THE WEDDING
By
Di Vidos
©
30/9/08
All enquiries to:
Di Vidos
35a West Pde
East Perth
WA 6004
Mobile: 0403992883
E-mail: di_vidos@hotmail.com
1
FADE IN:
SCENE 1.
EXT
SUBURBAN HOUSE
DAY
Gemma pays the taxi driver and looks up to the house she was born in and cringes
as she is almost knocked off her designer heels by two rowdy scruffy children,
squealing .(Angela, her eldest sisters’ children)
MICHELA
Mum, Auntie Gemma is here!!
GEMMA
Hello….careful..leave that bag ..
ANGELA
Come..Come…Jorge!!! (long suffering husband
and father) get out here and get the
bags…you brought enough…. David, leave
that!!! Don’t pester your Aunt there’s plenty of
time…. Oh go and get your dad and tell him
NOW!!!
GEMMA
Gosh the kids have gotten so big!
ANGELA
Well you’ve been away for two years that’s
what kids do…they grow…but you wouldn’t
know that….
GEMMA
Hi Jorge(Gemma’s brother-in-law), I can
manage thanks nice to see you…Hi Mum..
MUM
(Emerging from inside)
Don’t they feed you in New York, you look like
a skeleton…are you sick?
Gemma kisses her mother on the cheek as she enters the house.
GEMMA
I am well and I eat plenty.
SCENE 2.
INT
KITCHEN
DAY
The house is a hub of activity. Mrs Delio, a neighbour, Gemma’s Aunts Rosanna and
Emma are busy making fresh ravioli with her parents. Her dad emerges from the
melee with floury hands.
The Wedding…
2
Hi Dad…
GEMMA
She kisses his cheek and everyone else’s around the table.
AUNT EMMA
Ooh, look at you, the big New York girl!!
AUNT ROSANNA
Your mother didn’t think you were going to
make it.
Exhausted, Gemma signals her excuses and heads for the bathroom…
SCENE 3.
INT
BATHROOM
DAY
Gemma leans over the sink and stares at her reflection in the mirror and sighs,
feeling exhausted.
GEMMA
Two weeks, how can I survive this?
MUM (OOS)
Put the bags in Emily’s room, Jorge! They’re
going to share!
SCENE 4.
INT
KITCHEN
DAY
Gemma exits the bathroom and emerges amidst the busy aunts.
GEMMA
Where is Emily the bride to be then?
Her grandmother emerges from the melee.
GEMMA
Uh Nonna, I didn’t see you there…Comma
sta…?
Gemma gives a big hug but receives no response from her Grandmother.
GEMMA
Nonna it’s Gemma, la tua nepota…..what are
you looking for in your bag I may help you…
ANGELA
Leave her,.. she just looks in her bag a
hundred times a day and it’s getting
worse…some days are better than others, but
she doesn’t know the kids half the time!!!
The Wedding…
3
EMILY
Gemma…you made it!!!
Gemma and Emily rush together in a mad embrace.
GEMMA
Of course I did, I said I’d be here two days
before!!
MUM
Huh!! Your sisters wedding!! You missed the
Bridal shower!!
GEMMA
Mum, it was all I could get off… (A beat) Wow
my little sis is getting married!!! Are you
stressed?
EMILY
(Turning to the crowded kitchen)
I haven’t been stressed at all, have I?...I just
want everyone to have a good time, that’s
it...haven’t worried about anything!
EVEYONE IN UNISON
No!!!! Nothing…she’s been very easy going.
Gemma links arms with Emily and takes her to the bedroom.
GEMMA
Tell me everything…Tell me all about the man
you’re marrying!!
SCENE 5.
INT
BEDROOM
DAY
They land with a thud on Gemma’s bed.
EMILY
Well you know him…
GEMMA
Really? Who...?Mum hasn’t told me much
about him except that he has his own
business in building or something and his
name is John and of course that he’s rich!!!
EMILY
John Anderson….you guys sort of dated when
you were sixteen…
The Wedding…
4
GEMMA
Oh that John!!!....Grreat...so happy for you…
EMILY
Look I wanted to tell you…
EMILY (CONT’D)
…but everyone said you might not come to
the wedding. And you know what mum’s
like…she’d lose face with all her Italian
cronies!!....you’re okay about it aren’t you?
GEMMA
Of course I am! God I haven’t seen John in
like uh….fourteen years…..it’s great it’s really
great!! Let’s get a wine and celebrate!!! It’s
great!!!
DISSOLVE TO:
SCENE 6.
INT
LOUNGEROOM
DAY
SUPER: 2 days later.
Preparations for the wedding proceed apace. Everyone seems in a panic.
EMILY
MUM!!!...Where’s the flowers…??...Why
haven’t the cars arrived?..
MUM
It’s ok, Julie is on her way, she couldn’t get
the oriental lilies but she has the plain lilies..
EMILY
It’s all a mess…it’s bad luck..
MUM
It’ll be ok…shit happens….Jorge have you
spoken to Tony? Where’s the cars?...
GEMMA
Come on Sis…it doesn’t matter…the important
thing is you’re marrying…
EMILY
Fuck off Gemma…Miss Bloody Perfect…
It’s my day and it’s a bloody mess…it’s all
wrong…
The Wedding…
5
ANGELA
David where’s your shoes?...Michela?
Michela runs in from the kitchen.
MICHELA
Mum Nonna’ set the pan on fire!!!!!
Everyone races into the kitchen…
SCENE 7.
INT
KITCHEN
DAY
…where Nonna is finishing swatting out the flames on the stove.
ANGELA
Nonna…what are you doing? Why not just ask
if you want coffee?
MUM
Oh Mama not today Emily a sposa
oggi…perche?
EMILY
You can just call it off!! I hope you’re all
happy I’m not getting married. Everything is
wrong!!!
DISSOLVE TO LATER:
SCENE 8.
EXT
CHURCH
DAY
SUPER: 2 hours later.
The groom is waiting outside the church smoking. Gemma walks toward him.
GEMMA
Congratulations John…
MUM
John is the music set for Emily’s entrance?
JOHN
How have you been Gem…? Long time no
see…you look lovely….
ANGELA
John the music?...hello...? Jorge!! Go see if
the music is working….
MUM
John, go in, Emily will be arriving soon...let’s
all go in…
The Wedding…
6
SCENE 9.
INT
CHURCH
DAY
Gemma’s Mum and Angela are seated looking pleased, Nonna is frantically looking
for something in her bag…..the guest’s eyes follow Gemma as she takes her seat...
Ava Maria plays on the sound system as Emily walks down the aisle on Dad’s arm.
SCENE 10.
INT
RECEPTION CENTRE
NIGHT
SUPER: 6 hours later.
The reception is in full swing everyone is having a wonderful time…..Mum and Dad
dance the Tarantella much to the delight of the guests. When the dancing is finished
Angela, exhausted, throws herself into a chair beside Gemma. Angela is obviously
more than a little tipsy.
ANGELA
You have it eashy….I’m stuck in thish dead
end town with kids, a husband who doesn’t
earn enuff. We’re in debt…and he’s been
havin’ an affair…you’re lucky you got out….I
don’t have a credit card to spend what I
like…..Emily is lucky….
GEMMA
Jorge has been having an affair?
EMILY
What’s going on…? Don’t start Angela…it’s my
day!!!
ANGELA
Oh, we can’t ruin your day...it always your
fuckin’ day.
GEMMA
Sshh…I’ll take her outside….come with me
Ange…
ANGELA
No I won’t be quiet..I alwash have to be
quiet….well I want a divorce, I don’t have a
career or a rich hushband I don’t even have a
fuckin faithful one…
JOHN
Gem let’s take her outside…
They edge Angela towards the side door.
The Wedding…
7
It’ll be ok Ange…
SCENE 11.
EXT
JOHN
RECEPTION CENTRE
NIGHT
As they hit the night air Angela seems to relax…
JOHN
…leave the booze alone for the rest of tonight,
you’ve upset Emily.
Angela slumps down onto a bench up against the wall in the half-light.
ANGELA
I’m such a disappointment to everyone and
my kids are out of control…just let me sit here
for a while, I’ll be okay…
Gemma edges away from Angela to let her gather her wits.
GEMMA
John, have you got a cigarette?
John lights the cigarette for her
JOHN
Bet you’ve missed all of this…?
Gemma shrugs
JOHN
It’s good to see you…Anyone in your life?
GEMMA
No not really….you seem happy
The band strikes up a chaotic Tarantella as Emily appears at the doorway and
overhears the last line…
JOHN
Yeah, all the better for seeing you…
Gemma gives John a coquettish glance and we catch a glimpse of Emily’s jaw
dropping in the background as the Tarantella steps up into top gear again.
FADE TO BLACK…
THE END
The Wedding…