Dinner, Sex and a Movie(8)
It wasn’t like that.
Emma:
Then what was it like?
Jake:
What does your police report say?
Emma:
After your little gang sabotaged the relationships, you re-assigned the victims to new, allegedly better relationships. Most of which apparently worked.
Jill (disbelieving):
How?
Jake:
Christ, I never figured Jerry would spill his guts.
Emma:
Well apparently some of the jilted lovers found out about his little social experiment and weren’t too happy. The beating gave Jerry motive to get out while he was still alive.
Jill:
So where does Jake fit in? (Looking at Jake) Other than being the relationship wrecker?
Emma:
Jerry identified Jake as the “study coordinator” – whatever that means – and told the police he might know something about the assault.
Jill (to Jake, accusingly):
You were in charge.
Jake:
Bullshit, I was a study subject from moment one. I was just too fucking stupid to see it.
Jill:
You have ceased to be attractive, just like that. (To Emma) What did he tell the police?
Emma:
Nothing. They arrived to an empty house. He was renting month to month and his lease had ended, without renewal. Sound familiar?
Jake:
It was time for me to go.
Emma:
And go you did. You flew to Amsterdam the day after Jerry got beaten up. But you did it from Newark Liberty.
Jill:
Why not Boston Logan? It’s closest.
Emma:
That’s what I want to know. Was someone watching for you in Terminal E there, Jake?
Jake:
I had something I needed to do in New York on my way out.
Pause.
Emma:
You went to that jewelry store. Did you return a ring? Is that what happened to you – someone broke your heart?
Jill:
Somebody got to you?
Emma:
Looks like I won’t be the first, after all.
Jake:
I moved to Europe because I needed a change of scenery. That’s all.
Emma studies him for a moment.
Emma:
Well, you found it. You headlined some clubs, my contact found some concert bills to prove it. And you had some run-ins with the Dutch police.
Jill:
More police trouble? For what?
Emma:
Street fighting. Our Jake here is a bad boy, through and through.
Jill:
He’s getting attractive again all of a sudden. What next?
Emma:
That’s all I’ve got. The person who can fill in the rest is sitting opposite us. Silent.
Jill leaves to tend to a table.
Jake:
Like I said. You’ll have to come back for the details another night.
Emma:
No need. It’s late.
Jake:
It’s not even 9:30. We could go to a movie in Chadds Ford.
Emma:
I’m strictly a Bond girl. 007 gets the big screen. For anything else, I prefer to be curled up on the couch. Bill – our check please.
Bill:
Yes, m’lady.
She throws the folder on the bar in front of Jake. He picks it up and opens it.
Jake (holding up magazine clippings):
You bitch.
Emma:
Recipes from women’s home magazines. The folder was just for effect.
Jake:
You only conducted this whole exercise because you find me interesting. And mysterious.
Emma:
I find you cute and stupid.
Jake:
Ever since the first time we crossed paths. And inquired about each other.
Emma:
I don’t put a lot of faith in Fate. That random phone call provided us some mutual entertainment. And some eye candy. But that’s all.
Jake:
Only because you are forcing it to be. I will breach your shields. Maybe not tonight. But I will.
Emma:
If not tonight, when? Will you come here looking for me?
Jake:
No. But we’ll cross paths again. That’s the way the world works.
Emma:
And when we do, I’ll have a wealthy, handsome man in a suit with me. That’s the way the world works.
Jake:
Then I’ll just have to tell him to get away from my woman.
Emma (smiling):
Silly, macho, little boy response.
Jake:
That would turn you on to no end.
Emma smiles and says nothing.
Jake:
That’s the only time I’ve heard you say “yes” all night.
Emma (looking away):
Thing is, if I were the type to fall for you, that Andover thing would scare the hell out of me.
Bill leaves the check.
Jake:
So the shields are finally coming down a little.
Emma:
No. Just the opposite. With you they have to stay up. Everything you do is about manipulation. The phone call, your guitar. Your little social experiment that you allegedly left behind. You can’t be trusted.
Jake:
I wish that was true. But in the end I’m really just a lovesick, lost puppy looking for the right woman. Singular.
Emma:
Bullshit, you’re a drifter, first and foremost with women.