ACT TWO
FADE IN:
We're right where we left Ellie and Sean.
SEAN
It's a joke right? It isn't true, it can't be true… right?
Ellie's just quiet, awkwardly shifting in her seat.
Suddenly – JAY HOGART rushes into the diner, out of breath.
JAY
Oh thank god you haven't done anything stupid, Cameron. They pumping you with roids over at that training camp?
SEAN
Shut up, Jay!
(back to the diner)
Where the hell is Spinner?
Peter quietly creeps to the counter, placing Ellie's coffee in front of her. He turns back around, slowly then—
SEAN
Peter!
Peter freezes, he's been caught.
PETER
(turning back; scared)
It's… it's not a joke… they're… they're married…
Sean trembles a bit, nods his head, as if he understands what's going on. He turns back to Jay.
JAY
Look, man… I wanted to tell you, I really did but-
SEAN SLUGS JAY ACROSS THE FACE.
The entire diner gasps.
Sean leaves out.
INT. ELLIE'S APARTMENT – EVENNING
Ellie retreats into the LIVING ROOM with a bowl of popcorn. Marco is on the couch, digesting the story she's told.
MARCO
Wow… that sounds intense.
Ellie joins in him on the couch, putting the popcorn on the coffee table.
ELLIE
Yeah… I've never seen him that angry about anything before… kinda gave me the chills.
MARCO
Ever wished he came storming into a place looking for you, wanting you back, telling you how he felt?
ELLIE
Well… he kinda did, a couple years back. It was actually at the Dot… he was just a lot tamer when he did it, of course… I'm no Emma Nelson.
MARCO
Wait, he did?
ELLIE
Yeah… it was a mini, so I'm not sure how many people took it canonically…
MARCO
What?
ELLIE
Nothing! Anyway… guess who spoke to me today about whether or not you've been mentioning him!
MARCO
Hmm… lemme guess, my oh so dutiful ex?
ELLIE
Yeah… he still wants to talk to you.
MARCO
I'm well aware of that, thanks to the texts that I've been getting for the past month.
ELLIE
Marco… look I get that you're ready to end whatever it was you two had… but ignoring Eric isn't gonna help him move on, you know that.
MARCO
It's better than saying to him, "hey I'm glad you cheated on me 'cause I did the same to you, only a month before, and I wanted to end things ages ago because our relationship felt so forced…"
ELLIE
Okay… maybe you don't have to explain it in so many harsh words… but you still should talk to him.
MARCO
El, if I tell him the truth, it'll crush him.
ELLIE
Well maybe you can fabricate it a bit… leave out the "cheating" part and focus on the "it was for the better" part.
Marco contemplates, taking a handful of the popcorn and eating some of it.
MARCO
He still thinks he "hurt me" huh?
ELLIE
That's what I've been telling him, every single damn time he asks about you. I'm actually starting to believe you were really emotionally scarred.
Beat.
MARCO
(resolved)
Fine… fine… I'll speak to him…
ELLIE
Great!
MARCO
Alright, now pop in the freakin' movie! All this talk about our exes is getting too heavy.
Ellie giggles. She picks up the remote, aims it at the TV and presses a couple of buttons.
MARCO
What are we watching again?
ELLIE
"The Break Up."
MARCO
Oh for the love of god, Nash!
ELLIE
Enjoy!
Ellie presses "play" then settles back on the couch, taking the popcorn in her lap. Marco reaches for another handful; Ellie slaps his hand away then gets a scoop herself.
There's KNOCK at the door.
ELLIE
Who could that be?
MARCO
Probably Sam coming back to reestablish his love for the penis and apologizing for scarring your fragile, gay-turning heart.
Ellie dumps the bowl of popcorn in Marco's lap then leaves the couch.
MARCO
Hey! That's a complete waste!
ELLIE
I have plenty, and you're cleaning that up…
Marco
Wh-
Marco looks at the popcorn in his lap for a moment. He shrugs, then picks up another handful and begins nibbling.
Ellie comes to door and opens it. In the threshold, looking all glammed up with a designer bag and sunglasses is –- PAIGE MICHALCHUK.
PAIGE
What is up, Eleanor!
ELLIE
Oh my god, hi!
The girls hug.
ELLIE
What are you doing back from L.A.?
PAIGE
Oh, we officially wrapped filming last week. They're in post production now and Jason said I was good to head home for a little while.
ELLIE
Cool, come in, come in!
Paige enters the apartment; Ellie closes the door.
Marco hasn't left the couch; he barely shines a small grin at Paige.
PAIGE
(taking off her sunglasses)
Looks like a bowl of popcorn fell on yah there, Marco.
MARCO
Hmm… yeah courtesy of Ellie Nash.
Ellie flashes a toothy grin.
PAIGE
I see…
(beat)
Hi…
MARCO
Hey…
It's quiet/awkward for a moment.
ELLIE
Oh c'mon guys, don't be like this… hug…
Marco's hesitant, but he leaves the couch, brushing the popcorn off of him. He and Paige hug, but it's brief.
PAIGE
It's nice to see you…
MARCO
Yeah… you… you too.
(to Ellie)
Hey, I think we should postpone movie night. I just remembered… I have a… thing…
ELLIE
(disappointed)
Marco…
MARCO
No really… it's an important thing… rain check?
