Remembering Olsen Screenplay Written by ferf ziamond
FADE IN INT. CATERING HALL - EVENING Dim
lights, soft music, camera flashes, a rumble of reacquainted voices fill the small, well-decorated room.
A
faceless man in a blue suit walks past a banner across the back wall, WELCOME
CLASS OF 1996.
He
stops for a moment in front of the juke box. The lights on it flash. Standing beside it is a man in a grey suit. His face visible, only for a
moment.
The
man in the blue suit’s finger moves forward and points to the jukebox.
He
continues walking, shaking hands with other well dressed men. A woman stops him with her hand on his chest. She stretches her legs in high heel
shoes so her lips can reach his ear, she
whispers. She laughs and the man
continues to walk.
He
stops at the bar where a young man and a young woman
greet him. The bartender hands the young man a drink.
He sips it, the bartender hands him another.
He
passes the second drink to a waitress who places it on a tray with a collection of others.
The
new drink sits on a napkin and makes a trip around the room passing happy faces. Some guests move around as if reenacting memories from their past.
Others look on and laugh.
A
group of men stand together holding their drinks at their sides while belting out lyrics to old favorite tunes.
The
glasses sit still on the tray when the waitress stops momentarily. A blurred MAN
and WOMAN carry on a conversation over
the music at a table as the waitress puts
their drinks down.
WOMAN
That’s something a family
can never get over.
MAN
Especially his dad.
The
woman acknowledges the waitress.
WOMAN
Thank you.
MAN
Yes, thank you very much.
The
waitress smiles and collects some empty glasses.
The
woman bobs her head back and forth to continue their
conversation. The man follows her head back and forth.
WOMAN
Do you think his dad had
any indication?
The
woman picks up her glass. The man shakes his head.
The
rest of the glasses on the tray begin to move again
as the waitress makes her way to the next table.
Once
again, she places drinks down on a table. This one
seats THREE MEN in mid conversation.
MAN 1
She didn’t want you then.
You think something
changed in the last ten
years?
They
all laugh.
MAN 2
Hey, a lot about me has
changed in the last ten
years.
MAN 1
Yea, less hair, less
money, and less reason to
look at you now.
They
all laugh again, including the waitress.
MAN 2
There’s more.
MAN 1
Yep, more stomach, more
naps.
Man
2 cuts him off.
MAN 2
We get the idea.
There
is more laughter. The waitress begins to step away
with a big smile.
MAN 3
Thanks sweetheart. We’ll
take another round on
your way back.
He
slides a twenty dollar bill on her tray as she smiles
and begins to make her way around the room.
As
a wet ring forms on the bill under a glass, MAN 1 is heard from behind.
MAN 1
Keep em’ coming doll.
The
waitress clears off some empty glasses at another table seating TWO WOMEN. A THIRD stands speaking with a MAN behind the two women.
The
man excuses himself from the conversation and motions
toward the waitress.
MAN
Thanks. We’ll take
another round on your way
back.
The
waitress nods and scribbles on her pad.
One
of the sitting women acknowledges the waitress with
a smile and a nod. She continues speaking.
WOMAN 1
It was two weeks ago.
Only a few blocks from
here.
FLASHBACK
EXT. INTERSECTION –
NIGHT
A
small automobile moves along quickly towards a green traffic light.
A
large truck follows closely behind.
WOMAN 1’S VOICE (CONT.)
The guy I work with said
she died instantly.
The
automobile continues to move along.
WOMAN 2’S VOICE
I never trusted those
little foreign cars.
The
traffic light changes to red. The automobile skids to a halt.
MAN’S VOICE
Especially when a large
truck barrels into one.
The
truck continues into the automobile.
BACK TO SCENE
The
waitress walks away after putting her pad back in her pocket.
Idle
chit-chat around the room as the tray’s trip comes
to an end at a low table in front of two small
couches towards the corner of the room.
The
waitress puts the glass in front of JESSICA KASTA, 28, blond, typical high end department store clerk, dressed to the nines. Sitting across is PATTY
MADIEL, 28, not as flashy.
Jessica
doesn’t acknowledge the waitress. She picks up her
fresh drink and sips through the stirrer.
Patty
gives the waitress a friendly nod and smile before
she walks off.
Jessica’s
eyes motion across the room toward a blonde man
in a tight dress shirt.
JESSICA
I can’t believe how good
Donny looks.
The
man catches Jessica’s eye and then looks away abruptly.
