1
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
HAZEL: I believe we have a choice in
this world about how to tell sad stories.
On the one hand,
you can sugarcoat it.
The way they do in movies
and romance novels...
where beautiful people
learn beautiful lessons...
where nothing is too messed
up that can't be fixed...
with an apology
and a Peter Gabriel song.
I like that version as much
as the next girl does,
believe me.
It's just not the truth.
This is the truth.
Sorry.
Late in the winter
of my seventeenth year...
my mother decided
that I was depressed.
(SIGHS)
She just eats like a bird,
she barely leaves the house.
I am not depressed, Mom.
She's reading the same
book over and over.
She's depressed.
I'm not depressed.
The booklets and the websites
always list depression as
a side effect of cancer.
(ALL CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY)
Depression's not
a side effect of cancer.
It's a side effect of dying.
Which is what was happening to me.
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
I may switch you to Zoloft.
Or Lexapro.
And twice a day instead of once.
- Why stop there?
- Hmm?
Really, just keep them coming.
I'm like the Keith Richards
of cancer kids.
Have you been going to that
support group I suggested?
Yeah, it's not my thing.
Support groups can be a great way
for you to connect
with people who are...
Who are... What?
on the same journey.
"Journey"? Really?
DR. MARIA: Give it a chance.
Who knows, you might even
find it enlightening.
(STRUMS CHORD)
All right.
Are you guys ready?
We are gathered here today
literally in the heart of Jesus.
We're here with J.C.
Who wants to share their
story with the group?
I'm Angel.
I have acute myeloid leukemia.
Sid. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Hi, I'm PJ. Um,
I have neuroblastoma.
I'm Patrick.
Testicular.
HAZEL: I'll spare you the gory
details of Patrick's ball cancer.
Basically, they found it
in his nuts...
they cut most of it out, and he
almost died, but he didn't die.
So now, here he is,
divorced, friendless...
living on his parents' couch...
exploiting his cancer-tastic
past in the heart of Jesus.
Literally.
To show us that one day,
if we're lucky...
we could be just like him.
Who's next?
(SIGHS)
Hazel?
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
Um...
I'm Hazel.
Uh, thyroid, originally...
but now with quite the impressive
satellite colony in my lungs.
(STAMMERING)
And how are you doing?
Uh, you mean besides
the terminal cancer?
All right, I guess.
ALL: We're here for you, Hazel.
Why don't I play another song?
(PLAYING UPBEAT MUSIC)
(SINGING) Christ is our friend
And he'll be there till the end
Christ is our friend
And he'll be there till the end
Christ
Hey, sweet pea.
So... was it awesome?
"Yeah, Mom, it was awesome!"
(ENGINE STARTS)
HAZEL: And that was my life.
Reality shows.
Doctor's appointments.
Eight prescription drugs,
three times a day.
But worst, worst, worst of all...
Support group.
- You cannot make me.
- MICHAEL: Of course we can.
We're your parents.
Come on, we've been through this.
You need to go.
You need to make friends,
and be a teenager.
Mom, if you want me
to be a teenager,
you don't send me to support group.
You gotta get me a fake ID
so that I can go to clubs...
and drink gimlets and take pot.
Uh, you don't "take" pot.
(LAUGHS)
Well, that is the kind of thing
I would know with a fake ID.
- (MICHAEL LAUGHS)
- Can you just get in the car, please?
(GRUNTS)
(MIMICS GROANING)
HAZEL: And so I went.
Not because I wanted to, or because
I thought it would help me...
but for the same reason
I did anything these days.
To make my parents happy.
I really don't understand
why I can't just drive myself.
It's not like you're
gonna do anything.
You're just gonna sit here
and wait again.
Of course I'm not.
No, I've got stuff to do.
I'm gonna do errands.
Yeah.
I love you.
I love you, too.
Have fun.
HAZEL: The only thing worse
than biting it from cancer...
is having a kid
bite it from cancer.
Hey!
Make some friends.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
Oh, sorry.
- I'll take the stairs.
- No problem.
Thank you.
- (GRUNTS)
- Sorry.
My bad.
I'm sorry.
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
Oh, my God.
PATRICK:
So, who would like to start?
Does anyone want to start?
Who wants to kick it off?
Go ahead.
I'm Beth. I have
spindle cell sarcoma.
It's been an okay week.
(BETH CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
PATRICK: Isaac, I know that you're
facing some challenges right now.
Do you want to share
with the group?
Or maybe your friend, here?
ISAAC: No, I'll share.
Hey, guys. Uh...
Hi, I'm Isaac.
I have retinoblastoma.
We had surgery on one eye
when I was younger...
so this is a glass eye.
And then I'm going in to the
hospital to have another surgery...
to take out the other eye.
So, after that surgery, I'm
just gonna be totally blind.
But I'm lucky, because I have this
beautiful, smoking hot girlfriend...
who's way out of my league. Monica.
And I have great friends like
Augustus Waters to help me out.
So, that's what's up. Thanks.
ALL: We're here for you, Isaac.
Thank you.
(CHUCKLES)
Your turn, Gus.
Yeah, sure.
Um, I'm Augustus Waters.
I'm 18 years old
and I had a touch of osteosarcoma
about a year-and-a-half ago.
So, I've lost this baby
as a result.
And, uh, now I'm part
cyborg, which is awesome.
But, really, I'm just
here at Isaac's request.
And how are you feeling, Gus?
I'm grand, yeah.
I'm on a roller coaster that
only goes up, my friend.
Maybe you'd like to share
your fears with the group?
GUS: My fears?
Oblivion.
PATRICK: Oblivion?
GUS: Yeah.
You see, I intend to live
an extraordinary life.
To be remembered.
So, I'd say if I have any fears,
it would be to not do that.
Would anyone else in the
group like to speak to that?
Hazel?
(CHUCKLES)
Unexpected.
I just want to say
that there's gonna
come a time when
all of us are dead.
There was a time before humans
and there's gonna be a time after.
It could be tomorrow, it could
be a million years from now.
And when it does,
there will be no one left...
to remember Cleopatra or
Muhammad Ali or Mozart...
let alone any of us.
Oblivion's inevitable.
And if that scares you, then
I suggest you ignore it.
God knows it's what
everyone else does.
(EXHALES)
Well, that's some good advice.
And I like all this because it's
really nice to hear everybody...
- Thank you.
- Mmm-hmm.
- Always.
- Always.
- MONICA: Always.
- ISAAC: Always.
"Literally."
I thought we were
in a church basement...
but apparently we were literally
in the heart of Jesus.
Oh, yeah.
(LAUGHS)
What's your name?
Hazel.
No, what's your full name?
Hazel Grace Lancaster.
What?
I didn't say anything.
Why are you looking
at me like that?
Because you're beautiful.
Oh, my God.
I enjoy looking
at beautiful people.
- (STAMMERING)
- See, I decided a while back...
not to deny myself the simpler
pleasures of existence.
Particularly, as you
so astutely pointed out,
we're all gonna die pretty soon.
Okay, well, that's great.
But I am not beautiful.
Hey, Gus.
Hi, Lisa.
ISAAC:
I like it when you say it first.
MONICA:
I like it when you say it first.
Okay.
Always.
- Always.
- (LAUGHS)
What is with the "always"?
"Always" is, like, their thing.
They'll "always" love
each other, and whatnot.
They probably texted "always" to each
other 14 million times this year.
He's got to be hurting her boob.
Let's go watch a movie.
- What?
- Hmm?
Huh?
(LAUGHS) Um...
I'm free later this week,
we could...
No, I mean now.
You could be an axe murderer.
There's always that possibility.
Come on, Hazel Grace.
Take a risk.
I don't...
Really?
That is disgusting.
What?
What, do you think that
that's cool or something?
You just ruined this whole thing.
- The whole thing?
- Yes, this whole thing!
Oh, man.
Ugh. And you were
doing really well, too.
God! There's always
a hamartia, isn't there?
And yours is even though
you had freaking cancer...
you're willing to give
money to a corporation...
for the chance to acquire
even more cancer?
Let me just tell you that not
being able to breathe sucks!
It totally sucks.
"Hamartia"?
It's a fatal flaw.
Ah, a fatal...
Hazel Grace,
they don't actually hurt
you unless you light them.
Hmm?
I've never lit one.
It's a metaphor, see?
You put the thing that does the
killing right between your teeth...
but you never give it
the power to kill you.
A metaphor.
(CAR APPROACHING)
Hey, sweetheart.
Is it Top Model time?
