INT.  BOULEY RESTAURANT, NEW YORK - NIGHT

Dim lighting, crowd buzz, a long line of the rich, the celebrated, 
the congenitally impatient.  Everyone in this queue holds a 
reservation at least an hour overdue.  Tourists can't even make the 
line.  PAN ahead to...

... the burnished dining room, the tables of power, the elegant 
service.  Covertly, many eyes are drawn to the one table receiving 
by far the most lavish service of all.  Captains hover, presenting 
delicacies, pouring wines, murmuring obsequiously to a guest whose 
person they screen from our view.  We can see, however...

... the honored guest's companion.  Ignored, bemused, across the 
table.  This is DIGGER DOWNES, 36, darkly attractive.  Kind eyes, 
an intellectual's mouth, Saville Row's most unobtrusive and 
conservative chalk-stripe suit.  He is gay, but you wouldn't guess 
it.  Loyal and wise and generous, and you might.  He watches with a 
quiet twinkle, as the Captains now step back, revealing to us...

... their most unlikely icon.  JULIANNE POTTER, almost 28, wears 
her favorite bulky sweater over a bunch of other stuff she pulled 
together in fifteen seconds.  She is unkempt, quick, volatile, 
scattered, and beneath it all, perhaps because of it all, an 
original beauty.  Dark liquid eyes, a cynical mouth, slender 
expressive fingers, which point to...

			CAPTAIN
	    A variation on our squid ink 
	    risotto.  Trace of Moselle, to 
	    sweeten the stock.

She doesn't like that idea at all.  Shoots him a sharp look of 
doubt that makes him smile.  Murmur...

			CAPTAIN
	    Don't kill us on this one, it's 
	    a long shot.

Places the moist lump of black rice before her.  She takes a 
surprisingly small amount, rolls it over her tongue.  Makes dead 
flat eye contact with Digger.  And nods, it's actually quite nice.  
The Captain breathes with relief.  She turns her dark eyes to him.  
The tone says they're pals...

			JULIANNE
	    I'm writing it up as inventive and 
	    confident.  Which it is.  Off the 
	    record, I'll need an extra boat of 
	    the ink.  Or a salt shaker.

			CAPTAIN
	    I'll toss a coin.

As the Captain splits, Digger looks around at the other tables, 
which makes many pairs of eyes awkwardly glace away.

			DIGGER
	    Is it ever embarrassing, having 
	    your bum kissed in public?

			JULIANNE
	    If your ass isn't chapped, you 
	    are not a good-writer of note.

She glances at her two remaining waiters, who shamelessly fawn 
nearby.

			JULIANNE
	    Is it sad to be an editor, and bask 
	    only in reflected insincerity?

			DIGGER
	    I've adjusted, and thanks for asking.

She leans forward, as if sharing something conspiratorial.

			JULIANNE
	    See the pull of a book like 
	    Twenty Chefs, is not who I 
	    put in.  It's who I leave out.

			DIGGER
	    Which is everyone you couldn't 
	    get in.

			JULIANNE
	    Plus some guys whose food I don't 
	    like.

Pushes the risotte across to him.  He lifts a fork.

			DIGGER
	    This fellow from Newsday ever 
	    call?

She shrugs.  Pulls a cellular out of a large, jumbled bag.

			JULIANNE
	    I'll buzz my machine.  Inventive 
	    and confident, yeh?

She dials.  He tastes.

			DIGGER
	    Needs salt.

			JULIANNE
	    Is Newsday a real interview, or 
	    just some cute guy you're setting 
	    me up w...

			DIGGER
	    ... I don't send you men, anymore.  
	    You don't know what to do with them.

She's punching in her code.

			JULIANNE
	    Sometimes I do.  Like for two months.

			DIGGER
	    ... weeks.

Over the phone, we hear her answering machine...

			MAN'S VOICE (V.O., soft)
	    Hey.  It's Michael.

And her face changes.  Warms.  Just to hear the guileless voice.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    God, it must be, what, months, huh? 
	    I can't wait to talk to you.  I'm 
	    in Chicago at the Ritz Carlton...

She looks impressed and surprised.  Fancy place for this guy.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Call me four in the morning, 
	    whatever, we gotta talk.

As she hangs up.  She still has that look in her eye.  Digger has 
never seen that, and he likes it very much.

			DIGGER
	    Who called? The man of the 
	    moment?

She smiles.  A sweet, natural smile that makes us like her, too.  
The Bohemian sophisticate has vanished.

			JULIANNE
	    No, no, the opposite.  That's 
	    my best friend, Michael O'Neal.  
	    He sounds desperate to talk.

			DIGGER
	    The wandering sportswriter.

He pushes the risotto back her way.

			DIGGER
	    I didn't know you two had a 
	    past.

Her gaze sharpens.  Hmmn?

			DIGGER
	    The look in your eye.

She blushes.  Shakes her head, no way.

			JULIANNE
	    Sophomore year at Yale we had 
	    this one hot month.  And, you 
	    know me, I got restless...

He knows her.  She got restless.

			JULIANNE
	    So I get up the nerve to break 
	    his heart.  I tell him there's 
	    this dreamy exchange student 
	    from Pakistan who wants to, 
	    you know...

He knows.

			JULIANNE
	    And he gets this... look.  He 
	    says, "I knew I couldn't hold 
	    your interest", which, of course, 
	    makes me feel like the shallow 
	    bitch I've always been...

He nods, yeah.

			JULIANNE
	    Then he says, "But what makes 
	    me want to cry.  Is I'm losing 
	    the best friend I ever had."

Hears the feeling.  In her voice.

			JULIANNE
	    And when he said it, I knew.  
	    I felt the same.

Silence now.  She covers with a smile.

			JULIANNE
	    So I cried.  For maybe the third 
	    time in my life.  And I kissed 
	    him.  And we've been best friends 
	    ever since.

Ever since.  Fingers turning her wine glass...

			JULIANNE
	    Nine years, we've seen each other 
	    through everything.  Losing jobs, 
	    losing parents, losing lovers...  
	    travelled all over, we've had the 
	    best times.  The best times of my 
	    life, maybe.  Just drinking and 
	    talking.  Even over a phone.

			DIGGER
	    Kindred spirits.

			JULIANNE
	    No, he's nothing like me.  He's 
	    like you.  Only straight.

No offense taken.

			JULIANNE
	    He's the salt of the earth.  Kind 
	    and loyal and generous.  The one 
	    constant thing in my life, is he'll 
	    always be there.

			DIGGER
	    He's still in love with you.

That stops her.  She has to say...

			JULIANNE
	    Maybe.  But it never gets in 
	    the way.

Something she probably hasn't confessed out loud before.  Digger 
understands.

			DIGGER
	    Well, he has a true friend in 
	    you.

He wants her to know he sees that.

			DIGGER
	    Whenever George tells someone 
	    how steadfast I am, he always 
	    makes me sound boring.

			JULIANNE
	    Solid and genuine is not boring.  
	    Michael can be completely insane...

A young waiter arrives.  Sets a boat of black squid ink beside her 
plate.

			JULIANNE
	    There was this one night in 
	    Tucson, like six years ago...  
	    we got amazingly drunk, I mean, 
	    Keith Richards time...

The kid tops off her glass of meursault.  Looking at her.

			JULIANNE
	    God, I haven't thought of this 
	    in so long...

The waiter hanging now.  Openly listening.

			JULIANNE
	    I can even believe we did 
	    this...

Digger sees the guy listening, gestures to her with his eyes.  So 
she looks up.

			JULIANNE
	    Could you give us a minute?

The kid stunned, speechless.  People lose jobs for a lot less.

			JULIANNE
	    You won't miss much, I promise 
	    there was no sex.

He reddens and disappears.

			DIGGER
	    I've lost interest.

			JULIANNE
	    He takes a razor from his dinky 
	    little dopp kit, cuts his fingertip, 
	    takes my hand, does the same to me...

She places the tips of her index fingers together.

			DIGGER
	    Blood oath.

			JULIANNE
	    He says, "Swear.  When we're both 
	    28, if we've never been married... 
	    we marry each other!"

And laughs again.  Can you believe that?  But Digger isn't smiling.  
She wonders why.  Begins to spoon black squid ink onto her risotto.

			JULIANNE
	    See, he figured that would be a 
	    sign from God, or someone of 
	    comparable authority, that we'd 
	    misunderstood our destinies.

He still has this real serious look.  She's still spooning ink.

			JULIANNE
	    We never talked about it again.  I 
	    don't know what made me think of...

			DIGGER (quietly)
	    I do.

And everything.  Stops.  She lifts her spoon, mesmerized by the 
gravity of his tone.

			DIGGER
	    You'll be 28 in three weeks.  
	    How old is he?

Holy.  Fucking.  Shit.  It hits her like a ton of lead bricks.  She 
shovels some swampy risotto into her mouth, without looking.

			JULIANNE
	    You think...

			DIGGER
	    Desperate.  To talk.

She shovels in more drippy black goop.  It is really disgusting.

			JULIANNE
	    He's not proposing marriage, 
	    there's no way I'm buying one 
	    word of th...

			DIGGER
	    Then why are you compulsively 
	    eating? If you're not hysterical?

More goes in.  Her lips and mouth completely black.  Like a circus 
clown.

			JULIANNE
	    He can't do that to me!

			DIGGER
	    We're about to find out.

Ink is now dribbling out of the black hole of her mouth and down 
her face.  She absently dabs a napkin, keeping some of it from 
reaching her sweater.

			JULIANNE
	    When I turn him down...

She realizes the full weight of the truth.

			JULIANNE
	    We'll never be the same.

			DIGGER
	    I have a suggestion...

			JULIANNE
	    I'll have to kill myself before I 
	    call him.

Staring in each other's eyes.

			DIGGER (sadly)
	    That was it.

INT. JULIANNE'S BATHROOM - LATE NIGHT

Julianne furiously scrubs her blackened tongue with a toothbrush.  
Gray foam pours from her mouth, spattering the oversized basketball 
jersey she wears as a nightshirt.  In the mirror, her troubled eyes 
dwell on Michael, flick to the cordless phone standing ominously on 
the closed toilet lid.

She spits, sticks her tongue way out.  Incredibly black.  Great.  
Depressed, terrified, and disfigured for life.  She snatches up the 
hated phone, and wanders aimlessly into...

... her bedroom.  West Village view.  Defiantly jumbled, aggres-
sively eclectic.  Traces of wonderful taste mixed with I-like-it-
you-got-a-problem-with-that? She stumbles around, rehearsing...

			JULIANNE
	    This is awkward timing, Michael, 
	    I just joined this convent, and 
	    they never give your deposit ba...

Stops.  Full-length mirror.  She straightens her hair, to look her 
best.

			JULIANNE
	    Michael, I'm married.

Not enough.

			JULIANNE
	    ... and I have two weeks to live.

Changes tone...

			JULIANNE
	    Michael, I'm trying to be gay, 
	    don't confuse me.

She turns to continue pacing, and walks straight INTO a dresser.  
Stuns her, momentarily.  Enough, already! She punches up the 
number, primping absently in the mirror.  When it connects...

			JULIANNE
	    I was calling Michael O'Neal, 
	    but seeing it's so late, I could 
	    just leave a mes...

No such luck.  Cut off.  Waits.  And then...

			JULIANNE (soft)
	    Good evening, sir.  You've been 
	    enrolled in the Obscene Call Of 
	    The Month Club, and th...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Hey! God, it's so good to hear 
	    your voice.

She forgets herself.  Because it's good to hear his, too.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    I've been calling for days!

			JULIANNE
	    Yeh, well my old machine kept 
	    eating messages.  I tried 
	    constructively ignoring it in 
	    hopes of improvement, but finally...

			MICHAEL (V.O., urgent)
	    Look, I have to ask you something.

She swallows.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Something so incredibly important, 
	    that if you turn me down, I don't 
	    know what I'll d...

			JULIANNE (bright)
	    I just have to tell you this one 
	    thing first, okay? I mean this 
	    will hand you the biggest laugh 
	    of your adult life...

Silence.  Come on girl, suck it up.

			JULIANNE
	    I was thinking about you, and I 
	    remembered this unbelievably insane 
	    night we spent together in Tucson, 
	    like a thousand years ago?

More silence.  Really quiet.

			JULIANNE
	    I mean, there's no way you could 
	    possibly remember the...

			MICHAEL (V.O., soft)
	    Are you kidding?

Stops her.  Like a brick wall.  The sweetness in his voice.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    I think about that night all 
	    the time.

She's going to have a heart attack.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    But it's not why I called.

She blinks.  It's not.  And just as a tsunami of relief begins to 
sweep away...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    I called because I met someone.

And her smiles breaks off.  Like a spine snapping.  Because there is 
something in his voice.

			JULIANNE
	    Well, that's great.  You haven't 
	    really had anybody since Dingbat 
	    Jennylee...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    You don't understand.  I've never 
	    felt this way about anybody!

Never.  She sits down, hard.  Right on the floor.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    And she's all wrong for me!

			JULIANNE
	    Well, somet...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    I mean she's a junior at Chicago 
	    University, she's twenty years 
	    old! Like when I first met you.

Like when.  Julianne's mouth is suddenly dry.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    And her dad is like this billionaire 
	    who owns the White Sox and some cable 
	    empire, and you know how I've always 
	    been miserably awkward around those 
	    kinda stuffed suits...

She's finally making her mouth work...

			JULIANNE
	    Well, sure.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    But they're so down to earth, such 
	    wonderful people...

			JULIANNE
	    You've met her parents.

			MICHAEL (V.O., quiet)
	    Well.  Sure.

Wow.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    See.  We're getting married.  
	    This Sunday.

There's a knife in her heart.  She can scarcely breathe.

			JULIANNE
	    Michael, it's Wednesday night, 
	    you can't possibly be getting 
	    married on Su...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Actually, it all starts tomorrow.  
	    It's one of those four-day weddings, 
	    with all the traditional events, and 
	    ten million people flying in from 
	    Madagascar such.

			JULIANNE (incredibly lame)
	    Aren't you... working this weekend? 
	    I mean, is that responsible?

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Well, the Sox are at home.  SI's 
	    letting me do a profile on the Big 
	    Hurt.  That's Frank...

			JULIANNE
		    (barely audible)
	    ... Thomas, yeh.

She's staring at herself in the mirror.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Jules.  I'm scared.

A straw to lunge at.

			JULIANNE
	    Well, maybe we should talk ab...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    I need you.

So heartfelt.  A lifetime of emotion welling in her eyes.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    If you can't come.  And hold my 
	    hand.  I'll never get through this.

Oh.

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    Please come, please.

			JULIANNE
	    W...

			MICHAEL (V.O.)
	    I can't wait for you to meet her!

HOLD ON Julianne.  Staring in the mirror.  Like watching the end of 
her life.

INT.  BEDROOM - LATER

The closet, the armoire, all the drawers are wide open.  Two huge 
suitcases open on the bed, into which Julianne is flinging clothes, 
as she fumbles to smoke and dial at the same time.  Over the phone, 
now...

			DIGGER (V.O., machine)
	    You've reached Digger and George.  
	    Brevity will be appreciated.

BEEP.

			JULIANNE (in a rage)
	    IT'S ME AGAIN, WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS 
	    UP HAVING SAFE SEX??

SNATCHES up a tiny, clingy, sexy dress.  Pouts at it.

			JULIANNE
	    OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, WHY AREN'T 
	    YOU INTERRUPTING IT TO ANSWER 
	    THE PHONE??

She holds the dress against her body.  It's hot.

			JULIANNE
	    YOU, YOU, YOU! IT'S ALL ABOUT 
	    YOU, ISN'T IT??

She clicks OFF.  Checks the dress in the mirror.  Raises the short 
skirt a little higher.

INT. DIGGER'S CHEROKEE, JFK AIRPORT - EARLY MORNING

Digger driving the open-air Cherokee up the ramp to United Airlines 
departures.  Julianne, wind-whipped, trying to light a fresh 
cigarette from the butt of the last one.  He glances over.  Hates 
to see this...

			DIGGER
	    You can't get lung cancer and 
	    die in four days.  Go to Plan B.

She sucks deep.  Really deep.

			JULIANNE
	    You have no appropriate sense 
	    of emergency.  My best friend 
	    is ruining his life.

			DIGGER
	    No, he's ruining yours.

			JULIANNE
	    Same difference.  If you love 
	    someone, it's your duty to save 
	    them from themselves.

			DIGGER
	    You have a real philosophy of 
	    life.

			JULIANNE
	    It's called the Law of Love, 
	    asshole.

She is tight enough to snap.  And at the edge of tears.  Staring 
out at the skycaps, clinging to her cigarette, as he eases to the 
curb.

			DIGGER (gently)
	    Why don't we have a drink? You 
	    could catch a later fl...

			JULIANNE
	    I'm a busy girl.  I've got four 
	    days to break up a wedding, and 
	    steal the bride's fella.

She finally looks at him.  He doesn't say anything.

			JULIANNE
	    He's adored me for nine goddamn 
	    years.

			DIGGER
	    I can see why.

			JULIANNE
	    She knows him maybe five seconds, 
	    plus she has billions of dollars, 
	    plus she's perfect, so don't go 
	    feeling sorry for Miss Pre-Teen Illinois!

He's not.  So her voice softens.  Which shows the hurt.

			JULIANNE
	    And don't go feeling sorry for 
	    me, you don't know me that well.  
	    We're only friends.

			DIGGER (softly)
	    I stand corrected.

Tears now.  Stand in her eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm making a big mistake, huh?

			DIGGER (shrugs)
	    Maybe you'll learn something.

He wraps his hand over hers.  She looks down at it.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm gonna bring him back, man.  
	    Against all odds, y'know.  Cos 
	    if I don't...

She wraps her fingers around his.

			JULIANNE
	    ... I gotta live with it forever.

Looks in his eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    And at my wedding.  I'll be the 
	    only bride with her own best man.

And she kisses his cheek.

Jumps out of his car.  Before she cries.  Yanks her bags from the 
back.  Brave smile.

They trade small salutes.  And then she's gone.

INT.  O'HARA AIRPORT, CHICAGO - MORNING

The jetway disgorging passengers into the swarming ant colony 
called O'Hare.  Julianne lugging multiple carry-ons, trying to pull 
fly-away strands of hair into place, nervous as a schoolgirl, 
looking all around, and...

... there he is.  MICHAEL is tall and square-shouldered, a boyish 
grin, an unruly shock of hair.  He looks gorgeous, sweet, and just 
dangerous enough to be irresistible.  Worthwhile stakes.  His face 
lights to see her, and she...

... RUNS to his arms, shedding bags along the way, slamming off 
heedless civilians, to be...

... SWEPT OFF the earth in strong arms, spun around, laughing like 
crazy, their cheeks tight together.  When he sets her down...

... he kisses her nose.  His arms are still around her.

			MICHAEL (murmurs)
	    Can you believe it? Can you believe 
	    I'm actually gonna do this?

			JULIANNE (lost in his eyes)
	    Not hardly.

He beams.  Turns.  She follows his gaze, and...

... there she is.  KIMBERLY WALLACE is 20, small and slender, but it 
is a body to die for.  The face is striking, not at all perky and 
vapid, but lovely and interesting.  Worst of all, intelligent.

She walks toward them purposefully, her eyes locked to the woman in 
her fiancee's arms.  At the last moment, Michael releases Julianne 
and Kimmy...

... THROWS her arms around the startled visitor.  HOLDS her tight, 
with such genuine warmth that Julianne can only, slowly, hug back.  
As Michael beams.

			KIMMY
	    This just makes everything so 
	    perfect.

Her arms stay around the slightly dazed Julianne.  The younger 
girl leans close, confides...

			KIMMY
	    All I've heard, from the day I 
	    met Michael, is Julianne this, 
	    and Julianne that...

			JULIANNE
	    Well, we're...

			KIMMY
	    I think the best part of marrying 
	    this guy is finding you.

Pale gray eyes.  Alive with joy and intimacy.

			KIMMY
	    I've never had a sister.

INT.  KIMMY'S CONVERTIBLE - DAY

Kimmy TEARING down the throughway in her Mercedes 500 SL, a 
dashing, confident driver.  Julianne riding shotgun, hair flying, a 
total wreck, in the open convertible.  Michael is happily crouched 
on the little platform behind their seats, hugging his knees.  The 
roar of the wind makes it impossible for him to hear them.

			KIMMY
	    My heart's in my throat, here.  
	    Right off, I have to ask this 
	    monstrous favor...

			JULIANNE
	    You need a few dollars.

Kim glances over.  At eighty miles an hour.  A bittersweet look.

			KIMMY
	    Dry.  Just like he said.

Her eyes at once admiring and regretful.

			JULIANNE
	    Excuse me?

			KIMMY
	    I can be quick.  I can even 
	    be funny.

Shakes her head.  An endearing youngster.

			KIMMY
	    But I can't be dry.

			JULIANNE
	    Can you watch the road?

			KIMMY
	    See.  Dry.  It's in the delivery.

She looks back to the highway.

			KIMMY
	    This is a very presumptuous 
	    and burdensome fav...

			JULIANNE
	    ... you want a menage on your 
	    wedding night.

			KIMMY (straight back)
	    No, that wouldn't be burdensome.

Julianne studying the delicate, angular profile.  Hard not to like 
this kid.

			KIMMY
	    My classmate Angelique shattered 
	    her pelvis line dancing in 
	    Abeline on Spring Break.

Looks over.  The sweetest smile.

			KIMMY
	    Be my maid of honor.

