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8 8 Tired of her fantasies, Francesca looks up to the sun to clear her mind. It is blinding. When she looks back out onto the road, her vision is momentarily blurred. Until, slowly, out of the blue, she sees: A TRUCK driving toward her house, kicking up dust, like some phantom appearing through the etheric plane. Francesca isn't even sure it's real. She sips cool drink & blinks to regain her vision. The truck slows down and turns into her driveway. Francesca watches with suspicious curiosity as: The truck stops and ROBERT KINCAID steps out. Flashing his blue eyes in her direction, he smiles and says: ROBERT Sorry to bother you, but I've got a feeling I'm lost. Francesca remains guarded. FRANCESCA Are you supposed to be in Iowa? ROBERT (laughs) Yeah. FRANCESCA: Well, you're not that lost. He laughs. She puts down her tea and crosses to him. ROBERT I'm looking for a covered bridge out this way... uh... wait a minute -- He looks through a small notepad for the name. Francesca finds herself scanning his body. FRANCESCA Roseman Bridge? ROBERT That's it. FRANCESCA Well, you're pretty close. It's only about two miles from here. ROBERT Oh, terrific. Which way? Pause as Robert awaits directions and Francesca scans a sudden impulse. FRANCESCA Well, I can take you if you want. Robert is pleased, but a bit surprised as is Francesca who anxiously recants: FRANCESCA (cont'd) Or I can tell you. I can take you or tell you. It's up to you. I don't care. Either way. Robert smiles finding her sudden nervousness charming. ROBERT Well -- Suddenly, from the opposite direction of the road, A CHEVY barrels by. The driver, FLOYD, toots his horn. FLOYD Howdy, Francesca. FRANCESCA Hey, Floyd. He drives off. Francesca knows they've been seen. Slightly annoyed by Iowain neighborliness, she turns to Robert and with some defiance says: FRANCESCA (cont'd) It'd be better if I show you, I think. ROBERT If I'm not taking you away from anything. FRANCESCA No. I was just going to have some iced tea then split the atom, but that can wait. (he smiles) I just have to get my shoes. Robert watches her as she turns and heads back to the house. He watches her lift her blouse and tuck it into her jeans, revealing her shapely hips and buttocks. He turns back to the truck and notices the mailbox -- MR & MRS. RICHARD JOHNSON. He nods as if he knew all along and begins to make room on the front seat for Francesca. INT. JOHNSON HOUSE Francesca is slipping on her boots when she suddenly stops. "What am I doing?", she asks herself silently. EXT. JOHNSON DRIVEWAY Francesca approaches the truck. On the door, she reads: KINCAID PHOTOGRAPHY, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON. Robert is clearing away paper cups, banana peels, paper bags, photography equipment. In the back, Francesca