"LOST IN TRANSLATION" (2003)

Lost in Translation, Inc. September 2, 2002

We hear the sound of a plane landing over black.

The back of a GIRL in pink underwear,she leans at window, looking out over Tokyo.

a big

Melodramatic music swells over the Girl’s butt in pink sheer

underwear as she lies on the bed.

Title cards over image.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

POV from a car window - the colors and lights of Tokyo neon

at night blur by.

In the backseat of a Presidential limousine, BOB (late- forties), tired and depressed, leans against a little doily,

staring out the window.

P.O.V. from car window- We see buildings covered in bright signs, a billboard of Brad Pitt selling jeans, another of Bob in black & white,looking distinguished with a bottle of whiskey in a Suntory ad.. more signs, a huge TV with perky

Japanese pop stars singing.

Bob’‘s black Presidential (looks like a 60’s diplomat’s car) pulls up at the entrance of the Park Hyatt, a modern sky

rise.

CONTINUED: 4

The automatic doors open on the car, as Bob gets out. Eager @ BELLHOPS with white gloves approach at the sight of the car, welcoming Bob and helping him with his bags.

Bob stands in the back of a crowded elevator surrounded by Japanese businessmen below his shoulders.

The elevator stops at the 50th floor and the doors open onto the massive, streamline lobby of the Park Hyatt.

Bob follows the JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN out into the marble and glass lobby that frames the view of Tokyo.

The CONCIERGE and several eager HOTEL MANAGERS greet Bob. He just wants to sleep, but more STAFF continue to greet him, ask him about his fright. They lead him to reception.

At the reception area four JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN and two WOMEN quickly sit up from their seats on sight of Bob, and extend ©

handshakes and gifts. They bow and introduce themselves from the commercial company, extend name cards and welcome him enthusiastically.

More staff welcomes him and offer their service during his stay.

One of them presents a fax that has come for him.

INSERT - “TO: BOB HARRIS FROM: LYDIA HARRIS YOU FORGOT ADAM’S BIRTHDAY. I’M SURE HE’LL UNDERSTAND. HAVE A GOOD TRIP, L”

He doesn't know what to do with it, and stuffs it in his pocket.

The commercial people tell him when they’1ll be picking him up, and ask if he needs anything else.

(CONTINUED }

2A.

Some JAPANESE ROCK STARS with shag haircuts and skinny

leather pants pass by. Each commercial person has to shake Bob’s hand before leaving.

CONTINUED: (2) 6

Bob sits on the end of the bed in a too small hotel kimono.

Bob sits at the bar. A few minutes pass as he sits in silence looking around, drinking a scotch. Chet Baker sings “The Thrill is Gone” over the stereo.

We see Bob’s POV of tables of people talking. JAPANESE WOMEN SMOKING, AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN tying one on, talking about software sales. A WAITER carefully setting down a coaster, and pouring a beer very, very slowly. It’s all very foreign.

The automatic hotel curtains open, pouring light into the room.

Bob gets in the shower overlooking the view of Tokyo. The shower head is at his elbows, he raises it as high as it goes, and leans down to have a shower. This hotel was not designed with him in mind.

Whiskey commercial shoot.

The set is full of activity as the JAPANESE CREW work. Bob,

in a shawl collared tuxedo sits at a European style bar set

with a cut crystal glass of whiskey. A JAPANESE GIRL quickly powders his face as they adjust lights and the DIRECTOR and

crew speak in hurried Japanese.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED :

The Director (with blue contact lenses) sentences in Japanese.

3A. ll

says a few long

CONTINUED: (2) 11

TRANSLATOR, a middle-aged woman in a coordinated outfit, translates but it is only a short sentence now.

Bob wonders what she’s leaving out, or if that’s the way it works from Japanese to English.

Bob thinks let's just get it over with.

The Translator blots her face with a tissue, and asks the director in a Japanese sentence 5 times as long. The Director answers her in a long excited phrase.

The excited Director says more in Japanese. Translator nods in understanding. Bob doesn’t really know what’s going on.

Bob turns and looks suavely to the camera:

4A.

CONTINUED: (4) 11

The Translator answers for him in four sentences.

ON THE MONITOR — we see the next take: the moody lighting shines on Bob, the camera gets closer as he stares into camera and gives them the line.

Shinjuku High rises sparkle.

Tall glass walls show the neon and high-rises of the city.

A sad and romantic Bill Evans song plays. Bob sits alone with a scotch at the bar.

Some drunk AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN, with their ties thrown over their shoulders recognize him.

BUSINESS GUY

Hey- you’re Bob Harris- you’re awesome, man.

Bob nods.

5A.

Bob comes back to his room. The maids have left everything perfect, his beige bed is turned down, and the TV has been left on to a channel playing a montage of flower close-ups in nature while sad violin music plays. It’s supposed to be relaxing, but it’s just sad.

Bob lies in bed. He flips through TV channels from the remote control. He passes a Japanese game show, to an 80s Cannon Ball run-~type movie with him in it dubbed into Japanese. He turns it off as he hears a knock at the door.

He goes to the door, and opens it part way. WOMAN (0.C.) (raspy Japanese voice)

Mr. Harris?

He pauses, then opens the door.

A WOMAN in her forties in a short tight leather mini skirt and stockings comes in. She is wearing ‘60s style make-up.

Bob sits on the bed not sure what to do as he watches her.

Bob’s POV ~- We see her back to us as she puts a CD on the stereo - it begins to play: Serge Gainsberg and Brigitte Bardot sing “Bonnie & Clyde". The woman turns slyly around and shimmies over to Bob.

6A.

Mr. Harris?

She pushes him back onto the bed. He hesitates, but then goes along with it passively. °

He takes his hands back confused.

He backs away, as he tries to understand her.

She throws her leg up to him on the bed.

She pantomimes ripping them. He finally understands.

( CONTINUED )

7A. CONTINUED: (3) 14

He pulls at her stockings trying to rip them, but they just snap.

CONTINUED: (4) 14

She pretends to struggle.

He pulls his hands away. She grabs them and puts them back on her, and keeps struggling dramatically. They wrestle around awkwardly, her pretending to try to get away, but not letting him go. She rips her stockings and falls off the bed in fake- defense.

