"Hats make no sense." "Really, what good is a hat in L.A?" "Sandy, we're talking about the ultimate accessory here." "Hats give a woman presence, the chance to make a statement." "You got his attention." "Mr Tall, Dark and Cute, he's checking you out." "You know, actually, maybe I'd skip the hat altogether." "That's exactly what I was just saying." "See, Rhonda?" "Admit it." "You sell hats for a living." "No, no, but I'm really glad" "I looked through the window when I just did." "Destiny strikes again." "You've got to be a model or an actress or something." "Does it show that much?" "If you weren't, I was gonna suggest you become one because you've got all the... you know, the right..." " Measurements?" " No." "Well, yeah, but, I mean, actually..." "I'm Sandy." "This is Rhonda, and you're?" "Paul." "Well, we better get going." "See ya, Paul." " He was cute, wasn't he?" " So why are we leaving?" "Hey, Sandy, wait up." "Look, I know it's last minute, but are you doing anything tonight?" "Well..." "We can go to the movies anytime." "I just thought dinner." " All right." " Fine." "How about Angelini's on Third." "Say 8.00?" "OK, I'll meet you there." "Great." "See you then." " Bye." " Bye." "Why don't these things ever happen to me?" "I don't know." "I love Angelini's." "So tell me about yourself." "Well, what's to tell?" "I came here from a small town." "I'm still trying to figure out what I wanna do." " The usual search." " Yeah, like everybody these days." "The way we met was really weird." "Oh, yeah." "Good weird or bad weird?" "Oh, it was a good weird." "It was a funny weird." "Let's start over." "Yeah, breaking the ice is such a pain." "You did OK this afternoon." "Yeah, well, I want to tell you," "I have never done anything like that in my life." "So red wine OK?" "Actually, I like white better, if that's OK." "Oh, sure, sure." "White wine it is." "Rough day at work?" "I swear to you, if I had a gun I would shoot that car." "First, I get stuck in the parking garage." "Then it stalls on Olympic." "I've got like 800 people honking and yelling at me." "I left Century City at 4.00." "So I guess it's safe to assume you didn't get to the grocery store." " With Betsy any stop is a risk." " Betsy?" "I should've named her Benedict Arnold." "How does a car know the exact perfect time to stop?" "It's like she knows." "If you ask me, you've got two choices." "It's either an exorcism or get rid of it." "Tomorrow's Saturday." "We'll go car shopping." "Oh, sure, just like that." "You clearly have not seen my bank account lately." "What do you think credit's for?" "Get a loan, low APR." "I'm the son of a salesman." "Now is the time to buy." "Come on, Billy." "Who's gonna loan me money?" "You'll qualify, trust me." "Every time I trust you, something terrible happens." " Oh, really?" " Really." "Really?" "Anyway, I never dreamed I'd be in the nursery business." "I just kinda stumbled into it, but I found it really fascinating, you know, all the different varieties." "People never realize, it's where you plant, not what you plant." "Really?" "So tell me about this town you grew up in." "It was... it was small." "It was nice, but it was small." "South Carolina." "Great plant life down there." "Spanish moss, water lilies." "Summers must've been amazing." "Yeah, they were a lot of fun." "There's this place in Venice, on the beach, they've got terrific desserts." "Paul, this has really been a lot of fun, but I've had a really long week." "I'll see you home." " We brought separate cars." " That's OK, I'll follow you." " You don't really have to do that." " I insist." "You didn't think I'd let you get away that easily, did you?" "Oh, great building." "I'd kill for a place like this." "Well, thanks." "I had a good time." "Which is yours?" "Upstairs." "I'd love to go out with you again." "Paul, that's really sweet, but my life is real complicated right now." "So, what if I call you, say, in a few weeks?" "Paul, you seem like a great guy, but trust me, the timing's just not right." "Nice meeting you." "And thank you for dinner." "OK." "Well..." "Then..." "later, I guess." "Good night." "So another one bites the dust." " How long were you there?" " Whole time." "I oughta slap you." "I needed fresh air." "I didn't think you'd wanna be interrupted." "I wish you had." " Not the greatest date of your life?" " Nope, not even close." " You can tell all that after one date?" " I can tell right away." "If there's no spark, then no matter what he says, how romantic he gets, it's just not happening." "When it's someone right, you know it." "Girl who waits for perfect guy might be waiting forever." " You're waiting up for me?" " Hoping for a vicarious thrill." "Sorry, not tonight." "At least tell me how he kisses." "I'm living in a building of voyeurs." "You don't have to be specific." "Just give me a general indication." "Rhonda, I've kissed walls with more passion." "Ouch." "We'll take your old car in trade, that's your down, then work