Hannah and Her Sisters Page #8

MICKEY:

(overlapping and grunting)

Read the papers! Half the country's

doing it!

ED:

(pointing at Mickey)

Yes, but you name names.

MICKEY:

(gesturing)

We nev-- We don't name names!

(turning to Gail for

support, briefly

touching her

shoulders, then

looking back at Ed)

We say the Pope.

GAIL:

(gesturing emphatically)

We always say the Pope!

ED:

That sketch...

MICKEY:

(overlapping)

We--

ED:

(continuing)

...cannot go on the air.

A writer, holding a script, walks out of the background

studio, looking around.

MICKEY:

Oh, Je--

WRITER:

(interrupting, shouting)

Hey!

Mickey, Gail, and Ed turn towards the writer.

WRITER:

(angrily, slapping

his script)

Who changed my sketch about the PLO?

Mickey and Gail walk over to the angry writer, Ed forgotten

with this new crisis.

MICKEY:

(gesturing)

I had to make some cuts. It's four

lousy lines!

WRITER:

The whole premise is ruined!

Mickey, Gail, and the writer start walking down a corridor

adjacent to the studio.

MICKEY:

(gesturing, trying to

calm the writer down)

Oh, you're crazy! It's not so

delicate. Everybody's married to

every line.

The writer reacts angrily. Gail tries to get Mickey's

attention as they walk.

GAIL:

(tapping Mickey's shoulder)

Mickey, I can--

WRITER:

(interrupting,

angrily gesturing)

I don't care! I don't want anyone

tampering with my goddamn work

without telling me!

MICKEY:

(shrugging)

Okay.

WRITER:

(pointing angrily)

You want 'em cut?! I'll cut 'em

myself!

Mickey, still in surprised shock, turns away from the angry

writer. He stands by an open dressing room, where Ron, an

actor, slouches, dazed, in a chair facing a makeup mirror.

People mill in the background behind the actor.

MICKEY:

(shrugging, distracted)

All right, all right.

(muttering)

GAIL:

(overlapping, trying

to get Mickey's

attention and gesturing)

Mickey, Mickey, listen, listen.

MICKEY:

(distractedly, his

mind still on the writer)

You know...

(muttering as the

writer passes him and

walks away)

GAIL:

(overlapping, gesturing)

In-in-in-instead of the child

molestation sketch, why don't we

repeat the Cardinal Spellman Ronald

Reagan homosexual dance number?

MICKEY:

(still distracted,

looking off)

No--

RON:

(overlapping)

I don't feel good, Mickey.

Mickey, remembering Ron, runs into the dressing room. Gail

follows him. Inside, a man and a woman talk, ignoring Ron.

They share a drink in a paper cup. The woman looks back at

Ron; she gestures with disgust.

MICKEY:

(gesturing)

Yeah, wh-- Yeah, what did you do?

Swallow a drugstore?!

Ron coughs.

MICKEY:

(to Gail)

Look at this guy.

GAIL:

(overlapping, touching

Ron's chair)

Yeah?

RON:

(groaning)

I lost my voice.

Gail walks around the chair. The camera shows she and

Mickey talking to Ron through the reflection in the cluttered

makeup mirror.

MICKEY:

(reacting)

Oh, Jesus!

GAIL:

(gesturing)

Ron...Ronny, you know you do have

to go on in twenty-five minutes.

Ron sighs.

MICKEY:

(looking around,

touching his stomach)

Hey, does anybody got a Tagamet?

My, my ulcer's starting to kill me!

RON:

(sighing)

You want a Quaalude?

Mickey, as reflected in the mirror, starts to pace as the

movie cuts to:

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS BOULEVARD - DAY

Norman, a Los Angeles TV producer and Mickey's former

partner, is driving down a peaceful street lined with palm

trees. He's wearing sunglasses and headphones. He clicks

his fingers in time to the music only he hears on his

Walkman. He's smiling contentedly while Mickey talks over

the sun-filled scene. The continuous background jazz plays

louder.

MICKEY (V.O.)

Christ, this show is ruining my

health! Meanwhile, my ex-partner

moves to California and every

stupid show he produces turns out

to be a big hit. Brother, what am

I gonna do with my life? Speaking

of that, I-I...gotta remember to

see my ex-wife tomorrow. Tch.

CUT TO:

INT. HANNAH'S APARTMENT FOYER - DAY

As Mickey finishes his ruminations, Hannah is seen walking

towards her front door. She opens it, her back to the

camera. Mickey stands there holding two boxed gifts. The

jazz stops.

HANNAH:

Hi! Hi!

MICKEY:

(overlapping, sniffing)

I know...I know.

HANNAH:

Glad you could put in an appearance.

MICKEY:

(gesturing)

I got two minutes.

HANNAH:

(overlapping)

Very good.

Hannah nods as Mickey comes inside. She closes the door

behind him.

MICKEY:

(overlapping)

I got two minutes. 'Cause, God, the

show is killing me. I got a

million appointments today. It

just so happens it fell this way.

Rate this script:3.5 / 4 votes