A young Chicago advertising executive believes a woman he sees in a café is his long-lost love. His belief leads to obsession, as he puts his life on hold in order to trail her.

Matthew: Things don't have to be extraordinary to be beautiful, even the ordinary can be beautiful.
Alex: Love makes you do crazy things, insane things, things in a million years you never thought you'd see yourself do. There you are doing it... can't help it.
Matthew: When you see something from afar, you develop a fantasy. But when you see it up close, 9 times out of 10, you wish you hadn't.
[last lines]
Matthew: I needed you to know.
Rebecca: Know what? Know what, Matthew? That I'm not the girl who can break your heart?
[first lines]
Jeweller: [holding a diamond ring] Magnificent, aren't they? "God's tears".
Matthew: Yeah. It's beautiful. So are the others, I... I guess I just have to make the right decision.
Jeweller: In the end it's not your eye that must decide.
[Matthew discusses with Luke about what he should do with his fiancée Rebecca and the girl of his dreams Lisa]
Matthew: You're right. This doesn't make any sense. One minute I'm here looking at rings, and the next I'm here, doing this.
Luke: Whoa. Whoa, looking at rings? I didn't realize you were that serious.
Matthew: Apparently, I'm not.
Luke: See, that is how the universe works. The minute you make a decision, you decide on anything, along comes temptation.
Matthew: What would you do?
Luke: [laughs] Keep them both and hope they didn't find out about each other.
Matthew: [laughs] That's perfect. Asshole! I have to find out why she left.
Luke: She got scared. Everyone gets scared.
Matthew: No, not Lisa. She wouldn't have left without an explanation. Without some sort of letter or a call or something. She's not like that. I mean, something must've happened, and whatever it was...
Luke: Screwed you up big time.
Matthew: [pause] I know she loved me.
Alex: Now you see me for who I am.
Matthew: Yes I do.
Alex: You want a cup of coffee?
Matthew: Yeah, sure. Thanks.
Alex: [rummages around in the kitchen] No. No. No. No.
Alex: [comes back with coffee in two flutes of champagne glasses] He broke all my cups.
Matthew: That's original.
[Matthew is asleep after drinking late with Alex]
Matthew: [Matthew is startled by Alex and wakes up] What are you doing?
Alex: [smiles] I'm watching you sleep.
[Alex undresses for Matthew to make love to her]
[Luke drives Alex home after her Theater performance and tries to make a move]
Luke: So, I was thinking, maybe I could go upstairs with you and I'll make you a nice big cup of hot chocolate. Put a bunch of little marshmallows up on top. We'll watch TV and just hang out.
Alex: Do you love me?
[Luke pauses]
Alex: [Alex changes her expression and instead kisses Luke a cheek kiss goodnight] I just wanna be alone. I'll call you. I'll call you tomorrow.
Luke: Alex. Alex, wait a second. You gotta be kidding me. This girl's unbelievable.
[Luke gets out of the car]
Luke: Hey, you know what? Don't call me, okay? Don't call me until you figure out what you want to do with your life. 'Cause I can't deal with this. I mean every time, it's a different story with you, all right?
[Alex continues to walk backwards to her building away from Luke]
Luke: Wait, I... I'm sorry. I'll call you tomorrow. God!
[Luke gets back into his car]
Luke: This girl is ridiculous.
[Matthew returns Luke's car back late and Luke has missed his date with Alex]
Luke: Ass...
Matthew: I'm so sorry.
Luke: Hole.
Matthew: Hey, I could explain.
Luke: You are an asshole. Do me a favor... Don't ask me for any more favors.
Matthew: Luke... I found her. I think I found her. I found her apartment, anyway.
Luke: I'm really happy for you, Matty.
Matthew: I left a note under her door to meet me at the park tomorrow.
Luke: [sarcastically] Guess you guys should have a picnic together.
Matthew: Jesus, man. I said I was sorry.
