Jennifer Love Hewitt: Sarah Reeves Merrin

Quotes 

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [waiting at airport]  I guess there's an argument for not getting to the airport two hours before your flight, huh? You know, first flight gone, last flight off. It's just, I didn't want to take any chances on being late, you know, 'cause this is kinda the most important trip that I will ever take in my entire life.

  [the man nods] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You see, I don't have much to go on, except for a name: William Landford. Oh, and the address to the studio he owns. It's an acting studio, I think. You see, that's how he and my Mom met, they acted together. Isn't that the most romantic thing you ever heard?

  Guy at Airport : [Eastern accent]  I could take taxi with you to hotel room and we have 100% sexy adventure.

  [she turns away and walks off] 

• Clerk : [airport receptionist]  I'll need your address in New York. When we relocate your bag, we'll have it delivered.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : That's your policy? You lose my bag, and you want me to head on into New York equipped with absolutely nothing?

  Clerk : Of course not.

  [hands her a packet] 

  Clerk : Your complimentary toiletry kit.

  [Sarah looks at her in incredulous dismay] 

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [to taxi driver]  Okay, minor setback. But it's all part of the adventure, right?

  Eddie : Just as long as you got your wallet.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [looking around as he drives]  You know what? It's kinda weird. I... I was conceived here.

  Eddie : Oh yeah? Well, these cabs see a lot of back-seat action.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh

  [giggles] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : no. Here. In New York. My... my Mom used to live on East 10th Street. Is that close to here?

  Eddie : No. Not really.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh, 'cause I was thinking, you know, I can't really do anything till morning, so... so maybe we could swing by there at one of the hotels. 537 East 10th Street.

  Eddie : [when they arrive]  Uh, look, uh, I'm about to go off duty, so...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [looking up at building]  Maybe one of those lights was her apartment. You know, I'll bet she used to throw keys down to my Dad when the buzzer was broken. Maybe they... they made out on that stoop.

  Eddie : [impatiently]  Lady, do you mind, the meter is running here.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You know what? It's okay, uhm, you don't have to stay.

  [hands him cash without checking] 

  Eddie : Gee. Thanks, honey.

  [laughs merrily] 

  Eddie : Here. Let me give you a hand with your luggage.

  [tosses her little toiletry bag towards her] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [catching it]  Thanks.

• Jocelyn House : [to the newcomer standing outside looking dreamily up at the building]  Hey, are you lost?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No... no, I'm not lost.

  [still looking up, enthralled] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I'm not lost at all.

• Cecilia Wiznarski : [answering a knock on her door, with the TV blaring inside, alternative rock]  What?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Hi. I'm sorry, I was looking for the building manager.

  Cecilia Wiznarski : [impatient, hair with recently removed curlers]  If you wanna rent an apartment, leave me your name, slip me two hundred bucks, and I'll call you when somebody dies.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, no, no, I don't wanna rent. Look, I know this is gonna sound weird, but my Mom lived here twenty years ago, in apartment, uh, 3E, and she died, and it would be really nice if just one time, I could maybe see...

  Cecilia Wiznarski : Look, honey, this is not Colonial Williamsburg, I don't give tours.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Okay, I will give you money if you would just let me take, like, five minutes and let me see my Mom's place.

  Cecilia Wiznarski : All right, you give me a hundred dollars, and I will let you stay in the place till Monday. No paperwork, under the table, yes or no?

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [rushing upstairs, unlocks door, but entrance barred by chain lock]  What's this?

  Romy Sullivan : [peering out past chain lock]  Hey, what are you doing?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : What am I doing? Who are you?

  Romy Sullivan : Answer my question, girlfriend. How did you get a key to my apartment?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Your...? No! I just paid a hundred bucks to stay here! You're living here?

  Romy Sullivan : Wait one second.

  [unlocks] 

  Romy Sullivan : She sent you, didn't she? Cecilia. This is a pressure tactic because I'm a couple of weeks late with the rent.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Okay, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I just forked over a lot of money to a very weird woman with really freaky hair, and you know what, if this is some kinda scam, I could get the police!

• Romy Sullivan : [hears her cellphone buzzing]  Hold that thought, sweetie, I'm waiting on this audition.

  [searches for it] 

  Romy Sullivan : Do you mind giving me a hand here, please?

