Love Story (chapter 1) Adaptation AudioBook

Summary

In this reflective and humorous script, the narrator, Oliver, recounts his experiences at Harvard University and his encounter with a clever Radcliffe girl, Jennifer Cavallari. Despite their initial antagonism, they form a connection through shared interests in music and sports. The story unfolds with Oliver's pride and competitiveness, culminating in a hockey game where he hopes to impress Jenny. Their relationship develops through witty banter and unexpected moments, highlighting themes of love, rivalry, and the complexities of young adulthood.

Takeaways

• 😔 The narrator is troubled by not being the first love in the heart of a girl who passed away, reflecting on their relationship and her interests in music.
• 📚 The story begins at Harvard University, where the narrator is a student who studies in the Radcliffe library and is known for his family pride.
• 👓 The narrator meets Jennifer, a Radcliffe girl who challenges his sense of self-worth and intelligence, leading to a complex dynamic between them.
• 🏒 The narrator plays ice hockey and is passionate about winning, which is a significant part of his identity and how he measures his success.
• 🎶 Jennifer is a music student with a particular interest in 16th-century music, which she studies diligently.
• 🤔 The narrator's pride is a recurring theme, as he struggles with the idea of not being the most important person in Jennifer's life.
• 🏆 The narrator's performance in a hockey game is a pivotal moment, showcasing his competitive spirit and desire for recognition.
• 👥 The narrator's roommate, Ray Stratton, and his friends provide a glimpse into the social dynamics and camaraderie among athletes at the university.
• 💔 There is a romantic tension between the narrator and Jennifer, which culminates in a moment of confession and a surprising reaction from her.
• 😡 The narrator's pride is hurt when Jennifer reacts to his playful comment with a dismissive remark, highlighting the emotional complexity of their relationship.
• 🤔 The script ends on a reflective note, with the narrator contemplating his actions and the nature of his relationship with Jennifer.

Q & A

What is the main character's concern about his relationship with the girl who died?

The main character is concerned about not being the first in her heart, as she mentioned loving Mozart, Bach, the Beatles, and him, but he is unsure of his position in that list.

Where did the main character often study during his last year at Harvard University?

The main character often studied in the Radcliffe library, as it was quiet and had the books he needed for his studies.

What was the interaction like between the main character and the Radcliffe library worker when he asked for a book?

The interaction was initially unfriendly, with the library worker questioning why he didn't use Harvard's library and making assumptions about him being rich and stupid.

How did the main character respond to the library worker's assumption about him being rich and stupid?

He corrected her by saying he was actually clever and poor, and he used the situation to his advantage to get the book he needed for his studies.

What is the significance of the name 'Barrett' in the script?

The name 'Barrett' is significant because it is the main character's last name and it is associated with Barrett Hall, a building at Harvard University donated by his great-grandfather.

Why did the main character invite the library worker, Jennifer, for coffee?

He invited her for coffee as a way to get the book he wanted and to spend time with her, as he was intrigued by her cleverness and attitude.

What sport does the main character play, and what is his attitude towards it?

The main character plays ice hockey and has a competitive and somewhat aggressive attitude towards the game, as he wants to score goals and fight for his team.

What was the main character's reaction when he was sent to the penalty box during the Dartmouth hockey match?

He was angry and frustrated, feeling that he was trying too hard and that his efforts were being penalized.

How did Jennifer react to the main character's aggressive behavior during the hockey match?

Jennifer was initially critical of his fighting, but later encouraged him to 'knock their heads off,' showing a change in her attitude towards his competitiveness.

What does the main character do after the hockey match, and how does it relate to his feelings for Jennifer?

After the match, the main character quickly gets out of his bath, hoping that Jennifer is still waiting for him, which indicates his growing affection for her.

What is the main character's reaction when his roommate, Ray Stratton, and his friends laugh about his relationship with Jennifer?

He is defensive and dismissive, telling them to 'get lost' and showing his protective feelings towards his budding relationship with Jennifer.

How does the script end, and what does it reveal about the main character's feelings?

