RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Written by
Jenny Lumet
1 EXT. HALFWAY HOUSE PORCH. DAY 1
KYM, a darkly beautiful girl in her early 20's, is smoking
furiously on the porch of an URBAN HALFWAY HOUSE. She glances
impatiently at her watch and presses her ear to her cell
phone. As she exhales, WE HEAR the rumble of thunder.
Irritated, she crams her cell phone into her bag.
ROSA a halfway house staff nurse is patiently handling
WALTER, an irate patient who is screeching...
WALTER
I want my fucking Zippo now!
Walter starts yanking at his hair.
ROSA
Walter, that is a behavior...
WALTER
(raking his nails against
his forearm)
Fuck you!
ROSA
And you are making a choice.
Her cell phone rings...
ROSA
(to Walter)
Hold on...Hello?
WALTER
God!
KYM
Don't you get it yet, Waldo? She's
making a choice not to give you
your lighter because you'll torch
the Self-Help library again.
WALTER
I'm Walter. Kill anybody recently?
Run anybody over with a fucking
car?
Kym grinds her cigarette under her heel and blows smoke but
gives no signal that she's heard anything. She yanks her cell
phone out of her bag as...
A tan Mercedes STATION WAGON pulls up in front of the House.
(CONTINUED)
2.
1 CONTINUED: 1
ROSA
(to Kym)
That them?
KYM
Yes. Finally.
Rosa takes two of Kym's several bags. They are oddly matched.
A Coach tote, a fake Prada, a Gristedes bag, and a World
Wildlife Fund tote bag.
WALTER
You're not letting her get behind
the wheel are you? Are you?
ROSA
Walter, you are only responsible
for yourself. (To Kym) This is all
your stuff?
KYM
You know you never gave me your
cell number.
ROSA
(sotto)
It was a mistake. I'm lucky I
didn't get fired. We've discussed
this. (She offers her hand) Good
luck.
Kym doesn't appear to have heard her but she shakes the hand
barely... so very, very faintly.
Kym's dad, PAUL BUCHMAN, a tired, prosperous man in his late
50's steps around the car and trots up the porch steps. He is
wearing a big smile and his glasses are foggy. They hug. Kym
talks rapidly over his shoulder...
KYM
Oh my god. Here you are. I thought
you were going to abandon me in
rehab. It's 12:30. You guys are
half an hour late. I've been
standing here with these lunatics.
You look so great.
Paul offers his hand to Rosa.
PAUL
Hello. I'm Paul Buchman.
(CONTINUED)
3.
1 CONTINUED: 1
ROSA
I'm Rosa. We met last time you came
up.
PAUL
(doesn't remember)
Of course, of course.
KYM
Let's go, let's go. Where is
everybody?
CAROL, a handsome woman in her 40's, waves from the car.
KYM
(loudly)
Hey Carol. How are ya?
CAROL
Hello Kym.
KYM
So where's Rachel? Carol, where's
Rachel?
Kym slides into the back seat as Paul loads the car.
CAROL
Getting everything ready at the
house.
PAUL
There is so much going on at the
house I can't tell you. You know
your sister's doing all of it
herself.
KYM
(eyeing the rearview
mirror as she arranges
her bangs)
My sister is bending the
environment to her will? Really?
PAUL
No wedding planners or anything
like that. Just her and Sidney and
a lot of their friends. She is so
thrilled you're here. Is that
everything, sweetheart?
(CONTINUED)
4.
1 CONTINUED: 1
KYM
(distractedly, rifling
through her bag)
Yah. Can we go?
CAROL
Is there anyone you want to say
goodbye to?
KYM
God no.
2 EXT./INT. TRANSITIONAL SHOTS. DAY 2
The station wagon travels through a constantly changing
series of environments as they journey out of New York City
on their drive to suburban Connecticut.
Right away though, Kym lights up a cigarette and Paul and
Carol crank their windows.
KYM
So are all these busy young wedding
helpers staying at the house?
Because after eight months of
constantly revolving cell mates and
crazy people...
PAUL
You weren't in a cell, Kym...
KYM
...AND groups groups GROUPS...
PAUL
...And nobody was crazy, nobody was
in a rubber room...
KYM
...I was looking forward to a
little privacy for once.
CAROL
The only extra person staying at
the house is Emma, who's actually
been staying in your old room. But
she can move, I guess.
KYM
Rachel and Emma. Oh, great. How
relaxing.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
5.
2 CONTINUED: 2
KYM (cont'd)
The only two people on the planet
less capable of delegating than
Hannibal! On the eve of a wedding!
Nachtmare.
CAROL
Nachtmare?
PAUL
It's a nightmare so bad it's in
German.
KYM
Rachel must be totally freaking
out. Is she too tense?...
PAUL
She's a wigwam!
KYM
(right on top of him,
rifling through her bag
again)
...Is she eating? Or are all her
latent food issues rearing their
heads? Is she hoarding Snickers and
Cool Whip under the bed like in
high school? She never did put that
one to sleep.
PAUL
(genuine)
I don't think that that's a problem
for her.
KYM
No offense, Dad, but you never
thought that was a problem for her.
I'm kidding. It'll be great to see
her. Foodies are the worst, though.
They never get it together. There
were six of them on my floor in the
hospital and you could never get
into the bathroom. They would cry
at the chocolate pudding and one of
them was a guy. I can't wait to see
Mom.
(CONTINUED)
6.
2 CONTINUED: 2
PAUL
You'll see her and Andrew at the
rehearsal dinner tonight.
KYM
Can we stop at the 7/11 please? I
feel nauseous. I need something to
drink.
CAROL
I brought you a Diet Coke.
She offers the can.
(CONTINUED)
7.
2 CONTINUED: 2
KYM
I prefer Pepsi from the fountain.
3 EXT. MINI-MART PARKING LOT. DAY. 3
Carol looks at Paul. He is fiddling with the dashboard.
4 INT. MINI-MART. DAY. 4
Kym fills her Big Gulp at the fountain and pays at the
counter. The COUNTER GIRL gives her change.
COUNTER GIRL
I saw you on COPS.
Kym appears not to have heard. She pockets her change and
leaves.
5 INT. STATION WAGON. DAY. 5
As Paul drives through a bucolic, well-to-do neighborhood
featuring a beautiful old church.
6 EXT. THE BUCHMAN HOUSE. DAY. 6
The station wagon pulls into a CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY lined with
trees and bushes of beautiful blue hydrangea. There are
several late model cars parked in the driveway of the
SPRAWLING, SHINGLED HOUSE. Young people crawling everywhere
in the midst of WEDDING PREPARATION, wrapping garlands and
hanging paper lanterns. A LITTLE GIRL tosses rose petals in
the swimming pool. The atmosphere is slightly punch drunk and
friendly.
Paul unloads Kym's bags.
KYM
I'll do it, Dad.
She doesn't.
8.
7 INT. BUCHMAN LIVING ROOM. DAY. 7
Kym charges into the house where NORMAN SKLEAR and more
friends of Rachel are decorating. They stare at her as she
runs up the stairs to the second floor. CAMERA RUNS ALL THE
WAY UP WITH HER.
We hear...
RACHEL'S VOICE OFF
Can we raise this hem half an inch?
EMMA'S VOICE OFF
Yeah, yeah. Here, let me just...
8 INT. UPSTAIRS. DAY. CONTINUOUS -- 8
Kym slams open the master bedroom door and finds her older
sister, RACHEL, trying on her wedding dress with the help of
her best friend EMMA. Radiant and sexy, Rachel glows like an
angel in her creamy white and gold sari. Emma has pins in her
mouth and a tape measure around her neck.
KYM
Oh my god, you are just mi-nute!
RACHEL
Kymmie!
EMMA
(to Kym)
You can't smoke in here--
Rachel and Kym squeal and embrace. Rachel is slightly awkward
as Emma frantically tries to keep the billowing fabric from
combustion.
KYM
Ow!
RACHEL
I have pins all over me. You look
great!
KYM
I'm fat. Rehab makes you fat. All
the vending machines. Look at you,
missy! I'd swear to god you were
puking again!
(CONTINUED)
9.
8 CONTINUED: 8
RACHEL
Hah!
EMMA
Kym!
KYM
Emma!
(To Rachel)
No seriously, you're so tiny it's
like you're Asian. Dad wants us to
sleep in the same room so you'll be
able to watch me while he's asleep
and I won't sneak out of the house
and blow dealers and shoot heroin.
RACHEL
Dad did not say "blow dealers."
KYM
I told him I'd just sleep in
Ethan's room.
Beat.
RACHEL
You can always shoot up in the tree
house.
Kym laughs. A little too loud.
EMMA
Kym, I'm not remotely surprised
you're starting your drama already,
however it's Rachel's wedding and
this week it's about her.
KYM
Emma, you still have your tiny core
of rage! What a relief.
Kym flops on the bed and gazes adoringly at her sister for a
moment. Rachel beams back.
KYM
So are you an actual shrink yet?
Even though you're like twelve
years old?
EMMA
Psychology. Not psychiatry. You
know the difference, right?
(CONTINUED)
10.
8 CONTINUED: 8
KYM
You should prescribe something
soothing for Emma. Like Vicodin.
RACHEL
I will have my PhD. in a year and a
half. And psychologists don't get
prescription pads, right Kym?
KYM
They do in Guam.
RACHEL
Would you please put that out? Emma
designed this dress and there's
forty-seven yards of it and I'll go
up like the Hindenburg.
Kym takes a last drag even though she's down to the filter,
then flushes the butt down the toilet in the tiny bathroom.
KYM
(over the flushing toilet)
Since when are you a designer,
Emma?
EMMA
A while.
RACHEL
She has this great little boutique
in Greenwich. She says things like
"you need a fabulous jersey pant."
KYM
That's so great. I think I heard
that. Isn't this your fifth
incarnation or something? Weren't
you an actress? All the N.E.D.'s in
the hospital were actresses...
EMMA
N.E.D.s?
RACHEL
Non-specified Eating Disorder.
KYM
...they were constantly doing leg
lifts under the sheets.
(CONTINUED)
11.
8 CONTINUED: 8
RACHEL
Angela Paylin is coming to the
wedding.
KYM
(right on top of her)
I ate so much cookie dough and did
so many whip-its with Angela
Paylin.
RACHEL
I know. And she confessed to you
her secret Elvis Stoyko fantasy. I
spied on you.
KYM
Oh my god...
EMMA
Elvis Stoyko the figure skater?
RACHEL
In her fantasy, she was wearing her
hair up and very serious,
responsible eyeglasses, because she
was a world renowned judge at the
Winter Olympics for Men's Figure
Skating. And Elvis Stoyko was
skating in the finals to "Could It
Be Magic" for the gold medal. And
just when Barry Manilow is singing
"Now/ Now/ Now and hold on fast..."
there's this electric connection
between them and he stops in the
middle of his triple lutz...axel...
KYM
And he skates over to the judges
table, all panting and sweaty, with
his spangly Neil Diamond shirt open
to the chest...
RACHEL
There is silence as he stops in
front of her, their eyes lock, and
he reaches for her hand... and
Angela takes it!
KYM
To the roar of the crowd and the
shock of the Olympic judges!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
12.
8 CONTINUED: 8
KYM (cont'd)
And he pulls her out of her chair,
undoes her hair, and they skate as
a pair to the rest of the song!
RACHEL
And he gets disqualified but he
doesn't care!
EMMA
Where'd she get the skates from?
They collapse in laughter. Kym studies her ass in the mirror.
KYM
I should call her right this
second. Is she really coming? Who
are all these energetic young
people decorating the house?
EMMA
She's got everyone she knows
pulling elf duty.
KYM
(squinting at her ass)
What about me? What am I doing?
Rachel and Emma exchange a look.
KYM
Hello?
RACHEL
Well, I think you'll be assisting
on floral detail. I want everything
all drippy and luxurious and Mom's
a little bit tasteful--
KYM
--Mom's in charge of flowers?
RACHEL
--and I don't want to upset her.
EMMA
(to Kym)
And you're such a diplomat.
(CONTINUED)
13.
8 CONTINUED: 8
KYM
I am. I'm like Kofi Annan. In rehab
they said I was the maternal hub of
my peer group. I was always the
referee for softball.
Rachel snorts.
KYM
I was. I was the only one who could
convince the methamphetamine freaks
that no one was chasing them when
they ran around the bases.
EMMA
It's softball. Someone was chasing
them.
KYM
Whatever. They have trust issues in
the first place. I'm going
downstairs to find Olive and get
some unconditional love.
Kym swans out of the room.
KYM
Anyway, I'm doing some lighting. I
already got the candles and
everything.
Rachel and Emma share a look.
KYM (CONT'D)
Forget Mom and me and the fucking
flowers.
9 INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY. DAY. 9
Kym crosses the hall to ETHAN'S ROOM and opens the door.
KYM
Speaking of dawgs, when am I going
to meet this fiancee of yours
anyway?
RACHEL VOICE OFF
He went to get stuff with Kieran.
They'll be back.
14.
10 INT. ETHAN'S ROOM. DAY. 10
A little boy's bedroom. Pale blue. A single bed, a window,
some games. Some stuff in boxes. Not a mausoleum.
Kym enters Ethan's room. She stands there looking around.
She takes a moment...
11 INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY. DAY. 11
Kym wandering the upstairs hallway...the winding corridors
are a little spooky, despite the openness and light, it feels
haunted up here...looking into her old bedroom, seeing Emma's
stuff inside.
12 INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY. DAY. --LOOKING DOWN-- 12
Paul comes to the bottom of the stairs, yelling up.
PAUL
I'm making hot dogs and
hungabungas! Who wants what?!
Rachel and Emma shout back down.
RACHEL
It's too hot!
EMMA
I don't eat gluten, Paul!
PAUL
What don't you eat?!
EMMA
Gluten!
PAUL
Where's Kym?
Kym appears, down the back stairway, behind Paul, not
shouting...
KYM
Here.
RACHEL
Besides I'm in my dress!
(CONTINUED)
15.
12 CONTINUED: 12
PAUL
Ooo! Can I see?!
Paul starts up the stairs.
RACHEL/EMMA
No!
PAUL
Okay, okay!
Paul has stopped half way up the stairs. He turns to Kym,
beams at her.
PAUL
Kymmie, what can I make you?
KYM
Actually there's a meeting I have
to make. And I have to pee in a
cup. And register as a general
biohazard.
PAUL
I'll drive you.
KYM
(heading downstairs)
Just tell me which car I should
take.
Paul doesn't say anything. Carol floats to Paul's side.
KYM
Which car?
PAUL
Would you do me a favor, Kymmie...?
KYM
I have a license...
PAUL
You wouldn't believe my insurance.
And I'm not... that comfortable.
Could we figure something else out?
13 EXT. VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTER (CHURCH). DAY. 13
Kym pedaling up on a bouncy, high tech racing bike that is
far too big for her. She bangs herself in the crotch as she
dismounts.
(CONTINUED)
15A.
13 CONTINUED: 13
KYM
Ow!
16.
14 INT. COMMUNITY CENTER RECEPTION AREA. DAY. 14
KYM
Hello? Hello?
Kym stops a baby-faced NURSE.
KYM
Hi. I'm here to pee in a cup.
NURSE
(over her shoulder)
She needs to pee in a cup.
(back to Kym)
Someone will be right with you.
KYM
Okay. I'm trying to get to a
meeting.
NURSE
The meetings are over in the other
building.
KYM
I know that.
NURSE
Someone will be right with you.
Have a seat.
Several people are waiting in chairs. They look at Kym.
15 INT. COMMUNITY CENTER BATHROOM. DAY. 15
A DIFFERENT NURSE is waiting by the sinks examining her teeth
in the mirror. Kym bangs open the door of her stall with her
foot. The door swings back and Kym spills her sample all over
herself.
KYM
Piss!
16 EXT. COMMUNITY CENTER. DAY. 16
As she runs up the OUTSIDE STAIRCASE Kym wipes at her shirt
with a wet paper towel. She yanks open the door and a bird
poops on her.
KYM
Shit!
17.
17 INT. COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING ROOM. DAY. 17
Narcotics Anonymous Meeting. Chairs, light. An ATTRACTIVE GUY
is sharing. Kym slams in, frazzled and late. A few people
look at her as she grabs a folding chair from a stack leaning
against the wall and the other chairs slide to the floor with
a huge clatter.
KYM
COCKSUCKER!
ATTRACTIVE GUY
Only once. My dealer. I was really
broke.
The room breaks up. Kym struggles to rearrange the fallen
chairs. She is pissed.
ATTRACTIVE GUY
Let's see...that was Tuesday...
18 INT. COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING ROOM. LATER. 18
PASTOR MEL, a guest speaker, shares details of his struggles
inside the "12 Step" Process. Kym, like everyone present, is
riveted.
19 OMITTED 19
20 OMITTED 20
18.
21 EXT. BUCHMAN HOUSE. DAY. 21
Sweaty and fed up with Carol's bike, Kym cycles into the
Buchman driveway. Paul has been watching for her out the
kitchen window while doing dishes. He waves and yells to his
wife.
PAUL
Carol, she's here!
KYM
Where did you think I was?
PAUL
I made you a sandwich, sweetheart!
Meatloaf!
Kym's shoulders slump.
Watching from an upstairs window, Rachel observes Kym wheel
the bike up the driveway and Paul hurrying from the kitchen
to meet her, carrying a meat loaf sandwich and a glass of
milk. There is an awkward exchange of items. Paul hugs and
mushes Kym and kisses her on the forehead.
Rachel opens the window, calls down.
RACHEL
Kymberly!
22 EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD. DAY. 22
Fiancee SIDNEY, sexy, compact, thirties, and best man KIERAN,
are stringing lights all over the house and yard. Kieran is
on a ladder. He is the same ATTRACTIVE GUY from the meeting.
Sidney is completely wrapped, chest to knees, in twinkly
white lights and he unspools himself as needed. Rachel
arrives with Kym who is holding the aircraft carrier sized
meatloaf sandwich that's oozing lettuce and ketchup and the
enormous glass of milk. She holds them both like they're
suspended in formaldehyde. Emma is working on her tan.
RACHEL
No. You guys are not getting my
design concept.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
19.
22 CONTINUED: 22
RACHEL (cont'd)
I want every single light to
represent a different one night
stand during the misspent youth of
Kris Kringle before he stopped
whoring around and became Santa
Claus.
SIDNEY
Oh. I thought you said Satan Claus.
KIERAN
I thought she said Panty Hose. Or
Panda Claws.
EMMA
Pandas are endangered.
RACHEL
I know. We're having an endangered
Panda fleeing for its life for the
ice sculpture. Or impaling itself
on some bamboo. Kym! This is Sidney
Williams, my betrothed. Sidney,
meet my sister, Kym.
KYM
Oh my god. You're black.
(To Rachel)
Sorry I called him a dawg.
RACHEL
That's fine.
SIDNEY
No biggie.
KYM
You don't look like a record
producer. You're supposed to have a
hapless lackey next to you with an
umbrella.
SIDNEY
Usually I do, but Mom's out
simonizing my car. Funny, you don't
look like Lucifer's Cupbearer.
KYM
(fingering a lock of hair)
I got a haircut.
Kym gives Emma a look. Emma smiles sweetly.
(CONTINUED)
20.
22 CONTINUED: 22
Rachel gestures up the ladder.
RACHEL
And this is Best Man Kieran.
Kym looks up the ladder at Kieran.
KYM
Hey.
KIERAN
Hi there.
23 INT. BASEMENT. DAY. 23
Kym and Kieran, having SEX in the cavernous basement. It
runs practically the length of the house and there are nooks
and caves everywhere. An ancient sofa, riddled with
cigarette burns, some futons, dragged down and thrown
haphazardly in corners, Unicorn posters hideously and
pornographically defaced, and squat jars of ancient household
products (Oil of Olay, self tanner) filled with cigarette
butts offer proof of years of inhabitation.
LATER -- Kym lights up.
KIERAN
Well, that was so wrong --
KYM
Gee, thanks!
KIERAN
No, believe me, that was so lovely,
LOVELY! But in the program -- as
you know -- and we just heard
earlier today in fact --
KYM
It is kind of lurid, isn't it? The
best man and the maid of honor...
furtively slipping off to the coal
bin to have it off while the rest
of the wedding party labors away at
preparations for the big event.
(CONTINUED)
21.
23 CONTINUED: 23
KIERAN
I thought...isn't Emma going to be
playing that role?
KYM
What?
KIERAN
"Maid of Honor"?
KYM
Oh.
KIERAN
I think I heard that was the plan.
22.
24 INT. HIGH-END INDIAN CLOTHING BOUTIQUE. DAY. 24
A LAVISH BOLLYWOOD SOUNDTRACK PLAYS as Emma wraps Kym in
lilac fabric for her sari-esque bridesmaid's dress. Kym
examines herself in the mirrors of the private salon. The
girls look like jewels against the lush fabrics, pillows and
curtains. Rachel sits at a vanity trying on dangling earrings
and shakes her head gently, the gems glimmer and sparkle.
RACHEL
Isn't the lilac fabulous? You look
like a freesia.
KYM
(to Rachel)
I love the grey.
EMMA
We're all wearing lilac.
KYM
(heedless, grabbing the
grey fabric)
Look at this. I love this. It's
like a cloud.
Emma looks at Rachel.
KYM
You guys know how I am. I never
wear lilac.
EMMA
It's good to have a principle.
Kym ignores her.
RACHEL
You wore a lilac sweater with a cat
face on it on the cover of
Seventeen Magazine when I was at
Fat Camp.
KYM
Sure, but I got paid for that and I
was on horse tranquilizers. So why
aren't I the Maid of Honor? Why is
Emma the Maid of Honor?
RACHEL
Because.
(CONTINUED)
23.
24 CONTINUED: 24
KYM
What does that mean?
RACHEL
I wasn't entirely sure when you
were coming or even if you'd make
it.
Kym looks sharply at her.
RACHEL
I wasn't sure if you'd have time
for a fitting.
KYM
Bullshit. It's a sari. You take a
bolt of cloth and wrap it around
you. Jesus Christ I've been home
one day and I can't get a straight
answer out of anybody.
RACHEL
What are you talking about?
KYM
I'm talking about Dad offering me
food every ten seconds...
RACHEL
Dad offers Irish Hunger Strikers
food every ten seconds.
KYM
No. He has to know where I am and
what I'm doing all the time because
he has never resolved his own trust
issues.
EMMA
That's odd.
KYM
Shut up.
EMMA
Blow me.
RACHEL
Oh, leave Dad alone.
(CONTINUED)
24.
24 CONTINUED: 24
KYM
I'd love to but he won't let me. I
feel him watching me all the time.
And Carol and you guys too.
EMMA
I know I have nothing better to
think about.
KYM
Everybody's looking at me like I'm
the visiting sociopath. What are
you people waiting for me to do?
Burn the house down?
They both look at her.
KYM
That was a mattress fire and it
wasn't even at home! It was on a
sleep over! God! I should just get
HAZMAT tattooed on my forehead for
you people.
RACHEL
Stop! You're like a harpy. Is being
my "Maid of Honor" this important
to you? I didn't think you gave a
shit.
Beat.
KYM
How could you fucking say that to
me?
RACHEL
Jesus. Emma!
EMMA
What?
RACHEL
Emma, would you be horribly
offended and hurt if I asked you to
step down as...
(exaggerated, practically
with quote fingers)
..."Maid of Honor?"
EMMA
Yes.
(CONTINUED)
25.
24 CONTINUED: 24
KYM
Now Emma's got another reason to
hate me. Like she needed one.
EMMA
Is it what you want?
For an instant, conflict and pain flicker over Rachel's sweet
face.
RACHEL
Not really.
EMMA
Fine. The crown is yours, First
Runner Up.
KYM
Thank you, Emma. No, thank you.
EMMA
It's not about you.
KYM
It's about sisterhood.
EMMA
Hooray for sisterhood.
KYM
Sisterhood conquers all.
RACHEL
And bludgeons all and pillages all
and leaves all for dead.
KYM
(returning to mirror)
So the gray is not an option?
25 INT. UKRAINIAN MUSEUM. NIGHT. 25
THE REHEARSAL DINNER --"The rehearsal" component is in full
swing amidst elegant dioramas and displays of Ukrainian folk
art saints, traditional costumes, a skillion painted eggs,
the mounted heads of indigenous Ukrainian animals, and the
plaster busts of Ukrainian Popes.
The audience of revelers is clustered at one end of the room
with drinks and appetizers, while at the other end, various
friends take their shot at a brief rehearsal.
(CONTINUED)
25A.
25 CONTINUED: 25
Old friend Norman Sklear is emceeing the line-up -- he is
currently at the mike with a funny improv based on really
disastrous weddings he has known. Everybody is laughing.
(CONTINUED)
26.
25 CONTINUED: 25
Paul, Carol, a few of Paul's closest record biz friends
(including a CULT LUMINARY or two); MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS
(Sidney's mom and dad), sister KAYRA, grandmother HERREAST,
and cousin JOSEPH GONZALES (in US Army dress uniform, home on
leave from Iraq) blend easily with the younger crowd. Cousin
Joseph is always filming with his own CAMCORDER.
QUICK CUTS -- other rehearsal moments such as a TEENAGED
GUITAR/DRUMS DUO blowing out "Here Comes The Bride"; Gaida's
Arabic wedding song; UKRAINIAN AL (the in-house music
director) getting the women to chant "Rachel" and the men to
chant "Sidney" ancient European-stylee; ZAFER TEE's
exquisitely heartbreaking improvised violin solo; DORIAN
LOVEJOY's Rachel/Sidney FREESTYLE RAP, etc. delivering to a
breathtaking saxophone solo entitled "Sidney loves Rachel" by
(the real) DONALD HARRISON JR.
Harrison's toast to Paul, his beautiful family, and the
memory of many memorable nights of music in the Buchman house
while the kids were growing up draws HUGE APPLAUSE, POWERING
INTO --
26 INT. UKRAINIAN MUSEUM DINING HALL. NIGHT. 26
THE DINNER-- The forty-odd guests are now seated in an
adjoining room at LONG TABLES laden with a GORGEOUS INDIAN
FEAST. Yellow rice, red curry, vivid green and orange
vegetable dishes, pink shrimp. Huge plates of Dosa and
Brinjal. Candles flicker in lanterns shaped like lotuses.
PHOTOGENICALLY STYLISH YOUNG SERVERS dressed elegantly in
black and white hover around the family and friends as
everybody makes total pigs of themselves.
The INDIAN FEAST contrasts agreeably with the Ukrainian
visuals. EVOCATIVE BOLLYWOOD MUSIC PROVIDES THE SOUNDTRACK.
Kym, wandering on along the table like a nomad, wedges
herself between Sidney and Rachel. Emma grabs an empty wine
glass before Kym knocks it over.
KYM
I don't know anybody at what's
obviously the loser end of the
table. Can I have your Chana
Masala?
Without waiting for a response, Kym dives in with her naan.
RACHEL
You've known most of those people
since the eighth grade. You always
pretend you don't know people.
(CONTINUED)
27.
26 CONTINUED: 26
EMMA
Is it because you owe them money?
KYM
Where's Mom? Where's our mother?
How could she not be here already?
I haven't even seen her since I've
been home.
SIDNEY
She called a few times. She's
"running a little late but should
be here soon."
KYM
(stuffing naan in her
mouth)
GOD!!!!
She tries to catch a piece of Fish Tikka in her mouth and
misses.
EMMA
Kieran would you like some more
Saag Paneer?
KIERAN
No thanks. Is there any krill?
Emma blinks.
