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turning to page one
turning to page one
A large network of pits between two brownstone townhouses. There are workers digging, surveying, sketching, and shaking dirt through metal hand-screens.
The archaeologists crouch around Etheline while she compares a bit of soil on the end of a trowel with a color chart in a handbook. She is dressed entirely in denim except for a scarf over her hair. She has on sunglasses and boots. The three archaeologists are all scruffy young men with beards.
ETHELINE
Good. Now I’ll just remove the loose
soil and note the decomposition levels.
Etheline dusts off a partially unearthed skeleton. Henry appears in the background, climbing down a ladder on the far side of the pit. He wears a gray wool suit and tie. He picks up a pebble off the ground and looks at it. Etheline says to the three archaeologists:
ETHELINE (CONT’D)
These were probably slaves. Before the
arrival of the --
GRADUATE STUDENT
What are you doing?
A graduate student with a shovel is looking at Henry and frowning. Etheline and the three archaeologists turn around and see them.
GRADUATE STUDENT (CONT’D)
Please, put that artifact back where you
found it, sir.
Henry looks embarrassed. He puts the pebble back on the ground.
CUT TO:
Etheline and Henry walking through a trench together.
HENRY
I’m sorry to interrupt your work.
ETHELINE
Don’t be silly.
HENRY
I just wanted to apologize for the other
day. When I proposed to you.
ETHELINE
Why? I thought it was very sweet.
HENRY
some of the men you’ve been involved
with. Franklin Benedict and General
Cartwright and your ex-husband and --
ETHELINE
That’s ridiculous.
HENRY
But I feel I have just as much to offer
as any of them. I know I went about it
backwards, but --
ETHELINE
Henry, I have no interest in Frank
Benedict or Doug Cartwright. I never
did.
Henry falls into a pit and disappears from view. Etheline does not notice this and continues walking.
ETHELINE (CONT’D)
And as far as Royal is concerned, he’s
the most --
Etheline stops. She looks around. She sees Henry climbing up a ladder, out of the pit. He is covered with dirt and has a small twig in his hair. She rushes over to him.
ETHELINE (CONT’D)
Are you all right?
Henry sighs. He brushes some dirt off his jacket.
HENRY
I’m fine. Anyway, let me know when you
make up your mind.
Henry starts to walk away. Etheline grabs his sleeve.
ETHELINE
Wait a second, Henry.
Henry stops. He looks to Etheline. She takes his hand and kisses it. He looks surprised.
ETHELINE (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. I’m very nervous.
CONTINUED: (2)
Etheline pulls the twig out of Henry’s hair.
HENRY
That’s OK. Thank you. Why are you --
ETHELINE
To tell you the truth, I haven’t slept
with a man in eighteen years.
Silence. Henry nods. He puts his hand on Etheline’s cheek.