"A Little Private Education"
PART 11
PART 11
LUKE
Wow...A real publisher. This is what I've been dreaming of and...
(Realizes)
Oh, man. She's got me hooked. Might as well stuff and mount me now. How could I be drawn in like that? How does she know what will get to me? The school maybe I could sacrifice. There are a lot of schools out there. But a publisher. There are so few that will even let me use their bathroom, let alone see the publisher. What am I going to do? The only reason she wanted to help was so she could get me in bed. I feel so cheap. After dinner she'll want to come back here and... There must be some way to tell her I'm not interested. But then... I'd lose the school. I'd lose my chance at getting my book published and... I must be crazy. Why can't I just do it? Why can't I just give in to her? She's attractive for her age. She has a lot of money. She knows all the right people.
(Sighs)
And she's as old as my mother. Now think, Luke. Weigh the pros and cons. Pros to... getting involved with Mrs. Poke. She's rich. She attractive. She could get me published. I'll never have to work hard again. Cons. She's old.
(Pause)
She's too old. And who's to say she won't toss me aside when she's done with me. What happens when I stop being interesting to her? Am I just the flavor of the month or is she in for the long haul? Maybe that isn't such a bad thing. Maybe we'd both get something out of this and then we'll both be on our way. This could be a win-win situation. I'd get my school off the ground and get published and she'd get...
(Deflates)
Maybe I better rethink this.
POKE
I'm back.
LUKE
Oh, good.
POKE
(Fixes his tie)
Oh, you're looking so fine tonight. Too bad we have reservations now.
LUKE
I didn't call yet...
POKE
Really?
(pursues)
LUKE
(realizes mistake)
I meant to... In fact, I'll call right this very second... I was just looking for the phone book.
POKE
(Grabs phone book before he can)
Let's not call anyone then. Let's stay here and... play school.
(Tosses phone book aside. She gets real close)
You can be my naughty student.
(End up behind couch)
Do you need to be punished little boy?
(She pulls him down behind couch)
PEG
(Enters with PLUM)
Are you sure you left the hockey tickets here?
PLUM
We looked everywhere else.
PEG
I hope you didn't flush them down the toilet with everything else.
LUKE
(Gets up. POKE gets up and clings to him)
Hi, Peg!
(Gets away from POKE)
Look who's joining us for dinner. My sister, Peg.
PEG
I'm not joining you for dinner.
(LUKE nudges her)
LUKE
Yes, you are.
PEG
(Hits back)
No, we're not. We just came for the hockey tickets. So what were you guys doing on the floor?
LUKE
The floor? Well....
(looks at POKE who smiles wickedly)
We...uh... lost an earring... her earring... I don't wear earrings.
PEG
At least not anywhere people can see.
(POKE smiles even more and looks LUKE up and
down)
Hey, she has both her earrings in.
LUKE
She lost a contact too.
PEG
Boy, rough night.
POKE
Not yet.
(LUKE looks pale)
LUKE
Why don't you two sit down? I'll get you something to drink.
PEG
No, we need to get going.
LUKE
Come on, stay and talk awhile.
PLUM
No time. The game starts in a minute or two. I'll check the bathroom for the tickets.
(Exits)
PEG
Hurry.
POKE
Yes. You wouldn't want to be late.
LUKE
Maybe we should go with you.
POKE
To a hockey game?
LUKE
I love hockey.
PEG
You do?
LUKE
Sure. I go all the time. Go Rockies!
PEG
That's baseball.
LUKE
Oh.
PEG
I thought you and Mrs. Poke had other plans.
LUKE
Oh, no...
POKE
Oh, yes...
LUKE
Oh, no.
PLUM
I found the tickets!
(Gives tickets to PEG)
You hold them so I don't lose them.
PEG
Good-bye.
LUKE
Peg, wait...
PLUM
We gotta go.
PEG
Go start the car. I'll be right there.
(PLUM exits)
POKE
I'll tell you what, Lucas. How about I go down and have my chauffer get us something from that little Chinese place on the corner. Maybe even I'll try to track us down something to drink. Something that will get you to relax.
(She exits)
- ISBN-13: 978-1532853111