Hook up

Hook up

By

Zachary Smith

PAGE 1.  PANEL 1.

A CELLPHONE IS IN A HAND, A TEXT MESSAGE IS ON IT. 

TEXT MESSAGE:  “UR sweet, I’m just not looking for anything right now.  We’ll talk

                                   later.”

PAGE 1.  PANEL 2.

OUR PROTAGONIST, JACOB, TALL, BEARDED, SHAGGY HAIR, AVERAGE BUILD, NOT THIN.  HE WEARS A HOODED SWEAT SHIRT AND LONG SHORTS, IS LOOKING AT HIS CELLPHONE AT THE BAR OF A PUB.  HIS FRIEND, CURTIS, SPIKED HAIR, JACKET, JEANS,  HAS HIS BACK TO THE BAR, HE IS LEANING AGAINST IT.  BEER BOTTLE IN ONE HAND.

CURTIS:  Fuck her, Jacob.  You just gotta quit being so nice to them, they don’t deserve

                 it.  Bitches take advantage of it everytime.

JACOB:  That’s why you have so many lady’s crawling over you, right Curtis?

CURTIS:  Fuck you too, just trying to help.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 3.

JACOB HOLDS UP HIS HAND, TWO FINGERS, CURTIS IS SHAKING HIS BEER BOTTLE, INDICATING THAT IT IS EMPTY.

JACOB:  I know.  I appreciate, I do.  I just…how do you not be nice to them?

CURTIS:  No hand holding shit, let them buy their own dinners, two drink minimum, if

                 they ain’t interested after that, fuck ‘em.  You don’t need to forge some

                connection every time.  And quit trying to have a relationship with all of them.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 4.

CURTIS CONTINUES TO TALK, JACOB IS LOOKING DOWN THE BAR AT A GIRL SITTING BY HERSELF. LONG HAIR, BASEBALL T-SHIRT

CURTIS:  Just get your dick wet and leave it.  You don’t need to call them, or text them. 

                 Let it be.

JACOB: Sparkling advice Paul Mcartney.

CURTIS:  Never said I was smart, but doesn’t mean I don’t listen to good music.

JACOB:  CIGARETTE?

PAGE 1.  PANEL 5.

JACOB TAKES HIS DRINK, AND HANDS THE OTHER TO CURTIS.  JACOB’S SECOND BIT OF DIALOGUE IS TO THE GIRL, EMILY, WHO IS NOW LOOKING BACK TOWARDS. THEM.  SHE IS HOLDING UP HER DRINK.

CURTIS: I thought you’d never ask.

JACOB:  Could you save our seats, we’ll be right back?

EMILY:  I can be persuaded.

JACOB:  DREW!  Get her another on my tab.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 1.

JACOB AND CURTISIE ARE IN A CROWDED SMOKING ROOM.  OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN THERE, LOUNGING ON CHAIRS, DRINKS ON TABLES, THERE IS A SMALL WINDOW THAT LOOKS OUT ONTO THE BAR, WHERE THEY HAD JUST BEEN SITTING.

CURTIS:  That shit right there.  I can’t believe you bought her a drink.  You think that

                 was a good move? 

JACOB:  It wasn’t a move…not per se.  Yea she’s cute, and does it hurt that I bought her

                a drink?  I don’t think so.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 2.

CURTIS MOTIONS TO A COUPLE OF GIRLS SITTING AND TALKING.

CURTIS:  She knows already that you’re just trying to fuck her, which if that’s all you

                 do, that’s fine with me.  ‘Cause don’t forget, you’re not attached, and there are

                 plenty of other girls around here.

JACOB:  I can see that.  The same girls we see every night down here.  Even then

                though, I don’t think I could do what you want me to do.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 3.

CURTIS LAUGHS.

CURTIS:  You’re such a saint.  It’s like I’m telling you to fuck them, and leave them with

                 no cab fare.   Just don’t push.  You come on too strong and they run.  It’s why

                you haven’t had a girlfriend in forever.

JACOB:  What’s wrong with calling them?  I’m just seeing how they’re doing?

CURTIS:  Yea, well.  They don’t care how you’re doing.  All I’m doing is looking out for

                 you, I just don’t want you to get hurt.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 4.

JACOB PUTS OUT HIS CIGARETTE.

JACOB:  I just don’t see how you can just leave someone like that, cold.  And I’m not

                getting hurt—

CURTIS:  Oh bullshit, you should’ve seen the puppy dog look on your face when you got

                that text.  Fuck them man if they don’t see how brilliant you are.  I just want

                you to get laid and walk away intact.

DIALOGUE CONT.

JACOB:  All right, all right.  Next time, whenever that is, no calls.  No lunch requests, no

                giving them a ride if they need one.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 5.

CURTIS SLAPS JACOB ON THE BACK.

CURTIS:  You gave that one girl a ride, didn’t you?  I love you man, you are too sweet.

JACOB:  Yeah, whatever.  Another drink?

CURTIS:  I’ll catch you in a minute.  I’m just going to talk to these ones over here.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 1. 

