17 INT.

PIZZERIA - NIGHT

We’re at a cheap pizzeria now. Nicole is seated, two half-eaten slices of pepperoni in front of
her. An old jazz track is playing. Seated across from Nicole is Andrew.

NICOLE
This is a nice place.

ANDREW Yeah, I really like the music that they play.

NICOLE
Hm.

ANDREW
I mean the food’s good, too, but…

NICOLE
No, the pizza’s really good.

ANDREW
“When I Wake”

NICOLE
What?

ANDREW
That’s the name of the song

NICOLE
Oh.

ANDREW
Jackie Hill, July 17th, 1938, Bob Ellis on drums.

(Nicole smiles. A moment. Andrew dgets. Nervous.)

NICOLE
You know every time I saw you in the
theater your eyes where glued to the oor.

ANDREW
Really? Oh…

NICOLE
Mm-hm.
fi
fl
ANDREW
My dad says I have trouble making eye contact.

NICOLE
My parents like to criticize me too. When I was growing up my mom said I had a really big chin
and that that’s why guys wouldn’t like me.

ANDREW
Really? You don’t - -

NICOLE
Yeah. She said my dad had cursed me with one.

NICOLE
It’s like Jay Leno. Look

ANDREW
No it’s not.

NICOLE
Yeah, it is.

ANDREW
I don’t—I don’t think so at all.

NICOLE
Well, that’s nice.

ANDREW
Your chin’s very nice. Very nice.
(She laughs)
Your mom sounds insane.

NICOLE
She did want to be an actress when she was my age.

ANDREW
What about you?

NICOLE
What about me?

ANDREW
What do you do?

NICOLE
(thinks; wasn’t prepared for a question that direct)
I go to Fordham
ANDREW
What do you study?

NICOLE I don’t have a major yet.

ANDREW
Well, like what do you want to study?

NICOLE
I don’t really know. I don’t know yet.

ANDREW
So Fordham was just like a random school?

NICOLE
No I applied to a bunch of schools, Fordham let me in. Why’d you pick Shaffer?

ANDREW
It’s the best music school in the country.

NICOLE
Well, Fordham is Fordham.

(Long pause)

NICOLE
I don’t love it there to be honest.

ANDREW
No?

NICOLE
No. I don’t know. I guess it’s just the people. I don’t know if they like me very much. I’m from
Arizona and I think they see it.

ANDREW
I kind of feel the same way about Shaffer.

NICOLE
Yeah?

ANDREW
Yeah. I don’t think they like me too much. But I don’t—I don’t…I don’t care too much. I think it
just—It changes. You know, people change and things work out.

NICOLE
No, no, I know, I know. I just…(beat)
I feel really homesick sometimes. I don’t know. I kind of pisses me off when people pretend like
they’re not. In college, you know? Maybe I’m literally the only one, I don’t know.
(A moment of silence. She looks at Andrew. He looks at her.)

ANDREW
I still go to the movies with my dad.

(Nicole smiles. Andrew smiles back. She touches his foot with her foot.)