Stephen Metcalfe - Writer & Director

Summer is the only pilot of mine that was made. Total disapointment. Badly cast. Horribly directed. It says a lot about the whole process that the network inflicted both cast and director upon us. We shot in Seattle. The only positive of the whole experience is I discovered Starbucks.

S U M M E R
Fade in on:
int. a basement rec room - night
Bar. Pool table. A poker table. Cards, chips, pretzels and beers. The sounds of four men playing. panning to -
nelson
- and dealer takes two. Okay, okay. Pair of jacks opens... let's see, let's see...
frank
Raise a quarter.
nelson
Wait, wait. What are you - ? It's not your turn, it's my turn.
frank
You're taking too long. Raise a quarter.
nelson
I haven't even bet yet!
frank
Whatever you bet, I raise a quarter.
nelson
He's starting. You're starting. Don't start!
roger
Hey. You guys going?
ext. a lighted driving range - night
A club is swung. A ball is dribbled. Linda sighs, discouraged.
linda
Why are we doing this again?
vicki
We're bonding, kiddo. If the morons can do it, so can we.
Next to her, Luisa takes a swing. Not too bad.
Luisa
Couldn't we just play cards too, Vick?
vicki
Absolutely not. We need to do our own weekly thing, find our own venue. It should be something -
(swinging and missing)
- exciting. And empowering.
Luisa
Something that makes our husbands think they're not having nearly as much fun as we are?
vicki
Exactly, yeah.
Linda hits a golf ball sideways.
linda
I don't think this is it.
Vicki swings and misses. She struggles to keep her composure.
vicki
So... you kids going?
Roger and Marty
have moved to the pool table. Roger is shooting. Behind them, Frank and Nelson are at the poker table.
roger
You taking Luisa?
marty
We haven't really talked about it.
roger
You gonna take her car?
marty
The Benz? We could.
roger
I'll go with you. You two sit in the back, I'll drive.
Roger shoots.
ext. main street - summer, massachusetts - night
A slinky dress is in the window of a woman's clothing store.
vicki
Now that is nice.
linda
Looks expensive.
Luisa
So much money; so little fabric.
linda
Tight clothes squeeze my bladder and then I have to pee.
vickie
I would look great in that next Saturday night.
They turn and walk.
linda
I guess that means you're definitely going, huh?
vicki
Are you kidding? Wild horses couldn't -
at the poker table -
frank
- keep the Vick away.
In the background, Marty and Roger are playing ping-pong.
nelson
Okay, okay. I call -
frank
Raise a quarter.
nelson
No. no, no!
int. an old fashion ice cream parlor - night
Linda, Vicki and Luisa are in a booth eating sundaes.
linda
I remember when this place used to be a hardware store.
vicki
Yeah, my father liked to browse the lug wrenches.
Luisa
You really gonna buy that dress?
vicki
I deserve it. What are you wearing?
Luisa
I hadn't thought about it. Marty hasn't said he definitely wants to go yet and I don't care if we go -
Marty and Roger
are now at the rec-room bar.
marty
I mean, Luisa's really looking forward to it.
linda
scrapes the last bit of hot fudge from her bowl.
linda
I'd sort of like to go. But I don't think Nelson wants to.
vicki
If Frank goes, Nelson will go. They get along better with each other than they do with us.
Nelson
coldly pushes his chips to the middle of the table
nelson
You despicable boob. You have zip.
Frank smiles.
ext. main street - night
Linda, Vicki and Luisa are walking back up Main Street.
linda
Toads and snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of.
Frank
is fondling his new mountain of chips.
frank
Mine! All mine! Moo-ha-ha-ha-hah!!
the three women
are skipping down the sidewalk.
Linda, Luisa and vicki
Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of!
Nelson
is pulling on his jacket
nellie
I'm outta here! Don't try and stop me. I'm gone!
Marty and Roger glance at one another and hardly move. Nelson storms up the stairs. He storms back down the stairs.
nelson
And another thing!! I'm not going!
the woman
are in front of Vicki's parked car.
vicki
Okay. A pact. We... are going. Even if we have to go ourselves!
Nelson
storms down the stairs, throws off his jacket, moves to the poker table and sits.
nelson
Okay, okay, I'm back. Who's deal?
The others look at one another and then break up.
music and credits over opening montage -
act i
ext. marty and Luisa's house - night
Roger, Marty and Luisa come out of the house. Marty is in a suit and tie, Luisa in an evening dress. Roger wears jeans, cowboy boots, a sports jacket and no tie. They walk towards the driveway where a Mercedes, is parked.
marty
Now listen, just because you're not going to know anybody there and just because you're pathologically shy and, and totally lacking in selfconfidence, don't go in there with the idea you can, y'know, hang on me or anything -
roger
Just because you're married to him.
Marty
Yeah - because, to be perfectly frank, I hate that in a woman and... I'll have to dump you.
Luisa
Billy Crystal?
marty
(hurt)
Steve Martin.
roger
If he dumps you, I got dibs.
Luisa
You'll just have to get in line.
Roger opens the back door of the Mercedes.
roger
Madam. Sir.
