ROMANCE AND OWEN

FADE IN:

INT. UNIVERSITY FILM ALLIANCE MEETING, WELCH 2.224 - NIGHT

The weekly meeting for the University Film Alliance, or UFA
is in full-swing. President Jesse Moorefield quickly goes
over goals for the organization, effectively boring
the members with tedious fundraising and dues reminders.

In the scattered audience, Noël sits near the front of the
auditorium, isolated from the majority of members. She is
blatantly inattentive; her visage is blank and she scribbles
caricatures of the officers that line the front of
the room. Every few minutes a wistful sigh is released and
she stairs wide-eyed into space, obviously preoccupied in
her thoughts.

            JESSE
      (Monotonously)
So guys, get your thirty-five
dollars in, ASAP. This money will
allow us to facilitate some of our
coolest events next semester,
including the awesome yearly UFA
conference featuring industry
professionals, including actors,
directors, producers, and
composers. On that note, I’m
handing the program over to Brandon for
more information.

(Jesse Moorefield,

Ufa President)[1]

There is a spattering of clapping as Jesse relinquishes the podium.
Brandon, sensing the waning attention of the crowd, booms
his voice into the microphone.

BRANDON
      (Loudly)
Yoohoo, hey guys, I got this
really awesome opportunity for you
if you'll just listen up for just
one minute... YOOHOO!

The audience slowly pulls to attention and the spattering of
conversations drop to low, imperceptible whispers.

BRANDON
      (Calmer)
Awesome! Okay, so let's get to the point. Our UFA conference is
your opportunity to be in the
presence of and obtain wisdom
from celebrities and industry
whizzes. Last year we had Ron
Bozman, the producer of The
Silence of the Lambs and
Philadelphia.[2] In years past,
we've had Wes Craven, director of
Nightmare on Elm Street and
Scream,[3] J.B. Rogers, the director
of American Pie 2 and Say It Isn't
So,[4] and Peter Honess, the editor of
Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets.[5]

At the sound of Harry Potter, Noël snaps to attention. Her
interest is obviously piqued; she stops scribbling and looks
attentively to the front, trying to piece together the
subject of the conversation.

BRANDON
      (continued)
I mean, the list goes on and on,
but the main point is we need a
few people to call these people's
agents and get them to come out
here. This year we're looking to
get some more actors and
directors, and I know that we've
been getting some positive response from
George Lucas. Also, last year we
almost got Owen Wilson to come and
talk, but a movie conflict held him up.

So if you're interested, come down here and
pick up an application. We need
some serious and professional
individuals-- you are the guys
who will be picking them up at
the airport, taking them out to
dinner, and bringing them here.
The form is due...

The dialogue fades out as camera zooms in on Noël. She is once
again lost in thought, but this time she reflects on the
possibilities that have just opened up to her.

The meeting is called to an end, and Noël bustles to the
front and greedily snatches up an application.

3.

INT. NOËL'S DORM - NIGHT

The room is submerged in darkness save for a lone lamp
illuminating a dilapidated college desk. NOËL, seated at
it, hovers over an obscured piece of paper. She writes
intensely; a look of determination furrows her eyebrows. The
sound of her scratching pen escalates as she continues to write
without stopping. Soon the scratching crescendos as fervor
increases, until we reach a climax for both sound and
action.

Suddenly, the pen stops.

She sets down the pen and lifts the sheet in front of her
eyes, scanning it with wild eyes. It is the UFA application mentioned earlier.

We can read the following:

            NOËL (V.O.)
      (Rabidly)
Therefore, I think with my
background, knowledge, and
determination, I have what it takes
to secure the presence of Owen
Cunningham Wilson at the 2006 UFA
Conference.
Thank you,
Noël Kristi Wells

INT. AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY

SIX MONTHS LATER

NOËL looks different. Her usual college garb has been
replaced with a smart pants suit. Her pigtails have been
released, and her hair tumbles attractively over her
shoulders. Her glasses are no where to be seen, and her
eyes have been subtly decorated with make-up. She
stands nervously outside a terminal holding a sign reading
"John Smith."

A man approaches her, and she is unaware of his presence. He
stands to her side for a few moments. When she finally turns, she is

startled to find him beside her. It's Owen Wilson. He's wearing
large, aviator sunglasses and casual pants and a shirt. His dusty blond
hair falls over his eyes, and he draws his face into a grin.

 (Owen Wilson)[6]

            OWEN
      (surreptitiously)
Agent N?

            NOËL
John-- John Smith?

            OWEN

(Confused)
Wait, no. There must be some sort
of misunderstanding. I'm… er… Owen(sic).

            NOËL
      (bewildered as well)
Well, I thought, um, I thought
that the code name was John Smith.
I was just supposed to have this

sign so that you would know and...

            OWEN
      (interrupting)
Hey, hey, hey! I'm just messing with
you kid.

            NOËL
(beat)

Oh! Oh, right! Haha… alright, yes.

(nervously)

Of course you were just messing with

me. Well, um, hello Mr. Wilson...

I'm Noël Wells.

Noël extends her hand hesitantly. Owen charmingly returns
the handshake and smiles flirtatiously.

            OWEN
Please... call me Owen.

            NOËL
      (smiling)
Okay... Hello Owen.

EXT. DOWNTOWN - DAY

Noël and Owen are walking briskly side by side. Noël stares
up at Owen adoringly, thinking he is oblivious to her
pining. Owen is fully aware, and a knowing smile plays upon
his face through the following dialogue.

            OWEN
It's hard to keep a low profile in
Los Angeles. It's good to be back
in Austin.

(Owen Wilson[7])

            NOËL
Oh yeah? Do you live in Los
Angeles?