Ellie doesn't respond. Marco heads to the coat rack, grabs his jacket then heads for the door.
MARCO
(to Ellie)
See yah…
(to Paige)
Welcome back home… Paige…
With that, Marco leaves out. Ellie turns to Paige, remorseful. Paige tries to manage a smile.
INT. ELLIE'S APARTMENT – DINING ROOM (LATER)
Paige sits at the small dining table, pouty. Ellie comes in with two cups of tea. She sets one in front of Paige then takes the seat across from her. They sip from the cups gingerly as they talk.
PAIGE
So… he still hates me…
ELLIE
He doesn't hate you, Paige… he's just still upset with you. You did pretty much say you were better than him… then slapped him.
PAIGE
I know, I know! It's just… it's been months. Does the boy ever get over anything? He knows I'm sorry.
ELLIE
He does, and he just… needs time is all… don't worry. Things will mend themselves, eventually…
PAIGE
Hmm when did you get all preachy?
ELLIE
Ehh… I've grown up a bit since you last saw me… it's a long coming of age story. I'll tell you another time.
Paige chuckles a bit.
ELLIE
So! Tell me all about being Jason Mewes' production assistant! How was Hollywood? What was it like working on a movie?!
PAIGE
Hmm… stressful… fun, exciting, glamorous… I mean, I could've went without seeing Manny Santos nearly 24/7 but it wasn't so bad. I actually might be working on another movie soon… acting wise anyway.
ELLIE
Really? That's great! So you're still trying the whole… acting gig?
PAIGE
It's not a big part, hun. I have 2 scenes, 10 lines at the most. My audition reel for the "Mewesical" got out and this casting director saw it and wanted me to make a cameo in this comedy movie he's working on. I am not gonna let my head go all big with the stardom again, trust me. I was lucky that anyone even wanted to work with me after that whole debacle.
ELLIE
You're lucky anyone can stand to be around you for months at a time, after meeting you for 3 seconds.
PAIGE
Har, har, Eleanor… so, enough about me! How about you? Junior year at U of T, editor of The Core… that sounds…
(thinks)
Actually that all sounds moderately boring… but, it's your life so… how's it going?
ELLIE
My life is going… fair… I'm running The Core awesomely. I'm kicking butt in all my classes. Everything's good.
PAIGE
And personally… how's life?
ELLIE
Well I can't avoid that topic with you, now can I Paige?
PAIGE
Oh of course not…
ELLIE
Well… I uh… haven't really been dating much… I had a boyfriend for about… hmm two days, until he broke up with me then… came out to me on my doorstep.
PAIGE
Again?!
ELLIE
Yes…
Paige starts to laugh, but receives a complete straight faced glare from Ellie.
PAIGE
(concealing her laughter)
I'm sorry… sorry, hun.
ELLIE
Yeah… other than that… uh… my personal life is pretty dry… and loveless.
PAIGE
Well what about Craig? Last I heard, things got pretty hot and heavy in L.A.
ELLIE
I haven't spoken to Craig in nearly two months… and again, that's a story for another day.
PAIGE
Ah… I see… well have you ever tried just not dating?
ELLIE
I vowed that yesterday, thank you! No more boys until Ellie Nash has fulfilled in her life goals.
PAIGE
Well that's not exactly what I meant, sweetie. I meant… not dating, but still play the field
ELLIE
I'm sorry, what?
PAIGE
A while back, before me and Alex went through our… whatever you call it, she had a great idea that I think would better suit you than I!
(off Ellie's questioning look)
Pimping…
ELLIE
Umm… I don't like being called "Daddy…"
PAIGE
No, no… see you date, or… well… don't date, more than one guy at a time. You get all the personal needs met- companionship, attention, some… "exercise"- and at the same time you manage other stuff in your life like school, the paper.
ELLIE
And Alex suggested this?
PAIGE
It was more of a defense mechanism since she was still madly in love with yours truly… and for me it actually worked… well for a couple of days, anyway… then things got all screwy with Spinner and Jesse, so I-
ELLIE
Jesse? That's how you bagged Jesse? By being a hoe?
PAIGE
I wasn't being a hoe… I was keeping my options open! Besides, they both knew…
ELLIE
Paige… I don't think I can do that. You know me, I can get pretty emotionally invested in things… people more so than anything, unfortunately… that's why I think I should just-
PAIGE
What? Spend the rest of your life devoted to a cat?
ELLIE
Well… they are snuggly…
PAIGE
Ellie… no! No cat! You're doing this… at least give it a test run! If you feel icky or weird… we call it off, simple as that.
ELLIE
Paige…
PAIGE
Friday night! You and I are throwing a party at my new loft! We put up signs at the dot, the campus, whatever to get the word out. While at the party, we scope out hotties for you, you pick who you want to get started with and I'll coach you on where to go from there!
ELLIE
Paige…
PAIGE
It's not an option, sweetie!
Ellie sighs, contemplating for a beat.
ELLIE
Look… if I feel the slightest bit uncomfortable or weird doing ANY of this… I'm out… I swear! No pimping or playing the field, or whatever you call it, I'm done!
PAIGE
Yes, yes! Of course…
ELLIE
Alright…
(beat)
Now let's go make these flyers or… whatever…
PAIGE
(cheery)
YAY! My first party back home! Eek!
Off Ellie's look of unease…
CUT TO BLACK.
END OF ACT TWO