(500) DAYS OF SUMMER

by
Scott Neustadter

&
Michael H. Weber

First Draft
2006
 3.

SIMPLE BLACK ON WHITE CREDITS ROLL TO BIG STAR’S “I’M IN LOVE

WITH A GIRL.” When all is said and done, up comes a single
number in parenthesis, like so:

(478)
EXT. PARK - DAY

For a few seconds we watch A MAN (20s) and a WOMAN (20s) on a

park bench. Their names are TOM and SUMMER. Neither one says
a word.

CLOSE ON her HAND, covering his. Notice the wedding ring. No

words are spoken. Tom looks at her the way every woman wants
to be looked at.
A DISTINGUISHED VOICE begins to speak to us.
NARRATOR
This is a story of boy meets girl.

CUT TO:

(1)
INT CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

The boy is TOM HANSEN. He sits at a very long rectangular

conference table. The walls are lined with framed blow-up
sized greeting cards. Tom, dark hair and blue eyes, wears a t-
shirt under his sports coat and Adidas tennis shoes to
balance out the corporate dress code. He looks pretty bored.
NARRATOR
The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New
Jersey, grew up believing that he’d
never truly be happy until the day
he met his... “soulmate.”
CUT TO:

INT LIVING ROOM - 1989

PRE-TEEN TOM sits alone on his bed engrossed in a movie. His
walls are covered in posters of obscure bands. From the TV,
we hear: “Elaine! Elaine!”
 4.

NARRATOR
This belief stemmed from early
exposure to sad British pop music
and a total misreading of the
movie, “The Graduate.”

CUT TO:

INT OFFICE CUBICLE - PRESENT DAY

The girl is SUMMER FINN. She files folders and answers phones
in a plain white office. She has cropped blonde hair almost
like a boy’s but her face is feminine and pretty enough to
get away with it.
NARRATOR
The girl, Summer Finn of
Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share
this belief.
CUT TO:

INT BATHROOM - 1994

Teenage Summer stares at herself in the mirror. Her hair
extends down to her lower back.
NARRATOR
Since the disintegration of her
parents’ marriage, she’d only loved
two things. The first was her long
blonde hair.

She picks up scissors from the counter and begins to slice.

NARRATOR
The second was how easily she could
cut it off... And feel nothing.
CUT TO:

SPLITSCREEN. INT BOARDROOM/ INT CUBICLE - SAME

On the right side of the screen, Tom continues to listen to
some boring presentation. On the left, Summer answers a call,
takes a message, and walks out of her cubicle down a long
narrow hallway.
 5.

NARRATOR
Tom meets Summer on January 8th in
a San Francisco office building. In
an instant, he will know she’s the
one he’s been looking for.

CU Summer opening the door to the boardroom, about to come

face to face with Tom for the first time.
NARRATOR
This is a story of boy meets girl.
But before they do,

CUT TO:
BLACK.
NARRATOR
You should know up front, this is
not a love story.

(240)
EXT STREETS OF SAN FRAN - NIGHT

A 12 year old GIRL rides her bicycle down the block. She
arrives at an apartment complex, jumps off the bike and races
up the front stairs. She rings the doorbell.

INT TOM’S PLACE - LATER

PAUL and MCKENZIE open the door. These are Tom’s best friends
since birth. Paul is a doctor and wears hospital scrubs.
McKenzie works in the cubicle next to Tom.
PAUL
I didn’t know who else to call.
The Girl removes her bike helmet.
GIRL
You did the right thing. Where is
he?
Tom is in the kitchen breaking things and basically going
insane. About to smash a plate on the floor, he’s interrupted
by:
 6.

GIRL
Thomas.
Tom freezes.
TOM
Rachel? What are you doing here?
GIRL (RACHEL)
I’m here to help you.
TOM
Help me how?

RACHEL
First, put down the plate.
Tom slowly obliges.
RACHEL
Now come here and sit down.
Tom sits next to the young girl. Paul and Mckenzie sit on
either side of them.
RACHEL
The key is not to panic.

TOM
I think I’m gonna be sick.
RACHEL
Drink this.
She hands him a glass of water. Tom drinks it down.
MCKENZIE
What is that?
RACHEL
Vodka.
TOM
(grimacing at the taste)
More.
He gulps another down.
TOM
Does Mom know you’re here? It’s
gotta be past 10.
 7.

