Queen of the Oddballs (18 page)

Hillary lies on the bed with Monster watching the
American Music Awards
on TV.

As the Favorite Pop/Rock album is announced--the soundtrack to
Dirty Dancing
--she picks up the phone and dials. We HEAR A RING and KATIE ANSWERS.

 

KATIE
(on the phone)

Hello?

 

 

HILLARY

Hey. You watching the
American Music Awards
? Kenny’s movie just won Best Album.

 

 

KATIE

Uh…yeah. I saw.

 

Hillary senses something’s up.

 

HILLARY

Are you okay? Why do you sound so weird?

 

 

KATIE

Do I?

 

 

(a little too enthusiastic)

I’m fine!

 

 

HILLARY

What’s going on?

 

 

KATIE

Nothing. I’m just in the middle of something. Can I call you later?

 

A look washes over Hillary’s face. She sits up.

 

HILLARY

Someone’s totally there with you. Who’s there?

 

 

KATIE

No one. I’ll call you a bit later. Okay?

 

 

HILLARY

Oh my God. You’re totally seeing someone, aren’t you?

 

Silence on the other end of the phone.

 

HILLARY (CONT’D)
(stands up--she can’t hold back)

How dare you! You need to be independent and you’re seeing someone else like five seconds after you move out?! You need space MY ASS! I can’t fucking believe you!

 

She slams down the phone. Sits back down on the bed in shock. The phone rings. She picks the receiver up and hangs it up immediately. This happens two more times. Finally…

 

HILLARY (CONT’D)

WHAT?!?!?

 

INT. KATIE’S APARTMENT LIVING ROOM–SAME TIME

Katie is crying. ANOTHER WOMAN tiptoes away into the other room.

 

KATIE

I’m so sorry. I swear this just happened in the last few days. I never cheated on you.

(barely stopping for a breath)

I still love you. I just can’t be tied down right now. Please forgive me.

CUT TO:

 

MONTAGE:

—We see Hillary on a plane. She sits with headphones on, trying to block out any thoughts with her music.

—Now in a taxi, Hillary is driving through snow. Hard to tell which is darker--the storming winter sky or Hillary’s mood as they pull up to a loft in Soho.

—Hillary is greeted by her artist friend LENI who hugs her and welcomes her into her bright, colorful loft.

EXT. WORLD’S FAIR SITE–QUEENS–DAY

Hillary and Leni, both bundled up in scarves, hats, and mittens, tread through the snow at the old World’s Fair site, taking in the few remaining structures and relics of the 1964 World’s Fair.

 

LENI

I’m really glad you came to visit, though I’m so sorry about the circumstances.

 

 

HILLARY

Thanks. It’s good to get out of L.A.

 

They walk into what was the New York State Pavilion. Covering the ground is a huge map of New York inlaid in gorgeous terrazzo—colored marble. They look at it in awe.

 

LENI

So how are you and Katie gonna keep working together? You’re still not finished with rewrites, are you?

 

 

HILLARY

No. In fact, the minute I get back I have to see her--
at a meeting at Columbia
. I don’t know how I’m gonna hold it together.

 

Leni puts her arm around Hillary as they continue walking. They arrive at the Unisphere, the famous enormous steel globe which once greeted all visitors to the Fair.

 

HILLARY (CONT’D)

Wow.

 

 

LENI

It’s so amazing that it’s still here.

 

Hillary looks at the plaque below the Unisphere and reads the motto of the fair written on it, the theme of the film she and Katie have been working on for two years now.

CLOSE ON PLAQUE: “Peace Through Understanding.”

Hillary rolls her eyes.

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. COLUMBIA STUDIOS–DAY

Katie is already at the table when Hillary walks in. Hillary says a general hello to all, then sits as far away from Katie as possible, never once looking at her.

Paul, Lynda, Amy, and the Executives are all in attendance.

 

LYNDA

WE LOVE THIS SCRIPT!!

 

 

HILLARY

Let me guess…you have a few notes.

SMASH CUT:

 

CLOSE ON PAPERS in Hillary’s hands as she leafs through
eight pages of single-spaced typed notes
.

MONTAGE:

Hillary and Katie do rewrites--with Paul always there, acting as a buffer. The girls barely speak. Hillary looks like she’s still pissed off and just trying to keep it all together. Katie alternates between looking totally sad and numb.

INT. HILLARY’S HOUSE–OFFICE–A MONTH LATER–DAY

Hillary is sitting at her desk writing when the phone rings.

 

HILLARY

Hello?

 

WE HEAR PAUL’S VOICE on the phone.

 

PAUL
(excitedly)

CONGRATULATIONS!!
Skirts
got the green light today. They’re making your movie!

