Groundhog Day Page #22

RITA:

What's the worst part?

PHIL:

The worst part is starting over

everyday. Tomorrow you won't

remember any of this. You'll go

back to treating me like a

complete jerk --

RITA:

No --

PHIL:

It's not your fault. I am a

jerk.

-94-

RITA:

No, you're not.

PHIL:

Okay, I ' m not. It really doesn't

make a lot of difference. I've

killed myself so many times, I

don't even exist anymore. I'm

just completely empty.

RITA:

Or completely clean.

PHIL:

If you're going to be this

positive all the time I may have

to rough you up a little.

RITA:

Wait! Have we done this before?

PHIL:

Which part?

RITA:

You getting me up here, the card

gam e, the pizza--

PHIL:

No, this is the first time.

RITA:

(EXCITED)

Well?

PHIL:

Well, what?

RITA:

Well how does it feel to be doing

something completely new?

Phil looks at her with tremendous affection and gratitude.

PHIL:

Good. Really good.

He takes a slice of pizza and starts eating with gusto.

DISSOLVE TO:

THE PIZZA BOX - LATER

There's only one slice left.

Phil and Rita are sitting together on the bed, close but not

touching. Soft music is playing on the radio.

-95-

RITA:

Sometimes I wish I had a thousand

lifetimes. One to be a great

journalist. One to, I don't

know, go back to school, study

art, or auto mechanics. One just

to take care of all the busywork,

you know, pay the bills, get my

car tuned up. One to be the wild

woman of Borneo. One to be

Mother Theresa. Maybe it's not

a curse, Phil. It all just

depends on how you look at it.

Phil stares at her for a long time letting this sink in. Then

he belches really loud. Rita stares at him, then burps

surprisingly loud herself.

RITA:

I want you to know, it's been a

really nice day for me.

PHIL:

Me, too.

RITA:

Maybe, if it's not too boring for

you, we could do it again.

PHIL:

I hope so.

The clock reads 11:59. Rita grabs Phil's hand. He puts his

arm around her.

They look into each others' eyes. Rita gives Phil a reassuring

smile. She squeezes his hand. Their eyes turn to the clock.

11:
;59 turns to 12:00.

Rita looks up at Phil as if expecting some magical event.

RITA:

You're still here!

PHIL:

I know.

RITA:

I thought you were supposed to

disappear-- or I was or

something.

PHIL:

Not 'til six.

RITA:

You rat!

-96-

She is mad in a playful way.

PHIL:

I never said midnight--

RITA:

You knew I was waiting for

midnight!

PHIL:

But I never said it.

RITA:

Oh, I can't believe you!

(she slugs him with a

PILLOW)

I didn't know this was going to

take all night!

PHIL:

Does that mean you're going?

RITA:

No.

Phil takes Rita's hand. She doesn't resist.

DISSOLVE TO:

LATER:

Rita is now sitting right next to Phil on the bed, her head

resting on his shoulder. She nods off then catches herself.

RITA:

I'm sorry.

PHIL:

It's okay to go to sleep you

know. I promise I won't touch

you-- much.

RITA:

No, it's all right. I'm not

tired. What were you saying?

Her eyes start to close again.

PHIL:

I was saying that the cow was

eventually returned to it's

rightful owner.

RITA:

(drifting off)

Really?

-97-

PHIL:

That's right.

He looks at her, sees she's truly asleep, and gently maneuvers

her into a comfortable reclining position on the bed. Then he

carefully puts a pillow under her head and settles down next to

her.

PHIL:

What I was going to say was, I

think you're the kindest,

sweetest, prettiest, most

wonderful girl I ever met in my

life.

She starts to stir but he gently kisses her back to sleep.

PHIL:

Shhhh. That's good.

(satisfied she's still

ASLEEP)

I could never tell you this, but

from the first minute I looked at

you I wanted to just hold you

close and be with you forever.

iEverytime I -saw you around the

station, I thought my heart was

going to explode. I used to

dream about us being together.

In my dream you loved me as much

as I loved you and we didn't have

to say anything but I knew you

understood everything.

She stirs again but he kisses her until she returns to deep

sleep.

PHIL:

I know a guy like me could never

deserve to have someone like you,

but if I did, I swear I would

love you for the rest of my life.

Rita opens her eyes.

RITA:

(HALF-ASLEEP)

Did you say something?

PHIL:

Good-night, Rita.

He kisses her gently on the forehead.

RITA:

Good-night, Phil.

-98-

C LOSE UP - THE CLOCK

The time changes from 5:59 to 6:00. The radio starts playing.

Phil wakes up alone in bed. He lies there for a moment then

leaps out of bed like a man reborn and heads straight for the

shower.

CUT TO:

EXT. GOBBLER'S KNOB - DAWN

Rita and Larry are in the packed press area, beginning to set

up the equipment.

Phil arrives, carrying two cups of coffee.

PHIL:

Rita?

She looks at him without a trace of the rapport they shared the

night before.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes