Hannah and Her Sisters

As the last credit appears, the song ends in a crescendo and

the screen fades to total black.

Immediately, a new melody begins, an uptempo jazz number, as

a title appears on the screen.

"God, she's beautiful..."

CUT TO:

INT. HANNAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

A full face of Lee, wearing a gray sweater and leaning

against the dining room doorway. She gazes into the camera

with a half-smile on her face as Elliot speaks over the

screen.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

God, she's beautiful.

Lee glances over her shoulder, then turns from the doorway

and walks away. The camera follows her, moving across a

book-and-photograph-filled bookshelf that obscures her from

view as she walks into a crowded, comfortable vestibule.

People, some holding drinks, some just entering the

apartment, surround her. Everyone is talking at once,

carrying on easy, familiar conversation.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

She's got the prettiest eyes, and

she looks so sexy in that sweater.

Lee smiles at the various people, exchanging greetings.

LEE:

Hi, how are you?

Two more guests enter the apartment; the vestibule is full

now. Still walking, Lee lightly hugs one of the children as

she continues on her way towards the living room. Elliot's

voice, as well as the jazzy music, is heard.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

I just want to be alone with her

and hold her and kiss her...

Lee walks into the living room, turning her head back for a

moment to talk to the child she has just hugged.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

...and tell her how much I love her

and take care of her. Stop it, you

idiot. She's your wife's sister.

But I can't help it.

The camera is still moving with Lee as she smiles and stops

to chat with her mother. Elliot's voice, as well as the

music, continues over the low din of warm conversation.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

I'm consumed by her. It's been

months now. I dream about her. I-

I, I think about her at the office.

Oh, Lee.

(sighing)

What am I gonna do?

Lee starts to walk off again, finishing her conversation

with her mother. She passes several other guests, then

turns to greet April, giving her a warm, brief hug.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

I hear myself mooning over you, and

it's disgusting. Before, when she...

Elliot's voice-over continues as he is actually seen,

standing in a doorway having a conversation with a gesturing,

rotund man. Both are holding drinks as Lee, carrying a tray

of hors d'oeuvres and two drinks, walks between them. The

space is very tight; the men hold up their drinks to make

room for her.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

...squeezed past me in the doorway,

and I smelled that perfume on the

back of her neck...

Elliot watches Lee walk off; the other man, oblivious,

continues to talk. Elliot reluctantly returns to the

conversation, but he can't help turning his head to gaze at

the offscreen Lee as the other man chatters on.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

...Jesus, I, I thought I was gonna

swoon! Easy...

The camera resumes following a smiling Lee. She has just

put down the tray and drinks near April, and briskly and

obliviously, she walks past a doorway where Elliot, still

ruminating, watches her, entranced.

ELLIOT (V.O.)

You're a dignified financial

advisor. It doesn't look good for

you to swoon.

The camera stays with Elliot, who is still watching the

offscreen Lee. In the background, guests continue to

chatter warmly with each other.

Hannah, carrying a tray of hors d'oeuvres, walks up behind

the distracted Elliot.

HANNAH:

(nibbling on an hors d'oeuvre)

Elliot? Elliot?

(rubbing his shoulder)

Sweetheart?

Elliot returns from his reveries with a start.

ELLIOT:

(turning to Hannah)

Mm-hm?

HANNAH:

(pointing to the tray)

Have you tried these? These are

wonderful.

(nibbling, swallowing)

Holly and her friend made them.

Elliot, taking one of the hors d'oeuvres, starts nibbling as

well as he and Hannah walk past the bookshelf into the

living room.

ELLIOT:

(swallowing)

They're fantastic.

HANNAH:

(overlapping, still eating)

Aren't they great?

ELLIOT:

Your sister is an unbelievable cook.

HANNAH:

(swallowing)

I know! I know!

Elliot and Hannah, eating and talking, walk past a hallway

and offscreen as Holly appears, walking down the hallway.

She holds a drink and a plate of hors d'oeuvres; she stands

at the entrance to the hallway, eating and looking at the

offscreen guests.

HANNAH:

(walking offscreen)

She has all the cooking talent.

ELLIOT:

(walking offscreen swallowing)

No, she doesn't, either. You've

got tons as well.

HANNAH:

(offscreen)

Ohhh, but I've eaten five of these.

Holly, standing in the hallway onscreen, swallows loudly.

ELLIOT:

(offscreen,

overlapping Holly)

Holly, why don't you open your own

restaurant?

HOLLY:

(turning to the

offscreen Elliot and

Hannah, trying to swallow)

Mmm, we practically are. Well...

(holding her hand to

her mouth)

not a restaurant, but...

(swallowing)

April and I are going to do some

catering!

HANNAH:

(offscreen)

What? You're kidding!

HOLLY:

(nodding)

No, no, we decided!

Holly takes a sip of her drink as Hannah and Elliot walk

over to her.

HANNAH:

Perfect!

HOLLY:

(nodding and swallowing)

Mmm...I mean, we love to cook for

our friends, so

(gesturing)

we thought until an acting job

comes through, we could just make

some extra money, you know, doing a

few private parties.

Rate this script:3.5 / 4 votes