A DRESS FOR THE WEDDING( SCRIPT )

FADE IN:

INT. HOTEL ROOM. DAY

The door opens and Albert Cummings ( 52 )  comes in. He
wears a suit. He carries a large suitcase. Puts it in the
middle of the room. Takes out a crumpled tissue from his
pocket and wipes his forehead. He looks around.

ALBERT
Sabrina ain't going to like it.

SABRINA
Did you go to sleep there Albert ? Come and get the other
one.

ALBERT
Yes Sabrina. Coming.

Albert goes out. Leaves the door open. He comes back
carrying another suitcase. Sabrina Cummings ( 50 ) comes
after him. Albert puts the suitcase on the floor next to the
other one. He sits and wipes his head with the
tissue.Sabrina looks around.

SABRINA
It's no good. I wouldn't have taken it.

ALBERT
It was the only vacant room the hotel had.

SABRINA
I told you to hurry and get in line before them Goldmans.
You can bet they have a much better room. Marty Goldman
always was more lucky.

ALBERT
(laughs)
They were in business class and we in tourist and we end up
in the same crummy hotel.
(beat)
Anyway they said the plane'll be fixed in a few hours.

SABRINA
THEY said.

Sabrina goes to the window and looks out. She closes the
curtains.

ALBERT
I'm too damn tired to fuck now dear.

SABRINA
Me too.

ALBERT
So why the hell did you close the curtains?

Sabrina puts her coat and purse on the desk. She goes into
the bathroom. Albert gets up and opens the curtains. He
looks out.

ALBERT
Now I know.

Albert stays near the window. Sabrina comes back.

SABRINA
That's enough Albert.

ALBERT
Just looking dear.
(beat)
She sure is something.

SABRINA
Close the curtain and come here.

Albert does not answer.

SABRINA
It's just the kind of hotel that would let one of his guests
sunbathe naked.

ALBERT
Maybe she works here.

SABRINA
As a whore.

ALBERT
At least we got a room with a view.

SABRINA
Albert stop staring at that whore and put the green
suitcases on the stand

ALBERT
That girl is just getting tanned.
(beat)
Allover.

SABRINA
Bet there are hundreds of men in this hotel peeping out of
their windows right now and getting a good look at that
whore.

ALBERT
The Goldmans are on the other side.  Marty is not that
lucky.
(beat)
Think I'll call him.

Sabrina pushes Albert away from the window and closes the
curtains.

SABRINA
(beat)
Before you do that open the suitcase. I want to get out the
dress for Pat's wedding before it looks as if someone wiped
the floor with it.

Albert picks the green suitcase and lifts it. .He puts it on
the stand.

ALBERT
I'm going to pee.

Albert goes to the bathroom and closes the door. Sabrina
unzips the suitcase and opens it. C.U. on packages of bank
notes. Sabrina stars at it and then zips it. She looks at
the name tag. Silence.

SABRINA
Albert. Albert.

ALBERT
Can't a guy pee in peace?
(beat)
Be right out.

Albert gets out of the bathroom.

ALBERT
What now ?

SABRINA
You picked the wrong suitcase. It's not ours.

ALBERT
It's not ?

SABRINA
No. Did you look at the name tag?

ALBERT
No.

SABRINA
Well take a look now.

Albert looks at the name tag.

ALBERT
Marco Fiorello
(beat)
Probably he has ours.

Albert picks the suitcase and walks to the door.

SABRINA
Where do you think you're going Albert?

ALBERT
To the reception.

SABRINA
No.

ALBERT
But...

SABRINA
Put it back.

Albert puts it back on the stand

SABRINA
Now open it.

Albert unzips it.

SABRINA
And look inside.

Albert looks inside. Albert's P.O.V. of packages of money in
the suitcase. He stares at the money. He picks up a
package.

ALBERT
It sure isn't our suitcase.
(beat)
It says 4000 on the band.

He looks at the other packages.

ALBERT
Looks like 50 packages
(beat)
200,000 dollars and no dress.

SABRINA
You picked the wrong suitcase.

ALBERT
You were in a hurry to get to the hotel's reception before
the Goldmans

Looks at the tag.

ALBERT
This Fiorello guy probably stays in this hotel like all the
passengers. He must have our suitcase.I'll talk to him.

