Left Long

The Smart Thing

(ETHAN and NIKKI are in the living room of a friend’s house. It is dark, with only street lights and moonlight shining in. Things are amiss after a night of drinking. A couple is passed out on the couch, limbs entwined. THEY sit in pajamas. SHE is wrapped in a blanket. Maybe THEY share it. THEY might be leaning into each other, touching at the foreheads. HIS hand rests lightly on the side of her neck, at the base of her skull, thumb brushing the skin in front of her ear.)

ETHAN

We’re doing the smart thing, right? (A beat.) It’ll be too hard to do this right. And it won’t be fair to do this wrong. For either of us. Whatever this is, we are … It’ll always be there. We’ll just never know how deep it runs. And not knowing is better than trying to force this. It’s gotta be. (A beat.) Doesn’t it?

NIKKI

I guess.

ETHAN

(A beat. Another.) Kiss me.

NIKKI

What? No.

ETHAN

Just do it. We should know.

NIKKI

You’re crazy.

ETHAN

C’mon. We’ll always regret this if we don’t.

NIKKI

Maybe you will.

ETHAN

Ouch. (A beat.) Sorry.

NIKKI

Don’t be. I snapped.

ETHAN

I noticed.

NIKKI

Don’t push it.

ETHAN

Noted. (A beat. Another.) When did you know?

NIKKI

Know what?

ETHAN

When this wasn’t going to work.

NIKKI

Oh. (A beat.) When you got interested.

ETHAN

Really? Right then?

NIKKI

Yes. Your timing was poor.

ETHAN

Timing, eh?

NIKKI

Yea—

(HE interrupts HER with a kiss. She’s receptive, but doesn’t return it. HE breaks and locks her eyes.)

ETHAN
(challenging)

Fuck timing.

(SHE turns away.)

NIKKI

That’s exactly what I mean. (A beat.) That wasn’t fair.

ETHAN

But it was good. (A beat.) You’ve got to give me that much.

NIKKI

(A silent beat. Another.) No, I don’t.

(A beat. HE absorbs the impact. HE slides over to her, runs his palms along her arms until reaching her hands and weaving his fingers between hers. HE brings her arms up so they wrap around her knees.)

ETHAN

But you should.

(HE plants a kiss on her neck between each of the following phrases, alternating sides.)

ETHAN

(Continuing)
And you will … because you like me … and you know I’m right.

(SHE is receptive, moaning softly before finally moving away.)

ETHAN

(Continuing)
What? What is it?

NIKKI

Nothing. (A beat.) Everything. I think you should go.

ETHAN

Really?

(SHE nods. Is she crying? HE begins collecting his things.)

ETHAN

(Continuing)
Okay. Gotcha. Gosh. … I’m sorry, I guess.

NIKKI

I am too. It was good seeing you.

ETHAN

(A beat.) You too, kid.

(ETHAN EXITS.)

SCENE