COMMITTED

by
Carol Watson

REVISED 3/10/04

Producer: Hal Schwartz

Director: Ellie Kanner
FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - APARTMENT - DAY

The sweet silence of slumber. Suddenly, an alarm clock on a

nightstand SHRIEKS the operatic tones of Maria Callas.

A well-manicured hand, nails painted pink, slaps the snooze

button and mutes Maria. A few seconds reprieve.

Then, another clock, stationed on a dresser, broadcasts the

FORTISSIMO POUNDING of the "William Tell Overture." Toes,
also painted pink, swing out of bed and run to the dresser.

LETTY MAYER, late 20s and beautiful, turns off the music.
She opens a dresser drawer and surveys panties that are
arranged by color, from white to beige to black. Behind the
panties are rows of bras, also organized by color. Letty
pulls out some taupe undergarments, checks them against her
nails and replaces them in favor of a pink bra and panties.

Letty goes to her closet and removes a tailored, pink linen

suit. She lays it on the bed. Beast, her cat, jumps on the
bed and settles into the jacket. Letty swoops the animal off
her clothes and brushes cat hair from the suit.

LETTY
Listen, Beast. What have I told
you about linen?

The scolding is cut short by an "Urge Overkill" song that

SCREAMS OUT from another room. On cue, Letty heads down the
hall, dressing as she goes. She CLUCKS for Beast to follow.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME

Letty turns off the alarm clock that BLASTS "Urge Overkill"
from the counter and checks the time against her watch.

She swings open a cupboard to look at cans of cat food

arranged by type. Seafood on the left, chicken in the
middle, then, naturally, beef. Letty reaches for a can.

LETTY
(looking at Beast)
It's liver saute.

Letty considers the cat a moment, and chooses another can.

LETTY
Fine, then, chicken in gravy. But
you're going to have to eat the
liver tomorrow.
 2.

INT. BATHROOM - SAME

Letty puts the finishing touches on her make-up and pulls

back her hair, plastering an errant curl into place with hair
spray. Yet another alarm clock sounds, this time BLARING the
voice of shock jocks MARK AND BRIAN.

INT. ENTRY HALL - SAME

Letty hurries down the hall and turns off the clock, which is
mounted near the front door. She bends down to kiss the cat
good-bye, grabs a briefcase and leaves.

EXT. HALLWAY - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY

A school bell BUZZES. Grade-schoolers, clutching lunch

pails, scurry past Letty, who stands outside an office door.
She straightens her jacket, takes a deep breath and starts to
turn the handle.

Letty is stopped cold when CHANDRA, 7, the victim of a bloody

nose, runs up to her, bawling.

CHANDRA
Miss Mayer. Miss Mayer.

Letty looks quickly at Chandra, her watch, the door.

LETTY
(to Chandra)
Goodness, this is a bad one. Tip
your head back.

She bends down and pushes back Chandra's head. Chandra, off
balance, places one very bloody hand on Letty's jacket lapel,
staining it for all eternity.

Letty, grimacing, takes the bloody hand firmly in her own and
guides Chandra down the hall, coaxing the child as she goes.

LETTY
Come on. Pinch it, Chandra. Pinch
it.

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - LATER

PRINCIPAL GAIL LAUER, 40s, sits in uncomfortable silence with

BILL JOHANSEN, the 50-something school Superintendent. Also
present are MRS. MONTES, who is a School Board Member, and
two other BOARD MEMBERS.

Principal Gail glances at the clock. Mrs. Montes taps her

foot. Johansen clears his throat.
 3.

JOHANSEN
Well, I have a full calendar today,
and I'm afraid...

The door bursts open. Letty stumbles into the room. She
clutches her briefcase to her chest, trying to cover her
blood-smeared lapel.

LETTY
Mr. Johansen, hello. I'm so sorry
I'm late. It's very nice to meet
you.

Letty continues to hug the briefcase while awkwardly bending

down to shake hands with Johansen and the others.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
The Superintendent was just getting
ready to leave.

LETTY
I do apologize. A student had a
crisis.

MRS. MONTES
A crisis, you say?

LETTY
A bloody nose...

There is no response. Letty reluctantly lowers the briefcase

and reveals the stain.

LETTY
A bloody nose of epic proportions.

Johansen smiles.

JOHANSEN
OK, Miss Mayer. Ten minutes. Wow
us.

EXT. PLAYGROUND - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - LATER

A bunch of BOYS play kickball in a haze of sawdust. Chandra

sits on a bench, clamping an ice pack to her nose. JENNY, a
limber 8-year-old, hangs upside down from the jungle gym.

Letty talks on her CELL PHONE. She glances around to monitor

her wards, eyes darting like a hawk's toward the kickball
game.
 4.

LETTY
No cherry drops, Jenny.
(into the phone)
Yes, hi. I'm calling for Paul
Lascher.
(beat)
Could you tell him it's Letty?
(beat)
He can't? Um, well, tell him, tell
him that they went for my math
idea. Thanks.

Letty dials again. She sees two boys fighting over the ball
and moves in to break them up.

LETTY
(to boys)
Not so rough, guys.
(into phone)
Mom? Hi. You'll never guess
what...I've got the best news.
(beat)
No, about work. How about dinner?

Brawl averted, out of the corner of her eye, Letty catches

Jenny make the daring Cherry Drop back flip off the bar. She
blows a series of ANGRY, STACCATO NOTES on her whistle.

LETTY
(to Jenny)
You're in trouble, young lady.
(into the phone)
I know, Mom. But it's the only
place I can call from.
(beat)
Can you tell Ruth about dinner?
(beat)
Paul's fine, just fine.

The class bell BUZZES.

LETTY
Got to go, Mom. The monsters call.

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Tuxedoed waiters glide through the tony restaurant, where the

patrons dare speak only in hushed tones. Letty sits sipping
wine with her mother, MRS. MARTHA MAYER, immaculate in a
cream suit, young looking for her 50-odd years.
 5.

Letty's sister RUTH--early 20s and pretty, with flyaway hair

and an ever-present smile--bounds into the restaurant, oozing
happiness. Letty discretely waves her over.

RUTH
Sorry I'm late.

Letty pours her a glass of wine.

MRS. MAYER
Letty was just getting ready to
tell me her good news.

RUTH
(to Letty)
Tell, tell.

MRS. MAYER
(leaning toward Letty)
Letty, dear, is that a cat hair on
your blouse?

Letty removes the nasty hair from her blouse.

LETTY
So, I got the district to approve
my after-school math program.

Ruth smiles at her, but vacantly.

MRS. MAYER
How wonderful, darling.
(beat)
What does that mean for you?

LETTY
I'll be running it three days a
week, and...

MRS. MAYER
Will you get time off to do that?

LETTY
Not now, but maybe later, if they
like the program.

Ruth stares around the restaurant, a shit-eating grin

plastered across her face.

LETTY
(to Ruth)
What's up with you?
 6.

RUTH
Me? Nothing. Tell me more about
the job.

MRS. MAYER
(to Ruth)
Not a job, a promotion.

LETTY
No, Mom, it's more of a prestige
thing.

RUTH
Mmmmmmm.

Letty passes her hand in front of Ruth's eyes.

LETTY
Ruth. Calling Ruth.

RUTH
(laughing)
Sorry.

LETTY
Just go ahead and tell us.

RUTH
There's nothing to tell.

MRS. MAYER
(to Ruth)
Are you sure, Dear?

LETTY
Come on.

RUTH
No, really. Tell me about the
promotion.

LETTY
Well, my theory is that people can
really enjoy math, but they lose
interest...

Ruth can't hold it a moment longer without bursting.

RUTH
(almost screaming)
I'm getting married.
 7.

Mrs. Mayer's eyes immediately fill with tears. Ruth leaps up

and hugs her mother. Other diners glance toward the table.

One WOMAN IN THE RESTAURANT taps the side of her glass with
her fork and raises a silent toast to Ruth. Other DINERS
follow suit. Ruth grins back and starts to giggle.

MRS. MAYER
I'm so happy for you. It's just
wonderful.

Mrs. Mayer dabs her eyes with her napkin.

MRS. MAYER
My goodness. A wedding. My
goodness.

LETTY
Wow. Congratulations.

Ruth dashes around the table to embrace the stunned Letty.

RUTH
(to Letty)
Can you believe it?

Ruth sits back down and pulls a gorgeous ring from her purse.
She slips it on and wiggles her finger in front of Letty and
her mother, who peers at it with approval.

MRS. MAYER
Tell us every detail.

LETTY
You've only known Jake a few
months.

RUTH
Three and a week.
(screaming again)
Isn't it great?

MRS. MAYER
My goodness. What about an
engagement party? We must start
planning.
(signaling a waiter)
Champagne. Girls, we need some
champagne.

Off Letty's frozen smile, we

CUT TO:
 8.

INT. BEDROOM - LETTY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Letty's in bed, drawing a giant multiplication chart. PAUL

LASCHER, early 30s, handsome in a corporate way, shrugs off
his expensive suit.

He opens a drawer of Letty's dresser, and removes a neatly

pressed T-shirt. He smooths out another shirt he has
accidently rumpled in the process.

PAUL
So, another one bites the dust.

LETTY
It's not another one. It's my
sister.
(beat)
Aren't you happy for her?

PAUL
She's only known the guy a few
months.

Paul lays his folded trousers across Letty's desk.

PAUL
Can I put these here for tonight?

LETTY
(pointing to the closet)
In there's better.
(beat)
It's kind of romantic, don't you
think?

PAUL
I really think if you're going to
spend your life with someone you
want to know them pretty damn well.

Paul sits on the bed, and leans against a pillow.

LETTY
Believe me, I know your feelings on
the matter.

PAUL
The receptionist said you called
earlier about something.

Letty holds up her multiplication chart and shows it to Paul.

 9.

LETTY
My math program. The
Superintendent said he'd fund it.

PAUL
Good going. I knew you could do
it.

Paul kisses Letty on the cheek.

PAUL
It looks like we're both bucking
for advancement.

LETTY
Yeah?

PAUL
Huntley told me today that if I
come through on the Benton
deposition, they may consider me
for senior associate.

Letty hugs Paul.

LETTY
Congratulations. We should
celebrate.

PAUL
I was thinking dinner on Friday
with James and Meg at the Saint
Mark.

LETTY
I mean tonight.

Letty sensually caresses his shoulders.

LETTY
Like right now...

PAUL
Actually, I need to review the
deposition questions tonight.
Maybe tomorrow?

LETTY
Oh, ok. Maybe.
 10.

PAUL
But I thought if you don't mind,
you could listen and see how I come
across?

LETTY
(beat)
Sure. Of course.

Letty continues coloring her multiplication chart.

PAUL
Letty, please, I need your full
attention.

Letty puts the chart down and sits up straighter.

LETTY
Let me have it.

INT. CLASSROOM - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY

Letty rubs her eyes with fatigue. Bobby stands next to her
holding a crumpled paper bag.

BOBBY
My dog ate my turtle, and the shell
went crunch. I brought it for show-
and-tell.

The children perk up at this news.

LETTY
Im sorry about your turtle Bobby,
but you know we only have show-and-
tell on Mondays. Today, we're
scheduled for grammar.

BOBBY
But my mom says I have to throw it
away tonight.

Bobby opens the bag. He reaches in to remove the turtle. The

children TITTER. Letty's on him in a second.

LETTY
Don't even think about it.

She grabs the bag. From outside, there is a KNOCK. Letty

and the students look toward the window.

It's Ruth. She's been crying. She waves to Letty. Chandra

waves back at Ruth.
 11.

Letty puts up her finger to signal "just a minute" to Ruth.

She sets the turtle bag on Bobby's desk.

LETTY
Class, why don't you...

Ruth knocks on the glass again. Letty glances at her

distraught sister and walks quickly toward the door.

LETTY
(to class)
You guys pull out your verb sheets
and review them.

Letty leaves the room. The class watches through the window
as Ruth throws her sobbing self into Letty's arms.

EXT. HALLWAY - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - SAME

RUTH
She says she won't even come if Dad
brings Monica.

LETTY
Mom won't miss your wedding.
She'll come around. I promise she
will.

Letty glances through the window at her classroom, where

Bobby waves the turtle over his head.

RUTH
How?

LETTY
I'll talk to her, and to Dad, too.
(beat)
A few wisely-chosen guilt tactics
and they'll be ours.

RUTH
Maybe if we had them both to dinner
or something.

Letty looks again at the classroom, where the students are

lobbing the turtle back and forth.

LETTY
Maybe.

RUTH
You always throw the best dinner
parties, Letty.
 12.

Letty's attention snaps back to Ruth.

LETTY
Oh, wait a minute, now I see where
you're going.

RUTH
Please, Letty.

LETTY
Mom and Dad? At dinner together?
Are you crazy?

Ruth starts to sob--big, loud, air-gulping sobs. Letty pats

her shoulder.

LETTY
Maybe, though. Maybe it would
work. I could throw you an
engagement party maybe.

RUTH
Really?

Principal Gail, trolling the halls, spies Letty with Ruth.

She dispatches a stern look in Letty's direction.

LETTY
(nodding toward Gail)
You know what, Ruthie? I better get
back to my class, OK?

RUTH
And the party?

LETTY
Yeah, it'll be fun.

Ruth grabs Letty in another hug.

RUTH
Thank you so much.

INT. CLASSROOM - SAME

Letty strides into the classroom, pulls the turtle away from
Bobby and drops it in the trash.

LETTY
Who can come up here and give me a
sentence with a "to be" verb in it?
 13.

ZACH
Who was that girl?

LETTY
Come on up, Zach.

Zach approaches the board and begins to write, "I am..." He

doesn't get any further before Letty cuts him off.

LETTY
Neater, Zach.

Zach begins again, but Letty stops him when he reaches "am."

LETTY
Zach, you know the line by the "a"
has to come straight down or it
looks like an "o."

Zach looks back toward his classmates for help.

LETTY
What's wrong, Zach?

Letty picks up a piece of chalk and writes an "a." She

erases it furiously and works at it until the "a" is perfect.

LETTY
Try again, Zach. Like that.

Letty jabs at the board with a piece of chalk. Zach freezes.

He sees Letty's shoes, her arm, her contorted face, and,
above all else, that perfect a staring right back down at
him.

Letty grips Zachs arm, guiding the chalk to form what looks
like a pretty good a.

LETTY
I don't believe it. You still
can't do it.

ZACH
I'm sorry, OK, Miss Mayer?

LETTY
No, it's not OK. You'll never get
to college on OK.

Letty's fingers press into Zach's arm. A tear slides

ominously down his cheek.
 14.

LETTY
It has to be good, Zach. Do you
understand me?

Zach wrests free of Letty. He's in full cry now. He backs

away, stumbles, then makes a run for his seat. Bobby
SNICKERS at Zach's misfortune. Other children glance around,
unsure, confused.

Letty looks vacantly at the children, stares at the board and

looks at the children again.

She sits down at her desk and buries her face in her hands.
Letty's fists, clenched at first, slowly relax. She takes a
deep breath and raises her head.

LETTY
I'm very, very sorry, Zach.

Zach continues to cry. Letty looks down at her desk. She

grabs a piece of construction paper and a jar of paste.

LETTY
You know what, guys? Wednesday's
not a grammar day. It's a collage
day. It's a collage ON THE WALL
day.

