INT.   EARLY MORNING/SIMONE’S BEDROOM

Annabelle and Simone are naked and lying in each others arms.  Simone wakes up and looks over at her alarm clock. It is blinking 12:13 from the power outage due to the rainstorm the night before.

SIMONE

Annabelle, wake up! 

Simone shoots out of bed. 

SIMONE

Shit!  Fuck!!

ANNABELLE

What, what is it??

Simone motions toward the blinking clock and Annabelle expresses a quick understanding of the situation.

They dress quickly.  Annabelle looks at Simone, but Simone looks down, unable to make eye contact with her.

SIMONE

You’d better go.

Annabelle continues to gaze intently at Simone. She is looking for some sign from Simone, some reassurance that she did not regret the night before. Simone is not ready to give Annabelle what she needs. Instead, she looks sadly at Annabelle for a brief second, and then turns away.  Annabelle picks up her things and leaves the room.

STAIRWELL CORRIDOR    

Mother Immaculata ascends the stairs to Simone’s bedroom.  Since Simone was not at breakfast, she is curious as to her whereabouts.  Cat’s comments have made her suspicious. She speculates that something is going on.

When Mother Immaculata opens the door to the room, she sees Simone sitting at her desk looking troubled and pensive.  Simone runs her hands through her hair and then holds them to her face.  Simone, with a tired expression, stares at Mother Immaculata without speaking. Mother Immaculata looks around the room suspiciously.

MOTHER IMMACULATA

Simone?  What’s going on? Are you all right? 

Simone shrugs.

SIMONE

Nothing.  I’m fine.  I overslept.

MOTHER IMMACULATA

I really need to know what is going on with you.  You seem so distracted lately. I want to see you in my office …!

Mother Immaculata backs out of the room, closing the door behind her. As she does, she demands:

MOTHER IMMACULATA

… Right now!

Simone sighs heavily.

INT.  CAMPUS CHAPEL

Annabelle, along with the rest of the student body, attends morning mass. Father Harris is presiding. Annabelle slouches defiantly in the pew.

BREAK TO HALL WAY OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

Simone slowly walks down the long corridor to Mother Immaculata’s office. She knocks on the door reluctantly.

MOTHER IMMACULTA

Come in!!

Simone walks into the office, continuing her slow pace.  She reaches Mother Immaculata’s desk. 

MOTHER IMMACULATA

Sit down!

Mother Immaculata motions to Simone.

Simone sinks wearily into the chair.  She wears a pained expression.  Mother Immaculata starts to speak, but Simone cuts her off.

SIMONE

I’m leaving the school!

The words erupt from Simone so forcefully that she appears stunned by her own resoluteness.

MOTHER IMMACULATA

What?  Why?  What happened?

SIMONE

I’m sorry.

Simone does not explain. She walks out of the office at a much faster pace than when she entered.  While everyone is still at mass, she quickly goes to her room, packs her belongings and leaves St. Theresa’s.   For so long she had been unable to make the break with this institution, her memories of this place and Amanda had been too strong. She could not or would not break the connection. But now she felt free to leave. She had been released from the bond that held her there. She also felt an urgency to leave because of the possible dire consequences that could come if she stayed and her secret relationship was revealed. She leaves without saying goodbye to anymore.

Shortly thereafter, Annabelle goes to Simone’s room completely unaware of anything that has happened.  She sees Simone’s open door and walks in to find an empty room.  The room holds no indication that Simone had ever been there, only a cleared desk and a bed stripped bare remain.  She glances around the room and then at the bed, remembering their love-making from the night before. Tears fill Annabelle’s eyes as the realization that Simone is gone washes over her.