Download - It Suits Her
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IT SUITS HER
By
William E. Spear
Two Plus Plus Productions LLC
Clinton, New Jersey
www.TwoPlusPlus.com
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IT SUITS HER
Is dedicated to the many
Friends, colleagues, and associates at
Kohls in Flemington, New Jersey.
Your great humor and creativity are exceeded only by the
Depth and breadth of your humanity.
Please accept IT SUITS HER in appreciation of the
Laughter weve shared.
With warm personal regards and thanks,
William E. Spear
August 2009
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It Suits Her i
Summary
Maxie Hills is a recovering alcoholic rushing to an
audition but needs his suit from the tailoring shop.
Celia Court despises her job at Smart Styles and will be
fired if she doesnt close on time.
Hes desperate to get his suit to reclaim his acting career
and she needs her job as a means for a future shes only
hoped only for.
When their lives collide, will they land in circumstances
that suits either of them?
Characters (in Order of Speaking)
Celia Court: Assistant Manager of Smart Stylestailoring shop. Hates her job but needs
the paycheck to finish college.
Clarkson: Owner of Smart Styles tailoring shop
where Celia Court works and Argosy
Hills suit is being tailored.
Maxie Hills: Movie star, recovering alcoholic. Co-
starred in THE TERMINUS 30 years ago
and is making a comeback bid.
Tony: Director of play SECOND CHANCES ofwhich Maxie is bidding for his
comeback.
Nick: Waiter in an Italian restaurant.
Mrs. Court: Ceels estranged mother.
Mr. Court: Ceels estranged father.
Agnes: Maxies estranged wife.
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It Suits Her 1
Beat 1. Introduction to Celia and Clarkson1
SFX: CEL PHONE RINGS TWICE.2
CELIA: (WHISPERS: RUSHED) Hello. . . . I can only talk3
for a moment. . . . No, Ill be there later . . .4
We dont close the shop until nine. . . . I5
cant, Mr. Clarksonll hear me.6
CLARKSON: (OFF MIC: BELLOWS) Miss Court.7
CELIA: I have to go. Mr. Clarkson might . . .8
CLARKSON: (ON MIC: BITE CUE) I might what, Miss Court?9
CELIA: (GRASPING FOR A RESPONSE) You might want me to do10
something important?11
Beat 2. The conflict12CLARKSON: Were you talking on your cel phone again?13
CELIA: (HURRIEDLY AND NERVOUSLY) No, sir. Definitely14
not. In fact, I was just saying to myself what a15
brilliant to-do list you provided and I . . .16
CLARKSON: (BITE CUE: WITH EMPHASIS) Miss Court, were you17
talking on your cel phone again?18
CELIA: My friends call me Ceel.19
CLARKSON: (SNAPS AT HER) Miss Court.20
CELIA: (MEEKLY) Yes, Mr. Clarkson.21
CLARKSON: Were you on your cel phone?22
CELIA: Yes, but . . .23
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CLARKSON: You leave me no choice but . . .24
Beat 3. A glimmer of hope, fabricated25CELIA: (BITE CUE: DESPERATELY) I had an important26
reason, Mr. Clarkson.27
CLARKSON: What reason was that?28
CELIA: I, you see, there was . . .29
CLARKSON: Well, . . .30
CELIA: . . . Uh, Mrs. Clarkson called, and . . .31
CLARKSON: (PERKS UP) My wife called on your cel phone?32
CELIA: Yes . . . She wanted to make sure you were still33
coming home early like you talked about.34
CLARKSON: I dont remember talking . . .35
CELIA: She was really adamant that I remind you and36
(ANXIOUSLY) look at the time. You have to get37
home.38
CLARKSON: Who will close the store?39
CELIA: Im on that.40
CLARKSON: We were going to discuss you talking on your41
phone.42
CELIA: Theres no time now. You have to go. Call me43
later. On my cel.44
CLARKSON: Allright but close the store right after I leave.45
CELIA: Hurry, sir.46
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CLARKSON: (GOING OFF MIC) Im hurrying. Good night Miss47
Court.48
Beat 4. She makes plans for the evening49
SFX: CEL PHONE RINGS TWICE.50
CELIA: Hello? . . . No, hes gone; I can talk. . . . It51
sounds like a great party. Ill be there when I52
finish. . . . No, I cant stay late, Im opening53
the shop tomorrow. . . . You sound angry. . . .54
But I need this job. I dont have a father taking55
