Page 59 of Holly Jolly July

Ext. Downtown Hemlock Grove Courtyard (Cont’d)

A group of businesspeople approach Annie and James, interrupting their romantic dance.

James! Didn’t expect to see you here.

It’s been years since you’ve joined

the party. I didn’t know you could

still dance, but it looks like some

things aren’t easily forgotten.

BUSINESSMAN 1

Who’s your friend?

JAMES

Annie is my... lawyer. She’s here

to keep an eye on all of you, make sure you’re not up to anything insidious.

Annie looks from James to the businesspeople with her mouth set in a firm line, disappointed by her introduction.

Annie shakes hands with them while forcing a tight smile.

ANNIE

Pleasure to meet all of you. Wow, it’s

gorgeous out here. I’ve never seen anything

so beautiful.

JAMES

(whispering to Annie)

I have.

BUSINESSWOMAN 1

James, we want you to meet someone.

The businesspeople beckon a man forward.

BUSINESSWOMAN 1

This is Greg. He owns three franchise

Beanz Café locations and is interested

in taking over your lease. I think it

would be a good fit, wouldn’t you agree?

JAMES

(beat) You’d replace me with a franchise?

BUSINESSWOMAN 2

We feel he would be a better fit

with the community. They have excellent

seasonal fare, including thirty-seven

different flavours of coffee.

JAMES

My coffee doesn’t need thirty-seven

flavours because it’s not trying to

hide its offensive taste. Their beans

sit in bags collecting dust for months

before they’re brewed.

GREG

Hey, now—

JAMES

My wife and I opened this business

when there was nothing else here. Brewed

Awakening has been a cornerstone to Hemlock

Grove’s new downtown core ever since.

We are the community. I know I haven’t

been putting in as much of an effort

lately, but I’m here now, aren’t I?

BUSINESSMAN 1

A few decorations, one batch of sugar

cookies, and showing up late to a party

hardly suffice as making any effort to

be part of our thriving community.

BUSINESSWOMAN 2

Hemlock Grove needs a reliable unit that

is willing to put in maximum effort all

year round to drive customers to the rest

of our businesses, and you’ve done more to

chase people away than bring them in.

BUSINESSWOMAN 1

You’ve been through a lot. We all have. But sometimes change is necessary. Maybe you need to let go, start over somewhere

else, somewhere that doesn’t hold so many memories.

JAMES

It’s been a rough time, but—

BUSINESSWOMAN 1

You need to move on, James. For your

sake as well as for all of our

businesses. It’s time.