The Anniversary Party Page #9

EXT. BACKYARD LANDING

It's at the end of a bridge, overlooking the pool. Voices

drift up from below. Mac and Joe walk in circles pacing

around one another.

MAC:

You got your DP?

JOE:

What? Oh yeah, the camera man? They

gave me a list.

MAC:

And you got Skye Davidson. Pretty big

leagues for a first timer. Do you even

like movies?

JOE:

Not particularly. Weird, isn't it? God

I'm rally up. Do you feel anything yet,

Mac?

MAC:

Kind of. Hey, look - John Seale, Oliver

Stapelton, Darius Khonji - they're

friends. And great DP's I could give

them a call for you.

JOE:

Thanks, Mac.

(regards him)

And thanks for being so supportive about

all this.

(throws arm around him, hugs

him close)

I really love you, you know.

MAC:

Hey, I'm happy for you, buddy. Anything

I can do.

JOE:

(lets go of Mac)

God, I really need to jump about a bit.

(begins jumping)

How's your film going?

CAL:

It's going. It's going.

JOE:

And how's the diva doing?

MAC:

Well, you know...good days, bad days.

JOE:

I meant Sally.

MAC:

I meant Sally.

JOE:

(stops jumping, studies him)

Oh. You're serious.

MAC:

(throws and arm around him)

No. No.

(a beat)

Let me tell you something. Directing's

the best preparation possible for

fatherhood. The sleep depravation alone.

JOE:

Oh don't. Everyone says that.

INT. MUSIC LIBRARY

Sally's taken Gina's photograph of them from the mantelpiece

in the living room, and looks for a spot for it on the CD

shelves. Sophia is studying the CDs very intently. They are

both bopping to the music.

SALLY:

(re:
the photograph)

Isn't this a fabulous picture?

SOPHIA:

Yes.

SALLY:

She's such a great photographer.

SOPHIA:

Hm.

SALLY:

So where should I put it?

SOPHIA:

I thought it was okay where it was.

SALLY:

It's much more personal in here.

SOPHIA:

A notch above the storage room.

SALLY:

We're always in here.

(regards the photo)

She really gets him, doesn't she?

SOPHIA:

The both of you.

SALLY:

But she really gets to the heart of Joe,

doesn't she? She's a genius.

SOPHIA:

So how much do you hate her?

SALLY:

Big time.

They both laugh, then...

SOPHIA:

Well, I don't trust her. I never have.

SALLY:

She took our wedding photos, for

chrissakes. You don't trust anyone.

SOPHIA:

(a moment simply)

I trust you.

SALLY:

Oh Soph...

SOPHIA:

You'll hate it in London. It's wet and

miserable. A medical hellhole Sally.

It's socialized. Beds in the corridors.

Terrible plumbing.

SALLY:

And the food sucks, I know.

SOPHIA:

You are not having your baby in London.

You're going to have your baby at Cedars

in Beverly Hills, America, delivered by

Dr. Milton Cohen. Period.

And you're getting that epidural right

away, don't let anyone talk you into any

of that Lamase bullshit. There's no

excuse for pain like that.

SALLY:

Sophia! I'm not even pregnant!

SOPHIA:

Well good. Thank God.

SALLY:

Let's go in the kitchen and spy on

everyone.

SOPHIA:

Oh honey, let's.

They've started to walk through the house.

SALLY:

(stops short; turns to her)

What do you mean, thank God?

SOPHIA:

Well, are you sure about this baby thing?

It's not the ticking clock sh*t, is it?

SALLY:

No, no, not at all... I mean I've still

got plenty of time. Don't I? I mean I

still have a good six years, whatever.

We could have three kids yet, if we

wanted. And I know I've always said I

never wanted kids, and I didn't... but

this year, I really, truly, feel ready...

SOPHIA:

Honey, I'm not worried about you. You

are going to be a fantastic mom. Not an

issue. I pressed you, remember? Joe, on

the other hand, is a different story.