The script ends with the main character confessing to Jennifer that he thinks he is in love with her, and her response calling him 'crazy' suggests a complex dynamic between them.

Outlines

00:00

😌 Encounter at the Library

The narrator, a Harvard student, shares his encounter with Jennifer Cavallari, a Radcliffe girl, at the library. He is initially drawn to her intelligence and beauty, and their conversation revolves around their respective family backgrounds and his pride in being a Harvard student. Despite her challenging his ego, they end up going for coffee together, where they discuss their interests, including music and literature. The narrator's pride is evident as he struggles with not being Jennifer's first choice among her interests.

05:04

🏒 The Hockey Game and a Penalty

The story continues with the narrator's experience at a Harvard hockey game, where he is playing and hopes to impress Jennifer. He is penalized for fighting on the ice, leading to a moment of tension and reflection. Jennifer's presence and support during the game, despite his earlier aggressive behavior, reveal a complex dynamic between them. The narrator's competitive spirit is highlighted, as is his desire to win both on the ice and in his relationship with Jennifer.

10:06

😔 Mixed Signals and Emotional Complexity

In the final paragraph, the narrator grapples with his feelings for Jennifer and the mixed signals he receives from her. After a successful hockey game, he rushes to find her, and their interaction is filled with tension and ambiguity. Jennifer's reaction to his prideful behavior is a mix of challenge and affection, leading to a moment of vulnerability for the narrator. The story concludes with a phone call where Jennifer's response to his confession of love is both surprising and thought-provoking, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved emotional complexity.

Keywords

💡Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, known for its prestigious academic programs and historical significance. In the script, it represents the educational background of the protagonist, Oliver, and serves as a symbol of academic excellence and social status.

💡Radcliffe library

The Radcliffe library is a reference to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, which is associated with academic research and scholarly pursuits. In the narrative, it is the setting where Oliver and Jennifer meet and interact, highlighting the academic environment that brings them together.

💡Clever and poor

The phrase 'clever and poor' is used to describe Jennifer's self-perception, suggesting that she is intelligent but lacks financial wealth. This contrasts with Oliver's self-description as 'stupid and rich,' which is ironic since he is actually intelligent and from a wealthy background. The concept is central to the theme of social and intellectual identity.

💡Prep school

Prep school refers to a type of private secondary school that prepares students for university, often associated with privilege and wealth. In the script, Jennifer assumes Oliver attended a prep school based on his appearance, which he corrects by saying he is 'clever and poor,' challenging stereotypes.

💡Music

Music is a central theme in the script, with Jennifer studying music and having a passion for composers like Mozart, Bach, and the Beatles. It represents a shared interest between the characters and serves as a bridge for their relationship, as well as a symbol of cultural and intellectual pursuits.

💡Dartmouth hockey match

The Dartmouth hockey match is an event where Oliver plays, showcasing his athletic abilities and competitive spirit. It is a pivotal moment in the script where Jennifer watches him play, and it becomes a test of Oliver's character and his desire to win and impress.

💡Penalty box

The penalty box is a place in ice hockey where a player is sent for a temporary period as a punishment for breaking the rules. In the script, Oliver is sent to the penalty box for fighting, which reflects his aggressive and competitive nature on the ice.

💡Family pride

Family pride is a recurring theme in the script, as Oliver is conscious of his family's legacy and reputation. It influences his actions and attitudes, such as his desire to always be number one and his reaction to Jennifer's comments about his family's donation to Harvard.

💡Barrett Hall

Barrett Hall is a building at Harvard University, mentioned in the script as a gift from Oliver's great-grandfather. It symbolizes the family's wealth and influence, but Oliver expresses shame about it, indicating a conflict between his personal identity and his family's legacy.

💡Winning and losing

The concepts of winning and losing are significant in the script, as they relate to Oliver's competitive nature and his struggle with accepting defeat. Jennifer's comment about 'every big winner has to be a good loser' challenges Oliver's perspective on success and failure.

