１、２、３、４、５、６、７、８、９
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 right. What a
nerve on that guy! Bring my
dress to church, huh?
Signals the driver, let's GO!
JULIANNE
I want to pick up a little
something for the ceremony.
INT. LUXURY BOX, COMISKEY PARK - AFTERNOON
Game in progress. Julianne and the bodyguard stand in the doorway
of the deserted skybox. Everyone Walter knows is going to a
wedding. The box is empty except for one cardboard container of
nachos, extra cheese, sitting alone before a pulled-back chair.
BODYGUARD
She wouldn't confide in me,
so I called the house.
He sighs. Feels terrible about all this.
BODYGUARD
Luckily, I got her cousin.
Julianne nods. Yeah, big break, there.
JULIANNE
Going to the john, she said?
BODYGUARD
Could be there awhile.
INT. WOMEN'S RESTROOM - AFTERNOON
Julianne BURSTS into the enormous chaotic restroom. Looks around
wildly, no sign of Kim.
JULIANNE YO! IMMIGRATION!
Everybody stops. Pays attention.
JULIANNE
I GOT A WARRANT FOR MS. KIMBERLY
WALLACE!
Silence. From the long line of stalls...
KIMMY (O.S., sobbing)
In here, you bitch!
Now everybody's really interested. Julianne ignores them, strides
to the stall. KNOCKS, like it's a door. No answer.
JULIANNE
Let me in, baby, or I'll rip
this damn thing off its non-
code-compliant hinges...
WOMAN (O.S.)
GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY FACE OR
I'M GONNA MESS YOUR SHIT UP!!
Some scattered APPLAUSE. From down the line...
KIMMY (O.S., still sobbing)
Over here, nitwit!
Oh. Scattered laughter. Julianne moves down the line. Stares at
the door. We hear the soft, muted crying from within. Slowly,
Julianne...
... drops to her knees. Bends her head low. PEERS under the door.
What she sees, prompts a sad warning...
JULIANNE
Incoming.
And she crawls UNDER the door, on her belly. We go WITH her to
see...
... Kim fully dressed, perched on the closed toilet lid, her knees
drawn up, her arms around them.
JULIANNE
Pitiful.
And pulls herself up to her knees. Kimmy tries to glare, but it
just isn't in her.
KIMMY
Haven't you done enough?
The world gets real quiet. An entire bathroom is listening.
Julianne cocks her head to one side.
JULIANNE
In one minute. You are going
to feel so foolish.
KIMMY
WHY DON'T YOU JUST DRIVE A
STAKE THROUGH MY HEART?
JULIANNE
Have you ever heard of.
Irony?
Irony? Kimmy sniffles.
JULIANNE
I threw my arms around your
husband. And kissed him with
all my heart. Because I was
so happy. For you. Nitwit.
And leans close. As Kimmy flinches.
JULIANNE
(whispers)
He's going to take...
(big grin)
The job!
A stunned pole-axed moment. And Kimmy's eyes SPRING open. You
mean...?
JULIANNE
(beaming)
With your dad, yeah. Can you
guess why? Bitch?
Everything inside Kimmy BURSTS free in a torrent of tears...
KIMMY
HE LOVES ME!!
And DISSOLVES, sobbing, into Julianne's arms. A beat, for Julianne
to reflect, and then she strokes her tenderly.
JULIANNE
Well, of course, he loves
you.
Kisses the top of Kimmy's head.
JULIANNE
(very soft)
Hell, even I love you.
Kimmy holds her tight. From her heart...
JULIANNE
I never want to go through this
again.
KIMMY
That's entirely understandable.
ANGLES... outside the stall. Julianne's feet sticking out under
the door.
KIMMY (O.S.)
Shit! THE TIME!
The two BURST out of the stall, hand-in-hand, at a desperate DEAD
RUN past us. HEAR them EXPLODE out the door, and...
... five stalls OPEN. Women exit, crying.
EXT. UNIVERSITY CHAPEL - TWILIGHT
A taxi pulls up in front of an ivy-covered CHAPEL, fronted by nearly
a hundred souls, milling about in attitude ranging from overstimulated
curiosity to clinical hyperanxiety. Our girls JUMP out of the cab,
and half the crowd starts running toward us, twins in the lead...