me to Singapore for vacation. . . . Whatever, Im56
late closing the shop and have to go. Goodbye.57
(PAUSE: TO AUDIENCE) Ill be happy if I dont58
talk to another guy tonight.59
Beat 5. Introduction to Argosy Maxie Hills60MAXIE: (SLIGHTLY WINDED) Just made it.61
CELIA: So much for no more guys.62
MAXIE: Excuse me?63
CELIA: Were closed.64
MAXIE: My suits in here.65
CELIA: Youll have to come back in the morning.66
MAXIE: I have an appointment tonight.67
CELIA: Like I said, were closed.68
MAXIE: This is the earliest I could get here.69
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CELIA: Which is exactly two minutes after closing. Good70
night.71
Beat 6. Maxies bluff72MAXIE: I happen to be a close friend of the owner of73
this establishment.74
CELIA: Really? You know Mr., uh, Higgins?75
MAXIE: We go back many years. I helped him start the76
business.77
CELIA: You helped Mr. Higgins start Fit Rite tailors?78
MAXIE: Yes, and good old Higgie said Fit Rite would79
always be open for me.80
CELIA: Well, any friend of good old Higgie gets my best81
customer service.82
MAXIE: Thats better.83
CELIA: NOT! In the first place, the owner is Jack84
Clarkson and not good old Higgie. In the second85
place, the shop is named Smart Styles not Fit86
Rite. And in the third place, good night.87
Beat 7. I am Argosy Hills88MAXIE: (REGROUPS) Wait just one moment. I am Argosy89
Hills.90
CELIA: Whos Argosy Jones?91
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MAXIE: Hills. Argosy Hills and I require my suit 92
tonight for an audition in a stage play.93
CELIA: I am Celia Court and I require you to leave now94
so I may keep my job.95
MAXIE: I am not leaving without my suit.96
CELIA: Yes you are or Ill call the police.97
Beat 8. I am Argosy Hills - reiterated98MAXIE: Listen, young lady, I am Argosy Hills . . .99
CELIA: (BITE CUE) Ive still never heard of Argosy100
Jones.101
MAIXE: Hills, Hills, Hills. My name is Argosy Hills.102
CELIA: Youve already said that.103
MAXIE: Ive been acting in films for thirty years.104
Beat 9. Maxies backstory105CELIA: I watched a lot of movies growing up. My parents106
and I saw a million of them and I dont remember107
your name.108
MAXIE: (REFLECTING) I was big. Bigger than . . .109
SFX: CEL PHONE RINGS TWICE.110
CEEL: Hold on. (TO CALLER) No, I cant talk now.111
Goodbye. (TO MAXIE) Go ahead, Mr. Hills.112
MAXIE: As I was saying, I was bigger than big. I co-113
starred with the all the giants Tommie Royster,114
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Gina Broyles, and Pamela Fenster. I worked for115
legends like Van Hoffman, Tony Marks, and Jackson116
Squires. I turned down scripts from Olympic117
Pictures, Statue Films, and Metropolitan Movies.118
Women used to spread rumors they were dating me.119
I was a brilliant comic actor, bigger than big.120
(PAUSE) How big are you?121
Beat 10. Celias backstory, humorously - part one122CELIA: Well, Im a size seven.123
MAXIE: Really?124
CELIA: Okay, a size nine.125
MAXIE: (SNAPS) I wasnt asking about your clothes.126
(REGROUPS) I meant, what have you done with your127
life?128
Beat 11. Celias backstory, seriously part two129CELIA: (SENTENCES RUN TOGETHER) Im working this job to130
continue in college. I got my technical degree in131
computer science and now Im going for a132
bachelors in international business. Ive got133
pretty good grades and someday Ill go for my134
Masters. My goal is to be President of my own135
global business. And my friends call me Ceel;136
short for Celia.137
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MAXIE: Very impressive, Celia.138
CELIA: Ceel.139
MAXIE: Ceel. I wish you nothing but success.140
CELIA: Thank you.141
Beat 12. Maxie hunts for common ground142MAXIE: You said you watched movies with your parents.143
CELIA: Tons of them.144
MAXIE: Did you ever see The Corsage?145
CELIA: No.146
MAXIE: How about A Continental Affair or Manners,147
Always Manners?148
CELIA: No and no.149
Beat 13. Common ground found . . .150
MAXIE: How about The Terminus?151
CELIA: (BRIGHTENS) That was their favorite movie.152
