A couple sits down at steak house for a late night romantic dinner date. They are seated at a table surrounded by tall trees that are lit with sparkling lights. As the hostess walks away KEVIN glances her way.
BROOKE:
Hi Kevin! I’m over here…
KEVIN:
What are you talking about?
BROOKE:
I saw you look at her. Come on.
KEVIN:
Whatever.
BROOKE:
Do you think we could just have a nice dinner? I’m tired of this fighting.
KEVIN:
Who says we’re fighting? Do you want an appetizer?
The waitress walks over and takes their drink order. As she walks away Brooke stares at Kevin expecting him to look away. Kevin looks up from his menu and gazes into her eyes.
BROOKE:
Well aren’t you a wise guy?
KEVIN:
Baby…
BROOKE:
What? Sorry, you’re right. I’ll stop. I haven’t seen you in such a long time. I’m so glad to be home.
KEVIN:
Me too! Please graduate and move back. I’m tired of missing you.
BROOKE:
I’m trying. Don’t know how the spring is going to go when you’re gone. The trip to New Mexico is too long. And seeing that I don’t have a job, I’m not quite sure how I’m going to buy a plane ticket. Looks like I know what I’m going to be asking for, for Christmas.
KEVIN:
(Laughing agreeably)
Maybe I’ll get a bonus for signing. That way I can fly you down at least once.
BROOKE:
That sure would be nice. I’m not crossing my fingers though. This team is new. I don’t know if you’ll be getting anything big right away. Hopefully it wont be an experience like last year.
KEVIN:
Brutal. I don’t want to talk about that. What a waist of my time.
BROOKE:
It’ll work out. I know it will.
KEVIN:
Thanks babe. I know I have to stay positive. This year is make it our break it for me. You know? If I don’t get called up then I done. I have too many other things to invest my time in if this isn’t going to be a steady career for me.
BROOKE:
(Blushes and ducks her chin into her neck shyly)
Like what kind of stuff Kevin?
KEVIN:
Just stuff.
BROOKE:
(She knew exactly what he was talking about so she glanced his way, gave a slight smile and searched the menu for her dinner selection.)
KEVIN:
You know if this does work out for me, we’re going to have to make the long distance work for a bit longer. You need to graduate school before we can start making any real plans.
BROOKE:
I know. It’s tough though.
KEVIN:
We’ll get through it. I’ll fly you out whenever I can. I promise.
BROOKE:
Let’s not talk about it. I don’t want to jinx anything. We can’t plan our future. We have to take it day by day at this point.
KEVIN:
I’m sorry; I get excited sometimes when I think about all this.
BROOKE:
Calm down Sparky!
KEVIN:
(Snickers as the waitress walks up)
WAITRESS:
Are you ready to order?
BROOKE and KEVIN nod at each other and look up to the waitress.
BROOKE:
Yes, I’ll have the 10oz rib eye with mashed potatoes and a house salad with the vinaigrette.
KEVIN:
(Looks at Brooke) Nice!
(Looks to the waitress) and I’ll have the red fish with rice and vegetables and house salad with ranch please.
WAITRESS:
Great! I’ll get that right out.
BROOKE:
Thank you
KEVIN:
So what are you going to do about work this summer?
BROOKE:
Not quite sure. Think I’m gunna find an internship around Dallas and just go from there.
KEVIN:
Sounds like a plan. Is that what you really want to do?
BROOKE:
Ya, I think that’s my best option. Hopefully, if it all works out I’ll get a job offer and be able to take it. I’ll graduate in August and move right into the job.
KEVIN:
Good idea. Lucky I play for the Astros’ organization. I’ll still be in the state at least if I get called up. You and your hotshot job will just have to come see me.
BROOKE:
I didn’t really plan on having a serious boyfriend when I chose my major. Sorry!
KEVIN:
I know. That’s now what I’m saying. I’m just giving you a hard time I guess.
