英文片名: At First Sight

中文片名: 真情难舍

上映: 1999

AT FIRST SIGHT

EXT. VALLEY - DUSK

Gold light dappling across a valley that seems to reach on forever. We ease back, revealing more - taking in the visual feast - finally discovering a seated figure facing out over the valley - a DOG at his feet.

VIRGIL ANDERSON, life ahead of him - someone seemingly at ease with himself. As we watch. him a moment - SOUNDS become prominent - whistle of the wind through the grass - a bird's wings as it takes flight - a tree branch creaking under its own weight. And as he sits there, listening, we see the last rays of sunlight slip from the day.

BLACK - and our TITLES come up.

Then out of the darkness come a pair of HEADLIGHTS. - and we're:

EXT. NEW YORK TURNPIKE - INTO PINECREST - DUSK

An old BMW 2002 making its way up the Taconic Parkway.

INT. BMW - DUSK

On the radio: Whitney Houston's "I'll Always Love You". AMY TREMONT, 30's, driving, on the phone.

AMY

I'm lost Betsy, and you know me -

I don't wear lost well - wait, wait I'm losing you...

(the cell phone glitches)

I'm pulling over before you disappear forever.

Amy pulls off the side of the road. Wrestles with a map and the phone.

AMY

Sign? I was looking for a sign? There's no...

Her attention is caught by something off camera. She stares out into the night..

HER POV - A small iced over pond - and in the middle - moving about is Virgil, ICE SKATING - hockey stick in hand - moving about the rink with an imaginary puck.

AMY (O.S.)

(distracted)

Yes... I took the first ..... no, no, I'm listening...

Virgil winds up and takes a slap at the ice with his stick - throws his hands up in the air like he just scored.

Amy smiles, peers off down the road. A sign: BEAR MTN. SPA AND RESORT 1.4 miles.

AMY

Wait, I got it - yeah. No don't call me.. right,

unless you hear from Atlanta. And fax me the

designs - I want to tinker with them a bit more

... I'm going to rest - bye - I'll see you in a week.

Beep she hangs up. Looks back out to the pond. It's empty. Shrugs - about to pull out - that love song still blaring.

AMY

Oh p-lease, Whitney.

CLICK - she shuts off the radio - and pulls back out onto the road.

EXT. BEAR MTN. HEALTH SPA - NIGHT

Amy pulling luggage out of her car. She takes a breath - clearly she's exhausted - and starts towards the entrance.

INT. BEAR MTN. HEALTH SPA - RECEPTION DESK - NIGHT

Amy at the front desk with the Night Manager CAROLINE, 30'S, annoyingly fit.

CAROLINE

?we have a full weight room, lifecycles,

stairmasters, a spa, yoga, aerobics, spin classes...

AMY

I'm really just looking for a quick fix, here.

Do you have anything that just involves lying down?

CAROLINE

A massage.

AMY

Great. I'll have one a day. Not too early.

INT. BEAR MTN. - MASSAGE WAITING AREA - NEXT DAY

Amy enters, wearing sweats, she checks her watch - looks toward a closed door - about to grab a magazine when she hears from behind the door:

WOMAN'S VOICE

Virgil, Oh God..., right there. Yes.

Amy's interest piques - the woman's murmur continuing - deep ecstasy.

WOMAN'S VOICE

Yes there - a bit more...

(a small bell DINGS)

--wait - wait, you can't stop - one more minute - noo!

VIRGIL'S VOICE

Sorry, Susan - time's up.

I've got someone waiting.

And the door opens - and we see a woman, 60's,

SUSAN, Bette Midler type, backing out of the room.

SUSAN

Virgil, you have to come live with me.

VIRGIL'S VOICE

And what would your husband say?

Amy, you out there? - c'mon in.

SUSAN

That's it - I'm getting a divorce.

Amy smiles as she passes Susan and enters.

INT. VIRGIL'S MASSAGE ROOM - DAY

Virgil has his back to us as he prepares the table. The room is very ordered - every vial, bottle, towel has its exact spot.

VIRGIL

Hey, Amy, I'm Virgil - why don't you

get ready - hop up on the table.

