PAULINE

Would you stop screaming! I’m going to pull you back over. Just
shut up!

LAURIE

Help me! For God’s sake, please! Don’t let me die!

The noise outside has caused the people in JEFF’S boardroom to
come over to the window. They are all watching as PAULINE pulls LAURIE to safety. They
cheer and clap, relieved that she is safe. JEFF remains at the window after the others
have gone back to their seats. He runs over to the table, and comes back with a piece of
paper. On it is written, "Are you all right?" He puts it up to the window so
that LAURIE can read it. She nods, and smiles. JEFF turns the paper around and shows her
what is written there: "Would you like a coffee?" Once again, LAURIE nods. On
the final piece of paper that JEFF produces it says: "Meet me at 6 in the
lobby." All LAURIE can do is nod. JEFF turns away and goes back to the meeting. The
platform moves across to the next window, and a different office.

LAURIE

(To PAULINE) Thank you. You’ve no idea how grateful I am; you saved
my life.

PAULINE

(Angrily) Nice of you to notice I’m here. Oh, and in case you were
wondering, I didn’t do it because I like you. To tell the truth I can’t stand
you. The only reason I pulled you back over was because there were witnesses, and I’m
not in the mood for a lawsuit. This time I’m not joking. That’s probably the
only reason he asked you for a coffee, so he can smooth things over before you sue him for
something. It’s not because he likes you.

LAURIE

I honestly didn’t think it was.

PAULINE

Yeah, right, of course not. Who do you think you’re lying to? I saw
that hopeful look in your eyes, but I tell you, he doesn’t want you. No one does.

LAURIE is very close to tears. She turns back to the window that she is
cleaning and does not answer PAULINE, whose words have hurt her deeply.

LAURIE has changed back into her smart clothes for the meeting with
JEFF. She nervously enters the lobby of the building and looks around. JEFF is nowhere to
be seen. LAURIE looks at her watch and realises that she is a little early. She sits down
in a chair and scans through a newspaper, but she is too nervous to take any of what she
is reading in. She cannot sit still, and so she gets up and begins pacing. She is
incredibly anxious about meeting JEFF. As she is walking around, a man (MARK HAMMOND)
comes out of a lift behind her. He is tall, and in his thirties. He is wearing a grey
suit. He walks right up to LAURIE who spins around, expecting it to be JEFF.

LAURIE

Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else.

MARK laughs, and shakes his head. He speaks with an Irish accent:

MARK

You were expecting Jeff, right?

LAURIE

Who?

MARK

Jeff Crossley. (He suddenly seems confused). You are the window-cleaner,
aren’t you?

LAURIE

Yes. (To herself) Funny, I thought he looked more like a Jonathon.

MARK

Sorry?

LAURIE

Oh, nothing. Am I early?

MARK

That’s the thing, you see. He’s, well, he’s in a very
important meeting at the moment. It’s just come up, you know how it is.

LAURIE

Oh, of course…

MARK

So he sends his apologies, and would like you to know that this is
simply a postponement, not a cancellation.

LAURIE

Right. (She is about to say more, but MARK interrupts).

MARK

I’m sure there was something else I had to say to you. Well,
I’m sure it’ll come to me later. Look, I’m afraid I have to get back to it,
so I’m going to have to say goodbye.

MARK and LAURIE shake hands, and then MARK disappears back into the
lift. LAURIE is left all alone. She turns and walks dejectedly out of the building.

LAURIE leaves the building and leans against it once she is outside.
Silent tears run down her cheeks. She brushes them away, annoyed with herself for getting
so excited in the first place, and pulls herself together. She walks towards the nearby
bus stop.

ANGELA is sitting on a stool in front of a mirror in the living room,
curling her hair. She is talking on the phone when LAURIE walks in the door. She sees that
LAURIE does not look happy and says to the person on the other end of the phone:

ANGELA

Can I call you back?… Thanks… Yeah, she’s back… I
don’t know… Okay… Yeah… Yeah… Bye.

LAURIE

Who was that?

LAURIE drops her bag on the floor and flops down on the sofa, removing
her shoes. ANGELA replaces the receiver.

ANGELA

Your mother. She’s worried about you, but I told her you were fine.
You are fine, aren’t you? I didn’t just lie to Mrs Taylor, the infamous knower
of untruths, did I?

ANGELA raises her eyebrows at LAURIE, emphasising her question.

LAURIE

(Laughing) I’m fine! Well?

ANGELA

Oh, okay, how did the interview go?

