Ben Davidson
Wedding Transcript
Copyright ABC, Inc.
CUT TO: ACT ONE C: ST. JAMES CHURCH [NIGHT] OPEN ON BEN AND SAM IN THE
CHURCH SACRISTY, AS HARRY AND JACKIE APPROACH)
HARRY
(TO BEN) A word of warning, Doc. You ever hurt Viki, I'll have to
hurt you.
BEN
If I ever hurt Viki, I'll deserve it.
HARRY
That's the altitude I wanted to hear.
BEN
I'm glad.
HARRY
Still, I hate seeing Blondie taken out of circuitousness.
JACKIE
Come on, Harry. Let's get some seats. (AS JACKIE DRAGS HARRY AWAY,
BEN LOOKS OUT AT THE SEATED GUESTS, WHO ARE MURMURING AMONG THEMSELVES EXCITEDLY
AS A MUSIC PRELUDE PLAYS. MELANIE'S THERE, AS ARE KELLY, WHO'S SEATED WITH
SOPHIA AND ANTONIO, AND ZACK, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS WELL-DRESSED EXTRAS. JOHN AND
WILL, IN WHITE TIE AND TAILS, ARE SERVING AS USHERS. BEN TURNS BACK TO SAM)
BEN
Viki promised me it was going to be a small wedding.
SAM
It is a small wedding.
BEN
Look at all this.
SAM
All what? It's your nerves, Ben...you're seeing double.
BEN
Can the jokes, already! I know you're trying to loosen me up, but
you're doing just the opposite. (WILL COMES OVER AND GIVES BEN THE ONCE-OVER)
WILL
You better get this wedding going before Viki has a chance to come to
her senses and call it off.
BEN
What?
WILL
She's definitely getting the raw end of this deal.
BEN
(AS SAM TRIES TO KEEP HIMSELF FROM LAUGHING) A whole family of
comedians. Take my advice, don't quit your day jobs.
WILL
(REALIZING BEN'S IN NO JOKING MOOD) I'm sorry, Uncle Ben. You know
how much I love you. And Viki's terrific.
SAM
She sure is.
WILL
You two deserve all the happiness in the world.
BEN
Thanks, buddy. So do you. (HE AND WILL EMBRACE - SAM CHECKS HIS WATCH)
SAM
It's almost zero hour. Ready? (BEN TAKES THE SILVER DOLLAR RENEE GAVE
HIM (IN 8270, 5A) FROM HIS POCKET AND FLIPS IT) What's that? Heads you go
through with it, tails, you don't?
BEN
Renee gave me this. It's supposed to bring me luck. And it better
work, because right now I can barely remember my name.
SAM
Ben Davidson.
BEN
(THINKING OF WHO HIS BIRTH PARENTS REALLY ARE, AS IS SAM) Yeah
Davidson. (HE AND SAM SHARE A WARM LOOK. HE SLIPS THE COIN INTO HIS BREAST
POCKET) GO BACK TO THE VESTIBULE. VIKI CLASPS HANDS WITH RAE, RENEE, NORA AND
JESSICA)
VIKI
I can't imagine getting married without each of you present. Thank
you for being part of my wedding.
NORA
You are such a beautiful bride.
VIKI
All brides are beautiful.
NORA
No, they're not! (THE OTHERS ENJOY)
RAE
She's right, and all wedding gowns aren't created alike either, but
yours is sensational.
RENEE
(TO VIKI) Enough small talk. Ben is champing at the bit to put that
ring on his Blondie's finger.
VIKI
(REMEMBERING THAT RENEE IS BEN'S BIRTH MOTHER) I'm so lucky. Ben's a
special man.
RAE
Your both special. The real deal. What it's all about. True love.
JESSICA
That's for sure.
VIKI
We're something, all right.
RAE
You're what keep the rest of us going...make us believe that one day
it could happen to us, too.
VIKI
It will. We've all seen you and John together. (THE OTHERS ENJOY)
RENEE
Enough! (TO VIKI) Let's get you out of that cloak and on your way
down the aisle. (SEE VIKI'S FACE AS RENEE AND NORA REMOVE THE CLOAK. THE MUSIC
SEGUES. THE WOMEN GET INTO POSITION FOR THE PROCESSIONAL, STILL NOT LETTING US
SEE VIKI IN HER GOWN.
NORA
Everybody ready? (AS THEY ALL TAKE A BREATH, GO TO: ANDREW MOVES IN
FRONT OF THE ALTAR, WHERE HE'S JOINED BY SAM, BEN, JOHN AND WILL. BEN'S EYES GO
EXPECTANTLY TO THE BACK OF THE CHURCH. AS THE PROCESSIONAL MUSIC BEGINS TO PLAY,
FROM BEN'S POV WE SEE THE WOMEN, ONE BY ONE, READY TO COME DOWN THE AISLE,
ENDING WITH VIKI, RADIANTLY, HAPPY, RESPLENDENT IN HER BRIDAL GOWN)
FADE OUT
ACT II
ACT TWO A: ST. JAMES CHURCH. [NIGHT] WE SEE THE PROCESSIONAL.
