EXT.

VOJVODINA PLAINS, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY - NOVEMBER 1900 -

NIGHT

INTERTITLE: Vojvodina Plains. Austria-Hungary. November 1900.

A train travels along the peaceful, snowy plains and farmland

of Vojvodina. The locomotive blows out steam.

In the distance are groups of leafless birch and willows, and

an occasional rooftop.

The sky is cloudy. A storm imminent.

The train crosses a bridge over the frozen river Danube.

Gushes of wind sway sporadic riverbank shrubs and threaten to

dislodged small, frozen river boats anchored at its side.

The rain starts.

INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

MILEVA MARIC (25), a serious looking, petite woman with dark

hair and intense brown eyes, sits in a train compartment.

She reads a copy of the ‘Annalen der Physik’ journal. The

article title reads ‘On the Law of Distribution of Energy in
the Normal Spectrum by Max Planck’.

Mileva stands up to close the window, revealing her large,

pregnant belly.

She sits back down and snuggles in a big shawl.

Mileva doesn’t reach for the journal but for a stack of hand
written letters.

She gently holds on to them as she caresses her belly with

her other hand. She stares out into the windy, cold night.

There is lightning on the horizon.

EXT. LAKE COMO, ITALY - MAY 1900 - NIGHT

INTERTITLE: 7 months earlier.

The storm continues.

A forested hill overlooks Lake Como.

Boats anchored at the port of Lake Como, rock with the waves
and the wind.
 2.

The small town seems abandoned, except for an occasional

flickers of light behind closed shutters of historic
buildings.

Nestled among the conifer trees is a secluded two-story

house. Lightning reflects in the dark windows.

INT. EINSTEIN FAMILY HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The downstairs living area is dark. Only an occasional bolt

of lightning lets in a glimpse.

Traditional living area, full of heavy oak furniture, is

filled with Einstein family portraits. Photos of young Albert
dominate the space.

The theme continues on the staircase leading up.

INT. EINSTEIN FAMILY HOUSE SPARE BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Small second floor bedroom with a slanted ceiling and an iron

cast bed.

Mileva sits fully naked by an open window. She looks outside.

Her lover, ALBERT (22) quietly approaches. He is taller then

Mileva. He has a round face and dark, very curly hair and
thick mustache.

ALBERT
(hugs her)
You’re trembling.

MILEVA
I’m fine.

She softly turns to him and Albert gently strokes her face
and hair.

ALBERT
I love you so much.

He kisses her passionately. She smiles.

MILEVA
Your mother still doesn’t like me.

ALBERT
You know such philistines don’t
understand our kind, our symbiosis.
 3.

MILEVA
Promise me our lives will never get
that monotonous?

ALBERT
Promise me you’ll never be like
her?

MILEVA
I do.

He gently touches her cheek.

ALBERT
Instead, they’ll be filled with
science, and discoveries ...

His hand moves to her breasts and her stomach.

MILEVA
... the light, and the waves...

She follows his lead with her hand on his body.

ALBERT
... atoms, particles and force
fields ...

His hand goes down past her stomach. She sighs.

MILEVA
... the Sun, the Moon, planets and
the stars.

He brings her in closer.

The lightning strikes again, followed by THUNDER.

ALBERT
(in her ear)
Can we go back to bed now? Please.

He closes the window with one hand, not letting go of Mileva.

They kiss and laugh as they make their way to the bed.

The storm continues.

INT. CLASSROOM, SWISS FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (ETH) -

DAY

Mileva is in front of a black board, filled with equations,

drawings and numbers.
 4.

She writes on the board rapidly and others in her class, all
men, copy. Albert sits in the back of the class.

DR WEBER (40S), a big man with a thick white beard, leans on

his desk and observes Mileva.

Mileva finishes and puts the chalk down.

MILEVA
There. All done.

Dr. Weber approaches to verify.

As he does, Mileva struggles with a sudden bout of nausea.

She instinctively reaches for her belly and looks for Albert.

They share a knowing, loving look of secrecy.