JACOB HAS RETURNED TO THE BAR.  HE HOLDS OUT HIS HAND, ONE FINGER UP, FOR ANOTHER BEER.  EMILY IS STILL THERE FROM BEFORE.  SHE IS SIPPING ON HER DRINK.  THIS TIME HE DOES NOT LOOK AT HER.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 2.

JACOB HAS SAT DOWN, DRINK IN FRONT OF HIM, FLIPPED HIS PHONE OUT AGAIN, TO LOOK AT THE TEXT MESSAGE.

EMILY (OFF PANEL):  I did my job.  I saved your seat.

JACOB:  Huh?

PAGE 3.  PANEL 3.

THE GIRL IS LOOKING AT JACOB.  HER DRINK IS ALMOST GONE AGAIN.

JACOB:  Huh?  Oh, yeah, haha.  Thanks. 

EMILY:  Thanks for the drink by the way.  My name is Emily.

JACOB:  Jacob, nice to meet you.

EMILY:  Nice to meet you too.  Where’s your friend?

PAGE 3.  PANEL 4.

JACOB MOTIONS TO THE SMOKING ROOM, WHILE STILL LOOKING AT EMILY.

JACOB:  He met some friends…or rather, not friends, he’s not really interested in their friendship.

EMILY:  Ah.  But not you right?  You’re better than that?

JACOB:  I don’t know.  I’d like to think so.  But the way my love life has been going, I’m starting to see the appeal.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 5.

EMILY FINISHES HER DRINK.

EMILY:  Hmmm…

JACOB:  Another?

EMILY:  HMMM

PAGE 3.  PANEL 6. 

EMILY PUTS DOWN SOME MONEY.

EMILY:  I don’t want you to go over your two drink minimum, and I may need a drink

                from you later.

JACOB:  God, you heard that?

EMILY:  Don’t be embarrassed, you aren’t the one who said it.

PAGE 4.  PANEL 1.

CURTIS IS STANDING BY JACOB.  ON THE BAR IS PINT GLASS OF BEER AND AN EMPTY GLASS.

CURTIS:  Where’d your girlfriend go?

JACOB:  Where did yours go?

CURTIS:  Shit, they wanted to me to buy them both drinks.

EMILY (OFF PANEL): That’s definitely got to go over your minimum. 

PAGE 4.  PANEL 2.

CURTIS HAS A SOUR LOOK ON HIS FACE. 

JACOB:  Curtis, this is Emily.  She’s been guarding your seat this whole time.

CURTIS:  Thanks.

EMILY:  Did you want to go?

CURTIS:  Where? 

JACOB:  We’re hitting up another bar.

PAGE 4.  PANEL 3.

CURTIS LOOKS AT EMILY.

CURTIS:  I think I’ll stay here.  Have fun.

EMILY:  Nice meeting you.  I hope your minimum works out for you.

JACOB:  Alright man.

PAGE 4.  PANEL 4.

CURTIS STOPS JACOB AS THEY ARE LEAVING, AND LEANS IN REAL CLOSE.

CURTIS:  I may not like the bitch, but fuck her, and do not call her back.  Hear me?

JACOB:  Yeah, yeah, Don Juan.

PAGE 4.  PANEL 5.

EMILY IS WAITING OUTSIDE.  JACOB COMES OUT.

EMILY:  Everything okay?

DIALOGUE CONT.

JACOB:  He was just saying bye.

EMILY:  That’s sweet, and kind of gay.

JACOB:  Yeah, haha.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 1.

JACOB AND EMILY ARE WATCHING A BAND.

EMILY: You’ve been kind of quiet.  You okay?

JACOB:  Huh?  Oh yeah, just watching the band.  They’re pretty good. 

EMILY:  What do you do?

JACOB:  I test video games.

EMILY:  Hoho, a nerdy boy.  That’s cool.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 2.

EMILY GIVES JACOB A BEER.

EMILY:  They’re you go, and your not breaking your friend’s rule either.

JACOB:  He didn’t say anything about not accepting drinks.  I’m sure you’re allowed to

                buy me all the drinks you want.

EMILY:  Noted.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 3.

THE BAND IS PUTTING AWAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS.  JACOB IS LOOKING AT HIS WATCH.

JACOB:  That was good.  Damn, it’s late.

EMILY:  Yeah.  Want to walk me home?

JACOB:  Are you close?

EMILY:  Just a block over.

JACOB:  Ha, that’s funny.  I’m just a couple streets down too.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 4.

EMILY AND JACOB ARE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AT NIGHT.  PARKED CARS AND STREET LIGHTS AROUND THEM.  HOUSES AND SHRUBBERY AS WELL. 

JACOB:  Lived down here for almost ten years now.  You?

EMILY:  Just moved down here.  It’s been about a two weeks.

DIALOGUE CONT.

JACOB:  I was wondering why I hadn’t seen you before.  Pretty much a bunch of

                regulars around in these bars.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 5.

EMILY STOPS, JACOB IS ABOUT TO KEEP WALKING.

