Brooke is holding a container of milk as she practices her entrances for the Oscar ceremony. As she continues, the entrances become more and more elaborate until Jess comes in.)
JESS
Are you ever coming to bed?
BROOKE
(startled)
Oh, Lord, I’m sorry. Did I wake you?
JESS
No, but it is getting late.
BROOKE
(pouring milk into glass)
I was going to sleep on the couch; if I got to sleep.
You should go back to bed, though. One of us should
be awake during the ceremony.
JESS
You don’t have to sleep on the couch.
BROOKE
I just want this to turn out right, Jess. I don’t want to
trip and fall flat on my face.
JESS
You’ll be fine, Brooke.
BROOKE
You think so? This is the biggest night of our lives,
JESS
You’re going to be fine.
BROOKE
You don’t think this is a fluff category, do you? I mean,
it’s not like Best Animal Make-up in a Comedy Short,
is it?
JESS
Now you’re just making things up.
BROOKE
You don’t think they’ll be serious with this award?
JESS
It’s the first new category in how many years? Of
course it’s serious. And you’re going to be the first
ever Best New Actress.
BROOKE
Now you’re just patronizing me.
JESS
Does it make you feel any better?
BROOKE
Maybe.
JESS
Well, I’m going back to sleep.
BROOKE
And anyway, Meg Chapman’s not really a new actress;
she’s been working for over four years now. And Elena
Magalhaes,
JESS
She’s been in theater forever.
BROOKE
Exactly.
JESS
So there’s only one real prospect.
BROOKE
You’re patronizing me again. What time are you
getting out of work? We’re supposed to be there by
three. Two if we want cocktails.
JESS
I should be back by twelve. I technically don’t have to
go in, though.
BROOKE
No, you should definitely go; make sure everything is
right. Besides, I have too much to do before the
ceremony. I have to get my hair done; I still don’t have
the shoes;
JESS
I can get them on the way home.
BROOKE
The shoes? Sure. That would be good, I guess.
Thank you.
JESS
Do you want me to pick you up from the salon?
BROOKE
No. I should be finished by eleven. I have an eight
o’clock appointment.
JESS
Okay then. I’ll see you tomorrow.
BROOKE
Good night.
(Jess leaves. Brooke practices her walk to and from the podium for a moment or two then finishes her milk and heads to the living room.
ELENA’S BEDROOM: EARLY MORNING:
Elena is still lying in bed when Zac quietly comes in. He has been working out and is getting ready to take a shower.)
ELENA
(not moving)
Take your shirt and socks with you, please.
ZAC
(getting clean clothes)
Oh, sorry; I didn’t mean to wake you up.
ELENA
It’s fine. I wasn’t really sleeping anyway.
ZAC
I know you said you weren’t nervous, but honestly, if
you really aren’t,
ELENA
(turning to him)
I’m not nervous. Impatient is a better word. Are you
really wearing that shirt?
(Zac’s phone rings.)
ZAC
(looking at phone)
What's wrong with it? It’s too early to put the tux on
just yet; damn.
(Elena slowly gets out of bed and goes to Zac.)
ELENA
We have to be at the theater by two.
ZAC
(answering phone)
I know. Hey. No. What’s going on? Yeah, surprise;
we’re both up this early. What do you need? …. No,
I can’t do that. No, absolutely not.
ELENA
(softly)
Go to work, Zac. We don’t have to be there ‘til two.
(Elena kisses Zac softly. He does his best not to smile as she holds his hand and kisses him.)
ZAC
No, I already told you I can’t do this. We went through
this a month ago, again two weeks ago, and again
yesterday. What part of I’m not making the presen-
tation …. I swear to God, Jeremy; …. You don’t even
know the meaning of what you owe me. I will do the
presentation, and that is it. Yeah, yeah. Don’t push it.
Bye.
(He hangs up then puts his arms around Elena.)
ELENA
Oh, honey, you need to shower.
ZAC
I promise I’ll be home by eleven. The meeting’s at 8:15;
ELENA
It’ll take us at least an hour to get there.
ZAC
Did you arrange for car service, or should I do that now?
ELENA
It’s all taken care of. Go make your presentation.
(Zac kisses her then heads for the shower, taking his dirty clothes and bathrobe with him.
MEG’S LIVING ROOM: MORNING:
Meg is asleep under a couple blankets on the couch. The television is on. Meg’s hand is stuck out from under the blankets, holding the television remote. As the people on the TV speak, Meg’s hand presses the mute button. The longer the people speak, the more frantic Meg’s pressing becomes. Jason is singing opera as he cleans the kitchen.)
TV ANNOUNCER
And now, brothers and sisters, let’s listen to Linda Mae’s
story.
LINDA MAE
Before I let Jesus Christ into my life, I was a wreck. I
was a wild child, disrespecting my parents, my friends,
even myself. I was going nowhere fast. One night,
when I was speeding down the interstate, I saw a
bright light. I thought, “Lord, if you’re here to take me,
I’m not ready.” Fortunately for me and my friend who
was driving, we swerved back into our lane and
avoided the big semi-tractor trailer coming straight for
us.
