Lorelei script 112906

LORELEI

super: "upon the overturned harp of your grass, summer…"

EXT. TRAIN STATION, tutova, ROMANIA -- DAY

A train comes to a lazy stop in a small station. A sullen CATUL BOGDAN leans out the open window of a first-class compartment as he lights a new cigarette from the present cigarette. He is 37 years old, has a handsome youthful face, but grey hair combed straight back. A vast rustic carriage enters at the back of the depot. An OLD MAN with an ostentatious mustache snaps the reins. He wears peasant attire. Two raggedy horses shake their heads, jingling the bells around their necks. Two burly dogs lumber alongside, burrs sticking to their fur, and their long rosy tongues dangle as they pant, except when they snap occasionally at a bothersome fly. The train comes to a full stop, and steam shoots out along the bottom.

Catul Bogdan studies the scene and retrieves a notebook from his pocket. He begins to write.

BOGDAN(V.O.)

...this is how they pass, like the verses of Francis Jammes, lower-case letters in a small canter, carrying the names of girls from another time on the summer fragrance of linden flowers, sweet clover, lavender and mint leaves up to the sweetest sky. (Train WHISTLE).

Sparrows are chirping with the blend of a girl's voice. LUCICA is an uncommonly attractive girl of 18-20 years old, and she laughs with ease. She has thick, long, dark curly hair. She is walking with GABRIELA, similar in height and shape to Lucica but more mature and reserved. They are wearing flaxen dresses and woven straw hats that float in the sun like lotus flowers on the water. They are carefree and animated in their movements, smiling and talking as they head toward the ticket counter. Gabriela is cradling a bouquet of multi-colored wild flowers in her arms. Lucica is fastening the hat ribbon under her chin, as the wind makes the brim luff. Catul Bogdan’s attention is fastened upon them.

Suddenly an avalanche of packages, parcels, and bundles tumble from the coach, each one tied securely. As they hit the ground they scatter a crowd of pigeons that had been milling about. Bogdan writes as the scene unfolds. On top of the coach are more luggages and a litter of baby chicks crowded into a small cage. The old man dismounts, thrusts the whip handle into the top of his boot, and lowers down a mighty leather suitcase cinched with rope. Gabriela approaches and helps gather the fallen items. Lucica is hurrying along with the tickets. Baby birds peep wildly from the eaves of the station roof. The two dogs crawl in the shade under the carriage. DADAIE emerges from the coach. She is a tallish woman from the mountains of Bistriţa, with handsome features still evident in her older age. She is Lucica’s nanny, and despite her sharp gaze Dadaie is devoted to Lucica. She begins taking up some of the packages and carrying them toward the train. The old man lugs the suitcase, and Lucica is hurrying along with the tickets, mindful of her hat. She carries a basket of dark cherries.

As they all rush toward the train, Lucica suddenly stumbles, and the cherries spill out in front of the train. The horses shake their heads, jingling the bells around their neck. Catul Bogdan watches intensely, pausing in his writing.

LUCICA

Oh, my goodness!

Gabriela urges her up and onward to the train steps.

GABRIELA

Come along, Luli, come on, the train is leaving.

Lucica hesitates, leaning first towards the cherries, then the train, like a balance. The shrill train WHISTLE startles her, as Gabriela rushes her up the train steps. Two tears stream down Lucica's face as she boards the train. One of the raggedy horses turns his head toward the train, jingling the bells, while Catul Bogdan lights another cigarette and writes. His eyes flash sudden emotion.

Bogdan

(bewitched)

Luli…

INT. TRAIN – cORRIDOR

Lucica and Gabriela head toward the compartment. Gabriela is navigating, while Lucica looks back toward the door. Suddenly they nearly run into Bogdan, with Gabriela noticing him first. He smiles charmingly, but is taken back when Lucica meets his eyes.

He nods politely but does not move as Gabriela urges Lucica on.

INT. TRAIN FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT

Bogdan takes his seat, pulls out his notebook and writes something.

Flashback:

INT. GABRIELA'S HOUSE GALATI, ROMANIA - DAY

The young Gabriela is a pretty child with braids, around nine years old. Her parents, Mr. NEI, a magistrate, and Mrs. NEI are middle-aged, middle-class types, very proper and respectable in their appearance and behavior. They are entertaining their new neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. NOVLEANU and their daughter, Lucica, five years old. The young Lucica is thin and pale. Lucica's mother is very striking in her youthful appearance, very trim with blond hair and blue eyes; her father, an attorney, is mild-mannered, very attentive, and also has blue eyes. It is apparent that he and his wife are lovingly disposed to one another.

MR. NEI

(nudging Gabriela toward Lucica)

Gabriela, you're going to have a new friend. Be nice to her.

