Butterfly Dreams

SCRIPT:

INT. BEDROOM — NIGHT

“Salce, Salce” (“Willow Song”) from Verdi’s “Otello” plays in the background.

NARRATOR

She killed him while wearing the beautiful butterfly earrings he’d given her after he apologized for slapping her at the K-mart.

A tight shot of MONA putting on earrings. Only a portion of her bruised face and neck can be seen.

NARRATOR (cont’d)

She killed him while wearing the butterfly necklace he bought after he apologized for kicking her under the table at the E-Street Bar.

A tight shot of MONA putting on a necklace. Only a portion of her bruised face and neck can be seen.

NARRATOR (cont’d)

But, when (in a drunken rage) he accused her of cheating and beat her in front of the kids, she realized no gift could ever make up for the pain and humiliation she felt.

As her boyfriend sleeps, MONA walks to the kitchen, and picks up an ice pick. She returns to the bedroom and begins stabbing him. Then, after lighting a cigarette, she dials 911.

MONA

I want to report a murder.

INT. KITCHEN — NIGHT

Later, with children crying and sirens blaring in the background, an OFFICER arrives on the scene and speaks to MONA .

OFFICER

You have the right to remain silent.

MONA stares blankly.

OFFICER (cont’d)

Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

The OFFICER puts MONA’s hands behind her back.

OFFICER (cont’d)

You have a right to an attorney.

The OFFICER snaps the handcuff over MONA’s first wrist.

OFFICER (cont’d)

If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.

The OFFICER snaps the handcuff on MONA’s other wrist.

OFFICER (cont’d)

Do you understand these rights, as I have explained them to you?

MONA stares ahead.

OFFICER (cont’d)

Ma’am?

MONA

Yes?

OFFICER (cont’d)

Do you understand these rights, as I have explained them to you?

MONA turns her face toward the OFFICER.

MONA

I understand.

EXT. BUS — DAY

MONA looks out the bus window at the passing landscape. Her eyes are dark — like weathered tombstones. She is wearing leg irons, a waist chain and handcuffs. The bus stops. MONA is escorted to the correctional facility’s receiving room and told to take off her clothes.

INT. RECEIVING ROOM — DAY

GUARD (shouting)

Squat and cough.

MONA

What?

GUARD

It’s simple, sister: Squat down — and cough. If you don’t, we do a cavity search. Understand?

MONA

I understand.

INT. SHOWER ROOM — DAY

MONA is sprayed with delousing powder, given a prison uniform and sent to have her picture taken.

INT. PHOTO STUDIO — DAY

PHOTOGRAPHER (monotone)

Stand up straight, shoulders back.

MONA stares into the camera.

PHOTOGRAPHER (monotone)

Turn to the left.

MONA does what she's told.

PHOTOGRAPHER (monotone)

Turn to the right.

MONA turns right.

PHOTOGRAPHER (monotone)

Turn again to the right … and next!

INT. CELL-BLOCK — DAY

MONA is led to her cell, where she eyes her cellmate. The guard shuts the cell door and leaves.

CELLMATE1

You’re my bitch, now. Understand?

MONA (restrained)

I understand.

INT. CELL — NIGHT

LOUDSPEAKER

Lights out!

MONA waits until her CELLMATE is asleep. She searches for a heavy object, finds a large book and uses it to repeatedly strike her CELLMATE’s head.

MONA (spit-screaming)

You understand? You understand, now? I ain’t nobody’s bitch.

MONA beats on her CELLMATE’s head until stopped by GUARDS.

INT. WARDEN’S OFFICE — DAY

WARDEN (authoritatively)

This is not a good start for you. Not at all.

MONA stares at the floor.

WARDEN

You are going to Solitary Confinement where you will have a chance to think about what you’ve done and hopefully have a change of heart.

INT. SOLITARY CONFINEMENT — DAY

MONA is in a tiny room containing a toilet, small sink and a cot. She walks to the bed, lies down, closes her eyes and goes to sleep. It’s the best night’s rest she’s had in months.

INT. CELL-BLOCK HALLWAY — DAY

Weeks later, MONA is led to a cell, where she is greeted cheerfully by a new roommate.

CELLMATE2

Hello, my Sister.

MONA

I'm not your sister . . .

CELLMATE2 (cheerfully)

We all Sisters here.

MONA (Emphatically)

I am not your sister, understand?

Over the next few days, MONA watches suspiciously as her new cellmate chatters on and occasionally sings. Ignoring her cellmate, MONA sketches butterflies on a cheap scribble pad.

