The Parent Trap Page #21

MEREDITH:

Niiiiiick!!!!!!

Nick sticks his head out of his tent, half-asleep, spots Meredith thrashing around, screaming, in the middle of the lake.

NICK:

What's she doing in the lake?

Hallie and Annie peek out of their tent and see Meredith splashing back to the shore in her soaking wet pajamas. She storms past the campfire, kicks the coffee pot into the air and marches up to Nick.

NICK:

What's going on?

MEREDITH:

Here's what's going on, buddy, the day we say I do" is the day I ship those brats off to Switzerland. Get the picture? It's me or them. Take your pick.

NICK:

Them.

MEREDITH:

Excuse me?

NICK:

(spells)

T-H-E-M. Get the picture?

EXT. NICK'S HOUSE - AT SUNSET

Elizabeth sits on a rocker on the front porch, reading when she hears Nick and the Girls pull up. She rises to greet them.

ELIZABETH:

Back so soon? Did you have fun?

Annie

Not exactly.

124

Hallie

We've been punished through the end of the century.

NICK:

Starting now. Go.

ELIZABETH:

Where's Meredith?

Hallie

We played a couple of harmless tricks on her and she kinda freaked out a little.

NICK:

A little?

(shows Elizabeth the ring)

We broke up.

ELIZABETH:

oh, jeez ... This-is all my fault. If I hadn't suggested she go...

NICK:

-- Tricked her would be more like it.

Like mother, like daughters...

ELIZABETH:

I'm really sorry, Nick.

Annie

We are too, Dad... really.

Hallie

Will you forgive us?

NICK:

Up to your room!

(when they're gone, he smiles)

I gotta remember to thank them one day.

ELIZABETH:

You're relieved?

NICK:

I think I am.

(not wanting to talk about it)

I’m also starving... Chessy around?

ELIZABETH:

She and Martin went off on a picnic around noon... yesterday.

12 5

(Nick looks up on that one)

Hopefully they'll be back... soonish...

NICK:

Who would've thought my Nanny and you Butler...

(then)

So, listen, how 'bout I whip us up something to eat?

ELIZABETH:

You know how to cook now?

NICK:

of course, I )mow how to cook. I can make pasta... and pasta... and...

ELIZABETH:

Pasta sounds good.

UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Nick, now clean shaven and wearing fresh clothes, passes the Girl's room. Inside, we SEE Hallie and Annie in pajamas, getting into bed.

Hallie

Wow! You look so nice, where are you going.

NICK:

(shutting their door)

Good night, Ladies!

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

Elizabeth sets the table as Nick enters.

NICK:

Smells good in here.

ELIZABETH:

Really? I'm just boiling water.

NICK:

oh. Then it must be you...

(takes out wine glasses)

So what are you in the mood for, red or white?

ELIZABETH:

I think red.

12 6

NICK:

Follow me...

INT. STONE STAIRWELL

leading to Nick's private WINE CELLAR. A cavernous space lit by beautiful lanterns. The walls are lined with bottles of wine... ladders lean against the walls, library style.

NICK:

This is where I keep my private stash. Did you know I also collect wine?

ELIZABETH:

Oh really?

NICK:

Yeah, I'm a man of limited interests.

Elizabeth laughs. Nick leads her into a small cozy room, pulls a bottle from a rack.

NICK:

Here's a 1921 Burgundy... They say the rain that year made this the best Burgundy ever harvested... Oh wait, you'll appreciate this one...

(shows her another bottle)

ELIZABETH:

(reads label)

Vi Day, 1946... incredible.

NICK:

Yeah, I love that...

(shows her another bottle)

The same wine my parents served at their wedding... a 152 Bordeaux. I think my sister was conceived off this baby.

ELIZABETH:

What's this-one?

(reads label)

Where Dreams Have No End... 1983.

NICK:

That one actually took me years to track down.

ELIZABETH:

Why, where's it from?

127

NICK:

It's the wine we drank at our wedding. I now have every bottle ever made.

ELIZABETH:

(completely thrown)

You do?

NICK:

I do.

ELIZABETH:

Can we open one?

NICK:

You're the only one I'd drink it with.

Nick pulls a bottle from the shelf, dusts it off. He looks at Elizabeth and sees her eyes are teary.

NICK:

You okay?

ELIZABETH:

Just got a little dust in my eye...

NICK:

I can offer you a clean sleeve to...

ELIZABETH:

(pulling back from the offer)

No, no, I'm fine, now. Really.' All better.

NICK:

You don't always have to be so brave, you know.

ELIZABETH:

Oh, but I do, actually...

just then, they HEAR the cellar door opening above them and footsteps.

CHESSY (O.S.)

Anybody home?

Nick hesitates, looks to Elizabeth, who shrugs.

NICK:

Yeah... We're on our way up...

128.

Nick and Elizabeth climb the stairs and enter the KITCHEN where they are greeted by Martin and Chessy. Martin wears shades and a Laker baseball cap.

ELIZABETH:

Welcome back... How was the picnic?

CHESSY:

Who knew the man wanted to eat in L.A.? We drove eight hours to have a picnic in a city with no parks.

MARTIN:

But what a town! I saw mountains, beaches, I saw Michael Keaton, not to mention I found out I have the same hand size as John Wayne and the same shoe size as John Barrymore.

CHESSY:

The man is a lot to handle... but a lot of fun. How was the camping trip? Aren't you back early? Are we interrupting anything? We are. Let's go, Marty.

ELIZABETH:

No, no, you're not interrupting anything. Are you hungry? In the mood for some pasta?

Nick looks at Elizabeth, wishing she hadn't invited them to stay.

CHESSY:

You don't mind? We haven't eaten since Hearst Castle.

NICK:

No, no, it's fine.

ELIZABETH:

I'll set the table for two more...

As Chessy and in Join them, Nick slips the bottle of-wine into a cabinet and closes the door.

CLOSE - ON A ROW OF SUITCASES

lined up IN FRONT OF NICK'S HOUSE. CAMERA TILTS UP as Elizabeth comes down the front steps and joins Annie and Martin, who are dressed and ready to go.

12 9

ELIZABETH:

Okay, then, I guess that's that. We're really off this time.

ANGLE NICK, MULIE, CHESSY AND SAMMY

sadly watching as a Cab Driver loads the baggage into the trunk. The Girls hug and promise to see each other over Thanksgiving. Chessy and Martin hug and promise to see each other over Christmas...

Then Nick and Elizabeth hug in a distant way and let go very quickly.

NICK:

Take care of yourself.

ELIZABETH:

You too.

The trunk is closed and Elizabeth hugs Hallie hard... Nick hugs Annie. Elizabeth, Annie and Martin wave, then duck into the cab. As the taxi pulls off, Chessy, Hallie and Sammy all look up to Nick. He turns away...

EXT. LONDON - ESTABLISHING - DAY

A Taxi ENTERS FRAME, rounds a corner and pulls up in front of Elizabeth's town house.

INT. F.LIZABETHIS TOWN HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Elizabeth and Annie ENTER, dropping their bags by the front door.

ELIZABETH:

Hi ... We're home

They don't bear anything.

Annie

(calls out)

Grandfather?

ELIZABETH:

I'll check his study.

Elizabeth ENTERS THE STUDY, and sure enough, there he is, sitting behind the desk, hidden behind The Financial Times.

ELIZABETH:

Hey stranger...

13 0.

The paper comes down and Elizabeth SEES it's Hallie sitting behind the desk.

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