The Anniversary Party Page #4

CAL:

(at the piano)

Those who can't direct.

MAC:

F*** you.

EXT. POOL AREA

Mac and Cal sit on the porch sharing a joint. Cal is maybe

the only living complete works of Shakespeare and pulls out

his most arcane quotes on occasion.

CAL:

Are those our dailies? You're totally

outrageous. It's their anniversary. Is

nothing sacred! Well...so...how am I?

MAC:

(laughing)

Oh man, you are so f***ing funny in the

kitchen scene.

CAL:

I liked the third take, the accidental

disaster with the silverware.

MAC:

Nothing you do is accidental...

MEDIUM FULL SHOT

The CAMERA spots GINA TAYLOR through moving bodies. Tall,

beautiful, centered grace. She's got a Leica around her

neck... drops her two large camera bags on the floor.

Several of the other guests greet her, Mac among them.

TIGHT CLOSE:

Joe sweeps her up to his arms. It's an intimate,

appreciative embrace. Theirs was a mid-30s relationship,

certainly pre-Sally. Maybe his first important love.

GINA:

(re:
the cameras)

I'm the hired help.

JOE:

(affectionate)

F*** you.

GINA:

I never put myself in harm's way.

JOE:

Anymore.

GINA:

No, not anymore. Happy anniversary,

scout.

NEW ANGLE:

Sophia bursts from the kitchen.

SOPHIA:

Oh my God! America told me your

neighbors are coming?

SALLY:

And here they are!

SOPHIA:

And she was saying how happy you were to

finally have them over. Because you're

both, so, what - introspective? And you

should have done it ages ago. I'm Sophia

Gold.

(rescuing Sally)

Come meet my husband, Cal.

MONICA:

Cal Gold?

SOPHIA:

The very one. And you are...

SALLY:

Monica and Ryan.

RYAN:

Rose.

SOPHIA:

Sorry?

RYAN:

Ryan Rose.

SOPHIA:

Yes.

She shakes his hand. He's amazed at the solid grip.

SALLY:

He's a novelist.

SOPHIA:

Ah.

SALLY:

Like Joe.

SOPHIA:

Hmm.

(to Sally)

Where are my kids?

SALLY:

In the guest room. I've laid out a paint

table for them.

SOPHIA:

I hope they're watercolors!

SALLY:

Nevermind.

SOPHIA:

(to Monica)

Would you like to meet my husband?

It's all Monica can do to keep from putting her hand to her

chest.

MONICA:

I'd be thrilled.

SOPHIA:

Then he'll be thrilled.

She ushers them toward the living room.

JOE:

(re:
Sophia, appreciative)

She's such pure evil.

Sally approaches, gives Gina a warm kiss on the chest.

SALLY:

Thanks for coming.

GINA:

Happy anniversary. You're a good match,

you two.

(to Joe)

Can you help me with this stuff?

JOE:

(re:
one of her bags)

That for us?

GINA:

What a nose. You missed your calling.

JOE:

Can I open it?

GINA:

(defers)

Sally?

JOE:

Please?

SALLY:

He's impossible. Go on then.

Joe rips open the gift. It's a framed black and white of

Joe, Sally and Otis lying on the couch. It's clear which

photos in the house are Gina's. It's a breathtaking print,

an amazing caught moment. All light and shadow. A touching

study.

SALLY (CONT'D)

(respectful of the talent)

It's beautiful, thank you so much.

Joe, moved somehow, hugs Gina to him. Kisses her.

JOE:

I love you, Gina Taylor.

Sally's uncomfortable, a little jealous... feels intrusive.

Aware that Gina got there first. Knew him when. And always

captures something naked and vulnerable in his face.

CUT TO:

INT. GUEST ROOM - CONTINUOUS

In the center of the room a low table with paints and crayons

and glue and baubles. Two child size chairs either side.

Empty, the table hasn't been touched.