No. Uh...
I've made plans
with Augustus Waters.
- (HORN HONKING)
- Whoa!
- (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
- Oh, my God.
Ooh!
Yeah, I failed my test
a couple times.
You don't say.
Actually, the fourth time
I took the test,
it was going about
how this is going.
And when it was over...
the instructor looks over
at me, and she says...
"Your driving, while unpleasant,
is not technically unsafe."
Cancer perk.
- Total cancer perk.
- (LAUGHS)
So, tell me about you.
Um, I was 13 when they found it.
Pretty much worst-case scenario.
Thyroid, stage four.
Not much they could do.
Which didn't stop them, of course.
Surgery.
Radiation.
Chemo.
More radiation.
All of which worked for a while.
But, then stopped working.
(GASPING)
And then one day, my lungs
started filling up with water.
Nurse! We need a nurse right now!
HAZEL: I couldn't breathe.
No one could get it under control.
You can let go, sweetie.
(WHISPERING) Don't be afraid.
HAZEL: That should have
been the end.
(SOBBING)
Oh, my God.
HAZEL: But then something
strange happened.
The antibiotics kicked in.
They drained the fluid
from my lungs.
I got some strength back.
Next thing I know, I found
myself in an experimental trial.
You know, the ones that are famous
in the Republic of
Cancervania for not working.
It's called Phalanxifor.
It didn't work in over
70% of the patients...
but for some reason
it's been working for me.
So, they called it
"The Miracle."
Of course, my lungs still
suck at being lungs...
but, theoretically, they could
continue to suck like this...
for, I don't know, a while maybe.
So, are you back in school?
I got my GED, so I'm
taking classes at MCC.
Whoa! A college girl!
Well, that explains
the aura of sophistication.
Oh! Careful!
Oops.
(LAUGHING)
Welcome to my humble abode.
Uh, my folks call them
"encouragements."
Don't ask.
(LAUGHS)
Hi, guys!
- Hey!
- Augustus, hi.
New friend?
Yeah. This is Hazel Grace.
Hey. Oh, it's just "Hazel."
MR. WATERS:
How's it going, "Just Hazel"?
Hi, Hazel, how are you?
Yeah, we're going downstairs. Bye.
- Nice to meet you guys.
- BOTH: Nice to meet you, too.
This is it.
Augusto World.
This is my room.
Wow.
It's an impressive collection.
Yeah, I used to play.
(CHUCKLES)
Do you mind if I sit down?
Yeah. Make yourself at home.
Mi casa es tu casa.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Sorry, the, um, stairs...
and the standing...
Yeah, I understand.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
Seriously, are you okay?
Yeah, yeah.
All right. What's your story?
I already told you.
I was diagnosed when I was 13...
No, no, no. Not your cancer
story, your real story.
Your interests, your hobbies,
your passions, your weird fetishes.
"Weird fetishes"?
Think of something. The first
thing that pops in your head.
Something you love.
An Imperial Affliction.
Okay. What's that?
It's a novel.
It's my favorite novel.
Wait, does it have zombies in it?
Zombies? No!
(LAUGHING)
Stormtroopers?
No, it's not that kind of a book.
Okay, what's it about?
Uh, cancer.
It's about cancer?
But not like that.
Trust me, it's amazing.
The author, his name
is Peter Van Houten.
He's the only person I've ever
come across in my life...
who, A, understands what
it's like to be dying...
but, B, hasn't actually died.
Okay.
I will read this horrible book
with this very boring title...
that does not include
zombies or Stormtroopers.
And in exchange...
you will read this.
This haunting,
yet brilliant novelization
of my favorite video game.
"Counterinsurgence."
(LAUGHS)
Yeah, don't laugh. It's awesome.
It's about honor, and sacrifice,
and bravery, and heroism.
It's about embracing your destiny,
and leaving a mark on the world.
(CHUCKLING)
HAZEL: Well, thank you.
Wait, your hands are so cold.
Well, they're not so much cold
as just under-oxygenated.
- Hazel Grace?
- Hmm?
I love it when you
talk medical to me.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
That's different.
Did he give it to you?
By "it," do you mean herpes?
Wow.
Yes, I did.
It's a mother's dream.
(LAUGHING)
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
(SIGHS)
Hey, don't worry.
Oh, my God, Mom.
I'm not worried.
It's not a big deal.
Yeah.
We just hung out, it's not like
I'm waiting for him to call me.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
- MICHAEL: Is that what...?
- FRANNIE: Yeah.
MICHAEL: Because I thought
those were peppers.
FRANNIE: Today, in China,
International Goji Berry Day.
- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)
- (LAUGHS)
Isn't that great?
MICHAEL: I like the color.
FRANNIE: Mmm-hmm.
- This is the dry.
- Uh-huh. Very good.
- They're good, right?
- Mmm-hmm.
So, do they eat a lot of goji
berries on Goji Berry Day?
I did something with the dessert...
just to try to keep
the goji berry theme going.
Because they're
an amazing antioxidant.
MICHAEL: Well, I like it.
BOTH: We should do it every year.
- FRANNIE: Every year.
- We should do it every year.
FRANNIE: I know.
- I really do like these.
- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)
Honey, would you like
to be excused?
What?
(LINE RINGING)
GUS: Hazel Grace.
Welcome to the sweet torture of
reading An Imperial Affliction.
ISAAC: (SINGING)
But now I'm breaking all the rules!
Are you okay?
And now I'm breaking all the rules
Uh... Me? Yeah,
I am excellent.
I am, however, with Isaac, and...
Isaac, does Support Group Hazel
make this better or worse?
I've been wasting all my time
Isaac! Focus on me.
Been wasting all my time
How fast can you get here?
Um...
Great. Well,
the door's open.
I gotta run. Bye.
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
Hello?
Hazel.
Isaac, Hazel Grace from the
Support Group is here.
- HAZEL: Hi.
- GUS: Hi.
Uh... A gentle reminder...
Isaac's in the midst of a
psychotic episode right now.
You look really nice, by the way.
I like this color on you.
Thank you.
Isaac.
Isaac, Hazel's here.
Hey, Isaac.
Hey, Hazel.
(SNIFFLES)
How you doing?
I'm doing okay.
(SNIFFLES)
It seems Isaac and Monica are
no longer a going concern.
- Oh, Isaac, I'm so sorry.
- (ISAAC CRYING)
Do you want to talk about it?
No, I just want to cry
and play video games.
However, you know, it doesn't
hurt to talk to him...
if you have any sage words
of feminine advice.
I actually think that his
response is fairly appropriate.
"Pain demands to be felt."
You're quoting my book.
She said she wanted to break up
with me before the surgery...
because she couldn't handle it.
I'm about to lose my eyesight,
and she can't handle it.
I kept saying "always" to her.
Like, "Always."
And she kept talking over me
and not saying it back, and...
It was like I was gone
already, you know?
HAZEL: You know, sometimes...
people don't understand
the promises
that they're making
when they make them.
ISAAC: I know, but...
I feel like such a loser.
I still have her necklace on.
Take it off.
Dude, take that off.
Yeah.
Here we go, man.
Here we go.
(GRUNTS)
I just want to kick something.
Don't hit that, don't hit that.
Uh...
- Hit this.
- Sorry.
(EXHALING DEEPLY)
(GRUNTING)
(LAUGHS)
I've been wanting to call
you for a few days now...
but I've been waiting
until I could form
a coherent thought about
An Imperial Affliction.
(MUFFLED SCREAMS)
One second.
Isaac.
- (PANTING)
- Pillows don't break.
You need to break something.
Try this.
- The trophy?
- Yeah.
Are you sure?
I've been looking for a way to tell
my father I kind of hate basketball.
Go to town!
(GRUNTS)
Always!
An Imperial Affliction.
Yes. I'm so glad that you liked it.
(ISAAC YELLING)
Yes, I did.
But the ending.
I know.
It is rather abrupt.
"Rather abrupt"? Are you kidding?
It's evil!
I mean, I understand
that she dies...
but there's an unwritten
contract between author and...
- Gus?
- Yeah?
- Cool?
- Sure.
Between author and reader.
And I feel like ending your book
in the middle of a sentence...
violates that contract,
don't you think?
Okay, yes.
I know what you mean...
but, to be completely honest,
I think it's just so truthful.
You just die in the middle of life.
You die in the middle
of a sentence.
(ISAAC CONTINUES YELLING)
And, I don't know...
But I really would like to know
what happens to everyone
after Anna dies.