💡Pride

Pride is a key theme in the script, manifesting in Oliver's reluctance to admit mistakes or show vulnerability. His pride is evident in his interactions with Jennifer and his reaction to being sent to the penalty box, where he refuses to acknowledge his error.

Highlights

The narrator's complex feelings about being first in his family pride.

The encounter at the Radcliffe library and the initial interaction with the librarian.

The librarian's challenge to the narrator's assumption of superiority.

The narrator's strategy to get the book he needed by engaging with the librarian.

The librarian's perception of the narrator as 'stupid and rich'.

The introduction of Jennifer Cavallari and her background.

The narrator's pride in his family's history and the connection to Barrett Hall.

Jenny's indifference to the narrator's family legacy.

The tension between the narrator and Jenny during their coffee date.

The narrator's invitation to Jenny for the Dartmouth hockey match.

Jenny's reaction to the narrator's aggressive play during the hockey game.

The narrator's reflection on his performance in the hockey game.

The romantic tension between the narrator and Jenny after the game.

Jenny's ambiguous response to the narrator's confession of love.

The narrator's pride and its impact on his relationship with Jenny.

The roommate's reaction and the mention of Jenny's musical talent.

Transcripts

chapter one stupid and rich clever and

poor what can you say about a 25 year

old girl who died you can say that she

was beautiful and intelligent she loved

Mozart and Bach and the Beatles and me

once when she told me that I asked her

who came first she answered smiling like

in the ABC I smiled too but now I wonder

was she talking about my first name if

she was I came last behind Mozart or did

she mean my last name if she did I came

between Bach and the Beatles but I still

didn't come first

that worries me terribly now you see I

always had to be number one family pride

you see in the autumn of my last year at

Harvard University I studied a lot in

the Radcliffe library the library was

quiet nobody knew me there and they had

the books that I needed for my studies

the day before an examination I went

over to the library desk to ask for a

book two girls were working there one

was tall and sporty the other was quiet

and wore glasses I chose her and asked

for my book she gave me an unfriendly

look don't you have a library at Harvard

she asked Radcliffe let us use their

library I answered yes preppie they do

but is it fair

Harvard has five million books we have a

few thousand oh dear I thought a clever

Radcliffe girl I can usually make girls

like her feel very small but I needed

that damn book so I had to be polite

listen I need that damn book don't speak

like that to a lady preppie why are you

you so sure that I went to prep school

she took off her glasses you look stupid

and rich she said you're wrong

I said I'm actually clever and poor Oh

No preppie

she said I'm clever and poor she was

looking straight at me alright

she had pretty brown eyes and okay

perhaps I looked rich but I don't let

anyone call me stupid what makes you so

clever

I asked I'm not going to go for coffee

with you she said listen am I going to

ask you that she said is what makes you

stupid let me explain why I took her for

coffee I got the book that I wanted

didn't I and she couldn't leave the

library until closing time so I was able

to study the book for a good long time I

got an A in my exam the next day I gave

the girls legs an A - when she came out

from behind the library desk we went to

a coffee shop and I ordered coffee for

both of us

hi I'm Jennifer Cavallari

she said I'm American but my family came

from Italy I'm studying music my name is

Oliver I said is that your first or your

last name she asked

first my other name is Barrett oh she

said like Elizabeth Barrett the writer

yes I said no relation I was pleased

that she hadn't said Barrett like

Barrett Hall that Barrett is a relation

of mine Barrett Hall is a large unlovely

building at Harvard University my

great-grandfather gave it to Harvard

long ago and I am deeply ashamed of it

she was silent she sat there half

smiling at me I looked at her notebooks

16th century music I said that sounds

difficult it's too difficult for you

preppie she said coldly why was i

letting her talk to me like this didn't

she read the university magazine didn't

she know who I was Hey

don't you know who I am yes she answered

you're the man who owns Barrett Hall she

didn't know who I was I don't own

Barrett Hall I argued my

great-grandfather gave it to Harvard

that's all so that's why his

not-so-great grandson could get into

Harvard so easily

I was angry now Jenny if I'm no good why

