"Would you tell me a story, please?"

(picture's source)

~

FROM THE MOVIE: SEVEN POUNDS:

~

Ben: Hello?

Emily: Ben? Hi, I'm sorry to call so late.

Ben: Did...? Did someone from the IRS contact you?

Emily: No. I just... I was having trouble breathing after I took Duke for a walk, and I fainted. An ambulance had to take me to the hospital. I'm so sorry. I don't know why I even called you. I'm sorry. It's just that I have your card with me, and... Ben? Are you still there?

Ben: Yes.

Emily: Do you ever think about dying, Ben?

Ben: Every now and again.

Emily: My face is bluish. It's not exactly a good sign.

Ben: You should try to rest. Just... Why don't you see if you can get some sleep?

Emily: I like talking to you.

Ben: I like talking to you too.

Emily: Would you tell me a story, please?

Ben: Okay. All right. Once upon a time...... there was a little boy named...

Emily: Oh, lucky me, you just got it on reserve like that. Okay. Let me guess. His name was Ben.

Ben: No, actually, this little boy's name is Tim.

Emily: I like the name Tim. Go on.

Ben: Tim's little brother was always pestering Tim......to make him paper airplanes, because he was really good at it. But Tim had much bigger dreams than that.

Emily: Okay. Then what happened?

Ben: One day, Tim went out to the backyard......and he put leaves and taped branches to his arms......and started climbing the big oak tree. His little brother said, "Tim, you can't fly." And he said, "Yeah? You just watch." He got all the way to the top and jumped.

Emily: How tall was this tree?

Ben: It was... It was pretty tall. He broke his arm.

Emily: Oh, my God... This is a horrible story.

Ben: Oh, no, no. It gets better. From that experience, Tim realized that he wanted to fly. So he dedicated his life to making spaceships.

Emily: I thought you said this was a good story.

Ben: Oh, well... Yeah, that is......until the dragons showed up.

Emily: Oh, okay, see, now it's getting better. I like dragons. Especially dragons in space.

Ben: Yes, and these were fire-breathing space dragons...... with really bad attitudes.

Emily: I see.

Ben: I have an idea. Why don't you try to fall asleep...... and when you do, I'll just hang up.

Emily: Okay. Ben?

Ben: Yes.

Emily: Thank you for listening. And for talking.

Ben: Try to fall asleep.

Emily: Good night, Ben.

Ben: Good night, Emily. Emily? Emily?