RAMA

Written by Ed Cunningham

ed@edcunningham.net

EXT. A SMALL HOUSE WITH A WHITE PICKET FENCE - DAY In the front yard, an OLD BLACK DOG sits in the grass, peacefully watching over her turf. The wind blows through the trees above her. We hear the feint tinkling of bells, or windchimes. A WOMAN emerges from the house, to water the plants on her front porch. ECU - The woman bends over to smell a Gardenia. She inhales deeply and smiles. ECU - The dog hears something. She barks. The woman looks up to see what the dog might be barking at. Nothing in sight. But then, the distant sound of jingling bells gradually grows louder. The bells are getting closer. The dog walks toward to sound. A MAN IN FLOWING ROBES is walking by the house, playing a tamborine. He sees the woman on the front porch, watering her flowers. He stops. The two stare at each for a moment. Suddenly, he changes course and walks directly up the driveway. The woman walks out to meet him. WOMAN Can I help you? Yes. MAN

WOMAN How can I help you? MAN Who are you? Who am I? Rama. Rama? Rama. WOMAN Who are you? MAN WOMAN RAMA

WOMAN What do you want? RAMA I want to make love with you.

2. WOMAN You need to get off my property now. Do you understand? RAMA Youre like a porpoise in heat. The woman retreats into the house. In a flash, shes gone.

Rama stands there in the driveway, waiting for her to return. She doesnt. He turns and wonders what to do next. He notices the dog. He goes into the front yard to pet the dog. The dog couldnt be friendlier. Suddenly the front door of the house opens. WOMAN Bella! BELLA!! Come inside. inside girl. Come

The dog does NOT come inside. Instead, Rama walks directly toward the front door, heeding her call. Stay back! WOMAN (CONTD) STOP!

She slams the door. Rama stands there as if it is a foregone conclusion that the woman will return. He stands there, staring at the door, for a very long time. We see the woman looking through the blinds in the front window. The dog noodles up to the man, begging for more attention from his new best friend. The man sits down in an Adirondack chair on the front porch. He brings the dogs face close to his own and intimately kisses the dog on the lips. The woman, still watching from the window, cries out... Bella NO! WOMAN (CONTD) BELLA! STOP THAT!!

Rama stops kissing the dog and goes over to the window. The woman disappears, but Rama stands in front of that window with strength and vulnerability. He stares into the window, as if hes looking into the womans eyes... Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Mailman appears. Hes wondering what the guy in the flowing robes is doing there.

3. MAILMAN MAN

Hi. Hi.

The Mailman decides to just deliver the mail and get the hell out of there. But the woman calls after him. Ramil! WOMAN RAMIL!

Halfway down the driveway and on his way to the next house, the Mailman stops and turns around. WOMAN (CONTD) Ramil! Call the police! The police! He waves to the woman and walks away. RAMA Goodbye, Ramil. Rama waves to Ramil as if they were old friends, as if this were some long good-bye next to an ocean liner. Ramil reluctantly waves back, pulling his cell phone out. The man turns around and speaks to the window of the house. RAMA (CONTD) What is your name? Tell me your name. And I will go. A long silence. Then... WOMAN Rama calls after him.

Gabriela.

RAMA Gabriela. Gabriela. You have made me so happy today, Gabriela. Im going to go home and masterbate to you. Because your voice is all I need. Youre voice is an eternal pleasure. The man leaves. He walks down the driveway, and the dog follows him down the inside of the fence-line as if to say, Wait. Dont go! SLOW MOTION - The dog looks up at the man. The man strides down the driveway, looking down toward the dog and smiling. The dog stops in her tracks and watches him go. FADE TO BLACK.