a fools journey

book 3: IllusionsOfSeparation

by mosanami etal

Preview Draft

Copyright 2013

FADE IN Its a bright and sunny late afternoon on Labor Day weekend in Petworth, Connecticut, The Best Small Town in the U.S.A. EXT. LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER EVENING A series of aerial shots: heavy boat traffic and moored boats bobbing on the gentle flow of a deep river. The majestic tree-lined riverside landscape is wealthy with plush, rolling lawns. There is no other sound but a powerful, bird flap and the wind. From above, we see a BLACK RANGE ROVER snaking in motion on the long and winding River Road. We hear an alarming and harsh caw, caw, caw, of a calling crow. THREE CROWS glide high in the sky. They appear to provide escort for the Range Rover. The car turns onto a steep driveway. Front windshield POV, a stately mansion rests on a hill overlooking the river. The three crows land and perch on separate limbs of a tree. The Range Rover stops in front of the mansion. SOUND OVER: A ROCKING BLUES BAND A COLLEGE-AGED VALET cheerfully greets the cars arrival. The driver side door opens. A large black cowboy boot, partially covered by a faded blue jean pant leg, exits the vehicle. THE DRIVER. We see only the black cowboy boots and pant legs, steadily walking on a cobblestone path toward the sound of music.

DRIVER POV PARTY GUESTS mill about with their cocktails on the manicured lawn in the rear of the imposing residence. In the crowd, a woman with a funky floral headdress turns her body to face the driver. The sexagenarian HOSTESS makes her way between the partygoers with the posture and poise of a prima ballerina in slow motion. Her smile is gracious and eyes are bright. She greets the driver with a warm hello. Several guests recognize and welcome the driver as he makes a path his to the bar. SOUND OVER: THE MUSIC BECOMES LOUDER We see THE BAND playing on a large, river view terrace. The guests chat, drink, smoke, and dance. As the music segues into a romantic ballad, we hear the sound of tree frogs and crickets awakening to the settling dusk. CUT TO The rear view of drivers black cowboy boots, faded blue jeans, stand on a bed of grass. Faded blue-jean legs, a black belt, and a long-sleeved black tee shirt. The driver mixes a cocktail at a long white table-clothed, selfservice bar. HOLD ON DRIVER Hello! WOMAN (Off Camera)

The driver turns around with caution and a full cocktail glass in hand. Hes a tall, handsome, athletic-looking, broad-shouldered, man of color in his late twenties. His expression is one of puzzlement but bedazzled and bewitched in the same breath. His eyes begin to twinkle. Above, the three crows take flight and briefly distract him. DRIVER POV A MYSTERIOUS BLONDE-HAIRED WOMAN approaches. We cant make out her face too clearly but she appears to have a faint, pulsating glow of white light surrounding her.

SOUND OVER: Three remote caws. Afterwards, the music volume increases again. The bodies of the driver and mysterious blonde-haired woman are much closer now. Talking. Smiling. Laughing. Whispering. Touching. The band begins the transition to an upbeat song as a DARKHAIRED WOMAN in her late twenties enters the frame to join the couple. She threads her hand through the drivers arm and rib cage. Not missing a beat, he introduces her to the blonde. A SECOND DARK-HAIRED WOMAN, in her mid-forties, enters the frame and joins the trio. The driver extends his hand to the second dark-haired woman and introduces her to the first dark-haired woman. The driver and the mysterious blonde hold court. Finally, the hostess joins the group. They talk. They laugh. Twilight falls. They part ways. EXT. NIGHT

Theres a long line at the buffet table. Party guests are dining at various white table clothed, round tables that are spread across on the lawn overlooking the river. Torch lamps light the area. SOUND OVER: SOFT MUSIC AND LOUD CHATTER

Three couples are seated at a table. The driver sits between the first dark-haired woman and an OLDER BLONDEHAIRED WOMAN in her mid-fifties. Eating. Drinking. Smoking. Laughing. INT. MANSION LIVING ROOM The mysterious blonde woman sits on a long couch with a dinner plate on her lap. Shes between a YOUNG DARK HAIRED MAN in his mid-twenties and a YOUNG DARK-HAIRED WOMAN in her mid-twenties. Talking. Eating. Drinking. EXT. MANSION PARTY AREA - NIGHT SOUND OVER: SOUNDTRACK MUSIC AND LOCAL ANIMAL SOUNDS

The band breaks down and packs their equipment. Party guests begin to exit the lawn terrace area. The driver excuses himself from the table, hand gestures goodbye, and then walks off slowly towards mansion. DRIVER POV He walks. One black cowboy boot steps forward. boot steps forward. And so forth. The other

He lifts his head to see the mysterious blonde walking in a direct path towards him, only ten paces away. After each step her face becomes clearer. Her features are more defined. We see her striking beauty for the first time. Her iridescent blue eyes light up the night. She beams delightfully as the distance narrows between them. MYSTERIOUS BLONDE POV The driver walks slowly in a trance. Suddenly, a womans arm reaches into the camera frame and yanks him off camera. Its the older blonde woman who was seated next to him at dinner. She rests one hand on his shoulder. Her other hand is pointing in the opposite direction. OLDER BLONDE WOMAN (tersely) Mosa! Your car is parked over there! Mosa snaps out of his trance as the mysterious blonde woman smiles from ear-to-ear. Its abundantly clear that if they were not interrupted, they would have disappeared into the night without looking back. FADE TO BLACK RUN OPENING TITLES FIVE YEARS EARLIER SUMMER EXT. NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT A series of shots: bustling city neighborhood streets. INT. UPPER WEST SIDE RESTAURANT

A JAZZ BAND plays to a full dining room. A telephone rings at an empty BAR. The BARTENDER ignores the phone while busily tending to the WAITSTAFF. MOSA, in a long-sleeved black T-shirt sits at the far corner of the bar. He cradles a pint of brew with one hand and holds a smoke with the other, while watching a preseason football game on the small television behind the bar. We hear a sultry, steamy, sexy voice FEMALE (off camera) Well hello, stranger. MOSA (tilting head) Hi. He returns to watching the game. A tall, attractive URBAN WOMAN leans onto the bar. Shes wearing a revealing low cut, tight fitting, t-strap blouse. URBAN WOMAN So -- you gotta name? Mosa. MOSA And you are? URBAN WOMAN (smiling) Patrice.