Dinner, Sex and a Movie(21)
Jake (firmly):
I can’t. I was meant to call you.
Emma:
Stop it!
Jake:
No. However this is supposed to end, this isn’t it!
Emma (desperate):
How is this supposed to end?! Tell me!
He tries to hug her. She pushes him; he resists and pulls her toward him. She begins to hit his chest wildly. He stands his ground and takes it. When she is exhausted, she collapses against him. He cradles her in his arms, holds her head to his chest, kissing her hair.
Jake (in a strong, calm, whisper):
Let me in.
Emma (reluctantly):
I’m in love with you, you stupid jerk. I don’t want to be… I just am.
Jake:
That’s all we need to make this work. I already love you.
She lifts her head and looks at him.
Emma:
I know. I was scared.
They begin kissing.
Emma (after a bit):
Look at us. We’re a mess.
Jake laughs.
Jake:
Yeah.
Emma:
Is this what you want? Me, in all my teary-eyed glory?
Jake (without hesitating):
Forever.
Emma:
How can you be sure?
Jake:
Well, for starters, I’m going to erase that damn number myself if you don’t. I don’t want anybody else calling for you, snot-nosed kid or not.
Emma (laughs):
Then I think we have a job to finish.
Jake:
You do the honors.
Jake slides the bench out and helps Emma lower herself onto her back. She slides under the piano. He hands her the flashlight. He then sits on the bench and pulls out the black magic marker.
Emma turns on the flashlight and looks for a bit.
Jake:
What do you see?
Emma:
Lots of Rolling Stones lyrics. And things boys like to draw. With limited reference, apparently.
Emma keeps looking.
Emma:
Where was it? I remember it being near an upside-down question mark with these three spokes at right angles.
Jake:
Look where it says “Rebel Yell.”
Emma:
Where’s that?
Jake:
Beneath “Depeche Mode 101.”
Emma:
Oh my God!
Jake (breaking fourth wall, smiling):
Found it.
Emma:
They wrote that about me?!
Jake:
All good warnings, none of which I heeded.
Emma:
Lucky for me. Oh, this is all coming back. I remember all of this. Looking up from this exact spot. Who was next to me…
Jake:
Jane, I would guess.
Emma:
…what I was wearing…
Jake:
But what you were thinking?
Emma:
I told you, I wasn’t thinking anything. I was a fifteen year-old idiot.
Jake (pushing, gently):
I know you told me that. But now I want to know the truth.
Emma pauses and considers telling him.
Emma:
I was thinking maybe some boy would call me up and he might like me. And I might like him back.
Jake:
And?
Emma (slides out partially to look up at Jake):
I don’t know. I’m thinking it might have worked, twenty years later.
Jake (smiling):
Ready?
Emma:
Yeah.
Jake (handing her the marker):
Do it.
Emma thoroughly writes over her entry. When she finishes, she slides out. They high five while she is still on the ground. Jake stands and extends his hand to help Emma up.
Jake pulls Emma up and straight into a kiss. It lingers.
Jake:
So?
Emma:
So?
Jake:
Did it work?
Emma (happy):
Yeah. It worked.
Jake:
Come with me. I know a place we can safely get out of these ridiculous clothes.
Emma laughs.
Emma:
What then?
Jake:
We can start with a proper dinner, out. Then go to a movie. Before or after sex.
Emma:
And after that?
Jake (shrugs, with a confident smile on his face):
We’re going to find out together.
They exit the room through the outside door, arms about each other’s waists, Emma’s head on Jake’s shoulder.
After a moment, Brickman emerges from behind the hallway door.
Brickman (to himself):
Good thing that boy showed back up before I kicked his ass. You don’t make a woman cry like that on my watch, no sir…. Good boy, Jake. I knew you’d get it right in the end.
He slides the bench out and climbs underneath the piano, lying flat on his back. He runs his index finger along the underside of the piano as if he is reading.
Brickman:
Well I’ll be damned. How did I never notice that?
He takes out his cell phone and dials a number he is reading.
Brickman:
Can I speak to Jane, please?
Pause.
Brickman:
Yes ma’am, I am. I found it under the name that says “taken.”
Curtain.