Jose Gainza

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24096819681784546622011-12-11T13:56:02.402-08:00Jose GainzaStories and PoetryJose Gainzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07923881538679435222noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2409681968178454662.post-76570457055795761952011-12-11T13:50:00.000-08:002011-12-11T13:56:02.601-08:00LOVE, NINO DIVINO - Part 2 - a screen play by Jose Gainza (dedicated to Xavier Dolan) LOVE, NINO DIVINO – PART 2 Copyright © 2011. Jose Gainza. All Rights Reserved. <a href="http://josegainza.blogspot.com/2011/12/love-nino-divino-part-1-screen-play-by.html">(For Part 1) </a> --------------------------- CUT TO: INT. JUSTO’S LIVING ROOM – SOON AFTER Clips of There Will Be Blood on large flatscreen television. Clips of EDMOND AND JUSTO laying on the couch, embracing, cuddling, engaged in the movie. Clips of the bowling alley scene of There Will Be Blood. JUSTO’s jaw drops, his lips framed by a subtle grin of approval and disbelief. EDMOND stands up already, excitedly, and is in a mild ecstasy from what he is watching. EDMOND (a joyous fit) That’s so fucking good. That’s so fucking good. That’s so fucking good. JUSTO watches EDMOND with great delight. He is no longer reacting to the movie. It is obvious he is madly in love with EDMOND. EDMOND paces around the room excitedly; twitching hand gestures. JUSTO, unable to resist, walks menacingly over to EDMOND and kisses him violently. JUSTO After Canova today, I’m taking you for a burger and a milkshake. You can drink my milkshake; I’ll drink yours. CUT TO: INT. ART GALLERY – AFTERNOON At the Canova Exhibit, JUSTO and EDMOND, go straight to the statue of Orpheus, and hover around it. EDMOND I love the face. Once you know the myth, it can only say to you, “Oh, Fuck, what did I do?!” It’s the moment when he turned around to look at Eurydice’s beautiful face before stepping back into the Upper world, in case it turns out not to be her. And in that moment she vanishes and with it his happiness. JUSTO He didn’t trust the gods of the Underworld would keep their word. EDMOND Yeah, the gods liked to play games but it is more than that … he lacks confidence in his own talent. JUSTO How so? EDMOND He is a terrific musician and poet. Such a great musician that he can enchant the animals and tame them; so great that when he loses Eurydice the first time, he wins the sympathy of the gods of the Upper world with the exquisite agony of his song, and they encourage him to go rescue her; so great that when he enters the Underworld his song is so powerful to convince the gods of the Underworld to set her free, with an ultimatum, but free nonetheless. If his is truly the most beautiful music in existence, taught to play the lyre by Apollo himself, how could Hades resist, how could he lie or trick Orpheus? That’s how I see the lesson: Orpheus should have known the power of his music, if he was proud he would have kept Eurydice. His humility lost her. JUSTO And if he had doubts he should have merely played his lyre until he got into the Upper world; he didn’t have to look back. They would have never betrayed him while he played his music. EDMOND Very clever, my love. That’s the storyteller in you I love so much. (beat) This statue was one of my first loves, and proof to myself that I was gay. It is beautiful, very sensual. When I first saw it as a high school kid, I wanted it. We were learning about myths in Literature Class. When I apprehended the story of Orpheus, combined with this statue, it was like falling in love with a living man. The statue now had a spirit, a soul. He had values. He was a tremendous artistic talent. And he was a passionate, driven lover. I could not deny my love for Orpheus. And so I could not deny that I was gay. Feminine statues could hardly compare in their effects on me. JUSTO My first clues were not so intellectual. Leonardo DiCaprio in Growing Pains was one of my first obvious loves. Did Dalida-boy look like Orpheus? EDMOND No. Dalida-boy looked like a young Rob Lowe. You know, About Last Night, The Outsiders? … I had a good time. We had fun, physically and spiritually. But he’s a cynic. He doesn’t believe in love, let alone, that two men could fall in love. He laughed at the concept of ‘soul mates’. He really thought I was crazy for thinking he was mine. I guess he was right—because he could not be my soul mate. He liked to fuck around. I’m sure he’s still fucking around, and will fuck around for the next thirty years. JUSTO How many men have you been with? EDMOND Dalida-boy and one other drunken mistake and you? Dalida-boy was just an imaginary love. JUSTO I can still count them on both hands and both feet if that helps. EDMOND Did you care about any of them? JUSTO Sometimes. Usually. EDMOND My completed movie is my way to rescue my Orpheus from the graveyard of delusion and heartbreak. You must watch it. JUSTO We will. Don’t worry. EDMOND The movie I am going to make next, my first feature film, my second Orpheus movie, is going to be a love story between a man and a woman. Can I tell you about it? Do you want to hear about it? JUSTO (smiling) Yes. I want to know everything about you. You delight me. Like I said, It is best I know as much about you before I watch your movie. EDMOND It takes place in Montreal. Orpheus is a brilliant, prodigious classical violinist. Eurydice is a ballet dancer of immense promise. She is the daughter of the Mayor of Montreal; Orpheus is the son of a Canadian Rock ‘n Roll god. They are madly in love and have a much celebrated wedding. They are expected to live happily ever after. One sad day, during one of her jogs through a park, she is chased by a schizophrenic with viper tattoos on his neck. He rapes her and leaves her with one monstrous memento, a large bite and scar on her chin. Orpheus’ practice at the conservatory is interrupted and he rushes to the hospital. Her body will heal but her soul is shattered. She loses her artistic ambition and her lust for life. Psychologists cannot reach her. She can only bear to live as a pessimist. She doesn’t believe she deserves love or happiness. She doesn’t want to be admired, nor does she feel worthy of admiration. Anyone who seeks to befriend her or be kind she resents and detests. All she is willing to do is be a cleaner within the subway system. Her father, the mayor, concedes to her request though reluctant. Everyone, including Orpheus, believes she is on the road to suicide. She lives a reclusive life. She has abandoned Orpheus and has vowed that if she ever sees him again, she will commit suicide. Orpheus is devastated. But he vows to disobey her. He will join her in the subway system. He will wear a disguise. He will be a violin-playing, panhandling busker. Despite her expected resistance, and the insurmountable odds, he pledges