I still can’t get over what you said! It was amazing!

LAURIE

Yeah, so amazing that it probably got me fired again.

ANGELA

Possibly got you fired, and anyway, what does that matter right now?
Jeff wanted to see you!

LAURIE

But we still don’t know what he wanted to say, or even when
I’m supposed to meet him.

ANGELA

Laurie, if you want those dreams of yours to come true, you’ve got
to wake up.

LAURIE and ANGELA enter Ray’s Coffee-House.

ANGELA and LAURIE enter the coffee-house. It is very busy, and there is
a crowd of people trying to get out. Once the crowd has dispersed, ANGELA notices MR.
HARDING, who is facing the door.

ANGELA

Laurie, look, there’s that Mr. Harding of yours. Who’s he
with?

LAURIE

I don’t know, but I’m going to say hello. There are two seats
at that table, and I need to sit down.

LAURIE and ANGELA make their way through the coffee-house towards MR.
HARDING’S table. When they reach it, MR. HARDING stands to greet them. MARK is about
to stand and introduce himself when he knocks his coffee over. He grabs some tissues to
mop up the spill.

MR. HARDING

Laurie! Angela! It’s nice to see you, girls. Sit down, won’t
you?

LAURIE

Thanks, Mr. Harding.

MARK suddenly realises what MR. HARDING has just said, and looks up
sharply. He recognises LAURIE.

MARK

Laurie!

LAURIE

(Surprised) Yes?

MARK

It’s me, Mark Hammond. Jeff’s friend.

LAURIE recognises MARK.

LAURIE

Oh my God!

MARK

Jeff’s been talking about you non-stop. Well, what he knows,
anyway; all about your eyes, and your name and your job… I wish he knew more, because
those things can get a bit boring after a while! Oh, no offence, of course.

LAURIE

(Incredulously) He’s been talking about me?

MARK

Yes, so he was rather cut up when you said you didn’t want to see
him. Ever.

MR. HARDING

Laurie! Why d’you say that, love? I thought you liked him.

LAURIE

I never said that!

MARK

Well, no, not to his face, granted, but you left the message with the
concierge, and he passed it on.

LAURIE

I think there’s been a huge mistake here; my message was my phone
number, I didn’t say anything about not seeing him! (Pause) Pauline! It must have
been her; Samantha gave her the number!

MARK

Who’s Samantha?

ANGELA

That’s got to be it! What the hell does she think she’s doing?
She can’t make Jeff love her by sabotaging any chances you might have.

MARK

Pauline? She’s the one who came here when it was supposed to be
you. I’m confused. Who’s meeting Jeff here at five?

LAURIE

You mean he’s still coming here? I thought you said he didn’t
think I’d be turning up.

MARK

He always comes here, he likes it, and at the moment, I’d say
Pauline was going to be here as well. It’s okay, though. If you just wait here,
he’ll arrive, and Pauline won’t have a look in.

LAURIE

Hang on, what time does his train get in?

MARK looks at his watch.

MARK

In about half an hour. Why?

LAURIE

I want to meet him at the station.

ANGELA

But you might as well stay here.

LAURIE

I’m not letting Pauline even have a chance to see him. The old
Laurie might have, but not the new, improved Laurie. I’m not going to sit back and
wait for him to come to me; I’m going to go to him instead. I don’t want him to
think that I don’t want anything to do with him for a moment longer than is
necessary.

MARK

That’s a nice speech, Laurie, but you’d better get going;
it’s getting close to rush hour.

ANGELA

I’ll drive.

MARK

I’ll make sure Pauline sticks around long enough to see you and
Jeff together, If she dares to show herself, that is. Here’s my mobile number, just
in case you need it.

MARK hands LAURIE his card, and then settles down with the remains of
his coffee.

LAURIE

Mr. Harding? Are you staying here, or coming with us?

MR. HARDING

Staying. I don’t want to slow you down chasing after this bloke,
and after everything she’s done, I’ve got to see this Pauline. Besides, Mark
doesn’t want to look like a loner, does he?

ANGELA

Come on, let’s go!

ANGELA and LAURIE hurry out of the coffee-house.

ANGELA and LAURIE are sitting in a car. They are waiting in a long
queue of traffic.

ANGELA is impatiently tapping her steering wheel, as LAURIE leans out
of the window to see what the hold up is.

LAURIE

We’re not going to make it!

ANGELA

Calm down, I’ll get us there. We’ve still got time.

ANGELA pulls out into another lane of traffic, ignoring the horns of
other nearby cars.

MARK and MR. HARDING are sitting at their table in the coffee-house.
There are many empty coffee mugs on the table.

MARK

This is exciting, isn’t it?

MR. HARDING

Exciting?

MARK

Yes; thwarting the evil villain, and getting the hero and heroine
together at last. You could call it one of the last vestiges of romance.

MR. HARDING

I think you’ve had too much coffee, son.

MARK laughs.

MARK

Well, while we’re waiting for the wicked witch to turn up, I may as
well get another one. Do you want one?

MR. HARDING

No thanks. My liquid intake is smaller than yours; I can only take a
couple of gallons!

MARK

(Good-humouredly) Light weight!

MARK leaves the table to go and order his coffee at the counter. While
he is gone, the door of Ray’s opens, and PAULINE walks in. By this time, there are a
number of empty tables, and she takes one facing the door. DANIELLE slowly approaches her,
takes her order, and walks away looking upset. MARK returns, and MR. HARDING nods in the
direction of PAULINE.

MR. HARDING

From that way that she’s just managed to upset that little
waitress, I’m guessing that she is the one we’ve been waiting for. What’s
the woman’s name again?

MARK

Pauline Haslam. She certainly looks disagreeable enough.

MR. HARDING

Before you spend your time watching someone you’re not supposed to,
I’m going to find out for you. It’s time I was going anyway; my grandkids are
coming over for the weekend.

MR. HARDING stands, and shakes hands with MARK.

MR. HARDING

Good luck, son. The fate of the universe may not rest on your shoulders,
but the fate of someone very special to me does.

MARK

Thanks, Mr. Harding.

MR. HARDING walks in the direction of the door, and just as he is about
to open it, he turns in the direction of PAULINE. He looks very surprised, and walks over
to her. As he nears her table, PAULINE looks at him disdainfully.

PAULINE

Can I help you?

MR. HARDING

Pauline? Pauline, love, don’t you remember me?

PAULINE

Remember you?

MR. HARDING

You are Pauline, aren’t you?

PAULINE

Yes, but I don’t believe we’ve ever met. How do you know my
name?

MR. HARDING

Of course we’ve met; it was at your brother’s wedding.
I’m Kathy’s dad.

PAULINE

(Annoyed) Look, I don’t have a brother, and I don’t know of
anyone named ‘Kathy!’

MR. HARDING feigns confusion.

MR. HARDING

Wait a minute; you are Pauline Brown, aren’t you?

PAULINE

No I most certainly am not! My name is Pauline Haslam.

MR. HARDING

Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else.

MR. HARDING turns to the door once more, leaving PAULINE utterly
confused. As he catches MARK’S eye, he winks. MARK smiles.

ANGELA speeds into the car park of the station and parks her car
hurriedly. Both she and LAURIE climb out. They run to the platform that JEFF will be
arriving at. The train is already there, and people are disembarking.

LAURIE

Start looking!

ANGELA

But I don’t know what he looks like!

LAURIE

I’m beginning to think this may not have been the best plan of
action.

ANGELA

What happened to the new, improved Laurie Taylor?

LAURIE

Turns out she wasn’t so improved after all. Quick, if we go to the
station exit, he’s got to go past us!

LAURIE runs off, and ANGELA rolls her eyes, then follows at a much
slower rate. They reach the exit, but still can’t see JEFF. Suddenly LAURIE points
and calls out:

LAURIE

That’s him! In that taxi!

ANGELA

Tasty!

LAURIE

That’s not helping, Angela!

ANGELA holds the card that MARK gave them up to show LAURIE, and then
runs over to the payphones that are nearby. She dials the number.

MARK is still sitting at the same table, looking incredibly bored, and
playing one of the games on his mobile phone. He lifts a half-full mug of coffee to his
mouth, looks down at it in disgust, and replaces it on the table. He sighs heavily, then
stifles a yawn as he goes back to playing with the games. He almost drops the phone when
it rings. The ring sounds like a Tango. He answers it.

MARK

Hello?… Wait, Angela! Calm down!… Yes, she’s sitting
there, waiting… No problem, she’s as good as gone, and you’d better get
back here quick smart!

MARK puts the phone into his jacket pocket and stands. He makes his way
over to PAULINE’S table.

MARK

Excuse me, are you Pauline?

PAULINE

God, not again!

MARK

My name’s Mark, I’m Jeff’s secretary. He just called me-

PAULINE

So it was you who disturbed the peace with that God-awful noise!

MARK

(Through his teeth) Ah, yes, sorry about that.

PAULINE

So, what did Jeff say?

MARK

Yes, I was getting to that. He said he’d left a message on your
machine, saying to meet him here at five. He wasn’t sure if you’d have got it,
especially if you came straight from work.

PAULINE

No, I didn’t get it. It’s just a lucky coincidence that
I’m here, wouldn’t you say?

MARK

Oh, Jeff’s a lucky man, all right.

