You've Got Mail Part 4

EXT. KATHLEEN'S APARTMENT BUILDING -- LATER THAT NIGHT

Kathleen comes down the street. She drops the rose in
the
trash can.

INT. KATHLEEN'S APARTMENT - A MINUTE LATER

Kathleen comes in, drops the book on the table, takes off
her coat and goes immediately to the computer. She clicks on
America Online. Waits impatiently to connect. Looks
with anticipation at the mail box.

THE COMPUTER SCREEN - NO MAIL

Hold on Kathleen as a tear starts down her face.

She takes her handkerchief out of her sleeve and wipes her
face and blows her nose. Then looks at her handkerchief
and tosses it over her shoulder.

She goes over to the bed and turns it down and slips out
of her shoes.

Then she lies down on the bed, fully clothed. She
reaches
up to turn out the light.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

As Joe turns on his closet light and hangs up his jacket.
The computer is on the desk, and the light on it
illuminates
the room.
Patricia is in the next room, eating matzos.

PATRICIA (O.C.)
So, then the agent asle for $600,000 and I said to her
"If you think I ? even going to talk to you about
paying that kind of advance for an author whose last book
is being used as trivets all over the whole
world, you are completely crazy."

On Joe's face, barely hearing.

INT. FOXBOOKS SUPERSTORE - DAY

As Kevin and Joe walk through the store.

JOE
She was insulting and provocative, the only thing
pleasant about her was the way her hair
Fell across her forehead.

KEVIN
But underneath that disagreeable exterior
she may turn out to be a real--

JOE
A real bitch. Let's not talk about it.
I'm going back to the office. You must
have work to do.

KEVIN
Not really. This place is well-oiled machine, my frend.

EXT. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER - DAY

As Kathleen comes around the corner. Christina is
waiting.

CHRISTINA
So, What happened?

KATHLEEN
He never came.

CHRISTINA
He stood you up?

INT. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER

As Kathleen puts her purse into the drawer.

KATHLEEN
I wouldn't exactly characterize it that way .
I think something happened, something
terrible and unexpected that made it
impossible for him ·

KATHLEEN (cont'd)
What if he showed up, took one look at me and left?

CHRISTINA
Not possible.

KATHLEEN
Maybe there was a subway accident.

CHRISTINA
Absolutely.

KATHLEEN
A train was trapped underground with him
inside.

CHRISTINA
And no phone.

KATHLEEN
And you know how those express trains create suction.


George walks in.
GEORGE
Morning.

George looks suddenly stricken.

George continues to look stricken. He's starting to
shake his head.

CHRISTINA
He got sucked onto the tracks.

KATHLEEN
The third rail.

CHRISTINA
He's toast.

KATHLEEN
Maybe he had car accident. Those cab
drivers are maniacs.

CHRISTINA
They hit something and you slam
into that plastic partition.

KATHLEEN
His elbows could be in splints -- so he
couldn't dial --

CHRISTINA
Or he could be unconscious.

KATHLEEN
In a coma·
Stuck in intensive care with that heart monitor beeping.

CHRISTINA
And like·

CHRISTINA & KATHLEEN
(together)
-- no phone.

They look at George. Still shaking his head.

KATHLEEN
(to George)
What?

George hands them a New York Post. They look at the
cover:
COPS NAB ROOFTOP KILLER

KATHLEEN
What are you saying?

GEORGE
It could be.

Dead silence.

GEORGE (cont'd)
He was arrested two blocks from the
Cafe.

CHRISTINA
Is there a picture?

There it is. It's of a man with his jacket pulled over
his head.

They all look at it.

CHRISTINA
So that explains it.

GEORGE
He was in jail.

CHRISTINA
And there was a phone ·

GEORGE
-- but he only get one call, so he had to
call his lawyer.

CHRISTINA
You are so lucky.

GEORGE
You could be dead.

KATHLEEN
He couldn't possibly be the rooftop
killer.

CHRISTINA
Remember when you thought Frank
might be the Unabomber?

KATHLEEN
Well, that was different.

CHRISTINA
How long did you sit there all alone?

KATHLEEN
Not long. Joe Fox came in·

CHRISTINA
Joe Fox!

KATHLEEN
I don't want to talk about it.
(closes her eyes)
Let's get to work.

They look around. There's no one in the store and nothing
to do.

A pause.

KATHLEEN
There's got to be something to do. There's
always something to do.

GEORGE
Hey look at this.
He looks kind of cute.

They hear the jingle of the front door. They look
hopefully
toward it. It's only Birdie.

BIRDIE
So?

GEORGE
He was unavoidably detained.

BIRDIE
He stood you up?

Hold on Kathleen as the computer sound begins.

KATHLEEN (V.O.)
I have been thinking about you. Last night I went to
meet you and you weren't there. I wish I knew why.
I felt so foolish. (continued)
INT. KATHLEEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

As she types. And we cut from her face to the screen as
we hear
a voice-over:
KATHLEEN (V.O.)
And as I waited, someone else showed up, a man who has
made my professional life a misery, and an amazing
thing happened -- I was able, for the first time
in my life, to say the exact thing, I wanted to say at
the exact moment, I wanted to say it. And of course,
afterwards, I felt terrible. Just as you said I would.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT- LATER

The E-mail from Kathleen continues as Joe reads.

KATHLEEN (V.O.)
I was cruel, and I'm never cruel. And even though I can hardly
believe what I said mattered to this man -- to
him, I'm just a bug to be crushed --
but what if it did? No matter what he's done to me,
there's no excuse
for my behavior. Anyway, I so wanted to talk to you.
I hope you have a good reason for not
being there last night. You don't seem like the kind of
person who? do something like that.
The odd thing about this form of communication is you
are more likely
To talk about nothing, than something.
But I just want to say that all this nothing has
meant more to me than so many somethings.
So, thanks.

Joe sits there a second. A moment of intense ambivalence.
Then he hits the Menu key and signs off.

COMPUTER
Goodbye.

Joe stands and leaves the room.

The computer sits there.

Hold on the computer. We hear him open
the refrigerator door. We hear him close the refrigerator
door.
He passes the den without even looking into it.
A moment later he comes back into the room,
stares at the computer.
He starts for the bedroom, changes his mind.
Circles the computer. He's going to go cold turkey if it
kills him. He sits down. Sign on. Starts to type.

JOE (V.O.)
I am in Vancouver.

He stops...Hits the delete button and erases the
message.
He starts typing again:

JOE (V.O.)
I was stuck in a meeting, which I couldn't get out of.

Screen now reads: I was stuck in a meeting, which I
couldn't get
out of. Joe sits there thinking for a moment. Then he
starts typing.

JOE (V.O., cont'd)
The electricity went out in the building and we were
trapped on the 38th floor and the telephone system blew
too.

He stops and looks at it. Then
he types:

JOE (V.O., cont'd)
Amazingly enough.

He sits looking at it.
Then he deletes the whole thing.
Sits looking at the blank screen.
Then he starts to type again.

JOE (V.O.)
Dear friend: I cannot tell you what happened last night,
but I beg you from the bottom of my heart to
forgive me for not being there.

He deletes "for not being there." Then types again,
after
"to forgive me".

JOE (V.O.)
-- for what happened. I feel terrible that you
found yourself in a situation that
caused you additional pain. But I'm
absolutely sure that whatever you said last
night was provoked, even deserved. And
everyone says things they regret when they're
worried or stressed. You were expecting to
see someone you trusted and met the enemy
instead. The fault is mine.
(continued)

EXT. NEW YORK STREET - DAY
As Kathleen and Christina
walk down the street together.

JOE (V.O.,cont'd)
Someday I'll explain everything. Meanwhile, I'm still
here. Talk to me.

CHRISTINA
Did he say anything about wanting to meet you again?

KATHLEEN
No,Not really.
It doesn't matter. We'll, listen, be like George Bernard
Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell and write letters our
whole lives

-- They go into an apartment building. INT.
BIRDIE'S APARTMENT - DAY A large rent-controlled

West Side apartment. Birdie is pouring tea. There's a
plate of
cookies. Christina is looking at the picture of Birdie as
a young woman,

BIRDIE
Thank you for the scones. They look lovely.

dressed in a sort of Carmen Miranda getup.

CHRISTINA
Birdie, where was this one taken?

