Daily Dialogue — September 16, 2013
MELVIN: It’s not my dog and this Simon seems to have enough on his mind — but he did throw up twice and his spark is off.
FRANK: Sure — take him to the vet.
MELVIN: I did. And his stomach is out of whack. So they need him for a couple of days.
FRANK: Do it.
CAROL: Melvin.
She self-consciously hands him with the thick envelope.
MELVIN: What’s this?
CAROL: (sotto) A thank-you note for what you did for me.
He hands it back to her deliberately. She takes it and walks back to the service area where, embarrassed, confused, and messed with — she tosses the note.
After Carol leaves…
FRANK: She’s nice.
MELVIN: (to Frank) Really nice. Shouldn’t that be a good thing… telling someone, ‘no thanks required.’
FRANK: It looks like it really went over. You’re sure making the rounds. Simon says you brought him soup last night. I hope he doesn’t write you a note.
…..
FRANK: It’s not only financial assistance. What he’s got to do is go to Baltimore tomorrow and ask his parents for money. It’s not going to happen on the phone.
MELVIN: Yeah. If his parents are alive they’ve got to help — those are the rules. Good.
FRANK: Yes. And tomorrow? I have a high maintenance selling painter coming through… So I’m out. Can you take him?
MELVIN: Think white and get serious.
Carol enters scene.
FRANK: Take my car — a convertible. Do you drive?
MELVIN: (loudly) Like the wind but I’m not doing it.
CAROL: Getting loud, getting loud.
MELVIN: He wants me to take his car and his client to Baltimore.
CAROL: I want your life for a minute where my big problem is someone offers me a free convertible so I can get out of this city.
….
And finally Carol notes Melvin’s mood and pauses.
MELVIN
Nice of you… thank you.
CAROL
Thank you.
MELVIN
Now I want you to do something for me.
She looks at him for a very strange, long beat.
— As Good As It Gets (1998), screenplay by Mark Andrus and James L. Brooks, story by Mark Andrus
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is asking a favor, suggested by rdlln. Today’s suggestion by Dango Forth.
Trivia: The original script was written by Mark Andrus. James L. Brooks did a rewrite of it when he bought the screenplay.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from Dango: “In this scene, there are MULTIPLE requests for favors going on. Melvin’s called Frank, Simon’s art rep, ostensibly to talk about the dog, but really this is part of his breakthrough in trying to help Simon, by asking Frank the favor to clue him in on Simon’s situation. Meanwhile, Carol wants Melvin to read her thank-you letter, which he doesn’t want to do. Frank wants Melvin to take Simon to visit his parents and ask for money, which Melvin doesn’t want to do. And Melvin relents on taking Simon and wants (demands) that Carol return the favor and go on the trip with him. Multiple characters are experiencing multiple arcs all in this one scene.”