The Anniversary Party Page #2

He rolls his eyes. Sally walks back into the bathroom, she

isn't buying it.

JOE (O.S.) (CONT'D)

I'm looking forward to meeting you, too.

And Skye, I'm thrilled that you're

willing to take this leap with me.

Eternally grateful, really.

SALLY:

(into the bathroom mirror)

I'm going to throw up.

JOE (O.S.)

I can't imagine anyone else playing

Genna.

SALLY:

(sanguine)

Really?

INT. BEDROOM - LATER

The doorbell rings. There are two closed doors on either

side of the room. The bed shows no sign of consummated sex.

Joe comes through the left hand door, nearly dressed.

JOE:

Who the f*** can be here at this time?

It's not even seven!

Sally comes through the other door, one shoe off, one on.

SALLY:

Oh Jesus, who else is always early for

Christ's sake?

NEW ANGLE:

Sally kisses his cheek on her way to the door.

SALLY (CONT'D)

Promise you'll be nice to the neighbors.

JOE:

I'll say as little as possible.

Sally exits the bedroom.

HOLD ON JOE:

For a moment, then Sally re-enters, kisses him deeply.

SALLY:

I love you.

INT. FOYER - EARLY EVENING

The house is filled with exquisite flower arrangements,

candles everywhere.

JERRY and JUDY ADAMS are on the porch, just beyond the glass

of the front door. Their argument is inaudible. They're in

their mid-thirties, conservatively dressed. She's stunning,

genetically nervous. Jerry carries a briefcase. She's got

the gift.

Sally opens the door. Hugs and buses them, hello.

JUDY:

I know we're early, we're so early.

Sorry.

JERRY:

You have to sign your taxes anyway.

SALLY:

(a grin)

Of course we do.

(to Judy)

We have to sign our taxes.

JOE:

(kisses Judy; all charm)

You can never be too early or too thin.

JERRY:

Happy anniversary, buddy! Six months

ago, who would have thunk it?

Jerry hugs Joe.

JOE:

(sotto)

Well, not me, to be honest.

JERRY:

(sotto)

Don't f*** up again. It's got a ripple

effect. Sally suffers, we all suffer.

JUDY:

(offers)

We have a gift?

JOE:

Thanks, I'll take that. Champagne?

JUDY:

Lovely.

Joe moves toward the kitchen.

JERRY:

(a moment, to Sally)

We closed.

SALLY:

Fantastic.

(takes his hand)

Out here.

They step out onto the porch. Judy's left alone, unsure

whether to follow or not.

JUDY:

(finally, to no one, and to no

response)

The house looks beautiful, are those

hydrangeas?

She stands awkwardly in the middle of the foyer.

EXT. PORCH - CONTINUOUS

JERRY:

Joe officially owns No. 4, Cheyenne Walk,

Chelsea, London, England. No small

doing.

SALLY:

I love you, you're a genius.

Behind them, in the foyer, Judy wanders aimlessly.

JERRY:

I suppose. Sally, that's quite a gift.

I'm not sure it's in your best interest.

SALLY:

I adore him.

JERRY:

The realtor'll be here tomorrow in the

morning. The house had to go on the

market to insure the loan on the London

flat.

SALLY:

I know. I know that. Don't spoil it.

JERRY:

What you earn has to double in order to

cover expenses in London, it's an

outrageously expensive city.

SALLY:

We've only been over this how many times?

JERRY:

You only made half your quote this year.

SALLY:

Well, you're a tower of support.

JERRY:

I worry because you don't. It's my job.

I'm feeling guilty. I would've liked it

if you waited until the two of you were

on more solid ground.

SALLY:

(direct, simple)

We couldn't be on more solid ground.

JERRY:

Whatever you say. Listen, I love you.

Otis is barking.

JOE (O.S.)

Otis! No barking!

SALLY:

(touched)

And Joe's huge in Europe. He's like a

rock star in London. His novels sell

millions.

JERRY:

Not millions.

