Smashed Page #14

96.

CUT TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

70 INT. JENNY’S CATERING BUSINESS - KITCHEN - DAY 70 *

Kate wears a UNIFORM and carefully works on a CAKE.

On the other side of the kitchen, Jenny makes APPETIZERS.

JENNY:

How’s it coming?

KATE:

You tell me.

*

*

*

Jenny walks over and tries the icing.

JENNY:

(nods with approval)

Delicious.

*

*

*

*

KATE:

(proud)

Thanks.

71 INT. CHURCH - AA MEETING ROOM - NIGHT 71

A middle-aged MAN stands at a podium in front of a mediumsized group of PEOPLE -- about twenty-five or so, includingKate, Jenny, and Mr. Davies -- and says -CHUCK

At this meeting we give cakes tocelebrate sober birthdays. We haveone birthday tonight -- for Kate,

for one year.

(beat)

Jenny and Dave are giving her thecake.

*

*

*

Kate hugs everyone -- then blows out ONE CANDLE on a CAKEbefore standing at the podium.

KATE:

Hey, I’m Kate, alcoholic.

GROUP:

Hi, Kate.

97.

KATE:

I’ve heard that your best day

drinking is worse than your worst

day sober.

(beat)

Well...that is SO not true! I had

amazing times drinking, dancing,

and laughing...feeling like the

most adorable, charming girl in the

world. And I was adorable.

(beat)

I’d piss my pants, but I was still

cute.

People in the crowd LAUGH a little bit.

KATE (CONT’D)

When I first tried getting sober, I

figured that as long as I didn’t

drink...everything else would just

magically work out. But it didn’t.

(beat)

My marriage fell apart. I got fired

from my job. And that sh*t happened

SOBER! I never read that in any

pamphlet...

(shakes her head)

...that isn’t what I signed up for.

(beat)

Um...so, I relapsed. Another shitty

slogan I’ve heard in the rooms is

that when you’re sober for a bit

and drink again “the disease waits

for you, picks up where it left

off.”

(beat)

I’m sorry you guys, but I HATE

those slogans. They all sound like

bumper stickers. But, I have to

admit...for me, that last one is

pretty damn true.

(beat)

When I drink...I become another

person. And that person is a pretty

big a**hole. Well, unless you want

to give me drugs or buy me drinks --

then that person is awesome.

People knowingly LAUGH.

KATE (CONT’D)

I wasn’t happy being the “good-time

girl,” though. And honestly, I

wasn’t very good at it.

(MORE)

98.

KATE (CONT’D)

(beat)

My life is really different than itwas a year ago. I live alone. I’m

bored a lot more. I have a job thatpays a lot less.

(beat)

I’m thankful for the program -- formy friends in here who took thetime to help me and give a shitabout me.

Kate glances at Jenny and Mr. Davies. *

KATE (CONT’D)

There are people that used to be apart of my life that I miss -- alot -- but...

(long beat)

...I’m really grateful for this

boring new life of mine.

Kate smiles and steps down from the podium as people CLAP.

72 INT. BAR - NIGHT 72 *

Charlie, Owen, and a woman -- MILLIE -- stand at the bar,

drinking BEER and WHISKEY SHOTS. Owen speaks -- but Millieseems way more into Charlie.

OWEN:

I was in North Carolina for a while

-- Durham -- playing minor leagueball. I had some real heat. That’s

when I met Crash, here.

(gestures to Charlie)

He’d been sent down to single-A to

teach me how to carry myself as apro ball-player. We got involvedwith the same woman -- an older

chick -- but Crash won her in the

end.

(beat)

He’s really taught me

some...important life-lessons.

*

Millie nods.

MILLIE:

Wow...that’s a pretty crazy way to

meet.

OWEN:

Yeah. It is.

99.

MILLIE:

You guys are sorta like that

movie...what’s it called?

OWEN:

(plays dumb)

I don’t know. Which one?

