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Holidaze (2013)
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(man) Mel, Mr. Dajian is holding for Shanghai. (woman) GREAT. PUT HIM THROUGH AND GET ME MR. GROSSMAN IN BERLIN RIGHT AFTER. THANKS. (speaking Mandarin) (Bluetooth chirps) (beep) JEN? HEY. SPOKE TO KARL. I HAD HIM SWITCH US TO THE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FLIGHT. FIVE DAYS IN THE BAHAMAS. (siren wailing in distance) YOU IN? EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT. (resumes speaking Mandarin) (continues speaking Mandarin) (cell phone chimes and beeps) (speaking German) (man) THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE GONNA GIVE HER THE INTERNATIONAL POSITION. BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER, SHE'S GONNA DRINK THE MARRIAGE AND BABY PUNCH, AND YOU CAN'T HACK THAT GIG AND A FAMILY OVERSEAS 300 DAYS A YEAR. NOT HAPPENING. (pen cap clicks) MS. GERARD! THE PROJECTED NUMBERS SEPARATED BY QUARTERLY COMPARISONS. DOMESTIC PROFIT BY REGION. YOU'RE A LIFE-SAVER, KARL. HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? THEY'RE IN THE BOARDROOM NOW, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. OH, AND YOUR MOM CALLED... AGAIN. WONDERING IF YOU'RE COMING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING. SHE'S WORKING AT THE CAFE. WE'LL CALL HER AT HOME. YOU'LL GET VOICEMAIL. IT'S DIALING. DON'T JUDGE ME, KARL. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A GERARD FAMILY THANKSGIVING? I DON'T THINK SO. (voicemail beeps) HEY, MOM, IT'S ME. UH, YES, I AM COMING HOME. SORRY I MISSED YOU. I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW. OKAY, LOVE YOU. BYE. (receiver clatters) (telephone ringing in distance) YOU ARE A TERRIBLE DAUGHTER. LOVE YOU. MEAN IT. WHAT THE SAVE NOW CUSTOMER WANTS IN THEIR MEGA STORE IS CONVENIENCE. MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID, "LIFE HAS ONE PRINCIPLE OBJECTIVE-- "TO MAKE YOU DO PARTICULAR THINGS YOU PARTICULARLY DON'T WANT TO DO." (laughter) WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE SHOP WITH US. UPON COMPLETION, THE STREETSVILLE MEGA STORE WILL BE OUR MOST PROFITABLE, WITH COMPANY PROFITS EXPECTED TO EXCEED 8% WITHIN THE FIRST QUARTER THE FIRST YEAR. (laughter) WHAT ABOUT THEIR CITY COUNCIL? OUR DEAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE APPROVED A MONTH AGO. I'M FROM STREETSVILLE, DEAN. I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. A FEW STILL AREN'T SOLD ON THE BENEFITS OF A SAVE NOW MEGA STORE, HOWEVER, THE MAYOR HAS SIGNED A STIPULATION AGREEING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. I FEEL CONFIDEN THAT A RESOLUTION WILL BE PASSED AT TOMORROW'S HEARING, AND I'M GOING THERE PERSONALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES. THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON THIS ONE. STREETSVILLE WILL BE OUR 100th STORE. INVESTORS WILL BE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY. WE'VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING, MASSIVE MEDIA BLITZ-- "SMALL TOWN GIVES THANKS TO SAVE NOW ON THANKSGIVING." WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. THERE SHE IS. "THE HAMMER." (chuckles) YOU'RE MY ACE IN THE HOLE, GERARD. WE NEED THAT VOTE TO GO OUR WAY. THIS TOWN NEEDS ONE OF THEIR OWN TO SELL THEM ON THE IDEA, AND THAT'S YOU. GENIUS. (staff members murmuring) EVERYONE IN HERE WOULD SELL THEIR OWN MOTHER FOR THAT INTERNATIONAL JOB. YOU PULL THIS OFF, IT'S AS GOOD AS YOURS. I KNOW. (indistinct conversations) OH! HEY. HEY. (chuckles) HEY, YOU KNOW THA ONE FRIEND EVERYONE HAS WHO, EVEN ON YOUR CUTEST DAY, ALWAYS SHOWS UP LOOKING HOTTER? YEAH. WHY? IS SHE HERE? YES. WELCOME. YOU'RE GIVING ME SOME SERIOUS JLo IN THOSE PANTS. OOH, WAIT. "SELENA" OR "GIGLI"? FLY GIRL. OH. HELLO, LADY. MWAH. TO US IN THE BAHAMAS IN A WEEK. I DON'T LIKE THE COLD, AND CRANBERRY SAUCE FREAKS ME OUT. (laughter) (clink) MY MOM IS GOING TO CRY. I KNOW IT. YOU HAVEN'T TOLD YOUR MOTHER YET? I TOLD HER--NO. KIND OF. I MEAN, I DIDN'T-- I TOLD HER I WAS COMING HOME. I DIDN'T SAY THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, FOR THANKSGIVING. AS A SHRINK, I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW YOU'RE A TERRIBLE DAUGHTER. MM? YOU NEED SERIOUS HELP. LOOK, I JUST DON'T BUY THAT WOMEN CAN HAVE IT ALL. I THINK THEY HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE. I MADE MY CHOICE. I CHOSE CAREER OVER MARRIAGE. NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT A SUCCESSFUL, INDEPENDEN WOMAN WHO CHERISHES THE FREEDOM TO SPEND TIME WITH WHOMEVER SHE WANTS. SPEAKING OF WHOMEVER SHE WANTS... WHO IS THAT PIECE OF "YES"? THAT'S DEREK. HE OWNS THIS PLACE, LIVES IN MY BUILDING. WE'VE... HUNG OUT. UH, WELL, DON'T LOOK NOW. HERE COMES YOUR RICH, TALL BOOTY CALL. SO... HOW GOES LIFE AS A CORPORATE SHARK? VICIOUS. HOW GOES LIFE OF A FIVE STAR CHEF? DELICIOUS. LET'S LEAVE THEM ALONE. LET'S GO OUT SOMETIME FOR A CHANGE. ANYTHING YOU WANT. MOVIE. PARIS. ICE SKATING? THE RINK JUST OPENED FOR THE SEASON. WE COULD GO DOWN. NO, I DON'T DO ICE SKATING. I PREFER MY FEET FIRMLY PLANTED UNDERNEATH ME. WHAT A COINCIDENCE. I PREFER MY FEET FIRMLY PLANTED UNDERNEATH YOU AS WELL. (sighs) THAT WAS HORRIBLE. TERRIBLE, YEAH. WHOO! I SAY WE TRY IT AGAIN. UH-HUH. VERY FUNNY. AND THEN I SHALL MAKE YOU SOME BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING. (cell phone vibrating) NO. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. AAH! AND I DON'T DO SLEEPOVERS, AND I DON'T DO BREAKFAST. OH, COME ON. EVERYBODY EATS. THAT'S WHAT CELERY IS FOR IN THE BLOODY MARY. YOU DON'T DO ICE SKATING. YOU DON'T DO BREAKFAST. WHAT DO YOU DO? HELLO? (whispers) GO. (normal voice) UH, YEAH. I'M HERE. OKAY, GOT IT. I NEED TO BE IN STREETSVILLE BY 1:00. (woman) LIFE HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS SOME LOST AND NEVER FOUND TURMOIL ON COMMON GROUNDS WE LEARN TO TAKE I AS IT COMES SO MUCH FOR SITTING STILL WE BEND IT TO OUR WILL AND OUT HERE THEY PORTRAY OUR PERFECT PLACE AROUND HERE AROUND HERE AROUND HERE YOU KNOW THESE STREETS, THESE SMILING FACES AND HERE WE ARE. AROUND HERE (clanging) NICE. VERY SUBTLE. HELLO? OH! THERE'S MY GIRL! HI. SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU. OH! THAT'S A TIGHT ONE. JEEZ, LOUISE. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ATE? I'M GONNA MAKE YOU A HAM SANDWICH. ACTUALLY, I'M NOT DOING MEAT. WELL, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO IT. (sighs) IT'S CHILLY. HOW ABOUT SOME TEA, THEN? WHAT'S IN VOGUE IN THE BIG CITY NOW? CHAI? POMEGRANATE? WE'VE GO A NICE, NEW GREEN GINGER. YOU WANNA TRY THAT? YEAH, SURE. YOU KNOW, MOM, ONCE THE NEW SAVE NOW OPENS, YOU'LL HAVE OVER 50 KINDS OF TEA TO CHOOSE FROM. WHAT ON EARTH WOULD I NEED 50 KINDS OF TEA FOR? I DON'T KNOW. OPTIONS, MAYBE. (water running) NO. IF WE DON'T BUY OUR TEA FROM THE CHANG FAMILY, HOW WILL I KNOW IF THEIR SON PASSED THE BAR OR THAT LYNN'S MOTHER PERFECTED HER ALMOND COOKIE RECIPE? (under breath) IT'S CALLED TWITTER. (indistinct conversations) GREAT. THANKS. SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE? THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LATER? IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS, YES. ARE YOU HERE ALONE, OR DID YOU BRING SOME OF THOSE LAWYERS WITH YOU? BECAUSE I CAN SET EXTRA PLACES AT THANKSGIVING IF YOU WANT. THAT'S FUNNY, MOM. WELL, I'LL TAKE MY DAUGHTER ANY WAY I CAN GET HER. YOU ARE STAYING FOR THANKSGIVING, THOUGH, RIGHT? (clanging) COULD THAT THING BE ANY MORE... (door closes) CARTER. HEY. (sighs) YOU LOOK... (claps hands) YOU, TOO. YEAH. (exhales) HOW'S CHICAGO? CRAZY. BUSY. CRAZY BUSY. I FORGOT SOMETHING BACK AT THE JOB SITE. I... OKAY. GOOD TO SEE YOU, THOUGH. YOU, TOO. (clanging) YOU KNOW, THINGS DIDN'T WORK OU WITH HIM AND... TRISHA. (door closes) OH. WOW. THAT'S A SHAME. AND HE TURNED ALL HIS WOODWORKING INTO A CUSTOM CABINETRY BUSINESS. IT'S BACK-ORDERED FOR OVER A YEAR. YAY FOR CARTER. (clears throat) (door closes) HEY, WE'RE HERE! OH, MY GOSH. LOOK HOW OLD YOU GOT. AND SO DID YOU, JAKE. OH, THAT'S SO NICE OF YOU, MOUTH BREATHER. MM-HMM. OH! WELL, JUST THINK, NOW THAT YOU'RE FINALLY HERE, MOM CAN SHUT UP ABOUT HOW YOU NEVER VISIT. OH, YEAH. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. MAYBE I'LL JUST ABANDON EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED SO HARD FOR AND MOVE RIGHT ON BACK TO GOOD OLD STREETSVILLE. HOORAY! THEN BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, YOU CAN BE A SINGLE, DIVORCED MOTHER JUST LIKE ME. MM, EXCELLENT. IT'S SETTLED. I HAVE AN IDEA I WANNA GE TO MY BUSINESS-SAVVY DAUGHTERS. OH. THIS IS FOR ME AND MY CONTEMPORARIES WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE CHANGE. OKAY. INSTEAD OF HOT YOGA, YOU HAVE THE A.C. CRANKED UP TO 50, AND YOU HAVE FANS BLOWING LIKE A STORM. I'M CALLING IT "FROZEN YOGA." 