|
The New Romantic (2018)
1
(HEAVY BREATHING) (SOFT DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL) BLAKE VOICEOVER: When my dad saw my mom for the first time, there was no witty bio accompanying a flattering yet candid photo of her. She was just sitting on the bleachers on campus. And he knew right there and then that he was going to marry her. (UPBEAT NEW WAVE MUSIC) BLAKE: Because of that story combined with an unhealthy binge of Nora Ephron movies when I had mono in high school, I always wondered what my love story would be. Playing foosball in a shitty diner with a college bro from Tinder wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Do you have any siblings? BLAKE: I bet you if Harry met Sally in 2018 That was fun. BLAKE: They'd just end up as fuck buddies. COLLEGE BRO: You wanna come over? BLAKE: I can't. COLLEGE BRO: I'm not gonna think you're a slut or whatever. I wasn't concerned about that, but thank you. Well then, what is it? BLAKE: I just don't wanna have sex with you right now. COLLEGE BRO: Okay, but like, not right now or, like, generally? Do I wanna have sex with you generally? COLLEGE BRO: Yeah. BLAKE: Poor college guys. God bless them. But they're so busy trying to catch up on what misconduct is, they don't even know how to go on a date. It's time to say goodbye to grand gestures. The grandest it gets these days is swiping right instead of left. As your local hopeless romantic, I am sad to report that romance is dead. MATT: Romance is dead. BLAKE: Yup. (SIGHS) Okay, um, I'm gonna kill your column. What? Why? Because your love life is boring! BLAKE: That's not my fault! I am trying really hard out there. WINNIE: Hey, I personally really like the existential crisis with the philosophy major. BLAKE: Thanks, Winnie. It's a good column! It's just niche. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Plus, it gives the paper a female edge. MATT: Hm. Female, maybe. Edge, absolutely not. Your column is about as far away from the edge as a kid scared of heights. Good simile, Jacob. MATT: Alright, guys, stop fighting. I'm putting you on reviews. That's what you're doing now. The Jessers and Naples are playing, uh, at the Cavern, so go and tell me how it is. So that's it? I'm sorry! I'm sorry that the student body has lost interest in your love life. It kinda feels like maybe you've lost interest in your own love life, to be perfectly frank. I can make it better. I am gonna do something really awesome. Yeah, you are. In reviews. Maybe you're a critic! Maybe that's your thing. Sit down, please. - Winnie? - WINNIE: Mhm? Got something for you, LSD. The mice in our labs are being tested on by the med students. Animal rights people are gonna be fucking nuts about this. So maybe we write something about that. (SIGHS) Such a waste of LSD. To me. MATT: That-that could be something! That could be something. Hey, it's not This American Life, but it's something. LSD, that's our target. Monday, see you guys all then. I am going to the bar. BLAKE: Without my column, I'm just another Humanities major! I am facing years of rejection from unpaid internships. NIKKI: Come to Thailand with me! We need to find ourselves. I am not going to find myself on a mushroom trip at a full moon party. That's literally where you find yourself. Well, is there a student loan that can pay for my flight to this party where I miraculously find myself? NIKKI: If they said your column was boring just make your column less boring. It's not that boring. It's not. You write a sex column with no sex. I do stuff. You've given, like, one hand-job in the last year to... Who was it, again? The Spanish exchange student. God, he was really hot. No, he wasn't. He was really intense. He was gross. I feel like there was a lot of potential with the philosophy major. No. He has tiny fingers. He'd hold a beer like this, like a baby holding a bottle. That's gross. CASHIER: I.D.? I need to see your I.D. Okay. NIKKI: A knight in shining armour isn't gonna come galloping into the frat party and ask you to the ball. He might. Can I just pay for this now? Chill. Excuse me? We were here first. What are you twelve? NIKKI: What are you? Forty? I.D.? What? Thirty? Oh, I found it! I like your coat. Thanks. BLAKE: Okay, let's go. Can I get some rolling papers, too, please? 6X? (LIVELY NEW WAVE MUSIC) NIKKI: So what's the deal with this band? I heard the lead guitarist is pretty! Him and his man-bun were in my Intro to Psych class. I swear, if I'd had a pair of scissors, I would've cut the thing off. - BOUNCER: Hi. - NIKKI: How are you? I.D's. Of course, obviously. - It's candy. - BOUNCER: Uh oh. Yeah Should've saved ya a little lick. BOUNCER: Bring enough to share around? I'm kidding. Depends on how the night goes. I'm just kidding, we're not doing that. Yeah, that isn't you. (GIGGLES) What're you talking about? Of course it's me! BOUNCER: Yeah? What's your name? Blake Conway Wrong. BLAKE: Uh, that's weird. NIKKI: That is weird. Oh yeah, that's fine! You're okay? Yeah, that's fine. You go in. NIKKI: You're sure? BLAKE: I would be thrilled. I'll figure out where my I.D. went. Good luck. BLAKE: Yeah, I'llI'll find you somehow. Sorry! BLAKE: Can you write my review? (DISTANT