SALLY:

He's directing now.

JERRY:

They're paying him scale.

The CAMERA catches sight of Joe behind them. He moves

through the foyer and into the living room with a tray of

glasses and Judy in tow.

SALLY:

He gets huge advances on his novels.

He's going back to that. You know how he

hates it here.

JERRY:

There's still time to undo this.

SALLY:

(kisses his cheek)

We'll be fine.

JERRY:

(re:
barking dog)

Did you invite them?

SALLY:

The Roses? And of course they said yes.

JERRY:

That was the plan. And you're thrilled

to have them.

SALLY:

Whatever you say.

JERRY:

Did you tell Joe to behave?

SALLY:

Yes.

JERRY:

Did he promise?

SALLY:

Scout's honor.

JERRY:

Before I forget.

(pulls a novel from his

briefcase)

Put it on the bookshelf.

She flips the book -- on the back is a full page picture of

RYAN ROSE.

SALLY:

You're out of your mind.

JERRY:

Just do what I say, alright?

SALLY:

How much bowing and scraping do you want

us to do?

JERRY:

Beats a lawsuit.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Joe and Judy sit on opposite sides of the sofa -- slightly

uncomfortable with each other.

JOE:

(to fill the silence,

conspiratorial grin)

I love gifts. What did you guys get us?

JUDY:

(chokes on the champagne)

Nothing that can't be exchanged.

JOE:

Oh. Well. Good.

JUDY:

Congratulations on the deal. How

exciting. Is Sally doing Sally? I mean

it's Sally. The character that's based

on Sally. The character that's based on

Sally in the book.

JOE:

The novel. No, Skye Davidson is playing

the lead.

JUDY:

Oh my God, I'm a huge Skye Davidson fan.

She's very beautiful.

JOE:

Yes, she is.

JUDY:

(trying harder)

But I am right, yes? She's based on

Sally.

JOE:

It's a novel.

JUDY:

Still. Well. Let's drop it.

JOE:

Yes.

JUDY:

I'm not much of a reader, but I do love

autobiographies, even biographies

sometimes. Mostly non-fiction. Did you

read the new Styron?

JOE:

No.

JUDY:

It's very good.

(a moment)

I understand you won the Booker Prize.

JOE:

Yes I did.

JUDY:

(another moment)

Is your script much like the novel?

Jerry says it's very good. But you know,

you read the novel, and then you see the

movie - and most of the time you say,

"what's this?" You know? I sometimes

think we're better off not reading the

novel at all. Because, we come with

expectations... and of course, we know

where we're going. Don't you find?

JOE:

Don't I find what?

JUDY:

I don't know why Joe, we've known each

other how long...

JOE:

Not long.

JUDY:

(benign)

Don't be silly.

JOE:

Joking.

JUDY:

Yes I know. I started to say... I

started to say Joe that --

JOE:

Do I put you off?

JUDY:

You manage to throw me off balance. I

adore you.

JOE:

And I you.

JUDY:

But I'm always afraid I'll say something

stupid.

JOE:

Ah.

JUDY:

And so I always manage to, do you see?

Like the book/script thing, do you see?

JOE:

Mmm hmmm.

INT. FOYER

CAL and SOPHIA GOLD are there with their children - JACK and

EVIE - eight and six respectively. Carrying gifts and totes

with toys and changes. Jerry and Sally have gathered them up

and ushered them in.

SALLY:

You know Jerry.

CAL:

Yes, of course.

SOPHIA:

I'm the wife. We've met.

JERRY:

(hugs her)

You, I know.

SALLY:

(to Evie)

Hey, beautiful girl.

She picks up the four-year-old, swings her around. Jack

hides behind his father's legs.

SOPHIA:

(a grin)

Jack? Jack, you promised.

The little boy comes out from behind his father's legs,

covers his eyes with his hands.

JACK:

(sings)

Happy anniversary to you. We're glad Joe

came home. Don't split up again. Cause

we like the food.

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