Sweet November (1968) Movie Script

Woman: Well, today

we're taking test three,

the one in the middle...

Psst.

How fast do you go

in a falling-rock zone?

Come on, please.

How fast?

Circle the one

that you think is

the right one, corresponding...

And so on...

Psst!

Psst.

Uh, how fast do you go

when a deer is crossing?

Shh.

Oh, I don't want

to hit a deer.

[ English accent ]

Madam, I must ask you

to stop interrupting --

you back there.

You in the third seat.

Yes. Bring your test paper

up here.

Actually, I've finished.

Yes. You're setting

a poor example.

Why did you do that?

You don't think

I was cheating.

Fortunately, we're prepared

for the likes of you.

We have four different

examinations.

You'll have to come back

for the next session -- 1:00.

I'm a businessman.

I have a --

that will be all.

You're disturbing

the, uh, honest people.

Digby, please.

This is Mr. Blake.

Diggers? Look,

I've gotten hung up here.

No, I did not fail the test.

I was caught cheating.

Never mind.

Listen to me closely.

I want you to start

that 2:00 meeting without me.

Yeah, and tell Mason

to order those new cartons

with lots of extra wax

because of the new

shipping regulation, okay?

At 2:45, I want you

to call mccleglin

and set up a meeting

for 5:30, okay?

Tell him

to bring the stock samples

as well as the box weight,

you got it? Mm-hmm. Check.

Check with Chicago

about the ling-- oh, no.

If there's any spoilage,

call Anderson.

Listen, diggers,

I'll see you about 3:00,

okay? Bye. Good.

Look, I'm really --

I'm very sorry.

[ Chuckles ]

Go hit a deer, will you?

I probably will

because you didn't

give me the answer.

If it's any consolation

to you, everybody cheats.

You just happened

to get caught.

Please don't feel you

have to dog my footsteps

for the rest of my life.

Do you always get so upset

by little things?

Is there a place

I can get some food?

I have a 1:00 exam.

Yes, I know --

I know a great place,

and I will

take you there myself.

Just point the direction.

No, please.

Please, allow me.

It's the least I can do.

Come. Come with me.

How do you like yours --

uh, Sauerkraut,

mus-mustard, or both?

Just mustard, please.

One with just mustard,

one with Sauerkraut

and mustard,

and put his Sauerkraut

on mine.

We're entitled.

Here, here.

No, no. Don't do that.

Please, be my guest.

After all,

it's the least I can do.

Nonsense, I'll pay.

Good.

We can sit over here.

Uh, don't let me

keep you.

No, it's all right.

Uh, this is

on my way home.

Really?

I live right across that

bridge -- Brooklyn heights.

Oh, that's very nice.

Is that your real accent,

or do you affect that

because you're pompous?

It's my own

pompous accent.

May I assume

you're English?

If you like.

And you want to drive

in america,

is that it?

Good thinking.

Well...

We drive...On the right

side in this country.

I've been in america

for three years.

Ah, well,

then you should know that.

I do know it.

Mm.

I already drive.

My license expired.

Don't feed the pigeons.

I beg your pardon?

I said don't feed

the pigeons your roll.

Do you know what I carry?

I always carry...

Ry krisps.

Pigeons prefer

rye krisps...

5 to 1.

They are tasty

and they are crunchy

and they are very low

in caloric content.

Do you know what?

I will move down to

the other end of the bench,

and then we'll both

feed the pigeons,

and then we'll see

who gets the most pigeons.

All right?

All right. Excuse me.

Oh, look there.

You have mustard

on your sleeve.

I thought the English

were very neat,

but you eat

like a Russian.

I'm lucky it's mustard.

Borscht stains.

No, no, no, please.

You've plenty of time.

It's -- it's not 1:00 yet.

Uh, I'm Sara Deever --

23 years old in April.

I'm Charles Blake.

What do you do?

I have my own company.

Ah, good, good.

What do you do?

We manufacture boxes.

Oh, that's -- [ Laughs ]

No, I'm sorry,

but, I mean,

that's got to be

the silliest thing

I ever heard.

All boxes --

all boxes are the same.

All boxes have...Six sides.

Seriously...how long

can you stay in business

if all you do

is manufacture

the same old

6-sided boxes?

A long time.

Ah.

Well, suppose

somebody comes along

and manufactures 7-sided

boxes for the same price

that you are manufacturing

6-sided boxes.

Aha. What happens then?

They'll clap a net

over him.

Do you hire

the handicapped?

Hmm?

I said, "do you hire

the handicapped?"

Well, I don't go

out of my way to.

What I mean is

that I have many employees

and, uh...

I like to think

that at least one of them

is seriously

handicapped, okay?

Do you have any tattoos?

None that occur to me

offhand.

None of, uh,

eagles grabbing lightning

or snakes

or a...Battleship?

No, I'm not big enough

for a battleship.

The best I could hope for

would be a gunboat.

None of arrows

piercing hearts

with your mother's name

written on it

or maybe your wife's?

I'm not married, and I don't

have any tattoos.

It's very nice.

Nice -- very neat.

Do you see?

Do you see that?

That's proof positive.

Pigeons prefer ry krisps

5 to 1.

Oh, s-say,

do you need an apartment?

I-I'm showing a little

dandy tomorrow at noon.

Thank you, I have

a very nice apartment.

Well, I think -- I think

you will like this one.

It has a fireplace.

I love fireplaces.

I don't need an apartment.

I think

the least you could do

is come have a look.

Here is the address.

Please, just don't have

such a closed mind.

I don't need an apartment.

It's a very nice

neighborhood --

very few burglaries,

and there has not been

a rape there for seven years.

Maybe things will pick up

in the spring.

[ Alarm buzzing ]

Uh-oh,

there must be a fire.

No, it's my watch.

Well, it's time

for my test.

Well, you certainly don't

want to miss that, do you?

I didn't want to miss it

the first time.

Ah.

Well, it's, uh,

it's been...Interesting.

Thank you, Charles.

I think you've been

very interesting, too.

Come on, pigie.

Goodbye.

Come on.

And don't let them

catch you cheating.

They can be very hard

on you there, you know?

Oh, there you are.

Come on, come on.

Now, by February,

that prototype carton

for international mills

should be here.

Any change in that,

Armstrong?

Not as of yesterday.

Call the factory

and double-check it for me.

All right,

I guess that's it.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you, sir.

Diggers?

On the, uh,

on that cereal contract,

I'd like to see the crest

either olive or maroon.

I like maroon.

Good, good, good --

greater visibility.

Woman: Personnel.

Do we hire

the handicapped?

I arrange for the maintenance

of all utilities --

the electricity,

the plumbing, et cetera.

I also visit the premises

once a month by appointment,

to collect rent

and see that you are

in no way defacing

the property therein.

When I first came here

from Indianapolis,

I took a 3-year lease

on a silly, little

westside apartment

which I grew to hate

almost immediately,

but Mrs. Furman loved it.

I still hold the lease,

still pay the rent,

but Mrs. Furman

pays me more

than I pay the landlord.

In a short time,

I had two other apartments

I handled the same way.

Do you have any idea

how many apartments

I have today?

396?

No, eight --

eight such apartments

scattered all over

the city.

I can fix any clogged drain

better than any plumber.

Oh, that's sweet.

I use coffee grounds --

Espresso -- that's my secret.

Son of a gun.

As a matter of actual fact,

I do all the handiwork.

I get $5 a call,

and I do television sets

for $6 plus parts.

Oh, I always carry

bicycle tape.

It's very impressive.

Aren't you impressed

by bicycle tape?

Who, me?

Oh, I'm bowled over

by a band-aid.

Oh, look.

Do you see this?

Yeah.

It's a stick

with a bubble in it. Yes.

It tells

when things aren't level.

It's very good for when

I am not sure what to do.

See, I just, uh --

I hold it up,

and I le--

I let that bubble --

I let it move around...

Like that,

and then...It practically,

uh, stupefies people.

Oh, tsk.

Oh, there you are.

What?

What is it?

The loop.

There's an expert.

When you have

striped overalls

and a loop on the side

like that, that's it.

