Hey everyone! Here's my group's (group 7) rough draft of the suicide scene. It's just a list of what happens/background information plus some other ideas. Since this scene affects and depends on other groups' scenes (group 1, 3, 6, 8) I wanted to post it.
Here it is: Background/Ned & Ruth: • Jotham Powell and Ethan Frome are both construction workers • Jotham and Ethan are working on the bridge one day or night, Ned and Ruth drive over it and it cracks. • Jotham tells Ethan that if one more car goes over the cracked bridge, it will collapse
Background/argument: • Zeena tells Denis Eady that Mattie is an illegal immigrant and sets up a time for Denis to come meet with her and take Mattie • Ethan overhears Zeena saying this to Jotham, or Zeena tells Ethan—argument
Mattie’s Departure w/ Ethan/Decision to go sledding: • Ethan has Mattie pack up and leave with him in the car. • Conversation while driving—what will happen once they get away? • Ethan wants to go with Mattie, but he still cannot leave Zeena behind • Decision to go sledding: Plan to cross over bridge—Mattie’s freedom—once over bridge, Mattie will get away
Actual suicide attempt: • Mattie tells Ethan she is scared. • Talk about suicide…Ethan remembers conversation w/ Jotham about the cracked bridge earlier (one more car=collapse) • Ethan sees this as an opportunity for suicide. • Jotham and other construction workers are at the bridge working, Jotham waves frantically and tries to stop them, but the car goes over the bridge (at this time, Ethan is not holding onto the steering wheel) • Jotham watches it collapse and sees the car go into the water • Switches to Ethan—shows what’s going on in his mind as he is drowning • Jotham and other workers go into the water and try to get them out of the car while someone else calls for help (ambulance, or something else). In water, Mattie is completely unconscious, and Ethan is slipping out of consciousness as they are being pulled out of the car.
Afterward: • Mattie ends up with brain damage from lack of oxygen and Ethan’s leg gets hurt when they’re trying to pull him from the submerged car
Let me know if you have comments, suggestions, questions, ideas...Or if what we have conflicts with other scenes.
Alright, I'm in group 1. I just want to collaborate with group two and say that we are ending our flashback at Ethan's mother's funeral and Ethan proposing to Zeena or asking him to stay. You guys will pick up at the wedding. Is that ok?
Hey bloggers, here is the outline for group 8's scene.
Opens Camera pans across home of Mrs. Ned Hale. The investigator is sitting on the cheery floral sofa next to Mrs. Hale.. The room is bright with white lace curtains. In the background, an old TV is turned to CNN, where an upcoming hurricane is being reported on. The investigator is questioning Mrs. Hale about the events directly after Ethan and Mattie’s accident. After a long pause, she tells him in graphic detail (flashbacks)
Mrs. Hale’s story: flashbacks with Mrs. Hale voiceover, narrating Ethan and Mattie fly off bridge Flashing light of ambulance, paramedics Bloody stretchers entering ambulance (dreamlike, hazy, slow motion) Doctor speaking to Zeena, who is stoic, stiff, and unemotional. Zeena takes out a piece “pickle dish” from her pocket and methodically turns it in her hand. She squeezes it so that her hand bleeds. It drips down her wrist.
Fade back to Mrs. Hale and Investigator The investigator coaxes the Frome’s location out of Mrs. Hale. He leaves and starts out for their house. Mrs. Hale turns up the TV. We hear that the looming hurricane will be an even worse Katrina.
The investigator walks up to the Frome’s house. It is decrepit, musty, old, peeling, and dilapidated. Peering into the window, he sees two silhouettes creeping by the flickering television, which is tuned to the same newscast as Mrs. Hale was watching. Whilst peering into the window, he hears a car door shut and the camera pans over to a heavyset state employed nurse. Watching her, the investigator sees the nurse walk up to the front door and knocks. Slowly the door is opened by an unseen figure. As the door is slowly opened, we get the first glance at a crippled Ethan Frome and an aged Zeena nursing an unseen figure facing away from the door.
The nurse begins to talk to Ethan, telling him that they are on some special disability list getting a first chance at escaping from the storm. The investigator walking around behind the nurse becomes evident and Ethan, catching a quick glimpse of him freezes in mid-sentence, stricken by the investigator’s presence, because he knows whom he is. Through the doorway, Zeena is seen turning around, running towards the doorway as fast as her weary legs allow her to, dentures flopping in the wind. She slams the door in the investigator and the nurse’s faces. Insulted, the nurse turns away, going back to her car, and leaves. The investigator, determined to decipher the mystery of the Fromes, hides on the front steps for a moment, and then opens up the mail slot. For the first time, the viewer gets a glimpse of Mattie in all of her decay. The investigator, startled by her putrid appearance, closes the mailbox and walks back around the house, back to the window that he was watching the Fromes through earlier. Looking up at the window, he sees Zeena watching him with a crazed look on her face. The camera zooms in to Zeena’s face, and then backs to the investigators. Raindrops start falling on the investigators clothes as he walks away from the Frome residence. The camera zooming out as the rain begins to fall harder, eventually to the entire city, shows people and cars attempting to escape the city. This long panning shot turns into the CNN news shot with Anderson Cooper informing the public of the impending natural disaster. He talks about the traffic and the desperate city trying to escape as the face their inevitable death if they stay. Suddenly, there is crackling white noise and the screen clicks to the governor of Louisiana. She again reiterates the looming disaster and utters something to the effect of “The smart ones get away.” The camera fades off the governor to black as if the movie is over, but then suddenly cuts back to a dark New Orleans with houses and figures undistinguishable and zooms into the same window that the investigator was peering through earlier. The camera shows the city as a dark, lonely place with no lights on because of the power surge that occurred. Suddenly a flash of lightning reveals the silhouettes of the Fromes who have not left the city.
Brenna I think that it is a great idea that right after the accident, Ethan will be slipping in and out of consciousness because during this time, the viewer will be wondering what is going on and will also be a little confused, as to not give away entirely what happens. In the flashback, this would allow Mrs. Hale to explain what fully happens.
Here's groups 7's edited script (edit=Matti brings up suicide).
Background/Ned & Ruth: • Jotham Powell and Ethan Frome are both construction workers • Jotham and Ethan are working on the bridge one day or night, Ned and Ruth drive over it and it cracks. • Jotham tells Ethan that if one more car goes over the cracked bridge, it will collapse • Ethan relays this information to Mattie and Zeena during dinner (Jotham is eating dinner with them?) (accident is group 3's job, so this may not be what is actually going to happen) Background/argument: • Zeena tells Denis Eady that Mattie is an illegal immigrant and sets up a time for Denis to come meet with her and take Mattie • Ethan overhears Zeena saying this to Jotham, or Zeena tells Ethan—argument
Mattie’s Departure w/ Ethan/Decision to go sledding: • Ethan has Mattie pack up and leave with him in the car. • Conversation while driving—what will happen once they get away? • Ethan wants to go with Mattie, but he still cannot leave Zeena behind • Decision to go sledding: Plan to cross over bridge—Mattie’s freedom—once over bridge, Mattie will get away
Actual suicide attempt: • Mattie tells Ethan she is scared of the future. • Talk about suicide…Mattie remembers the conversation during dinner w/ Ethan (one more car=collapse) • Mattie offers this as a means of accomplishing the suicide. • Jotham and other construction workers are at the bridge working, Jotham waves frantically and tries to stop them, but the car goes over the bridge (at this time, Ethan is not holding onto the steering wheel) • Jotham watches it collapse and sees the car go into the water • Switches to Ethan—shows what’s going on in his mind as he is drowning • Jotham and other workers go into the water and try to get them out of the car while someone else calls for help (ambulance, or something else). In water, Mattie is completely unconscious, and Ethan is slipping out of consciousness as they are being pulled out of the car.
Afterward: • Mattie ends up with brain damage from lack of oxygen and Ethan’s leg gets hurt when they’re trying to pull him from the submerged car
This is Emily, from Group 6, which is the scene in which Zeena comes home, brings up the issue with Mattie leaving, and Ethan's "fighting back moment." I know there are a lot of issues with Mattie's illegal alien situation and details. Tell me any problems anyone else has: also, we need to work with Groups 5 and 7 to make the scenes flow.
Int. scene - description Ethan and Mattie are enjoying their time together and watching television when (dun dun DUN) Zeena rings the doorbell (or not, catching Ethan and Mattie unawares), having come back early from a doctor’s appointment. Zeena is oblivious of the obvious surprise of her husband and Mattie, sinking exhaustedly into a chair and declaring her exhaustion, attributing them to her worsening symptoms. Ethan finally snaps out of his cathartic state and shakily helps Zeena put away her luggage. LATER: Zeena tells Ethan the doctor’s recommendations to reduce the amount of stress (assuming that her condition is attributed to stress or a traumatic experience). Zeena and Ethan get into a very large fight in which Zeena tells Ethan that Mattie, the illegal immigrant, must go. It is causing her endless amounts of worry, much more than she can handle, especially living in the middle of a ruined New Orleans. Zeena has also learned that their house will go into foreclosure if they continue to not pay their mortgage. Zeena demands that Mattie must go also because they cannot afford to pay their mortgage, much less support and house an illegal immigrant. Ethan protests, angrily saying that Zeena is a poor man’s wife. Ethan also responds by saying that Mattie has nowhere else to go and desperately needs their help/ Zeena scoffs, shrieking that it was in helping other people, namely Ethan’s mother, that she experienced the stress/traumatic experience that is afflicting her now. Ethan remains silent, but visible anger is beginning to blossom on his face. Zeena then sees the empty place on the shelf where her Hera statue, a treasured wedding gift, is missing. Screaming hysterically, she drags Mattie, who has been listening outside and who has understood what Zeena has said despite her broken English, into the room. Zeena declares the broken statue the last straw and demands Mattie pack right away. In an attempt to fight back, Ethan comes out of his cowering reverie and seizes the remains of the Hera statue and throws them on the ground. Zeena, shocked by the outward display of anger and disobedience, stands stock still for a moment before demanding Ethan clean up the mess (which he does, reverting back to his submissive behavior) and then leaves the room, sobbing, declaring that Mattie has robbed her of what “she has set the most store by.” ext. scene - description The scene closes on Ethan and Mattie’s white faces, Ethan’s grimly set (to perhaps write the “letter” later) and Mattie, who looks hopeless because she has nowhere else to go. Ethan desperately tries to console Mattie, to no avail. Dinner is a silent affair. Ethan angrily eats, Mattie listlessly prepares the table, while Zeena eats with much more appetite than usual, a trace of a smug smile crossing her smile as she sees Mattie. LATER THAT NIGHT: A sleepless Ethan gets out of bed, slipping out from under the covers he shares with his despised wife. After gazing at Mattie’s door for a few seconds, he steals to the kitchen, pulls out a napkin and, after hesitating for a few seconds, begins to write: “Zeena, I’ve done all I could for you, and I don’t see as it’s been any use. I don’t blame you, nor don’t I blame myself. Maybe both of us will do better separate. I’m going to try my luck outside of this hellhole, and you can sell whatever we have, and keep the money--” He tucks the note under a coffee mug, then goes outside to start the car. The car reluctantly grumbles to life and Ethan slowly pulls out of the driveway. He trundles past the houses on his street destroyed by the hurricane, debris still littering the street. In the moonlight, the destruction looks particularly eerie, like an alien landscape. In fact, the landscape begins to take on life and creaking and whistling sounds reverberate as the wind rushes over the ruins. Ethan continues to drive, past residents still outside after dark. They look at Ethan’s car as he drives past, and the feeling he gets is that he is leaving them behind. Ethan arrives at the ramp leading him to the highway until he suddenly sees a fallen tree partially blocking the very entrance of the highway. It is just enough to prevent Ethan’s car from fitting through the gap left. Ethan stalls the engine, turning off the car and sits under the stars on a deserted highway. He feels dwarfed, insignificant at the immense span of stars and sky over him and minute obstacle that is blocking all him from continuing. He turns on the radio, but songs of sadness, pity, and hope (should be include songs of hope) come one, adding more to Ethan’s misery. He takes out a map and realizes he has nowhere to go and no resources to get anywhere. Reluctantly, he heads back. He reaches the house by dawn, the morning’s light illuminating and exposing what he is coming back to. Mattie silently watches him from her bedroom window.
