"I will regret this forever"

TV2 aired Notting Hill on Sunday, the 5th of July 2009. That marvellous movie starring both Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant was somewhat of a fantasy, and still very charming despite the years having gone by. It was a classic of a romance-comedy. While watching it, I was struck by a part of the dialogue, which occurs right after actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) discovers that the press are right outside the door, and what was a safe haven for her had turned into a huge embarassment. The lines are here:

ANNA
And remember -- Spike owes you an
expensive dinner. Or holiday --
depending if he's got the brains to get
the going rate on betrayal.

WILLIAM
That's not true. And wait a minute...
this is crazy behavior. Can't we just
laugh about this? Seriously -- in the
huge sweep of things, this stuff
doesn't matter.

SPIKE
What he's going to say next is -- there
are people starving in the Sudan.

WILLIAM
Well, there are. And we don't need to
go anywhere near that far. My best
friend slipped -- she slipped down-
stairs, cracked her back and she's in a
wheelchair for the rest of her life.
All I'm asking for is a normal amount
of perspective.

ANNA
You're right: of course, you're right.
It's just that I've dealt with this
garbage for ten years now -- you've had
it for ten minutes. Our perspectives
are different.

WILLIAM
I mean -- today's newspapers will be
lining tomorrow's waste paper bins.

ANNA
Excuse me?

WILLIAM
Well, you know -- it's just one day.
Today's papers will all have been
thrown away tomorrow.

ANNA
You really don't get it. This story
gets filed. Every time anyone writes
anything about me -- they'll dig up
these photos. Newspapers last forever.
I'll regret this forever.

The script for the movie can be viewed at awesomefilm.com.

******************

But the movie doesn't end on that sour, dour note. There are twists and turns. Julia Robert's character finally forgives Hugh Grant's character enough to want to commence a relationship with him. He, being a bit of a coward, backs out of it. Later, Hugh Grant's character realises what a bum he has been and makes an all-out effort to get to her before she flies back to the US of A. He manages to get to her press conference, late. This was definitely the best part of the movie. The script extract:

QUESTIONER 3
Last time you were here, there were some
fairly graphic photographs of you and a
young English guy -- so what happened
there?

ANNA
He was just a friend -- I think we're
still friends.

JEREMY
Yes, the gentleman in the pink shirt.

He is pointing straight at William, who has his hand up.

WILLIAM
Yes -- Miss Scott -- are there any
circumstances in which you two might be
more than just friends?

Anna sees who it is asking.

ANNA
I hoped there might be -- but no, I'm
assured there aren't.

WILLIAM
And what would you say...

JEREMY
No, it's just one question per person.

ANNA
No, let him... ask away. You were
saying?

WILLIAM
Yes, I just wondered whether if it
turned out that this... person...

OTHER JOURNALIST
(to William)
His name is Thacker.

WILLIAM
Thanks. I just wondered if Mr. Thacker
realized he'd been a daft prick and got
down on his knees and begged you to
reconsider, whether you would...
reconsider.

We cut to Max, Bella, Bernie and Honey, all watching. Then back
to Anna.

ANNA
Yes, I'm pretty sure I would.

WILLIAM
That's very good news. The readers of
'Horse and Hound' will be absolutely
delighted.

Anna whispers something to Jeremy.

JEREMY
Dominic -- if you'd like to ask your
question again?

QUESTIONER 1
Yes -- Anna -- how long are you
intending to stay here in Britain?

Pause. Anna looks up at William. He nods.

ANNA
Indefinitely.