The Memory Book Page #6

So you're in the restaurant

game, huh?

I'm thinking about it.

Well, you couldn't find a better

place than Vito's.

Sorry, Adoraddo.

Never did get used

to the name.

Way to fancy for me.

Wow.

What's in a name?

Yours for instance,

it's not really Jack, is it?

Jonathan, Jon, Jack.

Call me anything, just don't

call me late for dinner, right?

Sit down if you like.

So what's so special

about this place?

Well, more than the food.

For me, it's the memories.

Back when it opened I proposed

to my girl here

at this very table.

Your wife?

Well, it didn't work out

that way.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Yeah, well, it's a long story.

Well, as it happens,

I have some time.

Hey Vito!

A bottle of wine over here.

It's on me.

Great.

Her name was Sarah.

Prettiest woman I ever saw.

Stubborn maybe,

everything by the book.

But where it counted...

I was so crazy about her.

So what happened?

Well, she had been hurt

in the past,

afraid it wouldn't be perfect.

Perfect is asking a lot,

especially with a guy like me.

She needed guarantees

nobody could give her.

Life's a crap shoot,

same with love.

You close your eyes,

you take a leap

and trust the feelings to last.

But I would have bought her

the moon if she had asked.

When it came

right down to it...

So the wedding...

She opted for safe.

So Jack has been

coming in here for years.

I've never heard

that story once.

Not a clue.

How did you do it?

Trade secret.

Bartender.

You're a bartender?

Bartender, attorney, chef.

You're a chef, too?

He's terrific, actually.

Ok.

You are going to try a slice

of this pizza

and tell me what you think.

One for you.

Alright.

And one for you.

It's hot, be careful.

Mmm.

This is really good.

Be honest.

Yeah, this is your recipe?

It's my dad's recipe.

It's great.

I feel so badly for him.

Yeah.

Look what it cost them both.

Hey, your show is still up.

Until this weekend.

Let's go in.

It hasn't changed.

Humor me.

You know, maybe I spoke

too soon last time.

I look at your pictures now and

I don't just see an old house,

chipped paint, empty swings.

I see you.

They're really beautiful,

Chloe.

The light and the composition.

You know, looking

at these now

after the past few

weeks with you,

it seems like the work

of someone else.

It does lack the full spectrum

of human emotion.

Yeah?

Yes.

Just think of all the people

we've met

over the past few weeks,

the couples, the faces.

It's been quite a journey.

Chloe, I don't want to live

my life like Jack.

Wishing things had

worked out differently.

He knew what he wanted

and he lost it.

It's not the story I had hoped

to hear.

I thought that they could change

my mind about relationships

and if they couldn't

make it work-

No, Chloe, you can't live

other people's lives for them,

you have to find what you want,

what you love,

and live for that.

Chloe, I think I'm

falling in love with you.

I'm sorry, did you hear

what I said?

Yes, yes I did.

And that's so flattering and

I like you Gabe, I really do,

but it's never going to work

out between us.

It's just not.

Because you won't let it.

Because I can't.

Because it would end.

It always does.

Love never works out.

And the only thing worse

would be

having it not work out with you.

Wow.

I guess I should have seen

that coming.

Gabe.

No, I...

I get it, Chloe.

I do.

Um, can I walk you home?

No, I think I'm going to stay

here for a little bit actually.

Ok.

[Knocks on door]

Not you again.

I just need a minute.

I am perfectly capable

of calling the police.

Just please look.

I told you I don't want

to see it.

Now why won't you listen

to me?

Because I need to understand.

This whole thing, it started

out as a mystery,

something to do...

Well, have you considered

crosswords?

It's become so much

more than that.

I really need to talk

to you.

Please, Sarah.

I cleaned the attic a year ago

and found this.

I didn't have the heart

to burn it or throw it away.

I guess I thought maybe somebody

could use the pages

or something.

And now, like it or not,

here it is again.

Maybe some things are just

meant to be.

The roller rink.

You were there, you say?

They still play that

terrible organ music?

I don't know.

Our trip to the mountains.

Our boat overturned.

I almost drowned.

You can't imagine.

Actually, I can.

None of those shots

are in here, of course.

Only smiles.

Happy memories.

Decades in the attic

gathering dust,

where I thought it

should remain.

So you really don't want

it back?

I really don't.

Memories are too hard

to look at.

See, I don't get that.

When you look at these photos-

The photos don't show

how it turned out.

Jonathan's car.

He drove us around all day

hoping someone would notice.

And that's the sweet couple

that sold it to him.

You know they're still together?

They say you two were

the reason.

Well, I'm glad something good

came of it.

Whatever possessed you

to buy this?

I thought it was inspiring.

A real life storybook romance.

There's no way you could

have known, I suppose.

How do you take your tea?

Milk.

It was all my fault.

Something I have to live with.

We got to the big day and I just

couldn't go through with it.

What stopped you?

What caused that doubt?

I didn't believe in love,

I guess.

I wanted to spare myself

some imagined heartache.

So I panicked.

I ran.

And I thought if he came

after me,

that would prove something.

But he didn't.

He was the one who was hurt.

And I have missed that man

every day of my life.

Did you ever tell him?

After standing him up like that?

No.

I chose to leave mad

enough alone.

And you never found

anyone else.

Not another his equal.

So I made my life about

my friends, about my work.

And it hasn't been unpleasant.

But it might have been

wonderful.

What have I done, Taylor?

If I heard right, Gabe

pretty much said he loves you

and you pretty much

dismissed it.

It's because everything

about the man is wrong.

He's cocky, he's impulsive.

He got...

he got a law degree to be

a bartender.

He is impossible.

Then you did the right thing.

Yeah, I guess.

So the whole adventure was

for nothing?

Not if Gabe and I can get Sarah

and Jonathan back together.

Well, there's a challenge.

You think he's up for it?

I think Gabe will want to see

this thing through.

And I have an idea.

So you want me to offer

a free meal to some woman

I don't even know?

Yes, but think of it

as a promotion,

or just helping out

your best customer.

What are you up to?

I'm begging you.

Look, Gabe and I we're trying

to fix something

that's really overdue

for fixing.

I'll dial, all you have

to do is talk.

I hope this is legal.

What do I say?

Hello?

Sarah Lund?

This is Vito Marino of

the world famous

Adoraddo restaurant downtown.

Nice touch.

I've got good news for you.

Your name has been chosen

at random

to receive one complimentary

meal.

Yes.

What night?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes