A scrapbook opens as the camera pans to a black-and-white picture of KEVIN and one of WINNIE.
NARRATOR: There are things about your childhood you hold onto, because they were so much a part of you: the places you went, the people you knew. Somewhere, in every memory I had, was Winnie Cooper. She was a part of me, and I was a part of her. By the end of ninth grade I knew everything about her. What I didn't know was that she was falling apart.
[Camera closes in on WINNIE's picture.]
There is a scattering of skaters.
NARRATOR: The Moonlight Roller Rink. It was the place to be seen, a dividing line between junior and senior high school, between those who could skate...
[KEVIN is knocked into the rink wall by another skater and falls.]
NARRATOR: ...and those who couldn't.
KEVIN: [turning to leave] I'm getting out of here.
NARRATOR: Not that I didn't have my own style. In fact, I turned lack of balance into an art form.
WINNIE: [skating to them] Hi guys!
PAUL: Winnie! Hey, stranger.
WINNIE: Hi.
KEVIN: Hi.
WINNIE: How've you been?
KEVIN: Good. You?
WINNIE: Okay.
NARRATOR: It had been two months since Winnie and I broke up, but to me she was still the same.
PAUL: You changed your hair!
WINNIE: Yeah. And I got my ears pierced, see?
KEVIN: [for lack of something better] Uh huh. They look good!
WINNIE: Do you really think so?
KEVIN: Sure.
NARRATOR: Fact is, she looked beautiful.
KEVIN: So. How's Roger?
WINNIE: Oh.
NARRATOR: Roger DeCovian, her steady guy, her constant flame, her--
WINNIE: Roger and I broke up. [pause] See you guys!
[WINNIE skates off.]
NARRATOR: Needless to say, it came as a complete surprise.
KEVIN: [falling on skates] Whoa!
KEVIN is working on a bicycle, WINNIE stands in driveway.
WINNIE: Kevin?
NARRATOR: But not as much of a surprise as when she showed up at my house the next day.
KEVIN: Winnie!
WINNIE: Are you busy?
KEVIN: Well... no, I was just... no. Why?
WINNIE: Can I talk to you?
KEVIN: Sure! [uncomfortable pause] You wanna go inside for a soda?
WINNIE: Sure!
NARRATOR: After all, an occasion like this called for a little privacy.
MOM is washing dishes and looks up to see KEVIN enter with WINNIE.
MOM: Winnie! This is a surprise!
WINNIE: Hi Mrs. Arnold.
[MOM and WINNIE hug.]
NARRATOR: Privacy being hard to come by when your mom's clogging up the kitchen.
MOM: Can I get you kids something to eat?
WINNIE: Well...
KEVIN: Uh, no, thanks, Mom. We're fine, really.
MOM: Oh, well... if you want anything, just give me a call. Okay?
WINNIE: Thanks. It was really nice seeing you.
KEVIN: Mom!
NARRATOR: Uh huh. Especially nice seeing her go.
[uncomfortable pause; MOM leaves]
KEVIN: Want something to drink?
WINNIE: Great!
KEVIN: Have a seat.
NARRATOR: [as KEVIN and WINNIE sit] And we were alone. Together. At last. Not that I knew why exactly.
KEVIN: So. What'd you wanna talk about?
WINNIE: Well...
NARRATOR: You could see in her eyes it was something deep, important-- possibly even philosophical.
WINNIE: It's really gonna be fun going to high school, isn't it?
KEVIN: High school?
WINNIE: Yeah. I'm really looking forward to it.
KEVIN: Oh. Yeah.
NARRATOR: Yeah. High school.
WINNIE: I mean, it might be good to be in a new place, don't you think?
KEVIN: Well... sure.
WINNIE: Me too. I was kinda getting sick of junior high. I mean you feel like you're stuck with the way things are forever. You know what I mean?
KEVIN: [trying] Uh, definitely.
NARRATOR: Nevermind that I didn't have the foggiest idea of where this was going.
KEVIN: So. Is that what you wanted to talk about?
WINNIE: Well, yeah. Kinda. Anyway, I have to go.
KEVIN: Well, wait, you didn't even finish your soda!
WINNIE: That's okay. Thanks for listening Kevin.
KEVIN: Sure. Any time.
WINNIE: Well, see ya.
NARRATOR: And there you had it. Our first real heart-to-heart in months. Just one little question...
KEVIN and PAUL talk before PAUL's locker.
PAUL: Sometimes you can be so dense.
KEVIN: What're you talking about?
PAUL: Isn't it obvious? She broke up with Roger, she came to your house-- don't you see what this means? She wants you back.
NARRATOR: Of course, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered the possibility.
KEVIN: I don't think so.
PAUL: Uh huh.
KEVIN: Paul, Winnie and I have a different relationship now.
PAUL: Right.
BOY: Hey Arnold! I heard the Super Cooper's single again. You going for her?
KEVIN: [bewildered] No.
BOY: Do you mind if I do?
KEVIN: [annoyed] Yes!
KEVIN: [to PAUL] I don't wanna hear it.
KEVIN is walking down the street looking at kids playing at the house across from WINNIE's old one.
NARRATOR: Okay, so I didn't know what I was feeling. Love does that to you. Especially when you're 14. All I knew was, things we're different now. There was a time when Winnie Cooper lived on my street, when all I had to do was turn around and--
KEVIN: Winnie?
[WINNIE turns to him.]
NARRATOR: ...she'd be there.
KEVIN: What are you doing here?
NARRATOR: Maybe Paul had been right! Maybe there was a reason she was here. Maybe it was me.
WINNIE: I don't know. Do you know who lives there now?
KEVIN: Just a family.
WINNIE: Are they nice?
KEVIN: They're okay. I really haven't met them.
[pause]
WINNIE: It was really nice talking to you yesterday.
KEVIN: Yeah. It was nice talking to you, too.
WINNIE: There aren't a lot of kids at my school I can talk to. I don't think I fit in there.
KEVIN: What? Winnie, that's ridiculous! You--
WINNIE: [cutting him off] Kevin, it's just kinda hard to explain okay?
KEVIN: Okay.
[They look at her old house.]
WINNIE: It's funny. It doesn't even seem like I ever lived there.
NARRATOR: The thing is, I knew I should say something. I just wasn't sure what.
WINNIE: Well, I'd better be going. My mom's expecting me home. So, I'll see ya.
KEVIN: Yeah. See ya.
NARRATOR: It was strange. Suddenly she looked so out of place on the street where she'd spent her entire life.
KEVIN: Winnie? You maybe wanna go out sometime?
WINNIE: No thanks. I think I'd just rather be by myself.
NARRATOR: And that was that. Simple. She wanted to be alone.
There are many skaters. WINNIE stands talking with some high schoolers and KEVIN sits with PAUL, donning his skates.
NARRATOR: Except, the next day, she wasn't.
KEVIN: I don't get it.
PAUL: What?
KEVIN: Winnie. Look at her!
PAUL: She looks okay to me.
KEVIN: Paul, those guys are juniors!
PAUL: So?
KEVIN: Paul, we're talking about guys with driver's licenses!
NARRATOR: But it wasn't just the driver's licenses that bothered me. It was that smile on Winnie's face.
KEVIN: She didn't look like that yesterday.
PAUL: Come on. Let's skate.
NARRATOR: Easy for Paul to say. But for some reason I didn't feel like skating. [WINNIE and others move to enter rink.] It was time for a talk.
KEVIN: Winnie?
WINNIE: Hi Kevin!
KEVIN: How ya doing?
WINNIE: Me? Fine.
KEVIN: I... see that you have some new friends.
WINNIE: Yeah, they're really nice guys.
NARRATOR: O-kay.
KEVIN: Well, Winnie it's just that when we talked yesterday--
WINNIE: Oh.
KEVIN: You said--
WINNIE: I really don't think that's any of your business Kevin.
JUNIOR: Hey Winnie! Come on, we're doing a whip.
WINNIE: I'll be right there!
NARRATOR: I couldn't understand it. [WINNIE skates away.] What was going on with this girl?
KEVIN: [skating to her] Winnie? Is something wrong?
JUNIOR: [to line of skaters] Okay, get ready!
WINNIE: [to KEVIN] Don't be silly; everything's fine.
KEVIN: Yeah, but--
WINNIE: Kevin, I told you I don't want to talk about it anymore.
KEVIN: Well, I...
[WINNIE joins line.]
NARRATOR: And that's when I knew: something was wrong.
JUNIOR: All right, let's go.
NARRATOR: Winnie Cooper was out of control.
[KEVIN grabs onto WINNIE's arm.]
WINNIE: Kevin, let me go!
[They skate.]
KEVIN: I can't!
WINNIE: Kevin, let go!
[KEVIN starts to fumble.]
WINNIE: Kevin, you're holding me back!
KEVIN: Winnie, I, ca--
KEVIN: Who-o-o-oa!
[KEVIN hits the wall and falls; an onlooker giggles.]
KEVIN rides up to WINNIE and MRS. COOPER who are unloading a car's trunk.
NARRATOR: I don't know why I pursued her. Maybe it was because I wanted to help her. And maybe it was because I wanted to know she needed my help.