Some comments after I read everyone's posts above: Group 8: you say that zeena is "aged" but how far into the future is this? Realistically, the worst hurricane after Katrina was only a few years afterward. But of course, that could be tweaked. I also really like the ending for your group. It reinforces the grimness of the situation and the "stuckness" of Ethan and his family as well as the image of Ethan almost overlooking the dying and abandoned city: almost embodying the misery of all its previous inhabitants. Group 7: I think your scene and my group's scene flow how they are. In my scene, Ethan returns at dawn. Early in the morning, say, he could be coming into the house and overhear Zeena talking to Denis Eady.
Hello Period 4, This is Mrs. Smith. Thank you for your great ideas today and your posts. Keep them coming. Try to answer one another - maybe check in after school and then around 9/10pm? You all are doing a great job and there is a script starting to come to life!
Hey guys. So here is the overview of the introduction of the aphrodisiac food magazine in place of the medicine bottle, Zeena explaining her depature to see a doctor, and the dinner scene:
-Ethan, Mattie, Zeena, and Jonathan are eating breakfast in night clothes. Zeena looks especially terrible. -The table has only coffe and hot cakes and there's no conversation except for Zeena complaining about her illness as she reads a magazine. -Mattie asks Zeena is she's ok and goes to get sugar as Zeena asks...but she spills it. -Zeena becomes angry at Mattie but Ethan cleans it up before Mattie starts to cry. -Zeena informs Ethan she's going to Baton Rouge to see Dr. Buck about her illness...meaning she needs $$ -Here we need to find a way to portray Ethan's worry about her spending money through some monologue and then his eagerness to be alone with Mattie. -Zeena tells Ethan they should leave the house soon and doesn't want to rush. Ethan suggest Jonathon drivers her. Zeena complains b/c she says Jonathon is a reckless driver. She acts suspicious but Ethan insists that he needs to collect $300 from Andrew Hale for fixing his home. -Zeena agrees reluctantly as she pops one more pill into her mouth. She rips out the ad about a new prescription from the magazine she was reading and hands the rest of it to Mattie. Zeena tells Mattie that there is an article in there on house keeping that she should read.
the dinner -Ethan comes home finding the door open - fearing vandals or looters, he calls out to Mattie. -She has a candle and states that the electricity shut off (or it can be that they couldn't pay the bill for the electricity??) -Ethan notices how good she looks in her modest attire of jeans and a t-shirt in the candlelight. The red headband catches his eyes as well and since it pulls her hair back she look more welcoming to Ethan. Her eyes sparkle as welcomes him in. -The house is dark except for the kitchen table which has candles. Mattie has prepared ginger chicken soup and oysters. -The cat slyly prowling around as it jumps onto Zeena's chair. -After Ethan puts away his jacket he notices the little Hera statue with its red light illuminating Ethan and Mattie but not the cat. -Mattie tells Ethan that Jonathon came for a quick snack after driving Zeena. She and Ethan start to get food. The cat meows sharply at the movement. -They don't talk while eating and stare at their food. Ethan starts talking about his construction work when failing to compliment the food. Mattie seems relieved and talks about how the bridges' poor condition may impeded Zeena's return. -Ethan walks away and leaves the red glow after curtly responding. -The cat takes the chance to salvage scraps from Ethan's meal. So Ethan and Mattie shoo the cat off the table and have their hands touch by accident. The cat also knocks over the statue in the process. Mattie quickly retracts her hand. -Mattie cries while Ethan consoles her and tries to think of a way to fix the statue. Her tears are evident from the candlelight. They stand up with the shards in their hand. -Ethan goes to Zeena's cabinet and puts the shards there and returns to see Mattie taking the batteries out of the red light emitter from the statue. Ethan puts the batteries and the emitter with the shards. -He returns to the kitchen and helps Mattie clean up dinner. -Ethan feels skilled because Mattie had stopped crying.
Just wondering: are we keeping the format of the movie where the Ethan's sad tale is revealed through interviews with locals conducted by an investigator for the failure of the New Orlean's bridge/levee?
One issue is the one of the power outage...both Groups 4 and 5 have the power outage occurring at different locations.
In Group 4, the power outage occurs before the dinner, while group 5 (my group) has it happening right after the dinner, with mattie stumbling and falling right when it occurs.
Realistically I think it's best to put the power outage before the dinner: it helps set the mood for the dinner scene.
Another issue is the question of how much Zeena knows. Does Zeena know that Mattie is an illegal immigrant? Does Ethan know? I like the idea of having Zeena being the one who is unaware Mattie's citizenship status, while Ethan is fully aware. This would set the idea that Ethan and Mattie are brought closer together by Mattie's immigration predicament. However, this raises the question of when, if ever, Zeena finds out that Mattie is an illegal immigrant.
Thirdly, if we are going to keep the format for the movie where Ethan's story is told through interviews with locals, it would bring about the added difficulty of having to write all the interview scenes and dialogue. It's definitely doable, but if we were going to implement this idea it would need to be decided on quickly so everybody is on the same page and can adjust their scripts accordingly.
This is Updated information for Group 5, in case anybody wants to know, it's written more concisely than what was posted earlier:
The scene starts out directly following the conclusion of dinner and the glass figurine scene. Mattie is clearing up the dishes. Ethan decides to watch the cars drive by in a spring thunder storm. Suddenly, the power goes out with a single burst of lightning. The lightning shall strike at important moments in the conversation and shall be used to foreshadow future events. This is as Mattie is heading into the living room, so she stumbles in her surprise. As she gets up, she complains of becoming sore from the fall. This is symbolic of the implied sex that occurs during dinner. Candles are lit and a fire is started.
Mattie sits down to begin sewing together a ragged t-shirt of hers, as they are not able to afford a new one. Both begin to talk normally. Ethan mentions the drive that they were supposed to take but never did. Mattie wants to go at the moment, but Ethan says that it’s too dark and stormy outside. Mattie suggests that they go sometime. At this, Ethan brings up the subject of the broken-down bridge, asking if she’d be afraid to go over it. The lightning strikes as he asks this, showing that it shall be important later in the story. Mattie retains her enthusiasm, and Ethan talks of the risk associated. Ethan continues to mention that he saw Ned and Ruth kissing in an alleyway, hoping that it would make Mattie think about kissing Ethan. However, it only serves to make things awkward as the thunder booms.
Ethan, sensing the sudden awkwardness, moves on to Mattie’s eventual acquisition of citizenship and moving away. Mattie asks why he would bring it up, and if Zeena had expressed discontent about Mattie to Ethan. During a lightning strike, Ethan sees the spooky similarity between the cat and Zeena. Ethan tells Mattie that Zeena didn’t mention anything to Ethan, so they shouldn’t think about it. Ethan reaches out and touches the end of the cloth Mattie is using to sew and holds it tightly.
Mattie sees this, and it only contributes to the existing awkwardness of the mood. Zeena’s cat chooses now to jump into Zeena’s arm chair. Both notice this, and Ethan becomes tired at the thought of Zeena returning home and his fantasy night with Mattie ending. Mattie also begins to feel tired, and decides to go to bed. But first, Ethan places his lips on the fabric Mattie’s sewing in a gentle kiss. Mattie gets up to finish some nightly chores.
She quickly heads downstairs to bail out some water that had accumulated in the basement during the storm. After completing this, she looks at Ethan one more time and wishes him a good night. He returns it, and she travels up the stairs. Ethan realizes that he never even made a move on Mattie.
Hey, Evan from group 1 again. Okay, this is Dave's script outline (does not include corrections from today). I will post Nick's in a bit.
Script plan
Storm warnings have surfaced about New Orleans, Ethan is at college, and he is watching TV with some of his friends. Newscast: storm warnings have surfaced about the recent hurricane, Katrina. New Orleans has been struck hard, and the levee has been broken. Water is now flowing freely into New Orleans. There has already been an evacuation in progress, but we are insure if everyone is out safely. The hardest hit was the lower district of New Orleans, and many bridges have been downed. To John Smith at the scene. Roomate1: geez, it looks pretty bad over there, I wonder if anyone is hurt Roomate2: The entire lower district has been submerged under water. I heard that they are trying to evacuate the people there. All of the jazz bars are pretty much sunk, I don’t know how much worse it could get. Roommate 3: hey Ethan, don’t you live there. Ethan: I wonder if my mom is okay, I hope she has been evacuated. She doesn’t get out much at her old age. Roommate 3: I think that you should call her and see if she is okay Ethan: yeah… I think I should, I’ll be back in a bit As the newscast goes on in the background, Ethan goes into his room and picks up the phone he dials the number and calls home to New Orleans. His mom picks up the phone Mom: hello, Ethan how are you E: mom, where are you, did you get out safely? M: (in a slightly raspy voice) yes, but I am hurt, your father has died, the hurricane came and…ohh.. E: mom, mom, are you okay, answer me. M: Ethan, I don’t know how I can continue on like this, your father used to take care of everything. I am hurt. I don’t know if I am going to live much longer. e: mom, hold on, I am coming home we’ll get you fixed up and better, ill start packing now. Ethan leaves the room, and starts packing up all of his belongings E: im going home my mom needs me to look after my mom Roommate 3: ethan, you haven’t even finished your engineering degree E: ill probably find a job as a construction worker down there, they are going to need a lot of help with the repair of the lower district, and of the bridges Roommate 1: good luck, Ethan, hope your mom’s okay. E: hrmf, (leaves without another word) Ethan gets into his car and proceeds to drive home as he gets home, he sees that the damage has only minorly affected his old house, and with the approval of the FEMA, he moves back into his house. He soon realizes, though, that he has to get a job to support both his mom and himself, so he gets a job at the construction firm where his father used to work. Ethan: hello, Mr. Hale, I was wondering if there was any work to do here ever since the storm Mr. Hale: Ethan, is that you, how was college? E: I had to come back early, ever since my dad, I have to help my mom she is hurt and I need some work. I was wondering if I could do some freelance construction work for you Mr. Hale: I am sorry about your father, he was a good man, but you are just the man I need, a strong hard worker who has a good background in engineering. Are you up for the job? Ethan: yes, I’ll take it, thank you Mr. Hale Mr. Hale: good man, Ethan, you start work Monday. Ethan starts his work at the construction site, he is a very hard worker and makes a good living for his mom and he, but pretty soon he realizes that he can’t take care of his mother and work at the same time, and his mother’s condition is worsening. He soon sees nothing else to do but to hire a FEMA worker.
Hi This is group 3's outline for the dance, Mattie and Ethan's walk home, Ned and Ruth's accident and Zeena opening the door.
Mattie is at a masked ball for Mardi Gras so she can have some fun. It is her first time having an “experience” in the US, especially since she was very restricted in Cuba. Denis Eady is there to also have fun, relieving some of the stress he has due to his work finding illegal immigrants. He sees Mattie from across the room and thinks she is really pretty. He watches her for a while, noticing she is Hispanic. Then he goes over to talk to her and asks her to dance. He compliments her and asks her a lot about herself but she is reluctant to give too much information and he gets suspicious. Ethan has come to pick up Mattie but he doesn’t feel like going inside and ends up watching Mattie dance, thinking she’s beautiful. He’s annoyed at Denis Eady’s interest in Mattie and jealous, but doesn’t do anything about those feelings. Denis offers Mattie a ride home but she chooses walking with Ethan instead. She makes up an excuse like not taking rides from strangers or something. Either way, she ends up walking home with Ethan while Denis drives away.
They start talking about the dance and Denis but Mattie reassures Ethan he means nothing to her. Then they notice the stars and start a conversation about them. Ethan tells her about how he used to sit on the beach in Florida (where he went to college) and watch the stars. She tells him about looking at the stars when she was in Cuba and how she wished she was as free as the stars because she feels trapped in a world where she always has to run and hide her secrets. Ethan tells Mattie how insignificant he feels trapped under the boundless night sky and the billions of stars. They continue talking about stars, sometimes comfortably and sometimes awkwardly. [it's a REALLY deep converstationa and Ethan and Mattie are able to bond] Then, they see the bridge Ethan was working on. He comments about it and then they notice a car going across it, as it semi-collapses. Ethan and Mattie are both shocked as Ethan says how the people were very lucky to make it across. They hurry a little faster to get home but meet Ned and Ruth on their way since the car is faster than they can walk, Ned and Ruth’s house is before Ethan’s, and the bridge was a shortcut. They see that the car is a bit smashed up and Ned and Ruth have a few cuts. Frantically, they ask what happened. Ned and Ruth recount how they were driving across the bridge for a shortcut and it started to collapse. Reassured to see that the two are fine, Ethan and Mattie continue walking home. Ethan is not as shocked as before and decides to call the construction company when he gets home to report the bad structure of the bridge.
They try to talk a little more before they get home but it is very awkward. Ethan says that he wants Mattie to stay away from that bridge until it’s fixed because he doesn’t want to see her hurt. Zeena opens the door to find Mattie and Ethan. She scolds them for being out so late and complains about feeling sick from worry. She makes them feel guilty. Once they get in Zeena starts to go upstairs and tells Ethan to come too. Ethan makes an excuse that he has to call the construction company about the semi-collapsed bridge. Mattie and Zeena both go to their rooms while Ethan goes to make the call. When Ethan finally goes upstairs he pauses to look at the light under Mattie’s door and says to himself under his breath, “Goodnight Mattie. Be safe.” Then he goes to sleep.
SCENE
*Note: Like vines around the door, perhaps Ethan can see someone dressed as a skeleton or something at a certain moment and wish it were Zeena. Otherwise maybe he can think he’d like for her to go over the bridge.
By the way, has anyone decided if Ethan would know that Mattie is an illegal immigrant? I think I heard Mrs. Smith say that in order to build the relationship between Ethan and Mattie, Ethan would know, but Zeena wouldn't.
Hi Sharon. To answer your question, in scene two(my scene) during the picnic, Mattie confides in Ethan her identity as an illegal alien. Ethan promises to keep the secret but is worried that Zeena will find out.
Hey, okay, here is Nick's script. We obviously have some collaborating to do.
-Fly over of New Orleans, camera hones in on a fallen bridge, construction workers are clearing away wreckage.
-(Voice over) Narrator asking Jotham a question, scene switches to the diner, camera pauses on a news broadcast detailing a bridge collapse, two injuries
-Narrator asks Jotham what he knows about the collapse, Jotham is defensive, says he doesn't know anything, it was just an accident, not the fault of any of the workers
-Narrator tells him he has to investigate, is sure it was just an accident, but has to make sure, asks Jotham for a list of the people working on the bridge site
-Jotham gives him the list, Ethan Frome is first on the list
-Scene change, Narrator is knocking at the door of Ethan's house, no answer, a neighbor calls to the narrator, tells him that Ethan's in the hospital and Zeena's probably visiting him
-Narrator realizes Ethan is one of the people hurt in the bridge collapse, neighbor mentions how the family has terrible luck from what she's heard around town
-Narrator asks what she means, neighbor mentions how she heard Ethan's father had died in the hurricane, while his mother was hurt, needed to be taken care of, so Ethan had to come home from college for engineering
(Flashback starts)
-Dorm, news on a TV, detailing devastation in New Orleans, 'if you're smart, get out soon,' Ethan sitting and watching, looks worried
-Later, gets a call from his mother, who tells him about her father, and how she was hurt, needs him to come home and take care of her
-Scene moves to Ethan leaving dorm, light rain, area is busy with people (FEMA workers, wearing FEMA jackets), he stops a woman (Zeena), asks her if she knows if its safe to go into the city now, mentions that his mother is hurt
-Zeena says to be careful, shows some sympathy for Ethan, 'I wish I could help', mentions she's going in to help at the city as well
-Ethan gets into the city, show flooding, general damage, sees his house, damaged, mom greets him, Ethan expresses concern about the condition of the house, they agree to move into a trailer for the time being
-Scenes showing Ethan trying to do housework, help his mother
-Ethan goes out one night to a diner/bar, sees Zeena there, she greets him, asks how his mother is, Ethan talks about how he's having difficulty taking care of her, and needs to get a job so he can take care of finances as well
-Zeena offers to watch out for his mom for a few days while he gets back on his feet, says FEMA has enough people out in the city
-Ethan finds work as a construction worker, Zeena slowly gets used to the Frome household, becomes close with Ethan
-On his off-time, Ethan works on the house, tries to fix it up as best he can, one night has a slight breakdown, Zeena comforts him, Ethan: 'I don't know if I could do this without your help'
-Mother's condition is worsening, dies, is buried, few people in attendance, Ethan looking lost and hopeless, Zeena comforts him
-They go back to the trailer, awkward, Zeena knows she should go, begins to say so, Ethan stops her, says he needs her, can't go it alone, they embrace, scene ends
Hello everybody, here is scene 2's rough draft script which covers everything from the Wedding to the Dance. This version is updated from this morning's telling.
Ethan and Zeena's wedding is held in a damaged Catholic Church in old New Orleans. A few of Ethan and Zeena's coworkers attend, and Zeena's aunt(the same aunt that employs Mattie originally) gives the couple the red statue of Hera. Following his marriage, Ethan hopes he can escape the death and despair of New Orleans and move West to Arizona or California. Ethan would want to start his own business or finish school (this occurs during end of housing boom in Cal. and Arizona) Because of the storm and her marriage, Zeena succumbs to post traumatic stress disorder or severe depression. Ethan works hard for Andrew Hale, but he is paid very little because there is little work in New Orleans and Andrew Hale has little money to give. Lacking money for a true housekeeper and with Zeena's condition worsening, Mattie enters the picture. Mattie is introduced as having previously worked for Zeena's aunt in Texas after illegally immigrating from Mexico in 2004. When Zeena's aunt discovers that Mattie is an illegal immigrant, she quickly tries to get rid of her by offering her to Zeena and Ethan for free. At first, neither Zeena nor Ethan knows Mattie is an illegal immigrant. Mattie quickly begins to introduce light and cheer into the doom and gloom of New Orleans. Mattie wears bright colored shirts and scarfs, especially red. Ethan starts to see something in Mattie that he knows he will never see in Zeena.
The Picnic scene will begin as a habitat for humanity build sponsored by Andrew Hale and his company. Ethan is working on houses and thus is unable to accompany Mattie and other friends to the neighborhood barbecue and block party. After the building is finished, Ethan has some time to spend with Mattie before walking her home. It is in this discussion that Mattie reveals to Ethan that she is an illegal immigrant. Finally, Ethan and Zeena's relationship will be exposed as being doomed from the start. The couple will argue occasionally, and they will also rarely spend time together talking and relaxing as most couples do.
Alright, there you have it. Feel free to post comments if you feel that there are any inconsistencies with other scenes or if you have any fresh ideas.
Evan: That was wrapped very nicely and it seems more consistent than what was said in class so good job. I really like how the aunt gives Mattie for free knowing she's an illegal immigrant. But I'm just wondering, is Ethan's mom going to be calling from the hospital?
Sean: Great job overall. I'm a little confused in the Dance/Picnic scene. You said that it covers the Dance scene but I only see the Picnic scene. Is the picnic scene replacing the Dance scene?
Also, just a general question...is there anyone who wants to incorporate "ethan's name on the tombstone" symbolism? Because I can't recall if anyone is covering that and I think that would be an interesting idea to incorporate.
Bayla, to answer your question, Scene Two encompasses the widespread series of events from Ethan and Zeena's wedding and stops shortly before the Dance. It would be there that Scene 3 would pick up the action. Also, I think it would be a wonderful idea if Ethan saw a family grave site of ancestors dating back to when the French first colonized New Orleans some 350 years ago.
Sharon's Group: If you read my group's scene (number 6) you will see that car is a central part of our scene. However, in your scene, Ethan doesn't have a car. Perhaps in your scene Ethan and Mattie could walk home because Ethan's car has run out of gas? In response to Ed: I agree, we need to establish whether we are using the flashback/interview of locals to find out Ethan's story. Nick' script seems to employ that and introduce the ploy very well: in fact (no offense) I prefer it greatly over his group members' (Sean and David's). However, Sean, your idea above this comment of the graves would be great...how would it relate to the plot though? ALSO: it seems that we are leaning towards Mattie's illegal immigrant status to be known to Ethan only, and not Zeena. However, in our scene, Group 6, Zeena comes home from the doctor and demands to get rid of Mattie because she knows she is an illegal immigrant and the stress is too much. This could be the turning point where Zeena finds out:I think it would add to the tension between Zeena and Ethan more, to the fight they have in our scene, and the eventual culmination of the suicide. Also,this builds up nicely to Group 7 (Brenna's group) where Zeena calls Denis to tell on Mattie.
Another point: Sean, I like the idea of the habitat for humanity build. This would be a good opportunity to expose the marital tension between Ethan and Zeena. Also, perhaps you should focus a little more on the development of Mattie into a blossoming individual in the midst of all this wreckage (which you do a bit) and the relationship between Ethan and her. I know you include some in the picnic scene as well as the dance scene. I don't know if this is necessary as both the book and the movie didnt show anything, rather showing EThan's infatutuation and flashbacks exposing instances exemplifying his attraction. Sorry to be so critical, but with movie's especially, the audience's understanding has to be complete and since you guys have the first scene and the job of laying out the groundwork, there's a lot to cover. Also, your idea of the gravestone scene: perhaps Ethan could say something along the lines of "they never got out, so how could I?" about it.
I'm a little murky on one point: does the second hurricane after Katrina hit during the suicide attempt or years later, when Ethan and Mattie are already injured (the epilogue)?
From what Evan R. posted earlier: " -They go back to the trailer, awkward, Zeena knows she should go, begins to say so, Ethan stops her, says he needs her, can't go it alone, they embrace, scene ends"
Ethan telling Zeena that he can't live without her seems too decisive, in a way. I was under the impression that the marriage sort of "happened", instead of a sudden momentous decision.
to Emily, the second hurricane is coming at the end of our scene, scene 8 because this is when Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena will be watching the news of this storm on TV in the epilogue and the movie will end with showing that they never got away. Also, I agree with you on the fact that Ethan tells Zeena "he can't go it alone" because this is too much of a decisive personality for Ethan, he needs to be more undecisive. Maybe, he could question whether Zeena should stay, and then she just insists on it.
So Group 6 finished the script as far as I know. We didn't mix any spanish in, but that would be easy to do. Also, I took some liberties (which you guys may object to): I had Zeena figure out Mattie was an illegal immigrant and she reveals this when she comes back from the doctors, which is why Mattie must leave. This culminates nicely with Group 7, where I believe they were discussing that Zeena call Denis. Brenna: are you still doing that?
I'm not sure if Zeena should figure it out because Zeena should send Mattie out because it's what she wants. Then again it just acts as a good excuse to kick Mattie out. So it's up to you and group 7.
To Emily: Yes, we're still doing that. But I thought that Zeena had called Denis first, then told Ethan about it, and that's what the argument is about. So in your scene does Zeena tell Ethan she called Denis? We're having Ethan drive Mattie to the train station, where she will be brought to a deportation center, but then the suicide happens.
The next morning: Ethan wakes up, looks over at Zeena, who is still sleeping. He quietly gets up and creeps into Mattie’s room down the hall. When he enters, she is sitting up in bed with red, puffy eyes. Ethan knows she heard the argument yesterday. She looks up, giving him a weak smile. Ethan advances forward and speaks to her in a quiet, urgent tone. Ethan: Matt, what’s gonna happen to you? What’re you gonna do back there? She doesn’t respond, but just shakes her head back and forth. Ethan: Could ya leave and run away from here? There’s a train leaving to Baton Rouge at 5:00, you can take it and get out. In a defeated tone, Mattie replies. Mattie: No puedo…They’ll catch me no matter what. silence Ethan: I’ll drive you to the station, at least. Zeena wants ya there by 3:00. (train taking her to the deportation center). Ethan leaves the room, with a last look at Mattie. A few hours later—Ethan is waiting in the car, and Mattie comes out of the house with a red hibiscus in her hair. Mattie enters the car, she looks scared. They don’t say anything. Ethan and Mattie are in Ethan’s rundown car. Ethan starts the engine and drives out of the house onto the pot-hole filled road Driving through town to get to the train station Ethan notices Mattie fiddling with something in her hands, but ignores it. A little while later Mattie: Ethan…I found this (pushes the letter Ethan had written onto the dashboard in front of him)…they sit in silence Ethan is looking astonished but fades to a saddened smile Ethan: Matt, if we could would ya? Would ya go with me? We could leave all this behind and go West…somewhere where the storm can’t get us and we can be libertes. Mattie: It’s no use Ethan…they’ll catch up with me anyway…there’s nowhere for me to hide anymore. (silence falls once again) Ethan: (sounding defeated) There’s about an hour before your train leaves, Matt. This might be your last chance to see the destruction which brought you here…Do you want to see it? Mattie looks down and nods ‘yes’ carefully They continue in silence as Ethan drives out to the borders of town where the destruction is. They sit in silence as Mattie gazes out the car window at the ruins the hurricane left. Mattie: How…this is just…oh Ethan, es horrible. I can’t imagine anything more devastating. (with tears in her eyes) Ethan: (sorrowfully mumbling) You haven’t even seen the worst of it… Mattie: ¿Qué? Ethan: Just over the bridge is the worst damage left behind. In a desperate voice Mattie says: Mattie: So take me Ethan…I have nowhere else to be…nowhere else to go. No hay nada más para mi. Ethan: Matt, remember what happened to Ned and Ruth…You heard Jotham say the next car to go over the bridge would cause it to collapse…you know that. Mattie: Ethan… (by this point Ethan has slowed the car to a stop) They look into each other’s eyes…Mattie’s seeming to be aflame with a red glow while Ethan’s initial look of fear fades to a hazy excitement. Ethan slowly presses down the gas and the car pulls forward, as if it is carrying a load of bricks behind it. As the bridge veers into sight Ethan begins talking hastily to Mattie. Ethan: Are you scared Matt? Mattie: I’m not scared…I feel safe with you They begin to pull forward, accelerating towards the normally threatening yellow caution tape, which now to Ethan seems more alluring than ominous. Ethan’s grip becomes tighter as the car moves faster. (As the car gets closer to the bridge, Jotham Powell who had been surveying the bridge from a boat a little ways off, frantically watched) As if on cue, the car torrents through the forbidding caution tape As the bridge crashes under the car, the noise echoes through Ethan’s mind, bringing back the noise of Zeena’s Hera statue crashing to the floor. Ethan’s leg jerks on the brake pedal in response to this, causing the entirety of his leg to have a brief but fierce muscle spasm. Ethan grasps Mattie’s hand as the car shatters the glass surface of the water. Mattie quickly becomes unconscious as the water envelopes them. As the water fills his lungs, the last thing Ethan remembers is the grip of a hand on his arm, ripping him from the sinking vehicle, and a red hibiscus sinking in the water.
