Notting Hill Page #4

William is puzzled. He slows down as he approaches room 38. So

does Tarquin. William spots, so does Tarquin. William points

at the number.

WILLIAM:

Are you sure you...?

TARQUIN:

Yes.

WILLIAM:

Oh. Right.

He knocks. A bright, well-tailored American girl opens the door.

KAREN:

Hello, I'm Karen. Sorry -- things

are running a bit late. Here's the

thing...

She hands them a very slick, expensively produced press kits,

with the poster picture of Anna, for the film 'Helix.'

INT. THE TRAFALGAR SUITE ANTE-ROOM - DAY

A few seconds later -- they enter the main waiting room. There

are a number of journalists waiting for their audience.

KAREN:

What did you think of the film?

TARQUIN:

Marvellous. 'Close Encounters'

meets 'Jean De Florette.' Oscar-

winning stuff.

They both turn to William for his opinion.

WILLIAM:

I agree.

KAREN:

I'm sorry. I didn't get down what

magazines you're from.

TARQUIN:

'Time Out.'

KAREN:

Great. And you...

WILLIAM:

(seeing it on a coffee

table)

'Horse and Hound.' The name's

William Whacker. I think she might

be expecting me.

KAREN:

Okay -- take a seat. I'll check.

They sit down as Karen goes off.

TARQUIN:

You've brought her flowers?

William goes for the cover-up.

WILLIAM:

No -- they're... for my grandmother.

She's in a hospital nearby. Thought

I'd kill two birds with one stone.

TARQUIN:

I'm sorry. Which hospital?

Pause. He's in trouble.

WILLIAM:

Do you mind me not saying -- it's a

rather distressing disease and the

name of the hospital rather gives it

away.

TARQUIN:

Oh sure. Of course.

KAREN:

Mr. Thacker.

Saved by the bell.

INT. TRAFALGAR SUIT CORRIDOR - DAY

KAREN:

You've got five minutes.

He is shown in through big golden doors. Karen stays outside.

INT. THE TRAFALGAR SUITE SITTING ROOM - DAY

There Anna is, framed in the window. Glorious.

WILLIAM:

Hi.

ANNA:

Hello.

WILLIAM:

I brought these, but clearly...

There are lots of other flowers in the room.

ANNA:

Oh no, ho -- these are great.

A fair amount of tension. These two people hardly know each

other -- and the first and last time they met, they kissed.

WILLIAM:

Sorry about not ringing back. The

whole two-names concept was totally too

much for my flatman's pea-sized

intellect.

ANNA:

No, it's a stupid privacy thing. I

always choose a cartoon character --

last time out, I was Mrs. Bambi.

At which moment Jeremy, Karen's boss, comes in. A fairly grave,

authoritative fifty-year-old PR man consulting a list.

JEREMY:

Everything okay?

ANNA:

Yes, thanks.

JEREMY:

And you are from 'Horse and Hound'

magazine?

William nods.

ANNA:

Is that so?

William shrugs his shoulders. Jeremy settles at a little desk

in the corner and makes notes. A pause. William feels he has to

act the part. They sit in chairs opposite each other.

WILLIAM:

So I'll just fire away, shall I?

Anna nods.

WILLIAM:

Right. Ahm... the film's great...

and I just wondered -- whether you

ever thought of having more...

horses in it?

ANNA:

Ahm -- well -- we would have liked to

-- but it was difficult, obviously,

being set in space.

WILLIAM:

Obviously. Very difficult.

Jeremy leaves.

William puts his head in his hands. He was panic.

WILLIAM:

I'm sorry -- I arrived outside -- they

thrust this thing into my hand -- I

didn't know what to do.

ANNA:

No, it's my fault, I thought this

would all be over by now. I just

wanted to sort of apologize for the

kissing thing. I seriously don't

know what got in to me. I just wanted

to make sure you were fine about it.

WILLIAM:

Absolutely fine about it.

Re-enter Jeremy.

