Chapter 1
1273 Words
EXTERIOR. BOULEVARD LINED WITH PALM TREES - DUSK
A man in his late twenties (KIM HYUN JOONG) is driving a convertible with its roof open. His face is a picture of sadness.
KIM HYUN JOONG ( NARRATION )
(sad tone)
This story begins as I try to say goodbye
To the saddest place I know
The boulevards of California
The beaches of California
EXTERIOR. AN EMPTY BEACH - DUSK
Kim Hyun Joong is leaning on his car watching the sunset and a lady with long straight blonde hair wearing a white dress walking by the beach. Her image fades and disappears as she turns and waves at him. It is just his imagination.
KIM HYUN JOONG (VOICE OVER)
Still as beautiful as ever.
Will I never forget such beauty.
Even if
I never
comeback again
...
Stella,
...
I really miss you.
...
I'm really sorry!
The sun disappears and everything turn dark.
TWO YEARS PASSED...
INTERIOR. BEDROOM - DAY
Kim Hyun Joong is breathing heavily in his sleep. Suddenly woke up and sit on side of the bed still heavily breathing. He stands up and walks over to a table at the corner of the room. He affectionately touches the urn on the table.
KIM HYUN JOONG (VOICE OVER)
I thought
I've gotten used to used to this.
Are you happy when I'm in pain.
Sadness can be somehow
comforting.
INTERIOR. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Kim Hyun Joong is sitting on the table reading a newspaper. The waiter approaches and puts the coffee on his table. He can hear the loud giggling of the girls on other side of the shop. The three ladies, two who seems to be older ladies, SONG EUN YI and CHOI HWA JEONG, and the younger looking HWANGBO HYE JUNG, which we will later know, are having their breakfast three tables away from him. They are talking so lively which is obviously irritating him so much. He glances at their direction with a frown on his face. Drinks his coffee and continues reading the newspaper. Hwangbo Hye Jung, the lady sitting with her back facing him suddenly burst into laughter. She is laughing her head off and hits the table of few times, while the other two ladies are trying hard to control their laughter.
Kim Hyung Joong slams the newspaper down onto the table. The three ladies startled by the sound, turn their heads to look at him in surprised. The surprise looks of Song Eun Yi and Choi Hwa Jeong turn enamored as they saw the handsome face of the angry man.
CHOI HWA JEONG
Ohmo!
Is he a movie star?
I wonder if I've watched any of his movie.
I want to get his autograph
but
I don't know his name.
SONG EUN YI
An Idol
maybe?
I want to know which group.
I'm totally going to be a member of his fan club.
Shall we ask him?
HWANGBO HYE JUNG
(arrogantly smirk)
How can an idol act so arrogantly and insolent towards ladies much older than him.
CHOI HWA JEONG
(slaps Hwangbo Hye Jung on the arm)
How dare you!
We're not old.
I don't think our age gap is that big.
SONG EUN YI
Our age gap is not that big. (pointing to herself)
Unnie,
he is old enough to be your son. (addressing Cha Hwa Jeong)
The two younger ladies start laughing loudly. Without glancing at them, Kim Hyun Joong stands up and walks pass them to the direction of the door.
HWANGBO HYE JUNG
How arrogant!
Kim Hyun Joong looks back towards Hwangbo Hye Jung's direction with a brazen faced. He realizes something and his brazen look turns into surprised staring at her face. He blinks his eyes in disbelief as he freezes in his place.
KIM HYUN JOONG
(whispers)
Stella!
It can't be!
Kim Hyun Joong walks slowly towards Hwongbo Hye Jung without getting his eyes off of her face. He stops right in front of her as if he is about to lose himself and cry. His hands slowly reaches for her face.
KIM HYUN JOONG
(shaky voice)
Stella!
Stella!
HWANGBO HYE JUNG
(shouting) Yah!
Are you insane! (pushes Kim Hyun Joong away)
Kim Hyun Joong ends up on the floor after being pushed hard. The three ladies are all surprised with the incident and hurriedly leave the cafe. Kim Hyun Joong is left on the floor crying. He is biting his lip while rich tears are flowing from his eyes. His hand is tightly clutching his chest. He is in so much pain.
KIM HYUN JOONG
(shaky voice)
Stella!
Stella!
EXTERIOR. CITY SIDEWALK. - DAY
The three ladies are walking down the street laughing together with Hwangbo Hye Jung laughing the loudest and full of life.
CHOI HWA JEONG
Stella! (towards Hwangbo Hye Jung)...
He fell in love with you at first sight.
How romantic?
I didn't know your English name is Stella.
Where did you meet him?
HWANGBO HYE JUNG
Unnie!...
I don't know who that insane man is.
And I don't have an English name.
I don't know who that Stella he is referring to.
He's so creepy.
SONG EUN YI
Creepy
but very handsome.
I'll willingly be his Stella if he ask me to.
(hold Hwangbo Hye Jung's face) Stella!
You should have just accepted him.
You're such a lucky girl!
Song Eun Yi and Cho Hwa Jeong laugh together making fun of her. Hwangbo Hye Jung looks at them pretending to be angry.
FLASHBACK
MONTAGE – VARIOUS
KIM HYUN JOONG (VOICE OVER)
I went to California right after I graduated from the University,
like other students,
to further my study and to improve my English.
There I met the most beautiful girl in the world.
She's Korean, too, but her family moved to United States when she was young.
Together with her, California is paradise...
Life is not always sunny and bright, there are cloudy days and sometimes stormy...
Although she gave me the most wonderful moments of my life,
she also gave me the most miserable times a man can ever had in this world...
She tore apart
A) EXTERIOR. BOULEVARD LINED WITH PALM TREES – DAY – Kim Hyun Joong in his early twenties driving a convertible smiling. Glancing at the bouquet in the passenger seat.
B) EXTERIOR. BEACH – DAY – There were people playing beach volleyball. Some people were swimming in the water, some are walking, the others are lying on the sand sunbathing.
C) EXTERIOR. OUTDOOR CAFÉ BY THE BEACH – DAY – STELLA (Hwangbo) with her long straight blond hair, in her early twenties, sitting on a table drinking coffee. Kim Hyun Joong approaches, kisses her on the cheek and gives her the flower he was hiding behind his back. Stella (Hwangbo) smiles shyly and accepts the bouquet.
KIM HYUN JOONG
Happy Birthday! (kisses her again)
D) INTERIOR. INSIDE THE CONVERTIBLE. – NIGHT – Kim Hyun Joong is driving while Stella (Hwangbo) Is sitting in the passenger seat. The car stops at the stop light. Stella (Hwangbo) leans her head on Kim Hyun Joong's shoulder and then he leans his head on her head.
E) INTERIOR. AT THE LIBRARY – DAY – Kim Hyun Joong and Stella (Hwangbo) are sitting side by side studying together.
F) EXTERIOR. BEACH – SUNSET – Stella (Hwangbo) is walking at beach. She turns around and waves at Kim Hyun Joong who is sitting on the sand. She walks towards him and sits next to him. She hooks her arm to his arm and leans on his shoulder.
G) INTERIOR. AT THE HOSPITAL – NIGHT – Stella (Hwangbo) is lying in bed with oxygen tube on her mouth. Kim Hyun Joong is sitting next to her, crying, wearing a hospital gown and a mask.
END OF FLASHBACK
- Writer