Evie stands against the far wall. She wears a helmet and is

surrounded by toy suction arrows. The arrows make a perfect

outline of her head and body. Jack stands three feet away,

bow in hand -- the archer prepares his next shot.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Cal is at the piano, charming the neighbors. Judy chats with

Mac. Jerry is on his cellphone, holding his Palm Pilot, his

hand pressed against his ear to block out the chatter. Sally

joins Cal on the piano stool. Sophia moves to Clair on the

couch, kisses her cheek.

SOPHIA:

You look so well, Clair. A wraith.

CLAIR:

(pleased)

You think so!? I've been working out a

lot since the baby.

And I've been working. And that takes

it's toll, you know.

SOPHIA:

I'm glad that's all over for me.

CLAIR:

Don't you miss it?

SOPHIA:

Never.

CLAIR:

Really.

SOPHIA:

Not for a second. Cal can have all that.

CLAIR:

Really?

SOPHIA:

So where is young Jonah?

CLAIR:

With a sitter. We have a sensational

sitter. Jonah's really comfortable with

her. You know, a second mom sort of.

Like part of the family. Amazing with

kids.

She inadvertently touches the beeper on her belt, and it

beeps. She jumps.

SOPHIA:

What is that thing?

CLAIR:

So this sitter can always reach me. I'm

still not used to leaving him.

SOPHIA:

You should have brought him.

CLAIR:

(shrugs)

Dander. He's allergic. Otis.

SOPHIA:

Oh. Do you have any pictures?

CLAIR:

Pictures. They're always in my tote. I

left my tote in the damn trailer. But!

He's Mac all over again. Imagine Mac

shrunk to two-and-a-half feet. The fact

is they probably didn't even need me for

this birth.

SOPHIA:

Are you the funniest person I know, or

what?

CLAIR:

I can't think how you gave it all up,

Soph.

Sophia sends her a soft, content smile. Otis comes over and

nuzzles Clair's knee.

CLAIR (CONT'D)

(freeks)

Oh my God, the dog!

INT. KITCHEN/HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Clair leads Sally towards the bedroom.

CLAIR:

It sounds hysterical, but Otis just

rubbed up against me and I'd kind of like

to change into something of yours. You

know it could be disaster. He's so

allergic. It's terrifying.

SALLY:

Borrow whatever you like.

CLAIR:

I'll change back before we leave.

SALLY:

(pointed)

Whatever you like. I'm afraid it'll all

be too big for you.

(a moment)

Are you alright, Clair?

CLAIR:

I'm fine. I'm fine. Well, I'm a little

stressed. And I've been taking pills to

get my weight down since the baby.

SALLY:

I'd say it was down.

CLAIR:

And the doctor said they might make me a

little jumpy. I've got a ghastly

headache, actually.

SALLY:

You want a Tylenol, or something?

CLAIR:

I'd love a Xanex.

(a moment)

Sally, please don't tell Sophia that I'm

not breast feeding.

SALLY:

Why would she care?

CLAIR:

You know Sophia. She's so damned

judgemental. And she's so damned...

perfect. And so f***ing... serene. Just

f***ing don't tell her. Because you know

Mac thinks she's God. And I can feel him

comparing.

SALLY:

You need to knock off the pills, Clair.

CLAIR:

Just don't f***ing tell her.

SALLY:

It's not going to come up.

INT. FOYER - LEVI PANES THROUGH THE GLASS DOOR - DAY

A Peter Sellers look-a-like holding a violin case.

JOE:

(opens the door)

Panes! How are you?

PANES:

Oh, you know, I am.

JOE:

Has she called?

PANES:

She'll never call again. She called last

week to tell me she'll never call again.

Where's Sally?

SALLY (O.S.)

Here I am. Panes, my love!

Sally starts down the hallway.

SALLY (CONT'D)

(for Panes; a long supportive

hug; a kiss)

Good, you brought your violin. I want

you to play.

PANES:

It's a machine gun. I thought I'd kill

myself.

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