POLICE SIRENS) (BARKING) (DOORBELL BUZZING) (DOORBELL BUZZING) (INTERCOM) MORGAN: Hello? Hi, um, Morgan? (INTERCOM) MORGAN: Yeah? Um, I have your driver's licence. I think that you have mine. (INTERCOM) MORGAN: What? I have your driver's licence. (DOOR BUZZES OPEN) MORGAN: Hi. Hey, uh, this is yours. Oh! Weird. I think they switched them at the liquor store. Oh, that's funny. Come in. This is Bobby. He's not a very good dancer. That's not true. Hi. BOBBY: Hi, how's your night? Uh, good, thank you. BOBBY: Good. Good. Here you go. Thank you. You should stay. For a drink. The universe brought us all together. Gotta embrace that, right? Okay, sure. I'll have a drink. - Cheers. - BLAKE: Cheers. Do you have to pee? I have to pee. I could pee. Yeah, let's pee. BLAKE: Team sport? (SIGHS) You're really pretty. Do you know that? I feel like you don't know that. Thanks. It's important for a girl to know how pretty she is. Why? MORGAN: Because that's how you find them. Find what? (TOILET FLUSHING) Your powers. He'll pay you to stay. Oh, I'm MORGAN: Oh, or you don't have to take money, or anything. I know some girls are weird with that. BLAKE: No, um, I'm sorry. I'm not Not what? A prostitute. (CHUCKLES) I'm not a prostitute, babe. I'm just trying to cut you into a deal. It'll be fun. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. I don't think I can. I have early class in the morning. I get it! It's not for everyone. Come on. Miss me? I always miss you, babe. Okay, thanks! MORGAN: Yeah, bye! Bye. BOBBY: How'd you get so warm? (DOOR CLICKS SHUT) (SOFT NEW WAVE MUSIC) NIKKI: You should've stayed. BLAKE: Yeah, I totally should've stayed and had sex with two strangers for some cash. CONRAD: Was she a sugar baby? They're fucking everywhere these days. Really? CONRAD: Mm. School's so fucking expensive, that's why. NIKKI: Makes sense. That's really sad. (TIMER DINGS) Anyone want coffee? BLAKE: I wanna dance. CONRAD: Hey, you got scissors? NIKKI: Yeah, somewhere. Young girls are prostituting themselves to pay for school. You're so dramatic. It is dramatic! I think hookers are kinda badass. Yeah, hookers are super badass, Nikki. They're in charge of their own bodies! Their pimps are in charge of their bodies. Oh, yeah. I totally forgot about the pimps. Well, if there were no pimps, then hookers would be badass. Sugar babies don't have pimps. Well, then sugar babies are badass. Something interesting happened to me! Oh, really? Good. I want my column back. Oh, you want your column back? Uh, did you even go to the concert? Your review? You didn't even mention the music. You just described people in line for two paragraphs. I was totally there. Oh, yeah. Well, look, it looks like you got their facts off of Instagram. The last two lines were just hashtags and gibberish. You are so out of touch. All we really care about are hashtags. Oh, I'm out of touch? Am I like a fossil? I'm 23 years old! By the way, 23 is perfectly fine age to still be in college. Winnie! There you go! Oh my god! - Is this for me? - Yeah! Look at that! She's so good. You made him that? Yeah! BLAKE: We are not your interns! MATT: Aren't you? WINNIE: I am not an intern! I'm a foam artist. Hey, man, I just wanted to say to you, I really, really loved what you did with the Plan B article. Oh, yeah! It's so refreshing to have a male perspective on birth control. JACOB: Oh, thank you! Thank you, man, I appreciate that! I'm totally down to write your reference letter for the Thompson Award. Oh, really? - JACOB: Thank you! - MATT: No problem. Wait, you're applying to that award? Yeah. You don't write gonzo. You write pretentious political satire. (ROBOTIC) Actually, I write both. Stephen Hawking. - MATT: Good! - JACOB: Thank you. Since when? JACOB: Since I don't only write for the school paper, so. You can't write him a reference letter. You're not a faculty member. JACOB: He's TA, it counts. Well, can you write me a reference letter? (MATT STAMMERS) This looks like a conflict of interest. Hard pass, thanks. The Thompson Award is for gonzo journalism? BLAKE: Yeah, and? JACOB: And you don't write gonzo, so you just want it for the prize money? BLAKE: Oh, right, and you don't want the prize money at all? JACOB: No, I do. It's fifty thousand dollars. That's the only reason why I'm applying. MATT: Story ideas! His, thank you! If the writer is a part of the story, then it is gonzo. The writer can't be a part of the story. The writer has to become the story! WINNIE: Well, it's like those vice journalists who did ayahuasca in Peru. - MATT: Oh! - JACOB: Yeah! MATT: I loved that writing! That was so sick! My stories are about me! So you're the type of writer that writes about people describing doing ayahuasca? Like, you wouldn't actually do it yourself? I would totally do ayahuasca. If there wasn't so much puking. See, you're an omniscient narrator in denial. BLAKE: That doesn't even mean anything. You just like the way that that sounds. I have a story, and-and it is a sexy story, so all of those horny college kids are really gonna like it. And when you read it, you're gonna wanna give me my column back. So, get ready because... Of all of the things that I just said! (DOOR SLAMS SHUT) Oh, well that's