LAURIE

I got the job, and I started today. Unfortunately, I work with the bitch
from hell, I nearly died, and I got stood up. How was your day?

ANGELA

Whoa! You’re not getting away with it that easily –
you’re going to sit there and tell me every single detail until I’m totally
satisfied that I know all there is to know. And, seeing as you asked, my day was hellish.

LAURIE

You don’t seem too concerned that I was nearly a big mess on the
pavement.

ANGELA looks worried and moves to sit next to LAURIE on the sofa. She
looks right at her.

ANGELA

You were serious about that?

LAURIE

Totally.

ANGELA

Oh well, I suppose it was pretty average for a first day.

LAURIE laughs and grabs a sofa cushion. She hits ANGELA with it, in a
mock fight. ANGLEA also laughs and grabs her own cushion. After a short game, the women
settle back down.

ANGELA

You going to tell me the details now, or do I have to resort to childish
tactics?

ANGELA pretends that she is going to hit LAURIE with the cushion again,
and LAURIE puts her arms up to guard her face, but is laughing all the time.

LAURIE

Okay, okay! I’ll tell you!

LAURIE waits until ANGELA puts the cushion down before she begins her
story.

LAURIE

The interview went great; he really seemed to like me. The good thing
was that he didn’t ask why I’d had so many jobs before, that’s what I was
worried about. Anyway, I got put with this woman, Pauline. I could see all the people
around me laughing and smiling, and then there was her – I, of course, was put with
the only miserable one in the entire company! Now, there are not many people in this world
who I can truly say I hate, but she is one of them. Okay, she saved my life, but
that still doesn’t mean she can-

ANGELA

Wait! That’s the bit I’m interested in, that whole death part.
Would you care to enlighten me?

LAURIE

I fell off the cleaning platform. I wasn’t attached to anything; it
was my fault, I should have made sure I was hooked up.

ANGELA

Or Pauline should have! What the hell did you do?

LAURIE

Pauline pulled me back over.

ANGELA

But you hate her. How can you hate her if she saved your life?

LAURIE

I’m grateful, obviously, I mean, I didn’t want to particularly
die today, but she said some things that hurt – I mean really hurt. Stuff
about me not having a boyfriend, and no one wanting me. (Tears well up in LAURIE’S
eyes). I hadn’t even said he did!

ANGELA closes her eyes in concentration. She is not sure what LAURIE is
now talking about.

ANGELA

Can I ask a question?

LAURIE nods.

ANGELA

I understand that this Pauline was a bitch and a bully, playing on your
Achilles’ heel, and I can see why you’re upset. My question is: who is he?

LAURIE brightens up visibly at this. She smiles, and even giggles a
little. ANGELA also looks happier, as her friend is obviously not quite as distraught as
she had first thought.

LAURIE

Oh, that was the most extraordinary part!

ANGELA

(Incredulously) There was an ordinary part?

LAURIE simply ignores her, and carries on with the story.

LAURIE

When I was having my near-death experience, I was right near a
boardroom. Well, everyone in there ran over to the window, and one guy, Jeff, asked if I
wanted to go for coffee after work. Pauline said he was only doing it so I wouldn’t
start litigation procedures, but I think he was just being nice.

ANGELA bounces up and down excitedly.

ANGELA

Woo-hoo! What’s he like?

LAURIE

To look at? Gorgeous! Personality wise, I have no idea.

ANGELA

Why? Don’t tell me you chickened out on this! I can’t believe
you sometimes, Laurie!

LAURIE

I went, no need to get nasty. Truthfully, I almost didn’t, but in
the end I went, okay? Unfortunately, he was caught up in a meeting. Well, that’s what
I was told, anyway, but I think he’d changed his mind.

ANGELA

Why would he do that?

LAURIE

I don’t know – because it was me, and that’s what always
happens. (She pauses) Angela, do you think I’m incapable of getting a boyfriend?

ANGELA

(Shocked) No! What the hell would make you say that?

LAURIE just gives ANGELA a knowing look.

ANGELA

Okay, I agree that your track record on the boyfriend front has
been… (She searches for the word).

LAURIE

Non-existent.

ANGELA

If you like, yes, non-existent. But that doesn’t mean it’s
going to be like that forever. No way! You’re brilliant, Laurie. Someone’s going
to snap you up in no time, I promise. All this means is that when you do find someone,
he’s going to be perfect.

LAURIE

You’re a good friend, Angela. I mean it, thanks.