Letty jumps up. She slaps the paper on the wall with some
paste. She motions for the students to join her.

The children slowly approach her. Zach lags behind.

LETTY
And, Zach? Zach, I want you to be
in charge of paste.

INT. BEDROOM - LETTY'S APARTMENT - DAY

Letty lies in bed. The alarm clock BLASTS opera. Letty

fumbles for the switch. She can't turn it off. She yanks
out the cord.

Letty gets out of bed, walks to the dresser and turns off the
second clock before it rings. She goes to the KITCHEN and
snaps off the alarm, then heads down the HALLWAY and shuts
that alarm off, as well.

Letty hurries back to her BEDROOM and crawls into bed. Paul,
toweling his hair dry, walks in.
 15.

PAUL
What are you doing? You're going
to be late.

LETTY
I'm calling in sick.

Paul sits on the bed and puts his hand to Letty's forehead.

PAUL
You don't have a fever.

LETTY
I don't feel like going to work
today.

PAUL
Won't it be hard for them to get a
substitute this late?

LETTY
It'll be OK.

PAUL
But what about that math project?

LETTY
Paul, I just can't go. Is that OK
with you or am I committing some
horrible crime?

PAUL
Forget I asked.

LETTY
I'm sorry.
(beat)
I'm just...I'm so tired lately.

PAUL
Maybe you ought to see a doctor.

LETTY
No, it's not like that.

Letty starts to cry.

LETTY
It's just I've got those parent
conferences, and I'm supposed to
set up the math program by next
week.
(MORE)
 16.
LETTY(cont'd)
And shopping for Ruth's dress and
that, that engagement dinner.

PAUL
You can get out of the dinner.

LETTY
No, I can't. I've already
convinced both Mom and Dad to come.

PAUL
Come on, Letty. It'll get done.

Paul touches Letty's shoulder. She pulls away from him.

LETTY
I don't think so.

PAUL
Of course it will. Remember the
big talent show you planned last
year? And what about the Christmas
benefit when Santa canceled at the
last minute? But you still pulled
it off.

LETTY
Yeah.

PAUL
You just need to get more
organized.

LETTY
Maybe.

PAUL
Let's make a list of the things you
need to do, OK?

Letty nods her head, and Paul grabs a legal pad from his
briefcase.

INT. CLASSROOM - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - NIGHT

MR. and MRS. ANDERSON, over-eager parents, sit across the

desk from Letty, who stares at the legal pad in her lap. As
the Andersons talk, Letty twists a lock of hair tighter and
tighter.

MRS. ANDERSON
So at home, we've started our own
little library for Chandra.
 17.

MR. ANDERSON
We thought it would be a good
project for her to set up her own
card-catalogue.

LETTY
I see.

Letty tries unsuccessfully to extricate her hand from her

hair.

MRS. ANDERSON
But what I'm wondering is whether
we should also be spending more
time on her computer skills at
home. What do you think?

LETTY
Well...

MR. ANDERSON
Because we don't want her to get
behind her classmates.

MRS. ANDERSON
And we trust your opinion.
Chandra's always talking about Miss
Mayer.

LETTY
Oh.

MR. ANDERSON
Just the other day she came home
and told us about you taking care
of her bloody nose.

MRS. ANDERSON
And she went on and on about the
collage. That seems very
inventive, Miss Mayer.

Letty stares blankly at the couple.

MR. ANDERSON
Miss Mayer?

LETTY
What the fuck. It's my job.

Off Mr. Anderson's raised eyebrow, we

CUT TO:
 18.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LETTY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The room is a mess of scattered papers and the math Twister

game. Letty sits on the ground crying. She makes a pyramid
out of the wadded-up tissues that surround her.

INT. BRIDAL SHOP - DAY

The upscale shop is festooned with pastels and lace and lots
of signs announcing "Sale Day." Frenzied women pick through
dresses as "Pachelbel's Canon" plays in the background.

Letty is wedged into a corner, sipping coffee. A CLERK

approaches her with a coffee pot and tray of pastries.

CLERK
More coffee?

LETTY
Hit me.

CLERK
Danish?

LETTY
(rooting through the tray)
No more bear claws left?

Ruth bounces into the shop.

CLERK
(to Ruth)
Danish?

RUTH
Oh, no thanks, I'm too excited to
eat.

The clerk gives Ruth an approving smile as Letty rips into a

sweet roll. Ruth looks through a nearby rack of gowns.

RUTH
(to Letty)
Where's Mommy?

LETTY
Do you have to call her Mommy?

RUTH
Where's the old bag I sometimes
call Mommy?
 19.

LETTY
She said she'd be here at 10.

Ruth pulls a dress from the rack and holds it up.

RUTH
What do you think of this one?

LETTY
I'd have to see it on.

Ruth looks closer at Letty.

RUTH
Have you been crying? Your eyes
are all puffy.

Letty self-consciously touches her eyes.

LETTY
Things have been kind of stressful
lately.

RUTH
But everything's OK?

Ruth is trying on a veil at this point.

LETTY
Yeah, everything's under control.

RUTH
What about the engagement party?

LETTY
Everything's ready for tomorrow
night--except the artillery.

RUTH
Thanks so much for planning it,
Letty. Jake's really looking
forward to it.

Letty sighs, moves to the racks and pulls out a dress.

LETTY
You better start trying on before
the vultures get all the good ones.

INT. DRESSING ROOM - LATER

Ruth twirls around in a taffeta gown as Letty picks up

discarded dresses from the floor and hangs them up.
 20.

RUTH
What about this one?

LETTY
(with sisterly pride)
You look beautiful.

RUTH
Really?

LETTY
Truly.

Martha Mayer is led in by the clerk.

LETTY
Hi, Mom.

RUTH
Look, Mom, I think I've found the
dress.

MRS. MAYER
You look just wonderful, Ruthie.
But I really think you should try
on a few more, don't you?

Letty and Ruth shoot each other a look of doom.

INT. BRIDAL SHOP - LATER

A bedraggled Letty and her mother fight the crowds to look at

dresses. They are bumped and jostled from all sides.

MRS. MAYER
Has Paul heard about his promotion?

LETTY
No, not yet. But you know Paul.
He's sure to get it.

Ruth comes out of the dressing room in another gown.

MRS. MAYER
I don't like the bias cut on that
one.

Mrs. Mayer holds up an ornate dress.

RUTH
No more. I can't stand to try on
one more dress.
 21.

MRS. MAYER
Letty, I think this would be
beautiful on you.

LETTY
Oh no.

MRS. MAYER
Paul could pop the question at any
time.

LETTY
Mom, please.

MRS. MAYER
Especially with a promotion in the
offing.

RUTH
Go on, Letty. I want to see it on
you.

LETTY
(to Ruth)
Do you think I should?

RUTH
Yes, yes. It'll be fun.

Letty takes the gown and disappears into the dressing room.

INT. BRIDAL SHOP - LATER

Letty emerges from the dressing room.

LETTY
Mom? Mom? Ruth?

Letty peers around the corner, becoming a tad frantic. But

neither her mother nor Ruth is to be found. It's just Letty,
resplendent in ecru satin.

CLERK
I think they went over to the next
shop to take a peek at shoes.

Letty pushes back her veil, sits down on the floor and takes
a sip of her now-cold coffee.
 22.

INT. LETTY'S LIVING/DINING ROOM - EVENING

A "House and Garden" picture of elegance. Letty, Paul, Ruth

and Jake stand at nervous attention, decked out in their
Sunday best.

A KNOCK marks the first arrival. Letty opens the door to her
mother, who does a quick reconnaissance of the room.

MRS. MAYER
I gather he's late as usual.

LETTY
(to her mother)
Can I get you a glass of champagne?

The doorbell RINGS. Letty greets her father, a mid 50s

business type, and his wife MONICA, a younger version of
Letty's mother.

LETTY
Hi, Dad, Monica. I'm so glad you
could come.

Suddenly, the parents are face-to-face, Letty standing

between them.

LETTY
Mom, this is Monica. Monica, my
mother, Martha.

The two Mrs. Mayers make appropriate MURMURS. Letty's

parents stare each other down. Ruth shifts from foot to foot.
Silence falls in the room with a thump.

LETTY
Dad, Mother, you've met before,
right?

Ruth takes a dramatic gulp of air. The evening hangs in the

balance. Finally,

MR. MAYER
How've you been, Martha?

INT. LIVING ROOM - LETTY'S APARTMENT - LATER

Mr. Mayer and Monica cozy up to each other on the love seat
while Mrs. Mayer, Ruth and Paul sit on the opposite couch.

Letty passes hors d'oeuvres, and Jake doles out napkins.

 23.

LETTY
It's mushroom-time, folks.

MR. MAYER
(biting into one)
I like the touch of cilantro. It is
cilantro, isn't it?

LETTY
You can always call it, Dad.

MONICA
You must get your cooking skills
from your father, Letty.

Uncomfortable silence falls on the party. Monica wipes the

edge of Mr. Mayer's mouth with her napkin.

LETTY
Ruth's narrowed the dress hunt down
to two, Dad.

MR. MAYER
Tell me about them.

RUTH
One's a silk...

MRS. MAYER
Not in front of Jake, Ruthie. It's
bad luck.

Ruth looks at Letty nervously.

MONICA
I remember how hard it was looking
for my dress. I must have been to
100 stores.

Mrs. Mayer clears her throat. More silence.

LETTY
You know what I think we need?
Martinis. How about martinis to
celebrate?

PAUL
Yes.

MRS. MAYER
That might be nice.
 24.

MR. MAYER
As long as you have...

LETTY
Puglia olives. Would I forget?
(beat)
A round of martinis coming right
up.

Letty leaves with Paul hot on her heels.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME

Letty shakes the martinis while Paul gets out the glasses.
Ruth enters the kitchen and sidles up to Letty.

RUTH
How can I help?

LETTY
Paul, can you hand me the olives?
Ruth, I need you to, what was it?

RUTH
What about the souffle? Has that
gone in?

LETTY
Yeah, I just put it in. But the
squab, I think that needs to be
basted.

Paul hands Letty the olive bottle.

PAUL
(to Ruth)
Kind of icy in there.

RUTH
(to Paul)
Thank God we have alcohol.

Letty skewers olives and puts them in the martinis. Bits of

fleck rise from the olives, then swim to the tops of the
glasses.

LETTY
Fuck me.

RUTH
What's the matter?

Letty grabs the olive bottle.

 25.

PAUL
Letty?

Letty stands still, fixated on the olive bottle.

PAUL
Let?

LETTY
Olives Aux Herbes De Provence. I
got the wrong kind of olives.

Ruth holds up a glass.

RUTH
What's all the dreck?

LETTY
Sage, rosemary...
(in a sarcastic French
accent)
Les Herbes.

RUTH
It'll be fine.

LETTY
No, no. They've got to be Puglia
olives, packed in a light brine
with a flavor that doesn't
overpower the palate.

Jake enters. The three turn on him.

LETTY/PAUL/RUTH
You can't leave them alone./Get
back in there./Are you nuts?

Jake whirls around and exits.

Letty looks for olives, banging open the cupboards one after
the other. Quicker and quicker. More and more frantic.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME

Jake, Mr. Mayer, Monica and Mrs. Mayer stare at each other,
listening with alarm to the wild slamming of cupboards in the
kitchen.

JAKE
What do you think of those Lakers?
 26.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME

Letty paws through her purse.

PAUL
What are you doing?

LETTY
(wild-eyed)
Can you loan me a 20?

PAUL
Sure. Why?

LETTY
I'm going to the store.

PAUL
I think you're overreacting.

Letty turns her best school marm look on Paul. He hands over
a crisp bill.

RUTH
Letty, dinner's almost ready. The
souffle...

LETTY
I'll be back before you can say
souffle.

Letty leaves from the kitchen's back door. Ruth heads to the
living room. Paul leans wearily against the counter,
savoring one of the herb-filled martinis.

INT. GROCERY STORE - NIGHT

Fluorescent lights beat down on Letty. She races through the

aisles. She clutches her keys in one hand, a $20 bill in the
other. Letty careens around a corner. At the last second,
she avoids smacking into another shopper. She stops.

LETTY'S POV:

Shelf after shelf of olives...black olives...all black.

BACK TO SCENE:

Letty darts up and down the aisle, searching, searching.

Nothing.
 27.

Letty scurries to the front of the store. She taps a STORE

CLERK on the shoulder. Six people waiting in line mutter,
annoyed.

LETTY
I can't find martini olives. All
you have are black.

STORE CLERK
(without looking up)
Aisle 2A.

Letty whips down an aisle. She starts to sweat.

An OLD LADY blocks her path.

OLD LADY
Excuse me, Miss. I can't reach the
cat food.

Letty pauses. She reaches up and hands the woman a can of

food.

OLD LADY
And a turkey and giblets, too,
please. She does like her turkey.

Letty grabs another can, throws it in the Old Lady's cart and
darts away while the Old Lady continues to talk.

LETTY'S POV:

The sign for Aisle 2A. Olives. Lots of them. Green. All
shapes. All sizes.

BACK TO SCENE:

Letty's shoulders relax. She scans the shelf.

LETTY's POV:

Labels of olives: big, small, with pimentos, without. None

from Puglia, Italy.

BACK TO SCENE:

Letty zooms back to the front of the store. To the clerk.

LETTY
They're not there. I need the ones
from Puglia.
 28.

She gets no response from the clerk, who counts change for a
customer. Letty gestures wildly with her hands.

LETTY
They're the ones that are packed in
brine, but they don't overpower
the, you know, the palate.

STORE CLERK
(without looking up)
Specialty foods. 7B.

Letty's off again. To the land of pink peppercorns,

dehydrated mushrooms and Chinese 5-Spice. But no olives.
Not a single bottle.

Letty paws through the shelves, knocking things over as she

scours the aisle. She is oblivious to the mess that
surrounds her.

An EMPLOYEE with a price checker walks half-way down the

aisle. He spots Letty and rushes away.

LETTY
Where are they? Where are they?

More and more items crash to the ground. Letty is beyond

frenzied.

EMPLOYEE (OS FILTERED)

Manager to 7B. Manager please.

LETTY
Where are they?

Letty pounds her fist against the shelf. More goods fall.
Shoppers stare. The Manager rushes toward Letty.

MANAGER
What's wrong, Miss?

LETTY
Tell me where they are.

She gestures. She knocks over a bottle of fat-free

Lingonberry preserves. It crashes to the floor, spewing jam.

MANAGER
I think you should go now.

LETTY
I need my olives.
 29.

MANAGER
It's time to leave.

The Manager places his hand on the small of Letty's back as

if to guide her out of the store. Letty backs away. The
manager grabs hold of her wrist.

Letty whacks him in the shoulder with her free hand. She
pushes him away. Hard. He staggers against the opposite
shelf.

Customers and employees gather at both ends of the aisle,

riveted by the spectacle.

MANAGER
Call security. Where's security,
please?

Letty takes her arm and slides a shelf-full of products onto

the floor. They crash and break. She screams.

LETTY
Fucking olives. Fucking, fucking
olives.

Two SECURITY GUARDS turn the corner. Letty spots them. One
creeps closer.

LETTY
No, no, no. Go away.

Guard One continues to approach, cooing encouragingly. Letty

throws a jar at him. It clips him in the head. He turns
away, bleeding. Guard Two pulls out a billy club.