Julianne just blinks.

			KIMMY
	    You can't believe what it'd 
	    cost to bring in a temp.

			JULIANNE
	    Uh.  How about promoting a 
	    bridesmaid?  Someone you know 
	    for at least forty-five minutes.

We CUT OFF a huge SEMI who BLASTS his horn.  Kimmy fearless, 
oblivious, and analytical...

			KIMMY
	    The bridesmaids are my only two 
	    female relatives under forty.  
	    Identical twin debutantes from 
	    Nashville, who are basically 
	    vengeful sluts.  With amazing 
	    bodies!

			JULIANNE
	    Which was the disqualifying 
	    factor?

			KIMMY
	    The twin part.  I like to remain 
	    impartial in my contempt.

Sees the off-ramp, and SLICES across FOUR LANES of speeding bullets 
in a heart-stopping nanosecond.  This kid could drive for Penske.  
Julianne has to pound her chest to get her heart started.  Looks 
back to see if Michael fell out...

... he is absurdly wind-blown.  Gives her a beautiful grinning 
thumbs-up.  Loves this stuff.

			KIMMY
	    This means I have four days 
	    to make you my new best friend...

Brings Julianne's eyes back...

			KIMMY
	    And since I already know everything 
	    about you.  Including intimate 
	    facts I'm mortified to have heard, 
	    but too envious to forget.  It's 
	    time for you to learn about me...

Easing off the freeway.  She meets Julianne's glance...

			KIMMY
	    Force yourself.  To get personal.

			JULIANNE (smiles)
	    Sounds like a plan.

INT.  DRESS SHOP, NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE - MORNING

The place is stunning.  High-ceiling, soft light, large rococo 
mirrors, Louis Quatorze sofas and chairs.  Michael wanders rest-
lessly, fish out of water among designer displays and stylish 
female patrons.

Takes a look at his watch.

INT.  DRESSING ROOM - MORNING

A period sitting room, ringed with mirrors along its tapestried 
walls.  Kimmy sits on a Louis Treize loveseat next to a stack of 
costly gowns.  Watching with an expertise beyond her years, as...

... Julianne stands on a platform.  A seamstress fitting her into a 
sleek pale daffodil-colored gown.  There are pins everywhere, as 
the seamstress struggles toward a perfect fit.  Continuously 
looking to Kim for approval.

			KIMMY
	    If you'd rather the lilac...

Julianne shakes her head.  This one is beautiful.

			JULIANNE
	    I thought bridesmaids had to wear 
	    the same dress.

			KIMMY
	    Not you.  You won't be comfortable 
	    unless you're distinctive.

Julianne glances over.

			JULIANNE
	    What else did he tell you...

			KIMMY
	    ... you hate weddings, you never go.

Oh.  Well, yeah.

			KIMMY
	    You're not up for anything 
	    conventional, or popularly 
	    assumed to be female priorities.  
	    Including marriage.  Or romance.  
	    Or even...

And she stops.  Not wanting to offend.

			JULIANNE (quietly)
	    ... not even love.

The look holds.  The seamstress keeps working, as if she's deaf.

			JULIANNE
	    That's why Michael and I were 
	    the wrong fit.  Right from the 
	    start.

			KIMMY
	    He said that, too.

She stands up.  Walks to the platform.  Smooths her hand over the 
fabric down Julianne's back, along her hips.  Communicating to the 
seamstress with her irritated expression.

			KIMMY
	    Well, I thought I was like you.  
	    And proud to be.  Until I met 
	    rumpled, smelly old Michael...

Pins start to come out.  Kimmy points, these, too!

			KIMMY
	    And then I found I was just a 
	    sentimental schmuck.  Like all 
	    those flighty nitwits I'd always 
	    pitied.

She leans forward.  So they can look at each other.

			KIMMY
	    Funny world, huh?

Julianne swallows.  It is that.

			JULIANNE
	    I need a smoke.

And before anyone can breathe, she steps OFF the platform RIPPING 
the living shit out of the gown, right down the side.  The seam-
stress' eyes FLASH OPEN in abject horror.  Julianne, a deer in 
headlights, looks quickly around at the evidence of her screw-up in 
six different mirrors.

Kimberly just steps to her, fingers the tear...

			KIMMY
	    It's mostly the seam.  Let's 
	    get this to Carlos.

And UNZIPS Julianne down the back.  In her rush to step out, 
Julianne STUMBLES,  but her arms are pinned by the pulled-down dress 
and she just...

... TOPPLES like a felled oak, THUDDING on her face, the gown 
RIPPING some more, the seamstress SCREAMING like an idiot.

Then.  Silence.  Julianne looking up helplessly, a trussed hog, 
bound in her dress.

			KIMMY (firm)
	     Just.  Don't.  Move.

Like you talk to a three-year-old.  Deftly, Kimmy pulls the 
dress free, leaving Julianne in her underwear.  Signals to the 
seamstress, let's go.

			JULIANNE
	    Don't you have to be somewh...

			KIMMY
	    ... just my bridal shower.  And 
	    Michael has to meet our dads and 
	    the groomsmen at Comiskey for a 
	    one-thirty game.

Opens the door...

			KIMMY
	    Other than that...

Closed SOLID.  Gone.

INT.  DRESSING ROOM - LATER

Julianne sits on the loveseat in her bra and panties, lighting one 
cigarette from the butt of another.  Suddenly, she hears...

... an ARGUMENT outside the door.  Strains to listen.  It does sound 
like Michael and Kim.  We can't make out the words.  She jumps up, 
dashes for the door, STUBBING her toe on the platform, SHIT!, falls 
heavily AGAINST the door with a THUD that makes her wince, and...

... the argument stops.  Damn.  She opens the door a crack.  Sees 
nothing.  Opens it wider to reveal...

... a teenaged BOY looking right at her.  He sends a true shit-
eating grin and she SLAMS the door hard enough to RATTLE walls.

She PACES furiously, helplessly, arms around her half-naked self, 
until...

... soft knock.  The door opens a crack, and her daffodil gown 
comes through it.

			JULIANNE
	    Come in, and shut the...

Stops.  Because it's Michael who has entered.  With the dress.

			JULIANNE
	    ... door.

So he does.  She flushes and SNATCHES up her own clothes, which 
were characteristically tangled in a heap, and tries desperately to 
untangle them enough to cover herself.  He is amazed and amused by 
her embarrassment.

			MICHAEL (laughing)
	    Should I turn around, or someth...

			JULIANNE
	    Michael, I'm in my underwear!

She's TEARING at her clothes, only making more of a mess.

			MICHAEL
	    We've seen each other a lot 
	    more naked than this.

She seems ready to rip her clothes apart, so he gently takes them 
from her hands.  She tries to stand unselfconsciously as he easily 
untangles them.

			MICHAEL
	    I mean, we were skinny-dipping 
	    in Greece, just as pals, less 
	    than two years ago.

She GRABS the clothes and covers the front of herself.  Looking at 
him with a mix of emotions she couldn't begin to sort out.

			JULIANNE
	    Things are different now.

He looks in her eyes.  And nods, a little sadly.  Guess they are.

			MICHAEL (softly)
	    Well.  I leave with two thoughts 
	    in my mind.

He walks to the door.  Puts his hand on the latch.  Looks back...

			MICHAEL (even softer)
	    You're still a very pretty 
	    girl.

The look holds.  And holds.  There is such feeling on both sides, 
she doesn't know what to make of it.  She swallows.

			JULIANNE
	    What's the sec...

			MICHAEL
	    Mirrors.

And he's gone.  She looks around at six different VIEWS of her 
uncovered backside.  Hmm.

INT.  HOTEL UNDERGROUND GARAGE - DAY

The parking valets wait by their stand as the convertible pulls up. 
These girls must be late for something, the way they're jumping out 
of the car.

			JULIANNE
	    ... luckiest guy in the Northern 
	    Fucking Hemisphere, is all I'm s...

			KIMMY
	    What? Because I'm a little 
	    understand...

			JULIANNE
	    ... most sentimental schmucks I 
	    pity want a honeymoon after their 
	    wedding.  Just to top it off.

The valet gives Kimmy her ticket.

			KIMMY
	    I can't expect the NBA to hold 
	    up the playoffs...

They're walking fast toward the garage elevators...

			KIMMY
	    I'm excited Sports Illustrated 
	    gave him this kind of shot, he's 
	    only there a ye...

			JULIANNE
	    So your honeymoon is exactly where?

Well...

			KIMMY
	    It depends.  If San Antonio sweeps 
	    Sacramento, we could start there.  
	    Or Phoenix.  Or depending on Indiana-
	    Clevel...

			JULIANNE
	    ... garden sports, all.  Little swing 
	    of maybe fifty degrees Fahrenheit, 
	    represents a packing challenge, but 
	    there's fine food and cocktails at a 
	    choice of Embassy Suit...

At the elevator.  Kimmy SLAMS the button.

			KIMMY
	    It's his career, I'm supportive.  
	    Look, I've been everywhere, I've 
	    seen the world, I've laid on a beach.  
	    I want to be with the man I love.  
	    That's what makes it a honeymoon.

End of story.  Okay?

			JULIANNE
	    I'm just saying he's lucky.

An empty elevator arrives.  They get in.

			JULIANNE
	    Takes one woman in a billion to 
	    put up with his array of shit.  
	    The guy is a one-man festival of 
	    idiosync...

Kimmy SLAMS the penthouse button.  Looks at her calmly.  Go on.

			JULIANNE
	    Well.  You've been introduced 
	    to the symphonic range of...

			KIMMY
	    ... his snoring, yeah.  He says 
	    it's worse than ever.  That 
	    snaffle one...?

Julianne imitates an incredibly annoying high-pitched SNARL.  Three 
times.  Kimmy nods.

			KIMMY
	    Well now it has this sorta 
	    phlegm rattle behind it...

Stopped at the lobby.  A family of four gets in.  Oblivious, Kimmy 
DEMONSTRATES the phlegm rattle.  Really gets into it.  As the 
family watches, Julianne tries her own version.  Like that? No.  
More like this.  The family is looking at each other.

			KIMMY
	    Guess what? Earplugs work.

Oh.

			JULIANNE
	    How about...

			KIMMY
	    ... cigars in bed? I broke him 
	    on that.  But the bathroom's a 
	    swamp, he wears Reeboks to dinner, 
	    tells the same, admittedly funny, 
	    jokes three hundred times...

Sucks in a breath...

			KIMMY
	    ... loves action movies, subscribes 
	    to Playboy for godsake, reads over 
	    my shoulder, can't keep track of 
	    the checks he writes...

Ninth floor.  The family gets out.  The door closes.

			KIMMY
	    He sucks soup through his 
	    front teeth.

			JULIANNE
	    A trademark move, don't touch 
	    it.

			KIMMY
	    But he sure can kiss.

			JULIANNE
	    It's been awhile.  I'll take 
	    your word.

			KIMMY
	    After two weeks of cataloguing 
	    all his faults, I made a command 
	    decision that changed my life.

She SLAMS the EMERGENCY STOP button.  We JOLT to a halt.

			KIMMY
	    I threw the list away.

Shakes her head.

			KIMMY
	    He's not a balance sheet, so 
	    many wonderful qualities, so 
	    many faults.  He's Michael.

From her heart.

			KIMMY
	    And loving him means loving 
	    all of this.

			JULIANNE
	    Do you get nervous in small 
	    confined spaces?

			KIMMY
	    So it's sweet of you to be 
	    protective...

			JULIANNE
	    Let me rephrase that...

			KIMMY
	   But nothing ever could, ever 
	   did, give me a moment's pause 
	   about this marriage...

			 JULIANNE
	   Do you get hysterical in small 
	   confined spa...

			KIMMY
	    ... except one.

Julianne's face.  Stops.

			JULIANNE
	    Oh, yeah?

Kimmy nods.  Confides...

			KIMMY
	    You.

A stopper.

			KIMMY
	    You'll always be there.  In his 
	    mind.  The perfect creature he 
	    loved for all those y...

			JULIANNE
	    Well, perfection can get wearing 
	    after whi...

			KIMMY
	    I'm not joking.  I had to face 
	    up to all my competitive drives, 
	    and believe me, I've got 'em.

			JULIANNE
	    No.

			KIMMY
	    And the answer was so simple.

			JULIANNE
	    I was gonna predict that.

			KIMMY
	    You win.

Julianne blinks.  Excuse me?

			KIMMY
	    You're enshrined in his heart 
	    and memory.  Unassailable.  
	    Which works out great.

			JULIANNE
	    I've missed a step.

			KIMMY
	    He has you on a pedestal.  And 
	    me in his arms.

Oh.  Julianne smiles.  LUNGES for the EMERGENCY button, YANKING it 
so hard it comes OFF in her hand.  A terrifying BUZZER ensures.

			JULIANNE
	    Jesus, we're trapped!

			KIMMY
	    Ju...

			JULIANNE
	    No, this happened to me once, 
	    almost, it was excruciating!

Begins BANGING random buttons, out of control.  Kimmy watching 
this.  Julianne looks WILDLY up...

			JULIANNE
	    There's a panel up there, you 
	    could boost me...

RIPPING off her platform shoes.

			JULIANNE
	    You know how little air is 
	    in these things? I've seen 
	    statistics! Once you're trapped 
	    between floors...

Kimmy taps her.  Points to the lighted panel.  It says PH, they've 
reached the Penthouse.

			JULIANNE
	    God! Then the door is jammed!

Takes a heavy platform and begins BANGING the metal door with all 
her strength, sending resounding BOOMS throughout the area, as 
Kimmy reaches and...

... presses DOOR OPEN.  The metal doors part, opening directly onto 
the banquet room, just as a mighty blow comes down, and the platform 
FLIES from Julianne's hand straight BETWEEN...

... two identical stunning YOUNG WOMEN, serving as twin hostesses 
for the shower.  A beat of mutually-stupefied looks, and we hear 
the shoe CRASH somewhere, to a small spattering of SHRIEKS.

			MANDY
	    Mah Gawd, it's the bride, 
	    and the woman she'll nevah 
	    live up to!

			KIMMY (mutters to Julianne)
	    That would be us.

			SAMMY
	    Did she say th' wrong thang 
	    agin? It is so in character!

AMANDA and SAMANTHA NEWHOUSE, 19-year-old twins.  True Southern 
belles, with the faces of angels and bodies made for hot oil 
wrestling.  Mandy's hair is dyed ash blonde, Sammy's is amber.  
Otherwise, the experience is similar.

			JULIANNE
		    (thrusts out her hand)
	    I'm Julianne Potter, and...

			SAMMY
	    ... we'd be the vengeful sluts.  
	    We came in complementary colors.

			MANDY
	    Have you sized up the groomsmen, 
	    Jules?  As M. of H., you get 
	    first fuck.  Don't pick the 
	    short, hairy, rich one.

			JULIANNE
	    ... unless he has a hump.

The girls cast identical blank looks at Kimberly.

			KIMMY (to the sluts)
	    Dry.  I told you.

			WOMAN'S VOICE (V.O.)
	    Is this Michael's Julianne?

All eyes turn to an elegant woman of barely 40.  She has her 
daughter's hair and eyes and slender form.  But the bearing rules 
half an empire.  Fonda would envy.

			ISABELLE
	    I'm Isabelle Wallace, and my 
	    handsome new son scarcely did 
	    you justice, girl.

She takes both of Julianne's hands, and our heroine is sort of 
magically charmed.  As if touched by Glinda the Good Witch of the 
North.

			ISABELLE
	    Now, my husband says to scoot 
	    you over to the ballpark, so 
	    you can hang with Michael.  But 
	    first, you have to meet a lot of 
	    really old women.

Looking warmly in her eyes...

			ISABELLE
	    That is, if you've absorbed 
	    enough profanity.

Flicks a glance at the twins.  Leads Julianne off...

			MANDY (O.S., pouting)
	    We sayed one fuck.

INT.  TAXI, SOUTH SIDE - DAY

Cab crawling toward COMISKEY PARK through stifling traffic.  
Julianne oblivious, cellular to her ear...

			JULIANNE
	    Desperate measures! Do you 
	    hear me?  Digger, are you the...

SQUAWK.  Static.  Then...

			JULIANNE
	    I don't know, hit men, whoopee 
	    cushions, saltpeter, something! 
	    The girl is impossibly impregnable.  
	    Even I want her to get the guy!!

Listens.

			JULIANNE
	    Tell him the what? The truth...??

She shakes her head.  What a guy.

			JULIANNE
	    That desperate.  May I never get.

INT.  LUXURY BOX, COMISKEY PARK - AFTERNOON

Game in progress.  Watched by Michael, three groomsmen his age, two 
middle-aged men, and one bodyguard.  Suddenly, a dull THUMPING at 
the door.  It keeps up.  They finally all look over.  The bodyguard 
gets the door, revealing...

			JULIANNE
	    Which of you gents ordered 
	    two beers?

One single tray.  Holding fourteen beers.  Balancing on one hand.  
Michael JUMPS UP, terrified at the impending mayhem this sight 
suggests...

			MICHAEL
	    Wow!  Lemme give you a ha...

			JULIANNE (sweetly)
	    Michael.  You'll unwittingly 
	    imply that I'm clumsy.

He stops in his tracks.  The guys whistle.

			MICHAEL
	    Think of that.  And as well as 
	    I know you.

She goes first to the bodyguard.

			  BODYGUARD
	    Sorry, ma'am, I'm on duty.

			JULIANNE (lovely smile)
	    It's Miss.  And thanks.  That 
	    leaves two for me.

Heads down the row...

			MICHAEL
	    Julianne Potter, this is Hank 
	    and Gerry from SI, and you know 
	    Daniel...

She's nodding, flawlessly plucking two beers each from perimeter 
of the tray, keeping the rest perfectly balanced in the center.  
Michael is flat dumbstruck.  Next, a tall patrician gentleman with 
rolled-up sleeves on his hand-stitched silk shirt...

			MICHAEL
	    Oh.  This is my father-in-law, 
	    Walter.

Once again, she gracefully plucks two beers for the distinguished 
father-in-law...

			MICHAEL
	    How are you doing this? You're 
	    on drugs.

Sets them down.  The man has a smile wonderful in its ease.  
Murmurs...

			  WALTER
	    If he gives you grief, I'll have 
	    him skillfully beaten, where the 
	    wounds won't show.

			JULIANNE
	    I guess getting him whacked would 
	    be politically out of the question.

			WALTER
	    Under the circumstances.  Charmed 
	    to know you, Jules.

			JULIANNE
	    Nice meeting you, too, Walt.

A nod between equals.  She moves on...

			MICHAEL
	    And, this guy, you know...

She sure does, and effortlessly balancing her one-hand load, she 
dips to kiss a porky, balding guy with big-time shoulders.  
Straight on the lips.

			JULIANNE
	    Papa Joe.

They go way back.  He is uncomfortable at this rich man's wedding, 
even as gracious as everyone has been.  His watering eyes twinkle 
at her, and the voice has a trace of Boston...

			JOE
	   You gonna be my boy's best man?

Despite SHOUTS from the others...

			JULIANNE
	    Best everything, Joe.  But I'm 
	    going to dance with you.

			MICHAEL
	    Dance?  You don't dance!  You 
	    learn to dance??

Her innocent smile.

			JULIANNE
	    Moves.  You've never seen.

BIG reaction from the guys, as she heads toward Michael with the 
last of the beers, not looking down at the FIELDER'S MITT which 
lies right in her path, and as his lips part to scream a warning, 
she skips...

... neatly AROUND it.  He's in shock.

			MICHAEL
	    You're an impostor! What have 
	    you done with my best friend?

As he takes away the remaining beers...

			MICHAEL
	    And how was the hot dog?

Hot dog? His eyes fix on her left breast.  HUGE mustard stain.  
She can't believe it.

			MICHAEL
	    Cheap and unnecessary.  We were 
	    looking anyway.

EXT.  LUXURY BOX ROOF - DAY

Michael and Julianne sit with their beers on the edge of the luxury 
box roof.  The game, the stadium, spread out beneath them.  Yet 
they are alone in the world.  She dangles her legs, and we can hear 
her kicking the glass below.

			JULIANNE
	    I just admire your maturity, 
	    that's all.  I mean, there are 
	    people who would find that kind of 
	    perfection boring.  Day after day, 
	    year after year...

			MICHAEL
	    ... see, that's what I thought at 
	    first.  How can you like someone 
	    that perfect? No potential for 
	    long-range livability.

Drinking their beers.  Side by side.  Both stare only at the game.

			MICHAEL
	    Luckily.  The closer I watched, 
	    the more the fault came into 
	    focus.  Each imperfection its own 
	    adorable slice of vulnerability.

			JULIANNE
	    Such as.

			MICHAEL
	    She's too genuine.

			JULIANNE
	    Hate that.

			MICHAEL
	    How can you trust someone you 
	    can never mistrust?

			JULIANNE
	    What's next?

Keep sipping.  Never look at each other.

			MICHAEL
	    No matter how many times I 
	    leave the toilet seat up, she 
	    forgets and puts it down.

			JULIANNE
	    Endearingly absent-minded.

			MICHAEL
	    My very point.  Here's another one...

Shakes his head.  This one really gets him.

			MICHAEL
	    Every day.  She makes the bed.

			JULIANNE
	    Quite the little eccentric.

			MICHAEL
	    At first, I thought it was a 
	    gag, but she's always done it!

This is not the ammunition Julianne was hoping for.

			JULIANNE
	    Is there a coup de grace in 
	    here, somewh...

