BROOKE, 20s, sits on a couch. A coffee table sits in front
of her. She checks her cell phone. She checks her watch.
Two wine glasses sit on the coffee table with a bottle of
wine. One glass is filled. Brooke picks it up and takes a
sip.
We HEAR the sound of a door latch. In walks JACK, 20s, with
a backpack slung over his shoulder and holding a dozen red
roses.
JACK
Don't say a thing. Not one little
thing. Because I have something to
say to you first.
Brooke sits on her irritation.
JACK (CONT'D)
I love you more than you can know.
So much, that I went out of my way
to buy you a dozen of your favorite
roses.
BROOKE
Yellow roses. Yellow roses are my
favorite.
JACK
Yes. I knew that. And that's why
I'm late because I traipsed all
over the neighborhood looking for
yellow roses. But I failed. I
failed you once again. But I
thought red roses might...
BROOKE
Might what? Make up for the fact
that you are an hour and half late?
JACK
The rehearsal went over. No one,
except me of course, knew their
lines and the director was, let's
say, totally pissed. So he forced
us to stay late and run lines.
Over and over. I'm exhausted,
frankly.
BROOKE
I bet.
Jack places his backpack on the chair next to the couch.
JACK
Shall I place these in a vase?
BROOKE
How about I place your skull in a
vise and it tightens to the point
of hearing it crack.
Jack places the roses on the coffee table.
JACK
I am very good at reading people,
and though I could be wrong, I
think you are a tad irritated with
me. Am I right?
BROOKE
I have been texting and calling you
all day. I wrote thirty five
texts, to be exact, thirty four of
which I sent. The last one said
"fuck you" but because I am not
prone to immature outbursts, I
decided not to send that one.
Jack pulls his cell phone out of his pocket. He turns it
one.
JACK
Brooke, my love, you know that when
I am in rehearsal I turn my cell
phone off. And bingo, look at
that. I see all your texts now.
I'm sorry.
Jack sits next to Brooke, it first placing his cell phone in
the outside pocket of his backpack which sits on the adjacent
chair. Jack is about to place his arm around Brooke.
BROOKE
Do not... do not touch me.
JACK
You know how important my acting
is, my career. And this play is
one of the best things I've ever
been in. It will get reviewed.
And if I'm lucky, it might lead to
something else.
BROOKE
I saw your tweet.
JACK
Which one?
BROOKE
The one where you are so excited
that the play might move to Los
Angeles.
JACK
OK.
BROOKE
No, it's not OK. We live in New
York. I live in New York, and you
are telling everybody on Twitter
that you are excited to be 3,000
miles from me. How is that OK?
JACK
Do you know how ridiculous that is.
I am not excited to be 3,000 miles
from you. I am excited that the
play may move to LA. And of course
it would be great if you came.
BROOKE
And how am I going to do that? I
can't just leave my job.
JACK
Ok. Ok. I get that. But even if
the play moves to LA, it would only
be for a few months.
BROOKE
A few months here, a few months
there... it adds up.
JACK
Distance makes the heart grow
fonder.
BROOKE
Well your heart clearly needs to
grow fonder since I am not feeling
very loved.
Jack now places his arm around Brooke. She lets him. He
kisses her on the cheek.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
So... you... love me?
JACK
I said it this morning. In bed.
BROOKE
I must have been sleeping.
JACK
I kissed you on the forehead and
whispered in your ear "I love you
forever."
BROOKE
Really?
JACK
Really.
BROOKE
I hope the play totally fails and
does not move to LA.
JACK
So do I.
Brooke turns and kisses Jack on the lips.
BROOKE
I'm joking. I hope it's a big
success.
Jack kisses Brooke's forehead. He stands.
JACK
I'm going to take a shower. And
then I will join you for some wine
and...
BROOKE
And what?
Jack smiles and leaves. Brooke smiles, feeling somewhat
satisfied. She takes a sip of wine. She picks up a magazine
from the coffee table. She flips through some pages. We
HEAR the buzz of a cell phone. The sound is coming from
Jack's backpack that he left on the chair next to the couch.
Sticking half way out of the outside pocket is Jack's cell.
It is lit with the name of the person calling him. It says
"Denise."
Brooke hesitates. She removes the phone from Jack's bag and
stares at the screen. She decides to answer...
BROOKE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
Hello?
There is a pause.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
We are so glad someone called. This
phone was locked and so we did not
know whose it was.
DENISE
(voice over)
Oh, Jack must have left his phone
at... this is The Cafe Amour?
BROOKE
(into the phone)
The Cafe... yes this is the Cafe
Amour.
DENISE
(voice over)
OK great. Jack and I had dinner
there tonight. Can you hold it for
us. I'll be right over to get it.
BROOKE
(into the phone)
Yes. Of course. Your name?
DENISE
(voice over)
Denise Talbott. Thanks so much.
BROOKE
(into the phone)
OK.
Brooke hangs up. She pauses, trying to wrap her head around
it all. She places the phone back in Jack's backpack.
A beat. Jack walks out in a bathrobe, his hair wet from the
shower. Jack picks up the bottle of wine on the table.
JACK
Stag's Leap. A little pricey, no?
BROOKE
You know what, rather than spend
time at home drinking wine, why
don;t we go out?
JACK
Oh man, I was just looking forward
to hanging with you, on the couch,
watch a movie, drink some wine.
BROOKE
What about dinner? I'm starving.
JACK
Yes. Dinner. Funny, I'm so
exhausted, I'm just not hungry.
You want me to whip you up
something?
BROOKE
No. I've been home all day and I
really need to get out.
JACK
OK, well... can we keep it light.
How about the sushi place on the
corner?
Brooke stands up.
BROOKE
I heard that Cafe Amour has great
food.
JACK
Cafe Amour? That's real expensive,
Brooke.
BROOKE
Is it?
JACK
I promise I'll take you there
another night, just not tonight.
Brooke walks up to Jack and kisses him on the cheek.
BROOKE
We're going tonight. It was highly
recommended. By my new friend.
Denise.
Brooke steps away.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Meet me downstairs when your
dressed. OK lover boy.
Brooke leaves. Jack is frozen.
THE END.
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