Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Scene 1 Summary

  • Joel wakes up and gets out of bed. We can tell he really doesn't want to.
  • Joel decides to call in sick and take a train to a beach where it's freezing cold—you know, because it's February.
  • Then Joel begins narrating some things to us. He tells us he's not an impulsive person, that sand is overrated, and that his chances of meeting someone new aren't too hot, because he can't make eye contact with a woman he doesn't know.
  • Joel thinks about getting back together with a nice girl he knew. He just really seems to be in a funk, and the cold, gray weather isn't helping.