The Anniversary Party Page #6

He rolls out from under her swat, she misses him.

PANES (CONT'D)

You hurt, you know. You're stronger than

you think.

They lie prone across the bed, about a foot apart.

Contemplating the floor.

PANES (CONT'D)

(finally)

How's the movie going? Your movie. You

are making a movie, aren't you?

SALLY:

Yes. Fine.

PANES:

That's it? Yes. Fine?

SALLY:

I don't want to talk about it.

PANES:

Why not?

SALLY:

I never like to talk about my work.

PANES:

Alright. Well, that's something new.

SALLY:

No. Not something new.

PANES:

Well, something's wrong.

SALLY:

Nothing's wrong. It's great, okay?

Having the time of my life. Mac's a

fantastic director. And what can anyone

say about Cal that hasn't been said. And

it's great working with friends, blah

blah blah.

PANES:

(a moment; little smile)

Um. Happy for you.

SALLY:

Thanks.

PANES:

So tell me, how's it going?

SALLY:

Oh you know. No doubts. No second

thoughts. Am I a monster?

PANES:

You're my best friend.

SALLY:

That's not an answer, is it?

PANES:

Yes, you're a monster.

She takes his hand. Sounds of the party come from below.

SALLY:

(a moment)

Thank you, Panes.

PANES:

You don't need to thank me.

SALLY:

(another moment)

We're going to have to go back out there.

PANES:

I guess.

But neither of them moves.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

SANFORD JEWISON is at the piano playing his own stuff,

oblivious to the din. The CAMERA gets a glimpse of Ryan

through the French doors at the pool, alone, a glass of

Perrier in his hand.

MEDIUM CLOSE:

Monica alone, uneasy, starts to pour herself a glass of

champagne. Jeffrey gets to the bottle first.

JEFFREY:

Let me.

(pours for her)

I'm Jeffrey.

MONICA:

Monica.

JEFFREY:

And you know our friends, how?

MONICA:

We live next door.

JEFFREY:

Oh. You're them.

MONICA:

Excuse me?

JEFFREY:

We've heard lots about you.

MONICA:

(lost)

You have?

EXT. POOL - CONTINUOUS

Judy Adams lost herself a little, steps outside, sits

alone...

JUDY:

(smiles over at Ryan)

Hi.

RYAN:

Hi. A little close in there.

JUDY:

Yup.

INT. MUSIC LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

A small, narrow room. Not much more than an alcove. With

space for a desk, stereo equipment, and shelves packed with

CDs. The topmost shelf is a line of record albums.

Joe's picking through the CDs. Monica wanders in from the

living room, toting a glass of champagne... watches him for a

moment.

MONICA:

Your Eames table is incredible. And the

B&B. I just put that in a client's home,

actually, but in red.

JOE:

You're an interior decorator, right?

MONICA:

(nods)

Sally did all this herself?

JOE:

In fits and starts -- and then, later, of

course, she had to accommodate me. So

things shifted a little bit then, became

more eclectic. And it keeps changing.

MONICA:

(somehow at a loss)

Mmm. It says something about the two of

you maybe.

JOE:

Yeah, we're in a constant state of flux.

(re:
champagne)

I see you've moved up from the soft

stuff.

MONICA:

Oh, yes. You know Ryan's been sober

eight years. And it's difficult if I...

you know. It's better if I don't.

JOE:

Uh-huh.

MONICA:

I'm a little nervous, so...

JOE:

Oh.

MONICA:

A little out of my element.

JOE:

No you're not.

MONICA:

Well, yes. Yes, in fact. A little on

the outside, yes. And there's been all

this friction.

JOE:

Hm.

MONICA:

I don't know why, but these

misunderstandings have a way of

escalating.

JOE:

Very well put.

MONICA:

I think a lot of this could have been

avoided if Sally made more of an effort.

JOE:

What?

MONICA:

But you're very private people. You

know, there's a kind of elitism...

JOE:

(pissed)

Elitism?

MONICA:

The wrong word, maybe. Delete that.

And, you know, the dog barks incessantly.

JOE:

And you know, he really does not.

MONICA:

And Ryan works at home.

JOE:

And your phone calls are nasty and

abusive. And I've come this close to

suing you for harassment. And you're

only here because we're supposed to be

sucking up to you.

Her eyes well with tears.

JOE (CONT'D)

Oh sh*t. I'm sorry.

MONICA:

Well, that's what Ryan thought. I was

more generous, actually.

JOE:

Oh sh*t. I'm sorry. I'm a total f***ing

maniac. Delete all that, okay? I spoke

for myself, this needn't rub off on my

wife. Oh sh*t. I get pissy sometimes.

Much worse than Otis. Otis doesn't bite.

It's just, I really love my dog and he

doesn't really bark a lot.

We live in a canyon. We hear dogs

barking at night, too. And it's not

Otis.

Monica starts to laugh.

MONICA:

Alright.

It appears she's consumed more than one glass of champagne.

JOE:

Easy tiger.

MONICA:

Alright. Please don't tell Ryan I'm

drinking.

JOE:

Scout's honor.

MONICA:

(grins)

I'll be your best friend.

She feels they've bonded. She pulls a well-thumbed copy of

Joe's novel from her purse.

MONICA (CONT'D)

Would you sign it for me.

(digs for a pen)

I'm sure this is inappropriate.

JOE:

We're way past inappropriate.

Monica giggles, presses back the bubble rising in her chest

and moving toward her throat. Manages not to burp.

MONICA:

(as he signs it)

I'll treasure this.

He moves towards the doorway, Monica at his heals.

JOE:

I need to leave you now.

MONICA:

I will treasure this.

JOE:

(shouting down the hall)

Sally!!!!

INT. DAILIES ROOM - LATER - DAY

Sally's team prepares clues for charades. Sally writes them

down, throws them in a bowler hat. Her teammates are Panes,

Sophia, Mac, Ryan, Sanford and Jeffrey.

SALLY:

Panes?

PANES:

From Jewish Folk Poetry, a song cycle...

MAC:

What?

SALLY:

Trust him.

PANES:

It's Shostakovich.

Ryan spots his book on the shelf and pulls it out, delighted.

SALLY:

Sandy...

SANFORD:

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.

SALLY:

(turns to him)

Ryan?

RYAN:

(pleased)

I didn't know you had this.

SALLY:

Oh. Well, yes. It's extraordinary. You

think you could sign it for us?

RYAN:

Absolutely. You always wonder where your

books end up. Why don't we use it?

JUDY:

Good idea.

RYAN:

There's not a chance in hell anyone will

get it...

MAC:

Down by Law.

SOPHIA:

Who's not going to get that in fifteen

seconds.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Joe's team works on it's clues. Teammates: Gina, Cal, Clair,

Skye, Monica, Jerry and Mary-Lynn. Everyone is talking over

each other and fighting for attention. There are a lot of

strong personalities here.

JOE:

Can we... one at a time? Hold it down,

and one at a time. You're last, Cal.

CAL:

Why last?

MONICA:

The Katzenjammer Kids.

There's a hush.

MONICA (CONT'D)

You know. It's the Funnies. The

Katzenjammer Kids. It's my mother's

favorite charade's clue. No one ever

gets it.

Pause.

JOE:

Alright. Good. Fine, I vote for that.

He writes it down.

MONICA:

With a "Z." K. A. T. Z.

GINA:

When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He

Thinks Like a King What He Knows...

People hoot, throw their cocktail napkins.

GINA (CONT'D)

What?

SKYE:

Utopia Parkway...

They all start talking on top of each other again.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

The teams have come together.

JOE:

Who's keeping time?

Mac raises his hand on Sally's side, Jerry on Joe's.

JOE (CONT'D)

Two minutes.

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