MRS. COOPER: Hi Kevin!
KEVIN: Hi Mrs. Cooper!
KEVIN: You need some help with that?
MRS. COOPER: No, no, it's okay, I can handle it. [to WINNIE:] Honey, why don't you stay out here and talk? [to KEVIN:] It's good to see you, Kevin. You should come around more often.
[MRS. COOPER goes into the house. WINNIE places a sleeping bag on the back of the car; KEVIN and WINNIE lean up against the car.]
NARRATOR: And, we were alone again. Again.
WINNIE: [resigned] Hi. [pause] I'm sorry about what happened yesterday.
KEVIN: It's okay. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.
WINNIE: I'm fine, thanks.
NARRATOR: And she did look fine. Which left only one thing to say.
KEVIN: Winnie, does your mom know you're hanging out with eleventh graders?
NARRATOR: Apparently, the wrong thing.
WINNIE: Kinda. Why?
KEVIN: Well, it's just... Look, Winnie, you know when you know somebody, but then all of a sudden you don't, and you feel that you kinda missed out on something because they're not being like the way you thought they would?
WINNIE: Kevin, what are you talking about?
KEVIN: [sighs] Nothing.
NARRATOR: But it wasn't nothing. I just... couldn't say what it was.
KEVIN: New sleeping bag?
WINNIE: Yeah.
KEVIN: Well, you going on a trip?
WINNIE: Camping.
KEVIN: Oh! Sounds like fun.
WINNIE: We go every year on Brian's birthday. [pause] The anniversary of his birthday. [pause] I hate camping.
[A car-load of juniors pulls up, music playing. The car honks.]
JUNIOR: Hey Winnie, come on! Let's go.
ANOTHER: Yeah, come on, jump in!
WINNIE: [to KEVIN] Well I gotta go. So maybe I'll see ya?
KEVIN: Yeah.
WINNIE: [in the distance] Hey guys. How are you?
KEVIN: [to himself] Maybe I'll see ya.
WINNIE: [to various occupants] Great. Okay, let's go.
[indistinct chatter and laughter as car pulls away]
[MRS. COOPER emerges from front door and looks to KEVIN.]
MRS. COOPER: Winnie?
KEVIN: She left.
[MRS. COOPER solemnly goes back inside.]
On the sidewalk stands KEVIN with his bike looking at her darkened house.
NARRATOR: There was a time when I saw Winnie Cooper every single day of my life.
Flashback to a scene from Episode #2 ("Swingers") where KEVIN and WINNIE are really young and KEVIN has just approached WINNIE as she gets out of her car.
KEVIN: Hi.
WINNIE: Hi.
KEVIN: Hi.
WINNIE: Whatcha doing?
KEVIN: Nothing.
WINNIE: Maybe we could do something tomorrow. I mean, if you want.
KEVIN: Yeah! I mean sure, if you want.
PAUL: [squeaky voice yelling from distance] Come on, Kev! Let's go!
KEVIN: [to WINNIE] Okay, well. Bye, see ya tomorrow.
WINNIE: Bye.
KEVIN: Bye.
Flashback ends. KEVIN is downcast.
NARRATOR: But that was a long time ago.
[KEVIN starts walking his bike away down the sidewalk.]
KEVIN enters rink.
NARRATOR: I decided to devote my life to skating. Skating was simple really.
[The JUNIOR WINNIE's skating with socks KEVIN and he let's out an "mmfph" as he sprawls back onto the floor. WINNIE looks back to him sympathetically.]
NARRATOR: As opposed to, say, [WINNIE breaks to go to him.] Winnie.
WINNIE: Are you okay?
[WINNIE helps KEVIN up.]
KEVIN: Yeah. I'm fine.
WINNIE: It was a pretty bad spill.
KEVIN: [angrily] Yeah, well, thanks for asking!
WINNIE: [earnestly] Kevin?
NARRATOR: Oh no.
WINNIE: Can we talk?
NARRATOR: And here we went again.
[KEVIN and WINNIE slowly skate from rink.]
WINNIE: I guess you think I've been acting kind of weird lately.
KEVIN: Well, no. [pause] Yes.
WINNIE: I wish I could explain--
KEVIN: [stopping] Yeah, well why don't you try then?
WINNIE: It's just...
NARRATOR: And for a second I thought I might actually get an answer.
JUNIOR: Hey Winnie! Hey, come on, we're goin' for a drive!
WINNIE: [to JUNIOR:] Great! [to KEVIN:] I gotta go...
[WINNIE starts away from him but he stops her, grabbing her arm. She kurtly swings around.]
