Ashley Ambrosino
Creative Writing Piece #5
9/18/06
"The Office"
Jim's Point of View (in italics) : Casino Night
Between Friends
Pam: Hey.
Jim: Hey, how's it going?
How can she be getting married? How, when she first started and we were, (what I thought was flirting), did I not notice the ring. How can she be marrying Roy of all people? Damn, I think I've had too much to drink. She looks so beautiful. I should tell her, I can't, I need to tell her. Before it's too late.
Pam: Good. Especially after I took all your money in poker.
Jim: Ha-ha, yeah. Uh...hey, can I talk to you about something?
Oh god, don't do this now. You're leaving soon, then there won't be a chance. She'll be married and you'll be.. it doesn't matter where you'll be 'cause she'll be married. To someone else. Someone who is not you. Who's Roy, who doesn't, can't love her like you know you can.
Pam: About when you wanna give me more of your money?
Jim: No, I wa-
Look at that smile. I'd give you all my money. Everything, if you'd just keep smiling at me.
Pam: Did you wanna do that now?
Jim: Well-
Actually…
Pam: We can go inside. I'm feeling kinda good tonight.
Jim: I was just, um...
C'mon. you can do this. It's Pam. The receptionist. The woman you love. Tell her. Even if it doesn't turn out.. in anyway that might be close to the dozens of fantasies you've had of this moment, ya gotta tell her.
(Pam smiles, and waits for Jim to say something funny in response)
Jim: (honestly) I'm in love with you.
Pam: What?
Jim: I'm really sorry if that's weird for you to hear. But you needed to...hear it.
(Pam breathing starts to pick up)
Oh. Holy. Shit. I did it. Oh.. shock. That's great. Could have reacted worse. Stupid, awful…
Jim: Probably not good timing. I know that, I just—
I just love you and thought maybe you love me too. And you could leave Roy and run away with me. Or just smile. Doesn't matter. I love you.
Pam: What are you doing?
(Jim gives the slightest head tilt/shrug as if to say, "Come on, you know.")
Please.
Pam: What do you expect me to say to that?
Um. I love you. I hate you. I would like some cheese? Anything. Nothing. I have no idea what I expected. I just…
Jim: I just needed you to know. Once.
I can't think. There are no thoughts. Where did they go. Why is it only Pam? Only ever Pam?
Pam: Well, I, um- I...(inhales deeply)...I can't.
Of course not. Because in what world, does the doofy sales guy get the girl of his dreams. Figures.
Jim: Yeah.
This is just, I, …
Pam: You have no idea...
Oh god, please not the 'we can still be friends' line. I think I've torn out enough of my heart for one night, thank you. Can't you just let me go home and be a girl; watch Pretty In Pink while eating ice cream out of the jug and crying about how I'm just like Ducky - pathetic.
Jim: Don't do that.
Pam: ...what your friendship means to me.
No. I can't anymore.
Jim: Come on. I don't wanna do that. I wanna be more than that.
I want to be your best friend, but more. So much more. I want everything. I want to be the guy that takes you home at night. That laughs with your family, impresses your mother. Holds you when you cry or laugh too hard. I want to be the one.
Pam: I can't.
(Jim's eyes start to tear up) Yeah. Wow. This is what it feels like when your heart breaks. Huh. She really doesn't… I…
Pam: I'm really sorry if you misinterpreted things. It's probably my fault.
(A tear rolls down Jim's cheek). Oh wow. This. I did not expect this much… silence and pain and… wow.
Jim: Not your fault. I'm sorry if I misinterpreted that...(wipes the tear)...our friendship. That's how it started, and here we are. Here I am. Alone.
(Jim walks away)
(Pam stands there, shocked, fiddling with her ring)
(She looks down at her ring)
-End Scene-