Sideways Page #2

MILES:

(leaning in to kiss

Christine)

Seriously though, the freeway was

unbelievable today. Unbelievable.

Bumper to bumper the whole way. People

getting an early start on the weekend,

I guess. Granted I got a late start,

but still.

Although Mr. Erganian presses MUTE on the remote, he keeps

watching for an extended moment, as do Jack and Miles.

MRS. ERGANIAN

Christine, why don't you ask Miles

about the cake?

CHRISTINE:

Oh, good idea. Here, Miles, come to

the kitchen with me.

JACK:

Don't bother him with that. We got

to get going.

CHRISTINE:

(taking Miles's hand)

It'll just take a second.

INT. ERGANIAN KITCHEN - DAY

Jack and the Erganians surround Miles as he eats from a plate

with two pieces of CAKE -- one white, one dark.

MRS. ERGANIAN

Jack tells us you are publishing a

book. Congratulations.

MR. ERGANIAN

Yes, congratulations.

Miles shoots Jack a look. Mr. Erganian gets some ice cubes

from the refrigerator door.

MILES:

Yeah, well, it's not exactly finalized

yet, but, um, there has been some

interest and --

MRS. ERGANIAN

(to Jack)

Your friend is modest.

JACK:

Yeah, Miles, don't be so modest.

Indulge them. Don't make me out to

be a liar.

MR. ERGANIAN

What subject is your book? Non-

fiction?

MILES:

No, it's a novel. Fiction. Although

there's a lot from my own life, so I

guess technically some of it is non-

fiction.

MR. ERGANIAN

Good, I like non-fiction. There is

so much to know about the world that

I think reading a story someone just

invented is kind of a waste of time.

CHRISTINE:

So which one do you like better?

MILES:

I like them both, but if pressed I'd

have to say I prefer the dark.

JACK:

(to Christine)

See?

INT. SAAB - CONTINUOUS

IN A REAR VIEW MIRROR --

The Erganians wave good-bye.

INSIDE THE CAR --

Miles accelerates as he and Jack wave back.

JACK:

Where the f*** were you, man? I was

dying in there. We were supposed to

be a hundred miles away by now.

MILES:

I can't help the traffic.

JACK:

Come on. You're f***ing hungover.

MILES:

Okay, there was a tasting last night.

But I wanted to get us some stuff

for the ride up. Check out the box.

Jack turns around, and starts rooting around in a CARDBOARD

WINE BOX.

MILES:

Why did you tell them my book was

being published?

JACK:

You said you had it all lined up.

MILES:

No, I didn't. What I said was that

my agent had heard there was some

interest at Conundrum...

JACK:

Yeah, Conundrum.

MILES:

...and that one of the editors was

passing it up to a senior editor.

She was supposed to hear something

this week, but now it's next week,

and... It's always like this. It's

always a f***ing waiting game. I've

been through it too many times

already.

JACK:

I don't know. Senior editor? Sounds

like you're in to me.

MILES:

It's a long shot, all right? And

Conundrum is just a small specialty

press anyway. I'm not getting my

hopes up. I've stopped caring. That's

it. I've stopped caring.

Jack sits back in his seat holding up a bottle of CHAMPAGNE

and TWO GLASSES.

JACK:

But I know it's going to happen this

time. I can feel it. This is the

one. I'm proud of you, man. You're

the smartest guy I know.

Jack now begins to remove the foil from the champagne bottle.

MILES:

Don't open that now. It's warm.

JACK:

Come on, we're celebrating. I say we

pop it.

MILES:

That's a 1992 Byron. It's really

rare. Don't open it now. I've been

saving it!

Jack untwists the wire. Instantly the cork pops off, and a

fountain of champagne erupts.

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