FADE IN:
EXT. WADE'S HOUSE - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING
A house on the water. A traditional Cape Cod. Big and old. Water glistens and
reflects against it. From an upstairs window, the glow of a television
bounces off drapes that blow gently in the cool, summer night.
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
WADE, 15 years old, and slightly wise beyond his years, paces the room, a
bundle of mental anguish. His friend RICKY sits on the bed.
RICKY
No matter how much you wear out that carpet, my friend, at some point you are
going to have to sit down and accept it.
WADE
Accept it. I'm supposed to just graciously accept the loss of the love of my
life. Not to mention my best friend, my confidante of fifteen years. I can't
do that.
RICKY
Well, do something already. I'm exhausted just watching you. Look, why don't
you write something or something. Isn't that the appropriate angst-filled
artist reaction?
WADE
You're not helping.
RICKY
Sammy's the helpful one. I just sit on the sidelines and make wisecrack
remarks to compensate for my own relative inadequacy.
WADE
No offense, Ricky, but I think I need to be alone right now.
RICKY
No problem. You do your creative catharsis thing, and I'll...well, I'll find
something to do. See ya, Wade.
Ricky leaves. Wade, a bit doubtful, sighs, and approaches his computer. He
tries to write. Starts typing, erases. Starts again, erases. It's not
working. He pushes away from his desk, grabs his jacket, and takes off.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY
It's a chilly day in this creekside town in late November. Wade walks alone
through the abandoned playground, and ultimately sits down on a swing facing
a sandbox. As he looks at the sandbox, he seems to remember... or imagine
something.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. SANDBOX - DAY
Two small children, BABY WADE, and BABY SAMMY, play in a sandbox. They
playfully swat sand at each other. We hear a VOICE-OVER. It's WADE.
WADE (V.O.)
I guess you could say Sammy and I have known each other for as long as we
could possibly remember. Longer, actually. Sammy and I...We're almost like
soulmates, intrinsically destined since time immemorial, unalterably fated to
connect again and again through time, if you believe in that sort of thing. I
don't know whether or not I believe in destiny, but I do believe, that no
matter what fate throws in our paths, there will always be Wade and Sammy.
It's the closest thing to an ineluctable forever that I have ever known.
Baby Sammy and Baby Wade continue to play in the sandbox. Then they stop,
and just look at each other. Two adult voices comment on the children.
MAN (V.O.)
Look at how well they get along. They can't get enough of each other.
WOMAN (V.O.)
Are they playing or are they fighting?
MAN (V.O.)
They're crazy about each other. It's obvious. You can tell by the way they're
looking at each other.
WOMAN (V.O.)
Come on... they don't know how to be crazy about each other. Their whole
universe is that sandbox at this moment. Maybe they're totally terrified
of each other, paralyzed by fear. Look at how they're staring.
MAN (V.O.)
You're overanalyzing them. They're both just waiting for the other one to
make the first move.
WOMAN (V.O.)
Waiting for each other, huh? Well, that's not likely to get you anywhere...
And as the two children continue to stare at each other, we...
FADE OUT.
EXT. WADE'S HOUSE - LATE DAY
WADE (V.O.)
If I were half the artist I proclaimed myself to be, I would seize upon this
as an opportunity to generate a well-written, erudite, structurally sound
piece of literature containing the traditional story elements -- that is,
beginning - middle - end, or rather, essentially, a premise, a climax, a
denoument... but that doesn't really apply in this situation. When a
relationship outlives time, outlives space, all you have... are the
moments...
CU on Wade, thoughtful...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. WADE'S ROOM - LATE DAY
8 YEAR-OLD WADE sits on his bed, watching JAWS. 8 YEAR-OLD SAMMY appears in
the window.
8 YEAR OLD WADE
Hey...how'd you get up there?
8 YEAR OLD SAMMY
There's a ladder. Your dad was painting. I climbed up.
8 YEAR OLD WADE
Well, you can come in, if you want. I'm watching "Jaws."
8 YEAR OLD SAMMY
A bunch of mentally deficient beach bumbs get eaten by a shark? Please. That
movie is like, so five minutes ago.
8 YEAR OLD WADE
No way. This movie's awesome. This guy named Spielberg directed it. You know
what else he directed?
8 YEAR OLD SAMMY
I have a feeling you're going to tell me.
8 YEAR OLD WADE
Raiders of the Lost Ark. And E.T. You're not gonna say you don't like E.T.,
are you?
8 YEAR OLD SAMMY
Duh, that's like, a classic.
8 YEAR OLD WADE
Yeah, so, will you give Jaws a chance?
8 YEAR OLD SAMMY
Maybe. Is it really scary?
8 YEAR OLD WADE
I won't let you get scared.
A long look between them.
8 YEAR OLD SAMMY
Well... okay, I guess. Can I sleep over?
8 YEAR OLD WADE
Sure...why not? over?
And off the t.v., we...
FADE OUT.
FADE IN.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - LATE DAY
It's getting dark. Wade rises from the swing, and heads home.
EXT. CREEKSIDE STREET - DUSK - CONTINUOUS
Music plays as Wade passes by a VIDEO STORE. He becomes thoughtful again...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Wade is now about 11. He sits on his floor playing Nintendo. Sammy, the same
age, appears at the window. She looks upset.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
Hey Sammy. What are you doing here? I mean, shouldn't you be with your
family?
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
I had to get out of there, Wade. They were making it worse.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
(genuinely)
Sammy... I'm really sorry... about your mom.
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
So am I, Wade.
Wade gets up and sits down next to her.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
How are Betty and your Dad doing?
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
They're fighting again. I mean, they haven't even buried Mom yet and they're
fighting... I think...
She struggles, trying to keep her composure.
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY (cont'd)
I think my dad's going to jail.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
Your dad's not going to jail. They don't send people to jail for having
affairs.
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
(bitter)
They should.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
C'mon...
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
Who would take care of me, Wade?
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
He's not going to jail...
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
Humor me.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
Well, I guess Betty would.
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
Please. Like I'd ever submit to being raised by a provincial teenager who
doesn't do anything but talk on the phone to her mindless friends and go out
with her lunkhead boyfriend, who'll probably get her knocked up before she
graduates high school so she can spend her life having babies and waitressing
at some restaurant like the Fish House or something...
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
Well... then I guess... I'd take care of you.
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
You would?
11 YEAR-OLD WADE
Yeah... sure... (quoting "E.T.") "I'll be right heeeeere."
They touch fingers.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE (cont'd)
C'mon. You wanna play "Jaws?"
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY
Okay.
They go into Wade's closet, and begin reciting the dialogue from "Jaws"...
FROM BEHIND CLOSED DOORS --
11 YEAR-OLD WADE (O.S.)
Stop playing with yourself, Hooper!
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY (O.S.)
That's a twenty-footer.
11 YEAR-OLD WADE (O.S.)
Twenty-five. Three tons of him.
11 YEAR-OLD SAMMY (O.S.)
We're gonna need a bigger boat.
And the dialogue continues as the camera leaves the closet door -- drifts out
the window and pulls away from Wade's window.
FADE OUT.
EXT. WADE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The present. Wade reaches his house. He sees the ladder by the window.
Spontaneously, he decides to climb it. As he reaches the top, he pauses for a
moment to survey his room.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
WADE and SAMMY, now grown up at fifteen years old, lay sprawled on Wade's
bed, among an array of candy, pillows, etc., watching Star Wars.
SAMMY
I never get tired of this movie. This won the Oscar, right?
WADE
ANNIE HALL. Lucas was robbed.
He turns off the t.v.
WADE (cont'd)
Well, you ready to crash?
SAMMY
I'm gonna go home.
WADE
Stay over.
SAMMY
I don't think so.
WADE
Why not?
Sammy moves toward the open window. She takes a deep breath. Something's been
building.
SAMMY
I'm just not sure it's a good idea for me to stay over anymore.
WADE
But you always stay over on video night!
SAMMY
Things change, Wade.
WADE
What are you talking about?
SAMMY
Well, we're fifteen years old now...
WADE
So?
SAMMY
I just think that hormonal developments have a way of rearing their ugly
heads into platonic boy-girl friendships such as ours, and I'm attempting
some advance damage control.
WADE
Wait, a second. Are you saying that you...
SAMMY
Please. Don't get excited, Wade. I know you way too well. But we need to
make allowances for our post-pubescence, cause the gender dynamics are
inevitably going to get in the way sooner or later.
WADE
Please. That MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING crap doesn't apply to us. We transcend
it.
SAMMY
How?
WADE
By going to sleep. I'm beat.
SAMMY
Avoidance isn't going to help.
WADE
It's not avoidance. It's proof that our friendship is impervious to any and
all textbook theoretics of early adolescence.
Sammy moves toward the open window. She takes a deep breath. Something's been
building.
SAMMY
I don't think it works that way, Wade.
WADE
Come on, Sammy. If you keep this girl stuff up, I'm gonna have to start
calling you Samantha.
SAMMY
Samantha this.
She dives on top of him, slugging him hard. He bellies over. An awkward
laugh. Sammy rips her shoes off, throws them agains the wall. Suddenly
they're both incredibly still.
WADE
We're friends, okay? Hormones aside?
SAMMY
Friends, Wade.
They lay facing away from one another. Wade squirms under the sheets. Then
Sammy. Their minds racing.
Finally:
WADE
Why did you have to bring this up anyway?
FADE OUT.
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Again, the present. From the window, Wade smiles to himself, and climbs in.
He heads for his computer -- this time, inspired. He sits down, and he
writes.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY
WADE, SAMMY, and RICKY, another 15-year old, Wade's male best friend,
rehearse a play. Wade directs. Ricky moves in to kiss Sammy, who looks
uncomfortable in a bikini top and shorts.
SAMMY
(pulls away)
I'm sorry, Wade, I can't do it.
WADE
C'mon you guys. We're performing this play in two weeks. If you can't kiss
Ricky here, in the comfort of this rehearsal space, what are you going to
do on stage?
SAMMY
He's just so... repulsive.
RICKY
Hey, can I help it if she's a lesbian?
SAMMY
Hah. You wish, dumbass.
WADE
All right, let's just skip the kiss -- for now. Okay...
SAMMY
And do I really have to wear this? I mean, I realize your play is set in
North Carolina, but hello! This is Massachusetts. It's February. It's
FREEZING.
But their argument is interrupted as a TAXI CAB pulls up, RICKY and WADE are
transfixed. Sammy at first doesn't notice.
SAMMY
Hello? Are we rehearsing here, or are we directing traffic?
And KIM steps out.
KIM
Hi. I'm Kim.
RICKY
Ricky.
WADE
I'm Wade. Are you-- lost or something?
SAMMY
(sotto)
She's a blonde, not a puppy dog, Wade.
KIM
No, I'm from New York. But my uncle is sick so I'm up here for a while to
help my aunt take care of him.
WADE
Oh! Right, the neice from New York...
KIM
Right.
WADE
So, are you gonna be going to Creekside High?
KIM
Yeah, I'll be a sophomore.
WADE
Me too.
RICKY
Yeah, me too.
KIM
(to Sammy)
Hi, I'm Kim.
SAMMY
Yeah, got that.
She turns to go in the house.
SAMMY (cont'd)
I'm gonna go change. I'm freezing my ass off.
Once she is out of earshot...
WADE
(to Kim)
Uh, that's...Sammy. You'll have to forgive her, she considers social
skills a sign of blind conformity.
KIM
I see. Well, I better get to my aunt's -- she's expecting me.
And Kim walks off...as she does, Ricky and Wade watch her go.
ANOTHER ANGLE - a CU of SAMMY, from the window, looking out, watching Wade.
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Kim peruses Wade's collectables. She finds a Star Wars figurine.
KIM
Chewbacca?
WADE
(self-conscious)
Actually, that's a collector's item.
Sammy climbs in through the window.
SAMMY'S POV -- surprised to see Kim.
SAMMY
Wade -- I didn't realize you had company.
(turns to leave)
I can come back later.
WADE
Sammy, no, don't be silly. You know Kim.
Sammy gives a small, fake smile to Kim, who smiles back.
SAMMY
(sotto to Wade)
I thought it was video night.
WADE
It is. Kim doesn't really know anyone in Creekside, so I invited her to join
us.
SAMMY
(sarcastic)
Isn't watching videos a little mundane for someone from the big city?
KIM
If I'm intruding on something I can...
WADE
No, not at all, don't be silly... the more the merrier.
SAMMY
I'll see you later, Wade.
She turns to go. A voice (o.c.) calls out.
VOICE (O.C.)
Kimberly...
KIM
That's my aunt. I should go. But thanks, Wade. I had a really good time.
She turns to leave, and Sammy and Wade are left alone.
WADE
What's with the Brenda Walsh routine?
SAMMY
I just don't see why Miss Clairol has to be a permanent fixture around here.
WADE
She's new... we should make her feel welcome. In fact, I have an idea. But I
need your help.
SAMMY
What?
WADE
Well, I want to ask Jen to go to the movies with me...But she might feel
uncomfortable with that, you know, going out alone with a strange guy...
SAMMY
Please. She's already seen your room. How dangerous could she think a guy
who has Chewbacca on his bed is?
WADE
Look, come with us.
SAMMY
No thanks. I have no intentions of creating a troika with you two.
WADE
Sammy--
SAMMY
Look, if you want to go out with her, go out with her. I'm not stopping
you. Just go. But you can't have it both ways, Wade.
WADE
What is your problem?
SAMMY
Oh, nothing. Except ever since little Miss New York City showed up in town,
you've done everything possible to make me feel like I don't exist.
WADE
Sammy... you know how much you mean to me... you're my best friend. Nothing
could replace that.
SAMMY
(doubtful)
We'll see, Wade.
(
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