			MICHAEL
	    She admires.  Tommy Lasorda.

			JULIANNE
	    Waiter! Check, please!

			MICHAEL
	    She finds him "personable."

			JULIANNE
	    Can that kind of defect be 
	    passed on genetically?

She looks over now.  And Michael is looking back.  Smiling the most 
wonderful smile.  Her reaction shows that she thinks it's for her, 
until...

			MICHAEL
	    Then again.  She has a few good 
	    traits.

Hating herself for asking, but seeing no way out...

			JULIANNE
	    Gimme like, eight and nine off 
	    the top ten list...

			MICHAEL
	    First girl I ever knew.  Who 
	    lets me give her a bath.

The look in his eyes.  She can hardly bear it.

			MICHAEL
	    And when I hug her, even in 
	    public.  I don't have to let go 
	    right away.  She lets me hold 
	    her as long as I want.

He seems so deeply in love.

			MICHAEL
	    Nice kid, don't you think?

A beat.  A slow nod.  A quiet...

			JULIANNE
	    Looks like, from here.

INT.  SOUTH SIDE CLUB - NIGHT

A slender black woman sings a SOARING Gospel number, backed by 
three ladies who could each solo in any church choir.  It is 
mesmerizing, stirring, transcendent.  The unseen audience CLAPPING 
FIERCELY in rhythm, SHOUTING support.  SLOW PAN now...

... every face is black.  We aren't in church at all, but a 
venerable blue club.  One of those places you'd swear everybody's 
played, from Robert Johnson to Bessie Smith and back again.  As 
the song ends, there is APPLAUSE, some RAPPING on tables with their 
knuckles or their drunks.  We keep PANNING to a far corner.  Three 
faces.

Julianne leans across her beer to Kimmy...

			JULIANNE
	    How'd you find this pl...

Kim shaking her head.  Looks admiringly to Michael...

			KIMMY
	    Lived here my whole life, 
	    never heard of it.  Until 
	    our first date.

She reaches slender fingers.  Traces one back along his hair.

			KIMMY
	    He finds all these spots, 
	    everywhere he goes, it's a 
	    mystical gift.

			MICHAEL (shy)
	    Jesus, one d-back from the Bears 
	    knows a place...

			KIMMY
	    It's not just clubs.  This guy 
	    always knows the best everything.  
	    The best guitar store, the best 
	    beef ribs, the best Horowitz record, 
	    was he always like the...

			JULIANNE
	    ... always.  The best dim sum, the 
	    best camping stuff...

			KIMMY
	    Stop, we're embarrassing h...

			JULIANNE
	    ... best valley in New Zealand, 
	    best... women's shoes...

			MICHAEL
	    I tried those on.  When you 
	    weren't looking.

Now he's grinning at Julianne.  And she likes that a lot.

			JULIANNE
	    Where was that, Florence, huh?

			MICHAEL
	    Firenze.

Together in the memory.  As Kimmy watches.

			JULIANNE
	    The Vespa? Me hanging on behind 
	    in the rain all night?

			MICHAEL
	    Till the gas ran out.

And, the first sniff of left-out...

			KIMMY
	    I love Florence.

Julianne's eyes flicker.  Could this be a teensy opening? Keeps 
her eyes, her easy smile, and her killer instincts trained on 
Michael.

			JULIANNE
	    Take her there.

He nods, okay.

			JULIANNE
	    I mean, now.  She's perky, 
	    she deserves a honeymoon.

He draws a breath...

			JULIANNE
	    I heard.  If San Antone sweeps 
	    Sacramento.  What is this shit? 
	    You gotta get off the road by 
	    September anyway, when does Fall 
	    Quarter start?

And the happy couple look at each other.  They are awkward.  
Julianne's heart soar like eagle.

			KIMMY
	    Uh.  I'm not coming back.  For 
	    senior year.

Could this be.  The Mother Lode?

			JULIANNE
	    Don't architects find a degree, 
	    sort of... an asset?

The couple still staring in each other's eyes.

			KIMMY
	    Well, the school will be here.  
	    Architecture will still be around.  
	    Right now...

			MICHAEL
	    I travel every week.  College 
	    ball, motor sports, training 
	    camps...

			KIMMY
	    The most important thing. Is 
	    being together.

And she smiles.  Beautifully.

			KIMMY
	    I'm just a baby.  I've got all... 
	    the time... in the world.

EXT.  CLUB - NIGHT

Michael putting Kim in the back of a cab.  As Julianne watches.

			MICHAEL
	    Because I could come...

			KIMMY
	    To the twins' soiree?  So they 
	    can paw you and drool...?

			JULIANNE (calls out, helpful)
	    They're gonna drool anyway!

Kim smiles.  He kisses her, tenderly, through the open window.  She 
waves past him at Julianne.

			KIMMY (to both)
	   Enjoy each other.

And drives off.  As he watches after, Julianne comes up behind him.  
Slips her hand up onto his shoulder muscle.  Starts giving a little 
massage.

			JULIANNE
	    Should I whistle down a cab?

			MICHAEL
	    Hey, cabs are expensive.  I'm 
	    cheap, remember?

Turns his head, to see her.  She's still rubbing his shoulder.

			JULIANNE
	    Sometimes.  About the dumbest 
	    things.

Share a smile.  As always, it covers a lot of years.

			MICHAEL
	    The El's right down the street.  
	    Unless you're afraid of the 
	    neighborhood.

She looks around.  It is an issue.  But she remembers...

			JULIANNE
	    No.  I'm always safe with you.

She means that.  He takes her by the hand.  They begin walking...

			JULIANNE
	    Pretty amazing girl, you've got.  
	    Make that kind of sacrifice.

			MICHAEL
	    What, leaving school...

			JULIANNE
	    ... all of it.  She's leaving her 
	    family, her friends, everything she 
	    knows.  She's putting her career 
	    on hold, and she seems a pretty 
	    ambitious, driven, kind of pers...

			MICHAEL (quietly)
	    In her way.

			JULIANNE
	    All to follow you in this dumb 
	    job, where you travel 52 weeks 
	    a year to College Station, Texas, 
	    and such.  It's not a job for a 
	    grown man, Michael, Peter Pan 
	    never married.

He's let go of her hand now.  Looking down at the pavement before 
him, fists in his jacket pockets.

			JULIANNE (softly)
	    I don't think she's naturally 
	    the... submissive type.  Aren't you 
	    afraid she's gonna choke on this 
	    stand-by-your-man shit after awhi...

			MICHAEL (real quiet)
	    No.

Hit a nerve.  This is promising.

			JULIANNE
	    I mean Walter owns the Sox, cable 
	    sports... most girls in her spot would 
	    be angling to get Daddy to offer you 
	    some juicy gig right here in t...

			MICHAEL
	    She would never.  Never.  Even think 
	    of that.

Paydirt.  Julianne's Geiger Counter is going berserk.

			JULIANNE
	    I guess you're right.  That would 
	    be deceitful... manipulative... 
	    controlling... emascula...

			MICHAEL
	    I got the point.

He looks over at her.  No smile on his face.  An edge we haven't 
seen.  She shrugs...

			JULIANNE
	    Still.  All's fair in love and 
	    w...

			MICHAEL
	    That would be a girl.  I don't 
	    even know.

They've reached the stairs to the El.  A rickety train RATTLES 
above them.  As they start up, she slips her arm around his 
waist...

			JULIANNE (murmurs)
	    Forgive me, okay? I was talkin' 
	    crazy.

He slides his arm around her shoulder.  Pals.  They climb out of 
frame.

INT.  HOTEL BATHROOM - LATE NIGHT

CLOSE on a shallow pool of water in a bathroom sink.  Green powder 
pouring in, a hand SWIRLING it around, until...

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    It's Albanian, I think.  Or Mongolian.  
	    Or Canadian.  One of those.  I bought 
	    it downstairs...

... it becomes truly disgusting lumpy green mud.

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    I figure, what the hell.  Can it 
	    make me look worse?

Follow the hand up as it SLATHERS the shit across her face in great 
green dripping gobs.  She's juggling the wall phone, trying to keep 
it mudless, as she assures Digger...

			JULIANNE
	    Dig, of course.  Of course, of 
	    course, of course, of course I 
	    have a plan.  Certainment!

More green slime.  The Julianne we know disappears.

			JULIANNE
	    How? I ask myself, what would 
	    Lucy Ricardo do in this situa...

Desecrates three hotel towels, wiping her hand.

			JULIANNE
	    Well, one worked, once.

THROWS them in the bathtub.  Fastidiousness a short suit.

			JULIANNE
	    Ricky wouldn't let her in 
	    the show.

Reaches for her toothbrush, absently.  All her attention is on the 
conversation and the hideous green face in the mirror.

			JULIANNE
	    I recall it differently, but 
	    we digress.

Without looking, picks up a tube of hotel shampoo...

			JULIANNE
	    So in the version, you're Ethel, 
	    with better fashion instincts.

Squeezes it all over the toothbrush.

			JULIANNE
	    This puts you in charge of Plan B, 
	    the unprincipled and insanely 
	    dangerous back-up plan...

Lifts it toward her mouth, liquid shampoo dripping from the 
bristles.

			JULIANNE
	    In case simple lying doesn't work.

At the last second.  She stops.  We don't know why, because she's 
still never looked at the brush.

			JULIANNE
	    Question.  What happens if you 
	    brush your teeth with shampoo?

Turns on the tap.  Tries to scrub the toothbrush clean, and DROPS 
the phone into the green swamp, which SPATTERS all over her front.  
Euucch.  She's stymied, agitated, circling the sink, leaning down 
to it...

			JULIANNE
	    HOLD ON.  I'M COMING IN FOR YOU!

She sets the toothbrush down in her toiletries kit.  Decides to 
YANK on the phone's cord, and the receiver SPRINGS out, BOPPING 
her in the face.  She's so filthy at this point, she just wipes it 
clean on her nightshirt.  Tells Digger...

			JULIANNE
	    You okay? This is one of those 
	    problem phones.

Lifts the toothbrush and tube of paste from her kit.

			JULIANNE
	    Right.  Your role.  You know guys 
	    from Sports Illustrated, yes? I 
	    mean, you can walk right in there...

Squeezes on the paste, lifts the brush to her mouth...

			JULIANNE
	    You could get access to letterhead, 
	    for example.

JAMS it in her mouth, brushing as...

			JULIANNE (mouthful)
	    ... or even, maybe, their fax.

Stops.  The funniest look on her face.  Down to the toothpaste 
tube...

Which says BEN GAY.

Oh.

INT.  TIFFANY'S - MORNING

Julianne and Kimmy cruise the stately display cases.  Everywhere, 
the Tiffany logo, the silent, watchful staff in morning coats.  As 
they browse, Julianne takes a blueberry Danish from a paper sack, 
and begins to eat.

The staff notices.  So does Kim.

			JULIANNE
	    It's an homage thing.

Hmm?

			JULIANNE
	    Awkward girls grow up on Audrey 
	    Hepburn movies.  You wouldn't 
	    understand.

Kimmy doesn't.  But wipes a blue glob from Julianne's face.

			KIMMY
	    Anyway, I think you're wrong.

Wrong?

			KIMMY
	    What you were saying before.

Before?

			KIMMY
	    About Michael's job.

			JULIANNE
	    Oh, that.  I forgot I even said 
	    th...

			KIMMY
	    I just think you're wrong, is all.

			JULIANNE
	    Probably am.  Forget I brought it 
	    up.

Points to some jade pins.  Kimmy wrinkles her nose.

			KIMMY
	    I mean, he loves his job.

			JULIANNE
	    Bad games, bad towns, bad pay, bad 
	    flights, bad hotels, real bad food.  
	    Homeless, rootless, lonely, maybe 
	    your copy gets into one issue out 
	    of four...

Smiles.

			JULIANNE
	    What's not to love?

None of this is lost on Kimmy.  She's wondered the same.

			KIMMY
	    But he always says...

			JULIANNE
	    ... whatever is manly and 
	    independent.

Kim nods slowly.  Way ahead of her.

			JULIANNE
	    Why would he trade that for 
	    running, say, a big piece of 
	    the PR at a powerful, complex, 
	    challenging conglomerate like 
	    your dad's?

Kim stares back.  A strange look.

			KIMMY
	    That's just the sort of thing 
	    my father and I discussed.

Julianne just blinks.  Amazed.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm not stupid.  Say, how 
	    about this?

Pointing to tiny golden scissors in the novelty case.  Kim so 
absorbed by the main topic, she has to force herself to focus on...

			KIMMY
	    For the twins? What in the 
	    world is th...

			JULIANNE
	    Gold nose hair clippers.

Points to the tiny hand-lettered sign.  Indeed.  Kimmy shrugs, not 
quite it.

			KIMMY
	    So you don't think Michael's 
	    as happy with his job as...

Julianne points to a matched pair of large...

			KIMMY
	    Gold dog collars? They don't 
	    have dogs.

			JULIANNE
	    Hello.

Kim nods, oh.  But can't keep her mind off...

			KIMMY
	    You think he'd accept?

Hmm?

			KIMMY
	    Michael.  A job like that.

Oh, well...

			JULIANNE
	    By any yardstick that involves 
	    sanity, it would be the greatest 
	    thing that ever happened to him.  
	    Present company excepted.

Kimmy nodding slowly.  Her yearing achingly apparent.

			JULIANNE
	    On the other hand, he's proud.  
	    Last thing a man wants to admit, 
	    is being trapped in a dispiriting 
	    dead-end job that can never 
	    support a family.

A very sweet smile.

			JULIANNE
	    Throw a man a life preserver.  
	    He'll say, "Thanks, anyway,  
	    I'd rather drown."

Kim nods again.  Right.  They are so bonded at this moment.

			KIMMY
	    So... one almost has to...

			JULIANNE
	    Exactly.

			KIMMY
	    Exactly what?

			JULIANNE
	    What you said.  Make it appear 
	    that he's doing you the favor.

Kimmy bites her lip.  Her eyes go down.  Self-conscious to admit...

			JULIANNE
	    I couldn't really... do that.  
	    After, you know...

Her voice trails off.

			JULIANNE (kind, but wise)
	    ... lying.  All the time.

That brings the gray eyes up.  Julianne bats her dark ones...

			JULIANNE
	    Oh, darling, my pitiful desires 
	    and ambitions are dirt beneath 
	    the manly boots of your priorities!

Kimmy has to smile small.  A self-awe gal.

			JULIANNE (pouring it on)
	    Two hundred seedy motels a year? 
	    Dinners out of vending machines? 
	    Waiting for you in vermin-infested 
	    corridors of dark crotch-rot locker 
	    rooms? This stuff makes me hot!!

			KIMMY
	    The very words I've used.

Julianne 'thinks it over.' Kimmy waits for guidance.

			JULIANNE
	    We make Dad your co-conspirator.  
	    Michael does a favor for Walter.

Simple.

			JULIANNE
	    Walter's reorganizing his public 
	    relations, needs a brilliant guy 
	    who's close to him, who he can 
	    completely trust.

Kimmy nodding.  Hope overriding reason.

			JULIANNE
	    So you beg.  Michael, please do 
	    this for Daddy, please, please, 
	    please, blah, blah, blah... it's 
	    only for six months...  it would 
	    mean so much to me to help him out...

Turns up her palms.  Viola!

			KIMMY
	    He'll see right through it.

			JULIANNE
	    Only.  If he wants to.

They share a smile.

			JULIANNE
	    In six months, he'll be happy, 
	    settled, successful...

			KIMMY
	    He won't get mad, huh?

			  MR.  MOONEY (O.S.)
	    May I be of any help, whatsoever?

Mr.  Mooney is the most gracious Brit salesperson ever to offer 
kindness, intelligence and thoughtfulness to a customer.  He is 
large, sixty, with disappearing hair, watering eyes, and a manner 
that makes you think of immediately hiring a butler.

			JULIANNE
	    Bridesmaid gifts for two, well, 
	    assertive, outspoken, Tennessee 
	    debutantes.

			KIMMY (still focused)
	    He won't be mad?

			JULIANNE (to Mooney)
	    Nothing here seems to quite capture 
	    their distinctive personalities.

			  MR.  MOONEY
	    Something customized, perhaps? 
	    We can fashion most any item 
	    from gold.

Ah.  Julianne nodding.  Reflecting.

			MR.  MOONEY
	    An object that might represent 
	    what is closest. To their heart.

			KIMMY (under her breath)
	    Don't even think dildo.

Julianne digs through her jumbled bag...

			JULIANNE
	    Could you do this...

Tossing an object on the counter...

			JULIANNE
	    In 24 carat?

It is a MASTERCARD.  A gold one.

			KIMMY (softly)
	    Bingo.

They smile at each other.  More bonded than ever.

			KIMMY
	    You don't think he'll be mad.

A beat.  Can Julianne even make herself do this?

			JULIANNE
	    Your call.  You can live a lie.  
	    In a fabulous selection of Red 
	    Roof Inns.  Or you can make one 
	    desperate stab at hap...

			KIMMY
	    I just don't want to freak him 
	    out.

What do you think? Julianne stares into the soft gray eyes.  It's 
now or never.  The smile of a dear sister...

			JULIANNE
	    How mad could he get?

INT.  FASHION RESTAURANT - LUNCH HOUR

Julianne enters with a really nervous Kimberly in tow.  Approaches 
the maitre d'.  We CLOSE to hear...

			MAITRE D'
	    Oh, Mr. Wallace and his guests 
	    have retired to the humidor.

Points to an escalator, leading to the mezzanine.  Behind a glass 
wall, what looks like a British men's club.  Thirty guys and a 
billion cigars.  As Julianne starts toward it...

			MAITRE D'
	    Oh.  Mademoiselle.

She turns back.  Loves this shit.

			MAITRE D'
	    It's unofficial, of course.  But, 
	    traditionally, the humidor is for 
	    gentlemen, only...

			JULIANNE
	    Great.  I've got this girlfriend 
	    at the Justice Department?  With 
	    all this time on her hands?

Her look is every bit as hard as his.  He gestures to the 
escalator.  She takes Kimmy's hand, and up they go.  We can see 
Walter in a big leather chair, enjoying a major stogie.  Kimmy 
licks her lips.

They enter.  Every head turns.  A nice range of reactions, from 
offended to attracted and points in between.

			JULIANNE (murmurs)
	    Piece of cake.  I'll hang, and 
	    think happy thoughts...

Kimmy nods.  Heads over toward her father.  Julianne walks, 
confidently, even provocatively, to the wall lined with bins of 
cigars.  Every eye in the place is on her butt.

She runs her fingers over a few contenders.  Plucks one out, 
examines it, puts it back.  Walks a little farther.  Selects 
another, big and black.  Rolls it expertly in her fingers.  Sniffs 
along its length.

A guy comes over.  Could be 40, successful, a broker's pin-stripe.  
Nearly as attractive as he thinks he is.

			GUY
	    Know what you're looking for, 
	    little lady?

Little lady, huh? She glances at his coven of buddies, who pretend 
not to notice.  Then, straight to the guy's blue eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    Yeah.  Do you?

			GUY
	    I asked first.

Ah.  Wit.  She holds up her cigar...

			JULIANNE
	    I like 'em long and hard.  Kind 
	    of... big around.

Runs it under her nose.

			JULIANNE
	    Smell is important, I'm a believer 
	    in that.

Takes a match from a cut crystal bowl.

			JULIANNE
	    But you never know what you've 
	    got.  Till you run your tongue 
	    over it.

And she does.  Moistening the full length of the cigar.  The boys 
are laughing openly.  She STRIKES the match.  As she lights up...

			GUY
	    I meant.  What you're looking for 
	    in a man.

She glances at his wedding ring.  Then, straight into his eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    Actually, I'm partial to married 
	    gentlemen.

The way she says that.  The guy swallows.  We can see some of the 
air has been sucked from the room.

			GUY
	    Why is that?

			JULIANNE
	    It's so much time.  When I phone 
	    the wives.

Explosive LAUGHTER from the peanut gallery.  As she jams the big 
Clemente Churchill into her mouth, she sees Kimmy waving her over 
from across the room.  Without even looking at the guy she's just 
put away...

... she crosses the room, Walter stands politely, looking very 
dapper, very powerful, and focusing on her with considerable 
interest.  He waits until she sits on the edge of a costly leather 
hassock.

			WALTER
		    (simply)
	    Your idea?

She can't read this guy.  Maybe that's how he built an empire.  She 
nods, yeah.

			WALTER
	    You're a woman of insight.

He sits on the arm of his chair.  Close enough to speak quietly.

			WALTER
	    My wife and I love this marriage, 
	    and deplore its circumstances.

He puffs his cigar.  Julianne puffs her.  Kimmy looks on, a kid 
watching the grown-ups...

			WALTER
	    As you guessed, my daughter is 
	    unhappy about giving up her life.  
	    And, in my opinion, cowardly in 
	    avoiding the necessary confrontation.

Then he stops.  As if reading Julianne's eyes.

			WALTER
	    Mike has a world of ability.  
	    I'd do anything to have him in 
	    my company.

One more puff.

			WALTER
	    Except ask him.

Julianne is a little stunned.  Kimmy looks helpless.

			WALTER
	    He'd resent it.  And me.  And, 
	    most important, Kim.

No smile on his lips.  Straight talk.

			WALTER
	    He's a great kid, but he's still 
	    a kid.  Instead of recognizing 
	    that his resistance comes from 
	    insecurity, he'd turn it to anger.  
	    To protect himself...

Spreads his hands...