MANAGER
(yelling)
Call police. Now.

Letty stops. Dazed. She turns around. Guard Two walks toward
her. His stance suggests he's stalking a wild animal.

Letty tries to brush off the jam that dribbles down her
skirt. She looks to both ends of the aisle.

LETTY'S POV:

Faces, dozens and dozens of faces, stare down at her. People

point. One boy LAUGHS.

BACK TO SCENE:
 30.

Letty backs against the shelf. She slides down it until she
is sitting on the floor. She buries her head in her knees,
sobbing.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

The room is furnished like a Hyatt Hotel minus anything you

might use to kill yourself. Letty sleeps.

MICHAEL, mid 30's, in jeans and T-shirt, sits in a chair next

to the bed. He looks intently at Letty, checks his watch and
taps her on the shoulder. She stirs.

MICHAEL
Miss Mayer? Miss Mayer?

LETTY'S POV:

Everything's a morning blur. Gradually, items come into

focus -- the intercom for the nurse, the door with a window
in it, the three tissue boxes on the bedside table. It's a
hospital, all right. Letty's vision is filled suddenly by
Michael's concerned face peering into hers.

BACK TO SCENE:

MICHAEL
I know you've had a rough night,
but I have a few questions for you,
Miss Mayer, or Letitia.

Letty pulls herself up to a sitting position.

MICHAEL
Do you mind if I call you Letitia?

LETTY
Letty.

MICHAEL
(consulting his notes)
First off, Letty, can you tell me
where you are?

LETTY
I answered these questions last
night.
 31.

MICHAEL
I know this can be a real drag, but
the attending physician on day
shift is required to do his own
prelim exam when a patient is
admitted during the night.

LETTY
Hillview Psychiatric Hospital.

MICHAEL
Great. Now, Letty, I'd like you to
remember three items. I'm going to
ask you to repeat them in just a
few minutes. They are chair, cup
and ball. Did you get that?

Letty nods.

MICHAEL
OK, let's subtract 6 from a
succession of numbers starting with
91.

LETTY
85.

MICHAEL
And 85 minus 6?

LETTY
59.

Michael waits.

LETTY
No, 79. Sorry, this makes me
nervous.

MICHAEL
It's OK. It's not a pass-fail kind
of thing.

Letty smiles uncomfortably.

MICHAEL
Now the three things I asked you to
remember.

LETTY
Chair, cup and ball.
 32.

MICHAEL
Terrific.

Letty smiles, a real smile this time.

MICHAEL
Let me shift gears here a minute...
(beat)
Do you ever hear voices that other
people don't hear or see things
they don't?

LETTY
No.

MICHAEL
What about patterns? Do you find
yourself checking and re-checking
locks? Or washing your hands over
and over again?

Letty shakes her head "no."

MICHAEL
How about arranging your
possessions in a certain way?

Letty pauses.

MICHAEL
Yes? Go right ahead.

LETTY
Sometimes my food, and my clothes,
and my underwear.

Michael leans closer.

MICHAEL
How do you sort it--by lace and
cotton?

LETTY
By color.

MICHAEL
What if it's got a pattern?

LETTY
Is this really important? Because
I don't think it's a problem.
 33.

MICHAEL
I see.
(looking at his notes)
How long has it been since you've
done something you've enjoyed,
Letty?

LETTY
(beat)
A while, I guess.

MICHAEL
That must be really difficult.

Letty tears up. Michael puts his hand lightly on her arm.

MICHAEL
Hey, it'll be OK. We'll make sure
of that.

Letty gives him an appreciative look.

MICHAEL
For now, why don't you just take it
easy while I confer with my
colleagues. A nurse should be in
shortly.

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - LATER

Letty, dressed and made up, sits rigidly on the bed. She
writes in her organizer. DR. ROBERT EMLEE, early 40s and in
jeans, enters with his own organizer.

DR. EMLEE
Hello, Letitia. I'm Dr. Emlee, and
I have some questions to ask you...

LETTY
I did this already.

DR. EMLEE
It's hospital policy...

LETTY
To be interviewed every hour?

DR. EMLEE
I'm the only doctor making rounds
this morning.
 34.

LETTY
Well, I don't have hallucinations.
Honest.

DR. EMLEE
This doctor, was he tall, with dark
hair?

LETTY
Yeah, and a dimple.

Dr. Emlee shifts uncomfortably.

DR. EMLEE
I'm afraid he's not a doctor.

LETTY
Psychologist, therapist, whatever.

DR. EMLEE
Patient.

LETTY
What?

DR. EMLEE
Michael, the man who came to see
you, is a patient.

LETTY
What kind of place is this?

DR. EMLEE
I apologize for the inconvenience,
but I must ask you some...

LETTY
I want to see my mother
immediately.

DR. EMLEE
We discourage family visits for the
first 48 hours after an emotional
trauma like the kind you've
experienced.

LETTY
I don't think you understand. I
won't wait.
 35.

DR. EMLEE
You'll have to. Your family agreed
to the conditions not to see you
when they admitted you to Hillview,
Letitia.
(beat)
We can talk about how that makes
you feel, but we can't change the
rules.

Letty sinks back on her pillows, the wind knocked out of her.

DR. EMLEE
Dr. Stone's evaluation from last
night indicates you're experiencing
a great deal of anxiety, probably
related to depression...

LETTY'S POV:

Dr. Emlee continues to talk. His words become more and more
distant as the RINGING in Letty's head grows louder.

DR. EMLEE
We need to talk about starting you
on drug therapy. Most depressive
personalities benefit from a drug
like Prozac or maybe Zoloft...

CUT TO:

INT. REC ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

It's a bigger version of a waiting room you'd find in a

doctor's office. And it has more games.

Some patients watch television. Others play pool. Several

form a group around Michael, who holds the same notebook he
used in his session with Letty. JOHN, unkempt in a bathrobe,
hands him a few ratty dollar bills.

JOHN
I'm in for 5 for manic depressive.

THOMAS, late 40s and in a suit, waves a $5 bill at Michael.

THOMAS
I'll go with that as well.

Michael takes the money, and turns to MARIE, late 30s.

 36.

MARIE
(to John and Thomas)
You two always bet manic
depressive.
(to Michael)
Tell me more about the guard she
strangled.

MICHAEL
No, just hit in the head.

JOHN
What about voices? Does she hear
voices?

MICHAEL
Not that she admits to.

MARIE
Is she a washer?

MICHAEL
No, but she is exceptionally
organized.

THOMAS
How organized?

MICHAEL
She arranges her underwear by
color.

Michael motions to MRS. HALLSTROM, mid 50s, who shuffles by.

MICHAEL
Mrs. Hallstrom, you want in?

MRS. HALLSTROM
All tapped out.

MICHAEL
I'll float you.

Mrs. Hallstrom keeps walking.

MARIE
(to Michael)
It's been weeks since she played.

MICHAEL
What about you, Marie?
 37.

MARIE
(handing Michael a $20
bill)
I'll say major depression
complicated by obsessive compulsive
disorder.
(beat)
And could I get my change in ones?

INT. HALLWAY - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Letty lags behind NURSE GATES, early 30s and in civilian

clothes, as they walk down the hall.

NURSE GATES
Treatment schedules are posted on
the bulletin board. Dinner at 6,
lights out at 10 and no
fraternizing between patients.

Letty nods.

NURSE GATES
(pointing as she goes)
That's the rec room. We show
movies there on Wednesdays and
Fridays...And this is the dining
hall.

Letty stops in her tracks at the sight of the room, an

upscale version of a college cafeteria. Groups of people eat
and talk. A paper airplane sails from one table to another.

LETTY
I'm really not that hungry.

NURSE GATES
Just eat whatever you want. This
will give you a chance to meet some
people.

LETTY
You know, my mom's coming to get me
tomorrow. I'll be leaving.

NURSE GATES
It's OK, Letty. I'll be right here
with you.

INT. DINING HALL - SAME

Nurse Gates guides Letty to a table where John, Mrs.

Hallstrom, Marie and Thomas sit.
 38.

THOMAS
So I said to my publisher this
afternoon, I said, don't you even--

NURSE GATES
(interrupts)
Hi, gang. I want to introduce you
to Letty.
(to Letty)
Letty, this is Mrs. Hallstrom and
Marie, and John and Thomas.

THOMAS
(to Letty)
Just discussing my pesky publisher.
May I ask what you do when you're
not vacationing?

MARIE
(to Thomas)
Let the poor girl get some food,
for Heaven's sake.

LETTY
I'm a teacher.

THOMAS
As you may have gathered, I'm a
writer.

John snorts. Thomas ignores him. Mrs. Hallstrom stares down

at her plate.

THOMAS
I don't like to say novelist. That
sounds a little grandiose, but I am
on my third novel and...

NURSE GATES
Excuse me for interrupting, Thomas,
but we really should get some
food...

Nurse Gates leads Letty to a table, and hands her a plate.

Letty looks up to see Michael at the other end of the table,
doing a card trick for two OTHER PATIENTS.

MICHAEL
(to patients)
Now I'm going to say that the card
you picked was the Ace of Spades.
 39.

He flips the top card up and it's the Ace of Spades. The
patients chortle.

NURSE GATES
Michael.

Michael turns toward the nurse.

NURSE GATES
Michael, this is Letty. She just
arrived yesterday.

Letty stares at Michael coldly.

LETTY
We've met.
(to Michael)
I missed you during rounds this
morning.

Letty turns and leaves, carrying her empty plate with her.

NURSE GATES
(to Michael)
This doctor thing has got to stop.

Nurses Gates hurries after Letty.

EXT. HALLWAY - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty stands outside the waiting room door. She tucks her
blouse into her jeans and enters.

INT. WAITING ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty's mother sits on the edge of a couch in a room that

looks much like the library of an English country manor. She
springs up as soon as she spots Letty. They rush to each
other. Letty's mother strokes her hair.

MRS. MAYER
I'm here, Sweetheart. I'm here.
It's going to be OK.

LETTY
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

MRS. MAYER
Oh, Letty, what happened?

LETTY
Mom, I was there, and I just, I was
so...
(MORE)
 40.
LETTY(cont'd)
They didn't have the olives, and I,
I got so upset. I don't know how it
happened.

MRS. MAYER
I've talked to Doctor Emlee, and he
says...

LETTY
I'm so glad to see you. You can't
believe the people in here.
They've got patients posing as
doctors...

MRS. MAYER
Everyone says it's the best
facility in the area for this sort
of thing.

LETTY
I just want to go home. Can we go
home now?

MRS. MAYER
I think the best thing for you
right now is to stay here and get
well.

LETTY
Maybe I should talk about this with
Ruth, or Paul.

MRS. MAYER
We all agree with the doctor, Dear.
He thinks it's safer for you to
stay here for a while.

Letty listens, waits, can't absorb it.

LETTY
You all really think I need to be
here?

MRS. MAYER
Yes.

LETTY
But what about Beast? Who'll...?

MRS. MAYER
Ruth's already taken him home.
 41.

LETTY
And my class. It'll be hard to
find a good substitute. And what
about my math program?

MRS. MAYER
Paul said he'd call the school.
(beat)
And your father thinks he's
convinced the guard not to press
charges as long as you get help.

LETTY
Charges?

MRS. MAYER
For his injuries. I guess you...I
guess he got hit in the head.

Mrs. Mayer holds out a duffel bag to Letty.

MRS. MAYER
I packed up some of your clothes,
and I can bring whatever else you
need.

Letty refuses to accept the duffel bag. Her mother sets it

on the floor and stands. Letty is five again.

LETTY
Mom, no, please don't go. Please.

Letty's mother holds her. Mrs. Mayer, crying, pulls away

from Letty. She kisses her daughter on the cheek.

MRS. MAYER
I'll see you soon.

LETTY
Tomorrow?

MRS. MAYER
As soon as Dr. Emlee says.

Letty's mother walks out the door. Letty stares after her.

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - NIGHT

Letty, crying, unpacks her duffel bag, laboriously smoothing

and refolding every item she puts in the drawer.

Finishing her task, Letty goes to the mirror and stares at

her reflection. Finally, she fixes her makeup.
 42.

Letty leaves her room. We follow her FOOTSTEPS down the

hallway. In the distance, Letty sees the Rec Room. She
hears the CLAMOR of voices. Every step is agony.

Letty stops herself just before entering, trying to collect

herself.

MICHAEL (O.S.)
Four people bet OCD and clinical
depression so I split the pool.

JOHN (O.S.)
Yeah, her diagnosis was no mystery.

MARIE
Especially the OCD.

Sick realization spreads over Letty's face.

JOHN (O.S.)
Fuck, I mean, anyone who color-
codes her panties has big problems.

Letty freezes. Michael rounds the corner. He stops when he

sees her, falters, recovers his composure.

MICHAEL
Hey there. They're showing
"Groundhog Day" if you...

LETTY
You took bets on my diagnosis?

MICHAEL
It's no big deal. We all compare.

LETTY
(voice rising)
Who do you think you are?

INT. REC ROOM - SAME

Patients are grouped in front of the TV, watching Bill

Murray. Heads turn as they hear shouting in the hallway.
Not even a moment's hesitation before, one by one, they get
up and hurry to the hall. Only Mrs. Hallstrom remains.

INT. HALLWAY - SAME

John, Marie and others gather around the fighters.

MICHAEL
Don't take it personally.
 43.

LETTY
You have no right, no right to take
the worst thing that's ever
happened to me and make it into
some kind of game.

MICHAEL
Stop acting like you're someone
special. You're just like the rest
of us.

LETTY
I'm not the one who's masquerading
as a doctor. I'm not the one
who's, who's...

JOHN
(to Letty)
He's schizophrenic.

LETTY
I'm not the one who's
schizophrenic. I don't see people
who aren't there or run around
acting crazy.

Letty pounds her fist against the wall.

PATIENTS
Go, Girl!/ Come on, Michael.

MICHAEL
Oh, no, you're perfectly sane.
That's why you're here.

Letty looks like she's been slapped. She thinks for a

moment. The patients wait, breathless, for her retort.

LETTY
Go fuck yourself.

Michael grins at Letty. She turns, and strides down the

hall. There's a smattering of applause. It grows stronger.

We see Letty's eyes fill with tears as, behind her, the
patients yell.

PATIENTS
Bravo./Encore./Re-match.
 44.

INT. LETTYS ROOM - NIGHT

Letty, unable to sleep, tosses and turns. She gets out of

bed and paces the room nervously, trying to hold herself
together. She slumps to the floor and starts to cry.

INT. GROUP THERAPY ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Dr. Emlee and seven patients sit in a circle of metal folding

chairs. Michael, who sits next to Emlee, practices rolling a
quarter back and forth across his fingers.

Letty sits across from Michael and Emlee, her legs and arms
crossed tightly. The group concentrates on Mrs. Hallstrom.

MRS. HALLSTROM
I can't stop thinking about the
things I did wrong when my daughter
was little.

DR. EMLEE
And how's that make you feel?

MRS. HALLSTROM
I just feel like sleeping. All the
time.

THOMAS
Hell's bells, you can count me in
on that. I haven't had enough Z's
since I ran those sleep disorder
experiments at Stanford back in the
70s.

MARIE
We really miss doing things with
you, Mrs. Hallstrom.

Michael, sitting next to Mrs. Hallstrom, squeezes her arm.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Maybe when I hit my manic phase
again.

Group members smile.