Like Anna's mother.
Yes, and the Dutch Tulip Man.
And Sisyphus the Hamster.
Yes!
(GRUNTS)
Have you tried contacting
this Peter Van Houten fellow?
I've written him so many letters,
but he's never responded.
Apparently, he moved to Amsterdam
and became a recluse, and...
- Shame.
- Yeah.
Isaac...
You feeling better, buddy?
That's the thing about pain.
It demands to be felt.
ISAAC: (PANTING)
I'll help you clean this up.
GUS ON PHONE: Hazel Grace.
Augustus Waters.
I cannot stop thinking
about this goddamn book.
(CHUCKLES) You're welcome.
However, we do need closure,
don't you think?
That is exactly what I was asking
Van Houten for in my letters.
But he never responded.
Um, nope.
"Dear Mr. Waters...
"I am writing to thank you for
your electronic correspondence.
"I am grateful to anyone
who sets aside the time...
"to read my book."
Augustus?
Yes?
What are you doing?
I may have found...
Van Houten's assistant,
emailed her.
Augustus!
She may have forwarded
that email on to Van Houten.
Shall I continue?
Oh, my God. Yeah, go, go, go!
"I am particularly
indebted to you, sir."
Hazel Grace,
he just called me "sir."
Augustus, keep reading,
keep reading!
"Both for your kind words about
An Imperial Affliction...
"and for taking the time...
"to tell me that the book, and
here I quote you directly...
"'meant a great deal to you
and your friend Hazel Grace.
(SHRIEKS)
You did not! You did not!
You did not, you did not!
Of course I did.
"To answer your question, no, I have
not written anything else, nor will I.
"I do not feel like continuing to
share my thoughts with readers...
"would benefit either them or me.
"However, thank you...
"for your generous email.
"Yours most sincerely,
Peter Van Houten."
So, yeah, that just happened.
(HAZEL EXHALES)
Oh, my God.
I've been trying to tell
you, I'm kind of awesome.
(HAZEL LAUGHING)
Do you think that I...
Check your inbox.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, Augustus.
I'm freaking out. I'm freaking out.
Dear Mr. Peter Van Houten,
my name is Hazel Grace Lancaster.
My friend Augustus Waters...
who read your book
at my recommendation...
just received an email
from you at this address.
I hope you will not mind that
he shared that email with me.
I was wondering if you wouldn't mind
answering a few questions I have...
about what happens
after the end of the book.
Specifically the following.
Does Anna's mom marry
the Dutch Tulip Man?
And is the Dutch Tulip Man
up to something...
or is he just
completely misunderstood?
Lastly, I was hoping you could shed
some light on Sisyphus the Hamster.
These questions have
haunted me for years...
and I don't know how long I have
left to get answers to them.
I know that these are not
important literary questions...
"and that your book is full of
important literary questions...
"but I would just
really like to know.
"And, of course, if you ever do
decide to write anything else...
"I would love to read it.
"Frankly, I'd read
your grocery lists.
"Yours, with great admiration,
Hazel Grace Lancaster."
Not bad.
You think?
Yeah, I mean,
it's a bit pretentious...
but then again, Van Houten
uses words like "tendentious"
- and "Bacchanalia," so...
- (LAUGHS)
I think he'll like it.
Is it really 1:00 AM?
Is it?
- Yeah, I guess it is.
- (HAZEL LAUGHS)
I should probably go to sleep.
(SIGHS) Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Perhaps "okay"
will be our "always."
Okay.
Oh, my God.
"Dear Ms. Lancaster...
"I cannot answer your questions,
at least not in writing...
"because to do so
would constitute a sequel...
"which you might publish or
otherwise share on the internet.
"Not that I don't trust you,
but how could I trust you?
"I barely know you.
"Should ever you find
yourself in Amsterdam,
"do pay a visit at your leisure."
What?
"Yours most sincerely,
Peter Van Houten."
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, my God!
What is this life?
FRANNIE: Hazel?
- Mom!
- Hazel, what's wrong?
Mom, look at this.
Come here. Come here, come here.
Look.
- (GASPS) What?
- Yeah.
Peter Van Houten!
Look what he said!
"Should ever you find
yourself in Amsterdam"!
I have to go!
That's incredible.
He invited us to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam!
- Wow!
- Can we go?
I mean, do you think
we could actually go?
I mean, Amsterdam!
I want you to have everything
you want in the world.
But we don't have
the money, you know?
Just getting all the
equipment over there.
How do we do that?
Yeah, duh. I'm sorry.
Hey, you, I am so sorry.
It's okay.
Why don't you just ask
the Genies? Use your wish.
I already used it.
Pre-Miracle.
What'd you use it on?
Not Disney.
Hazel Grace, you did not
go to Disney World.
- You did not use your last dying wish...
- I was 13.
to go to Disney World.
And Epcot Center.
Oh, my God.
It was actually a really fun trip!
That's the saddest thing
I've ever heard.
I met Goofy!
Now I'm just embarrassed.
Why are you embarrassed?
I can't believe I have a crush on
a girl with such cliche wishes.
Terrible.
You coming?
HAZEL: The most important
thing in any MRI...
is to lie completely still.
But that day,
it was almost impossible.
Hey, Gus! How are you?
Hi, Mrs. Lancaster.
Hey. Rik Smits jersey?
- Yeah, it is indeed.
- I loved that guy.
I'm Augustus Waters.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Michael.
- It's good to see you.
- Hi, Mrs. Lancaster.
Good to see you.
Hi, Hazel Grace.
Hi.
How would you like to go
on a picnic with me?
Um, I would love to go
on a picnic with you.
Shall we?
No. (STAMMERING)
Let me...
I smell like hospital,
so I should just change.
(SIGHS)
So, uh...
you're a survivor yourself, huh?
Yeah.
I didn't cut this fellow
off for the hell of it.
(GUS CHUCKLES)
GUS: Although it does make an
excellent weight-loss strategy.
- Legs are very heavy.
- (EXHALES DEEPLY)
MICHAEL: (STAMMERING)
How's your health now?
It's great. NEC for 14 months.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- That's fantastic.
- Yeah.
I'm very lucky.
Hey, listen, Gus.
You have to understand,
Hazel's still pretty sick.
And she will be
the rest of her life.
And she's gonna want to
keep up with you.
She's that kind of girl. But
the truth is, her lungs...
Ready, Gus?
Yeah.
All right. See you soon.
All right.
Oh!
Such a beautiful day.
Yeah.
Is this where you take all
of your romantic conquests?
Every last one of them.
That's probably why
I'm still a virgin.
(CHUCKLES)
You are not still a virgin.
Are you really?
Let me show you something.
(CHUCKLES)
See this circle?
That is a circle of virgins.
Uh-huh.
And this...
is 18-year-old dudes with one leg.
- Oh...
- So, yeah.
Funky Bones by Joep Van Lieshout.
He sounds quite Dutch.
And he is.
Much like Rik Smits.
And tulips.
Sandwich?
Let me guess.
Dutch cheese and tomato.
- Sorry, the tomatoes are Mexican.
- (LAUGHS)
How dare you!
Hmm.
How cool is this?
They're using a skeleton
as a playground.
Think about that.
You do love your symbols.
Speaking of which,
you're probably wondering...
why you're sitting here eating
a bad cheese sandwich...
and drinking orange juice with
a guy in a Rik Smits jersey.
It actually has crossed my mind.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, Hazel Grace,
like so many before you...
and listen, I say this with
the utmost of affection...
you used your wish moronically.
Okay, we've been
through this. I was 13.
Hush! I am in the midst
of a grand soliloquy, here.
You were young, impressionable...
the Grim Reaper staring
you right in the face...
and it led you to rush into making
a wish you didn't really want.
But, how could little Hazel Grace,
having never read
An Imperial Affliction...
know that her one true wish was
to visit Mr. Peter Van Houten...
in his Amsterdam exile.
But I didn't save it, so...
It's a good thing I saved mine.
So, you're saying...
I'm not gonna give you my
wish or anything, Hazel.
If that's what you're thinking.
However...
I, too, have an interest in meeting
this Mr. Peter Van Houten...
and I don't really think
it would make much sense...
to meet him without the
girl who introduced me
to the book in the first place...
now, would it?
So I talked to the Genies,
and they're all for it.
We leave in a month.
No.
Mmm-hmm.
(WHISPERING) Oh, my God.
Oh, my God!
Augustus!
Thank you!
Apparently, they... I don't know
if they do this that often,
but they're willing to
bring me, too, and...
