You've Got Mail - 03. It's a beautiful day!

EXT. COLUMBUS & 73RD STREET - DAY - CONTINUOUS 

As Kathleen comes around the corner onto 73rd and stops in front of her store, a children's bookstore called "The Shop Around the Corner." It is an irresistibly inviting store. There are twinkle lights in the windows, framing large stuffed animals reading children's books: Madeleine, Good Night Moon, Where the Wild Things Are. A teddy bear in a pinafore is reading The Stupids Step Out. Waiting for Kathleen in front is one of her employees, CHRISTINA. 

KATHLEEN - Good morning, Christina. 

CHRISTINA - Morning, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN - It's a beautiful day. Isn't it the most beautiful day? 

Christina looks up at the sky as if seeing it for the first time.

CHRISTINA - I guess. Yeah, sure. 

Kathleen unlocks the shop and cranks the grate, which rises, making a horrible noise. Two cabs almost collide in front of the store, with a screech, and one cabdriver starts yelling obscenities at the other. Kathleen unlocks the door to the store.

KATHLEEN - Don't you just love New York in the fall? 

Christina looks at her puzzled. 

INT. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER - CONTINUOUS 

Kathleen turns the CLOSED sign on the door over to read "OPEN" and she activates the computer system. She looks around, and we see a small but charming children's bookstore, with wooden shelves, a tiny area where kids can sit and read, some charming posters and a glass case full of first editions of the Oz books and Alice In Wonderland, etc. 

There's a playful display of witches, lit with twinkle lights covered with orange pumpkin globes and a sign reading "The Ten Best Witch List" and a collection of witch books -- "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," "The Witches," "The Wizard of Oz." On the counter is a glass jar full of sugar-free lollipops. 

Kathleen hangs up her coat in the back of the store and suddenly stops to daydream. A smile creeps onto her face. Christina looks at her. 

KATHLEEN - Perfect.......Can't beat that.

CHRISTINA - Scotch tape? What's going on with you? 

KATHLEEN - Nothing. 

CHRISTINA - You're in love. 

KATHLEEN - In love? No, no....Oh! Yes! That's right.  I'm in love with Frank. I'm practically living with Frank. Do you think you could get our Christmas mailers out this week? 

CHRISTINA - Yeah, yeah, yeah...By Monday I promise. I have a paper due Friday. What's going on? (she looks at Kathleen) 

KATHLEEN - Nothing...nothing... nothing at all.... 

CHRISTINA - You know, I'm just going to stand here untill you tell me.

KATHLEEN - Alright. Is it infidelity if you're involved with someone on E-mail? 

CHRISTINA - Have you had sex?

KATHLEEN - No, of course not. I don't even know him. 

CHRISTINA - I mean cybersex. 

KATHLEEN - No! 

CHRISTINA - Well, don't do it. The minute you do, they lose all respect for you. 

KATHLEEN - Well, it's not like that. We just E-mail. It's really nothing, on top of which I'm definitely thinking of stopping because it's getting...

CHRISTINA - Out of hand? 

KATHLEEN - Confusing. But not. Because it's nothing. 

CHRISTINA - Where did you meet him? 

KATHLEEN - Oh, I can't even remember. (off Christina's look) Ok...On my birthday, I wandered into the ''over 30'' room...for a joke, sort of. And he was there, and we started chatting.

CHRISTINA - About what? 

KATHLEEN - Oh. Books. Music. How much we both love New York. Harmless. Harmless. Meaningless. (starts smiling) Bouquets of sharpened pencils. 

CHRISTINA - Excuse me? 

KATHLEEN - Forget it. We don't talk about anything personal. so, I don't know his name, or what he does or where he lives exactly, so it will be really easy for me to stop seeing him, because I'm not.

CHRISTINA - God, he could be the next person to talk into the store. 

KATHLEEN - I know...

CHRISTNA - He could be... (as George walks in) George. 

GEORGE PAPPAS, in his twenties, one of Kathleen's salespeople, is a cute guy who has no idea that he's supposed to look in the mirror when he gets dressed. 

GEORGE - Morning. 

CHRISTINA - Are you On Line? 

GEORGE - Well, As far as I'm concerned, the Internet is just another way to be rejected by a woman. 

BIRDIE walks in. She is in her seventies, has white hair, and is tiny, like a little sparrow. She is the store's oldest employee, having worked there for over forty years, and serves as a accountant as well as salesperson. 

BIRDIE - Good morning.

KATHLEEN - Good morning, Birdie. 

BIRDIE - What are you girls talking about? 

CHRISTINA - Cybersex. 

BIRDIE - I tried to have cybersex once but I kept getting a busy signal. 

CHRISTINA - I know, I know. I was really depressed one Saturday night about 9:00...

We hear the telephone rings.

BIRDIE - Time to open up!

The bell jingle as TWO WEST SIDE MOTHERS come in with two KIDS IN STROLLERS. 

KATHLEEN - (to the kids) Jessica and Maya, how are you today? 

WOMAN - Want to say hi to Kathleen?

JESSICA & MAYA - Hi, Kathleen.