JEREMY:

Do remember that Miss Scott is also

keen to talk about her next project,

which is shooting later in the summer.

WILLIAM:

Oh yes -- excellent. Ahm -- any horses

in that one? Or hounds, of course. Our

readers are equally intrigued by both

species.

ANNA:

It takes place on a submarine.

WILLIAM:

Yes. Right... But if there were horses,

would you be riding them yourself or

would you be getting a stunt horse person

double sort of thing?

Jeremy exits.

WILLIAM:

I'm just a complete moron. Sorry.

This is the sort of thing that happens

in dreams -- not in real life. Good

dreams, obviously -- it's a dream to

see you.

ANNA:

And what happens next in the dream?

It's a challenge.

WILLIAM:

Well, I suppose in the dream dream

scenario. I just... ahm, change my

personality, because you can do that

in dreams, and walk across and kiss the

girl but you know it'll never happen.

Pause. Then they move towards each other when... Jeremy

enters.

JEREMY:

Time's up, I'm afraid. Sorry it was

so short. Did you get what you wanted?

WILLIAM:

Very nearly.

JEREMY:

Maybe time for one last question?

WILLIAM:

Right.

Jeremy goes out -- it's their last seconds.

WILLIAM:

Are you busy tonight?

ANNA:

Yes.

They look at each other. Jeremy enters, with another journalists

in tow. Anna and William stand and shake hands formally.

ANNA:

Well, it was nice to meet you.

Surreal but nice.

WILLIAM:

Thank you. You are 'Horse and Hound's'

favorite actress. You and Black

Beauty. Tied.

INT. TRAFALGAR SUITE CORRIDOR - DAY

William exits fairly despondent and heads for the door. Tarquin

is in the corridor calling on his mobile phone.

TARQUIN:

How was she?

WILLIAM:

Fabulous.

TARQUIN:

Wait a minute -- she took your

grandmother's flowers?

William can't think his way out of this.

WILLIAM:

Yes. That's right. B*tch.

He turns to go, but is accosted by Karen.

KAREN:

If you'd like to come with me we can

rush you through the others.

WILLIAM:

The others?

INT. RITZ INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

KAREN:

Mr. Thacker's from 'Horse and Hound.'

A forty-year-old actor with great presence warmly shakes

William's hand.

MALE LEAD:

Pleased to meet you. Did you like the

film?

WILLIAM:

Ah... yes, enormously.

MALE LEAD:

Well, fire away.

WILLIAM:

Right, right. Ahm -- did you enjoy

making the film?

MALE LEAD:

I did.

WILLIAM:

Any bit in particular?

MALE LEAD:

Well, you tell me which bit you liked

most -- and I'll tell you if I enjoyed

making it.

WILLIAM:

Ahm right, right, I liked the bit in

space very much. Did you enjoy

making that bit?

INT. RITZ INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

Same room same seat, minutes later, with a monolingual foreign

actor and an interpreter.

WILLIAM:

Did you identify with the character

you were playing?

INTERPRETER:

Te identicaste con el personaje que

interpretabas?

FOREIGN ACTOR:

No.

INTERPRETER:

No.

WILLIAM:

Ah. Why not?

INTERPRETER:

Por que no?

FOREIGN ACTOR:

Porque es un robot carnivoro

psicopata.

INTERPRETER:

Because he is playing a psychopathic

flesh-eating robot.

WILLIAM:

Classic.

INT. RITZ INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

And now William is sitting opposite an eleven-year-old American

girl.

WILLIAM:

Is this your first film?

GIRL:

No -- it's my 22nd.

WILLIAM:

Of course it is. Any favourite among

the 22?

GIRL:

Working with Leonardo.

WILLIAM:

Da Vinci?

GIRL:

Di Caprio.

WILLIAM:

Of course. And is he your favourite

Italian film director?

INT. RITZ CORRIDOR - DAY

William emerges traumatized into the corridor. It is full of

camera crews. And there is Karen.

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