(See Act 3)
DARCY - I wish it would start. I just want to get it over with!
JUSTIN - I know you do, darling. I'm sure everything's almost ready.
DARCY - (LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER) I don't even recognize half these people. What are they all doing here? Mother can't have known them all.
JUSTIN - She worked with a couple of ladies' societies, didn't she?
DARCY - Yes...but there are a lot of others here, too.
JUSTIN - I'm sure some people came out of respect for your father.
DARCY - That's very nice of them.
JUSTIN - And I suppose there are always those who come just out of curiosity...
DARCY - Oh, don't. What a horrible thought! Would people really do that?
JUSTIN - Some people.
DARCY - Oh, I wish we could find them and throw them all out! I'd do it myself if --
JUSTIN - Now honey, don't upset yourself. Just don't look back at them. You've got enough on your mind already. If any of them cause problems, your father and I will take care of it.
DARCY - I don't know what I'd do without you, Justin. I'm so glad you're here.
JUSTIN - That's my job, isn't it? (HE SMILES) To take care of my fiancee. You'll never have to handle any of this while I'm here. And I'll always be here.
(DARCY SMILES AND PUTS HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER. A MOMENT LATER SHE LOOKS UP, OVER HER SHOULDER. EVERYONE LOOKS BACK, IN FACT, AS THE CLOSED CASKET IS WHEELED SLOWLY UP THE CENTER AISLE. THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON VARIOUS FACES AS THE CASKET PASSES THEM. AUDREY, ON THE RIGHT, IS CURIOUS BUT TRYING TO LOOK SYMPATHETIC. MOIRA, A LITTLE FURTHER UP ON THE LEFT, WATCHES THE CASKET THOUGHTFULLY. PAIGE AND JAIME CRANE THEIR NECKS. NELSON IS VERY TENSE AS HE WATCHES THE CASKET, WHEREAS JOANNA WATCHES HIM WORRIEDLY. DARCY STARTS CRYING INTO HER HANDKERCHIEF, AND ANASTASIA DABS AT HER EYES WITH ONE HAND, HOLDING RYAN'S HAND WITH THE OTHER. AS THE CASKET STOPS AT THE FRONT, THE MINISTER STEPS UP TO THE PODIUM.)
MINISTER - Good afternoon, my friends, and welcome. We are gathered today to honor Mrs. Patricia Vickery, who was called to her Maker's side suddenly and unexpectedly only a few short days ago, on New Year's Day. On behalf of Patricia's family I want to thank you for coming -- friends, acquaintances, and well-wishers... (AT THE BACK, DAWN SLIPS IN QUIETLY AND SLIDES INTO THE LAST ROW, ON THE RIGHT. SHE LOOKS ACROSS AND UP TO THE FRONT, SPOTTING RYAN.) ...and we hope that you will not only mourn the loss of a good friend, but that you will also join with us in celebrating the life of a very special woman...
(THE MINISTER STARTS GOING THROUGH THE SERVICE AS DAWN SURVEYS THE CROWD CURIOSLY, NEVER HAVING MET ANY OF RYAN'S FAMILY. DESPITE HERSELF, SHE IS IMPRESSED BY SO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE PLACE WHO HAVE BEEN ONLY FACES ON TV AND IN THE PAPERS BEFORE THIS. AUDREY GLANCES BACK ONCE AND SMILES CONSPIRATORIALLY, KNOWING HOW SHE'S FEELING. DAWN SMILES RUEFULLY BACK.)
(THEN AUDREY'S EYES FOCUS SHARPLY BEHIND DAWN AND SHE GIVES A SHARP LITTLE GASP OF SURPRISE. DAWN TURNS AND FORGETS AUDREY IMMEDIATELY. KEVIN STANDS IN THE DOORWAY, LEANING HEAVILY AGAINST THE DOORFRAME. HIS CLOTHES ARE DISHEVELLED, HIS HAIR IS TOUSLED, AND HE IS UNSHAVEN. AS HE STAGGERS FORWARD AND GINGERLY SLIDES INTO THE REAR PEW, OPPOSITE TO DAWN, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HE IS QUITE DRUNK. HE ALSO LOOKS VERY SULLEN. DAWN KEEPS STARING UNTIL HE TURNS AND STARES BACK, A LITTLE DEFIANTLY.)
IV.B.) GARAGE. IAN IS STANDING AT A COUNTER WRITING UP A BILL FOR BARB, WHOSE CAR STANDS BEHIND THEM IN THE GARAGE. HE TEARS OFF THE BILL AND HANDS IT TO HER.
IAN - There you go. Not too much, this time.
BARB - "This time." Wouldn't it be great if there were no "next time"?
IAN - Maybe for you...