JOHN
I've noticed Letty doesn't much
like to do things with us.

The group looks expectantly at Letty.

 45.

LETTY
Oh, no. Of course I do.

JOHN
Then why are you so defensive?

MICHAEL
(to John)
I don't think we need to sacrifice
Letty to pep up a slow session.

JOHN
(to Michael)
You're the one who told everyone
about her panties.

Michael grimaces at John. Letty's head is bent down.

DR. EMLEE
Maybe you'd like to share some of
your feelings about OCD or
depression with us, Letty.

Letty eyes the doctor. She's dangerously close to tears.

LETTY
Do we have to talk about this?

DR. EMLEE
I think in the spirit of group
therapy, it's beneficial for each
of us to open ourselves up to the
others.

Michael reaches his hand behind Dr. Emlee's head, catching

Letty's eye in the process. Michael pulls a silver dollar out
of Emlee's ear.

Letty looks but doesn't respond. The other patients ignore

Michael. Emlee is oblivious.

DR. EMLEE
You never know, Letty, how the
person sitting next to you may be
able to shed light on one of your
problems...

Michael goes for a bigger trick. Reaching again behind the

doctor's head, he produces a small bouquet of paper flowers.
Letty, almost against her will, smiles.
 46.

DR. EMLEE
...by revealing something that's
going on in his or her own life.

Michael waves the flowers back and forth behind the doctor's
head. Letty's smile broadens.

DR. EMLEE
(responding to her smile)
There, now, I knew you'd feel
better once we discussed group
process. Let's talk a little about
your OCD.

INT. LIBRARY - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty ponders a shelf of ratty paperbacks. Michael turns the

corner, thumbing through a dog-eared book. Letty spots him
and moves away. Michael sidles up next to her.

MICHAEL
Looking for a romance?

LETTY
Excuse me?

MICHAEL
What are you looking to read?

LETTY
Anything interesting.

Michael holds out his book to her.

MICHAEL
This is good.

Letty glances at the title, "101 MAGIC TRICKS."

LETTY
But you're checking it out.

MICHAEL
I've already checked it out 17
times.

Michael reaches behind Letty. She pulls away. He produces a

scarf from behind her back, and presents it to her. She
doesn't take it.

LETTY
You keep the book. I'm looking for
Emily Dickinson.
 47.

Letty walks away. Michael follows.

MICHAEL
Hey, if you take the magic book,
I'll feel like maybe you accept my
apology and don't hate me anymore.

Letty hesitates.

LETTY
I haven't heard an apology.

Michael drops to one knee.

MICHAEL
I'm really sorry I hurt your
feelings. I got a little carried
away. Can you ever forgive me?

Letty takes the book from him and walks away.

INT. REC ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty sits in an arm chair staring out at the garden. Her

attention is drawn to a nearby couch where Michael sits
opposite Mrs. Hallstrom, apparently playing cards.

Michael lays a card down.

MICHAEL
Mrs. Hallstrom, I'm pretty sure you
could use that.

She shakes her head slowly back and forth. Michael places it
in her hand of cards.

MICHAEL
Now, don't you have a gin rummy,
Mrs. Hallstrom?
(beat)
Go ahead, now, just lay those cards
down.

Mrs. Hallstrom slowly spreads her hand of cards on the couch.

MICHAEL
Hot damn. Gin rummy. I told you
so. You're three games up on me.

Mrs. Hallstrom smiles. Michael catches Letty watching them,

and Letty quickly looks away.
 48.

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Letty opens her drawer to pull out a T-shirt. Several are

rumpled. She starts refolding them when she spots it.

There, nestled among her clothes, is a book of Emily

Dickinson's poetry. Letty picks it up, runs her hand over
the cover and starts reading.

EXT. COURTYARD - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Paul and Letty walk onto a postcard-perfect stone terrace

overlooking the garden. Paul pulls up a chair for Letty and
stares out at the scenery.

PAUL
It's prettier here than I thought
it would be.

LETTY
Yeah, I guess it's all right.

PAUL
Are you all right?

LETTY
That's a big question.

PAUL
I hope it wasn't something I did.

LETTY
Something you did?

PAUL
That put you in here.

LETTY
Of course not, no.
(beat)
Is that why you're here?

PAUL
I think we need to talk about some
things.

LETTY
Yes, I suppose so.

PAUL
This has been really difficult,
this whole thing.
(MORE)
 49.
PAUL(cont'd)
These past few weeks, it's made me
really go back and examine our
whole relationship.
(beat)
I mean, we've been going out for
four years, and it hasn't always
been so easy.

LETTY
No.

PAUL
Especially this last year.

LETTY
(softly)
Especially now.

PAUL
So, I've been thinking a lot...

LETTY
I have too, Paul.

PAUL
I talked to Ruth a little bit, and
I think it's about time...

LETTY
I know. We can't just keep going
through the motions.

PAUL
Exactly. It's time to make
decisions.

LETTY
You don't have to say anything
else. I've known for a while that
this was coming.

PAUL
I just wish we'd done it sooner.

Paul takes Letty's hand in his.

PAUL
Will you marry me?

Paul pulls a diamond ring from his pocket and puts it on

Letty's finger. She stares at it, mesmerized.
 50.

PAUL
I had to smuggle it in here. I
guess you're not really supposed to
have jewelry.

LETTY
(by rote)
Or be up past ten or fraternize
with other patients.

PAUL
I hope you like it. It's a Marquis
cut, 1.5 carats. They had one with
emeralds around it, but this was
simpler, more classic in its lines.
(beat)
Letty?

LETTY
It's, it's really nice, Paul.

PAUL
You can take it back and we can
have one custom made if you want.

LETTY
No, you've done a perfect job.

PAUL
So, what do you say, Let?

Letty looks him in the eyes for the first time.

LETTY
Do you think, really, that it's OK
to get engaged when I'm in here?

PAUL
Sure. We'll save the formal
announcement for when you're out. I
already told your mother. I hope
you don't mind.

LETTY
No, no.

PAUL
So will you?

LETTY
(working up a smile)
Of course. Yes. I will. I do.
 51.

Paul and Letty kiss, then hug.

EXT. COURTYARD - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - LATER

It's completely dark. Letty sits in the same position we saw

her in hours ago. Michael walks up to her.

MICHAEL
You missed out on some great
broccoli florets at dinner.

LETTY
I wasn't hungry.

MICHAEL
John even managed to lob a load of
mashed potatoes into Mrs.
Hallstrom's milk.

LETTY
(smiling)
Finally. I was getting tired of
watching him try every night.

MICHAEL
Was it bad news--the visit from
Peter?

LETTY
Paul.

MICHAEL
He looked pretty serious.

LETTY
He asked me to marry him.

MICHAEL
Very romantic setting.

LETTY
It was romantic. He's very
romantic.

MICHAEL
So are you engaged, or what?

Letty holds out her hand, where the diamond glistens. Michael
bends forward to look at the ring, caressing her hand as he
does so.

Letty pulls away. The ring is gone.

 52.

LETTY
What have you done with the ring?

MICHAEL
It's magic.

Letty stands up.

LETTY
This isn't funny. Paul would kill
me.

Michael holds his hands in fists toward Letty.

MICHAEL
Guess which hand.

LETTY
Enough with the abracadabra.

MICHAEL
Guess.

LETTY
The left one.

Michael opens his hand. It's empty. Michael addresses an

imaginary audience.

MICHAEL
(to audience)
The fair maiden guesses
incorrectly. Should we give her
one more try?
(to Letty)
The audience says one more try.
What guess you now?

LETTY
The right one.

Michael opens his right hand. A plastic, Cracker-jack ring

rests in it.

LETTY
Come on, Michael.

Michael grabs Letty's hand and slides the ring onto her
finger.

MICHAEL
With this ring, I thee...
 53.

Letty pulls her hand away.

LETTY
Really, this isn't funny.

MICHAEL
OK, OK, I'll give it back.

Letty holds out her hand.

MICHAEL
For a price.

LETTY
Good God.

MICHAEL
A small price.

LETTY
I won't do your portion of kitchen
cleanup.

MICHAEL
No.

LETTY
And I'm not covering for you when
you sneak out to call Dominos.

MICHAEL
I want a kiss.

Letty stares at him. She laughs.

LETTY
Get serious.

Michael moves close to her.

MICHAEL
I'm serious.

Letty looks into his eyes.

LETTY
(softly)
Everything's a joke with you.

Michael and Letty kiss, long and deep. Letty pulls back.
She gazes at Michael. She steps closer to him.

They kiss again, longer and deeper.

 54.

They separate. Letty looks ready for another kiss. Michael

caresses her cheek.

He walks back toward the hospital door. He stops, comes back

to Letty. He hands her the diamond ring.

MICHAEL
Here.

He walks inside. Letty watches him go.

INT. DR. EMLEE'S OFFICE - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Dr. Emlee and Letty sit across from each other.

LETTY
The medicine's still bothering me.
It feels like I have cotton wrapped
around my brain.

DR. EMLEE
We'll see about adjusting the
dosage if that doesn't clear in the
next week.
(beat)
How are other things going?

LETTY
I think I've told you all the news.
Let's see--the engagement. Oh, and
my sister's coming to visit me, and
they say my cat misses me.

DR. EMLEE
The question, Letty, is how are you
feeling?

LETTY
I miss Beast a lot, too.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Darkness. Michael sleeps. A Christmas Carol BLASTS through

the intercom system.

INTERCOM
Hark the Herald Angels sing...

Michael bolts awake. He stumbles out of bed, in wildly

striped boxers, and races toward the hall.
 55.

INT. HALLWAY - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

Doors open like kernels of popcorn exploding. Michael,

Marie, Thomas, John, then Letty.

The music BLARES on. Nurse Gates runs down the hall and
shouts to Michael.

NURSE GATES
What are you doing?

MICHAEL
(yelling)
Not me.

The music lowers. Mrs. Hallstrom, in a Santa cap, appears.

She distributes erasers as she threads through the patients.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Sorry, sorry. Candy canes are out
of season.

NURSE GATES
Mrs. Hallstrom?

Mrs. Hallstrom gives an eraser to the nurse.

NURSE GATES
Come on. Come with me, Mrs.
Hallstrom.

Nurse Gates leads Mrs. Hallstrom away as the older woman

continues tossing erasers down the hall.

Marie stares at Michael's shorts.

MARIE
Hot boxers.

Michael smiles awkwardly at Letty. She returns to her room.

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - SAME

Letty climbs into bed. She opens the bedside drawer, and
pulls out a Tiffany's ring box. There, cradled in the satin
lining, is the diamond from Paul. Right beside it is
Michael's Cracker Jack special.

Letty puts on Paul's ring. She studies her hand. With an air
of secrecy, she slips on Michael's ring. She quickly takes
it off. Wearing Paul's ring, she turns off the light and
snuggles into bed.
 56.

EXT. GARDEN, HILLV IEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Afternoon light casts long shadows in the garden of pruned

hedges and tea roses. Letty and Ruth power-walk down a
cobblestone path, heading away from the English Tudor
hospital that looms large in the background.

Letty wears a sweatshirt emblazoned with the logo for the

University of South Carolina Cocks.

LETTY
I can't believe you finally gave me
the shirt.

RUTH
Loaned you. And it's only 'til you
get out of here.

LETTY
That settles it. I'm never leaving.

RUTH
I can hardly wait 'til you're free.
Planning the wedding without you
has been a disaster.

LETTY
You're slowing.

RUTH
(picking up the pace)
Mom and I fought for 20 minutes
over whether we should go with ecru
invitations or brilliant white.

Letty checks her stop watch.

RUTH
What do you think?

LETTY
Ecru.

RUTH
And then the gold scroll or the
black Romanesque print?

Letty completely stops and faces Ruth.

LETTY
Do we have to talk wedding details?
 57.

RUTH
Oh, no, of course not.

LETTY
I mean, you can always send me
fabric samples to look at or
pictures of dresses. But, it's
been so long since we've seen each
other.

RUTH
Of course. You're right. Besides,
we should be talking about your
engagement.

They start walking again.

LETTY
Tell me more about Beast beating up
that other cat.

RUTH
Bloody furry mess, like I said.
(beat)
Aren't you so excited about Paul?
(beat)
Letty?

Ruth stops this time.

RUTH
What's going on with you, Letty?

LETTY
Ruthie, do you ever wonder if
you'll meet someone else...someone
besides Jake?

Power walking's forgotten. Ruth and Letty start to amble.

RUTH
What's his name, Letty?

LETTY
I didn't say...

RUTH
Don't even try. What's his name?

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Nurse Gates passes by the open door, and pokes her head in.
 58.

NURSE GATES
Lights out, Letty.

Letty closes the door. She pulls a nightshirt from a drawer,

disrupting a perfectly-folded T-shirt. Letty bends down to
straighten it, but changes her mind. She shuts the drawer.

Letty puts on the nightshirt, crawls into bed and snaps off
the light. She fluffs her pillow, and turns over. She rolls
back.

Letty turns on the light. She goes to the drawer, opens it,
pulls out the T-shirt and refolds it. She shuts the drawer.
Letty yanks open the drawer again and looks at her handiwork.

It's a fight with the drawer. Opened and closed. Until Letty
takes a deep breath, pulls it open a final time, hesitantly
ruffles the T-shirt and slams the drawer shut.

She runs to bed and hops in, turning off the light and
burying her head under the pillow.

A few moments pass.

A KNOCK on the door. Letty opens it to find Michael.

LETTY
We're supposed to be asleep.

MICHAEL
Exactly.

Michael takes Letty's hand and pulls her toward the door.

LETTY
We'll get caught.

MICHAEL
No rounds for another three hours.

Michael checks the hallway and pulls Letty into it.

MICHAEL
Nervous? Scared? Worried you're
not fit for a caper of epic
proportions?

LETTY
Don't be ridiculous.

MICHAEL
Rendezvous at the closet in 30.
 59.

Letty forges ahead to the nurses' station, while Michael

turns a corner in the hall, peeking out so he can watch Letty
approach Nurse Gates.

NURSES' STATION - SAME

NURSE GATES
Letty, you should be in bed.

LETTY
There's a spider in my room.

NURSE GATES
Yeah?

LETTY
It's got a green dot on its back.
I can't go to sleep with it
watching me.

NURSE GATES
Sounds awful. I guess we better
check it out.

Letty and Nurse Gates walk down the hall to Letty's room,
passing the alcove where Michael lurks in the shadows. He
sneaks into the main hall and pads up to the nurses' station.

NURSES' STATION - SAME

Michael wanders around the desk, crouches on the floor so he

can't be seen from the hallway and pulls the phone down to
his level. He dials.

MICHAEL
Extra large pepperoni and
mushrooms.
(beat)
And two cokes.
(beat)
Hillview Psychiatric Hospital on
Glenfield. Off the Fourth Street
exit.

Michael reaches up to a hook and grabs a white lab coat. He

puts on the coat, which identifies him as "Val Williams."

CUT TO:

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - SAME

Letty and Nurse Gates, sprawled on their stomachs, peer under

the bed.
 60.

LETTY
It had this red spot on its back.

NURSE GATES
Green spot.

LETTY
Mottled really. Green and red.

Nurse Gates looks Letty squarely in the eye.

NURSE GATES
I don't know why you feel you have
to lie, Letty.

LETTY
Lie?