She pulls a confused Bob down on top of her. He doesn’t know what she wants.

She rips another stocking and pins him on the ground. He tries to crawl away, she grabs his leg and trips him. He grabs a nearby table leg as he falls, the lamp crashes to the floor, the room goes black.

another table a JAPANESE COUPLE in sunglasses chain smoke and drink coffee.

Bob gets into the ded elevator. He is stopped momentarily by the Concierge who asks him if everything is fine for his

stay.

In the elevator Bob’s surrounded by JAPANESE BUSINESSPEOPLE and a FAMILY dressed for a wedding.

Across, at the other side of the elevator he sees CHARLOTTE, a pretty Ivy-league girl in her mid-twenties, and the only other Westerner in the elevator. Her honey-colored hair stands out in the crowd.

CONTINUED: (2) 16

She’s looking at him like you do when someone new comes in the elevator, but the Japanese look straight ahead at the elevator doors.

Charlotte and Bob look at each other across the Japanese heads. She smiles, from one foreigner to another. The door opens and she gets out with the crowd. Bob watches her leave.

He is approached by a group of eight excited people from the commercial company there waiting to take him.

Bob feigns enthusiasm briefly.

Bob’s back is to us as a MAKE-UP ARTIST is putting some final touches on him. The PHOTOGRAPHER is giving her enthusiastic direction in Japanese. Bob talks on his cell phone, not paying attention to the make-up artist.

BOB

Can you get me on a flight Thursday night?

ELAINE (0.S.)

We‘re looking into it Bob, but they really want you to stay to do that talk show Friday, apparently it’s a really big deal, he’s the Johnny Carson of Japan.

9A.

CONTINUED: (2) 17

BOB

Just get me out of here as soon as you can.

He hangs up. The make-up artist dusts him with powder.

The commercial people are crowding around. Bob’s chair is swivelled around and we see him in his tuxedo, wearing too much make-up and some weird looking eyeliner.

In front of a grey backdrop, moody lighting is being adjusted and Bob is handed a bottle of Suntory.

A small documentary crew moves in on Bob with a video camera- the camera man is tilting the camera at his face in arty dutch camera moves.

The agency people crowd around. The photographer is excited and urges Bob to do dumb poses, he won't do.

The photographer demonstrates a dramatic pose with his hands at his face.

The photographer starts shooting. Bob obviously hates the whole thing, what you do for money.

li.

Bob, still in his tuxedo and make-up from the shoot, sits alone having a drink. A JAZZ BAND FROM SAUSALITO performs. The SINGER is a middle-aged woman with red wavy hair, dressed in red, and takes her singing very seriously. She sings a slow version of “Parsley,Sage,Rosemary and Thyme”.

c.U. - a golden beer is poured very slowly. Bob drinks his scotch, hoping it will all go away.

Across the bar, Charlotte sits with JOHN, her husband (he is in his late twenties and sloppy in a fashionable way), and some FRIENDS — super stylish, weird Japanese fashion people (all smoking). One of them, CHARLIE, in a shiny suit, keeps taking pictures, and showing them magazine layouts.

Charlotte laughs and looks down, the Japanese audience clap

very seriously... she and Bob catch eyes - about Sausalito and how weird it is there.

The mirrored elevator doors close and Bob sees himself close- up in the elevator’s mirrored walls - noticing the heavy make~ up and weird eyeliner from the shoot which he had forgotten

about. He looks at himself.

Charlotte lays close to her young husband, John. She looks to

see if he’s awake, but he’s sleeping soundly. She leans her chin on his shoulder.

(CONTINUED )

L1A.

He doesn’‘t answer.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (2) 20

He grumbles something, opens one sleepy eye to look at her, and grabs her under the covers. He kisses her.

He holds her close, but she can’t sleep.

Charlotte sits on a ledge looking out at the big buildings. The sun is starting to come up. Below she watches cars going places.

Bob lies in bed awake. The clock says 4:20.

The in-room fax machine is making noise as a fax rolls in. Bob looks at the fax machine but doesn’t get out of bed.

The fax curls and falls to the floor.

CLOSE ON FAX ~

“BOB-

YOU DIDN’T TELL ME WHICH SHELVES YOU WANT IN YOUR STUDY. PLEASE PICK ONE OUT AND LET ME KNOW. I'M HAVING LOTS OF QUALITY TIME WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CREW. HOPE YOU’RE HAVING FUN THERE. LOVE, L”

Three pages of shelf diagrams follow.

The gym is empty except for an old man vacuuming. Bob passes

piles of little towels and bottles of water. He takes a water for his workout.

(CONTINUED )

12A.

He approaches an exercise machine and puts the water in the drink holder of the machine. He looks at the lit-up instruction panel- it is all in Japanese.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (2) 22

He pushes a button, and the machine starts beeping, then a soothing woman’s voice recites instructions in Japanese.

He gets on it, and sinks. He tries to make the arms and foot peddles coordinate. He pushes a button and it starts moving too fast. In an upward rotation he tries to reach the control panel, but is not fast enough. The soothing woman's voice continues instruction.(she occasionally includes an English word- gently, gently...vigorous) He tries to keep up with it, and tries again to push the right button to slow it down, but the machine steps starts going swiftly backwards instead.

The agency group wait for Bob. They stand up as he approaches from the elevator, trying to mask a slight limp.

Good morning.

Miss Kawasaki notices his limp with concern as they leave the hotel.

Charlotte gets out at Shibuya station, a crowded neighborhood filled with neon, ads, and people.

She looks up at the huge intersection as tons of JAPANESE PEOPLE wait to cross the street, no one steps forward until the cross-walk light changes, and all of them cross.

A TV screen covering a building plays commercials.

She roams around the narrow streets, crowded with stylish JAPANESE KIDS, tan SCHOOLGIRLS pass her.

Charlotte wanders down a crowded street, looking around.

(CONTINUED )

13A. 24 CONTINUED : 24

On a small side street she stops at a little park. She watches a JAPANESE MAN AND WOMAN together:

CONTINUED: (2) 24

Charlotte’s POV -—

C.U. The man reaches his hand to the back of the woman’s neck, and leans in close. The woman smiles at him, in love.

John is sound asleep. Charlotte is awake next to him. She looks at the clock - it’s three a.m.

She slides close to him, kisses his mouth. He grumbles something in his deep sleep, and rolls over.

She goes to the couch, stepping over camera equipment.

She looks at the fruit basket, decides to try an apple. She has a piece but isn’t really hungry.

She reaches over some proof sheets and looks at a magazine, but she’s already looked at it a few times before. She decides to go downstairs.

Bob sits alone at the bar. Charlotte sits down a seat away from him, lost in his thoughts, he doesn’t see her until he turns and finds her next to him. They look at each other. A young BARTENDER with a sweet face tends to them.

(CONTINUED )

14A.

BOB & BARTENDER ‘Suntory time’!

Charlotte smiles at him sympathetically.

CONTINUED: (2) 26

She looks

She lifts

at him.

a cigarette, he lights it for her.

He makes small talk about the pickled seaweed breakfast and jet lag, they commiserate about having not slept in days.

right now, and we have some friends who live here.

15A.

(CONTINUED )

BOB

What did you study?

BOB

It takes a while to figure it out. I’m sure you will, though.

CHARLOTTE

Thanks. I’m sure your mid-life crisis will work out,too.

16A.

CONTINUED: (6) 26

They clink glasses.

The hotel is filled with businesspeople. A dressed up FAMILY is going to lunch. We follow a jet-lagged Charlotte and John, as they walk down the lobby hall.

An energetic blonde actress, KELLY, pops up to them. (She’s carrying a copy of Memoirs of a Geisha.)

John, who was holding Charlotte’s hand, drops it.

She does a karate chop and laughs.

KELLY (CONT’D)

day... It’s soqg good to see you. How long are you here for?

(CONTINUED )

17A.

Charlotte

(2) 27

looks at John.

Kelly, giggling and acting all too comfortable with herself,

is eating

up all the oxygen around them.

Kelly giggles. Charlotte smirks.

And Kelly

and her make-up artist and publicist are off. John

and Charlotte continue.

18A.

(4) 27

John shrugs.

Charlotte

shoots him a look.

His producer comes up to them. John puts his arm around Charlotte, kisses her, everything’s fine.

He kisses her on the cheek, and is gone.

Charlotte walks into the empty hotel room. C.U. - Charlotte’s feet as she clips her toenails.

19A.

Cc.U. -Charlotte’s hand by an ashtray, writes in a journal.

CONTINUED: (2) 28

Charlotte looks in a mirror, trying on an unfinished scarf she’s knitting. She checks the length on herself.

Charlotte sits on the big window sill checking her messages on the phone.

We hear the # key as Charlotte hits it to interrupt the message.

She hits a button.

She pushes a number to delete the message.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (3) 28

Charlotte pushes a button.

Charlotte hangs up.

Charlotte lies on the bed, in the knit scarf and underwear. She’s doing a quiz in a magazine:

“ARE YOU HAVING A MID-TWENTIES CRISIS? ARE YOU FATIGUED?

DO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOUR CAREER IS GOING? DO YOU HATE MOST PEOPLE?”

An olympic pool is framed by tall glass walls with the Tokyo view. Bob is handed a swim cap and goggles.

Bob watches a Japanese BUSINESSMAN swimming, he looks like an over-grown baby.

Bob swims laps in the pristine pool.

(CONTINUED )

21A.

© He continues his laps. Under water he sees the jumping legs of MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN.

CONTINUED: (2) 29

A disco mixed tape starts, and above water we see a WESTERN INSTRUCTOR in tight shorts leading an aqua~aerobics class to the group of WOMEN. They jump up and down to Sister Sledge.

Bob walks past the rows of lockers to the Sauna room.

He sits in the sauna, two HOTEL GUESTS speak German in the corner.

Bob comes out from the sauna, red and sweaty.

Bob submerges in the cold water of a small pool in the sauna room, having a moment of relief.

Charlotte lies on the floor with big headphones on, listening to a book on tape. After a corny music intro, a very serious scholar man’s voice speaks clearly :

DR. KENGARD (0.S.)

Did you ever wonder what your purpose in life is? This book is about finding your soul’s purpose or destiny. Every soul has its path, but sometimes that path is not clear. The acorn theory is an example of each soul beginning with an imprint....

Charlotte tries to get into it, but can’t get past feeling like a loser listening to a self-help tape. She looks at the doctor’s photo on the audio-book box, he’s bald, ina turtleneck and glasses.

22A.

Charlotte follows a JAPANESE FAMILY in formal dress out of the elevator onto the mezzanine level. She wanders down a big hall.

CONTINUED: 32

She sees an open door and steps in the crowded room, which is in the midst of a press conference. Cameras flash as Kelly, with wide eyes, behind a table, answers questions enthusiastically.

The JAPANESE JOURNALISTS seem excited by her answer. Kelly throws a Karate punch for a PHOTOGRAPHER.

Charlotte walks out.

Charlotte continues down a hall, she stops at an open door and peeks in.

A quiet group of JAPANESE WOMEN are gathered around a table. Charlotte goes in, as she gets closer she sees they are being instructed in Ikebana floral design. Each woman has a little vase and elegant flower cuttings. She watches as they delicately arrange the tiny flowers.

The INSTRUCTOR hands Charlotte a vase and cuttings. Alongside the women, Charlotte tries to follow along.

Charlotte reclines low in the bathtub staring off. She can see mount Fuji in the distance.

The audio tape plays on the stereo.

23A.

Plato’s text calls this image the

“paradeigma”. (MORE)

DR. KENEGARD (CONT'D)

So the lot is the image that is your inheritance, your place on earth, all compacted into a pattern that has been selected by your soul before you even got here-or better said, that is always and continually being selected by your soul,because time does not enter the equation of myth...

With her back to us, Charlotte looks out the big window. John comes up and kisses her.

He hugs her for a moment, leaning on her.

24A.

© 36 INT. PARK HYATT BAR —- NIGHT 36

At a corner table Charlotte sits with John, Kelly, and DJ CLEAN, a skinny kid in a sweatshirt, on tour in Japan.

Charlotte is bored while Kelly talks on. Sausalito performs in the background.

John shoots Charlotte a look.

Oh, that’s too bad.

