A Match Made In Heaven
By Serita Stevens
Represented by JoAnn Carol
Monterio Rose Dravis
818 501 1177

What’s scary about life is that you have to live it.


Mimi Ross (formerly Rosenberg but she Anglicized it to fit in with corporate America better) doesn’t believe in anything but business and money. As CEO of her own investment corporation, she’s wealthy and lives the good life but she is generally dissatisfied. She has no relationships and no man has ever stayed past two dates. Of course, she won’t admit it to anyone. Even her mother, Esther, doesn’t know her secret.

The dying Esther has done her utmost best to fix her daughter up and get her married off. Mimi jokes that her mother would rather see her walking down the aisle than see her going to the Oscar’s for best picture. Esther, however, is determined to have grandchildren one way or another.

Across the town, Danny Klein, a shy Geeky librarian, is a secret romantic. He watches and re-watches films like Casablanca and his bible is “What Women Want.” He is constantly on sites as J Date and eharmony. Danny’s father, Charlie, feels for his son and would like to see him married and happy before he goes (though he’s healthy as a horse.). Dad has even paid for Danny to visit a matchmaker but his shyness has been an obstacle.

The cancer finally gets Esther and on her dying bed, she makes Mimi promise to get married to a nice Jewish boy. Reluctantly, Mimi agrees.

At the same time, Charlie falls due to a heart attack.

The bus to heaven is crowded and the only seat for Charlie is right next to Esther. The pair begin to talk about their lives back on earth and especially their kids whom they are both so worried about.

Once they are situated in heaven and waiting for their final ruling, Charlie suggests that maybe Mimi might like Danny. “What are you kidding?” Esther says as she peers down and sees the shy Danny petting the animals in the shelter where he volunteers.

And just why not? Charlie wants to know. My son is a mench.

Esther doesn’t want to hear it. She knows Mimi likes powerful men but what has she done lately.

The pair look down on earth and see their funerals. Lo and behold, they are both being buried the same day and their plots are walking distance from each other. Esther accused Charlie of fixing something so that the kids would meet there but Charlie denies having done anything. He was going to ask her if she did anything. Maybe it’s a sign.

They decide it’s a sign and watch as both burials progress just feet away from each other and yet uniquely different. A grief stricken Mimi puts her head on the shoulder of Roger, one of her male colleagues. They watch the coming and goings of their friends and as their kids remain at the last moment to say their final goodbyes. A mourning Danny is brought back to attention by his aunt.

Esther asks if maybe they can’t do something. They’ll never know unless they try.
“So now my son is okay by you?” Charlie asks. Esther responds that he looks like a nice boy.

Esther blows her breath out and to her surprise, the wind down below picks up and lifts Mimi’s floppy black hat off her head and wings it toward where Danny and his aunt are standing.

Polite as ever, Danny goes to retrieve it. The couple talks for a brief moment about their losses but then Roger calls her that it’s time to go. People will be arriving at the condo for shiva. She thanks him for getting her hat.

Danny looks after her admiringly and Charlie reprimands him for not making a move, like asking her out for coffee.

They meet before the angel counsel to see if it’s all right to do a tweak here and a push there as far as those down below. The angels want to know exactly what they mean. So Charlie and Esther show their children.

The Angels admit that there is potential for a relationship on the Valentina scale but it’s really quite impossible because it’s against the rules.

Charlie wants to know who the supervisor is and if they can talk to him about the rules. The angel points upward. Esther goes into prayer mode, davening for permission to help her daughter find a mate. Even Charlie, who never really believed much, joins in. If Esther thinks it can help, he’s all for it.

The clock ticks away and pretty soon an envelope comes out of the chute. And the answer is “No. Rules are not permitted to be broken by novice angels.”

What does that mean? Well, until they receive their first wings, which they can only get by an unselfish act, they must follow all the rules.

A chastened Charlie and Esther walk away from the court building.

The couple above decided that even though it is against the rules, they are going to try and match their children. Rules are meant to be broken, Charlie says. “After all, what harm can it do?” Esther agrees. But it appears they will need someone to teach them how to use their powers and they ask Gavriel, the angel who had first taken the request as they plead for the happiness of their children.