Gabriela looks nervously at Lucica, then cranes her neck to look back at her father, who is pushing her onward. The adults are polite but anxious; Lucica steps in closer toward Gabriela.

YOUNG LUCICA

(aloof)

So? Who are you?

YOUNG GABRIELA

(restrained)

Gabriela Nei.

Mr. Novleanu coaxes Lucica from behind.

Mr. Novleanu

Now be polite and tell her your name.

Lucica shakes her head no like a young colt whinnying defiantly, her dense curls unfurling. Gabriela peers at her. Lucica stares back at Gabriela with big dark eyes. Gabriela looks back over her shoulder at her father.

Mr. NOVLEANU (CONT'D)

(smiling broadly)

Her name is Lucica, but we call her Cica. She's a little--wild, you know.

Gabriela is displeased. Lucica is haughty. Her large expressive eyes defy Gabriela, who evaluates Lucica from head to foot, observing her scraped knees and drooping socks.

MR. NEI

(graciously)

Come, Gabriela, show the little girl your toys.

Gabriela dutifully takes Lucica by the hand, but Lucica's hand slips out quickly. Gabriela does a double take of her hand, as though bewildered at how quick her new friend is. Lucica flashes her big dark eyes, startling Gabriela.

Young lucica

So, be my horsie.

Gabriela's expression shifts from restraint to desperation, then restraint again as she complies obediently. Before she realizes, Lucica leaps on to her back, undaunted that she nearly knocks Gabriela over by surprise.

YouNG LUCICA (CONT’D)

So, do you have any dolls?

Lucica stares boldly as she clings piggyback to Gabriela, who squints her eyes as though in pain.

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

The door swings open abruptly. Lucica has one arm encircled about Gabriela's neck, and seizes the braids of her companion with the other hand. Numerous dolls are neatly arranged, to the delight of Lucica's widening eyes. Lucica scrambles down and grabs Gabriela by the arm.

Young gabriela

(pointing to the dolls, and shushing Lucica with her finger)

Shh. They are all in a deep sleep. They have been bewitched.

For a moment Lucica looks at Gabriela with polite indifference and then bolts. Abruptly she gathers all the dolls together, trounces to the middle of the room and drops to the floor.

YouNG LUCICA

(seriously)

There's a war on, you know?

Lucica begins military maneuvers with the dolls to the horror of Gabriela, who is startled when Lucica imitates the SOUND of a trumpet.

INT. NEI KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER

Gabriela rushes to her mother who is preparing a tray of hors d'oeuvre and has anticipated the crisis.

Mrs. Nei

There, there, no use getting upset.

She'll grow on you soon enough, I suspect.

YOUNG GABRIELA

She's doing horrible things to my dolls!

Gabriela begins to cry.

MRS. NEI

(apologetically)

They've bought the house next door.

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

Gabriela is horrified to see Lucica surrounded by dolls in chaos.

YOUNG LUCICA

(nonplussed)

So, do you have a doctor?

Gabriela slowly shakes her head in shock. Lucica springs to her feet and walks over to Gabriela, and casts a look over her shoulder at the mayhem.

YOUNG LUCICA (CONT'D)

(resolved)

Well, they're ready for burial, then.

EXT. NEI YARD NEXT DAY -- MORNING

Young Lucica hurries to the back door and slips inside without knocking. Two dogs wag their tails as she passes.

INT. NEI KITCHEN -- continuous

Young Gabriela is prattling in the kitchen. There is food cooking on the stove, vegetables strewn about on the table. She is surprised to see Lucica enter quickly and place a doll made up like a bride into Gabriela's arms.

YOUNG LUCICA (CONT'D)

(awkwardly)

So, don't cry anymore about the war. It’s over.

Gabriela is at a loss for words. Lucica runs out the same way she came in, knocking over a milk can by the door, and provoking the dogs outside to bark.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- MONTHS LATER

Gabriela is reading from a book to a wide-eyed Lucica. Both of them are sitting on the bed. Their appearance and rapport suggests a passage of time, and a tender, evolving friendship.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- MONTHS LATER

Gabriela is lying on her stomach across her bed, reading from another book to Lucica, who is lying on her back on the floor, with her feet on the edge of the bed. The girls are a little older in their appearance. Lucica is studying her fingers as she holds her hands at length, and Gabriela tickles her foot. They both laugh and reveal a growing camaraderie.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- MONTHS LATER

Gabriela is alone in her room reading a book. Her window is open, and suddenly she is distracted from her reading by the sound of someone at her window outside. She lays the book down and moves toward the window, but before she has a chance to look out, a small hand tosses a storybook through the window.

