Annie Hall Scene 17 Summary

  • Alvy's on the phone in a phone booth. Alvy's rented a car, and he drives, poorly, to a health food restaurant.
  • Annie shows up, and Alvy says he thinks they should get married. He's nothing if not direct.
  • Alvy scoffs at the fact that Annie digs L.A. She tells him he can't enjoy life.
  • Undeterred, and totally impatient, Alvy petulantly asks Annie again if she wants to get married. She just wants to be friends. (Ouch.)
  • Alvy says he knows she loves him. She says she doesn't—at least not right now—but gives him credit for getting her up and out and singing.
  • Trying to change the subject, Annie asks Alvy what he's up to these days, and he says he's writing a play.
  • Annie's got to go. Alvy's ticked because he flew 3,000 miles to see her. Annie says it's a hectic time for Tony since the Grammys are tonight, and she and Alvy start bickering.
  • Annie leaves, and Alvy leaves—but not before hitting some garbage cans and three other cars with his rental, all while flashing back to the bumper cars his dad operated when Alvy was a kid. (You know, the ones where he said he used to take out his aggression.)
  • A cop shows up immediately. Alvy nervously says he has a huge problem with authority while tearing up his own driver's license in front of the cop's face.
  • Alvy gets thrown in jail, and Rob bails him out, wearing what looks like a HAZMAT suit. He says it keeps the alpha rays out so he won't age.
  • Alvy tries to convince Rob to move back to New York, but Rob's not having it. The last time he did "Shakespeare in the Park" he got mugged.