AS GOOD AS IT GETS

      CAROL
       (great, forceful
        hand gestures)
      ... moving in the wrong
      direction... Away from when I
      even remembered what it was like
      to have a man to... anything...
      hold fucking -- sorry -- hands
      with, for Christ's sake. I was
      feeling like really bad that Dr.
      Bettes is married.
       (this next one's
        tough)
      Which is probably why I make poor
      Spencer hug me more than he wants
      to... Like the poor kid doesn't
      have enough problems. He has to
      make up for his mom not getting
      any.
       (weeps at her
        insight)
      Oh, boy. Who needs these
      thoughts?

      BEVERLY
      Spencer's doing fine. So what are
      you saying, that you're frustr...

      CAROL
      Leave me be! Why are you doing
      this? Why are you picking at my
      sores... What is it that you
      want?... You want what? What's
      with you? I hope getting me
      thinking of everything that's
      wrong when all I want is to not
      do this has some purpose.
       (puffy; red;
        furious)
      What is it, Mom? No kidding.

 Slumped, fought out -- Carol gets out one last, naked
 husky voiced question.

      CAROL
      What is it you want? What?

      BEVERLY
      I want us to go out.

 A beat, then.

      CAROL
       (simply)
      Okay.

 INT. CAROL'S APT, SPENCER'S ROOM, HALLWAY - NIGHT

 As they enter, still wiping away the effects of their
 cry.

      CAROL
       (to Sean)
      We're going out.

      SEAN
       (looking at their
        red eyes)
      Looks like fun.

 She kisses Spencer -- almost getting involved in what
 he's doing -- then sees her mother waiting.

      CAROL
      Okay -- we're out of here. I love
      you.

 Spencer nods -- involved with Sean. CAMERA FOLLOWS Carol
 as she exits the apartment -- her mother leading.
 Halfway down the stairs, she stops and reverses herself,
 going back to the apartment which she re-enters -- then
 to her son to ask:

      CAROL
      Do you love me?

      SPENCER
      Uh-huh.

 Carol exits.

 EXT. STREET - NEAR CAROL'S BLDG. (MOVING) - DAY

 Beverly and Carol walking past the store windows. A
 simple and unprecedented experience in their recent
 lives.

      BEVERLY
      Nice to get out, isn't it?

 Carol nods tightly... then they wrap arms around each
 other and continue walking, turning into a corner bar.

 INT. CAROL'S RESTAURANT - CLOSE ON CAROL - DAY

 As Carol stands nervously while Lisa finishes reading her
 14-page letter. In the b.g. Melvin and Frank are seated
 at the same table and in earnest conversation. Lisa
 keeps flicking away tears -- a few drops on the pages.

       CAROL
      Don't get it wet.

 Lisa brushes the paper -- finishes and embraces Carol.

      CAROL
      So it's okay?

      LISA
      You almost have me liking him.
      You sure come from the heart. I
      never knew what you went through
      with everything.

      CAROL
      I wanted him to know how much he'd
      done.
       (looking over)
      Can you believe he's eating with
      someone.

 ON MELVIN & FRANK

      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.

 Melvin looks up -- wary -- his brain sends a disturbing
 message.

      FRANK
      What?

      MELVIN
      "What?" Look at you... You sense
      a mark.

      FRANK
      Hey -- you called me... I...

      MELVIN
      About a dog.

      FRANK
      Yeah, but it's all about Simon
      now... you helped with the dog...
      And now there are other things.
      I'm just as concerned as you are
      about Simon.

      MELVIN
      Concerned. I'm just the hall
      monitor here.

      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.

 She exits. Frank prepares to depart.

      MELVIN
      Okay. I'll take him. Get him
      packed -- ready -- tomorrow
      morning.