# Lady in the Water

Lady in the Water is a 2006 American mystery fantasy film about a young woman named Story whom a Philadelphia maintenance man discovers in the swimming pool of his apartment complex. Gradually, he and his neighbors learn that she is a narf, a mystical water nymph whose life is in danger from a scrunt, a vicious, wolf-like creature that tries to keep her from returning to "the Blue World."
    Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

## Opening narration

* Once, man and those in the water were linked. They inspired us. They spoke of the future. Man listened and it became real. But man does not listen very well. Man's need to own everything led him deeper into land. The magic world of the ones that lived in the ocean and the world of men separated. Through the centuries, their world and all the inhabitants of it stopped trying. The world of man became more violent. War upon war played out, as there were no guides to listen to. Now those in the water are trying again — trying to reach us. A handful of their precious young ones have been sent into the world of man. They are brought in the dead of night — to where man lives. They need only be glimpsed — and the awakening of man will happen. But their enemies roam the land. There are laws that are meant to keep the young ones safe — but they are sent at great risk to their lives. Many do not return. Yet still they try — try to help man. But man may have forgotten how to listen.

## Story

* I am scared. I will wait here with you, Cleveland.
** To Cleveland
* I'm so very happy we saw each other.
** To Vick
* Your words are very beautiful. Your heart is very big.
** To Cleveland
* Thank you for letting me wear your beautiful shirt.
** To Cleveland
* Do you wish to know your future?
** To Vick
* A boy, in the midwest of this land, will grow up in a home where your book will be on the shelf and spoken of often. He will grow up with these ideas in his head. He will grow into a great orator. He will speak and his words will be heard throughout this land and throughout the world. This boy will become leader of this country and begin a movement of great change. He will speak of you and your words and your book will be the seeds of many of his great thoughts. They will be the seeds of change.
** To Vick
* I am scared. It is about to get very dangerous.
** To Cleveland
* Man thinks they are each alone in this world. It is not true. You are all connected. One act can one day affect all.
** To Vick

## Cleveland Heep

* I think you're someone very important to everyone.
** To Story
* Here's the good stuff. There are humans with powers that can help her. These people have been unconsciously drawn to live by the Vessel. These humans don't know who they are.
* They told her that the world will line up and reveal we are on the right path. Why isn't this working?
* I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. Oh, I should have been there, I am always going to regret — just not being there. I miss your faces — how they remind me of God. I'm so lost without you guys. I met this very nice lady, and her name is Story. I think you would have liked her. I think she might be... an Angel, because she has to go home. I love you all, I love you all so much.

## Vick

* I don't know who you are — but you did something to me, to my thoughts — and everything became clearer. The fears that were muddling my thoughts just went away. I can hear myself.
* Change doesn't happen, the way you say it's going to happen, without dramatic events to accelerate thinking. I wrote this thing. It might take decades or longer to create a reaction, before it anchors in the consciousness.
* There's a lot of things in The Cookbook people won't like to hear.

## Harry Farber

* There is no originality left in the world, Mr. Heep — that is a sad fact I have come to live with.
* A dog inside the building. Go! Shoo! … Why you're not a dog at all. … Oh, my god, this is like a moment from a horror movie. … This is precisely the moment where the mutation or beast will attempt to kill an unlikable side character. But, in stories where there has been no prior cursing, violence, nudity or death, such as in a family film, the unlikable character will escape his encounter, and be referenced later in the story, having learned valuable lessons. He may even be given a humorous moment to allow the audience to feel good about him. This is where I turn to run. You will leap for me, I will shut the door, and you will land a fraction of a second too late.
** Last words before being killed by the scrunt

## Others

* Wow! He's hearing the voice of God through a crossword puzzle!
** Anna Ran
* There is a message. There is a ceremony to be done … The hands of the guild will be needed, plus two others.
** Joey