NURSE GATES
If you feel lonely, or need to
talk, all you have to do is say so.

LETTY
To talk?
(beat)
Well, OK, that might be good.

NURSE GATES
I understand you just got engaged.
Maybe that's where we should start.

Off Letty's look of dismay, we

CUT TO:

EXT. GUARD STATION - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

Michael pays the DOMINO'S PIZZA MAN and tries to walk past
the guard, JIM, who blocks his path.

JIM
I'm afraid I can't let you take
that in without the proper invoice.

MICHAEL
It's a pizza.

JIM
All the same, rules are rules.
 61.

MICHAEL
You don't understand. This is a
very important, very special,
morale-boosting pizza.

JIM
What I understand is how low morale
gets when you're posted at a guard
station all night, Val.

Reluctantly, Michael opens the pizza box, and Jim helps

himself to two slices. Michael starts to shut the box. Jim
reaches in for a third slice.

CUT TO:

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - SAME

Letty and Nurse Gates sit cross-legged on the bed, facing

each other. Letty's face is puffy from crying.

LETTY
I don't mean to go on and on like
this.

NURSE GATES
It's OK. It's good to let it out.

Michael passes the open door with the pizza box and points
down the hall. Letty stares right through him.

NURSE GATES
Did you ever tell Paul how you
felt?

LETTY
He was graduating from law school,
and he just assumed I was OK with
dropping out.
(beat)
We never really talked about it.
But I know he was disappointed in
me.

CUT TO:

INT. LINEN CLOSET - LATER

The roomy closet houses an inconceivable number of white

sheets and towels, arranged on wide, tall shelves.
 62.

The pizza, cokes and a candle sit in the middle of the floor,
which Michael has draped with a sheet. Michael stares at the
dwindling candle.

CUT TO:

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - SAME

LETTY
I mean I'm just not sure I want the
same things now that I did even a
month ago.

Nurse Gates nods sympathetically.

LETTY
Is that so wrong?

Michael passes the open door again, waving his hands wildly
to attract Letty's attention. She doesn't notice him.

NURSE GATES
You can only do what feels best to
you now.

LETTY
I guess so. I think that's right.

CUT TO:

INT. LINEN CLOSET - SAME

Michael blows out the candle.

CUT TO:

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - SAME

Letty blows her nose as she walks Nurse Gates to the door.

LETTY
You've been so great. I just feel
a lot clearer about things.

NURSE GATES
I'm glad.

LETTY
And if I need to talk again...

NURSE GATES
Yes, of course. Whenever you want.
 63.

Letty gives Nurse Gates a hug.

INT. LINEN CLOSET - SAME

TAPS on the door. Michael looks up. He jumps to his feet

and lets Letty in, gesturing for her to sit. They lean
against a stack of pillows.

LETTY
Sorry I'm late...

Michael puts his finger to Letty's lips.

MICHAEL
Shhh.

A SERIES OF SHOTS THAT FADE INTO EACH OTHER:

A.) The two munch on pizza. Michael picks off black olives
and hands them to Letty, who plops them on top of her pizza.

B.) Michael hands Letty a cigarette. She gestures no. He

lights one for himself and begins blowing smoke rings.

C.) Michael offers Letty pizza. She clutches her stomach to

show that she's full.

D.) Letty indicates she wants a cigarette. Michael

demonstrates how to smoke, affecting the style of a 1930s
movie star. Letty follows suit.

E.) Letty grabs a pillow and hits Michael over the head. He
pulls the pillow away from her. Letty stands up, grabs
another pillow and hits Michael again. He whacks her in the
back of the knees and she falls on top of him.

Enough of the fighting. They kiss. Michael strokes the back

of Letty's neck.

FOOTSTEPS approach the door and stop. Michael and Letty stop
kissing and look at the door. The FOOTSTEPS continue on.

Michael pulls Letty's shirt up. She starts to pull it over

her head, but can't get it all the way off in the cramped
space. Michael kisses Letty's mouth through the shirt. She
GIGGLES. Michael helps Letty off with the shirt.

He kisses her chest. Letty bites him lightly on the

shoulder.

Michael pulls away in surprise, grinning. Letty reaches up

and bites him again. Michael bites her back.
 64.

Letty reaches her hands behind her head, searching for

something to hold onto. She grabs a stack of sheets, which
topple onto Michael.

Michael sits up, trying to clear the sheets off himself and
Letty. Letty pushes him down and crawls on top of him.

CLOSE ON her hands as they unbutton Michael's Levis, and we

FADE OUT

FADE IN:

INT. REC. ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Mrs. Hallstrom sits close to the television, watching Joan

Rivers hawk jewelry on the Home Shopping Network. Michael
drapes the room with streamers, and surveys his work.

MICHAEL
How's it look?

MRS. HALLSTROM
Shhh. They're coming to the cubic
zirconium.

MICHAEL
I like those sapphire earrings
myself.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Simulated sapphires. I bet my
daughter would love those, too.

Michael sees Letty pass by the room as she heads down the
hall. He follows her.

INT. WOMEN'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Marie enters with her toothbrush and toothpaste. She moves

towards the sink but stops as...

GIGGLES come from the stall. She looks closer, sees two
pairs of feet and one familiar pair of boxers.

MARIE
Jesus...just get a room.

Marie walks out.

 65.

INT. STALL - WOMEN'S ROOM - SAME

Letty and Michael, partially disrobed and hugging each other

tight, burst into GUFFAWS.

INT. EMLEE'S OFFICE - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty sits on the couch. Emlee leans forward in his chair.

DR. EMLEE
I think it's a problem that you
never told me about Michael. I had
to hear it from another patient.

LETTY
I couldn't really say anything
because of that fraternizing rule.

DR. EMLEE
Well, Letty, this does present a
liability issue for the hospital.

LETTY
I'm a grown woman, Dr. Emlee. I
can take care of myself.

DR. EMLEE
What about Michael? Do you know
the extent of his...

LETTY
I know Michael's a schizophrenic,
and Mrs. Hallstrom's manic-
depressive, and John Lockyer has
episodes of psychosis, and I heard
a rumor that you suffer from
delusions of grandeur.

DR. EMLEE
Go ahead and put the guard back up,
Letty. But you need to know what
you're dealing with.

LETTY
I don't need a lecture. I care
about Michael.

DR. EMLEE
Then that's even more reason to
listen. Look, schizophrenics tend
to withdraw from reality. They
experience emotional disturbances
that result in personality changes.
(MORE)
 66.
DR. EMLEE(cont'd)
(beat)
You could be lying next to Michael
in bed one night, and he could have
a hallucination, or a delusion. It
might happen when you're driving
or...

LETTY
Look, I know he's almost through
with treatment here. And, he's on
medication.

DR. EMLEE
Drugs can help suppress symptoms.
But lots of patients stop taking
them when they're on their own
because the side effects are so
harsh.
(beat)
And, Michael's condition is often
worsened by periods of stress. He's
been in and out of...

LETTY
I don't want to hear anymore.

DR. EMLEE
I'd like you to promise you won't
carry on a relationship with
Michael. Otherwise, I'll consider
moving one of you to another ward.

LETTY
First you tell me to do what I want
to, then you tell me to stop.

DR. EMLEE
All I want you to do is think about
what's best for you. Really think
about it.

EXT. GROUNDS - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty lies in the middle of a copse of trees, reading Emily

Dickinson. Michael walks up and hands her a dandelion.

MICHAEL
A daisy for the lady.

LETTY
The lady knows this is a dandelion.

MICHAEL
A rose is a rose.
 67.

Letty kisses him on the cheek.

LETTY
Thanks. Where've you been all day?

MICHAEL
Back-to-back sessions with the
shrink.

LETTY
Sounds important.

MICHAEL
I'm not allowed to see you anymore.

LETTY
Really? Me too.

MICHAEL
I had to sneak by the guards to get
here. They say youre highly
unstable, have a depressive
personality, and may hold back my
own recovery.

LETTY
Wow. I'm bad news.

MICHAEL
What's my rap?

LETTY
Schizophrenic recidivism marked by
hallucinations and paranoid
delusions.

MICHAEL
Fuck. That's all true.

Letty laughs.

MICHAEL
Really, though. My thoughts go
haywire sometimes.

LETTY
What are the delusions like?

MICHAEL
I think people are after me, crap
like that.
(beat)
(MORE)
 68.
MICHAEL(cont'd)
When I was 18, my mom came home and
found me sitting naked on the
kitchen table. I thought I was God.

He waits for Letty to register the information.

MICHAEL
Shocking, huh?

LETTY
Sure. But I took out a whole
grocery store.

MICHAEL
I wish I could have seen that.

LETTY
I'm starting to think that
everyone's crazy to some extent.

MICHAEL
My Grandma Rosa says that some
trees get planted in rich top soil,
and they grow right up to the sun,
tall and straight. Other trees,
they start as seeds in the crevices
between rocks so they have to twist
and bend to reach the light.
(beat)
But even though they end up
crooked, they're still trees, just
like the straight ones.

Lying on their backs, Michael and Letty stare up at the

leaves overhead.

MICHAEL
(with a start)
Why in the world did you let me
start talking in metaphors? That's
no way for us to break up.

LETTY
Break up? They wish.

Michael and Letty hug.

INT. NURSES' STATION - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Nurse Gates pours tablets from a potpourri of pill bottles

into little paper cups. A Federal Express delivery man with
a bunch of boxes stops at the station.
 69.

DELIVERY MAN
I need a signature, please.

Nurse Gates looks at the form.

NURSE GATES
What is all this stuff?

DELIVERY MAN
I just deliver it, Ma'am.

NURSE GATES
Well, who exactly is it for?

DELIVERY MAN
A Mrs. Eunice Hallstrom.

NURSE GATES
I see. Can you wait a moment?

Nurse Gates locks the medication in a cupboard, and hurries

down the hallway.

INT. GROUP THERAPY ROOM - SAME

Our usual cast of characters.

DR. EMLEE
But how does that make you feel,
John, what Letty said about your
hostility?

JOHN
She doesn't know what the hell
she's talking about.

Nurse Gates barrels in. The group looks up.

NURSE GATES
I'm sorry, Doctor. I just need a
moment with Mrs. Hallstrom.

DR. EMLEE
What seems to be the problem?

NURSE GATES
They say she ordered...Mrs.
Hallstrom, did you order a bunch of
stuff, because Federal Express...

Mrs. Hallstrom's face glows.

 70.

MRS. HALLSTROM
It's here, everyone. Come along.
It's here.

She runs out. Nurse Gates follows her. A moment passes. The
patients look expectantly at Dr. Emlee.

DR. EMLEE
Oh, fine, let's see.

They storm the door.

INT. NURSES' STATION - SAME

By the time the patients round the corner, the Federal

Express man is leaving, and Mrs. Hallstrom has ripped open
one of the boxes. She clutches a handful of jewelry.

MRS. HALLSTROM
For you, John. And, Letty. And,
Michael, I know you'll love these.

She hands Michael a pair of faux sapphire earrings. He clips

them on. Letty and several others carry necklaces. Thomas
sports a rhinestone tiara. The patients compare jewelry.

DR. EMLEE
Mrs. Hallstrom, you ordered all
this?

JOHN
(to Mrs. Hallstrom)
Thomas got a crown and all I got
was a lousy bracelet?

DR. EMLEE
You must have spent thousands of
dollars.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Don't worry, Doctor, I didn't
forget you.

Mrs. Hallstrom hands Dr. Emlee a fake ruby hair comb.

DR. EMLEE
Mrs. Hallstrom, you can't possibly
afford to pay for this. It must go
back.

Chatter in the hallway stops.

 71.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Why, no, Doctor. It can't. Most
of it's for my daughter, Lily.
She's coming to family day
tomorrow...all the way from
Cleveland with my grandson.
(beat)
You can't be taking away their
"Welcome to California" presents.

DR. EMLEE
It's going back. We'll contact the
company this afternoon.
(to patients)
Take the jewelry off, please.

The patients reluctantly remove their gifts.

MRS. HALLSTROM
But I have to keep something for my
daughter.

DR. EMLEE
Let's go back to group, and discuss
it there. Back to group, everyone.

The patients head back to group. Dr. Emlee turns to Nurse

Gates.

DR. EMLEE
(to Nurse Gates)
Increase her lithium to 600
milligrams, three times a day. Oh,
and Nurse, let's see about
canceling the cable.

EXT. PATIO - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

The place buzzes with festivity. A "WELCOME FAMILIES" sign

hangs from a patio beam. A table is laden with cookies and
lemonade and platter after platter of carrot curls.

Letty takes a cookie and looks toward the lawn where Michael
plays frisbee with his family, even his grandmother, ROSA.
Nurse Gates walks up to Letty.

NURSE GATES
Your mother's in the rec room,
Letty.
 72.

INT. REC ROOM - SAME

Letty passes Mrs. Hallstrom, who sits by herself, holding one

small gift on her lap.

Letty spots her Mom across the room, and walks up to her.
Her mother has covered a table with swatches of fabric.

MRS. MAYER
It's so good to see you,
Sweetheart.

LETTY
You too, Mom.

MRS. MAYER
You're looking good. A little
thin, but good.

Letty examines a fabric sample.

MRS. MAYER
Thanks so much for doing this.
Ruthie and Jake are up to a million
things. And I just can't decide.

Letty rearranges the fabric samples on the table by color.

LETTY
Which flowers did you order?

MRS. MAYER
We haven't. I wanted to talk that
over with you, too.

LETTY
Oh, OK, well, better to choose the
table cloths first anyway.

MRS. MAYER
I was thinking either the peach
moire or cream damask.

Letty holds up a swatch of bright yellow.

LETTY
This would complement the blue in
the bride's maids' dresses. Look.

MRS. MAYER
Where's your ring, Sweetheart?
 73.

LETTY
We aren't allowed to wear jewelry
in here, Mom.

MRS. MAYER
Just think, pretty soon, we'll be
doing all these wedding
preparations for you.
(beat)
Of course, if that's what you still
want. Ruthie told me some silly
story about a crush on some boy
here.

Letty pulls out a cigarette, lights it and starts smoking.

LETTY
I haven't had a crush since I was
12.

MRS. MAYER
When did you start smoking?

LETTY
I'll put it out if it bothers you.

MRS. MAYER
The puckering, dear. It doesn't
seem so now, but in time, it will
cause wrinkles around the mouth.

Letty grinds the cigarette beneath her heel. She bends over
the fabrics.

MRS. MAYER
You know, your life isn't about
being in a mental hospital.

LETTY
What?

MRS. MAYER
I hear this Michael fellow is
schizophrenic.

LETTY
Mom, please.

MRS. MAYER
Don't forget that Paul's a
promising young attorney who loves
you very much...
 74.

LETTY
Mom, look, if I want to dump Paul,
I'll dump him. If I want to screw
Michael or live with him or marry
him, then I'll do that.

Thomas, who sits across the room, looks up from his book.

MRS. MAYER
(whispering)
I'm only looking out for you.

LETTY
(yelling)
And if I want to smoke, I'll
fucking smoke.

Letty races out the door and into the garden. In the
distance, Michael spots her and jogs over. Letty's mother
watches them. Thomas approaches Mrs. Mayer.

THOMAS
Mrs. Mayer, I'm sorry but I
couldn't help overhearing. I just
wanted to say, not that it's any of
my business...

MRS. MAYER
Yes?