to befriend her, in order to change her sense of life gradually with the power of his music. It doesn’t matter how long it takes him. He must use deceit and trickery, playing sad, melancholic music to convince her that he possesses the same sense of life as she: malevolent. He will be this mirror of her new self in order to attract her. But ultimately he wants her to fall in love with the old Orpheus, as he helps to transform her back to the old Eurydice. The other dilemma is that she can’t recognize him or she will commit suicide. It is not enough to go incognito physically, but musically as well, and spiritually. Orpheus believes that he must first get her to fall in love with another malevolent being, and from there he can convert her into a benevolent spirit, and at that point rescue her fully. It is risky. He may lose her forever. But it is the only idea he or anyone else has. That’s the idea. I haven’t started writing the script yet. All I have are notes. Tons of notes. JUSTO So in your version it is Eurydice who cannot look back at Orpheus in the Underworld as they journey out of it. EDMOND I couldn’t figure out how to do it the other way around. Can you think of anything? JUSTO No fuck’n clue. But it is a challenging brain teaser. EDMOND I’m glad that I met you at a time when I haven’t started writing the script. I’m glad you will be a traveler on this journey and be there from beginning to end. I want to report to you of my progress. I want you to witness the agonies and the ecstasies. I want to be able to bounce ideas off you. I want you to take active interest in my creation and to maybe help me solve a problem or two. I want you to read it as I finish it, or when I finish it. This whole process will comprise my life until my final triumph. It can potentially take years. Do you want to share this life with me? JUSTO (ambiguous sentiment) I can’t think of anything that I would love more. EDMOND Good. And I want to support you during your own creation. JUSTO It is a beautiful dream. EDMOND It can be a very real reality. JUSTO (evasive expression) I know it can be. EDMOND There is a second Canova statue I want you to see. JUSTO What? EDMOND Come with me. I’ll show you. EDMOND takes JUSTO by the hand and leads him to the next room. There is a nude statue of a beautiful man laying asleep. JUSTO Woah! What is this called? Who is he? He is so beautiful, so enchanting. Makes you want to fall asleep on top of him—or devour him. EDMOND Justo, meet Endymion. JUSTO Endymion. That’s another Greek myth. Remind me. EDMOND It’ a great coincidence that they brought this particular one. I think you will find it of special interest … Endymion was a mortal son of Zeus. One day he fell asleep in the woods and the Moon upon her rising happened to catch Endymion in his slumber. It was love at first sight. The Moon in her glory made love to him while he was still asleep. It was unforgettable for both of them, and irresistible for the Moon. In order for her to be assured that she could have him every evening, she asked Zeus to make him eternal with youth and to live in an eternal slumber. This was granted. And so every night the moon made love to Endymion in reality and he experienced it in his dreams. JUSTO Cute. I vaguely remember learning that myth. I reckon you see a connection between Endymion and my dead fetus. EDMOND Yes. I can only think of one way to incorporate it into your story. What do you think? JUSTO I suppose that Marignan dreams every night of the moon making love to him in the form of Montreal. EDMOND Something like that. JUSTO What I don’t like about your telling of the myth is that it happens every night. It would be better if it happened once a month on the full moon. That way it is more special and the moon is more glorious and powerful. EDMOND (beaming) Okay. JUSTO Every night would be very out of character for Marignan. Once a month is more natural and realistic. And that way it could be a sin that he believes he must overcome. EDMOND When did these dreams begin, after or before he started to get close to Wreiss? JUSTO It would be sweet if he started dreaming about Montreal as soon as he got to Toronto. EDMOND And I suppose he would be dreading the full moon every month, and as the full moon approaches, his sermons against women get more and more damning. JUSTO And in his mission to convert his niece, he develops a growing affection for women, though desperately suppressed, and a nagging longing for Montreal. EDMOND Marignan is a fascinating character. So conflicted. In desperate need of a psychologist. The embodiment of the ideal priest and a huge neurotic. JUSTO Sure. A Woody Allen hero. EDMOND I love Woody Allen! I’ve seen all of him. JUSTO He’s brilliant. Bullets Over Broadway was killer. EDMOND I love Manhattan. JUSTO (sarcastically) I never would have thought. Let me guess: you love the ending? EDMOND (sarcastically) How did you know? JUSTO The question is: am I a Chazz Palminteri or a John Cusack? EDMOND I think we are both Chazzes. JUSTO You’re kind. CUT TO: INT. JUSTO’S BEDROOM – MORNING JUSTO sleeps in bed. EDMOND walks in the room with a tray of food and drink, breakfast in bed. JUSTO awakens. (French toast, bacon, fresh cut fruit, Milk, and coffee). JUSTO sits up and takes the tray. He begins to eat. Gives EDMOND a very grateful expression. EDMOND walks out for a moment and returns with his own tray and sits up next to JUSTO. EDMOND It’s a tremendous pleasure to surprise you this way. JUSTO (smirking) It’s a tremendous pleasure to be awakened this way. EDMOND Are we going to watch my movie today. JUSTO You don’t waste time, do you? EDMOND It’s important. JUSTO (while eating) I wrote you another poem. EDMOND When?! JUSTO Last night while you were sleeping as lovely and deep as Endymion. EDMOND When can I listen to it? JUSTO First let me explain it a little. It involves a little bit of role play. It’s kind of inspired by all this talk of the moon we’ve been having. So pretend that we met very recently and we discovered an immediate connection. Maybe we’ve kissed, but no more than that. I’m certainly in love with you. And I feel very strongly that you love me but I’m not certain. Anyways, you’re pushing me away, you’re avoiding me. And I don’t have a way to contact you. Maybe you changed your number—or you wouldn’t give it to me in the first place. Anyways, I’m desperate for you. EDMOND (touched) What’s it called? JUSTO (reaching for his iPad) Your Cell Phone Number Please EDMOND I’m all ears. JUSTO Past the emboldened ridge licking the horizon, The red moon rises, full, above the eastern land. Passing moments change the sphere—still risin’. The sphere soon cuts in half by clouds’ blockade. The bottom half remains, continued lighted; Its zenith hidden behind the clouds in shade, Amidst purple darkness of a day all blighted. The half of you not cloaked, instead Becomes for me a pair of smiling lips— O, how delightful is my power to abstract! By this psychic force the cloudy clips Swarm around to form a face much too exact. Around your blood filled lips your face I see, Emerging from the cloudy crevices, blistering. And then it’s clear: your face is still with me. And thus I feel I need your lips be kissing. Soon I’m crawling on the table towards the edge. The cars below appear to me as toys. And you so real appear awaiting lips that pledge. And so I will my mouth to perk anxious for joys. When that is done, ensues a force That bows my head and lids my eyes. This praise prostration I endorse; Thus I revere. Not in shame I lid my eyes. A moment lasts, and then my eyes embrace a light. A lamp insists in the dark ocean of my room; Reveals a smudge on glass amidst the cloak of night. There is my kiss that on the glass does loom. It lingers still, remaining when your rising lips depart... And as they float on high I touch my matter-lips, To hold them still, and save them from vain art: Stamping such on glass the image of pale lips, Such, capturing a moment luck’s sweet kiss. Your red lips ‘risen leave mine to kiss the black. Glass lips they are, this remnant of a kiss, This smudge, the frozen spirit of a love attack. The red blaze left my lips alone, To search my room for something I could want. Yonder red dot flash flags my bold cell-phone. It blinks and blinks; the red blink is a taunt— That screams for me to go and seek you voice. Nothing to dial; in hopelessness amiss! I look beyond, waiting without choice, For the eastern sky to soon return my bliss. A yellow sphere replaces reddened smile. And there are craters-there are eyes; Another crater—there you lips suppressing smile; And there a nose completing face too wise. By my power to create I see you face, Condensed onto a canvass of deific light, Cloaked within a black spangled embrace, Floating, rising there by tremendous might. My hand aghast extends but then is pierced By an earth-born comet speeding strong, Invented as his wings by man the sheerest. I feel envy for that plane—but it is wrong: For you have only eyes for me—that’s right! Your mounting mug at zenith eclipses pain. And life is so throughout all blessed night. For one whole night I dare to watch you beam... All this night you have only eyes for me... And thus to realize my utter dream... A chance for me to be the only one you see... To just sit back and drink your bright beauty... To cup my hand around your precious face... To watch and know as if my sole duty... To feel your power sending me to rise and pace... Because a constant gaze could overwhelm... And stop my heart because of too much grace... Your love for me at my vessel’s helm... From the depths of me, duelling time to race, To surpass time and stall an end too soon... Tonight I love my only moon. EDMOND (though extremely touched) You can also use it to pick up strangers. JUSTO (playfully cruel) Yeah, If I ever run into Bookstore-boy again. EDMOND Okay. Thank you. I loved it. I’m touched. I don’t care what you say: you’re a fucking writer! Are you ready to watch my movie? JUSTO No. EDMOND Why?! JUSTO I want to show you around the city first. There are some things I want to do with you. EDMOND But it’s only thirteen minutes. JUSTO I know. But if I watch it, I’m not going to want to go anywhere. I’ll just want to stay in bed and worship you. EDMOND Okay, then. Fine. We’ll do what you want. CUT TO: MONTAGE: 1) CN Tower Edge Walk (amusement ride). Blue sky. EDMOND and JUSTO hanging out on the edge. Delighted. 2) EDMOND and JUSTO on ferry to Toronto Island, Toronto skyline prominent as they cross the lake, breeze blowing their hair. 3) EDMOND and JUSTO sun tanning at the beach on Toronto Island. Bathing in Lake Ontario and making out. 4) Toronto Zoo. Mariachi band following JUSTO and EDMOND around while seeing the animals, lions, tigers, snakes, elephants, bears, etc. 5) JUSTO and EDMOND making love in JUSTO’S kitchen. CUT TO: INT. JUSTO’S BED – EVENING JUSTO AND EDMOND lie in bed nude. JUSTO looks up at the ceiling, pensive, as EDMOND embraces him. EDMOND What’s wrong? You look sad. JUSTO Nothing. I’m just tired. We did a lot today. I’m still getting over the finale. EDMOND I know. This thing of ours is getting better and better. How long do you think it will last? JUSTO Don’t think about it. Just accept it. Take in the experience. Just do it and live it. EDMOND It’s hard to believe I can be so happy. JUSTO I’m happy in this moment too. EDMOND I think we should watch my movie now. JUSTO Do your feet hurt? EDMOND Very much. JUSTO extends forward and stretches out towards the foot of the bed. He takes hold of EDMOND’S feet. EDMOND is spellbound. After a long moment, JUSTO begins to kiss EDMOND’S feet and make his way up his leg. EDMOND is enjoying it tremendously but he soon puts an end to it. EDMOND Stop it! That’s enough! EDMOND jumps out of bed. JUSTO What the fuck? EDMOND (violently) You’re trying to distract me—again. If you don’t watch my movie right now, I’m going to kill you. I’m going to fucking kill you right now. Do you understand?! JUSTO (chuckling with tears in his eyes) Okay. I’m sorry. We’ll watch it right now. I’m anxious to watch it. I’m sorry. EDMOND Why the reluctance? JUSTO I’m afraid to fall more in love with you. But I guess I can’t fall any harder than I already have. EDMOND It’s good. You’re going to love it. JUSTO I Know. CUT TO: EDMOND’S MOVIE (FOLLOW SCRIPT) – [MOVIE SHOULD BE IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES] EXT. ZOO ENTRANCE – DAYLIGHT ORPHEUS walks through the gates into the zoo with a male companion EURICO, both young, thin, and handsome. They are talking to each other enthusiastically (inaudibly). Soon a SECURITY GUARD approaches them; they stop to listen to him. SECURITY GUARD writes on a slip of paper. ORPHEUS is carrying a guitar. SECURITY GUARD (hands Orpheus a slip of paper) Call me when you’re ready to pick it up. When you’re done visiting your admirers. ORPHEUS Come on, Saul, I’m trying to impress someone here. SAUL (SECURITY GUARD) I’m not dealing with another animal riot. You’re not freaking out the patrons again. The cage rattling, the tantrums, the screaming; the animals all fighting to escape and fighting each other, all to get close to you and your guitar—is not happening. ORPHEUS (handing over his guitar) I’m going to sing to them! You can’t stop that! SAUL No, I can’t confiscate your throat. But I would if I could. So, please, please don’t sing for too long. And sing them sleepy songs please. ORPHEUS “Sure, Saul. Take care of my guitar. I’ll call you when I’m ready.” SAUL Orpheus, this guy should be impressed that I am compelled to take your guitar away ... (to EURICO) You’re curious about his secret powers and what I’m