JESSICA (CONT.)
Maybe I should have taken him
up on his repeated offers back
in high school.
She
slides her tongue across her teeth.
JESSICA (CONT.)
Right now he’s wishing I
did.
PATTY
Oh, you think they all
wish that.
Patty
looks past her martini glass to the pale skin
where her wedding ring once
stood.
PATTY (CONT.)
He did get so much cuter
over the years. I wonder
if he’s taken.
JESSICA
You should find out, now
that you’re single again.
Patty
appears bothered by the comment and tries to brush
it off.
PATTY
Please.
JESSICA
Speaking of that, why
haven’t we seen your
Romeo with the wonderful
Miranda Oleon?
PATTY
Hopefully they got lost.
She
holds up her empty glass with an olive circling the bottom.
PATTY (CONT.)
I gotta get another
drink. Can I get you
something?
JESSICA
Sure.
She
takes a gulp.
JESSICA (CONT.)
I know I just started
this one, but waiting for
her to bring them can
take all night.
Jessica
points toward the waitress while holding up her
glass.
JESSICA (CONT.)
I’ll take a refill, and
while you’re up, see if
that guy is still staring
over here.
A
STRANGER in a baseball cap with a dark beard and mustache sits in the opposite corner at a high top table, drinking beer from a mug.
He
is the only one in the room not dressed for the occasion. He wears a loose fitting flannel shirt with blue jeans
and sneakers.
His
head turns slightly when the girls peek
over at him. He laughs to himself while
putting his mug down. He wipes his mouth
with his sleeve.
PATTY
He is.
Patty
stands up and walks toward the bar.
Jessica
sits glancing around the room. She holds on to her
glass.
TWO
OLD CLASSMATES walk by the table. Jessica sips through
her stirrer.
The
female, a bit heavy and bubbly holds a plate with a piece of cake on it. The male, a little flabby, balding, with a big smile holds a glass of soda
with a thick straw sticking out of
it.
CLASSMATE 1
Hi Jessica. How have you
been?
Classmate
1 Shakes Jessica’s hand. They don’t make eye contact.
CLASSMATE 2
The years seem to have
agreed with you.
Classmate
2 looks at classmate 1 and smiles.
JESSICA
Hello. Thank you. It sure
has been a long time.
CLASSMATE 1
It’s me,
remember ANDY.
JESSICA
Oh of course. You didn’t
have to tell me. It was
on the tip of my tongue.
Hello again Debra.
It’s
JESSICA
I’m sorry. I meant
Jessica
tries to hold back a giggle before turning to Andy.
JESSICA (CONT.)
And it is great to see
you again sir.
ANDY
Andy.
JESSICA
Yes, Andy.
Jessica
finally shakes his hand not having a clue as
to who either one of them are. Her mouth opens to begin a conversation as Patty returns.
PATTY
Here ya go Jes. Tell me
if it’s too strong. I’ll
take it back.
Patty
steps back when noticing
PATTY (CONT.)
Wow! Hello
a great job arranging the
reunion.
She
kisses
Thank you Patty. You look
wonderful.
Her
smile suddenly fades to a frown.
Sorry about you and Al.
PATTY
Oh please, don’t worry
about it.
Patty
hides her sadness and becomes up beat.
PATTY (CONT.)
It was bound to happen
sooner or later.
She
continues her poor acting and smiles to Andy.
PATTY (CONT.)
Hey Andy! It’s been so
long.
She
kisses Andy on the cheek.
We’ll see you before the
night is over.
ANDY
Great seeing you. Both of
you.
Andy
and
Patty is so nice.
Jessica hasn’t changed
a bit though.
Andy
nods.
Banana nut. It’s good.
Want a taste?
Patty
watches them walk away.
Jessica
lifts her head from searching her purse, places
her lipstick container on the table, picks up her
glass, and looks to Patty.
JESSICA
How do you remember all
of these people? I
couldn’t even remember
their names back in
school.
Jessica
puts the empty glass down, picks up the full
one
and wipes the bottom of it with a napkin.
PATTY
It’s not hard to do.
Patty
looks down.
PATTY (CONT.)
You didn’t have a hard
time remembering Andy’s
name ten years ago.
Jessica
looks back at Patty.
JESSICA
Sorry, did you say
something?
She
begins applying a fresh coat of lipstick.
PATTY
How is it they know all
about Al and me when it’s
been less than two weeks?
JESSICA
That’s high school gossip
for ya.