## Dialogue

    Cleveland: Where are you from?
    Story: The Blue World.
    Cleveland: Is that an apartment?
    Story: Do you feel an awakening?
    Story: My name is Story.
    Cleveland: I didn't mean for you to tell me… [pauses] Why am I not stuttering? [pauses] Hello Story, my name is Cleveland.
    Story: From the cliffs. That's what your name means.
    Cleveland: Where did you learn that?
    Story: From my studies.
    Story: Your thoughts are very sad. Most are of one night. A night a man entered your home when you were not there. He stole many things and killed your wife and children. That is when you stopped being happy. You were a doctor. I am very sorry for you. You believe you have no purpose. You help all that live here.
    Cleveland: Anybody can do this job, Story.
    Story: You have a purpose. All beings have a purpose.
    Anna: Mr. Heep is here. He has a friend. She's beautiful. She's not feeling too well... So she's lying down in my room.
    Vick: Why is she here? Why isn't she at his place?
    Anna: Well, she got sick in the stairwell downstairs. She is wearing no clothes under his shirt. Blim-blam. Mr. Heep is a playa!
    Cleveland: H-how was the movie?
    Farber: Sucked
    Cleveland: Oh... what a shame.
    Farber: Characters were walking around, saying their thoughts out loud. Who does that? And in a typical romance where the couple finally tell each other they love one another in the rain. Why does everyone like to stand around and talk in the rain in movies?
    Cleveland: Um... well maybe it's a metaphor for purification; starting new.
    Farber: No — it's not.
    Mr. Leeds: Does mankind deserved to be saved?
    Cleveland: What?
    Mr. Leeds: Man?
    Cleveland: [pauses] Yes.
    Mr. Leeds: That's not the answer I expected.
    Cleveland: Tell me what happens when the eagle takes you back.
    Story: It is only what I have been told by others. They tell us that the world will line up and reveal we are on the right path, that the universe will give us signs.
    Cleveland: You have to believe that this all makes sense somehow.
    Story: I don't know why I'm the Madam Narf. I'm not special. I'm clumsy, they make fun of me. I don't know how to lead.
    Cleveland: Do you get sick every time that you break a rule? Every time that you tell me something you shouldn't?
    Story: There is a storm coming. I am scared.
    Cleveland: It's okay to be scared
    Story: I do not have courage. I do not want to be a Madam Narf.
    Cleveland: You do what you think is right. You are very brave. You were always meant to lead, Story.
    Mr. Dury: This world is about finding your purpose, right? And the only way is to find your own voice — you told us that. I don't feel like an interpreter. Is it possible that isn't my purpose? I don't see anything in these words — and I didn't before. Finding one's purpose is a profound thing. Sometimes it isn't always what it seems. What if these young men are not the guild? Look at what happened at the party. These things haven't seemed right since the beginning. Why are you so certain that I am the interpreter and they are the guild?
    Cleveland: He was so sure.
    Mr. Dury: What?
    Cleveland: I asked someone, he acted like he knew.
    Mr. Dury: What kind of person would be so arrogant as to presume the intention of another human being? Who has put this young girl's life in jeopardy?
    Mr. Leeds: We can't just stand here playing make-believe. I wanted to believe, more than most. I wanted to be like a child again. I needed to believe there was something more than this awfulness around us, but at some point, we have to stop.
    Young-Soon Choi: Mr. Leeds, it's time we prove that some stories are real!

## Taglines

* Time is running out for a happy ending.
* It's in the back yard.
* It's not under the bed.
* It's not in the closet.
* Lullaby. And good fright!
* Some stories are real.
* A Classic Bedtime Story For A New Generation

## Cast

* Paul Giamatti - Cleveland Heep/The Healer
* Bryce Dallas Howard - Story
* Jeffrey Wright - Mr. Dury
* Bob Balaban - Harry Farber
* Mary Beth Hurt - Mrs. Bell
* Bill Irwin - Mr. Leeds
* Tovah Feldshuh - Mrs. Bubchik
* Freddy Rodriguez - Reggie/The Guardian
* M. Night Shyamalan - Vick Ran/The Vessel
* Sarita Choudhury - Anna Ran/Guild member
* Cindy Cheung - Young-Soon Choi/Guild member
* Noah Gray-Cabey - Joey Dury/The Interpreter
* Tom Mardirosian - Mr. Bubchik
* Jared Harris - Goatee Smoker

## External links

* Lady in the Water quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* Lady in the Water at Mojo
* Lady in the Water at Rotten Tomatoes
* Lady in the Water – M. Night Shyamalan Online
* Story's Myspace
* Lady in the Water Trailers