My assistant pokes her head in the door. “Your car is waiting. You should probably leave now if you don’t want to be late for your flight. Google Maps says the traffic is bad.”
“Okay, thanks, Pattie,” I say, trying not to reveal that I am in a state of emotional crisis.
I grab my suitcase and rush downstairs to my car.
“O’Hare?” the driver asks.
“Yeah,” I say, buckling up.
As soon as the car starts moving, I buy the Final Draft app and reopen Becky’s email.
When I click on the attached file, a screenplay pops up.
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
BY MOLLY MARKS
INT. WHITE TENT - NIGHT
NINA MACLEAN (mid-30s, world-weary) is sitting alone at a banquet table in a white tent on a beach. It’s decorated with over-the-top tropical decor: think fake palm trees and baskets of flip-flops. Above it all is a sign:WELCOME SEA VIEW HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2003!!!
FORMER CLASSMATES are on the dance floor grinding to a late 1990s rap song.
COLE HESS (mid-30s, charming) makes his way toward Nina from behind.
Nina flags down a waiter just as Cole approaches.
NINA
(TO THE WAITER)
Another glass of prosecco, please.
COLE
(TO THE WAITER)
Make that a Negroni, with an extra splash of Campari. Nina likes things bitter.
Nina and Cole lock eyes. These two have history. He sits down in an empty chair next to her.
COLE
How have you been since you broke my heart fifteen years ago? Still out there drowning kittens and making toddlers cry?
NINA
Not to mention embezzling retirement funds from the elderly.
COLE
Weird, given you always sucked at math.
NINA
Funny. Actually, I write screenplays. Rom-coms.
Cole bursts out laughing.