making you miss, aren’t you? EURICO Definitely. CUT TO: BLACK & WHITE INT. LOUNGE ROOM – EVENING ORPHEUS sits on a sofa in a smoky room, occasionally smoking from a cigarette. He is being interviewed by a journalist from a local newspaper. INTERVIEWER Your first album, which has garnered you a modest local success, is called Jason Songs. What does it mean? Who is Jason? Is he real? ORPHEUS Yes. Jason is a real person. He was. He was murdered. He was my first love. I lost him. Losing him was Hell. INTERVIEWER If it’s not too painful to speak of I want to know more about Jason? ORPHEUS But I was rescued from that Hell. I fell in love again. I met Jason in high school. He was beautiful, tall, muscular, a swimmer’s back, athletic. His early intention was to be a Canadian soldier. He began training with the Canadian military program since he was a boy. He was brave. He hated bullies. He was audacious in many ways, and at the same time capable of great insolence. Brilliant mind, very logical, quick, powerful memory, a subtle wit. He was also sensitive and passionate. Anyways, I was lucky enough to meet my hero in high school. I was always pretty artsy. He lived with a secret shame. No, not that he was gay. We fell in love easily. And he would have fought anyone who tried to get in our way. He was ashamed of being Jewish. He accepted early on the unearned guilt that is unleashed on Jews in this anti-Semitic world. I helped him get passed the screaming sirens of guilt and shame that was plaguing his mind. I had an easy and sincere admiration for Jews and Israel, even as a kid; I learned about their history early. Israel was a citadel of freedom in an ocean of despotism. I helped him regain his pride. Finally he decided to visit the Promised Land. I encouraged him. He was very excited. I couldn’t go. I was writing my first album. He was killed in a terrorist attack in Israel. CUT TO: COLOR INT. PERFORMANCE STAGE – LATER THAT NIGHT The spectators begin to dissipate. ORPHEUS and his band are chatting and putting away their equipment. ORPHEUS looks off and notices EURICO, causing him to smile along with beaming eyes. ORPEHUS Eurico! You made it. EURICO It was your big interview night and you were debuting my first song. I did my best to make it happen. ORPHEUS You should have texted me. I would have called out to you. EURICO I wanted to surprise you. You would have drawn attention to me. ORPHEUS Of course. I would have told them I wrote Resurrection for you. It was well received. EURICO Their enthusiasm was mild compared to your older songs. ORPHEUS That’s because it’s brand new. It will grow on them. CUT TO: INT. ORPHEUS’ APARTMENT – SOON AFTER ORPHEUS approaches EURICO and embraces him. ORPHEUS (before kissing him softly) I’m so in love with you. EURICO wriggle away and walks away from him, looking away. ORPHEUS What’s wrong? EURICO I’ll be straight with you. I’m jealous. ORPHEUS Of who? EDMOND Jason ORPHEUS He’s dead. EURICO It’s as if he’s alive. You’re always singing his songs. ORPHEUS What do you want me to do? EURICO I want you to get over him. Put him behind you. Stop looking back. ORPHEUS How am I supposed to do that? EURICO Consider your artistic future. Retire your first album. Evolve, grow, compose many more albums. Win success. Make Jason Songs but the beginning of your phenomenal achievement. Write a new album. Write one for me. No trace of Jason. ORPHEUS I’m already doing that. I wrote you a new song. EURICO It’s not enough. ORPHEUS What? EURICO It’s not enough. ORPHEUS Eurico. That’s not the way artistic creation works. You can’t just snap your fingers and make it come. It takes work, thought, patience, sometimes it just trickles, sometimes it’s a flood. You can’t predict. EURICO Honestly, Orpheus, you’re not putting enough dedication to new work. ORPHEUS Jason Songs is what is making me popular, giving me the little success that I have. I have to keep playing those songs. EURICO You don’t. ORPHEUS But what if the next album, when and if I manage to write it, and get it produced, does not catch on? EURICO Make sure it does. You are understanding me correctly. I want you to stop playing shows. You’re lazy. ORPHEUS Come on. You gotta be kidding me. EURICO Can you honestly tell me that you have been putting enough effort into creating a new album? And if not, then it means part of you doesn’t want to, and wants to keep in touch with Jason. ORPHEUS You’re being ridiculous. EURICO Orpheus, you’re getting fat. And why is that? Because you drink and sleep too much. You smoke too much pot. And you even started doing coke. And I know that every time you do that you lose two or three days of working. Do you recognize that? ORPHEUS What about my band? How can you expect them to wait for me? EURICO That would be unfortunate. Consider them collateral damage if you like. But really they’ve been lucky that they’ve had the time that they’ve had. ORPHEUS Holy fucking Yoko Ono! What do you mean? EURICO Where were you before you met me? You lost your lover and you were in Hell. You had no inspiration, you were becoming a libertine, and you abandoned your band. I pulled you out of Hell. I was there for you. I was patient. I put in the work. And I did it because I knew what you could be if you only got over your malevolence, what you were before the senseless tragedy. ORPHEUS And if I don’t change my lifestyle? If I don’t write you an album? EURICO We won’t have sex again until you create an album for me. But we can do it one last time tonight. You know, give you some inspiration. ORPHEUS Get the fuck out. EURICO I was afraid you would react this way. ORPHEUS (walking and pulling Eurico to the door) Get the fuck out. EURICO (just past the threshold in the hallway) When I walk away and out of sight, when I am banished from further gazing at your pretty face, both of us will be entering Hell. Please know that my life will be Hell without you, as I know yours will be without me. It is up to you to carry us outside of it, Orpheus. The power is solely within you. Remember what I ask: Don’t look back. Be proud of your power; you are capable of such soaring, musical genius. The door slams shut in EURICO’S FACE. CUT TO: MONTAGE: 1) Reception area of fitness club. ORPHEUS pays for a membership using a debit machine. Receives a card and walks out of there very swiftly and aggressively with a scowl on his face. 2) ORPHEUS walks into a Burger King but stops short at the entrance. A chubby female cashier notices from afar, waves and smiles. ORPHEUS, with disappointment dominating his face, waves at the girl, smiles, and walks out. Another scowl on his face as he stomps down the street. 3) ORPHEUS throws out a carton of cigarettes down the garbage chute, again with a scowl. 