FALL FOLIAGE @2009 BY MARY PECK

Newlyweds KIM and STEVE are celebrating with family and friends at their swank "destination wedding"

in Aruba.

CHARACTERS:

KIM: the blushing bride, with a taste for the finer things, loves being the center of attention

STEVE: the groom, easygoing, gregarious, fun-loving

DIANE: Kim's mother

MAYA: Kim's friend and bridesmaid

LUPE: a kind, unassuming waitress

SANDI: a pretty young barmaid

CHELSEA: friend of Steve and Kim

LUKE: Chelsea's estranged husband

ERIC: friend of Steve and Kim

SCOTT: friend of Diane's family

HEATHER: friend of Steve and Kim

JARED: Heather's wise-cracking husband, a guy with a middle-class upbringing who has worked his way up the ladder

The guys are at the bar. The gals are exchanging pleasantries with Kim, Kim's mother Diane, and the bridesmaids.

LUKE: (to barmaid, putting two bucks down) Hey beautiful! Vodka tonic.

SANDI: You got it

ERIC: You got Molson?

SANDI: For you – anything.

CHELSEA: Kim, you look gorgeous. I love the details.

SCOTT: Indeed. Is that Vera Wang?

CHELSEA: Oh, Mrs. Mullin, you look beautiful. So good to see you.

SCOTT: That color is absolutely stunning on you… stunning! I love it.

DIANE: (putting arm around Chelsea) You too, sweetie. Please, call me "Auntie Diane".

CHELSEA: Oh

SCOTT: (picking up a poinsettia) Oh, my, I just adore these centerpieces! I just love a Christmas-y wedding.

DIANE: You look lovely as always. How are the children?

CHELSEA: Good, thanks.

DIANE: And the little guy? Is he trained yet?

CHELSEA: (glancing over at Luke at the bar) Umm…

KIM: Mom? He's not even two years old yet!

CHELSEA: (realizing Diane is referring to the baby) Oh, we're working on it

DIANE: Well, you were all trained by six months.

KIM: Oh, c'mon… we were not.

DIANE: Oh, yes. (to Chelsea) Sweetie, if you ever need anything, you know I'm just a phone call away.

CHELSEA: Yes, thanks.

LUKE: another vodka tonic

A group of waitresses is staring and pointing at Luke. They push one of the women forward.

LUPE: Excuse me, I don't want to bother you, but it's not for me, it's for my grandson Keith. He's 7. You're his favorite player.

LUKE rolls eyes, wordlessly scribbles his initials on a napkin and hands it to Lupe.

LUPE: (a little disappointed) Oh, thank you. (she walks back to show the other waitresses)

JARED, HEATHER and MAYA walk over to the bar.

JARED: Hey, hey, hey!

ERIC: Whassup man?

LUKE: (checking out Heather and Maya) Hey

ERIC: (to Jared) Heard you got a promotion. Congrats!

JARED: Thanks, man. That extra money comes in handy with the kiddies, I tell ya. Especially with the economy the way it is.

ERIC: I hear you, man.

LUKE: (to Heather) Whassup, doll?

HEATHER: Same old. Nice to get a break. Seventh graders, I tell ya. Then it's home to my three. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

JARED: Oh, Heather's gonna be in a pageant.

LUKE: Well, you should slay 'em.

JARED: Yeah, it's for "over 40" chicks.

HEATHER: (bristling at the "over 40" part) Well, it's a "Mrs. Long Island" pageant.

ERIC: You'll be great.

SANDI: (agitated) What's your talent? Baton twirling?

HEATHER: Actually, I tap dance.

LUKE: Care to give us a sampling?

HEATHER: Here? I don't think so. Maybe after a few more of these (she hoists her wine glass). Um, I understand Chelsea used to compete in pageants.

LUKE: (agitated) Yeah, back in the day.

HEATHER: Oh, remember my cousin MJ? She says hi.

LUKE: MJ? What does she look like?

JARED: Like a human bowling ball. (Jared waddles. Heather playfully smacks Jared.)

You'd never know those two were related.

LUKE: Yeah, if she looked like you I woulda remembered her. She here?

JARED: No, they didn't make the cut

LUKE laughs

STEVE comes over to the bar.

ALL: Steverino!

To be continued…