Moonstruck Page #9

ROSE:

No. He don't.

The WALL PHONE in the kitchen RINGS. Loretta goes and answers

it.

LORETTA:

Hello? Yea, this is Loretta Castorini -

yeah. Is that you Johnny?

INT. A DARKENED BEDROOM IN PALERMO - DAY

Mr. Johnny is calling on an old European-style phone. In the

b.g. is the sickbed. In the sickbed lies VESTA, Mr. Johnny's

mother, her grey hair spread out on a golden pillow.

By the bed are THREE MOURNERS, old crones dressed in black.

One clutches a missal, the other two clutch rosaries. All

three are grieving in a steady low wordless whine. Mr. Johnny

speaks into the phone in a confidential manner. There is

some long-distance CRACKLE.

MR. JOHNNY

Ssh, it's me. I'm calling from the

deathbed of my mother.

LORETTA ON THE PHONE

LORETTA:

How was your plane ride?

MR. JOHNNY ON THE PHONE

MR. JOHNNY

The waitresses were very nice.

(glances over at his

mother)

My mother is slipping away.

LORETTA ON THE PHONE

VESTA:

(calling to the Heavens)

Quanto tempo devo aspettare?

(now she aims more at

Johnny)

How long must I wait?!

MR. JOHNNY

I can't talk long.

LORETTA:

Have you told her we're getting

married?

MR. JOHNNY ON THE PHONE

MR. JOHNNY

Not yet. I'm waiting till a moment

when she's peaceful.

We HEAR Loretta's VOICE over his receiver.

LORETTA'S VOICE

Just don't wait until she's dead.

MR. JOHNNY

Have you called my brother?

LORETTA'S VOICE

Not yet.

MR. JOHNNY

Will you do it today? Call him, make

him come to the wedding. Five years

is too long for bad blood between

brothers. Nothing can replace your

family. I see that now.

LORETTA ON THE PHONE

LORETTA:

Alright. I'll call him. Today. Listen,

Johnny. Call me after you tell your

mother. Alright? Alright. And don't

stand directly under the sun. You've

got your hat, use your hat. Alright.

Bye-bye.

Loretta hangs up the phone. She thinks. Rose speaks from the

table, where she's still sitting.

ROSE:

How's the mother?

LORETTA:

She's dying. But I could still hear

her big mouth.

ROSE:

Did he tell her?

LORETTA:

Not yet. That old lady makes him

sweat.

(to herself)

Where's that card?

Rose gets up and takes the dishes to the sink, Loretta fishes

in her pocket and comes out with the business card Mr. Johnny

gave her. She dials the number.

ROSE:

Who Are you calling?

INT. CAMMARERI PASTRY SHOP - DAY

(INTERCUT W/LORETTA IN KITCHEN)

CHRISSY, a woman with a Queens accent, answers.

CHRISSY:

Cammareri's Bake Shop.

LORETTA:

Is Ronny there?

CHRISSY:

Hold on.

(yells into intercom)

Ronny, the phone!

INT. CAMMARERI PASTRY SHOP - OVEN ROOM - DAY

(INTERCUT W/LORETTA IN KITCHEN)

RONNY:

Yeah, this is Ronny.

LORETTA:

I'm calling for your brother Johnny.

He's getting married and he wants

you to come.

There's a long pause. Ronny's voice returns, hoarse with

emotion.

RONNY:

Why didn't he call himself?

LORETTA:

He's in Palermo.

RONNY:

What's wrong can never be made right.

(hangs up phone)

LORETTA:

Let me come and talk to you.

Loretta hangs up the phone. She looks at the card again,

makes a decision and pockets the card.

THE TOWNHOUSE/INT. THE BUICK - DAY

As Cosmo drives away. He's in a very good mood. He's

WHISTLING. He laughs to himself.

CAMMARERI'S PASTRY SHOP - DAY

And the street in front of it. Loretta arrives. She's wearing

a long, navy-blue cloth coat and a knit hat. She looks up at

the sign and at the business card in her hand, and enters

the shop.

INT. CAMMARERI'S PASTRY SHOP - DAY

It's a nice Italian bake shop. Three Italian women, CHRISSY,

BARBARA, and MA wait on THREE WOMEN SHOPPERS at the counter.

CHRISSY and BARBARA are in their late 20's or early 30's; MA

is old, old. Loretta comes in and speaks to CHRISSY.

LORETTA:

Is Ronny Cammareri here?

CHRISSY:

He down at the ovens. What do you

want?

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