That's incredible.
Hazel, that's so beautiful.
I know.
And a little insane.
Oh, it's super insane. It's...
It's... It's... It's crazy!
- Well...
- It's Amsterdam!
He just met you...
- I know!
- ...and he's giving you his wish.
Well, we're sharing the wish. We're...
I mean, he... He... Yeah. We're sharing it.
That's sweet.
Unless...
What?
Is he your boyfriend? Is that...
Stop it! Do not...
He is not my...
Mom, focus,
we're talking about Amsterdam.
- I like him so much. I...
- Stop.
Pay attention. Please! Can I go?
Right, as your mom,
I love this idea.
And I... I think we
should talk to Dr. Maria.
Okay.
I don't know.
But you said that
the PET scan was encouraging.
Well, the PET scan is encouraging,
but we don't know how long
it will stay that way.
Okay, I'm not seeking political asylum.
It's a few days. It's a vacation!
- It's true.
- What if you get sick?
In a foreign country?
They have doctors in
Amsterdam. And cancer.
Well, not all cancers are alike, and
yours is particularly unusual, Hazel.
The only way I could ever
authorize a trip like this
would be if someone
familiar with your case...
What if my mom came?
Wait, what?
What if you came?
I'm... I'm sure the Genies would
hook it up. They're loaded.
That just might work.
HAZEL:
And then this happened.
(INAUDIBLE)
(HEART MONITOR BEEPING)
Hey.
Hi.
- Hey.
- You're okay.
So, what happened?
The usual.
Fluid in the lungs
preventing oxygenation.
They put a tube in.
They drained a liter
and a half last night.
MICHAEL: The good news is...
no tumor growth.
No new tumors in your body.
We're so relieved.
This is just a thing, Hazel.
It's a thing we can live with.
Mr. Lancaster.
How's she doing?
Better.
Yeah, thank you.
Much, much better.
Uh, they won't let me in.
It's family only.
Yeah, sorry.
Yeah, I get it.
Um...
Could you just tell her I was here?
Yeah, of course.
Of course I will.
- Okay.
- Gus, listen, why don't you go home?
Get some rest.
Okay.
DR. SIMMONS: Normally, the tumors
start resisting the treatment...
and that hasn't happened here...
Yet.
On the other hand...
the drug may be
worsening the edema.
DR. MARIA: The truth is...
very few people have been on
Phalanxifor as long as Hazel has.
We really don't know
the long-term effects.
What we're trying to do is
prevent endothelial growth...
which, when overexpressed, can
contribute to disease, decay...
vascular inhibition...
and the spread of the tumors
we're working so hard to eradicate.
The survival rate of patients
with severe endothelial growth...
decreases exponentially the
more the condition advances.
You can let go, sweetie.
(WHISPERS) Don't be afraid.
(SOBBING) Oh, my God.
I'm not gonna be a mom anymore.
(MICHAEL SHUSHING)
I have a question.
Yes, Hazel?
Can I still go to Amsterdam?
- That would not be wise at this juncture.
- Why not?
Is there any way we can
make that trip happen?
It would increase some risks.
But so does going to the mall.
Yes, but an airplane?
But they have oxygen on airplanes.
You're stage four.
This is an opportunity
that I may never get again.
Ever.
If the medication is working, I
don't understand why I can't...
Perhaps there's a scenario...
No.
I don't know any other
way to say this, Hazel.
You're just too sick.
I'm sorry.
(ENGINE STOPS)
(PHONE RINGING)
MICHAEL: Hello?
- Yeah, just a sec.
- (SIGHS)
(WHISPERS) Hi. Gus... again.
Sorry, she's asleep.
Yeah. Uh, okay.
All right. Bye-bye.
I know what you're thinking.
It's not fair to him.
It's not.
He doesn't need this in his life.
Nobody does.
A lot more trouble than it's worth.
No, you're right.
Your mom and I were just
saying the same thing.
I mean, it could be time we
tossed you out on the street.
Drop you off in an orphanage
somewhere, make you their problem.
I'm serious.
We're not sentimental people.
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
(SWING CREAKING)
(DIALING)
(PHONE RINGING)
GUS: Hazel Grace.
Hi, Augustus.
Are you okay?
(QUIETLY) No.
What's the matter?
Talk to me.
(SNIFFLES)
I don't know.
Everything.
I want to go to Amsterdam, Gus.
And I want Van Houten to tell us
what happens after his book.
I also don't really want
this particular life.
(SNIFFLES)
I mean, it's really just the sky.
The sky is making me sad.
And there's this pathetic
old swing set...
that my dad built for me when
I was a kid and... (LAUGHS)
It's just everything, I guess.
Well, I demand to see
this swing set of tears.
I do see your point.
This is one sad swing set.
Hazel Grace, I hope you realize...
that you trying to
keep your distance from me
in no way lessens
my affection for you.
All your efforts to keep me
from you are gonna fail.
Look. Uh...
I like you.
And I like hanging out
with you and everything...
but I can't let this
go on any further.
Why not?
Because I don't want to hurt you.
(STAMMERING) I wouldn't mind.
- No, you don't understand.
- I do understand.
You don't understand.
I know what you're trying to say.
Hazel, I'm saying I wouldn't mind.
It'd be a privilege to have
my heart broken by you.
Gus, I'm a grenade.
One day I'm gonna explode...
and I'm gonna obliterate
everything in my wake and...
I don't know, I feel like
it's my responsibility...
to minimize the casualties.
A grenade?
I mean, that's why I
don't have a hamster.
Well, we gotta do something
about this frickin' swing set.
Okay.
"Swing set needs home."
"Desperately lonely swing set
"needs loving home."
"Lonely, vaguely
pedophilia swing set
"seeks the butts of children."
No. No.
No? No?
I like it.
That's why.
In case you're wondering, that's
why I like you, Hazel Grace.
You're just so busy
being you, you have
no idea how utterly
unprecedented you are.
You can't say stuff like that.
What? That's how I
speak to all my friends.
I know, I know. Friends.
Friends.
Friends!
You can't do that!
(HAZEL SIGHS)
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
(SIGHS)
"Dear Hazel, received word via
the Genies that you will...
"you'll be visiting us
with Augustus Waters
"and your mother on the fourth."
Mom?
FRANNIE: Yeah?
- Mom!
- (RUNNING FOOTSTEPS)
- (PANTING) What's wrong?
- Sorry.
No, I was just taking a bath.
Did you email the Genies to tell
them that the trip was off?
Because Van Houten's
assistant just emailed me...
and she said that she
thinks we're still coming.
What?
I was supposed to tell
you with your dad.
Mom.
We're going to Amsterdam.
You're se...
We're going to Amsterdam?
(LAUGHING)
We're going to Amsterdam.
We figured the whole
thing out. We're going.
Doctor Maria, everybody knows.
- But only for three days, not six.
- Oh, my God.
But everything. An
oncologist is set there.
Everything.
We're just so good.
(SOBBING)
I love you.
I love you so much.
I love you.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
- Here, sit down.
- We're going to Amsterdam.
We're going to Amsterdam.
- We're going to Amsterdam.
- You can come talk to me.
You've got a phone call to make.
(LAUGHS IN DISBELIEF)
Call him!
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
Okay, lungs, you keep your
shit together for one week.
You got it?
One more week.
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
Oh. Oh, wait, the food.
What did you forget?
Do you have my passport?
FRANNIE: Yeah, I've got it.
(GUS WHOOPING)
(GASPS)
It's like I said to the Genies...
"I travel in style,
or I don't travel at all."
Mom, we're going to Amsterdam!
We are going to
Amsterdam, right now.
Hello, Lancasters.
Gus. Hey. Nice to see you.
I'll take that, sir.
FRANNIE: Gus, you're so inventive!
Okay, Hazel Grace?
Okay! (LAUGHING)
(ANNOUNCING OVER P.A.)
What's in your nose?
Jackie!
I'm really sorry about that.
No, it's totally fine.
It's called a "cannula."
And it helps me breathe.
See this little friend right here?
He feeds oxygen through your tube.
Will it help me breath, too?
Maybe. Do you want to try it?
Okay.
Come here.
There ya go.
It tickles!
Wow, yeah, that's something.
I think I'm breathing better.
I would love to give it to you,
but I kind of could use the help.
- Thanks for letting me try it.
- You're welcome.
All right, Jackie, let's go.
- Thank you. Take care.
- Bye.
Flight 1721 is now prepared to
begin boarding at gate 46...