'CAUSE THOSE ZUMBA PEOPLE HAVE MADE A FORTUNE, AND I THINK IT'S A LOCK. WHAT DO YOU THINK? IT'S GOOD, ISN'T IT? ISN'T IT GOOD? YES. MM. YES, MEL, PLEASE DO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK. UH... ACTUALLY, IT'S... INTERESTING. THERE'S DEFINITELY A MARKET FOR IT. I'M JUST A LITTLE CURIOUS, THOUGH. HOW DO YOU... BURN ANY CALORIES? THE WHOLE POINT OF BIKRAM IS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS, TO EXPEDITE. EXCUSE ME. THE WHOLE POIN OF YOGA IS TO SLOW DOWN AND STRETCH AND BREATHE. YEAH, IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SLOW DOWN, STRETCH, AND BREATHE. GIVE ME THAT THING. MOM. IS THERE AN APP FOR STOPPING TO SMELL THE ROSES? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW. MM, YES. AND MOM TELLS ME THA YOU'RE STAYING FOR THANKSGIVING. I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO THE BAHAMAS WITH YOUR FRIEN-- (thud) THE BAHAMAS? I-I ASSUMED THAT YOU WERE STAYING HERE WITH US. (sighs) I DIDN'T REALIZE THE DATES WHEN I BOOKED IT, AND NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE TICKETS ARE PAID FOR. SO... WELL, I GET IT. I MEAN, THAT--THAT'LL BE FUN WITH YOUR GIRLFRIENDS. I JUST WISH IT WASN'T THANKSGIVING. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA JUS BE DOING THE SAME OLD STUFF WE DO EVERY YEAR ANYWAY, SO... IT'LL BE FUN. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. I KNEW SHE WAS GONNA CRY. YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST TOLD HER YOU WERE GOING WITH A BOYFRIEND. SHE WOULD'VE... DRIVEN YOU TO THE AIRPORT HERSELF. MM. UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU DON' WANT CARTER TO KNOW. I DID HEAR THAT HE STOPPED BY. OH, REALLY? MM-HMM. GOOD OLD CARTER. STILL SINGLE. (thud) OW. (indistinct conversations) (gavel bangs) (woman) AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO MOTION FOR A VOTE. SAVE NOW HAS MADE A NEW GENEROUS OFFER FOR THE PROPOSED SITE, AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT-- MAYOR GORDON, WE HAVEN'T AGREED ON ANYTHING EXCEPT THA MOST OF US DON'T WAN THAT STORE IN OUR BACKYARD. (crowd cheers and murmurs) (applause) LET'S LET MEL SPEAK. (conversations fade) (sighs) IT'S EASY TO FORGE THAT THIS IS NOT JUS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE. IT'S EMOTIONAL. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT JOBS. IT'S ABOUT IDENTITY. THIS IS MY HOME, TOO. I LOVE STREETSVILLE, JUST LIKE THE REST OF YOU. IT'S THE VERY DEFINITION OF HOMEGROWN-- THE SHOPS, THE FOOD... THE WAY OF LIFE. IT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. BUT BUILDING A SAVE NOW MEGA STORE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THAT. OUR PHILOSOPHY IS TO EMBRACE THE IDENTITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THEN WHY DID BOTH NEIGHBORING COUNTIES REJECT YOUR PROPOSAL? (crowd clamors) I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE A NEW SAVE NOW IS GONNA BRING IN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM SURROUNDING TOWNS. (crowd clamors) NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THE STATE IS GONNA APPROVE A HIGHWAY COMING THROUGH HERE, AND THEN OUR TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY IS GONNA BECOME JUS ANOTHER ANONYMOUS SUBURB. THESE BULK STORES-- THEY SELL EVERYTHING. THEY'RE GONNA UNDERCU LOCAL PRICES, AND THEN YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. ONE BY ONE, ALL OF OUR MOM AND POP SHOPS THAT WE LOVE-- THEY WILL GO UNDER. EVERYONE SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHOICE IN THEIR FUTURE. DON'T YOU AGREE, CARTER? WELL, I DON'T KNOW, MELODY, NOT IF THAT CHOICE ISN'T MUTUAL AMONG BOTH PARTIES. I THINK WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS WHETHER A TOWN WANTS TO REMAIN MIRED IN ANONYMITY OR BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW. AND I THINK GROWTH IS STRONGES WHERE ONE'S ROOTS ARE DEEPEST. NOT UNLESS THEY'VE BEEN NURTURED. MAYBE THEY DIDN'T WANNA BE. CAN WE GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND? I MOTION FOR A VOTE. (man) NO! (crowd groaning) (man) COME ON! WE DON'T NEED A VOTE. (woman) WE'RE NOT READY TO VOTE! I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THIS OFF... (crowd speaking at once) A MOTION HAS JUST BEEN MADE TO DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL AFTER THE WEEKEND SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO READ SAVE NOW'S LATEST PROPOSAL. I SECOND THE MOTION. DONE. (gavel bangs) (indistinct conversations) MMM. COFFEE SMELLS GOOD. HEY, MOM. HEY, HONEY. I'M DOING SOME YOGA. YOU WANNA DO IT WITH ME? UH-- (doorbell rings) (door opens) (Mel) HELLO. (Carter) HEY. (door closes) WOW. ELAINE, LOOK AT YOU. NICE JOB. MUST HAVE BEEN NICE TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH YOUR DAUGHTER. OH, IT WAS WONDERFUL... WHEN SHE WASN'T ON THE PHONE. YOU GOT A SEC? UH, ACTUALLY, NO. I'M GETTING ON A CONFERENCE CALL IN 34 MINUTES WITH GERMANY. PERFECT. I'LL HAVE YOU BACK IN 33. WAIT. WAIT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? BYE! PUT ME DOWN! BYE! AAH! UHH! COME ON. YOU COULDN'T AT LEAS GET MY COAT? IT'S COLD OUT HERE. THIS IS AN... (muffled) ABDUCTION. WHERE ARE WE GOING? YOU'LL SEE SOON ENOUGH. (sighs) SO, UH... WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND OL' TRISHA? CAUGHT HER IN BED WITH SOMEONE. WOW. THAT'S ROUGH. DID YOU KNOW HIM? YES, I DID... KNOW HER. (stifles laugh) MM. SORRY. THAT'S... MM. (brakes squeal) (gears shift, engine turns off) OKAY, HERE WE ARE AT THE CORNER OF MEMORY LANE AND WHAT IS THE POINT? THE POINT IS I BOUGHT IT... AGAIN. (door squeaks) YOU LIVE HERE? I'M CONFUSED. I THOUGHT WE SOLD I WHEN I... TOOK THAT JOB AND LEFT ME? YEAH. NEW OWNERS SAT ON IT. I KEPT TABS ON IT, WHICH AGGRAVATED THE HELL OUT OF TRISHA, BUT IT AGGRAVATED HER EVEN MORE WHEN I SOLD MY PLACE TO BUY IT BACK AFTER WE SPLIT. SOUNDS LIKE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. SPENT THE LAST YEAR OR SO GUTTING I AND DOING ALL THIS, AND PENDING THE APPROVAL OF PERMITS, WE OPEN EARLY NEXT YEAR. WATCH YOUR HEAD 'CAUSE I'M HANGING SOME STUFF FROM THE CEILING, AND THE RUNNER IS NOT FIXED YET, MELODY. (squeals) (step creaks) OKAY, PLEASE DON'T CALL ME "MELODY." (sighs) WOW. OKAY. I'M IMPRESSED. YOU DID ALL THIS YOURSELF? WHAT? STRIP AWAY ALL THE OLD, REBUILD THE FOUNDATION ON MY OWN, REFINISH EVERYTHING MYSELF? YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING METAPHORICALLY, ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA CALL IT, THE BITTER B&B? (chuckles) I SEE YOU IN THERE, MEL. I-I SEE YOU UNDER ALL THIS, UNDER--UNDER THE... TAILORED SUIT AND ALL THA MAKEUP YOU PUT ON... (whispers) JUST TO MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE NOT WEARING ANY. F.Y.I.--I'M HAPPY. THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE. SEE? SERIOUSLY? HALF-STARVED? PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY? (huffs) WAIT. DO YOU THINK I LOOK SKINNY? HA! I THINK YOU ARE RUNNING FROM WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW TO WHAT YOU'LL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY END UP AT A PLACE THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST. AT LEAST I'M TRYING. ON THE WAY HERE, I PASSED BY THE CEMETERY. THAT IS FARTHER THAN MOS LOCALS GET FROM STREETSVILLE. HAS IT EVER EVEN OCCURRED TO YOU THAT STREETSVILLE ISN'T WHERE THEY ENDED UP BUT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY WANTED TO BE? (cell phone vibrates) I HAVE TO TAKE THIS. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU ARE STILL YOU, AND I AM ME, AND WE ARE RIGHT HERE IN THIS PLACE THAT WE USED TO BE US. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? WHAT? IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. IT WAS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. WE WERE YOUNG. I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS BAD TIMING. CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE, BUT I'M GONNA LEAVE NOW. AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE DONE HERE, YOUR LAWYERS ARE, UH, THEY'RE PRESSURING ME TO-- WELL, NO, THREATENING ME TO SELL JUST SO THEY CAN TEAR IT DOWN. I... I REALLY HAD NO IDEA. OUR BED & BREAKFAS IS RIGHT WHERE THE PARKING LO IS GOING TO BE. OKAY. IT'S NOT OURS. IT'S YOURS. AND I'M SURE YOU WERE OFFERED FAIR MARKET VALUE. AND I'M NOT SURE YOU EVEN KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD "VALUE," MEL. MAYBE YOU SHOULD LOOK THAT UP. THANKS FOR THE TOUR. I'LL WALK BACK. I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN. OH, REALLY? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT? MELODY, DON'T--DON'T-- OKAY, DON'T CALL ME "MELODY." FINE. JUST PLEASE, REMEMBER-- I REMEMBER EVERYTHING! THE RUNNER'S LOOSE! (screaming) MEL?! (groaning softly) OH, MELODY. (exhales) OH. SWEETHEART. OH, THANK GOD. YOU HAD US SCARED TO DEATH. HEY. (whispers) HI. HOW YOU FEELING? WHOA. WHAT--WHAT-- WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT, A MAN CAN'T KISS HIS OWN WIFE, MEL? WIFE? WE'RE NOT MARRIED. WHERE DO YOU LIVE, MELODY? MEL. 6001 LAKE STREET. CHICAGO. CHICAGO? AND WHERE DO YOU WORK? I'M THE VICE PRESIDEN OF OPERATIONS AT SAVE NOW. YOUR FULL NAME? MEL. MELODY GERARD. UH... MELODY McCLURE. AND WE LIVE ON ELM STREET, RIGHT HERE IN STREETSVILLE. WHAT? OKAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, BUT I AM NOT BUYING IT. SWEETIE, YOU GOT HI ON THE HEAD, OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN WE THOUGHT, SO YOU NEED TO TAKE IT EASY. YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE? NO, I KNOW WHO THEY ARE. I'M JUST NOT MARRIED, AND I DON'T LIVE IN STREETSVILLE, FOR GOD SAKE. MRS. McCLURE, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY SUFFERING SOME KIND OF DELUSION BROUGHT ON BY THE HEAD TRAUMA. YOU NEED TO LIE DOWN AND LET ME EXAMINE YOU FURTHER. WHAT I NEED TO DO IS GET OUT OF HERE. THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO DO. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T WANT THE STORE, BUT THIS IS SICK. MELODY, YOU--YOU DON'T REALLY THINK YOU'RE NOT MARRIED AND YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO AND YOU WORK FOR SAVE NOW? WHAT I THINK IS THA YOU ALL HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS, OKAY? MELODY, BACK IN BED. (doctor) MRS. McCLURE-- I HAVE TO PEE. DOES MARRIED MELODY STILL PEE? (whispers) WHAT? (sighs) (exhales deeply) OKAY, OKAY. (turns on faucet) (water running) (slaps palms) BAD DREAM, BAD DREAM. (breathes heavily) OW. NO. IT'S REAL. OKAY. IT'S A JOKE. IT'S A JOKE. OH, THEY'RE CRAZY. THEY'RE ALL CRAZY. YOU'RE NOT CRAZY. (whispers) YOU'RE NOT CRAZY. (knock on door) (woman) MEL? JUST A MINUTE. DOCTOR, WHAT IS GOING ON? PHYSICALLY, SHE'S FINE. UH, THE X-RAY SHOWS NO HEMORRHAGING. ONLY A SLIGHT CONTUSION WITH A RESULTING CONCUSSION. (sighs) MY GUESS IS THA SHE'S SUFFERING FROM SOMETHING CALLED LACUNAR AMNESIA. IT LEAVES A GAP IN THE RECORDED MEMORY. SHE'S OBVIOUSLY FILLED IT IN WITH A FANTASY, A WISH FULFILLMENT. YOU MEAN... SHE WISHES THAT-- THAT SHE NEVER... SHE'LL NEED TO SEE A SPECIALIST, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE GAP USUALLY CLOSES IN DUE TIME. SOMETIMES IT ONLY TAKES, YOU KNOW, ONE SMALL THING FOR IT ALL TO FALL BACK INTO PLACE, UH, SO TO SPEAK. MEL? YOU OKAY? (door creaks) (Panic Attack's "We Cry Diamonds" playing) IT'S OKAY, I'M FINE (panting) SORRY. YOU GOT ME STUCK RIGHT HERE, AND I WANNA MOVE ON BLOOD ON MY SHIRT YOU TRIED TO KEEP IT CLEAN, BUT I'M EASILY HURT I GET SO NERVOUS TELL ME, DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? OH, THANKS, MOM. MEL'S GONE. WHAT? TELL THE TRUTH, I EASILY BREAK ALREADY FORGO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY THIS HAS GOTTA BE THE WORST DAY EVER WANNA GET CLOSE, KEEP ON RUNNING AWAY UH... MOM! IT LOOKS LIKE-- IT LOOKS LIKE SHE TOOK YOUR CAR. WELL... MAYBE SHE WENT HOME? YEAH, EXCEPT SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HOME IS. WHAT WAS THAT ADDRESS IN CHICAGO? SHE'S ALL BROKE UP UH, UM... 6001 LAKE STREET, I THINK. 6001 LAKE STREET. ALWAYS IMAGINE THE WORST NEVER BEEN MUCH FOR SURPRISES PANIC JUST A LITTLE AT FIRST ALREADY FORGO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY DID YOU GET YOUR HAIR CUT? LOOKS GREAT. WANNA GET CLOSE, KEEP ON RUNNING AWAY UH, IT'S FINE. MM-HMM. KARL... SOMEBODY'S LATE. (exhales) I KNOW, I KNOW. YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO INTIMIDATE ME. MY WHOLE FAMILY IS IN ON IT. I HAVE A TON OF FILING, BUT RIGHT NOW I NEED YOU ON THE PHONE. PHONE? WHAT? LOOK... (sighs) I NEED DEAN, OKAY? I GOTTA TALK TO HIM. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE. IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS SENT YOU? OH, I KNOW. SO UGLY, RIGHT? UH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IT'S A LONG STORY. I HAVE MORE CLOTHES IN MY OFFICE. WHOA! LOOK, LADY-- OKAY, WHOA, KARL. "LADY"? I'M YOUR BOSS. OH, REALLY? HEY! IS THIS HOW IT'S GONNA GO? LOOK. SQUIRREL. SECURITY! (gasps) KARL? I KNEW YOU WERE GUNNING FOR MY JOB, BUT THIS IS A TAD SOON, DON'T YOU THINK? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CALL SECURITY? THE WORST DAY EVER NOW I'M ONE STEP CLOSER THERE, THERE! (screams) OKAY. LOOK, GUYS... OH, CRAP. I-I'M GONNA CALL HUMAN RESOURCES! DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A FIGHTER LOOK OUT, GIRLS. I EASILY BREAK ALREADY FORGO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY NO! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! (shouts indistinctly) WANNA GET CLOSE, KEEP ON RUNNING AWAY THIS IS GONNA BE THE WORST DAY, DAY, DAY FRAGILE, DON'T BREAK SHE LETS IT ALL HANG OU SO IT'S EASY TO TAKE GIRL'S MADE OF GLASS WHEN SHE'S ALL BROKE UP, SHE'S A PAIN IN THE... AHH OH! DEREK! JEN. THANK GOD. HI, GUYS. OH! THIS IS SO GREAT. THEY COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN TO YOU. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YOU. I'M SORRY. I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE, UM-- SEE, I WENT HOME TO STREETSVILLE, AND I HIT MY HEAD, AND THEN EVERYBODY STARTED PRETENDING LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW ME. I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE SOME ELABORATE PLAN SO I DON'T BUILD A SAVE NOW MEGA STORE. I DON'T KNOW. WHO ARE YOU? YEAH. WHO IS SHE, DEREK? (gasps) JEN, IT'S ME. YOUR FRIEND! YOU KNOW, THE ONE WHO ALWAYS LOOKS HOTTER THAN YOU, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY. (sighs) LOOK, I AM SORRY. I SHOULD HAVE LET YOU STAY AND MAKE ME BREAKFAST. I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING SO YUMMY LIKE FRITTATAS OR FANCY SCONES. I DON'T KNOW. NEXT TIME, I WILL, OKAY? JEN-- (slap) OH! WOW. SOMEONE'S CRANKY. (chuckles) JEN, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU COULD HAVE AT LEAST WAITED A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE YOU MADE YOUR MOVE. WHAT ABOUT GIRL CODE? (sighs) GUYS? (vehicles passing) (sighs) MEL! (horns honking in distance) MEL? ARE YOU OKAY? (sighs) YOU--YOU CAN'T--YOU CAN'T RUN OFF LIKE THAT, OKAY? YOU HIT YOUR HEAD. OH. WHAT, AM I SUPPOSED TO JUST BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING I REMEMBER-- MY WHOLE LIFE-- IS JUST A DELUSION BROUGHT ON BY A HEAD TRAUMA? NO, NOT YOUR WHOLE LIFE. JUST... (sighs) JUST THIS PART, I GUESS. THE DOCTOR SAID YOUR MEMORIES ARE GONNA COME BACK. JUST ONE LITTLE THING CAN TRIGGER THE REST. LET ME TAKE YOU HOME. COME ON. I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN. OKAY. WHAT? WHAT? DID YOU JUST... SEE SOMETHING? YOU REMEMBER SOMETHING? NO, I JUST KEEP THINKING THAT I'M GETTING PUNK'D. OKAY, HERE. TAKE THIS. TAKE THIS, OKAY? (brakes squeal) (car door opens) (car doors close) OH, GOD. DON'T TELL ME I HAVE KIDS. NOT YET, BUT WE HAVE FUN TRYING. GROSS. WE JUST GOT HOME, AND SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY. I THINK SHE JUST NEEDS SOME TIME TO SORT THINGS OUT. WE'LL COME BY LATER, OKAY? BYE. (cell phone beeps) THAT'S, UH, FOR THE GRAND OPENING. WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED RENOVATING. THIS IS WHERE I HIT MY HEAD. YEAH, THIS IS WHERE YOU SLIPPED AND FELL. EXACTLY. WHAT--WHAT ELSE DO YOU REMEMBER? WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT US? I REMEMBER EVERYTHING. WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO START? WE DATED ALL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, GOT ENGAGED RIGHT OU OF COLLEGE. BOUGHT THE INN. I GO THE JOB OFFER IN CHICAGO. YOU DIDN'T WANNA GO. I TOOK THE JOB, SO WE BROKE OFF THE ENGAGEMENT, AND... SOLD THE INN. OKAY. BUT THEN YOU CAME BACK, AND WE GOT MARRIED, AND THEN WE BOUGH THIS PLACE BACK WHEN THE OWNERS PUT IT UP FOR SALE A YEAR AGO TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED. NO. I DIDN'T COME BACK. UH, YES, YOU DID. YOU REMEMBER? IT WAS, UH, IT WAS RIGHT AFTER YOUR DAD DIED, AND--AND YOU STAYED. NO, I DIDN'T. I LEF RIGHT AFTER THE FUNERAL. I HAD TO GO OVERSEAS FOR WORK. MY MOM TOLD ME NOT TO FEEL GUILTY AND THAT SHE WAS FINE. I DIDN'T STAY. DON'T BE RIDICULOUS. YOU KNOW HOW UPSET YOUR MOM WAS. I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF DAUGHTER WOULD LEAVE HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER SHE LOSES THE LOVE OF HER LIFE? A TERRIBLE ONE. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME, BUT YOU-- YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE. YOU WILL. HEY. YOU'RE MY SWEET MELODY. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? OKAY, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU? PLEASE DON'T CALL ME THAT. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YOU LOVE I WHEN I CALL YOU THAT. OKAY, NOW I KNOW I'M HALLUCINATING. (clanging) OH, THANKS. OKAY. (footsteps approach) MEL, YOU SHOULD BE RESTING. YEAH, I AM. IS ANYTHING COMING BACK? I DIDN'T LOSE MY HEARING, MOM. SWEETHEART, TRY SOME OF THAT GINKGO BILOBA TEA. IT'S GOOD FOR MEMORY LOSS. WHAT'S HAPPENING? SHE'S GONNA BE FINE. HEY, MEL. WE ARE ALL FINISHED HERE. HEY, YOU. GOOD JOB. YOU WANT ME TO TAKE IT. OKAY. I'LL... HELP OUT. SURE. (dishes clink) CAN I GET A REFILL, MEL-A-DOODLE? FOOD DRIVE'S ALREADY MATCHED LAST YEAR'S, MEL. PATTY THINKS YOU'RE A SAINT. SO DO I. THANKS FOR GETTING GORDON TO LIFT THE ALCOHOL BAN AT THE SKATING RINK. YOU BETCHA. OWNER'S DAY OFF, RUSS. WAIT. I OWN THIS PLACE? MM-HMM. UH, YES, YOU DO. IN FACT... A CHAIN OF SWEET MELODY'S? AWESOME, RIGHT? YOU'VE ALREADY GOT INTERES FROM LIMITED PARTNERS. THE FIRST ONE IS PLANNED IN CHICAGO. COME HERE, HONEY. HERE'S YOUR TEA, SWEETIE. OH, THANKS, MOM. SO... "LIFE IS PLANNED WITH ONE PRINCIPLE OBJECTIVE "TO MAKE YOU DO ALL THE PARTICULAR THINGS YOU PARTICULARLY DON'T WANT TO DO." WAS THIS ALWAYS HERE? ALWAYS. WHY? IS IT TRIGGERING SOMETHING? (speaking Mandarin) (continues speaking Mandarin) I'M SORRY. I CAN'T-- I-I DON'T UNDERSTAND. (speaking Mandarin) XIXIE. XIXIE. (speaks Mandarin) (door creaks) (sighs) HMM. (flips page) (door creaks) (cup clatters) IS THIS WHAT I THINK IT IS? OVULATION CHART. YEAH, YOU MADE IT. WE WERE TRYING TO... YOU KNOW. UGH. OKAY. (laughs nervously) I DRIVE A STATION WAGON, AND I MADE AN OVULATION CHART. I LITERALLY HATE MYSELF. HEY, UH... SO, SHOULD I SLEEP ON THE COUCH, OR... MAYBE THAT IS A... BEST. UM, WELL, YOU KNOW... OBVIOUSLY, IT'S YOUR ROOM, SO... IT'S UP TO YOU. I COULDN'T FIND MY PAJAMAS, SO I BORROWED A SHIRT. UM, NO, ACTUALLY. THAT'S YOURS. OH. LOVELY. (jeans thud) UH, OKAY. (clears throat) UM... HEY, WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT YOU REMEMBER I SLEEP NAKED? OR THAT THIS-- THIS IS THE KEY DETAIL TO JOG YOUR MEMORY AND SENDING ALL THE REST FLOATING BACK? NOPE, PRETTY MUCH LOOKS THE SAME SINCE THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THANKS FOR TRYING. (laughs) YEAH. WELL, THE DOCTOR DID SAY "ANY LITTLE THING," SO... YOU KNOW. REALLY? IS THAT WHAT HE SAID? YEAH. HMM. (squeals) WHAT ARE YOU DOING? NO! THAT'S RIGHT. (laughs) I AM GONNA TICKLE YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU PEE YOUR PANTS WHENEVER YOU LAUGH TOO HARD. I'M NOT GONNA STOP. I'M NOT GONNA STOP. (laughs) OKAY. HMM. (sighs) YOU PRETTY MUCH KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME, HUH? YES, I DO. I KNOW--I KNOW EVERYTHING. I KNOW THAT YOU LIKE MAYONNAISE ON YOUR FRENCH FRIES. I KNOW YOU LOVE THE SMELL OF RAIN ON CONCRETE. I KNOW YOU HATE TECHNO MUSIC. I... (inhales deeply) I KNOW THAT YOU LOST YOUR LUNCH ON THE DOUBLE DRAGON AT FUN WORLD... (whispers) BECAUSE I WAS THERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I FELT LIKE SOMEBODY KNEW ME. FOR YEARS I WONDER WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF I HADN'T LEFT. IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE THIS, ONLY NOW I'M HERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF... (sighs) (switch clicks) DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT I SAID TO YOU ON OUR FIRST DATE? SOMETHING LIKE... "JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT HAVING SEX." EXACTLY. STILL APPLIES. EXCEPT IT WAS MORE... "LIKE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO NOT HAVING SEX." I HATE YOU. (chuckles) (floorboard creaks) (hangers clacking) (floorboard creaks) UGH. OH! WELL PLAYED, KARMA. MEL? WHAT ARE YOU-- WHAT--WHAT ARE YOU DOING? UH, NOTHING. JUST GOING FOR A WALK. C-COME ON BACK INSIDE, OKAY? 'CAUSE IT'S--IT'S--IT'S, UH... COLD OUT. (sighs) I'M SORRY. I CAN'T DO IT. I-I TRIED. I TRIED REALLY HARD LAST NIGHT, BUT THIS ISN'T ME. THIS--THIS ISN'T MY LIFE. UH... I AM--I'M VICE PRESIDEN OF A GLOBAL CORPORATION. I'M GOING TO THE BAHAMAS. I HAVE A SUITE ON THE BEACH! YOU WANNA--YOU WANNA GO TO THE BAHAMAS?! I'LL TAKE YOU, OKAY? YOU--YOU WANNA MOVE BACK TO THE CITY? FINE! I'LL--I'LL MOVE BACK. JUST DON' LEAVE ME AGAIN, OKAY? THE YEAR AFTER YOU LEFT ME, IT WAS... IT WAS THE WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE. WHAT? IT WAS? THAT MAKES ME SO... INCREDIBLY HAPPY. THE FOOD... IN THE FRIDGE THAT-- THAT WAS HALF-EATEN BY YOU, I-I STOPPED EATING IT SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO THROW IT OUT. THAT IS SO SWEET AND... KINDA GROSS AT THE SAME TIME. I PUT YOUR PILLOW IN A PLASTIC BAG SO I DIDN'T LOSE YOUR SMELL. OKAY, THAT'S A LITTLE STALKER-Y, BUT GO AHEAD. I LEFT THE SHOPPING LIS UP ON THE BLACKBOARD SO I DIDN'T ERASE YOUR HANDWRITING. I KEPT BUYING BANANAS AND TOILET PAPER AND--AND--AND PAPER TOWEL OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OH, THIS IS SO SADISTICALLY SATISFYING. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. FOR YEARS, I HAVE WONDERED IF YOU WERE TORTURED WHEN I LEFT, AND NOW I GET TO HEAR FIRSTHAND! JUST COME BACK IN THE HOUSE. PLEASE? COME ON. IT'S FREEZING. COME ON. WHY DIDN'T YOU COME AFTER ME? WHAT? YOU TOLD ME. NO, I WAITED... AND WAITED, AND YOU NEVER CAME. AND EVENTUALLY, THE FEELINGS OF--OF SUCCESS FILLED UP THE FEELINGS OF LONELINESS, AND THEN ALL THE MEN-- THEY COVERED UP MEMORIES OF YOU, AND THEN, THE--THE--THE--THE HIGHS OF MY CAREER LEVELED OU THE LOWS OF YOU NEVER COMING BACK FOR ME. YOU TOLD ME THA IF YOU LOVED SOMETHING, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SET IT FREE AND SEE IF IT COMES BACK! THAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD. WHAT AM I, A FREAKIN' BOOMERANG? HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN ONE ROMANTIC COMEDY? YOU ARE THE GUY. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CHASE AFTER THE GIRL YOU LOVE AND STOP HER FROM GETTING ON THE AIRPLANE. YOU TOOK MY CAR! IT'S A METAPHOR! IT WAS 14 YEARS AGO! YEAH, I REMEMBER I LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MELODY? HOME. AGAIN! NO, NO! THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO, MELODY! HEY, CAN YOU STOP CALLING ME "MELODY"? (car door closes, engine starts) (birds twittering) (sighs) (horn blaring) (blaring continues) (crying) WHY DO YOU HATE ME? (groans) (horn continues blaring) MEL? WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE, HONEY? OH, SWEETIE. COME ON IN. ANGELA'S HERE, TOO. I BARELY MADE IT PAS THE CEMETERY. DEAD PEOPLE GOT FURTHER OUT OF THIS TOWN THAN I DID. HONEY, AS LONG AS YOU'RE SITTING THERE, WHY DON'T YOU MASH SOMETHING? TOMORROW'S THANKSGIVING, AND IT'S NOT GONNA STOP FOR A CONCUSSION. HOW COULD TOMORROW BE THANKSGIVING ALREADY? UGH. AM I SUCH A MALCONTEN THAT... I MADE UP A WHOLE NEW LIFE SO DIFFEREN FROM THE ONE I ALREADY HAD? HARDLY. YOU'RE THE COUPLE EVERYONE LOVES TO HATE. HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS, STILL IN LOVE. REALLY? MEL, WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS. I MEAN, OF COURSE YOU WONDER WHAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE IF YOU'D NEVER LEFT CHICAGO. I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T? BIG-TIME EXECUTIVE, LIVING IN A HIGH-RISE, SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON WHATEVER YOU WAN WITH... WHOEVER YOU WANT. SORRY. LOOK, I... GOT A BAD ONE. YOU SAW ME THROUGH THAT. BUT CARTER... (clicks teeth) CARTER'S ONE OF THE GOOD ONES. IT'S A GOOD TIME OF YEAR, HONEY, TO BE COUNTING ONE'S BLESSINGS. MM. AND FROM WHERE I'M STANDING, YOU HAVE A LO TO BE THANKFUL FOR. (man) I DON'T KNOW WHY MY HEART FEELS THIS WAY (curtain rings swoosh) MM. WHEN I'M WITH YOU OH. RISE AND SHINE. ALL IS CALM AND I FEEL SAFE (whispers) COFFEE. WHEN I'M WITH YOU HERE YOU GO. THANKS. ASPIRIN? YEAH. OKAY. FADE AWAY MMM. HEY, IF, UM... IF THANKSGIVING WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY IS GONNA BE TOO MUCH, WE CAN JUST LOCK OURSELVES UP HERE AND WE CAN JUST ORDER A PIZZA OR SOMETHING, OKAY? HMM. YOU WISH. THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M A CIRCUS ACT. NO, THEY WON'T. THEY'RE GONNA TREAT YOU LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO. THAT'S MY POINT. LOOK... (sighs) I'M SORRY ABOUT YESTERDAY. I KINDA FREAKED OUT. THIS HAS TO BE HARD FOR YOU, TOO. BY MY SIDE LOVER, HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU YOU WANNA DO IT? YOU'RE THE ONE WHAT? I... (huffs) THAT'S HOW YOU NORMALLY APOLOGIZE. I JUST-- I HONESTLY THOUGHT MAYBE IT MIGHT JOG YOUR MEMORY A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S ALL. THIS TIME (slap) OH! WON'T YOU STAY GET OUTTA HERE. (indistinct conversations, laughter) (doorbell rings) IT'S THE BEST. OH! THEY'RE HERE, EVERYBODY. (door opens) (Elaine) HI! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (Carter) HEY. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. YEAH. WELCOME. COME IN, SWEETIE. HMM. COME ON. COME ON, HONEY. OKAY, FINE. (sighs) (whispers) HOW'S SHE DOING? (speaking indistinctly) OH, MEL. YOU POOR GIRL. I'M YOUR AUNT CHRISSY. REMIND HER SHE OWES US SOME MONEY. I HAVE A DOCTOR YOU SHOULD MEET. 100% HOLISTIC. HIS HYPOTONIC THERAPY IS REVOLUTIONARY. LOOK AT HER. SHE'S A NEW PERSON. HERE. I BROUGHT YOU SOME CHINESE HERBS TO TRY. OKAY! MEL, I COULD REALLY USE YOUR HELP IN THE KITCHEN. (indistinct conversations in distance) COME ON IN, GUYS! FOOD'S COMING OUT! COME ON, YOU ALL. (singsongy) GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT! (indistinct conversations) WHERE SHOULD I PU THE STUFF, MAN? IS THERE ANY ROOM HERE? SAVE THIS... (indistinct conversations) WE ALSO HAVE WHITE. WHO WANTS RED? (woman) COULD HAVE TAKEN TOO MANY MOVES (all cheer) HOME TO ME OKAY. THANKSGIVING IS A FUNNY SORT OF HOLIDAY, AND EVERY YEAR, FAMILIES GET TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE IN THEIR LIVES... AND THEN BITCH AND MOAN ABOUT IT. SO... (laughter) HERE'S TO BITCHING AND MOANING! TO BITCHING... SHE'S TALKING TO YOU. (clink) (laughs) I THINK SHE'S TALKING TO YOU. ONE MORE THING, AND MEL DOESN'T KNOW THIS. WHOOPS. BUT SWEET MELODY'S WON THE S.B.B. MERIT AWARD. (Carter) COME ON! THEY RECOGNIZE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND MEL HAS BUIL THAT RELATIONSHIP, NOT ME. SHE HAS MADE SWEET MELODY'S A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND INSPIRED THIS TOWN TO STAY TRUE TO ITS ROOTS, SO I'M SO PROUD OF YOU, HONEY. THAT'S AMAZING. YEAH. AW. MM! YAY! YAY. ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO, GUYS. COME ON, THE FIRST CUT. FIRST CUT. OH. YES. OKAY. HERE WE GO. WE GOT SOME MORE COMING IN HERE. (indistinct conversations) COULD TAKE HIM, GONE SOMEPLACE TAKE HIM, CUDDLE WITH DRINKS YES, I DO. COULD'VE TAKEN FAR TOO LONG I WISHED IT ALL ALONG (mouth full) THIS IS REALLY GOOD. YOU COULD MAKE IT HOME TO ME OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH YOU READY? FOR WHAT? ICE SKATING. (chuckles) I DON'T-- I DON'T DO ICE SKATING. BUT... WE DO. REMEMBER? OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH ACTUALLY, I DO. THAT'S OUR TRADITION. B-BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO. NO, I WANT TO. OKAY. (chair scrapes floor) THANK YOU. HOME TO ME HOME TO ME (indistinct conversations continue) HEY, WHY DO YOU HATE YOUR NAME? "MELODY"? YEAH. (chuckles) I DON'T KNOW. I WANNA BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. "MELODY" IS LIKE... SILLY FLOWER CHILD. IT'S LIKE ONE STEP AWAY FROM "CRYSTAL" WITH A "K." (laughs) HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED IT UP? I MEAN, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS? YES! MELODY. IT'S A MELODY. IT'S A MELODY. A MELODY IS BY DEFINITION, A SWEET SUCCESSION OF SOUNDS LIKE SOUND A ROCKING CHAIR MAKES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING COFFEE ON THE PORCH... OR THE SOUND OF YOU SINGING IN THE KITCHEN WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN HEAR YOU. (laughs) THE SOUND OF YOUR SARCASTIC, SMART MOUTH THAT SHOULD ACTUALLY JUST INFURIATE ME, BUT REALLY JUST MAKES ME WANNA KISS YOU EVEN MORE. DON'T WORRY I GOT YA. I GOT YA. I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU FALL. (chuckles) (laughter) (woman) IN YOUR ARMS I GET LOST AND DRIFT AWAY THIS FEELS LIKE A DREAM IT'S NOT THE BAHAMAS, BUT... IT'S OURS. IT IS. IT'S OURS. IT'S REAL, ISN'T IT? (whispers) YEAH. IS THAT OKAY? I DON'T KNOW. BUT I DON'T WANT I TO NOT BE REAL EITHER. THIS COULD BE THE LOVE THAT WE... (whispers) HAPPY THANKSGIVING. THIS COULD BE THE NIGHT THAT RIGHTS ALL WRONG WILL LEAVE ALONE (train horn blows in distance) DID YOU GET YOUR SCONE YET? NO? OKAY, HANG ON. OH, YOU ARE GONNA LOVE THAT. UH, LET ME GRIND THA FOR YOU BEFORE YOU GO. CHAR, CAN YOU TAKE BOBBY HIS SCONE? OOH, RUSS, UH, I ORDERED THOSE EXTRA CHRISTMAS DINNERS FOR THE DRIVE. SO TELL PATTY TO CALL ME. OKAY, WILL DO. OKAY. (woman) MAYBE YOU'LL WISH FOR SOMETHING BETTER ALL RIGHT, SO I GOT TABLE SEVEN. PERFECT, YEP. YEAH, I JUST ARRIVED. CAN I GET A COFFEE, PLEASE? YEAH, I'M RIGHT THERE. BECAUSE MAYOR GORDON HAS ASSURED ME SHE HAS ALL THE VOTES ON CITY COUNCIL. LOOK, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BROKEN GROUND BEFORE THANKSGIVING. UH, I KNOW THE INVESTORS ARE BREATHING DOWN MY NECK. WHAT I NEED IN STREETSVILLE IS A MOLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE OTHER SIDE. APPARENTLY, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY AT SAVE NOW WHO KNOWS WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON IN THIS TOWN. BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE PERSONALLY TO SEAL THE DEAL MYSELF. OH! OH, I AM SO, SO SORRY. OH, THAT'S--THAT'S FINE. YOU'RE DEAN WILCOX. HAVE WE MET? WELL, THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION. EXCUSE ME? YOU'RE DEAN WILCOX. I'M SORRY BUT I DON'T REMEMBER-- NEITHER DO I. BUT SOMEHOW I DO. EXPLAIN THAT. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? HEY, MEL. OH, CARTER. CARTER McCLURE? YEAH. OH, DEAN WILCOX. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A HARD MAN TO REACH. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE PERFECTLY CLEAR THA THE ANSWER IS STILL NO. OH, BUT I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU-- NEWS THAT WILL AFFEC YOUR BUSINESS. (paper rustling) WHAT IS THAT, MEL? THE INN HAS BEEN DENIED ITS BUSINESS PERMITS. IMAGINE THAT. OH, THEY'RE ALL IN CAHOOTS. THOSE DIRTY RATS. WELL, THEY ARE OFFERING DOUBLE MARKET VALUE IN HOPES THAT WE'LL WALK. WELL, SINCE THEY WON' LET YOU DO BUSINESS ANYWAY, IT MIGHT BE AN OPTION TO CONSIDER. EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT'S NO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT. WHAT I WANT IS JUST TO KEEP WHAT'S OURS. THAT--THAT'S IT. I MEAN, WE DIDN'T BUILD THIS PLACE UP JUST SO THEY COULD TEAR IT DOWN. THEY'RE NOT GONNA STOP UNTIL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT. WE'RE IN THEIR CROSSHAIRS NOW, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE INN. NO BUSINESS IN THIS TOWN CAN COMPETE WITH A STORE LIKE THAT. (indistinct conversations) (gavel bangs) SETTLE DOWN PEOPLE. THIS MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION. THIS IS THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE MEASURE TO APPROVE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAVE NOW. (whispers) THANK YOU. (normal voice) LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS DEAN WILCOX. AND I JUST WANT TO STAR BY SAYING THAT WE ARE NO THE ENEMY HERE, FOLKS. SAVE NOW IS ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE. WELL, I GUESS THAT MEANS THAT NEITHER OF US WANT A MEGA STORE, THEN. HEAR, HEAR! MM-HMM. NOW, COME ON, ELAINE. THE DATA CLEARLY SHOWS THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD FOR EVERYONE. EVEN MEL'S CAFE. DO YOU INTEND TO TEAR DOWN MY INN TO MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR NEW SAVE NOW STORE, MAYOR GORDON? THERE IS A LEGAL RIGH TO PURSUE CERTAIN PROCEDURES IF THE CITY BELIEVES THA IT'S IN THEIR BEST INTERES OF THE CITY. WHAT ABOUT A MORAL RIGHT? YOU. (chuckles) YOU'RE THE WAITRESS WHO SPILLS COFFEE ON HER CUSTOMERS. I AM THE WAITRESS THAT OWNS THE CAFE... WHERE I SPILL COFFEE ON MY CUSTOMERS. (scattered laughter) WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, DO YOU-- DID YOU SHOW THEM THE SIPHON REPORT? OH, NO. THAT'S IN-HOUSE ONLY, ISN'T IT? THAT REPORT DETAILS THE EXPANDED MARKET SHARES OF LOCAL BUSINESSES. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN AVERAGE EXPECTANCY OF 5 YEARS BEFORE 92% DOMINANT PROFIT MARGINS ARE ACHIEVED IN EVERY DEPARTMENT. (lowered voice) HOW DOES SHE KNOW THAT? I HAVE NO IDEA. (clears throat) WHO IS THIS WOMAN? YOU DO HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT. IT'S ALL LEGAL. THAT'S HOW YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT, RIGHT? CAN WE BRING THIS TO A VOTE? YES, YES, I MOVE TO-- ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO USE THE EXISTING PLOT PLAN? EXCUSE ME? WHAT ABOU THE UTILITY SERVICES? SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, THE EASEMENT? (chuckles) YOU WANT A FIGHT? IT'LL RUIN THIS TOWN. NO, SAVE NOW IS GONNA RUIN THIS TOWN, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN. NO! (gavel bangs) WE HAVE NO INTERES IN A FIGHT. I'M GONNA FILE A 4-4-1 INJUNCTION. THERE'S GONNA BE SO MUCH RED TAPE, YOU WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO OPEN A TOOLBOX. WHO ARE YOU? I WISH I KNEW. WELL, YOU FILE YOUR INJUCTION. IT'LL DRAIN EVERY RESOURCE YOU HAVE. (applause) YAY, MEL! WHOO! (Elaine) WOO-HOO! CAN YOU REALLY FILE A 4-4-1 INJUNCTION? NO, I MADE THAT PART UP. WHAT? BUT DID YOU SEE HIS FACE? HE'S UNNERVED. OKAY, RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE AN 11B ZONING PERMIT. HOWEVER, LAST YEAR A NEW PROVISION WAS MADE WHICH REQUIRES A 6-MONTH ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. NOW THEY HAVE TO FILE THA WITH THE STATE, BUT SOMETIMES THEY PURPOSEFULLY FILE THAT AS A