  [as she scampers about, asking herself:] 

  Romy Sullivan : Why would anybody pay money to stay in this place?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Well, my Mom lived here twenty years ago, and she...

  Romy Sullivan : Found it! Okay, wish me luck, I really need this to come through.

  [nervously checking] 

  Romy Sullivan : My parents. Like I'm actually gonna call them for another lecture.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Your parents page you...?

  Romy Sullivan : My phone's turned off. No phone money, no rent money. Starving actress.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : My Mom was one of those too.

  [little laugh] 

  Romy Sullivan : Really? Would I have heard of her?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, I don't think so. She died a while ago.

  [looking around] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : God, this is so weird.

  [little laugh] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : That... that's her stove, and her sink... her radiator...

  Romy Sullivan : Yeah, I can pretty much guarantee nothing's been replaced.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Maybe that's where they made me...

  Romy Sullivan : All right, look, you can have the couch for the weekend, it's the best I can do.

• John Maguire : Thanks. What was it that you...?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh, I'm... I'm a... friend of Romy's, and she said that you have an actual working telephone.

  John Maguire : Oh, it's over there. And tell Romy she has no messages. Leave the change on the counter, I'm closing up.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [she phones Bailey, he answers]  Hey... it's... it's me, I'm here, I landed. It's like, the flight was fine. The hotel? The hotel is, uh... really elegant.

  [John looks up at her as she tells white lie] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uhm, well, the thing is, you can't... really call me here. Uhm... well, because they're having an...

  [uncertainly:] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : electrical switchboard problem. But that doesn't really matter, 'cause I'm not gonna be here that much anyway. So I'll just... I'll call you. Would you please stop worrying?

  John Maguire : [helping out from behind the counter]  She's doing great!

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uh, who do you think it was? Some guy that I picked up at baggage claim? It's, uh... bellman.

  John Maguire : Your Mom?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [covering receiver]  Essentially.

  [as John smiles, back to Bailey:] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Yeah, I'm still here.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [late at night, got out of bed, finds roommate restless as well]  Can't sleep either, huh?

  Romy Sullivan : Nope. Not with that going on twenty feet from my window.

  [indicates hot couple embracing] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Ahh. Who is that?

  Romy Sullivan : I call him GG. Short for Gorgeous Guy.

  [they almost get seen, she ducks, bumping Sarah backwards] 

  Romy Sullivan : Ooh!

  [they return] 

  Romy Sullivan : Aw...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [in unison]  Aw...

  Romy Sullivan : Oh, he is an amazing kisser. I say that based entirely on observation, of course. That's... that's one thing that hasn't happened for me in a year.

• William Landford : [the man she is looking for turns out to be an effeminate dance instructor in pink shirt with earrings]  Now just remember, ladies, you are a princess. Fairy princesses. And this is your big night at the ball.

  [demonstrating graceful movement] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [to the assistant]  Oh, I bet, that can't be...

  William Landford : [noticed her, comes over]  Can I help you, hon?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [uncertainly]  Hi.

  William Landford : Hi.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uh, look, I'm Robin Merrin's daughter.

  William Landford : Robin Merrin? Did you say Robin Merrin? Gee. Years ago I acted with her.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Just acted?

  William Landford : Well, we had a few mils together. I seem to remember I helped her pick out a throw rug at Lord & Taylor's, and... what's with the tone, sweetheart?

  [turns back towards the dancers, goes off] 

  William Landford : Tempo, Cricket!

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I'm sorry.

  [runs after him] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I'm sorry.

  [catches up] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I know that this may be... an insane question, but... were you and my Mom ever involved... like, romantically? Because I don't know who my father is. And my Mom was doing a play here when I was conceived, and I think the man she was involved with during the play, is my father. So is there... any chance that you were... oh, say, un... unclear about your sexuality back then, and... and maybe... you... and she...?

  William Landford : Oh... my... God.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh my God? Really, oh my God?

  William Landford : You are Archer Fitzwith's daughter.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [flustered]  What? Who?

  William Landford : He fell for her the moment she first auditioned for him.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : He... he was... her director?

  William Landford : You don't know the name Archer Fitzwith? Theater impresario? The bard on The Bard series? Lincoln Center? Do you not read Arts & Leisure?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Were they...