That's the whole show.

That's an expert --

a master handyman.

You know what you can hang

in that loop?

Anything -- a hammer,

a chisel, a ruler, a stick.

It simply does not matter

as long as you have a loop.

That's it.

You know, I think you'll

have a loop one day.

Do you really?

Do you think that?

I'm sure of it.

You'll work your way up.

You'll start with drains

and then sewers and --

[ alarm buzzing ]

Oh, I got to go.

The bell tolls for me.

Listen, uh,

can I see you sometime --

dinner, dancing,

a night out on the town?

Yes, but it cannot be

anything romantic.

It can't?

No, that's absolutely

out of the question.

Nothing romantic?

No.

Well, how about, uh --

how about tomorrow night?

We can go to the "signposts

of the '70s" exhibition --

"revolutionary ideas

and developments

"that will be commonplace

on the earth, the moon,

and the other planets

within our lifetime."

8:30 P.M., Nichols hall.

Oh, fine.

Uh, I'll meet you there.

[ No audio ]

This is where I live.

It's very nice.

Very nice. I like it.

Is it up for rent?

No. No, it's not.

I'm sorry.

Say, would you like a glass

of chocolate milk with me?

Uh, no.

Thank you very much.

Well, suppose I make you

a cup of tea. How's that?

Oh, that should

hit the spot.

[ Humming ]

Very realistic.

You're very good

with fruit.

Oh. So is del monte.

Good lord.

What's the matter?

This fruit is all rotten.

It's the only kind

that I use.

I like to refer to it

as "bruised."

I don't mind the bruises.

It's the open wounds.

That's, uh,

that's quite a rig.

Uh-huh. Well, uh,

go on up, Charlie.

May I?

Please.

Are you -- are you sure

about these stairs?

They look

a little flimsy to me.

I prefer them flimsy.

Hmm. Then you should be

very happy.

[ Chuckles ]

I have this thing

about high places.

I'm afraid

I'll get killed.

This, uh, this is

my hall of archives.

Oh.

This is where I keep

all of my valuable documents

and my leases.

Oh.

Oh, Charlie.

Charlie, please,

come sit down.

Whoa!

Oh, Charlie.

[ Laughs ]

It's quite a lot

of heavy stuff

on one small platform,

don't you think?

No. No, no, no.

I had the feigus brothers

up here to test it.

They're butchers.

They weigh 250 pounds

apiece.

That's 500 pounds

of feigus brothers.

Mm.

And I only had

that one cracked board.

Which one?

Sara?

Can't hold the vegetarian

rally until next month.

Going to leave

the posters here.

Okay.

Oh, hey --

I went by

lastasa's fruit stand.

They have a special sale

on overripe bananas.

Brought you some.

Sara: Thank you.

Who was that?

Oh, Alonzo.

He heads the vegetarian

movement in this district.

He got over 100 votes

in the last election.

None from the feigus

brothers, I'll wager.

He's a wonderful person,

really,

but rather intense.

Parsley will do that

to a person.

Oh, yes --

any sort of green.

All he eats is vegetables,

but he looks marvelous.

Do you know

how old he is?

396?

53.

He's a sign painter

by profession.

Yes, he paints, like,

"don't" signs,

like, uh,

"don't walk on the grass,"

"don't hang around

and do nothing,"

"don't talk rotten

to a cop" -- like that.

Sara...

That's Richard.

Sara --

now, now, Richard --

calm, rational.

Sara, we must discuss this

in a calm

and rational way.

There's nothing

to discuss.

Who's that up there

with you?

You're, uh, kind of

jumping your month,

aren't you, fella?

I beg your pardon?

I ought

to knock your teeth out.

I'm sorry

you feel that way.

Sara...

What do you mean

by taking him in?

I'm still on the premises!

It's still October!

Could you be angry

down there?

This platform was only made

for two feigus brothers.

I'm not talking to you.

Sara,

I want to talk to you.

Look, I'll distribute

the weight.

You go on chatting.

You can fill me in later.

Let's talk it over.

Don't force me

to make my exit this way.

Oh, you remember

our agreement?

Then that terrible tantrum

with the feigus brothers!

They had their fat

fingers on the scales --

I have packed your bag.

All right, Sara.

If that's the way

you want it, I'll go.

That's the way

I want it.

All right, Sara.

I just think --

I just think it wasn't

exactly fair of you

to bring my successor in

while my belongings

are still on the premises!

I'm sorry.

But...it's over,

so, uh,

what's the difference?

Ended.

Fini.

Kaput.

So I'll go.

What else can I say?

Say you'll go.

I'll go, I'll go!

Good! Good!

Sara: Richard, you may take

your Clay model with you.

[ Door closes ]

Sara...

What in the world

goes on here?

Who is he?

Richard.

Mm-hmm?

Richard.

Yes, uh, "Richard slavin.

Age 30. October.

"Was afflicted

with extreme timidity

"upon his arrival.

"Richard is now

quite courageous,

but in curing his cowardice,

I developed his temper."

His month is about up,

anyway.

It's practically

the end of October.

How come I hardly ever

understand you?

Oh, there were others.

Do you want to know

about them?

You keep a file?

I mean,

that is a file, right?

Oh, yes.

Yes, this is of a highly

confidential nature.

I won't tell you details,

just generalities.

All right?

Fine.

Norton -- Norton white.

"Norton white. Aged 27.

September."

Norton was very conservative

politically.

He couldn't even see

the value in foreign aid.

Do you know

that he would not even

spend money in New Jersey?

It's private.

Oh, Norton, that's --

he's quite liberal now.

What was

the "oh, Norton" for?

"Spergeon lemaster.

Age 32. July."

He had a --

wait a minute.

What happened to August?

There was no August.

Funny, I could have

sworn there was.

Clem.

"Clem batchman.

Age 25. April."

Do you know,

when I first met clem,

he was hiding out

in college?

He had a girlfriend.

Now, he had a girlfriend

in Brooklyn,

but he was afraid

to get married,

so he stayed on

two extra years at Columbia

just to think --

just to think life over.

After, uh,

one month with me,

he quit Columbia.

Son of a gun.

But he entered

Cornell.

Oh.

I don't know...About clem,

but I am hopeful.

And so it goes --

timid, shy, aggressive --

each man, uh,

with a different problem.

"Each man

with a different problem"?

I have

a special therapy program.

I take to my side,

for no longer than a month,

a man with a problem.

He comes here in need

and leaves, I hope,

with some sort

of fulfillment.

But time limits -- I mean,

how do you figure that out?

Well, there had to be

a beginning and an end

that could not be disputed.

A year was too long,

a week was too short.

A month seemed

just the right size.

I want you to know

that I resent

your looking down

your nose at me.

I'm not. I just --

I've upset you.

You have not upset me.

It's absurd, that's all --

just absurd. The idea --

that you have

a problem? Yes.

What's my problem?

I don't know.

[ Tea kettle whistles ]

Excuse me.

An obsession with time

and that alarm watch --

hurry, hurry, ding, ding.

Hurry, hurry, ding.

[ Chuckles ]

"Hurry, hurry, ding, ding."

Is that my problem?

"Hurry, hurry, ding, ding"?

No. No.

That's just a symptom --

a manifestation.

I don't know.

You see, I can't --

I can't quite nail it.

I think it has to do with

your working so hard --

rushing through life.

It's costing you dearly.

Like, for example,

you didn't want Sauerkraut.

Now, I admit that

that's not the whole answer.

The "hurry, hurry,

ding, ding"?

Well,

since you're so honest

about facing up to it,

yes.

The result is,

in spite of your obvious

attempts at witticisms,

the result is, uh,

you're kind of a blur.

I just --

I can't quite see you.

But you can hear me, right?

"Hurry, hurry"...

"Ding, ding." Yes.

Well, at least

we're onto something.

Didn't you ever want to do

anything with your life

besides make boxes?

Yeah, well,

I wanted to be a fireman.

A pirate -- I wanted

to be a pirate once.

A crusading

newspaper publisher.

I, uh, I wanted

to write poetry.

