As Good as It Gets1997

Beverly Connelly:
You are not still writing that thank you note?

Carol Connelly:
I'm on my last page. How do you spell "conscience"?

Beverly Connelly:
C-o-n-s-c-i-e-n-c-e. Look, I got Sean from the bakery to come babysit so we could go out.

Carol Connelly:
I still don't feel safe leaving Spencer with someone. Could you spell that again, please?

Beverly Connelly:
Spencer's okay. You better finding something else to do with your free time. [to Sean] Sean, are you hungry?

Sean:
[offscreen] Yeah.

Beverly Connelly:
All right. We got pizza. Carol and I are going out. Sausage pepperoni. You wanna make this later for you and Spencer?

Sean:
[offscreen] Great.

Beverly Connelly:
[to Carol Connelly] We are going out like people do. If you can't feel good about this break and step out a little . . .

[She struts and pumps her arms.]

Beverly Connelly:
. . . then I - I think you ought to have Mr. Udall send you over a psychiatrist.

[Carol replies more emotionally than she intended.]

Carol Connelly:
I don't need one 'cause I know what's really going on here. I gotta finish this letter, or I'll go nuts.

Beverly Connelly:
Carol?

Carol Connelly:
This can't be right. Con-science?

[She breathes heavily, gets control, and stops herself on the brink of crying.]

Beverly Connelly:
Carol? What?

[She nods. Carol breaks down in tears.]

Carol Connelly:
It's very weird now not feeling that stupid panic feeling inside me all the time. Without that, I just start thinking about myself, and what good does that ever get anybody? Today, on the bus, there was this adorable couple, and I felt myself giving them a dirty look. I just had no idea everything was . . .

[She makes forceful hand gestures.]

Beverly Connelly:
Go ahead.

Carol Connelly:
. . . moving in the wrong direction. Away from a time when I remembered what it was like to have a man to anything . . . hold f***ing - sorry . . .

Beverly Connelly:
No, it's okay.

Carol Connelly:
. . . hands with, for Christ's sake. And I felt almost really bad that Dr. Bettes is married. Which is probably why I make Spencer hug me more than he wants to. The poor kid doesn't have enough problems. He has to make up for his mom not getting any. Who needs these thoughts?

Beverly Connelly:
So, what, are you saying that you're frustrated -

Carol Connelly:
Leave me be! Why are you doing this? What is it you want? I hope getting me thinking about everything that's wrong when all I want to do is not do that has some purpose. Really, Mom, what is it you want? What?

Beverly Connelly:
I want us to go out.

[There is a beat.]

Carol Connelly:
Okay.