I’ve had a lot of fun over the last year or so (and some success) writing screenplays and posting them here in the blog as they progress. This one, “The Milk of Paradise,” is being written for Indy director / producer Rossana Jeran, who directed, produced, and starred in GODHEAD the Movie, which I also scripted. It was her story, though, and her outline. She’s asked me to take my story, “The Milk of Paradise,” and turn it into a feature. I hope there’s enough story to do so…we’ll see.
The Milk of Paradise is about a woman’s obsession with absinthe, and with Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem – Kubla Kahn.
Here’s the first part:
INT. BAR – AFTERNOON
BELLE (25, dark hair, slender) leans on the corner of the bar. She stares at rows of dusty, forgotten bottles. The front is lined with clean, recently used bottles, but she ignores them.
We see a BARTENDER (late forties) watching her out of the corner of his eye. He polishes the bar with a towel. BELLE leans over the bar, as if to brush her fingers over the labels.
BARTENDER
Can I help you?
BELLE glances distractedly over her shoulder and shakes her head. She turns back and we see the green bottle from her perspective. It is Absinthe. The label is old and European. Cobwebs stretch from the bottle to the shelf.
The SCUFF of boots on the floor from the BARTENDER and BELLE steps back, startled. She tries to focus on the bottle, but the BARTENDER steps between her and the shelf. He glares at her.
BARTENDER
This isn’t a rest stop. You want to take up space, you’ve got to order something.
BELLE
(mumbles)
I...
BELLE looks ready to split, then suddenly points at the Absinthe.
BELLE
That. I’ll have that.
The BARTENDER turns, follows her pointing finger to the back row. He reaches for a brown bottle, but BELLE shakes her head and points to the left, agitated. The BARTENDER picks up the Absinthe and studies the label dubiously.
BARTENDER
No one’s ordered this since I started working here.
(beat)
It’s green.
BELLE remains silent, and after a moment he shrugs, grabs an empty brandy snifter, and slaps it on the bar in front of her. He works the stopper out of the bottle, takes a whiff, winces, and then pours half a glass.
BELLE fumbles a bill out of her purse and drops it on the bar without looking at it. The BARTENDER grabs it, also not looking.
BELLE tips her head back and gulps the harsh liquor too fast. She tries not to choke. The BARTENDER shakes his head.
BELLE picks up the bottle from the bar.
BARTENDER
What are you doing?
BELLE fumbles crazily in her purse with her free hand, holding the bottle away from the bar. She drops another bill on the counter, picks up her purse, and turns toward the door. The BARTENDER starts after her, shrugs, picks up the bill.
BARTENDER
You’re welcome. Crazy bitch.
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