- I think that's us.
- That's us.
We are going to Amsterdam!
Oh, my God.
Come on, help me.
- What, are they wet?
- Wet hands.
- I'm sorry about that.
- Gross! Get outta here! Stop it!
Have you never been
on a plane before?
No.
It's exciting.
- Sir?
- Uh-huh?
There's no smoking on this plane.
Or any plane.
(STAMMERING) I don't smoke.
Yeah, it's just a metaphor.
He puts the killing thing
in his mouth...
but he doesn't actually give
it the power to kill him.
Well, that metaphor, it's
prohibited on today's flight.
CAPTAIN ON PA: Flight attendants,
prepare for take off, please.
Thanks.
Okay?
Gus, this is what it's like
to drive in a car with you.
- (LAUGHING)
- Ha-ha-ha-ha...
Oh...
(EXCLAIMS IN FEAR)
Oh!
Oh, my God, we're flying.
- We're flying!
- (FRANNIE LAUGHING)
Look at the ground!
Look.
Nothing has ever looked like
this in all of human history!
Look at the cars.
They're like...
You two are so adorable.
We're just friends.
Well, she is, I'm not.
Oh, my!
Whoa!
Get away from her, you bitch!
(GUS LAUGHS)
Look at this, Hazel.
This is so crazy.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
- Whoa.
- (FRANNIE GASPS)
What?
Look at the stained glass.
It's amazing.
Oh, I'm gonna check us in.
(SQUEALING)
FRANNIE:
We better get you dressed...
because you have reservations
for two tonight,
- for dinner at Oranjee.
- Oh.
And it says, "Enjoy.
Mr. Peter Van Houten."
So, I looked it up
and it sounds amazing.
The guide book says it's
fancy and very romantic.
Right. Fancy...
Oh, God.
FRANNIE: But, okay, what...
will you wear?
Is that for me?
(LAUGHS)
Oh, my God.
It's so beautiful.
I'm just saying.
You're just saying?
What, you're saying
that you're totally fine...
with your teenage daughter running
free with an older boy...
in a city that's famous
for its vice
and debauchery is
totally fine with you?
Yeah, that's pretty much
exactly what I'm saying.
(HUMMING)
(GASPS)
Gus!
Oh, you look so handsome!
- Thank you, ma'am.
- Wow.
Hazel, Gus is here...
looking incredible!
I hear this restaurant
is unbelievable.
Wow.
What?
You look gorgeous.
Thanks.
Whoa!
Wow.
GUS: This is it.
Oranjee. Yeah, this is it.
Oh, yeah.
Your table, Mr. and Mrs. Waters.
Thank you.
Thanks, Gus.
You are very welcome.
The champagne is our gift. Enjoy.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Voil.
- Okay?
- Okay.
Whoa.
(LAUGHING)
That is amazing.
Do you know what Dom Prignon said
after he invented champagne?
"Come quickly," he said.
"I'm tasting the stars."
(CHUCKLES)
Welcome to Oranjee.
Would you like a menu, or will
you have the chef's choice?
Chef's choice sounds wonderful.
- Mmm.
- GUS: And, sir, um...
something tells me we're gonna
need a little bit more of this.
We have bottled all the
stars for you this evening,
my young friends.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
- GUS: Ooh!
- HAZEL: I think that's ours.
Dragon carrot risotto for the lady.
Thank you.
And for the gentleman.
- GUS: Thank you.
- Enjoy.
BOTH: Mmm.
I want this dragon carrot
risotto to become a person...
so that I can take it
to Vegas and marry it.
(LAUGHS)
I like your suit.
Thank you. It's the first
time I've ever worn it.
That's not the suit
you wear to funerals?
No.
That one is not nearly this nice.
When I first got sick...
they told me I had an 85 percent
chance of being cancer-free.
Great odds.
But that meant a year of
torture, the loss of my leg...
and, still, a 15 percent
chance it might fail.
Just before the surgery...
I asked my parents if I could
buy a really nice suit.
So, it's your death suit.
That's what it is.
I have one of those. I got it
for my fifteenth birthday.
A dress.
I don't necessarily think I'd
wear it on a date, though.
So, we're on a date?
Hey, you watch it.
(CHUCKLES)
We are Mr. and Mrs. Waters.
Oh. That's just because
she can't speak English.
We should be, though, if they ask.
You know?
Remember what you said about Vegas?
GUS: Yeah.
HAZEL: Do you think I
could join in on that deal?
GUS: God?
HAZEL: Maybe.
GUS: How about angels?
HAZEL: Mmm, no.
- GUS: Afterlife?
- Mmm...
No.
Well, maybe. I don't know.
I guess I wouldn't go
as far as to say "no"...
but I would like some evidence.
What about you?
- Absolutely.
- Really?
I mean, not like a heaven where
you ride on a unicorn all day...
and live in a mansion
made of clouds...
but yes, I definitely
believe in something.
I mean, otherwise...
what's the point?
Maybe there is no point.
I won't accept that.
I am in love with you.
You heard me.
Augustus...
I am in love with you.
And I know that love is just
a shout into the void...
and that oblivion is inevitable.
And that we're all doomed...
and that one day...
all of our labors
will be returned to dust.
And I know that
the sun will swallow
the only Earth we will ever have.
And I am in love with you.
Sorry.
More stars?
No, thank you.
I think we'll just have the check.
No, sir.
Your meal has been paid
by Mr. Van Houten.
What?
(BAND PLAYING DRAMATIC
CLASSICAL MUSIC)
I don't really get that shirt.
HAZEL: Mmm.
But Van Houten will get it.
There are, like, fifty Magritte
references in An Imperial Affliction.
"This is not a pipe."
But it is a pipe.
But it's not.
It is a drawing of a pipe.
See?
A drawing of a thing
is not the thing itself.
Nor is a T-shirt of a drawing
of a thing, the thing itself.
Hey, you.
When did you get so grown up?
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Who's ready for some answers?
Me!
(INAUDIBLE)
This is it.
I'm so excited,
I can barely breathe.
As opposed to normal?
- Get out of here.
- (LAUGHS)
VAN HOUTEN: Lidewij?
- Hi!
- Hi, I'm Augustus.
- Lidewij.
- Hazel.
Please, come in.
Thank you.
Peter! They're here!
VAN HOUTEN:
Who the hell is "they," Lidewij?
They are Augustus and Hazel...
the young fans with whom
you've been corresponding.
VAN HOUTEN: The Americans?
LIDEWIJ: You invited them.
Please, come in.
VAN HOUTEN: You know
why I left America, Lidewij.
To never have to
encounter Americans.
You're American.
VAN HOUTEN: Incurably so.
Get rid of them.
LIDEWIJ: I will not do this, Peter.
Please, be nice.
Come in, please.
Sorry, let me clear this for you.
Thank you.
Which of you is Augustus Waters?
I am.
And that's Hazel.
Mr. Van Houten, thank you so
much for writing back to us.
Clearly an error in judgment.
Yours are the first missives
to which I've replied,
and look where it got me.
Scotch?
Uh...
No, thank you.
Just me, then, Lidewij.
Another scotch and soda, please.
Perhaps some
breakfast first, Peter?
She thinks I have
a drinking problem.
I also think the Earth is round.
(MOCKING LAUGH)
So, you like my book.
- We love your book.
- Yeah.
We love it.
Augustus...
He made his wish meeting
you so that we could talk.
- GUS: No pressure.
- HAZEL: Yeah.
Did you dress like her on purpose?
Kind of.
And, incidentally, sir,
we both really
wanted to thank you
for dinner last night.
And for the champagne.
It was amazing.
It was magical.
We bought them dinner last night?
It was our pleasure.
VAN HOUTEN: You've come a long way.
What can I do for you?
We have some questions...
obviously, about what happens
at the end of your book.
Uh, specifically to those
who Anna leaves behind.
Like her mom,
the Dutch Tulip Man...
How familiar are you
with Swedish hip-hop?
I would say, limited.
Uh, Lidewij, play
Bomfalleralla immediately.
Okay.
(SWEDISH HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING)
We don't speak Swedish, sir.
Who the hell speaks Swedish?
The important thing is not what
nonsense the voices are saying...
but what the voices are feeling.
(MUSIC STOPS)
Are you messing with us?
Like, is this some
sort of performance?
Gus, sit down.
All right, so at the end
of the book, Anna's...
Let's imagine
you're racing a tortoise.
The tortoise has
a ten-yard head start.