MAXIE: I was in that.153
CELIA: As what a bit player or an extra?154
MAXIE: I was Jonathan Talmadge.155
CELIA: You were Jonathan Talmadge? In The Terminus?156
MAXIE: Thats me.157
CELIA: We saw it a hundred times. My Dad always said he158
hoped to be half the gentleman you were.159
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MAXIE: Im sure hes more of a gentleman than any movie160
character. I have a few photographs from the161
picture if your folks would like one autographed.162
Beat 14. . . . but its painful . . .163CELIA: Theyve been gone for years.164
MAXIE: Im sorry. Please accept my condolences.165
CELIA: Theyre still alive but I dont see them anymore.166
MAXIE: What happened?167
CELIA: They were always bragging about who they knew or168
what parties they were going to. One night they169
came home and dropped names in front of my170
friends for over an hour.171
Beat 15. . . . really painful172
MAXIE: That doesnt sound so bad.173
CELIA: Every name that came out of their mouths included174
a salary, where they vacationed, and the type of175
car they drove. When another hour went by, I176
called them phonies. My dad laughed at me and177
said, If youll excuse us . . .178
MAXIE: (BITE CUE: GENTLY) If youll excuse us, Sarah, I179
fear youve realized what weve worked so hard to180
keep hidden from you.181
CELIA: Howd you know?182
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MAXIE: Its one of the scenes from The Terminus. My183
character Jonathan Talmadge was a nothing184
married to a nobody. He and his wife dragged185
their daughter around the world for twenty years186
convincing everyone they belonged in elite187
society. One night in Europe they were heading188
out to a fancy dress ball and their daughter,189
Sarah, refused to go. She packed her bags, got on190
a train, and left.191
CELIA: Thats what I did packed my bags and moved to192
the city.193
MAXIE: Thats extreme.194
Beat 16. Celias anger rising195CELIA: I got tired of listening to them be pretend to be196
something they werent.197
MAXIE: Some people have to project a certain image.198
CELIA: Just to impress everyone else.199
MAXIE: Trying to be more than they were.200
Beat 17. Celias anger and hurt at full throttle201CELIA: But I never asked for that. Just be there to202
watch movies, eat popcorn, and laugh. All I ever203
wanted was to ride our bikes down the shore and204
get pretzels on the boardwalk.205
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MAXIE: Maybe they wanted to do but didnt know how.206
CELIA: (FULL FORCE OF HURT) All they had to do was ask.207
Beat 18. Echoes of Maxies past208MAXIE: (PUSHES BACK FIERCELY) Its not that easy.209
(REGROUPS: SLOW BUILD) I started with nothing,210
got a bit of success, and things changed. My211
friends wanted me to be gracious and witty like212
the characters I played. A cocktail in one hand213
and a charming comment in the other. I went to214
all the parties, made people laugh, and got my215
picture in the paper. Success got bigger but I216
couldnt keep it up. Id slip out a side door to217
get away from the crowds and be gone for days.218
After a while, the parts stopped coming. Thats219
when I realized I could never be something I220
wasnt. I was a nothing.221
CELIA: My parents were something; youre the nothing.222
MAXIE: I didnt push a daughter out of my life.223
CELIA: All they had to do was ask for help.224
MAXIE: They didnt have the guts.225
CELIE: Leave them alone. (SOBS)226
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Beat 19. Maxie asks for his suit . . .227MAXIE: (PAUSES: OVER SOBS) Miss Court, Im sorry, really228
sorry. (PAUSES) Miss Court?229
CELIA: (ANGRILY) What.230
MAXIE: I need your help.231
CELIA: (ANGRILY) How?232
MAXIE: I need my suit so I can go to my audition. Its233
getting late and Id . . .234
CELIA: (BITE CUE: ANGER FADES) Yeah, sure. Its in the235
back room. Give me a minute to . . .236
Beat 20. . . . just as Mr. Clarkson comes back237CLARKSON: (BITE CUE: COME ON MIC) Miss Court, you have a238
lot of explaining to do. First, my wife never239