DR. WEBER
Correct. Again. Well done, Frau
Maric.
(beat)
Gentlemen, take note of the method
used here. It shows ...
(bell rings)
Ah. We will continue this next
class. Good day.

The students leave the classroom.

Albert hangs back and so does Mileva. He hesitates to leave

but Mileva urges him to with her eyes.

Mileva is left alone with Dr. Weber. She shuffles nervously

in her spot.

MILEVA
Dr. Weber, I was wondering if I
could talk to you for a moment?

DR. WEBER
Sure, my dear.
(gathers his papers)
Walk with me.

Mileva gathers her books and follows Dr. Weber out the door.

INT. ETH HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Dr. Weber walks briskly and Mileva tries to keep up. She
limps.
 5.

DR. WEBER
I assume this is about your test
results.
(beat)
Simply unacceptable. I don’t
understand ...

Mileva avoids a collision with a group of men as she tries to

keep up.

Dr. Weber bows his hat to several passing colleagues.

DR. WEBER (CONT’D)

I’m afraid we cannot proceed with
you dissertation unless ...

Mileva avoids another collision. She’s out of breath. Dr.

Weber opens the door to his office and they enter.

INT. DR. WEBER’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Mileva SLAMS the door behind her.

MILEVA
(out of breath)
There will be no dissertation, Dr.

He turns to her, surprised.

Mileva DROPS her books on his large office desk.

MILEVA (CONT’D)
I came to return these.

A moment of uncomfortable silence.

Dr. Weber seems Mileva’s hands protectively on her belly.

DR. WEBER
It’s that Swiss boy, isn’t it?

Mileva nods a quiet ‘yes’.

MILEVA
(quietly)
Not many would have a women like me
and he does. We love each other.

Dr. Weber swipes the books off the desk and they loudly
scatter everywhere.

Mileva takes a few steps back towards the door.

 6.

DR. WEBER
(agitated)
This is exactly the reason why
higher education is not meant for
women.
(beat)
So much time and effort, wasted.
And for what? Babies. Pfff. Any
fool can do that.
(beat)
I’m disappointed in you, Frau
Maric. I thought you were
different.

Dr. Weber bends over to pick up some of the books. Mileva

joins him hesitantly.

MILEVA
I’ll have you know that Albert and
I will continue our work on
properties of light and motion and
one day, we’ll get published.
Albert says that ...

Dr. Weber stands up and chuckles. He lights up his pipe.

DR. WEBER
Herr Einstein at his most
obstructive best again. When he
isn’t spewing smart remarks or
setting lab fires, he’s out trying
to decimate my class.

MILEVA
(stands up abruptly)
Ah, Dr. Weber! Your fallaciousness
is appalling. To imply that Albert
loves me only to spite you, it’s
insulting. I shall not stay and
listen to any more ...

DR. WEBER
He took you away from me, do you
expect me to be thrilled about it?

Mileva’s taken aback.

Dr. Weber shuffles through papers and finds a file folder.

DR. WEBER (CONT’D)

If you’ll permit me, I’ll hang on
to your file. If you ever decide to
return, that is.
(MORE)
 7.
DR. WEBER (CONT’D)
(beat)
Would that be all?

Confused and sad, Mileva nods.

MILEVA
Yes. Thank you, Dr. Weber.

Mileva turns to leave.

DR. WEBER
Frau Maric.

Mileva turns back. Dr. Weber glances over he belly again, as

he smokes. He shakes his head more softly.

DR. WEBER (CONT’D)

Despite it all, it has been a
privilege. You have been one of my
brightest and dearest students.
(beat)
You will permit your old professor
some reservations but I do truly
hope you find happiness in marriage
and family.
(beat)
Congratulations.

Mileva smiles with genuine relief.

MILEVA
Thank you.

She turns to leave but pauses, stealing one final glance at

Dr. Weber and his office. She sighs.

Dr. Weber also steals a final glance back.

Mileva exits.

EXT. ETH CAMPUS - MOMENTS LATER

Mileva exits the building and surveys her surroundings.