FIRST DOWN THE AISLE IS RAE. SEE JOHN, STRUCK BY HER BEAUTY. NEXT COMES RENEE.
AS SHE PASSES BEN, HE IMPULSIVELY REACHES OUT AND GIVES HER A KISS. THIRD COMES
NORA. AS SHE WALKS DOWN THE AISLE SEE SAM, HANK, BO AND MELANIE AS THEY WATCH
HER. NEXT COMES JESSICA, THE MAID OF HONOR. SEE WILL, DRINKING IN HER BEAUTY.
FINALLY, WE SEE VIKI, GORGEOUS IN HER BRIDAL GOWN, ESCORTED TO THE ALTER BY HER
TWO SONS. AS SHE JOINS BEN, HIS EYES MEET HERS. A HUSH FALLS OVER THE CHURCH AS
ANDREW SPEAKS.
ANDREW
We are gathered together in the sight of God, and in the face of
this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony. If
anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let him
speak now or forever hold his peace. (SEE HARRY, STARTING TO RISE FROM HIS SEAT.
JACKIE PLACES A HAND ON HIS ARM TO HOLD HIM IN PLACE, AND SHAKES HIS HEAD IN
WARNING. AS HARRY SUBSIDES ANDREW TURNS TO BEN) Wilt thou have this woman to thy
wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of
Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and
in health, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye
shall live?
BEN
I will.
ANDREW
(TURNS TO VIKI) Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to
live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will thou
love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health, and
forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye shall live?
VIKI
I will.
ANDREW
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man? (JESSICA, JOEY AND
KEVIN STEP FORWARD)
JESSICA, JOEY & KEVIN
We do. (JESSICA PLACES VIKI'S RIGHT HAND IN
BEN'S RIGHT HAND. ON VIKI AND BEN, THEIR EYES FILLED WITH LOVE FOR EACH OTHER)
CUT TO ACT THREE B: ST. JAMES CHURCH [NIGHT] OPEN ON VIKI AND BEN AS SAM
ASCENDS THE PULPIT CARRYING A SLIM BOOK OF POETRY)
SAM
I wanted to find just the right poem for Ben and Viki because they are
just the right couple. I hope you'll agree that this one fills the bill. (SEE
REACTIONS AS SAM OPENS THE BOOK AND HALF-READS/HALF-RECITES A POEM)
SAM
Were I as base as the lowly plain, And you, my Love, as high as heaven
above, Yet should the thoughts of me your humble swain Ascend to heaven, in
honour of my Love. Were I as high as heaven above the plain, And you, my Love,
as humble and as low As are the deepest bottoms of the main, Whereso'er you
were, with you my love should go. Were you the earth, dear Love, and I the
skies, My love should shine on you like to the sun, And look upon you with ten
thousand eyes Till heaven wax'd blind, and till the world were done. Whereso'er
I am, below, or else above you, Whereso'er you are, my heart shall truly love
you. (SEE SAM AS HE CLOSES THE BOOK. AS HE RETURNS TO HIS PLACE, SEE VIKI AND
BEN,LOST IN EACH OTHER'S EYES)
BEN
I, Benjamin Davidson, take thee Viki to my wedded wife, to have and to
hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according
to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.
VIKI
I, Victoria Carpenter, take thee Ben to my wedded husband, to have
and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part,
according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.
ACT FOUR A: ST. JAMES CHURCH [NIGHT] BEN FACES VIKI AND SPEAKS HIS
PERSONAL VOWS. THROUGH HIS AND VIKI'S VOWS WE SHOULD SEE NOT ONLY THE TWO OF
THEM, BUT THE REACTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLAGE)
BEN
Blondie, I thought I knew about life and love...pretty much thought I
wrote the book. But without you, I was just wandering around in the dark. I
didn't think I needed anybody. I was fine all by myself. You made me realize I
was anything, but... You taught me what life is really about. You showed me what
love really is. It's been a heckuva ride, hasn't it? And this is a great day.
All our friends and family are here with us. They know you and they love you.
But they don't know you like I do. I know how your face lights up when you laugh
at one of my bad jokes. The way you'll put a wasp out of the house instead of
letting me pound it with a rolled-up magazine. The places where you're ticklish,
I mean really ticklish. The strength that comes into your eyes when you have to
face a fear no one should ever have to face. And you do it head on, Blondie. You
face that fear like ten men and you fight it. And you beat it. I love that about
you. I love everything about you. I still have a lot to learn about you and from
you, and it gives me something to look forward to every day. You make me feel
incredibly lucky just to be alive, and I plan to stay that way for a long, long
time because I've got you in my life. I love you, with my whole heart, Blondie,
and with my whole soul. And I will forever. (VIKI LOOKS AT HIM FULL OF LOVE AND
FOR A MOMENT TOO MOVED TO SPEAK; THEN SHE GATHERS HERSELF TO RESPOND)
VIKI
I walked into a roadhouse -- a bar really --
BEN
Really.
VIKI
And saw a bartender. And my whole world changed. I was at a
crossroads in my life - I was lost and alone...and suddenly there you were, man
of mystery...a man of secrets...but suddenly I wasn't lost anymore. Because I
found you, and you found me. You opened your heart to me. And that was the most
precious gift you could possibly give me...you let me see the man you really
are. A very special man. You're still a mystery sometimes. But it's a mystery I
look forward to solving piece by piece, knowing I'll never reach the end of the
puzzle. I walked into a..."bar" and found a man who never gives up. I thank God
for that, because when I felt most alone and most afraid, you wouldn't let me be
alone, and you gave me strength to defeat my fear, to defeat death itself. You
made me realize all over again that life is to be cherished and Savored and
truly lived. Each moment of each day. And I want to live every one of those
moments with you. I want to give you joy and peace and happiness, because that's
what you gave to me. I love you, Ben, with my whole heart and my whole soul. And
I will love you till my last breath, and beyond, forever and ever. (AS VIKI AND
BEN CONTINUE TO HOLD THEIR LOOK, ANDREW NODS TO JESSICA, WHO STEPS FORWARD AND
FACES THE CONGREGATION WHILE A MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT BEGINS.
JESSICA SINGS AS WE PUSH IN ON VIKI AND BEN AND DISSOLVE TO: A MONTAGE OF
SIGNAL MOMENTS FROM THEIR RELATIONSHIP. WE SEE VIKI WALKING INTO CROSSROADS
BAR FOR THE FIRST TIME [#7817, 1A]; VIKI WINNING THE KARAOKE CONTEST
AND BEING AWARDED THE FUZZY DICE BY BEN [#7826, 2A]; VIKI REMOVING THE BULLET
FROM BEN'S SHOULDER IN THE ATTIC [#7847, 5D]; THEIR FIRST KISS
[#7830, 4C]; THEIR FIRST DANCE [#7832, 6A]; VIKI LOOKING AT BEN'S
CLASSIFIED AD [#7822, 4B]; BEN LIBERATING VIKI FROM DORIAN'S CELLAR
[#7848, 4D]; BEN PUTTING A CIGAR BAND ON VIKI'S FINGER ON THE TERRACE OF
THE FLORIDA HOTEL [#7891, 6A]; VIKI ENTERING THE BAR FOR THE RE-OPENING
PARTY IN HER STUNNING RED DRESS [#8106, 1E]; VIKI AND BEN CLEARING THE
POOL TABLE TO MAKE LOVE [#8050, 6B]; BEN PUTTING HIS HAND ON HER CHEST
AFTER THE SURGERY [#8165, 5C]; THEM SHARING CHAMPAGNE IN A TUB FILLED
WITH BUBBLES [#8197, 3C]; DISSOLVE BACK TO: SAM STEPS FORWARD WITH
THE RINGS. ANDREW TAKES THEM FROM HIM
ANDREW
Bless, O Lord, these rings, that they who give them and wear them
may abide in peace and continue in Thy favor, unto their life's end; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ASSEMBLED
Amen. (ANDREW HANDS ONE RING TO BEN. BEN PLACES THE RING ON THE
FOURTH FINGER OF VIKI'S LEFT HAND)
BEN
With this ring I thee wed: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost (written in change now says Spirit). Amen. (ANDREW HANDS
THE OTHER RING TO VIKI, WHO PLACES IT ON BEN'S FINGER)
VIKI
With this ring I thee wed: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost (written in change now says Spirit). Amen.
CUT TO: ACT FIVE C: ST. JAMES CHURCH [NIGHT] BEN AND VIKI FACE ANDREW AS
ANDREW PRAYS
ANDREW
O Eternal God, send Thy blessing upon this man and this woman, whom
we bless in Thy Name; that they, may ever remain in perfect love and peace
together, and live according to he laws' through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ASSEMBLAGE
Amen. (ANDREW LOOKS OUT AT THE CONGREGATION)
ANDREW
I ask all of you who have come to honor the joining of Viki and Ben
in marriage to help them fulfill their vows, and thus strengthen the interrelate
bonds of this community which we all love so much. Will you do that?
ASSEMBLAGE
We will. ANDREW JOINS VIKI AND BEN'S RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER AND
CONTINUES)
ANDREW
Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. (SEE
JOEY LOOKING AT KELLY, THEN SEE NORA SHOOTING A LOOK AT BO) I now pronounce you
Husband andWife. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
ASSEMBLAGE
Amen.
ANDREW (HE LOOKS AT BEN) You may kiss the bride. (BEN DOES, AMID WHOOPS AND
APPLAUSE FROM THE ASSEMBLAGE. AS HE AND VIKI HEAD BACK DOWN THE AISLE TO THE
STRAINS OF TRIUMPHAL MUSIC, AMID GENERAL CELEBRATION, CUT TO:)
ACT FIVE D: PALACE BALLROOM AND PALACE BALCONY (BOTH TAPE 10/23) [NIGHT] A
HOTEL EVENT PLACARD AT THE ENTRANCE, READS "CARPENTER-DAVIDSON WEDDING
RECEPTION," SEE MR. GRAY IN THE BALCONY ALCOVE. AS HE OPENS HIS "BRIEFCASE," WE
SEE THE CONTENTS...A DISASSEMBLED, HIGH-TECH RIFLE)
FADE OUT...