PATTY
I thought that ended
after high school.
Patty
picks up her glass, looks annoyed.
PATTY (CONT.)
Is the drink too strong?
Jessica
leans forward to sip the drink through the stirrer.
JESSICA
It’s perfect. Thanks.
PATTY
Great.
She
looks around the room again.
PATTY (CONT.)
And you know who, is
still lurking through the
dark sunglasses.
Patty’s
eyes stop to focus on the man at the high top table.
He
gently nods his head to the music then picks his mug up once again.
JESSICA
Who the hell is he? Did
he graduate with us? He
looks psycho.
Jessica
puts her lipstick away and straightens herself in
her seat.
They
are both bothered by the man's presence. Patty fiddles
with a napkin. Jessica, a drink glass.
JESSICA (CONT.)
We’ve already seen
everyone we came to see.
PATTY
I guess we should be
leaving after this drink
anyway.
Patty
takes a sip of her drink almost finishing it.
PATTY (CONT.)
Do you want to go
someplace else? Or home?
Patty
holds back a yawn.
JESSICA
I feel like going home.
She
looks down and grabs her purse.
JESSICA (CONT.)
Unless you want to do
something?
She
stands up.
The
man in the dark glasses stands up for the first time all night.
Patty
becomes nervous.
PATTY
Don’t look now, but it
seems our friend wants to
leave with us.
JESSICA
Should we get one of the
guys to walk us to the
car?
Jessica
fiddles with her car keys at the edge of the table.
She tries to be courageous.
PATTY
Good thinking.
Patty
looks back over at the man.
PATTY (CONT.)
Too late. Here he comes.
The man puts his hand on the table and leans
to the side.
STRANGER
Pardon me ladies. Are you
leaving?
JESSICA
I’m afraid so. We have a
lot to do tomorrow.
Jessica
attempts to walk away as the man grabs her arm.
Patty
looks to the men across the room. They continue they’re singing and dancing.
She
looks to the bartender. He is busy taking drink orders.
She
looks around for the waitress, she is no where to be found.
The
strangers face gets closer to Jessica’s. Jessica stands her ground.
JESSICA (CONT.)
Get your filthy
disgusting paws off of me
before I call those guys
over here to take you
outside.
She
points to the group of men across the room drinking
and laughing. None of them notice.
STRANGER
Spoken like a true bar
chick.
The
man begins to take his hat and glasses off.
Patty
stands frozen with fear.
STRANGER (CONT.)
You’ll never change Jes.
Patty
looks somewhat relieved.
Jessica
has a confused look.
JESSICA
How’d you know my name?
Jessica
watches as the stranger takes off his mustache and
beard.
Both
Patty and Jessica have an anxious look.
The
stranger holds his disguise to his side and laughs.
JESSICA (CONT.)
Oh my God!
The
stranger’s arms are out to his sides. He smiles very wide.
STRANGER
Remember me?
PATTY
You son of a bitch! You
scared the hell out of
us!
Patty
laughs. She hits the stranger on his arm.
PATTY (CONT.)
Bruce Denzbar!
JESSICA
Denzbar? How have you
been?
Jessica
laughs with her hand on her chest waiting for her
heart to go back to normal.
Patty
waves to get the attention of the waitress.
JESSICA (CONT.)
We thought we saw
everyone. I guess we
forgot about you.
DENZBAR
Gee, thanks.
He
leans over, gives them each a hug in turn.
He
holds one of Patty’s hands and takes a step back.
DENZBAR (CONT.)
You’re looking good
Patty.
He
has a lovable smirk.
DENZBAR (CONT.)
Really good.
PATTY
Thanks.
DENZBAR
That Al’s a lucky man.
JESSICA
He sure is.
Patty
makes a displeased face.
The
three of them sit back down as the waitress sets them up with another round.
Jessica
throws her car keys back down on the table.
INT. APARTMENT –
MORNING
Jessica’s keys rattle against the door. She enters a bit wobbly.
At the end of a long dark hallway is her
made bed covered with pillows.
JESSICA
That’s what I need.
She rubs her neck and places her belongings
down.
JESSICA (CONT.)
Wait for me right there
bed.
INTRUDER
Okay Jessica.
Jessica
freezes in place. She mutters.
JESSICA
An intruder? A burglar?
How does he know my name?
The
intruder has a comforting tone.
INTRUDER
Relax sweetheart. I’m not
here to harm you. I just
want to talk.