Sometimes Gay Means Happy by Angela Theresa Egic (books like beach read txt) 📕

FADE IN:

EXT. NEW YORK CITY – AFTERNOON

ECU of a row boat and paddle, moving haphazardly, in murky water. It is controlled by the hand of a teen girl.

TITLE CARD: Fall 1977

As the camera moves away, we see a row boat in the Harlem Meer of NY’s Central Park. Inside the row boat, TEEN TORI, [Actress: Ellen Page], 14, a typical American teenage girl and her father, YOUNG VIC ROTHCHILD, [Actor: Eddie Izzard], 44.

During the V.O., Teen Tori and Young Vic Rothchild, are struggling to get the row boat to shore and not fall over. They are laughing, enjoying each other’s company.

TORI
(Adult Tori: V.O.)
What can I say about my father? He’s a Broadway star . . . I’m sorry, he was a Broadway star. Sometimes it’s hard to believe he’s gone . . .It feels like he’s still here, you know . . . I can just go over to Times Square and see his name up there, on one marquis or another . . . go to the stage door . . . Oh, there was a long time we didn’t talk . . .in fact, years . . .he tried, it was me, really . . .he certainly always was a good father.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK – AFTERNOON – 1977

We look up from the Great Lawn. Far up, through the balcony of Belveldere Castle we see father and daughter . . . practicing waltzing. It’s a lesson, as Teen Tori giggles when Young Vic Rothchild pretends she has crushed his toes or laughs at her getting dizzy as he dips her.

The music to Shall We Dance by Rogers and Hammerstein begins quietly and goes to full swell, when Teen Tori and Young Vic Rothchild finally get the dance correctly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHK8qWUTKEE

TORI [Actress: Natalie Portman]
(Adult Tori: V.O.)
After I saw Daddy in The King and I, when I was five years old . . . I begged him to teach me to waltz. Daddy, was, to me, the King, and I was his Princess Victoria…the most special girl in the world.

EXT. GREENWICH VILLAGE – NEW YORK – NOON

TITLE CARD: Fall 1988

We’re in front of a tree-lined street of Brownstones. TORI ROTH [Actress: Natalie Portman], a well-dressed woman of 29, comes running out of one of the brownstones. Tori has a bagel in her mouth, she struggle with a briefcase and locks the deadbolt without dropping anything. She runs to the curb and a taxi pulls up, she gets in.

TORI
(mumbling thru bagel)
NBC Studios! Fast!


INT. MARIOTT MARQUIS THEATER – SAME TIME

Marriott Marquis Theatre. New York City.

VICTOR ROTHCHILD, [Actor: Tim Curry], 59, a handsome British gentleman is on the stage. Victor wears a Shakespearean shirt and blue jeans with sneakers.

CREW PEOPLE make final preparations putting final touches, around the cast, and setting lights.

CHERYL HART, [Actress: Carey Mulligan] 20s, a beautiful young British actress wears a dance leotard, tights and jazz shoes.

It's a rehearsal, on the stage. Cheryl and Victor rehearse, oblivious to the activity around them.

CHERYL
(dialogue from play)
My good Lord, I have not given him.

Victor is sweating profusely.

CHERYL
(regular conversation)
You don't look well, Vic. Are you all right?

VICTOR
No, I'm...I'm quite well. Really. Working too hard lately, that's all.

CHERYL
We should call it a day, then. There's still two weeks until we open. Jason! Come down!

VICTOR
Stay aloft, Jason. I can finish...let's just...

CHERYL
No way! We're taking a break, at the very least. Vic, you're pale.

Cheryl leads Victor to the edge of the stage to sit down. JASON, the director, [Actor: Mark Salling] 20s-30s, walks on stage.

JASON
What the hell are you doing, Cheryl? It's my rehearsal and I'll call the breaks.

CHERYL
You are such an asshole! Can't you fucking see Victor is sick?

VICTOR
No, I'm fine. A little head rush. Nothing serious.

JASON
Too much partying last night, huh?

CHERYL
What is with you? Do you have to be a jerk all the time?

JASON
A glass of water, Victor?

VICTOR
Yes, it will help.

Jason starts to exit after patting Victor on the shoulder.

JASON
Hang in there!
(to Cheryl)
I'll deal with you later!

CHERYL
Oh God, I'm shaking!

JASON
(OS)
Take ten...then we're running, no stops!

CHERYL
Sorry, Vic...

VICTOR
He's just doing his job, Cheryl.

CHERYL
(out to Jason)
He could do it better!

JASON
(OS)
I heard that!

Jason comes back in with a bottle of water.

CHERYL
Stage Manager quit now, too?

JASON
Don't push it, Cheryl.
(crouching near Victor)
I'm worried, Vic...we go up in two weeks. Do you need a doctor?

VICTOR
I'll be chipper as ever by Monday, really. I just overwork myself.

JASON
Fine.
(stands and addresses all)
Rehearsal is done for today!

CHERYL
(sarcastic)
Wish I thought of that. Jason!

VICTOR
I can finish the scene! Let's finish the scene and I'll go home and rest.

JASON
Are you sure, Victor?
(beat)
Just this scene?

Victor nods and gets on his feet, Cheryl quickly at his side and helping. Cheryl is saying no with her head and glaring at Jason.

CHERYL
(to Victor)
You don't have to do this today, you know.

VICTOR
I'd really like to try.

CHERYL
You just look...gray. I want to call a doctor.

VICTOR
You worry enough for both of us, little lady.

They embrace. Cheryl walks to her spot and Victor takes a deep breath with effort. He collapses to his knees with his hand across his ribs.

Cheryl runs to him.

