Groundhog Day Page #16

PHIL:

Tequila with lime, gold if you've

got it.

Rita looks at Phil.

, BARTENDER

For you, miss?

-66-

RITA:

Same for me, please.

The BARTENDER pours.

Phil lifts his glass.

PHIL:

To world peace.

Rita smiles, reevaluating him.

RITA:

To world peace.

They clink glasses.

CUT TO:

INT. THE BAR - LATER

Rita and Phil are now sitting together at a table, a plate of

cheese and crackers and a bottle of white wine between them.

PHIL:

You like your job?

RITA:

It's okay. I think it could be

really challenging. Of course

it's about a million miles from

where I started out in college.

PHIL:

You weren't in broadcasting?

RITA:

At Bryn Mawr? No, uh-uh.

"Believe it or not, I studied

Nineteenth Century French Poetry.

PHIL:

(laughs good-naturedly)

Really? What a waste of time.

Rita looks offended. Phil knows he made a mistake.

CUT TO:

SAME SCENE - ANOTHER DAY

PHIL:

You weren't in broadcasting?

-67-

RITA:

At Bryn Mawr? No, uh-uh.

Believe it or not, I studied

Nineteenth Century French Poetry.

Phil leans in closer to her.

PHIL:

La fille qui j'aimera

Sera comme bon vin

Qui se bonifiera

Un peut chaque matin.

Rita smiles, entranced.

CUT TO:

INT. FUDGE SHOP - DAY

Phil and Rita are sitting at a table in a small confectionery,

tasting chunks of different flavored fudge. Rita takes a bite

RITA:

This is terrific.

PHIL:

Best fudge in town.

RITA:

How do you know so much about

Punxsutawney?

PHIL:

I like small towns. I think they

engender real community more than

big cities.

RITA:

That is so true! I've always

thought that, too.

PHIL:

No kidding. Here-- try the white

chocolate.

RITA:

Oh, yuk, don't make me sick.

PHIL:

(making mental note)

No white chocolate.

RITA:

There's something so familiar

about this. Do you ever have

deja vu?

Phil smiles. Then Larry enters.

-68-

LARRY:

(irate, to Rita)

I don't believe it. Someone

bought every distributor cap in

this town. We're going to be

stuck here all night1

Over Phil's sympathetic look we hear the song, "I Can't Get

Started With You".

CUT TO:

INT. THE BERGHOF RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The music continues over Rita and Phil on the small dance

floor. They dance, close, dreamy, romantic.

CUT TO:

EXT. MAIN STREET - LATER THAT NIGHT

There is a light snow falling. Phil and Rita are making a

little snowman. Somehow the town looks magical tonight-- old

fashioned, wholesome.

A snowball hits Phil in the back. He and Rita turn around to

see a giggling KID. Phil packs a snowball and tosses it. The

kid throws one back. Rita and Phil both get into it, packing

snowballs and getting into a war with this kid and his little

gang of friends.

A snowball catches Rita unaware, she slips and goes down in a

snowbank. Phil bends down to help her and slips. They are no

together, lying in the snow, laughing. Their eyes lock for a

long sweet moment, then Rita gets embarrassed and stands up.

CUT TO:

EXT . CHERRY STREET INN - NIGHT

Phil and Rita are walking slowly, very close.

PHIL:

What?

RITA:

I ' m just amazed. And I'm not

easily amazed.

PHIL:

About what?

-69-

RITA:

How you can start a day with one

kind of expectation and end up so

completely different.

PHIL:

Do you like how this day is

turning out?

RITA:

Yes. I like it very much.

They stop dn front of Phil's hotel. She turns to him.

RITA:

You could never have planned a

day like this, but it couldn't

have been more perfect.

PHIL:

You're wrong. I've been planning

this day for weeks.

Rita ignores the remark and hugs him. Phil tries to kiss her

but she gently puts her fingers to his lips, stopping him.

\ They enter the bed and breakfast inn.

INT. VESTIBULE - CONTINUOUS

Rita hugs him again and starts to exit.

RITA:

Thanks. See you tomorrow.

PHIL:

Tomorrow? Wait, aren't you going

to come up to my room for a

while?

RITA:

(very reluctant)

I don't know, Phil--

PHIL:

No·reason to end a perfect day.

RITA:

(DECIDING)

Well-- we better not.

PHIL:

No, you should. The, uh, the

poetry! I've got some books,

Rimbaud, Beaudelaire, we could

l ig ht a fire--

-70-

RITA:

Thanks, but --

PHIL:

(seeing it all slip

AWAY)

Please come, Rita. It'll be --

RITA:

(DEFINITE)

Phil, I'm tired. We can be

together tomorrow.

PHIL:

(getting desperate)

But there is no tomorrow for me!

RITA:

(ADAMANT)

Let's not ruin it, Phil. There's

no way I ' m sleeping with you

tonight.

PHIL:

Why not? Rita, I love you!

RITA:

You don't even know me!

PHIL:

(grabs her hand)

Please! You have to!

Rita shakes loose from his grasp.

RITA:

What's wrong with you!

There is a long moment of silent tension, then all her old

doubts about Phil come rushing back.

RITA:

(shaking her head)

Oh, no. I can't believe I fell

for it. This whole day was just

one long set-up. And I ate

fudge. Yucchh! I hate fudge.

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