BROOKE:
Look Kev, it’d be great if we could be in the same city, but I’m not gunna pick up and leave right away. I want to have a job and if I get offered one in Dallas then I’m going to take it. We…
KEVIN:
(Interrupts before she’s done talking)
Oh so you can’t ask me about it first. You’re just gunna make that kind of decision on the spot without consulting me?
BROOKE:
We’ll if you’d let me finish… of course I’m gunna talk to you about it. We’ll weigh our options but I’m not gunna turn it down if you’re somewhere else. I didn’t spend all this money for college to not use my degree.
KEVIN:
All I’m saying is why can’t you find something that’s in the same town as me.
BROOKE:
Well I’m gunna look into that. I just don’t know if I have as many opportunities down there as I do in Dallas. Plus we don’t even know where you’ll be. New Mexico, Texas, heck you could get traded to another team. We don’t know until you sign on the dotted line.
KEVIN:
I need to know you’re gunna stick this baseball thing out with me.
BROOKE:
Kevin! That has never been the issue. Since day one I’ve been by your side. Every team, every game, every move, I’ve been there. Or at least tried my hardest to be there. I’m not asking you to give up baseball for me to follow my career and me around. I just want to do something for me this time. If I can get a job where ever you are and I’m happy with it, then great!! I’d love that. I’m going to take whatever job is best for me and for you.
KEVIN:
Something for you? When is it not about you?
BROOKE:
(Sarcastically chuckles)
Wow. Ok we’re not going there.
KEVIN:
No really, answer the question. Now you’ve really got me interested in this conversation.
BROOKE:
Look Kevin, every decision I’ve made since we’ve started getting serious has been about the both of us. I’ve hardly breathed without thinking what would Kevin want me to do. I’ve followed you around from team to team. I’ve made the trips and put school on the back burner. Holidays are the only time I get to see my family because every free weekend I have is devoted to driving or flying wherever you are. I’ve made it about you and now it’s time for me to do something for me.
KEVIN:
I never asked you to do that. You’re family hasn’t liked me since day one and you didn’t agree so you chose me over them. That isn’t my fault. I don’t ask you to come every weekend. I’d love for you to stay up there and do what you want. I don’t care. You need to have the college experience. We both know I did.
BROOKE:
(Laughs)
Ya, you sure did have that college thing down. Good thing you got drafted because you’d probably be a 7 year senior by now. Who knows?
(Pauses, takes a drink from her water glass and looks back at Kevin)
I really don’t want to do this right now. We’re just getting ugly and I don’t want to fight. We started this conversation out wrong.
KEVIN:
We certainly did.
(The waitress walks up with the meal.)
WAITRESS:
I’ll get you some new drinks. Is there anything else yall need?
BROOKE:
No thanks.
(KEVIN reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet. He grabs a 100-dollar bill out and sets it on the table. He grabs his keys from his pocket and sets those next to the bill as well.)
KEVIN:
Here’s money for dinner. You can drive my truck home. I’m calling a cab.
(The waitress replaces the empty glasses with fresh drinks and walks away in a hurry. Kevin stands up.)
BROOKE:
Kevin! What are you doing? Leaving me at dinner? Sit back down. Let’s just enjoy our food and we’ll talk about this when we get back to the house. Please, sit down.
KEVIN:
It’s always been about you.
(He pulls a bright blue gift box from his jacket pocket and sets it on the table.)
(Brooke stares at the blue box. When she looks up, he is gone. She pulls one side of the white ribbon and it falls to the floor. She lifts the blue top off and pulls the smaller box out. As she opens the second box a tear falls from her eye and she holds her breath.)
BROOKE:
(Whispers to herself and starts to cry)
I thought you’d never ask.
(BROOKE grabs her coat and keys. She clings tight to the box and walks away from the table. A family next to her stares in disbelief. The waitress walks past her and turns around as she notices the uneaten food.)
WAITRESS:
Ma'am? Umm...
(She quietly turns around in disbelief and begins to clean up the table.)