THOMAS
I think, really, I think I'd go
with the cream damask.

INT. REC ROOM - LATER

Letty and Michael walk through the rec room toward the dining
hall. Nurse Gates bends down in front of Mrs. Hallstrom, who
sits where we last saw her.

NURSE GATES
It's OK to be upset.

MRS. HALLSTROM
(gaily)
Upset? Why of course not. My
goodness, no. I'm sure she just
got hung up.

Letty and Michael stop.

 75.

MICHAEL
Mrs. Hallstrom, why don't you join
my family for dinner. You'll love
my Grandma Rosa.

MRS. HALLSTROM
That's so sweet, Michael. But,
really, I've so many things to do.

LETTY
If you change your mind, we'll be
in the dining hall.

Michael and Letty walk on, exchanging a sad look.

INT. DINING HALL - LATER

Mr. Santucci and Mrs. Santucci sit at the heads of the table.
Letty sits between Rosa and Michael.

ROSA
(to Letty)
What do you need now?
(to Mr. Santucci)
Send down the lamb. This girl's as
thin as a stick.

LETTY
Oh, no. I'm stuffed.

ROSA
Tell her to eat, Frank.

MR. SANTUCCI
Mangia. Mangia.

MICHAEL
(whispering to Letty)
You can't turn down Grandma Rosa's
lamb.

ROSA
Or my eggplant. I make the best
eggplant in L.A. The mozzarella I
use, it's so fresh it sweats.

Letty heaps more food on her plate.

MRS. SANTUCCI
Michael says you're a teacher.
 76.

LETTY
I was. I'm hoping I'll still have
a job when I get out.

Mrs. Hallstrom walks into the room, wearing her Christmas

stocking cap. She starts to dispense erasers.

LETTY
What's she doing?

Mrs. Hallstrom, practically skipping, zeros in on Grandma

Rosa. She hands Rosa the gift meant for her daughter.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Rosa, Rosa, you must have this,
Rosa.

ROSA
Grazie.

MICHAEL
Mrs. Hallstrom, join us. Please.

But, by this point, Mrs. Hallstrom's already bounded away,

divesting herself of more and more erasers to bewildered
parents and delighted children.

She clambers onto a table in the middle of the room. Marie

gets up from another table and leaves the room to get help.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Merry Christmas to all. Ho, ho,
ho, ho.

LETTY
Michael, we've got to stop her.

Michael pushes back his chair. He's trapped between the

table and the wall.

MRS. HALLSTROM
My goodness, it's so very warm in
here. So warm.

She takes off her cap and tosses it to a surprised looking

man. But she doesn't stop there. With haphazard abandon, she
begins to disrobe, first her blouse, then her skirt.

MRS. HALLSTROM
Way, way, way too warm for
December. Now, let's sing Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the
way...
 77.

The group looks on in horror, mesmerized by her behavior.

Then, almost as one, the patients spring into action.

Michael bolts over his dining table and runs to Mrs.

Hallstrom. He jumps onto her table, trying to restrain the
dancing woman so he can wrap his sweater around her.

By this time, John, Thomas and Letty have surrounded her in a

protective enclave. Michael sets Mrs. Hallstrom on the
ground. She looks up at the group, and continues belting out
"Jingle Bells."

INT. LINEN CLOSET - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Letty and Michael lie on the floor next to each other,

trading puffs on a cigarette. The glowing ember is the only
light in the room.

MICHAEL
You must have thought about it.
Everyone does.

LETTY
I just want to see Beast.
(beat)
Where would you go?

MICHAEL
The mission up in Santa Barbara.

LETTY
No way.

MICHAEL
That's where I always go when I get
out.

LETTY
Why?

MICHAEL
My dad used to take me there when I
was little. It's totally quiet.
And you can see the ocean for
miles.

They smoke for a while.

LETTY
What else would you do?
 78.

MICHAEL
I'd like to drink a bottle of red
wine with you and then make love to
you and spend the whole night
together. And we'd get up in the
morning and spend hours lounging
around and reading the paper.

LETTY
And we'd eat Spaghetti-O's in bed
from the can.

MICHAEL
How can you even mention Spaghetti-
O's after eating Grandma Rosa's
dinner tonight?

LETTY
I have a terrible confession.

MICHAEL
Tell the doctor.

LETTY
I don't like lamb.

Michael sits up.

MICHAEL
Then it's over.

LETTY
Lie down.

Michael lies down.

MICHAEL
It's a good thing my family loves
you.

LETTY
Your family just met me.

MICHAEL
You're right. I guess I was
projecting. What I should have
said is, "It's a good thing I love
you."

LETTY
Do you?
 79.

MICHAEL
I do.

LETTY
Michael, I...

MICHAEL
It's OK. You don't have to say
anything.

LETTY
But I do. I love you, too.

Michael and Letty lie still, looking into each others eyes.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Posters of Harry Houdini and Doug Henning. Handcuffs and

card decks all over.

MICHAEL
Your Honor, I feel I should be
released. I'm sufficiently able to
look after...

Michael stops. His eyes glaze over. His head darts toward
the corner of the room.

MICHAEL
(to the corner)
What? What?

Nothing's there. Nothing at all. But Michael keeps staring.

A KNOCK on the door. Michael's eyes refocus. He opens the

door to find Letty.

LETTY
John and Nurse Gates are waiting
for you.

MICHAEL
Oh, right. I'm ready. How do I
look?

LETTY
(straightening his tie)
Great. I came to tell you to break
a leg, and to give you this for
good luck.

Letty hands him the Cracker Jack ring.

 80.

INT. COMMITMENT COURT - DAY

Michael sits near the front of the courtroom with half a

dozen other patients from various institutions.

Nurse Gates sits a few rows back near JOHN'S MOTHER and
Michael's family--Mr. and Mrs. Santucci and Grandma Rosa.

JUDGE MILTON, 60s, questions John, who's on the stand.

JUDGE MILTON
Why have you petitioned to leave
the institution?

JOHN
I haven't had an episode in more
than a month, Sir.

JUDGE MILTON
How do you plan to support
yourself?

JOHN
My family's helping me out, Your
Honor.

JUDGE MILTON
Where will you live upon release?

JOHN
Live?

John's mother nods encouragingly at him.

JUDGE MILTON
Where do you plan to reside, Mr.
Lockyer?

JOHN
With my mother.

JUDGE MILTON
Is your mother here today?

John points to her. John's mother waves at the judge.

JOHN
That's the bitch. That cock-
sucking bitch. She put me here.
She did. She's the Satan that did
this all.
 81.

As bailiffs remove John from the stand, Michael offers a wan

smile to his family.

INT. COMMITMENT COURT - LATER

Michael, outwardly poised and collected, sits on the stand.

His hands are clenched in tight fists.

JUDGE MILTON
The records indicate no major
episodes in the past four months.
And it seems you have the support
of the staff.

MICHAEL
Yes, Sir.

JUDGE MILTON
But I see you've been in and out of
the hospital more than ten times.

MICHAEL
Eleven, Your Honor. But I'm on a
new medication now.

JUDGE MILTON
Do you feel ready to re-enter the
world?

MICHAEL
Yes, Sir. My family is prepared to
support me until I find a job.
They've already located an
apartment for me that's very near
them.

JUDGE MILTON
Very well, then. By order of the
court, you are released. I wish
you good luck.

Michael's shoulders relax. He opens his fist. Inside is the

Cracker Jack ring, and the magenta circle it has imprinted on
his palm.

EXT. COMMITMENT COURT - LATER

Michael walks to the car with his mother, father and

grandmother, who keeps tousling his hair with pride.
 82.

INT. VISITING ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty stands awkwardly in front of Paul, who sits in a

wingback chair.

PAUL
What's so urgent? You've got me
worried.

LETTY
I need to tell you something, and
I'm not sure how.

Paul stands.

PAUL
You can tell me anything.
(beat)
Do you want to postpone the
wedding? Is it too much pressure?

LETTY
No...

PAUL
That's a load off my mind.

LETTY
Paul, I want to break off the
engagement.

PAUL
You what?

LETTY
I don't mean to hurt you. I know
this is a terrible thing. And I
have really loved you.

PAUL
Whoa. Whoa. Have really loved me?
Letty, it's natural to be nervous.
But we're going to work through our
problems.

LETTY
I've met someone else.

PAUL
Who?

LETTY
It doesn't matter who.
 83.

PAUL
Have you been seeing another
teacher?

LETTY
No.

PAUL
It's a doctor, isn't it? That's
unethical. I'll have him rung up
on malpractice charges so fast his
head will spin.

LETTY
He's a patient here.

Paul considers this a moment.

PAUL
Of all the crazy things. I
understood when you dropped out of
law school. And during this whole
mess, I've tried to be supportive.
But, really, Letty, what can you be
thinking?

LETTY
I love him.

PAUL
You're going to throw away our life
together for some shared experience
with a looney-tune that you
misguidedly think is love?

LETTY
Here's the ring.

PAUL
No way. You keep the ring. You'll
come to your senses.

LETTY
I've made my decision, Paul.

PAUL
You keep it, Letty. This is not
over. Our life is not over.

EXT. FRONT STEPS - SAME

Paul walks out the door and down the steps past Michael, who
runs up them two at a time.
 84.

MICHAEL
How's it hanging, Paul?

Paul turns to watch Michael as Michael swings open the door

and sails into the institute.

INT. VISITING ROOM - SAME

Letty waits as a NURSE opens the door to the ward. Letty is

about to step through, when Michael enters.

MICHAEL
Visitor for Ms. Mayer.

Letty whirls around.

LETTY
Well?

MICHAEL
Home free.

Letty and Michael hug.

NURSE
Letty, Michael, you have about five
minutes until visiting hours end.

The nurse retreats.

LETTY
Tell me all.

MICHAEL
I was brilliant, or at least
boringly sane.

LETTY
So there were no problems?

MICHAEL
Not a one.

LETTY
And did you go to the mission?

MICHAEL
No, you goof, I came to see you.

LETTY
Just checking.
 85.

MICHAEL
I saw Paul leaving. Did you do the
dirty deed?

LETTY
Yeah.

MICHAEL
So, it's over?

LETTY
All over.
(beat)
Did you see your new apartment?

MICHAEL
One bedroom, second floor, no view.

LETTY
Furnished?

MICHAEL
No, I need some serious household
advice.

LETTY
First off, you'll need to go to
Target. And, let's see, what
should you buy?

MICHAEL
I better make a list.

LETTY
List schmist. You'll remember.

INT. HALLWAY - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Letty sits in the corridor opposite Marie and Thomas. They

are playing BLACKJACK. Letty deals.

THOMAS
Hit me.

Letty hands one over. Thomas flips over his cards.

THOMAS
Im over.

Letty looks to Marie, who waves her off. Marie is fine with
her cards. They look down the hall. Nurse Gates walks beside
JAMIE, a man in his late 20s, who wears the same dazed
expression Letty did the morning after she was admitted.
 86.

NURSE GATES
(to Jamie)
Dr. Stone will ask you some
questions, and then we'll get you
settled.

Nurse Gates and Jamie come upon the gang.

NURSE GATES
(to Letty/Bill)
Lights out in 15, Guys.

Nurse Gates continues down the hall, hand firmly planted

under Jamie's elbow as he weaves unsteadily beside her.

MARIE
Wow, that first night is hard.

LETTY
It's going to be a difficult few
weeks for him.

THOMAS
It really makes you think.

LETTY
It really does.

They look down the hall at the retreating figures. They look
at each other.

MARIE
I'll put in 5 that it's a straight
diagnosis of depressive
personality.

LETTY
Are you kidding? With those glazed
eyes? I'm willing to bet 10 there
was some break with reality going
on there. Psychosis. Without a
doubt, psychosis.

INT. DR. EMLEE'S OFFICE - DAY

Letty is curled up in a chair opposite Dr. Emlee.

LETTY
But what I really can't believe is
that I'm starting to actually miss
work.
 87.

DR. EMLEE
Have you been in contact with the
principal about your job?

LETTY
I thought about calling, but I want
to wait until I know when I'll be
out.

DR. EMLEE
Then, you should call.

LETTY
What?

DR. EMLEE
I think it's about that time,
Letty. The charges against you
have been dropped, the drugs have
evened out and you seem to be
dealing with your life quite well.

LETTY
Are you saying I'm through with
therapy?

DR. EMLEE
Let's not be hasty.
(beat)
I'm saying we should plan a release
date for early next week.

Off Letty's excited face, we

CUT TO:

EXT. TARGET - DAY

Crowds, crowds and more crowds. Michael pulls unsuccessfully

at a shopping cart that is stuck to another.

A MATRONLY WOMAN walks up, nudges Michael out of the way and
yanks the cart out of its row. She rolls it toward Michael,
grabs one for herself and is on her way into the store.

Michael takes several deep breaths. With trepidation in his

step, he heads into the great unknown of the crowded store...

EXT. TARGET - 30 MINUTES LATER

 88.

Michael emerges from the store, quite pleased with himself

that he made it out alive. He commands a cart heaped full of
useless gadgets and trinkets, a half dozen picture frames and
about 20 decorative pillows.

EXT. GROUNDS - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty and her mother walk briskly through the gardens.

MRS. MAYER
Must you walk so quickly?

LETTY
It's good exercise, Mom.

MRS. MAYER
I've got 26 years on you. If we
could just slow down, we could talk
so much easier.

Letty slackens her pace.

MRS. MAYER
I'm so thankful you'll be leaving
next week. If you want me to pick
you up, I will.

LETTY
I've already made arrangements.

MRS. MAYER
Ruthie mentioned that Michael might
be coming for you.

Letty stops and wags her finger at her mother.

LETTY
Mom, we agreed. You can visit, but
you're not allowed to mention
Michael.

MRS. MAYER
Not even if it's something
positive?

LETTY
Nyet. That's the condition.

Mother and daughter keep walking in silence.

MRS. MAYER
Have you spoken to Paul at all?
 89.

LETTY
One more and you're out.

MRS. MAYER
Honestly, Letty.

LETTY
A deal's a deal.

The two walk on in silence.

Silence.

More silence.

MRS. MAYER
Have you heard the figure on how
much Queen Elizabeth's going to pay
in taxes this year?

Letty stops walking. She turns a sunny smile on her mother,

then hugs her.

LETTY
I knew you had it in you.

INT. LETTY'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty neatly folds garments and lays them in a suitcase. Dr.

Emlee looks on.

DR. EMLEE
So, we'll meet every Tuesday and
Friday. And if you have any kind
of emergency, you can page me.

LETTY
OK, good. That's good. Thanks an
awful lot for everything, and for
coming down here to see me off.

DR. EMLEE
It was just a little going-away
gesture.

LETTY
I have a going-away gesture for
you, too.

DR. EMLEE
Oh?
 90.

Letty puts her hand in her suitcase and rummages through the
clothes, creating a jumbled mess. She snaps the luggage
closed. Bits of clothing hang out. They LAUGH.

INT. NURSES STATION - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty sets her duffel bag down next to two suitcases. She
hugs Marie, John, Thomas, then walks over to Mrs. Hallstrom,
who hangs back from the group. Letty embraces her.

LETTY
I'll miss you, Mrs. Hallstrom.

There's no response. Letty goes to Nurse Gates and hugs her.

NURSE GATES
Take care, Letty. And, let me know
if you need help with any spiders.