 

 

HILLARY

Really? Swear?

 

 

PAUL

Yep. I’m so proud of you guys. You and Katie should be so happy.

 

ON Hillary’s face, a combo platter of emotions.

FADE OUT as the cover of
Daily Variety
FADES IN: “IT’S A GO FOR COLUMB PREXY’S PET PROJECT
SKIRTS
.”

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. PAUL’S OFFICE–A MONTH LATER

Hillary sits with Paul and Kenny, getting updated.

 

KENNY

I’m sorry Katie couldn’t be here, but it’s great she sold a TV show in Toronto.

 

 

PAUL

Yeah, she’ll be there for the next several months. It’ll be good for her to go back home for a bit.

 

Hillary couldn’t look more relieved.

 

PAUL (CONT’D)

So, Kenny and I have a lot to catch you up on.

 

 

HILLARY

Lay it on me.

 

 

PAUL

Well, there’s good news and bad news.

 

Hillary takes a breath. She’s ready to hear.

 

KENNY

Debbie Gibson’s been cast as the lead.

 

 

HILLARY

What?! Is that the good news or the bad news?

 

 

PAUL

I know, she’s not really how we pictured the character.

 

 

HILLARY

She’s really talented but I believe the description of Betty is “sexy and hot.” Not really words I’d use for “pop-princess” Debbie Gibson. And can she dance?

 

 

KENNY

You leave that to me. I’ll have her dancing.

 

 

PAUL

Look, the studio didn’t want to go with an unknown, and Debbie’s the most famous teen girl today. I think it’s a smart move.

 

 

HILLARY

Okay, if that’s the good news, should I take a pill before the bad news?

 

 

KENNY

Wait. One other thing. We’re starting to audition dancers tomorrow. I want you to be there.

 

 

HILLARY

Wow. I’d love to! How exciting.

(beat)

So, come on, you’re killin’ me here. Bad news?

 

 

PAUL
(takes a deep breath)

Lynda hired Richard LaGravenese to do a polish of the script.

 

 

HILLARY
(in disbelief)

What?

 

 

PAUL

I’m sorry, Hill. The studio wants you guys off the project.

 

 

HILLARY

You’re kidding, right? We did every single note they asked for. What more can be polished?

 

 

PAUL

It’s Lynda. She’s been working with Richard, he’s been having a lot of success, and she wants him to take a pass at the script.

 

He stands up and goes over to Hillary.

 

PAUL (CONT’D)

Don’t worry. I’ll show you what he’s doing and if you and Katie want to do any fixes, I’ll take them in and say they’re from me.

 

 

HILLARY

I can’t believe this. One minute they’re kissing our asses and then the next they fire us from our own movie and hire someone to rewrite it without even telling us! THAT SUCKS!

 

 

PAUL

Welcome to showbiz.

 

CUT TO:

INT. DANCE STUDIO–DAY

Paul sits in between Hillary and Lynda. Kenny demonstrates a dance routine while a room full of girls--black, white, Hispanic, Italian--all learn the moves. The girls are brilliantly dressed like they’re all in gangs in 1964.

QUICK CUTS:

—Kenny splitting the girls into groups of ten.

—Kenny working with each group as they learn the moves.

—Hillary talks to Paul, but she and Lynda barely say a word to each other.

—Kenny calls the groups up one at a time, and they all do the routine flawlessly.

It’s absolutely amazing. The intensity of seeing a gang of girls kicking ass with powerful dance moves, bringing the essence of
Skirts
to life, is overwhelming, especially for Hillary.

 

HILLARY
(to Paul, holding back tears)

I wish Katie were here to see this.

CUT TO:

 

EXT. PAUL’S BACKYARD–A FEW WEEKS LATER–AFTERNOON

Hillary helps Paul set out plates of hors d’oeuvres.

 

PAUL

I wanted to get you up to speed before everyone arrives. We’ve been doing some casting and have found some terrific people.

 

 

HILLARY

That’s great! Like who?

 

 

PAUL

For Juanita we cast Rosie Perez, who was just in Spike Lee’s film
Do the Right Thing
….

 

 

HILLARY

She’s fantastic!

 

 

PAUL

And for Monica and Fabio, a couple of unknowns--Marisa Tomei and David Schwimmer. I’m sorry you can’t come see the screen tests.

 

 

HILLARY

Why can’t I?

 

Paul stalls a bit, wiping some crumbs off the table.

 

PAUL

Lynda has Richard sitting in.

 

 

HILLARY

No fucking way! None of this would be happening without my idea and our script. I thought he was just hired to “polish” it, and you’re telling me that HE’S part of the casting and we’re not? This is so fucked up!