Interstitial
Int. James’s Apartment - Evening
Annie and James are decorating cookies at the table. Their legs are crossed toward each other, nearly touching.
Christmas music plays quietly in the background.
ANNIE
When did you get so good at this?
Mine looks like I’m in kindergarten.
JAMES
I used to do this every year.
ANNIE
(glancing at him)
Oh?
JAMES
It’s been a while, but I guess icing
cookies is like riding a bike. A few
Christmases ago I even entered a contest
and won first place for it. This is the
first time I’ve decorated cookies since...
ANNIE
(beat) Since?
JAMES
It’s been a long time, is all.
ANNIE
I’m glad you’re doing it again. I’m not
sure why you stopped, but you can’t
keep talent like this from the world.
Everyone in your café is going to love these. Are you going to bring some to
that big fancy party the Small Business
Association is having?
JAMES
How do you know about that?
ANNIE
I’m not divulging my whisper network.
JAMES
Fine, keep your secrets. But no.
I’m not going.
ANNIE
Why not? I thought you had to.
JAMES
I don’t have to do anything.
ANNIE
I overheard them saying there
would be other possible tenants
there. Shouldn’t you be there, too?
JAMES
I can’t go back there.
ANNIE
But you could lose—
James slams a cookie on table, breaking it.
JAMES
Don’t you get it? I’ve already lost
everything. There is nothing more
that can be taken away from me.
ANNIE
(quietly)
I’m sorry.
JAMES
(sighing)
I’m sorry. I lost my temper.
I don’t need to take this out on you,
you’re only trying to help.
ANNIE
Look. I don’t know what happened,
or what you’re going through, but
I do know that losing your business
and your home won’t make anything
better.
JAMES
I can’t do it.
ANNIE
Why not?
JAMES
I don’t want to be there all alone
with their pitying glances and
awkward silence.
ANNIE
What if you weren’t alone?