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- LATER

Gabriela is sitting in a chair near the open window. She is reading out loud from the book that came through the window. A small hand reaches to the sill from the outside, and deposits a stone, and moments later, a linden flower. Gabriela smiles as she reads.

EXT. NEI YARD NEXT DAY -- AFTERNOON

Gabriela is playing with a doll in the garden. Out of nowhere a mud ball splashes nearby. Gabriela pauses, sighs, then smiles and tosses the doll in the air, yelling.

YOUNG GABRIELA

Medic! Medic!

Lucica appears with a small shovel, and begins digging a hole. Gabriela protests for a moment, then relents as she looks at the quixotic Lucica with thick braids, smudged cheeks, scuffed knees and slouched socks.

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- EVENING

Gabriela is sitting on the floor by the window. It is obvious she is waiting for something. Moments later Lucica's hand reaches the sill, again from the outside, and leaves a butterfly. Gabriela catches Lucica's hand before she withdraws it, and presses candy into her palm.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- 3 YEARS LATER

Gabriela is writing at her desk. On the window sill are a small piece of candy and a piece of pastry. Within moments, Lucica's hand reaches in from the outside, and sets down a pine cone and a butterfly. Seconds later she retrieves the candy. Gabriela laughs, sets down her pen, and goes over to the window, staring at the butterfly, but not touching it. She softly blows on it, and it flies away. Then she takes the pine cone and sets it on a shelf with various objects from Lucica—rocks, sticks, bottle caps.

INT. YOUNG GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

Gabriela is reading, and suddenly the door opens and Lucica rushes in with both hands cupped together.

YOUNG GABRIELA

(curious)

What is it? What have you got there?

YOUNG LUCICA

Shh!

Lucica looks around then crawls under the bed. Gabriela is slightly astonished, then shakes her head and follows behind.

YOUNG LUCICA (CONT'D)

Shh! Look!

Lucica shakes her hands, still cupped together, and then opens them slowly. Gabriela peers closer and sees fireflies lighting up in Lucica's palms. Close up of fireflies' light.

EXT. DARK SKY -- NIGHT

Stars twinkling. Sound of CRICKETS chirping.

DISSOLVE TO:

SUPER: THREE YEARS LATER

EXT. NEI YARD -- MORNING

Dew sparkles on linden flowers. The garden has no holes dug up, and the milk can is standing secure in its place. There are no dolls strewn about.

EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF NEI AND NOVLEANU HOUSES -- MORNING

Children are walking to school. Lucica enters the Nei yard and walks over to Gabriela's window. She is still robust in her appearance, with a beret slouched over one ear.

EXT. SCHOOLGROUNDS -- MOMENTS LATER

A group of Gabriela's friends are watching as Gabriela and Lucica approach. Lucica leaves her and heads towards the door, and Gabriela goes on to her friends.

First girl

What could you possibly have in common with that devil-child, Gabriela?

Second girl

Really! She seems more like an army brat than the daughter of a magistrate.

Third girl

Have you seen her with swords? And--and the way she plays? Anyone who gets near her leaves with a scar.

yOUNG GABRIELA

Oh, don't be so unkind. She's quite well-behaved when she's with me. She talks--

FIRST GIRL

Be serious, Gabriela, she's just a child. What can she talk about? War? Bugs?

YOUNG GABRIELA

You don't know her as I do.

Lucica is across the schoolyard, burrowing through groups of elementary students. She looks back over her shoulder at Gabriela, then shakes her head full of long curls like a pony and bolts off.

CUT TO:

INT. GABRIELA'S BEDROOM -- EVENING

Lucica enters quietly and assumes her place on the floor beside the window, leaning against the wall. Gabriela is at her studies, spying Lucica out of the corner of her eye, smiling askance. Lucica watches her with great concentration, and then throws her head back and gazes upward, as though removed a million miles away.

YOUNG GABRIELA

What are you thinking about, Luli-boy?

YOUNG LUCICA

You know...just...just far away, just like that.

CUT TO:

EXT. NEI YARD -- CONTINUOUS

Gabriela and Lucica are sitting in the grass, back to back, talking and listening to one another, nodding, rubbing the backs of their heads together.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRAIN STATION - GALATI – a year later - MORNING

People are milling around, departing and arriving. Gabriela is saying good-bye to her parents, looking around as though expecting someone else.

INT. SECOND CLASS COMPARTMENT -- continuous

Gabriela struggles to open the window and notices Lucica across the tracks, crying, staring at the train, as it begins pulling out of the station. Suddenly Lucica starts running alongside the train. Quickly Lucica throws a flat package through the train window. Gabriela laughs with mixed emotion.

YOUNG GABRIELA

(smiling with tears in her eyes)

Be careful the train doesn't run you over!

Lucica shakes her head and sticks out her tongue.

