[SCHOOL AUDITORIUM STAGE] >>ELISABETH: What the hell? Okay, no joke.
Where is everybody? [gets on cellphone and starts to make a call]
[NEWSPAPER ROOM] >>JAMIE [reading paper] That is so off the
chart. Did you see your friend's newspaper strip?
It's got a black dude and a lesbian teaming up to save the world.
[SOPHIE takes the paper, reads] >>SOPHIE: Omygod, she did it.
[Vivian walks in to pick up a few copies of the paper]
>>SOPHIE: Pretty gutsy. >>VIVIAN: Not really.
Just the right thing to do.
[SCHOOL HALLWAY A BIT LATER. Elisabeth is worked up, in a state]
>>ARCHIBALD: Hey, I thought you were having a dress rehearsal.
>>ELISABETH: So did I. But last night after our run through,
a whole bunch of people went out and got stupid food poisoning.
This is a disaster. I'm freaking. >>ARCHIBALD: What can I do?
>>ELIZABETH: Well, can you play five different roles and run the lights?
>>ARCHIBALD: No. But I know some people who can.
>>ELIZABETH: [releived] Okay.
[Arch, Jamie, Viv and Sophie arrive in AUDITORIUM]
>>ELISABETH: You guys! >>JAMIE: So, I'm on lights. What do I do?
>>ELIZABETH: Just meet me on stage. I'll be there in a minute.
[Jamie heads toward the stage. Vivian, on phone]
>>VIVIAN: Hey, baby, can you get yourself from the station to the school?
We got a situation.
[Backstage] >>ARCHIBALD: Hey, so do you want to run lines
again? I don't mind. >>ELISABETH: [a sigh] What would I do without
you? >>ARCHIBALD: No chance you'll ever have to
know. >>ELISABETH: You better stop making yourself
so important to me. >>ARCHIBALD: Why is that such a bad thing?
>>ELISABETH: Just not part of the plan.
>>JAMIE: Hey, is this cue supposed to be a blackout or a fade? Oh, shit. a gel just caught
on fire.
[Aster arrives at school]
>>STERN: And I ask, where did she come from? >>JONATHAN: Friend of your beloved.
>>STERNS: She's truly fine, but it doesn't change my resolve.
[pause] >>JONATHAN: Maybe this will. [Hands Sterns
the comic strip]
[Sterns reads comic strip. His reaction is not as a wiseguy, but decent and straightforward]
>>STERNS: So, Vivian loves her some girls. One more thing we have in common. [pause]
I like her even better. [pause]
I'm not giving up.
[Backstage] >>ELISABETH: We're like a couple days away
and I don't have my cues down, my costume isn't ready.
And we were supposed to change the blocking. I mean, how do you NOT have a rehearsal two
days before the opening? >>SOPHIE: It'll be okay. We're all going to
help. >>ELISABETH: I need to take it down a notch.
[Elisabeth takes a pill bottle opens it and pops two pills]
You're the only person I've told about this, Sophie. Please swear you won't let this get
out. >>SOPHIE: I wouldn't. Ever. Don't worry.
[Archibald has seen this and it upsets him]
>>ARCHIBALD: [hands her a prop gun] This is what you wanted, right?
>>ELISABETH: Oh, great. Thanks, Arch.
[sensing his distance after he leaves] Was I being a diva to him or something? God.
I know I'm being hyper. It's probably the Prozac.
The doctor changed my dose. And every little thing is throwing me off.
>>SOPHIE: I thought antidepressants were supposed to make a person chill?
>>ELISABETH: Maybe I'm just hopeless.
[pause]
[Sitting on edge of stage, Aster is reading the newspaper comic strip, loving it]
>>ASTER: Baby, this is killer! >>VIVIAN: You think?
>>ASTER: You're so damn cute. I mean, the character. Who needs a name, by the way.
You can't call her the lesbian reporter chick. >>VIVIAN: Next week she gets a girlfriend.
>>ASTER: [super pleased] No way. >>VIVIAN: Who also doesn't have a name.