KIERAN
Just kidding.
KYM
I can't believe Mom would be late
for my release back into the wild.
EMMA
And here I was thinking tonight was
about Rachel!
SIDNEY
Rach, I forgot to tell you, Carol
got the helium tanks.
KYM
The words "Carol" and "helium"
somehow...
RACHEL
Aren't there some rules about
helium tanks?
(CONTINUED)
28.
26 CONTINUED: 26
KYM
(snorting)
She wouldn't have any idea what to
do with a helium tank.
SIDNEY
Only on public property. I think.
K?
KIERAN
Huge liability.
KYM
You're a lawyer?
KIERAN
Was. For about five minutes.
KYM
Say something legal.
KIERAN
Tort.
KYM
So what do you do now?
KIERAN
I help Sidney out with the business
side of his stuff.
KYM
Sweet.
RACHEL
Here's Mom.
The girls clamber up. Kym brushes curry off Rachel's shirt.
ABBY, the girl's mom, and ANDREW, her husband, enter the
dining room. Abby is a beautiful, wise woman in her fifties.
Elegant, ladylike and graceful.
Andrew looks foxy in his Abby-selected Armani, but he has the
shoulders and knuckles of a heavyweight. As the girls
approach, Abby acknowledges Paul across the room but makes no
move to go beyond an exchange of long distance little waves
and tight smiles.
ABBY
(to Rachel, embracing)
Hello, darling.
A big hug. She turns to Kym.
(CONTINUED)
29.
26 CONTINUED: 26
ABBY
Kym! Did you get my note?
They embrace. Abby steps back but keeps her hands on Kym's
shoulders.
ABBY
You look beautiful.
KYM
I'm fat. Rehab makes you fat.
ABBY
Nonsense. You girls.
ANDREW
Hiya Kym. You look great! Hey
Rachel!
He kisses Kym on the cheek. Rachel gives him a big hug.
RACHEL
Mom, where have you been? Is
everything okay?
KYM
Wow. We were wondering if you got
the dates scrambled.
Abby steps towards her daughters, taking them in.
ABBY
Yes, everything is absolutely fine
now.
KYM
Thank god. What a relief! Now the
party can really get started.
Abby and Rachel look quickly at Kym.
KYM
(lighting a cigarette)
So Mom, you look great.
ABBY
Darling, can you smoke that in
here?
(CONTINUED)
29A.
26 CONTINUED: 26
KYM
It's a private party, Mom.
How's grandma? Still surly and
irascible?
(CONTINUED)
30.
26 CONTINUED: 26
ABBY
Oh, you know how she is. She sends
her love.
KYM
Great. Same.
Kym drags on her cigarette like it's the last Coca Cola in
the desert.
ABBY
Honey, you should really put that
out. It's not right. You know that.
KYM
Fine.
27 INT. UKRAINIAN MUSEUM DINING HALL. NIGHT. LATER. 27
Kieran is making a toast. Dinner is mostly over. Waiters are
discreetly clearing plates, etc. from the table, pouring more
drinks.
KIERAN
(something like)
I've known Sidney most of my life.
He personifies many of life's
grandest cliches, even as he
breathes fresh life into most of
them. He has never, ever "ceased to
amaze me," and only in the best of
ways. The magnitude of his artistry
and his business acumen are matters
of public record and delight. He's
been a great friend "through thick
and thin," and sometimes it's
gotten very, very thin -- but he
"stood by me" at all times, so it
is my privilege and honor to stand
by him on this profound occasion...
TIME CUT -- Emma rises and bangs her glass with her spoon. It
shatters.
RACHEL
You're paying for that, Emma.
EMMA
Of course. I'd like to make a toast
to the happy couple because I want
to come visit them in Hawaii.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
30A.
27 CONTINUED: 27
EMMA (cont'd)
Sidney what's the name of that
place again?
SIDNEY
Humuu-humuu Nukku-nukuu...
KIERAN
A-Pu-Aa-Aa.
(CONTINUED)
31.
27 CONTINUED: 27
Sidney kisses Kieran on the cheek.
KYM
(sharply, to her sister)
You're moving to Hawaii?
RACHEL
Sidney's recording studio is there.
Kym, stung, exhales a plume of smoke.
EMMA
I've known the bride her entire
life. Not biblically, except for
that one time we french kissed at
Evan Yassky's party in the ninth
grade.
SIDNEY
Film! I want film!
Whoops and hollers.
EMMA
Commence embarrassing story.
RACHEL
That wasn't it?
EMMA
Rach, do you remember the time I
was teaching you to drive in the
Wagoneer and you sideswiped that
taxi driver and knocked off his
side mirror?
RACHEL
I have no memory of that
whatsoever.
EMMA
Do you remember trying to outrun
him and leading him on a high speed
chase across 96th street?
RACHEL
Gotta say no.
(CONTINUED)
32.
27 CONTINUED: 27
EMMA
Well I would like to share with
everyone that Miss Rachel-before
she got her license or even had any
idea how to drive- out maneuvered
an irate, screaming cab driver
across 96th street to the East
river, handily avoiding two EMT
guys loading an old lady on a
gurney, while at the same time,
applying Cocofudge Lip Gloss in the
rearview mirror.
Bravos all around.
EMMA
Wait, wait. She actually got the
number of one of the E.M.T guys and
went out with him. Twice.
KYM
(loudly)
Was that the guy with the peroxide
hair?
Abby, not looking at her daughter, shushes her.
EMMA
Anyway, when the taxi driver
finally caught up with us, Rachel
talked him down from his Middle
Eastern fury in pretend Farsi, and
ended up using his radio thing to
call his dispatcher and recommend
this guy for a commendation.
RACHEL
Mahamoud! Such a nice man.
EMMA
We were driving so fast! It was one
of the more exhilarating moments in
my life...sadly...but I knew that
Miss Rachel would make it okay. So
here's to you, my dear, dear
friend. A woman who can drive fast,
pick up a paramedic, make up
languages and get you home in one
piece. Sidney, you are a lucky
bastard.
SIDNEY
Hear hear.
(CONTINUED)
33.
27 CONTINUED: 27
RACHEL
Where? Where?
Abby smiles broadly at Rachel and blows her a kiss.
Kym rises with her glass and takes Emma's place on stage. She
glows in the candlelight.
KYM
(for the crowd)
Relax, it's seltzer.
Low giggles.
KYM (CONT'D)
Hello. I'm Shiva the destroyer and
your harbinger of doom for the
evening. I want to thank you all
for coming and welcome you even
though I haven't seen most of you
since my latest stretch in the Big
House...
Scattered low giggles.
KYM (CONT'D)
You all look fabulous. During the
twenty minutes I was not in the
hole for making a shiv out of my
toothbrush, I actually did
participate in the infamous 12 Step
program. 12 Steps. Step-ball-
change, step-ball-change. I'm still
waiting for the change part.
Some guests laugh. Sidney grins. Carol, Paul, Rachel, and
Abby sit silently. Andrew moves in towards his wife.
KYM (CONT'D)
But as they say, relapse is an
almost always inevitable component
of recovery, God knows I've got
high marks in that mode!
Everyone is staring at Kym.
KYM (CONT'D)
Anyhoo, as more of you know than
are likely to admit, one of the
actual steps is about making
amends.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
34.
27 CONTINUED: 27
KYM (CONT'D)
So I spent a lot of time calling up
people who barely remembered me -
who barely remembered anything -
and apologizing to them for
bouncing a check or passing out in
the bathtub and flooding their
house, or otherwise involving them
in sordid activities they were
desperately trying to forget. I had
to call this one girl who was, I
think, fourteen, but I couldn't
talk to her because her Mom took
out a restraining order.
Kym thinks this is hysterical. Paul does not.
KYM (CONT'D)
Anyway, I did a lot of apologizing
to people who were practically
strangers so I very much want to
take this opportunity to not only
congratulate my extraordinary
sister, the future explorer in
matters of the mind, thank you very
much, and her adorable, impending
husband on the occasion of their
unprecedented nuptials.. but also
to apologize to my extraordinary
sister, the future explorer in
matters of the mind, for...
Everything! And I really mean that,
Rachel. I've been a nightmare and
you've been a saint. I'm so damned
glad I'm here with you and Sidney
and his family and ours, and I am
so happy for you guys, I really am.
So, I am hereby raising my seltzer
in celebration of my laudatory
sister and herewith making amends.
Sidney, you are robbing our
dysfunctional family of one of it's
most vital ingredients, and it's
only member still willing to lend
me money. (She pauses for a second)
Enjoy Hawaii. La Chaim.
She lifts her glass and downs it's contents. There is a
smattering of applause.
KYM (CONT'D)
(to the group)
One down. What's for dessert?
(CONTINUED)
35.
27 CONTINUED: 27
Kieran stares sympathetically at Kym.
28 EXT. UKRAINIAN FOLK MUSEUM. NIGHT. 28
Guests leaving.
29 OMITTED 29
30 INT. BUCHMAN HOUSE. NIGHT. 30
Kym drops into a chair in the dining room as Paul, Carol,
Rachel, Sidney, Kieran, and Emma struggle in with several
elaborately wrapped wedding gifts and leftovers from the
rehearsal dinner, which they pile on the dining room table.
Rachel and Sidney are having a quiet, tense exchange.
KYM
(to anyone, examining her
split ends)
I'm exhausted. Is there any
watermelon?
CAROL
Let me see.
RACHEL
(To Kym, as if she's
joking)
Nice apology.
KYM
What?
RACHEL
(again, making a joke out
of it)
Nice apology.
KYM
I was toasting you and I was making
amends. It's one of the Steps. It's
important.
RACHEL
I know what the Steps are.
(CONTINUED)
36.
30 CONTINUED: 30
Rachel glides to the den and drags out the huge dictionary.
RACHEL
I learned them in school, and I've
visited you in various facilities,
Kym.
Sidney and Emma share a look.
Rachel drops the dictionary on the dining room table.
KYM
Oh, god. Dad?
Kym looks to her father.
Carol returns with a tray and a huge watermelon that's been
impaled with an enormous kitchen knife.
RACHEL
Amends. Noun. Often followed by
'for'. Offset a disability or
frustration by development in
another direction.
Rachel blinks at her sister.
KYM
(exaggerated)
Yes?
RACHEL
You've never said anything to me,
that's remotely apologetic. Yet,
all of a sudden, at my wedding
dinner, in front of everybody, you
decide to grace us all with your
development?
KYM
Christ. I just got here.
Carol hands Kym a slice of watermelon.
CAROL
Here. Anybody else?
RACHEL
"Hey everybody! And guests! Just in
case you might be thinking about
something else for five minutes,
like, I don't know, my sister's
wedding-- they just cut me loose!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
37.
30 CONTINUED: 30
RACHEL (cont'd)
I'm a loose cannon, is that
hysterical? Anyone for some rehab
humor? Because I'm really fine with
acknowledging my disease. And now
watch me be really selfless, and
weave a lovely blanket apology to
my sister for being a tad out of
her loop."
Rachel giggles.
Sidney and Kieran, staying out of this, exchange a glance.
KYM
(chewing)
You're so cynical. Dad, since when
has she been this cynical?
PAUL
She's making an effort, Rachel.
RACHEL
An effort. That's what it was?
Because I think she presumes that
since everything has always
revolved around her disease,
everything else is going to revolve
around her recovery. That's what I
think.
PAUL
Rachel. She just got home.
RACHEL
Again.
KYM
I had no idea you were so angry,
doctor.
RACHEL
I'm not.
PAUL
Kymmie, your sister's got a lot on
her plate. She's uptight about...
RACHEL
I'm not uptight, Dad.
(CONTINUED)
38.
30 CONTINUED: 30
PAUL
She's meeting Sidney's folks for
the first time, there's menus,
there's all that live music, you're
home, there's a thousand things to
worry about.
CAROL
Absolutely, a wedding will take it
right out of you, boy.
PAUL
Yeah, it would be so lovely if we
could all just...
KYM
(removing seeds)
You people need to purge. You
people really should go to Nar-Anon
or something. I mean it.
CAROL
Oh my lord. Kym, we have gone
through Nar-Anon, baby. You know
that.
RACHEL
(turning her head)
You people? You mean the people in
this room? Your family?
KYM
All of you people living in this
little world of judgement and
paranoia and mistrust. I can feel
it every second. At the slightest
sign of ingratitude or absence of
atonement it's like the freaking
Salem Witch Trials around here. I
might as well be...
PAUL
(pouncing)
Don't even start...
CAROL
(standing next to her
husband)
Nobody can make you feel any way
unless you let them, Kym.
(CONTINUED)
39.
30 CONTINUED: 30
KYM
Thank you Carol, for your
inevitable pearl of wisdom, but you
people are my family. You people
make me feel like shit a hundred
times a day. You try living under
Dad's constant monitoring for five
minutes and see how you like it.
PAUL
What constant monitoring?
KYM
"I'll drive you!" "Carol, she's
back!" "Don't sleep here, sleep
there." "Here. Eat this." Dad,
you're obsessed.
RACHEL
Please. That's hardly news. You may
not know this...sure you do...the
only way to engage Dad in any
meaningful communication is to
start the conversation with your
name. "Have you heard from Kym?
How's Kym?" It resuscitates him. It
jars him into the moment. Like an
alarm.
PAUL
That's unfair, Rachel. And
completely untrue.
RACHEL
And she's even worse! "Dad, you're
never going to believe this, but I
lost the car again." "Dad, you're
never going to believe this, but
that check you sent me never showed
up and my landlord hates me." "Dad,
can somebody meet me downstairs
with cab fare and you're never
going to believe this but I need to
go to the emergency room and my
neighbor's suing me and my
checkbook got stolen!"
KYM
Gee, Rach, sounds like you have
some paternal/sibling issues to
work through.
(CONTINUED)
40.
30 CONTINUED: 30
RACHEL
Are you kidding? The two of you are
like a double helix of crises. In
the language of psychology one
could say you both suffer from
acute boundary issues.
PAUL
Rachel! It's nice that you're
getting your Ph.D--
RACHEL
(she throws up her hands.)
--Oh god--
PAUL
--but don't be patronizing. It's
ugly. It doesn't become you.
RACHEL
How come she gets to spout off
about paternal issues, but god
forbid I should even reference the
"boundary thing," even though I
actually know what I'm talking
about?
KYM
(waving her arms)
Hello? By the way? I'm not in
crisis. I haven't been in crisis
for a year.
RACHEL
You just got out of rehab!
KYM
Why is this so difficult for you
people to understand? It's like
you're not happy unless I'm in some
kind of desperate situation. You
have no idea what to do with me
unless I'm desperate. God. Why am I
the only one who's willing to say
this stuff?
RACHEL
Oh, poor you. You're so much more
evolved in your suffering. You know
what? Your suffering is not the
most important thing in the world
to everybody!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
41.
30 CONTINUED: 30
RACHEL (cont'd)
There are billions and billions and
billions of people, in nations all
over the world, who never even
think about you! Other people have
lives! We have lives! I have a
life! I'm in school. I'm getting
married. I'm...
Rachel just stands there, not saying anything.
KYM
What?
PAUL
What?!!
Dead silence. Everyone stares at Rachel. Rachel looks at
Sidney. Sidney passes the look right back to her.
RACHEL
I'm pregnant.
Beat, then: HUGE WHOOPS AND HOLLERS!!!!
EVERYBODY
Congratulations! Oh my god! Etc!!!
Paul hugs Rachel and kisses her hair. Sidney and Kieran hug.
Emma hugs Rachel and kisses Sidney. Hugging all around. Kym
is pissed. Paul grabs Kym and Rachel, and hugs both daughters
at once. Rachel and Kym's faces are mushed right next to each
other. Kym is impatient and stiff in the dreaded double mush.
Kym breaks from Paul's vice-like grip.
KYM
That is so unfair!
PAUL
(ecstatic)
When did you find out?
SIDNEY
Roughly about the day before we
decided to get married.
RACHEL
I can barely believe it myself!
PAUL
(laughing, mushing
Rachel's belly)
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
42.
30 CONTINUED: 30
PAUL (cont'd)
How long? How much pregnant? Did
you tell your mother?
RACHEL
We told her at dinner.
SIDNEY
She was so happy--
KYM
Wait! Stop! You can't just drop
that tectonic bit of information
into a completely separate
conversation, Rachel. You can't do
that!
RACHEL
Kym, you're going to have a niece!
SIDNEY
Or a nephew!
KYM
Oh, god. Of course I'm happy for
you. But you can't tell me when
we're talking like this. It's a
total set-up!
Beat. All the energy drains out of Rachel.
RACHEL
I am so fucking exhausted.
KYM
Dad, will you tell her I'm happy
for her?
RACHEL
I just...I need to go to bed.
Sidney?
SIDNEY
Yeah, okay. Great idea. I'm beat
too.
KYM
(to Rachel)
You're leaving? In the middle of
this conversation?
RACHEL
Yes.
(CONTINUED)
43.
30 CONTINUED: 30
PAUL
Kymmie, she's pregnant. She's
exhausted.
KYM
Of course. Fair enough. I'm off to
raid the medicine cabinet.
Kym is gone.
SIDNEY
She's not serious?
Everyone gathers around Rachel.
CAROL
Oh, Rachel darling, and Sidney, I
couldn't be happier.
SIDNEY
She wasn't serious, was she?
PAUL
Do either of you want anything? A
sandwich? You must be hungry.
There's cold Saagwala and a little
Aloo Gobi left over?
RACHEL
No thanks, Dad. I really am pretty
sleepy.
PAUL
You're pretty everything!
He mushes her face and kisses her cheek. Then he mushes
Carol's face.
CAROL
Holy cow. What a day. I think I've
aged. I mean it.
(To Paul) )
Would you mind if I went to bed,
darling?
PAUL
(kissing her again)
Of course not. I'll be up, Carol.
I'm just going to load the
dishwasher.
(CONTINUED)
44.
30 CONTINUED: 30
Sidney intones the opening bars to Paul's heroic "DISHWASHER
THEME". Paul raises the Cautionary Finger in Sidney's
direction. Sidney stops with the music.
CAROL
Let me help, it'll be quicker.
Now the Cautionary Finger is levelled at Carol.
PAUL
Don't mess with the King.
CAROL
Okay,okay.
Hands in the air, Carol leaves the room.
KIERAN
Wow. That's it for me too, you
guys. Good night everybody.
Kieran lays a manly, buddy hug on Sidney.
KIERAN
Congratulations, man.
SIDNEY
Thanks, my friend.
Kieran leaves. Now it's just Rachel, Paul and Sidney. Paul is
beaming like a klieg light.
RACHEL
I've never been so tired in my
life.
Paul gives Rachel a kiss on the cheek and mushes her face
some more.
RACHEL
Dad?
PAUL
Yes, sweetheart?
RACHEL
I hope it's okay, I told Mom at
dinner. About the baby.
PAUL
Of course, lamb chop. I'm so happy!
I'm going to be a grandpa!
(CONTINUED)
45.
30 CONTINUED: 30
Sidney mushes Paul and they attempt a hug and laugh and then
they really hug.
RACHEL
I wish Ethan were here.
PAUL
I know, sweetheart. Me too.
KIERAN'S VOICE OFF
That went well.
31 INT. BASEMENT. NIGHT. 31
Kieran and Kym lie entangled in the basement, sharing a
cigarette, disheveled. The floor of this entire section of
the basement is now covered with all of the carefully
arranged mattresses and futons that were stacked down here
before. All of Kym's mismatched bags have been moved down
here too. There's a little lamp there now as well but it's
not on. Only one of the small, cobwebby windows casts a
dappled light onto the scene.
KYM
That was such a set-up.
KIERAN
She probably didn't realize she was
doing it.
KYM
Ha! She's such an operator. Now I'm
the bad guy again. Or still.
KIERAN
They're lucky to have you.
KYM
Thank you! Otherwise they'd have to
pay attention to their own
suspicious lives. Nobody actually
wants me to actually change, you
know. What would they obsess about?
I'm like a blessing.
KIERAN
(laughing)
No argument from me.
(CONTINUED)
46.
31 CONTINUED: 31
KYM
Dad had an actual "Blueprint for
Rehabilitative Success" at my last
intervention. On graph paper. He
goes all out with the response, my
dad.
KIERAN
Not unlike this great nation in
which we live.
KYM
Meanwhile an ex-heterosexual ex-boy
friend of mine actually rang the
door once and tells my mother, "Kym
is sitting in her apartment? With
the shades drawn? Doing all this
heroin and cocaine? And I think
she's going to, like, die?" And Mom
smiles and says "Thank you" like he
was speaking in Sanskrit.
KIERAN
You can't actually speak in
Sanskrit.
KYM
Exactly! I nodded out into the
poached salmon at Dad's wedding two
years ago and he told Carol he
thought it was jet lag.
KIERAN
I did that in soup once. It made
such a mess.
32 EXT. BUCHMAN HOUSE. DAY. 32
Saturday morning. A giant delivery truck drives slowly up the
driveway, delivering the tent for tomorrow's wedding party.
33 INT. BASEMENT. DAY. 33
Kym leads Kieran through the labyrinthine rooms of the
basement giving Kieran a guided tour of the subterranean
world of which she was the ruler and where Ethan was her
loyal companion -- the secret hide-and-seek rooms, the
mattress room, the scary little side rooms, etc...
CUT TO:
47.
34 EXT. ABBY'S/ANDREW'S HOUSE. DAY. 34
A very stylish, very elegant, very "modern" (in the best
sense) home, lots of grounds, lots of foliage.
35 INT. ABBY'S/ANDREW'S HOUSE. MASTER BEDROOM. DAY. 35
Rachel and Abby are seated on Abby's bed, looking through
some family heirlooms in an old alligator jewel case. Rachel
is holding an ornate satin evening purse.
RACHEL
Look how exquisite this is. I can't
borrow this. What do you carry in
here? A vital organ? A tiny spleen?
ABBY
Isn't it divine? It was grandma's.
She sends her love.
RACHEL
I love the color. It's oyster.
ABBY
You must promise me you'll stay
healthy now, Rachel. You'll eat
properly and get a lot of rest?
RACHEL
Yes, Mom.
ABBY
How are things going at the house?
How's Sidney?
RACHEL
Fine.
ABBY
And his friend? What's his name?
RACHEL
Kieran.
ABBY
He seems to be a big hit. Is your
sister behaving herself?
(CONTINUED)
48.
35 CONTINUED: 35
RACHEL
I'm not exactly sure what that
means.
ABBY
Well, she needs a lot of
acknowledgement.
RACHEL
You think?
ABBY
Stop. It can't be easy. Everybody
knowing her troubles.
RACHEL
Mom, she's sold syndication rights
to her troubles.
ABBY
Stop.
RACHEL
Mom, does it bother you at all,
Carol doing so much wedding stuff?
ABBY
Not at all, darling, I'm thrilled
to be providing the flowers. You
know how much that means to me.
They're going to be exquisite!
RACHEL
Yes, I'm sure, and that's so great
and so you, but you can do whatever
else you want, you know. I'd love
it.
ABBY
Thank you, my sweetheart. I just
know I'd be one of those wedding
mothers who goes completely insane
about the hors d'oeuvres. Andrew
says I shouldn't be allowed near a
shrimp puff.
RACHEL
Huh.
ABBY
There are so many other people for
you to worry about.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
49.
35 CONTINUED: 35
ABBY (cont'd)
Your sister's home and everybody's
there and the bride always ends up
keeping everybody else satisfied.
RACHEL
You're right.
ABBY
But this is going to be the most
beautiful wedding ever. And I hope
your sister has a wonderful time
too...Anyway I'm going to be a
grandmother! Hooray!
RACHEL
Hooray!
ABBY
I'm so excited. I have always
wanted to be a grandmother. Even
when I was thirty. Here. This ring
was grandma's and she wanted you to
have it.
RACHEL
Is she dead?
ABBY
Rachel.
RACHEL
It's beautiful. Thanks, Mom. I hope
it's a boy.
ABBY
As long as it's healthy. Try the
ring on.
Rachel does.
ABBY
You've always had the most
beautiful hands.
36 EXT./INT. SCOTTY'S JAMAICAN RESTAURANT. DAY. 36
A neighborhood place, but on the other side of the parkway
from the Buchmans' neighborhood. Friendly, bustling, kids on
bikes and skateboards, etc. Large windows offer a view of a
stop sign, Fanny's Beauty Salon, Soul to Soul Liquor, a
barber shop, etc.
(CONTINUED)
50.
36 CONTINUED: 36
The restaurant is fluorescently lit, with a Jamaican flag on
the wall and photos of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, and Bob
Marley. There is a counter at the front where you place your
order and pick up your food. There is a Foosball table, and a
pinball machine.
Kym and Kieran are playing Foosball at the ancient table
where someone has painted Jamaican jerseys on all the
players. They are both viciously competitive and genuinely
irritated with each other.
KIERAN
Your hand is on the turf.
KYM
What turf?
KIERAN
The turf. The table.
KYM
So?
KIERAN
So we have to do it over now. It
was your shot and you get to do it
over.
KYM
What are you talking about?
KIERAN
Don't tell me you didn't know
having one hand on the turf makes
the play null.
KYM
Null. Maybe we should just play
Pinball.
C/U. The metal balls ricocheting around the interior of the
machine.
KIERAN
Sometimes playing next to each
other is easier than playing
together.
KYM
Who told you that?
KIERAN
My mom. She runs a pre-school.
(CONTINUED)
51.
36 CONTINUED: 36
They both crack up.
KYM
What's Hawaii like?
KIERAN
You've never been?
KYM
Uh uh.
KIERAN
It's beautiful. I've got a nice
place. My horse lives there.
KYM
Most people say "my girlfriend
lives there" or "my wife lives
there."
KIERAN
I live there and so does my horse.
He's very possessive. We're working
through it.
KYM
Have you had him a long time?
KIERAN
Yes. I may be a degenerate dope
fiend but I love my horse. I don't
have a wife or a girlfriend and
I've been clean almost seven years.
You could just ask, you know. Your
sister doesn't ask direct questions
either. She's incredibly cryptic.
KYM
That's a shrink thing, not a
genetic thing.
37 INT. COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING ROOM. DAY. 37
Kym is sharing at today's "12 Step" meeting. Kieran, the
others, listen intently.
KYM
We were in the park. I was sixteen
and I was...I had taken all these
Percoset. I was unbelievably high.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
52.
37 CONTINUED: 37
KYM (cont'd)
He had thrown away his shoes- and I
was like "Mom's going to kill me"
because I had no idea where his
shoes were- but he was so happy
about it. And he had his red socks
and he was running around kicking
up the leaves. You know in movies
where they show a person's high or
whatever and the camera careens all
around? It was like that. But fun.
You know. We were having so much
fun. We were leaping around in huge
piles of leaves. He buried me. I
buried him in a big pile. I was on
baby sitting detail. He was
pretending he was a train. So he
was charging through the leaf pile,
making tracks, you know? I was the
caboose. And he kept going "Coal,
caboose! Coal caboose!" So it's
time to go and we're driving home
and he's in his car seat still
demanding coal, and I couldn't
focus and I drove off the bridge.
The car went into the lake. I
couldn't get him out of his car
seat. He drowned.
38 EXT. BUCHMAN BACK PORCH. DAY. 38
Paul, Rachel, Emma, Sidney, and Norman Sklear are sprawled on
the porch eating sandwiches and figuring out the seating
arrangement for the wedding by manipulating tiny origami
chickens, a tiny turtle, Monopoly pieces, spools of thread,
etc...each with a small name tag.
Paul sees Kieran's rental pull up, grins, and calls to
Carol...