4) ORPHEUS at the supermarket freezer section enthusiastically browsing through Haggen-Dazs flavours, chooses, walks a few feet away, stops short, puts back the ice cream. He takes a tub of yogurt instead wearing another scowl. 5) ORPHEUS walks passed a wine store, a kind looking older woman rushes out and calls out to him. He returns to her with a hesitant smile. She pulls out a CD and waves it in the air, presses it to her heart, and nods at him approvingly. He nods and smiles with humility. She points her thumb towards the inside of the shop, her face inquisitive. He nods his in the negative scowling. She laughs and caresses his cheek. 6) Sunrise in Orpheus’s neighbourhood (obviously summer). 7) ORPHEUS jumps out of bed, stretches and yawns. 8) ORPHEUS eats cereal. (Scowl). 9) ORPHEUS showers, body is a little flabby. (Scowl). 10) ORPHEUS exits his apartment building and begins to run, wearing athletic attire. (Scowl). 11) ORPHEUS on the treadmill in same clothes. (Scowl). 12) ORPHEUS on the treadmill in different clothes. (Scowl). 13) ORPHEUS on the treadmill in different clothes. (Scowl). 14) Sunrise in Orpheus’s neighbourhood (obviously autumn). 15) ORPHEUS in shower significantly slimmer and muscled up. CUT TO: INT. ORPHEUS’S BEDROOM – MORNING ORPHEUS walks out of his bathroom nude, moist, dripping with water. He walks in front of a full-sized mirror and contemplates his form closely, turning around occasionally. He is all alone. Soon his eyes begin to tear up and he clutches at his heart. ORPHEUS Eurico. I did it all for him ... but for me as well. This is something new altogether—untouched by Jason. He walks over to pick up his guitar which is lying on his bed, uncased. He walks back to the mirror, and straps on his guitar and begins to strum it. He is looking for the music to sixteen lines of Shelley’s poem, Orpheus, which he begins to recite melodically. (Specifically lines 70-87). Afterwards, he goes silent. He lets long tears roll down his face. ORPHEUS (continuing) Then from the deep and overflowing spring Of his eternal ever-moving grief There rose to Heaven a sound of angry song. 'Tis as a mighty cataract that parts Two sister rocks with waters swift and strong, And casts itself with horrid roar and din Adown a steep; from a perennial source It ever flows and falls, and breaks the air With loud and fierce, but most harmonious roar, And as it falls casts up a vaporous spray Which the sun clothes in hues of Iris light. Thus the tempestuous torrent of his grief Is clothed in sweetest sounds and varying words Of poesy. Unlike all human works, It never slackens, and through every change Wisdom and beauty and the power divine Of mighty poesy together dwell, Mingling in sweet accord... (beat) So I’m different now. But tomorrow I go to him. Today I play. And not one thought of love. ORPHEUS suddenly grabs at his stomach. He rushes into the bathroom. ORPHEUS pukes into his toilet for a long moment. When he arises, he washes his face and rinses out his mouth. He walks towards the bathroom door but stops short. He looks down at his pelvis (which is O.S.) and he speaks to it. ORPHEUS (looking down) Still there? And adamant. I’ll take care of you. ORPHEUS walks into the shower, and closes the curtain violently. He turns on cold water. Sound of the shower and ORPHEUS reacting to the cold. CUT TO: EXT. LIQUOR STORE – SAME MORNING ORPHEUS waits for the store to open along with a variety of people who all have one thing in common: anxious or desperate for the store to open. Soon a female crack head asks him for a cigarette. He gives her three but wears a sardonic grin, and he hands her a twenty dollar bill to her delight. Soon the store attendant arrives to open the store. ORPHEUS is surprised because it is the same woman from the wine store. STORE ATTENDANT Orpheus! Very nice to see you. ORPHEUS (smiling) I’m surprised to see you. Didn’t know you worked here too. STORE ATTENDANT It’s a temporary part time job. There is something I want to save up for. Hoping not to see me? ORPHEUS No. Why? STORE ATTENDANT I’m glad I haven’t seen you in a couple of months. ORPHEUS I appreciate your concern. I assure you there is nothing to fear. STORE ATTENDANT Good. STORE ATTENDANT enters with ORPHEUS and the rest of the waiting patrons. ORPHEUS retrieves a mickey of brandy. CUT TO: ORPHEUS at the back of an almost empty bus, window open next to him, the bus speeding, and roaring, his hair tossing in the wind. ORPHEUS soon gets off the bus and walks into an empty school yard which rests atop a cliff and provides a majestic view of the city skyline at its widest and grandest expanse. He takes out his brandy bottle from his bag, twists off the cap, and takes in the fragrance. CUT TO: REMINISCENCE – QUICK FLASHBACK EURICO swirling a brandy glass in his hand, laughing and taking delighted sips. ORPHEUS soon tasting the brandy from his lips. CUT TO: PREVIOUS SCENE ORPHEUS screws back the bottle without taking a swig, puts it back away in his bag, and walks out of the schoolyard. CUT TO: INT. DON VITO’S RESTAURANT – SOON AFTER ORPHEUS has before him a very enticing looking veal sandwich and a tall glass of grape juice. Next to it is his iPhone displaying a picture of EURICO. He soon devours the sandwich. Unsatisfied, he calls the waitress over. ORPHEUS I’m going to need another one. WAITRESS (laughing) Sure, Orpheus. Soon the waitress brings over his second sandwich. ORPHEUS Actually, I changed my mind. (leaves thirty dollars on the table) That should cover it. (gets up and rushes towards the exit) WAITRESS (calling out to Orpheus at the exit) Good idea. You don’t want to get fat again. CUT TO: EXT. BENCHES OVERLOOKING A PARKING LOT AND SUPERMARKET – SOON AFTER ORPHEUS sits on one of the benches with a case of six beers (Bass is the brand). The bottles are sweating in the unusually warm Autumn day. ORPHEUS takes a long swig from a bottle and sighs feeling refreshed. He savours it. Soon a young, sweating, handsome runner in shorts, stops his running near him, and catches his breath. He looks over at ORPHEUS and expresses a little fear at the sight of the bottles of beer. ORPHEUS Good run? Want a beer? RUNNER Uh ... uh ... yes, but I can’t drink it here. ORPHEUS Now’s when you want and need it. Are you worried about the cops? If they show up I’ll tell them that you drank it under duress because I threatened to beat you up if you didn’t have one. I swear to God. Cross my heart. RUNNER (laughing, taking beer, sitting down) So what brings you to drink so early in the afternoon? ORPHEUS I’m making today a rare day of indulgence. RUNNER I’m glad you chose today and this place. The beer was perfect. ORPHEUS Want another one? RUNNER Sure. But why so generous? ORPHEUS I didn’t need them. When I bought the pack I didn’t think that one would be enough. Three months ago twelve would not have sufficed. RUNNER Ah, you’re battling a drinking problem— ORPHEUS No—boyfriend