HAITI/PEACE CORPS = H20 success!
Excerpts from
CASSONADE
Original screenplay by Mark Newell
February, 2001
"Night of Love"
EXT PORT-AU-PRINCE - U.S. EMBASSY STREET - NIGHT
Soft island MUSIC comes from all directions. The road is blockaded. An embassy-sponsored street party that resembles Mardi Gras in New Orleans is in full swing outside the American Embassy.
Different BANDS play in different areas. Dressed casually in shorts and sandals, hundreds of people dance, eat, laugh, and drink.
Signs strung up and down the street read:
HAITI/PEACE CORPS = H20 success!
BARBECUE STAND
Hundreds of hands reach out for the free barbecued seafood. Hundreds of mouths chew and swallow.
RUM AND BEER STANDS
Hands reach also for the free rum and beer. Mouths guzzle greedily. Everyone appears intoxicated under the bright moon on this warm Caribbean night.
Matthew and Nicole walk unsteadily down the festive street.
NICOLE
Thank you.
MATTHEW
You mean for today?
NICOLE
For all you have done.
Matthew turns to her.
MATTHEW
I should thank you...
Matthew appears sincere. He pauses.
MATTHEW
For kicking my ass.
Nicole LAUGHS.
NICOLE
I have a hard time making sense of anything you do. You’re a contradiction. But I do know I misjudged you.
Matthew gazes at her.
MATTHEW
It wouldn’t be the first time.
NICOLE
I thought you were another soft American who would go running home after the first blister.
MATTHEW
Me?
NICOLE
Or a self-righteous son-of-a-bitch who knew everything and thought he could cure all mankind’s woes.
Matthew laughs.
MATTHEW
Soft, never. An S.O.B., possibly. But, know everything? Definitely.
He clinks his glass to hers. Nicole laughs. Their eyes meet. Each takes a sip of the rum. Matthew turns and gazes at the sensuous Caribbean dancers.
MATTHEW
You see, I had a father who would never, could never accept me. It made me lose something. Maybe self-respect. And the weird thing was, I didn’t even know it was missing until...
Matthew grins and gestures at the party -- at all of Haiti.
The MUSIC BEATS. People laugh. People dance. Nicole and Matthew are both now moving to the music. He closes his eyes.
MATTHEW
It’s party time.
Nicole stands on tiptoe and gives him a kiss, a longer kiss than a friendly thank you.
They look at each other and start to kiss again. The kiss is prevented by a surge of DANCERS who sweep them up into a conga line.
Nicole and Matthew laugh and join in, their eyes only on each other. The line of dancing celebrants flows joyfully down the street.
INT. NICOLE’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM
The moon illuminates the room. Nicole and Matthew enter and embrace. We still hear the strains of MUSIC from the revelers.
MATTHEW
Are we alone...?
NICOLE
No children tonight.
Matthew smiles a devilish grin.
He goes over to pour himself a drink. In his stupor he drops a glass. Shaking his head, he bends over to pick up the pieces.
Nicole watches.
MATTHEW
Shit!
Matthew pulls his hand back quickly. He’s been cut by a jagged edge. He holds his hand to his mouth.
Nicole slowly walks to Matthew. She looks him in the eye. In a measured way, Nicole takes his cut hand and places it in her own mouth.
Slowly, sensually, she sucks at the bleeding cut.
Matthew’s breathing becomes heavy from the sensuality of the moment. A breeze rustles through the windows. He is momentarily mesmerized by the act.
He is finally able to tenderly put a hand on her cheek. The two of them passionately kiss.
Nicole leads Matthew to the bedroom.
Contact Mark Newell 323.466.5598
