Underground Rivers (12 page)

Eggs In The Morning

by Jonathan Owen-Thomas

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

A young couple are sleeping in a student-looking house. The man, RYAN, has his arm over the woman, SAM.

Sam slowly wakes up, disorientated, and looks around the room. She mumbles to herself.

SAM

What? Where am I?

She tries to turn around suddenly but realises her head hurts. She notices a man spooning her from behind.

She groans with realisation. Then attempts to remove his arm and leave. She finds her clothes scattered over the floor. She puts them on.

She looks at Ryan, who's still sleeping. She tries to sneak out quietly.

Her phone rings, startling her. She puts it on silent as quick as she can.

RYAN

Morning
.

SAM

Oh! You're awake. Hi.

RYAN

Hi.

Sam finishes putting on her clothes. With her shirt no longer blocking her view, she becomes aware of Ryan staring at her.

SAM

I was just, you know. I didn't wanna disturb you. Sorry.

RYAN

You're leaving?

SAM

Yeah. I mean, I have to get going.

She makes her way to the door and stumbles.

RYAN

You remember where you live, right?

Sam smirks, sarcastically.

Ryan, in a laid back attempt to chase after her, gets out of bed.

SAM

Course I do.

(beat)

I just feel a bit rough.

RYAN

Yes I can see that.

SAM

Hey! I wasn't the only one drinking, you know.

RYAN

I know.

SAM

You were too.

RYAN

Right. Except, I don't get hangovers.

Sam stares at Ryan after his quick comebacks, seeing his and the conversation as juvenile. She sees how it's accompanied by a juvenile looking man. Muscular and attractive, no doubt, but with a childish grin.

SAM

Good for you.

RYAN

And since you obviously do, I feel as if I should keep you here. Until you're in a fit enough state
.

SAM

Thanks, but ... that's alright.

RYAN

But I want you to.

Sam waits for him to finish his sentence.

SAM

What?

RYAN

Stay.

(beat)

SAM

Why?

Ryan gives Sam a disheartened expression.

She struggles to read whether he's actually offended or serious.

RYAN

(cheekily)

Why not?

Sam, although flattered, can't understand why she should stay, or even why this guy would want her to.

SAM

Hah. Look, I don't do this often. At all actually. But as far as I know, the rule is, we go our separate ways.

RYAN

(confused)

Says who?

SAM

Just the way it is.

Ryan, bored of her apparent rule, abruptly changes the subject.

RYAN

Fancy an omelette?

SAM

What?

RYAN

You know. Eggs. Beaten. Add some cheese. I make a great omelette.

She gives an awkward smile.

SAM

I'm not really hungry, but thanks.

RYAN

I am. Besides, you've gotta eat something. Come on.

Ryan leaves his bedroom. Sam hesitates. She gives a slight curious smile before following.

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

Ryan makes his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Sam staggers along behind him.

Although feeling rather absent, trying not to concentrate on her headache, Sam takes a note of Ryan's living conditions. She doesn't really know why she cares, but picks out little details like a clean folded tea-towel by the cooker which tell her he is a sensible well-kept guy.

RYAN

I do have some pain killers, if that's more like breakfast for you.

SAM

Would you mind?

Ryan shakes his head, as he turns towards his cupboard.

SAM

Thanks...

Sam looks at him, trying to concentrate. Ryan turns around.

RYAN

You don't remember my name.

Sam doesn't say anything.

Ryan hands her the painkillers.

RYAN

Oh my god, you really don't do you?

SAM

I did! It's just ... I forgot, that's all.

RYAN

That's alright.

SAM

I'm sorry.

RYAN

It's fine.

Ryan hands her a glass of water.

Sam takes the pills. Ryan finds himself in a situation where he could read into her not remembering his name. How drunk she was, how he was just another guy. But he brushes off any potential awkwardness and continues preparing the omelettes.

SAM

I take it you remember mine then?

Ryan takes a moment to think.

As he does he continues preparing his ingredients, constantly remeasuring amounts of cheese and seasonings. Despite the added difficulty he finds himself enjoying cooking for plus one.

RYAN

Sam, right?

SAM

You know it's Sam.

RYAN

What do you mean?

SAM

You do that thing. You know my name, but because I feel bad that I can't remember yours, you pretend like you're not sure.

RYAN

Why Would I do that?

(beat)

SAM

To make me feel better?

RYAN

That's what I meant, why would I do that?

SAM

Erm ... maybe if you were a kind person?

RYAN

But you didn't want me to...

Sam loses the conversation once again.

SAM

To what?

RYAN

Pretend.

Sam thinks for a moment. She feels unsure if she's being interrogated or if she's simply stupid.

SAM

No, I didn't. Look, forget it.

RYAN

So did you want me to spare your feelings or not?

SAM

(confused)

No.

RYAN

(teasing)

So you like bad guys?

SAM

Excuse me? When did I say that?

RYAN

You didn't.

Ryan gives Sam a grin as she tries to backtrack to what was previously said.

SAM

(uncertain)

No?

RYAN

But you implied it.

SAM

No.

RYAN

Two eggs?

SAM

What?

RYAN

Two eggs? I could do you one but I'll need a smaller pan.

Sam takes a moment to consider Ryan's intentions. Unsure whether he's playing mind games with her, trying to feed her or possibly both, she decides to simply answer the question.

SAM

Two's fine.

(beat)

Thanks.

Ryan puts the omelette mixture into the pan. The sounds of him stirring and the eggs sizzling break the silence along with any awkwardness.

Ryan also takes a moment to try to assess their chemistry. He finds it necessary to bring her out of her shell but without taking it too far. He likes her, and he knows because he actually cares for once how his eggs are going to come out. He just wants her to talk now, to show an interest.

SAM

So what's your name?

It is better than nothing.

RYAN

Ryan.

Sam smirks to herself.

SAM

I remember now.

RYAN

Of course you do. I told you.

SAM

You know what I mean.

(beat)

Are you always this difficult?

Ryan smirks, trying to show he enjoys being difficult.

RYAN

What do you mean?

SAM

You. You're ... kind of annoying.

RYAN

I am?

SAM

Stubborn. Or something ...

Ryan is fine with this, he sees stubborn as challenging. He sees her as a challenge. A challenge emotionally, and a challenge out of his league. He wants to be a challenge for her in some way as well.

RYAN

I'm just getting breakfast on the table.

SAM

Alright.
Maybe it's me. I'm just having a bad morning, okay? I'm sorry.

RYAN

(sympathetic)

It's fine.

Ryan serves breakfast, they sit at the dining table facing each other.

SAM

Thanks.

In Sam's mind the topic felt brief and finished. Though Ryan stares at her. Curious of what goes on inside her mind, he attempts to dig deeper.

RYAN

Though, can I ask, why are you having a bad morning?

SAM

It doesn't matter.

RYAN

Sure it does.

Sam pauses.

SAM

Like I said, I don't do this sort of thing.

RYAN

Do you regret it?

Sam, to her own surprise, feels the desire to open up to him slightly. Though trying to do so without hurting his feelings.

SAM

(hesitant)

I guess?

Ryan brushes off the potential insult.

RYAN

Really? I don't!

SAM

Well why would you?

RYAN

What do you mean why would I?

(beat)

Oh, I see how it is. Girls can make mistakes, and regret sleeping with some guy. But the guy will always be happy with getting laid.

Sam freezes.

SAM

I didn't / mean...

RYAN

(interrupts)

Great generalisation there. I mean, what if I felt pressured into having sex with you and I wasn't ready. Or, or ... what if I'd cheated on my girlfriend, and I was feeling guilty?

SAM

Have you cheated on anyone?

RYAN

No. But, you know. All I'm saying is, next time don't assume the guy doesn't regret it.

(beat)

SAM

Alright, you made your point.

Ryan

(beat)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to break. It's just something that bugs me. But it's cool. You didn't know that.

Ryan smiles at Sam. She stares at him and smiles back unsure.

Ryan asked himself why he felt the need for that little outburst. Perhaps he shouldn't share everything right away, the fact that he didn't do this often either. For whatever reason he felt more secure with the jock gloss over him, but he didn't want her to feel like just another girl.

SAM

You were right about your eggs.

RYAN

Yeah? See, I told you.

SAM

Yeah, they're really good.

RYAN

What I still don't get is why you regret sleeping with me?

SAM

(awkward)

It's nothing against you personally.

RYAN

I mean, we met. Very briefly. I knew your friends, you knew my friends. But we'd never really spoken. And then we do, we have really good sex... Right?

Sam gives him a pause for good measure. She hesitates jokingly before nodding in agreement.

Her joke seems to go unnoticed.

RYAN

And then you wake up and get a nice breakfast. What's to regret?

Sam tries to answer but her mouth is full.

Ryan continues on his positive rant.

RYAN

The way I see it, if we're both single, we wore a rubber, I don't have crabs or anything so what's to regret?

SAM

I never said I was single.

Ryan studies her face. He wonders whether to assume or to play it safe and ask.

RYAN

Are you?

(beat)

SAM

Yes, technically.

RYAN

Technically?

SAM

Technically. I've never been involved with the guy, but we were really close and the other day he just came out with it. “I think we should give it a shot. What do you say?” I mean, what do you say to that?

Ryan doesn't want to know too much about this guy. For all he knew this guy deserved her more, so he decides to ignore the complexity of her situation and goes for a cold, logical response.

RYAN

You say yes or no. Do you like him?

SAM

I told him I'd have to think about it.

(beat)

There's nothing to think about though. I don't like him, not like that.

RYAN

Then you say no.

SAM

Well he took me by surprise.

Sam takes a moment to assess their conversation, suddenly overwhelmed by what she's found herself sharing with this stranger.

SAM

My god, why am I telling you this?

Ryan shrugs, enjoying the entertainment.

RYAN

Because you're single. And I'm a guy.

SAM

So?

RYAN

So, you need to unload on someone. Preferably a guy too, so I can speak on behalf of this other guy of yours. And because I'm a friend.