Father of the Bride

SCENE 1

GEORGE:

I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. A boy and girl meet,

they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say "I do."

I was wrong. That's getting married. A wedding is an entirely

different proposition. I know. I've just been through one. Not my

own. My daughter's. Annie Banks-MacKenzie. That's her married name.

MacKenzie. I'll be honest with you. When I bought this house

seventeen years ago, it cost me less than this blessed event in which

Annie Banks became Annie Banks-MacKenzie. I'm told that one day I'll

look back on all this with great affection and nostalgia. I hope so.

You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable

little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never

imagine. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. How

she used to sit in my lap and lean her head against my chest. She said

that I was her hero. Then the day comes when she wants to get her ears

pierced and she wants you to drop her off a block before the movie

theater. Next thing you know she's wearing eye shadow and high heels.

From that moment on, you're in a constant state of panic. You worry

about her going out with the wrong kind of guys, the kind of guys who

only want one thing--and you know exactly what that one thing is

because it's the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then

she gets a little older and you quite worrying about her meeting the

wrong guy and you worry about her meeting the right guy. And that's

the biggest fear of all because then you lose her. And before you know

it, you're sitting all alone in a big, empty house, wearing rice on

your tux, wondering what happened to your life. It was just six months

ago that it happened here. Just six months ago that the storm broke.

SCENE 2

GEORGE:

(VO)

Annie had been studying for her Masters in Architecture for the past

semester in Rome. I remember I was work walking through the factory.

I own a company called "Sidekicks." We manufacture athletic shoes.

Anyway, I remember how preoccupied I was that day.

WOMAN:

Sorry, Mr. Banks.

GEORGE:

My fault, Grace.

GEORGE:

(VO)

Annie had never been that far away from home and she was due back any

minute. I couldn't wait to see the kid.

OLIVIA:

George, she landed!

GEORGE:

My daughter. Been studying abroad. Been flying for eleven hours. I'm

not wild about her being in the air. You got kids, Juan. You

understand. It's better when they're on the ground.

GEORGE:

(VO)

I've always been a concerned parent. I'm big on car seats, seat belts,

bed times, curfews, calling when you get somewhere, never running with

a sharp object. What can I say? I'm a father. Worrying comes with

the territory.

OLIVIA:

Is Nina picking her up at the airport?

GEORGE:

Yeah.

OLIVIA:

And you're going to meet them?

GEORGE:

Yeah. I'm going home right now. Where are my keys?

OLIVIA:

Here. And sign this.

GEORGE:

Okay.

OLIVIA:

Hat.

GEORGE:

Okay, thanks...Oh, and this.

OLIVIA:

Bring her by.

GEORGE:

Okay. Bye.

SCENE 3

GEORGE:

(VO)

I left work early because I had a little something to pick up for

Annie's homecoming. We live in a small town in Southern California

called San Marino. I love this town, and not just because it's the

kind of place where people still smile at each other but because it

hasn't changed much in the past twenty-five years. And since I'm not a

guy who's big on change, this town fits me like a glove. I got Annie's

ten-speed all cleaned up and polished. New seat, new tires...I

couldn't wait to show it to her. This is our house. 24 Maple Drive.

Annie was just in grammar school when we bought it. A few years later,

we got a surprise package. Our son, Matt. I love this house. I love

that I taught my kids to ride their bikes in the driveway. I love that

I slept with them in tents in the backyard. I love that we carved our

initials in the tree out front. This house is warm in the winter, cool

in the summer, and looks spectacular with Christmas lights. It's a

great house. I never want to move. But the thing I think I like best

about this house are the voices I hear when I walk through the door.

SCENE 4

NINA:

Hey! Hi. You got out early.

GEORGE:

Where is she?

NINA:

Oh, uh, she's unpacking. She looks so fabulous. Just fabulous.

Different. Anyway, she can't wait to see you.

GEORGE:

Different?

MATT:

Ciao, Papa!

GEORGE:

Hey!

MATT:

Annie brought me this candy bar all the way from Rome.

NINA:

And let's not get it on our American furniture.

GEORGE:

Matty! The hightops!

MATT:

Hey, grazie.

GEORGE:

Hey, you're welcome. (TO NINA): What do you mean, different?

NINA:

Oh....

GEORGE:

Annie.

ANNIE:

Hi, Dad.

GEORGE:

Hey!

ANNIE:

God, I missed you!

GEORGE:

You look...all lit up inside.

ANNIE:

I feel all lit up inside.

NINA:

Maybe we should go to Rome for a few months, honey.

ANNIE:

Oh, you two would love it. It's the most romantic place on earth.

GEORGE:

You smell pretty good, too.

ANNIE:

Oh, you like it? It was a present.

NINA:

Doesn't she look incredible? I almost didn't recognize her. Come on,

dinner's on the stove. (TO GEORGE): Honey, you want to come?

GEORGE:

Oh.

SCENE 5

GEORGE:

All right, now that we're all back under one roof, we have some very

important items to discuss. First on list, who wants to go to the

Lakers game on Thursday?

MATT:

Me! Definitely, yes!

GEORGE:

Okay, and with your busy schedule, too.

NINA:

Honey, I can't. I have inventory to do that night.

GEORGE:

Oh...

ANNIE:

Uh, Thursday? Sure. Absolutely.

GEORGE:

Okay.

NINA:

Matty, use your other fork.

GEORGE:

Number two. Paul Simon's coming to the Forum and I think I can get us

great seats.

ANNIE:

Um...yeah...sure.

GEORGE:

All right, Paul Simon is an "um...yeah...sure," which I believe

translates to a "yes."

NINA:

Oh, um, honey? Could you please get that bottle of wine in the fridge

for me?

GEORGE:

Sure.

ANNIE:

Dad, wait...um...I don't know.

GEORGE:

You don't want to see Paul Simon?

ANNIE:

No...I do...It's just, um...

NINA:

What is it?

ANNIE:

Well...

NINA:

Is something going on?

ANNIE:

Yes, it is, Mom...uh...God, this is a hard thing to tell

parents...especially when you're my parents...Oh, God!

GEORGE:

Honey, just say it. What's the big deal?

MATT:

Yeah.

ANNIE:

Okay! I met somebody in Rome. Um, he's an American. Uh, he's from

L.A., actually. And um, his name's Brian MacKenzie. And he's this

completely wonderful, wonderful, amazing man, and...well, we starting

seeing each other, a lot...and, um...we fell in love. Ha! Ha! It

actually happened! And, uh, we've decided to get married...which means

that, I'm engaged! Ha! I'm engaged! I'm getting married! HA!

MATT:

Congratulations!

ANNIE:

Thank you.

NINA:

Oh! My! My! Oh, so, oh my...and that's your engagement ring, huh?

ANNIE:

Yes! Yes! We got it at a flea market outside of Rome. The guy we

bought it from said that it's at least a hundred years old...So, Dad.

Stop it. Say something.

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