Luke: My entire evening is screwed.
Matthew: Look, we're not really that late, brother.
Luke: Alex doesn't wait for anyone. Trust me. I've already left three messages.
Matthew: Well, why didn't you take a cab?
Luke: 'Cause I was waiting for you. I was waiting for my car.
Matthew: Luke, look it's not that late. You can still drive over there.
Luke: Go over there? And do what? Throw little pebbles up at her window? She's gone. It's over. Just forget it.
[the phone rings]
[Matthew calls Luke on the phone while Alex is in bed with Luke]
Luke: [the phone rings] Do me a favor. Grab that, would you?
Alex: Hello?
Luke: [Matthew on the phone] Hello?
Alex: Who's this?
Luke: Who's this?
Luke: This is Matthew. Who is this?
[Alex sits up in shock and immediately hands the phone over to Luke]
Luke: Hello?
Luke: Hey, what's up, kid? I thought you left.
Matthew: No, uhh...
Luke: What are you still doing here?
Matthew: I'm over at the girl's apartment.
[Alex listens from the next room over]
Luke: You went back to the crazy girl's apartment? What the hell are you doing there? I'm starting to worry about you, man.
Luke: I'm starting to worry myself. It's not just that. I couldn't even get on the airplane.
[Alex leaves Luke's apartment]
Matthew: The thing is... There's something about this apartment. It's like Lisa's been here. I know this sounds insane, but I think this is her place, man.
[Alex tries to call Matthew and gets a busy signal, and Lisa tries to call Luke and gets a busy signal]
Luke: Well, maybe you're just hot for this crazy girl. First thing you gotta do is get out of her apartment and get over here. I'll tell you about some stuff, too. I've had the most amazing night of my entire life last night.
Matthew: Okay, I'll be over. Just give me a couple of minutes, okay?
Luke: All right. I'll wait. Later.
[the theatre director coaches Alex that she's not giving any love in her performance]
Alex: [Alex gives her line] Whoe'er I woo myself would be his wife.
Theater Director: [the theater director interrupts her] Alex, what's going on?
Alex: What do you mean?
Theater Director: Well, I'm sitting in the audience and I'm getting nothing. I figured maybe I'm missing something, so I come, I take a closer look. But you know what? I'm still not buying it.
[screams at her]
Theater Director: What the hell is a matter with you today? Look, the line,
[quotes]
Theater Director: whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife, defines your character. You're in love with this guy, and he is asking you to help him get another woman! You're upset, you're confused, it's tearing you up inside! We gotta see the love, but we've also gotta see the agony. You have been in love before, haven't you?
Alex: Yes. Sure.
Theater Director: Oh, good. Well, please. Share us a little something, huh?
[Matthew tells Luke about meeting a girl named Lisa in Lisa's apartment, who wasn't the same Lisa]
Luke: So she had the same name, same perfume, same shoe size? That's so hot. Or... Or maybe this is creepy.
Matthew: I think it's a little bit of both, actually.
Luke: So, did you hit it?
Matthew: No. Um, I slept on the couch, you know. And when I woke up in the morning, she was gone.
Luke: But you wanted to hit it, didn't you?
Matthew: Come on.
Luke: Come on.
Matthew: I'm going to China tonight, I'm practically engaged... Do I need to remind you?
Luke: The lies we tell ourselves.
[Lisa confronts Matthew about spying on her in the shoe store]
Lisa: Do you normally spy on people?
Matthew: What?
Lisa: Are you really gonna tell me that you're a huge fan of modern dance?
Matthew: Look, I've never done anything like that before. Honestly, could you let me take you out for a cup of coffee and explain.
Lisa: [chuckles] I don't think so.
Matthew: I'll stay on my side of the table. I promise.
Lisa: Just call me when the shoes come in, okay?
Matthew: Listen, I'm not what you think I am, okay?
[Lisa smiles at Matthew on her way out the front door]
Matthew: Shit.
