Today Again

By James Paul Nelson

Some writers are the type of creatures that are all or nothing. Samuel is a great writer but so much of a hopeless romantic that when he finishes writing his novel for a girl he loves, he commits suicide. Joanna is from the future and a huge fan of Samuel her goal is simple comeback to Samuel's time when he completed his novel and save him from himself.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Paul Nelson
• Release date: Jan 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224165582

James Paul Nelson

Born in the Philippines, raised in Sacramento, taught by all the greats that have come before. Just another artist seeking to express his love for art in multiple forms and disciplines. Trying to be the most well rounded artist he could possibly be.

Book preview

FADE IN:

INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING

It's just another day at this busy coffee shop in midtown. The line to purchase drinks is up to the door while people are sprinkled around tables on their computers and phones.

SAMUEL BARNES is sitting near a window overlooking the street too focused on his laptop to really notice anyone else.

JOANNA - V.O.

What would you do to save someone you care deeply about?  History is filled with people who died long before their time.  This story is about one of those guys.

A beautiful young woman steps into the coffee shop.  The young woman finds a chair and takes a seat.

SAMUEL looks up for a moment and notices the beautiful girl. The beautiful girl smiles at SAMUEL and he looks around to see if she is smiling at someone else.

Suddenly, the beautiful girl steps over to SAMUEL and introduces herself.

BEAUTIFUL GIRL

Hi.  I'm Joanna.

SAMUEL takes a moment from writing to speak to this girl.

SAMUEL

Hello.  I'm Sam.

JOANNA

Can I take this seat next to you?

SAMUEL

I don't see why not.

JOANNA

Good.

JOANNA takes a seat next to SAMUEL.

JOANNA

What are you working on?

SAMUEL

It's kind of hard to explain.

JOANNA

I have time.  Do you?

SAMUEL

Well.  I'm finishing a novel I started 8 months ago.

JOANNA

That's nice.  What's it about?

SAMUEL

It's about love.

JOANNA

That could be any story.  Can you be more specific?

SAMUEL

I know, but I really don't know how else to describe it.

JOANNA

Is it based on facts or completely a work of fiction?

SAMUEL

A little bit of both.

JOANNA

Okay.  That's a start.

SAMUEL

Have you ever met a person that you felt could be the most important person you were ever going to meet?

JOANNA

I'm not sure.

SAMUEL

Well, that's kind of what the story I'm writing right now is about.

JOANNA

Cool.  So it's about your girlfriend?

SAMUEL

Not exactly.  This girl has been out of my life for the past four years.

JOANNA

So you are writing to try and win her back?

SAMUEL

She's already married to some guy she met after we dated.

JOANNA

What kind of creepy shit is that?

SAMUEL

Even though she has moved on and is happy with someone else, I wanted to dedicate a story to her because I would never be able to live myself if I didn't.

JOANNA

She's gone dude!  There are millions of other girls out there.

SAMUEL

I know, I know.  Believe me I know.

JOANNA

Writers' are so weird.  Why put all of your time into a lost cause?

SAMUEL

As I am writing, all of those jokes, shared laughs and smiles will come back into my mind.

JOANNA

That is the most hopeless romantic thing I have ever heard.

SAMUEL

Maybe, maybe not.

SAM smiles at JOANNA and she can't help but notice.

JOANNA - V.O.

That was the first time I noticed Sam smiling at me.  It was a nice feeling.

JOANNA

You're smiling.

SAMUEL

Am I?

JOANNA

Yes, you are.

SAMUEL

I'm almost done with a project that's taken me years of prep and months of actual execution.  So can I smile a bit if I want too?

JOANNA

Go right ahead, I'm not going to stop you!

SAMUEL

Good.

SAM pulls out a digital voice recorder and begins to speak into it.

SAMUEL

Find a way to bring the narrative closer together.  Paint cleaner picture of Arianna one that she will recognize and be moved by.

JOANNA

You sound like you aren't ready to give up on this girl.

SAM looks at JOANNA and shakes his head.

SAMUEL

I guess I'm not.

Suddenly, SAM's phone begins to ring.

SAM gets up and excuses himself from the table.

SAMUEL

Sorry, I have to take this.

Suddenly, JOANNA stands up as SAM steps outside taking the call.  SAM's begins pacing around outside seemingly caught up in a deep conversation with whoever he is taking to.

JOANNA senses that whoever SAM is speaking to is changing his mood in a major way.

SAM steps back into the coffee shop and begins to pack up his things.

JOANNA

Hey, is there something wrong?

SAMUEL

It's my editor.  I have to go.

JOANNA begins to tinker with the unique looking watch on her wrist.  As SAMUEL gathers himself, JOANNA scrambles to figure out what went wrong.

JOANNA - V.O.

Well.  That didn't go exactly like I planned.

As JOANNA plays with the futuristic watch, time rewinds itself in the coffee shop until the moment just before SAM and JOANNA met.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING

It's just another day at this busy coffee shop in midtown. The line to purchase drinks is up to the door while people are sprinkled around tables on their computers and phones.

SAMUEL is sitting near a window overlooking the street too focused on his laptop to really notice anyone else.

JOANNA walks into the coffee shop again.  This time she takes a seat on the other side of the room.  JOANNA waits for SAMUEL to look up and notice her.

SAMUEL is completely locked in on what he's writing, but after a few minutes he stands up and gets in line with a empty drink in hand.

JOANNA gets up and stands in line with him.

JOANNA

Hi.

SAMUEL

Hello.

JOANNA

Nice day out.

SAMUEL

Yeah.  Just another sunny day in Sacramento.

Suddenly, the cashier opens up and SAMUEL steps over to order a new drink.

SAMUEL

Hi.  Can I get another medium white mocha please?

CASHIER

Absolutely.  And your name?

SAMUEL

Sam.

CASHIER

Thanks Sam, that will be $4.65