  [gushing] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : really in love?

  William Landford : Oh, my dear girl. You have no idea.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [elated]  God, I can't believe it. I... I know his name, I mean... I actually know who he is.

  Romy Sullivan : Why can't he be my father? I mean, don't you see the irony here? Me, an actress? Him, as a big-deal theater guy?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : God, my heart is, like, pounding...!

  Romy Sullivan : That's not your heart. It's a bass line. Cecilia, the super. She has these wild dance parties, like, every other night.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [eager]  Let's go!

  Romy Sullivan : This...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Let's go, come on!

  Romy Sullivan : Forget it, it's a scene.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : That's great! That's great, I want a scene! I wanna be crammed into a room with people who don't wanna be anywhere else in the whole wide world tonight...!

  Romy Sullivan : Sarah!

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Come on, Romy, I am this close. I am so close to knowing him. Just give me one good reason why I should not spend the night dancing.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [escaping crowd, climbing through onto fire escape, song playing inside is Send Me An Angel, looking down she sees John]  Hey! Hey! Hey! Maguire!

  John Maguire : [looking up]  What are you doing up there?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh, uh, placing, I guess. Kinda cool.

  [giggles] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : It's a little nauseating, I guess, but kinda cool.

  [giggles, tipsy] 

  John Maguire : You okay?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Yes, ugh, I am wonderful. I am wonderful, because it is a wonderful night. And we should celebrate. We should celebrate, so come up here and dance with me.

  John Maguire : I'm afraid of heights.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Inside.

  [giggles] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : We're gonna dance inside.

  John Maguire : [shakes his head]  Still...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Okay...

  [turns to go back in] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : well... you're missing out...

  [giggles] 

• Romy Sullivan : Okay, what's better? Botulism, or a death in the family? I need an excuse to tell the office manager where I am temping.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You can't just say you've got an audition?

  Romy Sullivan : I'm glad you are so young. Did you find something?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [borrowed dress]  I don't know. I don't know. I wanna... I wanna look like a daughter. You know, like the perfect daughter. Someone you'll look at, and say, yes, of course you're mine, because I don't want you to be anybody else's.

  Romy Sullivan : [knock on door]  Hang on!

  [opens, it's Cecilia] 

  Romy Sullivan : Ugh, I know why you're here. Look, I just got this audition, and if I get the job, I swear to God...

  Cecilia Wiznarski : Look, I'm a landlord who really doesn't give a crap, okay? You owe me $300 or you're out.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uhm, what about the money I gave you?

  Cecilia Wiznarski : That was a private arrangement.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [comes forward]  You rented me an apartment that was already occupied.

  Cecilia Wiznarski : I did you a favor. You were all moony-eyed about this place. And it's obviously worked out, you're wearing each other's clothes.

  [turns and leaves] 

• Archer Fitzwith's Receptionist : [in office]  All righty. Well, will he know what this is in reference to?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uh, no.

  Archer Fitzwith's Receptionist : No. Okay, well, can I tell him what it's in reference to?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Actually, it's a... it's a personal matter, and it would be better if I could talk to him myself.

  Archer Fitzwith's Receptionist : All righty. Just leave your picture and resume right here in this box. Thanks a lot.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uh, no, I'm not an actress.

  Archer Fitzwith's Receptionist : [heard it before]  Of course you're not.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Look, I have something that I really need to talk to him about. Okay, it's important... for both of us.

  [little laugh] 

  Archer Fitzwith's Receptionist : Okay, now why don't you leave your number? He's going to a benefit tonight at the Lincoln Center, and tomorrow he's off to Moscow for a cultural exchange, maybe he'll phone you when he gets back. No promising. Stranger things have happened.

  [soft smirk] 

• John Maguire : Hold on a second. So this Archer guy, he leaves tomorrow, right? What is he doing tonight?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Well, his secretary said something about a Lincoln Center benefit, but what is the point? I mean, there's gotta be a guest list, tight security...

  John Maguire : There's gotta be a band. That's how you get in. Say you're with the band.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I can't say that.

  John Maguire : Sure you can.

  [demonstrates:] 

  John Maguire : I'm with the band. Four little words. It's easy. Okay, this is what you do. You go round back to the guarded entrance, you wear a slinky dress, you carry a stack of sheet music, you bat your eyes at the security guard, and you're in.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Wait.

