The Intelligence of Flowers (Script Sample)

TITLE CARD OVER BLACK: "CHAPTER I: CONCERNING VAINGLORY" TITLE DISAPPEARS. FADE IN: EXT. UPPER BRITTANY - ABBEY ENTRANCE - ESTABLISHING SHOT -AFTERNOON A vintage CAR PULLS UP outside the entrance of a 13th century Benedictine abbey.

I/E. VINTAGE CAR The driver, MAURICE LEBLANC (50's), turns his head towards the backseat.

NOTE: All dialogue is in French with SUBTITLES until otherwise noted.

MAURICE This is it, ladies! The Abbey of Saint Corentin...

PAN TO REVEAL the two young ladies sitting in the backseat, HÉLÈNE KERGOAT (20's), and her sister, MAËLYS KERGOAT (30's).

They all get out of the car and walk towards the entrance door, which looks more modern compared to the rest of the building. Maurice TAKES OUT some KEYS from his pocket.

MAURICE This is just a precaution. We experienced acts of vandalism in the past, unfortunately.

I/E. CLOISTER - MOMENTS LATER They walk down a square cloister that surrounds a grassy garth.

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2.

MAURICE I'm also responsible for taking care of this beautiful courtyard...

MAURICE But it's really hard to get yourself motivated when you know that nobody is gonna stay here and enjoy it, you know what I mean? Hopefully, the weather will be just as good tomorrow so you can have your breakfast out here, Hélène.

HÉLÈNE That would be lovely.

MAËLYS When did the last nuns leave, Maurice?

MAURICE Oh, it's been quite a while! It must've been more than thirty years ago.

HÉLÈNE You know why they left?

MAURICE I assume that they couldn't keep up with the maintenance. Mind the fact that this building is more than 800 years old. At some point, they started brewing in the basement to generate some income, but apparently it wasn't enough to cover all the costs.

HÉLÈNE They made beer?

MAURICE Yes, yes... 'Dubbel', as they called it.

They walk up a flight of stairs that open into the upper floor corridor. Maurice opens the first door on his left and stands beside it.

MAURICE Ladies first.

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3.

INT. CELL The two sisters come into a narrow single cell that is just large enough to hold a bed, a prie-dieu, and a tapestry chair by the uncurtained window -- which overlooks the grassland opposite to the abbey.

Hélène fixes her eyes on a large wooden crucifix on the stone wall.

MAËLYS Oh my...

MAURICE It's been left pretty much untouched, as you can see.

MAËLYS Are you still keen on spending the night here, sis?

HÉLÈNE Sure, why not?

MAËLYS There's something... eerie about it.

HÉLÈNE Oh, definitely! But if Marie-Thérèse could sleep comfortably in a room like this, then I should try to make myself more comfortable with it, too.

Maurice gives Hélène a curious look.

MAURICE Is this the name of your character, darling?

HÉLÈNE Yes! She's a cloistered nun.

MAURICE See, I've been under the impression that cloistered nuns stayed together, in a communal dormitory. Cause if you go next door, for example... (beat) Can you follow me, please?

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4.

INT. ABBESS'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS Maurice leads them to the room next door to Hélène's.

MAURICE You see this room? This is where the Mother Superior used to stay.

MAURICE She was the only nun that was allowed to have her own room. The cell next door was only meant to accommodate the nuns who would fall seriously ill...

Physically or mentally.

MAËLYS Good God! As if it wasn't bad enough already...

HÉLÈNE Well, I don't see any problem with that at all... Thank you so much for showing us around, Maurice, it was really kind of you.

MAURICE Ah, don't mention it!

MAËLYS (to Maurice) Would it be okay if we stayed for a little longer before we head back to the village? I need to have a quick chat with Hélène...

Hélène looks at her curiously.

EXT. GARTH - LATER A few minutes later, the two of them walk through the garth at a slow pace.

HÉLÈNE There was no need to come all the way here, Maëlys... I'm sure I can manage on my own.

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5.

MAËLYS Oh shut up! As if I'd miss my sister's first ever film shoot. This is exciting stuff!

HÉLÈNE Yeah -- which isn't going to happen until next month... Come on, sis, for real; why are you here?

MAËLYS Well, I'm your agent, am I not? Koen is coming tomorrow just to see you, so I expect he wants to talk about finances -- that's my job.

Upon hearing that argument, Hélène gives a chuckle.

HÉLÈNE (in English) Bull-shit.

MAËLYS Uh-uh! You can never know. Plus, there's a job I need to tell you about...

HÉLÈNE Right, now we're talking! Why didn't you tell me straight away?

MAËLYS So, before you instantly reject it, mind this; it's good money. And it's just one day's work, as well.

HÉLÈNE Doesn't make much of a difference, to be honest... What is it?

MAËLYS New reality show on MTV. They only need you for the pilot which airs in two weeks' ti-Hélène interrupts her.

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6.

HÉLÈNE Whoa, stop right there! You should've known this already, I won't be working on anything else until production wraps.

MAËLYS No, Hélène, listen...

Hélène covers her sister's lips with her finger.

HÉLÈNE Shush! I don't want to hear any more of that. Let me concentrate on my role. Please!

MAËLYS Christ, you're really into this, aren't you?

HÉLÈNE I told you, I had a change of heart...

MAËLYS The thing is, it doesn't really matter if I believe in you or not, cause if the film is shit and makes no money, we're gonna be done for.

Hélène stops walking and stares at her sister with a confused look.

HÉLÈNE What on Earth are you on about? It's just one film.

MAËLYS Not just any film, Hélène... You'll be portraying a character that goes completely against the persona that you've created as a pop singer. You've made this choice for yourself, though, and that's absolutely fine... But don't expect that you can go back to making music any time soon, if your acting career suddenly goes to shit.

That's all I'm saying...

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7.

HÉLÈNE For God's sake, Maëlys, you know it won't! You see how committed I am to this film? Did you ever see me get as passionate about music? No. That's cause I want this! And I want to show everyone that I'm not doing it for fun, that this is a serious career move and that they can count on me to deliver a good performance.

Maëlys smiles at her and strokes her hair fondly.

MAËLYS Silly girl! Of course I know that you're gonna give a good performance... Have you ever failed to deliver?

Hélène still looks troubled.

HÉLÈNE And what if I do? Will you be like, "I told you so"?

MAËLYS I think I'll be more like, "let's open that damn hair salon we've been talking about since forever"!

Hélène starts laughing. Maëlys hugs her.

MAËLYS You're sure you don't want to come with me tonight? It's not exactly a villa, but it should satisfy a prima donna like you.

HÉLÈNE This prima donna needs to learn how to live like a nun.

MAËLYS Ugh, fair enough... I shall see you tomorrow, then. Try not to call me every time you see a spider hanging around...

Maëlys sticks out her tongue playfully and walks away.

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8.

I/E. ABBEY ENTRANCE - SUNSET Maëlys gets in Maurice's car, while waving goodbye to her sister, who leans against the entrance door.

After they drive off, Hélène sits there for a little while to watch the sunset.

CAMERA FOLLOWS her, as she walks back to her cell.

TO VIEW THE REST OF THE SCRIPT, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT JOHNV313@GMAIL.COM

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