My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), written by Nia Vardalos. Gus Portokalos: You know, the root of the word Miller is a Greek word. Miller come from the Greek word "milo," which is mean "apple," so there you go. As many of you know, our name, Portokalos, is come from the Greek word "portokali," which mean "orange." So, okay? Here tonight, we have, ah, apple and orange. We all different, but in the end, we all fruit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXGnwhZ58c A nice and funny toast that goes right to the theme of this movie.

About Schmidt (2002), screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, novel by Louis Begley. Jack Nicholson as Warren Schmidt: “I didn't get much sleep last night so, forgive me if I am a little foggy. But, you know, today is a special day. We are here to mark a crossroad in lives of two people. A crossroad where they come together and now walk along a new road. Not same road they were on before, it's new road... a road that... As many of you know, I lost my wife recently and Jeannie lost her mother. Helen and I were married forty-two years. She died very suddenly. I know we owe she could be with us today. And I think it would be appropriate to acknowledge just how pleased she was that Jeannie had found someone to share her life with- a companion, a partner. I recall the day, when Jeannie first told us that she's been proposed to. We hadn't yet met this Randall fellows, so we were understandably a little suspicious. Later she brought him home for Christmas so we can get a look at him. I remember there was a big snow storm, and Randall here, helped me shovel off the front walkie, pitch straight in. That brings me to what I really want to say. What I want to say, what I really want to say is... thank you, to you Randall, for taking such good care of my daughter, especially recently, with her loss. Ever since I arrived here couple of days ago, I have so enjoy getting to know Jeannie's new family: Roberta...Thank you for your generosity, for opening your home. Your talent in the kitchen is... Larry, your wonderful eloquence. Sandra, your skill with handicraft is truly remarkable. That item that you showed me, was so very artistic. Duncan, I haven't got to know you very well, but I cant tell from our brief conversation that you are a very thoughtful young man. Everybody else, terrific people. In conclusion, I just want to say on this special day, on this very special day, that I am very... pleased.” Couldn't find a clip for this scene. Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9OHT6EErbY I love how he struggles to find something nice to say about his daughter's new family and how diplomatic he is with the compliments. My favorite: “That item that you showed me, was so very artistic.” He pulls it off, though, and manages to make everyone believe he means every word. The subtext and meaning of the speech is best understood watching the scene that immediately follows – Warren's letter to Ndugu – where his true feelings about his adventure and his achievements in life become clear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-zEwGZ56Bs

I looked all over, couldn't find the clip but it's just so perfect. Last Chance Harvey - by Joel Hopkins INT. RECEPTION / TOP TABLE - NIGHT JOSH So without further ado, I’d like to propose a toast to Susan for making my friend Scott complete. The audience whoop and clap. Scott gives his best man a hug. Pete stands... PETE (MC) And now ladies and Gentlemen. It is the turn of the Father of the Bride to say a few words. And tonight that task will be carried out by the very charming and distinguished Brian. More clapping as Brian stands. Kate glances at Harvey, who blushes. BRIAN Well, that’s quite some speech Josh. Quite something to follow. But I shall try... Harvey suddenly stands and clears his throat. HARVEY Um... Excuse me... Nobody really hears. He picks up his glass and a spoon and begins to tap it. People stir and turn to Harvey. Brian comes to a stop. Jean looks on furious. Silence. HARVEY (CONT'D) Sorry Brian... Sorry to interrupt. Everyone stares at Harvey. Silence. HARVEY (CONT'D) But you see I can’t just sit hear and watch somebody else give my baby girl away. Susan’s my daughter and I’m her father. Not the best, by far, but her father all the same. A waiter brings Harvey a microphone. HARVEY (CONT'D) Thanks. It’s arrival slightly throws him. HARVEY (CONT'D) Um... I should have prepared something but... I guess it reminds me of a joke... Harvey continually knocks the mic against his chest, causing terrible feedback. HARVEY (CONT'D) Sorry. Um... Then Harvey drops the mic. Jean stands up. JEAN For God’s sake Harvey, don’t make a scene. Silence. Harvey stares out at the party. They all stare back at him. He glances down at Kate who smiles back. Harvey lifts the microphone up off the table and raises it to his lips. HARVEY No Jean. I want to make a scene. You know. I’m tired of being embarrassed. (beat) If we can’t make a scene on the day of our daughter’s wedding, then when can we? I want to make a scene. I want to shout! I wanna tell the world how lucky it is to have our Suzie in it! SOMEONE IN THE CROWD Yeah! HARVEY I wanna tell Scott, how damn lucky he is! UNCLE FRED Hear, hear! People start to clap. HARVEY (smiling) And also if he ever hurts her, I know people in north of London. Laughter. HARVEY (CONT'D) Seriously though. Scott, I swear you have found in Susan a bright and passionate person. And a loyal friend. CONGREGATION Hear, hear! HARVEY And I can see from the way she looks at you. From the way she is with you, that she is... (beat) ...happy. (beat) And I thank you and welcome you to the family. Harvey and Scott share a look. The room applauds loudly. HARVEY (CONT'D) And finally, if I can linger a moment longer. I would like to turn it back over to Brian, with a note of... gratitude. (beat) Thank you for being there for my baby girl. Thank you for being there, when I wasn’t. Beat. Brian nods to Harvey, before standing and raising his glass. BRIAN If you would all please join Harvey and I, in a toast. (beat) To Susan and Scott. CONGREGATION Susan and Scott! Everyone claps loudly. Susan shares a gentle smile with her Father. Harvey sits and looks at Kate anxiously. Kate smiles and nods. KATE Well done. HARVEY Really? She indicates to the rest of the table. Harvey turns to their now animated young neighbours, who all sit clapping. _________________________________ Here's another brilliant film without a nemesis character. For me, the takeaway in this example is -- a writer is always the first director. We direct with pacing or emotion, through conflict or resolution. This scene has all five and it's not even the main storyline. Brilliant script, perfect movie. Kudos to Joel Hopkins.