  [regarding the sheet music:] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : These are yours. I mean, aren't you gonna need these for the Dylan gig?

  John Maguire : Mm. That fell through. They decided to go with A-list talent.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [little sigh]  God, I'm sorry.

  John Maguire : Okay, so we got the sheet music. Can I see a little eye-batting please?

  [she does, and giggles] 

  John Maguire : Now where do we stand with the slinky dress?

• John Maguire : [as she presents herself in little red dress]  That's great too.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You can't like everything. Besides, this one has sweat stains.

  [turns to go change] 

  John Maguire : Right. I'll hate the next one. I promise.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [changing dress next door]  I can't believe you lost that gig. Yesterday the guy was practically falling all over himself to get you.

  John Maguire : [sees tantalizing glimpse of her]  Yeah. That's... that doesn't...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [adjusting zip, doesn't know she has an audience]  One more second...

  John Maguire : [as she presents herself in little black dress]  I hate it.

  [but clearly doesn't] 

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : Okay, well, obviously

  [little laugh] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : the list is wrong.

  security guard : Or maybe you're not supposed to be here.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Right. I'm lying to you. I dress like this, and I brought my sheet music, because like most people my age, I wanna spend a Friday night with a hundred retired business executives and their society matron wives.

  [guard remains unmoved] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You're not moved by that argument at all?

  [no, he shakes his head] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Will you look? I'm gonna miss my first set!

  security guard : All right, I'll ask!

  [to arriving guests:] 

  security guard : Hey, fellas, fellas, over here, is she with you?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [waving irresistibly at them]  Night-night...

  opportunistic guy with an eye for beauty : [only took one look]  Ah, she is most definitely with us.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [coming up to Archer as he is in men's room]  Excuse me?

  Archer Fitzwith : What? Ah. What the hell are you doing?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uh, look, I know that this is kind of inappropriate.

  Archer Fitzwith : Kind of? Get out of here!

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No! No, please...

  Archer Fitzwith : Look, I heard you sing. You want a job, send me a resume.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, I'm not really a singer.

  Archer Fitzwith : [assumes he's being propositioned]  That's it!

  [walking away] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You can't walk out on me! No, you can't walk out on me!

  [little gasp] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I have tried to reach you every way I can. And now you're leaving the country.

  Archer Fitzwith : Is there something wrong with you?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No.

  [slight sob] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, there is nothing wrong with me. God, my heart is, like, pounding, and I feel like I'm about to take a giant leap off a cliff.

  Archer Fitzwith : There is something wrong with you.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, there isn't! I'm your daughter!

  [he looks questioningly at her, and she nods] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You're my father, and... I'm your daughter...

• Archer Fitzwith : Robin Merrin...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I don't know the whole story. I know that you were in love with her. You directed her in a play starring her, and that's where you both fell in love. Uhm, William Landford told me that. The play happened between February and May '78, and I was born in January of '79, so you can see...

  Archer Fitzwith : Yes.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : My name is Sarah. That's the name my adoptive parents gave me.

  Archer Fitzwith : Sarah. Where is your mother?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : She's gone. She died about two years ago.

  [he takes it hard, sits down, sighs] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I know that this is a lot. And I don't know what I... expect to happen now exactly. I just know that it has been a long time. And that... you never came looking for me, but maybe... maybe you didn't know I was born. Is that it? I know that you're older, and...

  [stammers] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : that you have a life... but I'm only twenty, you know, and I'm trying... trying to figure out who I am, and where I came from, and what that all means, so you matter to me.

  Archer Fitzwith : Sarah...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Just tell me that I didn't make a fool of myself, that I... at least got it right.

  Archer Fitzwith : Oh, you've got so much of it right.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : What... what does that mean?

  Archer Fitzwith : I was in love with your mother. God, I was so much in love with her... I would have married her, and I certainly would have slept with her... but I never did. She... uh... she met some guy, I don't know anything about him, he was some young kid. Uh, I don't know, he was dangerous or something, and... and she was twenty, just like you, she didn't want stability, so she left.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [tearfully]  Oh...

  Archer Fitzwith : You might have been my daughter.

  [she sobs] 

  Archer Fitzwith : I don't have a daughter. I'm sure that I would have loved that.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [sobbing]  Oh...