SAMMY
Whatever hap...
JULIANNE
(cutting this short)
We were bonding, we lost track,
we're officially sorry, now
let's put it behind us.
Kim WAVES at her mom by the chapel entrance. And takes Julianne's
hand for support.
JULIANNE
Believe me, we got a bride who's
worth waiting for, yes?
Everybody nods.
JULIANNE
Out of our way.
EXT. DRESSING ROOM - TWILIGHT
White. Pure blinding white. Across FRAME floats more white, this
gauzy and ethereal. It settles, its roots planting deeply in the
bride's hair. TILTS UP to...
... the face of the woman who placed it there. Julianne's eyes,
appraising this bride we cannot see. And so softly...
JULIANNE
Don't worry, sugar.
Don't worry.
JULIANNE
When he looks at you, it will
be as if...
The words stronger. Because there is no smile.
JULIANNE
... he's never seen a woman
before.
PAN DOWN the white until we are...
CLOSE on the bride's perfect slippers. HOLD. And...
INT. CHAPEL - EVENING
Begins to slowly PAN BACK UP the length of an exquisite gown. We
can tell from the organ, the nearby thrum of expectant voices, that
we are nearing the moment. We reach...
... Kimmy's hand. Firmly clasping Walter's. Keep PANNING, the
bodice, the lace, her throat, and finally, we are CLOSE on...
... the face of the bride. Now we understand the word radiant. We
also understand scared senseless. Our perfect, unflappable Kimmy
is in a trance of emotional overload where bliss and panic
seamlessly blend.
The organ's noddling stops. Kimmy's eyes alerted, like a small
animal bearing a predator approach her thicket. Suddenly, the
CHORD. The Wedding March from Wagner's Lohengrin. Here. Comes.
The bride. And we SNAP TO...
FULL ANGLE... Kim and Walter. This is it.
WALTER
(whispers)
Left foot.
REVERSE ANGLE... Kim's POV, the chapel, every pew packed, every neck
craning this way, the white satin carpet down the endless aisle to
where...
Michael waits. Also in a zone of pseudo-consciousness. From which
he attempts a smile. Not comforting. Kim's POV WHIP PAN the
groomsmen, the twins, LOCKING FOCUS on Julianne, standing strong
and beautiful, a glow of her own in the daffodil dress. She sends
her little sister a WINK across the trackless miles of aisle. You
can do this, kid. So...
... Kimmy does. On her father's arm, she walks the gauntlet of the
world's intrusive admiration. One step at a time. The most beautiful
she will ever be. She is dazzling the crowd and managing to not throw
up at the same time.
And she's there. At his side. She glances back to her maid of
honor, just to make sure she's not working without a net. So
Julianne...
... CROSSES her eyes. Which lets the kid smile and finally take a
breath. Have a little fun, huh? Kim nods, got it, turns to...
The Minister. Who stands before them with a calming presence.
Thank God someone has done this before. The crowd has hushed.
The Minister's eyes are only for two. His words are for all...
MINISTER
Michael and Kimmy wrote these
words. She asked me to confide,
mostly Michael.
A ripple of laughter. Gentle and fine. They are setting in.
MINISTER
So he gets to say them.
A surprise. A pleasant one. The crowd adjust in its seats. As
Michael begins...
MICHAEL
Why do people get married
anymore?
And on these words. We SNAP to Julianne. Share her interest in
the bluntness, the simplicity, the unorthodoxy of this beginning.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
Why not live together amicably,
with no sense of obligation
beyond the moment?
Her eyes. She's listening.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
As long as the sex is good. As
long as no one more interesting
has wandered into view. As long
as the thousand conflicts of two
individual wills remain
comfortably compromised.
PANNING now. Other faces. Isabelle. Proud to the bone.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
And when one feels the urge to
move on, to explore the new.
No guilt, no disgrace, no
promise broken.
Walter. His eyes damp. Against our expectation.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
No agony of having dishonored
a time. When our hearts. And
the world were different.
Joe nods, as he hears...
MICHAEL (O.S.)
Marriage is a lot to put up
with.
Julianne once more. No breath. Rapt.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
The answer must be. That there
is some need basic to the human
heart. That... 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.
１、２、３、４、５、６、７、８、９
