The only companion book to Paul Thomas Anderson'sacclaimed 1999 film, Magnolia: The Illustrated Screenplay includes thecomplete shooting script, introduction and script notes by Anderson, aninterview with the writer/director, and complete cast and crew credits.Anderson deliberately withheld information about his newfilm during production because "I feel lately as if I know everything about amovie before I see it, and I really want the audience to discover this purely."Featuring an ensemble cast and, in an unbilled role, Tom Cruise (who calledAnderson to express interest in working with him), the film is now described byNew Line as follows: There are stories of coincidence and chance andintersections and strange things told. There is the story of a Dying Father, the Young Wife, his Lost Son, the Caretaker, the Boy Genius, his Father, theGame Show Host, the Daughter, the Mother, the Ex-Boy Genius and the PoliceOfficer in Love.There are nine plots that tell one story, set in the SanFernando Valley on a day full of rain with no clouds.Along with the story of a pharmacist in London, a scubadiver and an accidental suicide, this is the story of "Magnolia." This is a story about family relationships and bonds thathave been broken and need to be mended in one day.