2. INT. APARTMENT - MORNING
Boxes piled among furniture. RUSTLING in a different room. A
young woman -- JULIE (late-20s) -- carries a box into the
room. Barefoot. Wears jean shorts and a plain t-shirt. Hair
pulled up into a messy bun. She grabs a tape gun and secures
the box shut. Glances toward the bedroom as she straightens
up again, sighs...
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Julie wears the same shirt but pajama pants instead. She
runs her hands through her hair. A man -- SAM (early-30s) --
sits at the edge of the bed, head bowed. Eyes red, puffy. He
stands, brushes by Julie -- she quickly grabs his wrist --
INT. APARTMENT - BACK TO PRESENT
Julie picks up a book, stares at it for a moment then places
it at the bottom of an empty box. She quickly places a
variety of items inside -- more books, some paintbrushes.
Once the box is full, she tapes it closed.
Behind her, Sam passes the open door, doubles back. Eyes
puffy. He hovers in the doorway for a moment before walking
away again. A beat, Julie straightens up, glances at the
spot where Sam was just standing.
Julie lifts the box then walks out to where the other boxes
are piled, places it on the stack. She makes eye contact
with Sam -- he knits his brow, walks away with a mug
clutched tightly in his hands. Julie drops her gaze.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - EVENING - FLASHBACK
Crowded, almost to full capacity. Sam holds a cup of tea in
his hand as he scans the coffee shop. His appearance is
overall disheveled. In the corner, Julie holds a book up in
front of her face -- the same book she packs. Sam sighs,
approaches the table that Julie is sitting at.
SAM
Excuse me.
Julie lowers her book, stares up at Sam as he towers above
her --
SAM (cont'd)
Do you mind if I sit here? There's
nowhere else to sit.
3. JULIE
Go for it.
She lifts the book up again, takes a sip of her drink. Sam
glances around, chews on his lip then takes a sip of his
coffee -- he coughs -- Julie peers at him.
JULIE (cont'd)
Are you okay?
SAM
coughing/laughing
( )
It's too hot.
Julie suppresses a grin. A beat, Sam recovers. He clears his
throat.
SAM (cont'd)
I'm Sam, by the way.
JULIE
Julie.
She resumes reading.
SAM
What are you reading?
Julie raises a brow, a mix of amused and puzzled. The title
has been plainly clear this whole time, goof!
SAM (cont'd)
Yeah... that was... um...
chuckles nervously
( )
How do you like it?
JULIE
It's actually my favorite book.
SAM
What's it about?
He blows his coffee before taking a tentative sip. Julie's
response is indecipherable --
EXT. COFFEE SHOP - LATER THAT NIGHT
A dimly lit city street. Light rain. Water reflects the
lights off the asphalt. Julie and Sam walk side-by-side,
each smiling. Julie crosses her arms, shivers. Sam removes
his jacket and places it over her shoulders. Julie stops,
smiles up at him.
2.
4. JULIE
You didn't have to do that. My car's
right here.
SAM
Keep it. It'll be the perfect reason
to see you again.
JULIE
That's gonna be tough without my
number.
Sam chuckles. He takes out his phone from his back pocket.
INT. APARTMENT - BACK TO PRESENT
The same jacket sits at the bottom of a dresser drawer.
Julie removes it, stands up. Glances toward the dining room
table where Sam is sitting. Julie sighs... she approaches
him, jacket clutched in both hands.
JULIE
Do you want to keep this?
Sam looks up. His eyes meet her gaze first before he looks
at the jacket in her hands. He knits his brow just slightly.
SAM
Donate it.
Julie places it on the table.
JULIE
I think you should do that, then.
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Different dining table. It's worn -- smudged and scratched.
Sam stares at Julie's contact in his phone. He takes a deep
breath, lifts his phone to his ear... a beat...
SAM
Hey. It's Sam.
MONTAGE - RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Crowded restaurant. Julie and Sam sit across from each
other. Julie is dolled up. Sam wears a button-down shirt,
hair neatly combed. Dialogue inaudible. Julie pushes a
strand of hair behind her ear, a small grin.
3.
5. MONTAGE - ICE RINK - NIGHT
A different night. Outdoor temporary rink. String lights
illuminate the tent. A Christmas tree in the background.
Crowded rink -- ice uneven. Families skate around. Sam and
Julie are among them. Julie wears Sam's jacket from the day
they met. Sam clutches Julie's hand as he stumbles slightly.
Julie laughs.
MONTAGE - JULIE'S OLD APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
Julie and Sam stand close. Sam lifts a hand, pushes aside a
strand of Julie's hair. They kiss.
INT. APARTMENT - BACK TO PRESENT
Sam stands up. Picks up the jacket. Steps on the pedal of
the nearby trash can then drops the jacket inside. The lid
of trash can THUMPS closed.
Julie glances back at Sam from near the bedroom door. Sam
sits down again.
Julie returns to the dining room and digs the jacket out of
the trash can --
JULIE
Why would you do that? There's
nothing wrong with it.
SAM
without looking at
(
her)
That's how I feel about us, but
apparently that's not what you think.
JULIE
Oh, my god...
She scoffs then marches up to the laundry area. She throws
the jacket in the washer along with articles of clothing
from the nearby basket.
JULIE (cont'd)
mutters
( )
So fucking immature.
She pivots, snatches her keys off a hook on the wall. She
passes Sam to retrieve a box. Sam glances at her before
quickly staring at his mug again. Julie carries a box out of
the apartment.
4.
6. INT. APARTMENT - MORNING - FLASHBACK
Julie sits on the couch with Sam, her legs slung over his
lap. Sam pushes her legs off of him then stands up.
JULIE
Are you okay?
Sam walks over to the kitchen and removes something from a
drawer. He examines it for a moment then turns around. He
walks back up to Julie, extends his arm --
SAM
Here.
Julie opens her palm. Sam drops a key into her hand.
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - AFTERNOON
Julie places a suitcase in the back of her car. Boxes packed
densely inside. She slams the hatch shut. As she's about to
enter the driver's seat --
SAM
Julie! Wait!
She looks back at Sam as he jogs up to her car.
JULIE
What?
SAM
I don't want to end it like this.
Julie stands up again, glances aside.
SAM (cont'd)
I still love you. And... you don't
have to say it back, but I... I can't
just let this happen to me. I feel
like if I'd fought harder --
JULIE
That's the problem, Sam. You're
always fighting. You're fighting when
there's nothing to fight for.
SAM
Tell me what I have to do. I can
change. I want to change.
Julie shakes her head, re-enters her car. Sam stops her from
shutting the door.
5.
7. SAM (cont'd)
Julie --
JULIE
Just let me leave, Sam.
She slams the door shut. A beat, she drives away, leaving
Sam standing alone.
INT./EXT. JULIE'S CAR - EVENING
Setting sun. Julie drives down the interstate, she rests her
elbow on the door.
INT. APARTMENT - EVENING
Sam removes laundry from the dryer. He holds the jacket in
his hands, stares at it for a moment... he puts it on.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING
Months later. Same coffee shop as before except nearly empty
this time. Sam sits in the spot where Julie sat. He types on
his laptop. The front door opens -- Julie enters, her gaze
lands on Sam. He looks up. They exchange small smiles.
FADE TO BLACK
6.
