The Female of the Species
a poem by Kipling
Scene from screenplay Chewing Off My Leg:
INT -MOMENTS LATER -concourse
As Brent, Celeste, and Andy enter the concourse and pass through a crowd gathered before an animal behavior exhibit entitled "The Female of the Species Is More Dangerous Than The Male." A disembodied female voice offers explanation.
auto voice (V.O.)
After mating, the female Black Widow Spider kills and eats the male to provide sustenance for her growing brood.
brent
And these twain shall be one flesh.
adolescent boy
(to older sister)
Eat me.
SISTER gives him a look of disdain as his Indio/Pakistani FATHER grabs him by his arm and proceeds to lecture him.
father
Do not joke of such <> in this land we must guard against such happening to us.
MOTHER and daughter give the males dark looks. A tall AFRO AMERICAN BASKETBALL LETTERMAN is led through the crowd by his DIMINUTIVE GIRLFRIEND.
letterman
Pregnant?! How'd that happen?
A young JEWISH COUPLE, SHE very PREGNANT, converses.
she
Don't be silly; the baby isn't going to change anything between us.
A LARGE WOMAN turns and leads her BROOD away.
aUTO VOICE (V.O.)
Only the female mosquito sucks blood to nourish her eggs. The larger males drink nectar between mating opportunities.