Wonder Boys Page #3

GRADY:

He said something about being between things.

CRABTREE:

Yeah, between a bookie and a pair of broken

legs.

9EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER

A YOUNG WOMAN with a crumpled PITTSBURGH STEEIERS

UMBRELLA exits the building and-seeing GRADY parked in

front of a fire hydrant--stops, a puzzled expression on her

face. As she approaches, GRADY roils down the passenger

window.

GRADY:

Hi, Tanya.

(to the others)

This is Tanya. My wife's secretary.

CRABTREE and MISS SLOVIAK smile and nod. Tanya smiles and

nods back, her eyes passing uneasily over Grady's joint.

TANYA:

Grady.. ..Emily's not here.

GRADY just smiles, nods.

TANYA (cont'd)

Is there anything I can do for you?

GRADY watches a tiny stream of water trickle through

Tanya's sad umbrella.

GRADY:

You're leaking, Tanya.

Tanya nods--at a loss-then turns away into the rain.

CRABTREE:

Trip? ?

GRADY:

She left me. Crabs.

CRABTREE:

Left you...? Who? Emily?

GRADY:

This morning. I found a note in the kitchen.

CRABTREE:

But. ..why didn't you say something, Tripp? I

mean, what are we doing here?

GRADY gazes at the glittering scene beyond his

windshield, turns on the ignition.

GRADY:

I thought maybe I made it all up.

10EXT. GASKELL HOUSE - EVENING

Through the windows, a rabble of writers, faculty and

select students can be SEEN, mingling under a haze of

cigarette smoke. GRADY brings the Galaxie to a lurching

halt across the street, parks in front of another fire

hydrant. As the trio steps out. MISS SLOVIAK notices a

GREENHOUSE, shimmering quietly in the chill night air.

MISS SLOVIAK:

That's a nice greenhouse.

GRADY:

It's Mrs. Gaskell's. Her hobby.

CRABTREE:

I thought you were Mrs. Gaskell's hobby,

Tripp.

GRADY:

Piss off, Crabs. I lost a wife today.

CRABTREE:

Oh, I'm sure you'll find another. You always

do.

11EXT. FRONT PORCH - GASKELL HOUSE

As the front door swings open, Sara Gaskell appears,

riding a wave of jagged party CHATTER onto the porch.

SARA:

Well, hello, everyone. Terry, good to see you

again.

CRABTREE:

Chancellor. Don't you look ravishing.

SARA:

Aren't you sweet to say so. I was beginning to

wonder if you were ever going to--oh!

As Sara steps forward, her heel-catches and she pitches

forward ...into Grady's arms.

GRADY:

Easy there.

SARA:

I'm sorry. It's these goddamned shoes. I don't

know how anyone actually walks in these things.

MISS SLOVIAK:

Practice.

Sara looks at Miss Sloviak, a faint glitter of scientific

curiosity in her eye.

SARA:

I don't believe we've met...

MISS SLOVIAK:

Antonia. Antonia Sloviak--

Just then, a THICKLY-MUCSCLED DOG with very strange EYES

skitters around the corner, BARKING SAVAGELY in the general

direction of Grady.

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