it suits her

8/14/2019 It Suits Her

1/31

IT SUITS HER

By

William E. Spear

Two Plus Plus Productions LLC

Clinton, New Jersey

www.TwoPlusPlus.com

[email protected]


2/31

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


3/31

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.


4/31

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


5/31

It Suits Her 2

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


6/31

It Suits Her 3

CLARKSON: (GOING OFF MIC) Im hurrying. Good night Miss47

Court.48

Beat 4. She makes plans for the evening49


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


7/31

It Suits Her 4

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


8/31

It Suits Her 5

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


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


9/31

It Suits Her 6

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


10/31

It Suits Her 7

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


11/31

It Suits Her 8

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


12/31

It Suits Her 9

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


13/31

It Suits Her 10

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


14/31

It Suits Her 11

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


15/31

It Suits Her 12

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


16/31

It Suits Her 13

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


17/31

It Suits Her 14

CELIA: There are plenty of other jobs. I can start over294

with someone else. But you missed your audition.295


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


18/31

It Suits Her 15

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


19/31

It Suits Her 16

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


20/31

It Suits Her 17

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


21/31

It Suits Her 18

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


22/31

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


23/31

It Suits Her 20

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


24/31

It Suits Her 21

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


25/31

It Suits Her 22

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


26/31

It Suits Her 23

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


27/31

It Suits Her 24

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


28/31

It Suits Her 25

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


29/31

It Suits Her 26

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


30/31

It Suits Her 27

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


31/31

It Suits Her 28

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

it suits her

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