out a friendly payment plan, and you're driving away in a new automobile." "These don't look exactly new." "Sixty days parts, 30 days labor." "Anything goes wrong, just bring it back, and it's taken care of." "Risk-free buying, we call it." "Let me do the talking." "Just excuse us for a sec." "OK, now the key here is to play hard to get, OK?" "Oh, my God, it's beautiful." " I've always wanted a convertible." " Alison..." "How do I look?" "Like you were made for each other." "Shall we talk numbers?" "Why can't we be in the office when he's talking to the sales manager?" "It's a ploy." "We'll get our price." "He already said your credit is fine." "He said, "No credit is good credit," whatever that means." " Three hundred dollars?" " It's a trade-in." "Expect less than if you sold it yourself." "I worked three summers in high school for it." "It's worth four times that." "Sorry, honey, best we can do is low book." "We're out of here." "Come on." " Wait..." " Sorry, Phil, we're shopping." "He'll stop us before we get halfway there." "You watch, he won't let us get to the car." "What now, O great son of salesman?" "Easy." "You'll sell the car yourself." "And when we come back we'll have real bargaining power." "Well, it's about time." "We were about to file a missing persons report." "If you settled for normal buns instead of whole wheat," " I'd have been here an hour ago." " We gotta eat right." " Paul?" " He stopped by to see you." "Surprise!" "I would've called, but I didn't have your number." " I'll go put these on some ice." " God, those are beautiful flowers." "Guy works in a nursery, you can't beat that." "They said you'd be right back, so I waited." "Hope you don't mind." "We grow our own roses at the nursery." "So I thought..." "Thank you, these are very nice." "I like your friends." "I'll go put them in some water." "Sandy, he's very charming." "Where'd you find him?" "We were shopping, trying on hats..." "You're not getting this, are you?" "What?" "So you had one lousy date." " That's not the point." " What's the point?" "The point is, if he's not rich, in the movie business or Jake, then you're not interested." "All I'm saying is you'll never know anything until you give him a chance." "Paul, thanks for stopping by, but I've got a lot I've got to do today, so..." "I'll just..." " Walk me to my car?" " OK." "Paul, maybe I didn't make myself clear last night..." "I gotta say, after seeing your life this way, up close and personal, it doesn't really seem all that complicated." "Paul, when I said that I was trying to be nice." " Oh, I see." " You seem like a great guy." "I'm sure there's lots of women in your life." "I just..." " What I'm trying to say is that..." " I'm not really good enough for you." " That's not it, really." " Don't worry about it." "I can take a hint." "Nice meeting you, Sandy." "Nice meeting you too." " Good luck." " You too." "Back over 100 again today as those Santa Ana winds continue to hang on." "It's a good morning for staying inside or heading to the beach." "Whatever you do, don't go to work." "And for those that must venture out..." " What is this, going away?" " Yeah." "Houston, a couple of days." "I told you last week." "They're having an aerobics seminar." " Houston." " The only place hotter than here." "Speaking of which, I think I need some air." "Oh, Sandy, there's a card." "Here it is." "It says," " "Little bit of home." "Love..."" " Paul." "Excuse me." "It's the original paint, and all the tires are new." "The mileage is pretty low when you consider the age." "May I?" "Starter's shot." "You need all new gaskets and hoses." "Water pump's ready to blow." "Likewise the battery." "How do you get it going, wind it up?" "No, it starts." "Let me show you." "Honey, I know a dog when I see one." "Wait a minute." "She's not a dog." "This car has seen me through a lot of years." "Lot of winters too." "Rust underneath." "Midwest, am I right?" "Salted highways cut a car's life in half." "Sorry, honey, not for me." "Thanks." "I was direct, I was right to the point." "I told him forget it, that there was no chance." "He said OK." "I mean, he was actually pretty understanding." "It was so much easier back home." "Yeah, Daddy had a shotgun." "Jake, I'm serious." "No, listen to me." "In a small town, when you meet someone, if you already don't know the guy, chances are you've gone to school with his sister or know his cousins." "There's no mystery involved." "Then you come to a place like L.A." "I mean, it's huge." "Strangers come up to you out of nowhere." "All you go on is what they tell you." " We were strangers when we met." " That was different." "Yeah." "We were both lonely." "What're you saying, I should give this guy a chance?" "No." "I just think you should consider why you're not." "It's still there, you know, right in front." "I drove by twice today." "I think the salesman even saw me." "Every time he sees you the price goes up." "You guys playing?" "Oh, they called." "Your