UNTITLED: CUBA

Written by
Melissa Molina

Based on, the Cuban Revolution

2016

BLACK
Sound of rain.
A radio is heard:
RADIO
With elections coming up. It is the
decision of the Cuban people to
choose the next leader.
Radio becomes lower.
Sound of RAIN is prominent.
Calm.
SuddenlyAwkward piano playing.
FADE IN:
INT. LIVING ROOM. 1950S CUBA- DAY
The room is dark and gloomy. The rain outside beats the
ground.
Thirteen year old CARMEN with blonde hair and blue eyes plays
the piano.
She is horrible.
FRANCISCA, 30, comes into the room. She is lean, practically
dressed up to her neck and stout in character.
FRANCISCA
You are going to have to pray to
Jesus to become better at the
piano.
Francisca dusts.
CARMEN
I will get better. I just need toCarmen hits a sour note.
She winces.
CARMEN (CONTD)
-practice...

2.
FRANCISCA
What you need to do is pray for a
miracle.
Francisca opens the window.
Carmens hand slips up again.
CARMEN
I have lessons tomorrow. I will
just practice then.
Carmen quickly gets up and leaves the room.
FRANCISCA
You wanted a piano! Here it is! Do
not make me and your father regret
it.
CARMEN (YELLING BACK V.O)
I will practice tomorrow!
FRANCISCA (MUMBLING)
May Jess Christo have mercy on us.
She dusts the shades on the window that are already spotless.
FRANCISCA (CONTD)
We should never have bought into
her fantasy of playing a piano.
Francisca leaves the room.
We notice ISABELLA 7, under the piano. Her light brown hair
is visible under the piano stood. She lies there fumbling
with her fingers.
Isabella!

FRANCISCA (V.O.)

Isabella moves her head towards the kitchen.

Her hazel eyes light up.
FRANCISCA (V.O.)
Where are you!
Isabella climbs from out of the piano and into the wooden
bench.
She sits on her knees carefully begins closing the piano.
Isabella looks towards the next room then back at the piano.

3.
She places her small fingers on as many keys as she can.
She begins to play.
Not well, but better than her sister.

We only see her back as Isabella sits at the piano and

continues playing.

She settles onto the piano stool.

Time seems to go by.

A SERIES OF SHOTS:
Isabella is ten and playing the piano intricately and softly.

As time continues her back straightens, her posture becomes

better, and her playing becomes fast paced.

Isabella is 13, 15...

The sound of rain stops.

Slowly, more and more sunshine seems to make its way into the
room until-

Finally she is nineteen.

The room is brightly lit by sunlight.

Outside a window is a palm tree.
Her hair is long, her dress is bright red.

4.
The song is now rapid and her fingers strike the piano keys
with excellent vigor..
Isabella takes a quick glace at the clock as she continues
playing.
Isabella!
Coming!
Isabella!

FRANCISCA (V.O.)
ISABELLA
FRANCISCA (V.O.)

Isabellas playing drowns out Franciscas voice.

Isabella suddenly stops playing.
ISABELLA
Coming now!
Isabella rushes out the door.
INT. LIVING ROOM- DAY
Same shot of door.
Then Isabella enters the screen.
NANCY, her student, sits at the piano.
Yes...

ISABELLA

Isabella waves her hand along with the playing.

The playing stops.
ISABELLA (CONTD)
Nancy! That was fantastic! A little
bit too long at the ending but
fantastic never the less.
NANCY
I know I will get that down by next
week.
Nancy begins towards the door.

5.
ISABELLA
Oh I am sure you will. Practice the
timing before getting your hands on
the piano.
Nancy walks out the door. Isabella follows her out.
EXT. PORCH- DAY
There is old merengue music playing on the street far off.
Classic brightly colored 50s cars pass up and down the city
street. The buildings are a dark yellow. Children play
baseball in the middle of the street.
A man in his twenties walks down the street with a woman on
his arm.
The woman has unruly dark hair pushed out of her face. Her
dress although at the appropriate length is a little bit too
tight around her form and shows a little bit too much skin.
ISABELLA
Bye Nancy! See you next week.
Nancy waves goodbye, and continues walking down the street
past the man and woman.

Isabella notices the man is staring at her and tries not to

make eye contact.

The man is obviously not paying attention to the girl on his

arm who is still going on about something.

As they pass in front of Isabella's house Isabella and him

make eye contact for a brief moment.
A little bit down the block he stops and looks back to get
another look at Isabella. Isabella is now watering plants on
the porch.
Isabella looks up from watering the last flower pot and sees
the girl slapping the mans face and marching off in her
heels across the street.

The man stands for a moment.

6.

All the people on their porches stare.

