Act One - The Begining

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - EARLY MORNING

Jim works at a convenience store as a cashier.  He is currently staring at his horoscope on the newspaper and smirks at what it says.  His horoscope reads:  The Happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.  A BELL chimes signalling a customer stepping in.  


Jim looks up to see the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

PAM heads straight for the ice cream freezer and opens it, looking for something to eat.  She digs out a few ice cream cups, then has a second thought and pulls out instead a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream.  She sighs, then lifts it up and heads to the counter.

Jim quickly tries to look nonchalant, even as he stares at her face intently.

JIM

Anything else?

Pam stares at him, as if he said something insensitive.  Jim tried to make up for it.

JIM

I mean... we have cones.  Or marshmallows...

PAM

Marshmallows?

JIM

In case you want.. other.. toppings...

PAM

If I wanted toppings, I wouldn't have gotten Vanilla Ice Cream.

Jim makes a face, clearly amused but at the same time embarrassed to have suggested something so stupid. Pam sees the face and that moment realizes he's actually kinda cute.

JIM(as he keys in the purchase)

Bad day?

PAM (hands out money to pay)

That obvious, huh?

JIM

Well, that is half a gallon of Ice Cream.

PAM (a bit more amused now)

Who's to say I'm not getting it for a group of friends...

JIM

Girlfriends?

PAM

Yeah, girlfriends, who happen to like eating ice cream-

JIM

This early in the morning.

PAM

Yes!  This early in the morning.

JIM doesn't respond.  They stare at each other for a moment. Slowly, they begin to smile. Jim takes a deep breath, clearly about to ask her something when suddenly UNCHAINED MELODY plays. PAM irritatedly pulls out her cellphone and stares at it.  

PAM (distracted)

Yeah... this early in the morning.

JIM

Bad day?

PAM looks up.  She looks genuinely surprised Jim understands.  Jim again gives a half-smile.  

PAM

Yeah...

PAM cancels the call.

PAM

Bad day.

The two have a moment of silence.  Slowly they both smile.  Jim struggles to find something to say and instead hands her the change.

PAM

Maybe I will have some marshmallows.

JIM beams. He quickly heads out of the counter and walks towards a shelf where the candies and other snacks are. PAM follows him, watching amusedly as he tries to locate the marshmallows.

JIM

Okay.. marshmallows.  I... know they're there somewhere.  

PAM (noticing Jim can't find the marshmallows)

Chocolates would be nice.

JIM

Chocolates would be nicer.  Dark or Milk?

PAM

What would you recommend?

JIM

Well, if you're having a really bad day, I'd say dark chocolates would be better. They have this way of making one feel special.

UNCHAINED MELODY once again plays. Pam and Jim end up staring at each other and smiling.

JIM

Definitely a bad day.

PAM

Yes!

JIM grabs a dark chocolate bar and hands it to Pam. The two once again stop for a moment, as if there's something that's starting to happen. This time, it is Pam who breaks the silence.

PAM

I guess that's it.

JIM

That's it.

The two return to the counter. JIM slides the chocolate into the bag with the ice cream and hands it to her.  

PAM

You didn't punch that in.

JIM

You're having a bad day.  It's on me.

PAM

Are you serious?

JIM

Least I could do, considering we actually don't have marshmallows.  I just want you and your girlfriends to have a great morning.

PAM

The ice cream is just for me.

JIM

I figured.

PAM

But you know, I think I actually will enjoy it more now.

JIM (motions at the cellphone)

He doesn't like ice cream?

PAM

He's through.

JIM

Ah.

PAM

But you know, thanks.

JIM

For what?

PAM

The suggestion.  And for making me feel better today.

JIM

Happy to have helped.

PAM

I better go.

The two linger again at the counter, not saying anything. PAM sighs. JIM hesitates, then reaches for his cellphone.  Pam decides to give her number the same moment Jim decides to ask for it.

PAM and JIM

Listen...

UNCHAINED MELODY plays again. This time, the two break out into laughter.

JIM

I'm sorry.  I know this is a bad time...

PAM

No... well, yes.  But...

JIM

Can I have...

PAM

Here's my number.  

PAM punches in her number into JIM's cellphone. Pam hands it back to him and grabs her things.

PAM 

It has been a terribly bad day.   But this... this was good.

JIM

Yeah.

PAM

Tomorrow.  Let's try tomorrow.

JIM

What do you mean?

PAM

Call me.  Tomorrow.  We can meet up.

JIM

I'd like that.

PAM

Maybe tomorrow won't be a bad day.

JIM (motioning towards the cellphone)

What about-

PAM

Oh, he's so over.  Been over for months.  But refuses to stop calling.  It is pathetic, really.

JIM

I've been that.

PAM smiles.

JIM

So... tomorrow?

PAM

Call me.

JIM

Okay.  Tomorrow.

PAM

It's a date.

PAM heads for the door. JIM looks at the phone and sees her name on it: Pam. He looks up and she's already gone.

JIM (smiling)

It's a date.