LETTY
You know I will. Thanks for
everything.

Letty walks toward Michael, who gathers up her bags.

MICHAEL
See you later, guys.

Michael and Letty walk through the VISITING ROOM...

MICHAEL
Aren't you supposed to throw a
bouquet or something?

LETTY
Aren't you ever quiet?

They walk out the doors onto the FRONT STEPS OF THE HOSPITAL.
Michael grabs Letty's hand as they hurry down the steps.

MICHAEL
Where to?

LETTY
I've heard the mission in Santa
Barbara is the place to go.

EXT. SANTA BARBARA MISSION - MAGIC HOUR

In the background, the Spanish-style mission blends into the

hillside. Letty and Michael sit on a bluff, holding hands.
They look out at the ocean, where the sun heads toward the
waves in a fiery red glow.
 91.

INT. HALLWAY - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

Michael and Letty walk down the hall. Michael stops at a door
and showcases it. He jingles the keys.

MICHAEL
This is it -- 3B. Check it out.

LETTY
Open up. I want to see.

MICHAEL
Close your eyes.

Letty claps her hands over her eyes. Michael opens the door
and guides her into his castle.

INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - SAME

MICHAEL
OK. Open them.

Letty surveys the territory. Forget tables, chairs and

couches. Throw pillows are strewn everywhere.

LETTY
Wow.

MICHAEL
You like it?

Letty picks up a pillow and runs her hand over the fabric.
She pauses a moment before speaking.

LETTY
I love the pillows.

MICHAEL
Throw pillows, Letty. The sales
lady said they're the latest thing.

LETTY
Very trendy. Let's see the rest.

Michael leads Letty to the bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM - SAME

A futon bed, draped with a mosquito net, rests in the corner.

Two TVs take center stage.

LETTY
It's TV heaven.
 92.

MICHAEL
I was tired of watching what
everyone else wants to watch. Now
we can watch two shows at once.

LETTY
Let's try out the bed.

Michael grabs her hand and pulls her toward the door.

MICHAEL
You've got to see the kitchen
first.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME

MICHAEL
Do you like it?

LETTY
I love your apartment.

MICHAEL
Really?

LETTY
You'll never get rid of me.

Michael kisses Letty on the lips.

LETTY
What do you say we go out to dinner
to celebrate?

MICHAEL
Out? Are you kidding? I've got
all the fixings here.

Off Letty's look of surprise, we watch Michael open a

cupboard door. The shelves are filled from top to bottom
with cans of Spaghetti-O's.

Letty squeezes Michael in a bear hug.

INT. BEDROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Letty, in a T-shirt, and Michael, in boxers, lounge on the

futon. They watch both TVs -- one tuned-in to Jay Leno, the
other to David Letterman.

Michael eats from a can of Spaghetti-O's. Letty reaches over

with her fork and snags a mouthful from Michael's can.
 93.

LETTY
How can you not like the Top 10
List?

MICHAEL
I like it. But Headlines are
better.

LETTY
You're so wrong.

Letty takes her remote and increases the volume on her TV.
As Letterman gets louder, Michael zaps his volume.

It's a war. Letterman then Leno get LOUDER and LOUDER and
LOUDER until Letty makes a might lunge. She wrests Michael's
remote from him. Letty MUTES both TVs.

MICHAEL
Hey.

LETTY
It's sex time.

Michael mockingly checks his watch. Letty climbs on top of

him. Michael rolls on top of her.

MICHAEL
I think it's my turn.

CLOSE on their faces as Michael gently licks the side of

Letty's mouth.

LETTY
Did I get spaghetti sauce on my
face?

MICHAEL
No.

Michael licks Letty's nose.

LETTY
Michael.

MICHAEL
Shhhh.

Michael and Letty look into each other's eyes, bathed in the
blue light thrown off by the twin televisions.

Michael places a pillow gently beneath Letty's head. He

caresses her face.
 94.

Letty's eyes are alive to every look, every touch. Michael

kisses her slowly on the forehead, the nose, and the lips.

CLOSE on Letty's hands as she reaches up to stroke Michael's

forehead and caress his temple.

CLOSER on her hands as Letty runs them through Michael's

hair, then twists a curly lock around her finger.

SOFT MOANS as we

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BEDROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - DAY

CLOSE on Letty's hand, resting on the comforter on Michael's

bed. The alarm clock RINGS. Letty's hand slaps it into
submission.

INT. BEDROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - LATER

Letty's still in bed, a look of bliss across her face.

MICHAEL
Letty? Rise and shine.

LETTY'S POV:

Michael's face fills her vision.

BACK TO SCENE:

Letty's eyes close.

LETTY
Not yet.

MICHAEL
I'll be forced to tickle you.

Letty opens one eye and glares at him.

LETTY
Go away.

MICHAEL
How about this? It's 10:30.

Letty bolts upright.

LETTY
I'm supposed to meet the principal
in half an hour.
 95.

MICHAEL
I'll see you tonight.

Michael gives her a kiss and walks into the LIVING ROOM.

Michael adjusts his tie. Letty, naked, runs into the room
and throws her arms around his neck.

LETTY
Good luck.

MICHAEL
You, too. Kick ass today.

Michael walks out the door. Letty thinks for a minute. She
flings open the door and yells to Michael's retreating back.

INT. HALLWAY - SAME

LETTY
My apartment tonight. You can meet
Beast.

Michael swings around.

MICHAEL
Sounds good. Oh, and Letty?

LETTY
Yeah?

MICHAEL
(yelling)
You've got one hell of a great
body.

The door across the hall opens. A LITTLE OLD MAN stares at
Letty's naked figure. She slams Michael's apartment door.

INT. LIVING ROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - SAME

Letty collapses in GIGGLES.

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY

Letty sits across from the principal.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
I didn't have any choice but to
include the parents' letters in
your file.
 96.

LETTY
Well, I understand. I know my
behavior was poor.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
So, in light of how the parents
feel, and the fact the students are
doing so well with the substitute,
I don't think I can put you back in
the classroom just yet.

LETTY
Look, Gail, I've been a good
teacher.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
I know, Letty. But the incident
with Zach was frightening for the
children.
(beat)
Now if you'd come to me, explained
what was going on...

LETTY
Believe me, I wish I'd understood
what was going on. I've worked
really hard to get better.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
I'm glad you're doing well.

LETTY
I've already thought about how to
tell the kids where I was.

Letty hands the principal a letter.

LETTY
And I'd like to send the parents
this letter of explanation. With
your support, I think they can
accept me.

The principal reads the letter.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
It's a very nice letter. But I
have to go with what's best for the
students.

LETTY
What does that mean?
 97.

PRINCIPAL GAIL
I need someone to work on budget
projections.

LETTY
Office work?

PRINCIPAL GAIL
Or, of course, you could take a
sabbatical the rest of the year.

INT. BANK - DAY

Michael sits at a back desk with MR. SMYTHE, who wears a

three-piece pin-striped suit and taps a pencil on his knee.

MR. SMYTHE
It's not that we're doubting your
intelligence, Mr. Santucci. But
your work history shows so many
interruptions.

MICHAEL
I know, but as I said...

MR. SMYTHE
I appreciate your candor about your
illness, but my bosses are
concerned.

MICHAEL
I can do the job.

MR. SMYTHE
Between you and me, my uncle, he
has some mental problems, and I
know what you're going through. If
it were up to me, I'd hire you.

Michael's already standing.

MICHAEL
Right. Thanks for your help.

He shakes Mr. Smythe's hand, and, downcast, gets out of the

bank as quickly as he can.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LETTY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Letty sits on the floor. She gulps down some aspirin, then
hauls Beast into her lap. The doorbell RINGS.
 98.

LETTY
It's open.

Michael walks in, and looks around.

MICHAEL
Gosh, Letty, this is a great place.

LETTY
Thanks.

He kisses her, and lies down on the floor to stroke the cat.

MICHAEL
This must be Beast.

LETTY
That's Mr. Beast to you.

MICHAEL
How was your day?

LETTY
I bombed. It's either work in the
office or nothing.

MICHAEL
Sounds grim.

LETTY
Yeah. How was the job search?

Michael makes a thumbs-down gesture.

LETTY
Who ever said sanity was fun?

MICHAEL
It doesn't matter. It'll work out.

LETTY
Promise?

MICHAEL
Promise.
(beat)
As long as we have steak.

LETTY
Steak?
 99.

MICHAEL
It's a well-known fact that a red-
meat dinner can cure the blues.
(beat)
You and Beast wait here. I'll be
back in a jiff.

Letty gives Michael a tired smile. Michael jumps up and

leaves. A moment passes. The door opens again.

MICHAEL
While I'm gone why don't you slip
into something a little more naked?

EXT. GROCERY STORE - NIGHT

Michael walks out of the grocery store, loaded down with

bags. He carries a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers.

He passes two ladies who gossip outside the store.

LADY ONE
I can't believe he did that.

LADY TWO
What a weirdo.

Michael stops abruptly. He turns back and looks at the

women. They LAUGH.

Michael starts toward the car. He hears more LAUGHTER from

the women. He turns back and walks up to them.

MICHAEL
Don't ever talk about me again, you
hear me?

The women pull back in fright.

INT. KITCHEN - LETTY'S APARTMENT - LATER

Letty, in a skimpy negligee, lights candles on the table.

Michael enters with the groceries and wine.

LETTY
I thought maybe you got lost.

MICHAEL
The store was busy.

LETTY
You got wine. That's great.
 100.

MICHAEL
Would you mind if we just called it
an early night?

LETTY
You go ahead and relax. I'll cook.

MICHAEL
I think I should go home.

LETTY
Are you OK?

MICHAEL
Big restaurant interview tomorrow.

LETTY
But what about the red meat-blues
thing?

MICHAEL
You know, we've got that dinner
with my parents tomorrow, too. I
should really get some rest
tonight.

Michael gives Letty a kiss good night. He leaves. She

stares after him. Reluctantly, she blows out the candles and
starts putting the groceries away.

LETTY
(to Beast)
How's filet sound?

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

The coffee shop hasn't opened for business yet. Michael and
six people in their early 20s fill out applications.

Michael stares blankly at his application. He fills out his

name. He can't get any further.

TWO OTHER APPLICANTS glance toward him. Michael tries to

write. He can't.

MICHAEL
(under his breath)
No, no, no. Not now. No.

The other applicants look toward Michael and quickly avert

their eyes. The RESTAURANT MANAGER walks up to the group.
 101.

Michael grabs his briefcase and walks out of the restaurant.

His application, incomplete, remains on the table.

INT. KITCHEN - SANTUCCI HOUSE - NIGHT

This kitchen is the heart of the home--copper pots, two pasta

makers and every size wooden spoon made.

Letty, lightly dusted with flour, mixes fresh pasta with her
hands. Mrs. Santucci peers into the bowl.

MRS. SANTUCCI
More water. It's too pasty.

Letty pours in more water.

LETTY
I'll never get the hang of this.

MRS. SANTUCCI
All the Santucci women go through
this.

Letty smiles at her and kneads harder. Mr. Santucci enters

and kisses his wife.

MR. SANTUCCI
Hi there, Letty.

LETTY
Hi, Frank.

Mr. Santucci looks in the pasta bowl.

MR. SANTUCCI
It needs more water.

He dumps some in. Letty looks sadly at the gloppy mess.

LETTY
(to Mrs. Santucci)
Maybe we should make lamb next
week.

Michael walks in.

MRS. SANTUCCI
Hi, Sweetheart.

LETTY
How'd it go?
 102.

Michael takes his tie, holds it up like a noose and lets his
tongue loll out of his mouth.

LETTY
What happened?

MICHAEL
Four interviews. Four no-gos.

LETTY
The restaurant, too?

MICHAEL
I couldn't even face that one.

Mr. and Mrs. Santucci look at each other.

LETTY
That's OK. We can call and
reschedule in the morning.

MICHAEL
You don't have to take care of me,
you know.

An uneasy silence falls in the room.

MRS. SANTUCCI
Maybe we should save the job talk
for after dinner.

Michael looks in the bowl of pasta dough that Letty continues

to labor over. He reaches in to help with the mixing.

MICHAEL
(to Letty)
Just promise you'll love me even if
I end up in a job where I have to
wear a blue polyester cap.

LETTY
I think you know I'd love you even
more in a blue polyester cap.

INT. BATHROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Michael finishes brushing his teeth. He opens the medicine

cabinet, pulls out a prescription bottle and pours a pill
into his hand.

LETTY (OS)
You're going to miss the Top Ten.
 103.

MICHAEL
Coming.

He raises the pill to his mouth, then opens his hand and lets
it drop in the sink. Michael runs the water and watches the
pill swirl slowly down the drain.

LETTY (OS)
Michael, hurry.

Michael stuffs the pill bottle in a bottom drawer. He opens

the door, sprints into the bedroom and leaps onto Letty, who
lies on the futon. Letty SCREAMS and LAUGHS.

INT. MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT - DAY

Michael sits in a booth drinking coffee. He bows over an

application, pen in hand. About a third is filled out.

INT. SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE - DAY

Letty and Superintendent Johansen sit on the floor, which is

covered with math games, posters and charts.

LETTY
I think I could get the program up
and running in the next two weeks.

JOHANSEN
From what I understand the
principal has removed you from
student activities.

LETTY
She's worried that I'm unstable.

Johansen studies her.

LETTY
But I wouldn't push for the program
if I wasn't ready.

JOHANSEN
What about the office work?

LETTY
I'd have to do that, too. But I've
gotten better at pacing myself.

JOHANSEN
Are you sure?
 104.

LETTY
I'll call you if I have problems.
Scout's honor.

JOHANSEN
I have to say I'm inclined to give
it another try.

Letty hugs Johansen.

JOHANSEN
But, Letty, why don't you give
yourself three weeks to set it up
this time?

INT. MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Michael sits in the same booth, eating a hamburger. About

half of the application is now completed.

INT. TUXEDO SHOP - NIGHT

Letty and her mother sit in silence. Letty smiles at her

mother. Her mother gives her a very tiny smile back.

Michael hurries in.

MICHAEL
Hey, Letty. Mrs. Mayer.

LETTY
I got worried. Are you OK?

Michael pulls a blue polyester hat out of his pocket and puts
it on.

MICHAEL
How may I help you?

LETTY
Congratulations.

MRS. MAYER
Michael, the shop's about to close.
Maybe you could try on your tux.

Michael heads to the dressing room in the back of the store.

LETTY
(to Mrs. Mayer)
Michael just got a job. Couldn't
you congratulate him?
 105.

MRS. MAYER
I will, Dear. I promise.
(beat)
Why McDonald's?

LETTY
He's been looking everywhere for
weeks, Mom. It's not that easy
after you've been locked away.

Letty looks toward the back of the store. Her mother looks
at her. Letty ignores her mother.

MRS. MAYER
I've read that lots of people my
age are supplementing their incomes
these days by working at McDonald's
and Burger King.

Letty looks at her mother, tries to read her.

LETTY
I'm going to take that as an honest
effort at being open minded.

MRS. MAYER
Don't be fresh.

LETTY
Just remember that I love him.

Michael walks out of the dressing room and advances toward

the two women, bowing in Cary Grant fashion as he nears.

Letty's mother turns to her daughter, who beams brightly at

the dashing Michael.