Luisa
Be careful with my baby.
Marty and Luisa get in.
ext. frank and vicki donnelly's home - night
Establishing shot.
int. house - bedroom - night
Vicki's putting on earrings. She looks great. Make-up, hair... and the dress from the store window. Frank sticks in his head in. He's wearing a sport's jacket and loosely knotted tie. He's giving his ten year old daughter, erin, a piggy-back ride.
frank
Your mom's here. Dollar waitin' on a dime, kid.
vicki
In a minute.
erin
You look nice, Mommy.
frank
I'll say. That new?
vicki
I've had this forever, Frank.
frank
If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to impress someone.
vicki
Don't be silly.
frank
Any time, kid.
Frank and Erin exit. Vicki carefully checks herself out in the mirror. She smiles at herself with satisfaction.
ext. sheraton - night
Establishing shot. Cars are entering the already full parking lot. Nicely dressed people, all in their late thirties, are walking towards the entrance.
A woman
It's Roger! There's Roger Winters!
Roger waves from the Mercedes as he drives past.
a guy
Where'd the Dodger ever get a car like that?
another woman
He must be doing very well.
PANNING TO - There's a lighted sign outside the Sheraton. It reads - WELCOME SUMMER H.S. CLASS OF 74!!
ext. newicki house - night
Establishing shot.
INT. NEWICKI HOUSE - continuous
The movie, Star Wars, is playing on the living room t.v. Linda stands in the kitchen doorway. She's wearing her coat over a nice but rather shapeless dress.
linda
Nelson?
Nelson, wearing slacks and a t-shirt, is sitting on the couch between his twin three year olds, SARA and JENNIFER.
LINDA
It's not too late. I can still call my mom, she'll come over.
nelson
Linda, I don't want to go. You go, have a good time.
linda
But I won't without you. Nelson, I really wish you'd come.
nelson
I have no interest in hanging out with people I haven't seen in twenty years. I didn't like'm back in high school, why should I now? So and so'll be fat, so and so'll be bald, so and so'll get drunk. Who needs it.
linda
Please? For me?
nelson
Linda. Go.
Linda hesitates, then turns and exits. On the t.v., the Chewbacca roars. Jennifer giggles. And points at the set.
Jennifer
Daddy!
roger, Luisa and marty
walk across the parking lot.
roger
I just hope all the girls who were in love with me in high school can restrain themselves.
Luisa
Gee, maybe you'll get lucky tonight, Rog.
marty
Yeah, maybe Wendy Fuller will be here.
roger
I'm counting on it.
luisa
Wendy who?
marty
(hot)
Ow!
in the ballroom of the sheraton -
The reunion is in full swing; a bar, a buffet, a band. At the entry way, people arriving pick up nametags with their high school yearbook pictures attached. Marty, Roger and Luisa step up to the table. The chubby woman handing out nametags smiles at them.
penny
Marty, Marty, Marty, oh, god, isn't this so great?
Marty doesn't recognize her. He looks at her nametag and picture - she used to be thin.
marty
Penny! Hi! Gee, you look...
penny
I know. I'm disgusting.
marty
More of a good thing, Pen.
This is my wife, Luisa Melendes.
penny
Hi. I wouldn't have brought my spouse for the world.
(seductively)
Hello, Roger-dodger.
roger
Hi, Pen.
penny
You and me. The high jump pit. Remember?
roger
How could I forget?
Penny growls. Roger, Luisa and Marty move on.
marty
The high jump pit?
roger
Spur of the moment. But inspired.
out in the parking lot -
Frank is impatiently standing by his station wagon.
frank
Vick, ya look good, let's go.
Vicki is in the car doing a last minute make-up check in the rear view mirror.
vicki
If you're in such a hurry, go.
frank
You don't want to go in together? Make a grand entrance?
vicki
Not particularly.
frank
You're putting on airs tonight, aren't you, Vick.
vicki
Excuse me?
frank
You know what I'm talking about. Look, you want to spend the night pretending you didn't end up marrying me, be my guest. But half the people in there were at our wedding. I'll see you at the bar.
He turns and goes.
vicki
Where else?
in the sheraton ballroom -
Luisa is looking at Marty's picture.
Luisa
Wonderbread. But cute.
(turning to Roger)
Now you. Roger! You never told me you were an Elvis clone.
roger
Hey, I'd like to see your yearbook picture.
marty
Her high school didn't have a yearbook. If she wants to see pictures of her classmates, she goes to the post office and checks out the wanted posters.
roger
Tough school, huh?
Luisa
Tough chica.
And suddenly Frank rushes up.
frank
(as if dizzy:)
Hold on, everyone's gotta stop. It's the twilight zone, man. Everywhere I turn, I recognize people. But they've changed, they've... aged. I need lots and lots of drinks.
roger
Where's Vick?
frank
Out in the parking lot, pruning her eyebrows.
A beautiful blonde woman in body hugging dress, CAROL, suddenly squeals at the top of her lungs.
CAROL
Martin Davis!
marty
Carol French!!
They rush towards each other and embrace.
