EPISODE TEN
Setting:
Beanie’s Café in Malibu, Los Angeles.
SHAE’s phone bings and she mutes it and zips it into her bag.
HARPER: Ignoring your texts? Is it Drew?
SHAE: No. It’s Symbol. Sending more photos of Drew and Sienna. Drew says Sienna’s around for Finn’s sake—keeping him company.
HARPER: But still. Why doesn’t Drew make himself scarce?
SHAE: Finn’s stuck with a broken leg. Drew wouldn’t tell him he can’t have visitors—and Sienna’s taking advantage. Besides, Drew’s at work most days.
HARPER: Next time I’m in Sydney I’ll be having a word with that girl.
SHAE: Half the time the photos are nothing—Drew and Sienna happen to be in the same space. Symbol’s just torturing me.
HARPER: What’s this about Drew announcing your ‘un-engagement’?
SHAE grips a fist in one hand: Like he officially announced our engagement, he’s using the media to tell Symbol we’re not together.
HARPER: Will Symbol buy it?
SHAE: I guess he will. Drew’s been in Sydney without me for a while now…and will continue the charade for—
ANTON walks over with a notepad to take their order: Same as usual?
SHAE: What happened to your face, Anton. Are you okay?
HARPER: Unsatisfied customer beat you up Anton? Rude to the wrong person were you?
ANTON: Go where the pepper grows.
HARPER giggles: I’m right, aren’t I? Can’t say I’m surprised. Had to happen sooner or later.
{ANTON’s shoes squeak as he spins away from them}
SHAE: Poor guy. He’s harmless.
HARPER: Harmless and misunderstood. I know. But also rude and hateful.
SHAE: Got to say, with Drew and me being apart for so long, and Sienna hanging around. What if she wins him over? What if she has already?
HARPER: That makes no sense. He’d be putting her into danger instead of you. Nothing’s going to happen.
SHAE: Good point.
HARPER: When’s this friend of yours arriving anyway? Is she always so late?
SHAE: Yep. Pretty much.
ELLIE: Shoeless Shae! Mon Dieu! You look like shit.
SHAE: Well you don’t. Still my Ellie.
HARPER: Shoeless Shae?
ELLIE: Shae was always slipping off her shoes in school and getting in trouble. I’m Ellie. And you’re Harper. God, I need caffeine. Waiter!
HARPER grimaces: Anton won’t like that.
ELLIE: Like what? Hello darling boy. Can I get a lactose-free, double-shot cappuccino with the sugar on the side? And be an angel and make it extra hot.
ANTON: No need to pace around the hot porridge like a cat.
{ANTON stalks away}
ELLIE, mouth gaping: Did I say something wrong?
HARPER: No. It’s him, not you. When he comes back, be careful he doesn’t put the coffee in your lap though.
ELLIE: So Harps. What’s news? Where’s that gorgeous hunk of a man of yours?
SHAE: In Sydney still. Where he plans to stay.
{HARPER’s phone pings. She reads the text, her eyebrows getting higher with each word}
ELLIE: Work keeping Drew busy?
SHAE: Something like that.
HARPER: It’s done. The announcement. Colt just texted me a headline from the Sydney Morning Herald. Do you want to see it?
SHAE: Nope.
ELLIE: What’s going on?
SHAE: I’m officially not engaged anymore.
ELLIE: You split up? Why? No way. Not after everything you two have been through. You nearly died for each other on the Pacific, like 10 times.
SHAE: I don’t really want to talk about it right now. It’s complicated. But what’s up in your life?
ELLIE: You know—hating college, loving Charlie, hating living at home still. Talking of which—how’s your mom?
SHAE: Not good. She’s been diagnosed with bi-polar. She’s in a treatment centre.
ELLIE: That’s so not good. I’m sorry, Shae. Bit of a tough time for you, eh? Don’t worry—Auntie Ellie will save the day.
SHAE: And how do you plan to do that? Don’t say by getting me drunk and dragging me to a party. I’m not going there with you again.
ELLIE: There’s only one cure for ma petite cherie. Where’s Sassy Jam? You always said you’d rather cuddle a boat than a boy—so?
SHAE: She’s moored at Drew’s jetty. Better get her moved.
ELLIE giggles: Before you get into a custody battle over the boat…
ANTON: Your order
ELLIE: Sorry, waiter, if I—
{ANTON holds up a hand to indicate ELLIE should stop talking. Then walks away}
ELLIE: Okaaaaay. So he’s not weird.
HARPER stares at her phone wide-eyed: Oh my god. Colt’s had a car accident. He’s fine. Just all shook up. But still…
SHAE: If this has anything to do with Symbol I’m going to jump off the edge of the planet.
HARPER: If it has anything to do with Symbol I’m going to turn his head into a tennis ball on my racket.
ELLIE: Who the hell is Symbol?
SHAE/HARPER: That’s what we’d like to know.
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