  Archer Fitzwith : I'm sorry...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, no, I'm sorry. This is very inappropriate and embarrassing, I mean, God, you're an important man, and this is a men's room.

  [runs off] 

  Archer Fitzwith : Wait! Wait a minute! I wanna talk to you!

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [tearfully, on phone]  Well, are there any more flights tonight? Oh, I see. How about first thing tomorrow morning? No... no, that's not too early. If it's booked, I'll go standby.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [muttering to herself as she comes up the stairs]  Great... great... Now they just dump your bag outside.

  [absent-mindedly to couple waiting on stairs:] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : You know what, I told them, I specifically told them, red, with a black handle.

  Mrs. Sullivan : What is she talking about?

  Mr. Sullivan : [as Sarah looks back]  We're here looking for our daughter, Romy... Sullivan. I'm sorry, who... who are you?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I'm Sarah... sort of her roommate. I was, briefly. I'm leaving in the morning. Is she expecting you?

  Mr. Sullivan : Well, we haven't been able to reach her.

  Mrs. Sullivan : Her... her phone's been disconnected.

  Mr. Sullivan : Well, she was going to take a year trying to make this... acting thing happen, but obviously she hasn't, so we're here to talk to her about coming home.

• Romy Sullivan : [as her new friend comes down the stairs]  Hey, Sarah! The most amazing news! I just... What's wrong, you've been crying?

  [at pool table, John looks up at Sarah, concerned] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Uh, look, your parents are here.

  Romy Sullivan : Really?

  [laughs] 

  Romy Sullivan : Talk about perfect timing! Guess what I just found out? The role I auditioned for in the movie, I got it! Check your calendars, within the year, I did it within the year!

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Yeah, you might wanna throw in Mom and Dad.

  [Romy goes off] 

  John Maguire : [comes over, sighs]  So, what happened?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : He's not my father.

  [shakes her head] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Nothing else to say, it's just not him.

  John Maguire : I'm sorry.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [sniffs]  Life's terrible, you know, so...

  [sighs] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I'll just go home... where everything is okay, and I have nothing to complain about.

• John Maguire : Sorry 'bout that. So, uh, you're upset, you wanna go somewhere... quiet?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I'm tired. I have an early flight. Let's just go back, pack up my toiletry kit, and get some sleep.

  Jocelyn House : Yo, Maguire... I got this.

  [he left his jacket behind in the diner] 

  John Maguire : Yeah. Thanks.

  Jocelyn House : Everything okay?

  John Maguire : Yeah. This is Sarah. She's had a lousy day like you wouldn't believe, and tomorrow she's flying home to California. She thinks it's her bedtime. I think she's wrong.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [drinking from long-necked bottle]  You know what's funny? I don't drink beer. I mean, just so you know. Never drink beer.

  [smiles, takes another swig] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Hey, Maguire, that, uhm, thing with the guy back at the bar. I thought you said you lost that gig because they only wanted A-list players. But, I mean, if you played with Beck...

  John Maguire : Sarah...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, why would they...

  John Maguire : Stop. I'm not famous. I'm nobody.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [nods]  Me too. I'm nobody.

  John Maguire : Nice to meet you.

  [smiles] 

  John Maguire : But I don't believe it in your case.

  [kisses her hand] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh well, I don't know who I am, so it's almost as good.

  John Maguire : Screw that. You're in New York now. Nobody knows you, right? So you can be whoever you wanna be. From here on out.

  [smiles] 

  John Maguire : Invent yourself.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : That's your philosophy in life?

  John Maguire : Yup.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [smiles]  Okay, then.

• Jocelyn House : [in subway, turnstile blocking their way]  Oh, anybody got a token?

  John Maguire : It's closed.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Okay, then we... we walk back.

  Jocelyn House : Forty blocks? I got a better idea!

  [jumps over the turnstile] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Hey! What...?

  [hesitant] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh!

  [John has picked her up, lifts her over, she giggles, he then jumps over himself, but trips, falls] 

  Transit Cop #2 : [regrouped, they laugh at their antics, but...]  All right, hold it!

  Transit Cop #1 : Okay, let's see some I.D. here.

  John Maguire : Come on, give us a break!

