The Fault in Our Stars Page #4

HAZEL:

Oblivion's inevitable. And if that

scares you, well, I suggest you

ignore it. God knows it's what

everyone else does.

A beat. And then an enormous smile spreads across Gus's face,

not a flirty smile but a surprised one, a real one. CUT TO:

EXT OUTSIDE THE CHURCH - LATER

Hazel waits for her Mom's car to appear.

Across the parking lot, she sees Isaac going at it with a

redhead, MONICA (17), sucking face like there's no tomorrow

against the door of her green Pontiac Firebird. Between

kisses, we can hear:

ISAAC MONICA:

Always. Always.

And Hazel hears:

GUS:

Literally.

Hazel turns to find the Beautiful Boy, Augustus, standing

right next to her.

GUS:

I thought we were in a church

basement but apparently we were

literally in the heart of Jesus.

Hazel smiles.

HAZEL:

Someone should probably tell him,

don't you think? Jesus? Seems kinda

dangerous keeping all these kids

with cancer in your heart.

Gus laughs.

GUS:

What's your name?

13.

HAZEL:

Hazel.

GUS:

No your full name?

HAZEL:

(CONFUSED)

Hazel Grace Lancaster.

Gus nods to himself, smiles. Still fixated on her.

HAZEL:

What?

GUS:

I didn't say anything.

HAZEL:

Why are you looking at me like

that?

GUS:

Because you're beautiful.

Hazel is taken aback. No one's ever said that to her before.

GUS:

I enjoy looking at beautiful people

and I decided a while back not to

deny myself the simpler pleasures

of existence. Particularly given

that, as you so astutely pointed

out, we're all gonna die pretty

soon.

HAZEL:

(BEAT)

I'm not beaut --

A CUTE YOUNG GIRL walks past them.

YOUNG GIRL:

Hey Gus.

GUS:

Hey Alisa.

Hazel isn't surprised that other girls know Gus. Of course

they do. She turns back towards Isaac and Monica pawing at

each other. She hears:

ISAAC MONICA:

Always. Always.

HAZEL:

What's with the "always?"

14.

GUS:

"Always" is their thing. They'll

"always" love each other and

whatnot. Must have texted "always"

to each other at least four million

times this year.

They continue to watch the show. It's pretty gross. Isaac

squeezes Monica's breast like a clown horn.

HAZEL:

He's gotta be hurting her boob.

GUS:

Let's watch a movie.

Hazel is again surprised.

HAZEL:

Oh. Um. Uh...

(yes!)

Sure. Yeah. I'm... pretty free this

WEEK--

GUS:

No I mean now.

HAZEL:

What?

GUS:

Hmm?

HAZEL:

What do you mean "now?"

GUS:

I've got a car.

He shrugs. Hazel has never seen someone so confident.

HAZEL:

You could be an axe murderer.

GUS:

There is that possibility.

(BEAT)

Come on Hazel Grace... take a risk.

As Hazel mulls this over, Gus reaches into his pocket and

pulls out, of all things, a pack of cigarettes! Hazel is in

disbelief. He flips the box open, puts a cigarette between

his lips.

HAZEL:

Oh my god. Oh. My. God. You're

kidding right?

(off his look)

You just ruined the whole thing!

15.

GUS:

Whole thing?

HAZEL:

What, you think that's cool? Oh you

idiot! There's always a hamartia,

isn't there? And yours is - even

though you had FREAKING CANCER you

give money to a corporation for the

chance to acquire EVEN MORE

CANCER!? Ugh. And you were doing so

well.

As she rants, Gus continues to look at her with that smile on

his face. Hazel does not find it so amusing.

HAZEL:

Let me tell you... not being able

to breathe? Sucks. Totally sucks.

GUS:

Hamartia?

Hazel folds her arms and turns away from him.

HAZEL:

A fatal flaw.

Gus takes a beat and then moves to face her, the smile still

etched on his face.

GUS:

They don't hurt you unless you

light them.

HAZEL:

Sorry?

GUS:

I've never lit one.

Hazel turns back to him.

GUS:

It's a metaphor. See? You put the

thing that kills you between your

teeth. But you don't give it the

power to do the killing.

Hazel is floored. And impressed.

HAZEL:

Metaphor.

Gus holds her gaze. And it's at this point Frannie pulls up.

FRANNIE:

Hi sweetheart. Ready for some

"Model?"

16.

Hazel looks at Gus, cigarette dangling from his lips. Cool as

anything. Handsome as hell. She looks back at her mom.

HAZEL:

Can't tonight.

(off her confused look)

I've made plans with Augustus

Waters.

And with that, she walks off. Frannie looks at the boy with

the cigarette in his mouth. This could be trouble. Or

awesome. Or both. And we CUT TO:

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