EMILY:  Maybe I’ll become a regular.  This is me.

JACOB:  Oh, okay.  Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night?

EMILY:  Maybe this is the drinks talking, but…you don’t have to go right now.

JACOB:  What do you mean?

PAGE 5.  PANEL 6.

EMILY PULLS HIM BY THE HAND UP THE STAIRS INTO THE APARTMENT ENTRANCE.

EMILY:  Come in stupid.

JACOB:  Oh.  You don’t have to tell me twice, ‘cause I don’t want you to call me stupid

                again.

EMILY:  Funny man.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 1.

JACOB IS REMOVING HIS HOODIE AS HE AND EMILY KISS.

JACOB:  Do you want to?

EMILY:  Yes.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 2.

EMILY AND JACOB ARE HAVING SEX.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 3.

JACOB IS PUTTING HIS CLOTHES ON.

EMILY:  You can stay.

JACOB:  Are you sure?

EMILY:  No, but I want you to.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 4.

JACOB WATCHES EMILY SLEEP.  EMILY SHIVERS A LITTLE.

JACOB:  Don’t be nice.  Don’t be sweet.  Don’t make a connection.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 5.

JACOB COVERS HER WITH A BLANKET.  IT IS ALMOST MORNING.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 6.

JACOB IS FULLY CLOTHED AND LEAVING OUT THE BEDROOM DOOR.  JUST A FEW MINUTES FROM MORNING.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 7.

IT IS MORNING, EMILY IS AWAKE.  SHE LOOKS CONFUSED, THAT THE BED IS EMPTY.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 1.

SHE LOOKS AT THE EMPTY SPOT.

JACOB (OFF PANEL):  They didn’t have any maple bars at the store, so I hope

                                         chocolate bars work.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 2.

EMILY LOOKS TOWARDS THE DOOR, JACOB IS STANDING THERE, WITH COFFEES AND DONUTS IN A BAG.

EMILY:  Ha you’re sweet, that’ll do fine.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 3.

JACOB HANDS HER A COFFEE, AND THE BAG.

JACOB:  This is my favorite donut shop, normally.  I don’t know if I can forgive them

                for this.  If you’re not busy today, maybe we can grab a coffee there.

EMILY:  Umm…yeah.  Maybe tomorrow.  I’ve got a lot of stuff to do today.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 4.

JACOB STANDS IN THE DOORWAY, HIS EXPRESSION DOWNBEAT. 

JACOB:  Oh yeah, you know, whenever.  Listen, I’ll get out of your hair.

EMILY:  …Last night was fun.  It’s just right now, it’s just that I’m new to town, and I

                need to get my bearings straight.

JACOB:  Yeah, no need to explain. I’ll catch you later.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 5.

JACOB IS OUTSIDE, CLOSING THE DOOR WITH ONE ARE, HE IS WIPING HIS FACE WITH HIS SLEEVE WITH THE OTHER.

JACOB:  Stupid.  I’m so stupid.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 1.

A BASIC REPEAT OF PAGE 1.  PANEL 2.  JACOB AND CURTIS ARE IN DIFFERENT CLOTHES THOUGH, A DRINK IN JACOB’S HAND, INSTEAD OF HIS PHONE.

CURTIS:  Told you man, bitches ain’t shit. 

JACOB:  Whatever, I just thought there—

CURTIS:  Was something there?  For you maybe.  I’m telling you, in and out.  Get in that pussy then get out of that place.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 2.

CURTIS LOOKS AT SOME GIRLS WHILE JACOB PULLS OUT HIS BUZZING PHONE.

JACOB:  Maybe you’re right.  Clean break, nothing there.  I just don’t want to feel like

                I’m using someone.

CURTIS:  Why not?  They’re using you.  You think she’s sitting there feeling all bad

                  about last night?  Nope.  She got what she wanted from you then sent you on

                  your way.  Bye bye, thanks helping me come. 

PAGE 8.  PANEL 3.

JACOB HAS FLIPPED OPEN HIS PHONE WHILE CURTIS CONTINUES TO TALK.

CURTIS:  I mean, look at me man.  You don’t see me all depressed over some girl.  You know why?  I just hook up, then break up.  I don’t need that shit.  It’s been a while, sure, but when I get down, I get down.  Who is it?

PAGE 8.  PANEL 4.

JACOB SMILES.

JACOB:  No one. 

CURTIS:  Those bitches are back in the smoking room.  I’m going to take another run.  You got my back.

JACOB:  No, I’m cool.  Too broken up over last night.

CURTIS:  Suit yourself.  I’m gonna get my dick sucked tonight.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 5.

JACOB IS LOOKING AT THE PHONE, SIMILAR TO PAGE 1.  PANEL 1.  THIS TIME THE TEXT IS FROM EMILY.

DIALOGUE CONT.

TEXT MESSAGE:  Hey, I’m sorry about this morning.  I’m not trying to blow you off, really, I was just acting like a little girl: scared and stupid :( I’m going down to the bar where I met you last night, will you be there?  Maybe we can be regulars together?