italics don't work here, so sorry if it's not that organized. Also, we need to add a few more things, like Ethan kissing Mattie (like he did in the kitchen in the book) and the whole thing about Mattie telling Ethan she loves him right before the suicide so she gets him wrapped around her finger.
Evan from group 1. I don't know if italics worked on this or the bold. We did what we could with the rough draft. The bits starting with a hyphen are blurbs that we still need to put into script form. Also, there are still some parts we need to elaborate on. But here's what we have.
Camera pans over New Orleans, focusing and descending slowly on partially collapsed bridge. A crew of construction workers clear away rubble. Narrator: (Voice Over) You're Jotham Powell? Cut to busy diner, camera slowly pans across bar, patrons sitting on stools, eating breakfast. All are watching the news on a small television behind the bar. Newscaster: Our top story today is a bridge collapse, causing injuries to two people... Camera continues pan, Narrator is sitting at a booth, across from him sits Jotham Powell, who sits awkwardly, glancing from the narrator to other people in the diner. Jotham: That's right. Narrator: (smiles kindly) I wanna make it clear that this is really a formality; no one really thinks anyone had any fault in the collapse. We just have to go through and make sure everyone did as much as possible to prevent this, so we don't get any lawsuits, you know? Jotham nods, still looks worried/awkward. Narrator: So, tell me a bit about what your crew thinks happened. Jotham: Well, the bridge was weakened after the hurricane, and there was an incident where the foundation cracked, bringing the bridge's condition to our attention. My crew and I-- Narrator: Did you bring the list of the names of your workers? Jotham: Yeah, here. J. pulls a folded page from his pocket, slides it across the table to N. Jotham: So we were working on the bridge, and we had it closed off and everything, with signs and all. J. pauses, looks around. Jotham: I suppose they just didn't see the signs. It must have been late... I don't know. N. smiles kindly, unfolds piece of paper, then gets up to leave. Narrator: I figured as much. Don't worry, Mr. Powell, I just have to ask your guys a few questions, then this'll be all wrapped up. Thanks for your time. Jotham: (distracted) Yeah, yeah... No problem. Any time.
Narrator gets out of his car, looks around, then begins to walk up a battered stone pathway, leading to a slightly run down house. Camera shows 'Frome' on the mailbox, letters falling off. Narrator knocks on the door, waits, no answer. Glances around, then knocks again, checking the folded piece of paper from Jotham. Neighbor: (Off-screen) Not home, I'd say. Narrator turns, camera pans to show old woman across the street, sitting in a rocking chair. Neighbor: Ethan's in the hospital, you know, and I would bet Zeena's there too, visiting. Narrator begins walking back down the path, getting closer to the old woman. Neighbor: Can't say I've seen you around before, young man. May I ask why you're looking for the Fromes? Narrator: Well, I'm part of an investigation of the bridge collapse, and Mr. Frome's name is on the list of workers who were working on the-- Neighbor: Terrible business, that. Such a shame, too. So much tragedy in one family. Narrator: I beg your pardon? I didn't realize Mr. Frome was hurt in the accident.. Neighbor: Well, yes. Another in a string of unfortunate events. Mother died, father died, wife sick... And he had such a promising future at college...
(Flashback)
Raining heavily, figures running into dorm building. Scene changes to Ethan's dorm room, LSU jersey hanging on the wall. TV is showing a weather report for the New Orleans area. Ethan sits, watching the report, hand on his chin, worried. Newscaster: Katrina is coming in heavy, folks, and it doesn't look like it'll be letting up any time soon. If you're smart, you'll have already gotten out, but if you're still in the city, get to shelter or some kind of safety. Ethan turns TV off, lays in bed, still worried. Scene changes to a couple days later. There's light rain falling as Ethan, looking gloomy and sad, leaves his dorm building, and enters a small square filled with people bustling around. Most are wearing FEMA jackets. Ethan pulls aside a young woman (Zeena). Ethan: Excuse me, uh, I just have a quick question... Zeena nods, glances back at group of FEMA workers. Ethan: (stuttering slightly) I need to know if its, ah, safe to go back in the city.. I've got family there, you see, and I need to get back to help them. Zeena surveys Ethan, gives him a small sympathetic smile. Zeena: It must be difficult for you, I'm sorry. I'd say it's relatively safe, just watch the waters, you know? Ethan brightens up a bit, smiles. Ethan: Thanks, that's great. Zeena nods, smiles again, turns back to FEMA workers after giving Ethan one more look. (Later) Dark hallway, Ethan is leaning up against a phone booth, talking into the phone. Ethan: Mom? Finally, I got through. Are you and Dad okay? (After a pause) Mom: Well, there was some flooding, and your father-- Line breaks up, Ethan can't hear. Ethan: What was that? Mom: Your father was swept away... He.. he hasn't been found yet, Ethan... Ethan: Oh my gosh...Dad…what about you mom? Are you okay? Mom: Well, I’m alive…that’s it really. Ethan: What happened Ma? Mom: Well I was trying to rescue your father as he got swept away in the tides, and I got cut by…I don’t know what…something. Ethan: Oh, just a cut, that’s good. Mom: Well, no…there’s this huge gash on my leg, and I think it’s getting infected. Ethan, I need you to come home. I don’t know if I can go on like this much longer. Ethan: But Mom…college…my degree… Mom: Ethan, I need you, please. Ethan: Okay Mom, I’m coming.
Ethan hangs up the phone and runs through the rain into his car. He slams the door, turns on his lights, and speeds off.
Cut to early daytime..Ethan is entering the city. Several areas are heavily flooded, and Ethan has much trouble maneuvering around finding roads that are safe to drive on. Several shots of dilapidated houses and stranded people, along with long food lines. Ethan finally pulls into his driveway. His house is quite dilapidated and damaged from the flood. He walks up to the front door, unlocks it, and walks inside. He looks around, calling out for his mother, and finds her in her bed, sleeping. Her leg is heavily bandaged, and Ethan wakes her. She tries to sit up, but grimaces in pain. Ethan sits on her bed and they embrace.
Ethan: Mom, how are you? Mom: Oh Ethan, I don’t know…I can’t walk. Ethan: (looking around) Mom, we can’t stay here. Look around…there’s mold growing on the walls, the basement is filled with water…it’s not good for you or me. Mom: Ethan, where can we go? Ethan: We’ll find somewhere…I don’t know how, or where, but we need to get out of this house. Mom: (sadly nods in agreement)
Fast forward, Ethan wheeling Mother around in a wheelchair outside of a trailer. It is implied that this is there temporary home. Brief montage of Ethan caring for his mother the best he can, and also trying to repair his house. Not very successful in either. Ethan soon realizes that he cannot support himself and his mother on the small funds they have, and knows that he needs a job. -Ethan goes out one night to a diner/bar, sees Zeena there, she greets him, asks how his mother is, Ethan talks about how he's having difficulty taking care of her, and needs to get a job so he can take care of finances as well -Zeena offers to watch out for his mom for a few days while he gets back on his feet, says FEMA has enough people out in the city
Ethan nervously approaches a construction scene surrounded by dilapidated buildings. This is an area of New Orleans that is higher up (French Quarter?) so the flood waters have receded. Ethan looks around, says a bunch of “Excuse me, Sorry” type exclamations, and looks for what seems to be a head guy. He shuffles up to the person.
Ethan: (quietly) Erm, excuse me sir… Construction worker seems busy telling others what to do and directing rebuilding, doesn’t hear Ethan. Ethan: (clears throat, says a bit louder). Sir? Head Worker: (gruffly) What?!? What do you want? Can’t you see we’re busy here? Look at all this destruction. We gotta rebuild all this stuff and help these people… Ethan: (seems to shrink away) I’m sorry, I was just wondering if…uhhh-- Head Worker: (interrupting) Out with it! We have work to do! Ethan: (splutters) if I could get a job.. Head Worker: (seems slightly more interested, but still gruff) Hmmm…what’s your reasoning kid? Ethan: (quickly and nervously) Well, my father died in the hurricane, and my mother’s really hurt…and I need money to help support us….uhhh…I spent two years in college majoring in engineering, but I didn’t finish ‘cause of the hurricane. (pleading) Please sir, I need this job. Head Worker: (hesitant) Uhh, I don’t know kid…we got a lot of people working on this already.. Ethan: I’m a really hard worker, and I can fix almost anything. Just gimme a chance, I’ll show you. Head Worker: (reluctantly) Ok, fine…get a hardhat from over there…you start now. Ethan: (excited, relieved) Oh thank you sir, thank you.
Ethan runs over to get a hardhat, then hurries over to a crowd of workers rebuilding a dilapidated house. He immediately starts helping them. The workers at first give him a curious look, but, realizing that he is aiding them in their work, resume to rebuilding.
Montage of Ethan working hard at the construction site. He seems a little less skilled than the other workers, but gets by alright. Several small clips of Ethan working at the site during the day, then at night coming home. Each night, Zeena greets him with a smile and a warm meal, to Ethan’s relief after a hard day at work. A few clips of Ethan and Zeena talking and laughing late at night, mixed in with clips of Zeena nursing Ethan’s sick mother. Ethan seems very distressed.
On the weekends or early evening after work, Ethan tries to fix up the house. Montage of him standing on a ladder with a hammer and nails, putting up siding, standing on scaffolding, doing the dirty stuff like cleaning out the flood-damaged basement, etc. Ethan is getting more and more stressed, and one night after working at the site and his house for hours, he comes into the house and collapses on the kitchen table. He begins to cry…tears roll down his cheek. Zeena tries to console him. Ethan: Zeena, I don’t know if I could ever manage this without your help. Zeena smiles sweetly, they embrace.
-Mother's condition is worsening, dies, is buried, few people in attendance, Ethan looking lost and hopeless, Zeena comforts him -They go back to the trailer, awkward, Zeena knows she should go, begins to say so, Ethan stops her, says he needs her, can't go it alone, they embrace, scene ends
Hey everyone! Here's my group's (group 7) rough draft of the suicide scene. It's just a list of what happens/background information plus some other ideas. Since this scene affects and depends on other groups' scenes (group 1, 3, 6, 8) I wanted to post it.
ReplyDeleteHere it is:
Background/Ned & Ruth:
• Jotham Powell and Ethan Frome are both construction workers
• Jotham and Ethan are working on the bridge one day or night, Ned and Ruth drive over it and it cracks.
• Jotham tells Ethan that if one more car goes over the cracked bridge, it will collapse
Background/argument:
• Zeena tells Denis Eady that Mattie is an illegal immigrant and sets up a time for Denis to come meet with her and take Mattie
• Ethan overhears Zeena saying this to Jotham, or Zeena tells Ethan—argument
Mattie’s Departure w/ Ethan/Decision to go sledding:
• Ethan has Mattie pack up and leave with him in the car.
