SIMONE
Colins.
[she looks down at Annabelle]
I… um… I just…
[she smiles at Colins]
Good luck with your finals. I know you’ll do well.

COLINS
[getting up from the window]
Do you need help carrying anything out?
[clearly emotional]
I can… I mean… I don’t want you to go!

SIMONE
[taking Colins’ hands]
Colins, please Colins look at me. You are a gifted young woman.
[she smiles conspiratorially]
Don’t tell anyone I said this but you’re one of the best students in my class.

COLINS
but I –

SIMONE
Never forget that, please. You are a blessing in this world. Thank you for being my student.

COLINS
[crying]
Thank you Miss Bradley. I – I have to go.

Colins leaves, smiling through her tears at Annabelle as she passes her bed.
Simone turns and faces Annabelle. Annabelle looks at her with a blank face.

ANNABELLE
That was nice. She really looks up to you. Excuse me -” LOOKED.

SIMONE
Annabelle…
[she walks closer to the bed]
You are so close to graduating. I don’t want you to do anything to endanger that.

ANNABELLE
Is that what this is about?
[sitting up]
Some stupid diploma?
[finally showing emotion, she can’t contain it any more. She breaks]
Don’t you understand that you’re more important to me than some piece of paper?

Simone’s eyes well with tears. She moves to the side of Annabelles bed, next to the door.

SIMONE
I left something in my room for you.

Annabelle looks up at her, a tear rolls down her cheek.

SIMONE
This isn’t easy for me either.

ANNABELLE
[bitterly]
What? Leaving?

Simone reaches out to touch Annabelle’s face but stops herself. She blinks back her tears.

SIMONE
Loving you.

They hold eye contact for a final moment, then Simone leaves.

ANNABELLE’S WINDOW

Annabelle watches from the window as Simone exits the building and gets into her car.
Simone looks up and sees Annabelle watching. She pauses for a moment, then closes the door and starts her car.

SIMONE’S ROOM

Annabelle enters. She stands and looks at the bare bed. She sees an envelope on the desk. Annabelle picks it up and walks out quickly as she hears Cat, in the hallway, call her name.

HALLWAY

CAT
I mean seriously. So now there’s like all these rumors and well, you’re probably the only one who really knows what actually happened.
[Annabelle does not respond]
Uh, hello!