notices a cooler and a guitar case. ROBERT I wasn't expect company. Let me get this out of the way. He hauls a case of film from the front to the back. Francesca notices his tanned, muscular arm move in one graceful sweep. ROBERT (cont'd) Okay. All set. Francesca smiles. They both get into the truck. ROBERT (cont'd) Now, where are we going? FRANCESCA Out, then right. CUT TO: EXT. MADISON COUNTY ROAD - DAY As the truck drives, we see no one else in sight. INT. KINCAID'S TRUCK They drive in silence. Francesca is enjoying the breeze against her face. ROBERT Pretty country. FRANCESCA Hmm-mmm. She looks out at the vast expanse. It depresses her. ROBERT There's a wonderful smell about Iowa -- very particular to this part of the country. Do you know what I mean? FRANCESCA No. ROBERT I can't describe it. I think it's from the loam in the soil. This very rich, earthy kind of... alive... No. No, that's not right. Can you smell it? FRANCESCA (shakes her head) Maybe it's because I live here. ROBERT That must be it. It's a great smell. Francesca wants to know more about him. FRANCESCA Are you from Washington originally? ROBERT Uh-huh. Lived there till I was twenty or so and then moved to Chicago when I got married. FRANCESCA Oh. When did you move back? ROBERT After the divorce. FRANCESCA Oh. ROBERT How long you been married? FRANCESCA Uh... uh... (can't remember) Umm... long time. ROBERT You don't look like a native, if you don't mind my saying so. FRANCESCA No, I don't mind. I'm not from here. I was born in Italy. ROBERT Well, from Italy to Iowa -- that's a story! (Francesca smiles) Whereabouts in Italy? FRANCESCA Small town on the Eastern side no one's ever heard of called Bari. ROBERT Oh yeah, Bari. I've been there. FRANCESCA (surprised) No, really? ROBERT Oh, yeah. Actually, I had an assignment in Greece and I had to go through Bari to get the boat at Brindisi. But it looked so pretty I got off and stayed for a few days. Breathtaking country. Francesca is overcome by the idea of such freedom. FRANCESCA You just... got off the train because it looked pretty? ROBERT Yeah. Excuse me a sec. He reaches over with one arm, brushing slightly against her thigh. He opens the glove compartment and pulls out a pack of Camels and a Zippo lighter. ROBERT Like one? Francesca, who doesn't usually smoke, accepts. FRANCESCA Sure. She takes a cigarette out of the pack. Robert drops the pack and, with the same hand, flicks open the Zippo and ignites it. Francesca leans over. The road is bumpy and a breeze blows through both windows. She cups her hands around his to shelter the flame. She feels his skin for a brief moment. She sits back and enjoys the ride and her cigarette as Robert lights up. Silence. They drive. ROBERT So, how long you've been living here? FRANCESCA Long. (changes subject) You just got off the train and stayed without knowing anyone there? ROBERT (laughs) Yeah. 