Albert walks to the phone and picks it up. Sabrina takes it
off his hand and puts it down.

ALBERT
What the...

SABRINA
Think Albert. Fiorello. What does it mean ?

ALBERT
I think a flower. New York had a Mayor...

SABRINA
Fiorello is an Italian name. Marco too.

ALBERT
So?

SABRINA
Italian names go
(she whispers)
with the Mob, Mafia and Cosa something.

ALBERT
(laughs)
Come on Sabrina.  Not everyone with a fucking Italian name
belongs to the mob.

SABRINA
No.This one is a milkman and he carries 200,000 dollar in
cash just to give change.

ALBERT
You have a point.

SABRINA
We opened the suitcase so he'll know that we know about the
money.

ALBERT
How can he know that we opened it ?

SABRINA
They make signs. They mark it or  have a  piece of a string
or something. It's in the movies.

There is a knock on the door. Both Albert and Sabrina
freeze.

SABRINA
Who is it?

MAN
The plumber.

SABRINA
What do you want?

MAN
Fix the shower.

SABRINA
Not now. Later. Much later.

MAN
But...

SABRINA
Go away.

Silence

SABRINA
(to Albert)
Is he gone?

ALBERT
I'll see.

Albert picks a chair and brings it to the door. He climbs on
it and looks out through the window above the door.

ALBERT
He's not there.

SABRINA
Take a good look Albert. Ou rlives may depend on it.

Albert looks again . He looks left and right.

ALBERT
He isn't there I tell you.

Albert gets off the chair.

SABRINA
Fiorello sent him. Did you catch the accent of the phony
plumber?

ALBERT
No. Did he have an accent?

SABRINA
You don't have my musical ear.

ALBERT
I do.

SABRINA
My mom said so and she used to be a singer.

ALBERT
And a two bit stripper.

SABRINA
You always change the subject Albert. I was talking about
this so called plumber. His accent was just like Becky's
son-in-law Rico who's in jail now.

ALBERT
But Rico was born in Brooklyn.

SABRINA
The name Albert.  The name Rico is Italian.  It comes from
his father and so does the accent.  It sticks to them.  This
man said he was a plumber because he wanted to butcher us in
the bath. Remember " Psycho "?

ALBERT
There is no " they " Sabrina.  Only one man. A Marco
Fiorello.
(beat)
He could be a relative of that New York mayor. If he is he
can't be with the mob.

SABRINA
We got to get rid of the suitcase. Real quick.

ALBERT
What about the money? We'll have to give it back Sabrina.

SABRINA
I'm keeping it.

ALBERT
This Fiorello probably has our suitcase and it's got our
name on it.  So he'll know that we took his by mistake.
(beat)
The only thing to do is to close the suitcase and say that
we came to him the moment we found out it wasn't ours.

The phone rings. Both Sabrina and Albert freeze and look at
it.

ALBERT
Could be that the plane is ready.

SABRINA
Or it's you know who.

The phone stops ringing.

SABRINA
At least I hope his wife had the sense to take out my dress
for the wedding and hang it. God knows I spent a fortune on
it.

ALBERT
God and the bank

SABRINA
As far as I know they have the same power.

The phone rings again. Albert picks up the phone.

ALBERT
Yeah.... We're on flight 734 to Washington... A what ?....
Hold on. I'll ask my wife...

He shouts

ALBERT
Honey. Do we have a green suitcase over here?

SABRINA
( shouts)
It's not ours. We didn't open it yet because the zipper was
stuck. Tell them we're going to sue if we don't get ours
right away.

ALBERT
(on the phone)
Yeah. We have one... Hold on. I'll check.

He puts down the phone and walks away. He comes back.

ALBERT
(on the phone)
Just found out it was not ours. It got the name Marco
Fiorello on it... You mean that he has ours?... I
understand. No problem. Right away. Sure. Room 562... Fifth
floor.

Albert hangs up.

SABRINA
Well?

ALBERT
It was the reception.  This Fiorello has our suitcase.

SABRINA
When are they brining it here ?

ALBERT
They won't.

SABRINA
What do you mean they won't?  I am not letting them take
this Fiorello's suitcase before they bring back ours. I want
to see that the dress is still in there.

ALBERTO
The Italian wants you to take it up to him.

SABRINA
(taken back)
He what?

ALBERT
He wants you...

SABRINA
Like hell I am going to him.

ALBERT
So don't.  

SABRINA
They could send someone to collect it and bring ours.

ALBERT
He asked for you by name.

SABRINA
Sabrina Cummings ? Why?

ALBERT
Because the suitcase has your name on it.  You insisted that
I put only your name. You didn't tell me why.

SABRINA
My things were in there.  Including the dress and I wanted
people to know it was mine just in case.

ALBERT
In case what?

SABRINA
In case something happened to me.

ALBERT
Like what?

SABRINA
Lots of things could have happened between the time we left
home and the wedding.People should know I bought a special
dress for Pat's wedding.

ALBERT
It was on sale. 50% off.

SABRINA
But no one knows.
(beat)
If I had an accident...

ALBERT
But you didn't.

SABRINA
I said " if ".  

ALBERT
Well something did happen. This Fiorello has it.

SABRINA
OK. Take it up Albert.

ALBERT
Oh no.  Marco Fiorello expects to see a woman and maybe an
ID too.
(beat)
He's Italian gangster so he gets what he wants and he wants
you.

SABRINA
He might kill me.

ALBERT
Don't be stupid. He won't. Lots of people know that you're
there.

SABRINA
If I don't come back...

ALBERT
I'll shoot all the way up to his room.

Sabrina walks over the the suitcase. She arranges the
packets of money.

SABRINA
Come here.

Albert joins her.

ALBERT
What?

SABRINA
Is this the way it was when we opened it?

ALBERT
Sure hope so.

SABRINA
He might notice that we opened it and counted the money.

Sabrina sits on the bed.

ALBERT
What is it dear ?

SABRINA
What if there's some money missing?  Maybe a note or two
fell when we opened it.

Sabrina gets up and looks around. She bends sown and looks
under the bed. Albert goes to the window and looks out.
Sabrina gets up.

SABRINA
Albert. Albert.

Albert does not leave the window.

SABRINA
Help me close the suitcase.

Albert closes the suitcase and takes it to the door.

SABRINA
How do I look ?

ALBERT
All he wants is his money. He won't even look at you.

SABRINA
But he is Italian.
(beat)
They know all about women.

ALBERT
Know what?

SABRINA
How to give this flattering look with the eyes almost
closed.

Sabrina goes into the bathroom. Albert picks the suitcase
and puts it on the bed. Opens it. Sabrina gets out.

SABRINA
Don't you dare touch the money.

ALBERT
If you do it fast he won't have time to count the money.

SABRINA
No.

Sabrina closes the suitcase.

ALBERT
It's better if you don't say much to him.

SABRINA
Got to call him by his name.

ALBERT
No. Just hand him his suitcase take ours and get the hell
out of there.

Sabrina looks at her watch

SABRINA
If I'm not back in 10 minutes...

ALBERT
You'll be back in 5.

SABRINA
Not if the elevator gets stuck.

ALBERT
There are two of them.

SABRINA
I could be stuck inside.

ALBERT
OK.
(beat)
I'll call the police.

SABRINA
Before you do that call Pat and tell her that I did it for
her.

ALBERT
Did what?

SABRINA
Went to this Fiorello to get back the dress that I bought
for her son's wedding.  Let her know what kind of a loving.
caring sister I was.  
(beat)
Maybe he'll let me put on the dress before he kills me.

ALBERTO
No one's going to kill you Sabrina. We'll both make it to
the wedding. The Goldmans too.

SABRINA
Well I'm off.

Sabrina goes to the door. She opens it. She looks at
Albert.

ALBERT
What?

SABRINA
Give me a kiss.

Albert plants a kiss on her cheek.

SABRINA
A real one.

Albert and Sabrina kiss.

WOMAN
See Jerry. Love is ageless.

MAN
Remind me when we're 70.

Albert and Sabrina break up.

SABRINA
You think we might have time to... you know what before they
call our flight?

ALBERT
Sure. Plenty.    
(beat)
Make it quick love.  Room 562.

Sabrina walks out. Albert closes the door and goes to the
window. He looks out.

ALBERT
It was too good to last.

Albert walks to the phone. He picks it up.

ALBERT
Marty Goldman

OPERATOR
Hold on.