Lisa: [Matthew notices that she wrote a message on the shoebox instead of leaving her phone number for the shoes] Tomorrow night. 6:00. Cafe Tangiers on Kinzie. Now you won't have to follow me.
[Matthew let's Alex try and tell him and Luke the whole story]
Matthew: What do you think, Alex? I mean you know the whole story.
Alex: It's easy to stand back and judge. You don't now anything about this woman.
Matthew: I know that she has no conscience, and no regard for anyone but herself. I mean, what else do I need to know?
Alex: You make yourself into such a victim. Nobody made you be with her. You can't even see what a hypocrite you're being.
Matthew: I'm being a hypocrite? How am I being a hypocrite?
Alex: Yes, you are!
Luke: Whoa, whoa, whoa. You, guys. Hey, relax.
Matthew: No, Luke. Hey, hold on. Alex, I'd like for you to explain to me on how I'm being a hypocrite.
Alex: Who's to say, this woman hasn't been in love with you for a really long time? And now that she found you again, she wasn't about to let you go twice.
Matthew: What?
Alex: Maybe... The first time she saw you, maybe she felt the way you did the first time you saw Lisa. You remember that. Love makes you do crazy things. Insane things. Things in a million years you never thought you'd see yourself do. But here you are doin' it. Can't help it.
Luke: Jesus Christ. Lighten up, you guys. This woman... She's a nut. She's psycho. She's Cuckoo-Bananas, all right? End of story.
[Matthew shows up to Lisa's home and finds Alex, who says she's Lisa]
Matthew: Lisa?
[Alex gasps and turns around, only to see Matthew before wrestling him to the ground]
Matthew: [Alex screams and bites Matthew's hand in the scuffle] Ow!
Matthew: [Alex and Matthew get up and face each other] Jesus Christ! I'm sorry. It's okay.
Alex: I'm calling the police! Where is the phone?
Matthew: No! Don't call the police! Don't call the police. I'm not gonna hurt you.
Alex: [Alex grabs a bronze statue for a weapon] Get away from me.
Matthew: Okay! Okay! Calm down! Calm down. It's okay. I'm you a friend of Lisa's?
Alex: A friend of Lisa's?
Matthew: Yeah.
Alex: Is that supposed to be funny?
Matthew: No. You can ask her when she comes, okay?
Alex: I'm Lisa. I live here.
Matthew: Your name's Lisa?
Alex: Yeah.
Matthew: And you live here?
Alex: Yeah.
Matthew: No...
Alex: I'm calling the cops.
Matthew: No, wait. Don't.
[Matthew leaves off in a rush just before Luke returns back to Alex at the table]
Luke: That guy. He's, um... More drama than a Mexican soap opera.
Alex: Luke! This... This is over.
Luke: What's over?
Alex: Us.
Luke: How can it be over? We haven't even started yet.
Alex: I'm not who you think I am. I used you.
[Alex leaves Luke there by himself]
[Matthew and Lisa talk while strolling the snowy sidewalk of their first date]
Lisa: Well, my parents eventually split up, and my mother moved back to Prague. But my dad's still here. He lives in California.
Matthew: I wish I was in California right now.
Lisa: So, why did you want to become a photographer.
Matthew: Fish.
Lisa: Fish.
Matthew: Tropical fish, actually. When I was a kid, I use to go to the library and pick out all the books with tropical fish, you know. Beautiful colors and shapes. When I was 8 years old, I realized someone had to take pictures of the fish, I wanted that to be me. But I grew up and then I realized that things don't have to be extraordinary to be beautiful. The ordinary could be just as beautiful.
Lisa: Like what?
Matthew: Well... Like, you see the couple there? Look at the way the girl is holding on to him so tight. But he can still drink his coffee, you know. It looks like she feels safe wrapping around him. And if you believe that, I'll tell you another one.
[smiles]
Lisa: Take my picture. I feel beautiful tonight.
