Page 39 of Holly Jolly July

Int. James’s Apartment - Evening

Annie and James are decorating cookies at the table. Their legs are crossed toward each other, nearly touching.

Christmas music plays quietly in the background.

ANNIE

When did you get so good at this?

Mine looks like I’m in kindergarten.

JAMES

I used to do this every year.

ANNIE

(glancing at him)

Oh?

JAMES

It’s been a while, but I guess icing

cookies is like riding a bike. A few

Christmases ago I even entered a contest

and won first place for it. This is the

first time I’ve decorated cookies since...

ANNIE

(beat) Since?

JAMES

It’s been a long time, is all.

ANNIE

I’m glad you’re doing it again. I’m not

sure why you stopped, but you can’t

keep talent like this from the world.

Everyone in your café is going to love these. Are you going to bring some to

that big fancy party the Small Business

Association is having?

JAMES

How do you know about that?

ANNIE

I’m not divulging my whisper network.

JAMES

Fine, keep your secrets. But no.

I’m not going.

ANNIE

Why not? I thought you had to.

JAMES

I don’t have to do anything.

ANNIE

I overheard them saying there

would be other possible tenants

there. Shouldn’t you be there, too?

JAMES

I can’t go back there.

ANNIE

But you could lose—

James slams a cookie on table, breaking it.

JAMES

Don’t you get it? I’ve already lost

everything. There is nothing more

that can be taken away from me.

ANNIE

(quietly)

I’m sorry.

JAMES

(sighing)

I’m sorry. I lost my temper.

I don’t need to take this out on you,

you’re only trying to help.

ANNIE

Look. I don’t know what happened,

or what you’re going through, but

I do know that losing your business

and your home won’t make anything

better.

JAMES

I can’t do it.

ANNIE

Why not?

JAMES

I don’t want to be there all alone

with their pitying glances and

awkward silence.

ANNIE

What if you weren’t alone?