Charlotte ashes her cigarette in a clean ashtray, and

she

watches as it is quickly replaced with a new one by a WAITER.

25A.

@ CHARLOTTE

Yeah, it is.

DJ Clean starts doing a human beat box at her. Charlotte looks over at Kelly.

Charlotte excuses herself.

She passes Bob who sits at his usual spot at the bar, as she is leaving.

John sleeps soundly (turned away from her), Charlotte can’t sleep. She turns on the T.V. to a crazy local T.V. variety show.

@.. INT BOB'S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Bob can’t sleep, he watches the same show on T.V.

26A.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: 38

He flips the channel- it’s an old black & white Japanese movie of a man committing Hari Kari.

FADE IN:

Charlotte finds her way down a narrow street in an old section of Tokyo.

She turns a corner and finds a square with what she was looking for. :

The sun shines over a beautiful old temple. Birds chirp, Charlotte approaches and goes inside.

Charlotte stands in the back and watches a ceremony.

A ROSHI speaks in Japanese, monks chant. It’s all very foreign. Charlotte tries to feel something.

Charlotte sits on the bed talking to John who’s coming out of the bathroom, getting ready to go to work. He checks himself

in the mirror.

27A.

@ CHARLOTTE

I went to a temple today and I didn’t feel anything.

CONTINUED: (2) 42

He looks for his mobile phone.

He comes close and kisses her.

She leans back to look at him.

She looks at him funny.

He grabs her, kissing her good-bye, she wraps her arms around him, when his cell phone rings.

He kisses her, and leaves.

@ CHARLOTTE

Bye.

She makes a call. We see her back and hair, as she looks out the bright window.

..-. and John’s using hair products... I don’t know who I --. © LAUREN’s call-waiting beeps, cutting off her sentence. LAUREN

Oh, wait, can you hold on one sec?

Charlotte waits.

In the background a baby starts crying.

off to Japan... call me when you get back.

29A.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (5) 42

She hangs up. She sits there for a moment, starting to cry, she wipes the tears, trying to make them go away.

Tokyo goes by out the window. Charlotte looks at the PEOPLE on the crowded train. A sweaty BUSINESSMAN blots his face with a little handkerchief. Another older BUSINESSMAN reads an erotic comic book.

Charlotte looks up at the many signs, trying to figure out which way to go, but they are all in Japanese characters. Confused, she chooses the west exit.

Charlotte walks down a little street in a quiet neighborhood.

She stops at a window of a portrait studio and looks at all of the wedding portraits. They are very formal and re- touched, Japanese brides and grooms dressed in a Western old- fashion style.

Charlotte looks through the window as a tan Japanese boy, tries to win a stuffed animal for his girlfriend.

In a crowded arcade, Charlotte watches some kids play Dance Revolution, a video game where you dance along to cues on the light-up floor. One BUSINESSMAN in a suit is really good and into it.

She sees a sushi chef game where you have to cut an electronic fish.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: 47

She looks at a firefighter game, and rows of plexi boxes filled with some little character dolls you try to win.

Charlotte looks at the shelves of books she passes,she flips through some books.

She walks over to a small gallery space and goes up to the wall to see the small photos.

They are of tied-up, partially naked Japanese school girls, one girl is spanking another one with a stuffed animal. She's

making a face of ecstacy.

Charlotte looks at it, not getting it.

Charlotte stands alone on a side street, smoking a cigarette and watching the CROWDS go by.

Charlotte walks up a little street filled with shops.

She stops at a window of cute underwear that she looks at. She goes into the shop.

c.U. Charlotte’s lips. She puts watermelon color lipstick on. She looks at herself in the mirror in her new underwear.

{ CONTINUED )

We hear the shower running in the bathroom.

31A.

CONTINUED: (2) 51

Charlotte decorates the room, putting up some paper cherry blossom decorations.

She goes over to the bed and stubs her toe on it, as she flops down.

She holds her toe, annoyed with her klutziness. John talks to her from the shower.

JOHN (0.C.)

At the fitting, they had all these rock n roll clothes, the label guys kept saying lock n loll, though, but the band doesn't look tough at all...they look better just skinny and nerdy, like how when they came in...they looked so uncomfortable in these Keith Richards clothes, they should just be like they are, don’t you think?

She‘s drifted off.

JOHN

Yeah, I think you’re probably right... because when you try to...

He gets out and is rushing to get his stuff together to go. Charlotte’s lounging on the bed in her new pink underwear. She tries her scarf on that she’s been knitting.

He goes to get all his stuff together.

He passes an ashtray with cigarette butts in it.

32A.

© JOHN (CONT'D)

Will you please stop smoking?

( CONTINUED)

Its bad for you.

He picks up a camera from a table in the corner. He looks at the self-help audio book box.

JOHN

A Soul’s Search: Finding Your True Character and calling? Is this yours?

JOHN

You don't have to be embarrassed.

JOHN

It's ok if you are.

He kisses the side of her face and her shoulder like a cute pet, and then continues getting his stuff together.

John sets two bottles of Cristal on the bed next to her, not really seeing her.

CONTINUED: (5)

As he unplugs his cell phone from the wall.

33A.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (6) 51

He looks at her- like don’t make it harder.

They kiss.

He tackles her, kisses her, bites her, grabs her ribs, tickling her in a burst of affection. She laughs, her arms around his neck.

He kisses her and is off.

Charlotte sits there alone with the unopened bottles of champagne.

Water splashes as Charlotte dives into the pool (in a one- piece bathing suit) as the sun goes down.

CONTINUED: 52

FADE OUT:

Leaving in her robe, Charlotte runs into Bob, in his robe, going to the pool.

He watches her go.

As Bob opens his door to his room, a FedEx package falls in his path.

35A.

He opens it - large carpet swatches fall out with a note:

CONTINUED: (2) 54

“BOB- WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR STUDY? I LIKE THE BURGUNDY, BUT WHATEVER YOU WANT. LOVE, L”

He looks at them for a second, they all look the same, and why is she sending these? He puts them down.

The elaborate chiming doorbell rings.

Charlotte opens the door to see Bob. He’s wearing an orange

camouflage T-shirt. She looks at his shirt, suppressing a smile.

He goes into the bathroom to change it. He comes out with it on inside out so it’s just an orange T-shirt.

