DATE NIGHT

By
Mason Blake
INT. SON’S APARTMENT, FRANK’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
FRANK stands in front of the mirror, tying a navy blue tie
around his neck. He is in his late 60s, old fashioned, but
with kind eyes.

JESSE
(off screen)
Okay Dad, we gotta go.
FRANK
(speaking while distracted
with his tie)
I’m just making sure it’s right.
JESSE
(off screen)
Yeah but you don’t wanna be late,
yes?
FRANK
Yes but if my tie looks good then
it won’t really matter if I’m late
or not.
JESSE
Let me see?
JESSE comes into the room. He is in his thirties, a bit of
scruffiness and impatience to him, but also with a similar
kindness in his eyes like his father.
Frank turns to him.

JESSE
Looks good. Okay, let’s go. Leave
your ring.
Jesse starts walking away. Frank looks down at his left
hand, where on his finger is his wedding ring. He takes a
moment.
DAD
(stalling for time as he
slowly takes off his ring)
Are you sure navy blue is the way
to go?
JESSE
Let’s go, Dad.
Frank sets down the ring on the dresser.
 2.

INT. JESSE’S CAR - NIGHT

Jesse and Frank sit in the car. Something like Hank Williams
or Bob Dylan plays on the radio.
FRANK
Where did you find this woman
again?
JESSE
At a book store.

DAD
Oh, so she’s a reader. I don’t
really read a lot, Jesse -
JESSE
Dad, stop.
DAD
What if all she wants to talk about
is books and Merriam Webster?

JESSE
Dad!
DAD
Okay, I’ll stop.

EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Frank and Jesse walk into the restaurant.

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

It’s an elegant place - wood paneling on the walls,
candlelight, nicely dressed diners. Jesse walks up to the
HOSTESS by the entrance.

JESSE
Hi, he has a reservation for two.
HOSTESS
What’s the name?

JESSE
Hurst.
HOSTESS
(looking at her reservation
book)
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

HOSTESS (cont’d)
Oh, yes, the other person in your
party is already here. Should I
bring another chair to the table?
Frank looks across the room and sees a formal but endearing
looking woman (MARTHA) sitting in a booth. She’s wearing
a red dress with a darker red sweater over it and looking
at the menu with her reading glasses on.

Frank looks worried, as though he’s looking at doom.

JESSE
No no, the reservation’s just for
him.

FRANK
Jesse, I don’t know about this.
JESSE
Yes you do, it’ll be fine.

DAD
Son-
JESSE
Look, I’ll be right there at the
bar. If you need me, I’m right
there.
DAD
(beat)
Okay.

INT. RESTAURANT BOOTH - CON’T

Martha is still looking at the menu when Frank walks into
frame.

FRANK
Martha?
Martha looks up from her menu at Frank, then smiles. Frank’s
eyes go from nervous to ease.
We then CUT FORWARD to further on in their date. They
both drinks, and bread has been set on the table. Martha
drinks a gin & tonic, Frank has a jack & coke.

FRANK
(improved dialogue proceeding)
Do you have any kids?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

MARTHA
(going from her drink)
Yes, two daughters - 19 and 25.

FRANK
Oh wow, that’s a bit of a gap, huh?
MARTHA
Yeah, well you know, the first was
out of love and the second was a
sad attempt to save the marriage,
so. But what about you? You look
like a father of someone.
FRANK
(briefly looking over at Jesse
at the bar, who is having a
drink)
Yes, yes. A son. 32.
MARTHA
(sweetly)
Oh. And what’s he like?
FRANK
(looking over to Jesse again)
He’s - he’s a good guy. He’s been
really helping me through - well.
We lost his mom a couple of years
ago, so -
MARTHA
Oh, Frank. I’m so sorry.
FRANK
No no, don’t say sorry - I’m sorry.
I wasn’t trying to -

Martha looks at him as if trying to empathise with every

word he says.
FRANK
Let’s get off the subject. What
about pets - do you have any of
those?
MARTHA
(chuckles)
Yes, I do. Oh my god, this fucking
dog. I swear to god - like look, I
love the thing, right? But holy
shit, that dog - and I know we’re
at dinner, okay - but that dog is
just a bag of farts.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

FRANK
(laughing)
Oh god, really?

MARTHA
YES. I swear I just can’t get used
to it, and I’ve had this dog for
three. Years. Again, I know this
isn’t really like appropriate
dinner conversation and I’m sorry,
but I just -
At this point, as Martha continues telling her story, we
start to slowly zoom in on Frank.

MARTHA
I feel like I’ve needed to get this
off my chest for so long, and you
won’t judge me because you barely
know me so I guess it’s just my
best chance to get this out in the
air without someone telling me I’m
being like, cruel or something -
Martha’s dialogue begins to go quieter, as does all the
volume in the restaurant. Still smiling, Frank glances down
at his ring finger, then back to Martha. A tear falls from
his eye.
MARTHA
Oh no, Frank, did I say something
wrong?

FRANK
(voice quivering)
What?
MARTHA
You’re crying.
FRANK
What?
Frank touches his face with his hand, feeling the tear drop.

MARTHA
Are you alright?
FRANK
(looking to the bar)
I - ah - I’m - Jesse? JESSE?
Jesse, hearing this, quickly puts down his drink and rushes
to the table.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

FRANK
Jesse, I want to go home.
JESSE
Are you okay, Dad?

FRANK
(getting out of the booth)
It’s too much, it’s too much Jesse,
I want to go home.

JESSE
Okay, Dad, okay -
MARTHA
Is he alright?

JESSE
He’s fine -
FRANK
No, no - (turning to Martha) I’m
sorry, Martha. You’re a lovely
woman. I just - it’s just still too
soon.
Frank begins walking away. Jesse pulls some money from his
pocket and puts it on the table.

JESSE
I’m so sorry about this, I promise,
it’s not you.
FRANK
JESSE!

JESSE
Coming, Dad! Again, I’m so sorry.
Jesse goes after his father. Martha watches them leave, a
wistful expression on her face.

INT. SON’S CAR - CON’T

Jesse and Frank are driving back home. Another song by the
same artist as before is playing.
FRANK
(beat)
I’m sorry about all that, son.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

JESSE
It’s okay, Dad.
FRANK
I guess I’m just not ready yet.

JESSE
It’s okay, Dad. You’ll get ’em next
time, right?
FRANK
Yeah. Yeah.
Frank looks out the window of the car up to the night sky.
END