The Anniversary Party Page #8

SALLY/JEFFREY

I realized I had become a man. Ta da!

GINA:

You're not a man, Joe. You're a boy.

JOE:

(childishly)

So?

GINA:

(laughs)

I love you, Joe Therrian.

SALLY:

(at a loss, small)

Me too.

Sophia watches from across the living room.

NEW ANGLE:

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Astrid squeezes in next to Sally, on her second portion of

everything. She allows Anouk to nibble from her plate.

ASTRID:

You're not upset that I brought the dog?

SALLY:

Would it make a difference?

ASTRID:

Anouk isn't like a dog, really. More

like a small person. So is there anyone

here for me? No one looks new.

(fixes on Ryan)

Who's that?

SALLY:

You don't want that. It's married and

it's the neighbor.

ASTRID:

Oh I think he's cute. How's the marriage

part working out?

SALLY:

You're f***ing desperate.

ASTRID:

Like you didn't know.

(re:
Skye)

Who invited the bimbo?

SALLY:

One guess.

INT. LIVING ROOM

The CAMERA stays close on the cake as America wheels the cart

into the living room. The top of it sports Sally and Joe's

faces on either side of Otis, a detailed edible photograph.

There are three sixes across the top.

There's a freed up pathway. Cal taps the side of his

champagne glass with a fork.

SOPHIA:

(re:
the cake as it comes in)

Part of our gift. Honey!!

CAL:

(clinks his glass)

Here, here.

Clair picks up discarded dinner plates. Otis takes care of

those behind couches, under tables.

The gifts are stacked high, near the fireplace. Sally is on

the floor, nestled between Joe's knees, leaning back against

him. His arms are wrapped around her, face pressed against

hers.

There's a SERIES OF CUTS through speeches, gifts,

entertainment. Sophia and Cal do a well rehearsed, very

funny, impromptu something with their kids.

Panes and Mac do an interpretive dance symbolizing the

marriage.

Cal and Sophia carry sleeping children down the hall.

There are speeches about Sally and Joe, outrageously dirty,

funny, sometimes touching - that cover their recent

separation, the custody of Otis, their trying to have a

baby...

Panes plays a piece on the violin. Someone else sings. And

finally...

MEDIUM CLOSE - SKYE

She looks out at the guests...

NEW ANGLE:

They look back at her.

SKYE:

I wasn't prepared to say anything. I'm

honored to be a part of tonight. To be

in the same room, with my favorite living

actress...

The CAMERA barely catches the grimace on Mac's face; Clair

elbows him.

SAM:

(sings out)

Still living.

SKYE:

And my favorite novelist. And all their

amazing --

SAM:

(sings out)

And talented.

SKYE:

Friends. And talented friends. This

room is so filled with love..

ASTRID:

(sings out)

And the winner is...

PANES:

Let the woman speak.

SKYE:

And I brought a gift of love. A gift

that is love.

She pulls an envelope from behind her back, which she's

decorated in flower-child fashion; it harkens back to the

sixties, puts it into Sally's hand, kisses her cheek.

SKYE (CONT'D)

(tears up)

Happy anniversary. Thank you for making

me a part of it.

SALLY:

(pours the pills into her hand)

What are they?

JOE:

(pleased, surprised)

Dolphins. Great.

SALLY:

It's ecstasy, Sal.

SKYE:

I think there are sixteen there.

JOE:

(kisses Skye)

This is an amazing present. What a

sweetheart you are.

Skye's pleased she's made him happy.

SALLY:

(regards Joe; to Skye)

What a sweetheart you are.

A pall descends on the party. There's a FULL SHOT of the

group. Nobody quite knows what to do. There's torn wrapping

paper all over the room.

ASTRID:

(Anouk still in her lap)

It's late.

(kisses Anouk)

You sleepy baby?

There are awkward excuses. Some of the guests leave.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The core group remains.

JOE:

I think we should all take it tonight.

Everyone's staying, stays. No driving.

That's the rule. I love you Sally-Mae.

You're going to have a fabulous time.

SALLY:

I'm worried about my spine. I'm very

worried about my brain and my spine.

SOPHIA:

(laughs)

Oh honey, you're gonna love it.

JOE:

(to her Look)

Sophia's going to do it, Panes is going

to do it, trust me.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Cal carries the envelope into the room.

CAL:

(on seeing America, bursts

into)

America, America God shed his light on

me.

He dances her around the kitchen, he picks up the sterling

dish, arranges the pills, carries them back to the living

room.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Ecstasy is passed from guest to guest. Ryan expects Monica

to abstain.

MONICA:

(his glare; simply)

I want to try it, Ryan.

EXT. POOL - LATER

The drug has begun to take effect. The party is now in full

swing. Music is playing, and Sophia and Clair are dancing.

People are swimming, some naked, some in swimsuits. Judy

floats around the pool on an inflatable dog.

Sally and Skye cuddle together on one of the benches round

the pool, chatting; a friendly, feely touchy conversation.

Joe passes around bottles of water and chewing gum to

everyone, emceeing the event.

Everyone is relaxed and open, except Ryan, who sits beside

Monica at the edge of the garden, separated from the others.

MONICA:

I love it here. Don't you love it here,

Ryan? I love it here. And I love

tonight. And I love these people. And

this feels utterly fantastic, Ryan.

(touches her own cheek, ever so

lightly; shivers against the

sensation)

Utterly fantastic.

RYAN:

You know what Sally Therrian was saying

about your spine and your brain? She

didn't pull that out of thin air. It

causes brain damage. You'd better drink

a lot of water.

MONICA:

Do you want to go home, Ryan?

RYAN:

Yes.

MONICA:

I think you should then. You should look

in on Sheila.

RYAN:

I'm not going to leave you alone.

MONICA:

They're really nice people, Ryan.

They're like us...

RYAN:

They're nothing like us.

MONICA:

I think you need to speak for yourself,

Ryan. But I think you're really nice

people...

She puts arms around him, kisses his cheek. He stiffens.

RYAN:

Are you making an ass of yourself?

MONICA:

There's only you, Ryan. You know what,

Ryan? You're beautiful. I love you so

much... You need...

RYAN:

I don't need a drug.

MONICA:

You need a good review and you'll be

fine. The whole color of the world will

change, mark my words.

She gets up.

RYAN:

Ready to go?

MONICA:

I'm going to go get my swimsuit. I do

know, Ryan, this is non addictive so you

mustn't worry.

(turns back)

Ryan, you're a great man.

The CAMERA follows Monica along the side of the pool. She

passes Sophia and a very exuberant Clair.

The CAMERA stays at the pool. Clair tears off Sally's

Galiano, flings it to the ground and dives topless into the

pool.

CLAIR:

This water is great!

JERRY:

(swimming past her)

Wanna dive for a baton?

MEDIUM CLOSE UP - JUDY

She stands at the side of the pool.

JUDY:

Okay, I'm about to throw five colored

batons in the water. Then I'm going to

count to three, and then you may start

diving. I'm playing too. The red one is

ten extra points. Ready?

(she throws batons in)

One, two, three, go!!

There is a melee of diving and screaming.

CUT TO:

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