Scene VII: The Date
(Drake is ringing the doorbell at Jennie's place)
Jennie: Hey Drake, wow you look nice tonight.
Drake: Thanks. These are for you.
Jennie: Tulips? I love tulips! (mumbling) Megan was way off.
Drake: What was that?
Jennie: Nothing, it's just, between Megan and Mindy, flowers—my favorite flowers—are the last things I expected you to show up with. How did you even know they were my favorite?
Drake: Megan. I told her I wanted to impress you, and she said you liked tulips.
Jennie: You're lucky she didn't try to pull one over on you.
Drake: Yeah, well, I think she's too curious about my new behavior. I threw her for a loop. She has to learn the new me to learn how to prank me, right?
Jennie: I suppose that's true.
Drake: She also likes you. She doesn't want to see you upset.
Jennie: So where are you taking me tonight?
Drake: It's a surprise. But you might want to grab the bag in your closet.
Jennie: Why is there a bag in my closet.
Drake: You'll need it for later. Now don't look inside it!
Jennie: Okay! So secretive!
(They drive in awkward silence for a minute)
Drake: So, uh, what brought you to San Diego, Tex?
Jennie: Tex? I should've expected a nickname like that sooner I guess.
Drake: You don't like it?
Jennie: Actually I think it's cute. I'm in San Diego to work at Sea World for the semester, actually.
Drake: Really? Josh loves that place. It can be okay.
Jennie: It would be more fun if I had a better job. I run the rides. But since I can't swim I can't lifeguard.
Drake: Want me to teach you?
Jennie: You can try, but let me be the first to warn you, lots and lots of people have tried and failed. Just so you know.
Drake: Well I'll never know if I don't try. Ready for the surprise?
Jennie: Yes! What is it?
Drake: It's a cavern. They give tours.
Jennie: No way! I love these things! But how could you know that? I never told anyone at camp.
Drake: I guess I'm just lucky. I like these caverns. They are like a whole different world.
Jennie: You know, there's a cavern in Texas with a part in it where they would set up a bandstand in the 60's and have famous bands come there.
Drake: No way? How cool!
(as they are entering the cavern)
Jennie: Yeah it's really awesome. I just wish I could've heard one! This is really a surprise. Mindy said your idea of date was to mooch off Josh at the movie theater.
Drake: That's no surprise. It used to be.
Jennie: So tell me Drake, what caused this big change in you?
Drake: Heh, it's so cliché. A girl. She told me off really well after I treated her like shit. No girl ever had the guts to stand up to me before. Not like she did. She really let me have it. And I realized what a jerk I was. So I decided if I ever wanted to have a relationship I can be proud of, I've got to remember it's not all about me.
Jennie: Wow I'm proud of that.
Drake: I'm not proud of my past. I was such a jerk to those girls. But tonight is about you and me. Not my past.
Jennie: Yeah, can we forget about that?
Drake: Sure. Hey…where did everyone go?
Jennie: Oh man, are we lost? You did this on purpose! All this crap about "I've changed!" Then you get us lost so we can make out!
Drake: I didn't! I swear! Look I'll go over to the other side of the room.
(The lights go off)
Jennie: Drake, no! Please. Stay here. Beside me.
Drake: What why? I thought I got us lost. I thought I was to blame.
Jennie: Drake, please come back. You have your phone, and the lights went off. They must be on a delay.
Drake: What's going on with you?
Jennie: This is really embarrassing, but I'm terrified to be in the dark. Especially by myself.
Drake: Okay, I'm coming over there. It's alright. I promise.
(He puts his arm around her and she clings to him)
Drake: Wow, this is really scaring you isn't it?
Jennie: (near tears) I know you think I'm a freak. But I have had really terrible experiences in the dark.
Drake: I don't think you are a freak. Well, it's a little weird that you are friends with Mindy, and you like Megan, but overall you are relatively not freakish at all. Lots of people are afraid of the dark.
Jennie: Its okay, I'm starting to breathe a little better. You are really good at calming me down.
Drake: Hey, I aim to (interrupted by Jennie kissing him) Wow. That was certainly unexpected.
Jennie: I'm sorry. I'm sure you don't get girls freaking out on you, and then kissing you very often.
Drake: Don't apologize. I'm glad you feel better. And I enjoyed the kiss. Especially because you took it from me.
Jennie: That's not a habit of mine. But then, neither is getting lost in a cavern in the dark.
Drake: Hey, here come the lights again. Oh, and the people. Sorry we didn't get to see the whole thing.
Jennie: It's okay. Even if I didn't see the whole thing, this is a cavern experience I wont soon forget. Do you know that's the first time I've been able to completely relax in the pitch dark?
(They exit the cavern, blinking in the daylight)
Jennie: Well I can't imagine what you have planned next.
Drake: Don't worry, no more lights out experiences.
(They get into the car)
Drake: So, Tex. Do you always kiss that passionately, or was that just a byproduct of your fear?
