The Bookstore

Paul, the owner of a used bookstore, only allows outsiders to enter on his terms, defining his existence through books that surround him. Julie, a dreamer, hides in a protective wall of images from her nostalgic preoccupation with Hollywood movies. Julie’s interest in books on Hollywood brings her into Paul’s shop. An attraction of opposites brings a conflict of survival strategies in a world that both find threatening. Julie's Hollywood obsession is a shield against abandonment by her father and then her husband. Paul's bookstore protects him from the outside world and a fear of commitment to others. Both reach for companionship but are held back by a lifetime of missteps. Encounters with friends help shed light on issues between them. Julie's protective mother, Mrs. Thompson looks out for Julie’s interests and a potential husband while Mrs. G, Paul's neighbor, and George the mailman, have similar instincts toward Paul.