(Meg suddenly sits up and successfully mutes the television.)
MEG
(disoriented)
God damn, they ought to get an award for this crap.
(Hearing the singing, Meg is puzzled. She looks around but doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary. She points the remote at the stereo system and presses some buttons, but that has no effect.)
MEG (cont’d)
Hello?
JASON
(bringing out bagels & spreads)
Oh, good, you’re awake. I wasn’t sure what you’d
want for breakfast, so I got a selection. If you don’t
want the cinnamon one, I’ll take it.
MEG
What are you doing here?
(As they talk, Meg gets herself a bagel and starts eating.)
JASON
Cleaning the kitchen. You haven’t done that in I don’t
know how long, and it was really getting nasty. I really
don’t know how you didn’t have bugs in there. I got
that spreadable cheese you like.
MEG
Okay, but what are you doing here? You’re supposed
to be at work or something. Aren’t you?
JASON
How is anyone supposed to work today? Especially
when we're supposed to be there by two. Do you want
coffee?
MEG
Yes, and what's at two o'clock?
JASON
(stops)
You're kidding, right? The Oscars? You've been
nominated for
MEG
(overlapping)
Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. But I already told you
I wasn't going.
JASON
Of course you're going. We're leaving here at twelve,
MEG
There's no point, Jason. I'm not going to win, and I'm
not really interested in being with a bunch of drunken,
neurotic nut jobs fighting to get their picture taken by
the same people they despise the rest of the year.
JASON
You're going to win, Meg. Besides; my mom is going
to watch for us. She even figured out how to work the
DVR.
(As Jason gets the coffee, Meg turns the television off and eats her bagel. Jason returns with two cups of coffee in hand.)
MEG
Good for her. Maybe she would go with you then; see
herself on TV.
JASON
Anyway, it'll be bad form to skip the awards as a
nominee. You can only do that once you’re already
famous and working somewhere else when the awards
come around.
MEG
Is it bad form to kill your boyfriend before the awards
ceremony?
JASON
So, I got my tux cleaned, but I don't have a white shirt
to go with it. Everything I own has a full collar on it.
MEG
If you go, I'll give you my speech; just in case they call
my name. (taking coffee) Thank you.
JASON
Meg, you may never get another opportunity to do this
in your lifetime, and you’ll never be a new actress again.
MEG
So, how did you get the day off?
JASON
It's not really important. You’re not even listening;
MEG
Jason Orion Abrams.
JASON
Well, I sort of quit.
MEG
Sort of?
JASON
I mean, I left. It’s over. John was being an ass, Leo
took John's side, and I really couldn’t be creative in a
hostile environment.
MEG
Could you be creative living on the streets?
JASON
I've been wanting to quit for a long time now, anyway.
But you don't have to worry. I've got some stuff I'm
almost finished with. A little tweaking, and I think I can
have my apps up and running for both IPad and Droid.
Three, maybe four weeks.
MEG
How are you planning to sell those apps?
JASON
The same as usual: paypal, credit cards, charge the
phone carrier; you know. I've thought about this for a
long time, Meg.
MEG
Good. Go program then.
JASON
Okay, but you've got to think about what you're going to
wear tonight. You've got that long, black dress;
MEG
Don't press your luck, Jason.
JASON
Just think about it.
MEG
Don’t you have to be somewhere?
JASON
(checks watch)
Okay. You’re right. I have to get my check; and a
tuxedo shirt; but just think about what you're going to
wear?
MEG
(waving him off)
Just be glad I’m wearing clothes.
JASON
It ought to be white, right? With a tab collar. All right;
I’m gone. Bye.
(Jason grabs his keys and heads out the front door. Meg holds the remote as a microphone.)
MEG
(as an announcer)
And now, nominated for biggest neurotic in the world,
Jason Abrams.
(Meg cheers for a moment then aims at the stereo and clicks the remote.
BROOKE’S KITCHEN: MORNING:
Brooke brings her dress into the kitchen and lays it on the table. She pours two cups of coffee then takes one cup and starts drinking. Jess, dressed for work, comes in and takes the other cup.)
JESS
Thank you. Is that what you're wearing?
BROOKE
Yes. Does it look all right? It's a little wrinkled;
JESS
It looks great, Brooke.
BROOKE
Are you hungry? We still have cereal and
JESS
No, it’ll be fine. I’ll be home by twelve at the latest.
BROOKE
The car will be here at twenty to one.
JESS
Plenty of time to get there, take in the sights,
BROOKE
Don’t start, please. I’m nervous enough as it is.
JESS
Why? You’re a shoe-in.
BROOKE
Elena’s a shoe-in. She’s already won two Tonies.
They probably didn’t even vote for anyone else.
JESS
C’mon, Brooke; it’s going to be great.
BROOKE
If you say so. You are going to change before we go,
though, right?
JESS
Yes. (Brooke waits) What? Oh, okay; so I planned to
wear my ripped up jeans, my painted tank top;
BROOKE
And those horrible boots, too?
JESS
Sure. I could do that. The black leather ones?
BROOKE
With the spiked band around them. Mmm. Very funny.
