Runaway Bride

       CINDY
  We have to hurry.  The Sunday School
  kids will be here soon.

       CUT TO:

 INT. IKE'S CAR - DAY

 Ike pulls up slowly.  GUESTS peer through the his car window and
 wave.  Ike rubs his headache.

       JULIE MURPHY
  Well, the groom just pulled up.  There
  was talk of a "now show", but he is
  here.

       DINA NAPOLI
  Ike Graham is here!

 IKE'SPOV:

 He moves as he takes it all in:  a FAMILY eats a fast food picnic
 on a neighbor's lawn, invited GUESTS flock by in their party
 best, and local NEWS TEAMS block the way.  The STATE SENATOR is
 making a speech welcoming the press to Maryland.  A large GROUP
 of reporters head up the church's stairs, hauling their
 equipment.  They enter the flood of PEOPLE streaming inside the
 church.  Ike snaps.

 EXT. IKE'S CAR - CONTINUING

 Ike stops the car where it is and jumps out, slamming the door in
 anger.  The REPORTERS swarm around him as he gets out of the car. 
 They continue to pound him with questions as he walks to church
 steps.  An OLDER LADY smacks him on the shoulder with a
 newspaper.  He turns in astonishment and continues up the
 steps.  He charges up the stairs and grabs Lee.

       IKE
  Shoot ours so she has one with an
  ending.

 Mrs. Pressman stands, shooting Ike with her video camera.

       IKE (cont'd)
   (pleading)
  Mrs. Pressman, please.

       MRS. PRESSMAN
  It's okay.  There's no microphone. 
  You're no fun.

       IKE
  No, I'm not.

 Ike retreats into the church.  Lee comes up to him again with his
 video camera:  CHUFFA about Scorsese.

 INT. CHURCH - CONTINUING

 As Fisher and Ellie sign the guest book, a LOCAL LADY stares at
 Ellie.  Ellie stares back at her until she leaves.  Ike walks
 away from Lee and turns smack into Ellie and Fisher.  Ike puts
 his arms around them and gives them a big hug.

       IKE
  Friends.  Thank you.  Thank you.

 Over Ellie's shoulder, Ike sees Fisher's grinning face.

       IKE (cont'd)
  We are friends, aren't we, Fisher?

       FISHER
   (grinning)
  Of course we are.  Of course.

       IKE
  Then you'll be my best man.

       FISHER
  Well, I'm good, I don't know if I'm
  best.

       IKE
  Go talk to the pastor and he'll tell
  you what to do.  And someone will tell
  me what to do.

       ELLIE
  You always looked great in that suit...
  And Ike?
   (emotional)
  I'm happy for you, honey.

 Ellie whispers in his ear.

       ELLIE (cont'd)
  I'll have a car around the back to
  whisk you out of here if she runs.

 Ellie kisses him on the cheek and walks away.

 ANGLE ON:

 Bob comes up to Ike.  He looks like he's going to punch Ike, then
 abruptly holds out a rose boutonniere.

       BOB
  You look awful.

       IKE
   (sarcastically)
  Thank you.

 Bob hands the flower to Ike.  Ike is shaking.  Bob catches this
 and looks up to Ike.  It is a moment of clean honesty between the
 men.

       BOB
  Ike.  Need help?

 He takes the boutonniere and puts it on Ike's lapel.

       BOB (cont'd)
  I'm glad it's you.

       IKE
  Really?

       BOB
  I didn't want to find out I wasn't for
  her in the fourth quarter.

       IKE
  Got any last minute advice?

       BOB
   (motioning to their eyes)
  Maintain eye contact.

 Bob turns and leaves, going down a side staircase.

       IKE
   (to himself)
  Eye contact.  Eye contact.

 Out of the corner of his eye, Ike sees a pictures of Christ on the
 wall.  He leans into the picture and whispers.

       IKE (cont'd)
  Cover me.

 He walks into the chapel.

 INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING

 Ike steps up and stands next to Fisher.

       FISHER
   (to Ike)
  I have no idea what I'm doing.

       IKE
  Your job is... the ring.
   (to Fisher)
  Do you have the ring?!

       FISHER
  I just found out I'm best man!  I'm
  lucky I have a suit... What's wrong?

 Ike gives the ring to Fisher.  The Pastor approaches Ike.  Ike
 turns away and look out over the guests. 

 IKE'SPOV:  There are most of the TOWNSPEOPLE we've come to
 know, plus some NEW YORKERS for Ike, with little ponytails. 
 Armani wire rims, Donna Karan bodysuits.  There's a lot of
 smirking, checking out the hicks, forming their stories for
 cocktail hour.  Elaine is in back all dressed in black, mourning
 Ike.  Mrs. Trout approaches Ike.

       MRS. TROUT
  You should thank Lou and I for the
  wedding car -- a '63 Buick.

       IKE
  Thank you.

       MRS. TROUT
  Oh, come on.  You're practically family.

 Mrs. Trout starts picking lint off Fisher's jacket.

       FISHER
  Hello.  I'm Fisher.