CHERYL
Oh God! Call a fucking ambulance!

JASON
I'm on it!

CHERYL
Vic? Victor?! Come one, do you hear me?

Victor is unconscious. Cheryl sits on the stage, cradling Victor on her lap. Jason enters and kneels behind them.

JASON
I've sent everyone home. Are you ready for the press, Cheryl?

CHERYL
Do you think they've already gathered?

JASON
He’s a legend . . . when an ambulance arrives at this theatre.

CHERYL
Victor wanted to keep his illness quiet until the end.

JASON
Maybe this is the end?

CHERYL
Jason, you're optimistic nature is just so damned inspiring.

INT. NBC STUDIOS – NEW YORK

Tori rushes past, she waves at the GUARD, and goes toward the sound stage.

INT. SOUND (NEWS ROOM)

August 1988: Afternoon.

MICHAEL FELDON, [Actor: Mike Epps], 40, an African-American head newscaster is being miked up by a CREW MEMBER. The studio is busy, about to air. CAMERA PEOPLE are moving into place quickly. RACHEL SYLVER, [Actress: Jane Lynch] in her 40s, the Producer/Director, wrapped into a handsome woman, is fit to be tied.

RACHEL
(to Tori)
It’s about time!
(to both)
We are on in 5...4...3...

MICHAEL
Good afternoon, I'm Michael Feldon.

TORI
And I'm Tori Roth, your Broadway Baby!

MICHAEL
Welcome to the NBC Noontime Report.

TORI
It's August 8, 1988. I’m coming to you with today’s breaking and entertainment news!

MICHAEL
We will come back with today’s headlines! We'll see you in five minutes!


Rachel has them hold a few seconds and gives them the cue for "off-air".

RACHEL
Cut! Five minutes!

Tori puts her head in her hands.

TORI
Argh!

MICHAEL
Rough day?

Tori gives him a threatening look.

RACHEL
It's noon, Tori. Leave your morning at home!

TORI
Won't happen again, Rachel.

RACHEL
Hmm, Michael, tell me...how many times has she said this in the last...four years?!

MICHAEL
I am not here! Color me invisible.

RACHEL
250.

TORI
Only?

MICHAEL
I'll alert the press!
(beat)
I'm invisible again.

RACHEL
Leave the jokes to those who can, Michael.

MICHAEL
Ew, low blow!

RACHEL
We're back in two . . .

They prepare for air.

EXT. MARQUIS THEATER

An ambulance and emergency vehicles block the corner of 46th Street. ONLOOKERS make the street virtually impassable. Victor is carried out on a stretcher, the crowd reacts as he is a popular Broadway star. There’s an entourage in tow with various EMT WORKERS, Cheryl and Jason around him.

VICTOR
Did you call David?

CHERYL
Don’t worry, Victor. I had Jason call, David will meet you at the hospital, I’m sure.

NEWS CREW PEOPLE are pushing through the crowd, shooting with still and video cameras and shoving in microphones.

NEWSWOMAN #1
Miss Hart, what happened?

CHERYL
No questions!

NEWSMAN #1
Miss Hart, what about the rumor about Victor Rothchild being a homosexual?

CHERYL
What kind of bloody question is that?!

NEWSMAN #2
We want to know if this is AIDS related.

JASON
There will be a press release in a couple of hours. Now, get out of the way!

NEWSWOMAN #2
Miss Hart, what did Mr. Rothchild ask you a minute ago?

CHERYL
Oh, you can quote me on this!
(beat)
None of your damned business!

Victor is loaded into the ambulance, Cheryl enters right behind him.

INT. NEWSCAST

Rachel holds up two fingers, then one and points at Michael.

RACHEL
We're on in 5..4...3...

Rachel hands Tori a paper from the side.

TORI
Breaking news from Broadway. The legendary Victor Rothchild....

Tori lets out a little gasp as she reads ahead.

TORI
I'm sorry.
(she clears her throat)
Victor Rothchild, known for his roles on Broadway and London's West End, has collapsed ...

Tori is having trouble and visibly shaken up reading this.

TORI
...at the Marriott Marquis Theatre…early reports in are announcing it’s a massive heart attack.

Michael is watching Tori carefully. Rachel motions to Michael to take the copy and continue.
Tori collects herself continues.

TORI
Mr. Rothchild's condition is listed as critical.

MICHAEL
It certainly is terrible news, Tori.
(beat)
Tori Roth and I, Michael Feldon, will be back after a word from our sponsors.

Rachel gives the out cue.

TORI
I'm really sorry, Rachel.

MICHAEL
(gently)
You're a fan of Victor Rothchild, I assume?

TORI
No, I'm quite the opposite.

RACHEL
Tori, you are unusually upset.

MICHAEL
You would think he was your father, or something.

Tori's eyes open wide and she bursts into tears.

TORI
Oh God!

She runs off stage. Michael and Rachel look at one another, puzzled.

RACHEL
Michael, finish the newscast.
(going OS to aid Tori)
Tori, stop!

MICHAEL
I'll call Stephen after the newscast. He can come get Tori and take her home.

INT. LAW OFFICES

STEPHEN OSBORNE, [Actor: Matthew Morrison] as the nameplate on the desk reads, followed with "Attorney At Law". Stephen is a handsome man of 33. He is relaxed back in his chair, tie undone; watching the newscast on a portable TV.

The TV is perched at the end of his cluttered desk, full of forms and files. Beside this is a photograph of Tori, Stephen and CRYSTAL [Actress: Bailee Madison] (age 5).

STEPHEN
Damnit!

Stephen uses the intercom.

STEPHEN
Deb, call the station . . . It's Tori . . . No, I mean, her