He asks her to cut the label out for him. She goes to find some scissors. He picks up A_Soul’s Search: Finding Your True Calling audio-book box.

Calling - are you reading this? CHARLOTTE No.

She returns with the hotel room sewing kit.

She smiles, busted, but doesn’t say anything as she cuts his shirt label with little hotel sewing-kit scissors.

She slips on her shoes on to leave.

36A.

All white nightclub, lit with black lights so it seems to glow in the dark, with the booming sound of helicopters. JAPANESE GALLAGER BROTHERS walk by.

Bob watches Charlotte as Charlie, in a crazy outfit, hugs her. Charlotte tries to talk to Bob over the loud music.

BOB

Hi, Charlie. They shake hands.

Bob looks over at some SKINNY GUY in huge glasses smiling at them. Charlie hands them some drinks.

A young SHY GUY with a shaved head smiles at her, and takes her picture.

A JAPANESE KRAFTWERK COVER-BAND plays Trans Europa Express.

Some people at the bar buy drinks for Bob and insist on drinking with him.

37A. CONTINUED: 56

Bob and Charlotte look over as Charlie gets into some problem with the BARTENDER. The Bartender gets mad and starts shooting a real-looking BB gun at him. Orange bullets fly through the air. They all rush out of there.

(CONTINUED )

6:

CONTINUED: (2) 56

Bob and Charlotte try to get past the crowd at the entrance. A big BOUNCER stops them and is yelling fast Japanese at him.

The crowd parts as the Bartender emerges shooting his BB gun, and Bob and Charlotte run for it.

BB GUN CHASE -

The Bartender climbs on a car, threatening them from above. Bob covers Charlotte as they duck behind the car.

They make a run for it, ducking into a pachinko parlor.

Bob and Charlotte run past the blinking machines, and gamblers, to another door to the street.

Bob spots a cab and they run to it, seeing Charlie now throwing bottles in the direction of the bartender.

Bob and Charlotte get in the cab.

Charlotte hits her head as they get in. Bob yells to the driver to go, but he doesn’t understand.

Through the windshield they see the Bartender and sidekick coming with baseball bats.

They hear a bang on the door and Charlie hops in. He makes sure she is ok and shouts something to the Driver, and they speed away.

38A.

Charlie, in his flashy outfit, sings “God Save the Queen” into the Karaoke mic. He rolls his r's just like Johnny Rotten.

CONTINUED: : 61

Charlotte laughs and loves watching Charlie. They’re other friends wear the different color wigs they provide at this place. There are big bottles of beer and sake. They are all pretty formal. Bambi tries to talk to Charlotte with a big grin, he can barely speak English.

Good... I like your swimming pool. CHARLOTTE

Thanks, you guys should come back sometime.

He tries wigs on her. He puts a light pink wig on her and beams. Bob smokes and watches.

(Kawaii means “cute”) She smiles a lovable smile at Bambi.

Charlie and Charlotte sings “Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders ("you’re special, so special...”), everyone is

drunk now, as they all sing along at the chorus. WOMEN keep refilling the glasses.

Mr. Valentine sings a popular slow heartfelt Japanese song that everyone knows and sings along to. Charlotte and Bob look at each other, it is very foreign, but Bob likes being there with Charlotte and her friends.

She flips through a big binder of songs.

( CONTINUED }

39A.

(CONTINUED )

No way.

Bob sings “I fall to Pieces” to Charlotte. Charlie and everyone cheers for him.

Beer pitchers are replaced. Charlie starts singing “Angie”. The little room is filled with smoke, Charlotte makes her way to the door to get some air.

Taking a break from the crowded and hot Karaoke room, Charlotte sits for a break alone on a bench in the bright hallway. It is quiet with just the muffled sound of music from the Karaoke room. She’s wearing a pink geisha wig. Bob sits down next to her.

Charlotte lights his cigarette with some crazy Japanese light-

© up lighter.

She leans her head back - it’s getting too heavy. She looks at his hands.

He nods. CHARLOTTE (CONT'D) I could cut the ones that are left for you. BOB Ok.

NOBU, a cool skinny stoner guy in a Hawaiian shirt, plays phsycadellic records in his seventies hippie surfer-pad.

40A. CONTINUED: 63

His JAPANESE GIRLFRIEND,who looks like a 60’s pin-up, pours cold sake.

Bob is handed a ridiculously big bong.

al. CONTINUED: (2) 63

Charlie is drunk and taking polaroids. Nobu, really stoned, talks to Bob about surfing.

A SHORT GUY with thick glasses introduces himself to Charlotte, extending his hand.

Charlie takes pictures of Charlotte and HIROMIX, a sexy Japanese girl, posing on a sheepskin run. They are being

hammy for Charlie who loves it.

Bob walks up and is amused watching her, she sees him and gets embarrassed.

DECADENT TOKYO PARTY -

Hiromix dances... Charlotte dances with Hans - she looks sweaty but beautiful... Bob dances with his eyes closed, really into it, in the midst of all of them... the song “I Feel Too Young” plays.

Bob and Charlotte are leaving Nobu’s. She’s wearing Bob’s jacket.

Bob takes Charlotte’s arm carefully just as she bangs her head walking into the glass door - it makes a loud thud.

4l1A. CONTINUED: 64

She nods. Bob looks back at Charlie who is watching- she’s fine.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (2) 64

He leads her into a waiting cab.

POV from cab - Tokyo neon blurs by. It looks beautiful.

Charlotte looks at the neon going by. She looks over at Bob, her eyelids are too heavy for her.

Bob carries a very drunk Charlotte to her room. Her purse dangling from his arm.

He puts her on her bed. He takes her shoes off for her and pulls a blanket over her.

He looks at her lying on the bed.

She opens her eyes to smile at him. He wants to kiss her, but he leaves.

He walks down the empty hall, not wanting to leave her.

As he goes he looks at various trays of leftover room service in the hallway.

Bob comes back to his room, tripping over the carpet samples.

42A.

He makes a phone call from bed. He’s still a little drunk and thinking about his night out in Tokyo.

(2) 70

LYDIA (0.S.)

That sounds great -- can you hold on... (talks to daughter) What Zoe? ZOE (0.S.)