			WALTER
	    ... from realizing that he's 
	    ignoring my daughter's needs, 
	    despite how very much he loves her.

He looks to his daughter now.

			WALTER
	    They both have some growing up 
	    to do.  But they're good people, 
	    they're starting with love.  
	    They've got time.

			JULIANNE
		    (softly)
	    I think you're making a mistake, 
	    sir.

His eyes come back to her.  A little sharply.

			WALTER
	    And that interests me.  How 
	    someone who knows him so well 
	    could be so wrong.

A formidable guy.  She meets his gaze.

			JULIANNE
	    See, I love him, too, as much 
	    as anyone here.  And for a 
	    whole lot longer.

From her heart.

			JULIANNE
	    I think I know best what would 
	    make him happy.

INT.  TOILET STALL - DAY

Julianne, fully dressed, sits on the closed lid of a toilet seat.  
The stall is tiny enough to arouse claustrophobia in an astronaut.  
Her cellular phone pressed to her ear, she is listening angrily, 
smoking ferociously, every call in her body running at red-line.

			JULIANNE
	    Okay, okay, okay, okay, I hear 
	    you, all right?

She closes her eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    It is stupid, dishonest, desperate 
	    beyond belief, and can't possibly 
	    ever work.  It can only end in 
	    humiliation and disgrace.  Now can 
	    I say two words?

Deep drag on the cigarette.  For strength.

			JULIANNE
	    Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! 
	    Do it! Do it!

She's striped her gears.  COUGHS horribly.

			JULIANNE
	    All right, twelve words.

INT.  PUBLIC RESTROOM - DAY

Julianne exits the stall.  To face three BLACK TEENAGE GIRLS.  Just 
staring at her.

			TEENAGER
		    (supportive)
	    You do it, girl.

Julianne nods to the kids.  They nod back.  Damn straight.  She 
exits the restroom, into...

... glaring sunlight.  We are in the middle of the BROOKFIELD ZOO.  
And sitting on a bench, eating popcorn from a bag...

			MICHAEL
	    Wow.  What was going on in 
	    there?

She shudders.

			JULIANNE
	    Some crazy person.

EXT.  ZOO - DAY

Michael and Julianne walking together.  He's eating his popcorn.  
She carries a cardboard container with nachos, a gooey fudge waffle 
cone, and a large drink.

			MICHAEL
	    You're not eating.

			JULIANNE
	    I never eat when I'm serene.

			MICHAEL
	    You never eat when you're 
	    despondent.

			JULIANNE
	    I switched that around when you 
	    weren't looking.

She swirls a single nacho chip in cheese.  But her heart isn't in it.

			MICHAEL
	    Last zoo we were in was... 
	    Beijing, yeah?  Sure.  The rhinos 
	    were fucking.

			JULIANNE
	    Boy, those were the days.

And when she looks over.  His eyes are waiting.

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    Yeah, they were.

They're passing the hippo pen.  But they don't notice.

			JULIANNE
	    That was nice.  The way you 
	    said that.

So was that.  He's feeling restless, something.  Doesn't know quite 
what to say.

			MICHAEL
	    It's weird being the groom.  All 
	    these things Kimmy has to take 
	    care of...

			JULIANNE
	    You need a baby-sitter.  That's 
	    what I'm here for.

He holds her eyes.  Then looks down.  Awkward.  And the way he's 
doing it begins to excite her.

			JULIANNE
	    Say it.

He looks up, neither one of them noticing that as they walk, she is 
about to...

... CRASH into a chest-high metal stand that displays animal facts.  
We have followed him as she is WIPED from frame.  His face from 
shock... to amusement.

			MICHAEL
	    Now, there's my girl.

... to tenderness.  PAN back to see her wearing everything from her 
cardboard container.  Nachos, fudge sauce, Diet Coke, the works.  
It is really awful.  Kids, bystanders, laughing cruelly.  Her eyes 
fill with tears, and she tries bravely to smile against it...

			JULIANNE
	    See, I can only do it with 
	    beer.

He takes out his handkerchief.  And with that and his hands, gently 
scoops the worst of the mess off her.  The fact that he's touching 
her breasts and her body is something they pretend not to notice.  
She laughs softly, and a few tears fall, even though she doesn't 
know why.  Such an odd, raw, confusing moment.  To the world 
looking on, they are lovers.

			MICHAEL
		    (murmurs)
	    See, better already.

And he kisses her face.  Not quite her lips.  But only an inch away.  
We can feel her heart pounding.  He strips off his shirt, only a tank 
top underneath.

			MICHAEL
	    We'll go back to the bathroom, 
	    you'll put this on...

Okay? She sniffles, okay.  Swallows.

			JULIANNE
	    Bet you're glad I'm here to 
	    take care of you.

He puts his arm around her.

			MICHAEL
	    Bet I am.

Holds her close, as they start toward the restroom...

			MICHAEL
	    Hope that crazy person's not 
	    still there.

We're on their backs...

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    She doesn't scare me.

EXT.  BEACH CLUB, LAKE MICHIGAN - SUNSET

Julianne in T-shirt and shorts, rushes onto the deck of a sprawling 
beach club.  Clutching her bag, she quickly surveys the scene...

... the entire beach has been taken over by the wedding party.  
Young folks, old folks, little kids, maybe 200 people.  We SCAN 
with her to find a crowd around...

... a three-on-three volleyball game.  Kimmy and two groomsmen on 
one side, facing Michael and the Tennessee debs.  The twins wear 
spectacular bikinis and are surprisingly athletic, as well as 
predictably uninhabited.  As the next point begins, Kimmy serves...

... Sammy in back makes a nice dig, lobbing to Mandy who sets for 
Michael's vicious SPIKE straight THROUGH his best man's hapless 
defense.  The crowd cheers Michael, and as he turns, Mandy gives 
him a savage...

... CHEST BUMP of congratulation, that any NFL linebacker would be 
proud of.  It puts the surprised Michael straight on his butt.  
Laughter, applause.  The twins pull him up and Sammy gives him a 
hot kiss on his ear that makes the crowd react.  Kim plays good 
sport.  Julianne watches Michael's body for a beat, then...

... dashes off.  Down the beach, several barbecue grills have been 
set up.  Manned by beach club staff and family alike.  Michael's 
pop, Joe, is dispensing beers from a keg.  Kim's mom, Isabelle, is 
coordinating the beans, potato salad and corn-on-the-cob table.  
Julianne races across the sand to...

... a huge smoky grill where Walter is basting baby back ribs, 
clearly enjoying himself.  Julianne runs up to him, says something 
into his ear.  He looks at her.  Then turns his station over to a 
club steward, and follows Julianne down toward the lakeside.

CLOSE now.  As they stroll together, she's a little breathless.  
He's watching her profile, curious, silent.  At the water's edge...

			JULIANNE
		    (whispers)
	    Is anybody watching?

			WALTER
	    I hope so.  This is all too 
	    mysterious to waste on just me.

She reaches into her big bag.  Pulls out a single folded sheet of 
paper.

			JULIANNE
	    I picked up Michael's messages 
	    for him, at our hotel.  I stole 
	    one...

His face darkens.  The easy smile fades.  He holds up his palms...

			WALTER
	    Julianne, reading my son-in-law's 
	    mail, is not something...

			JULIANNE
	    Sir, this is important! Haven't 
	    you ever in your life cut one 
	    corner, to make something important 
	    turn out right?

His smile returns.  Just a little.

			 WALTER
	    Matter of fact, that's how I got 
	    married.

The look holds.  She thrusts the paper out.  He still doesn't take 
it.

			JULIANNE
	    It's a fax from Sports Illustrated 
	    from Ben Isaacson, Michael's boss.

			WALTER
		    (quickly)
	    I know Ben.

She opens the paper.

			JULIANNE
	    "Mike.  We still have no answer to 
	    our E-mail of Wednesday.  Which 
	    option do you select? I don't mean 
	    to rush you, but Personnel needs to 
	    tie up the loose ends."

He takes the paper.  We see it now.  Looks authentic.

			JULIANNE
	    I think he's been fired.

			WALTER
	    It doesn't say th...

			JULIANNE
	    He's said some things over the 
	    past few weeks.  Look, this is why 
	    I came up with the idea of you 
	    offering him a job.

He looks up.  He's listening.  Closely.

			JULIANNE
	    And why I couldn't say anything 
	    before in front of Kim.

She bites her lip.  Seems so earnest.

			JULIANNE
	    I just think of how... desperate 
	    he must be feeling.  He's marrying 
	    a rich man's daughter, and he's 
	    about to become destitute.  You 
	    know the kind of job market he'll 
	    be facing?

He does.

			WALTER
	    And you think he's kept this to 
	    himself.

			JULIANNE
	    He's too proud to beg for help.  
	    And if you wait till this comes out, 
	    your offer will be like charity.  
	    Completely humiliating.

He's staring at her.  But his mind is working behind his eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    If you do it now, it's like he's 
	    helping you.  He can accept with 
	    dignity.

He taps the paper with the back of his knuckles.

			WALTER
	    This fax could mean... any number 
	    of things...

She nods.  She knows that.

			WALTER
		    (softly)
	    Maybe.  I should call Ben.

			JULIANNE
	    Then it could all come out, sooner 
	    or later.  Nobody should be in on 
	    this.  Just you and me.  Or, more 
	    correctly, I.

She takes the paper back.

			JULIANNE
	    What if, what if I could find 
	    that E-mail?

The long straight look.  Maybe he's hooked.

			JULIANNE
	    I never noticed.  Kimmy has your 
	    eyes.

INT.  LOBBY, RITZ CARLTON HOTEL - TWILIGHT

Tall, gangly, young DESK CLERK.  Lank hair, pimples.  He looks up, 
beams to see...

			JULIANNE
	    Hello, again.

She's flirting her ass off.

			JULIANNE
	    You still haven't straightened 
	    that tie.

And she reaches across the desk with her lovely, slender hands.  
Does it for him.  Her fingers brush his chest on the way back.  We 
can assume a woody.

			JULIANNE
	    You know, my friend, the one 
	    whose message I picked up...  ?

He does.  His eyes flick toward his stately female SUPERVISOR, 
helping another guest across the way.

			JULIANNE
	    Well, he's still with the wedding 
	    party.  And he asked me to get 
	    something he needs real badly from 
	    his room...  ?

The boy swallows hard.

			JULIANNE
	    He's in 1526.  If you could just 
	    let me ha...

			BOY
	    See that woman?

Not only does Julianne see her.  The woman is looking back, while 
she's talking to her customer.  Not a pleasant look.

			BOY
	    She said, if I ever pull a stunt 
	    like that again...

			JULIANNE
	    You'll lose your job...

			BOY
	    ... tear my pecker off.  Is what 
	    she said.

INT.  HOTEL CORRIDOR - TWILIGHT

An elevator OPENS, revealing Julianne, carrying a gym bag.  She 
looks down the long hallway, sees a maid's cart.  Heads the other 
way, briskly, to...

... a small ALCOVE.  Opens the gym bag, pulling out a bath towel.  
Begins to yank her top up OVER her head...

ANGLE... the young MAID now pushing her cart down the hall, wheels 
SQUEAKING, and from nowhere...

... Julianne DARTS into her path, barely covered by the towel held 
tight across her, she is grinning, blushing.

			JULIANNE
	    Help me!

The maid can only blink.

			JULIANNE
	    I locked myself out, 1526, please 
	    hurry!!

And looks frantically up the hall, mortified that any moment a 
stranger could happen upon her predicament.  Her eyes dart back to 
the maid.  PLEASE.  The maid just stares.  Stares.

			JULIANNE
	    Uno-cinco-does-ses.

Oh.

INT.  MICHAEL'S ROOM - TWILIGHT

Julianne alone in his room, looking around frantically.  No worries 
about this guy making his bed every day, stuff, clothes, strewn 
everywhere, the bathroom looks like a cherry bomb just detonated.  
She's tramping through a bachelor's debris, wearing only her towel, 
looking, looking...

There it is.  The corner of his LAPTOP sticking out from beneath a 
discarded bedspread.  She SNATCHES it up, OPENS it, sets it on the 
cluttered desk, and...

... stops.  There are wallet-sized SNAPSHOTS of Kimmy.  Some alone.  
Some as a little girl.  Some with Michael.  And next to them...

... the plastic fold-out wallet inset.  That he has not yet quite 
rearranged.  So she picks it up.  Leafs through, until she finds 
what she was praying would be there...

... Julianne grinning.  Michael's arm around her.  On the deck of a 
boat.  They have drinks in their hands.  Happiness in their eyes.

And she stares at it.  Jesus, God, how long has he carried this 
around?  She flips through further, all the rest have her in them.  
Maybe half a dozen.  Her heart is throbbing.  Her eyes are damp.

Back to the one on the boat.  She slips it from the plastic window.  
Holds it.  Then, gently...

... puts it back where it belongs.  PUNCHES up the goddamn laptop.  
This is it, girl!  Do or die.

			JULIANNE
		    (murmurs)
	    You wouldn't change your 
	    password, would you?  You 
	    never change anything.

Those words make her bite her lip.  Damn, I'm becoming a senti-
mental slob.  TYPES in...

			JULIANNE
		    (murmurs)
	    Shoeless... Joe.

Yes!  We're in!  Punching keys.  Letters flying across the screen.  
Okay, we're ready.  Types...

			JULIANNE
		    (reads as she types)
	    Mike.  I hate this downsizing 
	    shit as much as you do.  But I 
	    know this can't become as a 
	    complete surprise...

INT.  BEACH CLUB CARD ROOM - EVENING

Through the window, the wedding party barbecue has extended into 
night.  Lanterns, music, lots more food, lots more drinks.  In the 
distance, on the sand, Michael is slowdancing with Kimmy.  Some-
where nearby, the soft CLICKING of keys.  We PULL BACK to see...

... a small clubby room.  Books, leather, polished woods.  Only 
two people here.  Walter, looking on stony-faced, as a determined 
Julianne grimly "struggles" to "find" what she's looking for in 
Michael's laptop.  And then...

... she stops typing.  Looks at the text on the screen.  Her eyes 
sharpen as she "reads" what Walter can't see.  It's an Oscar 
performance for our desperate girl.  She turns the screen around...

			WALTER
		    (reads)
	    Mike.  I hate this downsizing...

He reads.  Reads.  Reads.  All the air comes out of him.

			WALTER
		    (softly)
	    And Kimmy doesn't know.

She shakes her head.  Nope.  No way.

			WALTER
		    (signs)
	    I'll tell her I've reconsidered.

She nods, gravely.  Right.  He looks in her eyes.

			WALTER
	    You're a smart girl, Jules.

She forces up a fleeting smile of gratitude.  But Walter isn't 
smiling at all.

			WALTER
	    Wish my daughter.  Bad your 
	    guts.

INT.  CHARLES TROTTER'S BAR - NIGHT

The hot saloon in Chinatown.  Upscale, downscale, jammed, Michael 
and Kimmy at a small table in a far corner.  CLOSE on them...

			MICHAEL
	    Sure you're okay?

She looks really scared.  Turns her drink in her hand.  Looking 
down at it.

			MICHAEL
	    It's not just a gag, huh?

			KIMMY
	    No, it's, uh... a real big favor.

He takes her hand, tenderly.

			MICHAEL
	    I wish you'd just... come out 
	    with it.  I mean why are we 
	    waiting for Jules?

She smiles up at him.  The best she can.

			KIMMY
	    Moral support.

She loves him so much, and she is sick with worry.

			KIMMY
	    What's good of having a big 
	    sister, if she...

Stops.  Gestures with her eyes.  Because her big sister has just 
entered...

... looking fabulous.  Julianne wears a long sleek sarong, slightly 
see-through.  Her hair is bound up with silver pins.  As she moves 
through the room toward us, we can see that, for once, her make-up 
is flawless, understated.  When she arrives at the table...

... Michael is beaming, admiringly.  He stands up.

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    Wow and wow.  You have a date, 
	    after this?

			JULIANNE
	    Never can tell.

He holds her chair.  She exchanges an intimate smile with the 
anxious Kim.

			MICHAEL
	    You make me think of that song, 
	    we used to...

And he starts humming.  The song is, "The Way You Look Tonight."

			MICHAEL
		    (singing)
	    Someday.  When I'm awfully low...

They sit.  He looks from Julianne to his bride.

			MICHAEL
	    Okay, kid.  You're on.

Kim's eyes flick to Julianne, who nods, supportively.  The kid 
takes a breath.

			KIMMY
	    It's really my father.  Who 
	    needs the favor.

His face sort of comes to a stop.  Nothing she can read, yet.  He 
nods, yeah...?

			KIMMY
	    He's... he's reorganizing some of 
	    the divisions of the company...

His eyes flick to Julianne.  She looks down.

			MICHAEL
		    (quiet)
	    He never mentioned that.  Neither 
	    did y...

			KIMMY
		    (blurting)
	    ... and public relations is a big 
	    problem area for him.

She can see it now.  In his eyes.  She just can't tell how bad.

			KIMMY
	    He needs someone incredible, 
	    someone really close, who he 
	    can trust...

			MICHAEL
	    Like family, huh?

So quiet.  So cold.  She is terrified.

			KIMMY
	    It would only be, maybe, six 
	    months? Or three or four? It 
	    would mean so much to him...

			MICHAEL
	    To him.

She swallows.  Straightens her spine.

			KIMMY
	    And to m...

			MICHAEL
		    (sharp, to Julianne)
	    ... and you knew about this.

Real quiet.  Against the noise of this place.

			JULIANNE
	    I think you ought to listen to 
	    her, Michael.  This is her life, 
	    too.

Just the thing.  To bring that anger near the surface.  He turns 
to Kim...

			MICHAEL
	    Well, which is it?

A demand.  Sharp.  Accusing.  She doesn't like that...

			MICHAEL
	    You gonna tell me Daddy thought 
	    this one up? All of a sudden, I'm 
	    the only jerk alive who can help 
	    him deal with the press?

She's trapped.  Angry, scared.  A deer in headlights.

			MICHAEL
	    Why don't you start being honest 
	    for one fucking sec...

			JULIANNE
	    Michael!!

			KIMMY
		    (near tears)
	    I am honest!

Silence.

			KIMMY
	   All of a sudden, I'm supposed to 
	   drop out of school, forget my 
	   family, forget my career, forget 
	   all the plans I had for my life...

			MICHAEL
	    Well, forgive me for screwing up 
	    your plans!

He can't even believe he's hearing this.

			MICHAEL
	    I'm sure glad I'm hearing all 
	    this now, before it's too late!

			KIMMY
	    What is that sup...

			MICHAEL
	    And what am I supposed to do with 
	    my life, huh? I am 28 years old! 
	    I work in a low-paying, low-status, 
	    zero-respect job which, 
	    unfortunately, I happen to fucking 
	    love.  How inconvenient.

Shrugs.

			MICHAEL
	    No problem.  A little bullshit 
	    about Daddy's "needs," and presto, 
	    I'm a lap dog in high society.

			JULIANNE
		    (softly)
	    Michael, it sounds like a 
	    wonderful opportun...

			MICHAEL
		    (whips around)
	    Does it, really? How come you 
	    never took some sell-out 
	    establishment job? You had plenty 
	    of chances!

Glares in her eyes.

			MICHAEL
	    I'll tell you why.  Because that 
	    isn't you.  And it isn't me, 
	    either!  We're the same person!

Back to Kim...

			MICHAEL
	    What a sweet little picture.  Mommy 
	    and Daddy aren't losing a daughter, 
	    they're gaining a eunuch!

			KIMMY
	    Well, if that's the way you f...

			MICHAEL
	    Damn straight, it's how I feel! 
	    What's their wedding gift, a little 
	    gold collar that says "Mikey-poo"? 
	    Or do I have to change my name to "Binky"?

She's crying now.  Real tears on her face.

			MICHAEL
	    Great!  Tears!  The big equalizer.  
	    You wait till two days before the 
	    wedding to drop this on me, and 
	    I'm just supposed to roll over and 
	    drool!

She is sobbing now.  She can't help herself.  Which makes him 
totally crazy.  He jumps up.

			MICHAEL
	    Fine.  I'm an insensitive, chauvinist 
	    asshole, and you're well rid of m...

			KIMMY
	    MICHAEL!!

A wrenching cry from her heart.  It stops him cold.  And before 
Julianne's astonished eyes, Kimmy reaches out a trembling hand...

			KIMMY
	    Michael, you are so...

Choking back the sobs.

			KIMMY
	    ... so right.  And I am so very 
	    wrong.

Michael blinks.  Julianne blinks.  For different reasons.

			KIMMY
	    We can't go down two roads.  And 
	    still be together.

Her fingers stretch, beckoning.

			JULIANNE
	    Uh, Kimmy...?

			KIMMY
		    (ignores her)
	    We settled this.  And I reneged.  
	    That wasn't fair.

Please, please, take my hand.

			KIMMY
	    You have to forgive me, and forget 
	    this ever happened...

People are watching, staring.  These two see only each other.

			KIMMY
	    ... or I'll die.

A frozen, forever moment.  He steps to her...

... LIFTS her up in his arms.  Into the deepest, most heartfelt 
KISS.  And as she clings to him, people begins to APPLAUD, and 
whistle, and laugh.

Julianne.  In her pretty dress.  Closes her eyes.

INT.JULIANNE'S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Julianne in her nightshirt, her back to us, sobbing into her 
cellular as she paces the room...

			JULIANNE
	    ... see that's what I never 
	    counted on! I never heard of 
	    a brilliant moron before!

