Cole’s Notes

EXT. LIBRARY - DAY 

SARA, a young woman, is standing near the library steps strumming her guitar and 
singing a song. A short distance from her, COLE sits on a park bench. He is 
tapping his fingers nervously on the handrest and occasionally looks in her 
direction. His eyes linger on her when he sees her looking the other way. He 
takes a deep breath, stands, and walks towards her. She looks up and smiles as 
he approaches. He smiles back and pauses for a moment before dropping a coin in 
her open guitar case and walking away. 

INT. APARTMENT - DAY 

JEFF, a fellow student and Cole's roommate, leans his chair against the wall and 
laughs at Cole, who is standing near the door with his jacket still on. 

                              JEFF
               I just don't get it. What the hell's so
               difficult about just asking the girl out?

                              COLE
               I don't know. I still know nothing about
               her. Maybe she's got a boyfriend or
               something.

                              JEFF
               Aw gee, well maybe you should ask her.

                              COLE
               I can't just do that. I just have to get
               to know her a little better first.

                              JEFF
               Oh yes, of course. So tell me, what
               wonderful things did you two talk about
               today?

                              COLE
               Well, nothing really. But she does
               recognize me now, she smiled when she saw
               me.

                              JEFF
               Well of course she bloody well smiled,
               you're probably her best customer.
               Exactly how much money have you spent on
               this girl so far? It's like one of those
               peek-a-boo theaters. You know, the ones
               where you have to put the coins in the
               slots so the shutters will open for a few
               minutes and you can see the dancing lady.

                              COLE
               Tomorrow will be better. I'll talk to her
               tomorrow. I promise.

                              JEFF
               Oh, so you're going to make this a daily
               thing now? Are you certain you can afford
               it? Maybe you can list her as an expense
               on your student loan forms.

EXT - LIBRARY - DAY 

Sara is singing once again and Cole is sitting in the same spot on the bench. He 
is flipping through a paperback book but seems to be simply choosing pages at 
random. Sara pauses in between songs and he gets up and approaches her. She 
looks up from her guitar. There is a moment of awkward silence. 

                              COLE
               Hi.

                              SARA
               Hello.

Cole smiles slightly, nods, and then walks away, silently cursing himself. Sara 
stares after him in confusion. 

INT. APARTMENT - DAY 

                              JEFF
               So, did you talk to her?

                              COLE
               Yeah.

Jeff motions with his hand for Cole to continue, but Cole remains silent. 

                              JEFF
               And what did you say?

COLE
               I said "hi."

Jeff throws up his hands in disgust. 

                              JEFF
               You really are hopeless. Do you want me
               to ask her out for you? Is that it? Hell,
               I'll ask her out for myself just to show
               you how easy it is. Come on, what's the
               worse that can happen, eh? She tells you
               to get lost? Fine, no great loss. You just
               make it worse by dragging it out so long. 
               Why does it have to be such a big deal?

                              COLE
               Look, I know all that. But it doesn't
               matter. I can use logic 'til it's coming
               out my ears but it doesn't help the fact
               that my heart is going a mile a minute
               and my tongue has two left feet every
               time I want to say anything to her.

                              JEFF
               So what do you want to do, write her a
               note?

                              COLE
               Hey, that might be a good idea.

Jeff groans and smacks himself in the forehead with his hand. 

                              JEFF
               God, that would be just like you. The
               girl's gonna call the police on you, you
               know, she'll think you're stalking her or
               something. Gonna include a photo with
               that note so she knows who you are?

EXT. LIBRARY - DAY 
  
Cole is sitting on the bench with a folded piece of paper in his hand. He stares 
at the paper as he flips it over and over in his fingers. He stands up quickly, 
dropping the note in his pocket, and runs right into Sara who had just been 
approaching him. 

                              COLE
               Oh God, I'm so sorry.

                              SARA
               No, that's all right, it was my fault.

Cole sees Sara bending down to pick up a folded piece of paper. She hands it to 
him. 

                              SARA
               This must be yours.

                              COLE
               Oh, no, it can't be. It must be for you
               I think.

                              SARA
               No, it's definitely not mine.

She quickly places the note in his hand and walks away. Cole lets out a 
disgruntled groan and turns in the opposite direction. He flips the note over in 
his hand for a moment and then tosses it into a garbage can. 
  
INT. APARTMENT - DAY 

                              JEFF
               I told you the note was a stupid idea.

                              COLE
               Well I still think it could've worked.
               You can't get tongue-tied in a note.

                              JEFF
               Look, I'll be your agent, okay. I'll
               approach her and tell her all about you
               and then we'll set up some grand meeting,
               okay. Of course I will expect some sort
               of commission.

Cole continues pacing, ignoring the sly grin Jeff gives him. He puts his hands 
in his pockets and pulls out a folded piece of paper. He stares at it in 
confusion and then a look of realization comes over his face. He drops the note 
and runs out the door. Jeff just shakes his head as he watches Cole go. 

                              JEFF
               I will never understand that guy.