The Anniversary Party Page #12

JOE:

That is not true.

SALLY:

It is true. You know how you love, Joe?

You dedicate a book to someone.

JOE:

Every novel I've had published in every

language I've dedicated to Lucy.

SALLY:

Right. And when was the last time you

spoke to her?

Joe is silent.

SALLY (CONT'D)

And how f***ing dare you cast Skye

Davidson in that part? Have you any idea

how humiliating that is for me? I'm an

actress! It's about our marriage for

f***'s sake. Everybody knows that...

JOE:

It's a novel.

SALLY:

About me!

JOE:

Who the f*** do you think you are? The

part of Genna is not just about you.

It's about every woman I've ever loved in

my entire life. Including my mother.

The character is also clearly in her

early twenties, Sally.

SALLY:

What are you saying?

JOE:

Hello? Last birthday was?

SALLY:

I don't look my age, Joe.

JOE:

Sally, I have never considered you for

this part because you are too old to play

it. And you are out of touch with

reality if you think differently.

SALLY:

It's a sh*t novel anyway.

JOE:

Well there you go. I let you off the

hook. You're one goddamn lucky actress.

SALLY:

Not really. I mean your books have

always been pop, but this is the

shallowest of the bunch. That's what all

our friends think, anyway.

JOE:

Okay. If we could've, by some miracle,

stripped ten years off your face, still

couldn't have got the thing made.

Because I don't mean anything as a

director, and your name doesn't mean f***

all anymore. And the people that can

hire you are afraid to, because they

think you're phoning it in. That you

don't have... Oh Christ, Sally.

SALLY:

Who? Who? Who thinks that?

JOE:

Your director and your co-star of your

current movie. Don't dish if you can't

take it, Sally.

SALLY:

Mac? Mac says it? Cal?

Joe doesn't respond.

SALLY (CONT'D)

Cal, too?

JOE:

Sally, for Christ's sake.

SALLY:

Anyone else?

JOE:

This is insanity.

(moves toward her)

Sally...

SALLY:

Don't.

JOE:

Don't push me away.

SALLY:

I had an abortion two weeks ago.

JOE:

Don't do this.

SALLY:

I found out I was pregnant and it scared

the sh*t out of me.

JOE:

(threatens)

Don't do this!

SALLY:

I told you when we met I never wanted

children. I don't want kids in my life.

We talked about it. You weren't

listening.

JOE:

You changed your mind.

SALLY:

I wanted you back.

Joe slaps her hard across the face.

SALLY (CONT'D)

You think this was to hurt you?! My God,

Joe. It isn't about you.

JOE:

What?! You aborted our child?!

SALLY:

I'm a monster. Exactly.

JOE:

You're not ready.

SALLY:

Don't make allowances. I'll never be

ready. Some people just shouldn't have

children. I'd be a terrible f***ing

mother, Joe. I did want it for us. But

I couldn't do it. I don't really think I

can do it.

JOE:

I wasn't part of that picture at all, was

I? I wasn't part of that decision. Did

I occur to you at all? It's a f***ing

farce. It's a f***ing farce. How long

did you think you could keep it going.

You're amazing. Do you have any idea

what you've done to us?

SALLY:

Yes.

JOE:

I'll never forgive you.

SALLY:

I know.

JOE:

I have no idea who you are.

They stand their in silence. Joe is devastated. We hear

Skye and Panes up ahead calling for Otis.

INT. POOL - CONTINUOUS

SILENT UNDERWATER SHOTS

Of Mac, Judy and Clair. Mac directs an underwater ballet, a

la Esther Williams.

There's a sequence of TIGHT OVERLAPPING SHOTS of Mac,

smiling, swimming underwater. His image of himself... SLO-MO

compounded by water-weight.

The drug has clearly taken effect. Mac opens his mouth to

direct his actors, forgets where he is, begins to choke, and

cough, is clearly in trouble.

Oblivious, Judy and Clair turn somersaults.

Mac begins to panic. He is drowning.

He begins to sink. Panic gives way to acceptance.

Jerry's body flies past FRAME, splashes hard into the pool.

The LENS is water-splattered.

MEDIUM-CLOSE SHOT UNDERWATER

Jerry's body sweeps past the lens, smooth and sleek as a

Dolphin. He grabs Mac...

EXT. POOL - CONTINUOUS

Jerry pulls Mac to the surface. Clair and Judy are out of

the pool. Jerry drags the limp body from the pool, pumps

Mac's chest - it's clear he knows what he's doing. Mac

coughs up a load of water.

CLAIR:

Oh my God. Honey???

There's a moment. Mac begins to sob.

JERRY:

He's okay, Clair. You wanna give him a

little room?

MAC:

(his face against concrete)

Man, I must really be stoned.

(wipes tears from his face with

his hand)

Thanks, buddy.

CLAIR:

Honey?

Mac raises his hand, arrests her from coming nearer.

MAC:

I'm fine, babe.

JERRY:

Give him a minute, Clair.

MAC:

(humiliated)

Hey.

(looks over at Jerry)

Thanks, buddy.

JERRY:

Anytime, sport.

MAC:

(wants to say "don't call me

sport")

Yeah, thanks pal.

CLAIR:

(helpless)

Honey?

They all stand around watching him. Mac gets up.

MAC:

I'm fine, babe. I'm gonna take a little

walk. I need a minute. Let's forget it.

My life didn't pass in front of my eyes.

So, it probably wasn't that close.

JERRY:

Probably not.

MAC:

(to Jerry)

So, you've got lifeguard papers, or what?

JUDY:

There's a test, you know.

JERRY:

(embarrassed)

Forget it, Judy.

CLAIR:

(still scared)

Honey?

MAC:

I'll be fine. Really babe. Give me a

minute.

The CAMERA stays on Mac as he walks around the side of the

house, down the steps through the basement.

INT. BASEMENT - MEDIUM FULL SHOT

Mac begins to tremble, sob convulsively. He bites down on

his lip, clinches his first, tries to pull himself together.

MAC:

(paces; at himself)

You're okay. Buck up. Come on, be a

man. It could happen to anybody.

(tears start again)

If you don't stop, I'm going to punch

your face in.

(another moment)

He pulls a towel off a stack and they all fall on the floor.

MAC (CONT'D)

Oh sh*t. I can't f***ing do anything

right. Come on, come on. Oh thank you

God for giving me this chance. Thank you

for having Jerry here to save me. I

promise I will never cheat on my wife

again. I will never take drugs again,

and I will be a great f***ing husband and

a loving father. I am a great father! I

have terrific friends. I am a brilliant

director. Well-respected. I won a

Golden Globe, how 'bout that? Yeah, man,

it's alright, it's alright, it's alright.

And God, I will be humble.

INT. MUSIC LIBRARY - MEDIUM FULL SHOT

Gina regards the photographs she brought for Joe and Sally.

She lifts it from the shelf, the phone rings, the machine

picks up.

MAN'S VOICE

Joe, Joe! It's your Dad! Pick up,

Joe...

Gina sets the photo on the desk, leans it up against the

wall. Joe and Sally's faces stare out of it.

GINA:

(picks up receiver)

Harry, hi, it's Gina! Gina. Is

everything alright?

(a deep intake of breath)

Oh my God. When? He's not here.

They're out looking for Otis. The dog,

Harry.

(tears start down her face)

I love you so much. Lucy's a fighter,

she'll make it. Whether she wants to or

not. Harry. I'm so sorry. I will.

(writes down the number)

Yes I will. Take care, Harry. Bye.

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