  Jocelyn House : The booth's closed. What were we supposed to do?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I don't believe this.

  [stammers] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : We got money. Here's my token, see? I've got... I've got $20 right here.

  Transit Cop #2 : [snarling]  You'd better not be handing me cash.

  John Maguire : [coming forward]  She's not handing you cash, Officer.

  Transit Cop #1 : [brusquely]  I'm not talking to you, pal.

  [shoves John] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [indignant]  Hey, that was totally unprovoked, Officer...

  [squinting] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : three-two... four-two-two!

  Jocelyn House : You wanna get your picture in The Post stamped with a headline of police brutality? Keep right up! 'Cause I've done the rallies, man, I've organized, I've marched...

  Transit Cop #1 : I'm warning ya!

  [to partner:] 

  Transit Cop #1 : All right, we've got them on turnstile violation, ah, drunk and disorderly... what else?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [vehemently]  Hey, I am not drunk! Okay? I'm just...

  [giddily:] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Oh... I'm just...

  [falls down, throwing up] 

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [they're handcuffed]  I don't have anyone to call.

  John Maguire : You can't call anyone from home?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No. No, I can't do that.

  John Maguire : I'm sorry. This... you know, this is all my fault. If I... if I hadn't...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : No, it's me. It's my fault. What was I thinking, coming here in the first place, just expecting everything to work out?

  John Maguire : Not expecting. Hoping.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [nods]  Hoping. Hoping for what? Why does... why does finding this man matter so much to me?

  [shrugs] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : What's it really gonna change? What do I want it to change?

  John Maguire : Hmm?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I don't know. Something. I wanna... feel...

  John Maguire : What?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [whispers:]  Different.

  [nods] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I wanna...

  [near tears] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : I saw the skyline from the airplane, and I thought, God, somewhere in that city there's an answer for me...

  [shakes her head] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : and the truth is... I came 3000 miles, and I am... just as far away from finding it as I ever was... farther...

  John Maguire : Uh, there's... there's still some good things possible here.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [tearfully]  Like what? Like what?

  John Maguire : It's just... it wasn't the worst night of my life.

  [they look deep in each other's eyes] 

  John Maguire : Far from it.

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [spotting Archer in the charge office]  My God! I don't... believe this! What is he doing here? Why? Do you have any idea?

  John Maguire : I called him for you.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : What?

  John Maguire : You said you didn't have anyone to call. So I remembered his name from what you've told me.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : How the hell could you do that? How could you do this to me? I mean, I told you that I humiliated myself in front of this man before.

  Archer Fitzwith : [sitting down next to her]  Sarah...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [at a loss]  Mr Fitzwith.

  Archer Fitzwith : Archer.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Archer. I... really... never... never have called.

  Archer Fitzwith : A co-defendant of yours left a message on my answering machine. Uh, luckily I picked it up in time. I brought a lawyer who I think needs to hear your story in a hurry.

  [to this man:] 

  Archer Fitzwith : This is the Sarah that I told you about.

• Lawyer : John Manning appearing for all three defendants, Your Honor, enters a plea of Not Guilty

  Judge Kaliff : [shuffling folders]  There you are, Mr Maguire, Miss Merrin... Miss House...

  [pointing:] 

  Judge Kaliff : You, in the prom dress, which one are you?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Sarah Merrin, Your Honor.

  Judge Kaliff : [chuckles]  Excuse me, you just don't expect to see a sweet young sorority girl from the suburbs in my arraignment court. Let me guess, Mr Manning, she doesn't have a record, not even a traffic ticket, and her worst crime

  [condescending tone:] 

  Judge Kaliff : is she once stole someone else's boyfriend. I see no reason to go forward with this case.

  [droning on till fadeout:] 

  Judge Kaliff : Do I hear arguments from the DA why I shouldn't drop all charges...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [thinks]  A sorority girl from the suburbs? Does that really sound like me?

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [in train, reflecting mostly to herself]  Okay. Okay, this is a problem, because I don't wanna be the Marcia Brady of the new millennium. God, everyone who looks at me automatically assumes that... that I... have never done anything spontaneous, or... or.

  [to complete stranger:] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : even a little bit naughty... or moderately illegal in my whole life. I am gonna go back home today and everything is gonna be exactly the same as it was when I left. I am gonna be exactly the same. You know, I didn't come all this way for that...