BIRDIE
Seville.

KATHLEEN
When you fell madly in love?

BIRDIE
Yes. So, dearie, what have you decided to do?

KATHLEEN
Close. We're going to close.

CHRISTINA
Close.

BIRDIE
Closing the store is the brave thing to do.

KATHLEEN
You are such a liar. But thank you.

BIRDIE
You are daring to imagine that you could have a
different
Life. Oh I know you feel like a big fat failure
now.
But you are not. You are marching into the unknown,
armed
With.. nothing.
Have a sandwich.

KATHLEEN
Well, not nothing. I have little money saved.

BIRDIE
If you need more, ask me. I'm very rich.
I bought Intel at six.
Now, I suppose you want me to tell you who it was,
I fell madly in love with. But I'm not going to tell.

CHRISTINA
Who was it, Birdie? Come on, tell, that? so mean.
Birdie shakes her head. She's not going to tell them.

CHRISTINA(cont'd)
But so romantic.

BIRDIE
But it wasn't meant to be.

CHRISTINA
Why not?

BIRDIE
He ran Spain.

CHRISTINA
Spain?

BIRDIE
The country. He ran it. That was his job.
And then he died. Just as well.

INT. SONY LINCOLN SQUARE THEATRE - NIGHT As
Frank and Kathleen go up the escalator, on their way to a
movie.

FRANK
She fell in love with Generalissimo Franco?

KATHLEEN
Don't say that. We don't know
that for sure.

FRANK
Who else could it have been? It was probably
around 1960 ·

KATHLEEN
Do you want some popcorn?

FRANK
I can't believe this.
I mean, it's not like he was something normal, like a
socialist or an anarchist or something ·

KATHLEEN
It happened in Spain. People do
stupid things in foreign countries.

FRANK
Absolutely. They buy leather jackets, for
much more than they're worth but
they don't fall in love with fascist
dictators.

They enter one of the theatres.

INT. THEATER - CONTINUOUS

As they find seats and sit down. A trailer is playing.

KATHLEEN
Birdie is a very special person to me, she's
practically my surrogate mother.

FRANK
Well she's out of her mind.

KATHLEEN
She is not.

FRANK
I could never ever be with anybady who
doesn't take politics as seriously as I
do.

The person in front of them turns around.

PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM
Do you mind?

FRANK
A hot dog is singing. You need quiet
while a hot dog is singing?

The two of them sit there.

KATHLEEN
I have something to tell you, Frank. I didn't
vote.

FRANK
What?

KATHLEEN
In the last mayoral election, when Rudy
Giuliani was running against Ruth
Messinger, I went to get a manicure and
forgot to vote.

FRANK
Since when do you get manicures?

KATHLEEN
Oh, I suppose you could never be with a
woman who got manicures.

FRANK
Never mind. It's okay. I forgive you.

PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM
Shhhhhh.

KATHLEEN
You forgive me.

Hold on them a beat.

Kathleen stands and walks out of the theatre

KATHLEEN
Excuse me. I'm sorry.

EXT.COLUMBUS AVENUE - NIGHT As they walk uptown.

FRANK
Look, this has
been a big week, you're closing the store
--
KATHLEEN
No. It's not that,
Frank, really it's not. It's not... it's...

FRANK
I know,I know,I know,I know, that was terrible
of me.

KATHLEEN
What? What was terrible?

FRANK
Jamping all over you when I'm the one
Oh, God, I don't even know how to say this --

KATHLEEN
What is it?

EXT. COLUMBUS AVENUE - NIGHT

As we see Kathleen and Frank being served drinks in a
glassed-in extension of a restaurant.

INT. COLUMBUS AVENUE RESTAURANT - NIGHT

As Kathleen looks at Frank, waiting for him to begin.

FRANK
You're a wonderful person, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN
So are you.

FRANK
And I'm honored that you would want to be with
me because you would never be with anyone
who wasn't truly worthy --

KATHLEEN
I feel exactly the same way.

FRANK
Oh, God, don't. don't say that, that
makes it worse.

KATHLEEN
What?(he shakes his head)
You don't love me?

Frank shakes his head no.

KATHLEEN
Me either.

FRANK
You? You don't love me?

Kathleen shakes her head no.