did you want me to invite you for coffee

she looked straight into my eyes and

smiled I like your body she said every

big winner has to be a good loser to

every good Harvard man knows that but

it's better if you can win and so as I

walked with Jenny to her dormitory I

made my winning move

and Friday night is the Dartmouth hockey

match so so I'd like you to come

these Radcliffe girls they really care

about sport and why she asked should I

come to a stupid ice hockey match

because I'm playing I answered there was

a moment's silence I think I heard snow

falling for which team she said by the

second quarter of the game on Friday

night we were winning 0 to 0 that is

Davey Johnson and I were getting ready

to score a goal the crowd were screaming

for blood or a goal I always feel that

it's my job to give them both these

things I didn't look up at Jenny once

but I hoped she was watching me I got

the puck and started off across the ice

Davey Johnson was there on my left but I

didn't pass the puck to him I wanted to

score this goal myself but before I

could shoot two big Dartmouth men were

after me in a moment we were hitting the

puck and each other as hard as we could

you said a voice suddenly two minutes in

the penalty box

I looked up he was talking to me what

did I do

I asked don't argue he called to the

officials desk number seven two minutes

in the penalty box for fighting angrily

I climbed into the penalty box why are

you sitting here when all your friends

are playing the voice was Jenny's I

didn't answer

come on Harvard get that Park I shouted

what did you do wrong

Jenny asked I tried too hard out there

on the ice Harvard were playing with

only five men is that something to be

ashamed of Jenny please I'm thinking

what about about those two Dartmouth men

when I get back onto the ice I'll break

them into little pieces do you always

fight when you play hockey I'll fight

you Jenny if you don't keep quiet I'm

leaving goodbye I looked round but she

had gone just then the bell rang my

two-minute penalty had finished I jumped

onto the ice again good old Barrett

shouted the crowd

Jenny will hear them shouting for me I

thought but where was she had she left

as I went for the puck I looked up into

the crowd jenny was standing there I

took the puck and went towards the goal

line to Dartmouth players were coming

straight at me go Oliver go knock their

heads off that was Jenny's voice above

the crowd

it was crazily beautifully violent I

pushed past one Dartmouth man

I knocked hard into the other then I

passed the puck to Davey Johnson and he

banged it into the Dartmouth goal the

crowd went wild in a moment we were all

shouting and kissing and banging each

other on the back the crowd were

screaming with excitement

after that we murdered Dartmouth seven

goals to zero after the match I lay in

the hot bath and thought with pride

about the game

I'd scored one goal and helped to score

another now the water felt wonderful on

my tired body suddenly I remembered

Jenny was she still waiting outside I

hope so I jumped out of that bath and

dressed as fast as I could

outside the cold winter air hit me I

looked round for Jenny had she walked

back to her dormitory alone

suddenly I saw her hey preppie

it's cold out here I was really pleased

to see her and gave her a quick kiss did

I say you could kiss me she said sorry I

was just excited I wasn't it was dark

and quiet out there in the cold I kissed

her again more slowly when we reached

her dormitory I did not kiss her

goodnight listen Jenny perhaps I won't

telephone you for a few months she was

silent for a moment why she asked at

last but perhaps I'll telephone you as

soon as I get back to my dorm I turned

and began to walk away damn preppie

I heard her say I turned again from 20

feet away

I scored another goal you see Jenny

that's the kind of thing you say and

when other people do it to you you don't

like it I wished I could see the look on

her face but I couldn't look back my

pride wouldn't let me

when I returned to my dorm ray Stratton

was there he and I slept in the same

room

ray was playing cards with some of his

football playing friends hello lollie

said ray how many goals did you score

I scored one and I made one I answered

with Cavalieri that's none of your

business

I replied quickly whose Cavallari asked

one of the footballers Jenny Cavallari

studies music plays the piano with the

music group what does she play with

Barrett everyone laughed

get lost I said as I entered my room

there I took off my shoes lay back on my

bed and telephoned Jenny's dormitory hey

Jan I said softly yes I think I am in

love with you she was silent for a few

moments then she answered very softly

Oliver you're crazy I wasn't unhappy or

surprised

you