over. What is love? What is it good for? (UPBEAT NEW WAVE MUSIC) (DOORBELL BUZZES) BLAKE: I can change your name for the piece, if you want me to. Why would I want you to change my name? Well, my column is anonymous anyway, so. Why? BLAKE: It gives me more freedom. Doesn't sound like freedom. It just makes it easier to write sometimes. Okay. I have made sixty-seven thousand dollars in gifts. I've gotten a Gucci bag, a Balenciaga bag, a Louis Vuitton bag. I've gone to Paris twice this year. Whoa. MORGAN: Am I a prostitute? No. Am I a gold digger? Maybe. Am I having a better time than all these girls stuck in mountains of debt? Who get nothing more than a pregnancy scare from their one night stands? Most definitely. Oh, here. - Oh, thank you. - Yeah. Do you ever feel taken advantage of? MORGAN: Not really, it's business. Business can be messy. MORGAN: Yeah, but I'm really good at it. How? MORGAN: I know what they want. BLAKE: And what is that? Their ego stroked. (SOFT PIANO INSTRUMENTAL) MORGAN: You just have to figure out how they work. And once you do, you can get whatever you want. And what do you want? Everything, I guess. You know, I'm actually going to meet Bobby at his friend's lake house. You wanna come? Sounds like the beginning of a horror movie. ("FLOAT" BY JUDE SHUMA) There's something in the way Can we float on by? Can we float on by? I don't want you to try There's something in my blood Want to call it love Want to call it love Gonna get me high So how do you know Bobby? Oh, he was one of my MBA students. BLAKE: You're a professor? IAN: Yeah, is that surprising? No. I guess I've just never seen a prof in a bathing suit before. IAN: Here you go. Thanks. IAN: What's your major? BLAKE: Useless. So are you gonna get in? Uh, I didn't bring a bathing suit. Well, I don't wanna leave you on dry land all by yourself. Why? I can rate your handstands out of ten. Yeah. BLAKE VOICEOVER: I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they get into a pool. He didn't dive, so not a show off. I guess the view and the house did that for him. IAN: You should come in! BLAKE VOICEOVER: I'm not usually one to be tempted by houses, or views, or pools. He was hot and I was stoned. Uh, I don't know. BLAKE VOICEOVER: And there was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on. So, what the hell? I went in. IAN: So what's your story? (GIGGLES) (DOOR CLOSING) (CLEARING THROAT) Uh, I'd like to see you again. Oh. If that's something that you wanted. Here's my card. I didn't know people actually carried around business cards. IAN: I mean, I didn't have it on me in the pool or anything. I have a stack and I just I like this font. Yeah it's DIN Condensed. BLAKE: Nice. Yeah. Thanks. This is pretty (TAPPING) Pretty sweet too. (NERVOUS CHUCKLE) MORGAN: He's into arrangements. I could say something. Please don't. He's written like five books. Really? What about? I don't know. I haven't read them. (SOFT GUITAR MUSIC) MATT: Yeah. Yeah Blake, I like it. I like it. It's very Zeitgeisty. So can I have my column back? So, uh, you gonna date this guy? No. MATT: So-so, I'm sorry, where is this story going? BLAKE: I don't know how my life is going to evolve between now and my next entry. That's not how a column works. MATT: Well how journalism works is you-you follow the story, not your feelings. I followed her to a stranger's lake house. I could have been murdered. MATT: I'm sorry. 'Cause it sort of read like you went to a pool party. Where I was solicited! You got hit on. (CHUCKLES) Uh, being solicited is not the story. 'Kay? It's just the first part. What happens afterwards, that's the story. Are you trying to pimp me out? Um, am I? No. No, III wanted to kill your column. You're the-you're the one who wanted to make it interesting. It's going to be more interesting. Whether or not you force me to date the guy. Oh, ho ho, no, I forced I'm not forcing you to date anyone, okay? But you are saying you'll give me back my column if I date him. No! No, no, no. You can not, no, have the column back, please. This is not a, not a This is not a thing, you can just take it. I am too close to graduating for this shit. I'm not going out like that. The hopeless romantic is back baby! More hopeful, less romantic. That's awesome, dude. Yeah, thanks. I feel like I've grown from this already. Your professor sounds hot. Hmm, he's not hot hot, but he is kinda charming. NIKKI: So, he's fat? BLAKE: He's not fat. He's basically famous. He's written a bunch of books for like technology and business. So he's boring? BLAKE: He's rich. He invested in Facebook and Uber when they were just starting. NIKKI: So why aren't you going to call him again? BLAKE: So why aren't you more focused on your costume? The options here are pretty limitless. Tadah! What is that? It's Sassy Red Riding Hood! You look like a used tampon. What? Your legs are the string. I'm not lowering myself to your level. You're lowering it to my crotch level. Sexy gothic Red Riding Hood? What's wrong with the shoulders? You look like you're storing snacks in there. Red Riding From The Hood. No. Well what are you supposed to be? A manic pixie dream girl? Yeah. Sure. BLAKE: I still don't understand why there's a Halloween party in April. Oh! Why didn't they just call it a costume party? 