PAUL
Carol, they're back!
Carol emerges with a tray of lemonade as the rental is
rolling to a stop. Kieran and Kym are climbing out of the
car...
PAUL
(shouting from the porch)
Are you hungry? I made a Salad
Nicoise. It's got Tuna!
(CONTINUED)
53.
38 CONTINUED: 38
KIERAN
(shouting back)
I was just thinking Salad Nicoise!
RACHEL
Can we get back to what we were
doing, please?
PAUL
All right. Where were we? Ah
yes...The Rosenzwiegs. Can you
please put the Rosenzwiegs
somewhere far away from me?
Paul sits heavily.
RACHEL
They're your friends, Dad.
PAUL
They're not my friends. I've just
known them my entire life.
SIDNEY
Just so you know, my mother expects
to be carried in by liveried
servants to the triumphant swirls
of the harp and seated on a solid
gold throne forged by nuns.
RACHEL
Really? Because right now I have
her shoveling kelp in the laundry
room. But I have it as a montage.
Kieran and Kym arrive on the porch. Kym settles herself on a
big comfy chaise.
KYM
Where are you putting me? In the
stockade?
PAUL
Kym, stop it. You're at the family
table.
Kym turns her face to the sun, shutting her eyes.
KYM
(heedless)
Don't put me with Michael and
Sandy.
(CONTINUED)
53A.
38 CONTINUED: 38
RACHEL
They're not invited.
(CONTINUED)
54.
38 CONTINUED: 38
KYM
Sandy never called me back after I
sent her an amends e-mail from
Milestones. I hate it when people
don't meet you half way.
PAUL
The family table. With us.
CLOSE ON SEATING PLACEMENT BOARD--
Paul moves Kym's "marker" -- the MONOPOLY DOG -- to the
family table.
WIDER--
EMMA
Oops. That's nine. I thought you
were having tables of eight?
RACHEL
(pointedly)
I am.
KYM
(to anyone, her eyes still
closed)
Where are you putting me?
RACHEL
I was thinking of putting you with
Cookie Puss and the Chicago cousins
because they always get really
drunk and need wrangling.
KYM
Can someone else do it? I was
planning on enjoying myself.
RACHEL
You're the only one they're afraid
of.
KYM
Still? God.
Rachel pushes the MONOPOLY DOG to a different table.
(CONTINUED)
55.
38 CONTINUED: 38
PAUL
(not getting it)
We can move Grandma Rose and her
companion. That's actually a great
idea.
Kym opens one eye and sees Paul switch markers -- the
MONOPOLY DOG is back at the FAMILY TABLE. Rachel stares at
her father.
KYM
That's all I need. Another reason
for Grandma Rose to hate me.
PAUL
She doesn't hate you.
KYM
She's still mad about that thing at
the Rite Aid.
PAUL
Nonsense!
KYM
Whatever.
CLOSE SHOT--
Rachel moves the Monopoly Dog to another table. Paul looks at
her.
RACHEL
Dad, can I show you something in
the kitchen?
39 INT. KITCHEN. DAY. 39
Paul and Rachel alone.
PAUL
(sotto)
Rachel, what is this behavior?
RACHEL
(same)
I would just like to have a day
please.
(CONTINUED)
56.
39 CONTINUED: 39
PAUL
Have all the days you want. Nobody
is taking your day.
RACHEL
Then why are you defending her?
PAUL
Defending her from what? Darling,
look, no one's defending any
body...
RACHEL
Why are you protecting her?
PAUL
I don't want her to feel like we
don't want her.
RACHEL
Sometimes I don't want her. It's my
fucking wedding, don't you get it?
I want my table to be perfect.
Paul kisses her on the forehead.
PAUL
Stop it. She's your sister.
They look at each other.
The screen door swings open as Emma, Carol, Sidney, Kieran,
and Norman Sklear carry the lunch plates to the kitchen. Kym
follows, carrying the salt shaker.
PAUL
Okay. Dishes? I'm going to load the
dishwasher.
SIDNEY
Paul! Paul, listen, I've been
thinking about it. I did some
preliminary sketches, I'd love to
show them to you...
KIERAN
(to Carol)
He's not kidding.
(CONTINUED)
57.
39 CONTINUED: 39
SIDNEY
And I think if you move the salad
bowls to the upper tier you can get
about 10% more stuff in the
dishwasher.
CAROL
Hee hee hee.
Paul gives him a look. Sidney starts humming PAUL'S
DISHWASHER THEME.
PAUL
Sidney, you're a nice young man.
You make a lot of money and the
world is your oyster. But you don't
know shit about loading a
dishwasher.
SIDNEY
Sir, with all due respect, the
mantle has passed.
Paul takes a moment to size Sidney up then spins on his heel
to the dishwasher.
TIME CUT--
Sidney has his sleeves up and starts to load.
KYM
What's the time limit?
CAROL
Two minutes.
SIDNEY
Are you comfortable with that, sir?
I could spot you thirty seconds.
PAUL
You young people should all go fuck
yourselves.
KYM
Dad!
CAROL
Ha!
SIDNEY
You see Paul, I think your problem
lies in lid placement.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
58.
39 CONTINUED: 39
SIDNEY (cont'd)
Inverting the lids and stacking
them in the upper level is really
for amateurs. It's passe.
PAUL
Rachel, you're out of the will.
SIDNEY
Observe.
With a flourish, Sidney presents a beautifully stacked
dishwasher. Paul pats his shoulder somberly.
PAUL
Clean out this machine please, boy.
So I can break out the whup-ass.
Screaming all around. Kym jumps up and down with her arms on
Rachel's shoulders. Rachel glances at her sister, laughing.
SIDNEY/KIERAN
(delightedly)
He's breakin' out the whup ass!
A SWEET MONTAGE.
Paul is loading the dishwasher like a champ.
Carol and Emma are smiling and giggling.
Kieran has his eye on the clock.
Sidney trash talks from the sidelines.
SIDNEY
You know one of the early signs of
senile dementia is an obsessive
need to organize.
PAUL
Rachel, go fetch me my dart gun.
SIDNEY
I find it touching but ultimately
sad when the warriors of yesteryear
are reluctant to lay down their
plastic containers from Zabar's and
retire gracefully.
PAUL
Kieran, how's my time?
(CONTINUED)
59.
39 CONTINUED: 39
KIERAN
You have twenty-five seconds.
PAUL
I need more dishes. You amateur!
SIDNEY
What? No way!
PAUL
Somebody give me some dishes!
Kym yanks open a cupboard and passes a handful of dishes to
Paul. He begins to load them.
CLOSE ON PAUL
He has a bowl in his hands. We see the bowl is a plastic
child's bowl with Engines and Cabooses all over it. Paul
turns the bowl around in his hands like a steering wheel.
It dawns on Kym that she's handed her father Ethan's bowl.
She is stricken.
Paul looks to Carol. He seems bewildered. The kitchen falls
silent and Carol takes Ethan's bowl and places it in the
sink, out of sight. She leads Paul gently out of the kitchen.
CLOSE ON KYM --
CLOSE ON RACHEL --
She turns and leaves the kitchen. Sidney follows her. Emma
and Norman Sklear step out onto the porch.
Kieran takes the Ethan bowl from the sink and puts it quietly
back in the cupboard and shuts the door. Kym doesn't know
what to do.
40 EXT. BUCHMAN NEIGHBORHOOD. DAY. 40
The station wagon heading away from the Buchman house.
60.
41 INT. STATION WAGON. DAY. 41
Rachel is driving, Kym is in the passenger seat. The radio is
on and neither says anything. Kym cranks down the window,
tries to light a cigarette.
KYM
Mom is handling the flowers?
RACHEL
Well, she's growing them and
choosing them - but they are being
delivered by her people.
KYM
Got it. Wow. Nurturing and growing
things from the soil. Textbook,
right?
RACHEL
Kym. Can we talk about the candles
for a minute? Because --
KYM
Yeah, exactly! Candles and rice
paper -- all lit up during the
ceremony. It's a way of honoring
Ethan, Ethan's... spirit, you know?
It will look really nice too,
mainly. Millions of little candles
all over the place, and one huge
rice paper candle - representing
Ethan - glowing near the couple.
That would be you and Sidney.
RACHEL
Oh my god, no. Don't. Just don't.
That would kill Dad. And Mom. And
me. And everybody. Please, Kym,
please please please don't do that.
KYM
Geez. It was an IDEA. Lighten up,
okay? They do that in Japan or
India or someplace, okay?
RACHEL
Just drop it, sweetie, okay?
Please?
KYM
Oh my god - fine! Done! It was
nothing, okay. It was just an idea.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
61.
41 CONTINUED: 41
KYM (cont'd)
Just a stupid idea. I was joking,
you jerk! Lighten up, Rachel. This
is your big weekend. Everything's
fine.
42 EXT. DOWNTOWN STAMFORD. DAY. 42
Establishing this busy Connecticut city as the station wagon
drives behind a fancy hair salon on the main drag.
43 INT. BEAUTY SALON. DAY. 43
Kym and Rachel have foils in their hair, situated a few
chairs apart. Rachel is intently working on a crossword
puzzle.
KYM
Are you getting a manicure?
Rachel silently waggles her fingers.
Kym glances back at her magazine to discover one of the
stylists standing close by, gazing at her face.
Kym does a little double-take.
STYLIST
You don't remember me, do you?
Kym looks sharply at the stylist, noting his sincere face,
the warmth of his eyes.
KYM
Nooooo.....
STYLIST
Rick James' limousine.
KYM
Oh. My. God.
STYLIST
Yeah.
Rachel, nearby, grimaces.
(CONTINUED)
62.
43 CONTINUED: 43
KYM
I meant to come back. I swear. I
even had...Oh god, what was it?
STYLIST
Peanut M&M's and Carbona cleaning
fluid.
KYM
God is punishing me.
STYLIST
No, he's blessing me. It's cool: I
talked him down.
KYM
(uncomfortable)
So, how are ya?
STYLIST
I'm okay. You remember we were in
the hospital together, right?
KYM
We were...at Milestones?
STYLIST
No. I didn't go to Milestones. I
didn't have the coverage. We were
on the same floor at Loeb House.
That was before you went to
Milestones.
KYM
Where did you go after that?
STYLIST
My parents' house. Unemployment.
It's all about the coverage, right?
He stares deeply, movingly, into Kym's eyes. Awkward.
STYLIST (CONT'D)
I can't believe I'm seeing you
again.
KYM
(more uncomfortable)
I know. It's so weird.
(CONTINUED)
63.
43 CONTINUED: 43
STYLIST
Listen. Do you remember that
exercise where we all had to write
down experiences and pass them
anonymously to another person?
KYM
"The Human Mirror: Seeing With a
Fresh Perspective" Like Secret
Santas of despair.
STYLIST
I got yours.
Kym gives him a quizzical look.
STYLIST
You drew poodles in the margins. I
know it's supposed to be anonymous
and everything, but you were so
brave. The way your uncle abused
you and your sister, and how it led
to your sister's anorexia, and how
you stayed up nights when she was
down to fifty pounds holding a
mirror to her face to make sure she
was breathing. I'll never forget
reading that, I swear to God.
Rachel's stylist is removing her foils while Rachel chokes on
her Diet Pepsi and it comes out her nose. Kym looks nervous.
RACHEL'S STYLIST
(to Rachel)
Do you want a tissue?
Rachel looks horrified, holding her hand over her nose.
STYLIST
(To Kym)
I found it so profoundly
inspirational that you could be
there for her during your own
incredible ordeal. I thank God that
you came in here today. I never
thought I'd ever have the chance to
thank you. It was your strength
that gave me the courage to
confront my own abuse and help me
turn my life around.
Rachel slams down her magazine and leaves the salon. Kym runs
after her. Both girls have foils in their hair.
64.
44 EXT. REAR PARKING LOT/BEAUTY SALON. DAY. 44
Rachel is being trailed by her sister through the parking
lot.
KYM
Would you stop?
Rachel doesn't stop. She is searching for her keys in the
fading daylight. Kym catches up, takes Rachel's arm.
RACHEL
Don't touch me.
KYM
Don't you think his perspective
might be a little skewed?
RACHEL
I never had anorexia. You sure as
hell didn't watch over me while I
was sleeping and WE DON'T HAVE A
GODDAMNED PEDOPHILE UNCLE!--
KYM
(interrupting)
--That we know of!--
RACHEL
--THAT MADE OUR CHILDHOOD A LIVING
HELL AND EXPLAINS AWAY ALL OF YOUR
SHIT IN ONE FELL SWOOP!...Did you
tell them that Dad forced us into a
life of prostitution while you were
at it?
KYM
Ew!...
(she stops and tries to
remember)
Wait...
Rachel yanks open the car door, jumps in.
KYM
I wasn't hurting anybody. No one
got hurt, Rach.
Rachel slams the car door shut.
RACHEL
I'm hurt!
(CONTINUED)
65.
44 CONTINUED: 44
Rachel drives off with a screech, leaving her sister standing
there.
45 INT. BUCHMAN HOUSE. DEN. DAY. 45
Rachel, yanking the foils out of her hair, perches on the
sofa next to Carol and Paul. She is furious.
RACHEL
I hate her.
PAUL
You don't hate her.
RACHEL
Don't tell me what I don't hate. I
hate, hate the lies. She lied in
rehab.
PAUL
What do you mean she lied?
RACHEL
She lied to the people who were
working with her. Who were trying
to help her. She lies to everybody.
PAUL
(not getting it)
Where is she now?
RACHEL
Where am I now, Dad?
KYM'S VOICE OFF
Rachel! Rachel?
PAUL
Thank god. In here.
Kym comes stomping in. Her foils are still intact.
KYM
Thanks for abandoning me. I had to
take a taxi!
RACHEL
(disbelieving)
Are you kidding me?
(CONTINUED)
66.
45 CONTINUED: 45
KYM
Why would anything I said or didn't
say at the hospital hurt you? It
wasn't about you!
RACHEL
Why not? Why wasn't it about me?
PAUL
Rachel...
RACHEL
Dad, stop.
(to Kym)
Why not? I was hopeful. I was on
your side. I still am. Do you have
any idea what that means? Do you
have any idea how lonely it was
with everybody gone into your
terrible world? There was nothing
left. Everybody was just empty. You
think they remembered I was alive
or needed anything during your...
life? And after all that loneliness
and Mom and Dad blaming each other
and worrying and death and divorce
and that stupid hopefulness and Dad
not even being able to listen to
music, you were in the hospital,
lying about us! Instead of telling
the truth about yourself!
KYM
God, Rachel...
PAUL
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
What's this all about?
RACHEL
Apparently she has a whole history
of sexual molestation.
CAROL
What?
PAUL
Kym, what is your sister saying?
Did you say you were sexually
molested?
(CONTINUED)
67.
45 CONTINUED: 45
KYM
Oh Jesus Christ. Not by you! It was
a long time ago!
PAUL
Were you?
KYM
No!
PAUL
Why in god's name would you say
something like that?
KYM
It was anonymous! It seemed like a
good idea at the time.
The three on the couch are stunned for a moment.
RACHEL
Dad, look at me. I'm right here.
I'm telling you that after Ethan
died I wanted her to get better or
just die...
PAUL
And look! She is better!
KYM
Nice, Rachel. Thank you.
RACHEL
(to Paul)
...And Dad, she was lying and she
didn't give a shit about the rest
of us. Recovery can't work if you
lie. She knows that. I was
worthless to her. We all meant
nothing to her.
KYM
You're not worthless. You're my
sister. I love you guys. I need you
guys, but you don't get to sit
around for the rest of my life
deciding what I'm supposed to be
like. You weren't there. You
weren't inside my head when I was
fucked up and your certainly not
there now. You haven't got a clue
what I feel.
(CONTINUED)
68.
45 CONTINUED: 45
RACHEL
Kym, you took Ethan for granted.
You were high for his life. You
were not present for his life. You
were high. He was like a pet to
you. You drove him off the bridge.
And now he's dead.
PAUL
It was an accident.
KYM
Yes! I was stoned out of my mind!
Jesus Christ, who do I have to be
now? Mother Theresa? Did I use up
all the love I'm allowed for this
lifetime because I killed our
little brother?
PAUL
No, it was an accident!
KYM
I'm sorry! I'm sorry, okay? I'm
sorry!
Paul bursts out weeping.
PAUL
It was an accident.
Kym, her hair still in foils, rushes out of the house.
Carol turns to Rachel. Rachel bolts upstairs. Carol turns to
Paul. Paul waves her away. Carol is bawling too.
46 EXT. 7/11 PARKING LOT. DUSK. 46
A STATE TROOPER, sitting in his patrol car, looks up from his
coffee as Paul's Mercedes station wagon screeches into a
nearby parking space. The cop watches Kym get out of the car
and stalk into the 7/11.
47 OMITTED 47
69.
48 INT. ABBY'S/ANDREW'S HOUSE. MASTER BATHROOM. NIGHT. 48
Steam rises from the surface of Abby's high-tech and
sumptuous bathtub, as she quickly turns the water off and
speaks into her cell phone.
ABBY
Hello?
49 INT. BUCHMAN HOUSE. PAUL'S STUDY. NIGHT. CONTINUOUS. 49
He is alone and the door is shut
PAUL
Hello Abby. It's Paul.
INTERCUT the conversation:
ABBY
Hello Paul.
PAUL
Is Kym with you?
ABBY
No. Why? Did she go somewhere?
PAUL
She left the house about an hour
ago.
ABBY
To a meeting?
PAUL
She and Rachel had an argument.
ABBY
Oh, dear. The night before her
wedding? What was it about?
PAUL
Look, Abby, it doesn't matter. She
left the house. She took the car.
ABBY
What was the argument about?
PAUL
I don't know. They were both
getting their hair done...
(CONTINUED)
70.
49 CONTINUED: 49
ABBY
You don't know? Well what were they
saying?
PAUL
For god's sake Abby! I'm trying to
figure out where she went before I
call the police!
ABBY
Well, last time you called the
police looking for her she was
upstairs, asleep in the guest room.
PAUL
She wasn't asleep, she was
unconscious! And I'm glad I called
the police because it took twenty
minutes to wake her up and at least
something was being done!
ABBY
Paul, I'm trying to help.
PAUL
You're trying to dismiss
everything!
ABBY
She's not a criminal!
PAUL
You're disregarding everything I'm
saying, and this failure to listen,
failure to understand what is right
in front of you is exactly why you
will never be able...
ABBY
Paul!...
PAUL
...To help her!
ABBY
Maybe that's not what she needs all
the time...
PAUL
(incredulous)
What?
(CONTINUED)
71.
49 CONTINUED: 49
ABBY
(stammering)
I mean..I mean maybe she needs us --
PAUL
-- Maybe she needs someone to be
watchful and present and in her
life!
ABBY
-- To trust her --
PAUL
She could hurt herself! She could
be lying dead in a ditch somewhere!
ABBY
All right! All right! Stop it!
Beat. Paul tries to pull himself together. Abby is trembling.
PAUL
If you hear anything, can I count
on you to please call me?
ABBY
(incredulous)
Can you count on me?...
Abby puts her hand to her mouth. INTERCUT with Paul waiting,
then:
ABBY
Yes Paul, you can count on me to
call if I hear anything.
Now Abby waits: then
PAUL
Okay, then.
ABBY
Goodbye.
PAUL
Goodbye.
She hangs up.
He hangs up.
72.
50 INT. BUCHMAN DINING ROOM. NIGHT. 50
The room is piled high with boxes overflowing with tulle and
flowers and glassware. Carol, Sidney, Rachel, Kieran and Emma
are seated around the cheerless dining room table, picking at
the dinner in front of them...even Emma appears to have given
up. She is drinking a lot of wine. Paul returns to the table.
PAUL
Abby hasn't heard from her.
Rachel stabs her dessert with her fork. Her head is on
Sidney's shoulder, she looks pale and exhausted.
CAROL
She must feel awful.
KIERAN
(gently)
Excuse me, but when you're trying
to get better there's a lot of
pressure in rehabs... when someone
isn't ready to take responsibility
they create something, like an
Uncle Stan, to take responsibility
until they're ready.
PAUL
(hollow)
Well, she's always been creative.
CAROL
I just wish we knew where she was.
SIDNEY
Paul, Would you like me to go out
and look for her?
Rachel takes Sidney's hand.
CAROL
You're getting married tomorrow. A
hundred people will be here.
KIERAN
I'll go. I'm...I'll go. Any idea
where she might have gone?
Everybody looks at Kieran. No one responds. The phone rings.
Carol goes to get it. Everybody waits.
CAROL
It's the caterer.
(CONTINUED)
73.
50 CONTINUED: 50
Emma gives Rachel's arm a squeeze.
EMMA
I'll take it.
51 EXT/INT. SCOTTY'S. NIGHT. 51
Kieran, looking drawn under the fluorescent lights, stands
inside the Jamaican restaurant staring out at the night.
THROUGH THE WINDOW a beat up WHITE HONDA tears ass right
through the stop sign and screeches on up the road. Kieran
flinches.
52 OMITTED 52
53 INT. ABBY'S/ANDREW'S HOUSE. NIGHT. 53
Abby is in her kitchen preparing tea, dressed in loose-
fitting yoga-style PJs, hair still wet from her bath. A door
opens behind her and Kym emerges from the bathroom rubbing
her hands over her face.
KYM
Ahhh....
ABBY
You should call your father.
The air seems to go out of Kym for a moment.
KYM
In a minute. I need a glass of
water.
ABBY
I've made some tea.
Abby picks up the tray, leading the way from the kitchen into
the living room. Trailing behind her, Kym looks around her
mother's unfamiliar house -- the spaciousness and stark
modernity of Andrew's house stand in marked contrast to the
rampant folksy-ness of the Buchman house.
(CONTINUED)
74.
53 CONTINUED: 53
Abby places the tea service on a low table in front of a
sprawling sofa in the stone-walled living room.
ABBY
Here darling. Sit down. You look
upset.
Kym sits, pours and sips. Abby remains standing and tightens
the belt of her bathrobe.
KYM
When will Andrew be back?
ABBY
Not too late. He's at a dinner.
Beat.
ABBY
I spoke to grandma today. She sends
her love. Is everything all right
with the wedding?
KYM
Yes.
ABBY
Good.
KYM
Dad was loading the dishwasher...
ABBY
Mmm hmmm...
KYM
And I handed him Ethan's bowl with
the trains on it by accident.
Kym begins to weep. Abby remains still. Kym's weeping becomes
louder and louder. She is having trouble breathing.
Just as Abby reaches out to touch her...
KYM
Why did you leave me in charge of
him?
Abby stops.
(CONTINUED)
74A.
53 CONTINUED: 53
KYM
You knew. All of you knew. People
told you. I was a junkie.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
75.
53 CONTINUED: 53
KYM (cont'd)
I was a crazy drug addict. I stole
from you. I lied to your face. I
weighed six pounds and my hair was
falling out. I spent every dinner
in the bathroom.
ABBY
You were sick.
KYM
You know what I was. It's not like
there weren't any clues. I stayed
in my room for days. I passed out
all the time. Where were you, Mom!
What were you thinking? Why did you
leave me? Why did you leave me in
charge of him?
Abby closes her fists and beats Kym with all her strength.
ABBY
You weren't supposed to kill him!
You weren't supposed to kill him!
Kym curls up protectively and Abby suddenly stops.
KYM
Mom?
Abby swings at Kym again and connects.
Kym punches Abby right back -- twice -- now she is on her
feet.
Both women stop, terrified, and look at each other.
Kym moves toward her mother.
KYM
Mom?
ABBY
Get away!
Kym stops. Keeping her back to the door she backs out of her
mother's house.
54 EXT. ABBY'S/ANDREW'S HOUSE. NIGHT. 54
Kym falls down the front steps. Her nose is bleeding and her
eye starts to swell. Where are the car keys? Here they are.
Where is the door handle? Here it is. She drives off.
76.
55 OMITTED 55
56 EXT. SECLUDED ROAD. NIGHT. 56
Kym driving the station wagon too fast.
57 INT. STATION WAGON. NIGHT. 57
--KYM'S P.O.V.: THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD-- Headlights.
Windshield wipers. It's not raining. A curve in the road,
squealing around it. The road forks twenty yards ahead, woods
in between. Left or right? Kym drives straight ahead,
careening off the road, smashing down a couple of saplings,
losing speed, right fender smashing into a big rock --
AIRBAGS blast up into Kym's face -- airbag deflates, Kym's
head falls forward, bangs against the steering wheel. A tiny
moan. That's it.
58 EXT. WIDE SHOT. FORK IN THE ROAD. NIGHT. 58
The station wagon has come to a halt far off the road,
concealed by undergrowth and trees in the foreground. There
is no movement in the car. A Volvo station wagon drives by,
continuing on its way.
59 INT. BUCHMAN HOUSE FAMILY ROOM. NIGHT. 59
Paul, Kieran, and Sidney are seated around the family room.
Paul and Sidney are drinking red wine, Kieran something else.
An empty bottle is in front of them and Sidney is uncorking a
fresh one.
PAUL
...I never thought I'd have two
little girls. Two little girls
running around with their tummies
sticking out in their diapers. They
used to bite me on the nose, the
two of them.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
77.
59 CONTINUED: 59
PAUL (cont'd)
I'd hold both of them in the pool
and they'd take turns biting my
nose. Ethan never did that. He
preferred pinkies. Or knuckles...
Sidney and Kieran chuckle appreciatively. Paul joins the
laughter, pours some more wine.
60 INT. MASTER BEDROOM. NIGHT. 60
Rachel and Emma are curled up in the middle of the bed, spoon-
style, with clothes still on. Emma is behind Rachel, lost to
the world, gently snoring. Rachel's eyes are wide open.
Carol swings the door cautiously open and peers inside.
Rachel and Carol look at each other for a long time. Carol
withdraws, closing the door behind her.
61 EXT. FORK IN THE ROAD. DAWN. 61
The station wagon seen just as before. A couple of joggers
lope by on the road.
62 EXT/INT. STATION WAGON. MORNING. 62
Kym jolts awake as a STAMFORD POLICEMAN raps on her closed
window. She is a mess. A black eye. A split, bloody lip. A
gash across her forehead.
The cop is simultaneously gesturing for her to roll her
window down and speaking into his radio.
Kym tries to start the car. No luck.
The cop bangs on the window.
Kym leans her head against the steering wheel. The horn
starts blowing.
The joggers, a couple of early dogwalkers, and a couple of
kids on bikes are gathered by the roadside, whispering and
watching.
78.
63 EXT. STATION WAGON. DAY. 63
NOW -- The cop is studying Kym's license and registration.
NOW -- An AMBULANCE has arrived. Red lights flashing.
The crowd of onlookers has swelled considerably.
NOW -- The cop gives a clearly upset Kym a Breathalyzer test
as PARAMEDICS wrap a pressure cuff around her arm -- she
exhales into the Breathalyzer tube, her eyes darting between
the cop, the cracked windshield of the car and the gawking
crowd up on the road.
TIME CUT -- The paramedic holds Kym firmly by the chin
and peers deeply into her right eye. The other paramedic
blots at Kym's swollen lip with a gauze and hands her an ice
pack.
TIME CUT -- The cop gives Kym her license and hands her
an official looking form, which she stuffs in her shoulder
bag.
64 EXT. THE BUCHMAN HOUSE. DAY. 64
A truck towing the beat-up station wagon comes to a halt in
the street in front of the Buchman house. Kym steps down from
the passenger seat, ignoring whatever the driver just said in
parting.
The house is festooned with peonies and lights and WORKERS
hurrying about. Everything looks absolutely beautiful.