• Conversation while driving—what will happen once they get away?
• Ethan wants to go with Mattie, but he still cannot leave Zeena behind
• Decision to go sledding: Plan to cross over bridge—Mattie’s freedom—once over bridge, Mattie will get away
Actual suicide attempt:
• Mattie tells Ethan she is scared.
• Talk about suicide…Ethan remembers conversation w/ Jotham about the cracked bridge earlier (one more car=collapse)
• Ethan sees this as an opportunity for suicide.
• Jotham and other construction workers are at the bridge working, Jotham waves frantically and tries to stop them, but the car goes over the bridge (at this time, Ethan is not holding onto the steering wheel)
• Jotham watches it collapse and sees the car go into the water
• Switches to Ethan—shows what’s going on in his mind as he is drowning
• Jotham and other workers go into the water and try to get them out of the car while someone else calls for help (ambulance, or something else). In water, Mattie is completely unconscious, and Ethan is slipping out of consciousness as they are being pulled out of the car.
Afterward:
• Mattie ends up with brain damage from lack of oxygen and Ethan’s leg gets hurt when they’re trying to pull him from the submerged car
Let me know if you have comments, suggestions, questions, ideas...Or if what we have conflicts with other scenes.
Looks good Brenna. The only thing is, Mattie, not Ethan, suggested the suicide. You might want to change that part.
ReplyDeleteAlright, I'm in group 1. I just want to collaborate with group two and say that we are ending our flashback at Ethan's mother's funeral and Ethan proposing to Zeena or asking him to stay. You guys will pick up at the wedding. Is that ok?
ReplyDeleteHey bloggers, here is the outline for group 8's scene.
ReplyDeleteOpens
Camera pans across home of Mrs. Ned Hale. The investigator is sitting on the cheery floral sofa next to Mrs. Hale.. The room is bright with white lace curtains. In the background, an old TV is turned to CNN, where an upcoming hurricane is being reported on. The investigator is questioning Mrs. Hale about the events directly after Ethan and Mattie’s accident. After a long pause, she tells him in graphic detail (flashbacks)
Mrs. Hale’s story: flashbacks with Mrs. Hale voiceover, narrating
Ethan and Mattie fly off bridge
Flashing light of ambulance, paramedics
Bloody stretchers entering ambulance
(dreamlike, hazy, slow motion)
Doctor speaking to Zeena, who is stoic, stiff, and unemotional. Zeena takes out a piece “pickle dish” from her pocket and methodically turns it in her hand. She squeezes it so that her hand bleeds. It drips down her wrist.
Fade back to Mrs. Hale and Investigator
The investigator coaxes the Frome’s location out of Mrs. Hale. He leaves and starts out for their house. Mrs. Hale turns up the TV. We hear that the looming hurricane will be an even worse Katrina.
The investigator walks up to the Frome’s house. It is decrepit, musty, old, peeling, and dilapidated. Peering into the window, he sees two silhouettes creeping by the flickering television, which is tuned to the same newscast as Mrs. Hale was watching. Whilst peering into the window, he hears a car door shut and the camera pans over to a heavyset state employed nurse. Watching her, the investigator sees the nurse walk up to the front door and knocks. Slowly the door is opened by an unseen figure. As the door is slowly opened, we get the first glance at a crippled Ethan Frome and an aged Zeena nursing an unseen figure facing away from the door.
The nurse begins to talk to Ethan, telling him that they are on some special disability list getting a first chance at escaping from the storm. The investigator walking around behind the nurse becomes evident and Ethan, catching a quick glimpse of him freezes in mid-sentence, stricken by the investigator’s presence, because he knows whom he is. Through the doorway, Zeena is seen turning around, running towards the doorway as fast as her weary legs allow her to, dentures flopping in the wind. She slams the door in the investigator and the nurse’s faces. Insulted, the nurse turns away, going back to her car, and leaves. The investigator, determined to decipher the mystery of the Fromes, hides on the front steps for a moment, and then opens up the mail slot. For the first time, the viewer gets a glimpse of Mattie in all of her decay. The investigator, startled by her putrid appearance, closes the mailbox and walks back around the house, back to the window that he was watching the Fromes through earlier. Looking up at the window, he sees Zeena watching him with a crazed look on her face. The camera zooms in to Zeena’s face, and then backs to the investigators. Raindrops start falling on the investigators clothes as he walks away from the Frome residence. The camera zooming out as the rain begins to fall harder, eventually to the entire city, shows people and cars attempting to escape the city. This long panning shot turns into the CNN news shot with Anderson Cooper informing the public of the impending natural disaster. He talks about the traffic and the desperate city trying to escape as the face their inevitable death if they stay. Suddenly, there is crackling white noise and the screen clicks to the governor of Louisiana. She again reiterates the looming disaster and utters something to the effect of “The smart ones get away.” The camera fades off the governor to black as if the movie is over, but then suddenly cuts back to a dark New Orleans with houses and figures undistinguishable and zooms into the same window that the investigator was peering through earlier. The camera shows the city as a dark, lonely place with no lights on because of the power surge that occurred. Suddenly a flash of lightning reveals the silhouettes of the Fromes who have not left the city.
Brenna I think that it is a great idea that right after the accident, Ethan will be slipping in and out of consciousness because during this time, the viewer will be wondering what is going on and will also be a little confused, as to not give away entirely what happens. In the flashback, this would allow Mrs. Hale to explain what fully happens.
ReplyDeleteHere's groups 7's edited script (edit=Matti brings up suicide).
ReplyDeleteBackground/Ned & Ruth:
• Jotham Powell and Ethan Frome are both construction workers
• Jotham and Ethan are working on the bridge one day or night, Ned and Ruth drive over it and it cracks.
• Jotham tells Ethan that if one more car goes over the cracked bridge, it will collapse
• Ethan relays this information to Mattie and Zeena during dinner (Jotham is eating dinner with them?)
(accident is group 3's job, so this may not be what is actually going to happen)
Background/argument:
• Zeena tells Denis Eady that Mattie is an illegal immigrant and sets up a time for Denis to come meet with her and take Mattie
• Ethan overhears Zeena saying this to Jotham, or Zeena tells Ethan—argument
Mattie’s Departure w/ Ethan/Decision to go sledding:
• Ethan has Mattie pack up and leave with him in the car.
• Conversation while driving—what will happen once they get away?
• Ethan wants to go with Mattie, but he still cannot leave Zeena behind
• Decision to go sledding: Plan to cross over bridge—Mattie’s freedom—once over bridge, Mattie will get away
Actual suicide attempt:
• Mattie tells Ethan she is scared of the future.
• Talk about suicide…Mattie remembers the conversation during dinner w/ Ethan (one more car=collapse)
• Mattie offers this as a means of accomplishing the suicide.
• Jotham and other construction workers are at the bridge working, Jotham waves frantically and tries to stop them, but the car goes over the bridge (at this time, Ethan is not holding onto the steering wheel)
• Jotham watches it collapse and sees the car go into the water
• Switches to Ethan—shows what’s going on in his mind as he is drowning
• Jotham and other workers go into the water and try to get them out of the car while someone else calls for help (ambulance, or something else). In water, Mattie is completely unconscious, and Ethan is slipping out of consciousness as they are being pulled out of the car.
Afterward:
• Mattie ends up with brain damage from lack of oxygen and Ethan’s leg gets hurt when they’re trying to pull him from the submerged car
This is Emily, from Group 6, which is the scene in which Zeena comes home, brings up the issue with Mattie leaving, and Ethan's "fighting back moment." I know there are a lot of issues with Mattie's illegal alien situation and details. Tell me any problems anyone else has: also, we need to work with Groups 5 and 7 to make the scenes flow.
ReplyDeleteInt. scene - description
Ethan and Mattie are enjoying their time together and watching television when (dun dun DUN) Zeena rings the doorbell (or not, catching Ethan and Mattie unawares), having come back early from a doctor’s appointment. Zeena is oblivious of the obvious surprise of her husband and Mattie, sinking exhaustedly into a chair and declaring her exhaustion, attributing them to her worsening symptoms. Ethan finally snaps out of his cathartic state and shakily helps Zeena put away her luggage.
LATER:
Zeena tells Ethan the doctor’s recommendations to reduce the amount of stress (assuming that her condition is attributed to stress or a traumatic experience). Zeena and Ethan get into a very large fight in which Zeena tells Ethan that Mattie, the illegal immigrant, must go. It is causing her endless amounts of worry, much more than she can handle, especially living in the middle of a ruined New Orleans. Zeena has also learned that their house will go into foreclosure if they continue to not pay their mortgage. Zeena demands that Mattie must go also because they cannot afford to pay their mortgage, much less support and house an illegal immigrant. Ethan protests, angrily saying that Zeena is a poor man’s wife. Ethan also responds by saying that Mattie has nowhere else to go and desperately needs their help/ Zeena scoffs, shrieking that it was in helping other people, namely Ethan’s mother, that she experienced the stress/traumatic experience that is afflicting her now. Ethan remains silent, but visible anger is beginning to blossom on his face.
Zeena then sees the empty place on the shelf where her Hera statue, a treasured wedding gift, is missing. Screaming hysterically, she drags Mattie, who has been listening outside and who has understood what Zeena has said despite her broken English, into the room. Zeena declares the broken statue the last straw and demands Mattie pack right away. In an attempt to fight back, Ethan comes out of his cowering reverie and seizes the remains of the Hera statue and throws them on the ground. Zeena, shocked by the outward display of anger and disobedience, stands stock still for a moment before demanding Ethan clean up the mess (which he does, reverting back to his submissive behavior) and then leaves the room, sobbing, declaring that Mattie has robbed her of what “she has set the most store by.”
ext. scene - description
The scene closes on Ethan and Mattie’s white faces, Ethan’s grimly set (to perhaps write the “letter” later) and Mattie, who looks hopeless because she has nowhere else to go. Ethan desperately tries to console Mattie, to no avail. Dinner is a silent affair. Ethan angrily eats, Mattie listlessly prepares the table, while Zeena eats with much more appetite than usual, a trace of a smug smile crossing her smile as she sees Mattie.
LATER THAT NIGHT:
A sleepless Ethan gets out of bed, slipping out from under the covers he shares with his despised wife. After gazing at Mattie’s door for a few seconds, he steals to the kitchen, pulls out a napkin and, after hesitating for a few seconds, begins to write:
“Zeena, I’ve done all I could for you, and I don’t see as it’s been any use. I don’t blame you, nor don’t I blame myself. Maybe both of us will do better separate. I’m going to try my luck outside of this hellhole, and you can sell whatever we have, and keep the money--”
He tucks the note under a coffee mug, then goes outside to start the car. The car reluctantly grumbles to life and Ethan slowly pulls out of the driveway. He trundles past the houses on his street destroyed by the hurricane, debris still littering the street. In the moonlight, the destruction looks particularly eerie, like an alien landscape. In fact, the landscape begins to take on life and creaking and whistling sounds reverberate as the wind rushes over the ruins. Ethan continues to drive, past residents still outside after dark. They look at Ethan’s car as he drives past, and the feeling he gets is that he is leaving them behind. Ethan arrives at the ramp leading him to the highway until he suddenly sees a fallen tree partially blocking the very entrance of the highway. It is just enough to prevent Ethan’s car from fitting through the gap left. Ethan stalls the engine, turning off the car and sits under the stars on a deserted highway. He feels dwarfed, insignificant at the immense span of stars and sky over him and minute obstacle that is blocking all him from continuing. He turns on the radio, but songs of sadness, pity, and hope (should be include songs of hope) come one, adding more to Ethan’s misery. He takes out a map and realizes he has nowhere to go and no resources to get anywhere. Reluctantly, he heads back. He reaches the house by dawn, the morning’s light illuminating and exposing what he is coming back to. Mattie silently watches him from her bedroom window.
Some comments after I read everyone's posts above:
ReplyDeleteGroup 8: you say that zeena is "aged" but how far into the future is this? Realistically, the worst hurricane after Katrina was only a few years afterward. But of course, that could be tweaked. I also really like the ending for your group. It reinforces the grimness of the situation and the "stuckness" of Ethan and his family as well as the image of Ethan almost overlooking the dying and abandoned city: almost embodying the misery of all its previous inhabitants.
Group 7: I think your scene and my group's scene flow how they are. In my scene, Ethan returns at dawn. Early in the morning, say, he could be coming into the house and overhear Zeena talking to Denis Eady.
