PART 9
EXT. MAGGIES HOUSE - DAY
Ike jogs alongside of Maggie on her bike. Maggie parks her bike
and they go inside her door to the house.
INT. MAGGIES FOYER AND STAIRS - DAY
Maggie leads Ike upstairs to her workroom.
MAGGIE
Pardon the mess. I havent cleaned
since the fifth grade.
INT. MAGGIES WORKROOM - LATER
Insert on a cappuccino machine. We PULL BACK and see Maggie and
Ike standing at her work table. An automatic cappuccino maker
stands on the table. Its base is made from a used paint mixing
machine. It looks very shiny and futuristic. Maggies logo
"MAG" is on the side. The machine shakes as it steams the
cappuccino. Ike notices another homemade machine on the table.
IKE (contd)
Whats this over here?
MAGGIE
Its a birthday present for my cousin.
Put your finger in.
IKE
Cindy the manicurist.
He puts his finger in the wrong hole of the machine.
MAGGIE
No, the other one.
He puts his finger in the correct hole. She turns it on. The
brushes rotate.
IKE
(laughing)
This is wonderful. You reconfigure all
these industrial parts and you do
something amazing with it.
He looks around and spots some gadgets and lamps on another table.
He walks to them.
IKE (contd)
Amazing. Found industrial stuff.
Willow lamp... Rasta lamp...
He picks up one of the many logos on the counter. Each boasts a
"MAG" logo.
IKE (contd)
Is this your preferred logo?
MAGGIE
I think so.
IKE
I like it. This whole thing is pretty
incredible.
(studying a lamp)
I think you could probably sell this
lamp idea in New York.
MAGGIE
Maybe someday.
IKE
You afraid to try?
MAGGIE
(stares at him)
No, Im not afraid. Just... Maybe
someday.
IKE
Well, Im impressed. Absolutely
incredible.
(sitting)
I didnt expect pink and lacy, but this
isnt exactly a womans room.
MAGGIE
What an incredible chauvinistic
observation.
INT. MAGGIES LIVING ROOM - A BIT LATER THAT DAY
Maggies showing Ike engagement rings.
MAGGIE
Thats Brians. He took me ut canoeing
on the lake and gave me the ring in a
velvet box.
Ike snores. Maggie hits him.
MAGGIE (contd)
(defensive)
It was classic.
Maggie hands Ike another ring. This one is in the shape of a
Grateful Dead rose.
MAGGIE (contd)
Gill. Of course. He proposed at the
tie-dye t-shirt stand at a Dead concert.
It was very sweet until he hallucinated
that the drum set was a blood-sucking
space alien.
IKE
Always a mood killer.
MAGGIE
Still sweet.
Maggie hands Ike a third ring. Its in the shape of a butterfly
and studded with multi-color gems.
MAGGIE (contd)
George. He proposed at a butterfly
farm in St. Thomas. The ring was
inside a cocoon.
IKE
(grimacing)
Its a little "Silence of the Lambs"
for me. I cant believe you waited for
the wedding to run.
MAGGIE
Hes an entomologist! I thought it was
very unique.
Now Maggie shows Ike the ring on her hand. Its a gold "#1" with
a diamond set into the number.
MAGGIE (contd)
And here we are at Bob. He proposed
during the seventh inning stretch...
Ike touches her hand to examine the ring more closely. Her
surprise at his touch shows on her face as she finishes her
sentence.
MAGGIE (contd)
... At an Orioles game.
She takes her hand down. Ike steps away.
IKE
Wait. Dont tell me. The scoreboard
lit up with "Mary me, Maggie."
Ike picks up his cup of cappuccino and moves behind the couch.
MAGGIE
It was one of the most wonderful
moments of my life. Cal Ripken even
applauded.
IKE
(stopping)
Highly suspect.
MAGGIE
What do you mean? It was incredibly
romantic!
IKE
Maybe its just me, but -- if you got
to dress it up, it doesnt ring true.
Ike moves back to the couch.
IKE (contd)
I think the most anybody can honestly
say is, "Look..."
(sits on the arm
of the couch)
"I guarantee that well have tough
times. I guarantee that at some point
one or both of us will want to get out
of this thing. But I also guarantee
that if I dont ask you to be mine,
Ill regret it for the rest of my life.
Because I know in my heart -- youre
the only one for me"
Maggie stares at Ike for a beat. His words have taken a little
bit of her breath away. She covers.
MAGGIE
I like it.
She moves from the fireplace to a chair and sits.
MAGGIE (contd)
Id like it better on a scoreboard.
(lightly)
Is that how you proposed when you asked
your wife to marry you?
Ike is taken aback.
MAGGIE (contd)
Dont look so surprised, youve got
divorce written all over you.
IKE
Im a work in progress.
MAGGIE
So? Is that what you said to her?
IKE
No. I think I said something eloquent
like, "So, uh -- maybe we should, ya
know. What do you think?"
MAGGIE
Now thats romantic. A proposal like
that and you didnt find eternal bliss?
What went wrong?
Ike takes a swallow of cappuccino.
IKE
I dont know.
MAGGIE
You dont know.
IKE
No.
MAGGIE
Maybe you should ask her some time.
Ever thought of that?
Ike is restless. He stands up.
IKE
Call me crazy, but I believe that check
I gave you entitles me to ask the
questions for a while.
Ike puts down his cup of coffee, gets his tape recorder and sits
close to Maggie.
MAGGIE
Fair enough.
(thinks a beat)
Actually...
Maggie move to TV. She picks up Ikes stolen post-it notes and
her wedding video on top of the TV, and goes to the front door.
MAGGIE (contd)
Ill just need one more day to make sure
your check clears.
IKE
Ow!
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HALE STREET - THE NEXT DAY
Ike and Maggie drive in Maggies truck. They pull up in front of
a Bridal Shop.
A spectacular dress fills the small window. Its beautiful,
romantic, sexy. Maggie and Ike can be seen in the reflection.
MAGGIE
Even with everything thats happened
Ive still never been married and I
still deserve a beautiful dress.
IKE
Agreed.
Maggie gives Ike a smile that lights up the sky. They go inside.
INT. BRIDAL SHOP - DAY
The place is fairly large and prosperous, probably the place to
go in the Tri-County area. A little FLOWER GIRL, 10, is being
fitted on the pedestal in the middle of the room. A saleswoman,
POLLY, has taken the flower girl under her wing. They are both
under the expert eyes of a stern looking woman, MRS. WHITTENMEYER,
the shop owner. Also, the girls MOTHER is there watching.
POLLY
(to the mother)
Shell be the prettiest little flower
girl in your daughters wedding.
MAGGIE
Mr. Whittenmeyer. Hi, Polly!
The flower girl sees Maggie and runs and hides behind Polly.
POLLY
Hi, Maggie. Youll have to excuse her,
Maggie. Some of the children are
afraid of you since you dragged that
little boy up the aisle.
MAGGIE
I didnt drag.
(then to the girl)
He tripped on his shoelaces.
Mrs. Whittenmeyer comes forward to greet Maggie.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
Youve come for your dress. Good!
Ill get it from the back.
Maggie leads her to the front window.
MAGGIE
(happily)
Actually, I would like to get this dress.
She points to the dress. She smiles back to Mrs. Whittenmeyer,
expecting her to share her joy. Mrs. Whittenmeyer darkens.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
(to Polly)
Polly, take Leslie into change.
(then, to Maggie)
But the one you have on hold is lovely.
MAGGIE
(pleasantly)
Yes. But Ive changed my mind.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
Its one thousand dollars.
Maggie is keenly aware of Ike listening in.
MAGGIE
I have one thousand dollars.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
(firmly)
The other one is only three hundred
dollars.
Maggie lowers her voice, hoping to lessen the humiliation of the
moment.
MAGGIE
Is this dress for sale?
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
It just seems like an awful lot of
money to spend on one of your dresses,
Maggie... You only wear them for about
ten minutes.
Ike watches with regret as Maggies child-like enthusiasm
drains away, her happy mood crushed by the tactless assault of
the shop owner. Hes starting to see that its no always easy
being Maggie. Theres a tremor in her voice.
MAGGIE
Yeah, thats a good point.
(then, sitting)
The other dress is nice.
Ike calls out to Mrs. Whittenmeyer.
IKE
Mrs. Whittenmeyer. May I talk to you
for a second?
She walks over to him.
IKE (contd)
I dont know much about this kind of
thing. Im from out of town. Youre a
salesperson, right? Youre here to
sell wedding dresses.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
(huffy)
Yes. Ive been here for thirty years.
IKE
Perfect. Because Miss Carpenter is
here to buy one. But not just any one.
She wants that one.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
Its a thousand dollars!
Ike goes over and takes the mannequin out of the window. Mrs.
Whittenmeyer catches the wig as he puts the mannequin under his
arm.
IKE (contd)
Look, Aunt Bea, were buying this
beautiful dress and anything else she
wants or Im coming back here with a
squirt gun filled with India ink.
Mrs. Whittenmeyer wilts under Ikes fierce gaze. She turns to
Maggie.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
Will he really do that?
Maggie gives her a look.
MR. WHITTENMEYER (contd)
(to Maggie)
Well, why dont you pick out some
accessories while I get this ready,
dear. Polly, will you come help me,
please?
Polly comes to help carry the mannequin away.
ANGLE ON POLLY AND MRS. WHITTENMEYER:
POLLY
(whispering to Mrs. Whittenmeyer)
Its a thousand dollars.
MRS. WHITTENMEYER
Shhhh! The man has ink!
Maggie looks gratefully at Ike.
IKE
Tough to spend money in this town.
TIME CUT: A FEW MINUTES LATER:
Ike sits as he hears Maggies voice behind him.
MAGGIE (o.s.)
What do you think?
Ike turns around. Maggie is standing on the pedestal, wearing
the dress and looking unbelievably gorgeous. She is overwhelming
to behold and Ike has to struggle to keep his face under control.
IKE
(stammering)
You look... uh... You look fine.
MAGGIE
Fine. The newspapers upside down.
Thats better than fine.
IKE
Bob will be very happy.
She glows. Then the moment between them is broken as she
suddenly remembers something and grabs the veil off her head.
MAGGIE
Bob! I almost forgot! I have to meet
Bob!