INT. STAIRCASE AND SECOND FLOOR LANDING – NIGHT
Fran mounts the stairs eagerly. As she reaches the landing and heads for Bud’s apartment, there is a loud, sharp report from inside. Fran freezes momentarily, then rushes to the door.
FRAN
Mr. Baxter! (pounding on door) Mr. Baxter! Mr. Baxter!
The door opens and there stands Bud, the bottle of champagne he has just uncorked still foaming over in his hand. He stares at Fran unbelievingly.
FRAN (CONT’D)
(sagging with relief) Are you all right?
BUD
I’m fine.
FRAN
Are you sure? How’s your knee?
BUD I’m fine all over.
FRAN
Mind if I come in?
BUD (still stunned)
Of course not.
INT. THE APARTMENT – NIGHT
Fran comes in and Bud shuts the door. The room is the same as we left it, except for an empty champagne glass standing on the coffee table.
BUD
Let me get another glass.
He goes to one of the cartons, takes out a champagne glass wrapped in newspaper, starts to unwrap it.
FRAN (looking around)
Where are you going?
BUD
Who knows? Another neighborhood — another town — another job — I’m on my own.
FRAN
That’s funny — so am I.
(Bud, pouring champagne, looks up at her)
What did you do with the cards?
BUD (indicating carton)
In there.
Fran takes the deck of cards and the gin rummy score pad out of the carton, settles herself on the couch, starts to shuffle the cards expertly.
BUD (CONT’D)
What about Mr. Sheldrake?
FRAN
I’m going to send him a fruit cake every Christmas.
Bud sinks down happily on the couch, and Fran holds out the deck to him.
FRAN (CONT’D)
Cut.
Bud cuts a card, but doesn’t look at it.
BUD
I love you, Miss Kubelik.
FRAN (cutting a card)
Seven -(looking at Bud’s card)– queen.
She hands the deck to Bud.
BUD
Did you hear what I said, Miss Kubelik? I absolutely adore you.
FRAN (smiling)
Shut up and deal!
(Bud begins to deal, never taking his eyes off her. Fran removes her coat, starts picking up her cards and arranging them. Bud, a look of pure joy on his face, deals — and deals — and keeps dealing. And that’s about it. Story-wise.
FADE OUT.
THE APARTMENT – Screenplay by Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond
The ending of THE APARTMENT (1960), one of my all-time favorite movies. With an ending I absolutely love.
But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session took place at the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair.
I still have one more collection of images from this flowertography session at the Iowa State Fair to share.