What’s that about, Margie?

Johnny walks towards Margie who’s standing outside the opera house, waiting for the venue to be opened. They’re about to see the première of Margie’s sis first play. Margie wears an inscrutable smile and shows nervous shaky hands.

 

Johnny: What’s that about, Margie?

Margie: I wish I could go to sleep today and wake up in my sixties.

Johnny: Good God [gasps]. I’d rather be dead then in my sixties.

Margie: Well, hopefully you won’t be there to see yourself on your sixties. I tell you that. But I will live on. My family’s blood is too thick to melt and turn in to vapors that fast.

Johnny: What the —. It surely isn’t your family’s blood that’d make me be worried. It’s actually your family ties. They could all be as dead as a ham and still tell you what to do and what not to. Like highly trained phantoms. Everlasting weeds!

Margie: Haha, here we go again. My family ties. What about yours? Oh, [poppy eyes and mocking expression] I forgot you have none. Your mom loves you — you hate her. Your dad hates you — you love him. Typical. We never want the ones who want us, that’s… too easy.

Johnny: Don’t be mean, Margie. You know we can’t convince ourselves into loving anything like that. I mean, you’re the only exception [scantly clad smile on]. You were nothing to me until you started baking me those apple pies. hmmmmm.

Margie: [slaps Johnny, pronounces one word, holds on for a couple of seconds, and delivers the other] Shut up! You loved me the moment you saw me by the sea, crying on a dead bird. Do you remember?

Johnny: Of course I do. Everyone was like “oh, that silly girl, what’s she doing?” and just a glimpse of your wet eyes was enough to pierce my heart with an ice-cold knife. I can feel the pain still just by remembering that moment. I got close to you, you said nothing, I hugged you—

Margie: I laid my head on your chest. Who would have thought? A complete stranger!

Johnny: Haha, what? We knew each other since first grade.

Margie: I know, but you were Johnny, the boy with the orange socks. Suddenly you became Johnny, the guy with the most incredibly bright gray eyes. There. Comforting me. Out of the blue.

Johnny: [smiles with genuine tears about to flow] Oh, Margie. I —

Come on! Come on!

We follow Jane as she is coming back to the table. She’s wearing that black purse she only bought because she didn’t want to have cash on her body the whole day. Money is dirty! Money is dirty! Henry passes by her and she remembers the way his cheap colony used to smell like back in the early days. That guy was definitely suave

Zack: So, what brings you to charity events? Nothing more exciting happening or is it just a demonstration of your unstopping caring…

Jane: Oh please!

Zack: You know, maybe I should have taken off a leg or two, and you would have grown accustomed to all the cuddling and speaking low in the back of the earlobes… you know, back then-

Jane: Back… then… I’m not that old, I prefer to pretend this never ever existed.

Zack: Ouch.

Jane: I know how to hit a man.

Zack: And his bank numbers…

Jane: You! You don’t ever change, I think I might even fall in love with you… for the first time now.

Zack: oh ho ho, now that was just gratuitous. You ain’t kidding, J.

Jane: Sure not. Kidding is for children. I’m a young woman with… with… let’s say, a couple of world knowledge there and there.

Zack: Oh I hope you’re not talking about the nights in Amsterdan.

Jane: You prick! Amsterdan. Who do you take me for? If I wanted to be open for sale, you know, literally open, I’d just take a boat to Reno and rent a boa.

Zack: Would be worth it, every single penny. As long as you keep that sparkle in your eyes and those uncanny words coming-

Jane: I came from a world in which men are attracted by more primitive stuff, like… following their animal instinct by scent.

Zack: Oh ho that sure is true… for some. Can I get you a gin?

Jane: HAHA What decade are we in, the 20s? For Christ’s sake, get me a Cointreau and some red mh mh mh deliciousness.

Zack: ha what you mean hon?

Jane: Forget it. Go! You should never keep a woman’s mouth idle or she’ll keep on talking for ages, you kid.

Zack: Oh let’s talk about that /kid/ part later. I learned a load of new stuff and I’d gladly give you a free sample, for the sake of good ol’ times.

Jane: Jesus! You never give up?… Please don’t, actually, we’re never old enough to stop being pleased buy those kicks.

Zack: I’ll keep it coming, but, you know, I’m a business man, we never play to lose and we don’t like it cold.

Jane: woohooho In another life I can have been the epitome of cold, but bring me Alaska and let’s see if we can spell it ’til the ‘l’ before it vanishes away.

Zack: Girl, you’re good.

Jane: Good? I’m awesome.