ANGELA

So when are you going to have that coffee?

LAURIE

Oh, I don’t think-

ANGELA

You’ve just been complaining and now you don’t want to do
anything about it?

LAURIE

But-

ANGELA

But nothing! You know where he works, and admit it, you were excited
when you went in there, weren’t you? Excited over the prospect of meeting him.

LAURIE

Excited isn’t the word.

ANGELA

I knew it!

LAURIE

No, really, excited isn’t the word. Nervous, agitated, terrified,
even, yes, but not excited.

ANGELA

Laurie, I think this coffee could be the start of something. You
don’t want to miss out, do you?

LAURIE

No, I see what you mean. Next time I’m working at that building,
I’ll go in and ask him if he wants that coffee. Good idea?

ANGELA

(Nodding) So you’re going to keep the job?

LAURIE

It’s all I’ve got. I’m just hoping I’ll get used to
Pauline. Perhaps she’s not so bad once you get to know her.

ANGELA

Yeah, and if that turns out to be true, I’ll eat my car, headlights
and all! Speaking of which, I’m hungry – feel like a takeaway?

JEFF is sitting in a large leather chair at the head of an enormous
conference table on which his head is resting. MARK is saying goodbye to some BUSINESSMEN
and WOMEN. When they have all gone, he closes the door and walks over to the table. He
loosens his tie, and leans on the table. JEFF swivels his chair to face MARK.

JEFF

Is it over?

MARK

It’s over. I thought it went well, didn’t you?

JEFF

I can think of things I’d rather be doing with my time than sitting
in here trying to eke out a deal from a few pompous old gargoyles with more money than
Midas. Still, seeing as you asked, yeah, it wasn’t bad.

JEFF and MARK laugh. JEFF laces his fingers behind his head and sighs.

MARK

What’s up?

JEFF

Not much. I was just thinking about that window cleaner. I feel really
bad about taking a raincheck on that coffee.

MARK

(Yawning) Wasn’t your fault.

JEFF

Yeah, well, that still doesn’t make me feel less guilty. Look,
leave her name and number on my desk, will you? It’s too late to call now; I’ll
have to wait until the morning to do it, and then apologise myself.

MARK looks worried. He stands up straight.

MARK

Her name and number?

JEFF

Mark, the message I’m getting here is that you didn’t get her
name and number.

MARK

You mean you really wanted it? I thought maybe you were just trying to
be nice. Or something. I don’t know I-

JEFF

You just forgot, didn’t you?

MARK sheepishly scuffs the floor with his shoe, like an embarrassed
schoolboy.

MARK

How do you know that? Are you psychic or something?

JEFF

Mark, you’re my best friend, we’ve known each other for our
entire lives, but you’re still the most absent-minded secretary a man could ask for!

MARK grins, spins the chair he’s leaning over around to face him,
and flops down into it. He then spins back to face JEFF.

MARK

Ah, but you couldn’t do without me, now, could you?

JEFF mumbles something under his breath that MARK cannot hear. MARK
realises that JEFF is serious. He stops spinning in his chair.

MARK

Sorry, Jeffrey. Look, I tell you what; I’ll call the cleaning
company in the morning, and find out who was working on this building yesterday, okay?
It’s simple – I’ll get her name, and her number, and you can call, and
everything’ll be fabulous again.

This time JEFF does smile back.

JEFF

Okay, I’ll let you off. Again. As long as you promise to do this
for me.

MARK

No problem, boss! Er, I do have one little query, though. I didn’t
book the window cleaners, Sandra did, and she’s on holiday.

JEFF

And?

MARK

She changed the company we use after our last falling out with the
previous one. You know, they never turned up when they were supposed to and stuff. Anyway,
she kept meaning to write it down for me, so that I could get in touch with them but she
never did. I don’t have their number.

JEFF

(Sighing) I’m assuming you know the name?

MARK

Oh, God, yes! (He pauses as he thinks) Clearway?

JEFF

Are you asking me?

MARK

No! It’s definitely Clearway.

JEFF

In that case call Directory Enquiries; they know all.

MARK gets up from the chair and makes his way to the door. He turns
around when he notices that JEFF isn’t following him.

MARK

Are you not coming to the pub tonight, then?

JEFF

No, I think I’ll stay around here for a bit, if you don’t
mind. I’ve got a few things to finish up.

MARK

Sure. I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early, as long as
you’re not dead from over-work!

JEFF suddenly looks pained. MARK watches him.