FRANK
But we're so right for each other.

KATHLEEN
I know. I know.

A long beat.

KATHLEEN
Well, is there someone else, or...
Oh! That woman on television, right?
Sidney-Ann.

Frank nods.

FRANK
I mean, nothing's happened or anything. But..

KATHLEEN
Oh Frank. Is she a Republican?

FRANK
I can't help myself.

Kathleen pats him.

FRANK (cont'd)
What about you? Is, is there someone else?

KATHLEEN
No. But, but there is the dream of someone else.
Somewhere --(she throws up her hands)

EXT. KATHLEEN'S BUILDING - NIGHT

As Frank, carrying a typewriter, walks out off Kathleen's
building and puts it into the back of a taxicab.

EXT. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER - DAY

As a sign goes up in the window: "Closing This Week: All
Stock 40% off."

INT. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER - LATE THAT DAY

The store is crowded. People are buying stacks of books.
We hear brief snatches of conversation: Birdie telling a
customer she's planning to travel, Christina saying she's
finally going to have to finish her dissertation, George
saying he's been offered a job at Foxbooks but even
though
it's okay with Kathleen, he wouldn't work there if it
were
the last place on the earth.

There is a frantic, rummage sale atmosphere.

Kathleen, busy at the cash register, looks up for a
minute at
her beautiful store being ravaged by vultures. We hear
the
sound of the computer and hear her voice-over:


As a woman dumps a huge stack of books on the checkout
table.

WOMAN SHOPPER
(yelling across the shop to her husband)
Honey, grab a copy of The Trumpet of the
Swan.This is a tragedy.

KATHLEEN
Oh. Well

MAN SHOPPER
Are there chairs for sale. Anything not hailed down.
It's yours.

WOMAN SHOPPER
What are you going to do now?

KATHLEEN
I don't know. I think I'll take some
time. I'm almost looking forward to it --

WAMAN SHOPPER
Well, good luck to you.

SECOND SHOPPER
I came here every Saturday when I was a
little girl. I remember when your mother
gave me Anne of Green Gables. "Read it
with a box of Kleenex," she said to me.that's what she
told me.

THIRD SHOPPER
Could someone help me?

SECOND SHOPPER
She's looking down on you right now.

KATHLEEN
I'm sure she is.

A FOURTH SHOPPER approaches the counter with a stack of
books
up to his chin, and manages to slide the stack on the
counter.

FOURTH SHOPPER
Why don't we bomb Foxbooks.

She starts ringing up the sale.

EXT. FOXBOOKS SUPERSTORE - NIGHT

As Kathleen walks home.

She stops in front of the window, watching the customers
lined up to buy books.

EXT. FOXBOOKS SUPERSTORE - NIGHT

As Kathleen enters and looks around.

She goes up the stairs.

INT. FOXBOOKS SUPERSTORE - CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT

As Kathleen walks into it.

It's huge, of course. With its reading area, and stage,
and
room for displays, and child-size furniture, and so many
books and so many customers.

Kathleen sits down on a little child-size chair,
completely
wilted.

KATHLEEN FROM ANOTHER P.O.V.

And now we see Joe watching her, from a distance. She
doesn'tsee him.

A woman browsing, stops a sales person.

WOMAN SHOPPER
Do you have the "Shoe" books?

SALESPERSON
The "Shoe" books? Who's the author?

WOMAN SHOPPER
I don't know. My friend told me my
daughter has to read the "Shoe" books,
so here I am.

KATHLEEN
Noel Streatfeild. Noel Streatfeild wrote
Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes and
Theater Shoes and Dancing Shoes...
(she starts crying as she tells her)
I'd start with Ballet Shoes first, it's my
favorite, although Skating Shoes is
completely wonderful. But it's out of print.

SALESPERSON
Streatfeild. How do you spell that?

KATHLEEN
S-T-R-E-A-T-F-E-I-L-D.

WOMAN SHOPPER
Thank you.

As she walks away.

ON JOE

EXT. JOE'S STREET - NIGHT

As a taxi comes down the street and stops in front of
Joe's building.

PATRICIA (V.O.)
Kethleen Kelly , I swear it was like her name was in the
air.

JOE (V.O.)
Just like that?