We CLOSE as she WHIPS around, startling us with her grotesque day-
glo PURPLE face mask.  The green was better.

			JULIANNE
	    I mean, the little twerp 
	    GROVELED!!

Losing it.  We know the drill.

			JULIANNE
	    SHE IS SO WRONG FOR HIM!

Clutching the phone.

			JULIANNE
	    Michael and I are the same person! 
	    Self-absorbed and imperfect and 
	    vaguely loveable! We deserve 
	    each other!

Tears are flowing.  Which, over this mask, is not a pretty sight.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm out of hope, I'm out of sneaky 
	    ideas, I'm at the end of my 
	    rapidly-fraying hysterical little 
	    rope!  Help m...

She TRIPS over an open suitcase, and DISAPPEARS from frame.  The 
THUD is slightly alarming.

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    God, I hate this hotel.

HOLD.  On nothing is particular.

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    And I hate talking to your machine!

INT. JULIANNE'S ROOM - EARLY MORNING

REAR VIEW of Julianne asleep on the floor, sunlight streaming in.  
A soft knocking on a door, somewhere nearby.  She barely stirs.  
The knock becomes a strong RAPPING, and she fights for conscious-
ness.  Her back still to us, she...

... rises, STUMBLES to the door, which is now pulsing with an 
insistent POUNDING, and THROWS it OPEN, as we SNAP to...

REVERSE ANGLE... CLOSE on Julianne's face, still encased in a now-
decomposing PURPLE MASK, her eyes SPRINGING wide, she SCREAMS in 
shock, and we SNAP BACK to...

ORIGINAL ANGLE... Digger, watching impassively at the high-strung 
SHRIEK.  In the silence that follows...

			DIGGER
	    You stole my line.

He touches his face, and she realizes!

			JULIANNE
	    Oh, shit!

Starts CLAWING at the overripe mask, but he grabs her wrists.

			DIGGER
	    Chill.  We don't want your face 
	    coming off with it.

			JULIANNE
	    Chill?  Since when do you say 
	    ch...

			DIGGER
	    When I'm talking to children.

She looks in his eyes.  Realizing at last.

			JULIANNE
	    You flew all the way h...

			DIGGER
	    I noticed.  I'm on the noon back.  
	    We have this thing with George's 
	    family in the Hamptons.

			JULIANNE
		    (soft)
	    You're butting in.

He still holds her wrists.  She brings one of his hands to her 
lips.  Kisses his knuckles.

			JULIANNE
		    (softer)
	    I really resent this.

INT.  BATHROOM - MORNING

Julianne seated at the sink, staring into the mirror, as Digger 
gently applies soup, cloth and water to easing away the mask.  A 
paleontologist restoring a Bronze Age artifact.  By the side of the 
half-filled sink, rests her plugged-in curling iron.

			JULIANNE
	    What I mean, when I say annoyingly 
	    perfect, is that there is nothing 
	    annoying about her perfection.  
	    It is vulnerable and endearing.  
	    And that is annoying as shit.

			DIGGER
	    You like her.

			JULIANNE
	    If I didn't have to hate her, I'd 
	    adore her.

She looks up at him and WINCES, as the movement makes him scrape 
her face.  He's sorry.

			JULIANNE
	    Last night, she was crying, these 
	    big, real tears, when she thought 
	    she'd lost him.  It was like there 
	    was a knife in her heart...

Looking in his eyes.  Needs him to hear.

			JULIANNE
	    ... and I put it there.  I hated 
	    myself, I grieved for her, I 
	    couldn't enjoy one second of it! 
	    And then, when it didn't work...

Can you believe this?

			JULIANNE
	    I was devastated.

			DIGGER
		    (softly)
	    Go figure you.

			 JULIANNE
	    Because I realized.  When I see 
	    him say "I do," that knife will 
	    be in my heart.  And it will be 
	    there every...

She holds his wrists now.  To stop him.  To plead for 
understanding.  Forgiveness.

			JULIANNE
	    ... every time I think of him, 
	    forever, which could be a lot.

She almost choked on that last part.  So she composes herself.

			JULIANNE
	    You watch a guy caress his 
	    girlfriend's butt.  You see an 
	    Old Spice commercial.  Sentimental 
	    moments are everywhere, when 
	    you're in the right frame of mind.

She swallows hard.  Fights for a grip on her determination.

			JULIANNE
	    There are 18,250 nights in the 
	    next 50 years...

			DIGGER
	    You've been working on this, huh?

			JULIANNE
	    ... and having "done the right 
	    thing" will only really be 
	    comforting, oh, maybe, five, 
	    six times.

She sets her jaw.

			JULIANNE
	    This is my whole life's happiness.  
	    I have to be ruthless.

			DIGGER
		    (quietly)
	    And you believe that.

			JULIANNE
	 	    (unconvincing)
	    Sure.

His eyes are gentle and merciless at once.  No way she gets off 
this hook.

			JULIANNE
	    He was in love with me every day 
	    for nine years.  I can make him 
	    happier than she can.

			DIGGER
	    It's not his happiness you're 
	    feeling guilty about...

			JULIANNE
		    (proudly)
	    I don't know the meaning of the 
	    word guilt!

			DIGGER
	    Impressive.

			JULIANNE
	    I am breaking her heart in the short 
	    run, but doing her a gigantic favor! 
	    She would be miserable tagging 
	    along after this insensitive doofus!

			DIGGER
	    The man you love.

			JULIANNE
	    Beyond reason.  The feminist 
	    warrior will rise up in this kid, 
	    and she'll be standing over his 
	    sleeping form with a butcher 
	    knife, selecting from a short 
	    list of body parts!

			DIGGER
	    Someday she'll thank you.

			JULIANNE
	    Let's not get carried away.

And the defenses drain from her clay-ravaged features.  The real 
Julianne is glimpsed.

			JULIANNE
	    I'd settle for.  Someday, I'll 
	    forgive myself.

For...?

			JULIANNE
	    For doing this terrible thing.

Her eyes tear up.

			JULIANNE
	    Which, by the way, I can't 
	    figure out how to do.

As the tears fall, he wipes at them, discovering...

			DIGGER
	    Jesus.  You're supposed to take 
	    your make-up off before you 
	    apply the m...

			JULIANNE
	    I KNOW THAT!  I WAS DISTRACTED BY 
	    GRIEF!

Oh.

			JULIANNE
	    Guess what I brushed my teeth 
	    with last night?

He thinks about this.  Following her eyes to the toiletries kit, he 
browses for a moment...

			DIGGER
	    Zit cream?

			JULIANNE
	    I wish.

			DIGGER
	    Neosporin?

			JULIANNE
	    Try less appropriate.

			DIGGER
	    Ben Gay.

			JULIANNE
	    That was Thursday.

He stops on that note.

			DIGGER
	    Elmer's Glue?

			JULIANNE
	    DON'T BE RIDICULOUS, WE'RE HAVING 
	    A SERIOUS CONVERSATION!

She's hysterical.

			DIGGER
	    I give.

			JULIANNE
	    I can't even say it.

Now.  He's curious.

			JULIANNE
	    A hint.  The first word is 
	    "Preparation." Then comes a 
	    letter of the alphabet, 
	    perilously close to G.

She reaches to test her curling iron, BURNS her finger, SHIT! 
KNOCKING the appliance into the half-filled sink.  She LUNGES for 
it, and a terrified Digger GRASPS her arm...

			DIGGER
	    Considering the circumstances, 
	    I'm not wholly against suicide...

Huh?

			DIGGER
	    Just not by electrocution in 
	    front of me!

Oh.

			DIGGER
	    I've got this noon flight.

He reaches to pull the plug from the wall, and now she LUNGES to 
grab his arm, slipping, her face falling forward, stopping an inch 
above the sink.

			JULIANNE
	    How do you know you can touch 
	    that plug? Are you a licensed 
	    contractor?

			DIGGER
	    What do you suggest?

She looks from the plug down the cord, to the submerged curling 
iron.  And back.

			JULIANNE
	    Maybe they just seal off this 
	    room.  They have others.

He's staring at her.  Sweet, but intense.

			DIGGER
	    I didn't mean about that.

Oh.  Again.

			JULIANNE
	    If I hear the words "tell the 
	    truth," or any paraphrase thereof, 
	    I dive into the sink and pull you 
	    with me.

Looking at her.  Looking at her.

			DIGGER
	    Let's go meet Michael.  I'll 
	    wait downstairs.

INT.  ARMANI - MORNING

Julianne has cleaned up pretty good.  She sits with Digger on a 
fashion-fabric sofa.  They are side-by-side, studying something 
with equal concentration.  And slight concern.

			DIGGER
	    I suppose it's too late to 
	    start over.

			JULIANNE
	    It's too late to start over.

PULL BACK to reveal Michael in his wedding tux, submitting to a 
final fitting from a stylish fitter.

			MICHAEL
	    You guys are heartless, my 
	    bride picked this out.

			JULIANNE
	    Like I said, dazzling.

			DIGGER
	    Is she going to dress you 
	    every day?

Michael smiles over.  Digger smiles back.  They live each other.

			MICHAEL
	    Yeah, it's in the contract.

			DIGGER
		    (softly)
	    Well, then, I'll take it up 
	    with her.

Michael motions, okay, c'mon over.  Digger rises, goes to Michael, 
the fitter steps back as Digger shows him...

			DIGGER
	    The cut here, here... this 
	    line...

Fingers lightly traveling over the lapel, the side-stitching, the 
cloth straight down the spine...

			DIGGER
	    ... trouser width, this is all 
	    classic.  Which means safe, 
	    something I'd wear.

			MICHAEL
	    I should look different.

			DIGGER
	    You should look like you 
	    dressed yourself.

Yes? Michael's grin is back.  Playful and friendly.

			MICHAEL
	    And I'm supposed to respect 
	    your fashion tips, because 
	    you're what, a New Yorker?

			DIGGER
		    (quiet smile)
	    Something like that.

Julianne loves that the boy are getting on.

			MICHAEL
		    (means this)
	    Long trip.  Pretty nice of you 
	    to come.

			DIGGER
	    Well, I'm close to her.  I wanted 
	    to meet the one that got away.

Said so naturally.  That embarrasses Michael, who looks down, his 
smile suddenly awkward.

			DIGGER
	    What?

			MICHAEL
	    I'm just glad someone finally put 
	    this thing in its proper perspective.

Steals a glance at Julianne.  She rolls her eyes.  What a goofball, 
my outrageous friend.

			MICHAEL
		    (to Digger)
	    Stay, huh?

			DIGGER
	    I honestly wish I could...

			MICHAEL
	    I'll call George's parents.  
	    Tell them I need a best man who 
	    actually looks after me.

Julianne comes over.

			JULIANNE
		    (softly)
	    They'd say that's my job.

She runs her hands over his jacket, smoothing it everywhere.  With 
tenderness that approaches transparency.  Glances back at Digger...

			JULIANNE
	    I'll take it home from here.

Pinches Michael's ear.  Looks in his eyes.

			DIGGER
	    Two words.

			JULIANNE
	    Major.  Dish.

			DIGGER
	    Manicure...

She looks down.  Michael's nails are unclipped, with layers of 
impacted dirt.  She touches his fingertips, a little more softly 
than she may have intended.

			DIGGER
	    Fly.

Everyone looks down.  She ZIPS Michael up.

			MICHAEL
		    (to Digger)
	    You don't miss much.

			DIGGER
	    Part of being a New Yorker.

INT.  HAIR SALON - MORNING

Cutting edge salon.  Loud, PULSING MUSIC.  Digger and Michael in 
adjacent chairs, heads back, each smoking impressive cigars as 
their hair is styled.  Digger's stylist is a hot trashy female.  
Michael's is a tall, flamboyant male in a day-glo vest.

Each man has one hand soaking, the other being worked on by a 
manicurist, so Julianne goes from one to the other, removing their 
cigars so they can exhale.  A seraglio feel to the way she does 
this.

Now she's arguing with Michael's stork-like stylist.  We can't hear 
over the music, but she keeps tugging on Michael's hair, pretty 
passionate about her point of view.  Suddenly, she GRABS the 
scissors to do it herself, and Michael...

... BOLTS out of the chair.  WHOA!

EXT.  O'HARA AIRPORT - DAY

Skycaps, guests of impatient travelers, a bus offloading forty 
Japanese tourists.  A taxi cuts off a van to reach the curb.  Out 
jumps...

Michael.  Opening the door for Digger and Julianne.  Digger says 
something, Michael gives him a strong HUG.  Julianne raises one 
finger to Michael, back in a second.  Leads Digger off by the hand.

CLOSE on them now.  Alone in the throng.

			JULIANNE
	    Bye, handsome.

Digger just stares at her.  Those maddening judgemental eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    You're going to say it, aren't 
	    you?

			DIGGER
	    Tell him you love him.  With 
	    all your heart.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm taking my next book to 
	    Viking.

			 DIGGER
	    Tell him you've loved him for 
	    nine years, but you were afraid 
	    to realize it.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm moving this book to Viking.

			DIGGER
	    Tell him you're afraid of love.  
	    Afraid of needing.

			JULIANNE
	    Needing.

			DIGGER
	    To belong to someone.

He touches her hair.

			DIGGER
	    We all do, beautiful.  I'm sorry 
	    about that.

Staring in her eyes.  Even Julianne has run out of words.

			DIGGER
	    Tell him you know this is the 
	    worst, dumbest, cruelest moment 
	    to do this to him.  But there 
	    it is, and he has to choose.

			JULIANNE
	    And what will he do?

Digger isn't smiling.  His voice low, beneath the crowd...

			DIGGER
	    He'll choose Kim.  You'll stand 
	    by her at her wedding.  You'll 
	    kiss him good-bye.  And you'll 
	    go home.

He holds up one finger.  Almost touching her nose.

			DIGGER
	    This is what you've come to do.  
	    Now do it.

Wow.  She looks frightened and moved, all at the same time.  She 
kisses him on the lips.

And walks away.  He watches her go through the crowd.  Take 
Michael's hand.  Lead him back toward the taxi.

EXT.  SKYLINE CRUISE BOAT - DAY

The skyline of Chicago moves past us.  Slowly.  The NBC Tower, 
Cityfront Center...

			MICHAEL (O.S.)
	    Big weddings are so strange.

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    You keep saying that.

Up ahead, the Wrigley Building draws closer...

			MICHAEL (O.S.)
	    Kim has all this stuff to do, 
	    I hardly see her.

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    Well, you've got the rest of 
	    your lives.

REVERSE ANGLE... they lean on the rail of a cruise boat, easing down 
the Chicago River.  Wind-blown.  Close together.

			JULIANNE
	    Getting your bed made.  Every 
	    day.

They smile at each other.  Seem so comfortable together.

			JULIANNE
	    You miss her, huh?

			MICHAEL
	    No.  I've got you.

She nods.  That you have.  Staring in her eyes...

			MICHAEL
	    Don't you throw up on boat?

			JULIANNE
	    If you like.

And she LURCHES over the railing, emitting a BARRAGE of incredibly 
disgusting sounds, her feet FLAILING in mid-air.  He laughs, as he 
pulls her back down to the deck.  Of course, it was all a joke.  He 
brushes back her hair.  Sighs.  Stares.

			MICHAEL
	    I've been thinking a lot the 
	    last couple days.  About us, 
	    actually.

			JULIANNE
		    (casual)
	    Have you.

He has.

			JULIANNE
	    Well.  There's a lot of memories 
	    to choose from...

			MICHAEL
	    It's more than that.

That tightens her throat pretty good.  When she tries to speak, out 
comes a dry CROAK that makes him laugh again.  Softer, this time.

			MICHAEL
	    I mean, it's embarrassing to 
	    say it this way, but...

He stops.  Her eyes WIDEN in a burlesque of anticipation.  So he 
smiles.  She knows how to put him at ease.

			MICHAEL
	    You've sort of been... y'know, 
	    the woman in my life.

			JULIANNE
		    (straight back)
	    You've been the man in mine.

Passing under the Michigan Avenue Bridge.  No one knows quite what 
to say.

			MICHAEL
	    And I was thinking this could be 
	    our last time.  Alone.  Together.  
	    You know?

			JULIANNE
	    Except for the hot affairs we'll 
	    have twice a year.

			MICHAEL
	    Except for that.

She's smiling so easily.  Who would guess her stomach is double-
knotted.

			MICHAEL
	    I can hardly wait for your 
	    wedding.

			JULIANNE
	    Me either.

She watches his surprise.

			MICHAEL
	    Boy, I never thought I'd hear you 
	    say that.  Can I come?

She holds herself together.  Real soft with...

			JULIANNE
	    I couldn't have it without you.

He's glad to hear that.  And then...

			MICHAEL
	    It's normal to have... second 
	    thoughts, huh? To be scared.

Is this a change of direction? Or is it the direction she's been 
praying for.

			JULIANNE
	    I wouldn't know.  I never had 
	    that many first thoughts.

			MICHAEL
	    I mean, you commit to a wedding.  
	    And then it seems like... this... 
	    momentum, you know?  You forget 
	    you... chose it.

She nods.  Understands.

			MICHAEL
	    You and I.  I mean, in all our 
	    relationships with other people... 
	    We didn't use the word "love" 
	    a lot, did we?

We didn't.

			MICHAEL
	    Kimmy says.  When you love someone.  
	    You say it, you say it out loud.  
	    Right now.  Or the moment...

Long beat.

			MICHAEL
	    ... passes you by, yeah.  She's a 
	    smart girl.

Off in distance, the Centennial Fountain SHOOTS an eight-foot JET 
of water across the river.  For Michael and Julianne it goes 
unnoticed.

			MICHAEL
	    We don't have a song.

Hmm?

			MICHAEL
	    Kimmy and I.  We don't have a song.  
	    Is that a bad sign?

All Julianne can do is shrug.  Then...

			MICHAEL
		    (sings, softly)
	    Someday, when I'm awfully low...
	      And the world is cold...

She doesn't want to cry.  So she puts all the strength she has into 
fighting it back.

			MICHAEL
		    (sings)
	    I will feel a glow just Thinking of you...
	      And the way you look.  Tonight.

He stops.  Smiles that sweet, boyish smile.

			MICHAEL
	    Dance card filled?

			JULIANNE
	    I'll check.  I have it on 
	    powerbook, these days.

He holds up his arms.  And she moves into them.  He begins to dance 
with her, turning so slowly.  And, yes, people are watching.

			MICHAEL
	    	    (sings in her ear)
	    With each word, your tenderness grows,
	      Tearing my fears apart...

She holds him closer.  Bites her lip.

			MICHAEL
		    (sings)
	    And that laugh
	      That wrinkles your nose,
	    Touches my foolish heart.

He stops.  He looks at her.  She's still in his arms.

			MICHAEL
	    Where did we first hear th...

			JULIANNE
	  	    (straight back)
	    The night we met.

Right to his eyes...

			JULIANNE
	    The night we fell in love.

He doesn't know what to do with that.

			MICHAEL
	    So we heard it... like, right 
	    that... that first...

			JULIANNE
	    We danced to it.  Just like this.

Just like this.  A long beat.  And he has to say...

			MICHAEL
	    I won't lose you, will I?

Her eyes close.  Then open.  Utterly lost in his.

			JULIANNE
	    No.  Because I won't let you.

INT.  WALLACE ENTERPRISES - DAY

Julianne in crisp chalk-stripe trousers and a buttoned-up dress 
shirt.  Her coat slung over her shoulder, she wanders through 
the Saturday-deserted office space.  Desks, cubicles, monitors, 
silent.  A row of executive offices standing empty, waiting for 
the custodian.  Turning a corner, we hear...

... life, at the end of the hallway.  A grand conference room with a 
glass wall.  Walter, in shirtsleeves, running a strategy meeting 
for five.  DEIDRE, his personal secretary, clicking every word into 
her laptop at warp speed.  Walter sees Julianne through the glass.  
A comic take of pleased surprise.  He comes out to greet her...

			WALTER
	    I thought Michael was picking 
	    me up.

			JULIANNE
	    I told him, get the important 
	    stuff, Kim's ring.  I'll collect 
	    the inconsequentials.

Meaning, you.  They smile at each other.  Then...

			WALTER
	    Kim said, when he turned down 
	    the job, there was no friction.

Julianne thinks back.

			JULIANNE
	    Friction.  No.

He smiles at her line reading.  But his mind is always probing.

			WALTER
	    I haven't caused... a problem, 
	    have I?

			JULIANNE
	    Nobody has.  So far.

Her bright grin.  His eyes linger on it.

			WALTER
	    Well, you're a little early...

			JULIANNE
	    I need to make some calls.  
	    Could I use... your office?

INT.  WALTER'S OFFICE - DAY

Julianne enters the spacious corner office, high above the city.  
Closes the door, quietly, behind her.  So anxious, she is 
practically hyperventilating.  She goes, slowly to the vacant 
cherrywood desk.  Its computer and monitor standing silent.  She 
is stalking it, like a deadly animal.  And then.  She is there.

Talking to herself, her own desperate support network...

			JULIANNE
		    (softly)
	    You can do this.

Sacred, filled with doubt and conflict.  Her hands clutch at each 
other.  Then, one flicks out.  And the computer goes ON.  The 
screen GLOWS.  Waits for her.  Her mouth is sand, her stomach 
water.  She pulls the paper from her pocket...

... looks at it.  Looks to the monitor.  And begins.  To type...

			JULIANNE
		    (mumbling to herself)
	    E-mail address.  To Ben Isaacson, 
	    Senior Editor, Sports Illustrated, 
	    from... Walter Wallace.

