The following is a draft summary for a possible script for a film.
Opening scene: (Locale – San Francisco)
5-star hotel room (dimly lit honeymoon suite in total silence). Camera pan around the room, stopping at close up of Renée's face -- she's a 23 years old third-generation Chinese born in America -- showing her in a pensive and almost indifferent mood. [Sound FX: Total silence. Slowly, the volume goes up; it's a man's faint but heavy breathing] Slow zoom out until the back of Renée's husband, Robert, (also a Chinese-American), is shown. He is kissing Renée’s neck. She does not respond to his advances. Looking so frustrated, he stops, sits up and looks at her. He sort of sense something's not right, so he asks her, what's wrong, Renée? She does not answer.
She gets up from the bed showing her exquisitely sculptured bare back. She wraps her smooth alabaster body with the red satin bed sheet, goes to the window and gazes at the full moon peering through almost leafless oak tree branches (beyond are city lights), fall is just about to end. He continues to interrogate her, but feels embarrassed he is asking her these questions. What happened to you yesterday? We were all so worried. You were gone the whole day. She continues to look at the moon and does not answer (camera now outside the window, behind leafless branches looking in). Slowly zooms in on to her face; slowly going out of focus.
Scene 02:
Out of focus water, slowly focusing and zooming out until Renée comes into frame (camera from above). She is standing on the eastside ledge of the Golden Gate Bridge about to leap into the cold San Francisco bay. Cut to close-up of her face (total silence). Cut to close-up of the waves hitting the bridge's pylon (FX: loud sound of the strong surf). Cut back to her face. She hears a faint man's voice becoming louder (from total silence: no background music nor ambient noise). Hey, Miss! Hey, what are you doing? Do not jump! Hold on! Hey! Cut to close-up of her face (back to total silence). Cut to close-up of the waves hitting the bridge's pylon. Cut back to her face, with the man walking slowly towards her in the background. She continues to look at the water. She is being attracted towards it, but at the same time she feels being repelled back from it.
She was about to fall over when the young man, Paolo, grabs her wrist and she falls towards him instead. He catches her and both of them fall down to the ground. Just as they were standing up (with Renée showing she did not liked what Paolo just did), a police car comes along and shines a light on them. What’s happening here? The officer asks. Nothing, Officer, we are just about to go to our car, Paolo replies, dusting his pants off. Okay, it's past 3 in the morning, I think you are better off going home now. They walk to his car. She continues to be belligerent. They reach the car and she reluctantly enters. He enters from the driver's side as the police car speeds along.
Scene 03:
What's your name? Paolo asks as he starts the car (he's a 25 year old Italian exchange student from Florence). She is silent. Why were you on that ledge? She continues to be silent. He continues to drive silently. After a long while, he asks her, where do you live? Are you from here? Where do you want me to drive you? She is silent. Are you hungry? Do you want to go and get something to eat? After some time he says, anyway, we're going, because I am kind of hungry myself. They went to a Mel's drive-in. What do you want? Do you want a hamburger? Some fries? A double? Large fries? How about a coke? She is still silent.
Waitress arrives and took his order. Do you want anything to drink? Silence. He puts on a Tom Jobim CD and controls the volume. He listens and enjoys himself. His order arrives. He begins to eat. This time he didn't ask her if she wants anything. He just eats. Then, with a really soft voice (after clearing her throat) she begins to speak, can I have a bite? I didn't realize I am also very hungry. He gives her half of his Tuna sandwich. I do not know what I was doing. I just found myself up there on that ledge. Camera zooms in on her face (going out of focus); then zooms out (and focuses) to a different scene.
Scene 04:
She is at her parent's house and the whole family is having a heated argument. It's about her forthcoming marriage to Robert. Renee is crying. It is an arranged marriage. An old Chinese tradition that is now rarely practiced in the US, but it's happening to Renée. You have to do this for me. The future of my business depends on this marriage. Robert's father owns the biggest importer of computer chips in mainland China, and he committed to importing through our company. If I lose this contract, I lose the company, Reneé’s father voice booms aloud. But, father, we are not in China. You cannot have arranged marriage here in America, counter Renée's oldest sister. Everyone is dressed up for the wedding rehearsal to be held that afternoon. Everyone joins the debate and the argument continues.