No clip, sadly. 28 Days by Susannah Grant INT. GROUP THERAPY ROOM - DAY THERAPIST Okay, I want you to talk to Gwen and be specific. Pick one incident. LILY You ruined my wedding. THERAPIST And when that happened how did you feel? LILY How do you think it made me feel... I'm trying to explain here okay, you asked me so I'm just... I mean, she shows up, drunk, stumbles through the entire ceremony and after at the reception, she gets up and in front of my friends, my new in-laws, she gives this toast that was just completely-- GWEN What toast? THERAPIST Gwen, let your sister talk. LILY What toast? “Well not everybody can be perfect... LILY / GWEN (O.S.) But at least some of us can try... FLASHBACK - INT. WEDDING RECEPTION - DAY GWEN ...We all know that grown-ups have to make compromises and lily is very, very grown up. So that's what did. She said 'Is Andrew the very best man for me on this Earth. No! And I mean no!’ (laughs) She says hey I'm not getting any younger and he makes a hell of a lot of money. So I'll marry the sucker. (raising her glass) To Lily -- and her little sucker. INT. GROUP THERAPY ROOM - DAY GWEN That's not what happened. LILY Oh, and you think your memory of that day is somehow better than mine? I don't think so-- THERAPIST Let's try to stick with the format LILY I'm sticking to the format I'm just trying to give you a picture here. And she walks around like some victim, like life just handed her this raw deal. Well you know, my father left too and my mother died when I was little too. And you don't see me using that as some excuse to just completely abandon all self control and indulge mys-- GWEN Indulge? LILY Yeah, indulge. GWEN You think I like this? THERAPIST We've gotten off track here. Lily, Lily. Think about Gwen's behavior at your wedding and tell her now how you feel. GWEN Yeah, Lily, how does it make you feel. LILY You know this is just..this is...I don't need this. I have a life.

I forgot to say: What I find interesting in this scene, and in fact the whole film, is the likeability of Gwen is always at stake -- from our perspective and as her own internal conflict. This element really parallels addicts and addiction but it also resonates fluently through the plot. The first time we see the wedding is only through Gwen's perspective, so showing us the toast in flashback is another example of how thoughtfully Gwen's likeability is used to open the iris of the story. Compare your feelings toward her when Lily says, "Gwen, you make it impossible to love you" versus how you feel at the end of this group therapy scene.

Another one I couldn't find the clip for -- a very long toast scene, a lot of it improvised. Rachel Getting Married by Jenny Lumet ...Kym rises with her glass and takes Emma's place on stage. She glows in the candlelight. KYM (for the crowd) Relax, it's seltzer. Low giggles. KYM (CONT’D) Hello. I'm Shiva the destroyer and your harbinger of doom for the evening. I want to thank you all for coming and welcome you even though I haven't seen most of you since my latest stretch in the Big House... Scattered low giggles. KYM (CONT’D) You all look fabulous. During the twenty minutes I was not in the hole for making a shiv out of my toothbrush, I actually did participate in the infamous 12 Step program. 12 Steps. Step-ballchange, step-ball-change. I'm still waiting for the change part. Some guests laugh. Sidney grins. Carol, Paul, Rachel, and Abby sit silently. Andrew moves in towards his wife. KYM (CONT’D) But as they say, relapse is an almost always inevitable component of recovery, God knows I’ve got high marks in that mode! Everyone is staring at Kym. KYM (CONT’D) Anyhoo, as more of you know than are likely to admit, one of the actual steps is about making amends. So I spent a lot of time calling up people who barely remembered me - who barely remembered anything - and apologizing to them for bouncing a check or passing out in the bathtub and flooding their house, or otherwise involving them in sordid activities they were desperately trying to forget. I had to call this one girl who was, I think, fourteen, but I couldn't talk to her because her Mom took out a restraining order. Kym thinks this is hysterical. Paul does not. KYM (CONT’D) Anyway, I did a lot of apologizing to people who were practically strangers so I very much want to take this opportunity to not only congratulate my extraordinary sister, the future explorer in matters of the mind, thank you very much, and her adorable, impending husband on the occasion of their unprecedented nuptials.. but also to apologize to my extraordinary sister, the future explorer in matters of the mind, for... Everything! And I really mean that, Rachel. I’ve been a nightmare and you’ve been a saint. I’m so damned glad I’m here with you and Sidney and his family and ours, and I am so happy for you guys, I really am. So, I am hereby raising my seltzer in celebration of my laudatory sister and herewith making amends. Sidney, you are robbing our dysfunctional family of one of it's most vital ingredients, and it's only member still willing to lend me money. (She pauses for a second) Enjoy Hawaii. La Chaim. She lifts her glass and downs it's contents. There is a smattering of applause. _________________________________ This is a good one for the difference between the script and the completed film. There are a lot of ad-libbed toasts mixed in with scripted speeches. It's interesting to observe the difference between them. The scripted scenes are intentionally used for overarching character dynamics whereas the unscripted toasts fill in the mood of the scene. It would be pretty flat without both. There are some scenes you can write, some dialog you can really make happen and then there are times where the magic comes in the moment, when the camera is on. But we can write the mood, we can craft the tone. It's our job to present more than just dialog, our job to create a scene which impacts our characters.