loan was approved." " They're chomping at the bit." " Maybe I should just forget it." "Nobody's gonna buy Betsy anyway." "Nobody in their right mind." " Rack 'em up." " I think we should discuss this." "I'm doing everything I can." "I've got signs, ads in the paper." "I'm talking about this Betsy business." "People don't name their cars." "I know." "It's just..." "I've always called her that." "Alison, we're talking borderline obsession here." "I mean ascribing human qualities to an inanimate object." "You might need therapy." "Has problems forming male-female relationships, so substitutes relationships for mechanical devices," "like her car." "Thank you, Dr Freud." "It's a car." "I know it's a car." "A piece of metal." " Rusted metal." " So I've had her for years, but it's time to move on, break those ties." "Buy the convertible." "Buy the convertible." "I'm gonna need two more draughts." "Sandy, whatever he wants, it's on me." "Paul came through for the halfway house." "Three new trees for the backyard." " Shade, finally." " Nursery needed a write-off." "I'll be late for the airport." "Still taking me?" "Yeah." "Let's do it, let's do it." " See you later." " Catch you next time." "Paul, I have no right to tell you what to do." "If this is some attempt to ingratiate yourself..." "They needed some trees, Sandy." "It came up..." "I don't care what they wanted." "I tried to be really nice up until now," " but you're just not getting it." " You didn't like the lilies." "That was wrong, this whole thing was." "There is nothing between us." "It's over." "That's just stupid to say." "There was never anything, and there's not going to be." "OK!" "I get the message." "I'm not supposed to socialize with customers." "Go ahead." "Go back to work." "Hey, Paul." " How's it going?" " Not great." "Here, let me steal a couple of these." "She's a picky lady." "What are you gonna do?" "Look, man, it's not like this was all me and not her." "I mean, when we first met, she was really friendly." "Yeah, I was attracted to her, but she was, you know, flirting just as much as I was." "Maybe more." "Yeah, well, that's Sandy." "So I came on a little too strong." "I still think, underneath it all, that she likes me." "Even if she doesn't now, she will." "In time." "You know, Paul I wouldn't count on it." " A guy's got to try, right?" " Right." "Thanks for the beer, Jake." " Good job, Jake." " You flirted with him." "That's what he said?" "It wouldn't be the first time, would it?" "I did not flirt." "You were there the first night, you heard it." "Hey, to some people, flirting just comes naturally." "You know, Jake, you really piss me off sometimes." "Oh, now I'm a bad guy too?" "No, I was just stupidly hoping for a little compassion from you." "Well, I'm sorry." "Wrong gender." "Good night, Sandy." "Jeez, what a night." " Good night, Doug." " Good night, Sandy, take care." "Rhonda?" ""Sandy, went to Houston." "Remember to water the ficus."" "Houston." "Sandy, hi, babe, it's Paul." "Just wanted to talk." "I'm thinking about you." "I'll call back." "Monday, 2.06am." "Still not home?" "OK." "I just..." "I was thinking about us and how great we are together." "Anyway, bye." "Monday, 2. 11am." "Sandy  where are you, baby?" "I mean, you shouldn't..." "you shouldn't be out this late." "Monday, 2.21am." "I called the bar, they're closed." "Just pick up, honey." "Oh, man." "That guy's over the deep end." "It happened to me recently." "I mean, real obscene phone calls." " You're kidding me." "When?" " A couple months ago." "He always seemed to know when Michael was at the hospital." "I can't believe you don't tell me these things." " I knew you would freak." " I am freaking." "For how long?" "I don't know, a week, maybe ten days." "I read about this technique where you blow a whistle into the receiver." " It worked." " Good thing." "This is the same thing." "OK, Sandy, the guy definitely has a crush on you." "But I don't know, some people would call that flattery." " Honey, this isn't flattering." " Well, I don't know." "I rejected him, and he obviously couldn't handle it." "But what if this guy's got a screw loose or something?" "I mean, nobody really knows anything about him." "He seemed like a nice guy at the pool." "All right, I'm sorry." "Obviously, this was a mistake." "We're your friends." "That's what we're here for." " Good night, everybody." " Sandy!" "Sandy." "Forget it, Jake." "You said it yourself." "Wrong gender." "This thing with you guys, it's like Alison and her stupid car." "You know, when something comes along that's good, really exceptional, it's hard to get rid of it." "So you start asking all these questions." ""Am I too picky?" "Sensitive?" "Is the next one gonna be as good?"" "Human nature." "You're trading in something that works for the chance to find better." " Too early for this." " I'm talking about you and Sandy." " Billy, I realize that." " Let me finish." "I think there's a good metaphor here." "The point