My billion

Call me back

Hey what’s up, nothing, I’m over here at the bar…Yea, of course. What did she say? Nice. Listen though; I’m coming over in a few. You’re stupid. Like in Half an hour maybe sooner. Ok. Bye

Was that him?

Yeah

Are we going over?

Yea, let’s finish the drinks, or at least I will

I only had one

Two

No, they only pour like this little vodka. What do you think I’m doing this well? Because I’m drunk? Take this butt kicking like a man.

My pool stick is crooked.

And what? Mine is just as crooked as yours.

This is the shot right here. I’m tired of this back and forth with you. You ready? YOU ready?

Just shoot already! YOU take forever to shoot. God.

I need silence when I shoot.

O.M.G

Damn, shit, I always scratch with the eight ball. That’s the only reason why you won the last two games.

Yeah, yeah, let’s go loser.

I bought the drinks because YOU won. Next time, the drinks will be on YOU.

Let’s go, where is it?

…

Oh so you don’t hold doors for me anymore. It’s because you’re mad that I BEAT. I BEAT you in front of those people. Wow Jack I thought you were going to be better than that. Come on let’s go then. Let’s take the cab here. I don’t want to walk.

I let you win. When I was little I watched a movie and in that movie I saw a guy tell his son to always let the girl win.

Shut up I Beat you without even trying.
Ok, Rules before we get to the apartment. First rule. Look at my finger! First rule: Don’t bring up the transsexual story.

Listen to you, “transsexual”.

Second rule, look TWO that means remember that there are TWO rules. No talking about you beating me in pool.

I’m going to obey only the first rule

And the second rule?

…

Don’t make me stab you with my finger.

Eww, get away!

I have a reputation around here.

As the CHEAPEST guy and the WORST pool player?

Why do you want to turn into an accusatory evil woman? I paid for the drinks and

And what else Jack? What did you pay for?

Don’t touch me. Your evil rubs off on people.

Your no one to be talking, your drunk too.

No I’m not. I am an Olympic drinker. There are only three live human beings that can tolerate more alcohol in the system than me. That’s why I didn’t get a medal.

So you have a certificate?

I lost it

How?

I cant remember I was drunk

You’re too funny, can we stop here Sir(to cab driver).

Where you going?

I want a cigarette so bad right now.

You want me to go with you?

Yeah, come on.

Can you wait here Sir? we’ll be right out.

Which ones should I get?

I wouldn’t know, because I’m not smoking, I quit.

O please. Ok. Thank you Mister(to store clerk). Thank you Jack. You’re such a gentleman.

Listen lady I already spoke to you.

We should have called him to see if he wanted anything from the store “Jack”.

Your right, let me call him now.

What for? We’re already driving off.

Shush. Hello. Yo! We’re almost there. Yeah. I’m just a few blocks away. I’m with Lea. Definitely. Do you want anything from the store? Hello?

You hung up on him?

At least it looks like we tried.

You’re awful.

I’m jobless

Well, your Jobless and awful.

…

Look at that building. The entrance is so nice. I love big windows like that. I want to live in an apartment like that.

Right here Sir. Yep. Ok. How much? Here you go.

Let’s go Dutch, Jack come on!

Its okay, I got it.

You’re so dumb, I was just kidding about earlier.

You can pay the cab on the way back. Let me call this guy back. He messaged me something while we were in the cab.

Let’s go inside first, it’s getting chilly and I didn’t bring a sweater.

I don’t have the apartment number.

You never been here before?

I have but I don’t know if it’s 2G, or 2J.

I’m going to smoke a cigarette

Hello, What? I can’t here you. Call me back. Jonathan, hello?

What’d he say?

I don’t know. There was a loud noise in the background.

…

Wait, No this isn’t him. Hello. Yeah it’s me. Jack. No I’m nowhere near there. But… Ask if I could just go tomorrow. Far, I’m far right now. Whenever he wants. I need whatever I can get. I know. That’s why I made sure to give him a schedule. I know but if… Perfect. Tell him. Hold up I have another call. But tell him that he can call me whenever as long as he… Fine perfect and thanks a lot. I know. Ok thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

It’s getting cold. Just buzz anyone. Look.

Damn, I didn’t think they would just open like that. You cool?

I’m warming up.

It’s this door but upstairs.

Damn the TV is so loud.

Emilio (Jonathan)

What’s up Jonathan, This is Lea, Lea this is Jonathan.

Hi Jonathan

What’s up man? Come in!