problems. RUNNER Oh... Too bad. ORPHEUS Yeah, well, I didn’t think I had a drinking problem. I was always in control. It wasn’t interfering with my success. But my boyfriend made a big deal about it, said I best stop or I’ll never have him again. I kicked him out the moment he gave me the ultimatum. But I’ve been improving ever since against my better judgment. (beat) Right now I’m not as angry as I was this morning. Yesterday I was furious, as I was for the last few months. I think if I’m angry at anyone right now, it is at myself. I wasn’t failing in life. But now... I have so much more energy that I regret the time I lost previously (to do more in less time). Temperance pays off eventually. RUNNER I’ve been running two times a day for the last month because I broke up with my boyfriend and I miss the sex. ORPHEUS It shows. You look great ... What was his problem? RUNNER He was addicted to sex with me. I love it—but it was too much. We were both always sore—and I was developing hip trouble. So for the sake of our health I commanded that we stop for awhile. I didn’t want us to kill each other. Like I said, he was addicted. He broke up with me. ORPHEUS So why did you say it was too bad that I was in love with someone else? RUNNER Because he’s not doing so well. He’s gained a lot of weight since. I hate it that he replaced the narcotic of sex with the narcotic of food. ORPHEUS I don’t know what to advise you, man. All I know is that I think I’m going to leave the rest of this case right here and go straight to Eurico. I fucking missing him. You want the rest of them? RUNNER No. I’m going for another run. ORPHEUS There just comes a time when you know that living is easy. That the stress often comes from the fear of losing something that is not really worth keeping or obsolete. You wake up and you realize you got two great things waiting for you: your will power and someone amazing. You begin to see a flood of opportunities, and it’s easy to focus on the essence of things, and take what you want. RUNNER I’m going to invite him for a run. If he has enough endurance remaining afterwards, I’ll have sex with him. ORPHEUS Have a nice day. The RUNNER runs off. CUT TO: EXT. AT PAWNSHOP WINDOW – SHORTLY AFTER An object in the window display catches ORPHEUS’ eye. He walks into the store. Soon a hand reaches into the window display and removes a Ukulele. Soon ORPHEUS exits the store with it in hand. CUT TO: INT. EURICO’S BACHELOR APARTMENT – SAME AFTERNOON ORPHEUS walks in using his own key. EURICO sits up on his pull out sofa, legs stretched out. He is captivated by a loud movie he is watching, Pineapple Express, giggling. He eats from a tub of ice cream with a big spoon. Next to him on the nightstand is a tall beer pint glass of red wine. ORPHEUS walks into the kitchen where he sees a tall pile of dirty dishes, a large discarded tub of fried chicken (empty), a couple of empty pizza boxes, several empty bottles of beer. When he walks back into the living room/bedroom, he sees many pieces of soiled clothing scattered on the floor. The room smells of stale smoke and a full garbage can in the kitchen. On the dinner table is a large empty bottle of red wine. EURICO is expertly digging away at the ice cream and vacuuming it away. He takes the glass of wine and polishes it off in a couple of gulps, wine trickling down his throat and chest. EURICO is completely nude. EURICO finally notices ORPHEUS. The empty glass falls crashing to the floor. He grins unapologetically. ORPHEUS How long has this been going on? EURICO It started a few days ago. Why are you here? ORPHEUS I’m cured. It happened today. I knew it about an hour ago. EURICO Yeah, you look divine. ORPHEUS Maybe the wine is making you believe that. EURICO I’m not drunk. ORPHEUS What brought you to this state? EURICO The lack of you. I told you I would descend into hell. Thanks for coming for me finally. ORPHEUS Is this going to be a problem? Should I come back another time? EURICO No. Now’s fine. I’m ready to leave this place. ORPHEUS I’ll call your cleaning lady. Go shower and all that. We’re going to the zoo. I bought a ukulele I can easily sneak in there. I got brandy too. I love the way your mouth tastes when you drink it. We won’t leave the zoo until I write you a new song. Go get ready. CUT TO: INT. SAME PLACE – SOON AFTER EURICO comes out of the bathroom all clean and divine looking. ORPHEUS I’ve missed you. When we return from the zoo we’re going to rediscover Heaven. But for now, let’s go start a riot. EURICO Can’t hardly wait. FADE OUT: THE END [END OF EDMOND’S SHORT FILM] INT. JUSTO’S LIVING ROOM – AFTER THE MOVIE ENDS The last scene when EURICO comes out of the bathroom is heard being played off screen. EDMOND is anxiously watching JUSTO’S face, waiting for his final reaction. Even if EDMOND has been watching him this whole way throughout JUSTO’S viewing, JUSTO doesn’t notice because he is captivated by EDMOND’S film. The movie ends. JUSTO lets out a short but jolly laugh. EDMOND What did you think? JUSTO I loved it! EDMOND Really? JUSTO Really EDMOND Tell me something. JUSTO I love the way you tied the ending back to the beginning with the zoo animals. Clever. Some people might not like that we never get to listen to any Jason Songs or the one Eurico Song. But with the whole taming of the zoo animals idea we are given this very mysterious music, goes well with the original legend, keeps your movie true to that. The original Orpheus played the most beautiful music. Well how does the most beautiful music sound like? An impossible concept. Not hearing any of your Orpheus’ completed songs helps to maintain the charm of the mysticism of the “most beautiful music of all.” EDMOND Yes! You’re the only one so far to tell me that. I love you! JUSTO So who was in the right? That’s not clear? Was that intentional? EDMOND It was intentional. I wanted it to be playful and humorous. My subway movie will be very serious. JUSTO Was Eurico right in giving Orpheus the ultimatum? Well, yes. It is right for Orpheus to live a more rational life, and to evolve creatively. But he has a very good excuse not to: he lost someone very dear to him. Perhaps Eurico should have given him more time. And yet Eurico has a cause to be jealous. It seems irrationally selfish to want an album for him, “right now.” But there is a case for expecting Orpheus to be able to move on. It is as if Orpheus is keeping Jason alive, and the more Jason Songs gets popular, the more he sticks around. In the end Orpheus chooses life because he realizes he wants the living Eurico. Eurico’s indulgence at the end expresses his great lust for Orpheus and at the same time highlights that his main motive for the ultimatum is jealousy, which may seem irrational and wrong. But there is a case for it. I see the message as being Eurico’s assertion of his ownership