I don't want it.

44, (3) 70

He hangs up.

FADE OUT:

Charlotte can’t get out of bed. She looks at the clock- it’s 10 a.m. She picks up the phone.

Bob (still

ROOM ~ MORNING 72

in camouflage T-shirt from last night) answers the

phone by his bed.

c.U. Charlotte’s feet on her bed.

44a.

@ BOB (0.S.)

Of course.

CONTINUED: (2) 72

C.U. her hand wraps the phone cord around her fingers.

They sit in the bright light. She squints and drinks a Bloody Mary. Bob is distant.

She looks across at two middle-aged MID-WESTERN WOMEN talking about plastic surgery, you can’t hear them, but can tell as they gesture and one pulls her eye lids up.

Charlotte looks at another table by the elaborate buffet and sees the redhead Singer having breakfast with the rest of Sausalito.

They don’t know what to say. Somehow it’s too intimate having breakfast. She eats her breakfast aware of her every movement.

C.U. — her POV of soft scrambled eggs.

45A.

© 74 EXT. GOLF COURSE ~ DAY 74

In the distance, Bob swings on a perfect golf course.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: 74

FADE OUT:

Charlotte lies in bed awake. The clock says its 4 a.m.

Finally she gives up on trying to sleep, and turns the light on. In John’s old T-shirt and Ugg boots, she goes to the couch, looks at some strange pastry with an elaborate presentation left by the hotel.

She picks up a magazine, but she’s already looked at it a few times before. She hears something and goes over to the door. On her way, she passes her red T. Anthony suitcase overflowing with stuff that looks like a bomb went off in it. A HOTEL MESSAGE envelope is slipped under the door. She opens it to see a typed note from the operator:

“From: Mr. Harris.

Message: Are you awake?”

She smiles like she’s gotten a valentine.

Bob opens the door, Charlotte’s standing there trying to look casual, she’s happy to see him (she’s put some pants on and

flip flops instead of her dumb looking Ugg boots).

She knocks into a low table, bumping her knee as she comes in.

Bob pours some cold sake, smoothly.

Bob and Charlotte watch La Dolce Vita with Japanese subtitles on the TV.

(CONTINUED )

46A.

76 CONTINUED: (2)

Charlotte gets up to pour more sake.

She picks up and looks at a prescription bottle on his night stand and reads the label : Lipitor.

BOB

But the first time I saw you was in the elevator.

She shrugs.

ATA.

@ CHARLOTTE

I don’t remember.

Pan the view of Tokyo at night as we hear their conversation:

(5)

48A.

49,

CHARLOTTE (0.C.)

Oh.

Charlotte and Bob lie a few feet apart on the bed.

(CONTINUED )

(7)

49A.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED;

(8)

(CONTINUED )

(9) 76

They are starting to get tired.

She looks

They fall

over at him. He does like her.

asleep dressed, on top of the sheets, on opposite

sides of the bed.

FADE OUT:

Full of life, Bob plays basketball with some local guys.

All over the court, and towering over the other players, Bob

dominates

the game.

Bob looks at himself in the bathroom mirror, he feels his stubble and sees that it’s turning grey.

He opens the hotel shaving kit. He squirts shaving cream from the child-size can. Even the razor is small. He covers his face with shaving cream when the phone rings.

Thank you, Mr. Harris. He hangs up and shaves.

Bob gets out of the elevator- the Suntory group is waiting for him. He ducks behind a wall and sneaks out a.side entrance of the hotel.

Bob comes out of the hotel into the sunlight. The street is crowded with MOTORCYCLE GANGS going by, one waves a big flag.

Bob watches the strange scene in the street for a moment, and then makes his way past.

52A.

He walks down a little street in a more old-fashioned neighborhood. He’s wearing new techno sneakers. He makes a call on his cell phone.

A light rain starts as he looks at a fax from Charlotte with a map she’s drawn and tries to figure out where he is - there are no street signs.

Bob finally finds the small restaurant. The automatic door opens for him, and Charlotte, at the bar with the cute chubby SUSHI CHEF, turns to Bob happy to see him. He is disheveled from the rain and adorable.

He sits down next to Charlotte, she pours him a beer and orders for him.

BOB

They really have to work on that street name thing.

A perky recording voice says “Kornichiwa!” from his pocket.

He pulls a pink Hello Kitty watch from his pocket.

(CONTINUED )

53A.

© BOB

Four.

CONTINUED: (2) 82

The Sushi Chef gives him perfect little pieces of sushi on a banana leaf.

Charlotte takes a bite of a piece - but it won’t break, so she has to stuff the whole thing in her mouth, embarrassed. Bob makes fun of her gracelessness.

They have lunch, he makes her laugh.

He looks down at her feet in flip flops, her toe is purple.

She slips her shoe off and shows it to him- her middle toe is black and blue.

She enjoys the sympathy.

@ She smiles at him.

Bob tries to get a taxi, finally one stops and they get in. He tries to explain “hospital”, he does pantomime, draws a first aid cross, but the DRIVER doesn’t understand. Charlotte is enjoying Bob’s effort.

Finally he finds a Park Hyatt matchbook and calls the hotel

number.

BOB

How do you say “hospital” in Japanese? RECEPTION (0.S.)

Excuse me? BOB

Hospital? RECEPTION (0.S.)

One moment, please.

She transfers call, it rings.

He tells the Driver who looks at him funny. Bob says it again- faster, with a Japanese accent. The driver nods excitedly and drives off.

55A.

Bob and Charlotte walk in, looking around at where to go.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: 84

Bob talks to a woman at the desk to explain what they need.

Bob takes a seat in waiting area as Charlotte goes into a little room with a number on it.

Bob waits next to a 100 year old lady.

Charlotte stands alone barefoot on a little box, wearing a lead apron, as a MAN and ASSISTANT X-ray different angles of her foot.

Bob looks around at all the Japanese gift stuff, and buys a little stuffed bunny. His phone rings as he’s paying for it.

ELAINE (0.S.)

So, we got you on an earlier flight, but I really think you should think about staying for that talk show.

(CONTINUED )

56A.

Charlotte’s foot X-rays are displayed on a big light box. An older DOCTOR talks about them in Japanese to his younger ASSISTANT as he wraps Charlotte’s toes together. She doesn't know what they’re talking about.

