2.17
She enters; crosses to the counter. She's helped by the barista, JANA.
Hi! How may I help you?
One cappuccino, medium, normal milk.
For here or to go?
For here.
Coming right up.
Thanks.
Jana turns to prep the coffee. Hannah looks around the café.
This is a great playlist.
Good taste.
Hope they pay you extra.
I can bring this to you. What's your name?
Hannah. With an 'H'.
Hannah nods to Jana and saunters to her corner seat. As she does so, Josh enters. She walks past him to the exit and opens the door before the patron juggling two coffees runs into it and lets them out. She turns; Josh is already hunting the wi-fi sign. From her standing position near the entrance, she says:
"Spill the beans."
JOSH
What?
(walking over)
You're looking for the wi-fi, aren't you? The password today is "Spill the beans".
JOSH
Thanks.
"A good man is hard to find."
JOSH
I'm sorry?
JOSH
Oh. Yeah.
He nods and she sits down.
Flannery O'Connor. Not a lot of people read her nowadays.
JOSH
My grandmother left behind a lot of books and a little reading list. I'm trying to get through it.
Do you like it?
JOSH
Some of it. Some of it's pretty outdated.
Yeah. She was a talent though.
JOSH
So what's your excuse?
I studied English lit. I had to.
JOSH
And did *you* like it?
It's an easy way to start a conversation with strangers.
Josh laughs.
JOSH
I'm...
Jana arrives with the two drinks.
Here's Hannah with an 'H', and here's Josh with an 'X'.
Jana moves off.
JOSH
That's me.
Nice to meet you, Josh.
JOSH
Nice to meet you. I haven't seen you around here before.
Really? I come here all the time.
JOSH
Then you know how to get free refills.
Compliment the playlist.
JOSH
That's right.
You get a lot of things done by being nice.
JOSH
And I bet you give great compliments.
Oh, all the time. I've got an emergency pack.
JOSH
Really? You plan them out so you can use them in the moment?
Absolutely.
JOSH
Okay. I'd love to hear one.
I bet you could make even the most cynical person believe in a happy ending.
JOSH
Wow. Seems awfully personal.
Oh, well, it isn't.
JOSH
Too bad. I'd almost fall for it. Does it work a lot?
JOSH
You ever run out?
No, then I write new ones.
JOSH
That must be exhausting, right?
What?
JOSH
I don't know if you've picked up on this, but I'm an anxious person. I have imaginary arguments in the shower.
Hannah grins.
JOSH
And sometimes when I need to have a difficult conversation, I write down what I want to say in a little book. Just to get the phrasing right.
Hannah listens.
JOSH
But then the conversation never goes how you imagine it does. And even if it did... Then the conversation's over. Then what? Another one tomorrow. And another.
(A beat, soft laugh)
Which is why I avoid arguments.
What kind of difficult conversations?
JOSH
Oh, you know. Just things you can't take back.
A beat as this resonates with Hannah.
I've got to go to the bathroom.
JOSH
I'll be here.
Hannah stands up and walks to the bathroom.