantic. MARTY We were blessed with the opportunity. BETH He was raised a religious young man. LUCK We should get a few things out of the car. Is there anything I can get at the store besides maybe some soda? BETH I don't think so. Luke wanted to talk with his brother, Paul, alone. Marty said she would freshen up. LUCK How are you and the farm? PAUL I've got a cold and the farm's a lot of work. We're feeding 23 steers. That newspaper clipping made Martha look rich. LUCK Her family isn't hurting for money. PAUL Everything I do here is wrong, yet I work so hard. It's like there's nothing good enough in this world. My classmates watch TV and I work, but not good enough. LUCK Little brother, your ok. Dad's has sense and balance. Always remember that. PAUL Yet he's always working and she's always in the house. LUCK She works, but it's hell training for heaven. INT. - WILLIE'S - NIGHT 90 Willy's was just across the river. Just a couple soft drinks and a six-pack for measure. There are a half dozen cars around when they pull up. LUCK A six-pack of Bush and the coke. STEVE Haven't seen you for a while, Luke. Luke turns around and sees Steve Lowmeyer. LUCK It's good to see you. What's new? Then he saw Cindy behind Steve. STEVE Rumor has it your getting married. LUCK Well.. I've spent time with a friend in Miami. CINDY This fall we were going to marry after five years together. LUCK Cindy, could we talk outside?" When Luke finished his purchase they walked out. CINDY Why did you leave me? Cindy demanded an answer and Steve backed away. LUCK You had to 'extend yourself' through high school and 'date around' in college. I was living out of a suitcase a thousand miles away when I was suddenly your 'husband-to-be'. What did you leave for us? You didn't live with me in Atlanta or 'where ever I was.' I changed my life for you. I wanted you to be my wife, but you made the natural impossible with dozens of men and lies. CINDY That's not true. LUCK Pretend I have your journals. Why, I really loved you." CINDY What about the fifteenth? Luke backs away. Paul gets out of the car. LUCK I wanted to marry you, I offered. I looked in a waste basket. But only you control your body and faces. You can't change. CINDY I was good to you! We were happy! LUCK I know, so why the other men, year after year? I never deserved that, neither did we. She acts puzzled. LUCK Was it your love for me the eighteenth when you gangbanged Meta, or was it love the twentith at De Sille Apartments or was it love the tenth at the Lake or was it a year sleeping with Rice or Marken or.. Cindy interupted. CINDY I don't want to hear it! Don't forget your 'one night stands'! LUCK For twenty-three months I was totally faithful -- not even a date! For what? A known abortionist? A party whore? Whether you were 'with child' or not, I never left you. You know that, and that's all a man can do. Since our seventh month, I wrote that you were all I wanted. You carried my child and wrote you would be my wife. You were life itself to me. But after Lubber, in any crowd, I slowly began to wonder how many my 'wife-to-be' had slept with. So my pride took a couple women. My fidelity hadn't worked. But now, finally, I have found someone I can trust. It's something you took away from us. And you had not right to. Both brothers went back to their cars. CINDY I'll always love you. LUCK It's our right, but so was trust. He sighed and touches her fine blonde hair a last time. When Paul and Luke got back dinner was served. After an awkward evening of Ozarks and City, Luke slept on the couch. Tears are caked on his eyelashes in the morning. INT. - SELLER GRANDMA'S - DAY 91 His entire family -- aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces -- were at grandma's the next day. Some had expected Cindy and it was slow going for Marty at first. Then Annie, a nurse, starts talking shop with Marty. ANNIE I work in the Emergency Room at St. Mary's, a three hundred bed hospital here in town. Sometimes it's not easy, the auto wreck's are the worst. MARTY I know. I just started assisting in the OR and we had auto accident. Male, 20, with four broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. We saved him, but it was a tough two hours. UNCLE ALLEN We're from Chattanoga, Tennessee and it's good to see another southern belle here. The dinner and everything else went well after that. LUCK Marty and I are going to Columbia before we have to get back. We'll set the date and call. With Marty, your grand children might even be more attractive then me. RELATIVES I should hope so. INT. - MOTEL - NIGHT 92 MARTY I understand what you said in Paris. LUCK I understand a few things about your family too. Mizzo suprised her. It was many times the size of Emory. So did things they did when the motel door closed. MARTY Is that all you think about? We might as well be married. LUCK Would you like that? MARTY You know I would. LUCK Then let's grab a justice of the peace. We've got five days. MARTY Your serious, aren't you. LUCK I've seen too many good things go too wrong. I know who I want and what I want. It will be our secret, unless someone interfers. MARTY After St. Croix and Paris, why not? INT. - CITY HALL - DAY 93 JUSTICE THOMPSON Everything seems in order. Do you, Mathew Donald Seller, take Martha Pricella Dow to be your lawfully wedded