Charlotte comes out where Bob waits with the little stuffed bunny.

Bob and Charlotte arrive back at the massive hotel, they stroll in casually, she is carrying the stuffed rabbit in her arm.

Bob reclines in the big Japanese wooden tub, steam rises as

he is turning red. His phone rings. He dries his hands quickly to reach it before it stops ringing.

57A.

(2)

‘ LYDIA (0.S.) What are you talking about?

58A.

(CONTINUED )

59, CONTINUED: (4) 91

Bob rides in the back of a cab. CHARLOTTE (V.O.) (voice-mail message) Hi Bob, it's Charlotte... how are you doing today?... I’m going to meet Charlie and those guys at this place called Orange around ten... come meet us if you get this...

Bob’s cab pulls up at an empty office building.

Bob looks at a fax from Charlotte with a map, wondering if he’s in the right place. It’s quiet and looks like a generic office building.

He goes in the little metal elevator, and the door opens on

the 8th floor onto a little nightclub you would have never thought was there.

Lights strobe and Peaches’ seedy “Fuck the Pain Away” booms through the speakers.

Tan JAPANESE STRIPPERS with platinum hair dance and hang from a pole on a little platform.

Bob sits alone on a brown ultra suede couch feeling out of place and empty.

59A. CONTINUED: 95

He looks over at a table of young AMERICAN INVESTMENT BROKERS. He wishes he wasn't there, but tries to seem comfortable.

{CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (2) 95

Charlotte shows up with Charlie and the other guys. She sits down next to him, and gives him an ‘are you going to kill me?’ look.

He looks at her like it’s been forever. She smiles for forgiveness.

They look over and see a WEIRD GUY in the corner getting a lap dance, they look at each other, sharing the joke of the place, but both uncomfortable about the sexuality of it.

Through a beaded curtain, Charlie and Bambi get lap dances in a dark corner of pillows.

Charlotte looks at Bob.

CUT TOs

Bob and Charlotte go up to a cab, but the driver refuses them. They don’t know why, but just make their way down an empty side street. Little plastic cherry blossom decorations hang above them.

60A.

CONTINUED: (2) 96

She puts a coin in a vending machine and takes a cold sake “one-cup”. A tiny brad Pitt head smiles at her next to an iced coffee.

They keep walking, small figures on a little empty street.

FADE OUT:

As they make their way back, they pass a lounge off the

lobby. It’s late, it’s pretty empty, a housekeeper vacuums

and just a SLEEPING MAN sits in the back of the lounge, and a snuggled up romantic JAPANESE COUPLE sit close to: Kelly, the blonde actress, singing to them.

She stands facing them with a karaoke mic singing “Nobody Does It Better” with all her heart.

Bob and Charlotte look at each other and keep walking (trying to be invisible).

FADE IN:

Charlotte lies in bed. She picks up a photo next to the bed as she dials the phone....

(CONTINUED )

61A.

The picture is of her and John on their honeymoon. The phone answers- it’s a weird Japanese recording.

CONTINUED: (2) 98

Charlotte watches the Japanese countryside go by out her window. .

Charlotte walks through a beautiful garden. She’s a small figure in the landscape.

She approaches a temple where she stops to watch a wedding procession. A young bride and groom in traditional kimono

walk under a parasol with their family.

Charlotte looks as- the nervous, young bride clutches her mother’s hand. The young groom walks along with them.

Charlotte is moved by the whole scene, the beauty of the temple and the wedding party. Her eyes well up.

She walks up a narrow path, surrounded by red maple leaves. At the top of a little hill, she comes up to a shrine.

At its entrance she sees a tree covered in little white pieces of paper tied to its branches. She sees Japanese people writing on the paper and tying them to the tree.

Charlotte writes her wish on a paper and ties it to a branch.

Exciting music plays as the talk/game show starts.

(CONTINUED )

62A.

Bob, in an elegant suit, goes out to meet the HOST.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (2) 101

A TRANSLATOR translates.

The Translator translates ~ four sentences longer and with added enthusiasm.

After a few questions the Host excitedly announces something to the AUDIENCE in Japanese. They scream, the lights flash, Bob has no idea what's going on.

A cloud of smoke reveals the IRON CHEF, with feathered hair, wearing an 18th century waistcoat. A large red chef hat is placed on Bob’s head.

Bob looks around as a counter is pulled up to him and now Bob and the Iron Chef are at dueling counters. The Host barks instructions in Japanese, an apron with a stuffed animal lobster on it is tied around Bob, the crowd cheers— there’s no way out.

Bob rides in the back of the presidential, looking out the window at the city.

He pulls a polaroid out of his pocket and looks at it. It’s Charlotte, peering over her shoulder with a little smile, from their sake-drenched night at Nobu’s compound.

63A.

Melodramatic ‘70s Japanese music plays. Bob sits alone, hating himself, at the bar. The redheaded Jazz Singer takes a break, and a seat next to him.

© 104

In the harsh-morning light, Bob wakes up in his bed.

He hears the Jazz Singer singing in the shower “Midnight at the Oasis”.

Her red mane of hair passes frame as she ushers in room service. She seems to have taken over the whole room. He wants it all to go away. She walks off to the bathroom and there’s a knock at the door. Bob rushes to get it before she can.

He opens the door a crack, Charlotte looking sweet, is standing there. Her hair is back in a pony-tail. Bob’s just wearing a towel around his waist, and his hair is sticking

up.

He’s not in the mood, he looks at her like he already hates himself, doesn’t need more help.

come walk around?

The singer starts singing again in the background. Charlotte gives Bob a look.

He watches Charlotte walk away down the beige hall.

64A.

Bob is walking down the crowded street looking for Charlotte, when his cell phone rings.

BOB

It’s ok. LYDIA (0.8)

Do you want to --- (garbled) BOB

What?

A little girl’s voice shouts “No!” in the background.

(CONTINUED )

65A.

BOB

Tomorrow.

@ LYDIA (0.S.)

Her ballet recital is Saturday, don’t forget.

In the background the daughter calls for her Mommy over and over and a dog starts barking.

Charlotte, with sunglasses on, leans against the wall as Bob approaches.