Amy sees Virgil - his head turned slightly away - she drops her sweats and lies on the table, face down - pulling the sheet to cover herself.

AMY

Sounds like you're a genius at this.

VIRGIL

(laughs)

That's right.. Mozart, Einstein, Virgil Anderson, massage therapist.

Now I'm going to start working somewhat deep -

you let me know if you want anything deeper.

AMY

Deeper is good - where I come from,

all you get is shallow.

VIRGIL

I like that - deep it is.

CLICK - he hits a button on a CD player and as we hear the soulful aria "Mira, 0 Norma" from Bellini's Norma.

VIRGIL

First time in Pinecrest?

AMY

Came in late last night..

missed the town completely.

VIRGIL

If you came in broad daylight,

you could still miss the town completely.

Dissolve to:

Slow moving cuts of Virgil, working long strokes over Amy's body - - his hands gracefully LENGTHENING and STRETCHING her muscles.

VIRGIL

Too much compute? work.

AMY

Uh-huh.

VIRGIL

Bad chair - you should think about a change.

AMY

(quiet)

Absolutely.

Virgil reaches his hands all the way down her spine and makes a move that causes Amy to release a very deep guttural sound.

VIRGIL

Too deep?

AMY

No.. ..... just right.

Amy is now lost in another world - as Virgil shifts - working gently - not caressing - but molding - like a sculptor.

A moment and Amy, surprisingly, begins to cry - softly. Virgil stops - takes a step back.

VIRGIL

I - I'm sorry - it was too deep...

She cries for another few beats - then takes a breath.

AMY No - it.. it's not you..

It's just things have kinda built up,

I don't know why I'm crying.. look,

this is embarrassing...

VIRGIL Don't be embarrassed -

you obviously needed it.

We should stop for today.

AMY Yeah, thanks.

You always make the girls cry.

VIRGIL

Not since grade school.

I'm going to go now - unless you'd like me to stay.

AMY

Could you - just for a minute?

VIRGIL

Of course, whatever you need.

Virgil sits next to her - then reaches out - takes her hand and starts a slow comforting massage - we see Amy visibly relax.

AMY

You ever feel like a Martian's

invaded your entire body?

VIRGIL

Every day.

Amy, closes her eyes - smiling slightly in thanks.

INT. VIRGIL'S MASSAGE ROOM - LATER

CAMERA pans slowly over to Amy asleep - and on the click of the door - her eyes dreamily open.

AMY

Virgil?

INT. BEAR MTN. HEALTH SPA - LATE DAY

Hallway outside the massage area. Amy exits the change room, now wearing her sweats - pulling on her sneakers.

VIRGIL (O.S.)

(calling out)

Hey Caroline, you look incredible today.

CAROLINE (O.S.)

(laughing)

Quite a compliment, Virgil. See ya tomorrow.

VIRGIL (O.S.)

See ya.

Amy looks down the hall - sees a glimpse of Virgil rounding the corner. She chases after hi~n into the reception area where she sees him exiting the door and moving of f down the driveway.

AMY

Virgil - wait...

He's gone. Hopping along, tugging on her last sandal - she decides to go after him - fighting her way through a large tour group just checking in.

EXT. BEAR MTN. SPA - LATE DAY

Virgil in the distance, moving his way towards the main street. Amy exiting the building - trying not to slip on the ice as she, hurries after him - trying to get close enough to call out.

Virgil stops at a main roadway as Amy comes up behind him.

AMY

Virgil, hey.

Virgil turns - sunglasses on - looks directly at Amy.

VIRGIL

Yes.

AMY

It's Amy - Amy Tremont.

VIRGIL

Of course - you were sleeping,

didn't want to wake you.

AMY

Yes thanks - you're the skater, right -

I saw you last night, coming in.

Pretty mean slapshot.

You play on some team or something?

VIRGIL

Yeah, something. You a hockey fan?

AMY

Always liked it - never get around to

seeing a game. But I loved to skate

as a kid - unfortunately I have two left feet.

VIRGIL

(playing with her)

They look perfectly OK with me.

