Kiss Of The Spider Woman - Daily Script

1 kiss OF THE Spider Woman by Leonard Schrader FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY FIRST DRAFT October 25, 1982 Converted to PDF by SCREENTALK EXT. HARBOR - DAYThe South American harbor is crammed with freight ships. DOCKWORKERS climb the ramps with bags of coffee beans. Cranes unload boxes of Japanese TO:EXT. BAR DISTRICT - DAYThe narrow street is lined with garish bars. Half-nudeHOOKERS lean over balconies and call down to passingSHIPMATES. More hookers, escaping the tropical heat,sit in doorways and fan themselves to the Salsa MUSIC from all the TO:INT. RESTAURANT PATIO - DAYT apping to the music are a man's feet in sandals and agold ankle chain. His linen trousers are rolled up inthe heat. Dyed in his silk shirt are small faces ofRita is LEWIS MOLINA, 58, an American who has lived heresince jumping ship at 19. His hair is tinted to hidethe gray. He has the weathered face of a man who hasseen it all, and been hurt by most of the camera moves from his feet to his face, we hearMolina reading in a rather effeminate says he can't come back forChristmas like he promised.

2 Andhe's very sorry he hasn't seen hisnew son and he loves youwith all his across his table are envelopes and stamps. AWOMAN of the district listens to him with quiet dignity. She has a baby on her lap and a four-year-old boy at he won't come at all this year.(MORE)Converted to PDF by (CONT'D)(holds back tears)What about money for the children? doesn't say.(turns to bar)Gabriel! Did you forget my icedtea?(turns to Woman )Do you want to write him back?The Woman is too sad to answer. The boy fiddles withhis Star Wars toy. Molina moistens a pen with his tongueand begins to Peter, the boys and I weredelighted to get your thoughtfulcard ..A ship horn BLARES over the music. As Molina writes, wesee the interior of his hang-out and 'office.'The restaurant is divided by a folding partition, paintedwith jungle leaves and Spider webs. One side is a barwith weary dockworkers. The other side is a modest diningroom with SHIPS OFFICERS at clean , 35, a handsome waiter in a tunic, moves throughthe tables with a tray of dirty dishes.

3 His well-dressedWIFE, waiting impatiently at the kitchen window, resumesher told you last week, the deadlineis today. If we don't pay by 5:30,the girls will miss a nothing, Gabriel puts an iced tea on his you listening!(MORE)Converted to PDF by (CONT'D)You know how I struggled to getthem accepted by that school!Gabriel approaches Molina's table on the patio. Molinaglances up with a tea, Molina. Sorry it tookso 's okay.(returns to letter)Remember, dearest Peter, I am yourwoman, who misses you more thanlife itself, who lives only forthe blessed moment of your return. I save all my love for you alone. Your beloved --(looks up)What was your name, darling?WOMANP lease, Senhor Molina. I willsign my own is If you think that's Woman pays the fee and leaves. Gabriel, waitingnearby, looks uneasy as he leans , could I ask you a smallfavor? It's only a hundred. Formy kid's school. (indicates wife) She has the money, but she says afather should provide these takes out a hundred, leaving only twenty forhimself.

4 Gabriel accepts it with grateful you, Molina. I'll pay youback next to PDF by watches him approach his angry TO:EXT. BAR DISTRICT - NIGHTA lthough the bars are closed, the narrow street stillswelters in the heat. Molina and Gabriel stroll pasthookers lingering in the 'll never understand. How can aman with your intelligence work ina dump like that?GABRIELIt's life, , it's a shame. With your looksand charm, you should work in achic restaurant. In a biginternational hotel. Making threetimes what you get in think I haven't tried?They turn a corner and approach the , when I brought my motherdown from Miami, she worked theswitchboard at the CopacabanaPalace. She still knows themanager. She'll introduce you,and poof. A new it, Lewis. I can't evenspeak bus to PDF by (quickly)I'll pay for your lessons. We canpractice everyday. It's perfect,you'll learn in no is cheap, eh Molina?MOLINAI can afford it. (boards the bus)See you , Gabriel.

5 kiss thechildren for watches the bus pull away. Several TOUGH TEENAGERS stand in front of a run-down movie theater. One BOY,16, stares at Molina. Their eyes TO:INT. MOLINA'S APARTMENT - NIGHTM olina, exhausted, enters his dimly-lit parlor. Thelate-night TV broadcasts a test pattern. His MOTHER,81, wakes up on the sofa. They speak in , you should be in bed. Whydon't you listen to the doctor?MOTHERWhat time is it?MOLINALong past your bedtime. Come,I'll help takes her elbow. She hobbles toward her bedroom witha to PDF by you know anyone who teachesEnglish?MOTHERWhy are you so late, Lewis? Didsomething happen?MOLINAOf course not, Mama. Just go BAR/RESTAURANT - DAYCUT TO:Molina sips coffee at his regular "desk" on the patio. A police car pulls to a stop. A POLICE OFFICER gets outand approaches Molina's morning, Molina. How's itgoing?MOLINANot officer sits down and fingers Molina's papers 's business? need more coffee. You want some?OFFICERYou don't have time.