            OWEN
Yeah, in the suburbs of LA. Let's
see, I moved there almost ten years
ago.[8] Actually, I moved right after the
success of Bottle Rocket.[9]

Noël is perfectly aware of all of this. However, she feigns
ignorance and plods on with the questions.

            NOËL
Oh, Bottle Rocket? Wasn't that a
feature length film?

            OWEN
Well, yes. Initially it wasn't
though. You know who Wes Anderson
is, right?

Noël nods.

            OWEN
Well, we went to UT Austin, as I'm
sure you already know.[10] I was an
English major and he was RTF...[11]

            NOËL
      (interjects)
So am I...an RTF major that is.

            OWEN
Cool, cool. (beat as they walk in
awkward silence) Well, we had this
script-writing class together, and
we just had this connection, you
know?[12] Anyways, we wrote this
short film together and put it
together.[13] It did really well at
the festival circuits and then we
got a film deal out of it.[14]

            NOËL
      (recovering)
Oh yeah! I've actually seen that
short. It looked like you filmed
it right around campus.

            OWEN
Actually, yes, yes we did.[15]

            NOËL
Oh yeah, and there was a scene in
Kirbey Lane, wasn't there?

            OWEN
      (thinking)
You know what, I think we might

have actually filmed some in there.
That's a sharp eye you got there!

            NOËL
Thank you. (beat) I kind of want to make
them, too.

            OWEN
Make what? Movies?

            NOËL
Yeah! I really admire the work
that you and Wes do, and I've been
making all these shorts for UFA.

            OWEN
That's really cool. I mean, I
didn't even start out in school
doing that, and I didn't even
finish my degree at UT.[16] I just
kind of went for it.

(changing the subject)

Speaking of UFA, what
kind of kids am I going to be in
front of anyways?

            NOËL
Oh, right! I almost forgot the
spiel.

            OWEN
The spiel?

            NOËL

(reciting)
As the representative of UFA, I
would like to thank you for taking
time out of your hectic life to
revisit Austin and UT and for
providing this wonderful
opportunity for UFA and its
members. We would also like to...

            OWEN
      (interrupts)
Woah, woah-- hold on there. All
these formalities. So I'm just
going to shoot the breeze and
answer some questions, right?

            NOËL
      (smiles)
Yeah, something like that.

            OWEN
Cool, cool. Sounds good to me.

MONTAGE- THE DRAG AND UT CAMPUS - DAY

OVERTURE- THE MONKEES- LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE

The following consists of various scenes of Noël and Owen
romping around Austin and the UT campus.

INT. KIRBEY LANE - DAY

Noël and Owen sip milkshakes at Kirbey Lane. They sit side
by side at the bar, gazing at each other through grins and
giggles.

The tab is delivered, and Owen slaps down fifty dollars in
cash with an exaggerated flourish of the hand. Noël and
Owen exit Kirbey, and as they walk out of camera shot, we
see a shocked waitress holding the money in her hands. A
disbelieving grin spreads over her face and she gazes
towards the exit in amazement and appreciation.

EXT. THE DRAG - DAY

Walking along the Drag, Noël and Owen point and comment on
various artifacts of interest. They stop at an intersection
and are anxious to cross. The pedestrian light remains red
for a seemingly excruciating amount of time. Owen, the
daredevil that he is, quickly looks both ways and takes the
initiative to run across the street. Noël, shocked at the
thought of jaywalking, yells earnestly after Owen. When he
ignores her pleas, she works up the guts to cross, but not
before checking for oncoming traffic numerous times.

Noël catches up with Owen and gives him the cold shoulder.
His boyish coaxing wins the best of her and her brooding
melts into feigned brattiness. Slowly they drift closer
together as the tension eases. They reach a vintage
boutique. As Owen stands in admiration of the 1970s outfit
in the window display, Noël takes him by the hand and leads
him inside.

INT. VINTAGE STORE - DAY

The store is filled to the brim with gimmicky disco costumes

and accessories. Noël files through the clothing racks,
ripping at costumes and stacking her prospects over her
forearm. Owen busies himself by trying on large bejeweled
sunglasses and stereotypical pimp hats. Noël dashes into
the dressing room.

We see quick shots of her exiting the dressing room in
various getups. There’s the over the top hippie outfit and
the glamorous twiggy costume. She settles on an outfit she
is pleased with— mini-shorts and white Go-Go boots, topped
off with a long blonde wig and a loose fitting clubbing top.
Owen claps and cheers her on as she struts around in the
outfit. Noël has pulled some costumes for Owen as well, and
she shoves a pile of clothing into Owen’s arms and pushes
him into the dressing room. Owen reluctantly cooperates,
and he begrudgingly comes out in a ridiculous combination of
bell bottoms, gold studded boots, and a purple vest. Noël
stands ready for his unveiling, and to top off the outfit,
she places an exaggerated Afro wig on his head. They pose
together in front of a full-length mirror. The camera cuts.

EXT. CAMPUS - DAY

They burst out of the vintage shop laughing hysterically.

The two make their way to campus. They stand in front of
the tower and stare up in awe. The moment is touching, but
the feeling is shattered when Owen starts tickling Noël. In
her defense, she shoves Owen away and takes off running.
Owen chases after her. They playfully run around campus,
hiding behind statues, splashing in fountains, and running
through buildings. Students and teachers are left
bewildered in the wake of the bantering couple.

The montage slows down and we are brought back into real
time. The music fades. Owen and Noël are panting and
laughing but are utterly exhausted. They collapse on the steps in the West Mall area.

FADE OUT.

INT. UFA CONFERENCE - DAY

The UFA Conference is fully underway. The room is
jam-packed with UFA members, hands eagerly wave in the air.
Jesse Moorefield mediates the questions, and at the center
of attention is the final guest of the evening, Owen Wilson.

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