PAULINE

I’m assuming there was some sort of message for me?

MARK

He’s in Manchester.

PAULINE stands, angrily.

PAULINE

(Shouting) What? What the hell is he doing in Manchester?

MARK nervously clears his throat.

MARK

There was a very important meeting; he couldn’t get out of it. He
tried, though, I swear! Anyway, he suggested that you go up to Manchester to see him. You
could have a nice meal, stay at the hotel, et cetera, et cetera. What do you say?

PAULINE

He wants me to go up there?

MARK

Yeah. (Pause) The company will pay for it, of course!

PAULINE

Oh, well in that case, I might… I’ll have to go home and pack.
You’ll drive me to my house, then to the station.

MARK

Me? But I’ve got to-

PAULINE

Are you arguing with me? I said you would drive me, and so you will!

MARK

(Obediently) All right if it’ll get you up there, I’ll take
you!

MARK follows PAULINE as she strides out of the coffee-house. DANIELLE
crosses her fingers so that he can see. MARK winks at her.

A taxi pulls up outside Ray’s Coffee-House. JEFF gets out of the
cab, takes his bags, and pays the driver. The cab drives away, leaving JEFF standing
alone. He looks around, and then enters Ray’s.

MARK is standing on the platform, watching as PAULINE gets onto the
train. He is smiling to himself.

MARK

Have a nice trip!

PAULINE turns around and glares at MARK. She sits down as the train
begins to move off, refusing the seat to an elderly woman with a walking stick. The train
moves off into the distance. MARK waves at it, until it is out of sight.

MARK

Thank God she’s gone!

A WOMAN behind MARK gasps at what he has just said.

MARK

(Seriously) Don’t be shocked; that was only my wife. How would you
like to go out tonight?

WOMAN

Pig!

The WOMAN turns her back on MARK and angrily walks away. MARK laughs to
himself as he jogs to the exit.

ANGELA’S car comes to a screeching halt outside of Ray’s.
LAURIE hurriedly gets out, and ANGELA opens her window to talk:

ANGELA

Are you all right?

LAURIE

I’m more nervous than I can remember being in my life before, but
I’m not going to let that stop me from doing this.

ANGELA

Go on, then. Good luck!

ANGELA drives away to park her car, and LAURIE walks up to the door.
She looks through it and sees JEFF sitting alone, looking miserable. She opens the door
and walks in.

JEFF does not notice LAURIE as she walks towards him. She reaches his
table and stands in front of him. He still does not look up.

LAURIE

Don’t frown; you never know who’s falling in love with your
smile.

JEFF looks up, surprised to see LAURIE.

JEFF

What are you doing here?

LAURIE

Well, if you remember, a little while ago you promised me a coffee. I
thought it was time to collect.

JEFF

But I thought you didn’t want to see me.

LAURIE

(Crest-fallen) Oh, I understand now. Of course, I didn’t know the
reason you wanted to meet me before, but I think I get it now.

She stands.

JEFF

(Confused) Are you all right?

LAURIE

(Putting on her coat) I’m fine. Don’t flatter yourself; many
men have rejected me – they line up to do it. You’re just one of a very large
number.

JEFF

Who said anything about rejection?

LAURIE

I don’t understand. You just said-

JEFF

I just said I was surprised to see you. I didn’t say I was unhappy
about it.

LAURIE

(Sitting down) Really?

JEFF

Really. So, do you want that coffee now?

LAURIE smiles.

We cut to:

ANGELA is standing outside Ray’s. She is looking through the
window, watching LAURIE and JEFF talking. MARK jogs up to her, and taps her on the
shoulder.

MARK

How long have you been here?

ANGELA

(Quietly) Oh, not long.

MARK

How are they doing?

ANGELA

(Smiling) Just fine.

MARK and ANGELA watch for a moment in silence.

MARK

So, I was just wondering… I know this little restaurant not far
from here. How about having a congratulatory meal for the both of us. After all, we did
help to keep romance alive.

ANGELA

I suppose I do deserve to have a meal bought for me, don’t I?

MARK

Most definitely.

MARK holds out his arm, and ANGELA takes it, laughing. They walk away
down the street together.

LAURIE is still sitting on the bench we left her on when she began to
tell her story. She looks up as a figure walks towards her. As the figure draws closer,
LAURIE stands, smiling. It is JEFF.

LAURIE (V.O.)

It’s true that many people don’t believe in fate, and
it’s true that I used to be one of them. But things change.

JEFF reaches LAURIE, and they begin to walk away, holding hands.

LAURIE (V.O.)

And in my story, just like in all good fairy tales, we all lived happily
ever after.

FADE TO BLACK

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Copyright © 2000 Lisamarie Jones
Published on the World Wide Web by "www.storymania.com"