Why does he call you Emilio?

I’ll tell you later, it’s from a film.

This is Jess

Hi, Lea, nice to meet you.

You want a drink Lea?

Yes please

Don’t worry I’ll get it. Do you want another drink Jonathan or Jess?

Make two more Emilio

Come with me to the kitchen Lea I’ll make yours too.

Hello there, hottie

Ugh, you’re so lame

Don’t be so dramatic, you had a bad day?

Bad as in what?

I don’t know, did you get picked on by your boss?

Where do you want to go? I’m hungry

Let’s take a walk, I feel like being outside.

Where?

This way. It’s nice out. Come one we’re young. Alive

Why are you dressed like that?

Because I just got back from a funeral

That’s why you’re in a good mood?

Okay, first, don’t be evil. Be nice. Tell me what happened at work.

I hate this place.

I thought you wanted the change.

…

It’s nice out. Not too cold, the humidity is gone. You don’t have to be around the rattling of an AC. Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Thank God it’s over.

I wish I would have gone to the beach more.

I don’t like tanning at the gym.

Let’s go to the park and sit on the lawn.

You’re so lame.

Don’t come with that. I’m finally in a good mood again.

You’re not the one walking with a person dressed in black.

I wouldn’t be worried about me. Let’s go this way!

Where we going?

Don’t worry, I got this.

“You got this”?

We’re not too far from where I want to go.

Listen, Jack! I’m not in any mood to be drinking.

Damn, what’s the matter with you? What do you want?

I want to know where we’re going. I’m tired I don’t wanna to walk around.

Come on!

I’ll pay the cab.

The exercise is good for you, you’ll feel better, trust me. Come on. You want me to carry you?

Then, walk for me, I’ll take a cab.

Lazy, don’t waste money on cabs, it’s not far. We can take a cab later. I don’t want to take the train.

You have cigarettes?

No, why I stink?

I can smell it.

I only smoke sometimes now. I’m trying to quit.

When was the last time you smoked?

Today.

Please, you’re going to quit smoking? And you already smoked today. Don’t bullshit me.

Don’t keep reminding me. Let’s get something to eat, I want to feed you. I know you’re on a diet so I’ll take you somewhere that makes good low calorie
stuff.

Who died?

A distant cousin

And you went to the funeral?

Why not? My uncle made me. And I don’t regret it.

…

It helped me. I’ve been in a slump for a couple of months. You know because of the whole joblessness. I even wrote a suicide note yesterday.

A suicide note? Nobody does that anymore, people just jump from high places now, that’s it.

I wrote a poem yesterday, and I never write poems. I haven’t written a poem since… I don’t even remember I don’t even know if I want to remember but
at least, at least I’m writing.

I never thought I’d here you confess to the writing of poetry. I condemn you to three years of Silvia Plath reading.

Shit, you’re right.

Finish telling me about the funeral.

Oh yeah, so I show up looking for my uncle. I couldn’t find him any place. And I couldn’t just ask anyone for him I didn’t know anybody there, on top of
that, it’s a funeral and everyone was crying.

That’s what happens in funerals.

Yeah I noticed, so I keep looking around Looking for a familiar face. People we’re looking at me like “who the hell is this guy”? For like fifteen minutes -no
uncle. I figured he ditched me or something.

He would ditch you at a funeral?

No but I thought he did

Continue

So I decided to stick around for a while longer. The women there, not all of them but some of them

So you started checking the women out

Let me tell you. It’s not like I went there for that, but something inside me felt like a had some sort of obligation. Who’s to blame? Who says that what I
felt was to be frowned on?

You mean “frowned upon”?

Whatever woman, you know what I mean.

(Laughs) keep telling me, oh shit wait! Fuck! Hold on!

What happened? You okay?

I think I left my phone at my desk

Go back over there, I’ll go with you

No, don’t tell me. Let me see if it’s in my bag. Hold this, I got it’s in here

Look at that.

You don’t understand I always lose my phone this, is like the fifth time.

In my defense, about the studying of the ladies, they were dressed as if as if they were out night-clubbing. I even saw one of those spaghetti-strap-
underwear.

A thong, you mean?

You some kind of wise gal, some conversation-interrupter, sly-comment person?

(Laughs) idiot

Anyway, I saw her “thong”, when she was bending over my cousin’s coffin.

You’re going to die all by yourself.

(Laughs) I know I wasn’t the only one that saw it. But before you interrupt me again let me finish.