CATERERS are running from their vans into the house with
armloads of food, drinks, etc. Abby's flowers are being
unloaded from another van. Decorative chandeliers are being
carried inside.
VALETS are setting up their car-parking operation (a
decorated picnic table) at the foot of the driveway.
Kym squares her shoulders and begins her long walk up to the
Buchman house, back into the chaos.
A CUTE VALET passes Kym on the lawn, carrying two paper cups
of coffee, dressed in an Indian military tunic. He takes in
Kym's disheveled and bruised appearance.
VALET
Um. Hi.
KYM
I'm the Maid of Honor.
(CONTINUED)
79.
64 CONTINUED: 64
VALET
Cool.
Kym continues her walk toward the house.
VALET
Hey, I know you. I used to work at
the dog grooming place.
Kym keeps walking, ignoring him.
VALET
Hey, you holding?
Paul and Carol, beautifully dressed, appear on the front
porch and hurry towards Kym.
PAUL
Kymmie?
CAROL
Oh my lord...
PAUL
Are you all right?
They meet at the circular driveway.
KYM
I hit Mom.
PAUL
Oh my god is she...
KYM
Not with the car.
Beat.
PAUL
We need to get you to a hospital.
KYM
I have to get dressed.
PAUL
Look at you! You need to get to a
hospital!
(CONTINUED)
80.
64 CONTINUED: 64
KYM
Dad! I'm fine.
He tries to touch her. She stops his hand. Paul backs off.
PAUL
You can't just vanish. You can't
just leave. You have to call. You
always have to call.
Paul looks helplessly at his wife.
CAROL
Why don't you go find your sister?
She didn't sleep last night waiting
for you.
Kym runs onto the porch as a group of GOFERS carry more of
Abby's flowers through the front door.
Emma is on the front porch filling balloons with helium,
assisted by the kids from next door. Emma inhales from a
balloon as she sees Kym.
EMMA
(in a helium voice)
Oh. My. God.
65 OMITTED 65
66 INT. BUCHMAN FOYER. DAY. CONTINUOUS. 66
Kieran is in the living room on his cell phone when he spots
Kym. Behind him we see Norman Sklear, Matt and Innbo removing
the last of the living room furniture to the rear patio.
KIERAN
Holy shit.
(into the phone)
She just showed up. Yes. Thank you.
(to Kym)
Do you need a doctor?
KYM
You sent out the cavalry?
KIERAN
For your dad. Mostly for your dad.
(CONTINUED)
80A.
66 CONTINUED: 66
KYM
I have to get ready. I have to get
dressed.
(CONTINUED)
81.
66 CONTINUED: 66
KIERAN
Okay. I'm so glad to see you.
KYM'S P.O.V. -- charging up the stairs.
67 INT. MASTER BEDROOM. DAY. CONTINUOUS. 67
Also known as the bridal chamber.
Kym yanks the door open and Rachel jumps a mile.
RACHEL
Aaaah! Fuck!
She is dressed in her Sari and huge gold earrings and looks
beautiful, despite a lack of sleep.
Seeing her bashed up sister framed in the doorway, Rachel
fights tears. She loses.
KYM
I hit Mom.
RACHEL
With the car?
KYM
No. No.
RACHEL
You hit Mom? You hit our mother?
Kym looks completely desperate. She nods. Rachel's face
contorts with rage as she steps forward and slams the bedroom
door in Kym's face.
Kym winces.
Beat.
KYM
Okay.
Rachel yanks the door open again.
68 INT. MASTER BATHROOM. DAY. 68
Rachel has run a bath for her sister. She has removed her
sari but not her earrings.
Kym is in the bath. Her body is bruised and purple.
(CONTINUED)
82.
68 CONTINUED: 68
Rachel dabs gently at Kym's face with a washcloth while Kym
scrubs at her nails with a brush.
She glides the soapy washcloth over Kym's back. She notices
the word ethan inscribed within the design of the rose and
thorns image tattooed on Kym's left shoulder.
Rachel rinses shampoo and leaves and dirt out of her sister's
hair while Kym brushes her teeth.
Rachel dabs makeup on Kym's chin as Kym's hands tremble with
the mascara.
RACHEL
I got it.
69 INT. MASTER BEDROOM. DAY. 69
Back in her wedding Sari, Rachel wraps Kym in her
bridesmaid's gown and puts some Lilies of the Valley in her
hair.
RACHEL
Can you do this?
Kym nods.
RACHEL
Okay.
70 EXT./INT. BUCHMAN BACK TERRACE/LIVING ROOM. DAY. 70
THE CEREMONY -- Guests, some standing, some in white chairs.
The living room is festooned with wall to wall flowers. A
canopy of cherry blossoms leads from the living room terrace
to the opened living room doors. Sidney, looking stunning in
a dove grey Nehru suit and a lavender pocket square, waits at
the altar with groomsmen Kieran, Norman Sklear, and Cousin
Joseph (now wearing full dress U.S. Army uniform)... and
officiating JUDGE CASTLE.
SFX: LIVE MUSIC -- "Here Comes The Bride" on distant electric
guitar and drums plus foreground violin and gently chanted
"Rachel's" and "Sidney's" by the assembled friends.
Emma's smiling face fills the frame as the ceremony begins.
Bridesmaids Emma, Kayra Williams, Victoria, and - -
THE MAID OF HONOR!--
(CONTINUED)
83.
70 CONTINUED: 70
Kym in her dress with her striped hair, split lip and black
eye, trying to find her game face. The wedding guests are
slack-jawed. Mrs. Williams (Sidney's mom) looks like she's
passing a stone.
Abby stands quietly with Andrew in the first row. She looks
composed and lovely and has the tiniest hint of a bruise on
her chin.
The procession reaches the altar and the wedding party turns
to face Rachel and Paul.
Paul is beaming, walking his beautiful daughter from the side
of the house and across the terrace to the living room. She
glows in her white and gold Sari.
They reach the altar of blossoms. Rachel kisses her dad's
cheek and he hugs her. Things are set up so that Rachel and
Sidney stand just inside the living room, facing the
beautiful backyard.
Kym reaches for Rachel's bouquet but Rachel has handed it to
Emma by reflex. Kym tries to cover her gesture.
Rachel and Sidney join hands.
JUDGE CASTLE
We're here on this beautiful day...
Somebody's baby starts to cry.
JUDGE CASTLE
Exactly.
Everybody cracks up, especially Kym. She laughs a beat longer
than anybody else.
KYM
(mumbling)
Excuse me.
71 EXT./INT. BUCHMAN BACK TERRACE/LIVING ROOM. DAY. 71
Rachel and Sidney are saying their vows.
SIDNEY
I always just wanted to hear music,
and when I met you I heard you. You
are the most beautiful thing I've
ever heard. Thanks for marrying me.
(CONTINUED)
84.
71 CONTINUED: 71
Rachel is crying. Sidney takes his pocket square and
carefully dries her tears.
Abby is drying her own eyes.
Rachel makes her own declaration to Sidney.
Norman Sklear hands Sidney an acoustic guitar and Sidney
strums it and plucks a delicate melody.
SIDNEY
For you.
(to Rachel's stomach)
And you...ahem...
(sings)
"She used to work in a diner
Never saw a woman look finer
I used to order just to watch
her float across the floor
She grew up in a small town
Never put her roots down
Daddy always kept movin',
so she did too.
You know it ain't easy
You got to hold on
She was an unknown legend
in her time
Now she's dressin' two kids
Lookin' for a magic kiss
She gets the far-away look
in her eyes.
Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very
air she breathes
The air she breathes.
The air she breathes.
The guests join in on the last chorus, with spontaneous ad-
lib instrumentation from some of the musician friends. The
song ends with a huge eruption of laughter and applause.
(CONTINUED)
84aA.
71 CONTINUED: 71
JUDGE CASTLE
On that note, and with the power
vested in me by the state of
Connecticut and Neil Young, I now
pronounce you husband and wife.
Big Kiss! Lots of screaming and laughing. Huge applause.
Carol and Mr. Williams throw pink and white confetti hearts.
Kym applauds wildly and is crying her eyes out.
Paul weeps openly. Carol breathes a sigh of relief.
72 EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD. LATER. 72
POST-CEREMONY LUNCH -- the whole Wedding Party Inner Circle,
everybody, is enjoying barbecue, oysters, Vegetarian Supreme,
beers, wine, various other chill-juices and snackettes -- on
the back terrace, around the swimming pool and spread out at
picnic tables and blankets across the expansive back lawn.
The exotic reception party tent stands proudly and invitingly
down the slope.
THE MUSICIAN FRIENDS are playing their version of "Rachel
Loves Sidney." Some guests have removed as many layers of
clothing as weather permits. Some -- including Sidney and
Rachel -- have even changed into Bermudas and sweatshirts for
the moment.
(CONTINUED)
84A.
72 CONTINUED: 72
Rachel and Sidney are serving second helpings to their
friends.
Abby and Andrew are at a table eating and chatting with the
Chicago Cousins, the Rosenzweigs, and Cookie Puss.
(CONTINUED)
85.
72 CONTINUED: 72
Kym is tying a LITTLE BOY'S balloon to his wrist. She looks
over at her mother.
Abby is deep in conversation with Andrew. She tucks a stray
hair behind his ear.
73 EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD. DAY. 73
"CUTTING THE CAKE"--
A MULTI-TIERED WEDDING CAKE, WEDGEWOOD BLUE, IN THE SHAPE OF
AN ELEPHANT, WITH TWO TINY PLASTIC ASTRONAUTS SITTING ON TOP.
Rachel and Sidney are cutting the cake.
SIDNEY
Is this mocha? Or chocolate?
He samples the frosting.
MRS. WILLIAMS
Baby Boy, let them take the
picture.
SIDNEY
Okay, Mom.
RACHEL
Yeah, Baby Boy.
Rachel licks the frosting off Sidney's finger then gives his
mom a big wholesome smile.
Mrs. Williams shakes her head but she's okay with this.
RACHEL
Can we all do this together?
Reshuffling as Sidney, his parents, Kayra, and Rachel, Paul,
Carol and Kym each place a hand on the silver cake knife.
RACHEL
Mom.
With nowhere else to stand, Abby lays her fingers lightly on
Kym's wrist. Emma's AUNT JOYCE, a cool professional photog,
SNAPS THE PICTURE.
(CONTINUED)
86.
73 CONTINUED: 73
SIDNEY
Dear God, bless this family and let
them always invite us for dinner
because my new wife can't boil
water or fry an egg. La Chaim.
EVERYONE
La Chaim.
Rachel suddenly stands on a chair and bangs on a glass with a
spoon.
RACHEL
Friends and family, family and
friends! I have an announcement to
make! I'm the bride and I'm knocked
up!
Surprised whooping and hollering.
RACHEL
I'm exercising my bridely, knocked
up prerogatives and demand that
everybody starts dancing. And this
means you too, Mom!
Abby smiles.
SFX: The Deejay spins an infectious platter (TBD).
RACHEL
Oh yay! Dad c'mon. C'mon Dad! This
is my favorite song!
PAUL
Ooo. Look at me, I'm dancing.
She drags Paul to the temporary poolside patio dance floor.
Paul is a fantastic dancer! Sidney drags his dad to the dance
floor. He's dramatic and weird! Abby smiles politely at Kym
and goes to sit down with Andrew. Kieran spirits Kym to the
patio, where they join the dancers.
86A.
74 EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD/OUTSIDE THE TENT. DUSK. 74
THE RECEIVING LINE -- All members of both families are lined
up outside the entrance to the tent to greet the INNER CIRCLE
GANG and the LUCKY FEW OUTSIDERS who have been invited to
this evening's gala wedding reception party. It is twilight.
(CONTINUED)
87.
74 CONTINUED: 74
Everybody is spruced and rested. Rachel and Sidney have
changed into awesome party outfits.
Inside the tent, yet another group of musician friends are
currently laying down an evocative, hypnotic and extremely
cool, jazzy "world music" groove as the same attractive and
immaculate young servers (from the rehearsal dinner)
circulate with trays of delicious appetizers, wine, seltzer,
etc.
Kym is still wearing her sari. She stands next to her mother.
They are doing their wedding party duties. Neither woman is
looking at the other.
BOB THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR
(to Abby indicating Kym)
And how is our little wayward girl?
KYM
Fine.
(Beat.)
I had an accident.
ABBY
And, how are you, Bob?
BOB
God, never better -- Isaac opened
his practice!
QUICK CUTS OF KYM
NICE FAMILY FRIEND
We're all so glad you made it! I
shouldn't be telling you this, but
there was actually a pool! Is that
hysterical?
DISTINGUISHED NEIGHBOR
(eyeing Kym's injuries
with a twinkle)
If you're in need of any legal
services...
AWKWARD YOUNG GUEST
I don't know if you remember this
but you owe me $750.
HIP YOUNG GUEST
Are you holding?
(CONTINUED)
87A.
74 CONTINUED: 74
INTERESTING YOUNG WOMAN
Kym? Do you remember me?
KYM
Sorry...I'm not sure...
(CONTINUED)
88.
74 CONTINUED: 74
INTERESTING YOUNG WOMAN
Kym! Angela Paylin!!
Angela sports an intense tattooed image on the inside of her
right forearm. Her face features a unique piercing. Kym hugs
her. Their reunion makes her cry...Angela is nice.
75 INT. EXOTIC WEDDING TENT (EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD). NIGHT. 75
The tent is fairly packed now with about 60-SOME ODD PEOPLE.
Everybody is getting along fine. With a single dramatic
gesture, Norman Sklear silences the band. Upon Norman's
instructions, the drummer works his cymbals in such a way
that the party-goers realize that something big is about to
happen. Norman Sklear now gestures for complete silence and
he gets it.
Rachel and Emma grin madly at each other.
SFX: LIVE BRAZILIAN PERCUSSION SLOWLY BUILDING, GROWING
LOUDER approaching the tent entrance from the moonlit
backyard.