[laughs, the two hold hands and continue to stroll]
Lisa: [We see Matthew drive Lisa back to her apartment building to drop her off, the two kiss]
Lisa: Bye.
[Matthew is too nervous to say it back]
Matthew: [Lisa waves at him in his car from the steps] Bye.
[Matthew drives forward, slams his breaks, and drives in reverse slamming on his breaks]
Matthew: [Matthew rushes up the stairs to her apartment door] Hi.
Lisa: Hi.
[Lisa pulls him into the room and the two continue to make out]
[Matthew and Alex make up with a few drinks after he startles her in the apartment]
Alex: [tipsy giggling] How's your hand?
Matthew: It's okay.
Alex: [laughs] I wasn't even hungry or anything.
[referring to the time she bit it]
Matthew: Actually, you know what? Thank you for everything. For the bandage, for not calling the cops. Not beating me to death with the little bronze ballerina, or...
Alex: [giggles] You're leaving?
Matthew: [downs his drink] Yeah. I'm late, you know. Very late, actually, for China, so...
Alex: [giggles] China. That's funny.
Matthew: That's what my friend said, too.
Alex: Well, maybe you should wait.
Matthew: I can't, I mean... I gotta go.
Alex: Do you really think planes are still taking off this late?
Matthew: What are you doing?
Alex: I'm scared.
[Alex films Lisa with her new video camera]
Lisa: Come on, let me film you.
Alex: No, you first.
Lisa: Come on, Alex. Are you shy? You can't be shy if you wanna be an actress.
Lisa: [Lisa holds up a book] Here.
Alex: Shakespeare.
Lisa: [Lisa continues to hold the book up to Alex and the camera] This is your big break.
Alex: That's Shakespeare. I can't do that. That's too hard.
Lisa: [Lisa begins to quote Shakespeare at the camera] Haply, when I shall wed. That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry half my love with him, half my care and duty. Surely I shall never marry like my sisters to love my father all.
[Alex begins to grows jealous of Lisa's natural acting ability]
Lisa: So true, my lord. In life... Ah! I blew it. I'm sorry. That was bad.
Alex: No, that was amazing.
Lisa: [Lisa tells Alex through the camera] You know, the thing with acting is, Alex, you just have to commit. Otherwise, you're just a phony.
[Alex finally tells Matthew the truth]
Matthew: You knew she was here the whole time?
Alex: [Alex reaches into her bag and grabs the envelop she was suppose to give to Matthew two years earlier] This belongs to you. It's from her.
Lisa: [Lisa's words in the letter] Matt, please don't think that I'm running away from you. I was so overwhelmed when you asked me to move in, I couldn't speak. My answer, of course, is yes. I love you, and can't wait to come home.
Alex: [Alex in tears] I'm not going to apologize for what I've done. This is for me to live with now. Now you see me for who I am.
Matthew: Yes, I do.
[Alex remembers the flashback of when she told Lisa that Matthew had been sleeping with another girl, which was a complete lie]
Alex: [Alex cries to realize how horrible of a person she is, with Luke on the other side of her dressing room door] Luke, I'm so sorry.
Luke: No. Shh. It's okay.
Alex: I'm so sorry.
Luke: No. Please, don't apologize. Please. God. I know you're doing the best you can. I just... I want to you to know that I... that I love you. All right? And I don't want to play games anymore. What's the point? I'm just terrible at them anyways.
[Matthew, Luke, and Alex finally sit together for the first time]
Luke: So what happened with your psycho?
[there's a pause]
Luke: Oh, you can say it in front of Alex. She knows the whole story anyway.
Matthew: Sometimes when you see someone from afar you develop a fantasy. Then when you see them up close, nine times out of ten, you wish you hadn't.
Luke: [Luke smiles] I have no idea what you're talking about.
Matthew: I was confused, so I went back to her apartment, and I thought I'd find what I was looking for, but I found something else.
Luke: Did you talk to her?