弗朗西丝卡猜想,对罗伯特金凯来说这是很平常的谈话,而对她,这却是文学素材.麦县的人从来不这么谈话,不谈这些事.这里的话题是天气.农产品价格.谁家生孩子.谁家办丧事还有政府计划和体育队.不谈艺术,不谈梦.也不谈那使音乐沉默.把梦关在盒子的现实. 他切完菜,"我还能做什么吗?" 她摇摇头,"没什么,差不多就绪了." 他又坐到桌边,抽着烟,不时呷一两口啤酒.她在煮菜,抽空啜口啤酒.她能感觉到那酒精的作用,尽管量是这么少.她只是在除夕和理查德在"军人大厦"喝点酒.除此之外平时很少喝家里也几乎不放酒,除了有一瓶白兰地,那是她有一次忽然心血不潮,隐隐地希望在乡村生活中有点浪漫情调而买的.那瓶盖至今没有打开过. 素油,一半蔬菜,煮到浅棕色,加面粉拌匀,再另一品脱水,然后把剩下的蔬菜和作料加进去,文火炖四十分钟. 菜正炖着时,弗朗西丝卡再次坐到他对面.厨房里渐渐洋溢着淡淡的亲切感.这多少是从做饭而来的.为一个陌生人做晚饭,让他切萝卜,同时也切掉了距离,人在你的旁边,缓减了一部分陌生感.既然失去了陌生感,就为亲切感腾出了地方. 他把香烟推向她.打火机在烟盒上面.她抖落出一支来,摸索着用打火机,觉得自己笨手笨脚的,就是点不着.他笑了笑,小心地从她手里把打火机拿过来,打了两下才点着.他拿着打火机,她就着火点了香烟.她一般在男人面前总觉得自己比他们风度优雅一点,但是在罗伯特面前却不是这样. 太阳由白变红,正好落在玉米地上.她从窗户望也去看见一只鹰正乘着黄昏的风扶摇而上.收音机里播放着七点钟新闻和市场简讯.此刻弗朗西丝卡隔着黄色贴面的桌子望着罗伯特金凯,他走了很长的路到她的厨房来,漫漫长路,何止以英里计!已经闻到香味了,清静?清静能闻的到吗?排烧烤之余,今天的这顿饭确实是清静的做法.整个食物制作过程和链条上没有暴力,除了把菜从地里拨起来可以算.炖烩菜是静静地在进行,散发的味道也是静静的,厨房里也是静悄悄要是你不介意的话,请你给我讲讲你在意大利的生活.叉放在左踝上. 默默无言一跟他在一起使她感到不自在,于是她就讲起来,给他讲她青少年时成长的情况,私立学校.修女.她的双亲-一个是家庭妇女,一个是银行经理.讲她十几岁经常到海堤边去看世界各国的船舶;讲后来的那些美国兵;讲她如何和女伴们在一家咖啡馆里喝咖啡时遇到了理查德.战争搅乱了生活,他们起先也不知道他们是否终于会结婚.她对尼可洛只字未提. 他听着,不说话,有时点点头表示理解.最后她停下来,他说,"你有孩子,你是这么说的吗是的.迈可十七岁,卡洛琳十六岁.他们都在温特塞特上学.他们是4--H协会成员,所以他们去参加伊利诺伊州博览会了,去展同卡洛琳养的小牛."这是我永远没法习惯的事,没法理解他们怎么能对这牲口倾注发这么多爱心的关怀之后又眼看着它出售给人家去屠宰.不过我什么也没敢说,要不然理查德和他的朋友全要对我大光其火了.可是这里面总有一种冷酷无情的矛盾." 她提了理查德的名字,心里有点内疚,她什么也没做,什么也没有.可是她还是感到内疚是从一种遥远的可能性而来的内疚.她也不知道如果她陷入了她无法处理的局面,今晚结束时该怎么办.也许罗伯特金凯就此走了,他看起来挺安静,挺和善,甚至有点腼腆. 他们谈着谈着,夜色变蓝了,薄雾擦过牧场的草.在弗朗西丝卡的烩菜炖着的时候,他又给俩打开两瓶啤酒.她站起来在开水里放进几个饺子,搅了搅,靠在洗涤池上,对这位从华盛顿贝灵汉来的罗伯特金凯产生一股温情,希望他不要走的太早. 他静静地有教养地吃了两份烩菜,两次告诉她有多好吃.西瓜甜美无比.啤酒很凉.夜色是蓝的,弗朗西丝卡.约翰逊四十五岁,汉克.斯诺在依阿华州谢南多阿的KMA电台唱着一支火车歌曲. 古老的夜晚,远方的音乐 现在怎么办呢?弗朗西丝卡想,晚饭已毕,相对而坐. 这个问题他给解决了."到草场去走走怎么样?外面凉快一点了."她同意之后,他从一只背包里拿出一架相机,把背带套在肩上. 金凯推开后廊的门,给她撑着,然后跟在她后面走出去,轻轻关上门,他们沿着裂缝的边道穿过水泥铺的场院走到机器棚东边的草地上.那机器棚散发着热油脂的味道. 当他们走到篱笆前时,她一只手把铁丝网拽下来跨了过去,感觉到她细条凉鞋带周围脚上沾了露水.他也照此办理,穿靴子的脚轻松地迈过铁丝网.你管这叫草场还是叫牧场?我想叫牧场.有牲口在,草就长不高.当心脚底下牛粪.升起,太阳刚从地平线消失,天空变成蔚蓝色.月光下公路上一辆小汽车呼啸着疾驰而过,消声器很响.那是克拉克家孩子的车,他是温特塞特橄榄球队的四分卫,跟裘迪.莱弗伦森经常约会. 她已经很久没有这样散步了.平时,总是五点钟开饭,晚饭过后就是电视新闻,然后是晚间节目,理查德看,有时孩子们做完功课也看.弗朗西丝卡通常坐在厨房看书-从温特塞特图书馆和她参加的图书俱乐部借来的书,历史.诗歌和小说,或者是在天气好的时候坐在前廊上.她烦电视. 有时理查德叫她:"弗兰妮,你瞧瞧这个!"她就进去和他一起看一小会儿.埃尔维期出现时常引起他发出这样的召唤.还有甲壳虫乐队首次在"埃德.苏利文大观"出现时也叫她看,理查德看着他们的头发,不断摇头,大不以为然. 有短暂的时间几抹红道划破天空.罗伯特金凯指着上面说:"我把这叫做'反射'.多数人把照相机收起得太早.太阳落山后总是有一段时候天空出现真正美妙的光和色,只有几钟,那是在太阳刚隐入地平线而把光线反射到天空的时候." 弗朗西丝卡没说话,心里捉摸这是怎样一个人,草场和牧场的区别似乎对他那么重要,天空的颜色会引得他兴奋不已,他写点儿诗,可是不大写小说.他弹吉他,以影像为生,把工具放在包里.他就像一阵风,行动像风,也许本身就是风中来的. 他仰望着天空,双手插在裤袋里,相机挂在左胯上."月亮的银苹果/太阳的金苹果."他用他的男中音中区声部像一个职业演员那样朗诵这两句诗. 她望着他说:"W.B.叶芝'流浪者安古斯之歌'."对,叶芝的东西真好.现实主义.简洁精练.刺激感官.充满美感和魔力.合乎我爱尔兰传统的口味."他都说了,用五个词全部概括了.弗朗西丝卡曾想方设法向温特塞特的沉重解释叶芝,但是没能让大多数人理解.她之所以选了叶芝,部分原因正是刚才金凯说的,她想所有这些物质是会对那些十几的孩子有吸引力的,他们身上的腺体正跳得咚咚响,就像橄榄球赛半场休息时绕场而行的中学生乐队一样.然而他们受对诗歌的偏见的影响太深了,把诗看作是英雄气短的产物,这种观点太强烈了,连叶芝也克服不了. 她记得当她在班上读到"太阳的金苹果"一句时,马修.克拉克看着他旁边的男孩子,把双手拱起来做出女人乳房的样子.他们偷偷笑着,同他们一起坐在后排的女生都涨红了脸. 上一页 目 录下一页 |
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