"A Little Private Education"
PART 10
PART 10
LUKE
(Gets up)
Would you like something to drink?
POKE
I would, thank you.
LUKE
Coke, Sprite...
POKE
Something a bit stronger...
LUKE
Mountain Dew?
POKE
Something with a little alcohol would be nice.
LUKE
Sorry. Fresh out. One of the kids drank it all.
POKE
I hope that’s a joke.
LUKE
Of course. You know me. Always playing around.
POKE
I like playing around too.
(POKE tries to get close to him)
You’re so tense tonight though. A drink would loosen you up.
LUKE
(Nervous)
It's not good to keep alcohol at a school, you know.
POKE
See. I knew you were a smart man.
(Touches him)
A man I can trust to do everything that is expected of him.
LUKE
(Grabs a bowl and puts it between them)
Nuts.
POKE
I'd love some.
(She lustily bites into one)
LUKE
(He eats too. Laughs nervously)
Good nuts.
POKE
Very good nuts.
LUKE
(Gets away)
Boy, am I thirsty now. I guess I should have bought unsalted. Maybe I should run down to the store and get us something to drink. Or we could go together. A walk outside would be nice.
POKE
Whatever you have here is fine.
LUKE
I'll go get us something from the kitchen then.
POKE
Don't be long. I'll be waiting.
LUKE
(To self)
Oh, man...
POKE
(Goes to stereo. Adjusts volume and changes the
station. Finds some romantic music)
There.
(Removes the jacket part of her outfit so it
becomes even more revealing. She dances
around)
LUKE
(Comes out)
Here's your...oh, man.
POKE
(Goes to him and grabs him)
Dance with me.
(They do a strange dance where she pulls him
close and he keeps pulling away. After dance they end up in a suggestive position on the sofa)
Now wasn't that fun? Tell me, Luke, now that we're all alone here, tell me what you're thinking.
LUKE
I've got to go to the bathroom.
(Gets up)
POKE
I'm starting to think you're trying to avoid me. Playing hard to get?
LUKE
Well...
POKE
Don't you find me attractive?
LUKE
Uh....
POKE
I find you very attractive.
LUKE
Oh...
POKE
From the first moment I saw you I knew you were the one...
LUKE
The one?
POKE
The one I wanted.
LUKE
Wanted?
POKE
The one who would hold me with his strong arms. The one who would look into my eyes and tell me how much he needs me.
(Looks into his eyes)
Tell me you need me.
LUKE
(Speaking very nervously)
I need you.
POKE
(Pulls him down and puts his head to her chest)
Yes, you do, my darling. You would be nothing without me.
(Lifts his head and looks in his eyes threateningly)
Nothing.
LUKE
Nothing?
POKE
You can be sure of that.
(She puts his head to her chest again)
LUKE
Mrs. Poke?
POKE
Yes?
LUKE
This isn't right.
POKE
(Let's go of him)
What?
(Angry)
What do you mean?
LUKE
We're working together. We shouldn't mix business with pleasure.
POKE
We shouldn't?
LUKE
No. If we did, people might talk.
POKE
(Stokes his chest with her finger)
Let them talk.
LUKE
They'd wonder about our motives for starting the school. They'd question the funding and why I'm getting it.
POKE
What are you getting it?
LUKE
Because you want to help educate the youth of our nation.
(She shakes her head no)
Oh, dear. You mean the only reason you gave me the money was because you were interested in me?
POKE
You are one smart man.
LUKE
Have you thought this through? If people find out, it could ruin the school.
POKE
There will always be students. I have a lot of relatives and traditional schooling isn’t a very good fit for them anyway.
LUKE
A school full of Pokes? What a joy.
POKE
And there's one Poke who needs some special attention tonight.
LUKE
Aren't we rushing things a bit?
POKE
Yes. That's the way I like things.
LUKE
But we really don't even know each other.
POKE
Hold still and I'll find out everything I need to know about you.
LUKE
I mean, don't you want to know things like my favorite color or the kinds of books I read?
POKE
No.
LUKE
You don't even know whether or not I have some kind of strange disease.
POKE
Do you?
LUKE
Well, no...
POKE
(Backs off a little)
Please tell me you’re not gay.
(LUKE thinks)
You’re gay?
LUKE
(Sighs)
I was just trying to think through the implications of my answer… I’ve settled on no.
POKE
Now I know all about you.
(She goes in for the attack and he holds up a bowl
of candy in her way)
LUKE
Candy?
POKE
Thank you.
LUKE
Tell me something about yourself.
POKE
There's nothing to tell.
LUKE
There must be lots of things. You probably could take all night telling me about yourself.
POKE
I have never known a man to want to talk so much in his life. Most guys shoot first and ask questions later. If even that. Are you sure you’re not gay?
LUKE
It's the writer in me.
POKE
You're a writer?
LUKE
Just as a hobby.
POKE
A writer? Hmm. You know what I'll do? I'll take something that you've written and show it to my publisher friend.
LUKE
(Excited)
You know a publisher?
POKE
One of the biggies in New York.
LUKE
Really? And you could show him my writing?
POKE
He owes my husband a few favors.
LUKE
Wow. This is too cool. What should I send? I have so many manuscripts. I wonder what they would like to see.
(Goes to file cabinet)
POKE
I'd like to see a good romance myself.
(Looks over his shoulder)
LUKE
I think I have a romance in here. I’ve written a little bit of everything.
POKE
I love a good romance.
(Sits)
LUKE
Here it is.
(Excited. Sits by her, not thinking)
Wow. A real publisher.
POKE
Yes, they've been bugging me to write something about my husband too. Maybe you could help with that too.
LUKE
Sure. Anything to pay you back for showing him my work.
POKE
Anything?
(Leans in)
LUKE
(Starts to get up)
Boy, am I hungry.
POKE
(Pulls him down)
Me too.
LUKE
(Prepares himself for anything)
O… okay…
POKE
(Decides to string him along)
Maybe we should go to dinner first. Why don't you call and get us a table at Fargo's? Tell them it's for me. They'll let us in. I'll freshen up.
(She exits to bathroom)
- ISBN-13: 978-1532853111