The courtyard of the University is a hubbub of student

activity - some sit grouped on the grass, some rush to their
next class, others riding their bikes.

All students are male.

HELEN (25), a petite woman dressed just as plainly, sneaks up

on Mileva, startling her.
 8.

HELEN
So, how did it go?

MILEVA
Um. In a greater scheme of things,
it’s a small sacrifice.

They start to walk and are oblivious to the attention they

stir in their colleagues.

MILEVA (CONT’D)
It’s obviously not quite as we
planned, but none the less Albert’s
been so wonderful and supportive,
like you wouldn’t believe.

HELEN
I’m glad to hear that. Love is most
amazing, isn’t it?

MILEVA
Speaking of love, what should we
make of the wonderful Mr. Savic
courting you so persistently?

HELEN
(grins)
Well, since you asked ...

They come upon Mileva’s colleagues MICHAEL BESSO (27) and

MARCEL GROSSMAN (22). They all greet each other formally.

BESSO
Frau Maric. You’re looking more
radiant then ever.

MILEVA
(giggles for a second)
Why, Herr Besso. Thank you.

GROSSMAN
What of your results, Frau Maric?
Any news yet?

MILEVA
I’m afraid I failed, Herr Grossman.
Again.

BESSO
But that’s impossible. You’re our
best mathematician.
 9.

MILEVA
(cracks a smile)
I’m afraid it is. Theory of
Functions just doesn’t seem to sit
well with me. Since I ...

Helen interrupts by taking Mileva’s arm.

HELEN
If you’d excuse us gentlemen, we
really must be on our way.

GROSSMAN
Certainly Frau Kaufler, of course.
(bows courteously)
Frau Maric. Frau Kaufler.

Besso does the same. The two pairs go their separate ways.

MILEVA
You know, I could have handled
that. I would have told them ...

Helen stops in her tracks.

HELEN
Told them what?
(beat)
Oh, poor Besso would be devastated.

Both laugh.

HELEN (CONT’D)
Besides, you have more important
things to do today. Like pack.

They walk on, arm in arm.

INT. MILEVA’S BOARDING HOUSE BEDROOM - DAY - FOUR MONTHS

EARLIER

A modestly decorated boarding room with slanted ceilings.

A suitcase lays open on the bed. There are several pots of

cacti on the window sill.

Mileva stands naked in front of a full length mirror. She

runs her hands gently over her body - her budding, pregnant
stomach and her dislocated and asymmetrical right hip.

Her hands stay on the stomach as she breaks a smile.

 10.

Then, Mileva takes her corset and puts it next to her body,
looking in the mirror. It will soon be useless. Still, she
throws it in her suitcase.

INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT - NIGHT - PRESENT

Sharp train WHISTLE wakes Mileva up. She jerks.

Mileva bring the letters to her chest and kisses them. She
rubs her belly protectively.

She looks out the window and sees a small, modest train
station. The train slows down as it enters the platform.

The station sign reads ‘TITEL’.

Mileva sees her father waiting. MILOS SR., is a tall, scrawny

man in his late 40s. He wears a proper white-collar suit and
a tired look on his face.

EXT. TRAIN - MOMENTS LATER

Mileva exits the train carrying a single suitcase.

She wobbles to her father. He sternly observes her stomach

and embraces her with restrained lovingness.

They walk off the platform together.

EXT. TITEL STREETS - MOMENTS LATER

Milos drives his carriage through the snow filled, dimly lit
streets of Titel.

Titel is a small town with wide streets and single-story,

large family houses.

Only the sounds of horse and carriage are heard, as the

carriage passes a Serbian Orthodox Church.

Milos and Mileva ride in an uncomfortable silence.

INT. MARIC HOUSE ENTRANCE - MOMENTS LATER

Milos steps in and brushes the snow off his clothing. He puts
Mileva’s suitcase down.

His wife MARIJA (54), a short, dark haired woman; their son
MILOS JR. (16), who strongly resembles his father; and
daughter ZORKA (18) stand to greet them.