MARK

Oh, Jeff, I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.

JEFF

It’s all right. Just because you mention death doesn’t mean
I’m going to start thinking about Michelle.

MARK

But you were married for ten years, you’re allowed to grieve, you
know. It was only three years ago that you lost her.

JEFF

Yeah, I know, but I’m fine, honestly. I’ll always love her,
but I have to get on with my life.

MARK leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. JEFF stands and
stretches. He walks over to the window and looks out, surveying the city. He leans against
the window and shuts his eyes, sighing deeply. A tear trickles down his cheek. He breaks
down in floods of tears, sobbing over the loss of his wife, three years previously.

LAURIE is sitting in a small waiting area, reading a magazine. She is
wearing "Clearway" overalls. On the door is a sign reading
"PERSONNEL." The door opens and a woman (SAMANTHA, female, in her 50s) puts her
head out.

SAMANTHA

Laurie Taylor? If you’d just like to come through here.

LAURIE stands and follows SAMANTHA through into her small office. Once
inside, SAMANTHA gestures to a chair:

SAMANTHA

Please take a seat. Right. Basically, this is just to give you your
welcome pack. You need to read through that, and fill out a questionnaire or two, signs
some forms, et cetera, et cetera. Plus, and this is the exciting part, your name badge is
in there. You’d better check it’s spelt right, though, they’re notorious
around here for that sort of thing. I hear from Mr. Olman that you are partnered with
Pauline Haslam – if you have any problems with her then please come back here;
I’m the person to talk to. Hopefully it won’t come to that, but just in case,
you know? Okay, yes, of course… Right… Well, that’s it.

SAMANTHA hands LAURIE a large manila envelope, presumably containing
the information pack, forms, and name badge.

LAURIE

Thank you.

SAMANTHA

Right, you’re all set. Have a good first day!

LAURIE

Well, actually, it’s not my first d-

LAURIE is cut off mid-sentence by the phone ringing. SAMANTHA answers
it:

SAMANTHA

Good morning, Clearway Personnel, how can I help you? … Right…
Yes… I see…

LAURIE stands and points to the door, raising her eyebrows in a silent
question. SAMANTHA nods in answer. LAURIE leaves the room, making sure she shuts the door
quietly behind her.

JEFF is typing at his computer, but stops when the intercom buzzes:

JEFF

Yes, Mark?

MARK

There’s you being all psychic again.

JEFF

You’re the only one out there who’d intercom me. Anyway,
what’s up?

MARK

You’ll be pleased to know that I called Clearway. I got the name
and number you were so interested in yesterday. Do you want it?

JEFF smiles to himself.

JEFF

Yes, please. Bring it right in.

There is a knock at the door. It opens and MARK enters, holding a
Post-It Note. Before JEFF can take it from him, MARK sticks it on JEFF’S forehead.

JEFF

(Sarcastically) Oh, look at me, I’m laughing so hard my sides are
splitting!

Both men do actually laugh at that. JEFF peels the label off. He looks
at it, thoughtfully.

JEFF

Strange… I thought she looked more like a Clare.

MARK

What was that?

JEFF

Oh, nothing, don’t worry. (Pause). Do you think she’ll still
want that coffee after I stood her up?

MARK

You can only stand someone up if you were supposed to have a date with
them. That was not a date. That was a coffee. But, to answer your question, no, she
won’t.

JEFF

Why not?

MARK

I don’t know. I just felt like saying it. Anyway, would it really
be a tragedy if she didn’t?

JEFF

Perhaps not a tragedy along the same lines as Hiroshima, or the Titanic,
but a minor one, nonetheless.

MARK

What is it about her that is so fascinating? She’s not exactly
pretty, I’d even say she was plain, so there must be something; a normal, sane, level
headed man like you doesn’t just totally change overnight over nothing.

JEFF

I don’t know, there’s just… something. I know I normally
only look at the outside of a woman, but her eyes, I only saw them for a moment, but there
was something there, something behind them. I’d like to look at them for longer, try
and find out just what that something is.

MARK

(Incredulously) You want to sit across from her, and stare into her
eyes?

JEFF

(Embarrassed) Don’t you have work to do?

MARK

All I’m saying is, sitting opposite someone, staring into their
eyes, well, it would make them uncomfortable, and then where would you be?

JEFF

Mark, I really do think you have work to do. In fact, I’m sure of
it.

JEFF hands MARK a memo, or letter. MARK takes it, reading it as he does

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