You satisfied?

I wanted to be a poet.

Good. Oh, good.

What kind?

Blank verse, okay?

That's the kind

that doesn't rhyme.

You certainly chose

the easiest road.

If you haven't tried it,

don't knock it.

I mean,

it's not that easy.

All you do

is avoid rhymes

and call it a poem.

No, Charlie, no.

Yeah, but it has

to have meter, rhythm.

I mean, blank verse

can be very difficult.

Poetry doesn't

have to rhyme, Sara.

Do you take cream

and sugar?

No, thank you.

Shakespeare didn't

deal in rhyme.

He dealt in meter --

iambic pentameter.

Oh, the hell with it.

Ah! And you call yourself

a poet?

The hell with it

with a hey, nonny, nonny.

Why did you give it up?

I grew up, that's why.

I became a man.

You became a box.

It's been a family business

for over 80 years.

My father made it one of

the most successful concerns

in the British empire.

I intend to do

the same thing in america.

It may take a little time.

Hurry, hurry, ding, ding,

hurry, hurry, ding, ding.

You know,

I really don't understand

what it is about you

that makes you feel

so damn superior.

I think

you're worth saving.

Thank you.

What are you doing

next month?

Next month?

November.

Yes, yes, November.

Of course.

What are you doing

next month?

Well, why --

why do you ask?

Would you like to be

my November?

Oh, sure.

Okay.

I mean, what the heck?

Will you be able

to move in with me?

Oh, I don't see why not.

I mean, after all --

will you write me poems?

I would like that,

you know.

I think

you should be a poet.

Oh.

Will you be able to leave

when December comes?

I guess

that won't be too easy.

Well, the answer to that

must be "yes."

Oh, yes.

Shake.

Of course,

you understand

it is still officially

Richard's month,

and even though

he's not on the premises,

I still cannot give

any part of his month

to anybody else.

I'm sorry.

Oh, I understand.

All right.

Oh, uh, you must report

at midnight,

the last night

of the outgoing month,

the first morning

of the incoming month.

Right.

On the stroke of midnight,

you must wake me gently.

Right.

Now, I will give you

the key to November.

You must return it

at the end of the month.

And I hope that you won't

have a duplicate made,

because it won't fit

in December.

I should also like

to point out to you

that November

has only 30 days.

Well, that's the luck

of the draw.

I must ask you

to leave now, Charles,

and please,

I also must ask you

to try not to call me.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Fine. Now, do you remember

how to get back here?

Yes, I remember.

All right.

Good night.

I think November will be

a very sweet month.

Oh, good.

Charles?

Sam naylor

from toliver testing.

Oh, naylor,

come in, come in.

What do we have?

They've run the consumer tests

as to preference.

The public prefers

this one.

Easy to understand

since the gold foil

is so prominent.

Agency feels this one

stays closer to the theme.

Actually, the difference

in total score is so minute,

it's quite possible

to satisfy

both the agency

and the public.

All these boxes, uh --

they have six sides.

Correct. Right.

What happens when somebody

comes up with a 7-sided box?

Offhand, I would say

it would tip over.

I'll have to

research that.

What's your point?

My point is that we keep making

the same old 6-sided box.

What about seven?

If we did a basic color

scheme, I don't see why not.

Blue would be very good

for seven!

Sam, why don't you

take these into my office,

and I'll be in

in a little while.

Certainly.

We're not really

that far apart.

Do you understand him?

Hmm? No. That's why

he's so valuable.

Your concentration

dropped out.

What's wrong?

It's, uh, it's that

merger in Toronto.

I thought

that cooled off.

Yeah, it got hot again.

They're sending over

an expert from Europe

to meet with me.

Very good.

Anyway, they want me up

in Toronto for a meeting.

Great.

How long will it last?

A month.

That's what

they've requested.

All I really need

is a week or so.

Yes...about a week

should do it nicely.

Charles, the Wellington

meeting's coming up.

It's important

you be here.

Exactly.

That's why I want you

to send me a telegram

reminding me

of the meeting.

That way,

I can bow out gracefully.

Okay, where do I reach you

in Toronto?

No.

Uh, no, I don't want them

to know I'm there.

You see, some of them know,

but the others don't.

It's all supposed to be

very hush-hush.

Okay, where do

I reach you?

Brooklyn.

Brooklyn?

Brooklyn heights.

Yes, they've got branches

all over --

Toronto, Montreal,

winnipeg, Brooklyn heights.

It's a very big outfit.

Give me the address.

I'll send the telegram.

Righty-ho.

Want me to send the telegram

to the young lady's house?

Yes. Ha ha ha.

And you'll be back in time

for the Wellington meeting?

Uh, yes.

Very important meeting,

Charles.

Okay,

give me the address.

Yes. Digby?

Yes?

You're

a very discreet man.

Yes.

You're also

a bit of a smartass.

Yes? Who's that?

[ German accent ]

Miss Deever,

uh, allow me

to introduce myself.

My name is

Emile Von sattingtom --

Von sattingtom galleries --

and your door

was open, so --

yes, I was

just about to lock it.

Miss Deever,

the work of a very promising

young sculptor

has come to my attention.

Obviously, a man

on the brink of genius.

It won't work.

It'll work, it'll work!

All he needs, I feel,

is a little more time with

you here in your studio.

Oh, Richard.

Richard, it won't work.

It won't work.

[ Normal voice ]

Sara, listen to me.

Oh, aren't you

ashamed of yourself?

Sara, look, uh...

October's over.

It's gone.

Book me for November.

I'm sorry,

I already have a November.

April? August?

Book me

for next November, Sara.

Put me on standby,

like the airline,

just don't --

I didn't think

I'd get through to you.

Well...you were right.

I hope you'll remember me

fondly, Richard.

Sara...

With this night,

you have...

Broken my spirit.

Anger and me will never

join forces again, Sara.

This is the height

of anger for me --

haaah.

I am a whisper...

A hush...

A piece of soft cotton.

Goodbye, Richard.

Goodbye, Sara.

[ Clock chiming ]

[ Garbage cans rattle ]

I was just attacked

by a beard,

a violent little beard.

Oh, no, a piece

of soft cotton.

No, no, no, a --

a little hairy fist.

You didn't tell me

you kept a pet hairy fist.

Thank you.

Well, here we are.

Uh, I-I don't know.

I-I think we've gotten off

on the wrong foot somehow.

I -- it all feels

rather awkward.

Look, you were supposed

to be asleep.

I was supposed to climb

these cockamamie stairs

and wake you gently.

I took three dramamine

to help me do the job.

[ Sighs ]

Maybe it's your clothes.

What's wrong

with my clothes?

You look kind of Harvard.

I wonder, do you -- do you

have any sandals in there?

Sandals?

No. My order

doesn't wear sandals,

just the brown robe

with the hood.

Oh. Well, then, what --

what do you have in there?

Well, let's see,

shall we?

All right.

I'm sure

I brought my raincoat

in case

of inclement weather.

Ah. Uh-huh.

There it is -- raincoat.

Blue cashmere sweater --

oh, no. That's wrong.

You -- wrong. Right.

How about my green tweed

with the waistcoat?

It's wrong.

W-Wrong.

You don't like that.

Here we are --

my brown Norfolk jacket

with the cutaway --

ah, no, no,

that's wrong.

You hate that. Right.

I have some shirts,

underwear, ties.

I think we will have to

shop for you tomorrow.

What shall I do

with my bag?

Oh, I know. Why don't

I leave it by the door

so that you can

get rid of me quickly?

Well, that would be

just fine.

Oh, please.

Listen, uh, being huffy

won't solve anything.

We will have to work

very hard

to overcome

this initial rift.

Right.

However, getting these

antagonisms out of the way

right at the start

can be very healthy.

Very healthy.

So, uh, I don't like

your Cologne.

It smells like the main

floor of bloomingdale's.

That's what

it's called --

"main floor"

by bloomingdale's.

Are you being funny,

or are you being huffy?

No, my huff is over.

I'm happy to announce

my huff is over!

Well, then, you probably

would like to go to bed.

I would love that.