'Cause then it's not Halloween. I'm gonna get these glasses. NIKKI: Eh. (SLOW RAP MUSIC) EMILY: Hey Blake! Hey Emily! Cool costume. Are you a ballerina? A loofah. You look like my dad on vacation. I'm Raoul Duke. From Fear and Loathing. Oh! Oh, yeah, um I loved your last column. I don't write a column. So, whatever. Okay. Dr. Phil did an episode on sugar babies. Was it a hard hitting expose? EMILY: Oh yeah. I love Dr. Phil. I feel like I have so many things to tell him. Yeah. Put your heart in the hands of the city Working hard when you're not around But oh, you sure look pretty When your feet were moving on the ground It appears we have yet another common interest. Oh god. Want to take a shot? Yes. I didn't touch my lips to it. I didn't take you as a Hunter Thompson fan. He's the very godfather of Gonzo journalism. Did you just say fairy godfather? No. I said very godfather! JACOB: No, you said fairy. Very. Fairy. Want to take another shot? Yeah. Do you want to go somewhere private? You're so dumb. You know you're way off about me? Okay. I like Hunter Thompson. Mmm. He's not my favourite writer though. Who's your favourite writer? Don't tell me! Jane Austen. Maybe when I was 15. It's Nora Ephron. What is that, Zac Efron's mom? She's the queen of the romantic comedy. "When Harry Met Sally", "Sleepless in Seattle" Okay. I liked those. Those are good. BLAKE: I know yours. I don't have a favourite writer. Witkowski. (WHISTLES) How'd you do that? BLAKE: You want to take another shot? Yep. (DOOR CLOSING) JACOB: You okay? BLAKE: Yeah. (DOOR JAM BUZZING) (JACOB MIMICS BUZZING) (GIGGLING) (KISSING) I like your room. I like it. That means a lot to me. Is that weird? JACOB (WHISPERING): You okay? Yeah. I'm okay. Are you okay? JACOB: Yeah, no, I'm good. Okay. You look good. Do you have a condom? I think so. Um I thought it was in my pencil case. BLAKE: Why do you have a pencil case? JACOB: For pencils. In case. Okay. I don't have a condom. (SIGHS) (SIGHS) (WHISPERING) I should go. (WHISPERING) But this is your room. Oh. Well should I go? Want me to go? I mean, should I go? Uh yeah, I think so. Okay. (SIGHS) Are you wearing my pants? (LAUGHING) JACOB: You can't print it. You can't not print it. Can't. MATT: Okay, usually I'm totally against, uh, these sort of workplace romances, but this is hilarious, Blake. It's not funny to me man, alright? BLAKE: I changed your name! Nobody is gonna know that it's you! - I don't care. - WINNIE: I do! MATT: You two were the only people that dressed like Raoul Duke at the party so. You were there? Yeah, I have Snapchat. You were the one who told me to become the story. I became the story. I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were so sensitive. I'm not, sensitive. I'm private. I'm not not like a sensitive dude. MATT: Hey man, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to post it. JACOB: Why? MATT: Because, uh, for better or for worse, the hopeless romantic is dragging in all the hits. Really? MATT: Keep your shirt on. You're not winning a Pulitzer. It's-it's not moving papers. It's just, it's doing well on the website, and I have to do what's best for the paper and or website. I hope this isn't awkward between us. MATT: It most certainly is going to be. Do you want my advice? Don't make out with journalists. Or Instagram models. BLAKE: He's arrogant. He can't stand that I'm thriving. It's man problem. That's what they do. Can't handle the strong woman. He's kinda tall, so I don't get it. Is he tall? Yeah. Usually short guys are really insecure. Little man syndrome? Yeah! Yeah. BLAKE: Oh my god, oh my god. Oh my god, just keep walking. Keep walking. The guy, Ian. He's over there. Where? Where? Oh, no, no, no. Look to there. Can you see him? Do I look cute? Do I wave, or is that weird? I don't know. Oh my god, we waved. No, don't wave again. NIKKI: Flash your tit. BLAKE: No. (GIGGLES) (SOFT INSTRUMENTAL) BLAKE: Screw it. If I want to win the award, I have to do ayahuasca. NIKKI: Wait, when are you doing ayahuasca? I'm not, it's a metaphor. Because if you do it without me, I'm gonna be really pissed. And surprised. And hurt. Eventually I'd be happy for you. Again, I'm not gonna do ayahuasca without you. Just make sure he doesn't take advantage of you or anything. Yeah, of course. If anything, I am the one taking advantage of him. How? Because I'm not really a sugar baby. You're actually kinda like pretty woman. But in reverse. Just make me look classy. Like Michelle Obama. (LOUNGE MUSIC) IAN: Hi. Should we go in? BLAKE: Why don't you have a girlfriend? They're free. IAN: Not really. And, I don't know what she wants. She probably doesn't even know what she wants. And I don't want to spend my time texting or fighting or compromising. So. How do you want this to work? IAN: I don't want to write cheques or anything like that. I kinda wanna give gifts. Gifts. IAN: Yeah. Like purses? IAN: Sure. If that's what you want. Yeah. It's not what I want. IAN: I didn't think so. So, what do you want? Romance. BLAKE VOICEOVER: Wealthy older people supporting struggling younger ones is nothing revolutionary. Read any Jane Austen