EXT. FOREST — FIELD — DAY
Bright sun, fluffy clouds, blue sky.
…A BUTTERFLY flies over the flowers.
ANTONY, a boy of about seven, in shorts and a T-shirt, with a tousled head and a capricious expression – normal. He runs swiftly through the field.
…THE BUTTERFLY gets closer, closer still.
Swoosh! A net catches the Butterfly.
CLOSE-UP:
The Butterfly flaps its wings. It falls to the ground. Antony’s hand reaches into the net.
Snap! His fingers grip the wings.
MONTAGE. A series of close-ups. Music plays – a waltz by Strauss.
Antony brings the butterfly close to his face. He looks into its eyes. He places the butterfly on his nose.
End of MONTAGE. End of MUSIC.
The Butterfly soars into the sky. Anton chases after it. The butterfly’s legs hold tightly to Antony’s nose.
…ANTONY flaps his arms like a butterfly. A blissful smile on his face.
MONTAGE. A series of close-ups. Light MUSIC plays – Frank Sinatra sings «My Way.»
Clouds. Blue sky. A swarm of butterflies.
End of MONTAGE. End of music.
…THE BUTTERFLY flies, tightly holding Antony’s nose.
Antony dangles in its grasp. His nose is tiny – Antony is very big.
…THE BUTTERFLY grows larger and larger. It dives toward the ground.
Closer, closer still.
Now! A swarm of butterflies, each with a boy or girl on their back, their faces joyful.
The swarm flutters close to the ground. Antony and his butterfly perform intricate pirouettes.
THE CAMERA closes in as Antony waves his hand, descending. He gets closer to a beautiful, colorful butterfly, which is holding a six-year-old girl, NANCY. She has dark hair in braids, a funny polka-dot skirt, and a translucent fabric shawl over her shoulders.
Nancy looks at Antony. Their butterflies get closer. A complex scene unfolds with the butterflies and children surrounding Antony and Nancy.
Flap – Flap! Butterfly wings flutter everywhere.
CLOSE-UP:
Nancy’s face. Antony’s face.
NANCY
Your butterfly is so beautiful, what’s its name?
ANTONY
Its name is Antony, and what’s your butterfly’s name, beautiful girl?
NANCY
(flying nearby)
My butterfly’s name is Nancy, I’m from the city of shining domes, where are you from?
ANTONY
(thoughtfully)
I… I don’t know…
Nancy flies right up to Antony.
Kiss! She kisses his forehead.
BLACK SCREEN.
INT. ANTONY’S ROOM — MORNING
Antony snores in his crib. There’s a jar on the table.
…THE BUTTERFLY flutters in the jar. Its pollen is visible on the glass.
…THE WINDOW IS OPEN. An incredibly beautiful butterfly flies into the room. It lands on Antony’s nose.
ACHOO! Antony sneezes, opens his eyes. He rubs his nose and scans the room.
The beautiful butterfly is gone.
…THE JAR contains a butterfly.
Antony gets up from the bed, rubs his eyes, and walks over to the table. He pulls the cloth off the jar.
…THE BUTTERFLY, flying out of the jar, lands on Antony’s nose.
Antony closes his eyes.
MONTAGE. Quick shots. Light MUSIC plays.
Field. Flowers. Forest. Clouds.
End of MONTAGE. End of MUSIC.
Credits.