Confidence Page #18

115.

PAUL:

I heard your friend was back in the

hospital.

LETTY:

Michael. Yes.

PAUL:

I just wondered, well, if this

meant there was a chance for us.

Because I think about you a lot,

and I still feel...

LETTY:

Our relationship meant a lot to me,

too, Paul. But it's over.

(beat)

And Michael being in the hospital

doesn't really change things.

PAUL:

I think I've heard this speech

before.

LETTY:

I'm really sorry.

Letty reaches up to hug him. He quickly disengages himself.

.

PAUL:

I've got a deposition that I really

need to get cracking on, so if you

don't mind...

LETTY:

Sure, I understand.

Paul starts down the path.

LETTY:

Wait. Wait.

Letty runs up to Paul.

LETTY:

I need to give you this.

Letty hands Paul the engagement ring. He takes it and

continues walking as she stares after him.

116.

EXT. HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty walks up the steps to the imposing facility. We follow

her journey through the VISITING ROOM, past families

conversing with patients, to the NURSES’ STATION.

Letty walks up to Nurse Gates, who gives her a quick hug.

John and Bill watch as Letty signs the visitors’ register.

NURSE GATES:

He's in Jamie's old room.

Letty walks down the HALLWAY and pauses outside Michael's

door. She KNOCKS.

MICHAEL (OS)

Come in.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

Michael is in the middle of taping up the same Houdini poster

we saw in his last room when Letty enters.

LETTY:

Hi.

MICHAEL:

Hey.

Letty and Michael kiss awkwardly. Dead silence.

LETTY/MICHAEL (TOGETHER)

How are you?

They smile nervously.

LETTY:

I guess we need to talk.

MICHAEL:

I guess so.

LETTY:

It's hard to know where to start.

MICHAEL:

Pretend like I'm your shrink.

Letty rolls her eyes.

MICHAEL:

Sorry. I'll be quiet.

117.

LETTY:

I think about you all the time.

MICHAEL:

I sure know what that feels like.

LETTY:

And all the plans we have.

MICHAEL:

Yeah, the plans.

Letty looks out the window.

LETTY:

I've been thinking I could try to

visit you at night after work, and

then there'd be more time on

weekends to see...

MICHAEL:

Letty, please.

.

LETTY:

What?

MICHAEL:

Like I've told you before I don't

want you taking care of me.

LETTY:

Someone has to take care of you

right now, Michael. You tore up

the apartment. You stopped taking

your medications.

MICHAEL:

But that wasn't me. I didn't mean

to do that.

LETTY:

Well then why'd it happen?

MICHAEL:

I don't know. I don't f***ing

know.

Letty and Michael glare at each other. Letty looks away.

LETTY:

I'm sorry. I didn't come here to

blame you.

118.

MICHAEL:

I didn't mean for any of this to

happen.

LETTY:

Oh, God, Michael, I know.

(softly)

Why does everything have to be so

hard?

Michael shakes his head.

LETTY:

What are we going to do?

MICHAEL:

What do you want to do?

LETTY:

I know I don't want to lose you. I

don't think I could stand it.

MICHAEL:

Yeah, but can you stand to be with

me like this?

Letty waits. She looks away. She turns back and stares into

Michael's eyes. Finally, she says it.

LETTY:

No. I can't, Michael. I'm so sorry,

but I just can't handle all this

right now.

Letty starts to cry. Tears well up in Michael's eyes.

MICHAEL:

I know. I can't either.

Michael sits down on the bed and they hold each other.

LETTY:

I love you so much.

MICHAEL:

I love you too, Letty. I love you,

too.

Letty and Michael grip each other. Finally, they pull apart.

LETTY:

Maybe we could just run away to

Tahiti and live on the beach.

119.

MICHAEL:

That's the best idea I've heard in

a long time.

Letty wipes a tear from Michael's cheek.

LETTY:

Don't you have a magic trick or

something to make this easier?

MICHAEL:

How about something better? Like a

kiss.

The couple kisses more tenderly than ever before.

LETTY:

I can still come visit you, you

know.

MICHAEL:

Would that really be such a good

idea for either of us?

LETTY:

Just promise me you'll be OK, OK?

MICHAEL:

I will. And you make sure you take

care of yourself.

Michael puts his hand under Letty's chin and draws her head

up so he can look into her eyes.

MICHAEL:

Promise you won't fall for any guys

pretending to be doctors.

Letty shakes her head "no" as tears stream down her face.

LETTY:

I guess I should go now.

MICHAEL:

You should go.

Letty stands up and walks toward the door. She comes back

and embraces Michael again. Slowly, they separate, and Letty

leaves the room. Michael stares out the window.

120.

EXT. HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

Letty walks out the door, down the steps and along the front

walkway -- until, finally, the hospital recedes in the

distance.

INT. CLASSROOM - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY

Letty sits on top of a desk. Children of all ages stare her

down. A few familiar faces--Bobby and Jenny--grace the room.

Principal Gail passes outside the window and glances in.

LETTY:

First of all, I want to welcome you

to MathShop. I have lots of fun

games planned for us.

(beat)

Let's see, Bobby, can you help me

pass out these cards?

Bobby doesn't move.

LETTY:

Is something wrong, Bobby?

BOBBY:

Why were you gone so long?

JENNY:

My mom said you went crazy.

LETTY:

I had what some people call a

nervous breakdown. I wasn't

dealing with life so well so I

went...

BOBBY:

To a place for psychos.

LETTY:

To a psychiatric institution.

.

JENNY:

What's that?

LETTY:

It's a place where you figure out

what you want, and what things in

your life aren't working. You

learn to look out for yourself and

not get...

121.

Letty trails off. She sees that she's lost the class. Bobby

launches a spit wad that hits the boy in front of him.

LETTY:

Let me show you the best thing I

learned.

She walks up to Bobby. He twists around in his seat, trying

to hide the rest of his supply of spit wads.

Letty waves her hand around Bobby's head. The children,

stare, delighted. She pulls a bright coin out of his ear,

and hands it to him.

CHILDREN (TOGETHER)

Wow./ Neat./ Do it again, Miss

Mayer.

Letty puts her hands behind her back and produces a bouquet

of paper flowers. Now, she's got the class hooked.

FADE OUT:

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