Matthew: Just long enough for her to convince to me that she's a liar.
[Matthew meets Lisa for the first time and attempts to try a shoe fitting for her]
Matthew: [Matthew clears his throat] Could I help you with anything?
Lisa: Yes. Those shoes in the window. The black ones with the red sole. I'd like to try them on, please.
Matthew: The blacks and reds. Okay. Well, I'll just go in the back and get them for you. That's where we keep them, in the back, so... I'll be right back.
Luke: Uh, Matty. Maybe you'd like to ask the lady what size shoe she wears.
Matthew: Right.
Lisa: 8 1/2.
Matthew: Like Fellini.
Lisa: Right.
Matthew: I mean his movie, not his shoe size. I don't know his shoe size, obviously.
[Matthew blushes as she stares at him]
Matthew: 8 1/2.
Matthew: [Matthew rushes into the back of the shoe store] Shit.
Luke: What was that?
Matthew: Fellini! What the hell was I thinking.
Luke: I have no idea. But you were right about one thing. God, she is beautiful. And you, my man, are an idiot. All right, look. Here's the thing, all right? You've obviously blown it, she obviously hates you. So you stay right here and let the man take a shot.
Matthew: Shut up. Give me the shoes.
Luke: All right. Go. Just remember... you're not funny.
Matthew: [Matthew gathers himself in deep breaths and walks back to Lisa] Here we go. Black and red.
[Matthew nervously slides one shoe onto Lisa's foot as she smiles down at him, then she looks at herself in the mirror]
Matthew: What do you think?
Lisa: They're too big.
[the phone rings and Luke hopes that Matthew can fix things with Alex over the phone]
Luke: I hope, for our friendship, this is who I want it to be. Want to see how cool I am? Three rings.
[Luke answers the phone]
Luke: Hello? Hey, how's it goin'? Oh, I'm so sorry. Did you get my message-ges. No, I lent my car to my buddy Matt, and he was a little late coming home. No, sure. He's right here. Hold on a sec. She wants to talk to you.
[hands over the phone to Matthew]
Luke: Fix it. You have to fix it.
Matthew: [Luke hovers near the phone to listen in] Hello?
Alex: [Alex on the other end of the phone] He's full of shit, isn't he?
Matthew: Yeah, he's full of shit, all right.
Alex: Yeah, I knew it.
Matthew: He didn't lend me his car. I took it. I stole his keys.
Luke: [whispers] That's good.
Alex: Why would you do that?
Matthew: Because I'm a selfish idiot. And I had this whole thing going on that... I don't wanna bore you with it.
Alex: Please, I insist.
Matthew: Okay. Well, um... I was looking for somebody. A woman. I wasn't thinking. Got a little desperate.
Alex: Oh, I'm sorry.
Matthew: No. I should be apologizing to you. And I am apologizing to you. I'm very sorry that I ruined your evening.
Alex: Did you find her?
Matthew: I think so. Yeah. I found where she lives.
Alex: Well, you should go back, and you should look for her.
Matthew: I think I will. Thanks.
Luke: [whispers] Okay, you're boring now. Give me the phone.
Matthew: Okay, Alex. I gotta go.
Alex: Nice to talk to you.
Matthew: Nice to talk to you, too. Bye - bye.
Matthew: [looks at Luke handing him the phone] She's nice, man.
Luke: [smiles] Thanks.
[Alex arrives home to the apartment to find Matthew who awaits with a present for her]
[both have a nervous blank expression before putting on a smile and sayng hi to each other]
Matthew: [smiles] Hey.
Matthew: [smiles] Hey. How are you, Lisa?
Alex: Good. How are you?
Matthew: Good.
Alex: I thought you'd be in China by now.
Matthew: That makes two of us. Sit down.
[Alex sits on the couch beside Matthew noticing a box between them]
Alex: What's that?
Matthew: It's a present.
Alex: For me?