YOUNG GABRIELA (CONT'D)

(waving, and shaking her head, she says to herself)

I didn't even have time to kiss you goodbye.

Gabriela opens the package. It is a novel by Catul Bogdan. She turns to a page and reads out loud.

YOUNG GABRIELA (CONT'D)

"A woman would never cut her lashes...her power is in her silence, her mystery is in what she doesn't say."

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GABRIELA'S APARTMENT BUCHAREST FOUR YEARS LATER -- AFTERNOON

Gabriela, now grown up, is packing a few boxes. She is clearly in the process of moving, and indicates she has finished her university studies as she looks over her diploma, which she carefully places in one of the boxes. As she sorts through a few books, she comes across the one Lucica had tossed through the train window when she left. She runs her hand over the cover, and smiles.

INT. SECOND CLASS COMPARTMENT – continuous - MORNING

Gabriela is thoughtful, smiling to herself.

Ext. TrAIN STATION, GALATI, ROMANIA – later that DAY

Gabriela moves through the crowd, searching the faces. She sees a grown up Lucica and is astonished.

GABRIELA

(softly)

Luli...

Lucica opens her arms, but Gabriela is still overcome.

LuCICA

I'm so happy to see you again, Gabico.

Gabriela and Lucica embrace.

GABRIELA

(with emotion)

Why, you're all grown-up. I scarcely recognize you, except for the hair, and those eyes of yours.

Lucica cocks her head, looks down, and then up again, smiling at Gabriela.

GABRIELA (CONT'D)

Why do I feel like you're the one coming home from some mysterious journey.

Lucica smiles quizzically, subtly shrugging her shoulders.

GABRIELA (CONT'D)

I guess I can't call you Luli-boy anymore. Just look at you!

INT. CARRIAGE -- LATER

The two young women are sitting next to each other, just arrived at Lucica's home. It is the same house. Gabriela observes Lucica in silence. Lucica is aware she is being studied. Her expression changes to a half smile, she is self-conscious, enigmatic.

GABRIELA

After I had left you behind, all those wonderful childhood memories with you began to slip away from me. All those years together with you were like an amulet I wore around my neck, sharing my life. I made you share my age with me.

LUCICA

And now?

GABRIELA

Age is an ocean between us, and you are like a small point on the horizon, barely visible.

LUCICA

My mother and father are very happy you agreed to stay with us. It will be wonderful, I mean, hardly anything has changed since you left.

GABRIELA

Oh, but you have changed.

LUCICA

Have I?

The driver unloads the luggage, and opens the doors, interrupting the moment. Lucica and Gabriela exit the coach and look at the house.

GABRIELA

I can't believe it!

LUCICA

I know. It's not Bucharest!

GABRIELA

Don't make jokes, Luli. I shall have to make enormous adjustments. I've been on my own, you know, I feel like a little girl coming back home.

Lucica lowers her chin and raises her eyes to Gabriela, with a serious look.

LUCICA

So, be my horsie?

They burst out laughing and collide into each other.

EXT. NOVLEANU YARD -- EVENING

Gabriela and Lucica are sitting on the back steps.

GABRIELA

(in a confiding tone)

His name is Matei. I'm afraid he is in love with me.

LUCICA

What's wrong with that?

Gabriela is irritated. She fidgets with her fingers. Lucica is playing with a twig.

GABRIELA

I feel sorry for him, that's all. I mean, we do everything together—-go to the theatre, to dinner, tennis, concerts--he's a wonderful companion.

LUCICA

There you are. And is he handsome?

GABRIELA

Yes, yes, I suppose he his. And he's--

LUCICA

What?

GABRIELA

(embarrassed)

I keep forgetting you're younger than I am!

Lucica smiles and looks away.

GABRIELA

Oh, I don't know. It's hard to explain. When we are together, everything is so comfortable. When we are apart, it's as though I am simply not with him--do you know what I mean?

Lucica smiles, and shakes her head no.

GABRIELA (CONT’D)

Look at you and me. We can talk about anything, no? I feel so close to you. I always have, you know that.

LUCICA.

(tinge of emotion)

I didn't think you'd ever forgive me for ruining your dolls. What a horrible creature I was.

GABRIELA

I admit I was upset. But you weren't horrible, Luli, you were—

GABRIELA (CONT’D)

wonderful! So alive, so intimate with life.

Lucica's expression changes into subtle self-reproach.

LUCICA

You knew how to calm my spirit, Gabico. How I loved listening to you read to me, and tell me things. How I envied you.

GABRIELA

It's true, I figured out how to tame you, but you didn't envy me, silly girl. You needed me.

Lucica is embarrassed. She changes the subject by pointing to something.

LUCICA

Look--did you see it?

GABRIELA

See what?