Peggy Sue Got Married Page #9

MRS. KELCHER

It was nobody. Ah... he's a poll,

taker. I'm thinking of voting

Democrat this year. But don't

mention it to your father. How was

school today?

PEGGY:

It was great to see everybody

again. But it's so boring and

regimented. Most of what they teach

is useless. The worst thing was

lunch.

The TELEPHONE RINGS.

MRS. KELCHER

Would you get that, dear?

PEGGY:

Sure, Mom.

(picking up the phone)

Hello.

Peggy gasps. Mrs. Kelcher turns to her.

MRS. KELCHER

Peggy! What's the matter? Who is

it?

PEGGY:

(shaken)

It's Grandma. I can't talk to her

now.

(into phone)

I'm sorry, Grandma.

Peggy hands the receiver to her mother and runs out of the

room sobbing. Her first confrontation with mortality.

INT. HALLWAY

Peggy climbs the stairs, in tears.

MRS. KELCHER (O.S.)

Peggy Sue! What is it?

Forcing herself to regain her composure, she sits down at the

top of the landing as Mrs. Kelcher joins her.

MRS. KELCHER

What happened to you?

PEGGY:

I had a dream that Grandma died.

MRS. KELCHER

Well, she is getting on, but she's

fine. I told her you weren't

feeling well yesterday. She called

to find out how you are.

PEGGY:

She did? I love her so much, and I

haven't seen her in such a long

time. And Grandpa Barney. Is he

all, right?

MRS. KELCHER

Yes, he's fine, too. You saw them

at Easter.

PEGGY:

I'm sorry, Mom. I'll call Grandma

back and apologize.

MRS. KELCHER

That's a good girl... I hate to see

you so upset.

(beat)

Tell me, sweetheart. Are you having

problems with Charlie? You

mentioned something this morning.

PEGGY:

I'm confused about a lot of things

right now. Charlie's only one of

them.

Two beats.

MRS. KELCHER

Is Charlie pressuring you to do

things you don't think you should

be doing?

PEGGY:

What do you mean?

MRS. KELCHER

Peggy, do you know what a penis is?

(Peggy's jaw drops)

Stay away from it.

EXT. KELCHER HOUSE — NIGHT

Charlie pulls up to the curb, opens the glove compartment,

extracts a can of Old Spice aerosol, sprays the seat; and

exits his car, throwing a kiss to it as he walks up to the

door.

CLOSER VIEW:

He's wearing a hideous orange and turquoise sweater.

INT. KELCHER HOUSE — HALLWAY

Mr. Kelcher opens the door, Charlie enters.

MR. KELCHER

Hello, Charlie.

CHARLIE:

Hello, sir. How are things at the

hat store?

MR. KELCHER

Fine, thanks. Come on in. I want to

talk to you.

CAMERA TRACKS Charlie and Mr. Kelcher into the living room.

Mr. Kelcher sits on his recliner, Charlie, nervous, on the

couch. Nancy is on the rug, studying.

MR. KELCHER

You may have noticed that Peggy

Sue's been acting a little strange

lately.

NANCY:

She's distorted.

CHARLIE:

Yes, sir.

MR. KELCHER

She seems confused, irresponsible,

overemotional. My wife says that's

the way girls act sometimes.

NANCY:

She's almost a juvenile delinquent.

Mr. Kelcher gives Nancy a look and points to the door.

Without her father noticing, Nancy creeps up behind him and

makes rabbit ears behind his head. Charlie tries hard not to

laugh. Nancy continues to clown.

CHARLIE:

Yes, sir. But that's what I like

about her. She's not like all the

other girls at school.

MR. KELCHER

Charles, in spite of your

adolescent infatuation with music,

we've always regarded you a a fine

young man. We've trusted you with

our daughter.

CHARLIE:

Yes, sir. Trust is a two—way

street. In the past two years I've

been pleased to note that you and

Mrs. Kelcher have, uh, fulfilled

your sacred trust of being good

parents to the, uh, woman I plan to

take off your hands.

Mr. Kelcher looks as if he's witnessing the latest attack of

teenage weirdness.