6 (points)Recognize the kid in the car?Molina squints at the police car. In the backseat isthe 16-year-old boy (from last night) with his to PDF by father's been singing yourfavorite song. Let's , Molina stands up and gazes back into therestaurant at TO:EXT. PRISON - DAYThe old prison is massive. The stone walls are surroundedby TO:INT. PRISON - DAYThe corridors are filthy. The floors are cracked. Thepaint is TO:INT. TORTURE ROOM - DAYS hadows on the wall show a man being tortured. Hesuddenly falls to the floor. His boots are spatteredwith AIs he dead?VOICE BNo, I'll wake him AForget it, I'm too tired. Justhaul him back to the TO:INT. CELL - NIGHTThe stark cell door has a steel door and one small windowwith bars. Molina sits on a prison bed and speaksdirectly into the to PDF by the tycoon discovers whereshe is working, he buys the hoteland fires her. Just when she needsto pay for her lover's TO:INT. FISHERMAN'S SHACK - NIGHT (MEXICAN MOVIE)We see the MOVIE that Molina is describing.

7 The imageslook like a cheap Mexican tubercular YOUNG MAN is asleep on a humble bed inthe OF MOLINAShe tells her lover nothing aboutlosing her job. She just wantshim to TO:INT. CELL- NIGHTNow we see that Molina is addressing someone. The CAMERAPANS to the other CELL-MATE wears the same blood-spattered boots seenin the torture room. The CAMERA CONTINUES from boots tohead. The cell-mate appears to be sleeping, his face tothe ( )She doesn't dare worry him whenhe's so cell-mate rolls over with his eyes open. He isVALENTIN ARREGUI, 32, thin and unshaven. His arms showthe marks of torture. He has the intense look of a manwho has been hurt in more ways than 't bother me. I need to TO:Converted to PDF by FISHERMAN'S SHACK - NIGHT (MEXICAN MOVIE)Coughing, the tubercular Young Man struggles to his feetand puts on his OF MOLINAOne night her lover is feeling alittle better and decides to meether after work at the , the young man blows out the TO:EXT. HOTEL - NIGHT (MEXICAN MOVIE)The Young Man speaks to the DOORMAN at the large hotel.

8 The Doorman gives him a cigarette and OF MOLINAThe doorman tells him that shehasn't worked there for quite awhile. He asks for a cigaretteeven though he knows smoking issuicide for a man with TO:EXT. DARK STREET - NIGHT (MEXICAN MOVIE)The gaunt Young Man sees several PROSTITUTES under astreet lamp, calling out to passing OF MOLINAIn desperation he walks streetafter street until, finally, hesees her on a corner. She iswearing a gaudy outfit and flirtingwith an old man in a car. Hesuddenly realizes what she's beenhiding from him: she was sellingher body to save his young man, crying, takes a deep drag on his TO:Converted to PDF by CELL - NIGHTM olina, playing the role of the young man, pretends tocry with a cigarette. Valentin struggles to his feetand goes to the shit-bucket in the you like it?VALENTINL eave me alone, man. I need tobuild my tell me if you like , exhausted by torture, leans against the wallas he that it's over, it seems likethe lovers are 's not over yet, my TO:INT.

9 FISHERMAN'S SHACK - NIGHT (MEXICAN MOVIE)The Woman (who was dressed as a hooker) arrives home innormal clothing. Seeing his empty bed, she rushes intothe the table are a plate full of cigarette butts and anempty bottle of rum. Then she sees his note by OF MOLINAI nstantly she realizes that heknows her secret. She finds hisnote by the window.(MORE)Converted to PDF by OF MOLINA (CONT'D)Moonlight falls on his tearstainedwords as she reads: "I love you somuch that I cannot go on beingsuch a burden to you. Please don'tlook for me. If God wants us tomeet again, we'll find each otherwithout even looking."The movie music swells: a sad, romantic TO:INT. CELL - NIGHTM olina is humming the same Bolero. Valentin stares atthe 't it wonderful!VALENTINIt helps pass the that mean you like it?5 VALENTINIt doesn't help the Mary, is that all you cantalk about? You must've studiedPolitical Philosophies in looks at him with Phrase is Political Science,and the answer is -- no, I !

10 So you can appreciate a easily spot a cheap to PDF by 't worry, my dear. Tomorrowmorning Mother will show her best. Better than any movie you'll , I can't be listening to thisjunk during the day. I've gotimportant things to think night, then. Sweet TO:INT. CELL - DAYV alentin reads a paperback entitled Third WorldEconomics. Molina, like an actor, uses a mirror andlipstick to apply a light rouge on his me about your girlfriend. You do have one, don't you?VALENTINL eave me course, you do. What's the bigsecret? Is she involved in ascandal?Valentin glares up from his 's none of your business.(turns away)That's my TO:INT. CELL - NIGHTM olina is excited to be telling another to PDF by Paris during the SecondWorld War, such a wonderfully heroictime. Proud soldiers march alongthe broad avenues in a magnificentParade of TO:EXT. PARIS - DAYThe Parisian skyline. SOUNDS of crowds, military drums,marching OF MOLINAThe air is charged with excitementas they march under the Arch DOWN the Arch of Triumph to reveal columns of OF MOLINAW earing their marvelous uniforms.