Sweet November Page #8

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59 59EXT. PARK - DAY

Extremely put out, Nelson walks beside Sara -- each holdsthree dogs on leashes as they head up a path. The dogsdon't pull or tug, prance with military precision.

NELSON:

Always a thrill to explore new

career possibilities. How much do

you charge for this?

SARA:

I don't do it for the money.

(shouts to dogs)

Okay, guys, ready to be bad?

All six tails begin to wag in furious unison.

Incredulous, Nelson watches Sara unclip all the

dogs from leashes and swat them on the rump.

SARA:

Raise some hell, fellas, and don't

tell Mommy!

Suddenly, nothing short of pure canine bedlam isunleashed. The six prissy DOGS go insane -- race up thegreen, YIPPING and HOWLING, fighting with each other,

rolling in the dirt, scrambling through mud puddles,

BARKING at babies. Overjoyed, Sara runs with the pack,

clapping her hands and shouting.

SARA:

Bad dogs! Bad dogs! I'm so proud

of you!

Nelson rolls his eyes, checks his watch. Lurches back

when a wet, muddy pooch shakes all over him.

NELSON:

Get away from me!

Another dog barrels up to Nelson. Desperate for a pet,

the dog leaps up, licks and slobbers all over Nelson'shand.

Disgusted, Nelson yanks his hand away. Sara shouts from farther

away.

SARA:

Be nice to Winston -- he's

insecure -- needs a lot of

affection.

NELSON:

I do not give affection to a

hairy, dirty thing.

(CONTINUED)

59

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CONTINUED:

48.

59

Suddenly, Nelson is screaming. Winston has wrappedhimself around Nelson's leg and is feverishly humping

away.

NELSON:

Get him off me! I'm going tokill him!

SARA:

Winston! That's enough! Come

here, boy!

Winston comes running to her, throws himself on theground and lets her rub his back. Sara looks up to seeNelson storming off the green.

60 EXT. VAN - IN PARK - DAY 60

The van is parked near a hose. Nelson sits glumly indriver's seat. Outside, Sara hoses off all the filthydogs.

61 INT. VAN - DAY 61

Nelson checks his watch again.

mirror.

Peers at Sara in the side

NELSON'S POV - SIDE MIRROR

She is radiant, clearly gets so much genuine joy fromwhat she's doing, she couldn't look more beautiful.

NELSON:

in van:
stares, moved in spite of himself. Feels like a

jerk for being so uptight. She comes to the window,

breathless.

SARA:

Look at them -- aren't theyincredible?

The dogs are soaking wet, shivering, waiting patientlyfor Sara to tell them what to do next.

62 INT. VAN - LATER 62

Trying to be a good sport, Nelson awkwardly helps Sara todry the dogs with hair driers. Winston starts to make a

move toward Nelson.

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62

Winston.

my type.

NELSON:

Stay away. You're not

Sara smiles to herself, thrilled to see he's managed tobend, just this little bit.

63 EXT. PARK - ICE CREAM STAND - DUSK/SUNSET 63

Sara is licking an ice cream cone, counting money as shewaits for Nelson to make up his mind about his order.

Her van is parked nearby.

SARA:

Thirty bucks, not bad for a fewhours work.

Nelson's tempted to say something glib, but bites his

tongue. However, he can't help but register a look ofpity mixed with horror at how pathetic the earnings are.

NELSON:

I'll go for the lemon sorbet.

She almost chokes -- the look on her face is not unlike

the one he just made -- pure pity and horror.

SARA:

Tell me something. When was the

last time you spent the whole dayoutdoors?

NELSON:

I think... when my parentsdragged me to Alcatraz for theday, at the age of nine.

He gets his sorbet and they start walking up the streettogether.

NELSON:

Now you tell me something.

Anything.

SARA:

NELSON:

What's so enlightening about whatwe did today?

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

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63 CONTINUED:
63

NELSON (CONT'D)

(as she peers at

him, confused)

Why is letting some dogs go wild abetter way to live than my way?

Granted, it was mildly amusing,

but I gotta tell you, my third eyedidn't open.

SARA:

These things take time. You don't

have time.

NELSON:

No, seriously, it's a question ofvalues. Why is doing somethingfundamentally trivial better thanliving a responsible life, boringas that might seem to you?

She is silent, he presses on. His tone is gentle,

slightly teasing, but there's real truth to what he says.

NELSON:

And who made you the expert, thedoctor, the guru? Why do you haveall the answers?

Still, she is silent. He teases her.

NELSON:

Come on, show me your resume.

Just then, they pass a three-sided bus stop with a big adfor "DIVINE PETS. NET -- America's favorite pet store."

Sara points.

SARA:

I used to own that company, DivinePets.

Nelson cracks up, her timing as usual is brilliant.

NELSON:

Uh-huh.

SARA:

I did. But after a while it

wasn't fun anymore. So I quit.

NELSON:

Was that before or after youtoured as a stand-up comedienne?

SARA:

Oh, I never did that.

4/5/00 51.

64 INT. SARA'S LOFT - NIGHT 64

Nelson stands there somewhat bemused as Sara comes forward

with a scarf, smiling.

SARA:

This will be good for you...

She starts to blindfold him with the scarf.

SARA:

... Sharpen your instincts.

He laughs, oh goody a sex game, tries to grab her.

SARA:

Not those instincts. Okay, thisis the object -

(as he grabs her

again)

Stop it -- I run around so youlose track of where I am.

(as he's pushing the

scarf down)

Don't do that, leave it on -count

to ten and try to find me.

She secures the blindfold and races off. He pauses for amoment, then:

NELSON:

One two three -- I'm gonna getyou! Four five six -- I know

where you are! Seven eight nine

ten.

(pauses)

This is really stupid.

He starts to walk, bumps into a chair, takes a few stepsmore, bumps into a table, a few steps more and he tripsover a stool and crashes on the floor.

NELSON:

Ow, sh*t!

She runs over to him, laughing.

SARA:

Oh my God, you're really bad, youdidn't even get close.

NELSON:

(tries to ripoff scarf)

This is funny?

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64

She helps him remove the scarf, still laughing. Once

again, his flight mechanism kicks in and he wants out.

He takes a deep breath, has to say something.

NELSON:

Sara, you're not gonna be upsetwhen I leave tonight...? I told

you, one day.

SARA:

Yep. You told me. And you're aman of your word.

NELSON:

Don't get me wrong, I appreciatewhat you're trying to do -- crazyas it may seem to me.

SARA:

That's me. Just... crazy.

(sweetly)

What are you more afraid of?

Spending two consecutive nightswith a woman? Or discovering thiswhole thing might not be as crazyas you think?

He is flummoxed for a moment.

NELSON:

Hard to say. I've definitelynever met a woman like you,

though.

SARA:

Good.

He covertly checks the time.

NELSON:

So, maybe I should just hit theroad.

SARA:

Stay for dinner. I have yourfavorite.

NELSON:

You don't know my favorite.

SARA:

Yes, I do.

(CONTINUED)

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NELSON:

Oh, yeah?

SARA:

Lean steak, no fat?

Her sweetness and sincerity get through, even to him.

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