And stops.  Her heart is thumping.

			JULIANNE
	    See, you can do it.  It's easy.

Doesn't look easy.  Licks her lips.

			JULIANNE
	    You do it fast, it's over.  Like 
	    it never happened.

She sits.  And recites as she types...

			JULIANNE
	    Ben.  I need a favor.

Here we go.  This is it.  Types...

			JULIANNE
	    My daughter's every happiness.  
	    And my wife's.  And, least of 
	    all, my own, are in your hands.

Nods, okay.  Breathing hard.  Types...

			JULIANNE
	    Knowing you value our friendship, 
	    and the... cooperative 
	    relationship between our companies... 
	    I am hopeful of your help.

Touch, that.  Thinks.  It has to be.  Types...

			JULIANNE
	    I have offered Mike O'Neal, my 
	    new son-in-law, a great opportunity 
	    in my company.  This would also 
	    enable my daughter to settle in 
	    Chicago, near us, and pursue her 
	    dreams and plans.

Almost there.  Almost.  Types...

			JULIANNE
	    To his own detriment, as well 
	    as ours, Michael will not accept 
	    our offer.  While he works for you.

She stands up.  Stares at the screen.  Walks away.  Walks back.  
Still standing, types...

			JULIANNE
	    My daughter joins me in this 
	    plea for your cooperation and 
	    discretion.

Is there a SOUND?  Outside the door.  She HOVERS over the ESCAPE 
key.  Waits.  Waits.  Silence.  Types...

			JULIANNE
	    With gratitude.  For your 
	    understanding.  Walter.

She hits a KEY.  The screen goes BLANK.  The computer asks... DO 
YOU WISH TO SEND?  She tells the computer...

			JULIANNE
	    Are you crazy?  Get him fired?

Types NO.  The computer asks HOLD FOR LATER? And she types YES.

			JULIANNE
	    Just till tonight when I bring 
	    him back.  To look for...

She glances to her huge bag.  Rummages through, pulling out a manila 
folder.  Lays it by the blank computer.  Fans out a few pages in a 
natural, disorderly way.  Takes a step back...

And stares.  Struck to her gut.  But when she has done.

INT.  CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Walter alone with Deidre now, signing a stack of documents, as she 
efficiently places one after another before him.  When he glances up, 
he sees Julianne wandering the halls.  Stands, tells his secretary...

			WALTER
		    (going through stack)
	    Off to rehearsal.  Send out this, 
	    and this, not this, this, and... 
	    that's it.

Slips on his coat.  Oh... and by the way...

			WALTER
	    I'm holding four or five E-mails 
	    I wrote over lunch...

On his way through the door...

			WALTER
	    Send 'em out.

INT.  CHAPEL, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - DAY

Julianne and Walter enter the rear of a striking Gothic CHAPEL, 
pastel light slanting in through stained glass windows.  We now 
see the full effect of her outfit, a man's-style chalk stripe SUIT, 
tailored to fit her body, set off by a bold silk tie.  Solid 
dynamite.  She hangs back, while Walter proceeds down the vaulted 
nave toward...

... Michael, Kimmy, Isabelle and Joe, who stand casually joking by 
the altar.  Scattered around are assorted groomsmen, ushers, an 
obvious flowergirl.  Coming toward us, up the aisle...

... the MINISTER, early 40s, lean and quite attractive.  Mandy is 
HANGING on his arm, pressing her body against him as they walk, 
murmuring urgent murmurs close to his ear.  He's a really good 
sport, and really uncomfortable.  Sammy is walking backwards, 
right in front of them, DROPS her bag, and BENDS to retrieve it, as 
if oblivious to major cleavage on immediate display.

Julianne is so lost in her own anxiety, she doesn't even notice, 
until...

			MANDY
	    Reverend Dyer, this is 
	    Kimberly's somewhat butch 
	    maid of honor...

			SAMMY
	    ... Mr. Julianne Potter, 
	    prominent New York drag queen.

Today, the girls' voices are charmingly musically Southern, with 
none of the extreme accents we heard at the shower.  The minister 
extends his hand...

			MINISTER
	    Billy Dyer, Julianne.  And I 
	    love the suit.

She shakes his hand, smiles graciously, but her eyes flick to 
Michael, now approaching up the aisle.  The girls lead the minister 
away.  Michael arrives.  Looks her up and down.

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    Takes me back.

			JULIANNE
	    Well.

She smiles.  One that glows a little.

			JULIANNE
	    You sang the song.  Least I 
	    could do was wear the outfit.

He nods.

			MICHAEL
	    Except now you're better-
	    looking.

Oh, yeah?  Yes, ma'am.  As she loses herself in his eyes...

			MICHAEL
	    I got the ring.

He pulls the box from his pocket.  Somewhere, an ORGAN sounds.  And 
as he is about to hand her the box...

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (sing)
	    Swi-i-ng low-ow-ow...
	       Wee-ee-eet Char-i-ot...

Such exquisite two-part harmony, Michael stops to watch.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (sing)
	    Comin', to car-ryyy
	       Me ho-o-o-me...

It is amazing.  Soulful vengeful sluts.  He is enthralled.  Julianne 
simply impatient.  She wants his attention.

			JULIANNE
	    No accents today.

			MICHAEL
	    Yeah, Kim told me they were 
	    giving you their Dueling 
	    Scarlet's act.  Actually, 
	    they're sophomores at Juilliard.

She takes the box from his hand.  Opens it, as the singing CONTINUES 
throughout.  The ring is delicate hammered gold.  One of a kind.

			MICHAEL
	    Will she like it?

			JULIANNE
		    (whisper)
	    Yes.

She's staring at the ring.

			KIMMY (O.S.)
	    My groom-person!  Your family 
	    needs you!

His master's voice.  He gives Julianne a smile.  And goes.  She's 
left with the box.

Gazes at the ring.  Lifts it out.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (O.S., singing)
	    Well, I look over yon-der,
	       And what did I see-ee-ee?

Slips it on her left hand.  Ring finger.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (O.S., singing)
	    Comin too car-ryyy.
	       Me ho-o-ome...

Touches it.  Turns it on her finger.  So many emotions.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (O.S., singing)
	    It was a hand.  Of a-a-angels.
	       Coming' for me-e-ee...

Tries to pull it off.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (O.S., singing)
	    Comin' for to carry me home.

It won't come.  Not even close.

INT.  CRAB HOUSE - NIGHT

CLOSE on a bowl filled with squares of butter.  HEAR the butt of 
conversation from a rowdy, friendly joint.  Julianne's right hand 
REACHES to the bowl, fingers trace the rim innocently, then...

... SLIDE the bowl into Julianne's lap beneath the table.  Her right 
hand MASSAGES all the butter into a gooey revolving mess.  We can 
pick out familiar voices now, family in distance, the twins closer.  
As, hidden from view, Julianne brings...

... her left hand from her pocket.  Yep.  The ring is still there.  
The finger already red and swollen from pacicky efforts to pull it 
off.  And as APPLAUSE surrounds us, Julianne...

PLUNGES her ring finger into the morass of grease, frantically 
TEARING at the ring, butter SPLURGING on her pants, everywhere, as 
we PULL BACK to see...

... the long table covered with butcher paper, the family at the far 
end, the twins down here with us, a mug of beer for each place, as 
team of waiters with heaping platters of CRABS, which they...

... FLING across the butcher paper, as APPLAUSE continues from 
everyone but Julianne, who still struggles secretly.  As the waiters 
set huge wooden MALLETS in front of each guest, Joe O'Neal rises, 
POUNDS the table with his mallet for attention.

			JOE
	    Like to welcome ever'body to 
	    our little rehearsal supper...

He COUGHS, unaccustomed to public speaking.  Walter and Isabelle 
clap and call out support.  So Joe lifts his mallet...

			JOE
	    Okay, everyone stand up!

And everyone does.  With one exception.  Trapped.  She JAMS her 
left hand in her coat pocket, SMEARS her right palm sort of clean 
on the underside of the table, GRABS her mallet and JUMPS UP.

			JOE
	    To the bride, uh, goes the 
	    honor... of cracking the first 
	    crab!

Everyone applauses by banging their mallets.  Joe RAISES his high.  
Everybody imitates.

			KIMMY
	    But first, a toast!

And everybody SNATCHES up their beers with their left hands, as 
Julianne DROPS her mallet with a HORRIFIC CRASH, grabbing her beer, 
looking up to...

			JULIANNE
		    (on the spot)
	    I'm right-handed.

A hugely embarrassing half-second.  Bailed out by...

			KIMMY
	    To our host, my cuddly Papa 
	    Joe.

All turns.

			KIMMY
	    Who taught me to play "Blue 
	    Hawaii." On my nose.

With a look at Julianne, Kim sets down her mallet gently, and 
performs a nasal HUM of the tropical standard, strikingly her nostril 
repeatedly for vibrato.  It is charming, and everybody watches.

INT.  HOTEL BALLROOM - LATER

CLOSE on an actual, living, if geriatric, LION.  He blinks from his 
cage, bored as hell.  HEAR the surrounding noise, chatter, LOUD 
Sinatra music, of a very large party.  PULL BACK to see...

... and overdecorated BALLROOM, in dim and dramatic lighting, 
dripping with the trappings of ANCIENT ROME.  The mingling guests 
are the neatly one hundred females of the wedding party, most of 
them older women.  They are served by wandering well-built ATHLETES 
in Roman togas or gladiator costumes.  PAN TO...

...  Julianne, still in her suit, hiding by a table piled with a 
carload of grapes.  Her left hand still buried in her pocket.  The 
eyes of a hunted animal.  From nowhere...

			MANDY/SAMMY (O.S.)
	    Boo!!!

She JUMPS a foot, both hands FLYING UP, left one awkwardly slamming 
back into its pocket.  The girls have snuck up behind her.  They 
have changed into hot gowns that are really only wide ribbons 
wrapped around their bodies.

			MANDY
	    I know why you're scared of our 
	    party.  It's too hip.

Sinatra singing "Stranger In The Night." Hugely-muscled, half-naked 
black and white studs, serving enchanted blue-haired ladies.

			SAMMY
	    Kimberly wanted to tickle the 
	    grandmas, so we figured, give 
	    'em a cheap thrill.  Walter 
	    supplied the decorative 
	    touches...

			SAMMY
		    (points out the jokes)
	    Nose tackle from the Bears... 
	    power forward from the Bulls... 
	    defenseman from the Black 
	    Hawks... my personal favorite, 
	    the designated hitter...

			MANDY
	    ... I'm partial to the tight end.

			SAMMY
	    This is USDA Prime, largely 
	    available, beef.  With no notice-
	    able competition, present company 
	    excepted...

Now they stare at her.  With identical, really odd, smiles.

			SAMMY
	    And yet here you are.  All 
	    celibate and reclusive.

			MANDY
	    With those big, dark, haunted eyes.  
	    As if you were harborin' some... 
	    unspeakably... guilty... secret.

Oh.

			JULIANNE
	    Well, I'm worried about something.

Something.  Their expressions are deliciously, identically 
expectant.

			JULIANNE
	    Oh.  I left this really important 
	    file in Walter's office.  I have 
	    to send my editor some...

Some...

			JULIANNE
	    ... figures.  On territorial sales.  
	    To close my book deal.

Uh-huh...

			JULIANNE
	    So Kim gave me the key.  And 
	    Michael's on his way, to drive 
	    me down to Wal...

			SAMMY
	    Oh.  We thought it was the ring.

Julianne blinks.  Ring...?

			MANDY
	    The one you better get the fuck 
	    off your third finger left hand.

Ah.  That ring.

			JULIANNE
	    Well.  See.  That was a... 
	    reflex to see if it would...

			MANDY
		    (helpful)
	    ... look good on Kimberly.

			JULIANNE
	    Right.  And then it didn't want 
	    to come off.  Exactly.

			SAMMY
	    Maybe it's happy there.

			MANDY
	    Oh the way out of the crab house? 
	    We asked Michael if we could see 
	    the ring?

			SAMMY
	    He said you told him.  It'd be 
	    safer with you.

			MANDY
	    An so it is.

Julianne for once is speechless.  To our amazement, the girls wear 
identical smiles of kindness and support.

			MANDY
	    Shut up, sugar, he's on his way.  
	    Let's get to work.

INT.  HOTEL KITCHEN - NIGHT

Huge gleaming chaotic kitchen.  Cooks, waiters, working at top 
speed.  The three women RACE in, look around frantically, half the 
guys stop to ogle the twins.  CUT TO...

ANGLES... and industrial-sized jar of peanut butter.  Julianne's hand 
PLUNGES in, halfway to the rolled-up sleeve at her elbow.  SMOOCHES 
it around, real good.  PULL BACK to reveal...

... she is surrounded by the twins and six guys, all SHOUTING 
conflicting instructions.  Julianne FLINGS off the excess SLOP.  
Tugs for all she's worth...

			EIGHT PEOPLE
	    TWIST IT!  TWIST IT!

Nada.  It won't budge.  A sous chef WIPES her hand with a towel, a 
janitor CRASHES a tool kit onto the counter.  THROWS it open, pulls 
out...

... a spray can of WD-40.  Instantly, her hand is BLACK.  The guy TUGS. 
No movement.  He can't believe it.

			JANITOR
	    It's mental, lady, you ain't 
	    trying!

Sammy is rummaging through her handbag, pulling out...

			SAMMY
	    There is nothing so tight, this 
	    can't help it...

... a tube of jelly.  The letter K-Y.  Julianne just gives her a look.  
Mandy pushes through with a butcher's CLEAVER...

			MANDY
	    I saw this on Hard Copy.  People 
	    cut off body parts and the 
	    hospital sew 'em back o...

The look has turned toward her.

			JULIANNE
		    (cold)
	    I saw the show.

			MANDY
	    ... well, maybe it works on 
	    fingers, too.

			FLOWER GIRL (O.S.)
	    Aunt Mandy...?

Everybody turns.  The little girl in the doorway.  Southern accent...

			FLOWER GIRL
	    Mr.  Michael's here.

Everything gets real quiet.  Mandy takes charge.  She rolls down 
Julianne's left sleeve, RIPS the hem out of the cuff, so that it 
flaps down over her hand, covering the ring.  Sammy wipes the black 
stuff from Julianne's fingers.

			MANDY
	    Don't worry, baby.  You could 
	    pick your nose with that finger 
	    and Michael would never notice.  
	    He's a man.

The twins lead her off.  We're on their backs for...

			MANDY (O.S.)
	    Personally, I think Mr.  Michael's 
	    marrying the wrong girl.

			SAMMY (O.S.)
	    You're much more his type.

EXT.  DOWNTOWN STREET - NIGHT

VIEW through a heavy glass door of the empty, dimly-lit lobby.  
PULL BACK to see Julianne, just as she...

... KICKS the shit out of the glass! Almost breaks her foot.

			JULIANNE
	    I can't believe this!

PULL BACK farther to see Michael still trying keys from a large key 
ring in the heavy lock.  Sign over the door says WALLACE ENTERPRISES.  
Traffic hustles by, oblivious to her suffering.

			MICHAEL
	    It's no big deal, she just gave 
	    you the wrong keys that's s...

			JULIANNE
	    ISN'T THERE A GUARD?  A JANITOR? 
	    A FUCKING CLEANING WOMAN? I'LL 
	    TAKE A BURGLAR!  SOMEBODY'S 
	    GOTTA BE IN TH...

And she SLAMS her whole BODY against the glass, making it rattle ominously.

			JULIANNE
	    WHERE'S A BRICK?  FIND ME A 
	    GODDAMN BRICK!!

She looks around wildly, hysterical.

			MICHAEL
	    What is the big deal about 
	    getting this file tonight?

A good question.  She needs a good answer.

			JULIANNE
	    I promised Digger I'd E-mail him 
	    those figures.

From his face, that wasn't it.

			JULIANNE
	    They are very important figures.

Apparently.  He's just staring at her.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm up against a deadline.

			MICHAEL
	    Me, too.  I'm getting married 
	    tomorrow.

			JULIANNE
	    That's my point!!

Now.  He really doesn't get it.

			JULIANNE
	    I mean, tomorrow... we'll all be 
	    busy with more important things.  
	    So...

So?

			JULIANNE
	    ... tonight's my last chance.

He sighs.

			MICHAEL
	    I forgot how cute you look.  When 
	    you get impossible.

			JULIANNE
	    It's just... up there... right in 
	    front of Walter's... y'know, computer.  
	    If memory serves.

Helpless.

			JULIANNE
	    We could use... his computer, to... 
	    just E-mail those suckers right ou...

			MICHAEL
	    Tomorrow is Sunday.  Nobody's doing 
	    business.  Crack of dawn, Monday, 
	    Walter'll take you up there...

Her eyes fill with tears.  He is mystified.  Smiles tenderly.

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    Give it up, kid.

Touches her hair.

			MICHAEL
	    You can't win 'em all.

And slowly, he takes her hand.  Leads her way.  She takes one 
backward glance at the locked door.  Her last dream dies.

INT.  LOBBY, RITZ CARLTON - NIGHT

Michael and a disconsolate Julianne board the elevator.  He presses 
15, she pushes 11.  Michael carries a handful of messages slips and 
an envelope.  As the car starts up, she folds her arms across her 
chest, at the edge of tears.  He doesn't know what to do.

			MICHAEL
		    (gently)
	    Listen up, huh? Even if you blow 
	    this deal, how big could it be?

			JULIANNE
		    (voice nearly cracking)
	    You're right.  Easy come, easy go.

He's really concerned, can't bear to see her so upset.

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    Jules?

She won't look at him.  She wants to die.  The bell RINGS, the doors 
open to her floor.  She just walks out.

And he follows.  They stand now, she with her arms crossed, lip 
trembling.  She can't believe how close she is to losing it.

			MICHAEL
	    This thing means that much to 
	    y...

			JULIANNE
	    It means a lot.

He nods.  Okay.

			MICHAEL
	    I'll call the house, Walter's 
	    probably not even asleep...

Her mouth drops.  She can't believe this.

			MICHAEL
	    I'll drive you out there, we'll 
	    get the key, we'll go back to 
	    the office...

She THROWS her arms around his, HUGGING him so hard, so close.  He 
laughs, she is so weird.  She pulls back, beaming, glowing.

			MICHAEL
	    Come on, we'll call from your 
	    room.

She claps his hand.  As they head down the hall...

			MICHAEL
	    If I fall asleep on the altar 
	    tomorrow...

He's trying to flip through the message slips in his free hand...

			MICHAEL
	    ... you better be there to... 
	    funny, these are all from Ben.

She's at her door, turning the key.  He looks at the envelope.

			MICHAEL
	    The fax is from Ben, too.  Man, 
	    it's my wedding, and my boss can't 
	    leave me alone...

			JULIANNE
		    (entering her room)
	    ... maybe it's congratulations.

He follows her in, opening the envelope.  Stops.  Reads.  And his face 
suddenly... freezes.  To stone.

			JULIANNE
		    (turning to him)
	    Michael? What ha...

			MICHAEL
		    (reading)
	    Mike.  I can't believe I'm doing 
	    this to you on the night before 
	    your wedding.  But I think you 
	    need and deserve to know...

And he looks up to her.

			MICHAEL
	    ... what you're marrying into.

He hands it toward her.  She takes it, hesitantly, and he walks past.  
Toward the phone.

			JULIANNE
		    (reading)
	    I received the following E-mail 
	    this afternoon... "Ben, I need a 
	    favor.  My daughter's every 
	    happiness...  "

Her eyes BUG OUT of her head.  Holy shit! We can hear him DIALING the 
phone.  She keeps reading, it's all there.  How did this happen?

			MICHAEL (O.S.)
	    Isabelle?  I need to talk to 
	    Kim...

			JULIANNE
		    (reading)
	    "Mike, the funny thing is, he's 
	    offering you a gig you'd be 
	    stupid to turn down..."

			MICHAEL (O.S.)
	    I'm just tired.  Please put her 
	    on?  Thanks.

			JULIANNE
		    (reading)
	    "Maybe you should take the job. 
	    And dump the girl."

And when she turns...

			MICHAEL
	    Jules.  Could you give me a 
	    minute?

He looks more sick than angry.  As if the heart has just been cut 
out of him.  She doesn't know what to say or do, so she just stands, 
staring dumbly.

			MICHAEL
	    Please?

She nods, stumbles out of her room, closing the door behind her.  
Now she's in the empty corridor, clutching her big jumbled bag, 
sinking down to sit on the carpet, her back against the door.

She doesn't look elated.  She seems frightened, distraught, and 
most of all, confused.  Because she can't understand why.  She digs 
absently through her bag.  Cigarettes.  Box of matches.

She lights up.  Draws deeply.  Somehow, she seems near tears, and 
laughs bitterly at that.  Shakes her head at how fucked-up she finds 
herself.  Squeaking wheels approach, but she is too lost to hear them.

			BELLMAN
	    Miss, are you locked out, 
	    or something?

She looks up.  A small, wiry man of nearly 60, in a slightly faded 
but neatly-kept uniform.  On his cart, a ton of bags.

			JULIANNE
	    No, I just stepped out, because... 
	    it's a non-smoking room.

And inhales deeply.  Leans back against the door, to look up at him 
more comfortably.

			BELLMAN
		    (politely)
	    Well, it's non-smoking floor, 
	    too.  Maybe you could go to the...

			JULIANNE
		    (seriously)
	    Why don't you have me arrested?

That wasn't sarcastic.  He doesn't know what to say.

