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As Good As It Gets

Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is the most dysfunctional of men, an acid-tongued romance novelist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. He takes pride in his ability to affront, repulse, offend and wound. His targets are random; his aim reckless. As part of Melvin's unwavering daily schedule, he consumes an artery-hardening breakfast of bacon, sausages and eggs at a local cafe. The only waitress willing to stand up to his sarcastic tirades is Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt), a single mother struggling to raise her chronically asthmatic son. In this classic movie scene, Melvin and Carol are out to dinner when he insults her. She needs a compliment, fast...

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\Movie Moments - As Good As It Gets


They arrive at the table. He holds out her chair for her.

CAROL
You wanna dance?

MELVIN
I've been thinking about that since you brought it up before.

CAROL
(rising)
And?

MELVIN
No...
(and before she can digest that)
I don't get this place. They make me buy an outfit but they let you wear a house dress. I don't get it.

ON CAROL

Melvin has no idea he has insulted her. Sandbagged in extreme, she gets up -- actually ready to leave.

MELVIN
No. Wait. What? Why? I didn't mean it. You gotta sit down. You can still give me the dirty look. just sit down and give it to me.

CAROL
Melvin, pay me a compliment... I need one and quick... You have no idea how much what you said just hurt my feelings.

MELVIN
really pissed, mutters)
That monominute somebody gets that you need them they threaten to go away. Never fails.

CAROL
That's not compliment, Melvin...
That's just trying to sound smart so I feel stupid... A compliment is something nice about somebody else... Now or never.

MELVIN
Okay.
He waves her down.

CAROL
(sitting)
And mean it...

MELVIN
Can we order first?

She thinks and then nods. The waiter is across the room. This does not stop Melvin.

MELVIN
(calling)
Two crab dinners and pitcher of cold beer.
(to Carol)
Baked or fries?

CAROL
Fries.

MELVIN
(calling)
One baked -- one fries.

STARTLED WAITER
(shouting back)
I'll tell your waiter.

MELVIN
(to Carol)
Okay, I got a real great compliment for you and it's true.

CAROL
I am so afraid you're about to say something awful...

MELVIN
Don't be pessimistic. It's not your style. Okay... Here I goes... Clearly a mistake.
this is hell for him)
I have this -- what? Ailment... And my doctor -- a shrink... who I used to see all the time... he says 50 or 60 percent of the time a pill can really help. I hate pills. Very dangerous things, pills. "Hate," I am using the word "hate" about pills. My compliment is that when you came to my house that time and told me how you'd never -- well, you were there, you know... The next morning I started taking these pills.

CAROL
(a little confused)
I don't quite get how that's a compliment for me.

Amazing that something in Melvin rises to the occasion - so that he uncharacteristically looks at her directly -- then:

MELVIN
You make me want to be a better man.

Carol never expected the kind of praise which would so slip under her guard. She stumbles a bit -- flattered, momentarily moved and his for the taking.

CAROL
That's maybe the best compliment of my life.

MELVIN
Then I've really overshot here 'cause I was aiming at just enough to keep you from walking out.

Carol laughs.

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