Nick/Hallie Moment
From Rom Com
As Nick and Hallie are coming out of the restaurant, Hallie trips on the steps, and Nick catches her. The rest of the group moves ahead, leaving the two of them alone. After a moment, she purposefully pulls away from him, as if to say, "I'm with Dylan; back off." He is hurt, and responds with something designed to lash out, like "I have no interest in you anyway," and walks off. After he leaves, she becomes very sad, and maybe starts crying. This should also have very sad music.
EXT. Sidewalk outside restaurant. Evening.
Far shot. Nick, Kati, Alex, and Aimee coming out of the restaurant. Everyone except Nick starts walking. They turn the corner. Nick waits outside the restaurant. He is casual, leaning up against the wall. Hallie comes out of the restaurant. It is as if she is looking for everyone else, and doesn't want to talk to Nick. She walks past him.
(Over her shoulder) Goodnight.
Close-to-medium shot of Hallie.
Wait. (He follows after her; she speeds up.) Can I walk with you?
Medium shot of the scene. Hallie does not look back. She crosses into the street, stepping into the path of a car. (Or whatever. This does not have to be the scenario. She could like, trip or something. Anything that causes Nick to grab hold of her protectively.) The car screeches to a stop. Blare of a horn. Nick grasps her arm and keeps her back.
Look at me.
Close-up of Hallie. She looks up at him sullenly.
Is there anything you want to tell me?
Medium shot of them.
Nothing comes to mind.
Olivia, please.
He takes her by the arms.
Let go of me.
Nick hoists her over one shoulder. (Nick, can you do this? If so, great, if not, that's okay.) She struggles, perhaps a, "Hey! What are you doing! Let go of me!" but she doesn't fight him too hard. This can be comical.
Come on, Olivia. Let's be reasonable.
Reasonable?!
He takes her down the stairs to Pinball Pete's. There are two of like, the stupid racecar game things. He pats the seat. Hallie sits down. Nick leans across her to put quarters in the slots. This is filmed from behind the games, so we see them like moving the wheels and stuff.
I love you. Come to dinner with me tomorrow night.
No. I can't.
Can't or won't? Okay. We'll go to a nightclub. (Pause.) A gallery opening. A skate park. A movie.
William, I'm with Toby. Back off.
(Hurt. Curtly but also quietly.) All right. All right, fine.
Cut to EXT. Pinball Petes/INT. the doorway.
Here. I won you some tickets.
(With desperation) William...Will, it's not personal. I really like you...
I know. I understand.
They watch the cars for a few seconds.
Toby's probably wondering where you are.
Yeah. Yeah, he is.
Previously: Dinner Sincerity