The angel is reluctant to get on board because rules are rules but – he likes Esther and Charlie and says they have at least an 8 on the Valentina level. Esther can’t believe it but she’s willing to work with Charlie for her daughter’s sake.

Down below on earth, Mimi’s firm has agreed to sponsor a fund raiser at the library and seeing his chance, Charlie, with the angel’s help, slips his son’s name into the spot for Mimi’s contact at the library. Esther says that Mimi still won’t have anything to do with him unless he learns to be more of a society person. Charlie says they’ll see about that. He pushes the card of a matchmaker (the same one that Danny has been to) in front of Mimi’s calendar. She’s puzzled but puts it into her purse.

The plan seems like it will work out. A busy Mimi flies into the library with her secretary and Roger trailing behind. A mild mannered Danny comes out from the stacks, flustered and bumbling as he tries to explain to Mimi what the fundraiser is about.

The library cat comes out and greets Mimi who pets him and coos. Roger says that he didn’t know she liked cats. He hates the little buggers and besides, he’s allergic. She shrugs and says that yes, she likes them but can’t afford the time besides they would make too much of a mess in her pristine apartment.

Charlie is distraught. Can’t Esther get rid of Roger? The angel says that they can only do positive actions not negative ones and he’s already stretching the rules for them. The couple is forced to sit by as Roger overtakes the project and completely dismisses Danny. While flirting with the secretary, Roger indicates that he and Mimi have dinner plans that night and they have to finish this up. Once again, Danny is left in the background.

At a fancy restaurant have dinner, Mimi observes a couple in the next booth as the man pulls out a little black box and proposes to his girlfriend. Mimi watches with apt attention wishing that she could be doing that, too. She glances at Roger and asks him if he thinks their relationship is progressing.

Roger says “Of course, it is.” Meanwhile, he flirts with the waitress who takes their order.

With a sigh, Mimi excuses herself. She goes to the women’s room and at the phone, she takes out the card of the matchmaker.

Rena Hirsch, the matchmaker, is an old fashioned shotkin who does a full interview with Mimi about her likes and dislikes. She is looking through her list of men in order to find someone to set Mimi up with when Charlie pushes Danny’s card forward and realizes that he works for the library and Mimi’s firm is doing a fundraiser. Little does she know that they already know each other and Mimi doesn’t even remember Danny’s name to say so.

Esther wants to know if he thinks that will really work. Of course it will work, Charlie says. Does she think his son is such a smuck? Once she really goes out with him and sees him –

The couple meets for dinner and Danny expresses his awkwardness. Mimi barely recalls Danny as the library associate she met with but she does recall having seen him before at the gravesite. Only when he brings up the fundraiser does she remember who he is and they start talking about the event since Mimi has always enjoyed reading ever since she was a kid. In fact, at one time in her early school years, she had thought about becoming a librarian.

Esther and Charlie are ecstatic that the couple seems to be getting along. Or so they tell themselves.

A tentative Danny asks Mimi to come back to his place and see some of his book collections. She scoffs at his “line” but thinks he’s sweet. Definitely not her style but maybe a morsel of fun.

Back at Danny’s condo, Mimi sees rows and rows of antique books and she takes some out to look at and exclaims that he really did want to show her his collection. Of course he did, Danny says innocently. Why else would he have asked her?

Behind an original George Elliot novel, Mimi finds Danny’s “bible.” “How to Romance A Woman.” She smiles to herself as she holds it up. Mimi laughs and says “Maybe because of this.” She kisses him fully on the mouth.

In bed after a romp in the sack, Mimi and Danny watch Casablanca. His cat, Goldie, is on his bed with them. Mimi pets the cat and says how she wishes she could have a pet but that she doesn’t have the time to care for one. After the movie, she has tears in her eyes and excuses herself, leaving shortly after.

Danny talks to the picture of his father and says he might have found someone.

Charlie and Esther do a high five with the angel, who asks if they can now stop their interference because he’s been getting memos from the Boss that any interference by first angels will have dire consequences. Does the Boss know about them? Charlie and Esther are a little worried but no so worried that they can’t continue.

