Sweet November Page #15

SARA:

How does vegan turkey sound?

NELSON:

Vile. Come on, let's keep Ernie.

SARA:

Nope. He got placed, he goes.

NELSON:

But you love this little monster.

He doesn't notice that as she sets a book down, she

doubles back, holding her stomach as if nauseated.

SARA:

There's another one coming soon,

I'll love him.

NELSON:

Cold, heartless woman.

She smiles thinly, the wave of nausea passes and sheresumes perusing the books. Forces herself to sound

bright.

(CONTINUED)

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SARA:

How does turkey with Cajun oysterstuffing sound?

NELSON:

Ordering sounds better.

SARA:

You can't order Thanksgivingdinner, this is one time in life

when it's good to be trad.

NELSON:

In that case, are you invitingyour family?

SARA:

No. Holiday fights are a littletoo traditional for my taste ifyou know what I mean.

NELSON:

What do you guys fight about?

SARA:

Money, religion, sex, Sara'sdecisions, Sara's 'unconventional

lifestyle.' They think I'm afreak.

NELSON:

You are a freak.

SARA:

(shrugs)

Anyway, boring subject.

The truth is she feels too shitty to talk, turns her headfrom him to hide another wave of nausea.

NELSON:

I'm sure they miss you.

SARA:

I know they do.

She slams the book shut to indicate: end of

conversation.

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

You know, there's a good traditioncalled making up. Try it.

SARA:

Some day I'll have to.

Someone KNOCKS on the door.

to be alone, she pleads.

Becoming more upset, anxious

SARA:

Nelson, will you walk down withhim, please?

Sure.

NELSON:

Come on, boy.

As Ernie trots off with him, Nelson opens the door,

revealing a BURLY MAN.

BURLY MAN:

The password is 'Mentos... Freshand Full of Life.'

What else?

NELSON:

The Man forces a smile and gives the thumbs-up sign.

Nelson hands him Ernie's leash and follows them out.

moment the door shuts, Sara rushes into the bathroom.

The

100 EXT. SARA'S BUILDING - DAY 100

The Burly Man exits with Ernie, followed by Nelson. As

the Man leads Ernie toward his van, Ernie keeps peeringback at Nelson who meekly waves, genuinely sad.

ABNER (O.S.)

Why can't she keep one, for achange?

Nelson looks down to find Abner, wearing his balaclavaand holding his skateboard.

NELSON:

Guess she helps more this way.

The two of them stand there watching the van pull away.

ABNER:

I've been thinking aboutsomething.

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

You have? Glad to hear it.

ABNER:

I'm thinking:
if you wanna adopt

me, you can. Father-Son Day's onMonday. It would be goodtiming.

NELSON:

I don't quite know what to say,

Abner.

Sensing rejection, Abner looks away. Nearby, Al andOsiris are changing the window display in theirbookstore.

NELSON:

I tell you what. I can't adoptyou, but I'll come to Father-SonDay if you want.

ABNER:

Promise?

NELSON:

Promise.

An ecstatic grin spreads across Abner's face.

ABNER:

Wait till my mom hears!

As Abner runs off, Osiris comes out to check the window

display, waves to Nelson.

OSIRIS:

Hey, Nelson, like the new display?

NELSON:

Beautiful, Osiris. Always had asoft spot for Che Guevara.

OSIRIS:

How's life? How's Sara?

NELSON:

Both are...

(peers up at loft)

Great.

(CONTINUED)

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He slowly takes in all the life on the street -- sees theChinese fruit vendor sweeping up her sidewalk, she nodsto him. In a thrift store nearby, a twelve-year-old girlpractices dance moves, peering at herself in a mirror.

Nelson absorbs it all, feeling something he's never feltbefore: part of place. True contentment. Love. His

eyes roam up to the billboard which was being replaced afew weeks ago. A new ad is up. It says: LIFE IS

CHOICE, MAKE THE RIGHT ONE.

There is a moment, a transcendent moment. If ever youcould see a person have a revelation, it would be righthere, right now. He spins on his heels and runs inside.

101 INT. SARA'S LOFT - BATHROOM - NIGHT 101

Sara's face is wet, and her hands tremble as she forces

down pills. In raw frustration, she pounds her fists onthe counter. Hearing Nelson's FOOTSTEPS ON the STAIRS,

she scrambles to pull herself together.

102 INT. SARA'S LOFT - DAY 102

Nelson enters, shouting.

NELSON:

I have an announcement to make!

He stops in the doorway to the bathroom. Sitting next tothe tub, Sara drinks more water.

NELSON:

What's wrong? Are you okay?

SARA:

Yeah, I'm fine.

Nelson enters the bathroom and gestures toward thelocked cabinet.

NELSON:

What do you keep in there?

SARA:

Nothing.

NELSON:

Nothing usually doesn't require a

lock. What's wrong?

(CONTINUED)

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SARA:

I'm fine. So, what's the bigannouncement?

NELSON:

Come on, Sara, talk to me.

SARA:

Am I okay? No, I'm not okay.

I have a migraine. And I miss

Ernie.

Sara returns to the kitchen and busies herself choppingvegetables. Nelson follows.

SARA:

So, come on, what's your bigannouncement?

NELSON:

Marry me.

SARA:

Technically, shouldn't that be aquestion?

NELSON:

Will you marry me?

SARA:

Are you insane?

NELSON:

Yes, I am, and you should be veryproud of the work you've done.

(kisses her)

I stood on the street, Sara, and

I realized:
This is it. Life

will never be better or sweeter

than this. I am happy. I'm in

love. Everything just clicked for

me.

SARA:

That's incredibly sweet, but youdon't understand...

NELSON:

Yes, I do. It all makes sense: I

want you, I want this life.

Nelson's CELL PHONE RINGS inside one of the kitchen

cabinets. Nelson retrieves it and drops it into thewater-filled sink.

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

Marry me.

He pulls off his watch and drops it into the sink aswell.

NELSON:

Marry me, Sara.

SARA:

You're forgetting something.

Sara moves to the refrigerator to gather more vegetables.

NELSON:

What?

SARA:

We made a deal, remember?

One month. That's it.

NELSON:

Did you hear what I said? I said

I'm in love with you. I've never

said that to anyone, ever.

SARA:

Well then this is a really bigbreakthrough for you -- you canfinally say things that you couldnever say before.

NELSON:

Sara, I know you're not feelingwell, but I gotta say... I washoping for a different reaction.

SARA:

We made an arrangement, Nelson.

One month and not a day more.

That was our deal.

NELSON:

Screw the deal. I just asked youto spend the rest of your lifewith me. Doesn't that mean

anything to you?

SARA:

Of course it does.

Sara tries to turn away, but Nelson won't let her.

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

You said you'd never lie to me.

SARA:

I haven't.

NELSON:

Then look at me and tell me youdon't love me.

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