Silence

OPERATOR
Is is it Marty with an " M " or an " N "?

ALBERT
" M " like " Money " or " Mother"

Silence

ALBERT
" M "

OPERATOR
Sorry. You said " Mother "

ALBERT
So?

OPERATOR
Why did you say " mother "?

ALBERT
Because it begins with an " M "

OPERATOR
There are plenty of words that begin with an " M".

ALBERT
Sure. What's wrong with " mother "?

OPERATOR
I know how to spell " mother " but she's gone now.

ALBERT
Who?

OPERATOR
My mother. She passed away only two weeks ago and I miss her
kind of awful      
(beat)
Why did you have to mention her at all? You a pervert or
what?

ALBERT
I'm sorry.I just said " M "

Silence

ALBERT
Hello? Hello?

He puts down the phone.

ALBERT
Shit.

Albert goes to the bathroom. A few seconds pass and then the
phone rings. Albert comes out. He holds a glass of water. He
picks up the phone.

MALE VOICE
Mr. Cummings ?

ALBERT
Yeah. Who is it?

MALE VOICE
Reception.
(beat)
How could you ?

ALBERT
What?

MALE VOICE
Make fun of poor Flora's late mother.

ALBERT
Who the hell is Flora?

MALE VOICE
Switchboard girl.

ALBERT
I wasn't making fun of anything. I only pointing out...

MALE VOICE
You saying Flora lied ?

ALBERT
No. All I said was " M for Mother"

MALE VOICE
Why not " M for Moira " or " M for Moses "?

ALBERT
It just came to mind.

MALE VOICE
You also tear off flys wings? Hang up cats by the tail? Beat
boys over the head with a stick?

ALBERT
All I did was...

MALE VOICE
We don't like your type in our hotel Mister.

ALBERT
Fuck you and your hotel.

He hangs up with a bang. He goes back to the window and
looks out.

INT.  HOTEL'S ROOM. DAY.

The curtains are closed. Sabrina and Albert in bed . Naked
under a blanket.

ALBERT
What're you going to do with the 2000 dollars?

SABRINA
First I will buy a new dress for the wedding.

ALBERT
And then?

SABRINA
I'll see.

Silent.

ALBERT
You sure he didn't touch you? I was getting ready to call
the police.

SABRINA
Told you to call Pat first.

ALBERT
I did but the line was busy.
(beat)
Did he count the money ?

SABRINA
He didn't even open the suitcase.  Wasn't interested.

ALBERT
So why didn't you take our suitcase and leave?

SABRINA
Could not leave him.He sat there and looked at me wearing
the dress for the wedding. He had tears. Real ones.
(beat)
I'm going to sue the store.  They said it was the latest
design and I now find out that Marco's late wife wore the
same dress at their wedding 33 years ago.

ALBERT
You won't sue because you made 1,798.34 dollars by selling
it to this Italian...

SABRINA
Marco.

ALBERT
So it is Marco now?

SABRINA
He asked me to.

ALBERT
He did? Why?

SABRINA
He said Fiorello was a very long name and so was Sabrina.
(beat)
He called me Sab.

ALBERT
Sab? Marco and Sab? Sounds like a gangster movie. " Marco,
Sab and the Machine Gun".
(beat)
Anyway You paid for that dress only 201.66 dollarso you made
more than 800% profit. No tax.

SABRINA
I'm going to buy one of the most expensive dresses and I'll
ask Sarah Goldman to help me choose.

ALBERT
You'll tell her?

SABRINA
Sure. It'll probably kill her.

ALBERT
(softly)
You bitch.  
(beat)
I bet you'll look better than the bride

SABRINA
Pat says she isn't something to look at.

Silence

ALBERT
You like me to call you Sab?

SABRINA
If you want to.

ALBERT
Have to get used to it. Sab. Sab.
(beat)
It turns me on.

SABRINA
It does that to certain people.

The phone rings. Albert picks it up.

ALBERT
Yeah?.... OK. Thank you.

He hangs up.

ALBERT
The plane's ready to leave.

SABRINA
I'm not.Yet.
(beat)
Come here.

ALBERT
Guess the Goldmans aren't so lucky,

Albert and Sabrina hug.

END.

(c)2001 Write Safe

Yair Packer

P.O.Box 33444, Tel Aviv 61333, Israel