It was a girl crying over a coffin “Jack”!

Shut up, and lower your voice! you want people to think I’m some kind of pedophile?

Shut up, it’s too late. So what happened?

She was eighteen I think.

Disgusting

Ok that’s it. I was joking about that by the way. I don’t want you spreading that sort of business about me amongst your friends and on those online
social networks.

Are we almost there? I’m hungry

Let’s cross over here. Hurry up we can make it before the light turns. Come one.

Loser

Don’t be mad because I’m faster and braver than you.

Over there, I swear. This is good for you.

Keep telling me about your dirty story; by the way before you tell me. Remind me later to tell you about Vanessa.

I don’t want to hear anything about Vanessa; I already made up my mind about that girl.

But you HAVE to know

I’ll leave you right here if you keep on with that

I want to tell you

Just keep it to yourself; you’re the biggest gossiper ever

I know, know

So one of the girls was wearing corsets. Did I say that right?

And you judge ME? Yeah “Corset” you said it right.

Heels this big

Ok I get it she was dressed like a tramp.

I found my uncle, because he walked in by where I was standing. He starts introducing me to the family members. Awkward. I didn’t know how to react.
Or what to say.

I know that feeling

I got comfortable especially (laughs) because he was chewing gum the whole time.

OMG

Picture someone chewing gum at a funeral. After my uncle and I go outside my aunt shows up. She takes me inside and reintroduces me to the people I
just met.

Was she crying?

I don’t think so. But she cuts out without saying anything. The place was packed by then. This guy was really loved. Adored like to the point where it
inspired me.

How?

I mean when I GO I want a lot of people to come together too. He was truly loved. It was funny watching my uncle consoling people, with the gum and
everything getting down on one knee. We went up to the coffin together.

If you were looking at Booty at a funeral, what makes you think you weren’t looking at his wife or his daughter or a sister?

It’s over here somewhere. The restaurant.

Where do you want to sit?

I don’t care.

By the window, over here.

Over here?

Ok

You want to order now?

Before I pass out? Yes please

I already know what I want

What?

A burger, bacon on it, cheese, deluxe style

You eat whatever you please

Yep

You’re too much

Fine I’ll get a turkey burger.

EW big difference

That made you happy

Very, your health is very important to me, is that the whole story?

It really changed my mood

So keep telling me

Let’s order first

I’ll get the salad

Where did I leave off?

Figure it out, it’s your story

The coffin, my uncle, he started joking around with the dead guy’s brother.

O, about what?

I can’t remember, I couldn’t hear, but I could tell by their body language.

Wait! before you finish do you want to get something to drink?

I don’t mind, why what are you drinking?

I’m craving this

Let me see, I’ll have the ginger.

Keep telling me

I’m standing next to the coffin

(Waitress approaches the table and takes there order)

The people they keep touching the body

Ugh, please, I’m about to eat

Some people kept kissing it.

Ugh… that’s it. I’ll leave you eating here by yourself.

I know, I know, my uncle touched his arm with the gum still in his mouth. I mean, I’ve touched bodies in the past but always people I knew. Not a
stranger.

I’m going to the bathroom, watch my bag.

Hurry up or I’ll eat it all and stick you with the bill.

(The girl goes; the guy sits there in deep thought. When the girl gets back the food isn’t there yet)

The food isn’t out yet?

I ate it all

Ha, Ha

Here it comes

Is there a lot more left to the story

Just speeches people gave. I like one in particular. A guy came up. Middle aged guy and he wasn’t sad at all. I shouldn’t say he wasn’t because I really
couldn’t tell, but he smiled a lot. He actually told a funny story and tried to get people to cheer up by telling them that if Nathaniel was there, the late
distant cousin of mine, he’d probably be having a good time with us. Dancing especially because he loved to dance.

Sounds a lot like you

I know, maybe we would have been dancing together.

How’d he die?

Check this out. He was trying to help one of his friends. Apparently some neighbor that was getting beat up by an undercover cop.

What?

Didn’t know what was going, apparently he heard someone screaming for help. He jumps on the cop and boom.

So what happened to the cop?

I don’t know, but city officials showed up. You know, to show face.

So sad, it makes me want to cry.

The guy is a fucking hero

…

That’s why I’m in a good mood

What exactly did it?

Look at what happened to that guy, boom, unexpected, like that, he had kids for god’s sake. Fucking cops are always quick to bust a gun without asking
questions. It could have happened to me. Or to anyone.

Wow, who’s going to raise his kids?