MRS. MAYER
(to Letty)
I'll say this, Dear. He looks damn
good in a tuxedo.

EXT. TRACK - DAY

Letty and Michael jog.

MICHAEL
Aunt Lily is the one who married
your father's cousin?

LETTY
No, that's Aunt Connie. Lily is
the one who looks like a hooker.
 106.

MICHAEL
Oh. And, Harry, he's the one who
likes magic?

LETTY
You don't have to know all this by
Saturday. It took me years.

INT. CHURCH - DAY

Every inch of every pew in the Baroque church is stuffed with

guests. Michael sits in the second row. He cranes his head
around as "Pachelbel's Canon" RINGS OUT and the FLOWER GIRL
advances.

Letty, in the first part of the bride's maids' procession,

heads down the aisle next. The bride is nowhere in sight.

But even so, as soon as Michael spots Letty, he stands.

Everyone else remains seated. They look at him. Michael
doesn't notice. He has eyes only for Letty.

Letty's mother looks at Michael with more than annoyance.

Begrudgingly, she also stands.

Following the lead, the entire church stands for Letty. She
smiles at Michael.

INT. BALLROOM - COUNTRY CLUB - LATER

A parade of guests pass through the receiving line to greet

Mr. Mayer, Monica, Letty, Mrs. Mayer, Ruth and Jake.

Michael hovers close to Letty. AUNT LILY, with fluorescent

red hair and a silver lame miniskirt, spots him.

AUNT LILY
(to Michael)
What a beautiful wedding.

As she passes out of earshot,

MICHAEL
(to Letty)
Aunt Lily?

LETTY
Bingo.

Mrs. Mayer talks to her brother CORT.

 107.

MRS. MAYER
Oh, and have you met Michael? He's
Letty's boyfriend.

Letty and Ruth overhear this. They make eye contact. Ruth
raises her eyebrows toward Letty. Letty smiles back.

INT. BALLROOM - LATER

Ruth and Letty talk while Michael twirls across the dance
floor with Monica.

RUTH
The worst was when I stammered
Jake's name.

LETTY
I don't think people even noticed.
I thought the ceremony was perfect.

RUTH
That's thanks to all your help.

Cort, overweight and red from drink, approaches Ruth and

Letty.

LETTY
Uh oh, Uncle Cort at 6 o'clock.

RUTH
Sorry to do this to you. But I am
the bride.

Ruth turns and flees. CORT pounces on Letty and plants the
wettest kiss ever on her mouth.

CORT
(to Letty)
I don't think I've seen you in two
or three years.

LETTY
Has it been that long?

CORT
You were with that lawyer.

LETTY
I'm dating Michael now.

CORT
Met him in the receiving line. What
is it that he does for a living?
 108.

Michael walks up to Letty and Cort as they speak.

LETTY
Well, he just got a job...

MICHAEL
In the restaurant business.

Letty looks at Michael, surprised.

CORT
Speak of the devil.
(beat)
How did you guys meet again?

LETTY
At the psych hospital.

CORT
I would've sent a card, but your
aunt and I, we weren't sure if that
was the thing to do.

LETTY
That's fine, Uncle Cort.

CORT
(to Michael)
So you were a volunteer over at the
hospital?

MICHAEL
Something like that.

LETTY
When he could get time off from the
restaurant business.

MICHAEL
(to Letty)
How about a dance?

CORT
You two go ahead. I'm going to go
bother that pretty sister of yours
for a dance.

Cort gives Letty another big, wet kiss.

LETTY
Bye, Uncle Cort.
(to Michael)
What's with the lie?
 109.

MICHAEL
It wasn't exactly a lie.

LETTY
Pretty close.

MICHAEL
People at weddings don't want the
truth.

Michael grabs a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

LETTY
It's not good to drink so much with
the medication you're on.

MICHAEL
What's with this music? I'll go
talk to the D.J. and see if we
can't get something good going.

Michael heads toward the D.J. and confers with him. Mr.
Mayer walks up to Letty.

MR. MAYER
Its good to see you so happy.

LETTY
Thanks, dad.

Michael then walks back to Letty and pulls her out onto the
dance floor as "Twist and Shout" BOOMS OUT from the speakers.

Letty's mother departs the dance floor, grimacing. Ruth

shoots Michael a look of pure pleasure. And everyone begins
twisting, as we

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Completely dark. Silent.

Letty, in a nightshirt, wanders in, and stumbles through the

room. She fumbles for the switch on the floor lamp.

The light comes on, illuminating a small circle. Just

outside of it sits Michael.

He stares straight ahead. Letty kneels down in front of him.

 110.

LETTY
Michael?
(beat)
Michael? You should come to bed.

Michael remains focused on the space directly in front of

him.

LETTY
Did you take the aspirin and water?
You don't want to feel awful in the
morning.
(beat)
I'll get you some.

Letty begins to stand up. The movement breaks Michael's

trance. He pulls her back down.

LETTY
What is it? Are you OK?

MICHAEL
(strangely calm)
Always the drugs.

LETTY
What?

MICHAEL
I saw you talking to my Mom.

LETTY
We both talked to her, Michael.
And your dad.

MICHAEL
Why'd you tell her I wasn't taking
my meds?

LETTY
What do you mean not taking your
meds?

MICHAEL
Why'd you tell?

LETTY
I didn't talk to her about
medications, Michael. Don't be
silly.

Michael beats his hand on the floor.

 111.

MICHAEL
Silly? Silly am I?

LETTY
Michael, take it easy.

MICHAEL
Silly, silly, silly.

LETTY
I think I should call someone.

Michael reaches out, grabs the floor lamp, and pushes it

over. He lurches to his feet and pulls Letty to a standing
position.

MICHAEL
(screaming)
Don't upset my Mom. Don't you
upset my Mom.

LETTY
Michael, calm down. Please. It's
OK.

Michael knocks some flowers over, then rips apart a pillow.

Letty hovers in back of him. He pauses. She puts her hand

on his back.

Michael whirls around. He slaps Letty's hand away. She

stumbles backward.

LETTY
Michael, stop.

He stares in her direction, but he doesn't respond. Letty

can't make a connection.

Michael shoves his fist through a window.

Letty grabs the phone.

MICHAEL
Not my Mom. Not my silly silly
Mom.

Letty runs with the phone. Michael follows her. Letty

trips. She rights herself. She locks herself in the bathroom.

INT. BATHROOM, MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - SAME

Michael POUNDS on the bathroom door. Letty dials 9-1-1.

 112.

LETTY
I've got an emergency. I'm at...

Michael HOWLS -- a long, piercing inhuman sound.

LETTY
1450 North Jenkins. Apartment 2.
My boyfriend's out of control.

On the other side of the door, Michael SCREAMS. Another

window SHATTERS.

NEIGHBOR (OS)
What's going on in there?

LETTY
(into phone)
Please, please, send someone.
(beat)
No, he's having an attack. He's
schizophrenic...

INT. LIVING ROOM - MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - LATER

Letty, wearing Michael's tux jacket, is curled up on the

floor in a fetal position.

She stares...at the upset flowers, at the ripped-up pillows,

at a fist-sized hole ripped through an unsturdy wall. Her
gaze stops on a Spaghetti-O's can, lying empty on the floor.

KNOCKS on the door. Letty rises slowly, padding to the door

like an old woman.

The KNOCKS grow urgent. Letty opens the door to Ruth.

Letty throws herself into Ruth's waiting embrace.

Immediately, Letty cries.

After a moment, Letty steps back.

LETTY
I'm sorry, so sorry. I never
should have called.

Ruth looks into Letty's eyes.

RUTH
You did the right thing.

LETTY
I ruined your wedding night.
 113.

RUTH
I'm glad you called. Now, not
another word about it.

Ruth pulls Letty into the apartment and shuts the door behind
them. It is only then that she sees the destruction in the
living room. Horror flashes across her face.

RUTH
Oh my God.

Tears stream down Letty's face. Ruth starts to cry.

RUTH
Did he hurt you?

Letty shakes her head "no." Her sobbing intensifies. Ruth

puts her arm around Letty, and together, they sit on the
floor.

Ruth holds Letty until the crying eases.

LETTY
Oh, Ruthie, what am I going to do?

RUTH
You don't have to make any
decisions tonight.

LETTY
But what am I going to do?

RUTH
Do you want to go see him? I'll
take you if you want to go.

LETTY
I can't. I can't see him there.

Ruth holds her close again.

LETTY
I was so sure. I really thought it
would work.
(beat)
We have plans, Ruth.

RUTH
I know. I know.
 114.

EXT. SANTA BARBARA MISSION - DAY

Letty sits on the same bluff she once shared with Michael.
She smokes a cigarette, and stares out at the ocean.

EXT. SANTA BARBARA MISSION - LATER

Letty remains on the bluff, crying. A priest, passing in the

background looks over at her, and continues on his way.

EXT. SANTA BARBARA MISSION - NIGHT

In the darkness, Letty lies on her back. She stares up at

the moon and stars, bright against the night sky.

EXT. BOTANICAL GARDENS - DAY

Letty walks along a pathway with Paul.

PAUL
I'm glad you agreed to see me.

LETTY
I'm just glad there aren't any hard
feelings.

PAUL
Oh, none. None. I completely
understand what was going on.

LETTY
Oh.

PAUL
How's work going? Are you back at
school?

LETTY
I start on Monday.

PAUL
So things are back on track?

LETTY
Getting back.

PAUL
I heard about your friend.

LETTY
What?
 115.

PAUL
I heard your friend was back in the
hospital.

LETTY
Michael. Yes.

PAUL
I just wondered, well, if this
meant there was a chance for us.
Because I think about you a lot,
and I still feel...

LETTY
Our relationship meant a lot to me,
too, Paul. But it's over.
(beat)
And Michael being in the hospital
doesn't really change things.

PAUL
I think I've heard this speech
before.

LETTY
I'm really sorry.

Letty reaches up to hug him. He quickly disengages himself.

PAUL
I've got a deposition that I really
need to get cracking on, so if you
don't mind...

LETTY
Sure, I understand.

Paul starts down the path.

LETTY
Wait. Wait.

Letty runs up to Paul.

LETTY
I need to give you this.

Letty hands Paul the engagement ring. He takes it and

continues walking as she stares after him.
 116.

EXT. HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - DAY

Letty walks up the steps to the imposing facility. We follow

her journey through the VISITING ROOM, past families
conversing with patients, to the NURSES STATION.

Letty walks up to Nurse Gates, who gives her a quick hug.

John and Bill watch as Letty signs the visitors register.

NURSE GATES
He's in Jamie's old room.

Letty walks down the HALLWAY and pauses outside Michael's

door. She KNOCKS.

MICHAEL (OS)
Come in.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM - HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

Michael is in the middle of taping up the same Houdini poster

we saw in his last room when Letty enters.

LETTY
Hi.

MICHAEL
Hey.

Letty and Michael kiss awkwardly. Dead silence.

LETTY/MICHAEL (TOGETHER)
How are you?

They smile nervously.

LETTY
I guess we need to talk.

MICHAEL
I guess so.

LETTY
It's hard to know where to start.

MICHAEL
Pretend like I'm your shrink.

Letty rolls her eyes.

MICHAEL
Sorry. I'll be quiet.
 117.

LETTY
I think about you all the time.

MICHAEL
I sure know what that feels like.

LETTY
And all the plans we have.

MICHAEL
Yeah, the plans.

Letty looks out the window.

LETTY
I've been thinking I could try to
visit you at night after work, and
then there'd be more time on
weekends to see...

MICHAEL
Letty, please.

LETTY
What?

MICHAEL
Like I've told you before I don't
want you taking care of me.

LETTY
Someone has to take care of you
right now, Michael. You tore up
the apartment. You stopped taking
your medications.

MICHAEL
But that wasn't me. I didn't mean
to do that.

LETTY
Well then why'd it happen?

MICHAEL
I don't know. I don't fucking
know.

Letty and Michael glare at each other. Letty looks away.

LETTY
I'm sorry. I didn't come here to
blame you.
 118.

MICHAEL
I didn't mean for any of this to
happen.

LETTY
Oh, God, Michael, I know.
(softly)
Why does everything have to be so
hard?

Michael shakes his head.

LETTY
What are we going to do?

MICHAEL
What do you want to do?

LETTY
I know I don't want to lose you. I
don't think I could stand it.

MICHAEL
Yeah, but can you stand to be with
me like this?

Letty waits. She looks away. She turns back and stares into
Michael's eyes. Finally, she says it.

LETTY
No. I can't, Michael. I'm so sorry,
but I just can't handle all this
right now.

Letty starts to cry. Tears well up in Michael's eyes.

MICHAEL
I know. I can't either.

Michael sits down on the bed and they hold each other.

LETTY
I love you so much.

MICHAEL
I love you too, Letty. I love you,
too.

Letty and Michael grip each other. Finally, they pull apart.

LETTY
Maybe we could just run away to
Tahiti and live on the beach.
 119.

MICHAEL
That's the best idea I've heard in
a long time.

Letty wipes a tear from Michael's cheek.

LETTY
Don't you have a magic trick or
something to make this easier?

MICHAEL
How about something better? Like a
kiss.

The couple kisses more tenderly than ever before.

LETTY
I can still come visit you, you
know.

MICHAEL
Would that really be such a good
idea for either of us?

LETTY
Just promise me you'll be OK, OK?

MICHAEL
I will. And you make sure you take
care of yourself.

Michael puts his hand under Letty's chin and draws her head
up so he can look into her eyes.

MICHAEL
Promise you won't fall for any guys
pretending to be doctors.

Letty shakes her head "no" as tears stream down her face.

LETTY
I guess I should go now.

MICHAEL
You should go.

Letty stands up and walks toward the door. She comes back
and embraces Michael again. Slowly, they separate, and Letty
leaves the room. Michael stares out the window.
 120.

EXT. HILLVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL - SAME

Letty walks out the door, down the steps and along the front
walkway -- until, finally, the hospital recedes in the
distance.

INT. CLASSROOM - CHASEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY

Letty sits on top of a desk. Children of all ages stare her

down. A few familiar faces--Bobby and Jenny--grace the room.
Principal Gail passes outside the window and glances in.

LETTY
First of all, I want to welcome you
to MathShop. I have lots of fun
games planned for us.
(beat)
Let's see, Bobby, can you help me
pass out these cards?

Bobby doesn't move.

LETTY
Is something wrong, Bobby?

BOBBY
Why were you gone so long?

JENNY
My mom said you went crazy.

LETTY
I had what some people call a
nervous breakdown. I wasn't
dealing with life so well so I
went...

BOBBY
To a place for psychos.

LETTY
To a psychiatric institution.

JENNY
What's that?

LETTY
It's a place where you figure out
what you want, and what things in
your life aren't working. You
learn to look out for yourself and
not get...
 121.

Letty trails off. She sees that she's lost the class. Bobby
launches a spit wad that hits the boy in front of him.

LETTY
Let me show you the best thing I
learned.

She walks up to Bobby. He twists around in his seat, trying

to hide the rest of his supply of spit wads.

Letty waves her hand around Bobby's head. The children,

stare, delighted. She pulls a bright coin out of his ear,
and hands it to him.

CHILDREN (TOGETHER)
Wow./ Neat./ Do it again, Miss
Mayer.

Letty puts her hands behind her back and produces a bouquet
of paper flowers. Now, she's got the class hooked.

FADE OUT

THE END