SIMPLE BLACK ON WHITE CREDITS ROLL TO BIG STAR’S “I’M IN LOVE WITH A

GIRL.” When all is said and done, up comes a single number in parenthesis, like so:
(478)
EXT. PARK - DAY
For a few seconds we watch A MAN (20s) and a WOMAN (20s) on a park bench. Their names
are TOM and SUMMER. Neither one says a word.
CLOSE ON her HAND, covering his. Notice the wedding ring. No words are spoken. Tom looks
at her the way every woman wants to be looked at.
A DISTINGUISHED VOICE begins to speak to us.
NARRATOR
This is a story of boy meets girl.
CUT TO:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
The boy is TOM HANSEN. He sits at a very long rectangular conference table. The walls are
lined with framed blow-up sized greeting cards. Tom, dark hair and blue eyes, wears a t-shirt
under his sports coat and Adidas tennis shoes to balance out the corporate dress code. He looks
pretty bored.
NARRATOR
The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New Jersey, grew up believing that he’d never truly be happy
until the day he met his-- “soulmate.”
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM - 1989
PRE-TEEN TOM sits alone on his bed engrossed in a movie. His walls are covered in posters of
obscure bands. From the TV, we hear: “Elaine! Elaine!”
NARRATOR
This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total misreading of the
movie, “The Graduate.”
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE CUBICLE - PRESENT DAY
The girl is SUMMER FINN. She files folders and answers phones in a plain white office. She
has cropped blonde hair almost like a boy’s but her face is feminine and pretty enough to get
away with it.
NARRATOR
The girl, Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM - 1994
Teenage Summer stares at herself in the mirror. Her hair extends down to her lower back.
NARRATOR
Since the disintegration of her parents’ marriage, she’d only loved two things. The first was her
long blonde hair.
She picks up scissors from the counter and begins to slice.
NARRATOR
The second was how easily she could cut it off-- And feel nothing.
CUT TO:
SPLIT SCREEN. INT. BOARDROOM - INT. CUBICLE - SAME
On the right side of the screen, Tom continues to listen to some boring presentation. On the left,
Summer answers a call, takes a message, and walks out of her cubicle down a long narrow
hallway.
NARRATOR
Tom meets Summer on January 8th in a San Francisco office building. In an instant, he will
know she’s the one he’s been looking for.
CU Summer opening the door to the boardroom, about to come face to face with Tom for the
first time.
NARRATOR
This is a story of boy meets girl.
But before they do,
CUT TO:
BLACK.
NARRATOR
You should know up front, this is not a love story.
EXT. STREETS OF SAN FRAN - NIGHT
A 12 year old GIRL rides her bicycle down the block. She arrives at an apartment complex,
jumps off the bike and races up the front stairs. She rings the doorbell.
INT. TOM’S PLACE - LATER
PAUL and MCKENZIE open the door. These are Tom’s best friends since birth. Paul is a doctor
and wears hospital scrubs. McKenzie works in the cubicle next to Tom.
PAUL
I didn’t know who else to call.
The Girl removes her bike helmet.
GIRL
You did the right thing. Where is he?
Tom is in the kitchen breaking things and basically going insane. About to smash a plate on the
floor, he’s interrupted by:
GIRL
Thomas.
Tom freezes.
TOM
Rachel? What are you doing here?
GIRL (RACHEL)
I’m here to help you.
TOM
Help me how?
RACHEL
First, put down the plate.
Tom slowly obliges.
RACHEL
Now come here and sit down.
Tom sits next to the young girl. Paul and Mckenzie sit on either side of them.
RACHEL
The key is not to panic.
TOM
I think I’m gonna be sick.
RACHEL
Drink this.
She hands him a glass of water. Tom drinks it down.
MCKENZIE
What is that?
RACHEL
Vodka.
TOM
grimacing at the taste
More.
He gulps another down.
TOM
Does Mom know you’re here? It’s gotta be past 10.
RACHEL
Don’t worry about it. Start from the beginning. Tell us what happened.
Tom takes a deep breath.
EXT. PARK - DAY
Tom and Summer eat sandwiches in the park.
TOM (V.O.)
We spent the whole day together.
EXT. OUTDOOR MARKET - DAY
Tom and Summer walk through the stalls.
TOM (V.O.)
We went shopping.
EXT. COFFEE HOUSE - DAY
Tom and Summer seated outside drinking coffee. He reads the newspaper, she reads a novel.
TOM (V.O.)
We had coffee.
EXT. MOVIE THEATER - DAY
Tom and Summer walk out of a movie theatre.
TOM (V.O.)
We saw a film.
INT. RECORD STORE - LATER
Tom and Summer shop for music. Tom excitedly shows Summer a Ringo Starr solo album.
TOM (V.O.)
We bought music.
INT. TOM’S PLACE
TOM
I thought it was a great day.
RACHEL
And then what happened?
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Tom and Summer in a booth ordering dinner.
TOM
to WAITRESS
Um-- you know what-- let’s go crazy, I’ll have BOTH.
to Summer
God, I love eating pancakes at night. It’s like the greatest thing ever. How great is this?
SUMMER
I think we should stop seeing each other.
INT. TOM’S PLACE - AS BEFORE
RACHEL
Just like that?
TOM
Just like that.
PAUL
Did she say why?
INT. DINER - AS BEFORE
SUMMER
This thing. This whatever it is. You and me. Do you think this is normal?
TOM
I don’t know. Who cares about normal?! I’m happy. Aren’t you happy?
SUMMER
You’re happy?
TOM
You’re not?
SUMMER
All we do is argue!
TOM
That is such a lie!
INT. TOM’S PLACE - AS BEFORE
RACHEL
Maybe she was just in a bad mood.
PAUL
A hormonal thing.
RACHEL
P.M.S.?
TOM
to Rachel
What do you know about PMS?
RACHEL
More than you.
TOM
Oh my god.
MCKENZIE
Please continue.
INT. DINER - AS BEFORE
SUMMER
This can’t be a total surprise. I mean, we’ve been like Sid and Nancy for months.
TOM
Summer, Sid stabbed Nancy seven times with a kitchen knife. We’ve had some disagreements
but I hardly think I’m Sid Vicious.
SUMMER
No-- I’m Sid.
TOM
beat
So I’m Nancy?!
The Waitress comes out with the food. Tom and Summer stop their discussion until the meal is
served and the Waitress leaves. Summer starts to eat.
SUMMER
Let’s just eat and we’ll talk about it after. I’m starving.
Without another word she goes back to her pancakes. Tom watches her eat like this is the worst
travesty in the history of mankind.
SUMMER
mouth full
Mmm, you’re so right. These are great!
Tom looks at his food in disgust. He may never eat again.
SUMMER
innocent
What?
Tom stands up to go.
SUMMER
Tom, don’t. Come back. You’re still my best fr---
THE SCENE FREEZES AND WE ZOOM IN ON TOM’S STUNNED FACE.
INT. TOM’S PLACE - AS BEFORE
Silence for a few beats.
PAUL
Jesus.
MCKENZIE
That’s harsh.
TOM
I don’t know what I’m gonna do.
RACHEL
You’re gonna be fine.
TOM
beat
I’m gonna throw up.
MCKENZIE
Or that.
RACHEL
Here.
Tom drinks more vodka.
MCKENZIE
Come on Hansen. You’ll be ok. You’re the best guy I know. You’ll find someone.
PAUL
You know what they say-- there’s plenty other fish in the sea.
TOM
No.
PAUL
Sure they do. They say that.
TOM
Well they’re wrong. It’s not true. I’ve fished in that sea. I’ve jumped in and swam in that sea!
I’m fucking Aquaman!
to Rachel
Sorry. What I mean is-- there are no other fish. This was my fish.
Paul and McKenzie share a very concerned look.