Serendipity

Serendipity is a love story about how Jonathan Trager (John Cusack)  and  Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) meet and fall in love.  They meet at Bloomingdales because they both grab the same black cashmere gloves.  It is the last pair that the store has.  Jonathan tells Sara she can have them.  She said no and tells him to take.  He then puts it back on the rack and then Buck Henry comes over to take it but Jonathan stops him.  They explain to him how they really want those gloves.  He asks them who they are for.  They make up a story about how Sara’s boyfriend will have an operation to become Jonathan’s girlfriend and they want to give him the gloves. Even Buck knows the story is fake he still lets them have the gloves.  

They go for ice cream the restaurant Serendipity.  She tells him how she likes the name of the restaurant and she believes in fate.  That it is behind everything.  That everything is predestined.  He is puzzled and asks, “we don’t make our own choices?”  She says, “No, that fate sends us little signs and how we read them is determines if we are happy or not.” "Fortunate accidents," is how she explains it.  "Like how Columbus discovered America."  He says, "like how we found the gloves."  She says, "She doesn't know that one."  He goes on to tell her “it's an old folk tale classic. Our hero, Jonathan, goes out in search of black gloves. And in a perfect act of "serendipiocity" or "serendipaciousness,"” Then they leave the restaurant.  He asks for her phone number so they can be sure to meet again.  She says that if they are meant to be together they will meet again.  He ask for her name and tells her his. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and gets in the taxi and leaves or so he thinks.  He is about to get on the train when he remembers he forgot his scarf.  He goes back to the restaurant and he sees Sara.  She forgot her Bloomingdale’s bag.  He asks if she wants to do something else.  She says yes.

They go ice skating in Central Park as snow flurries fall.  Sara is asking him all sorts of questions about his favorite things so she can get to know Jonathan better.  As she is asking questions she slips on the ice and hurts herself.  They go off the ice and he finds a band aid to place on her wound.  He sees her freckles and tells her they look like the stars Cassiopeia.  He tells her the story of the Queen named Cassiopeia and what she did to become just a constellation in the sky.  When they are done she gives him her phone number but as she is about to hand it to him a truck passes and blows it out of her hand into the mound of garbage nearby.  He tells she needs to give it again that it wasn't fate that did that it was an accident. She says no it was a sign.  He says she has to give him another chance.  Sh reaches into her purse and pulls out a $5.00 bill.  Tells him to write his phone number on it and he does.  Then she goes across the street to the newspaper stand and spends it.  This shocks him.  She says if that money winds up back with her she will call him.  He says he needs a chance too. So she shows him a book “Love in the Time of Cholera.” and tells him she will write her number in that book and sell it to an used book store. If he finds it they are meant to be together.  He says doesn't them spending a great day together mean anything.  Then they go into the Waldorf Astoria to the elevators.  She tells him to get into one and she will get into another.  Then for them to each push a floor button and if they wind up on the same floor then they are meant to be together.  She gets into one and then just as the doors close she tosses him the Bloomingdale bag with one glove in it.  She keeps the other.  She pushes 23.  He pushes another button. Then it stops at a floor and a father and his devil costumed child gets in. The child pushes all the buttons.  They now stop at every floor and his elevator is full of people.   Her elevator stops at her floor.  She waits as long as she can then she leaves and gets on the elevator and he gets off his just as her doors close. They missed each other.

Now it is a few years later, Jonathan is at his rehearsal dinner for his upcoming wedding to his fiancé who isn't Sara. Her fiancé is Halley Buchanan (Bridget Moynahan).  His best man Dean Kansky (Jeremy Piven) is making a speech about Jonathan.  After the dinner they are all saying goodbye.  Halley tells him she will be by later.  The dinner takes place across from the Waldorf Astoria.  He looks over and still remembers Sara. He sees a man selling used books and look to see if the man has a copy of the book Sara put her phone number in.  He has the book but it’s not the one so Jonathan puts it down.  The bookseller says he has a copy of the book “The Bridges of Madison County.”  Jonathan says no and walks away.

Sara is living on the west coast. She is therapist. She is working with a patient named Kenny (Evan Neumann) who is telling her about a girl he lost. He says this girl could have been his soul mate.  Sara now jaded doesn't believe in that.  She says he needs to stop using that term as if it could have some magical element to it that we can control.  That it will stop him from getting help. That there could be many people out there that are right for him.

When Sara gets home she sees flower petals on the floor and a huge box that has a note on it. She opens it only to find another box.  The last box is an empty ring box.  That is when her boyfriend Lars Hammond (John Corbett) comes out from hiding and says she has to say yes and he will give her the ring.  She says yes and they are engaged.

Jonathan is at multi-level putting range working on a story about the place.  He hears over the loud speaker the name Sara.  He is hoping it is her but sadly it is not. When the reporter is done he tells Jonathan he can leave.  Then he goes to get his haircut and the hairdressers name is Sara.  He leaves and tells her he changed his mind. Then when he is the Taxi the bike messenger is singing a song about Sara.  Then he goes to Dean’s office at the NY Times.  He tells his friend what has been happening and asks him for help to fine Sara.  Dean wants to no part of it.  Tells him to forget Sara.  He says no he has to find her before he can move on.  Dean can’t help till unless he knows her last name or Social Security Number. They go once again to every bookstore to find the book but can’t.  They drown their sorrows in a drink.  When he gets home his fiancé is waiting for him. She tells him to say that she is the only girl for her and just as he about to the smoke alarm in the apartment goes off. Dinner is burning. As she goes to get the Super she tells him she took everything out of the closet so he can pack for their honeymoon.  He looks through his clothes and finds the Bloomingdales bag with the one glove that Sara gave him.  He puts it on his hand and finds an old receipt in it.

Lars and his band are performing on stage and Sara is watching. After the show Sara’s sister comes up to Sara after the show to see her ring. She is surprised it is not a round cut diamond. This puzzles Sara. Her sister said she always wanted one when they were growing.  Sara said it doesn't matter now. Then Lars comes over to see how they liked the show.  His agent interrupts to tell him the good news that his tour in Europe was sold out. That they have to do more shows.  Sara said that is impossible because they set the dates for the wedding and honeymoon and she told her patients that she will be gone.  Lars said that her patients will have to do without her a little longer. Her sister said if she spends a few extra weeks in Europe won’t hurt her patients. The truth is her sister wants to houses it.  Lars says it’s okay.  Sara leaves and it is raining out.  She is trying to smoke a cigarette but the match burns out and gets messed up by the rain.  She looks over at the wall and sees a movie poster that reminds her of Jonathan.

The next day Sara goes to her friend Eve’s (Molly Shannon) new age bookstore to tell Eve she saw another sign.  Eve tells her not to be so into signs and the new age stuff. Sara thinks it’s funny since that is Eve’s business.  One of the patrons ask Eve where a special candle is.  Eve tells her then tells Sara that is what happens when you only follow new age.  You sit home every night lighting candles waiting for Mr. Right when Mr. Right Now is sitting at the bar waiting for you.

This is where we leave you to go watch the movie.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SIP9RO/ref=cm_sw_su_dp