EXT. YARD — DAY

MONA whispers imperceptibly to a nearby woman in the yard. After carefully and nervously scanning the area, they deftly make a trade: MONA slips the woman toiletry items that she's stolen from her new cellmate. The woman in the yard hands MONA a “shiv,” wrapped in a piece of cloth.

INT. CELL — DAY

MONA’S new cellmate talks to herself as she searches for her missing toiletry items.

CELLMATE2

My, how my mind is gone. Gone, gone, gone. You know what I mean, Sister? I put things down and can’t remember where. It’s like they grew feet and tap-danced away.

MONA

What are you saying?

CELLMATE2

Nothin’. Jes a crazy woman talkin’ to herself, that’s all.

INT. CELL-BLOCK HALLWAY — DAY

GUARD

OK ladies, please step out into the hallway.

MONA (puzzled)

What’s going on?

GUARD

We having what we call a “surprise inspection.”

MONA

I ain’t done nothin’.

GUARD

Nobody says you have, Ma’am. It’s SOP — Standard Operating Procedure.

After a few minutes, one of the GUARDS discovers a “shiv” wrapped in a small piece of cloth. He unwraps the handmade weapon and shows it to the two women.

GUARD

Ladies, care to explain?

MONA (defiantly)

I ain’t never seen that thing before.

GUARD

I guess we will have to take both of you in and . . .

CELLMATE2 (hesitantly)

It’s not hers.

GUARD (somewhat surprised)

What are you saying?

CELLMATE2 (firmly)

I’m sayin’ it’s not hers. That’s what I’m sayin’ . . .

The GUARDs look at each other and then at MONA’s cellmate.

GUARD (crisply)

Take her away.

INT. CELL — NIGHT

That evening MONA has trouble sleeping. Disturbing images percolate through her mind. She feels she’s drowning. She awakens, startled, gasping for breath.

INT. CELL-BLOCK — DAY

MONA (frantically)

Guard!

GUARD

What?

MONA

Where’s my cellmate? The one you took away.

GUARD

Not sure that’s your business.

MONA

Where is she?

GUARD

She's where she’s supposed to be.

MONA

I need to see her.

GUARD

Why?

MONA (defiant, with confidence)

I got my reasons.

GUARD (cautiously, but sincerely)

I’ll see what I can do.

INT. VISITING ROOM — DAY

MONA

What are you doing?

CELLMATE2

What do you mean?

MONA

You know what I mean.

CELLMATE2

I’m doing what I’d do for any Sister, that’s all.

MONA

You bein’ stupid. You supposed to watch out for you and nobody else.

CELLMATE2

I decided to watch out for you instead.

MONA

You bein’ stupid.

CELLMATE2

You my Sister.

MONA

I ain’t your sister!

CELLMATE2

You’re in the same place as me, the very same. You facin’ the same problems as me, the very same. You facin’ it alone, jes like me—that makes you my Sister.

MONA walks away in quiet disgust.

INT. CELL — NIGHT

MONA is again deeply troubled as she goes to sleep. Dark images swirl through her mind. She feels as if she is wrapped in a large blood-soaked sheet. She struggles to get free, gasping. She is sobbing as she hears the clank of her cell door.

GUARD (concerned)

You OK?

MONA (disoriented)

Wha’ what? What’s going on?

GUARD

You were hollering and screaming and crying, so we came to check on ya.

INT. CELL-BLOCK — DAY

MONA

I need to see the Warden.

GUARD

You askin’ a lot for somebody who . . .

MONA

Please. I beg you. Let me see the Warden.

INT. WARDEN’S OFFICE — DAY

MONA walks slowly into the Warden’s office and sits in the chair. She does not speak. She stares at the floor.

WARDEN

You wanted to see me?

MONA (humbly)

Yes . . .

WARDEN (impatiently)

About?

MONA (head hanging down)

It was mine.

WARDEN (puzzled)

What was yours?

MONA

The thing.

WARDEN

What thing?

MONA

The knife. The knife the guards found. ... The thing.

WARDEN

But your cellmate said . . .

MONA (cutting him off)

She lied.

WARDEN (slowly and sternly)

Why would she do such a thing?

MONA (smiling and forcing back tears)

She thinks she’s my sister.

EXT. YARD — DAY

MONA reunites with her CELLMATE. MONA hands her a small bag with toiletry items similar to what she’d stolen. MONA's CELLMATE gives her a hug. MONA hugs bak.

CELLMATE2

Sisters?

MONA

Sisters . . .

A butterfly flutters nearby as “Un Bel Dì” (“One Beautiful Day”) from “Madama Butterfly” plays. Rolling thunder rumbles in the background. Lightning strikes in the distance …

THE END