			JULIANNE
	    I mean that.  Arrested, convicted, 
	    put in solitary.

Another puff.

			JULIANNE
	    See, I'm a dangerous, criminal 
	    person.  I do bad things to 
	    honest people.  This, see, this 
	    smoking?  Tip of the iceberg.

Waves her hand.

			JULIANNE
	    Make a citizen's arrest, I won't 
	    struggle.  It'll be like getting 
	    Al Capone on tax evasion.

Now she seems angry.  But not at him.  Her eyes fill with tears.

			BELLMAN
	    Can I... Can I help you, miss?

She squints at his nameplate.

			JULIANNE
	    Do you smoke, Richard?

			BELLMAN
	    Yes, ma'am, I do, but it's...

			JULIANNE
	    ... a non-smoking floor, yeah.  
	    Well, you know what?

And she takes the cigarette from her lips.  Turns it around, holds 
it out to him.  Go ahead.  He doesn't move.  Please! And so...

... he reaches down, takes the cigarette from her hand.  Staring in 
her eyes, he takes a deep drag.  Savors an expert nostril-inhale of 
his exhaled smoke.  Hands the cigarette back to her...

			BELLMAN
	    My grandmother always said, 
	    "This, too, shall pass."

She swallows.  Wipes at her eyes.  Finds a smile.

			JULIANNE
	    Thanks, Richard.  If you weren't 
	    on duty, I'd buy you a drink.

He just nods.  She waves.  He waves back, pushes his cart down the 
hall.  As she watches him go, the door behind her suddenly OPENS, 
and she...

... FALLS through it, flat on her back at Michael's feet.  Staring up 
at him, seeing that he looks as bad as she feels, she takes raw, deep 
drag.

			JULIANNE
	    What happened?

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    It's over.

And crouches down.  Close beside her.  The cigarette drops from her 
hand, unnoticed on the carpet.  So he lifts it, crushes it on the 
heel of his shoe.

			MICHAEL
	    I want you to quit this shit, 
	    it'll kill you.

She just nods, obediently.  Okay, I will.

			MICHAEL
	    She denied it.  Said I was crazy 
	    and paranoid.

			JULIANNE
	    A bad combination.

He tries to smile.  It's really hard.

			MICHAEL
	    There's this big brunch tomorrow 
	    morning?  At her place.

He lets the air out.  Slow.  So he won't cry.

			MICHAEL
	    She said "How can I call everything 
	    off, what do I tell everybody?"

Shakes his head.  Can you imagine that?

			JULIANNE
	    Michael...

			MICHAEL
	    No, it's for the best, it really 
	    is.  We were so wrong for each 
	    other.

			JULIANNE
	    Maybe tomorrow, you'll feel dif...

			MICHAEL
	    The job thing would have broken 
	    us up, eventually, anyway.  She 
	    couldn't have lived with it.  I 
	    know that now.

Julianne nods.  Maybe that part is right.  Maybe it would have 
ended anyway.  Maybe she can pretend she's not a monster.

			MICHAEL
	     And she's right, I'm crazy to 
	     fall for someone.  I hardly 
	     knew.

Looks deep in her eyes.  He's so glad she's there.

			MICHAEL
	    Hey.  You still got that ring?

She holds up her left hand, the flapping sleeve falls away.  The 
ring is on a finger that is swollen and raw.

			JULIANNE
	    I tried it on.  But it won't 
	    come off.

He smiles at that.  A sad smile of friendship.  Then takes her 
finger gently...

... into his mouth.  It is something like a kiss.  And when he 
removes her moistened finger...

... he pulls the ring OFF.  Nothing to it.  She blinks.

			JULIANNE
	    It's mental, you know.

He doesn't understand that.

			JULIANNE
	    Should we take a walk?  Or 
	    maybe some food sent up, or 
	    something...

			MICHAEL
	    I just want to be alone.  Is 
	    that okay?

She nods, sure.  He kisses her cheek.  Stands up.

			MICHAEL
	    Maybe I'll go back to New York.  
	    Hang with you for awhile, huh? 
	    Ben'll understand.

She nods again.  Whatever you say.  He steps into the open doorway...

			MICHAEL
	    Or we'll go somewhere.  If you 
	    have the time.

			JULIANNE
	    If San Antonio sweeps 
	    Sacramento...

They smiles at each other.  For real.

			JULIANNE
	    I've never been to Texas.

Imagine that.  The look holds.  Just above a whisper...

			MICHAEL
	    Thanks for coming to my wedding.

And then he's gone.

IN.JULIANNE'S BATHROOM - LATE NIGHT

Julianne brushing out her hair in the bathroom mirror, eyeing her 
image with evident dissatisfaction, as she listens to the receiver 
RINGING.

			DIGGER (V.O.  MACHINE)
	    Digger and George are with 
	    family in the Hamptons until 
	    Monday morning.  Brevity is even 
	    more in order than usual.

BEEP.

			JULIANNE
	    Hey, handsome.  Brevity this...

Her eyes find the pack of cigarettes.  Next to her toiletries kit.

			JULIANNE
		    (softly)
	    I won.

Her fingers touch the pack.  As if an object of significance.  Takes 
it up.

			JULIANNE
	    Amazing, huh?  I didn't do things 
	    quite your way.  But... I got it 
	    down.

Cradling the phone against her shoulder, she carefully tears the top 
of the pack completely open.

			JULIANNE
	    And forty years and nine grand-
	    children later, when I sit with 
	    Michael on some rustic porch, 
	    slogging through our sweet swamp 
	    of nostalgic memories...

Reaches the pack toward the toilet.

			JULIANNE
	    No one is going to sweet the 
	    details...

Turns it upside down, emptying a dozen cigarettes into the john.

			JULIANNE
	    Of one weekend in Chicago.

Drops the lid with a CLATTER.  Hits the FLUSH.

			JULIANNE
	    Talk about celebration...

She lifts a tube from her toiletries kit.  Stares at it, real 
close.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm gonna brush my teeth with 
	    actual toothpaste.

Turns it over, reads all the writing.  Yep.

			JULIANNE
	    I guess I'm too exhausted to 
	    feel the elation I so richly 
	    undeserve...

Squeezes some paste onto her brush.  Carefully.

			JULIANNE
	    So I'm gonna hold calls at the 
	    desk... while I get my...

Start brushing.

			JULIANNE
		    (around, her mouthful)
	    God, it is toothpaste, they 
	    should sell this stuff 
	    commercially! Anyway, a girl 
	    does need her...

Squints at her image.  Laughs, spewing a little foam.

			JULIANNE
	    ... well, we're a bit past 
	    worrying about beauty sleep.  
	    Let's just settle for not 
	    frightening small animals.

She SPITS.  Tells Digger's machine...

		 	JULIANNE
	    Anyway, I couldn't have done 
	    it without you.  Even though I 
	    did, if you follow that.

Wipes her mouth.  Stares off.  The eyes a little dreamy.

			JULIANNE
	    Three words:  Happily.  Ever.  
	    Well, you know.

					     SMASH CUT TO:

INT.  BEDROOM - MORNING

Julianne sprawled all over the bed, mouth open like a carp, 
sleeping mask against the daylight.  A sudden RAPPING at the 
door, and she...

... sits BOLT UPRIGHT.  Utterly disoriented, until she pulls off 
the mask.  Stumbles out of bed, walking toward the firm KNOCKING, 
when...

... it stops.  A message slip SLIDES beneath her door.  She lifts 
it, barely conscious.  This wakes her up.  In one.

			JULIANNE
		    (to the slip)
	    You're going where?

EXT.  WALLACE ESTATE - DAY

Julianne climbs from her taxi.  Only slightly in awe, she sets off 
past the reflecting pool, which fronts a mansion of graceful stone 
and timber.  It's a hike today, because the circular drives is 
clogged deep with Bentleys, Mercedes, and waiting limos, vying for 
space with a score of delivery vehicles of all kinds, maintenance 
trucks, catering and florist and food vans.

INT.  GREAT ROOM - DAY

Julianne escorted into an enormous room, where brunch is in 
progress for more than a hundred.  She looks from the vaulted 
ceilings, to the frescoed walls, the inlaid floors, the massive 
pipe organ above the stone staircase, the oil portraits of Scottish 
ancestors and their favorite dogs.

Isabelle has risen from the main table, and comes to her.  All 
smiles.  Julianne is in the Twilight Zone.  What are these people 
laughing about?  Do they still think there's a wedding?

			ISABELLE
	    Jules.  We're so glad you 
	    slept in.

Takes her arm graciously.  This woman would make Anne Bancroft look 
coarse.  As they walk...

			ISABELLE
	    Now, you have a choice.  The idea 
	    is bride and groom shouldn't see 
	    each other on the magic day...

Julianne looking all around.  Magic day it seems to be.  Where the 
bell is a bride or a groom?

			ISABELLE
	    So Michael stays put in the garden.  
	    Kimmy stays in here...

Pointing.  THERE she is, obscured by a cluster of the appropriately 
fawning.  She has the same hunted eyes and false, slightly manic 
smile Julianne wore yesterday.  This, at least, makes sense.

			ISABELLE (O.S.)
	    ... and the guests go back and 
	    forth.  Where will you start?

CLOSE on Julianne.  Watching the brave, frightened bride.

			JULIANNE
	    She looks tense.

			ISABELLE
		    (O.S., calmly)
	    Nerves.  I would never have 
	    guessed.

EXT.  ROSE GARDEN - DAAY

A steward leads Julianne to the edge of an expansive rose garden, 
altogether elegant and comfortable with its long white picnic 
tables, where nearly a hundred guests casually dine, served by 
rolling carts.

There, at the head table, Michael staring at us.  He looks like a 
poor attempt to cover a hard night.  She locks onto his eyes.  What 
the hell is going on? He looks helpless, miserable.  She gestures 
with her head, follow me.  Stalks off.

EXT.  SCULPTURE GARDEN - DAY

Bronze abstract pieces, some quite large, face a huge set of 
children's swings, regulation playground size.  Julianne sits in 
one, moving slightly back and forth.  Trying to hold on to her 
temper and her sanity.

In the distance, trucks are winding their way to and from the pond, 
where crews are setting up tents, lights, heaters for tonight.  The 
circus has come to town.  When she looks back...

Michael approaches.  Before he can draw a breath...

			JULIANNE
	    I had the craziest dream last 
	    night?  Walter and Kimmy had 
	    asked your boss to...

			MICHAEL
	    Look, I came down here to face 
	    everybody.  I didn't want to 
	    slink away like some coward...

			JULIANNE
	    But the Scotch salmon was so 
	    fucking good, you decided to 
	    stay for brunch!

			MICHAEL
	    She hasn't told anybody, what 
	    am I supposed to do?

			JULIANNE
	    Get married, apparently.

She comes OFF the swing, PUSHES him back two feet.

			JULIANNE
	    What the hell are you thinking 
	    of, the goddamn wedding is SIX 
	    O'CLOCK!!

He swallows hard.  Trapped.

			MICHAEL
	    This is her family and her 
	    fault.

			JULIANNE
	    And your point?

			MICHAEL
		    (ten years old)
	    Well.  How come she didn't...

			JULIANNE
	    BECAUSE SHE'S AS CHICKENSHIT AS 
	    YOU ARE, YOU MORONS ARE MADE FOR 
	    EACH OTHER.

He just blinks.

			MICHAEL
	    Hey.  This is a serious matter.

Thank you.  She POKES his chest, punctuating...

			JULIANNE
	    I'll be right back.

INT.  KITCHEN - DAY

A modern take on the Medieval castle kitchen, towering ceilings, 
dark wood, copper pots hanging, a series of walk-in coolers and 
freezers.  The place is a madhouse of activity, as prep cooks 
slice, chop, sort, every kind of food imaginable, and delivery 
teams bring more.

The girls walk through.  Alone together in the eye of the 
hurricane.  Kim choked with excess sentiment...

			KIMMY
	    Look at all this beautiful food, 
	    so lovingly prepared...

			JULIANNE
	    They'll eat it anyway, you ever 
	    been to a walk?

Kimmy's lip trembles.  This is not how she thought of her wedding.  
The din is so horrific, Kimmy leads them into a walk-in meat 
locker.  Even here, two BUTCHERS are dressing Eastern-fresh corn-
fed carcasses.

			JULIANNE
	    You guys want to give us a 
	    minute?

The men blink at each other.

			JULIANNE
	    We'd like to be alone with 
	    our pork.

On that basis.  They leave.  Kimmy sits on a stack of packaged 
frozen fowl parts.  Stares up with big, sweet, wet eyes.

			KIMMY
	    How's he doing?

Julianne cannot believe this.

			JULIANNE
	    Who?  The jerk who's running 
	    your life?

			KIMMY
	    This must be... very, very, 
	    hard on him.

			JULIANNE
	    What with the psychosis and 
	    all, yeah.

Leans in.  Listen...

			JULIANNE
	    When are you gonna come clean 
	    with your folks?

			KIMMY
	    Don't you see...

			JULIANNE
	    If you're waiting for "Do you 
	    take this man?", that's 
	    considered poor form.

			KIMMY
	    ... that this is all my fault?

Stops Julianne cold.  Your fault.

			KIMMY
	    Whatever delusions I drove him to, 
	    there is truth at the heart of it.  
	    I want him to work for my father.  
	    I want to stay in school.  I want 
	    a life of my own!

Harder and harder for Julianne to push.  Her mouth is dry.

			JULIANNE
	    Yeah, well, lots of couples are 
	    imcompat...

			KIMMY
	    I love him.

Fragile and strong at once.  A plea.

			KIMMY
	    Tell him it's my fault and 
	    that I love him.

A long beat.

			JULIANNE
	    I'll be right back.

EXT.  TENNIS COURT - DAY

The court has become a giant holding pen for tonight's BALLOONS.  
There are maybe a billion in assorted colors already blowing in all 
directions, under clear plastic sheeting which has ben spread 
across the top of the court's chain-link fence.

Michael stands outside the court, clutching the chain link like a 
prisoner, as Julianne comes through the gate.  From somewhere, we 
hear high, squeaky, alien voice-like SOUNDS.  Incongruous 
against...

			MICHAEL
	    How is she?

Julianne absorbs this.  As the bizarre SOUNDS continue, she WHIRLS 
around...

			JULIANNE
	    KNOCK IT OFF!!!

We now see three STONER COLLEGE GUYS, who have been filling the 
endless array of balloons from helium tanks at center court.  
Clearly, they've been inhaling their working materials.

			  STONER KID
		    (Minnie Mouse)
	    YES, SIR!

A Nazi salute.  When she turns back...

			MICHAEL
	    I asked you...

			JULIANNE
	    She admits it's her fault.

He absorbs that.  And then...

			MICHAEL
	    Do you think she still loves 
	    me?

We watch the struggle inside her.  Her voice drops...

			JULIANNE
	    Sure, she does.  She's crazy 
	    about you.

Now tears stand in both their eyes.  The stoners are doing their 
Alvin and the Chipmuks impersonation festival in the B.G., singing 
in castrato harmony.  But our two don't notice.

			MICHAEL
	    I keep asking, how can I explain 
	    what happened? And I keep 
	    getting that same answer all 
	    night long.

Which is...

			MICHAEL
	    I can't.  And it doesn't matter.  
	    I drove her to it, because I 
	    want things my way.  And even 
	    if she did something tricky and 
	    unfair... she was blinded by 
	    love, okay?

Julianne swallows.  For obvious reasons.

			JULIANNE
	    Does that make it right...

			MICHAEL
	    Love doesn't have to be right.  
	    It just has to be love.

The stoner are now helium-crooning "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." 
Actually, they're getting better.

			MICHAEL
	    She's giving up half her life 
	    for me, and I'm bitching because 
	    it hurts her.

			STONERS
		    (singing)
	    Sail on silver girl
	       Sail on by...

			MICHAEL
	    She's a saint!  And I'm a 
	    worthless ingrate!

			STONERS
		    (singing)
	    Your time has come to shine,
	       All your dreams are on their way...

			MICHAEL
	    Tell her.  I'll marry her at six 
	    o'clock, if she'll still have me.

The stoners blend on the high note.  It's pretty moving.

			JULIANNE
	    I'll be right back.

INT.  ORGAN LOFT - DAY

PAN along a gigantic serpentine stack of wedding presents.  Nearly 
twelve feet high, the pile curves along the balcony, high above the 
diners in the Great Room, extending al the way to...

... an organ loft.  Alone, above the noise of the party, Julianne 
and Kimmy have just reached the top of the staircase.  Trapped 
between ten tons of lavish gifts and the keyboard of the mammoth 
organ.  Dwarfed by their surroundings, Kimmy draws the hardest 
breath of her life...

			KIMMY
		    (whispers)
	    So.  What did he say?

Julianne's eyes move over the young girl's face.

			JULIANNE
	    He said.  Marry me.

Kimmy YELPS in her ecstasy, FLINGING herself against Julianne, and 
they go DOWN full length across the organ's pedals, BLASTING the 
room with a MONSTER CHORD of china-rattling volume and horrifying 
disharmony.

As grown men and women SCREAM in spontaneous terror below, Kimmy 
begins to...

... LAUGH.  And KISS and hug her new sister.  And holds her tight.

EXT.  WILLOW POND - DAY

Julianne and Michael walk the gravel path beside a breathtaking 
POND, ringed with WILLOWS that dig heavy branches to the water's 
surface.  He is relieved, reflective.  Head down, he never notices 
that she is...

... dangerously freaked.  Too petrified even to hyperventilate, 
we're lucky she's breathing at all.  We watch her life unraveling 
before her glassy eyes.

			MICHAEL
		    (never looks up)
	    Thank God you were here.

			JULIANNE
		    (mumbles to herself)
	    Oh, yeah.

			MICHAEL
	    I was so confused, so conflicted, 
	    so... unstable.

			JULIANNE
	    Well, it happens.

They pass an expanse of lawn which has become the event parking 
area.  Family vehicles, delivery trucks, service vans.  Everything 
that couldn't fit on the circular front driveway.

			MICHAEL
	    I might have thrown away...

Searching for the right words.

			JULIANNE
	    ... your one chance for true 
	    happiness?

			MICHAEL
	    ... yeah, that.

			JULIANNE
	    You never want to do that, see, 
	    that's always a... costly 
	    turnover.  As they say in the 
	    sport biz.

There's a vague Stepford Wife quality to her voice.  He hears that 
now, and looks at her.  Maybe he can't tell she's frightened.  But 
he can tell she's something.

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    Are you okay?

She stops walking.  She can't look at him, so she looks around.  
Across the lawn crews are moving equipment into the brightly-
colored tents, unfolding and setting up stacks of tables and 
chairs, raising the poles between which all those balloons will be 
strung.  At the center of it all...

.... a huge topiary White Sox batter, just completing a murderous 
swing.  He's maybe fifteen feet tall.  She points to it...

			JULIANNE
	    The Big Hurt, huh?

			MICHAEL
	    Nellie Fox.  Walter likes the 
	    past.  And he likes the little 
	    guys.

So Julianne nods.  Because she does too.  Squints up at Michael.

			JULIANNE
	    Got a minute?

He nods, you bet.  Worried for her.  What is this? She looks in 
another direction, and we now see that we have nearly reached...

... a stage that's been set up for the band.  Chairs, music stands, 
sound equipment.  A gleaming dance floor, already in place over the 
lawn.  Next to it, a shimmering white GAZEBO.  Like the centerpiece 
of a wedding cake.

			JULIANNE
	    Why is the dance floor by the 
	    gazebo?

She takes his hand.  They walk toward it.

			MICHAEL
	    Kimmy's idea.  She thought it 
	    would be such a romantic place.  
	    For our wedding dance.

Looking down at her.

			MICHAEL
	    What's up?

			JULIANNE
	    Shhh.

Up the white steps now.  Together.  The gazebo floor has been 
covered with hardwood.  The perfect place.  For a wedding dance.  
And Julianne...

... turns, suddenly.  He almost runs into her.  She is staring up 
at him, so strangely, their bodies only inches apart.  He is caught, 
transfixed by the intensity in her eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    I have to say this quick, okay, 
	    or I'll have this massive 
	    coronary and you'll never have 
	    to hear it.  Which you need to.  
	    Does that make any sense at all?

The coronary part does.  We can feel her heart beating from here.

			MICHAEL
	    Jules, what's wrong...

			JULIANNE
	    This is the dumbest thing I will 
	    ever do.  So dumb, in fact, that 
	    I can't.  I don't think.

And then, she does.  She puts her hands flat on his chest.  Looks 
in his eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    Michael, I love you.

A heartbeat passes.

			JULIANNE
	    I've loved you for nine years, 
	    but I was too arrogant and 
	    scared to realize it.  Now I'm 
	    just scared.

He stares at her, dumbstruck.  She moves even closer.

			JULIANNE
	    I know this comes at an 
	    inopportune time, but I have to 
	    ask this one really gigantic 
	    favor, okay?

Holds her breath.  And...

			JULIANNE
	    Choose me.  Marry me.  Let me 
	    make you happy.

And in a half beat of excruciating silence...

			JULIANNE
	    I know.  It sounds like three 
	    favors.

His eyes are loving.  They care for her.  She swallows, lost in 
them.

			JULIANNE
	    But when you think about it...

Slides her arms around his neck, and raises her mouth...

... to his.  The most beautiful kiss she will ever offer.  All of 
her heart is in this, and as his hands touch her body...

... a SCREAM rips the world to pieces.  They whirl to see...

... KIMMY, halfway up the path.  Her hands across her mouth, as if 
to stem the horror that pours forth as she SHRIEKS from her soul, 
and...

