PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

INT – PANCAKE HUT TABLE SIXTEEN – NIGHT

TITLE: PANCAKE HUT, TABLE SIXTEEN. Sunday, August 6, 2000.  2:45am

JOHN and JEFF are still sitting at table sixteen, in the booth.

JEFF

She's like a zombie when she gets out on the dance floor. He just wiggled out there with her and pretty soon they were tied up like a pretzel.

JOHN

You should have gone out there.

JEFF

And what, John, what should I have done?

JOHN

I don’t know- hit him or something?

JEFF

I'm not the violent type, you know that.

JOHN

So you just let him sweep her off her feet?

JEFF

No, I tried to find her.  It was so crowded, by the time I got out on the dance floor they were playing a slow song and the lights were dim.

JOHN

They were probably slow dancing.

JEFF

No, I think they’d left by then.

JOHN

Why do you say that?

JEFF

Well her car was still parked outside, but when I went back in I still couldn't find her. I figured she was in the bathroom or something. 

JOHN

That doesn’t mean she left with him

JEFF

Right. First I thought she was in the bathroom or something, I mean she was drinking.

JOHN

She had, what, maybe two drinks? Just because you’re a lightweight doesn't mean- 

JEFF

Fuck you, John.

JOHN

And the horse you rode in on!

JEFF

John, you are the horse I rode in on!  Okay, I’ll admit it’s nice to be called a lightweight for a change, but really, I have to drink so much that I get sick before even a little buzz can kick in.  It’s not that I can’t drink a lot; it’s that I can’t afford to drink a lot!  Besides, you know when I drink I never have a good time.

JOHN

You don’t have a good time when you’re sober either!  You should try rum.  It’s got a sweeter smell and mixes well with Coke

JEFF

The smell’s not the problem, I can’t stand the taste!

JOHN

Well it doesn’t seem to be a problem for Julie!  So you're sure they left together?

JEFF

Yeah, I’m sure of it.  I checked the whole damn place.

JEFF covers his face with his hands.

JEFF (CONT’D)

I’m just glad you were there or I’d have had to walk home again.

JOHN

Dude, you need to get a car!

JEFF

That’s not what I need to hear right now.

JOHN

If it wasn’t for me you'd have had to walk up here again and waited for the busses to start running. 

JEFF

Yeah, and I didn't have my notebook with me.

JOHN

Your notebook?

JEFF

Not just my notebook, my entire arsenal:  My Webster’s, my Roget’s and my rhyming dictionary!

JOHN

So that’s what you tote around in that piss-colored Power Records bag!  Why do you need all that stuff to eat at Pancake Hut? 

JEFF

Eat? God no- to write!

JOHN

Well if you start writing now, I'm out of here.

JEFF looks around.

JEFF

When's our food going to get here? They're not usually this slow.

EVETTE arrives as JEFF is talking and sets down John’s plate.

EVETTE

A cheeseburger for you…

EVETTE turns to Jeff.

EVETTE (CONT’D)

…and a hamburger for Picasso here.

JEFF

Wait, I wanted cheese on mine too.

EVETTE

You said hamburger.

JEFF

Well, I wanted cheese on it too, like John's.

JOHN

Dude, cool it! She'll bring you a slice of cheese. 

JEFF

(to EVETTE)

Why'd you call me Picasso? 

EVETTE

Irene tells me you write poetry. 

JEFF

(confused)

But Picasso's a painter. 

EVETTE

Ah, Picasso’s an artist.