Act 2
Int. Brewed Awakening Café - Day
Montage of Annie and Kate decorating the café while “Jingle Bell Rock” plays.
Annie brings in store-bought Christmas cookies and Kate places them in the display.
Annie stocks cans of whipped cream, pumpkin spice, and red and green sprinkles for festive drinks.
Annie notices a crowd outside and unlocks the door, letting customers in.
James enters the café through the staff entrance, confused.
Record scratching noise, music halts.
All of the patrons look at James, fear in their eyes.
JAMES
What the heck is going on here? How did
you get in?
ANNIE
Surprise! We thought we’d decorate for you.
Everyone loves it. Would you like a cookie?
James storms toward Annie and points a finger in her face.
JAMES
I told you not to come back here.
I told you I hate Christmas. And yet
here you are, throwing it in my face.
Why can’t you leave me alone?
ANNIE
We thought you needed to be
reminded of what Christmas meant,
show you how marvellous it can be.
Doesn’t it look great in here?
JAMES
No, it looks tacky and ridiculous.
And what are these, store-bought
cookies? In my café?
ANNIE
Sorry, I didn’t have time to bake.
It’s better than nothing.
James uses his arm to sweep the cookies out of the display and into a garbage bin, then shoves the bin at Annie.
JAMES
Take these out of here. I refuse
to serve anything but the best in my
store, which is what my customers deserve.
ANNIE
Your customers deserve more than
you doing the bare minimum at
Christmastime.
JAMES
I can’t believe you trespassed on my
property to continue your harassment.
I ought to call the police.
ANNIE
On what grounds? Someone giving
you a thoughtful Christmas gift and
helping to improve your business?
JAMES
This isn’t an improvement.
ANNIE
(gesturing widely)
Take a look around! This is the busiest
I’ve ever seen your café. In fact, I—
JAMES
I don’t care. I don’t need this.
James starts tearing down decorations and throwing them outside. The café patrons scatter.
James knocks over a tray and several coffee mugs crash to the ground, breaking at Annie’s feet, who jumps back to avoid them.
ANNIE
What is wrong with you?
JAMES
What’s wrong with me? You’re the one
ruining my day with all this nonsense.
You need to go. I never want to see you
here again.
ANNIE
I’m sorry... I was trying to help...
Annie leaves the café, looking behind her to see Kate peering out sadly from the back room. James is all alone in the front,
sitting on the edge of a table with his head in his hands and surrounded by the chaos of a ruined Christmas.