BARB - Yeah, I know, I'm personally putting you through school. I suppose now that you've fixed my brakes, you've sabotaged something that'll blow up in about two weeks.
IAN - Three. That's when I have to pay for my course. (HE SMILES A LITTLE)
BARB - Why don't I just pay you for it now and get it over with? Let me write you a second cheque.
IAN - Let's make that one cash.
BARB - Aha. A little racket on the side. Should I be asking for police protection?
IAN - Very funny.
BARB - By the way, have you told Dawn yet, about your course?
IAN - No. I'm not going to. So don't mention it to her.
BARB - Why not? I think she'd be awfully glad you're doing this.
IAN - It's no big deal. It's just a stupid high school course.
BARB - I'd hardly call mathematics "stupid," Ian. I hear it's mostly calculus, and not everybody can handle that.
IAN - I don't even know if I can. So I don't want anyone to get all excited about it and then flunk out. I can do without the grief.
BARB - How long has it been? Since you dropped out, I mean.
IAN - Six or seven years. I haven't been counting.
BARB - Well, I think it's a great idea. I'm glad you're doing this, Ian.
(CONNOR WALKS IN, IN TIME TO HEAR BARB'S COMMENTS.)
CONNOR - Sounds very positive, Ian. And what is it you're doing, to make this young woman so glad?
(THERE IS A PAUSE; IAN REGARDS CONNOR A LITTLE RESENTFULLY.)
IAN - Nothing...
CONNOR - It didn't sound like she thought it was nothing. (HOLDS OUT HIS HAND TO BARB) Hi, I'm Connor Hollister. Ian's brother.
BARB - (SHAKES HIS HAND) His brother. I see. (DARTS A GLANCE AT IAN) What Ian just suggested was some extra rust-proofing, to try to preserve my old crate as long as possible. A teaching assistant's pay doesn't go very far, and my car's been in here an awful lot lately.
CONNOR - So you're at the university?
BARB - Yes. I'm Barb Hamilton, by the way. I'm working on my doctorate in Environmental Science, and I'm TA for one of your sister's courses.
CONNOR - Are you really. How long do you have left in your program?
BARB - Two or three years. I start researching my dissertation in earnest this summer.
IAN - She's writing something about Lake Erie...
CONNOR - You're pretty well-informed.
BARB - Like I said. I'm in here a lot.
IAN - What do you want, Connor? I have to get back to work.
CONNOR - I wondered if you might want to join Kyle and me for dinner. I have plenty prepared and it's been a while since I've seen you --
IAN - No.
CONNOR - Are you sure? We wouldn't mind the company.
IAN - Nope. Not in the mood.
CONNOR - Why not give it a shot? You might enjoy it --
IAN - I've got work to do. (PICKS UP A TOOL AND STARTS WALKING TOWARD ANOTHER CAR) See you later, Barb. In three weeks, maybe.
BARB - Gotcha.
CONNOR - (GRABS IAN'S ARM) Please Ian, don't shut us all out like this. It's just a simple friendly dinner --
IAN - (SHAKES HIS HAND OFF ANGRILY) Look Connor, get out of here, alright? Just get lost. If you think I'm going to have a "simple friendly dinner" with a couple of queers, you're out of your mind. So just leave me alone!
(HE STALKS TOWARD THE OTHER CAR. CONNOR STARES AFTER HIM, UNBELIEVING AND HURT.)
IV.C.) FUNERAL CHAPEL. AT THE FRONT, THE MINISTER IS BEGINNING TO WIND DOWN THE SERVICE. AT THE BACK, KEVIN IS SLOUCHED IN THE PEW, LISTENING EXPRESSIONLESSLY. DAWN AND AUDREY ARE BOTH STILL STARING AT HIM. AUDREY SLIDES CLOSER TO DAWN AND WHISPERS OVER THE BACK OF THE PEW TO HER.
AUDREY - It's impossible to tell them apart, don't you think?
DAWN - (LOOKS FROM ONE TWIN TO THE OTHER. THOUGHTFULLY) Oh...I think I'd know. Kevin carries himself differently from Ryan.
AUDREY - Do you know them?
DAWN - (SUDDENLY WARY. NOT SURE WHO SHE'S TALKING TO) No...I'm in one of Ryan's classes, so...I thought I'd pay my respects. Do...you know them? Are you one of their cousins?
AUDREY - I wish! I go to school with their cousin, Paige. You're really lucky to be in Ryan's class. Is he as nice as he seems to be?
DAWN - Nicer.
AUDREY - What about this guy? Kevin? Is he as nice as his brother?
DAWN - Ryan seems to think so. I've never met Kevin, so I can't really say.
AUDREY - They're sure good-looking, aren't they?
DAWN - (SMILES SLIGHTLY) I guess I have to agree with that. Though I'd like to hope there's more to both of them than just that.
