The Parent Trap Page #9

47.

ELIZABETH:

Why the sudden curiosity about your Dad?

Hallie

Well, maybe because he's never mentioned and you can't blame a kid for wondering...

ELIZABETH:

(sticks her head in an office)

I'm going home, kids ... See you tomorrow.

Elizabeth and Hallie head back down the circular staircase.

Hallie

So, what was he like? Really.

ELIZABETH:

Who?

Hallie rolls her eyes.

EXT. ELIZABETH James DESIGNS - LONDON - LATE DAY

Elizabeth and Hallie step onto the street.

Hallie

Mother, you can't avoid the subject forever.

ELIZABETH:

Okay. He was quite lovely to tell you the truth. When we met, he was...actually entirely lovely. All right?

Hallie

(smiles)

All right.

it starts to RAIN. Elizabeth snaps open an umbrella.

ELIZABETH:

(puts her arm around Hallie)

Are you cold?

@IE

I'm fine.

(looks up at her)

so, did you meet him here in London?

Elizabeth-takes Hallie's hand as they dash across the street.

4 8.

ELIZABETH:

We met on the QE 2.

Hallie

The QE what?

ELIZABETH:

The Queen Elizabeth 2. It's an ocean liner that sails from London to New York. I was nervous about flying in those days, so was your father.

(remembering back)

We met our very first night on board the ship, actually. We were seated next to each other at dinner. He's an American, you know.

Hallie

No kidding?

ELIZABETH:

(nods)

We kind of hit it off immediately.

Hallie

Hey, I love Americans. I mean, if I wasn't British, I'd be an American. So, was it love at first sight?

ELIZABETH:

I knew you were going to ask me all these questions one day.

(yells)

Taxi!

Elizabeth raises her am and hails a cab. It splashes to a stop and they hurry inside.

INT. TAXI - MOVING

Elizabeth and Hallie sit side-by-side.

Hallie

So, did you see each other every single night?

ELIZABETH:

You know, this part of your personality reminds me of you father. You'd think he raised you instead of me.

(looking into Hallie's eyes)

Yes, we saw each other every night, every

4 9.

ELIZABETH (cont'd)

morning and every hour in-between. Then one night, he popped the question, right there in the middle of the Atlantic.

Hallie

Cool.

ELIZABETH:

And since a ship's Captain can do all kinds of special things, like even marry people...

Hallie

OhmyGod, you mean, you got married on the QE 2?

(Elizabeth nods)

That's beyond cool. So what happened? You didn't love each other when you weren't in the middle of the Atlantic?

ELIZABETH:

I don't )mow, honey. These things are complicated. I'm very British and you father's very American. I tried living in California, he tried living in London but...

Hallie

It just didn't work out.

ELIZABETH:

No, it didn't. Except for having you.

Hallie smiles. Elizabeth puts her arm around her, pulls her close. Hallie signs.

Hallie

Dear old Dad. I wonder what he's doing at this very moment?

CUT TO:

DEAR OLD DAD:

CAMERA is CLOSE on NICK Parker and he is lovely, indeed. A smiling, ruggedly hancuome guy, who shines among a throng of people waiting anxiously at THE NAPA COUNTY AIRPORT. Suddenly, he brightens and waves.

NICK:

Hal! Hey, welcome home, kiddo!

5 0

ANGLE - Annie WALKING ACROSS THE TARMAC

carrying Hallie's duffel bag over her shoulder. Nervous at first, she breaks into a grin at the sight of her father, waving and smiling at her.

Annie

Dad!!!

Annie runs to him and stops just as she reaches him.

Annie

(looking up at him)

Dad... Finally...

NICK:

Get into these arms, you little punk.

Nick wraps his arms around Annie and pulls her close.

NICK:

I hope you had a lousy time at that camp 'cause you're never going back - I missed you too much.

(Annie smiles, Nick looks at her)

What happened to you? Something's changed. Did you get taller?

They walk off, arm-in-arm, into the terminal, Nick carrying Hallie's duffel.

INT. TERMINAL

Annie

So, what's up, Dad? How’s Chessy and everybody?

NICK:

Great. Everybody's great, can't wait to see you. Eight weeks really is too long, Hal. So much has been happening around here.

Annie

A lot's happened to me, too. I feel like I'm practically a new woman.

As they walk, Annie keeps peeking at Nick.

NICK:

What's the matter? Did I cut myself

shaving?

Annie

No, it's just seeing you for the first

time. I mean, you know... in so long.

(giggles)

You look taller to me, too.

NICK:

(pulls her to him)

C'mon, squirt, let's go home.

EXT. NAPA, CALIFORNIA - AERIAL VIEW - DAY

A dark green Suburban drives past picture perfect wine vineyards.

INT. SUBURBAN - MOVING

Nick drives wearing a straw cowboy hat. Hallie sits next to him.

NICK:

Hey, by the way, thanks for all those newsy letters. I'm really glad I bought you all that personalized stationary you just had to have.

Annie

we meant to write, Dad, but we just got so busy with...

NICK:

We?

Annie

Oh. Me and my friend. I met this girl at camp and we got really close. Practically like sisters. She was a lovely girl.

NICK:

‘Lovely’? You seem to have gotten very Proper all of a sudden.

(takes her hand, looks at it)

Still biting those nails.

Annie

Dad! You noticed!

52.

NICK:

Whaddya mean, noticed? You've been biting them since you got teeth.

Annie

But I've decided to stop, Dad. It's a horrid, habit, really it is, Dad.

NICK:

'Lovely' girl ... 'Horrid, habit? Did I send you to summer camp or finishing school? And why do you keep saying 'Dad, at the end of every sentence?

Annie

I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was doing it, Dad.

(realizing she's done it again) Sorry, Dad.

They both laugh.

Annie

Do you want to know why I keep saying Dad... ? The truth?

NICK:

Because you missed your old man so much?

Annie

Exactly! it's because in my whole life, I mean for these past eight weeks, I was never able to ever say the word 'Dad'. Never. Not once! And a Dad is an irreplaceable person in a girls' life. I mean think about it, there's a whole day, devoted to celebrating Fathers, right? Just imagine, someone's life without a Father. Never buying a Father's Day card, never getting their Father a' birthday present, never sitting on their Father's lap, never being able to say, 'Hi, Dad', 'What's up, Dad?,, 'Bye, Dad, catch you later, Dad'. A baby's first words are always ]Dada, aren't they? Then there's 'Daddy', 'Daddio', 'Pop', 'My old man'... Not to mention, 'Wait 'til your father gets home, and...

NICK:

So, let me see if I get this ... you missed being able to call me Dad.

53

Annie

Yeah. I really have, Dad.

Nick smiles as he turns in under a wooden sign that says Parker Vineyard and Winery. Annie looks out the window.

Annie

ObmyGod.

NICK:

Now you sound like your old self.

EXT. NICK AND HALLIE'S HOUSE - DAY

A rambling Victorian-style ranch house, with a wide porch that wraps around the entire facade. Nick toots the HORN as he drives down the long gravel driveway. SAMMY, a big golden mutt, races after the car, barking.

JOSE, Nick's right-hand man, arrives from the side of the house, drinking a small bottle of juice. He opens the Surburban's door for Annie.

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