And then the whole thing seems like a study in the fallout after a breakup. Its uncanny how the conversations between Ari and Lloyd on one side and Vince and the guys on the other evoke the atmosphere of a failed romance. Yet these scenes, which could easily be played for laughs, instead resonate with real caring, real disappointments, and tangible jealousy.
After Ari prank calls Vince – or actually just hung up because Vince answered the phone – Lloyd takes over. He calls Vince on a pretext of some other matter, and then puts Ari on the phone. Ari affects a bright and shiny ‘tude, but we can feel his heart beating like crazy. He and Vince agree to meet; he’s got a birthday gift for Vince, “just friends.”
The other huge deal is Vince’s upcoming birthday party. Turtle isn’t happy with the chosen venue, since they only serve liquor till 2:00 AM. He wants the party to go all night. This brings up the question of inviting Ari. Drama is firmly against it:
“That’s why it’s best after a breakup, professional or otherwise, to split the town into even territories.”
But the boys keep planning, working with a guest list of 800 (really supposed to be 200) and he’s over budget by $50,000. (the whole budge was 50K, period). While they are out and about, Drama keeps seeing new ads for Five Towns, but no one recognizes him. Poor dear is going to need some Mylanta soon.
E and Vince discuss the new project Amanda is proposing, a screenplay of an Edith Wharton novel, with Sam Mendes directing the deal. They love the screenplay and Vince is clearly in awe of Amanda, claiming that the two of them have "a sync.” They then meet Ari for lunch and are surprised that he has not even broached any sort of business talk.
Later on, Vince opens his gift from Ari, it’s the script he’d been jonesing for – the Medellin/Paul Haggis project. E’s hackles are up, and he’s haranguing Ari on the phone shortly after. Ari tells him to check with “his girl” as to why she didn’t know anything about Medellin. Of course, his girl, Vince’s agent Amanda, is not happy about this offering. She feels like Ari’s crashing her turf. And we know he is.
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