novel. Granted Austen's heroines always rebelled against this concept in search for romantic love, but financially beneficial relationships were the norm. A female's attraction to a male's display of resources is ingrained in many species, from humans to apes to cats. Female leopards can actually tell whether or not a male is capable of providing her with what she needs. If she determines that he isn't capable of taking care of her, she has the ability to make herself less fertile. So the question is, why does our society hate gold diggers? Are we repulsed by our own natural instincts? Maybe relationships aren't supposed to be for love, but for survival. IAN: There's a sound quality to records that is completely lost with CDs or MP3s or whatever the kids are listening to these days. Sometimes I just like the sound in between the songs, you know? BLAKE: I like the way that the covers look. Yeah. BLAKE: Should have known you'd be a record guy. Well, I was born in the 70s, so I hope it's not so obnoxious, right? Right. What's with the piano? Do you play? Uh. It's my ex. Your ex is a piano? No. She's a human. Bitch. She's really good at playing the piano. Do you wanna listen to this one next? Sure. I don't think I've ever listened to this one. Birds climb slow Weather's cold And I think of you (SOFT INSTRUMENTAL) (PIANO CHORD) (DOG PAWS CLICKING ON FLOOR) (DOOR CLICKING SHUT) Where is my bike? (REFLECTIVE INSTRUMENTAL) (DOOR CLICKING SHUT) NIKKI: You had sex! What? You had sex. - What are you talking about? - Come on! BLAKE: How did you know? I felt the energy change. (GIGGLES) So? How was it? BLAKE: It was Nice. It was nice? Yeah it was nice. So? What did you get for the romp sesh? Earrings? Purse? An iPod? A gift card? Got nothing. A Starbucks's gift card? BLAKE: Oh, I got Gatorade. That's it? BLAKE: Oh and my bike got stolen. Wait, doesn't he live in that nice neighbourhood by the water? Yeah. Crime knows no bounds. (KNOCKING) This is for you, and this is also for you. And the last thing is too big to bring up. I'll just get my shoes. Is that? BLAKE: A sex moped. NIKKI: A hoeped. Oh my god! NIKKI: What does it say? Sorry I stole your bike. Hey, Conrad here and today, I'm gonna show you how to ride a moped! Conrad's kinda cute. Kinda. Hold this. CONRAD: To be honest. I mean, you just turn the key. Check your mirror. Looking good. BLAKE: Pass me my helmet. CONRAD: You gotta kick up the kickstand. Hold on, Conrad's bike won't start. CONRAD: And you know, um, you know, hopefully Conrad, why did you post this? (ENGINE RUMBLES) Get on! I feel dangerous. Cartilage piercing dangerous. It's not that dangerous. You ready? Take that bow off! You live in a man's world Man, man, man's world I tell you I don't want to anymore Let's sing na na na na na Kick you out the door Money hey Money woo Money hey Ah! Oh my god! Take my picture! Oh my god! Ow! Why?! Ow! Does it look cool? NIKKI: Uh, yeah. There's a little bit of - of blood. - What? But don't touch it, don't touch it. How am I going to wear my bike helmet? (FUN UPBEAT MUSIC) What happened to your ear? I got my cartilage pierced. JACOB: Looks like it hurt. It doesn't. Are you still pissed off with me because you fit in my pants? That's not why I'm pissed off. So you are mad. So now you're applying? I was always applying. Hold on. (SOFT INSTRUMENTAL) Does he know? That I'm applying for an award? That you're writing about him to win an award. BLAKE: I changed his name. So no. Nice ride. Thanks. How'd you pay for it? 'Kay, bye. (PENSIVE INSTRUMENTAL) I thought of something that I want. IAN: Oh yeah? What do you want? I'm applying for an award and I need a reference letter. What's the award for? Journalism. You're in it-you're in it for the money, aren't you? But if I win, I get a bunch of cash and I can pay off my debt. You know, I could help you with that, if that's something that you wanted. Thought you didn't write checks. IAN: Well, I'd consider it an investment. You're the only person that would invest in journalism. Well, I wouldn't be investing in journalism, I'd be investing in you. What's in it for you? This. You can think about it. And the letter? Why don't you write it out and then I'll sign it. Okay, so do you wanna read a writing sample or something? Sure. So I'll email it. Yeah, you can email it, great. Or I can print it. Whatever's easier. I'llI'll email it. I'll PDF it. Yeah, PDF it, for sure. BLAKE VOICEOVER: A mutually beneficial relationship. I was a sugar baby. If you just saw us drinking in some park like we were in some frigging French film, or eating tiny, fancy food in some tiny, fancy restaurant, or holding hands and coffees in sweater weather, and some upbeat love song played over what we were actually saying, it would appear that we were falling in love. He didn't play games. He called when he said he would, and made concrete plans in advance. It was chivalry at its finest. Perhaps romance wasn't dead, it was just hiding out in another dimension, a world where social interaction was actually a transaction, and going to the theatre was something I did on a Saturday night. The truth is, while I ate my overpriced Gummi Bears he brought me during intermission, I felt like a goddamn