RACHEL
Don’t worry about it. Start from
the beginning. Tell us what
happened...
Tom takes a deep breath.

EXT PARK - DAY

Tom and Summer eat sandwiches in the park.

TOM (V.O.)
We spent the whole day together.

EXT OUTDOOR MARKET - DAY

Tom and Summer walk through the stalls.
TOM (V.O.)
We went shopping.

EXT COFFEE HOUSE - DAY

Tom and Summer seated outside drinking coffee. He reads the

newspaper, she reads a novel.
TOM (V.O.)
We had coffee.

EXT MOVIE THEATER - DAY

Tom and Summer walk out of a movie theatre.

TOM (V.O.)
We saw a film.

INT RECORD STORE - LATER

Tom and Summer shop for music. Tom excitedly shows Summer a
Ringo Starr solo album.
TOM (V.O.)
We bought music.
 8.

INT TOM’S PLACE

TOM
I thought it was a great day.
RACHEL
And then what happened?

INT DINER - NIGHT

Tom and Summer in a booth ordering dinner.

TOM
(to WAITRESS)
Um...you know what...let’s go
crazy, I’ll have BOTH.
(to Summer)
God, I love eating pancakes at
night. It’s like the greatest thing
ever. How great is this?
SUMMER
I think we should stop seeing each
other.

INT TOM’S PLACE - AS BEFORE

RACHEL
Just like that?
TOM
Just like that.

PAUL
Did she say why?

INT DINER - AS BEFORE

SUMMER
This thing. This whatever it is.
You and me. Do you think this is
normal?
TOM
I don’t know. Who cares about
normal?! I’m happy. Aren’t you
happy?
 9.

SUMMER
You’re happy?

TOM
You’re not?

SUMMER
All we do is argue!
TOM
That is such a lie!

INT TOM’S PLACE - AS BEFORE

RACHEL
Maybe she was just in a bad mood.
PAUL
A hormonal thing.
RACHEL
P.M.S.?
TOM
(to Rachel)
What do you know about PMS?

RACHEL
More than you.
TOM
Oh my god.
MCKENZIE
Please continue.

INT DINER - AS BEFORE

SUMMER
This can’t be a total surprise. I
mean, we’ve been like Sid and Nancy
for months.
TOM
Summer, Sid stabbed Nancy seven
times with a kitchen knife. We’ve
had some disagreements but I hardly
think I’m Sid Vicious.
SUMMER
No... I’m Sid.
 10.

TOM
(beat)
So I’m Nancy?!
The Waitress comes out with the food. Tom and Summer stop
their discussion until the meal is served and the Waitress
leaves. Summer starts to eat.
SUMMER
Let’s just eat and we’ll talk about
it after. I’m starving.
Without another word she goes back to her pancakes. Tom
watches her eat like this is the worst travesty in the
history of mankind.
SUMMER
(mouth full)
Mmm, you’re so right. These are
great!
Tom looks at his food in disgust. He may never eat again.
SUMMER
(innocent)
What?

Tom stands up to go.

SUMMER
Tom, don’t. Come back. You’re still
my best fr---
THE SCENE FREEZES AND WE ZOOM IN ON TOM’S STUNNED FACE.

INT TOM’S PLACE - AS BEFORE

Silence for a few beats.

PAUL
Jesus.
MCKENZIE
That’s harsh.
TOM
I don’t know what I’m gonna do.
RACHEL
You’re gonna be fine.
 12.

PAUL
(beat)
For real?
CUT TO:

CU - SUMMER’S SMILE
TOM (V.O.)
I love her smile.
CU - SUMMER’S HAIR

TOM (V.O.)
I love her hair.
CU - SUMMER’S KNEES
TOM (V.O.)
I love her knees.
CU - SUMMER’S EYES
TOM (V.O.)
I love how one eye is higher up on
her face than the other eye.

CU - SUMMER’S NECK
TOM (V.O.)
I love the scar on her neck from
this operation she had as a kid.
CU - SUMMER’S BREASTS (UNDER A BLACK T-SHIRT)
TOM (V.O.)
I love how she looks in my Clash T-
shirt.
CU - SUMMER ASLEEP
TOM (V.O.)
I love how she looks when she’s
sleeping.
CU - SUMMER’S LAUGH
TOM (V.O.)
I love the sound of her laugh.
OVER BLACK, play the middle 8 of “Every Little Thing She Does
is Magic” by The Police.
 13.

TOM (V.O.)
I love how I hear this song every
time I think of her.

CU - TOM, STARING DIRECTLY AT THE CAMERA.

TOM (V.O.)
I love how she makes me feel. Like
anything’s possible. Like, I don’t
know...like life is worth it.

CUT TO:

EXT SIDEWALK - SAME

Paul and Tom.

TOM
For real, Paul. I’m madly in love
with that girl.
Paul is silent for a beat.
PAUL
Oh shit.

(1)
INT CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Tom as we saw him earlier. Bored. In the boardroom. Mckenzie

is in mid-presentation.
MCKENZIE
Now I know this may be a little
risque...but if New Hampshire
Greetings wants the jump on those
conservative, right-wing neo-Nazis
at Hallmark, maybe playing it safe
is the wrong approach. The nuclear
family is dead and we need a new
holiday to recognize that.
Mckenzie holds up a home-made photoshopped family portrait of
Martina Navratilova, Ellen DeGeneres, and the kid from “Jerry
Maguire”.
 14.

MCKENZIE
May 21st. Other Mother’s Day.

The co-workers nod and digest this idea. VANCE is the head of
the department.
VANCE
Hmmm. That’s an intriguing idea
McKenzie. Along with Grossman’s
“Magellan Day” I’d say we’ve got
some potential here. What do you
think Hansen? Could you write up
some prototypes for these?

Tom is about to answer when... the door opens.

SUMMER
Excuse me, Mr. Vance? There’s a
call for you on line 3.
And in walks this girl. Summer. We’ve met her by now but Tom
hasn’t. This is the first time. His eyes go wide and from
that moment on, he can’t take them off her.
VANCE
(to the table)
Everyone this is Summer, my new
assistant. Summer just moved here
from...
SUMMER
Michigan.
VANCE
Right. Michigan. Well, Summer,
everyone. Everyone, Summer. Excuse
me, I have to take this.
SUMMER
Nice to meet you all.
Summer gives a little wave before following Vance out.
She doesn’t notice Tom whose face looks like he’s just seen
God.
 15.

(3, 4, 5)
INT. OFFICE - DAY

Tom trying to work. And failing. He turns to McKenzie.

TOM
What do we know about this new
girl?
MCKENZIE
Who?
TOM
The new girl. Summer. In Vance’s
office.
MCKENZIE
Dude. I hear she’s a bitch from
hell!
TOM
(disappointed)
Really?

MCKENZIE
Patel tried to talk to her in the
copy room. She was totally not
having it.
TOM
Maybe she was just in a hurry.
MCKENZIE
And maybe she’s some uppity, better
than everyone, superskank.
TOM
Damn.
MCKENZIE
I know. She’s pretty hot.
TOM
That makes me so mad! Why is it
pretty girls always think they can
treat people like crap and get away
with it?
 16.

MCKENZIE
Dunno.

TOM
Like, just cause she has high
cheekbones and soft skin...

MCKENZIE
...and really good teeth.
TOM
And maybe the world’s most perfect
breasts...Just cause of that stuff,
she can walk around like she’s
center of the universe?
MCKENZIE
(as explanation)
Women.
TOM
Ugh. You know what? Screw her! We
haven’t even met and I can’t stand
her already.

INT. ELEVATOR - LATER

Tom is listening to headphones. Summer enters the elevator

and Tom actively puts on a show to ignore her. Summer hears
the music.
SUMMER
The Smiths.
Tom, pretending not to hear or care, gives her an
unenthusiastic wave.

SUMMER
I love The Smiths.
Tom, still pretending, takes off his headphones.
TOM
Sorry?
SUMMER
I said. I love The Smiths. You have
good taste in music.
A beat as Tom processes this information.
 17.

TOM
(amazed)
You like the Smiths?
SUMMER
(singing)
“To die by your side is such a
heavenly way to die.” Love it.
The elevator doors open and she gets off.
TOM
(accidentally out loud)
Oh my god.

(8)
INT OFFICE LOBBY - DAY

The office sings “Happy Birthday” to a FEMALE CO-WORKER. When

they get to the part about her name, Tom is the only one who
knows it, everyone else just there for the cake. Song over,
everyone digs in. Tom finds himself standing next to Summer.
TOM
Hi.
SUMMER
Hello.
TOM
So, uh, Summer...
SUMMER
Tom.
TOM
Yeah! How’s it going so far?
SUMMER
The city or the firm?
TOM
Both... Either.
SUMMER
I’m happy. Still getting situated.
How long have you worked here?
 42.