... runs.  Back Down the path.  Michael BOLTING after her, SHOUTING 
her name.  A frozen moment, and...

... Julianne TAKES OFF after him.  All three running, SCREAMING 
their various emotions at the top of their lungs, as workmen stop 
to watch from neighboring countries.

Kimmy, staring from halfway there, has an insurmountable lead.  
LEAPS into her convertible and PEELS OUT, just TEARING up the 
gravel as she ROCKETS out of sight.  No way to catch her.  Still...

... Michael is racing for the cars.  Julianne, sprinting her guts 
out, losing ground with every stride.  Michael JUMPS into a 
Cherokee...

			JULIANNE
	    MICHAEL, DON'T, YOU'LL NEVER 
	    CATCH HER!!

He GRINDS the gears.  She keeps RUNNING.  His engine FIRES.

			JULIANNE
	    SHE HAS TOO BIG A LEAD AND SHE 
	    DRIVES LIKE A RABID ANIMAL!!!

He BLASTS OFF.  She keeps going.  Gasping for air, clutching her side, 
she's dying here.  Slams into a florist's truck, looks inside, shit! 
Next, a butcher's van, looks inside, Jesus!

			JULIANNE
		    (to the world at large)
	    DOESN'T ANYBODY LEAVE KEYS 
	    ANYMORE?  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 
	    TRUST??

Up ahead, Michael has STALLED the Cherokee.  She still has a chance, 
DASHES to the next van.  BORNSTEIN EXTERMINATION, a handsome 
rendering of a rat above the TOXIC MATERIALS warning FLINGS the 
door open.  Stumbles in.  Keys!

			JULIANNE (O.S.)
	    THANK GOD, A SAMARITAN!!

Michael SPEEDS away.  She KICKS the ratmobile in gear.

LURCHES off.

INT.  RATMOBILE, DOWNTOWN CHICAGO - DAY

Julianne tearing through traffic, desperately struggling to keep 
Michael's Cherokee in view, while she shrieks into her cellular...

			JULIANNE
	    IT IS NOT GOING WELL!

Down the block, Michael WHIPS around a corner.  We follow suit to see 
his destination dead ahead.  Union Station.  The DISPATCHER RADIO 
intrudes...

			DISPATCHER (O.S.)
	    Uh, Unit Four Baker Charlie, 
	    how we cookin' on that Skokiie 
	    infestation?

Now she's steering the car, tearing at the radio controls, and 
screaming into the phone cradled on her shoulder...

			JULIANNE
	    THIS IS WHAT COMES OF TELLING 
	    THE TRUTH!

			FIELD MAN (O.S.)
	    Copy, dispatcher...

			JULIANNE
	    OR EVEN PART OF IT!

			FIELD MAN (O.S.)
	    Uh, what happens if you got 
	    that methyl-ethyl shit on 
	    your hands?

Michael RIPS into the train station's parking lot.  We SWERVE 
around a taxi, CUT OFF Harley, CAREEN into the lot...

			JULIANNE
	    GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE IS 
	    NOT FAIR!

			DISPATCHER (O.S.)
	    Uh, you got maybe thirty seconds 
	    before you're sterile.  For God's 
	    sake don't touch yourself, or 
	    anything.

Up ahead, Michael is OUT of his jeep and running.

			JULIANNE
	    AND I HATE TALKING TO YOUR 
	    MACHINE!

She SLAMS on the brakes, THROWING herself against the wheel.

			YOUNGER FIELD MAN (O.S.)
	    Uh, this is One Monkey Zebra.  
	    It wasn't bees in the gal's 
	    wall, it was cats!

She TEARS the door open.  SCRAMBLE OUT...

			YOUNGER FIELD MAN (O.S.)
	    She says gas 'em, anyway, 
	    she'll pay cash.  Uh... how 
	    do I pay this?

WITH Julianne now, RACING through the lot, Michael vanishes INTO 
the Station, she PLUNGES in after him, BOUNCING off bystanders, 
apologizing, lunging on, gasping for breath, past exhaustion, 
threatening clumsily through the crowd like a staggering drunk, 
catching a lucky glimpse as he heads...

... DOWN a staircase to the TRACKS.  My God, what's he doing?  A 
second wind, fueled by panic, and she BOLTS after him, DANCING down 
the steep staircase somehow without killing herself, reaching the 
concourse to see him, running for...

... Track 29, a train already RUMBLING, ready to pull out, she 
SPRINTS after him.

			JULIANNE
	    MICHAEL!!

He DISAPPEARS behind the train, she FALLS, skids, springs up, 
pushes through gaping onlookers, almost there, the train PULLS 
AWAY...

			JULIANNE
	    NNNOOOO!!!

But he's just standing there.  His back to us.  Watching it go.

Her body nearly collapses with relief.  She pushes herself on, but 
her legs aren't working right in their maxed-out fatigue, and she 
lopes and staggers until she comes up behind him.  He's still lost 
in thought, staring after the train.

She tries to speak, but there's no breath.  So she puts her hands 
on her knees and just GASPS for air like a dog.  Wheezing, panting, 
trying once more to speak, but she can't yet, and then he casually 
turns and...

... JUMPS out of his skin!  A heart attack seeing her.

			JULIANNE
		    (croaks)
	    Don't speak!

He just blinks at this sweaty, ripped-up, maniacal figure.

			MICHAEL
	    Uh.  I saw that moving...

			JULIANNE
	    DON'T SPEAK!

FLINGING both her hands across his mouth.  A frozen beat.  He nods, 
okay.  Cautiously, she takes her hands away.  At least she has made 
him smile, in spite of everything.  At least she's done that.

			JULIANNE
	    I have to make a confession.  
	    Another confession.  Besides 
	    that I love you.  This is even 
	    worse.

This.  He's waiting to hear.

			JULIANNE
	    The E-mail?  You thought Walter 
	    sent your boss?  I wrote that.

You.  WHAT?!  Synapse overload.

			MICHAEL
	    You're not saying you actually... 
	    you're saying that y...

			JULIANNE
		    (stricken with remorse)
	    ... wrote it, yeah.  I'm the 
	    bad guy.

			MICHAEL
	    ARE YOU CRAZY?

She nods her head wildly, hair flopping.

			MICHAEL
	    ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY INSANE??

Bigger nodding.

			MICHAEL
	    ARE YOU ON DRUGS???

Shakes her head, like a two-year-old.

			MICHAEL
		    (pacing in circles)
	    I mean, do you realize what 
	    you've... well, of course you 
	    realize, that's why you're 
	    confessing, I mean... I mean... 
	    how could you do that?

			JULIANNE
	    I didn't know it would get 
	    sent.  I just wanted you to... 
	    get mad at Kimmy... and...

And watching.  As this begins to sink in.

			JULIANNE
	    I've done nothing but slimy, 
	    underhanded, despicable, not 
	    even terribly imaginative, 
	    things.  Ever since I got 
	    here.  Trying to...

Staring in his eyes.  Eyes she can't read at this point.

			JULIANNE
	    ... to win you.  To win you 
	    back.

Tears in her own eyes now.  Big ones.

			JULIANNE
	    And I was blinded by love.  
	    Like you said.

Shaking her head...

			JULIANNE
	    But that doesn't excuse any 
	    part of it.  I am pond scum.

No...

			JULIANNE
	    Actually.  Lower.  I am the fungus 
	    that feeds on pond scum.  Lower.  
	    The layer of mucous that cruds up 
	    the fung...

			MICHAEL
	    Lower.

			JULIANNE
		    (agreeing)
	    Lower.

			MICHAEL
	    The pus that infects the mucous 
	    that cruds up the fungus.

And to her amazement.  The trace of a smile...

			MICHAEL
		    (softly)
	    On the other hand, thank you.

She blinks at that.  Which squeezes out a tear.

			MICHAEL
	    For loving me that much, that 
	    way.

He shrugs.  Just above a whisper...

			MICHEL
	    It's pretty flattering.

			JULIANNE
	    Except it makes me fungus.

			MICHAEL
	    Well, that part I knew.

She's never loved him more.

			JULIANNE
	    So you have to marry Kim.  
	    Because she will actually make 
	    you happy.  I, in contrast, am 
	    a shallow, neurotic psychopath, 
	    with relatively little to offer.

Okay?

			JULIANNE
	    Kim.  Nod your head.  Do as 
	    you're told.

He nods his head, still smiling.  Her tears are running now.  Maybe 
she doesn't notice.

			JULIANNE
	    Just promise you'll never tell 
	    me who you would have chosen. 
	    If I hadn't confessed.

She chokes back a sob.

			JULIANNE
	    Cos if you would have chosen me. 
	    Then I threw away a perfectly 
	    good life.  Just to be a decent 
	    person.  Which is a questionable 
	    trade-off.  Right?

He nods, slowly.  Because he's supposed to.

			JULIANNE
	    And if you would have chosen 
	    some 20-year-old punk over me. 
	    I'd have to kill myself.

Ah.  His smile keeps getting smaller.  More loving.  More wonderful.

			MICHAEL
		    (whispers)
	    I'll take it to my grave.

Good.  She looks around.

			JULIANNE
	    I'm so glad you didn't jump on 
	    that train, before...

			MICHAEL
	    I came here, looking for her.

For her.  The words leave a silence.

			JULIANNE
	    Why would she come here...

			MICHAEL
	    This is where I proposed.

Stares deep in her eyes.  She needs to hear this.

			MICHAEL
	    I had to cover a game in 
	    Milwaukee.  She saw me off.  
	    And when the train started to 
	    leave... I jumped up on the 
	    step, I help the handle, and 
	    without...

He grins.  Has to admit...

			MICHAEL
	    ... without a thought in my head.  
	    I shouted, "Marry me."

I did.  Now her eyes tear up again.  And she doesn't know why.

			MICHAEL
	    And she gasped, and covered her 
	    mouth, and the train was pulling 
	    out, and suddenly she screamed 
	    YES!  Just once.  And blew me a 
	    kiss.

What a girl.

			MICHAEL
	    I never forgot that.

			JULIANNE
	    It's two weeks.

			MICHAEL
	    Almost three.

			JULIANNE
	    That is so romantic.

Which makes him reach and touch her hair.

			MICHAEL
	    I just wonder if you know why.

Do you?

			MICHAEL
	    It's because romance isn't 
	    mystery, and tricks, and doubts, 
	    and halting, unspoken longings.  
	    That's not the real romance.

Tears in his eyes now.  First time.

			MICHAEL
	    The real romance is saying yes.

Does she know that now?  He looks at his watch.

			MICHAEL
		    (sighs)
	    Woulda been a nice wedding.

Oh.  That.

			JULIANNE
		    (urgently)
	    You can't believe you've lost 
	    her!  Sooner or later, you'll 
	    find her, and you'll look in 
	    each other's eyes, and you'll 
	    see all that love...

			JULIANNE
	    Course, if it's later rather 
	    than sooner, I'd hate to be you 
	    at six o'clock.
		     (beat)
	    You've got a lot of explaining 
	    to...

			MICHAEL
	    I'm just thinking of how she's 
	    hurting.  Lost.  Alone.  Like 
	    her life is over.

			JULIANNE
	    That's little egotistical.

He glares at her.

			JULIANNE
	    But, undoubtedly accurate.

She claps her hands, galvanized by the emergency.

			JULIANNE
	    Okay, we'll split up.  You go 
	    to every romantic place you 
	    guys have, I'll go... someplace 
	    brilliant, and the first one 
	    who...

			MICHAEL
	    If you find her...

Strange tone.  A gentle warning.

			MICHAEL
	    The kiss.  May be hard.  For 
	    you to explain.
		    (beat)
	    Because the only fear she 
	    really has, is...

			JULIANNE
	    ... me, yeah.  And she likes 
	    Tommy Lasorda.  Case closed.

Looks at her own watch.  Shit!

			MICHAEL
	    But if you do get to her first...

She looks up.

			MICHAEL
	    There is something you are 
	    authorized to say.

EXT.  TAXI STAND - DAY

Julianne sits on the fender of this guy's taxi.  The driver smokes, 
paces, while she waits for a connection on her cellular.  Then...

			MANDY (V.O.)
	    Wallace egregious residence, 
	    Mandy speaking.

			JULIANNE
	    It's Jules, you guys haven't 
	    had a call from, say, Kimberly, 
	    have you?

			MANDY (V.O.)
	    Oh, she's slipped out, the 
	    little monkey.  Prob'ly with 
	    Michael, doin' the nasty.

A shallow laugh...

			MANDY (V.O.)
	    Or crying in her nachos, down 
	    at Comskey Park.

Julianne's face SNAPS to alert.

			JULIANNE
	    Ex-cuse me?

			MANDY (V.O.)
	    I had this crank call?  From 
	    some guy who thinks he saw her? 
	    I said, what would a bride be 
	    doin', on her wedding...

			JULIANNE
	    You are < embracing... the obligation 
	    of commitment... fulfills.

Her eyes have clouded.  As if Michael is talking to her.

			MICHAEL (O.S.)
	    Some need to belong to one another 
	    in a way which rages against the 
	    notion... that all is impermanent.  
	    Against the notion of mortality.

And suddenly, ALL the feeling rises in her throat.

			MICHAEL (O.S.)
	    Our love is bigger.  And longer.  
	    Than life itself.

And the tears come.  They come freely, unhidden, unnoticed.  As if 
they were needed.

Michael now.  Looking at his bride.

			MICHAEL
	    That's what we want.  And marriage. 
	    Is what we do about it.

Kimmy smiles at him.  With love bigger than life itself.

			MICHAEL
	    We are fools in this.  Thank 
	    God Almighty.

He is done.  There is a silence.

			MINISTER
	    Boy, that was good!

People LAUGH.  The Minister holds up a sheet of paper.  For the 
crowd to see.  Mostly paragraphs crossed out in red ink.

			MINISTER
	    Michael and Kim also edited what 
	    they want me to say...

More laughter.

			MINISTER
	    The idea was, we're only marrying 
	    once.  We have to remember it 
	    forever.  Let's keep to the good 
	    stuff.
		    (squints at the sheet)
	    You may kiss the bride.

Bigger LAUGHTER.  The Minister waves this off, his little joke.  
Turns to the best man, pantomimes the ring.  As the hammered gold 
circle is handed to Michael, Julianne absently scratches her still-
swollen finger.  Mandy taps Julianne on the arm, and produces...

... a matching ring.  Take it! Gives it to her.  So Julianne steps 
forward.  Places the second ring into Kimmy's waiting hand.  Their 
eyes meet, and hold throughout...

			MINISTER (O.S.)
	    If anyone here can show just cause 
	    why this man and woman should not 
	    be married, speak now.  Or forever 
	    hold your peace.

Julianne CLEARS her throat.  Kimmy's heart flutters.  In the 
silence... Julianne's wonderful smile.  Just kidding.

Michael reaches for Kim's hand, turns her gently to him.  Places 
his ring on her finger.  Holds her hands.

			MICHAEL
	    Kimberly.  I promise to love. 
	    And respect and comfort you.  
	    To hear your voice and your 
	    heart.  Until we are parted 
	    by death.

She swallows.  Smiles a fleeting, beautiful smile.  Fumbles 
slightly, putting the ring on his finger.

			KIMMY
	    Michael.  I promise to love and 
	    respect and comfort you.  To 
	    hear your voice and your heart.  
	    Until we are parted by death.

Staring in each other's eyes.  A moment so fragile, the Minister 
waits an extra beat.

			MINISTER
	    For the record, you each agree 
	    to marry the other?

			KIMMY
		    (quickly)
	    I do!

			MICHAEL
		    (smiling)
	    I do.

The Minister joins their right hands.

			MINISTER
	    We haven't said much about God 
	    this evening, I know.  But He 
	    is here.  And He is happy.  To 
	    bless His wonderful children.

CLOSE now on Julianne.  For the inevitable moment.

			MINISTER (O.S.)
	    In that Michael and Kimberly have 
	    given themselves to each other by 
	    solemn vows, and the exchanging 
	    of rings...

Unnoticed by the world.  Her eyes are close.

			MINISTER (O.S.)
	    I pronounce them husband and wife.  
	    Those whom God has joined together, 
	    let no one put asunder.

The eyes open.  Wet, brave, ready for...

			MINISTER (O.S.)
	    Now.  Kiss the bride.

Julianne watching.  As Michael does.

EXT.  WALLACE POND - NIGHT

This is what all the preparation was for.  Tables, lights, balloons, 
the guests dancing on the hardwood floor, at the base of the gazebo.  
The bride and groom among them, relaxed and happy.  Two who are one.  
PAN TO...

... the stage, the band playing.  Julianne conferring with the twins 
and the band leader, clear that she's giving the instructions.  
Then, she takes her glass of champagne to the microphone...

... KLUNKS it, for silence.  The band stops.  The dancers follow.  
All eyes are comfortably turned to the maid of honor.  She looks to 
the couple.  Just below her.  Then, to the crowd...

			JULIANNE
	    I'm a writer, too, not as 
	    good as Michael.  But I do 
	    steal from quality.

She raises her glass.  Everyone at the table does the same.

			JULIANNE
	    This is to my best friend.  On 
	    the occasion of his wedding.

Shouts of support, a few whistles.  Silence.  She tells Michael...

			JULIANNE
	    If I have truly come to know 
	    your bride as my new sister.  
	    This is in her heart...

She has to stop.  Swallows.  Because she will not let herself cry.

			JULIANNE
	    "Understand.  I'll slip quietly 
	    away from the noisy crowd when 
	    I see the pale stars rising, 
	    blooming, over the oaks."

Deep breath.  Looks in his eyes.

			JULIANNE
	    "I'll pursue solitary pathways 
	    through the pale twilit meadows, 
	    with only this one dream: You 
	    come too."

A hush.  SHARP applause.  From four hundred hands.  But not from 
his.  He is too moved.  Too understanding of what he has heard.

			JULIANNE
	    I don't have a wedding gift.  
	    But this is on loan.  Until 
	    you two find your song...

And with that the band begins.  The opening phrases of a song we 
have come to know.  Michael seems overwhelmed.  Julianne nods 
toward the gazebo...

... Michael takes his bride's hand, leads her up the stairs, into 
his arms, as the twins step to the microphone, and guests begin to 
applaud an unscheduled wedding dance...

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (singing)
	    Someday, when I'm awfully low,
	       And the world is cold,
	    I will feel a glow just thinking of you,
	       And the way you look tonight.

Soft two-part harmony.  As perfect as the words.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (singing)
	    You're lovely.  With your smile so warm,
	       And your cheeks so soft,
	    There is nothing for me but to love you,
	       Just the way you look tonight.

Julianne can cry now.  Because she's tied with half the place.

			MANDY/SAMMY
		    (singing)
	    With each word, your tenderness grows,
	       Tearing my fears apart...
	    And the laugh that wrinkles your nose,
	       Touches my foolish heart.

Julianne begins to sing.  Unheard.  Unseen.  Even by the man she's 
singing to...

			JULIANNE/MANDY/SAMMY
		    (singing)
	    You're lovely, please don't ever change,
	       Keep that breathless charm,
	    Darling, please arrange it, cos I love you...
	       Just the way you look tonight.

The band keeps playing.  The dance goes on.  Two people lost in each 
other.  The way it's supposed to be.

INT.  GREAT ROOM - LATE NIGHT

Bedlam.  Julianne caught in the middle of the throng.  A young 
couple, dressed for travel, appear at the top of the staircase.  
The SHOUT are deafening.  The bride has her bouquet...

... she spots Julianne far below.  THROWS it her way, Julianne 
reflexively GOES FOR IT...

... not a fucking chance.  The twins nearly TRAMPLE her in the 
stampede, Mandy WRESTING the prize from Sammy's grasp.  Everyone 
CHEERS, and then the couple is...

... FLYING down the stairs, RACING through the crowd with a 
protective phalanx of groomsmen bodyguards, heading for the door, 
for freedom...

... Julianne, trapped in the crush, loses sight of the couple, 
struggles against the flow, suddenly panicked by the certainty 
that she will never see him before...

And then, he's THERE.  He has Julianne in his arms.  Holding her 
so tight.  An embrace so wonderful, so terrible, she could go mad 
from the confusion alone.  Against the din, he murmurs in her 
ear...

			MICHAEL
	    Wherever I go.  However far...

She sobs.  Holds him.

Deep, deep breath.

			JULIANNE
	    You win a few, you lose a few.  
	    Some get rained out.

And to her surprise...

			DIGGER
		     (V.O., very softly)
	    You have a good time?

To her greater surprise.  There are a few tears left, after all.

			JULIANNE
	    I did what I came to do.

			DIGGER
		    (V.O., even softer)
	    Good girl.

She just can't speak now.  So she doesn't.

			DIGGER (V.O.)
	    I was thinking.  Maybe you might 
	    visit us for awhile.  We've got 
	    the room made up.

This fucking guy.  God, she loves him.

			JULIANNE
	    I'll think about it.  I'm okay.

			DIGGER (V.O.)
	    Oh, you're more than okay.

Just above a whisper...

			JULIANNE
	    You, too.

And with the last of her strength...

			JULIANNE
	    If the sun comes up, I'll see 
	    you tomorrow, huh?

A chuckle.  At the other end.

			DIGGER (V.O.)
	     I'll play those odds.  You have 
	     sweet dreams.

We hear the CLICK.  She turns her back on the stars.  Shoulders 
straight.  Chin up.

She walks from frame.

FADE TO BLACK.  HOLD END CREDITS.