The Anniversary Party Page #5

SALLY:

Are you lovesick?

PANES:

Suicidal. It's much less codependent.

SALLY:

Will champagne help?

PANES:

Not enough.

Sally takes Panes into the living room where everyone chats,

drinks, smokes. They all like each other out of habit, if

nothing else. Ryan and Monica are on the fringe, stand at

the edges of conversation. There's always someone at the

piano, and they can all pretty much play.

SALLY:

Panes is here!

PANES:

(gives everyone a shy, pained

little wave)

Oh great.

Everyone stops, turns, toasts.

EVERYONE:

Panes!

MONICA/RYAN

(a little late; into silence)

Panes.

Panes gives them another little wave. Doorbell rings.

TIGHT CLOSE - SKYE DAVIDSON

SKYE:

Hi.

She's the young, beautiful actress who'll play the lead in

Joe's film.

JOE:

(his face lights up)

Skye!

She's in jeans, but somehow looks dressed to the 9s.

SKYE:

You're Joe, aren't you?

(nods knowingly)

I recognized you from the book jacket.

Joe grins from ear to ear. Uncharacteristically star struck

in front of this beauty.

JOE:

How do you do, Skye?

SKYE:

Oh, I love that.

(throws arms around him)

I'm just great. I'm so happy to be here.

And I apologize for invading you. And

I'm so happy you asked me to. I'm so

touched. I know how private you and

Sally are.

JOE:

(uncomfortable)

Yeah, well, it's just us and a few

hundred of our closest friends.

SKYE:

(genuine)

When I read your work I felt that you

knew me. Women must tell you that. And

this one in particular speaks to me, do

you know? I am Genna. How many women

must tell you that. And the script is

wonderful. Wonderful and lean and

visual...

JOE:

I'm so happy you like it. I'm so

relieved you said yes, and I'm really,

um, what, thrilled, yes actually, to

finally meet you.

SKYE:

You're going to be a remarkable director,

a brilliant director.

There's a long moment.

JOE:

(finally)

I think you're my first Goddess.

Sally and Panes have been watching from the living room.

PANES:

She's even better looking in the flesh.

SALLY:

Really? I need a drink. Come hide with

me.

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

America and Rosa are working at the counter, Panes and Sally

come through.

SALLY:

Oh, Jesus, Panes. I can't, I can't

believe that b*tch is in my house.

PANES:

You don't know she's a b*tch.

SALLY:

She's all over him, are you blind?

PANES:

It could be worse.

SALLY:

How?

PANES:

She could be playing the role in Joe's

movie that should be yours.

SALLY:

F*** you, Panes.

PANES:

You see, that's worse.

SALLY:

I just wanted tonight to be with the

people we love.

PANES:

Like your business managers?

SALLY:

They're not just our business managers,

Panes.

PANES:

Oh, okay, forgive me. Your neighbors are

here, for f***'s sake.

SALLY:

Exactly what I mean. It's all ruined.

PANES:

It's not ruined, for f***'s sake. It's

one of your parties.

SALLY:

I don't want it to be just one of our

parties.

PANES:

"How are you really doing, Panes?"

"Lousy, thank you, I'm falling apart."

SALLY:

Like the last time.

PANES:

No. No, not like the last time. She was

the rest of my life.

SALLY:

Like the last time.

PANES:

I wasn't finished.

SALLY:

Okay.

PANES:

"We can't stand seeing you like this,

Panes. I hate you being alone. Why

don't you stay with us for a while?"

"I'd love to, thanks."

SALLY:

It's our anniversary, Panes.

PANES:

I didn't hear me say tonight.

SALLY:

We're just feeling our way back.

PANES:

"Otherwise, we'd insist on your being

here."

SALLY:

You know it's true.

Skye bursts into the kitchen, Sally and Panes freeze.

SKYE:

(stuck)

Oh my God, sorry. I'm interrupting.

SALLY:

I'll be right out.

PANES:

(over Sally)

Come on in.

SKYE:

I'm in the same room with Sally Nash. Oh

my God. You're my icon. I've been

watching your films since I was a little

girl. Like, four years ago I followed

you all around the Beverly Center - at

least half a day, working up the courage

to introduce myself.

Joe enters the kitchen, watches.

SALLY:

I don't think I ever spent half a day in

the Beverly Center.

SKYE:

Whatever, do you remember? I've seen all

your movies. When I was in rehab, the

second time, they wouldn't even let us

see your drug addict movie. They said

you were too real. I worship you. And I

couldn't be more flattered, because I

know the part I'm playing in Joe's movie

is based on you as a young woman.

Joe winces, uncomfortable, picks up the bottle of wine and

leaves.

SKYE (CONT'D)

And I'm overwhelmed. And I want to do it

justice. And I hope we can spend time

together. And I'm gushing. It's my

worst quality.

PANES:

Not at all.

SKYE:

Oh my god. I've been so rude. I'm Skye

Davidson. Has anyone ever told you, you

look like Peter Sellers?

PANES:

No, never.

SALLY:

(overlapping Panes)

Everyday.

PANES:

I'm Levi Panes. Will you excuse us,

Skye? It's time for Sally's meds.

Panes steers Sally out of the kitchen.

SALLY:

It's nice to meet you... again.

They go. Skye is left in the kitchen alone.

SKYE:

(to America)

Oh my God, she remembers me!

INT. FOYER - MEDIUM CLOSE

Sally and Panes start down the hall in search of privacy.

SALLY:

(under her breath)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

CLAIR:

(on the way down; a dream in

white)

My God, your wardrobe is incredible. It

took me forever to decide. Oh, and I

found Dr. X, thank you. You saved my

life.

She moves past them.

SALLY:

(a moment; sotto)

Sh*t!

PANES:

(re:
the dress)

I'd cut off her red wine if I were you.

SALLY:

Sh*t. It's my Galiano.

PANES:

What does that mean?

SALLY:

About five thousand dollars. With my

discount.

The CAMERA follows them into the bedroom. They flop down

onto the bed and into FRAME.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

More guests have arrived. Sophia and her children play with

Otis. America and Rosa pass round hot hors d'oeuvres.

Joe places Gina's photo on the mantelpiece.

GINA:

(regards him)

Directing suits you.

JOE:

I'm not so sure. Look again in three

months.

GINA:

It must be nice having so many strangers

kiss your ass all of a sudden.

JOE:

Ow! Gina, you obviously need to get

f***ed.

GINA:

Just did. Jealous?

JOE:

When does he graduate high school?

GINA:

(laughing)

Oh, very jealous.

Joe laughs.

GINA (CONT'D)

I saw Lucy when I was in London, she

seems okay. It's hard to tell with her.

JOE:

Sh*t, I forgot to call her back. She's

off on a trip somewhere. Oh God, my

grandad's flat in London's been sold.

GINA:

In Cheyene Walk? Lucy's going to have a

meltdown. Oh, I'm so sorry.

JOE:

I should have damn well bought it. Well,

we can't afford it. The movie's going to

eat up a year of my life and I'm getting

paid next to nothing. Do you know how

much Skye Davidson's getting? Four

million.

GINA:

Yeah, but I hear she gives a mean blow

job.

JOE:

You really need to be f***ed.

INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

SALLY:

So how are you really doing, Panes?

PANES:

Why don't you go f*** yourself?

SALLY:

(laughs)

No. Really. For real. Really.

PANES:

I'm worried about your Galiano.

SALLY:

(slaps him)

You're a sh*t.

PANES:

No, really, five thousand with your

discount.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote