Runaway Bride Page #18

DINA NAPOLI (OF WBAL)

Wedding bells are ringing for the

fourth time today in Hale, Maryland.

Maggie Carpenter, "Always a Bride --

Never a Bridesmaid", will be attempting

to complete her fourth wedding ceremony.

We'll come back on the air when the

results are in. Back to you, Jessica.

Meredith, the low-end public access TV reporter, films himself

pointing a cheap video camera himself.

MEREDITH:

The turnout for this morning's wedding

is usually reserved for royalty or

Hollywood stars, but Maggie Carpenter

is Hale, Maryland's special star and

the citizens of Hale are out in full

force today.

The NY T-shirt Vendor pitches his wares.

T-SHIRT VENDOR

I got "Bye-bye Birdie". "What part of

'I do' don't you understand?"... Get

your "Runaway Bride" T-shirts here...

Reporter JULIE MURPHY stands near Grandma Julia and Mrs.

Pressman.

JULIE MURPHY (Channel 6)

The bride's been here for almost an

hour, but being around in the beginning

was never her problem. We'll be here,

showing you the full wedding ceremony,

we hope.

Reporter JACKI and TIFFANY stand at the edge of the CROWD

reporting.

JACKI/REPORTER #3 (WBOC TV16)

Will she or won't she? That is on the

minds of these several hundreds folks,

who are standing here this morning.

Not to mention on the mind of Groom

Number #4, ex-USA Today columnist, Ike

Graham, who is missing in action.

EXT. WINDOW OF CHURCH/INT. SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOM - DAY

INSERT window of church. Peggy peers out the window at the

carnival scene. Cindy sits with Maggie as she leans forward,

doubled over on a child's chair. Peggy moves from the window to

sit with them.

MAGGIE:

(moves to window)

He's not coming. Watch. He's not

coming.

PEGGY:

No, no. I saw eight geese flying in a

"V".

MAGGIE:

You and your lucky geese. You always

see geese.

PEGGY:

Not eight...

CINDY:

And in a "V".

MAGGIE:

Eight is good... "V" could be Victory.

They ad lib various words starting with the letter "V". Maggie

is nervous.

CINDY:

Rub your ears.

PEGGY:

Yes, rubbing your ears is very soothing.

Cory does that to me when I

hyperventilate.

Maggie rubs her ears.

CINDY:

We do it to our dog.

MAGGIE:

It's hurting.

CINDY:

We'll rub.

After they rub Maggie's ears a bit:

PEGGY:

He's here! He's here!

They all squeeze and peer out window. They scream in excitement.

Cindy rushes to Maggie's wedding dress.

CINDY:

I'll get the dress.

MAGGIE:

He's here!... He's here!

PEGGY:

Now's the time for calm... If you don't

calm down, you won't get your dress on...

(reassuringly)

He's the one... He's the one.

Peggy moves to help Cindy with the dress. Maggie stands alone at

the window a moment. She picks up a toy horse.

MAGGIE:

This is not a good sign.

Maggie goes over to Peggy and Cindy, and starts to get into her

bridal gown. They continue to ad lib words standing with the

letter "V".

CINDY:

We have to hurry. The Sunday School

kids will be here soon.

CUT TO:

INT. IKE'S CAR - DAY

Ike pulls up slowly. GUESTS peer through the his car window and

wave. Ike rubs his headache.

JULIE MURPHY:

Well, the groom just pulled up. There

was talk of a "now show", but he is

here.

DINA NAPOLI:

Ike Graham is here!

IKE'SPOV:

He moves as he takes it all in: a FAMILY eats a fast food picnic

on a neighbor's lawn, invited GUESTS flock by in their party

best, and local NEWS TEAMS block the way. The STATE SENATOR is

making a speech welcoming the press to Maryland. A large GROUP

of reporters head up the church's stairs, hauling their

equipment. They enter the flood of PEOPLE streaming inside the

church. Ike snaps.

EXT. IKE'S CAR - CONTINUING

Ike stops the car where it is and jumps out, slamming the door in

anger. The REPORTERS swarm around him as he gets out of the car.

They continue to pound him with questions as he walks to church

steps. An OLDER LADY smacks him on the shoulder with a

newspaper. He turns in astonishment and continues up the

steps. He charges up the stairs and grabs Lee.

IKE:

Shoot ours so she has one with an

ending.

Mrs. Pressman stands, shooting Ike with her video camera.

IKE (cont'd)

(pleading)

Mrs. Pressman, please.

MRS. PRESSMAN

It's okay. There's no microphone.

You're no fun.

IKE:

No, I'm not.

Ike retreats into the church. Lee comes up to him again with his

video camera:
CHUFFA about Scorsese.

INT. CHURCH - CONTINUING

As Fisher and Ellie sign the guest book, a LOCAL LADY stares at

Ellie. Ellie stares back at her until she leaves. Ike walks

away from Lee and turns smack into Ellie and Fisher. Ike puts

his arms around them and gives them a big hug.

IKE:

Friends. Thank you. Thank you.

Over Ellie's shoulder, Ike sees Fisher's grinning face.

IKE (cont'd)

We are friends, aren't we, Fisher?

FISHER:

(grinning)

Of course we are. Of course.

IKE:

Then you'll be my best man.

FISHER:

Well, I'm good, I don't know if I'm

best.

IKE:

Go talk to the pastor and he'll tell

you what to do. And someone will tell

me what to do.

ELLIE:

You always looked great in that suit...

And Ike?

(emotional)

I'm happy for you, honey.

Ellie whispers in his ear.

ELLIE (cont'd)

I'll have a car around the back to

whisk you out of here if she runs.

Ellie kisses him on the cheek and walks away.

ANGLE ON:

Bob comes up to Ike. He looks like he's going to punch Ike, then

abruptly holds out a rose boutonniere.

BOB:

You look awful.

IKE:

(sarcastically)

Thank you.

Bob hands the flower to Ike. Ike is shaking. Bob catches this

and looks up to Ike. It is a moment of clean honesty between the

men.

BOB:

Ike. Need help?

He takes the boutonniere and puts it on Ike's lapel.

BOB (cont'd)

I'm glad it's you.

IKE:

Really?

BOB:

I didn't want to find out I wasn't for

her in the fourth quarter.

IKE:

Got any last minute advice?

BOB:

(motioning to their eyes)

Maintain eye contact.

Bob turns and leaves, going down a side staircase.

IKE:

(to himself)

Eye contact. Eye contact.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ike sees a pictures of Christ on the

wall. He leans into the picture and whispers.

IKE (cont'd)

Cover me.

He walks into the chapel.

INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING

Ike steps up and stands next to Fisher.

FISHER:

(to Ike)

I have no idea what I'm doing.

IKE:

Your job is... the ring.

(to Fisher)

Do you have the ring?!

FISHER:

I just found out I'm best man! I'm

lucky I have a suit... What's wrong?

Ike gives the ring to Fisher. The Pastor approaches Ike. Ike

turns away and look out over the guests.

IKE'SPOV:
There are most of the TOWNSPEOPLE we've come to

know, plus some NEW YORKERS for Ike, with little ponytails.

Armani wire rims, Donna Karan bodysuits. There's a lot of

smirking, checking out the hicks, forming their stories for

cocktail hour. Elaine is in back all dressed in black, mourning

Ike. Mrs. Trout approaches Ike.

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