Hello Period 4, This is Mrs. Smith. Thank you for your great ideas today and your posts. Keep them coming. Try to answer one another - maybe check in after school and then around 9/10pm? You all are doing a great job and there is a script starting to come to life!
ReplyDeleteHey guys. So here is the overview of the introduction of the aphrodisiac food magazine in place of the medicine bottle, Zeena explaining her depature to see a doctor, and the dinner scene:
ReplyDelete-Ethan, Mattie, Zeena, and Jonathan are eating breakfast in night clothes. Zeena looks especially terrible.
-The table has only coffe and hot cakes and there's no conversation except for Zeena complaining about her illness as she reads a magazine.
-Mattie asks Zeena is she's ok and goes to get sugar as Zeena asks...but she spills it.
-Zeena becomes angry at Mattie but Ethan cleans it up before Mattie starts to cry.
-Zeena informs Ethan she's going to Baton Rouge to see Dr. Buck about her illness...meaning she needs $$
-Here we need to find a way to portray Ethan's worry about her spending money through some monologue and then his eagerness to be alone with Mattie.
-Zeena tells Ethan they should leave the house soon and doesn't want to rush. Ethan suggest Jonathon drivers her. Zeena complains b/c she says Jonathon is a reckless driver. She acts suspicious but Ethan insists that he needs to collect $300 from Andrew Hale for fixing his home.
-Zeena agrees reluctantly as she pops one more pill into her mouth. She rips out the ad about a new prescription from the magazine she was reading and hands the rest of it to Mattie. Zeena tells Mattie that there is an article in there on house keeping that she should read.
the dinner
-Ethan comes home finding the door open - fearing vandals or looters, he calls out to Mattie.
-She has a candle and states that the electricity shut off (or it can be that they couldn't pay the bill for the electricity??)
-Ethan notices how good she looks in her modest attire of jeans and a t-shirt in the candlelight. The red headband catches his eyes as well and since it pulls her hair back she look more welcoming to Ethan. Her eyes sparkle as welcomes him in.
-The house is dark except for the kitchen table which has candles. Mattie has prepared ginger chicken soup and oysters.
-The cat slyly prowling around as it jumps onto Zeena's chair.
-After Ethan puts away his jacket he notices the little Hera statue with its red light illuminating Ethan and Mattie but not the cat.
-Mattie tells Ethan that Jonathon came for a quick snack after driving Zeena. She and Ethan start to get food. The cat meows sharply at the movement.
-They don't talk while eating and stare at their food. Ethan starts talking about his construction work when failing to compliment the food. Mattie seems relieved and talks about how the bridges' poor condition may impeded Zeena's return.
-Ethan walks away and leaves the red glow after curtly responding.
-The cat takes the chance to salvage scraps from Ethan's meal. So Ethan and Mattie shoo the cat off the table and have their hands touch by accident. The cat also knocks over the statue in the process. Mattie quickly retracts her hand.
-Mattie cries while Ethan consoles her and tries to think of a way to fix the statue. Her tears are evident from the candlelight. They stand up with the shards in their hand.
-Ethan goes to Zeena's cabinet and puts the shards there and returns to see Mattie taking the batteries out of the red light emitter from the statue. Ethan puts the batteries and the emitter with the shards.
-He returns to the kitchen and helps Mattie clean up dinner.
-Ethan feels skilled because Mattie had stopped crying.
Just wondering: are we keeping the format of the movie where the Ethan's sad tale is revealed through interviews with locals conducted by an investigator for the failure of the New Orlean's bridge/levee?
ReplyDeleteOne issue is the one of the power outage...both Groups 4 and 5 have the power outage occurring at different locations.
ReplyDeleteIn Group 4, the power outage occurs before the dinner, while group 5 (my group) has it happening right after the dinner, with mattie stumbling and falling right when it occurs.
Realistically I think it's best to put the power outage before the dinner: it helps set the mood for the dinner scene.
Another issue is the question of how much Zeena knows. Does Zeena know that Mattie is an illegal immigrant? Does Ethan know? I like the idea of having Zeena being the one who is unaware Mattie's citizenship status, while Ethan is fully aware. This would set the idea that Ethan and Mattie are brought closer together by Mattie's immigration predicament. However, this raises the question of when, if ever, Zeena finds out that Mattie is an illegal immigrant.
Thirdly, if we are going to keep the format for the movie where Ethan's story is told through interviews with locals, it would bring about the added difficulty of having to write all the interview scenes and dialogue. It's definitely doable, but if we were going to implement this idea it would need to be decided on quickly so everybody is on the same page and can adjust their scripts accordingly.
This is Updated information for Group 5, in case anybody wants to know, it's written more concisely than what was posted earlier:
ReplyDeleteThe scene starts out directly following the conclusion of dinner and the glass figurine scene. Mattie is clearing up the dishes. Ethan decides to watch the cars drive by in a spring thunder storm. Suddenly, the power goes out with a single burst of lightning. The lightning shall strike at important moments in the conversation and shall be used to foreshadow future events. This is as Mattie is heading into the living room, so she stumbles in her surprise. As she gets up, she complains of becoming sore from the fall. This is symbolic of the implied sex that occurs during dinner. Candles are lit and a fire is started.
Mattie sits down to begin sewing together a ragged t-shirt of hers, as they are not able to afford a new one. Both begin to talk normally. Ethan mentions the drive that they were supposed to take but never did. Mattie wants to go at the moment, but Ethan says that it’s too dark and stormy outside. Mattie suggests that they go sometime. At this, Ethan brings up the subject of the broken-down bridge, asking if she’d be afraid to go over it. The lightning strikes as he asks this, showing that it shall be important later in the story. Mattie retains her enthusiasm, and Ethan talks of the risk associated. Ethan continues to mention that he saw Ned and Ruth kissing in an alleyway, hoping that it would make Mattie think about kissing Ethan. However, it only serves to make things awkward as the thunder booms.
Ethan, sensing the sudden awkwardness, moves on to Mattie’s eventual acquisition of citizenship and moving away. Mattie asks why he would bring it up, and if Zeena had expressed discontent about Mattie to Ethan. During a lightning strike, Ethan sees the spooky similarity between the cat and Zeena. Ethan tells Mattie that Zeena didn’t mention anything to Ethan, so they shouldn’t think about it. Ethan reaches out and touches the end of the cloth Mattie is using to sew and holds it tightly.
Mattie sees this, and it only contributes to the existing awkwardness of the mood. Zeena’s cat chooses now to jump into Zeena’s arm chair. Both notice this, and Ethan becomes tired at the thought of Zeena returning home and his fantasy night with Mattie ending. Mattie also begins to feel tired, and decides to go to bed. But first, Ethan places his lips on the fabric Mattie’s sewing in a gentle kiss. Mattie gets up to finish some nightly chores.
She quickly heads downstairs to bail out some water that had accumulated in the basement during the storm. After completing this, she looks at Ethan one more time and wishes him a good night. He returns it, and she travels up the stairs. Ethan realizes that he never even made a move on Mattie.
Hey, Evan from group 1 again. Okay, this is Dave's script outline (does not include corrections from today). I will post Nick's in a bit.
ReplyDeleteScript plan
Storm warnings have surfaced about New Orleans, Ethan is at college, and he is watching TV with some of his friends.
Newscast: storm warnings have surfaced about the recent hurricane, Katrina. New Orleans has been struck hard, and the levee has been broken. Water is now flowing freely into New Orleans. There has already been an evacuation in progress, but we are insure if everyone is out safely. The hardest hit was the lower district of New Orleans, and many bridges have been downed. To John Smith at the scene.
Roomate1: geez, it looks pretty bad over there, I wonder if anyone is hurt
Roomate2: The entire lower district has been submerged under water. I heard that they are trying to evacuate the people there. All of the jazz bars are pretty much sunk, I don’t know how much worse it could get.
Roommate 3: hey Ethan, don’t you live there.
Ethan: I wonder if my mom is okay, I hope she has been evacuated. She doesn’t get out much at her old age.
Roommate 3: I think that you should call her and see if she is okay
Ethan: yeah… I think I should, I’ll be back in a bit
As the newscast goes on in the background, Ethan goes into his room and picks up the phone he dials the number and calls home to New Orleans. His mom picks up the phone
Mom: hello, Ethan how are you
E: mom, where are you, did you get out safely?
M: (in a slightly raspy voice) yes, but I am hurt, your father has died, the hurricane came and…ohh..
E: mom, mom, are you okay, answer me.
M: Ethan, I don’t know how I can continue on like this, your father used to take care of everything. I am hurt. I don’t know if I am going to live much longer.
e: mom, hold on, I am coming home we’ll get you fixed up and better, ill start packing now.
Ethan leaves the room, and starts packing up all of his belongings
E: im going home my mom needs me to look after my mom
Roommate 3: ethan, you haven’t even finished your engineering degree
E: ill probably find a job as a construction worker down there, they are going to need a lot of help with the repair of the lower district, and of the bridges
Roommate 1: good luck, Ethan, hope your mom’s okay.
E: hrmf, (leaves without another word)
Ethan gets into his car and proceeds to drive home as he gets home, he sees that the damage has only minorly affected his old house, and with the approval of the FEMA, he moves back into his house. He soon realizes, though, that he has to get a job to support both his mom and himself, so he gets a job at the construction firm where his father used to work.
Ethan: hello, Mr. Hale, I was wondering if there was any work to do here ever since the storm
Mr. Hale: Ethan, is that you, how was college?
E: I had to come back early, ever since my dad, I have to help my mom she is hurt and I need some work. I was wondering if I could do some freelance construction work for you
Mr. Hale: I am sorry about your father, he was a good man, but you are just the man I need, a strong hard worker who has a good background in engineering. Are you up for the job?
Ethan: yes, I’ll take it, thank you Mr. Hale
Mr. Hale: good man, Ethan, you start work Monday.
Ethan starts his work at the construction site, he is a very hard worker and makes a good living for his mom and he, but pretty soon he realizes that he can’t take care of his mother and work at the same time, and his mother’s condition is worsening. He soon sees nothing else to do but to hire a FEMA worker.
Hi
ReplyDeleteThis is group 3's outline for the dance, Mattie and Ethan's walk home, Ned and Ruth's accident and Zeena opening the door.
Mattie is at a masked ball for Mardi Gras so she can have some fun. It is her first time having an “experience” in the US, especially since she was very restricted in Cuba. Denis Eady is there to also have fun, relieving some of the stress he has due to his work finding illegal immigrants. He sees Mattie from across the room and thinks she is really pretty. He watches her for a while, noticing she is Hispanic. Then he goes over to talk to her and asks her to dance. He compliments her and asks her a lot about herself but she is reluctant to give too much information and he gets suspicious. Ethan has come to pick up Mattie but he doesn’t feel like going inside and ends up watching Mattie dance, thinking she’s beautiful. He’s annoyed at Denis Eady’s interest in Mattie and jealous, but doesn’t do anything about those feelings. Denis offers Mattie a ride home but she chooses walking with Ethan instead. She makes up an excuse like not taking rides from strangers or something. Either way, she ends up walking home with Ethan while Denis drives away.
They start talking about the dance and Denis but Mattie reassures Ethan he means nothing to her. Then they notice the stars and start a conversation about them. Ethan tells her about how he used to sit on the beach in Florida (where he went to college) and watch the stars. She tells him about looking at the stars when she was in Cuba and how she wished she was as free as the stars because she feels trapped in a world where she always has to run and hide her secrets. Ethan tells Mattie how insignificant he feels trapped under the boundless night sky and the billions of stars. They continue talking about stars, sometimes comfortably and sometimes awkwardly. [it's a REALLY deep converstationa and Ethan and Mattie are able to bond] Then, they see the bridge Ethan was working on. He comments about it and then they notice a car going across it, as it semi-collapses. Ethan and Mattie are both shocked as Ethan says how the people were very lucky to make it across. They hurry a little faster to get home but meet Ned and Ruth on their way since the car is faster than they can walk, Ned and Ruth’s house is before Ethan’s, and the bridge was a shortcut. They see that the car is a bit smashed up and Ned and Ruth have a few cuts. Frantically, they ask what happened. Ned and Ruth recount how they were driving across the bridge for a shortcut and it started to collapse. Reassured to see that the two are fine, Ethan and Mattie continue walking home. Ethan is not as shocked as before and decides to call the construction company when he gets home to report the bad structure of the bridge.
