When we last saw Giovanna and Hugh rehearsing a scene from the play Hugh had written, it had gone badly and had come to an end when Giovanna found out she had to leave for Paris to shoot new scenes for the movie she had recently finished.
Now, once again, rehearsing for acting class tomorrow night, the two are back at it with each other.
H: (With an accent) “Leonardo’s going to want a two year contract when he hears my news. (Looking at her) Why aren’t you getting dressed?”
G: “I thought I told you, I can’t come to the club tonight. I have an assignment that’s due tomorrow. I’ll be working all night to make the deadline.”
H: “But I need you at the club! What can be more important than that?”
G: Hugh, just say the words. You’re attacking it.
H: The character is scared to death. He’s petrified of losing her.
G: But I’m not seeing that. Let’s put down the script. We’ll improvise the scene.
H: I don’t want to improvise. I’ve got a headache. I don’t know. It’s just so hard to do this work and be in acting class together and have a relationship. It’s almost impossible. My life is going nowhere. Nothing’s happening for me. I feel like a phony. Maybe I’m jealous. I look at you and you’re making it. Every day you’re winning and I feel like I’m nothing.
G: You’re the greatest.
H: I sure don’t feel that way.
G: Honey, you’re the best.
H: I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. With you, I’m a winner. (Hugging her) You know what I want to do?
G: Tell me.
H: No, it’s crazy.
G: I love crazy things.
H: I’m only gonna say this once. That’s all.
G: I’m listening.
H: Will you marry me?
G: Do you…do you know what you just said?
H: Of course I know what I just said. I said it, didn’t I?
G: Do you mean it?
H: That’s right. I want you to be my wife.
G: Forever and ever?
H: And always.
G: Hugh, I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
(They kiss)
G: Let’s call Allen and Bree. Then I want to call my mother.
(He breaks from her and dramatically delivers the line)
H: “Leonardo’s going to want to have a two-year contract when he hears my news.”
G: Hugh, what are you doing?
H: I got the handle. He’s afraid to get close. The guy is afraid to marry her.
G: What?
H: “Leonardo’s going to want to have a two-year contract when he hears my news.” C’mon honey. It’s your line.
G: I know the page.
H: Well, say the line.
G: “Really?”
H: “Yeah.”
G: Hold it. You just asked me to marry you.
H: Sweetheart, don’t get dramatic.
G: Dramatic! You can’t play with my heart like that, Hugh. What do you think you’re dealing with here, chopped liver? I’m probably the best thing that ever came into your life. I gotta tell myself that ‘cause you don’t make me feel very good. Three years. For three years I’ve been waiting to hear you say those words. You finally say them and then you take them back? That’s my heart. You can’t throw my heart around like that. I don’t know what you’re waiting for. But you know what? You’re gonna end up waiting alone ‘cause I’m not gonna be here forever.
H: Giovanna, I… Jesus, I don’t know what to say. You told me to improvise and…
G: Good, now you’re listening. See, that’s the difference. That’s real reacting. Nothing phony about your dilemma. It’s real.
H: What are you saying?
G: I really had you going there, didn’t I?
H: What?
G: You believed completely in what I said.
H: Hold it. Bullshit. You’re bullshitting me.
G: What’s wrong honey?
H: All those things you said. You meant them.
G: I see. Now you’re a mind reader. You’ve got all the answers.
H: (Walks away) Goddamit. You know what? It doesn’t matter whether or not you were putting me on because you’re right. It’s real. I love you and I want to marry you.
G: You do?
H: Absolutely.
G: When?
H: When? When what? When do you want to get married? (She nods) We should do it real soon.
G: When?…Hugh, when?
H: Next month.
G: Hugh..
H: Next week on my birthday. I love you.
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