(to Charlie)

Do you know what movie she means?

Charlie -- who’s pretty hammered -- shakes his head.

MILLIE:

“Bull”...something? What is it?

Charlie and Owen feign ignorance.

MILLIE (CONT’D)

Whatever. It’ll come to me.

(to Charlie; flirty)

So...what do you do now, Crash?

CHARLIE:

I write about music.

MILLIE:

Really?

Owen gestures to a WAITRESS to bring THREE MORE SHOTS.

CHARLIE:

Yeah...I do freelance for a lot of

magazines. But print really is

dead. So now most of my stuff winds

up on websites. Which is

depressing. ‘Cause you can’t hold

it -- you can just look at it. It’s

like...

Charlie seems lost in drunken thought. Long, awkward silence.

Millie puts her hand on Charlie’s arm.

MILLIE:

Like what?

CHARLIE:

Huh?

MILLIE:

You were talking about writing for

websites and you kinda trailed off,

honey.

100.

OWEN:

(trying to save the

situation)

So, Crash -- why don’t you tell

this nice lady about the 21 days

you were up in “The Show,” and what

the crowds were like, and -

CHARLIE:

It was crazy. I...

Charlie drifts off for a moment.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

(to Millie)

I’m sorry -- I’m sure you’re a

great lady. You have lovely hands

and hair but...

Charlie begins to walk away, wobbly on his feet.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

...I’m gonna go to the...I’m just

gonna go.

Charlie stumbles off.

MILLIE:

(as Charlie leaves)

You want a ride...?

Charlie exits the bar.

MILLIE (CONT’D)

(to Owen)

Um...is he cool to drive?

OWEN:

Yeah, he’ll be fine -- on his

bicycle.

MILLIE:

He rides a bicycle?

OWEN:

Oh, yeah --

(smiles)

-- as a teenager, he was a bike

racing champion growing up in

Bloomington, Indiana. He and his

friends were called the “Cutters” --

and they beat a bunch of rich

college kids in this big race. It

was great.

(MORE)

101.

(beat)

Back then, I was a kickboxinginstructor...

OWEN (CONT'D)

73 EXT. STREET - NIGHT 73

Charlie rides his BICYCLE down the street. Swerving all overthe place, he’s obviously drunk.

Red and Blue LIGHTS flash behind him. Charlie turns to see ---

a POLICE OFFICER. *

74 INT. KATE & CHARLIE’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 74

Charlie leaves Kate a VOICEMAIL MESSAGE.

CHARLIE:

(into phone; seems sort ofnervous)

So, I got into a little trouble --

drunk in public. On a bicycle.

(beat)

Um, I was thinking...maybe I needto go to one of those meetings. I’dlike to go with you, though. Ifthat’s cool.

(beat)

Let me know if we could discuss it

sometime, okay? Maybe you couldcome over to our -- um, my house?

(beat)

Uh...yeah. Thanks.

Charlie hangs up the phone.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

(to himself)

“Let me know if we could discuss it

sometime?”

(shakes his head)

Such an idiot...

75 EXT. KATE & CHARLIE’S HOUSE - STREET/FRONT YARD - DAY

Kate and Charlie stand by Kate’s car, which is parked in

front by the street. She’s just arrived. Awkward tension.

CHARLIE:

Miss our house?

75 *

102.

KATE:

Um...yeah. Sometimes.

CHARLIE:

(hesitant)

Miss me?

Beat.

KATE:

Sometimes.

(long beat)

I’ve been sober for a year.

CHARLIE:

Really?

KATE:

Yeah.

Kate reaches into her purse and takes out her ONE YEAR CHIP,

showing it to Charlie.

CHARLIE:

They gave you that?

KATE:

Yeah. A couple of days ago.

Tuesday.

CHARLIE:

Oh...wow. Congratulations. That’s

really...really...just great. I

mean it.

(beat)

Tuesday is the night I got pulled

over.

(laughs)

Parallel lives, huh?

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