Groundhog Day Page #4

PHIL:

Morning .

CHUBBY MAN:

Think it'll be an early Spring?

PHIL:

I ' m predicting March 21st.

CUT TO:

INT. BREAKFAST ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Phil enters the old library of the house now set up with a

breakfast buffet. An old spinet piano stands in the corner.

One wall is lined with .bookcases filled with books. A handful

of guests are seated around the room, eating.

The matron of the house, MRS. LANCASTER, spots Phil as she

comes out of the kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee.

MRS. LANCASTER

Did you sleep well, Mr. Connors?

PHIL:

(with mock civility)

Like a Roumanian orphan, Mrs.

Lancaster.

MRS. LANCASTER

Would you like some coffee?

PHIL:

I don't suppose it1 d be possible

to get an espresso or a capuccino

around here.

MRS. LANCASTER

(BLANKLY)

I don't really know --

PHIL:

Forget it. This '11 be fine.

-14-

MRS. LANCASTER

( as she pours)

I wonder what the weather's going

to be like for all the

festivities.

PHIL:

My guess is it'11 be cold and

overcast, high today in the low

30's, dropping to the low 20's

tonight, but I'm predicting that

all that moisture coming up from

the Gulf is going to miss us and

dump some locally heavy snow,

possibly blizzard conditions with

travel advisories in the

Harrisburg area and maybe as far

east as .Philadelphia.

(off her surprised

LOOK)

You want to talk weather, you

asked the right guy.

He heads for the door.

;MRS. LANCASTER ·

:

Oh, will you be checking out

today, Mr. Connors?

PHIL:

Unfortunately yes.

Phil exits.

CUT TO:

EXT. BOARDING HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Sipping at the steaming coffee, Phil manages to put on his coat

and gloves as he descends the front steps of the house and

joins the flow of pedestrian traffic on the street.

EXT. MAIN STREET -KPUNXSUTAWNEY - CONTINUOUS

There are a lot of people on the street for this hour. Traffic

is so heavy in fact, the pedestrians are moving faster than the

cars. Everyone seems to be going in the same direction, making

the annual trek to see the groundhog.

An OLD BUM is sitting on the sidewalk leaning against a

storefront. Someone throws him a coin. Phil walks by without

taking any notice.

MAN (O.C.)

Hey, Phil!

-15-

A big pie-faced man, NED RYERSON, comes huffing and puffing

right up to him. There is something about this guy that makes

us dislike him on sight.

NED:

Phil! Phil Connors! I thought

that was you!

Phil looks at him vaguely.

PHIL:

(at a loss)

I 'm sorry. Have we-- uh--

NED:

My oh my! Phil Connors. Don't

say you don't remember me, 'cause

I sure as heckrfire remember you.

Well?

Phil stares, trying to remember.

NED:

Ned Ryerson? Needlenose Ned?

Ned the Head. Come on, buddy.

Case Western High?

PHIL:

Ned?

NED:

I see you clicking through that

brain of yours. Click-click,

c li ck- cli ck, click-click--Bing!

Ned Ryerson, did the whistling

trick with my belly button in the

talent show. Bing! Ned Ryerson,

got the shingles real bad senior

^year^ almost didn't graduate.

Bing again! Ned Ryerson, went

out with your sister Mary Pat a

couple of times-- 'til you told

me not to anymore. Well?

PHIL:

(RESIGNED)

Ned Ryerson.

NED:

Bing!

PHIL:

So what're you doing with

yourself, Ned?

NED:

Phil, I sell insurance.

-16-

PHIL:

(sorry he asked)

No kidding.

NED:

Do you have life insurance, Phil?

'Cause if you do, I bet you could

u s e more-- who couldn't?--but I

got a feeling you don't have any.

Am I right?

PHIL:

You know, Ned, I ' d love to talk

to you but I really have to--

Phil starts to walk away,,but Ned won't take the hint.

NED:

That's okay. I'll walk with you.

When I see an opportunity, I

charge it, like a bull. Ned the

Bull, that's me now. Some of my

friends live and die by actuarial

tables, but I think it's all just

a crap shoot anyhoo. Ever heard

of single .premium life? That

could be the ticket for you,

buddy. God, it's good to see

you! Hey, what're you doing for

dinner?

PHIL:

Dinner? Umm, I don't think

that's going to work for me.

As they continue walking, Phil steps into what looks like a

shallow puddle and ends up ankle deep in wet slush. Ned laughs

like a donkey.

NED:

Hey, look out for that first

step! It's a doozy!

Phil looks at him with murderous contempt.

CUT TO:

EXT. GOBBLER'S KNOB - DAWN

A big crowd is standing in a park-like clearing off a

residential street. They are gathered around a large mound of

dirt enclosed by a rail fence, waiting for the big moment. For

a cold gray dawn, there is the atmosphere of a festival here.

An area close to the mound is roped off for news reporters and

cameras. Rita stands there, a pocket of genuine beauty in this

sea of potbellied old union guys and blow-dried reporters.

-17-

Stomping her feet against the cold, Rita looks at her watch and

glances around. Larry, the cameraman, just looks bored.

RITA:

How could he be late?

LARRY:

Prima donnas.

RITA:

It's just so-- inconsiderate.

LARRY:

What happens to some people?

They're born nice. They grow up

nice. You put 'em on TV and -

bam! Prima donnas.

Rita spots Phil heading into the crowd.

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