Good.

Would you throw down

the clothes you're wearing

and put on your pajamas,

please?

You know, I-I think

that I have some sandals.

Ahh.

Listen -- oh.

Would you like

your sandals

with the thong

between the toe,

or do you prefer

a strap over the instep?

Do you have any

with a plastic heel?

I don't know.

I don't think I do.

Then I'll take the thong

between my toes.

Oh.

Oh, aha!

You know, uh...

It is very important

to our relationship

that we're able to snap back

after things don't go right.

I have

a very hopeful feeling.

I think you're going

to turn out just fine.

We'll introduce you

around tomorrow, Charlie,

and then maybe

in a day or two,

uh, we can visit

some of my tenants,

and you can be

my assistant.

It's the 1st

of November, Charlie,

and there will never

be any regrets.

We'll have

fine times together --

fine times

with much maturing.

Sara?

[ Humming ]

Son of a gun.

"Charlie Blake."

Sara: Charlie Blake.

November. November 1st.

Charlie arrived last night,

suffering from

an advanced case

of "hurry, hurry, ding, ding"

manifested by a compulsion

to continually make

wisenheimer remarks.

The feeling here is hopeful.

The first night

was as expected.

Nothing unusual.

Nothing unusual?

Man: Hello!

Ooh!

Who's that up there?

Ooh, hoo, hoo --

3-fingered brown.

Oh, Mr., uh, uh...Blake.

Where is she?

Sara?

No -- grandma Moses.

Relax, relax.

I've seen them come

and I've seen them go.

All of them maimed,

right?

All of them

jamming their fingers

in that file cabinet,

if that's what you mean.

[ Chuckles ]

A guy has to be king Kong

to get some food in here.

What did she write

that got you so mad?

[ Chuckles ]

None of this is happening.

None of it.

Everybody gets mad.

I don't know

how she can tell you apart.

Oh, by our fingerprints

and our dental charts.

And you seem to know

a great deal

about the general procedure

around here.

Finger is bleeding.

I don't blame it.

Come here.

Now --

ohh.

You stay off this finger,

and you'll be fine.

Hmm, she seems to run

her own drugstore.

That's quite a collection

of pills.

What's the matter?

How'd you like people

looking at your pills?

I'm sorry there's no eggs.

Sara doesn't keep any eggs

out of respect for my...

Vegetarianism.

But you can get them

around the corner.

Oh, no, that's all right.

I always eat

bread and milk.

It gives my coat

such a lovely sheen.

You like her?

Hmm?

Sara.

Oh, sure I do.

How could I not like her?

She likes you.

I'm very pleased.

Y-You wouldn't,

by any chance,

be her father?

No, I'm not her father.

Close...relative?

A friend.

Perhaps we'll be able to

say that about you someday.

Ah.

Charlie, you're up.

I brought you some eggs.

Be careful.

Your, uh, friend

the vegetarian is here.

Good morning, Alonzo.

I, uh, really came

to tell you

that there's

a big Lima bean sale

at lastasa's today.

You all right?

I'm all right.

See ya.

Mm-hmm.

Have a nice day.

Bye.

I see he's pushing

the Lima beans today.

He's trying

to convert you.

I see you got your finger

caught in the file.

Ah, well, that's what

you get for snooping.

What kind of report

was that --

"nothing unusual." Hmm?

How do you suppose

that makes me feel?

I was only trying

to point out

that with a little bit

of...Loosening up,

you could be salvaged.

Salvaged?

You write that way

about a sinking ship, Sara,

not about a human being.

Oh, Charlie,

Charlie, Charlie.

Well, why do you leave it

lying around?

I mean, you know

a man's going to look.

Exactly. A man

is going to look.

You should know my opinions

about such personal things.

So, that's where you will

always find my opinions.

Now, excuse me.

I'd just like to get in here.

And you can look

without feeling guilty --

can I see?

Ah, it's not bad.

And y-you don't have

to crunch your finger, okay?

I get reviewed

every morning?

It's been my experience

that it's better

if we correspond

on such personal matters.

Oh, it'll be

a great correspondence.

All I get is your opinion.

What about my opinion?

Well, up there,

on the writing table

next to the bed,

is a velvet book.

Anything

you want to tell me,

you write down

in the book --

anything

that occurs to you.

That way, you see,

we need never fight.

We simply write down

our grievances,

and when we are

with one another,

we just deal

with the day ahead.

Charlie: November 2nd.

Review of yesterday's events.

She was serious

about my clothing --

actually set up

an appointment for me

with the number-one custom

tailor in Brooklyn heights,

who dealt with imported

English fabrics only.

I told her I didn't need

suits -- I needed shoes.

She assured me that her

number-one custom tailor

could outfit me

from head to toe.

Monty the mod

was not to be believed,

nor was that carnaby cap.

It looked terrible on me --

lovely on him.

As to the imported fabrics,

they were imported

from the Chicago stockyards

and designed

by the Boston strangler.

The sweaters of Brooklyn

heights' number-one tailor

were quite something else --

they were alive.

There was a beige llama,

still shedding.

I explained about my allergy.

The zebra,

not yet housebroken,

would have to be walked

twice a day.

No, I drew the line,

took a stand.

Though I had agreed

to wear the cow pants,

none of this other livestock

would ever touch my body.

Not wishing

to hurt anyone's feelings,

Sara was quite diplomatic.

"Good," she said,

"we will take them both."

It was my darkest hour.

Sara:

Charlie is a very good sport

about wearing the costumes

of his native land.

We bought him a pair

of prince Edward boots,

and with every step he took,

I heard "rule britannia."

We did the neighborhood rounds,

and he was readily accepted

by the group.

The feigus brothers assured him

that my office platform

was quite safe

in spite of the cracked board.

He has accepted apples

as our basic food staple,

and...to hasten

his changeover,

he can no longer wear

his alarm watch.

I've asked him

to put pen to paper

and write his first poem.

In this instance,

I will accept blank verse.

Charlie: Third day.

I was about to write a poem

about my sweater

when this emergency arose

at Sara's

23rd street apartment.

Thank heavens you're here.

Do something, anything,

before it's too late!

All right,

Mrs. Schumacher,

now, tell me --

where is the patient?

"Where?" she asks.

Now, where would

a bathtub be, on the roof?

It is in the bathroom.

She's probably right,

Sara.

Talk, talk, talk,

talk, talk!

[ Water gurgling ]

Uh, she's probably

left the faucets on.

I'll handle it.

Sara: Charlie,

it's my responsibility.

Talk, talk, talk!

No, the faucets are off.

Ah. Here you are.

You neglected to replace

your stopper, madam.

Another job

for the silent service.

Oh, Marvin, that you should

live to see such a thing.

Heh.

[ Grunts ]

There you go.

[ Crying ]

Aah, it's alive!

It's alive!

Okay, Sara, you're on.

[ Crying continues ]

It's all right, honey.

[ Water draining ]

Ha ha ha ha.

Ah, Mrs. Schumacher,

now, if this

should happen again,

please don't hesitate

to call me.

Oh, such a relief.

[ Water gurgling ]

Charlie: I, of course, panicked

and resorted

to the stick with the bubble.

But she,

master plumber that she was,

eventually poured

Espresso grounds into the drain

and saved the day.

I can now see a 7-sided box

as a distinct possibility.

Sara:

Charlie is coming along nicely.

It was

our first Sunday together,

and to deliberately

slow him down,

we took a leisurely walk

across the bridge

and then took

a trip on the ferry

that goes

around Manhattan island.

We bought two Sunday times

for the puzzle.

It was determined

that I would do the acrosses,

and he would get

the ups and downs.

I really think that if

we pooled our solutions,

we could breeze

through this.

I don't think so.

I only have one word,

but it is a very big word --

"rumpelstiltskin."

Let me look.

No, I don't think that it

would do you any good.

It's in

the lower left-hand corner.

I don't know,

but I think

you took the easy part

of the puzzle.

Easy? Do you really think

that rumpelstiltskin

is the easy part?

A 4-letter word

for magnificent --

"Sara."

The capital of Alaska?

