[INTERIOR - BALAMB GARDEN MAIN HALL - DAY]

[FADE IN: ZELL walking down the main hall from the gate area, in his street clothes. He gives 'heads up' to various people he passes, grinning, looking macho. If you look closely, you can see RINOA walking away from the elevator stairs, presumeably toward the Library. Zell does not notice her.]

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL, who is standing near the Garden map talking to another girl. She looks up, does a slow double-take, and her body stiffens. She smiles, ignoring her friend.]

PIGTAIL GIRL (enthusiastic)
Hey, Zell!

[CUT TO ZELL. His head snaps up, and he grins.]

ZELL (tentatively)
Hey... you...?

[CUT TO ZELL, PIGTAIL GIRL, and FRIEND as Zell approaches them, hesitant, but still grinning. PIGTAIL GIRL laughs nervously and glances at her shoes, her hands clasped behind her back.]

PIGTAIL GIRL (shy, embarrassed)
So... umm... Just get back from your mom's house?

ZELL
Yeah... The coolest thing happened!

PIGTAIL GIRL (eyes wide)
Oh, yeah?

[ZELL nods and places his hand to his chest proudly.]

ZELL
I... thwarted a mugging! It was cool!

PIGTAIL GIRL (eyes sparkling)
Oh, wow!

[Suddenly dozens of people converge on Zell, asking for details. PIGTAIL GIRL is lost in the fray, and backs down grudgingly. Zell gets swallowed in the crowd, animatedly describing his experience.]

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL and FRIEND.]

FRIEND
I have to get to class... I'll see you around!

[PIGTAIL GIRL nods, melancholy, and tries to make Zell out in the crowd. She catches small glimpses of him, punching and kicking the air, actively relaying his tactics for downing the anonymous mugger.]

[CLOSE UP of PIGTAIL GIRL'S FACE. She is watching dreamily, lazy-lidded.]

[CUT TO ZELL, seen through a crack in the wall of hangers-on.]

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL, her arms wrapped around her waist. Watching Zell, she takes a few baby steps to her right for a better look. Fast piano music begins to play, and people around her begin to gather close to her.]

PEOPLE
Do do do do do...
Do do do do... Aaaahhh! Aaaahh!

[PIGTAIL GIRL, attention completely on Zell, clasps her hands and places them to her chest.]

PIGTAIL GIRL (seriously, raspy)
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?...

[CUT TO ZELL, still showing off.]

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL and PEOPLE.]

PIGTAIL GIRL
Where's the streetwise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?...
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need!

[CUT TO ZELL.]

I need a hero!
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night!

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL, gesturing and singing.]

PIGTAIL GIRL
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight!...
I need a hero!
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light!

[CUT TO ZELL.]

He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life...

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL, her clasped hands to her cheek admiringly.]

PIGTAIL GIRL
Larger than liiiife...

[CUT TO ZELL. The crowd is dispersing, and he is giving high-fives and heads-up to the departing folks. The music stops abruptly.]

[CUT TO PIGTAIL GIRL. The people around her have disappeared as well, and she is standing with her arms still wrapped around her waist.]

[CUT TO ZELL and PIGTAIL GIRL as he approaches her again, still grinning.]

ZELL (flushed from the excitement)
Sorry 'bout that!

[PIGTAIL GIRL shakes her head and smiles.]

PIGTAIL GIRL
Don't be sorry... You're... a hero...

[ZELL cocks his head.]

ZELL
Ahw, not really... I'm sure anyone coulda done it.

PIGTAIL GIRL (blushing, shaking her head)
No way, Zell!

[She reaches out and shoves him playfully, which ends up being a little rougher than she had anticipated, and Zell loses his balance.]

PIGTAIL GIRL (mortified)
Oh! Crap!

[Zell regains his composure, and looks at her strangely, his grin fading a bit.]

ZELL
Wow... uh...?

[He looks at her questioningly.]

PIGTAIL GIRL (covering her mouth)
... Blakely.

ZELL (his grin returning)
Blakely... You're strong, to be so little.

[She looks down, blushing deep scarlet.]

BLAKELY
I guess... I guess it's carrying books around all day long...

[She winces, embarrassed, and Zell chuckles, playfully- GENTLY- shoving her in the arm.]

ZELL
Maybe we can train together sometime?... What's your specialty?

[She looks up at him, trying not to over-smile.]

BLAKELY
Uh... the uh... the... bo.

ZELL
That's the long stick, right?

BLAKELY (grinning, nodding)
Yeah! The long stick...

ZELL
Cool!... Yeah, we should definately get together soon!

BLAKELY (flustered)
Yeah!... Get together... Training!

[She laughs nervously as something behind her catches Zell's attention. He turns his attention back to her and smiles.]

ZELL
I know we've met before, but I think this is the longest we ever talked...

BLAKELY (nodding nervously)
Yeah... Talked...

[He puts his arm on her shoulder, friend-like, and begins to walk away.]

ZELL
Just lemme know when you wanna do that... uh... Blakely!

BLAKELY (still nodding and grinning)
Do that... Do that! Training! Right! Yeah...

[She squeezes her eyes shut as he walks away, punching herself in the thigh..]

BLAKELY (teeth gritted)
Blakely, you idiot!... (mockingly, sarcastically, to herself) Yeah, I'm a total psycho! Wanna date me?... Hyne!

[FADE OUT.]



"Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler