Chapter 15 PART 15

ANGLE ON: Bob comes up to Ike. He looks like he's going to punch Ike, then abruptly holds out a rose boutonniere. BOB You look awful. IKE (sarcastically) Thank you. Bob hands the flower to Ike. Ike is shaking. Bob catches this and looks up to Ike. It is a moment of clean honesty between the men. BOB Ike. Need help? He takes the boutonniere and puts it on Ikes lapel. BOB (contd) Im glad its you. IKE Really? BOB I didn't want to find out I wasn't for her in the fourth quarter. IKE Got any last minute advice? BOB (motioning to their eyes)

Maintain eye contact. Bob turns and leaves, going down a side staircase. IKE (to himself) Eye contact. Eye contact. Out of the corner of his eye, Ike sees a pictures of Christ on the wall. He leans into the picture and whispers. IKE (contd) Cover me. He walks into the chapel. INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING Ike steps up and stands next to Fisher. FISHER (to Ike) I have no idea what Im doing. IKE Your job is... the ring. (to Fisher) Do you have the ring?! FISHER I just found out Im best man! lucky I have a suit... Whats wrong? Ike gives the ring to Fisher. The Pastor approaches Ike.

turns away and looks out over the guests. IKESPOV: There are most of the TOWNSPEOPLE we have come to know, plus some NEW YORKERS for Ike, with little ponytails. Armani wire rims, Donna Karan bodysuits. Theres a lot of smirking, checking out the hicks, forming their stories for cocktail hour. Elaine is in back all dressed in black, mourning Ike. Mrs. Trout approaches Ike. Mrs. TROUT You should thank Lou and I for the wedding car -- a 63 Buick. IKE Thank you. Mrs. TROUT Oh, come on. Youre practically family. Mrs. Trout starts picking lint off Fishers jacket. FISHER

Hello. Im Fisher. Mrs. TROUT This doesn't want to come out. FISHER You just pull a hair from my neck. IKE Mrs. Trout, go back to your seat! INT. CHURCH FOYER - DAY Peggy joins Maggie, who is blowing bubblegum and swaying in front of an oscillating fan. Grandma and Walter come in. Grandma gives her a kiss on the cheek. GRANDMA JULIA Good luck, Maggie. MAGGIE Thank you, Grandma. Grandma leaves. Walter steps up. WALTER (quietly to Maggie) Im really rooting for this one. MAGGIE Thank you, Dad. Peggy turns off the fan. Cindy takes the bag from Maggie.

CINDY Spit. Maggie spits her bubblegum into the bag. Peggy hands Maggie her bouquet. PEGGY Lets go. MAGGIE No sauntering down the aisle. Just make time. Lets just get there. Cindy and Peggy nod and leave. The door closes. INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING Both extends his hand to Elaine. Elaine Hi, Im Elaine from New York. BOB Hello. Im Bob, Maggies fourth attempt. Elaine Im sorry. BOB Thats okay. Theres a lid for every pot. Besides, Im comfortable with Ike. I mean, Jack Dempsey lost his heavyweight title to a New Yorker. Elaine I know. Gene Tunney.

The organ begins to play. The organizer is Ted. Grandma, Walter, Mrs. Pressman and the Trouts watch. Mrs. Trout picks lint off of her husbands jacket. ANGLE ON: Cindy and Peggy enter with the confident air of people who have done this before. They make it to the head of the aisle all too quickly. Peggy gives Ike a wink and an encouraging smile. INT. CHURCH FOYER - CONTINUING The door opens and Dennis sticks his head in. DENNIS They're ready, Maggie. MAGGIE Just a second. Dennis closes the door behind him as he goes back into the chapel. Maggie has a moment alone. She looks at back door as

possible escape route, then changes her mind. She signals the start of the wedding by knocking on the door. INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUOUS Immediately, Cory and Dennis opened the doors for her entrance. All the guests stand as Maggie enter the chapel smiling. MAGGIES POV: The aisle stretches before her into infinity. Faces goggle at her from every direction. The tiny figure of Ike stands like a beacon a long way off. NEW ANGLE: She plunges forward with a sped-up hesitation step. ANGLE ON: Ike rocks imperceptibly, urging her on. Peggy and Cindy make little "come on" motions. It seems to be working. Maggie

approaches rapidly. The CROWD has turned from skepticism to looks and noises of encouragement. ANGLE ON: MAGGIE But then her feet gradually begin to slow. ANGLE ON: Fisher gives a little "darn, so close" look. ANGLE ON: But Ike is too busy maintaining eye contact. His eyes urge Maggie closer -- loving her, willing her on. CLOSE ON: Maggie stops her walk, gives Ike a teasing smile, and then resumes with her walk toward him. His face. Her face. face. Her face. CLOSE ON: Her foot inches forward. The other follows. NEW ANGLE: A sigh now rises from the GUESTS as Maggie closes in on Ike. He

smiles at her. She smiles at him. She is almost there... Shes there, smiling at Ike. The Pastor gestures to the guests to sit down. They do. ANGLE ON: Ike sneaks. She looks down and imagines she sees the carpet splitting apart. And she bolts like a bat out of hell! In a flurry of white, she is halfway down the aisle before Ike knows what hits him. ANGLE ON: Ike stands there dazed. For a second. Then she springs into action, charging after her. IKE (yelling out) Block the doors! Like a general, he points to Dennis and Cory in the back and sends them into action. The doors shut in Maggies face. But

shes a wild animal cornered. She moves to the side. The TOWNSPEOPLE stand so Ike can hurry through the pew. Ike climbs on the pews towards her as GUEST crowd the aisle, blocking his path. Like a gazelle, she leaps to the side aisle and scampers down and away. Fisher gets on his cell phone. Ike charges from one of the full pews, crosses the aisle and leaps across the pews near the staircase to cut her off. He grabs her veil and it comes off in his hands. Maggie disappears down the steps of the church basement. Ike fumble with the veil and jumps over the railing, landing on Dennis toe. He follows down the stairs

After her. Mrs. Pressman and Walter exchange bet money. CUT TO: INT. CHURCH BASEMENT - CONTINUING Maggie comes down steps and enters the church children Sunday school class. A lot of KIDS And TEACHERS are doing religious arts and crafts. As Maggie runs through: MAGGIE Theres a man coming down those steps with lots of candy in his pockets. If you tickle him, hell give candy. She gives her bouquet to a little GIRL as she goes by. Ike comes down stairs. IKE Maggie! The KIDS mob him, grabbing his pockets. Ike fights his way through KIDS. ANGLE ON: Maggie as shes in the church kitchen and hops on counter and heads out the window. The window is wide enough. ANGLE ON: Ike as he gets to the window, but Maggie is out in the driveway.