Later, everyone go to their cars and they go to the church. They do the rehearsal. Renée continues to be pensive and sad. They go home. It's dinnertime; everyone is already at the dining table. Renee is not there. Her 82 year-old Grandmother asks one of the young nephews to go to her room and fetch her. He goes up and comes down running. She's gone, shouts the nephew. Renée is not in her room. They all go up running and look for her. She is gone.
Scene 05:
Cut-to the out of focus water again. And focuses on Renee's face telling her story to Paolo. They finished eating. He looks at his watch; it is almost six o'clock in the morning. He backs up the car and start to drive towards the Presidio. They park facing the ocean and listen to the music. To the right is the Golden Gate Bridge just starting to be bath in the yellow light of the morning sun just peeking from behind the Oakland hills. He looks at her eyes and gently touches her hand, as if telling her that he understood everything.
He asks her, where do you want to go? Anywhere, she answered. He starts to drive, going towards the Golden Gate Bridge and exits towards Sausalito. They park and walk pass the quaint little shops and are enjoying themselves. Holding hands, taking pictures, doing the tourist bit. They buy ice cream and eat while walking silently and calmly. As if they do not have a single worry in the world. Paolo goes back to the car and came back with his sketchpad and begins to draw her portrait in charcoal. He finishes and shows the drawing to her. She was amazed and gives him the sweetest smile he ever saw in his life. They went back to the car and start to drive again.
They stop at a supermarket and he buys French bread, cheese, red wine, bologna, bottled black olives and ask the meat cutter for a large wrapping paper. They proceed to the Marina Park, lay down the paper on the grass, sit and have a picnic. They watch the sailboats pass by with their colorful spinnakers up to take advantage of the strong tack wind.
After eating, they go to the Fisherman's wharf and continue doing their tourist bit. Trying all kind of hats, shirts, dresses, jackets, etc. They played all the different games. Going to all the different sideshows.
Scene 06:
They go back to the car and proceed to the North Beach–or "Little Italy" as it is known in San Francisco) to have coffee and some cheesecake. After finishing their drinks, he asks her if she wants to go to Lake Tahoe? Yes, I'd like that, she replies. They drive up to the lake, passing beautiful landscapes, with the sun slowly setting behind the hills, its rays creating long shadows of tall redwood trees on the highway. Beyond is the gorgeous blue lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. You could almost hear both of them saying that life is beautiful.
The sun was already down when they pull up to a small inn right at the edge of the lake, but the sky is still light, tinged with crimson and pink contrasting with the light, pale blue of the sky. They check in and went to their room. They freshen up and she puts on the flowing light salmon dress he bought for her from one of the shops at Fishermen's Wharf. She is stunningly beautiful -- almost like a goddess. He stares at her. What? She asks. Oh, nothing. I just, ah... What? She repeats. You're so beautiful, he mutters, groping for the right word. She smiles... a little one.
They go down to the dining room and choose a table outside on the deck overhanging the water. The sky is now reddish-orange. They begin to hear the music from a live pianist. She is playing Claire de Lune by Debussy. He looks at her eyes, her nose, her lips, at her beautiful hands – he can feel he is falling in love. They order dinner and eat. An old couple from across the almost empty hall stands up and begin to dance. Do you want to dance, he asks her. She nods her head and stands up. They dance. And dance. And dance.
Afterwards, they went out of the hotel grounds and walk along the lake. The yellow full moon is just rising from the horizon creating a faint yellow reflection on the surface of the water. She took his hands in hers and they continue to walk.
He tells her his story. He was on his last year at a prestigious law school in Milan, but he never liked it. His father who heads a big law firm in Florence wanted him to follow his footsteps – to be his successor. But he always liked to draw and paint, so without his parent’s knowledge, he sent his portfolio and applied at the San Francisco Art Institute and was accepted. He was now on his second year in art school.
They come up to a tall redwood tree, she leans her back on its massive trunk; he leans forward towards her, his half-parted lips slowly touching hers. They kiss softly – very softly. And they kiss. And they kiss.
