NOTTING HILL

    HARRY
  Anytime.

 William walks away.  The moment of hope is gone.  He couldn't
 have had a clear reminder.

 INT. WILLIAM'S LIVING ROOM - EVENING

 William is emptying Anna Scott videos into a box.

    SPIKE
  What's going on?

    WILLIAM
  I'm going to throw out these old videos.

    SPIKE
  No.  You can't bin these.  They're
  classics.  I'm not allowing this.

    WILLIAM
  Right -- let's talk about rent...

    SPIKE
  Let me help.  We don't want all this
  shit cluttering up our lives.

 INT. BACKROOM OF THE BOOKSHOP - DAY

 The next day.  William is hard at work, doing the accounts in a
 dark small room with files in it.  Martin pops his head in.

    MARTIN
  I have to disturb you when you're
  cooking the books, but there's a
  delivery.

    WILLIAM
  Martin, can't you just deal with this
  yourself?

    MARTIN
  But it's not for the shop.  It's for you.

    WILLIAM
  Okay.  Tell me, would I have to pay a wet
  rag as much as I pay you?

 They head out, Martin behind him, incomprehensively rubbing
 his hands -- he's in a very good mood.

 INT. BOOKSHOP - DAY

 William enters -- and there stands Anna -- in a simple blue
 skirt and top.

    ANNA
  Hi.

    WILLIAM
  Hello.

    ANNA
  You disappeared.

    WILLIAM
  Yes -- I'm sorry -- I had to leave... I
  didn't want to disturb you.

    ANNA
  Well... how have you been?

    WILLIAM
  Fine.  Everything much the same.  When
  they change the law Spike and I will
  marry immediately.  Whereas you...
  I've watched in wonder.  Awards, glory
  ...

    ANNA
  Oh no.  It's all nonsense, believe me.
  I had no idea how much nonsense it all
  was -- but nonsense it all is...
   (she's nervous)
  Well, yesterday was our last day
  filming and so I'm just off -- but I
  brought you this from home, and...

 It's quite a big wrapped parcel, flat -- 3 foot by 4 foot,  
 leaning against a bookshelf.

    ANNA
  I thought I'd give it to you.

    WILLIAM
  Thank you.  Shall I...

    ANNA
  No, don't open it yet -- I'll be
  embarrassed.

    WILLIAM
  Okay -- well, thank you.  I don't know
  what it's for.  But thank you anyway.

    ANNA
  I actually had it in my apartment in New
  York and just thought you'd... but,
  when it came to it, I didn't know how to
  call you... having behaved so... badly,
  twice.  So it's been just sitting in the
  hotel.  But then... you came, so I
  figured... the thing is... the thing is
  ...

    WILLIAM
  What's the thing?

 Then the door pings.  In walks the annoying customer, Mr. Smith.

    WILLIAM
  Don't even think about it.  Go away
  immediately.

 Mr. Smith is taken aback and therefore completely obedient.

    MR. SMITH
  Right.  Sorry.

 And he leaves.

    WILLIAM
  You were saying...

    ANNA
  Yes.  The thing is... I have to go away
  today but I wondered, if I didn't,
  whether you might let me see you a bit...
  or, a lot maybe... see if you could...
  like me again.

 Pause as William takes this in.

    WILLIAM
  But yesterday... that actor asked you
  who I was... and you just dismissed me
  out of hand... I heard -- you had a
  microphone... I had headphones.

    ANNA
  You expect me to tell the truth about my
  life to the most indiscreet man in
  England?

 Martin edges up.

    MARTIN
  Excuse me -- it's your mother on the
  phone.

    WILLIAM
  Can you tell her I'll ring her back.

    MARTIN
  I actually tried that tack -- but she
  said you said that before and it's been
  twenty-four hours, and her foot that
  was purple is now a sort of blackish
  color...

    WILLIAM
  Okay -- perfect timing as ever -- hold
  the fort for a second will you, Martin?

 Martin is left with Anna.

    MARTIN
  Can I just say, I thought 'Ghost' was a
  wonderful film.

    ANNA
  Is that right?

    MARTIN
  Yes... I've always wondered what
  Patrick Swayze is like in real life.

    ANNA
  I can't say I know Patrick all that
  well.

    MARTIN
  Oh dear.  He wasn't friendly during the
  filming?

    ANNA
  Well, no -- I'm sure he was friendly --
  to Demi Moore -- who acted with him in
  'Ghost.'

 She's kind in here, not sarcastic.

    MARTIN
  Oh right.  Right.  Sorry.  Always been
  a bit of an ass.

 William returns a little uneasy.

    MARTIN
  Anyway... it's lovely to meet you.  I'm
  a great fan of yours.  And Demi's, of
  course.

 Martin leaves them.

    WILLIAM
  Sorry about that.

    ANNA
  That's fine.  There's always a pause
  when the jury goes out to consider its
  verdict.

 She's awaiting an answer.

    WILLIAM
  Anna.  Look -- I'm a fairly level-
  headed bloke.  Not often in and out of
  love.  But...

 He can't really express what he feels.

    WILLIAM
  ... can I just say 'no' to your kind
  request and leave it at that?

    ANNA
  ... Yes, that's fine.  Of course.  I...
  you know... of course... I'll just...
  be getting along then... nice to see
  you.

    WILLIAM
  The truth is...

 He feels he must explain.

    WILLIAM
  ... with you, I'm in real danger.  It
  took like a perfect situation, apart
  from that foul temper of yours -- but my
  relatively inexperienced heart would,
  I fear, not recover if I was once again
  ... cast aside, which I would
  absolutely expect to be.  There are too
  many pictures of you everywhere, too
  many films.  You'd go and I'd be...
  well, buggered, basically.