wife? LUCK I do. JUSTICE THOMPSON And do you, Martha Pricila Dow, take Mathew Donald Seller to be your lawfully wedded husband? MARTY I do. JUSTICE THOMPSON THen by hte powers invested in me by the state of Missouri, I now pronounce you man and wife. INT. - MOTEL - NIGHT 94 Days in bed being newly weds. MARTY My father, Donald, would shoot us if he knew. LUCK Your father, or grandfather, might shoot me anyway, Mrs. Seller. MARTY I can't keep this a secret, honey. I'm just so happy.. LUCK We can do anything we decide to do. We're living together and there's nothing wrong with renewing our vows. Besides, wouldn't you like to know who might not be on our side? MARTY Your not as innocent as 'the Ozarks', are you? LUCK I'm just securing my faultless innocence. INT. - STEW'S TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT 95 CINDY John pissed me off and stayed with his family through New Year's, so I celebrated New Year's EVE West Port Plaza. I picked up three hundred in tips. DEME You better be careful or you'll be caught again. CINDY Well.. John's dragging his feet. He refuses to met my family and keeps making excuses. I ball his brains out, but he keeps stalling, yet he keeps me in the condo." DEME Sounds like he's guilty about leaving his wife or he's messing around. Give him a few cold winter nights and I'll find some guys for us to double with. If that doesn't bring him around, you can always say your pregnant and see what he does." CINDY Right! I going to get a ring or find better. EXT. - STEW'S TOWN HOUSE - 96 Cindy wasn't at the condo several nights in February and John didn't like it. A feeling gave him pause outside Cindy and Deme's old townhouse one March night. He had returned from New York a day early. Cindy was arm-in-arm with a younger man and didn't come to the condo that night. Adam smiled. The next evening John arrives at the condo as expected. JOHN Wendy fought the devorce, but it's final next week. However, we need some time to let things settle. CINDY I'm graduating in less than two months and now I can be your wife. JOHN We can work out anything with trust, but it may take a while. CINDY This may not be a good time to say it, but I missed my period. JOHN (stareing) See a doctor and bring back the results. We must be sure.. I'd like to meet your family at Easter, but there's a problem in the LA office and I may not be back by then. I'll phone if I can make it. INT. - CINDY'S FARM - NIGHT 97 The following weekend Cindy went home for Easter. She didn't think she needed to see a doctor. Cindy said that John was out of town, but would meet them soon. Friends said that Luke had married. She looks at some pictures and journals in the attic. Then she begins to cry. CINDY (to self) We loved each other and shared a thousand 'firsts'. I fucked it all away. Luke knows me better than anyone, yet had more kindness and patience and love then all the others I've met combined. I abort our child and then him. I'm such a bitch. Hours later Judy found Cindy and understood the tears. JUDY There are plenty of fish in the sea. INT. - JOHN'S CONDO - 98 When Cindy returned Sunday night, the condo was empty, except for boxes of her things. Clipped to the top box was a typed slip of paper: The lease is up -- I never want to see you again. Cindy is stunned and bursts into tears. CINDY(to self) It's not true. I had him. I was good to him. Nothing's perfect. Why would he do this? What happened? Did he see me with someone? Promises aren't really literal. I have a right to know why! Finally, she started checking boxes to see if anything was missing. In the third box she found her pocket planner and quickly checked the notations that only she could decipher. There were three, one hundred dollar bills at the bottom of the box. INT. - STEW'S TOWNHOUSE - NIGHT 99 During the next month she moved back with Deme and painfully tried to contact John. He was never in the office or he was at a meeting. She wanted an explaination and apology. Finally, Gary Cost phoned her. GARY John and his wife Windy are back together and he doesn't want to see you, in fact, no one at Mac Douglas does -- including me. To top it off, a pilot gave me pictures of you screwing his fraternity. You can obviously find new friends in any bar, hotel, or townhouse. This is goodbye. The receiver clicks. CINDY Well, if they don't like the way I am, they don't have to be around me. Why did I drive Luke away? INT. - EDDIE'S - NIGHT 100 School took on new meaning as Cindy crammed for finals. She became another degreed unemployed fashion merchandiser. It would be a year before loan payments began, but she had spent most of her money on clothes and a little Chevy convertible. She found a new set of bars and dated or barhopped most nights. To make ends meet, she became a part-time stripper at Big Eddy's in East St. Louis. CUSTOMER Hey baby, nice set of jugs.. snatch looks good too. CINDY For a hundred after work...you can find out how good. CUSTOMER I'll meet you at the door. The money and attention were plentiful, but she got the clap by month's end. Fortunately, the school clinic still took care of that. CINDY( to self) "I'm 22 and need the wealth and leisure only a rich husband can provide. There is so much free time without classes and the stews are gone too often. INT. - SELLER'S - NIGHT 101 |