Dec 9, 2015 - It fits. SARAH. Ah-ha. The master strikes again. Can I get a do over? Rod smiles and pulls her close. ROD.
DO OVER by Kara Cutruzzula
09.12.15
EXT. STREET CORNER - NIGHT Three guys in their twenties are trying to navigate the impossible: the manly goodbye. ROD See you, dude. MATT Basketball Sunday, ya? Can’t.
ROD
PETER I’ll be there. Cool.
MATT
Rod hocks a giant loogie onto the street, seconds before a well-dressed woman, SARAH (20s), walks in his path. She steps right into the spit. Everyone freezes. ROD Oh my god. I’m so sorry. That was disgusting. That was easily the worst thing I’ve done all day. SARAH I hope that was the worst thing. (beat) But I guess I should thank you for the new information. ROD What’s that? SARAH My new shoes are not, in fact, waterproof or spitproof. Thanks for the lies, Payless. ROD Guess you get what you pay less for... SARAH Oh, we’ve got a court jester. Do you also do card tricks? ROD Nah. But I’m a big fan of card-amom.
2. SARAH Is that supposed to be a “yo momma” joke or a...spice joke? Or something else that also failed? ROD I’m not really sure. I just went with it. Can I get a do over? Sarah smiles and gives him a once over. CUT TO: INT. SARAH’S BEDROOM - DAY - SOME TIME LATER Sarah and Rod lounge in bed. White sheets, strewn newspapers, sun way up in the sky already. Domestic bliss personified. SARAH (putting down phone) Jess wants to rain check brunch. ROD Good. I can’t imagine actually leaving this room. SARAH You thinking about your meeting Monday? ROD Wasn’t until right now. SARAH (snuggling closer to him) Sorry, bunny. He reaches for the crossword puzzle. ROD Alright. We can’t ruin our six-week winning streak. SARAH (looking over his shoulder) A seven-letter word for “infatuated.” (beat) Loverly.
ROD
3. SARAH That’s not a word. ROD (writing it in) It fits. SARAH Ah-ha. The master strikes again. Can I get a do over? Rod smiles and pulls her close. ROD We’ve got plenty of clues left. CUT TO: INT. PER SE RESTAURANT - NIGHT - SOME TIME LATER Rod and Sarah sit in the middle of Thomas Keller’s crown jewel. They’ve clearly been here awhile. The world’s most subtle, perfect WAITER deposits their next course on the table. PERFECT WAITER And for our penultimate course, a dish of pumpernickel wisps, compressed apples, poppy seed crumble and scallion salad. SARAH Gorgeous. Thank you. Rod’s distracted. He’s looking at his phone under the table. SARAH (CONT’D) What are you doing? ROD (caught) Nothing. SARAH That can’t wait until, I don’t know, this meal is over? ROD (under his breath) Will it ever be over?
4.
What?
SARAH
ROD What? Nothing. SARAH They’re not going to lay you off. ROD What do you know about it. Sarah takes an aggressive bite and savors the course for precisely two seconds before SNAPPING-SARAH Well, maybe they should. Then you could find a job that doesn’t make you miserable. ROD I’ll get right on that. A tense beat. Then Sarah reaches over to his plate and scoops the entire wisp-crumble-salad concoction onto her fork, and brings it close to his mouth, helicopter-style. SARAH (goofy voice) Eat meeeee. Rod cracks a smile, and THEN ROD (equally goofy voice) I’ll eat youuuu. He takes a giant, messy bite. ROD (CONT’D) (through his chewing) Do over? Sarah nods. ROD (CONT’D) Happy anniversary, dear. They both smile as we... CUT TO:
5. EXT. BEACH CABANA - DAY - SOME TIME LATER Sarah and Rod lie out in their swimsuits, eyes closed. SARAH What do you think another day would cost? Hmm.
ROD
She opens her eyes and props herself up to look at him. SARAH I’d really love to stay forever-Sarah--
ROD
SARAH But if not forever, what’s one more night? Nothing from Rod. SARAH (CONT’D) You gotta admit. There’s not much to go back to. ROD (getting up) Gee, thanks. I love being reminded of that. SARAH I didn’t mean it like that-ROD Next time you could just say, “Since you’re jobless, why not go on a permanent vacation? SARAH (sighing) You’re taking something nice and turning it into something awful. A tense moment of silence. Do over?
SARAH (CONT’D)
6. ROD (lying back down) Another day does sound nice. CUT TO: INT. SARAH AND ROD’S APARTMENT - DAY - SOME TIME LATER Stacked moving boxes take up half the apartment. Sarah’s in a frenzy, packing books and wrapping china. “Midnight Train to Georgia” plays through her laptop speakers. The FRONT DOOR OPENS and Rod walks in. Oh. Sorry.
ROD
Beat. The music plays on: “He’s leavin’ / On that midnight train to Georgia, ooh ooh.” SARAH They’re late. Coming at three. (motioning to the mess) Which is a lucky break, actually. ROD You, uh, need help? No.
SARAH
A tense beat. ROD Look. I’m sorry. Don’t.
SARAH
ROD Chicago’s not so far away. I know we could make it work. SARAH You do understand how souldepleting this conversation is? You’re moving. I’m not. A job is a job is a job. Rod moves to start taping up a box.
7. SARAH (CONT’D) Leave it. My socks go in there. Rod goes to pick up packing paper off the floor. SARAH (CONT’D) I need that. ROD (walks over to hand her the paper) Can we-The music plays on: “Said he’s goin’ back to find / Ooh, a simpler place in time.” SARAH (with her back to him) What? ROD (after a long beat) Can I-(beat) Can we-(beat) Do over? And as Sarah turns to look at him, Gladys plays us out: “I’d rather live in his world / Than live without him in mine.” CUT TO BLACK.