AUDREY - What more could they need? Gorgeous and rich -- times two! Give me a man with looks and money and I'd follow him anywhere.
DAWN - (SMILES WRYLY) What are they teaching young women in schools these days! You are in school...?
AUDREY - Half-time. I'm also a model for Chambers Fashion Design, part-time.
DAWN - Gods! Better and better.
AUDREY - (A LITTLE AFFRONTED) What's the matter with that?
DAWN - Sorry. I get a little overbearing sometimes. I'd just hate to see you taken advantage of.
(THE ORGAN STARTS PLAYING AT THE FRONT. A WOMAN BEGINS TO SING A SOLO HYMN. KEVIN GETS UP AND LEAVES JUST AS AUDREY STARTS SPEAKING AGAIN.)
AUDREY - Let me guess, you're one of those feminists, aren't you --
DAWN - Excuse me. (SHE FOLLOWS KEVIN OUT THE DOOR AND CATCHES UP TO HIM FURTHER DOWN AN OUTSIDE HALLWAY) Kevin! Wait!
(KEVIN HALTS WITH A LITTLE LURCH AND TURNS AROUND, HIS FACE FULL OF DREAD. HE HAS TO STEADY HIMSELF WITH A HAND ON A WALL. HE LOOKS QUITE ILL.)
DAWN - Kevin. Are you alright? Do you need help? (HE JUST STARES AT HER. SHE SPEAKS MORE GENTLY.) I'm really sorry about your mother, Kevin.
KEVIN - (HE SEEMS TO RELAX SLIGHTLY. HE SPEAKS A LITTLE HOARSELY.) I'm...I'm fine. Who are you?
DAWN - You don't look fine. Let me help you get to a chair somewhere. (SHE STEPS CLOSER, STARTING TO LIFT HER HANDS.) My name is Dawn. I'm a friend of Ryan's --
KEVIN - No! (HE BACKS AWAY, LOOKING RESENTFUL AGAIN.) I told you I'm fine! I don't need your help -- or anybody's help!
DAWN - You look like you're about to keel over. Let me at least help you sit down before you --
KEVIN - (A LITTLE WILDLY) Don't touch me! Stay away from me! Oh God -- just leave me alone! (HE TURNS AND STAGGERS AWAY, HIS HANDS GROPING BLINDLY IN FRONT OF HIM.)
DAWN - Kevin! Please wait! I'm not trying to hurt you -- (SHE MAKES AS THOUGH TO FOLLOW, BUT A HAND GRIPS HER SHOULDER. SHE TURNS TO FIND MOIRA BEHIND HER.)
MOIRA - Let him go, Dawn. Can't you see how troubled he is?
DAWN – That’s why I was trying to help him.
MOIRA - It's only help if it's accepted, Dawn. Otherwise it's nothing but interference.
DAWN - (RELUCTANTLY) I know... But I know how much Ryan loves him, and I couldn't bear to see him in such pain.
MOIRA - I imagine it's Ryan he needs right now, then. Not you.
DAWN - Alright, yes, you're probably right. I shouldn't have tried to interfere.
MOIRA - Maybe you shouldn't have come to the funeral at all. I did tell you not to, I seem to recall. Why can't you ever do what you're told?
DAWN - Oh, I don't know. Maybe I learn from example, Mother.
MOIRA - (CAN'T HELP BUT SMILE) Well answered, my young apprentice. But the service is almost over, so perhaps we should leave. Before we upset anyone else. We've already covered two-fifths of Ryan's family.
DAWN - Oh-oh. Who was your victim?
MOIRA - Arthur.
DAWN - (WHISTLES) Go straight to the top! I'm impressed.
MOIRA - Don't be. I was hoping to slip in without anyone really noticing me...
DAWN - So was I, and see how well that turned out. And I'll bet he wasn't nearly as nice about it as you're being. Did he threaten to throw you out? Or sue you or whatever these big men do?
MOIRA - He would have liked to throw me out, but a lot of the press were already there, and he didn't want the publicity.
DAWN - That's odd, don't you think...?
MOIRA - I think it's quite understandable. He likes publicity, but only if it's positive.
DAWN - I don't mean the publicity. I find it odd that he'd be so angry at you. I mean, it was all those years ago, and he was the one who broke up with you, after all. Why would he resent you so much? Does it have something to do with residual guilt?
MOIRA - Are you a psychiatrist now?
DAWN - No, I live with one. So do you think that's his problem?
MOIRA - Maybe a little. But I got the impression that he blames me for a lot of other things. Things I don't even know about. So yes, in many ways it is odd. I'm just not sure of all his reasons. (SHE GLANCES DOWN THE HALL) But I see people starting to come out, so I think we'd better leave, don't you?