  [looks at Jocelyn] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : So, yeah, okay, I didn't find my father, but you know what, all of a sudden... I... wanna be in a strange city with... with no money and no plan, no one I know, and say "Bring it on, whatever it is, you know I'll handle it and I'll figure it out as I go."

  [this was a revelation, and she looks at Jocelyn] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : God, where does that come from?

  [John looks at her] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Maybe... maybe I got it from her.

  [nods] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Maybe... maybe there's a part of me that is exactly like my mother.

  [smiles] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Maybe I came here to find him, and... I found her... in me.

  [smiles, leans back in her seat, relieved to be so enlightened] 

• Romy Sullivan : [sounding morose, as she packs a suitcase]  A life-changing revelation on the subway? Biggest thing that ever happened to me on the A train was some bike messenger rubbed up against me, but, hey, good for you.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Yeah, well, I was wondering if we could make a deal in extending my, you know, non-existent sub-lease for a bit.

  Romy Sullivan : Here's an idea, or... or, I could just give you the lease, 'cause see, while you were coming up with the reason to stay, I found the reason to leave.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [surprised]  What do you...?

  Romy Sullivan : [hands her the movie script]  Pages twelve, forty-five, seventy-three and ninety-six to ninety-nine. I got the whole script, not just the audition scenes.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [reads aloud:]  "Jack slowly kisses down her neck, descending upon Phoebe's..." Whoa. "naked breasts?"

  Romy Sullivan : According to the director, Jack's relationship with Phoebe's breasts is integral to the storytelling, so... I told them to get someone else.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Romy...

  Romy Sullivan : I'm going back to Portland.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Really? Are you absolutely sure?

  Romy Sullivan : I mean, I had a whole year. You know, I just... I just needed one good thing to happen to me, anything. It could have been so small, it could have... just been just getting noticed in the tiniest way by anyone who matter... I just needed a sign that said I was meant to be here. I mean, you got one, right?

  [dejected:] 

  Romy Sullivan : I'm gonna need boxes.

• Romy Sullivan : [in shop]  The biggest boxes you have. Only nothing with a soggy bottom that's gonna tear.

  shopowner : [off-camera]  Okay.

  Romy Sullivan : Appreciate it, Mr Kim.

  shopowner : No problem.

  Jesse Bayron : [as Romy kneels to browse confectionery]  Hey! Going on a trip?

  Romy Sullivan : [rises]  I'm sorry? What?

  Jesse Bayron : I saw you packing your suitcase, right...

  [nervous laugh] 

  Jesse Bayron : I'm sorry, am I freaking you out? It's just, I live across from you at 535, and... our windows, they kind of, you can kind of...

  Romy Sullivan : Oh, do they, can you?

  Jesse Bayron : Sometimes I... I watch you, but not like in a pervert way, I just,

  [nervous laugh] 

  Jesse Bayron : I just look to see if you're there, is that... does that sound...?

  Romy Sullivan : No, no, it doesn't...

  Jesse Bayron : [introducing himself]  J.B.

  Romy Sullivan : [extends hand]  Romy...

  [they shake] 

  Romy Sullivan : Oh, and this is...

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Sarah.

  Romy Sullivan : She's...

  Jesse Bayron : ...the new arrival. Hi. So, Romy, I don't know... if you maybe wanna get a drink or something sometime...

• Sarah Reeves Merrin : [in the record shop]  Come on, please, I can work the register, I can alphabetize, I can crinkle my nose and look condescending when somebody requests Abba.

  John Maguire : You think that's all there is to it? Time Is On My Side, where would I find the original?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Ah! So easy! R, Rolling Stones, duh!

  John Maguire : T. Irma Thomas, 1964, Imperial Records, the Stones version was... a cover.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Show-off. All right. My turn. Where would I find something by... by you?

  John Maguire : We don't carry anything by that particular artist.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [laughs]  Ooh, you're a liar. Come on, I know that you probably played on tons of these things.

  John Maguire : A few.

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : [smiles]  So, I wanna hear something.

  [he gives a little laugh] 

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Why not?

  John Maguire : [silent for a while]  Why?

  Sarah Reeves Merrin : Well, because... I sorta know you, I sorta don't, it might help hearing you do something that you loved.