Moonstruck Page #21

Jimmy breezes off. There's another table-for-two against the

wall to Rose's front. WE SEE a woman's back from Rose's POV,

and a pretty head of hair. This woman, whose name is SHEILA,

is having an argument with the man across from her.

But the man's face is blocked by Sheila's back and head, and

the argument is too low to be made out. Bobo approaches Rose's

table.

BOBO:

Good evening Mrs. Castorini. You

eating alone tonight?

ROSE:

Hello, Bobo. Yes. Let me have a

martini, no ice and two olives.

BOBO:

Very good.

Bobo heads off for the bar. The couple at the next table

catches Rose's attention again, and their argument becomes a

little louder.

SHEILA'S VOICE

I'm trying to explain to you how I

feel. Every time I try to explain

how I feel, you explain how you feel.

I don't think that's really much of

a response.

UNSEEN MAN'S VOICE

Well, its the only response I've

got.

Bobo reappears with the martini and serves it.

BOBO:

You wanna see a menu?

ROSE:

Not yet. I'll wave.

Bobo is gone. Rose is mildly intrigued with the argument at

the next table now. She tries to see past Sheila, to see the

man, but she can't without making too big a move. The argument

goes on.

SHEILA'S VOICE

I really do hate it though, when you

take that tone with me. Like you're

above it all and isn't it amusing.

MAN'S VOICE

But it is, isn't it?

SHEILA'S VOICE

Not to me! This is my life, no matter

how damned comical it may seem to

you. I don't need some man standing

above the struggle while I roll around

in the mud!

MAN'S VOICE

I think you like the mud and I don't.

That's fair, isn't it? If I don't

care to...

Sheila stands up abruptly and flings a glass of water in the

man's face. She pulls her coat off the back of her chair and

stalks off. This whole operation took about two seconds.

When she stalks off, the face of the man becomes visible to

Rose for the first time. It's Perry, the professor in his

50's, who appeared and was treated in a similar way in the

earlier scene in this restaurant. His face is covered with

beads of water. He pats his face with his napkin and

apologizes to CUSTOMERS at neighboring tables.

PERRY:

Sorry about that, folks. She's a

very pretty mental patient.

The Shy Waiter arrives to assist Perry in drying himself.

PERRY:

Don't mind about me. But could you

do me a favor and clear her place

and take away all evidence of her,

and bring me a big glass of vodka?

SHY WAITER:

Absolutely!

The Shy Waiter heads for the bar. For the first time, Perry

notices Rose.

They are facing each other with no obstacles in the way now.

PERRY:

I'm sorry if we disturbed you.

ROSE:

I'm not disturbed. By you.

PERRY:

My lady friend has a personality

disorder.

ROSE:

She was just too young for you.

The Shy Waiter serves Perry his drink.

PERRY:

(to the Waiter)

Thanks, comrade.

SHY WAITER:

It's nothing!

The Shy Waiter goes.

PERRY:

(Rose's comment strikes

home)

Ouch. Too young! I just got that.

You know how to hurt guy. How old

are you?

ROSE:

None of your business.

He drops his posturing.

PERRY:

Sorry. That was rude.

ROSE:

Will you join me for dinner?

PERRY:

Are you sure?

She nods.

PERRY:

Then I'd be delighted. I hate eating

alone, and it's amazing how often I

end up doing just that.

ROSE AND PERRY ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR DINNER

ROSE:

What do you do?

PERRY:

I'm a professor. I teach

communications at N.Y.U.

ROSE:

That woman was a student of yours?

PERRY:

Sheila? Yes she was. Is. Was.

ROSE:

There's old saying my mother told

me. Would you like to hear it?

PERRY:

Yes.

ROSE:

Don't sh*t where you eat.

PERRY:

(taken aback, then

recovering)

I'll remember that. What do you do?

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