We Tell Each Other’s Stories

 INT. COFFEE SHOP

A MAN, early 30s, sits at a corner table across from his friend, A DOCTOR, roughly the same age. They both have cups in front of them, with A MAN’s empty, and A DOCTOR’s ice having melted and the cup nearly overflowing. Clearly, they have been sitting there for some time. A DOCTOR’s dialogue slowly fades in as the camera pans into the shop.

A DOCTOR (animatedly, his wild gesturing threatening to knock his cup off the table): And then, and this is all what the nurse told me by the way, she apparently vanished! Just like that! Not a sign left. Of course her wife was devastated, but there wasn’t anything that they could do. And then two days later, just like that, can you guess what happened?

A MAN (after a pause, absently): Uh huh. Really?

A DOCTOR: Well then the woman, not- You’re not listening are you. This kind of stuff is usually right up your alley, what’s happening?

A MAN (looking up, realizing that A DOCTOR has stopped talking): It’s just, it’s been a long week. Nothing special really. (A DOCTOR gives him a look) Fine, nothing too… It’s about…

A DOCTOR (speaking over him): It’s about her, isn’t it. (A MAN nods. Under his breath) It always bloody is, isn’t it. (normal volume) Well? What was it this time?

A MAN: Nothing. Nothing happened I just… I might want something to… 

A DOCTOR (much louder, drawing a few glances from nearby tables): Did she do something? Because I swear to god if she fu-

A MAN (quickly, picking up speed and confidence as he goes): No, no, nothing like that at all. It’s just… you remember how we decided to make it work, we didn’t want to end up… feeling like we were stuck or anything, especially after everything that happened but now I’m looking at what we decided and I just kinda…

A DOCTOR: You want to break it off? That’s okay man, she’ll respect it, I mean, she-

A MAN (getting louder, the same people plus a few more glance over): No! I don’t want it to change. I mean I do but… (looks across the shop at a young couple, clearly on a date, holding hands over the table, and seems to gain confidence, much quieter) But I want that as well. I love what we do together, and her, and I don’t think we need to change anything but I just kinda want to try… that. 

A DOCTOR (after a pause): So let me get this straight. You two agreed, through what I can only presume was a really freaking difficult conversation, that you didn’t want any of that romance. Which I get. And I respect. But now, you want something else. So you don’t want to have another difficult conversation?

A MAN: I get it, I get it. I guess I’ll do it. God, it’s like we’re back in middle school. So what was that you were saying?

A DOCTOR: Well, so the nurse was pregnant...


CUT TO: EXT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE WAITING ROOM, A FEW DAYS LATER

A MAN sits on one of the chairs, he might have been crying, but now he’s just silent. He doesn’t appear to be waiting for anything, the door opens and closes multiple times without him reacting. A DOCTOR enters, and quickly makes his way over to A MAN, pulling a chair over in front of him. 

A DOCTOR (quietly): Did you ask her? (A MAN shakes his head) I know it’s the last thing that will help right now but I-

A MAN (whispering): She told me.

A DOCTOR: Huh?

A MAN: She told me that… (he pauses for a long moment, and it’s not clear if he’s going to actually finish his thought. A DOCTOR starts to move to comfort him but pauses when he resumes talking) She said that it was special, that she would have loved more time but- but we were able to do so, so very much without it. That so many things had to happen for it to… for it to be what it was, and that she’s so glad it did.

A DOCTOR: And you’re glad it did.

A MAN: And I’m- I’m so glad. (They’re quiet for a minute, the gentle chatter of the room forming an almost companionable silence.)

A MAN (suddenly): Do you have a pen?

A DOCTOR: Do I-? (he starts patting his pockets, and looking around. He does not appear to be finding one. A MAN picks up one of the nearby magazines and takes out the mail-in subscription envelope, flipping it over and bracing it on a nearby desk)

A MAN: Do you? I need… I think I want to write it down. What she… Do you have one?

CUT TO: CREDITS, THE END

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