They try to talk a little more before they get home but it is very awkward. Ethan says that he wants Mattie to stay away from that bridge until it’s fixed because he doesn’t want to see her hurt. Zeena opens the door to find Mattie and Ethan. She scolds them for being out so late and complains about feeling sick from worry. She makes them feel guilty. Once they get in Zeena starts to go upstairs and tells Ethan to come too. Ethan makes an excuse that he has to call the construction company about the semi-collapsed bridge. Mattie and Zeena both go to their rooms while Ethan goes to make the call. When Ethan finally goes upstairs he pauses to look at the light under Mattie’s door and says to himself under his breath, “Goodnight Mattie. Be safe.” Then he goes to sleep.
SCENE
*Note: Like vines around the door, perhaps Ethan can see someone dressed as a skeleton or something at a certain moment and wish it were Zeena. Otherwise maybe he can think he’d like for her to go over the bridge.
PS. the walk home is going to semi romantic =]
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, has anyone decided if Ethan would know that Mattie is an illegal immigrant? I think I heard Mrs. Smith say that in order to build the relationship between Ethan and Mattie, Ethan would know, but Zeena wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon. To answer your question, in scene two(my scene) during the picnic, Mattie confides in Ethan her identity as an illegal alien. Ethan promises to keep the secret but is worried that Zeena will find out.
ReplyDeleteHey, okay, here is Nick's script. We obviously have some collaborating to do.
ReplyDelete-Fly over of New Orleans, camera hones in on a fallen bridge, construction workers are clearing away wreckage.
-(Voice over) Narrator asking Jotham a question, scene switches to the diner, camera pauses on a news broadcast detailing a bridge collapse, two injuries
-Narrator asks Jotham what he knows about the collapse, Jotham is defensive, says he doesn't know anything, it was just an accident, not the fault of any of the workers
-Narrator tells him he has to investigate, is sure it was just an accident, but has to make sure, asks Jotham for a list of the people working on the bridge site
-Jotham gives him the list, Ethan Frome is first on the list
-Scene change, Narrator is knocking at the door of Ethan's house, no answer, a neighbor calls to the narrator, tells him that Ethan's in the hospital and Zeena's probably visiting him
-Narrator realizes Ethan is one of the people hurt in the bridge collapse, neighbor mentions how the family has terrible luck from what she's heard around town
-Narrator asks what she means, neighbor mentions how she heard Ethan's father had died in the hurricane, while his mother was hurt, needed to be taken care of, so Ethan had to come home from college for engineering
(Flashback starts)
-Dorm, news on a TV, detailing devastation in New Orleans, 'if you're smart, get out soon,' Ethan sitting and watching, looks worried
-Later, gets a call from his mother, who tells him about her father, and how she was hurt, needs him to come home and take care of her
-Scene moves to Ethan leaving dorm, light rain, area is busy with people (FEMA workers, wearing FEMA jackets), he stops a woman (Zeena), asks her if she knows if its safe to go into the city now, mentions that his mother is hurt
-Zeena says to be careful, shows some sympathy for Ethan, 'I wish I could help', mentions she's going in to help at the city as well
-Ethan gets into the city, show flooding, general damage, sees his house, damaged, mom greets him, Ethan expresses concern about the condition of the house, they agree to move into a trailer for the time being
-Scenes showing Ethan trying to do housework, help his mother
-Ethan goes out one night to a diner/bar, sees Zeena there, she greets him, asks how his mother is, Ethan talks about how he's having difficulty taking care of her, and needs to get a job so he can take care of finances as well
-Zeena offers to watch out for his mom for a few days while he gets back on his feet, says FEMA has enough people out in the city
-Ethan finds work as a construction worker, Zeena slowly gets used to the Frome household, becomes close with Ethan
-On his off-time, Ethan works on the house, tries to fix it up as best he can, one night has a slight breakdown, Zeena comforts him, Ethan: 'I don't know if I could do this without your help'
-Mother's condition is worsening, dies, is buried, few people in attendance, Ethan looking lost and hopeless, Zeena comforts him
-They go back to the trailer, awkward, Zeena knows she should go, begins to say so, Ethan stops her, says he needs her, can't go it alone, they embrace, scene ends
Hello everybody, here is scene 2's rough draft script which covers everything from the Wedding to the Dance. This version is updated from this morning's telling.
ReplyDeleteEthan and Zeena's wedding is held in a damaged Catholic Church in old New Orleans. A few of Ethan and Zeena's coworkers attend, and Zeena's aunt(the same aunt that employs Mattie originally) gives the couple the red statue of Hera.
Following his marriage, Ethan hopes he can escape the death and despair of New Orleans and move West to Arizona or California. Ethan would want to start his own business or finish school (this occurs during end of housing boom in Cal. and Arizona)
Because of the storm and her marriage, Zeena succumbs to post traumatic stress disorder or severe depression.
Ethan works hard for Andrew Hale, but he is paid very little because there is little work in New Orleans and Andrew Hale has little money to give.
Lacking money for a true housekeeper and with Zeena's condition worsening, Mattie enters the picture. Mattie is introduced as having previously worked for Zeena's aunt in Texas after illegally immigrating from Mexico in 2004. When Zeena's aunt discovers that Mattie is an illegal immigrant, she quickly tries to get rid of her by offering her to Zeena and Ethan for free. At first, neither Zeena nor Ethan knows Mattie is an illegal immigrant.
Mattie quickly begins to introduce light and cheer into the doom and gloom of New Orleans. Mattie wears bright colored shirts and scarfs, especially red. Ethan starts to see something in Mattie that he knows he will never see in Zeena.
The Picnic scene will begin as a habitat for humanity build sponsored by Andrew Hale and his company. Ethan is working on houses and thus is unable to accompany Mattie and other friends to the neighborhood barbecue and block party. After the building is finished, Ethan has some time to spend with Mattie before walking her home. It is in this discussion that Mattie reveals to Ethan that she is an illegal immigrant.
Finally, Ethan and Zeena's relationship will be exposed as being doomed from the start. The couple will argue occasionally, and they will also rarely spend time together talking and relaxing as most couples do.
Alright, there you have it. Feel free to post comments if you feel that there are any inconsistencies with other scenes or if you have any fresh ideas.
Evan: That was wrapped very nicely and it seems more consistent than what was said in class so good job. I really like how the aunt gives Mattie for free knowing she's an illegal immigrant. But I'm just wondering, is Ethan's mom going to be calling from the hospital?
ReplyDeleteSean: Great job overall. I'm a little confused in the Dance/Picnic scene. You said that it covers the Dance scene but I only see the Picnic scene. Is the picnic scene replacing the Dance scene?
Also, just a general question...is there anyone who wants to incorporate "ethan's name on the tombstone" symbolism? Because I can't recall if anyone is covering that and I think that would be an interesting idea to incorporate.
Bayla, to answer your question, Scene Two encompasses the widespread series of events from Ethan and Zeena's wedding and stops shortly before the Dance. It would be there that Scene 3 would pick up the action. Also, I think it would be a wonderful idea if Ethan saw a family grave site of ancestors dating back to when the French first colonized New Orleans some 350 years ago.
ReplyDeleteSharon's Group: If you read my group's scene (number 6) you will see that car is a central part of our scene. However, in your scene, Ethan doesn't have a car. Perhaps in your scene Ethan and Mattie could walk home because Ethan's car has run out of gas?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ed: I agree, we need to establish whether we are using the flashback/interview of locals to find out Ethan's story. Nick' script seems to employ that and introduce the ploy very well: in fact (no offense) I prefer it greatly over his group members' (Sean and David's). However, Sean, your idea above this comment of the graves would be great...how would it relate to the plot though?
ALSO: it seems that we are leaning towards Mattie's illegal immigrant status to be known to Ethan only, and not Zeena. However, in our scene, Group 6, Zeena comes home from the doctor and demands to get rid of Mattie because she knows she is an illegal immigrant and the stress is too much. This could be the turning point where Zeena finds out:I think it would add to the tension between Zeena and Ethan more, to the fight they have in our scene, and the eventual culmination of the suicide. Also,this builds up nicely to Group 7 (Brenna's group) where Zeena calls Denis to tell on Mattie.
Another point: Sean, I like the idea of the habitat for humanity build. This would be a good opportunity to expose the marital tension between Ethan and Zeena. Also, perhaps you should focus a little more on the development of Mattie into a blossoming individual in the midst of all this wreckage (which you do a bit) and the relationship between Ethan and her. I know you include some in the picnic scene as well as the dance scene. I don't know if this is necessary as both the book and the movie didnt show anything, rather showing EThan's infatutuation and flashbacks exposing instances exemplifying his attraction. Sorry to be so critical, but with movie's especially, the audience's understanding has to be complete and since you guys have the first scene and the job of laying out the groundwork, there's a lot to cover. Also, your idea of the gravestone scene: perhaps Ethan could say something along the lines of "they never got out, so how could I?" about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little murky on one point: does the second hurricane after Katrina hit during the suicide attempt or years later, when Ethan and Mattie are already injured (the epilogue)?
ReplyDeleteFrom what Evan R. posted earlier:
ReplyDelete"
-They go back to the trailer, awkward, Zeena knows she should go, begins to say so, Ethan stops her, says he needs her, can't go it alone, they embrace, scene ends"
Ethan telling Zeena that he can't live without her seems too decisive, in a way. I was under the impression that the marriage sort of "happened", instead of a sudden momentous decision.
By, the way, what is Mattie's current level of english speaking? Also, does she mix spanish into her dialogue?
ReplyDeleteWe're mixing some Spanish into ours.
ReplyDeleteto Emily, the second hurricane is coming at the end of our scene, scene 8 because this is when Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena will be watching the news of this storm on TV in the epilogue and the movie will end with showing that they never got away.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with you on the fact that Ethan tells Zeena "he can't go it alone" because this is too much of a decisive personality for Ethan, he needs to be more undecisive. Maybe, he could question whether Zeena should stay, and then she just insists on it.
So Group 6 finished the script as far as I know. We didn't mix any spanish in, but that would be easy to do. Also, I took some liberties (which you guys may object to): I had Zeena figure out Mattie was an illegal immigrant and she reveals this when she comes back from the doctors, which is why Mattie must leave. This culminates nicely with Group 7, where I believe they were discussing that Zeena call Denis. Brenna: are you still doing that?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if Zeena should figure it out because Zeena should send Mattie out because it's what she wants. Then again it just acts as a good excuse to kick Mattie out. So it's up to you and group 7.
ReplyDeleteWhere are we posting our new scripts?
ReplyDeleteTo Emily: Yes, we're still doing that. But I thought that Zeena had called Denis first, then told Ethan about it, and that's what the argument is about. So in your scene does Zeena tell Ethan she called Denis? We're having Ethan drive Mattie to the train station, where she will be brought to a deportation center, but then the suicide happens.
ReplyDeleteHey, I know this is the bloggers only area, but Ed is sick, so should I post the dialogue up here?
ReplyDeleteSo are we just posting the new scripts here?
ReplyDeleteGroup 7 2nd rough draft:
ReplyDeleteThe next morning: Ethan wakes up, looks over at Zeena, who is still sleeping. He quietly gets up and creeps into Mattie’s room down the hall. When he enters, she is sitting up in bed with red, puffy eyes. Ethan knows she heard the argument yesterday. She looks up, giving him a weak smile. Ethan advances forward and speaks to her in a quiet, urgent tone.
Ethan: Matt, what’s gonna happen to you? What’re you gonna do back there?
She doesn’t respond, but just shakes her head back and forth.
Ethan: Could ya leave and run away from here? There’s a train leaving to Baton Rouge at 5:00, you can take it and get out.
In a defeated tone, Mattie replies.
Mattie: No puedo…They’ll catch me no matter what. silence
Ethan: I’ll drive you to the station, at least. Zeena wants ya there by 3:00. (train taking her to the deportation center). Ethan leaves the room, with a last look at Mattie.
A few hours later—Ethan is waiting in the car, and Mattie comes out of the house with a red hibiscus in her hair. Mattie enters the car, she looks scared. They don’t say anything.
Ethan and Mattie are in Ethan’s rundown car.
Ethan starts the engine and drives out of the house onto the pot-hole filled road
Driving through town to get to the train station
Ethan notices Mattie fiddling with something in her hands, but ignores it.
A little while later
Mattie: Ethan…I found this (pushes the letter Ethan had written onto the dashboard in front of him)…they sit in silence
Ethan is looking astonished but fades to a saddened smile
Ethan: Matt, if we could would ya? Would ya go with me? We could leave all this behind and go West…somewhere where the storm can’t get us and we can be libertes.