Matthew: Yeah. I saw that yours were... Yours were broken, so... Uh, wanna try them on?
Alex: That's very sweet. You didn't have to do that.
Matthew: Uh, that's okay.
[Alex takes off her boot and Matthew slips on the black shoe with the red sole, the exact same size that would fit Lisa's foot]
Matthew: They're a little big. What size shoe do you wear?
Alex: Seven.
Matthew: These are 8 and a half.
Alex: I would've told you what size I wear if I knew you were gonna get me shoes.
Matthew: It's okay. I could exchange them.
Alex: You don't have to do that. I...
Matthew: Anyway, I told a friend of mine I would meet him for coffee before I left, so...
[Matthew makes his way to the front door of the apartment]
Alex: What? You're leaving?
Matthew: Yeah. Bye.
[Matthew then leaves]
[Lisa calls Luke's phone number that Matthew left with the bartender for her]
Luke: Hello?
Lisa: Hi, ummm... may I speak to Matthew, please?
Luke: Who is this?
Lisa: Um, this is Lisa? I'm a friend of his. I'm calling about my compact. I think he might have found it.
Luke: Uh, which Lisa is this?
Lisa: Pardon me?
Luke: [Luke grabs his head at how dumb of a question that sounded] Uh, I'll tell you what. He's actually supposed to be here in a couple of minutes.
Matthew: [At the same time, the camera goes to Alex calling Matthew so that he doesn't leave to go to Luke's home] Hello?
Alex: Hello!
Matthew: Hi.
Alex: Hi. I'm sorry I didn't come back. My, um... Double shift turned into a triple, and I just couldn't get away.
Matthew: It's okay. Don't worry about it.
Alex: Are you mad?
Matthew: No. Not at all. I had a great time. Where are you?
Alex: Well, I'm still at work but, um, I'm just leaving now, so why don't you wait?
Matthew: Yeah, I'll wait.
Alex: Okay, great. I'll see you soon.
[Matthew hangs up knowing something is strangely wrong]
Luke: [the camera goes back to Luke and Lisa on the phone] Let me, uh... Let me grab your phone number, and I will have him call you when he gets in.
Lisa: Um, you know, actually, could you just tell him to meet me at 3:00? He'd know where. Um, I'll be waiting for him.
Luke: 3:00. Okay.
[someone knocks at Luke's front door]
Luke: You know what, it can't be him already, but I'm expecting him. And someone's at my front door, so maybe it is him. So hold on one second.
[Lisa has a flashback of the last time she saw Matthew and when he asked her to move in with him]
Luke: Yeah, I'm sorry. It wasn't him, it was someone else. But I promise I will give him your message. Okay?
Lisa: Oh. Okay. Thank you.
[Lisa hangs up praying with tears in her eyes that she hasn't lost Matthew entirely]
[Matthew visits Luke at the shoe store to talk to him about the mysterious blonde Lisa]
Matthew: Hey. I gotta talk to you.
Luke: So, who is she?
Matthew: You wouldn't believe me.
Luke: I betcha I do. I probably even know her. What's her name?
Matthew: That's the thing.
Luke: You don't even know her name? Oh, man.
Matthew: I know that she's a dancer.
Luke: You mean, like a stripper?
Matthew: No, shithead. Like a real dancer.
Luke: Oh, God. I love a dancer's body. Ooh.
Matthew: But her face is like... Her eyes... And her skin is just... She just makes me all...
[Matthew taps his stomach smiling]
Luke: What is wha and duh? She just makes you more inarticulate than usual. You are obsessed, which I don't understand. I mean, I don't know how you decide on just one. I mean, my customer over there... She's got great legs. Ellie. All right? There is something hot about Ellie. The blonde at the window. I mean, come on.
[Luke points to the blonde Lisa outside the store window not knowing it's the same girl Matthew was just talking about, Matthew freezes and his eyes grow big]
Luke: What are you doing? Matty, are you all right?