>>ASTER: [in awe] You're really doing this. >>VIVIAN: Well, Archibald hasn't gotten her
luscious lips down yet, because I'm very strict when it comes to my
girlfriend's [corrects herself] the lesbian reporter's girlfriend's lips.
>>ASTER: I'm seriously going to have to take you somewhere right now. And do things to
you. [Vivian laughs sexily]
>>VIVIAN: Hey, did you get a picture of Dr. Glass's baby?
[Aster whips it out. Vivian looks at it eagerly] Ohmygod, Charlie is the awesomest baby ever.
>>ASTER: [vulnerable and hopeful] Are we going to have one of those some day?
[Vivian melts. As they are interrupted by Jamie]
>>JAMIE: Hey, Elisabeth wants to know if you'd stand in for her in this scene so we can focus
the lights. She's having a meltdown. >>ASTER: Do you need help with anything else?
>>JAMIE: You are officially my new best friend.
[Vivan and Sophie stand on the stage awkwardly] >>VIVIAN: What exactly are we doing?
>>SOPHIE: Not a clue.
[Elisabeth rushes over. Hands them scripts] >>ELISABETH: Viv, how do you feel about playing
Trigorin? >>VIVIAN: I think I can channel the man in
me. >>ELIZABETH: Soph, would you read my part,
Nina, so I can see what it looks like. >>SOPHIE: What's the play about, anyway?
>>ELIZABETH: A young girl in love with an older man. And a teenage boy who kills himself
over it.
[Sophie and Vivian give each other a knowing glance, then look away.
As Elisabeth heads to the table in the auditorium]
>>ELISABETH: [calling out] Any time you're ready.
>>SOPHIE: [reading awkwardly] Uhmm. Umm/ Tomorrow I'll be gone from here.
I'm leaving everything. I'm starting a new life. I'm going to Moscow, too, like you.
We'll see each other there. >>VIVIAN: [reading a bit stiffly] You're so
beautiful. It makes me so happy knowing that I can look
into those wonderful eyes that inexpressibly sweet smile, this lovely
face.
[Vivian stops for a moment, not knowing how to proceed]
>>JAMIE: [taunting] Come on, aren't you going to kiss her?
>>SOPHIE: Ha ha. >>JAMIE: It's in the script.
>>JONATHAN: Yeah, didn't you share that Willow underwear or something?
What's a little making out? >>STERNS: That wasn't cool, dude.
[pause] >>JAMIE: [not letting up] No really, we need
the kiss to adjust the light. [relenting] Ok, at least move a little bit
closer. >>ELISABETH: Take the last line again, please.
>>VIVIAN: [embarrassed now] That inexplicably sweet smile. This lovely face. Like an angel's.
[A moment.] >>JAMIE: Sophie, that's your cue!
>>ASTER: [teasing] Need someone to show you how it's done?
[laughs]
[Sophie takes the challenge and moves closer to kiss a suddenly shy Vivian.
Vivian finally yields to it. Then, finally they break away]
>>ASTER: Are you f ing kidding me? >>JAMIE: Don't be upset. I made them do it.
>>ASTER: Yeah, right.
[Aster walks away and looks to Vivian] Nice.
>>VIVIAN: Baby, come on. It wasn't real. >>ASTER: Then why do I feel sick?
>>VIVIAN: Aster, don't go. [Vivian and Sophie stand for a moment. With
nothing to say]
>>ELISABETH: Are you going? Arch, what's this about? Did I do something wrong?
>>ARCHIBALD: [more sad than angry] I thought I was getting to know you. Now,
I'm not sure that would be a good thing. For either of us.
[Elisabeth, thrown having no clue what he means]
[Jamie has gone after Aster. And finds her]
>>JAMIE: Sorry. >>ASTER: Not your fault. It had to happen.
>>JAMIE: She'd be crazy to give you up for Sophie.
>>ASTER: I thought you were into her. >>JAMIE: She's cool. But, I don't waste my
time on straight girls.
>>ASTER: I like that. I like not wasting time.
[Aster pushes Jamie against a wall and starts making out.
Vivian walks in on them. Her face says it all.
We go out on Aster and Vivian, both stunned and wounded]
[MUSIC PLAYS]