(The Raines’ living room. Lillian answers the door to Phillip.)
Phillip:
You look great. How’re you doing, Mrs. Raines?
Lillian:
Thank you, Phillip. Wow, you look so handsome.
Phillip:
Thank you. Is Beth ready?
Beth: (appearing on the stairs)
I’ve been ready for the past hour.
Phillip: (looking up at Beth in her gown and yells)
Woo! You look beautiful! (He goes to the stairs to meet her.)
Beth: (coming down the steps)
Thank you.
(Phillip presents her with flowers.)
Lillian:
You really do, honey. (The doorbell rings and she opens the door to Mike Bauer.)
Mike:
Well, hello.
Lillian:
Hello, Mike.
Mike:
So, am I early?
Lillian: (sounding a little sad)
No. You look so handsome.
Mike:
What’s the matter?
Lillian:
It’s just that my little girl—she’s all grown up on me.
(Shot of Phillip & Beth talking.)
(Phillip and Beth are announced and enter the ballroom at the Country Club. They stop at the top of the stairs and look over the crowd.)
Phillip:
How do you feel?
Beth:
Excited.
Phillip:
Good. Now, remember the only thing that’s important is that we have a good time.
Beth:
Right. Okay.
(They start down the stairs as Vanessa notices them and tells Alan that they’ve arrived.)
Vanessa:
Beth looks lovely.
Alan: (sighs)
She’s wearing Elizabeth’s wedding dress.
Vanessa:
Oh, well, it’s very becoming.
Alan:
I wish she hadn’t done that.
(Vanessa appears uncomfortable. Phillip and Beth join them.)
Phillip:
Dad, hi. Vanessa, hi. Vanessa, this is Beth Raines. Beth, this is Vanessa Chamberlain.
Vanessa:
Of course—we’ve met.
Beth:
It’s nice to see you again.
Alan:
Hello, Beth.
Beth:
Hello, Mr. Spaulding.
(Vanessa excuses herself to greet another guest.)
Phillip:
Well, it looks like you and Vanessa have put together quite a she-bang here.
Alan:
Yes. Everything seems to be going very well so far.
Phillip:
Where’s Aunt Alexandra? I haven't seen her.
Alan:
She should be here shortly.
(A waiter brings a tray of champagne and they each take a glass.)
Phillip: (to Alan)
Hey, do you recognize this dress?
Alan:
No, should I?
Phillip:
Yeah—this was Elizabeth’s wedding dress.
Alan:
Really? Well, it looked very different on Elizabeth. If you’ll excuse me, I think I should join Vanessa. (He exits.)
Phillip:
Yeah. (He leads Beth to the other side of the room.)
Beth:
He’s upset about my wearing this dress.
Phillip:
Oh, I don’t think he is. I think we just took him by surprise. It looks beautiful, and that’s the only thing that matters anyway, right? (He kisses her.)
Beth:
I know that he doesn’t approve of me seeing you, but I’ll change his mind. I will.
Phillip:
Now, that sounds like a determined daughter-in-law-to-be.
Beth:
It’s gonna work for us this time—because it has to.
Phillip:
I know it will—I promise. (They clink champagne glasses.)
(Across the room, Rick and Mindy are announced. They enter and spot Phillip and Beth. They start over to them, but run in to Vanessa on the way.)
Vanessa:
Good evening.
Rick:
Hi.
Mindy:
Hello Vanessa.
Vanessa:
Hello, I’m so glad you both could come.
Rick:
Thanks very much for inviting us, Vanessa.
Mindy:
Thank you. By the way, has Daddy called you to thank you for the flowers?
Vanessa:
Oh, Mindy, your flowers didn’t work. But thank you very much for sending them. It was a very sweet gesture. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should really mingle with the rest of the guests. Enjoy yourselves. (She exits.)
Rick & Mindy:
Thank you.
Mindy: (turning to Rick)
Rick, how’d she know I sent the flowers?
Rick:
Ah, beats me, Mindy.
Mindy:
If she knows, then my daddy must know. Oh, he’s gonna kill me!
Rick:
No, he won’t.
Mindy:
He will!
Rick:
Ah, fear not, fair lady. I shall protect you. (He kisses her hand.)
Mindy:
Aw, you mean that, don’t you?
Rick:
You bet I do.
Mindy:
You really would protect me.
Rick:
You bet I would. Besides, I agree with Vanessa. I think it was a very nice gesture.
(They go off to join Phillip and Beth.)
(Rick, Mindy, Phillip and Beth are all sitting at a table, watching the crowd.)
Phillip:
Well, my lady, would you care to dance?
Beth:
I’d love to.
(Phillip kisses her and then leads her to the dance floor.)
Mindy:
You know, Beth looks beautiful.
Rick:
So do you. (He kisses her.) C’mon.
Mindy:
Shall we?
Rick:
Yep.
Mindy:
Okay.
(They get up and head for the dance floor.)
(Later, Phillip and Beth are dancing—Beth looks deep in thought.)
Phillip:
Is something wrong?
Beth:
No—why?
Phillip:
Well, you’ve said about two words since we got here. You know, we don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.
Beth:
No, I want to stay. I’m having a wonderful time.
Phillip:
You sure? C’mon, I know something’s bothering you.
Beth:
I just had a long day. I went to the rape crisis center today.
Phillip:
You did? That’s great! I’m very proud of you. What did they say?
Beth:
Well, I spoke to a counselor and she said that she was going to bring me some pamphlets—
(Mike and Lillian dance up beside them.)
Mike:
Are you having a good time?
Phillip:
Yeah.
Lillian:
Oh, isn’t it a lovely party, honey?
Beth:
It’s wonderful, mama.
Lillian:
Good.
(They dance away. Beth looks sad—she hasn’t told her mother about the rape yet.)
Phillip:
What did the counselor say?
Beth:
Phillip, this isn’t the place to talk about it, okay?
Phillip:
Okay, I’m just glad that you went.
(They dance off-camera.)
(Ballroom: A waiter delivers a note to Alan and he reads it aloud.)
Alan:
“Alan, meet me on the patio right away. Your special guest of honor.” Alexandra.
(He goes outside and calls for Alex.)
Bradley: (pops out of the bushes)
Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Spaulding. It’s only me (lifts his mask), Bradley Raines.
-[COMMERCIAL]-