SUMMER
I mean, who are you? They’re happy.
Just mind your own business.

Summer goes back to eating. Tom can’t believe she snapped.

(31)
INT RESTAURANT - NIGHT

An equally UNATTRACTIVE COUPLE go at it in a booth. PAN

ACROSS to find Tom and Summer early in their relationship, in
a booth across the room, watching in hysterics.

TOM
9, 9.5?
SUMMER
Too soon to say. It’s all in the
dismount.
TOM
If we’re lucky, there won’t be a
dismount.
Summer, her cheeks flushed already from laughing, loses it
again. They are having a great night.
SUMMER
I can’t believe them. I have like
zero patience for PDA.
TOM
I hear ya. If I want to watch
people make out, I have big windows
and binoculars at home.
SUMMER
Yeah?
TOM
(beat)
No. That would be wrong.
They laugh some more. She is in hysterics.
SUMMER
This is fun. You’re fun.
 43.

TOM
Thanks.

SUMMER
I mean, I just want to say, up
front, I’m not looking for anything
serious.
Tom is a little surprised.
SUMMER
Are you cool with that?
TOM
(unconvincing)
Sure.
SUMMER
It freaks some guys out when I say
that.
TOM
(still confused)
Not me.
SUMMER
Let’s just have fun. Let’s
just...hang out, no pressure, no
labels, no obligations.
(beat)
Ok?
Tom is visibly disappointed by this but he tries to hide it.
TOM
Sure.
SUMMER
(beat)
Wanna hold my hand under the table?
A beat.
TOM
Yeah.

INT TOM’S BEDROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT

Summer and Tom come bounding in, lip-locked and all over each
other. They fall on his bed and begin undressing each other.
Suddenly, Tom stops.
 116.

TOM
I, uh, don’t know. I don't think
so.
GIRL
Do you go to St. Patrick’s? Not to
pray or anything but to stand
outside?
TOM
I do! I love that church. It’s like
my favorite structure in the city.
GIRL
If only it wasn’t near that
horrible mirrored thing...
TOM
Yes! Exactly. I totally agree!
GIRL
Yeah.
(beat)
I think I’ve seen you there.
TOM
You have? Really? Hmm. I didn’t see
you.
GIRL
It happens. You probably weren’t
looking.
A MAN comes out.
MAN
Tom Hansen?

TOM
Yes.
MAN
Come on back.
TOM
Thank you.
He starts to go. But halfway through the doorway, he pauses
and looks back at the girl.
 117.

NARRATOR
If Tom had learned anything... it
was that you can’t ascribe great
cosmic significance to a simple
earthly event. Coincidence. That’s
all anything ever is. Nothing more
than coincidence.
ANIMATION. 1 second clip of the colored sequence. Real fast.
Hardly noticeable. But it’s there.
NARRATOR
It took a long time but Tom had
finally learned. There are no
miracles. There’s no such thing as
fate. Nothing is meant to be. He
knew. He was sure of it now.
(beat)
Tom was...
Tom turns back around.
NARRATOR
...pretty sure.
TOM
(to Girl)
Excuse me.
GIRL
Hello stranger.
TOM
When this is over... uh... would
you like to maybe...grab a cup of
coffee or something?
GIRL
Oh. I’m sorta supposed to meet
someone.
TOM
(deflated)
Oh. Got it... No problem.
He turns back around and shakes that off, tries to refocus on
the task at hand. A job interview. And then he hears.
GIRL
Ok.
Tom turns back around.
 118.

TOM
What’s that?

GIRL
Why not?

TOM
Yeah?
GIRL
Yeah.
TOM
Great! So... I’ll wait for you
here, or you wait for me
or...something.
She laughs. She’s cute when she laughs.
GIRL
We’ll figure it out.
TOM
Ok!
(extends hand to shake)
My name’s Tom.

GIRL
Nice to meet you...
She puts out her hand to meet his. They shake.
GIRL
I’m Autumn.
And on his face...
SMASH CUT TO:

(1)
THE END.

(CREDITS ROLL TO “GO ASK YOUR DAD” by THE TYDE.)