@ CHARLOTTE

You can’t get sushi anywhere in Japan after 2 o’clock. Did you know that?

She goes with him.

Bob and Charlotte are seated at a big booth in a corny Shabu Shabu restaurant.

Bob looks at her like- don’t make it worse.

© (MORE)

(CONTINUED )

66A.

CHARLOTTE (CONT’D)

you guys could talk about things in common, like growing up in the fifties.

CONTINUED: (2) 107

She scowls at him.

The waitress brings them drinks- she pours beer slowly, and turns on a pot on the table to cook their food.

Charlotte looks at the menu~ it is filled with photos of different trays of meat. The waitress doesn’t speak English.

They have trouble ordering, but point to a picture on the menu.

He makes some small talk, she is bugged.

He orders the drinks.

“This is the End” by The Doors starts playing on the stereo. The waitress brings two huge trays of sliced raw beef. Steam rises from the pot on the table. The song ends, and another Doors song comes on.

CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)

They’re not going to play the whole album, are they?

CONTINUED: (3) 107

They look across the table, over the steam and meat, at each other- the whole thing is awful.

In the darkness, under covers, Charlotte is woken up by a loud fire alarm.

The fire alarm booms as the hotel guests and staff hurry out of the hotel.

Amidst the crowd of Hotel guests in their pajamas, Charlotte finds Bob- he’s wearing a kimono and slippers. She’s in boxer shorts and an undershirt and slippers.

He laughs.

She looks down at his feet stuffed into the little hotel slippers.

68A.

@ CHARLOTTE

Well, I mean it more now.

Bob and Charlotte, still in their pajamas, sit at their usual spot at the bar, with the bartender, drinking cold sake. She lights two cigarettes and passes one to him.

A NEW JAZZ BAND is now playing. The SINGER is full of enthusiasm as they start their stint at the Park Hyatt.

He sings “Where or When” with all his heart.

Now, old-timers there, Bob and Charlotte look at each other and chuckle.

Bob and Charlotte sit there together.

(alt Charlotte dialog: I don’t know it just doesn’t, reality changes things...and we can’t stay here forever)

He looks over at her.

(CONTINUED }

69A.

CONTINUED: (2) 110

SINGER (0.C.)

Somethings that happen for the first

time, seem to be happening again and so

it seems we have met before, and laughed

before, and loved before, but who knows

where or when...

Bob and Charlotte, drunk in the elevator.

He nods, she pushes 54 for him and 56 for herself.

They look at each other across the empty elevator, both leaning against the walls.

The elevator stops at 54, he leans in to kiss her good-night. They kiss like you would on the cheek- but it’s closer to their mouths. The door shuts— he missed his floor.

The elevator continues up, and stops on her floor. They kiss good-night again and she gets out before the door closes.

He watches the door close on her as she makes her way down the long beige hall.

A fax comes through the machine in the empty room.

It’s a note and cute drawing from John -

“SEE YOU ON SATURDAY, I MISS YOU...”

@..

A sexy EXECUTIVE WOMAN asks Bob for a light. He looks at her great legs as he lights her cigarette. He looks around, keeping an eye out for Charlotte. The group of commercial people arrive to see him off.

He excuses himself for a moment and goes to a phone on a little table in the corner.

Bob picks up the house phone.

Traditional Japanese music plays on hold.

Bob gets the room voice-mail. BOB Uh...Hi, Charlotte... it’s me, Bob... ok,

I guess you’re not there... wanted to say good-bye...

He hangs up, feeling lame.

Bob with his bags tries to call again. The commercial people

and hotel staff crowd around to help him, asking about his stay.

(CONTINUED )

71A.

CHARLOTTE

Hi, Bob.

CONTINUED: (2) 114 BOB I’m just leaving.... do you have my jacket? CHARLOTTE

Uh, yeah... I’‘1l bring it down.

A member of the hotel staff brings him an envelope on a little silver tray.

Miss Kawasaki gives him some gifts from their company in traditional Japanese wrapping, he doesn’t know what to do with them and has to carry them.

The Executive Woman from the bar walks up to him. He hangs up the phone.

She looks at him like, we could have had some fun.

He sees Charlotte come out of the elevator.

He rushes over to Charlotte. She looks at his bag.

772A.

She hands him his jacket.

CONTINUED: (4) 114

She waits for him to say something more. He wants to tell her he loves her, that she should come with him.

The concierge tells him his car is here.

She walks away. A hotel manager asks Bob about his luggage, another asks if

he had a pleasant stay. Charlotte gets in the elevator to go out, the doors close on her back.

It’s bright outside the main entrance. A presidential pulls

up and the automatic door opens. Bob squints as the Bellboy in white gloves slowly loads his luggage into the trunk.

In the backseat, Bob leans back on the little doily.

73A.

The car pulls away.

CONTINUED: (2) 116

Around the corner, he looks down a crowded alley and sees Charlotte’s blonde hair.

The DRIVER, wearing white cloth gloves, pulls the car over slowly. Bob tries to open the door~ it won’t open, he has to wait for the automatic doors to open for him (slowly).

Bob gets out and rushes down the street to where he saw Charlotte. The street is crowded with JAPANESE PEOPLE, and different colored umbrellas. (it’s sunny out with a light rain).

Music blasts from speakers on the street, and there is some promo going on with GIRLS handing out little cologne samples. Bob looks around for her, but only sees dark hair, umbrellas, and super tan JAPANESE KIDS.

In the distance an umbrella moves to reveal Charlotte.

But she can’t hear him over the loudspeaker. He rushes to her.

c.U. she turns and we see she is crying.

The music swells. He embraces her, holding her close to him in the crowd.

He kisses her, hugs her good-bye.

(CONTINUED )

74A.

He holds her close.

(CONTINUED )

CONTINUED: (2) 117

Charlotte watches Bob as he reaches his car, he turns and looks at her.

She smiles at him, and is lost in the crowd. Bob gets into his car.

Charlotte walks with the crowd as they go on their way.

Back in the Presidential, alone, Bob leans against the little doily. They drive off.

He looks out the window, Bob’s happy he’s going home, he’s happy he came to Tokyo.

Bob’s P.O.V.- Tokyo goes past his window.