is you and Sandy..." "You and Sandy got too close for comfort, so you split." "But now neither one of you can deal with the other one finding someone new." " In other words, I'm jealous." " Not of Paul, but maybe of his ability to express his emotions so easily." " Sandy thinks he's got a screw loose." " Exactly." " Really?" "He's got a screw loose?" " Hate to break up your metaphor." "Sandy." "It's early for you." "I'll see you guys." "He called again last night after I left." "I went to the police." " What'd they say?" " What do you think?" "It's not enough." "They can't touch him unless he makes a specific threat." "Stalked a lot of women, have you?" "Dealt with a lot of cops." "Why didn't you talk to me?" "Why didn't you tell me?" " I would've gone." " Because you believe me or don't want to see me make a fool of myself?" "Because I believe you." " What am I gonna do?" " I'll tell you what you won't do." "You're not gonna deal with this thing by yourself." "I'll take you to work and pick you up tonight." "I'm not gonna leave you alone for a second." "Thanks." "What do you think?" "Great ride, huh?" "Yeah." "I like the color too." "Me too." "That's why I bought it." "I'm a sucker for colors." " The gas mileage is OK?" " Oh, it's great." "It's... what?" " Twenty-five miles to the gallon." " That's great." "Look, Debra, I've got to get to work, so..." "Oh, well, it's mechanically OK, right?" "Cos after I buy it there's just gonna be nothing left for repairs." "I mean, if it breaks down, I'm dead meat." "Look I'm gonna be honest with you." "That is gonna be a problem." "I think you either need a more reliable car or more money for repairs." "Oh." "OK." "Well, I guess I'll keep looking then." " That's my advice." " Thanks." "And thanks for the test drive." "It's a great color." "Yeah, good luck." "Building's quiet." "Thanks for everything, Jake, really." "No problem." "If you need anything at all, I'll be right downstairs." "Thanks." "Jake!" "Jake!" "The window is open." "It's always closed." "OK, wait here." "Hi, we're not here right now." "Please leave a message." "I'm working late at the nursery, the flowers all around me." "Imagining you, the petals sticking to you, your scent mixed with the flowers." "Listen to me, you sick son of a bitch..." " Where does this son of a bitch work?" " Sullivan's Nursery." "When I'm gone, lock the deadbolt and the chain." "And don't open the door for anyone." "If you hear anything, anything at all, you call 911." "You understand?" " Where are you going?" " Never mind." "So, anyway, I hope you got my surprise." "I just need to find ways to..." "Who you got there on the phone, Paul?" "You're on private property." "Another call to Sandy's machine?" "Is that what it is?" "You come near her again, and I'll kill you." "Sandy, it's me." "He won't bother you anymore." "I think that you should stay here tonight." "I think about it." "About that first night we spent together, that crazy restless night." "It was too hot to sleep, to do anything." "You'd just moved in, mystery man in apartment one." "Remember we swam and we talked, we talked all night." "Just like now." "I was so lonely and scared." "That's the first time I let anyone see that side of myself." "And there you were this quiet stranger." "Are we too much alike, is that it?" "Jake?" "It's late." "Go to sleep." "So it's the glue factory, huh?" "When I first got her, the first couple weeks," "I'd come down in the middle of the night just to check on her." "When I left for college, I fit everything I owned into the backseat and trunk." "Betsy and me on this big adventure, just the two of us." "I was always the designated driver because I never drank." "Part of that honor student thing." "I had this fear of something happening to my brain cells." "My GPA falling, expulsion, my parents' wrath." "Once these fraternity boys actually picked Betsy up and put her on the stairs of the administration building." "Only ticket I ever got." "That's it?" "Just one?" "That's amazing." "I lost my virginity in the backseat." "Here?" "The guy I was seeing didn't have a car." "Never mind." "I guess saying goodbye to Betsy is kinda like cutting the cord, you know?" "Why is it every time you think you're grown-up, something comes along to show you how much farther you have to go?" "At the risk of sounding rhetorical, I have no idea." "Smells interesting." "It's a real country breakfast." "We got eggs, corned beef hash, bacon." "You must be out of grits." "Come on, squatez-vous." "It's not good if it's cold." "Oh, I forgot ketchup." "Be right back." "Where's yours?" "Dieting... perpetually." "It's excellent." "Nice having someone to cook breakfast for." "It's nice having someone cook breakfast for you, occasionally." "Did you ever notice that it's just depression or loneliness or fear that brings us together?" "Only the extremes." "It's that way with some people." "Think we're missing something?" "I wouldn't know." " Mr Hanson?" " Yeah." "Need