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6.

INT. DINNER TABLE - LATER

Heads bowed, hands held. Pete, Victoria. Julia and Ben.


Olivia sitting on three phone books with her faerie wand.

PETE
Thank you lord for our blessings,
the health of my daughters, my wife
and the new addition to our family,
Ben. Lord, you’re stretching it,
but we’ll make it work. Amen.

Laughter. Wine poured. Julia pokes her food.

VICTORIA
I’m no culinary artist, but
sweetheart you’re picking.

Julia puts her fork down.

JULIA
Haven’t had much of an appetite
lately, must be work, stress.

BEN
Which would explain the headaches.

JULIA
Ben. I’m fine. Mom, Dad,
seriously. I’m okay.

Olivia chews a piece of bread, mouth full:

OLIVIA
7 percent of the presents are
yours, Ben. I did the math. Much
better haul than the last
boyfriend.

BEN
I’m just happy to be here.

PETE
I think I said the same thing to
Victoria’s father 35 years ago.

VICTORIA
Don’t exaggerate, Pete, you’ve only
said two words to my father, and
they were the same two words every
year until he died. Yes. And Sir.
7.
PETE
Honey, please. I’m trying to be
imposing and fatherly. And I was
succeeding quite admirably. Right
Ben?

BEN
Yes. Sir.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Maps all over the walls with tacs in different countries. An


old typewriter. Indicated items mixed with teen girl decor.
Ben and Julia enter. The twin mattress awaits.

BEN
I think I’ll take the couch.

Julia sits on the bed.

JULIA
You know I lost my virginity on
this bed.

BEN
I’ll be sure to mention that to
your father.

As she lays back, looks at the ceiling.

JULIA
Turn the lights off and come lay
with me. I want to show you
something.

Holding her hand out. He flips off the light and lays down
next to her. Ceiling glows with hundreds of little stars.

JULIA (cont’d)
All the major constellations.
Orion, Cassio Pia. I spent weeks
getting them exactly right. (beat)
I would lay here at night, imagine
myself soaring through space,
discovering new worlds, new
civilizations, the Louis and Clark
of the modern era.

BEN
You know how much I care about you?

She faces him.


8.
JULIA
Every time you look at me.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Presents opened. Paper torn. Coffee sipped. Julia cuddles


with Ben on the couch. Olivia running between assortments of
toys and clothes. Pete and Victoria opposite.

JULIA
This is Ben’s first real Christmas.

And as if it’s the biggest tragedy of all time:

OLIVIA
FIRST. REAL. CHRISTMAS?

JULIA
Not everyone is as lucky as you.

BEN
85 percent of the world’s
population doesn’t celebrate
Christmas. I did the math.

He winks at Olivia. She’s in love.

PETE
Ben.

As a gift lands in his lap. Julia looks at Ben, knowing.


Ben opens it. A baseball glove. Warn. Loved.

PETE (cont’d)
My father gave it to me when I was
16. Hand made leather. 1940’s
craftsmanship. Should be in a
museum.

BEN
I don’t know what to say.

Ben marvels at it. Victoria can’t hide her smile.

PETE
Welcome to the family.

INT. APARTMENT - MORNING

Work day morning. Julia pours orange juice into a portable


coffee cup. Ben reads the paper. Julia pops some aspirin.
9.
BEN
Nice article in the times, babe.

JULIA
Yeah, well. Hastings called it
raw, emotional, and amateurishly
written. Apparently I’m all heart
and no bite.

BEN
Hastings is a fascist.

JULIA
He had the copy editor go through
with a thesaurus and add big words.

BEN
Exiguous, pretentious, and a waste
of god damn time.

JULIA
Your command of the English
language gets me so hot. Speaking
of which. You finish your vows?

BEN
Vows? Hmmmm. Didn’t get the memo.

JULIA
Wedding is in less than a month.
I’m only suggesting.

BEN
Sounded like an order, mam. (off
her look) Soon. Promise.

She leans down.

JULIA
This is me leaving.

BEN
This is me kissing you goodbye.

He kisses her and she leaves.

EXT. APARTMENT - MORNING

Ben steps into the cold, city streets. Morning commuters in


overcoats and wool caps. We’re in the middle of downtown,
Seattle. Ben wears a writers uniform. Jeans, boots, North
Face parka.

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