EXT. STREET/HALE/ATLANTIC HOTEL - THAT NIGHT
Ike drives up and parks in front of the hotel as he talks on his
cell phone.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. FISHER AND ELLIES BEDROOM (NYC) - NIGHT
Ellies on the phone. Fisher sits nearby.
ELLIE
Ikes going to get married.
Fisher throws himself onto the carpet and rolls himself
helpless with laughter.
ELLIE (contd)
(without turning to him)
Fisher, if you pee on that Persian,
Ill kill you.
CUT TO:
INT. BEAUTY SALON - NIGHT DAY
Maggie talks to Peggy, Cindy and Grandma Julia. Grandma Julia
sits under a hair dryer. Sprout, the dog, sits in his basket.
CINDY
I love his eyes. I just believe
theyre listening to you.
PEGGY
His hair... any color.
GRANDMA JULIA
I like his tight butt.
Peggy laughs.
MAGGIE
Grandma!
PEGGY
(to Cindy)
See, this is a mature relationship.
Shes really found it.
CUT TO:
LOVE MONTAGE SHOTS:
EXT. OCEAN - DAY
Ike and Maggie fishing.
INT. MAGGIES WORKSHOP/HOME - DAY
They play ping-pong. They laugh, enjoying the moment.
INT. MAGGIES HOUSE - DAY
Ike and Maggie have fun playing cards. The game is slapjack.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
Maggie and Ike horseback riding. They sit on their horses
amongst trees, "nuzzling". Ike reads as he pushes Maggie in a
tire swing.
INT. MAGGIES ROOM - DAY
Ike and Maggie open and close a Hoberman ball by holding its
opposite ends in their teeth. Grandma looks in.
INT. MAGGIES LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
There is a fire in the fireplace. Maggie and Ike sit as Ike
shows Maggie some passages from his favorite books. Hes
reading something from Yeats at the moment. They seem happy.
EXT. CHURCH - THE DAY OF THE WEDDING
It is a media circus including FOUR REPORTERS, Midday with
Meredith and the T-shirt Vendor. Plus three other people the
reporters are interviewing, a GERMAN LADY, BUTCH KENAN, a
farmer and Grandma Julia. Reporter DINA NAPOLI walks down the
church steps.
DINA NAPOLI (OF WBAL)
Wedding bells are ringing for the
fourth time today in Hale, Maryland.
Maggie Carpenter, "Always a Bride --
Never a Bridesmaid", will be attempting
to complete her fourth wedding ceremony.
Well come back on the air when the
results are in. Back to you, Jessica.
Meredith, the low-end public access TV reporter, films himself
pointing a cheap video camera himself.
MEREDITH
The turnout for this mornings wedding
is usually reserved for royalty or
Hollywood stars, but Maggie Carpenter
is Hale, Marylands special star and
the citizens of Hale are out in full
force today.
The NY T-shirt Vendor pitches his wares.
T-SHIRT VENDOR
I got "Bye-bye Birdie". "What part of
I do dont you understand?"... Get
your "Runaway Bride" T-shirts here...
Reporter JULIE MURPHY stands near Grandma Julia and Mrs.
Pressman.
JULIE MURPHY (Channel 6)
The brides been here for almost an
hour, but being around in the beginning
was never her problem. Well be here,
showing you the full wedding ceremony,
we hope.
Reporter JACKI and TIFFANY stand at the edge of the CROWD
reporting.
JACKI/REPORTER 3(WBOC TV16)
Will she or wont she? That is on the
minds of these several hundreds folks,
who are standing here this morning.
Not to mention on the mind of Groom
Number 4,ex-USA Today columnist, Ike
Graham, who is missing in action.
EXT. WINDOW OF CHURCH/INT. SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOM - DAY
INSERT window of church. Peggy peers out the window at the
carnival scene. Cindy sits with Maggie as she leans forward,
doubled over on a childs chair. Peggy moves from the window to
sit with them.