P.E.P. PROGRESS REPOR WHICH CAN BYPASS CERTAIN LINE ITEM REQUIREMENTS. THEY KNOW IT'S JUST GONNA GE BUMPED RIGHT BACK TO ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT THEIR HOPE IS THEY ALREADY HAVE ALL THE STATE SIGNATURES THEY NEED, SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PAYING A FINE. ALWAYS EASIER TO BEG FORGIVENESS THAN ASK PERMISSION. ANGELA, I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE DEPARTMEN OF BUILDING AND SAFETY. GET ME THAT 11B PERMIT. MOM, GO DOWN TO CITY RECORDS. SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ANY GRANDFATHERED ZONING LAWS. MAYBE WE'LL GET LUCKY AND THE INN WAS BUILT ON SACRED BURIAL GROUND OR SOMETHING. OKAY. CARTER, FIND ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ON THE INN-- TAX RECORDS, PURCHASE AGREEMENT, EVERYTHING. YOU SHOULD ALL BE SO LUCKY TO BUMP YOUR HEAD. GO! OH. LOOK, RACHEL, YOU'RE A CAREER POLITICIAN. I HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT VOTES COUNT MOST FOR YOU. AND FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY, I KNOW IN GREAT DETAIL HOW SAVE NOW DOES BUSINESS. AND WHATEVER PROMISES THEY'VE MADE YOU, YOU ARE GONNA END UP FOOTING THE BILL. THEY'VE ASSURED ME THE TOWN-- THE TOWN AND SAVE NOW ARE EQUAL PARTNERS. JUST GIVE ME SOME TIME, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THAT THEY'RE NOT. WE STILL HAVE 48 HOURS BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTES. BUT WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FIGHT 'EM, MEL. BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING BETTER. SOMETHING WE DON'T WANNA LOSE. SO WE ARE GONNA FIND THEIR ACHILLES HEEL AND EXPLOIT IT. WHEN I WAS AT SAVE NOW... COMPANIES LIKE SAVE NOW PUT PUBLIC IMAGE ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THIS THE OLD FASHIONED WAY. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SAVE NOW? WELL, SO OFTEN, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE. LIKE THE SYSTEM IS BIGGER THAN US. WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING, NOT IN OUR TOWN, NOT ANYMORE. YAY, MEL! LET'S PUT THE PRIORITY BACK IN THE COMMUNITY, AND NOT SO MUCH ON THE PROFIT. DAVID, OR IN THIS CASE, MEL VERSUS GOLIATH. ONLY THIS TIME, IT'S NOT A SIMPLE STONE SHE CARRIES IN HER SLING. IT'S A WAY OF LIFE. BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH... WHO THE HELL IS THIS WOMAN? SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH. THEY MUST'VE HACKED OUR SYSTEM. THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. NOT ON OUR 100th STORE OPENING. WELL, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD TURN THIS TO OUR ADVANTAGE. HOW? BY TURNING IT TO HERS. (telephone rings) YOU LOOKED SO GOOD. THAT WAS AMAZING. GREAT JOB, MEL. (ring) THIS IS MEL. (Carter) SO RELAXED AND CONFIDENT. SHE'S HANGING OU ON TV. SHH! IT'S DEAN WILCOX FROM SAVE NOW. UH, YES. NO, I DON'T-- OKAY, UM, I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW AT 11:00. (beep) (telephone clatters) WELL, HE WANTS TO MEE WITH ME. I THINK WE DID IT. (laughter) YES! (exhales loudly) (siren wailing in distance, horn honks) I DON'T KNOW WHAT MR. WILCOX INTENDS HERE, BUT I ASSURE YOU IF YOUR TIME AT SAVE NOW EXTENDS BEYOND THIS MEETING, I WILL MAKE I A LIVING HELL. NO, YOU WON'T, KARL. YOU'LL SUCK UP TO MY FACE, AND THEN TALK ABOUT ME WHEN I LEAVE THE ROOM, BUT THAT'S BUSINESS. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. (phone rings) MRS. McCLURE. SO NICE OF YOU TO COME. MAY I CALL YOU "MEL"? SURE, DEAN. YOU'RE SAVVY. A REAL COMMANDO-- GOOD QUALITIES IN BUSINESS, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. BUSINESS, RIGHT? ACTUALLY, I THINK IN THIS CASE IT'S A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL. I UNDERSTAND. PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT. I PREFER TO STAND. YOU INVITED ME HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE IN TROUBLE. BAD P.R.--IT'S NOT SO GOOD FOR THE BOTTOM LINE, RIGHT? I THINK YOU OVERESTIMATE YOUR POSITION. ALL THIS BAD PRESS-- WE'VE DEAL WITH IT BEFORE. IT'LL GO AWAY BEFORE THAT STORE OPENS. IT ALWAYS DOES. AND GUESS WHAT? THE PEOPLE STILL COME AND BUY FROM US. THEN WHAT AM I DOING HERE? WE COULD USE SOMEONE LIKE YOU. (chuckles) YOU'RE JOKING, RIGHT? YOU'RE SMART, GOOD IN A ROOM, MADE MINCEMEAT OUT OF ME. AND YOU SEEM TO HAVE AN INTUITION ABOUT OUR BUSINESS. STARTING SALARY-- $150,000. CONDOMINIUM, CAR. LET'S BE HONEST. SMALL TOWN LIVING CAN BE NICE, BUT IT CAN GE A LITTLE STALE AFTER A WHILE. WHAT ABOUT THE STORE? ONCE YOU SIGN ON HERE, YOU CAN BE MY PERSON ON THE INSIDE OF THE OTHER SIDE. SO YOU WANT ME TO GO BACK AND TELL THEM THAT WE LOST? AND THAT I TOOK A JOB WITH SAVE NOW? I WANT YOU TO GO BACK AND TELL THEM THAT THERE ARE SOME OFFERS THAT ARE SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO REFUSE. CARTER? (Carter) YEAH, I'M UP HERE! SO HOW'D IT GO? (sighs) REMEMBER WHEN YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULD, UH, COME TO CHICAGO WITH ME? YEAH. WELL... THEY OFFERED YOU A JOB? ARE YOU SERIOUS? WHAT, DO THEY THINK THEY CAN JUST WRITE YOU A CHECK AND GET WHATEVER THE HELL THEY WANT? $150,000 CHECK AND A CONDO, NEW CAR. WHAT, YOU ACTUALLY CONSIDERED THIS? OH, I DON'T KNOW. IT FELT KIND OF GOOD TO BE WANTED LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW? CARTER, THAT IS WHO I WAS. THAT IS WHO I THOUGHT I WAS, ANYWAY. AND--AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I KNOW ALL THAT STUFF. BUT SOMEHOW I'M REALLY GOOD AT IT. (sighs) I JUST DON'T WANNA FEEL LIKE I'M-- STUCK? I DIDN'T SAY THAT. NO, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO. SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TELL EVERYBODY? THAT YOU GOT A BETTER OFFER? I MEAN, IS THAT WHA YOU'RE TELLING ME RIGHT NOW? AREN'T YOU TIRED OF WORKING YOURSELF TO THE BONE JUST SO YOU CAN GET AHEAD? HAVE YOU EVER EVEN CONSIDERED THAT MAYBE WE ALREADY ARE AHEAD? THAT'S WHY I TURNED THEM DOWN. WHAT? I TURNED THEM DOWN, YOU BIG OAF. MEL-- I ALREADY SAID NO. (Carter) WHOA! OH! WHOA, YOU OKAY? YEAH, YOU MIGHT WANNA NAIL DOWN THAT RUNNER BEFORE WE OPEN. SO YOU REALLY TURNED THEM DOWN? YES. WHAT KIND OF SCOUNDREL DO YOU THINK I AM? I THINK YOU'RE A CUTE ONE, SO I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES. (giggles) WHOA. WHAT? YOU OKAY? YEAH, I-I JUST FEL THIS WEIRD FEELING ALL OF A SUDDEN THA I'M FINALLY READY TO ACCEP THAT ALL OF THIS IS... REAL? YEAH. EVERYTHING IS SO REAL. AAH! MEL! MEL? MEL? OH, MY GOD. MEL? (breathing heavily) CARTER? MELODY? HI. OH, HONEY, YOU GAVE US QUITE A SCARE. OH, WHAT AM I DOING HERE? YOU TOOK A FALL AT THE INN. YOU'VE BEEN OUT COLD. YOU'VE QUITE A LUMP ON YOUR HEAD, MS. GERARD. GERARD? MELODY GERARD? MELODY McCLURE. EXCUSE ME? MELODY McCLURE. WE'RE MARRIED. I'M--I'M SORRY. MARRIED? INTERESTING. UH, WHERE DO YOU LIVE? ELM STREET? OKAY, DOC, I THINK SHE... MIGHT NEED SOME MORE TESTS. OH. (sighs) NOT AGAIN. YOU THINK... THAT WE'RE MARRIED? YES! NO. YES? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. I HIT MY HEAD, AND I WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL. AND I THOUGHT THAT I WORKED AT SAVE NOW AND LIVED IN CHICAGO. YOU DO. YES, AND I WAS CONCEITED AND RUDE. YOU ARE. MEL, YOU'VE BEEN OU FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING. NO, IT WAS REAL. AND YOU WERE THERE, AND YOU WERE THERE. AND YOU WERE THERE. AND THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, HEY. AND WE HAD A GREAT BIG THANKSGIVING DINNER. SWEETHEART, THANKSGIVING ISN'T FOR THREE MORE DAYS. YOU JUST GOT HERE ON FRIDAY. BUT, OH, I'M JUST SO GLAD YOU'RE OKAY. CAN'T SAY THAT THE RES OF THE TOWN FEELS THE SAME WAY. OKAY, UM, COULD I TALK TO CARTER ALONE? (P.A. tone chimes) (woman speaking indistinctly over P.A.) (sighs) IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A DREAM. IT WAS SO REAL. (chuckles) THAT'S NOT FUNNY. NO, ACTUALLY, IT--IT IS KIND OF FUNNY. WELL, I MEAN, NOT THE PAR WHERE YOU GOT HURT. BUT SEEING YOU LIKE THIS, IT'S--IT'S ALMOST THE GIRL I REMEMBER BACK WHEN... WHAT? NEVER MIND. IT WAS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. (sighs) OKAY, LOOK. I'M SO SORRY THA I DIDN'T COME BACK SOONER. BUT I'M HERE NOW. YOU--YOU HAVE SOME NERVE. 14 YEARS LATER, YOU-- YOU THINK THAT I'M ACTUALLY HOLDING ON TO SOMETHING? WELL, I AM SO SORRY TO DISAPPOINT. OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT WASN'T ALL MY FAULT. YOU DID NOT CARE ABOUT MY... FEELINGS. YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAD ASPIRATIONS. OH, YOU HAD ASPIRATIONS? YES, I DID. ASPIRATIONS. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WASN'T READY THEN. BUT I'M READY NOW. MEL, W-WAIT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? PUTTING ON MY PANTS. WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE I'M DOING? NO, NOT A GOOD IDEA. NO, IT IS A GOOD IDEA. (thud) OH, OKAY. THERE IT IS. SHE'S DOWN. I'M OKAY. I'M UP. LET'S GO. LET'S GO TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. WAIT, WHAT? LISTEN, BUDDY. I FELL FOR YOU. LITERALLY, JUST NOW. FELL FOR YOU. SO DON'T BLOW THIS, OKAY? YOU ACTUALLY EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU GET THIS DONE? NO, TO STOP IT. MOVE IT! SO WHY THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF HEART? I TOLD YOU, IT WASN'T SO SUDDEN. I GOTTA GET YOU BACK. YOU--YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR. IT WASN'T SO BAD. ACTUALLY, IT WAS PRETTY GREAT. WHAT? JUST BEING BACK. BEING WITH YOU. I SAW YOU LAST FRIDAY. AND FOR LIKE AN HOUR THIS MORNING. OKAY, DON'T PLAY COY WITH ME, CARTER McCLURE. I KNOW YOU HAVE MY PILLOW IN A PLASTIC BAG. WAIT, HOLD, HOLD, HOLD. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? AND YOU MAY OR MAY NO HAVE 14-YEAR-OLD MAYO IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR? YOU'RE DELUSIONAL. DO YOU KNOW THAT? ARE YOU-- ARE YOU ON BATH SALTS? THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE-- THAT LOOK IN YOUR EYE. I BET YOU EVEN LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD "MELODY," DIDN'T YOU? YEAH, IN YOUR CASE, IT'S THAT ANNOYING SONG SO GRATING ON YOUR NERVES... (both) THAT YOU JUST CAN' GET IT OUT OF YOUR HEAD. I LOVE YOU, TOO, CARTER. NO, I THINK EVERYONE WILL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS IN THE END. THANK YOU. YOU, TOO, SIR. BY. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, THAT WAS YOUR BOSS ON THE PHONE. DON'T SEND THE LAND DEEDS. OH, I JUST MESSENGERED THEM ALL TO THE LAWYERS THREE MINUTES AGO. IT'S A DONE DEAL. IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO A VOTE. CONGRATULATIONS. (cell phone vibrates) THIS IS MEL. MEL? DEAN. Nice work. You got 'em, Hammer. Now I need you to get back in-- (telephone rings in distance) (clanging) OH, WHAT DID THE MAYOR SAY? WHAT'S THAT? "EMINENT DOMAIN." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IF THE CITY DECIDES IT'S IN THE BEST INTERES OF THE MUNICIPALITY, THEY CAN TAKE WHATEVER THEY WANT. THEY CAN TAKE ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY, LIKE IT OR NOT? YEAH. SO THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR DOWN THE INN? (sighs) CAN'T WE STOP THEM? NO. IT'S OVER. I'M SORRY. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. (clanging over door) (door closes) YOU OKAY? MOM, I SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE MORE, AFTER DAD DIED, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE OKAY. BUT I DIDN'T. I SHOULD'VE COME BACK MORE OVER ALL THE YEARS AND-- OH, IT WAS A MISTAKE. A BIG ONE. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. BUT I UNDERSTOOD. I KNEW YOU WERE BUSY. HEY, DID YOU EVER REGRE LEAVING CHICAGO? NEVER. YOU GIRLS WANTED A YARD TO PLAY IN. YOUR DADDY AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS TOWN-- THE PEOPLE, THE ARCHITECTURE, THE HISTORY. THE FIRST TIME WE EVER VISITED, WE STAYED RIGHT HERE. (chuckles) IN CARTER'S INN. A WHO'S WHO OF PEOPLE HAVE STAYED HERE. BUILT IN 1870, RIGHT? YEP. YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I LIKE ABOUT THIS TOWN? ON ALMOST EVERY STREE THERE IS AN OLD BUILDING THAT IF YOU ASK WHAT STOOD THERE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, IT WOULD BE THAT SAME BUILDING. WE MAY BE OUTNUMBERED BY THE MONEY PEOPLE WHO THINK VALUE IS IN THE FUTURE, BUT THERE IS VALUE IN THE PAST, TOO. CAN I BORROW THESE, MOM? SURE. SO, WHEN ARE YOU HEADING OUT? (sighs) I THINK THE SOONER I GET OUT OF DODGE, THE BETTER. LOVE YOU. (voice breaks) LOVE YOU. (woman) WHOA, OH-OH WHOA, OH-OH, SHINE YOUR LIGHT IT'S ALL ABOU THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU COMFORTED WHEN YOU WERE HERE I HAVE WHAT I NEED WHOA, OH. HI. WHOA, RELAX, MS. MIYAGI. DEAN IS LOOKING FOR YOU. LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND (laughter) OH. MEL, GOOD TIMING. CONGRATULATIONS AND A GREAT JOB. UM, DEAN, I NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU ALONE. IT'S IMPORTANT. WHAT DO ALL OF THESE HAVE IN COMMON? I DON'T KNOW. THEY'RE ALL DEAD? YES, THAT. BUT WHAT ELSE? MOST OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE STILL THERE. THEY MEAN SOMETHING TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE. THE--THE PEOPLE THA WERE BORN IN THEM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA DIE IN THEM. WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT? WHAT I'M GETTING-- WHAT I'M SAYING IS THEY HAD VALUE WHEN THEY WERE BUILT. THEY STILL HAVE VALUE TODAY. DID YOU BUMP YOUR HEAD OR SOMETHING? YES, BUT THA IS BESIDES THE POINT. THE POINT IS, IS WE BREAK GROUND ON OUR 100th STORE TOMORROW. AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY HAMMER, IS THAT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO RECONSIDER. YES! THESE PEOPLE-- THESE PEOPLE-- I'M AFRAID TO SAY, MEL-- ARE GONNA BE LIKE THESE PEOPLE IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH-- DEAD AND GONE. PROGRESS LIVES ON. OH, AND WHEN THIS DEAL CLOSES, THAT INTERNATIONAL POSITION'S YOURS. HEAD OF OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT? YOU'RE GIVING ME THE POSITION? YEAH, SHARK LIKE YOU, NO KIDS, NOTHING TO TIE YOU DOWN. YOU'RE THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THE JOB. (telephone ringing in distance) (sighs) YOUR ITINERARY. ITINERARY? THE BAHAMAS. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL GIG. I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WOULD GET IT. THANKS. (door closes) (dance music playing) AND THEN HE SAYS, "OH, MY GIRLFRIEND GAVE IT TO ME." (chuckles) AND I'M LIKE, REALLY? I JUST SPENT 45 OF THE BEST FLIRTING MINUTES OF MY LIFE AND NOW YOU TELL ME YOU'VE GO A FREAKING GIRLFRIEND? HELLO, EARTH TO MEL? YEAH? WHERE ARE YOU? I'M RIGHT HERE... WHERE WE ALWAYS ARE. OH, I'M SORRY. ARE WE BORING YOU? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT DREAMS? WHAT, LIKE, FAILED ONES? IT WAS SO REAL. IT WAS LIKE IT WASN'T A DREAM. IT WAS LIKE I WAS REALLY THERE. BUT I WASN'T. WAS I? WAS I? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? COME ON, WE LEAVE TOMORROW FOR THE BAHAMAS. YOU'RE ACTING LIKE WE'RE AT A FUNERAL. AND YOU JUS GOT A PROMOTION. WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE DEPRESSED ABOUT? I'LL SEE YOU GUYS AT THE AIRPORT. (woman) I'M GONNA RULE THE WORLD YEAH (switch clicks) (door closes) (keys jangle) (keys clatter) (beeps) (Elaine) Mel, it's Mom. Um, honey, I know under the circumstances you don't wanna show your face around here, but it would mean so much to us if you could just come back home for Thanksgiving. But no matter what you decide, I want you to know that you're a wonderful daughter. Okay, bye, sweetheart. (beep) (beep) KARL? I NEED YOUR HELP. (typing) PUBLIC ARCHIVES, 1870 TO 1900. THANK YOU. OH, AND I'M SORRY I CALLED YOU A SUCK UP. (telephone ringing in distance) NO, NO, NO, COME ON, PEOPLE. OH. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS. SAMUEL CLEMENS. MARK TWAIN. MEL. WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE? I THOUGHT YOU WERE ON A FLIGHT TO THE BAHAMAS. UH, NO, I, UM HAVE A COUPLE HOURS. WELL, I'D RATHER STILL SEE YOU AT THE CEREMONY. I MEAN, AFTER ALL, IT'S ALL HAPPENING BECAUSE OF YOU. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, YOU DON'T WANT ME THERE. I AM PRETTY MUCH PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE. BESIDES, I'M, UH, LOOKING INTO A NEW E.P.A. FILING. YEAH, WE COULD HAVE A PROBLEM. DON'T LIKE PROBLEMS, MEL. BRADLEY, OUR C.E.O., IS FLYING IN FROM NEW YORK. AND, UH, NOT IN A VERY FORGIVING MOOD. I AM WORKING ON IT. DON'T START UNTIL I SAY SO. FIX I BEFORE BRADLEY FIXES ME. AND TWO GUESSES WHO I FIX. I INTENDED TO. (Carter) Hey, it's Carter. Leave a message. (beep) CARTER? HI. I KNOW I AM THE LAST PERSON THAT YOU WANT TO TALK TO RIGHT NOW. BUT I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, OKAY? SO CALL ME BACK. OH! YOU DO KNOW TOMORROW'S THANKSGIVING? YES, I'M AWARE OF THAT. WE USUALLY LIKE TO CLOSE EARLY THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. GIVE US MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER WHICH IS TOMORROW. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S NO SMALL THING COOKING DINNER FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. I'M SORRY. (line ringing) (Carter) Mel? CARTER. THEY'RE ABOUT TO STAR THE BULLDOZER. I CAN'T--I CAN'T EVEN GET IN TO FINISH GETTING MY STUFF OUT. IT'S A REAL NICE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN. I NEED YOUR HELP. YOU WANT MY HELP? YES, STALL THEM. AND HOW DO I DO THAT? USE YOUR IMAGINATION. (line disconnects) HELLO? MEL! MEL, HOW DO I DO THAT? CARTER? (phone rings and beeps) (Elaine) HELLO? MOM, MOM, I NEED YOUR HELP. OKAY, LISTEN. GET EVERYBODY OVER TO THE INN right away. OKAY. W-WHAT'S HAPPENING? DON'T LET THEM TOUCH THE INN, OKAY? DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. TELL THEM TO STALL THE BULLDOZERS. GOT IT. I'M ON THE CASE. (sighs) HI, OKAY. I NEED YOU TO FILL THESE OUT. (indistinct conversations, camera shutter clicking) CARTER! HEY. HEY. WH-WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE? MEL CALLED MOM. SHE ROUNDED UP THE TROOPS. HOW CAN WE HELP? WE NEED TO STALL THEM. HOW DO WE DO THAT? (sighs) (beeping) THEY'RE NO GONNA BULLDOZE A KID. LET'S GO FOR IT. AWESOME! COME ON, COME ON! UHH. GET THE SIGNS UP, GET THE SIGNS UP, COME ON! GREAT. (cell phone vibrating) GREAT. (groans) GREAT. HERE YOU ARE, MS. BRADLEY. (door closes) THANK YOU, CARLOS. UH, HI, MS. REYNOLDS? UM, I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR ME. REALLY? SO DO I. 27, IN FACT--GUESTS. TOMORROW. AUNT CHRISSY'S HERE. AUNT CHRISSY! UNCLE JIMMY! HERE! WE GOT MORE. COME ON! AWESOME, YOU'RE AWESOME. YOU'RE FANTASTIC. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COME ON! SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! (chanting) SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! (cell phone vibrates) HELLO? MEL? WHERE ARE YOU? THE FLIGHT LEAVES IN 30 MINUTES. I CAN'T GO. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THIS WAS YOUR IDEA. WE NEED YOU! NO, YOU DON'T. BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DO. (cell phone vibrating) I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO TAKE THIS. WAIT, YOU CAN'T DO THIS. HELLO? (crowd chanting) MEL, I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU HAD THESE PEOPLE UNDER CONTROL. (sighs) I'M STILL IN CHICAGO. I WILL BE THERE IN 30 MINUTES, OKAY? JUST WAIT. (chanting continues) WELL, EVERYTHING LOOKS IN ORDER. PERFECT, OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I NEED TO GET GOING. THERE'S JUST ONE MORE THING. ALL THIS PAPERWORK THAT YOU FILLED OUT, AND ALL THIS PAPERWORK THAT I FILLED OUT... RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE 30 DAYS. WHAT? IT TAKES 30 DAYS BEFORE THE REVIEW BOARD CAN FINALIZE A NOMINATION OF THIS MAGNITUDE. NO, NO. THE INN IS SET TO BE DEMOLISHED AT 3:00. WELL, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP I IS TO FILE AN INJUCTION WITH JUDGE STANTON AND, UH, GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE CLOSING. OKAY, WHERE IS JUDGE STANTON'S OFFICE? UP ON 3. (singsongy) BUT HE USUALLY LEAVES EARLY! OKAY, THANKS A LOT! AH, EXCUSE ME! JUDGE STANTON. HI. I AM NOT JUDGE STANTON AGAIN UNTIL MONDAY MORNING AT 9:00. I JUST REALLY NEED YOU TO ISSUE AN INJUCTION. UH, WE'RE CLOSED. NO, I STILL HAVE ONE MINUTE. SEE? HOLD ON. (cell phone vibrating) SORRY. HELLO? (crowd chanting) MEL, YOU'RE NOT HERE WITHIN THE NEXT TEN MINUTES, THIS WHOLE THING'S GONNA GO SOUTH. I TOLD YOU, I AM GETTING THE PROPER PAPERWORK. IF YOU CALL ME ONE MORE TIME, I WILL PERSONALLY RIP YOUR PANTS OFF AND SHOVE THEM WHERE THE SUN-- I'M ASSUMING-- HAS NEVER SHINED. (chanting) SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! SAVE NOW-- PLEASE, JUDGE. JUDGE. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. TOMORROW'S THANKSGIVING. YES. WE'RE CLOSED. I KNOW, BUT IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THANKSGIVING EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT, THE PEOPLE OF STREETSVILLE, A LOVELY LITTLE TOWN JUST SOUTHWEST OF HERE, WILL BE VERY THANKFUL IF YOU HELP ME. (muttering) (chuckles) I'M SORRY. IT'S STILL 30 DAYS. NO, OKAY, OKAY. WAIT, WAIT. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. DOES THIS CHANGE YOUR MIND? (chanting) SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! MR. WILCOX, SHE SAID 30 MINUTES 30 MINUTES AGO. I KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS, WE'LL FIGURE A WAY AROUND IT. OKAY. (engine revving) SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! IT'S GO. GO! (bulldozer whirring) SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! SAVE NOW DOES NOT CARE! GET READY. COME ON, COME ON, IT'S ALL RIGHT. OH, YEAH. OKAY. IT'S ALL RIGHT. (shouting) WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? IT'S ALL RIGHT, IT'S ALL RIGHT. HE'S NOT GONNA DO IT. (Stacy) MEL! MEL! (brakes squeal) HERE SHE IS, HERE SHE IS. WAIT, WAIT! STOP, STOP! (whistle blows) WE HAVE TO STOP. WE CAN'T DEMOLISH THE INN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. (sighs) HERE, LOOK AT THIS PHOTO. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. LOOK AT THE MAN. THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE. THAT MAN IS MARK TWAIN. HE WAS ONCE PART OWNER OF THIS INN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. THAT QUALIFIES THIS AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE TOUCH THAT INN, THEY SHUT US DOWN. YOU KNOW ACCORDING TO OUR LAND SURVEY, THAT THIS IS THE ONLY SITE THAT SUITS OUR CONSTRUCTION PLANS. I'M AFRAID THIS STORE IS D.O.A. I'LL FIGHT IT. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A FIGH WE CAN WIN, DEAN. WE ALWAYS WIN, MEL. DO WE? WE TALK ABOUT VALUE A LO TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. I'M WONDERING IF WE NEED TO LOOK THE WORD UP. I KNOW I HAD TO. (sighs) "VALUE, THE REGARD THAT SOMETHING "IS HELD TO DESERVE. "A PERSON'S PRINCIPLES OR STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR. ONE'S JUDGMENT OF WHAT ONE IS THANKFUL FOR IN LIFE." IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DOLLARS, DEAN. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE, FAMILIES, A WAY OF LIFE. WE LOSE SIGHT OF THAT, WE LOSE EVERYTHING. MEL? YOU'RE FIRED. OH, I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK SHE'S MAKING QUITE A POINT HERE. AND I THINK MS. GERARD HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE WITH THIS COMPANY. THANK YOU, MS. BRADLEY, BUT I THINK I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH STREETSVILLE... AGAIN. WELL, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON IMPROVING JOB SERVICES, A PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS. WOULDN'T YOU AGREE, MR. WILCOX? YES, MS. BRADLEY. BUT NOT WHEN IT'S NOT NEEDED. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NOT WHEN IT'S NOT WANTED. I THINK YOU'D AGREE WITH THAT, TOO, MR. WILCOX? MM-HMM. SOMEONE LIKE YOU HAS A GREAT DEAL TO OFFER OUR COMPANY. ACTUALLY, I DO. I'VE BEEN THINKING OF PUTTING TOGETHER A BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO EXPAND MY MOM'S CAFE TO OTHER CITIES. LOCAL PRODUCE, FAMILY RECIPES, BUT THEY COULD BE EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SAVE NOW STORES. AH, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOUR PROSPECTUS. I'LL HAVE IT TO YOU NEXT WEEK. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU, MEL. YOU CAN CALL ME "MELODY." (crowd cheering) (Carter) WOO-HOO! (indistinct chatter) (Carter) BACK IT UP! (indistinct conversations) HEY, I'M COMING IN. LOOK OUT. OH, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. LET ME GRAB IT. I GOT IT. (all speaking at once) I AM GOING TO KNOCK SOMETHING OVER. (laughs) THIS IS GREAT, MOM. OKAY. REALLY GOOD. I'VE GOT THIS. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING? ANYTHING? I'VE GOT TOMATOES. ALL RIGHT, HONEY, GET THOSE CRANBERRIES IN. YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE MY PRESENTATIONS, AND I'VE GOTTA HAVE AN AUDIENCE, SO... I WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING FIRST. WHAT, SWEETHEART? I ADMIRE YOU. YOU'RE STRONG AND YOU'RE SMART, AND YOU FOUND A WAY TO BALANCE BUSINESS AND FAMILY. YOU ADMIRE ME? I DO. AND IT JUST TOOK ME A CONCUSSION TO REALIZE IT. NO, SERIOUSLY. YOU'RE MY NEW DEFINITION OF SUCCESS. YOU HAVE IT ALL. I DO NOW. MAYBE SOMEDAY I CAN HAVE IT ALL, TOO. YOU ALREADY DO. COME ON. LET'S GO. HERE IT COMES, EVERYBODY! OKAY! THE PRESENTATION OF THE TURKEY! (cheers and applause) (Carter sighs) STILL SE TO OPEN NEW YEAR'S DAY. NO MORE RED TAPE, RIGHT? NO, AS LONG AS EVERYTHING IS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION. WELL, IT IS NOW. HOME TO ME HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT IDEA FOR YOUR MOM'S CAFE? I DON'T KNOW. I JUST KINDA DREAMT IT UP. A CHAIN OF SWEET MELODY'S. NOW THAT KINDA HAS A RING TO IT. HOW'D YOU KNOW I WAS GONNA CALL IT THAT? I DON'T KNOW. I JUST... KINDA DREAMT IT UP. MY HEART FEELS SO MUCH LIGHTER 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE PLACE I CALL, OH, OH WHERE YOU GOING? JUST GOING OVER HERE. I'M GOING RIGHT HERE. YOU WANNA GO INSIDE-- NO, HANG ON. HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? NO, NOTHING. NO. NOTHING. (speaking indistinctly) I WON'T HIT YOU. I WON'T--OH! COME ON! I JUST SAID I WOULDN'T HIT YA! AAH! THAT IS WRONG! THAT-- AAH! OH! RIGHT DOWN THE PANTS! AAH! MY ONE CATCH IS SHORT-- YOU'RE HOME TO ME YOU'RE HOME TO ME, YOU'RE HOME TO ME YOU'RE HO-O-O-O-OME TO ME IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE, YOU'RE HOME TO ME |
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