Scenes 44 and 45--The Foods of Northeastern Pennsylvania

As Michael's relationship with Mimi begins to mend, he goes on a shopping trip.



44  EXT. COTTAGE - DAY                                  44

    The rental car pulls into the driveway of the cottage.


45  INT. COTTAGE KITCHEN - DAY                          45

    Mimi, in a bathrobe, looking sleepy, comes toward the 
    kitchen from the living room when she hears the car.

    Michael enters the cottage, carrying a BAG OF GROCERIES.

                          MICHAEL
              Good morning.

                          MIMI
              Good morning.

    Michael kisses and hugs Mimi, not too passionately.

                          MICHAEL
              While you were sleeping, I went out 
              and got you a selection of the foods 
              of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

    He walks to the dining room table and puts the bag down.  
    Mimi follows.

                          MIMI
              Oh, my.

    Michael reaches into the bag and pulls out a few GROCERIES.

                          MIMI
                   (cont.)
              Those are foods of Northeastern 
              Pennsylvania?

                          MICHAEL
              Not these.

    Mimi peers in the bag.  Michael returns and pulls out a few 
    PACKAGES OF TASTYKAKES.

                          MICHAEL
                   (cont.)
              Tastykakes.

                          MIMI
              Oh.  You told me about Tastykakes 
              once. I've seen them in New York.

                          MICHAEL
              Yeah, you can get them in some 
              places in New York.  But they're 
              everywhere here.  It's all we eat.

                          MIMI
              It's all you eat?

                          MICHAEL
              No one here eats Hostess, or 
              Drake's, or any of that stuff.  
              Tastykakes are far superior.

                          MIMI
              And they're from this region?

                          MICHAEL
              Not this exact region, but they're a 
              Pennsylvania thing.

                          MIMI
                   (looking in the bag)
              You got a large assortment.

                          MICHAEL
              Yes.  And....

    Michael pulls a BOTTLE OF BIRCH BEER out of the bag.

                          MICHAEL
                   (cont.)
              ....birch beer.

                          MIMI
              Oh.  What is birch beer?

                          MICHAEL
              It's like root beer, only a little 
              subtler.  It's the prince of soft 
              drinks.

                          MIMI
              And it's only in Northeastern 
              Pennsylvania.

                          MICHAEL
              You never really see much of it 
              anywhere else.  There must be some 
              other birch-beer-drinking regions of 
              the country, but I've never stumbled 
              upon them.

                          MIMI
              It's clear.

                          MICHAEL
              It comes in all different colors and 
              tastes.

    Michael proceeds to pull ANOTHER BIRCH BEER BOTTLE out of 
    the bag, this one cola-colored instead of clear.

                          MIMI
              You got more than one kind?

                          MICHAEL
              So we can compare the different 
              bouquets.

    Michael pulls out a THIRD BIRCH BEER, this one in a can.

                          MIMI
              Oh, my God.  I'm impressed.
                   (pause)  
              Did you bring home any regional 
              foods that are a little more 
              substantial?  That have any 
              nutrients?

    Michael pulls a CARTON OF EGGS and some FRESH VEGETABLES out 
    of the bag.

                          MIMI
              Oh, good.


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