The capital of Alaska

is nome.

A 4-letter word

for impossible --

"Sara."

The capital of Alaska,

actually, is Fairbanks.

So then nome is wrong

no matter how I spell it.

A 4-letter word

for outrageous --

"Sara."

If Fairbanks is right,

then rumpelstiltskin

is wrong.

Charlie, what is --

w-what did you say?

What?

A 4-letter word

for wonderful --

"Sara."

Where, Charlie, where?

Where do you see that?

Oh, that's --

oh, Charlie,

that's -- oh, oh.

Charlie: I will never again

do a crossword puzzle

without the word "Sara"

writing itself in,

nor can I believe

that you are so many

contradictions all at once.

I do miss my watch,

but I'm able to tell time

by the angle of the sun,

and at night -- who cares?

After due consideration

and much serious thought,

I have decided to do my poem

about the ferry

and not my sweater,

for I've grown quite fond

of my sweater

and have named it Rex.

[ Knock on door ]

I got it.

Charles Blake?

Yes?

Telegram.

Oh, yes. Thank you.

Sara: What is it?

It's a telegram.

Oh, for me?

Uh, no.

[ Sighs ]

Aren't you

going to open it?

No. If -- if I open it,

I'll only read it.

Maybe you got drafted.

Can they do that

all the way from england?

It's bad news?

Uh...

Sara, I've, uh...

I've got to call my office.

You have been drafted.

No, but it's urgent...

Vital.

Well, there's

the telephone.

I guess

I'd better not listen.

No, I think

you ought to listen.

Well, i'd, uh,

I think I'd rather not.

Hello. Digby, please.

Mr. Blake. Thank you.

Hello, diggers?

Yes, I just got it.

Well, I don't know.

Well, you know,

you really ought to be able

to handle this on your own,

don't you think?

Diggers, look, old buddy,

I'm having a nice time. Yeah.

Oh, a little poetry,

a little plumbing.

You know,

the good things in life.

Well, diggers, I'm not

coming to the meeting.

Tell them what you like.

Tell them

I fell off a ferry.

A ferry boat.

And look, stop trying

to box me in.

Maybe a week, 10 days.

I don't know.

Yeah, and digby,

please don't

call me here again.

Sara: After the phone call,

Charlie bought a $4 airplane

and dedicated himself

to its freedom.

Charlie: The policeman was,

of course, quite correct.

Flying an airplane

off the Brooklyn bridge

is very much against the law.

I think I will do my first poem

about the airplane

and not the ferry.

A poem

by Charles Blake.

Oh, Charlie.

Just a minute. Okay.

"I shot a plane

into the air.

"It struck Manhattan

over there.

"I got a ticket,

but I don't care.

I'd do it again."

Is that all?

Yes.

Oh, it's lovely,

Charlie.

It's really

very -- very nice,

and it rhymes

almost all the way through.

You don't like it.

No -- yes. I just --

I had hoped for something

a little more dramatic,

that's all. I'm sorry.

Okay. I'll put it

with the others.

I had thought by now

you would be finished

with the wisenheimer poems

and be really involved

in the lovely, sweet,

romantic poems.

Otherwise, you see,

Alonzo will never be able

to get them published.

I understand.

You are a good sport,

though, Charlie. You are.

You take criticism

so well --

much better

than I ever expected.

You can tell a person

by the way

he takes criticism.

More blue, Sara.

More blue, darling.

Sara, the sky is blue,

right?

That's very good, Charlie.

That's very fine,

but a brick wall is red.

Oh. That's a brick wall?

No one writes

"no handball playing"

in the sky, Charlie.

Oh, I guess not.

No.

Hmm. A brick wall.

A blue brick wall.

Well, it's a very

effective sign, darling.

I mean,

you don't see anybody

playing handball

up there, do you?

[ Laughs ]

Well, you've got

plenty of red paint.

Now, where's

that bicycle tape?

I've got to make a call.

Where?

The west 54th street

apartment.

The TV picture is rolling.

Can you handle that

by yourself?

Huh?

I said, "can you handle that

by yourself?"

I handled the last

Espresso job, sweetheart.

Well, you better take

your TV tube tester.

Uh-huh. Check.

[ Humming ]

Did you say the west

54th street apartment?

That's Henry Jensen.

That's right.

Now, what do I charge him?

Oh, no, there is

no charge there.

He has a year's guarantee.

An 85-year-old TV set

and you gave him

a guarantee?

Has he got a contract?

My word is my bond,

Charlie.

I run a legitimate

repair service.

Where is

the bicycle tape, Sara?

You have it, Charlie.

You have it.

You have it. It's there.

It's in there, okay?

That's extra.

You charge extra

for that -- $1 a foot.

I promise I'll use

as much as I can.

That's good.

Man: Hello?

I bet that's Alonzo.

He's going to bring me

some new canvasses.

No, it's not Alonzo.

Clem!

Hey, Sara.

Oh, clem.

Oh, I wanted to hear

about the new college.

I thought of you so often.

Let me look at you.

Oh, you look marvelous.

You did not

write me a word.

Not a postcard!

No excuses.

You've gained weight.

Do you two

know each other?

There's so much

I want to ask you about.

You're kind of jumping

your month, aren't you?

Charlie, this is clem.

I told you about clem.

Tell me, what have you

been doing with yourself?

Well, it's

a very long story.

Oh, we'd love

to hear it.

Oh, Charlie. I'm sorry.

Charles Blake,

clem batchman.

Pleased to meet you.

Is that a fact?

Oh, Charlie,

you are so rude!

What am I supposed to do?

I don't know this guy.

Clem! Clem batchman!

What are you doing?

Good to see you.

You look marvelous!

Well, you do, too.

Listen, hey, I still have

all of your paintings.

They're all framed.

Did you ever have that

exhibition of my works?

Yeah, well, no,

but we came close,

very close.

Pardon me. You painted

when you were here?

Mm-hmm.

What's your therapy?

Me? Oh, uh...

I write poetry.

Oh, very nice.

Maybe you can

get published.

Yes. We seem to share

the same agent.

Mr. Alonzo here,

he represents me, too.

Clem: Well, you're

in good hands.

We could possibly have

a joint exhibition.

Your paintings, my poetry,

bill Shakespeare's plays,

Pete Tchaikovsky's music...

Clem, where are

you staying?

In a hotel.

Clem, you can't.

He can.

I'm only here

for a few days, maybe a week.

I've got

a surprise for you.

Oh, you shouldn't have.

Well, you can't stay

at a hotel.

We'll have to make

some sort of arrangements

for you to stay --

wait a minute.

Hold it, Sara.

I feel I must point out

that November

happens to be my month.

Now, where I do not wish

to appear unreasonable

or inhospitable --

well, clem knows

the rules, Charlie.

Yes. But when Richard

wanted to return,

you disallowed him.

How come, then,

when we are all familiar

with the established

precedents,

how come

captain america here

is allowed

visiting privileges?

You must trust me

to make the correct

decisions, Charlie.

In the meantime,

since you are in

such an ungentlemanly snit,

I suggest

that you run along

and make

your service call.

Maybe I'd better go.

The guy's got a point, Sara.

It is his month.

No, I'll make the call.

The man has a contract.

He's entitled to service.

As for my poetry,

it is not for publication.

Now, Charlie.

Oh, I'm onto

your insidious little game,

trying to convert people

to vegetarianism.

Listen, Sara,

people are not born

to vegetarianism, you know.

It takes missionaries

like him to convert them.

And as for you, sir,

be advised that I am

a first-class judo expert.

And if you are still here

on my return,

I will probably strangle you

with my black belt.

Use Espresso grounds.

It's a TV service call.

Take the bicycle tape.

It's $1 a foot.

Sara:

As Charlie later found out,

the purpose of clem's visit

was to tell me that he finally

quit hiding in college,

and to introduce his fiancée,

Carol -- a very lovely girl.

Charlie is really very warm

and clever and dear.

He apologized to everyone

for his immature outburst

and must surely realize

that if he keeps up

that kind of behavior,

he will always be Pinocchio

and never a real boy.

Hey.

What?

When am I

going to hear it?

Hear what?

Your new poem.

You can't still

be working on it.

I finished it

three days ago.

I've been carrying it

around in my pocket,

hoping it would fall out.

Were you so afraid

to read it to me?

Uh-huh.

Charlie, you'll just

have to face up to it

sooner or later.

I know, I know, I know.

All right,

all right, all right.

Now, look.

Empty your pockets.

Righty-ho.

Here -- here we are.

I call it "enigma."

Okay.

That's something that's

difficult to figure out.

Okay, good. Now, go on.

"'Enigma,' by Charles Blake.

"A girl I know,

she is partly mad.

"Yet, beyond that smile,

she is partly sad.

"She is partly calm.

She is partly wild.

"But she is mostly woman.

No, she is mostly child."

I thank you.

Charlie. Oh, Charlie.

You like it?

I like it, I like it.

I like it,

and it rhymes, Charlie.

You've broken through.

It rhymes.

It's a love poem, Sara.

Love poems

don't have to rhyme.

You want rhymes?

"Jack be nimble" rhymes.

Oh, but that's not

about me.

I know how hard

it's been for you, Charlie,

all these years,

hiding behind blank verse.

I know.

Well, it's nice

to achieve recognition

in one's own lifetime.

Charlie, I will...

I will keep it always.

And you wanted it to fall

out of your pocket.

You should be

ashamed of yourself.

Shame, Charlie, shame.

I must have been mad.

[ Thunder crashes ]

Charlie: Dearest Sara,

my every thought is of you.

You're looking tired.

If I ought to fret about you,

please let me know.

I think I might very much

like the worrying.

Perhaps

instead of all those pills,

perhaps some vitamins

with liver extract.

Surely Alonzo

can't object to that.

I cannot face the fact that

I must someday give you up.

I should never have agreed

to a 30-day month.

[ Thud ]

What are you doing?

I'm being blinded.

What are you doing

down there?

I was just checking, Sara.

I, uh...

I thought I heard somebody

creeping about.

It was me.

What are you doing

with my calendar?

Calendar? What calendar?

You are

just like a little boy

caught with his hand

in the cookie jar.

Honestly, Sara.

Would three extra days

hurt you?

I mean, they're

right in the middle

of the month --

15, 16, and 17.

I mean, they're

hardly noticeable.

A little bit

of tape -- look.

And bingo! They're back.

Three days, Sara.

That's all.

That tape is $1 a foot.

Money is no object, Sara.

Bill me.

I love those days.

Then you may keep them,

but you may not

put them back.

I don't understand

why I can't have

two successive terms.

I mean, you do it

for your presidents.

It would be

very American of you --

very American.

Oh, Sara,

what are we doing?

I mean, why are we tearing

the days off one by one

like "she loves me,

she loves me not"?

I mean...

I love you, Sara.

Oh, Charlie.

You said it.

First time.

World premiere.

You know I love you.

Yes, but you never

said it before.

In my letters, I wrote it.

Never, never. Not once.

No, but it's implied

in everything I do.

This is the first time

that you ever said it.

And you know

what I think, Charlie?

Hmm?

I think

you really mean it.

Well...we're making

great strides.

We are.

I'm very pleased.

Oh, cut it out, Sara.

I love you.

That means past November,

past winter,

past all the dumb years

ahead, okay?

We made an agreement,

you and I.

We shook hands.

Sara, kids do that.

A bargain is a bargain,

a sacred vow, and an oath.

Whoever breaks that oath

must give up

all memories of the other.

Do you want to give up

your memories of me?

No, of course I don't,

and I don't have to.

No. No, I know.

I know

you don't have to, but...

Supposing that you did.

Sara, that's silly.

I have no control over it.

I can't just

blot everything out

simply because I agreed to.

People must be

remembered, Charlie.

Otherwise, it's as if

they were never here at all.

All we are, are the people

who remember US.

If we go away,

and everybody forgets

we were ever here,

it's as if we never were.

And you did it

again, you know.

You did it again.

I did what?

A few minutes ago.

What, Sara? What?

I had a dream,

and you were in it,

and then you misbehaved.

Sara, I can't

be held responsible

for the way I behave

in your dreams.

Yes, you can.

A dream is simply a truth

that never happened.

Just because

it never happened

doesn't mean it's untrue.

Little zig, little zag.

Here she comes,

there she goes.

Let's just stick

to the conversation,

shall we, Sara?

Now, I just announced

my love for you.

Now, that's

a pretty special thing,

don't you think?

Yes, thank you. Yes.

As it turns out,

I really am in love

for the first time

in my life.

Now, that's

a pretty stupid thing

for a man of my age

to have to admit,

but, well,

it's my first outing.

Now, that in itself

is a pretty

wondrous thing, no?

It's so late, Charlie.

It's so late.

Tomorrow is

a busy day for US.

Sara, all I want to know

is why you think

that come November 30th,

I'm just going to walk

out of your life --

walk right out the door,

away, finished, kaput?

What makes you think

I'm going to do a Richard?

Because you will.

Why?

Because you really do

love me, that's why.

Good night, Charlie.

You're right, Charlie.

You know, you're right.

Clem and his girl,

they make a lovely couple.

It'll be a good marriage.

And who am I supposed

to marry?

Oh, I don't know, Charlie.

Some very pretty girl

who doesn't like dessert

so you can have

her ice cream on your pie.

You really want me

to marry someone else?

Yes, of course I do.

I do, and soon, too.

You're getting on,

you know,

or would you rather not

talk about that?

Who, me?

I've never felt this young.

It's an illusion, Charlie.

It's the vegetables.

Your diet is better,

but you can still tell

a person's age by his teeth.

Listen, Sara --

or do they do that

with horses?

I know that with a tree,

you can tell by its rings,

but I-I don't know

whether or not

they do that with a horse.

You won't give

an inch, will you, huh?

What's the matter? Hmm?

Nothing, Charlie.

Nothing's the matter.

I'm cold. That's what's

the matter -- I'm cold.

Come on.

Let's go home. Come.

"Partly calm, partly wild.

"Mostly woman.

No, mostly child."

I like that, Charlie.

I like that.

I think you've captured

the real me.

[ Hammering ]

Charlie?

Ohh!

Is that you, Charlie?

No, it's Tom thumb.

Hi.

Clem,

where are the girls?

Well, they're shopping.

I don't know -- something.

What are you doing

up there?

I'm trying to fix

this cracked board.

Oh, yeah, that one

that the fiegus brothers

cracked, huh?

Yeah, that's the one.

Would you like

some coffee?

I got it.

All right.

Ah, so, you're

getting married, eh?

Yeah, I'm going to

take the plunge.

Oh, good, good.

I've been thinking

about getting married

myself.

That's very nice.

Yeah. Well, you know.

I'm getting on.

It's about time.

Yeah. What time is it?

I have to file

the certificates.

I don't know. I can't

help you, I'm afraid.

I don't wear a watch

anymore.

It's 4:00.

The bureau closes at 5:00.

I better get moving.

Oh, go tomorrow, clem.

Well, tomorrow is Sunday.

Tomorrow's Thursday.

Oh.

Sit down, clem, please.

Okay.

Now tell me about Sara.

Well, there's

nothing to tell.

Sara is Sara.

Right. You seem to know

your way around here

pretty good.

Okay.

What are the, uh,

what are the pills

all about?

It's coming up the end

of November, Charlie,

and you have to go.

That's not

what I asked you.

What about the way

she gets cold?

What do you know

about Sara that I don't?

Nothing that you can't

figure out for yourself.

I'll see you.

Alonzo?

Ho!

Oh, hi.

There's a big demand

for these "building

coming down" signs.

I think our neighborhood's

being saved.

If I could use a stencil,

I could mass-produce

some of this stuff,

but all my work

is hand-lettered.

It's all custom-made.

Alonzo,

no fun and games, okay?

Okay. What's wrong?

I have some

very serious questions

to which I know or think

or fear

there are serious answers.

I want to know

about Sara, Alonzo.

Yes?

I'm now asking.

Mm-hmm.

Some ask

and some don't.

Clem asked, you may

be interested to hear.

Richard didn't.

Never asked,

never looked, never saw.

She's sick.

I can see that.

Yes.

The pills -- I mean,

a whole ruddy collection.

Every color in the rainbow,

prescribed

by eight different doctors,

eight different dates.

Yes.

The quick tiredness,

the little trembles,

the uneven breathing

in her sleep.

I, uh,

I can't bring myself

to ask you

any direct questions.

All right, Charlie.

Is she, uh...

She's very ill.

Obviously, she's very ill.

I mean,

anyone can tell that.

I mean, a man

would have to be blind.

Charlie, Sara --

she's temporary.

She doesn't have much time.

Oh, god in heaven.

Oh, no.

Oh, Alonzo.

Oh, no.

My whole dull life

I've been looking for her.

What do I do, Alonzo?

You do

exactly as she says.

She's entitled to that much.

We don't talk about it?

Not necessary.

She knows that you know.

Everything's been tried?

Every new drug --

yes, yes.

I know a great doctor.

Her family

had her everywhere,

almost to the point

of its being cruel.

Sara called it off

and moved here.

I keep in touch with them,

write them letters,

lie a little,

give them hope.

Why her?

Why anybody?

I don't care

about anybody, Alonzo.

I care about Sara.

Well...

Now you understand better

why every month

is like a year to her

and no man

is allowed to stay longer.

Not out of desire.

Out of fear.

Fear of being forgotten.

What is it that she has?

I have it

written down somewhere.

It's quite rare,

quite incurable.

Doesn't much matter

what it's called.

How much time -- oh, god.

I can't believe

I'm asking these questions.

They don't really know.

Alonzo,

I mustn't lose her.

You can't -- you can't --

you can't lose

what you never really had.

You can only borrow Sara,

and she is the way she is

because she has

no time for pretense.

Now, don't -- don't

disappoint her, Charlie.

Just hold her hand

and let go when she says to.

She has her own road

to go on.

You happened

to cross it in November.

Hmm.

When she says to,

let go and let it be.

Oh, I hope this pie

will be all right.

I never made

a pumpkin pie before.

I never made

any pie before.

Oh, Charlie,

what's to become of me?

Shh, it'll be great.

It'll be beautiful.

It'll be a thing people

will talk about for years.

All that I ever

made before was jello.

Well, it takes

a certain amount of courage

to make jello --

oh, Charlie, it does not!

Do not lie to me!

I followed

all those directions,

I did not waver,

and I did not improvise.

Then you stand

a certain fighting chance.

Charlie, would you keep

your voice down please?

Otherwise,

the pie will fall.

You know what I think?

No.

I think

it will be all right.

I do. I think

it will turn out fine.

Fine.

Oh, we should use

the good glasses tonight.

Both of them?

First come, first serve.

Did you get the wine?

Yes, my dear.

Have you decided

which silver pattern

you'd like tonight --

shrouts or hornen haddart?

Well, I think we should

go with the good stuff.

The shrouts?

Hmm, that's a pity

because we've only got

three sets.

First come,

first serve.First come,

first serve.

Hey, Sara.

Charlie,

don't do that.

There's a pie

in the oven.

Let it listen.

I got nothing to hide.

You know Alonzo

won't eat Turkey.

Well, what is Thanksgiving

without Turkey?

So let me show you

what I made him.

I made him a Turkey

to go with his salad,

but it's out of jello.

Oh, Charlie, don't --

what do you laugh for

like that?

Doesn't it look

like a Turkey?

It's strawberry.

Sara?

This is all so right,

you and me.

Maybe I should have asked

another couple

to Carol's

Thanksgiving bridal shower,

but if they

hardly know her,

I can't ask them

to bring gifts.

So there'll just be

you and me

and clem and Carol

and Alonzo.

We have a lot

to be thankful for

this Thanksgiving.

Right. We haven't had

one Indian attack

all winter.

Oh, Charlie.

That's very funny.

Sara, come and have

a talk with me.

No, Charlie, no, no!

Come on.

I have a lot to do.

Cut it out, Sara.

Come and have a talk.

You know,

there's something

that I've been

meaning to tell you.

Promise

you won't be angry.

I promise

I won't be angry.

All right.

Whee!

I want to tell you

about Gordon.

He's going to be

my December.

Oh, see that, Charlie?

You are angry.

Things must go on,

you know.

I don't want to hear.

I don't want to know.

I need your advice.

Really, it may be

something serious.

I don't know.

Now, can't we discuss it

like civilized people?

Okay.

I met Gordon

at the vegetable stand.

He seems dreadfully

uncoordinated

and terribly awkward.

When he

tipped his hat to me,

he knocked over

a whole row of cabbages,

and then, when he bent down

to pick them up,

he knocked over more --

dozens.

Hmm.

I think it may be

an equilibrium problem.

Now, if it's

purely emotional,

I think I can be

of some help,

but if it's

his inner ear --

this is the question

that I want to ask you.

Do you think I should

send him to a clinic?

Sara, I don't care

if you pickle him

and send him to the moon.

I mean,

he means nothing to me,

and if you think I'm thrilled

to hear about him,

then you're

very much mistaken.

See that, Charlie.

You are angry.

I have a few days left

in November, Sara,

and I don't want

to devote them

to a discussion

about my successor,

and I'm sick and tired

of your casual evasions

and your

determination to --

have a hell

of a happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, Charlie -- Charlie!

Carol --

thank you for --

I'm sorry.

Please, you were going

to say something.

Well, it wasn't important.

I wanted to thank you,

all of you,

for all

the wonderful gifts,

and, well,

I just wanted to make sure

I thanked you again.

Yeah.

Oh, you'll find

that cookbook

very enlightening, Carol.

Vegetables can be prepared

in many delicious ways.

Well, animals thrive

on it, right, Sara?

Right. You never saw

a skinny gorilla.

[ Laughs ]

Excuse me.

Well, where is he?

That's just terrible

of him.

Shh.

He missed

almost the whole dinner.

Carol.

Um, let's go

pack up the gifts, huh?

Sara --

I think we should have

dessert now, don't you?

This thing looks

hardly edible,

but I think

it deserves a chance.

He'll be back.

He loves you,

and you love him.

Look, isn't it time

you closed

that book of yours?

Isn't it time you grabbed

whatever happiness

you can get, hmm?

Let him stay. He knows.

He doesn't care.

But I care.

I love him, Alonzo.

I never meant for that

to happen, but I do.

And because I do,

I-I don't want him around

when it comes.

I don't want him

to see that.

I don't want him

to be part of it.

I don't want him

to remember

even one tiny,

little piece of it.

And that's why I-I hope

he never comes back.

That's why I-I hope

he keeps on running,

never, never to return.

Because I am afraid

that if he comes back

these last few days

in November,

I'm afraid that I will

never let him leave me again.

Why did he go?

Why? Why?

Because I told him

about Gordon.

I told Charlie

about Gordon

because

I wanted him to run.

You know I wanted that.

Who is Gordon?

A candidate for December.

A distinct possibility --

Alonzo, Alonzo, just someone

to keep me company.

Purely clinical.

Just like Richard,

all right?

He's not Charlie.

No. Nobody's Charlie.

I'm afraid that

it's a terrible failure.

I haven't been able

to get any good pumpkin

since the Indian attack.

[ Laughter ]

I'm afraid

it -- it flopped.

As a matter of fact,

I think it fell

all the way through.

Well, not at all.

It looks delicious.

Oh, you're very kind.

Alonzo, would you

do the honors?

Uh, yeah.

A knife. I'm sorry.

[ Knock at door ]

I'll get it.

What?

It's a 7-sided box.

Well, I guess

we're supposed to read it.

I guess so.

Uh...

Number two -- "sorry

I couldn't be with you

for the festivities."

Number three -- "must you...

Leave so soon, Alonzo?"

Number four --

"and you, too, clem?"

Five -- "and you, too, Carol?"

Six -- "isn't it a shame

that you must all leave?"

Signed, "the phantom Charlie,"

number seven.