Amy laughs, starts relaxing - unconsciously starts to flirt. Head cocked, shifts her weight on one foot, moving slightly closer.

AMY

I love the view you get here.

VIRGIL

Same here - I never get used to it.

Just then a YELLOW SCHOOL BUS pulls up in front of him and WHOOSH the doors pop open revealing CARL KIPLING, black, a hundred years old. Virgil turns as a few kids pile off the bus..

VIRGIL

Well, this is my ride.

Hey Tommy, my man.

And with his hand extended a kid high fives it. Amy looks up - a BUS full of young school kids. Seems odd.

TOMMY

Virge.

As the kid moves off.

AMY

Well, I just wanted to apologize for back there -

blubbering like that - I was just in a weird place.

VIRGIL

And now...

AMY

Now, I'm fine - so I wanted to

thank- you. For what you did.

VIRGIL

For making you cry.

AMY

No, I made me cry - and you handled

it great - didn't freak or anything.

(beat)

Is my mascara smeared or something?

VIRGIL

(laughs)

No. Why?

AMY

You're just looking at me funny.

CARL

Virgil - lets move it.

VIRGIL

As I said earlier - I just never get used to the view.

Virgil starts towards the bus, reaching behind to his pack. Pulls something out.

VIRGIL

See you tomorrow.

And CLICK, CLICK, CLICK - a WHITE CANE unfolds in his hand. And he taps his way to the bus.

AMY

See you... oh my God.

VIRGIL

What?

AMY

You're, you're -- I'm so sorry.

VIRGIL

(smile)

Hey, you already apologized once

- no need to overdo it. Bye now.

Amy doesn't know how to respond. And he moves into the front seat of the bus - amongst "Hey Virgil's" from the school kids and Ca-chunk the doors close - the Yellow Bus steaming off - past Amy, as she stares at Virgil in the front seat - about to wave to him - then realizing he wouldn't see.

As she turns and watches the bus move off down the street - a hand comes out - Virgil's - and waves good-bye.

EXT. VIRGIL'S HOME.- DUSK

The BUS stopping in front of Virgil's home - a side-by-side DUPLEX at the edge of surrounding woods.

Virgil steps into the street and with a HONK the bus pulls away. He turns, grazes his hand across a tree out front - and starts towards his home.

AT THE PORCH - he hesitates at the first door. Finds it with his hand - then raps on it.

No answer. He moves over to his own door - and goes inside.

INT. VIRGIL'S HOME - EVENING

As he enters, Sophie, an aging LAB, lays on the couch.

VIRGIL

Get of f the couch, Sophie.

As the dog slides guiltily off the couch.

VIRGIL

Some seeing eye dog -

more like sleeping eye dog.

Virgil bends down as he passes the coffee table to pick up the REMOTE CONTROL placed just so. Click - a Game Show pops on.

VIRGIL

Met a girl today - nice voice -

followed me out of the building.

Sophie barks.

VIRGIL

No she wasn't a stalker.

CLOSE ON Virgil's hand flipping open a large book marked "TV HOCKEY SCHEDULE" - it's completely WHITE - all in BRAILLE.

JENNIE (O.S.)

Sophie's just worried about you -

she watches too many horror movies.

In the kitchen, JENNIE ANDERSON, older than Virgil, simply dressed, putting a just made dinner carefully onto a plate.

VIRGIL

Hey, you're here - so how

are the kids today?

Running his hand down the pure white page - he finds what he wants: BAP - he hits the channel changer and the game comes on.

JENNIE

The usual - need a lot of attention. So who's the girl?

Moving into the kitchen, Virgil puts the remote to the side of the refrigerator where it VELCRO sticks to an exact spot.

VIRGIL

From the spa. I made her cry.

JENNIE

You haven't done that since--

VIRGIL/JENNIE

-- grade school.

VIRGIL

(smile)

That's what I told her. Coke?

Virgil moves past Jennie as she goes into the living room - hand up, door open and he's got a glass. Back to the fridge, he grabs a coke.

JENNIE

I'm fine. Your dinner's ready - chicken's

at 3 o'clock - rice is at...

VIRGIL

6 o'clock, peas at 9 o'clock

and news at 11.

Jennie places Virgil's dinner down in an exact spot on a coffee table (facing away from the TV).

JENNIE

(laughs)

One day I'm going to switch them on you.

VIRGIL

And one day I'll play forward

for the New York Rangers.

Four precise steps into the room and Virgil plops down on the sofa - finds his fork. Jennie moves to a counter where a pile of school books sit.

JENNIE

Ha - ha. You need new jokes.

VIRGIL

Or a new sister.

JENNIE

I'd work on the jokes.

Picking up the books she moves past Virgil - pecks him on the head and moves to the door.

VIRGIL

You want to watch some hockey?

JENNIE

(at the door)

You want to grade some spelling tests?

(beat)

I'll be next door you need me.

She leaves and Virgil pats the couch and Sophie hops up next to him.

VIRGIL

You know this girl - for one moment -

she actually thought I could

(Sophie grumbles as she settles in)

I'm not kidding.

(beat) And she had this great voice - relaxing -

soft like a breeze through

(beat)

Wonder what she thinks about "blind dates."

INT. AMY'S ROOM - EVENING

Amy in bed - just out of the shower - the only light in the room comes from the TV. She has the remote, mindlessly switching channels - not staying on one for more than a second or two.

Click - an Odd Couple rerun - click - ESPN bowling - click - Three Stooges - Moe poking Curly in the eye - click - click - click.

Bored, she stops - notices a small scarf on a chair next to the bed. She picks it up, holds it against her eyes and ties it tight around her head.

She stands - hands out in front of her - starts to walk across the room - not so bad - WHAM - right into a side table. Shit that hurts! Grabbing her leg, she hops - hits a lamp.

AMY

DAMMIT!

Ripping the towel of f her head - hopping around on one foot - she hears:

KNOCK KNOCK

AMY

Coming!

Rubbing her leg - she limps/half walks to the door - opens it to:

Virgil: dark glasses, cane, smile

AMY

Virgil..?

She pulls a towel in closer - then realizes it doesn't matter

VIRGIL

My turn to apologize. I should have told

you I was blind it wasn't fair.

AMY

That's OK. You want to come in -

I just got out of the shower - give me

a minute to get changed?

VIRGIL

(as he moves in)

Sure, I promise I won't look.

As Amy starts to get changed in the bathroom.

VIRGIL

Anyways, I was in the neighborhood --

actually the whole town's my neighborhood

-- and since you've never been to our

illustrious village, I thought maybe we could

go into town - see what we see.

AMY

See what we see?

VIRGIL

Figure of speech

.

AMY

You mean right now, tonight?

VIRGIL

Great - I'm blind and you're deaf - what a pair.

EXT. MAIN STREET - EVENING

A few store windows lit up. Some people eating dinner at a streetside cafe. Virgil, holding Amy's arm as they walk down the street.

WITH AMY AND VIRGIL WALKING:

VIRGIL

... the Mechanic at the top of the street is Doug - smokes too

much - but a good guy. Three steps down is Carlson's hardware

- he's got a laugh like a donkey - we sometimes listen to games

together - he's a Devil's fan. And just up ahead should be Grady's

junk shop - he calls it "antiques"...

Smells like junk. I'd hate to see what it looks like

.

A woman bustles past, NANCY BENDER, weighed down with groceries.

VIRGIL

(intuitively)

Hey Nancy.

NANCY

Hey Virgil - got that book in for you.

VIRGIL

Nancy's our librarian, brings in

any braille book I want.

NANCY

(to Amy)

The guy's nuts about the pyramids -

anything he can get his hands on...

VIRGIL

Thank-you Nancy - you should get your

groceries home - your ice cream's melting.

Nancy laughs - as she moves off.

AMY

Nice place - you seem to know everyone here.

VIRGIL

Moved here when I was eight.

My family figured it would be a

good place for me to grow up.

Tell me what you see.

AMY

Well, there's a good structure to the

town - genuine lines, good use of space.

To be honest I'd find a better balance

to a lot of these buildings. But that's me.

VIRGIL

What's you?