Luisa
The Carol French?
roger
The letter bearer herself.
frank
Both of'm - class everything.
roger
Most popular.
frank
Best couple.
Luisa
Were you boys class anything?
roger
Class hood.
frank
Class bully.
Luisa
Well, I was class actress.
(moving forward; smiling)
Carrida! Introduce me.
at the door
Vicki make her entrance. She bypasses the nametag table and undulates with smoky eyed confidence into the room. Men stop in the middle of their conversations to turn and stare. A good looking man in an expensive suit breaks away from his group of friends and moves towards her. They meet.
vicki
Hello, Stuart.
stuart
Is it really you, Vick?
vicki
Who else?
marty and luisa
are with Carol French and her husband, IRV.
carol
Oh! Okay! How many kids, Marty?
(to Luisa)
Marty and I were gonna have five!
Luisa
(looking at Marty)
Really.
carol
Irv and I have a boy and a girl! I brought pictures! This is Benjy and this is Betty - !
at the entrance to the ballroom -
Linda shyly enters. The nametag table is deserted. She looks around for people she knows.
At a table in the ballroom -
stuart
I guess you didn't go into modeling like you planned, huh, Vick?
vick
Yes and no. I married Frank -
stuart
My loss.
vicki
Your choice. He and I own and operate a rather lovely eating establishment here in town -
at the bar -
Frank is drinking with some buddies.
frank
- fifty cent drafts. We do a hell of a business on Monday nights in the fall.
angle on -
A group of very well dressed, confident looking women.
a woman
- nothing quite so glamorous as owning my own gallery, I'm afraid. I'm an executive V.P. at a textile corporation in Georgia.
woman
I understand real estate in Atlanta's booming.
PULLING BACK - Linda, who has overheard, tries to move by.
the woman
Excuse me... Linda?
linda
(turning)
Yes?
the woman
It's me, Donna Abernathy.
linda
I know. You look wonderful, Donna.
donna
You too. You remember Terry Murtry and Cynthia Hammel.
linda
Yes. Hi. You guys look great.
donna
Linda and I, if you can believe it, took this ridiculous home ec class together.
Everyone except Linda laughs.
cynthia
Mrs. Druckner, with that hair?
terry
What are you doing with yourself, Linda?
linda
I'm married. I have two little girls.
cynthia
Oh... Uh... living here? Still?
linda
Yes.
donna
Well... nice. Good to see you, Linda.
Linda nods and moves away.
donna
I shouldn't have said anything about home ec. She loved it.
They all giggle.
at another end of the bar -
guy 1
A what?
roger
A cop. I'm a cop.
guy 1
I know what a cop is. I just can't believe... you're one.
roger
Why?
guy 2
Come on, Winters, you spent most of your time in high school rebelling against authority figures. And now you are one!
guy 3
Sounds like someone gave the keys to the inmates!
Laughter. Everyone seems to agree. Roger isn't amused.
in another part of the ballroom -
Linda has joined Marty and Luisa and company.
carol
- and after the magazine lay-out, the interior decorating just turned into a full time thing.
irv
What business you in, Marty?
carol
(proudly)
Irv's a lawyer.
marty
Really? We have something in common.
carol
What? You never mentioned going to law school, Marty.
luisa
He didn't. He married someone who did.
marty
Actually I'm editor of the town paper.
carol
(to Irv)
Oh! I knew it. Marty's Dad owned the sweetest, little small town newspaper.
marty
Dad's been retired for awhile now. And Summer - and I'd like to think, The Chronicle - isn't so sweet and small anymore. Hey, excuse us, we're going to mingle.
carol
Ohhh! Save a dance for me?
marty
Absolutely.
Marty and Luisa turn away.
carol
Nice to see you, Linda.
Carol and Irv turn away. Linda again is by herself.
angle on -
Luisa
Dance with that woman and you go home alone.
marty
Wait. Are you jealous?
Luisa
Of blonde hair, boobs and a flair for interior design? You betcha.
marty
Come on, no one takes old flames seriously.
at the bar
Frank furiously drains his beer. And glares. PANNING TO -
stuart
What happened to us, Vicki, huh?
vick
One of us went away to college, stopped answering letters and started going to Aspen for Christmas.
stuart
I was young.
vicki
So was I.
stuart
That's why Frank?
vicki
Sorry?
stuart
Come on, you know what I mean. You could have had anybody. Frank was an okay guy but he was never in your league. Why him?
at the bar -
Frank is talking. And drinking.
frank
See, Slick Stewie wasn't the only guy who left. All these studs she went out with? They did too. But I didn't. I knew what I wanted was here. I've never told anyone this before, but... I always loved her.
REVERSE ANGLE - Frank is talking to the young bartender.
bartender
Who's that, sir?
frank
Who? My wife. Other guys wanted her. But me...
(sniff-sniff)
I worshiped her. And when everyone else was gone and she needed to know there was still someone who did... I was there.
bartender
Is your wife... still among the living, sir?
Frank turns on his stool and glares ominously across the room to where Vicki and Stuart are sitting.
frank
Not for long.