SAMANTHA

I'm not avoiding you. I just have a lot on my mind.

RYAN

Tell me what's going on in that super-smart brain of yours. I'll understand.

SAMANTHA

(Tears stream down her face.) I want to tell you, but I don't know how.

RYAN

Sam, you're scaring me. Is this about . . . us?

SAMANTHA

No. I mean yes. I'm not sure.

RYAN

Are you breaking up with me?

SAMANTHA

No! (pauses) But you might want to dump me when you hear what I have to say. (sees Ryan's face) I didn't cheat, if that's what you're thinking. This has to do with my family.

RYAN

Okay, that's a relief. Family stuff we can handle. Sure, yours is a little more high-maintenance than most, but Granddaddy Buchanan doesn't scare me.

SAMANTHA

I wish Granddaddy was the problem.

SARA approaches. She's sipping a smoothie from the Summerville High coffee bar.

SARA

Hey, sis! Whoa. What's with the tears? Are you two breaking up?

SAMANTHA AND RYAN

No!

SARA

(She makes a face.) Figures. You two are so into each other, you'll probably date all through college and get married.

RYAN

And what would be so wrong with that, Sara?

SARA

If that's what works for you. (to Sam) I guess he's up for the long distance thing, huh?

RYAN

Long distance? Sam and I are applying to the same college.

SARA

It's going to happen sooner than that, Ryan. (to Sam) I can't believe you haven't told him yet.

SAMANTHA

I was trying to when you interrupted!

RYAN

Sam, what is your sister talking about?

SARA

(seeing her sister looks upset and can't speak) We're moving to Miami, Ryan. My dad is the CEO of this new company that makes stuff for the space shuttle and we're moving in a few months, case closed.

RYAN

(looking at Sam) How long have you known about this?

SAMANTHA

(quietly) A few weeks. I didn't know how to tell you.

RYAN

Were you waiting for the moving van to arrive? I thought we were tighter than that, Sam. One of the biggest tests of our relationship happens and you can't find a way to let me know? I guess you want to call our relationship off.

SAMANTHA

(crying) NO! Please understand, Ryan. I was going to tell you. I want us to be together. I don't want to go. I want to stay in California. (She reaches out for him, but he pulls back.)

RYAN

Sam, you know your parents are never going to let you do that. I can't do this.

SAMANTHA

Ryan!

(Ryan walks away.)

Five: Life on Hold

"That's a wrap!" Tom yells as Ryan (played by Trevor Wainright) walks away from Sam for the twelfth time. Any time we have to shoot a scene over and over, it's tiring, but this one was mentally exhausting. To make myself cry on command, I pretended this was the last FA scene I was ever going to film. That did the trick. Now I can't stop crying.