We Should Talk

WE SHOULD TALK
NINA'S CAFE

MADISON WELLS: bubbly, wholesome lady
JEAN CLAUDE: striking man and down to earth.

Madison walks into the packed cafe. She notices her boyfriend seated at the far corner of the room with his face buried in a newspaper. Madison approaches him. She bumps into one of the waiters and sends her tray flying sending across the room. Everyone turns to the two of them. Madison mumbles an apology that no one hears and quickly rushes to her table.

MADISON
(flushed)
How embarrassing

JC
No one noticed.

Madison laughs, JC looks on with affection. Madison grabs the menu and begins to scan the desserts.

JC
(serious)
Maddie, we should talk.

Madison raises her finger to stop him.

MADISON
First, we order! I'm famished!

JC
Okay.

JC signals to one of the girls working the counter that they are ready to order.

MADISON
Oooooo everything looks so good today.

The waiter arrives. It's the same girl Madison knocked over.

MADISON
I want a chocolate fudge brownie.. that would mean two hours on the treadmill. Maybe a chocolate éclair..No, I can’t do 5000 jumping jacks. How about a double espresso, large? Yeah, I’ll have that, I can manage 200 sit ups.

The questionable look on the waiter’s face explains it all. He takes Madison’s order down and looks to JC for his.

JC
Err..I'll have the cake special.

The waiter's about to walk away when...

MADISON
On second thought! What can one order that would require zero hours of working out?

WAITER
(dry)
Water.

MADISON
Right..water it is then.

The waiter does everything she can to keep from rolling her eyes. She snatches the menu away from Madison, then walks away.

MADISON
She's aggressive.

JC
You almost knocked her out remember? And you didn't apologised.

MADISON
I apologised. It's not my fault she didn't hear me.

JC
Okay.., about what I wanted to talk about. It's very important.

Madison's phone starts to ring. She looks to her bag.

MADISON
Hold that thought...
(answers the phone)
Hello!

JC sighs and sinks into his chair.

 MADISON    
(on the phone)
Cheryl!

 

JC
(not impressed)
November 29th, right on time.
MADISON
(on the phone)
Hi! No no no, I'm not busy, we can talk.

Madison winks at JC who smiles politely. When she’s not looking he rolls his eyes.

MADISON
(on the phone)
No way! You're kidding me! No! No! He did not! He did?

Madison hits JC on the arm.

MADISON
(on the phone)
He did!

JC mouths 'NO way!" Just as Madison screams it.

MADISON
No way!!!...Are you serious??

The waiter arrives with their order. Madison's eye’s JC's chocolate cake and helps herself to it to his annoyance. She gives him her water and continues conversing on the phone. JC looks at his watch and begins to feel anxious.

JC
Madison, we should really talk.

MADISON
(on the phone)
Shut up, Cheryl! He did not say that? He did? No wayyyy!!

JC nervously sips his water.

MADISON
(on the phone)
Okay, Cheryl! I gotta go. Call you later girl!
Madison hangs up.

MADISON
Cheryl and Brad are at it again.

JC exaggerates his imitation of Madison.

JC
No way!!

Madison takes a huge bite out of the cake.

MADISON
Uh huh. She is threatening to walk out on him.

JC
Shut up!!!!!

MADISON
Mind boggling!
        
JC    
(drily)
You don't say.

MADISON
(between mouthfuls)
How can two people so perfect for each other suddenly be so imperfect together.

JC
(sips water)
Life happens. Speaking of which, I need to talk to-

MADISON
She caught Brad cheating again and she’s not planning on sticking around.

JC
She always says that. 

MADISON
This time she means it. She’s not sticking around.

JC
She’s stuck.

MADISON
No she is not. She's a different person now.

JC
(scoffs)
Did she say that? No way!!!

MADISON
(defensive)
She is a different person now. 

JC
Shut up!!!

 MADISON    
(sighs)
I don’t expect you to get it.

JC
There’s nothing to get. Every month, Cheryl calls. And like a bee she buzzes in your ear about Brad. Quacks like a duck about his infidelity and how she is going to leave the poor guy, who puts up with a lot her bullshit that we never get to hear about. Then, she turns round and round like a headless chicken because she knows what I know; that she is no mother Teresa so before you know it, she is saddling up on that horse again and her world in its normal chaos is at a balance. It's a cycle with her. Like one's not enough! Every month, your friend Cheryl makes for not one but two hormonal bi...female cats.

JC takes a sip of water. Madison is stunned by the outburst. Then, in walks a gorgeous Latin bombshell. JC's eyes shoot up in shock. They beg her to stay away.

SIMONETTA
Jay cee! Have you told her?

Simonetta plants a big kiss on JC's lips.

MADISON
(appalled)
Who are you? Who is this?

JC
(stuttering)
She is..she is

SIMONETTA
I'm his new baby's momma!

Madison eyes widen with her mouth agape. JC takes a final sip of his water.

JC
We should talk.