Three 50-something sisters come together to disperse a husband’s ashes. Can they also dispose of

40 years of resentment and find new love?

SYNOPSIS:

Adele admires the shoes her husband bought for her as she gets in the Uber on the way to help

her sister, Dolly, dispose of her husband’s ashes. Never mind that she wasn’t invited. There’s a

pineapple on the seat next to her and she tosses it into the front seat by the driver. In spite of

herself she notices the way he looks at her as her phone rings. Its the third sister, Marion. Of

course her car won’t start and of course she’ll pick her up if she’s ready when she gets there.

She’s ready to happily introduce Adele to the driver, Francis, who gives her his card in case

Adele needs him later.

As Dolly and Marion embrace, Adele steers her suitcase down the hall. “What’s she doing here?”

Somehow the sisters survive the evening, in spite of jabs and barbs. Next morning,

Adele takes charge of breakfast so they can get on with spreading the ashes on the approach to a hated green

at their golf club. Several bottles of wine later, and we learn that Adele’s husband does all the

cooking.“Let’s hear it for men that are good for something. Well, they’re all good for

something.” says Dolly. Nervously, Adele chimes in “Chris is good at so many things.”

Apparently curling Adele’s toes isn’t one of them, but at least he wasn’t cruel. To change the

mood, Dolly pipes in with “what I wouldn’t give for an Upside Down Cake right now.” Like the

one their dad used to make. “I don’t think Daddy ever got that cake right.”

Leading the charge, Adele sets out to start Dolly’s car…but it won’t start. Well its not really her

car, its her husband’s. You see, Dolly, the girl who could do anything, doesn’t drive. What the

….? Alarmed that Dolly doesn’t drive, Adele berates Doll but Dolly throws back that Adele

doesn’t… well, maybe having that kind of husband. To solve the transportation problem,Marion

calls the Uber driver, Frances, but he’s working a wedding. It occurs to Dolly that Stephen, the

widowed doctor that was a friend of her husband, might help out. Marion calls him and…

Stephen takes them to the golf club. Standing in the fairway, Dolly hesitates, overcome.“Neither

of you remember when we took Mama’s ashes to the lake.” Adele laments. In a burst of

authority, she thrusts her hand into Robert as a dweeby club employee on a golf cart radios “We

got another widow with a box…”

Dolly’s neighbor, Lana, stops working in her roses just as, back at Dolly’s, they get out of

Stephen’s SUV. “Doesn’t sound peachy, Anything you need? Want me to punch someone for

you?” Lana sees Stephen “Hey Stevie. How’s it hanging” What else can Stephen say but

“Hanging just great, Lana. Thanks for asking.”

That evening they finish delivery Chinese as the door bell sounds. Lana has a delivery of her

own, a plate of brownies. As Dolly sees Lana out, “Thanks, I think.”

Some time later, Adele figures out it wasn’t just cocoa in the brownies. Witty repartee ends with

the sisters splayed across the den furniture.

The next bright Lana knocks at the back door. Marion answers, steps on to the patio to join her.

Marion befuddled by Lana, Marion confirms her lesbian status. But Lana assures her, “I was

married to a man. He was my best friend. Broke his heart. Was a long time before our daughters

were OK with it. We survived, but he can’t even talk to me anymore.” Their flirting is

interrupted as Adele steps on to the porch eating a pop tart. Adele is in a twit about the brownies

but Lana fires back with “How dare you eat a pop tart after my gourmet brownies.” Dolly steps

out with Robert under one arm and a pop tart. Lana is bemused as she watches them eat the pop

tarts in the same sequence.. corners then.. As Lana leaves, Adele admonishes Marion “What’s

that about?”

That evening, Marion heads next door to visit Lana. Not for that, just someone interesting. Adele

and Dolly are moping about the house when the doorbell sounds. The sisters crash into each

other at the door to discover Stephen.

Dolly flirtatiously invites Stephen to the patio for a drink, coming on to him with a vengeance.

Adele cautiously calls Frances. Dolly’s overly sexual come on startles Stephen, who leaves,

confused and upset. Dolly stumbles to her bedroom with the last bottle of wine. Stephen pauses

Upside Down Cake

Proprietary & Confidential

©Awakened Heart Productions !3

in the front yard. He’s drawn to her bedroom window. Dolly is so upset with herself she has a

tantrum and ends up on the floor tangled in the sheets. Stephen comes through the window to

hold her.

Adele opens another bottle of wine just as Frances rings the bell. He’s not sure why he came.

She’s married, but… Adele hasn’t been in this place in a long time. She hasn’t felt THAT in a

while.

Marion has also found something she hasn’t known in a while with Lana. They start with

sampling the kegs of beer on her porch and throwing pots on a wheel (think “Ghost”) and end up

with something like breaking furniture.

The morning.

A replay of a weekend with the parents out of town. Adele is wrapped around Frances. Dolly lies,

clothed, with Stephen. A night of souls, but not bodies, connecting. Adele and Stephen have no

idea Frances and Adele are in the den until its too late. Of course, Marion returns from Lana’s at

just that instant. Embarrassment, hiding the boys. Cliche if they weren’t in their 50’s, replaying

high school. The sisters clash.

Embarrassed, Stephen and Frances rush into the front yard to escape the fray. Lana beckons them

over, offering “Good stuff, none of that lite horse whiz” from her keg and commiseration.

Sisters. Dolly “I AM me. What the hell does he mean by that?” Adele is leaving. Marion silently

urges Dolly to stop Adele. “Stop!” A fight about husbands ends with “At least he screwed me!”

“Dressing nice doesn’t make him gay!” “He’s gay as Boy George. Just dresses better.” Adele

admits “It’s been a long time since I did that to a man.”

In the middle of the fray, Dolly exclaims, “Time we moved on” grabs Robert’s ashes, taking

them determinedly to the master bathroom.

Adele and Marion follow her to find her urinating in the toilet. “What are you doing.” “Flushing

Robert.” Marion takes her turn. Adele takes her turn with a grin. She drops her pants, sits, and

closes the door. She comes out with “I really didn’t like that man.” Marion waves away the

fumes as Dolly pushes the lever and the toilet backs up. “Damn you Robert. I’ll get the plunger.”

Adele and Marion scurry out before her.

Marion and Adele figure out the Upside Down Cake recipe as Adele passes through the kitchen,

returning the plunger to the garage. They need that pineapple from Frances’ cab, and brown

sugar (Stephen) and rum. And Frances’ car is still out front. Marion follows voices to Lana’s and

arranges the pineapple and brown sugar and sets out with Lana for rum. And to pick up Marion’s

dog, Frodo.

Dolly and Adele and Frances and Stephen assemble the upside down cake. They need the rum.

now. Frodo bounds through the opening front door with Lana’s dog in hot pursuit. “But you

don’t allow dogs.?” Dolly, “That was Robert’s rule, not mine.”

DOLLY That's what its supposed to taste like?

ADELE Way better than Dad's.

FRANCIS You know, maybe it didn't matter if your dad couldn't make it right

STEPHEN As long as you could make a better one, together.

UPSIDE DOWN CAKE