70 INT. MICK'S BEDROOM - DAY 70
Mick lays on his back staring at the ceiling. He rolls over
to see Kate. She stretches and smiles a satisfied smile.
Mick returns the smile, but it's half hearted.
MICK
Morning.
KATE
Morning back at ya.
Kate notices his forced smile. She sits up next to him.
KATE (cont'd)
What's up? You look like somebody
stole your dick. Did they?
She lifts the covers to look. Mick snaps them back down.
She's surprised Mick doesn't want to play.
MICK
I'm sorry Kate. Lot on my mind is
all.
KATE
C'mon, spill it.
Mick runs his hands through his hair.
MICK
It's just... I got into it with one
of my best friends last night.
KATE
(unbelieving)
Uh-huh.
MICK
His wife just left him, and I was
trying to help him get over it.
KATE
He's mad 'cause you're getting all
the women.
MICK
No, actually, he's got like five.
He's pissed cause I'm dating one
girl instead of five.
KATE
That is the stupidest man thing I
ever heard.
MICK
That's what I tried to tell him but-
KATE
You're not upset about that.
MICK
Well, yeah I am.
She puts both hands on his face and looks deep into his eyes.
KATE
No, I know that look. Mick Jones,
you're in love.
This hits Mick like a bucket of ice water. He jumps out of
bed.
MICK
No that's not it. I mean no I'm
not. I mean...
He stumbles around trying to get dressed.
KATE
Mick it's OK, I've seen this
before. I'm just your denial screw.
MICK
My what? No your not, you're much
more that, really, but I've go to
get home.
KATE
Mick, you are home.(beat) Sit here.
She pats the bed next to her. He flops down.
KATE (cont'd)
Let me guess; Your friend accuses
you of being in love. You deny
this, and to prove it to yourself
you run off and sleep with me?
Kate gives him a "go ahead and try to deny it" look.
MICK
I am such a shit. I'm sorry.
KATE
Don't apologize, this is a big step
for you. That tightness in your
chest, that's feelings. I know
you're not familiar with it but
you'll be fine.
MICK
Very funny.
KATE
So, what are you going to do about
it?
Mick rubs his temples.
MICK
Actually, I think I'm going to ask
her to move in and live with me.
Kate is shocked and wide eyed.
KATE
Wow. Does she love you?
MICK
One way to find out...
They share a smile. Mick leans over and kisses Kate on the
forehead.
71 INT. DENNIS' BEDROOM - DAY 71
Dennis lays on his back staring at the ceiling. He rolls over
to see nobody.
He rubs his head, takes a deep breath and lets it out very
slowly.
He reaches over for the phone and dials a number. It rings a
couple times before an answering machine picks up
STACI'S MACHINE (v.o.)
Hi! You've reached Staci's place.
Leave a message. ---BEEP---
DENNIS
Hi Stace, I know I'm supposed to
wait two days, but you were one
hundred percent right about me last
night. I keep thinking I'm doing
the right thing and following
advice from people who don't know
me. Not the real me anyway, though
that's no excuse for how I treated
you.
72 INT. STACI'S APARTMENT - DAY 72
Stacy is sitting next to the phone listening to Dennis.
DENNIS (v.o.)
I just wanted to say that I am
really, really sorry, and I was
thinking... Never mind I shouldn't
be thinking anything, If you never
wanted to talk to me again, I'd
understand... If you can forgive me
I hope we can work it out in such a
way that we can remain friends, at
least. Thanks.
Pause again
DENNIS (cont'd)
Oh, and I really liked the song. A
lot. (beat) Bye.
Staci smiles, and reaches for her calendar. She counts two
days past "today" Flag Day and writes "Call D".
73 INT. THE BAR - DAY 73
Mick walks in to the bar. Buck is sitting at his usual place.
Sunny has just finished stapling up the HAPPY FLAG DAY
banner. Mick walks over and sits next to Buck.
MICK
Hey, Dennis get home OK last night?
BUCK
Yeah, I got him home.
Both wait for the other to speak. Sunny walks over.
SUNNY
So, how's Kate?
BUCK
Kate? The hose-monster?
Mick signals for Buck to keep it down.
SUNNY
She just came by for a visit last
night.
BUCK
Hmmm, she came by, interesting.
MICK
Yeah, she came by.
Mick nods, they both look at the counter.
BUCK
So, did you, um, bang her?
MICK
Yes! Not that it's any business of
yours.
He sees Sunny grinnig.
MICK (cont'd)
Or yours Sunshine. And, I would
really appreciate it if you'd keep
it to yourselves. I don't want
Audrey to find out.
BUCK
Oh. My. God.
MICK
What?
BUCK
Tell me it isn't true. Tell me you
aren't (beat) "serious" about her.
Mick laughs it off.
MICK
Actually, I'm very serious--
The door opens and Dennis stands at the entry for a second.
SUNNY
Hey, close the door! Oh, heya
Dennis.
Mick and Dennis have a difficult silence.
MICK
Hey.
DENNIS
Hey.
Both speak at the same time.
DENNIS AND MICK
I'm sorry...
They laugh, and Dennis walks over. They clasp hands and
shake, giving each other a pat on the back.
MICK
OK, look, about last night. I feel
responsible--
BUCK
Make it stop. He didn't just say he
feels responsible?
DENNIS
No, it's not your fault I was the
one trying to be someone I wasn't.
Buck puts his hands over his ears.
BUCK
La-la-la-la-la-la.
MICK
Let me buy you a beer. What'll it
be?
Sunny puts a glass under the Guinness spigot.
DENNIS
Make it a Bud, Sunny.
SUNNY
A Bud it is.
They all sit down, and Sunny serves up Dennis' Bud. He takes
a good long pull.
DENNIS
Ah, good old Budweiser.
The door opens and Audrey walks in.
AUDREY
Hey guys.
MICK
I thought you worked today, never
mind, this is perfect.
DENNIS
Audrey, sorry about last night.
AUDREY
No, It's good. Everyone is entitled
to be an ass sometimes.
They smile.
MICK
Audrey, sit down, I've got
something important to ask you.
They sit on adjoining bar stools, Mick holds her hands.
Audrey looks around, deer in the crosshairs.
MICK (cont'd)
Audrey, these last few weeks have
been the best of my life.
Audrey looks mildly panicked. Buck is catatonic.
AUDREY
(whispering)
Don't do this.
MICK
I know this is kind of sudden, but
I've realized... I love you and--
AUDREY
Mick, I can't get married.
MICK
Married?! Hell, I was just gonna
ask you to move in.
Buck's head hits the table with an audible THUMP.
Audrey looks around. Everyone is watching them.
AUDREY
I can't do that either.
MICK
Um, what?
AUDREY
No. Look, let's not do this here,
OK, not in front of everyone.
Mick tries to compose himself.
MICK
No, no, It's cool. I rushed things.
My bad. Let's just pretend it
didn't happen and go slower.
AUDREY
No, I can't. Mick, I came here to
end it.
Mick just looks at her, stunned.
AUDREY (cont'd)
I'm just not ready for anything
serious right now, OK, I have to
concentrate on my career.
MICK
It's OK. Really. No problem.
AUDREY
Shit, I hurt your feelings. I told
you up front I wasn't looking for
anything serious.
MICK
Hey, it was fun. No hard feelings.
Mick gets up and busies himself at the bar.
MICK (cont'd)
You want a beer?
AUDREY
No, I have to get back to...
She looks at her watch.
AUDREY (cont'd)
The station. I'm already late.
MICK
Well, thanks for coming by.
Audrey starts to get upset and almost says something but
catches herself. She waves at the guys weakly.
AUDREY
Bye guys. Maybe I'll see you later.
Mick has regained his composure, and is ice-cold.
MICK
Yeah, maybe. Don't be a stranger.
She doesn't reply, just turns and walks out. The door closes.
The slight CLICK seems to echo through the place.
Everyone looks over at Mick, he is clearly devastated but
cleans glasses, making himself busy.
SUNNY
I'm so sorry, boss.
MICK
About what? Her? Over it already.
DENNIS
Yeah, the first one is never the
right one anyway right?
Mick looks tense, then all the anger and everything drains
out of him, and he slumps into the seat next to Dennis.
MICK
Yeah right, Sunny, pour me one of
those purple crunchy beers.
SUNNY
One raspberry Heffiweissen coming
up.
Dennis reaches into the bowl of peanuts in front of him and
comes up with his ring.
DENNIS
How old are these peanuts anyway?
He stares at the ring. The front door opens and closes. He
almost slides the ring back on his finger when he's
interrupted by Staci.
STACI
Hi.
DENNIS
Staci!
STACI
I guess I don't believe in the two
day rule either.
Staci pulls a small gift from her purse and hands it to him.
STACI (CONT'D)
I bought this for you after our
first date.
DENNIS
I was totally wrong. Totally.
STACI
I know.
Dennis opens the package. Inside is a pizza cutter.
DENNIS
I love it!
They trade an awkward smile.
STACI
You aren't out of the dog house,
we'll just see how it goes.
DENNIS
What ever you want to do is fine
with me.
SUNNY
Want a beer?
Staci smiles.
STACI
I'll have what he's having.
Sunny grins wide and cracks her a Bud.
Staci takes the ring out of Dennis hand and drops it
intentionally into Buck's beer.
Buck digs the ring out of his glass, finishes his beer and
chucks the ring over his shoulder.
The ring bounces across the floor, and rolls out of the bar.
74 EXT. THE BAR - DAY 74
The ring bounces down the three concrete steps, and rolls to
a stop on the sidewalk near a piece of old gum.
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END