lady. (APPLAUSE) WOMAN: I bet you she doesn't even like him. CLAIRE: Do you like every guy you've hooked up with? I stayed with Tom because we were in the middle of Stranger Things and I don't have Netflix. WOMAN: It's not really the same thing. He bought her a scooter for having sex with him. (TOILET FLUSHING) Hey. Hey. (WATER RUNNING) NIKKI: You're not a hooker. But I don't know what being a hooker feels like. What if it feels just like this? How do you feel? BLAKE: I feel fine. Good, like, really good. That might just be the cupcakes. BLAKE: Can't believe you made these. Since when do you bake? NIKKI: I got bored. Then I got bored when I was baking, so I sprinkled in a bunch of Molly! Ha ha. No, I did, for real. No. No, Nikki! I can't have drugs! I'm emotionally unstable! Take it back. NIKKI: No. BLAKE: I have to make myself puke. No, no, no, no, don't throw it up. BLAKE: I hate puking. NIKKI: I should have got Jimmy as the roommate, Jimmy would have loved this. (KNOCKING) NIKKI: Hello. Hi. Uh, Bla, hey you, in the bathroom! Your Uber Eats is here. BLAKE: What are you talking about? I can't afford Uber Eats. Hey, oh, you look really nice. What are you doing here? IAN: Um, do you wanna go to a wedding with me? (CHUCKLES) I've never been to a wedding. - Me neither. - IAN: Really? Yeah, when is it? Now. Like, now now? Yeah. Sorry for the short notice, um I just hate going to these things alone. But I did get you this. NIKKI: Oh my god. (GASPING) NIKKI: Oh my god. BLAKE: Yeah, it's pretty sparkly. Oh! (LAUGHTER) It's dangerous. IAN: It's stupid, sorry. Um, it's sparkly because the stones are so clear. I think they're only found in one place in the world. Are you gonna say your heart? No, South Africa. Close enough. So, are-are they blood diamonds? No. BLAKE: Are you sure? Yes. So no one died for them? No. Those are 100% organic, farm fresh, vegan diamonds. BLAKE: Okay, I'm gonna go get ready. Okay. NIKKI: Uh, uh, wear the pink dress. BLAKE: I don't have a pink dress. NIKKI: Yeah, the long one, pink, low. I had a blue one. It's mine, I'm trying to make you look good. - Oh, thank you so much. - You ruined it. Okay, I'll be really quick. IAN: Okay. So you guys have lived together for a while? Yeah, we were-we were um roommates in freshman year. We hated each other for the first few months, then Philip Seymour Hoffman died. Yeah. NIKKI: Wow. Wow. Oh, wow, you look beautiful. Thanks. He stood up. (GENTLE CLAPPING) Wait, whose wedding is this? Um, you met Bobby, right? The guy from the pool? Yeah. He's getting married? Yeah. (SULTRY MUSIC) BLAKE VOICEOVER: I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part. Are you-are you okay? I'm on drugs. Oh, wow, what kind? Cupcakes with Molly in them, I should have told you, I'm so sorry. IAN: Shit. - Jesus. - No, I'm good. I've done Molly like, once before. It was fun until I puked all over somebody's shoes, but I don't foresee that happening this time. I don't feel nauseous at all, I'm good. I'm sorry, I said that already. I'm gonna be serious from now. Yeah, falling in love is a very serious matter. So serious. So you're okay with the choreographed dance that we have to do later? Oh my God, I would love that. IAN: There'll be a speech with a lot of inside jokes that neither one of us are gonna get. Bring it on. Do you believe in love? My parents got divorced. Uh, oh. No, I'm good, I'm okay. I'm good, let's go get a drink. Yep. (UPBEAT MUSIC) Whoa this feeling Whoa almost got me reeling Yeah it's on me and I cannot seem to shake it This song has got me and I can't seem to break it (FADING INTO GENTLE MUSIC) All of us have felt the burden Of being nowhere alone With feelings that leave us Wondering when the time will come To find something, someone, a feeling to guide us Oh my god. Like a technicolour operation You commandeer my field of vision I'm a bullet in the ocean You harness me so softly That I just fall Baby (CHEERING) WOMAN: Oh, it's so cute. MAN: Oh, yes. Hey. Hey, congratulations. BOBBY: Thank you. Big day. It's a beautiful wedding, you have a really good voice. Yeah? How's Morgan? Uh, I haven't seen her in a while. That's too bad. You know, I, um, I dig that bike. I think girls on bikes are cool. How much that cost? I'mI'm not sure actually. Yeah, must be doing something special. Your wife. BOBBY: Oh no, no, we have an open relationship. There was a whole, there was this book, and I don't really remember, but you can have sex with other people. That's cool. BOBBY: Yeah. What do you want? To go to the bathroom. Is that all? (THUD) Ow! (MELANCHOLY MUSIC) DRIVER: Why's your rating so low? What? DRIVER: You're only at a 4.3. I am? DRIVER: Yep. Why? DRIVER: I don't know. You seem fine. I am fine. (MELANCHOLY INSTRUMENTAL) (KNOCKING) Hi. What are you doing here? We didn't have plans. Oh, I know, I just wanted to stop by and apologize for leaving the wedding. I can't do this right now. Okay, it's just, when I went to the bathroom This isn't how this works. WOMAN: Many are quick to label the sugar lifestyle choice as prostitution, but there are lots of differences between this lifestyle and the oldest profession. A prostitute and a client have a transactional relationship. They meet, participate