AMY

The architect in me - can't leave well

enough alone. Art school in college -

I made the arms for the Venus DeMilo.

(realizing he probably doesn' t understand)

see, the Venus De Milo has no arms and...

VIRGIL

(laughs)

I know the Venus De Milo has no arms, and

the Mona Lisa has this captivating smile

and David doesn't wear a fig leaf.

AMY

How do you...

VIRGIL

I may not have been a lot of places -

but I read about things, then make an

image up here -- (points to his head)

--that works for me.

Grazing his hand across a telephone pole - Virgil stops - turns to Amy.

VIRGIL

This is the end of the street.

We should turn back.

AMY

What about past the end of the street?

What's out there?

He turns around.

VIRGIL

(shrugs)

Nothing.

AMY

No - there's an old run down

building off to the side...

VIRGIL

Must be the old firehouse.

It had a fire so they shut it down. (Amy laughs)

Honest to God.

(intrigued)

What else do you see?

AMY

A wall of shrubs -

a field with an interesting configuration of trees.

The wind has picked up a bit.

VIRGIL

Tell me how you see it.

AMY

(enjoying the game)

OK, sure. Let's see - long and elegant. Like --

like a woman dancing with two lovers, trying

to decide which one she loves.

Virgil stops a moment - takes in the image.

AMY

What?

VIRGIL

It's just - the image you just

gave me - "Dancing trees. - I like that.

Virgil stops - his head cocks slightly.

VIRGIL

We should go - it's starting to rain.

AMY

(looking around)

There's a bit of a breeze but--

KABOOM - thunder - and the rain just drops.

INT. FIREHOUSE - NIGHT

They run in laughing - Amy closing the door behind them as Virgil moves his way into the center of the room - stands where the moonlight from a high window hits the floor. Water runs down the outside glass, causing the light to ripple across him. The room is empty - almost surreal.

AMY

I can't believe how fast it happens...

(she sees Virgil - his head cocked towards the ceiling)

AMY

Virgil?

Virgil's head turns toward her.

VIRGIL

You like rain - I love the rain.

AMY

(moving to him)

What were you just doing there?

Virgil slowly moves his head about, sensing the room.

VIRGIL

Listening - the rain - it brings out the

contours of everything, gives life to

a room I can't see.

WE SEE SLOW MOVING CUTS of the building as Virgil describes what he hears.

VIRGIL

You hear it?...on the roof dripping down the

walls on every side. On the right, on the

drainpipe, it's drumming with a deeper,

steadier sound - - like a timpani - echoing

across the room - tells me the room is large

- open. You feel it - in your chest? On the left,

the rain says... (he listens)

...a fire escape, with it's own rhythm

- ping - ping. Then listen - there...

(he points)

--what's that - over there...?

AMY

Looks like it's...

VIRGIL

No, listen for it - not what it

looks like - what it becomes.

Come here.

Amy moves closer - Virgil puts his hands out on her shoulders - turns her to the sound.

VIRGIL

Now just listen to it - shut out

everything but that sound -

do you hear it?

Amy strains to listen - closes her eyes - her head instinctively turning - no in unison with Virgil's

AMY

Yes - there - it's soft - like a shimmer

VIRGIL

The wind blowing the rain against a window.

AMY

(smile)

Like a cymbal. It's like our own

percussive symphony, isn't it?

Amy opens her eyes - looks about the room - listening.

VIRGIL

The world is invisible to me - with my touch it comes

alive. But only one thing at a time. But when it's raining,

I feel everything at once. Sometimes, I wish it could

rain inside rain all around us.

AMY

(musing)

"Einfuehlung."

VIRGIL

What?

AMY

Einfuehlung - it's an architectural term.

It means to share an empathy.

Been a long time since I felt that.

And as they stand listening to the rain, playing its music - Amy watches him - fascinated by him - then shivers slightly.

VIRGIL

You're cold, we should go.

AMY

No, I'm fine, really. It was just something passing

through me - can't explain it - a good thing.

Amy smiles at him - then quietly realizes

he can't see it. She moves close, her

hand reaching out and taking his.

AMY

What you just showed me ?how

I feel - makes me smile.

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