Sideways Page #17

MILES:

A little place in Los Olivos. New

owners. Cozy ambiance. Excellent

food too -- you should try it. Thought

of you at the Hitching Post last

night.

Silence.

MILES (CONT' D)

Hello?

VICTORIA (ON THE PHONE)

Miles, don't call me when you're

drunk.

MILES:

I just wanted you to know I've decided

not to go to the wedding, so in case

you were dreading some uncomfortable,

you know, run-in or something, well,

worry no more. You won't see me there.

My wedding gift to you and what's-

his-name. What is his name?

VICTORIA (ON THE PHONE)

(silence, then --)

Ken.

MILES:

Ken.

VICTORIA (ON THE PHONE)

Miles, I don't care if you come to

the wedding or not.

MILES:

Well, I'm not coming, Barbie. So you

guys have fun.

VICTORIA (ON THE PHONE)

I'm going to hang up now, Miles.

MILES:

(rushing to keep her

on)

You see, Vicki, I just heard about

this today, you getting married that

is, and I was kind of taken aback.

Kind of hard to believe.

Silence.

MILES:

I guess I just thought there was

still some hope for us somewhere

down the road and I just, I just --

VICTORIA (ON THE PHONE)

Miles, maybe it is better if you

don't come to the wedding.

Miles sucks something from between his two front teeth.

MILES:

Whatever you say, Vicki. You're the

boss.

He HANGS UP as nonchalantly as if it had been a sales call

and heads back to the table.

EXT. DEEP CANYON - DAY

For a flash, Miles is walking an unstable, narrow ROPE BRIDGE

extending vertiginously across a great CHASM.

INT. LOS OLIVOS CAFE - BACK AGAIN

Miles reaches the table, tries to sit and SLIPS ONTO THE

FLOOR.

Although at first Jack blinks heavily in disgust, the girls

burst into hysterical LAUGHTER. Jack then laughs too, perhaps

OVER-LAUGHING.

JACK:

Easy, boy. Easy.

Maya helps him back into the booth.

MAYA:

Are you all right?

MILES:

Fine. Just slipped.

(picking up his glass)

This is my blood.

Miles drinks. Stephanie makes a head gesture to Maya, who

nods in return.

STEPHANIE:

(to the guys)

Excuse us.

MAYA:

Sorry to make you get up again, Miles.

MILES:

That's okay.

Miles and Jack allow the girls to pass. Then --

JACK:

What the f***, man? What is up?

Miles reaches for his wine glass, but Jack moves it away.

JACK:

Pull yourself together, man.

MILES:

I'm fine!

But in throwing open his arms for emphasis, he spills a WATER

GLASS. Jack rights it and throws a napkin on the tablecloth.

JACK:

Where were you?

MILES:

Bathroom.

JACK:

Did you drink and dial?

Miles's silence confirms his guilt and shame.

JACK:

Why do you always do this? Victoria's

gone, man. Gone. Poof.

Miles looks down and squeezes his eyes tight while pushing

out an exhale through his nose.

JACK:

Stop it. You are blowing a great

opportunity here, Miles. F***ing

Maya, man. She's great. She's cool.

She's funny. She knows wine. What is

this morose come-down bullshit? These

girls want to party. And what was

that f***ing ten-minute lecture on,

what was it, Vouvrays? I mean, come

on!

MILES:

Let's just say I'm uncomfortable

with the whole scenario.

JACK:

Oh Jesus, Miles.

Miles belligerently reaches for his Comte Armand. Jack lets

it pass.

JACK:

And don't forget all the bad times

you had with Victoria. How small she

make you feel. That's why you had

the affair in the first place.

MILES:

Shut up. Shut your face.

JACK:

Don't you see how Maya's looking at

you? You got her on the hook. Reel

her in! Come on, let's rachet this

up a notch. You know how to to do

it. Here.

(passing a glass)

Drink some agua.

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