MAUREEN

I think we need an agent!



MARK

We?



JOANNE

That's selling out



MARK

But it's nice to dream



MAUREEN

Yeah -- it's network TV

And it's all thanks to me



MARK

Somehow I think I smell

The whiff of a scheme



JOANNE

Me too



MAUREEN

We can plan another protest



JOANNE

We?!



MAUREEN

This time you can shoot from the start... (to MARK)

You'll direct (to JOANNE)

Starring me!



(Lights shift back to downstairs.)



ALL

5, 4, 3... Open sesame!!

(The door falls away, revealing MARK, JOANNE, and MAUREEN.)

Happy new year

Happy new year

Happy new...



BENNY (entering)

I see that you've beaten me to the punch



ROGER

How did you know we'd be here?



BENNY

I had a hunch



MARK

You're not mad?



BENNY

I'm here to end this war

It's a shame you went and destroyed the door



MIMI

Why all the sudden the big about face



BENNY

The credit is yours

You made a good case



ROGER

What case?



BENNY

Mimi came to see me

And she had much to say



MIMI

That's not how you put it at all yesterday



BENNY

I couldn't s thinking about the whole mess

Mark -- you want to get this on film



MARK (picking up his camera)

I guess



BENNY

I regret the unlucky circumstances

Of the past seven days



ROGER

Circumstance? You padlocked our door



BENNY

And it's with great pleasure

On behalf of CyberArts

That I hand you this key

(BENNY hands him the key.)



ANGEL

Golf claps

(They oblige.)



MARK

I have no juice in my battery



BENNY

Reshoot



ROGER

I see -- this is a photo opportunity



MAUREEN

The benevolent god

Ushers the poor artists back to their flat

Were you planning on taking down the barbed wire

From the lot, too?



ROGER

Anything but that!



BENNY

Clearing the lot was a safety concern

We break ground this month

But you can return



MAUREEN

That's why you're here with people you hate

Instead of with Muffy at Muffy's estate



BENNY

I'd honestly rather be with you tonight than in Westport --



ROGER

Spare us old sport, the soundbite



BENNY

Mimi -- since your was are so seductive



MIMI

You came on to me!



BENNY

Persuade him not to be so counterproductive



ROGER

Liar!



BENNY

Why not tell them what you wore to my place?



MIMI

I was on my way to work



BENNY

Black leather and lace!

My desk was a mess

I think I'm still sore



MIMI

Cause I kicked him and told him I wasn't his whore!



BENNY

Does your boyfriend know

Who your last boyfriend was?



ROGER

I'm not her boyfriend

I don't care what she does



ANGEL

People! Is this any way to start a new year?

Have compassion

Benny just lost his cat



BENNY

My dog -- but I appreciate that



ANGEL

My cat had a fall

And I went through hell



BENNY

It's like losing a --

How did you know that she fell?



COLLINS

(Hands BENNY a glass of champagne)

Champagne?



BENNY

Don't mind if I do

To dogs!



ALL BUT BENNY

No, Benny -- To you!



ANGEL

Let's make a resolution



MIMI

I'll drink to that



COLLINS

Let's always stay friends



JOANNE

Tho' we may have our disputes



MAUREEN

This family tree's got deep roots



MARK

Friendship is thicker than blood



ROGER

That depends



MIMI

Depends on trust



ROGER

Depends on true devotion



JOANNE

Depends on love



MARK (to ROGER)

Depends on not denying emotion



ROGER

Perhaps



ALL

It's gonna be a happy new year



ROGER

I guess



ALL

It's gonna be a happy new year



ROGER

You're right



(ANGEL brings ROGER and MIMI together. ANGEL and others move

away from MIMI and ROGER.)



ANGEL

It's gonna be a happy new year



ROGER & MIMI

I'm sorry



ROGER

Coming?



MIMI

In a minute -- I'm fine -- go



(ROGER kisses MIMI and exits. THE MAN appears.)



THE MAN

Well, well, well. What have we here?

(He walks over to MIMI and holds out a small plastic bag of white

powder.)

It's gonna be a happy new year

There, there...etc.



(Fade out