MAGGIE
(moves to window)
Hes not coming. Watch. Hes not
coming.
PEGGY
No, no. I saw eight geese flying in a
"V".
MAGGIE
You and your lucky geese. You always
see geese.
PEGGY
Not eight...
CINDY
And in a "V".
MAGGIE
Eight is good... "V" could be Victory.
They ad lib various words starting with the letter "V". Maggie
is nervous.
CINDY
Rub your ears.
PEGGY
Yes, rubbing your ears is very soothing.
Cory does that to me when I
hyperventilate.
Maggie rubs her ears.
CINDY
We do it to our dog.
MAGGIE
Its hurting.
CINDY
Well rub.
After they rub Maggies ears a bit:
PEGGY
Hes here! Hes here!
They all squeeze and peer out window. They scream in excitement.
Cindy rushes to Maggies wedding dress.
CINDY
Ill get the dress.
MAGGIE
Hes here!... Hes here!
PEGGY
Nows the time for calm... If you dont
calm down, you wont get your dress on...
(reassuringly)
Hes the one... Hes the one.
Peggy moves to help Cindy with the dress. Maggie stands alone at
the window a moment. She picks up a toy horse.
MAGGIE
This is not a good sign.
Maggie goes over to Peggy and Cindy, and starts to get into her
bridal gown. They continue to ad lib words standing with the
letter "V".
CINDY
We have to hurry. The Sunday School
kids will be here soon.
CUT TO:
INT. IKES CAR - DAY
Ike pulls up slowly. GUESTS peer through the his car window and
wave. Ike rubs his headache.
JULIE MURPHY
Well, the groom just pulled up. There
was talk of a "now show", but he is
here.
DINA NAPOLI
Ike Graham is here!
IKESPOV:
He moves as he takes it all in: a FAMILY eats a fast food picnic
on a neighbors lawn, invited GUESTS flock by in their party
best, and local NEWS TEAMS block the way. The STATE SENATOR is
making a speech welcoming the press to Maryland. A large GROUP
of reporters head up the churchs stairs, hauling their
equipment. They enter the flood of PEOPLE streaming inside the
church. Ike snaps.
EXT. IKES CAR - CONTINUING
Ike stops the car where it is and jumps out, slamming the door in
anger. The REPORTERS swarm around him as he gets out of the car.
They continue to pound him with questions as he walks to church
steps. An OLDER LADY smacks him on the shoulder with a
newspaper. He turns in astonishment and continues up the
steps. He charges up the stairs and grabs Lee.
IKE
Shoot ours so she has one with an
ending.
Mrs. Pressman stands, shooting Ike with her video camera.
IKE (contd)
(pleading)
Mrs. Pressman, please.
MRS. PRESSMAN
Its okay. Theres no microphone.
Youre no fun.
IKE
No, Im not.
Ike retreats into the church. Lee comes up to him again with his
video camera: CHUFFA about Scorsese.
INT. CHURCH - CONTINUING
As Fisher and Ellie sign the guest book, a LOCAL LADY stares at
Ellie. Ellie stares back at her until she leaves. Ike walks
away from Lee and turns smack into Ellie and Fisher. Ike puts
his arms around them and gives them a big hug.
IKE
Friends. Thank you. Thank you.
Over Ellies shoulder, Ike sees Fishers grinning face.
IKE (contd)
We are friends, arent we, Fisher?
FISHER
(grinning)
Of course we are. Of course.
IKE
Then youll be my best man.
FISHER
Well, Im good, I dont know if Im
best.
IKE
Go talk to the pastor and hell tell
you what to do. And someone will tell
me what to do.
ELLIE
You always looked great in that suit...
And Ike?
(emotional)
Im happy for you, honey.
Ellie whispers in his ear.
ELLIE (contd)
Ill have a car around the back to
whisk you out of here if she runs.
Ellie kisses him on the cheek and walks away.