in some sort of a physical act, exchange funds, and part ways. Typically, this is a one time occurrence, a job. There is no relationship, and no possibility for a relationship, and that is the biggest difference, really. The relationship. Hey. Yo. What are you wearing to the toga party tonight? Uh, a toga. So I can't wear this? It's not a toga. What about now? BLAKE: Uh, yeah, no, still not a toga. Nikki, it's not a toga. NIKKI: Fine. (PHONE BUZZING) Hey. (SOPHISTICATED MUSIC) So, uh, about earlier. It-it's okay, but you can't just show up at my house. To be fair, you did just show up at my house and invite me to your wedding. And I got you that bracelet. Right. I read your reference letter today. - Oh yeah? - Mhm. Do you support all the fantastic things I said about myself? No. I'm gonna rewrite it, tell the truth. Did you read my writing sample? Mm. I'm gonna get to it this weekend. Do you have any siblings? What? You know, brothers or sisters, siblings. Why? I just realized that I don't know anything about your family. We don't have to do this. Okay. It's really good, isn't it. BLAKE: Mm. There are so many expensive bottles of wine in here. IAN: Mhm. Imagine if I just smashed them all. BLAKE: You missed my turn. IAN: Oh, we're-we're going to my place. No, I want to go home. (SNIGGERS) It's so early. (DOOR CLICKING OPEN) IAN: Oh ho ho, who's this? Who is this? Gertie, Gertie, Gertie. She missed you. See that? You did, didn't you? Where you goin'? Ha ha ha ha. Oh, yes, I'm happy to see you, too. Yes I am. Yes I am, yes. (LIQUID TRICKLING) (CLINK) (NEEDLE DROPPING ON VINYL) ("CATCH THE WIND" BY DONOVAN) In the chilly hours and minutes Of uncertainty I want to be In the warm hold of your loving mind To feel you all around me And to take your hand Along the sand Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind When sundown pales the sky I want to hide a while Behind your smile And everywhere I'd look, your eyes I'd find For me to love you now Would be the sweetest thing T'would make me sing Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind Deeddy di dee dee deeddy deeddy Deeddy deeddy deeddy dee dee dee When rain has hung the leaves with tears I want you near to kill my fears (HEAVY BREATHING) To help me to leave all my blues behind For standin' in your heart Is where I want to be And long to be Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind (SONG FADING AWAY) (FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY) (DOG CLAWS TICKING) (QUIET FOOTSTEPS) (CHIRPING) (DOOR HANDLE RATTLING) ("SPINNING BLUE" BY BIEN) Wake up wake up wake up The sun is rising The day is here for us To take and run With all our might to catch the light to be alive Come on come on come on Take my hand And bring your dreams along See the wonderful All around get lost get found covered in sound We're all spinning on blue Watching the same clouds (OOH) Breathing in, breathing out (DISTANT LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATION) Blake. I'll catch up. Blake. You look like E.T. I didn't see ya at the toga party. You okay? Yeah, I'm great. JACOB: Hey. It's okay. You don't have to do this. Do what? Be nice to me because you feel bad or something. JACOB: Oh, I don't feel bad. (CHUCKLING SOFTLY) Well, you can feel a little bad for me if you want. (CHUCKLING SOFTLY) Do you wanna talk about it, or? Do you wanna, go for breakfast? Okay. I'll get the bike. (QUIET GUITAR STRUMMING) JACOB: Are you bringing anyone to graduation? Yeah, my parents. You? Uh, yeah, same, unfortunately. They hate each other, but they love me, so they just come to all my stuff and fight the whole time. It's gonna be great. That sucks. JACOB: Yeah. When did they get divorced? Um, a while ago. Like, when I was ten. Mine also got divorced. JACOB: Oh, when? (SIGHING) Right after I left for school, they were, like, "Okay, she's gone, we did it, the end." I'm sorry. BLAKE: No, it's okay. Do you have any siblings? What? That's my question. Whadda ya mean? What does that mean? I ask that on dates. JACOB: Like, "Do you have any siblings?" is the question you ask on all the dates? Every time? 100% of the time? BLAKE: Mm hmm. That's so weird. But you asked me it. JACOB: No, that's the first time I've ever asked it. I mean, I don't plan it. Why, why do you ask that question? Because it's the start. Do you have any siblings? I don't have any siblings. - Do you? - Yeah. Got a half sister. Which half? JACOB: Oh, my dad's. She's the worst person I've ever met. She's the worst person I've ever met in my entire life. BLAKE: Your dad got remarried? Yes. And how old is she? JACOB: She's-she's three. But she acts like she's two. We have nothing in common. She's the worst little cute - WAITRESS: Here ya go. - baby. JACOB: Thank you so much. Thank you. I got this. Oh. I owe you. You don't owe me anything. Don't leave me again. The bike, I meant. JACOB: Sure you did. Okay. Goodnight. No. Bad night. Good morning. Good morning. (DEEP INHALE) (RATTLING) (KNOCKING) Nikki. (KNOCKING) Nikki! Oh shit. (MUFFLED FOOTSTEPS) (THUD) IAN: What the fuck? Shit. So I read your little love column. Used me for material? You used me for sex. That was the deal. I changed your name. (DOOR