In the time it takes you
to run ten yards...
the tortoise has moved maybe
one yard, and so on, forever.
You're faster than the tortoise,
but you can never
catch him, you see?
You can only decrease his lead.
Now, certainly, you can
run past the tortoise...
as long as you don't contemplate
the mechanics involved.
But the question of "how?"
turns out to be so complicated...
that no one really solved it...
until Cantor's proof
that some infinities
are bigger than other infinities.
I assume that answers
your question.
Hazel, I'm sorry. I have
no idea what's going on.
Yet you seemed so intelligent
in print, Mr. Waters.
Has the cancer found its
way into your brain?
Peter.
Can we, for one second,
just focus on Anna?
Please?
I understand that the story ends
in the middle of a sentence...
because she dies, or that she
becomes too sick to continue...
I am not interested in
talking about that book.
But that doesn't mean that her family
and friends don't have a future, right?
Right?
I said I'm not interested.
But you promised!
Nothing happens! They're fiction!
They cease to exist the
moment the novel ends.
HAZEL: But they can't!
I get it in a literary sense
or whatever, but...
VAN HOUTEN:
I can't do this, Lidewij.
It's impossible
not to imagine what...
I will not indulge
your childish whims.
I refuse to pity you in the manner
in which you are accustomed.
- I do not want your pity!
- VAN HOUTEN: Of course you do!
Like all sick kids, your
existence depends on it.
- You are fated to live out your days...
- Peter!
as the child you were
when diagnosed.
A child who believes there is
a life after a novel ends.
And we as adults, we pity this.
So, we pay for your treatments,
your oxygen machines.
Peter, that's enough.
You are a side-effect
to an evolutionary process...
that cares little
for individual lives.
You are a failed
experiment in mutation.
Listen, douchepants...
there is nothing that you're gonna
tell me about my disease...
that I don't already know.
I came here for one thing
and one thing only.
That is for you
to tell me what happens
at the end of this goddamn book!
I can't tell you.
- Bullshit!
- I can't.
- Then make something up!
- (GLASS CLATTERS)
I want you to leave.
(HAZEL BREATHING HEAVILY)
Have you ever stopped
to ask yourself...
why you care so much
about your silly questions?
Oh, go fuck yourself.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY)
Hey, it's okay.
It's okay.
I'll write you a sequel.
All right? I'll write you a sequel.
It'll be better than any piece of
shit that drunk guy could write.
It'll have blood, and
guts, and sacrifice.
You'll love it.
So sorry that I spent your
wish on that asshole.
No, you did not spend it on him.
You spent it on us.
LIDEWIJ: Hazel and Augustus!
I'm very sorry.
Circumstance has made him cruel.
(SIGHS)
I thought meeting you
would help him...
that he could see that his
work has shaped real lives.
But... I'm very sorry.
Perhaps we can do some sightseeing?
Have you been to
the Anne Frank house?
I'm not going anywhere
with that man.
No.
He is not invited.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(SIGHS)
I'm afraid there's no elevator.
Oh. That's all right.
There are many stairs.
- Steep stairs.
- I can do it.
- Hazel, we don't have to...
- I can do it.
Let's go.
(LIDEWIJ SPEAKS DUTCH)
MALE NARRATOR: Frank's family
came from Frankfurt, in Germany.
Anne Frank's diary would
become world famous.
ANNE FRANK:
It's difficult in times like these.
It's a wonder I haven't
abandoned all my ideals.
They seem so absurd
and impractical...
yet I cling to them
because I still believe...
in spite of everything, that
people are truly good at heart.
It's utterly impossible
for me to build my life...
Shall we?
- Yeah.
- GUS: Yeah.
(GUS CLEARS THROAT)
Hazel, I'll carry it if you want.
I got it.
(STRAINING)
Wow.
So this is the actual bookcase
that hid the Frank family.
Whoa.
(STRAINING)
I got it.
Thank you.
ANNE FRANK: We're much too young
to deal with these problems...
but they keep thrusting
themselves on us...
until, finally, we're forced
to think up a solution.
You okay, Hazel?
Yeah.
Don't worry, take your time.
Sorry.
LIDEWIJ: Yeah?
Yeah.
ANNE FRANK: And yet,
when I look up at the sky...
I somehow feel that everything
will change for the better.
That this cruelty, too, will end.
You Okay?
Yeah.
Hazel, I think that's enough.
You don't need...
You know?
Uh-huh.
I got this.
ANNE FRANK:
All is as it should be.
God wishes to see people happy.
- Where there is hope...
- Hazel.
there is life.
- Well done.
- Yeah.
You okay?
Yeah.
(CHUCKLES) This is it, look.
All right?
Oh, yeah. Oh, my God.
Thanks.
LIDEWIJ: The only member of the
Frank family to survive was Otto.
Anne's father.
ANNE FRANK:
At such moments...
I can't think about the misery...
but about the beauty
that still remains.
Try to recapture the
happiness within yourself.
Think of all the beauty
in everything around you...
and be happy.
(LAUGHS)
Bravo.
(WOMAN SPEAKING FRENCH)
(MAN SPEAKING GERMAN)
(CHUCKLES)
HAZEL: I fell in love with
him the way you fall asleep.
Slowly, and then all at once.
(LAUGHING)
it just sort of ends right above
where the knee would be...
and tapers off.
What?
My leg.
You know, just so you're prepared.
Gus...
get over yourself.
(LAUGHING)
Wait.
- I can't, it's stuck.
- (BOTH LAUGHING)
(SOFTLY) I love you so
much, Augustus Waters.
(WHISPERING)
I love you too, Hazel Grace.
So, so much.
Augustus, I can't breathe.
(LAUGHS)
It's okay.
Hazel.
You're so beautiful.
Stop.
No, you're so beautiful.
I'm so lucky.
I'm so lucky.
(CHUCKLES)
(CHUCKLING)
HAZEL: Oh, my God.
(FRANNIE LAUGHING)
I can't believe you
called him "douchepants."
- HAZEL: I know!
- FRANNIE: You did?
How did you come up with that?
I don't know, it just came out.
I was so angry.
What a monster.
Mom, it was awful.
Then what happened?
We went to Anne Frank House.
Oh, you did?
- GUS: It was really awesome.
- Was that incredible?
HAZEL: It was so awesome.
And after that?
We just walked around.
That sounds lovely.
(SIGHS LOUDLY)
Oh, my gosh,
we probably still have
a few hours, right?
Should we go to
the Van Gogh Museum?
Whatever you want.
Probably don't have time
to do everything, but...
You're just gonna have
to come back, is all.
Could you just not be
ridiculous right now, please?
FRANNIE:
Hazel, I'm not being ridiculous.
I'm being positive.
Mrs. Lancaster?
Yeah?
Do you think Hazel and I can
just have a little time alone?
Sure, Gus.
Um, I am gonna run to the room...
and be ready whenever you
guys want to do something.
Want to go for a walk?
(SIGHS)
What is it?
Just before you went into the
hospital, there was this...
I felt an ache in my hip.
So, I had a PET scan...
and it lit up like
a Christmas tree.
The lining of my chest
and my liver...
Everywhere.
I'm sorry.
I should've told you.
(VOICE BREAKING) It's so unfair.
Apparently, the world is not
a wish-granting factory.
(CRYING)
- Hey, listen.
- (SNIFFLES)
Don't you worry about me,
Hazel Grace, okay?
I'm gonna find a way
to hang around here
and annoy you for a long time.
(CHUCKLES WEAKLY)
Are you in pain?
No.
I'm okay.
You're okay?
Okay.
(SIGHS)
I don't suppose you can
just forget about this?
You know, just treat
me like I'm not dying.
I don't think you're
dying, Augustus.
You've just got a touch of cancer.
Would it be absolutely ludicrous...
if we just made out?
Right now?
Probably.
Oh... (GASPS)
(CHUCKLES)
So how are your eyes, Isaac?
They're good.
They're not in my head,
is the only problem.
- Besides that...
- (HAZEL LAUGHS)
Well, um, it appears my entire
body's made out of cancer now.
So, sorry to one-up you, dude.
Did you, uh...
write his eulogy yet?
- Dude.
- What?
- What?
- I haven't told her yet, Isaac.
What are you talking about?
Oh.
Sorry.
Augustus?
I need speakers at my funeral.
So, I was hoping
that you and Isaac,
but mostly you...
would be, um,
kind enough to whip something up.
I would love to do that.
(WHISPERS) Thank you.
You guys are cute.
Makes me sick.
(LAUGHING)
You guys are gross.
