A flabby hopeless romantic in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, convinced he's found his one true love in an athletic outdoorswoman, fakes expertise in jogging, mountain biking, and fishing to win her over before she marries the athletic outdoorsman she loves in 26 days.

SYNOPSIS:

Will, an out-of-shape 22 year-old professional photographer, believes there is "the one" for each of us in this great big world of eight-billion people, and by love-at-first-sight chance meets his latest "the one," Sophia. Unfortunately for Will, he finds out she'll be marrying George, the man she loves, in 26 days. Since by Will's logic she's marrying not-her-one, he justifies spying on Sophia and even breaking into her house (thwarting a serial killer in the process) to learn all he can about her to quickly develop a relationship, only to discover she's an avid jogging, mountain-biking, fishing health nut; interests he has not. Meanwhile, Will's best friend Josie chastises him for trying to break up an engagement.

A friendship between Will and Sophia develops as he fakes his way through jogging, mountain biking, and falafel (he finds it fal-awful), but Sophia doesn't begin to fall for Will until three days before the wedding when he reveals his deeply personal (and honest) connection to Lake Superior. Unbeknownst to Will, Sophia also has a deeply personal connection to Lake Superior, and it is because of it she has developed cold feet over marrying George and moving to Seattle; he had moved there six months ago after Sophia encouraged him to pursue his career. Realizing she must choose, George and Seattle or Will and the U.P., Sophia's love for Lake Superior prevails; she chooses Will. Will couldn't be happier.

Josie, who had presumed Will had no chance of succeeding, intercedes by crashing Will and Sophia's fishing date to expose Will's win-over-Sophia tactics. Sophia is at first angry at Will, but Will gives an impassioned apology justifying his actions, and compares him and Sophia to the two eagles in a poem he'd written (and had previously shared with her) who are bound together by their love for Lake Superior. The lake prevails again; Sophia forgives Will and they make love. The day before the wedding, George arrives. Sophia mentally prepares herself to break off their engagement, but when she sees him in person for the first time in six months, she realizes how much she loves George and wants to be with him regardless of where they live. When Will finds out, he goes on a drinking binge.

The day of the wedding, it turns out a heartbroken and hungover Will has to be the photographer. Josie does her best to keep Will in line, but when Will attempts to object to George and Sophia's marriage (Josie tackles Will to stop him, but she's too late), George knows something happened between Will and Sophia. But in the end, everything works out as it should; George and Sophia wind up happily married after Will redeems himself in an impassioned speech at the reception when he finally understands the thing about love.

Written by Joe Eatherton & Nicole Wachter.

• Quarterfinalist: Final Draft Big Break Writing Contest 2023
• Quarterfinalist: Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition 2023
• Quarterfinalist: BlueCat Screenplay Competition 2023
• Quarterfinalist: Filmmatic - Inroads Fellowship 2023
• Quarterfinalist: Shore Scripts Feature Contest 2022
• Quarterfinalist: ScreenCraft Comedy Competition 2022
• Semifinalist: Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition 2021
• Quarterfinalist: Shore Scripts Feature Contest 2021
• Second Rounder: Selling Your Screenplay - SYS's Six-Figure Screenplay Contest 2021

THE THING ABOUT LOVE