Jennie: You'll just have to wait and see, wont you.
Drake: Well, get ready for another surprise.
(They drive along in silence, although it is no longer awkward, then arrive at a secluded beach as it is just nearing sunset)
Jennie: You are taking me to the beach? I love the beach. It's so peaceful there. Can I look in my bag now?
Drake: Sure. You can use what's in your bag, if you so choose.
(Jennie looks in her bag and finds a bathing suit, cover up, and sandals)
Drake: I'm going to go set everything up, you get changed and come find me.
(A few minutes later Jennie emerges from the car and heads down to the beach to find a blanket spread out, a picnic basket, and Drake sitting there)
Jennie: Wow, this is really nice. (Getting suspicious) The last guy who gave me a picnic on the beach thought it would be the perfect way to get in my pants. And the Drake I've heard about would too.
Drake: Nope. Not going to happen. This is not the old Drake, remember.
Jennie: It better be.
Drake: Hey, let's eat!
Jennie: What do we have to eat?
Drake: Well, I'm not going to lie to you. I can't cook. At all. I paid Josh to make it. We have rigatoni with grilled shrimp, olives, and cheese. We have brownies, and we have lemonade.
Jennie: Wow, I'm going to hire Josh to cater my wedding one day.
Drake: (laughing) I'm sure he'll do it. He loves to cook. It can be very irritating. I usually don't let his brownies finish baking. He hates it that I do that.
Jennie: I can imagine. All that effort, and then he doesn't get the finished product? You better not ever pull my brownies out of the oven.
Drake: Of course not. Whatever you've got is worth waiting for. Like that kiss back there. Who the heck taught you to kiss like that? Be sure and thank him for me!
Jennie: I'll never tell. This is definitely a much different evening than I expected.
Drake: Did you have a good time?
Jennie: I sure did. Mindy is going to have to rethink her entire opinion on you. How can she hate such a sweetheart?
Drake: Because she thinks I'm something else. Let's go play in the water.
Jennie: Okay.
(They play in the water, and start splashing each other)
Jennie: Hey, come here! I want to show you something.
Drake: Oh yeah? What?
Jennie: This! (She splashes him)
Drake: Oh yeah? Well how's this?
(He kisses her softly)
Jennie: Why did you have to go and do that?
Drake: Are you mad at me?
Jennie: Sort of, yes. I was content to just let it end after today. I can't do that now. Here I am with Megan on me to (she trails off)
Drake: To what? What does Megan have to do with us?
Jennie: You would only get upset. You wouldn't understand.
Drake: Well I don't understand now. What's going on? I thought you were enjoying yourself.
Jennie: I was. We were playing, having fun. I was perfectly happy forgetting that kiss back there in the cavern. But now I can't. Because you brought it up again. I didn't even want to go out with you tonight, remember? Megan is fed up with the way Mindy is treating Josh. She said if our date didn't go well, she wanted to show Josh how much better of a match I would be for him. And yesterday that sounded okay. But now I don't think it does.
Drake: So you like me, and that bothers you?
Jennie: Yes. It does.
Drake: Why? What is so wrong with that?
Jennie: I have heard all summer about the way Drake Parker treats women. I'm afraid you will slip back into your old ways.
Drake: Jen, did you have fun today?
Jennie: Yes.
Drake: So did I. But more than that, I learned that it is more fun to have a day like today with a girl, than just randomly making out with strangers. It gives it meaning. I actually have feelings for you.
Jennie: That scares me.
Drake: Why?
Jennie: Because I just got here. I was okay with liking Josh BECAUSE he's out of reach. I'm not sure I'm ready for a day like today to turn out the way it did. I just broke up with Bobby and I don't want to have strong feelings for someone and then turn him into a rebound guy because I'm still upset. And what's more, it's just been one date. Not even some super spectacular thing, just a date. With a guy I just met. But because I've heard so much about you, and you've proved it to be untrue, I feel special.
Drake: Wow. That must be hard on you. I had no idea.
Jennie: Yeah, neither did I until you kissed me. I'm sorry.
Drake: No, don't apologize. I shouldn't have done that. Do you want me to take you home?
Jennie: No.
Drake: No?
Jennie: I can't believe I just told you all of that. I'm horrible.
Drake: No, you are honest. I have enough experience being dishonest to know that it would be worse. Relax. This can go as slow as you want it to. You have the reins here. You are in control.
Jennie: I am?
Drake: Yes.
Jennie: Well, then I think you should take me home. But I want you to call me tomorrow. I think after I sleep on it, everything should be clearer.
Drake: Okay.
(He drives her home)
Drake: Here let me get the door for you.
Jennie: Okay.
(They walk up to the door)
Drake: I know today was hard on you. But I want you to know; I had a really nice time.
Jennie: I had a wonderful time.
(She kisses him on the cheek)
Jennie: Thanks, call me tomorrow?
Drake: Of course.
Jennie: Bye.
Drake: Bye.