Lonely on a Cold Night

By
Hunter Ruland

11/24/14

BLANK SCREEN
VOICE
Its cold tonight.
FADE TO
EXT. BRIDGE OVER WILLAMETTE RIVER - FOGGY NIGHT
We see a shot of the Willamette River at night with a layer
of fog over it and fog blinding the ground. The bridge is
between the Valley River Center parking lot and Maurie
Jacobs Park.
Then a MAN (mid 20s) walks from the VRC side toward the
park. He stops at the middle of the bridge. His breath can
be seen as the air is cold. He looks at the river below him
as he leans on the railing.
MAN (V.O)
I dont like the cold. The cold
brings up bad memories. But I dont
like sitting in an empty room all
day after work, so these days where
I can go out are worth dealing the
deep chill.
He hears giggling. He looks to his right and sees a TEEN
COUPLE walking up the bridge to VRC. Theyre holding hands
and are smiling at each other.
The Man watches them with a blank look on his face, but his
eyes have a sadness to them.
The couple passes by him and dont even notice.
Once they pass him, the Man continues his walk.
CUT TO
EXT. BUS STOP ON RIVER RD.
The Man is standing at the bus stop. He looks around the
street as cars drive by.
MAN (V.O)
I just realized. Its been two
years since I had someone to call
my own. Its kind of hard now to
think about how slow time passes
by. How much has changed, yet so
little.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (2)

2.

CUT TO
INT. LTD BUS #51
The Man is sitting at the back right seat of the bus.
MAN (V.O)
I dont quite know what my goal in
life is anymore. For me, things
never went the way I wanted them
to. People came and went,
opportunities passed by, and I just
stood there dumbfounded.
CUT TO
EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET
The Man walks down the street as a cold breeze blows at him.
He tucks his face into his jacket and puts his hands in his
pockets.
MAN (V.O)
Its not like I did that on
purpose. All I wanted was to show
the world what I was capable of.
But instead the world turned its
head and ignored me.
EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT
The Man walks from the street into the parking lot. He looks
up at the apartment complex that he lives in.
MAN (V.O)
I never wanted to stay here. This
place where I was left behind by
people I once called friends and
family.
INT. APARTMENT STAIRWAY
The Man walks up the stairs with a face of slight relief.
MAN (V.O)
Ive got to clear my head... its
time for my walk. Thatll help.

3.

EXT. APARTMENT HALLWAY

The Man enters the hallway. Mind clear, but tired too.
He passes by a door that opens as we walks past. A CUTE
WOMAN (mid 20s) walks out of that door. Inside her
apartment are stacks boxes and an air mattress that was just
set up minutes ago.
The Man stops at the door next to hers. He pulls out a pair
of keys from his pocket and is about to insert his key into
the lockWOMAN
Hi there.
The Man pauses. He then turns toward her.
MAN
Sorry?
WOMAN
Oh, nothing. I just wanted to say
"hi."
The man looks at her door then back to her.
MAN
You the new neighbor?
WOMAN
Yeah, just got all my stuff in
today.
MAN
First time moving?
WOMAN
Yeah. (Laughs) How long have youve
lived here?
MAN
About a year and a half now, I
think. (Beat) Yeah, thats about
right.
WOMAN
Do you like it here?
MAN
Mmm, Yeah. It has its ups and
downs, but I guess everyplace does.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (2)

4.
WOMAN

True.
MAN
How long did it take you to get
your stuff into here?
WOMAN
Not too long. About a half hour, I
guess. I mean, I dont have too
much stuff. Just whatever was in my
room back at my parents and some
gifts from some old friends.
MAN
Moved out of your parents? Are you
going to school at the U of O?
WOMAN
No. My parents just thought that it
was time for me to leave the nest.
Start my own life. Besides, I
couldnt afford to go.
MAN
Kinda the same for me, but I chose
to move out after my dad got too
drunk one night.
WOMAN
Im sorry.
MAN
Its alright.
WOMAN
Thankfully, I never had to deal
with that. (Awkward Beat) I hope I
didnt offend you by saying that.
MAN
(Chuckling)
Dont worry about it.
WOMAN
(Chuckling)
Ha, Okay.
The then pause for a while and smile at each other.
WOMAN (contd)
So... dont mean to sound like a
creeper or anything, but whered
you come from?
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (3)

5.

MAN
I went to go see a movie.
WOMAN
What movie did you go see?
MAN
I missed my showing and there
wasnt anything good playing after
that, so I walked to the bus stop
and walked home.
WOMAN
That sucks.
MAN
I just needed to get out of the
house for a little bit, you know?
It just becomes so restricting
sometimes.
WOMAN
Yeah, I know that felling.
MAN
Walking helps clear my mind.
Lately, Ive just been having too
many negative thoughts. But when I
walk around, it all just goes away
somehow.
WOMAN
How often do you walk?
MAN
On nights that I dont work.
WOMAN
When are those?
MAN
I just started my weekly three day
break.
WOMAN
Nice. What else do you usually do
off work?
MAN
Just... sleep in, watch Netflix,
walk, etc.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (4)

6.

WOMAN
Sounds fun. Ha ha.
MAN
Ha ha. I know, right?
They laugh for a little bit and then have another moment of
silence with each other.
The Woman starts to blush
WOMAN
Um... this is gonna sound weird,
but do you have any plans for
tomorrow?
MAN
No, why?
WOMAN
Well, Im not from around here.
MAN
This part of town?
WOMAN
The whole town.
MAN
Youre not a local?
WOMAN
No, Im from Portland. So I dont
know this town very well. So, I
just thought that, if you didnt
have anything planned for tomorrow,
maybe you could show me around
town. Maybe even show me where you
go on your walks?
MAN
Id love to.
WOMAN
Sweet!
The Woman runs into her aparmtent for a second and comes out
with a piece of paper and a pen. She writes down something
quickly and hands it to the Man. Its her number.
WOMAN (contd)
Just give me a call when youre
ready and well go out.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: (5)

7.

MAN
Okay.
WOMAN
Awesome. (Beat) Well, I guess this
is when I say good night.
The Woman walks toward her door.
MAN
Wait a sec.
She stops at her doorway and looks at him.
MAN (contd)
Since you just moved in, do you
have anything to eat?
The Woman then has a realization.
WOMAN
Oh. My. God! I knew I was
forgetting something! Ha ha!
MAN
If youre hungry, Ive got a ton of
food Id be more than happy to
share.
WOMAN
Hmm. What do you have?
MAN
A frozen pizza?
WOMAN
You know, pizza sounds good.
MAN
I could throw it into the oven and
we could eat.
WOMAN
Sure.
The woman then walks out of her apartment, locks her door,
and shuts it, then walks toward the Mans apartment and
enters. He follows her into his living room and shuts the
door.

8.

BLANK SCREEN
MAN (V.O)
Sometimes, good things come to you
when you need them to.
END.