[Quick Summary: Kym, who has been in and out of rehab, is allowed out of her recovery home for her sister Rachel's wedding.]
Q: What makes this melodrama stand out?
A: The key is the protagonist, Kym, who has a biting wit and humor.
Q: What's so unusual?
A: I never know whether it's to connect (and bring the other person closer), or to isolate (and keep them at a distance). Either way, it keeps things suspenseful.
For example, in the scene below:
- Just prior to this scene, Kym's dad and step-mom have just picked her up from rehab for the wedding weekend.
- In the car, they try to act normal, but the parents are worried.
- Kym answers their questions with wit, but is defensive.
- Kym wants to belong, but she also likes to be provocative to stand out.
- Kym has a conscience, but is also self-absorbed.
- Thus, we enter the scene below uneasy how Kym feels about her sister Rachel.
- Notice Kym is a person of extremes. When she (or another) makes an honest mis-step, she's hard on herself (and others) in a witty way. It's hard to predict but also hard to deal with.
INT. UPSTAIRS. DAY. CONTINUOUS --
...KYM (to Rachel): No, seriously, you're so tiny it's like you're Asian. Dad wants us to sleep in the same room so you'll be able to watch me while he's asleep and I won't sneak out of the house and blow dealers and shoot heroin.
RACHEL: Dad did not say "blow dealers."
KYM: I told him I'd just sleep in Ethan's room.
Beat. [This is an honest mistake and they just realized it. Also, it makes us wonder. Who is Ethan? What happened? Something bad?]
RACHEL: You can always shoot up in the tree. [Rachel deflects with humor and sarcasm.]
Kym laughs. A little too loud. [Kym does realize the mis-step and tries to cover.]
EMMA: Kym, I'm not remotely surprised you're starting your drama already, however it's Rachel's wedding and this week it's about her.
KYM: Emma, you still have your tiny core of rage! What a relief. [Kym can't admit Emma is right, so uses humor/sarcasm as a defense mechanism.]
Kym flops on the bed and gazes adoringly at her sister for a moment. Rachel beams back. [I found it interesting that the sisters are used to sarcastic humor, so they don't take it personally.]
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The biting wit and humor works well here because it comes from character, i.e., it's how Kym deals with life.
It also lends itself to great suspense because we never know if it'll connect, or isolate, her.
Rachel Getting Married (2008)(undated)
by Jenny Lumet
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