The man looks back with a reddening face and makes eye
contact with Isabella. He smirks in shame.
Then continues down the street.
INT. CARMENS HOUSE- NIGHT
People are everywhere in the tight space of her home. There
is cigar smoke, music, and liquor. As Isabella makes her way
through the crowd looking for her sister she overhears men
talking about Batista. Men share rumors they have heard of
Batista and American gangs. Isabella moves away towards
another crowd. Women speak about Fidels movement. Isabella
notices the man from the earlier scene. He makes his way into
the crowd of ladies and joins their conversation. As soon as
he does the womens conversation topic moves from what Fidel
is doing to how handsome Fidel is. Isabella stands staring
lost in thought.
CARMEN
Mi hermana Isabella!
Isabella turns to see her sister Carmen. They hug and kiss.
ISABELLA
I havent seen your husband yet, is
he enjoying his party?
CARMEN
Oh that man, doesnt enjoy much of
anything except for a good cigar.
Hes Out back with some of his
friends smoking one right now.
Come, I need to introduce you to a
friend of mine.
Carmen takes Isabellas hand and leads her into the group of
women.
CARMEN (CONTD)
Ladies, this is my sister Isabella.
The women smile.
CARMEN (CONTD)
Isabella, these are the women I
work with down at the store.

7.
The single man in the group clears his throat in a call for
attention.
Si si, y Tomas, but you can ignore
him.
ISABELLA
Nice to meet you all.
WOMAN 1
You didnt tell us how beautiful
she is!
WOMAN 2
Yes, we couldve been using you as
a mannequin this entire time. What
a shame.
CARMEN
Do not worry. Our mother uses her
as a mannequin to fashion her new
dresses constantly.
They laugh. Isabella smiles looking around the group of
women. She turns her attention to Tomas.
ISABELLA
But I would assume he must be the
best candidate to model the
dresses. Am I right?
The women laugh.
Bueno-

WOMAN

Laughing.
ISABELLA
Is it hard working with so many
beautiful women around you.
Tomas becomes red. He looks down at the drink in his hand.
TOMAS
Oh no no miss. I do not work at the
store.
Carmen laughs and shares a glance with the women.
Carmen gently holds Isabellas hand and whispers into her
ear.

8.
CARMEN
He likes to come into the store and
flirt.
WOMAN
Although he doesnt get anywhere
with it.
Oh really?

TOMAS

Tomas leans in towards Isabella, his eyes on hers. Isabella

notices a scratch on his cheek.
TOMAS (CONTD)
A tleast love leaves a mark.
Isabella smiles.
ISABELLA
So you get slapped in the face
often do you. I wouldnt call that
the result of a good flirt.
The women laugh.
FRANCISCA
Carmen, adonde estaFrancisca notices Isabella next to Carmen.
FRANCISCA (CONTD)
Ah! Si Isabella.
Isabella moves her face towards her mother but her eyes
linger on Tomas.
Isabella.

FRANCISCA (CONTD)

She says more sternly.

FRANCISCA (CONTD)
Now, come with me.
Francisca grabs Isabella and takes off with her.
CARMEN
Well, you ladies have met my
mother. I should go see what that
is about.
Carmen leaves the group of women there with Tomas talking.

9.
TOMAS
Excuse me for asking, but can any
one of you ladies tell me more
about Isabella?
WOMAN
I only know what her sisters saidWOMAN 2
Yes, and about her family
WOMAN
You dont have a chance.
WOMAN 2
Isabella plays piano and goes to
school while you play with your
family farm.
Ladies.

TOMAS

WOMAN
Mi siento. But you cant even touch
her. She is a doll.
TOMAS
Bueno. We will see.
Tomas leaves the group searching the room.
INT. CARMENS HOUSE- NIGHT
Carmen, Isabella, and Francisca are in a corner. Francisca
leaves them to greet a family friend. Isabella looks at
Carmen smiling.
So...
So?

ISABELLA
CARMEN

Carmen takes a gulp of her drink.

ISABELLA
Tell me about Tomas.
Carmen coughs on her drink.
No.

CARMEN

10.

What!

ISABELLA

Carmen grabs her hand.

CARMEN
Tomas is a farmer. A farmer,
Isabella. He knows all the women in
townY?

ISABELLA

CARMEN
I mean...he KNOWS, all the women in
town.
Carmen takes another gulp of her drink and looks out at the
party.
CARMEN (CONTD)
Youll just be another one for his
book... that he cant even write,
because he probably doesnt know
how to.
Isabella throws Carmens hand off.
ISABELLA
You are ridiculous. You are acting
just like mother.
Isabella storms off into the party.
LUIS, Carmens husband kisses her cheek.
LUIS
Everything okay?
CARMEN
Si, of course.
Carmen snaps back.
Cake time?

