Adaptation: Disappearing Acts

Circa-2000 Screenplay Score:

Angela Vereen------

Transferable Document Terry Actors:

Sanna Lathan Wesley Snipes.

Franklin Swift (Wesley Snipes) is a struggling construction worker trying to keep his mind off romance. Zora Banks (Sanaa Lathan) is a woman who is working as a teacher with a promising musical career. The last thing either of them needs is a lover. When they meet one afternoon in Brooklyn, New York, neither one can walk away. Now, they must confront the financial and social challenges that test the strength of their love.

The film begins with Zora moving from Manhattan to her newly renovated Brownstone in Brooklyn. It also shows Franklin polishing the floors in what will be her new apartment. After pulling up she meets Franklin who accidentally hits her with dirt while sweeping the steps, he then informs her that she can't move in due to her wood grain floors not being dry yet. An upset Zora then threatens to fire the moving men who proceed to leave her furniture and boxes on the side walk. Desperate she asks Franklin to help her move her things to which he replies, "I don't work for free". After getting her stuff moved in they begin to talk and asks her who's helping her unpack and get settled in; she replies by saying no one is helping her. Franklin offers to help her which shocks because he doesn't work for free. She eventually takes his help and they agree to meet the next evening. The next scene shows Zora at the school where she teaches music. Meanwhile Franklin gets axed again by his boss Vinney who has too many men on his renovating crew. After not showing up to help get her moved in Zora goes out for Chinese take out where she finally catches up to Franklin who apologizes for not showing up because he got caught up. Zora dismisses him and says he was the one who offered and that she can do it herself. Franklin then offers to help her now and jokes about them sharing her takeout food. After they unpack some of her boxes they get acquainted and Franklin shares his aspirations to be a licensing contractor to renovate brownstones. Zora encourages him and the two seem to make a connection until Zora receives a phone call from her Dad and she sends Franklin home and offers to invite him for dinner once she gets her place fixed up.

While out at happy hour with girlfriends Portia and Claudette, Franklin is brought up and Portia criticizes her for dating guys that can't do much for her financially. Zora responds by saying she's had her time with dating suit and tie brothers that think because they pull out their platinum watches they don't have to do much else. Claudette chimes in by saying that a man paying your bills is not the only way they can take care of you. Portia then addresses her that she could feel the same way if she too was a lawyer married to an investment banker which Claudette takes to offense and says whatever. Then the conversation switches to Zora and Portia asks if she called her producer friend Reg yet and Zora says no but that she will once she gets her songs together. Portia says for her to her hurry up because Reg is about to be large and says do you know what I had to do to get that number. Still upset from their earlier disagreement, Claudette says no but we can only imagine and walks off.

Later while Zora is walking home she finds Franklin waiting for her on the stoop and asks why are you waiting for me he says because I wanted to see you, Zora then asks and what if I'd come home with someone and Franklin says well I'd have to act like I was waiting for someone else. Zora tells him he can't just show up and expect to get in my door and Franklin says he knows but asks if he can come up and Zora says yes. Now in her apartment Zora goes to get Franklin a drink and then he begins to caress her. Realizing neither can hide their attraction to each other they have sex and then talk of their plans; Zora's wants to become a singer and Franklin wants to get his contracting business off the ground and both confess that they were putting off love until they got themselves together. Franklin tells her that she is special and women like her don't come around often but says if she's looking for someone with a fat bank account that he's not the one. Zora reassures by saying that she can't hug or kiss a bank account. The two began their courtship and spend a lot of time together eating home cooked meals, playing scrabble and watching tv. While getting a drink with his friend Jimmy he expresses that he likes Zora because she listens and they talk more than have sex,Jimmy then pays Franklin back money from a loan he had given him and uses part of the money to get Zora's piano out of layaway. He surprises her and then she sings to him and he's blown away by her talent and encourages her to pursue it all the way.

Zora goes to meet producer Reggie "Reg" Baptiste and he immediately like her but his beats and the costs for studio time are too much for Zora but he cuts her break because he's feeling her style.Franklin and Zora have dinner together and he confesses that he's still married with 2 sons however he has been separated for 4 years. He also tells her he dropped out of High School in the 11th grade never went back to pursue his GED. Zora doesn't take the news well and Franklin accuses her of caring more about dollars and degrees then what they have and leaves. The next day Zora finds Franklin at work and tells him no one is perfect and that she has her ways and if he'd told her everything from the beginning she wouldn't have given him the time of day but says she can't apologize for that. Franklin tells her this is him and that either it's good enough for her or it isn't and suggests she start dating some suit and tie brothers that carry briefcases. She tells him that she loves him and expresses that she wants to meet his children and that she wants him to move in with her. In return he too tells her he loves her and promises that as soon as he gets the money he'll get the divorce.