[INTERIOR - BALAMB CAFETERIA - DAY]
[CUT IN: SQUALL is sitting at a table in the corner, away from everyone else, downing the last of his coffee. The sounds of laughter and chatter do not fall on his ears, as he is in his own world, as usual. He places his styrofoam cup back on the table and wipes his mouth with his hand.]
[CLOSE UP on SQUALL, from his torso up. He is looking down, expressionless. Someone- we can only see their arm and hand- approaches him from behind, slowly. He looks up, straight in front of him, sensing their presence but not acknowledging it. After a moment the person is standing directly behind him, and they bend down.]
[It is RINOA, in her SeeD uniform. She is grinning mischievously as she brings her face down close to his.]
RINOA (lightly)
Listen...
[Squall relaxes, and a faint smile touches his lips as he looks down to the side.]
Do you want to know a secret?
[ZOOM OUT as she tiptoes playfully around Squall.]
Do you promise not to tell?...
[She leans down and puts her face in front of his. Their eyes meet.]
Closer...
[She brings her lips very close to his ear.]
Let me whisper in your ear...
Say the words you long to hear...
[She places her elbows on the table and leans on it, dragging her lips from his ear and across his cheek to hover centimeters near his own mouth.]
I'm in love with you...
[Giggling, she plants a tender kiss on his mouth before dropping into the chair across from him.]
RINOA (reaching under the table to take his hand)
Did you sleep well, my love?
[She squeezes his hand. He grins, but doesn't squeeze back.]
SQUALL (shrugs)
Like a baby. You?
[She squeezes tighter, pressing him to reciprocate.]
RINOA
Well, aside from the fact that you had to leave me last night...
[She giggles as his head dips a bit and his eyes survey the cafeteria for people who might be watching them.]
SQUALL (low, embarrassed)
We shouldn't talk about that here.
[She gives him an exasperated look and twines her fingers with his under the table.]
RINOA (feigning hurt)
Is it so shameful that we're... eh... affectionate?
[He looks her in the eye.]
SQUALL
We're on duty.
[Rinoa purses her lips and examines her watch.]
RINOA
Nope... Not for another three minutes.
[Squall stiffens and his eyes widen.]
SQUALL
Three minutes?... Shit!
[He pulls his hand away from hers and stands. She sighs as he pushes his chair under the table and grabs his coffee cup.]
RINOA
Wow. That was quite an engaging convo we had there, ladies' man.
[Squall looks down at her. His expression is slightly apologetic.]
SQUALL
I'm late for a meeting with Cid.
RINOA
What time were you supposed to be up there?
[Squall looks away as he grabs his uniform jacket off of his chair and begins to put it on.]
SQUALL
Eight.
RINOA (giving him a look)
It's three minutes 'til eight... It takes one minute to get up there.
[Squall's features soften and he gives her a wan smile as he leans over and takes her hand.]
SQUALL (sweetly, quietly)
Which leaves me exactly one minute to relieve myself.
[Rinoa scowls playfully as he brings her knuckles to his lips in a brief kiss.]
RINOA
Oh, fine... Go relieve yourself...
[He lets go of her hand and straightens his jacket as she leans back in her chair.]
SQUALL (fixing his collar)
Are you tutoring in the library today?
[Rinoa nods, and looks at her watch.]
RINOA
You now have all of thirty seconds to go wee-wee.
[Ignoring her comment, he leans down and kisses her politely on the cheek.]
SQUALL
I'll come by and see you later on, okay?
[She gives him a dim smile before turning her head and waving him away.]
RINOA
Duty calls, Commander.
[Squall stares at her for a moment, then turns and walks away from the table.]
[CLOSE UP of RINOA'S FACE. She turns her head back around to watch him as he departs. Her face grows long.]
RINOA cont. (whispering)
Love you, too.
[She sighs and grabs a packet of sugar, opens it, and pours its contents out on the table. Tossing the empty packet aside, she uses the palm of her other hand to spread the sugar out evenly. She takes her index finger and slowly draws a heart.]
[CUT TO EXTERIOR - CAFETERIA HALL. Squall is walking slowly but purposefully down the breezeway toward the main building. He nods politely at intermittent passers-by who address him, but he looks drawn, pensive. He begins to hum to himself, very quietly.]
[CLOSE UP of his face. His eyes fall a fraction, so that he is not looking dead center in front of him anymore.]
SQUALL (quiet, mumbly)
She can do anything at all
Have anything she pleases
The power to change what she thinks is wrong...
[His eyes fall more, and he appears to be looking at the ground in front of him.]
So what could she want with me?
[He looks back up.]
Wait... just... one minute here
I can see that she's trying to read me...
Suddenly I know...
[CUT TO RINOA, still drawing in the sugar, sad. The real music and vocals begin to play.]
She's going to change the world...
She's going to change the world...
She's going to change the world...
But she can't...
[CUT TO the sugar. Rinoa's index finger stills.]
...change...
[Her hand flattens and quickly brushes the sugar away.]
... me...
[CUT TO BREEZEWAY. PAN SLOWLY TO SQUALL, from the back, as he approaches the entrance to the building.]
No, she can't... change... me...
[CUT TO CLOSE UP of SQUALL. His eyes move slowly around him, not looking at the people who pass him by. He is in deep thought.]
[CUT TO RINOA, getting out of her chair and straightening her uniform.]
She has the daylight at her command
She gives the night its dreams...
[CUT TO SQUALL, looking off to his right.]
She can uncover your darkest fear...
[CUT TO RINOA, walking slowly toward the cafeteria exit. People acknowledge her, but she pays them no attention.]
Make you forget you feel it...
[CUT TO SQUALL, opening the double metal doors leading into the building.]
Wait... just... one minute more
I can see that she's trying to free me...
Suddenly I know...
[CUT TO RINOA, exiting the cafeteria, the wind blowing her hair. She heads down the breezeway, swift but morose.]
She's going to change the world
She's going to change the world
She's going to change the world...
But she cant...
[CUT TO SQUALL, walking into the circular hallway. It is filled with people walking back and forth, like perhaps one would envision a crowded city street.]
change... me...
[CUT TO CLOSE UP of RINOA'S FACE as she approaches the entrance to the building.]
No, she cant... change... me...
[CUT TO INTERIOR - HALLWAY. Rinoa is coming through the doors as Squall starts to round the corner.]
[CUT TO SQUALL, with Rinoa behind him, slightly out-of-focus. He goes on, unaware.]
Suddenly I can see
Everything that's wrong... with me...
[CUT TO RINOA, speeding up to catch him.]
But what can I do...
[CUT TO SQUALL, passing the Infirmary. His steps are quicker.]
I'm the only thing I really have...
[CUT TO RINOA, gaining on him, purposeful. She is still quite a ways behind him.]
At all...
[Someone touches her on the arm, trying to stop her to talk. She brushes by them, then turns to them, still walking, and mouths an apology.]
[CUT TO SQUALL, with Rinoa visible behind him as he rounds the corner headed for the stairs.]
But wait... just... one minute here
I can see that she's trying to need me...
Suddenly I know...
[ZOOM OUT. Squall is heading up the stairs to the elevator.]
She's going to change the world
She's going to change the world
She's going to change the world...
But she cant...
[CUT TO RINOA, rushing through people to get to Squall.]
change... me...
[CUT TO SQUALL, getting on the elevator behind another young man in uniform.]
No, she cant...
[CUT TO RINOA, arriving at the bottom of the stairs and looking up.]
... change...
[CUT TO the elevator doors closing.]
... me...
[CUT TO RINOA, standing still, blinking slowly.]
[CUT OUT.]