Have you heard from Monica?
Nope, not a thing.
She hasn't even texted you
to make sure you're okay?
- Not once.
- I hate that girl.
But there are tons of other girls.
You guys don't have
to worry about me.
In support group,
there's this new girl...
and she has these humongous...
(HAZEL LAUGHS)
How do you even know that?
I'm blind, but I'm not that blind.
- Hazel Grace?
- Hmm.
Do you happen to have five dollars?
Okay, so, now what?
ISAAC: Hey, guys?
I smell eggs. That eggs?
Is it there?
- It's there.
- Mmm-hmm.
ISAAC: I'm nervous.
Nervous?
Is Monica in there?
It doesn't matter where Monica is.
This is not about Monica.
This is about you.
- Okay. Can I have an egg?
- Hazel Grace...
egg me.
Egged.
Isaac.
(LAUGHING)
All right, here we go.
- You got this.
- GUS: All right. Come on.
(GRUNTS)
I didn't hear anything.
It's all right. A little
more to your left.
Wait, throw to my left, or
should I aim a little left?
Aim left.
- Okay.
- Left-er.
Gus, I think we should
wait until dark.
It's all dark to Isaac.
Dude, I'm not deaf.
I'm just blind.
So I can hear when you
make fun of my disability.
- I'm sorry.
- And I don't love it.
- Where do I throw?
- Just throw hard.
Yes.
- Yes!
- Yeah!
What? What?
I hit it! I hit it!
(GRUNTS)
Now I know exactly
where to line it up.
- (CAR ALARM BLARING)
- That was so exhilarating!
Keep it going. Keep going.
(LAUGHING)
GUS: Keep throwing, keep throwing.
Give me more, give me
more, give me more!
- (GRUNTS)
- (ALARM CONTINUES BLARING)
Oh!
Oh, stop, stop, stop!
- Isaac.
- Oh.
(CAR LOCK BEEPS)
Hello. Are you Monica's mother?
- I am.
- Hello, ma'am.
Your daughter, she's done
a great injustice.
So we've come here seeking revenge.
You see, we may not
look like much...
but between the three of us, we
have five legs, four eyes...
and two-and-a-half
working pairs of lungs.
But we also have two dozen eggs...
so if I were you,
I would go back inside.
(DOOR OPENS)
- Dude, it actually worked?
- Yep.
ISAAC: That was the stupidest speech
I've ever... That actually worked?
There you go. Hold on.
(GRUNTS)
(ALARM BLARING)
ISAAC: This feels so good!
(GRUNTING)
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
Augustus?
Hazel Grace.
Hi.
Oh, my God. Hi, hi. I love you.
I'm at the gas station.
You're what?
Something is wrong.
You gotta...
Can you come?
Can you come and help me?
Gus!
Gus.
Babe, what's going on?
GUS: Look.
Gus, it's infected.
(GAGS)
- (DRY RETCHING)
- Take a deep breath.
Gus, I have to call somebody.
No, no. Please don't
call 9-1-1. Please.
Don't call my parents or 9...
I will never forgive you
if you call them.
Gus, what are you doing here?
What are you doing here?
I wanted to buy cigarettes.
I don't know what
happened to my pack.
I might have lost it or something,
or they took it, but I just...
I wanted to do something
for myself, you know?
I wanted to do it myself.
- I have to call 9-1-1.
- No!
I have to.
No!
Hi, 9-1-1?
Um, we need an ambulance.
I hate myself!
My name is Hazel Grace Lancaster.
- (SOBBING)
- Please hurry.
- We're in a silver Jeep at the gas station.
- (POUNDING)
HAZEL: I wish I could say
that Augustus Waters
kept his sense of
humor until the end.
That not for a single moment
did his courage waver.
But that is not what happened.
- It hurts so much.
- (SHUSHING)
I'm so stupid.
Baby, it's okay. It's okay.
Hazel?
Will you tell me a story?
A story?
Or, like, a poem?
I do know... I... I know a poem.
Will you tell me it?
The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams.
"So much depends upon
a red wheelbarrow
"Glazed with rain water
"beside the white chickens."
That's it? Is that all?
No, no, no, of course not.
Of course not.
"So much depends upon...
A blue sky
"Cut open by the branches of trees
"And so much depends upon the...
The transparent G-tube
"erupting from the belly of
the blue-lipped boy
"So much depends
"on this observer of the universe"
How's he doing?
He's had a tough night, Hazel.
His blood pressure's low.
His heart... (SIGHS)
What about the chemo?
They are gonna stop the chemo.
Can I see him?
We'll tell him you were here.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
Yeah.
I'm just gonna hang out for
a while, if you don't mind.
Yeah, of course.
MRS. WATERS: Take your time.
Here we go, bud.
- Good?
- All right, sweetie.
Okay.
HAZEL: Hi.
What are you thinking about?
Oblivion.
I know it's kid's stuff
or whatever, but...
I always thought I would be a hero.
I always thought I'd have
a grand story to tell.
You know, something they would
publish in all the papers, and...
I mean, I was supposed
to be special.
You are special, Augustus.
Yeah, I know. But...
you know what I mean.
I do know what you mean,
I just don't agree with you.
You know this obsession you
have with being remembered?
- Don't get mad.
- I am mad.
I'm mad because I think you're
special. And is that not enough?
You think that the only way
to lead a meaningful life...
is for everyone to remember
you, for everyone to love you.
Guess what, Gus.
This is your life, okay?
This is all you get.
You get me,
and you get your family,
and you get this world,
and that's it.
And if that's not enough for you,
then I'm sorry,
but it's not nothing.
Because I love you.
And I'm gonna remember you.
I'm sorry. You're right.
I just wish you
would be happy with that.
Hey.
It's a good life, Hazel Grace.
It's not over yet, you know.
Oh, Augustus.
HAZEL: One of the less bullshitty
conventions of the cancer genre...
is the convention known as
the "Last Good Day"...
when it seems like the inexorable
decline has suddenly plateaued...
when the pain is,
just for a minute, bearable.
The problem, of course, is that
there's no way of knowing...
that your last good day
is your last good day.
At the time, it's just
another decent day.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
Hello, Augustus.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Good evening, Hazel Grace.
A quick question for you.
Did you ever write that eulogy
I asked you to prepare?
I may have.
Do you think you could
find your way down...
to the literal Heart of Jesus
in the next few minutes?
Maybe. Is everything okay?
I love you, Hazel Grace.
- HAZEL: Can I have the keys?
- Oh.
- Where you going? We're gonna eat something.
- I have to go.
Hazel, you have to be hungry.
You didn't even eat lunch.
I'm just not hungry.
Hazel, you cannot not eat.
I'm aggressively un-hungry.
Hazel, I know Gus is sick, but you
got to take care of yourself.
This has nothing to do with Gus.
Well, then you've
got to stay healthy.
Come on, just eat something, honey.
"Stay healthy"?
Okay, I'm not healthy,
and I'm gonna die.
Do you realize that? I'm dying,
and you're gonna be here...
and you're not gonna have anyone
to look after, or hover around...
and you're not gonna be a mother
anymore, and I'm sorry...
but there's nothing
I can do about that.
So, can I please go?
Why would you say that to me?
Because you said that.
What are you talking about?
In the ICU.
Hazel...
That's not the truth.
I was wrong.
All right?
Even if you died...
"When."
Even when you die...
I'll always be your mother.
It's the greatest
thing I'll ever be.
That is my biggest fear, Mom.
When I am gone...
you're not gonna
have a life anymore.
You're just gonna sit and
you're gonna stare at walls...
or you're gonna
off yourselves or...
Hazel, honey,
we're not gonna do that.
Losing you...
(SIGHS)
That is gonna hurt like hell.
But you of all people know it's
possible to live with pain.
You just do it.
I'm taking classes in social work.
Wait, you're what?
Yeah, um...
You know, if I can take
what we've been through...
and help other people,
maybe counsel families...
Mom, how could you
not tell me this?
We didn't want you
to feel abandoned.
Feel abandoned?
You guys, this is...
(SOBBING)
This is the best news.
You go.
Okay?
Baby.
GUS: Straight ahead, yeah.
To your left, a little bit.
That's a step, right?
Yeah, put your hand out.
There's a podium to your right.
Yeah, perfect.
(ISAAC CLEARS THROAT)
(CLAPS)
Beautiful.
(KISSES)
Hi.
You're late.
How you doing? You look
ravishing, Hazel Grace.
I know, right?
What's going on, guys?