CARMEN (CONTD)

LUIS
Si, preciosa.
Luis kisses her on the lips.

11.
EXT. PORCH- DAY
Isabella is saying goodbye to her student. Her student hands
her money and walks down the porch and down the street.
Isabella begins to open the door to go back insideWait!

TOMAS

Isabella turns to see a gasping Tomas below her porch holding

his knees as he searches for more oxygen.
ISABELLA
Oh well hello!
Isabella stands with her arms crossed.
Tomas motions one minute with his hand.
ISABELLA (CONTD)
Bueno, I guess you are too good for
us small people. You left the party
early.
Un segundo

TOMAS

He takes a deep breath.

ISABELLA
I looked for you
Tomas stands up.
TOMAS
Im sorry I had to get back to the
farm.
Isabella takes a step down. She crosses her ankles as she
leans on the railing.
Did you?

ISABELLA

TOMAS
I did. I apologize I left so rudly.
ISABELLA
You can always make it up.
I can?

TOMAS

12.
Isabella stands confidently now with her weight on one foot
and her arms on her hips.
ISABELLA
That is what I just said.
Tomas looks down shyly. Color rushes to his cheeks. Isabella
laughs.
TOMAS
And why do you laugh?
ISABELLA
And why are you here?
Tomas looks across the street, and at anything but Isabella.
Isabella motions for him to help her down the less step. She
takes it positioning herself awfully close to him.
Tomas is forced to look directly at her. She smiles. Tomas
looks back down. Isabella turns her face towards his.
ISABELLA (CONTD)
Again, porque esta aqui?
TOMAS
Oh well... Last night I
remembered... you... and I.. I also
forgot my coat... its funny.. The
women...
Isabella gathers herself and placed her hand on his shoulder.
ISABELLA
Tomorrow night pick me up, we can
go dancing. Wear something nice.
Isabella promptly goes back inside the house leaving Tomas
there at the bottom of her porch step.
INT. KITCHEN- NIGHT
The sound of espresso brewing brings Francisca into the room
in a hurry. LUIS, Franciscas husband, is switching stations
on the radio until he finds- baseball.
A blur of red, that is Isabella, enters the kitchen and
leaves at the other side just as quickly.
ISABELLA (V.O. (CONTD)
Madre, I am going out!

13.
FRANCISCA
Im sorry. Que!
LUIS
Oh, let the girl go out.
Luis places the cigar back at the corner of his mouth.
Francisca sets down the espresso for him and follows Isabella
out into the living room.
INT. LIVING ROOM-NIGHT
Isabella is fixing herself as she peers through the curtains
to the street.
FRANCISCA
And in that dress!
ISABELLA
Si, I have to put it to use
somehow.
FRANCISCA
Yes, for a formal dance. Not for a
night out.
ISABELLA
Mother, this is a proper night out.
Dont you worry.
FRANCISCA
I dont labor over these dresses
for nothing Isabella.
Isabella sits at the piano stool facing the door- waiting.
FRANCISCA (CONTD)
And with who are you going out?
Where?
ISABELLA
Do not worry. He is respectful,
amicable- the traits you wanted
right.
FRANCISCA
His family?
ISABELLA
Everyone has family, dont they.
A knock on the door is heard. Isabella instantly gets up.

14.
FRANCISCA
Luis! Tell this girl she can not
go.
LUIS
Let the girl go.
FRANCISCA
Atleast meet the boy first Luis.
LUIS
That I can do.
Luis enters the living room, cigar still in hand. The door
opens to Tomas holding red roses.
ISABELLA
You can enter.
Tomas awkwardly hands Isabella the roses.
ISABELLA (CONTD)
Oh thank you, my favorite color.
TOMAS
They compliment your dressISABELLA
They are gorgeousTOMAS
They compliment your eyes tooIsabella laughs.
ISABELLA
Daddy, this is Tomas. Tomas, my
father Luis.
Francisca stands off to the side. Her face screams that she
is in horror of the situation.
Luis shakes his hand.
LUIS
Well, all I ask is you take care of
my girl and have a terrific night.
TOMAS
Oh- oh- thankWe will.

ISABELLA

15.
Tomas goes to shake Luiss hand again.
TOMAS
Thank you Luis- I mean, sir- Thank
you sir.
Luis laughs.
LUIS
Have a good time now.
Isabella gives her father the roses and gives him a kiss on
the forehead.
She grabs Tomass hand and throws the door shut behind her.
FRANCISCA
I dont like that boy.
Y que?

LUIS

FRANCISCA
He is a farm boy.
Luis walks back towards the kitchen, taking another inhale of
his cigar.
Y que?

LUIS