As Good as It Gets Page #15

SIMON:

Ah, this is Simon... I'm here in

town...

(he waits)

... and, folks, you haven't come

home later than 10 in your lives.

Please pick up -- really...

Okay... I'm going to call again in

the morning. I need to see you.

Or, at least get you to answer the

phone.

He hangs up. His parents want no part of him and he

needs help.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - CAROL'S ROOM - NIGHT

As Carol enters with some energy. We FOLLOW her as she

goes into her room -- takes her suitcase, begins throwing

things in.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - SIMON'S ROOM - NIGHT

SIMON:

Hello... Hello???

Carol thrusts open the door and enters...

SIMON:

Was this supposed to be your room?

CAROL:

Our room. I don't want to see him

and he's not going to come

knocking on your door.

Simon struggles with his shirt -- she helps him,

inadvertently venting some anger as she does so.

SIMON:

Can you not be violent?

CAROL:

I don't think so. You need help

with the pants?

SIMON:

(emphatically)

No!!!

CAROL:

I'm going to take a big bath and

order a big meal.

SIMON:

Uh-huh...

CAROL:

I'm sorry... are you okay?

SIMON:

Well, considering everything's

horrible and tomorrow I have to

face my parents... Don't ask me

... I'm sick of my own complaints

... got to get me a new set of

thoughts.

CAROL:

Why? What have you been thinking

about?

SIMON:

How to die, mostly.

CAROL:

Can you believe in our little mix

you're the good roommate.

Simon laughs -- as she crosses to the bathroom and begins

to prepare a bath.

SIMON:

(turning off the light)

Good night.

CAROL:

Good night.

We are ON Simon settling in for sleep, when instinct or

sounds or the faint glow of hope turns him so that he

faces the bathroom and we have...

SIMON'S POV

Carol sitting at tub's edge -- a towel around her and now

as Simon looks at the bathing beauty she adjusts her hair

-- the towel falls -- a better than perfect breast

exposed...

BACK TO SCENE:

SIMON:

(a whisper)

Hold it.

He leaves the bed.

ANGLES ON HOTEL DESK

What's he up to... he takes the blotter from the desk set

and a pen from his jacket pocket which hangs on the chair

and with vigor and faint pain moves to the other side of

the bed where he turns on the light and stares at Carol.

SIMON:

I've got to sketch you.

CAROL:

No... Absolutely not. I'm shyer

than you think. I give the wrong

impression sometimes and...

SIMON:

I haven't even been thinking about

sketching for weeks.

CAROL:

Stop staring. Do a vase.

SIMON:

But you're beautiful... your skin

glows.

CAROL:

Thanks. But I just want to take a

bath and...

SIMON:

That long neck -- the line of

you... you're porcelain... your

back goes on forever. You're

classic... you're why cavemen

chiseled on walls...

CAROL:

All right, cut me a break.

Simon's pen moves across the blotter -- Carol sees him

earnestly engrossed, a beat of indecision and then shyly

but deliberately she lowers the towel. He's right.

She's breathtaking.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

Melvin sits alone, nursing a drink. He's been talking to

the bartender.

MELVIN:

So then, the next thing I know,

she's sitting right next to me,

and then, well, it's not right to

go into the details, but I screwed

up. I got nervous. I said the

wrong thing and if I hadn't, I

could be in bed now with a woman

who if you could make her smile

you got a life. Instead, I'm here

with you, no offense, a moron

pushing the last legal drug.

He sits there, just another Joe on a bar stool with his

heart breaking.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - SIMON'S ROOM - CLOSE ON SIMON - NIGHT

He's excited -- smiling... We hear Carol -- also revved.

CAROL (O.S.)

I don't care how you put it --

We're being naughty here, pal.

FULL SHOT:

Carol holding a pose for Simon... He is holding a

ballpoint over the back of a hotel desk blotter. His

style cramped by his cast.

SIMON:

No. No. This is great, this is

so great. I can't get the angle

with this cast.

He struggles with the cast, and then decides to struggle

no more. Summoning remarkable strength, he rips a piece

from the cast, freeing his hand -- he roars ironically --

a lion's roar of liberation. He is back at his center.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Melvin is having a room service breakfast.

The door opens... Simon enters. A new Simon -- better

than ever, clearly happy -- a morning-after glow.

MELVIN:

Did you have sex with her?

Carol follows his out. Her arms are filled with the

hotel soaps, shampoos, etc.

MELVIN:

Sorry, didn't realize she was

right there.

(a beat)

Did you have sex with her?

CAROL:

To hell with sex.

Carol looks at Melvin -- he can't meet her gaze.

CAROL:

We held each other. It was better

than sex. What I need he gave me

great.

SIMON:

I just love her.

(beat)

How're you doing?

Melvin reacts.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - DAY

Simon finishes dialing the phone... a brief wait, then:

SIMON:

Hello, hi, Mom -- I can barely

hear you. Do you have to whisper?

No -- don't apologize -- it was

the luckiest thing for all of us

that you didn't answer last

night... I can't hear you... okay,

dear, just listen to me then.

ON MELVIN AND CAROL

Melvin has been reduced to straight talk as Carol brings

the bathroom bounty into the room and begins to put it in

her suitcase.

MELVIN:

I get why you're angry. It's no

snap to explain why I was like

that, but let's not try to do it

on the run...

SIMON:

... so Mom. Truly no grudges --

truly. A little odd that you

didn't come to see me when you

heard I was hurt, but the

important thing I want you to know

is your son is happy. I'm working

again. I'll make do -- I don't

want a thing. Wouldn't take it if

it was offered. I'll drop you a

note from wherever I land and then

it's up to you. I hope we patch

things up but know that if we

don't, I wish you both the very

best... I can't hear you. You

heard me, though, right? Good --

take good care. 'Bye.

He hangs up, totally satisfied with himself and rips over

to Carol and Melvin.

MELVIN:

... Now he's going to want to

stay. And they'll want to take a

ride to the lake or whatever. So

it's a good five hours back. It

gives us a chance to take it easy

and...

SIMON:

I'm going back with you.

CAROL:

But what about...

SIMON:

I'll take care of myself --

MELVIN:

What are you talking about? You

got real problems.

SIMON:

I know. I'm a little bit nervous.

Suddenly everything seems so easy.

Carol, a load has been lifted.

CAROL:

One night with me!

SIMON:

You think you're kidding.

Melvin stalks out.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

The car parked near a phone booth --

MELVIN:

(to Frank over

the phone)

Aww Jesus! No choice.

Carol walks up to Simon in the car.

CAROL:

I got a gift for you.

She hands him a base ball cap.

MELVIN:

(on phone)

Nothing like no choice to make you

feel at home.

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