Days of Heaven Page #9

ABBY:

I held out a long time. I could've taken the

first guy with a gold watch, but I held out.

(pause)

I told myself that when I found somebody, I'd

stick by him.

BILL:

I know. We're in quicksand, though. We stand

around, it's

going to suck us down like everybody else.

(pause)

Somewhere along the line you have to make a

sacrifice. Lots of people want to sit back and take a piece

without doing nothing.

He waits to see how she will respond. Half of him wants her

to turn him down flat. Abby is bewildered.

ABBY:

Have I ever complained? Have I said anything

that would make

you think...

BILL:

You don't have to. I hate it when I see you

stooped over and

them looking at your ass like you were a whore. I personally

feel ashamed! I want to take a .45 and let somebody have it.

(pause)

We got to look on the bright side of this, Ab.

Year from

today we got a Chinese butler and no sh*t from anybody.

(pause)

Some people need more'n they have, some have

more'n they need. It's

just a matter of getting us all together.

(pause)

I don't even know if I believe what I'm saying,

though. I

feel like we're on the edge of a big cliff.

Abby looks at the ground for a moment, then nods.

109TIGHT ON CHUCK

Chuck lies in bed, daydreaning.

110TIGHT ON ABBY AND URSULA

Ursula decorates Abby's hair with flowers and

tells her how pretty she looks.

111EXT. RIVER BANK

The wedding takes place along the river. The

Preacher has come back with his ACOLYTES. A chest of drawers

serves as the altar. Benson is the best man--a joyless one.

Ursula bounces around in a beautiful gown, looking for the

first time like a young woman. The BAND practically

outnumbers the guests: ELDERS from the local Mennonites, the

MAYORS of a few surrounding towns decked out in sashes and

medals, etc.

112TIGHT ON ABBY AND BILL

Bill kisses the bride on the cheek. Each

believes she is going through with this for the other's

sake. They whisper back and forth.

ABBY:

You know what this means, don't you?

(he nods)

We won't ever let each other down, will we?

BILL:

I love you more than ever. I always will. I

couldn't do this unless I loved you.

113SERIES OF ANGLES

The Acolytes ring an angelus bell. Chuck slips a

sapphire on her finger. The Preacher, with outstretched

arms, reminds them all that they are witness to a great

event.

114SKY - ABBY'S POV

Abby, frightened, looks off at the rolling sky,

wondering how all thislooks in the sight of heaven.

115INT. BEDROOM - DUSK

From her pillow, Abby watches Chuck shyly enter

the bedroom

He comes over and sits down beside her

CHUCK:

You're wonderful.

She is silent for a moment. The wind moans in the rafter

ABBY:

No. But I wish I were.

(pause)

Listen. It sounds like the ocean.

They smile at each other.

116EXT. BELVEDERE - DUSKI

Bill watches the lights go out in the Belvedere.

A lump rises to his throat. How exactly did this happen? He

sets his jaw, vowing not to give way to weakness or

jealousy. This is the price they have to pay for a lasting

happiness.

117TIGHT ON ABBY, CHUCK, ETC.

The next morning the newlyweds set off on their

honeymoon.

Chuck tells Bill to move his things from the dorm into the

Belvedere.

Abby, a basket of cucumbers under her arm, waves goodbye,

angling her wrist so that Bill and Ursula can see the

diamond bracelet Chuck has given her.

118EXT. PRAIRIEI

They steer out across the prairie in a1912

Overland auto. Ursula runs after them, slaps the back fender

and hops around on one foot, pretending the other was run

over. Abby laughs. She knows this stunt.

When they are gone Ursula turns fiercely on Bill.U

URSULA:

I hate you.

BILL:

What for? Don't be any more of a pain in the

neck than you gotta

be, okay?

She swings at him with her fist. He pushes her away._

BILL:

You think I like this? I'm doing it for her!

URSULA:

You scum.

Bill slaps her.

BILL:

Still think so?

She throws a rock at him and runs off. He catches her,

repenting of his meanness.

BILL:

I know you can't understand this, but there's

nothing I want except good things for Abby and you. Go ahead

and hit me back.

She hesitates a second, then slaps him as hard as she can.

Blood glistens on his lip. He does not say a word in

protest. She looks at the wound, horrified, then throws her

arms tight around him.

119EXT. PIERI

Abby and Chuck disembark from a paddleboat

steamer at a

pier along the river. Chuck looks excited.

120EXT. YELLOWSTONE POOL

Chuck and Abby have gone to Yellowstone Park for

their honeymoon. Abby wades in a pool, wreathed by mists

from the underworld. She carries a parasol to protect her

from the sun. The trees in the vicinity are bare of leaves.

121EXT. ANTLERS - FREEZE FRAME

Chuck kneels with a box camera to photograph a

large pair of antlers lying on the ground.

122SERIES OF STILLS (STOCK)

This photo becomes the first in a series from

their Yellowstone trip: fishermen displaying sensational

catches by a river, buggies vying with early autos on rutted

roads, the giant Beaupre who stood eight feet tall, etc.

Each of the pictures bears a caption. Together they make a

little story.

ABBY (o.s.)

We saw grizzly bears and a boar. The bears

scared me the most.

They eat garbage.

(whispering)

I was so lonesome. I missed you.

123TIGHT ON BILL AND ABBY

Bill and Abby kiss, renewing old ties.U

ABBY:

There was a mountain partly made of glass, too,

but we didn't get to see it. And a petrified tree.

BILL:

We'll go back.

ABBY:

Can we? Because there's a whole lot I didn't get

to see.

Bill straightens up. Chuck sits down on Abby's other side.

124EXT. DINNER TABLE UNDER NETI

They are having dinner on the lawn in front of

the Belvedere. A fine mesh net is spread above them like a

tent to keep the insects out. Ursula sits on Bill's lap. He

puts a hand up the back of her shirt and they play as though

she were a ventriloquist's dummy.

125TIGHT ON RABBIT

Bill displays a rabbit which he trained in their

absence to perform a card trick.

BILL (o.s.)

I have you now, Ed. Only thing that can beat me

is the ace of spades. (His name's Ed..) Her name's Abigail.

Hungarian name.

(mumbling)

Andrew drew Ann. Ann drew Andrew.

From the whole of a spread deck it picks the ace of spades.

126NEW ANGLE

Abby and Chuck applaud. Ursula cranks up the

victrola and puts on a record. Bill strokes the rabbit.

BILL:

You know why I like him? He minds his business

and isn't full of baloney.

Chuck turns to Abby and, for nearly the first time, smiles.

CHUCK:

He's funny.

Bill holds a plate up for Abby to see. Limoges china. Abby

rolls her eyes and spits out a cherry pit. They eat like

pigs, with no respect for bourgeois manners.

URSULA:

You have any talents, Chuck?

CHUCK:

No, but I admire people who do.

ABBY:

That's not so. He can do a duck. Show them.

BILL:

Stand back. Get the women and children someplace

safe.

Chuck, feeling it would be wrong not to enter the spirit of

the occasion, does his imitation. The likeness is

astonishing. Abby wipes a bit of food off his chin with her

napkin. Bill drums on the table with his spoon.

Rate this script:3.0 / 3 votes