MAUREEN
I think we need an agent!
MARK
We?
JOANNE
That's selling out
MARK
But it's nice to dream
MAUREEN
Yeah -- it's network TV
And it's all thanks to me
MARK
Somehow I think I smell
The whiff of a scheme
JOANNE
Me too
MAUREEN
We can plan another protest
JOANNE
We?!
MAUREEN
This time you can shoot from the start... (to MARK)
You'll direct (to JOANNE)
Starring me!
(Lights shift back to downstairs.)
ALL
5, 4, 3... Open sesame!!
(The door falls away, revealing MARK, JOANNE, and MAUREEN.)
Happy new year
Happy new year
Happy new...
BENNY (entering)
I see that you've beaten me to the punch
ROGER
How did you know we'd be here?
BENNY
I had a hunch
MARK
You're not mad?
BENNY
I'm here to end this war
It's a shame you went and destroyed the door
MIMI
Why all the sudden the big about face
BENNY
The credit is yours
You made a good case
ROGER
What case?
BENNY
Mimi came to see me
And she had much to say
MIMI
That's not how you put it at all yesterday
BENNY
I couldn't s thinking about the whole mess
Mark -- you want to get this on film
MARK (picking up his camera)
I guess
BENNY
I regret the unlucky circumstances
Of the past seven days
ROGER
Circumstance? You padlocked our door
BENNY
And it's with great pleasure
On behalf of CyberArts
That I hand you this key
(BENNY hands him the key.)
ANGEL
Golf claps
(They oblige.)
MARK
I have no juice in my battery
BENNY
Reshoot
ROGER
I see -- this is a photo opportunity
MAUREEN
The benevolent god
Ushers the poor artists back to their flat
Were you planning on taking down the barbed wire
From the lot, too?
ROGER
Anything but that!
BENNY
Clearing the lot was a safety concern
We break ground this month
But you can return
MAUREEN
That's why you're here with people you hate
Instead of with Muffy at Muffy's estate
BENNY
I'd honestly rather be with you tonight than in Westport --
ROGER
Spare us old sport, the soundbite
BENNY
Mimi -- since your was are so seductive
MIMI
You came on to me!
BENNY
Persuade him not to be so counterproductive
ROGER
Liar!
BENNY
Why not tell them what you wore to my place?
MIMI
I was on my way to work
BENNY
Black leather and lace!
My desk was a mess
I think I'm still sore
MIMI
Cause I kicked him and told him I wasn't his whore!
BENNY
Does your boyfriend know
Who your last boyfriend was?
ROGER
I'm not her boyfriend
I don't care what she does
ANGEL
People! Is this any way to start a new year?
Have compassion
Benny just lost his cat
BENNY
My dog -- but I appreciate that
ANGEL
My cat had a fall
And I went through hell
BENNY
It's like losing a --
How did you know that she fell?
COLLINS
(Hands BENNY a glass of champagne)
Champagne?
BENNY
Don't mind if I do
To dogs!
ALL BUT BENNY
No, Benny -- To you!
ANGEL
Let's make a resolution
MIMI
I'll drink to that
COLLINS
Let's always stay friends
JOANNE
Tho' we may have our disputes
MAUREEN
This family tree's got deep roots
MARK
Friendship is thicker than blood
ROGER
That depends
MIMI
Depends on trust
ROGER
Depends on true devotion
JOANNE
Depends on love
MARK (to ROGER)
Depends on not denying emotion
ROGER
Perhaps
ALL
It's gonna be a happy new year
ROGER
I guess
ALL
It's gonna be a happy new year
ROGER
You're right
(ANGEL brings ROGER and MIMI together. ANGEL and others move
away from MIMI and ROGER.)
ANGEL
It's gonna be a happy new year
ROGER & MIMI
I'm sorry
ROGER
Coming?
MIMI
In a minute -- I'm fine -- go
(ROGER kisses MIMI and exits. THE MAN appears.)
THE MAN
Well, well, well. What have we here?
(He walks over to MIMI and holds out a small plastic bag of white
powder.)
It's gonna be a happy new year
There, there...etc.
(Fade out
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