       MRS. TROUT
  This doesn't want to come out.

       FISHER
  You just pull a hair from my neck.

       IKE
  Mrs. Trout, go back to your seat!

 INT. CHURCH FOYER - DAY

 Peggy joins Maggie, who is blowing bubblegum and swaying in
 front of an oscillating fan.  Grandma and Walter come in. 
 Grandma gives her a kiss on the cheek.

       GRANDMA JULIA
  Good luck, Maggie.

       MAGGIE
  Thank you, Grandma.

 Grandma leaves.  Walter steps up.

       WALTER
   (quietly to Maggie)
  I'm really rooting for this one.

       MAGGIE
  Thank you, Dad.

 Peggy turns off the fan.  Cindy takes the bag from Maggie.

       CINDY
  Spit.

 Maggie spits her bubblegum into the bag.  Peggy hands Maggie her
 bouquet.

       PEGGY
  Let's go.

       MAGGIE
  No sauntering down the aisle.  Just
  make time.  Let's just get there.

 Cindy and Peggy nod and leave.  The door closes.

 INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUING

 Both extends his hand to Elaine.

       ELAINE
  Hi, I'm Elaine from New York.

       BOB
  Hello.  I'm Bob, Maggie's fourth
  attempt.

       ELAINE
  I'm sorry.

       BOB
  That's okay.  There's a lid for every
  pot.  Besides, I'm comfortable with Ike. 
  I mean, Jack Dempsey lost his
  heavyweight title to a New Yorker.

        ELAINE
  I know.  Gene Tunney.

 The organ begins to play.  The organist is Ted.  Grandma, Walter,
 Mrs. Pressman and the Trouts watch.  Mrs. Trout picks lint off of
 her husband's jacket.

 ANGLE ON:

 Cindy and Peggy enter with the confident air of people who have
 done this before.  They make it to the head of the aisle all too
 quickly.  Peggy gives Ike a wink and an encouraging smile.

 INT. CHURCH FOYER - CONTINUING

 The door opens and Dennis sticks his head in.

       DENNIS
  They're ready, Maggie.

       MAGGIE
  Just a second.

 Dennis closes the door behind him as he goes back into the
 chapel.  Maggie has a moment alone.  She looks at back door as
 possible escape route, then changes her mind.  She signals the
 start of the wedding by knocking on the door.

 INT. CHAPEL - CONTINUOUS

 Immediately, Cory and Dennis open the doors for her entrance. 
 All the guests stand as Maggie enter the chapel smiling.

 MAGGIE'S POV:

 The aisle stretches before her into infinity.  Faces goggle at
 her from every direction.  The tiny figure of Ike stands like a
 beacon a long way off.

 NEW ANGLE:

 She plunges forward with a sped-up hesitation step.

 ANGLE ON:

 Ike rocks imperceptibly, urging her on.  Peggy and Cindy make
 little "come on" motions.  It seems to be working.  Maggie
 approaches rapidly.  The CROWD has turned from skepticism to
 looks and noises of encouragement.

 ANGLE ON: MAGGIE

 But then her feet gradually begin to slow.

 ANGLE ON:

 Fisher gives a little "darn, so close" look.

 ANGLE ON:

 But Ike is too busy maintaining eye contact.  His eyes urge
 Maggie closer -- loving her, willing her on.

 CLOSE ON:

 Maggie stops her walk, gives Ike a teasing smile, and then
 resumes with her walk toward him.  His face.  Her face.  His
 face.  Her face.

 CLOSE ON:

 Her foot inches forward.  The other follows.

 NEW ANGLE:

 A sigh now rises from the GUESTS as Maggie closes in on Ike.  He
 smiles at her.  She smiles at him.  She is almost there... She's
 there, smiling at Ike.  The Pastor gestures to the guests to sit
 down.  They do.

 ANGLE ON:

 Ike sneezes.  She looks down and imagines she sees the carpet
 splitting apart.  And she bolts like a bat out of hell!  In a
 flurry of white, she is halfway down the aisle before Ike knows
 what hits him.

 ANGLE ON:

 Ike stands there dazed.  For a second.  Then she springs into
 action, charging after her.

       IKE
   (yelling out)
  Block the doors!

 Like a general, he points to Dennis and Cory in the back and
 sends them into action.  The doors shut in Maggie's face.  But
 she's a wild animal cornered.   She moves to the side.  The
 TOWNSPEOPLE stand so Ike can hurry through the pew.  Ike climbs
 on the pews towards her as GUEST crowd the aisle, blocking his
 path.  Like a gazelle, she leaps to the side aisle and scampers
 down and away.  Fisher gets on his cell phone.  Ike charges from
 one of the full pews, crosses the aisle and leaps across the pews
 near the staircase to cut her off.  He grabs her veil and it
 comes off in his hands.  Maggie disappears down the steps of the
 church basement.  Ike fumble with the veil and jumps over the
 railing, landing on Dennis' toe.  He follows down the stairs
 after her.  Mrs. Pressman and Walter exchange bet money.