Notting Hill Page #11

WILLIAM:

You do?

It's a difficult moment -- defining where they stand.

ANNA:

As far as they're concerned I do. And

now tomorrow there'll be pictures of

you in every newspapers from here to

Timbuktu.

WILLIAM:

I know, I know -- but... just -- let's

stay calm...

ANNA:

You can stay calm -- it's the perfect

situation for you -- minimum input,

maximum publicity. Everyone you ever

bump into will know. 'Well done you --

you slept with that actress -- we've

seen the pictures.'

WILLIAM:

That's spectacularly unfair.

ANNA:

Who knows, it may even help business.

Buy a boring book about Egypt from the

guy who screwed Anna Scott.

She heads out.

INT. STAIRS/LIVING ROOM - DAY

WILLIAM:

Now stop. Stop. I beg you -- calm down.

Have a cup of tea.

ANNA:

I don't want a goddamn cup of tea. I

want to go home.

The doorbell goes.

WILLIAM:

Spike, check who that is... and for

God's sake put some clothes on.

Spike leans merrily out of the window.

SPIKE:

Looks like a chauffeur to me.

INT. WILLIAM'S KITCHEN/CORRIDOR - DAY

They move from the kitchen into the corridor.

ANNA:

And remember -- Spike owes you an

expensive dinner. Or holiday --

depending if he's got the brains to get

the going rate on betrayal.

WILLIAM:

That's not true. And wait a minute...

this is crazy behavior. Can't we just

laugh about this? Seriously -- in the

huge sweep of things, this stuff

doesn't matter.

SPIKE:

What he's going to say next is -- there

are people starving in the Sudan.

WILLIAM:

Well, there are. And we don't need to

go anywhere near that far. My best

friend slipped -- she slipped down-

stairs, cracked her back and she's in a

wheelchair for the rest of her life.

All I'm asking for is a normal amount

of perspective.

ANNA:

You're right:
of course, you're right.

It's just that I've dealt with this

garbage for ten years now -- you've had

it for ten minutes. Our perspectives

are different.

WILLIAM:

I mean -- today's newspapers will be

lining tomorrow's waste paper bins.

ANNA:

Excuse me?

WILLIAM:

Well, you know -- it's just one day.

Today's papers will all have been

thrown away tomorrow.

ANNA:

You really don't get it. This story

gets filed. Every time anyone writes

anything about me -- they'll dig up

these photos. Newspapers last forever.

I'll regret this forever.

He takes this in. That's the end.

WILLIAM:

Right. Fine. I will do the opposite,

if it's all right by you -- and always be

glad you came. But you're right -- you

probably better go.

She looks at him. The doorbell goes again. She opens the door.

Massive noise and photos. Outside are her people, including

Karen, a chauffeur, two bodyguards. And then the door is shut

and they're all gone. Silence.

INT. WILLIAM'S KITCHEN/CORRIDOR - DAY

Spike and William sitting there. Pause.

WILLIAM:

Was it you?

SPIKE:

I suppose I might have told one or two

people down the pub.

WILLIAM:

Right.

He puts his head in his hands. It's over now.

EXT. LONDON - DAY

As full, sad music plays -- William begins to walk through

Notting Hill.

This walk takes six months... as he walks, the seasons actually

and magically change, from summer, through autumn and winter,

back into spring...

First it is summer -- summer fruits and flowers -- a six-month

pregnant woman -- Honey with another leather-jacket boyfriend.

As he walks on the rain starts to fall -- he turns up his coat

collar -- umbrellas appear. Followed by winter coats --

chestnuts roasting -- Christmas trees on sale and the first hint

of snow.

Then he comes to Blenheim Crescent, which is startling snowscape,

for the hundred yard, right across Ladbroke Grove.

By the time he reaches the purple cafe, the snow is melting and

in a few yards, it is spring again. He passes Honey again --

arguing with her boyfriend, walking away tearful. Then turns

past 'the pregnant woman' -- now holding her three-month baby.

The camera holds on her.

INT. BOOKSHOP - DAY

A grey day in the bookshop. Martin and William. As ever. A

feeling that things in there ever change.

Ten seconds pass. Honey rushes in. Spike, still feeling in

disgrace, comes in with her but lingers in the doorway.

HONEY:

Have we got something for you.

Something which will make you love me so

much you'll want to hug me every single

day for the rest of my life.

WILLIAM:

Blimey. What's that?

HONEY:

The phone number of Anna Scott's agent

in London and her agent in New York.

You can ring her. You think about her

all the time -- now you can ring her!

WILLIAM:

Well, thanks, that's great.

HONEY:

It is great, isn't it. See you tonight.

Hey, Marty-- sexy cardy.

And she rushes out. William looks at the piece of paper, folds

it and then places it gently in the garbage bin.

INT. TONY'S RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Bella bangs a spoon on a wine bottle. All the friends are

gathered in the restaurant.

BELLA:

I have a little speech to make -- I won't

stand up because I can't... be bothered.

Exactly a year ago today, this man here

started the finest restaurant in London.

TONY:

Thank you very much.

BELLA:

Unfortunately -- no one ever came to eat

here.

TONY:

A tiny hiccough.

BELLA:

And so we must face the fact that from

next week, we have to find somewhere

near to eat.

Tony's brave face breaks. The dream is over.

BELLA:

I just want to say to Tony -- don't take

it personally. The more I think about

things, the more I see no rhyme or reason

in life -- no one knows why some things

work out, and some things don't -- why

some of us get lucky -- and some of us...

BERNIE:

... get fired.

BELLA:

No!

BERNIE:

Yes, they're shifting the whole outfit

much more towards the trading side --

and of course...

(he owns up)

I was total crap.

They're all rather stunned.

TONY:

So we go down together! A toast to

Bernie -- the worst stockbroker in the

whole world!

They toast him.

HONEY:

Since it's an evening of announcements

... I've also got one, Ahm... I've

decided to get engaged.

Total bewilderment from the others.

HONEY:

I've found myself a nice, slightly odd

looking bloke who I know is going to

make me happy for the rest of my life.

Special cut to Bernie -- the shot shows he had special feelings

for Honey.

WILLIAM:

Wait a minute -- I'm your brother and I

don't know anything about this.

MAX:

Is it someone we know?

HONEY:

Yes. I will keep you informed.

As she sits down, Honey leans towards Spike and whispers.

HONEY:

By the way -- it's you.

SPIKE:

Me?

HONEY:

Yes. What do you think?

SPIKE:

Well, yes. Groovy.

MAX:

Any more announcements?

WILLIAM:

Yes -- I feel I must apologize to

everyone for my behavior for the last

six months. I have, as you know, been

slightly down in the mouth.

MAX:

There's an understatement. There are

dead people on better form.

WILLIAM:

But I wish to make it clear I've turned

a corner and henceforward intend to be

impressively happy.

INT. TONY'S RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Two hours later. They've had a very good time. There's been a

chocolate cake. Lots of alcohol. Tony is playing 'Blue Moon'

on the piano, and Bernie joins him, singing.

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