SALLY:

(laughs)

Oh Soph, Joe loves kids. Joe wants kids.

Joe thinks he needs kids.

SOPHIA:

He wants playmates. Oh he's a

sweetheart, Sal, you know I love him.

But he's not going to be a good father.

He's just not parenting material.

SALLY:

Hey, let's sit down. I bet the rug feels

really nice against your skin.

Sally drops out of frame.

SOPHIA:

Don't try and change the subject.

(sitting, joining Sally)

Oh God, it feels great! He's just a

little narcissistic, irresponsible and

unreliable.

SALLY:

And Cal's this massive adult?

SOPHIA:

Cal knows who he is. Did you notice how

happy Joe was when the drugs came out

tonight?

SALLY:

You weren't exactly horrified.

SOPHIA:

(laughing)

I don't have a drug problem.

SALLY:

Neither does Joe.

SOPHIA:

His sister does. Big time. And the New

York Times says addiction is genetic --

I'll e-mail you the article.

Sally stares at her friend suddenly mute, eyes wide.

SOPHIA (CONT'D)

You don't have kids to keep a marriage

together, Sally. It's only five months

since Joe came back.

SALLY:

(getting up)

We're fine. We're great. We're having a

baby and we're moving to London.

SOPHIA:

(following her)

Well, you weren't fine last summer when

you went Sylvia Plath on me in

Connecticut.

SALLY:

Not nice. Not kind.

SOPHIA:

Ha! Not half so not kind as your husband

was in his portrayal of you in his novel.

SALLY:

Why are you doing this?

SOPHIA:

His image of you is a possessive, fragile

neurotic.

SALLY:

(tearing up)

But I am a possessive, fragile neurotic.

SOPHIA:

(also tearing up)

No you are not. You're Sally Nash.

Listen to me, you're Sally Nash. You're

my best friend and I love you more than

anyone, and you're not going to move to

London to have the offspring of a

sexually ambivalent man-child. "Oh now

I'm a novelist, oh now I'm a director..."

English prick bastard Joe Therrian who's

probably going to leave you for Skye

Davidson anyway.

They hug a bit weepy.

SOPHIA (CONT'D)

He's always one step removed, always

looking over his shoulder always looking

for something else, something more

intoxicating, and I don't mean drugs. I

love him, Sal, but he's a child. He's

not ready.

(a choked sob, tears well and

fall)

Oh God, you're so lucky you don't have

kids. You can't stick your head in the

oven. You can't take a handful of

Percoden if you want to, or slit your

wrists. You can't do yourself in. Kids

rob you of that option. Trust me.

(a beat)

Oh my God, this ecstacy must be really

good.

EXT. POOL SIDE - CONTINUOUS

Joe and Cal sit by the edge of the pool watching Skye dance

by herself at the far end. Joe has his hand on Cal's chest.

Cal is stroking Joe's hair.

JOE:

Isn't Skye amazing?

CAL:

She's got great tits.

JOE:

She's a constant surprise.

CAL:

And you've only just met.

JOE:

Yeah, I know... But she's only twenty

seven and...

(taps his head)

The wisdom. She's an old soul. She knew

that Shostakovich thing. Did you notice?

CAL:

Absolutely. And she's got great tits.

JOE:

Yeah, God she really does have great

tits, great tits. i can't wait to work

with her.

CAL:

The camera loves her. A great actress.

JOE:

With great tits. I'm going to ask her if

I can touch them.

He gets up to go towards Skye, is stopped by...

EXT. MEDIUM SHOT - CLAIR

Clair is climbing up the pool steps.

CLAIR:

Has anyone seen Mac?

JOE:

(pointing further up the

property)

I saw him wandering over there, I think.

How're you feeling, Clair?

CLAIR:

I'm so good.

She kisses Joe and Cal, and goes off to find her husband.

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