my accidental christmas husband dramashorts

Here is a short drama script based on the premise of "My Accidental Christmas Husband." Title: My Accidental Christmas Husband Logline: A chaotic mix-up at a pop-up wedding chapel forces a cynical event planner and a laid-back travel writer to become legally married just before Christmas, forcing them to play nice for a week or face career-ending consequences. Characters: CHLOE (29): Sharp, organized, cynical about love. She plans perfect weddings for other people. LEO (30): Easygoing, charming, a bit of a drifter. He writes about adventure for a living. MAISIE (30s): Chloes frantic, slightly ditzy best friend and business partner. Scene 1: THE MISTLETOE CHAPEL INT. MISTLETOE CHAPEL - DAY A tacky, overly-decorated pop-up wedding chapel. Tinsel everywhere. A bored-looking ELVIS IMPERSONATOR (the officiant) sips a soda. CHLOE, in a chic red dress, is trying to untangle a string of lights. MAISIE is frantically checking her phone. MAISIE Okay, the light is fixed! The bouquet is in the freezer. I repeat, the cake is NOT melting. We are ready for the Bride-Carlson-Rogers wedding. CHLOE (Not looking up) Its Carlson-Rogers. The bride hyphenated. If you get it wrong, shell throw the bouquet at your head. MAISIEs phone BINGS. She looks at it, her face going pale. MAISIE Oh. Oh no. Chloe the groom just texted. Hes at the airport. His flight from Denver is cancelled. Hes stuck in a tarmac. CHLOE (Frozen) What? MAISIE No groom. No wedding. The brides mother is going to kill us. Shes already outside doing breathing exercises. Suddenly, the chapel door BURSTS open. LEO stumbles in, shaking snow from his hair. Hes in a slightly rumpled, but handsome, suit. LEO Sorry! Sorry Im late. The cab got stuck behind a reindeer parade. Thats not a euphemism. Ready when you are! He looks around, confused. LEO Wow. You guys really went all out on the Christmas theme. Chloe and Maisie stare at him. MAISIE (Whispering to Chloe) Is that the groom? CHLOE (Whispering back) No! The groom is short, bald, and stuck in Denver. This is a crisis. LEO (To Chloe) You must be the bride. You look even more beautiful than your profile picture. Shall we? He winks, charmingly. Chloes eye twitches. CHLOE I am not the bride. I am the event planner. And there is no wedding. LEO What do you mean? I flew three hours for this. My grandmother has been planning this for months. Shes outside in the snow with a video camera. Through the window, they see a sweet, elderly woman (GRANDMA ROSE) waving excitedly. Leos face falls. LEO Shes got a bad heart. If she finds out I got stood up it might break it. Literally. Maisie panics. She looks at Chloe, then at Leo, then at the grim-reaper figure of the BRIDES MOTHER (BETTY) peering in the window. MAISIE Okay. Okay. Simple solution. A very simple, one-time solution. CHLOE (Dread filling her) Maisie, no. MAISIE Chloe. Marry him. CHLOE & LEO (Simultaneously) WHAT?! MAISIE Just for the ceremony! For the grandmother! Betty Carlson-Rogers will just see a happy couple getting married. Well tear up the license later. Its paper! Its Christmas! The Elvis Impersonator burps. ELVIS License isnt tearable, darlin. Its a state document. CHLOE You see? MAISIE Well fix it tomorrow! Please, Chloe! For the business! If this goes wrong, were finished! Outside, Grandma Rose starts waving a little white handkerchief. Leo looks at Chloe, desperate. LEO Look Im sorry about this. Ill make it up to you. But if my grandma cries Ill never forgive myself. The organ starts playing a cheesy version of "Jingle Bell Rock." Chloe looks at Leos pathetic, hopeful face. She looks at Maisies terrified one. She takes a deep breath. CHLOE (Gritting her teeth) Fine. But you are my accidental Christmas husband. And this marriage is over in 48 hours. They turn to face the "altar." CUT TO: SCENE 2: LIVING ROOM - NIGHT A cozy but modern apartment. The tree is up but bare of ornaments. Chloe is in her pajamas, pacing. LEO (Sitting on the couch) So were legally married. The clerk was very efficient. I think she was in a hurry to get to her office party. CHLOE (Waving a piece of paper) This is not a real marriage. Its a "Week-Until-Annulment." My lawyer friend has the paperwork drawn up. LEO I know. I get it. Im a drifter, youre a control freak. Were oil and water. CHLOE Youre an irresponsible mess who stumbles into weddings. LEO And youre a Grinch who cant get a string of lights to work. They glare at each other. Then, his stomach rumbles loudly. LEO Sorry. I missed lunch. Chloe sighs. She goes to the kitchen and pulls out a container of leftover lasagna. CHLOE Fine. But youre sleeping on the couch. LEO (Taking the food) Deal. He takes a bite. His eyes widen. LEO Wow. This is really good. Did you make this? CHLOE (Defensively) No. I ordered it from the place down the street. I dont cook. LEO (A small smile) Neither do I. I live on airport food and adventure snacks. For a second, the tension breaks. Its almost a moment of peace. The snow falls softly outside the window. CLOSE ON: Chloes empty, undecorated tree. A single, sad ornament on the floor. FADE OUT. To Be Continued... (If you want, I can write a scene 3 or 4 about them trying to "play couple" at a holiday party, or Leo decorating the tree, leading to a very different kind of Christmas morning.)