By JANE LOTTER

Like many people in my neighborhood of Maple Leaf, my friend Caprice remains devastated by the early-morning fire on Nov. 22 that destroyed the brick building at Roosevelt Way NE and NE 89th Street. This was the 1940s one-story structure in the heart of Maple Leaf that housed a history-filled (but vacant) tavern/restaurant space, Salon Sava, The Cafe News, and Reckless Video. Some people would say that building pretty much WAS downtown Maple Leaf.

Caprice is particularly bereft at the loss of the independently owned video store, Reckless Video. She lies on my sofa, sobbing into the VCR remote control.

"I'm taking a vow," she says. "I'm just a Working Girl, but from now on, in memory of Reckless and The Way We Were, I'm speaking only in movie titles."

"Caprice, you can't do that," I counter. "I mean, it's totally Psycho. You'll make yourself Nuts."

"Just call me ," she wails. "Oh, What Have I Done to Deserve This?"

"Look," I say, "before you Get Out Your Handkerchiefs, remember that the fire hurt lots of folks, not just you. All kinds of Ordinary People were affected; 10 people lost their jobs, For Heaven's Sake."

" I Don't Want to Talk About It," she sniffs, covering her face with a copy of "Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide." "I don't see how I can ever again be anything but Sleepless in Seattle."

Entre Nous, I admit I feel Caprice's pain. I love the movies, and Reckless Video was my own personal Field of Dreams. When my kids were toddlers, renting a grown-up film to watch after they were asleep helped keep me from becoming a Serial Mom.

Reckless was The Little Shop Around the Corner that was a happy meeting place for neighbors and friends. There was the phone to call home if you weren't sure what flick your family wanted; there was the annual "pick the winners" of the Academy Awards contest; there were the free movie posters, two of which still adorn my son's room; and there were loads of quality "kid vids." There were no X-rated films - none - because Reckless had A Touch of Class and because it was a neighborhood place that cared enough to Do the Right Thing.

Reckless was owned by Mike Kelley, who's so well known in Maple Leaf he's Almost Famous. Thanksgiving Day - the day of the fire - would have been Reckless Video's 10-year anniversary.

"As An Unmarried Woman," Caprice says wistfully, "I've always thought a man who owned a video store would make An Ideal Husband. You know, sort of A Man for All Seasons."

"Forget it," I inform her. "Michael is married."

She sighs.

"Let me tell you a story," I say. "Just before closing time, my friend Wendi was one of the last people - possibly The Last Woman on Earth - to get a video from Reckless That Night. What do you suppose she rented?"

"Firestarter?"

I shake my head.

"The Towering Inferno?"

"Nope. Give up?"

She nods. "I'm totally Clueless."

"Well, Wendi chose a film that, in hindsight, holds meaning for everyone who loved Reckless Video. It's about a man who, when he thinks he's lost everything, particularly his business, gets the chance to see how his life has touched people in a positive way. He discovers that, in fact, he is loved and appreciated by his entire community."

"You don't mean ..." Caprice breaks off.

"I do mean," I say. "The movie Wendi rented - a movie that therefore survived the fire and has since been returned to Mike Kelley - was 'It's a Wonderful Life.'"

Caprice's eyes are moist. Still lying on the sofa, she adjusts the pillow under her head. "You know," she says thoughtfully, "George Bailey really was the richest man in Bedford Falls." "Especially because we all know You Can't Take It With You," I say. "And although things right now are Topsy Turvy in Maple Leaf , I, for one, shall go on believing Life Is Beautiful."

"That's the Spirit," I say. "Mike himself told me he's thinking about Starting Over - he says he'll reopen if he can find the right space. So, now, tell me, True Confession: Are you going to give up this Charade of speaking only in movie titles?"

"I'll think about It,"she says slyly. "But I make no Promise. After all, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World we live in. And to borrow a phrase from Mr. Shakespeare, who knows What Dreams May Come?"

RETURN TO RECKLESS: Mike Kelley, owner of Reckless Video, hopes eventually to open another video store in Maple Leaf. Over 650 videos were checked out from Reckless Video when the fire occurred; as of this writing, some 450 have been returned. Please help Mike rebuild his inventory by returning any videos or DVDs from Reckless to the drop-off barrel at Ace Hardware at 9000 Roosevelt Way NE. b