He has a big family. I guess the wife. I saw her.

I couldn’t imagine

I know it’s a sad story and all but it inspired me to fight. Keep on, fighting for those things. In everything that happens around you. I want to someday
inspire people to think positive all the time. No matter what happens. That’s why I really want to teach. And get involved in things. Volunteer.

When you say that, it makes me feel like my job isn’t as bad as I make it sound.

Hey at least you have one

I know, I know

It’s cool to vent but you really can’t let minor things like that get you down. I really mean that too.

Thanks, that’s very sweet.

Aw

Damn, I forgot to get that chicks number.

The wanton at the funeral

Hey, she could have been his wife or daughter

So what she’s still a slut?

Don’t hate

I’m in the mood to do something tonight

You work tomorrow?

No, it’s my day off.

I’ll call what’s-his-name to see if he’s doing anything.

Who?

Jonathan

I don’t feel like going to Jersey

Let’s do the rooftop; beautiful view of the city

You going to read me the poem?

You’re never to discuss that again, or I’ll have to… you know…kill

Shut up, which roof?

Let’s finish eating and then we’ll take a walk and see it takes us.

Okay.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Like how?

Stop or I’m gonna through this water in your face

I need a place to stay tonight

I think there’s a homeless shelter not too far from here

You would let me spend the night at a shelter?

Like that

Like that? Like that?

Vee: Hey
Len: hi
Vee: tell me about yourself
Len: no, not that way. Tell me how your day went
Vee: okay… well…I went out for groceries.
Len: And then what?
Vee: I decorated the living room. Nicely, like the way you like it.
Then after that I spoke to my mother on the phone.
Len: Yes, yes keep going. What did you buy to eat?
Vee: you know veggies, milk, and grape juice.
Len: I see, I can see it. I need another drink.

Vee: How much time do you want this to take?
Len: Not long, not too long, (he orders another drink)
Vee: Relax a little, (she puts he hand on his shoulder)
You look tensed.
Len: Did you think of me?
Vee: Of course I do.
Len: No, like when you were going about your day.
Vee: Yes,
Len: I always wonder what you were doing when I was at work.
Vee: And how was work?
Len: The same, always the same.
You look good Kim.
Vee: You look tired.
Len: I’ll play a song then, what do you feel like listening to.
Vee: Whatever you want.
Len: Order us another round and I’ll be back.
(He walks away)

Len: Ok,
Vee: how you feeling?
Len: Nervous, strange,
Vee: Do you want to keep going?
Len: Yes,
Vee: First, calm down, close your eyes and sit a little closer to me.
Give me a minute, (she looks at her phone) I have to take this.
Have another drink if you have to. I’ll be right back.
(She gets up and walks to the ladies room to talk on her phone.
She comes back into the room and Lenard seems to have fallen asleep on the bar)

Vee: I’m back,
Len: (Silence)
Vee: YOu can take your time, Mr., doe will be late. We have plenty of time.
Len: You smell great Kim. I miss that smell. I should have spent more time with you
I should have taken time off of work, but the second job…
.I should have left it.
I wanted the best for you
I tried my best, but I always forgot about…
Vee: Yes, but you always left
Len: I could never explain
Vee: Explain what? “Len”! Explain what exactly?
Len: The dark room we shared, the quite nights I stayed up all night with that cold feeling
Like wave of fear, frigidness, the worrying that something was wrong with me
We’d stopped talking. I thought you would grow out of it, I thought that I would just keep pushing and you’d…Love me no matter the cost.
For years I walked, those nights when I couldn’t sleep.
I wouldn’t talk, and you would make pretend you didn’t hear me leaving. I’d walk.
I felt lost. I was trying to get somewhere but I couldn’t.
Vee:”Lenard”! What do you really want to say to me?
That I miss you, I love you and so sorry for falling out. I’m sorry for making you feel like you
were the problem.
Vee: I forgive you, I forgive you
Len: I can’t.
(He takes out an envelope with money inside and slips it into Vee’s purse,
He tugs on it once so that Vee can see. She finds it difficult to smile,
But gets her face to do something similar)
Vee: What are you going to do now?
Len: I’m staying here.
Vee: You can’t stay here “Len”, it’s late and you look tired. Why don’t
You get some rest. Come with me! We can take separate cabs to my place.
We can eat, and then I’d take a warm bath with you.
Len: I’m fine.
(They embrace)
Vee:”Len”. Don’t go too far.
(Len exits without saying anything)