called. Second, the shop isnt closed. And,240
third, whos this guy?241
CELIA: Argosy Hills.242
CLARKSON: Argosy Jones?243
CELIA and MAXIE: Hills.244
Beat 21. Add to Maxies backstory245CELIA: Mr. Hills is a movie actor.246
CLARKSON: He hasnt made a movie in twenty years.247
MAXIE: Actually I made one eight years ago but it was248
really bad.249
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CELIA: He says he was a big star.250
CLARKSON: Was a star, now hes a Has-Been and youre a251
Never-Will-Be.252
MAXIE: There is no need to address Miss Court in that253
manner.254
CLARKSON: Listen pal. You drank yourself out of your255
career. Get out of my shop before I call the256
police.257
CELIA: You didnt say anything about being a drunk.258
MAXIE: Its not exactly a rsum moment.259
CLARKSON: And Miss Court, why you didnt close the shop.260
Beat 22. Re-plot261CELIA: I did close it.262
CLARKSON: Howd the drunk get in here?263
MAXIE: Enough with the drunk lines already.264
CELIA: The front door wasnt locked and he walked in.265
CLARKSON: To sleep off a bender?266
MAXIE: I have an audition tonight and holy schmoly,267
look at the time.268
CELIA: Ill get your suit.269
CLARKSON: No.270
MAXIE: (PLEADING) Just let me have it.271
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CELIA: Hes a big movie star. (SING-SONG-Y) Itll be272
good for business.273
CLARKSON: (MIMICS HER) No-no-no-no-on-no-no.274
MAXIE: (MIMICS THEM) Oh, for crying out loud.275
CELIA: Hell stand here all night and youll never close276
the shop.277
CLARKSON: (GRUDGINGLY: BEGIN SLOW BURN) All right. Give him278
the suit and get my money.279
MAXIE: How much does it come to?280
CELIA: What does he owe?281
CLARKSON: Seventeen-fifty.282
MAXIE: All I have is a twenty.283
CELIA: He has twenty dollars.284
CLARKSON: Theres a two-fifty late fee.285
MAXIE: Can I get a receipt?286
CELIA: Can he . . .287
CLARKSON: (BITE CUE HARD) No. You have your suit, get out.288
Miss Court, youre fired. Good-bye.289
SFX: DOOR SLAMS LOUDLY SHUT.290
Beat 23. More of Maxies backstory291CELIA: Its a nice suit, anyway.292
MAXIE: Im sorry about your job.293
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CELIA: There are plenty of other jobs. I can start over294
with someone else. But you missed your audition.295
SFX: CEL PHONE RINGS TWICE.296
MAXIE: Do you want to get that?297
CEEL: He can leave a message.298
MAXIE: Anyway, the audition was a hundred to one shot299
that wasnt meant to be. Ill get another one.300
CELIA: Were you really a drunk?301
MAXIE: It never goes away. I drank when I woke up,302
during the day, and to fall asleep. Didnt even303
recognize my own daughter.304
CELIA: Why didnt you get help?305
MAXIE: I didnt have the guts to let the world see the306
perfect gentleman was a lousy drunk. I lost307
everything career, money, and family. I havent308
seen my wife or kids in a decade.309
CELIA: Do you still drink?310
MAXIE: Im recovering; havent had one in five years,311
six months, two weeks, one day, and . . . what312
time is it?313
CELIA: Nine-seventeen.314
MAXIE: And seventeen minutes. Approximately.315
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Beat 24. Introduce Tony316TONY: (COME ON MIC) Thats a long time to go without a317
drink. Are you sure its been five years, six318
months, and two weeks?319
MAXIE: Dont forget the one day and seventeen minutes.320
CELIA: Eighteen, now.321
TONY: Hello, Maxie.322
MAXIE: Hello, Tony. The auditions are over, arent they?323
TONY: Yes, Maxie. Whos your friend?324
CELIA: Ill leave you two alone.325
MAXIE: No, please stay. Tony, this is Celia Court. Her326
friends call her Ceel. And Ceel - this is Tony327
Marks.328
TONY: Pleasure to meet you, Celia.329
CELIA: Likewise, Mr. Marks.330
Beat 25. The audition is missed331TONY: We waited for you, Maxie. What happened?332
MAXIE: The shop was closed when I got here. Ceel argued333
with the owner to re-open but he wouldnt listen.334
CELIA: Thats not exactly . . .335
MAXIE: (BITE CUE) Finally he got my suit and when I336
pointed out that his tailoring wasnt acceptable,337
he blamed Miss Court.338
TONY: Really?339