Mattie: It’s no use Ethan…they’ll catch up with me anyway…there’s nowhere for me to hide anymore. (silence falls once again)
Ethan: (sounding defeated) There’s about an hour before your train leaves, Matt. This might be your last chance to see the destruction which brought you here…Do you want to see it?
Mattie looks down and nods ‘yes’ carefully
They continue in silence as Ethan drives out to the borders of town where the destruction is.
They sit in silence as Mattie gazes out the car window at the ruins the hurricane left.
Mattie: How…this is just…oh Ethan, es horrible. I can’t imagine anything more devastating. (with tears in her eyes)
Ethan: (sorrowfully mumbling) You haven’t even seen the worst of it…
Mattie: ¿Qué?
Ethan: Just over the bridge is the worst damage left behind.
In a desperate voice Mattie says:
Mattie: So take me Ethan…I have nowhere else to be…nowhere else to go. No hay nada más para mi.
Ethan: Matt, remember what happened to Ned and Ruth…You heard Jotham say the next car to go over the bridge would cause it to collapse…you know that.
Mattie: Ethan… (by this point Ethan has slowed the car to a stop)
They look into each other’s eyes…Mattie’s seeming to be aflame with a red glow while Ethan’s initial look of fear fades to a hazy excitement.
Ethan slowly presses down the gas and the car pulls forward, as if it is carrying a load of bricks behind it.
As the bridge veers into sight Ethan begins talking hastily to Mattie.
Ethan: Are you scared Matt?
Mattie: I’m not scared…I feel safe with you
They begin to pull forward, accelerating towards the normally threatening yellow caution tape, which now to Ethan seems more alluring than ominous.
Ethan’s grip becomes tighter as the car moves faster. (As the car gets closer to the bridge, Jotham Powell who had been surveying the bridge from a boat a little ways off, frantically watched)
As if on cue, the car torrents through the forbidding caution tape
As the bridge crashes under the car, the noise echoes through Ethan’s mind, bringing back the noise of Zeena’s Hera statue crashing to the floor.
Ethan’s leg jerks on the brake pedal in response to this, causing the entirety of his leg to have a brief but fierce muscle spasm.
Ethan grasps Mattie’s hand as the car shatters the glass surface of the water.
Mattie quickly becomes unconscious as the water envelopes them.
As the water fills his lungs, the last thing Ethan remembers is the grip of a hand on his arm, ripping him from the sinking vehicle, and a red hibiscus sinking in the water.
italics don't work here, so sorry if it's not that organized. Also, we need to add a few more things, like Ethan kissing Mattie (like he did in the kitchen in the book) and the whole thing about Mattie telling Ethan she loves him right before the suicide so she gets him wrapped around her finger.
Evan from group 1. I don't know if italics worked on this or the bold. We did what we could with the rough draft. The bits starting with a hyphen are blurbs that we still need to put into script form. Also, there are still some parts we need to elaborate on. But here's what we have.
ReplyDeleteCamera pans over New Orleans, focusing and descending slowly on partially collapsed bridge. A crew of construction workers clear away rubble.
Narrator: (Voice Over) You're Jotham Powell?
Cut to busy diner, camera slowly pans across bar, patrons sitting on stools, eating breakfast. All are watching the news on a small television behind the bar.
Newscaster: Our top story today is a bridge collapse, causing injuries to two people...
Camera continues pan, Narrator is sitting at a booth, across from him sits Jotham Powell, who sits awkwardly, glancing from the narrator to other people in the diner.
Jotham: That's right.
Narrator: (smiles kindly) I wanna make it clear that this is really a formality; no one really thinks anyone had any fault in the collapse. We just have to go through and make sure everyone did as much as possible to prevent this, so we don't get any lawsuits, you know?
Jotham nods, still looks worried/awkward.
Narrator: So, tell me a bit about what your crew thinks happened.
Jotham: Well, the bridge was weakened after the hurricane, and there was an incident where the foundation cracked, bringing the bridge's condition to our attention. My crew and I--
Narrator: Did you bring the list of the names of your workers?
Jotham: Yeah, here.
J. pulls a folded page from his pocket, slides it across the table to N.
Jotham: So we were working on the bridge, and we had it closed off and everything, with signs and all.
J. pauses, looks around.
Jotham: I suppose they just didn't see the signs. It must have been late... I don't know.
N. smiles kindly, unfolds piece of paper, then gets up to leave.
Narrator: I figured as much. Don't worry, Mr. Powell, I just have to ask your guys a few questions, then this'll be all wrapped up. Thanks for your time.
Jotham: (distracted) Yeah, yeah... No problem. Any time.
Narrator gets out of his car, looks around, then begins to walk up a battered stone pathway, leading to a slightly run down house. Camera shows 'Frome' on the mailbox, letters falling off. Narrator knocks on the door, waits, no answer. Glances around, then knocks again, checking the folded piece of paper from Jotham.
Neighbor: (Off-screen) Not home, I'd say.
Narrator turns, camera pans to show old woman across the street, sitting in a rocking chair.
Neighbor: Ethan's in the hospital, you know, and I would bet Zeena's there too, visiting.
Narrator begins walking back down the path, getting closer to the old woman.
Neighbor: Can't say I've seen you around before, young man. May I ask why you're looking for the Fromes?
Narrator: Well, I'm part of an investigation of the bridge collapse, and Mr. Frome's name is on the list of workers who were working on the--
Neighbor: Terrible business, that. Such a shame, too. So much tragedy in one family.
Narrator: I beg your pardon? I didn't realize Mr. Frome was hurt in the accident..
Neighbor: Well, yes. Another in a string of unfortunate events. Mother died, father died, wife sick... And he had such a promising future at college...
(Flashback)
Raining heavily, figures running into dorm building. Scene changes to Ethan's dorm room, LSU jersey hanging on the wall. TV is showing a weather report for the New Orleans area. Ethan sits, watching the report, hand on his chin, worried.
Newscaster: Katrina is coming in heavy, folks, and it doesn't look like it'll be letting up any time soon. If you're smart, you'll have already gotten out, but if you're still in the city, get to shelter or some kind of safety.
Ethan turns TV off, lays in bed, still worried.
Scene changes to a couple days later. There's light rain falling as Ethan, looking gloomy and sad, leaves his dorm building, and enters a small square filled with people bustling around. Most are wearing FEMA jackets. Ethan pulls aside a young woman (Zeena).
Ethan: Excuse me, uh, I just have a quick question...
Zeena nods, glances back at group of FEMA workers.
Ethan: (stuttering slightly) I need to know if its, ah, safe to go back in the city.. I've got family there, you see, and I need to get back to help them.
Zeena surveys Ethan, gives him a small sympathetic smile.
Zeena: It must be difficult for you, I'm sorry. I'd say it's relatively safe, just watch the waters, you know?
Ethan brightens up a bit, smiles.
Ethan: Thanks, that's great.
Zeena nods, smiles again, turns back to FEMA workers after giving Ethan one more look.
(Later)
Dark hallway, Ethan is leaning up against a phone booth, talking into the phone.
Ethan: Mom? Finally, I got through. Are you and Dad okay?
(After a pause) Mom: Well, there was some flooding, and your father--
Line breaks up, Ethan can't hear.
Ethan: What was that?
Mom: Your father was swept away... He.. he hasn't been found yet, Ethan...
Ethan: Oh my gosh...Dad…what about you mom? Are you okay?
Mom: Well, I’m alive…that’s it really.
Ethan: What happened Ma?
Mom: Well I was trying to rescue your father as he got swept away in the tides, and I got cut by…I don’t know what…something.
Ethan: Oh, just a cut, that’s good.
Mom: Well, no…there’s this huge gash on my leg, and I think it’s getting infected. Ethan, I need you to come home. I don’t know if I can go on like this much longer.
Ethan: But Mom…college…my degree…
Mom: Ethan, I need you, please.
Ethan: Okay Mom, I’m coming.
Ethan hangs up the phone and runs through the rain into his car. He slams the door, turns on his lights, and speeds off.
Cut to early daytime..Ethan is entering the city. Several areas are heavily flooded, and Ethan has much trouble maneuvering around finding roads that are safe to drive on. Several shots of dilapidated houses and stranded people, along with long food lines. Ethan finally pulls into his driveway. His house is quite dilapidated and damaged from the flood. He walks up to the front door, unlocks it, and walks inside. He looks around, calling out for his mother, and finds her in her bed, sleeping. Her leg is heavily bandaged, and Ethan wakes her. She tries to sit up, but grimaces in pain. Ethan sits on her bed and they embrace.
Ethan: Mom, how are you?
Mom: Oh Ethan, I don’t know…I can’t walk.
Ethan: (looking around) Mom, we can’t stay here. Look around…there’s mold growing on the walls, the basement is filled with water…it’s not good for you or me.
Mom: Ethan, where can we go?
Ethan: We’ll find somewhere…I don’t know how, or where, but we need to get out of this house.
Mom: (sadly nods in agreement)
Fast forward, Ethan wheeling Mother around in a wheelchair outside of a trailer. It is implied that this is there temporary home. Brief montage of Ethan caring for his mother the best he can, and also trying to repair his house. Not very successful in either. Ethan soon realizes that he cannot support himself and his mother on the small funds they have, and knows that he needs a job.
-Ethan goes out one night to a diner/bar, sees Zeena there, she greets him, asks how his mother is, Ethan talks about how he's having difficulty taking care of her, and needs to get a job so he can take care of finances as well
-Zeena offers to watch out for his mom for a few days while he gets back on his feet, says FEMA has enough people out in the city
Ethan nervously approaches a construction scene surrounded by dilapidated buildings. This is an area of New Orleans that is higher up (French Quarter?) so the flood waters have receded. Ethan looks around, says a bunch of “Excuse me, Sorry” type exclamations, and looks for what seems to be a head guy. He shuffles up to the person.
Ethan: (quietly) Erm, excuse me sir…
Construction worker seems busy telling others what to do and directing rebuilding, doesn’t hear Ethan.
Ethan: (clears throat, says a bit louder). Sir?
Head Worker: (gruffly) What?!? What do you want? Can’t you see we’re busy here? Look at all this destruction. We gotta rebuild all this stuff and help these people…
Ethan: (seems to shrink away) I’m sorry, I was just wondering if…uhhh--
Head Worker: (interrupting) Out with it! We have work to do!
Ethan: (splutters) if I could get a job..
Head Worker: (seems slightly more interested, but still gruff) Hmmm…what’s your reasoning kid?
Ethan: (quickly and nervously) Well, my father died in the hurricane, and my mother’s really hurt…and I need money to help support us….uhhh…I spent two years in college majoring in engineering, but I didn’t finish ‘cause of the hurricane. (pleading) Please sir, I need this job.
Head Worker: (hesitant) Uhh, I don’t know kid…we got a lot of people working on this already..
Ethan: I’m a really hard worker, and I can fix almost anything. Just gimme a chance, I’ll show you.
Head Worker: (reluctantly) Ok, fine…get a hardhat from over there…you start now.
Ethan: (excited, relieved) Oh thank you sir, thank you.
Ethan runs over to get a hardhat, then hurries over to a crowd of workers rebuilding a dilapidated house. He immediately starts helping them. The workers at first give him a curious look, but, realizing that he is aiding them in their work, resume to rebuilding.
Montage of Ethan working hard at the construction site. He seems a little less skilled than the other workers, but gets by alright. Several small clips of Ethan working at the site during the day, then at night coming home. Each night, Zeena greets him with a smile and a warm meal, to Ethan’s relief after a hard day at work. A few clips of Ethan and Zeena talking and laughing late at night, mixed in with clips of Zeena nursing Ethan’s sick mother. Ethan seems very distressed.
On the weekends or early evening after work, Ethan tries to fix up the house. Montage of him standing on a ladder with a hammer and nails, putting up siding, standing on scaffolding, doing the dirty stuff like cleaning out the flood-damaged basement, etc. Ethan is getting more and more stressed, and one night after working at the site and his house for hours, he comes into the house and collapses on the kitchen table. He begins to cry…tears roll down his cheek. Zeena tries to console him.
Ethan: Zeena, I don’t know if I could ever manage this without your help.
Zeena smiles sweetly, they embrace.
-Mother's condition is worsening, dies, is buried, few people in attendance, Ethan looking lost and hopeless, Zeena comforts him
-They go back to the trailer, awkward, Zeena knows she should go, begins to say so, Ethan stops her, says he needs her, can't go it alone, they embrace, scene ends