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.
INT. SAMMY'S ROOM - NIGHT
Sammy sits at her computer, reading her e-mail.
CU of the screen. It reads, "Kim and I finally kissed... how do I describe
it? In a word, magical." Sammy sighs, looks out the window down at the creek.
LEGEND: SIX WEEKS LATER.
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Wade gazes longingly out the window. Sammy's getting bored of this routine.
SAMMY
Look. You got dumped. It was bound to happen at some point in your life. It's
on the list of required rites of passage for every teenage boy.
WADE
Why doesn't that make me feel any better?
SAMMY
Because you're taking the angst-ridden artist approach. You think all this
melancholy will somehow channel itself into creative genuis. But I'll tell
you, Wade, if you're gonna go that route you could at least take a slightly
less cliched approach.
WADE
I think I'm allowed at least one moment of genuine teen wallowing.
SAMMY
Okay. How about thinking about something... anything else?
WADE
Can't. Everything relates back to Kim.
SAMMY
Wade... you've only known her six weeks. How can everything relate back to
her?
WADE
Well, it does.
SAMMY
Try thinking about movies.
WADE
(he thinks for a minute)
No use. I just imagine watching them with her.
SAMMY
(sighs)
Wade, have you ever considered taking a moment to stop imagining things in
your head, and tried taking a look at what's right in front of you.
He looks for a minute. Then turns to Sammy...
WADE
You're right!
Could this be...?
SAMMY
I am?
Wade gets up, moves toward her... but doesn't stop. He heads straight for his
computer.
WADE
I've been THINKING about the situation with Kim, but I haven't been doing
anything about it. I'm gonna send her an email. Thanks, Sammy!
Sammy looks after him, a sad near hopeless longing in her eyes.
SAMMY
Anytime, Wade.
(then, softly)
Anytime.
[write later -- scene where Kim breaks up with Wade]
INT. BEAUTY PAGEANT - NIGHT
An ANNOUNCER announces the winner of the local Miss Windbreaker contest.
ANNOUNCER
And this year's Miss Windbreaker is.... Samantha Richards!
Sammy, a little daze and self-conscious, accepts the crown. Wade watches her,
mesmerized. Ricky stands beside him.
RICKY
Man, whoever thought Sammy Richards would turn into such a babe? Dude, if you
don't make your move fast, someone else will. Heck, maybe I will.
WADE
"Make my move?" What's that supposed to mean?
RICKY
Please. Are you two just gonna keep Harry Met Sallying your way through this
relationship or are you ever gonna bite the bullet?
WADE
Ricky... What are you talking about??
RICKY
Wade, how can you be so consumed with subtext, and simultaneously, so unable
to transcend it?
WADE
What subtext?
RICKY
Do I have to spell it out? That beauty queen dish up there is totally, one
hundred percent in love with you. And you're pretty gosh darn smitten
yourself.
WADE
No, Ricky... what Sammy and I have is different. I don't know what to call
it but it's not what you're thinking it is...
RICKY
So what if I did ask her out?
WADE
Seriously?
RICKY
Yeah. Seriously. What if I asked her out? Would you be cool with that?
WADE
Of course.
RICKY
You would.
WADE
(slightly more hesitant)
Well... I mean, yeah, of course.
RICKY
Okay.
WADE
Okay...
RICKY
Well, I'm gonna go talk to her right now.
He turns to walk off. He turns back.
RICKY (cont'd)
Thanks, man. You're the best.
Wade watches him go for a beat, then:
WADE
Wait a second.
RICKY
What?
WADE
I'm not so cool with that.
Wade looks at Ricky, finally able to take in what his friend has been telling
him all along.
EXT. DOCKS - NIGHT
Wade catches up to Sammy, still in her beauty pageant getup.
WADE
Hey... Sammy, wait up.
SAMMY
Hey.
WADE
What's going on with us, Sammy?
SAMMY
Wade, if you don't know by now...
She turns to go. But Wade takes her hand. She stops.
WADE
I do know. I think I do... I mean. Sammy... for the first time in my life, I
can't string a sentence together when I'm around you.
They stare at each other for a long beat. Almost reminiscent of the two
children in the sandbox.
He looks at her, then:
WADE (cont'd)
It's like, I looked at you tonight, and it was like, you were Sammy, but you
were a whole new Sammy to me. You weren't just my friend, from down the
creek... I mean, you looked so beautiful...
SAMMY
Wade-
WADE
Wait, let me get this out. Sammy-- I think... I love you.
SAMMY
I -- I can't believe you're saying this. After all these years of hiding
behind high brow analytical posturing--
WADE
I'm saying it. I love you. I know it's nonsensical.
SAMMY
Nonsensical? It's insane! We've known each other for fifteen years. Somewhere
in there you couldn't find the time to Freudian slip this little cat out of
the bag?!
WADE
I wanted to. So many times. You don't know how long I've wrestled internally
with the psychological repercussions of my feelings.
SAMMY
I need some time to process here. My electrical synapses are on overload.
My brain says one thing. But my heart -- says something different. That I
should... should consider the unequivocal, possibly damaging, highly
irrational, hypnotically scarring proposition of, of... loving you back.
He moves in to kiss her, but she pulls away.
WADE (cont'd)
What's wrong?
SAMMY
This... all this.
She takes off her crown.
SAMMY (cont'd)
I don't know what I was thinking, Wade, me in a beauty contest --
masquerading as some kind of warped fairy tale princess. I mean, it's so
painfully obvious that I could never compete with these trust fund babies.
WADE
Sammy, if only you could see yourself through my eyes.
SAMMY
Y'know, for the longest time I thought that was what I wanted -- for the boy
across the creek, my best friend, to see me as beautiful. It's practcially
been the purpose of my life. Now it's finally happened and you know what --
it feels wrong. The truth is, I want you to see me like you always have,
realizing that what we share transcends mere physical longings. Because this,
it's just...
(wipes off her lipstick)
cosmetic enhancement --
(taking down her hair)
and hair spray. I'm still the same old Samantha -- the overly tall girl who
resides on the wrong side of the creek. The girl you've seen almost every day
for the last fifteen years and the one you watch movies with every Friday
night. If you look closely, Wade, you'll see -- it's just me.
Wade doesn't know what to say.
SAMMY (cont'd)
I have to go.
WADE
Sammy, wait!
But she's gone. And Wade can only watch, helplessly, after her.
EXT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
It's raining. Wade stands on the porch, watching the rain. Looking out at the
creek. Finally, he goes inside.
INT. WADE'S HOUSE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Wade walks upstairs, into his room.
INT. WADE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Wade opens his closet door to find-- SAMMY.
WADE
Sammy... I've been looking everywhere for you.
SAMMY
You should have known... I'd be "right heeeere."
Wade and Sammy look at each other for only a beat. They smile at each other.
(
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