CREAKING) What's going on? You were in there the entire time? Sorry. IAN: If you don't erase every trace of this thing I'm going to ruin your name before you even have one. (OMINOUS MUSIC) (DOOR SHUTS) (TAPPING) (SLOW ELECTRONIC MUSIC) BLAKE VOICEOVER: I'm not gonna lie, I thought about throwing the bracelet in the water. Then I sold it, because I'm not an idiot. (MUFFLED CHEERS) NIKKI: God, I should have been a cheerleader. Those girls are in such good shape. Yeah but, what're they gonna do with their lives? I don't know. BLAKE: What becomes of them? Yeah but, they can do the splits. They'll figure it out. I still don't think you should delete your column. You need to own your scandal. Like, uh, Marie Antoinette. She was a teen idol. And she had sex with everyone. When she went to Paris, people got trampled to death just trying to catch a glimpse of her. That's really sad. And didn't they behead her for being slutty? NIKKI: 'Kay, well, we are still talking about her. BLAKE: That's not always a good thing. He revoked his letter for the award. They disqualified me. Shit. BLAKE: I know. That sucks, sorry. Jennifer Lawrence! What about her? When the-when those naked pictures came out, of her? She owned the shit out of it. Declared it was a sex crime on the cover of Vanity Fair. And, those pictures made her more interesting, in my opinion. I'd forgot about that. NIKKI: I know. She looked great. BLAKE: Jennifer Lawrence. J.Law. Did ya see them? NIKKI: No, I mean, she would have, if, if I saw them. I think she would have looked good. But I didn't. Did you see them? Yeah, I saw them. (SLOW ALTERNATIVE MUSIC) BLAKE VOICEOVER: If this were the nineties, and I was in a Nora Ephron romcom, this would be the moment where it would seem all hope is lost. (ENGINE HUMMING) BLAKE VOICEOVER: But then, out of the fog, he'd appear. (SIREN) BLAKE VOICEOVER: Maybe at the top of a building, or maybe in a cop car. He wouldn't pull me over because I was speeding in a school zone, and he sure as fuck wouldn't give me a goddam ticket for driving without a motorcycle licence. (RADIO CHATTER) It's my birthday today. COP: No it's not. It's my graduation, and I really need to be there. BLAKE VOICEOVER: We'd lock eyes. We'd have coffees in sweater weather. We'd drink wine in the park like we were in some French film. And we'd run through field after field holding hands, while some upbeat love song played. ("SUNSET LOVER" BY PETIT BISCUIT) BLAKE VOICEOVER: But this isn't a romcom from the nineties. This is just my story, and I don't want to be ashamed of it. The story was never about the professor. Or an award. Or even my column, which I didn't delete. Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. I just changed my name, to my real one this time. (BEEP) BLAKE: Thanks for the ride. "Meet me on top of the bleachers." JACOB: Hey Blake! What? JACOB: Come up here. Why? You gotta to see the view. The view is unbelievable. BLAKE: What are you talking about? JACOB: I'm doin' a thing, I'm doin' this thing, just, can you come up here? Trust me? Work with me? (NERVOUS HOWLING) (DEEP EXHALE) Okay. BLAKE: Hi. JACOB: It's romantic up here, isn't it? BLAKE: Uh... At the top of the, uh, Empire State Building. What are we doing? JACOB: We're Sleepless in Seattleing. I'm Tom Hanks, you're Meg Ryan. Unless you wanna switch roles, ya wanna switch roles? I'll be Meg, you be Tom. No, I'll be Meg. JACOB: 'Kay, I'll be Tom. I got you somethin', like the movie. It's actually a teddy bear. JACOB: What, the rose? And she gives it to a kid. (SHOCKED GUFFAWING) There's a kid in the movie? BLAKE: Yeah, Tom Hanks has a son. Did you watch it? I did, why? I don't remember there being a kid. I gotta rewatch it. BLAKE: Definitely a kid. NIKKI: What are you guys doing? JACOB: Um... we're Sleepless in Seattleing. He's butchering it. NIKKI: Nerds. JACOB: I'm doing awesome. BLAKE: You are actually. I am? BLAKE: This is good. Do they still fall in love at the top of the Empire State Building? No, that's-that's where they met. But they were already in love they are... (SOFT ROMANTIC INSTRUMENTAL) JACOB: You look really pretty. Are you holding my helmet on? - Yeah, I got it. - Oh, thank you. NIKKI: C'monah. What? Let's go. Okay. BLAKE: Oh, we have to graduate. - Hyah. - Hyah. I came here in a cop car. Why? 'Cause I'm cool now. That is really cool. I'm criminal. JACOB: That's sick. I know a criminal. BLAKE: It's a long story, but it's actually not. - It's really not a long story. - What? BLAKE: So, apparently, I need a licence to drive my moped. JACOB: Uh huh, I didn't even know that. BLAKE: No, neither did I. JACOB: I thought you could just drive 'em around. BLAKE: No. JACOB: What? BLAKE: So, that's something that I'm going to have to deal with. BLAKE VOICEOVER: Each one of us has a story of how we got to where we are, which most likely involves study drugs, getting blackout drunk, and having one night stands. We'll tell these stories at dinner parties and to our future children. Well, maybe not the one night stand part. Or the blackout drunk part. Or the study drugs, for that matter. But maybe our stories don't have to be for anyone but ourselves. Your hopeless romantic, Blake Conway. (DISTANT BANTERING) |
|