Jun.

13

Magnolia Girls:
`"girl's night out"`

FADE IN:

EXTERIOR: GEORGETOWN M STREET–NIGHT

ALDEN’s BMW is turning onto M Street with music blasting as she pulls up to DC hot spot Mie N Yu. ALDEN gets out of her car, hands her keys to the valet and walks confidently passed a line of people waiting to get in.

INTERIOR: MIE N YU–NIGHT

Once inside ALDEN quickly surveys the room, sees MARISA and MAYLEE at the bar and makes her way through the crowd to greet them.

ALDEN
Hello, ladies.

MARISA
(hugging Alden)
Hi, doll.

MAYLEE
(air kissing Alden)
Hey, girl.

A bartender appears to take ALDEN’s drink order.

ALDEN
(to the bartender)
Caipirinha, please.

MARISA
So, how was your week?

ALDEN
Jam packed. Thank goodness my professional life is so hectic right now because my personal life is a complete wreck. It’s time to clean house.

MAYLEE
That’s easier said than done.

ALDEN
I realize that, but if I don’t learn from my past mistakes once and for all, I’ll never find that right balance.

MARISA
(staring into the crowd)
Oh my. Who is that?

ALDEN and MAYLEE turn around just as a gorgeous younger man walks by.

MAYLEE
Too pretty.

MARISA
But, oh so delicious.

ALDEN
(smiling mischievously)
Yummy. Let’s ask him his name.

MAYLEE
Didn’t you just say that you want to learn from your past mistakes?

ALDEN
Yes, but I’ve never made a mistake with him.

MAYLEE
Ask for some I.D.

MARISA
Oh, he’s at least 25.

MAYLEE
Jail bait.

A HOSTESS arrives to escort the girls to their reserved table in the Birdcage above the restaurant floor.

HOSTESS
Ladies, your table is ready. Please follow me.

The girls follow the hostess to the Birdcage and take their seats.

ALDEN
(eyes still fixed on the gorgeous man candy below)
He’s looking at us. I bet he’s wondering who we are.

MAYLEE
(shaking her head)
Appâts prison.

ALDEN
May, what did you just say?

MARISA
You know she thinks she’s European.

MAYLEE
I said jail bait in French.

ALDEN
Oh, girl please.

MAYLEE
No drama. New beginnings. Remember?

ALDEN
Such a bitch sometimes.

MAYLEE
Love you too.

MARISA
(perusing her menu)
O….K. So, what looks good?

EXTERIOR: MAYLEE’S TOWNHOUSE GEORGETOWN–NIGHT

MAYLEE pulls into her garage, gets out, closes the garage door and walks toward her front steps. She hears footsteps behind her and pauses briefly before turning around to see who’s there.

MAYLEE
(taking a deep breath)
My God, you scared me.

JORDAN
Sorry. I didn’t mean too. I wanted to surprise you.

MAYLEE
I am surprised. What are you doing in Georgetown this time of night?

JORDAN
Coming from a dinner meeting at Cafe Milano.

We hear thunder in the distance and the wind begins to pick up a bit.

MAYLEE
It looks like rain. Would you like to come in?

JORDAN
Actually no. I just…well, I forgot something last night.

MAYLEE
And what would that be?

JORDAN walks up the steps and kisses MAYLEE sensually.

JORDAN
(brushing Maylee’s hair from her face)
I know you are reluctant to date me, I get it. But don’t deny this intensity between us, give us a chance, OK?

JORDAN kisses MAYLEE softly on the cheek.

JORDAN
Good night, Maylee.

MAYLEE
Good night.

MAYLEE watches as JORDAN walks off into the darkness of night. She smiles before turning to go inside.

INTERIOR: ALDEN’S LIVING ROOM–NIGHT

ALDEN picks up a Boys II Men CD, puts it into the CD player and “4 Seasons of Loneliness” starts to play. She pours herself a glass of wine and walks over to her answering machine, presses play and listens to her messages, deleting them one by one until she hears…

FOOTBALL PLAYER
A, it’s me. Call me when you get in. Please.

ALDEN thinks for a minute, then presses delete and sits down on her sofa and begins to read a magazine.

INTERIOR: COLLIN’S BATHROOM–NIGHT

COLLIN is taking a bubble bath when the telephone rings. She answers.

COLLIN
Hello.

SPLIT SCREEN with MARISA sitting at her kitchen table in her pajamas.

MARISA
Collin, it’s me. Just checking in to see how things went with Dylan.

COLLIN
Everything’s fine for now. He’s in his room on the computer. I’m taking a bubble bath. How are the girls?

MARISA
They’re good. We missed you tonight, but I’m glad you have some time to yourself, so let’s talk tomorrow. Love.

COLLIN
Love.

COLLIN hangs up the telephone, lays back in the bathtub and begins to daydream.

INTERIOR: STUDENT UNION–DAY (FLASHBACK)

COLLIN is sitting in a chair in front of a large window watching students come in and out of the building. ZINA BROWN, a beautiful but somewhat nerdy young woman walks in carrying lots of books. ZINA walks toward COLLIN and sits down.

COLLIN
Hey.

ZINA
Hey, where’s everyone?

COLLIN
They’ll be here in a minute.

ZINA
So, did you take the test?

COLLIN
Yep. But it’s not conclusive. I need to make a doctor’s appointment. You haven’t said anything have you?

ZINA
No. I told you I wouldn’t.

COLLIN
I just need to figure everything out before everyone gives me their opinion.

ZINA
Are you planning to tell him, at least?

COLLIN
Now, Z…after everything that has happened, why would I do that? I don’t want him to know. Besides he’ll accuse me of trying to trap him.

ZINA
Did you try to trap him?

COLLIN
(annoyed)
I can’t believe you just asked me that! Do you honestly think that I want to be pregnant right now?

ZINA
No, but you do want him back and if you are pregnant, you can’t keep this from him, Collin.

COLLIN
I told you, I haven’t figured that part out yet. One step at a time.

ZINA
I don’t feel good about this, Collin.

COLLIN
Zina, get over yourself. This isn’t about your moral compass. This is about my life not yours. My God, you are unbelievable…

ZINA
(interrupting)
You can hate me later. Here come the girls…

MAYLEE, MARISA and ALDEN walk into the student union laughing and joking around, so COLLIN and ZINA join them and they ALL walk out onto the university’s great lawn seemingly without a care in the world.

END OF FLASHBACK

FADE OUT:

Disclosure: Magnolia Girls™ is a work of fiction written by Yolanda, editor of Zavvi Rodaine.com. Any similarities to past or present events or people living or dead is purely coincidental. Magnolia Girls™ may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used without prior written permission of Yolanda, editor of Zavvi Rodaine.com.