Kate and Leopold Page #14

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LEOPOLD:

(taking a ring off

his fingers and

placing it on hers)

I have loved you since I first set

eyes on you. I cannot imagine my

life without you beside me. I want

to marry you, Kate and make an honest

woman of you.

KATE:

Oh Leopold, sit down.

They switch places. Leopold sits and Kate kneels beside him.

KATE:

Relationships these days are much

more complicated than that. Women

today have certain freedoms that men

have been taking advantage of for

centuries. You must have been aware

of that. If you think about it

clearly, it should be obvious to you

that marriage between us is out of

the question.

LEOPOLD:

Do you not love me Kate?

KATE:

(almost inaudible)

Don't ever think that...

LEOPOLD:

Then consider my proposal.

KATE:

I'll think it over but I can tell

you now the answer is...

He kisses her. It's impressive.

KATE:

(out of breath)

Possibly.

LEOPOLD:

(a knowing smile)

I need you beside me. I will not

give up easily.

KATE:

(smiling)

Do what you have to do...

Charlie enters. Kate and Leopold become extremely

selfconscious.

CHARLIE:

Morning.

LEOPOLD AND KATE

(too casual and too

chipper)

Morning!

Charlie is immediately aware that something is not quite

right. He studies the two of them and nonchalant sits at the

table. Kate and Leopold serve themselves breakfast.

LEOPOLD:

(to Kate)

Coffee?

Kate nods. As Leopold pours, they look at each other shyly.

CHARLIE:

(after a pause)

I would like some coffee.

KATE:

Of course. Say when.

She pours Charlie's coffee until it overflows.

CHARLIE:

(deadpan)

When.

KATE:

Sorry.

As Kate wipes up the table, Charlie notices her ring. He

eyes Leopold suspiciously. Leopold concentrates on his plate.

Charlie gives Kate a questioning glance. She smiles at him,

looking both innocent and guilty at the same time. After a

beat:

CHARLIE:

Uh huh.

All smile privately and sip their coffee without another

word.

CUT TO:

INT. LAB - NIGHT

Buried behind open books and crumpled up paper, Kate labors

in earnest.

She stops suddenly, almost violently, and studies the notes

in front of her. The coffee cup falls from her hand and

breaks.

DR. KAY

(calling from her

office)

Kate, are you all right?

KATE:

Fine! I'm fine.

She covers her papers and self consciously cleans up her

mess. She sits down slowly and peeks at her notes. She has

SOLVED THE PUZZLE that will send Leopold back.

She looks up in disbelief and glances through her window

around the lab. Everyone is hard at work. Helplessly, she

stares back at the paper on her desk.

She pulls open her drawer and takes out the picture of

Carlson. She stares at it for a long time. She opens her

mouth to call for the others, stops, and looks at the photo.

Slowly, with great indecision, Kate crumples up the paper.

She returns the picture to the drawer. After a long moment,

she opens a book, feigning research, her mind a million miles

away.

INT. KATE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Leopold and Kate sit on her bed watching David Lettering.

Kate clutches her pillow close to her. She looks over at

Leopold concentrating on the TV with furrowed brow. She smiles

sadly. She takes her pillow and flings it off her bed. She

snuggles up to Leopold. They watch TV. Together.

EXT. N.Y.C. - DAY

Central Park in full bloom, Botanical Gardens, The Frock

Museum.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

Leopold and Kate eat lunch. Leopold scans a newspaper. On

the TV over the bar, Bob Dole is speaking out against gun

control.

LEOPOLD:

Public office is apparently still

the last refuge for the incompetent.

Show me a man who does not want his

gun registered and I'll show you a

man who should not own a gun. What

is a pee-pee girl?

KATE:

What are you reading?

LEOPOLD:

The Village Voice. After much

consideration, I have decided it is

time I join the work force.

KATE:

As a pee-pee girl?

LEOPOLD:

Perhaps not that, but I am determined

to acquire honest employment.

KATE:

Leopold, I don't know if that's such

a good idea.

LEOPOLD:

Kate, my life back home was beneficial

to no one. I want my new life to

have value. I won't make the same

mistakes twice.

KATE:

You have to be patient.

LEOPOLD:

I could conceivably wait my whole

life away.

KATE:

You're awfully cute when you get

causey.

LEOPOLD:

I will not waste any more time. I

must make a difference.

INT. BLOOMINGDALES - DAY

Customers fill the aisles. In the center of it all, Leopold

is hard at work. He holds a bottle of perfume.

LEOPOLD:

Try our fragrance? Would you like to

try our new fragrance today?

RICH CUSTOMER:

What is it?

LEOPOLD:

It is called, POISON.

He squirts some at her.

RICH CUSTOMER:

Oh! I don't think so. Have you got

PASSION?

LEOPOLD:

I beg your pardon?

RICH CUSTOMER:

Elizabeth Taylor's Passion?

LEOPOLD:

Next aisle over.

She leaves. Leopold looks after her.

LEOPOLD:

(after a beat)

Give your mother-in-law what she

really deserves this season. Give

her some POISON.

INT. KATE'S LABORATORY OFFICE - MORNING

The doctors enter Kate's office and closes the door.

KATE:

Hi.

(the doctors remain

silent)

What's the matter?

There is a long pause. Slowly Kate realizes the doctors are

on to her. She puts down her pen.

KATE:

So you know.

DR. KAU

We had to go through your computer

to access information. Your

calculations have been verified and

the final course has been set. Leopold

goes back a week from Friday 1:17

a.m.

DR. PLODDER

How long were you going to keep it a

secret, Kate?

DR. DRAKE

Were you even going to tell us at

all?

KATE:

I'm not sure.

DR. PLODDER

Not sure? What can you be thinking?

You can't alter the course of history

and assume everything will be okay.

It won't be. He has his own destiny

to fulfill in his own time.

KATE:

(quietly)

You don't understand.

DR. DRAKE

(gently)

He's going back, Kate.

DR. PLODDER

It's over.

Kate nods. The doctors slowly leave the room and close the

door. Just the sound of the clock ticking.

Kate sits at her desk very still.

KATE:

No... No, no, no.

INT. KATE'S BEDROOM - EARLY EVENING

Charlie knocks and enters.

CHARLIE:

There you are. I've only been

hollering for the last...

He sees her face. Kate's eyes are red and swollen. She lays

out Leopold's belongings.

CHARLIE:

Kate? What is it? What happened?

KATE:

(very detached)

It's time. Leopold's going back.

CHARLIE:

Kate...

KATE:

Yup. I'll get his things together.

Tell him tonight.

He goes to her.

CHARLIE:

Are you all right?

KATE:

(pulling away)

I'm fine.

CHARLIE:

You don't look so fine.

KATE:

Well I am. It was wonderful having

him here, Charlie. He was of

invaluable assistance to the project.

(she shrugs)

I'll miss him.

CHARLIE:

You'll miss him?

KATE:

I will.

CHARLIE:

Goddamnit Kate, you love the guy!

Kate remains silent.

CHARLIE:

Kate, don't do this. Please. It's

not right.

KATE:

What am I supposed to DO, Charlie??

I can't go back. He can't stay. I

can't let him go. I'm not equipped

to deal with this, Charlie. I don't

know how.

CHARLIE:

Listen to me, Kate. Don't! Don't be

the ice princess.

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