PART 15
ANGLE ON:
Bob comes up to Ike. He looks like hes going to punch Ike, then
abruptly holds out a rose boutonniere.
BOB
You look awful.
IKE
(sarcastically)
Thank you.
Bob hands the flower to Ike. Ike is shaking. Bob catches this
and looks up to Ike. It is a moment of clean honesty between the
men.
BOB
Ike. Need help?
He takes the boutonniere and puts it on Ikes lapel.
BOB (contd)
Im glad its you.
IKE
Really?
BOB
I didnt want to find out I wasnt for
her in the fourth quarter.
IKE
Got any last minute advice?
BOB
(motioning to their eyes)
Maintain eye contact.
Bob turns and leaves, going down a side staircase.
IKE
(to himself)
Eye contact. Eye contact.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ike sees a pictures of Christ on the
wall. He leans into the picture and whispers.
IKE (contd)
Cover me.
He walks into the chapel.
INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING
Ike steps up and stands next to Fisher.
FISHER
(to Ike)
I have no idea what Im doing.
IKE
Your job is... the ring.
(to Fisher)
Do you have the ring?!
FISHER
I just found out Im best man! Im
lucky I have a suit... Whats wrong?
Ike gives the ring to Fisher. The Pastor approaches Ike. Ike
turns away and look out over the guests.
IKESPOV: There are most of the TOWNSPEOPLE weve come to
know, plus some NEW YORKERS for Ike, with little ponytails.
Armani wire rims, Donna Karan bodysuits. Theres a lot of
smirking, checking out the hicks, forming their stories for
cocktail hour. Elaine is in back all dressed in black, mourning
Ike. Mrs. Trout approaches Ike.
MRS. TROUT
You should thank Lou and I for the
wedding car -- a 63 Buick.
IKE
Thank you.
MRS. TROUT
Oh, come on. Youre practically family.
Mrs. Trout starts picking lint off Fishers jacket.
FISHER
Hello. Im Fisher.
MRS. TROUT
This doesnt want to come out.
FISHER
You just pull a hair from my neck.
IKE
Mrs. Trout, go back to your seat!
INT. CHURCH FOYER - DAY
Peggy joins Maggie, who is blowing bubblegum and swaying in
front of an oscillating fan. Grandma and Walter come in.
Grandma gives her a kiss on the cheek.
GRANDMA JULIA
Good luck, Maggie.
MAGGIE
Thank you, Grandma.
Grandma leaves. Walter steps up.
WALTER
(quietly to Maggie)
Im really rooting for this one.
MAGGIE
Thank you, Dad.
Peggy turns off the fan. Cindy takes the bag from Maggie.
CINDY
Spit.
Maggie spits her bubblegum into the bag. Peggy hands Maggie her
bouquet.
PEGGY
Lets go.
MAGGIE
No sauntering down the aisle. Just
make time. Lets just get there.
Cindy and Peggy nod and leave. The door closes.
INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING
Both extends his hand to Elaine.
ELAINE
Hi, Im Elaine from New York.
BOB
Hello. Im Bob, Maggies fourth
attempt.
ELAINE
Im sorry.
BOB
Thats okay. Theres a lid for every
pot. Besides, Im comfortable with Ike.
I mean, Jack Dempsey lost his
heavyweight title to a New Yorker.
ELAINE
I know. Gene Tunney.
The organ begins to play. The organist is Ted. Grandma, Walter,
Mrs. Pressman and the Trouts watch. Mrs. Trout picks lint off of
her husbands jacket.
ANGLE ON:
Cindy and Peggy enter with the confident air of people who have
done this before. They make it to the head of the aisle all too
quickly. Peggy gives Ike a wink and an encouraging smile.
INT. CHURCH FOYER - CONTINUING
The door opens and Dennis sticks his head in.
DENNIS
Theyre ready, Maggie.
MAGGIE
Just a second.
Dennis closes the door behind him as he goes back into the
chapel. Maggie has a moment alone. She looks at back door as
possible escape route, then changes her mind. She signals the
start of the wedding by knocking on the door.
INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUOUS
Immediately, Cory and Dennis open the doors for her entrance.
All the guests stand as Maggie enter the chapel smiling.
MAGGIES POV:
The aisle stretches before her into infinity. Faces goggle at
her from every direction. The tiny figure of Ike stands like a
beacon a long way off.
NEW ANGLE:
She plunges forward with a sped-up hesitation step.
ANGLE ON:
Ike rocks imperceptibly, urging her on. Peggy and Cindy make
little "come on" motions. It seems to be working. Maggie
approaches rapidly. The CROWD has turned from skepticism to
looks and noises of encouragement.
ANGLE ON: MAGGIE
But then her feet gradually begin to slow.
ANGLE ON:
Fisher gives a little "darn, so close" look.
ANGLE ON:
But Ike is too busy maintaining eye contact. His eyes urge
Maggie closer -- loving her, willing her on.
CLOSE ON:
Maggie stops her walk, gives Ike a teasing smile, and then
resumes with her walk toward him. His face. Her face. His
face. Her face.
CLOSE ON:
Her foot inches forward. The other follows.
NEW ANGLE:
A sigh now rises from the GUESTS as Maggie closes in on Ike. He
smiles at her. She smiles at him. She is almost there... Shes
there, smiling at Ike. The Pastor gestures to the guests to sit
down. They do.
ANGLE ON:
Ike sneezes. She looks down and imagines she sees the carpet
splitting apart. And she bolts like a bat out of hell! In a
flurry of white, she is halfway down the aisle before Ike knows
what hits him.
ANGLE ON:
Ike stands there dazed. For a second. Then she springs into
action, charging after her.
IKE
(yelling out)
Block the doors!
Like a general, he points to Dennis and Cory in the back and
sends them into action. The doors shut in Maggies face. But
shes a wild animal cornered. She moves to the side. The
TOWNSPEOPLE stand so Ike can hurry through the pew. Ike climbs
on the pews towards her as GUEST crowd the aisle, blocking his
path. Like a gazelle, she leaps to the side aisle and scampers
down and away. Fisher gets on his cell phone. Ike charges from
one of the full pews, crosses the aisle and leaps across the pews
near the staircase to cut her off. He grabs her veil and it
comes off in his hands. Maggie disappears down the steps of the
church basement. Ike fumble with the veil and jumps over the
railing, landing on Dennis toe. He follows down the stairs
after her. Mrs. Pressman and Walter exchange bet money.
CUT TO:
INT. CHURCH BASEMENT - CONTINUING
Maggie comes down steps and enters the church childrens Sunday
school class. A lot of KIDS And TEACHERS are doing religious
arts and crafts. As Maggie runs through:
MAGGIE
Theres a man coming down those steps
with lots of candy in his pockets. If
you tickle him, hell give candy.
She gives her bouquet to a little GIRL as she goes by. Ike comes
down stairs.
IKE
Maggie!
The KIDS mob him, grabbing his pockets. Ike fights his way
through KIDS.
ANGLE ON:
Maggie as shes in the church kitchen and hops on counter and
heads out the window. The window is wide enough.
ANGLE ON:
Ike as he gets to the window, but Maggie is out in driveway.