Hannah and Her Sisters Page #7

Lee picks up a book from the stereo shelf. She leans back

against the unit, glancing through its pages.

LEE:

(flipping through the book)

Mmm

(chuckling)

you never know. They might. He's

just trying to do the nice thing.

FREDERICK:

(offscreen)

Because he likes you.

LEE:

(looking up from the book)

Me?

FREDERICK:

Yeah.

Frederick, leaving his work area, walks past Lee; his hands

are in his pockets.

FREDERICK:

(looking at Lee as he

goes by)

Elliot lusts after you.

LEE:

Based on what? You never even see

him.

The camera stays with Frederick as he walks into the loft's

bedroom area.

FREDERICK:

Based on...whenever you see him,

you always come home full of books

he's recommended...

He sits down at the foot of the bed and starts taking off

his shoes.

FREDERICK:

(continuing)

...or films you must see or...

(shrugging)

LEE:

(walking over to him)

Oh, no, no, no. He's my sister's

husband. And I think if you gave

him half a chance, you'd like him.

He's very intelligent.

Lee sits down next to Frederick; he takes her hand.

FREDERICK:

He's a glorified accountant, and

he's after you.

(kissing Lee's hand)

And I prefer to sell my work to

people who appreciate it, not to

rock stars.

(kissing Lee's face)

You understand?

Lee kisses Frederick back on the cheek. They embrace.

Frederick laughs; their embrace gets tighter.

LEE:

(sighing)

Ohhh!

CUT TO:

The hypochondriac.

Upbeat jazz plays in the background and continues as the

film cuts to:

INT. TV STUDIO CORRIDOR - NIGHT

Metal elevator doors open and Mickey Sachs, a high-powered

television producer, walks out, deep in conversation with

his assistants, Paul and Larry. As the elevator operator

begins to reclose the door with his passengers, Mickey, his

assistants fast behind, walks down an office corridor past

busy groups of studio personnel. Indistinct conversation,

as well as the jazz, is heard in the background as the trio

talk.

MICKEY:

(gesturing)

What do you mean, they won't let us

do the sketch?

PAUL:

Talk to Standards and Practices.

They think it's too dirty.

The trio pass Mary, another assistant, in conversation with

two other co-workers. She holds a clipboard.

MICKEY:

But we showed it to them in

rehearsal!

Without missing a beat, he takes Mary's wrist and continues

walking.

MICKEY:

(to Paul)

You know, what'd they do, figure

out what the words mean?

A foursome now, they briskly walk past a man and a woman

going over a script. Mary and Mickey lead; Paul and Larry

follow.

MARY:

Mickey, we got a half hour to air!

As the group walks through a large doorway, Larry catches up

to Mickey.

LARRY:

We're short! The show is five

minutes short!

The group turns right into a new corridor, briefly off the

screen. As they scurry off, their voices are heard.

MICKEY:

How could it be short? We timed

everything

(offscreen)

long.

PAUL:

(offscreen)

If we have to...

They are all now seen walking down the new corridor towards

the camera. The corridor is crowded with busy TV personnel.

The group continues to talk frantically as people hurry past

them. One man pushes rudely past Mary as he walks; she

looks back at him briefly.

PAUL:

(continuing)

...pull out the sketch, then we'll

be ten minutes short!

MICKEY:

(gesturing)

I don't know how they can do that

to us. That's-- We go on in thirty

minutes, right?

Mary checks her wristwatch as they rush down the corridor.

LARRY:

(squeezing past

several passersby)

They're doing it because our

ratings are low.

MICKEY:

(nervously rubbing

his forehead)

I got such a migraine.

As the group briskly walks past an open door, Gail, another

assistant, runs out, brandishing her glasses.

GAIL:

(offscreen)

Hey, Mickey!

Gail runs in front of the group. Without missing a step,

she faces Mickey and walks backwards, gesturing and talking

frantically.

GAIL:

Mickey! Listen, we better go right

to Ronny's dressing room. This kid

must have taken sixteen hundred

Quaaludes. I don't think he's

going to be able to do the show!

The fast-tracking group turns the corner. Gail pats Mickey's

back; she gestures in exasperation.

MICKEY:

(gesturing towards heaven)

Why me, Lord? What did I--

He is interrupted by Ed Smythe, an official from the

Standards and Practices Department, who's been standing in

the corridor waiting for Mickey. Mickey stops and shakes

Ed's hand as if he'd known the official would be there.

Gail stops by his side while the others walk into a

background studio doorway that is busy with scurrying

personnel.

MICKEY:

You--

(pointing)

Standards and Practices?

ED:

Ed Smythe, yes.

MICKEY:

Okay. Why, all of a sudden, is the

sketch dirty?

(putting his hands on

his hips)

ED:

(gesturing)

Child molestation is a touchy

subject...

MICKEY:

(overlapping, looking

at Gail)

Could you--

ED:

(continuing)

...with the affiliates.

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