Dialogues / Romance
Same Table
Maya is working in the coffee shop she has always gone to on Tuesdays. Tom, her ex, walks past her table and pretends it is a surprise. He is getting married in May. Neither of them says the thing they came to say.
A corner coffee shop, late afternoon. MAYA sits with a laptop and a cold coffee. TOM stands by the table with a to-go cup, as if he has only just noticed her.
TOM
Maya.
MAYA
(not looking up)
Tom.
TOM
I didn't know you still came here.
MAYA
Tuesdays. Same as always. You know that.
TOM
I forgot.
MAYA
Okay.
He hovers.
TOM
Can I sit?
MAYA
It's a free coffee shop.
TOM
It's not, actually. I just paid five bucks for this.
She almost smiles. Closes the laptop halfway. He sits.
TOM
You look good.
MAYA
I look like someone who's been editing spreadsheets since nine.
TOM
That's what I meant.
MAYA
How's Hannah?
TOM
Good. She's good. The wedding's in May.
MAYA
I heard. Congratulations.
TOM
Thanks.
MAYA
I mean it.
TOM
I know you do. That's the annoying thing about you.
MAYA
That I mean things?
TOM
That you mean them out loud. Most people hold a little back.
MAYA
You held a lot back. Look where that got us.
TOM
That's not fair.
MAYA
No. But it's Tuesday and I've had one coffee. Fair comes after two.
Pause. She stirs the cold coffee.
MAYA
So what's this?
TOM
What's what?
MAYA
This. The cup, the walking past, the "I forgot". You don't forget things. You remembered my mom's birthday for two years after we broke up.
TOM
She sends me a card.
MAYA
Tom.
TOM
I was in the area.
MAYA
You live forty minutes away.
TOM
It's a big area.
She waits. He gives up.
TOM
I wanted to see if it was still there.
MAYA
If what was.
TOM
Don't make me say it in a coffee shop.
MAYA
Where would you rather say it? At the wedding?
He looks at the table.
MAYA
(gentler)
Was it?
TOM
Was it what?
MAYA
Still there.
TOM
(honest)
I sat in the car for twenty minutes before I came in.
MAYA
That's not an answer.
TOM
It's the only one I got.
She opens the laptop again. Then closes it fully.
MAYA
Here's the thing. Two years ago you would've walked in and I would've been the one sitting in the car. I would've said something clever and then cried in the bathroom.
TOM
And now?
MAYA
Now I'm sad for you. That's different. That's the whole difference.
TOM
So it's not there.
MAYA
I didn't say that.
Beat.
MAYA
I said I'm not the one sitting in the car anymore.
She stands. Packs the laptop. Puts a hand briefly on his shoulder as she passes. Not long.
MAYA
Tell Hannah I said congratulations. Or don't. Either way I meant it.
She goes. Tom sits with the cup. He does not drink it.
End of script
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