PATRICIA
Every one talking about her today.
Kathleen Kelly, and her situation·
And I was thinking that she'd make a great children's
book editor

JOE
Why would you think that?

They get out of the cab.

PATRICIA
Well she knows everything. She has flawless
taste. She's famous for it.
The salesmen swear by her. If she likes a
book, it sells. Period.

INT. JOE'S LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

As they enter the lobby and walk toward the elevator.

JOE
So you're going to offer her a job?

PATRICIA
What else has she got to do?

JOE
Now that she's destitute --

PATRICIA
Thanks to you.

JOE
I don't see her working for
you.

PATRICIA
Why not?

JOE
Becouse she lacks the killer instiuct.
She's never fired anybody . Look at that little shop of
hers.
Those people have been there forever.
Till... recently, when they all lost their jobs.

PATRICIA
Thanks to you.

The elevator door is closing.

PATRICIA (cont'd)
Hold the elevator!

They get in.

INT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS

CHARLIE
Mr. FOX.

JOE
Hello, Charlie.

PATRICIA
(back to the conversation with
Joe)
You Know , I love how you've forgotten·
you've had any role in her current situation.
It's so obtuse. It's so insensitive.
Reminds me of someone·
... Who? Who does it remind me of?
(thinks for a moment)
Me!

The elevator suddenly stops.

JOE
Charlie, what is going on?

CHARLIE
Could be stuck.

He pushes the open button. Nothing. Turns the key, hits
the
open button, flicks the emergency switch. The he starts
hitting the buttons in every possible combination.

CHARLIE
I hope this thing doesn't plummet to the
basement.

VERONICA
Can it do that?

JOE
No, It cannot plummet to the basement.

He picks up the phone.

JOE
Hi. This is Joe Fox. Who is this? Juan.
Juan, We're stuck in the elevator·
between sixth and seventh floor.
There? four of us --

PATRICIA
(grabs the phone)
-- and if you don't get your ass up here
in two shakes and get us out --

He hangs up.

JOE
(to Veronica)
Are you all right?

JOE
Listen. Call the super and then 9-1-1. 9-1-1.
The fire department, that? right. Thank you very much.

Joe hands her his handkerchief.

CHARLIE
Everyone should jump in the air.

PATRICIA
What?

CHARLIE
We jump. The elevator thinks no one
is here, and it opens.

Everyone stares at each other.

JOE
One -- two -- three jump!

They all jump into the air.

They all land.

Nothing happens.

INT. ELEVATOR - A LITTLE LATER

Patricia is sitting on the elevator floor, polishing her
nails.

We hear the fire department banging outside...

VERONICA
If I ever get out of here, I'm going to
start speaking to my momma.
Wonder what she's doing right this very minute.

She takes out a tissue and dabs at her eyes.

CHARLIE
(trying to figure it out)
If I ever get out of here...
I'm marrying Oreet. I love her. I
should marry her. I don't know what's
been stopping me.

PATRICIA
If I ever get out of here, I'm having my
eyes lasered.

Joe looks at her, stunned.

He takes out his wallet and looks at a picture of Oreet,
shows it to Joe.

JOE
If I ever get out of here, I'm going to --

He stops, he looks at Patricia who is fishing through her
purse.

PATRICIA
Where is my Tic Tacs?
(looks at Joe)
What?

The firemen crowbar open the elevator door.

EXT. 79TH STREET BOAT BASIN - NIGHT

Joe and Brinkley walk out on the dock toward Joe's boat.
Joe
is carrying Brinkley's pillow, his laptop and a suitcase.

He boards his boat and goes below. A light goes on. We
hear
the sound of the computer.

JOE (V.O.)
I came home tonight and got into the
elevator to go to my apartment. An hour
later, I got out of the elevator and
Brinkley and I moved out. Suddenly
everything had become clear.
(continued)

INT. BOAT - NIGHT

A small sleeping area with a berth and a little table,
where
Joe's laptop has been hooked up to the phone.

Joe is on the narrow berth, as is Brinkley.

JOE (V.O., cont'd)
It's a long story. Full of the personal
details we avoid so carefully...

Joe puts Brinkley on the floor, on his pillow. Brinkley
jumps back onto the berth with Joe.