The Parent Trap Page #8

He pulls her close, she rests her head on his chest. Then, from the top of the stairs, Hallie HEARS:

ELIZABETH'S VOICE

Annie...!

Hallie looks up to the balcony at the top of the stairs and sees her Mother - for the first time in her life. ELIZABETH James is

a natural beauty in her mid-thirties. Hallie walks trance-like to the bottom of the stairs.

Hallie-

Mother?

ELIZABETH:

Honey, welcome home!

Elizabeth rushes down the stairs as Hallie flies up toward her.. Hallie falls into her Mother's arms, tears flooding her eyes.

Hallie

I can't believe it's you.

ELIZABETH:

And I can't believe it's you and with short hair no less.

Hallie

A girl I met at camp cut it. Do you hate it?

MARTIN:

(entering with the luggage)

I think it looks awesome.

ELIZABETH:

So do 1. I absolutely love it. And you got your ears pierced?!

Hallie nods.

CHARLES:

Looks very chic if you ask me, although nobody ever does.

42.

ELIZABETH:

Any other surprises - belly-button rings, tatoos ... ?

Hallie laughs, shakes her head, looks up at her Mother with tears in her eyes.

ELIZABETH:

What is it, sweetie?

Hallie

I'm sorry, it's just... I've missed you so much.

ELIZABETH:

(hugging her)

Can you believe it? It seems like it's been forever.

Hallie

You have no idea.

INT. ELIZABETH'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

We hear LAUGHTER OFF-CAMERA then Elizabeth and Hallie E R. Hallie takes in the room... it's beautiful, feminine and gracious. Tea has been laid on a corner table. Elizabeth leads Hallie to a small love seat.

ELIZABETH:

So tell me all about camp.

Hallie

Ohmygod, I love your room, Mom... it's so... totally Mom-like.

ELIZABETH:

Nothing's new... it's just as Mom-like as it's always been. So... c'mon, tell 7ne... Did you like everyone? Was it fun?

Yeah, it was great and I liked this one girl a real lot, I mean... in particular. She's from California, actually.

(then)

Have you ever been to California?

ELIZABETH:

(pouring tea)

Yes... Once. But that was a long time ago, before you were born.

4 3

Hallie

(staring at Elizabeth)

Man-o-Manichevitz ... I didn't realize you were so beautiful.

ELIZABETH:

Man-o-Manichevitz ... I love your new vocabulary.

Just then, Martin knocks on the open door and with disdain, holds up Hallie's Teddy Bear, by it's ear.

MARTIN:

I found a stowaway in your suitcase.

Hallie

OhmyGod, Cuppy.

(Elizabeth turns to her)

He belongs to a girl in my bunk... I don't know how on earth he ended up in my suitcase. Gosh, whaddya know.

MARTIN:

well, since he's not our 'Cuppy’, shall we dispose of him?

Hallie

(retrieving it)

No! I mean, no. I'll mail him to her. She loves this thing a lot. A lot. A lot. She's like slept with that thing her entire life and she could never be like in a foreign country without him. No, no, I'll take care. of it, thank you, Martin.

Just then, the PHONE RINGS. Elizabeth answers it.

ELIZABETH:

Hello? Hi... Really? Can't you manage without me? Annie just got home from camp... Well, what's the problem?

As Elizabeth talks on the phone, Hallie crosses to the dresser and runs her hand across her Mother's brush, her pearls, smells her perfume, then lifts up a photo of Elizabeth as a little girl. Hallie t = s back, looks at her Mom. Elizabeth makes a face about the phone call. Hallie laughs as Elizabeth continues on the phone.

Hallie notices Elizabeth's closet door is open and she enters, gazing at all of her Mother's clothes. She looks at a row of evening clothes and touches the beautiful fabrics.

44.

ELIZABETH:

Annie!

Hallie pops out of the closet, worried she's been caught trespassing.

ELIZABETH:

Would you mind very much running down to the studio with me?

EXT. KINGS ROAD - LONDON - A LITTLE LATER

Through a LONG LENS, shooting through taxi cabs and traffic, we SEE one very happy Little Girl walking the streets of London, holding her Mother's hand.

A STORE WINDOW - MOMENTS LATER

IS CLOSE on a mannequin wearing an EXQUISITE WEDDING GOWN. Above the window is the name Elizabeth Tames Designs.

Hallie (O.S.)

Wow, that's incredible.

ANGLE BACK to REVEAL Hallie and Elizabeth standing in front of the shop.

ELIZABETH:

Really? You don't think it's too over-the-top?

Hallie

No. I love it. You know who would look really beautiful in that gown? I mean, beautiful?

ELIZABETH:

Who?

Hallie

You.

ELIZABETH:

Me? I think the time change has made you a little loopy. Come on, let's see what all the fuss is about...

4 5.

ELIZABETH James STUDIOS - DAY

A skylight fills the foyer of this converted town house with a splash of white light. A huge vase of white orchids sit on an antique table. Elizabeth and Hallie climb a circular stairwell, passing a Bridal Boutique on the first floor.

Hallie

-- You mean you never think about getting married again?

ELIZABETH:

No, I like things exactly the way they are, thank you.

An Assistant hurries past them, carrying a veil.

ASSISTANT:

Hi, Elizabeth. Hey Annie, welcome home. Great haircut.

Hallie

Hi... Thanks ...

(shuts her yes, thinking hard) -- Fiona! Yeah, I'm back. Thanks.

(then)

But Mom, seriously, doesn't designing all these wedding gowns ever make you think about marriage... or maybe just think about the IF' word?

ELIZABETH:

(stops)

The ‘F’ word?!

Hallie

My 'father'.

ELIZABETH:

Oh. That ‘F’ word. Well, no, actually it doesn't because I didn't even wear a wedding gown-when I married the IF' word.

HALLLIE:

You didn't? -Why not?

ELIZABETH:

Hey, how did we get into this discussion anyway?

(they arrive at a large loft filled with people)

(MORE)

4 6

ELIZABETH (cont'd)

Okay, here we are. Now let's see what disaster awaits us.

As they step into THE LOFT, we see a PHOTO-SHOOT is in progress. A MODEL wears a beautiful wedding gown as a PHOTOGRAPHER, shoots away. Make-Up, Hair people and Assistants scurry about. MUSIC plays in the B.G. Hallie watches like a kid in a candy store.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Okay, she's here.- We're saved.

ELIZABETH:

(sotto, to Hallie)

Uh-huh, the pressure's on.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

We don't know what to do with the veil. if she wears it, it covers the back of the dress, if she doesn't the dress looks--

ELIZABETH:

-- incomplete. Right.

(to Model)

Can you try standing sideways..? Head up, kind of an Audrey Hepburn type... that's it. That's perfect.

(to Assistant)

Now slip the veil on and drape it back... not over her shoulders ... straight back, there you go...

(to Model)

Now lift the train in your arms like you're carrying it. Don't worry about the bouquet, you're married now, you gotta learn to juggle... Beautiful. And look happy, it's your wedding day!

The Model laughs as the Photographer reels off shots.

Hallie

(to herself)

Mom is too cool.

STUDIO CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER

Elizabeth and Hallie make their way down the hall, passing a row of design offices. Two Assistants carry a gown past them.

Hallie

So what did you wear to marry my Dad?

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