Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Credit: Written by
Author: Charlie Kaufman
Draft date: 2004

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EXT. MONTAUK BEACH - DAY

JOEL walks along the frozen beach. The wind is sharp. The sand is hard. He is alone.

A woman with bright blue hair walks toward him from the opposite direction. CLEMENTINE. She nods at him. He nods back. They pass each other.

Joel stops. Turns. She's stopped too. She's looking at him.

CLEMENTINE
Hi.

JOEL
Hello.

CLEMENTINE
I'm Clementine. Can I... borrow a piece of your chicken?

Joel looks down. He's holding a piece of chicken he doesn't remember picking up.

JOEL
You're what, a vegetarian? You just eat chicken?

CLEMENTINE
No. I just want a piece. I don't really have a reason. Do you need a reason for everything?

Joel smiles. He can't help it. Something about her.

CUT TO:

INT. JOEL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Joel lies on his bed. His eyes are closed. Electrodes are attached to his temples. Lacuna technicians STAN and PATRICK sit nearby, monitoring equipment. On a screen, we see the image of Clementine on the beach — the memory we just watched. It flickers. Degrades. Starts to erase.