Runaway Bride Page #5

Maggie looks over from her sitting position on the floor. She

gives Ike the once-over, focusing on the shoes.

MAGGIE:

(yelling to Peggy)

Reporter?

PEGGY:

Yup!

Ike crouches to see Maggie on the floor just as she rises to her

feet. Ike straightens up. For a moment, he is thrown by her

beauty and intelligent eyes.

MAGGIE:

I hope you have a different angle.

It's pretty much all been covered.

IKE:

Originality is my speciality.

MAGGIE:

Excellent.

PEGGY:

Hold on -- Nobody interviews Maggie in

here unless they're getting haircut.

MAGGIE:

She's the boss.

IKE:

Sorry, no. I just got one.

MRS. PRESSMAN

(to Ike)

Excuse me, sir. I have an actual fact

for you.

IKE:

(steps to Mrs. Pressman)

Yes, Mrs. Pressman.

MRS. PRESSMAN

It's her fourth time to the altar, you

know. Not seven like they said.

IKE:

I know. Tell me something. Do you

think she's going to make it all the

way this time?

During the Ike/Mrs. Pressman exchange, Maggie looks at Ike.

There's something familiar about him. She looks over at Peggy

and beckons her to a copy of Ike's column affixed to a mirror.

A goatee and horns, have been scrawled on Ike's byline picture.

He's been "devilized". Peggy coughs as she recognizes Ike in

the newspaper clipping.

MAGGIE:

She swallowed her gun.

Mrs. Pressman continues her story to Ike.

MRS. PRESSMAN

I'm not sure. Mr. Schullian runs the

newsstand, he's our local bookie, you

know, he's giving eight to one odds she

won't. He says she's so famous now,

maybe Vegas will give odds on her. I'm

going to wait to hear what the pros say.

IKE:

Good fact. Well, you let me know.

MRS. PRESSMAN

Oh, I will.

ANGLE ON:

Maggie indicates column to Peggy. She looks over at the part of

the shop used to wash and dye hair. There's a sink, stool and a

cabinet affixed to the wall above sink, which holds various

shampoos and hair dyes. Maggie gets an idea. Maggie and Peggy

step forward toward Ike.

MAGGIE:

Well, instead of a haircut, how about

a wash? You know, get all that city

grit out of it.

IKE:

You'll answer my questions?

Maggie nods affirmatively.

IKE (cont'd)

(removing his jacket)

Fine. You wash, I'll ask the

questions.

PEGGY:

Great.

Ike hands Peggy his jacket. A mystified Peggy leads Ike to the

sink. While she does this...

MAGGIE:

Have a seat. Peggy, why don't you give

him the special treatment that

strengthens the follicles.

Ike sits in the chair near the sink. Maggie shakes out a smock

and puts it around Ike.

MAGGIE (cont'd)

So, what do you want to know?

Ike leans and rests his head on the sink. Peggy bends over him

and wets his hair. She grabs various hair coloring products.

IKE:

Getting nervous?

MAGGIE:

Nervous? Not at all! No. I've never

been more certain in my life. Except

-- I am having all kinds of weird

dreams.

Ike pulls the cloth down from over his face.

IKE:

Weird dreams? You're going to tell me

about them?

MAGGIE:

Yes.

PEGGY:

(calming)

Let's just put this back here for the

aromatherapy.

Peggy recovers his face, then continues to fuss with the hair

coloring products. Maggie helps.

INT. BEAUTY PARLOR - LATER

Ike sits with a towel over his head as Peggy blow-dries the back

of his head. His back is to the mirror, his body faces Maggie.

Cindy does her own nails as Mrs. Pressman scratches off lottery

tickets. The dog, Sprout, sits in is basket.

MAGGIE:

In another one...

PETE, wearing a hat, comes in the front door of the salon.

PEGGY:

Hey, Pete, I'll be right with you.

Ike peeks out from under his towel as Maggie continues.

MAGGIE:

I'm inside the church. Everyone I know

is there, only they're not really them.

They're like Frankenstein monsters, but

without the bolts coming out of their

necks. It's all very "Night of the

Living Dead". And here's the creepiest

part -- I look down at my dress and

it's red. I mean, I have no idea what

it means. Red's not my color!

Ike listens intently and stares steadily into her eyes. Peggy

removes the towel. His hair is divided into equal parts and

dyed orange and red.

MAGGIE (cont'd)

So what do you think?

Ike stares back at her, the tickle of suspicion creeping up his

spine.

IKE:

I think you'd look good in red.

PEGGY:

No, she's talking about your hair.

Maggie swivels his chair so that Ike faces the mirror. Ike

looks at his brightly colored hair.

MAGGIE:

You're all ready for football season,

Mr. Graham.

Ike stares at his hair in total confusion. With icy calm, Ike

rises from his chair and primps the end of his hair as if giving

it the finishing touches. Then he sees his defaced newspaper

clipping and all becomes clear. He picks up the article and

shows it to everyone. Ike does a slow burn.

IKE:

Yes, I think I nailed the personality

profile of the women of Hale.

Ike turns and puts the clipping up on the mirror.

IKE (cont'd)

(to Peggy)

My jacket, please.

Peggy hands him his jacket.

IKE (cont'd)

(sarcastically)

Thank you.

Ike moves toward the door. He spots Pete.

IKE (cont'd)

(putting on jacket;

to Pete)

Excuse me, Pete, do you know a place

that sells shampoo... Strong shampoo?

PETE:

Doc's Pharmacy. Third and Elm. Tell

him Pete sent you. Want my hat?

IKE:

No thanks.

Ike smiles at Maggie and exits.

MAGGIE:

(to Peggy)

He seems crabby.

CUT TO:

EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY

In front of beauty salon, Maggie follows Ike out.

MAGGIE:

If you're looking for Elm Street, it's

that way.

She puts on her sunglasses.

IKE:

Thank you.

He walks the other way.

MAGGIE:

If you came down here in the pursuit of

happiness, you might as well go back.

Because you can't make me feel bad.

She stops walking and turns to Ike.

IKE:

I'm not here to make you feel bad. I'm

here for vindication. In my heart...

MAGGIE:

You have one?

Ike walks back to Maggie.

IKE:

I feel I'm right about you. You got me

fired, lady. You destroyed my

reputation and you screwed up my hair.

You chew men up, spit them out and

loved it. And I'm down here to satisfy

myself on that point.

PASSERSBY stare at Ike's hair and giggle.

MAGGIE:

Did something happen to make you care

about reality?

IKE:

Yes. Conviction. Conviction that I'm

onto the truth. You're going to do the

same thing to "poor bastard number four"

that you did to the last three. You're

going to run again. And I'm not

leaving until you do.

MAGGIE:

You're going to be very disappointed.

IKE:

We'll see.

MAGGIE:

I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got

to get back to work. I still have my

job.

He stares at her for a beat, stung by her words.

MAGGIE:

I have nothing to hide, Mr. Graham.

Talk to whoever you want. You might

actually stumble upon a fact or two.

Maggie walks away. Ike walks a few steps and stops at a KID on

a bike.

IKE:

Hey, kid, I'll give you ten bucks for

your hat.

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