The Fault in Our Stars Page #8

GUS:

Have you tried contacting this...

Peter Van Houten?

HAZEL:

I've written letters. He's never

responded. Apparently he moved to

Amsterdam, became a recluse. Hasn't

published anything. Doesn't do

interviews.

GUS:

Sad.

(BEAT)

Hang on.

(turns to Isaac)

Isaac!

Gus stands and takes the pillow out of Isaac's hand.

GUS:

Pillows don't break.

Gus hands Isaac one of his basketball TROPHIES.

GUS:

You need to break something.

Isaac looks at it, then back to Gus as if asking permission.

Gus nods. Isaac holds it over his head and SMASH! The trophy

breaks into a million pieces. Isaac almost smiles. Gus hands

him another.

GUS:

Go to town, my friend.

And Isaac does. Smashing them one by one. Hazel looks at Gus.

GUS:

I've been looking for a way to tell

my Dad that I kinda hate

basketball. Think maybe we've found

it.

Isaac grabs more of the TROPHIES, smashing them to pieces.

Gus and Hazel enjoy the spectacle. When there are none left

Isaac is panting, standing over the bronze carnage.

GUS:

Feel better?

Isaac thinks about it. Shakes his head no. Gus puts his arm

around him but looks at Hazel.

29.

GUS:

That's the thing about pain... it

demands to be felt.

Hazel smiles. And on her face, we CUT TO:

INT LANCASTER HOUSE - DINING ROOM - ANOTHER NIGHT

Where Hazel is having dinner with her parents.

FRANNIE:

Dr. Maria called today. The PET

Scan is set for the eighth.

Hazel nods. This could be a source of worry but she's not

going to think about that right now. She's upbeat. And she's

actually eating, which her parents can't help but notice.

Frannie and Michael look at one another, pleased.

FRANNIE:

I told you Support Group was a good

idea.

Hazel's phone buzzes. "Augustus." She looks to her parents.

MICHAEL:

By all means.

EXT HAZEL'S BACKYARD - MOMENTS LATER

Hazel lays on the grass in her backyard staring up at the

stars. She rings him back and as she does SPLITSCREEN w/

Hazel in the grass and:

INT GUS'S BASEMENT BEDROOM - SAME

Gus (upside down) in bed, a laptop on his chest.

GUS:

Hazel Grace.

HAZEL:

Hello Augustus.

GUS:

So I read it again. And I just kept

feeling like... like it was a gift.

Like you'd given me something

important.

HAZEL:

(TOUCHED)

You're welcome.

GUS:

On the other hand... we need

closure, don't we?

30.

HAZEL:

What we need is a sequel.

GUS:

Yes. We need to know what happens

to Anna's family after she dies.

HAZEL:

That's what I kept asking Van

Houten for in my letters.

GUS:

But he never wrote back.

HAZEL:

That's correct.

GUS:

Because he's a recluse.

HAZEL:

Yeee-up.

GUS:

Utterly unreachable.

HAZEL:

Unfortunately so.

Gus clears his throat, smiles. Hazel waits.

GUS:

"Dear Mr. Waters... I am writing to

thank you for your electronic

correspondence received this 6th of

April.

Hazel sits up. Could it be...?

GUS:

"I am grateful to anyone who sets

aside the time to read my book..."

HAZEL:

Augustus!?

GUS:

I found his assistant. I emailed

her. She must have forwarded it to

him.

(Hazel is stunned)

Shall I continue?

HAZEL:

Keep reading, keep reading!

31.

GUS:

"I am particularly indebted to you,

sir, both for your kind words about

`An Imperial Affliction' and for

taking the time to tell me that the

book, and here I quote you

directly, `meant a great deal' to

you."

Hazel pays attention to every word.

GUS:

"To answer your question: No, I

have not written anything else, nor

will I. I do not feel that

continuing to share my thoughts

with readers would benefit either

them or me. However thank you again

for your generous email. Yours most

sincerely, Peter Van Houten.

HAZEL:

You're making this up?

GUS:

Hazel Grace, could I, with my

meager intellectual capabilities,

make up a letter from the great

Peter Van Houten?

HAZEL:

Holy hell.

GUS:

Indeed.

HAZEL:

Can I... would you mind...

GUS:

(SMILING)

Go check your in-box.

Hazel jumps up as fast as her lungs will allow. CUT TO:

INT HAZEL'S BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

Hazel sits at her computer, Van Houten's assistant's email

address staring her in the face. The cursor blinks on a blank

page. And then Hazel starts writing...

HAZEL (V.O.)

"Dear Mr. Peter Van Houten, my name

is Hazel Grace Lancaster. My friend

Augustus Waters, who read your book

- at my recommendation - just

received an email from you at this

address. I hope you will not mind

that he shared that email with me."

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