Their mood is deflated when back at her place, Mimi talks to her best friend, Rose, a happily married mother, about having met this sweet guy but then she says he’s not right for her. She needs someone strong; someone that can take control of a situation. She doesn’t want to be the one always making the moves. Rose points out that its Mimi’s nature as a company president to want to take over and make the rules. Mimi says maybe if Roger -- . No, says Rose, Roger is not the marrying kind.

“Too sweet, huh?” Charlie is insulted. What can they do now?

Maybe Esther says, :it just wasn’t meant to be.

Danny calls Mimi at work the next day and she is cool to him. She says they will meet to discuss the library fundraiser but there’s no future for them.

She calls the matchmaker back and says that Danny was nice but that she needs someone with balls. Someone who –

Roger comes in and tells, not asks but tells, her that they have a dinner meeting with a new client tonight and that afterward she’ll be coming back to his place.

Esther is surprised at how meekly her daughter gives in.

Danny calls the matchmaker and wants to know what Mimi said. They seemed to have so much in common.

The next few days, Mimi has dates with two other men from the match maker but neither of them, though they are bossy, are to Mimi’s liking. One is a dentist that brags about his abilities to do a painless crown and the other is a defense attorney who can only talk about what great cases he has. She sees Roger at the restaurant with another woman.

At the library while Danny is shelving books, What Women Want falls off the shelf. He picks it up and starts to put it back and then starts reading.

Taking her mail from her post box, Mimi finds the current edition of Cosmo. It falls from her hands with the article “Good Boys vs Bad Men” open. She picks it up and starts reading as she goes up stairs.

Obviously both things were done by the parents who at the very moment they are interfering see a frantic angel running toward them.

They’re being summoned to the Boss.

Both look at each other horrified. What they’ve done isn’t so bad, is it? Apparently it is. First angels are forbidden from interfering in the lives down there and the punishment is not being promoted for at least a full year.

Esther wails that her daughter’s baby clock is ticking. How will she ever have grandchildren? Charlie pleads how lovesick his son is. Nevertheless, the punishment stands. If they are caught interfering again –

A saddened Esther sits on the edge of the cloud holding hands with Charlie and commiserating the fate of their kids. Gavriel, the angel, looks on equally as miserable since he is also at risk for the loss of his wings, having helped them. Esther looks down and watches Danny reading the book. “Look at him. Such a sweet boy. Almost like a son to me.”

Charlie agrees that he wouldn’t mind Mimi, with such a good heart, to be his daughter
Gavriel says that there is nothing they can do but watch. With an exaggerated sigh, Esther pulls out her stack of cards and challenges Charlie to a gin rummy game.

Danny practices in front of the mirror and talks to the cat making his voice firmer and more demanding. The cat shrinks away. Nevertheless, if it’s what women want -- He calls his gay cousin, Raymond, to help him make himself over.

Charlie is amazed and wonders why he didn’t think of that himself.

Steven works with Danny to get him to walk bolder and to dress more modern and flashier but subtle. He teaches him to drink and to flirt. Several times, Danny almost backs out because it doesn’t feel natural but Steven insists that this is what he needs to do if he wants to win someone like Mimi Ross.

The cat hisses when he comes home dressed in his new clothes and his cologne. Danny tells the cat that he doesn’t know if he can do this.

Meanwhile, at the office, Mimi is having it out with Roger over his dating other women and when is he going to commit to her.

Roger turns on her and says he’s ready. He’s decided that she is what he wants. Suddenly Mimi isn’t sure that Roger is what she wants, but since she has made such a scene about it, she agrees to set a wedding date.

In heaven, Esther is bemoaning that her daughter is going to marry a goy and Charlie is equally as stressed. I loved her like a daughter, he says. Esther says, punishment or not, they have to do something, but what?

As Danny is reading the papers a few days later, he sees the wedding announcement for Roger and Mimi. He stares at the page. Comforting the cat, he tells Steven that all bets are off. He knows that Roger isn’t the right person for her – anyone that hates cats can’t be that good. He has to do something to break them up – even if she doesn’t want to be with him.