to ask you a few questions, sir." "Would you mind stepping outside?" " Jake Hanson, is that your legal name?" " Yeah." "How long have you been at this address?" "Sandy, what's going on?" "That's fine, Mr Brubecker lodged a complaint." "We're here simply to ask questions, get your side." "It's up to the DA whether or not to file charges." "He's been bothering a tenant at this building, a woman." "Sandy Harling." "Do you have some proof of this?" "He's been harassing her." "Last night we're sure he broke into her apartment." " You're saying you were provoked." " No." "I'm saying we were provoked." "God, this is all my fault." " Jake's had enough trouble." " Sandy, we're sorry, man." "We were nuts not to believe you." "The indications were there." "What makes a person go over the deep end like this?" "I don't know." "Something from his past the times, this city." "Who knows?" "I don't know." "I don't know what to do." "But I've got to do something." "Luigi." "Salvatore." "Maybe Carlo." "You know, something male this time." "Male and Italiano." "No, Billy, from now on they're all just cars." "Cool." "I understand." "Afraid to make the commitment so quickly." "Would you stop looking for hidden meanings?" " What's gotten into you?" " Nothing." "Maybe it's just my roommate obligation." "To look for hidden meanings in my every thought and action?" " To express your feelings for you." " What?" "Alison, you know you have trouble talking about your feelings." "And you bottle everything up inside." "I know this sounds immodest, but I think that my coming into your life really was fortunate for you." "You arrogant jerk." "That's it." "Good." "Let it out, let it out." "Here we go." "All ready for your John Hancock." "The only time I have trouble is when I listen to your dime-store psychology." "What's this?" "This is not the price we agreed on." "That's after interest." "This is madness." "I could buy two cars for this." " You love the car." " Not this much." "I am gonna be in debt for the rest of my life." "Actually, just three years." "For something I'm not even passionate about?" "Alison, it's a little late." "Wait!" "Stop!" "Hold it!" "I want my car back." " Alison, think about this." " I have." "It's not worth it." "There's a time to let go and there's a time to hold on." "Still a few good years left in Betsy." "I'm keeping her." "Put it down." " I guess I'm just not ready." " Yeah." "Excuse me." " Sandy." " Hello, Paul." "This is Mrs Sullivan." "She's the owner of the nursery." "Mrs Sullivan, did you know that Paul obsesses on women and then calls them late at night?" " Would you excuse us?" " No!" "I want your boss to know." "I want the whole world to know exactly what you've been doing to me." "Sandy, please, can't we just talk about?" "Please what?" "Please go away?" "No, not unless you drop those charges against Jake." "He was protecting me." "He doesn't need this." "I just wanted to go out with you." " You don't know me." " Give me a chance..." "That's my choice, not yours." "You know what I'm talking about, what this city does to you." " I don't care." " That doesn't make sense!" "How can anybody be alone in a city this large?" "That's no excuse, Paul." "I came here from a small town like you." "You expect so much, remember?" "Then you get here, nobody wants to get close, nobody wants to say yes." "All this time alone, you wonder, "What's wrong with me?" "What's wrong with them?"" "And then... then I saw you through that store window." "I couldn't let you get away." "And my feelings don't matter, right?" " What's important to me doesn't count." " No, no." "I love you." "You don't love me." "You love the idea of being in love." "When it's not mutual, it's this." "This is obsession." "I didn't want to hurt you." "I want this to work." "It's not going to work, Paul." "It never will." "The phone calls..." "I just wanted you to need me, wanted to get a chance." "So you just broke into my apartment!" "To be near you." "To be close." "You call me or you come near me again, and I'm going back to the police." "OK." "I'll stop." "I'll leave you alone." "Sandy." "I'm sorry." " Hi." " The charges were dropped." " You don't seem surprised." " No, I'm not." " They brought him in for questioning." " Good." "Going after a guy like that is really stupid." " I made sure we weren't alone." " Next time, I go with you." " You were in enough trouble." " Well..." "Come on." "I'll walk you home." " You don't have to." " I know." "Maybe I want to." "What's this?" "It's something I do." "What?" "Wake up in the middle of the night when I know there's a scary movie on." " And the ice cream?" " It's part of the ritual." "All this talk about growing up." "I don't feel so bad about needing Betsy anymore." "This hurts my feelings, you know." "I'm very sensitive." "I just have one thing to say to that:" "Move over." "I love scary movies." " It's a primal thing." " It's an immature thing." "Who's gonna know?" "Watch the movie, Billy."