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MAXIE: Then he fired her on my account.340
CELIA: What really happened was . . .341
TONY: (BITE CUE) Thats unfortunate.342
MAXIE: Thats not the last of it, Tony. She needs a job343
to continue her university studies to be344
President of her own global business.345
TONY: She must be pretty smart.346
Beat 26. Surprise job for Celia347MAXIE: So even though I missed the auditions and348
youre probably sore at me - and I caused her to349
lose her job, do you know of any positions that350
might be opening up for her?351
TONY: As a matter of fact, theres an Assistants job352
thats opening up Monday.353
CELIA: Thats incredible. Thank you, Mr. Marks.354
Beat 27. Bigger surprise Maxie gets the role355MAXIE: Hold on. Whos the job with? I want to interview356
her new employer.357
TONY: (CHUCKLES AT THE HUMOR) It would be one-sided.358
MAXIE: How so?359
TONY: Shes your Assistant.360
MAXIE: I dont have a job.361
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TONY: You got the part, Maxie. I heard the whole scene362
with the shop owner and Miss Court. She was the363
one who wanted to close.364
CELIA: I can explain.365
TONY: The owner came back and fired her. You took the366
blame and spun a nice little fable for me.367
MAXIE: Im not much of an actor if I cant fool you.368
TONY: Maybe. But youre more of a gentleman than you369
were in The Terminus. We start rehearsals370
Monday morning at nine A-M and Ill see you371
there. You too, Miss Court, uh, I mean, Ceel.372
MAXIE: I cant thank you enough. Let me buy you dinner.373
TONY: At the Italian place?374
MAXIE: Like old times.375
TONY: Tempting offer. But go without a drink for376
another hundred and five years, six months, two377
weeks, one day, and eighteen minutes and thatll378
be plenty of payment. Besides, I have some379
details to take care of.380
CELIA: Its twenty-one minutes, now.381
MAXIE: And twenty-one minutes. Approximately.382
Beat 28. First time whereve you been, Maxie?383TONY: By the way, whereve you been lately?384
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MAXIE: Here and there, you know. Performing. I had a gig385
earlier tonight.386
TONY: I havent seen your name anywhere.387
MAXIE: Remind me to tell you about it later.388
TONY: Fair enough. Ill see you both on Monday. And,389
Maxie, welcome back.390
SFX: TONYS FOOTSTEPS GO OFF.391
Beat 29. Dinner, deferred392CELIA: That was incredible.393
MAXIE: Getting a job and landing a part deserve a394
celebration. Lets have dinner.395
CELIA: I have a phone call to make. Can I meet up with396
you?397
MAXIE: Sure. Its the Italian place two blocks down and398
one block west.399
Beat 30. Second time whatve you been doing, Maxie?400CELIA: Ill see you there. (PAUSE) By the way, what gig401
were you coming from tonight?402
MAXIE: Nothing important.403
CELIA: Tell me, Im youre Assistant.404
MAXIE: Nothing. Make your phone call and meet me at the405
restaurant. Ask for Nick.406
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It Suits Her 19
Beat 31. Two hours later . . .407
MUSIC: PASSAGE OF TIME.408
SFX: ESTABLISH INTERIOR OF RESTAURANT.409
MAXIE: Hey, Nick, what time is it?410
NICK: It is being past eleven thirty, Mister Maxie. I411
am perhaps thinking that your companion will not412
be joining you tonight.413
MAXIE: Its been two hours. Tonight doesnt seem to be414
my night.415
NICK: And the day before the day before Christmas is416
becoming the morning of Merry Christmas Eve.417
MAXIE: I guess she got a better offer.418
Beat 32. . . . Ceel arrives419CEEL: (COME ON MIC) Not a better offer. But an overdue420
part. Hi, Max. I have someone Id like you to421
meet.422
MAXIE: The young man who kept calling you?423
CEEL: Its my mother and father. Mom, dad this is424
Argosy Hills.425
MRS. COURT: Mister Hills, its a pleasure to meet you.426
Weve seen lots of your films.427
MR. COURT: The Terminus is my favorite. The one scene428
where you say . . .429
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MAXIE: If youll excuse us, Sarah, I fear youve430