of Orpheus, and Orpheus’ final realization of how much he loves his own ‘property’. This is sexy. EDMOND God, I love you! JUSTO So this Rob Lowe look alike acting along side you—that’s Dalida-boy? EDMOND Yes. JUSTO He looks amazing. He played Eurico well. He became part of the beautiful little universe you created. I can totally get how you hooked up with him. And how hard his rejection was and why. EDMOND I’m looking forward totally, just like Orpheus. JUSTO (humble) You’re truly a gifted actor. So much realism, on the ball, and just the right intensity. No one else could play the part of Orpheus that you created. I am so glad you possessed the talent to play it. You’re a genius. You’re too much for me. It’s hard to believe I deserve you. EDMOND You see me like no one else. I am so grateful and lucky. You totally deserve me. I belong to you; you own me. JUSTO Really? … Then if only for tonight I will have my way with what I own. JUSTO kisses EDMOND with a ferocious passion. EDMOND can’t resist. They fall back together to stretch themselves on the sofa, oblivious and consumed by passion. CUT TO: INT. JUSTO’S BEDROOM – NEXT MORNING EDMOND walks out of the bathroom nude. He has just taken a shower. JUSTO waits for him lounged on his bed. He is already fully dressed in comfortable clothing. He is recording a video of EDMOND (using his iPhone) as he walks out of the bathroom and gets dressed. EDMOND is amused and smiling. When EDMOND is fully dressed he walks over to JUSTO, still recording. EDMOND What are you doing? JUSTO (still recording) I’m making an amateur documentary. It’s a love story. It’s a happy love story though some might find it tragic … I want to record this moment. There’s something important I want to talk to you about. I think it is crucial that we put it on the record. I thought it would be the coolest thing—given what kind of artist you are, given our mutual appreciation of drama—that we make this little documentary. EDMOND You’re not going to fucking propose—are you? JUSTO (standing up) No. I was trying to postpone this moment. That’s why I didn’t want to watch your movie. I knew it would come to this. I knew you were going to prove to be a prodigy. EDMOND (worried) What the fuck? You have to be joking… JUSTO I’m afraid not. EDMOND Like this? You’re breaking up with me?! JUSTO I want to explain it you. I owe it to you and myself. I can explain it all. I will only be holding you back from your true potential. EDMOND That’s bullshit. Turn off the fucking camera! Are you trying to humiliate me? JUSTO No. That’s the last thing I want to do to you. But it’s crucial that we document this. I don’t want any confusion over what I’m going to tell you, my explanation. I don’t want you to put words in my mouth, nor do I want to put words in yours. If you can’t find it within you to let me make this video, then it is that much less difficult for me to do this. This moment is torture for me. But I know that despite what you’re feeling right now, there’s a part of you, that part I love, the filmmaker, who thinks this video is just the coolest thing. Take a moment. EDMOND (after a silent, pensive moment) Okay. Explain yourself. JUSTO Like I said, you’re a prodigy. And the movie which you wrote, directed, and starred in is proof of that. You believe we are soul mates. You believe I am worthy of you. You want this to be true. You’re too kind, too generous. I cannot endure your selflessness. Listen, I don’t even know what my calling is in life, I don’t think it’s to be a screenwriter. I’m never going to work on that script again. Because I don’t have the passion; and now because it will be too painful, because it will now be forever attached to you, and I even doubt whether I can ever visit Montreal, because it will forever remind me of you. EDMOND (teary-eyed) So you’re breaking up with me? You don’t want to see me anymore? JUSTO As painful as it is, yes. There’s more I want to say. EDMOND (sardonic smile) Go ahead, you fucker. JUSTO By being with me you will betray your tremendous potential—and your promise to your mother. I can never achieve what you already have and the enormity you are destined for: I’m too old and not smart enough. I’m ten year older than you: I’ve wasted my time and lost opportunity. You deserve someone around your age who is also as brilliant and talented as you. You would otherwise grow tired of me. EDMOND I’ve never encountered anyone of any age who stimulates me intellectually as much as you. Even in the act of breaking up with me, and the absurdity of the panache with which you are executing it. I love you terribly even in this cruel act of torture. JUSTO My heart is aching. My heart is fighting my mind. I have to follow my rational judgment. I hope that is one of the things you love about me. EDMOND Reason?! You seem asleep to me. You’re not experiencing what we got. You don’t know that this is real, this thing of ours. JUSTO I’ve been dreaming and waiting for too long before I heard you sing. Edmond, I simply realized that you are a dream I don’t deserve. Maybe you should try your luck with Dalida-boy again. He’s your age. And he’s brilliant—I can tell from his acting. You guys got chemistry. EDMOND Is that it?! You ran into Bookstory Boy again. You want him instead of me? Just say so. Why go through this whole farce? JUSTO No! You’re the only one I love. Maybe the only one I will ever love. These few blissful days we shared will be enough to last me a lifetime. Existence has been justified for me. I know that happiness is possible in this world. These few days will give me the strength and serenity to endure the rest of my life. EDMOND You’re full of shit! JUSTO I am eternally grateful to you for fulfilling my grandest dream. It happened. But I am not your grandest dream, though you may want to believe that. Your dreams are of a different nature, and I will only stifle them. EDMOND I hate you. Do you believe that beauty and greatness will come from utter agony? Shall I achieve this greatness, this greatest movie of all time which you so confidently envision, and then kill myself, thus achieving the ultimate greatness by becoming immortal? (voice crackling) And all thanks to you—my divinity born of a broken heart. JUSTO You may say that I am special because I maintain a high opinion of your artistic talent. But certainly there are others who possess the same high opinion. I know this is the case. The main issue is that I will be evil if I let you sacrifice your maximum potential in order for me to keep feasting on your body and delighting in your spirit. EDMOND This is an extremely emotional moment for me. You have caught me off guard. I don’t have a rational argument for you. All I know is that I love you with all my heart, and this is the most devastating moment of my life. JUSTO (plunges to his knees iPhone