Well, I'm a bit tired.

Oh, Alonzo, no.

You don't have to go.

It's just Charlie's way

of being silly.

Oh, clem, don't go.

I'll get the coats.

You have not even

had your dessert.

It's okay.

We really should go.

And Sara, thank you.

It was wonderful --

really, very nice.

You're welcome.

Bye, Sara.

Bye-bye.

Ahh!

From New York's

famous Plaza hotel,

a recently stolen plunger.

Oh, Charlie.

From monty's

irregular mod shop,

a shockingly chic

carnaby cap.

1,500 yards of bicycle tape,

and at $1 a foot, wow!

And now, the two

most requested answers

in the New York driving test.

May I have the envelope, please?

Thank you.

The legal speed limit

in a deer-crossing zone

is 15 miles per hour.

How fast do you go

in a falling-rock zone?

As fast as you can.

For the man in your life...

A generous bottle

of "main floor"

by bloomingdale's.

And from steigmeyer's

delicatessen and grocery shoppe,

a 1/2-quart container

of Sauerkraut.

How sweet it is.

And from

your neighborhood a&p,

a year's supply of ry krisp

for pigeons

with a weight problem.

Birds prefer them 15 to 4,

so they say.

And from the hardware store

to the stars,

a pair of striped overalls...

With a loop.

Ohh.

And, as an expression

of my undying love...

A tattoo, Sara, a tattoo.

Does it hurt?

Painted on by myself

in available light.

Do you like it?

Oh, Charlie.

Ah, ah, ah, come sit down.

A poem by Charles Blake

entitled

"sweet November."

I promised you, Sara,

so here it is.

May be good, may be bad --

probably bad --

but one thing's for sure --

from beginning to end,

it do rhyme.

"Sweet November,

"they say

you're wintry and gray,

"and yet,

this love that you bring

"is sweeter than spring

and warmer than may.

"Come December,

"when our November

is through,

"we'll face the winter

and smile,

"for you know that

I'll be staying with you.

"When we remember

November sunshine,

"we won't mind

December's rain.

For US, it will be

like sweet November again."

1,000 novembers, Sara,

for as long as they last.

Let's tack them up

all around the room.

We'll cover the walls

with them.

We'll pull the days off,

one by one,

and as we finish one month,

we'll go on to another.

From now on, Sara,

sweetest Sara,

every month

will be November.

And wherever you look

in your funny life,

you're going to see them,

sweet and endless,

and you're going

to see me, too,

because as we agreed,

November is my month.

All your novembers

are mine.

I'll never leave you.

Sara: Dear phantom Charlie,

what a marvelous Thanksgiving!

How grand the way you arrived

like the u.S. Cavalry.

Your poem was very lovely,

as were all your gifts.

I only worry

for those 1,000 people

with 1,000 calendars

who will never have

a November at all.

I am pleased with you. Sara.

Charlie: Dearest Sara,

with Thanksgiving over,

we must prepare

for the holidays ahead.

We must get

our Christmas shopping

immediately out of the way

so that by Christmas morning,

all our presents

can have been exchanged

for the proper sizes.

I love you, Sara Deever.

Wherever I go from here,

you will be the sole occupant

of my heart,

and if it gets

crowded in there,

the arteries

will just have to go.

I've explained it to them.

They understand.

I will never leave you.

Charlie.

Sara: Dear Charlie,

now, as our November runs out,

I see that you

are no longer a box,

6-sided and dull,

but rather,

you are one of my

greatest triumphs. Sara.

Charlie: Dear Sara,

I will never leave you,

I will never leave you.

Charlie.

Oh!

Oh, snow, snow,

unseasonable snow!

Good lord.

Oh, oh, look.

What?

We've sprung a leak.

Ha ha.

The moon is spilling in.

Quick, Charlie,

the bicycle tape!

No, I'll fix it tomorrow.

Even the moon has to wait

for an appointment.

Brrr.

I've packed your bag...

...so you can make

a clean getaway.

Oh, and, um,

one of your argyle socks

was badly worn,

so I took the Liberty

of throwing them both away.

It seemed

the proper thing to do.

Charlie, oh, look there.

Oh, look at that moon

crouching on our skylight.

All that -- all that

green cheese.

We would have to hurry

and make lots and lots

of toast.

I suppose that's a new lock

on the door, right?

Yes.

Sure were up early

this morning, weren't we?

You have to return

your key, Charlie.

It won't work anyway.

Perhaps I didn't

get through to you, Sara.

I'm not leaving.

We have to say goodbye.

We have to stay

within the scheme of things.

I have to

send you away now.

Nothing I did,

nothing I said

made the slightest dent

on you, huh?

Nothing? Hmm?

You know what I think?

I think

that we should put

another sticker

on your bag --

a big sticker that says,

"hotel silly, u.S.A."

That bag isn't going

anyplace either, Sara.

You're going to ruin

our goodbye,

aren't you, Charlie?

November is obstinate.

It doesn't go out

that easy.

It's almost midnight.

We stayed out too late,

you know.

You deliberately

kept me out.

Yes. It was wrong.

I'm sorry.

Well, I don't much care

about midnight.

Sara, I've been trying

for days now

to find

some kind of philosophy

that would allow me

to do this your way,

that would allow me

to say,

"so long, kid.

It's been great," you know?

I tried hard

because I love you,

but I just can't

come up with it.

I don't know anything

about philosophy, Charlie.

I don't ask questions

anymore, not now.

I just settle

for the answers

as they come.

You mean

to tell me straight out

that you never once

thought of letting me stay?

I think I forgot

your toothbrush, Charlie.

You know, standing here

in this dopey light,

the whole idea

of me leaving you

is so unreal,

I actually believe

that I made it up

just so that I could have

something so perfect

that I'd never be able

to keep it.

[ Clock chiming ]

I despair, Sara.

I goddamn despair.

I want you

to leave me now, Charlie,

when you love me most.

Everything after now

is wrong.

I know because I have

an instinct for time.

It lives all around me.

What I have of it is mine,

and I have to use it

my way.

Time doesn't count, Sara.

You taught me that.

Oh, Charlie,

I'd hoped you would leave.

Hi. It's 12:00. Here I am.

Well.

I had hoped

you would be gone.

Sometimes I think

my clothing is alive.

That's, uh, quite a snow,

isn't it?

Wasn't even expected at all.

I'm Gordon from December.

We met at the veg--

vegetable stand.

Hi. Didn't expect

to see you,

stroke of midnight

and all that.

Uh, I would have, um,

saved the cab for you

had I known, uh --

l-look, do you want me

to go out

and come back in again?

It's --

it's very easily done.

I'm, uh, sorry if i'm

making anybody uncomfortable.

Look, I'll tell you --

I'll just go and, uh...

Put my bag right over here,

and that way it'll be safe,

and I'll go out.

I'll go out for 10 minutes,

11, maybe 15.

No, wait a minute.

Um, I'm on your time.

What's a few minutes?

No, no, no. You stay.

Stay there, please.

I'm brim full, Sara.

I've got you with me

for the rest of my life.

Staying longer would only

run me into the hereafter.

I'll remember.

No. Don't turn around.

I'll turn to salt.

How are you

with bicycle tape?

Pardon?

Oh, uh, don't worry

about the stairs.

They held

the fiegus brothers.

I've got a problem,

you know.

I-It's funny, I suppose,

but inanimate things

keep fighting me.

Who are

the fiegus brothers?

I think December will be

a lovely month, Gordon.

You'll see.

You'll see. A lovely month.

captions paid for by

Warner Bros. Inc.

* sweet November *

* they say

you're wintry and gray *

* and yet this love

that you bring *

* is sweeter than spring *

* and warmer than may *

* I can't remember

November sunshine *

* more beautiful than today *

* fleeting, it's true,

but what can I do *

* to make sweet November stay? *

* come December *

* when our November is through *

* I'll face the winter

and smile *

* for I know

that I'll be thinking of you *

* when I remember

November sunshine *

* I won't mind

December's rain *

* for me, it will be

like sweet November again *

Sweet November (1968) - full transcript