Gavriel suddenly remembers the one caveat to the rules. The first angels are allowed to interfere down below only if it’s for the good of someone not related to them. So Esther and Charlie decide to switch roles. It turns out that Esther isn’t really needed. Charlie wonders how he’s going to handle Mimi. As it turns out, left to their own devices the kids are doing things just fine.

Danny has already decided on a plan and begins to trail Roger to see what he can find out that will show Mimi that Roger isn’t for her.

Following Roger, nothing appears to be happening and he bemoans to Steven that this is all a waste. Then suddenly he sees Roger and Mimi’s secretary, Juanita, coming out of a restaurant. In an Ah Ha moment, Danny snaps a photo of Roger nuzzling her ear.

Danny, dressed in his new clothes and with his new attitude, swaggers into Mimi’s office, demanding to be seen.

Mimi is at her desk, looking over bridal designs, when Danny barges in. She tries to tell him that she’s busy and he says that he is going to speak with her. She looks up. He’s never talked to her like that before.

Charlie is ecstatic. That’s my boy.

Danny puts the picture of Roger and Juanita on her desk and tells her that she is not going to marry Roger. She just looks stunned. She calls Juanita in and the girl admits that she and Roger are having an affair. Horrified, Mimi fires her on the spot.

Roger comes into the office a few minutes later to find out what’s going on. He totally denies anything is amiss and completely disrespects Danny. Danny is flabbergasted and doesn’t know what to say. His training with Steven hasn’t gotten this far.

Roger takes the copy of the photo and crushes it and then goes up and kisses Mimi firmly on the lips and tells her that he adores only her and they are getting married in two weeks. Then he waves Danny off.

Danny looks at Mimi but she’s totally enraptured with Roger again and he leaves feeling very defeated.

Steven tells Danny that they haven’t done enough research into Roger. Steven’s boyfriend is a PI’s assistant and getting Roger’s bank records and other facts, they pour over his paperwork.

After going over and over the paperwork and not finding anything amiss, Danny stumbles on some calls to Hong Kong. Steven calls and pretends that he is Roger’s assistant and the pair realize suddenly that Roger wants to take over Mimi’s company and sell it. Danny is still frustrated. Just because she is shown this doesn’t mean that Mimi will stop the plans or that Mimi will fall for him. Maybe she wants him to take over the company? Maybe she knows. Steven tries to talk to him into doing something if he loves the girl but Danny forlornly says no.

Above Esther and Charlie are pacing. Charlie doesn’t know what to do to show Mimi what is going on and Esther has no idea of how to handle Danny.

Back to his old self, Danny is at home watching Casablanca and crying as he strokes the cat. Goldie jumps from his lap and drags down his book, How to Romance A Woman. It falls open the page – Tell her your real feelings. Danny stares at it.

Charlie wants to know if Esther did that. Esther says she didn’t but that cat is one smart cookie.

Danny looks at the picture of Mimi and Roger’s announcement up on his bulletin board and then at the clock. They’re getting ready for the ceremony as he stands there! He calls Steven and says he’s ready for one last push. He grabs up the cat and tells her that they’re going to break up a wedding.

Still dressed in his comfy old flannel shirt and sweats, he runs to the hotel where the couple is about to be married by the Universalist minister.

As she is about to say ‘I Do” Danny and Goldie break into the room and tells her again that she can’t marry him. That he just wants to take over her company.

Roger starts to sneeze as Goldie runs up to Mimi to be petted.

Mimi steps back again horrified by this news. She absentmindedly pets the cat.

Then Danny comes forward and adds, “Besides, I love you.” Goldie meows her agreement.

Mimi turns to Roger who shrugs. She asks him, Does he love her?

Again, Roger shrugs. It all comes clear to Mimi who slaps Roger, grabs up Goldie and turns to walk away.

As Danny and Mimi pledge their vows in front of the rabbi, Esther and Charlie decide that maybe it’s time they link up too.

Based on true events

Ethnic Theme
Family
High Concept
Love Story

Time Period: Present
Special Effects: Minimal
Cast Size: 3-6 Main/Supporting
Story Location: USA
Animation: None
Target Audience: Adult

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