They walk back to their room. They enter. They continue to kiss. She begins to take her earrings down, unbutton her blouse, and unsnap her bra. This is going to be her very first. He starts to choke up. He swallows to clear his throat; his heart beat races up. She takes his hand and put it on her breast. His eyes followed her hands and stares at her exquisite body. He quivers. They kiss again. And again. And again. She sits down on the bed, looking up to him. She now begins to unbutton his shirt and takes it off (everything is slow, very slow). She looks at his eyes, his nose, his lips, his bare upper torso. She is falling in love with him. She lies down and he followed her – he kisses her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, her chin, her lips, her neck, and they make love. And make love. And make love. He looks up at her and sees her with a sweetest smile. Then, still in each other's arms, they fall asleep. Outside, the moon is already high up, it’s reflection on the dark blue mirror-like water now more intense and defined.
After some time, he wakes up. He looks toward her side of the bed. She is gone! He stands up and finds a note on the night table. My ever dearest sweet Paolo, I love you, but I have to follow my father's wish. It is for my father's honor, for my family's honor. I love my father very much. I owe it to him. I have to do this. Forever yours... Renée. He looks out the window, imagining that she is just out there by the lake. But he knows that she is gone. Forever. The sun is just about to rise and the earth is just beginning to receive its golden light. He stares at the beautiful scene, even as his whole life seemed drained from the emotional roller-coaster ride.
Scene 07:
She is back at her parent's house, dresses up in her wedding dress and does the whole wedding bit. The march, the rings, the picture taking, the grand Chinese banquet, etc., up until she and Robert walk to their honeymoon suite.
Scene 08:
Camera starts to focus on her face (still from outside the window looking in) and zooms in to reveal the honeymoon suite where her husband is again. He is already sleeping. She starts to dress up quietly. Goes down to the lobby and had a taxi called for her. She rides the cab and goes to the address given her by Paolo. He's hasn’t been there since the day before yesterday says the landlady. She calls the hotel in Lake Tahoe. He checked out yesterday, the front desk person tells her. Next, she goes to the places they went the other day --the drive-in, the Ocean Beach, The Marina, Sausalito. He's nowhere to be found. Then it hit her! She asks the driver to go to the bridge where they first met; but he isn't there, too. Cut to close-up of the waves hitting the bridge's pylon. Cut back to her face (exactly, as in the first scene). Where could he be? She is almost frantic!
Then she sees something shining on top of the railing. She comes closer and sees a pen. Oh no! It can’’t be. It‘s the same pen that she bought in Sausalito and gave Paolo as a souvenir! She looked down again at the cold bay water. Oh no! Oh, Paolo why did you jump! Oh, God… it can’t end like this! Oh, Paolo, I am so sorry!
Ever so slowly, Renée climbs up the railing, crying, sobbing. Oh, Paolo, my love, why did it have to end like this. Oh, Paolo, wait for me – I am coming… Cut to close-up of the waves hitting the bridge's pylon (FX: loud sound of the strong surf). Cut back to her face. She continues to look at the water. She is being attracted towards it, but at the same time she feels being repelled back from it. She is about to leap when she hears a faint man's voice becoming louder (from total silence: no background music nor ambient noise). She turns back towards the muffled sound, when out of the thick fog she saw a distant faint silhouette running towards her. Could it be him? She shouts, Paolo?! Paolo! She climbs down from the railing. It's him. It’s Paolo! He runs towards her. Renée, Renée! They hug. He stares at her face, her eyes, her nose, her lips. He can’t believe she’s back in his arms. She gazed at his face, his eyes, his nose, his lips. She can’t believe he’s alive. So softly, they kiss. They kiss, and they kiss and they kiss. She cries and he cries. For the first time, he whispered in her ears, oh Renée, I love you so. Oh, dear Paolo, I love you, too, she sighs. Then they smile, big smiles and continued to look at each other’s face.
The camera slowly goes up still pointed at them and slowly zooms out to show the bridge enveloped in the thick morning fog from above with the two young lovers still in deep loving embrace, as the first light of the new dawn starts to penetrate the fog.
END