discovered what weve worked so hard to keep431
hidden.432
MR. COURT: No, its where the husband and wife welcome433
back there daughter after shes been gone five434
years.435
MAXIE: (TO AUDIENCE) I dont think I can win tonight.436
MRS. COURT: Pardon me?437
MAXIE: You have a special daughter.438
MRS. COURT: She said you helped get her a new job. We439
cant thank you enough.440
MAXIE: My pleasure.441
CEEL: Max, can I take rain check on dinner? We have442
some catching up to do.443
MAXIE: Of course. Ill see you Monday morning. Merry444
Christmas, Ceel.445
CEEL: Merry Christmas, Max.446
MRS. COURT and MRS. COURT: (TO MAXIE) Merry Christmas.447
(GO OFF MIC) I cant believe we actually met448
Argosy Hills. And hes so nice. Even nicer449
than in his pictures.450
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Beat 33. Its Tony, . . .451NICK: The Courts are a very lovely family, Mister452
Maxie. I am applauding what you did.453
MAXIE: They deserve a Merry Christmas, Nick.454
NICK: But you are having a role in Mister Tonys new455
play. That is worth celebrating.456
MAXIE: Youre right. Bring me your most expensive bottle457
of tonic water and a fresh lime.458
NICK: Thats the new Mister Maxie I am remembering.459
(CALLS OUT) One vodka tonic holding on the460
vodka.461
TONY: Hiya Maxie. I was hoping youd still be here.462
MAXIE: You missed Ceel and her parents. First Christmas463
theyve shared in five years.464
TONY: Lovely family. We saw them on their way out.465
MAXIE: We?466
TONY: Me and my details. Just made the deadline. Needed467
to happen in time for Christmas.468
Beat 34. . . . With a friend469MAXIE: Sounds serious. Anything you can share?470
TONY: In the lobby.471
NICK: One tonic with the fresh lime for Mister Maxie.472
Mister Tony, may I be bringing the same for you?473
TONY: Two, Nick I have a friend. Ill be right back.474
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MAXIE: Everybody has someone except me.475
NICK: (CALLS OUT) Two vodka tonics holding on the476
vodkas for Mister Tony. He has a friend.477
MAXIE: Ill take two. One for me and another one for me.478
NICK: (CALLS OUT) Two more holding on the vodkas 479
for Mister Maxie.480
Beat 35. Thats no friend, its Agnes481AGNES: Hello, Max.482
MAXIE: Agnes? (STUMBLES OVER WORDS) I, you, uh, its483
only tonic, I promise, but, when? Were you having484
dinner?485
AGNES: Tony told me you were here.486
TONY: She was the detail I needed to work out.487
MAXIE: (GENTLY PROTESTS) You couldve warned me. My488
clothes are a mess.489
TONY: Youre fine.490
NICK: I am seeing that you are not standing too close491
to an iron lately, Mister Maxie.492
MAXIE: I definitely cant win tonight.493
AGNES: Kind of a shabby chic. It suits you.494
TONY: Ive got to go. See you Monday, Maxie. Merry495
Christmas, Agnes.496
AGNES: To you as well, Tony.497
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SFX: GO OFF MIC: TONYS FOOTSTEPS.498
Beat 36. Third time whatve you been doing, Maxie?499
AGNES: Howve you been keeping yourself?500
MAXIE: Oh, you know. A little of this and a little of501
that.502
AGNES: Working?503
MAXIE: Pretty steady. Especially the last four years. I504
even have a retirement account.505
AGNES: I havent seen your name around town.506
MAXIE: Not on stage or film. Ive got a couple of jobs507
that keep me busy.508
AGNES: Tell me.509
MAXIE: The one I really like is in the Mens department510
of a local store.511
AGNES: You any good?512
MAXIE: I couldnt sell a glass of water to a man in the513
desert. But I make customers laugh and they514
usually buy a shirt or tie. Plus, I work with515
some of the best people Ive ever known. Theyre516
funny and creative, like an ensemble. Around517
them, I got my timing back. They encouraged me to518
audition.519
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Beat 37. Congratulations520AGNES: Congratulations. And on your new role. I see521
youve been celebrating.522
MAXIE: Ive become a connoisseur of tonic and lime.523
AGNES: How longs it been?524
MAXIE: Ten years since I saw you.525
AGNES: Since your last drink.526
MAXIE: Five years, six months, two weeks, one day, two527
hours and fifty-seven minutes.528
AGNES: Approximately?529
MAXIE: Approximately. Its good to see you.530
Beat 38. Agnes probes531AGNES: Just one question.532
MAXIE: Sure.533
AGNES: Whyd you do all those things?534
MAXIE: Well, you see, uh, I, . . .535
AGNES: Why run around?536
MAXIE: Technically, thats two questions.537
AGNES: Drink so much?538
MAXIE: Thats three.539
AGNES: Not come home?540
MAXIE: (PAUSE: CONTRITE) That was the worst, not seeing541
you. But I was so afraid.542
AGNES: Of what?543
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MAXIE: How I was changing the interviews, parties,544
people hanging around me. Afraid that . . .545
AGNES: . . . Go on.546
MAXIE: Afraid that you wouldnt think I was as good as547
the characters I played.548
AGNES: Tony told me what you did for that girl. Said it549
was more gentlemanly than anything you did in550
Terminus. Everybody knew what you were before551
that movie. Ive always known what kind of man552
you are.553
Beat 39. Maxie pushes back554MAXIE: You never told me.555
AGNES: I was afraid youd think I wasnt good enough for556
you.557
MAXIE: The tonics gone to my head. Help me understand.558
AGNES: We studied drama together and went to the same559
auditions. You became a star and I got stretch560
marks. You were out with all those actresses and561
I was . . .562
MAXIE: (GENTLY BITES CUE) You were always on my mind.563
AGNES: Dont start, Max, or youll wear your tonic.564
NICK: Is somebody asking that I should be bringing a565
tonic?566
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MAXIE: No, Nick, just have a towel ready in case Agnes567
starts throwing my limes.568
NICK: Mister Maxie is making me to laugh.569
AGNES: Ha-ha. Ill bet you were the life of the party570
with Gina Broyles and Pamela Fenster.571
MAXIE: Gina Broyles, Pamela Fenster, and all the others572
listened to me talk about you.573
AGNES: Thats boring.574
MAXIE: Im not sure which of us is worse.575
AGNES: You.576
MAXIE: Youre probably right. (PAUSE: RESUME NERVOUSLY)577
Look, I, uh, . . .578
AGNES: Well.579
MAXIE: Im not really good with words.580
AGNES: Dont tell Tony or he might change his mind.581
Beat 40. He goes for broke . . .582MAXIE: What I mean is Im not good with words unless583
theyre in a script. But I was thinking that584
maybe sometime soon, not tomorrow or Christmas,585
but in the next few days, I might stop by to say586
hello to the kids.587
AGNES: Theyd like that.588
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MAXIE: (NOT LISTENING TO HER) I wont stay long and Ill589
call before coming over. It wont be a major590
disruption.591
AGNES: That suits me.592
MAXIE: (NOT LISTENING TO HER) After school but before593
dinner so I dont interrupt their homework.594
AGNES: O-kay!595
MAXIE: (NOT LISTENING TO HER) Well, it was just an idea.596
If it doesnt make any sense, we can drop the597
whole thing and . . .598
AGNES: (BITES CUE HARD) Max. I said yes. (REGROUPS) Stop599
by after youve had a few rehearsals. The kidsll600
want to hear all about it.601
MAXIE: I wont let you down. I wont let us down.602
Beat 41. . . . gets a smile . . .603AGNES: By the way, whats the name of the play?604
MAXIE: Youve never heard of it.605
AGNES: Tell me.606
MAXIE: Its nothing, really.607
AGNES: I want to know.608
MAXIE: Okay, okay. Its called Second Chances.609
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AGNES: Mustve been written for you. First, you drink610
yourself out of a brilliant film career and611
loving family.612
MAXIE: Ouch.613
Beat 42. . . . And reunites with Agnes614AGNES: Five years after your last drink youre cast in a615
major play and reunite a young woman with her616
parents.617
MAXIE: Check. Then I repair a ten-year-long breakup with618
my wife all in one evening.619
AGNES: Dont get ahead of the story.620
MAXIE: Ouch. Again.621
AGNES: (PAUSE) Hey, Max.622
MAXIE: Yes.623
AGNES: Its good to see you.624
MAXIE: And you, too. Ill call you in a few days. Merry625
Christmas, Agnes.626
MUSIC: UP AND ESTABLISH. UNDER TO BED AND OUT.627
Beat 43. The End628