INT. PEGGY'S BEDROOM

Peggy is changing a record. She sees the dress she was

wearing the day before (and at the reunion) slung across a

chair. As Peggy picks it up, a book of matches falls out.

Peggy picks it up, excited.

INSERT:
MATCHBOOK which reads: FINISH HIGH SCHOOL IN YOUR

SPARE TIME. Peggy frantically searches the dress pockets and

slowly draws out two joints. She stares at them for a beat.

PEGGY:

(worrying)

Oh, Beth.

There's a knock at the door. Peggy quickly hides the joints.

Mrs. Kelcher opens the door.

MRS. KELCHER

Charlie's downstairs. Why aren't

you ready?

PEGGY:

For what?

MRS. KELCHER

Maddy's party.

PEGGY:

I don't feel very festive.

MRS. KELCHER

You accepted an invitation, Maddy's

one of your best friends, and I

baked the Rice Krispie squares.

Peggy laughs.

MRS. KELCHER

Enjoy yourself! This is the best

time of your life. And the sooner

you learn to handle Charlie the

better. Get dressed.

Mrs. Kelcher closes the door.

INT. LIVING ROOM

MR. KELCHER

We think this party might cheer

her up. Just make sure you know

what's expected of you.

CHARLIE:

What would that be, sir?

MR. KELCHER

Show her a good time, but for God's

sake restrain yourself.

CHARLIE:

(surprised)

Of course.

ANGLE ON PEGGY:

walking downstairs, surprised by Charlie and Dad talking.

EXT. KELCHER HOUSE - NIGHT

Peggy and Charlie exit and walk towards his car. Peggy's

holding a pan of Rice Krispie squares. Charlie slips Peggy's

sweater back on her shoulder. He's trying hard to make up.

PEGGY:

Where did you get that sweater?

CHARLIE:

Great, isn't it?

PEGGY:

It's really Fifties. You sort of

clash with the world.

CHARLIE:

Hey! What's the fun of being a

teenager if you can't dress weird?

And we're going to have fun

tonight, right?

PEGGY:

Right. I promised my mother.

INT. CHARLIE'S CAR — NIGHT - DRIVING

CHARLIE:

Is this slow enough for you?

PEGGY:

(serious)

Charlie, how are you?

CHARLIE:

I'm fine Peggy Sue. And how are

you? Are we talking on the phone?

Are we pen pals?

PEGGY:

Seriously. What's it like to be

eighteen?

Charlie looks thoughtful, then guns the engine.

CHARLIE:

It's great. I cleaned the car, do

you like it? Oh, I got tickets for

Fabian on your birthday, you like

him, right? He's cool. Eighteen is

half of thirty six. It's "Gentlemen

start your engines", vroom, like

I'm gassed up ready for the race.

I've got the girl, I've got the

car, I've got the talent, but I

don't know. Do I date, get married,

join the army, cut a record, go to

college? I got a million choices,

but nobody teaches you how to

choose. But it's different for a

girl. You're Lucky. You just have

to wait for me.

INT. MADDY'S HOUSE — BASEMENT

Thirty kids are dancing, talking, snacking. One couple makes

out. Walter, Leon, Terry and Doug Snell are crowded around a

TV, watching an old western with Eugene Pallette or Edgar

Buchanan. The boys laugh as Pallette or Buchanan growls a

western cliche.

DOUG:

Gol'darnit, dag nab it, dad burn

it, dad blame it.

INT. MADDY'S HOUSE — HALLWAY TO BASEMENT

Charlie and Peggy are poised at the door.

CHARLIE:

Here comes the life of the party.

INT. MADDY'S HOUSE — BASEMENT

Arthur and a few others stand by the bar, where bottles of

Coke are lined up. Arthur carefully pours rum from a hip

flask directly into the bottles. Peggy and Charlie enter.

LEON:

Goes down, smooth. Hey, look what

the cat dragged in.

CHARLIE:

Have no fear. Charlie's here.

WALTER:

Oh, it's you is it.

TERRY:

Jumping Jehosophat!

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