Tell her, Gus.
I wanted to attend my own funeral.
I mean, I'm hopeful that I'll be
able to attend as a ghost, but...
(LAUGHING)
However, just in case
it doesn't work out...
I decided to plan this pre-funeral.
Ready?
- Augustus Waters was a
cocky son of a bitch.
- (GUS LAUGHS)
But we forgave him.
Not because of his
superhuman good looks...
or because he only got 19 years
when he should've gotten way more.
18 years, buddy.
Dude, come on. Really?
I'm assuming you have a little more
time, you interrupting bastard.
Interrupt me in the middle of my eulogy.
You're supposed to be dead.
(LAUGHING)
But when the scientists
from the future...
come to my house with robot eyes...
and they tell me to try them on...
I'm gonna tell those scientists
to piss off, because...
because Gus, I don't even want
to see a world without you.
I don't.
I don't want to see a world
without Augustus Waters.
Then, having made my point, I'll
probably put the robot eyes on...
because, you know,
they're robot eyes.
Sounds awesome.
(SOBS)
And I don't know... Um...
This is just so hard.
Um...
Godspeed.
Yeah.
ISAAC:
Hazel, can I get a hand here?
To the right, a little bit.
Yeah, and turn around.
Sit down. There you go.
It's down to you, Hazel Grace.
(SIGHS)
Hello.
My name is Hazel Grace Lancaster...
and Augustus Waters was the
star-crossed love of my life.
Ours was an epic love story...
and I probably won't be able to
get more than a sentence out...
without disappearing
into a puddle of tears.
Like all real love stories...
ours will die with us.
As it should.
You know, I'd kind of hoped that
he would be the one eulogizing me.
Because there's really
no one else...
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, no. Um...
I'm not gonna talk about our
love story, because I can't.
So, instead,
I'm gonna talk about math.
I am not a mathematician,
but I do know this.
There are infinite numbers
between zero and one.
There's point-one, point-one-two,
and point-one-one-two, and...
and an infinite
collection of others.
Of course,
there is a bigger infinite
set of numbers
between zero and two...
or between zero and a million.
Some infinities are simply
bigger than other infinities.
A writer that we used
to like taught us that.
You know, I want more numbers...
than I'm likely to get.
And, God...
do I want more days
for Augustus Waters
than what he got.
But, Gus...
my love...
I cannot tell you
how thankful I am...
for our little infinity.
Hold on.
(SNIFFLING)
You gave me a forever...
within the numbered days.
And for that, I am...
I am eternally grateful.
I love you so much.
I love you, too.
(PHONE RINGING)
HAZEL: Augustus Waters died
eight days later in the ICU.
When the cancer,
which was made of him...
stopped his heart, which
was also made of him.
(HAZEL SOBBING)
(SOBS)
It was unbearable.
The whole thing.
Every second, worse than the last.
One of the first things
they ask you in the ER...
is to rate your pain
on a scale from one to ten.
I've been asked this question
hundreds of times...
and I remember once...
when I couldn't catch my breath
and it felt like
my chest was on fire...
the nurse asked me
to rate the pain.
Though I couldn't speak,
I held up nine fingers.
Later, when I started
feeling better...
the nurse came in
and she called me a fighter.
"You know how I know?"
she said.
"You called a ten a nine."
But that wasn't the truth.
I didn't call it a nine
because I was brave.
The reason I called it a nine was
because I was saving my ten.
And this was it.
(SIGHS)
This was the great
and terrible ten.
MINISTER: "I will fear no
evil, for You are with me...
"Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
"You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
"You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
"Surely, goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life...
"and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord...
"forever."
Augustus Waters
fought hard for many years.
His battle was a courageous
one, and his strength...
What a load of shit, huh, kid?
was a source of inspiration
for each and every one of us.
Let us pray.
We thank You, Lord, for the
life of Augustus Waters...
We need to fake-pray now.
MINISTER: ...for his
strength and his courage.
Lord, we ask that You be with
us today, that You be close...
that You comfort
his friends and family.
Thank You for Your presence, Lord.
All this we pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Now, we are going to hear
from Gus' special friend...
Hazel Lancaster.
Not that it really matters,
but I was his girlfriend.
There's a beautiful quote
in Gus' home that reads...
"If you want the rainbow, you
have to deal with the rain."
Even in his last few days...
Um...
I didn't believe a word.
He was always able
to crack a smile.
But that's okay.
I knew this was
the right thing to do.
Funerals, I'd decided,
are not for the dead.
They're for the living.
Hey, want some company?
No, I'm okay.
I'm just gonna drive
for a bit by myself.
Love you.
Love you.
You spoke beautifully.
I'll see you soon.
Drive safe.
Okay.
VAN HOUTEN: May I?
Omnis cellula e cellula.
Your boy Waters and I corresponded
quite a bit in his last days.
Oh. So, you read your fan mail now?
I wouldn't exactly call him a fan.
He detested me.
But he was quite insistent
I attend his funeral...
and tell you what became
of Anna and her mother...
so here I am.
And that's your answer,
"Omnis cellula e cellula."
"Life comes from life."
I'm really not in the mood.
You don't want an explanation?
No, I don't.
Thank you, though.
Have a great life.
You remind me of her.
(SCOFFS)
I remind a lot of people
of a lot of people.
My daughter was eight.
And she suffered
beautifully for so long.
She had leukemia like Anna?
Just like Anna.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
And I'm sorry for yours. And
sorry for ruining your trip.
You didn't ruin our trip.
- We had an amazing trip.
- (CHUCKLES)
Are you familiar with
the Trolley Problem?
There's a thought experiment
in the field of ethics...
known as the Trolley Problem.
Philippa Foot was an
English philosopher...
Oh, my God.
Hazel, I'm trying to
explain something to you.
I'm trying to give you
what you wanted.
No, you're not!
You are a drunk,
and you're a failure...
and I need you to get out
of my car right now...
so that I can go home, and
be by myself and grieve!
You'll want to read this.
I don't want to read anything.
Can you just get out of my car?
Please get out of my car!
Fine.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(SIGHS)
Can I come in?
I'm so, so sorry.
Yeah.
It was a privilege,
though, wasn't it?
To love him?
Gives you an idea
how we feel about you.
FRANNIE: Hazel?
There's a friend here to see you.
(SIGHS)
Do you know if it hurt or whatever?
Apparently he was struggling
for breath for a long time...
and then eventually
he just went unconscious.
It wasn't great or anything.
Dying sucks.
Gus really loved you, you know?
I know.
- He wouldn't shut up about it.
- (LAUGHS SOFTLY)
Yeah.
It was annoying. He
talked about you so much.
I didn't find it that annoying.
I know. I know you didn't.
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
Did you get that letter
from your author friend?
Ew. He's not my friend.
How do you know about that?
Well, I was talking
to him at the cemetery...
and he said he came all this way
to give that letter to you.
Yeah, well, I'm over it.
I have no interest in reading another
word of that asshole's again.
No, he didn't write it.
Gus wrote it.
What?
Apparently Gus wrote something down
and then sent it to Van Houten.
Oh, my God.
GUS: Mr. Van Houten, I'm a good
person, but a shitty writer.
You're a shitty person,
but a good writer.
I think we'd make a good team.
I don't want to ask you
for any favors...
but if you have the time, and from
what I saw, you have plenty...
please fix this for me.
It's a eulogy for Hazel.
She asked me to write one,
and I'm trying.
I just... I could
use a little flair.
See, the thing is, we all
want to be remembered.
But Hazel's different.
Hazel knows the truth.
She didn't want a million admirers.
She just wanted one.
And she got it.
Maybe she wasn't loved widely,
but she was loved deeply.
And isn't that more
than most of us get?
When Hazel was sick,
I knew I was dying...
but I didn't want to say so.
She was in the ICU, and I
snuck in for 10 minutes...
and I sat with her,
before I got caught.
Her eyes were closed.
Her skin, pale.
But her hands
were still her hands.
Still warm, and her nails were painted
this dark blue-black color...
and I just held them.
And I willed myself to imagine
a world without us...
and what a worthless world
that would be.
She's so beautiful.
You don't get tired
of looking at her.
You never worry if she's
smarter than you...
because you know she is.
She's funny without
ever being mean.
I love her.
God, I love her.
I'm so lucky to love her,
Van Houten.
You don't get to choose if
you get hurt in this world...
but you do have a say
in who hurts you.
And I like my choices.
I hope she likes hers.
Okay, Hazel Grace?
Okay.