Step Brothers (2008), screenplay by Will Ferrel & Adam McKay, story by Will Ferrel & Adam McKay & John C. Reilly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BsdwmH2LdU Robert Doback: I would like to thank all of you for being with us on this fantastic, wonderful day. And I'd like to raise my glass. Dale and I wanna welcome you to our home with open arms. Dale Doback: Actually, dad, I'd like to make a toast. If I could have everyone's attention. I'd like to make a toast to the late, great Lydia Doback! My mom. My real mom. Not that lady. My real mom. She couldn't be here because in 1974 she died. She loved hot air balloons and as you all know propane gas is invisible. Well, my mom didn't know that and she caught herself on fire and she got burned real bad. Anyway, to the late great Lydia Doback. It is a lesson to everyone here who is married: if your spouse dies, don't worry, you're gonna be okay cause you can just replace 'em. Hats off! I have to go to the bathroom. Brennan Huff: I wanna make a toast if he's gonna make a toast. I'm Brennan Huff. I'm Nancy's son. I'd appreciate it if you would not look at me while I give my toast. So if you could look down your plates, please, and I'll wait for as long as it takes for everyone to look down at their plates. Just listen to what I have to say. Today will be officially known in my world as “Black Sunday.” And not because you guys are getting married but because someone who was huge in my life, Alan Michael Huff, my father, is not here. He's not here because we don't know where he is. Fifteen years ago my dad had the world on the tip of his fingers. A very successful banker and then people started bringing up stupid allegations, and they found a bag of cocaine in his trunk, and he waved a gun at the airport, and then we haven't heard from him. But I think he's coming here today and point out the fact that this is a fucking shit storm! The food sucks, the flowers look like hell, I threw up in the bathroom... Also, I wanna make a toast to Al Davis, the owner of the Raiders whose long, living motto of commitment to excellence has always been something that I have wondered if I could ever achieve. And I don't think that this union is gonna come even close to it. This is a commitment to idiocy. Have a great rest of the day. I believe this is the first time we get to hear the real reason for Dale and Brennan's resistance to their parents' marriage. So, wedding toasts as backstory and exposition.

*Ferrell

Again, I couldn't find the clip which really holds all the context for this speech. But the movie is on Netflix Instant. After The Wedding by Anders Thomas Jensen & Susanne Bier ANNA It's not traditional for the bride to give a speech but everything's gone so well so far. I know mom's waiting for something to go horribly wrong I'll do it now so that you can relax. My speech isn't for you, Christian, i love you and you know it. I couldn't be happier than I am today. And don't worry, I'll pay back the 1000 kroner. But I'd like to thank Mom and Dad. Mom, I know we argue now and then but you are the best, most loving and the most loyal person I have ever met. And Dad...When I turned 18 a few years ago you had to tell me that you weren't my real father...genetically. You told me how Mom had known another man and we didn't talk for almost six months. It wasn't until I met Christian that I began to understand why you did what you did. You did it to protect me, so I'd have a mother and father like everyone else. I've had a dad. You've been the best father anyone could ever wish for. And if I could have chosen, I would have chosen you, Dad, whether you're my father or not. So I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for today and for everything. And thanks for being the way you are for as long as I can remember. So I'd like to propose a toast to Mom and Dad -- the loveliest couple here tonight. _________________________________ This is a great companion to Last Chance Harvey. Neither feature a complete meltdown, but the awkward moments, secrets and revelations that happen at weddings are a global common denominator. Look at movies like Muriel's Wedding from Australia, Monsoon Wedding from India, Four Weddings and a Funeral from the UK, White Wedding from South Africa, I Do: How To Get Married And Stay Single from France -- in the screenwriting world weddings are made for conflict.