KEVIN: Winnie! Stop.
WINNIE: Kevin, you're scaring me!
KEVIN: What's going on?
WINNIE: I don't know what you mean...
KEVIN: Winnie, I know you. Or I used to know you, and you're not acting like yourself!
WINNIE: [condescendingly] How'm I supposed to act?
KEVIN: Like you! Like the Winnie Cooper I know!
WINNIE: [struggling to escape his grip] Kevin, let me go.
KEVIN: No! Why are you acting like this?
WINNIE: Because when I act like myself, everything goes bad!
[KEVIN releases his grip.]
KEVIN: [off-guard] What?
WINNIE: I just want to forget the past three years.
KEVIN: What about me?
WINNIE: You just don't understand.
KEVIN: Well, whaddaya want me to say?
WINNIE: Nothing!
[She skates off to JUNIORS as KEVIN looks on, blown away.]
NARRATOR: The funny thing is, those three years had been the best years of my whole life.
[KEVIN skates away.]
KEVIN stomps down hallway sullenly.
[A locker slams.]
NARRATOR: I decided to give up skating.
[PAUL enters and catches up to KEVIN.]
PAUL: Kev!
KEVIN: [exasperated] What?
PAUL: About Winnie--
KEVIN: Paul!
PAUL: Kev!
KEVIN: [stopping and wheeling to face PAUL] What!?
NARRATOR: I'd done enough talking about her, worrying about her.
PAUL: She had an accident. Last night, in a car. With those kids.
[KEVIN stares at PAUL uncomprehendingly. After a pause he turns and runs down the hall.]
KEVIN rides his bikes furiously toward WINNIE's house. He ditches bike and runs to her front door.
[Somber guitar music plays in background.]
KEVIN: [using knocker and beating on door] Winnie! [ringing doorbell] Winnie! [pause] [beating on door] Winnie!
[He tries to look in windows, then resigns himself and sits down against a tree to wait.]
KEVIN is still waiting.
NARRATOR: I waited all afternoon. I didn't know what else to do.
[A car drives past slowly. It is WINNIE's and it pulls up to the curb and stops. MR. COOPER steps out.]
MR. COOPER: Kevin?
KEVIN: Mr. Cooper! [shot of WINNIE in shadows in car's back seat] Is she all right?
MR. COOPER: [down] Well, it's a broken leg and some cuts. She's gonna need some time to recover. She'll be okay.
KEVIN: Can I see her?
MRS. COOPER: [getting out of car] Hello Kevin.
KEVIN: Mrs. Cooper, may I talk to her?
MR. COOPER: Kevin, maybe you should go home now.
KEVIN: What?
MRS. COOPER: Kev, Winnie doesn't want to see you right now.
KEVIN: Wh... but that's impossible; I know she wants to see me.
MRS. COOPER: Kevin... Please go home.
NARRATOR: And I guess that's when I finally understood. I'd been part of Winnie's past, a past she wanted to forget. And now... [KEVIN walks to his bike] there was nothing to do... but go.
[WINNIE looks after him as he starts to ride off. KEVIN rides away down sidewalk. Opening chords of Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight" play.]
[long pause]
| NARRATOR: Only I didn't. [KEVIN climbs over WINNIE's fence...] NARRATOR: I couldn't. [...and onto roof overhang.] [KEVIN approaches WINNIE's window and looks in.] [Inside, MRS. COOPER tucks WINNIE into bed.] NARRATOR: There are things in a life that matter, things in a past which can't be denied. [WINNIE's bedroom lights go out.] NARRATOR: Winnie Cooper was part of me, and I was part of her. [WINNIE looks around.] And no matter what, for as long as we lived, I knew I could never let her go. [WINNIE sees KEVIN outside her window.] KEVIN: [whispering to WINNIE through window] I love you. [WINNIE smiles at him.] WINNIE: [whispering to KEVIN from her bed] I love you. [Dissolve to picture of WINNIE in scrapbook; camera pulls back to show entire page with KEVIN and WINNIE's pictures side by side.] [Fade to closing titles.] |
SONG: I know it's late I know you're weary I know your plans Don't include me Still here we are Both of us lonely Longing for shelter From all that we see Why should we worry? No one will care, girl Look at the stars So far away We've got tonight Who needs tomorrow? We've got tonight, babe Why don't you stay? Deep in my soul I've been so lonely All of my hopes Fading away I've longed for love Like everyone else does I know I'll keep searching Even after today So there it is, girl I've said it all now And here we are, babe What do you say? We've got tonight Who needs tomorrow? Let's make it last Let's find a way Turn out the light Come take my hand now We've got tonight, babe... |