ALL EYES ON THE ENTRANCE -- the swimming pool lights
shimmering outside as --
--FOUR SEXY BRAZILIAN DRUMMERS AND FOUR GORGEOUS BRAZILIAN
CARNIVAL GIRLS COMPLETE WITH HEADDRESSES AND FEATHERS DANCE
INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWD! The musicians blow whistles and
bang on drums. The cafe-au-lait beauties gyrate and pull
guests out of their chairs.
Rachel leaps from her chair into Sidney's arms and he gives
her a huge, sexy kiss as he rubs her tummy. Wedding guests
scream with delight and rush to the floor.
The drummers become more impassioned with every beat. They
travel allover the dance floor, a trail of guests behind
them. Sweat is dripping, the girls are glistening wet, the
guests are pulled into a massive pulsing heartbeat on the
dance floor.
Emma, Kayra and Victoria are dancing together screaming until
Cousin Joseph, Matt and another male friend muscle their way
in.
Little kids swing each other around in circles.
Rachel and Sidney are practically doing it on the dance
floor. A Brazilian beauty shimmies over to them, her
headdress bobbing, her smile enormous.
(CONTINUED)
89.
75 CONTINUED: 75
Sidney immediately puts his head on her bosom. After a beat
Rachel does too, laughing.
SFX: POUNDING BRAZILIAN DRUMS
Carol stands quietly besides Paul and takes his hand and
whispers to him. Though not dancing, they are clearly
enjoying the carnival. Paul gives a little shimmy.
Abby and Andrew are huddled together at a table, talking
intensely. It's like they are blind to the spectacle.
Kieran offers his hand to Kym. She leaps up, spilling her
flowers. Kieran pulls her to the middle of the crowd. They
circle each other. They come together almost violently and
dance like there's no tomorrow. Kym's head is thrown back.
Shoulders heaving, Kieran swings her around by the waist.
SFX: DRUMMERS DRIVING THE PARTY FASTER AND FASTER.
Emma shimmies wildly with her partner, her hair a mess.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams clapping wildly and doing the
limbo/hustle/drunken parent dance.
Guests stomping and cheering.
The brown, glittering dancers are shaking thisclose to the
drummers who have their shirts off.
A dancer rocks with an older gentleman who gulps oxygen from
a tank.
Rachel and Sidney are bathed in sweat, kissing. Sidney is
gulping champagne.
Kieran and Kym have their foreheads together and their eyes
closed, chests heaving.
DRUMS CRESCENDO
Carol and Paul watching, laughing.
Andrew whispering in Abby's ear. She just stares off.
Kieran and Kym glued together.
Rachel tossing her hair wildly, Sidney behind her.
Everyone laughing, laughing, dancing.
DRUMS STOP!!!
(CONTINUED)
90.
75 CONTINUED: 75
HUGE WHOOPS AND HOLLERS!!!
CUT TO:
76 EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD. NIGHT. 76
The exotic tent looks beautiful out there in the sprawling
backyard, reflections of the POOL LIGHTS shimmering off its
sides. The whole backyard is enchanted -- with magically
deployed twinkle lights, Japanese lanterns and other special
lighting effects adding to the aura...
"Rachel Loves Sidney" is being played in a mellow, super-
romantic trumpet solo mode now by Christian Scott.
An assorted bunch of guests have relocated to the poolside
patio in their finery. The oxygen guy and his matronly wife
are seated on a transplanted living room couch, talking
intently to a be-feathered headdressed Dancer.
Norman Sklear and Emma are sharing a stylish, quietly
triumphant slow dance, whispering punctuated by gusts of
laughter. Angela Paylin is out there too.
Little kids are running around the lawn and a few are playing
with OLIVE the Dog.
Kym kneels at the far corner of the swimming pool, unnoticed
by anyone. A wooden serving tray floats on the surface of the
water, supporting a candle wrapped in rice paper. A couple of
smaller candles surround the slightly larger one. Kym lights
the candles, extinguishes the match, gently slides the
illuminated tray out towards the center of the pool, watches.
Kym rises and walks towards the house, looking for something.
NEIGHBORHOOD GIRL
(to Kym)
I can do a handstand!
She executes a truly terrible handstand.
KYM
That sucked.
The girl throws a rebellious dance move in Kym's direction.
KYM
Ouch.
The girl laughs and runs off.
90A.
77 EXT./INT. BUCHMAN LIVING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS. 77
Kym crosses the back terrace and enters the living room
through the flower bedecked canopy....
(CONTINUED)
91.
77 CONTINUED: 77
where she finds Rachel and Sidney slow dancing alone and
dreamy in the center of the darkened room, the walls still
covered with the ceremonial flowers. A single candle flickers
nearby.
The dancers are oblivious to Kym's presence.
KYM
(to Rachel)
Hi. Where's Mom?
Rachel has her head on Sidney's shoulder, her eyes closed.
RACHEL
Taking a break.
KYM
How can you take a break from your
own daughter's wedding?
RACHEL
Mom doesn't actually participate in
things.
KYM
And anyway, she hasn't even done
anything all day.
RACHEL
I was thinking about getting her a
cat. Cats are really annoying. At
some point you have to deal with
them, right? Or they starve to
death and piss on your sheets.
KYM
It's so nice here.
Suddenly Kieran sweeps into the room.
KIERAN
You can run but you can't hide!
Kym shrieks as Kieran grabs her and plants a wet one on her,
dipping her to the floor. They careen into Sidney and Rachel.
Sidney grabs Rachel and starts molesting her.
RACHEL
(totally into it)
Stop! Stop you fiend!
Rachel and Sidney fall to the floor writhing, sounding way
too amorous. Then:
(CONTINUED)
92.
77 CONTINUED: 77
ABBY'S VOICE OFF
Hello?
KYM
Hello?
RACHEL
Hello?
The ceiling light flicks on overhead and Abby enters the
living room. Blinking against the light, Rachel struggles to
her feet smoothing her dress.
RACHEL
Mom!
ABBY
Here you are.
SIDNEY
(from the floor)
Hello Abby. You're lovely. And I'm
not looking up your skirt.
Kieran is busting a gut not to laugh.
ABBY
I've been looking for you all over
the place.
ANDREW'S VOICE OFF
Abby? Where are you?
ABBY
I'm in here.
Andrew pops his head in.
ANDREW
They're bringing the car around.
ABBY
All right.
RACHEL
You're leaving?
ABBY
Darling, I'm exhausted. I had such
a marvelous time. Those dancers
were so beautiful. But weddings are
really for young people.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
93.
77 CONTINUED: 77
ABBY (cont'd)
I thought we'd just sneak off and
not make a big scene.
RACHEL
You could make a little scene.
ABBY
And here I am making it. Andrew and
I are going to Washington in the
morning.
KYM
Why are you going to Washington?
ABBY
It's the mother of all fund raisers
at American. I thought I mentioned
it. We're going to stay on about a
week - there are lots of meetings.
I thought since you two are going
away soon...
(to Kym)
...and I'm sure you don't want any
grown ups around checking up on
you...Will you still be here when I
get back?
Kym doesn't say anything.
RACHEL
What about our post-nuptial wedding
gossip reconnaissance, Mom?
ABBY
Well, can you come by early?
RACHEL
Um...
ABBY
Of course you don't want to do
that. It's your wedding night. You
don't want to get up early.
I have to get Andrew organized.
He's hopeless. And we'll be back in
a bit. It was such a lovely
wedding, darling.
She bends in for a kiss.
RACHEL
Wait! I want my mother and my
sister!
(CONTINUED)
94.
77 CONTINUED: 77
ABBY
Rachel...
Rachel wraps one arm around Kym's neck and the other round
her mother and hugs them both to her. She has her eyes open.
They have their eyes open. They are stiff as boards.
Rachel stops hugging and looks from one to the other.
Her mom and sister look at her and each other.
Beat.
ABBY
Will you call me every day
about...?
She pats Rachel's tummy.
RACHEL
Yes. Of course.
ABBY
All right, then.
SIDNEY
Goodbye Abby.
ABBY
Good bye, Son-in-law.
Kym and Rachel watch their mother leave the room.
SIDNEY
(horrified)
I saw your mother's underwear.
Kym sees Abby and Andrew crossing the front porch through the
window.
KYM
I can't find my cigarettes.
Kym moves quickly from the room.
78 INT. BUCHMAN FOYER. NIGHT. 78
Kym is heading for the front door, when Paul breaks away from
a group of guests having coffee in the dining room and nabs
her, pulling her into a conversation with a WEDDING GUEST.
(CONTINUED)
95.
78 CONTINUED: 78
PAUL
Kymmie. Speak of the devil. You
remember Susanna Galeano.
KYM
(she doesn't)
Hi.
SUSANNA
Hi Kym.
Kym is looking out the dining room window between Paul and
Susanna -- she spots Abby and Andrew walking down the
driveway towards the VALETS at the street.
PAUL
Susanna has a public relations firm
and she just lost one of her
assistants.
SUSANNA
Weddings. They're an epidemic. Your
father gave me my start about a
hundred years ago.
PAUL
No, no. Hardly. Well...
SUSANNA
We could definitely use an extra
body right about now. Have you ever
thought about Public Relations?
KYM
The public is kind of afraid of me.
Susanna and Paul laugh.
PAUL
The firm is opening an office right
here in town, just in time for the
holidays. You could stay right
here.
SUSANNA
Have you ever thought about P.R.
Kym?
PAUL
Logistically it's just a dream. You
could stay in your old room. I
could chauffeur you around. You
wouldn't have to worry about rent.
(CONTINUED)
96.
78 CONTINUED: 78
KYM
Have you already talked to Carol
about me staying here?
PAUL
Of course. She's fine about it. You
could stay in your old room.
SUSANNA
Why don't you give me a call on
Monday, okay?
She hands Kym a business card and kisses Paul on the cheek.
SUSANNA
Goodbye Paul. It was just
beautiful. Bye Kym.
She leaves.
PAUL
Suzy's first rate. P.R. can be
fascinating.
KYM
You always said it was stupid.
PAUL
I meant stupid. Do you want me to
hold that for you? You've got no
pockets.
KYM
I've got it. Thanks, Dad. I'll be
right back.
79 EXT. FRONT PORCH. NIGHT. 79
At the edge of the porch Kym sees Abby standing in the
moonlight at the front of the driveway with Andrew, waiting
for their car. Kym pauses.
Abby turns her head slightly in Kym's direction.
Kym, in the half dark, watches her mother.
Abby does not move a muscle.
Kym steps off the porch.
The valet pulls up in the car, jumps out.
(CONTINUED)
97.
79 CONTINUED: 79
Abby fixes her gaze on Andrew as he opens the door for her.
They drive off.
CLOSE ON KYM
80 EXT. BUCHMAN BACKYARD. MORNING. 80
The Absolute End of a Wedding. The place is a gorgeous mess
of wedding detritus.
The tent looks so lonely. A weary caterer packs away his
trays.
Kieran is talking and smoking with Sidney at the end of the
lawn.
81 INT. ETHAN'S ROOM. DAY. 81
A freshly scrubbed Kym, in her own clothes, takes a moment in
Ethan's room. She collects a few snapshots of her sister and
brother and stuffs them in her shoulder bag.
82 INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY. DAY. 82
As Kym approaches the stairs, Emma staggers into the hallway,
bleary-eyed. She is in her underwear, heading for the
bathroom. She stops at the sight of Kym. They stare at each
other. Emma gives a tiny wave. Kym responds, heads down the
stairs.
83 INT. BUCHMAN STAIRWAY. DAY. 83
Kym slipping quietly downstairs. She moves to collect her
weird mish-mash of bags waiting by the door.
Kieran is there.
KYM
Oof. You scared me.
KIERAN
Making a break for it?
KYM
Yeah. I have to go. I was coming to
find you.
(CONTINUED)
98.
83 CONTINUED: 83
KIERAN
You don't have to slip away without
making any noise, you know? I like
noise.
KYM
I was coming to find you. My ride's
outside.
KIERAN
...Okay...If you need anything...
KYM
If I need to post bond?
Kieran hands Kym a folded piece of paper.
KIERAN
No. If you ever need anything.
KYM
Thank you, Kieran.
KIERAN
Maybe you'll come visit me in
Hawaii?
KYM
That would be nice.
He smiles, kisses her, tenderly. She hugs him fiercely.
KYM
I have to go. Bye.
84 EXT. FRONT PORCH. DAY. 84
Kym looks back in through the window, sees her father awake,
in his robe, tired, gamely tidying.
KYM
(unbelievably softly and
tenderly)
Dad.
Carol comes up behind Paul, envelopes him in a gentle bear
hug.
99.
85 EXT. BUCHMAN DRIVEWAY. DAY. 85
A `98 maroon CAMRY is idling in the circular driveway out
front, exhaust vaporizing against the chilly morning air. A
cute two-year-old girl is visible in a carseat and Rosa, the
staff nurse from Kym's halfway house, is at the wheel. The
car radio plays quietly as Kym opens the passenger door,
wiggling her finger at the little girl.
Like a ghost, Rachel appears on the porch.
Kym jumps a little.
The sisters lock eyes.
Kym looks pained. Paul is still moving around in there. She
wants to go.
Rachel floats down the porch stairs and joins her sister at
the car.
She takes in Rosa who meets Rachel's look with a nod.
ROSA
Hi.
RACHEL
Hi.
KYM
(whispering)
Will you tell Dad?
Rachel nods. Kym is crying.
KYM
I love your baby!
RACHEL
Me too.
Rachel hugs her sister fiercely.
Kym gets into the passenger seat but leaves the car door
open.
Rachel smiles her huge, luminous smile.
Kym shuts the car door and rolls down the window.
KYM
(quietly)
Bye!
(CONTINUED)
100.
85 CONTINUED: 85
Rachel mouths "Bye" and gives a little wave.
The car pulls out of the driveway, Carol watching it go from
the dining room window.
THE END