still recording) Just so you know that I love you terribly, I am begging you to get back to me with a convincing argument. I want to be with you. I can’t think of any. Which is why I’ve decided to stop wasting your time. It’s the best thing for both of us. EDMOND This is so cruel. I don’t understand this. It’s unheard of. JUSTO (rising again) I am going to be a distraction and an interference. There’s the sex together. We both love it too much. And I believe you are getting addicted. When will you write your subway movie? And when it comes time to selling it to investors? And when you finally have to start it? Our obsessive fornication may very well jeopardize the realization of your first masterpiece. EDMOND You arrogant asshole! JUSTO And then when it’s time for you to move to LA or New York, you won’t want to go because I live here. I’ll be in the way of even the logistics of your movie making. EDMOND Why wouldn’t you be able to leave Toronto? What would be keeping you here? And what—you don’t have a passport? This is a stupid point. It’s a non-issue. I expect to be rich. And I want you. Horribly stupid point. If you insist on remaining a bartender, I’m sure you can be one in any big city. And if it’s your mother—hey, fuck, we’ll buy her a fucking condo. Anyways, New York and LA are years down the road. I’ll probably be living in Toronto before I move to the US. JUSTO And when you finally do get famous and are in high demand, what will the world think of you being in love with a bartender? You will be ridiculed. EDMOND You won’t be a bartender. JUSTO But what if I am? What if I want nothing more out of life? Will you still love me? EDMOND Yes! JUSTO I don’t believe you. EDMOND It doesn’t matter. You’re breaking up with me. If I succeed in getting you back, you’ll be coming along for the ride. But I know I’ll be going along for your ride too. I feel we are meant to be together! I will win you. I will give you your rational argument. And when I do, I will punish you for being so wrong, and my love, our love being so right. JUSTO Easy, Marquis de Sade! EDMOND So there was something wrong all along. You have been lying to me all week. JUSTO I wanted us to have a beautiful week. I wanted to taste the bliss of life for just a bit to know how glorious life could be. EDMOND When did you know? JUSTO The first morning when I was bathing you. EDMOND How could you be so cruel? Are you a sadist? Is this a sex-game, are you trying to devastate me, so you can then heal me with sex? JUSTO No. This is not sex-play. I drank from the cup of happiness. And now nevermore. EDMOND This is so fucked up. JUSTO I have made my decision. EDMOND Is there nothing I can say, nothing I can do? JUSTO If you could change my mind, make me see what I fail to see—you will make me the happiest man in the world. EDMOND I shall go. I should go now. JUSTO You don’t have to. I insisted you give up your hotel. If you need a few more days. EDMOND I should be going ape-shit and storming out of here. JUSTO I’ll spend the night at my mom’s house. I’ll leave you alone. You can deal with my decision in your own way. The place is all yours. I’ll call you in the morning and see if you are better. EDMOND I need to think. Or get wasted. Either way, I’ll take your offer. Please get the fuck out. CUT TO: INT. JUSTO’S LIVING ROOM – NEXT MORNING JUSTO walks around his living room and it is clear that EDMOND has left. JUSTO drops and sinks into his sofa and lets out a big sigh. Soon he gets a text message. INSERT PHONE SCREEN: TEXT MESSAGE I am getting on a train. Last chance. JUSTO’S REPLY Good luck with the film fest. CUT TO: INT. EDMOND’S APARTMENT (MONTREAL) – AFTERNOON EDMOND walks into his apartment, drops his bag on the floor, walks into his bedroom, and lies down on his bed, arms and legs stretched out. Suddenly he begins to cry, bawl, and wail. CUT TO: A FEW WEEKS LATER EXT. A STREET IN EDMOND’S NEIGHBORHOOD – MORNING EDMOND walks down the street with a tall coffee cup in his hand. He wears a thin hoodie and sunglasses. Soon a young woman who has just walked by him turns around, surprised, walks swiftly, aggressively towards him, grabs his shoulder and spins him around. The woman is his best friend, DANIELA. [This conversation should take place in FRENCH with ENGLISH subtitles]. DANIELA Edmond! EDMOND Hello, Daniela. DANIELA You didn’t notice me? Are you trying to avoid me? EDMOND To be honest, yes. DANIELA Why in the world? EDMOND I feel like shit. DANIELA I’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks. You don’t answer my calls or texts. What happened to you? Last I heard you were in Toronto, you met a guy, and then nothing. EDMOND At first I didn’t communicate with you because we were having a beautifully intense affair. It lasted a few days. And then it turned into a disaster. I came straight back to Montreal. And I didn’t call you since because I’ve simply been sad. DANIELA (embracing him) Oh, my poor Edmond. Have you talked to anyone about it? EDMOND No. DANIELA You’ve been keeping it all to yourself, all this time? EDMOND I didn’t want to burden you. I kept telling myself that I would get over it, “Lots of fish in the sea”—but I can’t forget him. It’s bogus what happened. They continue walking down the street DANIELA Start from the beginning. EDMOND I went to karaoke one night with this interesting girl I met at my hotel. He was the bartender that night. I sang a French song and felt a little embarrassed by it. DANIELA (smirking) What song? EDMOND Dalida’s, Parlez Moi de Lui. DANIELA We must go to karaoke sometime! I never heard you sing. EDMOND I think I sang it well… it was heartfelt… His name is Justo. Soon Justo got up to the mic and sang a Julio Iglesias song. I was sure he did it for me to make me feel comfortable, and he sang of a similar them to my song. He sounded nice and he looked so hot. I went to have a cigarette after that. He joined me outside for one. We clicked. He invited me to his place. He even left work early, right away. DANIELA You did it that same night? EDMOND And he’s ten years older than me. But there’s more. He’s a free spirit, a wandering soul. He had never discovered what his calling in life is. But earlier that same day he wrote the first few scenes of a script, and outlined most of it in his head. And he had never written anything since high school. I read it and he told me his ideas. And it was good! I believe that’s his calling. After that the rest was irresistible. It was amazing. It lasted for hours. And I had the most pleasant sleep. I knew I had found a soul mate. DANIELA Sounds beautiful. EDMOND For sure. And he wrote me a poem that same night. And fed me oranges when I woke. And carried me into the bathtub and bathed me. And I met his mother; we had lunch at her place. And we ran back to his place, and I had trouble keeping up.<sp